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ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
INT. GLADIATOR TRAINING PIT - DAY
The trainees all stand in line, chained to the walls on either side of them. Xena is in front. Guards stand on either side on a walkway above the trainees, pointing weapons at them.
Xena is in the front of the line. The trainees are terrified. They are whimpering like puppies. Xena finally turns around and faces them.
XENA That's not gonna help you.
TRAINEE
Nothing will help us.
Xena looks up at the guards. They are not really paying attention.
XENA You want to live?
TRAINEE Of course!
XENA
Then shut up, and tell them
The trainees all lean forward, and surprisingly, shut up.
TRAINEE Well?
Xena checks the guards. They are peering out the door at something in the stadium.
XENA
When I get out there, I'll knock off my opponent,
TRAINEE What?
XENA You heard me.
TRAINEE #2
What happens when you
XENA That won't happen.
TRAINEE Yeah? Those guards sure beat you down.
XENA You want to live? Trust me.
The trainees all groan.
TRAINEE Like we've got a choice?
The guards return, and one of the kicks the trainee in the head.
ROMAN GUARD Shut up, pig scum!
The guard goes to kick the man again, Xena loops the chains on her wrist around his foot and jerks hard. The man's feet are pulled out from under him and he lands on his butt very hard, his legs flailing in the air. Xena unwraps the chain just as another guard rushes over to see what happened.
ROMAN CAPTAIN
Hey! You sleeping on the job?
ROMAN GUARD But... but.…
The guard gets up. He glares at the trainees. They smile back at him. The guard storms off. The trainee taps Xena on the shoulder.
TRAINEE
Okay. We'll try it.
XENA Right.
CUT TO:
INT. GLADIATOR TRAINING PITS - OTHER SIDE - DAY
Gabrielle is sneaking cautiously down a stone corridor. It is dark, but cleaner than the side Xena was in, and there are regularly spaced torches on either side of the hall.
She pauses and listens. Male voices can be heard, but not understood. Gabrielle frowns, and moves on. She keeps close to the wall, and watches carefully around her.
Ahead of her, there is an arch. Gabrielle stops next to it and pokes her head very slowly around the edge. She steps through.
CUT TO:
INT. GLADIATOR TRAINING PITS - OTHER SIDE - BALCONY - DAY
Gabrielle is on a stone balcony. She is looking down at a large room, with a sand floor. There is a group of gladiators standing there. One of them is Beowulf.
GABRIELLE Gotcha.
A hand falls on Gabrielle's shoulder, and she jumps and turns, to find the Guard she belted behind her.
ROMAN GUARD And I have you.
Gabrielle pulls free and starts to run past him, but the guard grabs Gabrielle and they struggle. They move out off the balcony and back into the corridor.
GABRIELLE Look, I'm really sorry about hitting you.
ROMAN GUARD
Not near as sorry as you will be.
The guard pulls out his sword and tries to hit Gabrielle with it. Gabrielle grabs his arm, turns, and pulls him over her shoulder. She snatches his spear from his other hand and as he gets up, she faces him with it.
GABRIELLE
You don't know what you're
The guard attacks Gabrielle. Gabrielle defends herself with the spear. They spar in silence, their boots scraping against the sand.
ROMAN GUARD Surrender, wench!
GABRIELLE Kiss my butt, scumbag.
Gabrielle goes on the offensive, stabbing the guard in the arm with the spear, then hitting him with the butt of the spear across the chin. The guard bounces off the wall, then he grips his sword with both and charges at Gabrielle.
Gabrielle ducks under his arm, and pushes him hard, sending him head first into the opposite wall. The guard slumps to the floor.
Gabrielle stands over him, breathing hard. The man lies unconscious at her feet. She puts the point of his spear against his throat and pauses.
GABRIELLE (Cont’d) I'm sorry. (beat)
But there are lives I value
Gabrielle clenches her teeth and leans on the spear. The spear penetrates the guard’s throat, cutting his jugular and killing him.
With a jerk, Gabrielle pulls the spear out. She looks around and spots a small alcove. She takes hold of the guard’s armor, and starts to drag him towards it.
CUT TO:
INT. GLADIATOR TRAINING PITS - DAY
The crowd sound is much larger now. The guards swing open a set of gates, opening the way for the trainees to see into the stadium. They are still chained, so they can't move forward. The light flooding in blinds them. Xena puts her forearm over her eyes, as the sun hits her.
ROMAN CAPTAIN Watch the little warm up.
The trainees look out into the stadium. They can see the crowd in the stands. In the center of the open space pace three lions. The trainees stir uneasily.
Xena watches as a man is thrown into the arena. He is dressed in rags, and has long hair.
XENA Who is that? What has he done?
ROMAN CAPTAIN A traitor. You need to know no more.
The lions spot the man and roar. The man starts to run.
XENA (under her breath) No! Stay still!
The lions give chase. The man panics and runs towards the opening where the trainees are. As he reaches the gates, the guards laugh and fend him off with their spears. The man frantically tries to get past them, but as he slips, the lions catch him and pull him back.
TRAITOR Help me! Help!!!! I'm innocent!
The lions rip his throat out, silencing him.
The crowd roars its approval.
Xena stands very still. Her hands close on the iron shackles chaining her to the wall.
ROMAN CAPTAIN
No race! Get a faster one in
The lions drag the man to the center of the arena, and rip him to pieces.
Xena watches impassively. One of the guards boots her in the shoulder.
ROMAN GUARD Wanna take a shot?
Xena looks up at him.
XENA Sure. After you.
The guards laugh. They whistle at the lions.
ROMAN GUARD
Here, kitty kitty! Got some
There is nothing blocking the lions from the trainees. The lions start to trot towards the gates. The crowd cheers at this unexpected attraction.
CUT TO:
INT. GLADIATOR TRAINING PITS - OTHER SIDE - DAY
Gabrielle slips into the balcony again. She is wearing the guard's armor, which is only slightly too large for her. She settles his helmet on her head and walks down the steps towards the gladiators below.
She reaches the bottom and walks past two other guards. They turn and look at her, then after a moment, turn back.
GUARD #1
Hiring ‘em younger and
GUARD #2
You can say that again. Bet
Gabrielle keeps walking. She can hear the roar of the crowd getting louder and louder as she pushes her way between the gladiators towards the front of the room. She stops just behind Beowulf, looking outside the gates just as the lions rip the traitor to pieces.
BEOWULF (under his breath) Animals.
Gabrielle touches Beowulf's arm. He starts and turns, raising his hand to shield himself from the expected blow. He stops, and looks closer, through the bars in Gabrielle's helmet.
BEOWULF (Cont’d) G...
Gabrielle puts a finger to her lips. She takes hold of his arm, and pulls him roughly backwards, away from the other guards and the gladiators. He follows her. The guards watch them with bored amusement, then turn to watch the lions feast.
BEOWULF (Cont’d) Gabrielle!
GABRIELLE Shh.
Gabrielle gives him a cuff on the chest.
BEOWULF
What are you doing in here?
GABRIELLE
We prefer to think of it as acting
BEOWULF You're risking your life!
GABRIELLE
Yes, and you're making it worse
Beowulf leans closer. He drinks in Gabrielle's presence with amazement.
BEOWULF I'm listening.
GABRIELLE
Xena's going into the arena. When she's
BEOWULF Boy, she hasn't changed, has she?
Gabrielle smiles, despite the situation.
GABRIELLE
She says our best chance to
BEOWULF
All right. Whatever I
Gabrielle pats his arm.
GABRIELLE Good. Good luck.
Gabrielle starts to leave.
BEOWULF Wait... Gabrielle!
GABRIELLE Shh. We can talk later!
Gabrielle puts her finger to her lips, and backs away from Beowulf. He watches her until she reaches the wall, then Gabrielle turns and instead of moving to the stairs, starts to walk towards the gates.
CUT TO:
INT. GLADIATOR TRAINING PIT - DAY
Xena is unshackled, and the guards push her forward towards the open gates. The lions spot her and rush forward.
Instead of running, as the guards expect, Xena leaps forward and confronts the lions, meeting their roar with her own battle cry. She runs towards the oncoming lions, towards the sunlight of the arena.
CUT TO:
EXT. ARENA - DAY
The lions stop, confused at the attack. They are used to humans running from them. They turn and run away just as the guards slam the gates shut in Xena's face.
The guards move after Xena, hemming her in while the animal keepers chase the lions back into their holding pens.
ROMAN GUARD
We musta kicked the
Xena stops. She looks through the gates, watching the lions be captured.
ROMAN CAPTAIN
All right! Let the first one
The guards open the gates and push Xena out to the center of the arena. The crowd roars. A gate on the other side of the circle opens, and another gladiator is pushed out into the center.
ROMAN GUARD Fight! Or Die!
The guard tosses Xena a short sword. Xena catches it, and faces her opponent.
It is Beowulf.
CUT TO:
INT. GLADIATOR TRAINING PITS - OTHER SIDE - DAY
Gabrielle watches, as the gates open, and she is shocked when Beowulf is grabbed and thrust out into the arena.
GABRIELLE Damn it!
Gabrielle runs to the gate. She slips through it just before it is slammed shuts.
CUT TO:
EXT. ARENA - DAY
Xena and Beowulf face off. They talk as they trade a few warm up sword strokes.
BEOWULF Xena. I'd say it's good to see you but.…
XENA Did Gabrielle find you?
BEOWULF
Yes. I’m supposed to go along
Xena swings her sword into an arc, and they circle each other.
XENA Great.
BEOWULF So.… What's the plan?
XENA
I win, I attack the guards, the other
Beowulf examines tunnel. It is where the lions went.
BEOWULF Do I get a vote on this plan?
XENA No.
BEOWULF Right. (beat) Xena, this is a fight to the death.
They circle each other again. Xena deflects a blow, and gives one.
XENA I know. I'll try not to hurt you too much.
BEOWULF
That's not what I... If you need to kill
me,
They fence with each other, crossing swords and coming close to each other.
XENA
Nice sentiment, but I'd be in a world of
They begin to fight in earnest. The crowd gets excited Beowulf and Xena put on a good show, battling furiously across the arena.
Xena leaps over Beowulf's head, and flips in mid air, then twists and lands behind him. She swats him in the rear with her sword, then ducks as he turns and sweeps his weapon at her.
BEOWULF That was a crowd pleaser.
XENA
Not really.
Xena jumps sideways, as Beowulf slashes directly down at her. She judges the crowd, then she reverses her direction and sweeps her sword across her body, taking his legs out from under him.
Beowulf goes down.
The crowd boos.
XENA (Cont’d) See?
Beowulf gets up. He comes after Xena again. Xena disarms him, and his sword goes flying. The crowd boos louder.
ROMAN CAPTAIN C'mon, you bullock! She's a girl!
BEOWULF Easy for him to say.
Xena waits for Beowulf to get his sword, then she attacks him again. Their swords cross, and they slide down the blades towards each other. They end up nose to nose.
XENA
Fall. I'll stab past your arm into
Xena shoves Beowulf back, then she leaps in mid air and lets out a yell, kicking Beowulf's sword back and out of his hand. Her body hits his, and he goes down. Xena lifts her sword in triumph and drives it down into the sand.
Beowulf's body jerks and arcs twice, then settles to the ground limp.
The crowd is furious. They boo, and start throwing things at Xena. Xena turns when she hears yelling behind her. An older man is standing with the guards, pointing at her.
OLDER ROMAN
It's Xena! Get her!
XENA So much for that plan.
The guards run towards Xena. Xena grabs her sword and turns to meet them, as Beowulf jumps to his feet and joins her.
A guard bolts behind the onrushing soldiers, and reaches the gate. The guard pulls the gate open, dragging it across the sand.
The trainees all run out screaming.
BEOWULF Your plans always work out like this?
XENA Don't ask.
Xena ducks the first guards weapon and nearly cuts him in half with her sword. She kicks him off her blade and turns to meet a second....
… only to stop in mid blow as she recognized the guard. It is Gabrielle, who slips around to guard her back.
GABRIELLE Time to get out of here?
XENA Oh yeah.
The trainees crash into the guards. More guards are pouring over the walls. Patrons pour over the walls in pure excitement. The stadium is in bedlam.
Xena grabs Beowulf, and they start to back towards the dark tunnel
GABRIELLE Xena!
XENA What?!
GABRIELLE That's the lion pit!
XENA No one'll follow us. C'mon!
Xena disappears into the tunnel. After a moment, Gabrielle follows her. Beowulf takes a last look across the arena.
BEOWULF
Now I know, at last, what it is to be
Beowulf turns and runs after Xena and Gabrielle. They disappear into the dark tunnel.
Lions begin to roar.
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT FOUR
TAG
EXT. PEACEFUL HILL OUTSIDE ROME - DAY
Xena sits on a rock on the hill, looking down at the gates to the city of Rome. Argo II crops grass nearby. Xena's shoulder bears two distinct scratch marks, parallel, that go from the point of her shoulder almost to her elbow.
Gabrielle and Beowulf sit under a nearby tree. Gabrielle is still wearing her Roman armor, but she has taken off her helmet and it sits beside her on the grass. Next to the helmet lies the tip of a bushy tail, which has been cut off some large cat. Beowulf has several scratches, but appears relatively unharmed.
GABRIELLE Some day, huh?
BEOWULF One of the more thrilling I've had, yes.
Gabrielle picks up the lion tail and examines it.
GABRIELLE
I forgot to ask you - what
BEOWULF
Your stories, mostly. I wanted
GABRIELLE And?
BEOWULF
And I think I'll go back home and
They both laugh.
BEOWULF (Cont’d)
Thank you for coming after me, Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE Of course we did.
(beat)
It's what friends do.
Beowulf takes Gabrielle's hand and squeezes it.
BEOWULF Then I hope our friendship lasts forever.
They get up, and hug each other. Xena gets up and joins them, giving Beowulf a clasp on the shoulder as he turns to leave.
XENA Have a good trip home.
GABRIELLE Yeah. Stay away from Roman roads.
BEOWULF
That I will. Safe roads to you two
Beowulf shoulders a bag, then starts off down the hill. Xena and Gabrielle watch him go. Xena puts her arm around Gabrielle's shoulders, and they turn to look at Rome after Beowulf passes from view.
GABRIELLE I do hate this place.
XENA
Me, too. Why is it all the
Gabrielle gazes at the city.
GABRIELLE
Maybe we need to
Xena nods.
XENA Maybe we do.
Xena and Gabrielle turn their backs on the city. They start down the hill. Gabrielle begins to unbuckle her borrowed armor, letting the pieces drop as she walks.
XENA (Cont’d) Got your tail?
Gabrielle holds the item up.
GABRIELLE
Teach that blasted lion to
Xena chuckles, as they continue down the path.
FADE OUT.
DISCLAIMER
No animals were harmed in the making of
this motion picture,
COMING NEXT WEEK
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