MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Originally aired in the U.S. February 20, 2000
Transcript by Cathy
Madeline: I see no indication of the Gelman response. Nikita’s irises and pupils are completely normal.
Operations: Then we’ve lost control of her.
Madeline: Yes. With Adrian’s help, it seems that Michael has been able to reverse what we’ve done. Do you intend to reinstate the orders for his cancellation?
Operations: No. Not now. Not as long as he has Adrian.
Madeline: Well, as long as he has Adrian, he’ll have Nikita.
Operations: I’m aware of that. When the time is right, we’ll deal appropriately with all three of them.
Madeline: There may already be a way to deal with Michael and Nikita.
Madeline pulls up a picture of Michael and Nikita. She then inserts another man’s picture where Michael’s was – this is Helmut Volker, who we meet later.
Scene Two – Section One
– War Room
Operations: Wolfgang Volker is the founder and chief
operating officer of Volkwerks Industries, the second largest small arms
manufacturer on the continent. We’ve
been monitoring his operation since they’ve expanded to their new facility in
Heilbron. Birkoff has a direct link into
their inventory control.
Birkoff: As far as I can tell, it appears to be a
legitimate organization. No unaccounted shortages, no burglaries. Their
security system’s first rate.
Operations: (pulls up a picture of a man) This is his son, Helmut Volker. In the last month,
his activities mainly consisted of living off his father’s fortune and the high
life and fast track. In the process, he’s
acquired some very interesting friends.
All with known ties to Red Cell.
Nikita: What happened last month?
Operations: Helmut went to work for his father. Given his associations, and now his access
to his father’s inventory, we predict a better than 90% probability that a move
will be made by Red Cell to acquire some extremely sophisticated weaponry.
Michael: We have operatives in place.
Operations: At Volkwerks, yes. But not in Helmut’s party circle. (pulls up a picture of a young couple) Anna Gunther, Frederick Kraus. Heroin dealers, lovers. That will be our point of entry.
Scene Three – City Street. Michael and Nikita are waiting to pounce on Anna and Frederick, and Nikita is being snarky, LOL.
Nikita: You always take me
to such nice places, Michael. They
should be out in a few minutes.
Michael: (faces
her, gets close) Where are you staying tonight?
Nikita: They’ve assigned me to temporary quarters
while they scrub all traces of the Gelman process from my little apartment. I’ve
got to say, my new pad’s almost as nice as this (she looks scornfully
around the alley they’re waiting in and laughs).
Michael: For how long?
Nikita: Two weeks.
Michael: You could stay with me. (he is stroking her shoulder with his hand)
Nikita: Are you asking me to move in with you?
Michael: You’d be more comfortable.
Nikita: Well, is this for two weeks or were you
thinking of something a little more…permanent?
Michael: We’d have more privacy. (They are so close that every time they talk, they are almost kissing…great scene!)
Nikita: And how is it that you think that we’re
going to get away with that?
Michael: Adrian.
Nikita: I’ll think about it. (she turns, sees Anna and Frederick
approaching)
Team two, stand by. Target in
sight.
Nikita comes up behind Anna; Michael behind Frederick. They have guns to their backs before A&F even realize they’re there.
Michael: Get in the car.
Nikita: Give us the heroin.
Frederick hesitates.
Michael: She only asks once.
Frederick hands over the briefcase.
Michael: Take them in.
The black Section Suburban comes and literally pushes Frederick’s black Mercedes, with he and Anna into it, into a waiting van which then closes up and drives away.
Nikita: Shall we?
Scene Four – Helmut Volker’s Estate. A party is in progress – lots of pretty, scantily clad people who look like they are enjoying chemically induced happiness. Michael and Nikita enter and are greeted by a butler.
Butler: Follow me.
Nikita: Another nice place.
Butler: Anna Gunther and Frederick Kraus. (Announcing them to Helmut)
Helmut looks EXACTLY like an old time Simon Legree type villain. He has a little mustache and affects kind of a faux-nobility way of speaking.
Helmut: We’ve been waiting for you two. (to the men with him) That’s enough for tonight; we’ll finish this
tomorrow. Gentlemen, play time. (the
men leave). Anna Gunther and Frederick Kraus.
I must say, I find it hard to believe you are who you say you are.
Michael: And why is that?
Helmut: (eyes her) Well, it’s much too old for you. Much too…iron stake up the rear and
all that.
Nikita: So you’re not disappointed then? (Nikita walks over and seats herself; Michael stands motionless)
Helmut: Only at my failure to make a more
appropriate prediction. You’re both
much too…gorgeous for words. (He
kind of strokes Michael’s cheek…ewwww…LOL)
I should have been born with his face.
Michael walks over and lays the briefcase down on the table to open it.
Michael: Two kilos, Turkish, uncut.
Helmut: Freddie, please, humor me and ask as if we’re the best of friends. Sit. I’ve been doing business all day and I’m feeling completely bereft of insignificant small talk. (Michael gives him the blank stare but sits).
Nikita: I like your tie.
Helmut: So, why don’t you two tell me when you knew
you were meant for each other and absolutely no one else would do?
Nikita looks at Michael who doesn’t speak up. So she responds, clearly a bit annoyed.
Nikita: I’d say we’re still working on that.
Michael: (To Helmut)
You’re interested in making a purchase?
Helmut: Of course I’m
interested, Freddie. Why, do you think all those people out there love me for
who I am? And why the rush? You’re my friends now. Stay and party and we’ll do this business
tomorrow. (He leans toward Michael) Do you know,
I have a feeling there’s a bit more of that iron stake stuck up there than we
thought, but we’ll have a good yank at it before we let you out into the real
world. (Nikita smiles, amused) Alex will
make you feel comfortable, and if you insist on being alone, I might have to
suggest you lock your door.
Scene Five – Section
One, Operations Perch.
Operations: By now, they should have Volker’s
attention. Now it’s just a question of
how far he’s willing to go.
Madeline: We knew the probabilities going in…just
under sixty percent. But if Volker is
drawn to Nikita as I suspect he is…then I believe we can be confident in the
outcome.
Scene Six – Helmut Volker’s Estate – Party. Nikits appears to be sitting on Michael’s lap, playing with his hair. Of course they’re actually talking business.
Nikita: You noticed who was in the room with Volker
when we came in?
Michael: Yes, we’ll need to get into his safe.
Nikita: It might be easier said than done. I’m not so sure he’s the phony he makes out
to be.
Michael: You think there’s more?
Nikita: You’d think there’d have to be. (Good one, Nikita!)
Helmut approaches them, smiling.
Helmut: Hushed words in my humble hallway?
Nikita: No, just discussing what good taste you have in champagne. (She takes the bottle out of his hands to pour herself a refill)
Helmut: Yes, I regret I’m cursed with my good
taste. It’s murder on the bank account,
but it does wonders for the soul.
Nikita: (laughs)
Nice on the tongue, too.
Helmut: So…you two are all set then? What say you join me on the shooting range tomorrow
morning? You do shoot, Freddie?
Michael: I’m a little out of practice. (Cathy in: LOL!) Nikita is blowing in his ear as he says this.
Nikita: It’s getting late. (to Michael) Come on,
darling. (to Helmut) See you in the morning. (she stops to refill his glass of champagne before walking
off with the bottle) Good night.
Helmut: (after she has gone) It’s just
become that.
Scene Seven – Helmut’s
Estate – Michael and Nikita’s room.
The door handle opens slowly and a figure dressed in black moves into the room. Michael and Nikita are lying in bed. The man slides the cold neck of the champagne bottle along Nikita’s arm and she reaches up to clasp it; she’s awake. It’s Helmut. He whispers to her; beckons her. She slips out of bed; after she’s gone, Michael’s eyes open.
Scene Eight – Helmut’s
Estate – Helmut’s Suite
Helmut: I always feel that
we miss some of life’s more exciting moments when we sleep.
Nikita: Well, I’ll be sure to keep my eyes open.
Helmut: And I’ll try to make it worth the effort. In
fact, why don’t I do it right now?
(He opens a box with heroin and a syringe)
Nikita: Oh.
Helmut: It’s from Mexico. Not quite Turkish, but
almost as good.
Nikita: It’s late.
Helmut: The best time for dreams. Dreams we can dream together. (He draws her arm to him) Please. (He prepares the syringe, ties her arm off with a piece of surgical tubing. He kisses her wrist. She draws the syringe out of his hand but he continues to kiss her and try to talk her into it. Suddenly the door swings open – it’s Michael.)
Nikita: Freddie! (In her “oh sh*t I’ve been busted” voice)
Michael: (nods to Nikita to get out of the
room. She gets up quickly and beats a
hasty retreat to Michael’s side.) Drugs are the only thing I sell.
Helmut: Freddie…If somehow I’ve created the wrong
impression here, if I made you think that I thought that I could purchase this
gorgeous creature, then I’m profusely sorry.
You more than anyone should know – one look at her, she’s priceless.
Michael: Then consider the cost in the event you were
to break something.
Helmut: Are you
threatening me? I think I’m beginning
to like you.
Michael: We can conduct our business tomorrow.
Helmut: Eight o’clock at the shooting range. It’ll
be fun.
Scene Nine – Helmut’s Estate – Shooting Range. Helmut shoots and misses.
Helmut: Oh…a bit to the
right. This baby packs some kick.
Nikita: Very serious. Impressive.
Helmut: My youth was a tortured one, Anna. My father kept all of the best toys for
himself. It’s a little bit over my head – but with a slight adjustment, I
should be able to zero right in on the target.
It’s sort of a smart rocket.
Michael: Something not required of the shooter.
Helmut: All right, Freddie – since it appears to come down to whose is bigger – please. (He hands him the gun; Michael tries to play dumb…too funny!)
Michael: It is heavy. So I just push- (Michael
turns his head to look at Helmut as he asks.
He’s not even LOOKING at the target.
He pulls the trigger as if by accident and blasts the crap out of the
target. Helmut stares in shock. ROTFL.)
Beginner’s luck.
Helmut: I should say.
Nikita laughs and kisses Michael.
Scene Ten – Helmut’s
Estate – Helmut’s Office
Helmut withdraws money from a wall safe and gives it to Michael.
Helmut: It’s a lot of money, Freddie.
Michael: It’s a lot of heroin, Helmut. (SAME inflection Helmut used…again, ROTFL. I could get very used to this version of Michael!)
Helmut: It’s because I like you that I’m taking your
word it’s as good as you say it is.
Michael: You’re welcome to test it.
Helmut: Well, as I say, I like you and that means I
trust you. You know, if you’d give me
half a chance, I think you could end up liking me too.
Michael: We don’t seem to enjoy the same games.
Helmut: Well, how do you know if you’ve never
played?
Michael: Our business is concluded.
Helmut: Please.
I know we haven’t exactly hit it off, but don’t leave angry. I fail so miserably at most things, but I
consider being a charming host one asset. Please, stay for my brunch.
Scene Eleven – Section One, Comm. Birkoff is listening to Nikita on her comm set.
Nikita: We have a window. Michael will distract Helmut.
I’m proceeding to primary objective.
Scene Twelve – Helmut’s Estate. Brunch? Looks like every other time at Helmut’s place…drugged out scantily clad people hanging all over each other. Michael enters in sunglasses, a skin tight black shirt and skin tight leather pants. Hey, you Royettes, stop fainting all at once, the thudding is rattling my computer!
Helmut: Well, I give up. No doubt you’ve murdered
the lovely Anna in a jealous rage and buried the body on the grounds, thus
framing the ardent rival?
Michael: She’s changing.
Helmut: My God, I hope
not! Hey, have you tried the little
sausage quiche?
Michael: Can we talk for a moment? (Behind them, Nikita sneaks down the stairs)
Helmut: Hmmm…tell you what. I’ll keep my mouth busy, and you talk. (He pops a quiche in his mouth and chews)
Michael: It’s about Anna.
Helmut: Hmmm, I can imagine. Almost everything is.
Meanwhile, Nikita is in Helmut’s office cracking his safe. She puts a device on it and then types in a code.
Michael: When I conduct business, it’s just that – business. I enjoy your money, you enjoy your games. I
expect that in the future, we can continue to do what we all do best.
Helmut: Really?
Are you authorized to speak for both of you? Looks like the yank at the old stake didn’t budge it much, but we
tried, right? (he puts his hand
on Michael’s arm) Friends? (They
click glasses; two little party tarts come up, giggling, and Helmut turns to
them.)
Karyn, Celine. This is Freddie.
Celine: Always keeping the best to yourself, Helmie?
Helmut: I tried but I’m coping with bitter
rejection.
Flash to Nikita, opening a book in Helmut’s safe.
Helmut: Leave some for the other vultures, huh kids? Hey, they bite, Freddie – but in all the right places. (He moves on. Inside his office, Nikita is photographing the book. He goes up to Michael and Nikita’s suite looking for her and opens the door.) Hello? Anna? (He sees her nightgown lying on the bed and picks it up, sniffing it…okay, second ewwwww of the episode…what a sleazebag)
Back at the party…
Celine: (to Michael) Karyn thinks my dress is
tacky. Too obvious. What do you think?
Michael: (looks down at her chest as she
slides her arms up by his neck and then deadpans)
It is.
Helmut comes back downstairs, looking for Nikita. She finishes and slams the safe shut just in time.
Helmut: What are you doing in here?
Nikita: I just wanted to
get away from the noise. (She’s
looking at a piece of sculpture) First century Roman.
It must be worth a fortune.
Helmut: Yes.
It is.
Nikita: It’s beautiful.
Helmut: Yeah.
So when are you going to tell me the truth?
Nikita: Truth … about what?
Helmut: That you don’t love Freddie. Hmmm.
All right, truth or dare. I’ll
start. My father is despicably wealthy and getting older as we speak. His health, well, let’s just say he’s not up
to a full 18 holes anymore. (He
picks up the piece of sculpture) Do you know what this is worth? The last offer I had was for $250,000.
Nikita: It’s beautiful.
Helmut: Yeah.
(He drops it suddenly and it shatters) Pocket change, given what I stand
to inherit. Regrettably, there’s a
codicil to my father’s will. Everything
he has comes to me if I’m married and settled down.
Nikita: How unusual for you.
Helmut: Isn’t it?
Thus the question becomes, will my father’s heart shut down before mine
opens up? That would truly be a
shame. (Operations and Madeline are
listening to all of this, back at Section One in the Perch) Your turn.
Nikita: Well, what would you like me to say?
Helmut: I believe I just asked you to marry me.
Back at Section One, Operations and Madeline trade a look.
Scene Thirteen – Section
One, small briefing area.
Operations: These are Nikita’s photographs of the
inventory Volker has arranged to sell to Red Cell. The plan is to hijack a truck belonging to one of Volkwerk’s
regular customers, making it look like business as usual.
Birkoff: I’ve accessed the company’s delivery logs.
Mandelux makes two pickups a week but for security reasons the exact time and
place are only confirmed two hours before they’re scheduled to arrive. Volker uses a fairly sophisticated cipher system
on his cell phone. I’m working on it,
but I haven’t had much luck.
Michael: If we fail to get
the route in time, the factory loading dock is the most effective point of
contact.
Madeline looks at Operations – something’s up.
Operations: Was, Michael. We no longer intend to interfere with the sale. Volker’s value as
a permanent source of information and given his rise in status within Red Cell
that the success of this arms deal will give him outweigh the importance of
this one mission.
Madeline: And given his infatuation with Nikita, we
feel that her continued connection to him can be extremely useful to us.
Nikita: Are you saying you’d like me to accept his,
uh, proposal?
Madeline: Yes.
Nikita: For how long?
Madeline:
Indefinitely.
Scene Fourteen – Section
One – Corridor
Birkoff: It might have just worked out that way.
Walter: You know how things are, amigo. Things don’t just “work out” around here,
they happen for a business.
They reach munitions and go into the back area.
Birkoff: Even at the cost of letting Red Cell get
their hands on that shipment – you think they’re doing this all to get rid of
Nikita?
Walter: It’s a numbers
game. Michael, Nikita, Volker, Nikita and Red Cell – they pull the level,
whatever comes out three cherries, that’s the jackpot.
Nikita: Walter?
Walter: Back here, sugar.
Nikita: You said you wanted to see me?
Walter: Mmm-hmmm.
(He wheels out a tray of cupcakes.) They’re for you, cupcake.
Nikita: What is this?
Walter: Think of it as a government low-budget bon
voyage party. I’m just trying to make
it as painless as possible. They’re not rigged, and there’s no electronic files
baked inside them or anything. Well here’s…(he
raises a cupcake in salute) … here’s looking at
you, kid.
Nikita: You two talk like I’m never coming back. I’m
getting married, not cancelled.
Walter: Close enough. Keep your powder dry. Sure as hell going to miss you.
Nikita: I’ll be back. (She walks away, pauses, then continues on.)
Scene Fifteen – Unidentified Church. Michael and Nikita stand together. The church is otherwise empty.
Michael: What are you thinking?
Nikita: About the man I’m going to marry. It’s one thing to convince another man that
I love him enough to marry him. But the
idea of not seeing you again-
Michael: You
have to separate Anna’s life from Nikita’s.
Nikita: Is that what you did with Elena?
Michael: I tried.
Nikita: So even with everything that you went
through, you still think it’s possible to hold on to your heart?
Michael: Yes.
We’ll find a way to stop this.
Scene Sixteen – Helmut Volker’s Estate. Nikita enters, dressed all in leather. The skirt’s really cool, it’s got a low-cut v waistband and a high slit up the side.
Helmut: Ah, I wasn’t sure you’d come.
Nikita: I said I would.
Helmut: Yes, but it’s beauty’s prerogative to not
always deliver what’s promised. I keep
trying to read your eyes…and they flash and they sparkle…but somehow manage to
not give an answer.
Nikita: (laughs) Yes.
All right. I’ll marry you.
Scene Seventeen – Section One, Comm Center. Michael walks up to Birkoff.
Michael: Have you been able to decipher Volker’s cell
phone code?
Birkoff: No, not yet. But since the mission’s been scrapped, it’s no longer a priority.
Michael: If it was?
Birkoff: He’s using an encryption code that can’t be remotely
scanned. I’d have to physically get a hold of the phone and use a nam
demodulator to clone the algorithm. Like
I said, it’s no longer a priority.
Scene Eighteen – Section
One, Munitions.
Walter: It’s a nam
demodulator. It’s a variation on what the ripoff guys are using to clone cell
phones. A little more sophisticated in that it can handle digital coding and
encryption schemes. It ain’t fast, though.
Michael: How long?
Walter: If it’s simple, a
minute. From there, well it’s anybody’s
guess. Up to three, four minutes
probably. (Michael takes it) You know I’m
going to have to log this.
Michael: You’ll think of something. (Michael walks away)
Walter: Yeah, yeah, I always think of
something. Michael.
Scene Nineteen – Nikita’s Apartment. It is empty except for the furniture; she’s taking one last look around. Finally she picks up her purse and sunglasses and exits. Michael is outside.
Nikita: We’re leaving for Buenos Aires later
tonight.
Michael: I know.
Nikita: I’m sure he’s going to want the deal to go
down sometime before we leave.
Michael: (Hands her the nam demodulator) If we want to stop it, we need to know when.
Nikita: Do you think this is going to work?
Michael: If he fails with Red Cell, he’ll no longer
be of use to them. This marriage will
be …
Nikita: Pointless. I’ve got to go. (She goes to leave, he catches her hand and draws her back and they kiss)
Scene Twenty – Section One – Operations Perch. Operations is looking at some data on a computer screen. He doesn’t like what he sees and clicks the intercom.
Operations: Madeline? My office.
Scene Twenty-One – Helmut’s Estate, Helmut’s Office. He is on the phone.
Helmut: I’ll be expecting
your call. I’ll talk to you later.
Nikita: (enters) Hi.
Helmut: Promise me that you’ll leave me at least
once a day so that I can have the pleasure of watching you come back through
the door.
Nikita: You’re very good at this. Charming.
Helmut: It’s all planned. Our plane leaves at ten. I’ve
arranged for the ceremony Sunday afternoon.
Scene Twenty-Three – Section
One, Operations Perch
Operations: I came across
this anomaly in our records.
Madeline: A nam demodulator? You can trace it.
Operations: No, it slipped through the cracks. There’s
no repair order. It’s listed as being out, with a bad circuit board.
Madeline: Did you check the replacement schedule?
Operations: It doesn’t show up. It was on inventory when we planned the
Volker mission, but now it seems to be missing. Michael?
Madeline: We both knew there was a chance he’d try to
interfere.
Operations: Even putting himself at risk with Oversight?
Madeline: To prevent the marriage. To keep Nikita to himself. He’s already shown us how much he’s willing
to risk.
Operations: (hits the intercom) Davenport, team briefing, fifteen minutes.
Scene Twenty-Four – Helmut’s Estate – Helmut’s Suite. He is visible in the adjoining room in a bathtub. Nikita is out in the bedroom trying to mess with his cell phone.
Helmut: I have to tell you, it’s a bit lonely in
here.
Nikita: Well, when you come out, you’ll have all the
company you need.
Helmut: Yeah, huh…I’m all for cleanliness but, uh,
bathing first, I don’t know. It takes
away the spontaneity.
Nikita: I’m sorry. Just one of my quirks.
Helmut: I expect to find out about all your
quirks.
Nikita finishes just in time and puts his cell phone back as he enters, dressed only in a really ugly robe.
Helmut: Oh, you’re still dressed.
Nikita: Well, I thought that you might like to give me some help. (She turns so that he can unclasp her shirt; he starts kissing her neck)
Scene Twenty-Five – Helmut’s Estate. Michael is outside waiting in a silver BMW when the phone rings. He picks up and listens. Volker, bare chested in bed, answers the phone.
Helmut: Volker here.
Voice: Can you talk?
Helmut: Ja.
(Yes, in German)
Voice: 8:00 tonight at Volkwerks.
Helmut: I’ll be there.
Nikita: Everything all right? (she is standing, wearing some kind of sheer black thing)
Helmut: Ja, like clockwork.
Scene Twenty-Six – Volkwerks. Michael is there in his silver BMW. As the truck approaches, he watches. He gets out of the car and as the truck pauses by the gate, he attaches something to the back bumper. The truck proceeds through the gate into the compound. Michael gets back into the BMW and waits.
Helmut and another man walk along a catwalk.
Helmut: You have the
schedule? All right.
Other man: OK
Helmut: Very good.
The truck is loaded as Helmut supervises. He checks his watch, nervously. Back at his mansion, Nikita is staring at a painting. The butler approaches.
Butler: I think this is
everything, Madam. The plane just
arrived. Do you expect Mr. Volker
shortly?
Nikita: Yes, any minute. Thank you. (The butler bows and leaves; the time on the mantel shows 8:20)
Back at Volkwerks…
Helmut: (to his foreman) That’s the
last stack? That’s all of it? Good.
Helmut gets into his Porsche Carrera and drives away. OK at least he has good taste in cars.
Dressed like a worker, Davenport removes the unit Michael placed on the truck and disables it. Michael, watching from the BMW, has no idea.
Davenport: (into comm set) Birkoff, the truck is leaving. It’s a done deal. We’ll maintain contact with the target.
Michael watches the truck exit. Suddenly the timer in his car flips to 0. Nothing happens.
Scene Twenty-Seven – Helmut’s Estate. Helmut enters; Nikita looks very surprised indeed.
Helmut: There she is. You seem surprised to see me.
Nikita: (Scrambles, tries to cover) No, I mean…I was just…well, I thought you’d be here
sooner.
Helmut: You must promise to always miss me.
Nikita: Of course. (They kiss on both cheeks)
Helmut: Come.
We have a plane to catch.
Scene Twenty-Eight – Airfield. Michael watches as Helmut and Nikita’s plane takes off. There is nothing he can do.
Tag – Section One, Operations
Perch. Operations is bawling out Michael.
Operations: Having Adrian does not give you free rein. Nikita’s
mission is justifiable. I’m sure not
even Oversight would take kindly to your interference. You are expendable.
Michael: I know.
Operations: It’s over, Michael. Nikita has her job to do and you have
yours. Forget about her.
Michael: Is that all?
Operations: For the moment.
(Michael walks through Section, cuts to Helmut and Nikita’s ceremony)
Minister: Do you, Helmut Volker, take this woman, Anna
Gunther to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love honor and cherish so long as
you both shall live?
Helmut: I do.
Minister: And do you, Anna Gunther, take this man,
Helmut Volker, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love honor and cherish
until death do you part?
Nikita: I do.
Minister: Then by the power vested in me, I now
pronounce you man and wife. You may
kiss the bride.
They kiss – end of
episode.
THE END
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