Episode Guide | Teaser | Act 1 | Act 2 | Act 3 | Act 4 |
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
INT. TAVERN – EVENING - XENA AND GABRIELLE’S POV
Xena and Gabrielle are sitting around a table with several older men. The men are staring at them both, but particularly Xena with a mixture of awe and trepidation. Xena is sprawled comfortably in a chair and Gabrielle is sitting next to her, elbows propped on the table.
XENA Who’s your warlord?
The men look surprised, then chagrinned.
SAMOR He calls himself Katos the Cruel.
GABRIELLE Charming name.
SAMOR He’s less charming in person, believe me. He sets up a war camp outside our borders from spring to fall, and raids our town every month for his supplies and ‘tribute’. If we don’t have what he demands, he starts killing.
LINKOS He’s also conscripted most of our able-bodied young men into his army. If they refuse, he kills them. He leaves a few behind to help farm the land, but mostly, we’re now a village of old men, children, and women, unable to defend ourselves against his demands.
SAMOR We wouldn’t ask for your help if we weren’t in dire need, Xena. (beat) Please. Will you help us?
XENA When is he due to attack next?
LINKOS He demands his tribute on noon of the day the moon is full.
XENA Which is tomorrow.
SAMOR Exactly.
XENA How large is his army?
SAMOR None of us has ever gotten close enough to find out. But he sends in a raiding party of twenty to thirty men. More than enough to deal with the likes of us.
GABRIELLE Does he come with the raiding party?
LINKOS Never. He always sends his henchmen in to do his bloody work and return his tribute to him.
GABRIELLE Charming.
SAMOR So, will you help us?
Xena and Gabrielle exchange a look. They both rise up from the table.
XENA Excuse us for a moment.
SAMOR Certainly, certainly.
Walking a few steps from the group, Gabrielle turns to Xena.
GABRIELLE (whispering) Xena, we have to help them.
XENA I know that. The question is, how?
GABRIELLE How?
XENA The way I see it, we have two basic options. Option one: you and I take a ride up to this warlord’s camp, check it out, and bust some heads. Hopefully, that’ll make his army scatter to the winds.
GABRIELLE Or?
XENA We let what’s going to happen happen. We gather up all the able-bodied men and women, arm them, build up some kind of fortifications around the perimeter, and fight them off.
Gabrielle is silent for a moment as she ponders the possibilities.
GABRIELLE Well, I have to admit I like the first option better. It keeps these people out of the fighting.
XENA True, but that can also be its drawback.
GABRIELLE What do you mean?
XENA Look around you. These people are already defeated. They’ve lost the battle before it’s even begun. If you and I destroy this Katos, nothing will stop another warlord from stepping in and taking his place. This is fertile land, something every good warlord needs to keep up his campaign.
GABRIELLE (thoughtfully) True....
XENA If we teach these people how to defend their land, give them back their respect for themselves, they may be able to stop the next two-bit warlord wannabe from taking what is theirs.
GABRIELLE That’s understandable, Xena, but we’ll never be able to do all that in a night. Some of these people could die.
XENA The hard facts of life. If not today, then next month, or next year. If they don’t learn to defend themselves, or at least try, anyone with a sword and an agenda will walk right in and start hacking.
Gabrielle thinks a moment more, then sighs.
GABRIELLE You’re right. Of course, you’re always right about stuff like this.
XENA Not always, but yes, this isn’t something I’m unfamiliar with.
Gabrielle nods and as one, they turn back to the table.
XENA
(cont'd)
Samor looks ready to faint from relief.
SAMOR Oh thank you. Thank you so much!
XENA Don’t thank me yet. (beat) Gather up every able-bodied man and woman strong enough to wield a weapon and meet me out in the central square. We have a battle to plan.
CUT TO:
INT. TAVERN – EVENING - APHRODITE’S POV
As Samor makes his announcement to the tavern, Aphrodite looks on as Lira watches the young farmer get up from the table and follow the others outside.
APHRODITE So, you’re pretty sweet on him, huh?
LIRA (startled) Who?
APHRODITE Farmer boy over there. You like him, huh?
Lira blushes. Then she turns sad eyes to Aphrodite.
LIRA He was my betrothed.
APHRODITE Was?
LIRA (nodding) Yes. Our parents thought it would be a good match. And it was. Falin could be so sweet and sensitive. And he looked at me like I was the most precious jewel on earth.
APHRODITE (impressed) Mmm. Not bad.
LIRA Until this happened.
She holds up her mangled hand.
LIRA (cont’d) Now he won’t even look at me. He looks through me, as if I weren’t even there.
APHRODITE Awww, sweetie, you’re still a beautiful woman. And if he doesn’t appreciate that, well, maybe he’s not the guy for you.
LIRA But I still....
APHRODITE Dig him?
LIRA (softly) Yes.
APHRODITE Well... maybe not all hope’s lost yet.
LIRA (hopefully) No? But how?
APHRODITE (grinning) Let’s just say that I’ve made a few love matches in my time. Here’s what we’re gonna do.
CUT TO:
EXT. TOWN SQUARE - NIGHT
Xena is helping a group of men set up fortifications. With a mighty heave, they overturn a broken wagon to join with several other such wagons near the front gate.
INTERCUT TO:
EXT. TOWN SQUARE - NIGHT
Gabrielle is teaching a group of twenty women how to wield crude, wooden staves. She calls out encouragement as the women begin their first tentative thrusts and parries.
INTERCUT TO:
EXT. TOWN SQUARE - NIGHT
Xena and the men are sharpening long wooden stakes and setting them at low angles into the soft soil to take out the legs of the horses the soldiers will be riding.
INTERCUT TO:
EXT. TOWN SQUARE - NIGHT
Gabrielle is helping several bowmen gather up discarded arrows. The women continue to practice with their staves behind her.
INTERCUT TO:
EXT. TOWN SQUARE - NIGHT
Xena is drilling with a group of nearly thirty sword-wielding men and women.
INTERCUT TO:
EXT. TOWN SQUARE - NIGHT
Gabrielle helps the women and children who will not be fighting set up a crude, but effective infirmary in the town’s largest building. Water is drawn and set close to the blazing fireplace. Furs line the floor to make beds, and bundles of cloths are stacked neatly by each bed.
INTERCUT TO:
EXT. TOWN SQUARE - NIGHT
Xena is helping several men, women and children heave large bundles of straw into strategic areas to be used as shields and hiding spots for the bowmen and other warriors.
INTERCUT TO:
EXT. TOWN SQUARE - NIGHT
Stretching and rubbing burning eyes, Gabrielle walks over to join Xena, who is looking over the last of the preparations for tomorrow’s battle.
GABRIELLE I never thought we could get this much done in a night.
Xena smiles.
XENA (kidding) Have a little more faith in yourself. (beat) Your staff wielders look pretty good.
GABRIELLE (proudly) They do, don’t they?
XENA Yup. I think that’s as much as we’re gonna get done tonight. Might as well have everyone rest up before the battle.
GABRIELLE (eyes narrowed) You too.
Xena smiles again.
XENA Me too. Samor!
Samor comes rushing over.
SAMOR I can’t thank you enough for all you’re doing here, Xena.
XENA No thanks are necessary. I need four lookouts to patrol the perimeter tonight. People who won’t be in the battle tomorrow. People you trust not to fall asleep at their posts or run if danger comes sooner than you expect.
SAMOR I know just the ones, Xena. I’ll get them right now.
XENA All right, then. Gabrielle and I are going to our room. Tell everyone else to get some sleep.
SAMOR I will. Thank you again.
Nodding, Xena takes Gabrielle’s hand, and together they walk back to the tavern.
CUT TO:
INT. TAVERN - NIGHT
Aphrodite is sitting at the table alone as Xena and Gabrielle enter.
GABRIELLE (to Xena) Let me say goodnight to her. I’ll meet you upstairs in a minute.
Nodding her own goodnight to Aphrodite, Xena turns and heads for the stairs.
APHRODITE Hey! How are the battle plans coming?
GABRIELLE Better than expected, actually. How ‘bout you? Are you gonna stick around?
APHRODITE Yeah, I think I will. I really like Lira, and I think I can help her.
GABRIELLE Aphrodite....
APHRODITE (laughing) No, not like that, Gab. It’s all cool, believe me. I might even help her in the infirmary tomorrow.
GABRIELLE Aphrodite, you faint at the sight of blood.
APHRODITE Yeah, well, maybe I want to help a little, you know?
GABRIELLE (softly) Are you sure? It could get pretty bad.
APHRODITE I’m sure.
Gabrielle smiles.
GABRIELLE Okay, then. Goodnight. I’ll see you tomorrow.
APHRODITE Night, sweet pea. Don’t let the warrior-babe keep you up too late.
A blushing Gabrielle turns and heads for the stairs.
CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
Xena and Gabrielle are lying in bed, cuddled close together. Both are almost asleep.
GABRIELLE Xena?
XENA (sleepily) Mm?
GABRIELLE If I had asked, would you have gone with the first option? Of going after Katos directly?
XENA If you had given me a convincing enough argument, sure.
Grinning, Gabrielle leans up and places a gentle kiss on Xena’s lips.
GABRIELLE Thanks!
XENA No problem. Now get to sleep.
Gabrielle falls asleep with a smile on her face.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT THREE
|