scene 11

scene 10

EXT. DECK OF HILLSIDE HOUSE - DAY

Barbara, John and Jan, dressed as previously, play scrabble at a table on the cedar or redwood deck shaded by oak trees, view through which to down-the-hill neighbors. Tiles on the board show a game near completion. Jan is keeping score with pencil and yellow legal pad. Scrabble dictionary, bottle of white wine and each with a glass half-empty. Jan's and Barbara's eyes on the board, John rearranges the tiles in his tray in search of a word, stops.

JOHN: Yahtzee.

JAN/BARBARA: Oh no.

John plays NIBLICK, uses the S of another word to pluralize.

JAN/BARBARA: Shit.

JOHN: Lest it not be apparent, seven-letter word and triple-word points.

JAN/BARBARA: It's apparent.

JAN: And I know you've already done the math.

JOHN: My calculation comes out to ninety-three. But please do verify.

JAN: Verified.

Jan adds score to John's column. 

BARBARA: Niblick.

JOHN: Niblicksss.

BARBARA: Yes, dad.

JOHN: Speaking of which, did Brian get his driver yet?

BARBARA: Yesterday. He's at the range right now. 

JAN: When is his son coming up?

BARBARA: Next Saturday.

JAN: Nervous?

BARBARA: Yes. 

JOHN: Have you checked his social media footprint?

BARBARA: Cursory glance. A lot of Cuesta baseball. 

JAN: He's a pitcher?

BARBARA: Catcher.

JAN: Catcher.

BARBARA: And a kind of blog about the restoration of that El Camino I might have told you Bran got him.

JOHN/JAN: You did.

JOHN: Which brings up Chloe's birthday. 

BARBARA: Which reminds me to tell you that Hunter's going to call you about that. I guess you've already talked about a car?

JOHN: A brief email exchange in which he brought it up.

Barbara picks up when her PHONE RINGTONES TYPEWRITER SOUND.

JAN: Right on cue.

BARBARA: Ears burning? 

Dad and I were just talking about Chloe's birthday and the car thing.

She's here.

(Barbara listens awhile, her face expresses surprise. She looks at John and Jan looking at her.)

I'm here. Speechless.

Well, Hunter, I'm going to defer to you. 

(Jan and John look at each other.)

My immediate gut feeling is that I trust yours.

I'll be waiting for her call.

Alright. Oh, Hunter, maybe take a picture?

Bye.

(Barbara sets phone down.)

JAN/JOHN: Drumroll.

BARBARA: Tom Walker from Texas is at Hunter's house. He's spending the night. Chloe will call before she goes to bed.Stunned Silence.

JOHN: A middle name would be helpful..

BARBARA: Check.

scene 10

scene 9

INT. ENTRYWAY - DAY

High-end blinds closed on window near door. Door rug over stone floor; window above potted plant(s); hat/coat tree; tapestry TBD on wall above console table with lamp, wooden bowl, stone FOUNTAIN GURGLING and candle; tribal masks on wall above leather bench seat; mirror on wall above a piano and bench; closed door; opening into hallways in opposite directions. 

Hunter enters from one hall, crosses into the other a beat after DOORBELL CHIMES. Three beats befpre he re-enters, slowly walks tp front door, looks through peephole, draws back, furrowed brow, looks again.

EXT. HUNTER'S FRONT PORCH

Describe. Cactus garden.

Tom stands near the door under shade of covering, hat on. Sunglasses peek from shirt pocket. Truck parked on street near bin. He waits, turns to leave just as the door opens wide enough for Hunter to peek through. over the security chain. Tom turns back to door. Hunter sizes him up.  

TOM: Howdy. My name is Tom Walker.

HUNTER: Tom Walker who was in Reno, Nevada in late November nineteen seventy-six.

TOM: I was there the twenty-first through the twenty-fourth.    

HUNTER: What's my mother's name?

TOM: Olivia. If I got the right Hunter Hardyn.

HUNTER: How did you find my address?

TOM: Paid a little bit for an online search.

HUNTER: Just happen to be in the neighborhood?

TOM: Sorta. On my way to Texas.

HUNTER: From where?

TOM: Laramie, Wyomin', where I live. 

HUNTER: I'm leaving to the airport.

TOM: Yessir. 

HUNTER: You'll be coming back through on your way home?

TOM: Yessir. I reckon in about a week or so.

HUNTER: I won't be here.

TOM: Yessir.

\Hunter surveys Tom, unlatches the security chain, opens the door wider, gestures for Tom to enter. Tom removes hat, enters, leaves view.  Hunter stares at the truck, finally closes door.