EXT. GRIFFITH PARK
Sydney is walking through Griffith Park. She walks past the actual observatory stopping where her and Vaughn once met. We use editing to show her as she continues to wander around watching the couples and families enjoying an afternoon out. After a few cuts she comes to the path where her and Vaughn sat on the bench. She stops by the ice cream stand across the way and looks around but no one approaches her. Then the man behind the ice cream stand speaks:
ICE CREAM MAN
Excuse me miss. Are you looking for someone?
SYDNEY
Yeah, you didn't happen to see a tall brown haired man loitering around here, did you?
ICE CREAM MAN
Sorry. Can't say that I have. I'm sure he'll show up eventually.
She nods, still looking around, wondering if she has the right place.
ICE CREAM MAN
Would you like some ice cream while you wait?
Syd appears as if she's about to refuse.
ICE CREAM MAN
I've got two scoops of cookies and cream on the house just for you.
He holds out a bowl with two scoops for her and she regards him suspiciously. How did he know what kind of ice cream she liked? He just gives her a congenial smile. She returns it and takes the cup.
SYDNEY
Thank you.
She starts to walk away when she feels the underside of the cup. Looking at it she finds the next cassette taped to the bottom. She looks back at the ice cream man but he's already cleaning his counter purposely ignoring her. She smiles and makes her way over to a nearby bench to sit down. The tape goes in and Vaughn's voice comes out as she starts eating the ice cream.
VAUGHN
Happy birthday again. I hope you're enjoying your ice cream.
We can hear in his voice that he's also eating ice cream and we switch over to him to confirm it. He's sitting on the same bench eating an ice cream cone (The tongue!) looking out contemplatively while speaking into the recorder.
VAUGHN
You know it wasn't until that day that you left for Russia that I first went up there. On my way there I wasn't thinking about the mission or what had happened with Cole or your mother. I was still stuck on you asking me to go to a Kings' game. I know you're a spy but it still impressed me that you noticed my pen. It made me wonder if there wasn't something more there between us.
She seems mildly surprised by this just as she was by his declaration at the Observatory several years before. That was earlier than she thought. We stay with her as he continues.
VAUGHN
I had an idea of how I felt but with you I wasn't sure. Did you ask me because you were felling lost and didn't have anyone else? Or were you asking cause you honestly wanted to go with me? It was then that I started to realize that I wanted more with you. I wanted a future with you, something beyond SD-6 and the CIA.
Again she wasn't quite expecting that. We go back to him as he pauses and shakes his head.
VAUGHN
But I was too afraid to say anything more than I did. What if you didn't feel the same way? Or what if you did and we acted on it and somehow one or both of us got hurt or even killed? Besides it would have just been one more thing for you to deal with. So I decide not to 'bother' you with anymore of my feelings.
We go back to Sydney as she makes a face at this last comment.
VAUGHN
I know you want me to bother you. Just as much as I want you to trust me. When you told me that you lied to me about Dixon it hurt and I admit that, at first, I was angry. But what you said about never having to depend on anyone before...
Back with Vaughn he sighs. That was a rough moment for both of them.
VAUGHN
You know I used to think that once SD-6 was out of the way it would be so easy between us. With the way we worked together so effortlessly how could it not be? I was so naïve. No relationship is ever easy. Everyone has their issues and fears; things that make them hesitate or pull away. There were times when I held back, just as I know there were times when you had trouble finding a balance between trusting me and that fierce independence of yours that I love so much.
Sydney smiles. She's stopped eating her ice cream and is listening with rapt attention.
VAUGHN
That's why relationships are so difficult. They're as much about letting go as they are about holding on.
She nods in agreement as we got back to him. He leans forward and speaks intensely into the tape recorder.
VAUGHN
Still I want to do both. With you and only you. No matter how difficult it becomes. I won't give up. Never again.
He sits back having said what he wanted to say. We switch over to Syd who is visibly moved, her ice cream forgotten on the bench beside her. Then his voice cuts in again.
VAUGHN
So, are you ready for the second to last stop? It's a good one. Probably my favorite. Just normal people going to their normal jobs.
She smiles, picks up her ice cream and leaves with a wave to the ice cream man. We cut back to him where he's finishing up his ice cream and walking over to the ice cream man. He takes out the tape and gives it to the man along with a $20 bill. Then Vaughn shows the ice cream man a picture of him with Sydney and points to her with a big smile. The man nods appreciatively and Vaughn shakes his hand before walking away in the same direction he and Syd had a few years before.
CUT TO:
Sydney is walking through Griffith Park. She walks past the actual observatory stopping where her and Vaughn once met. We use editing to show her as she continues to wander around watching the couples and families enjoying an afternoon out. After a few cuts she comes to the path where her and Vaughn sat on the bench. She stops by the ice cream stand across the way and looks around but no one approaches her. Then the man behind the ice cream stand speaks:
ICE CREAM MAN
Excuse me miss. Are you looking for someone?
SYDNEY
Yeah, you didn't happen to see a tall brown haired man loitering around here, did you?
ICE CREAM MAN
Sorry. Can't say that I have. I'm sure he'll show up eventually.
She nods, still looking around, wondering if she has the right place.
ICE CREAM MAN
Would you like some ice cream while you wait?
Syd appears as if she's about to refuse.
ICE CREAM MAN
I've got two scoops of cookies and cream on the house just for you.
He holds out a bowl with two scoops for her and she regards him suspiciously. How did he know what kind of ice cream she liked? He just gives her a congenial smile. She returns it and takes the cup.
SYDNEY
Thank you.
She starts to walk away when she feels the underside of the cup. Looking at it she finds the next cassette taped to the bottom. She looks back at the ice cream man but he's already cleaning his counter purposely ignoring her. She smiles and makes her way over to a nearby bench to sit down. The tape goes in and Vaughn's voice comes out as she starts eating the ice cream.
VAUGHN
Happy birthday again. I hope you're enjoying your ice cream.
We can hear in his voice that he's also eating ice cream and we switch over to him to confirm it. He's sitting on the same bench eating an ice cream cone (The tongue!) looking out contemplatively while speaking into the recorder.
VAUGHN
You know it wasn't until that day that you left for Russia that I first went up there. On my way there I wasn't thinking about the mission or what had happened with Cole or your mother. I was still stuck on you asking me to go to a Kings' game. I know you're a spy but it still impressed me that you noticed my pen. It made me wonder if there wasn't something more there between us.
She seems mildly surprised by this just as she was by his declaration at the Observatory several years before. That was earlier than she thought. We stay with her as he continues.
VAUGHN
I had an idea of how I felt but with you I wasn't sure. Did you ask me because you were felling lost and didn't have anyone else? Or were you asking cause you honestly wanted to go with me? It was then that I started to realize that I wanted more with you. I wanted a future with you, something beyond SD-6 and the CIA.
Again she wasn't quite expecting that. We go back to him as he pauses and shakes his head.
VAUGHN
But I was too afraid to say anything more than I did. What if you didn't feel the same way? Or what if you did and we acted on it and somehow one or both of us got hurt or even killed? Besides it would have just been one more thing for you to deal with. So I decide not to 'bother' you with anymore of my feelings.
We go back to Sydney as she makes a face at this last comment.
VAUGHN
I know you want me to bother you. Just as much as I want you to trust me. When you told me that you lied to me about Dixon it hurt and I admit that, at first, I was angry. But what you said about never having to depend on anyone before...
Back with Vaughn he sighs. That was a rough moment for both of them.
VAUGHN
You know I used to think that once SD-6 was out of the way it would be so easy between us. With the way we worked together so effortlessly how could it not be? I was so naïve. No relationship is ever easy. Everyone has their issues and fears; things that make them hesitate or pull away. There were times when I held back, just as I know there were times when you had trouble finding a balance between trusting me and that fierce independence of yours that I love so much.
Sydney smiles. She's stopped eating her ice cream and is listening with rapt attention.
VAUGHN
That's why relationships are so difficult. They're as much about letting go as they are about holding on.
She nods in agreement as we got back to him. He leans forward and speaks intensely into the tape recorder.
VAUGHN
Still I want to do both. With you and only you. No matter how difficult it becomes. I won't give up. Never again.
He sits back having said what he wanted to say. We switch over to Syd who is visibly moved, her ice cream forgotten on the bench beside her. Then his voice cuts in again.
VAUGHN
So, are you ready for the second to last stop? It's a good one. Probably my favorite. Just normal people going to their normal jobs.
She smiles, picks up her ice cream and leaves with a wave to the ice cream man. We cut back to him where he's finishing up his ice cream and walking over to the ice cream man. He takes out the tape and gives it to the man along with a $20 bill. Then Vaughn shows the ice cream man a picture of him with Sydney and points to her with a big smile. The man nods appreciatively and Vaughn shakes his hand before walking away in the same direction he and Syd had a few years before.
CUT TO: