Disclaimer: Highlander belongs to Davis/Panzer Productions, I don't own anything, just my original characters.
I was born before 1600 in the Highlands of Scotland, and I am still alive. I am Immortal and I am not alone. For four hundred years, I have fought, loved, wondered, explored and avenged. Now, I have found the woman of my dreams, but we are always in danger. For centuries, I have battled the Dark Immortals, with Holy Ground my only refuge. Soon will be the time of the Gathering, when the stroke of a sword and the fall of a head, will release the power of the Quickening. I am Owen MacLeod, the Highlander. In the end, there can be only one.
(Cue Princes of the Universe)
Starring
Jack Turpin
Kehli O'Byrne
Adrian Paul
Alexandra Vandernoot
Stan Kirsch
(Princes of the Universe ends)
The Beast Below
Guest Starring
Dee Dee Bridgewater
Christian Van Acker
Werner Stocker as Darius
The Paris Opera was one of the most beautiful sights at Paris. Richie had received an invite to attend a band's performance and was able to extend four additional band practice invitations to both couples he lived with.
"Check this place out!" said Richie as he admired the foyer. "This is unbelievable!"
"I thought they only did ballet here now," Tessa inquired.
"This is a music and dance benefit for a refugee relief, I think."
"Oh yeah?" asked Duncan. "And how did you get us invited to the rehearsals?"
"Jenny, the girl who sings backup, invited me."
"Aha, why would she do that?" Lynn pressed.
"Because I am irresistible."
"Sure, you are," said Owen sarcastically, resulting in the others laughing while Richie glared.
In the auditorium of the opera, the quartet got comfortable near the stage and watched the performance. They watched as singer Carolyn Lamb sang 'Love Is A Long Goodbye,' a song that made Owen and Lynn lovingly hold hands. There was even a group of dancers in the back behind the singer as the band played. A red-haired girl, about the same age as Richie, began to sing in backup. Owen began to feel his legs tingling with an urge to dance. In his four hundred years of age, he had become a masterful improve dancer and could lead anyone, like Lynn, to dance along with him. He just about had the strength to lift himself up and pull Lynn with him, when a distinct voice killed the moment.
"Stop, stop."
And the song. Carolyn had waved her hand to stop it all, and it did.
"I mean, why don't we just cut my microphone, and let her carry the song?"
The redhead and everyone else glared at her. It seemed like this was not the first time this happened.
"And the light! Frank!"
Frank Wells, the troupe manager, was sitting in the balcony box near the edge of the stage, clearly annoyed.
"Carolyn, do you suppose we could finish this technical rehearsal BEFORE opening night?"
Ignoring him, Carolyn addressed the light operator overhead, "Who told you to turn that spot off me?"
"Fuck," mumbled Lynn, clearly knowing what was going on.
Frank sighed, "Carolyn, we have enough union problems as it is. Jenny had a few featured bars, so he naturally thought that-"
"I - I want him fired. Either you do it or I will, Frank."
"Take ten, everybody."
Frank got up and walked out of sight. Carolyn walked toward the catwalk and past the redhead.
"Oh boy," said Owen grumpily. "A shrew. How cliché."
"Sorry," called the redhead.
"It's ok, wasn't your fault," Lynn said kindly.
Richie than got left both couples and climbed up the to talk to the redhead.
"Hi," she greeted, as they kissed each other's cheeks.
"How are you?" he inquired.
"Oh, well, we're having a couple of technical problems."
Above on the catwalk over the stage, Frank stormed up to Carolyn.
"Carolyn!" he called.
"Look, I want him gone," complained Carolyn, looking for the light operator.
"Listen, you're being really unreasonable."
"Really? I am just going to fill this place in three days. This is my comeback. I sang here ten years ago, Frank, and obviously they have not forgotten. So, face facts. This is MY show."
"Oh, really? I wonder what the rest of us are doing here."
Now THAT was a fact. Owen would have said so himself if he was in their presence. He would have been able to hear them from below if he was paying attention, but he was not.
"You know, recently I haven't heard you utter one single sentence that didn't begin with the word 'I'," continued Frank.
Carolyn laughed rudely, "*I* made you, Frank."
"I rest my case."
Frank decided it was time to strike the killing blow and tore into Carolyn with facts of the past.
"You know, when I rediscovered you, your career was history. And you were so hungry to get back in the game you were drooling on my shoes - but there was decency in you. And now? Now you're just another ego-laden bitch with an attitude. Whatever was special about you, you murdered it."
Carolyn responded by slapping him, but he grabbed the hand that made contact.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" she barked.
"I'm a very busy man with a show to run, and you are just one element in it," reminded Frank.
He had just about had enough of her behavior. She did not have a comeback for such a fact as she pulled her hand free.
"We'll just see about that," was all she could say before she walked across the catwalk and out of sight.
Frank held the railing as he took a few breaths to calm down. Then he heard the sound of a footstep and turned around.
Back at the stage, Owen and Lynn led Duncan and Tessa up it and Richie noticed.
"Hey, listen, I want to introduce you to some friends of mine," he spoke to Jenny.
"Okay."
He led her to the edge of the stage where both couples were standing.
"Tessa, come here. I would like you to meet Jenny."
"Hi," Tessa greeted, shaking Jenny's hand.
"Hi, nice to meet you."
Richie gestured to Owen and Lynn, "This is my buddy, Owen and his girl, Lynn."
"A pleasure," said Owen, shaking Jenny's hand.
"Wonderful song," Lynn added, doing the same.
"Thanks, you're too kind," said Jenny, blushing with flattery and embarrassment.
Richie turned to Duncan, "And this here is Owen's old man, Duncan MacLeod."
Duncan did not seem to notice as he was busy looking for the source of a buzz. Owen had felt it too and was looking around too.
"Mac?" asked Richie.
"Hi," said Duncan, snapping out of it.
"You, okay?"
"Hey, what's that?" Owen asked, looking up.
Duncan looked up at the catwalk. Then Carolyn's scream was heard, followed by a thud, as Frank landed on the stage, followed by handful of white flower petals.
"Oh no! It's Frank! Frank? Is he alright? Somebody call an ambulance! Oh! I just saw him falling…" the dancers spoke to each other.
Owen saw a figure leaving the catwalk and along with Duncan, climbed up the stairs in pursuit with a switchblade in hand. Upon reaching the top, they ran across the catwalk to the stairs at the other end. But then Duncan stopped Owen.
"Stop, we lost him," insisted the older Highlander.
Unbeknownst to them, the figure disappeared into catacombs under the building.
Back in the auditorium, the police were investigating the area, while Richie, Tessa and Lynn comforted Jenny in the theater's seats.
"I can't believe it," said a shocked Jenny. "I mean, one minute he was right there, and then…"
"It's okay," soothed Richie. "Jenny, maybe you should go back to the barge with us."
"Yeah, I think it's a very good idea," agreed Tessa.
"Okay."
On the stage, the MacLeods were talking with a detective, that was thankfully NOT LeBrun.
"And you never saw him?" the detective asked.
"No, the lights were too bright," replied Duncan.
"Do you think he ran out a door?"
"We only felt a draft," Owen half-lied.
"Well, on that side of the stage, the doors are attached to an alarm. There's also a stairwell leading into the basement. There's no door down there. Anything else?"
"No," Duncan replied, crouching down next to Frank's body and examining the flower petals.
"What the hell are those about?" asked the detective.
"Beats me," replied Owen.
In the backstage hallway, Duncan and Owen walked down it and found Carolyn's dressing room. Upon finding the room, they found Carolyn sitting.
"Carolyn Lamb?" Owen inquired.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry, we're not disturbing you, are we?" asked Duncan.
"No, no."
"Do you mind if we come in a minute?"
"Sure. Are you guys with the police?"
"No, we're Jenny's guests," replied Owen quickly.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I remember you now. Can I help you?"
"Yeah," answered Duncan. "Did you see what he looked like?"
"The lights blinded me, so…"
Then Duncan noticed a white flower on the nearby table and picked it up.
"Wildflowers. From an admirer?" he inquired.
"I don't know. They were just here when I came in."
"You know, they only grow in the forests."
"How nice. Will you excuse me, please?"
Owen still could not believe Carolyn was still acting rude and bored after a death happened in front of her.
"Yes, certainly," replied Duncan. "I'm sorry. Thanks."
"Sure."
"Shrew," mumbled Owen as he and Duncan walked to the door and exited it.
Carolyn actually heard the insult, but Owen had left before she could say anything back.
Inside the barge, the MacLeods told the girls everything.
"You think an Immortal killed him?" asked Lynn.
"There WAS an Immortal there," Owen replied. "So, it's our best bet."
"It's someone you think you know, isn't it?" Tessa asked Duncan.
Duncan glanced at the wildflower in his hand. He told them about Ursa, large Immortal of mental deficiency.
In 1634, Duncan was exploring in France, where he encountered Ursa being persecuted by a mob of peasants. Stabbing Ursa dead, Duncan played upon the mob's superstitions and drove them off, saving Ursa from an impromptu burning. He then placed Ursa in the care of a local monastery known as, the Abbey of St. Gobain. The unusual Immortal would be safe from other Immortals on Holy Ground.
"Where was he from?" asked Tessa. "How did he get there in the first place?"
"I don't know," replied Duncan.
"You never asked him?"
"He had a voice, but... he didn't speak much. It's my guess Ursa grew up in the wilds... alone. He lived in a cave. We stopped there to get the few things that he owned."
"But what would a man who lives in a cave in the woods be doing in the heart of Paris... at the Opera?" Lynn asked. "It can't be the same person."
"Maybe he got smarter," said Owen, darkly. "He's probably in this condition due to a pre-Immortal brain injury. Immortals are perfect when first born, disabilities do not come naturally for us. But whether he is mentally handicapped or not, three hundred years have passed, so maybe he developed his brain somehow. It is possible."
"Owen, you're not going after him," Duncan warned.
"If he crosses a line, I'll have no choice."
Back at the opera, Carolyn was on the stage, playing the piano and vocalizing. In the wings nearby a figure covered by the shadows tossed a small bouquet of white wildflowers onto stage. Carolyn heard a sound on the stage and stopped playing.
"Who is it? Who's there?" she called to no answer. My friends will be right back."
She then saw the flowers, cautiously walked over and picked them up. Then she saw the figure hiding in the shadows.
"Who are you?" she asked.
The figure hesitated to answer, feeling shy and nervous. But he did walk out of the shadows and into the light. It WAS Ursa. Then it dawned on Carolyn.
"You killed Frank…"
"He... hurt... you," said Ursa, halting between each word.
"Y-you're not going to hurt me like you hurt him, a-are you?"
"No. Sing. Sing more."
Carolyn sat down at the piano, surprised what he just told her.
"He hurt me, and you protected me. Like a guardian angel. Is that what you are?" she asked as she began to play. "My own guardian angel who brings me wildflowers from the forest floor?"
Carolyn looked back to Ursa, who quickly looked away. Carolyn continued to play and began to vocalize again. But I am sorry to say that this was the planting of the seeds of disaster.
At the rectory in St. Joseph's Chapel, Duncan told Darius all about Ursa.
"Ursa, Ursa, yes, I remember him," said Darius, as he collected some teacups. "He was a... a gardener at the Abbey of Saint Gobain before the Revolution. They tore the Abbey down and used the stones to build some houses. I lost track of him after that."
"I was hoping you'd have some more recent recollection," Duncan continued.
"Oh, for me, that is recent."
Duncan gave him a look in response.
"Try some of this," offered Darius as he poured tea for them all.
"Oh, this isn't some more of your moss stuff, is it?" asked Duncan.
"No, no, no, no."
"I don't trust you. You sure it's not?"
He took a sip right before Darius answered, "It's from a mold form."
Duncan responded by spitting the tea out. Owen and Darius laughed at the reaction.
"Oh, come on, it can't be that bad," said Owen, trying to stop.
"You like it?!" Duncan cried, trying to get the taste out of his mouth.
"I had to eat mold and moss to survive when I ran out of food as a hermit."
Darius picked up the teapot, "Some more?"
"No! No, no, no," said Duncan making a face.
"Anyhow, you're telling us he stayed in that abbey for several generations, surrounded by mortal monks?" Owen asked Darius.
"Well, the monks considered him as one of God's special creatures. They kept his secret from generation to generation. And they taught him to sing."
"Do you know where he came from?" asked Duncan.
"No. No, I doubt if he knows himself. He once drew me a picture of his home... of mountains and a cave. But it's strange that he should choose a monastery. None of the monks remembered how he came to be there. None of them."
He got up and walked over to a tape player.
"Listen."
He played the tape of a man singing. As he listened, Duncan remembered Ursa's fascination with songs and music when he brought him to the abbey.
"But you never saw him again?" Darius asked.
"Until yesterday... I think."
"I was there too," said Owen.
"Ah, it's a shame about the abbey. It was his only true home. Of course, now it would be in a suburb of Paris with its own subway line."
"Subway?" asked Duncan.
"Yeah."
"Subway... subway line. Are there any woods or parks near the site of the old abbey?"
"A huge park, actually, yeah."
"Then it makes sense."
"What do you mean, Dad?" Owen asked.
"Well, Ursa always lived in caves, except for his time in the Abbey. He'd be perfectly at home underground... in sewers, in... in subways."
"The catacombs!" finished Darius. "Those old tunnel works were used during the great plague to empty the city's cemeteries. Ah, yes, but what would draw Ursa so far into the city?"
"The music."
"Of course he'd be at the Opera, he was listening to the music," pointed out Owen.
"Yeah, the Opera," Darius agreed. "I suppose that it's possible."
"Yeah, Ursa always loved music and beauty," said Duncan.
Meanwhile in the catacombs, Ursa was standing in an open area, singing to his shadow, that seemed to resemble a beast. The sound of his singing echoed off the surrounding stone walls.
In Carolyn's dressing room at the Opera, the singer was applying makeup, when a knock at the door came.
"Come in," she said, sounding bored.
The door opened and Jenny entered, taking in Carolyn's hair style and makeup.
"Wow. It's, uh, hot stuff," she complimented.
"Really?" asked Carolyn, unimpressed.
"Uh, can I talk to you?"
"Sure, Jenny."
"Well, um, the guys in the band have been helping me out with a couple of songs I've been working on, and, uh... well, they think they're pretty good."
"Uh-huh. I'll listen to 'em. And if I like 'em, I'll try them out in rehearsal."
"The others thought that... maybe I could... sing them myself. You know, I... I'd like to try."
Carolyn sounded supportive, but she was not pleased by it.
"I bet you WOULD like to try, Jenny. If they're any good, we'll try them out in performance and see if the fans go for 'em. Okay?"
"Yeah! That's all I want," replied Jenny.
"That's all? Heh! At your age, honey, I wanted to be the star. No, seriously, Jenny, you deserve the recognition."
"I - I won't forget this."
"I won't let you."
"Good. Thanks."
"Okay. Bye, Jenny."
"Bye."
"Bye."
Jenny left the room feeling very happy. But the moment she left, Carolyn dropped her own smile and her act. Her prima donna persona began to grow bigger.
That night, Owen and Duncan were on the street in front of Opera with Richie. The father and son were squatting at an open manhole that led into the sewers.
"Wait. Let me just get this straight - you're gonna go down there and look for this big giant named Ursa, who's like, crawling around the opera, you think," summarized Richie.
"That's right," replied Duncan, checking his flashlight. "And I'm going on my own."
"Okay. So I take it you were around when they built the Paris sewers, right? You probably know them like the back of your hand."
"No, I was actually not too much into sewers, you know."
"I've used sewers a lot in my life," boasted Owen as Richie squatted to him while Duncan lowered himself in. "How are you supposed to know where you're going if you aren't into sewers?"
"Well, as the old saying goes, 'I'm going north by northwest.' Well, actually, I'm going that way."
"What if your compass doesn't work down there?" asked Richie.
"I'll get lost."
The boys glanced at each other when Duncan's voice came echoing up out of the sewer, "And don't come after me!"
"Right, sure!" called Owen. "Hurry, before he's too far and he can sense me getting close."
He climbed into the manhole as Richie sit at the edge and started to climb in as well.
"Oh, great, big, dumb, giant, ugly Neanderthal Immortal piece of... oh, man," complained the boy as he vented his way down.
Back at the stage, Carolyn was playing the piano again. Ursa came up and placed another small bouquet of white wildflowers on the piano.
"They're beautiful," she said. "You're back again. How do you get in here without anyone seeing you?"
Ursa started to walk slowly away, then turned back, showing he wanted her to follow. He lead her down into the basement.
"Here?" asked Carolyn.
Ursa made a grunt as an affirmative and pushed a piece of equipment aside. He then gently took her hand, leading her into the catacombs.
In the same catacombs, Duncan and the boys were wandering around, separately. Owen was still trying to keep up with Duncan in case he got too far.
"Whoa!" said Richie quietly as he saw a pile of bones.
The boys turned a corner and were hit by another flashlight beam.
"Whoa!" said Richie again, only to see Duncan. "Oh, boy, am I glad to see you."
"The feeling isn't mutual," Duncan said crossly. "I told you to stay by the manhole cover. Now go back."
"Hell no," replied Owen. "You don't know jack shit about sewer areas, I do. If you want to find this Ursa, you'll let me help you."
Duncan tried to talk, but Owen held up his hand.
"What?" Richie asked.
"Voices," replied Owen. "Someone's down here."
He hurried past Duncan and began walking toward the sound, with Duncan and Richie following after him.
Elsewhere in the catacombs, Ursa was still showing Carolyn around. But the prima donna persona seemed to get stronger when as she looked around.
"I'm afraid," said Carolyn. "I - I wouldn't have to be if... but I couldn't ask you that either. You've already protected me once. You don't like killing. I guess I'll just have to go away, far from everyone. Far from you. And just hope she doesn't find me. Unless... you could bring her down here. No one will ever find you. Or her."
Ursa looked back and forth. It was clear his was reluctant to kill under command.
"She's already tried to murder me once, in my sleep!" Carolyn lied, trying to make him look at her. "Do you want her to succeed this time? Help me!"
A clapping noise sounded out, which Ursa noticed. Quickly, he shook Carolyn's arms away and started jogging down the tunnel.
"What? What is it?" called Carolyn as she backed away.
Nearby, Richie was standing by a wall plaque that read: RUE St. AUGUSTIN, when the MacLeods stopped walking, feeling a buzz.
"What? What's up?" Richie asked. "What's going on? Oh, fantastic."
"Stay here. Okay?" ordered Owen. "We'll be right back."
"All right."
Duncan and Owen walked forward while Richie stood and waited. Suddenly, a figure appears behind Richie and pulled him away.
"Aaaaaahhhhhh!" the boy screamed, alerting the MacLeods.
"Richie!" yelled Owen, drawing his sword and running back.
"Owen, wait!" Duncan called, but Owen had already gained a distance.
On her side of the catacombs, Carolyn turned and went up the stairs she came in on.
Upon arriving at the wall plaque, Owen was greeted by Ursa, who was wielding a custom scythe. Ursa attacked and Owen effortlessly parried.
"What did you do to him?!" demanded the younger Highlander. "SAY SOMETHING!"
Instead of answering, Ursa pinned him to the wall by the neck, strangling him.
"Ursa, stop!" yelled Duncan as he caught up. "It's me, it's Duncan MacLeod!"
"MacLeod?" Ursa asked. "Aah!"
Ursa released Owen, seeing a switchblade embedded in his hand. Owen had stabbed him there to free himself. Owen swung for Ursa's head, but he ran out of range and disappeared into the shadows.
"Ursa!" called Duncan, but Ursa was gone.
Richie, having recovered from being thrown to the ground by Ursa, ran back to the MacLeods.
"Are you okay?" he asked Owen.
"Owen don't attack him!" scolded Duncan.
"He attacked first!" Owen replied, exasperated.
"He's just territorial!"
"Hmph! That's debatable!"
Back at the barge, Tessa was cleaning Richie's head injury.
"Why did he attack you, if he's your friend?" she asked Duncan.
"He attacked Owen," replied Duncan. "He didn't recognize me. It was dark. I told him who I was but... maybe he didn't remember."
"Yeah, I suppose the old memory gets a little fuzzy after a couple hundred years," Richie said sarcastically.
"Uh-huh."
"But what's he doing down there?" continued Tessa. "Why did he kill that man at the Opera?"
"Well, that's what we're going to have to find out," Owen replied. "Lynn agreed to stake out there and keep an eye out. Since she's a mortal, we have an advantage. See ya."
Duncan gave Tessa a peck.
"Later," replied Richie.
"You won't follow me again, will you?" teased Duncan.
"Heh, heh, no, not this time."
The MacLeods hurried out with Owen leading the way.
"Friend, huh? Trust me, he's not exactly the kind of guy you invite over for dinner. Ah, Tessa!"
"Sorry!"
At the foyer of the Opera, Owen led Duncan up the stairs and saw Jenny, dressed street clothes.
"Hi... Jenny, right?" Owen asked.
"Uh, yeah, hi," greeted Jenny.
"How're you doing?"
"Fine. Fine, thank you."
"Have the police been back?" asked Duncan.
"Uh, questioning Carolyn, mainly. She's the only one who saw anything."
"You a friend of hers?"
"Well, uh... I guess I'd like to be. I mean, she can sing anything... jazz, opera…"
"But…?" Owen asked, seeing her shrug.
"Well, she can be hard to be around sometimes, you know? I keep telling myself that she's just scared, you know. This is her big shot at a comeback."
"How did she get along with Frank?" asked Duncan.
"Yeah, well, uh... I guess I shouldn't talk about that."
"Why not? It might help."
"How?"
"I don't know... were they close?"
Doubtful, thought Owen.
"Yeah, they were real friendly... at first," Jenny explained. "And she was grateful. He always said he was her number one fan. But it's funny - with somebody like Carolyn, you could almost see the gratitude working like a poison in her bloodstream. She started riding Frank like she hated him or something. Oh... I guess this sounds crazy, right?"
"Crazy, but true," agreed Owen. "Some people hate owing anything to anybody else. They delude themselves into thinking they done it all themselves."
"Yeah."
"I don't think Frank dealt with it well."
"Oh, I don't know, like this thing'd happened before, you know, it's just kind of sad. Look, I really feel weird talking about this, okay?"
"Well, we're glad you did," Duncan cut in. "Listen, stop by the barge sometime - I think Richie's been looking forward to seeing you."
"Yeah, sure, I'll do that."
"Okay."
"Oh, look, I hope you don't think that…"
"No, we don't."
"Okay. Bye," she started down when she called up again. "You know what bugs me the most about Carolyn?"
"What?"
"That I might turn into her."
"You have the power to make sure that doesn't happen," soothed Owen. "Richie has your back, and me and my girl, we do too."
Jenny smiled and walked down the steps.
In the Opera's rehearsal room, the band was practicing for the show. Unbeknownst to them, Lynn was hiding where they could not see her.
"Look, we don't need to give twenty-five percent of our money to some manager," said Carolyn.
"Who's gonna handle the books?" the keyboard player asked.
"I can."
"Sure you can."
He started to play a few notes, when Carolyn got up and rudely unplugged the instrument.
"What the hell are you doing?" demanded the keyboard player.
"I am getting everybody's attention," Carolyn replied.
"We all liked the way Frank ran things."
"Well, he can't anymore. I can. I mean, do you really think Frank was earning his percentage? He was a parasite. I mean, I know this is cold, but that is the way the world is. We were the ones making things happen. We were the ones with the talent. Just let me have a shot at running the group, okay?"
The band members were not impressed. They had been on good terms with Frank.
"Why isn't Jenny here?" the keyboard player asked.
"I didn't invite her to this meeting. I wanted to talk to you all about her. She's not working out."
"Come on, what are you talking about? She's one of the best backup we ever had. And we all like the song she wrote."
"She is a distraction. She is NOT what this troupe is about."
"Exactly what are we about? You?"
Lynn was disgusted by Carolyn's behavior, realizing that Owen was right about her.
In the Opera's basement, some equipment was being pushed aside, sending a draft through the structure and setting the band's chimes tinkling.
"Look, we'll finish this later, okay?" asked Carolyn as she walked away. "Okay?"
"Yeah, right," mumbled the band members.
Reaching the basement, Carolyn went down the stairs and Owen emerged from a corner in front of her at the bottom.
"Boo!" he said loudly, startling her. "Sorry. Did you think I was someone else?"
"No. Where did you come from?"
"A secret door that leads into the sewers, but you've never seen it before, right?"
"No. How very exotic.
She starts back up the stairs when Owen spoke, "I want to talk to you about the guy who killed Frank Wells."
"Sure. I have a costume to try on. Come along if you want to talk."
Owen saw that she was still being rude and disrespectful. Focusing his hearing, he heard Lynn walking away from rehearsal room.
In the wardrobe closet, Owen stood before Carolyn, but she did not seem interested as she looked for her costume.
"You know who killed your manager," said Owen.
"I never saw his face," Carolyn replied uninterested.
"His name is Ursa."
"If you say so."
She began taking costumes from the rack.
"He's the one bringing you the wildflowers to your dressing room."
"I never made the connection. I told you I didn't know who brought them."
Owen knew she was lying about something but decided to play along.
"Well, you do now. So why haven't you told the police?"
"Why haven't you, if you know so much? Who are you?"
"My name's MacLeod. And you can't rely on everyone to do everything for you. What you're dealing with is something very dangerous."
"I think I can handle whatever it is."
"That's what all shrews say when really they don't."
Owen smirked in a rude manner, relishing in Carolyn's offense at his comment. He turned and exited. After he left, Carolyn looked through hanging costume after hanging costume and pulled an ornamental dagger from its sheath. She unsheathed it and a small grin came onto her face. The prima donna persona had made her insane.
On the street in front of Opera, Jenny was walking along with Richie, holding hands and laughing together. They ran up the steps outside the Opera and enter the building.
In the foyer, Owen had caught up to Duncan and Lynn and told them every detail about his talk with Carolyn. Lynn also shared her observations, when suddenly, the MacLeods sensed the buzz.
"Son of a bitch!" exclaimed Owen as he turned and ran back, with Duncan and Lynn following.
In the basement Carolyn looked around until Ursa appeared.
"You took your time. She'll be here any moment," she said, holding up the ornamental dagger. "I found this in her dressing room. She's going to use it on me."
Ursa took the dagger and held it up, grunting in growing anger. Owen hurried through the building, he tried to locate Ursa's presence, as the giant slowly climbed the basement steps.
In the rehearsal room, Jenny entered with Richie.
"Oh, hey, fellas. Am I late?" she greeted as the band members greeted her.
"Hi, Jenn," greeted the keyboard player.
"Hey, how's it going?"
"Good."
"Good? Okay, well, um... I'm just going to get my stuff, okay?
She turned to Richie, "Alright, so grab a seat. I'll be right back."
She placed her cap on Richie's head and gave him a quick kiss. Richie leaned against the wall to listen as the band started warming up and Jenny went down the hall to her locker.
Getting a pull, Owen ran as fast as he could, with Duncan and Lynn following close behind.
"I hope he doesn't hurt Ursa," said Duncan to himself.
As Jenny searched her locker for her equipment, she saw a shadow behind her. She turned around quickly and backed away. The figure made a pained grunting sound as it advanced toward her.
"Aaaahhh!" came Jenny's scream. The band stopped playing looked around along with Richie.
"Aaaahhh!" came another scream.
Without thinking, Richie ran to the source of the scream.
"Let go of me! Help me, somebody! Aah!" Jenny screamed as she was effortlessly carried down the basement stairs by Ursa, who was only using one hand.
"Jenny!" Richie cried as he hurried down the stairs.
"Richie! Richie! Put me down!"
Richie ran toward them, but Ursa backhanded him with his free hand, knocking the wind out of him.
"Richie!" cried Jenny as Ursa reaches hidden entrance. "Richie! Please! Put me down! Please! Let me go! Let me go! Ah! Let me go…"
She ineffectually hit Ursa on the back as he pulled the equipment in place to hide the entrance to the catacombs. On the stairs, Owen and Duncan caught up with Richie, while Lynn stayed in the rehearsal room.
"Richie, you alright?" asked Owen.
"Yeah, I'm fine," a groggy Richie replied.
"Okay."
Owen and Duncan continued down the stairs and together, pulled the equipment away from the catacomb entrance.
"Ursa!" called Duncan, but there was no reply.
He found an old kerosene lantern on the ground, poured kerosene on a stick, or an actual torch.
Carolyn came down the basement stairs, having heard the noise.
"What's happened?" she asked Richie. "What's happened?"
Richie was still holding his head, "He took Jenny."
"Oh, how terrible."
"Damn!"
He ran off after the MacLeods, leaving Carolyn behind. Duncan lit the torch with a match as Richie runs up. This startled Duncan into swinging the torch around in his face.
"Don't shoot!" Richie cried. "At least you don't need batteries."
He took the torch from Duncan and walks forward, noticing the tunnel.
"Oh, guys, look - check it out. It slopes down there - what is all that stuff?"
"The catacombs," replied Duncan, grabbing back the torch.
"What? Don't! Wait for me, man."
"Let's go," Owen ordered, drawing a firearm.
Nearby in the catacombs, Ursa had got a small fire going as Jenny was sitting on a ledge nearby. She was frightened, but he did not seem to want to harm her. It was as if he had a change of heart.
"No, please don't hurt me," she said meekly when Ursa moved toward her.
Ursa walked the opposite direction and pulled a piece of bread from a bundle on the ground. He hands her the bread, not making eye contact, likely to not scare her. He then started to walk away.
"Why are you doing this?"
But he continued to walk until he disappeared into the tunnel.
"Please don't leave me. No, please don't leave!"
She was now all alone and began to weep silently.
Nearby Richie and the MacLeods were walking through the catacombs and past a wall marker that read: 'CHARNIER DES INNOCENTS BY St. JACQUES 8 AOUT 1871' (8 August 1871).
"Friends of yours, huh?" Richie asked as they passed ledges full of skeletal remains.
"Very funny," replied Duncan.
"Help me, someone!" came a voice further down the tunnel.
"I can hear her," Owen said quietly, only for Richie to take off down the tunnel. "Richie! Wait for us!"
Jenny was feeling her way along the wall then heard footsteps coming and started backing away.
"Jen- Jenny! Jenny!" called Richie.
"Richie?"
"Jenny! Oh!"
He ran to her to give her a hug.
"You alright? You okay?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine," Jenny said, crying with relief.
"Did he hurt you?"
"No, he didn't. He seemed almost as frightened as I was. I don't know why he took me down here, understand?"
The MacLeods looked around the area.
"Guys?" asked Richie.
"What?" Duncan replied.
"Is he close?"
"No."
"Well, how do you know?"
"Well, it's a maze down here. He could be anywhere. Come on, Richie. Find a way out of here."
"Me?"
"Yeah you," said Owen as Duncan handed him the torch. "Go on."
"All right. Let's go."
Richie led Jenny down the tunnel as Duncan and Owen followed them.
At the barge, everyone was comforting Jenny who accepted mug of coffee from Tessa. The detective was also there.
"You know, I don't understand any of this. He was like a confused animal or something," Jenny explained. "I almost felt sorry for him. I mean, who was he?"
"He's someone very lost," answered Tessa.
"Well, if you're right, it would take the entire Paris police force to flush him out down there," reported the detective. "Some of these homeless guys have been living underground for years."
"Well, I don't think you'd flush him out even then," Duncan replied.
"Well, we're also making inquiries at all the asylums and hospitals. Maybe he escaped from one of them."
"Yeah, maybe."
"And you, MacLeod... you did well, finding her."
"Well, I guess it's just beginner's luck."
The detective turned to Jenny, "And, uh, miss? If you think of anything else, just call me."
"Thank you, I will."
Duncan shook the detective's hand, "You know your way out."
The moment the detective left; Lynn spoke up.
"Jenny, have you had an argument with anybody lately?" she asked.
"Uh, like who?" asked Jenny.
"Like, Carolyn Lamb?"
"Carolyn? No. As a matter of fact, she's been really nice to me lately. When the band wanted me to sing my own songs, she seemed okay about it."
"They wanted you to sing?"
"Well, it's not the first time. Um, Frank... talked about it, too."
"Carolyn didn't mind sharing the spotlight?" asked Richie.
"No... she seemed fine. I was kind of surprised. Why?"
Owen spoke, "I think she knows something and she does mind sharing the spotlight."
"What do you mean?"
"She's been acting like she's hiding something."
"I overheard that she didn't invite you to that meeting because you're a 'distraction.' Think about it, she's complaining about sharing the spotlight before Frank died, she's talking shit about you behind your back and then HE appears. Coincidence?"
Lynn was doing her best to omit her knowledge of Ursa, and she was convincing.
"But that doesn't make sense," said Jenny in denial.
"And that's why I'm scouting the Opera for answers," Owen replied, before he grabbed his long coat and rushed out the door.
"Owen, wait!" called Duncan as he chased after him.
Richie leaned close to Jenny in an attempt to comfort her, "Everything's gonna be just fine."
Lynn also held Jenny's hand to provide extra comfort.
At the Opera stage, Ursa was walking across the stage to where Carolyn was sitting at the piano, as he sang a little.
"She isn't dead," she said darkly.
Ursa hesitated to respond.
"I thought you were my friend. You don't care at all. Now there's someone else who wants to hurt me. His name is MacLeod."
"Mac... Leod?" asked Ursa, some memories coming back.
"You know who he is?"
Ursa nodded.
"He's coming to kill me, and you'll just watch? You don't really love me at all... not the way that I love you."
Ursa looked down at the floor, confused and hurt. Suddenly, his senses picked up a buzz and he raised his head.
"Ursa!" Owen called as he walked down the theater aisle, Ursa turning to face him. "At last."
"Owen, stop!" yelled Duncan as he ran up alongside.
"I knew she was up to something, Dad! Now if you can't contain HIM, I'm taking him."
Duncan began walking down the theater aisle and tried again, "Ursa! It's me. Don't you recognize me? It's Duncan MacLeod."
"MacLeod…" said Ursa, hesitantly.
"They're coming for me, Ursa!" whispered Carolyn.
"No, we're not," replied Duncan, walking onto the stage, next Owen.
"Contain him," Owen whispered, impatiently.
Ursa ran at Owen, growling, trying to scare him off but Owen raised his fists in response. Ursa backed up a little.
"What are you waiting for?" demanded Carolyn. "Stop them! They're gonna kill me!"
"We're not going to hurt her, Ursa," Duncan said calmly.
But then, Carolyn threw herself at Owen, but he simply kicked her in her stomach, pushing her aside. Ursa charged at Owen, but he dodged, and roundhouse kicked the giant in the face, staggering him.
"Guys, stop!" shouted Duncan.
"Kill them!" Carolyn shrieked as Ursa pulled out his scythe to attack Owen.
"Come on, Ursa," encouraged Owen.
Ursa swung at him, but he quickly dodged the strike. The following strike backed Owen to the catwalk ladder.
"That all you got?! Come on!" Owen shouted as he climbed onto catwalk ladder. "Come get me!"
Ursa followed him, while Duncan followed in an attempt to stop the fight.
"She's lying to you Ursa!" he said loudly. "She's trying to fool you about the girl, Jenny. But you didn't believe her, did you? You knew she was good. I've always been your friend, Ursa."
Owen reached the top of the ladder and climbed onto the catwalk. As Ursa reached top of the ladder, Owen pulled out his katana to fight back. Ursa swung again and Owen deflected his attacks. Duncan reached the catwalk and continued to try to reason with Ursa.
"She's using you to kill people for her!"
Both fighters paid no attention to him as Owen lured Ursa to a door.
Owen went through the door from the catwalk and onto the building's roof, still toying with the predictable attacks of Ursa.
"Ursa, listen to me!" begged Duncan as he followed.
Owen blocked another swing, then hit Ursa in the back of his head with the butt of his sword, knocking him down.
"Give up!" Owen ordered, placing his blade at Ursa's neck. "You're no match for me!"
Ursa responded by pushing the katana away and attacking again. Owen climbed a nearby ladder to a higher part of the roof. Carolyn came out onto the roof and saw them fighting.
"Alright, no more games!" said Owen, preparing to go on the offensive.
Owen swung at Ursa, who struggled to keep up with his advanced moves. Owen soon saw an opening and struck Ursa, sending him down the roof's peak and onto a valley. Owen chased after him and drove him back as Carolyn watched anxiously.
"Owen, no!" yelled Duncan.
But it was no use. Owen pressed his advantage and once more, knocked Ursa down a peak and near the edge of the roof. Owen knocked the scythe over the edge and tried to swing for Ursa's head, but the giant grabbed the Highlander's arms and tried to put him in a body-lock. Fighting the pain, Owen forced himself forward, throwing Ursa over the edge of the roof. Duncan hurried toward the two as Ursa held onto the edge.
"MacLeod…" Ursa began as Owen raised his blade once more.
But at the last second, Ursa lost his grip and fell to a temporary death on the concrete ground. Owen pulled back after seeing he could not reach Ursa. Duncan shook his head and turned to see Carolyn watching. She hurried back inside the Opera. The MacLeods hurried to find a way down, knowing Ursa would revive.
On the street in front of the Opera, Ursa revived from his fall and lifted his head, looking around. Owen and Duncan reached the ground and saw Carolyn running out of the building, trying to avoid them.
"Where do you think you're going, bitch?" Owen said, cutting her off.
"Leave me alone. I haven't done anything!" snapped Carolyn.
"You wanted him to kill for you!" accused Duncan.
"That is crazy."
"First Jenny, then my son. He was a gentle soul."
"You were friends with that ox?"
She was unaware that Ursa was stumbling up behind her.
"Yeah, my dad was apparently," Owen corrected.
"He was a lobotomy case."
Duncan looked at Ursa, "Then you never cared for him."
"He must have hit you over the head. He was a simpleton. He belonged in some zoo exhibit!"
"Ugh!"
Carolyn whirled around and saw Ursa standing behind her, a look of hurt and betrayal on his face. She was horrified that he was still alive and had heard her, so she turned and ran away. Ursa chased after her, only for her enter the street, where a taxi was barreling through.
"Aah!" was all she could say before she was struck and shoved aside.
The taxi screeched to a stop as her body rolled along the street to the curb. Ursa rushed over, followed by the MacLeods and checked her over. He saw some blood was dripping from the back of her head. The impact with the concrete had cracked her head open. Owen glanced briefly at the driver who had exited his car.
"Ursa, there's nothing you can do for her," said Duncan. "Ursa…"
Ursa did not say anything. He just picked Carolyn's corpse up and carried it away, with tears in his eyes. Owen realized Ursa was a victim of this too, despite attacking Frank with the wrong intentions. Right now, he had to handle the driver.
"We saw everything," he said. "Don't worry, you had the right of way. If you need help, I'll call my buddy, Jason and he can help."
That night, the MacLeods brought Ursa to the Abbey of St. Bernard.
"They rebuilt the old chapel," Duncan told him. "You'll be safe here. The brothers will take care of you. This is your home again."
Ursa listened to the monks as they sang. Father Jean-Patrick walked up and turned, as if he was motioning Ursa to come.
"I've got to be going, Ursa," said Duncan. "I'll come visit."
Ursa walked toward the waiting Jean-Patrick, then looked back.
"MacLeod…" he said simply.
Owen smiled, "We know."
Duncan waved as Ursa walked off.
"See you, Ursa," the older Highlander said to himself before leaving with Owen.
While they were there, they failed to notice the strange tattoo on Jean-Patrick's wrist.
(Cue Princes of the Universe)
Co-Starring
Fay Masterson as Jenny Harris
Francois Guetary as Detective
Joe Sheridan as Frank Wells
(Princes of the Universe ends)
Who is Father Jean-Patrick and who is this mysterious Jason? That's a story of another day.
I will say this is the first episode where a mortal is the main antagonist instead of an Immortal, despite an antagonistic Immortal. The differences between this episode and The Road Not Taken is Ursa is not evil and is the secondary antagonist, unlike Kiem Sun, who WAS evil and the OVERARCHING antagonist.
Since Ursa has no past with Owen, I did not show his flashbacks with Duncan. The peasant in the flashback along with the keyboard player in the preset are also uncredited and unknown. Also, this is teasing that Owen prefers to take more drastic measures to protect and defend instead of Duncan.
I wanted to call Carolyn a Karen, but that stereotype did not exist in the 1990s, so I had to use shrew instead. The fact that she was willing to kill people just so she could have what she wanted is plain insane. I wonder where Ursa took her body after the ordeal and if her image was truly destroyed.
I will say, Jenny is my second favorite love interest for Richie, above Laura and Angie, who seemed like an on-off. Not sure if he and Nikki were an item, but they were never together on screen. Jenny's relationship with Richie felt like it was naturally progressing. I still miss her. I also could not find a hit of a British accent in Fay's voice; her American accent is flawless.
I think Ursa's mental handicap was caused by a pre-Immortal brain injury. If not, this premise is a counter to the mythology; even as latent Immortals, the person with the potential to become Immortal is physically perfect, as suggested in the episode Free Fall and later Rite of Passage by mentioning that even the teeth of an Immortal were perfect. The same thing can apply to Mikey Bellows.
Anyway, thanks for reading, please review, your support helps my writing.
R&R, Roland Cain out!