INT. THE POODLE
Now we get a montage of Vaughn totally working it set to MC Solaar's 'Hasta La Vista.' Syd and Weiss are cheering him on as he moves quickly toward the Big Kid table. We see that he's developed a bit of a following including quite a few women. Now Syd doesn't look as happy. Then we see Gagne starting to pay attention to him. Finally he wins a game at one of the back tables by making a trick shot with his eyes closed. Everyone cheers and he basks in the glory, obviously over whatever nervousness he had. Syd and Weiss look at each other smiling.
WEISS
They grow up so fast, don't they?
Then they hear a voice over the comm.
GAGNE
[What a wonderful cue stick.]
Back in the hall Vaughn, who had been leaning up against a table chalking his stick, turns around to come face to face with Erica Gagne. Her picture did not do her justice. She's stunning and his nervousness is back full force. He's obviously speechless.
WEISS
Say something!
VAUGHN
[Uh... I like to think so.]
Erica laughs lightly. Jack doesn't.
JACK
Now would be a wonderful time to turn on that charm of yours, Pool Boy.
GAGNE
[I'm sure you do. I'm Erica Gagne. I own this establishment.]
VAUGHN
[A pleasure. My name is Mi...]
SYDNEY
Luc Laperriere!
Vaughn winces. That was loud.
VAUGHN
[Luc Laperriere.]
Gagne is really enjoying his nervousness.
GAGNE
[The pleasure is mine. You haven't been here before have you? In fact, you're not even from Paris?]
Vaughn looks nervous. Has she seen through him?
VAUGHN
[Ah, no. This is my first time. How did you know?]
She smiles wickedly at that. Fresh meat.
GAGNE
[Those clothes looked far too new and uncomfortable for you. And you have an accent. Normandy, correct?]
VAUGHN
[Fluery.]
GAGNE
[Aw, yes. A quaint little town.]
Vaughn is showing signs of recovering, although he's still sweating and his brow is wrinkling. Still he manages a rather convincing:
VAUGHN
[That was the problem.]
She smiles. Typical small town boy.
GAGNE
[I see. And how do you like Paris so far?]
Now he's relaxing into his role. He gives her his most devastating smile and looks suggestively at her.
VAUGHN
[I love it. Especially the... scenery.]
JACK
Good, Pool Boy.
Syd looks at her father menacingly. Gagne smiles.
GAGNE
[And you haven't even played at our finest table yet.]
VAUGHN
[Is that an invitation?]
She laughs and puts an arm on his forearm. He looks down uncomfortably allowing the van to see it. Sydney hits Weiss.
WEISS
Ow! What was that for?
SYDNEY
He's not here.
WEISS
Lucky me.
JACK
If you two are done he's about to start again.
Back in The Poodle at the Big Boy table Vaughn is introduced to a tall handsome man. Think that guy from Unfaithful.
GAGNE
[Luc meet Marco. He's our best player.]
Vaughn nods.
VAUGHN
[We'll see.]
They glare at each other until Marco motions for Vaughn to take the break. He's making shot after shot and it looks like he's going to win but then he misses. It wasn't intentional. Marco steps in and starts to catch up until he comes upon a particularly hard shot. He misses but he leaves Vaughn with an even harder shot. Vaughn circles nervously and looks like he's going to pick a position to shoot from.
WEISS
No! Go back. Try the other side.
SYDNEY
But on the other side he'll have to bank it at a steeper angle.
WEISS
Yeah but that's better than...
Jack gives them a look that shuts both of them up. Vaughn settles on a shot and takes it. Somehow it goes in and everyone cheers. Erica Gagne walks up to a relieved looking sweat drenched Vaughn.
GAGNE
[Impressive.]
She looks him up and down, especially down. She's not just talking about his pool playing abilities. He's so drained he can't even look at her and he mumbles:
VAUGHN
[Lucky shot.]
She smiles and puts her hand on his arm again. He looks up and composes himself for more shameless flirting.
GAGNE
[I don't believe in luck, only raw talent, which you obviously have. (beat) So what is your secret?]
He manages a smile.
VAUGHN
[Practice makes perfect.]
GAGNE
[Apparently so. Seeing that you just arrived I assume that you're looking for employment.]
He holds up his winnings.
VAUGHN
[Why get a job when I can put my talent to use here?]
GAGNE
[That is exactly what I was about to suggest. Why don't you come up to my office so we can discuss how best to use your many talents?]
She practically leers at him when she mentions his talents. He swallows hard and nods, picking up his case and his jacket. She motions for him to go up the stairs first. As they're walking up he looks back down just in time to catch her checking him out. In the van Weiss looks at Syd. She's not happy.
WEISS
Syd...
SYDNEY
What?
Her clipped tone causes Weiss to jerk back.
WEISS
Perhaps you should...
SYDNEY
I'm fine.
WEISS
Well, if it makes you feel any better he usually has the same look that you do now.
Before she can reply the screen goes blank and static fills their earpieces. It's so loud they have to yank them off. They all look at each other in panic.
CUT TO:
Now we get a montage of Vaughn totally working it set to MC Solaar's 'Hasta La Vista.' Syd and Weiss are cheering him on as he moves quickly toward the Big Kid table. We see that he's developed a bit of a following including quite a few women. Now Syd doesn't look as happy. Then we see Gagne starting to pay attention to him. Finally he wins a game at one of the back tables by making a trick shot with his eyes closed. Everyone cheers and he basks in the glory, obviously over whatever nervousness he had. Syd and Weiss look at each other smiling.
WEISS
They grow up so fast, don't they?
Then they hear a voice over the comm.
GAGNE
[What a wonderful cue stick.]
Back in the hall Vaughn, who had been leaning up against a table chalking his stick, turns around to come face to face with Erica Gagne. Her picture did not do her justice. She's stunning and his nervousness is back full force. He's obviously speechless.
WEISS
Say something!
VAUGHN
[Uh... I like to think so.]
Erica laughs lightly. Jack doesn't.
JACK
Now would be a wonderful time to turn on that charm of yours, Pool Boy.
GAGNE
[I'm sure you do. I'm Erica Gagne. I own this establishment.]
VAUGHN
[A pleasure. My name is Mi...]
SYDNEY
Luc Laperriere!
Vaughn winces. That was loud.
VAUGHN
[Luc Laperriere.]
Gagne is really enjoying his nervousness.
GAGNE
[The pleasure is mine. You haven't been here before have you? In fact, you're not even from Paris?]
Vaughn looks nervous. Has she seen through him?
VAUGHN
[Ah, no. This is my first time. How did you know?]
She smiles wickedly at that. Fresh meat.
GAGNE
[Those clothes looked far too new and uncomfortable for you. And you have an accent. Normandy, correct?]
VAUGHN
[Fluery.]
GAGNE
[Aw, yes. A quaint little town.]
Vaughn is showing signs of recovering, although he's still sweating and his brow is wrinkling. Still he manages a rather convincing:
VAUGHN
[That was the problem.]
She smiles. Typical small town boy.
GAGNE
[I see. And how do you like Paris so far?]
Now he's relaxing into his role. He gives her his most devastating smile and looks suggestively at her.
VAUGHN
[I love it. Especially the... scenery.]
JACK
Good, Pool Boy.
Syd looks at her father menacingly. Gagne smiles.
GAGNE
[And you haven't even played at our finest table yet.]
VAUGHN
[Is that an invitation?]
She laughs and puts an arm on his forearm. He looks down uncomfortably allowing the van to see it. Sydney hits Weiss.
WEISS
Ow! What was that for?
SYDNEY
He's not here.
WEISS
Lucky me.
JACK
If you two are done he's about to start again.
Back in The Poodle at the Big Boy table Vaughn is introduced to a tall handsome man. Think that guy from Unfaithful.
GAGNE
[Luc meet Marco. He's our best player.]
Vaughn nods.
VAUGHN
[We'll see.]
They glare at each other until Marco motions for Vaughn to take the break. He's making shot after shot and it looks like he's going to win but then he misses. It wasn't intentional. Marco steps in and starts to catch up until he comes upon a particularly hard shot. He misses but he leaves Vaughn with an even harder shot. Vaughn circles nervously and looks like he's going to pick a position to shoot from.
WEISS
No! Go back. Try the other side.
SYDNEY
But on the other side he'll have to bank it at a steeper angle.
WEISS
Yeah but that's better than...
Jack gives them a look that shuts both of them up. Vaughn settles on a shot and takes it. Somehow it goes in and everyone cheers. Erica Gagne walks up to a relieved looking sweat drenched Vaughn.
GAGNE
[Impressive.]
She looks him up and down, especially down. She's not just talking about his pool playing abilities. He's so drained he can't even look at her and he mumbles:
VAUGHN
[Lucky shot.]
She smiles and puts her hand on his arm again. He looks up and composes himself for more shameless flirting.
GAGNE
[I don't believe in luck, only raw talent, which you obviously have. (beat) So what is your secret?]
He manages a smile.
VAUGHN
[Practice makes perfect.]
GAGNE
[Apparently so. Seeing that you just arrived I assume that you're looking for employment.]
He holds up his winnings.
VAUGHN
[Why get a job when I can put my talent to use here?]
GAGNE
[That is exactly what I was about to suggest. Why don't you come up to my office so we can discuss how best to use your many talents?]
She practically leers at him when she mentions his talents. He swallows hard and nods, picking up his case and his jacket. She motions for him to go up the stairs first. As they're walking up he looks back down just in time to catch her checking him out. In the van Weiss looks at Syd. She's not happy.
WEISS
Syd...
SYDNEY
What?
Her clipped tone causes Weiss to jerk back.
WEISS
Perhaps you should...
SYDNEY
I'm fine.
WEISS
Well, if it makes you feel any better he usually has the same look that you do now.
Before she can reply the screen goes blank and static fills their earpieces. It's so loud they have to yank them off. They all look at each other in panic.
CUT TO:
