Highlander

Episode Transcripts

 

SEASON FOUR
Episode 21: Judgment Day

Written by David Tynan
Directed by Gérard Hameline
Aired: May 26, 1996
 
Transcript revised: 12-26-20

 

/ Episode Screencaps /

 

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].

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

Joe Dawson - Jim Byrnes
              MacLeod's Watcher

 

GUEST STARRING:

Adam Pierson / Methos - Peter Wingfield
              Watcher / 5,000 y.o. Immortal

Jack Shapiro - Jesse Joe Walsh
              Watcher Tribune, Joe's friend

Charles "Charlie" Tarvise - Graham McTavish
              Watcher Tribune

Jacob Galati - Steven/Stephen Tremblay
              Immortal, Mac's friend

FEATURING:

David Shapiro - Benjamin Boyer
              Jack's son, Watcher

Realtor - Danielle Durou
              at former Watcher HQ

Gate Guard - Nicolas Bonnefous
              at new Watcher HQ

Nadia - Christine Riviere/Rivère
              Watcher (Eastern Europe Coordinator)

 

UNCREDITED:

Driver - ??
              of Joe's cab at quay

Guard - ??
              Joe's 'escort' at HQ

Locations List:*
1. Joe's bar (estab) - Virtue/Reckert Studios, 770 Pacific Blvd, Vancouver [49.274936,-123.111030] (no longer there)
2. Place de la Bastille - Angel statue [48.853177,2.369125] from camera position [48.851197,2.369307]
3. Quay by barge #1 - quay next to Pont de l'Archevêché bridge [48.851307,2.351766]
4. Quay by barge #2 - quay next to Pont de la Tournelle bridge [48.850529,2.354398]
5. New Watcher HQ interior & Former Watcher HQ exterior - Château de Champlâtreux, D 316, Epinay-Champlatreux: front gate [49.085178,2.415089], drive [49.085547,2.412544], front door [49.085758,2.411236]
6. Park - unknown location
7. Watcher HQ (estab), old & new - Château de Ferrières, Rue du Château, Ferrières-en-Brie [48.81927,2.711703]
8. New Watcher HQ exterior - Musee Nationale de la Renaissance, Rue Jean Bullant, Ecouen: woods [49.016830,2.377727], front gate [49.016506,2.379361], massacre [49.017239,2.377719]
9. Alley (estab) - Rue Galande [48.851770,2.346832]
10. Alley - unknown location
11. Street - parking lot at 4 Place de l'Eglise, Ecouen (looking north) [49.018361,2.379411]
12. Bridge at Watcher HQ - Château de Ferrières grounds, Ferrières-en-Brie [48.817596,2.710973]
* Locations are in/near Paris unless otherwise indicated.
= 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 five exceptions.
~Rerun on Syfy (2010) matches the official cut, with multiple exceptions.
~Rerun on Syfy (2013) matches the Syfy 2010 cut, with five 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: Joe's Bar 1
 

Inside Joe's Bar

Joe - [sits on stool in empty, dark room, playing guitar. His phone rings. He stops playing and answers it.] Joe's... [friendly] Hey, Jack. How the hell are you?... Man, it's been a long time... [sober] Say that again... Are you sure there's no mistake? He's dead?... [sighs] No, no, no, uh, Duncan MacLeod is-- Duncan MacLeod was my assignment... Yeah. I will, uh, be on the next plane, okay?... See you later.

 

Establishing shot: Place de la Bastille, Paris 2
 

Quay by barge 3

Joe - [gets out of cab, hands cash to Driver] Voilà.

Driver - Monsieur? Are you all right?

Translations: Voilà - Here; Monsieur - Sir

Joe - Yeah, I'm, uh, I'm fine. Thank you. Thank you. [Cab pulls away. Joe sighs, pulls out tape recorder, turns it on & speaks into it.] Terminal report on the Immortal, Duncan MacLeod.

DM - [jogging along the quay, sees Dawson, stops jogging] Dawson?

Joe - [still speaking into recorder] Tuesday, two p.m.

DM - [off-screen] Dawson!

Joe - [turns, sees DM, mouths word:] MacLeod. [repeats, aloud] MacLeod! [walks toward him] It's you! [to himself] Somebody's gonna catch hell for this. [A car screeches to a halt behind him.] Hey, watch it! [Two men jump out of the car, grab Joe & manhandle him into the car.] What are you-- Ahh!

[DM runs toward the car. He grabs onto the luggage rack as it takes off past him. The car speeds down the quay, twisting and turning and eventually throwing DM off before racing away.]
 

[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

Quay by barge 3

[A man stands A near the barge, in the fog.]

 

Inside barge 3

[DM sits by phone, waiting for it to ring, senses 'buzz'.]

 

Quay by barge 4

[DM walks down quay, into the thick fog. 3 He draws his sword as he reaches the Pont de la Tournelle bridge.]

DM - [announcing himself] I'm Duncan Macleod of the Clan MacLeod.

Methos - Yes, I know. [reacts as DM swings his sword around at him]

DM - [lowers his sword, sighs] I was expecting someone else.

Methos - Not a close friend, I assume?

DM - Dawson was here this morning. Someone grabbed him outside the barge.

Methos - Why?

DM - I don't know! Maybe they're after me. Damn him. What's he doing here? CUT

Methos - Something is going on with the Watchers. Security's intense. That's why I didn't come to the barge.

DM - You're going to have to find who's out there for me.

Methos - Look-- If I start questioning people, sooner or later, one of them starts questioning me.

DM - You owe him. [Methos shakes his head.] Methos, what other Watcher would have kept your secret, that you, an Immortal, are masquerading as a Watcher named Adam Pierson?

Methos - That was his choice.

DM - Yes, it was.

Methos - Okay, I'll find out what I can.

DM - Thanks. [gives him a small smile, leaves]

Methos - [to himself] I spent years losing my conscience, only for him to go and find it again.

 

New Watcher HQ - hallway 5

[Camera follows sets of feet (& Joe's cane tip) down a hallway.]

Joe - Damn it. Who are you, and where the hell are we going? [He is being led down hallway, blindfolded, by two men.] How long are you going to keep this up? [stumbles on rug] What the--

Guard? - Shit.

Joe - Oh! Ah! Damn it! If you'd let me take this off, I could walk! [The men remain silent, gripping his hands to prevent him from removing his blindfold.] Okay. Okay, you got me. I'm helpless, all right? Just-- How-- Tell me what's going on. 1 [They lead him into a room decorated as a children's bedroom or nursery and remove his blindfold.] Oh! [raises his hand against the sudden light] All right, somebody start talking! [turns around, but the men have already left the room, shutting the door behind them. He tries the door. It's locked.] Open up! Open up! Who the hell are you?

 

Establishing shot: Quay by barge 4
 

Quay by barge 3

[Jacob Galati removes his motorcycle helmet, turns off motorcycle & dismounts. He boards the barge & prowls around. David Shapiro watches from the embankment. Jacob notices him. David turns away, lighting a cigarette, affecting indifference. A Watcher symbol is visible on his wrist. Jacob watches him and smiles to himself.]

 

Park 6

Methos - [sitting on a park bench, feeding pigeons as DM approaches] They're definitely watching your barge. Phone's probably tapped, as well.

DM - Who is? [at Methos' silence] Methos.

Methos - It's not an Immortal. It's the Watchers.

DM - Dawson was taken by his own people? Why? Where is he?

Methos - I wasn't able to find out.

DM - You're a Watcher, damn it. You should be able to find out.

Methos - CUT The rumor is that the Watcher Tribunal are putting him on trial for treason. [leaves]

 

Establishing shot: Former Watcher Headquarters for Western Europe 7

[Super: Former Watcher Headquarters / for Western Europe]

Former Watcher HQ 5

[DM drives past sign on gate:
A VENDRE
Joffrin Immobilier
42.55.21.21

Another sign is pasted over top:
A ETE VENDU]

Translations: A VENDRE - FOR SALE; Joffrin Immobilier - Real Estate;
A ETE VENDU - HAS BEEN SOLD

[As DM drives up lane, he passes Immortal on motorcycle headed off the property. DM parks, approaches woman at front door of chateau.]

DM - Excuse me. Is the estate for sale?

Realtor - I'm sorry. It was sold some time ago. That sign should really be taken away. [picks up real estate sign by front door]

DM - Uh, the man that just left on the bike... is he the new buyer?

Realtor - No. Just someone who wanted to get in touch with the old owners.

DM - That's a coincidence. So am I.

Realtor - I'm afraid I can't help you either. The estate was listed under a holding company. All the business was done by phone.

DM - Well, if they-- If they sold this one, they must have bought another one somewhere else.

Realtor - Not with me. And not in Paris. I'd have heard about any sale that big. Are you in the market for an estate?

DM - No. Uh, thank you very much. [returns to his car] 2

 

Establishing shot: New Watcher Headquarters - Lyon, France 7

[Super: New Watcher Headquarters / Lyon, France]

New Watcher HQ - nursery room 5

Joe - [playing with squirt gun, looks up as door opens] Well, if it isn't Ken and Barbie! Love the decor, fellas. [The two men reach for him.] All right! All right. [gets to his feet] Getting a little careless, aren't we? I've seen your faces now.

Guard - It won't matter.

Joe - Okay.

[They escort him from the room.] B

 

New Watcher HQ - Tribunal room in basement 5

Joe - If you were gonna kill me, you would've done it by now, right? So just tell me what you want. Give me a clue. What is it? What is going on? Who ARE you guys? [They leave him standing in a darkened room.] If it's money you're after, you got the wrong guy! It's a mistake!

Shapiro - [from the shadows] It's no mistake, Joe.

Joe - Jack? Jack, is that you?

Shapiro - [leans forward into the light] I wish I could say it's good to see you, Joe.

Joe - What the hell is this about? You snatch me off the street? You lock me up? You're my own people! Damn it, Jack, you're my friend!

Shapiro - That's why I'm here to judge you.

Joe - For what?

Shapiro - [nods to man next to him] Tell him.

Tarvise - [stands, walks toward Joe] Joseph Dawson, you are charged with betraying your oath. With consorting with an Immortal and falsifying Chronicles.

Shapiro - How do you plead?

Joe - [scoffs] I don't believe this. You haul my ass all the way to Paris for -- for this? C

Shapiro - In the last three years, we've lost eighty agents. In the fifty years before that we've lost two.

Joe - So?

Shapiro - So... It's been just three years since you had your first little talk with MacLeod.

Joe - Oh, now you wait a--

Shapiro - You should've kept your mouth shut, Joe.

Tarvise - Now we have to shut it for you.

Joe - Fine. You want me out? I'm gone. And you can keep the gold watch.

Tarvise - You're not being dismissed for your crimes. It's gone far beyond that. An example must be made. If we decide you are guilty, the penalty is death.

 

Outside New Watcher HQ 8

[DM dodges from tree to tree, moving closer to the chateau. He senses 'buzz', draws his sword, finds Methos hiding behind another tree, his sword also drawn. Both Immortals hide behind nearby trees.]

Methos - We've got to stop meeting like this. People will talk.

DM - I thought you said you didn't know where he was being held?

Methos - [joins him at his tree] I didn't. I managed a little research, okay? How did you find out?

DM - I did some research of my own.

Methos - MacLeod, he's in enough trouble as it is. You shouldn't be here.

DM - And you should?

Methos - Okay. Like you say, I owe him one.

DM - Glad to hear it. Now let's figure a way in.

[They take off together, dodging from tree to tree. D]
 

ACT TWO

Outside New Watcher HQ, night - entrance gate 8

[Close on cobblestones as E car drives up.]

Gate Guard - [as Methos drives up to gate] Hold it. [leans over as Methos rolls down window] Your I.D., please. [takes I.D., looks at it] What's your business here?

Methos - It's Pierson -- Adam Pierson. I'm in research. I'm attached to the Methos project, okay? Check it out.

[DM climbs a wall nearby.]

Gate Guard - [shakes his head] You're not on the list.

Methos - They've shut the library in Paris and moved everything here.

Gate Guard - Come back next week.

Methos - Next week? This is urgent!

[DM is almost over the wall.]

Gate Guard - Urgent?

Methos - If I lose Methos because of this, it'll be on your head!

Gate Guard - The assignment's been around for five thousand years. Another week won't kill you.

[DM reaches the top of the wall & goes over it.]

Methos - [rolls up window] Bloody bureaucrat! [drives away in a screech of tires]

 

New Watcher HQ - nursery room 5

Joe - [as young man enters carrying a paper tray of food] Well, well. What's this? The last meal for the condemned man, huh? CUT [picks up plastic fork, pokes at salad & piece of meat] You know, I don't know about this sour cream. You see, I'm, uh-- have to watch my cholesterol. I suppose I can live dangerously for the last couple of hours, huh? [sighs] Nah, forget it. [tosses fork back onto tray] I lost my appetite. [Man sets tray on table & exits. Joe leans back on bed & opens a children's book (The Adventures of Mary Poppins). 3 He hears a smack & a thud in the hallway & sits up.]

DM - <[enters room carrying the unconscious man over his shoulder] CUT Ugh, this place come like this, or they build it specially for you?>

Joe - MacLeod, get out of here now!

DM - [puts unconscious man on other bed] Grab some sheets. We'll tie him up, and we can get out of here.

Joe - [sighs] It's not gonna work, MacLeod.

DM - It won't if you don't get yourself in gear. There're guards all over this place. Come on.

Joe - Yeah. Security cameras, too. [points to corner of room]

DM - [looks up, sees camera] Oh.

Joe - [in Deep Southern accent] Was nice of you to come by, though.

DM - Hey, don't mention it. [sits on bed as Joe leans back again]

 

Establishing shot: Outside New Watcher HQ, night - entrance gate 8
 

New Watcher HQ - Tribunal room in basement 5

Shapiro - Duncan MacLeod, following you here? Oh, this is a real mess, Joe.

DM - Yeah-- kidnapping isn't.

Tarvise - We did not kidnap Dawson.

DM - No, you threw him in a car, threatened his life -- what would you call it?

Tarvise - Following our rules.

Shapiro - Joe took the same oath that we all did. He swore that under no circumstances -- that is NO circumstances -- was he to reveal our existence to Immortals. Yet here you are.

DM - I'm not your enemy.

Tarvise - Your presence here only proves how dangerous it is for Immortals to know we exist.

Joe - MacLeod is no danger to the Watchers!

Shapiro - I'm not so sure about that. [to DM] How many others have you told?

DM - Only those I trust.

Shapiro - Ah! And do you trust all the ones that they told? You see? That's how it starts, Joe. And it ends in death! [tosses photos on desk] Detroit, New York, Rome-- Those are our brothers and sisters, Joe. They're dead! All killed by Immortals! [points at DM]

CUT

DM - You can't try him for crimes he didn't commit. He's no more responsible for this than you are!

Shapiro - He knew what he was doing when he trashed his oath.

DM - He had no choice. *I* found HIM.

 

<Flashback: Inside Seacouver bookstore CUT
(from "The Watchers")

DM - [voice-over] My friend Darius had been murdered, and the only clue I had to his killers was an ancient book I found near his body. The book led me to Dawson.

DM - I'm an antique dealer. I came across this book, but I can't tell much about it.

Joe - I'm afraid it's not worth much in this condition.

DM - Well, I'm really just curious.

Joe - Beautiful illustrations. Probably the work of monks.

DM - Yeah, perhaps. 4 Ever seen it before?

Joe - No. I, uh, I might be interested in buying it.

DM - Really? I thought you said it wasn't worth very much.

Joe - It's for me. I have a weakness for beautiful things.

DM - I'm sorry. It's not for sale.

DM - [voice-over] Dawson covered, but he didn't have a chance. It was that book and the other Watchers that gave the game away.

[DM leaves store & stands facing window. He holds chronicle up so sniper laser hits Watcher symbol on cover, over his shoulder.]

 

Flashback: Alley near Seacouver bookstore
(from "The Watchers")

Joe - For as long as your kind's been around, we've been watching.

DM - No Immortal has ever discovered you?

Joe - Ah, why would they notice another face in the crowd? I mean, even one as extraordinary as mine?

DM - [holds up Darius' chronicle] And this?

Joe - It's one of our chronicles. That disappeared five hundred years ago. Somehow Darius got it. It's, uh, it's part of a record we keep of Immortals.

DM - So you can hunt us?

Joe - No, no. We observe. We record. But we never interfere.>

 

New Watcher HQ - Tribunal room in basement 5

(resume previous scene)

Tarvise - So you took it upon yourself to betray our secret -- a secret generations of Watchers have died to protect.

Joe - I did what I had to do.

Shapiro - What you had to do? Or what you wanted to do?

Joe - Horton and the others were killing Immortals. If I hadn't told MacLeod the truth, he would have thought all Watchers were murderers.

 

<Flashback: Outside St. Joseph's Chapel CUT
(from "The Hunters")

DM - [voice-over] The group Horton led were Watchers -- Watchers that were renegades, who wanted to wipe us out of existence.

[Horton & four Hunters walk toward the church.]

 

Flashback: St. Joseph's Chapel - rectory
(from "The Hunters")

[Darius walks over to desk, sits down.]

DM - [voice-over] Darius wasn't the first Immortal they'd hunted and killed. He wanted to kill every Immortal, good or evil. Made no difference to him.

 

Flashback: St. Joseph's Chapel - entrance
(from "The Hunters")

DM - [voice-over] He was obsessed.

[Horton & two Hunters enter chapel & walk toward rectory.]

 

Flashback: St. Joseph's Chapel - rectory
(from "The Hunters")

[Darius looks up as he hears a noise.]

 

Flashback: Inside St. Joseph's Chapel
(from "The Hunters")

DM - [runs toward body] Darius! Darius!

 

Flashback: Inside Seacouver bookstore - Joe's office
(from "The Watchers")

DM - This is happening right under your nose. You're not stupid -- maybe you're just blind.

Joe - Why don't you tell me what I'm supposed to see.

DM - How about a softball coach who's running a death squad on the side.

Joe - You're talking about James.

DM - No, I'm talking about Gunga Din. 5 Don't you get it? Horton killed Darius.>

 

New Watcher HQ - Tribunal room in basement 5

(resume previous scene)

<Shapiro - CUT What Horton did is irrelevant. The bottom line is that you betrayed us, Joe.>

Joe - What do you mean?

Shapiro - I mean that MacLeod became more important to you than your oath, than your duty.

Tarvise - His fight with Killian was part of the Game. And you interfered -- you used us to interfere.

 

Flashback: Joe's Bar, morning
(from "The Colonel")

Joe - Amanda... Two Immortals go off together, one doesn't come back -- we both know what happened. [sighs] I'm sorry.

Amanda - Look, Joe, I would know if he was dead.

<Joe - [voice-over] Killian crossed the line. He wanted to get at MacLeod, and he didn't care how many people he killed to do it. He was totally without conscience.> CUT

Amanda - And if he's not alive, then I want to know where to find Killian.

Joe - All right, I'll see what I can find out.

 

Flashback: Joe's Bar, later
(from "The Colonel")

Henson - [enters bar] Joe Dawson? Andrea Henson. I watch Simon Killian.

Joe - I'm, uh, writing my close-up on MacLeod.

Henson - He's not dead. They shot him, but Killian didn't take his head. He's locked him in one of those old cells at the abandoned Air Force base. You didn't know?

Joe - No. I-- I didn't know.

Henson - You're not going to get involved... are you, Joe?

[Off Joe's reaction...]

 

Flashback: Abandoned Air Force base - underground fallout shelter, night
(from "The Colonel")

Killian - Get used to your new home, MacLeod. No one's used this brig in forty years. And the only one who knows you're down here thinks you're dead.

DM - So what's my sentence, Colonel, sir? [salutes him mockingly]

Killian - Fair is fair. 6 I did seventy years; you'll do seventy years. Unless, of course, someone takes my head. Then you'll be here forever.

 

Flashback: Abandoned Air Force base - underground fallout shelter, later
(from "The Colonel")

[DM senses a 'buzz'. As the lock on the shelter door starts clicking, DM reaches up and unscrews the hanging light bulb, then hides behind a stack of boxes.]

Amanda - [enters wearing a stethoscope] My first safe in years. 7

DM - Amanda?

Amanda - Duncan.

DM - What are you doing here?

Amanda - Did you miss me?

DM - More than you'll ever know. How did you find me?

Amanda - I had a little help from a friend. [gets cell door open as Joe enters the room]

Joe - Hello, Mac.

 

New Watcher HQ - Tribunal room in basement 5

Shapiro - CUT You've been breaking the rules for years. [laughs] CUT Not only did you betrayed us, you underestimated us. What's the matter? Nothing to say?

[Joe shakes his head 'no'.]

DM - <Joe broke his oath because there were things that needed to be done. [pulls away from guards holding him, grabs gun from one of them, points it at Shapiro, speaks to other guard] Your gun, now, or they die. CUT

Shapiro - Hey, you're way out of line here, MacLeod.

[Other guard hands his gun over.]

Joe - Mac, think about what you're doing.

DM - I am. I'm proving a point. Are you telling me it would've been better if he had stayed out of it?> If he'd let Immortals like Ward and Barnes keep on killing? Huh? How many men could you see die before you did something about it? Before you stopped it?

 

<Flashback: Priest's office CUT
(from "Turnabout")

DM - [voice-over] You think Barnes would've thanked you?

OF Morton - Quentin Barnes. But that's impossible. He's dead.

QB - I was, but as you can see, I'm back.

OF Morton - Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done-- [choking noises as QB strangles him]

 

Flashback: Outside rectory
(from "Turnabout")

DM - [watches medics load gurney into ambulance, sees Joe nearby & confronts him] I thought I told you not to follow me.

Joe - You found Father Morton.

DM - Yeah, but not before Barnes did. I want his files, Dawson.

Joe - It's being printed. Josh should be on his way with it by now.

DM - It might keep someone else alive. [gets in T-bird, drives away]

 

Flashback: Inside antique store
(from "Turnabout")

RR - [into phone] Yeah, hold on one second. [turns to DM] It's for you, Mac.

DM - Dawson? [takes phone]

RR - Yeah.

DM - [into phone] What do you got?

Joe - [into phone] He killed Singer last night.

DM - [into phone] Yeah, tell me something I don't know.

Joe - [on phone] I think we found him.

DM - [into phone] Go on.

Joe - [into phone] That old asylum out past Route 3?

DM - [into phone] Yeah, I know it.

Joe - [into phone] I'd like to be able to do more, MacLeod.

DM - [into phone] You do what you can. [ends call]

Michael - Barnes. You know where he is?

 

Flashback: Construction yard
(from "Turnabout")

Michael - Duncan, if you care about me, you're going to have to kill Barnes now!

DM - Forgive me, my friend. [raises katana] I have a promise to keep. [beheads Michael] 8

 

Flashback: Outside Notre Dame
(from "The Vampire")

DM - [voice-over] If it wasn't for Dawson, I wouldn't have been able to stop Nicholas Ward.

Joe - Knock, knock.

DM - What did you find out?

Joe - Well, the Parisian police think they might have a serial killer. They can't be sure, but three men all about the same age have been murdered.

 

Flashback: Peter's residence
(from "The Vampire")

Peter - [walking back toward groceries, turns suddenly in surprise] Nicky.

 

Paris streets
(from "The Vampire")

[DM is driving like a maniac trying to get to Peter's house quickly.]

 

Peter's residence
(from "The Vampire")

[Ward, in the process of strangling Peter, senses 'buzz' and hides. DM enters house, hears dial tone beeping, finds Peter strangled by phone cord.]

 

Empty grandstand
(from "The Vampire")

[Ward swings for beheading blow, but DM blocks it, slashes Ward across the chest, and knocks the sword from his hand.]

DM - Not great enough.

Ward - Everyone's a critic.

[DM beheads him.]

 

New Watcher HQ - Tribunal room in basement 5

(resume previous scene)

Shapiro - All right. All right, MacLeod. All right.

[DM stands down, tosses guns back to guards.]>

Joe - You see, that rule book -- it looks a lot different out in the street than it does down here.

Tarvise - So you made up your own rules. And now you will suffer the penalty proscribed in our code.

DM - Which is?

Joe - [to DM] They're going to blow my brains out tomorrow. Tradition. You gotta love it.

DM - You can't do that!

Shapiro - CUT Do you think this is easy for me?

CUT

DM - How many times have you, or any of you, been out there facing what he faces? Feeling what he feels?

Shapiro - This is not about his feelings. This is about justice.

DM - Then if you want justice, let his peers judge him! People like him. People who have been forced to stand by and do nothing, watch innocents die, because your rule book says "record and do nothing"!

Tarvise - You are not part of this organization. You have no right to a voice here.

DM - Then who speaks for Joe Dawson? [silence] You don't want a trial. You don't want justice. You just want an excuse to commit murder.

Tarvise - Now just--

Shapiro - [raises his hand] Stop it. [Tarvise returns to their desk.] Is this what you want, Joe?

Joe - Jack, I don't want any of this. But, yeah, I want a jury.

Tarvise - [leans over, whispers in Shapiro's ear] {??} What do you think?

[Third Tribune leans over, whispers in Shapiro's ear. DM looks over at Joe. Joe looks at DM, then back at the Tribunal. Shapiro nods.]

Shapiro - All right. F All right. You'll have your jury. But only if you're judged with him, MacLeod. If he's found guilty, you're found guilty. If he dies... you die.

Joe - Mac, please don't do it.

Shapiro - Agreed?

DM - Agreed.

[Joe looks at DM, then looks away. G]
 

ACT THREE

New Watcher HQ - nursery room 5

CUT

<DM - [to blue teddy bear] "I'm not your enemy." [responding as the bear] "Your presence here only proves how dangerous it is for Immortals to know we exist. Ha-ha-ha-ha." [He punches the bear in the nose. It squeaks. He throws the bear across the room.] H I'm a little tired of this decor in here. [lifts nearby tablecloth to reveal a hidden microphone] I think it's time to redecorate. [pulls microphone free, tosses it to Joe] Here. Lip-synch them something, will you?

Joe - [sighs] A little late for this, isn't it?

DM - Better late than never. [pulls security camera down from the wall]> So how much do they know?

Joe - Enough. I've been doctoring the reports for a while now. You know, just leaving out what I don't want them to know. [sighs again] Jack was right. I underestimated them. I was watching you, and they were watching me. CUT Mac, you've got to distance yourself from me.

DM - I thought you liked me.

Joe - Come on, man, this is your life! I dug this hole for myself.

DM - No, you didn't dig it alone. if we're getting out of here, we get out together.

Guard - [enters room] Very funny. Privacy isn't an option here, MacLeod.

Joe - Sure you don't want to reconsider?

 

Establishing shot: Alley, night 9
 

Alley, night 10

Jacob - [comes up behind David as he exits a pub] Hi. You're assigned to Duncan MacLeod, aren't you?

David - I don't know what you're talking about.

Jacob - It's okay, it's all right... I'm one of you. See? [raises his hand, shows off Watcher tattoo on his wrist] I just got transferred in from South Africa. Jacob Galati.

David - David Shapiro. [shakes Jacob's hand] CUT It's funny. There's an Immortal named Jacob Galati.

Jacob - I know. And he just killed you. [flicks switchblade, stabs David, CUT rubs the fake tattoo off his wrist with an alcohol wipe]

 

Establishing shot: New Watcher Headquarters 7
 

New Watcher HQ - Tribunal room in basement 5

[Five Watchers sit in chairs at the side of the room -- the jury.]

Joe - Boy, they pulled out all the stops.

DM - Your fan club?

Joe - Nah, the regional coordinators. South Africa, Asia-- Wow. South America, Australia, Europe. The big shots.

{According to the DVD's Watcher Chronicles, the regional coordinators present are:
Back Row: Joma Kikuyu (Africa), Dwight Winston (Australia), Jesus Ortiz (S America);
Front Row: Chun Lee (Asia NE), Nadia Rostov (Eastern Europe)}

DM - Oh. Glad to see we're a hot ticket.

Joe - [as Shapiro enters the room] Good morning, Jack. I trust you slept well.

Shapiro - I slept like hell. How about you?

Joe - Like a baby.

Shapiro - [to Tarvise] It's time.

Tarvise - [stands, begins opening statement] Joseph Dawson has admitted that he breached our secret, that he told MacLeod who we are and what we do. That is a matter of record. But what I am about to show you is evidence of the worst crime that a Watcher can commit. [holds up sheaf of papers] Falsified reports. Chronicles that will leave lies in the record. All this to cover up his own agenda. [to Joe] You reported that MacLeod killed the Immortal Thorne because of an ancient grudge between them. Is that right? [Joe nods.] But you omitted a rather important detail. Thorne killed a woman named Lauren Gayle. Your lover.

 

Flashback: Lauren's house, night
(from "The Cross of St. Antoine")
(voice-over also from "The Cross of St. Antoine")

Joe - [voice-over] She wasn't robbed. She wasn't raped. Someone just opened her door and killed her.

Joe - [rattles doorknob, looks through window & sees Lauren being attacked/strangled by a man] No!

 

Flashback: Loft above dojo
(from "The Cross of St. Antoine")

Joe - [sighs] I didn't even get a look at the bastard's face. I

DM - You did what you could.

Joe - Yeah? Well, that was not enough! Do you know what that feels like?

DM - Yes.

Joe - Do you?

DM - Yes, I do.

Joe - Well, then do something for me.

DM - Whatever you need.

Joe - [looks at DM] You help me find this son-of-a-bitch. J

CUT

Flashback: Inside church
(from "The Cross of St. Antoine")

Joe - Thorne. [motions to stolen items] Is this what this is about? Tell me, is this what you killed Lauren for? For these -- these -- these things? [raises his cane to strike the table]

Thorne - No! [He runs at Joe, knocks him down.] 9

 

Flashback: Joe's Bar
(from "The Cross of St. Antoine")

[Joe loads revolver.]

DM - You can't kill him with that, Joe.

Joe - I know, but I can sure as hell slow him down until I can.

DM - You won't get close enough to use it. Let me do this... for both of us.

 

<Flashback: Parking garage by church CUT
(from "The Cross of St. Antoine")

[Thorne exits church & pauses as he senses another 'buzz'.]

DM - [voice-over] Joe had a damn good reason to hate Thorne, but I had my own reasons. Thorne was evil, and I'd have fought him sooner or later. All Joe did was help it happen before more people died.

DM - [steps out into view] Not this time.

Thorne - MacLeod. Then who the hell's in there?

DM - A friend. Something you can't buy or steal.

Thorne - You're overreacting, MacLeod. It's not worth dying for.

DM - I don't intend to.

[They begin to fight. Amanda & Joe exit church as DM & Thorne enter nearby warehouse containing some train cars. After a brief fight beside the cars, DM beheads Thorne.]> 10

 

New Watcher HQ - Tribunal room in basement 5

(resume previous scene)

DM - I would've fought Thorne anyway. Dawson didn't change that.

Tarvise - [to Joe] But you admit you interfered.

Joe - I admit I loved her. I admit I am a human being. If you want me to apologize for that, you can all go to hell.

[Door opens. DM senses 'buzz'.]

Methos - [enters room] Please, two minutes, please.

[DM & Joe exchange a look. The jury members watch from their seats. K Guard goes to Tribune desk, whispers to Shapiro.]

Shapiro - All right. [Guards at door let Methos into room.]

Joe - [under his breath] Pierson for the defense. Perfect.

CUT

Shapiro - [to Methos] Who are you?

Methos - My name is Adam Pierson. I'm a researcher.

Tarvise - We don't need the opinions of researchers.

Methos - Maybe not. But I didn't come to give you an opinion. I came to give you this. [hands Shapiro a leather-bound volume] I found that in an Italian library, misfiled as a fairy tale. It's the private journal of a Watcher. A Methos Watcher.

Tarvise - Watchers don't keep journals.

Methos - Well, this one had to. You see, he found out a great deal about his subject. And the more he discovered, the more he came to like him. To -- to admire him.

Shapiro - I know there's a point somewhere here, son.

Methos - They became friends. But because of our rules, he couldn't put that in his report. Think about it. The man knew Methos! But-- What stories they must have shared, what histories we might now know, if we didn't force men like him, and Joe Dawson, to hide what they have learnt. And how many others? How much more knowledge has been lost to us? CUT I say let friendship thrive. Let him record all he has learned. Learn.

Shapiro - Are you through?

Methos - Yes, sir.

[Shapiro motions to a guard, who manhandles Methos out of the room.]

DM - If a true version of history isn't what you're after, think of the good that's come of Dawson bending your rules.

Shapiro - Dead Immortals? Murdered Watchers?

DM - If it wasn't for Dawson, Horton would still be killing Immortals now, and everything you stood for would've been destroyed. If we hadn't worked together, Kalas would've revealed both our secrets to the world. CUT <Joe didn't tell him about the Watchers, yet he found out about it anyway. And he didn't hesitate to use you any way he could. He wanted power over me, and you gave it to him.

 

Flashback: Kalas' house - basement, night
(from "Methos")

Kalas - Try again! [touches metal rods to Roger's arms. Roger jerks violently & screams.] Why were you following me? [Roger refuses to answer.] I think it's going to be a very long night. [holds metal rods near Roger's head]

Roger - I-I-I'm your Watcher.

Kalas - [steps back] My Watcher. And that's supposed to mean something to me?

Roger - Immortals... We know what you are. We've been observing you for centuries.

 

Flashback: Vemas' chateau - inside large room, night
(from "Finale, Part II")

Kalas - [on phone] I want MacLeod.

Joe - [looking at DM, into phone] He's not here.

Kalas - [in his hideout, into phone] Then find him! That's what you Watchers do, isn't it? [on phone] And tell him he meets me tonight. [into phone] Otherwise we're all on CNN.

 

Flashback: Eiffel Tower, night
(from "Finale, Part II")

DM - [voice-over] One of your people created a database. Immortals, their Watchers -- everything on computer. Kalas had it, and he was ready to use it.

DM - [stabs Kalas] Hear that, Kalas? That's the fat lady singing. [pulls sword out, swings at Kalas' sword, breaking the blade]

DM - [voice-over] If that information had gotten out, none of us would've been safe. Watchers, Immortals -- everything would've been destroyed.

Kalas - You have me at a disadvantage, MacLeod. But remember, if you do kill me, you're finished, too.

DM - Maybe it's worth it if it rids the world of you. [beheads Kalas]

[Lightning from Kalas' Quickening erupts from the top of the Eiffel Tower. It can be seen from Kalas' hideout. Inside, the computer, still showing Kalas' record on the monitor, sparks and explodes.]>

 

New Watcher HQ - Tribunal room in basement 5

(resume previous scene)

Joe - If I didn't know MacLeod, we didn't work together, Kalas would have told the world about all of us.

Shapiro - Oh, no, Joe, you can't chicken-and-egg this thing. Maybe if you didn't know MacLeod, Kalas wouldn't have found the disk. The only thing that's clear here is that you trashed your oath.

DM - His oath? His oath? I've spent my entire existence fighting other Immortals. Men who hold life cheap. I live-- No, I survive... because I value life. [points to jury members] Yours, and yours, and even his. [points at Shapiro] If you value Joe Dawson's life less than you value a set of rules, then you become as unprincipled and as evil as the men I fight, because like them you lose all your humanity.

Woman - [approaches Shapiro] Excuse me, Mr. Shapiro? [hands him a note, exits]

Joe - [quietly, to DM] Maybe we've got a shot.

DM - [quietly, to Joe] You know them better than I do.

Shapiro - [reads note] This trial is over. Another Watcher has been killed.

[The jury reacts, murmuring.]

Joe - Who? L

CUT

Shapiro - [voice breaking] It was my son, MacLeod. He was Dawson's replacement. Your new Watcher.

DM - I'm sorry, but I had nothing to do with it.

Joe - Jack, you can't blame him for this.

Shapiro - No! Not alone. I blame YOU. The jury will withdraw to consider the verdict.

Nadia - [stands] We don't have to withdraw. We find them guilty as charged.

[DM swallows, looks away.] M
 

ACT FOUR

Establishing shot: Outside New Watcher HQ, night - entrance gate 8

[Camera pans up from cobblestones N to O gate.]

New Watcher HQ - nursery room, night 5

DM - [led into room with Joe, at gunpoint] Well, how about a smoke? Oh, come on. You guys are big on tradition. Every condemned man gets a cigarette. [suddenly bursts into action, grabbing the two guards' guns and taking both men out] Come on! Let's go!

Joe - Sorry, MacLeod.

DM - [grabs keyring off guard] Come on. What are you talking about? We're not dead yet. We will be if we stay here. Come on! Let's go!

Joe - You go. I'm -- I'm staying.

DM - What are you talking about?

Joe - I knew the deal when I signed on. I knew the risks if I broke the rules.

DM - Joe, they're going to put a bullet in your head tomorrow, and you won't be coming back.

Joe - I'm guilty, MacLeod.

DM - Of what?

Joe - I believed in that oath I took. I lived half my life by it!

DM - Oh, you're as bad as they are.

Joe - I'm a Watcher.

DM - Joe, they're going to kill you. They've made up their minds.

Joe - So have I.

DM - [grabs him] I'm not letting you stay here!

Joe - Please, MacLeod!

DM - Joe, is it worth your life?

Joe - [softly] Please.

DM - [lets go, steps back] Come on. It's your last chance. Come on. [Joe doesn't move. DM tosses him the keyring.] If you change your mind.

Joe - Goodbye, Duncan MacLeod. [DM leaves.] And good luck.

 

Lyon street, night 11

DM - [paces past Methos' parked car, turns, 11 paces the other direction] Damn him. Setting himself up like that, waiting to die. He'll go down without a word.

Methos - It sounds like that's the way he wants it.

DM - Well, what did he expect me to do? Stay there and die with him?

Methos - Well, I wouldn't. MacLeod, you need a vacation. I hear New Zealand's very nice this time of year.

DM - Look, you did your best. I did my best. If he wants to sit there like a -- like a lamb going to the slaughter, then let him. There's nothing else to do. I'm not going back for him.

Methos - No. Wouldn't be sensible. CUT

 

New Watcher HQ - courtyard, dawn 8

Shapiro - Joseph.

Joe - You smell that, Jack. [inhales] The rosemary. Nasturtiums. They're out early this year. It's going to be a beautiful summer.

Shapiro - [nods sadly] Last request?

Joe - Yeah. I'd like to die of old age.

Shapiro - It's not my choice, Joe. I hope you believe that. It's a question of principle.

Joe - Principle's not going to give the order to shoot, Jack. You are. There is something you can do for me. Pull the trigger, buddy. [re Tarvise] I hate that putz.

Tarvise - [chuckles] Jack? [takes out gun. Jack walks over to him.] It's time. [hands gun to Jack]

Shapiro - [looks at gun, hands it back] You're going to have to do this. I can't. [leaves]

Joe - [calls after him] Jack! Say hello to Shirley and the girls for me. [to himself, as Jack leaves] I don't blame you, buddy. I wouldn't want to watch this either.

[The gathered Watchers stand silently as Jack gets into his car & drives away. Then Tarvise walks over behind Joe. Nearby, Jacob slinks forward with a machine gun.]

Joe - All right, Charlie. Move your ass. P I got an appointment to keep.

Tarvise - [taps Joe on the shoulder] On your knees.

Joe - [chuckles] Not in this lifetime.

[Tarvise cocks the hand gun & points it at the back of Joe's head. Joe crosses himself. (CUT) Jacob opens fire on the gathered Watchers. They all fall to his bullets, Joe included. Jacob stops shooting, looking satisfied. Q]
 

TAG

New Watcher HQ - entrance 8

[DM R drives across the grounds, 7 over a bridge, and parks. 12 He walks to the front gates warily. The gates are ajar, and he pushes them open with a frown. He finds the Gate Guard lying dead with a wire wrapped around his throat, then senses 'buzz' as motorcyclist drives through the gate, knocking him aside.]

 

New Watcher HQ - courtyard 8

[DM approaches the courtyard, sees bodies sprawled on the grass. He goes to Joe, kneels beside him, feels for a pulse.]

DM - Joe? Joe!

CUT

To Be Continued . . .

 

End of "Judgment Day"

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