Highlander (1992) s01e02 Episode Script

Family Tree

"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" HIGHLANDER 1x02 "FAMILY TREE" Seven out.
Fade away, don't stay pay.
You're relieved Joe.
It's early.
I said you're relieved.
Gustavson wants to see you.
Joe, have a drink.
I usually don't drink when I'm working the tables, Mrs.
Gustavson.
You're through working the tables, Joe.
Ok, sure.
I'll come in early tomorrow.
She said you're through working the tables, Joe.
Finito.
Hey, if it's about that guy last night, he was just on a roll.
is more than "a roll", Joe It's a frigging avalanche! Tell him the rules, Clinch.
Tell him rule number one.
The customer shall not go home with too much of Mrs.
Gustavson's money.
He was watching me, real close.
I couldn't switch the dice.
Maybe you didn't want to, Joe.
Maybe the guy was a friend of yours.
But you know me better than that.
I don't have any friends than I like that much.
That's very sad.
But we believe you.
Tell him why we believe him, Clinch.
This big winner disappeared last night.
Skipped town without so much as even checking out of his hotel.
Ain't that a bitch.
Which means if you were working with him, he skipped out on you, too.
Tell him his responsibilities, Clinch.
You're responsible for your table.
You're responsible for the 50 grands.
And I know you want to pay me back.
I think that's my point, Joe.
Yeah, I think that's exactly my point.
I'll need some time.
Sure, Joe.
We understand that.
Tell him how much time, Clinch.
You can count to five? Sure you can, Joe.
Five days.
One Two Three Four Five! Good afternoon.
West Side Orphanage.
I've got Richard Ryan's file right here, but I have no record of anyone having asked for it.
For a Doctor James Jones.
across town address.
Hey, that's all I know.
We're not supposed to release orphanage files without authorization.
There are laws regarding confidentiality.
Guy's a doctor.
Sounds sweet to me.
- Nobody's asking you.
- Hey, I'm just the messenger.
Just which company did you say you worked for? Look for yourself.
Hey! You cannot go! You can't take them! Security! Right there! Mm Harold! What's the problemo? You steal that? Before I answer that, Harold, have you had the mandatory course in prudent and appropriate use of force? Stop talkin' trash and turn around so I can cuff your ass.
I guess that means no.
Now, lightning lips! Harold.
This is all a test of your security here.
I'm a undercover agent with the Public Works Special Investigation Unit.
The cuffs are a little tight, Harold.
But that's Ok.
According to my stopwatch, your response time was well within our codes.
You should be very happy about this, Harold.
- Shut up! - Harold, you forgot the file.
An undercover agent, that's good, Richie.
Woa! Are we in a bad mood? Wait, you just got back from the island, right? So maybe that's it.
Island fever! Why the orphanage, Richie? Or maybe you had a fight with Tessa.
Women, who can figure them out anymore? Why the orphanage that was the question, right? Right.
You know, return to the old stumping ground.
I spent a year or so there when I was, like, five.
Then I did this whole foster home drill.
"Hi kids, this is your new foster brother, Richie.
Treat him just like one of the family.
" Not! Come on.
Tessa's worried.
So, he wouldn't tell you why he stole the file? I could guess.
He wants to know where he comes from.
Why can't they just tell him? Cause it's against the law.
Besides, maybe they don't know.
Why do you say that? For no reason.
You look hot.
Art can be hard work.
No, I meant you look hot.
Maybe we can help Richie find out who his parents are.
I don't think that's a good idea.
Why not? Use the gauge.
I didn't ask you for help because, it like, it takes a while to develop that "ask for help" reflex.
Did you find something in those files that you didn't already know? I just got a peek.
I Saw a name: Emily Ryan, deceased You think she was your mother? I don't know.
I already knew she was dead.
I remember I was real little, but But hey, I scored a three pointer on my old man at the buzzer.
Just before the rent a cop grabbed me.
You learned something about your father? Yeah.
He and Emily were still married when she died.
So I guess that means he is my father.
Richie, if he was your father don't you think he'd contact you by now? When I was a kid, I made up a story.
I pretended he was like a spy or something.
Doing dangerous stuff behind the iron curtain or whatever.
So he couldn't just, like, put in a collect call and say: "I want to talk to my son, Richie Ryan, the all American boy!" Can you pass me there? Kids stuff.
Now who knows, maybe he has tried to find me.
It's not like my face is on a carton of milk.
He looks bad.
I'll gather the men.
Duncan! - Father, I - No, save your strength.
You fought well.
You fought like a MacLeod.
I wanted to to be part of the victory.
That you will.
You'll be part of a great victory.
I always thought there'd be more Duncan.
Duncan.
The Lord be with you Your name will be mentioned with honor, in our homes.
Duncan MacLeod, of the clan MacLeod.
Lord, have mercy We've suffered a great loss.
We've lost a kinsman and a son.
He led you fiercely with not thought of himself.
Now you must go back to the fight with not thought but of him, with no name in your lips but his: Duncan MacLeod! Duncan MacLeod! Duncan MacLeod! Duncan MacLeod! God, have mercy, forgive us Duncan MacLeod! It's a miracle! No.
It is the work of the demon master of the world below! - Father! - You're no bairn a' mine! You're not my son! You're not my son! You think we should help look for him, then? - Who? - Jack Ryan.
Richie's father.
Yes.
Everybody should have a chance to have a father.
What? I wouldn't lay odds on finding him.
Tell us.
If I started telling you everything that ever happened to me Let me be the judge of that! My father just couldn't grasp what had happened.
Who could? Man, he must have freaked.
I mean, there you are, all of sudden, on your feet again: a zombie in a kilt.
You know, I think I was more terrified than he was.
We were a primitive clan, primitive and superstitious.
You know, fear ruled our lives.
What lay on the other side of the mountains was beyond imagination.
Then, can you blame your father? I did at first; there were days in that first bitter winter in the Highlands, I just wanted to die but I couldn't.
You know, my family problems are history; Richie's are here and now There's a proverb in Northern India: "If you go hunting tigers, be sure you are prepared to find one.
" Meaning, I might not like what I find.
Why do you want to know now after all this time? There must be a reason why your father hasn't contacted you.
- Think about that, Richie - I have.
Do you remember anything before the orphanage? Not much.
There was a woman Your mother? Emily Ryan? I don't know I guess she must've been.
I can't picture her face but I remember every Friday we used to go to the post office.
I never figured out why but I loved it.
Man, I wanted to be a mailman - something fierce - when I grew up.
And then right down the street was this candy store it was run by this sweet old guy called Stubbs.
I remember Stubbs cause I couldn't manage his name so I used to call him Mr.
Tubby.
He thought he was hysterical.
He was as thin as a pencil.
She'd buy me licorice and he'd let me look at the pictures in the comics.
After all I couldn't read yet.
Why remember that? What was so special about the candy store? One day, Mom -Emily- was chatting with Mr.
Stubbs and suddenly she put her hand to her forehead, and said something like: "I feel funny" and then she just fell to the floor and didn't move.
I thought she was playing a game, so I'm like pushing her and laughing and and then the ambulance came and lots of people running around and they took her away.
Mr.
Stubbs picked me up in the air, and says: "Well lad, what are they going to do with you?" That's why I remember Mr.
Stubbs' candy store.
What part of town was this in? You got me there.
I was four going on five.
Who knew geography? I could barely find my way to bathroom.
Mr.
Stubbs' Candy Store well, it's a start.
He's not going to be in there.
The guy was pretty old even back then.
He must've cashing his chips by now.
Yeah, but you said the candy store was near a post office.
"God, I want you to live in me" "in my pain and my confusion" "growing up in the city streets" "in a desperate situation" "I love thee" "cause is no surprise" "there's a crying Angel over me" "that is keeping me alive" "all that you made in me.
" "I haven't lost my inocence" "I have lost my crying" "every time I look at her" "I know my mama is crying" "she's very well and I do different" "and I know I'm by myself" "And what could I give her" "I've been trying to survive" "all time believe in me" "and the madness in this world" "all that you made with me" "frightened of this world" You're going down in three moves, Harry.
- Mr.
Stubbs? - That's right, son.
- My name is Richie Ryan.
- Nice to meet you.
The lady of the retirement home said I'd find you here.
Every afternoon.
You used to run a candy store on Baltimore Street? For 30 years.
Sold it last March.
Now it's some sort of game store, with a bunch of weirdo's hanging around.
I remember your place.
I used to come in when I was a kid.
What are you now, an old man? No, I mean when I was real young.
Do you remember Emily Ryan? Emily? Course! You know, that's reaching back some.
Licorice.
You used to love licorice, right? Oh, you were a cute little kid; always gave you a little extra, as I recall.
Emily, yeah.
She came in every Friday.
I used to cash her check for her.
You have a great memory, Mr.
Stubbs.
The people who came in to my store got service with a capital "S".
Never forgot them and they never forgot me.
That's the way I ran my business.
Poor Emily Yeah, I remember that day as if it were yesterday.
She collapsed right in front of me there in the store.
Brain hemorrhage, and she was barely 30.
I wasn't sure I remembered it right.
'Fraid so, lad.
Next thing I hear, they'd whisked you off to an orphanage.
Wasn't there a "Mister" Ryan? Oh, sure, yeah.
But they'd split up by then.
I still see Jack hanging around.
He lives here in this city? Far as I know.
He used to be in the Spinning Wheel Hotel, over on Madison.
Thanks very much, Mr.
Stubbs.
- Nice to see you.
- Nice to see you too.
I got it, MacLeod.
This is probably a CIA front; you know, deep cover.
That is about as deep as it gets.
No Mac if this is my dad, I need to do this alone.
On the other hand, we still could catch the second half of the basketball game.
What? Ritchie, it's up to you.
He probably doesn't even live here anymore.
Excuse me.
I'm locking for Jack Ryan.
I never heard of him.
But then, again, I only lived here for a couple of months.
He might have lived here before me.
Who would know? You think he might have left the landlord a forwarding address? Are you crazy? You move in here you put your rent in the drop-box, you move out.
People like to remain anonymous, you know what I mean? Yeah.
So you never knew him? You're too young to be a cop, kid.
What's your interest in finding this Jack Ryan character? I think he may be my father.
May be? I never knew my folks.
Huh, let me tell you something, kid.
I knew my father and I wish to God I'd never laid eyes on the bastard.
You might be better off not knowing.
Shit! - What happened to your finger? - I broke it playing chess.
Funny.
I never thought of that as a contact sport.
Listen, if you ever run across Jack Ryan, can you give me a call? "Antiques" I'll keep my ears open.
Thanks, I appreciate it.
Stay cool.
Oh, listen, what's your name in case? Who is it now? - How's the finger, Joe? - It hurts like hell.
Then I'm a happy man.
Let's talk! A man should always take pride in his work.
I read books on anatomy for months when I got this job.
I know the human body from head to toe; I know what breaks, I know what hurts, and I know what bursts when you hit it just right You know what day this is today, Joe? I mean, besides laundry day? - It's Wednesday.
- Right, day number two.
I don't know, I don't see any money round here.
Stay where you are, Joe.
I don't see 50 grand in neatly stacked bills waiting for me to take to Mr.
Gustavson.
I don't know.
Where do you got them, hid in your underwear? I haven't got it yet.
I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that.
I said I haven't got the money yet.
No! For the love of God! God doesn't love you, Joe nobody loves you.
And you know what happens on day two Please, please! I swear, I will get you the money.
I know where to put my hands on.
I swear.
I have been talking to people.
Who have you been talking to, Joe? That kid.
You must've seen him on your way in.
He's connected.
He's got rich friends.
They're gonna fork me the 50, by tomorrow.
That's great but tomorrow's tomorrow and today's today.
Here's what we're gonna do Seeing as I'm such a busy man and these little visits are so time-consuming I'm going to take you at your word.
I'm going to trust that you're gonna have the money here by tomorrow.
Because if you don't I'll have your whole hand.
I'll cut it off and I'll watch you eat it finger by finger.
With a little ketchup on the side.
Have a nice day, Joe.
Hello Hey, how you doing? You found something already? No not exactly.
So it's great to see ya, but like what are you doing here? Well, this is gonna be tough for me.
I've never been exactly a steady guy.
Life's never been easy.
Welcome to the club.
Fact I spent most of my life behind the eight ball.
Look, I don't mean to be rude but this is getting boring.
I lied you earlier, kid.
I changed my name.
I thought it would change my life And by the time I was ready to find you, it was too late and I was too old You see, Richie, my real name's Jack Ryan.
I'm your father.
Now, your Uncle Bart, he paid his way through school by picking up side bets at all the Cleveland Indian home games.
He'd picked up the money from his regulars as he went up and down the Stadium selling hot dogs.
And then at the next day he paid the winners back by putting the money inside the hot dog buns and just slide them down the aisle! I thought you wanted to hear about your family.
Why did you leave? I've thought about that for a lot of years.
I just had a wild hair.
I just had these dreams And you didn't want a kid around to screw them up.
It's not that, kid.
The fact is The fact is when my son- when you were born I couldn't have come home if I wanted.
I used to think you were a spy off on some mission.
Well, it was something like that a mission yeah, I was in Leavenworth.
Meanwhile I got out, my wife -your mother- she had already taken you for parts unknown.
She died.
Emily died.
I thought you knew that.
I'm really sorry to hear you that, kid.
I just thought that since Story of my life, kid.
They'll put it on my tombstone: "Old Jack Ryan Never had a clue".
What was she like my mother? She was a real gem, kid.
She was patient, funny she had a great sense of humor that woman.
She liked kids.
She wanted a real big family.
Smart.
Too smart for a guy like me.
But you left her.
You loved her you knew she was having your kid, and you left her.
How can anybody do that? All comes back to that same thing, doesn't it, kid? It comes down to that one thing that changes your whole life forever.
Look, if I could live my whole life over again But at the time, I thought I was a guy with ambition.
I thought I saw a chance just sitting up on the shelf Like one of those little Russian dolls hollow.
You know those? And you open it, and then there is another one inside, only there's not an end.
And then you open the next one and the next one and the next one and next thing you know you're 53 years old and you're holding this tiny, little doll.
And you look at it and it ain't much, but you think maybe inside, there's a diamond.
Come on.
Let me buy you a hot dog.
Hey, you're looking so serious.
Sorry.
- Is he still here? - They are still out.
They certainly have enough to talk about.
Maybe.
What are you thinking? Nothing.
I'm going out.
Ok.
Don't tell me anything ever.
Richie looks for his long lost father Richie finds his long lost father.
It's too easy.
Why would he do it? They aren't giving out medals to runaway fathers.
Maybe he wants something else.
I want to ask around.
You did that like you had lot's of practice.
And you are? Oh, just another friend of Joe's.
I thought Jack Ryan lives here.
Jack Ryan? Maybe that is his real name.
Traveling man like him needs a lot of names.
They get used up in a hurry.
What do you want with him? For a man who just broke in here, you sure do ask a lot of questions.
Joe -Jack if you like- wanted some advice on his "financial future".
It doesn't look like he's gonna show up, though.
Always nice to meet a mutual friend of Joe's -Jack's - whatever.
Nice meeting you.
So, this guy is like nuts, cause of the fake I made, so I went for a clean lay-up.
You know, if I'd known you liked basketball so much I would've got us tickets.
Na, no hace falta.
Is this ok for you? Yep.
Well, it's not exactly the Trump Towers.
Mac? I let myself in.
I hope you don't mind.
No, no So you're Mac.
Richie's been telling me a lot about you.
Glad to meet you.
You've taken real good care of my boy.
Yeah, I wanted to meet you too.
Yeah, well, now you have.
I guess this place don't give such a good impression.
Hey, a guy lives where he can.
Mac's been around.
Yeah, I can tell that, just looking at him.
You look like you've been around, too.
You should hear some of his stories.
I'd like that.
Nothing that'd impress a guy like you.
You never know.
Truth can be stranger than fiction.
Yeah, that's what they say.
Well, I guess I better get going.
Hey, come on, stick around.
Jack'll tell you about my cousins and stuff.
Yeah, sure, there's no need for you to rush off.
Another time.
Oh there was a guy here looking for you.
Big guy, long hair.
Said he was your financial advisor.
He's just an old pal of mine.
Real joker.
Well, nice to meet you, Jack.
Richie is a good kid.
You don't have to tell me that.
Good.
Listen, I need to go ask him a couple of things about work.
I'll be right back.
Ok, I'll just straight right here.
Mac! Mac! Mac! Mac! What was that all about in there? You treated him like he was rat poison.
- Rich, he's - He's my old man, ok? He may not be much in your eyes, but he's all I got here.
If I can make it work, what's your problem? We'll talk later, ok? Yeah.
Later.
Yes, I'll need it by next Friday.
Yes.
That will be perfect.
Good bye.
That was quite a walk.
Yeah, we had to go to a couple of stores.
Jack needed some things.
Listen Tessa, I know this is weird, but I was wondering if Jack could stay here for a few days.
If it's any bother -any at all- I can stay somewhere else.
What happened to your apartment? Well, I'm a little overdue with the rent and the landlord's taken my things.
Jack's between jobs.
Just a couple of days, honest.
We'll have to ask Mac.
Yeah.
Where'd he go, anyway? Your drink, Mister Gustavson.
He wasn't there.
But somebody else was.
A man who said he was looking for Jack Ryan.
Maybe he was.
Maybe he got the wrong address.
Or maybe he knows something we don't.
Hey! You followed me.
Maybe you weren't looking for Joe Maybe you were looking for me.
I just want some information about the man living in that apartment whatever his name is.
He owes you money, right? Well, get in line, or get lost.
What do you know about Joe Scanlon, or Hey, I told you Go for your gun, and I'll make you eat it.
I asked you a question.
Joe Scanlon worked for me.
Now he owes me a lot of money.
Just remember, if you're trying to collect from him too, we're first.
Thank you.
Get up Clinch.
You're making a spectacle of yourself.
Where did you learn that? From the people that invented it.
Hope you won't be too uncomfortable, sleeping on the floor.
I could sleep lengthwise on a railroad tie and have.
I'm just afraid to breathe in here.
I might break something that costs more than my life is worth.
This ain't even the expensive stuff.
Come look at this.
This is my favorite.
Solid gold.
That's beautiful.
So is the price.
How can you be so sure he's not Jack Ryan? He's told Richie so many things about his life about his mother.
He's sold you, too, hasn't he? - He's a con man.
He wants something.
- What? Tessa, take look around.
He sees the shop, he sees Richie living here He sees a meal ticket.
You can't see any other reason, can you? This man let his wife, his family.
Maybe he wants something he lost.
And you believe that? People can change.
They sure can, it takes centuries.
I hate arguing with you.
- You always bring all this - Oh Tessa, come on! For 400 years you've been looking over your shoulder, and now you don't trust anybody.
He's just a human being! I'm sorry.
I didn't mean it like that.
It's ok.
It's just is Richie who we have to worry about, now.
This Jack or Joe he became a father too quickly.
Just when he needed a place to hide.
Someone's got to talk to Richie.
Can't it wait until morning? Yeah It can wait until morning.
Richie.
What's the matter? He took it.
He took the mask.
I gave the police a full description of the mask, and Jack, or Joe or whatever his name is.
And they're out in their car laughing their ass off at me.
Nobody's laughing at you, Richie.
It's not like I really believed he was my father It's not.
I mean, yeah, the old guy lays down a pretty good line, but who do you think you're talking to, here? Made all that stuff up about my mother, too.
He probably didn't even know her.
Like it really matters where you come from.
Richie! It matters.
Of course it matters.
They smell a tusker! Steady, lads.
Father.
- He's a devil's horse! - Father.
It's me.
Duncan.
Getaway from here! I fear the worst! You know me, do you not? He recognizes me, but my own flesh and blood does not.
They let me to wander away from all men.
You'll not beguile me thus, be ye from heaven or hell.
- I'm your son! - No! And you never were! On the night my lady wife gave birth to our only son, "still born" was brought into her chamber by a peasant woman, a boy child to replace that which was lost.
I do not believe you! It's the truth or God strike me dead! And when the midwife looked into your eyes, aye for it was you the peasant brought, and she flinch back in fear and said you were a "changeling" left by forest demons and we should cast you out for the dogs.
But you did not.
No.
I saw the look on my lady's face We took you in and banished the midwife, may God forgive me.
We buried my wee son, and put you in his place.
And no man ever knew ye were not of my blood you're my heir! Then, where do I come from? Where do I come from? Where do I come from? Where do I come from? Where do I come from? Where? Where do I come from? Where? I'm Duncan MacLeod, of the clan MacLeod.
You never found out? Who your real parents were? No.
But after a couple hundred years, you get over it.
One day, so will you.
Yeah, it's me, Joe Scanlon.
I got something for you that's worth more than what I owe you.
A lot more.
Yeah, I'll be there, but the cops are looking for me.
It's gonna take a while.
Yeah, I said I'll be there! Mac! Richie's gone! I think I know where.
Joe, Jack whoever you are! Open the door.
Let me in! Now! The airport.
Oh Damn! Damn that kid Come on, buddy! The airport.
Well, what have we here.
Everybody's looking for our man Joe, including this guy.
- Friend of yours? - Never heard of him.
Be nice to Missis Gustavson.
Scanlon said he was getting the money from this guy.
So you decided to cut out the middleman.
- Yeah.
Why not? - Money? This guy ripped off my friends.
He put on his afterburners and split.
I hope for your sake that isn't true.
It isn't.
I've got what you want.
And it is worth four times what I owe you.
If that thing is as hot as I think it is, we'll be lucky to fence it for 10% of that.
Then I'll fence it myself.
I can do better than that.
What? And you leave Bart Simpson here as collateral.
Oh, no deal.
The kid leaves now.
He keeps his mouth shut.
Who's he to you? He's my dad.
Run, kid! Here are you MacLeod.
- You are ok? - Yeah, yeah? I know.
I know.
- Look, I'm sorry.
- It's ok.
We leave it now.
Clinch You're fired! Hey Richie.
Is this a seasonal thing that we rearrange everything in here? An artist should never grow complacent.
Change is good.
You're compensating for me? Right.
Did Joe get off all right? I put him on a bus to Tucson.
What's in Tucson? A little doll with a diamond in it.
I, ah saw Mr.
Stubbs in the park on my way back.
I wanted to ask him more stuff about my mother.
Turns out that check she got every Friday was from a foster agency.
She was a foster mother.
My foster mother.
So I guess I'll never know where I came from.
I'm so sorry Richie.
You get to decide who you are.
Not many people get that chance.
Got her tuned up nice.
- They'll hear you coming now.
- I noticed.
Kinda makes a statement, you know? And what am I saying when I make this statement? I don't know "Here I am, world!".
Something like that.
That's "your" statement.
Mine is more - "I'm just passing through.
" - Just passing through? Hey, you want me to tune it back down? it's your car.
Just one more time Go for it.
"Here we are" "We're the princes of the universe" "Here we belong" "Fighting for survival" "We've got to be the rulers of the world" "I am immortal" "I have inside me blood of kings" "I have no rival, no man can be my equal"
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