HIGHLANDER III

INT. STONE BUILDING - DAY

Large and barren. A fires roars in the fireplace. The Old Man

sits across a wooden table from the Young man as they finish

eating.

The Young Man appears restless. He pushes his plate

away -- stands up and walks toward the door.

OLD MAN

Where are you off to?

YOUNG MAN

To the village for some ale -- and if

the truth be known, I need to see

someones face other than yours, old

man.

5

They smile. The Young Man takes his SWORD then puts on his

COAT. He picks up a SACK and leaves. The Old Man begins to

clear away the dishes. Suddenly he stops -- his smile fades.

He looks towards the door filled with a premonition. Outside

we HEAR the SOUND of SWORDS CROSSING. It lasts only for a

moment. SILENCE.

A blinding GREEN LIGHT fills the frame of the door. The ground

begins to TREMBLE -- the STONES of the building shake from the

force -- debris falls from the ceiling. It stops. SILENCE.

The Old Man takes his SWORD from the mantle. The DOOR OPENS.

The SOUND of the WIND rushes in. Outside nothing can be seen -

- only the darkness of the night. A beat. The Young Man

enters the room. The Old Man smiles at the sight of him. The

Young Man places his sack on the table.

The Old Man turns his back as he starts to replace his sword on

the mantle. The Young Man's expression hardens. He stares at

the Old Man's neck as he starts to raise his sword.

OLD MAN'S POV

In a SILVER WINE CHALICE he sees the reflection of the YOUNG

MAN who is now slowly raising his SWORD and about to strike at

the Old Man's neck.

In one fluid movement the Old Man unsheathes his sword, then

turns quickly. The Young Man's blade slices through the air

missing it's target. The Old Man pivots and slices his blade

across the Young Man's chest. The Young Man winces in pain,

then takes a deep breath -- his body begins to shake violently.

A TRANSFORMATION BEGINS. The image of Young Man begins to fade

and is replaced by the HOODED MAN. He LAUGHS LOUDLY as he

holds up his arms as if prompting The Old Man for his

appreciation of the illusion.

OLD MAN

(hatefully)

Kilvara...

The Hooded Man smiles when he hears his name.

KILVARA

It flatters me you remember, old one.

It's been what... two hundred years?

OLD MAN

It's not been long enough. What

witchcraft is this?

6

KILVARA

Impressive -- is it not? The problem

is I can only keep the illusion for a

few minutes. I need more power to

hold the form longer. I need the

Highlander. Where is he?

OLD MAN

I do not know -- and even if I did...

KILVARA

(cutting him off)

I know. I know-- you would not tell

me. Loyalty -- it really is a

concept that eludes me.

(shrugs his

shoulders)

Oh well -- I shall find him. Time is

on my side.

The Old Man looks sadly at the open door. Kilvara notices and

grins.

KILVARA

Is this what you're looking for?

Kilvara opens the SACK. Inside it is the head of the Young

Man. Kilvara LAUGHS, a deep guttural laugh. He turns and

starts towards the door. Suddenly he stops and turns back to

face the Old Man.

KILVARA

(mockingly)

Oh -- I almost forgot. Your head.

OLD MAN

It does not come off as easily as the

young ones.

KILVARA

(amused)

Perhaps -- but it comes off none the

less.

With a savage YELL Kilvara draws his sword and lunges at the

Old Man. The Old Man steps aside and Kilvara's sword smashes

down on the table, shattering it into splinters.

The two Horsemen step into the room and watch. Kilvara lunges

again -- and again -- each time the Old Man side-steps him.

Kilvara swings -- the Old Man ducks -- the blade hits the stone

wall -- SPARKS FLY -- ROCK EXPLODES. The Old Man slices his

blade across Kilvara chest. A deep gash is cut -- blood flows.

Kilvara examines the wound.

7

KILVARA

You're dead.

With brutal strength Kilvara begins his attack again, whipping

his sword through the air furiously. Their swords cross --

sparks fly. Kilvara is too powerful for the Old Man. All he

can do is back up -- using his sword to block each ferocious

blow. They pass through a large ARCH at the rear of the room.

INT. CAVERN - NIGHT

The building is built at the mouth of a vast CAVE. TORCHES set

in the walls of the cavern are the only source of light. A

WOODEN BRIDGE is built over a deep RAVINE. Kilvara and the Old

Man continue their fight across the bridge. The Horsemen lag

behind, enjoying the battle. The Old Man's strength is giving

way under the merciless attack.

The SPARKS from each contact is even more dazzling in the dim

light of the cavern. Kilvara swings again. The Old Man tries

to block it. In one fluid movement Kilvara scrapes his SWORD

along the Old Man's -- then lunges forward -- thrusting his

blade through the Old Man's chest. The Old Man SCREAMS in

pain. Kilvara lifts him up with the blade. Kilvara flings him

off the blade and onto the ground. The Old Man is on his

knees. Kilvara raises his sword above his head.

KILVARA

There can be only one.

Kilvara brings the blade down. It slices through the Old Man's

neck, severing his head from his body. Kilvara waits,

preparing himself. A stream of bright GREEN LIGHT begins to

flow from the BODY of the OLD MAN. It grows BRIGHTER and

BRIGHTER. The Body of the old man begins to hover above the

ground, then in a pulsing burst of energy the LIGHT flows into

Kilvara. The force knocks him to his knees.

The GROUND SHAKES -- The walls of the cavern move. Suddenly,

chunks of rock are blown out of the walls -- the RUMBLING SOUND

grows LOUDER and LOUDER -- blinding GREEN LIGHT FILLS the cave

and then -- a deafening EXPLOSION. Whole sections of the

cavern begin to collapse -- covering the exit -- trapping

everyone inside.

EXT. MOUNTAIN - WIDE SHOT - NIGHT

The RUMBLING SOUND subsides. In the distance we hear the

savage SCREAM of Kilvara. The CAMERA MOVES UP the side of the

mountain. As we come over the top we see...

SMASH CUT TO:

8

EXT. NEW YORK CITY - NIGHT

The familiar towers of the city skyline stand along the bay,

their LIGHTS reflecting off the water.

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

A thick FOG hangs in the air. A light wind blows, moving

newspapers and other articles of trash along the deserted

street.

EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT

Crates and trash dumpsters line the alley. A single, naked

light bulb shines down like a spotlight. Through the fog the

SILHOUETTE of man appears as he steps under the light.

MOVING WITH THE MAN - REVERSE SHOT

We follow the man from behind. He is tall, dressed in a long,

tan rain-coat, jeans and sneakers. A small TRAVEL BAG is slung

over his shoulder. As he moves down the alley he hears a

SCRAPING SOUND. HE stops -- but does not turn around.

A street PUNK emerges from behind a trash crate, scraping the

BLADE of his KNIFE along the wall of a building. He studies

the man for a moment as he runs his thumb along the edge of the

blade, almost caressing it.

PUNK

What'cha got in the bag?

Not only does the man not answer -- he doesn't even turn

around.

PUNK

Hey -- you hear me?

CONNER MACLEOD slowly turns around. He is mid thirties,

handsome, his chin dotted with the stubble of a beard. He is

calm, detached -- yet under the surface there is a great

sadness from a lifetime of pain and loneliness. He stares at

the Punk wearily -- knowing both what is going to happen and

what the outcome will be.

MACLEOD

(softly)

Yes -- I hear you.

PUNK

Good. Now, give it up.

9

Macleod studies the Punk for a moment.

MACLEOD

Go home -- while you still can.

Macleod turns his back to him and starts to walk away. The

Punk moves after him quickly. Macleod reaches into a trash can

and pulls out a piece of PIPE. The Punk stops and stares at

Macleod.