Deja Vu All Over Again
Originally Aired in the U.S. January 7, 2001
Transcript by Cathy and Dana

TEASER

Flashbacks from Nikita - Nikita walks along street, is framed for killing the police officer. Flashback to episode 309.
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.
Flash to Nikita and Michael
Nikita: If you won't help me, would you at least not interfere? Would you do that much for me?
Michael: What if you don't like what you find?
Flash to Nikita confronting the operative who brought her in
Nikita: That night ruined my life.
Scarface Op: I did what I was told.
Nikita: You work in admin?
Scarface Op: Yeah.
Nikita: Good. So you can get the file.
Scarface Op: It's too risky, for both of us.
Nikita: I need to know why I'm here.
Flash to Nikita and Kruger looking at the computer, finding out about Scarface's fate.
Nikita: Dead. The man who was helping me. This morning.
Flashbacks from UTRH (beach scenes, Nikita laughing, Michael and Nikita kissing)
Flashbacks from FLYF - Nikita and Michael in the car
Nikita: What are we waiting for?
Michael: We're surrounded.
Voice over Operations: There's a bond between them that can only be broken one way.
Nikita being strapped in to the White Room chair. She doesn't get electrocuted.
Madeline: What's wrong?
Operative: I don't know.
Jones walks into Section, goes up to Operations and Madeline.
Operations: Mick Schtoppel?
Jones: To a few, yes.
Operations: Why?
Jones: Well, I needed to investigate Section One.
Madeline: You had to have someone on the inside.
Jones: Of course I did.
Nikita: Ready when you are, sir.
Operations: Nikita?
Flash to Madeline in the chair, being questioned by Mick and Nikita.
Jones: We've discussed this, Nikita.
Nikita: Then you know where I stand. It's not the way.
Jones: This decision is mine, and mine alone.
Madeline: I'll make my own decision regarding my fate. (Madeline kills herself with a cyanide pill)
Flash to Nikita and Operations at the playground.
Nikita: I'm sorry, you're not ready. You'll stay in Section where your status will be reviewed in seven years.
Flash to Nikita and Walter.
Nikita: I'm transferring you to the Farm. You're going to become a teacher.
Flash to Nikita and Michael.
Michael: I betrayed Section. I put your well-being ahead of everything else.
Nikita: I have no choice but to recommend your cancellation.
Flash to Nikita, Jones and Operations.
Nikita: My work's done here, Mr. Jones.
Jones: Good work. I'll see you back at Center.
Flash to Nikita and Michael, outdoors.
Michael: Why did you break protocol?
Nikita: I wasn't ready to see you die.
Michael: Are you out?
Nikita: No, I've got to go back. But you can make it.
Michael pushes back her sunglasses.
Michael: Is that what you want?
Nikita: I don't love you. I never did.
Opening credits roll.

Scene One - Section One, Main Floor

Nikita walks into Section dressed all in black, a bag slung over her shoulder.
Operations: I can't let you leave without a going-away present. Some advice? You think you're going to start a new life? You think you're leaving the violence and the fear behind? You're very much mistaken. Truth is, you were sheltered here. The dangers in Center are far worse, because they're far more subtle. Be especially careful of Mr. Jones - he's not what he seems.
Nikita cuts off her hair - this is the sequence shown in the First Look video. Her hair is now Meg Ryan length.

Scene Two - Center

Nikita enters the briefing room where Michelle and Jones await her.
Nikita: You sent for me?
Jones: Yes. You recommend a matrix organization for Section Six. Why?
Nikita: Flexibility. Most of their problems involve slow reaction time.
Jones: I've had a dozen people look at this. They're all more experienced than you and they all argue strongly against a matrix. They're wrong, and you're right?
Nikita: I think so.
Jones: Yes, yes, so do I. Michelle, could you get copies of Nikita's report to the Committee?
Michelle: Yes, sir.
Nikita: I also have some recommendations for Section One.
Jones: Yes...things are unsettled there as it is.
Nikita: We had an agreement, Mr. Jones.
Jones: All in good time, Nikita, all in good time. Now if there's nothing else?
Nikita: Just the matter of why I was brought into Section One in the first place.
Jones: We've had this discussion before, there is no future in it.
Nikita: I am going to find out, one way or the other.
Jones: This meeting is over.

Scene Three - Section One - White Room

A terrorist is being tortured with high-pitched sound waves. He screams. The torture twins are hard at work. Operations enters.
Operations: New device. It affects the vocal cords. After two minutes, the effect is permanent. We have similar devices for the retina, the tongue, the eardrums, olfactory glands.
The male torture twin prepares to place a wire helmet over the terrorist's head. Operations stops him.
Operations: Wait.
Operations: You're a young, healthy man. You could live another forty years. That's a long time, without taste, smell, sight or sound. One last chance, Mr. Milov. Answer truthfully or spend the rest of your life in a dark, silent cave. (they remove the device controlling the vocal cords). The Red Cell substation at Minsk was relocated. Where is the new site?
Milov: (speaks Russian, sounds like he's saying "10 kilometers from Moscow") Dijze kilometers ishne Moscova.

Scene Four - Section One - Systems

Operations is at a computer. O'Brien enters. (Yes, that O'Brien, from Season One. But with better hair now.)
Operations: O'Brien, your record is impressive.
O'Brien: Thanks.
Operations: That's not a compliment, it's a complaint. You know who you're replacing?
O'Brien: Michael Samuelle.
Operations: The most remarkable field operative we've had here in the last ten years. His record was spectacular, so "impressive" won't cut it. You'll have to kick it up a notch, starting now. We're looking for a new Red Cell substation. We've interrogated two field operatives. Both cracked; both seem to be telling the truth.
O'Brien: So, what's the problem?
Operations: They gave different answers; one said Moscow, the other Saratov. Your thoughts?
O'Brien: You run a background check on the operatives?
Operations: Of course.
O'Brien: Red Cell would have designed each story for optimum credibility given the respective profiles of the operatives.
Operations: So?
O'Brien: So, run a reverse sim on each op. Combined with our database on Red Cell, we should be able to triangulate the new location with a certainty of eighty percent. Maybe more.
Operations: Report to Ordinance, pick up your weapons.

Scene Five - Center

Nikita and Jones are walking.
Jones: Red Cell moved a substation recently. Section One got conflicting intel from interrogated operatives.
Nikita: Yes, I saw the report.
Jones: Operations came up with a rather ingenious analysis using reverse sims. He came up with a new location, Baku.
Nikita: It's out of Red Cell's territory.
Jones: Yes. Their relationship with terrorist organizations in that region is rather dicey, and yet they decide to open up a substation there. The question is, why? One name kept cropping up in all the sims: Joseph Dolmatov. Do you remember him?
Nikita: Cairo, three years ago - I had to cover as his bodyguard.
Jones: Yes. You made quite an impression. I'm sure he'll do business with you again. I know, your days in the field are supposed to be over, but Red Cell is becoming active again and we need to find out why. This is the best way. It's temporary, one mission only. You report in the morning. He's expecting you.

Scene Six - Section One - War Room

Nikita walks in. It's kind of like Scarlett O'Hara walking into Melanie Wilkes' party right after the whole town found out she was kissing Ashley at the store. The room is not welcoming.
Operations: This is Nikita. She'll be joining us on a temporary basis. Some of you know her already. Quinn, for instance, spent two days as her prisoner while Nikita impersonated her in Section. I'm sure you haven't forgotten that?
Quinn: No. I haven't forgotten.
Operations: And O'Brien - Nikita's the one who brought you into Section. No doubt you'll have a lot to catch up on. The rest of you may know Nikita by reputation only. You may have heard she was a spy for Center. That for three years, she reported our every word and deed behind our backs. And in the end, she passed judgment on people who thought of her as a friend or colleague. Two of them are dead, another forcibly retired. All of that is true. But whatever you might think of Nikita personally, it will not interfere with your work. Is that clear? That's all. (Operations takes a beat and walks past Nikita) By the way, welcome back.

Scene Seven - Section One - War Room

A briefing is taking place. All the major players are there - Nikita, O'Brien, Quinn, etc.
Operations: Joseph Dolmatov. Arms dealer, money launderer, general facilitator for terrorist activities in Northern Africa. Our reverse sims point to him. Subsequent investigation validated that result.
Quinn: Intel indicates a wide rate of interaction among terrorist organizations who normally have little contact. Decrypted commiques refer to an event five days from now.
O'Brien: What event?
Quinn: My analysis indicates a sort of summit meeting, with representatives from several groups. Perhaps an attempt to bury mutual hostility and focus on anti-Western activities.
Nikita: That would explain Red Cell's new substation being built outside its normal territory.
Quinn: Exactly.
Operations: Your analysis is quite competent. What are your recommendations?
Quinn: Obviously the summit has to be prevented.
Nikita: That would be premature. Facilitate and then destroy. Encourage the meeting, attack after it convenes. That way, we get the maximum number of hostiles.
Quinn: Yes, of course.
Operations: O'Brien and Nikita will draw up an infiltration profile. Support teams will receive a preliminary briefing on their panels by 6 o'clock.
Operations and the others leave, leaving just Nikita and Quinn.
Nikita: You're new to the job. It takes time.
Quinn: Go to Hell. (Cathy in: You go, girl!)

Scene Eight - Section One - Operations' Perch

Quinn: I am sorry.
Operations: I gave you an opportunity. You looked bad. Worse, you made me look bad.
Quinn: It won't happen again. If there's anything I can do to make up for it?
Operations: There may be something. How well did you know Michael Samuelle?
Quinn: Not well.
Operations: What do you think of him?
Quinn: He's dead.
Operations: Think again. Have you ever seen him and Nikita together?
Quinn: Yes.
Operations: Then you know. He loves her and she loves him.
Quinn: Her report said it was all an act. Part of her mission for Center.
Operations: Mr. Jones may believe that, I don't.
Quinn: The abeyance mission...
Operations: A sham. She could have no more killed him than I could have-
Quinn: Than you could have killed Madeline. (There is a beat. Quinn is right on target and the pain is evident on Operations' face as he remembers) What do you want me to do?
Operations: Prove that Michael is still alive. If I can prove to Mr. Jones that Nikita lied about Michael, it'll cast doubt upon her entire report.
Quinn: I'll get on it right away.

Scene Nine - Section One - Munitions

Nikita goes to meet the new Munitions guy.
Nikita: Your file said you spent some time at the Madrid station.
Forrester: That's right.
Nikita: I was there, I think we met.
Forrester: Did we? I don't remember.
Nikita: The mission's been moved up, we leave in half an hour.
Forrester: I know. Everything will be ready.
Nikita: On those infrared sites, I'd like you to knock down the contrast a notch and a half.
Forrester: That's against regs.
Nikita: I know. But most operatives prefer it. Do it anyway, it's a simple adjustment.
Forrester: Let me tell you something. Maybe that old guy was wrapped around your finger, but I'm not. I do things by the book. You got a problem with that, tell Operations. Somehow I don't think he'll back you up.
Nikita walks around him in as scary and Madelinesque a way as possible and then moves on.

Scene Ten - Section One - Systems

O'Brien: What Operations said about you spying for Center - is that true?
Nikita: Yes, it is. I thought it would give me a chance to make some changes.
O'Brien: Such as?
Nikita: Such as doing away with some of the worst features in this place. The constant surveillance, use of abeyance operatives, that sort of thing.
O'Brien: (Sarcastic) Our own little Florence Nightingale radio in Section One.
A young operative comes up to Nikita after O'Brien leaves.
Kristov: Nikita? My name's Kristov, I'm level one. I've just been active a few months.
Nikita: I've got a mission. (tries to go past him)
Kristov: I know. I'm sorry. I just wanted to tell you, I know it sounds corny, especially in this place, but to a lot of us, you're a hero. You're really trying to make things better. Don't quit. We're counting on you.

Scene Eleven - The Mission - Outside a Mansion

Nikita and O'Brien and other ops are approaching the house.
Nikita: (on the comm. Set) I'm in position. 10 seconds.
Quinn: The sat scan shows denser security than our last sweep indicated.
Nikita: Wet or wired?
Quinn: Both. This might be impossible.
Nikita grabs a guy through the wrought iron fence, knocks him silly on it.
Quinn: At least let me disable the beams.
Nikita: No. Stay with the profile. (She goes over the fence. Alarms sound. Inside, Dolmatov is having a meeting.)
Dolmatov: We'll need central security plus modular nodes for each group.
Goon #1: No overlap on the friendlies?
Dolmatov: No, I don't want to take any chances. If we have to subcontract, so be it. (a beeping gets his attention) What is it?
V.O.: The perimeter's been penetrated.
Dolmatov: Have you ID'd a target?
V.O.: Negative. We're performing a sweep.
Dolmatov: Keep me informed.
Outside the others are approaching. Nikita huddles near a wall and then runs, rappelling up the wall to the house.
Dolmatov: What the Hell is going on? (He runs to the window and looks out. The dogs are barking. He turns to his goons) Find out!
Goon #1: Perhaps it's a false alarm.
Dolmatov: Even so, it's unacceptable. How can we provide security for the conference if we can't-
He is interrupted as Nikita crashes through a window and knocks out his goon and then jumps on his desk.
Nikita: Hello, Josef. You've forgotten. Cairo... three years ago.
Dolmatov: Nikita? What are you doing here?
Nikita: Looking for work. From what I've just seen, you could really use the help. What do you say?
Dolmatov laughs at her audacity.
Dolmatov: The truth is I can use some extra muscle. Red Cell has called a meeting of other groups with similar goals.
Nikita: Sort of a terrorist convention?
Dolmatov: More or less. I've offered to facilitate the meeting.
Outside, O'Brien is approaching.
O'Brien: I'm in position.
Quinn: I'm into the main building climate control. I've found your corridor. Gain access in three minutes.
O'Brien: What about the wall?
Quinn: I'm blocking the beams now. Go.
O'Brien jumps the fence and Dobermans run at him. He raises a device which emits a high-pitched signal. The dogs whimper and back off. O'Brien gets to the house and swipes a device along the security system. It works - he's in.
O'Brien: What's the weather report?
Quinn: The temperature differential has narrowed sufficiently as of... now. Invisible to infrared. Take the north stairwell to the second floor. You're clear all the way.
Back in the room with Nikita and Dolmatov.
Dolmatov: I'll offer you the same as in Cairo. Plus ten percent.
Nikita: And the same for my partner.
Dolmatov: Partner?
Nikita: He's into technology. I'm more visceral. Together, we're very effective.
Dolmatov: I don't like unknown quantities!
Nikita: I'll introduce you to him. He should be here any minute.
Dolmatov: He's just going to stroll into my office?
Nikita: That's right.
Dolmatov: No doubt you have a low opinion of our abilities but your success was an exception, I promise you. And as far as hiring someone I don't know this late in the game - (knock on door) Come in!
O'Brien enters.
Nikita: Marco, Joseph. Joseph, Marco.

Scene Twelve - Section One - Operations Perch

Quinn: I reviewed the files of his last mission. There were 17 people in the structure when it exploded. DNA traces were recovered on all but three. One of them was Michael.
Operations: Suggestive but not conclusive.
Quinn: I also ran a backtrace on Nikita during the mission. Four hours, six minutes unaccounted for. Just the amount of time needed to reach the mission site and return.
Operations: The chance of both occurrences happening randomly?
Quinn: Less than one in a quarter million.
Operations: Formalize it, I'll take it to Center tomorrow.
Quinn: That would be premature. We should facilitate and destroy. If Michael's alive, sooner or later they'll find each other. When they do, we'll deliver them both to Mr. Jones in a nice little package.
Operations: You're learning.
Quinn: I have an exceptional teacher.

Scene Thirteen - Dolmatov's Mansion - The Terrorist Conference

O'Brien and Nikita walk downstairs.
O'Brien: Which one of these dirtbags are we supposed to be protecting?
Nikita: A man named Rustam Federov. He's the Chief Strategist for Black Moon.
Outside a bunch of men have arrived in a black Mercedes. Dolmatov's voice comes over Nikita's comm. Set.
Dolmatov: Nikita.
Nikita: Yeah?
Dolmatov: Be advised. Federov is sick. Black Moon has sent a man named Piket in his place.
O'Brien: Piket...
Dolmatov: (to Piket) Please enter (to Nikita) He's on his way.
Nikita: No problem. (To O'Brien, who is putting on his sunglasses) What is it?
O'Brien: Piket and I crossed paths in Marrakech two years ago.
Nikita: Does he know you're with Section?
O'Brien: Oh yeah.
Nikita: How much contact?
O'Brien: Few minutes. Maybe he forgot.
Nikita: Welcome, Mr. Piket. I'm Nikita, my colleague, let me show you to the room.
Piket: You should be a princess or a film star, hm? Not a bodyguard.
Nikita: It's the 21st century, Mr. Piket - women have many talents.
Piket: I would love to know more about yours.
Nikita: I don't mix business and pleasure.
Piket: By all means, then, let's forget business.
Nikita: (laughs) Your room.
Piket: You smoke?
Nikita shoots him. O'Brien follows her into the room.
O'Brien: What are you doing?
Nikita: He recognized you immediately. I saw it in his eyes. (She flips Piket over with her foot - his gun was drawn already)
Next scene, Nikita is passing a scanner over Piket's face. It seems to be memorizing him - a display comes up in Section.
Forrester: That should be enough.
Quinn: We've got it.
Nikita: Good. The meeting's in four hours. We need the mask in three and a half.
Quinn: You'll have them. But, there's not enough time for a voice synthesizer.
Nikita: We'll get by. Just get us the masks.
O'Brien: You forgot something. An abeyance op.
Nikita: Oh, we'll just use a silent drop.
O'Brien: Too risky. Nikita, reform Section after the mission. We need an abeyance op.
Nikita: (resigned) Quinn, protocol six.
Quinn: I'm punching up the abeyance list now.

Scene Fourteen - Dolmatov's Mansion - Later

The abeyance op arrives. It's Kristov.
Kristov: Nikita!
Nikita looks stunned to see Kristov, and then unhappy.
O'Brien: Got the masks? (O'Brien takes them and inspects them) Yeah, they'll do. (Kristov goes to leave) Wait.
Kristov: I only have a two minute window.
O'Brien: It just closed.
Kristov: Nikita???
O'Brien shoots him.
Nikita: (looking at the masks) These will be fine.

Scene Fifteen - Dolmatov's Mansion - Upstairs Room

O'Brien is putting on his Piket mask.
Quinn: I'm triggering the alarm. You've got ten seconds.
Nikita: We'll be ready. (She is dressing up Piket's dead body in an O'Brien mask. Suddenly Dolmatov and other men burst through the door)
Dolmatov: What's going on?
Nikita: (tearful) He came in through the vent... he killed Marco.
Dolmatov: Mr. Pickett, are you alright?
Nikita: He's fine! But your security system needs work.
Dolmatov: Mr. Piket, I don't know who's behind this but I swear to you, I'll find out, and when I do, they'll be punished. (Into his walkie talkie) It was a false alarm. Mr. Piket is fine. The meeting will go on as scheduled. (He departs)

Scene Sixteen - Dolmatov's Mansion - Dining Room

Downstairs, the meeting convenes. Nikita watches.
Nikita: Quinn. They're all here.
Operations: How long?
Quinn: 17 minutes.
Operations: The guest list?
Quinn: Just as we'd hoped. Goff, Bauer, French, Terik - a dozen other leaders. (Cathy in: Ummm, guys, you killed Terik in Playing With Fire. Just thought I'd mention that.)
Operations: This is going to put us ahead five years. Relay the signal.
We see a missile launch.
Dolmatov: Gentlemen, gentlemen. This is an unusual occasion. Unique in fact. Because Red Cell originated the idea of this coalition, I have asked their representative, Mr. Goff, to be the first speaker.
Goff: On behalf of Red Cell, I thank each of you for being here this evening. Put simply, our hope is we can all forget our differences long enough to create a real peril that will bring the West to its knees.
O'Brien, in disguise as Piket, rises from the table and walks to Nikita. His departure does not go unnoticed. He and Nikita walk out the door, followed by Dolmatov.
Dolmatov: Wait! Mr. Piket! Is there a problem??? I told you, the attempt on your life will be avenged. If there's something else, let's talk!
The missile hits. Dolmatov, in the doorway, flies. The house goes up in flames.

Scene Seventeen - Section One - Corridor

Operations: I'm afraid your departure has been delayed.
Nikita: And why is that?
Operations: Three western embassies in Pakistan were bombed about an hour ago.
Nikita: What does that have to do with me?
Operations: The bombings were traced to William Goff.
Nikita: That's impossible. Goff's dead.
Operations: Apparently not.
Nikita: He died at Dolmatov's. I saw it myself and your intel confirmed it.
Operations: It seems you were wrong. And so was I.
Nikita: How is that possible?
Operations: I don't know. Mr. Jones is waiting for us in systems.
Jones: And it's not only Goff. Bauer, French, and a dozen others seem to be very much alive and active since they supposedly died at the conference. While you were patting yourselves on the back, the enemy was hard at work. Instead of being years ahead, you are weeks behind and weeks can turn into forever very quickly.
Operations: It won't happen. I'll make sure.
Jones: I'm not overly impressed by that at the moment. I am deeply disappointed in both of you and you will both stay on the job until things are put right. Nikita, I am formally assigning you to Section; you will live and work there until this is cleaned up. And you will keep your personal agenda out of it. Nikita is your deputy and you will treat her accordingly. I'll expect your first progress report in 48 hours.
Nikita: Wait. Our agreement.
Jones: This is hardly the time.
Nikita: It's never the time, Mr. Jones. You've been putting it off for months.
Jones: Nikita...
Nikita: I came back to Section three years ago because you made certain promises. It's time you kept them.
Jones: Is that a threat?
Nikita: Only if you call threatened being asked to keep your word.
Operations: Am I in command or is she?
Jones: You are in operational command, as always. In certain matters of internal policy, Nikita has a degree of independence. Now in the meantime, what I suggest is that you both listen to recordings of the Mikado, or Pirates of Penzance. Gilbert and Sullivan. They hated each other, but they made beautiful music together. So will you.
Holo-Jones disappears and Operations walks off, leaving Nikita looking none too happy.

Tag - Section One - Van Access

Walter enters, looking darn good in black leather.
Nikita: Walter. Thank you for coming.
Walter: Didn't have much choice.
Nikita: You're on inactive status. Strictly speaking, you could have refused. I did what I did because I thought in the long run I could change things for the better.
Walter: And you just happened to claw your way to the top in the meantime.
Nikita: Is that what you think?
Walter: What am I supposed to think? Madeline's gone, Mi... Michael's gone... (sounds more like a question) You're number two.
Nikita: Believe me, it's not my choice, but while I'm here, I intend to make some changes.
Walter: Good luck.
Nikita: I was hoping you'd help.
Walter: How?
Nikita: By coming back to your old job.
Walter: I thought I violated 'protocol' too many times?
Nikita: So did I. I was wrong. Would it matter if I apologized for deceiving you?
Walter: It's all water under the bridge. Anyway, it's not too bad where I am. I'm teaching - tinker around with a few new gadgets. Out of the pressure cooker.
Nikita: You could help me change things.
Walter: I've done my stint as Dear Abby. Let somebody else have a turn.
Nikita: The new guy's not in your class.
Walter: He'll learn.
Nikita: Guess that's it then.
Walter: Guess so.
Nikita: Suppose I said you were the best man I ever met, and another day in Section without you seems unbearable. Would that matter?
Walter's face goes through many emotions. He tries not to smile and fails, but takes a casual tone to answer.
Walter: It might.

THE END
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