Cat And Mouse
Transcript by Dana

DOMINIC'S HEADQUARTERS
 
A big, abandoned industrial looking room with a very high ceiling. Dominic, a terrorist that has been left for dead in the episode War, reappears in this episode in a wheel chair as a result of being shot by Nikita.
Dominic: You're sure the trucks are visible to satellite surveillance.
Other hostile: Clearly visible.
Dominic: Not to clearly, don't want to tip our hat.
Other hostile: There'll be plenty of processing to get through.
Dominic: Good. I know Section, they'll take the bait. They'll have too. Which leaves one last detail ... Abby.
Other hostile: She's ready.
Dominic: We're having trouble with the voice pattern.
Other hostile: Not anymore.
Dominic: And the last bit of surgery, the cheekbones.
Other hostile: It's perfect.
Dominic: I'd better take a look at her.
Other hostile: Send in Abby.
Abby comes into the room and she turns out to be a perfect body double of Nikita.
Dominic: Yes, you'll do very nicely. (he kisses her on the cheek)

BRIEFING ROOM
Operatives gather for the briefing, Operations, Birkoff, Nikita, Michael. Nikita has a cold - she coughs, Michael watches her.
Operations: We received priority intel an hour ago. A Kitchen has been located outside Gdansk on the Baltic Sea. They furnish biologicals to a number of terrorist groups including Red Cell. They've been connected to four strikes in the last month.
Michael: Who's their sponsor?
Birkoff: So far all we know is that it's a new player. We're still searching for reliable intel. The lab is located in this textile plant. Comsat photos show chemical supply trucks entering from the south. Theoretically, they should be empty when they leave. An advance team placed sensors in the road, the outgoing trucks are packed to the gills.
Operations: Get in, find out what they've got, and who they are, and shut them down.
Everyone leaves the briefing table.
Michael: Are you all right?
Nikita: I'm fine, just getting over a cold.
Michael: You wanna step down?
Nikita: No, I'll be fine. Thanks.

MISSION

Four operatives plus Nikita and Michael get out of the mission van and go up some fire escape stairs outside the building.
Birkoff: There are four levels. The lab is at the top.
The team enters at the top, descends some stairs.
Birkoff: The hall loops around in both directions. The lab could be on either side.
The team splits in two, Michael going one way with two operatives and Nikita going the other way with two others. Michael finds the lab.
Michael: We have contact.
He kills two hostiles.
Michael: Take samples, destroy everything else.
Birkoff: Any signature?
Michael: Not so far.
Meanwhile, Nikita's team is approached by a group of 3 terrorists plus Abby.
Michael: We have 90 seconds. Move out.
Birkoff: Nikita, 90 seconds.
Nikita: Let's go.
An explosion kills one of Nikita's team and the other one is shot. Nikita is shot by Abby with a tranquilizer gun and she takes her place while Nikita is carried out in a dark bag.
Abby: We've got 60 seconds. Hurry.
They undress Nikita and Abby puts on her clothes.
Birkoff: Nikita, what's going on?
Michael's team runs out, Michael follows.
Birkoff: Nikita, talk to me.
Abby: Hostiles got my team.
Birkoff: You've got 30 seconds. Get going.
Abby: I'm on my way.
Outside Michael waits by the mission van. Abby gets out of the building.
Abby: Ambush!
She kills one hostile.
Abby: They cut off our retreat.
The mission van leaves and the lab explodes behind them.

DOMINIQUE'S HEADQUARTERS

They bring in Nikita on a stretcher and he wakes her up with a shot.
Dominic: Put this on.
Flashback to War when Nikita met Dominic for the first time.
Dominic: Good, you look at me. You realize it's important to know the inquisitor.
They carry Nikita strapped to a metallic frame.
Dominic: I know that everyone is afraid of something. Something which causes an emotion beyond terror. A horror that defies description or definition. When the senses shut down.
Dominic: Right here in my hand is everything that Section knows about you.
Nikita shoots him and the flashback to War ends.
Dominic: I can't have you distracting my men.
He throws Nikita a shirt.
Nikita: Where am I?
Dominic: I'll explain everything. When you're dressed.

MISSION VAN

Michael: How's your cold?
Abby: I'm sorry?
Michael: Your cold.
Abby: It's better, much better. I just need to get a little bit of rest.

DOMINIC'S HEADQUARTERS

A large circular room with a screen in the middle on a post. Nikita is handcuffed to a long chain attached to it.
Dominic: Don't worry. I bear you no malice for my condition. In fact, I consider myself quite fortunate. If your aim had been three millimeters to the right ... As far as I'm concerned, the slate is clean.
Nikita: What do you want?
Dominic: Can I offer you some refreshment?
Nikita: What do you want?
Dominic: First, you must realize that this time there will be no escape. Most certainly no rescue. Do you know why?
Nikita: Because I'm not here. At all.
Dominic: You've already grasped something that most people would find quite disorienting.
Nikita: I have a question.
Dominic: You want to know why you're still alive. Once before, as you know, I extracted information from you. As it turned out it was a Section trick which resulted in a rather nasty setback for me. Still, some of what I learned was quite valuable. Now I need the rest of the picture.
Nikita: You won't get it.
Dominic: You'd die before you helped me.
Nikita: Just kill me and get it over with. Unless, of course, you're trying to bore me to death.
Dominic: Humor. (smiles) Well, you're becoming more confident in your work. As I recall, though, you did have a weakness. I believe his name was Michael. Abby, it's show and tell time. Put the target in focus.
Back to the mission van. Abby puts on some glasses that feed the to the big screen and points her gun at Michael.
Dominic: That'll do for now, Abby.
Dominic turns to Nikita.
Dominic: Still bored?
In the mission van, Abby puts the gun down.
Abby: Nice gun.
Michael: Nikita, the tapes show 45 seconds of silence after the ambush. Why didn't you call Birkoff immediately?
At Dominic's headquarters, Nikita watches the screen.
Dominic: Well?
Nikita: The frequency was jammed. I couldn't get through.
Back to the mission van.
Abby: The frequency was jammed. Birkoff must have got in the same time you did.
Back to Dominic's headquarters.
Dominic: Good. You will continue to tell us what we need to know. You will educate Abby in the ways of Section, and in your personal habits so there is no chance of the deception being discovered. Do you understand? Answer, Nikita.
Nikita: I understand.

VAN ACCESS

Back to Section, Abby and Michael enter through the van access door and Nikita and Dominic watch them on the screen.
Dominic: Where are they?
Nikita: Van access. Leads directly to Section.
Dominic: Tell her what to do.
Nikita: Go to Systems, fill out a mission report. Take the corridor on the left
Michael: Where are you going?
Abby: Make out my report.
Michael: That won't be necessary. Operations wants to debrief you directly.
Abby: Now?
Michael: In half an hour.
Nikita: You have to return your communications device first. It's the other direction.
Abby turns around and walks the other way, past Michael.
Abby: Almost forgot...
Nikita: About 20 meters straight ahead. Ponytail and a bandanna, at a workstation.
Dominic: His name?
Nikita: Walter.
Dominic: A friend?
Nikita: Yes.
Dominic: Guide her. Word for word.
Walter: Hey. Hi, sugar.
Abby: Hey.
Walter: Rough mission?
Abby: Not great.
Walter: But you're okay?
Abby: I'm fine.
Walter: Good, good. You remember what we were talking about a couple of days ago?
Nikita: Cheryl.
Abby: Cheryl?
Walter: I asked her to go out.
Abby: And?
Walter: She said yes.
Abby: Told you so.
Walter: Yeah, but I feel, feel kind of guilty.
Abby: Don't feel guilty. Belinda would want you to go out again.
Walter: You really think so?
Abby: I know so.
Walter: Sugar, you're the greatest.
Abby: Thanks. Gotta run.
Walter: Take care.

DOMINIC'S HEADQUARTERS

Dominic: Well, I think you're getting the hang of this rather well.
Nikita: Sooner or later they'll see through her.
Dominic: Oh I don't think so. Don't forget, I have your entire file. Everything they know about you, I know. I spent two years bio-engineering Abby's face and skeletal structure, teaching her how to act and speak like you. All we needed was your knowledge of Section. Now we have that.
Nikita: How long do you expect me to do this?
Dominic: Until Michael's life has no further value to you. Abby can get to him anytime I want.
Nikita: And in the meantime, you destroy Section.
Dominic: You disappoint me. Think. I have no intention of destroying Section.
Nikita: Because while you have her in there, you're one step ahead.
Dominic: Exactly. I want Section to survive for a very long time.
Nikita: Well, when they see their missions failing, they'll know something's wrong.
Dominic: That won't happen. I've calculated their mean success rate. That won't change. They'll only fail when I want them to.
Nikita: So, you've thought of everything.
Dominic: I've no doubt there'll be the occasional tight spot, but I'm confident that you'll get us through. One way or the other.

MADELINE'S OFFICE

Operations and Madeline debrief Abby.
Operations: There was no resistance on the perimeter?
Abby: No.
Operations: None inside until the mission was almost complete?
Abby: That's right.
Operations: Where did the hostiles come from?
Abby: Most likely from abandoned air ducts.
Madeline: You didn't check for those on the way in?
Abby: Intel provided no indication of them.
Operations: So the problem was faulty intel.
Abby: Incomplete intel.
Operations: You're on close quarters standby for the next twelve hours. That's all.
Abby leaves the office.
Operations: You think the lab was a decoy?
Madeline: The resistance was token until the ambush. It's a possibility.
Operations: Still, in the absence of hard evidence, we have to accept the mission objective as accomplished and move on to Phase Two. What does Walter say?
Madeline: He ran absorption tests on all the samples. He's tracing them now.
Operations: Let me know if he finds a potential supplier. We have to find out who's behind this.

DOMINIC'S HEADQUARTERS
 
Dominic: Close quarters standby. That means there's going to be a follow-up mission.
Nikita: That's right.
Dominic: Splendid. How long do we have?
Nikita: A few hours.
Dominic: Guide Abby to your workstation.
They watch info from Nikita's workstation on the screen.
Dominic: This is useless. It's far too general. I need the specific mission profile.
Nikita: Go deeper into the tree. Type in star-four-four-backslash-zero.
"Data File Locked" flashes on the screen.
Dominic: Now what?
Nikita: Now nothing. I don't have access.
Dominic: I don't believe you.
Nikita: The profile won't be released until an hour before the mission.
Dominic: Well that will be too late.
Nikita: There's nothing I can do.
Dominic: How very sad for Michael.
Nikita: Might be a way.
In the close quarters, Birkoff places his pad on a shelf and takes off his shirt.
Birkoff: I'm in the ready room. Download the profile once the cycle's complete.
Female voice: Okay, we're on it.
Birkoff lays down on a simple gray bed and Abby walks in.
Abby: Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you.
Birkoff: That's okay, I wasn't asleep.
Abby: You're working too hard.
Birkoff: Too hard, not very well.
Abby: What do you mean?
Abby lays down on the bed behind him.
Birkoff: Those operatives we lost on your mission. That was my fault.
Abby: Or mine.
Birkoff: You were surprised in the field. I'm supposed to prevent that.
Abby: You're a good man, Birkoff. Roll over.
Abby gets up and goes to Birkoff's bed.
Abby: Roll over. Now.
Birkoff rolls onto his stomach, Abby sets her glasses on the shelf to record the profile intel. Abby sits on Birkoff's legs and starts massaging his back.
Dominic: Good, we've got it. Keep him busy for another five minutes.
Birkoff: Oh, that feels great.
Abby leans over and kisses his cheek. Birkoff opens his eyes.
Birkoff: What was that for?
Abby: I told you, you're a good man.
Birkoff rolls onto his back and looks up at Abby with awe.
Birkoff: You really think so?
Abby: Yes, I do.
They kiss, on the lips this time.
Abby: What are you afraid of?
Birkoff: Nothing. I just can't believe this is happening.
Abby: Well, it doesn't have to be the romance of the century, Birkoff. In this place you should take whatever pleasure you can. When we can.
Nikita has a disapproving look on her face. They kiss again and Abby rolls under Birkoff.
Dominic: Section's in for a little surprise. First of many.

MUNITIONS

Walter is playing with some device flashing a red light.
Birkoff: Walter, I've gotta talk to you.
Walter: I'm listening.
Birkoff: I think I love Nikita.
Walter: Yeah, yeah, everyone loves Nikita.
Birkoff: No, no, I mean really love. And I think it's mutual.
Walter: Nikita's falling for you.
Birkoff: She came on to me in the ready room.
Walter: What, she stroked your hair?
Birkoff: We made love.
Walter: I don't believe you.
Birkoff: Neither do I. But it happened. I swear it.
Walter: She ... came on to you?
Birkoff: Yeah. First she tried to make like it was no big deal, but it got pretty intense. You think I ought to suggest moving in? Or is it too early? Maybe I should just play it cool. See how it plays out.
Walter: I think that you really don't need any advice from me. You seem to be doing fine on your own. Just ... follow your instincts.
Birkoff: That's good. Follow my instincts. Thanks, Walter.

BRIEFING ROOM

Briefing for the follow-up mission. Birkoff looks at Abby who looks away.
Operations: We've traced the supplies of the Red Cell kitchen to a middleman named Klaus Honig. We've located him on the outskirts of Berlin in this apartment. Sims indicate a chance of heavy security so we're sending a full team. Pick up your profiles from Birkoff, you leave in an hour.
Everyone leaves the table except for Michael and Abby.
Michael: Why are you wearing glasses?
Abby: My eyes ... they've been a little bit sensitive lately.
Michael: Maybe you need some rest.
Abby: After the mission I'll get some. Thanks.

DOMINIC'S HEADQUARTERS

Dominic: Something's wrong. Abby is doing something wrong.
Nikita: No.
Dominic: He seems edgy.
Nikita: That's just the way he is.
Dominic: I'm surprised you put up with it. Perhaps he has some hidden charms. Prepare a counter to their mission profile.
In the mission van, Abby and 3 other operatives leave the van; Michael stays in with the laptop. Abby cuts the lock to the door with a laser beam. Michael looks at a 3D blueprint model of the building on his screen.
Michael: Birkoff, where's the security?
Birkoff: I don't show any on the perimeter.
Michael: That goes against intel.
Birkoff: I'm working on it.
Nikita: It's empty.
Michael: Are you certain?
Nikita: I scanned everything.
Michael: Birkoff, the place is clean.
Birkoff: This doesn't add up. Get out of there. Fast.
The operatives run for the van. Hostiles shoot at them from a close-by roof. All of them fall except for Abby, the van is spared.
Dominic: Section One has played cat and mouse many times. It's not often they play the part of the mouse. My guess is they're not enjoying it.

MADELINE'S OFFICE

Operations and Michael look at footage from the mission.
Operations: They had a clear shot at her.
Michael: She was lucky.
Operations: There is an alternate explanation.
Michael: If she wanted to betray us, she would've made it less obvious.
Operations: You're probably right. Put a watch on her, Michael. You can go.
Michael leaves the office. Operations continues the discussion with Madeline.
Operations: What's going on? Is someone sending us a message?
Madeline: It's unclear. But whoever we're up against appears to know us well.
Operations: Designate this as a top priority, put our best people we have on it.
Madeline: That will weaken us elsewhere.
Operations: I don't care. We have to get to the bottom of it. Oh, and just in case, put a watch on Michael.

COMM CENTER

Michael walks over to Abby.
Michael: We need to talk.
Abby: All right.
Michael: Not here. Level Four in fifteen minutes.
Cut to Dominic's Headquarters.
Dominic: What does he want?
Nikita: I don't know.
Dominic: Take a guess!
Nikita: I can't. We just have to wait and see.
Dominic: You've done something to jeopardize my operation.
Nikita: No. I want Michael to live.
Dominic: Then I suggest you handle the next few moments very carefully.
Back to Section, Abby walks up stairs to level four and Birkoff catches up with her.
Birkoff: Nikita.
Abby: Hello Birkoff.
Birkoff: I had a great time the other night.
Abby: Great.
Birkoff: You wanna go grab some dinner?
Abby: Oh, I'm beat. No thanks.
Birkoff: We don't have to go out. I can bring something over.
Abby: Some other time.
Birkoff: Maybe just a drink or something.
Abby: Sorry, Birkoff.
Abby leaves a disappointed Birkoff and goes around the corner. Michael is waiting for her.
Michael: They've put a watch on you, probably on me as well.
Abby: Because we survived the mission?
Michael: Yes.
Abby: All the other operatives shielded me.
Michael: You weren't hit even after they went down, and they didn't fire at the van, not once.
Abby: Michael, no matter how bad it seems, we're innocent. Sooner or later that will become clear.
At Dominic's headquarters.
Dominic: Now what?
Nikita: It's a night off. We usually get together.
Dominic: So why doesn't he say something?
Nikita: Because he likes me to make the first move.
Dominic: Then make it.
Michael: We'll talk later.
Abby: What about tonight?
Michael: Tonight?
Abby: Well, we're both off. Unless, of course, you're not in the mood.
Michael: How do you feel?
Abby: Well, missions have gone bad before. As far as I'm concerned, tonight should be just like any other night between the two of us.
Michael: Yes, you're right.
Abby: My place, an hour?
Michael: I'll be there.
Dominic: Well done.

NIKITA'S APARTMENT
Abby wearing a tight black dress, talks to Nikita while finding her way around. She's behind the counter in the kitchen.
Abby: Wine.
Abby reaches into a cupboard under the counter and pulls out a bottle of red wine.
Abby: Opener.
Nikita: Left of the stove. Top cupboard.
Someone knocks at the door.
Abby: He's here.
Dominic talks to Nikita.
Dominic: I hope this won't be too painful for you.
Abby: Hi.
Michael: Hi.
They kiss, Nikita can hear Abby moan. The door closes. They go up to Nikita's bedroom and their shadows are projected on a paper or cloth wall by multiple lights. They kiss some more, then we can guess Abby on top of Michael. Finally they are on the bed, barely under the cover, Michael on top, and the glasses are showing Nikita everything. She doesn't look happy but is still dignified, not showing much of what she feels. Abby rolls on top of Michael and the scene goes on for a while. When it's over and while Abby rests her head on Michael's shoulder, the phone rings.
On the scene we hear part of the song "Gentle rain" by Diana Krall. "All this time I've known you / and never known your face, / all this time I've missed you / and searched this human race."
Michael: Yes.
Male voice: Jacques.
Michael hangs up the phone.
Michael: We have to go.

COMMONS AREA

Michael and Abby walk in together, Operations approaches Michael.
Operations: Michael.
Michael: (to Abby) I'll catch up with you.
Michael leaves and Walter walk by Abby.
Abby: Hey, what's going on?
Walter: Oh, a flash mission. They've located Klaus Honig.
Abby: Flash mission?
Walter: Yeah, flash mission.
Abby: Right.
Abby shakes her head as if she had a memory slip. Walter gives her a weird look and walks away.

DOMINIC'S HEADQUARTERS

Dominic: What is a flash mission?
Nikita: Short notice protocol.
Dominic: Meaning?
Nikita: Mission profiles are distributed on the way out.
Dominic: So there's no way to get one in advance?
Nikita: That's right.
Back to Section, Abby is walking with a group of operatives down the hall towards van access, where Michael is waiting by the door.
Abby: Is everything all right?
Michael: Everything's fine.
The operatives walk into van access.
Birkoff: (off screen) Michael, hold for clearance.
Dominic: What are they waiting for?
Nikita: Tactical delay. It's common.
Birkoff: (on screen) Stand by.
On his computer screen, a box pops up that says Operatives Ready.
Birkoff: Now.
On the TV screen in Dominic's Headquarters, we see Michael turning towards Abby, and operatives coming out of the van.
Abby: What?
Michael takes off her glasses, drops them, and crushes them with his boot. Dominic's screen goes blanc, and in the same time two operatives burst in from the roof. They shoot the two men working for Dominic. Dominic gets his gun out to shoot Nikita, but she runs towards him, jumps back in the air and knocks his gun off. With another roll she gets to the gun first and points it at him.
Dominic: You found a way to let them know. How?
Nikita: Does it matter?
Dominic: No, I suppose not. Finish it.
Nikita: Section will want you alive.
Dominic: You put me in this chair. The least you can do is spare me any further humiliation. Now finish it.
Nikita: I'm sorry.
Dominic bows his head.

SECTION ONE - HALLWAY

Walter and Birkoff walk down a hall.
Birkoff: It wasn't really Nikita. It was some impostor.
Walter: I heard, but don't feel bad, she fooled everybody.
Birkoff: Yeah, but she really fooled me.
Birkoff stops and leans against the wall, putting his head back.
Birkoff: I caused a security breach.
Walter: Yeah, but under the circumstances, who can blame you?
Birkoff: They'll blame me.
Walter: They're gonna call you in?
Birkoff: I'm on my way now.
Birkoff walks away.
Walter: Good luck.
Birkoff enters a small hall next to Madeline's office where he meets Nikita.
Nikita: What do they want with you?
Birkoff: What do you think?
Nikita: Birkoff, I'm sorry. I didn't have a choice.
Birkoff: Yeah, I know.
Nikita: Well, I don't think it's gonna go too badly. They seem to be in a forgiving mood.
Birkoff: I hope so.
Nikita enters the elevator and Birkoff comes after her.
Birkoff: Nikita, what happened between us ...
Nikita: Nothing happened between us, Birkoff.
Birkoff: Did in a way, I mean, you were on the other end, talking to her and listening, right? Did I make a complete idiot out of myself?
Nikita: Well, from what I could tell, you're pretty delicious.
Nikita leans over and kisses Birkoff lightly on the lips. She smiles and walks out of the room. Birkoff smiles as well. While the elevator door closes she winks at him.
Turning around, we see Operations standing in the office beside Madeline, who is sitting at her desk.
Operations: Birkoff!

WHITE ROOM

Abby is in the chair, bearing the red marks on her cheeks from the of the usual procedure of the Torture Twins. Madeline walks around her, having finished the interrogation.
Outside the room, Michael and Nikita watch them on a small screen.
Nikita: She was convincing.
Michael: Very.
Nikita takes a good look at Michael, showing that she's angry with him for some reason, most likely for having had sex with Abby. He looks down under her scrutiny. The door to the white room opens and Madeline waits by the door.
Madeline: Nikita. Would you like to step inside.
Almost reluctant to stop looking at Michael and make him feel guilty, Nikita goes inside. The door closes and Madeline hands Nikita a gun.
Nikita: What's this for?
Madeline: The debriefing is over, we have no further use for her.
Nikita looks at Abby, and takes the gun.
Nikita: I'm not in the habit of killing people in cold blood.
Madeline: In this case, you might want to make an exception. In a manner of speaking, she possessed you, in body as well as mind.
Nikita points the gun at Abby who is crying.
Nikita: Your psych profile suggests that by killing her, I can best exorcise her?
Madeline: Yes.
Nikita: I don't think so.
Nikita lowers the gun.
Madeline: If I do it instead, I think you'll regret it, but the choice is yours.
Cut to Michael standing outside the white room, slow motion as he turns to watch the TV screen. Gunshot and Abby is dead, but it's not clear who killed her.

THE END
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