DM - I can't believe you did that.

Methos - Come on, MacLeod, the guy gave me a ticket. It was a selfless act in the interests of historical accuracy.

DM - Oh, yeah. An oversized ego would have nothing to do with it.

Methos - I think they loved me.

DM - CUT They'd love a hammerhead shark if he had a nice smile.

Methos - They've asked me back next week. What do you think?

DM - One word.

Methos - Okay.

DM - Animal, four legs, carries heavy weights.

Methos - Donkey.

DM - No, no, no, no. Try three letters.

Methos - Three letters. That would be... CUT

DM - Someone could have recognized you.

Methos - No, I don't think so. Besides, didn't go through the final.

DM - Yeah, because you lost. Tom Jones didn't popularize the twist.

Methos - So I'm a little weak on pop culture.

DM - Uh-huh.

Methos - Well, who the hell is Chubby Checker in the grand scheme of things anyway? I mean, I -- I know how tall Nero was. I know Caesar's favorite food. I know Helen of Troy didn't have that great a face, and it only launched a hundred ships, not a thousand. I--

DM - Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Methos - Fine.

[Both sense 'buzz', look around.]

Methos - You expecting anyone?

DM - Maybe it's one of your fan club.

Methos - Okay, there's another way back. It's a bit longer, but I prefer the view.

DM - Yeah, send me a postcard.

Methos - You're not coming?

DM - No, I like to know who's around.

Methos - Listen, I may not know who Chubby Checker is, but I know when it's time to disappear.

DM - Yeah.

Methos - Good luck.

DM - [finds Immortal in steam-filled alleyway] Koren?

[Super: South Texas, 1867]

Man - [as Rangers stop their horses next to smoking remains of wagon] Whoa! Whoa.

DM - Looks like Koren and his comancheros left their mark. My guess is we're probably about two hours behind them. [checks a body] Yep.

Tippet - How many with him?

DM - I'd say about six, plus the horses they stole. Didn't even bother to hide their tracks. They're headed straight for town.

Tippet - We're in for a fight. These boys of his think Koren's got some kind of magic. Figure he can't die.

DM - Yeah, I know. We'll just have to prove them wrong.

Tippet - I hate to leave these poor souls like this.

DM - Let God watch over them. If we don't stop Koren now, there'll be more bodies to bury.

Men - [urging their horses forward] Yah! Hah!
 

[Super: Agua Dulce, Texas, 1867]

Eb - Hey, Jacob.

Jacob - Good morning, Eb.

[DM & the Rangers ride into town.]

[short time later]

Tippet - Quite a tracker, MacLeod. You've been in the military?

DM - I've done my time.

Tippet - They say Melvin Koren's been shot, stabbed. Some claim he was even lynched. I find that hard to credit. Comancheros call him "El Gato", the cat. Say he has nine lives.

DM - No, he's just got one... like everyone else, and like everyone else, he could lose it.

Paxton - They're in the town, near the corral.

Tippet - I hope you can shoot as well as you can track.

Ranger - You ready?

Tippet - Show no mercy, gentlemen. Expect none.

Ranger - Let's do this.

[The Rangers walk through town to barn where Koren's men are waiting. The townspeople watch from windows & hurry indoors for the coming gunfight.]

Comanchero - Hey, Chihuahua, lookee here.

Ranger - ¿Donde esta El Gato?

DM - [senses 'buzz'] Careful. There's another one.

Kronos - [steps into view] Look what we have here. The famous Texas Rangers. [looks at DM] And they brought a friend.

Tippet - Melvin Koren, I'm obliged to place you and these men under arrest for murder.

[Koren's men laugh.]

Kronos - CUT I like it fine right here. Saloons... women... whiskey. No. No, I think we'll stay put.

DM - Either way, Koren -- on your feet or on your back. It's all the same.

Kronos - I think you came a long way to die.

[Gunfight erupts. A Ranger is hit in the leg and falls to the ground, losing his hat. He brings his gun up. Kronos aims his gun. ¹ A comanchero is hit and falls backward. ² Kronos shoots, then ducks into barn. The hatless Ranger fires his gun rapidly. Another Comanchero falls against some barrels, knocking them over. ³ Paxton falls to the ground, dead. ⁴ DM shoots a Comanchero, then follows Kronos into barn as the gunfight dies down. He hears gun cocking and shoots at barrels, kills hiding Comanchero. Kronos jumps on DM from hayloft. They both draw their swords & begin to fight. Kronos knocks DM down, disarms him, then throws both swords aside & picks up scythe.]
(These two moments in the domestic version of the gunfight montage are not in the DVD version.)

Kronos - I do love the old ways best.

Tippet - [shoots Kronos from behind] It's over.

[later]

CUT

DM - [looking at empty grave where Kronos was buried] Next time. [throws down grave marker that reads: 1867 / MELVIN KOREN / Better Than He Deserved]

<Kronos - Adios, Highlander. Now you see me... now you don't.> CUT

DM - Koren. [senses 'buzz', moves forward cautiously, crosses swords with Cassandra] What are you doing here?

Cass - Trying to kill someone. What does it look like? [tries to sense Kronos' 'buzz', senses nothing]

DM - He's gone. Come on.

Cass - I don't want a drink.

DM - Then you won't mind if I have one? It's not every day I almost take my friend's head by mistake. Or she takes mine.

Cass - It was an accident.

DM - Oh, glad to hear it.

Cass - I was this close, Duncan. This close, and he got away. But not again. Not ever again.

DM - Why don't you tell me about it?

Cass - We're wasting time.

DM - Then waste it.

Cass - I can't. He's getting away. I shouldn't even be here!

DM - This is exactly where you should be. You're in no shape to fight anybody, Cassandra.

Cass - I'll take the chance.

DM - Then you'll lose. Cassandra, I know Koren. I know how dangerous he is.

Cass - [scoffs] "Koren"?

DM - Yes. Melvin Koren. The man you're after. I know him.

Cass - You don't know him at all. Long before he called himself Koren, he went by another name -- Kronos. And he was one of the Four Horsemen.

DM - The what? He can't be.

Cass - No?

DM - If the Horsemen were alive at all, they -- they existed ages ago, maybe thousands of years. They can't exist anymore.

Cass - I'd give my life to believe that... but it's not true. One lives.

[Super: The Bronze Age]

CUT

<Cass - [voice-over] I can still see them. They were monsters. They rode across the world we knew and brought terror and death. Where they were, life ceased. They were without mercy. They were without fear.>

[Nomad, collecting sticks, sees four masked riders appear at top of nearby sand dune. He runs away as the Horsemen ride toward him.]

[meanwhile]

[Camera pulls back from close-up on camel to reveal nomadic tribe going about daily life in their desert encampment, tending livestock, preparing food. Camera pans across woman humming as she grinds grain in a pestle. A camel grunts behind her. ⁵ Camera pans up over camp, then across to Hijad's tent. As camera moves closer, Cassandra touches injured man's arm and he flinches away. She rubs salve on his wound. ⁶ ]

Cass - [voice-over] I lived with a tribe of nomads. A healer named Hijad found me as a baby and raised me as his own. I wasn't immortal yet, but Hijad sensed special powers within me.

Cass - [wraps bandage around tribesman's arm] The pain will leave you soon, but do not use the arm until I tell you.

Hijad - [stops tribesman from leaving, murmurs incantation over the bandaged arm] {??}

CUT

[Hijad stands. Injured man stands, leaves.]

Cass - Did I make the medicine badly?

Hijad - You made it perfectly. ⁷

[meanwhile]

[The nomad continues to run from the Horsemen.]

[meanwhile, at encampment]

Cass - Why did you make magic over him?

Hijad - There is more to healing than herbs. CUT You will learn, and one day, you will pass my simple skills. Then you will be the healer.

Cass - But you will always be here.

Hijad - Not always. [gently brushes the hair from her face]

[The nomads continue their daily tasks in the quiet encampment. Camera cuts to firewood-collecting nomad's feet as he continues to run. He comes over a rise, looks over his shoulder, ⁸ continues to run from the Horsemen and is finally killed by Kronos. CUT The Horsemen arrive on ridge above the nomads' encampment & charge forward.]

Hijad - No!

Cass - What are they?

Hijad - The Horsemen.

[The Horsemen ride through the camp, killing everyone.]

CUT

Kronos - [stops his horse in front of Hijad] You know what we are.

Hijad - We have nothing you want.

Kronos - [removes his mask] Then you die.

Cass - No! No, wait! No! CUT [Kronos stabs her.]

[later]

[The nomads' encampment has been utterly destroyed.]

Cass - They took what they wanted and... left nothing. Hijad, my people -- everything I knew and loved was destroyed. It was the end of the world. The end of MY world.

DM - I never knew.

Cass - I tried to forget what happened. Years turned into centuries, then more centuries. I thought I'd succeeded and then... then I learned Kronos was alive.

DM - Melvin Koren.

Cass - Whatever he wants to call himself, he's Kronos. He'll always be Kronos. All the hate... all the pain I tried to leave behind, it... it never leaves, does it?

DM - Sometimes... for a while. [kisses her]
 

Joe - You're kidding me right? The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? Like in the Bible?

DM - No, like in the Kentucky Derby.

Joe - Oh, well, great! We'll phone my bookie, Mac. Who're we betting on? War, Famine, Pestilence...

Cass - Death.

Joe - You're serious.

DM - Dead serious. ⁹

Joe - Throughout history, there have been mounted raiders. I mean, local stories -- they turn into legends, legends turn into myths. The Four Horsemen... they're symbols of doom.

Cass - A symbol didn't put my tribe to the sword.

DM - Joe, look. The Horsemen were Immortals. One of them was called Kronos.

Joe - Kronos. Sounds like something out of the Dark Ages.

Cass - Bronze, actually. I know, I was there.

[Joe looks at DM. DM shrugs, motions toward Cassandra.]

Joe - So what do you want me to do?

Cass - Find Kronos!

Joe - How? I mean, even if this is for real, I've never heard of this guy before.

DM - Yeah, but you have heard of Melvin Koren.

Joe - Yeah... [DM gives him a look.] I'll see what I can find out. ¹⁰

Methos - [senses 'buzz'] MacLeod? Is that you? [Knife is thrown at Methos' chest. Methos falls back against side of vehicle with a gasp.]

Kronos - Greetings, brother.

Methos - Kronos. [makes pained noise]

Kronos - I missed you, too.

[Methos collapses to the ground, dead.]

[Kronos, holding a length of chain, stands over Methos as he gasps for breath, reviving.]

Kronos - It's been a long time. How are you feeling?

Methos - [coughs] Like I left my heart in San Francisco.

Kronos - Ha! I didn't know you had a heart. Does it hurt?

Methos - What do you think?!

<Kronos - Since you ask, I think you're not used to pain, brother. What's happened? You got soft? CUT

Methos - I just passed through my angry adolescence a little quicker than you, Kronos.>

Kronos - For a long time, I thought you were dead. I didn't even bother looking for you. Ha! Then I heard rumors. "Methos, the world's oldest man." You slipped up there, old friend. You got sloppy.

Methos - Well, we're none of us perfect.

Kronos - I shouldn't be surprised you're still alive. You were always the one I counted on. You weren't the strongest or the toughest, but you were the survivor. It's what you do best. Or did.

Methos - So you've come to kill me.

Kronos - [laughs] It's what *I* do best. But you do have a choice.

Methos - I'm all for choices.

Kronos - Well, you can either lose your head... or you can join me.

Methos - Since you put it that way... welcome back, brother.

[Kronos throws chains aside, give Methos a tiny nod, leaves room. ¹¹]

DM - [senses 'buzz' as Methos enters dojo] Methos.

Methos - I was worried about you, MacLeod. Glad you made it.

DM - Yeah, me, too.

Methos - Uh, something... unexpected has come up.

DM - Yeah, tell me about it. Listen, have you ever heard of an immortal named Kronos?

Methos - Kronos?

DM - Yeah.

[Both sense 'buzz'.]

Cass - [walks out of elevator] You?

Methos - Who's this?

Cass - [pulls out her sword] Draw your sword.

Methos - MacLeod, who is she?

DM - Cassandra, what are you doing?

Cass - Stay out of this, MacLeod.

Methos - [backing away] You don't know me.

Cass - Do you think I could ever forget you?

[Super: Horsemen's camp]

Methos - [rides up, dismounts, tosses roll of coarse cloth to ground, unrolls cloth to reveal Cassandra] Surprise, You're not dead. [removes his mask] Your kind is hard to kill. [reaches a hand out to help her up. She takes it, then grabs for his belt knife. He wrestles it away from her.] You'll have to try harder than that.

Cass - Where are they? Hijad, my people -- take me to them!

Methos - You want to see them?

Cass - Yes.

Methos - There they are. [points to skulls adorning nearby tent] CUT

Cass - You killed them? All of them?

Methos - Including you.

Cass - [examines the hole in her tunic] The wound. It's gone. I should be dead.

Methos - You live because I wish it, and you stay alive as long as you please me. [He reaches out to caress her cheek. She slaps his hand away. He slaps her, knocking her to the ground.] That did not please me. [He kneels beside her & strokes his hand up her leg. She flinches, but doesn't resist.] CUT I am Methos. You live to serve me. Never forget that.

Silas - [offscreen] You're a thieving bastard, Caspian! You always were.

[Methos leaves Cassandra, walks toward the commotion. Cassandra spits after him.]

Silas - [fighting over a cloak] It's mine! It belongs to me!

Caspian - It belongs to whoever can take it.

Silas - I saw it first.

Caspian - I fought as well as you. I killed more people.

Silas - Women and children don't count.

Caspian - [draws his sword] I could kill you just as well.

Methos - Lay it down, Caspian!

Caspian - Why should I?

Methos - [puts his sword to Caspian's neck] Because if you do not, I will kill you. Trust me, if I have to lose one, it will be you.

[Kronos approaches.]

Silas - Kronos.

Kronos - Problems?

Methos - Not anymore.

Kronos - Well, there's one way to make sure. Lift it.

[Silas and Caspian hold up the cloak. Kronos slices it in half with his sword.]

Kronos - We share everything.

[Methos returns to Cassandra, catches her trying to escape on his horse. He grabs her and pulls out his belt knife.]

Methos - You died once today. Did you enjoy that? [She shakes her head.] Well, learn this lesson well: I will kill you as many times as it takes to tame you.

Methos - This is crazy. It wasn't me, MacLeod. Do something!

Cass - This is between you and me, Methos.

DM - [grabs Cassandra] Get out of here! Now! Run! Go!

Cass - Let go of me!

DM - Only until you calm down. Okay?

Cass - Okay. [runs to the door] He's gone. You had no right to interfere.

DM - He didn't even know you.

Cass - He's a liar! Don't come between us again.

DM - Cassandra, he's my friend.

Cass - Your "friend" rode with Kronos, killed and raped alongside him! He WAS one of the Horsemen.
 

Joe - I don't know, Mac. Methos... Kronos... the Four Horsemen? I don't buy it.

DM - Why not? ¹²

Joe - This is... This is OUR Methos she's talking about, right?

DM - Yeah.

Joe - I mean, he is the one immortal I know that never looks for a fight.

<DM - Has he been here? CUT

Joe - I ain't seen him.

DM - Fine.>

Joe - Mac, this is thousands of years ago we're talking about, right? I mean, someone lives with thoughts of revenge that long, it becomes an obsession. Maybe she's delusional.

DM - No, no, no. Not Cassandra.

Joe - Mac, maybe she's a liar. What do you really know about this woman?

DM - What do I know about Methos?

Joe - Can you imagine him murdering women and children for pleasure?

DM - No.

Joe - No. I mean, sometimes all you have to go with is your gut. If I were you, I'd listen to it.

DM - It's just not enough.

Joe - Hey, as you know, the Watchers don't know everything. Hell, you know as much about Methos' history as I do. If it's proof you're looking for... buddy, I am fresh out.

DM - Then I'm just gonna have to find my own. ¹³

Kronos - [senses 'buzz' as Methos approaches] So, you're back.

Methos - What did you think I'd do? Run and hide? Go somewhere you couldn't find me?

Kronos - No. You're too smart for that. You know that I'd track you down, CUT no matter how long it took, and then I'd kill you.

Methos - Well, it's nice to feel wanted.

Kronos - Not want. Need! A dozen times, I tried to take up the old ways, but I failed. The others I rode with were trash. Scum. I had no one to plan my raids, no one who understood the true use of terror. You are one of a kind, Methos... as we all were. There was never a band like us, never in all history.

Methos - You took a risk letting me out of your sight earlier on today. [moves toward Kronos' turned back, holding his sword out of sight]

Kronos - A lot of time has passed since we rode together. I had to be sure of you. [stops sword as Methos swings, holds knife at Methos' neck] And now I am.

Methos - Don't you understand? I'm not like that anymore. I've changed.

Kronos - No. You pretended to. Maybe you even convinced yourself you had, but inside, you're still there, Methos. You're like me.

Methos - Not anymore.

Kronos - No? Tell me you haven't missed it.

Methos - The killing?

Kronos - The freedom! The power! Riding out of the sun, knowing that you're the most terrifying thing that they've ever seen. Knowing that their weapons and their gods are useless against you, that you're the last thing they'll ever see. That's what you were meant to be, Methos. Don't fight it. Feel it. I'm going to do you a favor. You know Cassandra's here.

Methos - We didn't exactly exchange gifts.

Kronos - Then you know that she'll kill you if she gets the chance. You never could bring yourself to take her head, could you? So I'm going to do it for you.

Methos - And in return?

Kronos - You kill Duncan MacLeod.

Methos - <But he's my friend.> CUT He's nothing to you. Why?

Kronos - Why?! Because he's your friend. Because you still have to prove yourself. And because you owe me! [takes out a knife, cuts his palm, then gives the knife to Methos] Now swear, swear you will kill MacLeod.

[Methos slices his palm and they clasp hands.]

Methos - I swear. ¹⁴

[Methos exits building carrying a box, carries it to his vehicle, then senses 'buzz'.]

DM - Going somewhere?

Methos - You shouldn't be here. [throws more luggage into back of Jimmy]

DM - What are you running from -- the question or the answer?

Methos - There is no answer, MacLeod. Let it be.

DM - Is what she said true?

Methos - I'm out of here.

DM - No, you're not. You're not out of here. Is what she said true?

Methos - It's... the times were different, MacLeod. *I* was different. The whole bloody world was different. Okay?

DM - Did you kill all those people?

Methos - Yes. Is that what you want to hear? Killing was all I knew. Is that what you want to hear?

DM - It's enough.

Methos - [grabs DM and slams him against the side of the Jimmy] No, it is not enough. I killed, but I didn't just kill fifty. I didn't kill a hundred. I killed a thousand. I killed ten thousand! And I was good at it. And it wasn't for vengeance. It wasn't for greed. It was because I liked it. Cassandra was nothing. Her village was nothing. Do you know who I was? I was death. [DM grabs Methos, turns them around, slams Methos against the Jimmy. Methos laughs.] Death. Death on a horse. When mothers warned their children that the monster would get them, that monster was me. I was the nightmare that kept them awake at night. Is that what you want to hear? The answer... is yes. Oh, yes.

DM - We're through. [walks off]

[Methos sucks in a breath, looks down. He takes his jacket off. DM turns around, sees him, takes his own jacket off, throws it in the T-bird and drives off. Methos throws his jacket into the Jimmy, gets in, bows his head against the steering wheel.] ¹⁵
 

DM - Joe, you can't defend it.

Joe - I'm not defending it. I'm trying to understand it.

DM - What's to understand? When he rode into a village, there was life. When he rode out, there wasn't.

Joe - You weren't there. Different times, MacLeod. Different rules. Different morals. You can't compare it.

DM - I won't compare it, and I can't excuse it.

Joe - Yeah. How many men have you killed? How much blood have you shed in anger?

DM - Look, I know what I've done, and I live with it, but I'm telling you, this is different.

Joe - What the hell are you talking about?

DM - I'm talking about a bunch of murdering bastards that burned and raped across two continents. They butchered innocent women and children, Joe. You live with that. You see that.

Joe - I have. Vietnam. When we took out a village, we couldn't tell the farmers from the soldiers. You think somehow the bullets managed to miss all the children?

DM - This is different.

Joe - How?

DM - Because he loved it. Because he had pleasure in killing.

[Joe's cell phone rings.]

Joe - [into phone] Yeah. Yeah, I got it. [hangs up] Kronos.

DM - Where?

Joe - That abandoned power station down at the old south docks.

DM - I thought you said you didn't have a Watcher on Kronos.

Joe - We don't. We have one on Cassandra. She led us to him.

Kronos - [senses 'buzz', calls out] I hope you've brought me his sword.

Cass - I brought mine. It's all I need.

Kronos - You look different somehow. Maybe it's because you're on your feet for a change, instead of your back.

Cass - [chuckles] Centuries pass. Nations come and go. You remain the same.

Kronos - I try. Did you come here for me? I'm afraid Methos is busy. He's out killing MacLeod. Let's see if you've learned anything in the last three thousand years.

Cass - [voice echoing] You're weak, Kronos. Tired. All you want to do is close your eyes. You have to close your eyes.

Kronos - Why? So you can kiss me?

Cass - [voice echoing] Your sword grows heavy.

Kronos - Make love to me before I kill you. And cut out the feeble tricks. They won't work on me.

Cass - Well, maybe this will! [She charges at him. They fight.]

Kronos - Methos never liked the idea of killing you... but I do.

[Cassandra climbs down to a lower level, senses 'buzz'. Kronos runs into an empty room in power plant, senses 'buzz'. Methos knocks Cassandra out.]

Kronos - You witch! You're dead! Come out now, and I'll make it quick. [Methos carries Cassandra out of the power plant.] If you don't, you're going to be begging me to kill you.

DM - Then let's make it quick, 'cause I can't wait.

Kronos - [laughs] I guess it's true. You wait long enough... everything comes back.

DM - CUT Come and get it.

[Kronos & DM fight.]

Cass - You should have killed me when you had the chance.

[Methos throws Cassandra into the river.]

[DM makes his way past access ladder and ¹⁶ moves cautiously into adjoining area. Kronos attacks him. Methos throws molotov cocktails, pours gasoline around and sets it on fire, ultimately separating the two Immortals, then pushes the fire alarm.]

Kronos - I can wait.

DM - [senses 'buzz', walks out of elevator with sword ready] I didn't think you were still alive.

Cass - I'm here. Did you find Kronos?

DM - Yeah.

Cass - He's dead? [DM shakes his head.] Then I failed.

DM - No, you didn't fail. You're still alive.

Cass - So are they. It'll never be over until they're both dead.

DM - Then we'll find them. [hugs her as camera closes in on his face ^A]
 

Kronos - Why did you stop the fight? You saved MacLeod.

Methos - It could have gone either way. I couldn't take the chance.

Kronos - Were you afraid of me losing or him? Have I been wrong about you? Hmm? Maybe I should kill you right now and make absolutely sure.

Methos - If you do that, you'll never have the Four Horsemen.

Kronos - What are you saying?

Methos - Silas and Caspian are alive.

Kronos - You're lying.

Methos - I can take you to them.

Kronos - Then you live. The Four Horsemen ride again.

To Be Continued...