ACT THREE

FADE IN:

INT. JAIL CELL - NIGHT

Xena is lying on a cot. Gabrielle is leaning against the wall staring at the shimmering blue bars that hold them in.

GABRIELLE

Getting us arrested

was part of your plan?

XENA

Yep.

Sighing, Gabrielle crosses the cell and takes a seat on the end of the cot.

GABRIELLE

Clue me in next time.

XENA

Next time I need to

get us arrested, I will.

GABRIELLE

Looking at their security?

XENA

And weapons.

GABRIELLE

Tight and powerful.

XENA

Yep.

GABRIELLE

I trust the plan

has a second part.

XENA

I’m working on it.

GABRIELLE

And in the meantime?

XENA

Let’s sleep on it.

Gabrielle smiles and crawls between Xena and the wall to settle her head on Xena’s shoulder.

GABRIELLE

This is pretty good,

even for jail.

XENA

We’ve been in worse.

GABRIELLE

Very true.

Placing a tender kiss to Xena’s cheek, Gabrielle snuggles in and closes her eyes.  Xena remains awake and staring at the ceiling.

FADE TO:

INT. JAIL CELL - MORNING

A tall, distinguished man enters the outer chamber of the cells.  He stops just before the bars of the cell where Xena and Gabrielle are being held.  He doesn’t seem the least bit surprised to see them both asleep in the same cot even though there are others that are available.

GAGE

Excuse me?

He waits patiently for a response.  Slowly, taking her own time, Xena finally opens her eyes and turns her head.

GAGE

(cont’d)

Good morning.  My name is

Gage.  I’m your advocate.

XENA

For what?

GAGE

Court.

XENA

Court?

GAGE

Yes.  For the charges

pending against you.

Drawing a deep breath, Xena slowly sits up, careful not to disturb Gabrielle.

XENA

They’re putting us on trial?

GAGE

Yes, for two counts of assault.

XENA

I see.  And if we lose?

GAGE

You’ll probably be sentenced

to two years of working in the

mines.  A year for each count.

XENA

So you get four years of

prisoner labor out of us

for defending ourselves.

GAGE

If we lose.

XENA

And tell me….

She stands and walks with purpose to the bars that separate them

XENA

(cont’d)

What are the chances

we will win?

GAGE

I can’t say right now.  I need

to talk to you and your friend,

and then speak to the prosecutor.

XENA

So we’re not guilty yet?

GAGE

Not yet.  That’s not the

way we do things here.

FADE TO:

INT. OFFICE - LATE MORNING

Gage is sitting at a small table with Xena and Gabrielle, looking at notes he is taking while they have breakfast.

GAGE

So you put this ‘pinch’

on the young men?

XENA

Yes.

GAGE

And this is a maneuver

you do with your hands.

GABRIELLE

Would you like us

to demonstrate?

GAGE

Ah... no. Thank you.

XENA

Look, it’s mostly a

defensive action.

GAGE

But it can kill?

GABRIELLE

It can, but if you take it off

in time, it’s mostly harmless.

GAGE

Mostly?

XENA

Some people suffer

a mild nosebleed.

GAGE

I see.  Other than that

there are no side effects?

XENA

Not that we’re aware of.

GABRIELLE

So when will the trial start?

GAGE

This afternoon.  It will be

before a panel of judges

and shouldn’t take very long.

XENA

It generally doesn’t take

long to convict someone.

GAGE

You’re not convicted yet and I think

we can show these fellows have

caused trouble before.  I’ve talked

to three local merchants who have

had incidents with them in the past.

The only trouble I can see is that

they are claiming it was unprovoked.

XENA

Of course they are.

FADE TO:

INT. COURTROOM - AFTERNOON

Gage, Xena and Gabrielle are seated at one table.  The PROSECUTOR and the THREE MEN are seated at a table across the room, facing them.  At a third table between them, THREE JUDGES dressed in red robes are preparing to hear the case.

In a small gallery, various members of the city including Soteres, Vera and Gedeon are watching and waiting.

JUDGE ALGIS

We are here today to

investigate charges brought

against the topsiders….

He pauses as he looks down at a paper in front of him.

JUDGE ALGIS

(cont’d)

Xena and Gabrielle?

Correct?

GAGE

Yes, Magistrate.

JUDGE MICU

The three accusers, Ahban, Perico

and Birger are prepared to testify

against these topsiders?

The advocate for the young men stands, smoothing his silver robes before addressing the panel.

CAIO

They are Magistrate.  They will all

three testify to the same thing.

The three judges take a moment to confer and the third one, a woman with a very regal bearing turns her eyes to Xena and Gabrielle

JUDGE SOFIA

We have spoken with Elders Soteres and

Vera and commander Gedeon.  They all

seem to think that this situation was a terrible

misunderstanding between our citizens and

people not of this world.  They think that we

should take into special consideration that you

two were brought here when you were in no

condition to protest.  That you were told that

you would remain here and that you had been

among our people for less than one day.

XENA

That would be nice.

The woman is not amused at Xena and it shows in her eyes as she purses her lips before continuing.

JUDGE SOFIA

As I understand it, you readily

admit to using this ‘pinch’ on

the accusers. Is that right?

Xena is about to say something, when both Gage and Gabrielle each take an arm to stop her.

GAGE

That’s correct, Magistrate.  They

do admit to doing it, but they

state it was self-defense.

JUDGE SOFIA

We’ve read their statements,

Advocate Gage. Our concern is

this: while we must punish this

act of aggression we don’t wish to

make the punishment unreasonable.

JUDGE MICA

The normal sentence for this crime

would be one year, per charge,

per accused.  Therefore a four-year

sentence to the mines.

There is a slight commotion at the table where Gage sits. As Gedeon looks over he sees Gage and Gabrielle once again hanging onto Xena who looks like she’s ready to attack the entire room.

JUDGE ALGIS

In consideration of all the factors,

we are willing to offer you a reduced

sentence. One year labor in the mines.

XENA

(whispering to Gage)

Do we have a choice?

GAGE

Take it. Trust me. Take it.

Xena looks him in the eye to measure his sincerity. Once she determines he is making the best choice for them, she turns to Gabrielle.

XENA

(whispering)

This was not

part of my plan.

GABRIELLE

I know.

XENA

We can work with this.

GABRIELLE

I have no doubt.

Squeezing Gabrielle’s hand, Xena turns and nods to Gage.

GAGE

We accept, Magistrate.

JUDGE SOFIA

Then the sentence shall start in

three days time.  The mining

foremen will take the time to train

and equip them so that they can

perform their duties safely.

JUDGE MICA

Gedeon, take them into

custody. Court adjourned.

FADE TO:

INT. MINING OFFICE - MORNING - THREE DAYS LATER

Gedeon stands with two guards, watching as the mine foreman hand new clothes to Xena and Gabrielle.

FOREMAN

These are the uniforms you need to

wear while working in the mines.

They are waterproof and will keep

you warm in the water.  We can heat

the area somewhat, but not enough

to keep you from freezing to death.

He gestures to a curtained off area.

FOREMAN

(cont’d)

You can change in there.

With twin sighs, they move behind the curtain.

CUT TO:

INT. MINING OFFICE - A FEW MINUTES LATER

Stepping out from behind the curtain Xena and Gabrielle are dressed in what passes for wetsuits.  It’s clear neither of them is happy with the close fit of the clothes.

FOREMAN

I know it’s uncomfortable at first,

but trust me... you’ll be glad you have

them when you’re in the water.

He hands them footwear that completes the outfit.

FOREMAN

(cont’d)

These too.

As they slip into the boots, the foreman turns to Gedeon.

FOREMAN

(cont’d)

I think I can take it from here.

I’ve handled prisoners before.

GEDEON

The guards have orders to

shoot them on site if they give

you trouble or try to escape.

FOREMAN

They’ll be fine. I’m sure you

have things to attend to.

Gedeon nods and leaves the office, taking his guards with him.

GEDEON

(off screen)

Guard this door.

The foreman watches from a window until Gedeon is out of site.  Then he retrieves a long dark duffle bag from inside a large chest.  He slides it across the floor to Xena.

FOREMAN

Put your regular clothes in there.

Xena gathers up the bundles of clothes and opens the bag to find all their weapons and her armor.

XENA

What the…?

FOREMAN

Look, we don’t have time for a

lot of talking.  If you two want to

get out of here, you’ll do exactly

as I say when I say it and you’ll look

like model prisoners.  Understand?

XENA

Yes, but where are you going

to take us that Gedeon and

his goon won’t find us?

FOREMAN

Topside.

FADE OUT.
 

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR