View of the Garden | |||||
La Femme Nikita | |||||
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Episode no. |
Season 4 Episode 03 |
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Directed by | Jon Cassar | ||||
Written by | Robert Cochran | ||||
Production code | 403 | ||||
Original air date | January 16, 2000 | ||||
Episode guide | |||||
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"Into the Looking Glass" is the third episode of the fourth season of La Femme Nikita.
Summary[]
Michael has escaped Section One with Adrian, whose mind has been seemingly wiped clean, but he tricks her into revealing that she is, in reality, fully aware. Adrian is forced to help Michael reverse Nikita's brainwashing, but he agrees to help Adrian contact George. Unfortunately, Operations and Madeline are well aware that if George discovers anything about what has been done to Adrian, he will have them both canceled.
Plot[]
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Madeline inserts a disc into a computer and loads it. The contents are video file from Adrian addressed to Madeline. "Hello, Madeline. I'm sorry things didn't turn out the way you'd planned. I'm sure Operations must regret the decision to keep me alive." Madeline informs Operations, who is with her that her chemical levels are off. "She was always calm in a crisis," Operations points out. "This isn't calmness. It's oblivion," Madeline tells him. "She's conscious but her mind is blank?" He questions. "And the transmission is a bluff, staged by Michael."
In a stone and wooden barn are Michael and Adrian hide out. "My name is Adrian. Your name is Michael. You told me that, but who are we? What are we? Some kind of spies?" Adrian asks Michael as he wanders around the room. "In a way," he answers. "And the people we sent the message to, Operations and....," Adrian struggles to remember Michael provides Madeline's name. "Operations and Madeline...they're the enemy?" Adrian asks. "Yes, they captured you some time ago. They made you the subject of an experiment involving mind control," Michael explains. "Which destroyed my memory," Adrian concludes. "There's a powerful man who thinks you're dead. If he knows you're alive, he'll help us." Adrian suggests that they tell him. "I've been trying. He's tightly covered," Michael tells her and the news disappoints Adrian. "I have an idea that might work." Michael begins to walk away before Adrian speaks again. "This powerful man, is his name George?" Adrian asks, causing Michael to stop and look back at her.
Act 1[]
Walter works in Munitions when Operations approaches, startling him. He tells Walter that he wants to put his mind at ease. "You're aware that Michael has effectively declared war on Section?" Operations states. "I'm aware there's a war. But I'm not sure who declared it," Walter replies. "The point is, in the past, you've assisted him when he was off profile and still managed to survive. This time, it will be different." Walter wants to know how. "The situation is hopeless. He's alone and up against the entire resource base of Section One. He will be crushed and so will anyone who attempts to help him. There will be no exceptions." Walter asks how this information will ease his mind. "It eliminates choice. Do nothing to help Michael if you want to go on living," Operations threatens before he walks away.
"The Gelman Process is holding," Madeline tells Operations in the Perch. "How do you know?" Operations asks. "She hasn't tried to contact Michael. In the past, this would have been her first priority." Operations asks if she's continuing with the maintenance and Madeline confirms that that is what Nikita is currently doing.
Nikita sits in Systems at a station. She is oblivious to everything around her as she works.
In Munitions, Walter's monitor receives an incoming message. It's Michael. He asks Walter if the channel is secure. Walter immediately secures it and tells Michael that it will remain as such for fifteen seconds. "Have Birkoff issue a Y directive at 8 o'clock tonight," Michael tells him. Water expresses his surprise. "Then two hours later, split sub channel eight and open the tunnel...don't disappoint me." With that final message, Michael cuts off the communication and Walter considers his options.
At a secluded cabin in the woods are Michael and Adrian. She asks Michael why he's helping her. "Because someone else has been subjected to the same process, though more advanced. Her name is Nikita. You knew her once," Michael explains as well as express his opinion that Adrian can help her. Adrian is skeptical. "As you can see, I can't even help myself." Adrian recalls sleeping. Michael asks if she dreamed. "Possibly...no I'm really sorry. I just can remember anything," she tells him dejected.
Walter waits for Birkoff in secluded location within Section One. "What's this all about? I've got a lot of work to do?" Birkoff asks when he arrives.
Act 2[]
Michael's laptop chimes, indicating the perimeter of their hideout has been reached. "Hide," Michael orders Adrian. He quickly helps her aside and then grabs his weapon. A masked ban blows through the front door and immediately begins firing. Michael wastes no time in eliminating him. Another masked man comes through the now open entryway and also fires at Michael. He maneuvers around a wooden beam and then brings this second man down as well. Adrian watches from behind some crates. A third masked man makes his way down from the upper level via some stairs. Michael waits behind the stairs and fires when the man reaches the base. Adrian rises from her hiding place and Michael goes to his laptop to ensure that there are no additional hostiles. "We're clear," he declares. Adrians inquires about how they could have been found. "I took precautions but they must have traced the signal." Michael closes the front door and glances down at the first man he killed. Noticing something, he looks towards Adrian and then draws his weapon on her. "You were lying. You remember everything." Michael walks closer to her and Adrian claims ignorance of what he's accusing her of. "You have three seconds to confirm." After a few tense seconds, Adrian gives in. "My name is Adrian. I founded Section One. I was George's lover and before that his superior before I retired and these dead men are not Section's operatives. They're mine. How did you know?" She asks. "The P6s. Section stopped using them a year ago," Michael tells her. "It was a stupid mistake, but then my organization has fallen on hard times. What's left of it, that is." Michael asks why she chose to deceive him. Adrian is nonchalant with her answer. "Freedom. Nothing personal. Just don't like partners," she explains. "Well you have one," Michael tells her simply.
Act 3[]
"What makes you think I can help Nikita," Adrian asks Michael. "You recovered. You can help her recover." Adrian doesn't think a complete recovery is possible. "The secret is resistance. It's a question of will. They tried to control my mind and I resisted them. I was able to leave whenever I needed to." Michael asks what she means by "leave". "When I was a child, my father had a beautiful garden. I loved playing in it. In Section, when I felt the darkness closing in I sent my mind into the garden where nothing could touch it," Adrian explains. Michael points out that Adrian survived the ordeal through her techniques. "Mentally, yes...physically, it's another mater." Michael contemplates what she's just told him. "Can you teach Nikita to do the same thing?" He asks. "If we can localize a similar emotion, something she cares deeply about...if I do this, you'll find a way to take me to George?" She requests. "Agreed," Michael tells her. Adrian is pleased. Suddenly, Adrian is stricken with a powerful and debilitating series of convulsions and pain in her head. She struggles to stand and takes a seat while she endures the episode. "As you can see, resistance has its price," she points out when she's better. "The sooner we start, the better," Michael says, pragmatically. "We'll need someway to attract their attention."
At Section One, Operations keys his way into Madeline's office.
Act 4[]
Michael and the caretaker watch as Adrian happily wanders the garden. Michael hands the caretaker an envelope with money and instructions to contact him at the number he placed inside. "If you fail, I will kill you," Michael threats. The caretaker is visibly disturbed by Michael's words. Michael walks up to Adrian. "Goodbye," Michael tells her. Adrian responds with a cheerful farewell and Michael walks away, leaving Adrian behind.
Operations arrives on the main floor of Section One. Several operatives at Comm, including Birkoff and Walter look up from their work to see Michael walking into Section One with a nearly unconscious Nikita. Operations approaches them. "I'm back," Michael tells him and Operations nods his head in agreement.
Tag[]
"I want Nikita put back on maintenance immediately," Michael tells Operations and Madeline in the Perch. "Or?" Operations asks. "George will be put in touch with Adrian immediately." Operations points out to Michael that without the drugs, Adrian will die. "Perhaps you underestimate her will to survive. Are you willing to take that risk?" Michael counters back. Madeline points out that Michael tried to inform George before and he failed. "I've had more time to prepare," Michael responds. "This time the message will get through. Operations and silently confers with Madeline before he declares that they are at a stalemate. "We keep Nikita alive. You keep Adrian away from George." Operations outlines. "Plus I return to my former status," Michael adds. Operations once again confers silently with Madeline before he agrees to Michael's terms. "There's been increased Red Cell activity in Ukraine during the past month. A profile will be on your panel within the hour. Prepare for a briefing at seven o' clock. "Of course," Michael replies and turns to leave before Operations calls for his attention, however Michael simply stands there with his back to Operations. "Welcome back to Section," Operations tells him. "Thank you," Michael replies before he walks out of the Perch.
Section One is a hive of activity. Numerous operatives work in Comm and others walk the nearby hallways. In a lone room sits Nikita, vacant and absorbed as she receives the Gelman Process visual reconditioning. Michael emerges and crosses the main floor of Section on his way elsewhere.
Nikita sits in a lone room absorbed by the visual conditioning of the Gelman Process. Michael walks up to the door and watches for a long period through the door's window. Nikita doesn't notice. Eventually, Michael walks away and the process continues on Nikita.
Cast[]
Main Cast[] |
Special Guest Stars[] |
Episode Quotes[]
- Operations: "You're aware that Michael has effectively declared war on Section?"
Walter: "I'm aware there's a war. But I'm not sure who declared it."
Operations: "The point is, in the past, you've assisted him when he was off profile and still managed to survive. This time, it will be different."
Walter: "How so?"
Operations: "The situation is hopeless. He's alone and up against the entire resource base of Section One. He will be crushed and so will anyone who attempts to help him. There will be no exceptions."
Walter: "And that puts my mind at ease -- how?"
Operations: "It eliminates choice. Do nothing to help Michael if you want to go on living."
Music[]
No third party music was licensed for this episode.
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