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205. New Regime
Written by: Robert Cochran
Directed by: Jon Cassar
Guest Cast: Nigel Bennett, Dean McDermott
Transcribed by Jean
[Note: Transcript dialogue only until updated.]
SECTION BRIEFING AREA
OPERATIONS: Our sources report the development of a new strain of nerve gas called R-1. It kills in seconds and has a self-life three times that of its nearest competitor. All prototypes of the gas must be destroyed.
SYKES: What's the location?
OPERATIONS: We don't know. We do know it's being funded by a hostile country through bank accounts maintained at an embassy in Brussels. We'll infiltrate the embassy and identify the names of the scientists working on the R-1 project. Those names will lead us to the project itself. The mission is planned for tomorrow morning. The embassy is well secured and there will be a back-up team of four Operatives.
KRONEN: Enough is enough!
OPERATIONS: What is it, Kronen?
KRONEN: I hate this place!
OPERATIONS: What's the matter with you? You're supposed to be debriefing.
KRONEN: Debrief this!
Kronen shoots Operations twice and then Walter shoots Kronen.
MADELINE: Get Medical, now!
COMMMON AREA
NIKITA: Any word?
MICHAEL: It's still too early.
NIKITA: Is he dying?
MICHAEL: I don't know.
NIKITA: You care, don't you? So what happens now?
MICHAEL: Someone takes his place.
NIKITA: Who?
PETROSIAN: Good afternoon. My name is Egran Petrosian. I will be in charge pending Operations' return. Along with all of you, I deeply regret this morning's events. I will keep you advised concerning Operations' condition as information becomes available. In the meantime, he would not want our attention to be diverted from the business in hand. So, Red Team, please remain. The rest of you, back to work.
BIRKOFF: That's us.
PETROSIAN: I reviewed the Mission profile on the way here. It is inadequate. I'm making some changes. Nikita will stand down, and you will replace her with two Operatives of your own choosing. And you won't leave tomorrow morning. You will leave tonight.
MICHAEL: I'll authorize a back-up Team.
PETROSIAN: There will be no back-up Team.
SYKES: A smaller primary unit, plus back-up, makes more sense. That's the way Operations designed it.
PETROSIAN: What is your name?
SYKES: Sykes.
PETROSIAN: Well, Sykes, in case you dosed off, I have news for you. Operations is no longer in charge. I am. You will be stationed with Birkoff, to provide technical oversight.
MADELINE: That function is mine or Michael's. Nikita's not cleared for it.
PETROSIAN: She is now. I suggest you review the Mission profile and use any remaining time to rest. This is the first action of the new regime. We will all want to be at our best.
MADELINE: Be careful, Nikita.
NIKITA: Of him -- or of you?
MEDICAL
DOCTOR: I'm sorry, but he's not going to make it. It's just a question of how long he stays on life support. Will you be making that decision?
MADELINE: I already have. I've decided he's going to recover. His will to live is very strong. Your will to save him has to be strong, too. I'll help you. Go back inside. Tell your colleagues to do the possible...then the impossible...and then the unthinkable, until he's out of danger. Because when you're finished, Doctor, that room will contain either four living men -- or four corpses. Do you understand?
DOCTOR: Okay.
BRUSSELS
SYKES: Pattern's complete.
NIKITA: Time to partial window.
SYKES: Thirty seconds.
NIKITA: Coverage?
SYKES: Forty percent.
NIKITA: Go.
SYKES: Michael, twenty seconds.
SYKES: Five seconds.
BIRKOFF: Security's pretty tight. Wrapped around a Z-cubed function.
MICHAEL: Can you break it?
BIRKOFF: I can get you in, I can delay the alarm, but I can't disable it.
NIKITA: Go.
NIKITA: Michael, the only thing we know is that the disk is hidden in a book. Michael, you're running out of time.
BIRKOFF: There goes the alarm.
NIKITA: I thought you said a minute.
BIRKOFF: I said maybe. You've got to get him out of there, Nikita.
NIKITA: Continue to search.
MICHAEL: I've got the disk.
NIKITA: Withdraw!
NIKITA: Sykes, retrieve Michael. I repeat, retrieve Michael now!
MICHAEL: Go!
SYKES: We're out.
SYKES: What the hell is going on? He's a butcher! We lost two men today because we didn't have backup.
NIKITA: You all right?
MICHAEL: I'm fine.
PETROSIAN: Nikita. Your performance today was superb. Cool, objective, decisive. Exactly what I need for my second in command.
NIKITA: What about Madeline?
PETROSIAN: Madeline is extraordinary. She will continue to be useful in Psych Ops situations. But, she's been with Operations a long time. She's versed in his style, his methods. What I need is my own Madeline.
NIKITA: I'm not really interested in a promotion.
PETROSIAN: No? You prefer to go on living from day-to-day, risking your life on mission after mission until one day your luck runs out and you are blown to pieces in some obscure corner of the earth? There is more to life than briefings and missions, Nikita.
Nikita nods.
PETROSIAN: Good!
INFIRMARY
NIKITA: How's Operations?
MADELINE: I'm confident the doctors are doing everything they can. Has Petrosian offered you my position yet?
NIKITA: Yes.
MADELINE: And what did you say?
NIKITA: If I say no, he's going to offer it to somebody else.
MADELINE: That's not the point.
NIKITA: What is the point?
MADELINE: The point is, you don't have what it takes to do my job. And, if you try, you'll only end by destroying yourself.
OPERATIONS' PERCH
PETROSIAN: In addition to taking over for Madeline, you will handle technical oversight until I can find someone I feel I can rely on. It's double duty, but it can't be helped.
NIKITA: No problem.
PETROSIAN: You will answer only to me. You will be my eyes and ears in Section, and you will carry out my instructions to the letter Now, our first priority is to ensure that there is not another Kronen in Section waiting to go berserk, so you will initiate a full review of all personnel evaluation procedures.
NIKITA: That's already been done.
PETROSIAN: Good. Next, I want to ensure that all activities in Section come under my direct control. Starting with Walter.
NIKITA: Walter?
PETROSIAN: I'm told that he likes to work on his own secret projects. I want to know what they are.
NIKITA: I don't want to spy on my friends.
PETROSIAN: Kronen shoots the Section Commander in plain view. Sykes complains about mission designs, Walter works on unauthorized projects. Section is out of control. It has to stop.
NIKITA: Well, I need to feel certain that Walter won't be harmed.
PETROSIAN: If you want to protect your friend, Walter, you will do has you're told.
MUNITIONS
WALTER: Hmm, you scared me.
NIKITA: I didn't think anything scared you, Walter.
WALTER: Get out of here.
NIKITA: Still thinking about Kronen?
WALTER: Yeah. It bothers me that I didn't see it coming.
NIKITA: Nobody did.
WALTER: The day before, I was trying to brief him on the new laser sight and he kept talking about his mother!
NIKITA: His mother?
WALTER: Anytime anyone in this place starts talking about Mom, you know he's got problems!
NIKITA: So, what else are you working on?
GANTZWAY LABS: MISSION
MICHAEL: I'm in position.
BIRKOFF: Gufeld should be in the hallway in about thirty seconds.
NIKITA: Sykes, report. Sykes?
SYKES: I'm in position.
MICHAEL: Target in sight.
NIKITA: Sykes; disarm security.
BIRKOFF: Sykes, you opened the wrong box.
MICHAEL: Mr. Gufeld? Would you have a look at this, please? This way.
NIKITA: Sykes, hurry up.
SYKES: It's jammed.
NIKITA: Michael, hold. Sykes.
SYKES: I got it.
NIKITA: Go, Michael.
VOICE: Security to Three West immediately.
MICHAEL: Keep walking.
GUARD: I'm sorry, gentlemen. No one's allowed to leave right now.
SECTION
PETROSIAN: Conference in Paris?
NIKITA: Briefing's at 9 o'clock.
PETROSIAN: The meeting with Hurley?
NIKITA: The Bosnia protocols could make that awkward. I suggest we push it back a week.
PETROSIAN: Umm, and the Gantzby Mission.
NIKITA: All elements satisfactory, except Sykes. He failed to disconnect the alarm.
PETROSIAN: And what about our friend, Walter? Did you find out what he's up to?
NIKITA: A remote surveillance mike, a new type, counter-synchronous; seems harmless enough.
PETROSIAN: Excellent Nikita. I am very pleased with your work. However, I do have one more assignment for you tonight. Volare's, at the east end of the park. You know it? Be there, 8 o'clock. Dressed appropriately. Someone will be meeting you. He will know you.
VOLARE'S
NIKITA: What are you doing here?
MICHAEL: Petrosian sent me to meet someone. Why?
NIKITA: I imagine that its part of his "full life" that he's promised me if I work for him.
MICHAEL: Am I under orders to places you?
NIKITA: Of course not. He could make it easier for us. We could have the chance to spend more time together outside Section.
MICHAEL: I wouldn't put too much trust in him.
NIKITA: Okay, well, if I'm dealing with the devil, it’s because sometimes the devil is the only one open for business. But that's not the problem, is it? Michael, it bothers you that I have so much more power now. You don't like it. Maybe it even makes you a little...uncomfortable.
MICHAEL: No.
NIKITA: Shall we just have a drink? No more games, no promises, just a drink.
SECTION: MEDICAL
MADELINE: Can you hear me?
Operations nods slightly.
MADELINE: I'm sorry. It should have been anticipated. The doctors say your progress is slow but steady. Live!
COMMON AREA
PETROSIAN: I trust last night's assignment was satisfactory.
NIKITA: Yes.
PETROSIAN: Good. Gufeld is in the White Room, ready for questioning. Interrogate ... and dispose of him.
NIKITA: Of course.
PETROSIAN: Then report back.
WHITE ROOM
NIKITA: Mr. Gufeld.
GUFELD: Who are you people?
NIKITA: You worked on something called 'R-1.' I want the location of the research facility.
GUFELD: I don't know what you're talking about.
NIKITA: Mr. Gufeld, I'm in a hurry, so I'll make this quick. If you don't tell me the location, I'll have to have you killed. If you do tell me, I'll let you go.
GUFELD: You'll let me go?
NIKITA: Well, if we get what we need, there's no reason to hold you.
GUFELD: The people I worked for…
NIKITA: …Threatened to kill you if you ever told what you knew?
GUFELD: Yes.
NIKITA: No problem. We'll protect you.
GUFELD: You promise?
NIKITA: Of course.
GUFELD: Its in Northern Iraq, near the Turkish border, just outside Zakhu.
COMMON AREA
NIKITA: I have the location. A Mission Profile's being developed now.
PETROSIAN: Good. You can't have sympathy with another person's weakness. You must use the weakness to control the person.
NIKITA: Of course.
PETROSIAN: Everyone has their weakness, whether it is status, love of praise, a lover, a mother, or simply the desire to go on living. You find a weakness, you control the person. Do you understand?
NIKITA: I think I'm beginning to.
PETROSIAN: Good.
COMM
NIKITA: Birkoff. I need a favor.
BIRKOFF: Personal favors are against regulations. Walter said we're all living by the book now; even Petrosian's little pet.
NIKITA: Wrong, Birkoff. "Petrosian's Little Pet" gets what she wants, or what they did to Walter will look like a foot message compared with what I do to you if you mess with me. Now, it’s about Kronen.
BIRKOFF: Guy who shot Operations.
NIKITA: I need you to find out everything you can about his mother -- everything.
BIRKOFF: She lives in Brazil with five kids, Kronen's siblings. She was thrown out of work about a year ago, lived on the street. Then everything changed.
NIKITA: Changed how?
BIRKOFF: She moved into a condo about a month ago. Nice neighborhood, servants…
NIKITA: The money?
BIRKOFF: Legitimate bank accounts.
NIKITA: Source of the funds?
BIRKOFF: Untraceable. What's going on?
NIKITA: As far as you're concerned: nothing.
OPERATIONS' OFFICE
NIKITA: The Mission's been prepped, it leaves tomorrow night. The bioweapons plant will be destroyed in thirty hours.
PETROSIAN: Red Team?
NIKITA: Michael, Sykes, Pelham, Vronsky.
PETROSIAN: No, not Sykes. He has been weak for some time now. I have decided to cancel him.
NIKITA: I'll see to it.
PETROSIAN: No, you will do it personally.
NIKITA: Why?
PETROSIAN: I have told you before, Nikita, compassion is a weakness. You have to be able to kill without a moment's hesitation.
NIKITA: I've killed so many people that I've lost count.
PETROSIAN: Yes, in combat. But this is different. This is a man who's only crime has been a failure to live up to the standards of Section. I have to know that you can kill him too. For me. Do it the old fashioned way, face-to-face. And, Nikita. Don't try to deceive me.
EXECUTION ROOM
SYKES: I knew this was coming for a while now. But I never thought you'd be the one to do it. I always thought you were one of the 'good ones.' Do what you have to do, Nikita.
Nikita hesitates.
SYKES: Do it. Do it!
Madeline shoots Sykes from behind Nikita.
MADELINE: It’s time we had a talk. Petrosian has to be stopped.
NIKITA: Why?
MADELINE: He hired Kronen to make the hit on Operations.
NIKITA: What makes you say that?
MADELINE: Kronen's mother was destitute. Petrosian saved her. The price was the hit. The mother's now...
NIKITA: ...Living like a queen in Brazil. I saw the file.
MADELINE: Good for you.
NIKITA: It could have been tampered with.
MADELINE: By whom?
NIKITA: Somebody who wants to turn me again Petrosian. You, for example.
MADELINE: Petrosian's a murderer. And worse.
NIKITA: Why should he be any worse than Operations?
MADELINE: Don’t be a child! If Petrosian consolidates his grip on Section, he will start a reign of terror like you've never seen.
NIKITA: Why should I believe you?
MADELINE: I'm telling you the truth.
NIKITA: The trouble is, Madeline, the puzzle palace you created tends to let the truth fall through the cracks.
MADELINE: The file you saw was real.
NIKITA: Then use it to bring him down.
MADELINE: It's circumstantial. His friends are too powerful. We have to find another way. Choose, Nikita. Are you on Petrosian's side or ours?
NIKITA: I don't take orders from you anymore, Madeline.
OPERATIONS' OFFICE
NIKITA: Sykes has been handled.
PETROSIAN: Yes, I just got a message from Housekeeping. The doctors tell me that Operations is improving.
NIKITA: Yes, I hear he's going to be moved soon to a hospital in Geneva. It won't be long before he's back running things.
PETROSIAN: And I'll be gone.
NIKITA: And I'll be at the mercy of Madeline.
PETROSIAN: Mercy is not exactly her strong suit. Still, what is to be done?
NIKITA: Kill him.
PETROSIAN: Do you have any idea what you're saying? Operations built Section with his own blood and his own pain, and you want to murder him in his sickbed.
NIKITA: He is past. You're the future.
PETROSIAN: Yes. It would be convenient for both of us if he were out of the way. Yet, not long ago, you were reluctant to kill Sykes. Now, you are ready for this?
NIKITA: There's no choice, it’s now -- or its never.
PETROSIAN: Or perhaps you are setting a trap.
NIKITA: You never lied to me. You made promises and kept them. That's not true of Operations, Madeline, Michael or anyone else in here. With you, I have a chance at life. Without you, I have nothing.
PETROSIAN: In that case, you should be willing to kill Operations yourself -- with your own hand.
NIKITA: All right.
PETROSIAN: It will be best if we are not seen together in the aftermath. I have certain arrangements to make: the sooner the better. It must be done during tomorrow night's Mission, when everyone else is occupied.
COMM
Nikita works on a computer, which displays: BACKUP MATRIX
DELAYED VIRAL INDICATOR
BIOWEAPONS FACILITY
MICHAEL: Hentgen. Report.
HENTGEN: The final charge is set.
MICHAEL: Withdraw. Twenty seconds to detonation.
NIKITA: Evacuate.
BIRKOFF: Evacuation sequence in progress. That was easy.
NIKITA: Birkoff, what going on?
BIRKOFF: I don't know.
NIKITA: Well, find out! And don't lose touch with the Team!
BIRKOFF: The Team is fine. The problem's internal. Looks like the backup matrix might have bled into the primary circuits, but I don't see how.
NIKITA: I'll go check on Systems.
COMM OPERATIVE: You want the signal table?
BIRKOFF: Yes, hold those.
MEDICAL
Nikita approaches Operations as he sleeps, a syringe in her hand. Petrosian watches via surveillance, and when she does not inject Operations, leaves his office.
COMM
BIRKOFF: Raise me another twenty percent. ... Somebody turn the alarm off!
MEDICAL
PETROSIAN: What happened?
NIKITA: I couldn't do it. He's lying there so helpless.
Petrosian takes the syringe from Nikita and injects Operations.
PETROSIAN: I was wrong about you. You're weak. I will find someone else.
NIKITA: No, you won't.
PETROSIAN: You don't understand power. You're finished.
NIKITA: Vitamin B.
Madeline enters.
MADELINE: You have many influential friends, Egran. But even they won't be able to explain this away.
OPERATION'S OFFICE
PETROSIAN: We did so many Missions together. We were good.
OPERATIONS: The best.
PETROSIAN: I often wondered what would happen if we went head-to-head.
OPERATIONS: Now we know.
PETROSIAN: Still, it was close.
OPERATIONS: Your timing was excellent. I was over committed, careless.
PETROSIAN: If only Kronen had been a better shot! I don't suppose, for "old times sake," you could find me a deep cover assignment in some backwater never-to-be-heard-of-again?
OPERATIONS: I'm afraid not. If word got out, discipline would be compromised.
PETROSIAN: Then let us not prolong things. Though, I do have one last request, if it is still the custom for one to be granted to the condemned man.
OPERATIONS: Within reason.
PETROSIAN: Shake my hand.
OPERATIONS: With pleasure.
COMMON AREA
NIKITA: Hi, Walter.
Walter turns away.
MADELINE: He'll forgive you eventually. After all, in the end, you did save Section.
NIKITA: Did I?
MADELINE: I think it's pretty clear. Operations is a better choice than Petrosian.
NIKITA: Better for who?
MADELINE: If you had doubts, why did you side with us?
NIKITA: Petrosian was willing to give me a life, as much as one can have inside Section. But in order to get it, I lied, I bullied, and, who knows, eventually I might have even killed in cold blood. In other words, I found out what it's like to...to be you.
MADELINE: And you didn't like it.
NIKITA: No, I didn't.
MADELINE: Power is addictive, Nikita. You've had a taste. It’s in your blood now.
NIKITA: You're wrong.
MADELINE: You'll be back. It's only a matter of time. But there'll
be one difference. The next time I'll be waiting for you.
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