INT. THE VAUGHN'S BEDROOM - EVENING
Lauren is packing. Fully clothed by the way! Vaughn walks in behind her.
VAUGHN
Well, I just checked with the airline and our flight is on time for 6:15 tomorrow morning.
LAUREN
Fine.
Lauren shoves a shirt into her suitcase rather vehemently. Vaughn's face goes "Aw, hell."
VAUGHN
And, uh, I called Weiss. He said that he's going to pick us up tomorrow morning at 4:30.
Lauren doesn't say anything. She just keeps packing vigorously with her back turned to him.
LAUREN
If you don't want to go, you don't have to.
VAUGHN
I don't have to... What the hell are you talking about?
LAUREN
If you'd prefer to spend Thanksgiving with Sydney then feel free to do so.
VAUGHN
Is that what this is about? Lauren, we've talked about this...
She turns around and crosses her arms.
LAUREN
Michael, I'm not stupid. It doesn't take that long to hang up a few jackets. I see the way you look at her. The way you two can't even keep your hands off each other.
VAUGHN
You think something's going on between us? That I'm cheating on you?
LAUREN
You still love her don't you?
Vaughn is tired of this and he hates to have his loyalty questioned so he looks her right in the eye and coolly says:
VAUGHN
Yes. I do.
She scoffs. She knew it!
LAUREN
I can't believe you.
VAUGHN
Why?! You knew how I felt about Sydney, even before she came back. Hell, you knew even before we got married.
LAUREN
It didn't matter then. Now it does.
VAUGHN
Why? Cause she's alive? Oh, well, how inconsiderate of her, coming back from the dead without checking with you first.
LAUREN
Do you really think I'm that petty? Yes, my life would have been easier if she hadn't come back but at least now I know what a sham my marriage is. Honestly, Michael, I'm beginning to wonder why you even married me?
VAUGHN
Because I loved you.
LAUREN
'Loved'? Past tense?
Whoops. She's got him there.
VAUGHN
You know what I mean...
LAUREN
Do I? Because I'm not sure I do anymore. And frankly I don't think you do either. You obviously love her more than you love me.
VAUGHN
Damn it, Lauren! This isn't a contest.
LAUREN
Then what is it?
VAUGHN
I thought it was a marriage.
LAUREN
And would we have even gotten married if you had known that Sydney was alive?
VAUGHN
Lauren...
LAUREN
Just answer the damn question!
VAUGHN
No! If there had been even the slightest chance that she was out there somewhere I would have been doing everything I could to find her.
LAUREN
Everything? Even working with Jack Bristow and Irina Derevko?
VAUGHN
Yes.
LAUREN
You would have betrayed the CIA and worked with your father's killer for her?
He snaps this next line out:
VAUGHN
It wouldn't have been the first time.
His voice softens.
VAUGHN
You read my file. You knew that.
This deflates her anger a bit.
LAUREN
God, I am such a fool.
VAUGHN
Hey...
LAUREN
No. You're right. I knew how you felt about her. I could see it. There'd be times we'd go somewhere or we'd hear a song or it'd be a certain day and I'd catch you with this look on your face staring off at nothing. I knew you were thinking of her. And I would think, 'If only you could love me half as much as you loved her, somehow that would be enough.' (beat) Obviously, I was wrong. What I still don't understand is why you married me at all.
He starts to answer.
LAUREN
I know. You loved me. But we both know that that wasn't enough.
VAUGHN
Lauren, you need to know that I have never once been unfaithful. I do love you and I care about you. And when you asked me to marry you I said yes, not because I was ready but because I was afraid. I waited too long to act with Sydney.
Lauren laughs without humor.
LAUREN
You even married me because of her.
VAUGHN
I just didn't want any more regrets in my life.
LAUREN
Look's like it's too late for that now, isn't it?
VAUGHN
I don't regret marrying you. There were times when we were happy together.
LAUREN
Past tense.
VAUGHN
I can't help the way I feel about her.
LAUREN
And I'm tired of wanting you to. I've seen the way you are together. How I ever thought I could compete with that I'll never know.
VAUGHN
Lauren, this isn't about you.
LAUREN
And that is exactly our problem.
VAUGHN
I'm sorry. I do love you.
LAUREN
I know. Just not as much as you love her.
VAUGHN
Lauren...
LAUREN
No. It's okay. I shouldn't have pushed you into a relationship you apparently weren't ready for.
VAUGHN
And I should have told you that.
LAUREN
Yes, but you were much too kind to do so. But I don't want to be married to a man because he doesn't want to hurt me.
VAUGHN
I guess this is it then.
LAUREN
We've both known this was coming for a long time. Even if we refused to acknowledge it.
VAUGHN
What do you want to do?
LAUREN
Right now, I'm going to pack and go to Virginia. And you're going to stay here.
VAUGHN
Are you sure?
LAUREN
Why prolong things? (beat) When I get back we can talk to our lawyer. I'll also put in a request for a transfer to another office.
VAUGHN
I'll have my stuff out before you get back.
LAUREN
You don't have to do that. I'm the one that's moving out.
VAUGHN
I wouldn't feel right staying here anyway. I'll call the airline and cancel my ticket and then I'll call Weiss and tell him that I'll be taking you to the airport myself.
LAUREN
Right. I'm going to finish packing.
She turns back to her suitcase. We follow Vaughn into the living room as he calls Weiss. We hear Weiss on the other end.
WEISS
Weiss.
VAUGHN
Hey, Eric. It's Mike. I was just calling to let you know that I'll be taking Lauren to the airport.
WEISS
You'll be taking Lauren? Aren't you going?
VAUGHN
Not anymore. We're... Eric, it's over.
WEISS
It's over?
Vaughn is tired and irritated.
VAUGHN
Are you having trouble hearing me?! (beat) Sorry. It's just been a crappy day and I don't have any pucks to shoot in your direction.
WEISS
Thankfully. You want to talk about it?
VAUGHN
What do you think?
WEISS
Sorry, I forgot whom I was talking to. You want to shoot pucks at me?
Vaughn smiles a bit at that one.
VAUGHN
Not right now. Maybe tomorrow.
WEISS
Oh, joy, something to look forward to. Just give me a call. I'll be here.
VAUGHN
Thanks.
He hangs up and looks back toward his bedroom at Lauren's back as she packs her things up.
CUT TO:
Lauren is packing. Fully clothed by the way! Vaughn walks in behind her.
VAUGHN
Well, I just checked with the airline and our flight is on time for 6:15 tomorrow morning.
LAUREN
Fine.
Lauren shoves a shirt into her suitcase rather vehemently. Vaughn's face goes "Aw, hell."
VAUGHN
And, uh, I called Weiss. He said that he's going to pick us up tomorrow morning at 4:30.
Lauren doesn't say anything. She just keeps packing vigorously with her back turned to him.
LAUREN
If you don't want to go, you don't have to.
VAUGHN
I don't have to... What the hell are you talking about?
LAUREN
If you'd prefer to spend Thanksgiving with Sydney then feel free to do so.
VAUGHN
Is that what this is about? Lauren, we've talked about this...
She turns around and crosses her arms.
LAUREN
Michael, I'm not stupid. It doesn't take that long to hang up a few jackets. I see the way you look at her. The way you two can't even keep your hands off each other.
VAUGHN
You think something's going on between us? That I'm cheating on you?
LAUREN
You still love her don't you?
Vaughn is tired of this and he hates to have his loyalty questioned so he looks her right in the eye and coolly says:
VAUGHN
Yes. I do.
She scoffs. She knew it!
LAUREN
I can't believe you.
VAUGHN
Why?! You knew how I felt about Sydney, even before she came back. Hell, you knew even before we got married.
LAUREN
It didn't matter then. Now it does.
VAUGHN
Why? Cause she's alive? Oh, well, how inconsiderate of her, coming back from the dead without checking with you first.
LAUREN
Do you really think I'm that petty? Yes, my life would have been easier if she hadn't come back but at least now I know what a sham my marriage is. Honestly, Michael, I'm beginning to wonder why you even married me?
VAUGHN
Because I loved you.
LAUREN
'Loved'? Past tense?
Whoops. She's got him there.
VAUGHN
You know what I mean...
LAUREN
Do I? Because I'm not sure I do anymore. And frankly I don't think you do either. You obviously love her more than you love me.
VAUGHN
Damn it, Lauren! This isn't a contest.
LAUREN
Then what is it?
VAUGHN
I thought it was a marriage.
LAUREN
And would we have even gotten married if you had known that Sydney was alive?
VAUGHN
Lauren...
LAUREN
Just answer the damn question!
VAUGHN
No! If there had been even the slightest chance that she was out there somewhere I would have been doing everything I could to find her.
LAUREN
Everything? Even working with Jack Bristow and Irina Derevko?
VAUGHN
Yes.
LAUREN
You would have betrayed the CIA and worked with your father's killer for her?
He snaps this next line out:
VAUGHN
It wouldn't have been the first time.
His voice softens.
VAUGHN
You read my file. You knew that.
This deflates her anger a bit.
LAUREN
God, I am such a fool.
VAUGHN
Hey...
LAUREN
No. You're right. I knew how you felt about her. I could see it. There'd be times we'd go somewhere or we'd hear a song or it'd be a certain day and I'd catch you with this look on your face staring off at nothing. I knew you were thinking of her. And I would think, 'If only you could love me half as much as you loved her, somehow that would be enough.' (beat) Obviously, I was wrong. What I still don't understand is why you married me at all.
He starts to answer.
LAUREN
I know. You loved me. But we both know that that wasn't enough.
VAUGHN
Lauren, you need to know that I have never once been unfaithful. I do love you and I care about you. And when you asked me to marry you I said yes, not because I was ready but because I was afraid. I waited too long to act with Sydney.
Lauren laughs without humor.
LAUREN
You even married me because of her.
VAUGHN
I just didn't want any more regrets in my life.
LAUREN
Look's like it's too late for that now, isn't it?
VAUGHN
I don't regret marrying you. There were times when we were happy together.
LAUREN
Past tense.
VAUGHN
I can't help the way I feel about her.
LAUREN
And I'm tired of wanting you to. I've seen the way you are together. How I ever thought I could compete with that I'll never know.
VAUGHN
Lauren, this isn't about you.
LAUREN
And that is exactly our problem.
VAUGHN
I'm sorry. I do love you.
LAUREN
I know. Just not as much as you love her.
VAUGHN
Lauren...
LAUREN
No. It's okay. I shouldn't have pushed you into a relationship you apparently weren't ready for.
VAUGHN
And I should have told you that.
LAUREN
Yes, but you were much too kind to do so. But I don't want to be married to a man because he doesn't want to hurt me.
VAUGHN
I guess this is it then.
LAUREN
We've both known this was coming for a long time. Even if we refused to acknowledge it.
VAUGHN
What do you want to do?
LAUREN
Right now, I'm going to pack and go to Virginia. And you're going to stay here.
VAUGHN
Are you sure?
LAUREN
Why prolong things? (beat) When I get back we can talk to our lawyer. I'll also put in a request for a transfer to another office.
VAUGHN
I'll have my stuff out before you get back.
LAUREN
You don't have to do that. I'm the one that's moving out.
VAUGHN
I wouldn't feel right staying here anyway. I'll call the airline and cancel my ticket and then I'll call Weiss and tell him that I'll be taking you to the airport myself.
LAUREN
Right. I'm going to finish packing.
She turns back to her suitcase. We follow Vaughn into the living room as he calls Weiss. We hear Weiss on the other end.
WEISS
Weiss.
VAUGHN
Hey, Eric. It's Mike. I was just calling to let you know that I'll be taking Lauren to the airport.
WEISS
You'll be taking Lauren? Aren't you going?
VAUGHN
Not anymore. We're... Eric, it's over.
WEISS
It's over?
Vaughn is tired and irritated.
VAUGHN
Are you having trouble hearing me?! (beat) Sorry. It's just been a crappy day and I don't have any pucks to shoot in your direction.
WEISS
Thankfully. You want to talk about it?
VAUGHN
What do you think?
WEISS
Sorry, I forgot whom I was talking to. You want to shoot pucks at me?
Vaughn smiles a bit at that one.
VAUGHN
Not right now. Maybe tomorrow.
WEISS
Oh, joy, something to look forward to. Just give me a call. I'll be here.
VAUGHN
Thanks.
He hangs up and looks back toward his bedroom at Lauren's back as she packs her things up.
CUT TO:
