ACT THREE

FADE IN:

INT. SHIP’S HOLD - NIGHT - SAME TIME

Xena falls through the darkness and lands at the bottom of the hold with a thump. The hatch is now high above her. A spattering of raindrops falls down from the wood and splatter over Xena's face.

XENA

Agh!

She gets up muttering.

XENA
(cont’d)

Son of a b....

Xena looks around, feeling her way through the dark hold. A tiny amount of light comes in from slats in the hatch cover, enough for Xena to make out vague details. 

There is not much to be seen.

Xena goes over to where she'd thought she'd seen stairs and finds nothing. The surface she had been standing on is gone.

XENA

(cont’d)

What in Hades is going on?

She tips her head back and yells.

XENA

(cont’d)

Gabrielle!

There is no answer. Xena turns in a slow circle, listening. It is very quiet in the hold, save for the creak of timbers as the ship moves.

XENA

(cont’d)

Gabrielle!!!!!

There is no answer.  Xena is concerned. She starts feeling her way around the hold, searching for something to climb on to reach the hatch.  As she puts her hand on the far wall, something touches her.

XENA

(cont’d)

Hey!

Xena turns and feels around her, but there is nothing there. She puts her back against the wall, staring around her into the darkness.

CUT TO:

EXT. SHIP DECK - NIGHT - SAME TIME

Gabrielle has a piece of broken timber in her hands, and she is trying to pry open the hatch.  The wood breaks off under her weight, and she sprawls forward over it. Disgusted and angry, she throws the broken wood from her. It hits the railing, and falls overboard to the sound of a huge clap of thunder.

GABRIELLE

Damn it!

Gabrielle tries to peer through the slats, but can see nothing inside. She pulls against the wood with little effect, the slats are not quite big enough for her to get her hands into and get a good grip on.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

Xena!!

There is no answer, even though she presses her ear to the wood to listen.  Gabrielle gets up and looks around, then starts forward, pulling herself along the railing as the ship pitches up and down.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

Ships. I hate ships. Next time, Xena,

someone else can go be the hero

and you and I are gonna stay

on dry land and cheer.

Gabrielle comes even with the mast, and stops, as she sees a shadowy figure standing next to it.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

Hey! Hello! Hello? Who's there?

The figure doesn't answer. It merely stands there, staring at Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

Who are you?

The ship pitches to one side and Gabrielle is thrown against the railing. When she catches her balance and looks back, the spot where the shadow was is now empty.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

Oh!

As Gabrielle watches, the shadow slowly forms again, beckoning to her.

CUT TO:

INT. SHIP’S HOLD - NIGHT - SAME TIME

Xena edges slowly around the hold, feeling around her for something to use to get out. She finds an oar, lifts it, but it is far too short. She tosses the oar away.

The oar clatters to a halt. Xena walks past it, then whirls as the oar jumps towards her as the ship pitches violently. She evades the oar, but stumbles against something large.

Xena catches her balance, and feels around for what she has hit, but it is gone.

XENA

Who's there?

Xena remains still, only her eyes sweeping the hold. A shadow seems to cross in front of her. She puts a hand out to catch it, but there is nothing there.

XENA

(cont’d)

I'm running out of patience,

whoever you are.

Xena starts to feel around for something she can use as a weapon. She finds the oar again and hefts it. A shadow brushes against her back and she turns, sweeping the oar out but it hits nothing, and just comes back to her side.

Xena's eyes narrow.

A whisper is heard.

VOICE

(muttering unintelligibly)

Ahhhh....

Xena turns slowly, trying to locate the sound.

XENA

I hear you.

A shadow moves on the other side of the hold. Xena sees it, but she cannot make out any features.  The shadow comes closer.

VOICE

Xeeeennnaaa....

Xena goes very still.  Her face is frozen in shock.

XENA

S... Solon?

CUT TO:

EXT. SHIP DECK - NIGHT - CONCURRENT

Gabrielle pushes off from the railing and lunges at the mast. When she gets there, the shadow is gone. She swings around the mast to the other side, and comes face to face with the shadow.

The shadow raise its hand, and extends it to her. Gabrielle hesitates, then starts to respond and take it.

Lightning flares, and she finds herself looking at a dark reflection of a person she once had been. The figure has long, fair hair and is wearing her old Amazon outfit, but it is ripped and tattered, and the face of the figure is warped and sneering.

Gabrielle is stunned almost past speech. She lets her hand drop to her side.

GABRIELLE

You.

The figure steps forward towards her.

HOPE

Hello, mommy. So nice

to see you again.

CUT TO:

INT. SHIP’S HOLD - CONTINUOUS

Xena slowly moves towards the shadow. Light comes in from the hatch planks and paints stripes across its face. It is Solon, but his eyes are hollow, and he is dressed in rags.

Xena is shocked.

XENA

Solon.... What are you doing here?

Solon faces her and comes forward.

SOLON

What am I doing here? Where else

should I be? Did you really think I'd be

sitting peacefully in the Elysian Fields?

Xena takes a hesitant step forward.  She is unsure of how to react. Her hand lifts to reach out to Solon, and then drops.

XENA

But you were in the Fields. I saw you.

Solon laughs. It is not a pleasant sound.  He moves closer to Xena.

SOLON

I was. Until you betrayed me.

XENA

Betrayed you? Solon, I never....

SOLON

You did.

Off in the darkness around them, a slow whispering rises. The words are not distinguishable, but it sounds like insects crawling.  Xena hears it. Her hands clench and relax.

Solon closes in on her.

XENA

But I didn't.

SOLON

Didn't you? She caused my

death, and you love her.

How could you do that, mother?

Xena stares at him.

XENA

What are you talking about?

Hope? I never loved her!

The gods know I almost....

Solon holds his hands up. Xena stops speaking.

SOLON

Gabrielle.

Solon gets closer. He puts a hand out and touches Xena's arm.

XENA

Gabrielle? She didn't....

SOLON

She did. You know it, mother.

She lied to you.... She betrayed

you....And I died because of it.

(softly)

How could you?

XENA

No….

Solon strokes Xena's forearm, then closes his fingers around it.

SOLON

Why, mother? How could you

destroy my memory like that?

Xena backs away.

XENA

But in the dream world, you said....

SOLON

That was then.

(pausing)

I've seen so much more

of death now. I know better.

Solon approaches Xena again, stalking her.

CUT TO:

EXT. SHIP DECK - CONTINUOUS

Gabrielle has her back against the mast. She is watching Hope warily as Hope circles her.

HOPE

You sure have changed. Gave

up that pathetic give peace

a chance stuff, huh?

Gabrielle's hand flexes as though she wants to grab her sai.

GABRIELLE

So have you. Guess Dahok took

away your cushy palace, didn't he?

Hope's eyes narrow, but she continues circling Gabrielle.

HOPE

No one ever said the dark

side was easy. But you

could have changed that.

GABRIELLE

We both know that's not true.

Hope stops, and approaches. She stares Gabrielle right in the eye. 

HOPE

You only wish it wasn't.

(pointing)

You could have changed me. You

could have made a difference. You

know it in that twisted heart of yours.

GABRIELLE

No.

HOPE

But you always had to pick

Xena, didn't you? Never me.

Gabrielle moves away from the mast. She now circles Hope, but carefully keeps her distance. The storm clouds are still rolling overhead, but it has stopped raining on the ship, though rain falls into the ocean all around her.

GABRIELLE

Well....

HOPE

Well, mommy?

Hope stands still, only her head turning as she watches Gabrielle circle her. Her expression is mocking.

GABRIELLE

I gave you your

best chance, Hope.

Hope laughs.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

Twice. It was you who chose Dahok

over me. You who chose hatred

over love. Your choice, Hope.

Not mine.  We're even.

HOPE

You like to tell yourself

that, don't you?

Hope closes in on Gabrielle, and forced her backwards.

HOPE

(cont’d)

I was a baby when you threw me

in that basket.... Dahok found me.

What was I supposed to choose,

mommy? Hmm? You could have

taken me away and raised me,

and it would have been different!

GABRIELLE

No!

HOPE

Yes! But no. You had

to stay with Xena.

Gabrielle takes another step back, and finds herself against the mast.

HOPE

(cont’d)

It was always Xena first.

(beat)

Before everyone else.

Shadows start to form in back of Hope. Gabrielle presses against the mast.

HOPE

(cont’d)

Before us all.

CUT TO:

INT. SHIP’S HOLD - CONTINUOUS

Xena steps backward away from Solon. Her gestures are hesitant, and she is visibly unsure.

XENA

It's.... Not like that, Solon.

Solon follows her, his appearance increasingly gaunt. Behind him, more shadows start to form, becoming visible as pinpoints of light where their eyes are. All are staring at Xena.

XENA

(cont’d)

Listen to me....

The whispering gets louder, drowning her out. 

SOLON

It is like that, mother.

Why must you lie?

SHADOW

She always lies.

She always has.

Xena stares past Solon's form into the darkness. Her eyes widen in horror.

XENA

Mother?

Cyrene forms from one of the shadows. Death has not been kind to her. She appears the way she must have died, in the fire. It is hideous.

CYRENE

She never loved us. Any of us.

It was always what she

wanted that mattered.

Xena puts her back against the hold wall. The oar lies forgotten at her side. Her eyes are wide and staring.

CYRENE

(cont’d)

At least your death

was fast, Solon.

Cyrene glares at Xena.

CYRENE

(cont’d)

Unlike mine.

XENA

Mother, wait.

The shadows start to close in on Xena.

CYRENE

I'm done waiting. I've burned for

far too long because of you.

XENA

No. Stay back.

Xena picks up the oar, and holds it in front of her.

CUT TO:

EXT. SHIP DECK - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

Gabrielle pushes away from the mast and tries to go past Hope. But the rest of the shadows rise up and pin her in, and she retreats again.

GABRIELLE

Hope, don't try the innocent act

with me. I gave you everything I had.

HOPE

You gave me a blanket and

a stupid wooden sheep.

Hope grabs Gabrielle's arm and shoves her back against the mast.

HOPE

(cont’d)

And you took back the blanket. Burned

the little last piece of it too, didn't you?

Figured that would ease your

conscience so you could sleep

with Xena and not dream about it?

Gabrielle shakes herself loose from Hope.

GABRIELLE

Get away from me.

HOPE

The truth sucks, huh mommy?

But then you always did leave

everyone in the lurch for her.

The shadows whisper.

SHADOW

Left us without a thought.

Left us to die.

Gabrielle's eyes widen.  She backs away from the voice. Out of the shadows, her parents appear.

SHADOW

(cont’d)

Didn't even wait for my

grave to be cold.

Perdicus appears. Gabrielle takes another step back.

HOPE

(smirking)

Did you think I was the only one

with a beef, mommy?  Xena's led

you down a very, very long ugly path.

The shadows slowly start towards Gabrielle.

HOPE

(cont’d)

And now it's payback time.

The sky lights up with lightning. Gabrielle is ringed with shadows.

They start to close in on her.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR