ACT THREE

FADE IN:

INT. TAVERN – EVENING - XENA AND GABRIELLE’S POV

Xena and Gabrielle are sitting around a table with several older men.  The men are staring at them both, but particularly Xena with a mixture of awe and trepidation.  Xena is sprawled comfortably in a chair and Gabrielle is sitting next to her, elbows propped on the table.

XENA

Who’s your warlord?

The men look surprised, then chagrinned.

SAMOR

He calls himself Katos the Cruel.

GABRIELLE

Charming name.

SAMOR

He’s less charming in person,

believe me.  He sets up a war

camp outside our borders from

spring to fall, and raids our town

every month for his supplies and

‘tribute’.  If we don’t have what

he demands, he starts killing.

LINKOS

He’s also conscripted most of

our able-bodied young men into

his army.  If they refuse, he kills

them. He leaves a few behind to

help farm the land, but mostly, we’re

now a village of old men, children,

and women, unable to defend

ourselves against his demands.

SAMOR

We wouldn’t ask for your help

if we weren’t in dire need, Xena.

(beat)

Please.  Will you help us?

XENA

When is he due to attack next?

LINKOS

He demands his tribute on

noon of the day the moon is full.

XENA

Which is tomorrow.

SAMOR

Exactly.

XENA

How large is his army?

SAMOR

None of us has ever gotten close

enough to find out.  But he sends

in a raiding party of twenty to thirty

men.  More than enough to

deal with the likes of us.

GABRIELLE

Does he come with

the raiding party?

LINKOS

Never.  He always sends

his henchmen in to do his

bloody work and return

his tribute to him.

GABRIELLE

Charming.

SAMOR

So, will you help us?

Xena and Gabrielle exchange a look.  They both rise up from the table.

XENA

Excuse us for a moment.

SAMOR

Certainly, certainly.

Walking a few steps from the group, Gabrielle turns to Xena.

GABRIELLE

(whispering)

Xena, we have to help them.

XENA

I know that.  The question is, how?

GABRIELLE

How?

XENA

The way I see it, we have two basic

options.  Option one:  you and I

take a ride up to this warlord’s

camp, check it out, and bust

some heads.  Hopefully, that’ll

make his army scatter to the winds.

GABRIELLE

Or?

XENA

We let what’s going to happen happen.

We gather up all the able-bodied men

and women, arm them, build up some

kind of fortifications around the

perimeter, and fight them off.

Gabrielle is silent for a moment as she ponders the possibilities.

GABRIELLE

Well, I have to admit I like the

first option better.  It keeps these

people out of the fighting.

XENA

True, but that can also

be its drawback.

GABRIELLE

What do you mean?

XENA

Look around you.  These people

are already defeated.  They’ve lost

the battle before it’s even begun.

If you and I destroy this Katos,

nothing will stop another warlord

from stepping in and taking his

place.  This is fertile land,

something every good warlord

needs to keep up his campaign.

GABRIELLE

(thoughtfully)

True....

XENA

If we teach these people how to

defend their land, give them back

their respect for themselves, they

may be able to stop the next

two-bit warlord wannabe from

taking what is theirs.

GABRIELLE

That’s understandable, Xena,

but we’ll never be able to do

all that in a night.  Some of

these people could die.

XENA

The hard facts of life.  If not

today, then next month, or

next year.  If they don’t learn

to defend themselves, or at

least try, anyone with a sword

and an agenda will walk

right in and start hacking.

Gabrielle thinks a moment more, then sighs.

GABRIELLE

You’re right.  Of course,

you’re always right

about stuff like this.

XENA

Not always, but yes, this

isn’t something I’m

unfamiliar with.

Gabrielle nods and as one, they turn back to the table.

XENA

(cont'd)
We’ll help.

Samor looks ready to faint from relief.

SAMOR

Oh thank you.

Thank you so much!

XENA

Don’t thank me yet.

(beat)

Gather up every able-bodied

man and woman strong enough

to wield a weapon and meet

me out in the central square.

We have a battle to plan.

CUT TO:

INT. TAVERN – EVENING - APHRODITE’S POV

As Samor makes his announcement to the tavern, Aphrodite looks on as Lira watches the young farmer get up from the table and follow the others outside.

APHRODITE

So, you’re pretty

sweet on him, huh?

LIRA

(startled)

Who?

APHRODITE

Farmer boy over there.

You like him, huh?

Lira blushes.  Then she turns sad eyes to Aphrodite.

LIRA

He was my betrothed.

APHRODITE

Was?

LIRA

(nodding)

Yes.  Our parents thought it

would be a good match.  And

it was.  Falin could be so

sweet and sensitive.  And he

looked at me like I was the

most precious jewel on earth.

APHRODITE

(impressed)

Mmm. Not bad.

LIRA

Until this happened.

She holds up her mangled hand.

LIRA

(cont’d)

Now he won’t even look at

me.  He looks through me,

as if I weren’t even there.

APHRODITE

Awww, sweetie, you’re still a

beautiful woman.  And if he

doesn’t appreciate that, well,

maybe he’s not the guy for you.

LIRA

But I still....

APHRODITE

Dig him?

LIRA

(softly)

Yes.

APHRODITE

Well... maybe not all

hope’s lost yet.

LIRA

(hopefully)

No?  But how?

APHRODITE

(grinning)

Let’s just say that I’ve made

a few love matches in my time.

Here’s what we’re gonna do.

CUT TO:

EXT. TOWN SQUARE - NIGHT

Xena is helping a group of men set up fortifications.  With a mighty heave, they overturn a broken wagon to join with several other such wagons near the front gate.

INTERCUT TO:

EXT. TOWN SQUARE - NIGHT

Gabrielle is teaching a group of twenty women how to wield crude, wooden staves.  She calls out encouragement as the women begin their first tentative thrusts and parries.

INTERCUT TO:

EXT. TOWN SQUARE - NIGHT

Xena and the men are sharpening long wooden stakes and setting them at low angles into the soft soil to take out the legs of the horses the soldiers will be riding.

INTERCUT TO:

EXT. TOWN SQUARE - NIGHT

Gabrielle is helping several bowmen gather up discarded arrows.  The women continue to practice with their staves behind her.

INTERCUT TO:

EXT. TOWN SQUARE - NIGHT

Xena is drilling with a group of nearly thirty sword-wielding men and women.

INTERCUT TO:

EXT. TOWN SQUARE - NIGHT

Gabrielle helps the women and children who will not be fighting set up a crude, but effective infirmary in the town’s largest building.  Water is drawn and set close to the blazing fireplace.  Furs line the floor to make beds, and bundles of cloths are stacked neatly by each bed.

INTERCUT TO:

EXT. TOWN SQUARE - NIGHT

Xena is helping several men, women and children heave large bundles of straw into strategic areas to be used as shields and hiding spots for the bowmen and other warriors.

INTERCUT TO:

EXT. TOWN SQUARE - NIGHT

Stretching and rubbing burning eyes, Gabrielle walks over to join Xena, who is looking over the last of the preparations for tomorrow’s battle.

GABRIELLE

I never thought we could

get this much done in a night.

Xena smiles.

XENA

(kidding)

Have a little more

faith in yourself.

(beat)

Your staff wielders

look pretty good.

GABRIELLE

(proudly)

They do, don’t they?

XENA

Yup.  I think that’s as much as

we’re gonna get done tonight.

Might as well have everyone

rest up before the battle.

GABRIELLE

(eyes narrowed)

You too.

Xena smiles again.

XENA

Me too.  Samor!

Samor comes rushing over.

SAMOR

I can’t thank you enough for

all you’re doing here, Xena.

XENA

No thanks are necessary.  I

need four lookouts to patrol

the perimeter tonight.  People

who won’t be in the battle

tomorrow.  People you trust

not to fall asleep at their posts

or run if danger comes

sooner than you expect.

SAMOR

I know just the ones, Xena.

I’ll get them right now.

XENA

All right, then.  Gabrielle and I

are going to our room.  Tell

everyone else to get some sleep.

SAMOR

I will.  Thank you again.

Nodding, Xena takes Gabrielle’s hand, and together they walk back to the tavern. 

CUT TO:

INT. TAVERN - NIGHT

Aphrodite is sitting at the table alone as Xena and Gabrielle enter.

GABRIELLE

(to Xena)

Let me say goodnight to her. 

I’ll meet you upstairs in a minute.

Nodding her own goodnight to Aphrodite, Xena turns and heads for the stairs.

APHRODITE

Hey!  How are the

battle plans coming?

GABRIELLE

Better than expected, actually.

How ‘bout you?  Are you

gonna stick around?

APHRODITE

Yeah, I think I will.  I really

like Lira, and I think

I can help her.

GABRIELLE

Aphrodite....

APHRODITE

(laughing)

No, not like that, Gab.

It’s all cool, believe me.

I might even help her in

the infirmary tomorrow.

GABRIELLE

Aphrodite, you faint

at the sight of blood.

APHRODITE

Yeah, well, maybe I want

to help a little, you know?

GABRIELLE

(softly)

Are you sure?  It could

get pretty bad.

APHRODITE

I’m sure.

Gabrielle smiles.

GABRIELLE

Okay, then.  Goodnight.

I’ll see you tomorrow.

APHRODITE

Night, sweet pea.  Don’t

let the warrior-babe

keep you up too late.

A blushing Gabrielle turns and heads for the stairs.

CUT TO:

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

Xena and Gabrielle are lying in bed, cuddled close together.  Both are almost asleep.

GABRIELLE

Xena?

XENA

(sleepily)

Mm?

GABRIELLE

If I had asked, would you have

gone with the first option?

Of going after Katos directly?

XENA

If you had given me a convincing

enough argument, sure.

Grinning, Gabrielle leans up and places a gentle kiss on Xena’s lips.

GABRIELLE

Thanks!

XENA

No problem.

Now get to sleep.

Gabrielle falls asleep with a smile on her face.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR