MACLEOD - [grim] And when he hunts them, I'll hunt him.

[And OFF this--]
 

 
MACLEOD - We?

[He grits his teeth and pushes, shaking with effort. The wagon creaks, and moves. OFF his straining face--]
 

 
JACOB - [a smile] The land's a sea, MacLeod. We're its sailors.

MacLEOD - I wouldn't mind setting down anchor for a few more weeks.

JACOB - That's because you're a Scot. A Gypsy's only truly home when he's traveling.

[Suddenly the air is ripped by a high, blood-curdling SCREAM in the distance. They freeze.]
 

[MacLeod comes awake, sprawled in the gutter, a nasty crack on his temple. Around him, the sound of laughing, jeering CHILDREN. He staggers to his feet to see -- JACOB hanging, strung up by a rope from a rough GIBBET, dead. Children toss garbage at his body as one or two ADULT VILLAGERS look on. A MOTHER is prying off one of Jacob's BOOTS. MacLeod chases them off, then turns to cut Jacob down. As he hoists the body over his shoulder, the Children start bleating at him, imitating lambs.]

CHILDREN - [taunting] BAAAAH! BAAAHHH!

MACLEOD - [turns on them] Get away, or I'll put a Gypsy curse on you. Your tongues will turn black and drop off. [beat, ominous] And not just your tongues.

[Some of the jeering BOYS put their hands to their crotches and back away, silenced. MacLeod trudges away with his burden.]
 

 
[WIDER as the QUICKENING begins, the energy flying around the awed Watchers, and into Jacob. Horton steps back, shielding his eyes.]

HORTON - Hold him!

[Jacob's BONDS burst. TWO WATCHERS leap forward, grab his arms -- but JACOB surges with power, throws them back. He grabs the closest Watcher, snaps his neck. Before he can turn on the others ANOTHER WATCHER fires. JACOB is hit in the shoulder. Horton reacts with fury.]

HORTON - Kill him! Shoot!

[JACOB lurches into the woods, BULLETS ripping a tree nearby, as he slips away into the darkness.]

[DISSOLVE TO:]

[FLASHLIGHTS arc through the trees as the Watchers search for Jacob. Horton waits, tight with anger, as his two remaining Watchers arrive. One shakes his head.]

HORTON - He can't be too far. Emile, stay here. Keep your eyes open.

[Horton and the other Watchers move off, their flashlights fading in the distance. Emile waits, scanning the forest. He checks his gun tensely. Then a faint SOUND. He reacts, suspicion dawning as he looks up -- too late. JACOB drops from the tree above, slams into Emile, twists the gun away, and slams him against the trunk.]

JACOB - You're going to tell me things. Who you are... WHAT you are... [grim] And why you killed Irena.

[Emile is scared, and right now Jacob is a very scary guy. He raises his hands, and as he does -- CLOSE - EMILE'S WRIST and the WATCHER TATTOO there; the same as on Horton. Jacob sees it, grabs the wrist, staring.]

JACOB - What is this? [beat] What the hell are you?!

[Emile shakes his head he doesn't want to answer. Jacob presses the gun to Emile's chest. Emile is sweating, he knows there's no way out. He suddenly lunges, pulls Jacob's gun into himself, and squeezes the trigger. The gun fires and Emile sags, dead, and slides down the tree. Jacob is stunned. Still gripping the dead wrist, staring at the tattoo, until--]

HORTON (O.S.) - This way!

[The flashlights are bobbing, coming closer. Jacob releases the hand, turns and runs into the forest.]
 

 
SHAPIRO - Tell you what, Joe. Let's make a deal.

DAWSON - What kind of deal?

SHAPIRO - You turn in MacLeod and I let you live.

DAWSON - I've got a better deal.

[He pushes Methos aside, levels the gun at Shapiro. Instantly the GUARDS draw guns. A Mexican standoff.]

DAWSON - I kill you instead of him.
 

 
SHAPIRO - You're in for life, Joe. One way or the other.
 

 
DAWSON - [turns to Methos] It's okay.

METHOS - You sure?

[Dawson and Methos share a look and Methos moves off. Shapiro looks at Dawson. Thinking.]

[And OFF this--]
 

[A self-righteous and self-satisfied Shapiro is in the middle of a conversation with Dawson.]

SHAPIRO - I hoped one day you'd be on the Tribunal with me, but it can't happen, because of your recent... [beat] situation...
 

 
MACLEOD - The Watchers started out witnesses to the miracle of Immortality that no one understood. Your mission was sacred.
 

 
MACLEOD - So don't delude yourself. You didn't kill Jacob for your son. You killed him for yourself. [beat] Horton made Jacob a murderer. Jacob made you one. [beat] So listen hard, Jack, and tell me what it's to be. War? You want to bury more friends for something Horton started? [beat] The killing ends now or it's only just begun.

[Shapiro slumps in his chair, beaten, exhausted. A BEAT. He looks at Dawson, then at Shapiro, at the shaken, beaten face. MacLeod turns and walks out.]

[FADE OUT.]