Sympathy For The Devil
Transcript by Cathy

CHIN DUC PROVINCE - SOUTH VIETNAM - 1972

Soldiers are fighting in the jungle. Americans and Vietnamese. The camera is from the viewpoint of one soldier. An angry Vietnamese, Phan, holds up a set of dog tags and hisses at him.
Phan: What you consider to be courage, Lieutenant Wolfe, is ignorance. You fight without cause – and you will die without honor. Third battalion – 49th infantry – when do they start their offensive?
He gets no answer.
Phan: It’s only a matter of time. (He holds up a sharp knife) And pain.
His victim screams in agony but tells him nothing. It’s apparent that time passes. Now we see the face of another American soldier.
Willie: You held up, Lieutenant. Soulless bastards. We’re going to get through this. I promise you.
Camera pans, we see that we’re inside a hole. Fighting is going on, on the surface.
Willie: You hear that, Lieutenant? Our team! I told you we’d make it.
American soldiers are heard on the surface.
Soldier: Radio back to base! Move in! Troopers, move in!
A rope ladder is dropped into the hole.
Soldier: Looks like we got here just in time for the party.
Willie: (laughing)
Soldier: What’s your name soldier?
Willie: Willie Kane. My lieutenant here is going to need some help.
Soldier: It’s under control. Let’s get out of here.
Willie: You take care of yourself, Lieutenant.
Willie climbs up the ladder, leaving Operations alone with the soldier, who points a gun at him.
Operations: Hey, what are you doing? What’s going on?
Soldier: You’re being reassigned.
We hear a gunshot, then the scene changes to a park with roped off grassy areas. It’s where the Vietnam Wall is. Operations stands there. He looks, traces the name on the wall: Paul L. Wolfe.
Flashback again.
Soldier: You’re being reassigned.

NIKITA'S APARTMENT

She and Michael arrive back there, dressed very nicely – looks like they were on a real date! They kiss.
Michael: We have more time.
They start kissing again but then Nikita sees a shadowy figure in her apartment. Uh-oh. She shoves Michael, who gets the hint and whirls, gun drawn. Operations steps out of the shadows.
Operations: Still in good form. (smiling) You won’t need that. I need to talk to you. Both of you.
Michael lowers the gun.
Nikita: So what are you doing here?
Operations: I have a favor to ask.
Michael turns to Nikita with a suspicious look.
Operations: (sets a photograph down) This man’s name is Willie Kane. He was my Platoon N.C.O. when I served in Vietnam. In late 1972, my platoon was on routine maneuvers near Chin Duc when we were ambushed. All except three of us were massacred on the spot. We were subject to the hospitality of this man, Phan Van Nahn. He’s a man who taught me more than a few lessons in determination and courage. For 15 days, we were tortured and beaten and Willie is the reason I survived. He didn’t have the good sense to let me die and get it over with. He saved my life. Over the past 25 years, I’ve kept tabs on Willie. He held on long enough to get us through our ordeal, but once he got out, I’m afraid he unraveled pretty quickly.
Michael: Drugs?
Operations: And drinking. Given my situation, I’ve done what I can to help him. Some money here and there, moved some things around into a favorable position for him. (He sees Nikita’s look) I’ve used no Section resources. What I’ve done I’ve done on my own.
Michael: What is it you want from us?
Operations: I’m securing leave for both of you. I want you to get close to him.
Nikita: And do what?
Operations: Someone is trying to kill Willie. I want you to find out who it is and prevent it from happening. If you do, I’m offering you fifteen days – the same time Willie gave me – time to be alone together, no questions asked.
Nikita and Michael look suspicious. Operations walks out the door. After he passes, Nikita says to him:
Nikita: Why?
Operations: Call it payback. Agreed?

MUNITIONS

Birkoff and Walter are doing an inventory.
Walter: Two p – 17’s.
Birkoff: Got it.
Walter: To think we used to trust our lives to this stuff.
Birkoff: Yeah.
Walter: And then come back and talk about it. It’s a shame to see them go. Oh, my. Six Camway transceivers. We used to talk to each other with these. 100% analog with microwave scrambling. Oh man. Okay, uh, one case nickel hydride batteries. (Walter notices Birkoff zoning out) Hey... you still with us?
Birkoff: What’s it like?
Walter: What’s what like?
Birkoff: Having memories.
Walter: What do you mean? You’ve got memories.
Birkoff: Yes. I’ve made up stories. I’ve told different things to different people. None of it’s true. It’s always Section. It’s as if I didn’t exist or have a life before.
Walter: Yeah, well, you know, maybe it’s better that way. Not every memory is something you want to remember. Come on, let’s get back to work. Batteries, nickel hydride, one case.

APARTMENT BUILDING

Exterior of a brick apartment building. A old white car in the foreground, probably an early 80’s Mustang. Inside, Nikita kicks open a green door, arms full of boxes. Michael is right behind her. They’re moving in, to an apartment – cracking paint, rundown. They are dressed casually. 
Michael: Where do you want this?
Nikita: Uh, I don’t know. What about over there?
Willie comes around the corner.
Willie: Hey guys! Uh... where’s your dog?
Nikita: Dog?
Willie: Well I – uh, I’m sitting over there and I thought I -Well I thought a young couple like you, you know, no kids, ought to have a dog.
Michael: No. No dog.
Nikita: I’m Nikita. This is Michael.
They shake hands. Willie is swilling beer.
Willie: Willie Kane.
Nikita: Hey.
Willie: Boy next door.
Nikita: I wish I could offer you something. We’re-
Willie lights a cigarette.
Willie: Oh, no, no, no, don’t, um, let me interrupt you. You know, um, I uh, I had a dog once. Nice. Had a tail. Had a girlfriend once, too. No tail. (He laughs nervously, Michael gives him the blank stare) Ask me, dog’s a better deal. Uh, well, um, you know if you, uh, if you uh, finish working up a sweat, more where this came from. (He holds up the beer)
Michael: Okay.

COMM CENTER

Birkoff is working, very focused. Scrolling down lists of operatives. Finds his own name and also a Birkoff, Jason. He starts typing.
Screen: Who is Jason Birkoff?
Computer searches. A classified message comes up. Birkoff looks up, curious and a bit scared.

APARTMENT BUILDING

Two men are knocking on Willie’s door, looking tough.
Man #1: Hey Willie! Come on out. Come on, Willie, come on out! We want to talk to you.
Willie opens the door reluctantly.
Willie: What’s going on, guys? What’s going on? What do you want?
Michael is watching from his own doorway.
Willie: Well, if you want me to help you figure it out, you let me know.
The men push their way into his apartment and the door closes. 
Man #1: You got something for us Willie?
Willie: Well, now, I’m sorry guys, I’m all out of Pampers.
Man #1: You been shorting us Willie. We sent you a message but I guess you didn’t have a chance to read it.
Willie: Was it illustrated?
The guy loses his patience, grabs Willie from behind around the neck.
Man #1: We want the money, Willie! Don’t make me be tough on you. Come on.
Michael comes in, punches the second man and knocks him out and then shoots Willie’s attacker. Willie sinks into a chair, relieved, lights a cigarette.
Willie: Well. You must have been one hell of a boy scout.
Michael: (nods) Yeah.

OUTDOORS

A frontage road next to the freeway. Michael and Nikita are sitting there in the white station wagon. Operations pulls up in his silver Mercedes. The windows go down and Michael hands Operations a manila envelope. Operations withdraws pictures of Willie’s attackers.
Michael: Luigi Manetti, Joey DiAngelis, and the man they work for.
Operations: Carlos Bonaventure. What is it? Drugs? Money?
Nikita: According to Willie, he knows nothing about it.
Operations: If it’s money, I can take care of it.
Michael: Whatever it is, they’ll want him to pay for Manetti.
Operations: It’s the price of doing business. They’ll take the cash. Find out what it is and fix it. I’ll see that you get the money.
Operations puts his window up and drives away.

SECTION ONE - STAIRWAY

Birkoff is at the top, watches as Walter ascends.
Birkoff: Walter, I got to know.
Walter: What?
Birkoff: Do I have a twin brother?
Walter: If they find out you accessed those records, quien sabe, there’s gonna be one less good guy for me to talk to around here.
Birkoff: They won’t find out. I backdated the access; it’ll look like routine.
Walter: Yeah, well, just don’t go there.
Birkoff: I am there. Tell me.
Walter looks very uncomfortable.
Walter: All right. Yes. Your mother’s name was Lisa. Until Nikita came, she was one of the brightest lights around here.
Birkoff: She was an operative?
Walter: Level two. What they didn’t know is that she was pregnant when she was recruited. Your father was dead. They brought her in.
Birkoff: And she had twins. What happened to her?
Walter: She was killed during a mission in Sofia. She was a great lady.
Birkoff: What happened to my brother?
Walter: They let him out.
Birkoff: Impossible. No one-
Walter: It was an experiment. Your mother was willing. I mean, just to see one of her kids get a shot at a real life. They wanted to do a psychological experiment – compare your brother’s life on the outside with yours on the inside.
Birkoff: You mean, all the years that I’ve been in here... he’s been?
Walter: Your brother’s been free.
Walter walks away leaving a stunned Birkoff mulling this over.

OUTSIDE A STORE

Willie, in a hooded jacket emerges from the store and walks down the street. Michael follows. He watches as Willie completes some sort of deal with another man.

WILLIE'S APARTMENT

He and Michael are tossing back a couple of brewski’s. There are Vietnam pictures and memorabilia in the room.
Willie: Heroes. Keepers of the faith. Defenders of the realm. That’s what they call you when they send you off to die. Problem is, what they forget to mention, the other side’s telling their grunts exactly the same thing. You know what I mean? It’s always root, root, root for the home team. Can’t tell the players without a body bag.
Michael: You were drafted?
Willie: (lights a cigarette) All the brave young men. The truth is, most of us were there because we didn’t have the smarts or the dough to stay out. A bunch of dumb, stupid kids. Not a clue what we were doing there.
Michael picks up a silver lighter. Engraved on it is “War is Hell”.
Willie: What’s even worse, it’s the stupider ones. The ones who think they know. Hey. So, are you in it?
Michael: No.
Willie: It’s not so much the dying, you know. It’s not so much having to watch when the mortars hit your buddy…the guy you just bummed a smoke from turns into meat and gravy. It’s not knowing why. “What am I doing here? How’d I get here?” I mean, six months ago, all I’m thinking about is trying to get into Susan Ellerman’s pants. Whether the guy down the block is really such a prick, or am I just jealous of him because he gets to drive the Trans-Am and I don’t? How am I going to tell my old man I’m never going to be what he expected me to be. Hell, what I expected me to be. Now, here I am in the jungle. All dressed up in my G.I. Joe accessories ready to die. Man, I miss my dog.
Michael takes out an envelope from his jacket and hands it to Willie.
Willie: What? What’s this? What’s this for?
Michael: For you to get even.
Willie: Get – what? Who said I was down?
Michael: Those two guys who were here. You owe them money.
Willie: Well it’s not likely they’re going to be back!
Michael: Others will.
Willie: What? Man, that’s a lot of money.
Michael: I can afford it.
Willie: If you can afford it, why don’t you buy yourself a better place to live in? Why are you living here? I mean, why don’t you buy a nice slinky dress for that girlfriend of yours? Why, why me, what are you doing this for?
Michael: (gets up and puts a hand on Willie’s shoulder) You’re used to no whys.
Willie: Well, yeah, I said I’ve been through that. I didn’t say I was used to them. Why, what for, what are you doing this for?
Michael: For defending the realm, then. Pay them.
Michael leaves.
Willie: Man.

THE PERCH

Operations is looking at pictures of Willie from the war. It seems to be affecting him deeply. He says nothing.

CITY STREET

Seems to be a Chinatown area. Willie is in his hooded coat, walks into a building, talks to two Asian men.
Willie: Hey guys.
He continues past. Michael is following him. One of the Asians steps in Michael’s path and talks to him in Vietnamese. Michael replies in Vietnamese. He hands them money.
Vietnamese Guy: (in English) Okay, go.
Michael enters what appears to be an opium den. Stoned people are lying around everywhere, smoking. Willie lays on a couch. An Asian man approaches him.
Asian Guy: You got your tribute?
Willie hands him money – a lot of it.

THE PERCH

Operations, Michael and Nikita reviewing the video from the opium den.
Operations: He could be paying for the opium.
Michael: $800. It’s more than that.
Operations is watching the video and sees the man who tortured him; starts flashing back.
Flashback:
Vietnamese: It is only a matter of time. (Holding up knife)
Operations remembers himself screaming.
Operations: Phan Van Nahn.

SECTION ONE - COMMONS AREA

Walter sees Michael and Nikita approaching.
Walter: Hey, you guys! What’s shaking, sugar?
Nikita: Busy. Rerunning the Angola sim. Evaluating what went wrong.
Walter: Oh, so you’ve been able to fit that in while you’re doing personal work for Operations?
Michael: We have to go.
Walter: Now, Michael, you can go. But not until I’ve said what I’ve got to say.
Michael: All right.
Walter: I’ve put it on the line for you more times than you can count, Michael. But there’s something I want you to do for me now. I know about Willie Kane. Operations doesn’t know I know, but I do.
Nikita: So what do you want?
Walter: I want you to let it go. Make it disappear. You shake Willie’s tree hard enough and he’ll take off like a jackrabbit, and we’ll all be the better for it.
Michael: How is that?
Walter: I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t have a good reason. Now, Hell, did you ever wonder how I survived in this place as long as I have? Just do it. (He sees Operations, says in a louder voice) Well, nice to see you kids again. Remember, stay vertical!
Nikita: Which way do we play it, his way or Walter’s?
Michael: Ours.

MICHAEL AND NIKITA'S APARTMENT

They are sitting on the couch. Michael is stroking the side of Nikita’s face, playing with her hair. He leans over and kisses his way down her face. Nikita pulls back.
Nikita: I’m sorry, I – it’s just that I –
Michael: It’s all right.
Nikita: How do you do it, Michael?
Michael: Do what?
Nikita: Keep your feelings sorted out, your head straight. You were married to Elena.
Michael: Well, sometimes, our thoughts and feelings take us where we can no longer go. Feelings are not captive.
Nikita: Maybe it’d be better if they were.
Michael: I don’t know.
Nikita: (reaches up, strokes Michael’s face) You know, a year ago, having time like this together... Michael, I’m lost. I don’t know what I am anymore.

OPIUM DEN

Michael enters, says something in Vietnamese to a man who attacks him. Michael quickly controls the situation. Phan appears.
Phan: That is enough! You have business here?
Michael: What is your relationship with Willie Kane?
Phan: (laughs) My relationship? Would you any more ask me what my relationship is with my dog?
Michael: He pays you. Why?
Phan: Because I tell him to. He’s quite clever, really. He’d deliver my morning paper to me in his teeth if I so requested.
Michael: I asked you a question.
Phan: And I gave you my answer.
Suddenly Phan throws his pen violently at Michael, like a dart. Of course Michael evades it and quickly knocks out Phan.

WILLIE'S APARTMENT

Willie is inside drinking. There is a knocking on the door. It’s Michael, Nikita and Phan.
Willie: No, no, no, no! You can’t bring him in here! I don’t want him in here, no!
Nikita: It’s all right, Willie.
Willie: No it’s not! You don’t understand. Anything that’s done to him, I’m the one who’s gonna have to pay.
Phan: Woof.
Michael: He’s just a man, Willie.
Willie: Who are you people?
Nikita: We’re here to help you, but you got to tell us the truth.
Phan: Yes, Willie – time to tell the truth. Tell them. Tell them how easily a man will surrender his manhood. How for a sack of rice and the promise to live another day, a man would willingly hand over his comrades to the enemy.
Nikita: The ambush?
Willie: What – what do you know about any of this?
Nikita: Is that how they knew, Willie? Is that how the V.C. knew the exact time and place that your platoon would be walking on the road? Is that how they knew?
Willie: Were you there? No, you weren’t there. You have no idea what happened over there. You have no idea!
Nikita: Tell us the truth, Willie.
Michael: Willie. You were not tortured.
Phan: No. But content to make it appear as if he had been. Always so obedient. Always ready to please your masters. Tell them. Tell them how you tried to please us.
Willie has moved over to his shelf of memorabilia. Without warning, he grabs a knife and plunges it into Phan’s chest.
Willie: I hope this pleases you!
Michael grabs him, slams him up against the windows, holding up his hand and the bloody knife.
Willie: Oh, no, no, no, no. You have no idea. You have no idea what they did to men over there. You have no idea what they would have done to me. You know? It was – it was terrible there, terrible. Vicious – vicious people.
Michael: Let go.
Willie: You know, it’s not like they gave me a choice, you know? No choice…
Later, still in Willie’s apartment. He’s on the floor. Michael and Nikita beside him, Nikita rifling through his pockets.
Nikita: So you were skimming from Bonaventure to pay Nahn?
Willie: Oh yeah. Chicken money.
Nikita: He threatened to tell the truth on you?
Willie: Yeah. Like anybody’d give a damn at this point, huh?
Nikita looks into space – she knows who would.
Nikita: Wait across the hall, in our place. Here, this was yours.
She hands money back to him. He leaves.
Michael: (dials phone) Housekeeping.
Nikita: So Walter’s protecting Operations. I guess he thinks it’s better for a man to have his illusions. There’s still some good left in the world.
Michael: Those illusions will die with the truth.
In the hallway, Willie is grabbed from behind and dragged off.

APARTMENT BUILDING - HALLWAY

Operations, Nikita and Michael. Operations is holding Willie’s dropped lighter.
Operations: Are you sure it was Bonaventure’s men who took him?
Michael: Yes.
Operations: Did Willie ever explain why he’d taken the risk? Stealing from Bonaventure?
Nikita: No.
Operations: I know Willie. He won’t go down easily. I want you to arrange a meeting. I want to meet with Bonaventure. You let me know when you have it set up.
Operations leaves.

BONAVENTURE'S QUARTERS

Operations walks up, presses a buzzer to be let in. He is buzzed in and enters. Two men are there.
Operations: Where’s Bonaventure?
Man #1: (dials phone and speaks into it) He’s here.
The other man leads Operations off. Two other men are in the back. One is Bonaventure.
Bonaventure: So the syndicate – a lot of money was made from drugs.
Bonaventure approaches a table and sits down. Operations approaches.
Bonaventure: You Paulie?
Operations: Paul.
Bonaventure: “Balls?” If not it ought to be. ‘Cause either you’re very stupid, or you get a set of big brass shiny ones.
Operations smiles indulgently.
Bonaventure: So, Balls, my people tell me you want to say something to me. What can I do for you?
Operations: First, you can let Willie Kane go.
Bonaventure: Second?
Operations: You forget about him.
Operations seats himself; one of Bonaventure’s bodyguards looks about to make a move, but Bonaventure holds up a hand to stop him.
Bonaventure: It’s all right.
Operations: Once you let him go, as far as you’re concerned, he’s dead and gone.
Bonaventure: Second part’s no problem.
Operations: I’m not asking, Carlo.
Bonaventure: (rises, angry) Listen, you pasty-faced son of a bitch – nobody comes in here, sits at my table and tells me what to do. Not even the dumbest hole in the planet! This is my house and right now, you’re stinking it up.
Operations: You touch me, you fail to do what I’ve told you to do – your organization will be eliminated. Surgically and systematically. And once you’ve had time to read about it, you’ll be next.
Bonaventure spits in his face.
Bonaventure: Never threaten my family.
Operations is perfectly calm. Wipes his face with a handkerchief.
Operations: You have capos in New York, Chicago, Miami and Los Angeles. Failure to comply will result in their elimination.
Bonaventure: Failure to comply? Up yours! Make sure nobody finds this mook.
Bonaventure sits back down, waiting for his men to drag Operations off. It doesn’t happen.
Operations: Your nephew Francis is living in Sicily, avoiding the police.
Bonaventure and his right hand man exchange a look – it’s obvious they’re shocked that Operations could know this.
Operations: When was the last time you spoke with him?
Bonaventure: Nobody! Nobody could get to Frankie. I got 20 guys watching him. They move him around every other day, Hell, even I don’t know where he is most of the time. All I got is a cell phone number.
Operations: Before you dispose of me, maybe you should give him a call?
Bonaventure: Why? So I can be the second dumbest hole on the planet? (laughs)
Operations laughs too. Then silence. They stare at each other. Suddenly Bonaventure slams his hand down on the table and then rises. He pulls out his cell phone, dials.
Bonaventure: Yeah, yeah, it’s me. Put Frankie on the phone.
Bonaventure’s face falls. He lowers the cell phone.
Bonaventure: They popped Frankie four hours ago. 20 guards guarding the place didn’t see a damn thing. That was my baby brother’s kid. Who the Hell are you?
Operations: You have two hours. (He stands, nonchalantly picks up an olive and eats it) This dump might be your house, Carlo. Everything else – everything outside this door? That’s mine.
He flips the olive pit into Bonaventure’s wine glass and exits. Nobody bothers him.

WILLIE'S APARTMENT

Willie is on the phone, apparently receiving shocking news.
Willie: What are you telling me? What are you telling me? You’re telling me Paul’s alive? Well you know what I heard.
Operations: What you heard was wrong. (Operations himself emerges from around the corner in Willie’s apartment. Willie flashes back)
Flashback of young Willie: “Our team! I told you we’d make it. My lieutenant here is going to need some help. Take care of yourself Lieutenant.”
They approach each other in the present, shake hands and then hug, slapping each other on the back.
Operations: Oh, man, it’s good to see you, Willie!
Willie: You know you, you’re looking awfully good for a dead man. Oh, man. You know, uh, your friends, you know, they’ve been telling me all you’ve been doing for me and uh –
Operations: You did it for me, Willie. I wish I could have done more.
Willie: (turns away) Well, uh, you know, that’s just it, uh- you know, I’m not really worth it, you know what I mean?
Operations: Times haven’t been so good.
Willie: Time. Times are what they are, you know? It’s just uh –
Outside the apartment building, a dark car draws up.
Willie: Uh, Paul – you got the wrong guy.
Operations: I got the guy who saved my life.
Willie: Yeah. Um, no, Paul, look – uh, you got it wrong. You know, uh, when you and I were in that camp –
Gunfire blasts through the window, Operations hits the deck and Willie is riddled full of holes. Outside the black Lincoln squeals off into the night. Operations turns over the body, but Willie is already dead. Outside we see the car – Walter is driving.

THE PERCH

Michael and Nikita enter. Operations is standing, looking out over Section.
Nikita: We heard what happened.
Operations: It’s no matter. You did what I asked you to do. I owe you fifteen days, they’re yours. Something wrong?
Michael: We’d prefer to wait.
Operations: If that’s what you want.
Nikita: It would be better to wait.
Nikita walks off long before Michael follows her. After they go, Operations pulls up a screen – looks like he’s scrolling news articles. The headline says “Bonaventure Family Hit.” Operations got his revenge after all.

MUNITIONS

Walter: I told you. There are some things you’re better off not knowing.
Birkoff: It’s too late for that now.
Walter: Yeah, but then you wish you’d never found out, right?
Birkoff: Your name was on four signature files before the decision was made. Before my brother was released. Why?
Walter: I made the decision. I decided who would walk and who would stay inside.
Birkoff: Based on what? What criteria? I didn’t see any psych forms, evaluations?
Walter: It wasn’t necessary.
Birkoff: So how did you decide?!
Walter: (pulls out a coin and flips it into the air. Birkoff catches it) Tails.
Birkoff opens his palm. Tails.
Walter: You lost, amigo.
Birkoff lays the coin down and walks away.

THE END

Edited by Dana
Back to Season 4 Episodes