INT. SYDNEY'S LIVING ROOM - EARLY EVENING

There's a knock at the door. We can hear Syd off-screen in her bedroom.

SYDNEY
It's open!

The camera pans over to see her walking out of the hallway into the living room as we hear the door open.

SYDNEY
So what'll it be tonight? I was thinking Lomeli's pizza but...

She stops when she sees who's at the door.

SYDNEY
Oh. Um, hi.

It's Vaughn. He looks uncertain.

VAUGHN
Hi.

She motions for him to come in and they sit down. He's on a chair and she's on the couch across from him.

SYDNEY
Sorry, I thought you were Weiss.

VAUGHN
I figured. He told me he comes over sometimes.

SYDNEY
Yeah. We didn't really know each other that well before but ever since I got back he's been keeping me company.

Syd thinks about what she just said and considers Vaughn's expression.

SYDNEY
You asked him to do it, didn't you?

Vaughn takes a moment to consider lying to her but his hesitation is the only answer she needs.

SYDNEY
Why?

He shrugs.

VAUGHN
I was worried about you. I know how hard it is to come home to an empty apartment every day when you're used to someone being there. I just didn't want you to fell like you were all alone.

SYDNEY
So you asked Weiss to keep an eye on me?

Vaughn smiles slightly at this.

VAUGHN
It's not like I had to twist his arm. He was just telling me how much he likes spending time with you.

Syd looks at him skeptically. Vaughn's all nervous and starting to sweat. Something is going on.

SYDNEY
Vaughn, why are you here?

He tries to play it off like it ain't no thang.

VAUGHN
Um, I just thought I'd come by and see how your day off went.

Syd knows he's lying but she goes with it for now, mainly because it's nice to just be able to talk to him about something other than work and the marriage that dare not speak its name.

SYDNEY
It was good. I slept in late and then my dad came by with my car. We talked for a bit and he even let me take him shopping for new furniture for his apartment.

Vaughn has to chuckle at that.

VAUGHN
Seriously? For some reason I just can't imagine Jack Bristow in a Pottery Barn.

Syd laughs too.

SYDNEY
I know. Turns out he has quite a flare for interior decorating. He picked out some great stuff.

VAUGHN
Next thing you know we'll find out that he can sing and dance too.

SYDNEY
At this point I don't think I'd be surprised. Ever since I got back we've been spending a lot of time together, having normal conversations. It's been great. Before he was always kind of cold and distant but now... I don't know. Something's different.

VAUGHN
Whatever it is, I'm glad. I know how much you've always wanted a better relationship with him.

SYDNEY
Yeah, it's been one of the few good things to come out of all this. I just wish we could've gotten here without me having to die. (beat) You know when I was a kid one of my favorite books was Tom Sawyer.

VAUGHN
Let me guess, you liked all the adventures?

SYDNEY
Yeah. Growing up in the suburbs I used to wish I could go with them, playing in the woods and the caves. It sounded so exotic and exciting.

Syd pauses and looks away. She's not sure about this. Her tone becomes more serious.

SYDNEY
But the one part that always fascinated me was Tom and Huck's funeral. I always wondered what people would say about me if I died, what they would do.

Vaughn realizes what she's asking.

VAUGHN
Syd...

SYDNEY
You don't have to tell me. It's just one of those things I've been thinking about. I'm sorry I even brought it up.

VAUGHN
If you really want to know...

SYDNEY
It's okay really. My dad already told me that you spread my ashes at sea.

Now it's Vaughn's turn to look away.

VAUGHN
We would have rather buried you but we never found a body and what we did find wasn't much so we just... Neither of us could stand burying another empty casket.

SYDNEY
Where did you go?

VAUGHN
Off the coast by the bluffs in Pacific Palisades. I considered the pier but the bluffs are more... peaceful. I don't know. For some reason that seemed important at the time. (beat) I would have thought your dad would have wanted to do it but he was, uh, kind enough to give me one last moment alone with you.

SYDNEY
It was just you?

VAUGHN
For that. We also had a small gathering when they put your name on the memorial. We tried to get you a star but since you weren't technically on assignment when you died... Anyways a small group of us stayed after work...

CUT TO:

INT. THE OPS CENTER - EVENING

Jack, Vaughn, Weiss, Marshall, Carrie, and Kendall are standing around the memorial looking at Sydney's freshly carved name. No one else is around. They all look tired and sad, especially Vaughn. He has a thick layer of stubble on his jaw and his eyes are bloodshot with bags under them. Jack, who isn't looking his best either, glances at Vaughn, sighs, and takes a step forward.

JACK
I just want to thank you all for coming. I decided to forego a more elaborate service due to the fact that I imagine Sydney would have wanted it this way. (He hesitates) If anyone has anything that they'd like to say...

Kendall steps forward.

KENDALL
I would. To be honest I'm surprised you invited me. Sydney and I didn't always get along. I thought that she was stubborn and reckless and she thought I was an insensitive ass. That said her abilities as an agent were as undeniable as her loyalty to her friends and colleagues. And I knew that if I ever got into trouble she would be the one I'd want leading the rescue team. Despite our differences, I respected her and I will miss working with her.

He steps back and Weiss takes a reluctant step forward.

WEISS
I guess I'll go next. I didn't really know Sydney all that well. We worked together on a few missions and she bought me a plant when I got shot but that was about it. Most of what I knew about her was from Mike. He's always been a stickler for rules and protocol but when he met Sydney suddenly there wasn't a rule he wouldn't break if he thought it would help her. I'll admit, I didn't always agree with him but the more I saw them together, the way she was just as willing to do anything for him, how happy she made him... Sydney was an amazing person and I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to know her better.

Weiss is a little sniffly at the end of this and he steps back with a concerned glance at Vaughn who's just staring at the floor. Marshall sends a nervous look at Carrie and then he steps forward.

MARSHALL
Um... okay... Well, I'm not very good at public speaking or emotional moments and since this is both I was planning on writing something down so that I wouldn't digress as often as I usually do but I couldn't decide what to write. Should I relate a funny or meaningful anecdote, say about the time she rescued me and saved my life, (He looks at Dixon) with Mr. Dixon's help of course? That was pretty special. Or should I talk about how nice she always was to me. Others - I won't name names - tend to snap at me cause when I get nervous, which is pretty much all the time, I start to ramble but Sydney never yelled at me or interrupted me... well, that's not true, she would stop me but she was always really nice about it and sometimes she'd even smile when she did it so I wouldn't really mind cause when she smiles she gets these really cute dimples and...

Marshall starts to get choked up and Carrie puts a hand on his shoulder. He looks back, smiles at her, and gets himself together.

MARSHALL
Like I said, I just couldn't decide. She just had too many good qualities. And I'm gonna miss all of them. (beat) I'm gonna miss her.

He steps back and Carrie puts her arm around him. Dixon steps forward. He has this air of quiet sorrow hanging about him that we all know Carl Lumbly can do so well.

DIXON
Like Marshall, I'll also remember Sydney's smile. When I was first assigned to work with her I knew she was a capable agent but when I met her and saw that smile I couldn't help but wonder how this sweet young college student could possible hold her own in the field. On our first mission together the operation was compromised and I was captured. Not only did Sydney complete the mission on her own but against orders she came back to rescue me. I watched her take down 5 guards twice her size and then she fought off 5 more while dragging me to the nearest safe house. I passed out somewhere along the way but when I woke up there she was a little bruised and battered but smiling. (beat) We've been through a lot since then and while things haven't always been easy I know I will never have a better partner or friend.

Dixon steps back. Jack looks expectantly at Vaughn but he's still lost in his grief. After a moment, Jack steps forward.

JACK
I hadn't planned on saying anything. And then I realized that that was the problem. I left far too many things unsaid and while it is no longer possible to say them to her I feel compelled to say them to you. (beat) Many of you were there for her when I wasn't and I appreciate that. Our relationship was always complicated but in these past two years, through our work together, Sydney and I were able to address many of the things that stood between us. It was never easy but it was worth it and my only regret is that I was unable to spend more time with the strong beautiful intelligent and amazing woman my daughter had become. I am so proud of her and I will always love her. (beat) I hope she knew that.

He stops. His face maintained it's usual stoic mask while he was talking but his voice betrayed every emotion. When it ends you can tell it took a lot for him to say that. Again, he looks at Vaughn and again he receives no response. He sighs.

JACK
Thank you, again, for coming I...

VAUGHN
Wait...

Vaughn's voice is practically a croak. He looks up and his eyes are red and there are tears streaming down his face. He shuffles forward and looks at everyone.

VAUGHN
I just... Syd was...

He can't do it. He looks down again and rasps:

VAUGHN
This was her favorite suit.

He's trying to say something, anything but that's all he can think to say. Jack puts a hand on his hunched shoulders. Jack's voice is hushed and concerned.

JACK
Michael.

That's all it takes.

VAUGHN
I'm sorry. I just can't...

Vaughn turns and walks a few feet away still crying. Jack looks at Vaughn and then turns to everyone else. He nods as if to say goodbye and thank you. Everyone else is looking at him with questions in their eyes, especially Weiss who gives Jack a look that says, "Do you want me to take him?" But Jack just turns and joins Vaughn who's facing the memorial now. Everyone else exit discreetly. Vaughn reaches up and tentatively runs his finger across her name.

VAUGHN
There was so much that I wanted to say. Not just here but to her.

JACK
I know. So did she.

Vaughn doesn't say anything.

Off that we cut back to: