| Off Profile | |||||
| La Femme Nikita | |||||
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| Episode no. |
Season 2 Episode 18 |
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| Directed by | John Fawcett | ||||
| Written by | David Ehrman | ||||
| Production code | 218 | ||||
| Original air date | August 2, 1998 | ||||
| Episode guide | |||||
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"Off Profile" is the eighteenth episode of the second season of La Femme Nikita.
Summary[]
A new mission profiler, Andrea, is transferred to Section One, and despite being even more emotionally closed than Michael, he attempts to romance her. Eventually, she opens up to him, only to learn that his seduction is merely a set up to test her commitment to Section. Now, she will stop at nothing to seek revenge Michael, even if that includes killing Nikita.
Plot[]
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At Van Access, Medical personnel rush to meet an arriving mission with wounded operatives. When the doors open, one operative is already on a gurney and another one is bleeding profusely. They are immediately rushed away. Michael and Nikita bring up the rear. Operations approaches them and asks Michael why he aborted. "We had to. We went critical ten minutes into the mission." Operations is upset that they lost their target Korda and he points out that they'll have to start from scratch. Michael express concerns to Operations about the effectiveness of the profile. He calls it "faulty". A woman walks down the hallway and curtly tells him that there's nothing wrong with the profile. Operations introduces the woman as Andrea Kosov, a new mission profiler. "The flaw was in your execution," Andrea tells Michael. Operations orders them to check the mission tapes and get their disagreement settled because the team will be going out again.
Michael and Andrea review mission tapes at Systems. Andrea points out an operative who didn't penetrate as the profile required. Michael points they were unable to because the perimeter wasn't secured. They quietly continue to argue as to whether the window they had to work with would have allowed for the capture of the target Korda. Nearby, Nikita works with Birkoff but she regularly glances to Michael and Andrea nearby, overhearing their discussion. Operations arrives and notices that the issues about the profile have not been resolved. He's upset at the lack of progress, but tells them that they'll have to deal with it at a later time because they'll need a new mission design. "I want a different profiler. She doesn't have any field experience. Her designs are too theoretical," Michael tells Operations. Andrea bristles at his words and calmly asserts her work. Operations suggests that Michael take her with them on their next mission so that Andrea can gain the necessary field experience. Michael remarks that they can't protect her out there. Insulted, Andrea tells Michael that she can protect her self. Operations considers the matter closed. Andrea will go out with Michael's team. Nikita continues to watch the tense scene before her.
Act 1[]
At a mission briefing, Operations informs those gathered that six weeks ago the genetic code to manufacture designer viruses was stolen from a lab in Zurich. Hans Korda is a geneticist connect to the group who stole the codes. He states that the aborted mission from earlier not only failed to capture Korda but exposed Section's plans to capture him. In two hours, another mission will leave to capture Korda. Operations wants no mistakes this time in either design or execution.
At Munitions, Operations approaches Walter about Oversight's belief that Section used the Winchester Protocol during a mission in Afghanistan. Walter confirms that they did. "Well since it's been forbidden numerous times at the highest levels, our position is that we didn't." George will be arriving at Section to interview the tactical group. "Birkoff has agreed to support us. We expect your cooperation as well." Walter becomes somber as Operations speaks and he notices. He tells Walter that he regrets what happened to Belinda and reiterates that her abeyance status and death wasn't personal. He wants to know if he'll support their position with George and whether or not Walter can be counted on. "I'm not sure you can," Walter says honestly. Operations begins to walk away before he tells him, "I strongly advise you to reconsider." Walter is fatalistically defiant. "What are you going to do, cancel me? Go ahead."
At Munitions, Nikita preps for her upcoming mission alongside Andrea. When she notes Andrea struggling with the placement of a communications patch, Nikita assists. Walter approaches the women with a handgun. He points out to Andrea that most field operatives prefer a lighter weapon, but Andrea trained with the type of handgun he's brought her. She's unbothered by the differences between the harmless holograms and the live hostiles she'll encounter out in the field that Walter mentions. After Andrea walks away, Nikita and Walter share a look about Andrea's assuredness.
On site, Michael, Nikita and Andrea walk through the front door of an apartment building. When they approach the security guard desk, Michael tases the officer. Andrea sheds her overcoat to reveal a security uniform. She promptly gets behind the station and retrieves a building access card for Michael. Andrea stays behind to monitor the security cameras and watch for the positions of Korda's men while Michael and Nikita ride the elevator to his location. Michael requests from Andrea the position and number of hostiles in the location. "Two guards at the entry point, close the target," Andrea informs him.
Hans Korda watches television while two guards stand nearby.
Michael and Nikita arrive the appropriate floor and exit the elevator. The calmly walk the hallway towards Korda's location. When they arrive at the door, Michael pushes the door open trapping one of the guards between the wall and the door. Michael shoots him through the door. Nikita enters from behind while Michael shoots the second guard. Once Nikita secures Korda, Michael informs Andrea that they have. Andrea alters Michael of two hostiles approaching them from the stairwell. "They're yours," Michael tells her. Andrea pulls out her handgun. "Hold and wait for my signal."
Andrea rushes towards the stairwell. She emerges at a door just above the hostiles. Using the element of surprise, she shoots one of them. The second hostile fires back and she ducks to avoid getting hit. Andrea pursues him and manages to wound him. She gets closer and this time she fires a kill shot. "Stairs are clear," she alerts Michael. Nikita and Michael escort Korda into the stairwell. Suddenly, a third hostile appears through a door behind them and Andrea kills him before he can fire off a shot.
The team of Michael, Nikita, and Andrea with Korda in tow arrive at Van Access. "Good work," Michael compliments Andrea. "It was a simple enough mission," she replies, unimpressed. "First time under fire is never simple," Michael suggests. An operative greets them at the entrance and Michael instructs the man and Nikita to prepare Korda for interrogation. Michael and Andrea walks off together in the same direction while Nikita follows the operative now tasked with Korda. "Would you like to join me for dinner?" Michael asks Andrea. Overhearing the question, Nikita stops and looks curiously back at Michael and Andrea. "No, thank you. I don't go out much," Andrea replies, rebuffing his invitation. "With anyone or only operatives?" Michael presses. "With anyone, especially Section operatives," she tells him. "We got off on the wrong foot. It was partly my fault. I'd like to make amends," Michael tells her. "It was nobody's fault. No amends necessary," she tells him. "No amends then. Just pleasure," Michael offers. Nikita continues to watch the exchange from a distance, surprised by what she's witnessing. "Forget dinner, Michael. It's not gonna happen." Michael is accepting, for a moment, before he asks Andrea out for a cup of coffee. "I'd like to know you better." To that, Andrea nonverbally agrees and they walk off together. Nikita remains surprised by what just happened.
Act 2[]
The following morning, Nikita arrives at Section and greets Birkoff. She mentions that he's there early. He tells her of a situation that's heating up as well as her mission. Madeline is currently interrogating Korda and he doesn't believe he'll put up much of a fight. Nearby, Andrea walks back and she catches both of their attentions. Nikita asks if he's seen Michael. "Yeah, he came in," he tells her rather quickly. "Alone?" Nikita asks but Birkoff tells her that he didn't really notice. Birkoff asks Nikita on her opinion of the new profiler. "Andrea? I don't know. A little arrogant maybe," she offers. "Yeah, profilers think they know it all. Sometimes they do." Nikita asks if Andrea does but Birkoff thinks that it's too early to tell. He tells her that she transferred in from the Asian sector. "Asia thinks she walks on water. Totally dedicated to Section," Birkoff shares. "The perfect operative," Nikita remarks. "That's what they say. Nothing gets to her. Nothing and nobody."
Andrea works at a station near Comm. Michael approaches her. "Good morning," he says in greeting.
Act 3[]
Act 4[]
Michael and Nikita walk together towards Van Access. She asks him if he's spoken with Andrea since the briefing. When he tells her that he hasn't, Nikita suggests that he should. "She's more than just angry, Michael. She's dangers," Nikita warns. "What can she do?" Michael asks. She tells him to be careful.
At a loading dock, a truck backs up next to several armed personnel. Just as the gate that had allowed the truck entrance closes, Michael and Nikita can be seen running inside. The truck's large cargo is unloaded with a dolly and wheeled away. Michael observes this. At Section, Andrea announces the start of the sequence and tells the perimeter team to take their position. Michael and Nikita follow the progress of the cargo as it goes through armed and secure gates. They quietly take out guards to get further access. When the cargo's destination, a lab, is reached the contents are removed. When a guard returns to remove another canister, he is silently taken out of commission by Michael, who was hidden with Nikita behind the large cargo.
Michael emerges from behind the cargo and methodically works through the lab, killing the technicians he encounters. At Section, Andrea works to disable the failsafe. Michael enters the secure area and uses his calibrated heartbeat to unlock the storage unit. He informs Andrea of his arrival before placing and setting the explosive charge. At Section, Andrea reactivates the failsafe and locks Michael inside the storage unit. Michael requests more information from Andrea and informs her that he's locked in. Andrea ignores his call. She removes her comm unit and leaves her station. Michael makes several more attempts to Andrea before he reaches out to Nikita for help. She is still positioned behind the cargo at the other end of the lab. By this point security is aware that they've been infiltrated and guards descend on her position. She kills several on her way to Michael inside the storage unit. "We need a heartbeat," Michael tells Nikita when she arrives. "See if any technicians are still alive." She has just over a minute to get Michael out. Nikita runs back out and checks for pulses on the technicians Michael shot on his way in. She finds one who is alive and trying to crawl away. He begs her to help him. Nikita lifts him and drags him to the instrument panel just outside the storage unit. Michael looks at the timer and sees that they have just over half a minute. The technician's heartbeat opens the door and Michael is released. An armed guard arrives and Michael manages to shoot him before he can fire on Nikita. Michael urges Nikita to run. They have very little time before the explosive Michael set destroys the lab. They run through the lab dodging the shots of additional guards. They escape through the doors just as the detonation engulfs the lab in a ball of fire.
Nikita and Michael arrive back at Section through Van Access. She confirms with Michael that he had deactivated the failsafe before he went in. Nikita wants to know why the door closed behind him. "Because the failsafe was reactivated. There's only one person who could have done that." Michael acknowledges her point. When Nikita points out that Andrea tried to kill him, she wants to know what he plans to do. He tells her that he'll do nothing. "Why not? Because you feel guilty?" Rather than answer her, Michael walks away. To his retreating back, Nikita suggests that Andrea could try again.
Tag[]
Nikita reclines in one of the chairs at the mission briefing table. She's lost in thought. She sits up when she detects a presence. It's Operations. "Is anything wrong?" He asks. Nikita tells him that she's fine and she sits up in the chair. Operations walks up to her. "Andrea has been cancelled," he tells her. "So you knew she tried to kills Michael?" Nikita asks. "Yes, we were disappointed, but not surprised. We ran a few tests. She failed." Nikita looks at him curiously when he mentions the 'tests'. "We knew she wasn't guilty of treason, but we did suspect her of being emotionally unstable. Obviously we were right." Nikita asks if she's being test as well and whether or not she'd report what she suspected. "There was no need to. You would have told us." Nikita expresses her skepticism. "We've been watching you very closely, Nikita. You're one of us now." He leaves her with that final thought.
Cast[]
Main Cast[] |
Special Guest Stars[]
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Episode Quotes[]
- Walter: (brings a firearm to Andrea) "Most field ops prefer to use a lighter weapon."
Andrea: "I trained with this."
Walter: "Shooting at people isn't the same as shooting at holograms."
Andrea: "Why's that?"
Nikita: "People shoot back."
Andrea: "Not if they're dead."
- Madeline: (discussing Michael and Andrea with Nikita) "They work well together. They may even be entering into a relationship."
Nikita: "I wouldn't know."
Madeline: "I hope they are. For their sake. And for yours."
Nikita: "For my sake?"
Madeline: "It's better for operatives to find relationships that won't affect their work. Your passion for life is very strong, Nikita. It enables you to accomplish things that no one else can. It can also destroy you."
- Andrea: "Michael, is anything wrong?"
Michael: "Everything's fine."
Andrea: "I think I could love you." (caresses his hand) "It's Nikita, isn't it?"
Michael: "What do you mean?"
Andrea: "You had a relationship with her. At least that's what people say. Is it true?"
Michael: "Yes."
Andrea: "Did you love her?"
Michael: "Does that matter?"
Andrea: "It does to me."
Michael: "Yes, I loved her."
Andrea: "And now?"
Michael: "Now there's you."
Music[]
angel | MASSIVE ATTACK
fear and love | MORCHEEBA
loaded gun | HEDNOIZE
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