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FADE IN
[MONTAGE OF PREVIOUS EPISODE]
ANNOUNCER:
Previously on Xena...
Ares stands on a cliff over a battlefield, Zeus and Hera standing beside him.
ZEUS:
You, Xena, Gabrielle and Eve braved Hell itself to bring us back. Your mother and I felt that you all deserved a--reward.
In the temple of the Fates. The three Fates each point a finger at a wall, where a silver-white glimmering portal appears.
LACHESIS:
Each of you can go back--
ATROPOS:
To one moment in your past--
CLOTHO:
--and choose to do one thing differently.
ATROPOS:
Then, you will watch your life--
LACHESIS:
--as it would have unfolded from then on.
LACHESIS:
And if you all agree that one of the lives you see would be better--
CLOTHO:
--you can choose to make it real.
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In the portal, a scene from RETURN OF CALLISTO. Xena leaps and flips in the air so that she is between Callisto and Perdicus, and then slams her boots into Callisto, sending her staggering toward her horse just as Perdicus gets up. Callisto looks around, then flips onto her horse with a loud cry and rides away.
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GABRIELLE (gives Xena a stunned look):
That was your choice? To save Perdicus?
XENA:
Maybe this way, you can have the kind of life you deserve.
CUT TO
GABRIELLE (whispers):
The Horde.
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Xena stands on the battlements of the Athenian fort. She brandishes a Horde axe.
XENA:
We're gonna kill 'em all!
The soldiers cheer, brandishing their swords, as Xena looks ahead, a glint in her eye.
A grim-faced Xena walks into the supply room with Menticles. A captured Horde warrior sits chained by the wall.
HORDE WARRIOR (looks up and moans):
Kaltaka... kaltaka...
MENTICLES (shrugs):
Must be their god of war.
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GABRIELLE (murmurs tearfully):
No! No! It's water. He's just begging for water.
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XENA (a cruel smile on her lips):
Well, Kaltaka won't help you now, whoever he is. (backhands the Horde warrior across the face, making his head snap to the side)
CUT TO
Xena stares intently at Ares.
ARES:
I have an army camped just a few hours' march from here. One word from me, and they'll be here by sunrise.
The battle. A Horde warrior on his knees, holding out his hands and obviously begging for mercy. The camera pans up to Xena, wearing a helmet, her eyes sparkling, her lip curled in a sneer. She runs the man through with her sword.
After the battle: While soldiers cheer, Ares appears behind Xena. He takes off her helmet, in a shot reminiscent of the Illusia scene in THE BITTER SUITE after she has "killed" Gabrielle; Xena has the same dazed, "lost" look. Ares wraps his arm around Xena's waist, his lips almost brushing her ear.
ARES (in a soft, suave voice):
Welcome home, Xena. Welcome home.
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GABRIELLE (screams):
Stop it! Stop it!
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The temple from THE DELIVERER. 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.
Outside the village from MATERNAL INSTINCTS, Xena and Gabrielle and saying good-bye to Solan, Ephiny and 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.
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Xena stares at the portal, smiling through tears.
XENA (to herself):
My baby...
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A town square. Xena and Gabrielle are talking to a slender, brown-haired young woman in a simple sleeveless white gown.
YOUNG WOMAN (smiles at Gabrielle):
Would you like to know more about our god?
GABRIELLE (a little uncertainly):
Maybe.
YOUNG WOMAN:
My name is Hope.
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ARES (to Gabrielle):
What are you, some sort of evil-guru magnet?
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Xena and Ares in a field.
XENA:
What about Hope?
ARES:
She's a vessel for Dahak.
Hope, Khrafstar and Gabrielle sit around a campfire.
KHRAFSTAR:
Gabrielle, tomorrow, we plan to take over the temple of Ares in this town. There, we will conduct a ceremony that will allow our god to enter the world.
GABRIELLE (with a dreamy smile):
You're going to use his temple to usher in a world without war...
Xena's room at the inn. Xena sits on the bed, Goewin on a chair across from her. She listens, a skeptical look on her face.
GOEWIN:
We saw the signs that the Child of Darkness was about to be born. When we tracked her down, it was too late; the child was too powerful.
Night. Outside the camp of Hope's followers.
XENA:
Gabrielle, the whole story--it's exactly like what happened to you at the temple, except that you didn't kill Meridian!
GABRIELLE:
Hope--she's shown me the promise of a new life. A life without war, without violence, without hate. Don't try to take that away from me.
Ares' temple. Xena and Goewin face Ares.
XENA (reluctantly):
I'm willing to join you.
CUT TO
In a flash of light, Xena and Ares appear inside the temple, now crowded with Hope's white-robed followers, whose chants fill the air. Hope stands before the altar, at the top of some steps.
CUT TO
Xena and Gabrielle on the steps of the altar; Xena has the Hind's Blood dagger in her hand.
GABRIELLE:
You're going to commit murder for Ares?
Xena and Gabrielle struggle over the dagger and tumble down the steps.
Gabrielle stares in horror at her bloodied hands and the dripping dagger. Xena sits up, clutching at her stomach just below the armor. There is blood seeping through her fingers, her face is contorted with pain.
Gabrielle looks up at Hope in agony; Xena's dead body is slumped down in her lap.
GABRIELLE:
I murdered her...
A wide shot of the temple. Gabrielle is still kneeling over Xena's dead body.
HOPE:
This bloodletting will open the way for Dahak's entry into the world!
GABRIELLE (screams):
Noooooooooo!
Her scream reverberates through the temple.
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The picture cuts off with a CLICK, like switching off a TV.
[END OF MONTAGE]
Temple of the Fates. Eve, Gabrielle, Xena and Ares are seated on the couch, looking like a shell-shocked version of the intro from "The Simpsons"; Ares has his finger on the 'remote control' (the thin wire with the golden bead on it). A beat. Some life comes back into their faces. Ares lowers his hand.
ARES:
Well. I take it we're not choosing this one.
XENA:
No. (feels movement, turns) Wait--Gabrielle! Where are you going?
GABRIELLE (stands):
This isn't a good idea. At all. Xena, please--let's just go, now. I've seen enough. (almost whispering) Haven't you?
On the couch, Ares and Eve both turn to Xena, who looks up at Gabrielle in sympathy.
XENA (softly):
What about them?
Gabrielle glances guiltily at Ares, then Eve.
ARES:
Hey, I'm fine right here. (puts his arm around Xena demonstratively and gives Gabrielle a smug grin) You want to wimp out on this, I won't hold it against you.
EVE (tentatively):
Gabrielle... Perhaps I could try? We can always stop it, if it's--like the last time.
GABRIELLE (after a pause):
Sure. Sure, go on. (with a shaky half-smile) It can't get any worse, right?
ARES:
Famous last words. (off Xena's elbow in his ribs) Oomph!
There's a reshuffling as Gabrielle sits down again beside Xena, while Eve walks up to the portal shimmering in the air in front of them. On Eve. She closes her eyes and lays both hands on the silver square. It fills with an image:
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An extreme close-up of Xena's face, making cooing noises, looking slightly distorted and swimming in and out of focus. Tilt back to show the forest canopy and night sky; a baby's murmur in the background.
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EVE:
I don't understand. It's not working!
ARES:
Sure it is. That-- (points) --is a perfectly good baby monitor.
Eve tries again, another image appears:
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An extreme close-up of the back of Xena's neck, being jolted up and down like a handheld camera.
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XENA (disappointed):
I thought you had a better view from that sling.
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The image swings around, to an extreme close-up of Xena's breastplate.
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GABRIELLE (in a low growl to Ares):
Don't even think about saying it...
Ares moves closer to Xena, widening his eyes at Gabrielle in a show of insulted innocence.
Zoom out to show the Fates' loom. The three of them are trying not to look too amused.
XENA (to the Fates):
What's going on? (glances at Eve by the portal) Eve--what was your choice?
EVE:
I wished that you'd brought me up, Mother.
GABRIELLE:
Oh Eve...
On the Fates.
CLOTHO [Maiden] (spinning a thread):
We regret that...
LACHESIS [Woman] (weaving):
...that isn't...
ATROPOS [Crone]:
...possible. (snips the thread with her shears. The image on the screen disappears).
XENA:
Why not?!
CLOTHO (continues spinning):
The choice must be...
LACHESIS:
...made by one...
ATROPOS:
...who can choose. (snips another thread in satisfaction)
GABRIELLE (getting it; to Eve):
And you were just a baby then. There was nothing you could have done that could have changed things. (to the Fates) So the choice has to be made by one of us?
CLOTHO:
Yes.
The two elder Fates look irritated by Clotho's unfairly short sentence. Lachesis, who had been about to speak, shuts her mouth with a snap.
On Xena's frown, then on Ares:
ARES:
I think I can do something here.
Camera follows Ares up as he strides over to the screen. Eve moves out of his way and returns to the couch; Ares pauses for a moment, then lays a hand on the portal thoughtfully.
Dissolve into the image:
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The same shot as Eve's first attempt, a close-up of Xena's face. There is a very quick zoom-out, and we see Xena sitting alone on a log in a forest, feeding baby Eve. We are in a flashback to ETERNAL BONDS. Xena is singing a lullaby to the baby.
XENA (sings):
Hush now, my little one, please don't you cry...
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GABRIELLE:
Wait a minute. Why aren't I there?
XENA (recognizing it):
You were taking Joxer to the mandrake tree--it's when he was poisoned.
EVE:
Poisoned?
GABRIELLE (remembers now):
One of Apollo's warriors. There were three armies after us at the time, trying to destroy you before you could fulfill the prophecy and bring about the Twilight of the Gods. (she glances over at Ares, who looks uncomfortable; then back at Eve). I'd taken Joxer to ride ahead; Xena was following on foot, with you.
XENA (somewhat grimly):
And Ares was following me.
Eve nods to the explanation; Xena takes her hand in reassurance.
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The lullaby continues, but the camera pulls back slightly. We see feet in heavy boots, stepping stealthily around the clearing where Xena is feeding Eve. Then another pair of feet, then another. She is surrounded.
On Xena's face as she sings. There is a noise in the trees. Xena breaks off mid-note without looking up. She gives baby Eve a weary smile.
XENA:
You know, it never fails. E-v-e-r-y time you sit down to eat...
There is an explosion of noise; a fireball slams into something behind her. Xena whips around, releasing Eve in the same motion; the baby is swept up to safety in her sling. One of the temple warriors is lying dead, with a smoking sizzling hole through his chest.
Pan up to follow Xena's gaze--Ares is standing a little way back, lowering his hand. She is stunned momentarily.
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Ares takes his hand off the portal, comes back and sits down.
EVE:
You saved me...
ARES:
Not exactly--your mother did have the situation firmly in hand, that time. What she didn't have was a reason to trust me.
XENA:
So that's how you knew how to get to me in that dream...
GABRIELLE:
What dream?
ARES (turns scarlet):
You're missing the fight scene.
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There is a scream behind Xena; she spins around with a kick, catching the next attacker in the ribs. He collapses, but more warriors are already streaming into the clearing, yelling. Xena's sword and chakram are on the ground; she stamps on the blade to bring the chakram into her hand, and whips around to face the attackers. She throws her chakram, taking up the sword; there are two men behind her. As Xena engages one, the other collapses, and we see Ares, yanking back his sword from the warrior's back.
XENA (through gritted teeth, still fighting):
What do you think you're doing?
ARES (dispatching his man and taking on another):
What I do best.
Xena punches the warrior so that he flies back into the two men behind him, taking them down; she stabs back with her sword, and we hear a groan as another man collapses. There is a metallic clink, and Xena catches her chakram on the rebound--it took out two of Artemis' warriors in the meantime--just as another man comes at her.
XENA (using chakram to parry an opponent's blow; viciously to Ares):
Can't you take a hint?
ARES:
You have a point--this is not what I do best. (he stops suddenly, and puts his hands together) This is.
The man he'd been fighting has one moment to look terrified. Ares laughs and shoots the white-hot fireball, which splits into several shots like fireworks. There are screams and hisses as several of the nearest warriors are hit. The remaining ones run off, back into the forest.
Xena lowers her sword, breathing heavily after the battle. She stares incredulously at Ares, who brushes off his hands with a smirk. Above them, Eve starts crying; Xena kicks at the stone that's holding the rope of her sling, and the contraption comes down, so that the baby falls into her hands. She looks down anxiously.
XENA:
Eve! (relieved) You're all right.
She sets Eve down into the blankets and looks back at Ares, who now seems somewhat nervous.
XENA:
You...saved her.
On Ares' uncertain look as we:
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FADE OUT
END OF TEASER
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