Highlander (1992) s06e01 Episode Script

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Previously on Highlander.
A lifelong search came to an end for Professor Jason Landry.
He believed the Zoroastrian myths of ancient Persia held the truth about a cycle of evil that comes to the Earth every thousand years.
"Ahriman.
" The time is at hand.
He is coming! Ahriman had risen and threatened to destroy the world with evil.
Only a champion of good could defeat him.
The myth foretold of a warrior who would come to challenge the demon.
You're the champion, aren't you? Nobody knows the reason Immortals exist, and maybe this is it.
This has been going on for thousands of years, and no one has ever heard of it? - We think you're in trouble, Mac.
- You think I'm in trouble? - I saw him and he's got Joe.
- That's impossible.
No, look, I know what I saw.
I think they're headed into the old racetrack.
I existed before time began.
-I am Set! I am Ahriman.
The forces of darkness walked the earth and Duncan MacLeod fought to destroy them until the unthinkable happened.
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 No more tears.
I guess it's just you and me, Richie.
I can't believe it's been a year already.
I wish I could tell you why this happened.
You know, make sense now.
But I can't.
I'm sorry.
He knows why.
Well, welcome back.
I'm glad you stayed in Paris.
Yeah, somebody had to.
I-- I buried him with his sword.
I didn't know what else to put on the headstone.
This seemed right.
"Friend" is good, because that's what he was.
I have had 50 Watchers beating the bushes looking for you.
Where the hell have you been? Does it matter? Yeah, to me it does! I thought we were friends.
We are.
Then what happened to you? I had some things to work out.
Hey, look, I-- I know what you must have gone through after-- after the accident.
It wasn't an accident, Joe.
Richie was murdered.
What, do you want me to say that it was a mistake, that I was hallucinating? Yeah, that would help.
I was a weapon.
This thing used me to kill Richie.
Don't you think I wanna believe you? I mean, that the bad guy in this thing is a Zoroastrian demon named Ahriman-- a thing that comes back every thousand years to try to take over the world? Will you listen to how that sounds? But it's true, Joe.
And you are the champion.
You're the guy who's been chosen to go up against this thing.
That's right.
And why you? I don't know.
And if this thing is so powerful, why doesn't it just-- I don't know-- strike you with a lightning bolt or something? Maybe it can't.
Maybe that's the rules to the game.
Will you help me? I need the Watchers.
I need you.
You disappear for over a year.
No one knows if you're alive, you're dead, then you pop up out of nowhere, and you want me to get the Watchers to help you? Well, you don't want much, do you? When Richie died, I wanted to die.
But I realized if his death was to mean anything, I had to survive.
I had to understand what happened.
I had to believe what happened.
This thing is evil, Joe.
And I'm the only thing that can stop it.
And I will stop it.
I'm gonna find it, and I'm gonna destroy it.
Will you help me? I don't know.
Anyone home? Joe? Joe.
Mac.
Who'd you think it was, Satan? What are you doing here? I've got something for you.
Joe, what are you doing? I thought you might want your sword back.
Gee, if you're not gonna use it, I will.
Joe, stop! Joe, stop! You know what you need, Sophie? A husband.
What was wrong with Henry? Henry? He just wasn't my type.
And Andrew didn't like him.
Well-- One of these days, your baby brother is going to have to make it on his own.
But I'm all he has.
You're too good for your own good, Sophie Baines.
I see a man in your future.
Tall, dark, mysterious.
I know that guy.
He delivers my mail.
I hope he's faster than this bus.
We have lovely white roses today.
I think I'll take this one.
You know, I've changed my mind.
I think I'll walk today.
Even the flowers weep.
You're such a sad story, MacLeod.
All alone and no one to believe you.
Perhaps your friend Richie would listen.
Richie's dead.
So now the champion's back to fight me.
You wanna die, MacLeod? You know that's what's gonna happen.
Why don't you just be smart? Go back to that little monastery you've been hiding away in.
I wonder what it would take to make you leave.
Destroying you.
I love the new hair.
Follow your instincts.
That's all you can do.
What if you're wrong? Then you're wrong.
I've spent my entire existence fighting other Immortals-- men who hold life cheap.
I live-- No, I survive because I value life.
I know your strength.
I know your will.
I know your goodness.
And whatever monsters are in you now, I know you're still in there too.
You can't kill him with that, Joe.
I know, but I can sure as hell slow him down until I can.
You won't get close enough to use it.
Let me do this for both of us.
I can quote a whole bunch of people, Joe, but it basically boils down to one thing.
And that is? Faith, Joe.
Faith.
Well, that's all of it.
Storage depot at Marseilles.
These are the instructions.
This is the check.
But this says it's for 50 years.
I'm an optimist.
Close it up.
You know this is insane, MacLeod.
I mean, you're asking me to believe in a demon-- something that I cannot see, maybe never will see.
How do I do it, MacLeod? Thanks for thinking about it.
Hey, wait.
I'm not finished yet.
Now, maybe I can't believe in the demon, but, MacLeod, I believe in you.
Whatever this thing is and wherever it takes you, I'm in.
Just what is it we're looking for? Information.
Knowledge.
Look into the legends.
Look into the history.
The history of what? Of evil.
We have to find something we can use against it, some flaw, some weakness.
Yeah, okay, assuming that it has one.
Oh, it has one.
Evil isn't perfect, Joe.
It's got a crack somewhere.
I couldn't have stopped it with a sword, but it has been stopped before.
Listen, I, uh-- I got something for you.
See, I, uh-- I figured you might want this.
No.
What do you mean, no? I mean, no.
The last time I held it, Richie died.
But you're still an Immortal, MacLeod.
Somebody's gonna come with a sword.
Yeah.
Well, I'll find another way.
What are you gonna do, dance with them? You always were a stubborn son of bitch.
Yeah.
All right.
Soon as I have anything, I'll call you.
Assuming you're still wearing that head.
Come on.
Breathe.
Breathe! Breathe! Breathe! It's okay.
It's all right.
It's all right.
Come on.
What happened? Looks like you went for a swim.
I was in the river? Under it, actually, for a while.
What happened? I don't know.
I-- I must have slipped.
From the railing? I don't remember.
I-- I was at the bus stop and-- My books! It's okay.
My glasses! It's okay.
It's okay.
Easy, easy, easy.
It's all right.
I need to go home.
I think you should see a doctor.
No, really, I'm all right.
I'll be all right.
You sure? Yeah.
Come on.
I'll give you a ride.
I'm Duncan MacLeod.
I'm Sophie Baines.
Thank you for saving my life.
Come on.
What, you had a garage sale, you didn't call me? Clearing out the cobwebs, Joe.
No distractions.
No diversions.
Yeah.
And not much of anything, really.
Were you-- Were you working out? In a way.
It's a form of meditation called Chi Gung.
Helps me empty my mind and focus.
Illusions and chaos are his weapons, Joe.
The more I can focus, the better I can fight him.
Okay, if you say so.
But, uh, I still vote for the sword.
You-- You got anything stronger than this tea? I don't need to be quite so focused.
Thanks.
I'll, uh, meditate when I retire.
What did you find out? Well, Landry had an assistant at the university.
And she might know something.
Did you get her name? Yeah.
Sophie Baines.
About 25, lives in a suburb outside of Paris? Yeah.
You know her? We met yesterday.
Check the university.
See what you can find out.
MacLeod, you're telling me that you just happened to meet the one person you needed to find? I mean, doesn't that sound pretty damn weird to you? Compared to what? Yeah, right.
Compared to what.
There's gotta be something left.
Nothing.
The entire side of her office was burned.
The desk, the filing cabinet.
Years of research, gone.
You think this was deliberate? It happened at night when no one was supposed to be here.
But it looks like it.
Sophie's going to be devastated.
- She doesn't know? - We haven't been able to reach her yet.
Who would do this? That's a good question.
Hi.
What do you want? I'm looking for Sophie Baines.
What for? I need to talk to her.
About what? It's personal.
She's out.
Then when will she be home? Beats the hell out of me.
This is important.
Do you know where I can find her? Look, mister, I've never seen you before, and I don't know who the hell you are.
So why don't you go away before somebody gets hurt? Tell her Duncan MacLeod came by.
Mr.
MacLeod, what are you doing here? That man you were talking to, who was he? Nobody.
He was just asking directions.
Why? Try again.
What? What do you mean? Your field at the university is Near East studies.
You knew about Ahriman.
Yeah.
That's why he's here.
That was Ahriman.
Ahriman.
Right.
Yes, Ahriman.
Oh, I get it.
This is a joke, right? Anna sent you.
- It's no joke.
- You see, Ahriman isn't real.
He's a myth.
He's a metaphor.
Listen to me, Sophie.
You and I both know he's not some mythological character.
He's real.
And you know it, Sophie.
Listen to me.
It's the end of the millennium and he's here.
Andrew! Andrew, stop it! Please, don't hurt him.
He's my brother.
He was just trying to protect me.
Why was Ahriman here? He's-- I don't know.
I don't know anything.
Just leave us alone.
Andrew, wait.
And you're listening to H-E-L-L, the voice of the millennium.
Now here's an oldie but goody for my old friend, Duncan MacLeod.
Why do you always have to be the man around the house? I am the man of the house.
You're my little brother.
You're not my protector.
I'm sorry.
Come here.
I love you, Andrew.
I love you too.
I saw him, Joe.
You saw him today? And yesterday.
He was at Richie's grave.
I got two dozen Watchers on this thing.
Field guys and every archaeologist we can spare.
What'd you tell 'em? That I have a lead on an Immortal older than Methos.
I hate lying to 'em, Mac.
Yeah? Well, you think they can handle the truth? Well, sure, right after they lock me up.
They find anything out yet? No.
You know, some scholars think that the ancient Hebrews didn't even believe in a devil until they were exiled in Babylon.
And when they got there, guess who the Babylonian bogeyman was.
Ahriman.
Yeah.
Good answer.
See, to some cultures he's Set, to some he's Mara, to some he's Mephistopheles.
Different name and faces, same M.
O.
, same place.
And there's always a champion of the good.
An avatar.
A human with god-like qualities sent to face evil.
Like Immortals.
Damn, man.
But knowing it doesn't get us any nearer to finding his weakness.
What about the university? No help there.
All of Dr.
Baines's research was destroyed in a fire.
Then they had a hell of a time finding her.
Well, she was at home talking to me.
Uh-uh.
Not today, Mac.
Not this woman.
No, I saw her.
They found Sophie Baines in the river.
She's dead.
I know it's hard, Sophie, but I am trying to help you.
By telling me I'm dead? I know what you are.
You're insane.
I'm many things, Sophie, but I'm not insane.
So, you must be dead.
You died yesterday in the river.
Don't you remember? The cold.
The light fading as you sank into the dark.
I don't remember.
I blacked out.
I don't remember anything.
So, you must be dead.
I don't know who you are or what you want.
Police, there's somebody in my house! Why don't you believe me, Sophie? You died yesterday in the river.
Don't you remember? Who is this? It's me.
I'm over here, Sophie, and you're beginning to hurt my feelings.
And believe me, you don't want to hurt my feelings.
Don't leave me, Sophie.
- That wasn't very nice, Sophie.
You should keep your eyes on the road, Sophie.
Someone could get hurt like that.
If you couldn't find the next of kin, how did you identify the body? Her cards, monsieur.
She carried a wallet.
Then you could be mistaken.
It's possible.
Death is never an easy thing to accept.
I'll leave you alone.
Help me.
Somebody, please, help me! Help me! I'm trying, Sophie, but you keep running away.
Who-- Who are you? What are you? I think you know, Sophie.
I think you've always known.
Look.
But I don't understand.
You soon will, Sophie.
It's the morgue.
Off you go.
What are you doing here? Trying to find some answers.
You're hiding something.
What are you hiding? Who are you, Sophie? I have to see who's in there.
I have to.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
I'm dead.
I'm dead! No! Where would you run to, Sophie? Back there, is that what you want? It could be arranged.
I can feel you.
I know you're here.
Very good, MacLeod.
And they say you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
So, you did learn something in that little monastery.
Did you find peace, MacLeod? Will you be calm when I begin to destroy all the things you know and all the people you love? What are you trying to do, MacLeod? Strangle me or guess my weight? You're such a soft touch, Duncan.
Duncan-- I can call you Duncan, can't I? I see no reason for us to be enemies.
After all, you're a warrior.
You're a champion.
We could help each other.
I don't think so.
Why not? Because I'm evil? It's so limited, so human.
What is good? And what is evil? Such a limited world, the human mind.
I couldn't describe to you what I really am, MacLeod.
You wouldn't begin to understand.
So, that's it, is it? A thousand years of bad P.
R.
? But I can give you a world you've never imagined.
I can give you anything! There's nothing I'd want from you.
Is that right? Think about it, MacLeod.
I brought Sophie back from the dead.
I could bring anyone back.
No.
Don't be hasty, MacLeod.
Don't be hasty.
There are so many memories in here.
Now, I wonder, what would it be? Oh, yes.
A blast from the past.
I never thought one of the good guys would lose.
No, he's dead.
No, you can't.
It won't work.
You can't tempt me.
I'm only just getting warmed up.
There are plenty more surprises in store.
Duncan.
Tess? Mac, you're mad at yourself.
I can tell.
No, she's gone.
She's not real.
Real enough, MacLeod.
You could have her back forever.
- Just say the word.
Say "yes.
" - No! Don't take it so hard, Sophie.
We all have to go sometime.
But I don't understand.
How can I be there and here? How? It can't happen.
None of this can happen.
You're here, Sophie, walking, breathing, alive, smelling the flowers because I made it so.
I saved you.
I gave you another chance.
You're not him.
Of course I am.
Come on, Sophie.
Of course you know it's me.
After all, if you didn't know me so well, you would never have got your Ph.
D.
You're Ahriman.
Amongst other things.
You really exist.
You're real.
But I don't understand.
What do you want from me? I'm nobody.
Oh, no.
You're good.
You're kind.
You're perfect for a small favor.
The man who pulled you out of the river yesterday.
Duncan MacLeod.
I want you to kill him.
What? I couldn't do that.
Don't be so modest.
Of course you could.
As far as he's concerned, you're a victim.
His defenses are down.
He's vulnerable.
Of course I could make you do it, like I made you jump off the bridge.
But then he would know that I was in here.
No, this must be because you want it to happen.
But I don't want it to happen.
But you will, considering what's at stake.
It-- It doesn't matter.
I won't kill him.
I'm disappointed in you, Sophie.
You feel that, Sophie? That's the life going out of you, draining away.
Now it's in your hand.
Now it's going up your arm.
Feel that, Sophie? That's death! How does it feel? Will you kill Duncan MacLeod? Think of your brother.
Think of Andrew.
Give it here.
Troubled boy, prone to violence.
What will become of him without you? Drugs, prison? Give it back to her.
Imagine-- on top of a roof with a rifle.
All that anger.
I could do that, Sophie.
No, please.
I beg you.
Leave him alone.
Then you know what you have to do.
I don't think it's such a difficult decision.
Sophie? He wants me to kill you.
He offered me my life.
He told me it would be easy.
It's not.
It never is.
I shouldn't even be here.
You saved me once.
You're the champion, aren't you? Then-- Then you're the only one who can defeat him.
Is there anything-- Is there anyway you can-- Please, I want so much to live.
I'm sorry.
What he did to me, what he does, it's wrong-- it's evil.
Then help me destroy him.
You've studied him.
You've studied the legends.
How do I defeat him? I don't know.
I think every champion has to find his own way.
Sophie, what does that mean? Sophie, I need to know more.
I need to know how.
He told me everything.
He said if I kill him, you'll live.
He said you'll be all right.
He promised me.
Andrew, no.
He said you'd live.
Don't you see, it's you or him? You can't kill him for me.
I won't let you! I have to! Andrew! Andrew! Andrew, no! He said I would do anything because I loved you.
He was right.
No, no.
No, don't! No! Why? Because she loved you.
One of my archaeologists found this symbol all over Landry's site in Iraq.
And he recognized it from an Egyptian temple dedicated to Set.
Here.
Schliemann found the same symbol when he uncovered the ruins of Troy.
What the hell does it mean? It means it's a tangible link to Ahriman.
This thing might be the key to destroying him.
But how do we beat something with the power of life and death? Because we have to, Joe.
Because there is no one else.
What the hell? Exactly.
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 Yeah! I have no rival No man can be my equal Take me to the future of your world
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