ACT THREE

FADE IN

Xena is standing in Argo's stall, later that evening. She is slowly and tenderly brushing Argo down, the expression on her face is pensive and it is clear that she brushes her horse down more to soothe herself than for Argo. Over Xena's shoulder, Gabrielle appears at the door of the barn. She folds her arms and leans against the doorframe, watching Xena with a tiny, gentle smile.

Xena is aware that Gabrielle is watching her.

XENA (still brushing Argo):
     Still up? Where have you been?

GABRIELLE:
     Oh...just getting to know someone a little better.

XENA (nods):
     Right. You and Haimon are perfect for one another.

GABRIELLE (flinches):
     I deserved that.

XENA (turns to look at her):
     What? No. I just mean that you're both honest and decent and--

GABRIELLE:
     Quick to judge.

Gabrielle comes into the stall and stands on the other side of Argo, almost absently stroking her mane as Xena continues brushing the horse down.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena, I want to tell you something. Not long before I met you, a rider came through Potidaea. He came to warn us about an army of marauders that was overrunning the Parthian Province. Father said it was just a matter of time before they made their way to our village. (glances at Xena) Was that true?

Xena looks away guiltily.

GABRIELLE:
     There was some arguing between Father and some of the other men from the village. He thought the best thing to do would be to give you what you wanted. I overheard them fighting about it one night after Lila and I were supposed to have been asleep. It just seemed so wrong. What right did anyone have to just march into our village and take away everything we worked for? I walked out right in the middle of my father and all those other men and told them so. I told them that anyone that didn't stand up to you was a...what was it I called them? Gutless worms.

XENA (with a warm smile):
     You always were one to stand up to a bully--no matter how big they were.

GABRIELLE:
     Father told me it wasn't my place to speak up like that. He thought being sent out to the barn for the night would teach me a lesson.

XENA (grins admiringly):
     Obviously, your father didn't know whom he was dealing with.

GABRIELLE (twining Argo's mane in her fingers):
     No, he didn't. The lesson I learned was that if I stayed in Potidaea, I would never be a real person. I would always be...

XENA (murmurs):
     Invisible.

GABRIELLE (nods):
     Right. Anyway, not long after that, word got around that your army had broken up after Ikaros was sacked. Father relaxed--but I couldn't. I knew I had to get out but I didn't know how. I was afraid.

A close-up of Xena's face--she is clearly unsettled by the idea of Gabrielle being afraid.

GABRIELLE:
     And then Draco's men rode into our village. I suppose with you and your army out of the way he thought we were easy pickings.

XENA (chuckles fondly at the memory):
     And you were the only one to stand up to them.

GABRIELLE (smiles at Xena):
     Not the only one. Xena, when I saw you stand up to Draco's men, risk your life for a bunch of strangers, I knew that you weren't the same person that I tried to convince my father to fight. And I told myself that if you could change your life, so could I.

XENA (looking down, in a hushed voice):
     You never told me that before.

GABRIELLE:
     No. I thought it would...hurt you.

Gabrielle reaches across Argo and touches Xena's hand tenderly.

GABRIELLE:
     So many things we've kept from one another. (a long pause) Xena--why didn't you tell me the truth about Ikaros? And more important, why haven't you told Haimon?

XENA (looks up at her sharply):
     How do you--? Oh, wait...Ares told you, didn't he? Gloating about how no good deed goes unpunished, I suppose? It wouldn't be the first time I heard that from him. The smug bastard.

GABRIELLE:
     That's not it at all. He told me because... (she shakes her head, almost bewildered) I know it sounds crazy--but I think he didn't want me to go on believing the absolute worst about you.

Xena cocks a skeptical eyebrow at her.

GABRIELLE (laughs):
     Yeah, it sort of surprised me too! But deep down, I think he wants people to see you for what you really are. You deserve that. And Haimon deserves to know that it wasn't you who destroyed his village and killed his mother--that you risked your life saving his.

XENA (grimly):
     Is that what Haimon deserves? To feel that he owes his life to the person who was responsible for his mother's murder? (Gabrielle starts to say something but Xena cuts her off) Gabrielle, I may not have been there when my army sacked Ikaros, but it was still my army. I have to accept responsibility for what went on there.

GABRIELLE (shakes her head):
     Oh, Xena--don't you have enough on your shoulders without this too? Believe it or not, you are not to blame for every single thing that's wrong with the world.

XENA:
     They were my men, Gabrielle. I was so arrogant that I actually believed they feared me enough to never go against me. I let my guard down and left a butcher in command while I went to scout out another village to loot. Now look me in the eye and tell me that it wasn't my fault.

GABRIELLE:
     Then if anyone's to blame, it's me.

XENA:
     You? (laughs harshly) You weren't even there!

GABRIELLE (glances at her meaningfully):
     Neither were you. I know you, Xena. If you had been at Ikaros you never would have let your army do what they did.

Xena thinks about this a moment. Slowly, a smile spreads across her face.

XENA:
     Thank you, Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE:
     For what?

XENA:
     For believing in me. Even way back then, when no one else did.

GABRIELLE:
     Haimon would. Just give him a chance, Xena.

Xena is silent, gathering her thoughts.

XENA:
     I will tell Haimon--when the time is right.

GABRIELLE:
     And when is that going to be?

XENA (after a brief pause):
     When I don't have to feel like I'm using it as a bargaining chip against him.

Gabrielle digests this and nods, then reaches out to touch Xena's shoulder.

GABRIELLE (softly):
     Why didn't you tell me?

XENA:
     I'm-- (falters) Maybe I didn't want you to think I was bragging about my good deeds.

GABRIELLE (looks at her probingly):
     Or maybe you didn't like to think about a moment in your life when you were weak and defenseless. After all, you're Xena. Tough, invincible...just like all those people out there believe you are. (she nods in the direction of the street, indicating the people of the town) You can't stand to remember feeling helpless like that.

Xena looks away, struggling with her emotions, a tender little smile finally breaking out on her face--she is moved by the fact that Gabrielle knows her so well.

XENA:
     You should get some rest, Gabrielle. We're heading out early tomorrow.

CUT TO

Close up of a saddle. A boot slips into the stirrup and the shot pans up to Xena mounting Argo. She settles herself in the saddle and Gabrielle gallops up to the head of the column beside Xena.

GABRIELLE:
     Sorry. It took some time finding someone willing to scout ahead.

XENA:
     Who did you get to volunteer?

Gabrielle smiles knowingly.

XENA (frowns):
     Haimon. Are you sure that's such a good idea? He'll probably find Sabina and take on her army all by himself.

GABRIELLE:
     Have a little faith, Xena. (she pauses a moment) Besides, I think it's important to Haimon that someone should believe in him right now.

XENA (smiles grudgingly--Gabrielle has struck a chord):
     Right. (looks out into the distance as if staring after Haimon) Besides, riding leagues ahead of us means that he gets to keep as far away from me as possible. That has to hold some appeal for him.

Gabrielle frowns and avoids Xena's eyes--it's apparent that Haimon has admitted that to her.

Xena turns Argo to address the militia now mounted and ready to ride.

XENA:
     I can't promise you anything. Some of you may leave here today and never return. But whatever happens from here on out, you've taken a stand for what's right, regardless of the consequences. Bravery like that is rare. Every one of you has earned my respect.

The men are clearly moved by her speech.

GABRIELLE (mutters out of the corner of her mouth):
     And you say I have a way with words.

XENA (grins):
     I learned from the best. (she snaps the reins down) Yah!

Xena takes off at breakneck speed, her galvanized army close behind her.

CUT TO

Sabina's army riding through the countryside. Sabina, riding at the head of the army with Peneios next to her, slows down and raises her hand. The rest of the soldiers slow down as well. Sabina is looking at a small roadside shrine just ahead of them.

SABINA:
     Ride on. I'll catch up with you.

Sabina gallops toward the shrine as the rest of the army rides on. She stops her horse by the shrine and dismounts. Sabina looks at the symbols over the entrance--skulls and crossed swords. A close-up of Sabina's face as she smiles.

Sabina enters the shrine. Judging by the military-themed decorations inside, it's clearly a temple of Ares. It's very run down, with cobwebs, dust, and dry leaves everywhere.

Sabina looks around, sweeps a layer of dust off the altar, then takes her sword out of the scabbard and puts it down on the altar.

SABINA (in a loud, clear voice):
     Ares, God of War! I, Valeria Sabina, request your presence!

There is a flare of blue light, and Ares materializes facing Sabina, arms folded on his chest. He cocks his head, looking at her with curiosity and amusement.

ARES (wryly):
     You know, you're supposed to make a sacrifice when you summon a god.

SABINA (picks up on the sarcasm and responds in kind):
     I'll make sure to get something for you next time I pass through a village. Say, a chicken...or a virgin?

ARES:
     Good luck catching one. (smirks at Sabina) You could use some manners.

SABINA (casts a look around):
     You could use some housekeeping.

With a bored look, Ares waves his hand, and in an instant the dust and the cobwebs are gone and shrine is sparkling clean.

SABINA:
     Impressive. Still, you have to admit--things aren't what they used to be. Worshipers aren't exactly flocking in, are they?

Ares glares at her; then, his scowl dissolves into a grin--despite being insulted, he is impressed by her boldness.

ARES:
     I gotta say, you found an original way to get my attention.

SABINA (businesslike):
     Do you know what you really need, Ares?

ARES:
     I suppose you're going to enlighten me?

SABINA:
     A special warrior. One who could increase the glory of the God of War. One who would conquer and rule in your name--just like you once believed Xena would.

ARES (a look of sudden realization on his face):
     So that's what this is about. You're asking for Xena's old job. Been there, done that.

SABINA:
     I'm not asking for Xena's old job. I'm taking it.

ARES (grins):
     Clever girl. You're no Mavican, that's for sure.

SABINA:
     Mavican?

ARES:
     Just another girl who thought she was someone special.

SABINA:
     What happened to her?

ARES:
     She thought she could take on Xena. But she didn't know the rules of the game.

SABINA:
     I play by my own rules.

ARES:
     If you want to play, you should know that increasing my glory takes a little more than beating up on a bunch of peasants.

SABINA:
     Give me time--I'm only getting started.

ARES:
     Cutting a helpless woman's throat? You're getting off to a good start.

SABINA:
     I don't take pleasure in pointless cruelty. But sometimes, one has to be cruel to make a point. You're the God of War--you ought to know that. (looks at him curiously) Or have you gone soft, like Xena?

ARES:
     Got a little Xena obsession, have you?

SABINA:
     I hear I'm not the only one. (gives him a meaningful look) Anyway, I have my reasons.

ARES:
     Let me guess. When she was bad, Xena raided your village, broke your dolls and spat in your milk. (looks her over) You seem a bit young for such memories. What'd she do? Raid your parents' village before you were even born?

SABINA:
     When Xena was a warlord, my father served in her army. Later, he married and settled down, but he never forgot her. I grew up hearing stories about how magnificent she used to be. Xena inspired me.

ARES:
     And so you want to take her on.

SABINA:
     Only when I'm ready. I'm not stupid. And I'm not crazy, either. (she pauses) I know Xena is after me right now, and I know I'm not good enough to beat her--yet. But I'll find a way to get her off my trail.

ARES (eyes her probingly for a few moments):
     So what are you asking for, Sabina? A new weapon? Help dealing with Xena? A new army--after she's through with the one you've got?

SABINA:
     Who says I'm asking for anything?

ARES:
     You summoned me. You must have wanted something.

SABINA:
     Just a face-to-face meeting with my patron god.

ARES (laughs and shakes his head):
     I like your style.

He vanishes. Sabina smiles, picks up her sword, puts it back in the scabbard and walks out of the shrine.

CUT TO

Xena's army charging up a grassy slope. Xena is at the head, Gabrielle at the rear. As Xena reaches the crest, she pulls back hard on Argo's reins.

XENA:
     Whoa!

Argo comes to an abrupt stop and the rest of the militia slows itself to gather around Xena at the top. Gabrielle comes hurtling up and halts her horse beside Xena.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena, what is it? Why are we stopping? We're so close now...

Gabrielle trails off as she sees the look on Xena's face.

Xena is looking off into the distance. Her expression is more saddened than angry.

XENA:
     Take a look. (points) There.

Gabrielle looks in the direction that Xena has indicated. Despite herself, she can't withhold a small gasp of shock.

CUT TO

A village far off from their position on the slope--it is small and barely perceptible at such a distance--except that large plumes of smoke are rising high into the sky above it.

CUT TO

A lone rider charging up the other side of the slope towards Xena and her army.

GABRIELLE:
     It's Haimon!

HAIMON (pulls back hard on the reins, careening to a stop before Xena):
     She's done it! Sabina's army has put the torch to every house in Skeiron!

Xena nods grimly.

Haimon stares at Xena and Gabrielle expectantly but neither of them move.

HAIMON:
     Well, what are we waiting for?

Haimon moves to turn his horse back in the direction of Skeiron.

XENA:
     You're not going anywhere, Haimon. And neither are we.

Haimon turns back, staring at her in disbelief.

HAIMON:
     People are hurt down there! They need our help. We might be able to put out the fire before everything burns to the ground.

XENA:
     That's what Sabina wants us to do.

Haimon glares at her.

GABRIELLE (a little hesitantly):
     Haimon, don't you understand? Sabina burned that village to slow us down. She knows we're closing in on her and she's hoping that we'll stop to help those people.

HAIMON:
     Well, she's damn right about that!

XENA:
     We're not stopping. We're moving on.

HAIMON (gazing at her scornfully):
     Right. What's one more destroyed village to you?

Xena glares at him then at Gabrielle who gives a slight shrug. She looks back to Haimon.

XENA:
     All right. (she turns toward the rest of the men) You, you, and you, (pointing at three men) go back to the village and see what you can do to help. The rest of us are riding on. We have to stop Sabina. There's no time to waste.

HAIMON:
     Three men? That's nowhere near--

XENA:
     You can go with them if you want.

She begins the ride down the slope. After an apologetic look to Haimon, Gabrielle rides off to catch up with Xena. In groups of two and three, men begin to follow her.

CUT TO

A wide shot of the crest of the slope. Haimon starts to follow the three men who ride toward the burning village, then abruptly turns around and follows Xena and the others.

CUT TO

Xena's army rides down a heavily wooded, winding road. Xena and Gabrielle are side by side at the head of the column. Xena is broodingly silent. Finally she speaks.

XENA:
     Gabrielle, do you think I did the right thing about Skeiron?

GABRIELLE:
     Xena, after all this time, you don't need me to act as your conscience.

XENA (laughs self deprecatingly):
     I'm not so sure about that.

GABRIELLE:
     You saved Haimon all those years ago, Xena. You didn't need anyone to tell you it was the right thing to do.

XENA:
     Mmm. (still not satisfied, she gives Gabrielle a sidelong glance) You didn't answer my question.

GABRIELLE (sighs):
     I think you did the right thing. It's funny, isn't it? I used to think it was so easy to make the right choice. Everything was black and white--but it's not. If there's one thing I've learned since we've been together, it's that the world isn't as simple as I thought it was.

XENA (smiles guiltily at Gabrielle):
     Have I been that bad an influence on you?

GABRIELLE:
     It's not about good or bad, Xena. It's just the way things are. Sometimes we just do the best we can and hope for the best.

Xena nods to acknowledge Gabrielle's answer--but it is apparent that she isn't sure whether she believes it. They continue to ride in silence until hooves thunder up from behind them.

HAIMON:
     Xena!

Haimon rides up to the head of the column, facing Xena.

HAIMON (panting heavily from riding so hard):
     I can't let you do this, Xena. People are dying in Skeiron. They need our help.

XENA:
     I did what I could.

HAIMON:
     Three men? What are three men going to do against that fire? Spit on the flames? (Haimon looks past Xena to the men behind her) Xena can't stop us all from going. The people of Skeiron need us now. There'll be plenty of time to catch up to Sabina later. Xena doesn't give a damn about Skeiron. Why should she? She's done the same and far worse to countless villages. Don't fool yourselves. She's not interested in helping people--she just wants a victory over Sabina as another notch in her belt. (smiles coldly at Xena) And I'm sure riding at the head of an army again holds a certain appeal as well.

Xena's face twists in anger. She brings her arm back and strikes Haimon across the chest, knocking him from the saddle. She leaps down off of Argo and before Haimon can scramble to his feet, Xena leans down and hauls him up by his collar.

Gabrielle jumps to the ground.

GABRIELLE (laying her hand on Xena's arm):
     Xena, don't do this.

XENA (twists away from Gabrielle's touch):
     Is that how you feel, Haimon? (she looks over her shoulder to the rest of her men) Is that how you all feel? Well, then so be it. I won't stop anyone from following their conscience. You have to make your own decisions. But before you decide, ask yourselves what's going to serve the greater good in the long run, going after Sabina to make sure she doesn't do to other villages what she just did at Skeiron, or stopping to help those people? I know I'm asking for an impossible choice, but in war there are no good choices, only lesser degrees of evil.

Gabrielle stares wide eyed at the men, holding her breath in anticipation of their decision. Finally voices can be heard calling from the ranks.

FIRST VOICE:
     We're with you, Xena!

SECOND VOICE:
     Let's bring Sabina to heel once and for all!

THIRD VOICE:
     We should listen to Xena! She knows what's right!

Xena looks on, clearly moved by the loyalty and trust from her men. Her eye twitches as if she's fighting back a tear. Gabrielle reaches out and rubs Xena's arm. Slowly, Xena wills an impassive expression back onto her face.

XENA:
     Good. Now let's get moving.

Xena mounts Argo. She waves her hand and takes off, her men trailing close behind as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT THREE