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409. No One Lives Forever
Aired in the U.S. March 13, 2000
Directed by Brad Turner
Written by Peter M. Lenkov
Edited by David B. Thompson
Dialogue transcribed by Cathy
SECTION ONE: MAIN FLOOR
NIKITA: You wanted to see me?
OPERATIONS: Nikita, a decision has been made regarding your status as an operative. It's time for you to leave.
NIKITA: Leave?
OPERATIONS: Yes. Your stay here at Section One has come to an end.
NIKITA: That's it?
OPERATIONS: Yes.
NIKITA: Just like that?
MADELINE: There are some strings, Nikita.
OPERATIONS: No contact with your former life or Section life.
MADELINE: This is a pilot program. We will have you evaluated once a month.
NIKITA: Does Michael know about this?
OPERATIONS: He's in Senegal. We'll tell him when he returns.
MADELINE: I'm afraid we'll have to say goodbye for you.
OPERATIONS: Why do you think George wants this to happen?
MADELINE: I don't know.
OPERATIONS: This has never been done before.
MADELINE: It's quite bothersome.
OPERATIONS: We're both practically in the dark.
MAIN FLOOR
WALTER: Well, it goes without saying we both envy you, sugar.
NIKITA: You two haven't heard a word I said.
WALTER: Huh?
NIKITA: Operations is setting me up.
BIRKOFF: Why?
NIKITA: I don't know. I don't know why they chose me.
WALTER: What do you mean?
NIKITA: Maybe my time here really is up. Maybe this is the way they're going to try to cancel me. Walter, you've been here 35 years. Has this ever happened before?
WALTER: No. But they did say this was a pilot program. Maybe it's on the up and up. Maybe they're going to cut us loose someday.
NIKITA: Yeah. Can't be right.
WALTER: You're paranoid. OK, I don't blame you. But you'd better kick it soon - otherwise you'll never make it on the outside.
NIKITA: Yes.
BIRKOFF: Good luck.
Nikita leaves.
BIRKOFF: I hope she makes it.
WALTER: Yeah.
NIKITA’S APARTMENT
MICHAEL: I came to say goodbye.
They kiss. The scene dissolves, and Nikita wakes up in her new apartment.
VOICE OVER
MADELINE: It's been six weeks since Nikita left.
OPERATIONS: Will she make it on the outside?
MADELINE: If we decide we want her to.
Nikita walks down a busy street; checks customers out at a bookstore, flirts with a male customer.
BOOKSHOP OWNER: You should go home, Nik.
NIKITA: As soon as I'm done here.
YORK BOOKSTORE
NIKITA: I hadn't heard that one before. That's cute.
ANDY: How about dinner sometime?
NIKITA: Uh - I don't know.
ANDY: I mean, it doesn't have to be dinner. You could shoot me down over coffee.
NIKITA: I'll think about it.
NIKITA’S NEW APARTMENT
HENRI: Nikita? It's Henri.
She lets him in; they sit at the table.
HENRI: You're sweating.
NIKITA: Thermostat's broken. Who sees that?
HENRI: Doesn't matter. What are you afraid of, Nikita?
NIKITA: What do you think I'm afraid of?
HENRI: You're waiting for the other shoe to drop. Well, I'm afraid you'll grow old waiting. This is your life now.
NIKITA: I've been in too long to believe that. As soon as things get good, it's time to go. So, when are they going to stop sending you?
HENRI: When they think you've successfully integrated. This is an important test, Nikita. If it works for you, the program will continue.
SECTION ONE: CORRIDOR
OPERATIONS: Did you say something?
MADELINE: Did George give any indication something was wrong when you were at Oversight?
OPERATIONS: No.
MADELINE: And no explanation for Nikita's release?
OPERATIONS: What he said was that this was a pilot program.
MADELINE: Don't let this distract you. Maybe that's what George wants.
OPERATIONS: What he wants is a war?
MADELINE: Are you prepared to fight?
OPERATIONS: To the death.
CITY STREET
ANDY: I'm glad you called.
NIKITA: I had fun.
ANDY: Me too. You like the ballet?
NIKITA: I don't know.
ANDY: What, you've never been? Well, we're going to have to rectify that, won't we?
NIKITA: This is me.
ANDY: Would you like me to walk you inside? Call me old fashioned.
NIKITA: No, that's okay. She leans over and kisses him, just a little peck.
ANDY: Can I call you tomorrow?
NIKITA: I'd be upset if you didn't.
Nikita enters her apartment. George is there, standing by a flowerpot.
GEORGE: This is nice. What is it?
NIKITA: It's a (can't hear this) begonia.
GEORGE: Are they hard to take care of? I'm George.
NIKITA: I know who you are. What are you doing here?
GEORGE: Sit down, Nikita. The man you were with tonight, Andy, do you like him?
NIKITA: I don't know.
GEORGE: But you could, given the time to get to know him?
NIKITA: What do you want?
GEORGE: I'm glad you're enjoying your freedom, Nikita. You have me to thank, you know. Now I want something in return.
NIKITA: Or you'll send me back.
GEORGE: Yes.
NIKITA: What is it you want me to do?
GEORGE: I want you to kill Operations. You know I'm not at liberty to go into specifics. Lets just say that Operations has become a liability.
NIKITA: Is this because of Adrian?
GEORGE: That has something to do with it, yes. Trying to destroy Oversight has been part of his agenda for some time.
NIKITA: Sounds like an internal matter. It has nothing to do with me.
GEORGE: That's where you're wrong, Nikita. It has everything to do with you. Operations' drive is what brought you to Section.
NIKITA: I don't understand.
GEORGE: What do you know about your father?
NIKITA: My father died when I was very young.
GEORGE: How?
NIKITA: I don't know. He was very sick.
GEORGE: He belonged to Section. He was recruited around the same time as Operations came in. The two of them were always competitive. Your father was clearly the rising star and Operations knew it.
NIKITA: He killed my father?
GEORGE: Yes. And when your mother started asking questions, he introduced her to drugs and destroyed her life. You were his trophy, Nikita. He recruited you to prove his strength. His willingness to do whatever was necessary.
NIKITA: I don't believe you.
GEORGE: Will you do this for me, Nikita? For your freedom? For your family? You have two days to decide.
NIKITA: I'll need to find a way to get back inside Section.
GEORGE: You'll figure it out. Otherwise I'll put you back in -- for good. If I see the begonia in that window, I'll know you've accepted the mission. If not, expect to hear from me.
YORK BOOKSTORE
OWNER: This is awfully short notice.
NIKITA: I'm sorry. It's a family emergency.
OWNER: Will you be coming back?
NIKITA: I don't think so.
OWNER: This should cover what I owe you.
NIKITA: You should keep that. Thank you.
ANDY: Feast your eyes. Orchestra seats, this Friday.
NIKITA: I can't go.
ANDY: Why? I thought you had a good time the other night?
NIKITA: I'm sorry, Andy - I'm sorry.
MADELINE’S OFFICE
OPERATIONS: She suddenly quit her job yesterday, and the guy she was warming up to, now he's out of the picture.
MADELINE: Could be nothing.
OPERATIONS: Or everything.
MADELINE: Sounds like she's simply having trouble integrating into the real world. Adjustment difficulty was expected.
OPERATIONS: We can't get involved, not now. George would know.
MADELINE: In here, Nikita was a respected operative. Out there, she's just an attractive young woman with no real life skill set. Will she survive? Depends upon how strong she is.
MICHAEL’S CAR
Michael climbs into his car and sees the number 89.7 written in the frost on the windshield. He tunes his radio to 89.7.
NIKITA: (over radio) Michael. I need to see you. If you can get away, shine your lights. Tomorrow at noon, the coffee shop across from Ordovi (sp?) Industrial Park. Can you make it? Thank you.
OPERATION’S PERCH
MADELINE: Does Michael know we have this?
OPERATIONS: No.
MADELINE: What do you plan to do?
OPERATIONS: I made it very clear she was not to make contact with her old life.
CITY STREET
Nikita watches Michael walk into the Patrician Bar & Grill. A black van squeals up. Two men drag her into the van. Michael never sees her.
NIKITA’S NEW APARTMENT
GEORGE: (voice over) If I see the begonia in the window, I'll know that you've accepted the mission.
MUNITIONS
BIRKOFF: Walter.
WALTER: Hey, hey, what's the matter? You look like you've seen a ghost.
BIRKOFF: Wish I had. Come here, you've got to see this.
They watch Nikita enter Section, under guard.
WALTER: What the hell is she doing back here?
WHITE ROOM
NIKITA: I know the drill.
OPERATIONS: Why? You blew it. You knew the rules. You should never have made contact with Michael. There will be no second chance, Nikita.
NIKITA: I know.
OPERATIONS: You will immediately report to level one. Probationary status is in effect. That means in-house quarters, limited access, weapons issued by my orders only. Your advancement here depends upon your level of success. Welcome home, Nikita.
CORRIDOR
MADELINE: What did she say?
OPERATIONS: Nothing.
MADELINE: Would you like me to talk to her?
OPERATIONS: Not just yet.
MADELINE: She didn't just break the rules. She came back for a reason.
OPERATIONS: Michael.
MADELINE: Maybe. Or maybe it's something else.
OPERATIONS: What matters is that Nikita is back. Under my control.
MADELINE: Does George know?
OPERATIONS: I was just about to inform him.
HOLDING CELL
BIRKOFF: What are you doing back here?
NIKITA: You don't look happy to see me.
BIRKOFF: We're not.
WALTER: Don't take this the wrong way, sugar, but…we were hoping we'd never see you back here again.
BIRKOFF: How'd you blow your chance?
NIKITA: I needed to see Michael.
WALTER: Just for a roll in the hay?
NIKITA: You don't understand. You don't know what it's like out there. I needed somebody who understood me.
WALTER: Well it's been a while since I've been out there, but it's got to be a hell of a lot better than it is in here!
NIKITA: This place...you think you hate it. Then you get used to it. Spend enough time here, you depend on it.
BIRKOFF: We were depending on you.
NIKITA: I'm sorry I let you down.
Michael enters.
WALTER: Let's go, Birkoff.
They leave.
NIKITA: How'd they find out?
MICHAEL: Operations had you shadowed.
NIKITA: Operations talk to you?
MICHAEL: He wanted to know why you contacted me.
NIKITA: What did you say?
MICHAEL: I didn't have the answer.
NIKITA: I don't want to be free if I can't be with you.
MICHAEL: They won't make it easy on us.
NIKITA: What else is new?
MICHAEL: I have a briefing.
NIKITA: I have to report to training. Michael goes to leave. (Nikita then says something I couldn't decipher)
Michael leaves. Nikita places a device on the bed.
NIKITA: I'm in.
GEORGE: Yes, I heard. Good work.
NIKITA: This isn't going to be easy. They've downgraded my status; I don't have access to a weapon.
GEORGE: Look under your mattress.
Nikita finds a gun.
NIKITA: How did this get here?
GEORGE: It doesn't matter.
NIKITA: Who's on the inside? Who is it?
GEORGE: You know too much already, Nikita.
NIKITA: Is it Michael?
GEORGE: As of now you're on standby. I'll contact you when it's time to move.
NIKITA: I'll have to isolate Operations. Otherwise I'll be dead before his body hits the ground.
GEORGE: Don't worry; I'll move him into position. Good luck, Nikita.
MICHAEL’S OFFICE
NIKITA: We need to talk.
MICHAEL: You're not supposed to be here.
NIKITA: There's a lot I'm not supposed to be.
MICHAEL: (sees the gun) How'd you get that?
NIKITA: I found it, under my bed.
MICHAEL: You can't keep it.
NIKITA: Why was I chosen? Is it because of my relationship with you? I can't do this without some answers, Michael.
MICHAEL: Do what?
NIKITA: I think you know.
MICHAEL: Aren't you supposed to be somewhere?
NIKITA: Yeah.
MICHAEL: Training.
NIKITA: You don't want to confiscate this?
MICHAEL: If I do that and they find out, they'll put you in abeyance.
NIKITA: Is that the only reason?
MICHAEL: I trust you'll take it back.
NIKITA: When I'm done?
OPERATIONS PERCH
OPERATIONS: Yes George. It's in data storage. Now? Of course. If you'd like I'll handle it personally. Yes. Goodbye.
HOLDING CELL
GEORGE: Josephine.
She flips up the mattress and we see the gun again.
LEVEL ELEVEN
Nikita follows Operations, ready to shoot him.
MADELINE: Nikita! We need to talk.
MADELINE’S OFFICE
MADELINE: Sit down. I expect nothing but the truth, Nikita.
NIKITA: Of course.
MADELINE: Why did you approach Michael on the outside?
NIKITA: I wanted to see him.
MADELINE: You knew making contact with Michael was a one-way ticket back to Section, yet you did it anyway?
NIKITA: I don't expect you to understand.
MADELINE: I understand love, Nikita. But would I risk my freedom for it? Knowing full well the consequences. I don't think so.
NIKITA: Then you've never really loved before.
MADELINE: How did you get onto level eleven?
NIKITA: I stole the access codes.
MADELINE: Why?
NIKITA: I wanted to talk to Operations.
MADELINE: About what?
NIKITA: That's between him and me. I wasn't allowed anywhere near the Perch so I thought I might catch him on the outside.
MADELINE: Level 11 is off limits. You violated your probationary status.
NIKITA: I know.
MADELINE: Violation is grounds for abeyance.
NIKITA: So what are you going to do?
MADELINE: I'm sending you back to your quarters. Stay there until you hear from me.
HOLDING CELL
NIKITA: If you don't mind?
They leave. Nikita takes out her communicator and contacts George.
NIKITA: We have a problem.
GEORGE: Not if Operations is dead.
NIKITA: He isn't. Madeline came out of nowhere, I had to stand down.
GEORGE: How much does she know?
NIKITA: She's not saying, but she's suspicious.
GEORGE: Then you're going to have to act fast.
NIKITA: Just line him up and I'll take him down.
GEORGE: No, no, I can't do that again. You're going to have to do this on your own.
NIKITA: That's suicide.
GEORGE: Don't worry. I'll have someone there to protect you.
MICHAEL’S OFFICE
MADELINE: I found Nikita on level 11.
MICHAEL: What was she doing?
MADELINE: Following Operations. I think she was going to kill him.
MICHAEL: Why?
MADELINE: I think someone is using her. For their own reasons.
MICHAEL: Have you told Operations?
MADELINE: Not yet. I want to know more.
MICHAEL: You want to align yourself with his successor.
MADELINE: That would be the safe way to play it.
MICHAEL: Who do you suspect?
MADELINE: George. And you. George wants you in Operations chair. Someone he thinks he can control. So you two are using Nikita to kill Operations.
MICHAEL: Why would I do that?
MADELINE: Because you'll inherit his post.
MICHAEL: My time will come.
MADELINE: Oh yes. But the question is, when?
She leaves.
HOLDING CELL
The guards enter Nikita’s room. She drops down from her perch atop the door and knocks them out and escapes.
Later, Madeline enters the holding cell and quickly determines what happened. She calls a number on her cell phone.
OPERATIONS’ PERCH
Operations phone bleats.
NIKITA: Don't pick it up.
Nikita darkens the windows.
OPERATIONS: What are you doing?
Madeline appears next to Nikita.
MADELINE: Stand down, Nikita.
NIKITA: Leave, Madeline.
MADELINE: Okay. You do what you have to. But there's something you have to know before you pull that trigger.
NIKITA: He killed my father.
MADELINE: No. That's just what someone wants you to believe.
NIKITA: You're lying.
MADELINE: Am I? Think about your life here. All these years you've had unrestricted access to Operations, while our most senior operatives don't have that kind of clearance.
NIKITA: You're going to have to do a lot better than that.
MADELINE: With all that you've done, all the protocol that's been broken, you should be in abeyance, or even cancelled by now Why do you think you're still alive?
NIKITA: I was a good operative.
MADELINE: And then there's Michael.
NIKITA: What about Michael?
MADELINE: Despite what you might think, Operations tolerates the relationship.
NIKITA: Tolerates? Is that what you call tearing us apart? Tolerates?
MADELINE: Roadblocks, Nikita. All to manage the relationship. Operations accepts you two because he knows one day Michael will take over Section. The relationship ensures that his daughter will be insulated. He's your guardian angel, Nikita. He's your father.
NIKITA: Are you?
OPERATIONS: You know I can't answer that question.
NIKITA: Are you my father?
Nikita lowers the gun and lays it on the ledge, then leaves.
OPERATIONS: It all makes sense now.
MADELINE: Yes, it does.
Operations dials the phone.
OPERATIONS: Hello, George. About that explanation. There's no need now. I already know. Oh, by the way - nice try.
CORRIDOR
GEORGE: Paul. Sorry to keep you waiting but there's something I think you should see.
George punches in a code. A tray slides out, holding a body. Under the sheet is a man who looks exactly like George.
OPERATIONS: Who is he?
GEORGE: We're running DNA now.
OPERATIONS: So it was this man, not you, who gave Nikita the order to kill me?
GEORGE: While I was out of the country.
OPERATIONS: I trust everything can be accounted for.
GEORGE: Yes. Except for one thing - I don't understand how he got a weapon to her.
OPERATIONS: You think he was affiliated with someone on the inside.
GEORGE: I'm certain of it.
MADELINE’S OFFICE
MADELINE: Come in, Nikita. As of now, your level 2 status has been reinstated. Michael will brief you on all current situations. You were following orders, Nikita. I understand that now.
NIKITA: Is Operations my father?
Madeline does not answer.
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