XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS
SUBTEXT VIRTUAL SEASON 8

PRODUCTION #V814
Echoes (Season Finale)

VIRTUAL AIRDATE
April 16, 2003

WRITTEN BY
Melissa Good

PRODUCED BY
Carol Stephens

DIRECTED BY
Denise Byrd

SCREENGRABS
Judi Mair

ARTWORK
Lucia

TITLE GRAPHIC
MaryD

Xena: Warrior Princess is a trademark and copyright of Universal/StudiosUSA and Renaissance Pictures.  This is a fan based not-for-profit work of fiction and is not intended to infringe upon their rights.

TEASER

FADE IN:

EXT. VERY DUSTY ROAD - LATE AFTERNOON

It’s a dark, and threatening to be stormy night. Xena and Gabrielle are walking up yet another in a long series of uneven wagon tracks at the end of yet another in a long series of endless days. 

Xena kicks a rock ahead of her. Gabrielle is practicing juggling, using three small pinecones. Argo II ambles along behind them. 

GABRIELLE
Want to try making a tree house tonight?

Xena boots the rock further head. 

XENA
Tree house? 

GABRIELLE
Yeah, you know, like we saw those monkeys do that one time. Just something different for a change. 

XENA
Are you saying my campfires are boring?

Gabrielle juggles in silence.

XENA 
(Cont’d)
Gabrielle?

Gabrielle tosses Xena a pinecone. Xena catches it, then tosses it back. They start juggling between them. 

GABRIELLE
You're the one who's always saying you need variety.

Xena collects all three pinecones. She tosses them over her head into the forest, and joins Gabrielle in the center of the road. 

XENA
How about we play monkey some other day? There's a seaside town just up this road. 

She pauses and looks up.

XENA
(Cont’d)
With those clouds, I'd rather be under a roof. 

Gabrielle perks up. 

GABRIELLE
Yeah. I'd really like something softer than... um....

Xena drapes her arm over Gabrielle's shoulders. 

XENA
Than?

Gabrielle pats various parts of Xena's anatomy, then she starts whistling. 

GABRIELLE
Hey, you threw away my pinecones. 

XENA
Thought you were done with ‘em. 

Gabrielle frowns

GABRIELLE
Hey, I'm getting the hang of that. I think spending time in your body rubbed off on me. 

XENA
Hmm. Still can't smell the water, huh?

Gabrielle makes a face. 

GABRIELLE
That part of being in your body I don't miss. 

XENA
(mock insulted)
Ah hah. Any part you do miss? 

Gabrielle looks at Xena, and then smirks. 

CUT TO:

EXT. SLEEPY NONDESCRIPT SEASIDE TOWN - SUNDOWN

The sky is now filling with storm clouds, almost obscuring the sunset. However, it makes for a beautiful show over the water. Gabrielle watches it as they walk towards the entrance to the town.

GABRIELLE
Isn't it beautiful?

XENA
Not to a sailor. 

Gabrielle pauses. Xena comes to stand next to her. The wind rises, and blows their hair back as they watch the sun turn the waves crimson. 

GABRIELLE
Then I'm glad I'm not a sailor. 

Xena clasps Gabrielle's shoulder. They turn and walk through the town gates. The place seems mostly deserted. A chicken runs across the road in front of them, and several seagulls wheel overhead. 

XENA
Quiet. 

GABRIELLE
Yeah. 

There are small huts scattered throughout the village. Fishing nets hang to dry in front of many of them, but others seem empty and deserted. An empty market faces the waterfront, with only a couple of boxes and a sheaf of forgotten straw inside it. 

Argo II's hooves sound very loud on the dirt road. 

Near the end of the town, a small building stands, single story, but with several rooms stuck off at odd angles in different directions. A door opens in the front and a man hurries out, spotting them and rushing forward.

XENA
Wonder if that's a good sign?

GABRIELLE
Guess we'll find out. 

The man reaches them.

MAN
Welcome travelers! Welcome!

GABRIELLE
(aside)
So far so good.

XENA
Thanks. We're looking for a place to stay for....

MAN
A room? A room for the night? Oh, yes! Yes, we have one! We have several.... We have big ones, and a small one. Won't you come with me - I'm sure we can make you very, very comfortable!

Xena and Gabrielle exchange glances. 

GABRIELLE
Sure. That sounds great. Thanks!

The man leads them towards the single story building, turning to watch them follow every few steps, his expression almost anxious. 

CUT TO:

INT. TOWN INN - EVENING

Thunder rumbles overhead, shaking the walls a little. Xena and Gabrielle relax at a table, the only table occupied in the entire inn. They have the place to themselves. 

GABRIELLE
It's... um....

XENA
Quiet. 

GABRIELLE
Yeah.

XENA
I like it. 

Xena takes a drink from her mug.  The innkeeper enters and hurries over. 

INNKEEPER
Well, well, everything all right?

GABRIELLE
Just fine. Did you say something about a room?

INNKEEPER
Yes! Oh, yes. I have a wonderful, a beautiful room for you. 
(pausing)
And.... And....

XENA
Yes?

The innkeeper looks a little nervous as he listens to the rain. 

INNKEEPER
Since you’re my first customers tonight, I've got a special deal for you. 

Xena peers at the empty room, then looks at the innkeeper skeptically. 

XENA
First customers? Only customers, I'd bet. 

GABRIELLE
Shh, Xena.
(to innkeeper)
What's the deal?

INNKEEPER
Our famous thermal mud bath! I'll throw it in for free!

Xena and Gabrielle look at each other. 

GABRIELLE
Mud bath? 

XENA
You charge for a mud bath? I can go outside and have a dozen of em, for nothing. 

The innkeeper laughs nervously.

INNKEEPER
No no.... This is special mud. It's great for your complexion! 

He looks from Gabrielle to Xena.

INNKEEPER
(Cont’d)
Enhances your beauty? C'mon. It's great stuff!

Xena scratches her jaw line. 

GABRIELLE
(peering at Xena)
Do you have a complexion?

Xena's eyebrows hike upward. 

XENA
What the Hades. I'll try anything.

She glances at a smirking Gabrielle.

XENA
(Cont’d)
Almost. 

INNKEEPER
I'll get everything ready! You won't regret this!

The innkeeper leaves.  Xena and Gabrielle finish off the light meal on the table before them. The quietness of the room is almost oppressive.  Only the patter of rain interrupts it.

GABRIELLE
Does this place seem a little creepy to you?

Xena shrugs. 

XENA
What's creepy for us?

Gabrielle bites into an apple thoughtfully. 

GABRIELLE
Hmph. 

She offers the apple to Xena.

GABRIELLE
(Cont’d)
Wffnt smef?

Xena leans over and takes a bite. 

CUT TO:

INT. INN ROOM - NIGHT

Thunder now really shakes the building. The candles quiver. Shutters slap against the walls. 

The room is large, relatively plain, and has a huge tub in the center of it. Inside the tub Xena is seated, buried up to her neck in mud. The expression on her face speaks volumes. 

Gabrielle enters. She circles the tub twice, then leans on it. 

GABRIELLE
You know, Xena....

XENA
Don't say it. Don't think it. Or else. 

Gabrielle scoops a finger full of the mud and examines it. 

GABRIELLE
It's not really even muddy. It's more like....

XENA
Pudding. 

GABRIELLE
Yeah. 

XENA
That's it. I'm outta here. 

Xena gets out of the tub. She is covered from head to foot in the gelatinous gook. She steps out of the mud creating a sucking sound and shakes her foot loose of several globs. 

XENA 
(Cont’d)
Great. Just great.

Gabrielle is trying to stifle laughter. Xena wipes the back of her hand across her face, getting mud on her lips. 

XENA 
(Cont’d)
Pah… ugh.... eh? 

Xena licks her lips. Her expression alters. Gabrielle approaches her curiously. 

GABRIELLE
What?

XENA
Mm. That's not bad.  

Gabrielle dabs a bit of mud from Xena's skin and sniffs it. Cautiously, she tastes it. Intrigued, she nudges Xena towards the bed. 

GABRIELLE
It's all over you.

XENA
Yeah. I'll have to go out in the rain to get it off. 

Gabrielle starts to grin. 

GABRIELLE
It's.... Sweet. 
(pausing)
I think I like it. 

Slowly, Gabrielle pushes Xena down on the bed, then climbs up and straddles Xena as she lays flat on her back. 

XENA
What are you doing?

Gabrielle sheds her sleeping shirt and wiggles her fingers, a diabolical grin on her face.

GABRIELLE
Having dessert. 

The storm intensifies outside. Far off, the sound of a sea bell is heard, but its tone is nearly washed away by a peal of thunder.  Xena reaches over and snuffs the candle, grinning as Gabrielle leans over her. 

In the darkness, the bell sounds again. 

FADE OUT.
END OF TEASER

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

INT. INN ROOM - A SHORT TIME LATER - NIGHT

The sound of the sea bell is now much louder, and the sound of the storm is also much louder. 

Xena and Gabrielle ignore it. 

It is dark in the room. As the bell continues to ring, it is joined by a much closer bell, one obviously in the town sounding an alarm. 

XENA
(sighing)
Y'know....

GABRIELLE
(muttering)
We could just pretend we don't hear it. 

There is the sound of rustling, squeaking, and a vague sucking sound ending in a pop. The shutters to the room are thrown open, and a flare of lightning reveals Xena standing in the window, leaning out. 

She is naked. 

XENA
Some kind of trouble. The whole damn town's out there. 

Gabrielle joins Xena at the window. She is also naked. 

GABRIELLE
I don't see any flooding. What's the problem?

Xena looks at Gabrielle. 

XENA
Guess we're gonna go find out, huh?

Gabrielle gives a heartfelt sigh. 

XENA 
(Cont’d)
Sooner we find out, sooner it gets fixed, sooner we come back here. 

GABRIELLE
Yeah, but in this weather....

XENA
We'll take another mud bath. 

Xena slams the shutters.

GABRIELLE (V.O.)
Remind me to get that mud recipe.

CUT TO:

EXT. TOWN SQUARE - NIGHT - MINUTES LATER - NIGHT

The townsfolk are gathered around the town bell. They are obviously upset. Xena and Gabrielle join them on the fringe of the crowd. 

INNKEEPER
My friends, my friends.... You heard the alarm out there. We must go!

The people around him are clearly unwilling. 

MAN
The sea's too high!

INNKEEPER
We must! We cannot ignore the bell!

Xena pushes forward through the crowd and ends up in the middle of it, with Gabrielle at her heels. 

XENA
What's going on here?

The crowd quiets, staring at them.

MAN
A stranger! Where did you come from? Gaddus, you hid....

The innkeeper shoves the man.

INNKEEPER
Ah.... Ah, yes, yes, they arrived just at sundown. Guests! Guests of mine. At the inn. 

Gabrielle frowns at the man's nervous speech. 

GABRIELLE
But what's going on? What's that bell we keep hearing?

The crowd closes in on them. Xena and Gabrielle turn and go back to back, sensing something is wrong.  Xena puts a hand on her sword hilt.

MAN
The bell? The bell. 
(laughing)
The bell is our bane. It means a ship is lost at sea. 

GABRIELLE
That's terrible.

WOMAN
You know not what you say. 

Gabrielle looks at the woman.

GABRIELLE
What?

INNKEEPER
(resignedly)
You see, it is our duty... our... destiny to respond to any ship that sounds its bell at sea. We must. 

XENA
Very nice of you. So what's the problem?

INNKEEPER
Ah... all our fishing fleet is out to... ah... to see, you see, and so we have one boat here, you see, to go to sea in, but none of us....

The crowd mutters.

XENA
Knows how to sail. 

MAN
Exactly. 
(pausing)
But I bet you know how to, don't you? You seem like the kind that would. 

Xena's eyebrows lift.  The storm intensifies. In the crashing of the waves nearby, they can hear the ship's bell again, this time it has an almost desperate sound to it. 

XENA
Maybe. How do you know the boat's in trouble?

GABRIELLE
Xena....

INNKEEPER
You can surely hear the bell yourself. No ship would ring it unless they were near to sinking. 

They hear the bell again. The crowd is getting restless, and even more fearful. 

GABRIELLE
Where's the boat? Xena can sail anything. 

Xena looks at Gabrielle, then rolls her eyes. 

XENA
Sure I can. All right, we'll help. 

The crowd seems utterly relieved. It is a strange reaction, and Gabrielle looks at them closely. The nearest men and women seem to sense this, and move away. 

MAN
This way. Hurry. 
(pointing)
Hurry. 

They move towards the docks. The crowd follows. 

CUT TO:

EXT TOWN DOCKS - NIGHT

Xena and Gabrielle are on the deck of a sturdy ship, with two big sails and coils of rope piled on the deck. 

XENA
Looks like it'll stand up....

The men on shore cut them loose, and push the boat away from the docks. It starts to drift out to sea.

XENA 
(Cont’d)
Hey!

INNKEEPER
The bell! Listen!

The rain starts to pour down harder. Xena struggles to get the sail raised. Gabrielle helps her haul it up, and tie it off. The ship starts to move out away from the land. 

XENA
Y'know, Gabrielle....

Gabrielle has been tying off all the rope ends she can find, and now joins Xena near the front of the boat. They shade their eyes from the storm.

GABRIELLE
There was something just not right back there, right?

XENA
Right.

GABRIELLE
Maybe they're all just scared.

She holds her stomach as the boat rocks in the storm.

GABRIELLE
(Cont’d)
Or maybe they're just all like me. 

Xena has hold of the wheel. She steers into the wind. 

XENA
Nah. 

The boat heels over to one side. Xena grabs Gabrielle just as she's about to fly overboard, and pulls her close.

XENA 
(Cont’d)
You're one of kind. 

Gabrielle grabs the wheel to keep herself steady. She peers into the rain. 

GABRIELLE
Xena, how are we supposed to find this ship when we can't even see the front of our own boat?

The boat pitches up and down, even more violently.

XENA
You better go below. This is gonna get ugly. 

Gabrielle takes a firmer hold of the wheel. 

GABRIELLE
It's this, or tossing my cookies. I'll take this. Want to go up front?

Xena leaves the wheel in Gabrielle's hands and fights her way forward, disappearing into the thick rain and night. 

GABRIELLE 
(Cont’d)
(under her breath)
Greater good, Gabrielle. Greater good. 

CUT TO:

EXT.SHIP - NIGHT - FORWARD

Xena stands on the bow, holding tight to the ship's railing. She leans forward, seeing something in the storm. 

XENA
(yelling)
Over there! Steer to starboard!

CUT TO:

EXT. SHIP - NIGHT - WHEEL

GABRIELLE
Starboard? Where the Hades does she see stars? 
(yelling)
Xena! Left or right?!?

CUT TO:

EXT. SHIP - NIGHT - FORWARD

Xena hears the bell, louder now. 

XENA
Right!

CUT TO:

EXT. SHIP - NIGHT - WHEEL

Gabrielle turns the wheel, ducking as the sail boom comes over her head. Xena slips under the boom at the very last second and rejoins her. 

XENA
Saw a lantern. Over there.
(pointing)
Must be the ship. 

Gabrielle strains to look through the rain. She shakes her head after a moment.

GABRIELLE
If you say so. Here. You take this. I'll see what we can use to help them out. 

Xena takes the wheel. Gabrielle starts to search around the ship, holding on as the storm pitches them up and down. The rain washes across the deck, and the thunder sounds almost continuously. 
Lightning flares. 

XENA
There! Look!

Gabrielle lifts a coil of rope, then stares not at what Xena has found, but at her feet. 

GABRIELLE
Xena!

XENA
There it is! Gabrielle!

Gabrielle turns and is thrown across the deck, colliding with Xena. Another lightning flash lights up the sea, revealing a huge ship directly in front of them, with tattered sails. 

GABRIELLE
Xena, the ship has a leak!

XENA
That one? Sure it does!

GABRIELLE
THIS one!
(pointing)
And there's nothing here but some old rope!

Xena starts to go look, then suddenly the ship pitches up, and wheels directly for the bigger vessel, the sails shredding in the fierce wind that has suddenly risen.

XENA
Hang on! Gabrielle! Gabrielle!!!!!

Gabrielle grabs hold of the wheel, and Xena's arm, just as the sea lifts the bigger boat up on a giant wave and sends it crashing down on top of them.

GABRIELLE
Xena!!!!!!!!!

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

EXT. OVERTURNED SHIP - NIGHT

The storm pushes the overturned ship around as the larger ship smashes into it.  The seas are high, and Xena and Gabrielle are nowhere to be seen. 

Lightning flashes. 

Xena suddenly bursts from the water, hurling herself up onto the overturned hull of their boat. She turns immediately and scrambles around, searching the water anxiously.

XENA
Gabrielle!!! 

All Xena can see is waves. She scrambles to the other side of the boat, balancing precariously on the pitching wood. 

XENA 
(Cont’d)
GABRIELLE!!!!!

Lightning flares again, outlining Xena's face. Her eyes are wide and she is breathing very hard. 

XENA 
(Cont’d)
Nooo!!!!!

Something breaks the surface. It is a hand. Unhesitatingly, Xena dives back into the water. The waves pick her up and toss her against the boat, but she grabs the hand and hauls Gabrielle up out of the water.  Gabrielle comes up coughing. 

GABRIELLE
Guah! 

Gabrielle coughs up a lungful of water. 

Xena grabs hold of the overturned boat, and starts to drag them both up onto it. The waves nearly overturn them again. 

XENA
Hang on!

Gabrielle puts her arms around Xena in a death grip. 

GABRIELLE
Don't you worry about that!

Xena gets a grip on a broken piece of wood just as the boat pitches and rolls, bringing both of them up out of the water and onto the bottom of the overturned craft. 

XENA
You all right?

Gabrielle coughs up another lungful of water. 

GABRIELLE
Peachy. You?

Xena display a long, bleeding gash and a splinter in one arm. 

XENA
Fabulous. 

Xena and Gabrielle roll over and separate, catching their breaths as the waves slow down briefly.  Gabrielle gets up on her hands and knees and crawls over to Xena. She is dragging a bit of rope. 

GABRIELLE
Here.

Gabrielle throws the rope over Xena.

GABRIELLE 
(Cont’d)
Only useful thing I found on that tub. Darned if I was going to lose it. 

Xena sits up and starts to coil the rope, as the storm intensifies again. In a blast of lightning, the seas seem to swell up around them like hills, the waves picking them up, then dropping them down. 

Xena looks up in time to see the larger ship being caught on the next wave, its bulk cresting the top of the wave and then starting to slide downwards. 

XENA
We may.... Look out!

The bigger boat descends on them again, almost as though it is trying to crush them. Xena grabs Gabrielle and they scramble to their feet. 

The overturned bottom they are standing on starts to roll, and they have to scramble rapidly to keep from falling off.  

GABRIELLE
Aughh!!! Look out!

Xena sees the front spar of the ship heading right for her. She quickly ties a loop in the rope and tosses it as the two hulls collide again, and the one they are standing on splits and starts to sink. 

Gabrielle jumps into Xena's arms as the boat disappears beneath the waves, and they swing towards the bigger ship. The rain makes it almost impossible to see. 

XENA
When it goes up, throw your weight that way!

GABRIELLE
Sure! Like I have a choice!!!

The waves roll, the ship pitches, and Xena and Gabrielle swing themselves up and over the gunwale, landing on the deck of the ship with a crash. 

The rain sweeps over them in a wave, and thunder rolls over them as though the sky was laughing. 

Xena picks her head up and stares at the clouds. 

CUT TO:

EXT. OLD SHIP - DECK - NIGHT

The rain has slackened a bit. Xena and Gabrielle are sitting on the deck, taking stock of themselves and their new surroundings. 

Gabrielle sits against a wooden panel. She has lost a boot, but somehow retained both of her sais. One is sticking in the deck. The other is in its sheath on her remaining boot. 

Xena is rubbing the salt out of her eyes. She glances at the gash in her arm and holds it in the rain to wash the blood off. 

GABRIELLE
Whew. 
(looking around)
Glad this one's in better shape than ours was. 

Xena has also been looking around. 

XENA
(grimly)
Except for one major problem. 

GABRIELLE
What?

Xena gets up and pulls her way along the deck hand over hand.

XENA
There's no one on it. See what you can find up here. I'm gonna go check the aft out. 

Gabrielle wipes drenched hair out of her eyes and peers around in the misty air. The deck appears deserted and worn. There is no sign of any human activity. 

GABRIELLE
Great. 

Gabrielle gets up and starts to investigate the front of the ship.  She finds an iron bracket on the point of the bow, long broken off and corroded with salt. She touches it with a thoughtful expression. 

GABRIELLE 
(Cont’d)
Nothing's hung on that in a while, that's for sure. 

Gabrielle continues to search. She finds a huge, iron hook lashed to the deck. Its point seems to be covered in some corroded substance. Gabrielle puts her hand on it, then gasps and draws it back. 

Her hand is bleeding slightly.  She looks closely and finds jagged spurs all along its surface. 

GABRIELLE 
(Cont’d)
Yow. What kind of fish is that for, I wonder?

Sucking her finger, Gabrielle continues along the railing. 

CROSS TO:

EXT. OLD SHIP DECK - AFT - NIGHT

Xena reaches the back of the ship. She examines the wheel, which seems to be lashed in place. 

XENA
Got your course locked down, eh? What's that all about?

Xena searches the spaces at the rear. She finds a cabinet whose top seems to be fastened shut.  She draws her sword, and puts her hand on it, shoving up with sudden force and preparing to attack whatever emerges. 

Nothing emerges. Looking around with slight embarrassment, Xena sheaths her sword and looks inside. 

She reaches inside, and pulls out some netting, knotted rope that is full of stretched holes.  Xena throws it back and closes the top of the cabinet. 

XENA 
(Cont’d)
Fishing net on a ship with no fishermen.

The storm continues, lightning and thunder lighting up the sky overhead.  Xena searches the mast, looking all around it and down the boom. 

Gabrielle fights her way through the rain to Xena's side. 

GABRIELLE
Xena... I can't find any bell. 

Xena gives the ship a disgusted look.

XENA
Or a lantern. Or a captain, for that matter. 

GABRIELLE
This isn't the right ship, is it?

Xena looks around at the deserted deck. She puts her hands on her hips, moving with the ship and keeping her balance, while Gabrielle hangs from the wheel to keep from flying overboard. 

XENA
That bell was coming from here. I'm sure of it. 

Gabrielle sits down, holding tight as the ship pitches in the waves. 

GABRIELLE
Okay. You find the bell. While you're at it, see if you can find the guy ringing it. Maybe he can tell us what's going on. 

Xena puts her hands on the wheel, and then she looks up towards the sails. They are tattered, and one is hanging halfway down the mast. 

XENA
At least this one's not sinking. Gonna have to lash that sail down if we're gonna use it. 

Gabrielle is leaning back against the wheel housing now. 

GABRIELLE
Do we have a choice?

XENA
No. Not unless you want to swim. 

GABRIELLE
Been there, done that, have the wrinkles to prove it.

She holds up her hands.

GABRIELLE
(Cont’d)
We can't keep looking in this storm, Xena. We should just go back into port. 

Xena goes to the side of the ship and peers out into the storm. It is solid, inky black. 

GABRIELLE 
(Cont’d)
You do know which way the port is, right?

Xena looks up at the sky, completely covered in clouds. 

GABRIELLE 
(Cont’d)
Xena?

Xena turns around and looks at Gabrielle. Gabrielle groans, and bangs her head against the ship's wheel.  Xena comes over and crouches next to her, shielding her face from the rain with one arm. 

XENA
C'mon, it's not that bad. 

Gabrielle looks at Xena. She is visibly green. 

GABRIELLE
Want me to make it that bad?

Xena puts the pinch on Gabrielle's wrists. 

XENA
If I can get the sails fixed, I think I can find my way back into the harbor.

Gabrielle releases the wheel and takes hold of Xena's arm, working the splinter out of it with her fingers. 

GABRIELLE
And if you can't?

She looks at the splinter.

GABRIELLE
(Cont’d)
 Ugh. That's nasty. 

XENA
Thanks. 
(grinning)
We'll end up somewhere. Eventually. Storm can't last forever. 

Gabrielle manages a smile in return. She folds her hand around Xena's hand and draws it up to her lips, kissing the back of it. 

GABRIELLE
Long as we end up there together, that'll work for me. 

Xena leans over and gives Gabrielle a quick hug. 

GABRIELLE 
(Cont’d)
How do we end up in these messes all the time? Is it just our dumb luck? 

Xena looks around at the storm, the mysterious ship, and the two of them sitting on the deck. She lifts both hands in a shrug. 

XENA
I'd say the Fates, but....

GABRIELLE
Yeah. We need to find a new excuse, don't we? 

Xena ruffles Gabrielle's hair. 

XENA
(warmly)
Something like that. Listen, stay here. I'm going to go look down that hatch over there. Maybe there's something I can use in the hold. 

GABRIELLE
Watch out. I found a hook up there that bites. 

Gabrielle holds her hand up for Xena to see. 

XENA
Watch for hooks. Gotcha. 

Xena gets up and starts to walk towards the hatch in the center of the deck. 

GABRIELLE
Xena! You're not leaving me in charge of this thing, are you? You know what kind of luck I have with boats. 

Xena turns, holding on to the mast as the ship rolls from side to side, and the rain comes down harder for a brief moment.

XENA
If you think something's wrong, just yell. 

GABRIELLE
(worriedly)
Xena, wait....

Xena goes to the hatch and grabs hold of the ring set into it. She hauls the hatch open and lays the cover back onto the deck. 

XENA
Be right back. I'm sure there isn't much to see. 

The hatch opening is a thick, black hole. Xena can make nothing out inside of it. She sees a step at the top, and she starts down. 

XENA 
(Cont’d)
Not that I can... ah!!

Gabrielle gets up, rubbing her eyes as it appears that a dark cloud is emerging from the hatch and surrounding Xena.

GABRIELLE
Hey! Wait!

The stairs under Xena's feet disappear as she starts to turn, hearing Gabrielle's yell. She drops into the darkness. 

GABRIELLE 
(Cont’d)
Xena!!!!

Gabrielle bolts for the opening. The ship rolls to one side, and the hatch lifts up from the deck and flies shut, slamming into place just as Gabrielle reaches it. 

Gabrielle grabs the ring and hauls at it with all her strength. 

GABRIELLE 
(Cont’d)
(yelling loudly)
SOMETHING'S WRONG!!!!!!

The ring comes off in Gabrielle's hand, and she goes flying backwards, rolling out of sight as a wave of water washes over the deck and drenches her.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

INT. SHIP’S HOLD - NIGHT - SAME TIME

Xena falls through the darkness and lands at the bottom of the hold with a thump. The hatch is now high above her. A spattering of raindrops falls down from the wood and splatter over Xena's face. 

XENA
Agh!

She gets up muttering.

XENA
(Cont’d)
Son of a b....

Xena looks around, feeling her way through the dark hold. A tiny amount of light comes in from slats in the hatch cover, enough for Xena to make out vague details.  

There is not much to be seen. 

Xena goes over to where she'd thought she'd seen stairs and finds nothing. The surface she had been standing on is gone. 

XENA 
(Cont’d)
What in Hades is going on? 

She tips her head back and yells.

XENA
(Cont’d)
Gabrielle!

There is no answer. Xena turns in a slow circle, listening. It is very quiet in the hold, save for the creak of timbers as the ship moves. 

XENA 
(Cont’d)
Gabrielle!!!!! 

There is no answer.  Xena is concerned. She starts feeling her way around the hold, searching for something to climb on to reach the hatch.  As she puts her hand on the far wall, something touches her. 

XENA 
(Cont’d)
Hey!

Xena turns and feels around her, but there is nothing there. She puts her back against the wall, staring around her into the darkness. 

CUT TO:

EXT. SHIP DECK - NIGHT - SAME TIME

Gabrielle has a piece of broken timber in her hands, and she is trying to pry open the hatch.  The wood breaks off under her weight, and she sprawls forward over it. Disgusted and angry, she throws the broken wood from her. It hits the railing, and falls overboard to the sound of a huge clap of thunder. 

GABRIELLE
Damn it!

Gabrielle tries to peer through the slats, but can see nothing inside. She pulls against the wood with little effect, the slats are not quite big enough for her to get her hands into and get a good grip on. 

GABRIELLE 
(Cont’d)
Xena!!

There is no answer, even though she presses her ear to the wood to listen.  Gabrielle gets up and looks around, then starts forward, pulling herself along the railing as the ship pitches up and down. 

GABRIELLE 
(Cont’d)
Ships. I hate ships. Next time, Xena, someone else can go be the hero and you and I are gonna stay on dry land and cheer. 

Gabrielle comes even with the mast, and stops, as she sees a shadowy figure standing next to it.

GABRIELLE
(Cont’d)
Hey! Hello! Hello? Who's there?

The figure doesn't answer. It merely stands there, staring at Gabrielle. 

GABRIELLE 
(Cont’d)
Who are you?

The ship pitches to one side and Gabrielle is thrown against the railing. When she catches her balance and looks back, the spot where the shadow was is now empty.

GABRIELLE 
(Cont’d)
Oh!

As Gabrielle watches, the shadow slowly forms again, beckoning to her. 

CUT TO:

INT. SHIP’S HOLD - NIGHT - SAME TIME 

Xena edges slowly around the hold, feeling around her for something to use to get out. She finds an oar, lifts it, but it is far too short. She tosses the oar away. 

The oar clatters to a halt. Xena walks past it, then whirls as the oar jumps towards her as the ship pitches violently. She evades the oar, but stumbles against something large. 

Xena catches her balance, and feels around for what she has hit, but it is gone. 

XENA
Who's there?

Xena remains still, only her eyes sweeping the hold. A shadow seems to cross in front of her. She puts a hand out to catch it, but there is nothing there. 

XENA 
(Cont’d)
I'm running out of patience, whoever you are. 

Xena starts to feel around for something she can use as a weapon. She finds the oar again and hefts it. A shadow brushes against her back and she turns, sweeping the oar out but it hits nothing, and just comes back to her side. 

Xena's eyes narrow. 

A whisper is heard.

VOICE
(muttering unintelligibly)
Ahhhh....

Xena turns slowly, trying to locate the sound. 

XENA
I hear you. 

A shadow moves on the other side of the hold. Xena sees it, but she cannot make out any features.  The shadow comes closer. 

VOICE
Xeeeennnaaa....

Xena goes very still.  Her face is frozen in shock. 

XENA
S... Solon?

CUT TO:

EXT. SHIP DECK - NIGHT - CONCURRENT

Gabrielle pushes off from the railing and lunges at the mast. When she gets there, the shadow is gone. She swings around the mast to the other side, and comes face to face with the shadow. 

The shadow raise its hand, and extends it to her. Gabrielle hesitates, then starts to respond and take it. 

Lightning flares, and she finds herself looking at a dark reflection of a person she once had been. The figure has long, fair hair and is wearing her old Amazon outfit, but it is ripped and tattered, and the face of the figure is warped and sneering. 

Gabrielle is stunned almost past speech. She lets her hand drop to her side. 

GABRIELLE
You. 

The figure steps forward towards her. 

HOPE
Hello, mommy. So nice to see you again. 

CUT TO:

INT. SHIP’S HOLD - CONTINUOUS

Xena slowly moves towards the shadow. Light comes in from the hatch planks and paints stripes across its face. It is Solon, but his eyes are hollow, and he is dressed in rags. 

Xena is shocked. 

XENA
Solon.... What are you doing here?

Solon faces her and comes forward. 

SOLON
What am I doing here? Where else should I be? Did you really think I'd be sitting peacefully in the Elysian Fields?

Xena takes a hesitant step forward.  She is unsure of how to react. Her hand lifts to reach out to Solon, and then drops. 

XENA
But you were in the Fields. I saw you. 

Solon laughs. It is not a pleasant sound.  He moves closer to Xena. 

SOLON
I was. Until you betrayed me. 

XENA
Betrayed you? Solon, I never....

SOLON
You did. 

Off in the darkness around them, a slow whispering rises. The words are not distinguishable, but it sounds like insects crawling.  Xena hears it. Her hands clench and relax. 

Solon closes in on her. 

XENA
But I didn't. 

SOLON
Didn't you? She caused my death, and you love her. How could you do that, mother?

Xena stares at him.

XENA
What are you talking about? Hope? I never loved her! The gods know I almost....

Solon holds his hands up. Xena stops speaking. 

SOLON
Gabrielle. 

Solon gets closer. He puts a hand out and touches Xena's arm.

XENA
Gabrielle? She didn't....

SOLON
She did. You know it, mother. She lied to you.... She betrayed you....And I died because of it. 
(softly)
How could you?

XENA
No….

Solon strokes Xena's forearm, then closes his fingers around it. 

SOLON
Why, mother? How could you destroy my memory like that?

Xena backs away.

XENA
But in the dream world, you said....

SOLON
That was then. 
(pausing)
I've seen so much more of death now. I know better. 

Solon approaches Xena again, stalking her. 

CUT TO:

EXT. SHIP DECK - CONTINUOUS

Gabrielle has her back against the mast. She is watching Hope warily as Hope circles her. 

HOPE
You sure have changed. Gave up that pathetic give peace a chance stuff, huh?

Gabrielle's hand flexes as though she wants to grab her sai.

GABRIELLE
So have you. Guess Dahok took away your cushy palace, didn't he?

Hope's eyes narrow, but she continues circling Gabrielle.
HOPE
No one ever said the dark side was easy. But you could have changed that. 

GABRIELLE
We both know that's not true.

Hope stops, and approaches. She stares Gabrielle right in the eye.  

HOPE
You only wish it wasn't.
(pointing)
You could have changed me. You could have made a difference. You know it in that twisted heart of yours. 

GABRIELLE
No. 

HOPE
But you always had to pick Xena, didn't you? Never me. 

Gabrielle moves away from the mast. She now circles Hope, but carefully keeps her distance. The storm clouds are still rolling overhead, but it has stopped raining on the ship, though rain falls into the ocean all around her. 

GABRIELLE
Well....

HOPE
Well, mommy?

Hope stands still, only her head turning as she watches Gabrielle circle her. Her expression is mocking. 

GABRIELLE
I gave you your best chance, Hope. 

Hope laughs.

GABRIELLE 
(Cont’d)
Twice. It was you who chose Dahok over me. You who chose hatred over love. Your choice, Hope. Not mine.  We're even.
HOPE
You like to tell yourself that, don't you?

Hope closes in on Gabrielle, and forced her backwards.

HOPE 
(Cont’d)
I was a baby when you threw me in that basket.... Dahok found me. What was I supposed to choose, mommy? Hmm? You could have taken me away and raised me, and it would have been different!

GABRIELLE
No!

HOPE
Yes! But no. You had to stay with Xena. 

Gabrielle takes another step back, and finds herself against the mast. 

HOPE 
(Cont’d)
It was always Xena first. 
(beat)Before everyone else. 

Shadows start to form in back of Hope. Gabrielle presses against the mast.

HOPE 
(Cont’d)
Before us all. 

CUT TO:

INT. SHIP’S HOLD - CONTINUOUS

Xena steps backward away from Solon. Her gestures are hesitant, and she is visibly unsure. 

XENA
It's.... Not like that, Solon. 

Solon follows her, his appearance increasingly gaunt. Behind him, more shadows start to form, becoming visible as pinpoints of light where their eyes are. All are staring at Xena. 

XENA 
(Cont’d)
Listen to me....

The whispering gets louder, drowning her out.  

SOLON
It is like that, mother. Why must you lie? 

SHADOW
She always lies. She always has. 

Xena stares past Solon's form into the darkness. Her eyes widen in horror. 

XENA
Mother?

Cyrene forms from one of the shadows. Death has not been kind to her. She appears the way she must have died, in the fire. It is hideous. 

CYRENE
She never loved us. Any of us. It was always what she wanted that mattered. 

Xena puts her back against the hold wall. The oar lies forgotten at her side. Her eyes are wide and staring. 

CYRENE 
(Cont’d)
At least your death was fast, Solon.
 
Cyrene glares at Xena.

CYRENE
(Cont’d)
Unlike mine. 

XENA
Mother, wait. 

The shadows start to close in on Xena. 

CYRENE
I'm done waiting. I've burned for far too long because of you. 

XENA
No. Stay back. 

Xena picks up the oar, and holds it in front of her. 

CUT TO:

EXT. SHIP DECK - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

Gabrielle pushes away from the mast and tries to go past Hope. But the rest of the shadows rise up and pin her in, and she retreats again. 

GABRIELLE
Hope, don't try the innocent act with me. I gave you everything I had. 

HOPE
You gave me a blanket and a stupid wooden sheep. 

Hope grabs Gabrielle's arm and shoves her back against the mast. 

HOPE 
(Cont’d)
And you took back the blanket. Burned the little last piece of it too, didn't you? Figured that would ease your conscience so you could sleep with Xena and not dream about it?

Gabrielle shakes herself loose from Hope. 

GABRIELLE
Get away from me.

HOPE
The truth sucks, huh mommy? But then you always did leave everyone in the lurch for her. 

The shadows whisper. 

SHADOW
Left us without a thought. Left us to die. 

Gabrielle's eyes widen.  She backs away from the voice. Out of the shadows, her parents appear. 

SHADOW 
(Cont’d)
Didn't even wait for my grave to be cold. 

Perdicus appears. Gabrielle takes another step back. 

HOPE
(smirking)
Did you think I was the only one with a beef, mommy?  Xena's led you down a very, very long ugly path. 

The shadows slowly start towards Gabrielle. 

HOPE 
(Cont’d)
And now it's payback time. 

The sky lights up with lightning. Gabrielle is ringed with shadows. 

They start to close in on her. 

FADE OUT.
END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

FADE IN:
INT. SHIP’S HOLD - CONTINUOUS

Xena warns off the shadows with her oar. 

XENA
Hold it! Gabrielle and I are on this ship alone. You're not real. 

Solon grabs the oar and shoves Xena backwards with surprising strength. 

SOLON
We're as real as you are. 

Cyrene takes hold of the other end of the oar.

CYRENE
Or, you're as real as we are. 

Xena takes a firmer grip on the oar, and with a double twist of her body, she wrenches it from their grasp and frees it. She takes a step back. 

XENA
What do you want? 

More shadows appear. Pinpoints of light, staring at Xena from the darkness.  One has the vague outline of a forest Amazon. Another might almost be Borias. 

CYRENE
We want you to feel what we feel, Xena. 

SOLON
Betrayed. 

The shadows close in. Xena lifts the oar to protect herself.

CYRENE
Do you know what it feels like to burn, Xena?

Xena's eyes narrow. 

XENA
Do you know what it feels like to be stoned to death, mother? Betrayal is something I know....
(snorting softly)
Intimately. 

A chunk of wood comes out of the darkness. Xena deflects it with her oar. Another chunk follows. She knocks it aside.

CYRENE
Don't waste your time. She doesn't care about us. 

XENAYou're wrong, mother. 

The shadows surge forward. Xena sets herself.

SOLON
Wait. This is not the way. 

The shadows mill around, forming a thick semi-circle around where Xena is standing. 

CYRENE
It is the only way she understands. 

The shadows rush over Xena, flowing everywhere. Xena twists and turns to get away from them, shoving away from the wall and bolting towards the other end of the hold. 

The shadows circle her like flies. She strikes out at them, but the take hold of her, and she struggles against their grip.

XENA
Leave me alone!

The shadows press down on her, and Xena is inundated with memories of her past.  A vision of her giving Solon up. A vision of Amphipolis being destroyed during her early years. A vision of Solon dead in her arms. A vision of Cyrene burning. A vision of Hell opening up beneath Cyrene's inn. 

XENA 
(Cont’d)
(yelling)
No!

CUT TO:

EXT. SHIP DECK - CONTINUOUS

Gabrielle is pinned at the very bow of the ship. The storm is now raging again, and she is tossed against the rails and almost goes over. She holds on tenaciously, facing off against her nightmares.

Hope lunges forward. Gabrielle dodges, but slips on the wet deck and goes down on her knees. 

HOPE
What's the matter, mother? A little off-balance? 

Gabrielle gets up and braces her legs.  Her face is grim. 

GABRIELLE
I never did anything to hurt any of you. Leave me alone. 

Two shadows come forward. 

HECUBA
That's not true! If you hadn't left, the slavers would never have taken us! 

HERODOTUS
How we died, because of you!

Gabrielle stares at her parents.

GABRIELLE
That's not true. If I hadn't left with Xena....

HOPE
Xena, Xena, Xena.... See? It's always Xena.

GABRIELLE
If I hadn't left with her, I'd have been taken. 

HOPE
So you admit your selfishness! You never cared about any of us. Just yourself.
(beat)
And Xena. 

GABRIELLE
(hotly)
That's not true! 

PERDICUS
Yes, it's true, Gabrielle. The dead hear the thoughts of the living, remember? Imagine how I felt cold in my grave dying because of you.... Only to hear you thinking of her. 

Gabrielle falls silent. 

HOPE
Imagine how I felt being shoved down a lava pit... for her. 

HECUBA AND HEROTDOTUS
Imagine how we felt watching you turn your back on us... for her. 

Gabrielle holds onto the railing with both hands. She knows there is a truth in all of it, no matter the circumstances. 

GABRIELLE
(softly)
What do you want of me?

Hope smiles. 

CUT TO:

INT. SHIP’S HOLD - NIGHT

Xena is pinned under the weight of the shadows. She fights desperately to get free, but their intensity is too great. The bombard her with images of her past and what she has done. 

Over and over again, she feels Solon's death, feels the torture in Ming Tien's dungeon, feels the slap of Gabrielle's hand on her face. 

That sound resounds through the hold. 

Xena lets out a wordless yell of agony. 

SOLON
Mother! You have one chance!

Solon takes Xena's face in his hands. Xena stares at him. 

SOLON 
(Cont’d)
Don't let her destroy you. 
(softly)
Let her go. 

XENA
Wh....?

Solon strokes Xena's cheeks with his thumbs. 

SOLON
All you have to do is tell me you love me. 

XENA
Solon, I do. I always have. 

SOLON
More than you love her. 

Xena stares at Solon. 

SOLON 
(Cont’d)
Give us peace. Don't let us burn with the knowledge our hearts were betrayed by one who betrayed you. 

XENA
Solon....

SOLON
Say it, mother. Take her from your heart, and we will love you instead. 

Xena closes her eyes, a look of pain on her face. 

CUT TO:

EXT. SHIP DECK - NIGHT - SAME TIME 

Hope steps forward, holding out her hand. She is no longer mocking.  For once, she is somber and serious. 

HOPE
We both made bad choices. But.... No matter what, you're my mother. 

Gabrielle watches her tensely. Momentarily, she closes her eyes, and her head cocks in a listening position. She lifts her head and looks back at Hope after a brief pause. 

GABRIELLE
Yes, I am. 

HOPE
Then tell me you love me more than you love her. Make that mean something. 

Hope extends her hand. She looks Gabrielle right in the eye. The rest of the shadows wait in utter stillness. 

Even the storm quiets. Waiting. 

Gabrielle reaches out and takes Hope's hand. 

GABRIELLE
I can't. 

Gabrielle pulls Hope close to her unexpectedly. 

GABRIELLE 
(Cont’d)
I can't tell you that, Hope. Because you're right. I do love Xena more than anything else in the world. 

Hope growls.

GABRIELLE 
(Cont’d)
(intensely)
And, by the gods, after what I've had to go through to have her by my side, it's going to take a lot more than you to take her away from me again. 

Gabrielle lunges, grappling with Hope and throwing her off to one side as she plunges right through the center of the shadows, letting out a wild yell. 

The shadows swoop down on her, but Gabrielle outraces them across the deck to a small hatch unseen until now behind the mast on the opposite side. 

Gabrielle wrenches the hatch open and rips it from its hinges, throwing it back into Hope's face as she catches up. The rest of the shadows pour around Hope, streaming towards Gabrielle with arms outstretched. 

HOPE
Hold on, MOTHER. 

Hope points menacingly at her. 

HOPE 
(Cont’d)
Xena's had to make her own choice down there. Sure you came up on the winning end? 

Gabrielle stares at Hope.

HOPE 
(Cont’d)
That chakram won't just split your skull this time. 

Gabrielle looks down into the dark hole. She looks up at Hope. 

GABRIELLE
I'll take that chance. 

Gabrielle steps through the hatch and disappears. With a howl, Hope and the rest of the shadows follow her. 

CUT TO:

INT SHIP’S HOLD - SAME TIME 

Xena is lying on the ground, her arms outstretched, her body tense. She is staring up through the darkness.

XENA
Never. 

Solon crouches over her, the shadows writhing over his face.

SOLON
Not even for your son?

XENA
My son....

She takes a deep breath.

XENA
(Cont’d)
... would never ask that. Yeahhh!!!

Xena arches her back and flips upright with incredible speed and violence. She throws Solon back away from her and dives for the ground, finding her lost oar and then coming back up to her feet in a roll. 

Solon picks her up and throws her against the back wall. Xena bounces off and catches her balance. She faces her demons with her head held high.

The darkness closes in around her. Solon leading the way.

SOLON
Then we will take you to a place so dark, you will never find your way from it. 

XENA
Yeah? Try me. 

Xena puts her back to the wall and raises her oar as the shades converge on her. But before they can overcome her, a sound over head makes Xena look up.

A square of light appears, then it vanishes as something falls through it. 

Xena drops the oar and catches Gabrielle instead, just as two sets of demons pile on top of them both, their touch bringing great pain. 

XENA 
(Cont’d)
Augh!!

GABRIELLE
Ahhhh!!!!

As their screams ring out, the shadows abruptly vanish. 

The sounds disappear. 

The ship stops rocking.  

The hold is suddenly flooded with light. Wrapped in each other's arms, Xena and Gabrielle look up to see the full moon shining down on them. 

The only noises are the creaking of the timbers, and two sets of ragged breathing.  Gabrielle lays her head down on Xena's shoulder and closes her eyes. 

Xena keeps her head tilted up, drinking in the light as she hugs Gabrielle tightly to her. 

The storm is over. 

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT FOUR

TAG

FADE IN:
EXT. TOWN DOCKS - NEXT DAY - MORNING

It is sunrise over the town. The light does not help the visual any. It is a ragged, worn down fishing village with salt encrusted buildings and a lot of rust on everything. 

At the docks, however, stands the lost ship, tied up tightly. There are ladders placed against it, and already men are working on and near it, though they appear very cautious around the vessel. 

The door to the inn opens, and Xena and Gabrielle emerge. They walk down to the pier and sit down on a crate, watching the action around the ship. 

GABRIELLE 
(Cont’d)
Doesn't look nearly as scary in the daytime, does it?

Xena studies the dock in silence. 

The innkeeper rushes up to them, nervous and upset. 

INNKEEPER
Ah....  Ah, there you are. Um... listen, I really do want to tell you just how terribly sorry I am about what happened....

XENA
So you've said.

GABRIELLE
Ten or eleven times now. 

The innkeeper wrings his hands. 

INNKEEPER
Yes, well, it all turned out all right, didn't it?

Xena and Gabrielle stare at him. 

GABRIELLE
You knew that was out there, didn't you?

INNKEEPER
(upset)
Oh, you can't understand....

XENA
Try us. 

The innkeeper sits down. 

INNKEEPER
Belegos was a ship captain. A very famous ship captain who was a wonderful fisherman, and a good person. 

Xena studies her clasped hands, while Gabrielle listens. 

INNKEEPER 
(Cont’d)
He fell in love with a local lass here and married her. He was wild in love with her. Worshipped her... would have done anything for her at all. 

GABRIELLE
Go on. 

INNKEEPER
When he was at sea, the lass....  Well.... Anyway, she betrayed him and one night he docked unexpectedly and went home. It was their anniversary, you see, and....

GABRIELLE
Ah. 

The innkeeper gets up and wipes his hands on his apron.

INNKEEPER
He never got over it. He killed them both, and disappeared.

He looks at the boat.

INNKEEPER
(Cont’d)
A few years later, the calling started. We knew when the bell rang we had to send someone out or else....

XENA
(flatly)
Those people never came back. 

INNKEEPER
(awkwardly)
Ah, No. But we had to do it, because otherwise he'd ruin the fishing, and you know.... We... live... on that. 

Gabrielle looks him in the eye.

GABRIELLE
You sent us out there to die. 

INNKEEPER
Ah.... Well, yes, but you didn't. So, all's well then, yes?

Xena stares straight ahead. 

XENA
Sure. 

INNKEEPER
Great. Well, I've got to get back to my inn. Sure you won't stay with us another night?

Xena turns her head and glares at him. 

The innkeeper leaves in a hurry. Xena and Gabrielle are left looking at the boat, and the sea beyond it.  After a brief moment, Xena gets up and offers Gabrielle her hand. Gabrielle accepts it, and they walk down the road until they reach the shore, with an unobstructed view of the sea. 

They sit down together on the rocks and listen to the waves.  Gabrielle picks up a rock and tosses it into the water. 

GABRIELLE
How much of that was real, Xena?

Xena shakes her head. 

XENA
I don't know. 

GABRIELLE
I mean, how did the captain's ghost, or whoever, know who to conjure up?  Know which of our memories would....

XENA
I don't think he did. 

Gabrielle turns and looks at Xena. 

XENA 
(Cont’d)
I think he just depended on dredging up the worst things in anyone's conscience. 

Gabrielle ponders this for several seconds. 

GABRIELLE
(quietly)
He sure hit the jackpot with you and me. 

Xena sighs and picks up a rock, tossing it in to the same spot as Gabrielle's. 

XENA
Yeah.  He sure did. 
 
She throws another rock.

XENA
(Cont’d)
Wonder what made him stop?

Gabrielle slowly leans against Xena's shoulder, reaching out to take Xena's hand in hers. 

GABRIELLE
Maybe he finally found someone who loved the way he did. 

XENA
(smiling faintly)
Maybe he found two people. 

GABRIELLE
Yeah. 
(hesitating)
I think he did. 

Gabrielle clasps Xena's hand tightly. They both then speak at once. 

GABRIELLE 
(Cont’d)
Hey....

XENA
Hey....

They fall silent, and look at each other. Xena lifts her other hand and cups Gabrielle's cheek tenderly.  

XENA 
(Cont’d)
We beat our worst enemies.  

A single tear rolls down Gabrielle's face.  Xena wipes it off with her thumb, and then rests her forehead against Gabrielle's. 

GABRIELLE
Yeah, we did, didn't we?

After a brief moment, they kiss.  When they finally part, they wrap their arms around each other tightly. 

XENA
(sighing)
Know what? 

GABRIELLE
(very softly)
What?

XENA
Next time we keep the mineral bath, and let ‘em go answer their own bell. 

Gabrielle smiles at the sunrise. 

GABRIELLE
Right there with you, partner. 
(sighing)
Right there with you. 

A seagull wheels over the beach, as Xena and Gabrielle lean against each other. 

FADE OUT.

DISCLAIMER
Xena and Gabrielle's beauty sleep was not harmed in the making of this motion picture, but they've both sworn off seafood for a while.