ACT FOUR

FADE IN

Sabina's army riding along sparsely wooded rocky terrain. Ahead of them, there are two fairly steep, tall cliffs; the road between them narrows so that only two or three riders can pass at the most.

VOICE (slightly breathless, off-camera):
     They're still coming!

Sabina slows down, signaling her men to do likewise. The camera pans over to a scout who is riding hard, catching up with Sabina's army.

SCOUT (rides up to Sabina):
     I saw them...they're behind us and gaining!

Sabina smiles coldly and shakes her head.

SABINA (to herself):
     Maybe Xena hasn't gone quite as soft as I thought. (to Peneios) All right. Now, we go to the backup plan.

CUT TO

Gabrielle riding along the road at the very back of the column. She spurs the horse ahead a bit until she is riding alongside a grim-faced Haimon. He doesn't turn to acknowledge her and they ride in silence a few moments.

GABRIELLE:
     You did the right thing deciding to come with us.

HAIMON:
     Then why do I feel so wrong?

GABRIELLE:
     No one said doing the right thing was easy. Sometimes, the choices we have to make are horrible. You just hope that whichever way you choose is the right one. Sometimes it is. (Haimon glances at her and she smiles gently) And sometimes it isn't. (she nods towards Xena riding far ahead of them) Now you know what she feels like.

HAIMON (lowers his head):
     You're saying Xena wanted to help those people back in Skeiron?

GABRIELLE:
     I'm saying that Xena had to decide what was more important--helping the people of Skeiron or stopping Sabina from doing the same thing to a dozen more villages. (she pauses a moment) I wonder, Haimon...I agreed to keep riding. I hold myself as responsible for that decision as Xena is. And yet you're laying all the blame on her. Did you ever think that your judgment is clouded by your hatred for Xena?

Haimon is silent, pondering what Gabrielle is saying to him.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena's done some terrible things in her past--and I know that she wishes she could turn back time and change all of it. But--strange as it may sound--Xena wouldn't be who she is today if she hadn't been who she was. Without her, there might be a thousand more just like Sabina terrorizing all of Greece. (Haimon stares straight ahead, making no reply. Gabrielle shrugs) Just something to think about.

Gabrielle spurs her horse forward and moves ahead in the column, leaving Haimon alone to think.

CUT TO

Xena, Gabrielle can be seen over her shoulder, riding behind her. Haimon ambles up to ride next to Xena. She looks at him out of the corner of her eye, wary.

XENA (nodding coolly):
     Haimon.

HAIMON (his expression as stiff as hers):
     Xena.

They ride together in silence a few moments, neither one looking at the other.

HAIMON (still just as aloof):
     You did the right thing about Skeiron.

In shock, Xena darts a sidelong glance to him, but she quickly masks her surprise, her face turning expressionless.

XENA:
     I'm glad you approve.

HAIMON (looks at her, as if debating with himself whether to be angry or not):
     Let's just find Sabina.

He turns his horse and rides back towards the rear of the column.

Over Xena's shoulder, Gabrielle smiles. She leans forward slightly in her saddle.

GABRIELLE:
     Well, that's a step in the right direction.

XENA:
     But still a long way to go.

CUT TO

The militia, with Xena, Gabrielle, and Haimon riding in front, approaches the same spot where we previously saw Sabina's army--only now, a pile of rocks, about waist-high, is blocking the pass. Xena looks around suspiciously and then slows down Argo. Haimon, Gabrielle and the others do likewise.

HAIMON:
     What are we waiting for? Let's get those rocks out of the way!

XENA (nods toward the narrow pass):
     This could be a perfect place for an ambush. Sabina's men could be waiting on the other side to pick us off one by one. Let me go first and take a look.

GABRIELLE (touches her arm):
     Be careful, Xena.

Xena rides up to the barricade of rocks and dismounts, looking around warily. As she picks up one of the smaller rocks to throw it aside, an arrow whizzes at her from behind the cliffs but she manages to catch it just as it's about to strike her, eliciting awed gasps from the men behind her.

XENA:
     Just as I thought.

She steps back, then charges forward and executes a high leap, flipping in the air with a piercing "A-yi-yi-yi-yi-yi!" and landing on the other side of the rock pile. Her face distorted in a yell, she throws her chakram, deflecting several arrows.

XENA (grabs her sword out of the scabbard):
     Gabrielle, Haimon! Come on! The rest of you, clear the rocks--we'll cover you!

As Xena charges toward the pass, she is met by two of Sabina's warriors. Gabrielle and Haimon dismount hastily and climb over the rock pile while Xena battles the warriors, quickly dispatching one of them; while she fights the other, six more of Sabina's men attack and block the passage. A ferocious fight ensues. Deftly wielding her sais, Gabrielle kills one attacker and wounds another; Haimon is slightly wounded in the arm but manages to strike his assailant dead. In the meantime, the men from the militia are clearing the rocks so that the horses can get through.

A close-up on Xena as she runs her sword through the second man she was fighting.

SABINA (off-camera, in a firm, cool voice with just a slight touch of sarcasm):
     Oh, Xena!

CUT TO

Sabina, riding out from behind a cluster of trees.

HAIMON:
     Kill the murdering bitch!

With a snarl, Xena leaps into the air and at Sabina, knocking her out of the saddle. The two women land hard on the ground, but the agile Sabina manages to free herself from Xena's grasp and clamber up to her feet.

The two women battle each other in a dazzling ballet of kicks, jumps and sword maneuvers. It is clear that Sabina is a highly skilled warrior, but she is no match for Xena. In a short time, Sabina makes a bad move and Xena quickly takes advantage of it to trip her. She lands on her back, with Xena's sword at her neck. Two of Sabina's men who are still on their feet and fighting--one facing off against Gabrielle, the other against Haimon--immediately stop and lower their weapons, looking expectantly at Sabina.

GABRIELLE (looks around, puzzled):
     Where's the rest of the army?

XENA:
     We'll follow their tracks and catch up with them soon enough. (to Sabina, who is still clutching her sword) Do you give up, or are you going to save us the trouble of bringing you to justice?

SABINA:
     How about neither?

XENA:
     I don't think there's any other offer on the table.

SABINA:
     Oh, but you haven't heard mine. (Xena looks at her warily) Let me and my men go, and dozens of lives will be spared.

XENA (flinches slightly, in a menacing voice):
     What are you talking about?

SABINA:
     This isn't a particularly comfortable position to talk. Let me up and I'll tell you. Come on, I'll even put down my sword.

She lets go of the sword; Xena steps back a little and lets her stand up but remains fully alert for any sign of mischief.

XENA:
     Well?

SABINA:
     It's very simple, really. By now, my men should have surrounded a village...somewhere not too far from here. If I am not there by sundown (she glances at the sun, which is already low), their orders are to burn the village and kill every living soul.

HAIMON (turning crimson):
     You're a butcher!

SABINA (coldly):
     I'm practical.

XENA (her voice seething with quiet rage):
     You fool. You think I can't follow the tracks to find out which way your men went?

SABINA:
     Too bad they split up into three groups at the crossroads straight ahead. (she nods toward the woods where the road is leading) You try and figure out which one of them has the orders to wipe out which village.

Xena glowers at Sabina and starts moving toward her.

SABINA (assumes a defensive posture):
     You're smart, Xena, so act like it. Smart enough to know when you've been outplayed. (laughs) Don't even think of trying the pinch on me. I could always call your bluff.

XENA (growls):
     And I could call yours.

SABINA:
     You could--but would you?

Xena stops.

HAIMON:
     Xena--

XENA (raises her hand, silencing him):
     And if I let you go, how do I know that you'll call off the attack on the village?

SABINA (almost offended):
     I'm not a monster, Xena. I don't relish killing innocent men, women and children...any more than you did. (she gives Xena a meaningful look; Xena flinches) Besides, I always keep my word.

Xena stares at Sabina, her face reflecting an emotional struggle.

HAIMON (in a suddenly soft voice):
     Let her go, Xena.

Xena nods, lowering her eyes, and puts her sword away in her scabbard. Sabina picks up her sword and mounts her horse; her two warriors help up their wounded comrade and head for the trees where they have left their horses.

SABINA:
     By the way, if I think someone could be following me, I just might get nervous and confused and ride in the wrong direction. You wouldn't want that, would you? (gives Xena a mocking glance) I knew you'd be sensible, Xena. After all, you don't want the slaughter of an entire village on your conscience...just like at Ikaros.

Haimon and Gabrielle flinch; Xena looks sharply at Sabina.

XENA:
     What do you know about Ikaros?

SABINA:
     Everything. My father was there.

XENA:
     Your father...? He couldn't be--

Haimon stares at Sabina, transfixed.

SABINA:
     Not in the village, Xena. In your army. His name was Valerius Berillus.

XENA (something stirs in her memory):
     Berillus...

SABINA:
     He admired you, Xena. Even after your army was gone, even after he settled down and became a simple shopkeeper, he kept a medallion with your name carved into it. (she reverently pulls the medallion out of her breastplate and holds it up)

Xena stares intently at Sabina, a horrified look on her face.

SABINA:
     But you really messed up at Ikaros, didn't you, Xena? First, you let your army get out of control and slaughter a village against your order... (Haimon darts a quick look at Xena) Then, you got a conscience and were so preoccupied with saving some little brat that you let Darphus plot against you right under your nose.

A close-up of Haimon's face as the realization that Xena saved his life dawns on him.

SABINA (continues):
     You know, Xena, my father always remained loyal to you. Even when Darphus made you walk the gauntlet, Berillus wouldn't strike you. And afterwards...he always kept hoping that one day you would return to your former glory. He remembered you the way you were...a fierce, proud warrior, a conqueror striking terror into the hearts of men. It was his legacy to his daughter.

She lets these words sink in, and then turns to her men, who are now on horseback as well.

SABINA:
     Let's go!

They ride off and disappear into the wood behind the curve of the road.

Gabrielle eyes Xena anxiously, taking note of the grim expression on her face. She steps forward and lays her hand on Xena's shoulder.

GABRIELLE:
     You did the right thing letting her go, Xena.

XENA (nods bleakly):
     I know.

Haimon hesitantly approaches Xena. Neither he nor Xena can look at one another.

HAIMON (studying the toe of his boot as he scuffs it in the dirt):
     Xena...what Sabina said about Ikaros...you saving a child. Was that true?

Xena looks away, unable to respond.

GABRIELLE:
     It's true.

HAIMON:
     I was the only survivor of Ikaros. (he looks at her intently) So it was you?

XENA (shrugs lightly, as if to play down her good deed):
     It was the right thing to do.

HAIMON:
     And the raid on my village? That wasn't you either?

XENA (shakes her head):
     I never wanted it to happen. By the time I got there it was too late...

GABRIELLE:
     Tell him, Xena.

XENA (she takes a deep breath):
     Darphus had ordered the death of everyone in the village. And when I found you--still in your mother's arms--Darphus sent one of his men to kill you too. And I decided I wasn't going to let him do that.

HAIMON:
     Why didn't you tell me this before? You let me go on blaming--

XENA:
     Haimon--whether I was there or not, the blood of Ikaros is still on my hands. I wasn't about to wash it away by getting you to feel like you owed me something.

HAIMON:
     Xena, you saved my life...

XENA (turns to him--there is a catch in her throat when she speaks):
     And you saved mine. We're even.

HAIMON (laughs lightly):
     Me? It sounds like saving me almost got you killed.

XENA (smiles gently at him):
     There's more than one way to save someone, Haimon. I've still got a long journey ahead of me, but it was because of you that I took that first step towards the person I want to be.

HAIMON:
     Maybe the journey isn't as long as you think, Xena. (he pauses a moment then reaches out tentatively to touch her shoulder) Thank you. (he glances at Gabrielle.) To both of you. All my life I've wanted to be a hero. I guess I was trying so hard to make it up to my mother that I lost sight of the most important thing of all. Knowing right from wrong.

XENA:
     Sometimes you don't know, Haimon.

HAIMON:
     Maybe not. Sometimes all you can do is try your best.

GABRIELLE:
     Thanks for stealing my line.

CUT TO

An overhead shot of Haimon and Xena chuckling.

CUT TO

Sabina and her three surviving soldiers are riding fast along a path in the woods.

CUT TO

Ares stepping out from behind a tree.

SABINA (to her men, slowing down):
     Go on ahead. I'll be right behind you.

The men ride ahead while Sabina stops her horse next to Ares. She looks at him, unable to suppress a proud little smile.

SABINA:
     You were watching, weren't you?

ARES:
     Yeah, watching Xena kick your ass.

SABINA (shrugs, unfazed):
     I knew I wasn't ready to take her on yet. (smirking) But I won in the end. I would think that you'd appreciate a clever plan as much as good fighting moves.

ARES (looks at her curiously):
     Did you actually order your men to wipe out that village?

SABINA:
     Of course I did. Why bluff when you don't have to? (she pauses and gives Ares a questioning look) It's the kind of thing your precious Xena would have done in the old days, isn't it?

ARES (very thoughtful look):
     Xena... Yes, I suppose it is.

He vanishes in a flare of blue light. Sabina laughs triumphantly, then spurs on her horse and rides away after her soldiers.

CUT TO

Xena and Gabrielle are beside a campfire in a clearing of the woods. Xena is laying back on her bedroll, propped up on her elbows. Gabrielle sits upright a few feet away from her. A scroll rests on her lap and a quill is in her hand. It is dark so she angles the scroll towards the fire in order to see what she is reading.

GABRIELLE (laughs and shakes her head):
     I can't believe it. After all these years and all the stories I've written, I can finally tell the one that started it all.

XENA:
     Just make sure you spell my name right.

Gabrielle pauses a moment and looks up at Xena, a curious expression on her face.

XENA:
     What?

GABRIELLE (smiles):
     You're glowing.

XENA:
     It's the fire.

GABRIELLE:
     No it's not. You should see your face right now.

Xena reaches up to touch her cheek and Gabrielle leans over her scroll and begins to scribble furiously.

XENA:
     Come on! Don't write that! Gabrielle, I do not glow.

GABRIELLE:
     You most certainly do, Warrior Princess. You're glowing like a... (Gabrielle holds her scroll up to read aloud) ...a proud mother.

Xena curls her lip to demonstrate her scorn.

GABRIELLE:
     It's Haimon. Don't even try to deny it, Xena! You're proud of him.

XENA (allows a grudging smile):
     Yeah. I suppose I am. He's not going to make things easy for Sabina once she rears her head again. (Xena stares thoughtfully into the flames for a moment) You know, Gabrielle, all these years I've believed that the only thing I would leave the world was a legacy of violence and bloodshed. But maybe the world will inherit something good from me too, people like you and Haimon.

GABRIELLE:
     I'm going to make sure to write that down. The next time you start blaming yourself for everything from high taxes to measles, I'm going to read it back to you.

XENA:
     Like you would forget anything I said to you?

GABRIELLE (she is silent, thinking a moment):
     You did say "take care of the horse."

XENA (chuckles softly):
     Right. My mistake. Get to sleep.

GABRIELLE (smiles warmly):
     Good night, Xena.

XENA:
      'Night.

Gabrielle sets her scroll and quill aside and settles down into her bedroll. Barely a moment passes before she begins to snore lightly.

Xena lies on her back silently, staring at the stars.

Xena smiles. Then, her eyes flicker and she sits up, suddenly alert. There is a flash of light, and Ares appears, standing in front of her. They both look slightly uncomfortable.

XENA (quietly):
     Hey.

ARES:
     Hey.

He sits down next to her and they are briefly silent.

ARES:
     I just wanted to tell you that you made the right choice.

XENA (glances at him quickly):
     You mean--letting Sabina go?

ARES:
     That too. But I meant--long before that.

Xena looks at him, her eyes widening in understanding.

XENA:
     If I hadn't left you then-- (trails off)

ARES:
     Oh, I'm sure we would have had great fun. But--

XENA (stares at him expectantly):
     Yes?

ARES:
     ...I never would have known what I was missing.

He takes her hand and she smiles at him affectionately.

ARES (looks down awkwardly):
     Listen, about that other thing--about what I did--

XENA (interrupts him):
     Don't. (pauses) Ares, all these years, I've been bitter because, no matter how much I had changed, people still held my past against me. Maybe I've been doing the same thing.

They sit together in silence for a few moments, holding hands. Then Ares looks up with a slightly forced grin, obviously trying to break up an uncomfortably intense moment.

ARES:
     Of course, I still think your new friend is a stuffy, irritating goody-two-shoes... (Xena gives him an amused, tolerant smile) A perfect match for our Battling Bard.

GABRIELLE (in a drowsy voice):
     I heard that!

ARES (rolls his eyes):
     Oh, look at the time. I'd better get going.

He squeezes Xena's hand and vanishes.

XENA (smiles mischievously):
     What else did you hear?

GABRIELLE:
     Enough to make for a really nice ending to my new scroll...

XENA:
     No one will ever believe it. And Ares will deny everything.

GABRIELLE:
     Yeah? Well, maybe you could put the pinch on him.

Xena rolls her eyes.

GABRIELLE:
     Or maybe we can make some kind of deal with him. If he places his thumbprint on my scroll, you'll spend the weekend with him on Mt. Olympus.

Xena gives Gabrielle a shocked look.

GABRIELLE:
     Hmm. Right. Bad idea. Okay--well, how about if you...

The camera pulls back higher and higher into the trees as Gabrielle's voice gets softer and softer until we:

FADE OUT

THE END

[Xena's guilt complex was not harmed in the production of this motion picture.]

Xena: Warrior Princess Shipper Seasons Season 7 Episode 16 The Inheritance Story By: Sais 2 Cool and LadyKate Written By: Sais 2 Cool and LadyKate Collage By: Aurora Images Gathered By: Aurora Cast Xena Lucy Lawless Gabrielle Renee O'Connor Ares Kevin Smith Sabina Jennifer Garner Haimon Michael Vartan Peneios Simon Qui Troizen George Tye Original Airdate April 3, 2002 Xena's guilt complex was not harmed in the production of this motion picture. DEDICATED TO KEVIN SMITH All characters and storylines that have appeared in the syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess are a copyright and trademark of Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No infringement was intended during the writing of this script. All original characters and storylines are a copyright of the respective authors and of the Shipper Seasons. No script may be reproduced on a website elsewhere without the author's consent. © Shipper Seasons www.shipperseasons.com

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