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507. Let No Man Put Asunder
Written by: Lawrence Hertzog
Directed by: Rene Bonniere
Guest Starring: Roy Dupuis
Transcribed by: Christine
VAN ACCESS
The steel door swings open. Two operatives, still in mission gear, carrying an injured operative on a gurney, followed by another operative and Nikita, exit Van Access into Section.
NIKITA: Get him to Medical. Contact Sudam. Get him to send us a support team to Tripoli by noon tomorrow.
A nurse has met the team. She leads the operatives down the hallway, while Nikita goes the opposite direction. She hurriedly enters Section’s main area, walking up to Comm, where Quinn stands.
NIKITA: Status?
QUINN: Two embassy bombings in North Africa, an airliner down over the Indian Ocean.
This intel is shown on an overhead monitor, which Quinn and Nikita look up at.
NIKITA: Collective?
QUINN: (nods) Other groups are surfacing as well.
Nikita thinks about this a moment, before quickly heading over to Munitions.
MUNITIONS
As she rounds the corner into Munitions, she’s pulling out her gun from her leg holster to return it to Walter. Her manner is tired, frazzled, and irritable.
NIKITA: Walter, where’s Operations?
WALTER: He’s not here.
She sets the gun down, walking over to where Walter stands working.
NIKITA: I need his input on Tripoli.
She looks harried and impatient, still in mission gear. Walter looks at her matter-of-factly.
WALTER: What you need is some rest.
She looks at him as if to say, “yeah right”.
NIKITA: We’re active in all Sectors, Walter.
WALTER: Look, just take a look at yourself.
Nikita shifts her weight from one foot to another, not wanting to hear his chastisement that she is wearing herself ragged.
WALTER: Get yourself some sleep, and then everything will be a lot clearer.
She looks at the floor, contemplating this, looking back up to him, then back to the floor.
NIKITA: Maybe you’re right. Tell Comm to hold all calls for… three hours.
She turns to leave, and Walter smiles, pleased that she has listened to his advice.
NIKITA’S QUARTERS
The sliding doors open, allowing Nikita access into her room. She walks in rubbing her hair tiredly. Clearly, she is exhausted. She walks over to her computer and taps at the keyboard, putting Comm on notice that she is resting. She then goes over to her bed and flops down on it, adjusting her neckroll, closing her eyes and yawning big. No sooner than she is settled and ready to give in to her exhaustion, her monitor beeps. With exasperation, she opens her eyes with an expression of “Now what!” and glances over to the monitor. She remains on her back, as if hoping it will go away, but the monitor continues to beep incessantly. She sighs heavily, and reluctantly swings to a sitting position, all the while watching the monitor. It continues to beep at her, and she stands up, yawning as she heads over to it.
Suddenly, Michael appears on the screen. His hair is longer but short in the front and combed back. Nikita stops in her tracks. Immediately, the Michael and Nikita music starts playing softly in the background.
NIKITA: Where are you?
MICHAEL: This channel will close in five seconds.
NIKITA: What do you want?
MICHAEL: Bring me back.
NIKITA: Back into Section?
MICHAEL: Yes.
NIKITA: But…
Just then the channel shuts down on her, and he is gone. Nikita stands, continuing to stare at the monitor, stunned.
CENTRE
Mr. Jones sits in his stark office behind his white desk. Nikita sits opposite him. She has obviously just told him that Michael wants to be brought back into Section.
MR. JONES: For weeks, he helped the Collective inflict unprecedented damage! And, now suddenly he wants to change sides!
Nikita sits calmly, her hair parted at the side and combed neatly back. She wears a two-piece brown suit.
NIKITA: Not suddenly. It’s been his plan from the start.
MR. JONES: So you keep saying. However, you are not the best judge, are you?
She doesn’t like what he has said, but she chooses to ignore it, though her voice now indicates her displeasure.
NIKITA: With the intel he would provide, we could strike back at the Collective. Maybe even destroy it.
MR. JONES: Assuming he’s telling the truth!
Nikita just looks at him. Mr. Jones stands up, leaning on his cane.
MR. JONES: Did he suggest a protocol?
NIKITA: No, he left it to us.
MR. JONES: (sarcastic) Ah, well… how very generous of him.
NIKITA: So, we would know that it’s not a trap.
Mr. Jones begins pacing, clearly thinking on whether he is going to go along with this idea.
NIKITA: Mr. Jones…
He doesn’t respond to her, continuing to keep his back to her.
NIKITA: Father!
Now he looks back to her.
NIKITA: Section is falling apart. Michael is throwing us a lifeline. Accepting it may be the only chance we have to survive.
He opens his mouth to speak, thinks better of it, and only sighs.
MICHAEL RETRIEVAL
It is daylight, and the Section Suburban drives down a street. Nikita sits in the passenger side. She wears sunglasses and a black headscarf covering her hair. The truck comes to a stop and operatives pile out. Nikita gets out last. She is wearing a full-length, black leather coat, which flares out like a skirt at the waist.
QUINN: (in Comm) Nikita, I have no signs of any transmission. I’m sweeping for anomalies.
Nikita walks toward a large church, glancing about her as she does.
NIKITA: Do a reverse filter as well.
QUINN: Acknowledged. Phase One complete.
NIKITA: Begin Phase Two.
She gets to the front doors of the large church and stops, looking behind her at the surrounding area.
QUINN: Reverse filters clean.
Now Nikita opens a door and enters the sanctuary. The interior is large, like a cathedral, with many rows of pews. The architecture is large and impressive, with high ceilings and stain-glass windows. Nikita walks up the center aisle slowly, removing her sunglasses and glancing about at all the possible hidden areas within the church.
She arrives at the front of the church and finds nobody or nothing. She glances around, looking behind her. It is then that Michael walks out from an area behind her. She hears his footsteps in the quiet sanctuary and slowly turns to face him, as he steadily moves closer to her. As he comes up to her, he takes his eyes off her to look about him, only to return his gaze to her face. They stand face to face, and Nikita looks at him as though she had never expected to see him again. They stare into each other’s eyes for a long moment.
NIKITA: You wanna do this?
Michael looks at every inch of her face, quietly studying her.
MICHAEL: I do.
They remain for a moment together, just looking at each other, before Nikita turns and leads the way out. As they walk down the aisle side by side, the Michael and Nikita music again plays in the background.
SECTION
Arriving in Section, Nikita has now removed her black headscarf and leads Michael into the Main Area. Quinn, in Comm, shifts her glance to see them enter, and when Walter spies them from Munitions, he walks up, his face alight with a pleased smile. Michael stops as Walter walks up.
WALTER: I thought I’d never see your face around here again.
Michael just looks at Walter with his quiet manner, but Walter is smiling broadly.
WALTER: How you been?
MICHAEL: We’ll see.
Walter nods, and heads back to Munitions. Michael turns to Nikita, whose manner is quiet. It’s as though they don’t know what to say to each other, and are both treading lightly.
NIKITA: Operations is gonna want to debrief. I’ll be waiting in Systems.
She walks offs, and Michael watches her leave with a sideways glance, before he looks up at the loft.
OPERATIONS' LOFT
Operations stands in the loft, with his back against a wall by the door. His expression is not one of pleasure, but clearly one of unhappiness. He looks tired and defeated. His hair not as groomed, his face pale with bitterness.
Michael walks in, looks about, and sees Operations standing against the wall. Operations remains against the wall, arms crossed, face forward and not bothering to look at Michael. Michael crosses his hands before him, patiently waiting for Operations to speak first. When he does, Operations’ voice is biting and bitter.
OPERATIONS: The prodigal returns. What do you want?
MICHAEL: I came to debrief.
Operations looks over to Michael for a moment, then away again.
OPERATIONS: Nikita sent you?
MICHAEL: Yes.
OPERATIONS: Must be a joke on her part.
He pushes from the wall, his arms still crossed, and faces Michael.
OPERATIONS: Things have changed. Mr. Jones has taken a more active role. By the way, the real Mr. Jones isn’t Mick Schtoppel after all.
MICHAEL: Who is he?
OPERATIONS: Nikita’s father. Did you know?
MICHAEL: No.
Operations smiles broadly and laughs. His manner so defeated and resigned. He sits on the edge of the counter, still laughing but with no real mirth.
OPERATIONS: I wonder.
Michael remains quietly rooted, not reacting at all.
OPERATIONS: No, you were… you were always smart. What could be smarter…
His voice becomes hard as he looks at Michael and finishes his sentence.
OPERATIONS: … than getting into bed with the boss’ daughter.
All this time, Michael has remained rooted in the same spot he took when he arrived. Throughout the conversation, his hands have been clasped before him, and his face unreadable as he’s watched Operations during their exchange. Michael ignores this last jab from Operations, showing no reaction.
MICHAEL: You want me to debrief?
Operations seems to think about this a moment.
OPERATIONS: You’d give me enough to be useful, but not too much, or you would lose your leverage.
Michael nods, his face impassive.
MICHAEL: Of course.
OPERATIONS: I’ve played the game too many times. It bores me. Jones and Nikita run things now. Go play with them.
He looks away from Michael dismissively, his manner tired and dejected. Michael steps back, and walks out, going down the stairs.
SYSTEMS
Mr. Jones and Nikita sit at a workstation opposite each other when Michael enters. Other operatives are in the area working also. Mr. Jones looks up as Michael enters, seeing him face to face for the first time. Michael takes a stand beside Nikita. She looks up at him.
NIKITA: Finished already?
MICHAEL: Yes.
Nikita looks over to her father.
NIKITA: Michael, this is Mr. Jones.
Michael looks over to Mr. Jones, who is studying Michael with a frown on his face.
NIKITA: Mr. Jones, Michael Samuelle.
MR. JONES: Can you give us a moment please?
NIKITA: Of course.
Nikita stands and exits the area.
MR. JONES: (loudly) Gentlemen, you may leave!
All the other operatives in the area stand from their workstations and file out. Michael takes Nikita’s just vacated chair and sits, his manner ever quiet, ever cool.
When everyone is gone, Mr. Jones looks at Michael, with an expression of “you go first”, except Michael just watches Jones quietly, saying nothing.
MR. JONES: I’m listening.
MICHAEL: There’s a conference tomorrow in Overset to discuss ties between the F.R.Y. and NATO.
Mr. Jones takes this news in and sighs. He stands, a slight smile on his face.
MR. JONES: Well, now… that is supposed to be top secret.
MICHAEL: The Collective plans to disrupt the conference, assassinate delegates.
Mr. Jones turns his back to Michael, as he contemplates this news.
MR. JONES: Well, that would set the region back… what?… twenty years?
MICHAEL: I know their plan. I can stop it.
Mr. Jones turns back to face Michael.
MR. JONES: What would it take?
MICHAEL: Myself. Nikita.
MR. JONES: And, should you succeed?
Michael now stands and looks across the table to Mr. Jones.
MICHAEL: First I succeed… then we negotiate.
Mr. Jones says nothing, but looks impressed at Michael’s coolness.
OPERATIONS' LOFT
We see an upward shot of Operations’ loft, then we see Operations pacing within it. From below, Quinn looks upward, while Operations looks out his loft window to the War Room below. He blacks out his window. As the camera pulls back, we see Quinn is seated at the conference table, as is Michael, Walter, and other operatives. The difference is: Nikita is now leading the briefing, instead of Operations. She activates the holo-screen, which shows a large building.
NIKITA: Cultural Center of the Novostad University. The meeting will take place in the main auditorium. The guests will arrive at the southern entrance. The Collective will infiltrate at these points.
The screen changes to show an interior grid of the Cultural Center. As she makes each case, she points to each one.
NIKITA: We will intercept here.
Michael is watching the holo-screen, with a quiet expression, as if he’s not really paying attention to her brief, though he is.
NIKITA: When we stop the primary team, they have a contingency.
WALTER: Which is?
Michael shifts his gaze to look at Walter on his right.
MICHAEL: What they call a Dark Team. Suicide bombing.
NIKITA: You’re panels are being uploaded. Michael and I leave in thirty minutes.
She activates the screen, and everyone stands and scatters.
GEAR ROOM
We see Nikita’s back as she puts on her mission gear.
NIKITA: There’s a new stop channel procedure, contingency two.
She stands in a dressing stall that has no doors. She looks over her shoulder to Michael, who is in another door-less stall, strapping on his Kevlar vest. He looks over to her. Their manner to this point has been one of all business, though the tension between them is thick, as they exchange quiet looks, neither knowing what the other is thinking.
MICHAEL: Yes, I saw it on the panel.
They hold a look a moment, then Nikita steps out of her dressing stall, putting on her jacket as she does so. Michael then steps out of his stall, also putting on his jacket. They are keeping their conversation business-like, though both clearly want to move past that.
MICHAEL: Standby team should be half a mile further north. Outside of sensor range.
Nikita’s back is to him, as she is loading up their gear. She turns and faces him.
NIKITA: I’ll take care of it.
He zips up his jacket.
NIKITA: Ready?
He steps up close to her, reaching behind her to grab a bag of gear, but his close proximity is clearly unnerving for her. He looks over to her, his face close to hers.
MICHAEL: Yes.
Nikita can’t take his nearness, and immediately steps away to move out. Michael holds his still position a moment, watching her leave, before moving to follow her.
CULTURAL CENTER MISSION
We see the front of the center and arriving vehicles pulling up to a red carpet area. Various delegates enter the front entrance.
In the Collective headquarters, Graff stands at the wall monitors watching the events unfold, while his black colleague sits at the laptop running their communications.
BLACK MAN: Primary team has gained access. Dark Team, standby.
On the monitor, we see the grid of the building, showing the locations of the Collective’s teams.
BLACK MAN: Device activated.
A countdown counter shows 5:00 on the screen.
BLACK MAN: Primary team, begin egress.
Now we see Michael and Nikita walking side by side as they make their way inside the building.
NIKITA: First Team on mark.
QUINN: (in Comm) Collective personnel on site.
They round a corner, look down a hallway, and see various guards already dead, taken out by the Collective team. They move down the hallway, hopping over the dead bodies. As they move further down the hallway, Michael takes the lead, running in his smooth, erect manner.
QUINN: Hostiles on approach.
Michael and Nikita stop, and press against a wall, waiting for the hostiles to approach them. As the hostiles get closer, Michael and Nikita step out into view and shoot all four of them down.
Back at the Collective, the black colleague seems to hear something off, and he calls to his team.
BLACK MAN: Primary Team, report.
There is no response.
GRAFF: Something wrong?
BLACK MAN: I don’t know. Primary Team, report.
The counter now reads 3:55.
BLACK MAN: Countdown’s proceeding normally. Perhaps there’s a temporary lapse in communication.
Back at the mission site, Michael opens a door and leads inside another area. They round another corner, careful to be on alert. As they come to each new area, they stop, and look down hallways before moving in. They come to an area that holds large electrical panels. Nikita moves over to them, followed by Michael. She places a device on one of the boxes, while Michael stands guard. A beep sounds on the device, and at the Collective headquarters, their monitors suddenly read: ABORT.
GRAFF: Alert Dark Team.
BLACK MAN: Dark Team, be advised primary device malfunctioned. Primary Team silent. Begin advancements.
Back a the mission site, we now see the Collective’s Dark Team advancing toward the area that Michael and Nikita have disabled. The men wear maniacal looks as they purposefully stride toward the area. One man carries a bomb detonator in his hand, while strapped to his body are explosives.
As they reach the area, Nikita slams the first man down, while Michael goes for the man holding the detonator. As they struggle wildly, Michael keeps hold of the detonator, so the man cannot release his hold and blow them all up. Nikita is left to deal with the other oncoming Collective men, who only carry guns, not explosives. As the Collective man with the bomb swings and struggles wildly against Michael, Michael never loses hold of the detonator. They fight each other crazily, Michael ducking away as the man swings a knife at Michael with his free hand. Michael manages to kick the guy behind the knees, then in the face, knocking him the ground and killing him. He pries the detonator from the man’s grasp, while Nikita covers the area, taking out an incoming hostile.
She then goes over to kneel beside Michael. While he holds the detonator, Nikita carefully unscrews a connection that leads to the explosives. When another hostile appears, Michael smoothly raises his gun and shoots the man down. Two more arrive at the scene, and Michael also takes them out, all the while kneeling and holding onto the detonator that Nikita is trying to disarm. When cord finally disconnects, the detonator beeps once then goes silent. Michael releases the Collective’s man hand, taking the detonator away from him, though the man is dead.
Back in the Collective headquarters, their monitors now read: FAILED.
BLACK MAN: Surveillance confirms – no detonation. Section knew our plans.
Graffs nods, accepting this.
BLACK MAN: Michael. Had to be.
GRAFF: Yes. It’s beginning to look as if you were right all along. Luckily we have a contingency - Michael’s son. You have been searching?
BLACK MAN: A boy somewhere on earth. Age unknown, no description available. It’s hopeless.
GRAFF: Section must know. We have to invade their system.
BLACK MAN: We’ve been trying for months.
GRAFF: Well, assign every available agent around the clock. Back trace, recombine, pattern scan. Sooner or later, we will penetrate!
SYSTEMS
Michael walks into Systems, where Mr. Jones sits at a workstation. He takes a stand across from where Mr. Jones sits, his hands folded before him. Mr. Jones looks up.
MR. JONES: The mission went very well.
MICHAEL: Yes.
MR. JONES: I’ve reviewed the additional intel you’ve provided on the Collective. Extremely useful. However, you neglected to give me certain pieces of important information.
Michael looks away, as he speaks.
MICHAEL: They’re available. At a price.
Now he looks back to Mr. Jones, who doesn’t respond but waits to hear the price.
MICHAEL: I have a son. Adam. Where is he?
MR. JONES: Yes, that’s available too, at a price. But, first I do have some rather sad news for you. The boy’s mother, Elena, is dead.
Michael shows no expression or reaction as he takes in this news.
MICHAEL: How?
Now Michael’s eyes look angry and untrusting as he listens to the rest of Mr. Jones news.
MR. JONES: It was a traffic accident. I know that in our line of business we tend to believe that there is no such thing as an accident, but there is, and this was one. Drunk driver. Luckily, Adam was at home.
Michael thinks about this.
MICHAEL: Afterwards?
MR. JONES: We placed him in a foster home.
Michael looks angry in his quiet way. He looks to the side when he speaks.
MICHAEL: How long has he been there?
MR. JONES: Several months now. I know you will want to go to him and raise him, as he should be raised by his father.
Michael now looks back to Mr. Jones.
MR. JONES: And, I am willing help, however, this is where the price comes in.
He pauses to let this sink into Michael.
MR. JONES: When you go, Nikita stays.
MICHAEL: That’s up to her.
MR. JONES: No, it’s up to me. Adam’s location is archived. Operations can retrieve it. I will give it to you, you will go to him, Nikita remains behind. Agreed?
MICHAEL: No. That’s Nikita’s choice.
Mr. Jones stands up, facing Michael directly.
MR. JONES: Well, suppose I don’t give her a choice?
MICHAEL: You won’t harm me, and you won’t keep me from Adam.
MR. JONES: Really? Why not?
MICHAEL: Because you’d lose Nikita forever, and you couldn’t live with that.
They stare down each other.
MICHAEL: I’ll expect Adam’s location by this evening.
Michael steps back, turns and walks out of the area, leaving Mr. Jones to stare after him and think on his words.
NIKITA’S QUARTERS
Nikita enters her quarters, unzipping her black sweater as she does so. She walks over to her bed, suddenly stopping her tracks. Slowly she turns and looks behind her. At the far wall, Michael stands, his hands behind his back. She turns slowly to face him, and across the expanse of the room, they look at each other for a long time, just holding each other’s gaze.
NIKITA: I lied.
Now Michael begins to slowly advance toward her, dropping his hands to his side, and never taking his eyes from her face as he comes closer and closer to her. When his face is mere inches from hers, his eyes study her face hungrily.
MICHAEL: I know.
Soft music begins to play as he reaches his left hand to take her right hand in his. With his right hand, he reaches up and touches her hair at her temple, all the while his eyes scan over her face, as though he’s re-memorizing it. She is still, and just lets him touch her. Now he drops her hand, and uses both hands to touch her face, smoothing her hair behind her ears, caressing her cheeks, dropping his touch to her neck, running his fingers over her right eyebrow. She closes her eyes, surrendering to his touch. His fingertips draw a line to her lips, and he passes them over her lips softly. His eyes never leave her face. He touches her neck at the sides, leaning closer and closer by small degrees to her lips, until their lips meet. He pulls back, only to move in to her lips again and again.
We next see them on her bed. Nikita is on the bottom, Michael lies on top of her. She is sort of reclining, not flat on her back. They kiss, and it’s evident that they are naked and have just made love. Michael looks at her a long moment, then lays his head down on her chest. Nikita holds him to her tightly with both hands, one hand on his back, one cupping his head. Nikita’s manner is almost as if she cannot believe they are together, and if she breathes, he’ll disappear. While he contentedly lies on top of her, she strokes his back tenderly.
RESTAURANT
Michael and Nikita sit at a table in a restaurant on an upper level of the establishment. It is daylight, and the Michael and Nikita music plays in the background. A waitress serves them cups of coffee.
NIKITA: Thank you.
The waitress moves off.
Michael takes Nikita’s hand in both of his, and brings it to his lips, kissing her hand softly. He cannot get enough of her.
MICHAEL: Come with me.
Their faces are close as they gaze lovingly into each other’s eyes. Their emotions are palpable, their love evident.
NIKITA: I could never replace Elena in Adam’s eyes, Michael.
MICHAEL: Don’t try. Be yourself.
He kisses her hand again. She smiles.
NIKITA: A white picket fence?
He smiles at her.
NIKITA: A minivan?
She smiles broadly, chuckling at the thought of normalcy, and thinking of it in real terms.
NIKITA: A cocker spaniel?
She laughs. Michael smiles, but it’s exactly what he wants for them.
MICHAEL: Why not?
He studies her hand, while Nikita just looks at his face. He looks up at her.
MICHAEL: We could even have children of our own.
These words are almost painful for both of them. They both look sad, the impossibility of a normal life beating out their dreams of a life together. Michael continues to caress her hand. When Nikita speaks, her words come out haltingly.
NIKITA: I fear I’ve lost the courage for our dream, Michael.
Now he leans in closer to her. His face just inches from her, as he peers deeply into her eyes.
MICHAEL: It’s no dream.
Nikita looks into his eyes sadly, wanting desperately to believe him.
MICHAEL: We’ll make it work.
He leans his face into hers, foreheads touching. They close their eyes. They are so in love. Nikita pulls back an inch to look into his eyes, and touch his face. Michael kisses her forehead, then leans his forehead against hers again. It’s a sad, poignant moment, both of them in love and afraid to dream of happiness, yet daring to anyway.
SYSTEMS
Operations sits at a computer working, when Quinn walks in. She takes a stand beside him. His manner toward her is immediately untrusting and cold.
OPERATIONS: (hatefully) What do you want?
QUINN: I thought you might need some help…
OPERATIONS: (cutting her off) I don’t!
QUINN: I heard you were looking for Michael’s son. It’s archived. It can be a real pain. Two would speed things up.
She moves closer to him, placing an arm across his shoulders, resting her hand.
QUINN: About what happened…
OPERATIONS: It wasn’t personal, you felt bad, but you were just following orders. Does that sum it up?
His manner is gruff, distant and angry. She drops her touch from him, taking a chair next him and pulling it closer.
QUINN: I enjoyed it. I enjoyed you.
He looks over at her, frowning, but she smiles.
QUINN: I still do.
OPERATIONS: Then, you’re a fool. I’m just an errand boy now.
He turns back to his monitor, continuing to work, but Quinn remains where she is.
QUINN: Where’s Michael and Nikita?
OPERATIONS: Out shopping for a bedroom set, I suppose. How should I know?
QUINN: Doesn’t that strike you as odd? She’s Level Six. She should be on call at all times.
OPERATIONS: Daddy’s little girl does what she wants.
QUINN: And, what does daddy’s little girl want most?
OPERATIONS: Michael. She has him now.
QUINN: (nods) Mmhmm. And, soon they’ll have Adam. What will happen then?
Operations looks over at her, following her train of thought.
OPERATIONS: Jones will never allow it.
QUINN: You’re wrong. I know him better than you do. He’s rack with guilt as it is. If she makes it a choice between killing her and letting her go with Michael, he’ll let her go. And then… who will Jones turn to? Who will he put in power? You. There’s no one else.
Operations has been listening to her intently all this time. Now he laughs, and looks over to her.
OPERATIONS: And, you’ll be right by my side, hm?
QUINN: I’ve never denied I enjoy power, but is there any reason why power and pleasure can’t come together?
He looks over to her.
QUINN: Would you like some help or not?
Meanwhile…
At Collective headquarters, they are busily trying to break into Section’s files to locate Adam. A disk is placed in a laptop drive.
BLACK MAN: The lab has developed a new way to pattern scan Section’s firewalls.
The black colleague and Graff look at the laptop.
BLACK MAN: With back trace noise, you get this…
The monitor shows a snowy screen.
BLACK MAN: Their Z key functions are over-biased. Always. We adjusted our RGP.
GRAFF: Will that be enough to get us in?
BLACK MAN: Let’s find out.
The monitor shows them trying to get in, running into a firewall, which the black colleague surpasses, gaining partial access.
BLACK MAN: We’re in.
Suddenly, Section archives show on the monitor. A long list.
GRAFF: Archives. That sounds promising. Carry on.
Back in Systems…
Operations and Quinn sit side by side looking through archived files in order to find Adam’s location.
OPERATIONS: Here we go.
The monitor shows a map and location.
OPERATIONS: Adam isn’t too far from here actually.
QUINN: The sooner Michael picks him up, the better for us.
Operations continues to keep working, though he has found the location already. Quinn frowns.
QUINN: What’s wrong?
OPERATIONS: Is there another archive request active?
Quinn quickly types at her keyboard.
QUINN: No, why?
OPERATIONS: Someone else is in.
QUINN: Who!
OPERATIONS: Someone from the outside. They’re targeting the same data sector. The Collective. It has to be. Contact Nikita.
Quinn types at her keyboard.
QUINN: She’s not responding. If the Collective gets Adam…
Operations stands.
OPERATIONS: The best available operatives. Quickly.
She begins searching her computer for Section’s best operatives.
QUINN: Sato and LeBeck.
OPERATIONS: Have them meet me in Transport in five minutes.
He quickly walks off, while Quinn frowns, displeased with this course of action he has decided on.
ADAM RETRIEVAL
It’s a cold and rainy, Fall day outside, but Adam plays with a remote-controlled car in a park, while a woman who is watching him, plays with him. The car is erratically moving over the grass, crashing into things.
WOMAN: All right, okay, I’ve got it. Did you see that, Adam?
She is operating the remote car, and not very well. They are laughing and enjoying themselves. Adam stands beside her, and reaches up to take the controls from her.
WOMAN: Hey!
His face is alight with fun and happiness, as he takes his turn operating the remote toy.
It’s raining lightly out.
WOMAN: Adam, time to go home. It’s too cold!
But, Adam has the little remote racing away in a straight line away from them.
WOMAN: Oh look!
They realize that the car is malfunctioning and racing on its own, so Adam hands the controls up to the woman, and takes off after the car. He comes to a corner and before he rounds it, he looks back for his foster mother, but she is no longer standing there. He looks around for her, but decides to go after his car anyway. He runs down a ramp that leads into an underground garage, chasing the remote care, which is leading him into the garage.
Inside the garage, he tries to grab the car, but it is racing in circles erratically. Adam continues to follow it, stopping suddenly when he encounters a man who holds a remote control that is controlling the car. The car stops before the man, and Adam bends down to pick it up. He looks up at the man questioningly.
MAN: Hello, Adam.
Just then, a Section Suburban barrels into the garage, slamming through a security point, in a rush to get to Adam.
Adam realizes he is in danger and immediately bolts from the man, who chases after him.
Operations jumps out of the Suburban, along with the other two operatives, and taking a position behind a concrete column, he shoots down the man chasing after Adam. The man falls beside Adam, who is young enough that he doesn’t fully comprehend the situation.
OPERATIONS: Adam!
Adam looks over to Operations, but doesn’t know to trust him, so he remains rooted.
OPERATIONS: Adam, listen to me. Go to the pole behind you.
Adam just looks around him, not knowing what to do. Nearby, two cars start and their headlights flick on. Operations knows the Collective has them surrounded.
OPERATIONS: Adam!
Collective men begin firing toward Operations and the two operatives, but Adam just stands where he is, watching the exchange. Operations looks at his two operatives.
OPERATIONS: Set a double point. Go!
He covers for them, as they rush out into the open to take different positions.
OPERATIONS: Sato, are you in position?
SATO: Affirmative.
OPERATIONS: LeBeck?
LEBECK: Affirmative.
Knowing that he is now covered by his men, Operations leaves the safety of the column he had been hiding behind and runs to get closer to Adam.
OPERATIONS: Adam! Go behind the pillar.
Adam is wide eyed, but is getting a sense that Operations is a good guy. Still, he refuses to move.
The operatives exchange several rounds of gunfire with the Collective men, and both Section operatives are killed. Operations is now on his own. He runs to get even closer to Adam.
OPERATIONS: Adam, listen to me.
He smiles at the young boy.
OPERATIONS: Listen to me. My name is Paul. I’m a friend of your father. I came to help.
Now Adam begins to slowly step closer to Operations, but he still isn’t sure.
OPERATIONS: A little closer. C’mon, that’s good. Don’t be afraid. That’s it. That’s good.
Adam continues to slowly walk closer to Operations. But Operations now comes out of his hiding place and steps out into the open to get Adam. The moment he does, the black Collective colleague steps out from behind a pillar and shoots down Operations. Operations falls, landing beside Adam. Now Adam realizes sure danger, and he tries to run away, but another Collective man rushes up to grab him. Operations is still alive, but cannot get up. He reaches his gun out and shoots down the Collective man before he can get to Adam.
The black Collective colleague now steps out, pointing his gun at Operations. He scoops up Adam, while Operations lies helpless and bleeding from the mouth. Another Collective agent runs up and collects Adam, taking him away.
Now the black Collective colleague advances toward Operations with a sneer on his face. When he gets closer to Operations, he steps on Operations’ hand, which still holds a gun. As Operations lies helpless, the Collective man shoots Operations in the chest, killing him.
VAN ACCESS
Michael and Nikita stand in the elevator that leads into Van Access. Their manner is loving and intimate, as they trade looks. The elevator doors open, and as they head into the access tunnel, the far door opens, where Mr. Jones is waiting for them. Michael stops before Mr. Jones. Nikita stands at his side.
MR. JONES: Hello. I have disturbing news. The Collective found Adam’s location. Operations tried to intervene. He was killed.
There is no reaction from Michael and Nikita.
MICHAEL: And, Adam?
MR. JONES: Taken.
Hearing this, Michael just walks away, heading into Section. Nikita remains at the Van Access area with her father. She is dazed by the news, and when she looks at her father, she appears untrusting and angry.
OPERATIONS' LOFT
We see a shot of the loft. It appears empty. Certainly Operations will never stand within it again. Quinn walks in and sighs sadly. She notices movement inside and walks closer. She takes a seat on the edge of the counter. We see that at the far wall beneath the counter, Walter is sitting cross-legged, drinking a bottle of whiskey. Neither of them speak for a long time, and Walter is clearly grief-stricken.
WALTER: What are you doing here?
QUINN: I rather liked him.
WALTER: Not the majority view.
She nods.
QUINN: And, you?
WALTER: I hated him. And, I feared him. And, I respected and admired him. I save his life once. Did he ever mention that?
QUINN: No.
WALTER: No?
She now moves to sit beside Walter on the floor, her knees drawn to her chest. Walter has clearly been drinking a lot. His words are somewhat slurred, and he’s talking too much.
WALTER: It was a long time ago. He didn’t even thank me. But, over the years he had reason to have me cancelled many times, but he always looked the other way. But, then again, he did things to me that …
He stops suddenly as though he just realized that he’s talking too much.
WALTER: I guess in the end, we both came out about even.
He takes another sip of the whiskey. Quinn nods in understanding. He hands the bottle of whiskey to her and she takes a sip, grimacing at the potency.
VAN ACCESS
Michael rounds a corner and strides purposefully down the corridor toward Van Access. He slows when he sees Nikita waiting at the door. She is upset and can barely face him. Michael’s manner is also pained and quiet. When he speaks, his voice is low.
MICHAEL: I have to go.
NIKITA: You’ve contacted the Collective, they’ve told you what they want?
MICHAEL: I know what they want.
She does too, and she closes her eyes.
NIKITA: They’ll kill you.
MICHAEL: If I don’t go, they’ll kill Adam.
NIKITA: (pleading) They’ll kill him anyway.
MICHAEL: Maybe not. He’s too young to understand what he saw. He can’t hurt them.
Nikita looks at him, wide-eyed and on the verge of tears.
NIKITA: I’m coming with you.
MICHAEL: It would serve no purpose.
NIKITA: We go together.
He looks at her for a long moment, then shakes his head, rejecting her suggestion, because she is telling him that if he dies, she wants to die with him.
MICHAEL: No.
Nikita bows her head.
MICHAEL: If they let Adam go, find him. Take care of him.
Nikita is on the verge of tears, and Michael’s face frowns with emotion. He closes his eyes, as she reaches up to caress his face. Tears fall from her eyes as she glances lovingly into his face. When her thumb runs over his lips, his turns his kiss into the palm of her hand, taking her hand in his and kissing it. She never takes her gaze from him, as her tears wash down her cheeks. When he looks at her for maybe the last time, his face is pained by the sadness of it all.
MICHAEL: Goodbye, Nikita.
He goes to move off, but she retains hold of his hand, bringing it to her lips, until the last moment that she has to let it and him go. The doors close behind him, and she stands sadly where she’s been rooted the whole time.
COLLECTIVE HEADQUARTERS
Michael enters the Collective’s headquarters, walking down the lighted, arched tunnel, wearing a long, mocha-colored overcoat. He is ushered in by the black Collective colleague and several agents. He strides up to Graff, who sits waiting for him.
MICHAEL: Where’s Adam?
Now Graff stands, gesturing for Michael to follow. They go to a different area of the building, where prisoners are kept in empty concrete cells. They come to a plain, dirty brown door with a square window in it, but Michael doesn’t immediately go it.
MICHAEL: Can he see me?
GRAFF: No.
Satisfied that Adam won’t see him and be alarmed, Michael steps closer to the windowed door. He sees his son sitting on the cold, concrete floor, alone. Adam drums his fingers against his hand. It’s heartbreaking to see his innocent son. Michael frowns slightly seeing him alone and vulnerable.
GRAFF: You have quite a reputation, Michael. Some say you’re the best operative alive. Do you think that’s true?
Michael has been looking at Adam all this time. Now he turns to face Graff.
MICHAEL: (nods) Yes.
GRAFF: Well, I like your confidence. You’ll need it for the job that I have in mind. You thought we’d just interrogate and then kill you, didn’t you? We have a little more imagination than that. We have intel concerning a man very high up in your organization. Goes by the name of Jones. Do you know him?
Michael has been listening carefully while Graff has spoken. His face has held a quiet-like pain since the moment he saw Adam. When he speaks, his voice is soft.
MICHAEL: (nods) Yes.
GRAFF: You bring me Jones, or your son dies. You have three days. Good luck.
Graff walks off, leaving two guards to watch Michael. Michael looks back to see his son, and it’s clear that sight of his boy being held like this is tortuous for Michael. He frowns slightly, reaching up to touch the glass that separates him from Adam.
The End.
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