Saturday, October 18, 2025
Friday, October 17, 2025
page views oddity (and brief German cinema reference)
I don't care about page views, and care less about being "liked" (or not) but a "just curious" glance today shows a sudden and huge jump in page views, with the majority from Germany. Like, WTH, I'm David Effing Hasselhof.
I am a Wim Wenders fan, particularly Paris, Texas and Wings of Desire. And remember being captivated when I first saw F.W. Murnau's Nosferatu. (I did not see Werner Herzog's follow-up. I did see his Aguirre, Wrath of God but don't recall anything other than Klaus Kinski.)
Bots, maybe? How would anybody find this place? I've never told anyone about it.
Honda Knot dream: a meeting
I'm with another guy in a room into which another man enters. Man One is quiet, doesn't say a word, and I don't remember much other than his presence. Man Two who enters is a little high energy, 40-ish, mayhe, maybe younger, and he asks a question re the script, but I don't recall the specifics. His vibe is more director than producer. I answer hos question with my own. Something along the lines of 'what do YOU think..." re what he's asked. Maybe it's about what might be cut, not sure, and no matter, mostly.
He looks at me, End dream.
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Ruth and Wanda bookmark
EXT. FRONT PORCH - DAY
Wanda and Ruth on bench swing, fans in hand, facing the small front yard of the brick house on the quiet leafy street lined by similar homes. Texas plates on the old Volvo wagon in the driveway and the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am in drivew3ay across the street.
Potted plants, hummingbird feeders, seashell wind chimes, two rocking chairs. Decorative thermometer at 94 degrees.
RUTH: How's Daisy?
WANDA: Better. She continued on from the airport to stay with friends in Centennial.
RUTH: Walt and Dolores.
WANDA: That's right. Very good.
RUTH: Do they still get to the square dance?
WANDA: Once a month. Their son passed away.
RUTH: Liver cancer.
WANDA: Yes. A month from fifty.
RUTH: So young.
WHIR OF CICADSS.
RUTH (CONT.) : Storm on the way from the gulf.
WANDA: Saw that on the weather channel. Galveston battening the hatches. Early evening?
RUTH: Or late afternoon now. I thought we'd play it by radar as far as leaving Gil's tomorrow.
WANDA: Speaking of which and up fron the gulf, I just remembered Maria and the boys are coming up.
RUTH: Got there night before last. He said the boys cried like babies when he told them about Tom.
WANDA: Do you know if he's told them about Hunter?
RUTH: He told them they'd be having a visitor who knew Tom. Gil asked me if I'd ask Hunter to introduce himself. Hunter told me he would introduce himself as Tom's son.
They stand at SOUND OF TRUCK ENGINE, wait, watch Hunter drive into view, look at them as he slows to pull into the driveway.
INT. TRUCK
HUNTER POV as he drives to the garage. Wanda and Ruth walk to the steps to the driveway. Hunter parks behind Volvo, turns off engine.
EXT. PORCH/SDRIVEWAY
Hunter out of truck, up the steps, hugs Wanda, then Ruth. Ruth takes one of his hands, Wanda the other, lead him to the door and into the house, followed by Wanda, then Ruth.
WHIR OF CICADAS.
Monday, October 13, 2025
Gil's Den bookmark in progress
INT. DEN - NIGHT
Describe. Thunder and rain.
Gil's, his father's, his son's military dress uniform photos. Family photos, home construction photos, deer hunt photos.
Bookshelf.
Leather sofa under painting. (Ruth's?)
Turntable, albums. Wall-mounted TV.
Wall-mounted Mexico Coat of Arms.
Wall-mounted "Brown Bess" musket rifle
Gill at desk, looking at photo album. Sleeveless t-shirt shows USMC tattoo on shoulder. Bottle of tequila and half-empty glass.
He turns a page, qwe see over his shoulder two 5x7 photos on each page, each including himself and Tom, both 19 years old, in Bangkok.
One captures Wat Arun temple on the other side of the Chao Phraya River behind them.
Another captures Tom and Gil on late-sixties Triumph Bonneville motorcycles, each with a Thai female passenger, both of whom wear clinging, revealing dresses, and high heel shoes. Their lipstick is the same blood-red. Their expressionless faces contrast with Tom and Gil's smiles.
The same two women are with them in another photo taken in front of the Miami Hotel.
The last photo captures Gil and Tom smiling at the camera, drinks in hand in the Patpong District at night.
to be continued.
Sunday, October 12, 2025
Nacimiento bookmark rough
INT/EXT. BOAT IN LAKE COVE - DAY
LAKE NACIMIENTO RENTAL RUNABOUT
John, Jan, Barbara under shade of canopy. Chloe in bikini on her back on raft tethered by rope to boat. Blue lake beyond mouth of greenish cove.
JAN: What do we know about Ruth?
JOHN: Do we know what their parents did?
BARBARA: Ben was a carpenter, Pearl stayed home, made a little money on the side selling the dresses she made.
JAN: The oldest.
BARBARA: Tom, by three years and two days.
JOHN: Bandera high?
BARBARA: Yep. Ruth went to and graduated from Southwest Texas State, in San Marcos. English teacher at Johnson City High School seven years. met a man, Dan Satterwhite, petroleum engineer, married and moved to Tulsa. Had a son, Chad, who died with Dan in a private plane crash on a runway on a ranch outside San Angelo, Texas. Chad's fourteenth birthday. A deer hunt. By the way, none of this anything Chlpe told me. It's Tom telling Chloe. She interviewed him and recorded it.
JAN/JOHN: I want to see that.
BARBARA: You will. And what Claire, Jackie's cousin's girlfriend, makes her movie.
JAN: So she loses her husband and son.
BARBARA: Sells Tulsa, moves Ben and Pearl to San Antonio, stays with them a few months, goes to Europe, travels a year, comes back, buys a house on South Padre Island, starts to paint. Oil on canvas. Tom shows a picture on his phone, still life peaches in a wooden bowl that's in her dining room. It's good.
Chloe begins to reel herself in.
BARBARA (CONT.) You should watch the interview.
JOHN: Soon as we're home.
JAN: How did Ben and Pearl die?
BARBARA: Together. Drunk driver ran a red and t-boned their taxi on the way hoe from seeing the premiere of a movie called The Alamo, at the Majestic Theatre. Which is still there.
They watch Chloe board, untie knot on floatie that connects it to boat, then the knot on the boat.
JAN: We've been informed there's an interview with Tom we hope you'll share.
CHLOE: Of course. It's pretty cool. I just want to present it as finished product. Remember that Mister Roberts what I did over summer assignment I talked about.
JAN: You weren't sure what form to go with.
CHLOE: That's no longer the case. I'm making a movie. A mini-movie. Y'all're invited to the PREEmier. In fact y'all'll be hosting it. And Brian's invited, of course.
Barbara smiles, winks at her.
CHLOE (CONT.) So gramps.
JOHN: So ladybug.
Chloe looks up, smiles.
JOHN (CONT.) Watcha got.
You've taught me the cleat and clove hitches, the bowline and the figure eight. Now I'm going to teach you a knot. I'm going to try to do it as quickly as I can and then I'll show you Tom teaching me. If you're curious, that is.
John smiles, nods.
JOHN: Can't wait.
Barbara aims phone to record.
CHLOE (in Tom-drawl): So this here's whatcha call yer Honda knot. Sometimes folks'll call it a lasso or lariat knot, which'll give y'all an idea 'bput what's comin' up.
She quickly and adroitly fashions a Honda knot, widens the loop enough to toss and land it on John's shoulders. He and Jan applaud, Barbara pockets phone, joins. John opens his arms, Chloe walks onto his embrace.
JOHN: Ready to ski?
Chloe nods, John weighs anchor, watches Chloe take selfie with Barbara and Jan, open lake behind them.
Saturday, October 11, 2025
INT. ROVER - DAY bookmark
TOM: When's the last time you was on a horse?
CHLOE: Well, does a mule qualify?
TOM: I'd say so.
CHLOE: Then last time and first two years ago at Grand Canyon.
TOM: Good time.
Chloe nods.
TOM (CONT.): How 'bout you, Hunter.
HUNTER: Same Grand Canyon mule ride.
TOM: Before that?
HUNTER: Pony ride at the county fair when I was seven. You?
TOM: Couple months ago. We get up a few times a year to see friends outside Cody who run a rescue program.
CHLOE: That's cool.
TOM: Maybe your cousin's stable has a couple rescues.
JACKIE: Several. And all the horses we'll be riding today. By the way, Cecilia's girlfriend Claire will be joining us today.
HUNTER: The more the merrier.
JACKIE: Certainly in this case. So, Claire is taking a video production class at Western New Mexico U in Silver City, where she lives. She's bringing her camera along today and I'm to ask if everyone is okay with being in the project she makes of today. I already have Hunter's okay, so Tom and Chloe, how about you?
CHLOE: I'm down with it. On the condition that I get to see the finished product.
JACKIE: She'll be posting it on her website.
CHLOE: Cool. Tom?
TOM: Same as Chloe. Matter a fact I was gonna ask if everyone's okay with bein' in a picture or two I take with my phone. I got instructions from my wife and sister to put the camera to use.
JACKIE: I'll be using mine.
HUNTER: Me too.
CHLOE: I brought the selfie stick. In fact. Tom.
Chloe gets her phone, raises it to take selfie that includes Tom, the dunes of White Sands in his window.
TOM: Would ya mind sendin' that to me?
CHLOE: I'll need your email or phone number.
She readies her contacts to add Tom Walker, hands Tom her phone.
CHLOE: Your digits, Tom.
Tom adds number, hands phone to Chloe, Chloe fiddles with keypad.
CUT TO: Wanda with Daisy gets the pic.
CUT TO: Ruth stares at it.
CUT TO: John and Jan stare at it.
CUT TO: Barbara places it, framed, on desk in CHLOE'S BEDROOM.
CUT TO: Sess, Claire, horses.
Thursday, October 9, 2025
Tom's Truck
Final Beats A4
"Final" is never quite; this fish will be wriggling 'til it's in the frying pan,but settled enough here to begin Final Draft next week. Last post of this blog will be link to that blog.
1. Next day, sunrise. Hunter, guest book, leaves in Tom's truck. Sunglass visor, glove compartment.
2. Chloe, Jan, John, Barbara. What do we know about Ruth. Chloe gets Hunter selfie from "east of the Pecos."
3. Ruth, Wanda, bench swing on front porch. Re storm up from gulf, Galveston battening hatches. Re Maria's - speaking of up from gulf - knowledge of Hunter. Truck engine sound, Hunter arrive.
4. Gil, Maria, re company re Tom's son. Shows her author flap. "I'll let him tell you more, if you're interested."
5. Night. Ruth, Wanda, Hunter 'round the dining room table. Ruth's peaches-in-a-bowl still life, photo album, bottle of merlot and their glasses half-empty. Re Ruth's visit to Disneyland for her late son's tenth birthday. Hunter could see Matterhorn from roof of home when boy. Re wine and drinking. Finish wine, leave.
6. Jackie at home, call from Hunter in Ruth's guest room. Enter Ruth and Wanda re "about the truck" for Hunter to sleep on.
7. Sunrise. Barb and Chloe in wetsuits waxing their surfboards. "What's your dad up to today?" Chloe query re grampa and student deferment re Vietnam.
8. Truck. Hunter driving, Wanda and Ruth. H asks about Gil and family, Ruth tells him, re Ricky - Ricardo - and Afghanistan death. "His gate is right around the bend." Gil's Garcia gate, truck arrive, Ruth keypad, in the go, oak stands.
9. Gil on deck, truck arrival, Maria and Boys watch intros through window.
10. Kate and Cedric, finishing Foglost. John's call re Tom. "How's Chloe?" (What does she tell Cedric?)
11. Fort Park. Storm arrive, lightning.
12. Maria, Wanda, Ruth in kitchen.
13. John and Jan, Hunter on bestseller list. We should call him. We should reach out to Wanda and Ruth.
14. Night. Ruth, Wanda, Hunter, Ruth's back porch. Rain and Ruth's peach ice cream.
15. Gil, tattoo, Bangkok photos with Tom, Triumph motorcycles, enter boys, Maria listens.
16. Sunrise. Hunter leaves in truck. Taking the northern route, with which both Wanda and Ruth are familiar.
17. Hunter driving, salt flat, tire flat. Manual in glove compartment.
18. Daisy gets call from Wanda and Ruth re moving to Kerrville.
19. Hunter, sweaty, flat fixed, gets call from John and Jan. Hunter re "that birthday gift we talked about." Tom doppelganger pulls up on old Triumph re assistance.
20. Doc. Hunter in Tom's boots, shirt, hat on rack. Re Hawaii and new fish in Doc's tank , re photographic memory re Tom's.
21. Chloe's birthday truck at John and Jan's. Kate and Cedric.
22. Hawaii. Chloe paddles out with Tom's ashes in biodegradable sea turtle urn.
EPILOGUE: Gil and Hunter fishing.
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Final Beats A3
1. Sunrise, Hunter enter kitchen, start coffee, Tom reveal.
2. Hunter tells Chloe.
3. Wanda with Daisy gets Hunter's call.
4. Ruth gets Wanda's call.
5. Gil gets Ruth's call.
6. Barbara, with Brian, Jan and John, gets Hunter's call.
7. Hunter and Chloe watch Medical Examiner truck drive away.
8. Daisy, Wanda Laramie airport.
9. Gil arrive Ruth's.
10. Hunter with Doc. What now?
11. Jackie at home, phone with Sess re Tom. Hunter arrive.
Final Beats A2
1. Next day, sunrise, Jan and Jan powerwalk, rural Paso Robles. John has "found them" and street view of their house through Tom's middle name Travis. John's reference to having been in Cheyenne for EPA litigation. Jan's segue into Jackson ski trip and John calling Kate (his sister.) Arrive handsome home, uphill steps alongside driveway.
2. Hunter's driveway, about the truck, heeere's Jackie, away they go.
3. Wanda with Daisy gets San Augustin Pass photo.
4. Ruth places same pic, framed, near Hunter's books on floating shelf.
5. Int. Rover. Last time on a horse, into Grand Canyon mule ride, into Tom's uncle - "my mom's brother" - re Flagstaff Forest Service, into Ruth keeps ancestry website. Chloe re so does her aunt Kate, her "grampa's sister."
4. Kate with Cedric (reading Foglost) - Chicago high-rise view to lake - gets John's call. Kate re family tree, limb, new branch.
5. Doc gets Hunter pic.
6. Sess, Claire, horses, Rover arrive, saddle up, ride toward forest.
7. WOODPECKER. Horses/riders through the pines.
8. Barbara arrives home - SLO cul-de-sac, Cerro del SLO - gets pic she forwards to John and Jan.
8. Alpine meadow.
9. Wanda, Daisy facetime Ruth.
10. Pinus ponderosa. Tom and Chloe's Spanish, Hunter's high school French (because of Charlotte Charboneau). Chloe asks about Tom's buckle, Tom tells her, re more from junior rodeo in a box at Ruth's. Rodeo interrupted by Uncle Sam's call to Vietnam. Triangle bell from picnic table where Jackie, Sess and Claire have lunch prepared. Query re Hunter's relation to the cowboy, Jackie's cryptic response.
11. Barbara places framed photo in Chloe's bedroom.
12. Creek crossing.
13. Gil finishes Foglost, Maria present, Gil gets Tom pic with Hunter. Maria notes resemblance to H.C. Hardyn.
14. Horse barn, a Honda knot.
15. White Sands sunset.
16. Night. Jackie leaves Hunter's, shooting star. Tom sees coyote in shadows.
17. Tom's Tahoe tale. Hunter re signing guest book, Tom re Hunter signing Foglost.
18. Tom facetime Wanda and Ruth. Guest book.
Final Beats A1
1. Tom and Wanda in bed at night. Tom reading Foglost, Wanda reading Michener's HAWAII, etc.
2. Sunrise next day. Tom leaves in truck, WYOMING plates.
3. Gil and Dale, Bandera American Legion post, TEXAS plates, re Maria and Boys on the way up. Tom's Huey selfie.
4. Wanda and Daisy, Laramie River/bridge, Tom's call from ABQ motel room, monsoon clouds. Leaves Ruth VM, starts bath.
5. Sunrise next day, Tom into truck motel parking lot, leaves.
6. Chloe, Barbara, Jan and John, driving, re Jackie and Horse Day.
7. Hunter home office, Organ Mountains, Chloe pics, enter Hunter enters, powers down computer, leaves into kitchen. Trash bag.
8. Tom in Hunter's 'hood, nearing, stops, idles, Hunter out, Tom drives away, Hunter into house.
9. Tom's U-turn.
10. Hunter greeting area, doorbell, Tom, Howdy, Tom into house.
11. Barbara, Jan, John, Hunter's call re "Tom Walker from Texas" at Hunter's, spending night. John wants a middle name.
12. Wanda with Daisy gets call from Tom in Hunter's guest room. Tom calls Ruth, with Gil re peaches in Fredericksburg. "HÃjole." Tom notes guest book, leaves, boots on hardwood. He arrives in xeriscape backyard, framed by window over desk. Takes selfie.
13. Hunter, Chloe, El Paso airport. "And I was nervous about meeting Jackie."
14. Hunter, Chloe arrive Hunter's, truck in driveway.
15. H, C enter kitchen, Tom on patio. Out they go, intros.
16. Gil, Maria, The Boys, Maria re calendar re Tom/Wanda arrival, Gil re Tom's Las Cruces layover.
17. Sunset. Barbara with Brian, re Tom and Olivia.
18. Patio, night. Tom, Hunter, Chloe. Re retired ranch foreman. Chloe re Horse Day. Hunter, phone, "Jackie."
Ruth paints
So yes to the painting we see in scene one, above Tom and Wanda's headboard. Ruth also painted the still life in her dining room. There'll be another in her guest room.
Pardon my presumptuous but:
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
beats set yesterday
over a couple hours at sunrise starbucks rancho cordova. ‘bout 70 beats, pleased and finally settled with final skeleton, even semi-eager to resume, likely thursday after notimg final beats here, probly tomorrow, for the record, re progress.
waiting again yields positive result.
i like this again.
add chloe boyfriend, keep aunt kate and cedric, more on dale, fishing with gil and hunter in EPILOGUE.
clearer cleaner choreography, and improved placement, form re exposition.
re the kerrville home, brick and land for tom’s rescue horse. (last- inute addition.)
Honda Knot remains the title.
yay.
Thursday, October 2, 2025
wait, don't force return
I'll get back to this when I'm refreshed and ready to begin the final push. Activity in the so-called back of my mind indicates it will lose weight, as in page count, and I find myself considering cost, as in budget, which will reshape things. Already past the worst "I'm fucking sick of this thing" part of the phase of the ebb re flow but in no hurry to resume. Forced work invariably sucks. Also, given how (tremendously) long I've been at this, a little more time is only that. It'll get done, and be better because of this break.
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
act 4 beats
Hardly set in stone - the pieces will be moving around 'til The End - but good enough for now and to walk away from for awhile. Next post here probably the last and will include link to Final, which I'll start next week.
Goodbye, John's sister Rachel, and probably Dale. Still not even sure about Tom's truck model. Not even sure Honda Knot sticks as title.
1. Next day, sunrise, Hunter leaves in truck.
2. Chloe with Jan, John and Barbara. What do we know about Ruth? John, Jan re card to Ruth and Wanda. Chloe ties a Honda Knot,
3. Gil, Maria re Tom and Hunter.
4. Ruth and Wanda, re Daisy, Hunter arrives.
5. Night. H, R, W re wine, drinking.
6. Hunter guest room, call Chloe, R and W about the truck.
8. Next day, H, R, W re Gil's family. The gate.
9. Gil on deck, truck arrives, Maria and boys watch intros.
11. Fort Park.
12. Ruth, Wanda, Maria kitchen. ATVs.
13. Doc gets Hunter selfie with Gil.
14. Night, R, W, H on porch, peach ice cream.
15. Gil with Bangkok pics.
16. Next day, sunrise, Hunter leaves in truck.
17. Flat, manual in glove compartment.
18. Daisy gets call from Ruth and Wanda.
19. Hunter, flat fixed, call from John and Jan.
20. Doc.
21. Chloe surprise birthday truck.
Epilogue: Hawaii, Chloe paddles Tom's ashes to sea.
CREDITS OVER Gil and Tom fishing.
act 3 beats
1. Next day, sunrise. Tom reveal.
2. Hunter tells Chloe.
3. Wanda with Daisy gets Hunter's call.
4. Ruth gets Wanda's call.
5. Gil gets Ruth's call.
6. Barbara with Brian, Jan and John gets Hunter's call.
7. Hunter and Chloe watch Medical Examiner van drive away.
8. Wanda and Daisy Laramie airport.
9. Gil arrive Ruth's.
10. Jackie at home, Hunter arrives.
what about finishing Honda Knot is so challenging
Saturday, September 27, 2025
act 2 beats
1. Next day, sunrise, John and Jan, found them. Re Roy Rogers boots and Rachel.
2. Meet the truck, and Jackie.
3. Gil, Maria, boys, Foglost, Tom's Las Cruces layover.
4. Rover, Hunter driving, Tom re last time on a horse into Grand Canyon mule ride, Tom's uncle in Flagstaff, re Ruth's ancestry website. Chloe re her aunt Rachel - "my grandfather's sister" - also keeping an online family tree. Chloe takes a selfie with Tom, on the contingency that she send it to him so he can forward to sis and wife. Jackie - "speaking of pictures" - hopes it's okay with everyone to be in the video her cousin's girlfriend would like to shoot. All in.
5. Wanda with Daisy gets the picture Chloe took. Speechless.
6. Ruth, teary, places same, framed, in her reading room on a floating shelf with Hunter's books, Trabuco, Isleton, and Scatterseeds: short stories. Foglost is on a lampstand near a chair she sits in, opens to marked page. WHIR OF CICADAS.
7. Sess, Claire, trailer, barn, horses. Arrive Rover, intros, Claire re her video and yes it will be online. Claire is particular re Hunter because she knows who he is, "my dad's a huge fan," but she wants to be sure re Hunter's privacy. Hunter all in. To the horses and saddling up. Chloe asks for a pointer, Tom provides and shows. The rest follow, ride into the forest.
8. Piney woods, WOODPECKER silenced by the cuh-lip cuh-lop of the horses as the riders enter and pass through frame, fanned out as if a search party. Resume WOODPECKER.
9. John and Jan on floats in pool.
JAN: Are we going to be possessive?
JOHN: Aren't we already?
JAN: We'll learn to be less so.
JOHN: Won't we.
JAN: Yes we will. There will be more pictures.
JOHN: I hope so, with trepidation.
JAN: Same.
JOHN: He's handsome, isn't he?
JAN: The Marlboro man in winter. I see kind eyes.
JOHN: A little sad?
JAN: Yes. Gut feeling.
JOHN: Optimism. That it's a good thing. Maybe a very good thing. Probably.
JAN: Hopefully.
JOHN: You?
JAN: Same.
They hold hands.
10. Mountain Meadow.
11. Rachel tells Cedric what she knows about the new branch on Chloe's limb on the family tree.
12. Pinus ponderosa. Chloe asks about Tom's buckle, Tom tells her poker game in Laredo story, remembers the hands at play. Chloe asks how many buckles he has, into the "couple junior rodeo buckles in a box at my sister's," into not doing pro rodeo because uncle Sam had a different plan.
HUNTER: Vietnam.
TOM: Yessir.
TRIANGLE BELL from the picnic table.
HUNTER: Maybe more on that another time?
Tom nods, leads toward the picnic table.
Jackie, Sess, Claire with lunch at the table. They watch Tom, Hunter, Chloe approach.
SESS: So how do Hunter and Tom know each other?
JACKIE: They don't. Just met yesterday. More later.
SESS: Okay.
13. Chloe's room, San Luis Obispo, enter Barbara with framed photo of Tom, Hunter and Chloe she places on desk, leaves.
14. Horses and creek. Hunter and Tom re fishing. Jackie and Chloe observe, Claire with Sess records.
15. Wanda, Daisy, Ruth facetime.
16. Barn, horses and hay, Tom and a Honda knot.
17. Claire's dad (in Ardmore, OK per the water tank framed by window, finishes Foglost, gets Claire selfie with Hunter.
18. White Sands sunset. Black sand beaches. Jackie's Iceland honeymoon. "Oh."
19. Night. Jackie leaves Hunter's. Starry sky and a shooting star burning out. Hunter re a movie, Tom's a "little tuckered, gonna call my wife and sister, get 'em caught up and onto bed." Hunter about a selfie, into house, garage close.
20. Tom's Tahoe story, Olivia's selfie.
Friday, September 26, 2025
act 2, scene 2: about the truck, meet Jackie
HUNTER'S DRIVEWAY - DAY
Garage door opens to Tom, Chloe and Hunter. Tom and Chloe to the truck, Hunter drives Rover to street. Chloe: "Cool truck" into Tom on its history, his "dad's last truck."
CHLOE: Can I see inside?
TOM: 'Course ya can.
He opens door.
TOM: Gotcher license?
CHLOE: Yeah.
TOM: Got a car?
CHLOE: No. When I go to college.
Hunter comes over, etc., more re the truck, Chloe sees Alfa Romeo nearing.
HUNTER: Heeere's Jackie.
Her arrival, intros, Jackie re another surprise guest re her cousin's girlfriend's arrival. The more the merrier, all into Rover and away.
act 2, scene 1: John and Jan powerwalk
Next day, sunrise, John and Jan powerwalk, (with dog?), rural Paso Robles.
John has "found them" - Tom and Wanda online - having used Tom's middle name to get there. Identifies Laramie and describes the street view, patches of snow on the ground. Jan re "speaking of snow and Wyoming" re Brian's suggestion re Jackson Hole re a discussed ski trip; he has a friend with a time share in Teton Village. "And qe were worried about Brian" re their concern about Tom. "And weren't we worried about Brian." "And weren't we wrong."
They near their home, near top of hill with view. Jan asks John "have you ever set foot in a cowboy boot?" John tells the Christmas-when-he-was-a-kid story re Roy Rogers boots under tree. Jan: "Had I not asked." Segue into Jan asking if he's called Rachel yet or if he's going to. "Tomorrow, after we get the report on today." SOUND OF ENGINE before pickup truck rounds bend into view, driven by a man in a cowboy hat; he tips it as he drives by and out of view. John and Jan into house.
Thursday, September 25, 2025
this will make Honda Knot better
Slowly coming around to see the benefit in this pause, re gaining clarity re a better way to tell this story, having climbed to this point, rhus gaining better perspective re how to reach the summit. Already know it's going to lose weight where wordiness is concerned.
Blah blah blah. Just a note, since I'm recording this phase, re reason arising from season.
Basically, Rubik's Cubing.
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
what's so hard about writing a great screenplay
Writerly recognition of need for timeout now
the challenge of finishing
Saturday, September 20, 2025
Friday, September 19, 2025
sudden disinterest
weird. suddenly the last thing i want to do is work on this screenplay time for a timeout.
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
the end is near
ending this here other than final beats over the weekend, then build Final Draft blog and laying brick beginning monday. this thing is going to lose weight. need now a timeout for a few days, step back, not think about it, maybe begin Next Project building blocks. this Finalish blog has served its purpose, like a rocjet stage, built to be jettisoned.
shit, i don;'t even know that Honda Knot will stick as titlr.
now that i have a clear idea re story and structure, i can do pretty much what i want with it.
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
act 1 beats
1. Night. Tom and Wanda in bed. Tom reading Foglost, Wanda reading Michener's Hawaii.
2. Next day, sunrise. Tom leaving in truck, WY plates.
3. Gil and Dale, Bandera VFW, re Maria and Boys, Tom and Wanda move, Tom Angel Fire selfie.
4. Wanda and Daisy. Tom call from ABQ motel, Tom leave Ruth VM.
5. Next day, sunrise, Tom leave ABQ motel.
6. John (driving), Jan, Chloe, Barbara, re horse day and Jackie.
7. Hunter, home office, Chloe pics.
8. Tom driving, Hunter's 'hood.
9. Hunter, kitchen, bag.
10. Tom arrive Hunter's, idle, Hunter out, contact, etc.
11. Tom U-turn. Hunter, greeting area, doorbell. Tom howdy, etc.
12. Wanda and Daisy, Tom call from Hunter's guest room. Tom call Ruth with Gil, peaches. Tom leave, arrive patio, framed in window.
13. Barbara with John and Jan, Hunter's call, Tom Walker, John re middle name.
14. Hunter and Chloe, airport.
15. Hunter and Chloe arrive, truck in driveway, intros.
16. Doc, H/T selfie.
17. Barbara and Brian in bed, he asks, she tells him about Tom and Olivia.
17. Night. Hunter, Chloe, Tom patio post-dinner. Re Jackie about a horse.
timeout 3
A timeout now to survey where I am in this bef0re continuing, knowing that considerable trimming and reconfiguring is required, having come to a better understanding of story and how to tell it.
Friday, September 12, 2025
scene 59 in progress
EXT. WINERY PATIO - DAY
View to vineyards and rolling hills. PATRONS include John and Jan at table with bottle of white. FAINT CLASSICAL MUSIC.
JOHN/JAN: We should send them a card.
They smile at each other, hold hands on the table.
JOHN: I’m going to email, Hunter. I’ll ask for the address.
JAN: I’d like to add a couple thoughts.
JOHN: After I check to see if I’ll be emailing a best-selling author.
JAN: Wouldn’t that be something?
JOHN: Won’t it be something is my sense.
JAN: That won’t hurt where the movie rights are concerned.
JOHN: Who would you cast, any actor, living or not?
JAN: For Robertson.
JOHN: For all the principals.
JAN: Hmm.
She ponders.
JAN: Jack Lemmon.
John considers, nods.
JOHN: I can see it. Yes.
JAN: Who’s the captain?
JOHN: Robert Shaw.
JAN (BEAT): Yes.
JOHN/JAN: The lighthouse operator.
JOHN: Charlie Chaplin.
Jan laughs. John smiles.
JAN: Perfect, of course. The girlfriend.
JOHN: CicelyTyson.
JAN: You’ve thought about this.
JOHN: Not her. Just came to me. You?
Jan’s PHONE RINGTONES Chloe’s ringtone (TBD). She and Barbara are facetiming.
to be continued.
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
scene 58
EXT. TEXAS FARM-TO-MARKET RD. 337 - DAY
Roadside signage identifies the two-lane highway and that we are looking eastbound at a straight stretch that climbs gradually away from us in countryside populated by oak trees and surrounded by hills.
The ENGINE SOUND before Tom's truck arrives at the top of the grade and proceeds toward us.
INT. TRUCK
Hunter driving, Wanda front passenger, Ruth in back.
HUNTER: How did Tom and Gil meet?
RUTH: When our families did, tubing the river.
HUNTER: What river.
RUTH: Medina.
HUNTER: You, Tom and your parents.
RUTH: Yes, and the Mendozas. Gil, his sister Soly, for Soledad, and their parents Javier and Rosa. They were living in San Antonio then.
HUNTER: How old were you?
RUTH: Ten. Tom was about a couple months away from twelve. Gil had just turned twelve, Soly was two days older than me.
HUNTER: Are or were you and Soly friends?
RUTH: We were. She was struck and killed by lightning when she was seventeen. Around that bend on your left is the gate.
EXT. RANCH GATE
Steel and wood featuring letter M, security light and entry keypad, split-rail fence in both directions.
ENGINE SOUND before truck into view round bend. Hunter drives to the gate, Ruth gets out, entrs code on keypad, gate opens, Ruth gets in, Hunter drives through, gate closes as truck disappears into oak stand.
EXT. RANCH HOUSE - DAY
Stone, steel and wood in clearing in oaks from which dirt driveway emerges to arrive at concrete parking area and big garage, one door of which is open to a mid-70s Corvette with Texas plates, as on the KIA SUV parked at garage's closed door. Gil's truck parked nearby, ski and fish boat on the trailer hitched to it.
Gil in rocker on deck stands when he HEARS TRUCK ENGINE moments before the truck appears. Ruth and Wanda wave out their windows, Gil waves back, walks to deck steps, Hunter parks at the garage's open door.
INT. GREETING AREA
Maria and the boys watch discreetly through window curtain crack at Gil walking to Hunter, Ruth and Wanda walking toward him. Gil embraces Ruth and Wanda, he and Hunter shake hands. Maria and the boys watch them walk toward the deck, let the curtain fall back to cover the window, leave frame. FAINT WJHIR OF CICADAS.
Monday, September 8, 2025
silly interlude how am i best writing this
Monday, September 1, 2025
scene 57 in progress
EXT. MORRO STRAND STATE BEACH, CA - SUNRISE
(this scene will change probably considerably from present form.)
Chloe and Barbara walk south along water's edge, toward prominent Morro Rock. OTHER BEACHGOERS and FOUR SURFERS in wetsuits in the water Occasional FAINT SEAGULL SQUAWK
BARBARA: Do we know what your dad is doing today?
CHLOE: Visiting Tom's lifelong best friend and his daughter-in-law and two grandsons outside the town of Medina.
BARBARA: Conjures curiosity regarding best friend's son.
CHLOE: He was a Marine who died in Afghanistan, no details beyond that.
Long pause.
CHLOE (CONT.): Left field.
BARBARA: Alright.
CHLOE: Is it accurate to assume a student deferment kept grampa out of Vietnam?
BARBARA: It is a matter of fact.
CHLOE: You talked about it.
BARBARA: Briefly, when I was your age. What brings this up?
CHLOE: Just curious. Tom was in Vietnam.
BARBARA: He talked about it.
CHLOE: It came up when I asked about his interrupted rodeo career. He had a First Cavalry tattoo on his right shoulder.
BARBARA: Brian's dad has an anchor on his left.
CHLOE: Navy Vietnam?
BARBARA: Affirmative.
CHLOE: Am I ever going to meet him?
BARBARA: I was going to bring that up. He's coming down for Bryce's first two games, to which you are of course invited.
CHLOE: At Cuesta?
BARBARA: At Cuesta.
CHLOE: Sure. When, more or less exactly.
BARBARA: First weekend in February, against Santa Barbara City.
CHLOE: Cool.
They veer away from the water to QUARTER-FULL PARKING LOT
BARBARA: Your dad mentioned you going to Texas when he goes back with Tom's ashes.
CHLOE: I was going to bring that up. I'd fly into Austin, tour of campus and town, then to Ruth's. Looking at coming back the Saturday before school starts. Cool?
BARBARA: Cool. I wonder when we'll get to meet them?
CHLOE: I'm thinking maybe my graduation?
BARBARA: Great idea.
CHLOE: I'll invite them when I'm there. If yes, dad will rent and make a week of it.
BARBARA: Sounds good. By the way, grams and gramps want to send a card.
CHLOE: I'll get the address tonight.
They reach the lot and walk to a Porsche 987-model Boxster.
BARBARA: Breakfast at A-Town?
CHLOE: I'm down.
BARBARA: Down enough to get us there?
Barbara gets keys from pocket, extends them to Chloe.
CHLOE: For real?
Barbara nods, Chloe takes keys, they hug, Chloe gets in behind the wheel, Barb in passenger seat, Chloe starts engine, lowers the convertible top, finds reverse on the manual transmission, backs out of space, finds first gear, drives to road, turns onto it, drives away, finds second gear, turns out of view.
Sunday, August 31, 2025
scene 56
INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Ruth, Wanda and Hunter seated at the table of the same wood as the old hutch buffet. Chandelier, Curtains closed across window, view into dark kitchen, framed oil on canvas still life featuring peaches in a wooden bowl on a wooden table lit from light through window. Bottle of red wine and photo album on table, they each have a glass less than half-empty. Hunter swirls his, sips.
RUTH: Is the wine alright, Hunter?
HUNTER: It's great. I've never had a Texas wine. What's the grape?
RUTH: Tempranillo, native to Spain. Used here because it does well in heat.
HUNTER: Are you an oenophile?
RUTH: Oh my, I haven't been called that before. But yes, I guess a little. You?
HUNTER: Not so much. I'll have a glass with dinner now and then but I'm pretty much a beer guy. Barb's folks are oenophiles with a well stocked cellar.
RUTH: Well living in Paso Robles puts them close to some great wines.
HUNTER: They've got a well stocked cellar. Have either of you been to California?
Wand and Ruth look at each other, Ruth nods.
WANDA: Disneyland when I was eleven. We stayed at the hotel and spent a day in San Diego. Coronado Island specifically.
RUTH: Disneyland and the hotel also, for Charlie's tenth birthday. We spent a day in Newport.
HUNTER: Doing what?
RUTH: Well, the pier, the peninsula, the ferry to Balboa Island where we had lunch, the ferry back and rides at a place I think was called the fun zone.
HUNTER: Still is.
WANDA: How many times have you been to Disneyland?
HUNTER: Twice when I was a kid. We could see the top of the Matterhorn from the roof. And the day before Christmas when Chloe was twelve.
WANDA: Do you know what her eighteenth birthday present will be?
HUNTER: A car.
RUTH: Does she know this?
HUNTER: She does not.
Ruth and Wanda look at each other, Wanda nods.
RUTH: She probably wouldn't want anything to do with an old pickup truck.
Hunter stares at Ruth and Wanda staring at him.
Thursday, August 28, 2025
scene 55
EXT. BRICK HOUSE - FRONT PORCH - DAY
Ruth and Wanda in rockers on the porch with view to modest grass front yard and leafy street lined by similar homes. Texas plates on the mid-70s Pontiac Bonneville in the driveway across the street. Potted plants, WIND CHIMES SOFTLY RINGING, FAINT CALL OF NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD. Awhile before Ruth speaks.
WANDA: Saw that on the weather channel. Galveston's already battening down the hatches. Looks like we'll miss the brunt of it.
RUTH: Probably a good idea to leave Gil's before it gets here.
WANDA: A very good idea.
RUTH: How's Daisy doing?
WANDA: Better. After she dropped me off at the airport she went on to Elk Mountain to stay with her niece for a couple days. Clem's birthday is next week.
RUTH: That'll be hard.
WANDA: I think so.
RUTH: Maybe she'd like to come down for awhile.
Wanda looks at Ruth.
WANDA: That had crossed my mind.
The SOUND OF TRUCK ENGINE arrests their attention. They stand, wait for, watch Hunter drive into view, turn into driveway.
INT. TRUCK
Hunter drives to the garage, Ruth and Wanda walk to porch steps, Hunter turns off engine, looks at Ruth and Wanda, waves, they wave back.
EXT. PORCH/DRIVEWAY
Hunter gets out, walks steps to Ruth and Wanda, hugs them both. Ruth takes one of his hands, Wanda the other, walk to door, enter house.
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
scene 54
edit 9/1 ADD honda knot re Chloe’s float rope.
EXT. RUNABOUT BOAT IN LAKE COVE - DAY
John, Jan and Barbara under shade of bimini top. Chloe on float rope-tethered to boat, twenty feet away.
John in deck shoes, khaki shorts, Hawaiian shirt. Jan in sandals, knee-length shorts, unbuttoned long-sleeve blouse over tee, sunglasses hang from collar. Barbara barefoot, unbuttoned short-sleeve over one-piece swimsuit. Chloe in bikini, lying on her back.
Cove surrounded by hills opens to lake and distant SAILBOAT. Water skis, slalom ski, rescue buoy onboard. Scrabble box on ice chest.
JAN: What if anything do we know about Ruth?
BARBARA: We know she was a high school English teacher in Johnson City when she me married a petroleum engineer named Dan, moved to Tulsa, had a son named Charles who died at fourteen with Dan when the Cessna they were in crashed on the runway of the ranch they were going to for a deer hunt. After that she traveled Europe for a year before returning and buying a house in Maine. Lived there for a few years until their mother got sick, sold Maine, moved back to Bandera and the house they grew up in to take care of her, sold when she died, bought a place in a town called Comfort for herself and their father, sold that when he died from a heart attack a year and day after their mother, moved to Anchorage, lived there for a couple years, moved back to Bandera into the house she's in now, that she was planning to sell to buy in Kerrville with Tom and Wanda.
Chloe turns over, sits up, uses rope to reel herself to the boat.
JOHN/JAN: Have you talked to Hunter?
BARBARA: He facetimed us this morning before he left. Sad eyes. I'm going to call when he gets home.
They watch Chloe near and board. Jan hands her a towel she drapes over her shoulders.
JOHN: Get enough sun.
Chloe nods, picks up phone from console when it RINGTONES WIND CHIMES.
CHLOE: Dad.
She looks at screen, smiles, hands phone to Jan.
CHLOE (CONT.) East of the Pecos.
Barbara and John get close to see the selfie Hunter has taken where he stands, sunglasses on, calm stretch of narrow river behind him, West Texas desert on the other side of the rugged bank.
BARBARA: Great picture.
JAN: Yes it is.
Jan hands phone back, Chloe stares at the picture, puts phone back in console.
CHLOE: Ski time?
Jan, John and Barbara nod.
JOHN: You mind driving?
Chloe shakes head, John hands off the captain's hat, she puts it on, gets in driver's seat, Barbara and Jan in back, John brings in and secures anchor, sits in front passenger seat, Chloe starts engine, steers the boat out of cove to lake, turns out of view.
scene 53
edit 9/1 change location to feed and tack store.
EXT. RANCH HOUSE FRONT PORCH -DAY
Describe. Hill country cabin, abundant Ashe Juniper, dirt driveway from remote ranch road.
ENGINE SOUND before Gil's truck appears. Dale comes through screen door, walks to where Gil parks in driveway, Gil gets out, approaches Dale. walks to porch. Rodrigo in front passenger seat, Roberto in back, their windows down.
DALE: Mornin', sir.
GIL: Good morning.
They shake hands. Dale waves at the boys, the boys wave back.
DALE: Pleasant surprise.
GIL: Got some rough news.
DALE (BEAT): Alright.
GIL: Tom passed. Night before last.
DALE: Where and how?
GIL: Won't know how til after the autopsy. Tom had a son. They were meeting for the first time. Tom was staying at his house in Las Cruces. His name is Hunter. On his way to Ruth's in the truck. Wanda flew in yesterday. He'll be down for a couple days then back next week with Tom's ashes. Maybe you'd like to meet him.
DALE: I would, if ya think he'd like to meet me.
GIL: I'd bet yes.
DALE: Have ya talked to him?
GIL: No. He'll be over with the girls tomorrow.
SUSAN, 70ish, - describe - comes out through screen, down porch steps, to Dale and Gil.
SUSAN: I thought I heard your voice.
GIL: Hey, sweetheart.
They embrace. Susan waves to the boys, the boys wave back.
SUSAN: Where y'all headin'?
GIL: Maples, get a little lost.
SUSAN: Good place for it.
DALE: Tom passed.
SUSAN: Oh no.
Dale puts arm around her.
DALE: Wanda's at Ruth's. We'll call later.
Susan nod, puts arm around Dale.
GIL: Gonna get on.
Dale and Susan nod. Dale and Gil embrace, then Gil and Susan. Gil goes to truck, gets in, drives away around bend, out of view. Dale and Susan, arms around each other, walk to house, enter, screen closes behind them. WHIR OF CICADAS.
