1. Chapter 1 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.
Sydney sighs, knowing there is nothing he can say. Parker stops pacing and leans on Sydney’s desk, glaring at him.
MP (CONT)Oops, wrong thing to say to her...
MPANGLE SYDNEY; hurt in his eyes. ANGLE PARKER; well, that went a tad too far.
RESUME
Parker looks down, sighs, then tries to fix it.
Sydney stands, cutting her off with his hand.
SYDNEYAn awkward silence fills the room, then;
MPParker heads out, but stops at the doorway.
MPParker 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.
He kisses her head, and pulls her closer.
MICHELLE (CONT)A comfortable silence holds for a beat.
SYDNEY (CONT)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)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.
ANGLE SYDNEY; complete distrust of Raines.
SYDNEYSydney starts out of the room, but stops at Raines’ voice.
RAINESSydney turns on Raines and gets in his face.
SYDNEYRaines lays a comforting hand on Sydney’s shoulder.
RAINESANGLE 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 steps further into the room, leans on her desk, looming into her face.
SYDNEYParker is speechless, Sydney straightens up, still holding her eyes.
SYDNEY (CONT)Parker’s eyes cloud over with moisture as he turns and heads for the exit. Her voice catches him at the threshold.
MPHe looks at the floor, but does not turn back to face her.
SYDNEYSydney exits, on MP, we,
FADE TO BLACK:
THE END