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ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
EXT. ROCKY OUTCROPPING - EARLY EVENING
Xena and Gabrielle remain observing the raider's camp. It is starting to get dark, and below them raiders move along the path lighting torches.
XENA Damn.
GABRIELLE I guess it was too much to hope they'd just blow out the lights and close the door, huh?
XENA We've still got a much better chance of getting down there at night.
They watch as the torches catch, lighting the path brightly.
GABRIELLE You sure?
Xena sighs. She is not sure.
XENA We've got limited options. Cliff's overhung. I can't climb it. We don't have ropes to go down.
GABRIELLE Thank the gods for small favors.
XENA They've seen both of us, so trying a distraction would be deadly.
Gabrielle gazes down at the camp. They can just see a flash of dirty white that is Toris' shirt. He is tied up to a tree on one side of the small clearing.
GABRIELLE Poor Toris.
Xena pushes back from the outcropping.
XENA C'mon. Let's get into position. Maybe once we get to the head of that path, I’ll see a better way down.
Gabrielle joins her, and they start to make their way down the hillside.
CUT TO:
EXT. RAIDER CAMP – EVENING
Toris is tied to the tree. Raiders pass nearby, jeering at him. Toris seems pensive and not unexpectedly, sad.
RAIDER Don't think anyone's gonna rescue you, old man.
TORIS I don't.... I made sure of that.
RAIDER We don't like smart guys playing games with us. You can just stay there and starve while we eat your harvest.
The raider laughs and walks off. Toris looks out into the darkness.
TORIS Well, can't lay the blame for this one at your feet, Xena. Bet you'll be glad for that.
An owl hoots in the distance. The breeze picks up, and Toris shivers in the growing chill.
CUT TO:
EXT. PATH TO RAIDER’S CAMP – NIGHT
Xena crouches at the head of the path, just outside the torchlight. Gabrielle kneels next to her, putting a hand on her shoulder.
GABRIELLE Xena, it's too dangerous.
Xena looks at her in surprise.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) We're both long past questioning each other's courage, but if we go down that path, they'll fill us both so full of arrows we'll look like porcupines. We've only got two hands each.
XENA If we leave those torches lit, sure.
Xena removes her chakram from her hip and studies the torches. There are twelve, evenly spaced down the path.
XENA (cont’d) Ready?
GABRIELLE For?
XENA I'll snuff the torches out, and we make a run for it. Get to that little stand of trees before they can relight the torches.
GABRIELLE What if they just start shooting when the lights go out?
XENA Duck.
Xena cocks her arm, and lets the chakram fly. It skims through the air and slices through the torches in rapid succession, first taking out one side, then coming back and taking out the other. Xena catches the chakram as it returns, and they both start running.
A yell goes up from the camp, and as Gabrielle suspected, arrows start flying.
GABRIELLE (under her breath) Least this one won't be in the back.
Xena knocks aside two of the arrows, but they start to come like a swarm around her and Gabrielle.
XENA Been here, done this. Not again.
Xena grabs Gabrielle's arm and throws herself to the ground, pulling Gabrielle with her. They both start tumbling down the path, which is at a steep incline. The arrows fly over their heads in the darkness, but it is a very rough ride for both of them.
The raiders start to run up the path. Xena and Gabrielle roll past them unseen, and tumble off into the brush just above the entrance to the camp.
The raiders replace the torches, and start combing the path. The entire camp is in an uproar.
Xena and Gabrielle roll to a stop against a tree, and crawl into the bushes out of sight. They are battered, bruised, and very sore.
GABRIELLE Ugh.
XENA Shh.
GABRIELLE They're yelling too loud to hear me. Ow.
Xena is flat on her belly, peering through the bushes. The raiders are running up and down the path, searching for them. The gates are lit up, and they can hear shouts of anger and consternation.
XENA You all right?
GABRIELLE (hesitating) Yeah.
Xena looks over her shoulder at Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) Wind knocked out of me... that's all.
XENA Sure?
GABRIELLE (more confidently) Yeah.
Gabrielle gets down on her belly and joins Xena. They peer through the leaves.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) Know what?
XENA (concerned) What?
GABRIELLE Sometimes wearing almost no clothes is just a bad idea.
Gabrielle half rolls over and plucks something from her bare belly, then hands it to Xena. It is a sharply pointed pinecone. Xena looks at it.
XENA Ow. (pausing and smiling) Want me to kiss it and make it better?
Gabrielle appreciates the humor.
GABRIELLE You start that, and we could be here all night.
XENA (chuckling) Let's give em a chance to settle down.
Xena and Gabrielle watch the raiders. Confused and angry, they comb every inch of the path until they are satisfied there are no intruders.
GABRIELLE (whispering) Think they'll come this way?
Xena shakes her head.
XENA No. It's too far off the path. They think no one could have gone that far.
One of the raiders lets out a yell, and points. Two others rush up the path, and a moment later a scuffle ensues.
GABRIELLE Now what?
XENA Who knows? It's... oh, damn it.
The two raiders come back down the path, dragging Jaral and another man with them. Both are very battered, and the second man has an arrow sticking out of his leg.
Gabrielle lets her head fall against the ground in frustration.
GABRIELLE Didn't we tell them to stay home?
Xena examines the captives, and finds a silver lining.
XENA They've stopped looking for us. C'mon. Let's get closer.
Xena crawls off into the underbrush. After a moment, Gabrielle follows her.
CUT TO:
EXT. RAIDER CAMP - NIGHT - LATER
The two villagers have been tied next to Toris. The injured man appears unconscious.
TORIS What are you doing here? Trying to be a hero?
JARAL No, I....
Jaral realizes the raiders are listening.
JARAL (cont’d) I mean I had to give it a try. I couldn't just leave you here.
Toris shakes his head disgustedly.
TORIS Idiot. Now we'll all die.
Jaral looks around as best he can, searching the shadows around the camp. He sees nothing.
JARAL I’m sorry.
CUT TO:
EXT. RAIDER CAMP - NIGHT - SAME TIME
Xena and Gabrielle have crept up to the edge of the raider's camp.
XENA Here we are.
Gabrielle looks past Xena's shoulder.
GABRIELLE How are we going to get out of here, Xena? It's the same gauntlet on the way out.
XENA We'll need a distraction.
Gabrielle appears to consider this.
GABRIELLE Well, I could try....
XENA Telling them a story?
GABRIELLE (clearing throat) I was thinking more along the lines of that dance....
XENA (chuckling) They don't deserve it. I've got a better idea, but it'll take both of us.
Gabrielle turns and looks at Xena, both of her eyebrows lifting in astonishment.
CUT TO:
EXT. RAIDER CAMP - NIGHT - SHORT TIME LATER
Two guards stand watch over the path. Other raiders walk around behind them, relaxing and laughing.
Suddenly, in the center of the camp, a dark figure drops from a tree into the area just near the campfire, letting out a very loud, wild yell.
XENA Yiyieieieiei!
The raiders jump.
XENA (cont’d) Hello, boys. It's playtime.
The raiders rush to attack Xena. Xena draws her sword and becomes the center of a mass of confused fighting. As the raiders pour into the central area, a shadow slips behind them, and races for the stolen merchant wagons near the rear of the camp.
CUT TO:
EXT. RAIDER CAMP - TREES - NIGHT - SAME TIME
Toris and Jaral hear the commotion, and Xena's yell.
JARAL What was that?
Toris has a look of very mixed emotions on his face. He struggles against the ropes tying him, but can't budge them.
TORIS Trouble.
JARAL More trouble? That's all we need.
TORIS (grimly) Trouble for them.
CUT TO:
EXT. RAIDER CAMP - CAMPFIRE - NIGHT - SAME TIME
XENA C'mon, you little cowards!
Xena grabs the heads of two men, and slams them together. The two men collapse. Xena ducks under a sword and kicks a raider against a wall. She picks up another raider and throws him into a group of others, then turns to face a wave of men coming at her from the rear.
CUT TO:
EXT. RAIDER CAMP - WAGONS - NIGHT - SAME TIME
Gabrielle is working fast. She throws a harness onto the nearest horse and backs him up to an empty wagon, all the while watching out for anyone seeing her.
The horse protests.
GABRIELLE Shh. You'll thank me after we get out of here.
Gabrielle gets the harness fastened, then she grabs the horses bridle and starts leading him forward. He rears up, almost taking Gabrielle into the air with him, then he reluctantly moves ahead.
CUT TO:
EXT. RAIDER CAMP - TREES - NIGHT - SAME TIME
Toris cranes his head to try and see what is going on by the fire. All they can hear is noise, and yelling, and the sounds of fighting.
TORIS She's gotten even crazier over the years.
Jaral hears him.
JARAL Is it Xena?
Toris is about to answer, but just then a wagon crashes through the edge of the camp, mowing down a thick patch of hedges as it thunders through.
JARAL (cont’d) Ahh!!!!
Gabrielle manages to get the horse to stop. She jumps off its back and runs over to Toris, pulling out her dagger and cutting him free.
GABRIELLE Get in the wagon.
TORIS No one asked....
GABRIELLE (yelling) SHUT UP and GET IN THE WAGON!!
Gabrielle gives Toris a healthy shove towards the wooden cart and runs over to Jaral, cutting him free. Jaral falls to his knees, then gets up and goes to the other man.
JARAL He's hurt.
Gabrielle helps him pick up the injured man and they rush to the wagon. Gabrielle turns her head and watches the now visible fight anxiously.
GABRIELLE Hurry!
CUT TO:
EXT. RAIDER CAMP - CAMPFIRE - NIGHT - SAME TIME
Xena is now fighting the entire camp. They have her backed into a corner and she is holding them off with sheer skill and stubbornness.
She meets four men at once, her sword clashing against theirs and throwing them aside. Xena leaps up and kicks out to the front, kicking all four men in the head, then flipping in a back flip only to land on a fifth man and squash him flat.
A dozen of the raiders jump on Xena. She disappears under them.
CUT TO:
EXT. RAIDER CAMP - WAGON - NIGHT - SAME TIME
Gabrielle tries to back the horse up, but the horse is frightened by the noise and smell of blood and refuses, rearing up and almost hitting Gabrielle in the head with his hooves.
Gabrielle gets out from underneath the horse, and sees Xena go down as she looks past the wagon. Her eyes widen.
GABRIELLE Xena!!
Xena fights her way to the top of the pile, kicking and punching, lashing out powerfully with the hilt of her sword. She spots Gabrielle and their glances lock for a long instant. Then Xena disappears beneath a new wave of raiders.
Gabrielle grabs the horse’s head harness and drags its head down. She takes a deep breath and lets out a yell that nearly makes the animal's mane stand up straight.
The horse scrambles backwards to get away from her, and Gabrielle holds on and follows. She nearly gets dragged off her feet but continues yelling at the top of her voice.
The wagon rolls rapidly backwards towards the fire, then bumps to a halt as its wheels hit a log and almost tosses it's occupants into the air.
Gabrielle jumps onto the horse’s back and puts her fingers between her teeth and lets out a shrill whistle. She watches the melee.
Xena cannot be seen. Then the pile of men heaves up, and half a dozen of them go flying in all directions. Xena appears, fighting like a wildcat.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) Xena!
Xena grins, then she shakes herself free of another half dozen raiders and runs, directly towards the fire.
She leaps into the air just short of the fire, somersaults twice, then lands shockingly, in the heart of the bonfire itself.
TORIS She missed!
Gabrielle watches anxiously.
GABRIELLE C'mon... c'mon....
The fire explodes outward in all directions, sending burning embers, branches, and coals flying. Out of this burst, Xena comes flying, sparks surrounding her.
She flips twice, then lands in the back of the wagon.
XENA Let's go!
Gabrielle slaps the horse, and urges him into a run.
Xena looks behind them, to see the entire camp catching fire, as the raiders stop worrying about her and start worrying about burning to death.
The wagon dashes away, as the growing fire casts light on Xena's grim smile.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT FOUR
TAG
FADE IN:
EXT. VILLAGE SQUARE - DAY
Xena and Gabrielle walk together through the village, which has begun to be rebuilt. They stop in front of the well, watching as a man and woman draw up the first bucket of water since it was restored.
GABRIELLE Time to leave?
XENA Just about.
Across the square, Toris emerges from one of the damaged huts and crosses the square, to enter another. Xena and Gabrielle both watch him.
GABRIELLE You know, Xena....
Xena turns and gently puts her hand over Gabrielle's mouth. This is a discussion they have had continually since Xena destroyed the raider camp.
XENA I'm over it. He won't talk to me. End of discussion.
Gabrielle sighs. Xena removes her hand.
GABRIELLE He's your only family.
Xena looks at her, and raises an eyebrow.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) You know what I mean.
Across the square, Toris emerges again, and this time comes towards them. Xena and Gabrielle wait as he approaches. Toris stops next to them.
TORIS You are leaving?
XENA Yes. Lucky you.
Gabrielle pinches Xena. Xena glares at her.
GABRIELLE We think things are going pretty well here. I don't think the raiders will be back soon.
Toris looks at Gabrielle.
TORIS I hope you're right.
He pauses, and turns to Xena.
TORIS (cont’d) Thanks for coming after me.
Gabrielle grins. Xena manages a gracious nod.
XENA You're welcome.
TORIS I know you felt obligated....
Xena interrupts him.
XENA Don't flatter yourself. I'd have done it for anyone. (pausing) And before you tell me to get lost and not come back, you'd better get used to having a sister again because I'll go and come as I please.
Toris seems almost bemused at this.
TORIS You haven't changed, you know that? Even with all your heroics.
Xena snorts, and turns, going to Argo and preparing to leave.
GABRIELLE That's not true.
Toris regards Gabrielle.
TORIS I've known her longer than you have, Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE You're just her brother. You have no idea who she is now. I'm her partner, and I do.
TORIS Just? Ah. As in, you can't pick your family, is that it? Well, maybe you're right.
GABRIELLE I know I am. We'll be back.
Toris looks past Gabrielle, at Xena. Then he looks back at Gabrielle.
TORIS You haven't changed, either.
Toris turns, and walks away, shaking his head. Gabrielle is taken aback for a moment, then she smiles, and joins Xena at Argo's side. Xena takes Argo's reins and they start off down the path.
GABRIELLE I think he's warming up to you.
Xena looks at Gabrielle in disbelief, then starts laughing.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) Really.
Xena puts her arm around Gabrielle's shoulders as they walk, and Gabrielle returns the embrace as the forest closes in around them.
FADE OUT.
DISCLAIMER
No sibling rivalries were harmed in the
making of this motion picture, but
COMING NEXT WEEK ON XENA
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