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FADE IN
Gabrielle jumps to her feet, rushes toward the portal and slams her fists into it. The vision in the portal fades. Gabrielle stands next to the portal, breathing hard. The camera pans back to Xena, who blinks as if coming out of a daze.
XENA:
But Gabrielle--what about your life--
GABRIELLE:
Do you think I want to have a good life while this happens to my best friend?
A brief pause. Then, Xena's face softens into a tender smile, and Gabrielle smiles back at her.
XENA:
All right. It's your turn to choose now.
GABRIELLE:
Xena, are you sure we want to do this? Look at the way the first one turned out.
XENA (smiles affectionately):
You're bound to make a better choice than I did.
GABRIELLE (hesitantly):
All right.
She places her hand on the portal and closes her eyes. The portal fills with color. The camera zooms in and we see the scene in Dahak's temple in THE DELIVERER.
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Meridian raises the dagger over Khrafstar, who is tied to the altar, while Dahak's blue-robed followers chant.
MERIDIAN:
With this life--we praise Dahak, the Dark One.
Gabrielle, who is being held by two followers of Dahak, elbows one of them and punches the other, knocking them down, then rushes toward the altar. She punches out Meridian, grabs the knife from her and cuts ropes binding Khrafstar.
KHRAFSTAR (shouts):
Gabrielle!
Gabrielle turns to see Meridian rushing at her with a sword. She ducks and the sword strikes the altar. Gabrielle turns as Meridian raises the sword again. Instead of stabbing her with the dagger, she kicks her in the midsection. Meridian goes flying toward the wall and lands hard on the floor.
GABRIELLE (to Khrafstar):
Khrafstar, come on! Run!
Khrafstar gets up. Behind Gabrielle's back, he throws his fellow cultists a meaningful look and follows Gabrielle out of the temple.
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A wide shot of Xena, Ares, and Eve sitting in front of the portal, riveted. Gabrielle comes back and sits down.
EVE (to Gabrielle, a little timidly):
Was that where you--first killed?
GABRIELLE (nods):
Khrafstar made me believe he was serving a god of love and peace. It was all a setup--to make me kill her and bring Dahak into the world.
EVE:
And that's how you had...your baby.
GABRIELLE (lowers her eyes):
Hope... (looks up at Xena) Xena, I didn't just do it for me! If it hadn't been for Hope, Solan wouldn't have died...
EVE (softly and pensively):
My brother...
Xena is too overcome with emotion to say anything.
ARES (looks curiously at Gabrielle):
How come you still chose to go to the temple?
GABRIELLE:
If I hadn't gone then, Khrafstar could have lured me there some other time.
ARES (with grudging respect):
You know, you do have brains.
Gabrielle chuckles bitterly.
The camera closes in on the portal again.
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Somewhat out of breath, Gabrielle and Khrafstar stop in a grove.
KHRAFSTAR (takes Gabrielle's hands):
Thank you, Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE:
What happened back there?
KHRAFSTAR (shakes his head):
They've obviously been corrupted--taken over by some evil... Please don't hold it against my god, Gabrielle. The god I told you about--he's real. He's good. Please believe me.
GABRIELLE (gives him a wrinkle-nosed smile):
Of course I believe you.
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ARES (glances mockingly at Gabrielle):
I take it back.
GABRIELLE:
What?
ARES:
What I said about your brains.
GABRIELLE (irritably):
Well, how was I supposed to know?
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KHRAFSTAR:
I can't let this happen, Gabrielle. I have to take back our temple from this false god they worship.
GABRIELLE (squeezes his hands):
You will, Khrafstar. I know you will.
KHRAFSTAR (looks deeply into her eyes):
Will you stay here and help me?
A brief silence as Gabrielle obviously considers his offer.
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Close-up on Gabrielle's face; her expression is one of horror and disbelief.
GABRIELLE (whispers):
No!
The camera pulls back. Xena looks just as horrified as Gabrielle while Ares adopts a mask of nonchalance.
ARES:
Uh-oh.
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GABRIELLE (sighs):
No, Khrafstar. I wish I could...but I have to go back with Xena.
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Gabrielle breathes a huge sigh of relief and pats Xena on the shoulder.
GABRIELLE:
Let's see what happens next, shall we?
She moves the bead.
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Xena and Gabrielle are on a pier, getting on a boat.
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XENA:
Looks like we go back to Greece with no trouble.
GABRIELLE (stares into the portal, with sudden joy):
And I never followed you to Ch'in! Xena, you see, it all makes sense-- (the joy fades from her face) --I would have never betrayed you if-- (she trails off)
XENA (stares at her, gently):
--if I hadn't left you behind when you were hurting the way you were. (she takes Gabrielle's hands and holds them a moment)
GABRIELLE (smiles, almost tearful):
Don't blame yourself, Xena. It was my fault.
She moves the bead again.
GABRIELLE:
Xena--look!
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[Clip from MATERNAL INSTINCTS]
Xena and Gabrielle are walking in the meadow outside the Centaur village.
XENA (suddenly stops and listens):
Shh.
Solan leaps from a tree and tries to tackle her.
XENA (grabs him, grinning happily):
Solan, you dirty rat!
SOLAN:
I almost had you! I've been practicing!
XENA:
Very impressive. Don't you do it again. What do you think, Gabrielle? Some tracker, huh?
GABRIELLE:
He's a natural. Hi, Solan.
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Xena stares at the portal. Her eyes fill with tears. Ares rather awkwardly puts his hand on top of her hands, which are folded in her lap.
Gabrielle, without noticing this, glances at Xena and, seeing the emotion in her face, moves to put her hand on top of Xena's. Her hand brushes against Ares' hand; she flinches slightly and moves her hand to Xena's shoulder.
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The outskirts of the village. Xena and Gabrielle are facing Kaleipus, Solan, Ephiny and Xenan.
KALEIPUS:
Thank you for your help, Xena.
XENA (smiles):
The treaty was your doing. The Centaur nation will be forever grateful.
GABRIELLE:
Good-bye, Ephiny. (she and Ephiny hug, then Gabrielle squats down to hug Xenan) Bye, Xenan!
SOLAN (to Xena):
Come back soon, okay?
XENA (a little wistfully):
I'll try... (she grins, obviously suppressing her emotion, and slaps his shoulder) You be good, now.
GABRIELLE (stands up and turns to Solan):
You're gonna keep up those lessons with the staff, right? (smiles and nods at Ephiny) Ephiny can show you some good moves.
SOLAN:
Yeah, by the time you come back I'll be as good as you!
XENA (playfully punches him in the arm):
Let's hope it's not gonna be that long. Takes a while to get as good as Gabrielle.
SOLAN:
Oh yeah? You wanna bet?
Xena laughs and musses his hair.
CUT TO
Xena and Gabrielle walking away from the village.
GABRIELLE (gives Xena a gently reproachful smile):
You still haven't told him.
XENA (sighs):
Gabrielle--I don't even know where to start...
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Xena stares at the portal, smiling through tears.
XENA (to herself):
My baby... (she flinches a little, suddenly remembering that Ares, Gabrielle and Eve are there; her lips tighten and her eyes shift nervously) He's okay.
GABRIELLE (nods as she moves the bead forward):
Maybe everything's going to be okay this time.
There is a brief pause as they look at each other, smiling.
ARES (points to the portal):
Ooh, look. A fight.
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Xena and Gabrielle arrive in a town square to find a chaotic melee. About a dozen warriors in black and silver are beating, punching and kicking some people.
The camera zooms in on a warrior about to punch a woman. As he raises his fist, Xena's gauntleted arm comes into view and she grabs his wrist, intercepting the blow. He turns around in shock.
XENA (sneers):
Mind if I cut in?
She punches him out and she goes flying backwards. Xena and Gabrielle start to fight the warriors, Xena dispensing powerful kicks and using her sword, Gabrielle fighting with the staff. Emboldened, some of the people start to fight back too. In a short time the warriors retreat, disappearing down a street. Xena and Gabrielle chase after them and then stop.
In a flash of light, Ares (Season 3 look--the long hair and the sideburns) appears before them. He is visibly upset.
ARES:
What do you think you're doing?
XENA (smirks as she re-sheathes her sword):
What we usually do. Beating the crap out of some thugs, standing up for the little people...
ARES (scowling):
You should have stayed out of this one.
XENA (unflappable):
What, were they your thugs?
ARES:
They were my temple warriors.
XENA (with a crooked grin):
Well, Ares, your temple warriors are just going to have to get their workout some other way.
ARES:
Dammit, Xena, this isn't funny! Those precious little people of yours are members of a dangerous cult.
XENA:
Thanks for the character reference.
GABRIELLE:
As long as those people aren't harming anyone, they have the right to worship in any way they want.
ARES (sarcastic):
Oh, look who decided to speak up.
XENA (takes Gabrielle's shoulder and turns around):
Come on, Gabrielle.
They start to walk away.
ARES (shouts after them):
You're making a mistake!
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GABRIELLE (gives Xena a puzzled look):
Followers of Eli?
XENA:
They can't be.
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Xena and Gabrielle return to the square where they are greeted by applause from the people.
As they look around, they are approached by a young woman in a simple sleeveless white gown; she is slender, slightly taller than Gabrielle, with dark brown hair gathered in a ponytail, and hazel eyes.
YOUNG WOMAN:
Thank you, whoever you are.
XENA (nods toward where the warriors went):
I don't think they're coming back any time soon.
GABRIELLE:
What did they want with you?
YOUNG WOMAN:
To stop me from telling these people about our god. You see, we believe that the time of many gods has passed. (with a beautiful smile) There is only one god, and soon, he will bring his kingdom to the world.
XENA (dryly):
Fascinating.
YOUNG WOMAN:
Those who serve the old gods don't appreciate the message I bring. After all, in our god's kingdom, there will be no room for the likes of--Ares.
XENA (narrows her eyes, obviously not liking what she hears):
Shouldn't they be able to serve their gods just as you serve yours?
YOUNG WOMAN:
Our god doesn't want us to serve him--just to take him into our hearts.
GABRIELLE (smiles):
That doesn't sound like any god I know.
YOUNG WOMAN (smiles back at her):
Would you like to know more about our god?
GABRIELLE (a little uncertainly):
Maybe. By the way, I'm Gabrielle. (puts her hand on the arm of a still skeptical-looking Xena) This is Xena.
YOUNG WOMAN:
My name is Hope.
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The camera pans over the faces of Gabrielle, Xena, Ares and Eve. Gabrielle's look is one of wide-eyed horror and anguish; Xena's face tightens with bitterness and controlled rage; Ares looks shocked and sick to his stomach; Eve seems slightly bewildered. The camera then pulls back to show the four of them staring into the portal as we:
FADE OUT
END OF ACT THREE
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