| ACT II
15. EXT. RIVERBANK – EARLY MORNING
FADE IN:
GABRIELLE
(voice over)
Next morning was payback time...
Gabrielle is standing in the stream, up to her waist in water. Xena
is sitting on the ground, watching.
GABRIELLE
Xena, this isn’t working.
XENA
You know the rules.
GABRIELLE
Then let me do something else. Anything.
Xena whistles cheerfully.
GABRIELLE
Argh!
Gabrielle bends over and turns her ear toward the water.
DISSOLVE TO:
16. EXT. RIVERBANK – DAY
Xena is preparing Argo.
Gabrielle, soaking wet, comes out of the water and sits next to her,
demonstratively.
GABRIELLE
I hope you’re happy.
Xena grins.
GABRIELLE
Well, you know what? I don’t care. You’re the one
who’s going to be hungry before noon.
Xena look at Gabrielle with an ill-concealed grin.
GABRIELLE
Who am I kidding? Okay. You win. Now can you catch breakfast
already? I’m starving.
Xena takes off her armor, gauntlets and boots.
XENA
You realize, of course, that your next assignment won’t be as
pleasant.
CUT TO:
17. EXT. A ROAD – DAY
Xena is riding slowly. Gabrielle is walking beside her.
They arrive at a fork. Xena turns left. Gabrielle halts.
GABRIELLE
Wait a minute. This is not the way to Miridias.
XENA
I know.
GABRIELLE
But I thought... so where are we heading anyway?
XENA
Liberium.
GABRIELLE
(throwing her hands irritably)
Of course.
Gabrielle hastens her step to catch up with Xena.
CUT TO:
18. EXT. WOODS – NOON
Xena stops walking and tends Argo. Gabrielle also stops.
GABRIELLE
You realize you still haven’t answered my question.
XENA
Which question?
GABRIELLE
Don’t play innocent with me. You know which question I’m
talking about.
XENA
I already told you: no.
GABRIELLE
Never?
Xena seems uncomfortable.
DISSOLVE TO:
19. XENA’S MIND – OUT OF TIME
It is night. Xena and Ares are standing opposite each other in the
middle of a clearing. Ares is looking at Xena seductively. He grins as he draws near her.
They kiss, then his lips slowly slide to her neck. He pushes down the strap of her leather
and kisses her shoulder. Xena’s face convulses with passion.
DISSOLVE TO:
20. EXT. WOODS - DAY
Xena shakes her head.
GABRIELLE
Xena?
XENA
For the last time: no.
GABRIELLE
Okay. Okay. I believe you.
Xena hastens her step and leads Argo to a new path in the woods.
Gabrielle follows them, watching Xena thoughtfully.
CUT TO:
21. EXT. A ROAD – DAY.
Xena and Gabrielle are walking in silence. Gabrielle glances at
Xena.
GABRIELLE
It was your turn.
XENA
You really like this game, don’t you?
GABRIELLE
It’s okay.
Xena looks at her and smiles.
XENA
My turn, you said...
Xena thinks hard.
XENA
(mischievously)
Okay. I have it.
Gabrielle looks at Xena suspiciously.
XENA
When was the first time you...
GABRIELLE
Xena!
XENA
What? You don’t even know what I was going to ask.
GABRIELLE
Okay. Ask.
XENA
When was the first time you knew you wanted to become a bard?
Gabrielle smiles pensively.
DISSOLVE TO:
22. INT. GABRIELLE AND LILA’S ROOM – AFTERNOON - FLASHBACK
12-year-old Gabrielle is sitting on her bed, holding a scroll.
Footsteps are heard. Gabrielle hides the scroll.
In comes Hecuba, carrying a mop.
HECUBA
You’re here?
Gabrielle lowers her eyes.
HECUBA
It’s not good for a girl to be cooped up in her room all the
time.
Gabrielle plays with the hem of her dress.
HECUBA
What do you do here all day anyway?
Gabrielle looks up at Hecuba but does not reply.
HECUBA
Go outside now. I need to clean up here.
Gabrielle gets up, looking worriedly at the scroll’s hiding
place.
HECUBA
And don’t forget to come back in time to help me with the
washing.
Gabrielle leaves the room.
Hecuba starts cleaning up. She comes across the scroll and shakes
her head. She crumples it and throws it away.
CUT TO:
23. EXT. POTEIDAIA – AFTERNOON
A group of boys are playing outside. Gabrielle tries to pass them by
as quickly as possible.
One boy stops playing and stares at Gabrielle as she walks by.
The other boys call to him.
BOYS
Come on, Perdicus. You wanna play or what?
Another boy stands behind Perdicus.
BOY
(whispering)
Forget her. She’s a weirdo.
CUT TO:
24. EXT. SEASHORE – AFTERNOON
Gabrielle arrives at the shore. She looks around her and is pleased
to realize she’s all alone.
She sits on a rock and gazes at the sea.
CUT TO:
25. EXT. GABRIELLE’S HOUSE - EVENING
Gabrielle walks into the house. Hecuba, Herodotus and Lila are
sitting at the table.
Hecuba
(shouting)
Where in Zeus’s name were you?
GABRIELLE
(whispering)
At the shore.
Hecuba
You don’t tell anyone where you’re going. You disappear
for hours. Not to mention you were supposed to help me do the wash today. What is wrong
with you, Gabrielle?
GABRIELLE
(trying hard not to cry)
I’m sorry, Mama.
Hecuba
Go to your room.
Gabrielle walks toward her room, her head bowed, tears glistening in
her eyes.
CUT TO:
26. INT. GABRIELLE AND LILA’S ROOM - EVENING
Gabrielle is lying on her bed. In comes Lila.
LILA
She didn’t mean it.
GABRIELLE
Yes, she did. They always do.
Lila looks at Gabrielle sadly. Gabrielle suddenly gets up and starts
looking for her scroll. When she realizes it’s gone she throws herself on the bed
again and starts crying heartbreakingly. Lila caresses her hair.
CUT TO:
27. EXT. POTEIDAIA’S MAIN SQUARE – AFTERNOON
There is a bunch of people looking inquisitively at Thea, a woman in
her early 30’s. She is blonde, brightly dressed and very pretty. In her clothes, her
intelligent countenance and the sense of serenity that she seems to project, she looks
very different from the villagers. Thea is patting her horse’s mane, as she turns to
one of the villagers.
THEA
Can you tell me where I can leave my horse?
A man nods and shows her the way.
CUT TO:
28. EXT. SEASHORE - TWILIGHT
The sun is slowly setting. Gabrielle is sitting on a rock, lost in a
daydream.
Thea appears from behind her.
THEA
Hello.
Gabrielle is startled.
THEA
Mind if I sit down?
Gabrielle shakes her head. The woman sits next to her.
THEA
I was told Poteidaia had one of the most beautiful shores in Greece.
Gabrielle smiles, but does not answer.
THEA
I’m Thea. What is your name?
GABRIELLE
Gabrielle.
THEA
Nice to meet you, Gabrielle of Poteidaia.
Gabrielle finally looks at Thea, but she soon turns her gaze to the
sea again.
THEA
So do you like it here?
Gabrielle shrugs.
THEA
Are you always so quiet?
GABRIELLE
No.
Gabrielle peeks at Thea before continuing.
GABRIELLE
(whispering)
Everyone always says I talk too much.
Thea seems moved.
THEA
There’s no such thing as talking too much when you’ve got
something to say.
Gabrielle looks at Thea again, this time for a long time.
GABRIELLE
Do you really believe that?
THEA
Yes, I really believe that. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be a bard.
GABRIELLE
A bard?
THEA
Yes. A bard. A poet. Someone that writes about heroic deeds and
perilous adventures.
GABRIELLE
I like to read, but my parents always say it’s not going to do
me any good. They say I’d better learn to sew and weave instead.
THEA
Why not do both?
Gabrielle stares at her, surprised.
GABRIELLE
Do you know how to sew?
THEA
I most certainly do. It saves a lot of time when you’re on the
road.
Gabrielle stares at Thea, full of wonder.
GABRIELLE
Do you travel often?
THEA
I travel all the time. There are always new stories to be told. You
just have to look for them.
Gabrielle glances at the sea again.
GABRIELLE
I wish I could travel too.
Thea, also looking at the sea, squeezes Gabrielle’s shoulder.
THEA
You will. Some day.
DISSOLVE TO:
29. EXT. A ROAD – DAY - PRESENT
Xena and Gabrielle are walking. Xena smiles warmly as she listens to
Gabrielle reminisce.
GABRIELLE
And then she taught me about the stars, and told me about all the
places she’d been to and read me some of her work.
Xena squeezes Gabrielle’s shoulder.
XENA
Sounds like a good memory.
GABRIELLE
The best.
CUT TO:
30. EXT. A ROAD - AFTERNOON
Xena and Gabrielle are walking side by side, climbing a steep hill.
Xena looks at Gabrielle, who seems tired.
XENA
We’re almost there.
Xena looks up at the sun, estimating. She mounts Argo, then pulls
Gabrielle up and they start riding.
CUT TO:
31. EXT. OUTSIDE OF LIBERIUM - TWILIGHT
Gabrielle jumps off Argo. She starts walking, then stops and
examines the sole of one of her boots.
GABRIELLE
I’m going to need another repair soon.
XENA
(dismounting)
I’m sure Liberium has a shoemaker.
They walk silently for a while longer. As they’re drawing near
Liberium, the sounds of hooves are heard. Xena pulls out her sword and looks to all sides.
GABRIELLE
You still haven’t told me what you’re planning to do in
Liberium.
XENA
I want to use the opportunity that Mineus is away to talk to the
king. Something tells me this war wasn’t his idea.
CUT TO:
32. EXT. TOWN’S SQUARE - NIGHT
Xena and Gabrielle are walking toward the palace’s gates. A
squad of soldiers passes by them. They appear fatigued. Some of them are wounded.
Gabrielle stops to drink from the fountain in the middle of the
square, when suddenly three royal guards charge at her and Xena, swords in hands.
XENA
Don’t! I come in peace.
One of the guards stops. The other two continue to charge.
XENA
Stop! Wait! There’s no need for that.
The guards look at each other hesitantly, then stop, still holding
their swords up.
Xena turns and hands Gabrielle her sword and chakram.
XENA
You wait here until I send for you.
GABRIELLE
But, Xena...
XENA
I need Fedor to hear me out. He’s not going to trust me unless
I come to him alone and unarmed.
Xena walks toward the guards. Gabrielle looks at her, clearly
unhappy with being left behind. She examines the chakram in her hand.
Suddenly she hears King Fedor’s voice.
FEDOR
(off screen)
Throw the impostor in the dungeon.
Gabrielle looks on bewilderingly as Xena is being led away by the
guards.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT II
ACT III
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