Highlander (1992–1998): Season 1, Episode 9 - The Sea Witch - full transcript

Richie saves an old friend from Russian mobsters after a drug deal goes bad. Unbeknown to him, she takes the drugs and the money with her. It is up to Duncan to protect her and her daughter from the mobsters, who are now looking for her.

DUNCAN NARRATING: I was born
400 years ago, in the

Highlands of Scotland.

I am immortal, and
I am not alone.

Not is the time of the
gathering, and the stroke of a

sword will release the power
of the quickening.

In the end, there
can be only one.

[MUSIC - QUEEN, "PRINCES
OF THE UNIVERSE"]

-Helliman's, Helliman's,
Helliman's.

Damn.

I know it's around
here somewhere.

Helliman's Antiques.



Maybe it's, uh--

1285--

bingo.

Helliman's Antiques.

This a jewelry store now?

-I don't carry no cash.

-Relax, man.

I'm not here to hassle you.

-You, uh-- you want something?

-Not unless you've got
some primo Inca

statues in the back.

What happened to Helliman's
Antiques?

-Too many break-ins.

Moved to Moorland Avenue
last year.



-Last year?

Damn.

Away a few months, the whole
neighborhood moves out on you.

-Come on.

-Maybe not the whole
neighborhood.

-Hey.

Hey, Moorland's the other way.

-What's the matter
with you, Nikki?

This one's gonna put
us over the top.

-Melinda is alone.

I can't.

-Melinda's used to it.

She'll wait.

You'll do what I tell you.

-Like hell I will!

-Come here.

-Keep your hands to
yourself, pal.

-Richie?

What are you doing here?

-Just checking out the
old neighborhood.

-Look, pal, I hate to break up
this little reunion, but--

we gotta go.

-Maybe she doesn't want to go.

-Oh, beautiful.

Now the marines are here.

Now, are you gonna move, or am
I gonna make you eat your

front teeth?

-Just forget it, Richie.

Just leave, OK?

-You sure?

Some other time, pal.

-Oh.

Anytime.

-You're late.

-Minor delay.

We're here now.

You got the stuff?

-Best powder on the coast.

-Uh-uh.

First we see the money.

-I'll take that.

Looks like all 50
grand is here.

-Here you go.

Your ticket to play land.

You don't want to be pulling
that stuff, kid.

-Sure I do.

Hand them to the lady.

That too.

Do it!

Pick it up.

I said pick it up!

-No!

-Hey, knock it off!

NIKKI [OFFSCREEN]: Dennis!

Ahh!

-You were supposed to leave.

-You were supposed to be OK!

HELLIMAN [OFFSCREEN]:
Helliman's Antiques.

May I help you?

-Helliman.

HELLIMAN [OFFSCREEN]: Yes.

-Leonard, hi.

Yeah.

It's, uh, Duncan
MacLeod, here.

-Duncan, how are you?

-Sorry to trouble you.

But I was just wondering what
time Richie left with that

Inca piece.

-Well, he never showed up.

The piece is still here.

-Oh, I see.

-Is there a problem?

-No, no, no.

It's, uh--

we'll deal with it.

Thanks, Leonard.

-Goodbye, now.

-Well?

When did he leave?

-He never turned up.

-You have endangered my
operation for $50,000.

-We just thought that, uh--

-You don't think.

You do as told.

A punk tries to steal from
us, that I expect.

The punk is not dead--
that, too, I expect.

What I don't expect--

is some girl getting away with
$50,000 and my merchandise.

It is a principle.

-She-- she wasn't alone,
Mr. Voshin.

She had a partner.

-This partnership
is now ended?

-They must have known
the area real good.

They lost us.

-The dead one.

You know where he lives?

-Yeah.

-What are you waiting for?

-OK, thanks.

No one's seen him.

-You think he's in trouble?

-I'm gonna take a look around.

Helliman's is near Richie's
old neighborhood.

I'll find him.

But it might take a while.

-I'll be here.

-All right.

-Ohh, check that out.

-Nikki, this is not
a good idea.

This is a very, very bad idea.

-I told you, I gotta
stop here.

-If they know who your boyfriend
is, this is the

first place they'll come.

-I know that.

It'll only take a minute.

-Nikki, I'm telling you.

You can always buy new
clothes, but you

cannot buy a new head.

Head.

The Inca head.

Damn.

After these guys kill
me, Mac is gonna

kill me all over again.

Nikki, what is so
damn important?

-Melinda.

You want to walk, walk.

-Come on, we gotta
get outta here.

I thought your mother
took care of her.

-She's been dead for
eight months.

-Nobody tells me anything--

oh, man!

-Go, go!

Whats the matter?

-We got no time.

-Is there another
way out of here?

-Yes.

Quickly.

-Here comes a triple hernia.

-Come on!

Hurry up!

Come on.

We're gonna cut them off.

-Marco.

-Here, take her.

Take her.

Go.

Go.

OK.

Hold on.

Time out, guys.

Seriously.

Let's just sit here and think
about this for a second.

I mean, nobody's killed
anybody yet, right?

-Wrong.

-OK, so there's Dennis.

But that's ancient history.

No big deal.

We don't even count him.

It'll be like a clean
slate, see?

So you can let us go, and
then everybody's happy.

Come on.

What do you say?

-We got one rule.

You mess with us, you die.

You broke that rule.

-Mac.

-Want to try someone
your own size?

-Come on.

Come on!

[groaning]

-Come on.

Let's go.

You OK?

-Fine.

No problem.

I had it under control.

I would have taken them
both eventually.

-Richie, shut up.

[car starting]

-Damn!

-Man, that dude in the T-Bird
took you down cold.

-T-Bird.

You catch the license number?

-Ain't nothing I don't catch.

If I tell you, what's
in it for me?

-Your life.

How's that?

-OK?

-How long was your
mom sick for?

-About three years.

-Three years?

How'd I miss that one.

-Easy.

You weren't looking out for
anyone but Richie Ryan.

-I just saved your life and
you're all over my case.

Look, I'm sorry that
Dennis is gone.

But how did you wind up with
this guy in the first place?

I mean, he's such a loser.

He's-- he's-- he's like roadkill
with attitude.

-Yeah, well.

There was nobody else.

I was broke, I was on the street
with a three-year-old.

It wasn't like I had a lot
of options, Richie.

-Well, you could have--

-What?

Huh?

Who's gonna give me a job?

-Well, I mean, you
never had to--

you know--

-Turn tricks?

No.

No thanks to friends
like you, though.

-Oh, Nikki.

Give me a break.

I had to make a choice.

It was either get
up or go down.

Duncan gave me the chance,
and I grabbed it.

-Yeah, well.

You're lucky you had something
to grab onto.

-Ah!

-Am I interrupting?

-It's your place.

Where's my kid?

-She's in Richie's room.

She's still asleep.

You can stay there for now.

That is, if Richie doesn't
in mind the couch.

-No, I--

couch is great.

Love the couch.

-Look, lady.

Don't put yourself
out, all right?

I don't need the kid gloves.

-My name is Tessa.

And I'm sure you don't.

But I thought Melinda might--

-I can look after
her just fine.

-What is your problem?

-It's OK.

Can I get you something
to drink, or eat?

-I'm not hungry.

-Fine.

Listen, Duncan wants
to talk to you.

-Unless, of course, it's
too much trouble.

-Oh, no.

No trouble at all.

Richie.

-Hey.

These are good people.

Lighten up.

-They're your people.

Not mine.

-Damn right.

And you're in their house,
so shape up, Nikki.

-Sit down.

You want to tell me about it?

-What's to say?

Dennis set up a deal with some
seriously ugly guys.

-I know.

We met.

Well?

-The deal was about
to go down.

Something went wrong.

Richie came, Dennis got
shot, and we ran.

-Is that all?

-What do you mean?

-Well, why follow you
all that way?

Why bother?

-How should I know?

Most pushers are pretty
screwy, aren't they?

-Only for two things, Nikki.

Drugs and money.

Which do you have?

-Mac.

She'd have told me.

Right?

Nikki?

I don't believe you.

-I'm sorry.

It was my chance to make
it out, Richie.

I grabbed it, OK?

-Nobody makes it out
with this garbage.

-So what are we gonna do now?

Are we gonna call the cops?

-No, please.

I know what'll happen.

They'll tell me I'm
an unfit mother.

They'll take my little girl.

-Why don't we just
give it back?

You know, no harm done,
sayonara, see ya later.

-So they can put this
back on the streets?

So they can sell it to
another Richie Ryan?

Or another Melinda?

-Those guys are still
after us.

-They don't know
where you are.

You can stay here until
it blows over.

As for this poison--

I just hope there really aren't

alligators in the sewer.

-Hi, Melinda.

Everything's OK now.

Did you get something to eat?

-From Tessa.

She's nice.

-Yeah.

Well, she's rich.

Now you go back to sleep, OK?

-Look, this new guy came
out of nowhere.

He caught us off-guard.

-Looks like he did a
lot more than that.

-This guy was real good.

Hands, feet--

moves like I'd never
seen before.

Like he'd been doing it
for a hundred years.

-Describe him to me.

-Tall, dark hair.

Pony tail.

He was wearing a long coat.

The kid called him something.

Mac.

Mac.

-Not MacLeod?

-Yeah, yeah.

Might have been MacLeod.

-Are you sure?

-Well, what?

Have you run into him
somewhere before?

-It's hard to know.

I've had a very long career.

Run into many people.

But there is one thing you
should watch out for.

When--

not if--

you find him, find out
if he has a sword.

-Is that a cow?

-A dinosaur.

-Ah.

I should have known.

Do you like dolls, Melinda?

-Maybe.

-Maybe?

You're not sure?

-I can't remember.

-Close your eyes
and wait here.

-Can I open them yet?

-Now open them.

-Is she yours?

-Once.

When I was a little
girl like you.

Now she's yours.

-She had toys, you know.

I wasn't that much
of a screw-up.

-I never said that.

Listen, I know how rough
it's been for you--

-You know?

What do you know?

You, with your money and
your expensive clothes.

That stuff meant a new life
for Melinda and me.

-Drugs don't bring life.

-Don't judge me.

-I'm not.

-Sure you are.

I see the way you look at her.

-Listen, I don't want her.

I just want you to get
a grip on your life.

Give her a chance.

Let her have a real childhood.

She deserves that much.

-Mommy?

-What do you want now?

-I want to go out.

-Well, you can't.

Melinda?

Honey?

Maybe Tessa can take you.

-I'll take good care of her.

-I'm sorry, baby.

I'm sorry.

I love you, but you're
better off here.

-Now, don't give us that.

Nobody flushes $50,000
worth of dope.

-I'm telling you the truth.

You've got the money.

Can't you just let me go?

-And people tell me I have
no sense of humor.

This is not funny.

Now, where is the money?

-I don't know.

-But you will.

Marco.

-OK--

look-- all right--

I--

I hid it in the loft.

But I can get it for you.

Ngh--

-You deliver us the money.

And we'll leave you in peace.

-OK.

OK.

-Of course, Marco will
go with you.

If you're lying--

you will die.

And I will take your daughter.

Do you have a problem
with that?

-Nobody's here.

This way.

-You got one minute.

-It might take a
little longer.

-55 seconds.

-You're expecting me to
carry this by myself?

-You volunteered.

-I don't know why the Incas
had to make this

stuff out of stone.

-Don't slam the door.

Thanks.

-No wonder they became
extinct.

-Not extinct.

Their empire fell apart because
they couldn't feed

themselves.

On a modern level, I don't think
we're too far behind.

-Yeah, well, on a personal
level, I feel for them.

I haven't eaten all day.

-I think you're gonna have to
wait a little while longer.

-You're stalling.

-It's here.

I know it is.

Just a little more time.

-Time is up.

You know what that means?

-That's not a good idea.

-You.

Let's see who wins this time.

-Surprise.

-I'm getting a little
tired of this.

Hm?

Let go of the knife.

Up.

-Let's see what else
we got here.

-You all right?

-Ooh.

Look at this.

-Now, what are we gonna
do with you?

-Do what you gotta do.

Freakin' weirdos.

He said you might
have a sword.

-Sword?

Who said that?

Who said that?

Who?

-Not a chance.

Look--

if I tell you, he'll kill me.

If he doesn't, I will.

Now what's his name?

[phone ringing]

-Talk to him yourself.

-He's getting away, Mac.

-Oh, let him.

-Marco?

-Sorry, Marco's not here.

He had to run.

-It's the mystery man.

You've been causing me a
lot of trouble lately.

Dumping my drugs.

Stealing my money.

-Well, life's tough
everywhere.

-Not as tough as they're
going to be.

I know where you live.

And unless you want me to
hunt your friends--

and gut them like rabbit--

you'll come to see me.

-Where?

-A shop at the old wharf.

You wouldn't have a problem
finding it.

It's called the Sea Witch II.

-Duncan?

They are almost all here.

-We should have been
on our way by now.

-It is not easy for people
to leave their

homes, their books.

All they know.

But better the sea
than Siberia.

-Stalin is madman.

He kills those he fears.

And he fears everyone.

-I am wondering.

What is the name of this ship?

-It is called [yugoslavian].

-But it's not Russian word.

-A Yugoslav word.

It means "sea witch."

-Niva, meet Alexei Voshin,
your captain.

He is going to get us out
of Russian water safely.

-Ah.

Then it is your ship?

-Always at your service.

And the service of
the clan MacLeod.

-Ah, then you are old friends.

-Let's just say we know each
other for long time.

And the captain is in my debt.

-And I repay my debt.

He almost took my head.

-But I did not.

And that is why you are helping
us, is it not, Alexei?

-My ship is where you asked
it to be, is it not?

[sirens]

NIVA [OFFSCREEN]:
It is police.

DUNCAN [OFFSCREEN]:
Do not worry.

We have papers for all.

He is not police.

He is Red Army major.

KGB.

-As Rasputin said before they
murdered him, what's life

without a little excitement
in it?

-As you can see, major, those
are legitimate travel papers.

-So it would seem.

You were right, Comrade
Voshin.

They are excellent forgeries.

-The deal Comrade Stalin offered
was just too good.

-Put him with the others.

-No.

Do what you want
with this ship.

But this one is for me.

-You betrayed all these
people because of me?

-They are nothing.

But you--

I'm going to teach you
something, MacLeod.

I'm going to teach you how
to lose your head.

-Niva, come on!

Come on!

[gunshots]

-Everyone get down!

Everyone, move out of the way!

-Not this time, Voshin.

-Open fire!

-Don't bother.

If he hasn't come up by now,
he's never going to.

-Don't count on it.

-Alexei Voshin.

-Mm.

So it is you, Highlander.

Well.

When may I expect you?

-Is this a summons, Alexei?

-Merely a courtesy.

I assumed you didn't want
me coming to you.

I can guarantee you
complete privacy.

-And I can guarantee that if you
harm anybody I care about

I'll send you to hell
the hard way.

-You'll be there long
before me, MacLeod.

Yeah.

-I wish there were
some other way.

-There never is.

How's Melinda?

-She's beautiful.

And innocent.

And has no idea her mother was
planning to leave her.

For a while there--

just for a few hours--

I felt like she was mine.

I liked how it felt.

But she's not.

I have my own life, and
it's more than enough.

-Are you certain?

You could--

-Never.

-I think we have something
for you.

And I'm sorry.

For everything.

-A lot of people looking
for this.

-It's all there.

The whole $50,000.

Guess I have a lot to
make up for, huh?

-No.

You've got a lot to live for.

-Are you really gonna
go to those creeps?

-Sometimes life doesn't
give you the choice.

I think you know
how that plays.

-Is he gonna be OK?

-I don't know.

-That's it.

Everybody's ashore.

Except for me, I mean.

You sure you don't
want me to stay?

-I'm sure.

-It's just that, uh--

Alexei, I've seen what
this guy can do.

-You've also seen
what I can do.

-Well, I'm--

I'm out of here.

-I feel you, MacLeod.

[strange hum]

-We have to stop meeting
like this, Voshin.

It's been a little more
than half a century.

What will people say?

-Who cares?

They're sheep, MacLeod,
here to provide us

with whatever we want.

We tolerate them.

-Hmph.

You haven't changed.

-Did you expect me to?

-No.

That's why I'm here.

-I welcome it.

-Not this time, Alexei.

This is the last time.

-Strong words for men who spent
his time saving sheep

from the slaughter.

-I never fed off human blood
and misery to gain power.

-And pleasure.

Don't forget pleasure.

Stalin was a fool.

But he had a talent for
brutality, and I

love that in a man.

-Sounds like you miss it.

-True.

What took you so
long, MacLeod?

She died in my arms.

I even named the ship
the Sea Witch II.

For-- how do you Scots put it?

For auld lang syne?

-Yaah!

-You should have taken my head
while you had the chance.

-I'll take it now, in
the name of all the

people you've betrayed.

-Agh!

Haah!

I feel you, MacLeod.

What are you waiting for?

[laughter]

-I'm waiting for you, Alexei.

It ends here.

-Ahh!

Coming with me?

[inaudible]!

[crackling]

-So long, Alexei.

Say hello to Comrade
Stalin for me.

-Well, I guess you're gonna be
glad to see the last of us.

Especially me.

-I'm going to be thinking
about both of

you for a long time.

-Oh, I'll send these clothes
back to you as soon as we get

settled in Danville.

-Why don't you keep them?

They look great on you.

And you'll need them for that
new job you're going to find.

-Oh, and the money--

it's not mine.

-The police nailed Marco,
Reese, and the rest of

Voshin's playmates last night,
so don't worry about it.

They won't come looking
for it.

-Bad money put to good use.

Besides, it's not
just for you.

It's for her, too.

-What can I say?

Nobody's ever been
this good to me.

-There is light at the
end of the tunnel.

It's up to you to get to it.

-I'm sure as hell gonna try.

And I got the best reason
in the world.

I guess Danville's gonna seem
pretty boring compared to

hanging out in the hood, huh?

-Take my word for it.

You won't miss it
for a second.

Well, maybe a split second.

-I guess we have
to say it, huh?

-Bye.

-Aren't we forgetting someone?

I'm going to miss
you, Melinda.

Very, very much.

I'll always remember you.

-Promise?

-Mm-hm.

You see, I'm going
to save you.

Right here.

-Where's Duncan?

-He has his own way
of saying goodbye.

-That must have cost
you a bit.

-You have no idea.

[MUSIC - QUEEN, "PRINCES
OF THE UNIVERSE"]