Episode Guide | Teaser | Act 1 | Act 2 | Act 3 | Act 4 |
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ACT THREE
FADE IN:
INT. HALLWAY – DAY
Xena is standing with Kazia and a couple other people talking quietly as people move past them. Xena is even smiling and seems to be enjoying herself at the moment.
Kadmus is making his way down the hall, looking like he has a bad smell under his nose when he see the small groups of people standing in the area.
KADMUS Okay folks, this section isn’t open yet. What are you doing here?
XENA Standing?
KADMUS Well could you ‘stand’ somewhere else? With you here, people will think it’s time to come back here.
XENA You must be kidding.
KADMUS No I’m not. Now please move out of this area.
The grin that crosses Xena’s face is one of disbelief as she does take a few steps away, back toward the room with all the merchandise.
Kadmus watches to make sure they’re moving then he turns and walks the other way.
XENA That man is an idiot.
KAZIA No, an idiot wouldn’t make the money he does. He’s just a control freak.
XENA So you don’t spend a lot of dinars at this thing. Why do you come?
KAZIA To be with my friends. We only get to see each other once or twice a year and this makes it fun. There are some things he can’t charge for and the chance to be with good friends is one of them.
XENA I like that. That’s good.
KAZIA Well, we gotten a lot from this and we’ve learned a lot about ourselves. It’s not all bad.
XENA I’m beginning to get it. Now all we have to do is fix the Kadmus problem.
KAZIA There’s a lava pit not far from here.
XENA That is a possibility.
CUT TO:
INT. LOUNGE – DAY
Gabrielle and Autolycus are once again in the room that is behind the stage area. Autolycus is seated and Gabrielle is pacing back and forth.
AUTOLYCUS Is that doing any good?
GABRIELLE It’s how I think.
AUTOLYCUS I’ll bet you go through a lot of boot leather. A thousand dinars could buy a lot of boots.
GABRIELLE Be careful or I’ll put a boot where you least expect it.
AUTOLYCUS Sorry.
GABRIELLE Money aside... why are you doing this?
AUTOLYCUS There has to be another reason besides money?
GABRIELLE Yes. Autolycus, you retired a wealthy man. You don’t need the money. Why?
AUTOLYCUS People don’t remember me.
GABRIELLE What?
AUTOLYCUS They don’t remember ‘The King of Thieves’. You, you and Xena, they remember. It’s nice to be a part of something so positive. These people love you and regardless of who brings them together, they all have one thing in common... you and Xena.
GABRIELLE Xena and I don’t deserve this.
AUTOLYCUS Why not? You have spent your entire lives trying to make things better....
GABRIELLE You’re overstating it. We did what we had to do. That doesn’t make us worthy of this kind of thing.
AUTOLYCUS Oh get a grip, Gabrielle. They’re not trying to deify you. They are simply finding some pleasure in what you’ve done. You give them hope. You’re the one who wrote the scrolls. You should have seen this coming.
GABRIELLE This is not what I intended.
The door behind them opens, stopping what is quickly turning into a heated argument. Gabrielle turns to find Xena coming in.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) Well this is surprise. How did you get in?
XENA You have to ask? But I will say Midas had less security at his palace. How go things on this end?
GABRIELLE Fine. He took it hook, line and sinker. I’ll be going on stage later today.
XENA I’ll be in the audience.
GABRIELLE And then?
XENA We lower the boom. When you finish up your time, take questions from the audience.
GABRIELLE You’re being evil, aren’t you?
XENA Pretty much. But it should be fun.
AUTOLYCUS You both scare me sometimes. You know that right?
XENA We do try. Now....
She pauses and gives Gabrielle a kiss on the forehead.
XENA (cont’d) I have a few things to do before you go on stage. In the meantime, relax. It’s not as bad as we first thought. We just need to put things into perspective for Kadmus.
Xena turns to Autolycus.
XENA (cont’d) You’re in, right?
AUTOLYCUS How can I say no to the two most dangerous women in the world?
XENA Good. (to Gabrielle) I’ll see you later.
FADE TO:
INT. STAGE ROOM – SHORT WHILE LATER
The room is packed with people. Every seat is filled with a body and there are even a few people standing along the sides against the walls. The stage is empty at the moment, but it’s clear that people are waiting for something to happen.
All the attention turns to the stage when Kadmus enters from behind a curtain.
KADMUS Hi everybody... are you all having a good time?
The crowd responds with varying degrees of enthusiasm, but all the responses are positive.
KADMUS (cont’d) Good, that’s what we like to hear. And we actually have an unexpected surprise for you today. We have a guest that came in at the last minute. I think you’re all going to be very pleased. But before we bring her out we have something that we’re going to offer up for auction.
An assistant brings out a pair of odd-looking boots and sets them on a small table next to Kadmus.
KADMUS (cont’d) These were acquired for auction from a close friend of Xena and Gabrielle’s and they are the boots that Gabrielle wore during her adventure with Xena when they came to Tara’s aid for the second time.
CUT TO:
INT. BACKSTAGE – CONTINUOUS
Gabrielle backhands Autolycus on the arm as she glares at him.
GABRIELLE You stole my boots?!
AUTOLYCUS Actually I didn’t steal them. You left them behind. I just picked them up.
GABRIELLE Why in the name of Zeus.... Never mind, I don’t want to know.
CUT TO:
INT. STAGE ROOM – DAY
The auction continues with bids going higher and higher.
Kazia is seated in the back of the room with a fellow that looks strangely familiar. The clothes are different than the last time he appeared, but it’s definitely Anthrax.
KAZIA Are you sure this is going to work?
XENA Positive. I’ll pop up after Gabrielle is done speaking. Then we’ll put the screws to Kadmus in front of the entire crowd.
KAZIA See, this is why we love you two. There’s always a plan.
XENA Even if we have to do it on the fly, Gabrielle and I are good together.
They return their attention to the auction. Xena just shakes her head slowly when the price of the boots reaches five hundred dinars.
XENA (cont’d) I don’t get this.
KAZIA All right, I admit... neither do I.
FADE TO:
INT. STAGE ROOM – DAY
Kadmus is now finished with his auction. After handing off the boots to an assistant he turns back to the group.
KADMUS All right, now is the time. We have a special surprise guest for you today. I know it’s going to be hard to believe, but here she is... Gabrielle, the Battling Bard.
At this point the crowd goes crazy, screaming and yelling. Whistles can be heard piercing through the general din of the room. All the attendees are on their feet as Gabrielle slowly makes her way on stage.
She has a huge smile on her face as she gets a look at everyone. She spends a moment or two just waving to the crowd as the noise continues.
When everyone finally quiets down and retakes their seats she perches on a stool that has been provided for her.
GABRIELLE Wow! Thanks, guys! You know, I had no idea that people get together like this. I was just passing through and here you were. You made it really hard to get a room.
There is a ripple of laughter through the room and Gabrielle continues to just take it in.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) I have to admit that’s its kind of bizarre. I mean Xena and I....
At the mention of Xena’s name there is another round of cheers and applause that makes Gabrielle laugh.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) I feel that way most of the time too. So you all get together once a year, just to come talk about us?
There is a murmur of yes among the audience.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) Well, when I heard you were here, I thought I’d come tell you a few stories I haven’t had a chance to get down on a scroll yet. You okay with that?
Audience reaction is as expected... enthusiastic.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) At least you’re easy to please. Okay then. You’re all familiar with Palaemon and Vidalus? Well we got to see them again recently. Yet another interesting adventure for us, but I got to put Xena in this really skimpy outfit....
FADE TO:
INT. STAGE ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Gabrielle is walking around the stage now, getting the crowd involved in the story that she is just finishing up.
GABRIELLE So Xena, in true Xena style, informed the king exactly how things were going to be. He didn’t argue; the wedding went off without a hitch. Xena and I got a scroll from Vidalus the other day and he says that Val and his wife are already expecting a baby. So it worked out just fine.
Moving back to the stool, Gabrielle takes a drink from a mug that has been placed on the table near her.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) Okay, I’m done. I suppose the thing to do now is take some questions.
She looks over the crowd as every hand goes up, but she’s looking for one particular hand.
FADE OUT. |
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END OF ACT THREE |