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406. Love, Honor, and Cherish
Originally aired in the U.S. February 27, 2000
Directed by Terry Ingram
Written by Lawrence Hertzog
Edited by Richard Wells
Dialogue transcribed by Cathy
COMM
BIRKOFF: Hey, Michael
MICHAEL: Is Camsat 12 in position for downstream retrieval?
BIRKOFF: Yes, but it’s a military bird. If I access without priority clearance…
MICHAEL: Put it up.
BIRKOFF: The coordinates?
MICHAEL: Six degrees south, twenty-two N, forty eight L, on axis.
Five point azimuth.
Nikita’s transceiver?
HELMUT: …ad with this, he demanded that I attend university or be sent forthwith to the gallows. You’ll get to know my father and you’ll find that he’s the kind of man who needs to ensure that his litter is appropriately papered.
NIKITA: So you didn’t go?
HELMUT: God, no, no, no, no. He had achieved great wealth. He’d already laid the groundwork for me, and thus his eldest son was spared the rigors of higher education.
NIKITA: What was his reaction to you not going?
HELMUT: I believe I discovered a new blood vessel, right about here. Is everything all right? No doubts? Missing Freddie? Choosing money over the man.
NIKITA: Such a choice of words. No, no doubts.
HELMUT: Oh, you’re such a lovely liar. Welcome home, Mrs. Volker.
BIRKOFF: You sure you want to see this, Michael?
Michael is gone.
WAR ROOM
OPERATIONS: Eric Kalstrom is Red Cell’s leading strategist. We’ve been trying to extract him unsuccessfully for the last two years.
BIRKOFF: He’s been code-tagged but they’ve been able to block transmissions by restricting his exposure.
OPERATIONS: As you know, we expect Helmut Volker to become a key player in Red Cell’s Arsenal. Our intel suggests that Kalstrom might eventually risk exposure to make contact with him. When he does, I want him.
VOLKER MANSION
NIKITA: It’s very nice to meet you sir.
WOLFGANG: Very pretty. Enough so that I would expect you could have done better. Or perhaps whatever damages your insight doesn’t show on the outside.
HELMUT: I have a long history of family nurturing and support.
WOLFGANG: You’ve taken a great deal more than you’ve given!
HELMUT: The white sheep of the family – my baby brother, Kristof – my new bride, Anna.
NIKITA: Hello, I’ve heard a lot about you.
KRISTOF: Helmut tends to exaggerate my good points. Welcome aboard the good ship Volker. I’m sure you’ll find it interesting.
NIKITA: I already am, thank you.
WOLFGANG: No, no! Kristof--
WOLFGANG: Helmut cares for no one and nothing. Not a bad quality when it comes to looking over the business. Whereas Kristof looks over me.
NIKITA: Having just spent three weeks with him, I believe there’s more to your oldest son than meets the eye.
WOLFGANG: I’ve had a great deal more time to think about that than you, my dear.
Wolfgang leaves the room.
KRISTOF: Father tends to get a bit cranky when his oxygen runs low. Why don’t I change the canister and then maybe you’ll give me the chance to show you where some of the bodies are buried around here?
NIKITA: I’d like that.
Kristof exits.
HELMUT: Well, not exactly the family that inspires holiday greeting cards.
NIKITA: Your brother seems very nice.
HELMUT: An oft-repeated phrase.
NIKITA: You like him. I can see that.
HELMUT: Of course. But I don’t envy him. The role of the good son is a far more difficult one to live up to.
NIKITA: And yet your father is leaving the business to you?
HELMUT: Old world. Tradition and all that. Besides, this is where you come into the picture. Our marriage is supposed to legitimize me -- turn me into a man of honor and responsibility.
NIKITA: Seems to be working.
Kristof returns.
KRISTOF: Ready.
HELMUT: Good. Well, I have some calls to make. Enjoy the tour. Oh, and brother, just because I used to share my recordings and trading cards with you, please, don’t take absolutely everything for granted.
NIKITA: (to Helmut) Don’t be long.
COMM
BIRKOFF: I’ve got a number. I’m running location now.
REINHARDT: This is Reinhardt.
HELMUT: Yes, it’s me. Are we set for the meeting?
REINHARDT: There are still some issues regarding the Hague conference. We’ll set it up for later in the week.
HELMUT: You’ll let me know?
REINHARDT: I’ll get back to you.
BIRKOFF: They’re scrambling. I’m having trouble getting a lock.
OPERATIONS’ PERCH
OPERATIONS: I’ve just reviewed the post-mission statement on Malaguay.
MICHAEL: We had 100% containment.
OPERATIONS: Yes. I’m aware of that. Your numbers are extremely high, Michael. That concerns me.
MICHAEL: Why?
OPERATIONS: Given Nikita’s current assignment, we expected a roll-off. At least during the early part of her mission.
MICHAEL: Perhaps it’s your numbers that should concern you.
OPERATIONS: That may be. In the meantime, if you’re harboring any thoughts about separating Nikita from her assignment, you’d better get them out of your head.
MICHAEL: Is that all?
OPERATIONS: I expect it will be.
VOLKER ESTATE
HELMUT: To someone far more beautiful than I deserve.
NIKITA: To not underestimating yourself. You seem to have gone on a diet lately.
HELMUT: How so?
NIKITA: Since we left for Argentina, it’s been strictly wine and champagne.
HELMUT: I entertain a wide variety of friends. What I do to keep up appearances when they’re around doesn’t dictate what I do in private.
NIKITA: Seeing as how I’m your supplier, that could put me out of business.
HELMUT: I’m expecting that it will. Look, Anna, we both know what this marriage is and isn’t about. But I hope you’ll forgive me if our relationship isn’t always entirely professional.
NIKITA: Meaning what?
HELMUT: You have so much now. Selling drugs, and even more so, using them -- is it really necessary?
NIKITA: What’s your concern? That it’s the wrong impression?
HELMUT: You’re a beautiful woman with a lifetime ahead of you. Perhaps I’m not the only one given to underestimating myself. It’s getting late. I’ll close up and then, I’ll see you upstairs.
Several men attack Helmut.
NIKITA: Helmut?
HELMUT: Stay upstairs!
NIKITA: Who are you?
VOLKER ESTATE
MAN 1: I’m clearing this out here.
MAN 2: We’re trying, sir.
NIKITA: Are you going to tell me what’s going on?
HELMUT: Yes. I’m sorry, but I needed clearance first. I’m a special
agent. I work for
Interpol.
NIKITA: How long have you been doing this?
HELMUT: Since the time father expected me to go to University. Interpol knew that his business had been targeted by a number of terrorist groups, and given the choices they handed me, I decided to go for them.
NIKITA: What choices?
HELMUT: Put on the tent and pony show. The rich kid moving in the fast lane. Let the bad guys move against me, or risk letting them take on my father. Maybe even kill him.
NIKITA: So your father and Kristof know nothing about this?
HELMUT: No. Kristof was too young at the time, and besides, one of us had to be free to make good in my father’s eyes.
NIKITA: And these men, do you know who they are?
HELMUT: No. But we’ll run prints and forensics and know more in a few days. I suspect a kidnapping attempt. It wouldn’t be the first time.
NIKITA: And me?
HELMUT: They told me if I was to maintain my cover, I had to go through with it. For my superiors you were useful: the right time, the right woman.
NIKITA: I see. All in the line of work.
HELMUT: Yeah, well, it might have started that way --
NIKITA: And now they trust you to tell me all this?
HELMUT: Anna, my unit is Interpol’s top priority. Indeed it would have been difficult to conceal in the long run. But you don’t know them -- you don’t know how hard they can be on people who don’t play by their rules.
NIKITA: And the arms you sold them?
HELMUT: There’s a peace conference scheduled for the Hague. As far as we know, that’s the terrorists’ intended target. They’ll bring out their biggest guns and when they do -- we’ll be there.
NIKITA: You know your father despises you for what you pretend to be and still-
HELMUT: I love my father. If this is what it takes to protect him, and Kristof, then this is the price I must pay.
VOLKER ESTATE
NIKITA: Interpol removed the bodies before I could get anything. I’m sorry, but a fingerprint’s the best I can do for now. I’ve got some other genetic material, but to risk contact --
OPERATIONS: We’ve already confirmed with Interpol. Everything he told you checks out.
NIKITA: How did we miss it?
OPERATIONS: He’s got a level one assist. Not even in their database. We had to go inside to confirm.
NIKITA: So what do we do now? I mean, under the circumstances, there’s really no need --
OPERATIONS: You’ll hold and maintain your current assignment. If there’s still a chance to apprehend Kalstrom --
NIKITA: And Interpol?
OPERATIONS: Until I can be sure our interests don’t conflict, nothing has changed.
BIRKOFF: I’ve got a match. If it was a kidnapping attempt, it wasn’t random. The print belongs to Claude Perrault: Red Cell.
NIKITA: Red Cell? That doesn’t track. They’re in business together.
OPERATIONS: We’ll handle this on our end. Michael will handle it.
NIKITA: But --
WHITE ROOM
MICHAEL: I can call them back. It’s your choice.
RED CELL AGENT: No. No more.
MICHAEL: Two men from your substation attacked Helmut Volker. Why?
RED CELL AGENT: Orders.
MICHAEL: From who?
RED CELL AGENT: Command.
Michael presses the laceration on the man’s cheek.
RED CELL AGENT: We found a new channel to purchase weapons. Higher grade arms at a cheaper price. Taking out Volker was part of the seller’s demands.
MICHAEL: Who was the seller?
RED CELL AGENT: Kristof Volker. His brother.
VOLKER ESTATE
NIKITA: Everything all right?
HELMUT: Yeah, it’s just the normal business hassles.
NIKITA: Seems like more than that.
HELMUT: What, three weeks of marriage and you already know when I’m lying to you?
NIKITA: You made me part of this. Talk to me.
HELMUT: They want a meeting.
NIKITA: You were expecting that.
HELMUT: But they want to talk to me first.
NIKITA: About what?
HELMUT: That’s what concerns me. Why risk a face to face meeting just to set up another?
NIKITA: Well, you’re important to them. Why would they lie to you?
HELMUT: It’s in their nature. You’re probably right, it’s nothing. Besides, I still don’t have a definite date on the Hague plan. Hopefully I’ll know more after we’ve met.
NIKITA: When’s the meeting?
HELMUT: Tonight. I’ll be a little late. So, you’re uh -- not feeling the urge to run away then?
NIKITA: Run? Maybe. Away? No.
Helmut leaves.
NIKITA: Yes.
VOLKWERKS INDUSTRIES
KRISTOF: And make sure you get that paperwork on national defense or Helmut will have my skull. Call me as soon as it’s in. I’ll be back in two hours. (to driver) Peretti’s.
Davenport is driving.
VOLKER ESTATE
NIKITA: Michael. What are you doing here?
MICHAEL: We’ve confirmed that Kristof contracted privately with Red Cell. He was behind the attack.
NIKITA: Kristoff. But if --
MICHAEL: It’s been dealt with.
NIKITA: Kristof’s been dealt with.
MICHAEL: Yes.
NIKITA: But not Red Cell. It’s getting late, I’m going to have to let him know before this meeting. There’s not -- there’s not a lot of time. You should go.
PLAZA
NIKITA: Excuse me. I’m afraid I’m a little bit lost. Maybe you could help me find my way?
Nikita kills two men.
NIKITA: This is Nikita. We’ll need housekeeping.
VOLKER ESTATE
HELMUT: I’ve set up the next meeting, with a man named Eric Kalstrom. My guess is he’s the brains behind it all. Probably here to give a green light to the attack. It was so sweet of you to wait up. And at least my suspicions about tonight were unfounded. It went off without a hitch.
NIKITA: I’m so glad.
HELMUT: Thank you.
The phone rings.
NIKITA: Hello? Just a moment.
HELMUT: Yeah?
NIKITA: What is it? What’s the matter?
HELMUT: My brother. There’s been a robbery. He’s dead!
VOLKER ESTATE
WOLFGANG: Thank you.
HELMUT: Would you excuse me? (to his father) Can you spare a moment?
WOLFGANG: What is there to say?
HELMUT: That I share your feeling too, and I’m so sorry.
WOLFGANG: You’re sorry. For Kristof’s passing? For what it means for a man to lose his son?
HELMUT: You know I loved Kristof too! If only it could have been me.
WOLFGANG: Under the circumstances, an easy sentiment.
HELMUT: I love you, father.
WOLFGANG: You love yourself, Helmut! So much so that I strongly doubt you have any capacity for anyone else!
VOLKER ESTATE
NIKITA: You all right?
HELMUT: They stole money. 30 years of life…for a few dollars. At that price, mine could be had for pocket change.
NIKITA: No, that’s not true. You’re a good man.
HELMUT: Yeah, but isn’t goodness in the eyes of the beholder? And who, besides you, could begin to behold such a thing?
NIKITA: You. That’s all you have, Helmut. That’s the best any of us can ever get. We live with ourselves and we die with ourselves and the choices that we make. What other people think…
HELMUT: So, what, we live in isolation, alone, without contact, without love? Could you do such a thing?
NIKITA: I have.
HELMUT: Always?
NIKITA: I don’t know. I think if you live without something long enough…you may not recognize it if it happens to find you.
HELMUT: Freddie loves you. Something in the way he looked at you. And God knows – maybe in this wretched life I’ve chosen, maybe I do too.
HELMUT’S OFFICE
HELMUT: Yeah, I’m expecting this call. Put it through. Yeah, it’s me. What time? Tomorrow morning. I’ll be there.
Elsewhere on the estate.
NIKITA: Red Cell’s made contact with Helmut. They’re planning to hit the Hague tomorrow, right after the morning session’s begun. Should I run a covert backup?
OPERATIONS: No. Interpol will have to handle this on their own. There will be no further contact until you hear from me.
OPERATIONS’ PERCH
OPERATIONS: I’ve just finished studying Madeline’s report. There’s a high percentage that Kalstrom will go back into hiding if there’s any sign of trouble.
MICHAEL: The Hague attack.
OPERATIONS: They expect a successful strike. If for any reason that doesn’t happen -- if Interpol shows their hand in this -- we lose our chance at him.
MICHAEL: Then they must succeed.
OPERATIONS: We have an operative inside Interpol. Get me David Harbert at Interpol now.
VOLKER ESTATE
HELMUT: No, I don’t understand, sir. Do I have a choice? Yes, sir. They’re going to let it go down. Interpol is fully prepared to let these people attack the Hague. Do you know how many of the innocent will die?
NIKITA: How? When did they decide?
HELMUT: I don’t know. For the greater good, they said! What the hell good could come from this?
NIKITA: Well they must have something in mind if they said they had their reasons --
HELMUT: What? Don’t you think the group that intends to attack this building also said they have a reason too? Or is it just a matter of whose rationalization it is? Is that what everything is about? Numbers, calculations? Risking so many lives to save so many lives. Well, I did not agree to work with them to take lives. Only to save them.
NIKITA: You’re not taking them.
HELMUT: I sold them the weapons manufactured by my family. What do you call that?
NIKITA: There’s nothing you can do
HELMUT: You mean, there’s nothing they expect me to do. But to follow orders, be their perfect soldier.
NIKITA: I know how you feel.
HELMUT: How could you possibly? Great moral issues come up often when you were selling heroin? Listen, please. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. You’ve become so precious to me. You’re all I have in the world. The end…will never justify the means, no matter what they say. I won’t let this happen.
VOLKER ESTATE
NIKITA: Even if you do manage to stop this, they’ll know. There’s no coming back.
HELMUT: I know. One thing I don’t want is to put you at any risk. There’s a passbook here with some checks and the key to my safety deposit box. And this is just in case. Now, when I leave here, I want you to pack some things, and get as far away as possible.
NIKITA: Helmut, even if you succeed…it never ends. You can’t fix everything.
HELMUT: It’s been my experience I’ve never fixed anything. I have to do this, Anna. I’m not sure I can make you understand.
NIKITA: I understand. It’s just – alone, with no support – Helmut --
HELMUT: You said you understand. This is more support than I could have hoped for. Promise me, you’ll take care of yourself.
NIKITA: And you. Take care of yourself.
HELMUT: I love you.
COMM
MICHAEL: Contact Nikita.
BIRKOFF: Um, we’re not scheduled to.
MICHAEL: Nikita? There is no answer.
VOLKER ESTATE
MICHAEL: The location’s clear.
OPERATIONS: Is Nikita there?
MICHAEL: No.
OPERATIONS: Activate the Hague team.
THE HAGUE
Helmut searches for the bomb.
OPERATIVE 1: Birkoff, we’ve acquired the target. We’re moving in.
Helmut and a second operative exchange fire.
OPERATIVE 1: One operative’s down. (to Volker) Move away from the detonator!
HELMUT: You hit the detonator, we’re all dead!
Nikita arrives and assaults the Section operatives.
HELMUT: Who are you?
NIKITA: Someone who doesn’t want to die in the basement. Hurry up. Hurry up!
HELMUT: They’ve bypassed the manual override.
NIKITA: Do you know what you’re doing?
HELMUT: Well, I’ve studied the plans of course. Christ, if I short it out --
NIKITA: You know what you’re doing?
HELMUT: There’s one. You got me covered? (with tweezers, he removes parts of the bomb) Success.
NIKITA: See? Simple as that.
HELMUT: Yeah, right. This detonator was set over an hour ago.
NIKITA: The people who tried to stop you today are not the people who planned the attack.
Nikita shoots the Section Operations.
HELMUT: Who were they?
NIKITA: People who believe that the ends justifies the means.
HELMUT: Interpol?
NIKITA: Does it matter? You’ve crossed them. They’ll kill you.
HELMUT: Well, then we have to leave.
NIKITA: You do.
HELMUT: What?
NIKITA: Everything you need’s here including your safety deposit box key.
HELMUT: Anna --
NIKITA: Helmut, there’s no time to talk. The people that are coming after you are good. More ruthless. More determined than you could ever imagine. Even this – they’ll see through it soon enough. But if you’re as good as I think you are, you’ll make it.
HELMUT: All right, Anna. But if everything you say is true, then what about you?
NIKITA: You got a gun?
HELMUT: Yes.
NIKITA: Take it out. Just take it out. Shoulder, upper arm. Use it.
HELMUT: This is insane.
NIKITA: Crazy world, Helmut. Just do it. If you care about my life, you’ll do it. It’s the only way.
Helmut shoots her in the arm.
HELMUT: You’re risking your life for me. Why?
NIKITA: Just go!
Michael arrives and aims a gun at Helmut as he leaves.
NIKITA: Michael, no! No!
Michael does not shoot.
MUNITIONS
WALTER: This is the bullet that shot Nikita. It’s not Section issue. Though we don’t have the weapon, the caliber and load do coincide with Interpol issue. I’d say he shot her.
WAR ROOM
OPERATIONS: The latest data we’ve had on Eric Kahlstrom is that he hasn’t resurfaced. Given their failure to succeed at the Hague, it might be some time before Red Cell will risk bringing him out. Helmut Volker, after killing four of our operatives and wounding one, has apparently left the country. Intel is coming in now; it’s only a matter of time. We have determined the location of the Red Cell substation used to implement the Hague plan. We no longer have any use for them. Birkoff will upload your panels; you will leave in one hour.
Everyone rises. Nikita walks away with Michael.
NIKITA: Thanks. He was a good man.
MICHAEL: Good men are hard to find.
NIKITA: Yes, they are.
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