INT. CIA GARAGE - A SHORT TIME LATER

We open with a close up on the damaged wheel of the BMW. The car is sitting up on a lift to be repaired. Then we switch angles and see a mechanic standing in front of it looking stricken. He's tall thin with brown hair and blue eyes. He's wearing coveralls and has a laid back demeanor. Behind him in the background we can see Vaughn and Syd saying goodbye to Tony. They walk up to the mechanic and he turns to greet them.

VAUGHN
Donny Kjenstad meet Sydney Bristow. Syd meet Donny, although he prefers Cooter.

Donny gives Vaughn a dirty look before turning a charming one toward Syd.

DONNY
A pleasure. Mike said that you were beautiful but that was obviously an understatement. So what the hell are you doing with a loser like this?

Syd smiles.

SYDNEY
He has his uses.

Donny glances over at Vaughn.

DONNY
I suppose. I guess he's just not my type. (To Syd) I prefer brunettes.

VAUGHN
And I'd prefer it if you two would stop talking about me like I'm not here.

Syd smiles and pats his arm.

SYDNEY
Sorry. Now if you'll excuse me I have to make a call.

VAUGHN
To who?

SYDNEY
Oh, nobody important. Just something I forgot to do earlier.

She walks away to the side of the garage. Donny watches appreciatively and so does Vaughn. Then Vaughn notices Donny and smacks him on the shoulder.

VAUGHN
Will you stop checking her out?

DONNY
Sorry, it's a reflex.

VAUGHN
Just like hitting on my girlfriend was a reflex?

Donny gives Vaughn a look.

DONNY
Girlfriend? Half a date and you're back to "girlfriend"? Things must be going well.

Vaughn looks at the wheel.

VAUGHN
Not exactly.

Donny just looks at him intently.

DONNY
Really? Then that isn't lipstick you have on the side of your mouth?

Vaughn panics and reaches up to wipe his mouth but then he stops.

VAUGHN
There isn't any lipstick.

Donny laughs.

DONNY
But apparently there was something. (beat) Sometimes I wonder how you make it as a spy.

VAUGHN
Yeah and sometimes I wonder why I'm your friend.

DONNY
Well, that's easy. I've got the hookups. Which brings me to the subject at hand.

He indicates the busted wheel and smacks Vaughn on the shoulder.

DONNY
What the hell did you do to my car?!

VAUGHN
Your car? I thought it was the Agency's car.

DONNY
And who do you think they'll blame when they see the repair bill?

VAUGHN
Look, I'm sorry. Believe me when I say that this is the last thing I wanted.

Donny laughs.

DONNY
I know. I'm just giving you a hard time. I'll take care of it.

VAUGHN
Thank you. I owe you.

DONNY
Hey my wife loved that place up in San Francisco. Keep the recommendations coming and I'll do whatever I can for you.

VAUGHN
At the moment all I need is my car back. Our reservations are shot but I know a place around here I could take her. That is if she doesn't want to just go home.

Vaughn looks over at Syd still talking on the phone.

DONNY
Wow, things are moving that fast huh?

Vaughn turns back in shock.

VAUGHN
No! I meant that she'd want to go home because the date was going so bad.

DONNY
Well, it can't be going that bad if you're stressed about lipstick.

Vaughn turns more than a little red.

VAUGHN
Will you just give me my car back?

DONNY
I would but you see there was a joint CIA/FBI raid tonight and well...

VAUGHN
What happened?

DONNY
They needed everything I had, luxury and fleet.

VAUGHN
So you gave them my car?

DONNY
I didn't think you'd need it back til tomorrow morning.

VAUGHN
Fine, just give me another one.

DONNY
Didn't you hear me? They took everything. The only thing I can give you is [I]my[/I] car.

VAUGHN
You're serious?

DONNY
Sorry. I'd help you out if I could. Honestly, I mean, I don't want to overstep my bounds but, uh...

He looks over at Syd.

DONNY
Nice. So I am totally on your side here, rooting for you all the way, foam finger and everything. But I can't give you what I don't have.

Vaughn looks down dejected.

VAUGHN
Maybe I should just call a cab to take us home.

Suddenly from off camera we hear:

SYDNEY
Why do you want to go home?

Vaughn jumps.

VAUGHN
Jesus, Syd! I didn't hear you walk back.

Syd smiles.

SYDNEY
Hi, my name is Sydney Bristow. I'm a spy.

Vaughn smiles at this but he's still not sure if he heard her correctly before.

VAUGHN
And you don't want to go home?

SYDNEY
Actually I had another idea.

VAUGHN
Does it involve driving anywhere? Cause Donny had to release my car for an op and he doesn't have any left.

DONNY
I did offer Mike my car.

Vaughn looks reluctant.

VAUGHN
It's really okay. We'll just call a cab...

DONNY
Come on, I have to stay here until that op is over anyway. I'll just use one of those cars and we can switch back tomorrow.

SYDNEY
If it's not too much trouble...

He flashes her his best smile.

DONNY
As long as you don't ding my baby. I can't bill Uncle Sam for her repairs.

Syd laughs lightly.

SYDNEY
We'll be extra careful. I promise. So what do you drive?

She has a wicked gleam in her eyes and Donny waggles his eyebrows.

DONNY
Oh, you'll love it.

Vaughn looks like he's going to be sick. He already knows what Donny drives.

VAUGHN
Oh no...

CUT TO:

EXT. THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN LA - NIGHT

Syd and Vaughn in a dark blue Dodge Charger with an engine so loud it sets off car alarms as they drive by. She loves it.

SYDNEY
So this is why you call him Cooter.

Vaughn looks a nervous and she weaves through traffic.

VAUGHN
Yeah. He has another one painted orange.

SYDNEY
With the door welded shut and everything?

VAUGHN
With the doors welded shut and everything.

SYDNEY
I always wanted a car like this.

VAUGHN
Seriously? You seem more like a European sports car type.

SYDNEY
Don't misunderstand me. I love a nice sports car. One that can handle tight turns and has an engine that purrs. But some days you feel like more of a rumble, something with muscle and power.

Vaughn looks over at Syd wondering if she meant that the way it sounded.

VAUGHN
And today is one of those days?

She looks over at him and there is no question about what she's referring to.

SYDNEY
Oh, yeah...

He smiles.

VAUGHN
So why a Charger? Don't tell me you were a Dukes of Hazard fan.

SYDNEY
Well, I wouldn't say that I was a fan so much as a...

Her voice trails off and she looks a bit embarrassed.

VAUGHN
What?

She glances over at him uncertainly.

SYDNEY
I had a crush on John Schneider.

Vaughn laughs.

VAUGHN
You were in love with Bo Duke?!

Now she gets defensive.

SYDNEY
I didn't say that I was in love with him just that I had a crush on him.

He laughs even harder and she shoots him a look.

SYDNEY
Like you didn't lust after Daisy.

VAUGHN
Hey, Daisy Duke was a complex and compelling female character with many fine attributes.

SYDNEY
Is that what you call them?

VAUGHN
And Bo was a Rhodes Scholar? (beat) If only I would have known you had a thing for tight jeans and flannel.

SYDNEY
Don't tease me if you're not going to follow through.

He gives her a wicked grin.

VAUGHN
I thought you liked the way I teased?

She looks over at him with a smile.

SYDNEY
Oh, I do. But it's not like you've ever gotten dressed up for me now have you? Except for your Pool Boy incarnation and it's not like I was able to enjoy that one. And really, I'm sure I've fulfilled a few of your fantasies with some of my outfits but which ones of mine have you delivered on?

VAUGHN
You want tight jeans and flannel then I'll do tight jeans and flannel. Just no more leather.

She looks over at him with a raised eyebrow.

SYDNEY
You looked good in leather.

He gives her look right back at her.

VAUGHN
You look better.

She smiles.

SYDNEY
I know I do. But if you had a choice between that and Daisy Dukes and a crop top...

Vaughn looks at her innocently.

VAUGHN
I can't have both?

SYDNEY
Now I'm definitely not telling you where we're going.

VAUGHN
Oh, come on, Syd.

SYDNEY
No. It's a surprise.

VAUGHN
You only made it a surprise so that I'd have to let you drive.

SYDNEY
And? Your point?

She smiles and turns the car into a parking lot.

VAUGHN
Hey, wait. This is Staples Center parking.

SYDNEY
Is it?

She pays the parking attendant.

VAUGHN
We're going to the Kings game?

This whole time she's been smug and flirty, enjoying the drive and Vaughn but now she's wondering if he'll like her idea and some of her uncertainty shows through.

SYDNEY
You don't want to?

He's quick to respond.

VAUGHN
No! (beat) It's just... Well, we're a little overdressed for a hockey game.

Syd decides that after everything that's happened already she doesn't give a damn.

SYDNEY
What are they going to do? Refuse to let us in? Weren't you listening to me before? All I care about is spending the evening with you. I don't care where we are or if we're overdressed or underdressed or not dressed at all. I just want to be with you.

She gets out of the car and slams the door in frustration. He gets out on the passenger side and looks over the top of the car at her. He's grinning.

VAUGHN
Not dressed at all?

She tries to look stern but there's a smile tugging at the edges of her mouth.

SYDNEY
I was making a point.

VAUGHN
Is that what you were doing?

Now she smiles.

SYDNEY
Does that grin mean that you're done stressing out about this?

He walks around the car, extending his arm to her.

VAUGHN
Let's go watch the Zamboni.

CUT TO: