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315. Hand to Hand
Written by Ed Horowitz
Guest Starring: Brioni Farrell
Transcribed by Christine
TEASER
A Gregorian Chant plays eerily in the background. We see Nikita floating lifelessly in a large, round indoor tank of water.
Suddenly, we see Nikita bolt upright in bed, gasping as she realizes she was having a nightmare.
WAR ROOM
Operations paces before the long table, where the operatives listen. The holo-screen shows the image of the man they are being briefed on.
OPERATIONS: Charles Meyer - industrialist, philanthropist, supplier of materials to terrorists around the world. He’s been able to play both ends against the middle because he’s equally useful to both sides. Until now.
He clicks his remote, and we see images of bombed areas as Operations describes them.
OPERATIONS: An airport, a train station, a naval base; all financed by funds ultimately traceable to Meyer.
MICHAEL: He’s to be eliminated?
OPERATIONS: Yes, and he knows it. As a consequence, he’s been very difficult to find, but we do have a lead. A man named Emlen Anagar sometimes is used as an intermediary.
NIKITA: Intermediary? For what?
OPERATIONS: It’ll all be in your profiles. You’ll get yours from Madeline. The rest of you, see Birkoff. That’s all.
Operations quickly walks away, and the operatives all begin rising and moving off. Nikita remains at the table.
MADELINE'S OFFICE
The camera pans slowly up and across Madeline’s desk, where she is seated, her hands clasped and resting on her desk.
MADELINE: Anagar owns an establishment in Kazakhstan. Meyer will be meeting him there sometime in the next week.
NIKITA: The purpose of the meeting?
MADELINE: Anagar provides a certain type of entertainment, which Meyer is particularly fond of.
We see Nikita is standing before Madeline’s desk.
NIKITA: Entertainment?
MADELINE: He runs a talent agency in Kiev. The girls are mostly from Russian or Eastern Europe, trying to escape poverty.
NIKITA: So, he promised them jobs as models and forces them into prostitution?
MADELINE: You’ll penetrate the building and tag Meyer. Michael will eliminate him.
Madeline rises to leave. As she passes by Nikita, Nikita turns to her.
NIKITA: And, the girls?
MADELINE: They’re not your concern.
Madeline exits. Nikita looks downward, not pleased with the response.
MAIN AREA
Operations walks across the Main Area, accompanied by a woman, whom he is conversing with. They round a corner to a hallway.
OPERATIONS: Eastern Europe has absorbed many of our resources lately. I’m becoming concerned about our coverage elsewhere.
RENEE: That’s one of the things I’ve been asked to review.
OPERATIONS: Good. I’m glad Oversight’s on top of things.
Madeline approaches and as they meet up, they all stop.
OPERATIONS: Madeline, you remember Renee from last year’s Peer Review?
Madeline bestows a frozen smile to Renee.
MADELINE: Yes, I remember.
OPERATIONS: George asked for a collateral intel assessment and Renee was available.
Now, Madeline looks from Renee to Operations.
MADELINE: And, who’ll be overseeing this work?
OPERATIONS: I will.
MADELINE: I’ll forward to the results.
He gives Madeline a pat smile.
OPERATIONS: You’ll be the first to see them.
Now he turns to Renee.
OPERATIONS: Come. I’ll set you up near my office. That’ll make things easier.
Madeline gives Renee one of her Mona Lisa smiles, as Operations and Renee move away from her. Renee immediately takes Operations arm.
OPERATIONS: I know your work here will be invaluable.
RENEE: I’m glad to be here.
OPERATIONS: Let me show you a few other areas. We’ll have lunch later.
RENEE: I think I’d like that.
Madeline has remained rooted a few moments. Now she continues on her way, in the opposite direction Operations and Renee took.
KIEV TALENT AGENCY
Several young women wait along a cramped and dark stairway to be interviewed by Anagar. Nikita is among the waiting girls, sitting on a step. Beside her, a friendly blonde woman tries to make small talk.
SONDRA: That is a pretty jacket. I had to make mine myself. Still, it’s not too bad.
Nikita doesn’t respond, but the girl is not put off. She leans closer.
SONDRA: My name is Sondra. What is yours?
NIKITA: (disinterested) What difference does it make?
At the top of the stairs, a door opens. A man, Oswald, shows a pretty woman out. From where she sits below, Nikita watches carefully.
OSWALD: Congratulations. The limo will pick you up at nine.
WOMAN: Thanks.
Oswald looks down at the other girls waiting. The departing woman now steps gingerly between the women on the stairs, trying to make her way down.
OSWARD: Nikita?
As Nikita begins to rise and gather her bag, she leans toward Sondra.
NIKITA: Do yourself a favor. Get out of here now.
SONDRA: (confused) Wait. Why should I?
NIKITA: Because this place is not what it seems.
Nikita climbs the stairs and is shown into the office, while below Sondra watches, not understanding Nikita’s warning.
MADELINE'S OFFICE
Birkoff enters Madeline’s office, where she sits behind her desk. He takes a stand before the desk.
BIRKOFF: You wanted to see me?
She turns from her monitor, looking at him, her hands clasped before her.
MADELINE: Yes. Nikita’s interview went well?
BIRKOFF: She’s on a plane now.
MADELINE: And, Michael?
BIRKOFF: He’s meeting with Anagar in a few minutes.
MADELINE: I trust his cover is sufficiently thorough.
BIRKOFF: Swiss bank accounts, European pedigree, American assets. They’ll love him.
MADELINE: One more thing. There’s a woman working with Operations. Her name is Renee.
BIRKOFF: On loan from Oversight.
MADELINE: That’s right. I’d like to see the most recent jacket we have on her.
BIRKOFF: Her jacket’s been frozen.
This surprises Madeline, though her brows raise only slightly.
MADELINE: On whose authority?
BIRKOFF: Operations. I could ask him about it if you like.
Madeline smiles, then turns to her monitor.
MADELINE: I’ll handle it.
ANAGAR’S OFFICE
We see a section of Kazakhstan; crowded dwellings built one on top of the other, and crowded, busy streets. In the background, Middle Eastern music plays.
Next we see Anagar seated on a chair in his office. An intercom buzzes.
ANAGAR: Yes.
VOICE: Mr. LeDeaux’s here.
ANAGAR: Send him in.
He stands to meet Michael.
ANAGAR: Ah, Mr. LeDeaux, Emlen Anagar.
They shake hands.
ANAGAR: It’s a pleasure. Please sit down.
Michael takes a chair beside the one Anagar occupied.
ANAGAR: So, you’re interested in this weekend?
Anagar now takes his chair again.
MICHAEL: That’s right. If there’s an opening.
ANAGAR: For the fee you’ve offered, we’ll make one.
Michael makes a sound of approval.
MICHAEL: Good.
ANAGAR: Your references are very strong, but I hope you won’t be offended if I reiterate certain policy details.
MICHAEL: No, I won’t.
ANAGAR: You’ve made arrangements at work?
MICHAEL: My staff thinks I’m backpacking in the Alps.
ANAGAR: Good, and your wife?
MICHAEL: We’re separated.
ANAGAR: You’ve told no one your true destination?
MICHAEL: No one.
ANAGAR: We’ll provide transportation to and from the complex. During your stay, you will avoid contact with our other guest. And, finally, you agree never to disclose to anyone the true nature of the entertainment we provide.
MICHAEL: Of course.
ANAGAR: Good. In that case, all that remains is the matter of the fee.
Michael takes out a small hand-held computer and taps into it, transferring funds to Anagar’s account. Anagar, on his own laptop, sees that the money has reached his account.
ANAGAR: Done.
They stand up.
ANAGAR: Now, I’m sorry to cut short our meeting, but I need to make arrangements for the weekend.
MICHAEL: I understand.
They again shake hands.
ANAGAR: You’re a very fortunate man, Mr. LeDeaux. Few men on this earth have seen what you’ll be seeing.
ANAGAR’S COMPLEX
Several women, including Nikita, are led down a flight of stairs. Nikita glances about, taking in the surroundings as they go. Oswald brings up the rear, ushering them through a curtained and beaded doorway. We see Sondra is also among the women. In the room, several other women are already there, seated with expressionless countenances. All the women, including those just arriving, wear the same style choker about their necks.
OSWALD: Stand up! Quickly!
The women slowly stand, with flat affects. Sondra turns to Nikita, fearful.
SONDRA: Wha… what is happening?
NIKITA: I guess the modeling job isn’t.
Anagar leads a man into the room.
ANAGAR: This way, Mr. Meyer. We brought in an especially fine group this weekend.
MEYER: Yes.
He sees a woman he recognizes and goes over, takes her hands and kisses it.
MEYER: Although there’s something to be said for old favorites. Hello, Cat.
He strokes her hand as he gazes as her.
MEYER: You’re still here. You must have done well, since I saw you last.
ANAGAR: And, she’ll do well again tomorrow.
Meyer looks back at Anagar, who wants to move things along.
ANAGAR: But, in the meantime?
Meyer touches Cat’s chin lightly with his knuckles.
MEYER: Send her to my room.
Cat looks pleased to be chosen. Meyer turns to leave, but as he passes back by Nikita, she drapes an arm around him to nonchalantly place a tracker on him.
NIKITA: Choose that over me? You must be blind.
She presses her lips to his in a kiss.
COMM
We see a monitor showing Meyer’s location has been successfully tracked.
BIRKOFF: Sir, the tracker’s been activated. Meyer’s at the complex.
OPERATIONS: Good. Tell Michael to proceed as planned.
ANAGAR’S COMPLEX
Angry that Nikita tried to take Meyer’s attention from her, Cat immediately launches into Nikita, yelling in Russian, before lunging for Nikita’s throat. Nikita easily whirls and punches Cat in the throat, knocking her to the ground, hurt.
No sooner than Cat falls, Oswald presses a button and Nikita immediately begins convulsing violently as her choker shocks her to the ground. She falls, gasping, coughing and clutching her throat.
Anagar turns to Meyer, who has witnessed the entire encounter.
ANAGAR: I’m sorry for the disturbance. She just arrived.
MEYER: Mmm. I’ll look forward to seeing her in the pit. In the meantime…
He looks over at a woman lounging on a chair.
MEYER: … that brunette over there.
Meyer leaves. Anagar goes over to Nikita and kneels beside her. She is still hurting and stunned from the shock. He grabs her face and forces her to look at him.
ANAGAR: As you seem to have surmised, there are certain privileges that go along with pleasing our guests. But, the choice is theirs, not yours. You understand? Understand?
NIKITA: Yes.
ANAGAR: There’ll be plenty of time for fighting, but only when I say so.
He passes a hand over her thigh, while Nikita eyes him warily.
ANAGAR: Or, you’ll die even sooner than you otherwise would.
He stands and leaves. Nikita lies back, and Sondra rushes to her.
SONDRA: Are you all right?
NIKITA: Yeah, I’m fine.
We see a fish bowl holding two fighting fish.
OPERATIONS' LOFT
Operations and Renee stand close together in the loft facing the long table that overlooks Section below. He is laughing, as Madeline enters. They don’t hear her.
MADELINE: I hope I’m not disturbing you.
They turn to face her.
OPERATIONS: Not at all.
Madeline glances at the darkened window.
MADELINE: You’re dark.
Operations glances at it, as if he’s just now recognizing it’s dark.
OPERATIONS: So we are. Was there something you wanted to see me about?
MADELINE: It can wait, if you’re busy.
Renee sees Madeline is waiting for her to leave and takes the hint.
RENEE: I’ll run these sims. I’ll be back in few minutes.
She walks past Madeline, who waits for Renee to be gone. The air is tense.
MADELINE: I thought you should know there’s a satellite malfunction. Communications are down with about half our teams.
OPERATIONS: How long?
MADELINE: Full resolution will take twelve hours. In the meantime, we’re switching to alternate channels, but coverage isn’t total.
OPERATIONS: Let me know if there’s anything critical.
He turns from her, dismissing her.
MADELINE: I will.
She steps closer to him.
MADELINE: How’s Renee working out?
OPERATIONS: (smiles) You don’t like her.
MADELINE: I don’t trust her.
OPERATIONS: Neither do I, but then… I don’t trust anyone, except you.
MADELINE: Be careful, Paul.
OPERATIONS: I always am.
Madeline holds his gaze a moment, then leaves.
ANAGAR’S COMPLEX
We see the two fighting fish in the fish bowl.
Nikita is explaining their purpose for being there.
SONDRA: They make us fight each other?
NIKITA: Yeah.
SONDRA: To the death?
Nikita is absently watching the fish in the bowl.
NIKITA: That’s right.
SONDRA: And, people pay to watch?
NIKITA: I imagine they pay quite a lot.
SONDRA: And, if you win?
NIKITA: You get to fight again; and again, until you’re killed.
SONDRA: H- how can you be… be, be so calm?
NIKITA: Because I come from a place not unlike this.
Nikita’s demeanor is tough and ready for anything, while Sondra’s is alarmed and frightened.
SONDRA: I don’t want to die.
NIKITA: Then, you should learn to survive.
SONDRA: I cannot. I…
NIKITA: Why not?
Nikita sit ups and listens to Sondra, as she grows increasingly hysterical.
SONDRA: Because I, I have never been in a fight in my life. I have never even been hit.
Nikita immediately hauls off and smacks Sondra across the face. Sondra holds her face, her eyes wide with shock.
NIKITA: Now you’ve been hit. Hit me back.
SONDRA: No.
NIKITA: Hit-me-back.
Sondra shakes her head. Nikita tries to take hold of her hand to make her, but Sondra shrinks back.
NIKITA: Hit me!
Suddenly, Sondra hauls off and backhands Nikita hard across the face. Nikita touches her jaw and works it, while Sondra looks mortified by what she’s done.
NIKITA: So, now you’ve been in a fight.
She reaches out and smoothes Sondra’s hair.
NIKITA: You just need to stay alive for a couple of days. Avoid them.
Sondra looks unconvinced, still shaky.
NIKITA: That’s all you need to do. Trust me.
SONDRA: You never did tell me your name.
NIKITA: My name’s Nikita.
SONDRA: All right… Nikita.
OPERATIONS' LOFT
Renee stands beside Operations before his long desk, viewing a laptop monitor.
RENEE: Comm’s restored with all teams.
OPERATIONS: Already? How?
RENEE: The Agency loaned us a backup channel.
OPERATIONS: I’ll bet you had something to do with that.
Renee rubs her heeled foot along his leg.
RENEE: I try to make myself useful.
Operations takes her by the upper arms, pulling her close to him, as he perches at the edge of the desk. She rests her hands on his chest.
OPERATIONS: Now, there are ground rules. They have to be obeyed very strictly.
RENEE: I’m sure we can manage.
OPERATIONS: No public displays of affection. No lead time. When I call, you come. And, work supercedes all other arrangements -- always.
Now his hands span the small of her back. She lifts her arms around his neck, and he leans in to kiss her.
Below, Madeline enters the Main Area. She notices Operations’ dark window and stops, looking up and knowing the reason it is dark. As she moves off, she looks less than pleased.
ANAGAR’S COMPLEX
A woman is ushered back into the room where the women are held. Nikita is seated on a chair, resting her arms and chin on top of the chair back. Beside her, Sondra sleeps.
BIRKOFF: (via com) Nikita, are you there?
Nikita slowly and casually sits up, carefully responding as she moves out of earshot.
NIKITA: Where the hell have you been?
BIRKOFF: We had an up-link problem.
NIKITA: Is Michael on his way?
BIRKOFF: (in Comm) Yes. You’ll get your egress route from him.
She has moved to a door and leans against the wide jamb.
NIKITA: We’re in some kind of basement.
BIRKOFF: (via com) We’ve profiled your release. Leave it to Michael.
NIKITA: All right. Listen, Birkoff, this is more than just a brothel.
BIRKOFF: (in Comm) Yeah.
NIKITA: You knew?
BIRKOFF: (in Comm) They told me not to tell you. Sorry.
NIKITA: Sorry…
In the background, Nikita hears a woman asking Anagar about her.
AURORA: Is the blonde one who hit Cat in there?
ANAGAR VOICE: Yes, right over there.
Nikita goes back to sit beside Sondra, while a pretty, dark-haired woman parts the beaded doorway and enters the room. She has a tough, hard demeanor, coming to stand in front of Nikita.
AURORA: They tell me you already have your own bitch.
Nikita glances over at the sleeping Sondra.
NIKITA: You can leave her alone; she’s harmless.
AURORA: Cat’s a special friend of mine. You hurt her.
NIKITA: So, what are you doing down here?
AURORA: I go where I want.
NIKITA: That’s because you’re good at what you do. You’re good at killing other women for the pleasure of perverted men, right?
AURORA: When they put you in the pit, you’ll do what you have to. Just like me.
She walks off, back toward the door, shoving the beads aside and glancing back at Nikita before moving off.
ANAGAR’S OFFICE
Michael waits for Anagar, watching two fighting fish in a fish bowl. He is dressed in suit and tie. He turns as Anagar addresses him.
ANAGAR: Mr. LeDeaux, welcome. I trust your journey was pleasant.
MICHAEL: Fine.
Anagar walks up, standing beside his assistant, Oswald.
ANAGAR: The program doesn’t begin until tomorrow, but we offer a wide range of activities to help you enjoy yourself in the meantime. Come. Let me show you your room.
He turns to lead Michael out.
MICHAEL: Am I not permitted to select a woman to accompany me?
Anagar turns back to face Michael.
ANAGAR: Well. I can see you don’t believe in wasting time. You may choose from the girls from the lounge.
Michael takes a sip from the glass of water he is holding, appearing unhurried.
MICHAEL: Which is?
ANAGAR: Downstairs. Mr. Oswald will show you the way.
Anagar waves his fingers at Michael in farewell.
ANAGAR: Enjoy.
MICHAEL: Thank you.
As Oswald begins going down the stairs, Michael takes another sip of the water, then sets the glass down and follows.
In the room below, the women are all standing, just as they had when Meyer had come. Michael very slowly and deliberately walks by each one, carefully checking them out as he makes his selection. As he backtracks his steps, he stops in front of Nikita, and points to her.
MICHAEL: That one.
Oswald walks up.
OSWALD: Yes, she is interesting, but not yet tamed. You… may need this.
He hands Michael the remote that activates the shock choker.
OSWALD: If she causes any problems, just push the button.
MICHAEL: Good.
Nikita and Michael eye each other for a moment, before Michael gestures with his hand that she should proceed him. As they pass by Sondra, her eyes dart worriedly for Nikita.
MICHAEL’S ROOM
Michael sits in a chair, while Nikita dressed only in a slip and camisole and barefoot, paces.
NIKITA: Tracker’s working?
MICHAEL: We have full coverage.
NIKITA: So, what happens now?
MICHAEL: Birkoff plots an intercept point. I kill Meyer tomorrow.
NIKITA: Egress?
MICHAEL: Immediately afterwards.
NIKITA: Where do we meet?
MICHAEL: We don’t. You’re getting out tonight.
Nikita sits at the foot of the bed.
NIKITA: Uh… tonight, they’ll be suspicious.
MICHAEL: No. You’ve established yourself as a troublemaker. I’ll say you surprised me and escaped.
NIKITA: So, they’ll send guards to track me, and the show goes on as planned, right?
MICHAEL: (ignoring her) The van is two kilometers to the north. Meet them in twelve minutes.
NIKITA: Twelve minutes.
Michael nods.
NIKITA: Michael, you know what this place is. We can’t leave these women here. We have to help them.
MICHAEL: They’re not our problem.
NIKITA: And, the hundred that’ll die in the future, they’re also not our problem?
MICHAEL: That’s right.
NIKITA: Fine, then they’re my problem. I’ll go out with you tomorrow. I’ll meet you at the exit point.
She lies back on the bed.
MICHAEL: (irritated) What do you expect to accomplish in a few hours?
NIKITA: I don’t know. Maybe nothing, but I have to try.
She sits back up with a heavy sigh.
NIKITA: I have to try. I can’t leave these women here. I have to help them. Michael you’ve got a sister. When you went to prison, she was alone. She could have ended up in a place like this if she hadn’t been helped.
MICHAEL: You now have ten minutes to meet the van.
NIKITA: I told you… I’m not going.
She stands and goes over to him, kneeling before him. Angry with her, he immediately picks up the phone.
MICHAEL: Send someone for the girl. I’m finished with her.
ANAGAR’S COMPLEX
Nikita is shoved back into the downstairs room. Sondra rushes to her, concerned.
SONDRA: Did he hurt you?
NIKITA: I’m fine.
SONDRA: While you were gone, they told us. We are going to fight tomorrow.
NIKITA: What else have you found out?
SONDRA: What do you mean?
NIKITA: Where do we fight? How many contests are there? All this information can help.
SONDRA: Help what?
Nikita takes her by the upper arm, leaning closer.
NIKITA: It’s going to help you and me to live. When we first came in, someone said something about a pit.
SONDRA: Yes, I remember.
NIKITA: We need to know how big it is. How high the walls are… Where do they keep the guards. Some of these women have been here a little while. We can talk to them.
SONDRA: No… I have a feeling it won’t do any good.
NIKITA: Why not?
SONDRA: (tearful) They’re planning something. Something special. I don’t think any of us are going to survive.
DINING ROOM
Operations and Madeline are seated at the dining table.
OPERATIONS: Meyer’s hit will take place in a few hours. I have the profile here.
He hands a PDA across the table to her.
MADELINE: We’re not hitting him in his room.
OPERATIONS: No. Security will be at maximum density. Our chance of success doubles later on. You see a problem?
MADELINE: No. I’m sure Birkoff did a thorough job.
Renee enters, walking over to Operations.
RENEE: I was going over the sims for the uh….
See sees Madeline and stops. The two women regard each other with baneful looks.
RENEE: Hello, Madeline.
MADELINE: Renee.
Renee looks back to Operations.
RENEE: I was saying, the Afghan sims look strong, but I think Beta Team should be restructured.
OPERATIONS: That’s an interesting idea.
He looks at Madeline, then slightly swivels his chair to lean closer to Renee.
OPERATIONS: Will you give us a few minutes more?
RENEE: Of course.
She leaves. Operations studies the PDA she brought him.
MADELINE: She’s involved in missions now?
OPERATIONS: (harmless tone) No, she’s observing. Some of her ideas are quite good. She brings um… a fresh perspective.
MADELINE: (displeased) You took me out of Systems.
OPERATIONS: We need you in Tactical. Birkoff’s been stretched too thin. It’s only temporary.
MADELINE: Until Renee’s gone.
OPERATIONS: It has nothing to do with Renee.
Madeline takes a sip of her coffee, eyeing him with an arched brow. She sets the cup and saucer down and stands.
MADELINE: I’m glad to hear it.
As she angrily leaves, Operations summons Renee.
OPERATIONS: You can come back in now. And, lock the door behind you.
ANAGAR’S COMPLEX
Nikita and Sondra sit on a round, velvet divan, as Aurora slinks in the room. As she makes her way around the room, several women cast their gaze downward, not wanting to appear challenging and selected to fight her. Nearby Nikita and Sondra, Aurora picks up a glass of water and pours the contents into the fishbowl holding the fighting fish. Then, she takes a stand in front of Sondra, whose eyes flicker back and forth nervously, refusing to meet Aurora’s. Aurora points at Sondra.
AURORA: That one.
Fearful, Sondra turns to Nikita pleadingly.
SONDRA: Nikita!
NIKITA: You have to want to live.
Oswald grabs Sondra by the arm.
NIKITA: You have to want to live!
As Oswald leads Sondra out, Aurora follows, pausing at the beaded doorway to glance back at Nikita with a smirk.
Flash to the Water Tank – The Pit
We see Sondra’s lifeless body floating face down in the large tank of water.
Back to the Room
Nikita waits grimly, as Oswald comes to retrieve her as Aurora’s next opponent.
OSWALD: You’re next. I hope you can swim.
SYSTEMS
Madeline leads two male operatives into Systems, where Renee is seated before a computer.
MADELINE: I’m afraid you’ll have to leave now.
Renee glances up.
RENEE: Leave?
MADELINE: Yes. I’m returning you to Oversight.
Ignoring Madeline, Renee returns her gaze back to the monitor.
RENEE: I haven’t finished my work yet.
Madeline steps closer and reaches out to hit a button, which shuts off the computer.
MADELINE: Yes, you have.
Renee takes this in a moment, then stands.
RENEE: What’s the reason for this?
MADELINE: You contacted the Agency on our behalf without prior clearance.
RENEE: And, Comm was restored eight hours sooner as a result.
MADELINE: Nevertheless, it was a violation of protocol.
RENEE: I’ll speak to Operations. Where is he?
MADELINE: Off duty, which leaves me in charge.
RENEE: All right. I’m going. But, you’ll pay for this, Madeline. You’ll pay.
As Renee is escorted away by the operatives, Madeline watches, completely unconcerned and triumphant.
COMM
We see Birkoff in Comm, sitting at his station, his arms folded, as he waits to update with intel about Meyer.
Michael is in his room at Anagar’s Complex, awaiting instruction.
BIRKOFF: Meyer’s still in his room.
MICHAEL: He should have left by now. The show’s already started.
BIRKOFF VOICE: He’s on the phone. Big transaction.
BIRKOFF: (in Comm) I can’t catch the details.
He swivels in his chair.
MICHAEL: How long will he be?
BIRKOFF: (in Comm) There’s no way to tell. Go. I’ll keep you posted.
Michael rises, adjusting his tie and buttoning his jacket.
PIT FIGHT
Two metal doors, with round screen inserts, slide open to allow Nikita and Aurora into the tank area. Nikita wears a light blue, flimsy body dress with long tail, while Aurora’s is red. They enter the room, which is circular, and contains a large, round water tank – the pit. Built into the rounded walls are levels of private rooms, where clients can view the action in the pit below. We see Michael in one such room, watching as Nikita enters.
Nikita and Aurora climb opposite stairs up to the tank. Oswald follows Nikita up the stairs.
MICHAEL: (to Birkoff) How long do these fights usually last?
BIRKOFF: (in Comm) I don’t know. We didn’t scan them.
Oswald shoves Nikita into the tank of water, and Aurora jumps in. They face in each in the water, circling each other warily.
As we see the tails of their dresses float in the water, we see intermittent shots of the fighting fish in the fishbowl also swirling about each other.
From his seat, Michael watches the scene below, stoically. Aurora lunges for Nikita first, and they struggle, with Aurora plunging Nikita’s head underwater and fighting to hold her under while Nikita fights to surface.
BIRKOFF: (in Comm) Michael? Is Nikita fighting?
MICHAEL: Yes.
BIRKOFF VOICE: If you intervene the chance of mission success goes to zero.
Michael doesn’t respond, but watches, as Aurora appears to be gaining the advantage over Nikita, who gasps loudly, even as Aurora grunts with the effort of the struggle.
BIRKOFF: (in Comm) Michael? He’s off the phone. He’s on his way.
Michael remains in his seat, watching Nikita below.
BIRKOFF: Michael, take your position. Michael, you have to move now.
Michael refuses to leave until he sees Nikita begin to overcome Aurora. When he’s confident that Nikita is all right, he gets up.
In the pit, Aurora is losing the battle and drowning. Nikita won’t finish her off.
Meyer, who is now in his private booth, sees Nikita hesitate.
MEYER: Kill her!
Nikita lets Aurora go and backs to the tank wall. Aurora immediately surfaces, gasping for air, and shocked that Nikita didn’t kill her. She backs up to the opposite wall.
OSWALD: Kill her! Kill her! Kill her!
Aurora looks at Oswald as he orders Nikita to kill her.
Outside his private booth, Michael hurries to kill Meyer, rushing down a set of stairs and dropkicking a guard.
At the water tank, Oswald sees that Nikita will not kill Aurora. He goes to Aurora’s side to help her out. Nikita swims over to try and get out too, but Oswald shoves her back into the water, and begins lowering a metal grate over the tank. As it descends lower and lower, Nikita struggles to stay afloat, but she is trapped beneath, left to drown as the male observer’s look on. Aurora watches, still shocked that Nikita didn’t kill her after what she’d done to her and Sondra, Oswald waits with disinterest for Nikita to drown, and Meyer watches, nearly salivating with glee.
Michael stealthily enters Meyer’s private booth and drops a wire around his neck and strangles him.
In the pit, Nikita gives up her struggle and succumbs to the drowning, her body losing control as it loses its life force, her arms outstretched.
With Meyer dead, Michael hurries back to help Nikita
Oswald begins raising the grate, and we see Nikita floating lifelessly face up in the tank. Aurora looks on. As Oswald grabs an arm to pull her out of the water, Nikita suddenly turns and grabs for him, getting his gun, shooting him into the tank.
Michael rushes into the room, shooting a guard that was about to shoot Nikita, then a second. Nikita hauls herself out of the tank, swinging her legs over the side of the stairs. Aurora looks on, dazed.
NIKITA: You know how to use this?
Aurora nods and Nikita hands the gun to her.
NIKITA: Find Anagar, kill him. The guards will clear out. Free the other girls. Help them get home.
Nikita yanks off the tails of her wet clothes, and goes to join Michael. As she passes Aurora, Aurora grabs her arm.
AURORA: Thank you.
Michael and Nikita head out.
Aurora, now free, steps up to the tank and stares at Oswald’s lifeless body floating.
ANAGAR: Aurora!
Slowly turning, Aurora sees Anagar standing in Meyer’s booth. She raises the gun and empties it into Anagar.
MADELINE'S OFFICE
Operations enters, his hands in his pockets. He’s grinning broadly, pleased by what he thinks was Madeline’s possessiveness. Madeline sits at her desk, her hands clasped before her.
OPERATIONS: Renee said you were jealous. I didn’t believe her.
MADELINE: You were right not to believe her. Jealousy had nothing to do with it. She was interfering with our normal procedures and, frankly, when she was around, your judgement wasn’t up to its usual standards.
Operations smiles and laughs. Madeline also smiles.
OPERATIONS: Still, ejecting her forcibly was a violation of protocol.
MADELINE: So was her contacting the Agency.
OPERATIONS: That can be justified. She has powerful friends in Oversight. This could blow up in your face, if it’s not handled properly.
MADELINE: Is there any reason this can’t be handled properly?
OPERATIONS: I can smooth it over with Renee. I have a good relationship with her.
He is smiling again, pleased with himself. He goes and stands beside Madeline’s chair, so she now has to look up at him.
OPERATIONS: But, the question is… what kind of relationship do I have with you?
Madeline does not respond.
OPERATIONS: Why don’t you admit you were jealous and you still have feelings for me?
MADELINE: Of course I do - respect, admiration, friendship.
OPERATIONS: If I thought your feelings went beyond friendship, I’d make this whole thing go away. Otherwise, I’ll have to let bureaucracy take its course, and that would be very unpleasant.
MADELINE: Don’t do this.
He strokes the side of her face.
OPERATIONS: In the tower, tonight. Ten o’clock.
He walks off, leaving her office. She doesn’t move for a moment, then swings her glance to follow the direction he went. She is not happy.
NIKITA'S APARTMENT
Walter sits on a barstool before the counter, while Nikita sits on her couch, her feet dangling over the side.
WALTER: It was a three-man mission in the Balkans. A motion detector failed. I got out alive, the other two didn’t.
She leans back on the couch, her arms overhead.
WALTER: They were in that five percent I’ve told you about.
NIKITA: Good men.
WALTER: The best.
He takes a drink from his glass.
WALTER: And, it got me interested in the gadgets we use; I designed a few myself. Eventually got into it full-time. Been there ever since.
He takes another long drink.
WALTER: By the way, you should start thinking about your future also.
NIKITA: My future?
She brings her arms down to rest on her belly, her eyes closed.
WALTER: People don’t live forever in the field. You should move into another area. Comm, Research, Profiling…
He gets up to pour another drink.
WALTER: I could use an assistant. No, come on now, I’m being serious.
NIKITA: I think I’d feel too guilty, knowing there were people out there risking their lives.
WALTER: Trust me, you get over it.
He pours the liquor from a bottle into his glass.
NIKITA: How do you do it? How do you stay sane? What’s the secret?
WALTER: Knowing when to lie, and when to tell the truth.
NIKITA: To them?
WALTER: To yourself. At night you go to bed knowing that you live in hell - that’s the truth.
NIKITA: And, the lie?
WALTER: You wake up in the morning thinking that this day may change everything - you’ll escape, you’ll fall in love… they’ll close the place up and send everyone home.
As he speaks, he looks wistful.
NIKITA: Then, that night you have to face the truth again.
He sits back down on the barstool.
WALTER: Yeah, but in the meantime, you’ve accomplished something that’s truly remarkable.
Nikita looks over to him, waiting to hear the answer.
WALTER: You made it through another day.
She closes her eyes at this. Her phone rings loudly, breaking the silence.
NIKITA: Hello?
MICHAEL: Josephine.
She clicks off the phone.
The End
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