Outside The Box
Transcript by Cathy

THE SILVER DOLLAR ROOM

It's a sleazy looking bar. Nikita is having a drink and a guy is trying to hit on her.
Man: One drink, I'm buying.
Nikita: No thanks, I like drinking alone.
Man: C'mon, you'll see me in a whole new light.
Nikita: I said no.
Man: (notices Kruger, another man at the bar, watching) What are you looking at?
Kruger: How much do you weigh?
Man: What's it to you?
Kruger: I'm just curious.
Man: 220, so what?
Kruger: Wow. I didn't realize they could pile that much crap on a barstool.
Nikita smiles. The man walks around her to confront Kruger, who raises his fists inexpertly. Nikita cracks the man over the head with a bottle and he goes down.
Kruger: Whoa. Really glad you did something like that.
Nikita: (smiling) And if I hadn't?
Kruger: Then I would be where he is, and he'd be back at the bar hitting on you, which is something I figured you didn't want.
Nikita: Well, can I buy you a drink?
Kruger: No, no, no, no. I don't much feel like being around when he wakes up.
Nikita: I've got a place a few blocks from here, we could go there for a drink.
They exit the bar and walk down the street.
Nikita: This way.
Kruger: You new around here?
Nikita: No, not really.
Kruger: That's weird. I thought I new this side of town pretty well.
Nikita: Well, life's just full of surprises, isn't it?
A van pulls up to the curb and an operative exits, putting a gun to Kruger's head.
Operative: Get in the van, Mr. Kruger.
Nikita and the other ops shove him into the van and leave. They guy who was hitting on Nikita in the bar walks down the street. A man in the alley draws a knife, steps out in front of him, stabs him and kills him.

THE WHITE ROOM

Kruger: Who are you people?
Madeline: We're called Section One, and we need to make use of your special talent.
Kruger: My memory.
Madeline: Yes.
Kruger: And if I don't cooperate?
Madeline: You'll be killed.
Kruger: But if I do, I'll be set free when you don't need me anymore.
Madeline: You had a confrontation with this man (Madeline uses her remote to pull up a video screen on the wall) last night in a bar in front of several witnesses.
Kruger: Yes, so?
Madeline: You murdered him twenty minutes later in a nearby alley. (Screen changes to show the man lying there dead) Traces of skin with your DNA were found under his fingernails. This is the murder weapon. (Screen changes again to show the knife) It has your fingerprints on it. And a clerk at a hardware store distinctly remembers selling it to you. If you were on the outside, we estimate you'd be taken within 12 hours. Your chances for acquittal are nil; you'd be imprisoned for life or executed. The point is, Mr. Kruger, there's no escape. Accept that, concentrate on doing what we tell you, and maybe we'll let you live.

WAR ROOM

Operations: This is the manifesto of a group which calls itself Par Epistemen Taksis. Loosely translated, "through science, order." They have access to a broad range of destructive technologies and they have the will to use them. Our objective is their CICL, their "cover identity correlation list". It contains their leaders, their agents, their entire network of global contacts. Acquiring it presents certain unique difficulties.
Birkoff: The file is guarded by an advanced digital sensor system. Any attempt to copy or download it will trigger a self-destruct mechanism.
Michael: What about photographs and video?
Birkoff: No, if the system detects any electromagnetic activity, it shuts down.
Operations: We have to put technology aside, think outside the box. The CICL can't be copied, can't be filmed, but it can be looked at. The man you picked up last night will do the looking. Benjamin Kruger.
Birkoff: A high-school drop-out. Drifts from job to job, lives alone. He has a genetic mutation that occurs roughly in one in fifty million individuals. He has a perfectly developed, photographic memory.
Operations: The CICL is moved periodically. When we find its current location, Kruger will provide the human download. In the meantime, you're all on close quarters standby until further notice. Any questions?
Nikita: Yes. Will Kruger be joining the Section permanently?
Operations: No, it's a shadow recruitment. If he behaves, and performs, he will resume his old life after the mission - such as it was. Any other questions? (Operations leaves)

COMM CENTER

A young blonde operative brings Birkoff a plant.
Birkoff: What's this for?
Tatyana: For getting me out of data hell and giving me a chance to work in Comm, as your assistant no less.
Birkoff: Well you earned it.
Tatyana: I promise, I will not let you down.
Birkoff: I know you won't.
Tatyana: And don't worry about the plant. I'll water it for you.
Birkoff: Thanks.
Tatyana: Thank you.
Operations walks up with Greg.
Operations: You remember Greg Hillinger?
Birkoff: I remember him.
Operations: He's going to help you find the new location for the CICL.
Birkoff: I don't need any help.
Operations: It's not a criticism, Birkoff, it's a question of time. I want everyone on board for this one. And I expect you two to fully cooperate with each other. Understood?
Operations walks away.
Greg: So what'd you screw up this time, Seymour?
Birkoff: Everything's on here. Study it carefully. We've narrowed the possible location to three cities, two in Europe, one in Asia.
Greg: And that's what this is?
Birkoff: That's right.
Greg: How long did it take you to get this far?
Birkoff: Couple of days.
Greg: You're kidding.
Birkoff: We have ten other projects on the go at the same time.
Greg: Yeah, well, that's as good an excuse as any.
Tatyana comes up and hands Birkoff a disk.
Tatyana: The backups you wanted.
Birkoff: Thank you.
Greg: Hello, hello, hello, who's this?
Tatyana: Tatyana.
Birkoff: My assistant.
Greg: You have an assistant? That's very impressive. (he rises and extends his hand). Hi. I'm Greg Hillinger. Resident genius. They call me lifeguard.
Tatyana: Lifeguard?
Greg: Yeah, I'm always saving people's asses.
Tatyana: (skeptical laugh) Yeah. Nice to meet you Greg. (she leaves, Greg turns to Birkoff)
Greg: You missed me, didn't you?

SECTION ONE - HALLWAY

Michael walks up to Nikita.
Nikita: I just saw the mission debrief. Kruger was framed for murder.
Michael: He'll be more focused knowing escape is pointless.
Nikita: The frame was real. Dobbs is dead.
Michael: He was in abeyance.
Nikita: I thought Operations said this was going to be a temporary recruitment?
Michael: Further analysis indicated that we might need Kruger in the future.
Nikita: Oh, so we just took him off the street? An innocent man? Do we do this kind of thing often, Michael?
Michael: No. Not often. (he walks away)
Nikita flashes back to the set-up that preceded her recruitment. She sees the stabbing, the man threatening her, the police arriving to find her with the gun in her hand.

MUNITIONS

Nikita walks up to Walter.
Walter: What's up?
Nikita: How do I get a hold of my file?
Walter: You don't.
Nikita: All right. Then how do you get a hold of my file?
Walter: I don't know anyway, and if I did I wouldn't tell you.
Nikita: I have to see it, Walter.
Walter: Why? It's too risky.
Nikita: The crime that got Section's attention - the reason I'm here? I didn't do it.
Walter: Well that may be true but what the hell difference does it make now?
Nikita: Suppose I was framed in the first place, because they wanted me here?
Walter: Why?
Nikita: Yeah, why?

COMM CENTER

Tatyana is watering Birkoff's plant.
Birkoff: It's doing well.
Tatyana: Mmmm...Helps when you have someone around to care for it.
Birkoff: I'm glad you're around.
Tatyana: Thanks. You know what? I've got to go. I'm running a filter program.
Birkoff: The one you designed yourself?
Tatyana: Uh-huh.
Birkoff: Do you want me to have a look at it?
Tatyana: You wouldn't mind?
Birkoff: No.
Tatyana: Oh, thank you.
There's a beep and Birkoff gets a page.
Voice: The debrief is starting in Systems.
Birkoff: Right. (to Tatyana) I'll be back in an hour.
Birkoff types in the password to log out and leaves. Tatyana has been looking attentively over his shoulder while he did this.
Greg: Tatyana? I know about filters. You can run that program from this station.
Tatyana: From Birkoff's station?
Greg: Yeah, you know, he's got all the best software. You want to do a good job, don't you? I mean, think how impressed he's going to be - he gets back, it's all done.
Tatyana: I'll need a password.
Greg: Oh, yeah, right, I'll give it to you, no problem.
Tatyana: He won't mind?
Greg: Um, no, I mean, he gave it to me, told me to use it at my discretion. I trust you. (She casts a glance up at the Perch as he says this.)
Tatyana: Wow. Thanks, I'm flattered. (She sits down at Birkoff's terminal and begins to work.)

NIKITA'S OLD NEIGHBORHOOD

Nikita walks down a street in the area where she used to hang out as a runaway. Scene is interspersed with flashbacks. She flashes back to a man taking out garbage behind a store.
(flashback)
Man: Hey kid, want to earn five bucks? (he sees the look on her face) It's nothing like that, I just need you to dump these in the alley down the street here. I can't leave, I'm the only one here. It'll be the easiest five bucks you'll ever make.
Nikita throws away the garbage and then on her way back comes upon the murder of the police officer in progress.
Back in the present, Nikita goes to the back of the same store and sees a man there.
Nikita: Excuse me?
Man: Yeah?
Nikita: Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were somebody else. I'm looking for a man, maybe he worked here? He's about six feet tall, blonde hair, scar on his left cheek.
Man: Nobody like that worked here.
Nikita: Would have been years ago.
Man: Lady, I've been here ten years. There's never been anybody with a scar. All right?
Nikita: Yeah. Thanks. (she flashes back to that man one more time, then leaves)

SECTION ONE - SYSTEM NODE

Back in Section, Nikita typing on a computer, looking for the man who directed her to the alley. She finds a match in the computer.
Nikita: Gotcha.

MADELINE'S OFFICE

Madeline and Nikita are talking.
Madeline: Kruger isn't working well with his trainer. I want you to take over.
Nikita: And what makes you think he'll be different with me?
Madeline: You connected with him at the bar.
Nikita: Yeah, right before I betrayed him.
Madeline: Nevertheless, the connection was real, so reestablish it, and use it.
Nikita: Whatever you say.

SECTION ONE - CONTAINEMENT ROOM

Kruger is sitting on a bed. Nikita enters.
Kruger: What do you want?
Nikita: I still owe you a drink.
Kruger: You owe me a lot more than a drink.
Nikita: Is that how it's going to be?
Kruger: In fact, I ought to break your neck for what you did to me.
Nikita: You won't.
Kruger: Oh, because you're some kind of martial arts type chick? Like every other freak in this place?
Nikita: Some kind.
Kruger: Figures.
He takes her on; she lays him out.
Nikita: Bad boy.
Kruger: That was worth it.
Nikita: (she smiles) I heard you've been a bad boy.
Kruger: Look, the memory thing I can do, but the rest of the stuff they're putting me through, forget it.
Nikita: They're just trying to help you stay alive, Kruger.
Kruger: Well, it's a waste of time. I'm no fighter, as you saw. So why don't you just kill me, get it over with.
Nikita: All right. Just take this pill, drop it in your drink. You'll be dead in ten seconds. (She sees his hesitation) Oh, so we're not so anxious to die after all?
Kruger: Maybe not.
Nikita: Then I suggest that you stop playing games and behave yourself. I'll help you.
Kruger: Why would you help me?
Nikita: Because I owe you. And because I might need your help. Until then, I suggest we concentrate on keeping you alive. Deal?
Kruger: Deal. (they drink a shot together)

SECTION ONE - HALLWAY

Nikita gets out of Kruger's rom and meets Michael outside.
Michael: Is he progressing?
Nikita: I think so.
Michael: We'll need him as soon as Birkoff and Hillinger locate the CICL.
Nikita: He'll be ready.
Michael: What were you doing in the system node without clearance?
Nikita: I needed to take a look at Kruger's psych file. There wasn't time for clearance.
Michael: You didn't know he was going to be assigned to you until Madeline told you.
Nikita: Well she made it official, but I knew before she told me.
Michael: How?
Nikita: I'm a veteran here, Michael - I have my own sources, you know.
Michael: Did you find anything useful?
Nikita: Yeah, I think I did.
Michael: Good.

MADELINE'S OFFICE

Nikita enters.
Nikita: Do you have a minute? It's about Kruger.
Madeline: I thought he was making progress.
Nikita: He is, it's just that he only has a few days to acquire a year's worth of knowledge.
Madeline: That can't be helped.
Nikita: I think it can.
Madeline: What do you have in mind?
Nikita: A live sim. The machines have been useful, but I think Kruger needs to get out in the field. Get a sense of what he's going to be in for during a real mission.
Madeline: You certain he won't make an attempt to escape?
Nikita: I'm certain.
Madeline: Have you picked a location?
Nikita: Mission profile hasn't been set yet. But it seems likely this CICL's going to be somewhere in Europe. So it should be somewhere typical of what we might expect. Vienna, maybe. Belgrade, perhaps?
Madeline: Which do you prefer?
Nikita: Belgrade.
Madeline: All right. I'll suspend the standby for four hours.

BELGRADE

Nikita and Kruger drive up in a car, turning the headlights off before they come to a stop. It's a Mazda 626.
Kruger: So, you going to explain this live sim thing to me? (Nikita says nothing) This isn't about training, is it?
Nikita: What do you mean?
Kruger: We're not here because of me. We're here because of you.
Nikita: You're very perceptive.
Kruger: Where do I fit in?
Nikita: (Opens the car trunk) Right here.
Kruger: No.
Nikita: Get in.

SMOKY BAR IN BELGRADE

Nikita enters, wearing a black coat and a big black hat. She spots the guy with a scar immediately. She follows him down some stairs and grabs him exiting the men's room.
Scarred op: My wallet's in my back pocket, left hand side, take it.
Nikita: I don't want your money.
Scarred op: What do you want?
Nikita: Look at my face. Take a good, long look at my face. Remember? Three years ago? You want to earn five bucks, kid?
Scarred op: I don't follow.
Nikita: An assignment three years ago. You were pretending to be an employee at a pizza shop.
Scarred op: Lady, you're making a big mistake.
Nikita: I was just a kid. That night ruined my life.
Scarred op: I sell medical equipment.
Nikita: Section One is a secret government organization that fights terrorism. They have a station here in Belgrade, just off Slovakia Square.
Scarred op: I don't know what you're talking about.
Nikita: If you really don't know what I've talking about, then I've really said too much. Under the rules that I have to live by, I'll have to kill you.
Scarred op: All right, all right, all right, all right.
Nikita: You're an operative?
Scarred op: Yes.
Nikita: And that night? Three years ago?
Scarred op: I did what I was told.
Nikita: There must have been a profile saying who I was, why I was needed?
Scarred op: I only saw what I needed to do my job.
Nikita: You work in admin?
Scarred op: Yeah.
Nikita: Good. So you can get the file?
Scarred op: It's too risky, for both of us.
Nikita: I need to know why I'm here. Why they picked me up off the street. You take all the time you need. Take as many precautions. Just do it.
Scarred op: Why should I?
Nikita: Because you'll have a friend for life. That could prove very useful some day.
Scarred op: Then lose the knife. (she does, roughly, cutting his skin) What makes you think you can trust me?
Nikita: Because you're just like me. And we're not animals. We have to treat each other like human beings when we get the chance.
Scarred op: Even in Section?
Nikita: Especially in Section.
Scarred op: I'll need 24 hours. I'll surface your file and all the cross-referenced files; there may be a lot of data.
Nikita: I'll be ready.
Scarred op: Subchannel Six, code key seven john four zulu. And don't stay on more than 30 seconds. Learn what you can and get off.
Nikita: Hey. Thanks.

BELGRADE - OUTSIDE THE BAR

Nikita: (opens the trunk) Get out, come on, got to go.
Kruger: 30 minutes!
Nikita: Out. (hands him a paper) Here's a summary of the sim you supposedly just went through. Memorize it. (he looks at it very briefly, hands it back) You're going to be debriefed on it.
Kruger: I got it.
Nikita: All of it?
Kruger: All of it.
Nikita burns the paper.

COMM CENTER

Birkoff: Look at this.
Greg: What?
Birkoff: Come here. Someone's running a piggyback on one of my programs.
Greg: What? Are you kidding?
Birkoff: How is that possible? No one has access but me.
Greg: What about Tatyana?
Birkoff: She doesn't have access.
Greg: No, she does have access. I saw her while you were in Systems.
Birkoff: How'd she get the password?
Greg: I have no idea, I thought you gave it to her. That's why I didn't say anything.
Birkoff: I've never given it to anyone. Why would she do it?
Greg: Money? Who knows, maybe she's got a grudge against Section? Birkoff, um, you're going to have to talk to her.
Birkoff: It's too late. The shield's been penetrated. They'll be onto this in no time, if they aren't already.
Greg: Whoa...you're going to turn her in?
Birkoff: I've got no choice.
Greg: Uh, look, Birkoff, uh, maybe we can give her another chance? Come on.
Birkoff: I have to tell Spec Ops. Let them look into it. I have to do it now.

MADELINE'S OFFICE

Operations enters.
Operations: I saw something in the wrap sheets about a live sim for Kruger.
Madeline: Yes. Vencik just finished debriefing him an hour ago.
Operations: And?
Madeline: He appears to have done well.
Operations: Good. We're getting closer to locating the CICL. We're just waiting for confirmation.
Madeline: The team will be ready.
Operations: There is another problem. A data shield has been compromised.
Madeline: Is anything missing?
Operations: A few files have been read. That's all, so far.
Madeline: Have you put Birkoff on it?
Operations: The problem originated from Birkoff's sector.
Madeline: We need to call Spec Ops.
Operations: They're already on it.
Madeline: I'd hate to think Birkoff's turned.
Operations: So would I. On the other hand, Hillinger's coming along quite nicely. I'll keep you posted. (he leaves)

MICHAEL'S OFFICE

Nikita enters.
Nikita: You wanted to see me?
Michael: I saw Kruger's debrief. His answers seemed memorized, not experienced.
Nikita: Well his mind is different. You have to expect some irregularities, Michael.
Michael: I'd like to see the tapes of the live sim.
Nikita: I didn't make any.
Michael: Why not?
Nikita: I didn't think it was necessary. If that was a mistake, then I apologize.
Michael: Stop playing games, Nikita. What's really going on?
Nikita: I need to know why Section chose me.
Michael: What do you mean?
Nikita: They brought me in Michael...just like they did Kruger.
Michael: It's been three years. If you were brought in here for some other reason, you'd know by now.
Nikita: Maybe. Maybe not. If you won't help me, will you at least not interfere? Would you do that much for me? Please?
Michael: Yes. (she goes to leave) Nikita? What if you don't like what you find.
Nikita: Anything's better than not knowing.

VAN ACCESS

Operations: We've located the CICL. The target is on the second floor. Michael's team has secured the perimeter. Nikita, you'll stay with Kruger; guide him to the target.
Nikita: How long will we be on site?
Operations: The actual download window will be a few minutes at most, depending on the exact security configuration in effect when we make penetration. That'll be all. (Operations leaves)
Nikita: Are you all right?
Kruger: Nope, I'm scared to death.
Nikita: Don't be. Your job is to memorize. My job is to keep you alive. I plan to do my job very well. Let's go.

MISSION

Birkoff: I've created the video loop. Cameras are blind. And I'm triggering the alarm in the southwest sector now.
Nikita: Let's go. (She and Kruger run up stairs) We're in.
Birkoff: I can only divert the alarm vector for four minutes. You have to be out by then.
Kruger: Four minutes? That's -
Nikita: (grabs him) Come on! (they arrive where the computer is) All right, go.
Birkoff: Three minutes. (an alarm chirps) We have an anomaly. Hostile in the hall.
Nikita: Is he coming in here?
Birkoff: No way to tell.
Nikita battles the hostile. Kruger looks up for a moment at the fight
Nikita: The screen!
Kruger: Sorry.
Nikita finishes kicking the guy's butt.
Birkoff: Nikita, are you okay?
Nikita: Yeah.
Birkoff: You got thirty seconds.
Kruger: (computer screen shows: End of File) Done.
Nikita: You sure?
Kruger: Yeah, I'm sure. Get me out of here.

SECTION ONE - OBSERVATION ROOM

Kruger is reciting what he saw as Madeline and Nikita look on.
Kruger: Hector Jiminez, 69 Montezuma, Mexico...
Nikita: How's he doing?
Madeline: Very well. We estimate in 72 hours that Par Epistemen Taksis will no longer exist.
Nikita: I'd like to work with him a little more.
Madeline: On what?
Nikita: For the future. Keep his concentration under live fire. There was a minor lapse or two. I'm sure I could smooth it out in a few days.
Madeline: All right, fine.

COMM CENTER

Two operatives come to get Tatyana.
Operative: Let's go.
Tatyana: Excuse me?
Operative: You need to come with us.
Tatyana: What's going on? (she is led away)
Greg: Birkoff. You did what you had to do.
Birkoff: I just don't get it. She's not good enough to hack my password. (Birkoff turns around slowly, looking at Greg) Greg: What?
Birkoff: But you are. You set her up! (Birkoff gets up to go)
Greg: Wait a minute, Birkoff, wait a minute. Yes. Yes, I set her up, okay? Look, because she was setting you up. I did not trust her from the start. Miss Sweetness and Light in a place like this? I don't think so. So, I hacked her station. She had a subchannel to the outside, she was going freelance.
Birkoff: Why didn't you just tell me?
Greg: I couldn't tell you, Birkoff. You hate me, you had the hots for her - would you have believed me?
Birkoff: I don't believe you now.
Greg: Birkoff, look, check her terminal, see for yourself.
Birkoff: That won't prove anything, you could have put in a subchannel without her even knowing it.
Greg: See, This is what I'm saying, you're blaming me. This is why I couldn't tell you. Birkoff, she was a shark in disguise. Face it, I saved your butt.
Birkoff: Why?
Greg: Why? Because an unauthorized subchannel is a big deal. If they found it they might have blamed both you and me for not catching it. I could not take that chance. So, I framed her for something smaller. Birkoff, I don't know, they might not even cancel her. But I'm telling you, it was her - not me. I swear it.
Birkoff: All right. I swear something, too. If I find out you're lying to me? I'll kill you.
Operations walks up, looking amused.
Operations: Am I interrupting anything?
Birkoff: No, we're fine.
Operations: Good. I wanted to let you know that as soon as Hillinger has completed his training, he'll be taking Tatyana's place, as your assistant. Congratulations.
Greg: Thanks. (Operations walks away) Well, we're going to make a great team.

SECTION ONE - SYSTEM NODE

Kruger: You sure this is okay? I thought I wasn't supposed to leave my cell.
Nikita: I have authority to remove you for training purposes.
Kruger: That's fine. Can we use a car with a bigger trunk this time?
Nikita: We're not going to leave Section. I told you once, I might need your help. Well, this is it. (they go to a terminal)
Kruger: You want me to memorize something?
Nikita: A file, maybe several. You're only going to have thirty seconds. I need to know everything, and I mean everything.
Kruger: Okay.
Kruger moves to the screen but a message comes up saying "key code ineffective" Nikita goes back to the keyboard and another message comes up saying "holder cancelled".
Nikita: Dead? (she's shocked)
Kruger: Who?
Nikita: The man who was helping me.
Kruger: When?
Nikita: This morning. It doesn't say how.

COMM CENTER

Greg: Birkoff? Galloway file.
Birkoff: Is it formatted for the C-9?
Greg: No, the system's going to do that automatically.
Birkoff: I like to preformat.
Greg: There's no point.
Birkoff: Do it.
Greg: Yeah, well, you're the boss, for now... (Birkoff turns to look at him) joking.
Nikita comes up.
Nikita: Birkoff. You all right?
Birkoff: Yeah, I'm fine.
Nikita: A friend of mine was killed yesterday in Belgrade. I want to know how it happened. Key is 7J4Z.
Birkoff: According to this, no such key was ever assigned.
Nikita: It's like he never existed.
Birkoff: Not under that key code.
Nikita: The key was there yesterday.
Birkoff: Not according to this.
Nikita: My mistake. (she goes to leave and sees Michael) Good night, Michael.
He walks away; up in the Perch, Operations and Madeline watch.
Operations: She wants to know why she's really here.
Madeline: It was inevitable.
Operations nods.

THE END

Edited by Dana
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