ACT THREE

FADE IN:

EXT. VILLAGE - MORNING

Xena shoots straight up from a sound sleep, grasping at air as if she is reaching and grabbing for a person.

XENA

GABRIELLE!

Her yell brings several members of the village. They watch from a safe distance as she comes to full awareness and looks around for her missing partner. Kal moves quickly through the crowd and stands before her.

KAL

Warrior?

XENA

I had her! Damn it! I had her!

KAL

Warrior? Who did you have?

XENA

Gabrielle! I had my hands

on her! I nearly had her!

KAL

That’s not possible. Your

tyro is in the mountains.

XENA

Tyro? What is a tyro?

KAL

Uh... student. She is your student.

XENA

Gabrielle is not my student.

KAL

You taught her, of course she is.

Realization suddenly sets in for Xena. She nods slowly as she looks around the village.

XENA

Orcin!

She waits. He slowly emerges from the shadows of the trees.

ORCIN

Yes?

XENA

They took her because

I trained her?

ORCIN

Yes. They knew they

couldn’t control you.

XENA

They’re using mind control to

make her do what they want.

ORCIN

Yes. You saw her, didn’t you?

XENA

I was there with her.

Or somewhere with her.

ORCIN

You broke through their control.

XENA

But she didn’t remember me.

ORCIN

Their control. Not their spells.

XENA

Then I can get to her.

ORCIN

Possibly. However the reason that

your last encounter ended so

abruptly is no doubt because they

discovered your communication

and put a block up around it. Were

you using the stone I gave you?

XENA

No. I mean I don’t know.

I fell asleep and....

ORCIN

Was the stone in

your possession?

XENA

Yes.

ORCIN

The stone is an amplifier. It

enhances your natural abilities.

The connection you have with

her. But it does have a price.

XENA

Of course it does. Everything

has a damn price.

ORCIN

Only that they can detect it. If

you want to get to your partner

you will have to find another

way to avoid detection.

CUT TO:

INT. EXERCISE ROOM - DAY

Gabrielle is doing a series of sword drills. She’s working hard and sweat is pouring from her face and neck. Her breathing is hard and labored and it’s clear that what she is trying to do is wear herself out. She finally slows and drops to her knees, staring out a large window at the moon. The position is almost one of defeat as her arms open wide and her head falls back as she looks up to the moon. Her eyes close and then snap open as her hand comes up and grabs the chakram out of the air.

She looks at it, studying it and turning it over in her hand. She finally takes it in both hands. When she does, visions flash through her mind.

FADE TO:

EXT. AMAZON VILLAGE - CEREMONIAL PLATFORM - AFTERNOON

The Amazons start to sing and dance around them, but Xena and Gabrielle only have eyes for each other. They move closer to each other, then go very still, eyes locked and the world around them disregarded.

ADELIA

And so, two are made one,

and the blood of an outsider

is brought into the Amazon

Nation. Xena, we welcome you.

Xena leans forward and kisses Gabrielle. Their hands are still clasped together.

FADE TO:

INT. ARES’ TEMPLE - NIGHT - LATER

Ares snorts. Xena turns to Gabrielle and holds her hand out. Gabrielle accepts it, and allows herself to be drawn over to Xena. She tilts her head and waits, watching Xena's face.

XENA

See that, Ares? Love is

the look in her eyes.

Ares rolls his.  Xena cups Gabrielle's face.

XENA

(cont’d)

Love is equal, Ares. Love is two

people sharing.... Everything.

CUT TO:

INT. EXERCISE ROOM - DAY

Gabrielle shakes her head and looks at the weapon again.

GABRIELLE

Xena?

She examines the chakram more closely and finds a small piece of parchment tied to it. Unwrapping it, she begins reading it. A smile slowly crosses her lips.

GABRIELLE

Xena, how could I have

forgotten you?

Gripping the chakram she moves back to the window and looks out. In the valley she can see a clearing with a fire and a lone figure standing next to it. She looks at the chakram, and then distance between them.

GABRIELLE

I suppose you think I can throw

this all the way down there.

Taking a deep breath she throws the chakram and watches as it flies a straight path down the rocky face of the mountain and into Xena’s waiting hand.

CUT TO:

EXT. CLEARING - NIGHT

Xena snatches the chakram out of the air and clips it to her hip. She turns to Orcin and raises a brow, giving him a satisfied little smirk.

XENA

Told ya it would work.

ORCIN

So it seems.

XENA

She did exactly what she was

supposed to do.  She worked

herself into a physical

and mental exhaustion.

ORCIN

Breaking their spell and giving

you the opening you needed?

XENA

Yes.

ORCIN

You have taught her well.

XENA

We’ve learned a lot

from each other.

ORCIN

So now you believe you’ve

restored her memory of you. 

How do you expect to work

together to defeat them? You

still can’t get into their fortress.

XENA

We have many skills.

CUT TO:

EXT. MOUNTAIN FACE - EVENING

Gabrielle is seated on a large dark horse, looking down at the village below her. Ghin and Nhif are standing next to her.

GABRIELLE

We have a problem, gentleman.

GHIN

Yes?

GABRIELLE

Yes, the Forest Clan has

recruited a warrior of their own.

Ghin and Nhif look at each other and then both sets of eyes move to Gabrielle.

GHIN

But certainly not a warrior who

can defeat you, General?

GABRIELLE

Perhaps, but we’re not going to

give them a chance to find out.

GHIN

You are ready to attack?

GABRIELLE

As ready as I can be under the

circumstances. We can’t let them

get ready. We can’t let her fortify

their defenses. Ghin, you and I

are riding down there at first light.

GHIN

We are?

GABRIELLE

We are. Be ready

just before dawn.

CUT TO:

EXT. MIST - NIGHT

Gabrielle is walking through the mist and smiles when she sees Xena coming from the other direction.

GABRIELLE

About time you showed up.

XENA

I had trouble sleeping.

GABRIELLE

I know the feeling. So do you

want to explain all this to me?

XENA

We don’t have time right now.

It’s complicated. Just make

sure you get that little troll

down to the village by sunup.

GABRIELLE

We’ll be there. Don’t worry.

(beat)

I’m sorry I forgot you, Xena.

Xena smiles and reaches across to take her hand.

XENA

It was a spell. You didn’t forget me.

You just didn’t remember me.

There’s a difference. If you had

forgotten me, I wouldn’t have been

able to make contact with you.

GABRIELLE

I’m really glad you did. I would never

have forgiven myself if I had done

what they wanted. Spell or not.

XENA

Well, we don’t have to worry about

that now. Be there before sunup.

GABRIELLE

I will.

Gabrielle leans forward and kisses Xena very gently almost afraid the contact might end their time together.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

Oh I want more of those

when we get through this.

XENA

You got it.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR