Teaser – Nikita sits alone in her garden wearing only a long sweater, drinking coffee. She appears to be thinking about something serious. She then gets up and goes back inside, where Michael is lying in her bed.

Nikita: Good morning.

Michael: Good morning.

Nikita: It feels strange. We’re really together now.

Michael: If we want to be.

Nikita: Well…I want to be.

Michael: So do I.

Nikita: Section won’t like it. What do you think they’ll do?

Michael: (sits up, brushes her hair back from her face) We’ll have to see. (he starts kissing her neck)

Scene Two: Section One – Hallway. Michael does the Mikey strut down the hall into Madeline’s office. Operations and Madeline are inside; Madeline seated, Operations standing next to her.

Operations: Michael. As you’re aware, the situation in the Balkans is deteriorating. Recent intel suggests links with certain developments in the Middle East. In short, the global situation is critical. Center has asked me to provide a field perspective.

Michael: Congratulations.

Operations: It’s only on a temporary basis, but thank you. It’s unclear how long I’ll be gone but in the meantime, someone has to run Section.

Michael: Of course.

Operations: Madeline is very capable, but she feels, and I agree, that her strongest role lies in providing objective counsel to the person in charge. You. You’ve run the shop on occasion, for several hours at a time, but this time it’s different. There’ll be a formal change of command. You’ll have full operational authority; in the event of a crisis, I won’t be available.

Michael: I understand.

Operations: The only pending matter of import is the Luigi Bergomi mission. You’re familiar with the parameters?

Michael: The safe house in Odessa.

Operations: George has been obsessed with Bergomi for some time, but the truth is, we’re not ready. Bergomi’s too powerful. Still, we have to throw Oversight a bone. So run the Odessa mission, then pull back.

Michael: No follow up.

Operations: That’s right. Minimize losses, then move on to other things. If we push harder, we risk disaster. In another year, things might be different, but not now. Come. Walk with me. (They leave; Madeline looks concerned, suspicious) Madeline can get you up to speed on everything else. Her advice is invaluable, but the final decision is yours. Mistakes are inevitable; don’t let them bother you. Learn and move on. (He removes a silver chain from his neck and hands it to Michael) You have command.

Michael: I have command (puts it on; Operations walks out with two other ops. Birkoff, Walter, Nikita watch the proceedings.)

Scene Three – Operations Loft. Madeline stands there, overlooking Section. Michael walks up and stands next to her.

Madeline: You’re familiar with current mission status. Any concerns?

Michael: No.

Madeline: There’s only one other short term issue. Your successor. Now that you’re here, who replaces you?

Michael: Nikita.

Madeline: Wallace is senior.

Michael: Nikita is more qualified.

Madeline: It’s not that simple. Your relationship with Nikita has recently entered a new stage. Given that fact, choosing Nikita might be viewed as favoritism. On the other hand, if she’s perceived as more qualified, and you don’t promote her, it might be viewed as weakness. Perhaps you should review the Odessa profile before you decide.

Michael: Yes, I will.

Madeline: Is there anything else?

Michael: No.

Madeline: You know where to find me. (She leaves)

Scene Four – Section One – War Room

Michael: Luigi Bergomi. Supposedly an international currency trader. In fact, he launders money for embargoed nations and uses the proceeds to fund terrorism. Our ultimate goal is to eliminate him along with his entire network.

Birkoff: The mission will focus on this safe house in Odessa. Bergomi isn’t there personally but we hope to receive enough intel to trace him.

Michael: Wallace, you’ll be team leader. Nikita, you’ll take over my responsibilities.

Wallace: Why her? I’m senior by two years.

Michael: She’s more qualified.

Wallace: For what? She should be leading the team; I should take over for you.

Michael: You do as your told. Keep your opinions to yourself. (Wallace gets up, stalks away) You’ll rotate through the secondary departments, starting with DRV.

Nikita: So you’re taking me out of the field?

Michael: For the time being. I want you to have a broader perspective.

Nikita: I suppose I should do as I’m told. Keep my opinions to myself.

Michael: In Section, yes.

Nikita: Okay.

Scene Five – DRV Area – Nikita comes downstairs and meets up with Mintz.

Mintz: Nikita? Mintz. (shakes her hand) You’re taking Michael’s place.

Nikita: That’s the idea.

Mintz: Big shoes but I’m sure you can fill them or else he wouldn’t have picked you. Now I’ve got great respect for the field but this, right here where you’re standing, this is the center of the spiderweb.

Nikita: Really.

Mintz: Section’s about missions, missions are about intel, and where does intel come from? Data retrieval and verification. Here’s your station, go on and sit down. Comfortable? Good, because you’re going to be here for a while. Now this baby analyzes intel from all over the world particularly in bits per second. Keep your eyes glued to the screen. Now the green lines mean no problem, red means program’s detected a possible anomaly. Hit F1 for details, if it looks serious, flag it.

Nikita: Flag it?

Mintz: Hit transmit. That sends it to level two, where they’ll take a closer look at it. You got it?

Nikita: How long am I doing this for?

Mintz: The usual shift is twelve hours; since you’re new, shave it to ten.

Nikita: Thanks.

Mintz: Good luck, good hunting. (He leaves)

Scene Six: DRV Area. Nikita hears a message on the intercom.

Voice: The Odessa mission’s complete; the team’s at van access.
(She gets up and goes to van access. The ops come in, and walk by her without looking at her or talking to her.)

Nikita: Everything okay?

(She gets no answer and goes to Comm)

Nikita: Hey Birkoff.

Birkoff: Hey. What have you been up to?

Nikita: Stint in DLV.

Birkoff: I’m surprised you could stand the excitement.

Nikita: Odessa team just came back. They wouldn’t talk to me.

Birkoff: That’s right you haven’t heard. You’ve been staring at a monitor all day.

Nikita: What?

Birkoff: Wallace is dead. Configuration was screwed. Most of the risk was put on point to spare the rest of the team. That’s the way it played out; Wallace went down.

Nikita: So the others blame me?

Birkoff: Some of them think Michael put Wallace where you should have been.

Nikita: What do you think?

Birkoff: It’s not like you’re not qualified for the assignment he gave you.

Nikita: But he was aware of the profile.

Birkoff: Had to be.

Nikita: If he did it to protect me, it’s not right.

Birkoff: There’s no right or wrong anymore with Michael, Nikita. He’s the new Operations. He can do whatever he wants.

Scene Seven – Section One – Systems. Madeline walks in and Michael’s sitting there.

Michael: The last three Asian debriefs were unsatisfactory.

Madeline: Yes. The success rate is deceiving.

Michael: Put Venchek in abeyance.

Madeline: All right. Michael, something has come up. Oversight has called a meeting.

Michael: It wasn’t scheduled.

Madeline: A special session. Eight o’clock tonight.

Michael: Stated purpose?

Madeline: To discuss inter-sectional cooperation and recent developments in the Sudan.

Michael: Actual purpose?

Madeline: In my judgment, at least in part to size you up. George in particular will be interested to see you perform.

Michael: He’ll try to take advantage of the fact that I’m new to the job. Tell me about him.

Madeline: How much do you know?

Michael: He and Adrian started Section.

Madeline: All the Sections, actually. Go on.

Michael: He’s brilliant, ruthless, highly connected but not infallible. He’s been fooled at least once, about Adrian’s death. He’ll push me on Bergomi.

Madeline: He’ll push, bully, seduce, deceive…anything to get his way. Operations never let George push him across the line. Neither can you.

Scene Eight – Operations Loft. Michael is there, Nikita enters

Nikita: Michael, I have to talk to you about something. Wallace’s death on the Odessa mission. You must have known the profile was skewed.

Michael: Yes.

Nikita: I don’t want special treatment?

Michael: Would you prefer to be dead? (Cathy in: Go Michael! Sheesh try to do the girl a favor she bites your head off.)

Nikita: So it’s true – you promoted me to keep me off the mission?

Michael: I promoted you because you’re qualified and I need someone in that position I can trust.

Nikita: But if you treat me differently, that’s unfair to the others and to me.

Michael: What do you want?

Nikita: Whether I take your place or not, I want to be back on the field.

Michael: All right.

Nikita: Thank you. I haven’t officially congratulated you, so I’ll do it now. Congratulations.

Michael: Thank you.

Nikita: How’s life at the top?

Michael: I have a lot to learn.

Nikita: I’ll let you get back to work then.

Michael: Nikita? (He darkens the loft, approaches her and they kiss)

Scene Nine – Oversight - Meeting. Two Section chiefs are battling it out as the others watch.

Mendoza: This demands Sectional cooperation.

Butler: Then why deny our request to exchange data?

Mendoza: Because your unit leaks like a sieve.

Butler: That’s not true.

Mendoza: One word – Libya.

Butler: That wasn’t our fault.

George: That’s enough. Michael, an opinion?

Michael: Sectional cooperation would be a mistake. It requires trust, and there’s none.

Mendoza: That’s why we’re here, to build trust.

Michael: If it hasn’t happened in thirty years, it won’t happen tonight.

Butler: So we go our separate ways? Bounce off each other in the dark?

Michael: We create a layered matrix. Central source, single access – data shared through a predetermined grid.

Mendoza: Who has time to synthesize the results?

Michael: We do. Give us your inputs Friday, we’ll have the system up in a week.

Butler: You’re dreaming.

George: If you have a better idea, let’s hear it. Anybody else? Right. Get your inputs to Section One by Friday. Next item, Sudan.

Scene Ten – Section One – Munitions. Nikita is sitting with Walter, waiting for Michael.

Walter: It’s late. You should be getting home, Sugar.

Nikita: I’m not that tired.

Walter: Oversight meetings can drag on. He may be out all night.

Nikita: Did you know Operations before he was, well, Operations?

Walter: Yeah, I knew him.

Nikita: What was he like?

Walter: Pretty much the same as he is now.

Nikita: He didn’t change after he took over Section?

Walter: You’re worried about Michael.

Nikita: I’m not sure. He just seems a bit different.

Walter: Power can do that, even for a man as strong as Michael. But maybe his need for power is part of his strength.

Nikita: You think he needs power?

Walter: I don’t see him turning it down.

Nikita: He didn’t have a choice.

Walter: It’s not like he won’t be enjoying it either. The question is, will you?

Nikita: We’ll make it work.

Walter: My advice to you is to let off some steam sometime. Yell at him, get it out of your system. Meanwhile - (he realizes she’s sleeping, puts his coat over her) Meanwhile get some sleep.

Scene 11 – Oversight Meeting

George: NATO wants a complete report in fifteen days. I want them to think they’re getting one – understood? All right gentlemen, madam, until the next time. Michael, stay a minute. (The rest leave) You know, controlling the world is easy. What’s difficult is controlling them. How are things in Section One?

Michael: We’re maintaining our success rate.

George: Yes, I’ve seen the numbers.

Michael: Asia was a problem. I’ve taken steps to correct it.

George: And what about Luigi Bergomi?

Michael: We’re getting closer.

George: The Odessa mission was a placebo, wasn’t it? In fact, Section has no real intention of going after him. Am I right?

Michael: We’re doing what we can.

George: There are refugee camps overflowing with people displaced by terrorist activities that Bergomi supports. Thousands of people are dying from sickness and malnutrition. 20% of them are children under the age of ten. This has to stop.

Michael: I understand.

George: Do you? Or are Madeline’s words still ringing in your ears? I can imagine what she told you. “Be strong! Don’t let George push you too hard”. Let’s look past the words to the motive. Operations and Madeline are like Siamese twins. They bicker, they squabble, but they never separate. It wouldn’t look good if you achieved something they couldn’t so they don’t want you to try. They don’t think Bergomi can be taken. I do. What do you think?

Michael: I’ll review it again.

George: Good. Meanwhile, keep this in mind. Operations won’t decide who replaces him or when it happens. Oversight will. And we want Bergomi. Quickly.

Scene Twelve – Section One – Hallway. Nikita walks and meets Michael.

Michael: Good morning.

Nikita: Hey. You should have woken me last night.

Michael: You looked like you needed rest. Check your panel, I’ve made some changes.

Nikita: Bergomi’s now special priority?

Michael: I want you to take charge of it personally.

Nikita: All right. The intel on the Odessa mission’s too weak. We’ll have to send out another net.

Michael: There’s no time. Work the Odessa intel.

Nikita: Then we’re going to have to reallocate resources. I hope that won’t leave the other missions too thin.

Michael: They’ll be fine.

Nikita: I was just making a comment.

Michael: Check with Mintz, he was on it this morning.

Nikita: All right.

Michael: Nikita. Don’t discuss this with Madeline. (Nikita nods)

Scene Thirteen – DRV Area. Nikita and Mintz.

Mintz: Well, I really think some of the other missions are going to go hungry.

Nikita: Michael says they won’t.

Mintz: Well, it’s his show if he wants to push that hard on Bergomi. You know normally I’d coordinate with Birkoff but of course he’s working on the layered Matrix.

Nikita: We’ll go with whatever you have.

Mintz: Well, we’ve traced one of Bergomi’s associates. If we can get him, we can get the location of Bergomi’s base.

Nikita: Good.

Mintz: Maybe not so good. We have to get him without Bergomi knowing.

Nikita: Otherwise he’ll move the base.

Mintz: Or hit us right between the eyes when we come up against it. He’s got the resources to do it.

Nikita: So we need a clean pick. Will that be hard?

Mintz: It might be hard in the time that Michael’s given us.

Nikita: All right. What have you got?

Mintz: Albert LeMaye. Deals with Bergomi often, travels with bodyguards, we have to eliminate all of them.

Nikita: Do we know where he is?

Mintz: The mission’s being profiled. Quick and dirty, but that’s about the best we can do.

Nikita: Thanks.

Mintz: Nikita? What’s Madeline think about this?

Nikita: Well that doesn’t matter, we should just do what Michael wants.

Mintz: Of course. (He picks up a phone, calls)

Madeline: Yes, Mintz, what is it?

Mintz: We need to talk.

Scene Fourteen – Operations Loft. Madeline stalks in, NOT amused.

Madeline: Another mission against Bergomi is being profiled.

Michael: That’s right.

Madeline: Why wasn’t I told?

Michael: You have enough on your plate already.

Madeline: May I offer some input?

Michael: By all means.

Madeline: Cancel the mission, it’s premature.

Michael: Thank you, I’ll take it under advisement.

Madeline: George got to you at the meeting. This is what I warned you about. Pushing too hard.

Michael: I’ll decide what’s too hard.

Madeline: What approach did he use? Starving children? That I’m protecting Operations? (Cathy in: Well, you are, but what’s wrong with that? Michael’s protecting Nikita!) “Those two are like Siamese twins”. That’s been his favorite line for years.

Michael: Maybe because it’s true.

Madeline: What do you want? A promotion? More power? All you have to do is wait, it will come.

Michael: That’s for Oversight to decide.

Madeline: You’re being used. If this missions, George won’t take the blame. You will.

Michael: It won’t fail.

Madeline: Operations is at Center. I didn’t want to have to bring him into this, but you don’t leave me much choice.

Michael: I wouldn’t advise it.

Madeline: There are people at Center who’d be very interested in this.

Michael: And George would be very interested in the truth about Adrian.

Madeline: Michael, I’m asking you to reconsider. You’re putting Section at risk.

Michael: The mission will proceed as planned. Go back to work.

Scene Fifteen – Mission. Nikita dressed as a dock worker, listening to Birkoff on her comm set.

Birkoff: Nikita. LeMaye’s in a brown BMW, heading south on Waterfront. He’s in the back seat, behind the driver.

Nikita: Yeah, I got it.

Birkoff: He’s got three bodyguards with him. Remember, everyone, we need LeMaye alive.

(A truck crashes the Beemer, stopping it. Operatives shoot, LeMaye gets out of the car)

Voice: We got LeMaye.

Nikita: Marcy, get down! (The other operative gets shot) I’ve got him. Hey! (Nikita chases a bodyguard down the waterfront area as they shoot at each other. Finally she shoots him and he falls into the water.)

Scene Sixteen – Section One, Van Access. Nikita returns and Michael pretty much pounces on her the second she’s in the door. He stands on a catwalk above her.

Michael: What about the guard?

Nikita: He was hit, but I don’t know how badly. We still haven’t recovered the body.

Michael: Why is he loose?

Nikita: A gun jammed. There was no satellite coverage.

Michael: Any other excuses?

Nikita: No.

Michael: LeMaye will give us the location. Start planning the assault.

Nikita: There’s a significant chance that the bodyguard survived. If he did, Bergomi may trace the attack back to us.

Michael: Or he may not.

Nikita: We should at least do a decent risk assessment.

Michael: No, delay only increases the risk. I want a full debrief on this mission and a preliminary profile of the assault. You have two hours. (He leaves)

Scene Seventeen – Section One, Systems. Madeline walks in; Nikita is working at a terminal.

Madeline: You look tired.

Nikita: What do you want?

Madeline: I want to know whether Michael is planning an assault.

Nikita: Ask Michael.

Madeline: I’m asking you. May I see the profile?

Nikita: Mintz is one of your sources, isn’t he? Check with him.

Madeline: Mintz is no longer with us.

Nikita: Why?

Madeline: Ask Michael. (Nikita’s obviously shaken by this) He wants to impress Oversight but he won’t succeed. The assault will be a bloodbath.

Nikita: Operations has ordered his share.

Madeline: This one will fail. And failure will destroy Michael’s career. Persuade him to cancel.

Nikita: You overestimate my influence.

Madeline: Then sabotage the mission. Those are your two choices. And if you really care about him, you’ll do one or the other.

Scene Eighteen – Section One – Operations Loft. Michael goes to a terminal; Nikita comes in.

Nikita: Here’s the profile.

Michael: I’ll get to it in a minute.

Nikita: So, Mintz is no longer in DRV?

Michael: No, he’s not.

Nikita: Did you have him cancelled?

Michael: Demoted to a sub station. He broke protocol.

Nikita: There’s been an intel update. Bergomi’s shown some activity since the attack. Birkoff thinks there’s a 60% chance he knows we’re coming.

Michael: Increase density. Add backup.

Nikita: Even so Michael, we’ll sustain heavy losses. And our chances of getting Bergomi out are no more than fifty percent.

Michael: 60%, 50, they’re just numbers. We’ll get him.

Nikita: I think we should abort.

Michael: I expected betrayal from Mintz, not from you.

Nikita: What kind of loyalty do you want? Blind obedience or my honest opinion?

Michael: Don’t fail me, Nikita. You’re the only person in the world I trust.

Scene Nineteen – Section One – War Room.

Michael: Bergomi’s operational headquarters. It’s heavily secured, but it can be taken, and it will be.

Birkoff: The two story structure at the center of the complex houses a hard drive with all his master files. We get that drive, we can shut down his whole operation.

Nikita: And Bergomi himself?

Birkoff: We’ll have him within a few days at most.

Michael: There are four assault teams and one backup. Team leaders will report to Nikita who will be in touch with me at all times. Questions?

Nikita: Do they know we’re coming?

Michael: Our latest intel is inconclusive. The profile covers both possibilities. Good luck.

Scene Twenty – The Mission. Outside Bergomi’s compound; Nikita’s in the mission van.

Nikita: We’ll use a staggered sweep. 100 meter legs. Alpha team, take the lead. (Operatives rush in)

Voice: Teams one and four, on mark.

Nikita: They might be holding back. Watch the gaps. (Shooting begins) We’ve got contact. All teams forward.

Birkoff: (back at Section) Here they come, in force.

Nikita: Backup team, engage.

Michael: Nikita, report.

Nikita: We can hold for five minutes, maybe ten.

Michael: Birkoff, bring up the ingress routes.

Birkoff: Blue and green are closed off. Red is marginal.

Michael: Nikita, go right.

Nikita: It’s closed.

Michael: Birkoff says it’s marginal.

Nikita: I’ve got a full angle. It’s closed.

Michael: Send in a team. Two people.

Nikita: Michael, it’s hopeless. Pull out or you’ll lose everyone.

Michael: Pick your best two. Send them now.

Nikita: I can’t tell them to commit suicide.

Michael: That’s an order.

Nikita: I won’t. (She dashes from the van; goes herself)

Birkoff: She’s going herself.

(Nikita goes in; down an elevator; drops a bomb which blows up. She enters, shoots one of Bergomi’s men, runs down a hallway shooting to the computer room.)

Nikita: We have the drive. All units move out, I repeat, move out.

(Back at Section, Michael takes off his ear bud, drops it on the table)

Scene Twenty One – Section One – Van Access. Nikita returns from the mission with the drive. She hands it to him.

Michael: Thank you.

Nikita: Seven dead, more will die from injuries. A third of the upcoming missions shut down due to lack of resources. Was it worth it?

Michael: Yes.

Nikita: Why?

Michael: This is Section. Missions are carried out, people die. And sometimes the reasons are not always clear.

Nikita: Are you saying there’s more to this than I know?

Michael: I’m saying the discussion’s over.

Nikita: I don’t know who you are.

Michael: I’m who I’ve always been.

Nikita: Good night, Michael. (She walks away)

Scene Twenty-Two: Section One - Operations Loft. Michael walks in, stop short when he sees Operations.

Operations: Madeline didn’t tell you I was back?

Michael: No.

Operations: (smiles) She likes surprises.

Michael: Your work went well.

Operations: Yes. When I left, I asked just one thing of you. You didn’t do it. Why?

Michael: Is there an answer that would satisfy you?

Operations: Not really.

Michael: Then why ask?

Operations: I withdraw the question. George is very impressed with you. He can’t stop talking about the mission.

Michael: It was possible after all.

Operations: Yes, I suppose it was. You took a big chance, choosing sides so blatantly.

Michael: I wasn’t trying to choose sides.

Operations: The fact remains, if something happens to George, you’re in trouble.

Michael: And if something happens to you – even if your performance slips a bit – I may be in charge of Section.

Operations: Was that a statement or a threat?

Michael: Was yours?

Operations: I believe you have something that belongs to me.

(Michael hands back the silver chain)

Michael: You have command.

Operations: I have command. (emphatically) (Michael leaves, Madeline enters)

Operations: We misjudged him very badly.

Madeline: I never thought he could be so reckless.

Operations: There’s another possibility. He’s just better than we are. (they both smile)

Madeline: He’s good. He and Nikita together are quite good. Fortunately even the best have weaknesses.

(Operations nods. Cut to Nikita, at a terminal below…Michael walks by, looks at her…she gives him a look, pained…he walks away)

THE END