Date: Thu, 27 Jul 1995 23:47:14 -0400 Reply-To: Hobert@AOL.COM Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: K Robnett Subject: LESSONS: An Episode, Part 1 of 4 * Tired of the summertime blahs? Can't get your weekly HL fix? What can we do? Read this hypothetical fourth season episode and sigh with relief. It's got everything I want in an episode. More Immortals than you can shake a stick at! (**WARNING - DO NOT PLAY THE DRINKING GAME WHEN READING THIS EPISODE!!!**) More Richie! Guest stars that can use swords! What more can you ask for? (OK - Who said "PLOT"?) Pull up your couch and settle in... LESSONS A Highlander Episode by Kevin Robnett Cast: Adrian Paul as Duncan MacLeod Stan Kirsch as Richie Ryan Jim Byrnes as Joe Dawson Guest Stars: Duncan Regehr as Mark Levison Elizabeth Gracen as Amanda Gabrielle Miller as Michelle Wheeler Jerry O'Connell as Nathan Colin Firth as Trevor Matthews Cameron Bancroft as David Keogh OPENING CREDITS TEASER: INT PARIS APARTMENT (PARTY) - EVENING Black screen, no sound. Title "Lessons" appears in white in bottom third. Party sounds fade in as the black moves away from camera, revealing the back of a man's tuxedo. Credits appear throughout scene. Party chatter continues with soft music in the background as the camera weaves its way through the crowd. The location is a Paris apartment, with a night skyline and storm seen outside the large bay windows. Camera makes its way to a secluded corner where Amanda and Michelle are revealed in conversation, a drink in the hand of each. Both are dressed to the hilt, with no evidence of swords. The camera closes, speeding up as 'the buzz'' is noticed. Both react. MICHELLE: (excited) Someone's here! AMANDA: It might not be a friend. No one will try anything, not at the moment. Maybe outside, when we leave. Paris draws a lot of our kind. Camera pans crowd, circling back to the pair. A man's coat blocks a third of the screen. VOICE: Good evening, mademoiselles. AMANDA: (extending her hand) Mr. Rusk, what a nice surprise.... VOICE: (Kissing her hand) Lovely as always, my dear. It is an honor to be graced by your beauty twice in one week. AMANDA: Here's the young lady we were talking about; my student, Miss Wheeler. Michelle, may I present Simon Rusk? VOICE: (Kissing Michelle's hand) Delighted. Would you care to dance? AMANDA: I don't think... Before Michelle can reply, she is escorted out of camera, leaving Amanda worried as she takes a drink. The camera pans left, spinning, then slows, the camera over Voice's left shoulder on Michelle as the pair dance. MICHELLE: (Giggling) So, I take it you and Amanda know each other? (Silence) All right then, how long have you been in Paris? (Voice dips Michelle) Ohhh, the strong, silent type. Just the way I like a man. Michelle twirls, the camera continues to spin and fading out of focus, growing dim, until it stops, revealing a darkened study. The only light is from the large windows, open to the Paris skyline and storm. Michelle and Voice enter, the soft strains of far away music heard as the door opens and closes. Michelle suddenly kisses Voice, then turns shyly away. Cut to exterior shot, outside in rain looking in window. Michelle moves silently to window, illuminated by lightning, as she plays with necklace and smiles. Behind her, in the darkness, a flash of steel. She turns back as the camera sinks down, into the party below. Amanda is looking out a window also, suddenly illuminated by lightning. Music almost sounds like a scream. She glances upwards and around outside, before turning back to the party. Cut to far shot. Tall building in Paris, lightning flashing from top floor window, followed by thunder. Fade to black. Commercial. ACT ONE: INT DOJO - AFTERNOON Montage of Duncan and Richie sparring. Music is blasting from jambox on floor. They move about the dojo, occasionally using workout equipment against each other. The mood is light and jovial. During a breather, both men panting, the music is drowned out by the "buzz" noise. Duncan and Richie look around as the camera circles around them, settling on the front doorway. A dark shape, sword in hand, steps forward, revealing Mark Levison. MARK: Highlander. Still desperate to win a fight? DUNCAN: (unemotional) Levison. RICHIE: Mac? DUNCAN: (back to Richie) He's mine. Mark and Duncan fight, seriously. Duncan takes first blood, but Mark is fresher, slowly wearing down the Highlander. A sudden combination strike with a hidden dagger, and Duncan is face down on the ground, unconscious, a pool of red blood slowly expanding beneath him. Mark turns to Richie, who backs away, moving toward the side door. MARK: Next? RICHIE: Chill, man. Everything's cool. MARK: (Raising sword & dagger) That's not a choice. The two fight. Richie is disarmed, and reduced to throwing things. He trips over a weight bench, falling to the floor. Mark raises his sword for the beheading stroke. MARK: Game, set, and match. As he finishes speaking, a katana blade sprouts from his chest, a blood stain slowly expanding on his shirt from the wound. DUNCAN: (Leaning around from behind) You always were too cocky, Mark. MARK: (Gasping) Duncan. Always spoiling my fun. Mark falls to the floor, dead. Duncan helps Richie to his feet. DUNCAN: (Once Richie is standing) Try to keep hold of your sword. It really helps. Richie goes after his sword as Duncan stands over Mark, waiting. The camera rises to the ceiling, looking down, as the scene shifts to Richie, in different clothes, busy scrubbing blood stains out of floor with scrub brush and bucket. A change in outside lighting reflects passage of time. Richie is muttering comments as the camera pans up into blackness... INT LOFT - SAME TIME (Gratuitous Shirtless Scene) ...and rises from the loft floor. Mark is standing by the coffee table, towel drying his hair. Duncan, still unemotional, approaches from behind camera, spare shirt in hand. Another shirt is tucked into his belt. DUNCAN: (Shouting) Mark! Mark stops, tosses towel at Duncan and catches the shirt. MARK: You wouldn't happen to have a comb... Duncan holds up other hand, holding a brush, previously hidden by his side. Mark smiles as he catches it and starts combing his hair, moving toward a free-standing mirror. Duncan opens the liquor cabinet. DUNCAN: Want a drink? MARK: Tea, if you have it. Or coffee. Duncan gives Mark a look of surprise before shutting the cabinet doors and moving to kitchen. Camera follows as he fills a kettle and places it on stove. DUNCAN: When did you give up scotch? Camera pulls back as Mark sits in chair, discarding the brush and examining the shirt. Duncan is in the background, putting on the second shirt. MARK: It's been a while. Was the flea market having a two-for-one? DUNCAN: If you're going to insult my wardrobe, you can tell me what you're doing here. MARK: (putting on shirt) Matthews' in town. DUNCAN: Why come to me? MARK: Your young friend is in danger. DUNCAN: What makes you think he's after Richie? MARK: (Standing, moving to counter) There aren't that many Immortals around here. And stories of your student have really been flying around. Now's the perfect time. DUNCAN: Not if I can help it. How did you you know he was here? MARK: Immigration called. One 'Simon Rusk' arrived in New York from France early this morning. That's the name he's using this century. He took American Flight 227 to San Francisco, and a ten a.m. charter to here. I got here by noon. DUNCAN: You're sure it's him, this time? MARK: Yes. DUNCAN: (close-up of face) You're getting better. Just then, Duncan blocks a sword with his katana, both blades crossed in front of his face. The camera pans around to David Keogh, holding the other sword. He's grinning. INT SALON - NOON They are sparring in a dance salon, mirrors on side wall, draped windows at the end. DAVID: (breathless) I've learned more from you in six months, Duncan, than in the last ten years... David suddenly breaks into an attack, pressing Duncan back. The words "Philadelphia, 1824" appear on the bottom of the screen. Duncan finally disarms David, sending his sword across the room. DUNCAN: (looking at watch) The last train for New York leaves at midnight. DAVID: Fine. I'll meet you here at eleven. (Off Duncan's look) I need to tell someone I'll be leaving town for a bit. It's important. David picks up sword and walks off camera, leaving Duncan standing in the middle of the salon. The scene fades into night, Duncan still standing, only a pile of luggage is now nearby. He looks at his pocket watch again. The buzz occurs a second before the door bursts open, David rushing in, harried. DAVID: (breathless) There's an Immortal...after me. He won't quit. Duncan looks around room, spotting outside fire escape, moves David toward it. DUNCAN: Go. Up to the roof. I'll try see if I can talk to him. (Stopping) But if he wants you, you'll have to fight him. DAVID: I know. Thank you, Duncan. I'll meet you at the train station. Another buzz. They clasp forearms, David ducking out the window, Duncan moving to the center of the saloon, katana ready. A dark shapes moves into the light. It is Trevor Matthews. TREVOR: (Chuckling) Seems the young one has friends. DUNCAN: *Good* friends. Duncan MacLeod, of the Clan MacLeod. The pair circles, neither making an aggressive move. TREVOR: Trevor Matthews. This could be construed as interference. DUNCAN: Looks to me like one of you didn't want to fight. TREVOR: True. But he can't run forever. DUNCAN: He can run today. TREVOR: (Hiding sword in coat) I didn't live this long making foolish challenges. Your *friend* will live another night, MacLeod. Trevor Matthews leaves. Off camera, a train whistle sounds, but it is only the water boiling in the kettle. The camera pans to a close-up of Duncan's face, with Mark appearing over his shoulder. MARK: Your student is an excellent choice. Young, new. Trust me, Matthews can't resist. Especially knowing you are his Teacher. DUNCAN: He'll have to get through me, first. MARK: I think he's planning on it. The phone rings. Duncan moves to the wall and answers it. DUNCAN: MacLeod. INT PARIS HOTEL SUITE - EVENING AMANDA is sitting curled up on a sofa, phone to her ear. She has obviously been crying. AMANDA: Duncan? Michelle's...dead. Last night. There was an Immortal, Rusk. I need you. INT LOFT DUNCAN stands with phone in hand, not answering. Fade to black. Commercial. =========================================================================