INT. VAUGHN'S CAR - MORNING
Vaughn and Sydney are speeding down the street toward the Ops Center. Sydney is on the phone. We can hear her dad on the other end.
SYDNEY
Dad, what's going on?
JACK
We've got a lead on a Covenant operation.
SYDNEY
We're on our way.
JACK
Vaughn's with you?
Syd looks over at Vaughn.
SYDNEY
Yeah.
Vaughn looks over at her wondering what they're talking about. He looks a little nervous that Jack Bristow is talking about him but that's just a natural reaction.
JACK
I see. So how did it go this morning?
Syd looks over at Vaughn again. Now he's really nervous.
SYDNEY
Good. (beat) But we didn't get a chance to eat so if you could have some bagels or muffins or whatever...
JACK
I'll make certain there's something for you to eat.
SYDNEY
Thanks. We'll be there in 10 minutes.
She hangs up. Vaughn looks at her.
VAUGHN
What's going on?
SYDNEY
New intel on a Covenant op.
VAUGHN
Don't they know that it's Thanksgiving?
SYDNEY
I know. They probably heard we were going out to breakfast and did this just to spite us.
VAUGHN
Bastards.
They both smile.
VAUGHN
I guess this means I still owe you breakfast.
SYDNEY
And that nice romantic first date you promised me.
He grins at her.
VAUGHN
Maybe we could combine the two.
She looks at him. He makes a face that says "You can't blame a guy for trying" and shrugs.
VAUGHN
Right.
SYDNEY
This was your idea remember?
VAUGHN
You agreed to it.
SYDNEY
But you suggested it.
VAUGHN
Don't remind me. I regret it already.
SYDNEY
It's better this way.
VAUGHN
That's what I keep telling myself.
CUT TO:
INT. OPS CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM
Dixon, Jack, Weiss and Marshall are already seated when Sydney and Vaughn walk in and join them. Weiss looks at Vaughn as if to say, "Well?" Vaughn just nods. Jack looks at Syd to gage her mood and she just smiles at him. He nods. Dixon stands up.
DIXON
Good. Now that we're all here let's get started. I know all of you would rather be somewhere else, so would I, but apparently the Covenant has no regard for holiday weekends. As far as I'm concerned that gives us one more reason to stop them. Another is currently in Paris. Jack?
JACK
It's a pool hall called The Poodle in the Spanish Quarter and it serves as a meeting place for Covenant operatives. We've had an agent staking out the location for several months and he just reported that not only is the Covenant planning to break into a French military facility but that the schematics and the security key cards they need to do so are stored in the owner's safe.
WEISS
The bad news is that the owner's office is upstairs and there is only one heavily guarded point of entry. Seriously, you can't even go through the air conditioning ducts to get to this place. But we're in luck because the owner likes to entertain some of the better players up there.
Sydney rolls her eyes.
SYDNEY
Let me guess, I get the owner to invite me up, take him out, and break into the safe.
DIXON
Not quite. First off all we want to catch the Covenant in the act so you will only be exchanging the documents and cards for ones that will lead them into a trap. And second of all, you're not exactly the owner's type, so you won't be the primary agent. Vaughn will.
Sydney and Vaughn look at each other in surprise. Vaughn starts to sweat.
VAUGHN
Me? Oh God, don't tell me it's a gay pool hall.
JACK
Would that be a problem, Mr. Vaughn?
Vaughn starts squirming under Jack's unwavering gaze. He swallows hard.
VAUGHN
Well...
Dixon looks at Jack and shakes his head. Jack is a cruel man.
DIXON
No. It's not a gay pool hall. The owner is a woman.
He hits a button and a picture of an older middle-aged woman pops up on their screens. She somehow manages to be regal yet sultry and while she could be as young as 40 she could also be as old as 60. Her eyes are intense and hungry.
DIXON
Her name is Erica Gagne, a former French intelligence officer with a predilection for young hustlers.
Vaughn sighs.
VAUGHN
Just my luck. What's the op tech?
Dixon nods to Marshall.
MARSHALL
Well, as you already know, I was quite the card shark in high school but I am a man of many talents and I did spend a significant amount of my college years playing pool at the student union. Really, all pool requires is a little geometry and some basic physics, which is good for me cause that makes it one of the few sports I can play without getting hurt. Although the balls are pretty heavy and the cues could be used as weapons. Um, did any of you see Rush Hour 2? I know, not as good as the first one and his Hong Kong stuff is sooo much better, but Jackie Chan had this fight in a pool hall...
Marshall's been getting into this even doing some rather lame kung fu moves. Dixon and Jack are glaring at him.
MARSHALL
Right. Anyway if there's one thing I learned playing pool is that a hustler is only as good as his cue. And that, Mr. Vaughn, is why you will be using this bad boy.
Marshall brings a cue case up from next to his seat and opens it with a flourish.
MARSHALL
Top of the line, perfectly balanced, and it should be just the right length for your height. And as you can see the case is just as swanky. Made of fine Corinthian leather with a plush felt lining it even has a special compartment for the fake documents and key cards.
Everyone nods. Vaughn looks at it then back at Dixon and Jack.
VAUGHN
But won't she get suspicious after I knock her out and leave? And how am I supposed to get out of there?
DIXON
That is where Sydney, Weiss, and Jack come in.
He looks at Jack.
JACK
Several months ago local police tracked a petty thief to the hall. Madame Gagne was more than happy to allow them to come in and arrest the man in order to escape any unwanted attention. When you (he looks at Vaughn) get into the office you'll signal Weiss, Sydney, and I and we'll come in posing as local law enforcement looking for a small time drug dealer that just happens to fit your description. That's when you'll knock Gagne out and make the switch. You'll have to do it quickly but this way she'll attribute her unconsciousness to your attempt to flee and not to a theft.
VAUGHN
And then I'll run downstairs, you'll catch me, and escort me out of there. But won't office surveillance give me away?
JACK
There isn't any. Because of the extreme difficulty in gaining entry to the office there's really no need. Also, Madame Gagne is a discreet woman who prefers to keep her private matter private.
Vaughn blanches at that. This is going to be fun. Dixon looks around.
DIXON
Any other questions? Good. You leave right away.
CUT TO:
Vaughn and Sydney are speeding down the street toward the Ops Center. Sydney is on the phone. We can hear her dad on the other end.
SYDNEY
Dad, what's going on?
JACK
We've got a lead on a Covenant operation.
SYDNEY
We're on our way.
JACK
Vaughn's with you?
Syd looks over at Vaughn.
SYDNEY
Yeah.
Vaughn looks over at her wondering what they're talking about. He looks a little nervous that Jack Bristow is talking about him but that's just a natural reaction.
JACK
I see. So how did it go this morning?
Syd looks over at Vaughn again. Now he's really nervous.
SYDNEY
Good. (beat) But we didn't get a chance to eat so if you could have some bagels or muffins or whatever...
JACK
I'll make certain there's something for you to eat.
SYDNEY
Thanks. We'll be there in 10 minutes.
She hangs up. Vaughn looks at her.
VAUGHN
What's going on?
SYDNEY
New intel on a Covenant op.
VAUGHN
Don't they know that it's Thanksgiving?
SYDNEY
I know. They probably heard we were going out to breakfast and did this just to spite us.
VAUGHN
Bastards.
They both smile.
VAUGHN
I guess this means I still owe you breakfast.
SYDNEY
And that nice romantic first date you promised me.
He grins at her.
VAUGHN
Maybe we could combine the two.
She looks at him. He makes a face that says "You can't blame a guy for trying" and shrugs.
VAUGHN
Right.
SYDNEY
This was your idea remember?
VAUGHN
You agreed to it.
SYDNEY
But you suggested it.
VAUGHN
Don't remind me. I regret it already.
SYDNEY
It's better this way.
VAUGHN
That's what I keep telling myself.
CUT TO:
INT. OPS CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM
Dixon, Jack, Weiss and Marshall are already seated when Sydney and Vaughn walk in and join them. Weiss looks at Vaughn as if to say, "Well?" Vaughn just nods. Jack looks at Syd to gage her mood and she just smiles at him. He nods. Dixon stands up.
DIXON
Good. Now that we're all here let's get started. I know all of you would rather be somewhere else, so would I, but apparently the Covenant has no regard for holiday weekends. As far as I'm concerned that gives us one more reason to stop them. Another is currently in Paris. Jack?
JACK
It's a pool hall called The Poodle in the Spanish Quarter and it serves as a meeting place for Covenant operatives. We've had an agent staking out the location for several months and he just reported that not only is the Covenant planning to break into a French military facility but that the schematics and the security key cards they need to do so are stored in the owner's safe.
WEISS
The bad news is that the owner's office is upstairs and there is only one heavily guarded point of entry. Seriously, you can't even go through the air conditioning ducts to get to this place. But we're in luck because the owner likes to entertain some of the better players up there.
Sydney rolls her eyes.
SYDNEY
Let me guess, I get the owner to invite me up, take him out, and break into the safe.
DIXON
Not quite. First off all we want to catch the Covenant in the act so you will only be exchanging the documents and cards for ones that will lead them into a trap. And second of all, you're not exactly the owner's type, so you won't be the primary agent. Vaughn will.
Sydney and Vaughn look at each other in surprise. Vaughn starts to sweat.
VAUGHN
Me? Oh God, don't tell me it's a gay pool hall.
JACK
Would that be a problem, Mr. Vaughn?
Vaughn starts squirming under Jack's unwavering gaze. He swallows hard.
VAUGHN
Well...
Dixon looks at Jack and shakes his head. Jack is a cruel man.
DIXON
No. It's not a gay pool hall. The owner is a woman.
He hits a button and a picture of an older middle-aged woman pops up on their screens. She somehow manages to be regal yet sultry and while she could be as young as 40 she could also be as old as 60. Her eyes are intense and hungry.
DIXON
Her name is Erica Gagne, a former French intelligence officer with a predilection for young hustlers.
Vaughn sighs.
VAUGHN
Just my luck. What's the op tech?
Dixon nods to Marshall.
MARSHALL
Well, as you already know, I was quite the card shark in high school but I am a man of many talents and I did spend a significant amount of my college years playing pool at the student union. Really, all pool requires is a little geometry and some basic physics, which is good for me cause that makes it one of the few sports I can play without getting hurt. Although the balls are pretty heavy and the cues could be used as weapons. Um, did any of you see Rush Hour 2? I know, not as good as the first one and his Hong Kong stuff is sooo much better, but Jackie Chan had this fight in a pool hall...
Marshall's been getting into this even doing some rather lame kung fu moves. Dixon and Jack are glaring at him.
MARSHALL
Right. Anyway if there's one thing I learned playing pool is that a hustler is only as good as his cue. And that, Mr. Vaughn, is why you will be using this bad boy.
Marshall brings a cue case up from next to his seat and opens it with a flourish.
MARSHALL
Top of the line, perfectly balanced, and it should be just the right length for your height. And as you can see the case is just as swanky. Made of fine Corinthian leather with a plush felt lining it even has a special compartment for the fake documents and key cards.
Everyone nods. Vaughn looks at it then back at Dixon and Jack.
VAUGHN
But won't she get suspicious after I knock her out and leave? And how am I supposed to get out of there?
DIXON
That is where Sydney, Weiss, and Jack come in.
He looks at Jack.
JACK
Several months ago local police tracked a petty thief to the hall. Madame Gagne was more than happy to allow them to come in and arrest the man in order to escape any unwanted attention. When you (he looks at Vaughn) get into the office you'll signal Weiss, Sydney, and I and we'll come in posing as local law enforcement looking for a small time drug dealer that just happens to fit your description. That's when you'll knock Gagne out and make the switch. You'll have to do it quickly but this way she'll attribute her unconsciousness to your attempt to flee and not to a theft.
VAUGHN
And then I'll run downstairs, you'll catch me, and escort me out of there. But won't office surveillance give me away?
JACK
There isn't any. Because of the extreme difficulty in gaining entry to the office there's really no need. Also, Madame Gagne is a discreet woman who prefers to keep her private matter private.
Vaughn blanches at that. This is going to be fun. Dixon looks around.
DIXON
Any other questions? Good. You leave right away.
CUT TO:
