Episode Guide Teaser Act 1 Act 2 Act 3 Act 4


ACT FOUR

 

FADE IN:

 

EXT. BOUDICCA'S CAMPSITE - TREE

 

Xena and Gabrielle hang next to each other. The men have withdrawn, leaving them alone.  A few men are doing chores around the campsite; one brings water and bread to the women in the cage.

 

XENA

Was there a point to both

of us going through this?

 

 

Gabrielle twists, trying to relieve the strain.

 

GABRIELLE

Yes.

 

One of the women reaches out through the bars to the men.

 

WOMAN'S VOICE

Please... tell us what

happened to our children!

 

MAN

Shut up! You'll find

out soon enough.

 

The man shoves the woman back, and walks away.

 

XENA

Nice.

 

GABRIELLE

Yeah, well, we never do fall in with

gentler and kinder thugs, Xena.

It's always the nasty, smelly, kick-us-

in-the-butt-with-our-own-past kind.

 

XENA

(sighing)

Didn't expect this particular kick.

 

GABRIELLE

No. Me either.

(pausing, then quietly)

And for the record, not stowing away

in your saddlebag as you went into

battle that morning is one of the

things I'll regret until my dying day.

 

 

XENA

(gently)

Gabrielle....

 

GABRIELLE

(wryly)

However many of those I

turn out to have. Is this

two or three now?

 

Xena doesn't say anything. Instead, she smiles reluctantly, acknowledging the truth of the statement.

 

XENA

You're getting a sense of

humor in your old age?

 

GABRIELLE

I had to. I married you.

 

Xena chuckles softly. They are both quiet for a minute. 

 

XENA

This might be the

one that sticks.

 

Gabrielle twists again, and grimaces as her shoulder joint pops. In the darkness past the torches, a soft drumming starts up again.

 

Through the trees, the gleam of moonlight is seen.

 

GABRIELLE

I've learned in my life that there

are worse things that could

happen to me than dying

at your side, Xena.

 

Xena's eyes glisten.

 

XENA

Likewise.

 

 

The drums get louder, and closer. Through the torches, a gathering crowd can be seen.

 

The women from the village stand up in the cage and watch.

 

PETI

Bet you wish you

were back in here!

 

GABRIELLE

(loudly)

Bet I don't.

 

Boudicca and her men step out into the torchlight again. They are dressed now in the tattered remains of what was once the strongly colored fabrics of their homeland.

 

The men fan out and encircle the tree. Two of them carry drums, which they beat on incessantly.

 

Boudicca comes to stand in front of Xena and Gabrielle.

 

XENA

Where are the kids, Boudicca?

 

BOUDICCA

Shut up, Xena.

 

XENA

S'matter, you don't want your image

tarnished? Those women deserve to

know what you did with their children.

 

Boudicca turns to the men.

 

BOUDICCA

Divide yourselves into four. You

will take hold of the ropes that

bind her, and all pull in the

directions of the four winds.

 

Gabrielle winces.

 

XENA

Classy.

 

 

BOUDICCA

(viciously)

No more than you deserve, and all

of those who had brothers and

sons die will get a piece of you.

 

She gives a mirthless laugh.

 

BOUDICCA

(cont’d)

Literally.

 

The men start to untie Xena from the tree. Xena strains against the ropes, but she cannot budge them.

 

BOUDICCA

(cont’d)

I'm sure you wish we'd all died

also, Xena. But I'm not going to

let that happen. My people will

survive, even if you do not.

 

GABRIELLE

By stealing babies?

 

 

Boudicca looks at Gabrielle.

 

BOUDICCA

I will enjoy watching you watch

your friend be torn to pieces.

As I saw my friends torn.

 

Xena arcs her body and tries to pull herself free. The men yank her back between them, suspending her in mid air.

 

They pull the ropes hard, and Xena jerks helplessly.

 

The men laugh.

 

GABRIELLE

Boudicca, it wasn't the

way you think it was.

 

BOUDICCA

Wasn't it? I'm not sure

it matters anymore.

 

Ten men are on each rope. Each rope is tied tightly to Xena's arms and legs. The men move to opposite corners and start to pull.

 

CUT TO:

 

EXT. CAGE - NIGHT

 

Peti and the other women watch.

 

SECOND WOMAN

By the gods.

 

PETI

Don't you feel sorry for them.

 

SECOND WOMAN

But I do. They're feeling

creatures just as we are, Peti.

 

PETI

You heard the woman!

 

SECOND WOMAN

That woman? The one who had us

captured? The one who probably

stole our children and did who

knows what with them? Whose

to say *she's* telling the truth?

 

The women from the village murmur together.

 

THIRD WOMAN

She's right. These two have

done nothing to harm us.

 

PETI

Nothing to help us!

 

SECOND WOMAN

Maybe they were trying... and

they got caught! Now they're

going to die. Because of us!

 

CUT TO:

 

EXT. BOUDICCA'S CAMPSITE - TREE

 

Xena just barely has time to brace herself before the ropes go taut and she is being pulled in four directions.  She clenches her fists and resists the pull, her body swinging wildly.

 

She is looking up at the sky. As the pressure increases, she lets her head tip back so she can see Gabrielle, whose body is tensed in sympathy.

 

BOUDICCA

Pull!

 

GABRIELLE

Boudicca! Stop this! Xena didn't

kill your people. Caesar's army did!

 

The drummers increase their volume.

 

BOUDICCA

PULL!

 

GABRIELLE

Boudicca!

 

The men haul on the ropes. Xena grimaces with the strain of holding them back.

 

XENA

Gabrielle! Save your breath.

 

GABRIELLE

(frustrated)

For what?

 

BOUDICCA

Pull, all of you! Harder! Now!!!

 

Boudicca grabs the end of one of the ropes, ands starts to pull with the men.  Gabrielle yanks at her bond with almost mindless rage, causing leaves to shower down over the men, and over Xena's suspended body.

 

CUT TO:

 

EXT. CAGE - NIGHT

 

The woman watch, unable to turn away.

 

SECOND WOMAN

Look!

 

She points - the small boy has reappeared near the hut in the back.

 

PETI

What? Oh!

 

THIRD WOMAN

(calling out loudly)

Bettus!  Bettus!

 

The boy sees them.

 

BETTUS

Mama!!

 

CUT TO:

 

EXT. BOUDICCA'S CAMPSITE - TREE

 

Boudicca sees the boy.

 

BOUDICCA

Stop! Go inside!

 

The boy clings to the side of the hut, clearly torn between fear of Boudicca, and wanting to run to the cage.

 

GABRIELLE

(calling out)

Let him go to his

family, Boudicca.

 

BOUDICCA

We are his family now!

Shut up!

(to men)

Pull, damn you!

She's just flesh!

 

The men lean into the ropes, the drums get louder, and more insistent.

 

GABRIELLE

Is that what you're doing

here? Stealing babies?

 

The men dig their feet in and haul in earnest. Xena's eyes close and her face contracts in agony.

 

BOUDICCA

Rebuilding my people!

Now PULL! PULL!!

 

GABRIELLE

By destroying their families?

What does that make

you, Boudicca?!

 

Boudicca looks over at Gabrielle.

 

 

BOUDICCA

Shut up! This isn't about

them. It's about her!

 

CUT TO:

 

EXT. CAGE - NIGHT

 

The women now are shaking the bars together much as Gabrielle had, but with more success since there are more of them working at it.

 

PETI

Is he the only one? Call for

them! Call their names!

 

SECOND WOMAN

(loudly)

Cassi! Jase! Children!

Do you hear us??

 

Bettus dashes from the hut, circling the tree and heading for the cage.

 

BETTUS

Mama! Mama! Oh, Mama!

 

Boudicca sees him. She starts to call out, then stops, as the boy throws his arms through the bars and tries to hug his mother.

 

She turns her back on them.

 

BOUDICCA

PULL!!!!

 

CUT TO:

 

EXT. BOUDICCA'S CAMPSITE - TREE

 

Gabrielle rips one arm loose, the skin on her hand and wrist torn and bloody.

 

GABRIELLE

Xena! Hang on!

 

Boudicca sees her. She drops the rope and picks up a sword, heading for the tree.

 

Xena realizes what she's after and reacts, almost convulsing in mid air as she fights the men's pull.

 

XENA

Gabrielle!

 

The men struggle to control the ropes attached to Xena, suddenly being pulled back a step.

 

MAN

M'lady! Look out!!!

 

Xena yanks the ropes with all her strength, and she pulls the men back almost enough to gain her feet.

 

XENA

Yeahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

 

Boudicca stops, whirls, and then changes direction, striding back to where Xena is fighting.

 

BOUDICCA

PULL!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The men lean into the ropes desperately. Boudicca grabs Xena's hair and pulls her head back, raising the sword. Gabrielle redoubles her efforts, shaking the tree.

 

GABRIELLE

NO!!!!!

 

BOUDICCA

This is for my family. The only

ones I had left after Caesar's

bastards raped us!

 

Gabrielle freezes, knowing she won't get free in time. Boudicca pulls Xena's head all the way back, exposing her throat. Xena fights the hold, but she can't pull free.

 

GABRIELLE

Boudicca! You took your people

to war, for what? Risked

everything, FOR WHAT?

 

Boudicca's eyes are glazed with bloodlust.  She turns to stare at Gabrielle, smiling triumphantly.

 

BOUDICCA

For my family. To avenge

what happened to them.

 

She puts sword to Xena's throat.

 

BOUDICCA

(cont’d)

To avenge what

happened to me.

 

Boudicca draws her arm back, then starts to lunge forward. Xena pulls against her grip, against the men, against the ropes, a low growl erupting from her throat.

 

GABRIELLE

(desperately)

Then how can you condemn

Xena for doing the same thing?

 

The sword tip plunges past Xena's neck, coming to rest with the edge against her skin as Boudicca stares down at her.

 

Xena stares steadily back.

 

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

She wasn't running from

Caesar. She just... had a

friend in a lot of trouble.

 

The drums slowly stop, as the men watch both of them. Silence falls, broken by the creak of the ropes still holding Xena taut, and Gabrielle captive of the tree.

 

BOUDICCA

(tonelessly)

Your family?

 

Xena looks past Boudicca at Gabrielle.

 

XENA

Yes.

 

 

Boudicca releases Xena's hair and walks away, turning her back on both of them.

 

BOUDICCA

Release them.

 

The men slowly relax the ropes, lowering Xena to the ground. Boudicca remains at the edge of the fire, staring into the darkness.

 

MAN

M'lady, if we let them go,

they'll know we are here.

If they know, others will.

 

Boudicca nods absently.

 

BOUDICCA

So we move on.

 

The men mutter among themselves. Xena gets herself free of the ropes and heads for Gabrielle, to help her untie hers.

 

GABRIELLE

What about the children?

 

 

BOUDICCA

They are young. They would

have grown to love us. In time.

 

XENA

And their mothers?

 

Boudicca walks into the darkness. The men follow her, disappearing into the shadows. 

 

Xena puts her arm around Gabrielle. They walk in the opposite direction.

 

FADE OUT.

 

END OF ACT FOUR

 


 

TAG

 

FADE IN:

 

EXT. TINY RUNDOWN VILLAGE - MORNING

 

Gabrielle is sitting in a circle of children, telling them a story. Her hand and wrist is bandaged. Xena sits nearby, with a pensive expression.

 

Casey walks over and sits down next to Xena.

 

CASEY

I still don't understand.

Who were those people?

 

XENA

Don't try to understand.

Just be glad they're gone.

You can live in peace now.

 

CASEY

(thoughtfully)

For a while.

 

Xena nods, conceding the point.

 

XENA

They were desperate. People

end up doing crazy things when

they don't think they have options.

 

CASEY

Stealing our children?

Our wives? How could they

think that would work?

 

XENA

It has before.

 

Casey looks very surprised. Xena doesn't explain further, so he eventually shrugs.

 

CASEY

Well, as you say,

it's peace for now.

(sighing)

Peace to till our crops,

and teach our children.

 

XENA

Right.

 

CASEY

Really, what more

can you ask for?

 

Casey gets up and strolls off. Xena sits and listens to the end of the story Gabrielle is telling, then she smiles as Gabrielle gets up and comes over to join her.

 

The children get up and start playing, laughing and running around, visibly no worse for wear from their captivity.

 

GABRIELLE

They're good people.

 

 

XENA

(nodding)

They are.

 

GABRIELLE

The kids told me Boudicca

was starting to teach

them her traditions.

(beat)

They really weren't slaves.

 

XENA

No. Caesar's legions pillaged

Boudicca's lands.

(pausing)

Killed her family. Raped her. She

led the uprising afterward, but she

never could manage a campaign.

 

 

GABRIELLE

She needed you for that.

 

Xena is silent, then she nods.

 

XENA

I had the plan. Or I

thought I did, anyway.

 

Gabrielle links her arm through Xena's.

 

GABRIELLE

Wasn't our plan. We were

part of someone else’s.

 

She looks away, and exhales.

 

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

But that's water under the

bridge that I have no intention

of ever drinking again.

 

She turns and looks back at Xena.

 

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

I hope Boudicca can find

what she's looking for.

 

XENA

I think she's just been trying

to get home ever since.

 

GABRIELLE

(quietly)

I feel sorry for her.

For them.

 

Xena nods again.

 

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

Now that they don't have

us strung up like a

smoked fish, that is.

 

 

Xena smiles. She looks off into the distance with a thoughtful expression.

 

XENA

It was good to have reason

win out for a change.

 

GABRIELLE

Well....

 

XENA

Words over swords. You talked,

no one ended up fighting.

 

GABRIELLE

Only because I had no other choice.

Though chewing through my other arm

here had started to become an option.

 

XENA

I know the feeling.

 

Xena puts both arms around Gabrielle and hugs her. They stand up and begin to stroll through the town.

 

Gabrielle looks around the village.

 

GABRIELLE

They could use some help here.

Want to stick around for a while?

Must be some herbs back in those

woods somewhere, and these kids

could use a few good stories.

 

XENA

And we can be here in

case trouble happens.

 

Gabrielle circles Xena's waist with one arm.

 

GABRIELLE

Xena, we are trouble.

 

XENA

Hm. Good point. Maybe

if we're here, no other

trouble will happen.

 

GABRIELLE

(chuckling)

Don't count on it.

 

FADE OUT.
 

DISCLAIMER

Xena's conscience was not harmed in the making of this motion
picture. However, she is considering selling off some of her
past to start up a retirement fund for her, and Gabrielle's future.

 

 

The Staff of the Subtext Virtual Seasons would like to thank all our readers for helping
us to keep Xena & Gabrielle alive.  We hope you join us next fall for Season 10!!

Carol, Denise, Judi, Missy, Sue, TN, Lucia,
MaryD, Linda (Calli), Trish, Linda, Marsha