The Empty Box

October 31

 

A Highlander Scene by: Dawn Lehman

DISCLAIMER:

The characters herein are the sole property of Rysher/Davis/Panzer Productions; Producers of Highlander: The Series. Pictures herein are the sole property of Rysher/Davis/Panzer Productions. The pictures that were used herein were found on many, many websites and I make no claims to any of them. I thank all the Webmasters who created the pages displaying these pictures.

LOCATION:

The scene takes place at Duncan's barge in Paris on October 31.

 

The wind was blowing and there was a chill in the air. Perfect makings for a night of Halloween fright. Last year Methos was away from Paris and couldn=t join in on the fun, but this year he promised to stop by and help with all the festivities. Even after centuries of life, nothing comes close to the beautiful faces of children laughing and playing during the trials of Halloween fun. The only tiring thing about this anticipated event was getting all the decorations in order.

Duncan surveys the stash exhumed from the storage unit.

Let's see, here's the pumpkin lights,.......... and there's Amanda's broom. Here's Richie's bloody,... hairy,....... thingy. Oh here it is, the cauldron. If the kids only knew that this is the real thing. Why Amanda even kept a thing like this, I'll never know. Me, I'd rather forget the Salem Witch hunt myself. ........Let's see,................. what's this.....?

Amanda approaches Duncan.

Hey Sweetie, how's it coming.....Oh, there's my broom. I've been looking for this thing. The kids are going to have a ball this.......Duncan, what's the matter? You look like you've seen a ghost, no pun intended.................................... Honey, are you alright?

Hey Amanda...............just going through this stuff, that's all.

Duncan quickly hides something under the masses of Halloween rubble.

You just look a little pale and upset about something.................are you sure nothing is wrong?

No, I'm fine. Did you need something?

I just came to gather my broom and cauldron. I have to get started on my brew if it's going to be ready by sundown, you know. See you back at the barge.

Amanda leans in to give Duncan a well needed kiss.

About that time, Methos came straggling down to where Duncan and Amanda were and announced that he was ready to take his place as the decomposing Roman Soldier guarding the barge of horrors for the night. How close to the truth this staged scene was going to be, baring the decomposing part that is. History shows that Methos had taken his rightful place as palace guard years ago during the times of the Caesars. The part was a shoe in for the old man.

Hey Mac, ........good to see you Amanda.

Methos gives Amanda a gratuitous kiss on the hand as she leaves, heading back to boil her brew.

About this Roman Guard thing, you know if I had a real horse, then I could.......

Methos stops mid sentence and gazes at what Duncan just recovered from under some old papers.

Ah...........the ol' box still haunts even today. Darius was right when he said that we would never escape our past. That it would haunt us forever; never letting us forget what we are, what we've done and what will happen in the future, but I never expected it to be in the form of a damned box.

You know Methos, in my hands, I hold all my pains and sorrows ........... But, no matter how hard I try to get rid of this thing, it just keeps showing up. As mysteriously as the whole concept of our existence itself.

Methos somberly replies,

I know, .........I know. For me, it's more pain than anything else. I tend to ignore it when ever I can...... at least that is always my intent. I just don't understand why I feel so compelled to open it when I know how much it will hurt after I do so.

Duncan holds the tattered box as if it were a baby, tender and fragile with the propensity to crumble if handled roughly and without care. Unintentionally, Duncan lifts the lid, as if drawn to do so by the whole universe itself. His mind is flooded with memories he had long hoped were forgotten. The pain of the memories was always so hard to endure, but this time, it was different. The pain seemed to subside and make way for warmer feelings. Had he finally completed his passage of sorrow? Darius had told Duncan that the box holds different journeys for each immortal. Paths of sorrow and paths of joy. Maybe Duncan has finally come to the end of the path of sorrow, for now he sees Little Deer, not lying dead in his arms, but alive with happiness and the warmth of the sun glowing from her face. He sees his homeland, not riddled with the dead from wars of long ago, but embraced by the clans that made the land strong and fertile working together in peace and love. Methos, surprised by what he sees calls to Duncan in an attempt to break the spell that appears to be consuming his friend.

Mac!.......Mac!.........Hey, where did you go man? Wherever it was, you looked like you didn't want to come back. Was it that hard this time?

No,.....no Methos, it was different this time........It was nice...........FINALLY, no pain.

Intrigued by what he hears, Methos takes the box from Duncan=s hands and wishfully opens the lid. Throughout his lifetime, all 5,000 years as an immortal, Methos has never opened this box without feeling the pain that it housed inside. If for just one time, he could feel some comfort, the past pains would all be worth it. As the old immortal gazes at the box=s inner world, memories of Alexa swell in his heart. His lungs begin to fill with fluid and his breathing becomes very labored. The eyes of Alexa are staring right into his soul pleading with him to help her, to save her, but he can not. He tries to turn away from the box, but the hold is too strong. He sees the faces of the tribesmen screaming as he rides through the villages, killing and stealing his way through them. As he is entering the gates of Rome, being dragged by the horses of the centurion guard, hot blood is running down his face blinding him and then,....... Amanda gently shakes his arm. Methos drops the box with the look of terror on his face and again re-enters the world of the living.

Methos?.......What is going on here, first Duncan is acting strange and now you? Is something going on that I should know about?

Duncan rises and takes Amanda in his arms.

I guess it's just the ghosts of Halloween paying us a visit reminding us that this is only a game and that we better put on a damned good party for the kids tonight or else.......

Duncan playfully kisses Amanda=s neck and turns her towards the barge.

With a concerned look back, Duncan calls to Methos.

Are you coming old man?

Methos, visibly shaken, but completely released from his bondage meets up with Duncan.

I think I've changed my mind about tonight......Rome leaves a bad taste in my mouth...........I think I'll be a horseman.......

Duncan flashes a stern but curious look at his old friend.

Methos subtly replies...

After all, I do have the costume for it................We all have to pay for past mistakes, and reliving them at times affords restitution.

Of course, this banter between Duncan and Methos blows right past Amanda as she excuses herself for a moment.

I'll meet you guys back at the barge; I forgot to get something from storage.

Amanda goes back to the house of stored treasures and finds the box lying in the shadows where Methos stood moments ago. She picks up the box, almost afraid to look into it. She had seen Duncan earlier with it, just before he tried to hide it from her, and then saw the terror in Methos= eyes as he held it too. Just what was in this box.....? Curiosity and fright danced in Amanda=s head and as she slowly opens the box; it falls from her hands and onto the ground. Inside Amanda saw............................. nothing, an empty box........

Now what was so frightening about an empty box?.............

 

In your hands you hold a box that when opened knows the depths of your soul. It consumes your being, knows your fears, sorrows and joys.

Immortals, do not open the box you hold in your hands for it is devouring and all knowing..... NEVER hold and open the empty box!