ACT TWO

FADE IN:

EXT. MIST - NIGHT

Xena and Gabrielle, holding hands, follow Ephiny through a swirling mist. Xena shivers slightly, and Gabrielle looks to her.

GABRIELLE

What's wrong?

XENA

I hate mists. They're nothing but trouble.

Ephiny chuckles without turning around. She simply keeps leading them through the mist, which begins to lessen and finally disappears to reveal a dense forest.

GABRIELLE

This is the Amazon forest.

EPHINY

Yes, it is. This is what would have
happened if the ambrosia hadn't worked.

The trio moves further through the woods into the Amazon village.

CUT TO:

EXT. VILLAGE - DAY

The village appears to be thriving. Amazons from many tribes mingle together, working, laughing, sparring. Gabrielle looks around slowly.

GABRIELLE

It's the same, and yet it's different.

EPHINY

Very different. Follow me.

As they walk through the village, Xena is quick to notice that not one single woman is paying them any attention.  They approach the Queen's quarters, and the two guards at the door don't even attempt to stop them as they walk inside.

CUT TO:

INT. HUT - DAY

Xena gives a disgusted look back at the door as they enter.

XENA

Wonderful security they've got here.

EPHINY

Huh? Oh them. They can't see or hear us.
We are only observers here.
We can't interfere in any way.

Xena is about to respond when a cloth at the back of the room rustles and Queen Gabrielle steps through. Her eyes widen as the Gabrielle standing next to her gasps softly.

The Queen standing before them is clearly the bard, but not the same Gabrielle standing with Xena.

Queen Gabrielle is older, thinner. Her hair is still long, braided in traditional Amazon style.  Her clothing is obviously Amazon, reflecting her rank as Queen of the tribe. The only thing out of place is the maroon cloak that hangs on her right side, obscuring the entire side of her body.

Xena notices right away that Queen Gabrielle is leaner, more muscular and battled scarred. Gabrielle notices that her alternate self has eyes that can only be described as dead.

As they watch, Queen Gabrielle takes a seat at a desk and begins looking through a stack of old, tattered parchments. She leafs through them, slowly spreading them out over the desk. She lets her fingers trail over the script as if she were saying a prayer.

QUEEN GABRIELLE

(whispering to herself)

I should have said something.

Xena bites her lip as she watches this 'ghost' of Gabrielle.

A knock on the frame of the door causes all occupants of the room to turn.

QUEEN GABRIELLE

(Cont’d)

Come!

Another version of Ephiny enters the hut, bowing slightly at the waist.

REGENT EPHINY

My Queen.

Queen Gabrielle rises from the desk, crossing the room to meet her Regent.

QUEEN GABRIELLE

Ephiny, you are just about my only friend here.
Why do you insist on these absurd titles?

REGENT EPHINY

I apologize my Que... Gabrielle.
The warriors are ready for your inspection.

Queen Gabrielle rolls her eyes and smiles as she adjusts the cloak over her right side.

QUEEN GABRIELLE

Then let's not keep them waiting.

As the two leave the hut, the trio can see that embroidered on Queen Gabrielle's cloak is Xena's CHAKRAM along with the design that is crafted on her breastplate. As the Gabrielle and Ephiny of this time and place leave the hut, the observers follow.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. VILLAGE - DAY

As Queen Gabrielle and Regent Ephiny enter the village, Amazons young and old gather around their queen, offering her kind words and fresh baked breads. A few of the very young girls bring her a few wild flowers they have picked from the nearby fields, until she is holding a small bouquet.

Xena leans over and whispers in 'her' Gabrielle's ear.

XENA

They love you, bard.

As they continue walking through the village, the crowd slowly disperses. Queen Gabrielle looks at the flowers in her hand.

QUEEN GABRIELLE

I need to take these to her.
Such a waste to let them die.

Regent Ephiny just shakes her head and follows her into a grove of trees out to a small clearing, over looking a meadow with a stream running through it. A large tree stands on a little rise. A large stone crypt is shaded by the tree.

Queen Gabrielle walks slowly to the tomb and places the flowers in a small holder attached to the side of the crypt. She runs her hand over the cool stone, with a sad smile on her face, then leans over and gives it a soft kiss.

QUEEN GABRIELLE

(Cont’d)

Hello, my love. It's a beautiful day.

She pauses, and wipes at the solitary tear running down her face.

QUEEN GABRIELLE

(Cont’d)

Gods, Xena....  Why did it take your death for
me to admit that to myself?  To you?

Regent Ephiny only watches as Queen Gabrielle takes a seat on a small stone bench.

Xena pulls 'her' Gabrielle a little closer to her when she notices the inscription on the crypt.

Queen Gabrielle looks up to the sun shining brightly down into the meadow and reflecting like diamonds off the water of the stream.

QUEEN GABRIELLE

(Cont’d)

The festival is going to start soon. I wish you were
here to see these women. They always compete
so hard for the honor of bearing your chakram
and being the Queen's champion for the year.

Regent Ephiny takes a step forward.

REGENT EPHINY

Gabrielle, please, please don't do this do yourself!
It's been almost ten years since Xena died.
The nation thrives under your rule. Yet you
won't enjoy the life you have given us.

Queen Gabrielle looks up to her but then turns away. Regent Ephiny flinches a bit at the look on her friend's face but continues.

REGENT EPHINY

(Cont’d)

You've worked and fought hard to make
this nation complete Gabrielle. 
Why must you continue to grieve?

QUEEN GABRIELLE

I grieve, Ephiny, because it's all I
have left. It's all there is for me.

REGENT EPHINY

But there are so many here who would be
your friend, or more, if you would only let them.
Don't you think it's time to let her go?

QUEEN GABRIELLE

No.

REGENT EPHINY

Why not?

QUEEN GABRIELLE

Because I never told her I loved her, Ephiny.
She died without ever knowing how I felt.

Queen Gabrielle looks back to the tomb and rubs her hand over the cool stone.

QUEEN GABRIELLE

(Cont’d)

I have let her go as much as I am willing.

REGENT EPHINY

Which is not at all! Gabrielle, you don't do
anything other than attend to village business
and sit out here. You don't write anymore....

Queen Gabrielle flings back the cloak to reveal the fact that her right hand is missing.

QUEEN GABRIELLE

I CAN'T write anymore Ephiny!
Caesar saw to that when we defended
our land against the Romans.

REGENT EPHINY

You can still tell stories, and you
don't even do that any more.

QUEEN GABRIELLE

All my stories died the day she did.

REGENT EPHINY

Gabrielle....

Queen Gabrielle rises quickly from the bench, making sure to arrange her cloak to cover her disfigurement. She takes a heated step towards Regent Ephiny.

QUEEN GABRIELLE

ENOUGH! I have given everything I had... everything
I am to this nation. Isn't that enough? You can't have
my soul, Ephiny. Xena has that, and it will only be
complete when I am with her again. And Gods
willing I won't have too much longer to wait!

Xena has Gabrielle in a tight embrace as Gabrielle buries her head in Xena’s neck and refuses to look at the scene before her. A single tear runs down Xena cheek as she looks to their Ephiny.

XENA

I think we've seen enough here.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. CAMP - NIGHT

The trio exits the mist and find themselves back in the campsite. Xena is still holding Gabrielle tight.

EPHINY

Things didn't work out quite like
you thought they would, huh?

XENA

(shaking her head)

No. Of all the things I imagined for
Gabrielle, that was never one of them.

GABRIELLE

Xena, it didn't happen. I'm still here.
We're still here. We're fine.

EPHINY

Ah yes, but that was only one side of the
coin now, wasn't it? There's more to be seen.

XENA

Such as?

GABRIELLE

(quietly)

What would have become of you if
something had happened to me.

(to Ephiny)

Right?

Ephiny only nods.

Gabrielle stands up and squares her shoulder, taking Xena's hand again and pulling her close.

GABRIELLE

(Cont’d)

Let's go.

FADE OUT.