Gambit Transcript

By Cathy

Scene 1
The episode begins with four people sitting in chairs, blindfolded. Madeline is facing them holding a gun and talking to someone on her comm set.
Madeline: I want the information or four innocent people will die.
Voice: We'll do the best we can.
Madeline shoots one of the people in the back of the head.
Madeline: I want the information or three innocent people will die.
Flash to Nikita, walking down the hall toward Madeline's office. She's dressed like she just came from a guest appearance on Jerry Springer, the script explains she's returning from a mission.
Birkoff: What are you doing here?
Nikita: Madeline wants to see me.
Flash to Madeline, shooting another person in the back of the head. His chair falls forward.
Birkoff: Are you sure?
Nikita : Yeah. Why?
Birkoff: I think she's tied up right now.
Nikita: Ohhhh (obviously thinking a few things about the potential meanings of "tied up")
Flash back to Madeline, now pointing a gun at the head of the last surviving hostage, a young woman.
Madeline: What's your answer?
Voice: Okay. We'll give you what you want.
Madeline tears off the blindfold.
Madeline: Good news. They met my demands.
She then points the gun at the girl's face, but hesitates. There is a knock on the door.
Nikita: Madeline?
Madeline: (turns and you see that she's wearing a vr helmet and this has all been a simulation) come in.
Nikita: Wow. Are you all right?
Madeline: I was just doing a VR sim.
Nikita: Of what?
Madeline: Do you know what it is that I do here?
Nikita: What do you mean?
Madeline: My job description.
Nikita: Well, you tell us what to do... who to kill.
Madeline: My primary function is to get inside the enemy's head. Anticipate his next move whenever possible.
Nikita: So whose head are you getting into now?
Madeline: You'll find out in the next twelve hours. I want you to study this file (she hands her a disk).
Nikita: That's it?
Madeline: It's going to be a very complicated mission. I'm going to want everyone up to speed. The file should give you a leg up on what we're doing.
Script directions say "Nikita stands, notices Madeline is lost in thought."
Nikita: (goes to leave, then stops) Are you sure there's nothing wrong?
Madeline: (smiles) Sometimes I'm not sure if I'm still strong enough to do this.
Nikita: Well, you're the strongest person I've ever met.
Madeline: (laughs) You've never met Gregor Kessler.
Nikita: Who?
Madeline: I'll see you in the morning. Thank you. (Nikita leaves; Madeline sits down, deep in thought. This is probably the most unsettled we've seen Madeline look up to this point.)

Scene 2: Section One, War Room
The holo screen shows some guy.
Operations: He calls himself Gregor Kessler, but that's not his real name. (The image changes) This is also Gregor Kessler. And this is Gregor Kessler. (flash to a crowded group of people at an airport. An old lady is among them.) His name is not the only mystery. No one has ever seen his real face. He's a master of disguise and moves around the globe at will. We're assuming that he's moving west and we're doing what we can to seal the borders.
Nikita: How do we know that's him?
Operations: Each of these men was tracked but never caught in unrelated terrorist incidents. However we did get close enough to gather trace materials - DNA residue showed that they were all the same person.
Nikita: So what's Kessler done now?
Operations: Nothing... yet.
Michael: We have advance intel?
Madeline: A threat was made against the west by a group we've been monitoring, the United Coalition. Unless their demands are met, which will not happen, they say they will contaminate the water supply of a major city with a radioactive agent, Cobalt 60.
Michael: We get threats every day. What gives this one credibility?
Madeline: One of our operatives inside the coalition decoded a communique. Confirmation of initial payment to Kessler.
Operations: If Kessler was hired by the Coalition, the threat warrants priority countermeasures.
Madeline: We don't know who he is, but we do know what he is. A a terrorist with the blood lust of a serial killer and the strategic prowess of a chess master. You don't get many chances with someone like Kessler. We can't miss a beat. (flashes of the old lady moving through customs...she's Kessler)

Scene 3: Section One - corridor, Madeline, Michael and Nikita.
Michael: So Kessler could be anybody?
Madeline: That's right.
Nikita: How do we find him?
Madeline: Follow the cobalt. C-60 is highly controlled. There's been none reported missing, so Kessler hasn't made his move yet.

Scene 4: Section One, Comm Center
Birkoff: There are 15 facilities worldwide that manufacture the isotope. Seven of those are in remote locations in the far east; it would take at least three days to get to them.
Madeline: He doesn't have that kind of time. Our sources say the incident is expected before the end of the week.
Birkoff: Good.
Michael: You can also rule out Brazil and Argentina. They're government facilities, there's too much security. He wouldn't need to take that kind of risk.
Birkoff: That leaves six in the Americas and Europe. Three of those are under the direct control of the CIA or NATO. We wish he'd walk into one of them. We're down to three.
Madeline: What are they?
Birkoff: A defense contractor in Toronto. A nuclear medicine company in Ecuador and a chip manufacturer in northern California.
Madeline: Well, forget Ecuador.
Birkoff: Why?
Madeline: He'll be wearing a mask. You ever wear latex in a hundred percent humidity?
Birkoff: So, it's California or Toronto.
Madeline: The receipt.
Nikita: What receipt?
Madeline: The one from Kessler. Initial payment for services rendered. How much was it for?
Birkoff: $772,592 dollars U.S.
Madeline: Convert that to Canadian dollar using the exchange rate from the date of receipt.
Birkoff: Exactly one million dollars, Canadian.
Madeline: He's in Toronto. Get the plane ready.

Scene 5: Elegra corporation, Toronto - the defense contractor's facility
Older man: Hello, mr. Hayes?
Hayes: What is it?
Older man: It's for the new spectrum analyzer.
Hayes takes it to sign.
Hayes: Prices are going through the roof. Find another supplier. (he hands it back and walks away, then enters a classified area using a pass card. A janitor comes along.)
Janitor: Good morning! Very nice suit, mr. Hayes.
Hayes: Yeah, hi. (Hayes enters another classified area after passing a retinal scan.)
Nikita and Michael are on site.
Nikita: Michael, someone just went into the isotope room.
Michael: This should be Hayes, the project leader. He resets the alarm code every two hours. Green team, confirm identity, Julian Hayes.
Operative: (watches as Hayes exits the room and walks by) I have confirmation on Hayes.
Michael: All right.
Time passes, Michael and Nikita trade off sitting at a desk. Finally it's time for Hayes to leave. He heads to the parking structure and gets into his Mercedes, which won't start. He calls on his cell phone and gets an error message. Hayes: Damn!
The janitor appears.
Janitor: What's the matter, mr. Hayes?
Hayes: Oh, my car won't start.
Janitor: Why don't you pop the hood? I'll take a look at it for you.
Hayes: Yeah, okay. (he does so, and then leans under the hood with the janitor)
Flash to inside Elegra; a young man shows his pass to Nikita and goes by her; she looks after him suspiciously. Meanwhile the janitor uses a pass to enter the same area Hayes had entered earlier. Flash back to the parking garage, Hayes lies dead. The janitor, inside, holds up Hayes' eyeball to gain access to the isotope room.
Nikita: Michael, the room with the cobalt.
Michael: What about it?
Nikita: The isotope's out.
Michael: Blue team, isotope room.
Operatives run down the hallways. Nikita frantically tries to gain access to the room.
Nikita: He scrambled the code. Stand back.
She draws her gun and shoots the unit; alarms go off. Nikita sees the janitor, holding a gun on a guard, and shoots at him but bulletproof glass protects him. He shoots the guard and then cuts Nikita and the other operative's way out by closing another glass door on the other side. Nikita: Michael, he's out!
Michael: Where?
Nikita: North side door of the outer office.
Michael: Pursue.
Nikita: We can't. He's put up a barrier. I'm working on it now.
The janitor walks down the hallway with his briefcase. Operatives run past, oblivious to who he is, but Michael and Nikita take him down. Michael opens the isotope case which is empty. Meanwhile in the parking lot, another man gets into a car with the isotope. Nikita pulls away the latex mask on the janitor.
Nikita: Kessler.

Scene 6: Section One, Madeline's office
Madeline is sitting in her office and looking in the mirror, kind of running her hands over her face. Operations comes in.
Operations: We've got him.
Madeline: Then it's over?
Operations: Not yet. Somehow he got rid of the cobalt.
Madeline: Were we able to trace it?
Operations: No. He must not have been working alone.
Madeline: Where is he now?
Operations: En route. Kessler's no good to us unless he tells us where to find that cobalt. (Operations leaves)

Scene 7: Section One, Comm Center
Birkoff: His real name is Norris Gaines. He was born in Germany in 1946. His parents were Polish immigrants; they were murdered in 1952 by a xenophobic hate group. He was taken into a state facility where he stayed for eight years. By all accounts, he was an introvert - no friends, no special interests. Then without explanation, he tortured and murdered two students. He escaped and went underground where he remained until he resurfaced, eleven years later, as Gregor Kessler. Click on the background window, it has details, there might be something there you can use.
Operations: Did you work up his non-operational profile?
Birkoff: He lived with a woman in Amsterdam for a couple of years in the early 80's.
Operations: Can we get to her?
Birkoff: Died in labor.
Madeline: The child?
Birkoff: We're checking it out.
Operations and Madeline trade a look.
Operations: Are you ready?
She nods.

Scene 8: Section One, the white room
Madeline: (comes in, smiling that special little smile that she reserves for people she is about to make mincemeat out of). If you were our typical guest, you'd have been tortured to within an inch of your life by now. Here's my offer. If you cooperate, we'll assign you to an internment that will be bearable.
Kessler: I'm sorry about your sister. (Maddy turns away so he can't see the expression on her face)
Madeline: We'll find the cobalt with or without you.
Kessler: Must have been so hard on you, huh? You so young and your psyche is so vulnerable.
Madeline: (getting that icy edge in her voice) Things would be easier all around if you help.
Kessler: (starts singing a children's song) I knew a little girl, it was a long time ago, used to sing this song. She's gone now.
Madeline looks down, says nothing. She is turned sideways so he can't look directly into her eyes. Kessler starts singing again.
Birkoff: (watching from the observation area) He's getting to her.
(Script has Nikita saying, "Is he talking about something that happened to her?" This was cut from the aired version.)
Madeline: On the other hand, we can make things unbearable.
Kessler: Hmmm. Yesterday, I saw up on a stair, a little girl who was not there. She was not there again today, gee, I wish she'd go away, huh?
Operations is watching, looking very angry indeed. This is the first time we really see Operations showing his protective tendencies toward Maddy. He's not liking it at all that this creep is tormenting her. Script says Maddy is staring at Kessler, trying to figure out how much he knows.
Operations: Ah, no. It can't be intuition. (Nikita looks surprised and curious). He researched her. He knows about the Section.
Inside the room, Madeline turns away and hits a button and one of her torturer's helpers enters.
Kessler: Oh, no, now, why do we need him? Just when we were having such fun, the two of us.
Madeline: (big smile) Yes. 10 cc's.
Kessler: Oh, no, don't do this, don't do this. This information is very complicated, names, numbers. I won't be able to remember if you... (he gets a shot in the neck and groans and cringes. Madeline watches, enjoying every minute).
Madeline: That tightening and that pain that you feel in your chest will only get worse. It's caused by-
Kessler: Mephobarbital. I recognized it right away. You know, what I can't understand is why people don't like this drug because it's so lovely. Is there more?
Madeline: (smiles) Yes, there's more.
Kessler: Ah, good.
Madeline: Another 10 cc's.
Kessler: Oh, yes, please, don't be shy, yes, do. (he smiles as he gets the second injection)
Madeline: Dehydrate him. (Maddy walks away).
Kessler: Madeline? (pauses) I'm sorry, what happened to her. (Maddy exits. The script has Kessler following that comment with: It's not as if you could help yourself. You were so young... but so angry. Still, it must have felt good. I mean, from a child's point of view. You didn't have to share anymore.)

Scene 9: Section One, the Perch
Operations: We found Kessler's daughter.
Michael: Where?
Operations: Oslo. She's a foreign exchange student at the university. I need you to bring her in.
Nikita: How do you want us to do that?
Operations: Birkoff found out that he's been supporting her all these years.
Nikita: Does she know him?
Operations: No. All he's allowed her to know is that he exists and he's been taking care of her financially.
Michael: He's protecting her.
Operations: Yes, even in his tormented psyche, he still loves his daughter.

Scene 10: University of Oslo, Norway.
Nikita hanging around looking like a student. She sees Annie.
Nikita: Hello.
Annie: Hi.
Nikita: Are you Annie?
Annie: Yeah. Are you in one of my classes?
Nikita: Oh, no, I'm not. This is going to sound a little strange, but Annie, I just need you to listen to me carefully. I'm here because of your father.
Annie: You're what?
Nikita: Not your foster father. Uh, your real father. The one that you've never met.
Annie: How do you know about that?
Nikita: Because I know him and I want you to come with me to see him.
Annie: No, I don't think so. (gets up, leaves)
Nikita: Annie, wait.
Annie: Who are you?
Nikita: I can't tell you that. Annie, you're going to have to trust me.
Annie: Look, I've spent my whole life looking for him. He didn't want to be found. Now you're saying that all of a sudden he wants to see me?
Nikita: It's a little more complicated than that.
Annie: Look, just give me your number, somewhere where I can reach you, and just let me think about it.
Nikita: I can't do that.
Annie: Well then forget about it. This is too weird. Just leave me alone. (she takes off and leaves the building but Michael grabs her) hey! Let go of me!
Michael: I'm not going to hurt you. Please, get in the van. (the mission van screeches up to them)

Scene 11: Section One, white room
Kessler has some headphones on and we can hear a high pitched sound that he's probably been subjected to for a long time. Madeline comes in and takes the headphones off.
Kessler: Huh, I was having a most pleasant dream. You were in it. I think. Yes, I think it was you. Two little girls. One had, uh, oh dear, auburn hair, yeah, and the other was a little darker. You were playing at the top of the stairs. You both wanted the doll. And then... I can't remember what happened then. Perhaps you can help, Madeline? Hmmm?
Madeline: (steps forward) We have your daughter. We have Annie. (This is about the most blatantly venomous I've ever seen Madeline. She wants to make him suffer now. She has to deal with people like Kessler all the time, but they don't go after her personally, and she's furious.)
Kessler: Well, I've never met Annie. (unconvincing)
Madeline: I doubt she has the same capacity to endure pain as you. In fact, she will suffer from the start. And it won't end for a long time.
Kessler: Why would you, of all people, want to harm an innocent young girl?
Madeline: I never said I wanted to.
Kessler: You won't do this. You cannot do this. (Madeline goes to walk away) Wait! I'll tell you what you want to know. Once I'm convinced it is her.
Madeline: She's on her way. (she leaves)

Scene 12: Section One, corridor.
Michael and Nikita bring Annie in with a hood over her head.
Operations: Any exposure?
Michael: No.
Madeline: Let me see her. (they pull the hood off Annie's head)
Nikita: It's going to be fine, trust me.
Annie: Who are you people?
Madeline steps forward.
Madeline: I'm sorry for what we're putting you through. Fortunately, it'll be brief, and you'll be back in Norway tomorrow, with an incredible story you'll never be able to confirm.
Annie: What are you talking about?
Madeline: Get ready to meet your father.

Scene 13: Section One, white room
Annie: You're my father?
Kessler: Would you let me touch her? I would - I would like to touch my daughter once and then I'll tell you where you - where you can find your cobalt.
Madeline: Let him touch your face, briefly.
Annie steps forward.
Kessler: Now come closer, I just... yeah. You must not believe anything that these people tell you. Your mother wanted me to tell you- (he deliberately mumbles)
Annie: What did my mother-
Kessler: Come closer.
Madeline: (realizes what's about to happen) Annie, no!
It's too late. Kessler bites his daughter in the neck. Michael kicks him, releasing her.
Nikita: He's opened the jugular! Get help! She's bleeding to death.
Kessler and Madeline stare daggers at each other. Blood drips from his mouth.

Scene 14: Section One, Madeline's office
Nikita: Madeline.
Madeline: Is she dead?
Nikita: Not yet. But she won't make it through the night. So we were wrong. She didn't mean anything to Kessler.
Madeline: On the contrary. He cared enough to kill her. It was an act of mercy, Nikita. He was protecting her.
Nikita: Protecting her? From who?
Madeline: From us.
Nikita: How do you know what goes on inside his head?
Madeline: I know.
Nikita: Does he know what's inside your head?
Madeline: No.
Nikita: So what was he talking about yesterday? That poem about the little girl and the stair? It seemed to affect you.
Madeline: Isn't it enough that I have to endure the ravings of this lunatic?
Nikita: I'm sorry. I just thought you might like somebody to talk to, that's all.
Madeline: We were fighting over a doll. I pushed her, she fell down the stairs and died.
Nikita: Your sister.
Madeline: Yes.
Nikita: But it was an accident, right? You didn't mean to.
Madeline: I wanted the doll.
Then there's a section in the script that was cut out but I'm including it here for clarification of what comes next.
Nikita: So, what do we do now? How do we get Kessler to crack?
Madeline: Do you play chess?
Nikita: No. Why?
Madeline: It's a useful discipline. There's a tactic called a "gambit."
Nikita: What is it?
Madeline: It's when you sacrifice a pawn to gain a more strategic position.

Scene 15: Section One, corridor
Michael and Madeline meet up in front of a computer terminal on the wall. He pulls up information to show her.
Michael: We have two candidates, both held in abeyance. Brianne's an ex-junkie, she was recruited after being convicted of a double homicide, drug-related. She scored well in physical and tactical but we believed she would start using again given the chance. Cancellation recommended. Shellen was recalled after incurring excessive collateral in Budapest last month. He's been in psych reconditioning, but his aggressive response has not been contained. Cancellation recommended.
Madeline: Use Shellen.

Scene 16: Section One, training floor.
Two operatives are battling.
Operative: That's enough.
Shellen spins around, attacks Michael but Michael gets him in a headlock.
Michael: We have a job for you.

Scene 17: Section One, white room
Shellen enters, goes up to Kessler and removes the faceguard he's wearing (à la Hannibal Lecter).
Shellen: How's it going? (he hits him) I'm sorry. I have this twitch, I can't control it. (hits him again) you see, I have it in both hands.
Kessler: That's a pity. You should have it looked at.
Shellen: Is that supposed to be funny?
Kessler: Humor is subjective.
Shellen: So is pain.
He starts working over Kessler in earnest while Madeline watches on the monitor in her office.
Shellen: I thought you were supposed to be some hard-ass terrorist! You're pathetic. Don't go to sleep on me yet. (Shellen releases Kessler's bonds) let's dance.
In her office, Madeline watches.

Scene 18: Section One, corridor. Kessler walks out of section. Shellen lies dead on the floor.

Scene 19: Section One, Madeline's office
Madeline: Do we have him?
Birkoff: Yes, the tracker's got him. He's leaving by van access door now.
Madeline: Good.

Scene 20: Mission Van
Voice: Where to Birkoff?
Birkoff: Heading 270, 100 meters.

Scene 21: Outdoors, an assault team led by Michael tracks Kessler.
Michael: Nikita and I go in first, team covers.
Michael approaches a seated figure.
Michael: OK Kessler, put your hands on your head. (Michael pokes with the butt of his gun, the man falls forward. He's not Kessler and he is very dead)
Nikita: It's the tracker. Kessler's still out there.

Scene 22: Section One, Comm Center
Operative: We have an incoming (modem noise)
Kessler: (on computer) Where is she?
Operations: What are you talking about?
Kessler: Put her on or you will never get what you want.
Operations motions for Madeline to come over and take his place at the computer. She does.
Madeline: I'm here.
Kessler: When you brought Annie to me, you knew what I would do. There was no option. It was already written, yeah, and you knew that too. That's why I never let her know who I was. That's how I protected her. She was my redemption, and you destroyed that.
Madeline: That's not true. I didn't want her to die.
Kessler: No of course not, not 'til after you had tortured her. No. We are the same, Madeline, you and I. We have just different agendas.
Madeline: What do you want?
Kessler: You made me an offer once, now I will make one to you. (he holds up the cobalt) This cobalt, it will go in the water supply - twenty thousand homes. Or I will return it to you.
Madeline: What's the catch?
Kessler: I deliver it to you, personally. Then I will tell you.
Madeline: Where?
Kessler: Just stay on this channel. You'll receive instructions. (he logs off. Maddy looks tired and resigned.)
Operations: I can't allow it, you are too valuable.
Madeline: Thank you. (she smiles at him) But you know I have to.
Operations: Please don't go.
Madeline kisses Operations on the cheek, strokes the spot where she kissed him with her fingers, then leaves.

Scene 23: Outdoors. Madeline walks through a field, holding a walkie-talkie.
Kessler: There's a pathway to your left. Take it heading due north.
Operations: Everyone hold your positions.
Operative 1: Got her in my sights.
Operative 2: In position.
Operations: Green team, you have her in sight?
Operative 3: Got her.
Operations: Close off the perimeter. Nothing goes in or out.
Operative: Team leader, check. Perimeter sealed.
Suddenly Madeline falls through a trapdoor. The operatives rush in.
Operative: Move in!
Operative 2: go, go!
Land mines explode. Inside the underground cavern, Madeline lies on the floor looking up at Kessler.
Kessler: Well, I guess that should keep them occupied, huh?
Operations: He's planted mines! Everyone hold your position. Birkoff, where are they?
Birkoff: In an underground corridor. It's part of the water filtration plant.
Operations: Find another way in.
Kessler: Just for the record I'm a man of my word. Here's the cobalt. And now, now I'll take my payment, huh? (he puts his hands on her throat and realizes it ain't live, it's latex...but it's too late. He is throttled and slammed to the ground)
Nikita comes up behind them...with the real Madeline. Michael whips off the latex Madeline mask, and steps away.
Madeline points a gun at Kessler.
Kessler: Oh, I win.
Madeline: That's an interesting point of view.
Kessler: Well, think about it, if you pull the trigger, you become me. And if you don't, well who knows what may happen?
Madeline: (smiles) I know. (she raises her eyebrows, then turns and walks away) (to the others) take him in.

Scene 24: Nikita's apartment. There is a knock on the door.
Nikita: Madeline. (surprised)
Madeline: Can I come in?
Nikita: Sure. Something wrong?
Madeline: I've never been here before. It's not what I expected.
Nikita: Oh yeah, well, what did you expect?
Madeline: Something darker, more severe. I like it.
Nikita: Do you want something? I'm just having some tea.
Madeline: Tea would be fine, yes. (she walks over to the window) this is a beautiful view.
Nikita: Isn't it? Sometimes I stand here for hours, just looking out over the city. Here you go. (gives her a cup of tea)
Madeline: Thank you. Nikita: So why are you here?
Madeline: To remember.
Nikita: To remember what?
Madeline: Who I was. (Madeline and Nikita sit down, episode ends)

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