#418 "Toys in the Basement"
Written by: Lawrence Hertzog
Directed by: Rene Bonniere
Edited by: Richard Wells
Original Airdate: July 8, 2000
Transcript by: Northstar taken from The Official Alberta Watson Home Page
Teaser: Daytime - Outside in an alleyway. We see a vehicle drive up with a man inside. We then see him get out and walk over to a dumpster where we see a wounded cat wrapped in a towel.
Henry: Baby, baby. Oh dear, it's okay, It's okay. Oh you're frightened. I'll take very good care of you. (He lifts the cat out and takes him back to his vehicle where he puts it in the back) Don't be frightened. I'll take care of you.
We then see one of Sections vehicles drive past the mouth of the alley. They pull up in front of what seems to be a bookstore. Michael and Nikita exit the vehicle and walk in. We see a man standing and looking at a book but when they walk in he looks around. Michael stays up front with gun drawn as Nikita head to the back where a woman is working on a computer.
Woman: Excuse me? Can I help
you?
Nikita: I want your database. (puts a disk in a drive)
Woman: Look I don't know what you think you'll find here. We're just a…
Nikita: I wasn't asking.
Woman: Okay, alright.
Pan back to the guy looking at the books who then goes to take out a gun but Michael shoots him first.
In Section - Tactical. We are viewing a screen of the bookstore.
Jason: Looks like we've got a problem. (as he views the screen)
Quinn: What? (She looks too) Michael, hostile converging from the south quadrant.
Michael glances over and then we see Nikita with the woman again.
Woman: Listen, please. (We hear gunfire erupting all around then the woman goes to reach for something but Nikita shoots her)
Nikita: Michael GO
More shooting. Nikita tries to go out the back way but the door won't open. (We see the guys vehicle driving past in the alley way in the back of the store) Michael and the other operative leave by the front door. Nikita manages to get outside where she seems to be on the roof. One of the other guys chases after her over the roofs of the buildings.
Michael: I need a location on Nikita. (to Quinn)
Quinn: She's just behind you Michael. I'm getting an elevation reading.
We see more of Nikita running and being chased. The guy takes aim and so does she but he is quicker on the draw and she gets hit. She falls over the side of the building onto some garbage containers and then onto the ground. Then we go back to the rooftop where Michael takes down the shooter.
Michael: Nikita's location?
Quinn: She's on the ground Michael. Sixteen metres SSE. You're going to have to make a ground approach. (he starts to run) She should be right in front of you Michael. (we see her on the ground but M isn't there yet) Michael do you have her? Michael?
By the time Michael arrived at the spot that Nikita had gone down at all we see is blood on the ground. No sign of Nikita.
Quinn: Michael report. Michael can you hear me? Michael? Michael?
Scene 2 - Section - Quinn, Michael, Jason and Operations are there.
Quinn: Housekeeping found this. It's a thermal block. We knew that Bright Star had the technology to block our RNR block scans… but not this. This is why we couldn't see them until they left the room.
Michael: What's the status on Nikita?
Ops: Nikita's implant went off a few minutes after we lost our visual on her.
Michael: Last known location?
Quinn: 2 blocks from where she fell. She's off the board.
Ops: Quinn isolated another Bright Star substation in Romaine. Now since they mirror their database information, of course the network will assemble a storm team and attempt to acquire the personnel database we lost. It is essential that we obtain this information in the next 72 hours. There will be severe repercussions if we can't.
Michael: Nikita has the disk.
Ops: Your mission is now listed as aborted Michael. We consider the database information you acquired on premises unobtainable. We've had no contact with her for 6 hours. Per procedure, she'll be listed as killed in action.
Scene 3 - Basement - Nikita is chained to a bed. We here a cat meowing in the background and then we see that there are all kinds of wounded animals in cages throughout the basement. We see some stairs lower and the man (Henry) comes down and walks over to where Nikita is on the bed. He goes to touch her when suddenly she grabs his hand.
Henry: You're alive.
Nikita: Where am I? (her voice is raspy and she is talking in almost a whisper)
Henry: You know you wouldn't be if it weren't for me. Alive that is. It wasn't easy getting that bullet out of you.
Nikita: thank you.
Henry: Mother always said that if you're going to be good at anything you better resolve yourself to practice.
Nikita: Who are you?
Henry: I'm a doctor. (he walks up to her again and leans down and smells her) You smell a lot nicer than most of my patients.
Nikita: Do you think you can take these handcuffs off of me?
Henry: (laughs) I like that. The patient telling the doctor what to do. Um, I'll make those decisions if it's all right with you.
Nikita: I appreciate everything you've done for me.
Henry: I will take very good care of you.(puts some kind of liquid in a syringe) Very safe here.
Nikita: What's your name?
Henry: Henry Paul Collins. What's yours?
Nikita: Nikita.
Henry: Nikita. Very pretty name Nikita. You want to know a secret? Besides my mother, you're the first girl I've ever well, uh um, been able to talk to. (she moans as he injects her with the needle) No one as smart and pretty like you. (he strokes her body and then runs his tongue up her tummy as she drifts off into lala land)
Scene 4 - Section - Briefing area - Walter, Davenport, Quinn, Jason and Operations.
Ops: Where's Michael?
Davenport: He's in his office.
Ops: Was he informed of the briefing?
Davenport: Yes sir.
Ops: this briefing will be rescheduled one half hour from now. (he walks off and the others get up as well. We then see him in Michael's office)
Ops: You're aware of the procedure Michael. Did you expect we would make an exception for Nikita?
Michael: No.
Ops: then you know you have a job to do and you are expected to do it. If you have to grieve then do it on your own time.
Michael: You owe me 15 days. (pause) For helping your friend.
Ops: Yes I did promise you that.
Michael: I'd like to take them now.
Ops: All right Michael. You do what you've got to do but you're on your own. If I find out you employed any section resources, put a drain on our manpower, I will act accordingly.
Michael: I understand.
Scene 5 - Basement - Henry comes downstairs with a cake with candles lit on it. He leans over and blows them out.
Henry: You know what I wished for?
Nikita: What did you wish for Henry?
Henry: Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I finally think I've got everything I've always wanted. Right here.
Nikita: you care about me?
Henry: Oh, you're very special Nikita. Haven't I proven that by saving your life? (he is taking the candles off the cake)
Nikita: But I don't understand why you're keeping me down here with handcuffs. You don't want me to feel like a prisoner do you?
Henry: No, you're not nearly well enough to get out of bed and start running around. You'll catch your death.
Nikita: I'll take your advice Henry and even if you took the handcuffs off I… if you said I should stay in bed I will stay.
Henry: It doesn't really matter that much does it? You know mother baked this cake herself. (he cuts her a piece) I think she is getting rather jealous that I brought the rest of it down here. She thinks I spend too much time down here.
Nikita: Does she know about me? Does she know I'm down here?
Henry: Truth is, I think she is getting a little too attached to me. Oh well, I suppose it's better than not being loved at all. (he feeds her a bite of cake)
Nikita: She sounds like she's really very nice, your mother. I'd like to meet her.
Henry: I'm sure you would. You see I knew you were smart.
Nikita: Henry I need something to drink. Some water. (we hear a crash from upstairs and Henry gets up agitated)
Henry: Mother, one of these days she's going to push me too far. Be a good girl and drink your milk. (He runs upstairs and pulls them up after him leaving Nikita in the dark)
Nikita glances around and sees a pipe that is dripping water. She then notices that Henry left the plate with the fork on it. 'thank you Henry' she whispers as she takes the fork and uses it to undo the handcuffs. She makes her way unsteadily over to the pipe and lays down under it letting the water drip into her mouth. All of a sudden she hears Henry coming back and she is on the bed again when he gets there and pretends to be cuffed.
Henry: Forgive me for being rude. I forgot to say goodnight. Mother said you might need this. (as he leaves a pail for her)
Scene 6 - Daytime - Same alley by the bookstore. We see a car drive through and once it passes we see Michael sitting on his motorcycle looking around the area. He sees a security camera on one of the buildings. Braemar Insurance. We then see him walking into the offices where a woman comes up to him.
Woman: Oh hi. Can I help you?
Michael: Hi.
(he injects her neck and she is out for the count. He removes her to another room and then enters what looks like the security room with the monitors and starts to type on the keyboard bringing up the tapes from the day before where we see Henry's car)
Scene 7 - Night - Henry's house - Basement - Nikita is up and she is lighting the candles Henry left. She takes one that is in a candle stick and lights it and then goes along the wall looking for drafts. She finds a spot where the flame flickers and then attempts to take down whatever is there. It is a board in front of the window which she finally succeeds in removing only to find a barking dog and Henry right there. He crouches down and looks in…
Henry: Nikita…
Scene 8 - Section - Tactical - Quinn and Jason are working at a computer.
Quinn: If you're going to recycle a sim, always check the balances. You've got to clear your sub-net mask and make sure your gateways line up.
Jason: Oh you're just saying that to get me excited aren't you?
Quinn: your loins must be a sad and primitive place Mr. Crawford. ( I guess this is his adopted name)
Jason: they're just lacking for company is all darlin'.
Quinn: Uh huh and tact apparently.
Jason: Tact is for the boardroom, not the bedroom.
Quinn: or in your case… just bored in the bedroom.
Jason: You're too good for me darlin' (he walks behind her) Smarter, faster with the one liners. I'll bet that moat around your thighs has kept most every human male standing at the drawbridge, trying to figure out why he wanted to come over in the first place. (Michael arrives)
Michael: I need a DMV trace.
Quinn: NO can do Michael. You know the drill. (Jason rolls his eyes behind her back and then motions for Michael to follow him.)
Jason: Trust me pal, I've been there, done that. Forget it. You know the iceberg that sunk the Titanic? An amateur. Really. What do you need?
Scene 9 - Basement - Henry is blocking out the window with blocks and cement.
Henry: No good deed goes unpunished. Always trying to pound that into me but I always resisted. I guess Mother knows best. Nikita you and I are friends now and we should treat each other like friends. ( he is pouring milk through a funnel into an IV bag) You really do need your milk. (he readies her arm) You are so beautiful Nikita, so very beautiful.
Nikita groans as he inserts the needle into her arm and starts the drip.
Henry: Won't mother be happy when she learns of our surprise.
Scene 10 - Section Hallway
Jason: I spliced off Quinn's network bus and stuck a node terminal on the line. She won't even know we were here. (we see a screen which is showing the surveillance tape Michael took from the insurance offices)
Michael: that's good there.
Jason: I can enlarge and enhance. (which he does bringing up a clearer view of the license plate)
Michael: That's good.
Jason: Now all we got to do is run this puppy though the DMV database. (we see that Madeline is watching and listening to this exchange from her office) That means Quinn.
Michael: half an hour.
Scene 11 - Basement - Nikita wakes up to find out that while she was out Henry dressed her up in a wedding dress.
Nikita: Oh my God ( as she realizes what she has on!!)
(cut to commercial)
Scene 12 - Basement - Henry is there now stringing up some lights on the ceiling. Nikita is still laying on the bed.
Henry: It's going to be small but it doesn't mean we can't do it right. I think it really does something for the room don't you?
Nikita: Henry. Henry? Come here. Sit down. Sit down. (he sits)
Henry: Very excited about all this.
Nikita: Haven't you forgotten something?
Henry: Forgotten something? Well uh… I've got the decorations, the uh, the wedding cake. We're both here. No, no I don't uh, no I don't think I left anything out.
Nikita: You never asked me how I feel about all this.
Henry: I saved your life Nikita. I've taken excellent care of you. I can't think of any reason why…
Nikita: (sigh) Then you really don't know anything about women then do you Henry? Even if a girl is going to say yes she likes to be asked.
Henry: If I ask, you promise to say yes?
Nikita: that's cheating.
Henry: (after pacing around a bit but not facing her) Nikita will you marry me?
Nikita: Henry look at me. Look at me, come back and sit down.
Henry: You promised.
Nikita: Henry take the handcuffs off.
Henry: You know I can't do that.
Nikita: If you cared about me…
Henry: Oh Nikita please… that's a broken record… If you cared about me? If I unlock those handcuffs now you're going to try and run for the road.
Nikita: Henry, I'm sorry. You're right but that was before you asked me to marry you. It's different now.
Henry: what? What's so... what's so different now?
Nikita: I'm all tied up like this. I can't even touch you. (pause) Henry I want to know what you feel like.
Henry: (upset) you sound like a whore Nikita. Never marry a whore.
Scene 13 - Section - Madeline's office
Madeline: You utilized Section's facilities and manpower to assist an off profile operation.
Jason: I thought Michael worked here.
Madeline: You know very well what I mean.
Jason: All right, so I helped the guy out. It took 10 minutes. You're not going to climb out of your skirt about that are you?
Madeline: Why did you do it?
Jason: they guy's okay. Doesn't talk much. He plays straight. I like that. Besides all he's doing is helping out someone he cares for. I don't really see the harm in that.
Madeline: And despite the rules you believe it all comes down to how you see it?
Jason: (sits down) I get the point. So what now? You gonna cut my head off? (snarks)
Madeline: No. I'm actually quite pleased with your progress. It seems the more time you spend with us, the more like your brother you become. You're doing quite well Jason. Quite well.
Scene 14: Daytime - Henry's house - We see a van pull up into the driveway and a man get out and walk to the front door as Henry is coming out.
Man: Mr. Collins?
Henry: That's right.
Man: I'm here to read your meter.
Henry: My meter? Right. This is really a bad time. I'd have to clear a path for you. Maybe you could come back next week?
Man: I'm sorry. According to our records you're already overdue.
Henry: If you could just give me a couple of days.
Man: I wish I could. Rules.
Henry nods and gives in leading the way inside as the man follows.
Man: (looking up) Beautiful day. (and they enter the house)
Next moment, or so it seems, Henry comes out and walks quickly to his car and drives off. He doesn't look too happy. Then we go back to the basement where Nikita is trying to get loose from the bed. She finally manages it and uses the fork again to get out of the cuffs. She is still pretty weak looking. She sees the man lying on the floor by the wall. She walks over and pulls the stairs down. She gets to the top and pushes open the covering only to find a woman standing there.
Mrs. Collins: What are you doing down there?
Nikita: Mrs. Collins? Can you help me?
Oh she helps her all right. She grins and using her foot pushes Nikita back down the stairs where she lands at the bottom.
Scene 15 - Basement - a while later. Mrs. Collins is with Nikita. We see the guy still lying there on the floor in the background.
Mrs. Collins: Talk about bad timing. Henry pleaded with him to come back next week but he wouldn't have it. Anyway it will be nice to have another guest hmmm?( she looks at Nikita's face) I'd say you were Autumn, earthy, rosy. (she puts a brush in some makeup and start to put it on Nikita) Henry is so excited about all of this. You've made him happier than I've seen him in years. I believe that a boy inevitably reaches a certain age when his mother's attentions just aren't enough anymore. It's funny, you tend to think of them as babes and then one day you open your eyes and you realize they're all grown up. That your hugs and kisses are not what they're looking for. Sad isn't it?
Nikita: There are people looking for me Mrs. Collins. Very dangerous people. They won't hesitate to hurt your son.
Mrs. Collins: See… you have to understand about Henry. His father died just after he was born and I've tried to be both mother and father to him. I expect that you'll do everything in your power to make him happy.
Nikita: Mrs. Collins, if you keep me here, you and Henry will be in jeopardy.
Mrs. Collins: Oh look at you… you've got butterflies. I remember I had such a case of humpy jumpies before my wedding. It's perfectly normal you know. You are going to be just fine. (she then gets up and goes over to the guy on the floor and starts to make up his face as well)
Scene 16 - Michael's Office
Jason: I got it. Ran satellite survey on the 4 likely's I told you about and looky here. That's the same truck you were looking at in those security tapes.
Michael: You have an address?
Jason: I got more than an address. Look at this. Thought maybe I could pick up some faces for you. Couldn't get much more than the top of the head on this little guy here, (Henry) but the gas man… just as he looks up… here. I ran an indent scan on the guy. His name is Craig Burrow. We have him listed in our database as a 3rd level operative for Bright Star. He never left the house. Could be we stumbled on a Bright Star sub-station. I thought you might want to know.
Michael: thank you.
Jason: anytime. Soon as they got wind that I was helping you out… old Mata Hari with the shape to die for… She was all over me with the compliments. I think she likes it when I take my own initiative. (Michael leaves)
Scene 17 - Munitions - Walter is gathering items for Michael.
Walter: You really think she's still alive?
Michael: Yes.
Walter: You think or you wanna think? (he hands him more stuff) You know you got enough to go to Operations on this. You've got a location, you ID'd a Bright Star operative. If she is in that house and if she's still alive.. He might reconsider.
Michael: He won't
Walter: You don't know what you're walking into. This is a Bright Star operation… you might find a very big welcoming committee.
Michael: I'll get her out.
Scene 18 - Henry's house - Basement. Mom is all dressed up as she puts a record on to play. It's the wedding march. Henry comes down the stairs in a suit.
Mrs. Collins: Henry… you look just like your father.
Henry: (walking over to Nikita) You look beautiful.
Mrs. Collins: Shhhh. Dearly Beloved, we're gather here today to witness the bonding of these two young people in holy matrimony. Do you have the rings? (Henry holds them out in the palm of his hands) One at a time Henry, yours first. Do you Henry Paul Collins take this woman Nikita to be your lawfully wedded wife in sickness and in health, for richer, poorer, forsaking all others until death do you part?
Henry: I do (he is suddenly shot in the forehead)
Mrs. Collins: (turning around) You've got no business… (bang!! She's dead too as we see more men entering the basement. They are not Section but Bright Star. One of them walks over to Nikita)
Man: Where's the disk?
Nikita: I don't know what you're talking about. (He smacks her and then shoots off her cuffs)
Outside the house we see men guarding the place. Then we see they guy in the basement again making up a noose which he then places around Nikita's neck.
Man: where is it?
Nikita: I don't know what you're talking about.
The man pulls up on the rope which he had put over the rafter and we then see Nikita's feet leave the ground as he pulls her up.
Meanwhile…
We see Michael riding along on his bike. We also see a cement mixer truck which he rides alongside of until he gets closer to the house. Then he guns it, popping a wheely, then puts the brakes on as he turns into the driveway at Henry's taking out all the guards that were outside. One more comes out and he takes him out too. He then makes his way in the house and comes down the stairs as we see Nikita hanging there. He takes out the guys down there too with guns in both hands. ( I wonder how many times he's done that move now???) Nikita has fallen to the floor and he goes over to her and removes the noose from around her neck.
Nikita: Oh you should have had backup. You had no way of knowing if I was going to be all right. What if this had been a Bright Star sub-station? Hmmm? You wouldn't have made it out of here.
Michael: If you weren't alive, it wouldn't have mattered.
He lifts her up off the floor and carries her upstairs while the last strains of the wedding march is playing. Then we see them riding off down the road, with Nikita in her wedding gown, on the back.
Scene 19 - Munitions
Walter: Been here a couple of weeks now Jason and already you're checking anomalies in the inventory.
Jason: What can I tell you? They don't have cable and I gotta keep busy.
Walter: Harumph
Jason: What do you say Walter? Got a couple of Beretta 92F's, Glock 9mm, Mac10 all unaccounted for. They seemed to go missing around the time Michael showed up.
Walter: You know… maybe you should check your figures one more time.
Jason: 4 times… All right, be that way, if you're the kind of guy that just doesn’t want a pat on the back.
Walter: what do you mean by that?
Jason: Between you and me pal, we seem to be the only 2 in this place to want to help that guy. That really seemed to impress the brass.
Walter: impress them??
Jason: Hell ya. I thought I was going to get a promotion on the spot.
Walter: (sarcastic) Wow.
Jason: I'll put in a good word for you.
Walter: don't.
Jason: All right. Have it your way. I like you Walter. I really do. You're my kind of people. (he turns to leave and sees a young female operative working on a panel as she is walking) Excuse me… (he puts his arm around her) I don't think you should be pressing those buttons while you're walking.
Tag: Section - Operations walks up to where Quinn is working.
Quinn: I'm just finishing the download now. It's the entire Bright Star database from Nikita's disk. It's complete.
Ops: do you have a location and an ETA on Michael and Nikita?
Quinn: No sir. The download was set automatically on a timer. I got only one contact from Michael giving me the channel and frequency.
Ops: Well where the hell are they?
Quinn: There was a message on the file letter. It seemed encrypted to me. Code maybe? All it said was 'it took me four days to find Nikita. That leaves eleven.' (pause as she looks to Ops) Does that make sense to you?
Ops gives a kinda smile and then walks away.
We then pan to the outdoors where a tent is set up with a fire going in front of it. We see Michael's bike as well.
The End