Half Life Transcript
By Claudia


NOTE: Whenever René called Michael's name, he always said the French version, Michel (pronounced Michelle). Just thought you should know.

TEASER

The camera shows a group of kids with their teacher playing in front of a museum. The camera moves, and shows Nikita and Michael on a mission.
Birkoff: What've you got, Nikita?
Nikita looks down to a gadget tied to her wrist, the lights are flashing green.
Nikita: So far nothing.
Birkoff: What about you, Michael?
Michael looks down on the bomb detector he has tied to his wrist, unlike Nikita's, his were flashing red.
Michael: Hold on. It's here, get everybody out.
Birkoff: All teams evacuate the courtyard.
Nikita and the rest of the Section One team quickly get the kids out of the area. Nikita, to hurry the process up, yells at of top of her lungs that there is a bomb here and everyone should move away. Everybody runs away. Nikita notices a man with long blonde hair standing a few meters away, watching, before walking away.
Michael takes a bad duffle bag from underneath the fountain.
Nikita: Excuse me, there's a bomb in the yard. Please get the children inside.
Teacher: Come on, children. Come on. Inside. Come on, quickly everyone, inside. Quickly, run quickly.
Nikita: Get out of the park! There's a bomb -- get back! Please, run! Get out of the park'run!
Nikita: Come on, sweetheart; let's go inside with the other kids. Get her inside.
Michael: The bomb is in the bag, 250 grams of semtex wrapped in aluminum surrounded by nails.
Nikita: How do you know that?
Michael: Go.
Nikita: Michael, just wait for containment.
Birkoff: Containment's on its way.
Michael: There is no time.
Michael take out the semtex wrapped in aluminum and throws it in the fountain. The bomb goes off just as he and Nikita starts to run away.

Operations: We received an anonymous Internet transmission 2 hours before the bombing. The messages warned of further attacks but there were no accompanying demands. Was there anything on site that would help identify the group?
Michael: No.
Walter: The bomb was put together ... piecemeal. Japanese timer, Czech plastique some of the other parts were homemade.
Madeline: Patchwork acquisition. Obviously, they have limited resources.
Operations: They're buying off the world market; that means commerce, which causes ripples. Find them. Anything else?
Nikita: This may not be anything, but there was a man on site. There was something not quite right about him.
Operations: Meaning what?
Nikita: He seemed a little too interested and wasn't panicking while everyone else was.
Operations: Get with Birkoff. Hopefully, he's on file somewhere.
The briefing ended, and everyone starts to leave. Nikita starts to stand up, but Michael grabs the arm of her chair and stops her.
Michael: Why didn't you mention this to me earlier?
Nikita: I don't know. What difference does it make?
Michael: What does he look like?
Nikita: Long hair, thirties. Why?
Michael: No reason.
Michael stands up to leave; now it is Nikita's turn to stop him. She grabs his arm.
Nikita: Michael, what's going on?
Michael: What do you mean?
Nikita: You knew exactly what was in that bag before you looked.
Michael: It's a common configuration.
Nikita: I don't believe that. I think you knew who these people are. What are you holding back?
Michael: Nothing.

COMM

Birkoff: Any of these here?
Nikita: No.
Birkoff: These?
Nikita: Uh-uh. How many more are there?
Birkoff: Based on what you gave me, I've got sixty-five with a high correlation. None of them work out; we'll have to loosen it up.
Nikita: The bomb in the courtyard, was it a typical explosive?
Birkoff: Semtex? Sort of. There's about six or seven plastiques that in common use. How about these?
Nikita: Nope.

MADELINE'S OFFICE

Operations: Hello.
Madeline: Is there something you need?
Operations: No.
Madeline: If you came by to see if I got it, the answer is yes.
Operations: Did you like it?
Madeline: Oh, the necklace is lovely. Here.
Operations: You don't want it.
Madeline: Let's not open things up again. We're both much too busy.
Operations: I wasn't trying to open anything up.
Madeline: Good.
Operations: So! How are the numbers coming?
Madeline: I'll have them on time.

ON A STREET

Michael is walking on the street and we see Nikita hidden behind a wall looking at him, then she starts to follow him around in her car.
She has a watch like device that lets her hear what they are saying.
Michael: Hello, Harry.
Harry: Look, I've changed my mind. I can't do this. I've got a family now.
Michael: Take the money, Harry. Where is he?
Harry: 221 Impasse de L'Arsenal. What are you going to do with him?
Michael: I'd like to speak to René.
Michael: René, arête!
René: Is it really you?
Michael: It is.
René hugs Michael.
René: Why didn't you let me know you're still alive?
Michael: I couldn't.
René: Why not?
Michael: I can't explain it, and if I could I'm afraid you wouldn't understand.
René: Why are you here?
Michael: The bomb at the museum. I recognized your work.
René: How did you find me?
Michael: The details are not important. I have access to ... people ... in the community.
René: You're on the other side.
Michael: Yes.
René: And you've come here to, what? Arrest me?
Michael: No, I'm not here to hurt you, René.
René: Then please, tell me what is so important. Why did you have to kill two or my friends? Huh? To tell me what?
Michael: To ask you to stop.
René: To stop. It's ironic, isn't it? We always talked them, the oppressors. And now, you are what I fight against: the policeman.
Michael: Not exactly.
René: I see little difference.
Michael: A policeman has rules.
René: So, what now, my old friend?
Michael: Go back home.
René: My home is wherever people are oppressed.
Michael: They don't know who you are yet. I can protect you, but you have to do exactly as I say.
René: You mean sell out everything I believe in so I can save myself? Please Michel! You know me better than that.
Michael: Don't make me come after you, René. If you strike again I will find you.
Michael turns around to live with a really anguish expression on his face, René starts singing'
René:
Les bourgeois c'est comme les cochons
Plus ça devient vieux plus ça devient bête
Les bourgeois c'est comme les cochons
Plus ça devient vieux plus ça devient ...
René: The greedy bourgeois are just like pigs! The older they are, the dumber they get!

SYSTEMS

Nikita enters systems, logs in, then places the video of René she made earlier when he met Michael and starts looking for him in the system.
Nikita: Hi.
She founds him, and starts watching a video:
The protest didn't start until everyone had had lunch. But then, the niceties were over. Students, and their teachers, hit Paris in waves, the largest in the month-long series of demonstrations. Officially, nearly 3,000 extra riot police turned out to meet them, but some said the number was double. At any rate, they and the students have played this game before. They both knew the rules.
Another video:
It was the biggest so far of the recent student demonstrations, a national one called to protest against government plans to reform the universities. But the government has handled it so clumsily that, although the plans are deliberately vague, everyone -- left and right -- feels threatened. It was mostly the right who turned out today.

Nikita astonished finds Michael in the crowd along with René.

MADELINE'S AND OPERATIONS' DINING ROOM

Madeline: Josephson requested a back-up team.
Operations: I thought it was a Cold Op?
Madeline: So did he. They found land mines in the area. Someone's been there recently.
Operations: We need that Intel. Give him what he needs. I see I'm scheduled to go on-line with the Agency this afternoon.
Madeline: They want to know about Brussels.
Operations: Has anything changed in the last twenty-four hours?
Madeline: No.
Operations: See if you can put them off. There's no point until we know something.
Madeline: I disagree. You need to show your presence. This thing will get bloody and when it does, whoever has an attendance problem will pay.
Madeline: I was a little direct yesterday. I hope you didn't take it the wrong way.
Operations: Of course not.
Madeline: Where are we on the museum bombing?
Operations: I don't have anything on my screen. If nothing comes up in a couple of hours, call down to Comm.

MICHAEL'S OFFICE
Nikita: We need to talk.
Michael: I'm busy.
Nikita: I followed you last night.
Michael punches the code to secure the room.
Michael: Yes?
Nikita: René Dian. In 1984, along with some other extremist students of Paris University, he formed a radical activist group called "L'Heure Sanguine" -- the "Bloody Hour."
Nikita: There was a bombing, people died. Everyone escaped except for you. You were arrested. Of course you died in prison just like I did. And now, after all this time, René's resurfaced and you two have crossed paths.
Michael: Yes, I knew him.
Nikita: Now you're protecting him.
Michael: Up to a certain point.
Nikita: Why would you protect him at all? After all the lectures to me about "sacrificing feelings ... for the greater good," hm?
Michael: I'll take care of it, Nikita.
Nikita: There's something you're not telling me.
Michael: Just stay out of it.

COMM

Nikita: Hey, Birkoff. I just remembered something.
Birkoff: What?
Nikita: This guy from the museum might have had a mole on his neck and he could be French.
Birkoff: What do you mean, could have been French?
Nikita: Just check it.
Birkoff: All right, I'll add the two constraints. And mole; and French'.
Nikita: That's him.
Birkoff: René Dian. L'Heure Sanguine. Small student radical group from the '80's. Inactive. No wonder it didn't show up.
Nikita: Do you know where to find him?
Birkoff: I can try.
Nikita is pacing behind Birkoff and she's impatient
Nikita: He's here. There's a tracker on him.
Birkoff: What are you'?
Nikita: Don't ask questions: just take the credit.

MADELINE'S OFFICE

Michael: Yes?
Operations: René Dian. You were close with him.
Michael: Yes. Why?
Madeline: He's responsible for the museum bombing.
Michael: How do we know?
Operations: Nikita remembered a few details which pointed Mr. Birkoff in the right direction.
Michael: I see.
Madeline: We'd like you to bring him in. Is that a problem?
Michael: Of course not.
Operations: Good.

CITY BUILDING

Michael: I asked you to stay out of it.
Nikita: Yes, you did. You should try talking to me the next time, Michael. Maybe you'll get better results.
Michael: He's moving position. All Teams converge to the South exit. He's leaving the building.
OPERATIVE: Get up!
René: Shame on you! After what I've done for you...eh? I was mistaken when I said you were still alive. ...!
Nikita: Get him out of here!

THE PERCH

Madeline: Michael's Team just picked up René Dian. They're on their way.
Operations: It was only a matter of time before Michael crossed paths with someone from his past. Can we use that relationship to our advantage?
Madeline: We're exploring that now.
Operations: Good. You need to find out if the bombing are the work of the resurrected L'Heure Sanguine, or if they represent a new association of Dian.
Madeline: Are you going to be here late?
Operations: Most likely, why?
Madeline: I'll have Christopher bring up some dinner for you.
Operations: Well, that will be nice.

WHITE ROOM

René: The mind is an amazing thing.
Madeline: Sometimes.
René: While I sat here waiting, knowing what's to come, the strangest thoughts came to me. Did it rain last Thursday? Suddenly, knowing that was critical. Why would that concern me here'now? Strange.
Madeline: Perhaps it's your fear looking for a place to hide.
René: Hm. Perhaps.
Madeline: What group has contracted you to do these bombings?
René: Hm. I see my charm is insufficient to distract you at the business at hand.
Madeline: I'm afraid so.
René: Too bad. What was your question?
Michael is watching the interrogation trough a camera from his office.
Madeline: The group you are working for.
René: Red Cell.
Madeline: Red Cell?
René: You don't believe me?
Madeline: Well, Red Cell is sophisticated, global. Your record suggests more... provincial activity.
René: One must face the realities of a modern world. Mergers, takeovers...even in the resistance movement.
Madeline: What are their targets?
René: We planted devices in every major city in the world. We'll begin detonating them one at a time.
Madeline: I see.

MICHAEL'S OFFICE

Madeline: He claims he's no longer affiliated with L'Heure Sanguine. That he's been commissioned to set off these bombs on behalf of Red Cell. Is that likely?
Michael: No.
Madeline: I agree. What's he's doing, Michael?
Michael: Trying to regain his importance. René's living in another time. His causes are obsolete; most of his comrades are dead.
Madeline: So you think he's on his own?
Michael: Perhaps. But, René's a leader. His strength is recruitment. There may be a few others, not many.
Madeline: We have to clean this up. Would you like me to take care of it?
Michael: No, I'll do it.

NIKITA'S APARTMENT

Nikita: Come in. I was surprised to get your call.
Michael: Did you finish the Debrief?
Nikita: Yes. Why?
Michael: You did the right thing, Nikita.
Nikita: It's how you trained me, Michael.
Michael starts walking around the apartment, but he seems hesitant. Nikita just waits for him to talk.
Michael: René and I were students together at the University. We shared similar beliefs, mostly that a change was needed. We organized demonstrations, shouted slogans, made speeches...
Nikita: Made bombs?
Michael: Yes. I don't even remember how it started. I was angry at everything, at the world around me. When I met René, everything he said seemed so true.
Nikita: Why are you in his debt?
Michael: My sister.
Nikita: Your sister?
Michael: After my parents died, I ... took care of her. ... She was still very young. When I was arrested there was no one to help her. René took her in. Even after he thought I was dead he kept providing for her.
Michael: He had no reasons to do it, except out of kindness.
Nikita: Didn't you tell me once that you can't separate the man from his actions? He's still a terrorist.
Michael: To me, his actions are that of a friend.
Nikita: Michael, disengage. Let the Section sort this out.
Michael: It's too late. A profile's been set. I'm not sure I can do it.
Nikita: Why are you telling me this?
Michael: I wanted you to know in case something happens to me.
With tears in her eyes she pats his knee, he grabs her hand.

COMM

Operations: What's going on?
Birkoff: We're getting a Delta Alarm.
Operations: Nuclear detonation?
Birkoff: Two of them! Thirty seconds apart, one in the Ukraine and one in the Atlantic.
Operations: Is doesn't make sense. How long ago?
Birkoff: Two minutes.
Operations: Have you confirmed?
Birkoff: No. All of our internal systems are consistent.
Operations: Initiate a Lock-Up, then go to Level Four and bring everybody in!
Birkoff: Link with the DOD satellite. See what data it has.

WHITE ROOM

René: Michel!
Michael: Do exactly as I say.
René: Where are we going? What's happening?
Michael: I'm getting you out of here.

COMM

Birkoff: Are you sure? Nothing? What about seismic? All right, thanks. There was no Event. Whatever we're seeing is internal.
Operations: How could that be?
Birkoff: I don't know -- yet.

HIGHWAY, DRIVING

René: Are we safe?
Michael: Not yet. We have to get out of local radius.
René: How did you do this?
Michael: I uploaded a pseudo alarm. They've discovered it by now, but it'll give us time to reach a blind spot. From there we can get out of the country.
René: They'll track you down.
Michael: Doesn't matter.
René: They'll kill you. Join us, Michael. Give your life some meaning again or death some purpose.
Michael: It's not possible.
René: Why not? It will be what we always wanted. We're older, smarter: we can do it right this time.
Michael: Once we're out of the country, I'll take you somewhere safe. You know a place?
René: I do. I'll have the other join us there. Meet them, listen to them. Then, if you're not convinced, I'll help you disappear where no one can ever find you. Huh?

COMM

Operations: Are we fully operational?
Birkoff: I've deleted the virus Michael planted in the system.
Operations: Are we tracking?
Birkoff: Yeah, I've got them.
Operations: All right, mobilize the Team.
Birkoff: Everyone's on their way in.
Operations: Good.
Nikita: I just got the call. Where's Michael?
Operations: Birkoff will fill you in.
Birkoff: The Profile will be downloaded by now.

OLD BUILDING

They are in the elevator of an old building
Michael: What?
René: I was remembering '84, the transportation strike. We all dreaming of the great cause and the role we might play. We spent most of our time delivering fresh underwear and toilet paper to the strikers.
Michael: We rode those beat-up Lambrettas.
René: Those were the good times. You must agree on that, no?
Michael: We were young. Everything seemed good then.
Man: Hey, hey, René.
Woman: Salut.
Man: It's good to see you.
René: Come on. Come.
René: This is Michel.
Jeanine: (in French) René has spoken about you often. Welcome.
René: Are we still on schedule for Tuesday?
Jeanine: We just got the detonators last night. Claude is preparing them. We're studying the layout of the clinic now.
René: Our material is limited. We can't level the building. Plant the charges where they kill the most people.
René: I have something for you.
Michael: What did you tell her about me?
René: The truth. That you were a great hero. She married a chef. They live in the country with their young son.
Michael: Yes, I know. I check on them.
René: So, you've seen them.
Michael: Not in person. I monitor them through our system.
René: Huh, it's not the same. You have to see them.
Birkoff: (via comm) Parameter Team A, stay on mark.
René: He's a beautiful boy, Michel. Let's have some wine!
Michael: Not yet.
René: Not yet... means you will soon?
Birkoff: (via comm) Keep them in visual.
René: And with Michael aboard, you will understand the meaning of the word commitment. There's no one like him: there never was.
René: A Ton Retour!
Birkoff: (via comm) Now!
Michael: Everyone's been hit. Cease fire.
Birkoff: Outside Teams, hold your positions.
René: How could you?! Huh?
Michael: I'm sorry.
René: You have no soul ..., no honor!
René: Defend yourself! I said, defend yourself! You once said that a person can define themselves by what they are willing to die for. I will die for a belief. You will die because you have none!
Michael closes his eyes, he is going to let René kill him, but Nikita is right behind him and kills René.
Michael: You should have let him do it.
Michael knees next to René and closes his eyes, he's about to cry.

THE PERCH

Nikita: You wanted to see me?
Operations: I know sometimes the line can blur, Nikita. The one between loyalty to a friend and duty to the Section. It's a common mistake for an Operative to believe that he -- or she -- can elude the eyes of the Section. They can't.
Nikita: I never thought I could.
Operations: Then why didn't you tell us about René Dian from the beginning?
Nikita: Because I had nothing to' I was protecting him.
Operations: That interesting! You were trying to protect him.
Nikita: If Michael was hiding something, there had to have been a powerful reason. I respected that.
Operations: Michael was thrown off balance by René. But he was quick to adjust, as we knew he would. There's nothing you know that we don't know first. No move you'll make we don't anticipate. I think you fundamentally understand this, but every once in a while you need to be reminded.
Nikita: Or warned?
Operations: It might seem far-fetched; Nikita, but you are the future of Section One. Just a reminder.

The episode ends with Michael sitting in his car watching his sister with her son. He watches as her son runs toward his father. The father picks up his son, and kisses Michael's sister giving her a bouquet. (You know the big happy family.) As Michael rolls up his car window, the French song René was singing is been played again.
Les bourgeois c'est comme les cochons
Plus ça devient vieux plus ça devient bête
Les bourgeois c'est comme les cochons
Plus ça devient vieux plus ça devient ...

THE END

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