#414 "Line In The Sand"
Written by: Peter M. Lenkov
Directed by: Joel Surnow
Edited by: Richard Wells
Transcript by: Northstar taken from The Official Alberta Watson Home Page
Teaser
Section 1, Comm. Everything is quiet. Appears to be late at night. Birkoff is working at his computer. Deep in concentration. Walter approaches. He’s putting on his jacket. It appears that he is on his way home (wherever that is).
Walter: You still at it?
Birkoff continues working appearing not to notice Walter’s continued approach.
Birkoff: Did you say something?
Walter: No. It’s all right. What ya workin’ on?
Birkoff: Pull back from the Islamabud Mission.
Walter: Find anything?
Birkoff continues to watch his computer screen.
Walter: Birkoff, did you ever think about going out for a little walk? You know, stretch your legs a little bit. Get a few rays on that pasty mug of yours.
Birkoff: Would you hand me that thermo-enhancer there?
Walter: Yeah, sure.
Walter retrieves the gadget that Birkoff has indicated and gives it to Birkoff. Birkoff puts it into his computer and continues to work.
Walter: Find somebody?
Birkoff: Yeah….
Off Birkoff and Walter staring at his computer we cut to Hillinger at Oversight. He is monitoring what Birkoff is doing.
Hillinger (speaking to himself): What are you looking for Seymour?
Off Hillinger watching his monitors we cut back to Birkoff and Walter. They are both staring at Birkoff’s computer.
Walter: Now, that’s a Red Cell thread. How high does it go?
Birkoff: All the way to the top. I think.
Walter: Well, think again. The head of Red Cell wouldn’t be on a relocation profile.
Birkoff: It’s possible.
Walter: All you’ve got here is a little hunch and a cold cup of coffee. Better think about that walk outside. It might help you see things a little clearer.
Off that sage advice, Walter exits leaving Birkoff alone working. Finally he sees something which completely gets his attention. He grabs his ear piece.
Birkoff: Where’s Operations?
Secretary (VO): He’s in the Tower.
Birkoff: Get him.
Secretary (VO): He’s not to be disturbed.
Birkoff frustrated. Takes off his ear piece and exits. Off his exit the scene switches to a closed door. Operations opens the door. He is not amused.
Operations: I told you I was not to be disturbed.
From behind Operations we hear the voice of a woman. We don’t see her. (Transcriber in now: Was there any good reason TPTB didn’t let this woman be Madeline?? I know, they hate the TR’s.)
Woman (VO): --------------------------------------------
Operations (to the woman): ------------------------------
(then to Birkoff) What is it Birkoff?
Birkoff: I found the Cardinal.
Off Operations’ nod of acknowledgement we cut to the opening theme and
credits.
ACT 1
Nikita is in her apartment looking out her balcony doors. We can hear children playing off in the distance. There is a knock at the door and Nikita goes to answer it. It’s Mick. She’s annoyed. She opens the door and he enters speaking. He is accompanied by a woman, Monique.
Mick (to the woman with him): Do you see what I mean? I mean look at this foyer. Sparce, airy, but inviting. (pause, realized he hasn’t introduced the woman) Where are my manners? Nikita, Monique. Monique, Nikita. Kiss, kiss and all that.
Nikita and Monique exchange looks and ‘hellos’. Mick continues speaking.
Mick: Monique is my new interior decorator. I told her you wouldn’t mind me showing her around your flat.
Nikita: Actually, I am right in the middle of something, Mick.
Mick (to Nikita): Oh, we won’t be long, doll. We’ll be gone in a jiff. (to Monique) See it’s the flow. A little neuvo-vencilli. Don’t you think?
Monique: (to Nikita): You did a really nice job here.
Nikita (to Monique): Thanks. (to Mick): Mick, this isn’t the right time.
Mick: Cozy though, very cozy. With this look I can have the best of both worlds - like a rock and roll, like high energy urban exterior and a relaxed casual interior. And look at what she’s done to the kitchen space. Hey! That is handsome, very handsome.
Mick’s actions during this speech are beyond description. He jumps around, he dances. It’s classic Mick. You just have to see it, sorry.
Nikita’s phone rings. Mick picks it up.
Mick: Allow me. Hello.
Michael (VO): Josephine.
Mick: It’s for you.
Nikita gets up heading for the phone. Off this we cut to a corridor within Section. Operatives are everywhere. Walking in a hurry but with purpose. Something BIG is obviously up. Camera settles on Walter as he makes his way down the corridor. He passes a junction, just as he passes Nikita appears from the junction behind him. She sees him and catches up with him. They walk and talk.
Nikita: Hey.
Walter: We’re live, Sugar.
Nikita: What’s going on?
Walter: Birkoff thinks he’s found the Cardinal.
Nikita: The head of Red Cell?
Walter: 20 years we’ve been looking for this guy and he suddenly surfaces?!?
Nikita: What are you saying?
Walter: I don’t know. Could be anyone down the Red Cell food chain. Maybe it’s a misread. Birkoff hasn’t slept in days. Oh hell, what do I know? I’m just the boy with the toys.
Off Walter’s exit and Nikita’s look we cut to Michael in a small briefing area. Nikita enters.
Nikita: How’s Albania?
Michael: I was called back. I haven’t seen you for awhile.
Before Nikita can answer, Operations, Madeline, Birkoff, and Walter enter. Operations begins speaking immediately.
Operations: You’ve heard the pre-brief so I’ll short the details. The mission is two-fold. Extract the Cardinal. Eliminate the base camp.
Michael: What do we have on him?
Birkoff: nothing. He’s never been photographed. All we have to go on is a partial.
An image appears above the briefing table. It is the image off a man in a black ski mask. Birkoff continues.
Birkoff: This image was taken during his evac of a temporary outpost we once raided.
Operations: It’s the closest we ever got to eliminating the target. He was alerted. We were ambushed.
Birkoff: I used a pinpoint diagnostic to create the profile.
The image of the man in the ski mask changes. The mask disappears and the screen now shows what they think he looks like based on Birkoff’s pinpoint diagnostic.
Operations: This is all we have. We are going to layer this 60. Michael’s team will have point. Birkoff.
Birkoff: Because of the target, it is extreme wet wear and hard defense. Each team will need stealth gear. Triple ID tags. Tactical details will be on your panels.
Operations: We move in one hour. That’s all.
Off everyone exiting the briefing, we cut to Hillinger at his post in Oversight. He is surrounded by people and computers. He is monitoring Section 1’s activities.
Hillinger (into ear piece): Get me George.
George appears. He is in his office. The scene switches between Hillinger at his post and George in his office.
George: What is it Hillinger?
Hillinger: Sir, there has been a convergence at Section 1. They are pulling back from all active assignments. Tunneling their manpower.
George: Why?
Hillinger: Well, it would seem that Birkoff thinks he’s found the Cardinal.
George: Has he?
Hillinger: No sir. He has not.
George: Then what has he found?
Hillinger: Well, Cardinal dropped the tag as a diversion. Red Cell does this routinely every 6 months or so. I guess nobody told Seymour it’s nothing to get excited about.
George: Are you quite sure?
Hillinger: Oh, yes sir, quite sure.
Off George’s look we cut to Operations in the Perch. He is studying his computer display. Madeline is with him.
Operations: Have we assigned the new contingencies?
Madeline: Davenport is handling it.
Operations: The evac points?
Madeline: Birkoff is downloading the new positions.
Secretary (VO): Sir, George is on the line.
Operations punches a button on his remote and the computer screen changes to reveal George.
Operations: Hello George.
George: Paul. Tell me about this Alpha Team you have going into northern Europe.
Operations: I’m sending a recon team into the new borders.
George: The mission has a Q status attached to it.
Operations: Because of the political situation in the region, we felt Dark Approach was best.
George: I know about the Cardinal, Paul. Hillinger looked at the data and came to a different conclusion than Birkoff. It’s a trap. I want the mission scrubbed.
Operations: We’ve been after this man for 15 years, George. This is the closest we’ve ever come to getting him.
George: The Cardinal Mission is grounded.
The communication is terminated. Off Ops and Maddy sharing a look we cut to Birkoff working at Comm. Operations enters. We also see Nikita in the background. She overhears the conversation.
Operations: Hillinger thinks you’re wrong.
Birkoff: I’m not.
Operations: Hillinger is the best there is at surfacing intel and he didn’t find the Cardinal.
Birkoff: That’s his problem.
Operations: You disagreed with him on Madagascar. It resulted in significant casualties.
Birkoff: This has nothing to do with Hillinger.
Operations: Good. Then initiate mobilization and bring back the Cardinal.
Operations exits leaving Birkoff a bit shaken. Nikita watches to make sure Operations has left, then she watches Birkoff. She realizes that he is troubled.
Nikita: We OK?
Birkoff: What happens if I’m wrong?
Nikita: You can’t think that way.
Birkoff: Ever since Hillinger came to work here, I’ve been second guessing myself.
Nikita: Yeah, he’s good. But so are you. You found the Cardinal. Hillinger didn’t.
Birkoff: Yeah and now I’m wondering why he didn’t. What if I overlooked something? I’m about to deploy on the single most important mission Section has ever moved on and I can’t give the command.
Nikita: Forget Hillinger.
Birkoff: I can’t.
Nikita: You have to.
Birkoff: He’s better than me.
Nikita: Yeah, he’s brilliant. It takes more than analyzing raw data to do this job.
Birkoff: What’s that?
Nikita: Instinct. What does your gut tell you, Birkoff? Is it the Cardinal or not?
Birkoff and Nikita share a look. Birkoff’s resolve hardens. He puts in his ear piece.
Birkoff: Bring all teams in. We’re operational.
Off Birkoff we cut to Oversight. George approaches Hillinger’s area. Hillinger is still monitoring Section 1.
Hillinger: Operations hasn’t recalled the Cardinal Mission.
George: Initiate a Protocol 5 against him. Effective immediately. He has to be taken out of play.
Hillinger: No, I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Operations has already sealed his fate by sending his men into a trap.
Hillinger continues speaking but the scene switches to Van Acces at Section 1. Under Hillinger’s speech we see Michael, Nikita and the rest of the team heading for Van Acces. As they arrive, we see that Operations is there to see them off.
Hillinger: He has to proceed or you have nothing. All you have to do now is sit back and watch him hang himself.
Off Operations watching as Michael’s team leaves we cut to commercial.
ACT II
Mission van enroute. Michael and Nikita are inside. Michael is watching his computer display.
Nikita: How does it look?
Michael: Empty.
Nikita: Does that make sense? Should we be encountering some form of defensive recon?
Michael: Why?
Nikita: Birkoff superseded Hillinger’s assessment. We could be sitting ducks.
Michael and Nikita share a look.
Michael: That’s always a concern.
Off Michael’s statement we cut to Section 1 Comm. Birkoff is monitoring the team’s approach.
Birkoff: First Team is approaching entry point.
Hillinger’s voice comes over Birkoff’s comm link. This scene switches back and forth between Hillinger monitoring at Oversight and Birkoff at Comm.
Hillinger: And what entry point would that be?
Birkoff: Hillinger, how did you get on this channel?
Hillinger: Hey Seymour.
Birkoff (to Hillinger): I’m in the middle of a mission. (into ear piece): First Team launch tactical.
Off Birkoff’s order, we cut to the mission van. We see the mission van park. They have arrived at their destination.
Birkoff (VO): Go.
The doors open and operatives exit. Guns at the ready. Scene switches back to Hillinger and Birkoff.
Hillinger: You ignoring me?
Birkoff: Get off this channel.
Hillinger: Relax. I’m just here to watch the show.
Birkoff: What show?
Hillinger: Well, you are about to crash and burn.
Birkoff: That’s what you think.
Hillinger: Sorry pal. It’s a fact. Going after someone who ain’t there.
Birkoff: Michael, outer layer is clean.
We cut back to the mission. We see operatives heading out and hear them calling orders.
Operatives: Go. Go. Move.
We cut back to Hillinger.
Hillinger: You know, when all’s been said and done and the blood’s been mopped up, Section will finally see you for the hack I’ve always known you to be.
Birkoff: You don’t do your homework, Greg. The relocation orders were sent on a Gapa Signal.
Hillinger: I know that.
Birkoff: Yeah, but did you know Red Cell layers them? You probably didn’t recycle twice before decoding. (Birkoff smiling big, gotcha) Greg?!?
Off Birkoff gloating we cut to Hillinger looking very worried. (Transcriber in: Hehehe. Go Birky!)
Birkoff: Ah, Greg, are you still there?
Again we see Hillinger. He is checking his computer, doing just what Birkoff said. Now he has passed worried and moved right on into scared. One of Hillinger’s co-workers approaches.
Co-worker: Sir?
Hillinger (yelling at her): Not now! (pauses, then speaks to himself in a disbelieving tone): He did it.
Once again the scene switches from Oversight to Section 1.
Birkoff: First Team is in play.
George enters Hillinger’s area.
George: I spoke with Mr. Jones. He agrees with your assessment. After this is over, I want you to prepare a co-op’d order on Section 1. Operations will be removed. (he pats Hillinger on the back) Well done.
George exits, now Hillinger is really scared.
Hillinger (to himself softly): Oh God….
Off Hillinger’s terror we cut to the Cardinal’s base camp. It is very modern much like Section. The Cardinal is at his desk. A female co-worker enters.
Red Cell operative: This just came in.
Cardinal: Where did this come from?
We see what the Cardinal sees. It is a message that says “Warning. Evacuate.”
Red Cell operative: We are not sure. It was put over one of the open channels we monitor.
Cardinal: Ah, has it been analyzed for integrity?
Red Cell operative: It’s clean. But we’re trying to back channel it now. We believe the message to be valid.
The Cardinal doesn’t answer immediately. He is pondering the situation.
Red Cell operative: Course of action, sir?
Off her question and the Cardinal’s silence we cut to Section operatives entering the compound.
Birkoff: OK, you’re clear.
Again we see the operatives as the penetrate deeper into the Red Cell base camp. The encounter no resistance.
Nikita: What’s your thermo read?
Birkoff: Um, thermal’s frosty. Could be a structural deflect. Move to your final mark. (birkoff to himself): Come on. You’re there. I know it.
Operatives continue to advance. Still no resistance. Cut to Operations monitoring from the Perch.
Operations: Where are we Birkoff?
Birkoff: (to Operations): One minute sir. (to team): Michael proceed.
Michael’s team as arrived at the heart of the base camp. Still no resistance. They are worried. Cut to Comm. Operations has left the Perch and is now at Comm.
Operations: What’s the problem?
Hillinger (VO): Oh, go on Seymour. Tell him you screwed up.
Birkoff: I have Michael combing the perimeter. He’ll find them.
Cut to Michael and Nikita. There is no one there.
Michael: Birkoff, the Cardinal is not here.
Out of nowhere Red Cell operatives appear. Section operatives scramble to recover and return fire. Not good. Cut back to Section as Birkoff tries to figure out what is going on.
Birkoff: First Team?
Michael (VO): First Team engaging hostiles.
Birkoff and Operations hear the gunfire over the open channel.
Birkoff: Second Team, in. Advance to your mark and engage. Periphery Teams move forward and tighten.
Camera to Hillinger who is looking very pleased. (I wonder if he tipped off Red Cell to save his own butt?) Hillinger removes his ear piece and leaves. Back at Section Birkoff is not having a good day.
Birkoff (to himself): Where are they coming from? (over his com link) First Team? Respond. Anyone?
Operative (VO): Second Team engaging hostiles. Under fire.
The Comm link goes dead.
Birkoff: First Team???
Off Birkoff’s look of fear, we cut to commercial.
ACT III
White Room. Birkoff is strapped in the chair. Operations enters and circles the chair as he questions Birkoff.
Operations: You’ve buried us.
Birkoff: No. Someone tipped off Red Cell. They evacuated before we got there. I’m sure of it.
Operations: ‘Sure of it’ doesn’t count anymore.
Birkoff: I can find the Cardinal.
Operations: It’s too late.
Birkoff: I satellite tagged the Red Cell base as soon as I detected it. Anyone going in or out will be marked.
Operations: How many tags?
Birkoff: 206
Operations: Hillinger was right. It was a Red Cell plant meant to cripple us.
Birkoff: No.
Operations: I’m sorry. But I have no choice but to make you pay for this.
The door opens and the Torture Twins enter. Birkoff is terrified.
Birkoff: If you’d just give me some more time, I can find the Cardinal.
Operations: You don’t have anymore time.
Off Operations’ statement and Birkoff’s fear we cut to Van Access. The wounded are being brought in. Madeline arrives to meet the returning operatives. Michael and Nikita arrive and go to her to report.
Madeline: What happened?
Michael: Someone sabotaged the mission.
Madeline: How can you be sure?
Michael: We detected residual thermal in the Cardinal’s war room. He sent a tactical command minutes before we got there.
Nikita: The embassy bombing in South Africa this morning.
Michael: The order came from the location Birkoff sent us to.
Madeline turns and exits. She is in a hurry. Michael and Nikita exit in the opposite direction. We cut to the White Room.
Operations: Goodbye Seymour.
Birkoff: (begging for his life): No. Don’t. Sir, you can’t do this. Don’t. Stop. Sir, I can find him. I can find him. Don’t. Don’t.
Operations exits the White Room leaving Birkoff to the mercy of the Torture Twins. The door closes and Birkoff’s pleas can no longer be heard. Madeline approaches.
Madeline: The Cardinal may have been on site.
Operations: How do we know this?
Madeline: We can trust the command that went out. It had his tactical signature.
Operations get an ‘oh, shit’ look and quickly opens the White Room door.
Operations: Stop!
Just in time, the Torture Twins were just about to inject him with that lethal green stuff.
Operations: I need you to run those thermos and analyze all movements. We will assemble a small field team. Birkoff, you have one last chance.
Off Operations exit we cut to George at Oversight. He is briefing his team. Hillinger is by his side.
George: The mission is simple. I want Operations and all sympathizers. A Type 1 Directive is in effect. Opposition will be dealt with. Any questions? Good. Secure Section 1.
Off George’s operatives leaving we cut to Operations. He is in an isolated corridor of Section. He is alone in thought. Madeline enters behind him. He hears her but does not turn around to face her. He knows this might very well be End Game.
Madeline: George is on his way.
Operations: Has the team been assembled?
Madeline: They’re on standby. (pause) We should go.
Operations turns to face her. Moving to stand beside her.
Operations: You’ve done the numbers?
Madeline nods affirmative.
Operations: What are our chances of finding the Cardinal?
Madeline: Less than 5%.
Operations: You’ve been by my side for the last 17 years. This time I don’t want you coming with me.
Madeline: You are going to need my help.
Operations: Remember this place?
Madeline: The old van access?
Operations: I remember the first time I came through those doors. Things were so much clearer then.
Madeline: We all came in that way.
Operations: How did we get here?
Madeline smiles at him. It’s a sad smile, but a genuine one.
There is no answer for his question. How sad.
Off Madeline’s look we cut to the Perch. Operations is there.
Operatives are assembled below him.
Operations: In less than one hour, Section 1 will be forcefully relieved of its authority by Oversight. Do not resist. Effective immediately, I am relinquishing command. There will be inquiries. There will be a purge. Anyone closely associated to my leadership will be tainted. Profess your loyalty to George and you might survive. Thank you for your efforts on my behalf.
Operations exits the Perch. Off his exit, we cut to Madeline in her office. She is seated at her desk. Michael and Nikita are present.
Madeline: You are aware that we are going to need a mobile unit to pursue the Cardinal. I want you two to lead the cell.
Nikita: Is that an order?
Michael: It’s a request.
Nikita (to Michael): She is asking us to do a favor? (to Madeline): When was the last time you did one for us?
Madeline: If you don’t want to do it, just tell me.
Off this tense exchange we cut to Birkoff at Comm. He is getting ready to leave, packing discs into a case. Walter approaches and gives Birkoff a disc.
Walter: This will keep you off their satellites. (pause) How’s your head?
Birkoff: I’m fine.
Walter: You’re not fine. Take a look at yourself. You are one thousand miles away from here.
Birkoff: I have to find this guy.
Walter: I’ve seen the numbers, pal. They don’t look good.
Birkoff: I don’t care about the numbers. If I don’t find them, Hillinger will.
Walter: Oh stop obsessing about Hillinger. There’s always going to be someone who does something better than you.
Birkoff: If Hillinger wasn’t around, Operations would never have strapped me in that chair.
Walter: Wrong. They don’t care anymore about Hillinger than they do about you. They just want to get the job done.
Birkoff: All these years, I’ve seen it happen to so many people. I never thought I’d be marked for cancellation.
Off Birkoff finishing his packing, we cut to Michael and Nikita getting their weapons from munitions.
Nikita: Why are we doing this?
Michael: We wouldn’t survive under George.
Long pause.
Nikita: You need this place, don’t you?
Another look and long pause.
Michael: No.
Michael exits. Off Nikita’s look of disbelief we cut to the corridor outside of Van Access. Michael is present in full mission gear including dark sunglasses. Nikita dressed similarly. Birkoff is there as well. They are waiting in silence. Madeline and Operations arrive. The team falls in behind them. The door of Van Access closes on them. Of this we cut to an exterior of the mission van. They are enroute. Snow is falling. Cut to interior of the van. Operations is on his cell phone. The others have ear pieces. They are all in conversations with others.
Madeline: We need confirmation on that request.
Michael: You have it.
Operations: I have it up now.
Birkoff: I’ve jammed the satellite.
Nikita: (something in a foreign language)
Birkoff: Dark Cover initiated.
Nikita: (something else foreign)
Operations: The target is Class 1 priority.
Madeline: May I have the coordinates again please?
Michael: (something in a foreign language)
Operations: We are on our own.
Michael: -----------------------
Nikita: I need clear passage into the northern territory.
Michael: --------------------------
Off this we cut to Section 1. Oversight operatives arrive and take control. There is no resistance. George arrives with Hillinger. George takes control of the Perch. He picks up his cell phone and dials.
George: Section 1 secured.
Off George’s look of triumph, we cut to commercial.
ACT IV
Section 1. Oversight operatives are everywhere. They are leading the Section 1 operatives around at gunpoint. Hillinger is at Comm. George is in the Perch.
George: Why haven’t you found him?
Hillinger: I’m narrowing it down, sir. Birkoff just went online, but he knows I’m looking so he’s piggybacking on a couple a dozen servers.
George: If the Cardinal is out there, Operations will not find him before we do. Is that understood?
Hillinger: (to George): Yes, sir. (to himself): Damn it.
Off Hillinger’s frustration, we cut to the mission van.
Operations: Read it back to me.
Nikita: No. Hold position. No word.
Operations: Yes.
Michael: NT scope clean.
Madeline: So are the regional thermals.
Birkoff: I’ve got him.
Operations (to person on phone): Hold. (to Birkoff): Are you sure?
Birkoff: The Cardinal never moves without a cluster shadow.
Birkoff’s computer display shows the cluster shadow.
Operations: Location?
Birkoff: East grid. I’m downloading to the panels now. We can go to tactical as soon as you give the word.
Operations: (into phone): We’re moving.
Off Operations we cut to Hillinger at Comm. He is working. Still looking for Birkoff.
Hillinger (to himself, pleased): Hello Seymour.
Hillinger enters Perch. George is there.
Hillinger: Sir.
George: You’ve found them?
Hillinger: You bet I’ve found them and the Cardinal. That’s where they are headed. If we move now, we can get them both.
George: Dispatch a team. Oversee it personally.
Hillinger: Yes sir.
Hillinger leaves the Perch. We see George watching below as Hillinger reappears. Off this we cut to Hillinger’s team. They are outside a VERY nice house. One of the team members is looking at the house through binoculars. He sees no one.
Operative: Sir, there is no one here.
Hillinger (VO): What do you mean?
Operative: There is no resistance.
Hillinger (VO): I’ll be right there.
Operative continues to look at the house through binoculars. Still no movement. Two cars pull up outside the house. Operatives get out and enter the house. They find Monique inside. She is calm. She has a comm ear piece in her ear and she is giving orders.
Monique: We are spread pretty thin in that region.
She watched the operatives unconcerned even though they have her at gunpoint and she appears to be unarmed and unprotected.
Monique: We don’t want to move until the intel is confirmed.
Hillinger: Where is the Cardinal, bitch?
Hillinger points his gun at her head. She is completely unconcerned. She continues to give orders through her comm link.
Monique: Get back to me when your team is in position.
She smiles at Hillinger. Her men enter and kill all of Hillinger’s men. Hillinger drops his gun.
Monique: Thank you boys. That will be all.
Her men exit leaving her alone with Hillinger.
Hillinger: What is this place? Who the hell are you?
Monique: We have been following you and Mr. Birkoff’s recent activities.
I must say I am a little surprised that you were so badly outmaneuvered.
Hillinger: What are you talking about?
Monique: The man in the next room is no the Cardinal. He is Mr. Jones, George’s boss. Welcome to the Center.
Off that revelation we cut to a man playing the piano. Classical music. Monique enters. The camera revels that Mick is Mr. Jones.
Mick (Mr. Jones): It’s rather disappointing that Hillinger didn’t turn out to be the operative we thought him to be.
Monique: Perhaps Mr. Birkoff would better suit our purposes?
Mick (Mr. Jones): Perhaps.
Off this exchange we cut to Van Access Section 1. Operations’ team is arriving with the Cardinal in tow. George and two guards meet them. Madeline and Nikita and Birkoff walk right passed George without saying a word. An operative has the Cardinal in tow.
Michael: The Cardinal.
George looks at the Cardinal. Then the operative leaves with him. Heading for the White Room no doubt. That leaves Operations and Michael facing George and his 2 guards. Their guns are trained on Operations.
George (to Paul): Congratulations. (to the guards): Stand down.
The guards lower their guns. Operations and Michael exit without another word. Operations has a slight smile on his lips. George is not happy. Off George’s look we cut to the White Room. The Cardinal is strapped into the chair. George, Operations, and Madeline are in the observation room.
George: Tell me about Cyrus Norasty.
Cardinal: He’s dead.
George: Before that.
Cardinal: He was born in a small village in Norac. At 17, after witnessing the murder of his father by death squad soldiers, he formed a small para-military organization that opposed the hard line government.
George: March 12, 1978. What can you tell me about that date?
Cardinal: He met Kim Man Jing.
George: So Norasty supplied the soldiers, Kim gave them the weapons, and you gave them?
Cardinal: I gave them direction. Direction. Both men started working for me in 1981. The new alliance became known throughout the anti-terrorist community as Red Cell. Red Cell. Red Cell.
Off the Cardinal’s statement, we cut to later in the interrogation. Madeline is conduction the interrogation now. She is in the White Room with the Cardinal. George and Operations are still watching from the observation room.
Madeline: Two days ago, when we attacked your base camp, you were tipped off. By whom?
Cardinal: Our security team picked up movement.
Madeline: That’s impossible. We were on Dark Approach.
Cardinal: We received a message.
Madeline: What did it say?
Cardinal: It told us to evacuate.
Madeline: Origins?
Cardinal: We traced it to the Oversight branch of the Center.
George: He’s lying.
Operations: He has no reason to now.
Birkoff enters the observation room and hands Operations a panel.
Birkoff: We found this on him. It took us some time to decode it.
George: What is it?
Operations: A communique from his base camp.
They both look at the panel’s display.
Operations: It came from your office, George.
Off this interesting bit of intel, we cut to commercial.
TAG:
Operations and George are in Committee.
Operations: The communique was back channeled, bumped off two C-Com satellites. There is no telling who at Oversight leaked the information to Red Cell.
George: Alright. Keep on it.
Operations: Oh, we will. Center called several times. Mr. Jones wants to know who is responsible.
Off Operations and George’s looks we cut to the White Room. Birkoff enters caring a gun. Hillinger is strapped in the chair.
Hillinger: Hello Seymour. (door closes with a thud) You know, I’m glad it’s you taking care of this instead of one of the others. After all we’ve been through, it really couldn’t end any other way.
Birkoff points the gun at Hillinger.
Hillinger: Go on, pull the trigger. Bang, bang. Come on Seymour. This is a big step in your evolution from boy to man. If it was me holding that gun, I’d be eating a sandwich right now.
Birkoff: Did you tip off Red Cell?
Hillinger: Just pull the trigger you coward.
Birkoff cocks the gun, then looks away shutting his eyes. Off Birkoff’s look we cut to the Perch. Birkoff enters gun in hand.
Operations: What is it, Birkoff?
Birkoff: Hillinger was never suppose to be recruited. We broke profile only because he can do things no one else can. He’s better than I’ll ever be. We need him alive.
Birkoff sets his gun on the ledge.
Operations: I’ll take it under advisement.
Birkoff exits. Off his exit we cut to Nikita’s apartment. Mick (aka Mr. Jones) are seated at Nikita’s kitchen table. Samples of material are on the table.
Mick (Mr. Jones): Now, did I show you the fabric for my pillow cases?
Nikita: Purple gabardine.
Mick (Mr. Jones): Monique says that’s my fabric. It speaks to who I am. You know, strong, bold yet traditional. It also matches my new silk bathrobe.
Nikita: It sounds like this Monique is really working our for you.
Mick (Mr. Jones): She is not just a decorator, Nikita. She is a spiritual modifier. You know, you really should give her a ring for a consultation. She’ll change your life. I promise you.
Nikita’s phone rings. She doesn’t move right away.
Mick (Mr. Jones): I heard Section jumped through a few hoops last week. Are things back to normal?
Phone rings again.
Nikita: Yeah.
Nikita rises to answer the phone.
Mick (Mr. Jones): That’s good.
Nikita answers the phone.
Nikita: (into phone) Hello. Yeah. (to Mick): I gotta go.
Mick (Mr. Jones): Oh yeah, me too. I got business to attend to. Things to arrange. Yeah. By love.
Off this little exchange, we cut to Section. Birkoff is talking to one of his co-workers. Nikita approaches him.
Birkoff: What’s up?
Nikita: Hillinger’s dead. He was just cancelled.
Birkoff looks up to the Perch. Operations is working, he looks up and catches Birkoff’s eye. Birkoff looks away.
Birkoff: They didn’t have to do that.
Comm co-worker: Davenport’s team just crossed the border into Korachi.
Birkoff: Tell then to hold their position until I sweep the perimeter.
Birkoff goes to his desk at Comm. He picks up his ear piece and puts in on.
Birkoff: What channel is he on? (pause) Comm command online. Perimeter looks good. Davenport…
The scene fades to black as Nikita watches Birkoff doing his job.
Just another day at the office.
THE END