16. EXT. PORT - NIGHTFALL

DISSOLVE INTO:

The seaport is crowded with fishermen unloading the day’s catch, gutting fish, and shoppers haggling loudly with the vendors. People carrying their possessions, weave past each other through the throng.

Gabrielle makes her way through the crowd, pushing her way through the huddled masses, all the while protectively clutching her backpack and its precious contents.

CUT TO:

17. EXT. PORT TOWN - NIGHT

The look on her haggard face is one of determination. There is someone she needs to find, and according to Ephiny, that someone was in Chin.

Gabrielle bumps into a man who has just had an argument with a vendor over the cost of a gutted fish. Having his attention, even for a moment, opens the door to communication.

GABRIELLE

She is met with an icy stare and he storms away.

Determined not to permit the reaction of one angry individual to dissuade her from her goal, Gabrielle continues to push past a small crowd of hagglers to a gathering of shoppers examining the wares of a pottery vendor. She feigns interest in his cookware long enough to gain his attention.

VENDOR

GABRIELLE

(nods)

A harried woman pushes past her and starts to demand he reduce the price of a tea pot. As the two argue, Gabrielle steps back, and takes a deep cleansing breath.

She stands there exasperated, then makes her way past a band of street performers. As she does she espies an elderly woman standing in a doorway. She approaches her.

GABRIELLE

(to an old woman)

The woman shies away from her the moment the young blonde haired woman approaches. The door is rudely slammed in Gabrielle’s face.

Stunned by the woman’s reaction, she stands there for a moment, gathering her composure. She inhales deeply and exhales slowly before she continues on.

A vendor attempts to thrust a red bean bun into her hand. She looks at it momentarily before refusing. Turning from the vendor, she notices an old man standing in the crowd watching her. Hoping he might be the person she seeks, Gabrielle heads in his direction, pushing her way through the crowd of spectators being entertained by the feats of the jugglers.

GABRIELLE

(to old man)

She pauses, realizing she has no name for the man she seeks.

OLD MAN

(becoming indignant)

He pushes past her, nearly knocking her down.

CUT TO:

A young panhandler, approximately eight years old is watching Gabrielle as she continues to walk through the dwindling crowd, attempting to get an answer to a simple question. Eager to make a few yen, he approaches and stops in front of her, nearly causing her to trip over him. Gabrielle smiles down at the boy. He smiles up at her and puts out his hand.

GABRIELLE

(smiling)

The boy makes a face and puts his hands on his hips. Gabrielle removes a shiny new coin from her pouch and shows it to him.

GABRIELLE

The boy points westward, to an area Gabrielle assumes is the home of the old man. Lifting her gaze to the directional aim of the small hand, Gabrielle sees nothing more than the road that leads out of the small town.

GABRIELLE

(questioningly)

At that point, the young boy grabs the coin and runs, laughing as he disappears into the small crowd. Gabrielle sighs deeply, hoping that the young boy wasn't simply a thief. Hoisting the backpack to a comfortable position on her shoulder, she heads west.

CUT TO:

18. EXT. WOODS - NIGHT

Gabrielle walks along the darkened path, with nothing but the moon to guide her every step. She is tired, and the road seems endless. Knowing it can be dangerous to trudge on, she leaves the road, and heads inland until she feels it is far enough from the road to set up camp.

Gabrielle sets the backpack down, opens it and carefully removes the bedroll she’s wrapped around Xena’s urn to protect it. Once the bedroll is laid out, she places the backpack on it and sets about gathering fire wood, rocks, and twigs.

As she prepares the campfire, she speaks to the only person she’s ever spoken to every evening for as long as she can remember. The only difference now was, she’d receive no argument, or aloof witticisms.

GABRIELLE

(placing the small rocks in a small circle and sounding annoyed)

She places twigs and dried leaves in the center and rubs two sticks together.

GABRIELLE

(continued)

She rubs the sticks together more fiercely.

GABRIELLE

(continued)

The dried leaves smoke. She stops, bends over and puffs lightly until a flame rises.

GABRIELLE

(continued)

As the flame grows, Gabrielle sits on her bedroll beside the backpack and places a loving hand down upon it.

GABRIELLE

(continued)

She opens her backpack and removes a small pouch and unwraps it. She removes a piece of cured meat and sticks it on the end of a stick and turns it over the flame

GABRIELLE

(continue)

She picks at the meat half-heartedly. Takes a bite or two and wraps it and puts it back in the backpack.

GABRIELLE

(continued)

She lies down and stares up at the stars and yawns.

GABRIELLE

(continued)

(beat)

She glances up at the moon, a full orb in the caliginous heavens. A dark cloud is spreading across its face, one as bleak as the pall that has gripped her soul. Gabrielle turns onto her side and lovingly pats the backpack containing Xena's urn. She closes her eyes.

GABRIELLE

Gabrielle snuggles into her bedroll. She opens her eyes for a moment, hoping that by some miracle of the gods, it would be Xena her hand rested gently upon and not the backpack containing her remains.

GABRIELLE

(continued)

(closing her eyes)

(pause, followed by a determined voice)

Gabrielle drifts off to a fitful sleep.

DISSOLVE TO:

19. EXT. DREAMLAND - NIGHT

The night is dark and the rains fall heavily upon the battleground. Gabrielle is standing alone in a bloodied field. The bodies of her small group of men, punctured by arrows, are strewn over the expanse of land before her. Suddenly they disappear. The chill in the air has suddenly gone warm and the rain falling has turned to the color of blood. And in the midst of her loneliness and despair a voice calls out.

VOICE

Gabrielle closes her eyes and obeys the voice. A scream in the distance permeates the air around her.

VOICE

DISSOLVE TO:

20. EXT. CAMPGROUND - NIGHT

Gabrielle tosses and turns on her bedroll. Barely audible words escape her parted lips.

GABRIELLE

(beat)

DISSOLVE TO:

21. EXT. DREAMLAND - NIGHT

Gabrielle is standing in a war camp. Japanese soldiers surround her in the heavy rain. Beside her is Xena, tall and proud, chakram at the ready, sword drawn and prepared to bring death to those who would harm them.

VOICE

She hears a whirring sound, like something cutting through the wind. Gabrielle recognizes the sound. She’s heard it a thousand times before. Instinctively her hand whips up to catch the weapon, but her judgment is off and she misses. She turns to see Xena decapitated by her own chakram.

GABRIELLE

DISSOLVE TO:

22. EXT. CAMPSITE - NIGHT

Gabrielle bolts upright from her nightmare, tears rolling down her pale features, Xena’s name still echoing in her mind... she begins to sob uncontrollably and covers her face with her hands.

GABRIELLE

FADE TO:

23. EXT. WOODS - MORNING

It is early morning. The sun is up and the birds are chirping. The campfire has been extinguished and the camp is empty. Gabrielle can be seen on the road, several yards away; backpack secured to her back, she is already following the well worn trail. Xena appears suddenly beside her. Startled, Gabrielle jumps.

GABRIELLE

Xena smirks with a shrug and they continue to walk along the trail.

XENA

(dryly)

Gabrielle turns to Xena with an annoyed, hurt look on her face.

GABRIELLE

Xena, seeing that her dry sense of humor is still lost on the grieving bard, looks down and furrows her brow.

XENA

(apologetically)

Gabrielle looks apologetic herself. She glances briefly up at Xena.

GABRIELLE

Xena looks at Gabrielle with concern.

XENA

GABRIELLE

(sounding miffed)

XENA

(sounding hurt)

Gabrielle stops and looks off to her right. Xena looks as well. Spiraling smoke is rising into the sky. Looking closely, Gabrielle sees a small hut barely visible peeking through the trees several yards off the path. Gabrielle feels a presence calling out to her, and she leaves the trail and Xena behind.

Xena stands there for a moment, with her hands on her hips. A puzzled expression crosses the warrior's face.

XENA

Gabrielle continues to walk towards the hut, ignoring Xena.

GABRIELLE

Gabrielle, Xena trailing behind, approaches the small hut, which is in a state of disrepair. The thatched roof is in need of replacement, steps are missing or cracked, and the windows are shuttered against the elements. Carefully Gabrielle places one foot over one of the missing planks, to the only one of the three that appears sturdy enough to hold her. It creaks as it accepts her full weight. She pauses a moment, listening for sounds from within. She hears the shuffling of feet from inside and takes a step toward the door. She knocks several times before someone finally answers. The door slowly creaks open, and a very old, frail looking man appears in the entrance.

GABRIELLE

(introduces herself)

The old man smiles and bows, opens the door wider, allowing her access into his home. Gabrielle looks at him for a beat before smiling weakly and entering.

Xena follows her in.

CUT TO:

24. INT. HUT - DAY

The small hut is cluttered with odds and ends. There is a small stand, splintered and worn by the fireplace. A table cluttered with old scrolls sits in the center of the room, and tucked under it are two chairs, one is missing a backrest. A small sleeping mat is off in a corner of the room. From the rafters above their heads, scrolls with Chinese characters hang, moving slightly with the faint breeze that seems to filter in through the cracks in the wooden walls. A chicken runs across the floor to find shelter under a small, worn bench by the pallet. The bench holds nothing more than a candle and an incense holder.

The old man bids Gabrielle to sit down and she complies. Both she and Xena watch the old man as he walks to the small fireplace and removes a small kettle. As he goes in search of tea leaves, Xena and Gabrielle gaze around the hut at herbs hanging off rafters, and rolled up scrolls in little niches along the wall. An incense burner is set above the fireplace on a shelf; smoke is spiraling up from the cube of incense burning in it. Their eyes rest upon the table strewn with old parchments.

Xena recognizes the scrolls. Her hand touches down, but passes through one in particular. She looks momentarily at the characters written on it before looking back at Gabrielle, who's been watching her. Gabrielle smiles weakly.

XENA

(looking a bit wary)

Gabrielle, shakes her head, and motions for Xena to be still.

XENA

(slightly amused)

Gabrielle gives Xena 'the look'. It appears to say, "NO, But I can! Hush!"

CUT TO:

The old man is quiet as he goes about his preparations. Gabrielle and Xena watch him as he places a wooden tray on a small rickety stand by the fire and reaches for a tin ladle hanging from a nail embedded in the wall. He carefully scoops some boiling water from one of the two small cooking cauldrons hanging over the fire and pours it into an old cracked ceramic kettle. With shaky hands, he places the kettle upon a small wooden tray and sets about feeling around the shelf above the fireplace for two cups. Finding them he places them also on the tray. His frail, knobby hands, wrinkled by age, carefully lift the tray and he shuffles back toward the waiting Gabrielle.

OLD MAN

(pause)

Gabrielle, seeing that the old man is about to place the tray upon the table strewn with parchments, rises and quickly begins to clear a space for the tray.

GABRIELLE

She makes space for the tray and looks up into his aged face. As she does, his words register in her mind.

GABRIELLE

(continued)

Gabrielle looks at the old man’s face for the first time and is surprised to find that he is blind, a light white film covers his eyes.

OLD MAN

(smiles and nods)

CUT TO:

Gabrielle places the parchments on the corner of the table, and as she does, she is surprised to find the letters appear to be raised.

GABRIELLE

The old man carefully places his tray down on the table.

OLD MAN

Gabrielle turns and looks up at Xena, who appears to be getting upset. She folds her arms in front of her armor and raises her left brow at Gabrielle.

XENA

LI CHING

Gabrielle smiles as she seats herself down at the table and places the backpack on her lap.

GABRIELLE

Li Ching sits down carefully opposite her and lifts the small pot of steaming tea, pouring it into the two teacups on the tray as he speaks, using his finger as a guide to the depth of the liquid.

LI CHING

GABRIELLE

LI CHING

(smiling)

He hands Gabrielle a cup of tea.

GABRIELLE

(smiles)

LI CHING

(raises his hand and cuts her off)

Gabrielle, surprised by his words, touches the bulge of Xena's urn through the backpack on her lap and caresses it tenderly.

GABRIELLE

The old man is quiet for a moment. He appears to be listening to something unheard by human ears. Xena, who had been wandering about the hut stops. She turns to look at him. He tilts his head slightly upward and smiles warmly in her direction.

Gabrielle and Xena exchange glances. Xena furrows her brow and studies him, wondering whether or not he can see her. She approaches him and waves her hand in front of his face. He doesn’t blink. She looks at Gabrielle and shrugs.

LI CHING

Gabrielle turns to look at Xena.

GABRIELLE

XENA

The old man laughs, revealing a row of missing teeth. He turns his blind gaze from Xena back to Gabrielle, his hand fumbling to find hers. He pats it and turns his unseeing eyes back to the warrior princess.

LI CHING

(his gaze steady upon Xena)

(beat)

(his gaze turns to Gabrielle)

CUT TO:

Gabrielle's expression is one of "I thought as much".

CUT TO:

The expression on Xena's face turns from one of annoyance at Gabrielle, to one of surprise and disbelief at the old man.

Her blue eyes dart quickly to Gabrielle.

XENA

CUT TO:

LI CHING

The old man rises weakly from his chair and ambles slowly toward the fireplace where his hand searches for the ladle he replaced on the nail. He stoops over and removes a lid from a small black cauldron. He feels around on the stand beside him for the bowls and dips the ladle into the cauldron over the fire and places a scoop into the bowl. He fills the other and carries both back to the table.

As he approaches, Xena is running her hands over her body as if searching for something. Gabrielle looks up worriedly at the warrior who seems to be fading.

GABRIELLE

(whispers, worry evident in her tone)

XENA

(looking puzzled)

Xena begins to shimmer. A look of apprehension comes over her face. She reaches out to Gabrielle.

XENA

(puzzlement in her voice)

Gabrielle stands quickly and reaches for her.

GABRIELLE

FADE OUT.

ACT TWO