Note: Sorry about the time line problem.  Shows what happens when you watch reruns out of order.  This story takes place after "Comes a Horseman" and "Revelation 8:6", but before "One Minute to Midnight" and "The End of Innocence".  Use your imagination.
 
 
 

 Highlander: The Series
 "The Alchemist"
 Written by Jeanne Rose

 5 May 1998
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 TEASER

FADE IN:

EXT. AN OPEN FIELD - EVENING

Two immortals are dueling in a field of tall grass, silhouetted against a pink and orange sky.  One is DUNCAN MACLEOD, dressed in old jeans and a loose white shirt.  The other is SARGESON, a stout man, formally dressed.  The contest is fierce - the combatants appear evenly matched.
 
Two watchers are present, bringing cameras to bear from different angles.  JOE DAWSON stands behind a crumbling wall that surrounds the field on two sides.  A sandy-haired man, JAMEY WESCOT, has found a perch in a tall oak nearby.  Dawson looks up from his camera and sees Wescot - they nod to acknowledge each other.

The fight ranges back and forth across the field.  Camera shutters click as blades clash repeatedly, but neither immortal gains the upper hand.  Then both immortals SENSE THE PRESENCE of another immortal and step back, looking around.  The watchers endeavor to make themselves invisible.

 MACLEOD
 Someone is here.

 SARGESON
 What is that to us? He cannot interfere.

Sargeson resumes the fight, and slashes MacLeod across the forearm of his sword arm.  MacLeod utters a short cry as blood flows from the wound, quickly soaking his sleeve.  But before Sargeson can press his advantage, MacLeod snatches up his sword with his uninjured hand and swiftly relieves his opponent of his sword, followed by his head.

 MACLEOD
 (to the body)
 Should've waited another century or two.

The watchers observe the outcome of the duel - Joe nods with satisfaction, while Wescot looks faintly surprised.  MacLeod steps away from the body and stands with a hand clamped over his wound as a WHITE MIST rises from the headless corpse.  As it swirls around him he looks around again for the other immortal, but still sees no one.

Lightning arches from Sargeson's body to MacLeod's as the QUICKENING begins.  There are not many places for the lightning to go - it wraps in writhing tendrils around him, occasionally reaching out in huge arches.  One touches the wall in front of Joe - he steps back, startled but unhurt.  Another hits the oak in which Wescot is sitting, and the branch above him CRACKS and BREAKS.

Joe looks up as Wescot falls beneath it with a cry.  MacLeod, racked with the power of the quickening, does not hear it.  Joe glances quickly at MacLeod, then abandons his post and hurries to the oak to investigate.

 JOE
 (approaching the tree)
 Jamey!  Hey!  Are you OK?

Wescot has fallen to the ground and is not moving.  His eyes are open and fixed, his neck is lying at an odd angle, and his legs are trapped beneath the fallen branch.  Joe feels for a pulse, finds none, and bows his head.

 JOE
 Damn.

Wescot's form is illuminated by the last few flashes of the quickening.  After it fades, MacLeod falls to his knees in the grass, breathing deeply and leaning on his sword.  Behind him, RODERICK, a tall man with graying hair, emerges from behind the farthest section of the wall.  MacLeod SENSES HIS PRESENCE and starts to turn, but the other immortal whips out a gun and shoots him with a tranquilizer dart.  MacLeod plucks it from his shoulder, but then his eyes roll back and he collapses onto his side.  His sword falls to the ground beside him.

Roderick approaches and rolls MacLeod onto his back with his foot.  He is out cold.  Roderick hauls the MacLeod's limp form onto his shoulder and carries him back behind the wall from which he emerged, leaving his sword where it fell.
 
Joe returns to the battle ground and is surprised to find MacLeod gone.  He walks across the field toward Sargeson's body and hits MacLeod's sword with his foot.  He stops, picks it up, and looks around again, puzzled and concerned.

 JOE
 (calling out)
 MacLeod?  Mac!

There is no answer.  Beneath the oak tree, Wescot AWAKENS - he is immortal.  He looks up at the tree, down at himself, at the branch still lying over his legs, and realization flashes across his features.  He sits up slowly with a hand on his neck, and struggles to get out from under the branch.

The rustling of the leaves on the fallen branch draws Joe's attention.  He turns and sees Wescot slowly picking himself up, and nearly drops MacLeod's sword.  Their eyes meet for a long moment.  Then Wescot turns and walks away, leaving Joe staring after him.

 END OF TEASER
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ACT I

INT. JOE'S OFFICE - DAY

JOE is seated behind his desk, a look of worried concentration on his face.  The desk is strewn with papers, but he's not looking at them.  There is a knock at the door.

 JOE
 Yeah?

METHOS enters, surveys the litter of papers.

 METHOS
 What's going on?

 JOE
 It's MacLeod.  I've lost him.

Methos closes the door and hitches a hip onto a paperless corner of the desk.

 METHOS
 Well, do you remember where did you put him last?

 JOE
 (giving Methos a quelling look)
 Sargeson finally challenged him last night, out at that field behind the tracks.

 METHOS
 And?

 JOE
 Like Mac said, he should have waited a few more centuries.

 METHOS
 So - MacLeod took Sargeson's head.

 JOE
 Yeah.
 (He pauses.)
 But during the quickening, I left for a minute, and when I came back, he was gone.

 METHOS
 You left? During a quickening? To do what?

 JOE
 (shaking his head)
 That's another problem - I'll tell you about it later.  Right now I've got to find MacLeod!

 METHOS
 OK, so he left.  Probably went off somewhere to brood about it.  Why worry?

Joe pulls Duncan's katana from behind the desk.

 JOE
 He left this.

Methos stares at the sword for several seconds.

 JOE (CONT'D.)
There was another immortal.  Both of them sensed it during the fight, but there was no one in sight.  I've been checking the records all night, trying to figure out who it could have been, but so far as I can tell no other immortals we know about were around.

 METHOS
 If it was someone after his head, he could have just taken it right then.

 JOE
 True.

 METHOS
 So what do you think happened?

 JOE
 (frustrated)
I don't know.  Maybe it was somebody like Killian.  He seems to have a lot of enemies who want to do more to him than chop his head off.

 METHOS
 Maybe it's that infuriating boy scout morality he tries to impose on everyone.
 (He ignores Joe's look.)
OK.  I haven't played detective in a few decades.  Did you find any tracks or cigarette butts?  Business cards?

 JOE
 No, it was getting dark.  Look, this is serious.  MacLeod could be in trouble.

 METHOS
 And you could get in trouble trying to help him out of it.

Joe can't argue the point, but it doesn't lessen his look of determination.  He begins gathering papers together on his desk.

 METHOS (CONT'D)
 Joe, he's taken care of himself for a long time.

 JOE
 (pushing himself to his feet)
 Fine.  You can read the report.

 METHOS
 Where are you going?

 JOE
Back out to the field.  Who knows, maybe he did drop a business card.  There's got to be some kind of clue.

 METHOS
 (abruptly)
 All right, fine.  I'm in.  Call me curious.
 (he points to the sword in Joe's hand)
 Uh, are you talking that?

 JOE
You think I'm going to leave it laying around to get lost, or stolen?  He'd have my head, even if it isn't worth anything.

 METHOS
(lightly)
It's worth something where it is.

JOE
(sarcastically)
So kind of you to say so.  Come on.

They leave together.

EXT. FIELD - DAY

MACLEOD slowly regains consciousness lying on his back in the grass.  He gets to his feet with a hand to his forehead, a little dizzy, but it soon passes.  He looks around, trying to remember where he is, how he got there.  His sleeve is dark with dried blood.  Sargeson's body is gone.

 MACLEOD
 My sword . . .

He searches swiftly through the grass, but the sword is nowhere to be found.  He steps on the tranquilizer dart, stoops to pick it up, and stares at it.

TIGHT ON DART IN MACLEOD'S HAND

DISSOLVE TO:

Footage from the TEASER in which MacLeod plucks the dart from his shoulder and then collapses.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. FIELD - DAY (CON'T)

MacLeod puts the dart in his pocket.  He sees his coat still lying over a fallen part of the wall.  He walks over to it, drapes it over his arm to cover his stained sleeve, smooths his hair back with his other hand, and starts walking down the road.

A car approaches from the direction he's heading.  It slows, then stops.  MacLeod stops and backs up, SENSING THE PRESENCE of an immortal.  He is relieved to see METHOS and JOE get out.

 JOE
 Mac! Are you all right?

 MACLEOD
 I think so.

 METHOS
 What happened?

 MACLEOD
 I have no idea.
 (His brows narrow.)
 What day is it?

 JOE
 Wednesday, the 22nd.

 MACLEOD
 Good.  I hate losing days.
 (looks at the car)
 What are you two doing here?

 METHOS
 Oh, I was just going to help Joe find out where you disappeared to.

 MACLEOD
 I disappeared?

 JOE
Yeah.  One minute you were screaming in the middle of a light show and then a minute later you were gone.

 MACLEOD
 (remembering)
 There was another immortal . . .

 JOE
 (interrupting)
 Who obviously wasn't here for your head.

 METHOS
 Who was it?

 MACLEOD
 I don't know - I didn't see him.  I just woke up, over there.

He waves a hand toward the field.

 METHOS
 Were you dead?

 MACLEOD
 (frowning)
 No. I remember being hit by this dart. I found it in the grass.

He pulls it from his pocket and shows it to them.

 METHOS
 Looks like some kind of tranquilizer.

 JOE
 So you were out here all night?  There was a hell of a storm.  Lights were out all over the city.

MacLeod looks up at the residual gray clouds, then down at himself.

 MACLEOD
 I don't think so.

 METHOS
 Then where were you?

 MACLEOD
 I don't know. But Sargeson's gone, and so is my sword.

 JOE
 Ah, actually, I've got it.

MacLeod looks at him with lowered brows.

 JOE
 Like I said, you disappeared.  I didn't want to just leave it there.

 MACLEOD
 Have you got it here?

 JOE
 Yeah.

Joe opens the trunk and retrieves the katana from beneath a blanket and hands it to MacLeod.

 METHOS
 (still pondering the mystery)
So some unknown immortal watches the fight and the quickening, knocks out MacLeod, hauls him away, and then brings him back and dumps him here? And takes Sargeson's body? It doesn't make sense.

 MACLEOD
 Who's Sargeson's watcher? Was he there? He should have seen something.

 JOE
 (shaking his head)
That's the other problem.  His name is Jamey Wescot.  He was there all right, but I'm pretty sure he didn't see anything.

 MACLEOD
 Why not?

 JOE
 (pointing)
 Well, he was watching from up in that tree.

 METHOS
 Wow.  It looks like lightning struck it during the storm.

 JOE
 No - it was during the quickening.  Broke off a branch on top of him.

 MACLEOD
 Was he all right?

 JOE
 Ah, no. He broke his neck.

MacLeod looks distressed.

 JOE (CONT'D.)
 And became immortal.

MacLeod and Methos both turn to him in astonishment.

 METHOS
 What??

 MACLEOD
 (relieved and amused)
 A watcher becomes an immortal.  This should be entertaining.

 METHOS
 And there'll be hell to pay at headquarters.
 (looking up suddenly)
 So nice of you to let me know.  He could blow my cover!

 JOE
 Well, now you do.  But that still leaves us in the dark about what happened to Mac.

 METHOS
 We could still go and look for business cards.

MacLeod looks puzzled, Joe annoyed.
 
 MACLEOD
 (holding up the dart)
 Maybe this will do.

INT. DUNCAN'S LOFT - DAY

MACLEOD walks into the darkened loft and flips the light switch. The room remains dark. He flips it off, then on again, and this time the switch sparks and pops, followed by the light fixtures in the kitchen and living room and all the wall switches and outlets in succession.

MacLeod ducks, shielding his face.  When the fireworks die down, he looks around and groans in annoyance.  He then stalks over to the window, opens the curtain to admit the morning light, and pulls a up chair.

He then takes out a laptop computer and sits down.  After typing for a minute, he pulls out the dart, examines it closely in the light from the window, and begins typing again.

 END OF ACT I
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ACT II

INT. A UNIVERSITY OFFICE - DAY

MACLEOD knocks on the open door and is met by a young graduate student leaving the room with a reference book.

 MACLEOD
 I'm looking for Dr. Roderick Gelnhausen.

 STUDENT
 You can probably find him out at the field lab.

 MACLEOD
 Could you give me the address?  I'm supposed to meet with him later, but something's come up.

 STUDENT
 (pointing to a piece of paper stuck on a bulletin board)
 Sure.  It's right here.

 MACLEOD
 (pulling out a piece of paper to copy it)
 Thank you.

EXT. RODERICK'S LABORATORY - DAY

It is an old building, seemingly deserted, but there is one car in front.  MACLEOD drives up and goes inside.

INT. RODERICK'S LAB - DAY

On the inside the building is newly furnished, with all the accouterments of a modern microbiology lab.  MACLEOD enters as RODERICK, the same tall man of graying hair who was present in the first scene, is putting something into a refrigerator.  He turns as the door opens, SENSING MacLeod's entrance.

 RODERICK
Ah, Duncan MacLeod of the clan MacLeod.  How long has it been?  About three hundred years, by my count.

 MACLEOD
 (pulls out the dart and holds it up)
 A little more like 24 hours, by my count.

 RODERICK
Ah, yes, I see.  Well, I hope you'll forgive me for that.  Circumstances didn't allow me to ask your permission.

 MACLEOD
 Doesn't THAT sound familiar.

 RODERICK
Surely you don't still hold a grudge for what happened in Bavaria all those years ago?  We'd have both languished in that dungeon if it weren't for my quick thinking.

 MACLEOD
 Yeah, but I was the one who had to get killed to get us out. . .

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. ROAD TO BAVARIA - DAY

SUBTITLE: "1677, BAVARIA, GERMANY"

DUNCAN MACLEOD, dressed in a commoner's traveling clothes, is walking down a dirt road surrounded by brilliant green forest, muttering dire curses in heavy Scottish brogue on the man who has stolen his horse.

He stops, SENSING THE APPROACH of another immortal, and looks up and down the road.  Then from the forest an OUTLAW IMMORTAL, a man in rags with blackened teeth, rushes at him with a drawn sword.

 OUTLAW IMMORTAL
 Get away. It's mine, you can't have it, you understand!

MacLeod draws a sword to defend himself.  He forces the other man back.

 MACLEOD
 Whatever it is, Ah don't want it! Are ye mad?
 

 OUTLAW IMMORTAL
 Then I'll have your quickening!

The other immortal rushes MacLeod, but once again he fends the man off.

 MACLEOD
 I don't even know your name.

 OUTLAW IMMORTAL
 Don't have one.  Lived in the forest all me life.

A short battle ensues.  MacLeod runs the outlaw through, and he collapses with a groan.

MacLeod drags the body into the underbrush and notices a money bag tied to his belt.  When he cuts the strings and looks inside, his eyes pop open when he spies a fair number of gold coins.

 MACLEOD
 (to the dead man)
A thief, eh?  I should take your head to keep you from robbing honest travelers.  But perhaps you know no better.

He pours a few of the coins into his hand, and puts back the rest.

 MACLEOD (CONT'D.)
 However, one thief can pay for what another stole.

He continues down the road, his countenance much more cheerful than before.

A SHORT TIME LATER

MacLeod is surrounded by a mounted guard, one of whom puts a sword to his chest.

 LEADER OF THE GUARDS
 Search him!

 MACLEOD
 Gentlemen! I am but an innocent traveler.

Ignoring his protests, the guards find his money pouch and open it.

 LEADER
 Not when you're carrying the prince's stolen gold.  Seize him!

 MACLEOD
 But I dinna steal it -

Ignoring his protests, the guards grab his arms and pull out a rope to bind him.  MacLeod lunges and breaks free momentarily, but then he is struck by a blow to the side of the head.  He falls unconscious to the ground.

INT. CASTLE CELL - NIGHT

MacLeod awakens in a bed of filthy straw in a dimly lit cell.  His clothes are now torn and muddy.  He groans, puts a hand to his head, and tries to get up, whereupon he discovers that his wrists and ankles are chained to the floor.  He struggles for a moment, but the chains won't budge.

 MACLEOD
 (calling out to his unseen captors)
 I'm no' a thief!

 A VOICE
 Then what are you?

At that moment MacLeod SENSES THE PRESENCE of another immortal.  He sits up in alarm.

 MACLEOD
 Duncan MacLeod of the clan MacLeod.  Who are you?

 RODERICK
 Roderick the third, of the house of Gelnhausen.

 MACLEOD
 Are ye a prisoner?

 RODERICK
 Alas, yes.  The prince mistakenly believes I am withholding from him a philosopher's stone.

MacLeod manages to sit up with his back to the wall in spite of the chains.  He cannot see Roderick, who is in another cell next to his.

 MACLEOD
 Ye are an alchemist, then.

 RODERICK
 For nearly four hundred years.  I studied under Paraclesus, one of the greatest alchemists and physicians of the last century, though perhaps I shall live long enough to surpass him.

 MACLEOD
 Aye, I've heard mention of him.
 (He lowers his voice.)
 Was he one of us?

 RODERICK
 (in a normal tone)
 No, no, quite mortal.  A great pity - one of the greatest minds of Europe, and he died of poisoning.

 MACLEOD
 (skeptically)
 They say ye can make gold from lead.

 RODERICK
 (lowering his voice)
Not lead, my friend - mercury.  The prince has minted quite a store of coins from my transformations.  But a philosopher's stone - now that would not only make gold from base metals, but also grant immortality, cure diseases, and a host of other things as well.

Roderick shifts in his chains, while MacLeod leans forward to listen, still doubtful but intrigued.

 RODERICK (CONT'D.)
Paraclesus knew the secret, I believe, but he did not reveal the process even to me.  I have been working for many years to uncover the mystery myself.
(He sighs.)
Unfortunately, my immortality, and like yours, is of another kind.  The prince discovered it a month ago when I was killed in an explosion.  Now he believes I have a philosopher's stone that I've been keeping from him.
 (Another pause.)
 Never underestimate their fear of death, my friend.

 MACLEOD
 It must have been your gold they think I stole.

 RODERICK
Stolen? My gold? I had not heard of it. But I knew that something was afoot.  And now they think they have found the thief.  Are you quite certain they haven't?

 MACLEOD
I'm no' a thief.  An immortal challenged me on the road, a wild man who lives in the forest and no doubt makes his living by robbing travelers.

 RODERICK
 And you took his head.

 MACLEOD
 I did not think it was necessary.  He didn't even have a name.

 RODERICK
Some of these wandering scoundrels have blacker hearts than you might imagine.  But what of the gold?

 MACLEOD
I found it on him and took a little to pay for another horse. Since the likes of him had stolen it, and I left him his head when I could well have taken it, I dinna think he would begrudge it.

 RODERICK
 (ignoring the moral issue)
 And it was he who had stolen the prince's gold.
 (A pause.)
 You took a little, you say?

 MACLEOD
 Just a few coins.

 RODERICK
Ah ha, then they'll still be searching for the rest.  That may be useful.  It appears that we are both victims of unfortunate circumstances.  But perhaps our meeting is fortuitous.  Some good may come of it.

 MACLEOD
 (slumps back against the wall)
 Like what?

SEVERAL HOURS LATER

MACLEOD is sleeping fitfully, half-slumped against the wall, looking disheveled and uncomfortable.  He awakens as GUARDS approach his cell.

 MACLEOD
 Are ye no' going to bring me some food?  I'll do ye no good if I starve to death.

The guards begin unlocking his manacles with mocking smiles.

 GUARD
 You won't have to worry about your stomach much longer.

 MACLEOD
 What do ye mean?

 GUARD
 You'll die today for stealing the prince's gold.

Upon hearing this, MacLeod immediately begins to struggle, but he is easily pinned, and a guard delivers a blow that knocks him staggering.

 GUARD
You can walk to your death with your eyes open or be carried there like a maiden in a swoon.  It doesn't matter to me.

 MACLEOD
 (standing up more cooperatively)
 When you put it li' that . . .

The other guards bind his hands in front of him.

EXT. CASTLE COURTYARD - DAY

MACLEOD is lead into a court yard and stood against a wall.  Three archers stand a short distance away.  The PRINCE in his finery is watching, surrounded by courtiers.  MacLeod SENSES an immortal's presence.

 RODERICK
 (calls out above the babble)
 Do not worry, my friend.  You'll only be dead for a short time.

MacLeod turns quickly, recognizing Roderick's voice, and sees him at the prince's side.  His expression turns to one of astonishment and confusion.  An excited murmur runs through the crowd.

 PRINCE
 The punishment for stealing the gold of Bavaria is death.

 MACLEOD
 But I dinna steal it!

 PRINCE
 (holding out the coins)
 These were found on your person - proof enough.  Or can you explain how else you came by them?

 MACLEOD
 Another man gave them to me, as payment for a horse.

 PRINCE
 (leans forward)
 And who is this man?

 MACLEOD
 I do not know his name - he dwells in the forest.

 PRINCE
 You sold your horse to a wandering thief?  Surely you can invent a better tale than that.

Before MacLeod can continue his defense, the prince calls the archers to ready.  MacLeod realizes the futility of further argument.  He glances at Roderick, who is watching almost disinterestedly.

MacLeod stares in wincing anticipation at the points of the arrows as, at the princes' command, the archers nock, draw, and release.  All three arrows bury themselves in his chest.

TIGHT ON MACLEOD'S FACE, FADE TO BLACK

FAST CUT TO:

MacLeod revives with a gasp, wincing as he draws his bound hands to the bloody holes in his shirt.  The extracted arrows lie together in the grass by his side.  Roderick drags him to his feet as the courtyard erupts into excited exclamations.

Roderick leaves MacLeod standing unsteadily and bows before the prince, presenting him with a milky white stone.  The prince accepts it, still staring at MacLeod.  Seeing the man's scrutiny, MacLeod feigns surprise.

 MACLEOD
 How can it be?  I saw the arrows fly, felt them enter here -

He puts a hand to his chest.

 PRINCE
You are a most fortunate thief indeed.  You have paid the price for stealing, but God has chosen to give you back your life - with this!

He holds up the stone, whereupon the assembled courtiers chatter excitedly.

A messenger arrives at full gallop, interrupting the show.  He dismounts and holds up the outlaw immortal's money bag on the end of his sword.

 MESSENGER
 The prince's gold is recovered!

As the court's attention turns to the messenger, MacLeod slips closer to Roderick.

 MACLEOD
 What are ye doing?

 RODERICK
Getting us out of that dungeon.  Though you were dead so long you nearly ruined the show.  Haven't taken very many heads yet, have you?  Well, never mind.  Come, now seems a prudent time to take our leave.

He unsheathes a knife and surreptitiously slices MacLeod's bonds, then begins edging backward, away from the guards.  MacLeod follows.

The court's attention remains on the messenger, who is eagerly telling his tale.  MacLeod and Roderick slip through a small gate, and Roderick runs along the outside of the wall toward the larger gate where the messenger entered.  MacLeod stumbles behind him, one hand still pressed over the wound in his chest.

Roderick knocks out the groom holding the messenger's horse and takes the reigns, edging away from the gate.

 MACLEOD
 You used me - to make them think you had found a philosopher's stone.

 RODERICK
Not "found" a stone - made one.  They took careful note of my operations.  The stone looked quite pleasing, don't you think?

 MACLEOD
 But it's a fake!  If they try to use it on a mortal, he'll die!

 RODERICK
 Unfortunately true, but I didn't see an alternative.

Roderick mounts and then reaches down to pull MacLeod up behind him.

 MACLEOD
 This is thievery!

 RODERICK
 I think not.  The prince owes me more than one tired horse for my services to him.
 (He pats the horse's neck.)
 But I think I shall have to be content with this fellow.

 MACLEOD
 But I still don't have a horse - or a sword.

 RODERICK
Don't worry.  You don't get to be my age without keeping some funds hidden away.  I owe you that much at least, for helping me escape.

 MACLEOD
 (with feeling, rubbing his injury again)
 Aye.
 (He looks up and down the road.)
 Where will you go?

 RODERICK
 North - it would not do for the prince's men to come looking for me.

Roderick spurs the horse into motion.

 RODERICK (CONT'D.)
 Perhaps next time we meet, I will have a true philosopher's stone.

INT. RODERICK'S LAB - DAY (CONT'D.)

 RODERICK
 It ended well enough, I think.

 MACLEOD
 For us.
 (His gaze returns to the dart.)
 And now would you mind explaining what you've dragged me into this time?

ESTABLISHING SHOT EXT. JOE'S BAR - DAY

INT. JOE'S BAR - DAY

MACLEOD enters to find JOE and METHOS waiting inside.  MacLeod sits down at a table with them.

 JOE
 Well?

 MACLEOD
 It was Roderick.

 JOE
 Roderick Gelnhausen?  The biochemist?  Isn't he a visiting professor up at the university?

 MACLEOD
 Yeah.

 JOE
 But how could he have been out at the field?  We've got a watcher on him.

 MACLEOD
And I suppose you spend your nights in a car across from the dojo to make sure I don't leave unexpectedly.

 JOE
 (cocks his head, conceding the point)
 Not usually.

MacLeod collects a small double take.

 METHOS
 So what did he want with you?

 MACLEOD
A blood sample, stuff like that.  He's not just a biochemist, he's a microbiologist, physiologist, you name it.  An all-around renaissance scientist.  I knew him as an alchemist in Germany three hundred years ago.  I guess he's progressed with the times - now he's doing research in genetics.

 METHOS
 (leaning forward)
 What kind of genetics?

 MACLEOD
 (turns to meet his gaze)
 What kind do you think?

 JOE
(slowly)
 The genetics of immortals.

 METHOS
 What exactly is he trying to find out?

 MACLEOD
What makes us different from mortals.  Where we come from, why we can't have children.  All the old questions.

 METHOS
 Is that a good idea?

 MACLEOD
 I wasn't too keen on it, no.

 JOE
 So what are you going to do?

 MACLEOD
Nothing, for now.  Just because I don't think it's a good idea doesn't mean I think I should try to stop him.  I don't think he's far enough along to do anything with it, yet.  But he bears watching.

 JOE
 You're telling me.  Would you guys excuse me? I need to make a few calls.

He goes back into his office.

 METHOS
 (looking at the door Joe went through)
He better put some good people on it.  I've got a nasty suspicion this won't turn out well.  Some questions are better left unanswered.

 MACLEOD
Maybe.  But scientific research has made life a lot better for a lot of people in the last few hundred years - or did you enjoy watching entire towns die of plagues?

Methos scowls at him.

 METHOS
 I suppose he promised not to use you as a guinea pig any more.

 MACLEOD
 Or he'd be missing a head.

MacLeod stands, dismissing the subject.

 MACLEOD (CONT'D.)
Speaking of modern technology, you want to help me do some electrical work?  That storm blew out most of the wiring in the dojo.

 METHOS
 I guess a could spare a couple hours.

Methos follows MacLeod toward the door.

EXT. JOE'S BAR - DAY

MACLEOD and METHOS come out of the door together and get into MacLeod's car.

 METHOS
You know, maybe Roderick did you a favor, kidnaping you - you could have been electrocuted if you'd been home.

 MACLEOD
 The day is young.

 METHOS
 Wait a minute.  I thought you knew all about that sort of stuff.

 MACLEOD
 What?  Methos the immortal afraid of a little electricity?

 METHOS
 Maybe I'd better just watch.

 END OF ACT II
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ACT III

INT. DUNCAN'S LOFT - DAY

MACLEOD AND METHOS are working in semi-dankness, connecting power outlets to wiring running along the baseboards.  MacLeod is doing most of the work, with Methos holding a flashlight.  He hands MacLeod a pair of wire cutters.

 METHOS
 Why does this always happen?

 MACLEOD
 Why does what always happen?

 METHOS
 A person becomes immortal.  They try to live a normal life for a while, but then sooner or later they find something that's very important to them and concentrate on it, make it their whole reason for living.

 MACLEOD
 (peering into the exposed outlet)
 We all have to find our own ways to give our lives meaning.

 METHOS
 It could be battle, or beauty, or science, or great artists, or gambling, or revenge -

 MACLEOD
 (interrupting)
 Or the game.

 METHOS
 Yeah.  I'd say about a third of us become predatory, living to hunt down the others.

 MACLEOD
Until eventually they meet someone better than they are, or have a bit of bad luck, and they're dead.  Like Sargeson.

 METHOS
 Hopefully.

He hands MacLeod the face plate, and holds it as MacLeod screws it in.

 METHOS (CONT'D.)
But even a good man - or woman - who becomes obsessed with one thing eventually goes too far, and causes a lot of death or suffering, and one of us who would rather not is forced to kill them.

 MACLEOD
 (after a pause)
 It does happen a lot.

 METHOS
Mortals don't seem to have the same problem - I suppose they don't live long enough to really struggle with the meaning of life.

 MACLEOD
 (Pauses to point with his screw driver.)
 Now you're not thinking.  What about all the philosophers, and the great writers, and -

 METHOS
All right, I wasn't thinking.  But it's different for them.  They live, have children, grow old, and just when they're starting to understand what the really good questions are, they die.

They move together to a new junction box.

 MACLEOD
 So you think that will happen with Roderick?  That he'll go too far?

 METHOS
 Probably.

 MACLEOD
And then one of us will have to kill him.  You know, you're getting awfully cynical in your old age.  We'll have to keep you away from Wescot.

 METHOS
 Actually, I was thinking about putting in a request to be his watcher.

 MACLEOD
 (looking up from his wiring)
Are you crazy?  You can't watch another immortal.  He'd sense you every time you got close.  He'd think he was being stalked by someone after his head.

 METHOS
 He'd never even know I was there.  Don't forget I have lots of practice at that sort of thing.

 MACLEOD
 Oh really?

 METHOS
 Trust me.

 MACLEOD
 (returning to his work)
Well, fortunately I think Joe has more sense than you.  And I wouldn't worry too much about Roderick.  Joe'll keep an eye on him.

 METHOS
 (more to himself than MacLeod)
 May be I will too.

INT. THE DOJO - EVENING

MACLEOD is working through a kata with his sword in the darkened dojo, shirtless, his face intense, his movements graceful and quick.  He SENSES THE PRESENCE of another immortal and freezes with the sword suspended in an attack.

The door opens to admit JAMEY WESCOT, who stops abruptly when his eyes adjust to the dim light.

 MACLEOD
 (without moving)
 I am Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod.

 WESCOT
 Uh, I'm Jamey Wescot, and I certainly don't want to fight you.

MacLeod lowers the sword, retrieves a towel from the bench, and wipes his face.

 MACLEOD
 Sorry about the lights.  I'm working on rewiring.

 WESCOT
At least a heart attack won't kill me now.  Well, not for very long.  Can I talk to you, for a few minutes?

MacLeod nods.

 WESCOT (CONT'D.)
 Joe says you know about the watchers.

 MACLEOD
 So?

 WESCOT
 I was one of them.

 MACLEOD
 (with a snort)
 Not any more.

 WESCOT
I know. Joe kicked me out this morning in no uncertain terms. Now I keep looking over my shoulder, wondering when MY watcher is going to show up.

 MACLEOD
 (leans over a bench, stretching)
 Get used to it.

 WESCOT
 I don't feel any different than I did yesterday.  I'm not sure I want them watching me.

 MACLEOD
 (grunting a little)
 Did you ever ask Sargeson's permission?

Wescot has no answer.  MacLeod stands up, faces him.

 MACLEOD (CONT'D.)
None of us feels any different.  We just keep on living, and a long time ago someone decided that made us worth watching, our lives worth recording.

Wescot nods, then changes the subject.

 WESCOT
I was trying to find out more about the third immortal who was out at the field last night, but Joe escorted me to the door.  Since he won't tell me, I thought maybe you would.

 MACLEOD
 Why do you want to know?

 WESCOT
 Because he might come for me.

MacLeod nods.

 MACLEOD
 You want to help me do some electrical work?

 WESCOT
 Sure.

They walk toward the freight elevator.

INT. DUNCAN'S LOFT - EVENING

MACLEOD AND WESCOT exit the elevator.  Wescot looks around the room curiously as MacLeod pulls on a shirt. He opens his tool box and pulls out a circuit tester, then hands Wescot a flashlight.

 MACLEOD
 Shine this on the outlet.

Wescot complies.  MacLeod hooks up the circuit tester, and the light flashes green. They then move on to the next box.

 MACLEOD
 The other immortal's name is Roderick.  He's a visiting professor  up at the university.

 WESCOT
 Well, that's awfully good to know.  I do a lot of collaborative work with the virology department there.

 MACLEOD
 He's working with the biochemistry department, but he's actually doing research in genetics.

 WESCOT
 What was he doing there last night?

 MACLEOD
Helping himself to some of my blood.  Apparently something happens during a quickening that he's trying to unravel.

 WESCOT
 (sucks in his breath)
You mean he's studying immortals? Who's his watcher, I'd like to know?  He should be fired as incompetent.  That kind of thing should have been red-flagged to the entire district.  But - he can't publish anything like that.

  MACLEOD
 I'm sure he has an army of graduate students doing publishable work.

Wescot is silent for several seconds.  This time the circuit tester flashes red.  MacLeod frowns and tries it again.  No luck.

 WESCOT
You don't sound pleased.  Are you planning to challenge him?

 MACLEOD
 Not yet.

 WESCOT
 Why not?

 MACLEOD
Taking a life - mortal or immortal - isn't something to trifle with.  I don't think what he'd doing is a good idea, but that's not enough to challenge him over - yet.

 WESCOT
 You think he might take it too far?

 MACLEOD
 It's happened before.  Would you hand me that screwdriver?

Wescot hands it to him.  MacLeod starts to unscrew the face plate.

 WESCOT
 And how will you decide when he's crossed the line?

 MACLEOD
 (looks at him sideways)
 I'll know.

 WESCOT
No offense, but this isn't science fiction, you know.  I get awfully tired of people thinking that scientists are somehow blind to the ethical implications of their research.

 MACLEOD
 I didn't say that.

 WESCOT
There is enormous peer pressure within the scientific community to conform to certain ethical standards.  In order to get grants, or even get published, your work has to be read and reviewed -

 MACLEOD
 (interrupting, turning his attention from the outlet)
Roderick is immortal.  He doesn't need grants, and he isn't going to publish his research.  If he decides not to conform to those standards, there will be no one to stop him but one of us.

 WESCOT
 I suppose you're right.
 (He smiles.)
 Knee-jerk reaction of a persecuted virologist.

MacLeod shakes his head and abandons the outlet to continue testing the others.

 WESCOT (CONT'D.)
I've been watching Sargeson for, oh, six years now.  He only fought if he thought he could win - no other consideration.  The game justified killing any other immortal, no need to judge their character or intentions.  He was a gentleman, though.  As long as it was a fair fight, it was OK.

 MACLEOD
 Not much of a role model.

 WESCOT
 Better than some.  Look, I should get home.
 (He glances out the window surreptitiously.)
 Hate to keep my watcher out too late.

MacLeod lifts an eyebrow, glancing out the window by reflex, and puts down his tools.  He walks with Wescot to the back door.

 MACLEOD
 Maybe Joe's keeping him company.  Thanks for your help.

 WESCOT
 (handing MacLeod the flashlight)
 Thanks for the information.  Hope I'll see you around.

MacLeod nods, then stares after him thoughtfully as he exits.

INT. DUNCAN'S LOFT - DAY

MACLEOD and METHOS are half in and half out of a wall in the kitchen, a few feet apart.

 MACLEOD
 (from within the wall)
 Now connect the xxxx with xxxx, but DON'T touch the ground switch at the same time.

 METHOS
 (also muffled)
 I wasn't born yesterday, MacLeod.

 MACLEOD
 Yeah, but when you were born, the only known electricity was lightning.

There is an electrical snap, and the kitchen lights turns on.

 METHOS
 And a woman's kiss.

 MACLEOD
 (alarmed)
 Hey, the power's supposed to be shut off.  I could have been electrocuted a dozen times over.

Joe pulls up the elevator door, and the two immortals laboriously scrunch out from behind the wall.

 JOE
 Hey, don't scare me like that.  I don't like to see you guys without your heads. Any progress?

 MACLEOD
 (pointing wryly at the kitchen lights)
 Some.

MacLeod walks over to the power box and begins fiddling with the switches.

 JOE
 Well, I did some checking on Roderick.  I'm afraid he's more than just an alchemist turned biochemist.

 MACLEOD
 What do you mean?

 JOE
 Well, he was born in Germany, and as far as we can tell he never left until this century.

 METHOS
 So?

 JOE
He left in 1946.  He was a war criminal, executed for conducting experiments on humans in the concentration camps.

MacLeod blinks, stunned.  Methos goes white, his eyes wide, and he steps backwards until he bumps into the wall.

 JOE
 Adam - Methos - are you all right?

Methos takes a moment to get control of himself.

 METHOS
 I was in a Nazi concentration camp for eleven months.

 MACLEOD
 Was Roderick there? Did he -

 METHOS
 (interrupting)
 No.
 (He is not looking at either of them.)
I was terrified every day, every hour, that they would find out what I was.  But instead I died in a gas chamber with everyone else.
 (He wipes his forehead with the back of his hand.)
 I still have nightmares, once in a while.

There is a long moment of silence.

 JOE
 I'm sorry.

 METHOS
 (takes a deep breath and shifts away from the wall, waving a hand dismissively)
 It's OK.  It just - came up unexpectedly, that's all.

MacLeod shuts the door of the power box and puts on a jacket.

 JOE
 Where are you going?

 MACLEOD
 To see Roderick.

MacLeod picks up his sword, leaves by the back door.  Methos looks at Joe.

 METHOS
 Looks like you'd better go too.

Joe nods.

INT. RODERICK'S LAB - EVENING

MACLEOD enters the lab.  RODERICK is there, working late.

 RODERICK
Ah, MacLeod.  You'll be pleased with the progress I'm making with the data from last night. I don't suppose you'd be willing to part with a small biopsy sample?

 MACLEOD
 (ignoring Roderick's words)
 You left out part of the story.

 RODERICK
 Part of what story?

 MACLEOD
Your research. World War Two. Being executed as a war criminal for conducting experiments on humans.

 RODERICK
 You are truly amazing, MacLeod.  Do you have a spy service in your employ?

 MACLEOD
 Answer the question.

 RODERICK
What question?  Was I in Germany during World War Two?  Certainly.  Was I executed as a war criminal?  Unfortunately, yes.  Most unpleasant, but that time there was no convenient escape.

 MACLEOD
 More pleasant than the way your test subjects died.

 RODERICK
 (softening slightly)
 Yes.  That is true.  It was war, MacLeod.  In the end, it was madness.  We all got caught up in it.

 MACLEOD
 And you think that excuses you?

 RODERICK
 Whatever wrongs I committed, I paid the price for them in my own blood.

 MACLEOD
 Did you?  You're still alive.

 RODERICK
 What should I have done, offered them my head?  It wouldn't erase what had happened.

 MACLEOD
(reluctantly)
No.

RODERICK
And why should I have told you, MacLeod?  The past is written.  Time to go on.  What better memorial could I make than to use what I learned from them to make life better for others?

MACLEOD
And how does what you're doing make life better for anyone?

RODERICK
Don't you remember, MacLeod? When we parted in Bavaria, that I hoped to find a true philosopher's stone? Well, I have it.
(He holds up a vial filled with blood serum.)
Inside each of us is the key to eternal life.  If I could only unlock it, think of what it might mean for mankind.  No more aging!  No more sickness!  No more dying.

MACLEOD
And the whole world after each other's heads.

RODERICK
Scoff if you must. But unless you're going to challenge me, I must ask you to leave.  I have work to do.

MACLEOD
(reluctantly turning to leave)
I'll be watching.

Roderick watches MacLeod leave.

RODERICK
You do that.

INT. JOE'S BAR - NIGHT

MACLEOD sits at a table by himself at Joe's, swirling a half-finished drink.  METHOS walks up, puts his hands on the table, and leans toward him.

 METHOS
 Joe says you didn't kill him.  I want to know why.

MacLeod glances around quickly to see if Methos' statement has attracted any attention.

 MACLEOD
 (quietly)
 Methos, sit down.

Methos deliberately pulls out a chair and straddles it.

 METHOS
 OK. I'm sitting.  Now, tell me what he could possibly have said to talk you into leaving him alive.

 MACLEOD
 He believes that his research will benefit others.

 METHOS
 Oh, so now we're back to the old idea of the end justifies the means.
 
 MACLEOD
 He knows what he did was wrong, but there's nothing he can do to change it.  He's not a monster.

 METHOS
 Oh no? You don't think I know one when I see one - I was a monster, remember?

 MACLEOD
 But now you're not.  People can change.

 METHOS
Yes.  But not in a day.  Not in a decade, or even four or five decades.  It took me a thousand years to leave that life behind.

 MACLEOD
 He died once, at the hands of international justice.  Isn't that enough?

 METHOS
 Ask his victims if they think so.

 MACLEOD
 (turning to face him)
Ask yours.

Silence.  Methos mouth is open with shock.  He closes it and stands to leave.

 MACLEOD (CONT'D.)
(in a conciliatory tone)
Methos . . . look, I know you have to live with what you did.  There are things I've done that I have to live with too.  Don't you think it's the same for Roderick?

 METHOS
(still upset)
No, it's not the same.  We learn from our mistakes.  Roderick hasn't.  Sooner or later he'll cross the line.  And if you won't kill him, I will.

Methos turns his back and walks out.  Joe comes over from behind the bar, sits down in the chair Methos has just vacated.

 JOE
 That didn't go too well, did it?

 MACLEOD
 No.
 (He shifts in his chair, toying with his drink.)
 Maybe he's right.

 JOE
 Maybe.

 MACLEOD
 What do you think I should do?

 JOE
 Look, I don't know, MacLeod.  I just observe and record.

 MACLEOD
 (mildly)
You know, there's something almost immoral about all this observing and not interfering.  If Roderick is evil, then watching without doing anything to stop it is like consenting to what he does.

JOE
(leaning forward)
And what do you think would happen if we really tried to stop the evil immortals?  Once they found out about us we wouldn't stand a chance.  And who would decide when one of you crossed the line?  Would you trust us to judge you?

MACLEOD
No. Horton did, and he found us all guilty.
(He swirls his glass, takes a swig.)
What if you became immortal?

JOE
Me?  You aren't trying to tell me something, are you?
(He sits back shaking his head.)
No. I don't know what happened with Jamey, but we have a pretty good screening program, and after this it'll get even tighter.

He takes a long drink.  MacLeod waits.

JOE
Joe Dawson, an immortal.  You know, I don't think there's a watcher alive who hasn't secretly imagined what it would be like.  Sometimes, when I wake up and look in the mirror and realize just how old I'm getting, or whenever I cut myself shaving, I think--if only I were immortal.  But then all I have to do is go through some of the chronicles, and I come to my senses.
(Chuckles sourly, still thinking.)
A legless immortal.  I'd lose my head in days.

MACLEOD
Not if I were around.

Joe looks up at him, surprised.

JOE
Thanks.

MACLEOD
(relentlessly brings him back to the question)
But if you were immortal, instead of a watcher, what would you do about Roderick?

JOE
I don't know.  I guess I'd say it depends on what he does now, rather than what he did fifty years ago.

MacLeod nods.

JOE (CONT'D.)
He's asking the same questions all of us and probably most of you have asked for centuries.  But maybe the real question is, what will he do with the answers?

MACLEOD
And how far will he go to get them?

END OF ACT III
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ACT IV
 

INT. JOE'S BAR - NIGHT

MACLEOD and JOE are still seated at the table as before.  They both look up as METHOS comes into the room and approaches their table with a hard look on his face.

 METHOS
 You were waiting for him to cross the line?  How's kidnaping Wescot?

MacLeod half-starts to his feet.

 MACLEOD
 What?

 METHOS
I just talked to his watcher.  He's taken Wescot back to that private lab of his - something about needing a new immortal.

JOE
(to MacLeod)
What will he do?  Is Wescot in danger?

METHOS
In danger?  With a man who could suffocate children to see how long it took, experiment on pregnant women to see what would happen to their babies?

JOE
You've been reading his files.

METHOS
Pretty hellish stuff too.

MacLeod pushes back his drink decisively.

MACLEOD
Even if he lets Wescot go unharmed, he has no right to use his immortality for his own purposes.  This has to end.

MacLeod stands and puts on his coat.

MACLEOD
(to Methos)
You coming?

METHOS
No.

MacLeod's expression shows confusion for a moment, but then he shakes it off to concentrate on the task at hand and walks out the door.

Joe looks wonderingly at Methos, who is staring at the table and does not look up.  Joe follows MacLeod out the door.

EXT. RODERICK'S LAB - NIGHT

As MACLEOD approaches the building, blue light flashes through the shuttered windows.  He runs and tries the door.  Finding it locked, he picks up a rock and throws it through a window beside the door.  He then breaks away the shards with his elbow and reaches in to open the door.

INT. RODERICK'S LAB - NIGHT

As he enters, MACLEOD is met by the chaos of a QUICKENING in progress.  Lightning flashes from one end of the room, striking a row of empty flasks, spraying glass everywhere.  MacLeod ducks behind a lab bench, shielding his face with one arm, and tries to make his way to where the lightning is coming from.

WESCOT is chained to the wall next to a gas cylinder, screaming as lightning arches through him from a headless body at his feet.  MacLeod reaches him just as the quickening ends, and he collapses against the wall.

MACLEOD
Wescot!  What happened?

Before Wescot can answer, RODERICK emerges from a door behind him.

RODERICK
Come to see the results of my experiment?

MACLEOD
(turning)
It's not just an experiment when a man loses his head.

Roderick nudges the body on the ground with his foot.

RODERICK
That one? He's vermin.  Hasn't done the world a bit of good in a hundred sixty years.  I fought him, I won - doesn't that give me the right to take his head?

MACLEOD
Yes.  But not to use him for your own purposes, and not to force his quickening on another.

RODERICK
Ah, but you don't even know what this experiment may teach us about immortality.  What is it that passes from one immortal to another?  His life force, his energy, his soul?  There is much that science may be able to tell us.
(He turns to Wescot.)
So, how was your first quickening?

WESCOT
(still out of breath)
Pretty much what I expected.

RODERICK
(surprised)
Really?

Roderick moves toward him, and MacLeod draws his sword and places it between Wescot and Roderick.

MACLEOD
You've crossed the line.

RODERICK
(impatiently)
I haven't harmed him.  I even gave him his first victory.

MACLEOD
You had no right.

RODERICK
So, now are you challenging me?

MACLEOD
Yes.

RODERICK
Very well. But who are you to be drawing lines?  Who are you to judge my work, and what I might accomplish for our kind as well as for mortals?

MACLEOD
We have to judge each other.  No one else can.  You know the rules.  We let our swords decide.

In one swift movement Roderick reaches backwards, retrieves his tranquilizer gun, and shoots MacLeod point blank in the stomach.

MacLeod drops to his knees, his sword clattering to the floor.  Slowly he brings one hand up and pulls out the dart, fighting for consciousness.  Roderick picks up the katana and runs it slowly across the side of MacLeod's neck, bringing a thin line of blood welling to the surface.  MacLeod tries to push the sword away, but only succeeds in slicing his hand.

RODERICK
I could kill you now.  Does that make me right and you wrong?

MacLeod tries to answer but collapses against the cabinet.  Roderick stoops beside him, thumbs open one of his eyelids, and then, satisfied, sends his sword sliding across the floor. He turns back to Wescot.

Wescot watches but does not resist as Roderick unchains one of his wrists, puts a restrictor around his upper arm and begins to draw blood into a syringe.

WESCOT
I suppose you couldn't beat him in a fair fight.

RODERICK
(laughing)
Of course I could.  But I don't have time to spare at the moment.

JOE has entered the building by a back door and stands behind some equipment, watching breathlessly.  Wescot is sitting at just such an angle that he cane see the end of Joe's cane, but he knows better than to expect help.  He looks down and notices that the strap binding his other wrist to the chain was burned and frayed during the quickening - a good jerk might break it.  He glances carefully at MacLeod, who has begun to fight off the tranquilizer.

MacLeod opens his eyes and slowly drags himself to his feet.  He's still dizzy, and when he puts out a hand to support himself he knocks a small vial off of the lab bench.  Roderick turns instantly.

RODERICK
I suppose I'll have to restrain you as well.

MACLEOD
(with effort)
What you're doing is wrong.  If I didn't try to stop you, I'd be as guilty as you.

RODERICK
(drawing a sword)
And how do you propose to stop me MacLeod?

MacLeod backs away unsteadily, having nothing with which to defend himself.  Wescot breaks the strap around his wrist with a quick tug and dashes over to where MacLeod's sword lays.  He picks it up and throws it handle-first.

WESCOT
MacLeod!

MacLeod slips out from behind Roderick and catches it, then moves back to give himself some room.

MACLEOD
Wescot, go!

Wescot hesitates briefly but obeys, heading toward the doors.

RODERICK
Very well.  Let our swords decide who is right.  But not here.

MACLEOD
(blocking his way out)
Right here, right now.

Roderick attacks furiously, trying to finish it quickly.  At first MacLeod parries and gives ground, waiting for the last of the tranquilizer to wear off.  Then he begins to attack, and grazes Roderick's shoulder.  He trips over a can of solvent, which begins to empty its contents onto the floor.  They lock swords and Roderick slams MacLeod into the edge of the lab bench.  MacLeod gasps but forces his way out, then takes Roderick's head with a sweeping stroke.

The QUICKENING sends lightning from one end of the lab to the other, exploding instruments and sparking the pool of solvent on the floor.  A heavy piece of equipment falls on top of Joe, who struggles to escape.  When the quickening ends the building is in flames.  MacLeod drags himself to his feet, coughing and choking in the smoke, and staggers to the door.

EXT. RODERICK'S LAB - NIGHT

WESCOT is waiting outside.  He runs forward to help MACLEOD as he staggers from the building, but he is still watching the door.

WESCOT
Joe hasn't come out yet.

MACLEOD
(hoarsely)
Joe? I didn't see him.

WESCOT
You're not supposed to.  But he was there and he hasn't come out.

MACLEOD
(giving his sword to Wescot)
Take this.

WESCOT
You're going back?  You'll never make it.  Let me.

MACLEOD
He's my watcher.

MacLeod hurries back toward the door.

INT. RODERICK'S LAB - NIGHT

MacLeod enters the building with an arm across his mouth and nose.

MACLEOD
Dawson?!

Joe is still trapped, and blood is running down his face from a cut on his forehead.  The flames haven't reached him but they're getting close.

JOE
MacLeod! Over here!

As MacLeod makes his way toward Joe the ceiling collapses in flames on top of him.  Joe is still safe but can scarcely see through the smoke.
 
JOE
MacLeod?

After agonizing seconds, MacLeod manages to crawl out of the wreckage, his clothes flaming.  He rolls to put them out, then crawls toward Joe, coughing furiously.

When he reaches him, it takes nearly all his strength to lift the equipment away.  Joe tries to get up, cries out, and falls back.

MacLeod puts Joe's arm over his shoulders and hauls him up.

JOE
(pointing to the back door)
That way!

Together they stagger out of the building.

EXT. BEHIND RODERICK'S LAB - NIGHT

A little ways from the building, MacLeod falls to his knees as Joe slips from his grasp.  Joe catches himself, more or less, and MacLeod collapses in the grass.  They lie side by side, both breathing painfully.  MacLeod's face and arms are badly burned, his clothing charred.  Joe looks down at himself to survey the damage, and retrieves a handkerchief from his pocket and dabs at the wound on his head.

JOE
(wincing)
This is not going to look good on my report.

MACLEOD
(staring straight ahead as if blinded)
So don't report it.

JOE
It's the truth.

MACLEOD
(words come slowly)
Then I guess you'll just have to make the best of it.

Sirens can be heard in the distance as flames leap higher from the building.  MacLeod's head lolls in the grass, his eyelids drooping.  Joe peers off toward the sirens, then back at MacLeod.

JOE
Don't you die on me, Duncan MacLeod.

MACLEOD
(in a whisper)
Sorry . . . .

His eyes close.  Joe reaches over and feels for a pulse at his throat.

JOE
Damn.

Wescot comes running around the building, Mac's sword in hand.  He sees them and hurries over.

WESCOT
Thank God.  I was about to go after you myself.
(He looks more closely at MacLeod.)
Is he . . . ?

JOE
Yeah.

WESCOT
Wow.  Are you OK?

He starts to help Joe up, but Joe stops him, putting a hand to his side.

JOE
Something's not right. Better wait for the paramedics.

He cocks a head toward the approaching sirens.  His face is going gray.

WESCOT
Joe?  What's wrong?

JOE
It'll be OK.
(He gestures toward MacLeod.)
Go on, get him out of here.

Wescot nods reluctantly.  He gets his arms under MacLeod's shoulders and drags him away as fire engines come up the street.

EXT. A SECLUDED AREA - NIGHT

MACLEOD awakens from death with a painful gasp.  Flames from the building still light the scene.  MacLeod's arms and face are red and blistered, though not as badly as before.  His head rests on a wadded-up jacket.  He gets up on one elbow and looks around, sees WESCOT, then his sword laying in the grass nearby.

WESCOT
(following his gaze)
If I wanted your head, don't you think I'd have taken it by now?

MACLEOD
(laying back with a groan)
Some gratitude that would be. Dawson?

WESCOT
(glancing O. S.)
Paramedics have got him.  I think he'll be OK.
(He holds up a small cup.)
Water?

MacLeod lifts his head and swallows as Wescot puts it to his lips.  MacLeod's arms look a little less burned.

WESCOT
Thanks for coming for me.

MACLEOD
Thanks for your help.

WESCOT
Roderick's quickening - it must have been something else.  It looked like the whole building was going to explode.

MacLeod looks at him closely, but doesn't say anything.

WESCOT (CONT'D)
Does it always feel -

MACLEOD
Like what?

WESCOT
Like - making love, and seeing God, and going through a meat grinder all at the same time.

MACLEOD
I suppose so.  It's a little different every time.

WESCOT
I've seen a lot, as a watcher, and I always wondered what it really felt like.  It hurts like hell, but there's something exhilarating about it too.

MACLEOD
That's why some immortals spend their lives hunting each other.  Taking heads can become addicting.

WESCOT
Don't worry.  I'd like to keep my head a while, but I'm not too excited about taking any more, especially if I'm the one who has to do the beheading.

MacLeod sits up slowly, nearly healed.

MACLEOD
So what will you do, now that your career as a watcher is finished?  Not genetic research, I hope.

WESCOT
No. I'm a virologist, not a gene jockey.  But - killing Roderick didn't destroy the technology he was using.  Sooner or later someone else who knows about us will continue what he started.

MACLEOD
I suppose we'll have to deal with that when it happens.

WESCOT
But I've always thought the best use of immortality would be to do a job where you risk your life for others - mortals, I mean - because you can.  You'll always come back.

MACLEOD
Like a firefighter, or a rescue worker?

WESCOT
Actually I was thinking of the red cross.  I've been studying retroviruses for years, but now I can go places others couldn't, help people who would otherwise die, or at least die miserably, without help.

MACLEOD
How will you keep people from finding out about you?

WESCOT
I'll have to find people I can trust, and tell them.  Besides, for every virus there's a tiny fraction of the population who are naturally immune.  Most people will think I'm just extraordinarily lucky.

MACLEOD
Sounds like a good idea.  First, though, you'll need to find a teacher.

WESCOT
I know.  First thing I did at watcher headquarters was draw up a list.  But it's a little hard to just walk up to somebody and say, hi, I'm a new immortal, but I know all about you and I was wondering if you'd be my teacher.

MACLEOD
I'd certainly leave out the part about knowing all about us.
(He gets to his feet, picks up his sword.)
Bring me your list, and I'll see if I can help you out.

WESCOT
Thanks.

They start walking away.  Then MacLeod stops.

MACLEOD
A little friendly advice, though--don't just stick to one thing.  Too many of us do, and it leads to trouble.  Move around, try knew things, learn new things, find new people to care about.  Live in the time and place where you are, not in all the centuries you hope to have, or the ones you have had, if you have them.

Wescot sighs, still daunted by the prospect of centuries.  He looks MacLeod in the eye.

WESCOT
I'll try to remember.

END OF ACT IV
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EPILOGUE

INT. DUNCAN'S LOFT - DAY

The lift door rolls up, and MACLEOD and JOE step out.  Joe winces as he walks, leaning heavily on MacLeod's arm.  His forehead has been stitched but is healing.

The room is now well lit, with track lighting casting soft beams in various directions.  MacLeod helps Joe over to the couch.

MACLEOD
You OK?

JOE
Yeah.
(He surveys the room.)
Not bad.  Not bad at all.  The only thing you need now are a few lightning rods.

MacLeod glances around at the thought but doesn't comment.

JOE (CONT'D.)
I don't suppose you'd be willing to come down and help me will the jury-rigged set-up at the bar.

MACLEOD
Maybe.
(He goes to the fridge.)
You want water, juice, milk, or a soda?

JOE
If those are my choices, I'll have a soda.

MacLeod brings two glasses and sits down across from him.

JOE
Wescot left town two days ago.  His apartment has already been rented out, no forwarding address.

MACLEOD
I know.

JOE
(turns to him with cocked eyebrow)
You know where he's gone.

MACLEOD
Yep.

JOE
Come on Mac, give me hint.

MACLEOD
(grinning)
Sorry, I gave my word.  Besides, why should I do your job for you?

JOE
(sits back, resigned)
He was a good watcher.  He knows all the tricks.  It'll be the devil finding him now.

MACLEOD
Good luck.

JOE
You're enjoying this a little too much, I think.  With my luck next thing I know you'll disappear on me again and I'll have to track you all the way to Madagascar.  Does it really bother you that much?

MACLEOD
Gee - maybe I'll get Methos and Amanda to help me start watching the watchers.  We'll keep records of everywhere you go, every bout of constipation, every awkward date, every time you lose your keys.  We'll get together and discuss your private lives, what you should have done differently in your youth -

JOE
All right, I get the point.  I guess I never asked you to like it.
(continues in a different tone)
But you didn't have to go back for me.  I guess I owe you one.

MacLeod shrugs and smiles a little, but doesn't answer.

JOE
You think he'll be all right?

MACLEOD
Wescot?  Yeah.  He's got a good teacher.

Joe clearly wants to ask who, but restrains himself.  The lift door opens to admit Methos.  He looks around.

METHOS
Looks like I'm too late to help finish the rewiring.

MACLEOD
There's always downstairs.

JOE
Or the bar. Where've you been the last few days?  There seems to be an epidemic of immortals mysteriously disappearing around here.

METHOS
I, ah, had a few ghosts to put to rest.
(He plops down on the love seat.)
Am I too late for the party?

JOE
What party?  This is ginger ale.

MACLEOD
(nods in the direction of the fridge)
Help yourself.

Methos gets up and walks to the refrigerator.

METHOS
So - what happened with Roderick?

MACLEOD
It's over.

Methos nods, rejoins them with a glass in hand.

METHOS
Sometimes the scars run deeper than you realize.

MACLEOD
I know.

METHOS
Who knows, maybe in the end Roderick gets the easy way out.

JOE
Are you saying it's easier to die for your sins than live with them?

METHOS
Maybe.  When I was starving in those camps, I couldn't help but think that maybe it was some kind of cosmic justice - being a victim of a monster as bad as I had been.

There is a moment of silence.

METHOS (CONT'D)
But I would still choose life.

THE END
TEASER
EXT. AN OPEN FIELD - EVENING
ACT I
INT. JOE'S OFFICE - DAY
EXT. THE FIELD - DAY
INT. MACLEOD'S LOFT - DAY
ACT II
INT. DUNCAN'S LOFT - DAY
INT. A UNIVERSITY OFFICE - DAY
EXT. RODERICK'S LABORATORY - DAY
INT. RODERICK'S LAB - DAY
EXT. ROAD TO BAVARIA - DAY
A SHORT TIME LATER
INT. CASTLE CELL - NIGHT
SEVERAL HOURS LATER
EXT CASTLE COURTYARD - DAY
INT. RODERICK'S LAB - DAY (CONT'D.)
INT. JOE'S BAR - DAY
EXT. JOE'S BAR - DAY
ACT III
INT. MACLEOD'S LOFT - DAY
INT. THE DOJO - DAY
INT. MACLEOD'S LOFT - DAY
SOME TIME LATER
INT. RODERICK'S LAB - DAY
INT. JOE'S BAR - NIGHT
ACT IV
INT. JOE'S BAR - NIGHT
EXT. RODERICK'S LAB - NIGHT
INT. RODERICK'S LAB - NIGHT
EXT. RODERICK'S LAB - NIGHT
INT. RODERICK'S LAB - NIGHT
EXT. RODERICK'S LAB - NIGHT
EXT. A SECLUDED SPOT - NIGHT
EPILOGUE
INT. MACLEOD'S LOFT - DAYAfterward

Duncan fumbled with a handful of keys outside Joe's apartment.  He should have thought to ask which one opened the front door.  Joe was just to sort of person to carry around a set of keys that would weigh down an ox.  Duncan wondered briefly what other interesting things they might open.

Inside he flipped on the light and looked around.  He'd never been to Joe's place - he seemed to live at the bar anyway.  Not much furniture, lots of open spaces.  There was something odd about the arrangement of things that he couldn't place until he realized that it was carefully set up for a man who walked on artificial legs.

He went to the bathroom, found the electric razor, toothbrush, a few other things Joe had wanted.  There was a wheelchair in the corner - he Disclaimer:  The characters of Duncan MacLeod, Joe Dawson and Methos/Adam Pierson, and the rules of the Highlander universe belong to Davis/Panzer.  No copyright infringement is intended.

Note: Sorry about the time line problem.  Shows what happens when you watch reruns out of order.  This story takes place after "Comes a Horseman" and "Revelation 8:6", but before "One Minute to Midnight" and "The End of Innocence".  Use your imagination.
 
 
 

 Highlander: The Series
 "The Alchemist"
 Written by Sarah Morgan

 5 May 1998
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 TEASER

FADE IN:

EXT. AN OPEN FIELD - EVENING

Two immortals are dueling in a field of tall grass, silhouetted against a pink and orange sky.  One is DUNCAN MACLEOD, dressed in old jeans and a loose white shirt.  The other is SARGESON, a stout man, formally dressed.  The contest is fierce - the combatants appear evenly matched.
 
Two watchers are present, bringing cameras to bear from different angles.  JOE DAWSON stands behind a crumbling wall that surrounds the field on two sides.  A sandy-haired man, JAMEY WESCOT, has found a perch in a tall oak nearby.  Dawson looks up from his camera and sees Wescot - they nod to acknowledge each other.

The fight ranges back and forth across the field.  Camera shutters click as blades clash repeatedly, but neither immortal gains the upper hand.  Then both immortals SENSE THE PRESENCE of another immortal and step back, looking around.  The watchers endeavor to make themselves invisible.

 MACLEOD
 Someone is here.

 SARGESON
 What is that to us? He cannot interfere.

Sargeson resumes the fight, and slashes MacLeod across the forearm of his sword arm.  MacLeod utters a short cry as blood flows from the wound, quickly soaking his sleeve.  But before Sargeson can press his advantage, MacLeod snatches up his sword with his uninjured hand and swiftly relieves his opponent of his sword, followed by his head.

 MACLEOD
 (to the body)
 Should've waited another century or two.

The watchers observe the outcome of the duel - Joe nods with satisfaction, while Wescot looks faintly surprised.  MacLeod steps away from the body and stands with a hand clamped over his wound as a WHITE MIST rises from the headless corpse.  As it swirls around him he looks around again for the other immortal, but still sees no one.

Lightning arches from Sargeson's body to MacLeod's as the QUICKENING begins.  There are not many places for the lightning to go - it wraps in writhing tendrils around him, occasionally reaching out in huge arches.  One touches the wall in front of Joe - he steps back, startled but unhurt.  Another hits the oak in which Wescot is sitting, and the branch above him CRACKS and BREAKS.

Joe looks up as Wescot falls beneath it with a cry.  MacLeod, racked with the power of the quickening, does not hear it.  Joe glances quickly at MacLeod, then abandons his post and hurries to the oak to investigate.

 JOE
 (approaching the tree)
 Jamey!  Hey!  Are you OK?

Wescot has fallen to the ground and is not moving.  His eyes are open and fixed, his neck is lying at an odd angle, and his legs are trapped beneath the fallen branch.  Joe feels for a pulse, finds none, and bows his head.

 JOE
 Damn.

Wescot's form is illuminated by the last few flashes of the quickening.  After it fades, MacLeod falls to his knees in the grass, breathing deeply and leaning on his sword.  Behind him, RODERICK, a tall man with graying hair, emerges from behind the farthest section of the wall.  MacLeod SENSES HIS PRESENCE and starts to turn, but the other immortal whips out a gun and shoots him with a tranquilizer dart.  MacLeod plucks it from his shoulder, but then his eyes roll back and he collapses onto his side.  His sword falls to the ground beside him.

Roderick approaches and rolls MacLeod onto his back with his foot.  He is out cold.  Roderick hauls the MacLeod's limp form onto his shoulder and carries him back behind the wall from which he emerged, leaving his sword where it fell.
 
Joe returns to the battle ground and is surprised to find MacLeod gone.  He walks across the field toward Sargeson's body and hits MacLeod's sword with his foot.  He stops, picks it up, and looks around again, puzzled and concerned.

 JOE
 (calling out)
 MacLeod?  Mac!

There is no answer.  Beneath the oak tree, Wescot AWAKENS - he is immortal.  He looks up at the tree, down at himself, at the branch still lying over his legs, and realization flashes across his features.  He sits up slowly with a hand on his neck, and struggles to get out from under the branch.

The rustling of the leaves on the fallen branch draws Joe's attention.  He turns and sees Wescot slowly picking himself up, and nearly drops MacLeod's sword.  Their eyes meet for a long moment.  Then Wescot turns and walks away, leaving Joe staring after him.

 END OF TEASER
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ACT I

INT. JOE'S OFFICE - DAY

JOE is seated behind his desk, a look of worried concentration on his face.  The desk is strewn with papers, but he's not looking at them.  There is a knock at the door.

 JOE
 Yeah?

METHOS enters, surveys the litter of papers.

 METHOS
 What's going on?

 JOE
 It's MacLeod.  I've lost him.

Methos closes the door and hitches a hip onto a paperless corner of the desk.

 METHOS
 Well, do you remember where did you put him last?

 JOE
 (giving Methos a quelling look)
 Sargeson finally challenged him last night, out at that field behind the tracks.

 METHOS
 And?

 JOE
 Like Mac said, he should have waited a few more centuries.

 METHOS
 So - MacLeod took Sargeson's head.

 JOE
 Yeah.
 (He pauses.)
 But during the quickening, I left for a minute, and when I came back, he was gone.

 METHOS
 You left? During a quickening? To do what?

 JOE
 (shaking his head)
 That's another problem - I'll tell you about it later.  Right now I've got to find MacLeod!

 METHOS
 OK, so he left.  Probably went off somewhere to brood about it.  Why worry?

Joe pulls Duncan's katana from behind the desk.

 JOE
 He left this.

Methos stares at the sword for several seconds.

 JOE (CONT'D.)
There was another immortal.  Both of them sensed it during the fight, but there was no one in sight.  I've been checking the records all night, trying to figure out who it could have been, but so far as I can tell no other immortals we know about were around.

 METHOS
 If it was someone after his head, he could have just taken it right then.

 JOE
 True.

 METHOS
 So what do you think happened?

 JOE
 (frustrated)
I don't know.  Maybe it was somebody like Killian.  He seems to have a lot of enemies who want to do more to him than chop his head off.

 METHOS
 Maybe it's that infuriating boy scout morality he tries to impose on everyone.
 (He ignores Joe's look.)
OK.  I haven't played detective in a few decades.  Did you find any tracks or cigarette butts?  Business cards?

 JOE
 No, it was getting dark.  Look, this is serious.  MacLeod could be in trouble.

 METHOS
 And you could get in trouble trying to help him out of it.

Joe can't argue the point, but it doesn't lessen his look of determination.  He begins gathering papers together on his desk.

 METHOS (CONT'D)
 Joe, he's taken care of himself for a long time.

 JOE
 (pushing himself to his feet)
 Fine.  You can read the report.

 METHOS
 Where are you going?

 JOE
Back out to the field.  Who knows, maybe he did drop a business card.  There's got to be some kind of clue.

 METHOS
 (abruptly)
 All right, fine.  I'm in.  Call me curious.
 (he points to the sword in Joe's hand)
 Uh, are you talking that?

 JOE
You think I'm going to leave it laying around to get lost, or stolen?  He'd have my head, even if it isn't worth anything.

 METHOS
(lightly)
It's worth something where it is.

JOE
(sarcastically)
So kind of you to say so.  Come on.

They leave together.

EXT. FIELD - DAY

MACLEOD slowly regains consciousness lying on his back in the grass.  He gets to his feet with a hand to his forehead, a little dizzy, but it soon passes.  He looks around, trying to remember where he is, how he got there.  His sleeve is dark with dried blood.  Sargeson's body is gone.

 MACLEOD
 My sword . . .

He searches swiftly through the grass, but the sword is nowhere to be found.  He steps on the tranquilizer dart, stoops to pick it up, and stares at it.

TIGHT ON DART IN MACLEOD'S HAND

DISSOLVE TO:

Footage from the TEASER in which MacLeod plucks the dart from his shoulder and then collapses.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. FIELD - DAY (CON'T)

MacLeod puts the dart in his pocket.  He sees his coat still lying over a fallen part of the wall.  He walks over to it, drapes it over his arm to cover his stained sleeve, smooths his hair back with his other hand, and starts walking down the road.

A car approaches from the direction he's heading.  It slows, then stops.  MacLeod stops and backs up, SENSING THE PRESENCE of an immortal.  He is relieved to see METHOS and JOE get out.

 JOE
 Mac! Are you all right?

 MACLEOD
 I think so.

 METHOS
 What happened?

 MACLEOD
 I have no idea.
 (His brows narrow.)
 What day is it?

 JOE
 Wednesday, the 22nd.

 MACLEOD
 Good.  I hate losing days.
 (looks at the car)
 What are you two doing here?

 METHOS
 Oh, I was just going to help Joe find out where you disappeared to.

 MACLEOD
 I disappeared?

 JOE
Yeah.  One minute you were screaming in the middle of a light show and then a minute later you were gone.

 MACLEOD
 (remembering)
 There was another immortal . . .

 JOE
 (interrupting)
 Who obviously wasn't here for your head.

 METHOS
 Who was it?

 MACLEOD
 I don't know - I didn't see him.  I just woke up, over there.

He waves a hand toward the field.

 METHOS
 Were you dead?

 MACLEOD
 (frowning)
 No. I remember being hit by this dart. I found it in the grass.

He pulls it from his pocket and shows it to them.

 METHOS
 Looks like some kind of tranquilizer.

 JOE
 So you were out here all night?  There was a hell of a storm.  Lights were out all over the city.

MacLeod looks up at the residual gray clouds, then down at himself.

 MACLEOD
 I don't think so.

 METHOS
 Then where were you?

 MACLEOD
 I don't know. But Sargeson's gone, and so is my sword.

 JOE
 Ah, actually, I've got it.

MacLeod looks at him with lowered brows.

 JOE
 Like I said, you disappeared.  I didn't want to just leave it there.

 MACLEOD
 Have you got it here?

 JOE
 Yeah.

Joe opens the trunk and retrieves the katana from beneath a blanket and hands it to MacLeod.

 METHOS
 (still pondering the mystery)
So some unknown immortal watches the fight and the quickening, knocks out MacLeod, hauls him away, and then brings him back and dumps him here? And takes Sargeson's body? It doesn't make sense.

 MACLEOD
 Who's Sargeson's watcher? Was he there? He should have seen something.

 JOE
 (shaking his head)
That's the other problem.  His name is Jamey Wescot.  He was there all right, but I'm pretty sure he didn't see anything.

 MACLEOD
 Why not?

 JOE
 (pointing)
 Well, he was watching from up in that tree.

 METHOS
 Wow.  It looks like lightning struck it during the storm.

 JOE
 No - it was during the quickening.  Broke off a branch on top of him.

 MACLEOD
 Was he all right?

 JOE
 Ah, no. He broke his neck.

MacLeod looks distressed.

 JOE (CONT'D.)
 And became immortal.

MacLeod and Methos both turn to him in astonishment.

 METHOS
 What??

 MACLEOD
 (relieved and amused)
 A watcher becomes an immortal.  This should be entertaining.

 METHOS
 And there'll be hell to pay at headquarters.
 (looking up suddenly)
 So nice of you to let me know.  He could blow my cover!

 JOE
 Well, now you do.  But that still leaves us in the dark about what happened to Mac.

 METHOS
 We could still go and look for business cards.

MacLeod looks puzzled, Joe annoyed.
 
 MACLEOD
 (holding up the dart)
 Maybe this will do.

INT. DUNCAN'S LOFT - DAY

MACLEOD walks into the darkened loft and flips the light switch. The room remains dark. He flips it off, then on again, and this time the switch sparks and pops, followed by the light fixtures in the kitchen and living room and all the wall switches and outlets in succession.

MacLeod ducks, shielding his face.  When the fireworks die down, he looks around and groans in annoyance.  He then stalks over to the window, opens the curtain to admit the morning light, and pulls a up chair.

He then takes out a laptop computer and sits down.  After typing for a minute, he pulls out the dart, examines it closely in the light from the window, and begins typing again.

 END OF ACT I
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ACT II

INT. A UNIVERSITY OFFICE - DAY

MACLEOD knocks on the open door and is met by a young graduate student leaving the room with a reference book.

 MACLEOD
 I'm looking for Dr. Roderick Gelnhausen.

 STUDENT
 You can probably find him out at the field lab.

 MACLEOD
 Could you give me the address?  I'm supposed to meet with him later, but something's come up.

 STUDENT
 (pointing to a piece of paper stuck on a bulletin board)
 Sure.  It's right here.

 MACLEOD
 (pulling out a piece of paper to copy it)
 Thank you.

EXT. RODERICK'S LABORATORY - DAY

It is an old building, seemingly deserted, but there is one car in front.  MACLEOD drives up and goes inside.

INT. RODERICK'S LAB - DAY

On the inside the building is newly furnished, with all the accouterments of a modern microbiology lab.  MACLEOD enters as RODERICK, the same tall man of graying hair who was present in the first scene, is putting something into a refrigerator.  He turns as the door opens, SENSING MacLeod's entrance.

 RODERICK
Ah, Duncan MacLeod of the clan MacLeod.  How long has it been?  About three hundred years, by my count.

 MACLEOD
 (pulls out the dart and holds it up)
 A little more like 24 hours, by my count.

 RODERICK
Ah, yes, I see.  Well, I hope you'll forgive me for that.  Circumstances didn't allow me to ask your permission.

 MACLEOD
 Doesn't THAT sound familiar.

 RODERICK
Surely you don't still hold a grudge for what happened in Bavaria all those years ago?  We'd have both languished in that dungeon if it weren't for my quick thinking.

 MACLEOD
 Yeah, but I was the one who had to get killed to get us out. . .

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. ROAD TO BAVARIA - DAY

SUBTITLE: "1677, BAVARIA, GERMANY"

DUNCAN MACLEOD, dressed in a commoner's traveling clothes, is walking down a dirt road surrounded by brilliant green forest, muttering dire curses in heavy Scottish brogue on the man who has stolen his horse.

He stops, SENSING THE APPROACH of another immortal, and looks up and down the road.  Then from the forest an OUTLAW IMMORTAL, a man in rags with blackened teeth, rushes at him with a drawn sword.

 OUTLAW IMMORTAL
 Get away. It's mine, you can't have it, you understand!

MacLeod draws a sword to defend himself.  He forces the other man back.

 MACLEOD
 Whatever it is, Ah don't want it! Are ye mad?
 

 OUTLAW IMMORTAL
 Then I'll have your quickening!

The other immortal rushes MacLeod, but once again he fends the man off.

 MACLEOD
 I don't even know your name.

 OUTLAW IMMORTAL
 Don't have one.  Lived in the forest all me life.

A short battle ensues.  MacLeod runs the outlaw through, and he collapses with a groan.

MacLeod drags the body into the underbrush and notices a money bag tied to his belt.  When he cuts the strings and looks inside, his eyes pop open when he spies a fair number of gold coins.

 MACLEOD
 (to the dead man)
A thief, eh?  I should take your head to keep you from robbing honest travelers.  But perhaps you know no better.

He pours a few of the coins into his hand, and puts back the rest.

 MACLEOD (CONT'D.)
 However, one thief can pay for what another stole.

He continues down the road, his countenance much more cheerful than before.

A SHORT TIME LATER

MacLeod is surrounded by a mounted guard, one of whom puts a sword to his chest.

 LEADER OF THE GUARDS
 Search him!

 MACLEOD
 Gentlemen! I am but an innocent traveler.

Ignoring his protests, the guards find his money pouch and open it.

 LEADER
 Not when you're carrying the prince's stolen gold.  Seize him!

 MACLEOD
 But I dinna steal it -

Ignoring his protests, the guards grab his arms and pull out a rope to bind him.  MacLeod lunges and breaks free momentarily, but then he is struck by a blow to the side of the head.  He falls unconscious to the ground.

INT. CASTLE CELL - NIGHT

MacLeod awakens in a bed of filthy straw in a dimly lit cell.  His clothes are now torn and muddy.  He groans, puts a hand to his head, and tries to get up, whereupon he discovers that his wrists and ankles are chained to the floor.  He struggles for a moment, but the chains won't budge.

 MACLEOD
 (calling out to his unseen captors)
 I'm no' a thief!

 A VOICE
 Then what are you?

At that moment MacLeod SENSES THE PRESENCE of another immortal.  He sits up in alarm.

 MACLEOD
 Duncan MacLeod of the clan MacLeod.  Who are you?

 RODERICK
 Roderick the third, of the house of Gelnhausen.

 MACLEOD
 Are ye a prisoner?

 RODERICK
 Alas, yes.  The prince mistakenly believes I am withholding from him a philosopher's stone.

MacLeod manages to sit up with his back to the wall in spite of the chains.  He cannot see Roderick, who is in another cell next to his.

 MACLEOD
 Ye are an alchemist, then.

 RODERICK
 For nearly four hundred years.  I studied under Paraclesus, one of the greatest alchemists and physicians of the last century, though perhaps I shall live long enough to surpass him.

 MACLEOD
 Aye, I've heard mention of him.
 (He lowers his voice.)
 Was he one of us?

 RODERICK
 (in a normal tone)
 No, no, quite mortal.  A great pity - one of the greatest minds of Europe, and he died of poisoning.

 MACLEOD
 (skeptically)
 They say ye can make gold from lead.

 RODERICK
 (lowering his voice)
Not lead, my friend - mercury.  The prince has minted quite a store of coins from my transformations.  But a philosopher's stone - now that would not only make gold from base metals, but also grant immortality, cure diseases, and a host of other things as well.

Roderick shifts in his chains, while MacLeod leans forward to listen, still doubtful but intrigued.

 RODERICK (CONT'D.)
Paraclesus knew the secret, I believe, but he did not reveal the process even to me.  I have been working for many years to uncover the mystery myself.
(He sighs.)
Unfortunately, my immortality, and like yours, is of another kind.  The prince discovered it a month ago when I was killed in an explosion.  Now he believes I have a philosopher's stone that I've been keeping from him.
 (Another pause.)
 Never underestimate their fear of death, my friend.

 MACLEOD
 It must have been your gold they think I stole.

 RODERICK
Stolen? My gold? I had not heard of it. But I knew that something was afoot.  And now they think they have found the thief.  Are you quite certain they haven't?

 MACLEOD
I'm no' a thief.  An immortal challenged me on the road, a wild man who lives in the forest and no doubt makes his living by robbing travelers.

 RODERICK
 And you took his head.

 MACLEOD
 I did not think it was necessary.  He didn't even have a name.

 RODERICK
Some of these wandering scoundrels have blacker hearts than you might imagine.  But what of the gold?

 MACLEOD
I found it on him and took a little to pay for another horse. Since the likes of him had stolen it, and I left him his head when I could well have taken it, I dinna think he would begrudge it.

 RODERICK
 (ignoring the moral issue)
 And it was he who had stolen the prince's gold.
 (A pause.)
 You took a little, you say?

 MACLEOD
 Just a few coins.

 RODERICK
Ah ha, then they'll still be searching for the rest.  That may be useful.  It appears that we are both victims of unfortunate circumstances.  But perhaps our meeting is fortuitous.  Some good may come of it.

 MACLEOD
 (slumps back against the wall)
 Like what?

SEVERAL HOURS LATER

MACLEOD is sleeping fitfully, half-slumped against the wall, looking disheveled and uncomfortable.  He awakens as GUARDS approach his cell.

 MACLEOD
 Are ye no' going to bring me some food?  I'll do ye no good if I starve to death.

The guards begin unlocking his manacles with mocking smiles.

 GUARD
 You won't have to worry about your stomach much longer.

 MACLEOD
 What do ye mean?

 GUARD
 You'll die today for stealing the prince's gold.

Upon hearing this, MacLeod immediately begins to struggle, but he is easily pinned, and a guard delivers a blow that knocks him staggering.

 GUARD
You can walk to your death with your eyes open or be carried there like a maiden in a swoon.  It doesn't matter to me.

 MACLEOD
 (standing up more cooperatively)
 When you put it li' that . . .

The other guards bind his hands in front of him.

EXT. CASTLE COURTYARD - DAY

MACLEOD is lead into a court yard and stood against a wall.  Three archers stand a short distance away.  The PRINCE in his finery is watching, surrounded by courtiers.  MacLeod SENSES an immortal's presence.

 RODERICK
 (calls out above the babble)
 Do not worry, my friend.  You'll only be dead for a short time.

MacLeod turns quickly, recognizing Roderick's voice, and sees him at the prince's side.  His expression turns to one of astonishment and confusion.  An excited murmur runs through the crowd.

 PRINCE
 The punishment for stealing the gold of Bavaria is death.

 MACLEOD
 But I dinna steal it!

 PRINCE
 (holding out the coins)
 These were found on your person - proof enough.  Or can you explain how else you came by them?

 MACLEOD
 Another man gave them to me, as payment for a horse.

 PRINCE
 (leans forward)
 And who is this man?

 MACLEOD
 I do not know his name - he dwells in the forest.

 PRINCE
 You sold your horse to a wandering thief?  Surely you can invent a better tale than that.

Before MacLeod can continue his defense, the prince calls the archers to ready.  MacLeod realizes the futility of further argument.  He glances at Roderick, who is watching almost disinterestedly.

MacLeod stares in wincing anticipation at the points of the arrows as, at the princes' command, the archers nock, draw, and release.  All three arrows bury themselves in his chest.

TIGHT ON MACLEOD'S FACE, FADE TO BLACK

FAST CUT TO:

MacLeod revives with a gasp, wincing as he draws his bound hands to the bloody holes in his shirt.  The extracted arrows lie together in the grass by his side.  Roderick drags him to his feet as the courtyard erupts into excited exclamations.

Roderick leaves MacLeod standing unsteadily and bows before the prince, presenting him with a milky white stone.  The prince accepts it, still staring at MacLeod.  Seeing the man's scrutiny, MacLeod feigns surprise.

 MACLEOD
 How can it be?  I saw the arrows fly, felt them enter here -

He puts a hand to his chest.

 PRINCE
You are a most fortunate thief indeed.  You have paid the price for stealing, but God has chosen to give you back your life - with this!

He holds up the stone, whereupon the assembled courtiers chatter excitedly.

A messenger arrives at full gallop, interrupting the show.  He dismounts and holds up the outlaw immortal's money bag on the end of his sword.

 MESSENGER
 The prince's gold is recovered!

As the court's attention turns to the messenger, MacLeod slips closer to Roderick.

 MACLEOD
 What are ye doing?

 RODERICK
Getting us out of that dungeon.  Though you were dead so long you nearly ruined the show.  Haven't taken very many heads yet, have you?  Well, never mind.  Come, now seems a prudent time to take our leave.

He unsheathes a knife and surreptitiously slices MacLeod's bonds, then begins edging backward, away from the guards.  MacLeod follows.

The court's attention remains on the messenger, who is eagerly telling his tale.  MacLeod and Roderick slip through a small gate, and Roderick runs along the outside of the wall toward the larger gate where the messenger entered.  MacLeod stumbles behind him, one hand still pressed over the wound in his chest.

Roderick knocks out the groom holding the messenger's horse and takes the reigns, edging away from the gate.

 MACLEOD
 You used me - to make them think you had found a philosopher's stone.

 RODERICK
Not "found" a stone - made one.  They took careful note of my operations.  The stone looked quite pleasing, don't you think?

 MACLEOD
 But it's a fake!  If they try to use it on a mortal, he'll die!

 RODERICK
 Unfortunately true, but I didn't see an alternative.

Roderick mounts and then reaches down to pull MacLeod up behind him.

 MACLEOD
 This is thievery!

 RODERICK
 I think not.  The prince owes me more than one tired horse for my services to him.
 (He pats the horse's neck.)
 But I think I shall have to be content with this fellow.

 MACLEOD
 But I still don't have a horse - or a sword.

 RODERICK
Don't worry.  You don't get to be my age without keeping some funds hidden away.  I owe you that much at least, for helping me escape.

 MACLEOD
 (with feeling, rubbing his injury again)
 Aye.
 (He looks up and down the road.)
 Where will you go?

 RODERICK
 North - it would not do for the prince's men to come looking for me.

Roderick spurs the horse into motion.

 RODERICK (CONT'D.)
 Perhaps next time we meet, I will have a true philosopher's stone.

INT. RODERICK'S LAB - DAY (CONT'D.)

 RODERICK
 It ended well enough, I think.

 MACLEOD
 For us.
 (His gaze returns to the dart.)
 And now would you mind explaining what you've dragged me into this time?

ESTABLISHING SHOT EXT. JOE'S BAR - DAY

INT. JOE'S BAR - DAY

MACLEOD enters to find JOE and METHOS waiting inside.  MacLeod sits down at a table with them.

 JOE
 Well?

 MACLEOD
 It was Roderick.

 JOE
 Roderick Gelnhausen?  The biochemist?  Isn't he a visiting professor up at the university?

 MACLEOD
 Yeah.

 JOE
 But how could he have been out at the field?  We've got a watcher on him.

 MACLEOD
And I suppose you spend your nights in a car across from the dojo to make sure I don't leave unexpectedly.

 JOE
 (cocks his head, conceding the point)
 Not usually.

MacLeod collects a small double take.

 METHOS
 So what did he want with you?

 MACLEOD
A blood sample, stuff like that.  He's not just a biochemist, he's a microbiologist, physiologist, you name it.  An all-around renaissance scientist.  I knew him as an alchemist in Germany three hundred years ago.  I guess he's progressed with the times - now he's doing research in genetics.

 METHOS
 (leaning forward)
 What kind of genetics?

 MACLEOD
 (turns to meet his gaze)
 What kind do you think?

 JOE
(slowly)
 The genetics of immortals.

 METHOS
 What exactly is he trying to find out?

 MACLEOD
What makes us different from mortals.  Where we come from, why we can't have children.  All the old questions.

 METHOS
 Is that a good idea?

 MACLEOD
 I wasn't too keen on it, no.

 JOE
 So what are you going to do?

 MACLEOD
Nothing, for now.  Just because I don't think it's a good idea doesn't mean I think I should try to stop him.  I don't think he's far enough along to do anything with it, yet.  But he bears watching.

 JOE
 You're telling me.  Would you guys excuse me? I need to make a few calls.

He goes back into his office.

 METHOS
 (looking at the door Joe went through)
He better put some good people on it.  I've got a nasty suspicion this won't turn out well.  Some questions are better left unanswered.

 MACLEOD
Maybe.  But scientific research has made life a lot better for a lot of people in the last few hundred years - or did you enjoy watching entire towns die of plagues?

Methos scowls at him.

 METHOS
 I suppose he promised not to use you as a guinea pig any more.

 MACLEOD
 Or he'd be missing a head.

MacLeod stands, dismissing the subject.

 MACLEOD (CONT'D.)
Speaking of modern technology, you want to help me do some electrical work?  That storm blew out most of the wiring in the dojo.

 METHOS
 I guess a could spare a couple hours.

Methos follows MacLeod toward the door.

EXT. JOE'S BAR - DAY

MACLEOD and METHOS come out of the door together and get into MacLeod's car.

 METHOS
You know, maybe Roderick did you a favor, kidnaping you - you could have been electrocuted if you'd been home.

 MACLEOD
 The day is young.

 METHOS
 Wait a minute.  I thought you knew all about that sort of stuff.

 MACLEOD
 What?  Methos the immortal afraid of a little electricity?

 METHOS
 Maybe I'd better just watch.

 END OF ACT II
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ACT III

INT. DUNCAN'S LOFT - DAY

MACLEOD AND METHOS are working in semi-dankness, connecting power outlets to wiring running along the baseboards.  MacLeod is doing most of the work, with Methos holding a flashlight.  He hands MacLeod a pair of wire cutters.

 METHOS
 Why does this always happen?

 MACLEOD
 Why does what always happen?

 METHOS
 A person becomes immortal.  They try to live a normal life for a while, but then sooner or later they find something that's very important to them and concentrate on it, make it their whole reason for living.

 MACLEOD
 (peering into the exposed outlet)
 We all have to find our own ways to give our lives meaning.

 METHOS
 It could be battle, or beauty, or science, or great artists, or gambling, or revenge -

 MACLEOD
 (interrupting)
 Or the game.

 METHOS
 Yeah.  I'd say about a third of us become predatory, living to hunt down the others.

 MACLEOD
Until eventually they meet someone better than they are, or have a bit of bad luck, and they're dead.  Like Sargeson.

 METHOS
 Hopefully.

He hands MacLeod the face plate, and holds it as MacLeod screws it in.

 METHOS (CONT'D.)
But even a good man - or woman - who becomes obsessed with one thing eventually goes too far, and causes a lot of death or suffering, and one of us who would rather not is forced to kill them.

 MACLEOD
 (after a pause)
 It does happen a lot.

 METHOS
Mortals don't seem to have the same problem - I suppose they don't live long enough to really struggle with the meaning of life.

 MACLEOD
 (Pauses to point with his screw driver.)
 Now you're not thinking.  What about all the philosophers, and the great writers, and -

 METHOS
All right, I wasn't thinking.  But it's different for them.  They live, have children, grow old, and just when they're starting to understand what the really good questions are, they die.

They move together to a new junction box.

 MACLEOD
 So you think that will happen with Roderick?  That he'll go too far?

 METHOS
 Probably.

 MACLEOD
And then one of us will have to kill him.  You know, you're getting awfully cynical in your old age.  We'll have to keep you away from Wescot.

 METHOS
 Actually, I was thinking about putting in a request to be his watcher.

 MACLEOD
 (looking up from his wiring)
Are you crazy?  You can't watch another immortal.  He'd sense you every time you got close.  He'd think he was being stalked by someone after his head.

 METHOS
 He'd never even know I was there.  Don't forget I have lots of practice at that sort of thing.

 MACLEOD
 Oh really?

 METHOS
 Trust me.

 MACLEOD
 (returning to his work)
Well, fortunately I think Joe has more sense than you.  And I wouldn't worry too much about Roderick.  Joe'll keep an eye on him.

 METHOS
 (more to himself than MacLeod)
 May be I will too.

INT. THE DOJO - EVENING

MACLEOD is working through a kata with his sword in the darkened dojo, shirtless, his face intense, his movements graceful and quick.  He SENSES THE PRESENCE of another immortal and freezes with the sword suspended in an attack.

The door opens to admit JAMEY WESCOT, who stops abruptly when his eyes adjust to the dim light.

 MACLEOD
 (without moving)
 I am Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod.

 WESCOT
 Uh, I'm Jamey Wescot, and I certainly don't want to fight you.

MacLeod lowers the sword, retrieves a towel from the bench, and wipes his face.

 MACLEOD
 Sorry about the lights.  I'm working on rewiring.

 WESCOT
At least a heart attack won't kill me now.  Well, not for very long.  Can I talk to you, for a few minutes?

MacLeod nods.

 WESCOT (CONT'D.)
 Joe says you know about the watchers.

 MACLEOD
 So?

 WESCOT
 I was one of them.

 MACLEOD
 (with a snort)
 Not any more.

 WESCOT
I know. Joe kicked me out this morning in no uncertain terms. Now I keep looking over my shoulder, wondering when MY watcher is going to show up.

 MACLEOD
 (leans over a bench, stretching)
 Get used to it.

 WESCOT
 I don't feel any different than I did yesterday.  I'm not sure I want them watching me.

 MACLEOD
 (grunting a little)
 Did you ever ask Sargeson's permission?

Wescot has no answer.  MacLeod stands up, faces him.

 MACLEOD (CONT'D.)
None of us feels any different.  We just keep on living, and a long time ago someone decided that made us worth watching, our lives worth recording.

Wescot nods, then changes the subject.

 WESCOT
I was trying to find out more about the third immortal who was out at the field last night, but Joe escorted me to the door.  Since he won't tell me, I thought maybe you would.

 MACLEOD
 Why do you want to know?

 WESCOT
 Because he might come for me.

MacLeod nods.

 MACLEOD
 You want to help me do some electrical work?

 WESCOT
 Sure.

They walk toward the freight elevator.

INT. DUNCAN'S LOFT - EVENING

MACLEOD AND WESCOT exit the elevator.  Wescot looks around the room curiously as MacLeod pulls on a shirt. He opens his tool box and pulls out a circuit tester, then hands Wescot a flashlight.

 MACLEOD
 Shine this on the outlet.

Wescot complies.  MacLeod hooks up the circuit tester, and the light flashes green. They then move on to the next box.

 MACLEOD
 The other immortal's name is Roderick.  He's a visiting professor  up at the university.

 WESCOT
 Well, that's awfully good to know.  I do a lot of collaborative work with the virology department there.

 MACLEOD
 He's working with the biochemistry department, but he's actually doing research in genetics.

 WESCOT
 What was he doing there last night?

 MACLEOD
Helping himself to some of my blood.  Apparently something happens during a quickening that he's trying to unravel.

 WESCOT
 (sucks in his breath)
You mean he's studying immortals? Who's his watcher, I'd like to know?  He should be fired as incompetent.  That kind of thing should have been red-flagged to the entire district.  But - he can't publish anything like that.

  MACLEOD
 I'm sure he has an army of graduate students doing publishable work.

Wescot is silent for several seconds.  This time the circuit tester flashes red.  MacLeod frowns and tries it again.  No luck.

 WESCOT
You don't sound pleased.  Are you planning to challenge him?

 MACLEOD
 Not yet.

 WESCOT
 Why not?

 MACLEOD
Taking a life - mortal or immortal - isn't something to trifle with.  I don't think what he'd doing is a good idea, but that's not enough to challenge him over - yet.

 WESCOT
 You think he might take it too far?

 MACLEOD
 It's happened before.  Would you hand me that screwdriver?

Wescot hands it to him.  MacLeod starts to unscrew the face plate.

 WESCOT
 And how will you decide when he's crossed the line?

 MACLEOD
 (looks at him sideways)
 I'll know.

 WESCOT
No offense, but this isn't science fiction, you know.  I get awfully tired of people thinking that scientists are somehow blind to the ethical implications of their research.

 MACLEOD
 I didn't say that.

 WESCOT
There is enormous peer pressure within the scientific community to conform to certain ethical standards.  In order to get grants, or even get published, your work has to be read and reviewed -

 MACLEOD
 (interrupting, turning his attention from the outlet)
Roderick is immortal.  He doesn't need grants, and he isn't going to publish his research.  If he decides not to conform to those standards, there will be no one to stop him but one of us.

 WESCOT
 I suppose you're right.
 (He smiles.)
 Knee-jerk reaction of a persecuted virologist.

MacLeod shakes his head and abandons the outlet to continue testing the others.

 WESCOT (CONT'D.)
I've been watching Sargeson for, oh, six years now.  He only fought if he thought he could win - no other consideration.  The game justified killing any other immortal, no need to judge their character or intentions.  He was a gentleman, though.  As long as it was a fair fight, it was OK.

 MACLEOD
 Not much of a role model.

 WESCOT
 Better than some.  Look, I should get home.
 (He glances out the window surreptitiously.)
 Hate to keep my watcher out too late.

MacLeod lifts an eyebrow, glancing out the window by reflex, and puts down his tools.  He walks with Wescot to the back door.

 MACLEOD
 Maybe Joe's keeping him company.  Thanks for your help.

 WESCOT
 (handing MacLeod the flashlight)
 Thanks for the information.  Hope I'll see you around.

MacLeod nods, then stares after him thoughtfully as he exits.

INT. DUNCAN'S LOFT - DAY

MACLEOD and METHOS are half in and half out of a wall in the kitchen, a few feet apart.

 MACLEOD
 (from within the wall)
 Now connect the xxxx with xxxx, but DON'T touch the ground switch at the same time.

 METHOS
 (also muffled)
 I wasn't born yesterday, MacLeod.

 MACLEOD
 Yeah, but when you were born, the only known electricity was lightning.

There is an electrical snap, and the kitchen lights turns on.

 METHOS
 And a woman's kiss.

 MACLEOD
 (alarmed)
 Hey, the power's supposed to be shut off.  I could have been electrocuted a dozen times over.

Joe pulls up the elevator door, and the two immortals laboriously scrunch out from behind the wall.

 JOE
 Hey, don't scare me like that.  I don't like to see you guys without your heads. Any progress?

 MACLEOD
 (pointing wryly at the kitchen lights)
 Some.

MacLeod walks over to the power box and begins fiddling with the switches.

 JOE
 Well, I did some checking on Roderick.  I'm afraid he's more than just an alchemist turned biochemist.

 MACLEOD
 What do you mean?

 JOE
 Well, he was born in Germany, and as far as we can tell he never left until this century.

 METHOS
 So?

 JOE
He left in 1946.  He was a war criminal, executed for conducting experiments on humans in the concentration camps.

MacLeod blinks, stunned.  Methos goes white, his eyes wide, and he steps backwards until he bumps into the wall.

 JOE
 Adam - Methos - are you all right?

Methos takes a moment to get control of himself.

 METHOS
 I was in a Nazi concentration camp for eleven months.

 MACLEOD
 Was Roderick there? Did he -

 METHOS
 (interrupting)
 No.
 (He is not looking at either of them.)
I was terrified every day, every hour, that they would find out what I was.  But instead I died in a gas chamber with everyone else.
 (He wipes his forehead with the back of his hand.)
 I still have nightmares, once in a while.

There is a long moment of silence.

 JOE
 I'm sorry.

 METHOS
 (takes a deep breath and shifts away from the wall, waving a hand dismissively)
 It's OK.  It just - came up unexpectedly, that's all.

MacLeod shuts the door of the power box and puts on a jacket.

 JOE
 Where are you going?

 MACLEOD
 To see Roderick.

MacLeod picks up his sword, leaves by the back door.  Methos looks at Joe.

 METHOS
 Looks like you'd better go too.

Joe nods.

INT. RODERICK'S LAB - EVENING

MACLEOD enters the lab.  RODERICK is there, working late.

 RODERICK
Ah, MacLeod.  You'll be pleased with the progress I'm making with the data from last night. I don't suppose you'd be willing to part with a small biopsy sample?

 MACLEOD
 (ignoring Roderick's words)
 You left out part of the story.

 RODERICK
 Part of what story?

 MACLEOD
Your research. World War Two. Being executed as a war criminal for conducting experiments on humans.

 RODERICK
 You are truly amazing, MacLeod.  Do you have a spy service in your employ?

 MACLEOD
 Answer the question.

 RODERICK
What question?  Was I in Germany during World War Two?  Certainly.  Was I executed as a war criminal?  Unfortunately, yes.  Most unpleasant, but that time there was no convenient escape.

 MACLEOD
 More pleasant than the way your test subjects died.

 RODERICK
 (softening slightly)
 Yes.  That is true.  It was war, MacLeod.  In the end, it was madness.  We all got caught up in it.

 MACLEOD
 And you think that excuses you?

 RODERICK
 Whatever wrongs I committed, I paid the price for them in my own blood.

 MACLEOD
 Did you?  You're still alive.

 RODERICK
 What should I have done, offered them my head?  It wouldn't erase what had happened.

 MACLEOD
(reluctantly)
No.

RODERICK
And why should I have told you, MacLeod?  The past is written.  Time to go on.  What better memorial could I make than to use what I learned from them to make life better for others?

MACLEOD
And how does what you're doing make life better for anyone?

RODERICK
Don't you remember, MacLeod? When we parted in Bavaria, that I hoped to find a true philosopher's stone? Well, I have it.
(He holds up a vial filled with blood serum.)
Inside each of us is the key to eternal life.  If I could only unlock it, think of what it might mean for mankind.  No more aging!  No more sickness!  No more dying.

MACLEOD
And the whole world after each other's heads.

RODERICK
Scoff if you must. But unless you're going to challenge me, I must ask you to leave.  I have work to do.

MACLEOD
(reluctantly turning to leave)
I'll be watching.

Roderick watches MacLeod leave.

RODERICK
You do that.

INT. JOE'S BAR - NIGHT

MACLEOD sits at a table by himself at Joe's, swirling a half-finished drink.  METHOS walks up, puts his hands on the table, and leans toward him.

 METHOS
 Joe says you didn't kill him.  I want to know why.

MacLeod glances around quickly to see if Methos' statement has attracted any attention.

 MACLEOD
 (quietly)
 Methos, sit down.

Methos deliberately pulls out a chair and straddles it.

 METHOS
 OK. I'm sitting.  Now, tell me what he could possibly have said to talk you into leaving him alive.

 MACLEOD
 He believes that his research will benefit others.

 METHOS
 Oh, so now we're back to the old idea of the end justifies the means.
 
 MACLEOD
 He knows what he did was wrong, but there's nothing he can do to change it.  He's not a monster.

 METHOS
 Oh no? You don't think I know one when I see one - I was a monster, remember?

 MACLEOD
 But now you're not.  People can change.

 METHOS
Yes.  But not in a day.  Not in a decade, or even four or five decades.  It took me a thousand years to leave that life behind.

 MACLEOD
 He died once, at the hands of international justice.  Isn't that enough?

 METHOS
 Ask his victims if they think so.

 MACLEOD
 (turning to face him)
Ask yours.

Silence.  Methos mouth is open with shock.  He closes it and stands to leave.

 MACLEOD (CONT'D.)
(in a conciliatory tone)
Methos . . . look, I know you have to live with what you did.  There are things I've done that I have to live with too.  Don't you think it's the same for Roderick?

 METHOS
(still upset)
No, it's not the same.  We learn from our mistakes.  Roderick hasn't.  Sooner or later he'll cross the line.  And if you won't kill him, I will.

Methos turns his back and walks out.  Joe comes over from behind the bar, sits down in the chair Methos has just vacated.

 JOE
 That didn't go too well, did it?

 MACLEOD
 No.
 (He shifts in his chair, toying with his drink.)
 Maybe he's right.

 JOE
 Maybe.

 MACLEOD
 What do you think I should do?

 JOE
 Look, I don't know, MacLeod.  I just observe and record.

 MACLEOD
 (mildly)
You know, there's something almost immoral about all this observing and not interfering.  If Roderick is evil, then watching without doing anything to stop it is like consenting to what he does.

JOE
(leaning forward)
And what do you think would happen if we really tried to stop the evil immortals?  Once they found out about us we wouldn't stand a chance.  And who would decide when one of you crossed the line?  Would you trust us to judge you?

MACLEOD
No. Horton did, and he found us all guilty.
(He swirls his glass, takes a swig.)
What if you became immortal?

JOE
Me?  You aren't trying to tell me something, are you?
(He sits back shaking his head.)
No. I don't know what happened with Jamey, but we have a pretty good screening program, and after this it'll get even tighter.

He takes a long drink.  MacLeod waits.

JOE
Joe Dawson, an immortal.  You know, I don't think there's a watcher alive who hasn't secretly imagined what it would be like.  Sometimes, when I wake up and look in the mirror and realize just how old I'm getting, or whenever I cut myself shaving, I think--if only I were immortal.  But then all I have to do is go through some of the chronicles, and I come to my senses.
(Chuckles sourly, still thinking.)
A legless immortal.  I'd lose my head in days.

MACLEOD
Not if I were around.

Joe looks up at him, surprised.

JOE
Thanks.

MACLEOD
(relentlessly brings him back to the question)
But if you were immortal, instead of a watcher, what would you do about Roderick?

JOE
I don't know.  I guess I'd say it depends on what he does now, rather than what he did fifty years ago.

MacLeod nods.

JOE (CONT'D.)
He's asking the same questions all of us and probably most of you have asked for centuries.  But maybe the real question is, what will he do with the answers?

MACLEOD
And how far will he go to get them?

END OF ACT III
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ACT IV
 

INT. JOE'S BAR - NIGHT

MACLEOD and JOE are still seated at the table as before.  They both look up as METHOS comes into the room and approaches their table with a hard look on his face.

 METHOS
 You were waiting for him to cross the line?  How's kidnaping Wescot?

MacLeod half-starts to his feet.

 MACLEOD
 What?

 METHOS
I just talked to his watcher.  He's taken Wescot back to that private lab of his - something about needing a new immortal.

JOE
(to MacLeod)
What will he do?  Is Wescot in danger?

METHOS
In danger?  With a man who could suffocate children to see how long it took, experiment on pregnant women to see what would happen to their babies?

JOE
You've been reading his files.

METHOS
Pretty hellish stuff too.

MacLeod pushes back his drink decisively.

MACLEOD
Even if he lets Wescot go unharmed, he has no right to use his immortality for his own purposes.  This has to end.

MacLeod stands and puts on his coat.

MACLEOD
(to Methos)
You coming?

METHOS
No.

MacLeod's expression shows confusion for a moment, but then he shakes it off to concentrate on the task at hand and walks out the door.

Joe looks wonderingly at Methos, who is staring at the table and does not look up.  Joe follows MacLeod out the door.

EXT. RODERICK'S LAB - NIGHT

As MACLEOD approaches the building, blue light flashes through the shuttered windows.  He runs and tries the door.  Finding it locked, he picks up a rock and throws it through a window beside the door.  He then breaks away the shards with his elbow and reaches in to open the door.

INT. RODERICK'S LAB - NIGHT

As he enters, MACLEOD is met by the chaos of a QUICKENING in progress.  Lightning flashes from one end of the room, striking a row of empty flasks, spraying glass everywhere.  MacLeod ducks behind a lab bench, shielding his face with one arm, and tries to make his way to where the lightning is coming from.

WESCOT is chained to the wall next to a gas cylinder, screaming as lightning arches through him from a headless body at his feet.  MacLeod reaches him just as the quickening ends, and he collapses against the wall.

MACLEOD
Wescot!  What happened?

Before Wescot can answer, RODERICK emerges from a door behind him.

RODERICK
Come to see the results of my experiment?

MACLEOD
(turning)
It's not just an experiment when a man loses his head.

Roderick nudges the body on the ground with his foot.

RODERICK
That one? He's vermin.  Hasn't done the world a bit of good in a hundred sixty years.  I fought him, I won - doesn't that give me the right to take his head?

MACLEOD
Yes.  But not to use him for your own purposes, and not to force his quickening on another.

RODERICK
Ah, but you don't even know what this experiment may teach us about immortality.  What is it that passes from one immortal to another?  His life force, his energy, his soul?  There is much that science may be able to tell us.
(He turns to Wescot.)
So, how was your first quickening?

WESCOT
(still out of breath)
Pretty much what I expected.

RODERICK
(surprised)
Really?

Roderick moves toward him, and MacLeod draws his sword and places it between Wescot and Roderick.

MACLEOD
You've crossed the line.

RODERICK
(impatiently)
I haven't harmed him.  I even gave him his first victory.

MACLEOD
You had no right.

RODERICK
So, now are you challenging me?

MACLEOD
Yes.

RODERICK
Very well. But who are you to be drawing lines?  Who are you to judge my work, and what I might accomplish for our kind as well as for mortals?

MACLEOD
We have to judge each other.  No one else can.  You know the rules.  We let our swords decide.

In one swift movement Roderick reaches backwards, retrieves his tranquilizer gun, and shoots MacLeod point blank in the stomach.

MacLeod drops to his knees, his sword clattering to the floor.  Slowly he brings one hand up and pulls out the dart, fighting for consciousness.  Roderick picks up the katana and runs it slowly across the side of MacLeod's neck, bringing a thin line of blood welling to the surface.  MacLeod tries to push the sword away, but only succeeds in slicing his hand.

RODERICK
I could kill you now.  Does that make me right and you wrong?

MacLeod tries to answer but collapses against the cabinet.  Roderick stoops beside him, thumbs open one of his eyelids, and then, satisfied, sends his sword sliding across the floor. He turns back to Wescot.

Wescot watches but does not resist as Roderick unchains one of his wrists, puts a restrictor around his upper arm and begins to draw blood into a syringe.

WESCOT
I suppose you couldn't beat him in a fair fight.

RODERICK
(laughing)
Of course I could.  But I don't have time to spare at the moment.

JOE has entered the building by a back door and stands behind some equipment, watching breathlessly.  Wescot is sitting at just such an angle that he cane see the end of Joe's cane, but he knows better than to expect help.  He looks down and notices that the strap binding his other wrist to the chain was burned and frayed during the quickening - a good jerk might break it.  He glances carefully at MacLeod, who has begun to fight off the tranquilizer.

MacLeod opens his eyes and slowly drags himself to his feet.  He's still dizzy, and when he puts out a hand to support himself he knocks a small vial off of the lab bench.  Roderick turns instantly.

RODERICK
I suppose I'll have to restrain you as well.

MACLEOD
(with effort)
What you're doing is wrong.  If I didn't try to stop you, I'd be as guilty as you.

RODERICK
(drawing a sword)
And how do you propose to stop me MacLeod?

MacLeod backs away unsteadily, having nothing with which to defend himself.  Wescot breaks the strap around his wrist with a quick tug and dashes over to where MacLeod's sword lays.  He picks it up and throws it handle-first.

WESCOT
MacLeod!

MacLeod slips out from behind Roderick and catches it, then moves back to give himself some room.

MACLEOD
Wescot, go!

Wescot hesitates briefly but obeys, heading toward the doors.

RODERICK
Very well.  Let our swords decide who is right.  But not here.

MACLEOD
(blocking his way out)
Right here, right now.

Roderick attacks furiously, trying to finish it quickly.  At first MacLeod parries and gives ground, waiting for the last of the tranquilizer to wear off.  Then he begins to attack, and grazes Roderick's shoulder.  He trips over a can of solvent, which begins to empty its contents onto the floor.  They lock swords and Roderick slams MacLeod into the edge of the lab bench.  MacLeod gasps but forces his way out, then takes Roderick's head with a sweeping stroke.

The QUICKENING sends lightning from one end of the lab to the other, exploding instruments and sparking the pool of solvent on the floor.  A heavy piece of equipment falls on top of Joe, who struggles to escape.  When the quickening ends the building is in flames.  MacLeod drags himself to his feet, coughing and choking in the smoke, and staggers to the door.

EXT. RODERICK'S LAB - NIGHT

WESCOT is waiting outside.  He runs forward to help MACLEOD as he staggers from the building, but he is still watching the door.

WESCOT
Joe hasn't come out yet.

MACLEOD
(hoarsely)
Joe? I didn't see him.

WESCOT
You're not supposed to.  But he was there and he hasn't come out.

MACLEOD
(giving his sword to Wescot)
Take this.

WESCOT
You're going back?  You'll never make it.  Let me.

MACLEOD
He's my watcher.

MacLeod hurries back toward the door.

INT. RODERICK'S LAB - NIGHT

MacLeod enters the building with an arm across his mouth and nose.

MACLEOD
Dawson?!

Joe is still trapped, and blood is running down his face from a cut on his forehead.  The flames haven't reached him but they're getting close.

JOE
MacLeod! Over here!

As MacLeod makes his way toward Joe the ceiling collapses in flames on top of him.  Joe is still safe but can scarcely see through the smoke.
 
JOE
MacLeod?

After agonizing seconds, MacLeod manages to crawl out of the wreckage, his clothes flaming.  He rolls to put them out, then crawls toward Joe, coughing furiously.

When he reaches him, it takes nearly all his strength to lift the equipment away.  Joe tries to get up, cries out, and falls back.

MacLeod puts Joe's arm over his shoulders and hauls him up.

JOE
(pointing to the back door)
That way!

Together they stagger out of the building.

EXT. BEHIND RODERICK'S LAB - NIGHT

A little ways from the building, MacLeod falls to his knees as Joe slips from his grasp.  Joe catches himself, more or less, and MacLeod collapses in the grass.  They lie side by side, both breathing painfully.  MacLeod's face and arms are badly burned, his clothing charred.  Joe looks down at himself to survey the damage, and retrieves a handkerchief from his pocket and dabs at the wound on his head.

JOE
(wincing)
This is not going to look good on my report.

MACLEOD
(staring straight ahead as if blinded)
So don't report it.

JOE
It's the truth.

MACLEOD
(words come slowly)
Then I guess you'll just have to make the best of it.

Sirens can be heard in the distance as flames leap higher from the building.  MacLeod's head lolls in the grass, his eyelids drooping.  Joe peers off toward the sirens, then back at MacLeod.

JOE
Don't you die on me, Duncan MacLeod.

MACLEOD
(in a whisper)
Sorry . . . .

His eyes close.  Joe reaches over and feels for a pulse at his throat.

JOE
Damn.

Wescot comes running around the building, Mac's sword in hand.  He sees them and hurries over.

WESCOT
Thank God.  I was about to go after you myself.
(He looks more closely at MacLeod.)
Is he . . . ?

JOE
Yeah.

WESCOT
Wow.  Are you OK?

He starts to help Joe up, but Joe stops him, putting a hand to his side.

JOE
Something's not right. Better wait for the paramedics.

He cocks a head toward the approaching sirens.  His face is going gray.

WESCOT
Joe?  What's wrong?

JOE
It'll be OK.
(He gestures toward MacLeod.)
Go on, get him out of here.

Wescot nods reluctantly.  He gets his arms under MacLeod's shoulders and drags him away as fire engines come up the street.

EXT. A SECLUDED AREA - NIGHT

MACLEOD awakens from death with a painful gasp.  Flames from the building still light the scene.  MacLeod's arms and face are red and blistered, though not as badly as before.  His head rests on a wadded-up jacket.  He gets up on one elbow and looks around, sees WESCOT, then his sword laying in the grass nearby.

WESCOT
(following his gaze)
If I wanted your head, don't you think I'd have taken it by now?

MACLEOD
(laying back with a groan)
Some gratitude that would be. Dawson?

WESCOT
(glancing O. S.)
Paramedics have got him.  I think he'll be OK.
(He holds up a small cup.)
Water?

MacLeod lifts his head and swallows as Wescot puts it to his lips.  MacLeod's arms look a little less burned.

WESCOT
Thanks for coming for me.

MACLEOD
Thanks for your help.

WESCOT
Roderick's quickening - it must have been something else.  It looked like the whole building was going to explode.

MacLeod looks at him closely, but doesn't say anything.

WESCOT (CONT'D)
Does it always feel -

MACLEOD
Like what?

WESCOT
Like - making love, and seeing God, and going through a meat grinder all at the same time.

MACLEOD
I suppose so.  It's a little different every time.

WESCOT
I've seen a lot, as a watcher, and I always wondered what it really felt like.  It hurts like hell, but there's something exhilarating about it too.

MACLEOD
That's why some immortals spend their lives hunting each other.  Taking heads can become addicting.

WESCOT
Don't worry.  I'd like to keep my head a while, but I'm not too excited about taking any more, especially if I'm the one who has to do the beheading.

MacLeod sits up slowly, nearly healed.

MACLEOD
So what will you do, now that your career as a watcher is finished?  Not genetic research, I hope.

WESCOT
No. I'm a virologist, not a gene jockey.  But - killing Roderick didn't destroy the technology he was using.  Sooner or later someone else who knows about us will continue what he started.

MACLEOD
I suppose we'll have to deal with that when it happens.

WESCOT
But I've always thought the best use of immortality would be to do a job where you risk your life for others - mortals, I mean - because you can.  You'll always come back.

MACLEOD
Like a firefighter, or a rescue worker?

WESCOT
Actually I was thinking of the red cross.  I've been studying retroviruses for years, but now I can go places others couldn't, help people who would otherwise die, or at least die miserably, without help.

MACLEOD
How will you keep people from finding out about you?

WESCOT
I'll have to find people I can trust, and tell them.  Besides, for every virus there's a tiny fraction of the population who are naturally immune.  Most people will think I'm just extraordinarily lucky.

MACLEOD
Sounds like a good idea.  First, though, you'll need to find a teacher.

WESCOT
I know.  First thing I did at watcher headquarters was draw up a list.  But it's a little hard to just walk up to somebody and say, hi, I'm a new immortal, but I know all about you and I was wondering if you'd be my teacher.

MACLEOD
I'd certainly leave out the part about knowing all about us.
(He gets to his feet, picks up his sword.)
Bring me your list, and I'll see if I can help you out.

WESCOT
Thanks.

They start walking away.  Then MacLeod stops.

MACLEOD
A little friendly advice, though--don't just stick to one thing.  Too many of us do, and it leads to trouble.  Move around, try knew things, learn new things, find new people to care about.  Live in the time and place where you are, not in all the centuries you hope to have, or the ones you have had, if you have them.

Wescot sighs, still daunted by the prospect of centuries.  He looks MacLeod in the eye.

WESCOT
I'll try to remember.

END OF ACT IV
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EPILOGUE

INT. DUNCAN'S LOFT - DAY

The lift door rolls up, and MACLEOD and JOE step out.  Joe winces as he walks, leaning heavily on MacLeod's arm.  His forehead has been stitched but is healing.

The room is now well lit, with track lighting casting soft beams in various directions.  MacLeod helps Joe over to the couch.

MACLEOD
You OK?

JOE
Yeah.
(He surveys the room.)
Not bad.  Not bad at all.  The only thing you need now are a few lightning rods.

MacLeod glances around at the thought but doesn't comment.

JOE (CONT'D.)
I don't suppose you'd be willing to come down and help me will the jury-rigged set-up at the bar.

MACLEOD
Maybe.
(He goes to the fridge.)
You want water, juice, milk, or a soda?

JOE
If those are my choices, I'll have a soda.

MacLeod brings two glasses and sits down across from him.

JOE
Wescot left town two days ago.  His apartment has already been rented out, no forwarding address.

MACLEOD
I know.

JOE
(turns to him with cocked eyebrow)
You know where he's gone.

MACLEOD
Yep.

JOE
Come on Mac, give me hint.

MACLEOD
(grinning)
Sorry, I gave my word.  Besides, why should I do your job for you?

JOE
(sits back, resigned)
He was a good watcher.  He knows all the tricks.  It'll be the devil finding him now.

MACLEOD
Good luck.

JOE
You're enjoying this a little too much, I think.  With my luck next thing I know you'll disappear on me again and I'll have to track you all the way to Madagascar.  Does it really bother you that much?

MACLEOD
Gee - maybe I'll get Methos and Amanda to help me start watching the watchers.  We'll keep records of everywhere you go, every bout of constipation, every awkward date, every time you lose your keys.  We'll get together and discuss your private lives, what you should have done differently in your youth -

JOE
All right, I get the point.  I guess I never asked you to like it.
(continues in a different tone)
But you didn't have to go back for me.  I guess I owe you one.

MacLeod shrugs and smiles a little, but doesn't answer.

JOE
You think he'll be all right?

MACLEOD
Wescot?  Yeah.  He's got a good teacher.

Joe clearly wants to ask who, but restrains himself.  The lift door opens to admit Methos.  He looks around.

METHOS
Looks like I'm too late to help finish the rewiring.

MACLEOD
There's always downstairs.

JOE
Or the bar. Where've you been the last few days?  There seems to be an epidemic of immortals mysteriously disappearing around here.

METHOS
I, ah, had a few ghosts to put to rest.
(He plops down on the love seat.)
Am I too late for the party?

JOE
What party?  This is ginger ale.

MACLEOD
(nods in the direction of the fridge)
Help yourself.

Methos gets up and walks to the refrigerator.

METHOS
So - what happened with Roderick?

MACLEOD
It's over.

Methos nods, rejoins them with a glass in hand.

METHOS
Sometimes the scars run deeper than you realize.

MACLEOD
I know.

METHOS
Who knows, maybe in the end Roderick gets the easy way out.

JOE
Are you saying it's easier to die for your sins than live with them?

METHOS
Maybe.  When I was starving in those camps, I couldn't help but think that maybe it was some kind of cosmic justice - being a victim of a monster as bad as I had been.

There is a moment of silence.

METHOS (CONT'D)
But I would still choose life.

THE END