HIGHLANDER III

I'm sorry about that -- but I had

nothing to do with it.

BEDSOE

That doesn't mean you don't know

what's going on. You're connected to

this guy somehow. He's after you --

just like the others were.

MCCLEOD

(looks at his watch)

It's late.

Macleod starts to leave. Bedsoe grabs him by the neck and

slams him into the wall, then holds his GUN to Macleod's face.

A beat. Macleod stares at him calmly.

BEDSOE

Seven years ago I interviewed a guy.

He said he saw two men fighting in an

alley with swords. One cut off the

others head. He shot the surviving

guy twenty times and he got right

back up and stabbed him.

MCCLEOD

Maybe he was a lousy shot.

Bedsoe anger fills Bedsoe's face. He slowly pulls back the

HAMMER of his pistol. A beat. He studies Macleod for a

reaction. There isn't one.

BEDSOE

Most people would show some sign of

fear with a gun in their face.

MCCLEOD

Most people are afraid of death.

84

BEDSOE

Most people can die.

A beat. Their eyes are locked on each others, probing,

studying, evaluating.

MCCLEOD

If you really believe that you'll

pull the trigger.

Bedsoe struggles within himself. The gun shakes in his hand.

A beat. Slowly he lowers the pistol. Macleod walks inside.

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Macleod sits on the couch, staring into the darkness. His mind

races, filled with thoughts and decisions. He sharpens the

blade of his Samurai. The PHONE RINGS. Macleod answers it.

KILVARA'S VOICE

Can you come out and play?

Macleod doesn't answer.

KILVARA'S VOICE

No? You know, some people think that

I don't have any good qualities, but

that isn't true. I saw you tonight

with your little friend -- I let you

say goodbye to her. I think of it as

letting a condemned prisoner have his

last request. Besides, I have her

now.

MCCLEOD

She isn't part of this.

KILVARA'S VOICE

She is now. We're at the museum. I

figured we'd have more room for our

business here. If you hurry you

might get here before I kill her.

The line goes dead. Macleod rushes from the room.

CUT TO:

EXT. ANTIQUE STORE - NIGHT

Macleod's PORSCHE races out of the parking lot and down the

street.

85

+ACROSS THE STREET

Bedsoe is in his car. He starts the engine and follows

Macleod.

CUT TO:

EXT. MUSEUM - NIGHT

Macleod stops his car in front of the building.

Bedsoe stops down the street and watches through the

windshield.

The front door is ajar. Macleod opens it slowly and enters.

INT. MUSEUM, HALLWAY - NIGHT

Macleod holds his Samurai at his side as he walks down the

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

Suddenly, Jennifer comes running down the hall towards him.

JENNIFER

He's here!

She runs towards him, her face filled with fear.

JENNIFER

He's in there!

MCCLEOD

Get out.

Macleod starts to walk towards the room. Jennifer walks behind

him.

JENNIFER

Be careful, Conner.

MCCLEOD

(to himself)

Conner?

A flash of confusion fills Macleod's eyes -- his face hardens.

He swings around quickly and drives the blade on his sword into

Jennifer's chest. She SCREAMS, a deep, unearthly SCREAM.

CUT TO:

86

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

Bedsoe HEARS Jennifer's SCREAM. He bolts out of his car and

runs towards the building.

CUT TO:

INT. MUSEUM, MAIN ROOM - NIGHT

Pain fills Jennifer's face. A beat. Slowly she smiles as a

TRANSFORMATION begins. The image of Jennifer is replaced with

that of Kilvara. Macleod smiles at him.

MCCLEOD

I never told her my first name.

Kilvara grabs the blade and slowly pulls it from his chest.

Macleod swings his blade at Kilvara's neck. Kilvara ducks them

runs down the hall into the main room. Macleod follows.

CUT TO:

EXT. MUSEUM - NIGHT

Bedsoe reaches the front door. He tries to break it open but

cannot. He runs around the side of the building.

CUT TO:

INT. MUSEUM, MAIN ROOM - NIGHT

Macleod moves slowly through the work tables, waiting,

watching, listening. Something catches his attention.

MACLEOD'S POV

Jennifer is gagged and tied to a chair which has been placed on

top of a long table. Another chair has been placed about three

feet away from her on the table. On the second chair a

CROSSBOW has been mounted and aimed at Jennifer. A ROPE is

tied to the TRIGGER and stretched to her chair. A WEIGHT has

been tied in the center of the rope. A CANDLE burns behind the

WEIGHT. When it burns though the rope the WEIGHT will fall and

the CROSSBOW will fire at Jennifer.

Kilvara steps out of the shadows, a wicked grin on his face.

87

KILVARA

Clever -- don't you think. You can

save her. All you have to do is blow

out the candle. Of course, you have

to get past me to do it.

The rope is beginning to turn black as the candle burns deeper

into it. Macleod knows he has little time before the ropes

snaps. He moves towards her. Kilvara blocks his path.

KILVARA

Now, you die.

Kilvara swings his sword at Macleod. Macleod blocks the

attack. Kilvara kicks him in the stomach, doubling him over

and driving him back. Kilvara wields his sword powerfully.

Macleod side-steps the attack -- Kilvara's blade slams into a

table, slicing it cleanly in half.

Jennifer struggles in her chair, her eyes open wide in horror,

staring at the candle.

CUT TO:

EXT. MUSEUM, REAR EXIT - NIGHT

Bedsoe reaches the back door. It is locked also. He goes over

to one of the windows and breaks it with the butt of his GUN,

then climbs through.

CUT TO:

INT. MUSEUM, MAIN ROOM - NIGHT

The battle continues. Kilvara presses the attack, swinging his

sword furiously and relentlessly at Macleod. Macleod jumps up

on a table. Kilvara swings his blade at Macleod's knees.

Macleod jumps, the blade sails under his feet, when he lands he

KICKS Kilvara in the face, knocking him to the ground.

Kilvara's sword slides across the floor. Macleod looks at

Kilvara, then across the room. He has only a second to decide:

Kilvara or Jennifer.

MACLEOD'S POV

The ROPE is about to snap -- strands are staring to fray.

Macleod runs across the tabletop and jumps onto another as he

heads for the long table across the room.

Kilvara stands -- picks up his sword and runs after Macleod.

88

More strands of the rope snap as the flame burns deeper in the

rope. It is just about to when...

Macleod runs onto the long table. He dives and slides across

it -- his Samurai extended in front of him.

The rope SNAPS. The WEIGHT begins to fall.

Macleod drives the blade of his sword through the trigger

housing. The WEIGHT pulls on the rope -- but the blade of the

Samurai blocks the trigger from pulling back.

Kilvara reaches Macleod. Their eyes meet. Macleod knows he

cannot removes his sword to defend himself or the crossbow will

fire. Kilvara raises his sword and is about to strike when a

SHOT is FIRED.