ACT THREE

FADE IN:

EXT. VILLAGE - DAY

Xena is walking down a dirt road, leading ARGO. She is unarmed, not wearing her normal leathers and armor, but is dressed in common clothing. Boots, trousers, shirt tucked in and held with a wide belt and a rough-hewn cloak. She looks tired, with black circles under her eyes.  It's quite apparent she hasn't been sleeping well, if at all. Argo tosses her head and nudges her mistress.

XENA

Easy, girl.
Not much farther now.
We'll be there soon.

Ephiny, Xena and Gabrielle step out of the mist right next to Gabrielle's childhood home.

They watch as the other Xena walks slowly up to the house.

Before she can even drop Argo's reins, HERODOTUS steps out on the porch with a makeshift pitchfork in his hands.

HERODOTUS

Get off my land, you murdering bitch!

Ignoring the outburst from the old man, Xena retrieves Gabrielle's scroll bag from behind Argo’s saddle. Turning slowly, she holds it out for him to see.

XENA

This was Gabrielle's. They're her scrolls.
I thought you might like to have them.

HERODOTUS

Isn't it enough that you got my little girl killed by
taking her into a war zone? Now you have to
torture us by coming back here. Didn't bringing
her body back to us satisfy your sadistic nature?
Her mother hasn't been well since the day we
buried her. You've managed to destroy my family.
Now I may die trying, but if you don't get
off my land, I swear I'll kill you myself!

Without breaking eye contact with the enraged man, Xena bends at the knees and places the bag on the ground. Then she stands and takes Argo, walking away from the house without another word.

The trio follows as she walks down a path to a simple tombstone in a small clearing. She lets the tears flow down her cheeks as she walks over and kneels down by the stone. She takes a few moments to clear some weeds away from the base.

XENA

Hiya, bard. Gods, I miss you so much.
Gabrielle, please forgive me.
I never should have taken you there.

Gabrielle can feel her Xena pull in a quick, deep breath. Turning to face her, she can see fear, pain and regret in her blue eyes.

GABRIELLE

Xena, Xena listen to me.
It didn't happen that way
You brought me back.
I'm right here.

Gabrielle wipes a tear from Xena's cheek and presses a kiss there.

She whispers on Xena's cheek.

GABRIELLE

(Cont’d)

I'm right here.

The other Xena is kneeling over the grave, seemingly lost in her grief as she rocks slowly back and forth.

XENA

Why is it that we never realize what love means
until it's too late? I know you can hear me.

She gives a sad smile, trying to make a joke.

XENA

(Cont’d)

And for once, you have to be quiet and listen to me.
I love you, Gabrielle. I'm not sure I can keep on the path
that I started with you, but I promised you that I wouldn't
become a monster. That's a promise I intend to keep.

(beat)

I put down my sword. I knew if I picked it back up,
there would be no turning back. You gave me so
much and I won't dishonor your memory by
becoming something that you'd hate.

She looks up into the sky to see a dove land in the tree above her. She can't help but smile as she continues to speak to the stone.

XENA

(Cont’d)

Actually, I think you'd be proud of me. I'm using my
skills as a healer. I travel around and do what I can
for people. Amazing, isn't it? From the
messenger of death to the bringer of mercy.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. AMPHIPOLIS – DAY

Xena rides up to her mother's tavern and dismounts, taking the time to stretch as she looks over the village. Most of the inhabitants aren't paying her a great deal of attention, more concerned with going on about their own business.

She removes her saddlebags, tossing them over her shoulder.  She slowly walks into the building.

CUT TO:

INT. INN - DAY

CYRENE is standing at a table, running a cloth over it as she cleans up from her last guest. She looks up and smiles when she sees Xena. She quickly moves to her and embraces her daughter.

CYRENE

Thank the Gods you’re here!

XENA

What's wrong?

CYRENE

It's Solan....

Gabrielle tightens her hold on Xena at the mention of her long dead son's name. She looks to Ephiny.

GABRIELLE

Solan is alive?

EPHINY

Yes. But....

Just watch.

Gabrielle looks over to see her Xena biting her lip and holding back tears.

GABRIELLE

(whispering)

I'm sorry.

XENA

It's behind us now, Gabrielle.
There's nothing to be sorry for.

The Xena of this place and time pulls back from Cyrene with a panicked expression on her face.

CYRENE

I tried to send word, but
no one could find you.

XENA

What is it? Where's Solan?

CYRENE

He's gone, Xena. He left about a month ago.
He was so upset that you brought him here and left him.

XENA

I explained that to him. It's too dangerous for him to
travel with me. There are still too many people out
there who would kill us both, given half a chance.

CYRENE

I know that. I tried to tell him that, but he wouldn't listen.
He just kept saying you really didn't want him. That first
you left him with the centaurs then you brought
him to me. He's positive that you don't love him.

XENA

That's ridiculous. The reason I did those things is
because I love him. You, Solan and Toris are the
only things left in my life that mean anything to me.

CYRENE

Xena, he's a headstrong young man.
He simply doesn't understand.

XENA

Where did he go?

CYRENE

I'm not sure, but I heard a rumor he had joined an army to the north of here. I sent Toris to look for him. I haven't heard from him for two weeks. Xena, you have to do something.

XENA

I will, don't worry.

Xena dashes from the inn and vaults onto Argo's back.  They leave the village at a gallop.

CUT TO:

EXT. CAMP - NIGHT

Xena stops just at the edge of a large army camp. She dismounts Argo and sends the horse off with a slap to the rump.

The trio watches intently. Xena's eyes go wide when she realizes what she is watching herself walk into.

XENA

(whispering)

Oh no.

GABRIELLE

What?

XENA

It's Callisto.

GABRIELLE

Callisto? But, Callisto's dead.

EPHINY

Not in this reality. In this time and place,
she is fast on her way to becoming the
worst threat that Greece, and possibly
the entire world have ever known.

The Xena they are watching moves slowly and carefully into the rear of the camp. She is still unarmed. Moving quietly, she unhooks her cloak from around her neck and holds it in her hands like a net.

Listening intently, she waits for just the right time. Then she tosses the cloak over a sentry, throws him to the ground and knocks him out with a fist to the jaw. Opening the cloak, she looks down at him and then to the sword on his side. After a very brief hesitation, she pulls it from the scabbard and turns back for the camp.

Hidden in the shadows, she stops next to a tent to try and count the soldiers in the camp.

XENA

(to herself)

Hundred to one seems fair enough.

Continuing quietly, she moves in between the tents totally undetected by the men in the camp.  This is partly due to the gambling that is going on and the ale that is flowing freely.

She spots what she knows must be Callisto's tent across the camp. She continues to move between the tents until there is no choice but for her to move out into the open. Stepping out of the shadows, she only manages one step before she hears SOLAN'S voice behind her.

This Solan is older than the boy that Xena and Gabrielle know. He is a sturdy young man, handsome, but with a disillusioned, almost cruel look on his face.

SOLAN

Well, it's about time you
came to visit, Mother.

Turning around, she is face to face with her son. Standing behind him is Callisto and five guards. Callisto gets a maniacal grin on her face as she steps forward, clapping her hands together in almost child like glee.

CALLISTO

Oh Xeeeenah, welcome. I've missed you.

XENA

I didn't come for you, Callisto.
I came for my son.

Callisto circles Xena slowly, continuing to give her the most ghoulish of grins.

CALLISTO

I heard about your little friend.
Such a shame. She was a cute one.

Xena is clearly getting angry at Callisto's taunts. She takes a step forward getting close to Callisto before hissing.

XENA

Don't you talk about her!
You have no right to talk about her.

CALLISTO

What's the matter, Xena? Aren't you interested in
facing the fact that you're responsible for another
innocent death?  I heard you took her into the middle
of the Thessalian/Mitoan war. Clever girl, you.
Let someone else do your killing for you.

XENA

ENOUGH! I'm here to get my son.

Callisto wanders back to Solan and slings her arm over his shoulder, giving him a very possessive rub on the chest.

CALLISTO

He has no interest in leaving with you. He has
come to a place were he is welcome and wanted.

(beat)

I won't dump him off somewhere
like yesterdays scraps.

XENA

(holding her hand out)

Come on, Solan.

SOLAN

I'm not going anywhere with you.

Slowly he draws a sword from a scabbard at his waist.

SOLAN

(Cont’d)

As a matter of fact, you're
not going anywhere either.

He raises his sword and waves the blade at Xena to do the same.

XENA

I won't fight you, Solan.

CALLISTO

See, Solan.  I told you. She cares more for the dead
than she does her own son. She won't break her
promise to sweet little, DEAD, Gabrielle.

Xena ignores Callisto's taunts, looking at her son.

XENA

I won't fight you, because I love you.

CALLISTO

(whispering to Solan)

She's lying to you. She'll take you back to
that hideous little village and then she'll
ride away again. Just. Like. Always.

There is a look of confusion on his face as he listens to Callisto, but continues to hold his mother's gaze. Suddenly all the resentment and anger he has felt towards his mother comes boiling to the top. He breaks away from Callisto and charges Xena with deadly intent.

Xena blocks his blow easily, then side steps to let him go sliding by. He turns and prepares to strike again.

SOLAN

I HATE YOU!

XENA

Solan, don't do this.
Don't become like me.

Callisto laughs again and waves her men off as they step forward to assist Solan.

CALLISTO

Let him do this himself. If he can't
fight her, he's of no use to us.

Everyone forms a circle and watches as Solan continues to provoke his mother.

SOLAN

Fight me, damn it!

XENA

(blocking another blow)

No!

Soon his anger erupts further and his blows start becoming harder and furious.

SOLAN

Then I'll kill you!

Ephiny notices as they watch, that Xena has turned away, and Gabrielle has tears streaming down her face. Gabrielle looks to their escort.

GABRIELLE

We don't need to see this.
We both know what she'll do.
Please, take us away from here.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. CAMP - NIGHT

The trio returns to the campsite. Xena sits down on a rock and rubs her eyes as Ephiny and Gabrielle watch.

EPHINY

(whispering to Gabrielle)

It didn't end the way you thought it would.

GABRIELLE

You mean, she didn't let him kill her?

Ephiny shakes her head and draws Gabrielle to the side.

EPHINY

They killed each other. Solan was so consumed
in his hatred of his mother for leaving him,
that he had already started down the
slippery slope. Xena knew that so....

GABRIELLE

She killed him to keep him
from becoming like her?

Ephiny only nods. Gabrielle turns and moves to Xena, kneeling by her. She rubs her back and forces her to look up.

GABRIELLE

(Cont’d)

It didn't happen that way. And while
what did happen was horrible,
we both know that he's happy.

XENA

I know. I mean when Solan died, I
couldn't imagine a worse end for him

(beat)

Until now.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR