Gates of Hell

Gates of Hell
La Femme Nikita
Episode no.	Season 3 Episode 4
Directed by	René Bonnière
Written by	Robert Cochran
Production code	304
Original air date	January 24, 1999
Episode guide
← Previous Next → Opening Night Jitters Imitation of Death

"Gates of Hell" is the fourth episode of the third season of La Femme Nikita.

Summary

Salla Vacek has been eliminated and Michael's blood cover mission is finally over. However, his permanent separation from Elena and Adam leaves Michael deeply wounded, and he no longer cares about anything, including his own life. Now, Nikita is forced to save Michael from himself before his indifference leads to an early death.

Plot

Teaser

Michael, looking haggard and wearing a bathrobe, sits in an unfurnished loft space. He chambers several bullets into a handgun. Propped up against a wooden beam is a large screen television showing footage of Adam that Elena took while Michael and Adam planted a tree in their garden at home. Michael smiles at the images of his young son on the screen. He points the gun at the screen whenever he appears in it. Overwhelmed by grief and crying, Michael slips off his chair and collapses on the ground. He crawls towards the television screen and places his hand on the image of Adam. He curls up into a ball on the ground in front of the television.

Act 1

Operations conducts a mission briefing about Mihai Brevich, a Red Cell affiliated terrorist with activities in Ukraine. Michael is presented at the briefing but he still looks visibly haggard and his attention is somewhere other than on the information being conveyed. Nikita looks to him concerned while trying to pay attention to the briefing herself. Operations adds that Brevich's son Laszlo Brevich has recently joined his father's organization. Another Section operative, Cuellar, points out that Laszlo is still a kid. Operations says that the "kid" is "even more talented than his father". A colleague of Mihai Brevich is currently in Warsaw and in possession of a laptop which contains information about the group's safe house in the Balkans. Operations notices Michael's lack of focus and asks if he's paying attention. Distracted, Michael's answers honestly, "No." Operations contemplates this for a second before announcing that the mission is to retrieve the laptop. Then the entire team will lauch an assault on the safe house. He adds there will be a delay on the profile because he will be making some changes. Operations then orders Michael to meet him in his office.

All the gathered operative depart but Nikita lingers. She positions herself at a discreet location where she can observe the Perch. She watches Operations wait for Michael. A few moments later, Michael arrives at the Perch. Nikita watches the proceedings from down below. Upon Michael's arrive in Operations' office he tells Michael that he and Nikita will be removed from phase one of the mission and substituted with Van Haven and Cuellar. Michael is to assist Birkoff with Tactical and where Operations can keep an eye on him if he should make a mistake. Michael is unbothered by the news. Operations acknowledges that he's been through a difficult time but he assures Michael that Adam and Elena are being well cared for and that he must move past his difficulties. When Michael asks how he should do that, Operations offers very little advice. He reminds Michael that didn't see his own son grow up because he was in a Vietnamese POW camp. "It wasn't pleasant but life goes on...get over it," Operations tells Michael.

Nikita approaches Michael once he leaves the Perch. She asks if everything is alright and Michael tells her that they've been taken off phase one. Nikita inquires if they did something wrong. "Not we, me," he answers. He tells her that he'll be on tactical and that she's free to go if she wishes. Nikita says that she'll stick around to observe. "Suit yourself," Michael tells her and walks away.

At Comm, Michael sits apart from Birkoff who is patched into the team on phase one of the mission. Nikita stands by to support Michael while Operations observes from a distance. Birkoff talks the team through the acquisition of the laptop and any hostiles they may encounter. When gunshots can be heard on the video feed, Michael visibly flinches. Nikita notes his reaction. The team is now under intense fire and the question of aborting the mission is asked to Michael. He doesn't answer. Nikita quietly tells Birkoff to proceed and he conveys the message to the team. She positions herself closer to Birkoff so she can continue to quietly give tactical support. Operations comes closer as the mission gets tense. Michael remains seated but does little else. At the mission's successful conclusion Operations walks away.

Nikita offers Michael someone to talk to.

Michael rounds a corner and approaches an elevator inside Section. Nikita waits until he arrives. She offers her sympathies at Michael's inability to see Adam again. "You can't be like this. Not here," she counsels. "If there's anything that I can do," Nikita offers. Michael declines. She suggests that talking might help him but declines that as well. The elevator door opens and Michael steps inside. "If you change your mind, I'm here," she tells him. Michael thanks her and elevator closes between them.

At Comm Birkoff reviews the data from a panel. He discovers something and looks up towards The Perch, where he sees Operations occupied with an operative. Birkoff leaves his station and goes to see Walter at Munitions. "I was using Operations' access code to filter the mission. When I went to log off, the directory wasn't empty." Walter is not seeing the connection. "I think it's an umbrella file," Birkoff continues. That catches Walter's attention. He's concerned that Birkoff is carrying the panel with him. "It's huge," Birkoff tells him. Walter urges discretion. They can't talk about it in Section and he tells Birkoff that he'll let him know when.

In the Perch, Madeline tells Operations that she noticed that he altered the Brevich profile. Madeline thinks it's premature. Operations points out what happened during phase one of the mission. "Michael's on the edge right now. We have to be careful. Perhaps he needs some more time alone. A chance to pull back," she counsels. Operations points out that their line of work doesn't really allow for that. "If we push Michael too hard, we may destroy him and that would be a pity," she argues. He notes Michael's erratic behavior as of late and Madeline counters with Michael's potential. "Managing him is not without difficulty." Operations laments the structure the Cold War gave people in their line of work. "Michael keeps up or else he falls to the wayside like everyone else...if Michael can't cut it, we might as well find out now."

In a wooded area overlooking Brevich's warehouse, a Section team crawls among the tall underbrush to get in position. Nikita and a still disengaged Michael are among them. Nikita reports to Birkoff the locations of two hostiles on the perimeter and wants to know how many are inside. He tells Nikita that there are eight but that they are to focus on Brevich and his son. Nikita orders the launch of smoke grenades. The hostiles respond and there's a firefight. Brevich's son Laszlo is riding on a jeep in which the driver gets shot down. Nikita recognizes Laszlo and orders that he be detained. She asks about his father but he refuses to give any information. Nikita asks any of the other teams have spotted Brevich but none have. Birkoff confirms that the intel is "top of the grid" and that Brevich should be there. Nikita prepares to transport Laszlo to the Section van when Brevich calls out to his son from behind some crates on the property. Brevich prompts shoots his son dead in front of Nikita. Michael, who has not moved from his position since the assault began, rises and starts walking towards Brevich's direction. He calming pursues Brevich, who has retreated down a pier. When Michael walks past Nikita, she rises and provides him backup. Brevich has nowhere to go when he reaches the end of the pier. Michael points his rifle at Brevich. Brevich tells Michael not to shoot but he does anyway, killing him. Nikita runs up to him and notices that there's a latex demarcation line on Brevich. She removes the mask to reveal Section operative van Haven. "Section wanted me to believe that Brevich killed his own son," Michael tells her before he walks away.

Act 2

Operations arrives in Madeline's office. They talk about the video playbacks of the recent Brevich mission. Operations derides Van Haven's "incompetence". Madeline points out that,"It's possible the plan itself left something to be desired." He justifies the plan by saying that they needed to get Brevich and restore Michael to his normal capabilities. "It was an attempt to do both. It didn't work. We move on." Madeline reveals to Operations a secondary tape he may not have seen. It's footage of Michael at the assault. Madeline is worried that Brevich now knows what Michael looks like. Operations is unconcerned. She reminds him that Section finds people with far less intel than what Brevich now has on Michael. Madeline feels that they're pushing too hard and trying to do too much. Operations is amused. "You of all people aren't going to warn me about playing God?" He asks. "No, provided we do a decent job of it. God doesn't make clumsy mistakes," she tells him. "Nonsense, scientists say 90 percent of the species ever created on this planet are now extinct, That's a ten percent success rate. Ours are much higher than that. End of discussion."

Walter and Birkoff meet in a secluded location outside Section. "Show me," Walter tells Birkoff and he's handed a panel."Whoa, he was spying on Oversight?" Walter is very surprised. "It has to do with Adrian. Operations was cleaning up. He must have forgot about this file," Birkoff concludes. "If George knew about this, Operations would be stuff and mounted in about ten seconds," Walter points out. Birkoff agrees and he wants to know what Walter thinks. "When you have an ace, you gotta play it...We won't ask for the moon and the stars...just a planet or two," Walter answers with a smile.

Nikita sits at Comm and resting her eyes while she waits for Birkoff. He approaches his station and Nikita inquires about where he's been. With a slightly spooked and suspicious tone, Birkoff asks what she means. Nikita mentions that she's been looking for him. He tells her that he had something to do in Level Four. "I heard Brevich had a recon photo of Michael," Nikita notes but Birkoff is instantly dismissive. "I ran a SIM. The chance of Brevich locating Michael from a recon photo is less than one percent." Nikita doesn't accept that. "Well, with all due respect to your SIM, how would he go about trying," Nikita wants to know. He explains that Brevich would have to cross-reference with other databases and all the threads leading to Michael would dry up in a hurry. Nikita asks for Michael's new location. Birkoff stares at her somberly and tells her that he can't tell her that and she knows it. Nikita straightens up from her relaxed recline on her chair and eases her way closer to Birkoff. "Where does Michael live?" Nikita whispers to him slowly. Birkoff keys in some commands and then turns his terminal in Nikita's direction. "There it is," he tells her.

A warehouse freight elevator ascends and an individual clad in dark boots exits. A door is slid open and a second one is pushed in. A shadowed person passes by a series of frosted windows. The closer the person gets to an open door, a lonely cello can be heard playing a mournful melody. Nikita is revealed through the open door. She slips inside the loft space that is Michael's new home and finds him playing a cello in front of a large television set frozen on a still video image of Adam. Nikita takes a seat on a nearby table and watches Michael play until he stops. "So what are you doing?" Nikita asks. "Playing the cello," Michael responds somberly. "Your security isn't engaged," she points out. "Sometimes, he couldn't go to sleep at night unless I played it for him. It's his birthday today. I bought him a present," Michael shares. "That you can never give him," Nikita says. "Yes, that I can never give him," he confirms. "You're not well," Nikita observes after a long while. "Who is?" Michael responds. Nikita tells Michael about Brevich's recon photo of him. "If he comes, he comes," is Michael's answer as he idly plucks the strings of his cello and then resumes his playing. Nikita reaches out and pulls the cello towards her, interrupting Michael's playing."You shouldn't have done that," he tells her. "Do you want to die?" Nikita asks. "What's that to you?" Michael questions. "I'm your friend," she tells him. Michael rises from his seat and starts to walk away from her. "That would be a big mistake." Nikita wants to know why. "Because people who care about me, end up dead or hurt--Simone, Elena, Adam. Don't follow their path." Still holding his bow, Michael crouches down against a wooden support beam in the loft. Nikita is not liking what she's hearing. "I follow the path of my own choosing, just as they did, Michael," Nikita tells him. "What choice did Adam have," he counters. He rises and starts to walk past Nikita. "I've caused you enough pain already. Go while you still can." Nikita reaches out and stops him by grabbing a hold of his arm. "Michael, I understand what they've done to you." Nikita rises and stands close to him. "You have to find a reason to live," she tells him and Michael wants to know where. "Wherever you can." Suddenly, a bullet shatters one of the street facing windows and Nikita responds by propelling Michael back against a far wall. She leaves him to investigate the shooter from the shattered window and sees a man on the rooftop across the street departing. She points out that Brevich has found him. Michael is unbothered and sits on some wrought iron stairs. "I was an easy target. Would Brevich have missed? Maybe Section's playing some more games." Nikita says she's unsure and walks back towards Michael and crouches before him. "Michael, you have to do something," she pleads with him and grabs a hold of his arm. "Please." Michael agrees and he stands. Nikita looks momentarily pleased that he's motivated enough to help himself but Michael simply lifts his abandoned cello. He retakes his previous seat by the television screen and begins to play once more. Nikita watches him, distressed by his actions until she departs the loft. Outside, as Michael continues to play, Nikita stops just beyond the gate to Michael's apartment. She backs up, checks her gun and decides to stand guard outside his home.

Act 3

Walter descends a set of stairs and walks into Systems to find a tired Nikita reviewing information for an upcoming briefing. She tells him good morning. He asks if Nikita is still worried about Michael. She confirms that she is. Walter tells her that he's worried about her, to which Nikita dismisses his concerns. "Oh, I think there is. For example, it's not morning, it's six in the evening," Walter tells her. Nikita reacts with exhaustion at the information. She notes that there's going to a briefing in a few minutes and she needed to get finished with her review. "You've been guarding him, haven't you," Walter points out. "From time to time," she admits as if it's no big deal. "Does he know?"Walter presses. Nikita doesn't answer verbally but she morosely shakes her head. "And when do you get your sleep?" Exasperated, she tells him that she does so when she can. Walter wants to know how long she plans to continue what she's doing. "Till he starts caring about his life again," she answers sadly. "And if he doesn't?" Walter asks. "He will. I'll make him," she asserts. "Wrong answer, Sugar. If I was a little younger, I'd probably follow you around and protect you but as it is all I can do is give you a little advice. You can't give him a reason to live. He has to find that for himself." Confident that he's given Nikita something to think about, Walter exits Systems and leaves her alone.

Out on the main floor of Section One, Walter crosses paths with Birkoff. He subtly asks Birkoff if he's given some thought to their previous discussion. "We do it tonight. Right after the briefing," Walter tells him before leaving. Birkoff takes a seat at the briefing table with several other operatives. Nikita arrives as well but she pauses at the chairs when she sees that Michael hasn't arrived. Operations arrives and Nikita takes a seat. He notices as well that Michael is not present. "You're sure he knows about the briefing?" Operations asks Birkoff. "Yes, I talked to him myself," Birkoff replies. Moments later, Michael emerges from a distant corridor and approaches the briefing table. Operations watches as Michael struggles slightly with the rolling chair before taking a seat. "Nice of you to join us," Operations tells him. "Thank you," Michael replies, unbothered by his tardiness. Now that Michael has arrived, Operations commences with the briefing. He calls up an image of a warehouse outside Nakar that being used for the storage of toxic chemicals. Brevich will be there that night to pick up a shipment of Biothermite. Nikita notices that Michael is not paying attention. So does Operations and he calls for his attention. Operations changes the image to the site of his stage area, about twenty kilometers to the northeast of the warehouse. "it's not the target, but an alternative egress route passes close by so familiarize yourself with the outer features. The mission leaves in about one hour." At the briefing's conclusion, everyone stands to leave, but Operations stops Michael. "I don't have to tell you that your performance of late is unacceptable. This may be your last chance to rectify that situation." Michael takes in the threat of cancellation and then leaves without saying a word.

Tag

Operations approaches the panel storage and keys in an entry code to access it. He removes the panel with the umbrella file that Birkoff had stored. As he leaves, he passes by Birkoff at his station. Birkoff approaches the storage unit and notices what Operations has removed.

In Section, Nikita and Michael cross paths on the main floor. They each ask how the other is doing. Nikita asks Michael if he'd care "for coffee" to which Michael agrees. Up in the Perch, Operations and Madeline observe Michael and Nikita down below as they make their way towards Michael's office. Michael steps inside while Nikita waits at the door. Madeline congratulates Operations on his setup to restore Michael's focus. She points out that there's "nothing keeping them apart" now. Operations recounts to her a story about two hunting dogs his family had when he was a boy. The two dogs were very fond of each other but that occasionally it would "interfere with the hunt". In response, they implemented a series of "rewards and punishments" until eventually one of the dogs had to be put down. Operations tells his story as Michael walks out of his office and together he and Nikita walk out of Section One for their coffee date.

Cast

Main Cast Peta Wilson as Nikita Roy Dupuis as Michael Eugene Robert Glazer as Operations Alberta Watson as Madeline Matthew Ferguson as Seymour Birkoff Don Francks as Walter

Special Guest Stars Edward Evanko as Mihai Brevich

Episode Quotes

• Operations: "I miss the Cold War too, Madeline. It had clarity."

• Operations: "You of all people aren't going to warn me about playing God?"
  Madeline: "No, provided we do a decent job of it. God doesn't make clumsy mistakes."
  Operations: "Nonsense, scientists say 90 percent of the species ever created on this planet are now extinct, That's a ten percent success rate. Ours are much higher than that. End of discussion."

• Madeline: "Brevich dead, Michael back in the fold. Congratulations."
  Operations: "Thank you."
  Madeline: "It was a huge risk. It could have ended very badly."
  Operations: "But it didn't."
  Madeline: "I doubt if it's going to be that simple. There's nothing keeping them apart now."
  Operations: "When I was a boy my father and I were hunters. We had two retrievers. Good dogs. They were very fond of each other. Being close kept them content and efficient, but occassionly it interfered with hunt."
  Madeline: "How did you deal with it?"
  Operations: "A system of rewards and punishments, as with any living creature."
  Madeline: "Did it work?"
  Operations: "For a while, eventually, we had to put one of them to sleep."

Music

is jesus your pal? | GUS GUS

elegie, op. 24 | GABRIEL FAURÉ