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ACT I
5. INT. TEMIZUYA BATHS - NIGHT
Mioto assists Gabrielle from the sacred waters of the hot tub. As Gabrielle steps onto the wooden floor, the junior monk holding the towel, begins to gently dry Gabrielle off.
MIOTO
So, Gabrielle, it is done. Prayer and an open heart are your only path this night to prepare for tomorrow.
GABRIELLE
(nods and smiles)
If they can truly see my heart, then through me, they will know Xena, and they will understand that a great injustice has been done.
Both young monks start to dress Gabrielle in the white gi, The pants are loose fitting. The top has no bindings, it simply wraps around her and is tied with a silver sash. They hear a din of voices outside. Mioto walks to the door and slides it open.
CUT TO:
6. EXT. TEMIZUYA- NIGHT
Mioto sees several villagers racing past their Temizuya to the main temple. He steps out and grabs one by the arm as he is about to run past him.
MIOTO
(puzzled)
What is wrong? Why are the people rushing to the Heiden?
As the two young monks join Mioto, Gabrielle picks up her backpack and joins them. They stand behind him watching the villagers as they race to the main temple.
MALE VILLAGER
(sounding shocked and upset)
They have found the Kai-i-Choku … murdered!
GABRIELLE
(voice filled with fear)
XENA!
Gabrielle pushes past Mioto and the villager and races toward the temple. Mioto and the junior monks are close behind. They run into Tanazi.
TANAZI
(panting)
You heard?
Mioto nods and places a hand on Tanazi’s shoulder.
MIOTO
We are on our way now. Rest. Catch your breath.
He rushes off to catch up with the others.
DISSOLVE TO:
7. EXT. TEMPLE - NIGHT
The villagers, shock evident on their faces, mull around waiting to hear from the Guji (the Chief Elder). Murmurs of blame are heard from the people.
VILLAGE MAN
(ire in his voice)
It is the kami of the one who defeated Yodoshi! She is angry that she must remain in the land of the dead. I’m certain of it!
ANOTHER VILLAGER
Even in death she torments us!
A WOMAN VILLAGER
No… I heard one of the monks talking… Kai-i-Choku had already completed the purification of the warrior's remains… it could not have been her kami…
ANOTHER VILLAGER
Then it is the one with hair of gold… She has brought this evil…
WOMAN VILLAGER
(mockingly)
She comes to seek justice and kills a kannushi? Don’t be a fool!
The woman villager waves him off and turns away.
VILLAGE MAN
(degradingly)
Be silent woman. What do you know of these things!?
ANOTHER VILLAGER
And justice has been served as far as I am concerned. Our ancestors are free.
CUT TO:
8. EXT. MAIN TEMPLE - NIGHT
The Chief Elder steps out of the temple. His robes are of white silk, with gold threads. He raises his hands to silence the crowd. His action has little effect. Having heard enough, he lashes out.
GUJI
(angrily)
Kai-i-Choku was murdered! It is a crime punishable by death! It was not done by the one seeking justice, or by the warrior who died to bring rest to the kami taken by Yodoshi! He was murdered by one of our own!!!
(a beat)
It is time for ALL of us to stop and think! Not of the past with nothing more than shadows of truth… It is time to move past the shadows and see what is truth! And you will never see truth if you do not open your eyes and your hearts!
(a long cold pause)
We ALL know an injustice was committed both in the past and even now! Listen to yourselves! Petty people with petty minds! The time has come to confess the sins of our ancestors! If there is evil… if there is darkness, it is within our own darkened, unforgiving hearts!
The villagers whisper among themselves. They know he speaks the truth and it is evident on their faces as they look from one to another then down at the ground in shame. Heads continue to sway as they continue to whisper among themselves. Two Elders exit the temple to stand with the Chief Elder.
GUJI
(forcefully)
It is time to stop blaming others for the mistakes that have been made and confess our own transgressions of the past. This will be commenced at dawn, with our own purification! Right now, our first act will be to find the murderer!
CUT TO:
9. EXT. NEAR TEMPLE - NIGHT
Gabrielle, with Mioto and the two young monks immediately behind her, are rushing toward the temple. They arrive in time to hear the Guji’s words to the restless villagers, even as more begin to arrive. Gabrielle pushes her way through the crowd and rushes up the steps until she is one step below the Chief Elder. She bows her head in humble address, then raises her green eyes upward, seeking an answer.
GABRIELLE
(pleadingly)
I beg your forgiveness… but please… can you tell me… Xena’s urn? Her remains, are they safe?
GUJI
(shakes his head solemnly)
I am afraid the murderer has taken your friend’s remains… But we shall form search parties and do what we can to find him and her remains…
GABRIELLE
Please, if I may see the room… I might be able to help…
The Guji nods to Gabrielle. He turns to one of the Elders.
GUJI
Organize search parties. The murderer cannot be far.
The Guji, Mioto, Gabrielle and the two young monks enter the temple.
DISSOLVE TO:
10. INT. THE HALL OF OFFERINGS - NIGHT
The body of the slain Elder is being covered. Gabrielle approaches the two young monks who are preparing to lift the body. Her green eyes brim with unfallen tears as she sees the small platform where Xena’s urn had obviously stood. She turns to the monks preparing to remove the body and raises her hand in a motion that tells them to stop. Gabrielle kneels down and removes the shroud covering his face and spots the thin trail of drying blood. She looks up at the monks.
GABRIELLE
Which way was he facing when you found him?
Curious, the Guji approaches her.
GUJI
(using his hands to assist his description)
Kai-i-Choku was facing to your right… Why do you ask?
Gabrielle looks down at the body, places her hand by the puncture wounds, gazes momentarily at the pool of blood on the floor then stands up. She glances around the room and notices the window/archway.
GABRIELLE
Well, it’s obvious the murderer came in through there…
KAI-I-JO
That is impossible… the gardens are busy with our brothers gathering what is needed from the sacred gardens… Someone would have spotted him…
Gabrielle walks toward one of the pillars beside the window/archway.
GABRIELLE
Not if he hid in the shadows…
She pauses, looks down at the ground, then back at the body. She bends down and runs her hand on the immaculately clean, mosaic tiled floor until she feels something.
GABRIELLE
(continued)
He hid here… in the shadows… at this angle, he wouldn’t have been spotted by either Kai-i-Choku or those passing outside…
(a beat)
Xena taught me many things… including tracking… and how to hide from those who would try to kill you first chance they got…
KAI-I-JO
(motions to his fallen brother)
May they?
Gabrielle nods absently and wanders into the garden.
Kai-i-Jo motions them to take the body and the two young monks cover the kannushi in the shroud, lift his body and help remove it through the door leading into the hall.
DISSOLVE TO:
11. EXT. GARDENS- NIGHT
Just outside the window/archway, Gabrielle kneels down and studies the ground. She notices several footprints. Two pair walking past the entrance of the Hall of Offerings, another crossing over them. Mioto, Kai-i-Jo and Guji join Gabrielle and watch her in fascination.
Gabrielle looks up at the waning moon. She turns to the two Elders with determination.
GABRIELLE
I need a torch. I’m sure I can find him. He might not know it, but he’s left a trail…
Mioto runs out into the hall and returns moments later carrying a torch he has removed from the wall outside the room. He steps up to Gabrielle and hands it to her.
MIOTO
I would be honored if you would allow me to join you…
GABRIELLE
(nods)
Under one condition… You must obey my every instruction. I need to ensure that Xena’s urn is recovered undamaged. If you can’t do that, then you can’t come with me.
MIOTO
(bowing)
Agreed, it shall be as you say.
CUT TO:
12. EXT. ENTRANCE TO SACRED GARDENS - NIGHT
The Elder in charge, has formed several search parties comprising of both monks and villagers. Several torches are held high in each group. The Guji and the others step outside with Gabrielle.
GUJI
Each group will go in a different direction. Remember, the urn must be recovered intact! Now go and may the deities grant you success!
DISSOLVE TO:
13. EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
A figure runs swiftly through the woods, breathing fast and occasionally glancing over his shoulder, looking for signs of pursuit. Finally he stops for a moment at the edge of a clearing. In the small amount of moonlight, only a section of skin around the eyes is visible. Otherwise the figure is cloaked in darkness.
Suddenly the surrounding tree leaves and bushes rustle as though a breeze has sprung up, but no wind caresses the shrouded figure. Apprehensive, he peers around assuming that somehow they have found him.
ASSASSIN
(fearfully)
Who is there? Come out!
The shrubbery rustles again as though someone or something is hiding in them. The assassin shifts Xena’s urn against his left side, grabs the hilt of his blade and pulls it forth.
ASSASSIN
(defiantly)
Show yourselves! I know you are there!
He spins around in a circle, peering into the bushes and trees, looking for a sign of his pursuers but all he hears is the rustling leaves.
FADE OUT.
14. EXT. FOREST - NIGHT
FADE IN.
A search party of monks and villagers is looking for signs of passage by the assassin. They peer at the ground and the surrounding bushes, hoping to find footprints or a scrap of cloth, any indication of recent travel.
VILLAGER
(aside to another villager)
This is a waste of time if you ask me. The assassin could be miles away. Trying to find someone in the dark now is like trying to find one particular grain of sand on the beach. We will never catch up to him in time.
The monk leading the party turns around and walks over to the two men.
MONK
(calmly, yet firmly)
You must have faith in what is right. I’ll not hear you, or anyone else in this party, show signs of doubt.
Both villagers look ashamed.
FIRST VILLAGER
(bowing)
Please, forgive me.
DISSOLVE TO:
15. EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
Gabrielle and Mioto are walking quickly but quietly through the woods. Gabrielle, holding the torch, stops occasionally to peer at the ground.
GABRIELLE
(speaking softly)
See, here are more footprints. The murderer was running to the north east just a few minutes ago.
MIOTO
(skeptically)
How can you tell all that from a few impressions in the dirt?
GABRIELLE
Xena taught me many things. One of them was to tell the rate of passage by a person and how long ago it happened.
Mioto looks at her doubtfully.
MIOTO
If you say so.
GABRIELLE
See, the footprints are too far apart for a normal walk and the earth is pressed more firmly in the front of the print and not the back showing his weight was forward and his stride was heavier than a walk. Also, the earth within the footprint is warmer inside meaning the person passed by not long ago. Come on, let’s keep going.
DISSOLVE TO:
16. EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
The assassin is slashing at the rustling bushes.
ASSASSIN
Cowards! Come and face me with honor, not like skulking thieves. I promise you a quick and painless death.
The bushes behind him rustle. He charges through the foliage but sees nothing. He pauses then runs in the opposite direction. As the murderer disappears into the trees, the ghost of Kai-i-Choku, his ethereal hand still clasping the foliage, slowly materializes. A satisfied smile curls his lips.
FADE OUT.
17. EXT. WOODS – NIGHT
FADE IN.
Gabrielle stops to listen. She remembers Xena’s words before the battle with Yodoshi’s armies.
XENA
(voice over)
Listen for what is in back of the sounds.
She hears leaves rustling and faint words in the distance. It is a single man, talking in a belligerent tone. Instinctively she knows it is the one she seeks.
GABRIELLE
Mioto, I need you to circle off to the east. Here, take the torch.
MIOTO
(protesting)
But Gabrielle, what about the assassin? Shouldn’t we stay together?
GABRIELLE
Mioto, you agreed to obey me. Go, now, please!
Gabrielle looks pleadingly at Mioto who backs up a little and bows.
MIOTO
Good hunting my friend.
Gabrielle looks at him, smiles and disappears into the trees, heading in the direction of the voice.
Moving stealthily, Gabrielle advances toward the sounds, pausing once or twice to make certain she can still hear the man advancing toward her.
DISSOLVE TO:
18. EXT – WOODS - NIGHT
The assassin is running through the woods, looking behind him. His sword is in his right hand, ready to attack at the first sight of his pursuers.
DISSOLVE TO:
19. EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
Gabrielle has positioned herself behind a tree. As the assassin dashes by her, Gabrielle leaps into the air, grabs a branch and catapults herself in front of the startled murderer who lets out a scream.
ASSASSIN
AYYYYYIIII!
Gabrielle kicks out with her right foot, hitting the murderer in his left arm which shoots upward along with Xena’s urn. It flies high into the air as Gabrielle uses her left foot to strike him squarely in the chest knocking him backward. The urn falls…
FADE OUT.
END ACT ONE
ACT TWO
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