Tommy Sullivan, one of Duncan's friends from the old days, manages to maneuver MacLeod into backing his promising fighter George. Tommy's a very persuasive fellow, and if he can't persuade people to his way of thinking, they tend to end up dead. Cheating Tommy out of a boxing prize purse is reason for homicide. Trying to take George out of Tommy's stable is reason for homicide. George's willingness to leave Tommy's stable was reason for homicide. But he was a nice guy, a good guy, a shy guy ... as was evidenced by his inability to speak to Iris the waitress with any degree of composure. Charlie is enlisted to teach Tommy how to pitch woo.
Duncan finds out the murderous truth about Tommy and they fight. Tommy loses, of course, with an incredulous look at Mac as the sword is about to swoop. A boxing ring Quickening. Iris pays a visit to Duncan in the dojo in mid-kata to inquire as to Tommy's whereabouts. Duncan says he doubts he'll ever see Tommy again
Questions:
1. If Richie was wrong for killing Mako, what was right about
MacLeod's killing Tommy? Feel free to wax philosophic, split hairs, and
badger the witness.M
2. For a thrifty Scot, Mac certainly ends up spending money in backing his
friends' pursuits. He gives away valuable swords, buys half-interest in a
race horse and gives it away, backs the doomed George in the ring,
purchases a bracelet twice for Debra Campbell ... once to put on her wrist,
and again to lay in her grave, leaves his credit card out for Amanda to
plunder. Do we wonder if he'd give us financial advice ... other than "Live
Long and Prosper"?
3. On a scale of something to whatever, at your own discretion, rate
Duncan's appearance (including such essentials as hair and pants) a) in
the boxing ring and b) in the dojo doing the kata at the end.
4. Can you express in verse the tragedy of Duncan's having to kill yet
another of his oldest and dearest friends? Can you include something on the
order of how it's a sorry thing to be Duncan's friend when you're staring
at him from your disembodied head after he's just pushed you off your
Immortal coil?
5. How do you feel?