Charity

#106 "Charity"
Written by: Robert Cochran
Directed by: Kari Skogland
Edited by: Eric Goddard
Transcript by: Christine
Guest Starring: Simon MacCorkindale

 

STREET – Daytime

It is day; soft music plays in the background.  Nikita stands in front of a building, holding a bouquet of red balloons secured with red ribbons.  She releases one at a time, watching as they float high into the sky.  Two children peek around the corner of the building, watching her.  Nikita hands them the balance of balloons, and they also begin releasing them.

Down the street, a man, Alec Chandler, shakes hands with another man; Chandler’s right hand man, Mikey, stands nearby.  Chandler looks down the street and sees Nikita.  They make eye contact.  He smiles at her, turns to speak to Mikey, then steps into the street.

The sound of squealing tires erupts as a small black Mercedes speeds around the street corner and heads toward Chandler.  Nikita sees the impending danger and drops her bags before racing to the street.  She hurtles into Chandler forcefully, so they are both thrown to the ground, where the momentum causes them to roll interlocked toward the sidewalk.  When they come to a stop, Nikita lies atop Chandler.

In the distance, a man picks up Nikita’s shopping bag and hurries off.

Chandler lifts Nikita up from his chest, holding her by the arms.

CHANDLER:  Are you all right?

NIKITA: I’m fine.

He maintains his hold on her.

CHANDLER:  Are you sure?

Nikita nods, shifts, and tries to get up.

NIKITA:  Yes.

She stands up, then helps him to his feet as well.  Looking around the street, she throws her arms up with exasperation.

NIKITA: Unbelievable!  Didn’t even stop!

She looks around, remembering her shopping bag.

Nikita: My bag.  Oh, don’t tell me someone stole my shopping bag.

CHANDLER:  Serves you right.  Next time you’ll mind your own business.

Nikita turns to him as if she can’t believe he is so ungrateful, considering she just saved him.

CHANDLER:  It’s all right; I’ll replace anything that was in it.

Nikita waves it off as nothing.

NIKITA: Just a pair of shoes.  I’ll replace it myself, thank you.

She starts to pass by him to leave, but he grabs her arm and stops her.

CHANDLER:  Dinner then?  Probably can’t rely on another meeting like this.

Mikey walks up.  Nikita pulls against Chandler’s grasp, but he maintains it.

NIKITA: I’m glad I could help.

CHANDLER:  At least tell me your name.  I’m Alec Chandler.

Using her free hand, Nikita shoves against him hand to free herself from his hold.

NIKITA: Nice to meet you, Alec Chandler.

She smiles and walks off down the street.  Chandler watches her go, and turns to Mikey.

CHANDLER:  Find out who she is.

Nikita continues down the street, flinging a pigtail over her shoulder.

COMM

Birkoff sits at his desk.  There are other operatives also about.

BIRKOFF:  Okay, it’s been eight hours.

He shakes his head in mock disgust and sighs.

BIRKOFF:  You’d think he would have called by now.

Nearby, Michael paces impatiently.

MICHAEL:  The set up worked perfectly; he thinks you saved his life.

He stops pacing, wrapping an arm around a post and leaning on a desk.

MICHAEL:  Why didn’t you accept his invitation?

Nikita is seated, chewing gum nonchalantly.

NIKITA: He’ll call.

In the distance, Operations stands in his loft, glaring menacingly down at them.  Just then, the phone rings.  Nikita smiles smugly.  Michael also smiles, seeing her strategy did work.  Birkoff and his assistants swing into action

OPERATIVE:  Tracing.

BIRKOFF:  Tracing on one.

Nikita picks up her cell phone.

NIKITA: Hello.

CHANDLER’S  YACHT

The yacht is docked in the harbor.  It is evening.  Chandler and Nikita are within the main cabin on their first date.  Chandler is studying maps, while Nikita sits looking about the room.

NIKITA: So you spend most of your time on the boat?

CHANDLER:  A fair amount.  I have an office on board.  And, a bed.

NIKITA: What exactly is it you do?

CHANDLER:  I’m mostly retired, as you can see.  I do some investing, a little charity work.

NIKITA: Oh yeah?  What kind of charity?

She picks up a nearby telescope and tests it.

CHANDLER:  I work with street kids.  I set up shelters and house them; give them a good meal.  No big deal.

NIKITA: I bet they think it is.

CHANDLER:  Well, they’re mostly interested to know where their next meal is coming from.

NIKITA:  Not like they can go home and get a hug from mom and dad.

CHANDLER:  Got that right.  I pretty much grew up on the street myself.

NIKITA: Well, you’ve done very well.

CHANDLER:  Well, one thing about the streets is that you learn to take care of yourself.  That, some brains, a little luck…

The cabin door opens, and an elderly valet enters clearing his throat to announce his presence.  He carries a tray holding two filled wineglasses.

CHANDLER:  Ah, George.

Chandler picks up one of the wineglasses.

GEORGE:  I think you’ll enjoy this selection.

Nikita takes up the other wineglass.  George exits.

CHANDLER:  Actually, George is from downtown.  I pay him extra for the phony accent.

They laugh.

NIKITA: I’d like to see one of these shelters.

CHANDLER:  Well, there’s not really very much to see, but if you’re really interested, I’d be delighted.

NIKITA: I’m really interested.

She takes a sip of wine.

STREET

It is night.  Sirens wail, and on a street, a group of young teens hang out, talking and smoking.  They are dressed in typical punk clothes, some leather, others military style.  A few have pierced rings; others shaved punk hairstyles.  They are hanging out by a gate that reads: MIDTOWN YOUTH SHELTER.

Chandler and Nikita walk slowly up the street, followed by two bodyguards.

CHANDLER:  It’s one of the first shelters I set up.  It reminded me of the street back home that I grew up on.  I come here pretty often, just so I don’t forget; so I don’t end up back there again.

NIKITA: That doesn’t seem too likely.

CHANDLER:  Don’t kid yourself.  We all live on the edge, every one of us.  If you don’t keep moving up, you slide back down.

They stop in front of the shelter.  Chandler moves among the group of boys, talking with them.  They clearly look up to him.  A young girl appears and looks at Nikita.  Nikita smiles at her, but the girl only looks away.

Chandler continues chatting with the teens.  They flock about him like he is a hero.  Nikita watches, clearly moved by his kindness to them.

MUNITIONS

Walter sits at his worktable, his face enlarged by a huge, square magnifying glass he is using to see the device he’s tinkering on.  Nikita comes up from behind.

NIKITA: You’re here late.

WALTER:  I’m a driven man, Nikita.  When I start something, I can’t stop, even if it takes days.

He turns from the magnifying glass to look up at her.  She laughs shortly.

WALTER: That’s how it would be with you and me, a non-stop sweat.

Nikita groans at his innuendo; and Walter growls flirtatiously.

NIKITA: You’re truly dedicated, Walter.

She bends and kisses his cheek, then turns to leave.

WALTER:  You’re the only one here who understands me, sugar.

WAR ROOM

MADELINE:  Let’s finish this later.

Operations perches on the edge of the conference table, speaking with Madeline and Michael, who are standing.  Nikita walks up, wearing her sunglasses.

MADELINE:  How did it go?

NIKITA: Fine.

MADELINE:  Does he want to see you again?

Nikita takes chair at the table and sits.

NIKITA: He wants to know more.  I think he’s having me followed.  Who is this guy?

She is interested, and removes her glasses.  Michael quickly responds.

MICHAEL:  He launders money.

He walks behind Madeline, and steps closer to Nikita.

MICHAEL:  Your job is to get close to him.  Identify his key contacts.

Operations, still at the table’s edge, watches Nikita closely.  She looks at him, then to Madeline, finally to Michael with surprise, as if to say “big deal if he launders money”.

NIKITA: That’s it?  He launders money?

Operations stands, intent on ending the exchange.

OPERATIONS:  Thank you, Nikita.  That’s all.

Obviously having been dismissed, Nikita slowly swings her chair around, stands, and walks off.

Madeline smiles, as she watches Nikita’s departure.

MICHAEL:  Maybe we should tell her.

OPERATIONS:  No, it’s better this way.

MADELINE:  She likes him.

Madeline smiles; Operations beams.

OPERATIONS:  Oh, yes!

Michael looks glum, but says nothing.

SHOPPING MALL

Nikita rides an escalator down to the mall atrium.  At ground level, a man watches her descent.  She walks past the various shops, looking behind her, as she knows she is being followed.  She enters an elevator, watching the mall below as it carries her upward.  The man, who was following her, looks around, having lost her; then spies her in the elevator high above him.  They trade looks.

CHANDLER’S YACHT

Nikita makes her way down the yacht’s paneled hallway toward Chandler’s office.  At the door, she checks her watch, pushing a button.  Chandler is speaking with a man inside.

CHANDLER (inside office): Get the best rate you can, then arbitrage against the yen as soon as the market opens.

Nikita shoves open the office door.  Chandler sits behind his desk and an assistant stands before it.  Nikita passes close by the assistant and speaks in his face.

NIKITA: Get out.

Chandler watches, intrigued by her boldness.

ASSISTANT:  We’re having a meeting here…

NIKITA: So am I!  You’re not invited.

The man looks to Chandler for intervention, but Chandler only shrugs.

CHANDLER:  You heard the lady.

The man walks out, and Chandler smiles as Nikita rounds the desk to his side.  He looks up at her, waiting for her to speak.  She positions her hand at the edge of the desk, so her watch, which contains a camera, faces Chandler’s monitor, which shows several various numbers on a spreadsheet.

NIKITA: You’re having me followed.  You’re used to owning things, Alec.  You don’t own me!  Do you understand?  If you wanna keep seeing me, you better.

She walks back toward the door, glancing back at him as she does so.

CHANDLER:  Nikita.

She stops at the door.

CHANDLER:  I’m sorry.

He stands now to entreat her.

CHANDLER:  Stay.

Nikita opens the door, but looks back at him.

NIKITA: It’s late; I’m going home to bed.

She steps through the door and begins closing it behind her.

CHANDLER:  Alone?

NIKITA: That’s none of your business.

She closes the door.  Chandler smiles with amusement and sits back in his chair.  The door reopens.  Nikita pokes her head in to say one last thing.

NIKITA: But, yes… alone.

She wears a half smile, and again closes the door behind her.  Chandler smiles, clearly taken with her.

COMM

The footage from the wrist camera is being displayed on an overhead monitor.

BIRKOFF:  I don’t see anything.  There’s a better way to do this.

Rolling his chair to his desk, he begins working on his computer.  Operations and Michael watch the monitor.

OPERATIONS:  All right, what about here?  Could that be some sort of code?

Operations looks over to Birkoff while Michael worries his chin absently, his fingers passing over it.

BIRKOFF:  I can’t tell.  The resolution’s too lousy.  Where was the camera?

MICHAEL:  In her watch.

BIRKOFF:  (annoyed) Well, tell her to hold still next time.

Nikita enters and takes a stand behind Birkoff, throwing something on his desk.

NIKITA: You try snapping pictures when you’re supposed to be throwing a fit.

She moves to Michael.

NIKITA: Is Madeline in?

Michael watches her carefully, and Birkoff answers.

BIRKOFF:  Yeah, she’s in her office.  Why?

NIKITA: I need a dress for Saturday night.

BIRKOFF:  Didn’t you just go shopping?

NIKITA: Couldn’t find anything.

BIRKOFF:   Uh-oh!  She’s hot for the guy!

Nikita has moved off, but hears him and holds up two fingers – ‘politely’ flipping him off.

NIKITA: Up yours, Birkoff!

Birkoff smiles, pleased he has gotten a rise out of her.

BIRKOFF:  (grins) Anytime, babe, my number’s in the book.

Operations smiles broadly, amused by their exchange.

BIRKOFF:  The guy must be a stud, huh?

Michael steps away, his eyes conveying his displeasure.

CHANDLER’S YACHT

It is Saturday night.  In the cabin, Chandler leans against a support pole.  “Jersey Girl” plays in the background.

CHANDLER:  Am I forgiven?

NIKITA: For what?

CHANDLER:  For having you followed the other day.

NIKITA: Ahhh.

She throws her head back, and wanders a few steps away.  When she turns to face Chandler, she has adopted a seductive mood.  She slowly unzips her boots and removes them, then ambles over to him.  Chandler is rooted; fascinated by her.  She sways seductively to him, sidles close to him, then begins dancing to the music.

Flash to Section.  Birkoff munches at his desk, while Michael paces restlessly, as they listen in on Nikita and Chandler’s date.

MICHAEL:  Trip.  Ask about the trip.

Back to the Yacht.

Chandler and Nikita are in each other’s arms, dancing cheek to cheek.

CHANDLER:  I’m having a fundraiser for the shelters tomorrow night.  Will you come?

Flash to Section.  Michael listens, his expression unhappy as he listens to Nikita laugh in response.

NIKITA (via com):  Of course.

Back to the Yacht.

NIKITA: If you’ll come to hockey on Saturday night.

CHANDLER:  (smiles) Unfortunately, I’m out of town for the weekend.

NIKITA: Business trip?

Flash to Section.  Birkoff turns to see if Michael has caught Nikita’s attempt to broach the subject.  They hear Chandler respond.

CHANDLER: (via com)  Does it really matter?

Back to the Yacht.

Nikita rests her cheek against Chandler’s shoulder, and has grown quiet.

Flash to Section.  Michael listens intently, but only hears the music and their silence.

Back to the Yacht.

CHANDLER:  What are you thinking, Nikita?

NIKITA: About you.

Flash to Section.  Michael is listening closely.

NIKITA (via com): About the street you grew up on.

Back to the Yacht.

NIKITA:  Not unlike the one I grew up on.

CHANDLER:  I know.

Nikita looks up at him with surprise, trying to judge if he knows the truth about her.  But, Chandler only thinks she is embarrassed that he can recognize that she was from the streets.

CHANDLER:  No, it’s not that it shows.

He runs his fingers gently over her face, then through her hair.

CHANDLER:  Well, a little in the eyes.

Flash to Section.  Michael lowers his head, and begins worrying his chin with his fingers absently.

CHANDLER (via com): You’re a fighter.  You’ve survived.

Back to the Yacht.

Nikita lays her head back on Chandler’s shoulder.  His hand rests at the small of her back.

Flash to Section.  Michael sighs heavily and sits.

NIKITA'S APARTMENT

Nikita returns home from her date and unlocks her apartment door.  We see Michael sitting at her dining table in the dark.  He is waiting for her.  As Nikita enters the apartment, a cat meows and she picks it up and holds it to her face, nuzzling it affectionately.  It is then that she notices Michael in the dark, watching her silently.  Nikita immediately adopts a coy demeanor, smiling recklessly at him.  She moves to place the cat on her loft landing, then takes hold of the landing post and swings her body toward Michael, again watching him with a self-satisfied smile.

MICHAEL:  You and Mr. Chandler were having quite a time together.

Nikita doesn’t respond, but moves to the kitchen.

MICHAEL:  Why didn’t you question him about the trip?

NIKITA: Because he wouldn’t have told me.

MICHAEL:  You don’t know that.

She opens the refrigerator and takes out a milk carton and swigs.

NIKITA: Look, what is he doing that is so evil?

MICHAEL:  I told you; he launders money.

As he speaks the lie, Michael turns his face, so Nikita can’t see him.  Nikita moves to the living room.

NIKITA: He also happens to spend a lot of it helping children.

At that, Michael drops his head, knowing the truth, but unable to tell her.  Nikita goes to her stereo and turns it on.  Music blares loudly, and she begins walking toward her loft, her legs moving in a crisscrossing pattern, as she reaches behind her and fumbles with her dress’ zipper.  Michael stands, moves to the stereo, and turns it off.  He is irritated with her.  Nikita stops fighting her zipper.

MICHAEL:  You don’t have to like the job.  You just have to do it.

He advances toward her.

MICHAEL:  I’ll be at the party tomorrow night.  His perimeter security is very tight; we’ll have to work from the inside.  You’ll be briefed in the morning.

Nikita is slouched lazily against the closet wall, while Michael stands at the door.  He looks over to her living room area.

MICHAEL:  And, get rid of the cat.

Nikita laughs, still acting tipsy.

MICHAEL:  It’s a distraction.  When you walked in, it was the first thing you noticed.  If I were an enemy, you’d be dead by now.

NIKITA: (drawls) Sometimes, I think you are the enemy.

She smiles a kind of drunken, lazy smile.

MICHAEL:  Get rid of the cat.

In response, Nikita hooks her a forefinger over the bridge of her nose, then waves her three free fingers at him in a goodbye.  Michael walks out, and she pushes the door shut.

MADELINE’S OFFICE

In the upstairs loft, Michael flips through a long rack of clothes, while Operations and Madeline stand nearby, leaning against opposite balcony railings.

OPERATIONS:  Our intel is excellent.  Chandler has links to the Russian Mafia, to the Triads, and through them to terrorists in both hemispheres, but we need some leverage.

MADELINE:  We have to catch him in the act, in other words.

Finding nothing in the first rack, Michael walks over to another long rack and begins flipping through the clothes.

OPERATIONS:  In the act and alive.  And, Nikita is the key.

Operations leaves the railing and walks over to where Michael is looking through the clothes rack.

OPERATIONS:  How’s she doing?

Michael selects a black dinner jacket.

MICHAEL:  All right.

MADELINE:  I’d suggest the one beside it.

She refers to an orange-colored dinner jacket.  Michael hangs up the black one.

OPERATIONS:  Does he trust her?

Michael takes the orange dinner jacket and holds it up.

MICHAEL:  So far.

OPERATIONS:  Is she sleeping with him?

Operations turns a pointed look to Madeline.  Michael puts an arm in the jacket sleeve.

MICHAEL:  I don’t think so.

Now Operations is clearly irritated.

OPERATIONS:  Whatever it takes!

They watch Michael, who doesn’t respond, but continues trying on the jacket.  Operations stalks up to Michael, and speaks forcefully.

OPERATIONS:  Do you hear me?

MICHAEL:  (whispering) I heard you.

CHANDLER’S YACHT

Chandler is holding his fundraiser with several well-dressed guests in attendance.  He stands next to graphs and charts that illustrate his plans for the new building.

CHANDLER:  So, when completed, the new Chandler Foundation Facility will be the finest in the city.  As you can see, we’re already two-thirds financed.

In the background, Nikita stands, her hair slicked back in a sleek ponytail and wearing a periwinkle open-neck evening gown.  Michael mills nearby.

CHANDLER:  Now, I hope that before the end of the evening, with your help, we will have reached our final target.  Thank you all very much for coming, enjoy the party, and please, don’t be afraid to be very generous.  Thank you very much.

The guests applaud, and Chandler looks about the crowd in search of Nikita.  She begins walking, holding a champagne flute in her hand.  Michael moves toward her, brushing close by her, but she deftly changes her course and passes by him, while he watches her retreat.  She moves over to the buffet table.  A blonde man wearing a white dinner jacket comes up to Nikita, grabs her to him, and tries to make a play for her.

MAN:  Ooh, why don’t you make a charitable contribution to me?

From behind Chandler approaches and grabs the man by a lapel, yanking him off Nikita.

CHANDLER:  That was not a good call, Jack.

NIKITA:  It’s all right.  It’s all right, Alec.

JACK:  Um, my mistake, Mr. Chandler.

Jack moves away quickly, while in the distance Michael has observed the scene, with an expression that says he is not pleased with Chandler’s possessiveness.  Chandler turns to Nikita.

CHANDLER:  I’m sorry.

NIKITA: It’s okay.

Chandler’s assistant, Mikey, walks up and silently conveys that Chandler is needed.  Chandler turns to Nikita.

CHANDLER:  Oh, you’ll have to forgive me; there’s something I must take care of.  I’ll be right back.

NIKITA: Perfect.  I’ll go powder my nose.

CHANDLER:  Don’t get lost.

Nikita picks up her black, satin wrap and heads in one direction, while Chandler and Mikey go the other.  She passes by Michael, holding out her right, gloved hand, which is hidden in the folds of her wrap.  He hands off a round device to her, then moves away from her nonchalantly, while she continues through a door into a hallway beyond.

YACHT

Nikita walks to the bathroom, opening the door at the same time that Jack - the man who earlier came on to her - is coming out of the bathroom door.

NIKITA:  Excuse me.

JACK:  Oh!

They both crowd each other in the doorway.

JACK:  Listen.  What happened before… I’m sorry.  I… I thought you were one of his, um…

Nikita just wants to get rid of him and tries to rush him off.

NIKITA: That’s okay.  Really.

JACK:  Yeah, the thing is…  I really need Alec’s business.

NIKITA: I’ll put in a good word.

JACK:  I’d… I’d appreciate that.

NIKITA: Actually, I’m rather in a hurry.

She pushes through into the bathroom, and tries to close the door.  He finally gets her meaning.

JACK:  Oh, yeah.  Yeah.

Once inside the bathroom, Nikita immediately strips down to her black underwear.  A knock sounds at the door, and a woman leans into the door, listening.

WOMAN:  Are you gonna be long in there?

NIKITA: I’ll be out in a minute!

WOMAN (from outside the bathroom): Thank you.

Nikita quickly tugs on a black rubber cap over her hair.

Flash to Chandler’s office.

A computer is downloading information.  Chandler’s assistant sits at Chandler’s desk, while Chandler perches on the desk’s edge, absently looking over some papers.  Mikey stands to the side, buffing his nails.

ASSISTANT:  Hardin’s online.  He’s wiring the money.

Back to the Bathroom.

Nikita begins climbing through the porthole.

Flash to the hallway.

Another woman joins the waiting line.

Back to the Bathroom.

Nikita jumps into the water below.

Flash to Chandler’s office.

The monitor shows the download is complete.

ASSISTANT:  Transfer completed.

Flash to the yacht’s upper deck.

Michael stands by the railing, watching the water for Nikita.

Back to Nikita.

She submerges fully into water.

Flash to Michael.

He peers over the railing into the water, watching Nikita.

Back to Nikita.

She surfaces to place the round device on the boat’s hull.

Flash to Chandler’s office.

CHANDLER:  Acknowledge receipt.

The monitors shows “Confirm Download?”  The assistant enters “yes”, and the computer then says, “Please Enter Password”.  The assistant begins tapping keys that only show as asterisks on the monitor.

Flash to Section.

Birkoff and Madeline are monitoring Chandler’s activities.  The monitor begins scrolling through various codes until it stops on the word “GRAYSTONE” .  Birkoff looks to Madeline and points to the password.  Madeline smiles and begins dialing a phone.

Flash to Michael.

His cell phone rings, and he removes it from inside his jacket pocket.

Flash to Section.

MADELINE:  Graystone.  All caps.

Flash to Michael.

He hangs up the phone, then continues watching for Nikita.

Flash to Chandler’s office.

The monitor now prompts, “Contact?”

ASSISTANT:  Hardin wants to know the middleman.

CHANDLER:  We’ll use Skyler on this one.

Assistant types in SKYLER.

Flash to Hallway.

The bathroom waiting line is filling up.

Back to Nikita.

She jimmies her way back through the porthole.

Flash to Chandler’s office.

ASSISTANT:  Everything’s confirmed.

CHANDLER:  Good.

He moves to leave the office.

CHANDLER:  Secure the system.

Back to Nikita.

Inside the bathroom, she towel-dries her hair hurriedly.

Flash to the Hallway.

Chandler approaches, seeing the very long waiting line.  The first woman in line stops him.

WOMAN:  Mr. Chandler, I think your girlfriend may not be feeling well.

Chandler leans in to the door and knocks.

CHANDLER:  Nikita?  Nikita, are you all right?

Back to Nikita.

She is quickly trying to reassemble her hair.

Flash to the hallway.

There is no answer and Chandler taps again.

CHANDLER:  Nikita?

Just as he goes to open the door, Nikita opens it from her side.  As she steps out, he reaches to her.

CHANDLER:  Are you all right?  I was worried about you.

Nikita feigns a bit of queasiness, patting her chest lightly, as if to calm herself.  She sighs.

NIKITA:  I’m all right now.

CHANDLER:  Uh, your hair’s damp.

NIKITA:  Oh, I splashed a little water on my face, but I’m feeling much better.  I was just a little…

She sways a little to illustrate dizziness.

CHANDLER:  All right.  Well, let’s go back to the party.

He leads her down the hallway toward the party.

CHANDLER’S OFFICE

Michael picks the lock on Chandler’s office door.  Inside the office, it is dark as he makes his way to the desk, sits and turns of the laptop.  Keying in the code supplied by Madeline, the monitor reads: Password Verified.

Flash to Party

Chandler and Nikita stand together, talking easily.

Back to Chandler’s office

Michael waits as the computer modem makes an connection and begin downloading information.

Flash to Section

Madeline and Birkoff sit at Birkoff’s desk, keeping an eye on the computer.

BIRKOFF:  It’s downloading.  He’s home free.  Using the middleman named Skyler.

Madeline turns to another operative, now that they know whom Chandler will be using.

MADELINE:  Find him.

OPERATIVE:  Right away.

Back to Chandler’s office

As Michael waits for the download to complete, he notices a red light blinking.  The monitor reads: Unauthorized Connection.

Flash to Section

BIRKOFF:  Uh-oh.  Get out of there, Michael.  They’re tracking you.

Flash to the Party

Mikey’s beeper sounds.  He pulls it from his pocket, reads it, then replaces it in his pocket.  He moves to find Chandler, while Nikita watches his actions.

Back to Chandler’s office

Michael opens a desk drawer and removes a disk.  Inserting into the drive, he types a command.  The monitor reads: Unauthorized copy.

Flash to Section

Birkoff flies from one computer to another, working hard at damage control.  He calls to a helper.

BIRKOFF:  We are downloading a serious mainframe bug.  Run the anti-virus.

Back to the Party

As Nikita watches, Michael speaks to Chandler, obviously telling him there is something wrong in his office.  Chandler evidently tells Mikey to go check it out, then turns back to speak again with one of his guests.

Back to Chandler’s office

Michael exits the office, closing the door behind him.  As he makes his way down the hallway, he hears Mikey and another guard approach.  As they round the hall corner, Michael turns to a nearby door, and pretends to try and open it.

MIKEY:  Sir?  You’re not supposed to be in this part of the boat.

Michael turns to Mikey, and feigns drunkenness.  He wobbles unsteadily and talks in Mikey’s face, his speech slurred.

MICHAEL:  Well, you can’t find a damn bathroom on this tub.

He places a hand on Mikey’s shoulder.

MICHAEL:  And, I’ve gotta find one, quick.

MIKEY:  The bathroom’s one deck above, sir.

Michael grins drunkenly and winks.

MICHAEL:  Thank you.

MIKEY:  You’re welcome.

As Michael attempts to walk off, he purposely stumbles into Mikey, slipping the disk he took from the office into Mikey’s pocket.  Mikey shoves Michael away.

MICHAEL:  Excuse me.

Michael appears disoriented and stumbles off.  Mikey goes to the office door and finds it still locked.  He sighs heavily.

ON DECK

Chandler leans against an exterior wall, seeing his guests off, shaking hands and thanking them for their donations.  Nikita walks out of the party and over to Chandler.

NIKITA: What’s going on?

CHANDLER:  Someone’s been tampering with my files.  It seems that I never learn; I still trust people I shouldn’t.

Nikita looks at him uncertainly, not knowing if he is talking about her.  At the nearby door, Michael stumbles to the door. Seeing Chandler and Nikita, Michael calls out belligerently.

MICHAEL:  Hey, great party, Mr. Chandler.

Chandler and Nikita turn and look at him.  The guards continue to search Michael, who holds out his arms.

MICHAEL:  Hey, listen, I’m giving you guys twenty minutes to cut that out.

They let him go, and he staggers over to Chandler and Nikita, stopping in front of Chandler, and patting his cheek.

MICHAEL:  Well, you take what you can get, right, pal?

Chandler ignores him, and Michael staggers away to leave the boat.

CHANDLER:  You take someone in.  You trust them.  And, then they betray you.

Nikita can only look at him, worriedly.  A guard, Kenny, rounds the corner, leading Mikey to Chandler.

MIKEY:  Mr. Chandler, I didn’t do this; I swear to you.  Why would I?

Kenny hands the disk Michael planted on Mikey to Chandler.  Mikey quickly tries to exonerate himself.

MIKEY:  That disk…  Somebody must have planted that disk on me.

Nikita looks down, now understanding what happened.

MIKEY:  There was a gentleman in the corridor.  He seemed drunk.  Maybe he wasn’t.  He…

He points at Nikita.

MIKEY:  She knows him.

Nikita looks up at Mikey, frowning with feigned shock.  Chandler watches Nikita carefully, but she meets his gaze steadily, convincing him that she is innocent.  Mikey can see that Chandler believes she is innocent.

MIKEY:  They were looking at each other at the party.  Come on!  I saw them!  Mr. Chandler, she’s setting you up.

Chandler turns his gaze to Mikey, putting his arm around him and leading him a few steps away.

CHANDLER:  Ah, Mikey, Mikey, Mikey.

MIKEY:  (entreating) Mr. Chandler…

Chandler faces Mikey, grabbing him by the shoulders and pulling him closer.

CHANDLER:  I took you off the streets, gave you a job; gave you a life.  This is my reward.

Nikita watches worriedly.

Mikey:  You’ve got it all wrong.

CHANDLER:  You have no idea how sorry this makes me, Mikey.  But, there’s really no excuse for betrayal now is there?  Is there, huh?  I never want to see your face again.

Chandler draws Mikey to him in long and fierce embrace.  It is clear that he truly cared for Mikey.  Chandler pushes Mikey away from him.

CHANDLER:  Get him out of here.

As Kenny and another guard lead Mikey away, Chandler walks over the railing.  He is shaken by Mikey’s betrayal, and just looks out onto the water.  Nikita moves to him, and rubs her hand over his back comfortingly, as she watches in the direction that Mikey was led away.  Her face registers sadness, as she knows that Mikey was in fact innocent.

CHANDLER:  I’m so sorry.  I…  It spoiled the whole evening.

He turns to face her.

CHANDLER:  I’m gonna go check the system to see how much damage has been done.

NIKITA:  Of course.

Chandler turns away to leave.

NIKITA: Alec?

He turns back to her, and she presses a kiss to his lips.  Though he clearly has feelings for her, at the moment he has other things on his mind.  He speaks softly.

CHANDLER:  Good night.

NIKITA:  Good night.

MICHAEL’S OFFICE

Nikita sits just inside Michael’s door, wearing her sunglasses and chewing her hair absently.  She is not happy.  We see Michael approach his office, enter, passing by her and taking a seat behind his desk.  When she speaks, her attitude is apparent.

NIKITA:  We get what we needed?

MICHAEL:  Yes.

NIKITA:  So our mission’s over?

She spins her wheeled chair so her back is to him.

MICHAEL:  Not quite.

NIKITA:  Why not?

He doesn’t respond right away and she spins back toward him.  Her voice is sarcastic.

NIKITA: Oh, cause we haven’t caused him enough pain.  Cause he’s still standing.

Michael looks up at her.

MICHAEL:  You have become quite fond of him.

Slipping her sunglasses to the top of her head, Nikita smiles tauntingly.

NIKITA:  What’s it to you?

At that moment, Madeline enters the office.

MADELINE:  We found Skyler.

MICHAEL:  Is he ready to talk?

MADELINE:  I think so.

Madeline smiles; quite pleased with herself.  She leaves.  Michael types a few more seconds, then stands and goes to leave, but Nikita apparently means to go with him.  He stops at this door, and faces her.

MICHAEL:  Where are you going?

NIKITA:  I’m coming with you.

MICHAEL:  It doesn’t concern you.

She is not going to be left behind.  She is not happy with him, and wants to get back at him.

NIKITA:  Well, if it concerns Alec… Chandler, it concerns me.

She smiles, and Michael is irritated by the possessiveness of her words and her naïveté where Chandler is concerned.

MICHAEL:  Well, by all means…  Come.

Nikita smiles triumphantly and moves off before, while behind her Michael is clearly aware that she is about to discover the cold hard truth about Chandler.

WHITE ROOM

We see an overhead shot of Skyler, a scruffy-looking man, sitting in the middle of the floor, while Michael paces in circles around him.  Nikita leans against the wall, listening on.

SKYLER:  He has a meet this weekend.

MICHAEL:  With who?

SKYLER:  A guy.  Named Hardin.  Chandler’s got a shipment of kids.

MICHAEL:  What time?

Moving from the wall, Nikita steps forward, holding up finger.

NIKITA: Whoa, whoa, whoa!  What kids?  What kids?

They both ignore her, and Michael continues circling around Skyler.

MICHAEL:  What time?

Now Nikita frowns, and begins pacing.

SKYLER:  Hasn’t been set yet.

NIKITA:  Are you… are you talking about the shelters?

Skyler looks up at her.  His tone is sarcastic.

SKYLER:  Yeah, right.

Nikita now looks to Michael, waving her left arm up and down.

NIKITA: What is going on?

Michael looks at her and takes a step toward her, while she closes the short distance between them.  She stops, her hand raised, palm up.  Her expression indicates she is waiting for an explanation.

SKYLER:  Listen, if you can take down Chandler, more power to you, but leave me out of it.

Michael turns and paces away from Nikita.  She watches him with an angry stare.

SKYLER:  He never gave me a choice.  It was either play ball, or play dead.

Nikita is through with waiting for an explanation from Michael.  She looks down at Skyler.

NIKITA: What does he do with the kids?

Skyler doesn’t respond, so Nikita bends down and hits him hard, holding on to his jacket lapel.

NIKITA: (loudly, upset) What does he do with the kids?

SKYLER:  Hey, they’re big business.  I mean they work hard, you don’t have to pay them.  They don’t fight back, and then, there’s the perverts.

Nikita jerks her hand away and jumps up, backing away.  She paces angrily.

MICHAEL:  Alec Chandler’s a slaver.  The shelters are a perfect front.  He works with homes.  Moves kids around all over the world.  Makes them disappear.

Skyler stands next to Michael.  Nikita’s mouth opens in shock.  She closes it and passes a hand over her mouth, sickened by the revelation of the man she had feeling for.

SKYLER:  I never liked what he did, but face it, half these kids are from the street.

He laughs.

SKYLER:  It’s not like we broke up any happy families.

Outraged, Nikita lunges for him, slamming him against the wall, and screaming with powerless rage.  Michael grabs Nikita from behind, yanking her off Skyler, as she struggles to get away and yells with rage.  Skyler slumps to the floor.  Opening the door, Nikita storms out.  Michael watches her leave, but looks back at Skyler.

MICHAEL:  Thank you.

Michael leaves to find Nikita.

MAIN AREA

NIKITA: Launders money!  You told me he launders money!

Michael stands with his arms folded, his chin resting on a hand.

MICHAEL:  He does.

NIKITA:  Why didn’t you tell me the truth?

He walks toward her, moving past her and facing away.

MICHAEL:  You had to get close to him.  Care for him; make him care for you.  You couldn’t have done that if you knew who he really was

He turns to her.  She is angry with him, not knowing that Michael never wanted to keep her in the dark about Chandler.

NIKITA:  Not enough to lie to them.  Gotta lie to each other, too.

MICHAEL:  You have to go back to him.

Nikita looks down unhappily.

MICHAEL:  Convince him to take you along this weekend.

The prospect of being with Chandler now that she knows the truth repulses her.  She looks ready to cry.

MICHAEL:  You do what you have to do, Nikita.

He walks away.  Nikita shakes her head miserably, her face crumbling.

CHANDLER’S YACHT

Chandler stands on deck, speaking with a man.

CHANDLER:  I’ll be back on Tuesday afternoon.  And well done, Greg.  We’re getting a good price for this one.

Greg leaves, while Kenny runs up from below deck to Chandler.

KENNY:  Mr. Chandler?

CHANDLER:  Yes, Kenny?

KENNY:  We’ve been doing some maintenance, sir.  I sent a couple of divers down and they came up with this.

CHANDLER:  It’s a Damer 28 tracking device.  I thought only the Israelis were using these.

KENNY:  Well, we found it attached to the hull under your office.

CHANDLER:  How long do you think it’s been down there?

KENNY:  It’s not corroded, sir;  … no more than two or three days.

Chandler begins putting things together.

CHANDLER:  Oh, the night of the party.

KENNY:  Maybe.

Over Chandler’s shoulder, Kenny spies something.

KENNY:  Uh, Mr. Chandler?

Chandler looks in the direction of Kenny’s vision, and sees Nikita approaching the yacht.  She wears a short red dress, spiked heels, long black overcoat and sunglasses.

CHANDLER:  Call George Hardin.  Advance the meeting.

KENNY:  Yes, sir.

While Kenny goes to do as he’s been told, Chandler moves down the gangway to meet Nikita.

CHANDLER:  Nikita!

NIKITA:  I thought I’d surprise you.

CHANDLER:  This is a business trip.

NIKITA:  Nobody can work 24 hours a day.

They move onto the yacht.

CHANDLER:  Yes, I suppose you’re right.

NIKITA:  I thought we’d make this trip special.

CHANDLER:  Hmm, then let’s make it, very special.

She smiles as he kisses her cheek.  When he looks at her, his eyes hold a knowing look.

CHANDLER’S OFFICE

From a decanter, Chandler pours liquor into two glasses atop his desk.  Nikita comes through the office door.  He looks up.

CHANDLER:  Care for a drink?

NIKITA:  No, thank you.

CHANDLER:  I’m glad you came.

NIKITA:  Me, too.

CHANDLER:  Very glad.

He carries a glass to her, proffering it.  She waves it off.

NIKITA: I said ‘no’.

Chandler grabs her arm and forces the drink into her hand.

CHANDLER:  I think you’re going to need it.

NIKITA: I think I’ll come back when you’re in a better mood.

She sets the glass down, and turns to leave. When she opens the office door, Kenny and another guard stand there, blocking her way, their guns aimed at her.  They prod her back into the office.

CHANDLER:  Congratulations, Nikita.  You had me completely fooled.

He moves back to his desk, spinning his chair around to show Mikey, dead from a gunshot to the chest.

CHANDLER:  And you made me kill a friend.  An innocent friend.

Nikita turns on him, outraged and angry.

NIKITA:  You sell children!  You’re scum!

Kenny shoves her into a chair.

CHANDLER:  No.  No.  No, I don’t sell them all.

Chandler puts on his suit jacket.

CHANDLER:  Some are even gifts.  Call it… customer relations.  Don’t be naïve, Nikita.

She glares at him with pure hatred.

CHANDLER:  They’d be dead in a year or two.  And, I don’t send any of them anywhere they haven’t already been.

She is completely repulsed by him.

NIKITA:  Is that what you tell yourself when you look in the mirror?

Chandler smiles and ambles to her.

CHANDLER:  Who do you work for?

Nikita refuses to respond.  He backhands her across the face hard.

CHANDLER:  I asked you a question.  Who do you work for?

She touches her face gingerly, having no intention of telling him.

CHANDLER:  All right, doesn’t matter.  We’ll come to it later.

He paces behind her then leans down to speak into her left ear.  Nikita stares straight ahead.

CHANDLER:  I told you how I feel about betrayal.  What you have done to me goes so far beyond betrayal that thinking of a way of getting even hasn’t been easy, but you know, I think I may have it now.  You see, children aren’t the only ones that can be sold.  There’s still a very reasonable market in mature flesh.  The first thing that your new owners will do will be to turn you into an addict.

He moves now to stand on her right side.  She glares up at him.

CHANDLER:  Two weeks is all it takes, and then you will do anything, absolutely anything to get your next fix, and believe me, they will find plenty of things for you to do.  When they tire of you, which they inevitably will, they’ll sell you to a house in the Middle East maybe, or Asia.

Now Chandler bends down and grasps her chin in his hand, forcing her to look at him while he speaks in her face.

CHANDLER: You’ll be dead inside of a year, but you will wish you had been dead a long time before that.

He leans his face forward and kisses her roughly, until she digs her spiked heel into his instep.  He yells, releasing her.

CHANDLER:  When I get back, you’ll pay for that.  But then perhaps you can just consider it as part of your training for your new life.

Nikita’s face registers complete loathing for him.  He exits the office, leaving Kenny and the other guard to watch her.

Kenny smiles at her, but Nikita keeps her gaze to the floor, as she readies for her next plan.

NIKITA: Can I have a cigarette?

She looks to Kenny, pulling up her dress to show him her garters.

NIKITA: Please, can I have a cigarette?

Kenny smiles appreciatively, then nods to the other guard, who holds up a pack of cigarettes to her mouth.  She takes one between her teeth.

NIKITA: Can I have a light?

Pulling out a light, Kenny steps over to her.  She stares intently at him, as he bends to hold the flame to her cigarette.  She lets the cigarette drop from her teeth, and licks her upper lip seductively.  As he falls for her ploy and leans in closer, she grabs his lapels hard and flips him over her head.  The momentum flips her and the chair to the ground.  The other guard comes over, and she kicks in the head, then flips in a backward somersault onto her knees.  Grabbing Kenny’s gun from the floor, she knocks him unconscious, then stands and aims the gun at the other guard.

NIKITA: Where are the kids?

GUARD:  I don’t know.

She cocks the guns.

GUARD:  I… I… I’d tell you.  Chandler will kill me.

She points the gun at his crotch.

NIKITA: He’s not here.  I am.

YARD

It is a rainy night.  Chandler, in an overcoat, walks across a paved lot, and meets Hardin.  Hardin’s guard stands behind him.

HARDIN:  You’re late.

CHANDLER:  You’re ugly.

He pats Hardin on the cheek.

CHANDLER:  Let’s cut the pleasantries.  This weather’s playing havoc with my shoes.

HARDIN:  Where’s the goods?

Chandler takes a hand-held radio from his pocket.

CHANDLER:  Bring it up.

A large truck pulls up to them.  One of Chandler’s men jumps up on the back fender and raises the roll up door, revealing several young people caged in the hold.

CHANDLER:  Your turn, George.

Hardin smiles.

HARDIN:  Terry.

From a nearby car, Terry brings a case and opens it for Chandler.  It is filled with money.

CHANDLER:  Very good.  Take it away.

One of Chandler’s men takes the case from Terry, as Chandler and Hardin shake hands, as the kids watch on.  The parties break off and move out.

We see Section operatives stealthily move in, take their positions, and aim their firearms.  A voice from a loudspeaker calls out to Chandler, Hardin, and their people.

VOICE:  Put your weapons on the ground.

Chandler turns toward the sound, taking out his gun.  Gunfire ensues, as Section operatives take out everyone except Chandler.  There are several barrels containing gasoline which have been shot, and the fuel runs onto the pavement.

Michael walks slowly out from between two, parked cargo trailers, gun in hand, advancing toward Chandler.  Chandler raises his hands in surrender.  Placing his gun on top of a barrel, Chandler appears to be giving up, but instead he grabs a barrel that has fuel flooding out of it, and rolls it toward the trailer holding the kids, so it leaves a trail of gasoline.

CHANDLER:  Don’t anybody move, or I’ll torch the kids.

He pulls out a lighter and holds it up.  Michael continues advancing.

MICHAEL:  Put it out.

CHANDLER:  Go ahead, drop me, and watch them burn.  I want a car.  Make that an armored car, with a driver of my choosing.

MICHAEL:  No.

CHANDLER:  (incredulous) No?  That wasn’t a request, little fella; that was an order.  I mean, unless, you want to see the children die.  So, what’s it going to be?

We see Nikita’s legs running deftly behind the parked cargo trailers.

Chandler bends closer to the pavement with the lighter lit in his hand.

CHANDLER:  Last chance.

MICHAEL:  Don’t you want to know why you’re still alive?

Realizing that everyone else has been killed, except for himself, this catches Chandler’s attention.

CHANDLER:  I’m listening.

Nikita comes up from behind Chandler, her gun pointed at his head.  She kicks the lit lighter out of his hand.  It sails high into the air, and as it comes back down, Chandler makes a grab for it, but it hits the ground, the gasoline exploding.  Michael runs to the truck, quickly pulling it forward and out of danger of the gasoline trail.  He runs to the back, checking that the kids are safe.  As Nikita runs from the fire, the surrounding barrels explode, the impact throwing her to the ground.  Getting up, she walks back to where Chandler has been burned to death, her expression conflicted.

WAR ROOM

Nikita sits on one of the chair at the conference table.  Her feet are on the chair, her knees are drawn up, as she dabs gingerly at her right knee that was cut by her fall on the asphalt.  Operations stands at the end of the table, his hands resting on the edge, and leaning toward her.

OPERATIONS:  You shouldn’t have interfered.

When she speaks, Nikita’s tone is petulant.

NIKITA:  I didn’t.  Just went for the lighter.  He was going to set fire to the truck.

OPERATIONS:  He was bluffing.  We needed Chandler alive.  He was the bridge to our next level.

Now her tone turns biting.  She continues pampering her cut knee.

NIKITA:  What next level?

OPERATIONS:  That’s none of your business.

NIKITA:  Well, the lives of those children are worth thousands of your next levels.

Operations is now angry.  He stalks over to her, spinning her chair forcefully, so she face him.  Kneeling before her, he purposely grabs her injured knee and squeezes it hard.  She gasps with fear and pain.  When he speaks, his voice is low with anger.

OPERATIONS:  We decide that, not you.

Her voice breaks with the pain of her knee being squeezed, but she refuses to back down.

NIKITA:  They were innocent children, innocent children.

Releasing her knee, Operations spins her chair forcefully away.  He stands, still irate, and storms off.  Nikita grimaces from the pain, and exhales deeply.

NIKITA'S APARTMENT

Nikita lounges on her loft landing, chewing on some hanging wire.  A knock raps at her door, which she ignores.  A moment later, the door opens as Michael lets himself in.  Seeing her on the landing, he pauses.

MICHAEL:  Can I come in?

When she doesn’t respond, Michael enters and closes the door behind him.  He walks closer to her.  She eyes him.

NIKITA: What do you want?

MICHAEL:  I came to apologize.

NIKITA:  You know you’re becoming very predictable, Michael.  You lie, then you say you’re sorry.  You lie, then you say you’re sorry.  Can you come up with anything a little more interesting?

She sits up, swinging her legs over the landing’s edge.

MICHAEL:  I do what I have to do.  We all do.

Nikita sits straighter, her hands grasping the landing edge on either side of her.

MICHAEL:  It’s not what I would choose to do for myself… or for us…

She laughs cynically.

NIKITA: Us?  Will you answer a question for me?

MICHAEL:  If I can.

She leans back slowly.

NIKITA: Why shouldn’t I…

From the side she reaches for her gun and aims it at him, then jumps down from the landing and stands before him.

NIKITA: … kill you, hmm?

She cocks the gun.

NIKITA: Why shouldn’t I just pull the trigger?

Michael doesn’t flinch, but advances toward her, never taking his eyes from hers, until the gun’s muzzle connects with his throat.

MICHAEL:  I can’t think of a single reason.

Keeping his gaze locked with hers, Michael lifts a hand to gently cup her wrist, bending his head and kissing her fingers.  He straightens, letting his fingers glide from her wrist, along her hand, then slowly over barrel of gun like a caress.  Turning, he walks out the door, not looking back.

When the door closes, Nikita drops her arm and uncocks the gun.  She closes her eyes, then removes the magazine clip from the butt of the gun.  Setting the gun aside, she then bends down and when she stands again, she holds the cat.  She looks at her hand, bringing the area that Michael kissed to her mouth and nose.  She nuzzles the cat to her face.

END OF EPISODE