5
INT. SYDNEY'S APARTMENT
Vaughn lets go of Sydney's hand and starts fidgeting with his wedding ring. He takes in a deep breath before he begins talking. Sydney just continues to look at her now solitary hand...wishing it were still entwined with Vaughn's
VAUGHN
Last Thursday...that night...[beat]
SYDNEY
The anniversary of your father's death.
Vaughn looks at her and nods...remembering how surprised he was that she remembered...when his own wife didn't.
VAUGHN
Yah. [beat] I couldn't sleep that night so I decided that I would go for a jog. I went to look around for my house keys...[beat]...but I found my father's old watch instead.
Sydney looks at him endearingly...remembering "the watch"
FLASHBACK
Sydney and Vaughn are in the warehouse where they always meet before she goes on assignment. Sydney is about to leave and as she's gazing at Vaughn one last time, he starts to talk
VAUGHN
This watch belonged to my father. It's broken now, but it used to keep perfect time. [beat] And when he gave it to me, he said "You could set your heart by this watch." [beat] It stopped October first. [beat] The day we met.
end FLASHBACK
Vaughn's face strains as he continues to talk...and Sydney, realizing how difficult it is for him to talk about his father, reaches over and takes his hand back in hers. He looks stunned, but she just gave him a look motioning for him to continue.
VAUGHN
I just sat there for a while...just remembering him...[beat]... and then Lauren got a phone call and found me sitting in the dark. I tried to tell her a story about my dad. But she had no idea what the hell I was talking about. I wanted to tell her everything that night...[beat]...about the watch...about my father...[beat]...about you.
Vaughn closes his eyes and is quiet for a moment. Sydney gives his hand a gentle squeeze and this brings him back.
SYDNEY
Vaughn?
VAUGHN
Syd, as I was sitting there in the dark, I kept thinking about what my father said...[beat]...how I could set my heart by that watch...and [beat]...and how it stopped.
SYDNEY
October first.
Vaughn squeezes Sydney's hand
VAUGHN
October first.
VAUGHN
I wanted to tell my wife...
Sydney flinches. Hearing him say "my wife" cut sharply through her...and he notices her wince a little. Vaughn takes Sydney's chin in his hand and lifts her face to look at him. She closes her eyes as a single tear falls down
VAUGHN
Syd...[beat]...open your eyes.
She complies
VAUGHN
I wanted to tell Lauren that night...what I wanted to tell you in North Korea...[beat]...
Vaughn looks at her longingly
VAUGHN
That as much as I love her...[beat]...all my life there has only been one person [beat]...one person for whom my heart beats.
Vaughn takes Sydney's hand and places it over his heart.
VAUGHN
Do you feel that?
Sydney can feel Vaughn's heart beating strongly and she nods.
VAUGHN
YOU make that happen Syd. Only you. My heart...
His voice starts to break
VAUGHN
It only beats for you, Sydney. I never had a choice in it. [beat]...I couldn't will it to beat for anyone else.
There is a long pause as Sydney continues to feel Vaughn's heart beating beneath her touch
Vaughn leaves Sydney's side, once again kneeling in front of her...taking both of her hands in his.
VAUGHN
And when I thought you died that night...Syd...[beat]...when we got the DNA results that it was your body...my heart stopped beating.
Sydney is silently weeping as Vaughn struggles to continue.
VAUGHN
Sydney, when I thought you were gone...[beat]...it nearly killed me. And then Hong Kong happened...and...
Vaughn is clearly straining to talk
VAUGHN
And then you were back. Only I couldn't be there for you...[beat]...because...well
Vaughn looks down at his wedding ring and gets a look of frustration
VAUGHN
Syd, you had every right to accuse me of losing faith
SYDNEY
Vaughn...
VAUGHN
...and when you came to my class that day...
Sydney remembers THAT day perfectly
FLASHBACK
SYDNEY
You're a French teacher, huh?
VAUGHN
Yeah.
SYDNEY
I know that you're thinking about coming back... to the Agency. On the off chance that your hesitation is out of some courtesy to me, I... you can forget about it. I... I mean... I can handle you being there. So, don't worry about me.
VAUGHN
The other day you said I gave up on us because I didn't have faith; that somehow you didn't mean enough to me.
SYDNEY
When I said that, I was...
VAUGHN
No, let me finish. After you died, I used to talk to you... like you were still around. Literally, out loud, whole conversations about... about nothing. The weather... Should I get a new car? Should... should I have another drink? Then one day... you started answering. I mean, I could hear you in my head... like you were right next to me, Sydney. And although rationally I knew I was a guy who... stayed up nights... drinking, talking to his dead girlfriend... Still, I couldn't stop. So, before you tell me you can handle my coming back to the CIA, there are two things you need to know: First... is that I was so in love with you... it nearly killed me. And second... that I don't regret moving on with my life.
end FLASHBACK
SYDNEY
Vaughn, you don't have to explain. I understand why you moved on. [beat] I did the same thing when Danny died...you don't have to
VAUGHN
Sydney...[beat]...when I told you that I didn't regret moving on...[beat]...I lied.
Sydney looks at him in disbelief.
SYDNEY
Vaughn...
VAUGHN
I was angry. [beat]...I was angry at you! Because you were right....
Vaughn looks down...
VAUGHN
Because I lost faith, Syd. I should never have given up on us...on you. I'm so sorry Sydney...
Sydney sees how guilt stricken and broken Vaughn is and drops his hands pulling him into her embrace. She is cradling Vaughn in her arms as they both silently shed tears of anguish
SYDNEY
Vaughn...I don't blame you...[beat]
VAUGHN
You should
SYDNEY
I don't. I won't.
VAUGHN
I'm so sorry, Sydney. I'm so sorry.
Syd backs away from their embrace and she lifts his head and cups his face...speaking to him softly and lovingly...
SYDNEY
Your apologies are not what I need from you, Vaughn
He looks at her with pleading eyes
VAUGHN
Then what do you need, Syd?
SYDNEY
I need you with me here. Right now. Not when I woke up that night in Hong Kong, not the night that I died, but now. I have to know that you're here with me now, not because you think you should be or because you think you have some obligation to fulfill, but because you want to be.
Vaughn pulls himself up and rests his forehead against hers
VAUGHN
I'm here Syd.
He slowly takes his wedding ring off
VAUGHN
I choose to be here...[beat]...with you.
Sydney slowly backs away a little and rests her forehead on his.
VAUGHN
Sydney, I can't promise you that the road ahead will be easy...[beat]...but I can promise you that I'll hold on if you will.
Sydney gently presses her lips against Vaughn's as tears of exhaustion, and relief, and joy stream down her face
SYDNEY
I'll hold on Vaughn...[beat]...I've been holding on.
Syd and Vaughn continue to hold on to one another as the music continues to play in the background.
I know you have a little life in you yet.
I know you have a lot of strength left
FINI