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ACT II
16.INT.TAVERN – DAY
Gabrielle is standing there, looking at her hands in complete shock and not seeing a blessed thing.
XENA
(faint V.O.)
Gabrielle?
Gabrielle begins to sway again. She stares at the debris and bodies of the fight, not entirely aware of it all.
XENA
(closer V.O.)
Gabrielle?
A familiar hand lands on her shoulder and swings her completely around.
CUT TO:
17.INT.TAVERN – DAY
Gabrielle finds herself back sitting on her original stool at the bar. There are no fallen bodies, no broken furniture, and no blood on her hands. She visually confirms this last, clearly confused by it all.
She looks up and sees Xena and Eve looking at her expectantly.
GABRIELLE
(uncertain)
I… uh…
XENA
(frowning)
Are you all right?
GABRIELLE
Sure. I… I just…
Xena and Eve both see the bottles. Eve moves over and picks one up, sniffing at the open neck. She wrinkles her nose at the scent. Xena simply shakes her head.
XENA
(sighing)
Had a few?
Xena is not amused. Neither is Gabrielle, who nods over to Eve.
GABRIELLE
I see you found her.
XENA
Hmm.
Xena picks up the other bottle and looks at it. Gabrielle looks over at Eve and tries to smile. Unfortunately it comes off like a smirk.
GABRIELLE
So, you’re looking well.
XENA
(to herself)
That’s one of us.
Gabrielle glares at her for a moment. Eve looks between them, worried at the aggressive energy that is flowing between the pair.
EVE
Uh, perhaps we should all sit down? Talk a bit?
This seems to agree with everyone; Xena and Gabrielle both nod agreeably. Xena moves off and Gabrielle slides off her stool, only to land on the floor in a boneless heap.
GABRIELLE
Oomph!
Xena looks back. She and Eve both roll their eyes at this.
GABRIELLE
(muffled)
I’m all right. Really.
XENA
(skeptical)
Really?
GABRIELLE
Really.
Xena and Eve share a look that makes it clear they aren’t buying. Both of them lean down to help Gabrielle.
CUT TO:
18.EXT.ALLEYWAY – DAY
The men who had followed Xena earlier are watching the tavern’s entrance from an alleyway. Both look decidedly displeased.
THUG ONE
The Emperor isn’t going to like this.
THUG TWO
No, he’s not.
They watch the entrance for a few moments in silence.
THUG TWO
Think we could take them?
THUG ONE
(shakes his head)
Not a chance.
THUG TWO
(nodding)
Thought as much.
THUG ONE
Yeah.
They go silent and watch the tavern for a few more beats.
THUG ONE
Want to go get a drink?
THUG TWO
Sure.
They move off, disappearing into the alley.
CUT TO:
19.INT.TAVERN – DAY
Gabrielle and Eve are sitting at a back table. Gabrielle is cradling her head in both hands while Eve watches over her, gently running a hand over her back comfortingly. Eve looks over to Xena, who is quietly conversing with the Barkeeper. The Barkeeper makes a short gesture towards Gabrielle, nods to whatever Xena is saying and turns away to mix something up.
Eve suspects something’s up, watching her mother with an expectant grin. Xena leaves the bar with a couple of goblets in her hand. She sits down beside Gabrielle, whose shoulders are hunched miserably, and plunks one of the goblets down on the table before the suffering bard with sufficient force to get her attention.
GABRIELLE
(head still down)
Oooooh...
XENA
C’mon. Up.
GABRIELLE
(muffled)
Go ‘way! I’m dyin’!
Xena sighs and nudges her. Eve has to cover her mouth to keep from laughing aloud.
XENA
Not for years and years.
GABRIELLE
Ugh!
XENA
Up. Now!
Gabrielle raises her head long enough to glare at her long-time companion before letting her head fall back to the table. Xena’s patience, however, is at an end.
XENA
(calmly and completely serious)
Gabrielle, either you sit and drink this... or I’ll hold your nose and pour it down your gullet myself.
Gabrielle raises her head again, glares again, but reaches out and takes the goblet. She gives both her companions a glare and tips the cup back for a long sip.
She barely tastes the liquid when her whole face screws up like she’s just swallowed something completely gods-awful. She looks ready to spit out whatever it is when Xena stops her.
XENA
Uh-uh. All of it.
Gabrielle throws her a murderous look, but tips the cup back and drains it. She looks like she’s ready to choke when she’s finished but doesn’t complain. Rather she simply glares murderously at Xena. Eve is nearly beside herself with laughter.
XENA
There. Now was that so bad?
Gabrielle slowly turns to look her square in the eye, looking quite ready to draw her sais and start swinging for real. Eve is nearly beside herself with hilarity.
GABRIELLE
(voice low and dangerous)
Do I even want to know what I just swallowed?
Xena seems to consider the question, then shakes her head.
XENA
(smirking)
No.
Gabrielle looks into the cup dubiously, as if expecting to see something terrible in there.
From her POV, we see the cup is now filled with worms. Gabrielle however doesn’t drop it. She blinks, and the cup is empty again. She takes a massive breath and lets it out, unnaturally calm.
XENA
(V.O.)
Gabrielle?
Gabrielle shakes herself out of it and looks back at Xena.
GABRIELLE
Hm? What?
XENA
I said this is something you should hear.
(turns to Eve)
You were saying?
EVE
I was saying I’ve been able to trace Eli’s past. It’s what I’ve been doing since leaving Greece.
(grins)
Well, when I’m not spreading the word, that is.
She sobers and looks directly at her mother.
EVE
Or when I was refusing to believe certain rumors coming out of the east.
Xena looks uncomfortable by this statement. Gabrielle on the other hand doesn’t seem to be paying attention. Eve notices this, as does Xena after a moment; neither comments. Xena focuses again on Eve.
XENA
Tell us what you’ve learned.
Eve settles herself and leans forward, as if about to tell a story.
EVE
Well, it seems he’s from Palestine originally...
FADE TO:
20.INT. DESERT HUT – DAY
In a flashback we see a much younger Eli; he’s beardless but with long hair. He works with carpenter tools in his family’s small dwelling, fashioning a long board using a simple plane. A small girl is nearby, working with an older woman kneading dough for bread.
EVE
(V.O.)
...where he was the youngest son in a family of carpenters.
FADE TO:
21.EXT. DESERT VILLAGE - DAY
Eli is now moving among the rest of the huts in his small village. He’s clearly rather popular with the local girls as several wave as he passes, some a bit suggestively.
EVE
(V.O.)
He wasn’t exactly the most devout member of his tribe, but popular all the same.
Eli sits and watches several of the girls dancing, eyeing them with appreciation.
FADE TO:
22.EXT. DESERT VILLAGE – NIGHT
The village is being attacked by raiders on horseback. Some of the huts are burning. Eli stumbles out of one, only half-dressed and confused. He is knocked over by one of the raiders.
EVE
(V.O.)
Until his tribe was attacked and taken as slaves by another desert tribe one night.
Eli manages to get back to his feet and knocks one of the raiders off his horse swinging the board he was working on earlier. He seizes the man’s sword and runs him through. We focus in on the man’s eyes, which are the only part of him that are visible through his robes. They show first shock, then go blank as he dies.
We switch to Eli’s eyes now, which also show shock, then revulsion at his actions. He lets go of the sword and stumbles back, landing on his butt and unable to look away from what he’s done.
Other raiders come to surround him as we...
FADE TO:
23.EXT. DESERT ENCAMPMENT – NIGHT
We see Eli running from a small desert camp. There are vague shouts in the background, though we can’t recognize the language or make out the words. His hands are shackled with a length of chain between them.
EVE
(V.O.)
He was the only member of his family to escape.
FADE TO:
24.EXT. DESERT – DAY
Now we see Eli wandering across desert dunes, his hands still shackled and clothes starting to fray. He’s also started growing a beard.
FADE TO:
25.EXT. MOUNTAINS – NIGHT
Eli, his clothes now little more than rags and in full beard, stumbles to the base of a towering mountain range. He looks like he’s ready to drop dead on the spot; his skin is sunburned and blistered. He’s gaunt and clearly exhausted. The shackle is gone from his right wrist, but the other is still on his left; a length of the chain is still there and being dragged behind him.
He forces himself to somehow keep moving. There’s a determination in his eyes that borders on the fanatic.
FADE TO:
26.EXT. - MAP OF EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN
As Eli walks, we slowly pan across the map, moving across modern day Turkey and the Bosphorus Strait, ending in the Balkans just north of Greece.
EVE
(V.O.)
Somehow he managed to make it across the deserts and through the wild lands and mountains between Antioch and Byzantium, crossing the straits and reaching the mountains to the north of Greece.
FADE TO:
27.EXT. FOREST – DAY
After taking several steps along a forest trail, Eli stumbles a final time and lies still. Men in robes appear after several beats and gently pick him up.
FADE TO:
28.INT. TEMPLE – NIGHT
Eli awakes in a simple bed. A man we recognize as Brother Caleb (from the episode "Chakram") tends to him. Eli looks ready to bolt, but Caleb gives him a disarming smile.
CALEB
Welcome, brother.
EVE
(V.O.)
He was found by an order of scholars just beyond the mountains.
FADE TO:
29.INT. TAVERN – DAY
We’re back in the tavern. Xena is listening attentively, while Gabrielle is half-lying atop the table, one fist supporting her head.
EVE
He left there after a couple seasons, apparently heading eastwards.
XENA
Why do you think he went there? Why not back to Palestine?
Eve shakes her head.
EVE
I think to try and find his family, if any of them were still alive. If any survived, they would have likely been sold into slavery in Persia.
Xena sits back to digest this, looking thoughtfully into the air as if planning something. Gabrielle by contrast is the picture of apathy.
GABRIELLE
(quietly, world weary)
What, another rescue mission? Wonderful.
Xena and Eve both overhear this. Xena opens her mouth to say something perhaps indelicate, but Eve catches her eye. She silently pleads with her mother to let her try first. Xena clenches her jaw and gives a small nod of agreement. She then stands and marches back to the barkeeper, who looks a bit nervous.
Eve leans closer to Gabrielle, who apparently has missed this entire exchange.
EVE
Gabrielle?
Gabrielle looks at her, total disinterest written across her face.
EVE
Are you ill or...?
Eve lets the question drift off as Gabrielle gives a short laugh.
GABRIELLE
Oh, fine. Never better.
Eve knows she’s lying and holds her eyes for several beats.
EVE
(quietly)
Tell me about the dreams.
Gabrielle recoils but stares and doesn’t say anything. Eve doesn’t turn away, but instead leans closer.
EVE
(intently)
Give me your hands.
GABRIELLE
Why?
EVE
Just... just give them to me.
GABRIELLE
No.
EVE
Gabrielle... please?
GABRIELLE
I said no. Why do you want them anyway?
Eve makes a grab for them and Gabrielle backs away.
EVE
It’s important...
GABRIELLE
No! What’s the point...?
Eve manages to grab both hands, Gabrielle too much on edge to comply. Suddenly there’s a burst of light and energy as the two are flung away from each other. Gabrielle lands atop another table and slumps to the floor in a heap, taking the table down with her. Eve’s landing is slightly softer, coming to rest atop a couple of drunk-looking patrons.
Xena sees this and rushes to Eve’s side, quickly giving her the once-over for any injuries.
XENA
Are you all right? What in Tartarus was that?
EVE
(coughing)
I... I don’t know... Gabrielle?
Both of them quickly rush to Gabrielle’s side. Xena ever so carefully rolls her over and cradles her head.
XENA
(deeply concerned)
Gabrielle?
Xena gives the body a gentle shake.
XENA
(bordering on hysteria)
Gabrielle? Wake up. Please!
Gabrielle gives a small cough. Xena and Eve both blow out a relieved breath... only to have it cut short when they see Gabrielle’s eyes open.
Her eyes now are aglow with pure, white light. Her smile is equally brilliant, and considerably less human.
GABRIELLE
(deep male voice)
Hello, Xena.
(turns to Eve)
And to you, Chosen One.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT II
ACT III
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