Hand To Hand

Teaser - Nikita floating, apparently lifeless in the water. She wakes up with a start, gasping. It's a nightmare.

Operations: Charles Meyer. Industrialist, philanthropist, supplier of materials to terrorists around the world. He's been able to play both ends against the middle because he's equally useful to both sides. Until now. (he hits his remote and the holoscreen changes and shows bombings) An airport, a train station, a naval base…all financed by funds ultimately traceable to Meyer.

Michael: He's to be eliminated.

Operations: Yes. And he knows it. As a consequence, he's been very difficult to find, but we do have a lead. A man named Emlen Anagar sometimes is used as an intermediary.

Nikita: Intermediary? For what?

Operations: It'll all be in your profiles. You'll get yours from Madeline. The rest of you, see Birkoff. That's all. (He leaves)

Madeline: Anagar owns an establishment in Kazakhstan. Meyer will be meeting him there sometime in the next week.

Nikita: The purpose of the meeting?

Madeline: Anagar provides a certain type of entertainment, which Meyer is particularly fond of.

Nikita: Entertainment?

Madeline: He runs a talent agency in Kiev. The girls are mostly from Russia or Eastern Europe, trying to escape poverty.

Nikita: So he promises them jobs as models and forces them into prostitution?

Madeline: You'll penetrate the building and tag Meyer. Michael will eliminate him.

Nikita: And the girls?

Madeline: They're not our concern.

Scene Three - Section One - Hallway. Operations walks along with a woman called Renee.

Operations: Eastern Europe has absorbed many of our resources lately. I'm becoming concerned about our coverage elsewhere.

Renee: That's one of the things I've been asked to review.

Operations: Good. I'm glad Oversight's on top of things.

Operations: Madeline, you remember Renee from last year's peer review?

Madeline: Yes, I remember.

Operations: (to Madeline) George asked for a collateral intel assessment and Renee was available.

Madeline: And who'll be overseeing this work?

Operations: I will.

Madeline: I'll look forward to the results.

Operations: You'll be the first to see them. (he smiles at Madeline and turns to Renee; they walk past Madeline and Renee takes his arm as they walk down the hall) Come on, I'll set you up near my office, that'll make things easier. I know your work here will be invaluable.

Renee: I'm glad to be here.

Operations: Let me show you a few other areas; we'll have lunch later.

Renee: I'd like that.

Sondra: That is a pretty jacket. I had to make mine myself. Still, it's not too bad.

Sondra: My name is Sondra. What is yours?

Nikita: What difference does it make?

Oswald: Congratulations. The limo will pick you up at nine. (The woman says thanks and he turns to the waiting girls)

Nikita: Do yourself a favor. Get out of here, now.

Sondra: Wait, why should I?

Nikita: Because this place is not what it seems.

Scene Five - Section One, Madeline's Office Madeline is at her desk; Birkoff enters.

Birkoff: You wanted to see me?

Madeline: Yes. Nikita's interview went well?

Birkoff: She's on a plane now.

Madeline: And Michael?

Birkoff: He's meeting with Anagar in a few minutes.

Madeline: I trust his cover is sufficiently thorough.

Birkoff: Swiss bank accounts, European pedigree, American assets. They'll love him.

Madeline: One more thing. There's a woman working with Operations. Her name is Renee.

Birkoff: On loan from Oversight.

Madeline: That's right. I'd like to see the most recent jacket we have on her.

Birkoff: Her jacket's been frozen.

Madeline: (raises her eyebrows) On whose authority?

Birkoff: Operations. I could ask him about it if you like…

Madeline: I'll handle it.

Scene Six - Anagar's Office. His intercom buzzes.

Anagar: Yes.

Secretary: Mr. LeDeaux is here.

Anagar: Send him in. (Michael enters) Ah. Mr. LeDeaux, Emlen Anagar. It's a pleasure. Please sit down. (they shake hands) So, you're interested in this weekend?

Michael: That's right. If there's an opening.

Anagar: For the fee you've offered, we'll make one.

Michael: Good.

Anagar: Your references are very strong. But, I hope you won't be offended if I reiterate certain policy details.

Michael: No, I won't.

Anagar: You've made arrangements at work?

Michael: My staff thinks I'm backpacking in the Alps.

Anagar: Good. And your wife?

Michael: We're separated. (Cathy in: Well, that part was true!)

Anagar: You've told no one your true destination?

Michael: No one.

Anagar: We will provide transportation to and from the complex. During your stay, you will avoid contact with our other guests. And finally, you agree never to disclose to anyone the true nature of the entertainment we provide.

Michael: Of course.

Anagar: Good, in that case all that remains is the matter of the fee.

Anagar: Done. (they stand) Now, I'm sorry to cut short our meeting, but I need to make arrangements for the weekend.

Michael: I understand.

Anagar: You're a very fortunate man, Mr. LeDeaux. Very few men on this earth have seen what you'll be seeing.

Scene Seven - Anagar's Complex - (The women, including Nikita are led into a room. Other women are already there, most sitting semi-dazed. Electronic chokers are on their necks.)

Oswald: Stand up! Quickly!

Sondra: Wha - What is happening?

Nikita: I guess the modeling job, isn't.

Anagar: This way, Mr. Meyer.

Anagar: We brought in an especially fine group this weekend.

Meyer: Yes. Although there's something to be said for old favorites. (He stops in front of a woman who was already there, not one of the new girls) Hello Cat. You're still here - you must have done well since I saw you last.

Anagar: And she'll do well again tomorrow. But in the meantime?

Meyer: Send her to my room.

Nikita: (Puts an arm around Meyer) Choose that over me? You must be blind. (Meyer gets a kick out of this. Nikita kisses him, placing a tracker on him as she does so)

Birkoff: Sir, the tracker's been activated. Meyer's at the complex.

Operations: Good. Tell Michael to proceed as planned.

Cat: (yells something at Nikita in Russian)

Anagar: (to Meyer) I am sorry for the disturbance. She just arrived.

Meyer: Hmmm. I'll look forward to seeing her in the pit. In the meantime… (he looks over) that brunette, over there.

Anagar: (to Nikita) As you seem to have surmised, there are certain privileges that go along with pleasing our guests. But the choice is theirs, not yours. You understand? Understand?

Nikita: Yes.

Anagar: There'll be plenty of time for fighting but only when I say so. (he strokes her leg) Or you'll die even sooner than you otherwise would. (he leaves)

Sondra: Are you all right?

Nikita: Yeah I'm fine.

Scene Ten - Section One - Main Area Madeline walks across, looks up at the loft; it's dark. She goes upstairs and finds Operations and Renee, looking kind of cozy, laughing together.

Madeline: I hope I'm not disturbing you.

Operations: Not at all.

Madeline: You're dark.

Operations: So we are. Was there something you wanted to see me about?

Madeline: It can wait, if you're busy.

Renee: (gets the message) I'll run these sims. I'll be back in a few minutes.

Madeline: I thought you should know, there's a satellite malfunction. Communications are down with about half our teams.

Operations: How long?

Madeline: Full resolution will take twelve hours. In the meantime, we're switching to alternate channels, but coverage isn't total.

Operations: Let me know if there's anything critical.

Madeline: I will. (She moves closer to him) How's Renee working out?

Operations: You don't like her.

Madeline: I don't trust her.

Operations: Neither do I. But then, I don't trust anyone, except you. (Madeline looks like she's surpressing a smile, at this.)

Madeline: Be careful, Paul.

Operations: I always am.

Sondra: They make us fight each other?

Nikita: Yeah.

Sondra: To the death?

Nikita: That's right.

Sondra: And people pay to watch?

Nikita: I imagine they pay quite a lot.

Sondra: And if you win?

Nikita: You get to fight again. And again. Until you're killed.

Sondra: How can you be - be, be so calm?

Nikita: Because I come from a place not unlike this.

Sondra: I don't want to die.

Nikita: Then you should learn to survive.

Sondra: I can not. I -

Nikita: Why not?

Sondra: Because I have never been in a fight in my life. I have never even been hit.

Nikita: Now you've been hit. Hit me back.

Sondra: No.

Nikita: Hit me back! Hit me!(Sondra doesn't move, Nikita smacks her again, this time Sondra hits back.) So, now you've been in a fight. You just need to stay alive for a couple of days. Avoid them. That's all you need to do. Trust me.

Sondra: You never did tell me your name.

Nikita: My name's Nikita.

Sondra: All right Nikita.

Scene Twelve - Section One - Operations Loft Renee comes in, goes over to him.

Renee: Comm's restored, with all teams.

Operations: Already?

Renee: The Agency loaned us a backup channel.

Operations: I'll bet you had something to do with that.

Operations: (sits on his ledge, pulls her up close to him) Now, there are ground rules. They have to be observed very strictly.

Renee: I'm sure we can manage.

Operations: No public displays of affection. No lead time. When I call, you come. And work supersedes all other arrangements, always.

(Cathy back in again: In other words, all the rules that don't apply when it comes to Madeline. Well, at least they're making it clear Renee's meaningless)

Scene Thirteen - Anagar's Complex. Nikita's awake, Sondra's sleeping.

Nikita: (into comm set) Birkoff?

Birkoff: Yeah.

Nikita: Where the hell have you been?

Birkoff: We had an uplink problem.

Nikita: Is Michael on his way?

Birkoff: Yes. You'll get your egress route from him.

Nikita: We're in some kind of basement.

Birkoff: We've profiled your release. Leave it to Michael.

Nikita: All right. Listen, Birkoff, this place is more than just a brothel.

Birkoff: Yeah.

Nikita: You knew?

Birkoff: They told me not to tell you. Sorry.

Nikita: Sorry?

Aurora: Is the blonde one who hit Cat in there?

Anager: Yes, right over there.

Aurora: They tell me you already have your own bitch.

Nikita: You can leave her alone. She's harmless.

Aurora: Cat's a special friend of mine. You hurt her.

Nikita: So what are you doing down here?

Aurora: I go where I want.

Nikita: That's because you're good at what you do. You're good at killing other women for the pleasure of perverted men.

Aurora: When they put you in that pit, you'll do what you have to. Just like me.

Scene Fourteen - Anagar's Office. Michael shows up.

Anagar: Mr. LeDeaux. Welcome. I trust your journey was pleasant?

Michael: Fine.

Anagar: The program doesn't begin until tomorrow, but we offer a wide range of activities to help you enjoy yourself in the meantime. Come, let me show you your room.

Michael: Am I not permitted to select a woman to accompany me?

Anagar: Well. I can see you don't believe in wasting time. You may choose from the girls from the lounge.

Michael: Which is?

Anagar: Downstairs, Mr. Oswald will show you the way. Enjoy.

Michael: Thank you.

Michael: That one.

Oswald: Yes, she's interesting. But not yet tamed. You may need this. (Oswald hands Michael the electric shock device) If she causes any problems, just push the button.

Nikita: The tracker's working?

Michael: We have full coverage.

Nikita: So, what happens now?

Michael: Birkoff plots an intercept point. I kill Meyer tomorrow.

Nikita: Egress?

Michael: Immediately afterwards.

Nikita: Where do we meet?

Michael: We don't. You're getting out tonight.

Nikita: Um, tonight they'll be suspicious.

Michael: No. You've established yourself as a troublemaker. I'll say you surprised me and escaped.

Nikita: So, they'll send guards to track me, and the show goes on as planned, right?

Michael: The van is two kilometers to the north. Meet them in twelve minutes.

Nikita: Twelve minutes. Michael, you know what this place is. We can't leave these women here. We have to help them.

Michael: They're not our problem.

Nikita: And the hundreds that'll die in the future, they're also not our problem?

Michael: That's right.

Nikita: Fine. Then they're my problem. I'll go out with you tomorrow, I'll meet you at the exit point.

Michael: What do you expect to accomplish in a few hours?

Nikita: I don't know. Maybe nothing, but I have to try. (Michael's very annoyed with her) I have to try. I can't leave these women here, I have to help them. Michael, you've got a sister. When you went to prison, she was all alone. She could have ended up in a place like this if she hadn't been helped.

Michael: You now have ten minutes to meet the van.

Nikita: I told you, I'm not going.

Michael: (hits the intercom; voice says "yes?") Send someone for the girl. I'm finished with her.

Scene Sixteen - Anagar's Complex - Nikita returns to the other girls.

Sondra: Did he hurt you?

Nikita: I'm fine.

Sondra: While you were gone, they told us. We are going to fight tomorrow.

Nikita: What else have you found out?

Sondra: What do you mean?

Nikita: Where do we fight, how many contests are there? All this information can help.

Sondra: Help what?

Nikita: It's going to help you and me to live. When we first came in, someone said something about a pit.

Sondra: Yes, I remember.

Nikita: We need to know how big is it. How high the walls are, where do they keep the guards? Some of these women have been here for a little while. We'll talk to them.

Sondra: I have a feeling it won't do any good.

Nikita: Why not?

Sondra: They're planning something. Something special. I don't think any of us are going to survive.

Scene Seventeen - Section One - Private Dining Room. Operations and Madeline having breakfast.

Operations: Meyer's hit will take place in a few hours. I have the profile here.

Madeline: We're not hitting him in his room?

Operations: No, security will be at maximum density. Our chance of success doubles later on. You see a problem?

Madeline: No. I'm sure Birkoff did a thorough job.

Renee: I was going over the sims for the - (she sees Madeline, cuts it short. NOT thrilled to see Maddy. Ha ha ha. She decides to be way pushy and sits down next to Operations like she owns him or something.) Hello, Madeline.

Madeline: Renee.

Renee: (to Operations) I was saying, the Afghan sims look strong. But I think Beta team should be restructured.

Operations: That's an interesting idea. (to Renee) Will you give us a few minutes more?

Renee: Of course. (she leaves)

Madeline: She's involved in missions now?

Operations: No, she's observing. Some of her ideas are quite good. She brings a fresh perspective.

Madeline: You took me out of Systems. (this in a tone that could freeze water)

Operations: We need you in tactical. Birkoff's been stretched too thin. It's only temporary.

Madeline: Until Renee's gone.

Operations: It has nothing to do with Renee.

Madeline: (She gives him a look that could kill and then says icily) I'm glad to hear it.

Operations: You can come back in now. And lock the door behind you.

Scene Eighteen - Anagar's Complex - Fight Day. Aurora walks in to select an opponent. She points at Sondra.

Aurora: That one.

Sondra: Nikita!

Nikita: You have to want to live. You have to want to live!

Scene Nineteen - Anagar's Complex - Oswald comes in and goes to Nikita.

Oswald: You're next. I hope you can swim.

Scene Twenty - Section One - Systems - Madeline and two operatives approach Renee.

Madeline: I'm afraid you'll have to leave now.

Renee: Leave?

Madeline: Yes. I'm returning you to Oversight.

Renee: I haven't finished my work yet.

Madeline: (reaches over and taps a key on the computer Renee's working on) Yes, you have.

Renee: What's the reason for this?

Madeline: You contacted the Agency on our behalf without prior clearance.

Renee: And Comm was restored eight hours sooner as a result.

Madeline: Nevertheless, it was a violation of protocol.

Renee: I'll speak to Operations. Where is he?

Madeline: Off duty, which leaves me in charge. (slight tone of triumph)

Renee: All right. I'm going. But you'll pay for this, Madeline. You'll pay.

Scene Twenty-One: Section One - Comm Center. Birkoff is talking on the comm set to Michael, who's at Anagar's place.

Birkoff: Meyer's still in his room.

Michael: He should have left by now. The show's already started.

Birkoff: He's on the phone. A big transaction. I can't catch the details.

Michael: How long will he be?

Birkoff: There's no way to tell. Go. I'll keep you posted.

Michael: How long do these fights usually last?

Birkoff: I don't know. We didn't scan them. (Nikita and Aurora fight)

Birkoff: Michael? Is Nikita fighting?

Michael: Yes. (He's worried, Aurora seems to be winning)

Birkoff: If you intervene the chance of mission success goes to zero. Michael? (pause) He's off the phone. He's on his way. Michael, take your position. Michael, you have to move now. (Michael won't move, he's watching Nikita. Meyer comes up and sits down in the next box away from Michael. Nikita starts to get the better of Aurora, then pauses and realizes she can't kill her.)

Meyer: Kill her!

Oswald: (to Nikita) Kill her! Kill her! (Aurora gets out of the tank, Nikita tries to get out but they shove her back down and then the metal grate overhead starts to lower; Nikita is crushed to the bottom of the tank and starts to drown. Michael runs off to help Nikita. He comes up to a guard by the theater entrance, belts him in the face, knocks him down. Then he goes to Meyer and throttles him with a wire. Shot to the tank, Nikita floating apparently lifeless. The grate rises. As Oswald goes to drag her body out, she comes alive, flips him into the tank, beats him up. Then she gets out of the tank.)

Nikita: (hands Aurora a gun) You know how to use this? Find Anagar - Kill him. The guards will clear out. Free the other girls. Help them get home.

Aurora: Thank you.

Anagar: Aurora!

(she blows him away)

Tag, part one - Section One - Madeline's office. Operations enters.

Operations: (smiling away, he's thrilled at Madeline's actions) Renee said you were jealous. I didn't believe her.

Madeline: (cool as ever) You were right not to believe her. Jealousy had nothing to do with it. She was interfering with our normal procedures and, quite frankly, when she was around your judgment wasn't up to its usual standards.

Operations: (He grins and laughs, Madeline smiles too) Still, ejecting her forcibly was a violation of protocol.

Madeline: So was her contacting the Agency. (stops smiling, wondering where he's going with this.)

Operations: That can be justified. She has powerful friends in Oversight. This could blow up in your face, if it's not handled properly.

Madeline: Is there any reason this can't be handled properly?

Operations: I can smooth it over with Renee. I have a good relationship with her. (he smiles again) But the question is, what kind of relationship do I have with you? (Madeline doesn't answer) Why don't you admit you were jealous and you still have feelings for me.

Madeline: Of course I do. Admiration, respect, friendship.

Operations: If I thought your feelings went beyond friendship, I'd make this whole thing go away. Otherwise, I'll have to let bureaucracy take its course. And that could be very unpleasant. (he strokes the side of her face)

Madeline: Don't do this.

Operations: In the tower, tonight, ten o'clock.

Nikita's Apartment - Nikita and Walter have apparently just had dinner together.

Walter: It was a three man mission in the Balkans. A motion detector failed. I got out alive, the other two didn't. They were in that five percent that I've told you about.

Nikita: Good men.

Walter: The best. That got me interested in the gadgets we use. I designed a few myself, eventually got into it full time. Been there ever since. By the way, you should start thinking about your future too.

Nikita: My future?

Walter: People don't live forever in the field. You should move into another area. Comm, Research, Profiling…I could use an assistant. (Nikita laughs) No, come on now, I'm being serious.

Nikita: I think I'd feel too guilty, knowing that there were people out there risking their lives.

Walter: Trust me, you get over it.

Nikita: How do you do it? How do you stay sane? What's the secret?

Walter: Knowing when to lie, and when to tell the truth.

Nikita: To them?

Walter: To yourself. At night you go to bed knowing you live in hell. That's the truth.

Nikita: And the lie?

Walter: And you wake up in the morning thinking that this day may change everything…you'll escape, you'll fall in love, they'll close the place up and send everybody home.

Nikita: Then that night you have to face the truth again.

Walter: Yeah. But in the meantime, you've accomplished that's truly remarkable. You've made it through another day.

Nikita: (answers) Hello?

Michael: Josephine.

THE END