Note: This fic is in script format however it's extremely basic and doesn't contain many of the technical details. It's essentially a dialogue piece with some description. Also the title comes from Dido's "White Flag" and Coldplay's "You Only Live Twice." Finally you do not have to have read the previous two fics in this series to understand this one.
INT. CIA OPS CENTER - DAY
Weiss is sitting at his desk when Vaughn walks in and allows his briefcase to drop with a thud. Vaughn looks tired and weary as he sits in his chair.
VAUGHN
It's over.
Weiss turns his chair to face his friend.
WEISS
What's over?
VAUGHN
My marriage. I just got back from our lawyer's office. The divorce is final.
Weiss nods. And waits a moment before responding.
WEISS
I'm sorry, Mike. I know it's for the best but still it can't be easy.
VAUGHN
Yeah, I guess part of me was holding on cause I always thought that when I finally did get married it would be for good. You know, I pride myself on my loyalty. When I make a commitment I mean it. It's like my dad always taught me, "Don't make promises you know you can't keep." (beat) I feel like I failed.
WEISS
Failure is when you try to do something and through some deficiency on your part you don't succeed. Loving Sydney is not a deficiency. Getting a divorce doesn't mean that you've failed. It just means that you both acknowledged that the reasons you had for getting married are no longer valid and that the best thing for both of you was to admit that and let each other go. That's not failure that's maturity.
VAUGHN
Still...
WEISS
Yeah. (beat) As always, there's my favorite bar that you won't remember in the morning.
Vaughn considers it for a moment.
VAUGHN
No. I shouldn't. The last time I went into one of those I met a florist name Silvio.
Weiss chuckles.
WEISS
Right. Well, you know what always makes me feel better?
VAUGHN
I'm almost afraid to ask.
WEISS
A nice romantic date with a beautiful woman.
VAUGHN
You're not asking me out are you?
Weiss just gives Vaughn a look. Vaughn sighs.
VAUGHN
You want me to ask Sydney out. What? Tonight?
WEISS
Well, maybe not tonight but there's Friday or Saturday.
VAUGHN
Yeah, cause that's really classy.
WEISS
Come on, Miss Manners, you know you want to.
VAUGHN
Of course I want to. There are a lot of things I want to do. But that doesn't mean that I should. This is important and I want to do it right. I don't want it to be like, (announcer voice) "So Mike, you've just gotten a divorce. What are you going to do now?" (excited voice) "I'm going on a date with Sydney!" She deserves better than that. She deserves a first date complete with valet parking and reservations, fine wine and decadent cuisine, atmosphere and ambiance. The whole works.
WEISS
That's right. I forgot you were Mr. Zagat's. Can't go anywhere or do anything without researching it first.
VAUGHN
Hey, who do you always ask when you need a place to take your date to?
WEISS
(melodramatically) I don't know. It's been so long...
VAUGHN
Whose fault is that?
WEISS
Mine for hanging out with a beautiful brunette that's in love with another man instead of going out on social recon missions for Operation Eric.
VAUGHN
Well it might help if you stopped using phrases like "social recon" and "Operation Eric."
WEISS
True. And it might help if you would stop avoiding the subject.
VAUGHN
Look, I'm going to ask her out eventually.
WEISS
Yeah, but when?
VAUGHN
Soon. Not this week. Maybe next week. Or the one after that. When the time is right I'll know.
WEISS
Yeah, well, sometimes you have to create the opportunity for the right time to come along.
VAUGHN
And how do you propose that I do that?
WEISS
It might help if you let her know that you're officially divorced.
Vaughn groans.
VAUGHN
I don't even want to think about that yet.
WEISS
We could always do what we did last time. I'll go over to her place and you'll call me with the news and I'll say, "So the divorce is final..." And then she'll know.
Vaughn thinks about the plan and shakes his head.
VAUGHN
No. We're supposed to be starting a relationship. I'm not going to do it with some high school level subterfuge. I need to be able to have a conversation with her.
WEISS
Hey I was just trying to spare you both a big heaping helping of awkwardness, okay?
VAUGHN
Yeah, but I'd rather work past the awkward instead of just avoiding it. That only gets me in trouble.
WEISS
True.
Weiss looks up.
WEISS
Well, if you want she just walked back in from lunch.
Vaughn looks around nervously and Weiss shakes his head.
WEISS
Are you sure you don't want to use my plan?
Vaughn composes himself and stands up straightening his tie.
VAUGHN
No. I need to do this.
He walks over to Syd's desk.
VAUGHN
Hey, Syd. Um, can we talk?
She looks up at him quizzically. His tone was conversational and light but she could hear the tension lurking underneath.
SYDNEY
Sure.
He places a hand on her elbow and guides her to the flirting corner. He smiles and tries to be nonchalant.
VAUGHN
So, how was your lunch?
She looks at him, not buying his act for a second.
SYDNEY
Vaughn, what is it?
VAUGHN
Sorry. I just... I wanted to tell you this before you heard it from anyone else. (deep breath) I, uh, just got back from seeing my lawyer. My divorce is final.
Syd nods trying to take the news in along with all that it implies.
SYDNEY
Oh. (beat) Um, how are you feeling? Are you okay?
VAUGHN
I don't think it's quite sunk in yet. But I do feel... lighter. I guess that's the word for it. I'm not happy about everything that happened but I am relieved that... Things just seem so... clear and simple.
SYDNEY
That's good. Right?
VAUGHN
It feels good. Yeah.
SYDNEY
Well, if you need anything...
VAUGHN
Thanks.
They both kind of nod awkwardly and wait a moment before turning to leave at the same time. He stops and gestures for her to go first and follows her out of the room with a roll of his eyes. Oh, yeah, everything's great now that the divorce is final.
CUT TO:
INT. CIA OPS CENTER - DAY
Weiss is sitting at his desk when Vaughn walks in and allows his briefcase to drop with a thud. Vaughn looks tired and weary as he sits in his chair.
VAUGHN
It's over.
Weiss turns his chair to face his friend.
WEISS
What's over?
VAUGHN
My marriage. I just got back from our lawyer's office. The divorce is final.
Weiss nods. And waits a moment before responding.
WEISS
I'm sorry, Mike. I know it's for the best but still it can't be easy.
VAUGHN
Yeah, I guess part of me was holding on cause I always thought that when I finally did get married it would be for good. You know, I pride myself on my loyalty. When I make a commitment I mean it. It's like my dad always taught me, "Don't make promises you know you can't keep." (beat) I feel like I failed.
WEISS
Failure is when you try to do something and through some deficiency on your part you don't succeed. Loving Sydney is not a deficiency. Getting a divorce doesn't mean that you've failed. It just means that you both acknowledged that the reasons you had for getting married are no longer valid and that the best thing for both of you was to admit that and let each other go. That's not failure that's maturity.
VAUGHN
Still...
WEISS
Yeah. (beat) As always, there's my favorite bar that you won't remember in the morning.
Vaughn considers it for a moment.
VAUGHN
No. I shouldn't. The last time I went into one of those I met a florist name Silvio.
Weiss chuckles.
WEISS
Right. Well, you know what always makes me feel better?
VAUGHN
I'm almost afraid to ask.
WEISS
A nice romantic date with a beautiful woman.
VAUGHN
You're not asking me out are you?
Weiss just gives Vaughn a look. Vaughn sighs.
VAUGHN
You want me to ask Sydney out. What? Tonight?
WEISS
Well, maybe not tonight but there's Friday or Saturday.
VAUGHN
Yeah, cause that's really classy.
WEISS
Come on, Miss Manners, you know you want to.
VAUGHN
Of course I want to. There are a lot of things I want to do. But that doesn't mean that I should. This is important and I want to do it right. I don't want it to be like, (announcer voice) "So Mike, you've just gotten a divorce. What are you going to do now?" (excited voice) "I'm going on a date with Sydney!" She deserves better than that. She deserves a first date complete with valet parking and reservations, fine wine and decadent cuisine, atmosphere and ambiance. The whole works.
WEISS
That's right. I forgot you were Mr. Zagat's. Can't go anywhere or do anything without researching it first.
VAUGHN
Hey, who do you always ask when you need a place to take your date to?
WEISS
(melodramatically) I don't know. It's been so long...
VAUGHN
Whose fault is that?
WEISS
Mine for hanging out with a beautiful brunette that's in love with another man instead of going out on social recon missions for Operation Eric.
VAUGHN
Well it might help if you stopped using phrases like "social recon" and "Operation Eric."
WEISS
True. And it might help if you would stop avoiding the subject.
VAUGHN
Look, I'm going to ask her out eventually.
WEISS
Yeah, but when?
VAUGHN
Soon. Not this week. Maybe next week. Or the one after that. When the time is right I'll know.
WEISS
Yeah, well, sometimes you have to create the opportunity for the right time to come along.
VAUGHN
And how do you propose that I do that?
WEISS
It might help if you let her know that you're officially divorced.
Vaughn groans.
VAUGHN
I don't even want to think about that yet.
WEISS
We could always do what we did last time. I'll go over to her place and you'll call me with the news and I'll say, "So the divorce is final..." And then she'll know.
Vaughn thinks about the plan and shakes his head.
VAUGHN
No. We're supposed to be starting a relationship. I'm not going to do it with some high school level subterfuge. I need to be able to have a conversation with her.
WEISS
Hey I was just trying to spare you both a big heaping helping of awkwardness, okay?
VAUGHN
Yeah, but I'd rather work past the awkward instead of just avoiding it. That only gets me in trouble.
WEISS
True.
Weiss looks up.
WEISS
Well, if you want she just walked back in from lunch.
Vaughn looks around nervously and Weiss shakes his head.
WEISS
Are you sure you don't want to use my plan?
Vaughn composes himself and stands up straightening his tie.
VAUGHN
No. I need to do this.
He walks over to Syd's desk.
VAUGHN
Hey, Syd. Um, can we talk?
She looks up at him quizzically. His tone was conversational and light but she could hear the tension lurking underneath.
SYDNEY
Sure.
He places a hand on her elbow and guides her to the flirting corner. He smiles and tries to be nonchalant.
VAUGHN
So, how was your lunch?
She looks at him, not buying his act for a second.
SYDNEY
Vaughn, what is it?
VAUGHN
Sorry. I just... I wanted to tell you this before you heard it from anyone else. (deep breath) I, uh, just got back from seeing my lawyer. My divorce is final.
Syd nods trying to take the news in along with all that it implies.
SYDNEY
Oh. (beat) Um, how are you feeling? Are you okay?
VAUGHN
I don't think it's quite sunk in yet. But I do feel... lighter. I guess that's the word for it. I'm not happy about everything that happened but I am relieved that... Things just seem so... clear and simple.
SYDNEY
That's good. Right?
VAUGHN
It feels good. Yeah.
SYDNEY
Well, if you need anything...
VAUGHN
Thanks.
They both kind of nod awkwardly and wait a moment before turning to leave at the same time. He stops and gestures for her to go first and follows her out of the room with a roll of his eyes. Oh, yeah, everything's great now that the divorce is final.
CUT TO: