INT. THE BMW - A SHORT TIME LATER
They're driving down the freeway near downtown.
SYDNEY
I still can't believe it.
VAUGHN
What's so hard to believe?
SYDNEY
The idea that you were ever gawky and uncoordinated.
VAUGHN
That's because you've only seen the well proportioned me.
She smiles suggestively at that one and he shakes his head.
VAUGHN
You know what I mean. Before I made it through puberty my head was so big I looked like a cartoon portrait of myself. And my hands were the size of those Mickey Mouse gloves you get at Disneyland. Then there were my feet, which were only missing the big red floppy shoes. I was a freak.
SYDNEY
You want to talk freakish? Try being the tall skinny girl with hands that could palm a basketball at age 12? They called me Sydney Plain and Tall. And I shouldn't even have to mention the cursed Bristow ears and forehead. So don't even try to trump me in the awkward adolescent act.
VAUGHN
Oh really. Until I was 22 I'd get so nervous anytime a girl would so much as look at me that I'd start sweating like Shaq in the playoffs. And then...
Suddenly there's what sound like a gunshot. They both duck instinctively but then Vaughn starts wrestling with the wheel as the car begins to swerve.
VAUGHN
Aw, crap! I think we've got a flat tire.
Syd leans over and hits the emergency lights as Vaughn wrestles the car across 5 lanes of traffic to the shoulder right before an on ramp. For a second they just sit there catching their breath and then Vaughn slams his fist into the steering wheel scaring Syd.
VAUGHN
Damn it!
SYDNEY
Vaughn...
He opens the door and stalks around to the passenger side of the car. It's the front passenger tire and he stands in front of it staring at it. Then he squats down and stares at it. Then he stands up again to stare at it some more. Syd rolls down her window.
SYDNEY
Uh, Vaughn?
He ignores her and kicks the shredded tire.
SYDNEY
Vaughn?
Still no response as he crosses his arms.
SYDNEY
Vaughn, what are you doing?
He snaps.
VAUGHN
I'm going over my options!
He says this so seriously that she can't help but bust up laughing. He looks at her like "What's so funny?" and that only makes her laugh harder.
SYDNEY
You're going over your options?
He doesn't get what's so funny.
VAUGHN
Yes.
She laughs some more.
SYDNEY
Get in the car.
He just looks at her for a moment trying to understand her reaction.
SYDNEY
Just get in.
He moves back around to the driver's side and gets in.
VAUGHN
What?
SYDNEY
Vaughn, we have a flat tire. Our options are to change it or... to change it. Now I consider myself to be a modern independent woman but there's no way I'm changing a tire in this dress. Which leaves you and the AAA guy.
She holds out her phone to him. He sighs.
VAUGHN
I'll use mine.
CUT TO:
INT. THE BMW
He's getting off the phone and she's watching him expectantly.
VAUGHN
The AAA guy is on his way but it's a Friday night so it may take a while. Fortunately the hostess at the restaurant says that she can hold our table for up to 30 minutes.
SYDNEY
See, we'll get the tire changed and everything will be fine.
VAUGHN
I know.
He looks so disappointed.
SYDNEY
Vaughn, I already told you, all I wanted was an evening with you where we didn't get shot at. So far so good.
VAUGHN
Yeah, but I'm sure you didn't want to spend the date sitting on the 110 with a flat tire either.
SYDNEY
No. But given everything that's happened to me in the past few months sitting here with you is perfectly fine with me. And it'll give us time to talk.
Vaughn starts to sweat at the word 'talk.'
VAUGHN
About what?
Syd laughs.
SYDNEY
You don't have to get so nervous. It's not one of those talks. I was just going to ask you more about your dad. You never told me he was such a romantic.
VAUGHN
Oh, yeah. He always told me that the key was in the little things that you did. The gifts you gave just because. The surprise dinners. Or a note to say "Hi" or "Thank you." Cause all anyone really wants is to know that you cared enough to listen and that you took the time to think about them.
SYDNEY
Good advice.
He smiles and looks at her.
VAUGHN
It's worked so far.
She smiles back.
SYDNEY
I'd say. (beat) So what other wisdom did he impart to you?
VAUGHN
Probably the most important thing he taught me was how to skate.
SYDNEY
How to skate? Is that like 'wax on wax' off?
Vaughn laughs.
VAUGHN
More like paint the fence. (beat) Seriously though, he was from New England and he loved to skate. So when I was four he bought me my first pair of ice skates. He would have bought them for me sooner but my mom had a rule that I had to weigh more than the skates and the pads before she'd let him teach me. He tried to convince her with the "But if the skates weigh more than he does he won't fall over" argument but she didn't buy it.
Sydney laughs.
VAUGHN
So we waited. And then on my fourth birthday my dad got me skates and my mom bought me a helmet and enough padding that I looked like I was wearing a sumo wrestler suit. That afternoon my dad took me to the rink for my first lesson.
SYDNEY
Let me guess, you were a natural.
VAUGHN
Actually I was horrible. I was too tense and nervous and I refused to let go of him. It didn't help that the rink was packed with people and I was worried about getting pushed down and run over. We only lasted 15 minutes before he gave up and took me home. I felt terrible. I was only 4 but I still knew when my dad was disappointed and I hated it. Then the next morning he woke me up early and took me down to the rink where he played with his buddies.
SYDNEY
Wait, didn't you tell me that your dad played at Pickwick? Where you'd take me?
VAUGHN
Yeah, my dad was a friend of the manager and so he got the keys so I could learn without having to worry about all the people.
SYDNEY
How sweet.
VAUGHN
Yeah. Except it didn't work. I was still way too nervous. I wobbled around for a bit but I just couldn't do it.
SYDNEY
Why?
VAUGHN
That's what he asked me. And I told him that it was because I was afraid of falling.
SYDNEY
Were you?
VAUGHN
Oh, yeah. But that was only part of the reason. My dad was an amazing skater, fast, graceful. I was intimidated. I didn't think that I could ever be as good as he was.
SYDNEY
But you didn't tell him that?
VAUGHN
Are you kidding? I didn't even tell him later after I got to be pretty good. I guess deep down, like most guys, I just wanted him to think I was tough so that he'd be proud of me.
SYDNEY
It's not just guys.
He nods. She's right about that.
SYDNEY
So what happened?
VAUGHN
My dad, who never ever faltered on a pair of skates, fell. He said, "Watch this" and skated hard to the other end of the rink. But when he went to stop he lost his balance and slammed into the boards. It scared the hell out of me. And then when he didn't get up... I skated as hard as I could all the way across the rink. I think I even fell a few times but I got right up and didn't stop til I reached him.
SYDNEY
Was he okay?
VAUGHN
Of course. He fell on purpose. When I got to him I realized I didn't know how to stop so I just fell against the boards and landed next to him. That's when he started laughing. He sat up and said, "See that wasn't so bad." I just burst into tears.
SYDNEY
Awww...
VAUGHN
He felt so bad. He apologized for scaring me and then he said," Michael, everybody falls. Even me. And everybody gets hurt. But then the hurt goes away and all that's left are the good memories of the times you didn't fall. Or even better, the memories of all the fun you had falling. But you won't have any memories at all if you're too afraid to get out on the ice." I didn't really get it at the time but I understood enough that I was able to conquer my fear of falling. We stayed at the rink til it opened later that morning and every time that I fell he'd fall down right next to me.
SYDNEY
He sounds like a great dad.
VAUGHN
He was. (beat) You know it's funny but when I read his journal and talked to other agents that worked with him I was surprised by how reserved and conflicted he was. I mean, sure there were certain things at home that he liked just so and there would be times I'd catch him looking tired and sad when he didn't know I was around but I guess as a kid you forget those moments. All you see is you dad, not "Agent Vaughn."
SYDNEY
Actually it was the opposite with my dad. All I knew was the cold distant side of him and it wasn't until we started working together that I began to see and remember that side of him that used to push me on the swings and throw me in the pool and kiss my scrapes and bruises to make them all better. And did you know he has a great sense of humor?
VAUGHN
If by "great" you mean "extremely dry and at my expense" then yes.
SYDNEY
What is it with you and him?
VAUGHN
You have to understand, the first time I heard about your dad was in my dad's journal.
SYDNEY
Your dad wrote about my dad?
VAUGHN
They worked together on a few assignments. Probably the biggest one was Chile.
SYDNEY
Chile? With Allende?
VAUGHN
The very same. Turns out our fathers toppled a government together.
SYDNEY
Wow. My dad never told me that. Although why that should surprise me, I don't know. (beat) So what did your dad write?
VAUGHN
He really respected Jack. He had issues with some of his methods but he called your dad the most brilliant strategist he'd ever worked with and a genius in the field.
SYDNEY
That sounds like dad.
VAUGHN
It's intimidating, isn't it? Living up to our father's reputations? I don't know how it is with you but everyone at the Agency over the age of 45 knows me as "Bill Vaughn's kid." Not that I'm ashamed or anything. In fact it's nice cause sometimes they'll tell me stories about him but still...
SYDNEY
You wouldn't mind establishing your own identity? Believe me when your last name is Bristow practically every operative and analyst you meet tells you that they've worked with your father. It's a little unsettling. Seriously, is there anyone in the business that he hasn't worked with? And how do they know I'm his daughter? Bristow is a fairly common name, right? (mumbles) It's gotta be the ears. (beat) But you're right, it does have its advantages. Like it's fun to watch people straighten up a bit when they realize who my father is. I like the fact that my dad kicks ass and people know it.
VAUGHN
Believe me, I know. I already told you about how when I first met you I thought you were crazy. But what I didn't tell you was that when I found out that you were Jack Bristow's daughter I almost refused the assignment to be your handler. I knew his rep and I was sure that if I screwed up and you got hurt he'd come after me first. And there was no way I wanted a piece of that action. But I had an instinct about you and I decided to ignore the fact that I would be responsible for the life of the daughter of an agent known for his ability to reduce the toughest operatives to a quivering mess with a single glance.
SYDNEY
Don't forget his ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound?
Vaughn laughs.
VAUGHN
I wouldn't put it past him. (beat) But you have to admit; your dad can be pretty scary sometimes.
SYDNEY
Oh, I know. Try sneaking into the house late at night and finding him sitting in the kitchen waiting for you. It's just that now that I've gotten closer to him I also remember the way he used to like to play "I'm a Little Teapot" with me when I was little. So now I like to watch him make other agents tremble while thinking of him singing that.
VAUGHN
You mean you like to watch [I]me[/I] tremble while you think of him singing that?
Syd laughs with a mischievous glint to her eyes.
SYDNEY
Maybe. But just a little.
Vaughn shakes his head and laughs.
VAUGHN
You are an evil woman, Sydney Bristow.
Syd smiles.
SYDNEY
You know you love it.
VAUGHN
I never said that I didn't.
They're looking at each other rather intensely when the tow truck pulls up behind them.
CUT TO:
They're driving down the freeway near downtown.
SYDNEY
I still can't believe it.
VAUGHN
What's so hard to believe?
SYDNEY
The idea that you were ever gawky and uncoordinated.
VAUGHN
That's because you've only seen the well proportioned me.
She smiles suggestively at that one and he shakes his head.
VAUGHN
You know what I mean. Before I made it through puberty my head was so big I looked like a cartoon portrait of myself. And my hands were the size of those Mickey Mouse gloves you get at Disneyland. Then there were my feet, which were only missing the big red floppy shoes. I was a freak.
SYDNEY
You want to talk freakish? Try being the tall skinny girl with hands that could palm a basketball at age 12? They called me Sydney Plain and Tall. And I shouldn't even have to mention the cursed Bristow ears and forehead. So don't even try to trump me in the awkward adolescent act.
VAUGHN
Oh really. Until I was 22 I'd get so nervous anytime a girl would so much as look at me that I'd start sweating like Shaq in the playoffs. And then...
Suddenly there's what sound like a gunshot. They both duck instinctively but then Vaughn starts wrestling with the wheel as the car begins to swerve.
VAUGHN
Aw, crap! I think we've got a flat tire.
Syd leans over and hits the emergency lights as Vaughn wrestles the car across 5 lanes of traffic to the shoulder right before an on ramp. For a second they just sit there catching their breath and then Vaughn slams his fist into the steering wheel scaring Syd.
VAUGHN
Damn it!
SYDNEY
Vaughn...
He opens the door and stalks around to the passenger side of the car. It's the front passenger tire and he stands in front of it staring at it. Then he squats down and stares at it. Then he stands up again to stare at it some more. Syd rolls down her window.
SYDNEY
Uh, Vaughn?
He ignores her and kicks the shredded tire.
SYDNEY
Vaughn?
Still no response as he crosses his arms.
SYDNEY
Vaughn, what are you doing?
He snaps.
VAUGHN
I'm going over my options!
He says this so seriously that she can't help but bust up laughing. He looks at her like "What's so funny?" and that only makes her laugh harder.
SYDNEY
You're going over your options?
He doesn't get what's so funny.
VAUGHN
Yes.
She laughs some more.
SYDNEY
Get in the car.
He just looks at her for a moment trying to understand her reaction.
SYDNEY
Just get in.
He moves back around to the driver's side and gets in.
VAUGHN
What?
SYDNEY
Vaughn, we have a flat tire. Our options are to change it or... to change it. Now I consider myself to be a modern independent woman but there's no way I'm changing a tire in this dress. Which leaves you and the AAA guy.
She holds out her phone to him. He sighs.
VAUGHN
I'll use mine.
CUT TO:
INT. THE BMW
He's getting off the phone and she's watching him expectantly.
VAUGHN
The AAA guy is on his way but it's a Friday night so it may take a while. Fortunately the hostess at the restaurant says that she can hold our table for up to 30 minutes.
SYDNEY
See, we'll get the tire changed and everything will be fine.
VAUGHN
I know.
He looks so disappointed.
SYDNEY
Vaughn, I already told you, all I wanted was an evening with you where we didn't get shot at. So far so good.
VAUGHN
Yeah, but I'm sure you didn't want to spend the date sitting on the 110 with a flat tire either.
SYDNEY
No. But given everything that's happened to me in the past few months sitting here with you is perfectly fine with me. And it'll give us time to talk.
Vaughn starts to sweat at the word 'talk.'
VAUGHN
About what?
Syd laughs.
SYDNEY
You don't have to get so nervous. It's not one of those talks. I was just going to ask you more about your dad. You never told me he was such a romantic.
VAUGHN
Oh, yeah. He always told me that the key was in the little things that you did. The gifts you gave just because. The surprise dinners. Or a note to say "Hi" or "Thank you." Cause all anyone really wants is to know that you cared enough to listen and that you took the time to think about them.
SYDNEY
Good advice.
He smiles and looks at her.
VAUGHN
It's worked so far.
She smiles back.
SYDNEY
I'd say. (beat) So what other wisdom did he impart to you?
VAUGHN
Probably the most important thing he taught me was how to skate.
SYDNEY
How to skate? Is that like 'wax on wax' off?
Vaughn laughs.
VAUGHN
More like paint the fence. (beat) Seriously though, he was from New England and he loved to skate. So when I was four he bought me my first pair of ice skates. He would have bought them for me sooner but my mom had a rule that I had to weigh more than the skates and the pads before she'd let him teach me. He tried to convince her with the "But if the skates weigh more than he does he won't fall over" argument but she didn't buy it.
Sydney laughs.
VAUGHN
So we waited. And then on my fourth birthday my dad got me skates and my mom bought me a helmet and enough padding that I looked like I was wearing a sumo wrestler suit. That afternoon my dad took me to the rink for my first lesson.
SYDNEY
Let me guess, you were a natural.
VAUGHN
Actually I was horrible. I was too tense and nervous and I refused to let go of him. It didn't help that the rink was packed with people and I was worried about getting pushed down and run over. We only lasted 15 minutes before he gave up and took me home. I felt terrible. I was only 4 but I still knew when my dad was disappointed and I hated it. Then the next morning he woke me up early and took me down to the rink where he played with his buddies.
SYDNEY
Wait, didn't you tell me that your dad played at Pickwick? Where you'd take me?
VAUGHN
Yeah, my dad was a friend of the manager and so he got the keys so I could learn without having to worry about all the people.
SYDNEY
How sweet.
VAUGHN
Yeah. Except it didn't work. I was still way too nervous. I wobbled around for a bit but I just couldn't do it.
SYDNEY
Why?
VAUGHN
That's what he asked me. And I told him that it was because I was afraid of falling.
SYDNEY
Were you?
VAUGHN
Oh, yeah. But that was only part of the reason. My dad was an amazing skater, fast, graceful. I was intimidated. I didn't think that I could ever be as good as he was.
SYDNEY
But you didn't tell him that?
VAUGHN
Are you kidding? I didn't even tell him later after I got to be pretty good. I guess deep down, like most guys, I just wanted him to think I was tough so that he'd be proud of me.
SYDNEY
It's not just guys.
He nods. She's right about that.
SYDNEY
So what happened?
VAUGHN
My dad, who never ever faltered on a pair of skates, fell. He said, "Watch this" and skated hard to the other end of the rink. But when he went to stop he lost his balance and slammed into the boards. It scared the hell out of me. And then when he didn't get up... I skated as hard as I could all the way across the rink. I think I even fell a few times but I got right up and didn't stop til I reached him.
SYDNEY
Was he okay?
VAUGHN
Of course. He fell on purpose. When I got to him I realized I didn't know how to stop so I just fell against the boards and landed next to him. That's when he started laughing. He sat up and said, "See that wasn't so bad." I just burst into tears.
SYDNEY
Awww...
VAUGHN
He felt so bad. He apologized for scaring me and then he said," Michael, everybody falls. Even me. And everybody gets hurt. But then the hurt goes away and all that's left are the good memories of the times you didn't fall. Or even better, the memories of all the fun you had falling. But you won't have any memories at all if you're too afraid to get out on the ice." I didn't really get it at the time but I understood enough that I was able to conquer my fear of falling. We stayed at the rink til it opened later that morning and every time that I fell he'd fall down right next to me.
SYDNEY
He sounds like a great dad.
VAUGHN
He was. (beat) You know it's funny but when I read his journal and talked to other agents that worked with him I was surprised by how reserved and conflicted he was. I mean, sure there were certain things at home that he liked just so and there would be times I'd catch him looking tired and sad when he didn't know I was around but I guess as a kid you forget those moments. All you see is you dad, not "Agent Vaughn."
SYDNEY
Actually it was the opposite with my dad. All I knew was the cold distant side of him and it wasn't until we started working together that I began to see and remember that side of him that used to push me on the swings and throw me in the pool and kiss my scrapes and bruises to make them all better. And did you know he has a great sense of humor?
VAUGHN
If by "great" you mean "extremely dry and at my expense" then yes.
SYDNEY
What is it with you and him?
VAUGHN
You have to understand, the first time I heard about your dad was in my dad's journal.
SYDNEY
Your dad wrote about my dad?
VAUGHN
They worked together on a few assignments. Probably the biggest one was Chile.
SYDNEY
Chile? With Allende?
VAUGHN
The very same. Turns out our fathers toppled a government together.
SYDNEY
Wow. My dad never told me that. Although why that should surprise me, I don't know. (beat) So what did your dad write?
VAUGHN
He really respected Jack. He had issues with some of his methods but he called your dad the most brilliant strategist he'd ever worked with and a genius in the field.
SYDNEY
That sounds like dad.
VAUGHN
It's intimidating, isn't it? Living up to our father's reputations? I don't know how it is with you but everyone at the Agency over the age of 45 knows me as "Bill Vaughn's kid." Not that I'm ashamed or anything. In fact it's nice cause sometimes they'll tell me stories about him but still...
SYDNEY
You wouldn't mind establishing your own identity? Believe me when your last name is Bristow practically every operative and analyst you meet tells you that they've worked with your father. It's a little unsettling. Seriously, is there anyone in the business that he hasn't worked with? And how do they know I'm his daughter? Bristow is a fairly common name, right? (mumbles) It's gotta be the ears. (beat) But you're right, it does have its advantages. Like it's fun to watch people straighten up a bit when they realize who my father is. I like the fact that my dad kicks ass and people know it.
VAUGHN
Believe me, I know. I already told you about how when I first met you I thought you were crazy. But what I didn't tell you was that when I found out that you were Jack Bristow's daughter I almost refused the assignment to be your handler. I knew his rep and I was sure that if I screwed up and you got hurt he'd come after me first. And there was no way I wanted a piece of that action. But I had an instinct about you and I decided to ignore the fact that I would be responsible for the life of the daughter of an agent known for his ability to reduce the toughest operatives to a quivering mess with a single glance.
SYDNEY
Don't forget his ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound?
Vaughn laughs.
VAUGHN
I wouldn't put it past him. (beat) But you have to admit; your dad can be pretty scary sometimes.
SYDNEY
Oh, I know. Try sneaking into the house late at night and finding him sitting in the kitchen waiting for you. It's just that now that I've gotten closer to him I also remember the way he used to like to play "I'm a Little Teapot" with me when I was little. So now I like to watch him make other agents tremble while thinking of him singing that.
VAUGHN
You mean you like to watch [I]me[/I] tremble while you think of him singing that?
Syd laughs with a mischievous glint to her eyes.
SYDNEY
Maybe. But just a little.
Vaughn shakes his head and laughs.
VAUGHN
You are an evil woman, Sydney Bristow.
Syd smiles.
SYDNEY
You know you love it.
VAUGHN
I never said that I didn't.
They're looking at each other rather intensely when the tow truck pulls up behind them.
CUT TO:
