HIGHLANDER III

Macleod and Cavanaugh begins to struggle, but it no use. Their

hands are tied and there are far too many guards. Macleod is

held back as Cavanaugh is forcefully placed under the blade. A

beat. The BLADE FALLS.

MCCLEOD

(screaming)

No!

Cavanaugh's head falls into a basket. The guards laugh and

smile among themselves. Macleod turns his attention to the

guards -- his eyes are ice cold. He waits.

GUARD

(pointing to Macleod)

Bring him.

Before the guards can begin to move Macleod we HEAR a CRACKLING

SOUND. Suddenly, Cavanaugh's body begins to hover above the

ground, streaks of green light flowing out of it. Several of

the guards cross themselves -- then Cavanaugh's energy is blown

into Macleod.

Macleod screams -- he effortlessly breaks his ropes. He looks

at the headless body with sadness, then jumps on a cart and

climbs over the walls.

CUT TO:

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Sadness shows on Macleod's face as his mind slowly drifts from

the past back into the present. He holds Jennifer's BUSINESS

CARD in his hand, flicking it with his finger.

Macleod walks over to the window and looks out.

63

MACLEOD'S POV

An unmarked POLICE CAR is down the street. Greley is inside it

watching the shop.

Macleod thinks for a moment. He walks to a bookcase -- pulls

out a book and presses a button. A section of the bookcase

OPENS and leads to a staircase.

CUT TO:

EXT. ALLEY, REAR OF SHOP - NIGHT

Macleod exits through a door into the alley. We walks off into

the night.

Jennifer steps out of a doorway down the alley and starts to

follow Macleod.

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

Macleod walks along rows of BROWNSTONES. In the b.g. Jennifer

steps around the corner, keeping her distance from Macleod.

EXT. STREET - FURTHER - NIGHT

Macleod walks -- thinks. Suddenly he stops -- filled with a

premonition. He looks up and down the street.

MACLEOD'S POV

The streets are empty.

Macleod reaches under his raincoat for the handle of his sword

and starts walking. As he reaches the corner we HEAR

FOOTSTEPS. Macleod stops -- waits.

A UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICER turns the corner and walks towards

him. Macleod takes his hand out from his coat and walks past

him. The instant the COP passes Macleod he turns and removes

a SWORD from under his jacket.

Jennifer watches helplessly.

The cop smiles as he raises the sword over his head. It

GLIIMERS as the light from the STREET LIGHT reflects off it.

JENNIFER

Look out!

64

Macleod is walking away. He hears her SCREAM and turns around

just as the sword comes streaking at his head. Macleod side-

steps the attack, the blade slices across his forearm, a stripe

of BLOOD appears on his arm. Macleod quickly removes his

Samurai from under his jacket.

The cop studies him for a moment then begins to LAUGH. A

transformation begins and he turns into Kilvara.

Jennifer's face is filled with disbelief from the sight she has

just witnessed.

Kilvara smiles at Macleod, his eyes alive with hatred.

KILVARA

Highlander -- I had hoped it would be

you.

MCCLEOD

(confused)

This cannot be.

Kilvara says nothing. He lunges at Macleod. Their swords

cross - sparks fly -- as the battle each other along the

street. Their sword cross and lock -- they grab each other

hands -- their faces inches from each other.

KILVARA

I am stronger than you, Highlander.

MCCLEOD

That's what the Kurgan said.

KILVARA

The Kurgan was a pussy.

Kilvara knees Macleod in the groin. Macleod doubles over, then

pushes forward, ramming his head in Kilvara's stomach --

pushing him backwards and slamming his back into a wall.

LIGHTS begins to come on in the windows of the apartments.

Macleod runs off. Kilvara follows. Macleod runs around the

corner.

Jennifer does not move. She is trying to digest what she has

seen. A beat, then she runs after them.

EXT. STREET - AROUND THE CORNER - NIGHT

As Kilvara rounds the corner he sees Macleod waiting for him,

his sword at his side. Kilvara runs towards him, begins to

raise his sword then stops.

65

We see why. Behind Macleod is a CHURCH. Kilvara lowers his

sword and looks at Macleod hatefully.

KILVARA

Why prolong the inevitable?

Macleod doesn't answer.

KILVARA

Fine -- I've waited over three

centuries. I can wait a little

longer.

MCCLEOD

Why did you wait?

KILVARA

It was not by choice. A small matter

of a mountain falling down on us. We

were trapped inside.

(serious)

When the time of the Gathering came

the urge to go was so strong we tried

to claw through rock with our bare

hands. What you thought was the end

-- was not. This is the end. We are

the last of our kind, Macleod.

MCCLEOD

It will not end tonight.

KILVARA

You cannot hide from me. You will

not stand between me and my destiny.

After I have your head the power will

let me hold any form as long as I

want. Do you know what that means?

I can become the President -- I can

become anyone I want. The world will

be mine.

Kilvara starts to leave. He stops and turns back towards

Macleod with a grin. In the b.g. we see Jennifer crossing the

street.

KILVARA

Remember, Macleod -- the next time

you see me -- you won't see me.

He LAUGHS as he walks off into the night. Macleod stares after

him. Jennifer crosses the street and joins him.

JENNIFER

I don't believe what I just saw.

66

MCCLEOD

That's probably the smartest thing.

Macleod starts to walk away. Jennifer notices the BLOOD on his

arm.

JENNIFER

You're hurt.

MCCLEOD

I'll be fine.

JENNIFER

What's going on? Why did he call you

Macleod?

MCCLEOD

Because it's my name.

JENNIFER

Then who's Russell Nash?

MCCLEOD

(sadly)

I don't know anymore.

Macleod walks off leaving her behind.

CUT TO:

INT. MACLEOD'S PRIVATE ROOM - NIGHT

Macleod sits on the couch, his mind deep in thought. The room

is filled with antiques, momentos compiled over several

lifetimes. Rachel enters and sits beside him.

MCCLEOD

I could have ended it tonight, but I

didn't.

RACHEL

Why?

MCCLEOD

I don't know. He is the stronger

one. He has a power--

RACHEL

You also have a power, Conner. It is

why you have survived.

Macleod looks at her, his eyes prompting her for the answer.

67

RACHEL

Heart.

Macleod feigns a weak smile.

RACHEL

Do not underestimate the power of

your heart. Your dreams live there.

MCCLEOD

My dreams died long ago.

RACHEL

Did they? You are only a man,

different than most -- but still a

man. You feel the same -- want the

same. You want to live.

MCCLEOD

I haven't lived life -- I've hidden

from it. I've existed in the

shadows.

RACHEL

And now it's time to come out of the

shadows.

Macleod looks at her fondly. He cups his hand to her face.

MCCLEOD

Dear, sweet, Rachel. Men's lifes are

measured by the good they do.

RACHEL

If you search your heart you know all

the good you have done. Your

strength comes from your heart --

because in your heart you know what

you are fighting for is good and

just.

(points around the

room)

This room is filled with memories.

If you search through them you can

find the good -- the difference you

have made. And now, it is for you to

make the greatest difference of all.

Look in your heart, Conner -- and you

will see the good that you have done.

She looks at him warmly. Macleod kisses her on the forehead.

She leaves the room. A beat. Macleod walks over to a table

filled with various objects. One catches his eye. He picks up

an old WALKING STICK. Macleod closes his eyes -- his mind

drifts back.

68

CUT TO:

EXT. STREET, LONDON - NIGHT

Nineteenth century England.

The East end. The waterfront, cobblestone streets, gas lamps.

A thick fog hangs in the air. Piano MUSIC drifts out of one of

the pubs. CROWDS of people hurry along the street.

Among them is Macleod. He is dressed in a suit like an English

Gentleman and carries the ivory-handled WALKING STICK. He

walks slowly, through the crowd, seemingly oblivious to the

people around him. He comes to the mouth of an alley and

stops, thinks, then enters.

EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT

Wooden crates and stacks of garbage fill the alley. Macleod

continues. In the b.g. we HEAR the SOUNDS of a struggle.

+FURTHER DOWN THE ALLEY

A middle-aged man, also dressed like an English Gentleman is

struggling with a PROSTITUTE. He grabs her roughly and pins

her against the wall. From inside his overcoat he slowly

removes a long sword. He holds the tip of the blade up before

her eyes.

PROSTITUTE

Please, sir -- you're frightening me.

This seems to please the man.

MAN

Good.

He smiles -- then just as quickly his smile fades. He appears

to sense something. He turns around to see...

MAN'S POV

Nothing -- just FOG -- then Macleod appears. He stares at the

man.

The Man stares at Macleod then smiles -- a wild, crazy smile.

MAN

(English accent)

Conner -- what an unexpected

surprise.

69

MCCLEOD

Let her go.

MAN

I'm afraid I can't do that. Just let

me kill her and then we can attend to

our business.

Macleod takes a few steps closer. He is now almost is striking

range. He slowly slides his Samurai out of the walking stick.

MCCLEOD

When you make your thrust at her I'll

take your head. It's her or me.

MAN

Oh dear me -- I do so hate decisions.

The man realizes that Macleod is right. He reluctantly lets

her go. The prostitute runs from the alley. A beat. The two

men stare at each other -- then the Man lunges at Macleod,

swinging his sword furiously. Sparks fly as sword cross.

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

Th Prostitute runs to the corner where she finds a CONSTABLE.

She hysterical gestures towards the alley. The Constable

follows her.