Highlander (1992) s04e11 Episode Script

Whoever you are, you're fired.
Well, if I ever work for you, I'll remember that.
Duncan? How quickly they forget.
- Claudia, get off the stage.
What? Move it.
Now! Duncan, nobody talks to me like that.
Not even you.
Look out! How did you know? Intuition.
Damn it! He is Duncan MacLeod, the Highlander.
Born in 1592, in the Highlands of Scotland, and he is still alive.
He is immortal.
For 400 years, he's been a warrior, a lover, a wanderer, constantly facing other Immortals in combat to the death.
The winner takes his enemy's head and with it, his power.
I am a Watcher, part of a secret society of men and women who observe and record, but never interfere.
We know the truth about Immortals.
In the end, there can be only one.
May it be Duncan MacLeod, the Highlander.
Here we are Born to be kings We're the princes of the universe I am immortal I have inside me blood of kings I have no rival No man can be my equal Take me to the future of your world What's the phrase? "I wouldn't be paranoid if they weren't out to get me.
" Claudia, I don't need convincing.
Someone tried to hurt you for real this time.
That's why you're staying here.
- Er, well, I'll have the couch.
- You know, people have been jealous of me for years.
I don't know why you suddenly take this murder attempt any more seriously that all the others.
You can have the two bottom drawers.
All what others? The Van Cliburn Competition-- someone tried to poison my dinner.
That was Moscow.
And you made yourself sick by gorging on too much caviar.
All right, then.
The Horowitz Competition-- you know I almost died.
No, you didn't almost die.
It was just a very good excuse for playing badly.
I hate you.
Oh? Thank you.
Somehow, Duncan, I never imagined you living in one room.
You really are a spoiled brat.
Iwasa spoiled brat when we first met, but now I'm a genius.
Silly me.
I forgot.
- Here.
It's not poison, although I'm tempted.
- You know, just because you think you own me, doesn't mean you can tell me how to live my life.
I don't think I own you.
Oh, yes, you do.
If you hadn't paid for Juilliard, the Paris Conservatory, I would probably be stuck in some crummy lounge in Las Vegas doing my one-millionth rendition of "Proud Mary.
" Is this a thank-you I'm hearing? I thank you by being brilliant.
She said modestly.
What's that? What? That.
Well, it's about time.
A piano? You didn't expect me to go anywhere without my instrument, did you? Well, I'm surprised you didn't just crate in Carnegie Hall.
I would have, if I could.
Excellent acoustics.
Excuse me.
Thank you.
It's perfect.
Could be better, but it'll do.
Thank you.
Come on.
Here you go.
You know what? I'm gonna leave you here with your one true love.
Where are you going? I'm meeting some friends.
You're going to take me.
Will I? Yeah.
You're not going to leave me here alone-- not with a mad killer on the loose.
- Of course you'll take me.
Duncan, please? Okay, once more.
It's quite simple.
Nine innings, two halves to each inning, three outs for each half inning played at a nice leisurely pace.
Baseball.
It's like-- I don't know.
It's like meditation.
Two beers.
Okay.
Comin' up.
Excuse me.
If I sat at a table, would you be my waitress? - Is he a good tipper? - No.
Well, too bad.
Makes up for it in cute, though.
"Cute.
" I can do cute.
I'm, uh, Adam Pierson.
Where are you from? Um-- Your accent.
You're not from here.
No, I've traveled a lot.
Really? Paris.
Paris is too full of Parisians.
Even the French don't like Paris.
Venice.
Venice.
The smell alone would kill you.
A little young to be so cynical, aren't you? If you say so.
I just did.
What did I say? Ah, forget it.
Alexa's not your type, okay? - Relax.
It'll give you a chance to get out of the limelight for a while.
- Oh, you think so? -Yes.
Thank you, Duncan.
Someone doesn't like your Chopin.
Check this out.
Hello, MacLeod.
Wow.
Man, you have really outdone yourself this time.
Claudia Jardine in my tavern.
Wow.
This is a real pleasure.
- Joe Dawson.
Adam Pierson.
- Hello.
Uh, hi.
Hello.
Nice to meet you.
I saw you with the Philharmonic last year, and you are-- I mean, you're brilliant.
This may be-- I don't know-- pretty presumptuous, but-- I mean, I play a little blues, and I would love to play some music with you.
Oh, Claudia plays some blues-- not well, but passable.
How would you know? You're tone-deaf.
All I've got's this old Fender Rhodes.
I mean, it is a beater, but got a lot of heart.
Please? If you insist.
Duncan? Pleasure.
Fantastic.
How long have you known her? Beer please.
Since she was 14.
She was living with a foster family.
They were pretty poor and intimidated that they had a prodigy in their midst.
And does she know-- That she's one of us? Doesn't have a clue.
Somebody does, though.
One of us tried to kill her in the recital hall and again a few minutes ago.
Who'd want her dead before her time? I don't know.
Admit it.
You had a great time.
It was tolerable.
Tolerable.
Yes, and I think Joe's a halfway decent musician.
Halfway? Okay.
He's a very good musician.
I just don't know why he's wasting his talents in a place like that.
Well, maybe he doesn't think he's wasting it.
He's wasting his talents.
Walter! Ay, sir, they be ready.
The oats have eaten the horses.
Oh, Kate? Fair maiden? Content thee.
Prithee, be not angry.
Oh, Kate? Fair maiden, content thee.
Prithee, be not angry.
- Oh, Kate! Fair maiden, content thee.
Prithee, be not angry.
I will be angry.
What hast thou to do? Father, be quiet.
He will stay my leisure.
Ay, marry, sir, now it begins to work.
Boo! Gentlemen, forward to the bridal dinner.
I see a woman shall be made a fool, if she had not a spirit to resist.
Boo! I will be master of what is mine own! I hate this dress.
I think it's very becoming.
And another thing-- the play makes no sense.
Ah, this should be good.
Go on.
If I were Petruchio, I wouldn't give Kate the time of day.
She's a creature, a shrew! It makes no sense for him to want her, let alone woo her.
Oh, be serious.
I want to play her nicer.
- You want to rewrite Shakespeare? - Aye.
Why not? You want-- You want to rewrite William Shakespeare? If Kate were nicer, there'd be no play.
Then Petruchio's a fool.
Just say the lines.
It's what you're getting paid for.
Next time, I will play the men's parts.
I want to do the sword fights.
Bravo! Listen to how they love us.
Aye, all six of 'em.
Music to my ears.
It is cruel, you know, that music should be so beautiful.
It has the beauty of loneliness, of disappointment and never-satisfied love.
Heartbreaking.
Yeah, who said it, Walter? Guy hasn't had an original line in his life.
To my chagrin, Benjamin Britten said it first.
Hm.
The composer.
He's a lovely man.
He wrote it while listening to Mahler.
Would it embarrass you, Ms.
Jardine, if I told you, I am one of your greatest fans.
Absolutely not.
Call me Claudia.
Claudia-- Oh, this is so presumptuous, I know, but I'd never forgive myself if I didn't at least ask.
No, Claudia doesn't like to rehearse in front of an audience.
I'll be quiet as a little mouse.
No, I don't think so.
She's fine, aren't you? - He is a friend of yours, Duncan.
- Yeah, I know, but-- I don't see the harm in it.
Astonishing, isn't she? At the peak of her talent.
Breathtaking.
You always did have an eye for talent, Walter.
I've been watching this one for some time now.
You've guided her well-- perhaps something you learned from me.
Okay, Walter, what do you want? To kill her.
What about the recital hall? Yeah, I'm kinda embarrassed about that.
It's not as simple as you think, you know-- this whole murder game.
When you consider the only way I truly know how to kill someone is by taking their head-- Oh, boy.
All right.
I messed it up.
No, no.
You're completely insane.
It makes so much sense, MacLeod.
Don't read something diabolical into it.
Immortality is not a game of tag.
You can't say, "You're it," or "You're it.
" It's not for us to decide when her mortal life is over.
But I must.
If she doesn't die now, at the pinnacle of her genius, it could be lost forever.
But you don't know that.
Ooh, Shakespeare.
Yes, I've found my purpose, MacLeod.
Imagine Claudia Jardine's talent living on through the ages under my loving guidance.
Walter, get a life.
Don't you see? She'll thank me.
She will always be young and beautiful and passionate.
And what happens when her fans see that she's not getting any older? Ah, she'll disappear for 20 or 30 years, come back for the next generation.
No.
It doesn't-- It doesn't work like that.
Lose contact-- It's perfect.
Shh! You don't ask someone to play, and then walk out on them.
It's just not done.
Look-- Read it.
You never did know your lines.
Of course not, my beautiful girl.
Forget it.
I'm not your beautiful girl.
Clearly, you're not listening to me.
Oh, I heard you.
Don't come back.
Don't try it.
Don't even think about it.
No, I-- Think about what? It's okay.
Walter's gotta be leaving.
Say good night, Walter.
Good night, Walter.
Your friend's very weird.
You have no idea.
Listen to this.
"To me, fair friend, you never can be old.
"For as you were when first your eye I eyed, such seems your beauty still.
" Is this a test? Your opinion, MacLeod.
Well, the language is passing fair.
Is it Shakespeare? "Passing fair"? The man was a genius-- better than Chaucer, better than Malory! I've been writing for 500 years.
What do you think I have to show for it? I'll show you.
Drivel! Cases and cases of drivel.
Mountains of it, and not a single verse to equal that of some mortal who lived a mere few score years.
I've enjoyed some of what you've written.
There's no justice, my friend.
And, uh, who do you think supportedhim when he was writing? Who lifted his spirits when his muse had all but abandoned him? - I presume it was you.
- I am doomed, you know.
Doomed to spend a thousand lifetimes recognizing genius and never to have a speck of it to call my own.
You are very good at what you do.
Damned by faint praise.
Well, there are other things in life.
Not for me.
All I ever wanted was to touch brilliance, to smell it, at the very least, to help it live.
Without that, eternal life is nothing more than eternal hell.
Duncan MacLeod! Stop hiding behind those skirts and show yourself.
Take off that dress.
I beg your pardon? You're wearing my dress.
You're speaking my lines.
You're depriving me of my livelihood-- my sustenance-- and you are a terrible Kate! - Who the hell are you? - Beaufort.
Jeremy Beaufort.
Is there something you haven't told me? I think you make a much better woman than Beaufort.
Oh, thank you kindly.
He gave you my job because you're younger and prettier.
Is that true? - We're not on stage here.
- "Let Hercules himself do what he may.
The cat will mew and the dog will have his day!" Hamlet.
Nicely done.
Oh, you-- you tore my dress! Are you just gonna stand there and watch? "All the world's a stage," MacLeod.
Carry on.
Carry on.
Next time, take care how you address a lady.
"Alexa.
" You see, even her name is beautiful.
There was something, you know? There was a-- There was a spark.
I wonder if she felt it.
I mean, I don't want to make a fool of myself.
Did you ever feel like that? A couple of times.
I don't see what the problem is.
- What if she doesn't like me? What if she does? What am I gonna tell her? What about the truth? At least then she'd know what she's facing.
Hmm.
It'd be nice if she had a semblance of a normal life.
When she finds out what she is, that becomes impossible.
You can't keep her here forever.
Duncan, I'm tired, and I'm bored of being locked up in this dump.
No offense.
None taken.
Why don't we go out for a drink or something? Yeah, a drink we can do.
Really? Yeah.
Oh, let's go to Botticelli's.
Would you call them and have them hold my table and, uh, your friend can come along if he'd like.
Uh, no, thank you.
I have other plans.
- Seriously? - Totally.
- Really? - Absolutely.
Well, you lose.
I know the paparazzi will be there, so you will tell them that we're just friends.
We are just friends.
I know.
They don't know that, though.
Sorry, Joe.
No problem.
It's all right.
How'd it go? It's not getting any easier if that's what you mean.
I wish there was something I could do for you.
Oh, yeah.
You, uh-- You have a customer waiting.
Well, either you like to drink, or you're crazy about the blues.
No, I was waiting for you.
I see I leave you speechless.
This is an excellent start.
- Start to what? - To dinner, a film, a concert, a smile, a sunset, a walk, all of the above, whatever you would like.
Do women really fall for that line? I have no idea.
I've never used it before.
"Never" is really a long time.
Well, to the best of my recollection.
I'm waiting.
Um, I'll have a draft beer, please.
One draft beer.
Beer, I got it.
Why do you want to go out with me? Because the alternative is unthinkable.
Okay.
Tomorrow, if-- if Joe lets me have it off.
Oh, no, he will.
Uh, I have pull here.
Looks like you were wrong.
Turns out she is my type.
I don't know.
Looked like a lot of arm-twisting to me.
A girl like that, you're lucky if you find one every ten lifetimes.
Joe? Joe, what? You-You got some kind of house rule about dating the help? What? Alexa is dying.
The truth-- when was the last time you were treated like that-- like royalty? Yesterday at Joe's.
He gave us his best table.
Ah, you're impossible.
I'll tell you what.
Why don't you get out so I can park your car, your highness? I think I will.
Oh! Walter.
Duncan, it's your friend.
For you, my dear.
Oh, thank you.
No! You've known about this all this time and you didn't tell me? It would have ruined your life.
Is that why you took an interest in me, why you sponsored me at the Conservatory? I sponsored you because you had talent, and I didn't want it to go to waste.
Did you like me, Duncan? Even a little? He loved you.
Everybody loves you.
And now it's my turn.
It's time for Claudia to be nurtured by one that truly understands the depth of that ability.
- The world, my dear, is your oyster.
- Oh, boy.
This is really for real.
It's unbelievable.
It's incredible.
It's wonderful.
Do you have any life insurance? Cash it in.
This isn't funny.
He murdered you.
Hardly.
I can play forever.
As long as you keep your head.
And I'd take yours if I thought it was worth a damn.
And I'm never getting old.
Not an hour.
Your genius will never fade.
My timing was impeccable.
I waited for the perfect moment in your development.
- My competition will grow old and feeble.
-They will simply fade away.
I'll have no arthritis in these fingers.
- My beautiful will have no such worries.
Oh, this is perfect.
- This is crazy.
Granted, dying wasn't very pleasant, Duncan, but, my God, what's there to be angry about? And why would you keep this from me anyway? - I told you she was ready.
- It wasn't your right.
For centuries, I've stood beside the most brilliant artists-- Chopin, dead at 39, Mozart, even younger.
Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin self-destructing before they'd even tasted their potential.
Claudia Jardine will be eternal.
I have all the time in the world.
If you keep your head.
Are you listening to me, Claudia? I need to play.
No, you need to learn to use a sword.
A sword?Moi? Yeah, as soon as possible.
I don't think so.
Then fine.
You're gonna lose your head.
- I'll protect her.
- You? I'll see that her genius shines through the centuries.
"The instant made eternity! "And heaven just prove that I and she ride, ride together, forever ride!" Exeunt! Robert Browning? Hi.
Joe said I'd find you up here.
Lucky guess.
Or else I've become horribly predictable.
Pull up a slab.
This is nice, isn't it? I'm a little concerned about something.
Yeah, I sense that.
This date we're supposed to go on? I-- I don't think it's a very good idea.
Don't you like me? A little? It's not that.
It's my nose, isn't it? Yep, it's my nose.
I kne-- No.
It's not your nose.
You have a very nice nose.
It's because you think I'm English.
It's my accent.
Now, I don't have to be English.
I can be Russian.
Uh-- Means, "Is this the right platform for the train to Kharkov?" You're outrageous.
Russian doesn't turn you on.
Okay.
I can do it in Swahili.
Except, if I was speaking Swahili, why would I be wanting a train to Kharkov? Uh, Lithuanian? Farsi? Please, don't make me laugh.
Why not? Because it's not fair.
It rarely is.
I'm sorry.
For what? You can tell me.
I'm dying.
You see, don't you? We can't go out tomorrow.
Absolutely.
We'd better make it tonight.
Ah, there's no feeling.
It's dead.
I can't play Bach.
I can't play the blues.
Nothing's working.
Claudia, you've had a hell of a shock.
Give yourself a break.
No, she's right.
I can hear the difference.
Thank you, Walter.
You're a big help.
- You just have to try harder, that's all.
- No, that's not all.
Did you ever stop to think that maybe there was a reason why Shakespeare or Mozart or Bach were mortal? Maybe that's because-- No! I won't accept that.
Maybe when the candle burns for a shorter time it burns brighter.
You get back to that piano and you play! It'll all come back to you.
Just leave me alone.
Listen to her, Walter.
She just needs to get her confidence back.
What I need is room to breathe.
Of course.
Where would you like me to take you? I think she'd like you to leave.
Oh, yeah, you'd love that, wouldn't you? Then you could snatch her up for yourself.
Claudia, wait! - Don't say a word.
- Oops.
Where's Alexa? We, uh-- We have a date.
She called in sick.
Where does she live? Adam, she doesn't want to see you, okay? Just leave her alone.
Hey-- Joe, I didn't ask for your opinion.
I know she's dying, okay? You are all dying.
Twenty years, six months, what's the difference? She's protecting herself.
She's protecting you.
Don't you get it? Yes, I get it.
Now, tell me where she lives.
It's hopeless.
No! Concentrate.
Focus.
Play harder.
I am.
I'm trying, and I can't.
Play.
-You can do it.
Just play! - Leave me alone! Back off, Walter.
It's your fault.
It'll come back.
You'll see.
You did this to me.
Only to preserve your genius.
Preserve my genius? You've destroyed it.
I'd be better off dead.
Make him go away.
Me? I made you immortal! Him? He would've let you become a shriveled-up old woman.
Leave her alone, Walter.
You can't have her, MacLeod.
She's mine.
She doesn't want you.
We'll see about that.
Back off.
We go back a long way, MacLeod, but it can be deadly to stand between a man and his dreams.
I can kill you.
You can always try.
You can keep the piano.
- Where are you going? - I don't know.
And I don't care.
Claudia.
Open it.
It's very nice, Duncan.
You're gonna have to learn how to use that.
- Why? - So you can keep on living.
It's too late.
I'm already dead.
Listen to me.
Sit down.
You don't think I know how you feel.
When I first became immortal, I had the same fears that you have.
My life changed in a way I couldn't comprehend.
Through the years, I've found so many wonders, so many endless possibilities.
I'm not telling you that whatever gift you were given you'll ever get back.
Things will never be the same.
That's the was it is for us.
But there's future upon future, lifetime upon lifetime out there for you, but only if you learn how to protect yourself.
B-But I'm nothing now.
Claudia, talent is something that you have.
It's not who you are.
But who will care about me if I can't play? I will.
Promise? Hi.
Am I late? Only about a year.
You shouldn't have come.
You, uh, hiding your husband in there? Is that what's going on? Lover? Boyfriend? Seven dwarves? That's exactly what I'm doing-- hiding my husband, my boyfriend, my lover and the seven dwarves.
I can take 'em all on.
I'm not afraid.
I shouldn't have agreed to see you.
It was stupid, really.
Why? Because you don't need to be a witness to what I'm going through.
It's gonna get ugly.
You look beautiful to me.
Look, whatever it is you're going through, I can handle it if you let me.
Why would you want to? Because the alternative is unthinkable.
How long-- Less than a year.
I-- They don't know.
Do you-- Do you ever just wish that time could stand still? Plane tickets to where? Anywhere you like-- everywhere, if there's time.
It's not that easy.
Yes, it is.
You spend whatever time you have left dying, or you spend it living with me.
Please, say you'll come with me, Alexa.
A Buddhist retreat? What good is this gonna do me? It'll give you a time to think.
A chance to figure out who you are before we start your training.
My training.
How long has it been for you? How many years? You're better off counting in centuries.
See, I can't handle this.
I can't even conceive of it.
Claudia, you will.
At least here you'll be safe from other Immortals while you make the adjustment.
"Adjustment.
" What are you talking about? I haven't told you this.
All right.
- This is holy ground.
No one of us can harm you here.
There'll be nothing to be afraid of.
All right? Walter-- God! Oh, Duncan! Oh, my God! Duncan.
What do you want? What I've always wanted.
To guide your genius.
No, it's gone, Walter.
You stole it from me.
We can find it again.
I can't play.
I will never play.
Don't say that.
It's because of you.
You did this to me.
No! Okay.
- Don't, Duncan.
Let him.
- Put it down, Walter.
Claudia, get inside the monastery.
Stay there and wait for me.
Go on.
I'll be in in a moment.
MacLeod knows which of us is the better swordsman.
I've had a little practice since the last time we met.
Claudia, get moving.
You never had all that much talent, MacLeod.
I never pretended to.
You, on the other hand, couldn't write a sonnet to save your life.
"Lay on, Macduff.
And damn'd be him that first cries, 'Hold, enough!'" Will you shut up, already? Come here, Walter.
Right here.
Now, swear it, Walter.
Leave Claudia alone, and I'll spare you.
Swear it.
"Out, out, brief candle.
"Life is but a walking shadow-- a poor player, who struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more.
" I should take your head just to shut you up.
What value will my life have without her genius to color it? Fine.
Have it your way.
Wait, wait, wait.
I promise.
Promise what? I promise to leave her alone.
Good.
Now let me see your hands.
I promise.
Good.
"I've watched the stars burn bright and sure.
"And then with a flash disappear.
But still I'm the one who endures.
" That was pretty good.
You think so? Yeah.
Who wrote it? I did.
Really? Yeah.
Where'd you pick this move? I told you I'd gotten better.
Did you hear me? You sounded great.
Yes.
It's almost there.
Not quite, but almost.
When Walter was about to kill me, I was afraid to die, Duncan.
Well, we have to start your sword training.
No.
I was afraid to die, and I have to fear death in order to feel my music-- in order to feel mortal.
Claudia, you're not mortal.
You-- You're in the game now.
While you're out there chasing your dream, someone else is gonna be chasing you to-- Don't do that.
But I have to.
Duncan, it's okay.
Okay.
We're going coast to coast in a van.
Adam likes to call it "our tour of the New World.
" Well, it's all new to you, isn't it? Sounds great.
Then what? Egypt.
Isn't that romantic? Well, he's certainly the man to take you.
Thanks, Joe.
Yeah.
I'll write.
Okay.
It's not long enough.
It never is.
You take it easy.
Yeah.
They don't know if she'll make it to Egypt.
It doesn't matter.
Even if she lives to be a hundred, he'll still have the pain of losing her.
Where's Claudia? Gone.
On her own? Unprotected? One of 'em trying to die, and the other one trying to live.
It's crazy.
Not for her.
Listen, Dawson, when, uh, you get a Watcher on Claudia-- Don't worry.
We'll keep an eye on her.
And here we are We're the princes of the universe Here we belong fighting for survival We've come to be the rulers of your world I am immortal I have inside me blood of kings I have no rival No man can be my equal Take me to the future of your world