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ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
EXT. TOWN - DAY
Xena and Sappho are walking through the town. Sappho is dressed in Gabrielle's gear, right down to the sais in her boots.
SAPPHO I don't know how Gabrielle can dress like this all the time. It's chilly and the sais are heavy.
XENA It’s less restrictive in a fight. Being able to move is very important.
SAPPHO I imagine it would be. Do you two do that often?
XENA Too often. But it's what we do. I'm not sure we'd know how to behave under other circumstances.
Sappho points to a well dressed man, standing near a vegetable cart, obviously doing business with the merchant.
SAPPHO That's Danos. He's the island magistrate.
XENA Have you two had problems?
SAPPHO Not really, but he didn't seem thrilled when I mentioned the school to him.
XENA Then he's as good a place to start as any.
CUT TO:
EXT. GARDEN - DAY
Gabrielle and Adrienne are walking through the immense gardens of the estate. Adrienne seems to be looking at everything but Gabrielle as they talk.
GABRIELLE So, who do you think could be behind this?
ADRIENNE I have no idea. I asked her to let me look into it, but she said she had sent for help. I guess you and Xena were the help.
GABRIELLE She hurt your feelings, didn't she?
ADRIENNE That's not important. What's important is you find out who wants to hurt her.
GABRIELLE That we find out. Xena told you to help me, remember?
ADRIENNE And you're really going to let me help you?
GABRIELLE Absolutely. You can help me from making any big mistakes while I'm impersonating Sappho.
ADRIENNE Umm then you need to be more.... more....
GABRIELLE More what?
ADRIENNE Girly.
GABRIELLE Excuse me?
ADRIENNE Well, Sappho is the epitome of woman. Very feminine.
GABRIELLE And I'm not?
ADRIENNE Sure you are. It's just a different style. You have confidence in the way you walk, like if anyone messes with you, you can kick their butts. Sappho couldn't hurt a fly. You need to....
GABRIELLE Femme it up?
ADRIENNE Just a little.
GABRIELLE I can do that.
She takes a few steps ahead of Adrienne, walking with a sway to her hips that is about to give Adrienne whiplash.
ADRIENNE That's it! You've got it.
CUT TO:
EXT. TOWN - DAY
DANUS stands staring at Sappho pretending to be Gabrielle, shaking his head.
DANUS I can't believe it. You look just like Sappho.
XENA Amazing isn't it?
DANUS Very.
He takes his eyes away from Sappho and looks to Xena
DANUS (Cont’d) So, what can I do for you?
XENA I'm hoping you can give us some information. Gabrielle and I are here because Sappho said someone is trying to kill her.
DANUS Kill her? Who would want to kill her?
XENA That's what we're trying to find out. We hoped you might have some answers.
SAPPHO She thinks someone wants to keep her from starting her school.
DANUS Oh that. Well, I must say that there are members of the island who would rather not see that happen simply because it would bring to many outsiders to the island, but to kill Sappho over it. I don't think so.
Xena chews on the inside of her lip for a moment, giving his words serious consideration.
XENA So you don't know of anyone who would take such drastic measures?
DANUS No. I wish I could help you more.
XENA You've been more help than you can know. Gabrielle and I are going to keep looking around. I hope you don't mind.
DANUS No, of course not.
XENA Come on, Gabrielle.
They walk away but not too far. Xena stops near a wall and guides Sappho back against it as well so they are out of sight.
SAPPHO What?
XENA Just wait.
Xena watches as Danus makes a beeline to the back of the market and disappears.
XENA (Cont’d) I thought as much. He knows more that he's telling us.
CUT TO:
INT. GUESTHOUSE - DAY
Gabrielle and Adrienne are sitting at a table waiting for Chancellor Aubin. Gabrielle is picking at the wood grain on the table; Adrienne reaches over and takes her hand, shaking her head no.
GABRIELLE Sorry.
ADRIENNE It's okay.
GABRIELLE What's taking him so long?
ADRIENNE Chancellor Aubin is at best.... trying on the nerves.
GABRIELLE Wonderful.
The door opens and Aubin enters. He is walking with a cane and his right foot sports a large white bandage.
AUBIN To what do I owe this wonderful surprise?
ADRIENNE We wanted to see how you were recovering, Chancellor.
Aubin takes a seat, eyeing Gabrielle curiously.
AUBIN Oh I'm fine, getting better each day. (to Gabrielle) My dear, are you feeling all right? You don't seem quite yourself?
GABRIELLE Oh I'm fine. Just a lot on my mind, you know.
AUBIN Have you had any other problems?
GABRIELLE No. Not recently.
ADRIENNE We have also brought in some help. Friends who are going to get to the bottom of this.
AUBIN And these friends would be?
GABRIELLE Xena, the Warrior Princess and her partner, Gabrielle.
AUBIN Gabrielle and Xena? Not possible, they'd have to be in their fifties by now.
ADRIENNE They look great. As a matter of fact there is an astonishing resemblance between Sappho and Gabrielle. They could be twins.
Aubin eyes ‘Sappho’ with some suspicion.
AUBIN Is that why you cut your beautiful hair my dear?
Gabrielle runs her hand through her hair and smiles.
GABRIELLE Well, it was just time for a change. I saw Gabrielle’s hair and decided I liked it, and thought I would give it a try. I can always let it grow out again.
AUBIN Very true. So you called them here to help you find out who is behind the problems that you’ve had?
GABRIELLE That’s the plan.
AUBIN How long have you known them?
Gabrielle definitely gets the feeling that Aubin is trying to turn the tables here and she’s not about to let that happen.
GABRIELLE This is the first time I’ve ever met them, but I did a poem for Xena once. So she could give it as a gift to Gabrielle. I figured she owed me a favor and she is supposed to be the best person for this sort of job.
AUBIN Or if you need a small village slaughtered in under two hours.
Gabrielle takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly so Aubin doesn’t get the response he wants. Adrienne can see Gabrielle is getting mad, so she reaches out and gives her hand a squeeze.
ADRIENNE Well, Chancellor, we won’t keep you any longer. We just wanted to see how you were feeling. If you need anything to assist in your recovery, please don’t hesitate to ask.
AUBIN Thank you. (beat) Both.
CUT TO:
EXT. GARDEN – DAY
Gabrielle is furious, madder than one human being has a right to be. Adrienne is watching her as she tries not to blow and start beating the first thing she comes into contact with.
GABRIELLE Of all the....
ADRIENNE Gabrielle....
GABRIELLE That son of a....
ADRIENNE Gabrielle....
Gabrielle proceeds to hit a small statue, knocking its head right off its shoulders. Adrienne’s brow arches. She moves forward slowly, waiting to see if Gabrielle is going to go off again. Gabrielle is now holding her throbbing hand and grimacing.
GABRIELLE Damn it! Xena always tells me not to hit anything harder than her head.
ADRIENNE Here... let me look at it.
Adrienne takes Gabrielle’s hand and slowly checks it for broken bones. Gabrielle watches and smiles.
GABRIELLE You’re a natural nurturer aren’t you?
ADRIENNE I try, but it’s not always well received. If something goes wrong for Sappho, she likes to have an artistic hissy fit and pout. She won’t let me try to make it better.
Adrienne pats Gabrielle’s hand.
ADRIENNE (Cont’d) It’s not broken, but it may bruise up. That’s quite a temper you have there.
GABRIELLE Would you believe me if I told you there’s only one thing I go that crackers over?
ADRIENNE Sure. And I’ll bet it’s the only thing in the world that can drive me that crazy too.
Gabrielle smiles and nods.
GABRIELLE I just get so mad when people say that kind of stuff about Xena.
ADRIENNE Now you know why I keep my little shed. I have to go someplace to work off my frustration. Why is it the ones we love most are always the ones who can make us feel that way?
GABRIELLE Oh, that’s easy. They’re the only ones who make us feel the need to be that passionate. (beat) How long have you and Sappho been together?
ADRIENNE Mmm ten years. How about you and Xena?
GABRIELLE Does the twenty-five years we spent encased in ice count?
Adrienne laughs and pitches a rock across a pond, causing it to skip several times.
ADRIENNE Could you talk, fight and make love?
GABRIELLE No, we were just pretty much frozen in ice.
ADRIENNE Then no. It doesn’t count.
GABRIELLE About seven years, almost eight then.
ADRIENNE Long enough to know each other’s faults.
GABRIELLE Oh yeah, definitely long enough for that. And long enough to truly love each other in spite of them.
Adrienne continues to follow Gabrielle as they walk the path back to the house, only now she is wearing a very thoughtful look as she watches Gabrielle walk ahead of her.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. WORKSITE - EVENING
Xena is poking around to now deserted worksite. She is looking at the one completed wall and then begins examining the partially completed wall and the debris of the scaffold that collapsed.
Gabrielle enters though a grove of trees and smiles as she sees Xena bend over and pick up a board.
GABRIELLE What do we know?
XENA Come here.
Gabrielle joins her partner in the construction site. Xena hands her the board.
XENA (Cont’d) Have a look at that.
GABRIELLE It’s been partially cut through.
XENA Yup. I was actually hoping that this might have been an accident.
Gabrielle tosses down the board.
GABRIELLE No such luck. Lemme tell ya, it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
XENA You don’t like Chancellor Aubin?
GABRIELLE I couldn’t like him if he were the last man on the planet. He did his best to try and trip me up today.
XENA Really? You think he’s on to us?
GABRIELLE I think he thinks he is.
XENA Interesting.
GABRIELLE What did you and Sappho find out in town today?
XENA Not much, to be honest. The magistrate is a squirrelly little fellow with more to tell than he’s saying.
GABRIELLE Sounds like we have two suspects.
XENA Yes, it does.
GABRIELLE Maybe they’re working with each other. Seems they both have a lot to lose if this school opens. Chancellor Aubin risks losing all his students. I can see why that would make him nervous.
XENA The island doesn’t have anything to lose. I just don’t think that they really want more people coming here. Where’s Sappho?
GABRIELLE Up at the house with Adrienne.
XENA And Adrienne... do you think she’s in the clear on this?
GABRIELLE Oh yeah. She adores that woman.
XENA They’ve had some problems.
GABRIELLE That doesn’t prove anything. We’ve had problems and I still love you. Adrienne didn’t mention anything.
XENA I’m sure she didn’t. She was the cause of the problems. Seems that a few years ago she had a little... affair.
GABRIELLE Xena, that doesn’t mean anything. Trust me, Adrienne loves Sappho. And apparently they’ve gotten over it.
XENA True.
Gabrielle moves to her partner and wraps her arms around Xena’s waist, laying her head on her shoulder as they both watch the sunset over the ocean.
GABRIELLE Now this is nice.
XENA Absolutely.
FADE TO:
INT. DINING ROOM - EVENING
Xena and Gabrielle enter the room to find Adrienne hand feeding Sappho an olive and then giving her a passionate kiss.
Gabrielle whispers to Xena.
GABRIELLE Maybe we should come back later.
Xena nods and they are about to leave when Sappho laughs, pulls back from Adrienne and waves them in.
SAPPHO Don’t be silly. Come in. (to Adrienne) You be good.
They both sport huge grins that are not in any danger of fading as Adrienne takes a seat next to Sappho, holding her hand, gently caressing the back of it.
Xena and Gabrielle join them at the table and fix plates for themselves. Apparently the grins that Adrienne and her partner are wearing are contagious and they’ve spread around the table.
SAPPHO (Cont’d) What?
XENA Nothing.
Gabrielle looks to Xena and notices that she is wearing an incredibly rare shade of red. She leans over and whispers.
GABRIELLE You okay?
XENA I’m great.
GABRIELLE What’s wrong?
XENA I’ll tell ya later.
After managing to restore some sense of composure. Xena takes a deep breath and starts the important part of the dinner conversation.
XENA (Cont’d) Well, after today I think we have two very strong suspects. Unfortunately, we have absolutely nothing to link them to the attempts other than the fact that they both have unusual temperaments. I’ve been around long enough to know that being flaky doesn’t’ make you a killer.
ADRIENNE Maybe the intention isn’t to kill Sappho. Maybe it’s just to scare her off of opening the school.
Xena and Gabrielle exchange glances and then quickly turn back to the table.
GABRIELLE That’s as good a theory as any. I mean you’ve received threats, but other than Chancellor Aubin being hurt, there really hasn’t been any attempts have there?
SAPPHO No.
CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
Xena is settling down in bed as Gabrielle changes. Xena is busy fluffing pillows while Gabrielle taps her fingers on the top of the dressing table she’s seated at.
GABRIELLE I think I made a mistake.
XENA What kind of mistake?
Gabrielle turns around and sighs.
GABRIELLE I’m not so sure anymore.
XENA You think Adrienne may now be involved?
GABRIELLE I don’t want to.
She walks across the room and climbs into bed.
GABRIELLE (Cont’d) I really don’t want to. But that comment at dinner tonight and the fact that we know they’ve had problems....
XENA Problems that resulted in them not having enough time for each other as it was.
GABRIELLE Right. Oh Xena, I hope we’re wrong. I hope someone is trying to kill her.
XENA Gabrielle!
GABRIELLE Okay, that didn’t come out right, but you know what I meant.
XENA Yeah, I know what you meant. Sappho told me that Adrienne’s little fling took place during a point in her life when they didn’t have enough time for each other. I’m sure Adrienne was concerned about how the school would take Sappho away from her.
GABRIELLE Let’s just take this a step at a time before we rush to judgment.
XENA Sounds about right.
Gabrielle settles into bed, with her back to Xena so they are spooned together. Xena hums happily and wraps her arm securely around Gabrielle’s waist.
XENA (Cont’d) Nice.
GABRIELLE Very. So you gonna tell me why you had that silly look on your face at dinner tonight?
XENA No.
GABRIELLE No? Come on. You said you’d tell me later.
XENA It’s stupid.
GABRIELLE Oh, now I know I want to hear it. You just don’t do stupid.
Xena sighs and nuzzles closer to Gabrielle.
XENA Are you sure I can’t interest you in something else?
GABRIELLE Maybe. After you tell me.
XENA Tonight when we walked in there and I saw Adrienne kissing Sappho, I felt jealous. I mean, she looks just like you and for just a second, I could see what it would look like to find you in the arms of someone else. I didn’t like it much.
Gabrielle rolls over and smiles.
GABRIELLE That’s so sweet.
XENA Actually I thought it was kind of silly. I mean, you were standing right there with me. I knew it, but still there was just this brief stabbing feeling in my chest.
Gabrielle snuggles in closer and kisses Xena’s throat.
GABRIELLE Thank you. That makes me feel good.
XENA Bet I can make you feel even better.
FADE TO:
EXT. WORKSITE - MORNING
Xena, Gabrielle, Sappho and Adrienne are all out at the worksite. They all appear to be going over the ground very carefully, looking for anything out of the ordinary. Xena picks up that board she had found the night before and waves Adrienne over.
ADRIENNE Did you find something?
Xena hands her the board.
XENA I dunno. You tell me.
Adrienne looks at the board then to Xena.
ADRIENNE It’s been cut.
XENA Yeah, you know anything about it?
ADRIENNE Now just a minute, you can’t possibly think I....
Before Adrienne can finish her sentence, Xena’s attention is drawn away to where Gabrielle and Sappho are sifting through some old bricks. Xena takes off at a full run, yelling as she does.
XENA Gabrielle! Take cover!
Gabrielle doesn’t hesitate. She grabs Sappho and wraps her up in her arms to move her to safety, running and pushing the woman toward the wall. Xena continues her charge toward the grove of trees, knowing that’s where the danger is. She changes directions quickly as an arrow flies through the air and embeds itself into the ground. Resuming her run, she skids to a halt when she sees Gabrielle and Sappho near the wall. With adrenaline clouding her vision it’s hard for her to tell which one of them is bleeding, but it’s clear one of them is. The arrow piercing the back is the source of the blood. Xena looks up in time to see the edge of a dark cloak disappear over the wall of the estate. Torn between following and checking on Gabrielle and Sappho, she decides to stay behind.
Dashing over, she realizes it’s Gabrielle who has taken the arrow in the back. Taking Gabrielle from Sappho, Xena slowly lowers her to the ground. Gabrielle opens her eyes and smiles when she feels Xena’s arms go around her.
GABRIELLE Ouch.
Xena grins at Gabrielle’s word, but they both know that the wound is worse than either is willing to admit.
XENA You’re gonna be okay.
Gabrielle just nods as her eyes slip shut.
FADE OUT.
END ACT FOUR
DISCLAIMER
Sappho wasn't harmed during the making of this
motion
NEXT ON XENA
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