ACT THREE

FADE IN:

INT. BEDROOM - EVENING

Xena is pacing back and forth waiting, not so patiently for something. She looks to a closed door across the room and sighs, and then goes back to pacing. After another minute she goes to the door and knocks.

XENA

What are you two doing in there?

GABRIELLE

(v.o off camera)

(teasingly)

Wouldn't you like to know?

Just be patient.

XENA

Oh yeah, that's one of

my strong suits. C'mon!

The door opens.

GABRIELLE

Oh all right!

The two women step out of the dressing room. Xena's eyes widen when she looks at them dressed in identical outfits. Sappho's hair has been cut to match Gabrielle's and now it is nearly impossible to tell them apart.

Gabrielle and Sappho look at the shocked expression on Xena's face and without a word they both cross their arms at the same time and look at her with bemused smiles.

GABRIELLE/SAPPHO

Well?

XENA

Well what?

GABRIELLE

Who's who?

Xena walks slowly around them, looking them both over. She stops and slides her arms around Gabrielle from behind and whispers in her ear.

XENA

You're mine.

Gabrielle smiles and leans back into Xena.

GABRIELLE

Nice to know you

can tell the difference.

XENA

After all these years,

you doubted me?

Gabrielle gently caresses Xena's cheek.

GABRIELLE

Not for one second.

Sappho tugs on the sleeves of her gown and waits for Xena and Gabrielle to return to the present. She doesn't wait long.

SAPPHO

Okay, now what? Please don't tell

me that I've sacrificed my hair for

a plan that doesn't have an end?

XENA

Actually, I had you both put on the

same thing just to see if it would be

as perfect as I had hoped. Now that

I know it is, I want you to put this on.

She hands Sappho an outfit that looks like Gabrielle's normal garb.

SAPPHO

And the reason for this is?

XENA

You and my lovely assistant are

going to change places. You’re

going to stay with me so I can

protect you properly and Gabrielle

will be here, having a look around for

clues without drawing any suspicion.

GABRIELLE

You know, I hate to admit it,

but this just might work.

XENA

(innocently)

I don't know how you could doubt it.

CUT TO:

INT. XENA/GABRIELLE'S BEDROOM - EVENING

Sappho is looking on as Xena throws a couple thick blankets on the floor near the fireplace.

SAPPHO

Are you sure Gabrielle

is okay with this?

XENA

Absolutely. She knows we need

to make it believable as possible.

Besides, she trusts me. She knows

that we are perfectly safe in here together.

Sappho pulls the blankets back on the bed and climbs under the covers as Xena makes herself comfortable on her makeshift bed by the fire.

SAPPHO

You two are very lucky to have

that much trust between you.

XENA

After everything we've been

through, we deserve it.

SAPPHO

I'm not sure Adrienne and I

trust each other that much.

XENA

Have you ever given each other

reasons not to have that trust?

SAPPHO

Adrienne had a little 'fling' a few years

ago, but that was kind of my fault. I wasn't

paying as much attention to her as I could have.

XENA

That's no excuse.  I will admit, we’ve made

our mistakes, but if it was an excuse,

Gabrielle could have had a thousand 'flings'

when I wasn't being as attentive as I should.

And I've had my share of chances when she

was off on some little adventure. That's

not what people who love each other do.

SAPPHO

But I love her. I love her with all my heart.

She made a mistake and I forgave

her for it and she hasn't done it since.

XENA

You know what?

SAPPHO

What?

XENA

You do love and trust each other

if you could get past that.

SAPPHO

(chuckling)

Glad to hear it. Good night, Xena.

XENA

Good night.

FADE TO:

INT. BEDROOM - EVENING

Gabrielle is trying to get settled in Sappho's huge bed by herself, but is not having any luck. She's tossing and turning, punching pillows, throwing off the covers and then pulling them back up. It's perfectly clear this is not a woman who is accustomed to sleeping alone.

She finally rolls over, hugging a pillow close to her and closes her eyes. She has her back to the window and doesn't move when a FIGURE climbs through the window.

Moving through the shadows, the figure moves to the bed and lifts the covers, climbing under and curling up next to Gabrielle.

Her eyes snap open immediately, but she holds perfectly still. Then she realizes that the person in bed with her is NOT who she thought it was. She bolts out of the bed, stubbing her toe as she does.

She proceeds to hop on one foot, rub her injured foot and curse like a Greek sailor.

GABRIELLE

Son of a ...!

Adrienne jumps out of bed and stares, dumbfounded at the enraged woman hopping around.

ADRIENNE

What?

GABRIELLE

Who are....

(beat)

I mean, what are

you doing here?

ADRIENNE

I live here.

GABRIELLE

But I thought you were mad.

Gabrielle stops hopping and limps over to a chair, sitting she rubs her foot without looking at it.

GABRIELLE

(Cont’d)

I hope it at least has the

decency to look mangled.

Adrienne crosses the room and kneels before Gabrielle.

ADRIENNE

Here.  Let me look at it.

Gabrielle realizes that Adrienne doesn't know she's not Sappho. She pulls her foot away from the inquisitive hands.

GABRIELLE

No, no.  It's okay.

I'll survive. I've had worse.

Adrienne chuckles and grabs Gabrielle's foot again.

ADRIENNE

When? If you chip a nail, you think

the world is coming to an end.

Gabrielle pulls her foot away again and stands up, prepared to bolt or defend herself depending on what the quickly deteriorating situation calls for.

GABRIELLE

Really, I'm fine. Thanks, though. So

what are you doing here? I thought

you were off smashing more pottery.

Adrienne grins, and moves toward Gabrielle.

ADRIENNE

I ran out, so I figured it was time

to come back here and make up.

You know how we enjoy making up.

Gabrielle starts backing up, but never takes her eyes off of Adrienne.

GABRIELLE

I'm not ready to make up.

I'm... I'm... I'm still mad at you!

Adrienne stops and puts a finger to her own chest.

ADRIENNE

Mad at me? Mad at me for wanting

to protect you and take care of you?

Gee, thanks a lot for your confidence.

Gabrielle knows she in WAY over her head. She holds up her hands to stop Adrienne's words.

GABRIELLE

Give me two minutes.

I'll be right back.

She leaves Adrienne standing in the middle of the room and bolts out the door.

CUT TO:

EXT. HALL - NIGHT

Gabrielle skids to a stop in front of the door of the room that Xena and Sappho are sharing. She pushes on it and nearly falls into the room when it flies open.

CUT TO:

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

When Gabrielle regains her footing, she stands up to find herself at the end of Xena's sword.

GABRIELLE

Whoa! Friend!

Xena lowers her blade and quirks a brow at Gabrielle.

XENA

Problem?

GABRIELLE

Huge problem.

Sappho jumps from the bed where she has been watching, waiting to see what the problem is.

SAPPHO

Did someone try to hurt you?

GABRIELLE

No, someone tried to rub my feet.

XENA

Excuse me?

Gabrielle nods, then turns to Sappho.

GABRIELLE

Adrienne decided to

come home and make up.

SAPPHO

Excuse me?

GABRIELLE

She's in your room right now

wondering why you ran out of there

like the Furies were on your tail.

SAPPHO

You didn't tell her?

GABRIELLE

No, I didn't tell her. No one

is supposed to know.

SAPPHO

You could have told her.

XENA

No, Gabrielle was right not to say

anything. Until we're sure, no one should

know. No one is above suspicion.

SAPPHO

Xena, this is Adrienne we're

talking about. She loves me.

She would never hurt me.

As they are in the middle of the debate the door to the room opens. Adrienne enters, suddenly looking VERY confused as she sees the two 'Sapphos' before her.

ADRIENNE

What in the name of....

SAPPHO

I can explain.

ADRIENNE

I hope someone can. You tear

out of our bedroom... like....

She stops, turning slowly to Gabrielle.

ADRIENNE

(Cont’d)

It was you in our

room, wasn't it?

GABRIELLE

Yes, but there's a very

good explanation.

SAPPHO

Adrienne, this is

Xena and Gabrielle....

ADRIENNE

(to Gabrielle)

What were you

doing in our room?

GABRIELLE

I could tell you, but

then I'd have to kill you.

She leans toward Xena and whispers.

GABRIELLE

(Cont’d)

I've always wanted to say that.

SAPPHO

They're here to help me. They're

going to find out who wants to

stop me from opening the school.

Adrienne turns to Sappho.  There is a hurt look clearly cut across her face.

ADRIENNE

This is the help you were talking

about? The people you called

here to protect you? You

don't trust me, do you?

Sappho moves to her lover and caresses her cheek.

SAPPHO

Of course I do, but I need you

here with me, not running around

maybe getting yourself hurt.

XENA

She's right. Leave getting hurt

to the professionals.

(beat)

All right everyone; we need to

get some sleep. You two stay

here and lock the door.

Gabrielle and I will go back to your room. Adrienne, did anyone see you come in?

ADRIENNE

No.

XENA

Good. Make sure you lock

that door. C'mon Gabrielle.

CUT TO:

INT. HALL - NIGHT

Xena and Gabrielle are walking down the hall toward Sappho's bedroom.

GABRIELLE

Do you get the feeling for people

who are in love, they don't like

each other very much?

XENA

I think they've just got problems.

I would imagine the stress of this

situation is laying pretty heavily on them.

GABRIELLE

Then we have to find the answers to

who is trying to hurt Sappho. If they're

really in love, they deserve the chance

to fix what's wrong.  Taking off some

of that pressure should help.

Xena puts her arm around Gabrielle's should and pulls her close, kissing the top of her head.

XENA

My hopeless romantic.

GABRIELLE

One of us has to do it.

FADE TO:

INT. OFFICE - DAY

Gabrielle is seated at Sappho's desk, reading from a stack of parchments. She is smiling as she reads the beautiful words.

The door to the office opens; Xena, Adrienne and Sappho enter. Gabrielle stands up and approaches Sappho with one of the parchments.

GABRIELLE

This is beautiful.

Sappho looks shyly at Adrienne and back to Gabrielle.

SAPPHO

Thank you. I wrote it the other night.

I was having trouble sleeping.

GABRIELLE

I must admit Aphrodite would be

thrilled. I don't think anyone has ever

referred to her as a 'wile-weaver' before.

XENA

She has been called lots of other things.

Gabrielle chuckles and gives the parchment to Sappho. Then she leans over and whispers.

GABRIELLE

You should do a private

reading of that.

SAPPHO

Maybe I will.

Xena claps her hands together to get everyone's attention.

XENA

Okay, here's the plan for the day.

Adrienne, you and Gabrielle will stay

here and see what you can find out.

Sappho and I are going into town

and see what we can dig up there.

ADRIENNE

I don't think Sappho should

leave the grounds.

Xena leads Gabrielle over, next to Adrienne.

XENA

She's not. She's staying right here.

ADRIENNE

Well sometimes a wall has

to fall on me, but I get it now.

XENA

Good. And since you know the

people here, you are the most

logical choice to help Gabrielle

with her end of the investigation.

Adrienne nods, giving Xena look of appreciation.

ADRIENNE

Thanks.

XENA

No problem.

FADE OUT.

END ACT THREE

ACT FOUR