Four Light Years Farther
Transcript by Karen H.

MED LAB

There's chaos everywhere. Dead and wounded bodies are being attended to. Olivier, team leader, is yelling orders at the triage unit.
Olivier: (to doctor) No, these two are too far gone; leave 'em here. (He passes them a female operative, Sigrid, who's been leaning on him. She's got a bandage on her neck. The doctor looks at her wound.)
Doctor: It's a clean wound. It'll hold for awhile. Who else is hurt?
Kurtzman: Everyone!
Olivier: (turns to face an angry, wounded operative, Kurtzman.) Back off, Kurtzman.
Kurtzman: Go to hell, Olivier. (Madeline and Operations appear and watch the two of them.) If you would have listened to someone for one second, this could have been avoided. (Olivier punches Kurtzman.) Thanks for proving my point, you moron. You're out of control!
Olivier: You want some more?
Kurtzman: Then you made it worse. You put your girlfriend here (Sigrid) in second position to save her ass. Three more die because of that stroke of genius!
Olivier grabs him by the throat with one hand, and puts a gun to his head and is about to shoot when a shot rings out and Olivier drops dead. Kurtzman and everyone turn to see Operations.
Operations: Evaluate the wounded and prioritize. Kurtzman, bring me your report as soon as it's ready. (He puts his gun away then turns to Madeline) When does the Alpha Mission break?
Madeline: It's supposed to go out in three days.
Operations: (looks at the carnage around him) We're not ready.

THE PERCH

Madeline: We've got two Go teams in the Far East. We can bring them in, supplement them from below with reserves.
Operations: That won't cut it.
Madeline: Why not?
Operations: The Alpha Mission is in Brasilia, is about to go active.
Madeline: Alright. We've got a group in Chad. In fact, we might have Level Five there. (checks monitor) We do - Berenger.
Operations: I don't want to leave that area exposed.
Madeline: We can only work with what we've got. Attrition has put us in a bad situation.
Operations: This is not an attrition issue. We lack hands-on leadership.
Madeline: What are you saying?
Operations: You know what I'm saying.
Madeline: What do you want to hear? Michael and Nikita are gone. We've pushed all of our sources and we still can't find them.
Operations: I don't accept that. They're out there.
(Yacht- Nikita works on a laptop. Michael comes up from inside the boat and hands her a glass of wine. They kiss)
Nikita: We have to move.
Michael: Did you get us money?
Nikita: I found a dead drop account that Red Cell uses as a reserve.
Michael: How much?
Nikita: Twelve thousand. Any more they'd notice. (Smiles) Ever been to Reykjavik?
Michael: (He raises his glass in a toast.) A la vie. (translation: to life)

COMM CENTER

Stokes: (Madeline appears and he looks up.) I narrowed the search space like you said. If Michael and Nikita are funneling terrorist accounts, then the projections show they'll end up at one of these places.
Madeline: That can't be right.
Stokes: Why not?
Madeline: We've been running this since they left, and we couldn't narrow it down to under five hundred geographical areas. Suddenly, you add a parameter to the sample space and it goes down to twenty.
Stokes: I know. It's as if they wanted us to find them. (Madeline takes out a disk and leaves.)

GERMAN HIGHWAY

Michael and Nikita are driving, she looks over to him and then caresses his face.
Nikita: I'm surprised.
Michael: About what?
Nikita: I'm still not getting used to you.
Michael: You will.
Nikita: I don't want to. I don't want it to change.
Michael: After two or three more bounces, we should be able to settle in for awhile.
Nikita: How long?
Michael: Three or four months.
Nikita: Four months in one place - that's a lifetime.
Michael: Where do you want to go?
Nikita: Ummm, an island somewhere.
Michael: How about Rhodes?
Nikita: Why Rhodes?
Michael: There's a restaurant at the south end of the island. It's run by a family I once helped.
Nikita: Old life?
Michael: No. Section.
Nikita: Do they know that you helped them?
Michael: No.
Nikita: (She smiles) I just love it when I'm right about you. (she leans over and they kiss)

SMALL TOWN - GERMANY

Their car is parked in front of a bank. Michael looks around and sees all the people and children playing. A meter maid comes up to the open window and leans down.
Meter Maid: (in German) Sie konnen hier nicht parken. (translation: You cannot park here.)
She leaves and Michael starts up the car and puts it in gear. He looks at the street and sees a couple of teenagers playing field hockey in the street and an older lady sitting on a front porch. He sees Nikita exiting the bank then heads towards the car. She gives him the money.
Michael: Any problem?
Nikita: They didn't ask for I.D. (Michael doesn't leave.) What are you waiting for?
Michael: (whispering) We're surrounded.
Nikita: Removing collateral.
Michael: Yes.
Nikita: Should we use the car?
Michael: We won't get ten feet.
Nikita: (She reaches into her purse.) I've got three grenades. We can carve a path. The highway is less than a kilometer.
Michael: No. (Nikita goes to open the doors, about to make a run for it. Nikita stops to look at him.) There will be another day.
They get out of the car and walk carefully into the middle of the street, arms out at their sides. Operatives appear and surround their car. Six more operatives appear and surround them. Operatives come out of nowhere.

THE PERCH

Madeline: (walks in) They're here.
Operations: Where have you put them?
Madeline: Four west.
Operations: They're to be treated well.
Madeline: I agree, but they can't be trusted.
Operations: They never could. Not from the moment she arrived. There's a bond between them that can only be broken one way. (turns on a monitor and sees Michael and Nikita in a room divided by plexiglass)
Madeline: Which one?
Operations: Nikita.
Madeline: I disagree.
Operations: Michael's more valuable. You know that.
Madeline: Whichever one we let live will never forgive us. We let them make the choice.
Operations: What's the difference?
Madeline: Eventually, the survivor will need to anchor. They will want to believe in us, but they'll need justification.
Operations: Plausible deniability.
Madeline: Yes.

AREA FOUR WEST

Michael and Nikita are divided by glass. Nikita paces. Michael watches her for a moment then approaches the glass.
Michael: Nikita, (no answer but she looks to him with tears in her eyes) It has to be this way.
Nikita: No. Let them kill us both.
Michael: They won't do that. They need one of us.
Nikita: Then we should both live.
Michael: You know they won't let that happen. (they 'touch' hands by putting them up against the glass)
Nikita: Why not? If they cancel you, I won't want to live. I'll step in front of the first bullet shot at me.
Michael: No, you won't. I'll need you after I'm gone.
Nikita: What does that mean?
Michael: Adam. (there is a flashback visual to when she sees him with Adam in his arms smiling) You're the only one I can trust.
Nikita: (steps to the glass - their faces are close) That's something you should do yourself.
Michael: After I'm cancelled, they'll induce so you're not suicidal. After some time passes, you'll be brought back. It won't be as painful as you think.
Nikita: You can live without me a lot better than I can live without you.
Michael: No.
The door opens and Michael is there. He starts to walk to where other operatives are waiting for him. They take him to the White Room. He goes in and sits down and restraints are applied. Operations enters the room.

WHITE ROOM

A door opens and three operatives enter where Michael waits. They take him to the White Room. He goes in and sits down and restraints are applied. Operations enters the room.
Operations: Hello, Michael. (tech hands him a syringe.)
Michael: I'd prefer a bullet.
Operations: A bullet? Nikita was right. You'll get over her death. She'll never be able to get over yours. (Operations grabs him by his chin) This is just to help you get through this.
Michael: (Freaks out!) No! No! (the syringe is injected into his neck and Michael is rendered unconscious. Operations looks up and then closes his eyes briefly.)

OBSERVATION ROOM

Nikita is strapped in and attached to a machine by two operatives. Restrained, the two operatives leave. She looks around and sees Madeline looking at her from the observation window.
Nikita: And Michael?
Madeline: You've got your wish. He's going to live. (Nikita smiles and Madeline turns to the technician) Give her a full charge; pain is not the goal here. (The technician nods and is about to turn it on when...) Not yet. (She hits an intercom.) Send him in. Someone would like to say goodbye.
Nikita: (looks over as Walter comes in and smiles) Hey, sugar...
Walter: I... (He is overcome with emotion and starts to cry, leaning into her. He spins around and starts at Madeline, enraged) How can you do this? You have no right! (He steps up to the window and bangs on the glass.) You have no right! (he breaks down)
Madeline: It's time to leave, Walter.
Nikita: Walter.
Walter: No ... (he cries out)
Nikita: It's all right, Walter. I don't mind. (Walter leans over and gives her a kiss on the forehead while Madeline watches. then he turns and leaves the room)
Madeline: (She nods to the technician. Nikita prepares to die. Madeline is impassive. The switch is hit and nothing happens) What's wrong?
Technician: I don't know ....

THE PERCH

As he works, all his monitors shut down. He hits an intercom.
Operations: Stokes, what's going on?
A screen displays ALL SYSTEMS OFFLINE.
Stokes: Sir I have no idea. All the internal online systems are shut down. All we have is basal power and communications.
Operations: How could that be?
Stokes: I don't know sir.
Female Op: Sir you have an incoming call from Mr. Jones.
Operations: Yes...

JET PLANE

Mr. Jones: Paul, this is Jones.
Operations: Yes, sir.
Mr. Jones: I've neutralized Section for a while. I'll explain when I see you.
Operations: When you see me?
Mr. Jones: Yes, I'm enroute. It'll be just a few minutes.
Operations: Is this about George?
Mr. Jones: Canceling a supervisor without my approval was a mistake, but after reviewing your debrief, I'm going to overlook the anomaly.
Operations: Then, if you don't mind, what is this about?
Mr. Jones: I'm afraid you'll just have to be patient, Paul. (He hangs up)

COMMITTEE

Madeline and Operations wait, apprehensive.
Operations: This doesn't bode well for the Section One.
Madeline: Why do you say that?
Operations: Have you ever met anyone who has seen Mr. Jones?
Madeline: Just George.
Operations: George is dead.
Madeline: I see your point.
Operations: It's how he protects himself and the agencies. Anonymity.
Madeline: So, if he shows himself now, either he's planning to step down, or he has other plans.
Operations: It's unlikely he's coming here to announce his retirement.
Female Op: (on intercom) Mr. Jones is here to see you Sir.
Operations: Send him in. (Mr. Jones enters - Madeline and Operations are stunned.) Mick Schtoppel?
Mr. Jones: To a few.
Operations: But, why?
Mr. Jones: Well I needed to investigate Section One. Call me a hands-on manager. I have to see things with my own eyes, touch them with my own hands. And Mick? He allowed me to do that.
Operations: We picked you through Ilya Benko - you were his gofer.
Mr. Jones: Simply building a resume. I knew that Section would never use Mick as an informant if he wasn't established. Hard to believe that old Mick was just fiction. He was the life of the party. I mean he was... wasn't he?
Madeline: Mick was not enough. You had to have someone inside.
Mr. Jones: Of course I did. (Madeline and Operations look at each other, suspicious of one another.) and no, it wasn't either of you.
Operations: Then who? (Mr. Jones sits down as Nikita comes in flanked by two Center Operatives.)
Nikita: Ready when you are, sir.
Operations: Nikita?
Mr. Jones: She works for me at CII. My cover was thorough, hers was unprecedented. You're looking at the best of the best. (Nikita stands at ease and Operations walks over to her smirking)
Operations: When did she begin working for you?
Mr. Jones: Three years ago. I recruited her during her "leave" from Section. I knew she was the only one who would cooperate.
Madeline: Why?
Mr. Jones: I chose Nikita for her free will... and her sufficient disdain for Section One. Well, I think it's time we got started.

MUNITIONS

Walter looks up as Nikita, Mr. Jones, Monique, and the two Center operatives cross the floor.
Walter: Hey Nikita. (She looks at him.) What's going on? (He approaches and one of the Center Operatives intervenes, pulls a gun on Walter) Whoa!
Nikita: (to operative) It's okay. (to Walter) We'll talk later. (They walk by and Walter is confused. Jason appears.)
Walter: Hey Jase, what's coming down here?
Jason: Evaluation time.
Walter: Eval what?
Jason: Everything. Everyone.
Walter: Who's doing the evaluating? Operations?
Jason: I don't know too much. But I know you better get your house in order and make sure that your inventory is checked. (Walter looks worried and Jason starts to head out.)
Walter: Yeah but wait a minute. Got something to show you.
Jason: What?
Walter: It's about your girlfriend Naomi. (They go over to his terminal and he punches something into it. We see the tape of when Naomi walked into Section.)
Jason: She's Section...
Walter: She came off the bench right after you went to Center. Been helping out in Comm. She's been playing you from the
get-go. I'm sorry. You gonna be okay? (Jason says nothing, then turns away.)

PRIVATE ROOM

Nikita and Mr. Jones sit behind a desk. She presses a button and a black wall slides open. Madeline steps forward. Nikita keys something in a laptop notebook, as Madeline waits for her to look up. After a pause, Nikita looks up.
Nikita: Please, sit down. (Madeline sits and Nikita continues punching keys.) I'll just be a moment. Sorry. On January 10 of last year, Operations abdicated control of the Section for 26 minutes based on a recommendation by you.
Madeline: I'm not familiar with the date, but if you say so.
Nikita: It was an unfortunate decision, if you recall. We ended up sustaining loss of life because of his absence.
Madeline: I remember now. It was two operatives, both level one. Frankly, I don't know if the two incidents were related.
Nikita: Maybe not.
Madeline: How dare you two have the presumption to judge my contribution to this organization on a single event?
Nikita: It's not the event, it's the relationship between you and Paul that concerns us. You two don't complement each other.
Madeline: (stands) I really don't need to hear what some ad hoc internal affairs bimbo thinks of my work. Get to the punchline?
Mr. Jones: If you insist.
Nikita: No.
Mr. Jones: We've discussed this, Nikita.
Nikita: And you know where I stand. This is not the way.
Mr. Jones: There's no place for her here.
Nikita: Maybe not in Section, but she does have assets.
Mr. Jones: Is this a personal plea?
Nikita: Yes.
Mr. Jones: (to Madeline) You understand, in the end, this decision is mine and mine alone.
Madeline: No. You don't understand. I'll make my own decision regarding my fate! (She pulls out a cyanide capsule from her hair. Madeline bites down and kills herself. Nikita watches, Mr. Jones is impressed.)
Mr. Jones: I shall miss her fortitude. (He hits the intercom) Housekeeping.
Madeline's body is removed as Operations watches from across the hall. He stops the gurney. He gently puts his hand on her head as he leans down to kiss her on the lips. Nikita comes out and sees him.
Nikita: I want to show you something. (She starts towards the airlock. Operations watches as they take the gurney... he starts to follow Nikita... turns and looks again then follows her.)

SCHOOL YARD

Operations and Nikita stand at a fence watching the children play. She says nothing.
Operations: Are you going to tell me what we're doing here?
Nikita: Why don't you tell me?
Operations: Let me guess: you want to make a point.
Nikita: Very good. And what's the point?
Operations: Please, spare me the clichés. The innocent children, the future, the need to protect them both. I wrote that speech, remember?
Nikita: Did you mean it?
Operations: Of course I meant it!
Nikita: You're a ruthless man, Paul. And that's good. You do your job with clarity and I respect that. But children and terrorists - they're not the same. But to you, you've abstracted them. And killing one to save a hundred is not always right. George learned that. That's why you had a problem with him.
Operations: It turned out to be his problem.
Nikita: Not if you want the post that he left vacant. You do want Oversight, don't you?
Operations: What do you want me to say? I'll water my compassion so you can see it grow?
Nikita: I'm sorry, you're not ready. You'll stay in Section. Your status will be reviewed in (pause) 7 years.
Operations: Because I lack compassion?
Nikita: Because you lack the good judgment that comes from having a small dose of it, Paul.
Operations: What about the compassion I showed you, time after time?
Nikita: Compassion for me? Madeline once tried to convince me you were my father. I never knew my father, but I know he would never have sentenced his own daughter to death... more than once.
Operations: I had a job to do. And you more than deserved it.
Nikita: It's not so much that I disagree, it's just that Oversight requires a different skill set than Section One. Until you master those skills, those skills, Section is where you'll stay. (She returns to the limo while he still watches the children in the playground.)

PRIVATE ROOM

Walter sits across the desk from Nikita, looks at her as she pores over her notes. She looks up and smiles.
Nikita: What do you think about all this, Walter?
Walter: A bit betrayed, how do you think?
Nikita: That's good.
Walter: Why good?
Nikita: Because you were betrayed. You have a firm grasp of reality.
Walter: Then what the hell am I doing here?
Nikita: It's an evaluation.
Walter: Then why don't we save each other the trouble? We both know I broke every rule in the book to help you and Michael.
Nikita: Why did you help us?
Walter: (incredulous) You don't know?
Nikita: I'd like you to tell me.
Walter: (pauses) I loved you.
Nikita: I love you, too. But that has nothing to do with why we're here. You've said it yourself - this place has to change. To do that means to make some difficult choices.
Walter: What I don't understand is: you used to come to me to confide, you used to ask for my advice. Now if you were doing that just to figure out who I was, why did you keep coming after you knew?
Nikita: You kept me grounded, Walter. When you go undercover for as long as I did, you have to find a center, a place you can stay anchored so you don't drift. You were my center.
Walter: (is touched) Great, just when I was starting to get comfortable disliking you.
Nikita: Don't get too comfortable - you haven't heard my recommendation. You've committed too may violations against the charter for me to allow you to continue in your present position. I'm transferring you to the Farm.
Walter: The Farm?
Nikita: You're going to become a teacher.
Walter: Oh, come on!
Nikita: (She pushes a button, the glass around Walter opens.) I'm gong to miss you, Walter. Who's gonna call me "sugar"?
Walter: So long... SUGAR. (he turns and leaves)

THE PERCH

Naomi appears, surprised to see Jason who is stripping files onto disk.
Naomi: Jason?
Jason: Come in.
Naomi: When did you find out?
Jason: It doesn't matter.
Naomi: I'm sorry.
Jason: Don't be. I enjoy my work. In fact, I've never had such clarity in my life.
Naomi: You don't really mean that....
Jason: I do. You saved me, Naomi, from the corporate world. A world I never did feel comfortable in.
Naomi: I want you to know something. (he turns to look at her) Those times we spent together, they did mean something.
Jason: I'll never forget them. (she starts to walk up to him)
Jason: You may return to your post.

READY ROOM

Michael starts to leave the room when two operatives approach. They escort Michael through Section to the Private Room to the cubicle where Walter and Madeline had been. Michael sees Nikita behind her desk.
Nikita: Come in, Michael.

PRIVATE ROOM

Nikita reads from her report. Michael stands after having pushed the chair to one side, listens patiently.
Nikita: Michael Samuelle, brought into Section One 10 years ago, graduated training 9 months early; moved directly to Level 3. . (He looks at her.) Your continual ascent within the organization was due not only to your tactical and strategic abilities, there is something primal about your approach. (She looks at him, while reading the remainder...) You have shown an otherworldly disregard for your own well-being. More than anyone else, you've been true to the highest principles that define this organization.
Michael: That's not true. I betrayed Section. I've put your well-being ahead of everything else.
Nikita: I have no choice but to recommend your cancellation.
Michael: (emotionally) Is there an abeyance mission pending?
Nikita: Yes.
Michael: Thank you.

SECTION ONE - HALLWAY

Operations and Mr. Jones head for Systems.
Mr. Jones: Now you understand how this has to play out?
Operations: Michael cannot survive.
Mr. Jones: That's right. I'm going to give you Jason to assist on Comm.
Operations: You mean Seymour, don't you?
Mr. Jones: No. Seymour is dead.
Operations: (stunned) You understand why I did it?
Mr. Jones: Of course. If you hadn't accommodated, you would have been cancelled. (They reach Systems and they stop.)
Nikita: My work is done here Mr. Jones.
Mr. Jones: Good job. (nods) I'll see you back at Center. (She nods and walks away. Operations looks to Mr. Jones, nods and he himself walks away.)

SYSTEMS

Operations, Jason, Michael and a few other operatives gather around the table.
Operations: Teams 3 and 4 will fall back for the retreat. Michael, you will proceed alone to the engagement area. (The screen shows a well-fortified room filled with terrorists, heavily armed.)
Jason: By this point, you will have triggered their security. We've estimated 10 to 15 hostiles with orders to kill anything that moves.
Operations: You will be wearing a suicide vest with 1 pound C4 explosive adn one detonator. Once the engagement has commenced, you will have a window of 30 seconds. You'll take this route... (he hits a button and you see a hologram, a pathway in a building) all the way to the target.
Kurtzman: Won't that approach be blocked?
Jason: No, it dead ends. And there's no retreat.
Kurtzman: Then how does Michael get out? (no one answers)
Operations: Check your panels, you'll move in 15. (As the group breaks up, Michael just stands there.)

MUNITIONS

Michael and the other operatives are getting their equipment from Walter. After he finishes with the others, he turns to Michael.
Walter: Just wait here a minutes. (he turns and picks something up.) Here, take this with you Michael.
Michael: What is it?
Walter: Solvents and a compressor. You can get through a 3 foot wall. Dig yourself out of there before the detonation.
Michael: Thank you. (He leaves the pouch on the table and walks away. Walter is disappointed.)

MISSION VAN

Jason is monitoring.
Jason: Michael at first mark. Teams 1 and 2 disengage. (He watches a second monitor where he tracks Michael's movements. You see Operations in his perch, listening intently.) Michael, 75 meters, you have 20 seconds to hit your next mark.
We see Michael come up through a trap door and take out the hostiles.
Michael: At second mark.
Jason: Hold. (watches the monitor) Okay, go. (pause) Proceed to final mark.
Michael: (sets a charge and runs out of the room, hits a remote and the room explodes. He runs off towards the target, taking out one terrorist after another, arrives and stops at the door.) I'm at the door.
Jason: (Operations is monitoring) He's at his final mark. (Operations once more close his eyes for a brief second. Michael waits for the order to proceed, preps his explosives. He's a heavily armed, walking bomb.) Okay, Michael. We detonate in fifteen seconds. Go. (Michael hesitates for a second, knowing what awaits him on the other side of the door. He bursts in to find all the hostiles dead. Nikita is standing there, framed by a blown-out hole in the wall holding a gun. In her other hand is the pouch that Walter offered Michael.)
Nikita: I thought someone should use Walter's bag of tricks. (He makes no move, just stares at her. She starts to unclip his vest, they get it off and leave it.) Let's go. (They jump out the hole that Nikita made just as the building explodes.)

A FOREST

Nikita is waiting as Michael exits the storm drain. They run into the woods and then stop.
Nikita: We're clear.
Michael: Four minutes, then we'll be in range of Map C-Two. (pause) Why did you break protocol?
Nikita: I wasn't ready to see you die.
Michael: Are you out?
Nikita: No, I gotta go back, but you can make it. (She hands him a field router.) You'll be able to jam their frequency long enough to get out of the hemisphere. Take it. (he reaches for it and she holds his palm as she places it in his hand)
Michael: What about you?
Nikita: I'll be all right. I got a card to play; they owe me this. (They look at each other.)
Michael: Come with me.
Nikita: I can't.
Michael: (crosses to her, lifts her sunglasses and touches her face.) Is this what you want?
Nikita: I don't love you. I never did.
They stare at each other and Michael never taking his eyes from her, takes his knife and cuts himself by the corner of his eye, leaving a tear of blood. She is the first to look away. He hands her the field router back, one last look and then he walks away.

THE END

Edited by Northstar and Dana
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