Teaser Scenes - Scene Set 1
Flashback - INT. IAN'S DINING ROOM - scene 1.1
START SCENE
Ian is at the head of the long, mahogany dining room table as usual, sitting casually in the leather pleated chair. Lauren shoved food around on her stunning china plate, directly across from Ian. Brown hair cascades down her back in its typical waves, but something is clearly off about her appearance. Her clothes are usual of her - a pale green cashmere sweater and beige slacks, yet something is off.
Perhaps it's the bloodshot eyes and smudged mascara that gives her turmoil away. She's been crying, and is definitely a little drunk, as shown by the empty wine glass in front of her plate. Declan sits between in the middle chair on the side of the table, an empty chair on either side. The dining room is stunning - looks right out of a catalogue.
Ian could never resist extravagance. The walls are lined with golden wallpaper and mahogany furniture. A crystalline chandelier hangs over the room, symbolic of the tension hanging over the couple over the past week.
Ian: Something wrong with the food?
Lauren continued to push around asparagus and steak without making any attempt to eat any of it.
Lauren, nonchalant: Food's fine.
Ian, scoffing: How would you know? You haven't touched it.
Lauren: I'm just not hungry.
Ian: You need to eat.
Lauren: Ian…
Ian: Louise can make you something else if you want it.
Lauren: Fine.
Ian: What do you want?
Lauren: A drink.
Ian: Not what I meant.
Lauren: Whatever.
Lauren abruptly stood up and crossed over to the bar cart in the room, picking up a whole bottle of Grey Goose, unscrewing the cap and taking a large swig, straight from the bottle. Ian stared in disbelief, shocked at the sight of her acting so churlish.
Lauren, walking out, bottle in hand: I'll be in the bedroom.
Ian: Well, then.
Declan, who'd been sitting at the table eating chicken fingers in silence watching the exchange between his father and the woman he'd begun to see as his mother: Is Lauren okay?
Ian, sighing: She's okay, Dec.
Declan: She didn't eat her veggies. When I don't eat my veg-
Ian: Lauren is an adult. She can choose whether or not to eat her veggies or…
Ian's voice lowered to a mumble under his breath.
Ian: have booze for dinner.
Declan: Maybe you should go talk to her.
Ian: Good idea, Declan. Finish your veggies.
Ian left, leaving Declan at the dinner table alone. When he left, he found that Lauren had not made her way to the bedroom yet and was instead sitting against the wall of the hallway, hands in her hair as she stared at her feet.
Ian: Lauren?
Lauren: I'm sorry. For dinner… I shouldn't have done that.. Not in front of Declan.
Ian: He's worried about you, asked if you're okay.
Lauren: He's a thoughtful boy.
Ian: mmhm.
He sat down next to her.
Ian: Lauren?
Lauren, the slight inebriation allowing her to speak more freely than she would typically with anyone, especially Ian: I'm angry, Ian. I'm so angry. Everyday since…. I wake up and I'm angry. There's no break from it, except for the parts when I'm… just… numb.
Ian gently shifted her body so she was laying with her head in his lap and he combed his fingers through her hair. Ian knew she was struggling, but getting drunk in the hallway was worrisome.
Ian： Love…
Lauren, begging for any answer, her profiler's mind miles away: How are you just okay?
Ian sighed.
Ian: Because I have to be. I'm a warrior, Lauren, you know that. I can't waste time being sad.
Lauren shot up.
Lauren, defensive: And I can? Right, because I can just wallow around aimlessly and be some sad pathetic woman.
She gulped down another long swig of alcohol.
Ian: I didn't say that.
Lauren: No, but you did.
Ian, seethed: Of course, I'm not okay! But I have a business to run and a son to raise and you to..
Lauren: To what, Ian?
Ian: I don't know, to make sure you don't off yourself!
Lauren, scoffing: Well, damn. I'm sorry I'm such a burden.
Ian: It's natural that this would affect you. I just can't afford to do the same.
Ian stood up.
Ian: Do as you please, but please, Love, eat something that's not liquor.
Lauren: I'll think about it.
Agent Emily knew that empathetic words from Ian were about one in a million and his detached response was as much as he was capable of giving her but right now, Lauren just wanted to curl up and cry. It had been about a week since the miscarriage and she'd completely fallen apart. Clyde was probably wondering why she hadn't exited the villa once, or given any fresh intel.
She just didn't have the mental capacity for it, she just couldn't. This was one way to learn the "don't get pregnant on assignment" lesson.
Ian: Love….
Lauren: I will.
Ian: Good. We have a drop tomorrow. In France. You're coming.
Lauren, too tired to fight him on this: Alright.
Ian: Glad to hear it, love.
Lauren, quietly: Thanks.
She had learned quite early on the assignment that she ought to let Ian feel in control of her so when he extended his hand to her, she let him pull her to her feet and against his chest. She didn't complain when he kissed her cheek, hand on the small of her back against the pale green cashmere fabric of her sweater. He guided the two of them up the stairs and to the bedroom.
Ian knew that nothing was going to happen between the two of them tonight, at least not in the way he'd like. She hadn't wanted to- not since that day. Ian leant against the doorframe, watching her sit down on the edge of the bed.
Lauren: What's the drop?
She figured asking about it would shake her back into Agent Emily mode, which she desperately wanted.
Ian, surprised she was inquiring about it, but pleased nonetheless: Nothing special. Selling a case of M4A1s to French group.
Hm. Small. Clyde would probably laugh at her when she brought this to him.
Lauren: You need me for that?
Ian: Maybe I just want the company.
Lauren: I'm no good company right now.
Ian, joking: Well, you're at least still nice to look at.
Lauren mustered a weak smile, the most she'd given him the past week.
Ian: Besides, Liam doesn't speak French and you do. Be helpful to have a second set of ears.
Lauren: I know this group?
Ian: Perhaps. I haven't done business with them before.
Lauren: Well, give me the name and I'll tell you if I know it.
Ian: Why so curious all of the sudden?
Lauren: I'm just trying to help, Ian.
Ian nodded.
Ian (speaking in French): Obsidienne.
Ian (in English): You know it?
She did. As part of building her cover, she had made several deals with other organizations in order to make Lauren Reynold's business sound legit to Ian. She didn't know much about them, but Clyde probably had a dossier somewhere.
It'd be important to add that they were now in business with Valhalla. Lauren sighed.
Lauren, standing and peeling her sweater off, revealing the camisole she wore under it: Actually, yes. Few years ago, it was a small deal, too, not unlike this one. My thoughts -
Ian: Not big spenders.
Lauren, unbuttoning her slacks and shimming them off over her hips: Exactly.
Ian nodded. Lauren, in just her tank top and underwear walked in front of the door to the balcony.
Lauren: This is my favorite place in your whole house.
Ian, pleased with her seemingly renewed, if not out of the blue, sense of self and walked behind her, wrapping his arms around her small waist, resting his chin on her head: There's my girl.
Lauren dislodged her head from under Ian's and kissed his cheek before walking over to the dresser and pulling out a pair of Ian's grey sweats. She yanked them on, tying the knot several times to account for the larger size. Ian watched her captivatively. He felt immense pride at her instinctively going to wear his clothes.
He walked over to where she'd lazily discarded the sweater and picked it up, folding it and putting it on the chair. Lauren pulled back the comforter and climbed into bed.
Lauren, smirking: You coming?
Ian: I need to put Declan to bed, then I'll be right back.
Lauren: Don't take too long.
Ian: What's the rush?
Lauren: Maybe I just want the company.
Ian chuckled and left the room. When he returned, he realized she had already fallen asleep. He carefully sat on the side of the bed, and watched the rise and fall of her chest with her breathing.
He was thankful to whatever got her back to her old self. He had been trying his best to put on a strong facade for Lauren. Maybe she wanted more coddling, but he knew that wasn't what she needed.
She needed to be herself again, even if he had to get her that way via some tough love. He slid his hand over her pale stomach, the thin material of her camisole riding up, and he couldn't help but make the obvious connection. Despite his valiant efforts, tears over what could have been falling down his cheek.
He knew what he wanted. He wanted a family. Chloe was no good- she never wanted that.
Lauren was perfect. She was beautiful, brilliant, and best of all, she loved Declan. Whatever she wanted, Ian decided she would get.
He knew what Lauren wanted. She wanted a child. He silently promised to do everything in his power to give her that.
After what could have been several hours, he stood to turn out the light and climbed into bed next to his recently troubled love, wrapping a protective arm around her waist. The intoxicating lavender scent of her hair lulled him to sleep and the next morning, when a little boy pounced on their bed, playfully hollering at his father and his quasi mother to wake up, he felt more at peace than Ian Doyle ever had.
He liked his new life, and if anything were to jeopardize that or his plans to make Lauren's wish come true, well… let's just say the person responsible should get their affairs in order. He never expected that Lauren would be that person.
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End TEASER SCENES