Scene 1: Outdoors, a courthouse building in the background. A man
dressed all in black picks up the pay phone to make a call and places a
device on it, apparently tracking the call somehow. It's Michael.
Voice: Go ahead.
Michael: I need a cab.
Voice: Where to?
Michael: Hamburg.
Voice: Hang up, and turn around.
Michael does, a Mercedes station wagon drives up. The window goes down
and a man is there.
Man in car: We didn't think you'd show.
Michael: When can I meet Philo?
Man: First things first. (He hands Michael a glass vial of something)
Michael: What's the reaction time?
Man: Ten hours. First sign is confusion, then comes judgment disintegration,
followed by paranoid delusions. A complete brain meltdown.
Michael: Good.
Scene 2: Section One, Operations Loft Michael enters; Operations is there.
Operations: Where are we with the Shadow Brigade?
Michael: Birkoff's going through what we've recovered from the bombing.
Operations: And what do you think, is it their work?
Michael: It's possible.
Operations isn't looking; Michael sprays the substance into his drink.
Operations: Okay let me know when you have something definitive.
Oversight wants a quick turnover on this one.
Michael: Sure.
Michael leaves and walks downstairs. He looks up at Operations in the
loft, who is drinking the poison.
Scene 3: Operations Loft Madeline walks into the loft and up to Operations,
who is sitting at a terminal.
Madeline: Isn't that yesterday's news?
Operations: It appears holding Shadow Brigade responsible for the embassy
bombing was a mistake. We may have acted too hastily.
Madeline: They took responsibility.
Operations: They lied.
Madeline: Who do you think it was?
Operations: Gustov Pogue.
Madeline: Gustov Pogue has been dead for four years.
Operations: That's exactly what he wants the world to believe.
Birkoff: (on the intercom) Sir, I've got what you asked for.
Operations: (to Birkoff) I'll be right there. (to Madeline) Start preparing a
profile on Pogue. (he leaves)
Madeline looks concerned, confused.
Scene 4: Comm
Birkoff: We've gone through all the elements of the event twice. There's no
mistake, it's definitely Shadow Brigade.
Operations: What about Pogue?
Birkoff: He's been quiet-filed.
Operations: Impossible. This bombing has Pogue's signature all over it.
Birkoff: Not really.
Operations: Don't argue with me, Birkoff - just find the linkage to Pogue.
Another operative comes up.
Operative: Sir?
Flash to Michael and Walter, watching events, both looking concerned.
Walter: I hear we're chasing a ghost.
Michael: Gustov Pogue.
Walter: Yeah. What's the idea? It can't be him, I saw the corpse.
Michael: He could have been doubled.
Walter: Come on. We ran the DNA.
Flash back to Comm, Operations is upset.
Operations: What's the matter with you people? You can't even see the
obvious!
Birkoff: Sir, I've checked every file-
Operations: (pushes his way in by Birkoff's terminal) Come on, move,
move! (starts typing himself)
Scene 5: Nikita's apartment. Mick is at the door.
Mick: Oh, I'm so glad I caught your home, popsicle.
Nikita: What? (she's annoyed, it's obviously very early.)
Mick: A matter of great urgency, this. Are you alone?
Nikita: Yes, Mick.
Mick: I'll get to the point. I was at the library, right? I love reading.
Nikita: What's the point?
Mick: There's this book out of print, "Great Chefs of the 30's and 40's".
Nikita: I am not a morning person, get to the point.
Mick: I ran into Felice - a bird I used to roger in Amsterdam. She's held up
great over the years! … Okay, okay, okay. Condoms. Two or three will do.
Nikita: What?
Mick: I'd run to the corner, but I don't want her to cool off, do you know
what I mean?
Nikita: She's there now?
Mick: Yes! It's all right. The engine's running, she's on idle.
Nikita: No, Mick (starts to close the door)
Mick: What do you mean, "No, Mick"? Don't ever once share! Come on,
doll, I'm sure you and Michael practice safe sex.
Nikita: You should leave now before you get hurt.
Mick: Excusez-moi, I didn't know that things had soured between you two.
(she slams the door in his face but can still hear him.) But you still got
feelings, and that's a good thing. You know, I'd stay here and help you work
things through, but-
Nikita: (throws open the door) Just get out of my life! Please! (slams door
again)
(phone rings)
Nikita: (to herself) Here's your morning wake-up call.
Michael: Josephine.
Scene 6: Section One Nikita comes in, runs into Birkoff
Nikita: Hey, Birkoff.
Birkoff: Can't talk! (he rushes by her)
Walter: Hey, Sugar.
Nikita: What's going on?
Walter: Don't ask.
Nikita: Why?
Walter: According to Operations, Shadow Brigade is a waste of time. Pogue
is the real target.
Nikita: Who's Pogue?
Walter: The question is, who was Pogue?
Nikita: He's dead?
Walter: Very.
Nikita: So what's the problem?
Walter: Pogue was the largest arms dealer in Europe. Class A priority.
Operations tracked him for four years, every time Pogue got cornered, he
got away. Pogue was too smart for Operations, but not for George.
Nikita: So George put him down?
Walter: Mmm-hmm. It was the only time Operations ever failed at
something he really wanted.
Nikita: If Pogue's dead, then what's Operations doing?
Walter: I don't know. How about going crazy?
Operations: (stalking by them, looking like he's starting to lose it.) Briefing
in two minutes.
Nikita looks shocked
Scene 7: War Room
Operations: Most of you remember Gustov Pogue. Founder of the Btari
Rebels. Yesterday we learned he surfaced and was spotted two kilometers
from where the embassy was bombed. We believe this is the first in an
extensive anti-democracy campaign of terror. Profilers are now working on
the tactical. They'll have something in the next few hours. Operatives are on
standby. That's all. (Operations leaves)
Nikita: Michael. Walter said Pogue was dead.
Michael: That's right.
Nikita: So I don't understand. What's Operations doing, what's wrong?
Michael: You don't have to understand. (he walks away)
Scene 7: Operations Loft. Madeline enters, goes up to Operations.
Madeline: I just heard we're on standby for Pogue.
Operations: He has to be stopped.
Madeline: Is everything all right?
Operations: Why?
Madeline: You seem tired.
Operations: I feel fine. (annoyed) What's on your mind?
Madeline: We're all under pressure. Maybe you need a little down time.
Operations: Not until we've neutralized Pogue. You know him, he rewrites
the book on this sort of thing.
Madeline: Have you considered the possibility that maybe we're dealing
with one of his operatives?
Operations: You're wrong! It's Pogue and I don't want to hear otherwise!
Madeline looks shocked at his tone of voice.
Birkoff: (on intercom) Sir?
Operations: What is it Birkoff? (still angry)
Birkoff: I found Pogue's old safe house.
Operations: Great. (he leaves, leaving Madeline looking very much
concerned)
Scene 9: Hallway, Section One.
Nikita: Michael. You get the profile?
Michael: Yes.
Nikita: Well this was Pogue's safe house six years ago. MI-6 raided it, he
escaped.
Michael: Yes.
Nikita: So even if he were active, he wouldn't use it now.
Michael: Doesn't matter, it's not your call.
Nikita: What about you?
Michael: It's not mine either. We're locked.
Nikita: So this is a waste of time?
Michael: You should get to Technical.
Nikita: Michael, what's going on?
Michael: What do you mean?
Nikita: Something's not right. Operations is cold and ruthless but he's not
irrational.
Michael: I've got to go.
Scene 10: Section One, Comm Center - The mission is taking place.
Michael is in the field, Nikita is in Section doing tactical.
Birkoff: Red Team is in the target zone.
Nikita: Engage.
Flash to ground troops running and a man's voice.
Man: Okay, move out!
Birkoff: We've got a runner.
Nikita: Duskis, go after him.
Birkoff: He's got him.
Nikita: Identify.
Duskis: Target is female - non hostile. Repeat, non hostile.
Birkoff: First team's reporting the same thing. Pogue isn't there.
Nikita: Duskis, let her go. Now.
Duskis: (in the field, releases the woman) Go on.
Scene 11: Section One, Egress, the team comes back in.
Operations: What happened out there?
Michael: Intel was bad, resistance was non-aggressive.
Operations: Duskis allowed a hostile to escape.
Michael: She wasn't hostile.
Operations: It was Pogue. (to Duskis) You're going to be my example. Do it.
Duskis: What do you mean? (men start to drag him away)
Operations: This is what happens when you use your own playbook.
Duskis: I followed procedure! There were no hostiles! Ask anyone! Why are
you doing this?
Operations walks away, Nikita walks up.
Nikita: Michael, where are they taking him? No, no, we can't let this
happen.
Michael: There's nothing you can do.
Nikita: There was no threat. I told him to stand down.
Michael: Let it go, Nikita. (Michael walks away)
Scene 12: Comm - Nikita goes up to Birkoff
Nikita: Birkoff, Operations is out of control. He's just ordered Duskis to be
cancelled, we have to do something.
Birkoff: Just keep your head down and your mouth shut, you'll be fine.
Nikita: Then what about Duskis, what about him?
Birkoff: Forget about him, it's done.
Nikita: He's dead? Already?
Nikita looks up at the loft, sees Operations glaring down malevolently.
Michael, too, watches the loft.
Scene 13: Section One, Madeline's office. Nikita enters.
Nikita: I need a minute.
Madeline: Something wrong, Nikita?
Nikita: Cancelling Duskis was unjustified.
Madeline: He was an abeyance operative.
Nikita: I didn't know we executed abeyance operatives. I thought they
performed a function?
Madeline: Is that what you walked in here for? To turn me against
Operations? (same tone of voice she used on Michael in LFM when she
confronted him about bugging her office…she is not amused.)
Nikita: We can't just stand by-
Madeline: Return to Comm. (They stare daggers at each other and Nikita
finally walks away.)
Scene 14: Section One, Comm Center Operations storms in.
Operations: Birkoff, I told you not to divert any resources from Pogue! (he
backhands Birkoff across the face, hard.) Don't ever let that happen again!
Anybody else here want to disobey me? What are you looking at? Get back
to work.
Nikita stares in shock. Michael stares and then turns around and walks off.
Scene 15: A building, night. A secret meeting of Section operatives.
Walter: It doesn't make any sense. One day he's normal, the next day he's
Dante leading us down the nine circles of Hell.
Another operative: We have 100% of our resources looking for a dead man.
Nikita: Meanwhile, we're absentee on two class-ten activities.
Birkoff: Make that three. Iberia, Myanmar, Rwanda - all unanswered. This
is not just an internal matter anymore.
Nikita: We have to go to Oversight.
Walter: Whoa, whoa Sugar, not so fast.
Nikita: Do you have any better ideas?
Walter: No, all I'm saying is that we should put some thought into our next
move. I was at a meeting like this thirty years ago - talk of insurrection.
Birkoff: What happened?
Walter: I didn't want any part of it. That's the only reason I'm here today.
Nikita: Well, the way I see it, we don't have any choice. Operations is out of
control. You can go if you like Walter. We understand.
Walter: I'm in.
Scene 16: Section One Nikita arrives back.
Michael: Nikita. Where were you?
Nikita: Home.
Michael: I called.
Nikita: I must have been in the shower. Was there something you needed?
Michael: You're going out. Operations says Pogue was spotted at his
secondary base camp.
Operations paces in the loft, smoking
Nikita: Are you sure you want to be taking orders from him?
Michael: Intel was confirmed.
Nikita: Like the last time? Michael, Pogue's dead and you know it.
Operations is delusional. He needs to be taken out of play.
Michael: Who else have you talked to?
Nikita: I'm not alone. But we can't do it without you.
Michael: Let's just go through this mission. I've seen Operations like this
before, and it turned out he was right.
Nikita: Michael -
Michael: -And if he's not…I'll help you.
Operations sees them talking, glares.
Scene 17: The Mission. Helicopters everywhere, people on the ground
running. Nikita is on the ground on a snowmobile. She's searching for
Pogue.
Operations: Has the target been located?
Birkoff: They're still looking.
Nikita searches through the people on the ground
Birkoff: Any sign of Pogue?
Nikita: Target is not on site. I repeat, target is not on site.
Operations: Advance, damn it! He's there!
Birkoff: We're coming up negative.
Operations: (holding his head) That's impossible.
Birkoff: Are you all right?
Operations: (shoves him into the chair) Get away from me! Evac without
the target is not an option. Somebody there knows something. Start shooting
collateral until someone talks.
Nikita: They're non-hostiles. To eliminate them would be ineffectual.
Operations: You've been given orders.
Nikita: Then I disobey the orders. No one's going to die here.
Operations: Nikita? Nikita!
Nikita: (to the other ops) Let's go, let's go.
Operations: When Nikita returns, I want her cancelled. You tell Madeline.
Scene 18: Egress. Mission team returns, Nikita comes back in and sees
two big operatives waiting for her. They take her gun away.
Nikita: I know the way.
She walks down the hall, followed by the two operatives. Then when she
gets a chance, she beats them both up and goes to run but runs headlong
into Michael. They stare at each other. Major sexual tension. She's scared;
he looks misty eyed but he doesn't back off and she backs away and heads
to where she was supposed to be going.
Scene 19: White Room. Nikita is strapped to the chair, Madeline enters
and walks around her.
Nikita: He's crazy. You know he's insane, don't you. He will destroy this
place, Madeline.
Madeline: What happened at your meeting in the bunker? Is there going to
be a mutiny? You have to tell them to stop. (She steps behind the chair and
releases the restraints; lets Nikita go. Nikita jumps up and stands by the
wall.) Then stay out of sight. I'll take care of Operations for you.
Nikita: I don't get it.
Madeline: We're aware of Operations condition. We're dealing with it. He's
been compromised. We were able to do some tests without his knowledge.
There's something in his system that's changing his body chemistry. A
psychotropic agent of some sort.
Nikita: Who did this to him?
Madeline: We don't know yet. Someone inside.
Nikita: Inside Section?
Madeline: I need you to calm everybody down on this. Give us a chance to
solve the problem.
Nikita: Why don't you just quarantine him?
Madeline: It has to appear as business as usual. That's the only way we can
flush out the mole. (Madeline leaves)
Scene 20: Comm Center. Nikita walks into Comm, wearing a hat, trying
to disguise herself.
Nikita: Hey.
Birkoff: What happened? I thought they-
Nikita: I'm okay.
Birkoff: Does Operations know you're alive?
Nikita: No. Where are we with Oversight?
Birkoff: I found an opportunity. We can get to George in the morning.
Nikita: No, you've got to put it off.
Birkoff: Why?
Nikita: It can't go down. Not yet. Trust me, I'll tell you when it's time.
(She walks away)
Michael: Nikita-
Nikita: I can't talk.
Michael: What happened?
Nikita: Madeline let me go.
Michael: (Stops her, takes her arm) I'm sorry. But even if I hadn't gone after
you, you never would have escaped.
Nikita: I know, don't be sorry.
Michael: And Operations?
Nikita: As far as he knows, I've been cancelled.
Michael: You're working with Madeline?
Nikita: Operations has been drugged. That's why he's been acting the way
he has. They think it's someone on the inside.
Michael: Did Madeline say who she suspects?
Nikita: No.
Michael walks across Section, looks up at Operations pacing in the loft.
Scene 21: Section One. Obviously some place Michael's not supposed to
be. Madeline runs into Michael.
Madeline: What are you doing down here?
Michael: Following up on a breach indicator. It appeared someone accessed
a D server.
Madeline: What was it?
Michael: An electrical error.
Madeline: Why are you handling this?
Michael: Everyone in Comm was tied into a mission. I had some time.
Madeline: I see. (he goes to leave) Michael…I came across a discrepancy.
I was hoping you could help me.
Michael: Of course.
Madeline: Your work time on the Warsaw debrief was 48 minutes shorter
than we show.
Michael: That must be a mistake. I'll look at it.
Madeline stares at him, suspiciously. He walks away and then makes a call
on his cell phone.
Michael: We'll have to accelerate the schedule. I'll keep in touch.
Scene 22: Operations Loft. Madeline and Operations are present.
Madeline: What is it?
Operations: I just located Pogue. (He goes over to the counter by the
window and leans on it, gasping for air.)
Madeline: Where?
Operations: Helsinki.
Madeline: Are you sure?
Operations: I want a team sent out immediately.
Madeline: We've got everyone heading out on a class eight.
Operations: No, they're not! They're going after Pogue! (he storms from
the loft, leaving her looking extremely worried. After a second, she follows
him.)
Scene 23: Section One. Michael's about to go out with the team.
Operations: Michael! There's been a change in the profile.
Michael: We have a situation that requires immediate response.
Operations: So do I. I just found Pogue.
Michael: (to his team) Let's go.
Operations: You've been given orders, Michael! Find Pogue, or I'll find
someone who will!
Michael: No, you won't. (turns and faces him.)
Madeline: Michael, you're out of line. calm but firm)
Michael: It's over, sir.
Madeline: Michael, you are out of line! (about as angry as Madeline gets,
not quite her "don't be a child!" voice but closing in on it.)
Michael: It's over, sir. There will be no more phantom missions. No more
cancellations.
Operations: What, have you people gone insane? Failure to act on my direct
orders will be considered an act of treason.
Michael: Until you compose yourself, and have a chance to re-evaluate
things, perhaps you should take a rest.
Camera goes to Madeline, she looks furious. Operations looks sideways,
looks around in a circle at all the operatives standing there. It's very much
like the "End Game" scenario, with Madeline aligned next to Operations
and Michael on the "other side" with operatives backing him up.
Operations: Any of you here want to join these traitors? Go ahead, stand
behind them now!
Operatives, including Walter and Birkoff, align themselves with Michael.
Operations: (sees Nikita) Why is she still alive? (he looks at Madeline)
You're just like them! (incredulously, in his paranoia he honestly believes
she's turned on him)
Madeline: I'll take care of it. (Calm, pleading with him to trust her.)
Operations: Cancel them all! I gave you a direct order! Did you hear what I
said? (grabs for his gun, Michael stops him)
Michael: I can't let you do this, sir.
Operations: (laughs maniacally) What did you just say?
Michael: You're not well, sir.
Operations punches Michael in the face. Michael doesn't react. Madeline
looks down.
Michael: I'll have to ask you to step down, sir.
Operations punches him again. He goes to punch him a third time; Michael
catches his arm and stops him, twisting it around behind him and turning
him over to two operatives.
Operations: You're done here. (he tries to order the operatives around)
Take him away! I said get rid of him!
Madeline watches, looking like it's paining her to see any of this.
Operations: What's going on here?
Michael: I'm relieving you of your duties, and assuming command of the
Section. (they give Operations a shot, he stops struggling.) Take both of
them away. (Madeline turns to look at Michael, shocked. Two operatives
march her away) If anyone here disagrees with what I've done today, feel
free to come and see me. (Michael walks away)
They throw ops in a room, where he lies muttering, and take Madeline
elsewhere. Michael makes a call, again putting a device on the phone first -
recording the call, perhaps?
Michael: Tell Philo I'm in. (the lights come up on the loft; Michael is there.)
Scene 24: Operations Loft. Michael is there, Nikita enters.
Nikita: Are you sure about this?
Michael: The transition's been cleared.
Nikita: So George put you in charge?
Michael: For now.
Birkoff: (on intercom) Michael, you wanted me?
Michael: I want you to cut the Pogue search. Start focusing in on the
Shadow Brigade splinter groups. (to Nikita) Come with me.
Nikita: Where?
Michael: Oversight. I want them to approve your transition to my second in
command. Nikita follows him.
Scene 25: A parking garage. Nikita and Michael pull up in a black SUV.
Nikita: What are we doing here? This isn't Oversight.
Michael: No, it's not. If I had told you the truth, you wouldn't have come.
Nikita: So who are we meeting?
Michael: Philo.
Nikita: Philo's Red Cell, Michael. So it was you…all along. You
compromised Operations.
Michael: Yes.
Nikita: You might die.
Michael: That's the point.
(He gets out of the car, Nikita follows)
Nikita: I don't understand.
Michael: I have an agreement with Philo. He'll feed us certain operations.
I'll do the same. And he'll protect my leadership. Our leadership.
Nikita: I can't go along with this. Not with Red Cell. No. (she walks away)
Michael: Nikita. He cocks a gun; she hears it. He shoots her, she falls.
(applause, the man from the first scene walks up to Michael)
Man: I'm impressed.
Michael: I'm glad.
Man: I hear you two were close. Must have been hard, killing the girl.
Michael: It will be a lot easier killing you. Now I want to see Philo.
Man: Another day, Philo's not ready.
Michael: Not good enough.
Man: It'll have to do. You know Philo doesn't see people.
Michael: Today he does. I followed my part of the deal. Now you take me
to Philo or I end this right now.
Man: Philo doesn't like to be threatened.
Michael: This is about confidence, either he trusts me, or he doesn't.
Man: Let me make a call. (he does) OK, you've got your meeting. If you
don't mind. (he waves at the waiting car)
Scene 26: An airport. Car drives up to a waiting jet; they all get out and
get into the jet. Michael is being led with a bag over his head. Philo's
inside the plane.
Philo: Michael, have a seat. I see you've been quite busy. You placed the
cameras perfectly.
Michael: Your orders were quite specific. I simply followed them.
Philo: That's about to change. Now that you're in command, you and I will
be partners.
Michael: My post is temporary. I haven't secured my position.
Philo: You will. He won't last another day. (a monitor shows Operations,
sitting cross-legged on the floor of the room they threw him into, his shoes
and socks off. Michael looks away.)
Outside, Nikita comes flying up in the black SUV, flies through a gate,
comes out shooting. Inside the plane, Philo's man runs up.
Man: Someone's followed us here!
Philo: You set me up!
Nikita is outside shooting guards left and right. She enters the plane, gun
drawn, but lowers it when she sees that Michael is already in control of
the situation.
Scene 27: Section One. An operative opens the door and releases
Madeline from her cell; she comes out walking fast, heading directly
to Operations' cell.
Madeline: (to the operative) Get Medical, now.
She punches buttons to enter the cell. Operations is lying on the floor,
breathing shallowly. She kneels down, takes his pulse, and strokes the side
of his forehead.
Next scene, they're wheeling him into a medical room. She walks around
the bed watching, looking down at him, worried. He opens his eyse, sees
her.
Operations: (hoarsely) Did we get him?
Madeline: (smiles down at him) We got him.
He closes his eyes.
Scene 28: Section One, hallway. Nikita and Michael, walking along.
Nikita: So this whole thing was a chess match, to smoke out Philo.
Michael: It worked.
Nikita: You would have let me kill those people in Siberia?
Michael: We knew you wouldn't.
Nikita: Well, I'm glad I met everybody's expectations. Even the talk of
insurrection? You anticipated it?
Michael: Yes.
Nikita: I'm going to have to stop being so predictable.
Scene 29: The White Room. Operations and Philo.
Philo: If my hands were free, I would applaud you.
Operations: I accept the compliment.
Philo: Eight years, spent in the cold. Never once did I feel the need to
surface.
Operations: And trust can be our greatest weakness.
Philo: You went to extreme lengths to find me. Mentally and physically.
You put your own life on the line.
Operations: It was worth it.
Philo: What happens now?
Operations: You've been watching - paying attention. You tell me.
(he injects him with the drug that he himself took, then walks away as
Philo starts to shake.)
Scene 30: Operations loft. Michael and Operations.
Operations: Good morning, Michael.
Michael: You look well.
Operations: Thanks to your timing. Another few minutes, who knows what
would have happened
Michael: I still don't understand why you insisted on taking that drug.
Operations: Credibility, Michael. Leave nothing to chance. That will be all.
Michael: Yes, of course.
Madeline enters the loft
Madeline: Things went well.
Operations: Yes, perfectly. (He smiles at her) Michael's skills were impressive.
Madeline: Yes, they were.
Operations: He might just have what it takes to do this job.
Madeline: Your successor? (Operations nods) I don't think he has the
ambition.
Operations: Oh, he's got it. He just doesn't know it yet.
The End
