ACT THREE

FADE IN:

15 EXT. WARLORDS' CASTLE GATE - DAY (CONTINUOUS)

wiping his face, the Guard fumbles through the hay, finally uncovering ...

... large wineskin, punctured in three places, copiously leaking wine.

Glaring, the Guard throws it at the cowering Driver.

GUARD #1
Drunk! Shouldn't be allowed on
the road!

Climbing down, the Guard motions the wagon through the gate, then turns to deal with his stained clothes, oblivious to ...

... Xena, who clings covertly to the underside of the wagon as it makes its way into the castle.

CUT TO:

16 INT. WARLORDS' CASTLE - KITCHEN - DAY

As the Slave Boss oversees their work, Gabrielle and some of the other Slaves store the new supplies, while others tend to the cooking.

Placing a load of logs beside the enormous fireplace where something is simmering over a fire, Gabrielle starts back for some more when --

-- a HAND suddenly darts INTO FRAME, grabs Gabrielle, and jerks her into:

CUT TO:

17 INT. MEAD STORAGE ROOM - DAY (CONTINUOUS)

Clamping her hand over Gabrielle's mouth, Xena signals for quiet as she pulls her further into the room which is filled with large barrels of mead.

Seeing Gabrielle's wide, frightened eyes, Xena quickly uncovers her mouth, reassuring her:

XENA
Don't worry -- it's me.

Gabrielle's confused stare reminds Xena that, in this world, the two are strangers.

XENA
I was at the market yesterday,
remember?

GABRIELLE
(eyeing her coldly)
I remember. You wanted to buy me.
What do you want now?

XENA
(thrown by her coldness; but recovering)
I've come to get you out.
(crossing to check)
Soon as it's clear, we make our move.
And stick close. The timing's everything.

GABRIELLE
(staring; incredulous)
You're crazy -
(starting out)
The only move I'm making is back
to work.

XENA
(stopping her)
No! Wait

GABRIELLE
Why? You know what they do to runaway
slaves? You ever seen it?

And pulling down the shoulder of her blouse, Gabrielle displays ... he scars of old lash marks embedded in her skin.

XENA
(devastated)
Oh, Gabrielle ... I'm so sorry.

Quickly pulling up her blouse, Gabrielle eyes her narrowly.

GABRIELLE
How do you know my name? Who are you?
Why are you doing all this?

Wracked with quilt, Xena eyes her unhappily, knowing she can't explain.

XENA
My name is Xena. I just want to
help you.

GABRIELLE
Right.

She starts out again. Xena stops her.

XENA
Gabrielle, please. Lyceus and I can
hide you 'til it's safe.

GABRIELLE
Lyceus? The same Lyceus who stood
off Cortese ...
(disdain)
...before he ran for the hills, I mean.

XENA
(thrown)
How do you know about that?

GABRIELLE
I heard 'em talking, Mezentius and Krykus.
They think I'm like an animal, or a piece
of furniture. But I hear ...and I remember.

XENA
Mezentius and Krykus? But they're
sworn enemies.

GABRIELLE
So's Caputius. But he's gonna join
them, too, come tomorrow.

XENA
(appalled)
All three... together?
(then)
Look, we've got to tell my brother what
you know. Once those warlords combine,
no one's safe.

She starts for the door. But Gabrielle stays put.

GABRIELLE
I told you, I'm not going anywhere.

XENA
You're gonna let these men kill and
destroy while you do nothing? Well,
I don't buy it. Not from you.

GABRIELLE
(at her wit's end)
How can you say that? You don't
even know me!

XENA
(levelly)
Maybe you don't know yourself.

As Gabrielle holds her gaze:

CUT TO:

18 INT. KITCHEN - DAY

The Slaves are still bustling around, cooking and putting away supplies under the watchful eyes of the Slave Boss as:

Gabrielle emerges from the mead room, carefully rolling a large barrel ahead of her when, suddenly:

SLAVE BOSS (O.S.)
(shouts)
You! Stop right there!

Freezing, Gabrielle tenses as the Slave Boss strides up.

SLAVE BOSS
What're you doing with this mead?

GABRIELLE
Putting it near the fire to mull.

SLAVE BOSS
(snorts)
Hmph! I take my mead cold and straight.
(to a slave)
Bring me a cup.

Gabrielle looks nervous as the Slave Boss rights the barrel and a Slave runs up with a cup. Taking it, the Slave Boss bends to untap the barrel, holding the cup to the tap where ...

... nothing happens.

Reacting, the Slave Boss frowns. But as he straightens to
check--

--Xena bursts out of the barrel, seizes one of its hoops, and jams it down around the corpulent Slave Boss, pinning his arms to his sides as she tells Gabrielle:

XENA
Quick -- the fire!

Racing to the fireplace, Gabrielle grabs a broom and beats the fire out, igniting the broom while --

SLAVE BOSS
(struggles; screaming)

Guards! Guu--

Xena corks his mouth with an apple, making him look like the pig he is. Grabbing a seat hook hanging from a pivoting arm, Xena hooks it on the barrel hoop, and crosses to hoist the Slave Boss up in the air. Tying him off, she grabs a plank that serves as a counter and takes it to the fireplace where, using a log as a fulcrum, she places the plank on it as:

A half dozen guards rush into the kitchen!

Instinctively, Xena looks around for a weapon, grabs a firepoker and hoists it like a spear when she sees...

... Atropos, the third Fate, watching from a nearby table.

Instantly, Xena recalls she cannot shed blood, and drops the poker as the Guards rush toward her.

XENA
(shouting)
Gabrielle -- the broom!

As Gabrielle tosses her the burning broom, Xena sweeps it back and forth, keeping the Guards at bay as she tells Gabrielle:

XENA
Get on the plank in the fireplace.
(as Gabrielle hesitates)

Now!

Responding, Gabrielle obeys and, once she's in place --

-- Xena springs into the air, somersaulting to land squarely on the other end of the plank which--

--propells Gabrielle straight up the chimney!

Instantly taking her place, Xena uses the flaming broom to burn through the rope suspending the Slave Boss, who CRASHES down on the plank --

--shooting Xena up the chimney after Gabrielle!

CUT TO:

19 EXT. WARLORDS' CASTLE GATE - ON SUPPLY WAGON (MOVING) - DAY

The drunken Driver heads back to Amphipolis, too soused to notice as --

-- Gabrielle comes sailing into the wagon bed, her landing cushioned by some leftover hay. She's followed by --

-- Xena landing nimbly on her feet beside Gabrielle who looks up at her, stunned.

XENA
Beats taking the stairs.

And as the wagon continues moving off, we:

DISSOLVE TO:

20 INT. XENA'S ROOM - NIGHT

Overwhelmed, Gabrielle moves about marveling at the clean bed, the curtained window, the wash basin and pitcher, etc. as Xena enters carrying some clothes.

XENA
My mother was about your size, so
these ought to fit.

She hands the outfit to Gabrielle who takes it gingerly.

GABRIELLE
This was your mother's? It's
beautiful.

XENA
So was she.
(then; starting out)
I'll leave you to change.

GABRIELLE
(stopping her)
Wait --
(as Xena turns back)
Why are you doing this?
(forestalling her)
I know what you said about wanting to
help me. But if there's one thing I've
learned, it's that everyone's out for
themselves. So, what's in it for you?
Guess you need a house slave pretty
bad, huh?

XENA
No.
(off Gabrielle's skepticism)
But you're right. There is a reason
I'm doing this.
(as Gabrielle looks vindicated)
The truth is, you remind me of my best
friend.

Not at all what she expected to hear, Gabrielle stares.

GABRIELLE
I do?

XENA
(nods)
I look at you, and see the purest, kindest,
person I've ever known. Someone who's full
of wonder, and stories, and never gives up
on anything ... or anyone.

GABRIELLE
(wryly wistful)
Then you better look again. 'Cause
that's not me.

XENA
But it could be.

Then turning, she exits ... leaving Gabrielle to ponder the possibility, as we:

CUT TO:

21 INT. XENA'S HOME - MAIN ROOM - NIGHT

Lyceus peers out the window as Xena joins him.

LYCEUS
I don't like it. Maphias should've
been back by now.

XENA
Maybe he's having trouble convincing
the others.

LYCEUS
I have to admit, the thought of three
warlords banding together to make one
army does sound pretty unbelievable.

XENA
I'm sure that's what they're counting
on, the element of surprise.

LYCEUS
Yeah, well, we're the ones who'll be surprised
when we counter their attack with one of our own.

He crosses to a map on the table.

LYCEUS
What I thought is that Maphias and I will
lead the attack, while you and the others
arm yourselves and do whatever you can ...
(indicating on map)
...here and here. What do you think?

XENA
(hesitates; then, reluctantly)
Lyceus, I can't.

LYCEUS
(misunderstands)
Sure, you can. Don't underestimate
yourself. You're nearly as strong as I
am, and better with a sword. In fact, if
I didn't need you to organize the others,
I'd have you riding beside me.

XENA
No, I mean --

GABRIELLE (O.S.)
Xena?

Turning, the siblings see Gabrielle hesitating in the doorway of Xena's room. Dressed in becoming clothes, she looks lovely ... a fact not lost on Lyceus who stares.

GABRIELLE
Sorry, am I interrupting?

LYCEUS
No! Not at all! Please ...
(crossing to usher her)
Won't you sit down?

Unused to such chivalry, Gabrielle eyes him, mistrustful. But Lyceus' admiration is so guileless, Gabrielle allows herself to trust it -- trust him -- and for the first time since she was captured and enslaved ...

... Gabrielle smiles ... and Lyceus loses his heart ... all of which Xena watches warmly.

GABRIELLE
(sitting)
Thank you.
(gazing around)
All this ... It's like a dream, or a
story -- too good to be real.

LYCEUS
(his eyes never leaving her face)
I know what you mean.

Watching Gabrielle beginning to unfold, Xena allows herself a small satisfied smile, when

-- A furtive KNOCK sounds at the door.
Reacting, Gabrielle starts up in a panic.

LYCEUS
Don't worry. You're safe here. It's
just Maphias.
(crossing to door)
You met him earlier, remember?

He opens the door, and Maphias enters, looking tense.

LYCEUS
Did you bring the others?

Before he can answer, Maphias is pushed aside by --

A troop of Mezentius' Guards who quickly deploy, as:

MAPHIAS
It's all right. They just want the slave.
I made a deal: we give her back, they leave
us alone, no problems.

HEAD GUARD
(to his men; summarily)
Take 'em.

Instantly, the Guards seize Xena, Lyceus, and Gabrielle, holding them at swordpoint, as:

MAPHIAS
(reacting)
Hey What're you doing? We have
a deal!

HEAD GUARD
Deal's changed.

MAPHIAS
(realizing he's been had)
Why you lying piece of --

He charges the Head Guard, but is clubbed from behind by another Guard and drops like a stone.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Lyceus grabs a couple of swords off two nearby Guards!

LYCEUS
(tossing a sword to Xena)
Xena, here -- catch!

But to his amazement, though clearly torn, makes no move get it, and the sword clatters to the floor.

The Guards quickly disarm Lyceus who's too shocked to resist as he stares at Xena incomprehensibly. But as he's being dragged away --

XENA
(imploring his understanding)
Lyceus --!

Wrenching around, he gives her nothing as he glares in silent fury and is hustled out, while we:

STAY ON XENA

devastated as the Guards drag her and Gabrielle out, too.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE

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