Scene 1: Section One, Comm. A mission is running; Birky and Greg are
working on it.
Birkoff: All right, red team, we're ready. Knock out your primaries and
move up to final. What's our coverage?
Greg: Nothing on the first floor.
Birkoff: Okay, hold. (to a female op) Give me scenarios three and five,
make sure they're sync'ed tight.
(to operative on the screen) Victor, what's going on?
Victor: It's going to be tight. They're heavily armed.
Birkoff: Blue team, back up Victor on the north.
(Plenty of shooting going on)
Birkoff: We're ready for the interface.
(Birkoff turns, sees Greg babbling away to the female op and not paying attention)
Greg: So now this grand master's whining about a rematch because my
program beat him in nineteen moves. You know you have a great smile-
Birkoff: The interface, Greg – we're in mid mission!
Greg: Right, the interface…didn't do it.
(back to the female op) Do you know you have really nice eyes?
Birkoff: What? I've got live ops out there!
Greg: Chill, Seymour! Do you mind?
(he takes the ear bud from the female op)
Thank you. What channel are they on? I'm going to walk them through it.
Birkoff: How? You haven't worked up the interface yet!
Greg: Yeah I haven't practiced tying my shoes today either. Victor, where
are you?
Victor: Same place. I'm pinned.
Greg: No problem. Blue team, I need you split. Three in the east, one in the
hole, two stay in the perimeter.
Birkoff: You idiot!
Greg: Birky, please.
Birkoff: I need you to cycle the egress. That's how it stays protected!
That's why I needed the interface.
Operative: Comm, we're losing team! Where's our coordinates?
Birkoff: Oh my God. Everybody hold. Victor, we are saturated two clicks
over, what's your call?
Victor: Cut me off.
Birkoff: You won't make it out alive.
Victor: Can't be helped. It's the only way to save the team.
Birkoff: Everyone abort. All teams, back to your exit points now.
(Greg looks stunned, realizes he screwed up)
Victor: (to his team) Don't worry, get out of here, go!
(Team members yelling "good luck" and "Move, move"!)
(Victor is shot to death. Birkoff and Greg watch in horror. Greg actually
looks disturbed)
Scene 2: Section One, Operations Loft. Operations and Madeline talking
to George via monitor.
Operations: It was an unfortunate incident, but it was only a stutter step.
We've already begun-
George: (on monitor) Since when do you redefine failure as a stutter step?
This mission was critical to the entire near East hub.
Operations: It'll be taken care of, George.
George: You don't even know why it happened yet!
Operations: We're working on it.
George: Not good enough. Stop deflecting and start listening. I am not
happy with One and more to the point Paul, I am not happy with you. I
want all third column operations sent here for redirect.
Operations: That's half our load.
George: And I want the remainder typed through my controls. You will not
sharpen a pencil without my approval.
(he signs off; Operations turns to Madeline)
Operations: This is your fault.
Madeline: (icily) I beg your pardon?
Operations: Tactical falls under your purview. When they screw up, I look
bad.
Madeline: I'll find the source.
Operations: Yes you will. If you paid as much attention to this as you do to
your idiotic plants, this wouldn't be happening.
Madeline: I don't think that's fair.
Operations: I don't care what's fair and I don't care what you think.
(He walks away)
Scene 3: Section One, Systems. Birkoff at a computer, Greg comes in.
Greg: What are you working on?
Birkoff: Just stuff.
Greg: It's the mission evaluation, isn't it? Birkoff, you're not going to hang
me out, are you? Come on, I didn't have enough information!
Birkoff: It was on your panel.
Greg: I never read my panel, you know that, I don't need to.
Birkoff: This time you did.
Greg: Birkoff. They'll cancel me.
Birkoff: Probably not, with my luck. You're too valuable.
Greg: Wrong. They just recruited a stats analyst, from O.S.I. And a privacy
coder from Moscow. Between the two of them, they can cover everything
I do.
Birkoff: Yeah, but not as fast.
Greg: Faster.
(Madeline enters)
Madeline: I need answers, Birkoff.
Birkoff: I'm just finishing it up now.
Madeline: Tell me.
Birkoff: The profile was downgraded on site, and there was no contingency
to cover it. That's the job of the mission head.
Madeline: Right.
Greg: Yeah. Victor screwed up. But in a way, it's poetic justice – you just
would have had to cancel him anyways.
Madeline: (gives him a look) Send it to me when it's done.
Greg: Some quick thinking Seymour. I owe you.
(He goes up to the female op again)
Hey, what are you working on? Where's that smile? Have you thought about
what I said? 'Cause I was serious, you know…
Scene 4: Section One, War Room. Briefing.
Operations: As you know, two days ago we were closing in on Pierre
Brulois when the strike team went down. Brulois is on a Pentagon red list.
He's a member of a highly placed Naval intelligence team who's gone
rogue. All the agencies want him taken out because of the damage he could
cause if his knowledge were peddled to the terrorist community.
Birkoff: We've been using satellites and broad spectrum tags to get a
position on Brulois. So far they haven't yielded up enough data.
Operations: We'll go after him by degrees. We'll start with this woman
here, Francine Chu, one of his mistresses. Michael will head the team,
Nikita will assist tactical.
Birkoff: I'll initialize the notes and get them over to Walter.
Operations: It's already been done.
Birkoff: By who?
Greg: Me.
Birkoff: What?
Operations: He's been bumped to active. You're needed on site.
Birkoff: He's not ready to run a mission. He's just not.
Operations: If you have specifics, tell me. If not, get to work.
Birkoff: I guess he'll be fine.
Operations: No mistakes this time.
Scene 5: Section One, Hallway. Madeline is talking to an operative,
Reuben, in the hallway, Operations is heading toward them.
Reuben: I've got that information on that mission you were asking about
earlier. It's on the computer. I can download it and bring it up to you later.
Operations: Madeline.
Madeline: In a minute.
Operations: Now!
Madeline: (to Reuben) Excuse me. (to Operations) Yes?
Operations: George called again, he's not satisfied with the Bucharest
debrief.
Madeline: What is it he objects to?
Operations: (harsh) I don't know. Get on with him and take care of it.
(starts to leave) Oh, one other thing.
Madeline: Yes?
Operations: I'd like to see you in the Tower.
Madeline: What is it you want me to be? Your whipping post or your
whore?
Operations: I'll see you tonight. 11:00. (he walks away)
Scene 6: Section One, Comm. Mission is running.
Greg: All right Seymour, the surveillance loop is in place now.
Birkoff: Michael, hold. There's two on the north rim, coming from behind.
Michael: See the unit?
Birkoff: Yes. N85, late model. You got it, Hillinger?
Greg: You're in. (turns to Nikita) Big challenge.
(Nikita sneers in disgust)
Birkoff: Michael, we've disabled security.
(Michael enters the building, gun drawn, with his team.
We see the security team inside checking the hallways; they see nothing)
OK Michael, I've got it. They're in the next room.
(Back at Section, Greg taps a key surreptitiously and a screen goes fuzzy)
Nikita: What's this?
Greg: What?
Nikita: Looks like a sensor's gone down in the van. Check the base system.
Make sure everything's clean.
(Greg taps keys and the security team sees the mission van.)
Security Man (on site): There's something in the alley.
(He takes off, gun drawn)
(Greg kills Birkoff's view of the outside of the mission van)
Birkoff: Hillinger, why don't I have synch on the external vid?
Greg: Looks like a sensor. I'd get on it. Can you leave the van?
Birkoff: Michael, are we clear?
Michael: Yes.
Birkoff: OK Hillinger I'm going out. (Birkoff leaves the van, taking a gun
with him. The security van pulls up. Birkoff hides behind the van, loading
his gun. He sees the security man coming, walks behind the mission van.
Birkoff tries to run, sees no escape route, tries to hide. A dog barks,
distracting the security man. Birkoff looks under the van, sees his feet
moving. The security man looks under, too…slinks around the van. Birkoff
is on top of the van, pistol whips him in the head. Go Birky! Birkoff still
on top the van, the security man gets up slowly, goes to shoot Birkoff but
Michael shoots him. Two ops come out dragging Francine Chu.)
Michael: Let's go.
Scene 7: Section One, Van Access. The mission team returns. Birkoff is
seriously p*ssed!
Birkoff: (to Greg) Nice try!
Greg: What, are you talking to me?
Birkoff: (grabbing a tape from Greg's computer) You're the one who tried
to kill me.
Greg: What are you talking about?
Birkoff: What am I talking about? (Birkoff starts a tape running) It's called
black track. It shows what you tried to do. Right here, you cut the
surveillance loop – gave away my position. You knock out my monitor.
Then you send me out to get killed. Didn't know we could do that, did you?
Resident genius!(Operations is standing behind them, Greg notices)
He's the one that screwed up in Bucharest. I covered for him.
(Operations stands there, looking angry)
Scene 8: Section One, The Tower. Madeline is getting dressed; she has a
big bruise on her neck. Operations comes up behind her, shirt open, putting
his watch back on.
Madeline: I want this to stop.
Operations: I don't.
Madeline: I'm tired of being needed by you. Need someone else. (extremely
icy, bitter)
Operations: It doesn't work that way.
Madeline: On the outside, this would be sexual harassment.
Operations: (Comes up close behind her, practically cheek to cheek) We're
not on the outside.
Scene 9: Oversight. George is on the phone.
George: No, not yet. Give them another 48 hours. Yes, if the force doesn't
hold, then we'll call on NATO. Fine. In an hour. So Reuben, how's the mess
at One coming along?
Reuben: We've assimilated almost 60% of their current projects.
George: Good.
Reuben: Are you still interested in removing Operations?
George: What have you found?
Reuben: A weak link.
Scene 10: Section One, Committee Room
Madeline: Continue, Greg.
Greg: Look, I'll cop to this interface thing, all right, fine, but the rest of this
stuff is completely bogus. Birkoff is just jealous.
Birkoff: Of what?
Operations: Are you saying you didn't intentionally put Birkoff at risk?
Greg: Absolutely not.
Madeline: What about the black track?
Greg: It was a glitch. You overwrote the bounds of the array. You shouldn't
have declared it a char point, it should have been-
Operations: Shut up. Birkoff?
Birkoff: The transmission was alpha secure.
Greg: What's alpha secure?
Operations: You can go back, Greg.
Greg: No, wait a minute, what are you going to do to me?
Operations: Nothing. Just get back to your post.
Greg: No! Tell me what alpha secure means. I can explain this.
Operations: Now. (Greg leaves)
Madeline: We're running three domestic missions, 27 on the outside. Can
we replace Hillinger and not slow that down?
Birkoff: Not really. Not unless I can use the new recruits.
Operations: What new recruits? (Turns to Madeline)
Birkoff: The ones from O.S.I. and Moscow.
Operations: Who?
Birkoff: Never mind. I must have mixed them up with some of our contacts.
Madeline: Which contacts would they be?
Birkoff: I can cover all the missions. I don't need Hillinger.
Operations: Then get to it.
(Birkoff leaves, Madeline sits down on the bench)
Cancel Hillinger.
Madeline: We could do that or-
Operations: (snaps) Why do I need to hear that every time? Why do I need
two alternatives when I give an order?
Madeline: Or we could use him on the Brulois maneuver. He'd make a
valuable abeyance operative.
Operations: Fine, do it. And do something about that perfume. It smells
cheap.
(Operations stalks out, leaving Madeline sitting in the Committee room)
Scene 11: Section One, Comm.
Birkoff: Why'd you lie to me about the new recruits? There aren't any.
Greg: What do you think? You were going to blow me out of the water.
Birkoff, really, what are they going to do with me?
Birkoff: I wouldn't make any long term plans.
(Greg types on the computer, sees that he's in abeyance.)
Greg: Excellent.
Scene 12: Section One, hallway outside the White Room
Nikita: You wanted to see me?
Madeline: Francine Chu is ready. I'd like you to transfer her.
Nikita: Is something the matter?
Madeline: Get a location from her; put a team together, make sure that
Hillinger's on it. (Madeline starts to walk past)
Nikita: And if I don't need him?
Madeline: Make sure you need him.
Scene 13: Section One, Operations Loft. Madeline climbs the stairs and
enters
Madeline: Do you have a moment?
Operations: (doesn't turn around) No.
Madeline: I will not tolerate this kind of treatment from you. I'm sorry if
George is undermining you but I'm your ally, not your enemy.
Operations: You're neither. You obey me and will continue to do so until
I'm done with you.
Madeline: If I've done something to upset you, I assure you it was
unintentional. Now let's talk about it.
(Operations turns around, puts his face close to hers)
Operations: It's bad enough your people aren't performing up to standard,
but to have to stand here and listen to you grovel is totally pathetic. I wish
you could see yourself.
(He stalks off; Madeline goes into her office, looks at her orchid…
reaches out, and breaks it as if she's breaking somebody's neck.
She then walks over and picks up her phone)
Madeline: This is Madeline. I've considered your offer, and I'm ready to
meet you.
Scene 14: Parisian street. Madeline walks along, black coat, sunglasses.
She comes to an open air cafe and sits down next to George.
Madeline: Hello George.
George: Madeline. (Kisses her on both cheeks) Good to see you. It sounds
like things are deteriorating over there.
Madeline: It's a difficult time.
George. Stressful situations often bring out the true nature of the beast.
Madeline: He's been under pressure his entire life, but he's never been like
this.
George: It happens more often than you'd think. Especially with men his
age.
Madeline: If we don't do this exactly right-
George: With my resources and you inside, he won't know what hit him.
Madeline: And when it's all over…will I run the Section?
George: When it's over, you'll run all the Sections. (turns to her and they
look each other in the eye for the first time)
Scene 15: Section One, Michael's office. He enters, Nikita is there.
Michael: Why are you not in Prep?
Nikita: I was looking over the mission profile. Is it right?
Michael: Yes. Why?
Nikita: Well, how could Hillinger be in abeyance?
Michael: He made a terminal sequence of mistakes.
Nikita: Can I change with someone? I don't feel comfortable about ushering
him into the black.
Michael: You were selected because of your relationship with him. The
profile stands.
Scene 16: Section One/Mission
Michael: When you get to the perimeter, go silent. Retrieve Brulois. Nikita
and Hillinger will set the charge.
Birkoff: Everything within 200 meters will be red zoned. Make sure you're
out. I'm setting a frequency that will get you to the target. You'll pick it up
when you enter the parking lot.
Nikita: Got it. Go.
(she's with a team; they disperse. They blast open a door.
Nikita and Hillinger walk side by side)
Greg: Did you double check the numbers?
Nikita: Yeah, why.
Greg: When I run this device, it says I have 30 seconds to get out.
Nikita: So?
Greg: So I just did a calculation in my head. Nikita, this thing's going to go
off as soon as I hit return.
Nikita: Greg, it's your first time out. They installed a new delay. There
wasn't time to include it. When we get to our final mark, just do what I say.
You'll be all right.
Greg: Thanks. (He loads the device)
Nikita: All set. You ready?
Greg: Yeah, just give me a couple of seconds.
Nikita: What's that?
Greg: It's nothing, I'm just doing a parity check.
Nikita: Parity check? Now?
Greg: Yeah, the second part of the frame buffer had some bits that were
fragmenting. I didn't have time to replace them, so I added a new pathway
to the DACs.
Nikita: Don't try to snow me, Greg, what are you doing?
Michael: Nikita, go.
(Nikita runs off)
Michael: Okay Greg, the south egress is secure. That will be your exit point.
Stand by to start the clock.
Greg: Come on guys.
Michael: Okay Greg, go.
Nikita: (returns, grabs Greg by the collar) Wait! It's a lie! It's going to
blow five seconds after you enter.
Greg: What about you?
Nikita: I should be out of here.
Greg: What's going on?
Nikita: Greg, you're in abeyance. Set it at neg 40, now.
Greg: Yeah, I already did. Let's go!
(They both run and the building explodes after them)
Scene 17: Section One, Comm.
Operations: Did we get Brulois?
Birkoff: No.
Operations: Why not?
Birkoff: He wasn't on site, but it wasn't a loss.
Operations: Meaning what?
Birkoff: When we took out a substation, we picked up a communication
from a survivor. It went directly to Brulois.
Operations: That's a confirm?
Birkoff: Yes. He's been tagged. He's in London.
Operations: Prepare a team.
Birkoff: Actually, everybody's assigned. Oversight took practically all our
people.
Operations: Use Michael's team.
Birkoff: They're not prepared for a piggyback.
Operations: Damn it Birkoff, be a little creative here – think. Have them
reset through Stockholm; predate it so it looks like Q-1. We're going
through some changes; if you can't keep up you're not needed.
(He stalks up to his loft and finds Madeline there)
What are you doing here?
Madeline: I wanted to let you know that Hillinger sustained the mission.
Operations: That's all right. I can use him for one more anyway. You didn't
need to come here to tell me that.
Madeline: That's true.
(She stands, and walks up to stand close behind him)
I thought you might want to relax a little first.
(She darkens the loft)
I realize that I haven't been as accessible as you need me to be. That's going to
change. You can use me any time, day or night.
(She walks around him to face him.)
If I'm what you need to stay focused on your work, then you can have me.
(He strokes her neck with one hand, leans over, kisses her twice, softly)
Operations: Thank you, Madeline.
(She smiles at him, and he starts kissing the side of her neck)
Scene 18: Oversight. George is sitting in the dark; Reuben enters
George: What is it?
Reuben: You won't believe what I just got from One.
George: What?
Reuben: A back channel list.
George: Paul?
Reuben: Validated. It came directly from his office. Madeline was able to
flush it out.
George: Did you look at it?
Reuben: Yes, it's perfect. He's working with Brulois. That's why the
Section has missed him the last two attempts. Paul's sending him intel.
George: That's not going to be enough.
Reuben: What shall I do?
George: Nothing. This one's mine.
Scene 19: Parisian Street. George and Madeline walk side by side.
Madeline: I can get that information you wanted.
George: I need it as soon as possible.
Madeline: I can't get out again for another 38 hours.
George: That's not soon enough.
Madeline: Then I'll messenger it over.
George: When?
Madeline: This afternoon.
George: Is this someone we can trust?
Madeline: Of course it is.
George: All right.
Madeline: (turns to face him) One thing. I want the company key file.
George: The key file. Why?
Madeline: I want the visibility. It's too risky any other way.
George: You know I can't let that out.
Madeline: Fine. Then let's call it off. Goodbye, George.
(She puts on her sunglasses and starts walking away)
George: Madeline.
Scene 20: Section One/Mission
Birkoff: OK Greg. The unit should be directly in front of you.
Greg: Oooh-ahh. I got it.
(Nikita, dressed in office attire, passes something to Michael)
Greg: I got to ask myself Seymour…why did you have to bring me along
for this? Even you could have found this out.
Birkoff: Just do it.
Greg: It's done.
Birkoff: Michael, you've got entrance.
(Michael swipes a card, he and Nikita enter a secured area.
He shoots a guard and finds Brulois in his office)
Brulois: Hey, what are you doing? Hey easy Mac, easy, easy!
Michael: (injects him with something) Target secure.
Birkoff: Okay, let's go to post. Hillinger, go to B channel.
Greg: B channel? Well now that party's really starting.
Birkoff: All teams, exit. Incineration in 60 seconds.
(Michael leads a drugged Brulois from the building. A guard almost shoots
him but Nikita takes the guard out)
Birkoff: Comm is down. (Greg hears a piercing noise in his ear)
Greg: Ow! What was that?
Birkoff: Sorry, we were jammed.
Greg: Seymour, what are we timing?
Nikita: Greg! (pounds on door) Greg, if you can hear me, Greg, get out!
Greg: What? No! Nikita! I can't hear you!
Nikita: Greg, can you hear me? Get out!
Greg: What?
(Michael comes up, grabs Nikita by the arm)
Michael: We have to go. We HAVE to go.
Greg: I can't hear you! I can't! (The room blows up with Greg inside)
Scene 21: Section One, White Room. Brulois is restrained, Madeline
enters.
Madeline: You're a very lucky man, Mr. Brulois.
Brulois: Really. How do you figure that?
Madeline: You should be dead by now.
Brulois: In other words, you'll keep me alive 'til you get what you want.
Madeline: Actually we know what group you sold your intel to. I have a
much better offer for you.
Scene 22: A private airstrip. A Mercedes pulls up. George gets out, meets
Brulois.
Brulois: How ya doing?
George: Let's have it.
Brulois: Where's the key file?
George: Here. (Hands it to him; he inserts it into a device which turns
green)
Brulois: Great. That's for you. (Hands George a suitcase. George walks
over, opens the suitcase…is clearly shocked to see it full of money. An SUV
squeals in, suddenly operatives are everywhere)
George: What is this???
(The plane's ramp is lowered and Madeline gracefully exits, followed by
Operations)
Madeline: You've just committed high treason against the agencies and your
government.
George: Why are you doing this?
Operations: I want my people returned – all my files, and resources released
by the end of the day.
George: It's going to take a lot longer-
Operations: Excuse me, are you interrupting, George?
(Walks over to face him)
George: I'm sorry, please go on.
Operations: I want your resignation.
George: I beg your pardon?
Operations: Accompanied by your recommendation that I succeed you at
Oversight.
George: (icy) And what reason should I give for leaving?
Operations: Cite failing health.
(Madeline turns and goes to Brulois to get the key file)
Call me by your office first thing in the morning to approve the document
before you hand it over to the board.
George: IT will be done.
Operations: Good.
(He turns to go, leaving Madeline and George staring daggers at each other.
Neither blinks. Finally Madeline turns and follows Operations.)
Scene 23: Oversight. Operations enters.
George: Paul.
Operations: George.
George: So you knew we were watching you all this time?
Operations: Yes, we did.
George: It was quite a play. Two years, pretending to have a relationship
with Madeline, for the sole purpose of advertising a vulnerability that never
existed.
Operations: The document, George.
George: Just so I'm clear – there never was anything between the two of
you?
Operations: Not that it matters now – but no, there was never anything.
George: Adrian and I often spoke of it, marveled at it actually. Your almost
superhuman ability to detach yourself from feeling anything.
Operations: You're trying my patience, George. Let me see what you've
written up.
George: That's why I became suspicious a few months ago. Wanting
someone – needing someone. It wasn't your style. That's when I committed
to a course of action.
Operations: What are you saying?
George: (to an intercom) Send him in.
(Greg Hillinger enters, dressed like Michael)
Operations: Hillinger. Everything you did, was calculated. Even getting
Birkoff to put you in abeyance so you could escape.
George: Yes. He's got quite the makings, hasn't he Paul? Young Mr.
Hillinger proved his brilliance in extricating the Gemstone file. I now know
everything that happened with Adrian, your insatiable quest for power.
Operations: You have my motivation wrong. But yes, my power base is
considerable.
George: Yes, I know.
Operations: What do you want?
George: You know what I want. The key file.
Operations: You know I can't give you that.
George: So. Here we are. (they stare at each other, episode ends)
The End
