Up The Rabbit Hole
Transcript by Karen H.

MARIO'S RESTAURANT

Michael sits at the table waiting for Nikita to appear. He takes his glasses off and puts them down on the table. His cell rings.
Michael: Yes.
Nikita: Michael, it's me. I'm calling on an unsecured line.
Michael: Are you all right?
Nikita: Yes, for the time being. I can't keep this connection open too long.
Michael: We need to talk. (He sees a reflection of Nikita's back, across the street, talking in a phone booth.)
Nikita: I'm not sure that this is the right time or place for that. It's best if you don't try to find me. I'll call you. I don't know how much they know or who I can trust. (He gets up and walks through the crowd.) We'll meet later.
Michael: Tell me when and where.
Nikita: We'll need to find a safe place.
Michael: The cottage?
Nikita: No that's the first place they'd look.
Michael: Choose a place. Wherever you feel safe. (He reaches the phone booth when the blonde turns around - it's not Nikita. She finishes her conversation, smiles at him and leaves. The phone rings. Michael steps into the phone booth and picks up the receiver.)
Nikita: Where can I feel safe, Michael, when I can't even trust you?
Michael: Nikita... (The phone disconnects.)

BRIEFING TABLE

Madeline, Michael, Davenport, Walter, Jason and Quinn are there. Operations turns on a hologram of Maurice Grenet.
Operations: This is Maurice Grenet. In exchange for critical Section database intel, Grenet, acting as Red Cell interim Cardinal, is the man that engineered Nikita's extraction.
Madeline: Nikita's sunk her files and eliminated any chance of restoring from a backup. Her moves have been incompatible from everything that's currently in her profile.
Quinn: How is that possible?
Madeline: The only factor that can account for this is that everything we think we know about Nikita is wrong.
Jason: Grenet was tagged just as he was leaving his headquarters. After Michael escaped, the main unit broke up into five groups, all within a ten-kilometer radius of each other. (A city map appears on the screen.) Given the CEO mentality, Grenet would want to maintain strategic leadership. He'd do this best right in the center of the circle. (The location is magnified and highlighted in the hologram.) In this power plant.
Operations: Grenet is our only connection to Nikita. Michael will take Tactical, Quinn on Comm. Davenport will lead the team. Details are on your panels. You leave immediately. (The group breaks up and Jason remains behind with Madeline.)
Jason: Am I movin' down the food chain here? Quinn on Comm?
Madeline: I'll talk to you in my office.

MADELINE'S OFFICE

Madeline: You leave for Center first thing tomorrow morning.
Jason: For how long?
Madeline: That depends on how convincing you are and how quickly you can get us the information that we need.
Jason: You still haven't told me what that is.
Madeline: You'll be told when you need to know.
Jason: Tight-lipped bunch, aren't ya?
Madeline: You have an unusual opportunity, Mr. Crawford. Your fate at Section is in your hands. You feel you're ready for this?
Jason: (His demeanor changes, posture, body language, voice and syntax. He becomes Birkoff.) I'll do what I have to do, Madeline. And you'll make sure nothing happens to Naomi. My brother Jason will expect you to keep up your end of the deal.

MISSION

Operatives storm the power plant.
Davenport: They've located the target. Do we proceed?
Operations: Yes
Davenport: (they capture Grenet) Target acquired. We have Grenet.

WHITE ROOM

Grenet is strapped into the White Room chair as Madeline stands before him.
Madeline: Where's Nikita?
Grenet: By now, I'd think you'd know better than to even ask.
Madeline: (Shoots him in the leg and blood streams down his pants. He screams.) You don't have time for spirited debate.
Grenet: Go to hell.
Madeline: Where is she?
Grenet: Out of my reach. Out of yours, too. (Madeline moves to shoot him again.)
Operations: Madeline, that not the way. Not with him.
Madeline: Just a few more minutes.
Operations: No. I'll handle this. (Madeline leaves, none to happy about Operations' intervention.) You're making it very difficult on yourself.
Grenet: And your attempt at good cop, bad cop is a hopeless failure. (He grimaces in pain.)
Operations: That's to be expected. There are no good cops. (He opens the door and the Torture Twins enter, rolling in a cage of rats.) Something I learned while I was a "guest" in Southeast Asia, my hosts were extremely resourceful. I've checked your file. It appears that your childhood left some scars.
Grenet: You Bastard!
Operations: Bandicota Indica from Myanmar. (Josh pulls out a rat and place it on the floor next to the puddle of blood that's beginning to form near Grenet's feet.) Very aggressive and they maintain an almost constant state of hunger. The size of their chewing teeth in proportion to their body size is unprecedented in any species. (The rat sniffs around Grenet's pant leg.)
Grenet: I told you I know nothing! Nothing!
Operations: Oh, and I'm told that they'll feed until they die if given the chance.
Grenet: (He screams. The rat begins to tear at the wound) Ahhh! Get it off of me! (you can see the rat foraging around under the pant leg through the bullet hole.)
Operations: Where is Nikita?

SYSTEMS

Michael, Davenport, Quinn, Walter and Operations.
Operations: It appears that Grenet was telling the truth when he said that Nikita was out of his reach. Once she turned over the stolen intel, she was placed in the hands of this man. (A hologram appears.) Dr. Henry Kraft. The Magician. He's a world-renowned plastic surgeon that we now know has ties with Red Cell.
Quinn: (takes control of the board and a picture of Nikita appears.) Given Kraft's track record and we've learned that he can do amazing things with prosthetics, he doesn't even need to cut bone and given Nikita's facial structure, we've run some probabilities. (Nikita's image changes into dozens of different faces.) Given Kraft's skill, we were able to generate over 600 possibles. In order to maximize our manpower, I reduced those to just under thirty.
Operations: The images have been uploaded to your panels. Information has been disseminated throughout four other sections - they will be cooperating with us.
Michael: And Kraft?
Operations: He has an office in London and one in Port-au-Prince. Davenport will lead he Haitian team. Michael, London.
Davenport: What's Nikita's acquire status?
Operations: Black. When you find her, cancel her.
Walter: Now she was able to sink her own files and get outta Dodge. Isn't she worth more alive?
Operations: You have your orders. (He leaves and the group breaks up.)

MED LAB

Dr. Kraft, his head clamped into place on the surgical table. A few operatives hover as Michael stands by the chair. He signals to one of the operatives who turns the clamp. Sweat is gleaming on Kraft's face, clearly in pain.
Doctor: I've told you everything I know. I destroyed the surgical records when I completed the procedure. (An operative tightens the vice.) We changed her appearance completely. Everything.
Michael: Where is she?
Doctor: I don't know. I swear to you! I don't know. (The operative picks up a gas mask and moves towards the doctor.) I do remember she paid me in francs. French francs. (An operative looks at Michael, then straps an mask over the doctor's face and turns the gas on. Kraft dies.)
Michael: Target was not on premises. According to Kraft, he changed her face completely.
Operations: (in his perch) He destroyed all records of the surgery.
Michael: Yes. She could be anyone.

MADELINE'S OFFICE

Madeline: Belgium, France, the Congo, Gabon, Guinea, the Ivory Coast; French francs doesn't narrow the possibilities enough. And without a physical to match to...
Michael: I know.
Madeline: Of course, if Dr. Kraft had provided more specific intel, that would appear on your debrief.
Michael: He told us everything he knew. You have the data.
Madeline: You spent six years training and getting to know Nikita. We're not going to retrieve her on intel alone. We need a more personal profile.
Michael: I understand.
Madeline: Anything and everything you can think of, Michael. Quinn will run the programming.

MUNITIONS
Quinn glances Michael's way as he walks towards Walter.
Walter: Hey, Michael. You pick up on the weird buzz around here? Seems "sugar-free" leaves a bitter taste on the back of the tongue.
Michael: I need you to run a playback on the Grenet mission.
Walter: The Grenet mission? It's capped. It was completed successfully.
Michael: Check the printout at Comm. I need to know the status of the masking filters when the mission started.
Walter: Well, I can tell you that right now. They default to "On".
Michael: They were off when the mission began. I turned them on.
Walter: Somebody could've issued an override, but... why would anyone do that?
Michael: Run the playback. (he leaves)
Walter: Done deal.

COMM CENTER

Quinn: From everything you've told me, it appears we should try narrowing our search to France, Belgium and Luxembourg.
Michael: If Nikita's on profile.
Quinn: Do I have to program for variables? According to everything you've told me, Nikita's very emotional. Is she likely to break with that pattern?
Michael: No.
Quinn: Given her leaning toward impulse, it's amazing she lasted here as long as she did.
Michael: It's what made her good.
Quinn: Good? As an operative? Or as a consort? And, I know, that's not any of my business. (Looks at the computer) Alright, given the geographical focus, what can you tell me? A place she talked about, something that was emotionally important to her.
Michael: The cottage in Bourgine.
Quinn: What cottage?
Michael: No, it's the first place I'd look.
Quinn: She's smart. She knows you'd anticipate that. It could pay off.
Michael: No, Saint Etienne.
Quinn: What's there?
Michael: An Inn.
Quinn: The significance to her?
Michael: She was young, maybe 13. It was raining. She was with her mother and they got separated.
Quinn: She was frightened and went to the Inn.
Michael: Yes.
Quinn: Her mother found her there?
Michael: They missed the last bus. They stayed for the night. There is a fireplace - she slept in her mother's arms. She said it was her warmest memory.
Quinn: Alright, you've given me enough to run some prelims. I'll let you know when I have something. (he leaves Comm.)

SAINT ETIENNE INN

Michael walks up the walkway. A woman walks by. Very rural, very quaint. He walks up some stairs and looks into a room that has personal effects strewn across the bed, but no one is there. He turns around towards the street and sees a blonde carrying a bag of groceries towards the entrance of the Inn.
Michael: Nikita ... (The woman pauses, drops her groceries and takes off.)

THE PERCH

Operations: No sign of her?
Michael: No.
Madeline: You left the room intact?
Michael: After I searched it, yes.
Operations: I've got a team on location. They'll report if she comes back.
Michael: Call them off.
Madeline: She wants to make contact, Michael. If she knows you're going to be there....
Michael: It wasn't Nikita.
Operations: You're sure about that?
Michael: Nikita was never there.
Walter is in his area as Michael walks by. He gesticulates to him and they meet in the Annex.
Walter: I reran the Grenet mission. You were right, the masking filters were on when Davenport's team approached position. They were off at Comm and didn't come back until you turned them on again.
Michael: Quinn?
Walter: From her console, yes. She activated thermo scan just before that. Now the filters and the scan are right next to each other. It might've been unintentional, but then again...

COMM CENTER

Quinn: You know what I think, Michael? I think you're holding back.
Michael: I have no reason.
Quinn: No? Don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting that you're doing it intentionally, or even consciously, but have you stopped to think that maybe you don't want us to find Nikita?
Michael: For what reason?
Quinn: Because you're in love with her.
Michael: You're psyche data is incomplete.
Quinn: How so? Madeline gave me everything.
Michael: I never loved Nikita.
Quinn: (stunned) I thought that was common knowledge.
Michael: Yes, it's what we wanted them to believe.
Quinn: We?
Michael: Operations, Madeline. Me.
Quinn: I've been through the databases a hundred times over, Michael. The time you spent with Nikita...
Michael: I was assigned to train her, motivate her adjustment.
Quinn: Give her something to hang onto, to believe in.
Michael: Yes.
Quinn: And your feelings for her? (She looks at him and finds his answer.) I have to give you credit, Michael. I'm beginning to understand why they value you so much around here. I'll have to figure this in. I'll let you know when I have a new profile. (Michael leaves.)

CENTER

Jason: Madeline,
Madeline: Everything in order?
Jason: Seems to be.
Madeline: You understand that data flows downhill from Center.
Jason: Yes. Center can access Oversight, Oversight can access the Sections. But not the other way around.
Madeline: That's correct. What we want is for you to access George's files in the Oversight database.
Jason: If I do that.....
Madeline: Consider what will happen to Naomi if you don't. You're good, Mr. Crawford. I'm sure you'll find a way.

MICHAEL'S OFFICE

Quinn comes in.
Quinn: You wanted to see me?
Michael: Yes. (she comes in) Sit down. (He activates the anti-listening device.) There are a few things I forgot to mention. Given Nikita's training, I don't believe your psyche profile will reveal her location.
Quinn: (with attitude) It would've helped if I'd had all the facts to begin with.
Michael: It's not necessary. I know where she is.
Quinn: Oh?
Michael: Nikita was taught if exposed, to hide in plain sight.
Quinn: Great! How does that help? Doesn't seem to narrow the choices much. (Michael moves behind her. She's clearly uncomfortable.)
Michael: It does. (He puts his hands on her shoulders and her face. But it's not friendly, per se. It makes Quinn uneasy.) Don't move. (He's feeling her face.)
Quinn: Michael...
Michael: Hide in plain sight. Section is the last place we'd think to look.
Quinn: Michael, I'll report this. You'll have to account for your behavior!
Michael: (He bends down and looks her straight in the eye.) And you will have to account for your reaction when I told you I had no feelings for Nikita. (They look at each other, their eyes saying things their voices never did. Quinn then reaches up to her throat and removes a voice modulator. She looks at Michael.)
Quinn/Nikita: Like I said, Nikita is very emotional. Seems to be what trips her up most of the time.
Later, their conversation continues.
Michael: Why?
Quinn/Nikita: I couldn't leave without you, Michael. I came back to convince you to come with me. You've seen me do it. I can show you how.
Michael: No one really leaves Section.
Quinn/Nikita: I agree. This place will always be in my head. But we can help each other forget.
Michael: Sooner or later they would have found you.
Quinn/Nikita: Not without the implant. Not after sinking my files. Not if I didn't want them to. (She reaches out and touches his face, the scar she's responsible for.) I'm sorry, Michael.
Michael: You knew I'd escape?
Quinn/Nikita: Of course, but Grenet promised me he wouldn't hurt you.
Michael: He didn't.
Quinn/Nikita: I didn't have a choice. Red Cell offered us a way out. We'd be free! (Michael says nothing, just stares at her.) Michael?
Michael: Go back to your post. (He stands with his back to her and looks out his window. ) Go.
She leaves, unsure she's safe. She sees Michael crossing the floor and sees Operations staring down from the Perch.

THE PERCH

Operations: (Madeline walks in) You look pleased.
Madeline: Jason reported in.
Operations: Has he found anything?
Madeline: A mole. Someone's been leaking Section One maneuvers to Red Cell.
Operations: In order to discredit us...
Madeline: Yes.
Operations: George.
Madeline: (nods) If Mr. Jones finds out, George will be destroyed.
Operations: (smiles) Works for me! (She leaves)

COMM CENTER

Walter: (Comes up behind Quinn/Nikita, scaring her.) Too much caffeine?
Quinn: What is it, Walter?
Walter: (hands over a metallic device) I screened it for you. It's clean.
Quinn: Thanks.
Walter: You okay, Quinn?
Quinn: Yeah.
Walter: You sure? You look kinda pale.
Quinn: I'm fine, thanks.
Walter leaves and looks back, not sure what's going on. Quinn looks at the Perch and sees Michael join Operations, then the Perch darkens.

THE PERCH

Operations: Michael, Section may be looking at an internal change.
Michael: What kind of change?
Operations: In a few weeks, most likely, I'll be moving to Oversight which means you will be given the Perch. Section One will be yours. (No reaction) You don't seem pleased?
Michael: I am.
Operations: Good. Where are we with the satellite surveillance?
Michael: I have a viable.
Operations: And our window?
Michael: It's a temporary address. Nikita won't expect us coming.
Operations: Then we have time.
Michael: Not much.
Operations: Mobilize your team. We'll meet in Systems in five.

SYSTEMS

Operations, Michael, Quinn, Davenport and Stokes are having a briefing.
Operations: Michael has ascertained a possible location on Nikita. (He hits a switch and a hologram appears of an apartment building.) This is civilian soil. We are expecting little resistance from the target.
Michael: Nikita knows us. She'll have tactical detects in place.
Operations: That means Quinn will be running Comm on-site. Stokes will handle the in-house. Davenport has second. (Everyone leaves and Operations stops Michael) My order still stands. I want Nikita cancelled on-site.
In the Section Van, Quinn is working a keyboard. She looks at Michael sitting across from her, but he never looks at her and avoids all eye contact. Back in Section, Stokes is in Comm with Madeline behind him.
Stokes: Teams One and Two entering the target zone.
Madeline: (notices something on one of the monitors) Where's Michael and field comm?
Stokes: Should be on the board.
Madeline: I don't see them.
Stokes: They should be there. I saw them leave myself. (Maddy picks up a phone)

APARTMENT BUILDING

The mission van stops in front of it.
Michael: Second team take East entrance.
Davenport's disembarks from the Suburban and his team moves out. Inside the Section Van, Michael looks at Quinn for the first time. He hands her a silencer. She looks at him and acknowledges it. She attaches the silencer to her weapon. They leave the Van and Michael moves towards the Suburban where he takes out the driver, while Quinn makes short work of the driver of the Van. Inside the building, Davenport stays on the lower floor while he sends his men up.

COMM CENTER

Operations: What is it?
Madeline: We have a tactical surveillance problem.
Operations: What kind of problem?
Madeline: I have a shadow running on this mission. All personnel are accounted for except Michael and Quinn. Their implants are down.
Operations: We're unable to track them?
Madeline: Yes.
Operations: How is that possible?
Madeline: It's not registering. It had to have been removed.
Operations: Nikita! (Operations hits a switch.) Michael ... (no answer) Michael ...?!
Madeline: I'll try Davenport on a B channel.
Operations: (to Stokes) Move. (Operations quickly moves to a terminal and punches some keys. Data starts to scroll by and Michael's personal information appears. It's all missing.) Michael's files have been sunk.
Davenport: Yes, Madeline?
Madeline: (in Comm) Mission is aborted.
Davenport: Is that prudent?
Operations: (to Davenport) I want Michael and Quinn apprehended and brought back to Section immediately.
Davenport: Yes, sir. (Back at the apartment building, he recalls his men) We're moving out. (Michael is climbing into the Suburban just as Davenport approaches.) Michael, what are you doing? (Operations and Madeline are monitoring back in Comm.)
Operations: Michael's going rogue. Davenport, stop him!
Davenport: (steps into the road, blocking the only escape route) Michael, stand down. (No response. Quinn climbs into the passenger seat.) Do it now!
He moves towards the Suburban, blocking Michael's escape. Michael fires up the engine and accelerates, racing towards Davenport. Davenport is sent flying through the air. The two remaining members of Davenports team exit the building, firing at the Suburban as it speeds off. Davenport's com goes dead.
Operations: Davenport? (Nothing but static. Stokes checks a monitor.)
Madeline: (She looks at a bio monitor - it's flatline. She turns to Operations.) Davenport is dead.
Operations: (looks at Madeline) Michael and Nikita?
Madeline: They're gone.
Back on a road, the Suburban drives by with Michael and Nikita, free.

YACHT

Michael is gently toweling Nikita's hair dry. She looks like herself again. He's caressing her face.
Nikita: It's amazing, isn't it? Kraft was a genius at long-term prosthetics. We can use the techniques to disappear if we have to.
Michael: I don't want you to change again. (He reaches out and touches her face.)
Nikita: Michael ...

SYSTEMS

Madeline enters and comes up beside Operations.
Madeline: We found Quinn. Messick's team found her tied up and drugged in her apartment.
Operations: How did we let this happen?
Madeline: Nikita returning to Section as Quinn was unforeseeable.
Operations: I can't accept that. (He glares at her.)
Madeline: Taking these last few days into account, there's no way to get a bead on her next move.
Operations: You're slipping, Madeline.
Madeline: If that's what you want to believe.
Operations: I have two liberated operatives. An entire Alpha Team wiped out. And a Chief Strategist without answers. What should I believe?
Madeline: I just need more time.
Operations: You have 24 hours. If Michael and Nikita are not returned by then, you will be removed from your post.

MADELINE'S OFFICE

Madeline returns to her office. There's a lot of tension on her face. She hits a button on her com unit.
Stokes: This is Stokes.
Madeline: I'm going to need access to all our Broadview sat coms.
Stokes: Coordinates?
Madeline: I'm downloading now. (She kits a key and data flashes across her screen.)
Stokes: We're going to need 15 minutes to reposition.
Madeline: Not a minute later. (She signs off and crosses the room, picks up a garden tool and begins trimming her plants.)

YACHT BEDROOM - NIGHT

Nikita is lying in bed in a sheet. Michael is sitting at a table, working on a laptop.
Michael: Madeline is realigning the Broadview satellites. (Nikita wraps a sheet around her body and joins him)
Nikita: Can she find us?
Michael: She won't stop trying.
Nikita: We'll just have to keep moving then. Until they accept what we've done.

THE PERCH

He hits a switch and you see Jason on the monitor.
Operations: Have you informed George?
Jason: He's on his way. But he's not happy.
Operations: Good.
Jason: Look, now that I've taken care of business, I expect Madeline to keep her promise.
Operations: Naomi will be released once your secondary agenda has been completed.
Jason: Secondary agenda? No one said anything about a secondary agenda.
Operations: Frankly, we didn't think you would survive at Center this long.
Jason: What do you want me to do?
Operations: As good a job as you did with George, I want you to do the same with Mr. Jones.

COMM CENTER

Madeline stands behind Stokes and other operatives giving orders. Operations monitors from the Perch.
Madeline: I don't care how many are in the crowd. Punch in, digitize, and make an ID.
Stokes: That will take hours.
Madeline: You have fifteen minutes.
Stokes: Yes, Ma'am.
Madeline: (Stokes gets back to work and she looks at Operations. ) I'm going to need more manpower.
Operations: I'm stripping level 8. Every operative is at your disposal. They're on their way up.

MUNITIONS

Walter is watching this with a big grin on his face. He enters a code into his com and Jason appears on the monitor.
Jason: Hey, Walter. What's up?
Walter: My faith in humanity.
Jason: What are you talking about?
Walter: Nikita and Michael. They flew the coop.
Jason: Impossible.
Walter: Yeah, that's what everybody around here thought. But they did it. They are history.
Jason: Mom and Dad must be freaking out.
Walter: That's the best part. Wish you could see it. Madeline's having a meltdown. Operations is wearing out the floor of his office, pacing back and forth.
Jason: Yeah, yeah, I wish I could see that.
Walter: As far as I'm concerned... (Suddenly, he sees Naomi walking across the floor with other operatives.)
Jason: Walter, what is it?
Walter: Later, Jase. Later.
Jason: Walter... ?
Walter: I have to go. (He quickly hits a switch and the screen goes black. He watches Naomi.) I knew it!

COMM CENTER

Naomi and the new Comm operatives take their new posts.
Madeline: You have all been pre-briefed. The targets are Nikita and Michael. We have no implant tracking ability, so they could be anywhere. (A brief view of the yacht sailing by, with Michael at the helm. Nikita hugs him from behind.) What I need out of each and every one of you is a Broadview sector breakdown. That means I want every inch of this planet combed.

A BEACH

Romantic music. On a beach somewhere, Michael and Nikita stroll along, the tide nipping at their bare feet. Michael in jeans and sweater. Nikita is in white pants and striped shirt - they look free. They're playful. They find a place in the sand and spread out a blanket. They build a fire. Dusk arrives and Michael and Nikita watch the sunset.

VAN ACCESS

George comes in and Operations is there to meet him.
Operations: Thank you for coming, George.
George: This better be good.
Operations: We found an operative who has been playing both sides.
George: In bed with whom?
Operations: Red Cell.
George: Are you certain?
Operations: Yes.
George: Who is it?
Operations: See for yourself.

WHITE ROOM

They enter and see the empty chair, with the Torture Twins behind it. George turns to Operations.
Operations: It's you. (George's face drops .) You've been leaking intel to discredit us.
George: There was no way you could have known that... you used Seymour to spy on me from Center!
Operations: Yes, although it's not Seymour, it's Jason.
George: Who?
Operations: It doesn't really matter now, does it? (George walks in and sits in the chair.)
George: I'll see you in hell.
Operations: I'm sure you'll be waiting. (George is strapped into the chair and Operations leaves the room.)

YACHT - EARLY MORNING

Michael hears a noise and wakes with a start. He grabs the gun from under the pillow and Nikita stirs.
Nikita: Michael? (He slips out of bed and goes on deck, weapon ready. There's a noise, the same as before, and he whirls around and almost shoots the sail restraint, flapping in the wind. Nikita comes up behind him, touches his gun hand, and lowers it.) Michael, it's over. You can relax now. They're never going to find us. (She caresses his face, kisses him and gives him a hug.)
The yacht is sailing in the sunrise.

THE END

Edited by Dana
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