Off Profile Transcript
By Baoqin and Dana


VAN ACCESS

A team is returning from a mission. One operative is on a stretch, he has been shot in the chest. Another one has been shot in the arm.
Nurse: Get out of the way!
Operations: Why did you abort?
Michael: We had to. We went critical 10 minutes into the mission.
Operations: We loose Korda, we are going to have to start from scratch.
Michael: Deployment was off by a factor of two, the mission profile was faulty.
Andrea interrupts from behind.
Andrea: No, there was nothing wrong with the profile.
Michael: (annoyed with the interruption) Who is this?
Operations: Andrea Koslof, the new mission profiler.
Andrea: The flaw was in your execution.
Operations: Check the tapes, get this settled. You will be going out again soon.

SYSTEMS

They are watching the tapes from the mission.
Andrea: Look at sector 5. They didn't penetrate as the plan required.
Michael: They couldn't. The perimeter wasn't secured.
Andrea: In less than 30 seconds.
Michael: That's unacceptable.
Andrea: We would have captured the target.
Michael: No. The window was too narrow.
Nikita and Birkoff are watching.
Andrea: The window was wide enough for two units to make an entry.
Operations walks in and views the situation.
Operations: Hasn't this been resolved yet?
Michael: Not yet.
Operations: Deal with it later; right now we need a new mission design.
Michael: I want a different profiler. She doesn't have any field experience. Her designs are too theoretical.
Andrea: My designs are correct.
Operations: Field experience might be useful. Michael, she's on your team until next mission. Make the necessary arrangement.
Michael: We can't protect her out there.
Andrea: I can take care of myself.

BRIEFING

Operations: Six weeks ago, these genetic codes were stolen from a lab in Zurich. These codes could be used to manufacture and design viruses.
Andrea: Design viruses?
Operations: Plague designed to attack specific ethnic group. It's Hans Korda, the geneticist connected with the group who stole these viruses. The aborted mission not only failed to capture him, it exposed our intentions. You leave in two hours. No mistakes this time, in design or execution. Bring back Korda.

MUNITIONS

Operations: Walter. George called. What he said is that he believed that we used the Winchester protocol in Afghanistan last month.
Walter: Yeah, we did.
Operations: Well, since it's been forbidden numerous times by the highest levels, our position is that we didn't. George is coming here to interview the tactical group. Birkoff has agreed to support us. We expect your cooperation as well.
Walter is thinking, and doesn't reply.
Operations: Walter, I've told you, I regret what happened to Belinda. But it was standard procedure, it wasn't personal. Will you support our position? I need to know I can count on you.
Walter: I'm not sure you can.
Operations: I strongly advise you to reconsider.
Walter: What are you going to do? Cancel me? (he looks Operations up and down) Go ahead.

Later, Madeline and Operations are walking along a hall.
Madeline: Obviously, he still blames you for Belinda's death.
Operations: I had no choice. She was in abeyance.
Madeline: You might have postponed the final word for a few days.
Operations: Why postpone the inevitable? Besides, nobody asked him to marry someone with a weak performance record.
They enter her office. Madeline seems less worried than him.
Madeline: He'll put it behind him in time.
Operations: We don't have time. The investigation is proceeding.
Madeline: We could cancel him.
Operations: He's been here for as long as I can remember.
Madeline: And if a key member of the tactical team dies just before he's questioned, that will only complicate things further.
Operations: That too.
Madeline: We have a few days until George arrives. Let me work on it.
Operations: I'd appreciate that.

MUNITIONS

Nikita and Andrea are getting ready for the mission. Nikita places a tagging tab on Andrea's shoulder.
Andrea: Thank you.
Andrea checks a gun.
Walter: Most field ops prefer to use a lighter weapon.
Andrea: I trained with this.
Walter: Shooting at people isn't the same at holograms.
Andrea: Why is that?

Walter hands Andrea her gun. Nikita warns Andrea that a live mission is not the same as the sim. Andrea asks why.
Nikita: Well, people shoot back.
Andrea: Not if they're dead.
Nikita and Walter exchange amused looks.

MISSION

Michael, Nikita, and Andrea enter the building. They shoot the guard and Andrea takes his place. She types something on the security computer, screen showing "Enter sequence access code / Log in: GN - 76266394" then "Password verified".
Andrea: You're clear to go.
Michael: Keep your position clean.
Michael and Nikita take an elevator - Michael has to swipe a card to make it work.
Michael: Position and number of hostiles inside location.
Andrea: Two guards at the entry point plus the target.
They exit the elevator and go towards Korda's room. Korda is watching tv. They burst in, kill the guards and take Korda away.
Michael: We have Korda.
Andrea: Two guards in the stairwell. Headed down.
Michael: They're yours.
Andrea: Hold and wait for my signal.
She goes after them down the stairs. She shoots, misses one of them. He shoots back, she ducks then follows him, manages to kill him before he can get away.
Andrea: The stairs are clear.
Michael and Nikita come into the stairwell with Korda. One of the hostiles gets up again, as any bad guy has to. Andrea shoots him, then looks defiantly at Michael.
Michael: Let's go.

VAN ACCESS

Michael: Good work.
Andrea: It was a simple enough mission.
Michael: First time under fire is never simple.
Michael: Prepare him for interrogation.
Nikita starts to leave with the rest of the team.
Michael: Would you like to join me for dinner?
Nikita stops dead in her tracks, she can't believe what she's witnessing.
Andrea: No, thank you. I don't go out much.
Michael: With anyone, or just operatives?
Andrea: With anyone, especially Section operatives.
Michael: We got off on the wrong foot, it was partially my fault. I'd like to make amends.
Andrea: It was nobody's fault. No amends are necessary.
Michael: No amends then, just pleasure.
Andrea: Forget dinner, Michael, it's not gonna happen.
Michael: Ok, how about a cup of coffee? I'd like to get to know you better.
Nikita watches as Michael and Andrea leave together. She shakes her head slightly in disbelief.

SYSTEMS

Nikita: Morning Birkoff.
Birkoff: Hi.
Nikita: You are here early.
Birkoff: The Bahrain situation is heating up. Your mission is too.
Nikita: Did Madeline interrogate Korda?
Birkoff: Just doing it now. He won't put up much of a fight. Most of the scientists are pretty lame ... I'm an exception (smirk).
He manages to make her smile. Andrea comes in, looking tough as nails.
Nikita: (speaking of the devil...) Have you seen Michael this morning?
Birkoff: Yeah, he came in.
Nikita: Alone?
Birkoff: Didn't really notice. What do you think of the new profiler?
Nikita: Andrea? (in a voice saying, why are you asking about her?) I don't know. A little arrogant, maybe.
Birkoff: Yeah. Profilers think they know it all. Sometimes they do.
Nikita: Does she?
Birkoff: It's too early to tell. She just transferred from the Hasian sector.
Nikita: What's her reputation?
Birkoff: Hasian thinks she walks on water. Totally dedicated to Section.
Nikita: (sarcastically) The perfect operative.
Birkoff: That's what they say. Nothing gets to her, nothing and nobody.
Apparently gossip runs in Section just as well as in any other place.

Andrea is at her work station. Michael walks up to her from behind.
Michael: Good morning.
Andrea: Hi.
Michael: I had a great time last night.
Andrea: You talked me into coffee, then you managed to talk me into dinner, but this is as far as it goes.
Michael: Why?
Andrea: Because I like it here. Most people hate Section, or pretend to, but I like it.
Michael: So do I. Doesn't mean we can't enjoy ourselves.
Andrea: Section isn't exactly about enjoyment. The sniper wear, the weapons, the missions, those are real. Everything else is an illusion. People who forget that don't last long.
Michael: Everything is as real as we make it. No more, no less. It's up to us. If you change your mind, let me know.

MADELINE'S OFFICE

Madeline is examining a tape of Walter's three year review. "What is the most important day of the week? - It's either Tuesday or Thursday. - Choose one - Tuesday..."
Operations: What are you watching?
Madeline: The tape of Walter's 3 year review.
Operations: In your opinion, is he really willing to die?
Madeline: (matter of factly) Yes.
Operations: There must be some way in.
Madeline: I'm working on it.
Operations: What about Korda?
Madeline: He works for a German businessman named William Glasser.
Operations: Businessman.
Madeline: It's purely a commercial venture. He intends on selling the viruses to the highest bidder.
Operations: So we eliminate the lab before the sale can take place.
Madeline: Birkoff's working on a package. He's meeting with the team now.
Operations: Good.

BRIEFING

Birkoff is talking to Michael, Nikita, and Andrea. A holo image of the building is out of the table.
Birkoff: Korda didn't know the location of the lab. But he said Glasser calls it twice a day from a secure phone in his office. He's hosting a charity fundraising tonight. 200 guests, security should be focused on the main floor.
Andrea: Team 1 will secure the perimeter. You, Michael, and I will work the inside.
Nikita: What's the configuration?
Michael: I'll work with Andrea, you work solo. Get ready, we leave in an hour.

MISSION - FUNDRAISER

Michael and Andrea are posing as a couple at the party. They go in, Michael holding her hand. They start to dance. Nikita is up some alone.
Birkoff: Nikita, 20 degrees to the left.
Nikita's glasses have a camera so that Birkoff is watching what she sees.
Birkoff: Use the stair entry. As soon as the guard is away, you go. Shouldn't be long.
Michael: Ok, Birkoff, we're in position.
Birkoff: Nikita, the sequence is under way.
One of the mystery twins is in the room, watching Nikita.
Nikita watches Michael dancing with Andrea. They are looking into each other's eyes, quite taken with each other. The music is quite romantic. She arrives at the stairs.
Nikita: Guarded. (the guard is still at the door upstairs)
Michael slides his hand along Andrea's arm. Nikita watches that and doesn't pay attention to the guard.
Birkoff: Nikita, where are we?
She looks upstairs and the guard is gone.
Nikita: I'm going through.
She goes upstairs with a flashlight. She puts a disc into a computer, holding the flashlight in her mouth.
Michael: Birkoff, how long? (He could be worried about Nikita even though he's dancing with Andrea).
Birkoff: 20 seconds.
Nikita gets what they need then is out of the room.
Birkoff: We're clear.

VAN ACCESS

They come in from the mission, Michael with Andrea walking side by side, Nikita behind, unhappy. She has started to feel like the third wheel a while ago.
Birkoff: Nikita, Madeline wants to see you in her office.
Nikita: Madeline? Why?
Birkoff: She didn't say.

MADELINE'S OFFICE

Madeline: The mission was successful?
Nikita: Yes.
Madeline: Good. Have you talked to Walter lately?
Nikita: I talk to him all the time.
Madeline: Does he mention Belinda?
Nikita: He misses her very much.
Madeline: Does he talk about Operations, make any comment about him?
Nikita: No.
Madeline: You sure?
Nikita: Positive. Is that all?
Madeline: No. No, it isn't.
Madeline brings up a video of the mission. It shows Michael and Andrea dancing together.
Madeline: You let your cam view drift for a full three seconds.
Nikita: No harm resulted.
Madeline: Nevertheless, it was a lapse.
Nikita: I'll be more careful the next time.
Madeline: They work well together. They may be even turning it into a relationship.
Nikita: I wouldn't know.
Madeline: I hope they are. For their sake, and for yours.
Nikita: For my sake?
Madeline: It's better for operatives to find relationships that won't affect with their work. Your passion for life is very strong, Nikita. It enables you to accomplish things no one else can, but it can also destroy you.
She nods, like "keep talking".
Nikita: Now are we done?
Madeline: Yes.

ANDREA'S APARTMENT

Michael and Andrea are in bed, having sex. Fear And Love by Morcheeba is playing in the background.
Michael is lying on his back, Andrea is lying sideways, facing him.
Andrea: Michael, anything wrong? (Michael is feeling guilty.)
Michael: Everything's fine?
Andrea: I think I could love you. It's Nikita, isn't it?
Michael: What do you mean?
Andrea: You had a relationship with her. At least that's what people say. Is it true?
Michael: Yes.
Andrea: Did you love her?
Michael: Does it matter?
Andrea: Does to me.
Michael: Yes, I loved her.
Andrea: And now?
Michael: Now, there's you.
The camera switches to Nikita's apartment. She is lying down, alone, wearing a bathrobe with a towel wrapped around her head, obviously deep in thought.

MUNITIONS

Nikita: Hey, Walter? So what's going on with you?
Walter: Nothing much.
Nikita: That's not what I heard.
Walter: Operations want me to lie to Oversight.
Nikita: Lie about what?
Walter: What difference does it make?
Nikita: Difference between life and death.
Walter: You of all people are telling me to lie?
Nikita: No. I am telling you to survive.
Walter: Well, I'm really not interested in surviving anymore. What I am interested in is living. That's where the real difference is. Oh, hell, I've being hanging around this place for too long already.
Nikita: Walter, don't talk like that again.
Walter: It's like I always said, you are one of the good ones. Don't change.
Madeline's voice comes through the intercom.
Madeline: Walter.
Walter: I'm here.
Madeline: I'd like to meet with you.
Walter: Sure thing, in your office?
Madeline: No, in the white room.
Walter's death wish might just come true...

WHITE ROOM

Walter hesitates to go in. Madeline is next to him.
Walter: Killing me I can understand, but torture?
Madeline: Please, sit down. (he complies) You're not going to be torture, Walter, and you're not going to be killed. Whatever you tell George tomorrow, we'll just have to deal with as best we can.
Walter: Then why am I here?
Madeline: We'd like you to take a look at something. (she hands him a disc)
Walter: What's on this?
Madeline: Play it and you'll see.
Walter inserts the disc in and a 3D holographic image of Belinda comes up. He gasps.
Belinda: Hello Walter.
Walter: Belinda!
Belinda: Yes, it's me. Well, almost me. I've missed you terribly, but I'm back now. I hope you're glad to see me. Obviously, it can't be the way it was, but we can have something together. Do you want that, Walter? I do. I love you and I want to do this again as often as you want. I hope to see you soon.
They probably staged this in the white room to make the point that they *could* have tortured or killed him.

ANDREA'S WORKSTATION

Andrea: Hi.
Michael: Do you have the security work up?
Andrea: Yes, they have an unusual package. Heartbeat ID.
Michael: We'll need one other people with the appropriate clearance.
Andrea: We already have him. We'll imprint his EKG on the digital patch.
Michael: Good, let me see the log. Make sure the second egress (egress, n. way out; exit.) has adequate coverage.
Andrea: I will. I'll be finished here in an hour. Want something to eat?
Michael: I'm busy. (Here comes the flip side.)
Andrea: How about later?
Michael: It's a bad time right now.
Andrea: What do you mean?
Michael: Just what I said.
Andrea: Did I do something wrong?
Michael: It's nobody's fault (throwing her words back at her), some things are just not meant to be.
Andrea: Let's at least talk about it.
Michael: We have.

NIKITA'S APARTMENT

Nikita is meditating. Someone knocks on her door. Nikita opens the door.
Nikita: Hey. (Andrea storms in without invitation.) Come in.
Andrea: Is he here?
Nikita: Who?
Andrea: You know who, Michael.
Nikita: No, he's not here. (Nikita sits down on the staircase.)
Andrea: He won't see me anymore. One minute everything was wonderful, next he was cold. Doesn't want anything to do with me. ( she can relate)
Nikita: Did he say why?
Andrea: No. What's going on?
Nikita: I don't know.
Andrea: Did he just get through to me just to prove he could? Is he that much of a monster? Is that what he did to you?
Nikita: Andrea . . .
Andrea: It's not right. It's just not right.
Nikita: I don't pretend to understand him, but he lost someone a while ago. It scarred him. He might not want to get close again.
Andrea: You are making excuses for him.
Nikita: I don't think so. I'm just being realistic.
Andrea: He can't do this, we can't let him get away with it.
Nikita: What does that mean?
Andrea: I mean we have to do something.
Nikita: Such as . . .
The telephone rings. Nikita picks up the phone.
Nikita: Hello?
Michael: Josephine.

SECTION ONE

Birkoff comes out of the interview room. Walter arrives to be interviewed. Operations stands at the door, looks at Walter with dignity.
Operations: George is ready for you now.

BRIEFING

Michael: I will handle demolition. Nikita will ensure egress. Since Birkoff is working on the Bahrain mission, Andrea will provide tactical. Any questions?
Andrea: I have a question. Who the hell do you think you are treating me like this? (Everyone stands up to leave them have this discussion alone.) Nikita, stay, this concerns you, too. (Nikita sits back down.) You toyed me like a cat with a mouse. I won't tolerate it.
Michael: I didn't toy with you.
Andrea: Then what were you doing?
Michael: Investigating.
Andrea: Investigating what?
Michael: You.
Andrea: Why?
Michael: You were suspected of leaking intel to Red Cell. I needed access to your personal files.
Andrea: I never leaked intel to anybody.
Michael: I know. The suspicions were unfounded.
Andrea: And you never cared for me at all.
Michael: I respect you as a colleague.
Andrea: I see. Investigation's over now?
Michael: Yes. You been cleared. (Andrea stands up to leave.) I'm sorry. (Yeah, whatever, Michael.) Mission begins in an hour, better get ready.
Nikita has a look on her face as if she tries to ignore something embarrassing for him, when in fact she's happy there was a reason for his attention for Andrea. Michael's face shows nothing, as usual.

MADELINE'S OFFICE

Operations: Once we've secured funding for the eastern region, we have to make sure that we have the...
Walter comes in. He looks grim.
Operations: I was going to stop by later to thank you for your cooperation. You saved us a great deal of inconvenience.
Walter has Belinda's disc in his hands.
Madeline: If you're getting tired of that one, we can have others made up.
Walter throws the disc on the table.
Walter: I erased the disc. Don't make up any other. And don't ever mention Belinda's name again.
He throws Operations a very dark look.
Operations: The disc didn't make it cooperate. What did?
Madeline: I've studied his file very carefully. Reviewed his evaluations, assessed his psychological profile in great detail.
Operations: And?
Madeline: I don't know.

VAN ACCESS

Nikita: You spoke with Andrea since briefing?
Michael: No.
Nikita: Maybe you should. She's more then just angry, Michael, she's dangerous.
Michael: What can she do?
Nikita: I'm not sure, just be careful.

MISSION

A van goes into a large hangar, loading some stuff. Michael and Nikita sneak in behind it.
Andrea: Begun the sequence. Perimeter team, take your position.
People are busy in the lab. Michael and Nikita go into the room before it. Michael scans the place with the red laser beam. Loaded Gun by Hednoize is playing.
Andreas's screen is showing "Disarming failsafe", then "Failsafe disarmed". Michael gets in.
Michael: I'm in.
Andrea smiles for the first time in the entire episode. She punches some keys, then the screen shows "Failsafe reactivated". Alert lights go off and the door closes. Michael is locked in.
Michael: Andrea, what's happening? I'm locked in. Andrea? Andrea?
Andrea puts down her comm.. set and leaves. The charge is set to explode in 1:47 minutes.
Michael: Nikita, I can't get out.
Nikita shoots someone and comes to the door.
Michael: We need a heartbeat. See if any of the technicians are still alive.
One of them is crawling on the floor. Nikita grabs him. 37 seconds left.
Technician: Please, help me.
She brings him to the door and it opens. Michael shoots a hostile behind Nikita. Michael and Nikita run out of the room under a hail of gunfire. They get out just in time. The lab explodes.

SECTION

Michael and Nikita discuss the mission.
Nikita: Michael, you deactivated the failsafe on the way in.
Michael: Yes.
Nikita: Then why did the door close behind you? The failsafe was reactivated, there's only one person who could have done that.
Michael: I know.
Nikita: Michael, she tried to kill you. What are you gonna do about it?
Michael: Nothing.
Nikita: Why not? Cause you feel guilty? (He turns around and starts to leave.) What if she tries again?

BRIEFING ROOM

Nikita is leaning back against a chair. She is alone, probably contemplating about the mission.
Operations walks in.
Operations: Is anything wrong?
Nikita: No, I'm fine.
Operations: Andrea's been cancelled.
Nikita: (nods) So you knew she tried to kill Michael.
Operations: Yes, we were disappointed, but no surprised. We arranged a test, she failed.
Nikita: A test?
Operations: We knew she wasn't guilty of treason, but we did suspect her of being emotionally unstable. Obviously, we were right.
Nikita: So, were you testing me too? To see if I would report you what I knew?
Operations: There's no need to, you would have told us.
Nikita: How could you be so sure?
Operations: We have been watching you very closely, Nikita. You are one of us now.

THE END

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