Wednesday, June 5, 2024

scene 50

Previous.

EXT. BANDERA CEMETERY - DAY

Ruth, Wanda and Hunter stand at the grave site marked by two alike headstones, Tom's truck parked under shade of oak to the side of the dirt road behind them. A bouquet of petunias and marigolds between the stones. One stone is marked William Davis Walker, September 22, 1920 - April 14, 1994. The other, Margaret Esther Walker, December 18, 1920 - April 21, 2000. A MAN, WOMAN, BOY and GIRL attend another grave on the other side of the cemetery, a car parked nearby.    

HUNTER: Where are their parents buried?  

RUTH: Mom's in Lubbock, dad's in Nacogdoches.

WANDA: Your mother and her parents?

HUNTER: The same cemetery in Santa Ana, California. Any plans for Tom's ashes?

Wanda and Ruth look to each other, Ruth nods.

WANDA: I'll put some in the Little Laramie River at Tom's favorite fishing spot.

RUTH: And some in the Medina River where he and dad fished.

HUNTER: I saw his licenses in the glove compartment.

RUTH: Gil has a boat they would take to Medina Lake for bass we'd batter up and fry. 

HUNTER: Trout in the Little Laramie?

RUTH: Brown and rainbow.

HUNTER: Fly.

WANDA: That's right. I was talking about Daisy earlier. Her husband Clem passed a few months ago. He was Tom's fishing buddy. They'd head out to the Snowy Range and camp overnight, fish the little lakes. Have you ever fished, Hunter?

HUNTER: No. Who taught Tom to tie a fly?

RUTH: A soldier in Vietnam.

HUNTER: Do you think Gil would be willing to talk about Vietnam?

RUTH: I do. But you'd have to ask him.

They watch The boy and girl in the other party place flowers near the headstone. All in the party bow their heads, hands clasped in prayer position.

RUTH (CONT.) Ready?

Wanda nods. They walk to the truck, get in, Hunter behind the wheel, Ruth in the middle. He and Wanda buckle up, he starts the engine, drives to the road, turns onto it, drives out of frame. The man, woman, boy and girl walk to their car.