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306. Cat and Mouse
Written by Ed Horowitz
Directed by Terry Ingram
Transcribed by Christine
RED CELL COMPOUND
In a large concrete building, the slime, Dominic, from War, Season 1, is dressed all in black, wearing wire rims. He sits in a wheelchair speaking with a subordinate.
DOMINIC: You’re sure the trucks are visible to satellite surveillance?
SUBORDINATE: Clearly visible.
DOMINIC: Not too clearly. Don’t want to tip our hand.
SUBORDINATE: They’ll be plenty of processing to get through.
DOMINIC: Good. (He removes his glasses) I know Section. They’ll take the bait; they have to. Which leaves one last detail - Abby.
SUBORDINATE: She’s ready.
DOMINIC: She’s having trouble with the voice pattern.
SUBORDINATE: Not anymore.
DOMINIC: And that last bit of surgery… the cheekbones.
SUBORDINATE: It’s perfect.
DOMINIC: I’d better take a look at her.
SUBORDINATE: (presses button) Send in Abby.
A side door opens and black shoes and panted legs enter as Abby takes a stand before Dominic. The camera pans upward until we see Abby’s face. She is the spitting image of Nikita. She wears a black knit cap.
Dominic wheels closer to her; then reaches out and removes her cap, so her hair falls about her shoulders. Inspecting her carefully, he touches her hair and face, as she looks down to him expressionless. He busses her cheek.
DOMINIC: Yes, you’ll do very nicely.
BRIEFING TABLE
Operations approaches the table followed by Birkoff, Michael and Nikita, who begin taking their seats. As Nikita grabs a chair, she is coughing. Michael notices this and looks over to her before sitting down himself.
OPERATIONS: We received priority intel an hour ago. The kitchen has been located outside Gdansk on the Baltic Sea.
Nikita rubs her forehead and closes her eyes momentarily, as though she has a headache. Michael again catches this, and glances over at her.
OPERATIONS: They furnish biologicals to a number of terrorist groups, including Red Cell. They’ve been connected to four strikes in the last month.
MICHAEL: Who’s the sponsor?
BIRKOFF: So far all we know is it’s a new player. Still searching for reliable intel. The lab is located in this textile plant. The concept photo showed chemical supply trucks entering from the south. Theoretically, they should be empty when they leave. An advance team placed sensors on the road; the outgoing trucks are packed to the gills.
OPERATIONS: Get in and find out what they’ve got and shut them down.
He walks off, and everyone begins to disband. When Nikita moves off, Michael steps in sync with her.
MICHAEL: Are you all right?
NIKITA: I’m fine. Just getting over a cold.
MICHAEL: Do you want to step down?
NIKITA: No. I’ll be fine. Thanks.
She smiles at him, then walks off. Michael stares after her.
MISSION
Section operatives run up the fire escape stairwell of a large building.
BIKROFF: (via com from Section) There are four levels. The lab is at the top.
Now inside the building, Michael, and the team run down a flight of stairs, then progress systematically down the hallway. They enter a basement area.
Birkoff from Section: The hallway loops around both directions; the lab could be on either side.
Michael points to one direction gesturing for Nikita and other operatives to go one way, while he and his crew, Mentz and Snow included, check out the other. Nikita and her team of operatives cautiously move forward, as Birkoff watches from Section. Michael and his crew approach the lab.
MICHAEL: We have contact.
Cautiously, they advance the lab area. A hostile appears on a nearby stairwell and Michael shoots him, quickly spinning and taking out another behind him on an upper level.
MICHAEL: Take samples and destroy everything else.
BIRKOFF: (from Section): Any signature?
MICHAEL: Not so far.
In another section of the building, Nikita and the operatives with her walk down a hallway. On the opposite side of the hallway wall, Abby and three Red Cell men walk simultaneously down the hallway.
In the lab, Michael plants explosives, and arms them.
MICHAEL: We have ninety seconds. Move out.
BIRKOFF: (from Section) Nikita, ninety seconds.
NIKITA: Let’s go.
As she and the operatives start to take off, an explosion behind them knocks them down. Gunfire is exchanged. Abby rounds the corner, gun aimed at Nikita, and shoots her in the back. As Nikita falls back, she turns and sees Abby, before slumping to the floor.
ABBY: We’ve got sixty seconds. Hurry.
Abby yanks off her black cap and starts taking off her clothes, while her men undress Nikita. As Abby dons Nikita’s clothes, the men load Nikita into a brown body bag.
BIRKOFF: (from Section) Nikita, what’s going on?
Abby is still putting on Nikita’s mission clothes; Nikita is zipped into the body bag. Michael and his team leave the building, Michael watching as his team exits first. The Red Cell men assist Abby into Nikita’s things. She puts Nikita’s comm unit behind her ear.
BIRKOFF:(via com) Nikita, talk to me.
ABBY: Hostiles took out my team.
She pulls her hair into a quick knot at the top of head.
BIRKOFF:(via com) You’ve got thirty seconds. Get going.
ABBY: I’m on my way.
She runs to join the Section team, as the Red Cell men pick up Nikita’s body. Outside, Michael and his team run for the mission van. The operatives load into the van, while Michael looks to another door for Nikita and her team. Abby bursts outside, calling…
ABBY: Ambush!
She fires at a hostile that is behind Michael, then runs to the van door.
ABBY: They cut off our retreat.
Michael follows her into the van; and it pulls off, the building exploding
violently no sooner than they move out.
RED CELL COMPOUND
A gurney bearing Nikita in the body bag is wheeled in. Dominic wheels over and watches his men unzip the bag, exposing Nikita. A needle is stuck in her neck, which brings her around. Her eyes open and try to focus.
DOMINIC: Put this on.
Hearing a voice, she sits up quickly and faces Dominic, flashing back to when he tortured her and Michael, and she shot him. She stares at him with defiance. He throws a bundle at her.
DOMINIC: I can’t have you distracting my men.
NIKITA: Where am I?
DOMINIC: I’ll explain everything when you’re dressed.
She shakes out the clothes, keeping an eye on Dominic.
MISSION VAN
The van moves down the road, while inside Michael types into his computer, on the opposite wall sit Abby and the other operatives. Michael looks up at her.
MICHAEL: How’s your cold?
ABBY: (taken aback) I’m sorry?
MICHAEL: You’re cold.
ABBY: (covering) It’s better. Much better. Just need to get a little bit of rest.
Michael turns his gaze back to his computer, then back at Abby, then
again, clearly wondering why she didn’t know what he was talking about.
RED CELL COMPOUND
Nikita is manacled to a long chain attached to a post, above which is mounted a large monitor. Dominic moves his wheelchair about, much like if someone were pacing.
DOMINIC: Don’t worry. I bear you no malice for my condition. In fact, I consider myself quite fortunate. If your aim had been 3 mm to the right… As far as I’m concerned, the slate is clean.
NIKITA: (clipped) What do you want?
DOMINIC: Can I offer you some refreshment?
NIKITA: What do you want?
DOMINIC: First, you must realize that this time there is no escape. There will certainly not be a rescue. Do you know why?
NIKITA: Because I’m not here at all.
DOMINIC: You’ve already grasped something that most people find most disorienting.
NIKITA: I have a question.
DOMINIC: You want to know why you’re still alive. Once before as you know, I extracted information from you. As it turned out, it was a Section trick, which resulted in a rather nasty setback for me. Still some of what I found was quite valuable. Now I need the rest of the picture.
NIKITA: You won’t get it.
DOMINIC: You’d die before you’d help me.
NIKITA: Just kill me and get it over with, unless of course you’re planning to bore me to death.
DOMINIC: Humor. You’re becoming more confident in your work. As I recall thought, you did have a weakness. I believe his name was Michael.
They exchange a look. Obviously, Nikita still has the same weakness - Michael.
DOMINIC: Abby, it’s show and tell time.
He looks past Nikita, causing her to follow the direction of his gaze. She sees the monitor mounted to the post, the screen showing the interior of the mission van. Abby puts on glasses that have cameras in them to give Dominic a view of Michael and picks up her gun.
DOMINIC: Put the target in focus.
Slowly Abby moves her gun until it is aimed at Michael. Now Nikita is paying attention.
DOMINIC: That’ll do for now, Abby. (To Nikita) Still bored?
Nikita watches the screen as Abby lowers the gun, pretending to casually inspect it. Michael looks up, noting this odd behavior.
ABBY: Nice gun.
She sets it down, and removes her glasses; Dominic and Nikita still have audio access.
MICHAEL: Nikita, the tape shows 45 seconds of silence after the ambush. Why didn’t you call Birkoff immediately?
DOMINIC: Well?
ABBY: (coached by Nikita) Frequency was jammed. I couldn’t get through. Birkoff must have called in the same time as you did.
Michael glances at Abby momentarily, then back to his monitor. Abby puts the glasses back on.
DOMINIC: Good. You will continue to tell us what we need to know. You will educate Abby in the ways of Section, and in your personal habits, so that there is no chance of deception being discovered. Do you understand? Answer, Nikita.
Nikita jerks her head at him, angry that she has no choice but to go along with it.
NIKITA: I understand.
VAN ACCESS
Michael and Abby ride the elevator up to van access, then step into the access tunnel. Abby is unsure where to go.
DOMINIC: Where are they?
NIKITA: Van Access. Leads directly to Section.
DOMINIC: Tell her what to do.
NIKITA: Go to Systems, fill out a mission report, take the corridor on your left.
At the door into the hallway, Abby steps past Michael and turns left, while Michael waits for the other operatives to enter Section, but who all turn to the right. Michael turns to Abby, who is proceeding down the hallway.
MICHAEL: Where are you going?
ABBY: To make out my report.
MICHAEL: That won’t be necessary.
Abby stops in her tracks.
MICHAEL: Operations wants to debrief you directly.
ABBY: (faces him) Now?
MICHAEL: In half an hour.
Abby nods, then turns to continue where she had been headed.
NIKITA: You have to return your communications device first. It’s the other direction.
Abby turns and goes back the other direction. Passing Michael, she points to the ear comm device.
ABBY: Almost forgot.
Michael watches her walk off before continuing in another direction.
Abby enters into the main Section area.
NIKITA: About twenty meters straight ahead, ponytail and a bandanna at a work station.
Abby sees Walter in the distance and heads over to him.
DOMINIC: His name?
NIKITA: Walter.
DOMINIC: A friend?
NIKITA: Yes.
DOMINIC: Guide her word for word.
Abby enters into Munitions.
WALTER: Hey, hi sugar.
ABBY: Hey.
WALTER: Rough mission?
ABBY: Not great.
WALTER: But, you’re okay?
ABBY: I’m fine.
She hands him the comm unit.
WALTER: Good, good. You, uh, remember what we were talking about a couple of days ago?
NIKITA: (coaching from her imprisonment): Sure.
ABBY: Sure.
WALTER: I asked her to go out.
ABBY: And…
WALTER: She said yes.
ABBY: Told you so.
As Walter works, Abby scans the shelves, giving Dominic a view of the weapons.
WALTER: Yeah, but I feel kind of guilty.
ABBY (Nikita feeds her the correct thing to say): Don’t feel guilty. Belinda would want you to go out again.
WALTER: You really think so?
Nikita watches glumly.
ABBY: I know so.
WALTER: Sugar, you’re the greatest.
ABBY: (smiles) Thanks. I’ve got to run.
Walter is smiling, watching her leave. Abby couldn’t care less about him.
WALTER: Take care.
RED CELL COMPOUND
DOMINIC: I think you’re getting the hang of this rather well.
NIKITA: Sooner or later, they’ll see through her.
DOMINIC: I don’t think so. Don’t forget I have your entire file. Everything they know about you, I know. I spent two years bioengineering Abby’s face, skeletal structure, teaching her how to act and speak like you. All we need is your knowledge of Section. Now we have that.
NIKITA: (disgusted) How long do you expect me to do this?
DOMINIC: Until Michael’s life has no further value to you. Abby can get to him anytime I want.
NIKITA: And in the meantime, you destroy Section.
DOMINIC: You disappoint me. Think. I have no intention of destroying Section.
NIKITA: Because while you have her in there, you’re one step ahead.
DOMINIC: Exactly. I want Section to survive for a very long time.
NIKITA: Well, when they see their missions failing, they’ll know something’s wrong.
DOMINIC: That won’t happen. I’ve calculated their mean success rate. That won’t change. They’ll only fail when I want them to.
NIKITA: So you’ve thought of everything.
DOMINIC: I’ve no doubt there will be an odd tight spot, but I’m confident that you will get us through, one way or another.
Nikita looks back up at the monitor.
MADELINE'S OFFICE
Abby, wearing her glasses, sits before Madeline; Operations is standing.
OPERATIONS: There was no resistance on the perimeter?
ABBY: No.
OPERATIONS: None inside until the mission was almost complete.
ABBY: That’s right.
OPERATIONS: Where did the hostile come from?
ABBY: Most likely from abandoned air ducts.
MADELINE: You didn’t check for those on the way in?
ABBY: Intel didn’t provide any indication of them.
OPERATIONS: So the problem was faulty intel?
ABBY: Incomplete intel.
OPERATIONS: You’re on close-quarters standby for the next twelve hours. That’s all.
Abby stands up, a slight smile given to Madeline. At the door, she pauses, looks back a moment then leaves.
OPERATIONS: You think the lab was a decoy?
MADELINE: The resistance was token until the ambush. It’s a possibility.
OPERATIONS: Still, in the absence of hard evidence, we have to accept the mission objective was accomplished, and move on to Phase Two. What did Walter say?
MADELINE: He ran absorption tests on the samples. He’s tracing them now.
OPERATIONS: Let me know if he finds a substantial supplier.
We have to find out who’s behind this.
RED CELL COMPOUND
DOMINIC: Close-quarters standby. That means there is going to be a follow-up mission.
NIKITA: That’s right.
DOMINIC: Splendid. How long do we have?
NIKITA: A few hours.
DOMINIC: Guide Abby to your workstation.
Abby sits at a desk, working on a computer. Dominic and Nikita view data scrolling up the screen.
DOMINIC: This is useless. It’s far too general. I need the specific mission profile.
NIKITA: Go deeper into the tree. Type in ‘star-four-four-backslash-zero’.
The screen reads: Data File Locked.
DOMINIC: Now what?
NIKITA: Now nothing. I don’t have access.
DOMINIC: I don’t believe you.
NIKITA: The profile won’t be released until an hour before the mission.
DOMINIC: Well that will be too late.
NIKITA: There’s nothing I can do.
DOMINIC: How very sad for Michael.
NIKITA: There might be a way.
READY ROOM
Birkoff enters what looks like a space age staff lounge, with bunks. He takes his portable PDA unit and connects it to a feed in the wall. He presses an intercom button.
BIRKOFF: I’m in the ready room.
He takes off his shirt and hangs it up, now wearing a black tank top.
BIRKOFF: Download the profile once the cycle is complete.
OPERATIVE: Okay, we’re on it.
He lies down on the bed on his back. Abby enters.
ABBY: Oh, I’m sorry, didn’t mean to wake you.
BIRKOFF: It’s okay. I wasn’t asleep.
Abby unzips her skirt, standing by the adjacent bunk.
ABBY: You’re working too hard.
She sees the profile being downloaded near him.
BIRKOFF: Too hard, not very well.
ABBY: What do you mean?
BIRKOFF: Those operatives we lost on your mission… That was my fault.
ABBY: Or mine.
BIRKOFF: You were surprised in the field. I’m supposed to prevent that.
Abby lies on the bunk adjacent to his. The bunks lie head to head, separated by an aluminum wall.
ABBY: You’re a good man, Birkoff.
Birkoff listens. A long pause.
ABBY: Roll over.
She gets off her bed and moves to kneel beside Birkoff on his bed.
ABBY: Roll over.
Birkoff just looks at her.
ABBY: Now.
Birkoff rolls over to his stomach, and Abby straddles him, sitting on his behind. She takes off her glasses and places them so that Dominic can see what is being downloaded.
DOMINIC: Good, got it. Keep him busy for another five minutes.
Abby begins massaging Birkoff’s shoulders.
BIRKOFF: Oh. That feels great.
Abby looking bored; leans over and begins nuzzling his ear. She kisses his cheek. Birkoff opens his eyes, surprised.
BIRKOFF: What was that for?
ABBY: I told you. You’re a good man.
Birkoff turns over, sitting up slightly, resting back on his hands. Abby rubs the front of his chest.
BIRKOFF: You really think so.
ABBY: Yes, I do.
Birkoff now sits up and kisses Abby, then leans his head against her breast a moment.
ABBY: What are you afraid of?
BIRKOFF: Nothing. I just can’t believe this is happening.
ABBY: Well, it doesn’t have to be the romance of the century, Birkoff. In this place, we should take whatever pleasure we can. When we can.
Birkoff’s left hand reaches up and cups the side of her face, pulling her face to his to kiss her. Abby then wraps her hands in Birkoff’s tank-top straps and tugs hard. Birkoff continutes the motion she started and flips them both over, so that she is now on her back and he is on top of her. Her legs ride his hips, as he bends forward.
Dominic and Nikita watch this unfold. Nikita turns away, unable to watch further.
DOMINIC: Section is in for a little surprise, first of many.
MUNITIONS
Birkoff enters the area, where Walter is at his worktable tinkering. He doesn’t look up when Birkoff starts talking.
BIRKOFF: Walter, I’ve got to talk to you.
WALTER: I’m listening.
BIRKOFF: I think I love Nikita.
WALTER: Yeah, everyone loves Nikita.
BIRKOFF: No, no, no, I mean really love her, and I think it’s mutual.
Walter glances quickly over to Birkoff, as if he’s lost his mind.
WALTER: Nikita is falling for you?
BIRKOFF: She came on to me in the Ready Room
WALTER: What? Stroked your hair?
BIRKOFF: We made love.
WALTER: I don’t believe it.
BIRKOFF: Neither do I, but it happened, I swear it.
Birkoff is smiling like the cat that just ate the canary.
WALTER: (dumbfounded) She came on to you?
BIRKOFF: Yeah. First she tried to make like it was no big deal, then it got pretty intense.
Birkoff’s expression is grinning; Walter can only nod.
BIRKOFF: Think I ought to suggest moving in or is it too early, or maybe I should just play it cool, see how it goes?
WALTER: (incredulous) I think you don’t really need any advice from me. You seem to be doing fine on your own. Just follow your instincts.
BIRKOFF: That’s good. Follow my instincts. Thanks Walter.
As Birkoff walks off, Walter watches with complete shock.
BRIEFING TABLE
Michael sits between Abby and Birkoff. She glances over at Birkoff, and sees he is watching her. She looks away.
OPERATIONS: We traced the supplies of Red Cell’s kitchen to a middle man named Klaus Honig, we’ve located on the outskirts of Berlin in this apartment. Sims indicate a chance of heavy security so we’re sending in a full team. Pick up your profiles from Birkoff. You leave in an hour.
As Operations and the other operatives begin to disperse, Abby, wearing her glasses, leans forward in her chair to get a better view of the screen. Michael remains seated, but turns to study her intently. She glances over at him.
ABBY: (defensive) What?
MICHAEL: Why are you wearing glasses?
ABBY: My eyes… They’ve been a little bit sensitive lately.
MICHAEL: Maybe you need some rest.
ABBY: After the mission I’ll get some. Thanks.
She smiles and leaves. Michael watches her depart.
At the Red Cell compound, Dominic and Nikita watch the exchange. Dominic is concerned by the tension between Michael and Abby.
DOMINIC: Something’s wrong. Abby’s doing something wrong.
NIKITA: No.
DOMINIC: He seems edgy.
NIKITA: That’s just the way he is.
DOMINIC: I’m surprised you put up with it. (Sarcastically) Perhaps he has hidden charms.
He wheels over to another area of the room and speaks to his people.
DOMINIC: Prepare a counter attack to their mission profile.
MISSION
Operatives begin filing out of the van; Michael remains inside. Then Abby heads out, while Michael watches her thoughtfully. Outside, the operatives approach a building, laser-cut through a door handle, then enter, as Michael monitors them from the van. The building interior is deserted.
MICHAEL: Birkoff, where is the security?
BIRKOFF: (from Section): I don’t show anything on the perimeter.
MICHAEL: That goes against the intel.
BIRKOFF: I’m working on it. It’s empty.
MICHAEL: Are you certain?
BIRKOFF (from Section): I’ve scanned everything.
MICHAEL: Birkoff, the place is clean.
BIRKOFF: This doesn’t add up. Get out of there fast!
The team runs back outside, heading for the van. From a nearby rooftop, hostiles begin shooting, taking down all the operatives, except Abby. She continues unscathed, and enters the van.
Back at the Red Cell compound, Dominic and Nikita watch.
DOMINIC: Section has played cat and mouse many times, but it’s
not often they have taken the part of the mouse. My guess is they’re
not enjoying it.
MADELINE'S OFFICE
Operations and Michael watch the feedback from the mission. Madeline sits at her desk.
OPERATIONS: They had a clear shot at her.
MICHAEL: She was lucky.
OPERATIONS: There’s an alternate explanation.
MICHAEL: If she wanted to betray us, she would have made it less obvious.
OPERATIONS: You’re probably right. Put a watch on her, Michael. You can go.
Michael leaves, and Operations now turns to Madeline.
OPERATIONS: What’s going on? Someone’s sending us a message.
MADELINE: It’s unclear, but whomever we’re up against appears to know us well.
OPERATIONS: Designate this as a top priority. Put the best people we have on it.
MADELINE: That will weaken us elsewhere.
OPERATIONS: I don’t care. We have to get to the bottom of it.
He turns to go, then looks back.
OPERATIONS: Oh, just in case, put a watch on Michael, too.
SYSTEMS
From Madeline’s office, Michael goes in search of Abby. She’s at a desk in Systems.
MICHAEL: We need to talk.
ABBY: (confused) All right.
MICHAEL: (lowers voice) Not here. Level Four in fifteen minutes.
Dominic and Nikita are watching on the monitor.
DOMINIC: What does he want?
NIKITA: I don’t know.
DOMINIC: Take a guess.
NIKITA: I can’t. We’ll have to wait and see.
DOMINIC: If you’ve done something to jeopardize my operation…
NIKITA: No. I want Michael to live.
DOMINIC: Then I suggest you handle the next few moments very carefully.
EN ROUTE TO MEET MICHAEL
Abby climbs a set of stairs up to Level Four. Birkoff bounds up behind her.
BIRKOFF: Nikita.
ABBY: (doesn’t stop) Hello, Birkoff.
BIRKOFF: I had a great time the other night.
ABBY: (dully) Great.
BIRKOFF: Want to go grab some dinner?
ABBY: Oh, I’m beat. No, thanks.
BIRKOFF: (persistent) We don’t have to go out; I can bring some over.
ABBY: Some other time.
BIRKOFF: (last ditch effort) Maybe just a drink or something
Now she stops and looks at him, completely disinterested.
ABBY: Sorry, Birkoff.
As she walks off, Birkoff stares after her with bewildered rejection.
HALLWAY WITH MICHAEL
Dominic and Nikita through Abby’s glasses watch Michael approach Abby in the hallway, as she also makes her way toward him.
MICHAEL: They’ve put a watch on you, probably on me as well.
ABBY: Because we survived the mission?
MICHAEL: Yes.
ABBY: All the other operatives shielded me.
MICHAEL: You weren’t hit even after they went down, and they didn’t fire at the van. Not once.
ABBY: Michael, no matter how bad it seems; we’re innocent.
This does not sound like Nikita. Michael watches her, his eyes carefully scanning her face.
ABBY: Sooner or later, that will become clear.
Having listened to this exchange, Dominic wheels about impatiently.
DOMINIC: Now what?
Nikita has found the perfect opportunity to lay a trap that only Michael will recognize.
NIKITA: It’s a night off. We usually get together.
DOMINIC: Then why doesn’t he say something?
NIKITA: Because he likes me to make the first move.
DOMINIC: (impatient) Then make it!
Back in the hallway, Michael begins to leave.
MICHAEL: We’ll talk later.
As he moves off, Abby watches, her arms crossed before her.
ABBY: What about tonight?
This stops Michael in his tracks, but he only halfway turns back toward her.
MICHAEL: Tonight?
ABBY: Well, we’re both off, unless, of course, you’re not in the mood.
He doesn’t turn to her yet, keeping his profile to her. He now knows without a doubt that this woman is not Nikita, but he is going to play along with her.
MICHAEL: How do you feel?
ABBY: Well, missions have gone bad before.
Now Michael walks back to her, his face a mask, his eyes studying her with renewed interest.
ABBY: As far as I’m concerned, tonight should be just like any other night between the two of us.
MICHAEL: You’re right.
Abby takes a few steps closer to him, so that her mouth is inches from his, obviously her idea of being seductive.
ABBY: My place? An hour?
MICHAEL: I’ll be there.
Abby smirks with self-satisfaction, her head kind of jerking cockily, and begins to walk off. Michael watches her departure with an icy expression. At the end of the hallway, she glances back, still grinning. Michael has an alert look about him, but when he moves to leave, he looks almost angry.
At the Red Cell compound, Dominic is pleased with the results.
DOMINIC: Well done.
Nikita is quiet; keeping her face from him, lest he see the deception
she has just launched.
NIKITA’S APARTMENT
Inside the apartment, Nikita is dressed and ready for Michael. She goes to the kitchen area, taking a bottle from beneath the counter.
ABBY: Wine.
She looks for the corkscrew, putting on her glasses so Nikita can assist her.
ABBY: Opener?
NIKITA: Left of the stove, top cupboard.
A knock sounds at the door.
ABBY: He’s here.
Abby opens the door; Michael stands there.
Dominic and Nikita watch on.
DOMINIC: I hope this won’t be too painful for you.
Nikita looks glum.
ABBY: Hi.
MICHAEL: (smiles) Hi.
He touches her arm, as they lean in for a kiss.
ABBY: Mmmmmm.
We next see Michael and Abby in silhouette behind the screen in Nikita’s apartment; their shadows kissing, turning, heads thrown back. Next, they are naked in bed, Michael lying atop Abby and nuzzling her chin. Abby’s glasses are planted strategically at the bedside to give Dominic and Nikita an eyeful. Dominic watches with indifference; Nikita uncomfortably, as Michael and Abby have sex.
Afterward, Michael lies on his back, Abby resting her head on his chest, an arm draped over him. Michael stares upward, his expression vacant. Abby also wears the same bored look. Michael’s cell phone rings breaking the tense silence, and he reaches for it.
MICHAEL: Yes?
MALE VOICE: Jacques?
Michael hangs up, and smoothes Abby’s hair absently.
MICHAEL: We have to go.
Nikita watches with a sad expression, Dominic as if he is holding his
breath.
SECTION--MAIN AREA
Michael and Abby enter Section side by side. From behind them, Operations calls out.
OPERATIONS: Michael.
Michael stops and turns to Abby.
MICHAEL: I’ll catch up with you.
As Michael backtracks to join Operations, Walter intersects Abby on his way to Munitions.
ABBY: Hey, what’s going on?
WALTER: Oh, a flash mission. They’ve located Klaus Honig.
ABBY: (skews up her face) Flash mission?
WALTER: Yeah. A FLASH mission.
He looks at her as if she’s lost her marbles, and Abby realizes her blunder.
ABBY: (scratches her head) Right.
From the Red Cell compound, Dominic and Nikita hear this.
DOMINIC: What is a flash mission?
NIKITA: Short notice protocol.
DOMINIC: Meaning?
NIKITA: Mission profiles are distributed on the way out.
DOMINIC: So there’s no way to get one in advance?
NIKITA: That’s right.
VAN ACCESS
Abby, still wearing her glasses, walks down the hallway toward Van Access, followed by Mentz and Snow. Michael is at the entrance, waiting. He usually enters the tunnel after his team but this time he goes in first.
ABBY: Is everything all right?
MICHAEL: Everything’s fine.
BIRKOFF: (via com): Michael, hold for clearance.
The door to the elevator is closed; Michael stops and waits.
Dominic is confused by the delay.
DOMINIC: What are they waiting for?
NIKITA: Technical delay. It’s common.
BIRKOFF: (via com) Standby.
We see his computer screen, which reads: Operatives Ready.
BIRKOFF (in Comm): Now.
The elevator doors open and operatives enter, even as Michael slowly turns and faces Abby.
ABBY: (taken aback) What?
She glances about uncomfortably, but Mentz and Snow are still behind her. She is blocked in.
As Dominic and Nikita watch on, Michael reaches out and takes Abby’s glasses off, drops them to the floor, and crushes them beneath his boot.
The monitor screen in the Red Cell compound turns static. Dominic is momentarily confused, as if he thinks it might be a malfunction. But, shots sound overhead, and his mouth opens with astonishment, as he realizes he’s been duped. Section operatives bust their way in overhead, scaling down the high walls with ropes. Dominic immediately draws a gun, but as he turns to shoot Nikita, she is already in action, somersaulting with an upright flip toward him, and kicking the gun out of his hands. He tries to get the gun, but Nikita gets there first, and aims it at him.
DOMINIC: You found a way to let them know. How?
NIKITA: Does it matter?
DOMINIC: No, I suppose not. Finish it.
NIKITA: Section will want you alive.
DOMINIC: You put me in this chair, the least you can do is spare me any further humiliation. Now finish it!
NIKITA: I’m sorry.
She isn’t sorry at all, and he looks down with defeat.
MUNITIONS
Walter and Birkoff stand in Munitions, Birkoff leaning against a wall.
BIRKOFF: It wasn’t really Nikita. It was some imposter.
WALTER: I heard, but don’t feel bad. She fooled everybody.
BIRKOFF: Yeah, but she really fooled me.
He closes his eyes and leans his head back, the memory of how completely he’d been tricked embarrassing and painful.
BIRKOFF: I caused a security breach.
WALTER: (trying for levity) Yeah; but under the circumstances, who can blame you?
BIRKOFF: They’ll blame me.
WALTER: Are they gonna call you in?
BIRKOFF: I’m on my way now.
Birkoff moves off, and Walter closes the gate down in his inventory area, watching his friend worriedly.
WALTER: Good luck.
OUTSIDE MADELINE'S OFFICE
Nikita walks out of Madeline’s office just as Birkoff approaches.
NIKITA: What do they want with you?
BIRKOFF: What do you think?
NIKITA: Birkoff, I’m sorry. I didn’t have a choice.
BIRKOFF: Yeah, I know.
NIKITA: Well, I don’t think it’s going to go too badly. They seem to be in a forgiving mood.
BIRKOFF: I hope so.
Nikita moves off.
BIRKOFF: Nikita, what happened between us…
NIKITA: (looking down, uncomfortable) Nothing happened between us...Birkoff.
He steps up to her.
BIRKOFF: It did in a way. I mean, you were on the other end, talking to her and listening right?
Nikita nods.
BIRKOFF: Did I make a complete idiot out of myself?
NIKITA: Well, from what I could tell, you were pretty delicious.
She leans in and places a quick peck on his lips, smiles, and leaves. He smiled back. Just then Madeline’s door slides open and Birkoff is called.
OPERATIONS: Birkoff!
WHITE ROOM
Abby sits in the chair, the tell-tell slashes beneath her eyes. She has a scared, wide-eyed look on her face as she sits immobile, staring forward. Nikita and Michael, standing a bit behind her, watch Abby on the wall monitor just outside the room. Nikita turns to Michael, obviously wanting to talk about Abby impersonating her.
NIKITA: She was convincing.
MICHAEL: Very.
Nikita turns from the screen and steps up to Michael. She looks into his face, trying read his meaning, though he only returns her look. She obviously wants him to reassure her in some way, but he isn’t going to. The White Room door opens and Madeline calls out.
MADELINE: Nikita, would you like to step inside?
Michael looks down, but Nikita pauses, not ready to drop the subject with Michael. Having no choice, she follows Madeline into the room, where Madeline hands her a gun.
NIKITA: What’s this for?
Nikita looks at Abby, who still wears a dazed, scared expression.
MADELINE: The debriefing is over. We have no further use for her.
NIKITA: I’m not in the habit of killing people in cold blood.
MADELINE: In that case, you might want to make an exception. In a manner of speaking, she possessed you, in body as well as mind.
Nikita suddenly aims the gun at Abby. Tears glisten in Abby’s eyes, and she is sweating. She looks so innocent, which is not lost on Nikita.
NIKITA: Your psyche file suggests that by killing her, I can best exorcise her?
MADELINE: Yes.
NIKITA: I don’t think so.
Nikita lowers the gun and hands it off to Madeline, though the action of this is not apparent. What we see is Nikita’s shoulder extends toward Madeline.
MADELINE: If I do it instead, I think you’ll regret it, but the choice is yours.
Outside the room, Michael continues to wait. The monitor shows Abby sitting in the chair. He turns from the monitor, and seems apprehensive, as though he doesn’t want Nikita to be the one to shoot. Suddenly a shot rings out and Abby jerks slightly in the chair. Michael does not see who fired the gun. He glances uneasily at the door, still waiting for Nikita.
The End
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