ACT ONE

FADE IN:

EXT. WOODS - RESUME

Xena is visibly distraught.  She examines some debris left by the attackers.

XENA

They must have been tracking us for

days. How could I have missed that?

Gabrielle walks over to her.

GABRIELLE

We’ve been traveling pretty hard, Xena.

I don’t know, maybe they just got

lucky and found us, or maybe....

XENA

Or maybe they just got the drop on

me and I’m slowing down a little.

Gabrielle is a little perplexed at what to answer for that.

GABRIELLE

C’mon. Just because they

surprised us doesn’t mean....

Xena stands up and paces.  She flexes her hands then rubs her neck.

XENA

Been a lot of little hints lately.  Now they

all add up. Funny, I knew one day it’d

happen, but I never figured I’d live

long enough to worry about it.

Gabrielle is concerned.

GABRIELLE

Are you serious? Maybe I’m missing something

here, but you seem fine to me, Xena.

Xena picks up the chakram bag and examines it.

XENA

Maybe someone was sending me a

message. Taking the most visible

symbol of who I am.  What I am.

Gabrielle walks to her and takes the bag, folding it and putting it inside Xena’s gear.

GABRIELLE

Or maybe someone saw a very

valuable weapon they could sell.

XENA

Yeah, maybe.  If they try that, we’ll

hear about it soon enough.

Xena and Gabrielle continue to put their things away, but Xena is very thoughtful.

CUT TO:

INT. LILA’S HOME - POTADEIA

Janos is being served wine and cakes in Lila’s home.

JANOS

We’re all on the same side here. Listen,

I know you must be concerned about

your sister, Lila. Wouldn’t you like

to have her home safe?

LILA

Of course - but to kill Xena?

Why would you want to do that?

JANOS

Why? Lila, what do you really know

about Xena? About her past?

LILA

Well... I know she used to be a warlord,

but that was long time ago....

JANOS

There are thousands of people who lost homes,

lost families... brothers, sisters... children, because

of her. She’s been allowed to go free ever since,

not because of the good she does, but because

everyone is too scared of her to do anything about it.

Lila looks troubled.

JANOS

(Cont’d)

Her daughter was the scourge of Rome. She

sold thousands of our fellow citizens into slavery.

Sarah looks thoughtful.

LILA

But she also went with Xena and Gabrielle

to get Sarah back, and save her from her

life of slavery.  People can change, Janos.

JANOS

For their own purposes, sure.  But at

what cost? Look what it’s doing to your

sister, for her to be constantly on the run,

in danger.  Don’t you care about her?

LILA

Of course I care about Gabrielle. I love my

sister. I worry about her terribly, and I know

she’s been through some horrible things....

JANOS

Because of Xena.  She won’t be free

until Xena’s gone. You know that’s true.

Sarah and Lila are silent.

JANOS

Gabrielle needs you. She needs your help,

or soon there will be nothing left to her, but

an empty shell.  Look - I’ve already got

her on the run. I’ve taken her chakram.

Janos shows them the chakram.  They all react with surprise.

JANOS

(Cont’d)

But she’ll be more cautious now -

that’s why I need your help.

They are silent.

JANOS

(Cont’d)

Think of Gabrielle.

CUT TO:

EXT. POTADEIA - VILLAGE - DAY

Xena and Gabrielle enter Potadeia.  Sarah, her husband, and Lila all greet them - there are pretty streamers everywhere, everything is gorgeous and friendly - exactly as it was when Xena returned and Hope had taken Gabrielle’s place.

LILA

Gabrielle! Welcome home.

(beat)

Hello, Xena. It’s good to see you.

Lila and Gabrielle hug.  Everyone gathers around Xena and Gab and seems happy to see them. They go inside the house.

CUT TO:

INT. LILA’S HOME - POTADEIA - LATER

Lila, Sarah and her husband, Xena and Gabrielle sit around the family table, it’s full of bowls and cups.  Gabrielle takes a scoop of something and puts it on Xena’s plate.

XENA

Hey!

GABRIELLE

Relax, you like that. Trust me.

Xena tastes the item.  It’s a favorite of hers.

XENA

Tastes just like the ones you make.

LILA

It’s a family recipe - our mother taught

it to us. She guarded the secret

jealously - I passed it on to Sarah.

SARAH

And I’ll pass it on to my child, when he

or she’s old enough.  Do you cook, Xena?

Xena and Gabrielle both laugh.

GABRIELLE

No, Xena does the hunting, I do the cooking,

though we did try trading off the other day.

I ended up being chased by a boar and

Xena had to throw away our best cooking pot.

Everyone laughs.

SARAH

Hey, Xena - I was telling Stefan about

your chakram.  Will you show it to him?

Xena and Gab exchange glances.

XENA

It’s in for some work at the

silversmith’s. Maybe next time.

LILA

More wine, anyone?

CUT TO:

EXT. POTADEIA CAMPFIRE - NIGHT

Gabrielle sits near the campfire, cup in hand. Staring into the flames. Lila joins her.  Xena is seated a little distance away, watching.  Stefan finishes playing a sitar, then gets up and goes inside.

LILA

Hey. I just wanted to tell you

how glad I am you came by.

GABRIELLE

Thanks. It’s great to see you

all.  I’m glad we came, too.

LILA

You all right? You seem a little

down...  tired... something.

GABRIELLE

Seeing you all here... I don’t know,

Lila. It’s hard for me. I feel so....

LILA

Out of place?

GABRIELLE

Something like that.  It’s like I have no

connection to anything... or anyone.

Except Xena, of course. Almost everyone

I knew is gone, except you and Sarah.

Lila puts her arm around Gabrielle.

LILA

Gabrielle, you know you’re always a part

of us. We love you, and this will always be

your home. You’re welcome to come back

here any time you want to. I miss you.

GABRIELLE

Do you? That’s good to know, Lila.  I miss

you too. I just wish I knew where I was going.

I just feel so lost.  I find myself doing

these horrible things... and just not caring.

LILA

It’s hard for me to believe you not caring.

Maybe you just need some rest. Why don’t

you think about staying for a while?

GABRIELLE

Thanks. Maybe I will.

Lila gives Gab a hug, then gets up and walks to the house.  Gabrielle turns to see Xena watching, then gets up and goes to sit by Xena, leaning against her as they both watch the fire.

GABRIELLE

(Cont’d)

What are you thinking about?

XENA

My mother.

GABRIELLE

We’ve both lost so much, haven’t we?

Xena simply nods. They watch the fire.

CUT TO:

INT. LILA’S HOME - POTADEIA - EARLY MORNING

Xena is awake, and gazing pensively out the window. Lila enters, watches Xena for a moment, then walks over to her.

LILA

You’re up early.

XENA

It’s a habit.

LILA

Even after all these years?  But then,

you look pretty good for someone,

what, eighty years old now?

They both laugh, but Xena is not that amused.

XENA

It’s a habit your sister never

did pick up. She’s still asleep.

LILA

I think she could use the rest.

I’m worried about her, Xena.

She seems so lost.

Xena looks uncomfortable.

XENA

She’s all right.

LILA

Have you thought about what she’s

going to do after you can’t be out there

fighting all the time? Defending her?

We all can’t live forever, Xena.

Xena is really not amused.

XENA

Gabrielle can take care of herself.

LILA

Can she? It doesn’t look that way to me.

She’s not like you.  She can’t take this

constant violence... constant killing, Xena.

It’s hurting her.  Can’t you see that?

Xena is silent because she knows this is true.  Gabrielle enters behind them, obviously newly woken.

GABRIELLE

Morning.

XENA

You could have slept in.

GABRIELLE

I know. Something woke me up,

though. Hey, got any of that blackberry

tea mom used to make?

Lila stares at Xena, but smiles at Gabrielle.

LILA

I sure do.  Sit down,

and I’ll get you some.

Lila leaves.  Xena and Gabrielle regard each other seriously.

CUT TO:

INT. CAVE/HUT - MORNING

The posse is gathered around Janos - he has a handful of straws. The posse is dressed for forest stealth.  They are mostly young people, very eager and devoted to their cause.

JANOS

I know the person who picks this short straw

will do a great job, and be a credit to all of us.

Janos holds out his hand. The posse all picks, one young man has the short straw.

YOUNG MAN #1

I’m ready.  Janos, will you tell

my girl I said goodbye?

JANOS

I will.

YOUNG MAN #1

You guys can divvy up all my stuff.

There wasn’t much left anyway, after

Livia burned our town. Even less than

when her mother did the same to my

grandparents a generation ago.

JANOS

Now it will end, and you’ll be a part of

that. It’s a very brave thing you’re doing.

Janos faces the rest of them.

JANOS

(Cont’d)

It’s finally time. Think of your families,

and all the people who have suffered

for so long under Xena’s lawless

life. Be brave, my brothers.

They all shout, eager to do battle.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO