ACT I
4. EXT. OUTSIDE LISSOS – DAY
FADE IN:
GABRIELLE
(voice over)
We were heading for the woods, looking for a place to set our camp,
but my mind was elsewhere...
Xena and Gabrielle are walking together toward the woods. Xena pats
Argo’s mane. Gabrielle is walking next to her. She looks aside and shakes her head.
GABRIELLE
I still can’t believe I didn’t know.
XENA
Forget it.
GABRIELLE
No. How could I have not known?
XENA
Why would you?
GABRIELLE
It’s such a basic thing. I bet you know my favorite color.
XENA
Emerald?
GABRIELLE
You see?
XENA
Well, I have it easy. When do you ever get to see me wear anything
colorful?
Gabrielle grunts in return.
Gabrielle and Xena continue walking. Gabrielle still seems
preoccupied.
GABRIELLE
Blue. It’s so obvious: the way it compliments your eyes. Only I
assumed you’d prefer a more powerful color, like red.
Xena stops and turns to look at Gabrielle.
XENA
Why is it bothering you so?
GABRIELLE
It’s not. Not really. It’s just...
XENA
What?
GABRIELLE
Nothing. I guess I just thought we knew everything about each other.
XENA
There’s no such thing, knowing absolutely everything about
another human being.
GABRIELLE
You know what I mean.
Xena wrinkles her brow.
XENA
I don’t understand why it’s so important to you.
GABRIELLE
It’s just... You see... I... I’ve never been so close to
anybody in my life. Not even Lila.
Xena nods and smiles, urging Gabrielle to continue.
GABRIELLE
Nobody ever knew me so well: what I want, what I need, who I am.
We’ve been through so much together. So many adventures...
Xena smiles warmly and is about to answer Gabrielle when the rider
who had been following them appears from behind.
Xena pulls out her sword, as both she and Gabrielle turn around to
face him.
XENA
You were saying?
Gabrielle is ready for battle, but Xena quickly examines the man and
gestures for Gabrielle to wait. Gabrielle looks confused.
XENA
(to the rider)
You have a message for me?
The man jumps down from his horse and hands a scroll over to Xena.
TEMENOS
I am Temenos of Treus. This is a message from my queen, Diana.
GABRIELLE
Diana? When did she become queen?
Xena unties the knot around the scroll, unrolls it and reads it
carefully.
XENA
(still reading)
How long has this been going on?
TEMENOS
Ever since King Philemon had been killed.
GABRIELLE
Philemon has been killed? Who killed him?
TEMENOS
The Liberians say we did it. We say they did it. That’s how the
war got started.
Xena keeps reading, then looks up, pensive.
GABRIELLE
But why would they kill him? Wasn’t he their prince?
TEMENOS
Because it would be the perfect excuse for them to pull out of our
union.
GABRIELLE
I still don’t get it. Why would they want to do that?
Temenos is about to explain when the sound of hooves is heard.
The two other riders from the market gallop toward them. They jump
down from their horses and charge forward, armed with swords.
Xena flips and lands in front of one of the warriors. A few sword
blows are exchanged.
Gabrielle stops the second warrior’s blade with her staff. She
rolls it off with a swift move and goes for the warrior’s ankle. He trips, but
regains his balance and tries to attack her again. Gabrielle hits him in the gut with the
end of her staff. He falls flat on his back.
Xena and the first warrior are still exchanging sword blows. Xena
dodges one of the strikes, making her enemy lose his balance and fall forward. When he
tries to turn around and get up, Xena’s sword is at his throat.
XENA
Who sent you?
The warrior doesn’t answer. Xena presses her sword to his
gullet.
WARRIOR
Mineus, our prince. He told us to follow Treus’s messenger.
XENA
Where’s Mineus now?
Again, the warrior doesn’t answer. Xena leans forward, pressing
the sword in harder. A drop of blood forms at the tip of her blade.
XENA
Where can I find your prince?
WARRIOR
He rode to Miridias at dawn. He told us to meet him there.
Xena pulls up her sword, then knocks the warrior unconscious. She
walks to Gabrielle, who’s standing over the other warrior, staff in hand. Gabrielle
turns to look at her.
GABRIELLE
Liberians?
Xena nods and turns to Temenos.
XENA
Go back to your queen. Tell her you’ve delivered her message to
us.
TEMENOS
What do you plan to do?
XENA
Find out who killed Philemon, for a start.
Xena and Gabrielle watch as Temenos rides away.
CUT TO:
5. EXT. A CLEARING – TWILIGHT
Gabrielle is unrolling her and Xena’s bedrolls. Xena is leaning
over a stack of wood, making a fire. The sun is setting behind them.
XENA
So, what would you like to know?
GABRIELLE
About what?
XENA
You said before that you wanted to know everything about me.
GABRIELLE
Xena, I didn’t mean –
XENA
Go ahead, ask.
GABRIELLE
You’re serious?
XENA
Yes, I’m serious.
GABRIELLE
Anything?
XENA
Anything.
GABRIELLE
You’re sure?!
XENA
I’m sure. Of course, I also get to ask you anything I want.
GABRIELLE
Fine by me.
XENA
Good.
Silence.
GABRIELLE
What if one of us can’t answer a question?
XENA
Can’t or won’t?
Silence.
XENA
(looking at Gabrielle and smirking)
Then "whoever" it is has to do what she’s told.
CUT TO:
6. EXT. A BONFIRE - NIGHT
Xena and Gabrielle are sitting around the fire, watching their
dinner cooking. Xena sharpens her sword.
XENA
You start.
GABRIELLE
Why me?
XENA
It was your idea.
GABRIELLE
No, it wasn’t. It was your idea.
XENA
Only because of what you said earlier.
Silence. Only a scraping sound is heard.
Gabrielle gets up and walks to Xena.
GABRIELLE
Give me your sword.
Xena keeps sharpening her sword, not looking at Gabrielle.
XENA
(chuckling)
What are you planning to do with it? Fight for who goes first?
GABRIELLE
Come on, Xena, just give me your sword already.
Xena eyes Gabrielle suspiciously, but hands her the sword.
Gabrielle tries to spin the sword on the ground. Xena stares at her,
amused. Gabrielle watches the sword. It hardly spins before it stops, pointing at
Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
Hmm. I guess I get to start after all.
Xena smirks. She sends her foot forward and steps on the hilt of the
sword. The sword bounces back into her hand and she starts sharpening it again.
Gabrielle thinks hard, then her face lights up and she smiles.
GABRIELLE
How many times did you fall flat on your ass before you managed to
do that infamous flip of yours?
Xena stops sharpening her sword, looks up as if asking, ‘Is
that the best you can do?’
XENA
Four, but one time it was on my face.
Gabrielle smiles contently and gets up to check the meat.
Xena is deep in thought, sharpening her sword again.
Gabrielle sits down.
GABRIELLE
Still not done.
XENA
Okay, I have one. But be honest.
Gabrielle nods and listens intently.
XENA
How bad is my cooking really?
Gabrielle rests her head on her hand, looking like she’s
thinking hard.
GABRIELLE
On a scale of one to ten, when Joxer is a ten, I’d give you
– eight, eight and a half.
XENA
Gee, thanks.
GABRIELLE
You asked.
DISSOLVE TO:
7. EXT. A BONFIRE – LATER THAT NIGHT
Xena’s sword is now lying beside her. Gabrielle is sitting
closer to her, looking up at the moon, fumbling her fingers.
GABRIELLE
Okay. I know. Who was your first love?
XENA
Come on, you don’t wanna waste your question on that.
GABRIELLE
Why not?
XENA
‘Cause there’s nothing much to know.
Gabrielle leans forward and stares at Xena silently.
XENA
It was nobody. It was just a silly boy back at Amphipolis, who
always dared me to do risky stunts.
GABRIELLE
And did you?
XENA
What do you think?
Gabrielle and Xena chuckle.
GABRIELLE
So... were you... close?
XENA
I guess you could say that.
Gabrielle ponders the answer for a while before continuing.
GABRIELLE
So what happened to him?
XENA
He left the village to become a soldier, shortly before
Cortese’s attack. Haven’t heard of him since.
Xena picks up her sword and starts sharpening it again.
Gabrielle gets up to check the meat once more.
XENA
(not looking up)
That was four questions, by the way.
Gabrielle turns around.
GABRIELLE
No, it wasn’t. They were all connected.
Xena looks up and raises her eyebrows at Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
Xena, you hardly said anything. I had to ask all those questions to
get a straight answer out of you.
XENA
Okay. Whatever.
Gabrielle turns back to the fire and pokes the bird with a stick.
GABRIELLE
It’s ready.
Gabrielle picks a wing and takes a bite out of it.
Xena bends toward the fire and pulls out a thigh. She blows on it,
then takes a bite.
XENA
(with her mouth full)
So who was yours?
GABRIELLE
Huh?
XENA
Your first love?
Gabrielle takes a big bite out of her meat, then another, and
another. All the while she is staring at the fire nervously.
Xena’s hand, on its way to her mouth for another bite, stops in
mid-air.
XENA
(to herself)
Oh.
DISSOLVE TO:
8. EXT. A BONFIRE – LATER THAT NIGHT
Xena is finishing the last piece of meat. Gabrielle is drinking from
a skin bottle.
XENA
Why don’t you like talking about your childhood?
Gabriele almost chokes on the water. She quickly puts down the skin
and looks at Xena.
GABRIELLE
What do you mean?
XENA
I mean that for someone who loves telling stories, you’re
awfully quiet when it comes to your own past.
GABRIELLE
That’s not true. Don’t you remember all the stories
I’ve told you about the things Lila and I used to do?
XENA
But that’s exactly my point. Whenever you do say something,
it’s almost always about Lila. Except that story about the pony. Why is that?
Gabrielle picks up a twig and uses it to arrange the fire.
GABRIELLE
I have no idea what you’re talking about.
DISSOLVE TO:
9. EXT. SEASHORE – DAY - FLASHBACK
A group of children are playing tag at the seashore. They are
screaming and laughing loudly.
10-year-old Gabrielle is sitting by herself on a rock, her feet in
the water. She is daydreaming.
A boy creeps behind her. She doesn’t notice him. He pushes her
and she falls face first into the water.
All the children laugh.
Gabrielle gets up. Her hair and dress are completely soaked. Her
face is wet with tears.
8-year-old Lila comes running and pushes the boy to the ground.
LILA
You’re a mean boy, Alexis. I’m gonna tell my mom on you.
The other children now close in on Gabrielle, pointing at her and
chanting, ‘Blabby Gabby, blabby Gabby.’
LILA
Stop it! Leave her alone!
The children don’t move at first, but as they soon become
bored, they leave Gabrielle and Lila and resume their game.
Lila takes Gabrielle’s hand.
LILA
Don’t mind them, Gabrielle. They’re just stupid children.
DISSOLVE TO:
10. EXT. A BONFIRE – NIGHT
Gabrielle shakes her head, looking rather sad. Xena is looking at
the fire.
GABRIELLE
What did you just say?
XENA
I said tomorrow you’re catching breakfast.
DISSOLVE TO:
11. EXT. A BONFIRE – LATER THAT NIGHT
The meat is gone. Only fleshless bones are scattered around the
fire. Gabrielle takes the pan out of the fire and pours some water from the skin onto it.
GABRIELLE
My turn again.
Xena nods and takes the skin from Gabrielle’s hand. She takes a
long sip.
GABRIELLE
Xena, do you ever think... I mean, what do you think you’d be
doing now if... if I weren’t with you?
XENA
You mean, if I never met you?
GABRIELLE
Yeah, for example.
XENA
I don’t know.
Xena moves her glance from Gabrielle to the fire.
DISSOLVE TO:
12. XENA’S MIND – OUT OF TIME
It is daytime. Xena rides into a village, followed by an army of
riders.
Xena raises her sword.
XENA
Kill ‘em all!
DISSOLVE TO:
13. EXT. A BONFIRE – NIGHT
Xena looks at Gabrielle, her eyes glistening.
She pulls Gabrielle close and kisses the top of her head.
DISSOLVE TO:
14. EXT. A BONFIRE – LATER THAT NIGHT
Xena is banking the fire, while Gabrielle is settling into her
bedroll.
Xena takes off her armor and gauntlets and lies down. Gabrielle lies
down as well.
Xena closes her eyes.
Gabrielle tosses and turns for a while, until she finally lies
still, facing Xena’s back.
GABRIELLE
Xena, did you really mean what you said before?
Xena opens her eyes.
XENA
When?
GABRIELLE
When I asked you what was the happiest day of your life?
XENA
Yes, Gabrielle, I really meant it.
Gabrielle smiles contently and closes her eyes.
Xena’s eyes remain open for a long time.
FADE OUT.
END ACT I
ACT II
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