Escape Transcript
By Cathy

Nikita is walking along the street with a shopping bag. A man on a fire escape above looks down on her. He walks down the stairs and runs up to her from behind.
Eric: Hi! Oh, hey, sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I think you - I think you dropped this. (He shows her a black glove)
Nikita: No, that's not mine.
Eric: Are you sure? I'm sure I saw it come out of your jacket, or your bag.
Nikita: I'm very sure, thanks anyway.
Eric: You wouldn't want to lose a glove on a day like this, it's cold. I'm freezing. (Nikita smiles and starts to walk away) Hey, I'm going to grab a coffee, would you like to join me or something?
Nikita: No, thanks.
Eric: No, really, I thought you dropped the glove, I'm sorry.
Nikita: Goodbye.
Eric: Nikita, wait.
Nikita: (Instantly cold and wary) How do you know my name?
Eric: I can get you out of Section One.
Nikita: What are you talking about?
Eric: There's a number, in this glove.
Nikita: I don't know what you're talking about.
Eric: Don't play games, Nikita. If you want to be free, I can make it happen.
(He leaves; she is left holding the glove. Nikita goes home and enters her apartment. She is on guard - locking the door behind her. She lays the glove down but keeps looking at it. Finally she picks it up and pulls out a piece of paper with a number on it - 555-0145. )

Nikita comes into Section One; Michael watches her from his office. She goes past and heads to Walter's area.
Nikita: Hey Walter. Can I ask you a question?
Walter: (lays down what he was working on) What's up, Sugar?
Nikita: (walks over til she's close enough to speak softly into his ear) Does the Section ever test its operatives? Tempt them, for example?
Walter: You've got to think of the Seciton like a living organism. Like any organism, it will do whatever it has to to survive. Be careful.
(Nikita looks at him and then walks down the hall. Michael is watching from above and he calls to her as she passes.)
Michael: Good morning. How's everything?
Nikita: Fine.
Michael: New glasses? Look good.
Nikita: Thanks.
Michael: Don't go too far, we have a briefing in an hour.

Operations: Yesterday, two Marine guards were abducted from a South American embassy by a terrorist group called Tiburon. The spokesman for that group is a man named Cassian Perez. He sent this transmission an hour ago.
Perez (on holoscreen): Several weeks ago, the government kidnapped some of my men. Of course they called it an "arrest". But as you can see I have "arrested" some of your men in return. The solution is simple: a trade.
Perez' Hostage: Andrew Townsend, Lance Corporal, Serial Number 548723061.
Perez: They are brave young men. Don't make me kill them. You have 24 hours.
Michael: What are the chances of a trade?
Operations: Considering Perez' men have been dead for several months, not too good.
Madeline: (to Birkoff) Can we trace the transmission?
Birkoff: It's scrambled. We'll keep trying but it's a long shot.
Operations: Perez has a brother named Jericho. Our sources tell us they're very close. If we can pick him up, we'll have significant leverage with Cassian. He lives in a secluded place, heavily guarded.
(Throughout the briefing, Nikita has obviously been mentally elsewhere)

Section troops approach Jericho's house. He is inside tasting food as he cooks.
Jericho's Wife: (coming down the stairs) Jer, can we eat? How long can it take to make soup?
Jericho: It's not soup, it's bouillabase. It takes longer.
Wife: Then make soup. I'm starving!
(Outside, one of Jericho's guards is throttled)
(Inside the house, Jericho's kids run in, raising hell)
Jericho: Hey, hey, guys, not in the kitchen!
Jericho's son: (to the other son) C'mon, let's go watch some TV
Wife: They're just playing.
Jericho: What's the point in giving the servants the night off if the kids are here? They should be at your mother's.
Wife: I told you, she got sick!
(Back outside, another guard bites the dust)
Boy: That looks awful.
Jericho: Just try it.
Boy: What if I don't want to?
Jericho: What if I smack you in the head?
Wife: Jeez, Jer. (Jericho goes over and looks nervously out the window.) What's the matter?
(Jericho rushes back to the kitchen drawer and pulls out a walkie-talkie)
Jericho: Paul, everything okay? Paul? What's happening? Mike? Where the hell are you guys? (Flash to the outside where the guards' bodies lie in the snow) (He looks at his wife) Take the kids to our room, now! GO! (He grabs a gun and loads it)
Boy: What's happening? (as his mother rushes them up the stairs.)
Wife: Hurry. Go, go.
Boy: Why did the lights go out? Mommy!
(Section agents are in the house, shining a flashlight on Jericho)
Agent: Drop it.
Jericho: Who are you?
Agent2: He said, drop it.
Wife: (running downstairs) Jericho! (The agents shoot Jericho but he's not dead and he starts firing. Gun battle.) Jer, no! (She is shot and falls; then Jericho falls. The little boy is at the front of the stairs watching.)
Boy: Mommy? Mommy?
Nikita: (rushes in and hustles him back up the stairs) Go back, go back. It's all right, no one's going to hurt you.
Boy: What happened to my mom? Is she okay?
Michael: (Entering the house) Take him to the van and get a body bag for her.
Nikita: (to the older boy about his little brother)Take care of him. (To Michael, accusingly) I thought there weren't supposed to be any kids?
Michael: There weren't.
Nikita: Michael, they just watched their mother get shot. (Sound of the boys crying in the background)
Michael: It can't be helped, Nikita. (He walks away, she stands frozen with the boys' sobbing echoing in her ears).

Nikita is in her apartment doing push-ups. There is a knock at her door. She turns down the music and runs to the door.
Nikita: Hey, Carla.
Carla: Hey, what's going on in here?
Nikita: Sorry about that, I was just working out.
Carla: Got something to tell you.
Nikita: Uh-huh. I really love this song. (She goes back to doing push-ups, frenziedly)
Carla: I met someone
Nikita: Surprise, surprise.
Carla: No, this one's different.
Nikita:Sure he is.
(She goes to Nikita's fridge and gets herself a bottled water.)
: Want some water? (Nice of her to ask since it's Nikita's water... LOL)
Nikita: Sure.
Carla: He's a musician. I know musicians are trouble, but he's a classical musician, that can't be that bad, right?
Nikita: (says nothing but arches her back up, exhausted.)
Carla: You okay?
Nikita: Yeah, I'm fine. It's nothing really.
Carla: Yeah, well, it's something. What's wrong?
Nikita: Something happened today. Saw a car accident. Mother was killed in front of her kids. It's awful.
Carla: Wow. Where?
Nikita: Downtown. I kept thinking I should have done something, you know?
Carla: What could you have done?
Nikita: I don't know. I could have... I just can't really get the sound of the kids crying out of my mind.

(Nikita goes to a phone booth and calls the number).
Eric: Hello.
Nikita: I'm ready. Meet me at my apartment in one hour.
Eric: I'll be there. (He appears outside, cautiously walking, but evidently not cautiously enough because Nikita gets him with a trip wire and he sprawls facedown on the ground)
Nikita: How do you know me? Who sent you?
Eric: Nobody sent me.
Nikita: How do you know about Section One?
Eric: I'm in it, just like you.
Nikita: Prove it.
Eric: (opens a zipped case and pulls out a laptop. He shows Nikita a tape of herself undressing in her apartment). Life in the Section, Nikita. Everyone is watched. They have a camera mounted over your stove and in the corner of your bedroom ceiling.
Nikita: How do you know all this?
Eric: Because that's my job. Watching. They don't exactly give me a choice.
Nikita: They watch all the time?
Eric: No, not all the time. But enough to make sure everyone's under control. (Nikita spins and walks away; he follows) Nikita, don't walk away from me!
Nikita: How do you know you weren't followed?
Eric: I don't, not for sure, but I've been careful or I wouldn't have gotten this far. (A passerby appears so they hug quickly to look normal) If you hate living like this as much as I do, then let's do something about it.
Nikita: Even if we got away, they'd find us.
Eric: Not if we don't exist.
Nikita: They'd kill us.
Eric: No, I've created a computer virus that would erase us from their files completely. We'd be ghosts.
Nikita: Why me?
Eric: Because the plan takes two, and I know you. I know I can trust you.
Nikita: What's your plan?

(Michael leaves his office and runs into Nikita)
Michael: You were out last night. I called to ask if you wanted to get a cup of coffee.
Nikita: Why?
Michael: I like coffee. (ROTFL!)
Nikita: First you compliment me on my new sunglasses, and now you're asking me out for coffee?
Michael: I've been thinking about you lately.
Nikita: And what have you been thinking?
Michael: That we might spend more time together outside the Section.
Nikita: I didn't think there was anything outside Section.
Michael: There is. (She gives him a look and then keeps walking. They go to a briefing)

Operations: We just received another transmission.
Cassian: I have seen too many comrades lose loved ones in our struggle for freedom to give in at the thought of losing my brother. As much as I love him, I would not lift a finger to save Jericho. But if you do not release him, I will kill the second hostage. The first I have already killed in retaliation for the death of my brother's wife.
Michael: (to Madeline) Did we get anything out of Jericho?
Madeline: No. He'd have told us in the first thirty seconds. But we may be able to use him later on. (As Madeline talks, Nikita fidgets - again, her mind is elsewhere)
Operations: We've developed a mission profile thanks to the help of Mr. Birkoff.
Birkoff: This second transmission was scrambled like the first. But I put together a signal averaging program and I think we have a location.
Operations: An old stadium in Kosatz. Memorize the schematic. The Section team runs along the old stadium.
Michael: (to Nikita) There'll be a lot of nooks and crannies that didn't show up on the schematic. Be careful.
Nikita: (looks at him warily). (From above, Section takes out the guards below. The door is locked.)
Michael: Blow it. (Operatives put an explosive on the door; it explodes and they break in. It's an old locker room and is dark inside. They move through it with flashlights, searching. They find one of their hostages dead, with a bag over his head)
Nikita: Maybe they've taken the other one somewhere else?
Michael: We don't know that. Let's spread out. (They continue to search. Nikita runs upstairs and meets Eric.)
Eric: Let's go. There's a tunnel under the stadium that exits to the west.
Nikita: We didn't find the hostage yet.
Eric: We'll be out of the city in a half hour. I'll tap in and activate the virus. Then we're free. Now, come on. (He runs; she follows, looking behind her all the while. Then she slows, hearing voices) Nikita!
Nikita: Shhhhh! Do you hear that?
Eric: No! No, there's no time! Come on! Damn it, Nikita, come on! (Nikita moves toward the door from where she heard the voices coming. As she enters the room, we can hear a radio transmission playing. Gun drawn, she proceeds down the stairs but is stopped by a gun in her neck.)
Hostile: Hold it right there. Turn around. Put the gun down, slowly. (She does so, but as she comes back up, she grabs him by the arm and neatly flips him over the stairs to fall. Then she shoots him.)
Eric: Come on! (Still trying to get her to go with him. They run off again but come face to face with other operatives.)
Op. #1: We heard shooting.
Nikita: Yes there was. No hostages in sight. I took down one of theirs.
Michael: Then you were right. He's been moved. (Nikita nods) We'll have to start all over again.

(Later, Eric and Nikita are arguing)
Eric: Everything was perfect. All we had to do was-
Nikita: Why did you wait? Why didn't you just go without me?
Eric: The plan takes two people.
Nikita: It doesn't take two people to run through a tunnel. Is this some kind of game the Section's playing with me? (She grabs him, angrily)
Eric: No.
Nikita: Don't lie to me.
Eric: I won't.
Nikita: Then why didn't you go?
Eric: I couldn't. Not without you. All those hours watching you... I couldn't go without you.. You're different than them, Nikita, you're like me. And I - I know that we could be happy together. I can - I can feel it. I - I know you don't feel the same way... but maybe, maybe in time... Listen, let's just get out - either way, and whatever happens, happens, okay? And just one thing. You have a lot of reasons to stay in Section. But if you decide to stay in the Section because of Michael, please... don't.
Nikita: Why would I stay because of Michael?
Eric: I've seen your face when he calls. He doesn't feel the same way, Nikita.
Nikita: Do you watch him too?
Eric: Enough to know. They're working on Jericho now. He can't last long. When they get what they need, they'll be calling us. Be ready, okay? (He leaves; Nikita looks sideways and sees a neighbor watching)

(Nikita roams around her apartment; flash to Michael's face; flash back to Nikita's. She picks up a metal dolphin and puts it in her fish tank. Then she picks it back out and moves it around as if swimming. She fidgets with her sunglasses. Flash back to Michael's face; deep in thought)

Jericho sits in darkness. The door squeaks open and Madeline enters pushing a cart.
Madeline: Do you want something to eat?
Jericho: Just water. (Madeline gets him a drink.)
Jericho: How are my kids?
Madeline: The kids are fine.
Jericho: Can I see them?
Madeline: That's up to you.
Jericho: I keep telling you, I don't know where my brother is keeping this guy.
Madeline: I believe you. But I want you to find out. Contact your brother, tell him you're hurt. They'll bring you to him. And wherever he is, that's where the hostage is.
Jericho: I will not betray my brother.
Madeline: Not even to see your children again? You're all they've have now since you've killed your wife. Or would you really rather sacrifice your life for this? (She hits s remote control and the part of the transmission where Cassian says he wouldn't lift a finger to save Jericho plays over and over again). Next, Madeline and Operations walk into the loft.
Operations: You just let him walk out of here?
Madeline: He knows we're watching him.
Operations: What if he decides not to betray his brother?
Madeline: He'll betray him.
Operations: Because of the tape? Tapes can be tampered with. Jericho knows that as well as we do.
Madeline: He wants to be free. The tape just gave him an excuse. In the meantime, my advice is to assemble the team. They'll be needed soon.

(On the floor, Michael comes up to Nikita, who is seated.)
Michael: The building is empty; the hostage is on the top floor. You'll take the point. Your job is to scout forpersonnel locations. We'll have a few seconds - we'll have to be quick and accurate. Understand?
Nikita: I understand.
(Nikita is watching the computer screen when Madeline comes up)
Madeline: You're here late.
Nikita: Just going over the parameters again.
Madeline: That's not like you. You're usually a quick study.
Nikita: I must be getting more dedicated to my work.
Madeline: Somehow I don't think it's the mission you're having trouble figuring out.
Nikita: How did he get here? What's his life like outside? Does he even have one?
Madeline: Would knowing the answers make you perform your mission more efficiently?
Nikita: It might. (Madeline smiles at the quick answer)
Madeline: Is it his life you want to know about, or his heart?
Nikita: Does he even have a heart?
Madeline: Michael loved once, very deeply.
Nikita: Simone. (Nikita gets up; Madeline follows and they start to walk out together)
Madeline: Some men can only love once. Whether Michael's like that or not, I don't really know.
Nikita: Gee, Madeline, I thought you knew everything.
Madeline: I know what I need to know, Nikita. If you can say the same, you'll be all right. Get some rest.
Nikita: Good night, Madeline.

(Eric is walking along with a phone)
Eric: Nikita, this is Eric. Don't worry, this call is secure. Has Section contacted you yet?
Nikita: No.
Eric: They will. The mission could go anytime.
Nikita: I'll be ready.
Eric: I hope so. Nikita, I want you to understand, this is our last chance. (there is a knock at Nikita's door) Nikita? Nikita? (She has hung up on him. She listens to the knocking, then answers. It's Michael.)
Nikita: Michael.
Michael: We're on standby, so I thought that we could go over that plan again.
Nikita: I know the plan. I'm sure you do, too.
Michael: May I come in?
Nikita: Of course.
Michael: Then we could have that cup of coffee... or the drink.
Nikita: All right. (She grabs her coat.)
Michael: No need to leave the apartment. Whatever you have will be fine.
Nikita: What if I'm out of everything?
Michael: That will be fine, too. (Michael puts some music on; Nikita slouches in a chair.)
Nikita: Are you trying to seduce me? (He says nothing) I've never been able to figure you out. (He extends his hand to her; she rises and goes to him.)
Nikita: Why should today... be different? (He takes her hand)
Michael: It's very simple. (Michael, that certainly was your #1 lie of all time) After Simone, I thought if I ever cared for anyone again... it would have to be someone from outside the Section, but I was wrong. No one from the outside can understand who we are. (This is where the infamous "hand dance" takes place) We fight all the time just to stay alive. Let's not fight what's between us. Let's take what we can get. (They start dancing; he's running his hand down her thigh. She touches his face and they start to kiss. Then of course, the phone rings. Michael picks up his phone and Maddy is on the other end.)
Michael: Yes.
Madeline: We're ready to move. They are all racing in from what looks to be the parking garage even though you see no cars.

Eric is working on the elevator. As Nikita passes, he talks to her.
Eric: Elevator, fifteen minutes. (To Michael) Ready.
Michael: Let's go. (He and Nikita get into the elevator) (Nikita, dressed as a secretary, steps out of the elevator and is confronted by two men with guns. She feigns shock.)
Nikita: Whoa!
Asst. Slime: Hey, hey, hey! Who are you?
Nikita: I'm the temp that was ordered.
Asst. Slime: We didn't order any temp. These elevators aren't even supposed to be working.
Nikita: Oh. What's going on?
Asst. Slime: We're security. There have been some break-ins in here lately.
Nikita: I guess the Agency just sent me to the wrong building.
Asst. Slime: I guess they did.
Nikita: Sorry. (She backs into the elevator and the doors close.)
Eric: (talking to her via her comm set) We're set. Elevator panel activated.
Asst. Slime: (To the other one) Why did you let her go?
Asst. Slime #2: Someone might have seen her come into the building. We'll be out by tonight, anyway.
(Michael pulls Nikita up and out of the elevator from above)
Nikita: Two guards directly in front of the elevator; two more are on the southwest corner.
Michael: The hostage?
Nikita: Not in my sights; he must be in the northwest corner. (To Perez and his hostage)
Perez: The deadline is here with no word from your friends. Any last words?
Townsend: Andrew Townsend, Lance Corporal, 548723061.
Perez: (cocks gun) Goodbye.
(Nikita drops from the ceiling and tackles him. She punches him in the jaw and knocks him out, then kicks his gun to Michael. Meanwhile, Michael has (tear gassed?) two of Perez' henchmen. He spins around to see Perez recovering and about to attack Nikita, so he shoots him. Two more guards run in; Michael drops them.)
Michael: Secure the prisoners. Make sure the floor's clear.
(Nikita walks away and casts a look backward at Michael, helping the wounded hostage out of the room. She meets Eric in the hallway)
Eric: Hi. You ready?
Nikita: Mmm-hmmm.
Eric: Let's do it, come on. (Nikita hesitates). Nikita, listen to me. At the end of the hall, there's a bridge to the building across the street. The virus is ready to go. In five minutes, we'll vanish into thin air. Okay?
Nikita: Okay.
Eric: Come on. (Nikita steps forward but hesitates again) Nikita, he does not love you!
Nikita: (nods, sighs) You go.
Eric: No.
Nikita: Go (whispering)
Eric: All right, um... we'll I'll, I'll take you out of the virus then. Goodbye. (He leaves).

(Back at Section, Nikita is checking her weapons back in with Walter.)
Walter: Didn't you have another weapon?
Nikita: Not this trip.
Walter: My report tells me that you had a snub-nosed .357. I'm afraid I'm going to have to search you.
Nikita: Really? Go ahead.
Walter: Brat. (She laughs and walks away, Michael is there.)
Nikita: How's the hostage?
Michael: He'll be fine. Something came up. Eric didn't come back with the rest of the team and some sort of virus erased him from our primary database.
Nikita: You mean there's a backup system?
Michael: He won't get far. And anyone who went with him, wouldn't have either.
Nikita: You knew about his plan all the time, didn't you? (Her voice chokes up) This was all one big manipulation to keep me from going with him, wasn't it?
Michael: To keep you alive.
Nikita: But why? Why bother? (Michael gives her the blank stare and walks away.) Welcome back, Michael (she says to no one).

Tag scene: A briefing with Operations, Madeline and Michael.
Operations: Prepare a plan and a shadow team; we'll need a psychological profile on all the major players- (He is interrupted as Nikita comes striding up and throws surveillance equipment all over the table)
Operations: What's this?
Nikita: Your cameras. I'm not having them in my apartment any more.
Operations: You're not?
Nikita: No. And if you don't like it, you can-
Operations: (angry now, rises) -We can what?
Nikita: Cancel me, because I'd rather be dead than watched like an animal in the zoo.
Operations: Are you sure about that?
Nikita: I'm very sure. (She looks at Madeline; Madeline is doing a poor job of concealing her smile. Nikita leaves.)
Operations: (talking into a speaker) Cancel surveillance on Nikita, at least for the time being. (Flash to Madeline, she smirks a little) (To everyone) Now, where were we?

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