scene 35

sc 34

EXT. PONDEROSA PINE FOREST - DAY

Tom, Hunter and Chloe stroll among the pines within view of Jackie, Sess and Claire setting up lunch on a picnic table in a clearing near where the horses are tied to a rudimentary hitching post. 

TOM: Any idea why they're called ponderosa pines?

CHLOE: Pinus ponderosa. From the Latin ponderosus, meaning ponderous, of course, relating to its weightiness and size. But I have a feeling you know that.

TOM: Well, I heard somethin' like that. Had my own feelin' one a y'all might be able to confirm it. Speak any other foreign languages besides Latin?

CHLOE: I don't speak Latin, I just remember a few terms from a junior high flora and fauna assignment. I'll be starting my fourth year of Spanish.

TOM: Well I guess you're pretty fluent by now.

CHLOE: I get by. How about you?

TOM (SPANISH): Enough Spanish to get in and out of trouble.  

CHLOE (SPANISH): Has that ever happened? 

TOM: (SPANISH): Couple times.

CHLOE (SPANISH): Were you in Mexico?

TOM: (SPANISH): Once, in _____. The other time was in Laredo.

CHLOE (SPANISH): Stories you could share?

TOM (SPANISH): I'd hate to be a bore.

CHLOE: Tom's afraid he'd bore us with stories about knowing Spanish getting him into and out of trouble.

HUNTER: Tom, I can guarantee you won't bore us.

TOM: Well, if ya think I wouldn't bore Jackie, Sess and Claire, maybe over lunch. 

HUNTER: That would be great. Would you mind being recorded?

TOM: I wouldn't mind. Do you speak any other language?

HUNTER: Chloe has upped my Spanish significantly. And wehat little I remember from two years of high school French.

TOM: Any particular reason you chose French?

HUNTER: Charlotte Charbonneau, an unrequited crush.

TOM: And maybe the Carole Carolet in the short story called ______.

HUNTER: One and the same.

Jackie stands and RINGS A DINNER BELL.

HUNTER: Our cue.

They walk toward the picnic.

TOM: Speakin' a pinus ponderosa, if y'all are interested Ruth keeps up the family tree on an ancestry website.

CHLOE/HUNTER: Really?

TOM: I could give ya the link if ya like.

CHLOE/HUNTER: Yes.

TOM: Plenty a pictures, some goin' way back.  

CHLOE: My aunt Kate does that. My grampa's sister. She lives in Wilson, Wyoming.

TOM: That so.

CHLOE: You've been there.

TOM: Driven through several times to see a friend used to live in Victor, Idaho. You been?

CHLOE: Every Christmas since I was eight. 

TOM: Pretty good chance they were all white Christmases.

Chloe nods.

CHLOE: And through Victor several times on the way to Grand Targhee.

TOM: For skiin'.

CHLOE: Snowboarding.

TOM: Makes sense. Bein' a surfer. You ski or snowboard, Hunter?

HUNTER: Ski. It's been awhile. You?

TOM: Water skiin' but it's been twenty-somethin' years.

EXT. PICNIC TABLE

We see the dinner bell hanging from the table. Jackie, Sess and Claire watch Tom, Hunter and Chloe near.

SESS: So what can you tell us about the cowboy?

JACKIE: I can tell you now because Hunter told me I can that Tom is his father.

CLAIRE: Ding ding ding.

SESS:  Shared wild guess confirmed.

CLAIRE: I would say intuition. 

JACKIE: They met for the first time yesterday.

SESS: So this is kinda big.

JACKIE: This is very big. More later.

Hunter, Tom and Chloe arrive.

SESS: Apache stew is served, without per Claire's and Chloe's veganism, the venison this would otherwise include.

CLAIRE: It's delicious, Chloe.

CHLOE: It smells delicious.

JACKIE: So sit down and dig in.

All sit. Everyone notices Tom bow his head, close his eyes and bring his hands together in his lap for a moment before opening his eyes to the meal in front of him.

CHLOE: Did you just pray?

TOM: Givin' thanks. And thank y'all for such a wonderful and unforgettable day.

Hunter raises his bottled water to toast.

HUNTER: To a truly wonderful and unforgettable day.

All raise their waters and add their respective agreement, then dig in.

CHLOE: Wow.

CLAIRE: Told ya.

CHLOE: What's the semi-sweet nuttiness.

JACKIE: To the mighty acorn. 

SESS/CLAIRE: Go acorns.

SESS/CLAIRE: Jinx.

A shadow quicly crosses the table. All look to the soaring bald eagle streaking across the sky.

CHLOE:Haliaeetus leucocephalus.

SESS: A rare sighting this time of year.

HUNTER: It's a rare day.

The eagle flies out of view. All resume eating. 

CHLOE: So Tom, how about that storty of Spanish getting you into and out of trouble.

TOM: I had a feeling you might not forget.

CHLOE: Not a chance.

TOM: So there I was, on a dark and stormy night.

All chuckle.

[CUT TO 36.:]