[Camera pans down from sky, ¹ past row of buildings to RR walking down sidewalk.]

RR - Helliman's, Helliman's, Helliman's... Damn, I know it's around here somewhere. Helliman's Antiques, maybe it's... twelve eighty-five... Bingo. Helliman's Antiques. [looks in store window, approaches man exiting store] Is this a jewelry store now?

Owner - I don't carry no cash, okay?

RR - Relax, man, I'm not here to hassle you.

Owner - You, uh, you want something?

RR - Not unless you got some primo Inca statues in the back. What happened to Helliman's Antiques?

Owner - Too many break-ins. Moved to Moorland Avenue last year.

RR - Last year? Damn. You're away a few months, the whole neighborhood moves out on you.

Dennis - [in distance, arguing with Nikki] Come on.

RR - Maybe not the whole neighborhood.

Owner - [as RR jogs toward Dennis & Nikki] Hey! Hey, Moorland's the other way!

Dennis - What's the matter with you, Nikki? This one's gonna put us over the top.

Nikki - Melinda is alone. I can't.

Dennis - Melinda's used to it. She'll wait. You'll do what I tell you!

Nikki - Like hell I will!

RR - [interrupting their fight] Keep your hands to yourself, pal.

Nikki - Richie? What are you doing here?

RR - Just checking out the old neighborhood. CUT

Dennis - Look, pal, I hate to break up this little reunion, but we gotta go.

RR - Maybe she doesn't wanna go.

Dennis - Oh, beautiful, now the Marines are here. Now are you gonna move, or am I gonna make you eat your front teeth?

Nikki - Just forget it, Richie. Just leave, okay?

RR - You're sure?

[Nikki nods.]

RR - [to Dennis] Some other time, pal.

Dennis - Oh, any time. [grabs Nikki's arm & drags her away]

Marco - You're late.

Dennis - Minor delay. We're here now. You got the stuff?

Marco - The best powder on the coast. [pulls plastic-wrapped cocaine brick from satchel. Dennis reaches for it.] Uh-uh. First we see the money. [Dennis takes bag from Nikki.]

Reese - I'll take that. [Dennis throws him the bag. He looks inside.] Looks like all the fifty grand is here.

Marco - Here you go, your ticket to play land. [holds out the cocaine]

[Dennis pulls gun from behind his back & points it at Marco.]

Marco - You don't wanna be pulling that stuff, kid.

Dennis - Sure I do. [cocks gun, looks at Reese] Hand it to the lady. [waves gun at cocaine brick] That, too. Do it!

[Marco drops cocaine into bag & Reese throws the bag at Dennis's feet.]

Dennis - [to Nikki] Pick it up. [When she hesitates, he shoves her to the ground.] I said pick it up!

RR - Hey, knock it off!

[Dennis turns & fires in RR's direction. As he turns back, Marco shoots him in the chest.]

Nikki - No! Dennis! [She grabs the bag & runs toward RR, dodging bullets.] You were supposed to leave!

RR - Yeah, well, you were supposed to be okay! [Both run toward the exit.]
 

CUT

<Helliman - [on phone] Helliman's Antiques, may I help you?

DM - [into phone] Helliman?>

Helliman - [on phone] Yes.

DM - [into phone] Leonard, hi, yeah, it's Duncan MacLeod here.

Helliman - [on phone] Duncan, how are you?

DM - [into phone] Sorry to trouble you, but I was just wondering what time Richie left with that Inca piece.

Helliman - [on phone] Well, he never showed up. The piece is still here.

DM - [into phone] Oh, I see.

Helliman - [on phone] Is there a problem?

DM - [into phone] No, no, no. It's, uh... we'll deal with it. Thanks, Leonard.

Helliman - [on phone] Goodbye, now.

Tessa - [as DM hangs up] Well, when did he leave?

DM - He never turned up.

<Voshin - You have endangered my operation for fifty thousand dollars!

Reese - We just thought that, uh--

Voshin - You don't think! You do as told.> A punk tries to steal from us, that I expect. The punk is now dead -- that, too, I expect. What I don't expect... [reaches behind him & Ramos places gun in his hand] ...is some girl getting away with fifty thousand dollars and MY merchandise. [cocks gun] It is a principle.

Reese - She wasn't alone, Mr. Voshin. She had a partner.

Voshin - [points gun at Reese] This partnership... is now ended?

Marco - They must've known the area real good. They lost us.

Voshin - The dead one... you know where he lives?

Reese - Yeah.

Voshin - [hands gun back to Ramos, sits down at desk for a moment, then looks up] What are you waiting for?

DM - [into phone] Okay, thanks. [hangs up, turns to Tessa] No one's seen him.

Tessa - You think he's in trouble?

DM - I'm going to take a look around. Helliman's is near Richie's old neighborhood. I'll find him, but it might take a while.

Tessa - I'll be here.

DM - All right.

[DM drives T-bird out of alley toward Helliman's.]

RR - Nikki, this is not a good idea. This is a very, very bad idea.

Nikki - I told you, I gotta stop here!

RR - If they know who your boyfriend is, this is the first place they'll come!

Nikki - I know that. It'll only take a minute. [enters apartment]

RR - Nikki, I'm telling you, you can always buy new clothes, but you cannot buy a new head! [remembering] Head... oh, the Inca head! Damn. After these guys kill me, Mac is gonna kill me all over again. [yells up stairs] Nikki, what is so damn important?!

Nikki - [exits apartment with young girl] Melinda. [starts down stairs] You wanna walk... walk.

RR - Come on, we've gotta get out of here. [as they continue down the stairs] I thought your mother took care of her.

Nikki - She's been dead for eight months.

RR - Nobody tells me anything-- [sees Reese & Marco at exit] Ah! Oh, man!

Marco - [as Reese tries to open the doors] What's the matter?!

Nikki - We've got no time!

RR - Is there another way out of here?

Nikki - Yes! Quickly!

RR - [picks Melinda up] Here comes a triple hernia.

Marco & Reese - Go, go, come on! [Marco shoots the glass door, breaking it. Elsewhere, DM hears the shots & drives toward them.] Hurry up, hurry up! [They run after Nikki & RR.]

Marco - [to Reese] Follow them. I'm gonna cut 'em off. [runs back outside]

<Reese - [chases Nikki & RR out of building] Marco!

RR - [sees Marco in front of them, hands Melinda to Nikki] Here, take her, take her. Go, let's go! [to Marco & Reese] Okay, hold on, time out, guys.> Seriously, let's just sit here and think about this for a second. I mean, nobody's killed anybody yet, right?

Marco - [points gun at RR] Wrong.

RR - Okay, so there's Dennis, but that's ancient history. No big deal; we don't even count him. It'll be like a clean slate, see? So you can let us go, and then everybody's happy. Come on, whaddya say?

Marco - We got one rule. You mess with us -- you die. You broke that rule.

RR - [as DM appears at alley entrance] Mac! [Marco turns slightly to look & RR uses the distraction to grab his gun hand & punch him. Marco pushes him aside, begins fighting with DM. Meanwhile, Reese starts punching RR.]

DM - [to Marco, during a pause in their fight] Want to try someone your own size?

Marco - Come on! [Fight continues.]

[Reese stops punching RR & turns to DM, intending to knife him. RR gets up, knocks knife away & beats Reese's head against nearby wooden table until he's mostly unconscious. Meanwhile, DM has knocked Marco out, as well.]

DM - [to Nikki] Come on, let's go! [to RR] You okay?

RR - Fine, no problem. I had it under control, would have taken them both eventually.

DM - Richie... shut up. [carries Melinda out of alley, past two street kids who were watching the fight. Nikki & RR follow him.]

Marco - [staggers up, runs to alley entrance in time to see T-bird squealing away] Damn!

Street Kid - Man, that dude in the T-bird took you down cold.

Marco - T-bird? Did you catch the license number?

Street Kid - Ain't nuthin' I don't catch. If I tell you, what's in it for me?

Marco - [grabs kid by the neck & holds gun next to his face] Your life, how's that?
 

RR - Damn right. And you're in their house, so shape up, Nikki. [Nikki walks into DM's office without answering.]

DM - [as Nikki enters, RR behind her] Sit down. [RR sits on edge of desk. Nikki remains standing. DM flips page in magazine, not looking at either of them.] ² Do you want to tell me about it?

Nikki - What's to say? Dennis set up a deal with some seriously ugly guys.

DM - I know. We met. [when Nikki doesn't continue] Well?

Nikki - The deal was about to go down, something went wrong... Richie came, Dennis got shot, and we ran.

CUT

DM - Is that all?

Nikki - What do you mean?

DM - Well, why follow you all that way? Why bother?

Nikki - How should I know? Most pushers are pretty screwy, aren't they?

DM - Only for two things, Nikki. Drugs and money. Which do you have?

RR - Mac, she'd have told me. [to Nikki] Right?! [Nikki doesn't answer.] Nikki! [Nikki reaches into her bag, pulls out the cocaine.] I don't believe you.

Nikki - I'm sorry. It was my chance to make it out, Richie. I grabbed it, okay?

DM - Nobody makes it out with this garbage.

RR - So what are we gonna do now? We going to call the cops?

Nikki - No, please, I know what'll happen -- they'll tell me I'm an unfit mother. They'll take my little girl.

RR - Why don't we just give it back? You know, no harm done, sayonara, see you later.

DM - So they can put this back on the streets? So they can sell it to another Richie Ryan? Or another Melinda?

Nikki - Those guys are still after us.

DM - They don't know where you are. You can stay here until it blows over. As for this poison... [walks over to workshop sink] I just hope there really aren't alligators in the sewer. [cuts plastic bag with knife & dumps the white powder down the drain]

Nikki - [quietly] Hi, Melinda. [Melinda wakes up.] Everything's okay now. Did you get something to eat?

Melinda - From Tessa. She's nice.

Nikki - Yeah... well, she's rich. Now you go back to sleep, okay?

[Melinda's eyes close. Nikki tiptoes to the dresser, opens drawer, hides her bag inside. As she leaves the room, Melinda gets out of bed, opens the drawer, & looks in the bag, surprised by what she sees.]

CUT

Reese - Look, this new guy came outta nowhere. He caught us off guard.

Voshin - Looks like he did a lot more than that.

Marco - This guy was real good. Hands, feet... moves like I'd never seen before. Like... like he'd been doing it for a hundred years.

Voshin - Describe him to me.

Marco - Tall, dark hair, pony tail. He was wearing a long coat. [remembering] The kid called him something. Mac... Mac.

Voshin - Not... MacLeod?

Marco - Yeah, yeah, might've been MacLeod.

Voshin - Are you sure?

Marco - Well, what, have you run into him somewhere before?

Voshin - It's hard to know. I've had a very long career, run into many people... But there is one thing you should watch out for... When, not if you find him, find out if he has a sword.

Tessa - Close your eyes and wait here. [Melinda obediently closes her eyes. Tessa walks to a trunk, takes out doll, returns to the table.]

Melinda - [as Tessa kneels beside her chair] Can I open them yet?

Tessa - [holds doll in front of her] Now open them.

Melinda - [looks at doll in wonder] Is she yours?

Tessa - Once, when I was a little girl like you. Now she's yours.

Nikki - [enters as Melinda takes doll to corner of workshop] She had toys, you know. I wasn't that much of a screw-up.

Tessa - I never said that. Listen, I know how rough it's been for you...

Nikki - You know? What do you know? You, with your money and your expensive clothes. That stuff meant a new life for Melinda and me.

Tessa - Drugs don't bring life.

Nikki - Don't judge me.

Tessa - I'm not.

Nikki - Sure you are. I see the way you look at her. CUT

Tessa - Listen, I don't want her. I just want you to get a grip on your life. Give HER a chance, let her have a real childhood. She deserves that much.

Melinda - [walks back over to them] Mommy?

Nikki - [annoyed] What do you want now?

Melinda - I want to go out.

Nikki - [sharply] Well, you can't. [regrets her tone instantly] Melinda, honey? [forces a carefree tone] <Maybe Tessa can take you.

Tessa - I'll take good care of her. [As Tessa & Melinda leave, Nikki begins to cry.]>

Nikki - [standing by dresser, holding Melinda's doll] I'm sorry, baby... I'm sorry. I love you, but you're better off here.

[Nikki opens door to leave & comes face-to-face with Marco & Reese.]>
 

Marco - [leaning over Nikki] Now don't give us that. Nobody flushes fifty thousand dollars worth of dope!

Nikki - I'm telling you the truth. [Marco scoffs, stands up, rolls his eyes.] ³ You've got the money. Can't you just let me go?

Voshin - [laughs] And people tell me I have no sense of humor. [upends Nikki's bag -- a pile of socks fall out] This is not funny. [beat] Now... where is the money?

Nikki - [staring at the socks] I don't know.

Voshin - But you will. Marco... [Marco grabs Nikki's head in his hands & squeezes.]

Nikki - [holds out for a few seconds, then:] Okay, look, all right. I hid it in the loft. But I can get it for you.

Voshin - [motions for Marco to let her go] You deliver us the money and we leave you in peace.

Nikki - Okay. Okay.

Voshin - Of course, Marco will go with you. If you're lying, you will die. And I will take your daughter. Do you have a problem with that?

[Marcus pulls Nikki out of car, and they walk over to the entrance to Tessa's workshop.]

Nikki - [as she & Marco enter] Nobody's here. This way. [leads Marco through workshop to apartment]

Marco - [looks around kitchen, then shoves Nikki forward] You have one minute.

Nikki - It might take a little longer.

Marco - [looks at his watch] Fifty-five seconds.

RR - You expected me to carry this by myself?

DM - You volunteered.

RR - I don't know why the Incas had to make this stuff outta stone.

DM - [interrupting as RR gets out of convertible] Don't slam the door. [RR gives DM a look, then shuts door quietly.] Thanks.

RR - No wonder they became extinct.

DM - Not extinct -- their empire fell apart because they couldn't feed themselves. On a modern level, I don't think we're too far behind.

RR - Yeah, well, on a personal level, I feel for them. I haven't eaten all day. CUT

<DM - [stops him from entering the building] I think you're gonna have to wait a little while longer.>

Marco - You're stalling.

Nikki - [digging around in cabinet under counter] It's here, I know it is. Just a little more time.

Marco - Time is up. [grabs her & throws her to the floor] You know what that means? [opens switchblade]

DM - That's not a good idea.

Marco - You. Let's see who wins this time. [moves toward DM, who easily knocks him down]

RR - [steps on blade in Marco's hand] Surprise.

DM - [draws sword] I'm getting a little tired of this. [rests blade on Marco's neck] Let go of the knife. [Marco does.] Up.

RR - Lets see what else we got here. [pats Marco's coat pockets]

DM - [to Nikki] You all right?

RR - Ooooh, look at this. [holds up Marco's gun]

DM - Now what are we going to do with you?

Marco - Do what you gotta do. Freakin' weirdos. He said you might have a sword.

DM - A sword? Who said that? [Marco clams up. DM raises the sword blade under his chin.] Who said that? Who?

Marco - Not a chance. Look, I... if I tell you, he'll kill me.

DM - If he doesn't, I will. Now what's his name?

[Marco's cell phone rings. He pulls it out of his pocket & hands it to DM.]

Marco - Talk to him yourself.

[DM takes phone, lowers sword. Marco bolts for the door.]

RR - He's getting away, Mac!

DM - Oh, let him. [answers phone]

Voshin - [on phone] Marco?

DM - [into phone] Sorry, Marco's not here. He had to run.

Voshin - [into phone] Ah, it's the mystery man. You've been causing me a lot of trouble lately, dumping my drugs, stealing my money...

DM - [into phone] Well, life's tough everywhere.

Voshin - [into phone] Not as tough as they're going to be. I know where you live, and unless you want me to hunt your friends and gut them, like rabbit, you'll come to see me.

DM - [into phone] Where?

Voshin - [into phone] A ship, at the old wharf. You wouldn't have a problem finding it. It's called the Sea Witch II.

[A group of Russian refugees are waiting to board a ship.]

Niva - [standing by ship gangplank, has a strong Russian accent] Duncan? [DM turns.] They are almost all here.

DM - [also speaking with a Russian accent] We should have been on our way by now.

Niva - It is not easy for people to leave their homes, their books, all they know. But better the sea than Siberia.

DM - Stalin is madman. He kills those he fears and he fears everyone.

Niva - I am wondering, what is the name of this ship?

DM - It is called Morska Vjes'tica. (Pronounced MORSKA VEEYESHTITSA)

Niva - But it's not Russian word.

Voshin - [approaches] A Yugoslav word. It means 'Sea Witch'.

DM - Niva, meet Alexei Voshin, your captain. He's going to get us out of Russian waters safely.

Niva - Ah, then it is your ship?

Voshin - Always at your service. [turns to DM] And the service of the Clan MacLeod. [grabs his shoulders, kisses him in Russian greeting]

Niva - Ah, then you are old friends.

DM - Let's just say we know each other for long time. [Voshin laughs.] And the captain is in my debt.

Voshin - And I repay my debt. [to Niva] He almost took my head.

DM - But I did not. And that is why you are helping us, is it not, Alexei?

Voshin - My ship is where you asked it to be, is it not?

[Sirens suddenly begin to wail in the distance. Several cars drive toward the dock.]

Niva - It is police.

DM - Do not worry. We have papers for all.

[later]

DM - [to Voshin as refugees stand together, guarded by several men] Is not police. Is Red Army Major... KGB!

Voshin - As Rasputin said before they murdered him -- "What's life without a little excitement in it?"

DM - [moves to address the Major] As you can see, Major, those are legitimate travel papers.

Major - So it would seem. You are right, Comrade Voshin... [drops papers to the ground as two guards grab DM] They are excellent forgeries.

CUT

Voshin - The deal Comrade Stalin offered was just too good.

Major - [to guards] Put him with the others.

Voshin - No! Do what you want with these sheep, but this one is for me.

DM - You betrayed all these people because of me?!

Voshin - They are nothing, but you... I'm going to teach YOU something, MacLeod. I'm going to teach you how to lose your head.

[DM suddenly moves, slamming the two guards against each other, & escapes.]

DM - [grabs at Niva's arm] Niva, come on! Come on!

Guard - [shooting at DM] Everyone, get down! Everyone, move out of the way!

DM - [yelling over his shoulder as he runs to end of dock] Not this time, Voshin! [He jumps into the water.]

Major - [as guards fire into water where DM disappeared] Don't bother. If he hasn't come up by now, he's never going to.

Voshin - [to himself] Don't count on it.

(resume previous scene)

DM - [into phone] Alexei Voshin.

<Voshin - [into phone] So it is you, Highlander. Well, when may I expect you? CUT

DM - [into phone] Is this a summons, Alexei?

Voshin - [into phone] Merely a courtesy. I assumed you didn't want me coming to you. I can guarantee you complete privacy.

DM - [into phone] And I can guarantee that if you harm anybody I care about, I'll send you to hell the hard way.>

Voshin - [into phone] You'll be there long before me, MacLeod. Yeah. [turns phone off]

Tessa - I wish there was some other way.

DM - There never is. How's Melinda?

Tessa - She's beautiful, and innocent... and has no idea her mother was planning to leave her. For a while there, just for a few hours, I felt like she was mine... I liked how it felt. But she's not. I have my own life and it's more than enough.

DM - Are you certain? You could...

Tessa - Never. [kisses him]

Nikki - [enters with Melinda] I think we have something for you.

[Melinda hands paper bag to DM. He opens it & pulls out a handful of money.]

Nikki - And I'm sorry... for everything.

DM - A lot of people are looking for this.

Nikki - It's all there. The whole fifty thousand. Guess I have a lot to make up for, huh?

Tessa - No. You've got a lot to live for.

Nikki - [smiles at Melinda, then looks at DM] Are you really going to go to those creeps?

DM - Sometimes life doesn't give you the choice. I think you know how that plays. [leaves]

Nikki - Is he going to be okay?

Tessa - [quietly] I don't know.
 

Reese - That's it. Everybody's ashore. Except for me, I mean. You sure you don't want me to stay?

Voshin - I'm sure.

Reese - It's just that, uh... Alexei, I've seen what this guy can do.

Voshin - You've also seen what I can do.

Reese - I'm, uh, I'm outta here. ⁴

[later, as DM walks down the dock ]

Voshin - I feel you, MacLeod.

[DM walks to the Sea Witch.]

[Voshin senses DM's 'buzz' shortly before he appears in the doorway.]

DM - We have to stop meeting like this, Voshin.> It's been little more than half a century, what will people say?

Voshin - Who cares? They're sheep, MacLeod, here to provide us with whatever we want. We tolerate them.

DM - You haven't changed.

Voshin - Did you expect me to?

DM - No, that's why I'm here.

Voshin - I welcome it.

DM - Not this time, Alexei. This is the last time.

Voshin - Strong words for a man who spent his time saving sheep from the slaughter.

DM - I never fed off human blood and misery to gain power.

Voshin - And pleasure. Don't forget pleasure. Stalin was a fool, but he had a talent for brutality, and I love that in a man.

DM - Sounds like you miss it.

Voshin - True. [laughs] What took you so long, MacLeod? [leans forward, picks up dress -- Niva's -- from table] She died in my arms. I even named this ship the Sea Witch II, for how do you Scots put it? For Auld Lang's Syne. [stands up, throws dress at DM, pulls his sword & attacks] You should have taken my head when you had the chance.

DM - I'll take it now, in the name of all the people you've betrayed. [They fight.]

<[The fight carries them out of Voshin's cabin & into engine control room. Voshin presses DM back against the controls & the engine starts, propellers beginning to turn. Voshin runs out of the room. DM follows, moving cautiously along the deck. He jumps out into the open with his katana raised defensively. At first the deck is empty, then Voshin suddenly appears in front of him. They exchange a few more blows & Voshin runs to upper deck.] CUT

Voshin - [hiding] I feel you, MacLeod. What are you waiting for?

DM - I'm waiting for you, Alexei. It ends here.

[DM turns as Voshin throws a buoy at him, knocking his sword away. DM grabs nearby baling hook & jabs it in Voshin's belly. Both men grapple for Voshin's sword, eventually falling over railing to lower deck. Both swords now gone, the two men continue to fight hand-to-hand.]

Voshin - You're coming with me, Highlander!

[He grabs DM, spins them around, tangling them in rope attached to baling hook still imbedded in his chest, & throws them both over the railing. DM grabs the rope, which has caught on a barrel on deck, & pulls himself out of the water.]>

[Propeller churns under the water, the blades like guillotines.]

[DM stands at railing, looking into churning water as foam turns red. The Quickening hits him. When it ends, he goes back to railing & hauls up rope with frayed & bloody end.]

DM - So long, Alexei. Say hello to Comrade Stalin for me.
 

Nikki - Well, I guess you're going to be glad to see the last of us... especially me.

Tessa - I'm going to be thinking about both of you for a long time.

[Melinda smiles at her.]

Nikki - Oh, I'll send these clothes back to you as soon as we get settled in Danville.

Tessa - Why don't you keep them? They look great on you. And you'll need them for that new job you're going to find.

Nikki - Oh, and the money... it's not mine.

RR - The police nailed Marco, Reese, and the rest of Voshin's playmates last night, so don't worry about it. They won't come looking for it.

Tessa - Bad money put to good use... Besides, it's not just for you... [leans down to tweak Melinda's chin] It's for her, too.

Nikki - What can I say? Nobody's ever been this good to me.

Tessa - There is light at the end of the tunnel. It's up to you to get to it.

Nikki - I'm sure as hell gonna try. And I got the best reason in the world. [hugs Melinda, kisses her cheek, stands back up] ⁵ I guess Danville's gonna seem pretty boring compared to hangin' out in the hood, huh?

RR - Take my word for it, you won't miss it for a second. Well, maybe a split second.

Tessa - [kneels by Melinda] I guess we have to say it, huh?

Melinda - [nods sadly] Bye.

Tessa - Aren't we forgetting someone? [hands Melinda the doll] I'm going to miss you, Melinda. Very, very much. I'll always remember you.

Melinda - Promise?

Tessa - Uh-huh. You see, I'm going to save you... [puts Melinda's hand over her heart] ...right here. [picks Melinda up & hugs her]

Melinda - Where's Duncan?

Tessa - He has his own way of saying goodbye.

[DM stands on short dock, Voshin's sword in his hand. He pauses, then throws sword out into water.]

Man - That must have cost you a bit.

DM - [to himself] You have no idea.