ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

EXT. TOWN - DAY

Xena and Adrienne are watching as Aubin is marched in chains from the magistrate’s office to a waiting ship. Many of the people line the route, shouting and yelling angry comments as he passes by.

As he is led to the waiting ship he makes eyes contact with Xena. There is a brief pause in the walk and Xena steps forward.

XENA

I believe in justice and you had

better pray that they keep you

locked up for the rest of your life.

They guards pull Aubin away, taking him up the gangplank. Danus stops in front of Xena.

DANUS

I feel like I owe you an apology.

If I had listened to my son, this

might not have happened.

XENA

Gabrielle and I knew the risks.

The mainland court had better

do the right thing though.

DANUS

They will. I’m going with him. I’m going

to present the case. I won’t let him

get away with it. He will be punished.

ADRIENNE

When you get back, come out to the

house and let us know what happened.

DANUS

I will.

CUT TO:

INT. GREAT ROOM - EVENING

There is a huge party in progress. Adrienne and Sappho are mixing and being charming hosts to dozens of guests. They look very happy together. Smiling and winking at each other from across the room, it’s apparent that they are working through any problems they may have had.

The doors open and Xena pushes Gabrielle’s chair into the room. As the doors close, Sappho and Adrienne rush over to them and the foursome exchange hugs.

SAPPHO

Ladies and gentlemen, may I

have your attention please?

All voices stop and all eyes turn to the door.

SAPPHO

(Cont’d)

I would like to introduce my dear friends and

our honored guests, Xena and Gabrielle.

Without their help, the school would not be

opening and the feeling of safety and

security that we’ve always known here

would have been lost forever.

The room erupts in applause and they both look slightly embarrassed but take the accolades well. Adrienne gestures for the crowd to quiet.

ADRIENNE

As you know, Sappho’s Academy for the

study of fine arts is going to become a

realization and it is only because of these

two people that it is very possible. First

we’d like to unveil the model of what the

completed building will look like.

She nods and two servants pull a sheet from a large table in the center of the room where a model of a large series of building is revealed to the crowd to much ooohing and ahhing.

SAPPHO

And I’d like to take the time

to make the formal dedication

of one section of the building.

She steps back into the room. Adrienne and Xena gently lift Gabrielle’s chair down the steps and then push it to the table.

SAPPHO

(Cont’d)

I knew when I met them that these

were two very special women.

She lays her hand on Gabrielle’s shoulder.

SAPPHO

(Cont’d)

Especially this one,

she’s so good looking.

The room erupts in laughter. Giving it a moment, Sappho moves to the table and retrieves a scroll from under the table.

SAPPHO

(Cont’d)

What I really didn’t know about

Gabrielle was how incredibly

talented she is as a bard.

Gabrielle looks to Xena who tries to look innocent, but can’t quite manage it. She looks away, trying to smother a guilty grin.

SAPPHO

(Cont’d)

With Xena’s help, we have convinced

Gabrielle to write a new scroll for us

so that we can archive it in the

library that will bear her name.

Gabrielle looks properly embarrassed as the audience applauds once again. Xena gives her shoulders a loving rub.

GABRIELLE

(to Xena)

You knew about this.

XENA

Of course I did.

ADRIENNE

And now maybe we could ask our

eminent guest if she would give us a

live performance of one of her stories.

GABRIELLE

I... I... don’t....

Xena steps forward.

XENA

Actually, if it is all right, I would like

to try and be the storyteller tonight.

With the approval of the crowd, Xena steps up on a small stage and turns directly to Gabrielle.  The room is quiet as the first words are heard.

XENA

I sing a song of Gabrielle, the

fearless young girl who followed

her heart and then stole mine....

CUT TO:

INT BEDROOM - NIGHT

Xena lifts Gabrielle from her chair and sits her on the bed, then kneels to help her take off her boots.

GABRIELLE

That was very sneaky. I can’t

believe you managed to

keep that secret from me.

XENA

Gabrielle, you don’t do the things

I have done in my life without being

able to keep a secret.  Besides I just

kept you focused on getting better.

Xena tosses Gabrielle’s boots away and takes her feet gently into her hands.

XENA

(Cont’d)

Ready?

GABRIELLE

Sure.

She looks down and concentrates as she wills her feet to move in Xena’s hands. After a moment there is movement in her right foot and a huge smile breaks out across her face.

GABRIELLE

Did you see that?!

XENA

Yes, I did. Try again.

Once again she does, and there is movement in her left foot, causing her foot to lift a bit from Xena’s hand.

XENA

I think this is wonderful. Gabrielle, this

is a very good sign. We should really

start working as much as you can stand.

GABRIELLE

Absolutely. I love it here Xena and I could

be very happy here, but this just isn’t us. If I

can get back on my feet and you think I’ll still

be as good as before, then I want to leave.

FADE TO:

EXT. GARDEN - DAY

Two parallel bars have been constructed and Xena places Gabrielle’s chair at the end of them.

XENA

This is the big day. You ready?

GABRIELLE

You bet. We’ve worked

hard to get me here.

XENA

You’ve done all the hard stuff.

I’m just the cheering section.

Gabrielle grasps the bars and pulls herself up. There is a brief look of pain then she grips the bars and forces her left leg forward, taking her first step on her own in months.

XENA
(Cont’d)

That’s my girl. Come on,

Gabrielle you can do it.

GABRIELLE

One of my earliest lessons

coming back to haunt me.

XENA

What?

GABRIELLE

Start on the left foot.

She takes another three or four steps and pauses, gasping for air.

XENA

Do you want to stop?

GABRIELLE

No. I want you to go down there and

be ready to catch me, because I’m

going to fall flat on my face if you don’t.

Xena chuckles and moves to the end of the bars.

GABRIELLE

(Cont’d)

What do I get if I get down there?

XENA

How about a kiss?

GABRIELLE

You can do better than that.

She grunts as she takes another two steps then pauses to catch her breath.

GABRIELLE

(Cont’d)

I know you can.

XENA

How about a kiss, a soak in

a hot tub and a massage?

GABRIELLE

Now you’re talking.

CUT TO:

EXT. GARDEN - DAY

Gabrielle is on her feet. She and Xena are sparring, very slowly, with exaggerated slowness. Xena is making Gabrielle turn from side to side to block her blows. After one movement Gabrielle was not expecting she stops and bends over, dropping her staff.

GABRIELLE

Ah that stings!

She drops to the ground and rubs the small of her back. Xena joins her and helps her lay face down in the grass so she can rub her back.

XENA

Just breath slow and

easy. I’ve got ya.

She rubs Gabrielle’s back and tries to make the obvious pain her partner is in disappear.

GABRIELLE

I’m walking, but I still can’t fight!

XENA

Give it time. You’re healing.

You know these things

don’t happen overnight.

GABRIELLE

They do for you. I’m not sure I’ll

ever be able to fight again. Every

time I have to extend my reach it

pulls and stings all the way to my toes.

Xena can hear the defeat in her voice and carefully pulls her into her arms, cradling her close.

XENA

It’s okay. Just relax.  We did

a lot of work today.  Your

muscles are just tired.

GABRIELLE

My everything is tired.

She sniffs and clings to Xena

XENA

I know.

Xena can tell now is the time to be sympathetic and not the cheering section. She just holds Gabrielle close as she watches the sun set over the ocean.

CUT TO:

EXT. GARDEN - DAY

Xena is seated on the ground in front of Gabrielle and Gabrielle has her feet planted in the middle of Xena’s back

XENA

Push.

GABRIELLE

I don’t want to hurt you.

XENA

You’re not going to hurt me. Push.

Gabrielle lays back and pushes against Xena’s back. Xena leans back pushing against Gabrielle’s feet.

XENA

(Cont’d)

This will strengthen your muscles

and help loosen them up.

GABRIELLE

(grunting)

That’s what you said about the

last five weird exercises we did.

XENA

(teasingly)

And three days ago you could only

do three of those weird exercises.

Are you seeing a pattern here? You’re

getting stronger everyday. I think it’s

safe to say you’re going to be fine.

GABRIELLE

Yeah, well, I’ll be happy when I can

get my leg over my head again.

This comment causes Xena to burst out laughing, which causes them both to lose the position. She rolls onto her stomach and crawls over Gabrielle, looking down at her with a mischievous smile.

XENA

So will I.

Gabrielle just rolls her eyes and shakes her head.

XENA

(Cont’d)

Now you complain?

CUT TO:

EXT. GARDEN - DAY

Gabrielle has her sais in hand and is throwing them with a great deal of force at two targets at the other end of the garden. When the second sai lands dead on, she takes a step toward the target. She still has a slight limp, but it’s clear her recovery is nearly complete and given time she will heal without any trace of her injury.

When she turns, she sees Sappho standing back at her throwing line. She puts her sais away and joins her friend.

SAPPHO

I guess this means that you

and Xena will be leaving soon.

GABRIELLE

In a couple weeks, I think.

SAPPHO

I’ll be sorry to see you go.

GABRIELLE

Oh yeah, I’ve been a real joy.

Cranky, grumpy, and hard

to get along with.

SAPPHO

Courageous, determined. A

pleasure to be around considering

your circumstances. You are

a very inspiring person.

GABRIELLE

You give me too much credit.

SAPPHO

No, I’ve read those scrolls of yours that we’ve

managed to round up. You have inspired a

certain tall, dark, warrior type to things she

never considered possible. People think I’m

a talented person Gabrielle, but to be honest

I’m in awe of you. I write because I dream

about doing the things that you do. You

do the things that you write about.

GABRIELLE

Thank you. Part of me was looking forward to

being here and maybe teaching with you at the

school. At the time it seemed like the perfect

answer and I very well could have just given up

and I know we would have stayed here. But I

also know in my heart of hearts that Xena

wouldn’t have been truly happy here. She

inspired me to work hard to get better.

SAPPHO

That’s the beauty of your relationship.

You seem to bring out the best in the other.

GABRIELLE

We do. Just like you and Adrienne do.

SAPPHO

I know, but I didn’t realize that was true until I

started reading some of your stories. It occurred

to me that if you and Xena could survive all that

you’ve been through and still be so bound together,

then Adrienne and I should be able to work past

the things we’ve been through.  They are so very

minor in comparison. And we’re really trying. We’ve

actually set aside time every night, just for us.

GABRIELLE

I’m glad. She loves you very much.

She only wants to make you

happy and keep you safe.

SAPPHO

I know, almost as much as

I love her stubborn soul.

Gabrielle laughs and shakes her head.

GABRIELLE

We must just attract them.

SAPPHO

Lucky us.

GABRIELLE

Very lucky us.

CUT TO:

INT. DINING ROOM - EVE

The four are having dinner together, laughing and enjoying the company.

SAPPHO

The ship will take you to the

Mainland tomorrow if you’re

sure you want to leave.

XENA

It’s not that we want to leave....

GABRIELLE

It’s just what we do.

ADRIENNE

Somehow I knew you

were going to say that.

Xena gestures to Sappho.

XENA

So are you going to

leave it short?

SAPPHO

Yeah I think so. Leaves

more room for nuzzling.

Gabrielle looks to Xena, who smirks.

GABRIELLE

I should have known it wasn’t just

because, ‘It’ll be easier to take

care of, Gabrielle’. After all these

years, how naive can I be?

Xena leans over and nuzzles her neck.

XENA

Just the right amount, thanks.

CUT TO:

EXT. SHIP’S DECK - DAY

Xena is standing behind Gabrielle with her arms wrapped around her as they watch the island fade into the distance.

XENA

We come for a week

and end up....

GABRIELLE

We’ve spent less time

in worse places.

XENA

No kidding. I remember a day

in Rome that went on for a week.

GABRIELLE

Which one?

XENA

Your pick. How’s your back?

GABRIELLE

Stiff, but other than that, it’s fine.

XENA

We could have stayed there you know.

GABRIELLE

Nah, I don’t think so. There must be

someplace in the world you’ve never

been. We should go check it out.

Xena laughs and tightens her arms around Gabrielle.

FADE OUT.

DISCLAIMER

Gabrielle has recovered just fine, but she plans on

using this to get sympathy for some time to come.

COMING NEXT WEEK ON XENA