INT. THE VAN
Syd comes in the back to find Jack and Weiss running through a comm check with Vaughn.
WEISS
Me escucha? Bien.
Syd takes out her cell phone and hits a number on speed dial.
SYDNEY
Marshall? I need you to get something for me real quick...
CUT TO:
INT. JEANNE D'ARC HOTEL - VAUGHN'S ROOM
Vaughn is putting on his shoes. We can hear Weiss over the headset trying to give him a pep talk. Vaughn is just shaking his head.
WEISS
Remember: Be the ball. Paint the fence. Put the biscuit in the basket. Bring the heat. Wax on wax off. Find the twine. Snatch the pebble. (beat) Use the Force.
Weiss says the last line with reverence and gravity making Vaughn role his eyes as he slips into his long leather jacket. Weiss isn't helping.
CUT TO:
INT. THE VAN
Sydney is still on the phone with Marshall. Her dad is in the center of the van looking over some files and Weiss is up front with most of the equipment. She types a few things on the laptop in front of her.
SYDNEY
Thanks, Marshall.
She hangs up and moves to sit next to her dad. Jack looks over at her.
JACK
Is he ready for this?
SYDNEY
Just give me some time on the comm with him before he goes in.
Jack looks at Weiss.
JACK
You have it. Agent Weiss is merely annoying him.
SYDNEY
Per your orders I'm sure.
JACK
Agent Weiss rarely needs to be ordered to be annoying.
Sydney smiles and moves up to the front with Weiss. There's a computer and a monitor with the feed from Vaughn's camera.
SYDNEY
Leave him alone. He's nervous enough as it is.
WEISS
I'm just giving him some time-honored advice.
SYDNEY
Use the Force? He's not blowing up the Death Star he's infiltrating a pool hall. Now if you don't mind...
She gestures to indicate she wants his chair. He gets up with a grumble.
WEISS
No gratitude.
She settles in and puts on the headset to talk to Vaughn.
SYDNEY
Pool Boy this is the Cabana.
CUT TO:
INT. JEANNE D'ARC HOTEL - VAUGHN'S ROOM
Vaughn sighs.
VAUGHN
Okay, who thought up these code names?
We hear Sydney over his earpiece.
SYDNEY
I'll give you one guess.
VAUGHN
Weiss? With Inspector Clouseau's approval of course?
SYDNEY
He thought it was fairly clever.
VAUGHN
I'm sure. He's worried I'm not going to be able to do this, isn't he?
SYDNEY
It doesn't matter. Right now you need to focus.
VAUGHN
So you keep telling me. But the phrase, "Easier said than done" comes to mind.
SYDNEY
I know. Still, you can do this. Now you're all dressed and ready to walk out the door, right?
Vaughn smiles.
VAUGHN
Is this really the time to be playing "What are you wearing?"
SYDNEY
Focus, Pool Boy.
VAUGHN
Sorry, Cabana. Yes, I'm ready. See.
He stands up in front of the mirror so she can see him in the feed from his glasses.
SYDNEY
Good. Now close your eyes and relax your shoulders.
He gets a perplexed look on his face and starts to say something.
SYDNEY
Just do it.
He smiles and does it.
VAUGHN
Alright but...
Then he starts to hear Gary Glitter's Rock and Roll Part 2 playing over his ear piece. He smiles and chuckles.
VAUGHN
Thank you.
He starts to loosen up his shoulders to the beat and bounces around slightly on the balls of his feet. Then he looks at the mirror, flips up the collar on his jacket, and picks up his case. He smiles.
VAUGHN
Now I'm ready.
And he's out the door.
CUT TO:
INT. THE POODLE - A SHORT TIME LATER
It's a rectangular hall with a tall open ceiling. The center is filled with pool tables and along the walls is a raised walkway with the bar. Opposite the door is a staircase leading up to a room hanging over the back end of the hall. The room has one large window looking over the entire hall but we can't see through it. The place is fairly full but not packed. Everyone is dressed up and looking good. The beginnings of Audioslave's "Show Me How to Live" start to play as we focus on the door opening. In struts Vaughn and we get a nice toe-to-head pan like they did to Jennifer in the Super Bowl ep just as Chris Cornell goes "Mmmm…" A bouncer checks his case and then Vaughn walks up to the bar and sits down just as the first chorus ends. Then the song gets softer and is only playing in the background as he orders a drink and begins to scan the crowd. He casually holds his hand over his mouth to stroke his goatee to speak into his ring.
VAUGHN
Are you getting this?
We cut between him and the van through the rest of the scene.
SYDNEY
Audio and video, Pool Boy. Can you see her?
Vaughn looks around and spots her. She's in the back watching a game being played at a table sitting all by itself at the far end of the hall.
VAUGHN
There she is. She seems to be only interested in that last table.
Jack chimes in.
JACK
Then that's where you need to be.
VAUGHN
What? You want me to walk up to the big kid's table and just ask for next game? They'd throw me out of here so fast...
Jack sighs.
JACK
Then what do you suggest?
Vaughn looks around and sees a table way at the front with a small group of tough looking older guys.
VAUGHN
Looks like I'll have to work my way up.
JACK
Fine. However may I remind you that the Covenant operative could show up at any time, so work fast.
VAUGHN
I'll try.
Weiss jumps in.
WEISS
Do or do not. There is no try.
Vaughn rolls his eyes.
SYDNEY
Don't listen to him. Just...
VAUGHN
I know. Focus. (beat) Well, here I go.
He chugs his drink and approaches the table. Vaughn looks a little nervous. Syd and Weiss look at each other. Syd nods.
SYDNEY
He'll be fine.
But the way she says it seems like she's trying to convince herself. Meanwhile back at The Poodle the obvious leader of the pack (LOP) looks up as Vaughn approaches. Vaughn nervously squeaks, [in French]:
VAUGHN
[Can I play next game?]
Jack shakes his head.
JACK
Get it together, Pool Boy. You're not a child's toy so stop squeaking.
LOP laughs.
LOP
[That depends, how much?]
Vaughn looks through his pockets and bring out:
VAUGHN
[Uh... Twenty euros.]
They laugh. That's kind of low. In the van, the rest of the team looks bleak.
LOP
[Twenty euros? Are you sure you can afford it?]
Vaughn tries to look tough.
VAUGHN
[I can if you can.]
That just makes them laugh harder. LOP nods and puts his twenty on the table while Vaughn overcompensates and slams his down. Syd winces.
LOP
[Since you're new, why don't you break?]
Vaughn nods and attempts to wipe his sweating hands on his leather pants. Not his best idea. He takes his jacket off and drapes it on a nearby table. He breaks and the balls barely move. The team shakes their heads. LOP comes up and sinks several balls with ease. Vaughn manages to sink one before he misses an easy shot. Syd puts her face in her hand.
SYDNEY
He's never this clumsy, even when he's nervous.
Weiss looks at her with dawning realization. Jack just watches the monitor.
WEISS
You're right.
She looks at him and gets it too. Jack just speaks into his comm:
JACK
That's enough, Pool Boy. You can stop trying to impress my daughter with your hustling skills and start working your way toward the back.
Back in the hall LOP wins the game and goes to take Vaughn's money. Vaughn weakly says:
VAUGHN
[Double or nothing?]
LOP laughs and nods before he allows Vaughn to break again. He does a lot better and LOP looks at him. Vaughn looks much calmer while he orders another drink from a passing waitress. She smiles appreciatively and he smiles back nervously. In the van Weiss looks at Syd to gage her reaction. She looks less than happy. Back in the hall Vaughn wins easily just as the waitress returns with his drink. LOP glares at him and Vaughn just looks innocent.
VAUGHN
[I guess I just needed to warm up.]
He chugs his drink and looks around with a wicked gleam in his eye.
VAUGHN
[Who's next?]
CUT TO:
Syd comes in the back to find Jack and Weiss running through a comm check with Vaughn.
WEISS
Me escucha? Bien.
Syd takes out her cell phone and hits a number on speed dial.
SYDNEY
Marshall? I need you to get something for me real quick...
CUT TO:
INT. JEANNE D'ARC HOTEL - VAUGHN'S ROOM
Vaughn is putting on his shoes. We can hear Weiss over the headset trying to give him a pep talk. Vaughn is just shaking his head.
WEISS
Remember: Be the ball. Paint the fence. Put the biscuit in the basket. Bring the heat. Wax on wax off. Find the twine. Snatch the pebble. (beat) Use the Force.
Weiss says the last line with reverence and gravity making Vaughn role his eyes as he slips into his long leather jacket. Weiss isn't helping.
CUT TO:
INT. THE VAN
Sydney is still on the phone with Marshall. Her dad is in the center of the van looking over some files and Weiss is up front with most of the equipment. She types a few things on the laptop in front of her.
SYDNEY
Thanks, Marshall.
She hangs up and moves to sit next to her dad. Jack looks over at her.
JACK
Is he ready for this?
SYDNEY
Just give me some time on the comm with him before he goes in.
Jack looks at Weiss.
JACK
You have it. Agent Weiss is merely annoying him.
SYDNEY
Per your orders I'm sure.
JACK
Agent Weiss rarely needs to be ordered to be annoying.
Sydney smiles and moves up to the front with Weiss. There's a computer and a monitor with the feed from Vaughn's camera.
SYDNEY
Leave him alone. He's nervous enough as it is.
WEISS
I'm just giving him some time-honored advice.
SYDNEY
Use the Force? He's not blowing up the Death Star he's infiltrating a pool hall. Now if you don't mind...
She gestures to indicate she wants his chair. He gets up with a grumble.
WEISS
No gratitude.
She settles in and puts on the headset to talk to Vaughn.
SYDNEY
Pool Boy this is the Cabana.
CUT TO:
INT. JEANNE D'ARC HOTEL - VAUGHN'S ROOM
Vaughn sighs.
VAUGHN
Okay, who thought up these code names?
We hear Sydney over his earpiece.
SYDNEY
I'll give you one guess.
VAUGHN
Weiss? With Inspector Clouseau's approval of course?
SYDNEY
He thought it was fairly clever.
VAUGHN
I'm sure. He's worried I'm not going to be able to do this, isn't he?
SYDNEY
It doesn't matter. Right now you need to focus.
VAUGHN
So you keep telling me. But the phrase, "Easier said than done" comes to mind.
SYDNEY
I know. Still, you can do this. Now you're all dressed and ready to walk out the door, right?
Vaughn smiles.
VAUGHN
Is this really the time to be playing "What are you wearing?"
SYDNEY
Focus, Pool Boy.
VAUGHN
Sorry, Cabana. Yes, I'm ready. See.
He stands up in front of the mirror so she can see him in the feed from his glasses.
SYDNEY
Good. Now close your eyes and relax your shoulders.
He gets a perplexed look on his face and starts to say something.
SYDNEY
Just do it.
He smiles and does it.
VAUGHN
Alright but...
Then he starts to hear Gary Glitter's Rock and Roll Part 2 playing over his ear piece. He smiles and chuckles.
VAUGHN
Thank you.
He starts to loosen up his shoulders to the beat and bounces around slightly on the balls of his feet. Then he looks at the mirror, flips up the collar on his jacket, and picks up his case. He smiles.
VAUGHN
Now I'm ready.
And he's out the door.
CUT TO:
INT. THE POODLE - A SHORT TIME LATER
It's a rectangular hall with a tall open ceiling. The center is filled with pool tables and along the walls is a raised walkway with the bar. Opposite the door is a staircase leading up to a room hanging over the back end of the hall. The room has one large window looking over the entire hall but we can't see through it. The place is fairly full but not packed. Everyone is dressed up and looking good. The beginnings of Audioslave's "Show Me How to Live" start to play as we focus on the door opening. In struts Vaughn and we get a nice toe-to-head pan like they did to Jennifer in the Super Bowl ep just as Chris Cornell goes "Mmmm…" A bouncer checks his case and then Vaughn walks up to the bar and sits down just as the first chorus ends. Then the song gets softer and is only playing in the background as he orders a drink and begins to scan the crowd. He casually holds his hand over his mouth to stroke his goatee to speak into his ring.
VAUGHN
Are you getting this?
We cut between him and the van through the rest of the scene.
SYDNEY
Audio and video, Pool Boy. Can you see her?
Vaughn looks around and spots her. She's in the back watching a game being played at a table sitting all by itself at the far end of the hall.
VAUGHN
There she is. She seems to be only interested in that last table.
Jack chimes in.
JACK
Then that's where you need to be.
VAUGHN
What? You want me to walk up to the big kid's table and just ask for next game? They'd throw me out of here so fast...
Jack sighs.
JACK
Then what do you suggest?
Vaughn looks around and sees a table way at the front with a small group of tough looking older guys.
VAUGHN
Looks like I'll have to work my way up.
JACK
Fine. However may I remind you that the Covenant operative could show up at any time, so work fast.
VAUGHN
I'll try.
Weiss jumps in.
WEISS
Do or do not. There is no try.
Vaughn rolls his eyes.
SYDNEY
Don't listen to him. Just...
VAUGHN
I know. Focus. (beat) Well, here I go.
He chugs his drink and approaches the table. Vaughn looks a little nervous. Syd and Weiss look at each other. Syd nods.
SYDNEY
He'll be fine.
But the way she says it seems like she's trying to convince herself. Meanwhile back at The Poodle the obvious leader of the pack (LOP) looks up as Vaughn approaches. Vaughn nervously squeaks, [in French]:
VAUGHN
[Can I play next game?]
Jack shakes his head.
JACK
Get it together, Pool Boy. You're not a child's toy so stop squeaking.
LOP laughs.
LOP
[That depends, how much?]
Vaughn looks through his pockets and bring out:
VAUGHN
[Uh... Twenty euros.]
They laugh. That's kind of low. In the van, the rest of the team looks bleak.
LOP
[Twenty euros? Are you sure you can afford it?]
Vaughn tries to look tough.
VAUGHN
[I can if you can.]
That just makes them laugh harder. LOP nods and puts his twenty on the table while Vaughn overcompensates and slams his down. Syd winces.
LOP
[Since you're new, why don't you break?]
Vaughn nods and attempts to wipe his sweating hands on his leather pants. Not his best idea. He takes his jacket off and drapes it on a nearby table. He breaks and the balls barely move. The team shakes their heads. LOP comes up and sinks several balls with ease. Vaughn manages to sink one before he misses an easy shot. Syd puts her face in her hand.
SYDNEY
He's never this clumsy, even when he's nervous.
Weiss looks at her with dawning realization. Jack just watches the monitor.
WEISS
You're right.
She looks at him and gets it too. Jack just speaks into his comm:
JACK
That's enough, Pool Boy. You can stop trying to impress my daughter with your hustling skills and start working your way toward the back.
Back in the hall LOP wins the game and goes to take Vaughn's money. Vaughn weakly says:
VAUGHN
[Double or nothing?]
LOP laughs and nods before he allows Vaughn to break again. He does a lot better and LOP looks at him. Vaughn looks much calmer while he orders another drink from a passing waitress. She smiles appreciatively and he smiles back nervously. In the van Weiss looks at Syd to gage her reaction. She looks less than happy. Back in the hall Vaughn wins easily just as the waitress returns with his drink. LOP glares at him and Vaughn just looks innocent.
VAUGHN
[I guess I just needed to warm up.]
He chugs his drink and looks around with a wicked gleam in his eye.
VAUGHN
[Who's next?]
CUT TO:
