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“Missed Opportunities”
by the lurker
for Marian, because I know she’ll hate it on principle!
Season 2 & 3 spoilers of the personal lives of MP and Syd - it’s short and perhaps not so sweet!
FADE IN:
INT. SYDNEY’S OFFICE - DAY
SYDNEY is sitting at his desk, watching MISS PARKER pacing in front of him.
Miss Parker, please--
MP
--No. I have had enough
of Jarod’s games. It’s one
thing to yank our chains in
the search for him, but he has
no right commenting on my personal
life, Sydney.
Sydney sighs, knowing there is nothing he can say. Parker stops pacing and leans on Sydney’s desk, glaring at him.
MP (CONT)Where does he get off telling
me I need to run away with some
glorified Carpenter to Oregon?
(beat)
What the hell does he know
about it anyway?
SYDNEY
He knows what he sees.
Oops, wrong thing to say to her...
MPOh really? And what the
hell would you know? You
haven’t been involved with
anyone for what....thirty
years? Hardly qualifies
you for doling out advice.
ANGLE SYDNEY; hurt in his eyes. ANGLE PARKER; well, that went a tad too far.
RESUME
Parker looks down, sighs, then tries to fix it.
I didn’t mean that exactly
the way it came out--
SYDNEY
--I know how you meant it.
MP
Syd--
Sydney stands, cutting her off with his hand.
SYDNEY--Save it, Parker.
(beat)
You’re probably right.
An awkward silence fills the room, then;
MPI’m going to go see what
Broots has, and I’ll catch
up with you later.
SYDNEY
Fine.
Parker heads out, but stops at the doorway.
MPSydney, it really did
come out harsher than
I intended.
SYDNEY
(off handed)
Okay.
Parker spares him one more glance, knows he’s pissed, then exits. Sydney sighs deeply, and plops back into his desk chair. CLOSE on Sydney as his eyes fill with a remembrance and a gloom, on this, we,
DISSOLVE TO B&W FLASHBACK:
INT. COTTAGE c.1967 - NIGHT
CLASSICAL GUITAR MUSIC PLAYS as we DOLLY through a quaint cottage living room. It is cozy in feel, candles illuminating most of the space, rustic with a warm glow. There is a fire lit in the fireplace, and we PICK-UP SYDNEY and MICHELLE cuddling on a couch in front of the fire. His arm is around her and she is snuggled into him, a comforter covering her.
Happy?
MICHELLE
Yes.
He kisses her head, and pulls her closer.
MICHELLE (CONT)I’m so glad we did this.
SYDNEY
Me too.
A comfortable silence holds for a beat.
SYDNEY (CONT)There’s something I’ve
been meaning to ask you.
(off a look)
I was wondering if....
(beat)
Well, I was wondering--
Michelle reaches up and gently kisses him on the mouth. It calms him slightly. He steals one more feather light kiss from her lips, and she smiles at him. He puts enough distance between them so that he can look directly into her eyes.
SYDNEY (CONT)Michelle, you have become
the most important thing in
my life.
(beat)
I love you, and I want to spend
the rest of my life pleasing you,
if you’ll have me.
Sydney reaches for her face and slowly pulls her mouth toward his. He kisses her lightly at first, but it deepens quickly. On their growing passion, we,
CUT TO:
INT. MICHELLE’S OFFICE THE CENTRE c. 1967 - DAY
Sydney enters to find Michelle’s office empty. Completely bereft of her personal belongings. MR. RAINES enters.
If you’re looking for Michelle,
I’m afraid she’s gone.
SYDNEY
Gone? What do you mean, gone?
RAINES
Gave notice early this morning.
Packed up her things and left.
SYDNEY
But...this doesn’t make any
sense. What...what did she say?
RAINES
I’m afraid she sited personal
reasons.
SYDNEY
(confused)
This is wrong. She wouldn’t
just leave without saying good
bye to me...
RAINES
I’m sorry Sydney, but that’s
exactly what she did.
SYDNEY
Where did she go?
RAINES
She didn’t leave a forwarding
address. I have no idea.
ANGLE SYDNEY; complete distrust of Raines.
SYDNEYUh-huh.
Sydney starts out of the room, but stops at Raines’ voice.
RAINESHer house is completely cleaned
out as well...
Sydney turns on Raines and gets in his face.
SYDNEYWhat have you done to her?
She wouldn’t just leave. I
know that she wouldn’t just
leave me....
Raines lays a comforting hand on Sydney’s shoulder.
RAINESI know this is difficult for you,
Sydney. Look, I didn’t want to
have to tell you this, but...
SYDNEY
But what?
RAINES
She indicated that she had made
a mistake regarding a romantic
entanglement. I got the impression
that she just wanted out of whatever
it was....
ANGLE SYDNEY; betrayal and anguish in his eyes. RESUME. On Raines smiling as he exits, we,
DISSOLVE BACK TO:
INT. SYDNEY’S OFFICE PRESENT - CONTINUOUS
CLOSE ON SYDNEY, his eyes shining from the strength of the memory.
RESUME
He sighs deeply, and pulls out his pocket watch. INSERT: POCKET WATCH WITH INSCRIPTION READING: JE T’AIME. RESUME. He puts the watch away and stands, resolution in his eyes. On his exit, we,
CUT TO:
MISS PARKER’S OFFICE - DAY
Parker is sitting at her desk, handling paperwork, Sydney enters. His face tells her immediately, that he means business. Parker sets her pen down, folds her hands and cocks an eyebrow at him.
Sydney?
Sydney steps further into the room, leans on her desk, looming into her face.
SYDNEYThere are no second chances,
Miss Parker. Only missed
opportunities. Don’t make
a mistake that you will later
regret. If this man makes
you happy, if you love him,
don’t let the Centre take
that away from you. Leave
with him, now; you may not
have a second chance.
Parker is speechless, Sydney straightens up, still holding her eyes.
SYDNEY (CONT)I only say this because I...
...care what happens to you.
It’s your decision, but I
speak from experience, Miss
Parker; you don’t want to
live with that kind of regret.
Parker’s eyes cloud over with moisture as he turns and heads for the exit. Her voice catches him at the threshold.
MPTo know the things that
might have been, Sydney?
He looks at the floor, but does not turn back to face her.
SYDNEYThere are few things as
painful, Miss Parker.
Sydney exits, on MP, we,
FADE TO BLACK:
THE END
