RICHIE - How's Billy?

NIKKI - In the pen, doing three to five for breaking and entering.

RICHIE - What?

NIKKI - You should go see him. [beat] He always liked you.

RICHIE - I never even heard about it.
 

[Tessa is working on a still life as MacLeod enters. He slides his arms around her and squeezes.]

MacLEOD - Nice!

TESSA - The painting or . . .

MacLEOD - Both. [looking around] Where's Richie?

TESSA - He's not here. [off Mac's look] He's always late.

MacLEOD - [moves to the phone and punches in a number] Not when he's supposed to pick up a fifty thousand dollar artifact. [beat] He told me he knew where he was going. [into phone] Helliman?
 

REESE - I ain't lookin' forward to this. Voshin makes me nervous when he's pissed . . . and I know he's gonna be pissed.

MARCO - You sweat too much, Reese.

[They head up the gangplank.]

VOSHIN - The money is nothing. You understand that.

REESE - [fearful] Yes, sir.
 

[Richie peeks out, sees nothing, leads Nikki and Melinda into alley]

RICHIE - [returning confidence] Lost 'em. Yes sir, Richie Ryan still knows his way around the old hood.

[As they come out of the alley, Marco & Reese run toward them. Richie picks Melinda up again and they run in the opposite direction.]

RICHIE - Damn, we'll never outrun them with her. C'mon, the next alley leads to the main street, we'll lose 'em there.

[They run into the alley -- and stop. Their path is blocked by a solid brick wall.]

NIKKI - I thought you knew the streets!

RICHIE - I did, that wall wasn't there before!

[Marco & Reese advance toward them]

RICHIE - Whoa, time out!
 

 
MacLEOD - Richie has great timing.

RICHIE - [pained] Sure. When you showed up, they were about to give me a tour of my own spleen.
 

[Marco & Reese sit as Voshin looks at a scrap of paper]

VOSHIN - An antique shop? What about the driver's name?

REESE - That's all the DMV would give out. Must be a company car.

VOSHIN - [drops the paper] You did well to get the license number. Of course, it's the only thing you did well.
 

MacLEOD - Ah, lunch for the workers. [He and Richie reach for the sandwiches.]

TESSA - [slaps their hands away] Hands off, that's for Melinda.

RICHIE - Great. Shirley Temple moves in and I can't get a break, never mind back in my own bed. [re sandwiches] Are you sure a four-year-old needs all that?

TESSA - This one does. She eats like she's never had a regular meal.

RICHIE - [reflective] I'm not sure she has. [beat; with a smile] But that's no reason for the rest of us to suffer . . .

MacLEOD - Later. First you're going to help me deliver some Pre-Columbian carvings.

RICHIE - Say what?

MacLEOD - An Inca head.

RICHIE - Oh, that head.

MacLEOD - [as he pushes Richie out the door] We'll take your car. I don't think they spotted the T-Bird, but you never know.

TESSA - Just be careful.

MacLEOD - [stops to watch Tessa happily fixing lunch] You're getting stuck on her, aren't you.

TESSA - [pauses] Does it show? [off Mac's look] She hasn't had much of a life.

MacLEOD - And you want to give her one.

TESSA - I don't know what I want, but she's here and I can't help . . .

MacLEOD - Feeling what nature meant you to feel.

TESSA - [smiling, trying to make light of the moment] Are you saying you hear my biological clock ticking?

MacLEOD - [places his arms around her] It's the oldest human need, Tessa, to create, to love your own, to share your life. It keeps the species alive.

TESSA - I already share my life with you.

MacLEOD - Is that enough?

TESSA - That's all I've ever wanted.

MacLEOD - Until now. [Tessa shrugs] I love you . . . Listen to your heart. [He kisses her and leaves.]
 

 
NIKKI - But let's get one thing straight, lady. She's mine, not yours. You didn't sit up with her all night when she had the chicken pox. You didn't keep the junkies and perverts off her when she walked on the street and you don't love her half as much as I do. You want a baby . . . get one of your own. Leave mine the hell alone.
 

 
NIKKI - Maybe Tessa can take you. [turning away] She always likes the zoo. [beat] We don't make it too often.

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

MONTAGE - TESSA AND MELINDA

[Tessa pushing Melinda on the swings; Tessa and Melinda walking hand in hand; feeding the animals]

[As Tessa shows her the white whales, Melinda's face beams with joy. She throws her arms around Tessa. Tessa hugs her back, like she'll never let go.]
 

[Nikki in the driver's seat, manipulating a tangle of wires under the dashboard: she's hot-wiring the car. She glances up and sees Reese going around the side of the antique store. Frantically, Nikki attacks the wires.]

NIKKI - C'mon, c'mon, start!

[It does. She sits up and reaches for the seat beside her -- it's empty.]

MARCO - Lose something?

[She turns to find Marco holding her bag.]
 

 
MacLEOD - [sees the T-Bird, door ajar] You may have to wait a little while longer. [looks inside, sees tangle of wires]

RICHIE - Amateurs.

MacLEOD - [shakes his head] It's wired right, but why didn't they drive away?

RICHIE - But who . . . ?

MacLEOD - [looks up, sees door to loft ajar] Stay here.
 

 
[Before MacLeod can move, the two guards pin his arms. MacLeod struggles, glaring at Voshin.]

MacLEOD - We had a bargain! I had your word . . . your honor . . .

VOSHIN - Did we, MacLeod? Sorry, I once was honorable, but over the years I've learned there's no profit in empty gestures. [beat] And the deal from Comrade Stalin was just too good to pass up.
 

 
VOSHIN - [into phone] So it is you, MacLeod. I suspected it, but these modern phones make it hard to know who's on the other end.

MacLEOD - It's me . . .

VOSHIN - Good. Then I know you'll come to me.

MacLEOD - [coldly] You also know that if you harm anyone I care about, I'll send you to hell the hard way.
 

REESE - Everyone's in place.

VOSHIN - Understand one thing, Reese. If you see him, do not hesitate to shoot. You won't get a second chance. [Reese nods but doesn't leave.] What are you waiting for, Reese? Are you frightened?

REESE - Hell, I've seen what this guy can do.

VOSHIN - But you've also seen what I can do. Tell me, Reese, which of us frightens you more?

REESE - [goes pale, his voice hoarse] I better get back on deck. [exits quickly]

[MacLeod moves stealthily along the dock, stops as he senses Voshin's presence. He slips from the dock into the water. Voshin's attendant, Ramos, is hiding behind some barrels. MacLeod reaches up from the water and pulls Ramos under. After a brief struggle, MacLeod surfaces, alone.]

REESE - [hears distant splash] Ramos . . . ?

[A rope loops around his neck and hauls him upward. MacLeod drags Reese along the deck and punches him, knocking him unconscious. He grabs a handkerchief from Reese's pocket, stuffs it in his mouth, and ties Reese up with the rope in a few quick loops, like a rodeo calf, releasing it cowboy style.]

MacLEOD - And still champeen.

[Marco waits, flicking his cigar away and pulling a fresh one from his pocket.]

MacLEOD - [casual] Light?

[Marco reflexively turns and MacLeod punches him hard. His unconscious body slumps over the controls, pushing the engine control into the "on" position. The engine coughs and thrums into life. Voshin hears it at the same time as he senses MacLeod's presence.]

VOSHIN - Come to me, MacLeod.

[MacLeod appears, sword in hand, water dripping from his wet clothes.]

MacLEOD - We'll have to stop meeting this way, Voshin . . .
 

 
[They continue to fight. MacLeod swings at the overhead light, plunging the room into darkness, and runs out. Voshin follows him, but MacLeod has vanished. Voshin looks for him, following his senses.]

VOSHIN - I can feel you, MacLeod. There's only the two of us now. What are you waiting for?

MacLEOD - [stepping into the light] For you, Alexei. It ends here.

[Voshin charges, MacLeod dodges and drives his sword into Voshin's gut. Voshin drops his sword and falls into the water, the rope from a baling hook trailing behind him.]