Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for Tori Gordon and Jack Banks! Highlander belongs to Davis/Panzer as well as Rysher Entertainment. Defenders of the Earth belongs to Marvel, King Features Entertainment and Hearst Entertainment.
"They are Immortal. From the dawn of time, they came; moving silently through the centuries, living many secret lives, struggling to reach the time of the Gathering, when the few who remain will battle to the last. No one has ever known they exist, except for a group of people known as the Watchers, a secret organization of men and women who observe and record Immortals but never interfere. I'm one of those Watchers. Holy Ground is their only refuge, In the end, there can be only one."
(cue "Princes of the Universe")
Starring
Jack Turpin
Kehli O' Byrne
Adrian Paul
Ellie Cornell
Stan Kirsch
Philip Akin
and
Jim Byrnes as Joe Dawson
("Princes of the Universe" ends)
Epitaph for Tommy
Guest Starring
Roddy Piper
Andrea Roth
Ken Camroux
Jan d'Arcy
At a deserted amusement park in the early morning, Duncan was jogging down the path to the exit. He stopped to catch his breath, and dab is face with a towel he had, having exerted a lot of energy. Suddenly, he felt a buzz, turned around and came face to face with a hulking Immortal, wielding a Garcia de Paredes Mandoble sword. The Immortal immediately attacked, but Duncan dodged the strike and made a dash for the T-bird. The stranger dragged his blade along the steel fence as Duncan was able to retrieve his katana.
"Anthony Gallen," greeted the stranger.
"Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod," the Highlander responded.
With that, they started to duel, but Duncan quickly backed Gallen up toward the nearby gate. Gallen's beheading strike was futile, so he threw the gate at Duncan to buy some escape time. Duncan caught up with him and Gallen attempted to use his strength to drive Duncan onto the rollercoaster track. But Duncan adapted and began to drive Gallen up the incline. When his blade got trapped, Gallen tried to throw a right-hand punch, but Duncan kicked him in the chest first. Gallen hurried up a few steps, trying to get some ground, only to discover his high ground advantage was not helping. Just then, a red Corvette drive up to the park. The driver got out and spotted the rivals fighting on the rollercoaster incline. Gallen suddenly noticed the driver grabbing a satchel from his car. Grabbing his opponent by the neck, Gallen pushed Duncan aside and jumped to the ground. Duncan recovered and looked for him, but Gallen disappeared from where he was.
Then Duncan saw the driver walking toward the coaster, satchel in hand. Suddenly, Gallen appeared in a sedan, charging full force and ran into the driver. The satchel went flying and landed in the grass at the base of the coaster. Gallen looked at his work and laughed as he drove away. Duncan reached the bottom and ran to the body of the driver. He quickly checked and found a faint sign of life. He first tried mouth-to-mouth and then compressed the chest.
"Come on, man," encouraged Duncan. "Come on. Live. Breathe. Breathe! Damn it!"
Suddenly, the driver gasped and coughed violently.
"Come on, it's all right. It's okay. It's all right. Breathe. You're going to be all right."
But then seconds later, the driver died. His injuries were too much. Duncan felt awful.
"Tommy Bannen?" asked Richie in the dojo loft.
"That was his name," Duncan confirmed.
"And you never came across this Anthony Gallen before?" asked Owen, patting Duncan's back.
"No."
"You must have been more than he bargained for," Tori stated.
"It was an even match, Tori."
"Then how come he took off?" Richie asked.
"I don't know."
"Well, too bad about the Bannen kid. Guy was in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"That's no reason for him to be dead, Richie."
Duncan got up and took off his sweatshirt.
"You didn't hit the guy, Mac," said Richie. "You think that Gallen is losing sleep over this?"
"Hey, I'm not Gallen," Duncan retorted.
"Take it easy. I didn't say you were. You want to talk about it?"
"No. You want some breakfast?"
"Sure."
"Sounds great," Tori added.
Richie got up and went to the counter with Tori joining him, and it was where Duncan was, "Look, Mac...if you don't want to discuss it, I understand, but there's nothing you can do for Tommy Bannen."
"I can go to his funeral," replied Duncan, as he started cutting a loaf.
At the cemetery, Duncan stood at Tommy's grave, still sad he could not save him. Owen patted him on the shoulder.
"I'm so sorry, Dad," he said sadly.
Just then, a middle-aged woman came up behind them. Hearing her footsteps, the MacLeods turned to see her.
"I'm Betty Bannen," she introduced. "I don't think we've met."
"I'm Duncan MacLeod," answered Duncan.
"You're the one that tried to save him."
"I'm sorry it wasn't enough."
"You did what you could. I thank you for that with all my heart."
"We should be going."
Duncan prepared to walk away with Owen.
"Would you...would you stay awhile, Mr. MacLeod?" asked Betty. "Please? You were the last one to see my Tommy alive."
"Of course," Duncan said kindly.
The three walked together through the cemetery. Owen felt happy that Betty was offering comfort. At that moment, he thought back to Annapolis, Maryland in 1866, where that was not the case and Duncan once more could not save someone.
In a field, Owen was under a load of hay in a wagon.
"Oh! Ha, ha!" he laughed as he pushed the hay away to reveal himself with a girl. "I really don't think a haystack's a good idea, Bessie."
"You think you're the first man who ever courted me?" asked Bess as Owen freed himself and sat down against the wagon wall.
"Well, only if the men around here are fools."
"The girls say that men are like horses - big and stupid, but they do have their uses."
"Wait, why are you comparing me to a horse?"
"Well, you're certainly not stupid, but as for uses..."
"Bastard!" barked a voice. "Get out of the wagon."
The two turned to see a Naval soldier standing before them with a drawn saber.
"Who the hell are you?" demanded Owen.
"That's Ned," Bess answered, clearly annoyed.
"Her fiancé," added Ned.
"Liar!" Owen snapped. "She's not engaged to anyone!"
That seemed to make the soldier more mad.
"Bess and I will talk about it when you're dead," he declared. "She was sworn to marry me."
"It was my parents' idea, not mine," corrected Bess.
"Give me satisfaction."
"To kill an unarmed man is an act of murder," snapped Owen.
"Then get out and arm yourself."
"Owen, please," Bess pleaded as Owen got up. "Owen, please."
"Tell him, not me," retorted Owen as he climbed out of the wagon.
"Come down and meet your fate," Ned demanded.
"Listen pal, I'm not fighting you over a girl," warned Owen, grabbing a pitchfork from the hay pile. "Whoa!"
He quickly blocked the blade as Ned attacked with a thrust, responding with a hit from the wooded pitchfork pole.
"Ned, do not hurt him," pleaded Bess.
"Stop it," Owen said, as he dodged and parried the predictable strikes.
"No! Owen, watch out."
The sounds of the clashing seemed to draw some attention to the area. Just then, another blade blocked Ned's sword. It was Duncan, having come to the rescue.
"Stand down," he ordered.
"Stay out of this," retorted Ned, "This is between me and him."
"You take my son's head; I WILL take yours."
Deciding Duncan was now an obstacle, Ned attacked him next. But the older Highlander was more experienced and kept pushing him back. Bess climbed out of the wagon, not wanting any blood to be spilled.
"Ned, stop it," she yelled. "Mr. MacLeod!"
"No, Bess! Stay back!" panicked Owen as Ned swung to the left.
Suddenly, Ned noticed his blade had hit something and was stuck. He turned around and saw Bess standing there.
"Bess!" he exclaimed.
Bess looked down, confusing Ned. His eyes widened with horror as he saw his blade buried into her stomach. He had accidentally impaled her with his sword. A tear escaped from Bess' right eye as she held the blade.
"Owen..." she whimpered quietly before she fell to the ground.
"No!" pleaded Owen as he rushed to her side. "Bess. Please, stay with me."
Duncan quickly joined his son and tried to apply pressure to Bess' wound with his jacket. But all Bess did, was gaze into Owen's eyes before her own closed forever.
"Dear God," said Ned, realizing what he had done.
Duncan gave him a look before turning back to Bess.
"Bess?" he asked, checking for her pulse.
"RHAAAAAA!" came Owen's scream as he rose with Duncan's katana in hand.
He attacked Ned full force in a fit of grief and rage. Ned desperately blocked many strikes, but when he tried to retaliate with a thrust, Owen dodged and simply swung down, breaking the saber in half. He then kicked Ned in the knee, sending him to the ground. Twirling his father's sword, Owen raised it in a reverse-handed grip, preparing to run the Naval soldier through himself. Just then, Duncan rushed up and grabbed Owen's arms, preventing him from swinging down.
"Let me go!" Owen erupted. "He has to pay!"
Duncan gently put his hand on the sword as his son shook, still panting and adrenaline surging through his system.
"No," answered Duncan. "Don't pay with him. I'll make sure he pays."
Owen turned to his father, not convinced and still frenzied.
"I promise."
Something in that finally got through and Owen relented. Duncan took back his sword as he watched Owen's eyes drifted downward, lost and reeling. He had lost what he always wanted once more to the hands of an enemy, a woman he loved.
Despite all the evidence at his disposal for the court-martial, Owen did not feel any better as he knelt before Bess' grave. He gripped the soil under him as he cried in mourning and anger. Surprisingly, many other mourners offered condolences, but Owen did not seem to acknowledge them. He only seemed to notice Duncan. He was also disgusted that Ned was allowed to attend the funeral in chains. The two guards at his side would not allow Ned to get any closer.
"Owen, I'm sorry. I've done all I can," said Duncan, helping his grieving son up. "It's time to go."
"Go?!" Owen asked in tears. "Where to?! She- she was my life...she was...You don't understand, she was the one! She helped me feel like a child again!"
"There's nothing we can do know. In time, maybe you'll find someone else."
"No, no! She was the one! She was my everything, Dad, and that bastard Bascombe gutted her! My Bess is gone because of him!"
Owen buried his face into Duncan's chest as he howled angrily. Duncan felt helpless in the situation. Not even he could calm his son down. He then looked up and saw Captain Clarence Perry following his wife as she ran up to the MacLeods.
"You dare to come here!" she yelled, also crying.
"Get away from me!" snapped Owen, his eyes red from the moisture.
"I would do anything to undo this," Duncan reassured, trying to keep his son from getting any angrier.
"It's you who should be dead!" the mother sobbed at Owen.
"NO! HE should be dead!" yelled Owen, having pulled free from Duncan. "It was his blade that hit her, NOT MINE!"
"She was supposed to marry Ned, then you came. And now Ned will be court-martialed, and we have nothing!"
"WHAT? Did you just-"
Owen immediately felt his anger reach its peak. The Perrys were using Bess as a chance to gain wealth.
"Your daughter was a person! Your own flesh and blood!" he screamed. "Not a key to a moneybag! You know what?! NO! Bascombe may have swung the blade, but YOU killed Bess!"
The mother swung her hand at him, but he caught it in midair. He then twisted it and shoved her aside. Perry made a swing, but Owen blocked him and kicked him down.
"If it were up to me, I'd kill you both RIGHT HERE!" Owen roared. "But lucky for you, the woman you used would rather see you die in poverty!"
He then turned to the chained Ned, "Same thing for you after I win that trial! I'll make sure you stay in your cell until it rots on top of you! Then you'll be moved to a new jail until THAT one rots. May you all burn in HELL!"
Duncan led Owen away as he continued to curse Ned and the Perrys. Despite the verdict that would come next would ultimately go in his favor, it would nonetheless bring Owen little closure.
"Lieutenant Ned Bascombe, after careful consideration of the evidence and witnesses, this court finds you guilty on ALL charges. Your heinous act of attacking Owen MacLeod and his father, Duncan MacLeod resulted in the unnecessary death of Bess Perry, the daughter of your instructor at YOUR Naval Academy. You are hereby stripped of all rank and privileges and leave me with no choice but to hand down the maximum penalty. For the attempted first-degree murder of Owen MacLeod, you are sentenced to life in prison. For the second-degree murder of Bess Perry, you are sentenced to thirty years to life in prison. For the first-degree assault of Duncan MacLeod, you are sentenced for twenty-five years for life in prison. Therefore, you are sentenced to prison, for fifty-five years along with a life sentence and without the possibility of parole. And God only will have mercy on your soul!"
Owen remembered how the trial looked as he walked through the cemetery with Duncan and Betty. He was so busy thinking that he did not notice the conversation Duncan was having with Betty.
"I raised Tommy by myself," she explained. "My husband died in Vietnam. He'd only been an American citizen three years."
"I'm sorry," apologized Duncan.
"He was a soldier. After he was gone, I thought about going home to the Highlands. Someday I'd like to go back there to live."
"Why don't you?"
"Oh, money. Tommy helped with expenses, but he was just a reporter."
"What kind of reporting did he do?"
"Investigative. He wanted his own byline, but he was always working undercover. He promised me that one day I'd see his name."
She then started to sob and got another tissue out, "I don't...I don't know why I'm telling you all of this."
"You can tell me what you like," offered Duncan.
"Mr. MacLeod...are you...was it...was it really an accident?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I don't know. But the last time I saw Tommy, he was really scared about something. It was like he thought he was in danger."
"From what?"
"Well, he wouldn't tell me. He said it was for my own protection."
That got Owen's attention, when a limo pulls up. The scruffy-looking driver, Johnson, came around to the other side and helped a young woman out. An older man who appeared to be her father, followed.
"Betty, I am so sorry that we're late," she said as she gave Betty some flowers and a kiss on the cheek.
"That's all right, Suzanne," answered Betty. "You're here now."
"I don't believe you've met my father, Mr. Honniger."
"My sympathies, Mrs. Bannen," Honniger said kindly, shaking her hand.
"Thank you. This is Duncan MacLeod."
Duncan walked up as Betty continued, "He tried to save Tommy."
"I'd better thank Mr. MacLeod," said Suzanne.
"Tommy was a fine young man. We'll miss him at the paper," Honniger added.
"Will you forgive us if we run? We have a board meeting at four. I'll call."
With that, the Honnigers went back to the limo and Johnson let them in.
"She won't call," Betty told the MacLeods. "She's not the type. But my Tommy was in love with her."
"Mrs. Bannen, if...if you need anything, anything at all..." said Duncan as he handed her a business card, "Don't hesitate to call."
Finishing with his Scottish accent, "Us Highlanders have to stick together."
"Hmm."
Betty got into another car and Duncan walked away with Owen to the T-bird. Suddenly, they sensed a buzz. A car drove up and the window rolled down, revealing Anthony Gallen.
"Too bad we're on Holy Ground, eh?" he asked.
"Oh, we'll be off it one day," retorted Duncan.
Gallen nodded before looking at the graves and leering, "Investing in real estate, MacLeod?"
"Only for you, Gallen."
Gallen gave a little salute and then drove off.
"So that's Anthony Gallen," deduced Owen, finally saying something.
"I believe my cousin can understand what Mac's going through," Tori said as she was typing on the computer.
"What do you mean?" asked Richie as he sat at the loft couch.
"Rick. He's mentioned on more than one occasion that he blames himself for his mother's death. He witnessed Ming killing her in front of him, and he told me if he'd made a move sooner, maybe his mother would still be alive."
"His mother is your aunt Dale, correct?"
"Yes," Tori took a deep breath before she continued. "I reassure him that it wasn't his fault, it was Ming's. Just as this incident isn't Mac's fault. He did his best to save Tommy, but sometimes our best isn't good enough and the tragedies happen the way they do."
"Like with Tessa," Richie stood up and paced the room. "I blame myself for that. I keep thinking, maybe if I had listened to Owen and Mac that night, maybe Tessa would still be alive, they wouldn't have to worry about me and…"
"I wouldn't have gone after you. Richie, you need to know that what happened wasn't your fault. Even if you weren't there, chances are Tessa's fate would have been the same."
"Then I'd probably blame myself for not showing up."
"Richie."
"I keep wondering what could have been. If I had just listened."
"I myself keep wondering something similar. I keep wondering if I had grilled Greta for specific information from her vision, maybe I would have been able to identify the killer on the spot. I might have been able to keep Tessa from dying myself."
"Tori…What should we do now?"
"In regards to what?"
"Mac. For what happened to Tommy."
"We help him. Help him the best that we can."
The next morning, the Immortal quartet regrouped in the loft above the dojo.
"So, what makes you think Gallen's not in town to hunt you, Mac?" asked Richie, who was enjoying some coffee.
"Because he didn't know my name before we fought," Duncan explained as he brought over some food. "It was a chance meeting. What I can't figure is what he was doing in that cemetery."
"Unless he was reacquainting himself with some old pals, Mac, he had to be after you."
"No Richie, he couldn't have known Dad was there," replied Owen as Duncan collected some more appetizers. "And if he'd followed Dad, he would have sensed him."
"That's true. Okay, so if he wasn't there for you, and we know he wasn't sentimental about Tommy Bannen, who's left?" Tori asked.
"Well, there's Betty Bannen, but I don't think so," Duncan answered as Owen nodded. "And there's Suzanne, his girlfriend, and her father, Mike Honniger, who he worked for."
"Honniger? The guy's no Immortal, but he does own Honniger Communications. That's three newspapers and half a dozen TV and radio stations," replied Richie.
"Maybe...or maybe it wasn't a coincidence that Tommy was there when I fought Gallen. Maybe he was investigating Gallen for Honniger's paper."
"Exactly. This could have something to do with Gallen's Immortality."
"Maybe."
"I tell you what, I'm going to go down to Honniger's paper today and ask a few questions."
"I'll go with you," offered Owen.
"Count me in," Tori chimed in.
"There's a few questions I want to ask, too," Duncan added.
The four then quickly began eating to charge up their strength.
At the Honniger Communications building, Tori, Owen and Richie stood before the newsroom.
"This is it," Tori declared.
"Here goes nothing," said Owen.
"Let's hope Mac covers some ground," Richie added.
"My father's not in at the moment," said Suzanne. "Didn't Claire tell you?"
"Yes, she did, but I saw a guy leaving here as if he'd just been fired," Duncan answered.
"He HAS just been fired. I've been a vice president at Honniger Communications for two years. I assure you, I've earned the title."
Duncan looked around the room at the collection of paintings and sculptures.
"Nice pieces," he complimented.
"Yeah. My father's quite the collector of things," replied Suzanne. "Now, what can I do for you?"
"Do you know what Tommy was working on before he died?"
"No. We didn't talk much about his assignments. Why?"
She got up and the two walked over to the nearby lounge spot in the office.
"Betty seems to think his death was tied to whatever he was working on," Duncan explained.
"She thinks that it was deliberate?" asked Suzanne. "You were there. You told the police it was an accident."
"It seemed that way at the time."
"And now?"
"I'm not sure."
"If there was any chance this wasn't an accident, we have to find out. My father might know what he was working on."
"Do you think I can talk to him?"
"Yeah. If your friend back at the cemetery is also aware of this, why don't you both come by the house this afternoon?"
"Okay."
Suzanne hurried over to the desk, "I'll get you a card. Tommy and I were good friends."
She retrieved a business card from the desk and handed it to Duncan.
"Betty told me," said Duncan. "I'm sorry."
"Yeah, we were from different worlds, but it worked for us. I just want to tell you how much I appreciate all you've tried to do."
Duncan offered a handshake, which she accepted, "See you this afternoon?"
"Yes."
Duncan then departed the office, leaving Suzanne in deep thought.
At the newsroom bullpen, Tori and the boys looked were ready to ask their questions.
"Oh, excuse me. Um, excuse me. We're looking for a friend of ours. His name's Tommy Bannen," Richie spoke to Harry, one of the newsroom reporters.
"Never heard of him. What's he do?" asked Harry.
"Uh, he works up here. He's a reporter," Tori answered.
"Not that I know of."
"Oh, you know Tommy Bannen," cut in Frank, another reporter. "He works specials."
"As in undercover?" Owen asked.
Harry laughed, "Yeah, that's right. Undercover. Sure, I remember him now."
"Short guy," added Richie.
"Yeah, about five-five." Tori chimed in.
"Balding, about forty?" Owen inquired.
"I was always thinking he looked older," Frank said.
"You know, I told him he would look a lot younger if he wore a piece."
The two laughed with the three convincingly fake laughing with them.
"Well, I don't see him around," Frank pointed out.
"Uh, that's some story the guy's working on, huh?" asked Richie.
"Yeah, some story," Harry replied.
"He talk to you guys about it?" asked Owen.
"Nope," Frank answered.
"No, the man kept pretty much to himself, you know," added Harry, "Hey, Clackson, take this over to Petrovich."
"So, where's his desk?" Tori asked.
"I think he worked mostly out of his home," replied Frank.
"Yeah, a lot of investigative guys do that. It's kind of a personality thing," Harry added.
"Yeah, right. Right. Right," said Richie.
"Uh, listen, we've got a paper to get out, here," Frank pointed out.
"Yeah, sure. Um, well, listen, if you guys do see Tommy, you tell him we're looking for him, okay?" Tori asked.
"Yeah, sure. Uh, listen, what did you say your names were?"
"Richards. Jordan Richards."
"Daphne Ann Richards."
"Timothy Richards. Take care, boys."
"See you later, Jordan, Daphne, Timothy," said Harry.
Frank then picked up the nearby telephone, "Yeah, Frank..."
"They had no idea who Tommy Bannen was, Mac," said Richie as the trio regrouped at the dojo. "They didn't even know he was dead."
"Then why would Mrs. Bannen and Honniger say that he worked there when he didn't?" Duncan asked as he adjusted his dress shirt.
"Beats me," Tori shrugged.
"He did," replied Owen. "Tori, Richie and I went down to payroll and told them we were friends of Tommy Bannen's. He's sick and wants us to pick up his paycheck. It was for two thousand."
"Nice salary for a guy without a desk or a phone extension."
"Exactly," Richie confirmed. "So now what?"
"Now the Honnigers are expecting me and Owen."
"Damn it, now I gotta grab a spare outfit," sighed Owen as he went to grab one.
"The Honnigers? Well, that would include Suzanne. I'm correct, right?" Richie asked, making Duncan smirk and Owen roll his eyes. "I checked out her picture, guys. Maybe you need some company. You know, you two talk to her father, I talk to her."
"Richie, this is work," replied Duncan. "It's not like we're going to enjoy it."
"So let me do it. I mean, Suzanne Honniger's only, what, twenty-eight years old."
"Twenty-five, and incredibly beautiful."
"Twenty-five? And how old are you?" Tori asked.
"Four hundred. But you know what, Tori? Today I feel like a kid."
He walked toward the door, while Owen stayed behind.
"And Richie, stop being horny," he told the new Immortal.
On the country lane, Duncan drove the T-bird past country estates as Owen enjoyed the view. Soon, he found the right address and pulled up at the closed gate.
"Who is it?" said a man on the intercom.
"It's Duncan MacLeod," the older Highlander called.
As they waited for the gate to open, the father and son sensed a buzz. They looked around, but they did not see anybody.
"Stay sharp," advised Owen.
The gate then opened up and Duncan drove through into the property. Unbeknownst to them, Gallen's sedan pulled out of the next driveway down the road where he was hidden. He then watched suspiciously as the MacLeods entered.
Inside the estate, Duncan pulled up to the entrance. He and Owen exited the T-bird and went up to the door. Duncan rang the doorbell, and the butler answered.
"Come in, Mr. MacLeod, sir," he said as he led the MacLeods into the house. "In here, please. Mr. Honniger will be with you in a moment."
Duncan and Owen looked around, admiring the antique painting on the wall and wood cabinet in the corner of the room. Just then, Honniger arrived with Johnson in toe.
"Like it?" he asked. "It's a Luigi Balda. Turn-of-the-century Italian. Would you believe I got it for almost nothing?"
"That depends on what you call almost nothing," replied Duncan.
"Under twenty thousand."
"Then you got a bargain," Owen deduced. "More so than a Jason Talbott."
"Always nice to get an expert opinion. Drink?"
"No, thanks," answered Duncan.
The two walked over to the sofa as Owen looked at Johnson without blinking.
"Really?" Honniger asked as he poured himself one. "My father always told me to be suspicious of men who don't drink."
"Then he should've told you not to suggest drinks to drivers," replied Owen. "Are you suspicious of us?"
"Actually...I'm curious."
"About what?"
"About what your friend was doing at that amusement park so early in the morning."
"I'm his father," corrected Duncan. "And I was out jogging, minding my own business. Who's business was Tommy minding?"
"Mine. Please."
The three sat as Honniger continued, "Look, uh, Suzanne told me about Mrs. Bannen's worries, so I checked with my editors. Tommy wasn't working on anything that could have gotten him killed."
"Do you mind if I ask what he was working on?" asked Duncan.
"Do you mind telling me why you're so interested in him?"
"When a man dies in your arms, you get interested."
"Just like when I held my grandfather in that church," added Owen, omitting the part where Darius was murdered by Horton.
"Exactly what kind of antique dealer are you, Duncan MacLeod?" Honniger asked, as Johnson darted his eyes back and forth.
"You should know that," retorted Duncan. "You checked me out, didn't you?"
"A man in my position can't be too careful."
"And what position is that?"
"On top."
Owen chuckled with amusement.
"Don't worry about Daddy, Mr. MacLeod," said Suzanne as she entered and gave her father a kiss on the head. "He's suspicious of everybody, including me."
Duncan stood in greeting before she motioned for him to sit again.
"Please."
"My daughter graduated from Vassar in three years and got her master's from Wharton in one, but she has a lot to learn about real life," Honniger explained. "Survival is not learned from reading a book."
"Please, Daddy, no more stories about fighting with baseball bats to get the best newspaper route."
Suzanne joined Honniger on the sofa with her own drink.
"For someone who wants to run my companies, you're incredibly naïve," continued Honniger. "Mr. Duncan MacLeod here has lived here and in Paris and in half a dozen other cities. His name turns up in a stack of unsolved police files. Some antique dealer."
"There's always more than a singular possibility," Owen replied calmly.
"That piece over there is worth forty thousand dollars," added Duncan. "It came from Vienna, not Italy, and the carver's Wolfgang Bosch. Who's Luigi Balda? Your hairdresser?"
"My attorney," Honniger replied. "And who's Jason Talbott? YOUR attorney?"
"Finest attorney in the states," confirmed Owen. "Perfect case record. He can give Balda a money's run."
"Touché," Suzzanne said, quite impressed. "Nicely done, Mr.-?"
"Owen MacLeod. And thank you."
"You're welcome. So, about Tommy."
"Your father doesn't think there's a connection," Duncan explained.
"Frankly, neither do I. Those calls that I made? Nothing. If he was working on something, he kept it to himself."
"Did he keep any notes anywhere?"
"He had an apartment in the Rivercrest Arms. The corner of Rivercrest and Watson. You might try there."
"You'd be wasting your time," advised Honniger.
"It's ours to waste," Owen replied. "Besides, as they say, 'better safe than sorry'."
"As you like. Good day, Mr. MacLeod, and Mr. MacLeod."
"Good day," said Duncan.
Duncan walked ahead, while Owen playfully bounced around near Johnson to pick on him. He then followed his father while Honniger stood in thought.
It was night when the MacLeods reached Tommy's apartment. They found the number five-zero-two on the door. Duncan opened the apartment door, and the two entered. Just then, Owen heard something. At that moment, a figure emerged from the darkness and tried to strangle Duncan from behind with a wire. Duncan elbowed him in the stomach twice and freed himself before Owen karate chopped the attacker into unconsciousness.
Then a second attacker appeared with a knife. He lunged at Duncan, who blocked his strike, punched him in the face and twisted his arm, forcing him to drop the knife. Duncan then slammed him against the wall and punched him in the gut, while Owen then turned on the light, revealing Johnson.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Scruffy," he said.
"Scruffy?" Johnson echoed with annoyance at the nickname.
"Why did Honniger send you?" demanded Duncan.
"Go to hell!"
Johnson attempted to retaliate, but Duncan blocked him, and Owen finished him off with a headbutt.
"You first," he retorted, before checking the wallets.
Duncan shook his head and considered their next move.
"I'll give Ray here a little confusion when he wakes up," said Owen. "As for Johnny Boy, let's show him the view."
A short while later, Johnson regained consciousness and blinked awake, shaking his head.
"Ugh. Huh? Help! Help! Hey," he exclaimed before noticing he was being dangled upside down by Duncan from apartment window.
"Hey, you, let me up! Hey! You! You're crazy!"
"I'm just impatient. Now what were you doing here?" said Duncan sarcastically as Owen hung out next to him. "Well?"
"Up yours!"
"Well, that's very brave but not very smart."
"Come on!" Owen said, striking Johnson and causing him to panic. "I mean, think about it. Even if you don't die from the fall, you might get messed up for life or at the very least chip a tooth down there. Possibilities are endless."
Johnson looked at the ground far below him before finally answering, "All right! All right. It was Honniger."
"That was who. Now why?" continued Duncan. "Come on, my arms are getting tired!"
"All right. Okay. He thought somebody was trying to kill him."
"And?"
"He pays big money to know what's going on, on the street. The word came back that there was a contract out on his life, and he figured it was you!"
"Why me?!"
"Because of your file! Because of your history with the cops! And because you killed Tommy Bannen."
"Why would I hit Tommy Bannen?"
"How the hell should I know?! Alright. Alright. Honniger said whoever hit Tommy was out to kill him. Okay? Now let me up."
"Say please."
"You son-of- please."
"Pretty please."
"Please."
"Now that wasn't so hard, was it?" asked Owen.
Back in Honniger's office, a swivel chair turned around to reveal Gallen in a pure black business suit, fiddling with a pen.
"I don't like letting you out of my sight," he said as he put the pen back. "Now, it's not that I don't trust you, but..."
He then reached over and grabbed Suzanne, pulling her into his lap as they laughed together.
"What has trust got to do with it?" she asked, giving him a kiss. "You are being well-paid in more ways than one. Didn't I warn you about Tommy?"
"Little bastard was good. I never thought he'd find me. Ooh. MacLeod's next."
"Don't worry about him. Daddy thinks he and his kid are hit men who're after him. He's sending Johnson to take care of them."
Gallen scoffed, "Johnson'll fail."
"How do you know?"
Gallen responded by grabbing Suzanne's shoulder roughly, "Because I know. You leave those MacLeods to me. You understand me?"
Suzanne calmly responded, "You're hurting me. I love it when you play rough."
She quickly kissed him, then swept the desk clean and pulled him onto it with her. They started kissing and groping each other in the grossest ways possible.
"There was no computer in his apartment, no typewriter, not even a notebook," Duncan reported as the trio regrouped at the dojo. "Whatever he was doing for Honniger, it wasn't reporting."
"And someone's trying to take Honniger out," added Richie.
"It has to be Gallen," said Owen.
"Why would Gallen be after Honniger?" Tori asked.
"Money. Power. Revenge. Take your pick. But I find something suspicious about Honniger AND Suzanne. Part of me thinks we should let him take them out."
Just then, the phone rang, interrupting them. Duncan went over to grab it.
"Hello?" he greeted and listened. "I'll meet you there. No, it's no trouble..."
He hung up the phone and turned back to the boys, "That was Betty Bannen. She wants to see me."
"What are you going to tell her?" asked Richie.
"Nothing. I'm just going to listen."
"I should go too, as I met her at the funeral as well," Owen volunteered.
"Good luck, guys." Tori replied.
"Mrs. Bannen?" greeted Duncan as he and Owen arrived at the cemetery.
"I'm sorry to bother you," she said, after she laid some flowers on the grave.
"It's okay. When I offered to help, I meant it. What can we do for you?"
"I need your advice."
"Then you're going to have to tell me what it's about."
"Well, Tommy's lawyer called. He told me Tommy's will left me everything. There wasn't much... except a key to a safety deposit box."
"Did you open it?" asked Owen, who got a nod in response. "What did you find?"
Betty pulled out some dollars from the bag she was holding, "There's over two hundred thousand dollars in cash in there. Sweetie, Tommy was just a reporter. Where would he get that kind of money?"
"I don't know. What are you going to do with it?"
"Well, my mother said, 'Don't look a gift horse in the mouth'."
"Then use it. Go back to the Highlands," advised Duncan. "It's what Tommy would have wanted."
"Well, I thought of that. But without knowing where he got it..."
"All right. I understand. Put it in the bank for now. There's nothing wrong with just having it."
The three then left the area, with the MacLeods keeping their eyes peeled for anyone who could be watching.
At the driveway of the Honniger estate, Johnson checked his watch as a car drove past him toward the exit, and he went to his nearby sedan.
"I still don't see why Johnson couldn't drive us," Honniger said from the passenger seat of the car.
"Oh, Daddy, we never get to spend time alone together. It will be fun," replied Suzanne before remembering, "Damn! I forgot! I've got to get those bank proposals."
"I'll wait."
Suzanne leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, then got out of the car. When he saw she was gone, Honniger got out of the car and looked back at Johnson who was standing by the driver-side door of the nearby sedan.
"Johnson, let's go," called Honniger. "I told you to stick close to us."
Johnson shrugged and got into the sedan, while Honniger got back into his car. Just then, the car phone rang and Honniger answered it.
"Hello?" he greeted.
"Hello, Mr. Honniger," came Gallen's voice.
"Who is this? How'd you get this number?"
"Your daughter gave it to me. She also gave me a message for you."
"What message?"
"She told me to tell you... goodbye."
Honniger then heard Gallen laughing evilly as he set down the phone. Suzanne turned to look back at the car as Honniger put the phone away and turned around to look at her. Giving a half grin, she turned away, before the car exploded into a fireball. Suzanne smiled to herself as she walked away, noticed by Johnson, who got back out of his car and hurried toward the burning car. Gallen pulled slowly up and rolled down the window, smiling as he knew Johnson could not properly see him. He then drove away before the bodyguard had the chance.
At Honniger Communications, Tori entered the office.
"Funny, I thought you'd be too grief stricken to work," she said sarcastically.
"Life goes on," responded Suzanne.
"Not for everyone."
"And you are?"
"It doesn't matter who I am. What matters, is now without the dads in the scene, we can have the nice college discussion. What was worth eight thousand dollars a week?"
"What do you mean?"
"MacLeod got hold of Tommy's pay stubs and ran his social security number. Seems Mikey was paying him two thousand dollars a week through four different companies. No tax evasion charges for little old Tommy."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, I think you do. You know everything that goes on in this company."
"You're right. I do. I AM this company. My father hasn't made a decision of his own in years."
Tori snickered, "Oh, Daddy's little girl, and you've been VERY naughty. Couldn't you just wait until he handed over the reins?"
Suzanne stood up, "Daddy was a very healthy man. I would've had to wait twenty or thirty years."
"I've waited for many things in my life, and they paid off," retorted Tori.
Suzanne pushed a button on the underside of the desk. Tori heard her do so, but decided to play along, knowing she had everything under control.
Suzanne continued, "Lucky you, but patience never was one of my virtues."
"Just punctuality, hmm?"
"Of course. It's a shame really."
"I bet it is," Tori raised a quizzing eyebrow as Johnson entered office.
"This woman helped killed my father. Take care of her."
"Hello, yellow belly boy," Tori retorted, aware of what Owen did with him earlier.
Johnson cocked his gun at Tori, but Suzanne objected, "Not here."
"Your pants still wet?" Tori taunted Johnson, slipping her arm around Suzanne. "I'll give you an edge this time."
With that, Tori slammed her own head on the desk, knocking herself out. Both Suzanne and Johnson looked at each other like she was beyond crazy.
"Get her out of here," Suzanne ordered.
However, Richie and Owen were waiting outside, and they were prepared to follow. It was all part of the youngest Highlander's plan.
"It's Showtime," Owen declared.
Back at the estate, Gallen sniffed some scotch before taking a sip.
"Well..." he said as he received a kiss from Suzanne. "How was the funeral?"
"It was wonderful," she responded. "Even the governor was there."
"So, how much are you worth now?"
"Two hundred and eighty-seven million dollars, but who's counting?"
"Since I did the job, I'll take my money."
"That was one million."
"Two."
"My mistake."
"It's a bargain. Cheers."
"Cheers."
They both drunk before Suzanne added, "I'll get it."
She turns away from Gallen to face the drinks cabinet.
"You know, maybe in a couple of months, I could come back, huh?" he offered. "We could have a lot of fun."
Out of his sight, Suzanne pulled out a gun from behind the sink.
"I don't think you'll be coming back," she said before turning and pointing the gun at him.
Unafraid, Gallen warned, "You may be surprised."
"I don't think so," responded Suzanne.
She then shot him in the heart. He strained against the pain, before landing on the couch. Suzanne then turned back to the cabinet to enjoy her drink. She looked at Gallen one last time before taking another round. She grinned to herself for a moment, before noticing someone was behind her. She spun around with a gasp and saw Gallen standing right on top of her.
"Surprise," he greeted before pouncing on her. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll take my money, AND the MacLeods' heads. The girl too."
As he removing his hands from her mouth, Suzanne could only watch as Gallen's thumbs traveled toward her eyes.
Reaching the apartment building, Richie and Owen had snuck inside and saw Johnson, along with Ray, holding Tori out the apartment window. But only Tori knew the younger boy and younger Highlander had arrived. Everything was in place.
"Hey. Hey! That look familiar?" Johnson said, getting Tori's attention as she woke up before laughing rudely.
"Uh...hold on," responded Tori as she stalled. "Nope, not from this angle."
"You got a smart mouth, but not for much longer. Miss Honniger said to get rid of you, and she doesn't much care how."
"So, this is nothing personal."
"Nothing at all. You and those MacLeods had a good time when they were up here where I am now. I'll handle them later."
"How about one last question. Eh?"
Johnson looked at Ray, who shrugged.
"Like what?"
"What else can be hidden up a sleeve besides a plan?"
"Don't know."
Within an instant, Tori's right hand swung up and a dart from her jacket sleeve flew through the air. It struck Johnson directly in the head, causing him to release Tori as Ray jumped in surprise and let go himself.
"Yah! Whoo!" whooped Tori as she fell to the ground.
Within an instant, Richie and Owen entered, forcing the distracted Ray into the wall, back of the skull first. Richie then hurried outside to find that Tori had managed to break her fall, despite the pain. Richie then hoisted Tori's arm over his shoulders and helped her to the Lincoln Continental Mark III.
"Didn't see you coming?" asked Tori.
"Nope," Richie answered, "And a good slam in the back of his head."
"Your training has served you well. That wound will give that loser short-term memory loss. He won't remember what happened at all," complimented Owen.
Richie loaded Tori in the passenger seat, then Owen joined them and then Richie took the wheel before getting them away as fast as he could.
At the deserted amusement park, Tori and the boys met up with Duncan.
"I say we go back and have a little chat with your friend, Suzanne," suggested Richie.
"She's not going to tell us anything," Tori answered.
"Besides, I got more than enough. The gold digger put the hit on Honniger because she was not willing to wait for her inheritance," added Owen.
"All right. Well, in that case, do we have any idea what we're looking for?"
"No. We'll know when we find it. What we know is that Tommy was being paid a ton of money by Honniger for something. And Gallen went out of his way to kill him," Duncan said before he thought over his encounter with Gallen. "Now when Gallen first jumped me, it was over there. The fight took us halfway up the roller coaster. Gallen got hold of me. He pushed me down. When I looked back, he'd disappeared. I looked down here and Tommy was standing here by his Corvette. Stand here a minute."
Duncan moved Richie over to where he remembered Tommy had stood.
"Now, as Tommy was standing this way, Gallen's car came from the right. It accelerated, went straight for Tommy, and it hit him."
"So obviously, he nailed Tommy on purpose," replied Richie.
"The question's why."
At that moment, Duncan remembered the satchel flying through the air and looked toward the nearby roller coaster. Realizing something was up, Owen jumped over the fence and onto the base of the coaster track.
"Owen, what are you doing?" Richie asked.
"Looking for something," replied the middleman, and after some searching, picked up the satchel from the track. "I think I just found it. Catch."
He tossed satchel to Richie, climbed back over the fence and took the satchel back. Owen then opened it and pulled out a gun that had a silencer on it.
"This is a nine-millimeter. The weapon of a hitman," he deduced.
"How'd you know this bag was down there?" Tori asked.
"Just caught on."
"Tommy was holding it. It went flying when he was hit," explained Duncan.
"Well, if Tommy was carrying a gun-" Richie started to say.
"Then he was coming to kill Gallen," Owen deduced.
Then as if on cue, the quartet sensed a buzz as Gallen appeared from around the corner of a nearby building, wearing riding attire.
"Nice of you to drop in," said Duncan sarcastically.
"Well, we have some unfinished business," Gallen replied. "But this time, we won't be interrupted, will we?"
"You're the one who killed Honniger," accused Richie.
"And Honniger knew you were coming after him, so he sent Tommy to stop you," Duncan finished.
Owen drove the point by holding up Tommy's gun.
"You should've used that," said Gallen smugly. "I didn't want to have to handle all of you. But now, uh...I'm all yours, Duncan MacLeod, huh?"
Owen responded by cocking gun and pointing it at Gallen, who frowned.
"Is that so?" he retorted. "How much is she fucking paying you?"
"The bitch? Tried to double-cross me. She actually tried to kill me! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"
"Come on, guys, let's take this son-of-a-bitch," said Richie.
"No, Richie, one-on-one. You know the Rules," Duncan replied.
"That's right, Richie," Gallen teased. "You run along now and live a little longer, huh? I'll see you, the girl and Little MacLeod soon enough."
"Easier said than done," retorted Owen. "Let's go."
"Come on, Rich," Tori added.
They then led Richie away while Duncan faced Gallen.
"Well, shall we rock and roll?" suggested Gallen, holding up his Mandoble.
Duncan pulled out his katana and the fight began. Gallen swung at Duncan, who blocked two strikes and dodged one that ended up on the railing. He then responded by two of his own before ducking a beheading strike. Several left and right strikes were exchanged before Gallen retaliated with a punch. Duncan responded with twirling his sword and pushing him back. With twirling strikes, Duncan pushed Gallen past the coaster, toward a building. Gallen swung at Duncan a few times before fleeing into the building.
Duncan slowly followed after him and found the inside of it was reeked with strobe lights. As he stayed on the defensive, he spotted a shape rise and swung at it, only to find it was just a prop animatronic head. Then he heard as sound and turned, spotting Gallen on an approaching cart. The hit man swung at the Highlander, only for the beheading strike to be dodged and Duncan's downward retaliation to hit the cart.
"Come on, MacLeod!" jeered Gallen as the cart continued down the line.
Duncan chased after him into a darker room where the strobe lights were not as strong. Suddenly, Gallen jumped out and swung. But the right swing was blocked and Duncan pushed him back. Not even enveloping the blade gave Gallen an advantage as he fell backwards. The two locked blades before Gallen grabbed Duncan by the face. However, Duncan was able to shake his head free and bite Gallen's hand. In serious pain, Gallen yanked his hand free and ran through an opening. Duncan chased after him, not about to let him escape a second time.
Back outside, Duncan backed Gallen through the hanging swings. The hit man was able to use the swings chains as shields, but the Highlander was able to navigate through them. Twirling his sword again, Duncan pushed Gallen back into another railing and made him roll backwards over it. Duncan got over the railing, then saw Gallen swing at his feet. Duncan leaped over the blade and while spinning, swung to the right with all his might. Within an instant, Gallen's sword slipped out of his hand, and his headless corpse fell to the ground. Duncan then through his own blade aside. As the Quickening began, Duncan noticed the rides were suddenly starting to turn on - the swings, carousel, bumper cars and much more.
"Come! Come!" Duncan barked as Gallen's Quickening energy flowed around him before it entered him. "Aah!"
Duncan roared from his power charge as the rides began to spin, sparks flew, and lighting went into himself. He soon fell to his knees and bent to the side before everything powers down as the Quickening came to an end. His mission complete, Duncan made his way unsteadily off the platform and toward the T-bird.
At a park bench, Betty was looking at a Newspaper headline with the MacLeods present.
FATHER/DAUGHTER MURDER PACT.
By Tommy Bannen. Exclusive to the Gazette
A dramatic explosion has taken the life of Mike Honniger, publisher of The Evening Gazette. Suzanne Honniger, Mike Honniger's daughter, was found dead inside the house in what police describe as an elaborate double murder. Mr. Honniger was killed when a large explosive device went off inside his car while parked in the driveway of their home. Bodyguard Johnson Christopher is missing and feared dead. Bodyguard Ray Porters claims to have no recollection of what happened to him. So far police report that they have no leads and few witnesses to the crime. Ms. Honniger was found by police investigating the murder inside the house. Preliminary tests indicate she died of trauma to the head. The double murder has put the normal quiet upper-class neighborhood into a state of shock.
Betty lowered the paper, "By Tommy? But this is today's paper. How could he...You wrote this."
"I just put the words on the paper. It's because of Tommy that those people were caught," Duncan explained.
"Well, the money...the two hundred thousand?"
"Well, sometimes when a reporter's on a risky assignment, he can ask for the money up front," replied Owen.
"So, the money really was his."
"It's yours now."
"Thank you. You've both brought my Tommy back to me. If you could use some of that money-"
Owen shook his head while Duncan said, "Take it. Go back to Scotland, back to the Highlands, like you wanted. See them for me. For my Owen."
"I will," promised Betty, giving them both a kiss on the cheek.
She began to walk away before turning back, "Duncan...Owen...when I'm over there, you'll come visit me?"
"It's a promise," replied the older Highlander as the youngest one nodded.
Betty turned and walked down the path, while Duncan walked to the T-bird. Owen walked to the Lincoln Continental Mark III and got inside, where Richie was waiting for him. Tori was standing close by, then she walked over and looked inside the open window. Owen looked into the back and there was a briefcase, containing the money Gallen had stolen from the Honniger estate. Owen had retrieved it from Gallen's sedan as he was fighting Duncan.
"So, you ready for some REAL teenaged fun?" Owen asked his best friend.
"Show me," agreed Richie.
"You guys be careful, you hear?" Tori told the boys.
"Don't worry about it," replied Owen. "I'll make sure that we're BOTH careful."
"I'll keep an eye out on Mac while you two are gone."
"Thanks. We'll share our winnings with you when we get back."
"Good luck."
Owen stepped on the gas pedal, and the Lincoln Continental Mark III charged down the road. As the duo raced back into town, neither noticed a blonde girl watching them from a distance. The girl turned, revealing it was Lynn.
"Go and see him," Amanda's voice echoed in her head. "Honey, life is too short...even for us."
Watching the boys for a moment longer, Lynn turned and walked away.
(Cue Princes of the Universe)
Featuring
Guy Bews as Tommy Bannen
Robert Collins as Johnson Christopher
Gabrielle Miller as Bess Perry
Nicholas Harrison as Ned Bascombe
Bill Dow as Harry
Paul McLean as Frank
Patricia Dahlquist as Mother
Jane Sowerby as Claire
(Princes of the Universe ends)
Author's Note: In the next chapter, Owen and Richie are going into town with the money to have some fun, while at the same time encountering some Hunters that they will take out. That's something to look forward to while Tori and Duncan deal with Sullivan.
Ray Porters and Captain Clarence Perry are unknown and uncredited.
While Guy Bews was not credited for his portrayal of Tommy Bannen, he was the one who played him. Guy, who spent most of his time as a stuntman, would go on to be the stunt double for Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore three years after this episode aired. He even did many other stunts in films and shows like Fear, Monster Trucks, The Planet of the Apes films, the Arrowverse, The Last of Us, and Ghostbusters: Afterlife.
Fun Fact: Roddy Piper is the only professional wrestler to guest appear in the original show. Because of his feud with fellow wrestler Hulk Hogan, expanded material had Gallen's mentor be named HARRY Hogan. So why not fancast Hulk Hogan in this timeline? Hogan is also the only pupil of Thomas Sullivan.
This chapter is also dedicated to the man who played Anthony Gallen, Roderick George Toombs, better known as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. In addition to being a wrestling champion, his most notable work was John Nada in They Live and deranged professional wrestler Da' Maniac on the FX comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I also remember him featured on the Celebrity Wife Swap along with Ric Flair on the fifth episode of the second season. Sadly, Roddy died in his sleep at his summer residence in Los Angeles. His death certificate cites a cardiopulmonary arrest caused by hypertension, listing a pulmonary embolism as a contributing factor; TMZ reported this as a heart attack caused by the embolism. What is even more heartbreaking is Bruce Prichard; Roddy's long-time friend received a voicemail from Piper the night of his death. He was 61 years old when he passed away. RIP Roddy. You will be missed.