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317
- Third Party Ripoff
Note : This has a lower production number than All Good Things, but
it makes no sense to discuss these two in production number order. Roy would have been
aware of the content of both scripts while filming each of them. |
| Writer/Director |
Michael Loceff / T J Scott |
| Michael's POV Onscreen:
24 minutes |
The relationship gets firmly
replanted back in LFN-land with Nikita having gone off Michael. He, however, is resolute,
disobeying orders to save her life during a mission. Operations and Madeline launch their
new one-dimensional careers as relationship-wreckers, and issue a ‘Type 1
Directive’ to ensure that M&N break up. Michael drops in by #412 to discuss it,
Nikita’s resistance crumbles, and they end up in bed. Called in for a mission,
Michael is publicly humiliated by being demoted, evicted from his office, and generally
insulted to lower his self-esteem. However, the next mission goes badly wrong and Michael
takes charge, demonstrating his obvious Level 5 superiority. Nikita challenges him to
choose his Section status over their relationship. He appears to do so, but then assures
her that he intends for them to be together. |
| Michael Moments |
The opening shot, Michael in
his office, looking through the window at Nikita whilst the blinds throw shadows on his
face
The bath scene with Nikita, continually circling her shoulder with his fingertips
Michael and Nikita walking arm-in-arm into the train station, down the sloping walkway
Caressing Nikita’s face as she challenges him to be who he really is, a Level 5
Operative.
The final scene at the door of number 412, the declaration, the kiss of her hand, and the
walk away |
| Words of Wisdom |
"Same person, just playing a
different role, something we all have to do in here to survive."
"They don’t want
us to be together."
"They want to take me
down."
"Whatever I do, I need to
do it well, the best I can. That means something to me."
"Teams 1 and 2 rotate,
I need a roll to the south."
"I want my status
reinstated."
"It’s not over, we will
be together." |
Performance Rating
 |
Filmed next to the studio-bound
All Good Things, Third Party Ripoff lets Roy out
to some favourite LFN locations, as he boogies on down to Guvernment for another mercy
dash along the famous red corridor (see also Treason)
and strolls round Union Station (where he operated a more controlled scam at the poste
restante in Someone Else’s Shadow). Mom and Pop
Section exact their revenge on Michael for being a naughty boy in All Good Things
by putting paid to his relationship with Nikita, and they try to do this by robbing him of
his self-esteem. Roy has to find yet another dimension for Michael – humiliated
beyond reason, and sidelined to the point where he can’t be effective in the field. A
previously unseen Michael who just wants to go home and soak away the bruises on his ego
in a hot bath. Roy’s use of body language provides us with the clue to Michael’s
state of mind, and the famous Michael strut is subdued when he gets demoted, as he seems
even to walk more thoughtfully when forced to consider who and what he really is. Not
quite so much subtlety involved as in All Good Things, but an excellent performance
all the same. |
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