scene 61

Previous.

INT. TOM'S TRUCK - DAY

Hunter in sunglasses drives a remote stretch of two-lane highway through desert salt flat, mountains in the far distance. Silence but for the HUM OF TIRES ON ROAD. Far ahead we see the structure of what looks like an abandoned gas station. Hunter turns on the RADIO TO STATICKY BANDA MUSIC. He TURNS IT OFF.

As soon as the station is recognizable as such, a dilapidated shipwreck on land, we HEAR THE POP-BANG OF A TIRE FLATTENED and the CHUNK CHUNK CHUNK of the dead tire as Hunter rolls to a stop under the shade of the covering over the station bay. 

Hunter sits and ponders the situation, stares ahead at the SHIMMERING WATER MIRAGE at the false end of the road ahead. He finally gets owner's manual from glove compartment, opens it.

EXT. TRUCK

Hunter gets out, walks to the rear flat on the driver's side, surveys the damage. 

THE UNDERCARRIAGE, SPARE TIRE and Hunter's shoes.After a moment his knees and hands on the pavement, then his face in view, eyes searching for and finding the spare. Face, knees and hands out of view as he stands, walks out of view toward front of truck. We HEAR HOOD OPENED.

THE HOOD, then Hunter up and out from under it, tire jack in hand. He walks out of frame toward the flat.

scene 60

Previous.

INT./EXT. TOM'S TRUCK - DAY

In Ruth's puddled driveway, Hunter at the wheel, engine running, Wanda and Ruth at the window. Tom's hat is on his boots on Hunter's suitcase in the passenger well. Wet street and driveways but sunny sky.

RUTH: Will you take ten all the way.

HUNTER: I don't think so. I see a way north from Van Horn up to a road east to El Paso. Looks potentially interesting if a little remote.

WANDA: We've come and gone that way before. Fifty-four at Van Horn up to one-eighty and sixty-two.

HUNTER: That's the route. 

WANDA: It's remote alright. We called it our moon crossing. But real pretty in its own desolate way.

HUNTER: I'm thinking so. A change from the interstate, anyway.

WANDA: You'll cross a salt flat not long after you turn left at that junction.

RUTH: And if you were so inclined to turn right the Guadalupe Mountains aren't that far north.

HUNTER: I saw that and very likely will.

RUTH: And a few spots to pull over for a view.

HUNTER: I'll take and send a few pictures along the way and call every hour, unless that's a bother.

Wanda and Ruth smile, shake their heads.

WANDA: Not a bother.

RUTH: Thank you, Hunter. 

Ruth and Wanda lean in turn lean in to kiss Hunter's cheek. He returns the favor, winks and wave. They wave and watch him back to the street, stop, blow them a kiss they return, drive away out of view. They look to the sky. FAINT BIRDSONG.

RUTH: Sure nice to have blue sky but boy it is it going to be sticky day.

WANDA: My slip's already clinging. 

RUTH: Fortunately I have tickets to a matinee showing of Last Picture Show at the Arcadia I was going to surprise you and Tom with.

WANDA: You're brilliant.

RUTH: I thought we might call Mary Ward and see if she'd like to come along.

WANDA: That's a wonderful idea. How is she?

RUTH: Better, slowly but surely. You know, back to Tom's ashes.

She walks to the steps and porch toward the door, Wanda follows.

WANDA: Yes.

RUTH: Mary put some of Jerry's into a biodregradable urn in the form of a duck they put on their pond. 

WANDA: Hmm.

RUTH: That's what I thought.

WANDA: For further consideration.

They get to the door. 

RUTH: I thought we might call Daisy today and give her something for further consideration.

Wanda smiles, nods. Ruth opens the screen door, Wanda through, Ruth follows. door closes.

(ever-shifting) remaining beats

60. Hunter leave Ruth's. Ruth re Last Picture Show at The Arcadia. Wanda "call Daisy tonight."

61. Hunter driving, remote desert salt flat. Radio. Flat. Manual, tire, jack.

62. Chloe at home with video re Tom  Hunter Facetime call from FLAT FIXED. Tom's aviator sunglasses.

63. Hunter arrive Jackie's. In bed re the Tom and Olivia Story.

64. Daisy at home, call from Wanda and Ruth.

65. Hunter arrive home (same clothes), Tom's entry in guest book.

66. Doc 2.

67. Leave Laramie.

68. Hawaii.

Epilogue: Chloe Birthday Truck 

scene 59 pt. 2

INT. GIL'S DEN - NIGHT (CONT'D)

FR: [ROBERTO: Knock knock.

GIL: Who's there?]

-----------------------

ROBERTO: Wendy.

GIL (SMILES) Wendy who?

RODRIGO: Wendy ya think you'll be ready to start the movie.

GIL: Whoops. Sorry, got caught up in a time warp. I'll be right there.

ROBERTO: There's no rush, grampa.

GIL: No, no, I'm on my way.

RODRIGO: What album is that?

GIL: A few photos from Vietnam.

ROBERTO: Can we see?

GIL (BEAT) Yes. I'm going to show Hunter some pictures when he's back, including these. We'll do it then, okay?

The boys nod. Gil stands, wobbily enough the boys assist. 

GIL: Like him okay?

ROBERTO: He's cool.

RODRIGO: He looks like the guy who wrote your book.

GIL: He is that guy, boys.

ROBERTO: How does Ruth know him?

GIL: He's her nephew. 

The boys look to him, puzzled.

GIL (CONT'D): Hunter is Tom's son.

ROBERTO/RODRIGO: Confused.

Gil nods, leads them into hall. FLOOR CREAK.

GIL (O.S.) But I'll let Hunter tell you more about that when he's back. 

Moment before SOUND OF TOM'S TRUCK ENGINE STARTED.

[CUT TO: 

INT./EXT. TOM'S TRUCK - DAY]