ACT THREE

FADE IN:
21 INT. FACTORY - DAY (CONTINUOUS)

Behind Xena, silently, Nymis and Kalus approach, spreading wide to surround her. The chicken runs through the door. Nymis silently kicks it aside. The chicken runs past Xena. She notices it; wipes her brow; and reaches for something to drink. She grabs the seltzer flask Salmoneus left. Nymis is almost upon her. He raises his sword... Xena spins, aiming the seltzer flask, and hitting Nymis in the eyes with its concentrated stream. He is momentarily blinded as Kalus rushes Xena. Xena grabs a rope, puts the noose around the nozzle of the seltzer flask, wraps the other end around her wrist, and starts swinging it in a circle. It connects on the side of Kalus' head, knocking him to the ground. Continuing the swing, she wraps the rope around Nymis' feet, dropping him to the ground. He reaches desperately for his dropped sword, but it is just out of reach. Xena is trying to hold onto the rope, keeping him from getting the sword, but her hands aren't responding well. He reaches... almost has.the sword... Xena suddenly rolls over on her back, gives the rope a mighty pull, and Nymis slides away from the sword, across the floor, over a keg and on top of Xena, so they are face-to-face, nose-to-nose.

XENA
I hate uninvited guests.

She bashes him with her head, then slams her wrists into each side of his head. He is out. She rolls him over, sitting up with him as Kalus, recovered, charges again. Xena waits until he is just in range ... then she presses her thumb into a specific region of Nymis' chest. Nymis' left leg kicks out reflexively and catches Kalus between the legs. Kalus reacts, bending over. Xena jams her thumb into another area, and Nymis' right foot kicks out, catching Kalus under the chin and flipping him onto his back; out cold. Xena pushes Nymis off her. She looks much worse now, her breathing is very heavy and sweat pours off her brow. She tries to get to her hands and knees, but the effort is too much. She falls to the ground. From this, we:

CUT TO:

22 EXT. TALMADEUS' CAMP - DAY

Gabrielle is being held by Talmadeus' men. Talmadeus is livid.

TALMADEUS
(smiles)
It was all a trick! Xena was covering for some weakness... and I almost fell for it. Brilliant!

GABRIELLE
Maybe you're falling for it now. Maybe me being captured is the trick. Have YOU thought of that?

TALMADEUS
It makes no difference. By daybreak,
I'll have her. And ...

(hissing)
... Salmoneus!

GABRIELLE
Okay, you're right, I was covering for
Xena while she ... she went to find

Hercules! If I were you, I'd get while
the getting's good.

TALMADEUS
I can't help but admire you for your bravery.
Too bad I have to kill you.

GABRIELLE
You don't have to!

TALMADEUS
But don't worry. You'll soon have a
lot of company on Charon's boat.

He turns, takes a sword from a warrior and turns back to her.

TALMADEUS
I'll make it quick.

Suddenly Argo gallops in and starts to spin and kick. She sends men flying, Talmadeus getting a particularly nasty kick. Gabrielle grabs up her staff as another man aims his spear at Argo. He throws it, but Gabrielle bats it down mid-flight. She runs straight for Argo. Argo stops what she's doing long enough for Gabrielle to crawl up. Then, she bolts for the woods, Gabrielle clinging to her.

NESS
(to his men)
Get the horses!

TALMADEUS
No! Don't waste the effort. Where's
she going to go?

Off his confidence, we:

CUT TO:

23 INT. FACTORY - DAY

Salmoneus walks in, holding his head. The chicken trots in his direction. He cowers from it, protecting his head.

SALMONEUS
Okay! I'll make pheasant soup!

The chicken looks at him with a newfound sense of superiority, then walks away. Salmoneus looks around and sees the two heavies, still unconscious Nymis starts to stir. Salmoneus picks up a barrel lid and hits him. He drops. Then... Salmoneus sees Xena. He rushes to her.

SALMONEUS
Xena ... ! Xena! Hello! This is a
trick, right?

He touches her neck, then puts his hand over her mouth. Suddenly deflated, he drops to the ground next to her.

SALMONEUS
Proud warrioress...

A BEAT, then he grabs her blanket and pulls it over her and over her face.

SALMONEUS
I'll miss you.

HIGH ANGLE

Salmoneus sitting quietly beside the still form of Xena. Hold, then we:

DISSOLVE TO:

24 EXT. SUNSET
To establish time...

25 INT. TALMADEUS' TENT - NIGHT

Or, rather, what's left of it. The place looks pretty bad and, yet, Talmadeus is in good spirits as he walks around the ruin. Ness enters.

TALMADEUS
Any word from Kalus?

NESS
No, Sir. Nothing. Perhaps the Warrior
Princess is still alive.

Talmadeus backhands the man onto his ass.

TALMADEUS
None of that! That's the kind of talk that's paralyzed this army. And it's exactly what Xena wanted.

Then, Talmadeus helps him to his feet.

TALMADEUS
This entire valley is mine for the taking. And it's time I started. We move out at first light. We capture Salmoneus. Then, while he watches, we destroy this valley... take it off the map.

Ness salutes and exits.

Off Talmadeus' happiness, we:

DISSOLVE TO:

26 INT. FACTORY NIGHT

Gabrielle rushes in, still looking disheveled from her escape from Talmadeus. The people here look somber.

GABRIELLE
Xena! Xena, we have trouble!

Salmoneus runs up to her, intercepting her before she goes too far.

SALMONEUS
Wait, wait!

GABRIELLE
Get out of my way!

She pushes past him to see Xena lying, still covered with the blanket. Everyone is watching.

GABRIELLE
No...

Gabrielle drops to her knees next to Xena as her strength leaves her. Salmoneus motions for everyone to move away. The people back off. Tears and anger swell up inside Gabrielle as she reaches out and touches the blanket... She lifts it off Xena's face. Xena looks peaceful and at rest.

SALMONEUS
I don't know what happened. I was knocked out and they had me! But they must have gotten greedy and gone after her! When I came to, she was like... this. We tied the two warriors up.

A LONG PAUSE. Gabrielle says nothing. Salmoneus wrings his hands. He lowers his voice so the people don't hear.

SALMONEUS
There's nothing we can do. We've got to get out of here. It's called cutting your losses and changing markets. That's what I think.
(beat).
What do you think?

A moment As Gabrielle doesn't answer. Again, she touches Xena's face. Then, she takes a deep breath, stands and:

GABRIELLE
Move these barrels to the entrance. We can build a defensive wall that will take days to breach.

SALMONEUS
Defense? Breach? When did you learn
to talk like that?

GABRIELLE
(going on)
When you're done with that, gather as much food as you can without leaving the area.

SALM0NEUS
How long do you think these people can hold out against Talmadeus and his army?

GABRIELLE
Long enough for me to get to Levadi. I
think Iolaus is there.

SALMONEUS
If you're leaving the valley, I'm going with you! Talmadeus will kill the both of us if he

GABRIELLE
(angry)
This isn't about you or me, Salmoneus. It's about these people. That's why we're here... why Xena was here. We're staying and fighting. For the greater good. Get to work.

She exits. Salmoneus gives a look to his people, then heads outside.

27 EXT. FACTORY - NIGHT

Gabrielle removes her staff from the saddle and, determination on her face, heads toward the woods. She gets just to the edge when it overtakes her... She pauses... then spins and hits a nearby tree with her staff in anger. Again and again, she hits it, the tears flowing freely now. Finally, she drops to the ground.

GABRIELLE
No... Xena said to focus... I have to
focus...
(then)
Oh, Xena ...

She curls up, pulling her knees to her. and lowering her head and sobbing. A BEAT, then she feels something beside her. Argo pushes her nose up against her softly. She turns and rubs Argo's nose, still crying.

GABRIELLE
It's just you and me, Tympani... and
we're going to be okay. We are.

She stands and picks up her staff.

GABRIELLE
I have a better chance on foot. Stay
here. I'll be coming back.
(then)
Be here when I do.

She gives Argo a hug around the neck, picks up her courage, and heads off into the woods.

CUT TO:

28 INT. FACTORY - NIGHT

The people all stare at Salmoneus as he enters. They're looking for guidance.

GORNEY
What are we supposed to do, Lord Seltzer?

PHOTIS
Did you and Gabrielle come up with a plan?

OLD MAN
Just tell us what to do and we'll
defend you!

They all CHEER at that. Salmoneus takes a breath and calms them down.

SALMONEUS
Okay..... okay! Quiet! Listen,
people... I'm not ... I'm not all that
you think I am. A brilliant financial
mind, yes, but I'm not worth ...
(deep breath)
I'm not worth dying for. There. I've
said it. I'm not worth it. Okay?

A BEAT, then Photis steps forward and gestures to Xena's body.

PHOTIS
She thought you were.

Salmoneus reacts. Then, he nods.

SALMONEUS
Okay. Let's move all those barrels to the door. We can hold out here. For a while, anyway.

They CHEER and begin working.

NEAR XENA

As the work goes on in the background, Salmoneus comes over and sits by Xena. He looks at Xena for something. Then, he comes to a solution.

SALMONEUS
I know what I have to do.

He stands and, with determination, heads for the door and exits.

DISSOLVE TO:

29 INT. TALMADEUS' TENT - NIGHT - ON TALMADEUS

The tent looks as if it has seen some repair. At the moment, Talmadeus lightly handles an axe as he talks to someone...

TALMADEUS
I already have the valley and now I have you. What makes you think I would even care about Xena?

He turns to look at:

SALMONEUS!

He stands opposite Talmadeus, in front of Ness and looking scared as all get out. His eyes keep drifting to the wooden target of himself with two axes buried in it.

SALMONEUS
Because without Xena, you can't win. You know that. Not that you aren't the ultimate warrior. Your power is legendary! But... why fight her when you can have her delivered to you?

TALMADEUS
And you..

SALMONEUS
(beat)
Yes. And me.

TALMADEUS
And All I have to do is... ?

SALMONEUS
Leave the valley. Let these people go. Take me and Xena and... do what you want with us.

A BEAT, then Talmadeus raises the axe and throws it. It hits the Salmoneus image, again in the forehead. Salmoneus reacts and barely notices that Talmadeus has his hand out. Salmoneus tentatively clasps his arm.

TALMADEUS
Now. Where's Xena?

SALMONEUS
You're a man of your word, right?
Talmadeus squeezes Salmoneus' arm.

SALMONEUS
Ow! just naking sure. She's at the factory.
(then)
She's dead.

A reaction, then Talmadeus starts laughing.

SALMONEUS
Remember! We have a deal!

TALMADEUS
Yes, yes. Don't worry! I'm an honorable man, as you said. Go. Lead my men to Xena and bring her and the villagers here. When I know she's truly dead, I'll let everyone go.

Salmoneus nods and exits. Ness starts to follow, but Talmadeus stops him.

TALMADEUS
Salmoneus, Xena dead, and an entire village of slaves, to be sold.' It's turning out to be a good day.

Off Ness' grin, we:

CUT TO:

30 INT. FACTORY NIGHT

Some kegs are set up at the entrance. Gorney and several men are manning the entrance.

SALMONEUS' VOICE
It's Lord Seltzer! I'm coming in!

GORNEY
Stand down, everyone!

They pull the kegs away. Suddenly, Ness and his men rush in, shoving the villagers aside. Taken by surprise, the battle is quick. Salmoneus enters.

SALMONEUS
Don't fight! It's going to be okay!
Talmadeus and I have an arrangement!

The men subdue the crowd.

NESS
Where's Xena?

Salmoneus walks him over to he body. Ness smiles.

SALMONEUS
What are you going to do with her?

NESS
Me? Nothing. But Talmadeus wants her body torn limb from limb. I'm just going to enjoy it.
(to men)
Let's get them out of here!

Salmoneus turns to head out. Ness takes a BEAT, turns and KICKS XENA. He walks away.

CLOSE - XENA'S HAND

as it moves a bit, then stops ...

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE