Scene 1: Section One, Systems. Nikita walks in, Michael walks from
another direction. She goes up the staircase, looking behind herself as
she goes. They meet up in a hallway.
Michael: They haven't posted the new assignments yet.
Nikita: So we won't be able to meet. Not enough time to form a plan.
Michael: If the posting happens soon, there's still a chance.
Nikita: Why the delay?
Michael: Could be a hundred reasons.
Nikita: Could be about us.
Michael: They don't know enough or they would have stopped us.
Nikita: Maybe we should pull back for a while.
(they kiss until a clicking noise distracts them)
Michael: We'll be together somehow. I'll make it happen. Go now.
Scene 2: Section One, Madeline's Office. Madeline enters; sits down at
a computer to see a video of a man running. Operations enters.
Operations: I've been over the tapes a dozen times. Nothing.
Madeline: Michael knows the system as well as we do.
Operations: Better, apparently.
Madeline: Still, we know what's happening. We're under no obligation to
prove it.
Operations: The point is they're meeting right under our noses and we can't
stop them. That means there's a hole in the system. If they can find it,
others can too.
Madeline: Not necessarily. Michael and Nikita are unique. Our priority
should be to stop them before their efficiency levels are permanently
harmed.
Operations: Maybe you're right. Are we ready to move?
Madeline: Yes, if there's an appropriate mission.
Operations: Genefex?
Madeline: That will do very nicely.
Operations: Then let's proceed. (they both smile)
Scene 3: Section One, War Room
Operations: Six months ago, during a bioengineering convention in Prague,
the chemical breakdown for gandium four, a grade one bio-weapon, was
stolen. Three months later, the hard product was used during an attack in
Cyprus. Genefex is a pharmaceutical lab and a producer of over the counter
drugs. Two days ago we monitored a wire transfer to an account held by
a company which fronts for Red Cell.
Birkoff: Satellite surveillance confirms increased productivity in the last
three months, but distribution of their key product remains the same.
They're making something under the table.
Operations: Michael, you and Nikita will penetrate, find out who besides
Red Cell they're selling to. Then you will destroy the lab. The details are in
your panels. That's all.
Scene 4: Section One, Operations Loft. Walter enters.
Walter: You wanted to see me?
Operations: Yes. Michael and Nikita deceived us. You helped them.
Walter: OK, spare me the excerpts from the owner's manual. Do whatever
you're going to do and just get on with it.
Operations: Walter, you've served Section long and, for the most part, well.
But I'm afraid your work here has come to an end. You're going to
Retirement.
Walter: (stunned) I deserve better than that.
Operations: I could have had you cancelled.
Walter: Then do it. I know I violated protocol. I knew the risks. Ah, save
it. (turns to go) Shame on you.
Scene 5: Section One, Systems.
Michael: I need to verify something. May I check your panel?
Nikita: Of course.
Michael: I'll synchronize them.
Nikita: Your schematic's a bit different than mine.
Michael: That's a glitch. I'll talk to Birkoff.
(We can read the screen as he works: it says "screen is secure" and then
"same mission – makes it easy")
Nikita: Which is more current?
(Screen says "they are up to something")
Michael: Mine is.
Nikita: How can you tell?
Michael: The vents in the northwest corner.
(Screen says "We'll find a way")
Nikita: Perhaps you're right.
Michael: Definitely.
Nikita: Thanks.
Scene 6: Genefax.
Michael: We'll work separately; avoid establishing a predictable pattern.
Nikita: The functional overlay had several gaps.
Michael: We can compensate. (an older man walks up to them)
Aral: Damon Aral, plant manager. Sorry for the wait.
Michael: Not a problem.
Aral: ID's? (Michael and Nikita hand them over) You guys are new. What
happened to McRae?
Nikita: He got promoted. He now handles the southern region.
Aral: Welcome to Genefex
Birkoff: (back at Section) They're in.
Aral: Just so you know, in 20 years of inspections, we've never been hit
with a single citation.
Nikita: Good for you.
Aral: Well here it is. This is R&D, best place to start, really. If you need
me, I'll be in my office.
Michael: You make the environmental check. I'll examine safety
procedures. We'll meet back here in an hour. (Michael starts checking the
place out. Runs into a lab tech who seems to arouse his suspicions)
Tech: Sir. I didn't hear you coming.
Michael: No problem.
(Michael goes behind a curtain into some sort of lab area.)
Michael: Birkoff, room 11. Loop the cameras.
Birkoff: OK, I'm tapping in now. Flip the page. (Michael is holding a
notepad, does so) You've got 60 seconds.
(Michael opens a briefcase, takes out a little device and starts scanning
things)
Birkoff: OK Michael, 40 seconds.
(His little device goes nuts)
Michael: South wall.
Birkoff: Small room…bypassed in a renovation two years ago. That must
be where they store the Gandium. You need to retrieve it before we take
out the lab.
Michael: I'll need ten hours.
Birkoff: Why so long? I can work up a profile for eight.
Michael: I'll handle the profile. I need ten.
Birkoff: Whatever you say. Loop is over.
(Michael picks up his briefcase and heads off and meets up with Nikita)
Michael: I found it.
Nikita: Is Birkoff building a profile?
Michael: No, I am. Why don't you write up what we've found so far?
Nikita: I'm in the process.
Michael: Start with level B.
Scene 7: Section One, Munitions. Walter is loading a gun.
Birkoff: Walter, I need the revised specs on the Libyan mission as soon as –
Walter, you okay? Walter?
Walter: (nearly in tears) They're sending me to retirement. Operations just
told me himself.
Birkoff: Why?
Walter: I guess I just pushed the envelope once too often.
Birkoff: This is my fault. It's because I told them you were helping Nikita
and Michael.
Walter: No, if you wouldn't have told them, they would have found out
some other way. You can't beat Section. But you can choose your own
way out.
Birkoff: No. You can't do that.
Walter: Do you know what retirement is, Birkoff? Hmmmm?
Birkoff: I've heard rumors. Nobody's ever actually come back.
Walter: Yeah, you know why? Because it's all medical experiments and
pain tolerance and harvested body parts. I'm not going that way!
(He sees two operatives coming to get him. Defeated, he lays the gun
down on the table and allows them to lead him away)
Birkoff: Walter, listen, I'm going to get you out of this.
Walter: Never happen.
(They lead him down a corridor and release him; he walks in to the
elevator ahead of them and turns. Birkoff follows, they stare at each other
once again.)
Birkoff: I'll get you out of this. Somehow. I swear it.
Scene 8: Section One, Operations Loft
Birkoff: Sorry to bother you. You have a minute?
Operations: That's all I have.
Birkoff: It's about Walter. I just hope you won't do anything drastic.
Operations: (laughs) What's that supposed to mean?
Birkoff: I think we should keep him functional until we're sure the new
guy's going to work out.
Operations: Do you have any reason to think he won't?
Birkoff: No. I haven't even met him yet. It's just that-
Operations: His name is Giles. He's been training as Walter's replacement
for five years. I'm sure he'll do fine.
Birkoff: It's just that we're in play on a dozen missions. Walter and I have
worked together for years. There's a shorthand to the way we do things. If
you could just not do anything irreversible for a few days…just in case we
need him.
Operations: I'll take it under advisement.
Birkoff: Thank you.
(Operations smiles after Birkoff turns away)
(Birkoff leaves the loft, goes down and sees the new guy in Munitions)
Operative: (by Giles) Here, check out the profile on this.
Scene 9: Genefax
Michael: Birkoff.
Birkoff: I'm here.
Michael: I need to go dark for ten minutes.
Birkoff: Why?
Michael: I'm going into quality control; they have sub-scanners built into
the walls.
Birkoff: OK, dark for ten.
(Dressed in protective gear, Michael goes in and starts removing vials
of the biological weapon)
Nikita: Birkoff, we have to get the buyer's list and retrieve the gandium
four. Where's Michael?
Birkoff: He went dark. He'll be back any second. Where are you?
Nikita: I'm in Applications.
Birkoff: Aral's on the other side of the building. Go to his office now and
retrieve the buyer's list.
Nikita: (Goes to Aral's office) Hello? (She enters a room, walks across it
and goes to a desk where she sits down and types at a computer, pulling
up the list) I have the list.
Birkoff: Download directly to me.
Nikita: It's encrypted. It won't transmit without decoding.
Birkoff: You have the decrypt disk?
Nikita: Yeah, I got it. I've decoded. Stand by to transmit.
(Aral is heading for his office and almost enters but Michael catches him)
Michael: You're to be congratulated.
Aral: And why's that?
Michael: Your perfect record looks safe.
Aral: Glad to hear it. Um, you mind if I ask you a question.
Michael: Not at all.
Aral: You and Nikita – does your relationship go beyond work?
Michael: No. She's available.
Aral: (leers) Oh, I wasn't asking about HER. (Cathy in: ROTFLMAO! I
think I just about coughed up a lung laughing when he said this!)
Birkoff: (at Section) I have it. Go.
Michael: I'm…I'm straight.
Aral: Sorry.
Michael: Oh, don't be. (Aral leaves with a flirty look…LOL!)
Nikita: (comes out) I sent the list; now we have to retrieve the Gandium.
(Michael passes her a note. It says "I have the Gandium. Meet me, room
305F" He walks away.)
Scene 10: Section One, Munitions
Birkoff crosses into the area.
Giles: Birkoff, right? Dennis Giles. (extends his hand; they shake)
Birkoff: Welcome aboard.
Giles: Thanks. I understand you and Walter were pretty good friends.
Birkoff: Yes, we were.
Giles: I just want you to know. I'm not here to replace him. I'm just here
to do my job.
Birkoff: Yeah, we all know what this place is like. I don't hold it against
you.
Giles: I appreciate that.
Birkoff: Well, you know where I am if you need any help with the
transition.
Giles: Fair enough.
Birkoff: Actually, there's something you could do for me if you're not too
swamped.
Giles: Name it.
Birkoff: What do you know about the Cameroon mission?
Giles: Lots of variables. Expected casualties are high.
Birkoff: Exactly. They're going to need something special. Walter and I
were working on this. (hands him a device)
Giles: A wall punch. Nifty. I've never seen one that small before.
Birkoff: Yeah, I designed the chip. Walter designed the hardware. Do you
think you could add a second frequency?
Giles: Yeah, I'll get right on it.
Birkoff: Good. I better get going.
Scene 11: Genefex
Birkoff: Nikita.
Nikita: What is it?
Birkoff: You have to go off profile.
Nikita: Bad timing, Birkoff. I'm standing watch while Michael gets the
Gandium.
Birkoff: It can't be helped. It's direct from the top. And your comm is being
restricted to primary channel.
Nikita: Okay. (Flash to Michael, walking through a lab area. The tech guy
from earlier follows him)
Birkoff: Are you on the top floor?
Nikita: Yes I am. What am I doing?
Birkoff: Operations says there's a secondary buyer's list. Hard copy. Should
be in the room at the end of the hall.
(Nikita enters the room, sees Madeline standing there leaning against the
wall)
Nikita: Madeline?
Madeline: Hello, Nikita. Have you had your meeting with Michael yet, or
were you on your way to it? Whenever your last meeting with Michael was,
I hope you made the most of it. It's the last one you'll ever have.
Nikita: Are you going to kill me?
Madeline: If we wanted to kill you, we could have done so easily any time
we wished.
Nikita: Then why didn't you?
Madeline: We've asked that question many times. Perhaps in the end, we
value what you have.
Nikita: What is it that you value that I have?
Madeline: Your determination to live life to the fullest. In some ways, I
envy you. But now the time has come to pay the price. You're going to be
adjusted.
Nikita: Adjusted?
Madeline: Afterwards, you'll still be a formidable operative. But not subject
to certain distractions which have hindered your performance in the past.
Nikita: You've done this before. It doesn't last.
(Two operatives appear, give Nikita a shot in the neck)
Madeline: This procedure is quite different from anything you've previously
experienced. It involves chemical stimuli, combined with electro…
Nikita: I'm a human being…I can't be erased…like a computer…program
(Nikita collapses; the operatives hold her back up)
Madeline: We'll see.
(Meanwhile Michael reaches the room. No Nikita. They put her into a
cylindrical machine; she flashes back to her memories over the last two
years…as Michael recedes further away from her. Her eyes close.)
Scene 12: Section One, Munitions. Birkoff watches an operative with
Giles.
Operative: All right, I got this.
Giles: Good luck.
Operative: Let's get out of here. (they leave)
(Birkoff removes a small transmitter from his pocket…looks at Giles)
Operative #2: Hey! I asked for a S3, not a N3. (shoves Giles against the
wall and leaves)
(Birkoff puts the transmitter back in his pocket)
Birkoff: Problem?
Giles: He said he asked for a S3, but he said N3, I know he did.
Birkoff: Don't worry about it. They're just testing you.
Giles: The truth is, everybody misses Walter. I mean, you're the only one
who's been decent and you were his best friend. I appreciate it, Birkoff.
Thanks. I won't forget this.
Birkoff: Don't mention it.
Giles: Actually a S3 would work just as well, but you want to give them
what they ask for.
Birkoff: Sure.
Giles: Maybe that was a mistake. I should give them what they need, not
what they ask for. (Giles turns away; Birkoff plants the transmitter and
turns away. There is an explosion)
Giles: Birkoff! Are you all right, what happened?
Birkoff: (getting up from the ground) I don't know! The wall punch.
Something must have been on the same frequency. (He's bleeding from
the mouth, rubs his head – alarms going off everywhere. Operations
shows up)
Operations: What happened here?
Giles: The wall punch – it blew.
Operations: (furious) By itself???
Giles: Probably triggered by a compatible frequency. Those things are
tricky. It could happen to anybody.
Operations: It didn't happen to Walter in thirty-five years. (Giles looks
confused; Birkoff keeps a straight face)
Scene 13: Genefex. Michael sees the tech guy and slams him up against
the wall.
Michael: What are you doing here?
Tech: What do you mean? I work here!
Michael: You're Section.
Tech: Section? What's Section?
Michael: I've trained a thousand operatives. You smell of Section.
Tech: Listen. Get your hands off - (Michael breaks one of his arms)
Michael: You still have one good arm. If you want to keep it, talk.
Tech: All right.
Michael: Why are you here?
Tech: Backup team.
Michael: Why wasn't I told?
Tech: Preserve security in case of capture.
Michael: You're lying.
Tech: That's what they told me. I swear.
Michael: They also told you to keep an eye on me and Nikita.
Tech: Yes.
Michael: Where is she?
Tech: I'm not sure. There was a shadow profile on my panel. It showed
activity on the top floor.
Michael: When?
Tech: Right about now.
Michael: If you're lying, I'll kill you. (Michael drops him and runs upstairs
at warp speed. He finds an entry room. Nikita then emerges from the end
and walks to him. She looks normal)
Are you all right?
Nikita: I'm fine. Operations sent me on a branch mission. There's been a
change in the main mission profile. We have to return to Section. (she
walks past him)
Michael: Nikita. Are you sure you're all right.
Nikita: Positive.
Scene 14: Section One, Systems. Birkoff, Michael and Nikita are present;
Operations comes in to detail them on a mission.
Operations: Birkoff. (a hologram comes up) Ramon Khasa, middleman to
a dozen terrorist groups in the southern hemisphere, and the reason we
delayed destruction of the Genefax plant. (Operations watches Nikita
closely)
Birkoff: The buyers' list Nikita retrieved from the Genefax mainframe also
listed near-term transactions. Khasa will be making a pickup in twenty four
hours. It's the weekend, so collateral damage will be minimal.
Operations: We'll take Khasa alive; then destroy the plant as originally
planned. The new profiles will be on your panels. Good luck. (Operations
leaves, followed by Michael and Nikita)
Scene 15: Section One, Madeline's Office
Operations: I'm not as confident as you are that the procedure worked.
Madeline: Why do you say that?
Operations: They didn't seem any different at the briefing.
Madeline: I was watching on the monitor, and I disagree. Nikita was more
focused on the mission, while Michael was repressing tension. In the past,
it's been the reverse. You didn't notice?
Operations: No, I didn't. Perhaps I'm slipping.
Madeline: It's possible I'm reaching…though I doubt it.
Operations: I propose we use the next Khasa mission as a beta test.
Madeline: If we change the profile, they may suspect something and alter
their behavior.
Operations: Then we'll improvise. Let's see if she's willing to kill Michael.
Scene 16: Genefex. The Mission
Birkoff: Khasa just entered the building. Red team hold your position.
(Inside Genefex, Aral is coming downstairs with two other men. A
transaction is taking place.)
Nikita: The exchange is complete.
Birkoff: You can set the charges. (She does) Go.
(Canisters of gas go off in Genefex. In one part of the building, Michael
is shooting while in another, operatives are escorting Khasa out)
Nikita: We have the target.
Birkoff: The building is hot; all teams exit.
(Michael still shooting bad guys; does a cool somersault maneuver and
still shooting)
Operations: Did Michael get clear?
Madeline: Yes, but Nikita doesn't know it.
Operations: Birkoff. Tell Nikita to destroy the plant.
Birkoff: Nikita, push the button.
Nikita: Is Michael out?
Birkoff: He should be.
Nikita: Is he or isn't he?
Operations: Press the button. That's a direct order. Nikita, press the button.
(Nikita presses the button; plant explodes)
Madeline: She obeyed
Operations: She hesitated.
Madeline: Not for long. She's still processing. Next time, she won't hesitate
at all.
Scene 17: Section One, Munitions
Birkoff: Walter. Welcome back!
Walter: Yeah, thanks. (Doesn't seem excited)
Birkoff: You okay?
Walter: Yeah, I'm fine.
Birkoff: They, uh – they didn't remove anything too vital?
Walter: I told you I'm fine. (seems a little annoyed)
Birkoff: They guy they replaced you with was a real loser. I set off a wall
punch in here and made it look like it was his fault.
Walter: Well, why didn't you just stay out of it?
Birkoff: What are you talking about? I saved you!
Walter: Well who asked you to?
Birkoff: What are you saying?
Walter: I'm saying it was fantastic.
Birkoff: It wasn't that bad?
Walter: No, it was heaven. It was better than that. All the dreams I ever
had came to life.
Birkoff: It was a trick, it had to be.
Walter: All I know is I wish I was there right now, instead of here. Oh, my.
I, uh, I've got a lot of catching up to do so I will talk with you later.
Birkoff: Yeah. (walks away, kind of dazed)
Scene 18: Section One, Operations Loft. Madeline and Operations are
reviewing the mission tapes.
Operations: There. Michael was out before she pushed the detonator.
Madeline: But it wasn't clear to Nikita. Her field of vision stopped one
degree to the north.
Operations: With what certainty?
Madeline: Over 90%.
Operations: It's inconclusive.
Madeline: Certainty will come with time. Meanwhile, we have to read the
signs. For instance, Nikita left Section an hour ago even though Michael
was looking for her.
Operations: Playacting. They've done that before, and kept right on seeing
each other.
(Madeline and Operations watch as Michael walks through Section, below
them. He looks up at them; makes eye contact.)
Scene 19: Nikita's Apartment. She's painting her wall white; there's a
knock on her door. She goes to the door and sees that it's Michael. She
opens up and lets him in.
Nikita: Hello.
Michael: Hi.
Nikita: What are you doing here?
Michael: I wanted to see you.
Nikita: Yeah? (returns to painting) They're watching the apartment, you
know.
Michael: I know.
(He walks over, plays with her hair – she keeps painting.)
Michael: What did they do to you?
Nikita: Nothing.
(He takes her arm, forces her to drop the roller; looks her in the eye…)
Nikita: Nothing.
(He strokes the side of her face with his hand, kisses her softly)
Michael: Tell me.
Nikita: I don't know. I don't remember. (tears in her eyes. He takes her
hand as if to kiss it) Don't. It doesn't work. I don't love you anymore.
(Michael looks stricken; shuts his eyes for a second…turns and walks
away)(Black screen; voiceover of Michael)
Michael: I won't let them do this.
The End
