INT. HOCKEY RINK - MORNING

Vaughn has a row of pucks in front of him and he's shooting them one at a time, hitting each one harder than the last. He hits the last one particularly hard and emits a loud growl when he does so. We follow the last one as it smacks into the boards and ricochets around to land in front of where Weiss is standing in the bench. He has a huge duffel bag but he hasn't suited up yet. Vaughn just stands there breathing heavy. He turns to see Weiss who looks worried and tries to make a joke.

WEISS
I'm your friend and I want to help you but I also want to have children someday so let's just declare this (he indicates his groin) a 'No Puck Zone', alright?

Vaughn deadpans:

VAUGHN
A 'No [I]Puck[/I] Zone'? Alright but I don't know how the hell you plan on having kids if you do that.

Vaughn leisurely skates toward the bench.

WEISS
Very funny. So are you going to start this or do I have to strap you down and shine a bright light in your face?

Vaughn stops right in front of him and gives him a fake patronizing look.

VAUGHN
Now, Eric, you know I don't feel that way about you.

Weiss shakes his head. Sure Vaughn is cracking jokes but there's too much bitterness in his voice for that to be a good sign.

WEISS
If that's how you're going to be...

He turns to leave. Vaughn jumps into the bench.

VAUGHN
Sorry. It's just... I haven't slept in, well, since the day before yesterday. Plus there was the fight...

They both sit on the bench.

WEISS
What happened?

VAUGHN
She confronted me about my feelings for Syd.

WEISS
Cause of the coat closet thing?

Vaughn's surprised that Weiss picked up on that.

VAUGHN
Among other things. (beat) We were that obvious?

WEISS
It wasn't so much that you were obvious as it was you were completely lacking in subtlety. Seriously, we were worried we'd have to reheat the turkey.

Vaughn gets a look at the mentions of reheating.

VAUGHN
Nothing happened.

WEISS
I know.

VAUGHN
We just... it wasn't working, being [I]just[/I] friends. I mean, in a lot of ways it was but... You know when you don't think about where you're driving and suddenly you find yourself at work or whatever because you automatically drove there? That's how it is with Sydney and I. If we think about it we're fine but when we stop and just let ourselves be together we can't help but go right back where we were before. And Lauren picked up on that.

WEISS
That's why she left?

VAUGHN
It was more of a mutual decision to acknowledge what we both already knew.

WEISS
You still love Sydney.

VAUGHN
And she didn't want a husband whose heart wasn't completely hers. How can I blame her? She deserves someone that loves her without reservation.

WEISS
What about you? What do you deserve?

VAUGHN
I don't know. I don't even know what I want. (beat) My mom and dad were so happy together. They made it look easy. The day they met they sat in a café and talked for hours. Within 3 months they were married. Everything just fell into place for them. But with Syd...

He turns to look at Weiss.

VAUGHN
Should it be this hard? I'm willing to fight for it, for her, but I am so damn tired. All I ask is to have one thing in my life be simple, uncomplicated. But nothing with Syd is ever like that.

WEISS
Isn't that one of the things you loved the most about her?

VAUGHN
I still do to a certain degree. She never ceases to amaze me. She's always surprising me and I love that's there's so much more to learn, more to see. And there were times when we were together when everything felt right, easy, and I was happier than I ever thought I could be. But to get to those moments... After everything I've been through these last two years I don't know if I'm ready to go through all that again. (beat) I don't even know how to tell her I'm getting a divorce.

Weiss looks sheepish.

WEISS
Well...

VAUGHN
What?

WEISS
She was there when you called me last night. She already knows.

Vaughn stands up.

VAUGHN
You told her?!

Weiss gets up too.

WEISS
Look, I'm sorry, you caught me off guard when you called. I didn't even think to go to another room.

Vaughn sighs and shakes his head.

VAUGHN
It's okay. At least now I don't have to worry about telling her.

He sits back down and Weiss joins him.

VAUGHN
So what did she say?

WEISS
She was worried about you. And she was concerned that it was her fault.

VAUGHN
Typical, Sydney, always beating herself up over things when there's plenty of blame to go around.

WEISS
That's what I told her. These things are too complex to point the finger at only one person.

Vaughn lets his shoulders drop and looks down.

VAUGHN
Yeah.

WEISS
Hey, it's not your fault either.

Vaughn shakes his head.

VAUGHN
I may not have cheated on my wife physically but emotionally...

WEISS
You can't help the way you feel. You can only decide what to do about it.

VAUGHN
But did I make the right decision? Eric, I never wanted to hurt her.

WEISS
What's worse? Being honest with her so she can move on or lying to her so you can both stay trapped in a situation that causes you nothing but pain and anguish?

VAUGHN
I know but you should have seen her. I knew this was coming and I was so worried about how hurt and angry she would be but when it happened... She got angry, at first. But then that subsided and she just looked tired and sad. (beat) I think I preferred the anger.

Weiss puts a hand on his shoulder.

WEISS
Mike, you're a good guy. You didn't do any of this intentionally. And there is no way anyone could have figured that Sydney would come back. So stop torturing yourself over this. Short term, this is gonna hurt like hell. But long term, from where I'm standing, this is the best decision you could have made. For all parties involved.

Vaughn looks over at him.

VAUGHN
You really think so?

Weiss smiles.

WEISS
Well, let's just say that my internal Magic 8 Ball reads, "All signs point to yes."

Vaughn starts laughing. Weiss just looks at him.

WEISS
What's so funny?

Vaughn gains control of himself.

VAUGHN
I just got a mental picture of shaking you and then turning you over to find the answers to all of the life's pertinent questions on you ass.

Weiss just smiles and shakes his head.

WEISS
Wow, that sleep deprivation is really starting to get to you, isn't it?

Vaughn chuckles.

VAUGHN
Reply hazy. Ask again later.

Weiss nods and stands.

WEISS
Come on. Let's get you home.

Vaughn stands and looks back out on the ice.

VAUGHN
Naw, I think I'm gonna do a few more drills.

WEISS
Oh, no you're not. You'll end up passing out on the ice from exhaustion. And since you're not wearing your helmet you'll probably break your nose and lose a few teeth in which case the women of the world will never forgive me for letting such a tragedy to occur.

Vaughn is still in a goofy mood.

VAUGHN
Really, Eric, how many times do I have to tell you, I like you but just as a friend?

Weiss smiles.

WEISS
You want the truth? I don't want Syd to kick my ass for not taking care of you.

VAUGHN
She could do it too.

WEISS
Don't I know it? So work with me here.

VAUGHN
Alright, but can we go someplace other than the house? I really don't feel like...

WEISS
Say no more. We'll go to my place.

Vaughn starts to agree but then he stops. Weiss looks at him like, "What?"

VAUGHN
You live next to Sydney.

WEISS
Don't worry. She already left for the day. She's spending time with her dad.

VAUGHN
Thank you. You're really a good friend you know that?

WEISS
Just a [I]good[/I] friend? Not great, just good. More Return of the Jedi than Empire Strikes Back.

VAUGHN
I knew there was a reason I never compliment you.

WEISS
Well, with compliments like that who needs insults?

VAUGHN
Are we going or not?

WEISS
Hey, I was just waiting for you, Gordie Howe.

They start walking to the locker room.

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