401. Getting Out Of Reverse

Scene Nine - Section One - Committee Room.

Operations is on the phone with George, pacing. Madeline is seated, watching him.

Operations: Quite frankly, it doesn't make sense to me, George. We got to Kerensky before there was exposure. Yes. All right, fine.

Madeline: There's a problem?

Operations: He thinks the embassy was being used - that there was no alliance with the target group.

Madeline: Who cares - the mission was successful.

Operations: He won't listen. I could do so much more if he were out of the picture.

Madeline: We tried. For the time being, we have to comply.

(There's a beep)

Operations: Yes?

Voice: Nikita's waiting.

Operations: Send her in. (Nikita enters)

Nikita: Yes, sir?

Operations: We were pleased with your clarity in yesterday's mission.

Nikita: Thank you.

Madeline: How does it feel to be back in Section?

Nikita: I feel good. Ready. (Her affect is very flat here)

Madeline: And your interaction with others?

Nikita: They seem to expect more than I care to give.

Madeline: And what do you think that might be?

Nikita: The emotional component. Like we talked about, with Michael.

Madeline: Yes. It's unnecessary for us, but they need it.

Nikita: Hmmm. Well, I could smile more.

Operations smiles.

Madeline: Begin with Walter.

Nikita leaves. Operations looks at Madeline, smiles and kind of lifts his eyebrows like "this is too good to be true".

Scene Ten - Section One, Munitions.

Walter is working, Nikita approaches, he doesn't see her at first and jumps.

Walter: Oh, jeez, (laughs) you scared the devil out of me.

Nikita: I'm sorry. (big smile) I just came by to say hello.

Walter: You did?

Nikita: I wanted to apologize for yesterday, after the briefing - I didn't have time to talk.

Walter: Yeah, well what was all that about?

Nikita: Well, you know I haven't been out for a while and they're watching me pretty closely. I don't want to mess up.

Walter: If you ask me, you're going a little too far out of your way to please them.

Nikita: What do you mean?

Walter: Yesterday, you took out half an embassy.

Nikita: I know. It was horrible.

Walter: Oh, no, it was a tough call.

Nikita: I know.

Walter: Hey, hey, hey…(he hugs her) Come here. It's okay, Sugar…it's okay.

Nikita: Thanks, Walter.

Walter: Any time.

Nikita: Everything okay with you?

Walter: Me? I can't complain. Building bombs, chasing girls. You know me.

Nikita: (strangely distant) Yeah. I know you.

Scene Eleven - Section One - Walkway.

Birkoff leaves a panel for Michael, Michael picks it up, walks down the hallway.

Scene Twelve - City Street, night.

Michael is driving along in a nice black Mercedes listening to Birkoff's report.

Birkoff: Michael, you were right. The irregularities in Nikita's eye movement suggested neural engineering. Four years ago, Operations approved a research proposal based on the work of a neuro-biologist called Ross Gelman. I don't know if Gelman's methods were used on Nikita. If they were, I'd look for someone who's been close to her. Not just at Section, but at home. The process requires maintenance.

Michael does a U-turn and takes off like a bat out of hell.

Scene Thirteen - Nikita's apartment.

Michael shows up; Mick opens the door.

Mick: Michael, what a pleasant surprise.

Michael decks him, Mick goes down.

Mick: Michael, lovely to see you. Would you like to go to my place for a drink?

Mick gets up; Michael shoves him again.

Mick: You know I've got a problem with guns. Do you mind?

Michael: What are you doing to Nikita?

Mick: Me? To Nikita? Do you think I've been rogering her? Michael, Michael! Absolutely not, no, no, you've got it all wrong. Not that I didn't try of course. Before I found out about the two of you.

Mick: I'm watering her plants. They do look a bit thirsty. Maybe I was slacking off.

Michael puts the gun to the underside of Mick's jaw.

Michael: Bye, Mick.

Mick: Wait, wait - I'll show you! Slowly, very slowly. (He pulls out a vial) Don't ask me what it is.

Michael: What do you do with it?

Mick: I just splash a few drops on the floor.

Michael: Why?

Mick: You know the old saw, Michael. You tell me, we'll both know.

Michael: Who at Section asked you to do this?

Mick: I haven't a clue. It was done anonymously. Look mate, I like Nikita. This hasn't exactly been my favorite detail. She's changed. It's got something to do with that. But you know they didn't exactly give me a choice. (Michael, vial in hand, starts to leave) Michael, if you take that, they will find out and blame me.

Michael: That's possible.

Scene Fourteen - Section One - Hallway.

Yet another surreptitious meeting between Michael and Birkoff. Jeez, I'm starting to think there's something going on there…*snicker*

Michael: Did you find Gelman?

Birkoff: He hasn't surfaced since he went rogue. Four missions have already gone out for his retrieval.

Michael: Why?

Birkoff: I think he took some technology with him. He's monitoring our channels, that's how he sees us coming every time.

Michael: What's our estimated return on this mission?

Birkoff: Tomorrow, three P.M.

Michael: Make it six. He owes me for St. Petersburg, if I can find him.

Birkoff: What do I say?

Michael: I'll let you know on site.

Scene Fifteen - Section One, Main Floor.

Operations: Birkoff! I've been looking all over for you, you're supposed to be on five.

Birkoff: I was, but I had to come back here to run a diagnostic.

Operations: Stockholm just gave us a positive on the group responsible for the kidnapping. We'll go tomorrow as planned. Tell Michael to assemble his team.

Birkoff: Yes, sir.

Scene Sixteen - Section One, Munitions.

(Michael strides up to Walter)

Walter: Michael.

Michael: A multi-channel transmitted with a confidential broadcast band.

Walter: I didn't see that in the profile.

Michael: It wasn't. Walter: (Hands it to him) Here you go. Reach out and touch someone.

Scene Seventeen - Section One - Training area.

Nikita is sparring with a male op. Operations walks in, watches for a while. Nikita gets the better of the other man, they bow to each other and conclude the "match". Operations walks away, seemingly pleased.

Scene Eighteen - Section One - Hallway.

Operations enters; Madeline is working on a computer.

Operations: Birkoff's working on a location.

Madeline: Good. We need to take care of this soon. Have you heard from George?

Operations: Indirectly. They're still monitoring this one closer than I'd like.

Madeline: At least it keeps his attention away from other things.

Operations: Yes. I just saw Nikita. (They start walking together) I have to say, she show no sign of weakness. Your methods continue to amaze me.

Madeline: I wish I were as optimistic.

Operations: What do you mean?

Madeline: We had success with our original subject, but remember, that was a controlled situation. For someone on the outside, there are variables beyond our control.

Operations: That's true. But so far, she seems to be behaving exactly as planned.

Madeline: Nikita is an excellent actor. We can't forget that.

Operations: A few days ago, I might have shared your concern. But now I don't think even Michael can touch her.

Madeline tilts her head and nods like she thinks he might be right.

Scene Nineteen - Section One - Main Floor.

Nikita walks in with some serious CFMP's on and a slinky black skirt and sleeveless top. She goes up to Walter.

Walter: Hey! My sugar.

Nikita: One of these days, I'm going to figure out how someone so sweet can be so…smart.

Walter: Don't kid yourself. I'm not that sweet.

(Michael comes up behind; Nikita walks away)

Walter: Seems fine. Same old Nikita.

Scene Twenty - The Mission - City street

Michael and several ops converging on one side, Nikita and several ops on the other. Great music playing, everybody in black. A car door opens and a man steps out of a black Lincoln. The shootout begins. Michael dives for cover behind a VW Rabbit as a man exits the car with an automatic weapon and starts blasting.

Michael: Nikita, hold.

Nikita: I can get him.

Michael: Hold. Wait for instructions.

The original target runs down the street, runs into a building, with Michael in hot pursuit. They run down a hallway, with the bad guy throwing obstacles in Michael's way that don't impede him a bit. Michael knocks him down and then picks him up and throws him in a closet.

Michael: Birkoff, target escaped. I'm pursuing.

Birkoff: All right. I'll monitor. (pause, now he's clearly speaking only to Michael) Michael, you have one hour to get to Gelman.

(Nikita's watching though - she saw what really happened.)

Scene Twenty One - Outdoor courtyard.

Michael meets up with Gelman.

Gelman: Sorry I'm late. I was just making sure the perimeter was clean.

Michael: I told you I was coming alone.

Gelman: And you're a man of your word. It's just that I've been doing this for quite a while. It's become a habit. (Flash to a sniper assembling a gun) I wouldn't do this for anyone else. I owe you for St. Petersburg. So tell me, what's this about.

Michael: You did research on mind control. Segregating certain parts of the brain.

Gelman: What about it?

Michael: Does it work?

Gelman: I don't know. They never tested it outside the lab.

Michael: Yes they did.

Gelman: On who?

Michael: Three months ago they subjected someone on my team. Is it reversible?

Gelman: Yes. (The sniper gets Gelman in his sights)

Michael: Do you have the process?

Gelman: No.

Michael: Who does?

Gelman: It's in Section.

Michael: Where?

Gelman: There's only one copy of the program. It's in the computer, in the lab with the original test subject.

Michael: Who was the original test subject?

Gelman: If I tell you that, you are a dead man.

Michael: I want to know.

Gelman leans over, whispers to Michael.

Michael: That's why you left.

Gelman: Wouldn't you?

Gelman is shot, drops soundlessly. Michael sits him down on a bench as if he has nodded off.

Scene Twenty-Two - Section One, Egress Area

The team is coming back in. Michael stops to talk to Operations; Nikita watches from a distance.

Operations: What was the problem?

Michael: No problem. He ran away and I tracked him down.

Operations: He should have been contained in the first place.

Nikita turns, walks past Michael without looking at him.

Scene Twenty-Three - Section One, Committee Room

Nikita: Michael's lying. There was no escape. He created a scenario to give himself time.

Madeline: Yes.

Nikita: He's trying to find out what's been done to me.

Madeline: Is he making progress?

Nikita: I think so.

Madeline: Why do you think he's doing this?

Nikita: Because he loves me.

Madeline: Yes, he does.

Operations: That'll be all Nikita. (Nikita leaves)

Madeline: With Nikita's corroboration, we can convince Oversight that Michael's gone too far.

Operations: (picks up the phone) Get me George.

Scene Twenty-Four - Section One - Main Floor.

Three ops of which Davenport is in the lead, head purposefully through Section.

Birkoff: Hey Walter - what's going on?

Walter: I don't know, but it looks bad, amigo.

Birkoff: They're going after Michael.

Davenport: (pausing outside of Michael's office) Sir, we're here, requesting final confirmation.

Operations: (pauses for a moment, as if thinking it over one last time) Kill him. (They walk into Michael's office and shoot. It's not Michael. It's a hologram.)

Davenport: Sir, we have a problem.

Tag: City Street, Night.

Nikita walks alone, down the street. If you watch closely, you will see Susan2 and Anniegt standing on the sidewalk as she walks past! Woo hoo ladies! OK back to our regularly scheduled transcript. Nikita continues to walk down the sidewalk. Michael watches from a distance.

The End