INT. GREAT ROOM - DAY
Limestone floor and fireplace surround. Archway to hall. Leather furniture includes arrangements aimed at fireplace and wall-mounted TV. Longhorn steers above fireplace, flanked by two whitetail buck shoulder mounts on each side. Mini-fridge and bar, pool table, and Gil in chair near lampstand at big window to oak and Ashe Juniper woods. He's reading Foglost. turns page before MARIA, 40ish - sandals, faded jeans, t-shirt with BROWNSVILLE GYRL across front - arrives in archway.
MARIA: Knock knock.
GIL: Who's there?
MARIA: Ida
GIL: Ida who?
MARIA: Ida forgotten Tom and Wanda are here if I hadn't seen it on the calendar.
GIL: Change in itinerary. Tom arrives tomorrow, Wanda's staying home to be with a friend whose husband recently passed.
MARIA: Oh. Where'd the boys go?
GIL: Treehouse.
MARIA: That didn't take long.
GIL: No time for grampa.
MARIA: Oh stop it. All they talked about on the way up was getting it done to make you proud.
GIL: Really?
MARIA: Really. Whatcha readin'?
Gil shows her the book.
MARIA (CONT.) Your guy.
GIL: Just out.
MARIA: What's H C looking like these days?
Gil shows her the about the author flap.
MARIA (CONT.): Damn. Even handsomer. Organ Mountains. Right?
GIL: Looks like.
MARIA: What's it about?
GIL: A Houston attorney whose drinking has killed his marriage and is ruining his health and career takes a leave of absence, buys a boat, sails out of Galveston, encounters a freak fog event. I'm where he's bumped into something in the middle of the night.
Maria gets phine from pocket, hands it to Gil.
MARIA:It chirped.
GIL: Where was it?
MARIA: Garage.
He turns on phone, stares at something, looks at Maria, hands her phone. She stares at a photo of Tom and Hunter looking at the camera from where they stand at Hunter's back yard stone wall, Organ Mountains behind them.
MARIA (CONT.): That author flap, please.
He opens Foglost to the flap, Maria compares the images, looks at Gil, hands him phone. He closes book.
GIL: I'll have to let Tom elaborate.
MARIA: Can't wait. When are they coming over?
GIL: Saturday.
MARIA: Tamales?
Gil nods. Maria leaves, stops in archway, turns to Gil.
MARIA: Kinda big?
Gil nods, Maria nods, leaves into hall. Gil compares the picture on his phone with the author page, puts phone on lampstand, resumes reading.