HIGHLANDER III

PUNK

(amused)

What do you think you're gonna to do

with that?

Macleod raises the pipe, twirling it around expertly in his

hand.

MACLEOD

(deadly calm)

Let's find out.

A beat. The Punk is losing confidence. He looks at Macleod.

CLOSE ON MACLEOD'S EYES

Deep. Confidant. They radiate an intensity that seems to burn

into the Punk.

The Punk is unnerved by Macleod's calm. Macleod waits, letting

him make the next move. A beat. The Punk backs away and

disappears into the darkness. Macleod stares him for a moment,

then drops the pipe to the ground and walks off in the other

direction.

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

Macleod stops at the mouth of the alley where it intersects

with the street. He stares across the street.

MACLEOD'S POV

An old building. A sign reads: RUSSELL NASH, ANTIQUES.

A sadness falls across his face -- his mind floods with

memories as he looks at the building.

Across the street the door of the antique store opens. RACHEL,

an attractive woman in her fifties exits -- locks the door --

walks down the street.

10

Macleod watches her affectionately -- painfully. As she

crosses the street, he steps back into the shadows of the

alley, hiding in the darkness. Rachel reaches the alley, then

stops -- thinks -- looks back at the Antique Store. She is

only a few feet away from Macleod.

CLOSE ON MACLEOD

Macleod struggles to make a decision. Slowly he raises his

hand -- reaches out -- but cannot bring himself to touch her.

Rachel starts to walk away.

MACLEOD (OS)

Rachel.

No more needs to be said. She recognizes the voice instantly.

She turns around slowly and looks behind her. In the b.g.

Macleod steps out of the darkness. He smiles at her weakly.

Confusion fills her face, but is quickly replaced by a wave of

emotion. She moves towards Macleod slowly, as if trying to

determine if he is really there. She cups her hands to his

face and stares deeply into his eyes. No words are spoken --

none need to be. The power of their feelings are shown in

their eyes.

CUT TO:

INT. ANTIQUE STORE - NIGHT

Crowded with tables, chairs, cabinets and other rare old

objects of furniture. Macleod is seated at a 17th century

dinning table. Rachel stands in the center of the room.

RACHEL

You know it's not safe here for you.

MACLEOD

I know.

RACHEL

The police still have a lot of

questions for Russell Nash.

MACLEOD

I can take care of myself.

Rachel's emotion builds.

11

RACHEL

Why are you here, Conner? After

seven years without a word, why have

you come back? You went off to make

a new life with Brenda and that was

the last I heard--

A sadness falls over Macleod's face.

MACLEOD

Brenda's dead.

Rachel is stunned.

MACLEOD

(continuing)

Four years ago. I've nowhere else to

go. You're all I have, Rachel -- and

I'm just so tired of being alone.

His words touch her. She opens a cabinet and pulls out a

bottle of GLENMORGANGIE scotch. Macleod forces a weak smile.

In the light he looks tired. She pours him a drink.

RACHEL

It isn't over, is it, Conner?

MACLEOD

(wearily)

No.

RACHEL

How can that be?

MACLEOD

I don't know.

Rachel's face fills with compassion. She reaches out and holds

Macleod. He lays his head on her shoulder like a baby.

INT. LIBRARY - NIGHT

Every inch of wall-space is filled with shelves and BOOKS.

Macleod walks along a row studying the titles. A faint grin

falls across his face as he sees a selected works of poetry.

Rachel enters the room with a tea service and places it on the

table.

RACHEL

Is there anything else you need?

MACLEOD

No -- I'm fine. Thank you.

12

RACHEL

I'm glad you've come home, Conner.

MACLEOD

Me too.

Rachel leaves. Macleod takes a small book off the shelf and

looks through it. Outside a STREAK of LIGHTNING cuts across

the night sky. Macleod looks out the window concerned.

CUT TO:

EXT. FARM - DAY

Seventeenth century Scotland. The CAMERA rise over an old

stone wall. A charming farm house with stone walls and a

thatched roof sits in the distance. Smoke drifts lazily from

the chimney.

+IN THE FIELD

A man toils behind an ox, his arms straining as he guides a

plow through the soft earth. He stops, runs his hand across

his brow, then turns around. It is Macleod. His hair is

longer, but he looks exactly the same.

The FARMER and owner of the land, a kindly-looking man in his

fifties walks over to him. He picks up and handful of soil and

tastes it.

FARMER

It will be a good harvest this year.

MCCLEOD

Can you really tell from doing that?

FARMER

What do you think?

MCCLEOD

I think you just like to eat dirt.

They both LAUGH. SARAH, fifteen years old, with flaxen hair

and bright blue eyes approaches Macleod with a water pale.

SARAH

(shyly)

Would you care for some water,

Conner?

MCCLEOD

Aye -- that I would, lass.

13

Conner takes the ladle and pours it over his head. He scoops

out some more water and drinks, then WINKS at Sarah. She

blushes and runs off.

FARMER

I think my Sarah fancies you, Conner.

MCCLEOD

She's a treasure she is.

FARMER

She'll soon be of age.

Macleod understands him only too well.

MCCLEOD

Your words are kind and they flatter

me -- but I think of her as a sister.

Besides, you hardly know me.

FARMER

I know that for six months you've

worked hard and asked for little.

That you're a good and honest man.

What more need I know?

The conversation is interrupted by the SOUND of HORSES HOOVES

thundering across the fields. TWO MEN, dirty and rough-looking

ride up to the house. They have the look of warriors to them.

The Farmers wife and Sarah stand outside the house.

EXT. FARM HOUSE - DAY

The Farmer arrives, out of breath from his run across the

field. In the b.g. we see Macleod going into the barn.

FARMER

Good day.

The Men do not answer. The Farmer is nervous. He has seen men

like this before. A few other FARM HANDS, mostly OLD MEN and

WOMEN come in from the fields.

FARMER

You are welcome to share our food and

our fire.

WARRIOR #1

We do not share, old man. We take.

Warrior #1 dismounts. His eyes fall on young Sarah. He looks

back at his friend with a toothless grin.

14

WARRIOR #1

You can eat if you want. I'm going

to start with her.

Warrior #1 walks towards Sarah who clings to her Mother. The

Farmer stands in the path of the Warrior.

FARMER

No!

Warrior #1 backhands the Farmer across the face, sending him

falling to the ground. Sarah tries to run but the Warrior

grabs her. He lifts her over his shoulder and carries her

inside the barn, closing the door behind them. We HEAR Sarah

SCREAM. A beat. Suddenly, the doors of the barn crash open as

the Warrior flies out of the barn and lands on his back.

Macleod steps out of the barn, his Samurai in hand. Warrior

#2, still mounted on his horse grins.

WARRIOR #2

It appears this farmer has a temper.

Warrior #1 staggers to his feet. He removes his sword and

stares angrily at Macleod.

WARRIOR #1

This farmer is dead.

Warrior #1 lunges at Macleod who casually sidesteps his attack

and slices his sword across the Warriors chest. The Warrior

GASPS, then falls to the ground dead.

Warrior #2 cannot believe what he has seen. Anger fills his

face. He reaches to the side of his saddle and lifts a CROSS

BOW. Macleod changes his grip on the sword and holds it like a

spear. He THROWS it at the Warrior at the same time he FIRES

the cross bow. The sword flies into the Warrior's stomach.

Blood flows from his mouth. A beat. He falls from the saddle,

dead.

Macleod is standing, an ARROW dead-center in his chest. Blood

flows from the wound. He slowly walks into the barn. The

Farmer runs after him.