Rescue

Rescue
La Femme Nikita
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 11
Directed by	Ken Girotti
Written by	Peter Bellwood
Production code	111
Original air date	April 14, 1997
Episode guide
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"Rescue" is the eleventh episode of the first season of La Femme Nikita.

Summary

Section One destroys a chemical weapons plant in central Europe, but Michael is left behind when he was shot and wounded. When new intel reveals that Michael has eluded capture, Nikita and Madeline are assigned to go after him, posing as cosmetic saleswomen. Fortunately, Michael has found a nurse sympathetic to the West to help him, but when Madeline’s cover is blown, Michael is forced to convince the nurse to risk her life to help them all escape.

Plot

Teaser

Klodno Petrochemical Plant - Eastern Europe

Nighttime and Nikita is shown cutting a chainlink fence with a pair of bolt cutters. When she's finished, she covers her face with a black balaclava she has on her head and runs through the opening. Michael runs up to the opening and kneels. Several Section One operatives dressed in black and armed run though the entrance that Michael guards. When the final operative is through, Michael covers his face with his own balaclava and runs through the opening.

Everyone quietly advances through the chemical plant. They hold their positions while they wait. Numerous armed soldiers patrol the area. A spotlight, manned by one of the soldiers at the top of a tower, illuminates the ground below. The Section operatives advance once more after the spotlight has passed. Nikita has made it to the base of ladder that leads up to the plant spotlight. She harnesses her rifle and begins to ascend the ladder. Everyone waits until Nikita silently takes out the guard controlling the spotlight. Michael gives the signal for everyone to advance. At the spotlight, Nikita illuminates the guards so that they can be taken out by Section operatives.

Michael breaks from the other operatives and runs towards a large tanker. He reaches his target and begins to plant an explosive. "Charge is set. Pull out," Michael reports.

One of the guards spots an operative. Michael pulls out his hand gun and shoots the guard. The guard's rifle fires indiscriminately as he goes down. As Michael makes his retreat he encounters other guards. Michael returns fires and takes them down. Nikita illuminates the guards and the remaining Section operatives fire upon them. The guards spot Nikita's deception and destroy the spotlight. Nikita repels down the tower, returning fire.

Everyone retreats, returning fire. The operatives arrive at the fence and pass back through the opening. Once Nikita runs through she continues to fire, providing cover to the remaining retreating operatives. When Michael arrives, he faces the plant and triggers the detonator but the planned explosion doesn't happen. He removes his balaclava and tries once more, but the detonator flashes red. Under fire, Michael heads back towards the charge. Once he reaches it, he opens it and resets it. Nikita is back in the van and is being physically restrained from going after Michael. Michael heads back through the plant but a security guard successfully hits him and he goes down. While on the ground, he triggers the detonation and a massive explosion engulf the chemical plant. Michael flinches from the heat. He manages to get up and hobbles towards the fence. He's still under fire and he returns fire. As he's retreating another guard hits Michael once more. Nikita is pleading to be let go. The van begins to leave. Nikita hangs out the open back, restrained and calling out to Michael. Injured, Michael makes it the fence opening. He is alone.

Act 1

Operations begins a mission briefing by congratulating those gathered on a successful mission. He reports that the chemical weapons plant was completely destroyed. Nikita sits at her seat clearly bothered. She asks about Michael. "Overnight analysis suggests one chance in three that's he alive and even if he is, one chance in ten of bringing him out. He'll be missed," Operations tells them dispassionately. Nikita is shocked at how quickly Michael is written off by Section. Operations begins to walk away. Nikita tells him that she doesn't care about the odds, she's willing to back for him. "I wish I could send you," he tells her before he leaves.

Upset, Nikita kicks Birkoff's chair at Comm. She rails him about the numbers he ran and asks why he couldn't have manipulated the numbers more favorably. Birkoff solemnly tells her that he did. The chances of getting Michael out are even worse than what he told Operations. "Objectively, it's a hundred to one against bringing him out. Maybe 150. Sorry, Nikita. Michael's on his own."

Outside the Klodno State Hospital, a middle age woman exits and walks towards her car. She enters it and settles into the driver seat. A bloody hand emerges from the back and locks the door. It's Michael and he's badly wounded. He points his gun at the woman and tells her to start the car. "Your place. No tricks." She points out that he's hurt and needs a doctor. He tells her that a nurse is close enough. She points out that police are not always kind to foreigners. He once again tells her to drive.

Major Frankel of the state secret police informs his companion, Egran Petrosian, that the weapons factory was completely destroyed. Petrosian asks for a status on the man that was left behind, but there is no new information to give. They know that the man was badly hurt. Petrosian asks about the level of security and he's told that the highest level is being maintained. There will be no leaks. Petrosian tells Frankel to create one. "Make sure the West knows that one of their agents is loose and being hunted down." Frankel deduces that Petrosian wants to provoke a rescue attempt. "Then we will have the agent and the rescue team both," Petrosian tells him. "We may have lost the Cold War, but we can still score a point now and then if we use our heads." Petrosian tells Frankel that he's taking charge of the search personally.

At a simple but unremarkable apartment, Michael and his hostage, the nurse, arrive. She attempts to escape but Michael stops her by shoving her against the wall. He presses his gun to her chin. "If you do as I say, I won't hurt you. If you don't, I'll kill you," he threatens. Michael is barely keeping together. He's shaking, breathing erratically, and covered in blood. He orders her sit down at a nearby chair.

In the Perch, Operations and Madeline are talking about Petrosian and on trying to get more information on his movements. Nikita interrupts and asks if they wanted to see her. "I've decided to accept your offer to bring Michael out," Operations tells her. "We've received information he's still alive and eluded capture. Given the amount of time that's passed, that changes the odds." Nikita points out that the odds still aren't good and wants to know what changed his mind. "I want Michael back, too, Nikita. I am human." Nikita can barely restrain her reaction to his comment. Operations tells Nikita that she'll be teamed with Madeline and that they'll fly out that night. She'll brief Nikita about the mission details.

Michael ties the nurse to chair she sat in and shakily heads towards the kitchen. He opens the refrigerator and gulps down a bottle of orange juice. He sits down at the kitchen table and tries to calm his shaking. He's clearly exhausted and closes his eyes for a moment. "You are not ordinary criminal," the woman points out. She wants to know who he is and why he's there. "Be quiet," Michael tells her. "Your wounds need treatment," she tells him. Michael tells her, "Later." He's staring to fall asleep. "Untie me. I can help." Michael doesn't answer and continues to shake from exhaustion and blood loss.

In Madeline's office, she has a traveling case filled with cosmetics samples and products. She hands Nikita a pamphlet that lists everything about the items in detail and instructs her to know by the time their plane lands. "They may be expecting a rescue attempt but not by two women selling makeup." Nikita asks Madeline about Petrosian. "Egran Petrosian. He's head of their secret police. He's a very brilliant man...and a very dangerous man," Madeline tells her. Nikita asks if they have an idea of where Michael is. "He's badly hurt. There's a hospital not too far from the chemical plant. Our best guess is that he's either in it or not too far from it."

Michael has removed his shirt so that he can better get to his injuries. He ejects the clip from his gun and tries unsuccessfully to open one of his bullets. His hostage asks him what he's doing. "The wounds need to be cauterized." He glances towards his tied up hostage and weakly stands up with a knife in his hand. He takes measured steps towards her. He releases her reluctantly and recruits her to assist. "You do exactly what I tell you," Michael says. At the kitchen table, Michael instructs her to hold a pair of pliers tightly on one of his bullets while he removes the cap. She mentions that there was fighting last night at the chemical plant north of where they're currently at. "They say the plant makes chemical weapons. Our government denies it, so it must be true." Once open, Michael instructs her to empty the shell onto a sheet of paper. "You are French? American?" She asks. Michael dumps the gunpowder onto the wound in his arm. With a match he lights the gunpowder to cauterize the wound. He doubles over in pain. The woman takes the opportunity to rise and reach for her phone. She manages to get an operator and requests that she be connected to the police but Michael's plea makes her hang up. She takes a first aid kit and asks to take a look at Michael's injured back. "You won't tell me who you are. What you are doing. You can at least tell me your name," she demands. She introduces herself as Angie Georgiev. "You can call me Michael," Michael says after a moment as he continue to shake in pain.

Act 2

Madeline and Nikita have arrived at their destination but they go the import bureau first. "We need a permit to sell cosmetics. Observing the formalities only strengthens our cover. Afterwards we'll..." Madeline suddenly stops talking and collapses against Nikita. A panicked Nikita calls out for help. "She's having a heart attack!"

Petrosian and Major Frankel walk together through a hospital. Petrosian outlines several measures that the wants followed, including an investigation of every patient admitted since the attack on the factory and on those released. Frankel agrees but he'd like to concentrate their efforts on "the wilds above the factory," pointing out that that was where Michael was last scene. "When a man is badly hurt, he needs medical care whether he wants it or not." Through a nearby elevator Madeline is quickly wheeled by on a gurney with Nikita following closely by.

A much recuperated Michael sits at the table with Angie eating soup. She fusses with one of the bandages on his left arm. Michael thanks her. She points out that the soup is plain but nourishing. "I didn't mean for the soup." She rises and suggest that he must think that she's a fool for helping him. Michael tells her that he thinks she's very brave. "Our government pretends to move towards democracy because it wants aid from West, but old habits die hard and the nail that stands up still gets hammered. Old expression of ours. My father was nail who stood up." There's a photo of a younger Angie with an older man on her refrigeratory. "For freedom, for justice, for dignity...if you are what I think you are, it is for his sake that I help. If that makes me a fool, so be it." Michael asks if she's willing to help again. He needs a laptop computer and a phone. Angie gestures to her landline, but Michael clarifies that he needs a cellular phone. "You think you can find that at the hospital?" He asks. Angie scoffs in reaction. "It's very dangerous," she tells him but she considers his request. "It's not fair," she declares. "I know it isn't," Michael tells her in acknowledgement.

In her hospital bed, Madeline is checked over by the nurse and tells Nikita that she's doing very well. When Nikita asks Madeline how she feels, Madeline wants to know what she's found out. "There is a terminal on this floor with only one nurse, but the soldiers are going room to room." Madeline tells her that she'll deal with while Nikita searches the records. Nikita immediately comprehends what was happening. "This was a set up, wasn't it? You took a pill or something to induce the symptoms. You could have warned me," Nikita tells her. Madeline counters by saying that Nikita's reaction had to be convincing. "You actually induced a heart attack, Madeline?" Nikita remarks, incredulous. "The doctors needed to be convinced, too. We're in. Now let's make the most of it." Nikita leaves to begin her search.

In the hallway, Nikita stands within sight of her nurse's station terminal. Madeline activates the call feature in her room and the nurse promptly leaves the station to attend to her. Nikita takes a seat at the terminal and begins searching through the hospital records. She isolates the records of an "RN A. GEORGIEV".

In a storage room, Angie stuffs a phone and laptop into a hospital bag.

Nikita detects the return of the nurse and ducks down. When the nurse arrives, she finds a squinting Nikita on her hands and knees by the terminal. "Oh, excuse me. I lost my contact. I just rubbed my eye and it just popped out. Contact I mean." When the nurse ducks down to help, Nikita quickly stops her by telling that she has another one in her handbag. "I don't want to bother you. Thank you very much. Sorry." A still squinting Nikita walks away why the nurse watches.

In the storage room, Angie lifts the now full hospital bag and cautiously exits. As she's about to enter a nearby stairwell, Nikita appears from the stairwell and the two of them almost collide. Angie quickly leaves. Nikita continues on her way.

Michael works to get the phone and laptop Angie brought him ready for transmission to Section One. With Angie observing in the background, Michael logs in on the laptop and makes a series of connection.

In Section, Birkoff receives and incoming message. He alerts Operations that Michael is trying to contact them. "He's uplinked through a D.O.D. satellite. He's alright. He's just a few miles from the hospital. Michael will stay put. All we have to do is contact Madeline." Operations tells him to begin the sequence.

Madeline's papers are reviewed by Major Frankel. He tells her that her papers appear to be in order. He notes that she sells cosmetics. "A poor country like ours cannot be a very profitable market," he points out. "In a few years, you won't be poor and we'll be in all your stores," Madeline replies pleasantly. Major Frankel pulls out her sample case to inspect. He lightly mocks the efficacy of the products and their claims as Madeline explains them. "Western decadence. Obsession with appearances," he tells her. Madeline suggests that he take some samples for his wife. "I never accept gifts while on duty." Madeline tells him that it's her job to give away the samples but he once again declines and shuts the case.

Birkoff activates the beacon to alert Madeline of the mission's progress.

Major Frankel wishes Madeline a speedy recovery and exits her room. The sample case begins to beep and Madeline moves towards it from her bed. Major Frankel comes back after having changed his mind about the samples and hears the beeping emanating from Madeline's sample case. He reaches for it and upends the products, finding the Section One communication equipment embedded at the bottom of the case. He tosses it on the ground and smashes it with his foot. "I'm afraid you won't be taking calls for quite a while," he tells Madeline. Suddenly, Nikita arrives and attacks him, knocking him out. She quickly begins to free Madeline from her hospital I.V.

Petrosian rounds a corner in the hospital and tries to reach Major Frankel.

Clothed as a nurse, Nikita pushes a covered gurney with presumably Madeline down the hallway and through a set of double doors.

Act 3

An officer inspects Madeline's empty room and hears muffled cries from a closet. He opens it and finds Major Frankel tied up with an underwear clad nurse.

Nikita and Madeline use an elevator to leave the hospital. She mentions her discover of a nurse named Angie Georgiev who left for lunch the day before but never returned. According to the personnel records, Angie hasn't been absent in the last three years. "It's much safer if Michael kidnapped a nurse than entering a hospital," Nikita concludes.

Michael sits at the laptop and assures Angie that her ordeal is almost over. "It's going to be alright. My people are already in the city. I'll be gone soon." Angie tries to hide her disappointment and Michael picks up it. "You can't be disappointed," he tells her kindly. "This hasn't exactly been convenient for you." She replies by telling him that sometimes a little inconvenience is not always a bad thing. "I am in forties. I have not family. No husband. No child. Not much chance of either. I have a job but a job is not a life. That's not self-pity. It's plain speaking." Michael sits back. listening to her words. "Since you have been here, I have been confused, worried, scared out of my wits, but I have lived more in the past twenty four hours than I have in seven years, since my father died." Michael continues to listen to her reasoning before she rises from her seat. "It is not just for his sake I help, but for mine. I am glad you will be safe. Very glad, and pathetic as it sounds, I think when you go, life will go with you."

At the hospital, Petrosian chastises Major Frankel about the explaining he will have to do to the council. The nurse is with them and she explains that Madeline was examine thoroughly. The heart attack was real. "I'm sure it was. They are serious people we are dealing with," Petrosian tells her. He then turns to Major Frankel and instructs him to turn the hospital upside down and report anything unusual. "Missing supplies, absentee workers, anything." Petrosian catches the nurse looking at him and he wants to know why. The nurse is reluctant at first but mentions that a nurse named Georgiev disappeared yesterday or rather never returned from lunch. The nurse adds that she has not called in or answered her phone. "She's very responsible. It's not like her." Petrosian and Frankel leaves with this new bit of information.

Madeline and Nikita walk down a street testing whether the parked cars they encounter are unlocked. Military vehicles pass them by. Madeline finds one and takes a seat in the driver side. She immediately starts to hotwire the car while Nikita stands watch. She's successful and the vehicle starts easily. "You have to tell me about yourself someday, Madeline," Nikita tells her impressed. "Someday," Madeline replies with a smile. "Get in." Madeline slips over to the passenger side and Nikita takes a seat behind the wheel. Madeline looks weak and Nikita takes note. "Just a little tired," Madeline tells her. "Go."

Michael looks out of the blinds of Angie's apartment while she looks at him from the kitchen. He turns and approaches her. "Don't worry. They have to be careful. They'll come when it's right." Looking inside her refrigerator, she asks Michael if he's hungry. He declines and suggests that she eat. "The authorities may trace me here eventually. After I'm gone, I mean," he warns her. Angie tells him that she'll deal with it, but Michael tells her that she doesn't have to. He invites her to go with him. "You said it yourself, there's little reason to stay. Not to mention the risk." Angie questions what she'll do. "Be a nurse. I'll see that you're set up. I'll help you." Angie looks at him thoughtfully. "You will?" She asks. "Of course," he confirms. Angie is hesitant to accept the offer. "Well, think quickly," he tells her kindly. "There's not much time." Angie steps away and heads towards the bathroom. She silently weighs Michael's offer. The quiet of the apartment is shattered when someone pounds at the front door claiming to be the police. Angie looks to Michael in the living room for guidance. While the knocking continues insistently, Michael silently gestures for her to wait. He grabs the laptop and phone and he hides in the bedroom. Once Angie is certain that he's hidden, she opens the door to reveal Major Frankel, two officers and Egran Petrosian. "We don't like to be kept waiting," Frankel tells her as the walk into. Angie apologizes and explains that she was in the bathroom. Frankel asks her why she did not return to work the day before after she left on her lunch break. "I was ill," she tells him. He asks why she didn't call in. "I had fever. I was delirious. I was feeling better this morning." Frankel walks into the kitchen and asks if she lives alone. Angie confirms that she does. He asks about visitors and she denies having any, especially because she was sick. Petrosian stands next to her, observing. "Search the apartment," Petrosian orders.

In their stolen vehicle, Nikita and Madeline turn onto the street with Angie's apartment. They spot two officers waiting by a military truck. "We're too late," Nikita declares. Madeline instructs her to pull into the alley.

The officers search the apartment walking into the bedroom and then the bathroom. Michael hides behind the space between the open bedroom door and a nearby wall.

Major Frankel stands by the kitchen table where there are two empty tea cups. He picks them both up and approaches Angie. "You said you were alone," he tells her. "I had two cups of tea. Must I drink from the same cup?" Angie questions. Petrosian is looking inside the bathroom. He stands by the toilet and sees the seat up. He approaches Angie and slaps her. "A man has been here. Where is he?" He asks. Michael emerges and takes out one of the guards. He then grabs Petrosian by the ear and holds a gun to his head. "Anybody moves, he dies," Michael warns. "Shoot!" Petrosian yells. Frankel automatically tells the officers not to shoot. Michael tells Angie to get the computer. "Shoot, dammit, shoot," Petrosian continues to yell while Angie returns with the laptop and Michael begins to back up towards the front door. One of the officers complies and he hits the open front door. Michael releases Petrosian and then quickly guides Angie down the hallway. Petrosian aims his gun at their retreating forms but it doesn't fire.

Michael and Angie emerge from the building and turn away from the guards that had been posted at the door. Michael puts his arms around Angie's shoulder to a more affectionate appearance. The men order them to stop but they keep walking. When they do stop to face them, a car speeds up and knocks over the men. It's Madeline and Nikita. Michael reaches for one of the fallen rifles and when Petrosian and Major Frankel make it outside, Michael fires upon them. The dodge back inside the building for cover. Nikita emerges from the car and grabs another of the fallen rifles and Michael shoots out the tires of Petrosian's vehicle. With Angie now in the car, Michael gets in as well and fires once more to give them additional cover as Nikita drives the car away. Petrosian, Major Frankel and the men with them finally emerge from the vehicle. They fire after the retreating car, but it's too late. Petrosian orders that another vehicle be sent for. He also wants and uplink scanner so that they can monitor their communications. "They won't get far," he declares.

Act 4

At an abandoned airfield, Michael, Nikita, Madeline and Angie regroup inside a small outbuilding. Angie tends to Madeline. Nikita stands watch by the window and Michael works to connect the laptop to Section. "We've met. Haven't we?" Nikita mentions to Angie. "At hospital. I was scared half to death," Angie admits. "So was I," Nikita confides. "You didn't look it," Angie compliments. Michael makes progress with the laptop and a series of beeps emanates from it. Nikita asks him if there's a problem as she approaches him. He tells her that he'll have the connection soon. "How are you feeling?" She asks. Still concentrating on his work, Michael tells her that he'll be fine. Nikita tells him that she was worried. From her seat by Madeline, Angie watches the professional but intimate closeness that she witnesses between Michael and Nikita. "I'm glad you came back," he tells her. Nikita leaves him to his work just as Michael announces that the link is working.

At Comm, Birkoff receives Michael's transmission. He relays to Operations that they're close to checkpoint two from the original mission. Operations wants them to stay put while Birkoff sets up a meet.

Major Frankel works the uplink scanner and detects the signal as well. He has a lock on their location.

Angie approaches Michael and asks how much longer they have there. Michael tells her the wait is four minutes. Nikita looks out the window and sees incoming vehicles. She calls out to Michael. "They'll get to us before the chopper does. We'll need a diversion," Nikita concludes. "I'll draw them away," she says as she moves towards the door. Michael stops her. "It's suicide." Nikita tells him that it's the only chance they have. Madeline tells Nikita to stay and for Michael to establish an alternate site. Angie watches the interaction between the Section operatives. At the laptop, Michael is unsuccessful at reaching the helicopter. "The chopper must be on radio blackout," he concludes. Nikita doesn't think a new site is going to help them because they can't outrun the approaching vehicles. Michael goes back to the window with Nikita and Madeline. Angie continues to watch what's happening around her. "I'll go out and slow them down," Nikita tells them. Michael tells her no. When she counters that the helicopter is still three minutes away, Michael announces that they'll have to fight. Michael turns away from the window and sees that Angie and one of the rifles is missing.

Angie runs out with Michael's rifle and hides behind some crates. The approaching vehicles are now on the airstrip.

Michael tells Nikita to give him her gun.

When the approaching truck gets closer, Angie reveals herself and starts firing at it. She smashes several window and the truck stops. Michael runs out and take cover against an abandoned vehicle while Angie continues to fire. The men get out of their truck and begin to fire at Angle, eventually hitting her. She falls on the snow. The helicopter arrives and distracts the men. They get into their truck and start firing at it. The helicopter releases a missile, which it the truck causing it to explode in a ball of fire.

Nikita and Madeline step out of the bunker and walk up to Michael. Egran Petrosian emerges from a distance and walks out into the road in front of the burning truck. Michael aims his rifle at him but Madeline stops him. Madeline smiles and begins to walk towards Petrosian. Nikita asks Michael for clarification and he's just as confused. Madeline and Petrosian embrace warmly. Madeline leads Petrosian to Michael and Nikita while the helicopter lands behind them. "Allow me to introduce Colonel Egran Petrosian, Chief of Secret Police, member of the National Council, and for the last 17 years deep cover operative of Section One," Madeline tells them. "It's good to be on the winning side again," Petrosian quips. Arm in arm, they turn towards the awaiting helicopter. Nikita and Michael follow. As the helicopter begins to rise, Michael looks off to side and sees Angie's dead body laying in the snow with the rifle she took from him.

Tag

In Madeline's office, she tells Michael, who wears a sling around his arm, and Nikita about valuable information Petrosian was able to pass along to them. He helped plan the raid on the chemical plant but there were people who were becoming suspicious of him. It was time to bring him out. "So it was never about Michael at all. It was about Petrosian," Nikita points out. Madeline tells her that rescuing Michael gave them the opportunity extract Petrosian. "But if it had to come down to a choice say, between him and Michael," Nikita presses. "Leave it alone, Nikita," Michael tells her. They are interrupted when a laughing Operations and Petrosian enter the office. Operations asks Madeline if she'd like to join them for lunch. Madeline warmly accepts. Just before they depart, Petrosian offers Nikita his congratulations on their "brilliant escape." Nikita points out that he wasn't really trying to catch them. He counters that he was because he had no choice under Major Frankel's watchful eye. He further compliments Nikita on her "extraordinary" performance. Petrosian then turns towards Michael and offers him his thanks. "Your incompetence allowed the rescue mission to take place." Behind him, Operations and Madeline noticeably react to Petrosian's censure. Michael visibly bristles, "Incompetence?" He asks. Petrosian asks if it was part of Michael's plan to get himself shot. With that he leaves, leaving Michael and Nikita alone.

Nikita counsels Michael to leave it alone. He leans up against Madeline's desk, lost in thought. Nikita reaches for the sling he wears and removes it. She tells him that she's sorry Angie died. Michael agrees. "But I'm glad she lived." Accepting his words, Nikita turns and walks out of the office.

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 Nigel Bennett as Egran Petrosian Nancy Beatty as Angie Georgiev Diego Matamoros as Major Frankel Waneta Storms as nurse

Episode Quotes

• Petrosian: "Have you ever heard of Rambo?"
  Major Frankel: (chuckles) "In the movies?"
  Petrosian: "Don't laugh, Frankel. If you understand Rambo, you understand the West. They believe in heroes."

• Petrosian: (looks towards Michael) "I should thank you too. Your incompetence allowed the rescue mission to take place."
  Michael: (bristling) "'Incompetence'?"
  Petrosian: "Yes, or was it part of the plan to get yourself shot?"

Behind the Scenes

Joel Surnow said in the following in Retrovision #6: "For me, this was a wonderful episode. A show that wasn't a standout in terms of the constraints of being in the Section. This was kind of a straight action show, it had the best teaser I've ever seen on TV. The dialogue, just these gorgeous images, repelling down oil tankers, a shoot-out, Michael getting shot, music. That's sort of what I pride myself on, if anything, in terms of television, which is using the least amount of words to tell the most amount of story. My favorite movie of all time is The French Connection. There's like no dialogue in that movie. Yet everybody is defined. The characters know who they are, you know what's going on but it's not done because people are espousing deep philosophical tracts. It's just character through action. I thought Nancy Beatty, who won the Gemini for best supporting actress in that role, was heartbreakingly real and wonderful. We got to promote Roy's leading man interest in that show. The Section twist...was that the guy they were escaping from...turned out to be a Section One operative, who we used in season two's "New Regime."....[I]t looked great, it moved great, you felt like you were in Russia somewhere and it had tons of great production value. A great moment was Nikita's reaction to Madeline inducing a heart attack....The look is like, "Who are these fucking people?" That's where we try to go a lot."

Music

beyond the invisible | ENIGMA

Video

La Femme Nikita- "Beyond the Invisible" - Enigma

Opening teaser to "Escape"

Trivia

• Nancy Beatty received a Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Guest Role in a Dramatic Series for this episode.