Imitation Of Death
Transcript by Cathy

LAB

A view of a microscope is followed by a view of people walking through a shopping mall. The camera focuses on a young operative, Ingram. He appears to be looking for something. Inside Section, Birkoff watches. Shot again to the microscope; an older man looks through it.
Ingram: Nothing near the south entrance.
Nikita: (at Section) He should keep going.
Birkoff: (to Ingram) Go deeper, I'll coordinate with other units.
Ingram: A description would be nice.
Birkoff: Still no update. A male, under twenty, is all we know.
Ingram: (sees children walk by) Could it be a child?
Birkoff: It's possible. (pause) All units, new intel. Male, 18. Dark hair, cloth overcoat.
Nikita: (spots someone with that description) Ingram, your sector, southeast corner. Stay on him.
Ingram: Are you sure this is the one? He doesn't look 18 to me.
Birkoff: That's got to be him. Kill him.
The young man gets into a crowded elevator. Ingram comes up to him and draws his weapon, but the man opens his coat to reveal his chest full of explosives. Everyone around is shocked. Ingram hesitates.
Birkoff: Do it. Kill him.
Ingram swallows hard. Flash to the man with the microscope. The young man takes his finger off the trigger. Then he explodes. Ingram's monitor shows only static. Nikita gives looks stricken.

BRIEFING ROOM

Operations: This is the last known photograph of Vero Menchik. It was taken when he was six years old; we ran a twelve year growth progression. Is this the boy you saw yesterday?
Nikita: Yes, it is.
Operations: (nods) How does a child get transformed into a suicidal bomber? (Operations clicks his remote) We can thank this man, Ivan Chernov. He steals or kidnaps children off the streets, trains and conditions them for several years, then sells them to terrorist organizations to use as they see fit.
Nikita: His ideology?
Operations: None, except making a profit. That would make him harder to track but for one habit. Cocaine. We've established contact with one of his connections. Michael, you and Nikita will meet Chernov, establish a relationship, locate his operation, put him out of business, take Chernov alive. The initial meeting is set for two o'clock this afternoon; you'll be leaving in one hour. (Operations and Michael get up and leave; Madeline comes up to Nikita)
Madeline: Have you had a chance to study Chernov's psych profile?
Nikita: I just got it.
Madeline: He's old school Russian. He prizes strength. And because you're a woman, he's likely to test you.
Nikita: I'll look forward to it.
Madeline: He won't challenge you personally. He'll leave that to his subordinates. The stronger you are with them, the more intrigued he'll be. But make no move against Chernov himself.

A CHURCH

The meet with Chernov. Michael and Nikita arrive.
Chernov: You are Michael?
Michael: Yes. Chernov?
Chernov: Yes. How nice to make your acquaintance.
Michael nods.
Chernov: And this is?
Michael: A colleague.
Chernov: Ah yes, your beautiful bodyguard. I was told about her. I brought some colleagues as well. Not as attractive but useful, in their way. (to his colleagues) Check the goods.
Chernov's bodyguard approaches Nikita, who fights him and knocks him out.
Nikita: You can take the goods when we're ready to give them to you.
Chernov: With your permission... (the other man of his approaches the briefcase. Nikita just extends a hand - he backs off. Michael turns to Nikita and nods. Nikita picks up the briefcase and hands it to Chernov's man, who opens it.) I believe $200,000 was the amount we agreed on. The account number?
Michael: $2104638.
Chernov does some things on a PDA; it looks like he's establishing a modem connection. Meanwhile, his man tests the cocaine and then turns to him and nods.
Michael: I'll look forward to our next transaction. (He and Nikita turn to leave)
Chernov: Why wait, Michael? Let's do it now. I'll give you an extra half million for your colleague.
Michael: She's not just a colleague. She's a friend.
Chernov: Really? Well. That makes a difference. Make it an even million then.
Michael: (nods) Done.
Nikita: (looks surprised as Michael walks past her.) Michael, what's happening?
Then one of Chernov's men shoots her with a tranquilizer dart and she goes down.

THE PERCH

Birkoff: Sudan was successful, but with higher casualties than expected.
Operations: Egypt?
Birkoff: 90% successful. The variance was due to operative error. Felix missed his mark by nearly a full minute.
Operations: The profile?
Birkoff: Tapes indicate the profile was solid. Felix messed up.
Operations: And not for the first time. Put him in abeyance.
Birkoff: Will do.
Operations: That's it.
From outside the Perch, we see Felix watching the conversation. He heads down the hallway and grabs Birkoff by the shoulder, spinning him around in a way that could be interpreted as horsing around, but isn't.
Felix: Birkoff!
Birkoff: Felix.
Felix: What was that all about?
Birkoff: Routine progress report.
Felix: Did he talk about Egypt?
Birkoff: Sure.
Felix: My name come up?
Birkoff: (lies) No.
Felix: You're lying. (slams Birkoff against the wall) I'm in abeyance, aren't I?
Birkoff: Back off, man.
Felix: Am I in abeyance or not???
Birkoff: I don't know.
Felix: You're a little tin god, aren't you? Pushing buttons, deciding who lives, who dies? Guess what. Little tin gods die too.
Birkoff drops the disk he was carrying. Felix releases him and leaves. Birkoff runs into Michael in the hallway.
Birkoff: Michael, you're back. (with some relief)
Michael: It was an easy sale, didn't take long.
Birkoff: Got a second? I just had a little run-in with Felix.
Michael: Don't worry about him. He'll be in abeyance soon.
Birkoff: That's what pissed him off.
Michael: Then what's the problem?
Birkoff: He threatened to kill me. What do you think I should do?
Michael: Don't let him. (Michael walks away)

CHERNOV'S COMPOUND

A child sits on a bed in a fenced cage. A guard walks by. Nikita lies in a similar cage. The guard leaves the room; Nikita awakens and talks to Birkoff via the usual hidden communications stuff.
Nikita: Birkoff I'm in.
Birkoff: Did they do a scan?
Nikita: (feels her arm) No, transponder's still there.
Birkoff: Activate it. We've got your location, de-activate.
Nikita: How long before the team gets here?
Birkoff: We'll get there as quick as we can.
Chernov walks in.
Chernov: Welcome. I apologize for the Spartan accommodations. It's only temporary, I promise you. (he unlocks her cage) As you know, my name is Ivan Chernov. Your friend never did tell me yours.
Nikita: That's because it was none of your business.
Chernov: Come now, we have to call you something, what shall it be?
Nikita: My name's Nikita.
Chernov: Nikita. A good Russian name - though usually given to a man. Still, a touch of home is always nice. Take off your clothes, Nikita.
Nikita: (looks at him) Go to Hell, Chernov.
Chernov: Well, you can remove them yourself, or I can stun you again and these two can strip you while you lie helpless on the floor. The choice is yours.
Nikita: Tell them to leave.
Chernov: Nice try, but I've seen you in action. Naturally, I prefer to have my colleagues nearby.
Nikita jumps up and takes off her clothes. Some kind of light thing scans her body.
Chernov: Put your clothes back on. Catch cold. You see, Nikita, you are here for a very special reason.
Nikita: And that is?
Chernov: The future. (Chernov walks away)
Nikita: Birkoff, did you get that?
Birkoff: Yeah, what did he mean?
Nikita: You don't know?
Birkoff: No.
Nikita: Then there's something going on that Section doesn't know about. You should call off the attack.
Birkoff: I'll have to clear it with Operations.
Nikita: Then, do it.

THE PERCH

Birkoff talking to Operations and Madeline.
Operations: The mission is less than an hour from engagement.
Birkoff: Nikita thinks there's something going on that we don't know about.
Madeline: Do you agree?
Birkoff: From what I heard? Yeah.
Operations: All right, put it on hold. Inform Nikita. (Birkoff leaves)
Madeline: Nikita was right to ask for a delay.
Operations: Yes, she should be commended. Looks like we were right about what Chernov's really up to.
Madeline: Perhaps so. But I hope not.

CHERNOV'S COMPOUND

Chernov walks up to Nikita.
Chernov: Are you feeling all right?
Nikita: I'm fine.
Chernov: It's in your own interest to be frank with me.
Nikita: Frankly, I'm not wild about these accommodations.
Chernov: (smiles) The results of your scan were very favorable. You'll fit in nicely to our work here. (he turns)
Nikita: What work?
Chernov: You have no idea?
Nikita: There's rumors that you sell children to terrorists.
Chernov: That's true. And why not? We're all capitalists now. Manipulating people to buy things or make things. I simply manipulate them to be things, and I plan to branch out into another line of business.
Nikita: Such as?
Chernov: We'll be discussing that shortly. In fact, I have hopes that you'll find it interesting.
Nikita: Don't hold your breath.
Chernov: Don't judge too quickly. You'll join us whether you like it or not, so you better make the best of it. You're free to move around. Take things in, get a feel for the place. The grounds are under heavy surveillance and are constantly guarded, so please, do nothing foolish.

COMM CENTER

Birkoff sits down at his computer in Section, reaches for his glass but suspects something's wrong and stops before he drinks. Next he's in Walter's area running a scan on it.
Walter: You're right. Cyanide.
Birkoff: I knew it.
Walter: You're sure it was Felix?
Birkoff: Who else?
Walter: Can you prove it?
Birkoff: No. But he threatened me.
Walter: Anybody hear him?
Birkoff: No.
Walter: Better tell Michael.
Birkoff: I tried, he won't help.
Walter: What are you going to do?
Birkoff: I've got to get rid of Felix somehow.
Walter: You can't just walk up to someone and kill them. Even in here!
Birkoff: He might do it to me. What's he got to lose, he's in abeyance!
Walter: What mission is he scheduled on?
Birkoff: Bulgaria.
Walter: That's in 72 hours. Libya is leaving in 24. Why don't you reschedule him.
Birkoff: I'd need an excuse.
Walter: Do a psych workup that matches him better for Libya. File a report and - pfft, he's history.
Birkoff: That could work. Thanks, Walter.

CHERNOV'S COMPOUND

Nikita wanders around Chernov's compound. Children are in a karate class.
Instructor: Again!
Children give karate yells. In another cage, children watch a video of Chernov speaking. It's like a classroom. A dog barks, suspended in a cage. In another cage, there is a class on guns.
Instructor: You see the barrel attaches to the stock right here. Put it in gently.
Nikita looks appalled. She goes up to a guard.
Nikita: What is in there?
Guard: It is off limits.
Nikita: Chernov said I could go anywhere I wanted.
Guard: Not here.
Nikita walks downstairs, sees an argument between a teenage boy and a guard.
Guard: The scope is misaligned.
Boy: It's defective.
Guard: You are defective. You are incompetent. Do you understand me?
Boy: It's just -
Guard: Shut up! (grabs him by the shirt) I am the one doing the talking now. (prepares to hit him)
Nikita intervenes.
Nikita: Leave him!
She belts the guard; Chernov appears.
Chernov: Nikita! I asked you to do nothing foolish!
Nikita: He's a boy.
Chernov: And you wish to protect him?
Nikita: Yes, he's being hurt.
Chernov: He's not a boy at all. By any normal definition, he's a thing. I'll show you. Go and get a knife. (the boy leaves and gets a knife; to a dog) Shh! (to the boy) See this woman? Slit her throat. Slit her throat!
The boy attacks Nikita but she holds him off.
Nikita: (uncomprehending, to the boy) What have they done to you?
Chernov: That's enough. (Another guard drags the boy away) The fact that you tried to help him means nothing. As I said, he's a thing, a product. I should know, I built him. I think it's time for you to proceed to the next phase.
Nikita: What's the next phase?
Chernov: You're ovulating. (to the dog) Quiet! (to Nikita) If I believed in fate, I would say that you were destined to come to us when you did. The timing is absolutely perfect.
Nikita: Timing for what?
Chernov: You're going to be a mother.
Nikita attacks him, but two guards restrain her as she fights.
Nikita: Crazy! Let me go! You're crazy! You touch me, I'll kill you! Don't you touch me!
In Section, Michael watches with a blank look on his face.

CHERNOV'S COMPOUND

Nikita is lying on her cot. She gets up slowly. She seems in pain.
Nikita: Is anybody out there?
The guard enters.
Nikita: I need water and painkillers, quickly. Please.
The guard leaves, expressionless.
Nikita: Birkoff are you there?
Birkoff: I'm here.
Nikita: Send the team now.
Birkoff: Are you all right?
Nikita: Just send the team.
Birkoff: Right. Red team, move in.
Nikita: How long?
Birkoff: 23 minutes.
The guard returns with water and painkillers. Nikita groans in pain.
Nikita: Oh, it hurts. (he gives her the stuff) Thank you. (she takes the water, throws it in his eyes and decks him, taking his gun away.) Get up. (She marches him upstairs to that area she wasn't allowed in before. It's the laboratory. Chernov is in there with other scientists; she targets him). Out, out! Tell them to leave. Tell them!
Chernov: You heard her, out. Quickly! (they leave) Nikita, please.
Nikita: Sit down. (He does so) If you move, I will kill you. (she walks over and smashes the security camera with her gun)
Chernov: You're beginning to annoy me.
Nikita: It's fate, remember. You took one of my eggs.
Chernov: Yes.
Nikita picks up a Petri dish; Chernov picks up a syringe surreptitiously.
Nikita: Cloning?
Chernov: We may create clones, or we may blend your genes with those of others whose talents complement yours. Probably both.
Nikita: So this is the new business that you're in?
Chernov: Acquiring children leaves too much to chance. By making them in-house, we can provide the precise product that our clients require.
Nikita breaks the glass on the table.
Nikita: How many of these children have you already made?
Chernov: None yet, but we are close - very close.
Meanwhile, outside, the team led by Michael is moving in. Chernov suddenly gets up and lunges at her.
Chernov: Nikita, we can't stay-
Nikita puts the gun to his head and stops him; he's unable to reach her with the syringe.
Nikita: Sit down. (he complies) Thank you.
Outside, Michael walks in calmly shooting Chernov's guards. Another operative tries to get the children out.
Operative: Okay, come with us.
Chernov hears the gunfire outside.
Chernov: So. This was a setup from the start. Who are you with, Interpol? CIA?
As Michael comes in, Chernov gives himself the shot and falls on the floor, convulsing. Nikita tries to stop him but is not quick enough.
Nikita: Don't!
Chernov is dead.
Michael: You okay?
Nikita: (nods) Yes.

COMM

The Libya mission is prepping. Felix is among the operatives.
Birkoff: Leaving so soon? (sarcastic)
Felix: You know what your problem is, Birkoff?
Birkoff: No, what's my problem?
Felix: You're predictable. I figured you'd have me reassigned to an earlier mission, and you did. You think I might not be coming back, but I will.
Birkoff: Really?
Felix: Yeah, really. I've been here a long time, Birkoff. There are ways, and I've found one. You're going to see me again, real soon, and there's not a damned thing you can do about it. (Felix leaves, Birkoff waves him goodbye.)
Birkoff walks over to Walter.
Walter: He's just bluffing. It's a last scare, out of spite.
Birkoff: Yeah. I mean, nobody comes back from an abeyance mission, right?
Walter: Right. (sounding unconvinced)
Birkoff: What?
Walter: Nothing.
Birkoff: No, what.
Walter: Well, there are stories. Someone gets a hold of a profile in advance, sees how they're going to die, and then they get around it somehow.
Birkoff: I need a gun.
Walter: You know I can't do that. All weapons must be checked out, accounted for.
Birkoff: You must have one or two stashed away for emergencies. Look, if Felix dies on the mission, I give it back, we have a good laugh. If not, it might save my life. Walter.
Walter sighs, says nothing.

MADELINE'S OFFICE

Madeline is on the phone.
Madeline: Has level eight analyzed Chernov's files? Good. (She concludes the call, the door opens and Nikita enters) You should be resting.
Nikita: I'm fine. I wanted to ask you how much of Chernov's compound survived the assault.
Madeline: The lab had an auto-destruct mechanism. All genetic material was destroyed. Your egg included.
Nikita: (nods) His suicide was a mistake on my part. I know that you wanted him alive.
Madeline: As it turns out, we don't need him. Under the circumstances, you did well.
Nikita: Birkoff said that one of Chernov's children was sent out before the raid. A boy named Milan.
Madeline: We tracked him to Kiev. We're staging a mission right now.
Nikita: I'd like to be on it.
Madeline: Why?
Nikita: I met the boy at Chernov's compound. I'll recognize him.
Madeline: He's carrying a bomb. We can't afford to go soft.
Nikita: I'll kill him if I have to.

RUSSIA

Milan walking along, meets a man on a bicycle.
Milan: Sir? How far to Olana?
Man: About ten kilometers.
Milan: Then, I need your bicycle.
Man: What?
Milan: I have a train to catch. I need your bicycle.
Man: Get your own, you little brat.
Milan kills him, and rides off on the bicycle.

BIRKOFF'S WORKSTATION

Birkoff is reviewing the mission archives on disk and does not see Felix get killed. Next scene, he is in Madeline's office; she's busy misting a plant.
Madeline: He entered the building. It blew up six seconds later. How could he have survived?
Birkoff: I don't know, but the mission tapes aren't totally conclusive.
Madeline: They can't cover every possible angle.
Birkoff: There's one tape missing, sector five.
Madeline: It was defective, we had to destroy it.
Birkoff: Did it show anything?
Madeline: No. (unconvincignly) What is this about?
Birkoff: Felix made some threats. He said he had a way out of abeyance.
Madeline: It was just talk. I'm sure he's dead.
Birkoff: Did anyone at the debrief actually see him die?
Madeline: No.
Birkoff: It just seems strange. There were three other abeyance ops, they're all verified. Felix isn't. The one tape that could verify him... is defective. This is some kind of test, isn't it? To see how I'll react under stress.
Madeline: What makes you think that?
Birkoff: Because it's the kind of thing that happens here all the time. Is that it? Is this a test?
Madeline: No.
Birkoff: 'Course, if it was a test, you couldn't tell me, could you?
Madeline: No. You have a mission that reaches engagement in six minutes, are you aware of that?
Birkoff: Yes.
Madeline: Perhaps you should return to your station.

RUSSIA

Nikita: Birkoff, I've got nothing, how about the others?
Birkoff: Nothing so far. Intel suggests he's approaching from the southeast, maybe along the canal.
Madeline is standing behind Birkoff, watching very carefully, and with an ear bud on.
Nikita: Birkoff, I've got him. (she approaches) Milan? Hey. My name's Nikita, remember me? (he turns around to see her, his chest is loaded with explosives; two operatives close up behind him) I met you before. I stopped a man from hurting you once, remember? You can't reach the target now, you should just take the bomb off. (he engages the bomb instead - a red light starts blinking)
Birkoff: If he lets go of the trigger, you're dead, Nikita.
Madeline: Don't move any closer. He'll see it as a chance to take an enemy with him.
Nikita: All right, we could just sit here and talk a while. (she sits) And you could see that you and I really aren't that much different. Milan, Chernov's dead now - did you know that?
Madeline: He'll self destruct to avoid capture. It'll happen within seconds.
Nikita: You don't have to do what he told you to do. Do you know why we caught you? Because we're better than he was - much better. We can teach you to fight, kill, destroy... so much better than he did. In the whole wide world, there'd be no one as dangerous as you, Milan - no one. Promise. Promise.
She takes his hand and closes it around the trigger. Madeline and Birkoff watch, concerned. Meanwhile, Nikita disables the bomb and the other operatives lead Milan away.
Milan: Promise.

MUNITIONS

Nikita: Something's been bothering me, Walter.
Walter: Yeah.
Nikita: When I apologized for letting Chernov die, Madeline said "As it turns out, we probably don't need him."
Walter: So?
Nikita: So suppose the Section heard the rumors that Chernov was into genetics. Maybe the whole mission was designed to see how far along he was?
Walter: Could be.
Nikita: And if they don't need him, it's probably because they're further along.
Walter: That could be, too.
Nikita: If the Section had a genetics lab, where would it be? Level eight?
Walter: Yeah. But you'll never gain access.
Nikita: I still remember a few tricks that Adrian taught me.
Walter: Sugar. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

SECTION ONE - LEVEL EIGHT

Nikita slides open a door and sees a room with children in it, seated at computers. They resemble all the main Section operatives. A little blonde girl walks up to Nikita.
Girl: Who are you?
Nikita: I'm a friend.
Girl: You're not supposed to be here.
Nikita: Well I know, but I got lost. But don't tell anyone I was here, all right?
Girl: All right.
Nikita: What's your name?
Instead of replying, the child walks away and re-seats herself at her computer.

SECTION ONE - HALLWAY

Birkoff walks suspiciously along a corridor. He presses some keys to gain access and hears footsteps. The door won't open. The steps echo in the metal hallway. He frantically works the keyboard and then cocks his gun. As the person turns the hallway, Birkoff raises the gun.
Birkoff: Die, bastard!
It's Operations, who looks amused.
Birkoff: I'm sorry, I thought you were somebody else.

MICHAEL'S OFFICE

Michael: It could be your imagination.
Nikita: My imagination's got nothing to do with it. I've seen pictures of myself when I was little. That little girl was me.
Michael: Human cloning isn't possible now, let alone when you first came to Section.
Nikita: Maybe for Section it was possible. Maybe. Come with me, see for yourself. What are you afraid of?
They go up to level 8. The room is empty. Nikita walks around the table, stunned.
Nikita: I know what I saw.
Michael: Let's go.

THE END

Edited by Dana
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