End Game Transcript
By Baoqin and Dana


TEASER - SECTION

Nikita is in Level 2 (where all the mission logs are kept) and is downloading files for Adrian. Walter and Nikita bump into each other.
Nikita: Walter.
Walter: Nikita, I didn't know you had clearance down here.
Nikita: Well, I don't I was just... reviewing an old mission.
Walter: I'm supposed to report you.
Nikita: Well, you do what you got to do, Walter, I understand.

ADRIAN'S VILLA

Adrian: This isn't Gemstone. How very disappointing.
Nikita: Adrian, I don't know how much longer I can do this for.
Adrian: Nikita, we need this information we can't bring down Section without it. Don't fall apart now, please.
Nikita: I can't keep sneaking into unauthorized areas. Even with your help, sooner or later my lucks going to run out. Walter almost reported me.
Adrian: (sighs) I had hoped to avoid this but... oh well. I supposed it can't be helped. Ever seen one of these? (Adrian takes a device from a table)
Nikita: No, what is it?
Adrian: It's a KL-6 security module. They're not supposed to exist outside Section.
Nikita: What do we do with it?
Adrian: You simply allow it to be found. Whoever finds it will have to authenticate it, and that will be done in the part of Section currently regarded as most secure and that undoubtedly is where they keep Gemstone. It should be found on a mission, by someone Operations trusts completely. Use Michael.

MISSION

Michael: Birkoff.
Birkoff: You're clear to go.
Operatives are approaching a compound with several big satellite dishes and something written in Arab letters on the gate. They kill the guards and Michael and Nikita go inside the compound. They kill 3 more hostiles. Michael leaves to go to another room. Nikita takes out the KL-6 module and leaves it on a table.
Michael: Birkoff, 3 down.
Birkoff: That's everybody. Set the charge and move out.
Michael plants a charge in the room.
Michael: Nikita, go.
As Michael leaves he sees the module and picks it up.
Birkoff: Michael, get moving.
Michael: There's a KL-6.
Birkoff: In the room? Where did it come from?
Michael: Not from us.
Birkoff: That's weird. Bring it in.
Michael and Nikita leave just as the explosion goes off.

SECTION - SECURE AREA

Michael proceeds to a secured area of Section carrying the module. Adrian is tracking his movements on her computer and is talking to Nikita over the com unit.
Adrian: Nikita, he's directly below the Perch, four levels down.
Nikita: I don't have access to that floor.
Adrian: I'll give you the code.
Nikita: When do I go?
Adrian: Soon as Michael is done. You'll piggyback off the exit signal. Ok Nikita, he's clear.
Nikita goes into the same area.
Nikita: Ok, I'm in.
Adrian: You'll pass a bank of black monitors, then a series of labeled ones. (some labels say "plague scenarios", "invasion of Canada", and "op dir/L1") Find "deep ops".
Nikita: Got it.
Adrian: Copy the file. It may take awhile to cycle through.
Nikita begins to copy the file. She looks around and sees a monitor labeled Personnel. She goes over to the monitor and tries to find out where Michael lives, but is denied access.
Adrian: Is it ready, Nikita?
Nikita: Yeah.
As Nikita leaves the area, the alarm begins to go off.
Nikita: Do you hear that?
Adrian: Yes I hear it. They've added an egress code. In about ten seconds, two operatives should enter from the Southeast, go the other way.
Nikita: I've been seen.
Adrian: Just keep calm and do exactly as I say. On your left, on the floor, a small indentation on the wall, press it then pass through. Another one on the far side, press it. Stay put.
Operative: What are you doing down here Nikita?
Adrian: Say nothing.
The Operative begins to approach Nikita. As he tries to enter the doorway, he gets electrocuted.
Nikita: What about the other one?
Adrian: We locked him in a closed zone. Go back to the top level. There's a panel across from the stairs.
Operatives are running around in a frenzy. Nikita walks over to Michael.
Nikita: What's going on?
Michael: Someone broke deep level security.
Nikita: Do they know who?
Two operatives lead one of the men that was down in the secured area to Operations.
Ames: I didn't do anything, I was just responding to the alarm.
Operations: You were in a closed zone you must have been viewing unauthorized intel.
Ames: No, the door just snapped shut.
Operations: Take him to the white room.
Michael gives Nikita a long look. He knows her too well. She tries to look casual and leaves.

BIRKOFF'S STATION

Birkoff: Hi.
Nikita: Hi. What's happening with Ames?
Birkoff: I don't know. He's with Madeline though, my guess is he's not having fun.
Nikita: Birkoff, where does Michael live?
Birkoff: No one knows that, except Operations and Madeline.
Nikita: Why is that?
Birkoff: That's the way it is with all Level 5 ops.
Nikita: What do you think? An apartment in the city?
Birkoff: Could be.
Michael: Birkoff. Report to Operations.
Birkoff: What's up?
Michael: The security breech is unresolved. There's going to be a general inquiry.
Nikita: What about Ames?
Michael: He's dead.

SECTION - HALLWAY

Nikita activates her earpiece.
Adrian: Nikita, what's happening?
Nikita: They're holding a general inquiry. What do I do?
Adrian: They'll use invasive testing.
Nikita: What should I do?
Adrian: Go to munitions. Is Walter there?
Nikita: No.
Adrian: Do you see his differential calibrator?
Nikita: Yes.
Adrian: Good remove the facing. Now touch it.
Nikita sticks her hand in a gets an electric shock.
Nikita: It's a live current.
Adrian: Yes, put your hand inside it and keep it there.
Nikita: Keep it there? For how long?
Adrian: As long as you can bear it, the longer the better. Its the only way you'll pass the test.

INTERROGATION ROOM

Operations is testing Nikita behind a glass wall.
Operations: Your name.
Nikita: Nikita.
Operations: Your rating.
Nikita: Field operative level 2.
Walter: I'm not getting any kind of reading at all, just noise.
Operations: Is it the equipment?
Walter: No, it's fine.
Operations: Are you on active status?
Nikita: Yes.
Walter: No, still not working.
Operations: What's going on?
Walter: A small percentage of ops don't respond to IT testing.
Operations: I'm showing she's been through this twice, successfully. Try again. (to Nikita) Your name!
Nikita: Nikita.
Operations: Rating.
Nikita: Field operative level 2.
Walter: No. It is possible there's been a change in body chemistry.
Operations: Have you noticed any change in her behavior? Anything suspicious?
Walter: No. (good boy)
Operations: You can go.

SYSTEMS

Operations: The inquiry was inconclusive with respect to three operatives. Lajos, Renalt, and Nikita. In the meantime, we have to assume our mole had help from the highest level.
Michael: Who?
Operations: Only one person alive knows our systems this intimately. Adrian.
Michael: I thought she was dormant.
Madeline: She suffered a stroke five years ago. We're considering the possibility that it was self-induced and her convalescence was a cover for anti-Section activities.
Michael: Why would she be doing this?
Operations: Revenge. If I'm right, one of these three operatives is working with Adrian. Find out which one.

NIKITA'S APARTMENT

Nikita is putting flowers in a vase, a sign thar Adrian is winning her over. There's a knock at the door, she looks at her monitor and sees Michael and lets him in.
Nikita: Come in.
Michael: What are you trying to do?
Nikita: What do you mean?
Michael: Ames was innocent and you knew it from the start. You're working with Adrian.
Nikita: Who's that? Why are you looking at me like that? I'm telling you the truth. I don't know anyone named Adrian.
Michael: I want you to let me help you.
Nikita: Help me? Help me do what?
Michael: You know what. It's gone too far Nikita. They won't let this pass. If there was ever a time you had to trust me... it's now.
Nikita: You want me to confess and lead you to Adrian.
Michael: I thought you said you didn't know Adrian.
Nikita: I don't, you seem to think I do. Section sent you.
Michael: Yes they did, but they don't control me. Lee me help you. Where's the file?
Nikita: The file?
Michael: The Gemstone file you stole from Section. The one Ames died for.
Nikita: Ok, Michael, now you lost me.
Michael: You're in over you head.
Michael starts to take her by her shoulders.
Nikita: Take your hands off me, please.
Nikita struggles against him but Michael maintains his grip and slams her against the refrigerator.
Michael: Now listen to me. If Adrian succeeds, every operative will be canceled. No exceptions. They will roll up Section like it never existed. And if you think Adrian can protect you, you're wrong. Where's Adrian?
Nikita: I don't know.
Michael: Where's the file?
Nikita: I don't know.
Michael: You're lying.
Nikita: I don't know.
Michael lets her go and starts to touch her face.
Michael: Why... why? (he looks sad) This is your last chance. Our last chance. Where's Adrian?
Nikita: I don't know. (tears in her eyes)
Michael: Then you leave me no choice.
Michael leaves and we find out that Adrian was listening to the conversation.
Adrian: Excellent Nikita.

THE PERCH

Michael: She denied everything.
Operations: Did you search her apartment for the file?
Michael: No.
Operations: Why not?
Michael: She wouldn't be foolish enough to keep it in her apartment.
Operations: Bottom line Michael, in your opinion, is she the one we're after?
Michael: Yes.

ADRIAN'S VILLA

Adrian: You have the file?
Nikita: Yes.
Adrian: You've done the world a great service. Would you care to view it with me?
Nikita pulls up a chair besides Adrian and looks at the file.
Nikita: Saddam Hussein?
Adrian: Yes, Operations is keeping him in power.
Nikita: What?
Adrian: Operations wants control over as much of the world as possible. He'll do anything to get it. Hussein helps him achieve this.
Nikita: Section helped design chemical weapons?
Adrian: Yes and deploy them.
Nikita: Thousands of people have died.
Adrian: They helped him invade, supported him during the war and kept him in power afterwards. Operations is out of control and has to be stopped. His sphere of influence is expanding so rapidly that soon he'll be untouchable. From this point on, either we destroy Section or Section destroys us.

Adrian: So Nikita, what should we do with it?
Nikita: We could send copies to newspapers and politicians. That would certainly generate publicity.
Adrian: And that would hurt who?
Nikita: Section One and everyone they deal with. But that would also implicate a lot of other agencies. Some of them we may not want to hurt so the shotgun approach is wrong. We should give it to an individual.
Adrian: Describe him.
Nikita: He's highly placed or has been, has contacts around the world.
Adrian: And...
Nikita: Knowledge of intelligence work or enough to understand what he's looking for but not enough so as to be implicated in it.
Adrian: Exactly Nikita. There are four people who fit that description.
Adrian goes over to her computer and profiles of four different men appear.

BRIEFING

The same four men on Adrian's computer are displayed on the briefing table.
Operations: You all know who there men are. Download current status just after the briefing, you'll be updated en route.
Michael: Which is a prime candidate?
Operations: The sims show no meaningful separation we'll have to cover all four.

LIMOUSINE

Adrian: Alright Nikita. It's up to you now. You know what to do. Good luck.
Nikita walks toward the building but then sees the man carried out on a stretcher.
Nikita: Adrian, he's being taken out.
She runs toward him while paramedics are rushing him out of the building. He was the individual that she was supposed to give Gemstone to.
Adrian: Get back Nikita, now.
Nikita runs back to the limo.
Adrian: Home, quickly. (on the phone) Carla, ready guard four. Immediately.
Nikita: My God they got him.
Adrian: That doesn't matter now, dear.
Nikita: What are we going to do?
Adrian: We'll talk about this later I have to think.

ADRIAN'S VILLA

Adrian: We'll evacuate to an island near Portugal. The helicopter will be here any minute. In the meantime, help Carla strip the files.
Nikita goes over to Carla.
Nikita: What do you need me to do?
She looks at Carla and she's been shot on the head.
Nikita: Adrian...
Adrian looks around and sees some of her people (including the goatee twins) have been killed.
Nikita: We have to go.
Adrian: Its too late.
Nikita: We must try, please.
Two operatives enter through the door with their guns aimed at them.
Michael: Don't shoot.
Michael takes Nikita's gun,
Michael: The file.
Adrian gives him the disc.
Michael: Bring her in.
The two operatives take Adrian away. Michael and Nikita are left alone. Michael gives her back her gun.
Michael: Go.
Nikita: What?
Michael: Outside you have a very small chance. Back at Section you have none. Go now.
Nikita: What's the point, I'm not going to run.

VAN ACCESS

Michael comes in, followed by Nikita escorted by two operatives and Adrian, held by a third one. Walter and Birkoff watch them pass, looking very worried. The whole party goes into the commons area, where Operations and Madeline are waiting for them. Operations and Adrian exchange a long look, they obviously know each other well. Operations smiles as if she was someone dear and he's pleased to see her.
Operations: Its been a very long time. Given your relative lack of resources you did well.
Adrian: Don't patronize me.
Operations: I didn't mean it that way.
Adrian: My only regret id that I brought down with me a very brave young woman. I'm sorry Nikita, more sorry then I can say. Is it really necessary to restrain her at this point?
Operations: Yes, the cuffs should come off. (Michael approaches them and hands the keys to Nikita's cuffs reluctantly, as if not wanting to give up control over her. He's not happy. Operations takes her cuffs off) Excellent work Nikita.
Adrian looks stunned, as well as Michael.
Adrian: I'm impressed. Not many people could have deceived me so thoroughly. But at some level you know that I'm right or I would have seen through you.
Madeline: That's why we selected her, because of her ambivalence. She didn't deceive you so much as she allowed you to deceive yourself.
Adrian: And she also allowed you to achieve your life's ambition.
Madeline: And what would that be?
Adrian: To kill mommy of course. You didn't have the stomach for it did you? Tell me, do I make an adequate substitute?
Madeline: Facile psychology doesn't change the fact that you've lost Adrian.
Adrian: Nor does it change the fact that when you wake up tomorrow morning you'll still be... what you are. (she looks Madeline up and down, suggestively)
Operations: Shall we keep this professional rather than personal?
Adrian: Still defending her, I'm touched. It doesn't bother you that she sleeps with every young stud in Section? Yes, well, congratulations you've won at last.
Operations: I've won a long time ago. You should have accepted it and moved on.
Adrian: May I inquire as to the fate of my people?
Operations: Eleven dead the rest are being questioned now.
Adrian: How long have you known that I was moving against you?
Operations: For a year, but you kept the details well hidden and we knew we had to destroy not just you but your entire organization. We had to draw you out.
Adrian: Just as I taught you.
Operations: Just as you taught me.
Adrian: So, you let me recruit Nikita and get close to my objective only to fail at the last moment forcing me to mobilize my organization and in doing so, expose it. Very neat.
Operations: Is there anything else?
Adrian: No. I think I understand. Shall we make an end of it?
Nikita: Wait. It's not as simple as that.
Operations: It's over Nikita.
Nikita: It's over when I say it's over.
Operations: I don't know what you're trying to do but I know you're going to regret it.
Nikita: The Gemstone file on your hand, it's not the only copy. I made a second. If I don't intervene within the hour it will be sent to every web site in the world.
Operations: No one will believe it.
Nikita: Most won't, but questions will be asked and sooner or later Section will die.
Operations: So will you.
Nikita: You support butchers who kill their own people by the thousands. You sponsor terrorism on every single continent. We're supposed to be fighting these people not helping them.
Adrian: Bravo Nikita.
Operations: Get her out of here.
Nikita: She stays.
Operations: I don't have to justify anything to you.
Nikita: Today you do. Section's on trial. Defend it.
Operations: Yes, we scratch Hussein's back and he scratches ours because the alternative is chaos. We've run sims, thousands of them. Based on the assessments of brilliant people who devote their lives to this, without Hussein the groups he sponsors would splinter and multiply like viruses. They'd be starved for funds and would use extreme measures to obtain them. Whatever restraints exist on their behavior now would vanish. Without Hussein, the country disintegrates in months. In a year, adjoining countries follow and the entire region by year four. By year six, a nuclear incident takes place in the Middle East. By year eight, three more detonations occur throughout the world. Two million people dead directly. Twenty-million indirectly. In year ten, a man-made plague ravages Europe, spreads to India and China. Estimated casualties fifty-million people. After that it gets worse.
Nikita: But you can't be certain any of that will actually happen.
Operations: No, but its our job to make certain that it doesn't. Human nature hasn't changed Nikita. The dark ages were a thousands years of chaos, war, famine, and disease. You think that won't happen again because we have computers, and jet planes, and cellular phones? Think again.
Adrian starts applauding.
Adrian: How convenient that your sims and surveys justify you need for power. There's another side to this coin Nikita. Assume, Saddam Hussein stays in power. By year three, he's become so dependent on Section he'll have no choice but to follow orders. He invades the two adjoining countries and holds them. By year six, Saddam Hussein is irrelevant. The political structure can survive without him. By year ten, Section controls six percent of the worlds population and nine percent of its strategic resources. After that... it gets worse.
Nikita: Operations. Is that what it's about? Controlling the world?
Operations: We will control whatever we have to, to prevent the dark ages from descending again on the human race.
Adrian: Choose carefully, Nikita. There will never be a moment like this again in your lifetime.
Nikita: Michael, any words of wisdom?
Michael: What have you seen with your own eyes?
Madeline: Yes. Are the crimes we've committed worse that the crimes we've prevented? And the people we've brought down, is the world a better place without them?
Nikita: Yes it is.
Madeline: Then you have your answer.
Adrian: Nikita, keep your mind on the broader perspective.
Nikita: Adrian, it's not as simple as you make it sound.
Adrian: You're a fool.
Nikita: Maybe, but if I take down Section and Operations is right...
Nikita dials her cell phone and deactivates the second copy of the Gemstone file. Michael closes his eyes as if in pain, knowing what awaits her.
Nikita: Now its over.
Adrian: You betrayed me, but the bond between us was real wasn't it? Swear, you'll do everything in your power to keep Section from becoming a place of pure evil. Good bye Paul (Operations).
Operations goes over to Adrian and kisses her on both cheeks. Judas' kiss?
Operations: Good bye Adrian. (to Nikita) I believe our business is finished here.
Everyone begins to leave the main hall. Michael and Nikita are left alone.
Nikita: I didn't enjoy deceiving you Michael, but Adrian was listening, it had to be real.
Michael: You have at least six hours before they make a decision. You're Level 2, they'll have to clear with oversight.
Nikita: I told you before, I'm not going to run.
Michael: They'll cancel you.
Nikita: Probably.
Michael goes closer to Nikita and kisses her cheek. They hug briefly and Michael walks away.
Nikita: I'm not afraid. I'm not afraid.

MADELINE'S OFFICE

Operations: Call in all peripheral ops, reevaluate an internal exposure. Tell com I want all key codes replaced throughout with triple-digit precision.
Madeline: What about Adrian?
Operations: I want you to handle it.
Madeline: Personally?
Operations: Yes.
Madeline: I'd rather not.
So Madeline doesn't want to kill mommy after all.
Operations: Which is why you should.
Madeline: And Nikita?
Operations: Cancel her as well.
Madeline: I think you should reconsider that.
It's strange that Madeline would defend Nikita at this point. It could mean that she has some affection for her, even though she doesn't show it. Or Adrian's remarks have put her in a more humane mood just to prove herself that Adrian was wrong. Best bet is still that given that Season 3 was already signed for, it would not have fit the story for Nikita to be cancelled. The director's comments say that they didn't want the story to appear as if Adrian was right and Madeline plays the voice of reason in the entire show.
Operations: Reconsider? You must be joking. After what you saw, she could have destroyed us.
Madeline: But she didn't. This didn't happen in a controlled environment. Details will eventually leak out into the ranks. Her death would lend credibility to Adrian's interpretation of Gemstone. I'd rather deal with one recalcitrant operative than a mutiny.
Operations: Then what?
Madeline: Increase her mission frequency. Eventually, the problem will take care of itself.
Operations reluctantly agrees and leaves. The look on her face after he's gone is cold, she's still mad at him. This could also be a way for her to ascertain her domination over him again.

NIKITA'S APARTMENT

Nikita is outside on a balcony.
As the credits start rolling, a phone begins to ring. Nikita picks it up.
Michael: Josephine.

THE END
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