Love

Love
La Femme Nikita
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 6
Directed by	Jon Cassar
Written by	Michael Loceff
Production code	103
Original air date	February 17, 1997
Episode guide
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"Love" is the first episode that went into production for the first season of La Femme Nikita. It was the third script completed and it aired sixth. It was filmed from October 7-16, 1996.

Summary

An international arms smuggler steals a canister of deadly nerve gas and intends to sell it to the highest terrorist bidder. To stop him, Michael and Nikita pose as married mercenaries for hire, in order to infiltrate his inner circle. However, Nikita is shocked to discover that the arms smuggler as a unique relationship to Section One.

Plot

Act 1

Operations gives a mission briefing to several gathered operatives. He announces that two days ago an experimental nerve was stolen. He adds that the government even having the nerve gas is a violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. On the hologram is shows Perry Bauer. He's done business with Hamas, Red Brigade, and the IRA. His speciality is procurement--material, information, and people. He now has L-Virus. They're unsure how Bauer intends to use it but Section believe it's related to some recent threats against the government by Red Cell. L-Virus has a limited shelf life, so if they're going to use it, then it will be soon.

A man and a woman arrive at a downtown train station. Walking outside, they get into an awaiting limousine. Once inside and settled, they start to kiss heavily. The doors are quickly locked and it draws their startled attention. Nikita pops up from the passenger seat of the limo. She points a gun at them and asks for their weapons.

At Section One, the man and woman Nikita apprehended are sitting side by side in the White Room. The door opens and Madeline steps inside. "In a moment you'll be separated. You'll never see each other again. You understand that? Whoever talks first will go free. The other will never see the light of day," Madeline tells them this calmly as she walks around them in a circle. When she's finished she walks out of the room, leaving them to make their decision.

Nikita is at Walter's station turning in her gun. He flirts with her and asks if she's been thinking about him. She tells him yes. He comments that Section does not allow operatives to engage in sexual relationships with each other. However, he thinks that in their case, an exception could be made. He turns a monitor towards her to show Nikita the paperwork he's already prepared for the request. Amused, Nikita reads it. She points out that there's "No W in menage a trois." Embarrassed, Walter reviews it once again. Michael walks up to them and asks Nikita how the mission went. "Do you mind? We're having a moment," Walter tells Michael after the interruption.

Nikita and Michael walk away together. Michael tries to have a conversation with Nikita by making small talk about her apartment and whether or not she's made friends but Nikita takes his interest as Section obligation as her mentor rather than genuine interest. Just as Nikita is about to walk away, Michael tells her that Madeline expects them together in her office soon.

In Madeline's office, she tells Nikita and Michael that their guests have a meeting with Bauer that afternoon. To Michael, who is trying on a leather jacket, she hands him a packet with identification. "Your name's Peter," she tells him. Nikita, who is next to him, playing a dark, short wig on a mannequin. "Nikita, you're Sage." She too is handed a packet with identification. As they both open and review the contents, Madeline tells them that they met though a man named Feiger and that they specialize in a "broad range of mercenary services--attack, diversion, assassination." Peter and Sage have been married for under two years. "Judging by the fresh scratch marks on their backs, it's safe to say the relationship is a passionate one," Madeline adds. Nikita chuckles at that but questions whether or not Perry Bauer will know that they are not who they say they are. Madeline tells her that Bauer has never met Peter and Sage. She warns them of the dangers they could encounter if the extremely suspicious Bauer allows them entry into his world. Madeline tells Nikita that Baurer will hit on her. "I'm cool," she answers nonchalantly as she slips on a pair of dark sunglasses. "He could hit on you too, Michael," Madeline tells him. Nikita looks amused at the revelation.

Madeline places a pair of rings on the table and instructs them to put them on. Michael gets there first and picks one up. When Nikita picks up the remaining one, she tries it on says that it doesn't fit. "Here," Michael tells her, holding the other ring. "This one's yours." He slips the ring onto her finger. "Do I have to love, honor and obey?" Nikita asks. "Just obey," he tells her. Nikita notes sarcastically that it's only "until death do us part." Madeline asks to see them kiss and Nikita is not amused at the suggestion. Michael tells her that they'll be fine. "I know you will," Madeline tells him and waits for them to follow her orders. Nikita gives Michael a quick peck on the lips and starts to walk away.

"You have to become Peter and Sage," Madeline warns and Michael and Nikita begin to depart. Michael affirms that they will. On her way out, Nikita asks which one of the real Peter and Sage cracked first. "They both did, of course," Madeline tells her serenely. Nikita asks about who gets to go free. Madeline doesn't answer her other telling Nikita that she should go get ready.

A limousine slowly makes its up a narrow road in the woods. It stops at an intercom outside a large gate. The driver announces that he has Peter and Sage to meet with Perry Bauer. He's told to leave them. Michael and Nikita, each carrying a duffle bag, wait outside the gate. Nikita, wearing a black, pixie wig, takes in the wooded area around her. On the other side of the gate, a man in golf cart approaches them. Michael tells him that they're there to see Bauer. After a few vague exchanges that are almost code like, Michael and Nikita are admitted in and they're driven to Bauer's secluded home.

On a terrace overlooking the woods, Bauer chastises Michael and Nikita for being late and he wants to know why. Instead of answering, Michael wants to confirm Bauer's identity. Bauer presses him for answer. Nikita steps up and casually makes an off color remark about Bauer. "She's got quite a mouth," Bauer tells Michael displeased. Michael apologizes and says that it couldn't be helped. Bauer tells them the requirements for the job and wants to be convinced of their ability. Michael sidesteps the request by suggesting Bauer speak to Figer to confirm the quality of their work. Bauer spends several long section watching them before doubt creeps in. "This doesn't feel right," he says and dismisses them. Michael and Nikita are slightly taken aback by the development and turn to leave. Once outside, Michael quietly confides to Nikita that Bauer has no intention of letting them leave. They both board the golf cart that brought them to the house with one of Bauer's men. On the ride away from the house Nikita attacks the driver and Michael takes his weapon. They both head into the woods. Bauer's men search the property but are unable to locate them. Bauer watches through a rifle scope from his terrace, but he can't detect them either. Nikita pulls a gun on Bauer from behind without him ever realizing that she was there. "Audition's over," she tells him. She hands him a walkie-talkie. He orders his men to stop the search. Michael appears down below holding one of Bauer's men hostage. "Welcome to the team," Bauer tells Nikita.

Act 2

A member of Bauer's team drives Michael and Nikita to their accommodations, a private building on the property. He hands them copies of their itineraries as well copies of the floor plan of their target site, an office building where they're going to release a nerve gas. Nikita asks why. "You know when you got hostages no one really starts paying attention until you toss a body out the front door?" They'll be leaving in twelve hours and he gives them some gas mask protocols before he leaves.

At night Nikita sneaks out of a window. She avoids the nighttime patrol and heads into the woods. Stationed nearby is a Section van with Walter inside. He's finishing up the assembly of a small ball like explosive. A shrill alarm alerts him of someone near the van. Nikita enters immediately and informs him of the planned ten o'clock attack on the De Anza building downtown. Walter notes the information and seals the explosive. She asks about Section's plans and he tells her that they'll evacuate the building and let Bauer have his fun. He places the explosive in Nikita's hand with a kiss. "Good luck, Sugar," he tells her before she leaves.

At Comm, Birkoff and Madeline review the De Anza building. He gives a rundown on while the building makes a good pick: ample access to the inside, tinted and sealed windows, and only one security guard. Madeline asks about collateral. Birkoff tells her that at peak hours there will be about 400-500 people inside and in the morning about half that amount. Birkoff ran a SIM but he's unsure how many canisters Bauer is planning to use. In Birkoff's opinion, Bauer isn't bluffing.

In a large truck, Bauer and his team, including Michael and Nikita, make their way through downtown and to the De Anza building. When they arrive Bauer gives instructions about where everyone will be positioned. He tells Michael and Nikita to station themselves in front of the building. If they notice something that looks wrong, they are to inform him immediately. Bauer and three men carry a duffle bag with the canisters into the building. Michael and Nikita remain by the truck. Bauer and his men inter the men's room. Nikita observes a woman and young boy about to enter the building. Alarmed, she starts to move but Michael holds her back. "Where are our people?" Nikita grits out. A man calls the woman's attention and rather than enter the building, the woman and child walk off with the man. A security guard walks into the men's room and hears a drills. Bauer and his men are wearing gas masks while they remove the the bathroom's air vent. One of them shoots the guard and he exits the bathroom with other man while Bauer remains behind to finish the job. He activates a small fan and places it into the air vent. As Bauer prepares to leave, he walks past the fallen security guard who is still conscious. He grabs Bauer's leg, causing him to lose balance and fall, and hitting his head on the wall. Bauer's men exit the building in a mad rush and arrive at the truck. Michael asks about Bauer. In the windows of the building, Nikita sees people pounding on the windows in agony. "There are people in there," she says in shock. She grabs one of the gas masks and runs into the building. Michael calls out to her. Michael grabs a face mask as well and follows Nikita inside. Nikita arrives at the elevator bank and tries to summon an elevator. In panic, she starts pounding on the doors before she pulls the fire alarm. Bauer, still wearing his gas mask, regains consciousness in the bathroom. One of the elevator doors opens and dying people fall out into Nikita's arms. They're all chocking from the gas Bauer released. Michael arrives and sees Nikita helplessly trying to help the people that exited the elevator. Angry, he grabs her and pushes her against the wall. He sternly tells her that there's nothing she can do. "Focus!" They see Bauer stumble out of the bathroom and into the lobby. Michael goes to him and helps him up. Together the three of them run out of the building. Outside, Michael puts Bauer in a fireman's carry and takes him to the truck where everyone else waits. The vehicle leaves the site of the attack as sirens approach the scene. Michael check on Nikita who is angry and shocked at what she's just witnessed.

Act 3

Somewhere on the grounds of Bauer's compound, Michael and Nikita talk in private. "Section let those people get slaughtered. I told Walter exactly when and where it was going to go down. Who are these butchers we're working for, Michael?" He advises caution as they don't have all the facts available to them. Nikita is not moved by his argument. "You don't stand by and watch innocent people die. You find a solution." Michael suggests that it was very likely that Bauer had a fail safe and even more people would have died. "Just do the job," he tells her.

Michael and Nikita stand in Perry Bauer's living room awaiting his arrival. When he does, the asks them why they didn't listen to his orders. Nikita points out that if they'd listened to him, he'd be dead. "Well that's an interesting management dilemma, isn't it?" Bauer muses. "Do I reward you for disobeying me or do I punish you for saving my life?" Nikita interrupts him. "How about feeding us? I'm starved." Amused, Bauer invites them to dine.

In the kitchen, Bauer waxes poetically about having a five star chef at his disposal. Nikita is dismissive of the luxury. Bauer asks Michael and Nikita about how they met. Michael begins to speak but Nikita interrupts and begins to spin a fictional tale about their first meeting. "Rio. During Carnival. First time I remember seeing him was in my bed the morning after. I don't know how he got there. We were totally wasted." Nikita grins brilliantly at Michael. "Peter's my first. My only." She leans forward towards Michael and sensually bites the skin of his jawline and tugs. "True love." Michael is completely captivated by Nikita's performance. Bauer watches them but then mentions that Feiger had mentioned to him that Sage was with him Frankfurt when he introduced her to Peter. Michael takes in how Nikita will respond. She confidently dismisses the story. "Feiger is a liar and a pig. He wishes he was with me." Amused, Bauer admits that to agreeing about Nikita's observation of his friend.

Operations walks into Madeline's office and informs her that Red Cell is giving the government six hours to give in to their demands. Madeline asks about the possibility of that happening. He tells her that they're slim. He asks her on the status of the Bauer mission. She offers that even though they aren't in real time communication with Michael and Nikita, they're with Bauer now. As Operations leaves, he once again reminds her of the six hour time frame.

A frisky Bauer walks back into his living room after dinner with his arms around his very receptive girlfriend, Stephanie, and an indifferent Nikita. She maneuvers herself away from him while he busies himself with a stereo system. Blues music emerges from the speakers. Michael arrives and goes to Nikita. Together they watch Bauer and his girlfriend romp around together in what is supposed to be dance. Bauer gestures to Michael and Nikita to join them. Michael extends a hand to Nikita and she takes it. He takes her in his arms and slowly they begin to dance to the music. As they continue to sway together, they stare at each other intensely. Bauer and Stephanie both take note of the intensity that surrounds their guests. Seemingly unaware of the attention they're received, Michal and Nikita continue their dance. "You both look so beautiful together," Stephanie compliments. "Sage is beautiful," Michael answers. "You must be in love," she suggests. "We are," Michael tells her. Bauer loudly smashes the champagne bottle he carries, catching both Michael and Nikita off guard. Bauer tells Stephanie to go and get them some more champagne. Michael and Nikita continue to dance while Bauer eyes them salaciously. He walks up to them puts his arms around both of them. "You're a lucky man, Peter. Lucky man," he tells Michael. Michael asks if they're done with the job. He supposes that Bauer's clients got what they wanted. "Nah, a total waste of time. I knew it would be. They're foreigners you know. They don't understand you don't get in John Wayne's face and tell him what to do. They're fanatics, you know. They'll wipe out a few thousand people. They still won't get what they want." Distracted, Nikita wants him to elaborate on the "people" he's referring to. He flippantly tells her to watch the morning news. Clearly done with that subject, Bauer asks Michael what he thinks of Stephanie. "She's alright," he answers tightly. Bauer asks Michael to join him privately and he pulls Michael away from the Nikita with a friendly hand on his shoulder. "You know ever since the first I met you, I've been wanting you to watch me have sex with your wife. What do you say?" Bauer asks conversationally. Michael quietly takes in the request. He looks back at Nikita, who also heard Bauer's words. "Just give us the money and we'll go," Michael tells him. Bauer is not amused by Michael's request for payment and release of their obligations. "Listen obviously you two have some perverse idea about love and single partners and I respect that. So if you don't wanna do it with me. How about you do it for me?"

Act 4

Michael and Nikita are led by gunpoint into a moonlit room with a large bed. They both walk further into the room and stand on opposite ends of the bed. Perry Bauer drinks directly from a champagne bottle and watches them on a video feed from the room. "Okay, kids. Don't disappoint me," he says and he turns on some slow blues music that is being piped into the room where Michael and Nikita are. Michael glances up into a corner of the room and sees the camera that Bauer is watching them from. Nikita stands slightly awkward and nervous at the situation they find themselves in. Michael slowly walks towards her. Bauer and his girlfriend watch the proceedings and nibble strawberries. Nikita takes a deep breath and kisses Michael forcefully. Bauer is immediately entertained by his view of Michael and Nikita as together they quickly remove Michael's jacket and toss it away. Michael breaks their kiss and pushes Nikita back slightly. "Take your clothes off," Michael tells Nikita. She moves to remove her T-shirt but Michael stops her. "No, slowly." Michael walks backwards and away from her. "Perform for me," he tells her and he glances upwards towards the camera he saw earlier. Nikita grasps what he means and she immediately begins to sensually sway her hips. Michael eases himself into a chair almost beneath the camera. Bauer adjusts the camera to zoom in closer on Nikita dancing. She playfully removes her cap and tosses it at Michael. Entranced, he catches it. He carefully removes the spherical explosive Walter had given Nikita earlier when she met up with the Section van. Nikita removes her T-shirt and looks over her shoulder at Michael.

At an unknown location, a young man opens the trunk of a car and pulls out several canisters. He places them inside a duffle bag.

Nikita continues to sensually dance and remove a few more articles of clothes. Bauer zooms in even further on Nikita's performance. At an air vent the room, Michael pushes it apart. He activates the explosive and drops it through the vent. He keeps an eye on Nikita while he does so. Confident that the explosive will make its way where he needs it, he walks towards Nikita as she continues to dance. Michael kiss her and then lifts her so that she can wrap her legs around his hips. Michael kisses her stomach before the both drop on the bed behind them. Michael kisses Nikita passionately once more. The explosive stops rolling but continues to show that it's active. Michael and Nikita break their kiss and stare at each other. "Get ready," Michael tells her.

The lone man walks down the street with his duffle bag.

After his instructions, Michael kisses Nikita once more. The explosive detonates, taking several of Bauer's men by surprise. Bauer and his girlfriend hear the explosion as well. He grabs a gun and tells his girlfriend to go to her room.

Michael makes his way through the house and into Bauer's office. He sits down at his desk and logs into his computer.

In the extra bedroom, Bauer bursts in to find only Nikita perched on the end of the bed in her underwear. Her wig is off and her long blonde hair is flowing. With his gun drawn, Bauer cautiously asks about Peter's whereabouts. "He went looking for you. What was that? Did you hear that?" Nikita asks coyly in reference to the explosion Michael set off. Bauer walks further into the room. Nikita points out that it might be a while before 'Peter' comes back. Nikita flirtatiously eyes Bauer. Intrigued, he gets closer. When he's almost on her, Nikita kicks him between the legs and flips over on the bed. Enraged and in pain in his testicles, Bauer points his gun at her. Nikita is amused. Michael suddenly pops up behind Bauer and puts him in a choke hold. Michael tells Nikita that the gas will be released at the train station. He tells Bauer that they're all going. "What? Are you crazy? We're going to die," he tells them. "No, you'll die. We'll be wearing gas masks," Nikita replies casually.

Michael parks a vehicle right outside the entrance to train station platform. Nikita forces Bauer out and the three of them descend down to the platform, which is filled with commuters. Michael wants to know more about the person Bauer hired to release the gas. He tells them that he hired an outsider. He elaborates by telling them that he's a kid with blonde dreads. They looks around frantically until Bauer spots him preparing to leave and points him out. Michael tells Nikita to get the people out of the station and then he chases after the kid. Nikita tries to appeal to the rushed commuters around her but they ignore her. Frustrated, Nikita pulls out her gun and fires upward. People crouch down in fear. "I said, 'Get out'," Nikita orders and people immediately rush out. She points her gun at Bauer and demands to know where the gas canisters are. He tells her the time that the gas was supposed to detonate. Nikita notices that it corresponds to the time a train is supposed to arrive. She deduces that it must be on the track and she jumps down in search of it. She finds it buried in the gravel. She works to free it as a train signals its approach. In a panic Nikita hurries. She manages to free it just in time and just barely jumping out of the way. Michael arrives with the now apprehended kid that Bauer hired.

Tag

Madeline tells Nikita and Madeline that they apparently were very convincing as a young couple in love. Nikita is unimpressed by the compliment and prepares to leaves. As she looks up towards the Perch she sees Operations having drinks with Perry Bauer and another man. Further away, Michael notices Nikita's distraction and waits nearby. Madeline walks up to Nikita. "Shades of gray. There's no such thing as the enemy anymore. As long as Bauer's willing to play both sides of the fence, he'll continue to do business," Madeline tells her and walks away. After a few moments, Michael too walks away. Incensed, Nikita walks closer, pulls out her gun, and points it at the Perch. She pulls the trigger. The gun is empty. She continues to stare up in disgust before she leaves as well.

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 Tobin Bell as Perry Bauer Valerie Boyce as Stephanie Ryan Green as Peter Alisa Wiegers as Sage

Episode Quotes

• Walter: "You know they don't condone sexual relations between operatives, but I think in our case, they'd make an exception."
  Nikita: "Really?"
  Walter: (turns a monitor towards her) "I've already done the paperwork."
  Nikita: (amused, she reviews the screen) "Uh, Walter. There's no W in menage a trois."
  Walter: (embarrassed) "I thought I ran a spell check."
  Michael: (approaches them) "How'd it go?"
  Walter: "Michael, you mind? We're having a moment."

• Nikita: "Do I have to love, honor, and obey?"
  Michael: "Just obey'."

• Bauer: "So how did you two meet?"
  Michael: "Well I was in--"
  Nikita: "Rio. During Carnival. First time I remember seeing him was in my bed the morning after. I don't know how he got there. We were totally wasted." (Nikita grins at Michael) "Peter's my first. My only." (Nikita leans towards Michael and sensually bites the skin of his jawline) "True love."

• Perry Bauer: "Listen obviously you two have some perverse idea about love and single partners and I respect that. So if you don't wanna do it with me. How about you do it for me?"

• Michael: (To Nikita) "Take your clothes off. (Stops her progress immediately) No. Slowly. (Glances at security camera) Perform for me."

• Madeline: "Shades of gray. There's no such thing as the enemy anymore. As long as Bauer's willing to play both sides of the fence, he'll continue to do business."

Behind the Scenes

Joel Surnow said the following in Retrovision #6: This was actually the first show we shot. We shot out of order. We shot "Love," "Charity" and then the pilot. It was difficult to shoot that way, but we also felt that we should shake down the crew, the cast and let everyone get comfortable before we shoot the pilot. We figured if we'd make mistakes, we'd make them on the first two.

I happen to be a huge fan of [this] episode. That's a real rock and roll, down and dirty show. If you look at that show in comparison to what we do now, it's completely different. Stylistically it had five pieces of music in it, it had her in a wig, it was a real sweaty episode. I love the villain. I love some of the moments between Roy and Peta....I was really excited because there was chemistry there. I think we've done much better and bigger since, but it established the fact that we could do a ton of action, which we don't do nearly as much anymore. It was pretty good action for a small show. I have affection for that show just because it's the first one. I see the problems in it now. I don't know how it holds up to some of our other shows that I consider better. It didn't have a lot of Section stuff in it; it was just them out in the field. Again, it had more of a Wiseguy influence than other shows -- a Michael and Nikita undercover show. That's not really Nikita, per se. There are those elements, but we're kind of bigger than just that.

The actors went right into it right from the gate. There was an extreme quality to the show that I liked. Roy is just such a natural. He's so calm and so cool. Again, I started to fight him on that show about, "Show a little more urgency," because he took everything in such stride, but now I look at it and I realize he was right. He's not a skittish character. In terms of learning curve, that's where I came out of that.

Music

• night of the king snake | BIG RUDE JAKE

• expressions of loneliness | MOONSOCKET

• hey man nice shot | FILTER

• still waitin' | BIG SUGAR

• standing around crying | BIG SUGAR

• news | CLOVE

Video

La Femme Nikita- "Hey Man, Nice Shot" - Filter

La Femme Nikita- "News" - Clove