| Slipping Into Darkness | |||||
| La Femme Nikita | |||||
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| Episode no. |
Season 3 Episode 9 |
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| Directed by | Rick Jacobson | ||||
| Written by | Peter M. Lenkov | ||||
| Production code | 310 | ||||
| Original air date | April 11, 1999 | ||||
| Episode guide | |||||
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"Slipping Into Darkness" is the ninth episode of the third season of La Femme Nikita.
Summary[]
As his each command becomes more irrational than the last, it appears that Operations is losing his mind. He demands that Section pursue a long, dead terrorist, and threatens to kill anyone who questions him. Nikita starts to organize a mutiny, but Michael steps in with a surprising strategy of his own.
Plot[]
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On a winter's day, Michael walks along several historical city buildings. He walks up to a phone booth and places a call for a taxi. Michael explains that he needs a cab to Hamburg. The person on the other end tells him to hang up and turn around. When he does so, a car pulls up along the street. When Michael approaches the car, a man in the passenger seat lowers his window. Michael asks him when he can meet Philo. Rather than answer, the man hands Michael an atomizer spray. Michael asks the reaction time. He's told that it's ten hours. "First sign is confusion, then comes judgement disintegration. Followed by paranoid delusion. A complete brain meltdown."
Michael arrives in the Perch to meet with Operations. He asks Michael for a status on the Shadow Brigade. He tells him that Birkoff is still sifting through what they acquired from the bombing. In Michael's opinion, it is possible that it's their work. Operations asks for an update when he has something more definitive. Operations' coffee cut on the counter. When he's not looking, Michael discreetly sprays the contents of the vial into the cup. He tells Michael that Oversight wants a quick turnover on the mission. Operations dismisses Michael and he walks away. On the main floor, Michael looks up into the Perch just as Operations takes a sip of his coffee.
Act 1[]
Madeline arrives in Systems to find Operations seated at a terminal. She sees what he's working on and muses about it being yesterday's news. "It appears holding Shadow Brigade accountable for the embassy bombing was a mistake. We may have acted too hastily," he tells her. She points out that they took responsibility. He tells her that they lied. Operations thinks that the responsible party is Gustav Pogue.Madeline points out that he's been dead for four years. "That's exactly what he wants the world to believe," he asserts. On speaker, Birkoff informs Operations that he has the information he requested. Operations leaves but not before telling Madeline to start preparing a profile on Pogue.
In Comm, Birkoff informs Operations that they've reviewed all the available data and the embassy bombing was definitely the Shadow Brigade. Operations asks about Pogue and Birkoff tells him that the files are quiet. Operations refuses to accept that. "This bombing has Pogue's signature all over it." Birkoff looks disturbed by the assertion and tells him that he's wrong but Operations persists. He orders Birkoff to find the linkage to Pogue.
Michael is standing nearby observing Operations and Birkoff's conversation. Walter walks up behind him. "I hear we're chasing a ghost," he says in greeting. Michael mentions Pogue. "It can't be him. I saw the corpse," Walter tells him. Michael suggests that he could have been doubled but Walter doesn't buy it.
At Comm, Operations is becoming increasingly agitated. He berates everyone there for not seeing the obvious. Birkoff once again falls back on the data he has at his disposal but Operations pushes him aside to search the data himself.
Outside Nikita's apartment, a robe clad Mick Schtoppel appears in the video monitor. It's the early morning. Nikita opens the door, greatly annoyed by her guest who is very relieved to see her. He recounts meeting up with an old girlfriend named Phyllis at the library and the book he was searching for. Nikita interrupts him by informing him that she's not a morning person. "Condoms," he tells her. Nikita is confused by the request. "Two or three will do." He mentions that he'd run to the corner story but Phyllis is in his apartment right now waiting for him. Not wanting any part of this, Nikita tells him now and starts to close the door. Mick is surprised by the rejection. "What do you mean no? Don't have or won't share? Come on doll. Surely you and Michael practice safe sex," Mick tells her. His comment annoys Nikita and she threatens to hurt him. "Excuse moi. I didn't know that things how soured between you two." She closes the door in his face but Mick continues to ramble. Nikita has reached her limit and she opens the door again and tells him to go away. She closes the door again and watches Mick walk way in the monitor. Her cell phone rings at that moment and Nikita knows that she won't be going back to bed. "This is your morning wake up call," she mutters. Michael is on line asking for Joséphine.
Nikita arrives in Section. She encounters Birkoff in the hall but he's too busy to say hello.
Act 2[]
Act 3[]
Nikita is distressed after Michael stops her escape.
Madeline questions Nikita about the coup discussions.
Act 4[]
Nikita arrives in the Perch, where Michael still stands. She asks Michael he's sure about what he's doing. "Transition's been cleared." She asks if George put him in charge. "For now," Michael answers. On the intercom, Birkoff calls in. Michael tells him that he wants the Pogue search stopped and for him to start focusing on the Shadow Brigade's splinter groups. He then tells Nikita that he wants her to go with him to Oversight. "I want them to approve your transition to my second in command."
Michael and Nikita drive into an underground parking garage. When they stop, Nikita points out that they're not at Oversight. Michael knows. "If I had told you the truth, you wouldn't have come." Nikita asks who they're meeting and Michael tells her about Philo. Pointing out that Philo is Red Cell, Nikita then concludes that it was Michael who compromised Operations. She points out that he might die. "That's the point," he answers before exiting the vehicle. Nikita exits after him, confused by Michael's behavior. "I have an agreement with Philo. He'll feed us certain operations. I'll do the same, and he'll protect my leadership...our leadership." Nikita shakes her head in denial. She's grief-stricken by Michael's actions and she tells him that she can't along with it. She starts to walk away from him before Michael's call her attention back to him. Nikita turns and Michael shoot her in the stomach. She collapses on the ground betrayed. Michael walks up to her and gazes down. Out of the shadows Mr. Black emerges applauding Michael's efforts. "I hear you two were close. Must have been hard, killing the girl, " Black observes. "It will be a lot easier killing you," Michael remarks and he demands to see Philo. Black tells him it's not possible at the moment but Michael insists. "I followed my part of the deal, now you take me to Philo or I end this right now." Black tells Michael that Philo doesn't like to be threatened. "This is about confidence. Either he trusts me or he doesn't." Black makes a call and the meeting is agreed to. Michael is hooded to ensure secrecy.
A car drives up to a private airfield and pulls up to a private plane. A still hooded Michael is led into the cabin. The hood is removed and he's greeted by Philo. He compliments Michael on the placement of the camera he placed throughout Section. "Now that you're in command, you and I will be partners," Philo tells him. Michael reminds him that his post is temporary and that he has yet to secure his position. Philo is confident that Michael will. Philo looks at computer screen that has a live feed of the cameras Michael placed. One is of the rapidly deteriorating Operations. "He won't last another day," Philo points out.
A car rapidly approaches the gate of the airfield. It rams through the gate and is immediately fired upon. Nikita steps out and immediately shoots the guards firing on her. Inside the plane, Philo notices the commotion and looks outside the window. Black runs in an tells Philo that someone followed them. there. Outside, Nikita continues to combat the resistance she encounters. Enraged, Philo accuses Michael of setting him up. Black prepares to act but Michael quickly disables him and then shoots him. Nikita eliminates the final guards and head into the private plane. She arrives to find Michael detaining Philo.
At Section, Madeline is released from her cell and instructs the operative he did so to get Medical immediately. Madeline quickly gains access to Operations' cell. Operations is lying on the floor near death. She crouches over him and checks his vitals.
In a gurney, Operations is wheeled into Medical. Madeline arrives and observes. Operations regains consciousness long enough to ask Madeline about Philo. "Did we get him?" She confirms to him that they did.
Tag[]
Nikita and Michael discuss the "chess match to smoke out Philo". She wonders if they would have let her kill all those innocent people in Siberia. Michael tells her that they knew she wouldn't. Nikita is annoyed at the manipulation. "Well I'm glad I met everyone's expectations." She then asks if they anticipated the talk of insurrection and Michael confirms this as well. "I'm gonna have to stop being so predictable," she tells him before she leaves him.
Operations meets with Philo in the White Room. Philo offers his compliments on how Section apprehended him. "You went to extreme lengths to find me. Mentally and physically, you put your own life on the line." Operations tells Philo that it was worth it. Operations releases the fluid that will enter Philo's veins and he then leaves the room. Once it enters his body, he immediately begins to convulse until he dies.
Michael waits in the Perch for Operations. Operations arrives and approaches him. Michael tells him that he looks well. Operations is of the opinion that if Michael had been late, there might have been a different outcome. Michael asks why he insisted on taking the drug. "Credibility, Michael. Leave nothing to chance." He then dismisses Michael. Madeline arrives just as Michael leaves the Perch. They both turn and watch as Michael crosses the main floor of Section One. "Michael's skills were impressive," Operations tells Madeline. She agrees. Operations muses that Michael might have what it takes to lead Section. Madeline questions whether Michael has the ambition. "Oh he's got it. He just doesn't know it yet."
Cast[]
Main[] |
Special Guest Stars[]
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Episode Quotes[]
- Walter: "It doesn't make any sense. One day he's normal, the next day he's Dante leading us down the nine circles of Hell."
- Operations: "Michael's skills were impressive."
Madeline: "Yes, they were."
Operations: "He might just have what it takes to do this job."
Madeline: "Your successor? I don't think he has the ambition."
Operations: "Oh he's got it. He just doesn't know it yet."
Music[]
No third party music was licensed for this episode.
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