Aproaching Zero Transcript
By Dana


NIKITA'S APARTMENT

Nikita's apartment is all redecorated. She is all dressed up, obviously on a date with Jurgen.
Nikita: Something's bothering me.
Jurgen: What's that?
Nikita: Your past. Your life before Section. Michael said what you told me wasn't true, that you were dangerous before and you still are now.
Jurgen: What do you think?
Nikita: I don't know, that's why I'm asking you.
Jurgen: There's nothing I can do or say to you to prove you who I was or who I am. You have to ask yourself, why would either of us lie to you?
Nikita: Maybe you both want something from me.
Jurgen: I know you were not a hostage for the six months you were out. I also know that Michael had something to do with your return. That alone is enough to extort anything I would want from you or him.
There is a knock of the door.
Nikita: Excuse me.
She opens the door. It's Michael.
Michael: I was near, I dropped in to see how things were going.
Nikita: Good.
Michael: It smells like you are cooking.
Nikita: Yes, I am. (she's still in the doorway, not showing any intention to ask him in.)
Michael: Can I come in?
Nikita: Of course. (she looks annoyed that he wants to come in)
Michael: (to Jurgen) Hi.
Jurgen: Hi Michael.
Nikita: We were just going to have some dinner, would you wanna join us? (She picks up her glass and goes over to Jurgen's side to emphasize that "us" is now Jurgen and her.)
Michael: No, I've got some things to do. I just wanted to see how you were doing.
Nikita: Are you sure? (Really, Michael, you're sure you don't wanna be the third wheel?)
Michael: Yes.
He leaves the apartment. As he closes the door you see a close-up of his face, and he looks very thoughtful.

BRIEFING

Operations: Most satellites have a nuclear power source. Material that could be used as a weapon. Normally this doesn't pose a security threat as these operatives burn up as they reenter the atmosphere. Yesterday however, more than a weakened satellite was on the way up; the booster exploded causing the payload to fall into the North Sea, intact.
Michael: What about the recovery team?
Operations: Three chopters went down, no survivors. With the naval ship in the area that was sent to investigate, we've lost contact with them. Someone wants that satellite.
Michael: Was there a beacon?
Operations: It was destroyed. Mister Birkoff is in systems, preparing the spreadsheet.(hey, I can do spreadsheets, is there a chance to get a job there?) Every hour passing, the chances of recovering the satellite are reduced by a factor of 2. Get on it, Birkoff's running the numbers now.

Cut to Birkoff's station.
Birkoff: There's a ship in the North Sea where the satellite fell. We've hailed them but they haven't responded.
Michael: Start running the numbers, I want you to get me on that vessel.
Birkoff: It's too far off shore. If anything goes wrong out there, you're alone. There's a NATO carrier three kilometer away. Let them take it.
Michael: No. Orders were to work autonomously.
Birkoff: I'll see what I can do.

Walter approaches them.
Michael: Did you pull something?
Walter: There are two connections we've backed into through the satellite's manufacturer. Both of them are soft, but one of them we know to have an interest in acquiring nuclear capability.
Michael: Do we have location or personnel?
Walter: They're working on that now.
Birkoff: What you wanna do?
Michael: Prepare a chopter and a float.
Walter: Do you wanna use the band ops?
Michael: No, I'll use my team.

NORTH SEA

Nikita, Jurgen and Michael on a float approaching the ship.
Birkoff: They're approaching target... They're at the ship.
All three are dressed in wetsuits. They get on the ship.
Michael: Everyone's on deck. We're going down.
The ship is completely abandoned.
Birkoff: Keep looking. Those signals must be coming from somewhere.
Jurgen finds a piece of satellite wreckage.
Jurgen: Michael.
Michael: Anything else?
Jurgen: No, just this.
Birkoff: Something's out there. I'm picking something in the air.
Operations: (pacing behind Birkoff) What?
Birkoff: Not sure yet. Probably a commercial airliner, a charter. Nikita, give me a visual, 40 degrees to the SE.
Nikita climbs onto the deck, and give Birkoff a visual. You see a plane approaching the ship.
Nikita: Looks like a vapor trail.
Birkoff: A vapor trail. Whatever it is, it's getting closer. Could be a NATO plane on maneuvers?
Operations: Not on that trajectory, get them off the ship.
Birkoff: Michael, get your team to exit point, now.
Michael: We got an abort condition.
Birkoff: Looks like you got a hostile sequoia, 30 kilometers, closing. You've got a live warhead straight at you. Get out of there, Michael.
The three of them jump into the ocean, as the ship exploded.
The team gets on the float, and is on their way back to Section One.

SECTION ONE

The team is greeted by Operations.
Operations: Birkoff has tracked the sequoia, all preview in. Did you get the debris from the ship?
Michael: Jurgen's uploading it.
Operations: Good. Let's work up an analysis.
Jurgen: (hand Operations the debris) This is all I got from the satellite.
Operations: (to some operative behind) Take this to Walter. (to Michael) Play back the data on the assault, tear it apart, rebuild it, until we get a clear picture.
Michael: Jurgen, go help Walter run down the hardware.
Jurgen: It will take him a couple of hours. I'll get to it in the morning.
Operations and Michael just stare at him, and walk away.
Nikita: How did you get away from that?
Jurgen: I don't answer to Michael.
Nikita: And Operations? He was standing right there.
Jurgen: If it was important, I would have done it.
Nikita: Aha. And how do you get to decide?
Jurgen: It's... it's complicated. Let's go.
This is the first time you know something is not right. Jurgen has something over Section One.

MADELINE'S OFFICE

Madeline: How was your visit to the North Sea?
Michael: Brief.
Madeline: How did your team hold up?
Michael: There were no incidents.
Madeline: And Jurgen and Nikita?
Michael: They're forming an attachment.
Madeline: Good. Stay close to it, let me know when it's time.

SECTION ONE

Nikita: What's up?
Michael: We are going out again.
Nikita: No panel up today?
Michael: No. Comm is finishing up the sequences. You weren't home when I called.
Nikita: I went out for dinner. Why? Is that a problem?
Michael: No.
Nikita: All right, Michael. So, what is this? So, I went out for dinner. What do you care?
Michael gives her the blank stare.
Nikita: Patented Michael answer, the blank stare.
Nikita: (pause) If you are jealous, just be jealous. Tell me not to see him.
Michael: Is that all it would take?
Nikita: Maybe . . . Maybe NOT. But at least it would be something real. Emotion. Except of this cryptic game of 20 questions. (comes close to him as if she's about to kiss him)
Michael: You are right. I shouldn't have asked.
Nikita: So that's where we stand. You really don't care if I see Jurgen.
Michael just gives her the patented blank stare.
Nikita: See ya upstairs.

BRIEFING

Operations: We've been stirring all the current data from the ambush attempt. The attack must have originated from within Norway. This matches up with one of two groups which act within the fifth order.
Michael: What motive of action?
Operations: They have been underwritten by various organized factions inside the former Soviet Union but we still don't know specifically who is motivating the action.
Walter: If they're so well financed, why go to all the trouble to steal some fuel rods?
Operations: That's not what they're after. Birkoff.
Birkoff: This wasn't a landside orbit satellite after all. It was a military communication satellite. Has a hardwire decryption code to the main command and control lines to the Pentagon.
Operations: If the Fifth Order can figure out how to leverage these security codes, in time, it will become a global security emergency.
Michael: How much time before the Pentagon can reprogram?
Operations: Not fast enough. We have to recover that satellite. Mr. Birkoff is triangulating location. We're on close quarters standby.
Operations: (to Nikita) Madeline wants to see you in her office.

MADELINE'S OFFICE

Madeline: How are things going?
Nikita: Fine.
Madeline: I never got a chance to congratulate you on your full returned status. A lot has changed for you.
Nikita: Has it?
Madeline: You tell me. I want to hear it in your own words.
Nikita: Well, all I wanted to do back then was getting out.
Madeline: And now?
Nikita: I won't lie to you, I'm not happy to be here. But it's not about getting out anymore.
Madeline: What is it about?
Nikita: Having a better life.
Madeline: Did Jurgen help you come to this plan?
Nikita: Actually, yes. He seems to be able to do things that you said were impossible.
Madeline: Like what?
Nikita: He make his own choices.
Madeline: Jurgen is an unusual case.
Michael comes in.
Michael: We're ready.
Madeline: Birkoff's got location?
Michael: Set of locations, we'll have to use parallel teams. I'll be using Nikita.
Madeline: Then get her wired.

Nikita is getting wired for the mission. Trackers are placed on her back.
Michael: Birkoff's gonna be pulling out transmission frequency. Cover as much space as you can.
Nikita: And if I'm detected?
Birkoff: We'll be in the basement. You'll have to cover the first ten seconds alone, after that look for us and stay out of the line of fire. (to Walter) Finish her up and get her to access.
Walter: Yeah, ok. (to Nikita) How does that feel?
Nikita: Tight.
Walter: Loosen up as long as you can breathe.
The team goes to the loading dock.
Birkoff is watching this via video camera.
Birkoff: Sir, the mission loading. I don't have a location yet, what's going on?
Operations: Don't worry about it, keep working.
Operations turns off the screen. (Something is going on)
At the loading dock, the phone rings. Nikita watches as Michael answer the phone.
Michael: Yes. Are you sure? Ok.
Michael: (to Nikita) Advance team has just arrived on site. The target's been abandoned.
Nikita: Mission's off?
Michael: Yes.
Nikita: I thought the advance team had already confirmed.
Michael: No.

Nikita is back at Walter's.
Walter: Nothing should surprise you about this place.
Nikita: It's just that we've never aborted during egress. (and if you need more clues that something's going on, you're really slow)
Walter: I remember once, we were in Italy. We were on a plane, we did a mid-game abort. I had it all planned too. I was gonna take out an armory Friday morning and then have the week-end to see Celindra.
Nikita: Where's that?
Walter: Not where is it, who is it?
Nikita: Ah.
Walter: She was a Section op on her own when we made...
Madeline: (on a speaker) Walter.
Michael pops up.
Michael: I'll take it.
Walter: Put the stuff on here.
Michael proceeds to remove Nikita's vest; she wears nothing underneath. She jerks it off and seems uncomfortable.
Nikita: Are we still on close quarters stand-by?
Michael: (very calm) No, you can leave.
Michael carefully removes the trackers and pretends to remove the last one, but leaves it on her back.
Nikita: Is that it?
Michael: We're all set.
You can tell that Nikita tries to look casual but fails. Michael doesn't lose his calm. Michael attempts to help her with the shirt.
Nikita: I'll do it.

JURGEN'S HOUSE

Nikita: What a beautiful house.
Jurgen: I was surprised to get your call.
Nikita: It was an early abort. We've lost location.
Jurgen: I'm glad. Can I get you anything?
Nikita: No, thank you.
In section, Madeline and Michael are listening to the conversation via the tracker.
Jurgen: You seem distracted.
Nikita: I wanted to tell you, that you were right. There was something between me and Michael.
Close-up on Madeline's face, who doesn't look happy.
Jurgen: I there still?
Nikita: I spoke with him today. (Referring to when she was talking to Michael about jealousy) It's over.
Jurgen: For him or for you?
Nikita: For both of us.
Michael looks hurt and Madeline is a bit surprised and seems to have some compassion for Michael, though she wouldn't show it directly, but rather is discrete enough to let him listen to the rest of the conversation alone.
Jurgen: Can I fix you a drink?
Madeline: Let me know when you get a lock.
Jurgen: You know, it wasn't easy for me to train you.
Nikita: Really? Why was that?
Jurgen: Sometimes to get the trainees to cross the line, I have to become their enemy.
Nikita jumps onto his sofa. He follows.
Nikita: Well I guess it just didn't work this time.
They start making out but she pushes him away. Michael looks more and more in distress.
Nikita: You know, I'm just a little.
Jurgen: No rush.
Nikita sighs, not quite comfortable doing this, but she still smiles at Jurgen and wants to give it a try.
Jurgen: If you're not ready...
Nikita: It's not that...
Jurgen: We can wait.
Nikita: No. Come here.
She kisses him and jumps on his lap. Michael is about to explode.
Michael: Birkoff, have you got sync yet?
Birkoff: Almost.
Michael: Hurry.
Birkoff: Server runs at 500 MHz, I can't change that. (smartass)
Jurgen lifts Nikita up, takes his shirt off, and they continue kissing on the floor.
Birkoff: Ok, there it is.
Michael: Is that all we need.
Birkoff: Still need a cycle of combinations. We can get them on site.
Michael dials Nikita's phone number.
Nikita: Hello?
Michael: Josephine.
Nikita: NOW??!!
Michael: Yes.
Nikita: Ok.
Nikita is very peeved off.

BRIEFING

Operations: Lieutenant commander, Ronald Arka. We believe that he's the pilot of the sequoia that bombed the freighter. He's been on leave for two weeks. Birkoff connected him to a pay master of the Fifth Order.
Jurgen: Where is he now?
Operations: He's staging in Nova Scotia. He's due to return tomorrow.
Nikita: Why do we think it's him?
Operations: There were 20 Fifth Order parts on a bank account at the time of the incident. Birkoff worked it all up, found linkage between Fifth Order and Arka. Any questions?
Jurgen: Is Michael leading the team?
Operations: No, he won't be coming. It's just the two of you and backups. Michael's needed elsewhere.

Michael and Birkoff are at Jurgen's house.
Birkoff: We're going in. (Passes a device showing red numbers over the door; the numbers change, then stabilizes at 0001) There's the carrier of his backup system. I just have to invert it and wait. (the door opens) Got it.
They move in.

SECTION ONE

Madeline: (talking to Operations) I just heard from Michael. It's done.
Operations: Thank you.

Jurgen and Nikita burst into Arka's apartment.
Arka: What? Who are you? I haven't done anything.
They bring him in. At loading dock, Jurgen asks Nikita.
Jurgen: So, shall we continue where we left off?
Operations interrupts,
Operations: Has he offered anything else since the last transmission?
Jurgen: No. He needs to be squeezed.
Operations: Before you leave, Jurgen, I'd like you to debrief.
Jurgen: I will do it tomorrow.
Operations: You'll do it NOW.
Jurgen turns around, shocked.
Operations: You heard me. From now on, you'll follow orders without question.
Jurgen realizes what has happened. He takes off, followed by Nikita.
Nikita: Jurgen, wait. Is everything all right? They run into his house whose doors are still wide open. He races to his computer.
Nikita: I don't understand.
The computer is on, and reads FILES DELETED.
Jurgen: I'm dead.
Nikita: What do you have in there?
Jurgen: You asked how I could live like this. On my own term. I had damaging intel that I could use against them.
Nikita: Who, Operations?
Jurgen: It doesn't matter now. It kept everyone off my back.
Nikita: Why didn't they just cancel you?
Jurgen: I had a failsafe. I distributed the damaging intel among servers around the world. If I didn't reverse the codes every few days, it was scripted to automatically upload to the Agency.
Nikita: But you still have all the data, don't you?
Jurgen: It's too late. They've already done damage control. The only people who could corroborate the allegations are probably dead by now. Doesn't make sense. I had a one-sided security hold on my house, a dynamic carrier frequency. The only way you can tap in without detection (pause, looks attentively at Nikita) was from the inside. (he takes off his glasses) You were the only person I allowed in. They broke in hours after you were here.
Nikita: No.
Jurgen starts to search her for the tracker. He finds it on her back, where Michael had left it.
Nikita: I don't understand... don't understand...
He removes the tracker and shows it to her, then places it on the table. She finally gets it.
Nikita: The mission.
Jurgen: What mission?
Nikita: I told you about yesterday, the early abort. They wired me to go out. Walter got called off. Michael finished.
Jurgen: They used you.
Nikita: Jurgen...
Jurgen: Get out.
Nikita: Let me take you through this, they can't take everything away from us.
Jurgen: Us? There is no us. There isn't a me, not anymore.
Nikita: Will they cancel you?
Jurgen: No. I never posed a malicious threat. I only wanted to be treated like a human being. I think they understood that.
Nikita: That's how we all feel.
Jurgen: I can't live that way. I never could.
Nikita: It won't be exactly as it was. I'm here.
Jurgen: Please, leave me alone now.
Nikita leaves.

SECTION ONE

Madeline: Did you get it all?
Birkoff: The name Arka gave us was connected to a software firm in Brussels. The firm is a cover.
Madeline: Cover or not, do they have the technology to recover the codes from the satellite?
Birkoff: Definetely.
Madeline: (to Michael) Go.
Michael starts to leave to assemble a team. Nikita storms in, very angry. They both stop in front of each other and exchange long silent looks. Everyone is watching them. They silently agree to pick it up in his office. As she leaves, Nikita smiles at Madeline who smiles back. She's learning to fake smile fast.

MICHAEL'S OFFICE

Michael: This is never an easy job, sometimes unbearable for all of us. I respect Jurgen for who he is and what he tried to do. But there are certain things that are absolute. Jurgen could not be allowed to hold Section hostage.
Nikita: How could you do this Michael? (Nikita places the tracker on his desk)
Michael: I just told you.
Nikita: Not to him, to me.
Michael: It was never my intention to hurt you.
Nikita: So that makes it ok? How far back does it go? My training with Jurgen? Or when you brought me in? The night we had together?
Birkoff bursts in the room.
Birkoff: Everybody's been contacted. Walter needs you in inventory.
Michael: In a minute.
Birkoff looks him up and down as if not believing he would say that.
Nikita: Well, that's the first time you had the section wait for me.
Michael: When you were in his house, I was listening. I had to keep my feelings separate. That's how I live my life, Nikita. Split in two. I never let anyone see the other half, but it's there, always part of me.
Nikita: Well, that's just too little, too late. I am going to help Jurgen through this, if he lets me.
Nikita stands up to leave.
Nikita: Oh, I've become part of his life.

BRUSSELS

On the way out, Jurgen throws Michael a dark look. They are about to enter the building.
Michael: Remember, we're not looking to retrieve the satellite, only the on port computer. Only signal Birkoff when you get visual confirmation. It's on the panel.
Birkoff: Whoever gets it, hold your positions. I need to do a scan.
Michael: On positive ID you'll be given a second burst. We'll do a surgical.
The mission begins (you can tell by the music).
Birkoff: Magnetic sensors deactivated. Proceed.
The team breaks into the firm. They find the computer that is trying to break the code.
Michael: Visual, Birkoff, what are they doing in there?
Birkoff: Give me a zoom on the main console. Yeah, that's it, that's cycling codes. Can you get it?
Michael tries to shoot, but the glass protecting the computers is bullet-proof.
Michael: I can't get to it.
Birkoff: Well, you better do something quick cause it looks like in about 90 seconds they're gonna be uploaded. Whoever's on the receiving end is gonna have those codes.
Michael plants charges on the glass.
Michael: Everybody out. I'm arming.
The team moves into the van.
Michael: When's the detonation?
Birkoff's laptop shows about 6.8 seconds.
Birkoff: 5 seconds.
The countdown is off and no explosion. The screen flashes "ERROR".
Michael: What happened?
Birkoff: They jammed the remote. It's not activated the detonator.
Michael: I'll have to rearm. How much longer till the upload?
Birkoff: Less than a minute.
Michael: Can you fix it?
Birkoff: It would have to be done manually. Michael starts to leave to fix the charge. Jurgen points his gun at Michael.
Jurgen: Stop. Let me do it. I am not going to make it any way.
Nikita: Jurgen, no.
Michael: Put down the gun and stay in the van.
Birkoff: You've got 21 seconds
Michael leaves the van, running toward the building. Jurgen follows him out, and promptly shoots Michael is the leg. (Returning the favor from last episode.) He looks one last time at Nikita.
Birkoff yells: You got 21 seconds.
Jurgen sets off the charges, killing himself.

MADELINE'S OFFICE

Nikita is sitting in Madeline's office with Operations and Madeline.
Madeline: You had to endure a number of difficult things since you came back to us. We all have to come to terms with our personal losses. Look into our souls, find a way to cope. We can help you with that but I know you, I know you'll be able to find that inner strength.
Operations: Although we rarely do this with such a young operative, but we're gonna make an exception in your case.
Madeline: We want you to take sometime off for yourself. Anywhere in the world you'd like to go. That would be all, Nikita

SECTION ONE

Michael is walking in crutches.
Michael: (stops Nikita) Nikita, some of the things I said about Jurgen are not true. I tell you this just in case you have any doubt as to what kind of man he was. I'm sure you don't. Jurgen trained me when I first came to the section. I'll miss him.
Nikita: Um... So will I. (the expression on her face said that whatever he said now wouldn't make a difference anymore)

THE END

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