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318. All Good Things
Written by Ed Horowitz
Transcribed by Christine
[Note: Transcript dialogue only until updated.]
NIKITA'S APARTMENT
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: We’ll have to see.
MADELINE’S OFFICE
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’ right. Minimize losses, then move to other things. If we push harder, we risk disaster. In another year, things might be different, but not now. Come. Walk with me.
MAIN AREA
OPERATIONS: 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. You have command.
MICHAEL: I have command.
OPERATIONS’ LOFT
MADELINE: You’re familiar with the 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. Give 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.
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.
MICHAEL: 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.
DR&V DEPARTMENT
MINTZ: Nikita? Mintz. 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 spider web.
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 awhile. 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. 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.
Later that day
VOICE: The Odessa mission’s complete. The team’s at Van Access.
NIKITA: Everything okay?
BIRKOFF: Hey. What have you been up to?
NIKITA: Stint in DRV.
BIRKOFF: I’m surprised you could stand the excitement.
NIKITA: Odessa team just came back. They won’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 with Michael, Nikita. He’s the new Operations. He can do whatever he wants.
SYSTEMS
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 judgement, 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.
OPERATIONS’ LOFT
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?
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.
NIKITA: 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?
OVERSIGHT
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.
MUNITIONS
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 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… meanwhile get some sleep.
OVERSIGHT
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.
GEORGE: 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. Twenty percent 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.
HALLWAY
MICHAEL: Good morning.
NIKITA: Hey. You should have woken me up 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.
DR&V DEPARTMENT
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 does Madeline think about this?
NIKITA: Well, that doesn’t matter. We should just do what Michael wants.
MINTZ: Of course.
MADELINE: Yes, Mintz, what is it?
MINTZ: We need to talk.
OPERATIONS’ LOFT
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? ‘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 mission fails, 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.
MISSION
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.
VOICE: We got LeMaye.
NIKITA: Marcy, get down!
NIKITA: Hey!
VAN ACCESS
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.
SYSTEMS
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.
MADELINE: 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.
OPERATIONS’ LOFT
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 substation. 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 50%.
MICHAEL: Sixty percent, fifty… 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.
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 with 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.
BERGOMI MISSION
NIKITA: We’ll use a staggered sweep, 100 meter legs. Alpha Team, take the lead.
VOICE: Teams One and Four on mark.
NIKITA: They might be holding back. Watch the gaps.
NIKITA: We’ve got contact. All teams forward.
BIRKOFF: 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 route.
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.
BIRKOFF: She’s going herself.
NIKITA: We have the drive. All units move out. I repeat, move out.
VAN ACCESS
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.
OPERATIONS’ LOFT
OPERATIONS: Madeline didn’t tell you I was back?
MICHAEL: No.
OPERATIONS: 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 you performance slips a bit, I many 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: You have command.
OPERATIONS: I have command.
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.
MADELINE: He’s good. He and Nikita together are quite good.
Fortunately, even the best have weaknesses.
The End
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