Scene 1: Section One, Comm. Birkoff working at a computer, we hear a
voice on the intercom.
Operative: Request specific target position.
Birkoff: I'm increasing resolution now. You're about one kilometer from
the center of the substation. It looks like they've got about a dozen
operatives out there. They're splitting to the north and the northeast,
probably hoping to close ranks behind you.
(Greg Hillinger turns, looks – seems to be 'up to something')
Operative: As long as you have visual, we'll let them close. If they think
they have the drop on us, we'll have the advantage.
Birkoff: Movement at one o'clock.
Greg: They're changing pattern, there's twenty more of them.
Birkoff: There's more of them than we thought. Move out.
(Operations is watching from his loft; suddenly everything goes haywire –
transmissions get scrambled, etc.)
Greg: Birkoff, you know you've got-
Birkoff: -I know what I'm doing.
(Operations rushes down from the loft)
Operations: What's going on?
Operative on intercom: Birkoff? Birkoff I need position.
Greg: You have to recycle the program.
Birkoff: Back off!
Greg: Sir, I can do this.
Operations: Birkoff. Surrender your post. Now.
(Birkoff stares in shock)
Operative on intercom: Birkoff? We need position!
(Birkoff and Greg stare daggers as they switch positions)
Greg: Go to the satellite uplink, now.
(Screen shows "video restored")
Team one, go to the north. Daniel, you've got a flank coming in at five
o'clock, there's a smaller group at eleven, but further out. Take the group
at five, then proceed to eleven.
Operative: We've got them. They're moving out.
Greg: They're retreating.
(Greg blows invisible smoke from his fingers, smug)
Operative: We've secured the base. What are the orders?
Operations: Cancel all remaining targets. Eliminate the physical plant.
Operative: Yes sir. Mr. Hillinger, thanks.
Operations: Yes Mr. Hillinger, good work. Birkoff. My office, five minutes.
(Operations leaves, Birkoff goes over to Greg)
Birkoff: How did you know we had a satellite uplink established?
I didn't set it up. It's not likely that it happened on its own.
Greg: You have a point to make?
Birkoff: This isn't a game. Those are our people out there. Their lives are on the line.
Greg: Well then it was lucky for them that I was here. You better go,
Seymour…you don't want to be late for your…meeting.
(Birkoff leaves, angry)
Scene 2: Section One, Operations Loft. Operations is standing there,
Birkoff enters
Operations: Not your finest hour.
Birkoff: Sir, I can explain. I think-
Operations: -You think?! The time for thinking is before things go wrong.
I'm going to assign Hillinger to your post.
Birkoff: Sir, if I could just-
Operations: -No. I have other plans for you. I'm sending you out.
Birkoff: In the field?!
Operations: That'll be all.
(Birkoff stares, then leaves)
Scene 3: Section One, War Room
Operations: This man, Jean-Marc Rousseau, runs a small but highly
effective cult of terrorists. They call themselves Soldat de la Liberte.
Michael: Their manifesto?
Operations: Anti-government. Anything to do with the establishment. But
his ideology's a ruse. Jean-Marc is a political mercenary; his services are for
sale to the highest bidder.
Walter: (looking at the pictures of Rousseau's group) They're practically
kids.
Operations: He likes them young and vulnerable. He employs conventional
cult brainwashing techniques; poor diet, fatigue…then he creates a sense of
belonging.
(Birkoff and Greg still staring daggers at each other during the briefing)
Makes them feel like they matter. Recruits heavily on the Internet;
in fact his operation relies upon a sophisticated computer network.
Given the quality of their intelligence, they have caused considerable damage.
Birkoff is going to be our man on the inside.
Walter: Birkoff?
Operations: I need someone on the inside who truly knows what he's doing.
Walter: But do you think he's qualified to do field work?
Operations: Computers are their lifeline to the world. That makes him qualified.
Walter: And if something goes wrong?
Operations: We'll do everything in our power to make sure that that doesn't happen.
Scene 4: Section One, Operations Loft. Operations and Madeline standing
there talking.
Madeline: Birkoff's not ready.
Operations: He'll have to be.
Madeline: And if he fails?
Operations: It's a chance I'll have to take.
Madeline: Failure rate for an operative of his status is eighty percent.
Operations: Well then I guess he'll have to beat the odds.
Scene 5: Section One, Comm. Nikita and Birkoff are walking toward
Comm.
Birkoff: Operations knows I'm not ready for this, Nikita. There's more to it
than just wanting somebody on the inside. This is about something else.
Nikita: He must have a reason.
Birkoff: Yeah, has it occurred to you that I might be his reason?
Nikita: Why, what do you mean?
Birkoff: Abeyance. He sends me in there, I screw up. And any way it goes
down, either they take me down or Michael's sent in to finish up. Or
Michael is sent in to finish a botched job – me included.
Nikita: You really believe that?
Birkoff: He knows Hillinger can do my job. I'm nothing but a
disappointment to him.
Nikita: He doesn't like Hillinger.
Birkoff: Operations likes anyone who spins the world in his direction; you
know him, it's not a personality contest.
Nikita: Yeah, but Hillinger? Come on.
Birkoff: Hillinger smells blood. He'll do whatever he can to finish the job.
Nikita: I can watch Hillinger.
Birkoff: Okay. But can you watch me, too? Operations wants me to
infiltrate their circle by hacking into their system and leaving
a bridge.
Scene 6: An Apartment, somewhere. Birkoff appears to be surfing the
Soldat de la Liberte web site. So much for covert terrorist operations!
Birkoff: (impatiently) Come on. What do I know about this guy? Born:
Lyons, 1959. Parents: Blah-blah, blah…graduated the Sorbonne, two
brothers and a sister. "Tragedy that has been considered by most to have
been a turning point; at 21 his young wife, Marie-Claire, was killed by
soldiers during a demonstration outside the Hague. Two years after the
incident, Jean-Marc Rousseau went into seclusion before emerging as the
leader of the organization Soldats de la Liberte." It's worth a shot.
(Birkoff enters 'Marie-Claire' as the password on the page and gets into the system.
In other words, I could have hacked in, quite possibly so could my cat.
Sheesh these terrorists are getting lame!)
Scene 7: Soldat De La Liberte Headquarters. Rousseau is giving a
speech.
Rousseau: To achieve their way of life, their infertile existence, the outside
world chooses faceless, spineless bureaucrats to do their bidding. And by
doing this, they throw all sane and proper means to the wind. Honor!
Integrity! The basic tenets of human dignity. We must fight these elected
leaders with the swords that they themselves have chosen. For the savior
of human dignity must prevail if we are to survive. Honor! Integrity!
Honor! Integrity!
(his zoned out looking listeners take up the chant, then stand silently, eyes closed…
then disperse. An attractive young woman walks up to Rousseau)
Mia: Reuben says somebody's accessed our system from the outside.
Rousseau: Has he traced it?
(They look at a man typing at a laptop)
Mia: He's working on it now.
Rousseau: Find the source. You know what needs to be done.
Scene 8: City Street. Birkoff walks along, passes a young couple. The man
turns to follow him; a truck pulls up and Birkoff is shoved into the back.
Scene 9: Soldat De La Liberte Headquarters. Birkoff is confined to a room,
apparently for some time. He paces, looks out the window where shooting
drills are taking place. Flash to Greg, back in Section, being smug as
ever. Flash back to Birkoff; the young woman from the previous scene
enters.
Birkoff: When do I get out of here?
Mia: Who do you work for?
Birkoff: I told you.
Mia: You told me you work in a library. I don't believe you. Who do you
work for? Who's your boss?
Birkoff: Who's yours?
(Birkoff still appears sluggish…maybe drugged?)
Mia: Why did you try accessing our system?
Birkoff: I want to get out of here.
(She gets up, walks away, knocks on the door and Rousseau enters)
Mia: He won't change his story.
Rousseau: Well, maybe that's because he's telling the truth.
(She leaves)
Come.(He extends a hand to Birkoff) I think it's time we got you out of here.
Scene 10: Soldat De La Liberte Headquarters, Rousseau's office
Rousseau: Do I understand this correctly? You work in the mission district
library? At home, in your spare time, you're something of a computer
enthusiast. And breaking into our system was just a form of recreation? No
harm meant.
Birkoff: No. It was just to see if I could do it.
Rousseau: Well, I applaud you, you're very good. I don't know much about
these things, but I'm told that our security is excellent.
(Cathy in: You're an idiot and some computer guy is hosing you big-time!
I have a mouse I can sell you for $200…)
Your skills clearly exceed our excellence.
(Rousseau throws an apple into the wastebasket;
Birkoff clearly is starving, stares at it)
Birkoff: How long are you going to keep me here?
Rousseau: Hmmm…I'm afraid I don't exactly know the answer to that at
the moment. But I think, given that your activities were harmless rather
than malicious, that I might be able to make things a little more comfortable
for you while you're here.
Birkoff: But I'm still a prisoner.
Rousseau: A guest. Let me propose something to you. You beat my system.
That makes you better than the man who designed it. Since you seem so interested
in getting into it, would you do me the favor of looking it over? Maybe make some
suggestions on how we could make it more secure?
Birkoff: Well, I think the problem is that your traps are much too basic.
You have a primitive login and your firewalls are much too easy to get around.
Rousseau: I'm afraid you're getting over my head. I'll tell you what –
I'll introduce you to Reuben and maybe you could give him some lessons
on how to do things correctly.
(Rousseau pushes the bowl of fruit toward Birkoff, who grabs an apple
and chows down)
Scene 11: Soldat De La Liberte Headquarters, Main area. Rousseau
and Birkoff enter and go over to Reuben.
Rousseau: Reuben, this is Mr. Birkoff.
Reuben: Hey.
Rousseau: The man who broke your security system. Mr. Birkoff's been
kind enough to impart some of his expertise. Why don't you give him your
seat?
(Birkoff sits down slowly…still looks drugged, sleepy…puts his glasses on
and starts typing)
Birkoff: Your firewalls really need a lot of work. But if we can stagger them
the right way, we can create a series of traps that's almost impossible to
break.
(Rousseau leaves Reuben and Birkoff to their work)
Scene 12: Section One, Comm. Weasel Boy Hillinger is sucking on a
lollipop; Operations comes up.
Operations: What is it?
Greg: It's Birkoff. Says he's got something.
Operations: Birkoff?
Birkoff: (lying on the floor, still out of it) They've asked me to help them
with their computer security. They've been watching me pretty closely but
I was able to get a quick look inside their system.
Operations: And?
Birkoff: From what I can see, the organization is not as independent as they
claim to be. They have ties right into the heart of Red Cell.
Operations: Are you sure about this?
Birkoff: As sure as I can be. They're networked into Red Cell's computer
security. Knowing how good Red Cell's security measures are, it's unlikely
that they hacked their way in. If we can confirm time and place for my
pickup, I can be debriefed when I get back. Sir?
Operations: Given this new information, I'm going to revise your mission
status. I'm going to abort your pickup for the time being.
Birkoff: But sir-
Operations: -No, you are much more useful to us on the inside at the
moment. Stay with it, gain their confidence.
Birkoff: For how long?
(Greg smirking, at Section)
Operations: I'll get back to you with that information.
Scene 13: Soldat De La Liberte Headquarters. Rousseau giving a speech
again, this time Birkoff is in the audience.
Rousseau: We raise our swords, the sword of freedom, the sword of truth.
In truth there is unity. In unity there is strength. In strength there is
power. Strength! Power! Strength! Power! Strength! Power!
(they all chant, raising guns…Birkoff joins in. Rousseau looks pleased)
Scene 14: Section One, Munitions. Walter is working, Nikita walks up.
Nikita: Hey Walter, have you seen Michael?
Walter: No, not today hon.
Nikita: Birkoff's pickup is scheduled for tonight, shouldn't we be getting ready?
Walter: Didn't Birkoff contact you?
Nikita: No.
Walter: They've changed his mission status, Nikita. They're keeping him in.
Nikita: When? Why?
Walter: I don't know the details. Seems he's wired the organization into Red Cell.
Operations wants him to stay indefinitely.
(Shot of Michael, Operations, Madeline up in the loft)
Nikita: That's insane! This was an information gathering assignment.
Birkoff isn't trained in this, he's not going to be able to stay-
Walter: Slow down, slow down, hon, look, you're telling the wrong guy –
I'm on your side, remember?
Nikita: It doesn't makes sense. If there is a tie to Red Cell, it's time to get
Birkoff out and send Michael in. (looking up at the loft) He's acting like he
wants this to go badly.
(Nikita walks up to Hillinger)
What do you know about this?
Greg: About what?
Nikita: The decision to keep Birkoff inside.
Greg: Well, his mission status was changed, that's what I know.
Nikita: You had nothing to do with that?
Greg: Moi? Nikita…
(Nikita leans down close to him)
Nikita: Come here. Come here.
(He leans back, smirking.
She grabs him by the shirt and yanks him violently forward)
If you had anything to do with this, and I mean anything, at all, you better grow
eyes in the back of your head.
(She releases him, walks away)
Scene 15: Soldat De La Liberte Headquarters, Main area. Reuben and
Birkoff are working on the computer.
Birkoff: You see what happens if you center the traps like this?
Reuben: Mmm-hmmm.
Birkoff: Even if someone manages to get through the outer lines, they just
get caught up in a maze and sent around in circles.
Reuben: Yeah, well you make it look pretty easy.
Birkoff: Yeah, well, that's the hard part.
(Mia walks up)
Reuben: Hey.
Mia: Hey. (to Birkoff) You think I could pull you away from that thing long
enough to talk to you?
Reuben: I can handle it.
(Birkoff gets up, leaves with Mia)
Mia: You're looking happier…healthier.
Birkoff: I guess I'm getting used to the food.
Mia: I brought you up here because I wanted to apologize.
Birkoff: Apologize for what?
Mia: For not trusting you. You have to understand, the way we live here,
it's really hard to know who to trust and who not to trust. What we do here
is really important to me. It's everything I believe in, and yet, so many
people seem to misunderstand. They make us out to be criminals. I truly
believe they wouldn't stop at anything to destroy us if they could. But that's
not you. (Birkoff seems affected by this) And I'm sorry for thinking it was.
(She puts her hand on his shoulder)
Scene 16: Section One, Michael's office. He's working; Nikita comes in.
Nikita: Birkoff's mission's been changed. Operations intends to keep him in
there.
Michael: I know.
Nikita: You know? Well, what's the plan then? How long does Operations
intend to leave him in there?
Michael: If he has to…years.
Nikita: Well, that could destroy Birkoff.
Michael: Red Cell can destroy us. There's a chance-
Nikita: You know there's not.
Michael: People survive these things.
Nikita: He's not you.
Michael: He's not. Maybe you underestimate him.
Nikita: Maybe Operations has something else in mind. He has his pet,
Hillinger, in place. Has it occurred to you that Operations might have
ulterior motives for all this?
Scene 17: Soldat De La Liberte Headquarters, Staircase. Birkoff and
Rousseau walk upstairs.
Birkoff: What is this?
Rousseau: It's your new room. A little more appropriate in light of how
much you've helped us here. You like it?
Birkoff: Yes, yes, it's great, I just don't know why-
Rousseau: You've done well by us. We try to do right by our friends.
Birkoff: Big difference. Thanks.
Rousseau: My pleasure.
(Birkoff sits down at the computer, starts typing)
How long did you work for Section?
Birkoff: I don't understand – what's Section?
Rousseau: I offer my friendship, my trust. I ask you a simple question and
in return, receive a simple lie.
Birkoff: No, I didn't – I don't know what you're talking about.
Rousseau: I'm not stupid. And I didn't get where I am by burying my head
in the sand. I assume you had your reasons for leaving Section and whatever
they are that's your affair.
(Cathy in: Nope sorry, you ARE stupid…that password proved it! Also you
think people can choose to leave Section…a Mensa member you are not,sir.)
Your conscience. But you're here with us now, and if we're going to
base our relationship on trust, don't you think that needs to go both ways?
How long did you work for them?
Birkoff: Four years.
Rousseau: I appreciate your honesty. I'm glad you've come to learn who
your friends really are. You're a good man, Mr. Birkoff.
(Rousseau puts his hands on his shoulders)
I know that you're going to make a very good soldier.
Scene 18: Nikita's Apartment.
Her cell phone rings, she picks up.
Nikita: Hello?
Birkoff: Nikita, it's me.
Nikita: Birkoff? Is this line secure?
Birkoff: Yes, I had Walter put in a second channel.
Nikita: Are you all right?
Birkoff: For the time being. But you've heard that they're leaving me in here.
Nikita: Yes.
Birkoff: Do you believe me now?
Nikita: I don't know. I mean…if there really is a connection to Red Cell,
then –
Birkoff: I've told them that there's nothing more I can do for them in here.
That's not why he's doing this.
Nikita: Birkoff, stay strong. You will get through this. I promise.
Birkoff: I just can't think straight anymore. They say they're my friends.
They say that you people are-
Nikita: (looking alarmed) They're not your friends. Birkoff, you know
exactly who they are.
Birkoff: How can you be sure? Operations is pushing me out of the way.
They've taken me in here. They trust me. What if we're wrong about them?
Nikita: You can't even think that.
Birkoff: Then get me out.
Nikita: I can't do that.
Birkoff: Then meet with me. Anything! Maybe if I could see your face –
just have a chance to talk to somebody. I don't know where I am anymore,
Nikita.
Nikita: Can you get out?
Birkoff: I think I can slip out for about an hour. You know the Dockside
Bar?
Nikita: Yeah, it's abandoned, I know it very well – it used to be a Red Cell
substation until we cleaned it.
Birkoff: Tomorrow night, at eight?
Nikita: All right. I'll see you there. Hey Birkoff – stay strong.
(He hangs up)
Rousseau: (has been listening all along) Congratulations.
Birkoff: Thanks. It means a lot to me.
Scene 19: The Dockside Bar. Birkoff enters, flips on lights, Nikita is
already there.
Birkoff: Nikita.
Nikita: Birkoff, it's good to see you. You all right?
Birkoff: I had a little trouble getting out.
Nikita: You want to tell me what's happening?
Birkoff: Do you think they have any water back there?
Nikita: Well maybe…
(She goes to the bar; Birkoff goes behind it to get a drink)
Birkoff: My mouth's so dry.
Nikita: So you all right?
Birkoff: They – they got some stuff back here, do you want something to
drink or something?
Nikita: No, why don't you just tell me what's going on?
(Birkoff takes a drink, casts his eyes to the side – spots a gunman, tries
to warn Nikita with his eyes. Birkoff ducks behind the bar as the gunman
shoots. Nikita spins around, shoots back, flips herself over the bar
backwards as other gunmen arrive. There is a gun battle; of course Nikita
takes the bad guys out after slipping through a trapdoor to avoid being
shot herself)
Scene 20: Section One, Operations Loft
Operations: You acted in violation of Section protocol.
Nikita: He said there was a problem. He thought he'd become a security
risk. He was afraid to contact you.
Operations: So you took matters into your own hands?
Nikita: I did what I thought was best for Section.
(Michael is watching) I thought that I could keep his mission on track.
Operations: We'll talk about that later. In the meantime, it's fairly obvious
that his mission has failed; he's gone over.
Michael: How do you want to handle it?
Operations: The Soldat de la Liberte needs to be taken out of play.
Nikita: What about Birkoff?
Operations: Birkoff's become a liability. Bring Jean-Marc in for debriefing;
we'll proceed tonight.
Nikita: You can't do this – Birkoff couldn't –
Operations: He's gone over Nikita. Now do you see any other way that we
can deal with this?
Nikita: I see that you set him up for this. You knew he was in over his head,
you knew he couldn't handle it – and when he fails, you send Michael after him.
Operations: We have an operative who's turned. I see no further need to
discuss it.
Scene 21: Soldat De La Liberte Headquarters
Mia: I heard what happened. You're very brave.
(She hands Birkoff a glass of water)
Oh, my God, you're shaking.
(She leans over but before she can kiss him Rousseau enters)
Rousseau: Well done.
Birkoff: Nikita got away.
Rousseau: I didn't really want her.
Birkoff: Then why did you have me set her up?
Rousseau: This was about loyalty.
Birkoff: A test? Four innocent soldiers were killed.
Rousseau: Sometimes a little blood has to be spilled in order to establish
trust. We are all very proud of you, Birkoff.
(Rousseau leaves)
Scene 22: Section One, Hallway. Michael and Nikita are walking together.
Nikita: Michael, are you really going to do this?
Michael: I have no choice.
Nikita: It's Birkoff.
Michael: I know.
(Michael walks away)
Scene 23: Soldat De La Liberte Headquarters. Section One raids, gun
battle, an operative shoots Mia and she falls in Rousseau's arms.
Operative: (to Rousseau) Hold it!
(Elsewhere, Michael is searching the compound, finds Birkoff who hits
the deck, scared to death.)
Birkoff: Michael, please don't do this, just listen to me, I can explain
everything, please don't do this, it's not how it looks!
Scene 24: Section One, White Room. Birkoff's in the chair, Michael
enters.
Birkoff: Michael. Listen to me. I know you all think I went over, but that is
what I wanted you to think.
(Nikita enters)
Michael: Madeline's waiting. You have two minutes to explain.
Birkoff: It was the only way out. I knew that if Operations thought I'd gone
over to the other side, that he'd send you in there – that I'd be too much of
a risk. I knew that you'd have to come get me. Michael, I'm telling the truth.
Nikita…it was all a ruse. You have to believe me. It was the only way I
could get out. If I hadn't done this, he'd have left me inside.
Nikita: You were just being clever.
Birkoff: I was doing what I had to do.
Nikita: Including setting me up.
Birkoff: Why do you think I picked that bar? You told me yourself that you
knew it well. Don't you remember telling me about that trap door behind
the bar when you guys came back from the mission? I knew you had a
way to get out. I knew you could look after yourself. I had to get you to
convince Operations that I'd crossed over and hopefully not get you hurt.
Take me to my post; I will prove it to you.
(Michael releases him)
Scene 25: Section One, Comm. Operations, Madeline watching – Greg
there at Birkoff's desk.
Birkoff: I have to do it.
(Greg surrenders the desk, not thrilled)
Birkoff: They asked me to redesign their security system. I did. While I was
doing it, I created a straight connection from their system right into ours.
There's everything. Communiques from Red Cell, their sources of money
and arms, (Operations and Madeline trade a look) list of potential targets,
all of it.
Madeline: And you never, not even for a moment, aligned your sympathies
with theirs?
Birkoff: Look, what's changed here? Nikita's alive, I got out, we've got
access to their entire computer database. Do you really think that's just a
convenient coincidence?
Operations: You violated your orders.
Birkoff: How? By meeting with Nikita? All right, that's true. But my orders
were to go inside and stay there. I did that. While I was there, I did what I
could. In the end, you gave the order to take me out, sir.
(Madeline looks at Operations again)
There is months of information here that we wouldn't have otherwise.
That should be worth something.
Operations: I want a complete report.
Birkoff: Yes, sir.
Greg: Sir, um, if you could tell me just-
Operations: (snaps) Not now.
(He and Madeline walk off)
Nikita: You took a very big risk.
Birkoff: I'm sorry. I had to do what I did. But it worked out. I'm out.
(Rousseau is brought past)
Rousseau: Tu etais comme mon fils. You were like my son. I trusted you.
It seems you are good at getting people to do that.
Michael: Let's go.
Birkoff: (to Nikita) You know I would never do anything to hurt you.
Scene 26: Section One, Comm. Birkoff pulls up a screen, it has his face
with a target over it. Greg giggles.
Greg: I couldn't help it.
Birkoff: It's over Hillinger. You lost.
Greg: No, Seymour. It's not over until I say it's over.
(They stare daggers again)
Michael: Birkoff. I need you to run the sim.
(Birkoff turns, goes back to work. Nikita walks up to Hillinger)
Nikita: Do you remember what I told you?
Greg: What, your threat? Oh no, I haven't forgotten.
(Nikita glares – walks off. Birkoff goes back to that web site for the
terrorist group; sees his picture there as a member. Looks up at the loft
where Madeline walks up to stand next to Operations)
The End
