| ACT I
3. EXT. AMAZON TERRITORY - DAY - PRESENT
FADE IN.
A young Amazon woman approaches a clearing; she cautiously looks around.
A heavily muscled warrior jumps from the trees.
She spins around taking a fighting stance as she steadies her staff in her hands.
WARRIOR
This certainly is my lucky day! Another Amazon!
AMAZON
(hissing)
You’re the one killing off my tribe.
WARRIOR
(sarcastically)
You must be the smart one!
AMAZON
Why are you doing this?
WARRIOR
I just do what I am hired to do, kill as many Amazons as I possibly can. How would you like to die?
AMAZON
With honor.
She drops her staff and unsheathes her sword. He sneers menacingly as he beckons her with his empty hands, to take the first swing. She circles, following his moves. He watches her intently, grinning maliciously. She dodges forward, as he had hoped, and he swiftly jumps back. He laughs and spits on the ground, still beckoning her with his hands. She swings her sword and he dodges it nimbly, reaching for the large staff that he had buried beneath the leaves. He jerks it upward, causing the Amazon to lose her balance and fall backward landing on her back. Her sword flies away.
She quickly springs to her feet and launches a kick at his stomach. The blow lands solidly but it barely makes an impact on him. She stoops and picks up her discarded staff.
WARRIOR
Why don’t you run to save yourself?
AMAZON
Because we fight to the death. We fight with honor.
The Warrior smiles. She grips her staff and meets his blow with her weapon, the two colliding at the top. She spins around and aims a low blow that sweeps above the ground and connects with the side of his ankle. He staggers a bit but quickly regains his balance and backs up. The warrior pulls out some small, star shaped metal objects with very sharp points. He lets loose a dozen of them at her. She tries dodging out of the way but several are embedded in her skin. She tries to pull them out as she does a backspin and attempts to hit his back with her staff. However, he sticks his foot out and trips her, causing her to fall backwards, driving some of the blades into her. He pins her down with the staff and looks at her with a smug smile on his face.
AMAZON
(with a sneer on her face and hate in her voice)
I’ll be waiting for you in Hades!
WARRIOR
Well congratulations, you truly deserve to die with honor more so than the others. Any last words?
The Amazon spits at him.
WARRIOR
So be it.
He draws a long knife from his belt and slashes her throat.
CUT TO:
4. AMAZON CAMP - VARIA’S TENT - MORNING
One of the Amazons walks in to report. She goes to Varia who is laying face down on her bed. Her arms, shoulders, thighs and legs are covered in bandages. Her face is sorely bruised, and her eyes are nearly swollen shut.
VARIA
Has Daphne returned?
AMAZON
No she hasn’t. It’s been several hours. I and the others assume…
Varia holds up her right hand, a clear indication she’ll listen to no more.
AMAZON
What do we do? We are at a loss.
VARIA
(thinking)
Once the sun sets, send three Amazons to find her body. I’m assuming she’ll be like the others.
The Amazon nods and leaves quietly.
VARIA
(angrily)
Gabrielle, where are you when your Amazons need you?
CUT TO:
5. EXT. XENA AND GABRIELLE’S CAMP - MORNING
Xena and Gabrielle are gathering their belongings.
XENA
So where are we heading to next?
She looks at Gabrielle as she helps gather their supplies pausing a moment to check her chakram.
GABRIELLE
(quietly)
I thought we decided to take a short break and head up to the fair we heard about yesterday.
XENA
(concerned)
Are you all right?
GABRIELLE
Yes, I’m fine. Just tired I think.
XENA
(suspiciously)
Is that all?
GABRIELLE
(smiles)
Yes, I’m sure. Now let’s get going, I’m starving.
XENA
Gabrielle, I know you well enough to know when something is bothering you. Can you please tell me?
Gabrielle picks up her bedroll.
GABRIELLE
I’ve just had this bad feeling about my Amazon sisters. I haven’t been to see them in a while, and I just have a premonition that something is wrong, very wrong.
The warrior’s brow arches quizzically.
XENA
Why don’t we forget the fair then?
GABRIELLE
(shakes head)
No, it’s probably nothing… And besides… we need a break… a little rest and relaxation.
Xena doesn’t argue. Instead she and Gabrielle load their gear onto Argo II.
CUT TO:
6. INT. PUB/BAR OUTSIDE CYDONIA - DAY
Xena and Gabrielle are in a tavern, seated at a table having their meal. Gabrielle is unusually quiet. Xena stands.
XENA
I’ll be right back.
Gabrielle nods and continues to eat.
Xena approaches the barkeep and asks for directions to the fair. While she is away, Gabrielle’s attention is drawn to a group of warriors talking at a nearby table.
Four thin but muscled warriors are sitting around, drinking and complaining.
WARRIOR
The man is the boss’s pet warrior.
WARRIOR 2
Careful there, remember what Epicles did to Mikalas.
WARRIOR
At least Mikalas wasn’t too chicken to talk to him.
Warrior 3 smirks and guzzles down his beer.
WARRIOR 3
You are! You suck up to him big time. At least the Amazons have enough guts to fight him.
WARRIOR 2
Yeah, but look where their heads are now! Planted on top of the big staffs he uses to fight them with.
WARRIOR 3
The guy doesn’t even feel anything. I don’t know why the boss has even hired us.
WARRIOR 2
We were here before Epicles! The boss hired him because he killed 10 Amazons in a matter of a few hours.
Gabrielle hears her name. She looks over and sees Xena looking at her with concern.
XENA
Are you sure you’re all right?
GABRIELLE
Yes, I’m fine, just eavesdropping on a conversation.
XENA
Anything good?
Gabrielle takes a bite of her fish and ignores the question.
GABRIELLE
Did you get the directions?
XENA
Yes, it’s not too far from town.
Xena looks down at her companion with concern, but does not say anything more.
FADE OUT:
7. EXT. GROUNDS BEYOND CYDONIA - DAY
Gabrielle and Xena look around the small courtyard that is close to the village of Cydonia. Gabrielle looks off to where the warriors are. Then she turns to Xena.
GABRIELLE
Xena, I over heard the warriors in the tavern talking about the deaths of some Amazons. I need to find out why and what’s going on.
XENA
Okay let’s go and visit them and…
GABRIELLE
Xena, this is something I need to do on my own. I need to re-establish myself with the Amazons and my place among them. I need to see where I fit in with them.
Xena puts a comforting hand on Gabrielle’s shoulder. Their eyes meet.
XENA
I know you told me that when you make a decision, you’re going to stick to it regardless of what I say, but I just don’t want you to go off and do this on your own.
GABRIELLE
(angrily)
Well how do you think I felt when you did the same to me and I almost lost you!
Gabrielle puts her face in her hands to clear her head.
GABRIELLE
(continued)
I’m sorry I’m just so torn right now… They need me… They need my guidance and my help… but I want to be by your side…
Xena hugs her companion.
XENA
It must have felt good to say that. But Gabrielle I do understand. It’s like how I felt when you left me…I felt the same emotions when I was looking for you.
Gabrielle looks up at Xena and smiles. After a few minutes they pull away and look at each other.
XENA
I won’t be far if you need me.
GABRIELLE
I’ll take you up on that if I have to.
XENA
You promise me you’ll join me soon?
GABRIELLE
I promise.
Gabrielle turns and heads in the direction of the Amazon tribe. She turns to look at Xena one last time. She smiles, waves and continues on her way.
CUT TO:
8. FADE IN - EXT. AMAZON TERRITORY - DAY
Gabrielle finally arrives in a clearing and looks around. It is very quiet, too quiet. She feels somewhat uneasy. Something was definitely wrong. She does the Amazon greeting call.
A few minutes later a young Amazon woman appears. She looks at Gabrielle.
AMAZON
Who are you?
GABRIELLE
I’m Gabrielle. I am an Amazon…
The Amazon gives her an icy glare at the mention of the name Gabrielle.
AMAZON
(interrupts her)
I know who you are.
GABRIELLE
I’ve heard about the trouble the Amazons are in. I came here to help.
Another young Amazon walks out from the foliage and looks angrily at her.
AMAZON 2
You show up when you hear we’re being hunted down like animals! You think you can just show up whenever you feel like it?
GABRIELLE
All I can say is I’m sorry. I want to try helping and protecting the Amazon Nation from falling.
AMAZON 2
Where is your warrior friend?
AMAZON
I heard she had died. Got what she deserved!
She glares at Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
Listen we aren’t accomplishing anything here! I came here to help, now we can either stand here wasting precious time or you can let me pass! Either way we are not accomplishing anything by arguing.
Another Amazon appears.
AMAZON 3
Desma, enough! You and Cathlyn go to your positions for patrolling and do your jobs as you were told to do!
Desma and Cathlyn stare coldly at Gabrielle, glance once at their leader and vanish into the trees.
The Amazon walks over to Gabrielle.
AMAZON
Please pay no attention to them. They have been talking to Varia. My name is Cora.
GABRIELLE
I take it they’ve heard of my travels with Xena and my leaving the Amazons to be with her.
CORA
Yes, and they are upset that you do not fulfill your duties as an Amazon Queen. Some of us understand why you did what you did. Some of us are in awe, some of us are jealous. And some of us despise this type of act as selfishness. They also refuse to believe you are a true Amazon.
As the two women talk, they begin to walk toward the Amazon village.
GABRIELLE
I admit that I need to be more a part of the nation. But I know things, the history of the Amazon Nation, lore that you and some of the younger ones would not know. Plus I have proven myself over and over to be a true Amazon.
CORA
Gabrielle, you don’t need to explain this to me. I’m one of those that understands why you do what you do. I think if some of us had the chance, we would do the same. But we believe strongly in this nation.
GABRIELLE
Where is Varia?
CORA
Come on and I’ll show you.
CUT TO:
END ACT I
ACT II
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