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307. Love and Country
Written by Lawrence Hertzog
Directed by Ted Hanlan
Transcribed by Christine
[Note: Transcript dialogue only until updated.]
CASPI: I already told you everything I know. I don’t know anything, I’m telling you. I don’t know anything.
CASPI: You don’t have to do this. I’ll cooperate. Send me back out; I’ll source you out wherever I can.
CASPI: Please don’t hurt me.
OPERATIONS: What’s his name?
MICHAEL: Venito Caspi.
OPERATIONS: Mr. Caspi, tell me about your relationship with Badenheim.
CASPI: I don’t know who that is.
OPERATIONS: That will be all.
OPERATIONS: You work for a group called ‘Badenheim’. You were personally responsible for the bombings in Kosovo and Latvia.
CASPI: What?
OPERATIONS: This is your only way out of it alive. Badenheim used you to funnel money into the campaign of Nikolai Markali. Isn’t that right?
CASPI: Yes, that’s right.
OPERATIONS: Okay, start recording. You were saying, Mr. Caspi?
CASPI: I worked for a group called Badenheim. We funneled money into the campaign of Nikolai Markali.
WAR ROOM
OPERATIONS: Nikolai Markali is making a bid for the Chairmanship of the Supreme Judicial Chamber. If he succeeds, he will serve as the pivotal position in that part of the world. We have intel that indicates he is being funded by Badenheim. If he wins election, he will be the puppet for terrorists.
OPERATIONS: Unfortunately, we cannot take him out using direct means.
MICHAEL: Why not?
OPERATIONS: Markali is popular with the people. If anything should happen to him, it could cause a backlash that could take down the existing government. We don’t want that.
MICHAEL: So, we work from within?
OPERATIONS: Yes. This is Corinne Markali, Nikolai’s wife. They’ve been married for twenty-one years. She will bring him down for us. Your panels will be loaded within the hour. Oh, one last thing. This mission has a personal component, which will not impact on how you approach tactical. Nikolai is Corinne’s second husband. I was her first.
OPERATIONS' LOFT
OPERATIONS: It’s a judgement call. It’s my call, and you’re interfering. That’s your opinion. I’m a lot closer to this than you are. Fine. Come in here and do it yourself. No, I’m not. I’m doing my job, and you seem to have a problem with that. Yes. Yes, I will.
MADELINE: Markali?
OPERATIONS: Yes. George is still skeptical about Markali. He thinks the evidence against him is too soft.
MADELINE: He has a point.
OPERATIONS: What point? He was on the list. We’ve launched on much less than that in the past.
MADELINE: There were other names on that list too, and they are all clean. You have to admit, it looks like you’re going after Markali for personal reasons.
MUNITIONS
WALTER: Uno, dos.
OPERATIVE: Thanks, Walter.
WALTER: Good luck.
OPERATIVE: Okay, let’s go.
WALTER: Heard you had a very interesting briefing.
NIKITA: Yeah, we did. You know anything about her?
WALTER: Operations was a prisoner of war listed as missing in action. She waited for awhile, lost hope, married Markali. That’s all I know, Sugar.
NIKITA: What happened when Operations returned home?
WALTER: He never did officially. He decided to remain listed as missing and join Section.
NIKITA: I wonder what kind of woman would be married to Operations.
PSYCHIATRIST OFFICE
CORINNE: It took me a long time to be able to ask for help. And… I was just starting to get used to Dr. Bresner, and now this happens. I don’t know.
MADELINE: You don’t know what?
CORINNE: Don’t take this personally, please, but, uh… I just don’t know if I’m ready to commit to another therapist. Maybe I should wait for Dr. Bresner to recover from the accident.
MADELINE: That’s your choice, Corinne, and I certainly respect it, but you’re here now, so why don’t we talk for an hour and see how it goes?
CORINNE: All right. I suppose so.
MADELINE: Dr. Bresner filled me in a little bit. You’re suffering from general anxiety?
CORINNE: Yes. That and also just a feeling that I don’t know where I’m going with my life. I just seem to have lost focus over the last two years.
MADELINE: And your marriage… has that lost focus too?
CORINNE: No, no. That’s the only thing that hasn’t. Oh, no. Nikolai is wonderful. He always has been.
MADELINE: Tell me a little more about him.
CORINNE: He’s loving. He’s supportive. It doesn’t matter how busy he is, he always finds time.
MARKALI CAMPAIGN OFFICE
NIKITA: So, we’re going to be handing out pamphlets at the football stadium, so I’m going to put you down for two hundred. That would be great. All right. We’re going to be handing out pamphlets tomorrow at the stadium, you could help out there. That’d be great.
MARKALI: No, I can’t make that promise. It’ll have to be on a best efforts basis.
AIDE: But, he’s already made the contribution.
MARKALI: Well, then, send it back. The reason I’m running for office in the first place is to stop corruption, not encourage it.
NIKITA: I’ll put you down for two hundred. Great. You can pick them up anytime.
MARKALI: Excuse me?
NIKITA: Ho… hold on.
MARKALI: Is this your book?
NIKITA: Yes, it is.
MARKALI: Serious reading, or uh… Art History 101?
NIKITA: I’m interested in the period.
MARKALI: It’s mostly pre-Realist, before the influence.
NIKITA: I prefer it, personally. Sedona had the largest influence over that period.
AIDE: Sir, they’re waiting.
MARKALI: You couldn’t have known this, but next to my family and my country, this is what I love the most.
NIKITA: I didn’t. I do know your politics, though, and that’s why I’m here.
MARKALI: Well, I’m glad you are. What’s your name?
NIKITA: Nikita.
MARKALI: Nikita.
OUTSIDE CAMPAIGN OFFICE
MARKALI: Look at that. Is it ever going to stop snowing? Can I drop you off somewhere?
NIKITA: Oh, no, thank you. I can walk; it isn’t far.
MARKALI: Well, then, good night, Nikita.
NIKITA: You know what? Maybe I will take you up on that ride.
MARKALI: Car’s right here.
NIKITA: Great.
MARKALI: Nikita? Nikita, are you all right? Go call for help!
AIDE: Yes, sir!
MARKALI: Hurry!
COMM
OPERATIONS: Update me.
BIRKOFF: Michael just called in. Markali’s with Nikita now.
OPERATIONS: Did they go to a hospital?
BIRKOFF: No. They’re at the site. A mobile triage unit’s taking care of her.
OPERATIONS: How much did she accomplish before the incident?
BIRKOFF: She put audio in the office. She’ll be working the computers next.
CAMPAIGN OFFICE
WOMAN: There you go.
NIKITA: Thank you.
MARKALI: How are you feeling?
NIKITA: Oh, I’ll be fine. I was lucky.
MARKALI: No, I was lucky. You saved my life.
NIKITA: Who would do such a thing?
MARKALI: What? Kill me? Would you like the list alphabetically or chronologically?
NIKITA: Why? What have you done that somebody would want to hurt you?
MARKALI: I want to change things, and that terrifies people.
NIKITA: I’d think that the opposition would want to give their support.
MARKALI: By opposition, I assume you mean Badenheim? They’re nothing but a bunch of criminals with a platform.
NIKITA: I thought you shared some of their ideology.
MARKALI: Now why would you think that?
NIKITA: I don’t know.
MARKALI: Are you sure you don’t want to spend the night in the hospital?
NIKITA: I’m sure, but I could do with that ride home, though.
MARKALI: Of course.
MADELINE'S OFFICE
OPERATIONS: How did the second session go?
MADELINE: Corinne’s starting to open up.
OPERATIONS: So, she’ll continue?
MADELINE: I think so. We should be able to start working her soon.
OPERATIONS: What are your impressions?
MADELINE: She loves Markali very much, and she trusts him completely.
OPERATIONS: Will that be a problem?
MADELINE: No. Once we medicate her, she’ll be under our control.
OPERATIONS: Good. Do you have the playback?
OPERATIONS' LOFT
Operations watches his wife and Madeline on a tape.
CORINNE: It gets pretty complicated amongst the wives in the diplomatic community. I hate it. They’re so petty. It was like that with my first husband as well.
MADELINE: First husband?
CORINNE: Paul. He was killed during the war. Actually, he was missing in action. We never recovered the body. He was an intelligence officer in the military. But, I worked through that years ago. What I’m feeling now has nothing to do with Paul.
MADELINE'S OFFICE
MADELINE: I heard it went well.
NIKITA: Markali was very grateful. He invited me to dinner.
MADELINE: No mention of the wife?
NIKITA: Just he and I.
MADELINE: When?
NIKITA: Thursday night. Restaurant on the north side.
MADELINE: Tell him you’d like to cook for him instead. He’ll resist, but let him know that nothing would make you happier than to have him in your home. I’ll confirm surveillance.
MADELINE: What is it, Nikita?
NIKITA: Markali doesn’t seem to fit the profile we have on him.
MADELINE: In what ways?
NIKITA: He’s not particularly sympathetic to Badenheim. In fact, he hates them.
MADELINE: And you know this because he told you?
NIKITA: I know this because you trained me to read people.
MADELINE: You like to believe in people, Nikita. Resist that temptation. You will have one chance to seduce him, and I need to know that you can do that.
NIKITA: I can do it.
MADELINE: That’ll be all.
NIKITA: Excuse me.
OPERATIONS: How’s she doing?
MADELINE: She’ll be fine.
OPERATIONS: George signed off on Markali. We’re okay there.
MADELINE: That’s good for now, but I’d still like to enlarge the connection between Markali and Badenheim.
OPERATIONS: For George?
MADELINE: No. For me.
OPERATIONS: Markali was on the list. He’s been associated with high-ranking members of Badenheim.
MADELINE: Indirectly.
OPERATIONS: And, he’s got resources we’ve been unable to trace. If he’s elected, and I’m right, it’ll be too late. We won’t have this kind of access to him.
MADELINE: But, if you’re not right, then we have a bigger problem. My days consist of sending our people into battle. We cannot allow the perception that they are being used to settle your scores.
OPERATIONS: How dare you accuse me of that!
MADELINE: I’m not. I’m just trying to keep the machine running.
OPERATIONS: Good. Then, keep it running.
MUNITIONS
MADELINE: Walter, is my phenadryl chloride ready?
WALTER: Just about. I’m putting them in a physician’s sample, just as you asked for.
MADELINE: How long will it take for them to work?
WALTER: Paranoia will kick in right away. Within forty-eight hours, the subject will be unsure of anything, except a desire to take more of these. This stuff is more addictive than heroin.
PSYCHIATRIST OFFICE
MADELINE: There’s something you’re not facing, Corinne.
CORINNE: What do you mean?
MADELINE: We’ve had five sessions now, and I’ve noticed that whenever you talk about Nikolai, you dispose of the topic quickly and move on to something else.
CORINNE: Well, there’s nothing to say. Our relationship’s fine.
MADELINE: Is it really?
CORINNE: Yes. What are you getting at?
MADELINE: I think much of the anxiety that you’ve been feeling stems from denial. Superficially, everything between you and your husband might be right, but I think you want the connection to be deeper.
CORINNE: I don’t see your point.
MADELINE: You seem uncomfortable.
CORINNE: Well, of course, that’s why I’m here in the first place.
MADELINE: I’d like to give you something. It’s similar to what you’re taking now, but I think it will be more effective.
NIKITA’S FAKE APARTMENT
MARKALI: To a perfect dinner and a perfect hostess.
NIKITA: Thank you.
MARKALI: There’s no way that a man can thank someone for saving his life, so please, just consider this a gift between friends.
NIKITA: Oh, you didn’t have to do that.
NIKITA: But, I’m glad you did.
MARKALI: I hope you like it.
NIKITA: It’s beautiful. This isn’t…
MARKALI: Sedona. From his earlier period, while he was still an artist.
NIKITA: Thank you.
MARKALI: I, uh… I think it might look very good right over here.
NIKITA: Yeah.
CAMPAIGN OFFICE
CHARLES: Markali Headquarters.
CORINNE: Hello, Charles. It’s Corinne. I’m looking for Nikolai. Is he still there?
CHARLES: No. He left a couple of hours ago.
CORINNE: Hours ago? I thought he was working late tonight.
CHARLES: Well, he might be, but not here. Want me to try the other office?
CORINNE: No. I did already. Um… is there anything on his calendar?
CHARLES: Nothing ‘til tomorrow morning.
CORINNE: Where do you think he is?
CHARLES: Well, with the election so close, he might just be out working the district.
CORINNE: Will you let me know if you hear anything, please?
CHARLES: Absolutely.
CORINNE: Thanks.
NIKITA’S FAKE APARTMENT
MARKALI: It has to be like this, right? You see, it is a trick… you won’t show me.
NIKITA: Tada!
MARKALI: Let me see those!
MARKALI: You are very remarkable, and I am very drunk. And, it’s late.
NIKITA: It doesn’t have to be late.
MARKALI: No. It’s late. And, my supporters would be very disappointed if they could see how I was overextending my limited energy. And, they’re not the only ones.
NIKITA: Your wife.
MARKALI: What can I say? I’m cursed with a love for her I can’t put aside.
NIKITA: I understand.
COMM
BIRKOFF: He didn’t take the bait.
MADELINE: She didn’t want him to.
BIRKOFF: What do you mean? She kissed him.
MADELINE: Never mind. Can you fix it?
BIRKOFF: Yeah, I think so.
MADELINE: Good.
MARKALI RESIDENCE
MARKALI: Good night.
MARKALI: You’re still up?
CORINNE: I couldn’t reach you.
MARKALI: I’m sorry, darling. I went out to dinner with Jacob. We had some things to go over. I must have lost track of the time.
CORINNE: I was worried. I don’t like you going out without security.
MARKALI: Ah, nonsense. I refuse to live like that. Now you stop worrying, hmm?
CORINNE: What time did you leave Jacob?
MARKALI: Uh, half an hour ago, why?
CORINNE: He called here an hour ago.
MARKALI: Oh, I’m sorry. I meant I left the office a half hour ago. Jacob and I finished up before that. Did he want me to call him back?
CORINNE: No. He said he’d see you in the morning.
MARKALI: Good. I’m tired.
PSYCHIATRIST OFFICE
MADELINE: What makes you think your husband was lying?
CORINNE: I can tell. A woman knows.
MADELINE: If he wasn’t where he said, what do you suspect he was doing?
CORINNE: I don’t know.
MADELINE: Could he be involved with another woman?
CORINNE: No.
MADELINE: You seem very sure of that.
CORINNE: I am. He’d never cheat on me.
MADELINE: Then, why would he lie to you? Could he be involved in something illicit?
CORINNE: Absolutely not.
MADELINE: Could he be using drugs?
CORINNE: No. Why are you saying these things? My husband is not that kind of man.
MADELINE: I believe you, but you’re the one that came in here in a highly agitated state, concerned that he may be lying to you. I just want to explore that.
CORINNE: I’m sorry. I’m sorry I snapped. I just haven’t been sleeping, and this election… and the shooting the other night.
MADELINE: Have you been taking your medicine?
CORINNE: Yes.
MADELINE: Maybe we should take you off them.
CORINNE: No, no, no, no. It’s okay. They’re fine. They make me feel better.
MADELINE: Okay.
COMM
NIKITA: Hey, Birkoff.
BIRKOFF: What’s up?
NIKITA: How did we confirm the connection between Markali and Badenheim?
BIRKOFF: We had one of theirs. Guy named Venito Caspi.
NIKITA: Where is he?
BIRKOFF: Dead.
NIKITA: Who did the interrogation?
BIRKOFF: Operations.
NIKITA: Personally?
BIRKOFF: Yeah.
NIKITA: It’s that a bit unusual? Are we going after an innocent man because Operations wants to get back at his ex-wife?
BIRKOFF: I don’t know.
MARKALI RESIDENCE
CORINNE: Hello? Hello? Who is this? Why do you keep calling?
CORINNE: Yes, hello, um… my psychiatrist gave me your number and told me you were a private detective and could help me out with something. Discreetly.
MICHAEL: What can I do for you?
MADELINE'S OFFICE
MADELINE: Why didn’t you do your job?
NIKITA: I did. He wasn’t interested in cheating on his wife.
MADELINE: Every man is interested in cheating on his wife. All you had to do was make it your decision, so he could rationalize it.
NIKITA: So, now what?
MADELINE: Go back to Markali’s office. Stay in your cover. We’ll be using you soon.
NIKITA: To do what?
MADELINE: We’re proceeding.
NIKITA: How?
MARKALI RESIDENCE
MARKALI: I haven’t felt this way in years.
NIKITA: I feel it, too.
MARKALI: You’re very beautiful.
NIKITA: What about Corinne?
MARKALI: Our marriage has been dead for a long time. I’ll leave her after the election no matter the outcome.
CORINNE: That’s enough. Turn it off.
MICHAEL: I’m sorry.
CORINNE: What are you sorry for? Are you cheating on your wife, too? That should be enough.
MICHAEL: Yes.
CORINNE: The tape. I paid for it.
CORINNE: I don’t need your pity. I just need for you to leave.
CAMPAIGN OFFICE
NIKITA: Markali Headquarters.
BIRKOFF: It’s me. Do you have your computer on?
NIKITA: Yup.
BIRKOFF: I’ve unlocked his foreign files, but I can’t them from here.
NIKITA: So, what do you need me to do?
BIRKOFF: You logged in?
NIKITA: Uh-huh.
BIRKOFF: We’re looking for an account number. It’s under the joint name of Fortunato Strand.
CHARLES: You can’t just leave, Nikolai! We have to meet these people!
MARKALI: They’ll have to wait, Charles. Something’s come up with Corinne. Tell them it’s an emergency. Whatever. Now call for my car and get it over here now.
NIKITA: Fortunato Strand, got it.
BIRKOFF: Punch in the number. Good. We’re done.
BIRKOFF: We’ve got it.
OPERATIONS: How long will it take to go through the numbers?
BIRKOFF: Depends on how the money was cycled through Europe. Could be fifteen, twenty hours.
OPERATIONS: Come to me first.
MARKALI RESIDENCE
MARKALI: Corinne? Corinne? Corinne? Corinne, where are you?
MARKALI: My God, Corinne, what is it? What happened?
CORINNE: Oh, don’t touch me, you bastard!
MARKALI: What? No. This is a lie. This didn’t happen. Listen to me, I swear to you, that’s a lie. Someone altered the tape.
CORINNE: How could you do this to me?
MARKALI: This is the woman I told you about who saved my life. I thought you wouldn’t understand if we had dinner together, so yes, I lied about that, but I swear on my life, nothing else happened. Where did you get this tape?
CORINNE: I hired someone.
MARKALI: Why?
CORINNE: How can you ask me why?
MARKALI: Listen to me, Corinne. Listen to me!
CORINNE: No!
MARKALI: Someone is trying to discredit me. Probably prevent me from winning the election. It doesn’t matter. It didn’t happen. Do you hear me? It didn’t happen!
CAMPAIGN OFFICE
MARKALI: What’s going on, Nikita?
NIKITA: Nikolai?
MARKALI: What’s this about? Who do you work for?
NIKITA: I don’t know what that is.
MARKALI: You don’t? Someone recorded our dinner together. There were cameras inside your apartment and the images were doctored. Now somebody went to a hell of a lot of trouble. You set me up!
NIKITA: How can you accuse me of setting you up?
MARKALI: Look, it doesn’t matter if you were involved. Who you are, whatever your agenda, it cannot include destroying my wife.
NIKITA: Nikolai, how can I convince you?
MARKALI: No. Don’t convince me. Convince Corinne! You go to her and tell her that nothing happened.
NIKITA: I’m confused.
MARKALI: Please, Nikita, you’re the only one who can help me. If somebody wants to destroy my relationship, let them. Let the world think of me what it will. Tell Corinne the truth. Please don’t let them take her from me.
MARKALI RESIDENCE
CORINNE: Oh, look. It’s the slut who’s sleeping with my husband.
NIKITA: Nikolai wanted me to talk to you.
CORINNE: Well, we’ve got nothing to talk about. I’m surprised they even let you in the neighborhood.
NIKITA: It’s about the tape. Nikolai wanted me to tell you that it was fabricated, that I was working for someone who was trying to destroy him politically.
CORINNE: Really.
NIKITA: That’s what he wanted me to tell you. I guess he was looking for a way to gracefully exit your life. I told Nikolai that it was pointless to lie. Eventually, you’d find out the truth.
CORINNE: What are you saying? I don’t understand.
NIKITA: The tape’s real, Corinne. We’re in love. We’re getting married after the campaign, after he dumps you.
CORINNE: Get out of here!
CAMPAIGN OFFICE
CHARLES: Nikolai? It’s Dr. Ellis.
MARKALI: Dr. Ellis? I don’t know a Dr. Ellis.
CHARLES: It’s about Corinne.
MARKALI: Who is this?
MADELINE: Mr. Markali, I’m your wife’s therapist.
MARKALI: Is there a problem?
MADELINE: She came in here earlier and was very disturbed. I tried to reach you, but she wouldn’t give me your number. She needs to be admitted to a hospital.
MARKALI: A hospital? Why? What’s wrong with her?
MADELINE: She in a very manic state, and I’m afraid for her own safety.
MARKALI: What are you saying? Are you saying she’s suicidal?
MADELINE: That would be my diagnosis, yes.
MARKALI: Oh my God. What can I do?
MADELINE: Find her. Make sure she’s safe, then don’t leave her alone.
MARKALI: No, no, of course, I won’t. I’ll do that. Thank you.
MARKALI RESIDENCE
CORINNE: So, what was it you couldn’t tell me over the phone?
MICHAEL: It’s about your husband. I think you’re in danger.
CORINNE: What do you mean?
MICHAEL: I got a call from someone I use for information. Your husband bought an unregistered gun, so I checked it out. He’s… he’s planning to kill you.
CORINNE: Oh, no!
MICHAEL: I’ve posted a couple of guards in front of the house. He won’t be able to get in.
CORINNE: And, you’ll stay with me, right?
MICHAEL: No. I’ll try to stop him before he gets here.
CORINNE: Please, you can’t leave me alone! Please!
MICHAEL: I’m sure you won’t need this, but you’ll be safer with it. Take it. Now lock your doors. As soon as I pick up your husband, I’ll call, okay? You’ll be all right. Trust me.
CORINNE: Don’t come near me. Don’t come near me! Nikolai, I’m not afraid of you. I’m not afraid of you! Who’s there? Who’s there?
MARKALI: Oh, my darling, thank God. I was so worried.
OPERATIONS' LOFT
MADELINE: The first wave of press clippings have come in. There’s no question that Markali’s death was a personal matter.
OPERATIONS: Will there be an inquiry?
MADELINE: Yes, but they’ll find nothing.
OPERATIONS: Good. What about Markali’s connection to Badenheim?
MADELINE: It was much deeper than we even suspected. Once Birkoff decrypted Markali’s account, he was able to confirm a four-year chain of contacts. I owe you an apology.
OPERATIONS: Not at all. You were doing your job. So, where are we on Pakistan?
MADELINE: I’ve already signed off on personnel. We’ll deploy this afternoon.
OPERATIONS: What time do I go online with the Committee?
HALLWAY
MICHAEL: Did you hear?
NIKITA: About Markali?
MICHAEL: He was dirty after all.
NIKITA: Yeah. Doesn’t make me feel any better.
The End
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