Highlander

Episode Transcripts

 

SEASON FOUR
Episode 13: Something Wicked

Written by David Tynan
Directed by Dennis Berry
Aired: February 18, 1996
 
Transcript revised: 12-19-20

 

/ Episode Screencaps / Location photos /

 

Zzickle's Notes:

I don't own Highlander - if I did, I would've given Methos his own show! The contents of this transcript are taken directly from the episode (with the help of closed captions and the DVD script), to the best of my ability. Huge thanks to Andy Sloane and his exhaustive lists of Highlander shooting locations for assistance with my Locations List. If you have any other location-related questions, you can email him at [karateusa at hotmail dot com]. Special thanks to Debra Lindsay for the USA Network Eurominutes tape.

If you want to post this transcript on your site, please let me know where it is going so I can visit it. Also, please post it with my name (Zzickle) and website (http://www.zzickle.com/) on it.

You are more than welcome to use these transcripts in your fanfiction stories, no notification required.

STARRING:

Duncan MacLeod - Adrian Paul
              the Highlander

Richie Ryan - Stan Kirsch
              MacLeod's student

Joe Dawson - Jim Byrnes
              MacLeod's Watcher
 

GUEST STARS:

Jim Coltec - Byron Chief-Moon
              Native American shaman

Bryce Korland - Benjamin/Ben Ratner
              beatnic K'Immie, in FB

FEATURING:

Harry Kant - Darcy Laurie
              K'Immie at Chinese restaurant

Clerk - Colin Foo
              at Chinese restaurant

Captain - Dan Muldoon
              at trading post, in FB

Tall Beatnik - Michael Gall
              in Korland's FB

Denise - Carla Temple
              at Joe's Bar

Robert Davis - Carl Chase
              ship's quartermaster

Locations List:*
0. Scenes filmed at Virtue/Reckert Studios, 770 Pacific Blvd [49.274936,-123.111030] (no longer there)
1. Mountain road - Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve
2. Seacouver skyline (mountain road) - Mt Seymour Rd (looking toward West End) [49.358779,-122.953830]
3. Seacouver estab shot - Seaside Bicycle Route near Cambie Bridge [49.270124,-123.116873]
4. Chinese Restaurant, outside near club - under Granville Bridge: restaurant, 701 Beach Ave [49.274431,-123.131088] (torn down), outside near club (DQ) [49.274209,-123.130413]
5. Near Arlen Ridge - Capilano Salmon Hatchery, 4500 Capilano Park Rd, N Vancouver: parking lot/dam [49.356202,-123.11054] , Cable Pool Bridge [49.355326,-123.110829], Cable Pool [49.354230,-123.110790]
6. Searching for Kern, dream sequence - somewhere in Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve
7. Mountain establishing shot - possibly somewhere in Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve
8. US Army outpost - reclaimed gravel pit, LSCR [49.383024,-122.998428]
9. Greenwich Village parking lot - unknown location
10. Outside Stavros' Bar - unknown location
11. Wilderness establishing shots - unknown locations
12. Outside pawn shop - unknown location
13. Dojo exterior - back door of building, at end of Cambie St [49.284721,-123.108851]
14. Seacouver skyline, night - from Portside Park [49.286060,-123.103491]
15. Joe watching fight/Quickening - unknown location, Vancouver? France?
16. Boat dock - jetty, Saint-Jouin-Bruneval, France [49.652846,0.149096]
* Locations are in Vancouver unless otherwise indicated.
= link to location photos
= link to episode screencaps

Eurominutes: The full version of this episode runs 48 minutes, but for the domestic (US) market, this was cut shorter for commercials. "Eurominutes" are those 4-5 minutes that European fans got to see but US fans missed out on when the episodes originally aired. (Subsequent reruns on USANetwork and SciFi/Syfy may or may not adhere to the original domestic cut.) Huge thanks to Gillian Horvath for providing the tape of the official domestic cut of this episode, as it was released by the studio for the US stations.

~Official Eurominutes are bolded.
~Reruns on USA Network* (1998) & SciFi channel (1999) match the official cut, with two exceptions.
~Rerun on Syfy (2010) matches the official cut, with multiple exceptions.
~Rerun on Syfy (2013) matches the Syfy 2010 cut, with four additional exceptions.

* Special thanks to Debra Lindsay for the USA Network tape.

NOTE: For 'Final Shooting Script' scenes that are not present in the actual episode, click on the 'CUT' links throughout the transcript. (Affected transcript lines are <bracketed>.)

 
TEASER

Establishing shot: jeep driving along rural mountain road 1
 

Loft above dojo 0

DM - [into cordless phone] Jim Coltec? I can't believe it. Are you in town?

 

Rural mountain road 1

Coltec - [driving jeep, into cell phone] Mac, if I was in town, I'd be at your place with my feet up, watching golf.

[Super:
James Coltec
A.K.A. Kol T'ek
Born: 12th century, Cahokia]

 

Loft above dojo 0

Coltec - [on phone] I'm calling from my truck.

CUT

DM - [into phone] Oh, you need directions, Jim? Sounds like you're lost.

Coltec - [on phone] Funny.

 

<Jeep driving along rural mountain road 1 CUT

Coltec - [voice-over, on phone] You know Indians don't get lost.

 

Seacouver skyline from mountain road 2

Coltec - [voice-over, on phone] I'm going to stop in town for some takeout. How about we meet at Arlen Ridge?

 

Seacouver skyline from across water 3

DM - [voice-over, on phone] Sounds good to me. [speaks Native American language] {Tanyano mani-oh.} Travel well, Jim.

Coltec - [voice-over, on phone] I always do.>

 

Outside Happy Island Chinese Restaurant 4

[Coltec parks jeep near motorcycle, cautiously approaches motorcycle, reaches toward handlebar. Handgrip 'flashes' evil. Coltec reaches inside his shirt for his medicine pouch, 'sees' flashes of Chinese man (Clerk) being harrassed.]

Coltec - Damn. [walks toward restaurant]

 

Inside restaurant 4

CUT

Clerk - Please, mister, it's all there! I swear to God!

Kant - [holding gun at Clerk's neck] Guess that about caps it for you, don't it? [senses 'buzz'. Coltec enters.] None of your affair, Tonto.

[Super:
Harry Kant
A.K.A. Horvan Kant
Born: 1798, East Prussia]

Kant - [continued] You just stay out of my way, and we don't have a problem. [turns back to Clerk] Do we, huh, China boy?

CUT

[Coltec raises his arms. Kant 'flashes' evil. CUT Kant swings gun at Clerk's head, knocking him down, then follows Coltec out of building.]

 

Establishing shot: Seacouver skyline from across water 3
 

Outside restaurant 4

[Coltec & Kant fight. One of the opponents falls to his knees, the other's sword swings down.]

 

Seacouver skyline from mountain road 2

[Lightning strikes as the Quickening is released.]

 

Inside restaurant 4

[Clerk reacts as lightning strikes outside and inside. Windows shatters. Jars of dried beans and popcorn on shelf shatter. (CUT)]

Clerk - [as Coltec enters] He was going to kill me. [Coltec walks toward him, pulling on Kant's leather jacket.] Mister? Are you okay?

Coltec - Fine. ['flashes' evil like the motorcycle and Kant did, reaches for money in till] CUT

<Clerk - What are you doing? I thought you came to help.

[Still 'flashing' evil, Coltec raises Kant's gun, points it at Clerk.]

Clerk - No! No!

[Coltec shoots Clerk.]>

[Voice-over by Joe Dawson]
He is Duncan MacLeod... the Highlander. Born in 1592 in the Highlands of Scotland, and he is still alive. He is Immortal. For four hundred years, he's been a warrior... a lover... a wanderer. Constantly facing other Immortals in combat to the death. The winner takes his enemy's head, and with it, his power. I am a Watcher -- part of a secret society of men and women who observe and record... but never interfere. We know the truth about Immortals. In the end, there can be only one. May it be Duncan MacLeod... the Highlander.

OPENING CREDITS

ACT ONE

Near Arlen Ridge 5

[Close A on waterfall over small dam in river.]

RR - [walking with DM along trail by river] So this guy's a real medicine man, huh?

DM - Holy man. Coltec's a Hayoka. His job was protecting his tribe from evil by absorbing it before it got to them.

RR - A spiritual SCUD missile. What happened to his tribe?

DM - He couldn't protect them from famine... or drought, or the white man. They died off, all of them -- everyone but him.

RR - That's rough.

DM - Yeah, but Coltec believed he had a purpose, so he turned himself outward and became Hayoka for the world.

RR - Sounds pretty ambitious.

DM - He has a spiritual power that connects him to people and things. I've never seen anything like it.

RR - Mac, you make it sound as if the guy can do real magic. [follows DM along trail through woods] I always figured you for a nuts and bolts kind of guy.

DM - And now?

RR - Now I'm not so sure. See, as a kid, I was very cynical. If I couldn't see it and I couldn't feel it, it wasn't real. Certainly if anybody had ever told me that Immortals exist...

DM - You would have thought they were crazy.

RR - Exactly. So now I'm wondering to myself, what other kind of strange stuff is out there? I saw the cover of a tabloid. Apparently, a guy in England has proof that werewolves exist.

DM - Really?

RR - Yeah.

DM - Well, there'll be a run on silver bullets now.

RR - But WE exist. I mean, who's to say there's not other weird stuff out there running around?

DM - Richie, I've lived for four hundred years. I've never seen a werewolf, an elf, or a vampire. Mind you, I did hear that there was a troll that lived underneath a bridge around here somewhere. [looks over railing of trail walkway]

RR - Oh, very funny. [walks onto wooden walkway with DM] But you believe in Coltec. You believe that he can do real magic. 1

DM - I believe that there are some things that defy any logical explanation, yes. I also believe there is power in faith and will.

RR - You still didn't answer my question. Do you believe that Coltec can do real magic?

DM - Maybe you should ask him.

[They follow walkway to wooden bridge over river.]

RR - Oh, Mac, couldn't you have met this guy in a bar or something?

<DM - What's the matter, don't you like the fresh air? Look at it out here. Isn't it beautiful? I mean, look. Look at that. [points at river]> CUT

[RR looks out at river. DM grabs RR as if to toss him over rail.]

RR - Whoa! What are you doing? [laughs] Don't do that!

DM - What's the matter? Don't you like heights?

RR - I love heights. We had these things all over the East Side when I was a kid. [turns sharply, jumpy, as DM crosses to other railing behind him] What are you doing?

DM - [leans on railing] I think we should spend more time out here.

RR - Yeah, well, I think we should spend more time on the other side. [starts across, senses 'buzz'. DM also senses 'buzz'. Coltec appears at far end of bridge, wearing Kant's leather jacket. RR walks toward him.] Hey, you must be Jim Coltec. I'm Richie Ryan, friend of Mac's.

Coltec - ['flashes' evil] Is that a fact? [punches RR in the jaw, draws his sword]

DM - [rushes forward, blocks Coltec's blade with his katana] Jim, it's me. Stop. It's Duncan MacLeod.

Coltec - [stalks forward] I know. [attacks DM]

DM - [defends himself] What's wrong with you, man? [Coltec continues to attack.] B Are you out of your mind? [flips Coltec over bridge railing into river]

 

[short time later]

<RR - [following DM down stairs to river] CUT I don't know what the hell we're coming down here for, especially after what that bastard did.>

DM - Not Jim. It doesn't figure, none of it.

RR - Mac, the guy tried to take your scalp from just below the chin. What's to figure?

DM - He's a friend.

RR - Yeah, sure, and if you hadn't given him a flying lesson, we'd both be missing our heads by now. Are you sure it was him?

DM - [finds medicine pouch in rocks at river's edge] It's him.

 

Flashback - Lakota Sioux Camp, 1872 - lake
(from "Line of Fire")

[Kahani & DM paddling canoe, no audio.]

DM - [voice-over] It was the summer of 1872... CUT The White world had sickened me with its bigotry, its hatred, its wars, its empires. I'd left them all behind.

 

Flashback - Lakota Sioux Camp, 1872 - camp by lake
(from "Line of Fire")

[Super: Lakota Sioux Camp, 1872]

[DM & Kahani leave canoe on shore of lake, walk into Sioux camp.]

DM - [voice-over] <I'd been living with the Sioux for about three years, and> CUT I was soon to take a Sioux woman, Little Deer, for my wife and adopt her son, Kahani.

DM - --bear. Go on. [gives Kahani a playful slap on the rump & the boy runs off]

<DM - [voice-over] They were everything I ever cared about, everything I ever wanted. CUT

[DM kisses Little Deer.]

DM - [voice-over] Finally I was at peace. But all of that was about to change.

 

Flashback - American Wilderness, 1872
(from "Line of Fire")

Kern - Got a present for you, Squaw Man... [pulls handful of scalps from his saddlebag] Which one do you think is her?

DM - [voice-over] Kern destroyed it all.>

[DM attacks Kern with a tomahawk.]

DM - [voice-over] He was a scalp hunter back then. He brought the soldiers to our camp.

 

Flashback - Lakota Sioux Camp, 1872
(from "Line of Fire")

[DM stops his horse at edge of village ruins.]

DM - [voice-over] They slaughtered my people, Little Deer... even Kahani.

[DM kneels beside the body of one of the braves. He rolls Little Deer's body onto his lap, cradling her.]

DM - [voice-over] They spared no one.

[Later, night -- Little Deer's funeral pyre burns.]

DM - [voice-over] After that, the only thing I wanted was revenge.

 

Flashback - American Wilderness, 1872 6

[DM dismounts from horse.]

DM - [voice-over] I tracked Kern for weeks, then months, hunting him like I would an animal.

[DM crouches beside abandoned campfire, runs his fingers through the ashes.]

DM - [voice-over] But it was me who was becoming the animal. Winter was in the air, but all I could smell was blood. The longer it took, the more my hate grew. And hate was all I had. Hate was all I was.

[DM rides along gravel bed in wilderness.]

 

Establishing shot: mountains 7
 

Flashback - Trading post, 1872 8

[Super: Later that year]

[DM rides through camp in the rain, dismounts & ties horse up.]

Men - [in background] {??} over here, sir. / Yes, sir. / Leave it there {??}. / Put your back into it, corporal. / Keep trying. / {??} chopped up by -- by noon. / Yes, sir. / We'll take care of the horses, sir.

[DM wanders over to water barrel, fills dipper & drinks.]

Captain - You don't need more men, Sergeant. Just a competent scout. Like the one who helped clear out the Sioux last year.

Sergeant - You mean that tracker Kern.

Captain - Have it resolved before my final report.

DM - [approaches Captain] Where's Kern?

Captain - What?

DM - The Indian scout, the one that helped clear out the Sioux last year!

Captain - If you want work, mister, report to the Paymaster--

DM - [grabs Captain's lapels] I want to know where he is!

Captain - Sergeant!

[Sergeant cocks rifle, points it at DM. DM grabs barrel of rifle, knocks Sergeant down, fights off more soldiers.]

Officer - {Everyone be} still, gentlemen.

Men - Sergeant, you stop that man! / What are you men waiting for? Stop him!

[DM & soldiers roll over side of manger, still fighting.]

Men - {Give 'em a hand!} [DM grabs wooden crate to throw at soldier.] Get him! [Soldier knocks DM down with butt of rifle.] Throw him in the brig!

 

Flashback - Trading post, 1872 - brig 8

[Coltec, sitting in cell, senses 'buzz'.]

DM - [as soldiers drag him inside] Get your hands off me. God, you're dead. [The soldiers throw him into cell with Coltec.]

Officer - [offscreen] Somebody clean up that mess.

DM - You're dead! I'll find Kern! Then I'll come after the rest of you! You're dead! All of you! [turns, sees Coltec watching him, turns away]

Coltec - [calmly] Would that help?

DM - It's none of your concern.

Coltec - No?

DM - (in Sioux, subtitled) {Nee too ha-hoe.} (Who are you?) (CUT)

Coltec - (in Sioux, subtitled) {Heh-shishna mull-loolee hindha hoe?} (Are you always this polite?)

DM - (in Sioux, subtitled) {Wah toe-hahsh nah.} (Not always.)

Coltec - My name is Coltec.

DM - That's not a Sioux name.

Coltec - My tribe was long before that, but I have been with the Sioux. You also have a name?

DM - MacLeod. Of the Clan MacLeod.

Coltec - Ah. European tribe.

DM - What did you do?

Coltec - Do? I was Indian, I suppose. Also, they say I killed a soldier.

DM - Did you?

Coltec - They were riding down a young Indian for sport. I did this... [raises his hands] ...and the horses reared. A soldier fell off and died.

DM - They can't blame you for that.

Coltec - No? Still, they will hang me. And who is to say I didn't make the horses rear?

DM - I hate 'em. [yells loudly toward brig entrance] I hate 'em all!

Coltec - I can tell.

DM - All they know is how to take and destroy. The land, the forests... Women and children. It never stops. Never.

Coltec - It can stop for you.

DM - It will, once the man who's responsible for my family's slaughter is dead.

Coltec - Listen to me. Your hate is not destroying him, but it is destroying you.

DM - And who are you to know?

Coltec - I am Hayoka. It is my job to take the hatred from the world. I have been doing it for centuries -- taking evil into myself, so others may have peace. It is why I exist. You are not evil, but you are overcome by hate. And in your pain, you are blind. [reaches into medicine pouch hanging around his neck, pulls out some dried mushrooms] I can help you... I can take the hate. Stop the pain.

DM - Maybe I don't want help. Maybe I need to hate.

Coltec - No. It is not your nature. Take them. [holds out mushrooms. DM takes them, eats them. Close on Coltec's face, then DM's face superimposed, zooming in on DM's eye. A ring of water begins to appear, surrounding the eye. Reflection of DM's face replaces eye in circle of water. DM reaches a hand out to touch the water. Close on his face, the water reflecting in his eyes. C]

 

Flashback - dream sequence - holy ground near petroglyphs 6

[DM swirls his hand in the small pool of water, stares at his wet hand, then looks at the forest around him.]

DM - Where are we?

Coltec - [sitting with DM near the petroglyphs] A holy place. A place of peace and safety. My refuge.

DM - But this isn't real. This is a dream.

Coltec - This place is real. Perhaps we are a dream. A soul can only hold so much hate, so much anger. You are like this cup. [holds up small pottery cup full of water, dips handful of water from pool, dribbles it into cup] One more drop, and the hate will own you. I can empty this cup... [dumps water out of cup] ...before it happens. Take the hate into myself.

DM - But I don't want to forget her.

Coltec - What you love will remain. All you lose is some of the pain.

DM - And what will happen to you?

Coltec - I am Hayoka. My cup has no bottom.

DM - Then help me.

[Coltec takes off medicine pouch, puts it around DM's neck, then holds DM's head between his hands.]

[Dream sequence: wide shot of petroglyph clearing as a ghostly Coltec in shaman outfit stands up, raises his arms above his head, then disappears into the mist. He reappears in front of and behind DM at the same time, disappears, reappears, continuing slow motion Native American dance around the clearing. Close on dream-Coltec as he looks up, holding up his arms. Close on DM's face, Coltec's hands clasping his head. Close on dream-Coltec turning slowly in a circle, then drawing his hand D back the other direction and then over his head. Wide shot of dream-Coltec in clearing.]

[Close on Coltec clasping DM's head in his hands as he pulls the 'evil' out of DM & into himself.]

CUT

Loft above dojo, night 0

<DM - [offscreen] Blackness lifted. The pain was gone. Somehow he'd taken it.> CUT

RR - You believe it, Mac? That he really saved you like that?

DM - I know it. So it doesn't make sense. Jim Coltec's a holy man.

Reporter on TV - [as camera shows exterior of Chinese restaurant] And in Steveston today, the senseless murder which has stunned this small community. [RR walks over to TV, watching the report.] We caution that the scenes captured by the Chinese restaurant video camera may shock viewers. Much of the tape was erased by electrical damage, but the assailant's face is clearly visible. [RR looks over at DM, who joins him in front of the TV.] Police are appealing to anyone with information about the killing to come forward. [TV screen shows black-and-white image of Coltec holding Kant's gun, firing it.]

RR - There's your holy man, Mac. Guy's a stone cold killer.

[DM sits on edge of sofa, looks back at TV. E]
 

ACT TWO

Establishing F shot: Joe's Bar, night 0
 

Joe's Bar, night 0

CUT

Joe - I don't get it. Coltec is as close as an Immortal gets to being a saint. As far as we know, he has not taken a head in years.

RR - Try yesterday.

DM - Richie, when he called me, he sounded fine. It was like old times.

Joe - You think he tried to set you up?

DM - I don't know.

RR - I do, Mac. The guy got you out there and he tried to whack you. What the hell is that all about?

DM - Richie, it's not Coltec's style. I've seen him take heads in the past. And he -- he didn't get mad. He -- he was calm.

RR - No? Well, then he does one hell of a good imitation.

DM - [to Joe] What do you know about Dark Quickenings?

Joe - Come on. You're reaching, MacLeod.

RR - Reaching what? Somebody mind filling me in here, please?

DM - When we take an Immortal's head, we take his energy, his power, his strength.

RR - Right.

DM - In a Dark Quickening, if you take in too much evil, you -- you overload.

RR - You become evil yourself?

Joe - There's no proof.

RR - How much is too much, Mac?

DM - No one knows.

Joe - That's because no one's seen it happen. It's a myth.

DM - Something changed him.

RR - Well, whatever it was, Mac, he tried to kill us. Does it matter how he got to be that way?

DM - It matters to me.

 

Flashback - Greenwich Village, 1958 - small basement club 0

[Super: Greenwich Village, 1958]

[Korland is playing a saxaphone on the stage. He finishes & removes his sunglasses.]

[Super:
Bryce Korland
Born: 1838, U.S.A.]

Korland - [as audience snaps their fingers instead of clapping] Cats, kittens, fellow hipsters, I give you the hardest working man in show business. I give you... Death. [more finger snapping]

Audience - [murmuring] All right. All right. Far out. All right, brother.

Korland - [sets saxaphone down, takes drag from cigarette] Now, why do most murders happen at three a.m.? It's the same reason fires happen then. 'Cause the night time is the right time... It's the time Death digs the most. [The audience murmurs approvingly.] Oh yeah, children. Death digs the dark. Now, that's why he digs New York, 'cause New York has a LOT of dark. Alleyways. Subways... Best of all... victims.

Tall Beatnik - Out there. Truth.

Korland - Truth? Dig this... The killer woke way before dawn. He put his shades on. He was hungry for the next victim to feed on. This baby murders a four course meal. The hunt. [flash of feet in blue pumps walking, followed by feet in heavy black boots, then flash of knife blade (CUT)] The fear. [flash of man, then of woman, both afraid] The kill. [flash of knife blade stabbing at victim] And for dessert... [darts looks around the room as he senses 'buzz'. G DM enters at back of room.] [flash of house exploding in flames, then flash of man on fire (CUT)] Flames. What's hell without fire? Death, without pyromania? Cats, I'm telling you... it's just not worth living.

<DM - Not if you have to listen to this.> CUT

Korland - Life is hard to give up, you dig? You cling, you sing, you want to live forever. But hey, baby, nothing's perfect... except Death.

Tall Beatnik - [as DM walks past him] Dig it, man. It's Bryce Korland.

DM - Yeah, my lucky night.

Korland - Death never takes a holiday, you dig? 'Cause Death digs his job. Death's a stone professional. Baby, Death has got tenure in this town. You don't believe me, just ask that man there. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I think that cat has come here to kill me. Hey, baby, that's cool with Death, 'cause we all know... There can be...

DM - Only one. Show's over.

Bouncer - Hey, man.

DM - Be cool, bro. You dig?

Bouncer - Later.

Korland - [pulls sword from his trenchcoat] Then let us go, you and I, up where the buildings stab the sky... somebody's gonna die. 'Cause Death is in business. [backs through door out of room. DM follows.]

Tall Beatnik - Man, you are utterly, completely square! [Audience murmurs agreement.]

DM - I like it square. [Audience laughs, snaps fingers, claps. DM leaves.]

 

Flashback - Greenwich Village, 1958 - hallway 0

[DM is looking for Korland, sees flashes of light from Quickening, then Quickening blows apart closed doors at end of hallway. DM waits around a corner for Quickening to end, then moves toward destroyed doors.]

 

Flashback - Greenwich Village, 1958 - outside building, night 9

[DM walks through parking lot. 2 An Immortal is kneeling by Korland's headless body. DM approaches cautiously.]

DM - I'm Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod.

Coltec - I know. I could hear you coming a mile away.

DM - Jim Coltec, is that you? What-- What are you doing here?

Coltec - Same as you. Following Shakespeare here. CUT

DM - He was mine. This was personal.

Coltec - I guess it was. A man can't take too many monsters like this one inside him. Trust me. I do this for a living.

DM - Still the Hayoka.

Coltec - I'm too old to change. What's a guy gonna do? [He 'flashes' evil momentarily.]

DM - You okay?

Coltec - ['flashes' evil again] Tip-top. I just need to be alone for a while. A little nature, tom-toms... It's an Indian thing. [nods to DM, walks off]

DM - Yeah. I know.

 

Joe's Bar 0

(resume previous scene)

Joe - Well, that sounds more like Coltec.

DM - What have you heard, Dawson?

Joe - [sighs] You know, this is not an exact science, MacLeod, okay? I mean, maybe somebody got their wires crossed...

DM - If it's about Coltec, I need to know.

Joe - All right. We had two reports. One of the Watchers saw the robbery, and he saw Coltec and Kant going at it.

DM - Well, we both know who won. What's the other report?

Joe - Someone thought they saw Kant on the East Side after the fight.

RR - But Kant was already dead.

Joe - Yeah. Turns out it was Coltec wearing Kant's jacket. But that does not prove a thing.

DM - I have to know more about Kant, because that's who's inside Coltec.

Joe - Look, I'm already breaking the rules here.

DM - Then break them some more. We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto.

Joe - No. I guess we aren't. 3 [Flash of Kant's face.] <Harry Kant -- a real sociopath.

 

Outside Stavros' Bar, night 10 CUT

Joe - [voice-over] You look up "scum" in the dictionary, there's probably a picture of him.

[Coltec exits bar, walks down street.]

Joe - [voice-over] Thief. Murderer. Not the kind of guy you want to run into. Extremely dangerous. He killed ten Immortals in the past five years--

[Coltec bumps into woman walking the other direction.]

Woman - Hey!

[Coltec grabs the woman, pulls her to him.]

Joe - [voice-over] --that we know about. He took what he wanted, and he'd kill to get it.

[Coltec lets woman go, watches man in suit walk past him.]

Joe - [voice-over] This guy just likes to kill.

[Coltec follows the man.]

Joe - [voice-over] The last we knew, he was hanging out down on Water Street.

[Coltec has a switchblade in his hand, still following the man.]>

 

Alley near Stavros' Bar, night 10

[The man is lying dead at Coltec's feet. Coltec is going through the man's wallet. He senses 'buzz', turns, sees someone walking toward him.]

Coltec - Get a name. Fast.

DM - MacLeod. [steps into the light]

Coltec - MacLeod. Why the hell can't you mind your own business?

DM - Because you helped me once.

Coltec - Really? What was I thinking of?

DM - Jim, you know me. You know I can't let you do this. Let me help you.

Coltec - Why, MacLeod? Why, I like how I am, MacLeod. In fact, I feel real good about me. You really want to help? [draws his sword] Stick your neck out a little further. [attacks]

DM - [defends himself] You're Jim Coltec! You're my friend! Wake up!

CUT

[Fight continues. DM gets Coltec on the ground at his mercy.]

Coltec - Ain't this a pisser. CUT

[DM raises his sword, then knocks Coltec unconscious with it. H]
 

ACT THREE

Establishing I shot: wilderness lake 11

Establishing shot: barren tree branches framing a plateau, J sunset 11

Establishing shot: Big Dipper constellation wheels overhead as green aurora starts to dance across night sky 11
 

Holy ground near petroglyphs, night 6

[Camera pans K up petroglyph in clearing.]

Coltec - [tied up near campfire] You didn't have to drag me out here to take my head. You could have killed me in that alley.

DM - That's not the way I do things.

Coltec - No? Just wait. You're wasting your time here. We could be out taking heads, hitting banks... doin' what comes naturally.

DM - That's Kant talking.

Coltec - It's me, MacLeod. It always has been. Just one big ol' lake of badness.

DM - You're a hayoka. But you'd reached your limit. You saw that coming, that's why you stopped taking heads years ago.

Coltec - Now white man speaks with forked tongue.

DM - Then you ran into Kant, and it was too much. Do you remember? The cup overflowed. That was Kant. You became what you fought.

Coltec - As we all will become in time.

DM - I don't believe that.

Coltec - You don't want to, but there's a fine line out there, and hell is waiting on the other side. And you know it, MacLeod. That's why you are trying so hard. You look at me, and you see your future.

DM - Not if I can help it.

Coltec - Really? And just tell me how you plan to pull this off. Pass a peace pipe around?

DM - [holds up Coltec's medicine bag] The same as you did.

Coltec - [laughs] You? A Hayoka? CUT And what makes you think that you've got the stuff?

DM - Because I had a good teacher.

Coltec - Superstitious crap. Forget it, MacLeod. This is the real me. [DM grabs Coltec's head between his hands.] NO!

[Coltec tries to twist away but DM doesn't let go. Coltec twists his hands in the ropes binding his wrists. Then Coltec collapses & DM falls to the side.]

DM - Jim?

[DM bends close & Coltec throws dirt in his face, then kicks his legs out from under him.]

Coltec - [hands no longer bound] You thought you could save me? That what I am could be drawn out? It's too powerful, MacLeod. [looks around at petroglyphs] Next time we won't be on holy ground.

DM - Jim, let me help you. Jim.

[Coltec backs away into the dark forest. A wolf howls. Close on DM's face as he sits back down by the fire. 4]

 

Joe's Bar 0

Joe - Look, it's a theory, all right? It's like... It's like water on Mars. It has not been proven.

RR - Mac believes it.

Joe - Yeah, well... he's been wrong before.

RR - Yes, but... is he this time?

Joe - Have another drink.

RR - I'm all right.

Joe - Well, good. Then I'll have one. [pours himself a drink]

RR - Joe, I'm so glad I've got something to look forward to.

Joe - Have you ever seen "It's a Wonderful Life"? It's a -- a Jimmy Stewart movie. It's about how this guy sees what would have happened if he hadn't lived.

RR - I hope this is going somewhere.

Joe - What I'm saying is... 5 don't jump to conclusions. Now, if these Dark Quickenings happen, they must be awful rare, because otherwise we would have some records.

RR - So maybe they don't happen to everyone.

Joe - Well, exactly. I mean, think of all the bad guys you'd have to kill. What are the odds of living that long? [RR gives him a look.] I didn't exactly word that right.

CUT

RR - Where the hell is MacLeod?

Joe - How the hell should I know?

RR - You're his Watcher, damn it. It's your job. [senses 'buzz'. DM enters bar.] You found Coltec?

DM - Yes. [beat] No.

Joe - The Dark Quickening?

DM - Coltec's become evil. As bad as the ones he killed. As bad as they come.

Joe - Damn it.

DM - I have to stop him.

Joe - You really want to do that? I mean, think about it.

DM - I have.

Joe - He might be in another county by now.

DM - Then you find out which county, and you let me know. [leaves]

Joe - What the hell. Like the man said, we're not in Kansas anymore.

RR - It's a hell of a theory, Joe. 6

 

<Outside pawn shop, night 12 CUT

[Timer on bomb strapped to gas meter counts down from 003 seconds. (CUT) Store front explodes in flames. Coltec watches from nearby.]>

 

Establishing shot: Loft above dojo, night 13
 

Loft above dojo, night 0

DM - A pawn shop.

Joe - Yeah. Down on the South Side. After that, we lost him.

DM - Then I'll talk to the pawnshop owner.

Joe - No... he killed the owner. I'm sorry, MacLeod. I know Coltec was your friend.

DM - Anything else?

Joe - Just that it gets worse. 7 After he left, he torched the joint. Burned it to the ground. CUT

 

Flashback - Greenwich Village, 1958 - small basement club 0

Korland - Flames. What's hell without fire? Death without pyromania? Cats, I'm telling you... it's just not worth living.

 

Loft above dojo, night 0

(resume previous scene)

DM - [realizing] Bryce Korland.

Joe - Wait a minute. You lost me.

DM - It's not Coltec or Kant. It's Korland. That's his M.O. He kills, then he burns.

Joe - Korland died over thirty years ago.

DM - When Jim took his head. It's not Kant inside of him... it's -- it's every Immortal Jim ever killed. Now Korland's side is coming out.

Joe - You've got revolving bad guys. How does that help?

DM - I tracked Korland back in '58. I knew where to find him then. I think I know where to find him now.

 

Establishing shot: Seacouver skyline, night 14
 

Basement club, night 0

Coltec - Cops, undertakers, the best minds of a generation are totally MISStified at all the young dead bodies. [senses 'buzz' as DM enters club] Well, well. Ain't life hell. I'll be right back after this very short station break. CUT

Guy - Hey, this guy's full of crap.

Woman - {??} your hair cut, all right? {That'd be cool.}

Guy - It's about time, huh?

 

Outside near club, night 4

DM - I wish there was another way, Jim. CUT

Coltec - What are you hoping for, MacLeod? A guilty conscience? Remorse? Gone. No more weakness. No more Mr. Nice Guy.

DM - You were never weak. You were good. That was your strength.

Coltec - Let me tell you about strength. Real strength is evil. ['flashes' evil] It wins. You can't change me, MacLeod... because I don't want to change. ['flashes' evil again]

DM - I know.

Coltec - Then let's go for it, man. My public's waiting. [laughs, attacks DM]

[Joe watches from the shadows as DM & Coltec fight. DM eventually drives Coltec to his knees, then steps back. Coltec swings his sword forward, trying to take advantage of DM's hesitation. DM disarms him.]15

DM - (in Sioux, phonetically:) {Ah-see kookoe.} Travel well, Jim.

[Coltec 'flashes' evil one last time before DM beheads him. Joe watches as the Quickening begins.]15

Coltec phantom - [maniacal laughter] Evil is strength.

[The Quickening ends.]
 

ACT FOUR

Establishing shot: Joe's Bar, night 0
 

Joe's Bar 0

[DM is nursing a drink at a table, facing away from the bar.]

Joe - [walks up to bar] Lou, how long has he been sitting there?

Lou - [as DM turns to look at them] Long enough.

Joe - [sighs, walks toward DM] MacLeod.

DM - [walks past him to bar without saying anything, sits down beside woman] Hey.

Denise - Hi.

DM - You mind if I sit down?

Denise - I'm waiting for someone.

DM - [sits] here I am.

Denise - Oh, really?

DM - Uh-huh.

Denise - Well, I'm not looking for company.

<DM - Oh, yeah? Everybody's looking for company. Why don't we have a coupl'a shots of tequilas and talk about it? [grabs tequila bottle from bar stock, and some glasses] Hmm? Huh? CUT

Denise - That's a bit fast.

DM - Oh, I like it fast. [pours drinks]

Denise - [laughs] Are you always this confident?

DM - Always. [holds up shot glass] Cheers. [Denise sips from her shot glass.] Down all of it, otherwise it doesn't count. [Denise drinks the rest of the shot.] That's it. Well, now that we now each other a little better,> why don't we go back to your place and talk a little dirty?

Denise - I'd better go.

DM - [grabs her wrist] I didn't say you could leave.

Denise - Let go of me.

DM - Now, why is that, huh? [paws at her chest]

Denise - Leave me alone.

DM - Now, why is that, pretty?

Denise - Let go of me. [slaps him]

DM - [chuckles] You hit hard, huh? [backhands her] Not as hard as I do.

Joe - What the hell are you doing?

DM - Hey, the bitch hit me, man.

Joe - Hey, what are you, nuts? [grabs DM's arm]

DM - Don't touch me. [punches Joe, laughs, sizes up bartender who moves toward him] Wanna play?

Joe - It's all right. It's all right. Leave him alone. He had too much to drink. [to himself] Oh, God.

DM - [re bartender's baseball bat] Nice bat. [leaves]

Joe - [to bartender] I'm all right. I'm all right. It's just-- Carry on. Sorry.

CUT

Establishing shot: Dojo, night 8 13
 

Empty dojo, night 0

[RR walks L forward, M practicing with his sword, senses 'buzz'. DM enters dojo.]

RR - You okay?

DM - Yeah. I'm fine.

RR - I was getting a little worried about you.

DM - You were? Why?

RR - Well, you found Coltec...?

DM - Yeah, I found him.

RR - I know how much you liked the guy. I'm sorry.

DM - You're sorry.

RR - Yeah, well, you did what you had to do, but I know how much you hated it.

DM - ['flashes' evil, smiles] Hated it? You're wrong. [draws katana, slashes RR across the chest] I loved it.

RR - [backing away] What are you doing, Mac?

DM - You're a smart little boy. Why don't you figure it out? [attacks. RR defends himself. DM cuts his leg, toying with him.]

RR - Whatever happened, Mac, we can work it out.

DM - Sorry. Wrong number. [attacks again, cuts RR's shoulder, bows mockingly. RR attacks, fight continues. DM cuts RR agains, smacks a kiss on top of his head, disarms him.]

RR - Just tell me why. The teacher kills the pupil? Is that what this is all about? Is it because there can be only one? Is that it?

DM - [laughs] That's as good a reason as any. [raises his sword to behead RR, is shot multiple times & falls to the floor, dead]

Joe - [lowers gun, walks from entrance toward RR] Are you all right?

RR - Yeah. Aw, Joe, what the hell? He tried to kill me.

Joe - Just get out of here.

RR - You saw what he did, Joe. We have to help him.

Joe - Richie, don't you get it? This is not MacLeod. Not the one we knew. This man is not your friend.

RR - Oh, Joe...!

CUT

Joe - Please go. Please!

RR - Okay.

Joe - Please.

RR - Damn it! [leaves]

 

[later]

[Joe has DM tied up to a wooden frame in the dojo. DM revives & surges to his feet, fighting the ropes.]

Joe - Guy could get a serious rope burn like that.

DM - [glares at Joe] These ropes won't hold forever. You better run while you can -- if you can!

Joe - I'm not ready to give up.

DM - There's nothing to give up except your life.

Joe - No. There's a friend.

DM - [laughs, inhales through his nose] Smell that, Dawson? I do. It's the smell of your own mortality, your own death. Now, why would I be friends with a dead man?

Joe - We go back a long way, you and I, MacLeod. Now, maybe we don't want to admit it, but we owe each other.

DM - Speak for yourself.

Joe - I am! For both of us. And I know damn near everything about you, Duncan MacLeod. I know who you fought, who you killed. I know who you loved. I know it all.

DM - You know squat about me. Squat! Squat! Got it?

Joe - I know your strength. I know your will. I know your goodness. And whatever monsters are in you now, I know you're still in there, too.

DM - You're willing to give up your life for that? Hmm? 'Cause if you're not, you'd better use that sword right now and kill me. 'Cause if you don't, you're a dead man. Come on.

Joe - Maybe you're right. I can't just stand here.

DM - Go ahead, dead man. You got the will? You got the guts? Hmm? [Joe rests katana blade against DM's neck. DM kisses the blade.] Hmm. It's not easy, is it, Dawson? Is it? Taking somebody's head? Cutting their head off, hmm? [thrusts his neck against katana blade] Come on. Come on. [Joe pulls the blade back to swing.] Come on. Do it! [Joe cuts the rope binding DM's hands. DM grabs the katana from Joe.] Wrong choice.

Joe - Maybe so. Maybe so.

[DM stares at Joe, threatening him with the katana, then is distracted by murmuring voices in his head. He staggers away, holding his head, leaves. Joe exhales & looks up, shaking his head sadly, then lowers his head and looks to the side. N]
 

TAG

Docks, night 16

<[DM walks down stairs toward cargo ship, carrying a dufflebag over his shoulder. 9 Cut to establishing shot of cargo ship. DM walks up stairs to dock.]

Davis - Seventeen. Room for one more.

DM - That'll be me.> CUT

Davis - Work's dirty, it's a rough crew, the food's lousy. You get paid when we dock. Still want to sign on?

[DM signs the crew register, starts for the gangplank.]

Davis - Hey! You want to know where the hell we're going?

DM - No. [boards ship]

 

To Be Continued...

 

End of "Something Wicked"

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