The Lost World (1999) s03e07 Episode Script

Dead Man's Hill

Is it just me, or does it seem a little too quiet in here lately? Having trouble with your new story? Yeah, writer's cramp.
Make way! Coming through! I really should put a window in the lab.
It's much safermuch safer.
There.
Does that make your day more interesting? Yeah Too bad Marguerite and Roxton missed all the action.
Oh, I don't think they need Challenger for that.
What do he have over here? That's an odd looking snare.
With a knot like that has only one purpose, Marguerite it's a hangman's noose.
John, I don't like this place.
I think we should leave.
I don't like it much either.
What have you found over there? That's a tombstone it has your name on it J.
Roxton, died 1875.
You don't think that tombstone has any connection to me! I mean J.
Roxton it's not that uncommon a name well hell it could stand for Joshua - Jacob - Jeremy Roxton You've been found guilty, of being the wrong man in the wrong place at decidedly the wrong time.
Challenger! What are you doing? What's going on? Where's Marguerite? This is a necktie party, Roxton, and you're the guest of honor.
Please it's me, John! May the Lord have mercy on your soul.
- Do it! - No! Yiah! Enough, come on boys there's no point in wasting a good horse.
At the dawn of the last century A band of explorers searched for a prehistoric world Driven by ambition Secret desires A thirst for adventure And seeking the ultimate story They are befriended by an untamed beauty Stranded in a strange and savage land Each day is a desperate search for a way out of the Lost World - Uh.
- Oh! no, no.
Careful, careful, careful now.
Marguerite, thank God! Where's you go? What happened? I was going to ask you the same thing, mister.
Mister! Are you all right? Tell me you know who I am! My name is Maylene Montgomery.
And I'm sure I've never had the pleasure of your acquaintance.
Oh.
No.
It must be this tree or the tombstone Or this, this! yes or this noose.
Having had your neck stretched like that, I'd say it's no wonder you are a little confused Confused! If you think your name's Maylene, believe me I'm not the one confused around here! There's been a lot of rustlers in these parts.
Is that who you think did this to you? No.
For some reason, it was your good friend and mine, Challenger.
- Jack Challenger? The sheriff? - No, George Challenger, the scientist.
There's only on Challenger around her.
And he's the law.
I don't know why he would hang you without a trial, and I don't want to know.
So you just go on your way, and I'll go mine.
Oh no, wait just wait a minute.
We can't just split up.
We have to figure out what happened to us here! That's your concern, mister, not mine.
There you go again! It's not mister, it's Roxton! John Bloody Roxton! Why did you have to go and do that! The things I get myself into! Howdy boys! Is that piano music I heard? No, sir, Johnny.
I know how you don't like piano music in here - What did you call me? - UhRingo.
Mister Ringo sir! That's what I thought you said Ante up, boys.
Don't let me spoil your fun.
Mighty kind of you, friend.
Barkeep! How about a little service? I heard you were dead.
I heard a lot of things about you, too, Violet.
You must be crazy to come back here.
You know, the last person that called me crazy died, with three bullets in his chest.
I hate piano music.
You're so bad for business.
But I'm good for so many other things.
Oh, none that I can recall.
I came to pay my tab.
Who'd you have to kill for that, Johnny? Well, haven't you heard? A lot of rustling in these parts.
What kind of fix are you and Sheriff Challenger working now? Same old same old I'm doing all the hard work, and he just keeps a low profile.
At his camp upriver.
Shh, that's strictly confidential.
See, we're not so different after all? Where am I? Why you're in the grand guest lodge of the Triple-M ranch.
How did I get here? Oh you walked some, and I carried you some.
You carried me? I couldn't very well leave you for the coyotes.
No thank you.
So, why is it called the Triple-M? It was my husband's idea.
Martin and Maylene Montgomery.
- The three M's.
- Your husband? Yeah.
Sorry.
Gopher.
I wasn't expecting company.
So, Maylene, where do you think this husband of yours is? Last month Martin went on the cattle drive to Abilene.
We needed cash for feed but the rustlers They shot him down in cold blood.
Rustlers? I'll get you some water.
Boys, there's treachery afoot.
And as the law in this territory, I will not let it fester.
Spread the word.
I want Jeremiah Roxton dead or alive Mostly dead.
And whatever fool it is that's helping him.
You've actually seen these places? New York London Paris I have.
And so have you.
There's a big difference between dreams and reality, Lord Roxton.
I'm a rancher's wife a rancher's widow.
These plains are where I'll live and die.
All this other is just is just moonbeams and starshine as my Martin used to say.
There must be something to make you believe who you really are! Don't start that again.
Would you stand up please? Now do you remember? Widow Montgomery! Are you home? It's Jack Challenger! He doesn't remember me anymore than you do.
Hello, is anybody there? Here I am, sheriff Stay out of sight.
I'm sure that whatever happened between you two before was some kind of mistake.
At least we agree on something.
- Good day to you sheriff.
- Good day Widow Montgomery! I've just come back to tell you the news.
Me and the boys tracked down that rustler that killed your poor Martin.
Unfortunately he had help we didn't know about and he got away.
You know who this killer is? Some greenhorn by the name of Jeremiah Roxton.
Oh, this just keeps on getting better! So if you see any strangers around, you shoot first, and leave all the questions to me.
I'll do that.
Marguerite, you have to listen to me! You have ten seconds to tell me why you killed my husband! Now that's more like the Marguerite I'm used to.
Eight seconds! Marguerite, please! I did not kill Martin! My name is Maylene.
All right! All right! You're Maylene, this is Wyoming, and I'm a bloody cowboy! But that does not change the fact that I did not kill your husband.
The sheriff says you did! No, Sheriff Challenger says that Jeremiah Roxton killed him.
Now I'm John Roxton.
He's got me confused with someone else, the same way I confused you with someone else that I care about.
Very deeply.
Please.
You have no reason to fear me.
I have no reason to harm you.
Sometimes, out here, being afraid is the only thing that keeps you alive.
- It doesn't have to be that way.
- Yes it does.
You have to trust me.
I need your help.
I don't know who you are.
John Jeremiah I think you should go.
I don't have anywhere to go! Hell, I don't know how we how I got here let alone how to get back where I belong.
I can't help you.
Uf, If this isn't a dream, or a hallucination.
What the hell is it? That's right, Maylene.
Where do you go in the world when you need help? Well, that's quite a story, May.
You always said you wished your life had more adventure.
I don't think I'm cut out for it, though.
Not like you.
Funny how things turn out.
All I ever wanted was a good man like your Martin.
And a little place to call my own.
I lost my man.
Nothing else matters after that.
I know.
So what do you think you should do about this lord Roxton? - If doesn't matter what - Of course, Veronica.
Well, he couldn't have gone very far.
He didn't.
Is that him? Not hard on the eyes at all.
Hello, Veronica.
You think everyone you meet is someone else? Only the people who are someone else.
Why did you follow me here? I took a chance that whoever you would go to for help would be someone I could trust.
And I believe I can trust you.
Well, you were right about that too.
He isn't thinking straight at all.
Whiskey? Maybe when this whole problem is sorted out You really aren't from around here, are you? I have to find Challenger.
If he's looking for you, that shouldn't be hard to do.
I have to get to him first, and try and sort out this crazy situation.
Why? Because you think he's someone else too? - A scientist you said.
- A brilliant one.
And if I can get him to remember that, hopefully he can figure out where we are, and how we all got here and how we can get home.
Because believe me, I certainly can't.
Look friend.
If there's one thing I've learned in my life of adventure is that things look different in the morning.
There's a bunk out back and you're welcome to use it.
Violet, you can't! I can and I will.
Maylene is the closest thing I've got to a friend around here, and if you hurt her in any way, Sheriff Challenger will be the least of your worries.
Point taken.
Now where can I find him? I'm warning you, he's as crooked as a snake, and he's got a partner.
What else do you know? Nothing about Maylene's husband.
But a whole lot more about Sheriff Challenger and his partner than I care to know.
Best advice I can give you is to keep your ears open.
What do you think you're doing? Challenger said he's looking for Roxton and whoever is helping him.
If he finds that man here, you're going to hang too.
From what I've heard, Challenger spends all of his time camped at the river, looking for rustlers, he says.
May, come on! Why don't you get some sleep? I sure could use some.
Don't worry, everything is going to be just fine.
I just have to finish a few things here.
- I'll see you in the morning.
- Okay.
If someone's paying attention.
Things should be a whole lot better come sunrise.
At least Veronica still knows how to make a map.
That you, Angus? Whoever you are, you'd better come out now! I believe the traditional saying is reach for the sky.
Now you drop that! You don't know who you're dealing with, son.
Oh but I do.
You are Professor George Challenger, late of the University of Edinburgh leader of an expedition to the lost plateau Keep talking.
The plateau is home to a shifting series of realities.
Yeah, we get a lot of them around here.
It wouldn't be the first time.
You see, back in the real world, you and I are the best of friends.
Close friends? I said I'd follow you through to hell and back and sometimes I think we've come pretty close.
If that's the case, then that gun is just one big bluff.
Listen to me George! You're the only one who can get us out of here! I'll get you out of here all right.
Don't make me do it, George Don't make me do it Please! You're our only hope! It's Roxton! Sorry, old boy.
I was wondering when you show up, Neddy boy.
The question is, whose side are you on.
Malone! Roxton! I've been looking all over for you.
You recognize me? Of course I recognize you.
Why wouldn't I recognize my old friend? I mean after all You can save me a whole lot of trouble just by dying.
Now you listen to me, Ned.
You're Ned Malone.
You're a journalist for the International Herald Tribune.
Yeah! And you, you're Wyatt Earp.
Come on friend, get up! I hate to kill a man who's not resisting.
- I'm not playing your games.
- Who's playing? This is business.
Get up! And run! If you insist.
All right.
Now we're going to have some fun.
Ah, the Widow Montgomery.
Always a pleasure.
What do you want? I'm looking for the man that killed your husband.
The real question would be what's got you so fired up.
- I was on my way home - Well, it's that way.
By the hanging tree By the way, you wouldn't know anything about that, would you? I've heard you're pretty handy with that thing.
Jeremiah Roxton did not kill my husband.
Your man's not even cold in the ground and you've gone and found another.
I am sorry, ma'am.
I just hate loose ends.
Is that ring a bell? my friend.
- What are you doing here? - Violet told me what she did, leaving you the gun and the map.
I didn't say anything I have to say you after that, so I just left.
Violet did the right thing.
Yeah, if you want to get yourself killed.
You're both going to swing.
Who is he in your world? A shiftless outlaw.
Johnny Ringo.
Who do you think he is? Someone we should probably tie up before he causes any more trouble.
I knew you weren't the killer.
Well, give me enough time and I'll help you remember everything.
At least you tell a good story.
Sheriff, over there! Well, howdy, Ringo.
That's quite a trail you left.
You got something to tell me? It was Roxton and Montgomery's widow.
That timid little mouse is riding with Roxton? Get me out of this, and give me a gun.
I'm not sure I should.
You see, something else has happened.
Roxton came looking for me, and the embarrassing thing is he found me.
- What? - Not what? How? You see, apart from me and the boys, you're the only one who knows where we're camped.
You're crazy! I didn't tell Roxton where you were and you know it.
Maybe you didn't.
But if you didn't tell him, who did you tell? Violet.
Violet.
Is this the first place you remember here? Yeah.
You and I found this tree in the middle of the jungle.
Next This was old and weathered, but still in one piece, Hanged from the branch up there.
There was a tombstone with my name on it, right over there.
You read from it.
Was Challenger with us? You and Miss Krux, I mean, when you found this place.
He was back at the tree house.
- Tree house? - Yes, where we all live.
Challenger was there with Violet and Johnny Ringo.
Who do you think they are in your world? Well, Ned Malone is an American journalist and Veronica Layton is a resourceful young woman who grew up alone in the jungle.
Is there something happening between them as well? You mean like there is between us? Don't kiss me again.
You know, sometimes Marguerite is afraid of me, just as you are.
That makes me think that maybe, someone broke her heart, the same way you're heart's been broken and she's still not ready to risk that happening again.
Did someone ever break your heart? Oh, I never met the woman who could break my heart.
Until I met Marguerite.
Sorry, that might hurt a little.
It's just a scratch.
You're making me sorry I ever killed the doctor I imagine he's sorry too.
There! That's it? No thank you? Or should I put that on your tab too? I had something else in mind for you and me to do next.
I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, Johnny, but never the same one twice.
You take a lot of things for granted, Violet.
I know Roxton was here, telling his lies.
I also know that you believed those lies.
And I know that you told him where to find Challenger.
I swear, Johnny.
I didn't say.
There's only one way out of this for you now, Violet.
Roxton came here once looking for help.
He might be fool enough to do it again.
And if he does you're going to pay your tab to me.
Whoa! Challenger! Here.
Widow Montgomery, the Sheriff.
Drop your rifle and come outside.
What are they doing? Your last chance.
Man up! Burn it! - Burning down my cabin.
- No! It's not the cabin, he wants.
Why are they doing this to me? It's me he's after.
He knows you are helping me.
How? The only person that knows is Violet, and she would never tell.
There's one other.
Johnny Ringo.
I've got to get Challenger away from those deputies, now.
I just hope Ringo's packed enough ammunition.
How would Challenger know what Johnny Ringo knows? Unless the sheriff and Ringo are partners.
Triple M! I believe this belongs to you.
I gave this to Martin the day we were married.
He gave me this.
Johnny Ringo must have killed him.
Yeah, Ringo and the sheriff.
And they are trying to hang anyone they can find to cover it up.
No, Maylene, no! You're not a murderer! There has to be another way.
I want them, dead or alive.
There's goes the element of surprise, Come on! Hold on Ride for the river! It's our only chance! Never outrun them.
Where are we going? Elementary tactics we're heading for the high ground.
Let's go! Back at the rocks.
Cut them down! Damn.
The high ground isn't as useful when you're almost out of ammunition.
Roxton! We can do this easy or we can do this Hard.
You know the high ground better than I do.
The river is over that cliff.
Cliff! Just when my ankle is getting better.
Let's go.
Right boys, cut them down! Can a prairie girl swim? Can Miss Krux? Like a mermaid.
Then so can I.
Hell! whooooa! We weren't be able to follow them now.
Oh, we don't have to.
there's only one place they can go.
This isn't right.
There's no horses! It's never closed! Violet? Anyone here? Whose there? - Violet.
- Maylene.
May? Run May! It's a trap! Run! Too late! - You murdered my husband! - It's all right! You'll see him soon enough.
You're like a bad penny! Now, you let her go, Ringo.
That's what Malone would do.
Not in this lifetime.
Shoot back! I can't.
He's still my friend.
Ready to give up? Why prolong the agony? My thoughts exactly.
Come on, Maylene, we've got to get out of here.
Oh, you'll get out of here all right, but not in the way you planned.
- Shoot him! - No.
Without Challenger we don't go home.
If we die here, then everything is over.
Live to fight another day! Go! Roxton! You take care of her.
Violet! I've got my own account to settle.
- Violet!! - Women.
- Violet! - No.
No! Keep dreaming, May, for the both of us.
NO! No, no, this isn't happening! I won't accept this! Not closer Challenger! I'm your old friend, Roxton.
You wouldn't shoot me.
What have I done? You got the man who killed my husband the man who tried to kill you! You saw that justice was done.
This belongs to you.
John! What is it? Oh, I knew I didn't like this place.
Did you see that? Marguerite, I lived it! So at the end of this little day dream, you were the noble lawman, who tamed the wild west.
It was much more than a daydream, Marguerite.
Well, for Maylene, it must have been a dream come true.
Roxton made sure that justice was done for her husband.
And for Jeremiah Roxton.
Yeah.
Too bad about you and me.
And Violet, even she paid the price for taking the outlaws' money.
Justice fifty years too late if you ask me.
Justice is never too late, that's why the tombstone and the noose disappeared.
Because some cowboy was hung for a crime he didn't commit? Somehow his restless spirit magically caused that noose and tombstone to appear in the jungle.
Where a good person might find it, and set things to rights.
In this world or the next.
Well I'm proud of you.
Well, thank you, Veronica.
See that's the way a great western supposed to end, the hero gets a kiss from the pretty girl.
The hero is supposed to kiss his horse.
Since when did you become so cynical? You were there.
You saw the noose, and the tombstone disappear.
Me cynical! You should have met my third husband.
Or was it the fourth? Are you jealous? Of this drab and dreary prairie girl? She was the most beautiful woman I ever met.
You said she looked exactly like me.
Care to ride off into the sunset? *
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