HIGHLANDER III

HIGHLANDER III  

by

Brad Mirman

First Draft

PROPERTY OF DAVIS/PANZER PRODUCTIONS

1

FADE IN:

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - DAY

The end of Winter. SNOW blankets the landscape. A SMALL

STREAM rushes through the VALLEY. A clear, blue sky hangs over

the DISTANT MOUNTAINS adding to the beauty of the setting.

SUPER IMPOSE: SCOTTISH LOWLANDS - 1665

The CAMERA begins to PAN. The color of the SNOW begins to

change, darkening from PURE WHITE to ASH GRAY, eventually to

COAL BLACK. We continue to pan until we arrive at..

EXT. VILLAGE - DAY

Plague. Once a charming settlement it is now ravaged by

disease. Everywhere BONFIRES burn, sending plumes of BLACK

SMOKE rising into the sky -- the ash and soot drift back down,

blackening the earth. VILLAGERS scurry about in tattered

clothing, their faces soiled by soot as they throw objects of

WOOD and CLOTH into the fires.

THREE HORSEMEN ride into the village. Two of them we can see

clearly as large, powerful men with savage faces. The THIRD

MAN'S man's face is hidden from us in the shadows of a black

HOODED CAPE. He dismounts, motioning for the other two to wait

for him.

The Hooded Man walks though the village. The SOUND of

HAMMERING fills the air as several VILLAGERS finish building a

make-shift GALLOWS.

CUT TO:

EXT. CHURCH - DAY

Built of stone it is already centuries old. A VILLAGER stands

guard at the entrance. The Hooded Man approaches and WHISPERS

something in the Villagers ear, then holds up a GOLD PIECE.

INT. CHURCH - DAY

Dark and musty, lit only by shafts of LIGHT which flow in

through the windows. The Hooded Man follows the Villager

across the stone floor until he reaches a WOODEN DOOR at the

back.

2

INT. STONE ROOM - DAY

No windows. The Hooded Man enters. In the center of the room

a CIRCLE has been drawn. Bordering the circle are hundreds of

CANDLES, forming a ring of fire. A MAN stands in the center,

his head bowed -- his weight supported by thick ROPES around

his wrists that are fastened to a wooden beam which runs the

length of the room.

HOODED MAN'S VOICE

Vieira...

VIEIRA looks up. He is old, his hair thin and gray, but his

eyes are alive, defiant. The Hooded Man moves closer. Vieira

follows him with his eyes, trying to see the Hooded Man's face.

Vieira strains against his ropes. The Hooded Man does not

move.

VIEIRA

How comes it your are not afraid?

HOODED MAN

Would'st you harm one who comes to

aid you?

Vieira's silence indicates he is listening.

HOODED MAN

(continuing)

I've come to strike a bargain with

you. I wish to learn the power of

changing.

VIEIRA

And what would'st I gain from this

bargain?

HOODED MAN

(nonchalantly)

Your life.

VIEIRA

How?

The Hooded Man slowly pulls back his hood. We see his face for

the first time. It is hard, brutal, his eyes cold and dark.

He grins -- a wicked grin.

HOODED MAN

I have a magic of my own.

3

The Hooded Man removes a KNIFE from under his coat. He holds

it before Vieira, then he quickly stabs it into his chest. His

face fills with pain -- blood flows from the wound -- he falls

to his knees. A beat. He slowly looks up at Vieira as he

pulls the knife from his chest, then stands unharmed. Vieira

cannot believe what he has seen.

HOODED MAN

Teach me the chant and I will take

your place on the gallows.

EXT. CHURCH - LATER - DAY

A GROUP of RELIGIOUS-LOOKING MEN walk toward the church.

INT. STONE ROOM - DAY

Vieira has finished teaching the chant.

VIEIRA

After you recite the chant you must

concentrate of the form you wish to

take. The stonger you are the longer

you can hold the illusion.

In the b.g. we HEAR the SOUND of FOOTSTEPS coming up the

stairs. Vieira looks at the Hooded Man.

VIEIRA

They come. Quickly, take my place.

The Men enter. One of them looks at the Hooded Man.

RELIGIOUS MAN

What are you doing here?

The Hooded Man stares at him -- a hard, unnerving stare -- then

slowly, his thin lips from a cruel grin.

HOODED MAN

Just saying goodbye to an old friend.

Vieira stares at the Hooded Man angrily.

VIEIRA

We had a bargain. You promised.

HOODED MAN

I lied.

The Hooded Man walks from the room.

4

EXT. CHURCH - DAY

The Hooded Man walks out. The TWO HORSEMEN ride up. The

Hooded Man climbs on his horse. He takes a DEEP BREATH as he

looks at a RANGE OF MOUNTAINS in the distance.

CUT TO:

EXT. VALLEY - DAY

The SOUND of SWORDS CROSSING fill the air. Two MEN, one YOUNG,

the other OLD fight across the SNOW-SWEPT GROUND. In. the b.g.

a large, stone building is built at the base of a mountain

range.

The Young Man fights furiously, his only weapon strength, but

he is clearly inexperienced. The OLD MAN is agile, and easily

moves out of the way of each blow. The Young Man swings

wildly, he loses his balance. The Old Man strikes his SWORD

away, then pushes him to the ground. The Young Man looks up as

the older man raises his SWORD above his head. Their eyes

lock. The Old Man smiles and slowly lowers the sword to the

Young Man's neck.

OLD MAN

It's over.

The Old Man reaches out his hand, helping the Young Man to his

feet. The Young Man is clearly angry.

OLD MAN

Your anger blinds you. You must

learn to control it. When the time

comes you'll only have but one

chance. You best use it well.