FADE IN

The same scene as before. The masked riders are looting the village. A few villagers who try to resist are beaten or trampled by the horses. The camera zooms in and pans over various scenes of violence and pillage; we see the bandits grabbing chicken and geese and stuffing them into bags, and carrying away other goods from houses.

The frizzy-haired blonde man we saw before, telling the actors that he had recently sold a prize calf, holds out a few coins to a bandit on horseback.

YOUNG MAN:
     Take it! This is all we have in the house, just leave us in peace!

BANDIT #2:
     Liar! (he hits the young man across the shoulders with the flat of his sword, making him cry out in pain) Everything you've got, or... (he lifts up a torch and makes as if to throw it at the thatched roof)

Terrified, the young man staggers back into the house.

Just then, off-camera, Xena's ululating battle cry, "A-la-la-la-la--shee-ya!" cuts through the night, rising above the sounds of the village under attack. In quick succession, we see close-up shots of several masked bandits turn their heads in alarm. The villagers look up too, their faces expressing a mix of fear and hope.

The camera pans quickly to Xena riding at a gallop, her mouth open in a dangerous, feral grin.

XENA:
     Yah!

She charges one of the masked riders and, after some quick sparring, knocks him out with a blow to the head with the flat of her sword.

Haimon and Gabrielle gallop into view as well and engage the bandits. Eve follows close behind. The look on her face is one of uncertainty; she would clearly rather not participate in the fighting. Uneasily, she watches Haimon, Gabrielle and Xena fight the bandits.

Two bandits charge Xena; she lifts herself up in the saddle and leaps, flipping in the air and knocking one of her attackers off his horse by slamming her feet into his chest. Before her other attacker can recover from the shock, she flips her sword in her hand so that she is now holding it hilt forward, and hits him in his masked face with the hilt of the sword. He grabs his face with his hands, screaming. A jab in the chest with the hilt of the sword is enough to topple him from the saddle.

The camera pans to Gabrielle just as one of the bandits rides up behind her, aiming a sword at her back. Hearing him behind her, she manages to duck the blow, turn her horse around and use her sais to parry the bandit's sword. He is furious, his movements becoming less coordinated. At last Gabrielle slashes at his wrist with the sharp end of her sai and wounds him. Shocked, he momentarily lets go of his sword and she knocks it out of his hand so that it falls to the ground. The man lurches forward, taking Gabrielle by surprise, and knocks her out of the saddle, hurtling down with her. They both scramble to their feet and the bandit manages to pick up his sword. He and Gabrielle start fighting again.

Pan to Xena, now on foot, bringing down another attacker with a kick to the midriff that makes him stagger and fall back. When he gets up, she spins around and punches him in the face, knocking him out completely.

BANDIT #1 (off-camera; his voice sounds eerie, muffled by the mask):
     Xena! Over here!

Xena whips around and the camera pans to the bandit. He is bending down from the saddle holding a terrified peasant woman by the hair, his sword at her throat.

BANDIT #1:
     Put your sword down, or this worthless villager dies! (he sees Xena's hand reach for the chakram and jabs the tip of the sword slightly against the woman's neck; she whimpers with fear) Put that round thing down too. And no sudden moves.

Xena stares at him, obviously trying to decide what to do. Just then, something whizzes through the air and hits him in the head. He sways in the saddle and then falls down. Xena turns to see Eve, her hand at her belt. Xena's face reflects conflicting emotions, but finally she smiles proudly at Eve. After a moment Eve smiles back.

Emboldened, the villagers run toward the fallen bandits and start tying them up. A villager runs up to Bandit #1, who is still unconscious, and swings a foot to kick him.

XENA:
     No! (the villager stops and looks at her, surprised) There's no need for that. We'll make sure justice is served. That should be enough.

CUT TO

The bandits are lined up in the village square, their hands tied behind their backs. The villagers stand around with torches.

Xena approaches Bandit #1 and rips the mask off his face. It's the head actor. Quick pan to Gabrielle, who lowers her eyes sadly. There are gasps and murmurs among the villagers.

VILLAGER (picks up a stick and steps toward the bandit/actor):
     Why, you no-good son of a--

XENA (holds out a hand to stop him):
     Hold it! I know you're angry. You have every reason to be. That still doesn't excuse beating a man who's tied up.

The villagers come up to rip the masks off the other actors. One of them, with a bloodied bandage tied around his head, spits in the face of one of the attackers.

XENA (to the head actor, bitterly):
     So this is how your gang has been operating. Traveling the countryside, pretending to be actors--

HEAD ACTOR (insulted):
     Pretending! Spoken like a true barbarian. We are actors. Top-level actors, I'll have you know. Just ask your friend over there-- (he nods toward Gabrielle, who is still looking away) --at least she's someone who understands art.

XENA (sneers):
     Your late-night performance here was certainly a work of art.

HEAD ACTOR (juts out his chin arrogantly):
     And why not? People appreciate fake violence on stage. We're giving them the real thing.

XENA (glares at him with a chilly smile):
     You know, I'd love to stand here all night discussing the arts with you. But what I need right now is some information. (She comes closer to him, staring him right in the eyes) A few months ago, you and your thugs raided a village called Melia, not too far from here. (The actor nods a little nervously) A girl named Lykia was abducted from that village. You're going to tell me where she is.

HEAD ACTOR (swallows nervously):
     I--I don't know.

XENA:
     Wrong line. (she jabs her fingers into his neck) I've just cut off the flow of blood to your brain. If you don't tell me where Lykia is and what you did with her... (gasping for air, the actor crumples to his knees) your next role will be playing dead--in about thirty seconds. And trust me, you'll give a very convincing performance.

HEAD ACTOR (hoarsely):
     Luci...Lucius took her!

Xena jabs him in the neck, taking off the pinch. He gulps for air.

XENA (grabs the head actor's hair, forcing him to look up at her):
     Who in Tartarus is Lucius?

HEAD ACTOR:
     He used to ride with us...in fact... (coughs) ...he was the one who gave us the idea. That was the last time he came with us--he had to go away. He took the girl with him... I swear! I've no ide-- (coughs again) --no idea where he is now, or who he was. None of us do.

XENA (skeptical):
     So this fellow was the head of your gang and none of you know anything about him. Nice try. (looks menacingly at the other actors) Anyone else want to tell me anything?

ACTRESS #1:
     He's telling you the truth. All we know is, he was the son of some high-ranking Roman official who dabbled in acting.

ACTOR #1:
     Kind of a crazy fellow. Always wanted to burn the houses down when we raided those villages.

HEAD ACTOR (mockingly, having regained a bit of his cockiness):
     You can be sure he didn't leave us a forwarding address when he split.

Xena stares at them, slowly taking in the fact that they're telling the truth. She looks over at Gabrielle, who stares back at her, a pained look on her face.

DISSOLVE TO

The same village square the next day. Even as the nighttime shot is dissolving into the daytime one, we hear sounds of music fading in. In the sunlit square, villagers are dancing to a fast, merry tune played by a small band seated just outside the tavern. It's obviously a celebration of the bandits' capture.

After panning over the festivities, the camera holds on Xena, Gabrielle (with Darion standing next to her), Haimon and Eve standing on the side of the square watching. Darion is eating a honey-dipped apple on a stick. Eve's eyes are following Klymene, who is dancing with a boy about her age. Eve smiles as the boy takes Klymene's hand and twirls her. Klymene has a big, excited grin on her face.

XENA:
     Looks like Klymene's the only one of us who's having fun.

EVE:
     She doesn't get a chance to mix with boys much.

Xena turns to Gabrielle and notices her looking wistfully off into the distance. She is obviously about to say something, then changes her mind and turns to Haimon.

XENA (teasingly):
     Where are your manners, Haimon? You should be showing your girl a good time. I think she's getting bored out of her wits. (she gives Haimon a meaningful look)

HAIMON (touches Gabrielle's shoulder):
     Gabrielle. Would you like to dance?

GABRIELLE (flinches, startled out of her reverie, and looks at him):
     Uh, what?

HAIMON (smiles tenderly):
     I said, would you like to dance.

GABRIELLE (looks uncertain):
     Well, I... (she pauses, shakes her head, as if trying to get rid of all the sad thoughts, and then looks at Haimon, smiling) Sure. Eve, you'll keep an eye on Darion, right?

XENA (chuckles):
     I think the only threat to Darion right now is getting a stomachache.

GABRIELLE (pats Darion's cheek):
     And no more sweets, okay?

Darion nods, his mouth full. Gabrielle and Haimon go off to dance.

EVE (looks at Gabrielle and Haimon dancing):
     You really think she's going to settle down with him?

XENA:
     It could be the best thing for her. After everything she's been through... (she trails off)

The music stops, then the band starts a slow dance. Smiling, Gabrielle puts her hands on Haimon's shoulders and he puts his hands on her waist. They dance and Haimon notices Darion watching them and grinning as he eats his apple.

HAIMON:
     So have you given any thought to what you're going to do with Darion now?

GABRIELLE (frowns):
     No. There's always a chance that we could still find his sister.

HAIMON (quietly):
     I think we both know that the chances of that aren't very good.

GABRIELLE (lowers her eyes):
     I suppose not...

HAIMON:
     He needs a home and a family. We could give that to him. (he pauses) Have you ever thought about us having a child of our own?

GABRIELLE (softly):
     Sometimes...but...

HAIMON:
     You know, you might even find some peace yourself.

GABRIELLE (laughs wryly):
     I wouldn't be too sure about that. Somehow trouble always seems to find me.

HAIMON:
     I think peace is something that comes from within.

Gabrielle smiles teasingly in order to mask her annoyance.

GABRIELLE:
     Since when are you a philosopher?

He smiles though he is clearly wounded.

HAIMON:
     I just want what's best for you.

GABRIELLE:
     I know...I'm sorry. (she sighs and reaches up to kiss his cheek) Let's finish the dance and then we can talk. Okay?

HAIMON (smiles and gives her a small twirl):
     Okay.

CUT TO

Xena senses a hand on her shoulder and turns around. Her eyes widen as she sees Ares standing behind her.

XENA:
     What are you doing here?

ARES:
     You think mere gods are allowed to join in the revelry?

DARION (claps his hands):
     Hey! Ares! Are you going to show us any tricks?

ARES (pretends to fume):
     Tricks. The kid has no respect for godly powers.

XENA:
     Considering that you and Aphrodite are the only gods he knows, what do you expect? (she chuckles and puts her hand on his arm)

Eve looks thoughtfully at Xena and Ares, then squeezes Darion's shoulder.

EVE (to Darion):
     Let's go get some lemonade--what do you say?

DARION:
     Is Ares going to play with me later?

XENA (chuckles):
     It looks like you're not going to get out of this one.

ARES (looks from Xena to Darion and back, slightly alarmed):
     Uhh--sure.

DARION:
     Okay--if you promise.

Eve leads Darion away. Xena and Ares stare intently at one another for a few moments.

ARES:
     Care to dance?

XENA (lifts an eyebrow):
     You dance?

ARES:
     Hey, I'm a god, remember? In theory, I should be able to do anything.

XENA (teasing):
     What theory is that?

ARES:
     One we're about to test.

He takes Xena's hand and leads her out into the dancing ground. She looks at him with mixed feelings, obviously both uncomfortable and pleased.

A murmur ripples through the crowd as people stare at Ares.

XENA (concerned):
     They don't know who you are, do they?

ARES (grins):
     I don't think so. But they obviously have good taste.

He lifts Xena's hands, drawing her arms around his neck, and puts his hands on her waist. They dance for a while, completely absorbed in each other. The camera pans to Gabrielle and Haimon. Haimon follows Gabrielle's stare; she is gazing at Xena and Ares. Haimon shakes his head.

HAIMON:
     Amazing. Looking at them, you'd never tell he wasn't-- (he trails off)

GABRIELLE (smiles wistfully):
     Human?

HAIMON (chuckles):
     Right now, I could almost see the two of them settling down next door to us.

GABRIELLE (gives him a look that's both dreamy and a little apprehensive):
     I think that's pushing it a bit far...

Pan back to Xena and Ares. Ares tries to twirl Xena and she bumps into his sword. They exchange an amused glance. Then, Ares pulls Xena close to him and they slowly spin around a few times, lost in each other. After a moment Ares takes Xena's hand and tries to step back, only to find that they're stuck together--her chakram is caught on his sword belt.

XENA (chuckles as she detaches the chakram from his belt):
     So much for gods being able to do anything.

ARES (in pretend outrage):
     Me? Dancing obviously isn't one of your many skills.

They stand in the middle of the dancing ground, smiling at each other.

CUT TO

Haimon and Gabrielle. The music stops and they take a step back. They smile tenderly at each other and Haimon reaches out and takes her hand, leading her through the crowd back to where Darion is seated.

DARION:
     Klymene looked the same way you two just did right before she kissed that boy she was dancing with.

Eve picks her head up.

EVE:
     Excuse me? Klymene is kissing the boy she's dancing with?

DARION:
     Well, she's not dancing with him anymore. She just left with him.

EVE:
     For the love of Eli!

GABRIELLE (grins at Eve):
     You can't take your eyes off of them for a minute, can you?

Eve frowns and races off in search of Klymene. Gabrielle shakes her head in amusement at Darion.

GABRIELLE:
     Someday you'll understand what you just did, young man. Then you'll be sorry.

DARION:
     Can I have another apple?

HAIMON (grins at Darion):
     Looks like you're wearing half of the one we already bought you, little buddy.

GABRIELLE:
     I should have known it spelled trouble when I found out it came dipped in honey. (she frowns) Look at you, Darion. You've got honey all over your face, on your shirt...how you managed to get it in your hair I'll never know.

HAIMON (winks at Darion):
     It's a guy thing. Right, little buddy?

DARION:
     Right! You wouldn't get it, Gabrielle. I mean, being just a girl and all...

GABRIELLE (tousles Darion's hair and pulls her hand back when her fingers come in contact with something sticky):
     Well then Haimon can take you and get you washed up. And when you get back, Ares and Xena are going to play with you so that Haimon and I can talk. (she turns and stands on tiptoe, giving Haimon a light kiss. She whispers so that only he can hear) Among other things.

Haimon squats down on his haunches and pats his shoulder.

HAIMON:
     Climb on, Darion. I'll give you a horsey ride over to the well.

DARION (climbs onto Haimon's shoulders):
     Ares could just pop me over there by doing his blue light trick.

HAIMON:
     Ares can do that for you later. But right now--

Haimon neighs and stomps his foot like a horse then gallops off.

Gabrielle watches them gallop off through the crowd. She laughs and shakes her head. Xena returns, leading Ares by the hand.

XENA:
     Hey, where's Haimon running off to with Darion?

GABRIELLE:
     He had a bit of a run-in with a honey covered apple and Haimon is getting him cleaned up. Xena, do you think you could keep an eye on Darion tonight? Haimon and I need to talk.

ARES:
     "Talk"? (he turns to Xena) You know, Xena, after all these years I think it's time you told your goody-goody little friend here all about the birds and the bees.

Xena gives Ares a quick elbow to his side and he recoils.

ARES:
     Ow! You know if I was still mortal that could leave a mark--

XENA (smiling at Gabrielle):
     We'll be glad to watch Darion for you.

A middle aged villager comes up, tapping Gabrielle on the shoulder.

VILLAGER:
     Say, you're Gabrielle, aren't you? The uhhh...oh, what in Ares' name did he call you? The Battling Bard of Potidaea.

GABRIELLE (nods carefully):
     I'm Gabrielle.

VILLAGER:
     There's some young hothead over in the tavern bragging about how he's going to fight you.

GABRIELLE (shaking her head in exasperation):
     Taphius...

XENA (smirking):
     Persistent little bugger, isn't he?

GABRIELLE:
     I think it's time to put an end to this once and for all.

Xena gestures towards the tavern with her arm.

XENA:
     Lead the way.

ARES:
     Be careful, Gabrielle. You should never underestimate an opponent.

Gabrielle rolls her eyes at Xena.

GABRIELLE:
     Come on.

Ares sighs and shakes his head as they walk off.

ARES:
     Don't say I didn't warn you.

CUT TO

The tavern. Taphius leans his elbows against the bar and points at the barkeep.

TAPHIUS:
     Someday you'll be able to say that you served the man that defeated the Battling Bard of Potidaea.

BARKEEP:
     Yeah, yeah, yeah. She'll anoint your blade with her blood so that your name will be forever celebrated as the greatest of all warriors and so on and so forth. Are you actually going to order a drink or do you plan on standing here all night boring me to death?

TAPHIUS:
     You would dare to insult Taphius the Strong?

Gabrielle comes up behind him.

GABRIELLE:
     More like Taphius the Wrong.

A smile slowly spreads across Taphius' face as he turns to face her. Xena stands behind Gabrielle.

TAPHIUS:
     Are you here to finally give me my satisfaction, Gabrielle? Perhaps now you're ready to accept your destiny--and mine.

GABRIELLE (patiently):
     Taphius, I'm warning you for the last time. Walk away now before anyone gets hurt.

TAPHIUS:
     As a warrior, I'm prepared to accept the consequences of my choices. Are you?

Gabrielle glances at Xena and sighs tiredly.

GABRIELLE:
     Yeah--as a matter of fact I am.

Gabrielle draws her sais and turns, holding them out to Xena, who stares at them in confusion.

XENA:
     Gabrielle, what are you--?

GABRIELLE:
     Take them, Xena. (Xena is momentarily too shocked to move) Take them!

Xena takes Gabrielle's sais and eyes her curiously. Gabrielle turns back to Taphius.

GABRIELLE:
     Congratulations, Taphius. You've just destroyed the Battling Bard of Potidaea. (she holds out her arms) I'm totally unarmed. What kind of a name would you be making for yourself now by taking on the plain, old Bard of Potidaea?

TAPHIUS:
     Now hold on a minute!

GABRIELLE:
     And just to show there are no hard feelings, I'll even buy you a drink to commemorate your victory. (with her thumb, she flips a coin onto the bar and glances at the barkeep) Make sure Taphius the Strong here is taken care of--and don't give him any of that cheap swill from under the bar. A warrior like him deserves only the best.

TAPHIUS (reddening):
     I'm not going to let you get away with this. Sooner or later you're going to fight me.

GABRIELLE:
     You're wasting your time, Taphius--there's no way I'm ever going to fight you.

TAPHIUS (smirking):
     Never say never, Gabrielle. Maybe all I need is to find the right incentive.

BARKEEP:
     Then you'd best look elsewhere. I don't want no trouble in here so why don't you move along?

TAPHIUS (glares at Gabrielle):
     This isn't over.

GABRIELLE (nods):
     We'll see about that.

Obviously embarrassed, Taphius lowers his eyes, unable to meet the gaze of any of the other patrons. He makes his way to the door. Haimon has just come in, glares at Taphius and steps aside in order to let him pass. Taphius walks out and Xena smirks and throws her hands up in triumph.

XENA:
     The air smells better in here already. (she holds out the sais to Gabrielle) I guess you can take these back now.

Gabrielle looks down at her sais, as if unsure whether to take them or not. Finally, she shakes her head.

GABRIELLE:
     It might be better if you hold onto them for a little while. I mean--he could come back.

Haimon comes up to her.

HAIMON:
     Let me guess. That was Taphius?

XENA and GABRIELLE (nodding tiredly):
     Taphius.

XENA (looks around):
     Where's Darion?

HAIMON:
     I left him outside to play.

GABRIELLE:
     I'm not surprised Ares isn't here. He'd have to eat his own words and admit to me that he was wrong.

XENA (grins):
     Oh, I could get him to show. I'd just have to give him the right incentive.

Gabrielle's head snaps up at this and her eyes go wide as something occurs to her.

GABRIELLE (whispering to herself):
     Incentive...

Gabrielle strides quickly towards the door, shoving a burly drunk out of her way.

DRUNK:
     Hey!

Xena and Haimon glance at one another in confusion then follow after Gabrielle. They catch up to her just outside the doorway. Gabrielle stands frozen, her shoulders hunched up tensely and her fists clenched tightly.

XENA:
     Gabrielle, what's the--?

Xena looks off in the direction that Gabrielle is staring. Across the street, Taphius can be seen talking to Darion. He kneels down and pats the boy on the shoulder.

XENA (cautiously reaching out to her):
     Gabrielle--

Not hearing her, Gabrielle bolts across the street. Taphius looks up and doesn't have time to react before she flies at him with a shrill cry. She kicks him across the face and he lands hard on his back. Taphius rolls away as Gabrielle lifts her boot to bring it down on his face. She shifts her balance and kicks him twice in the lower back.

GABRIELLE:
     You dirty son of a--if you ever touch him again I'm going to--

By now the villagers on the street have formed a circle around Gabrielle and Taphius. The tavern dwellers have also spilled outside, further cluttering the street. Xena and Haimon can be seen trying to fight their way through the crowd.

HAIMON:
     Out of the way!

XENA:
     Move!

Haimon is able to break through the crowd first. Gabrielle is now sitting on Taphius' chest, striking him repeatedly across the face with her fist. Darion looks on. His face is drained of all color and his expression is disturbingly remote.

XENA:
     Haimon, get Darion out of there!

Haimon grabs Darion and throws him over his shoulder.

HAIMON (strikes out at the gawking crowd with his open hand):
     Get the hell out of my way!

Xena forces her way through the crowd. Despite herself, she can't help pausing a second, staring at the scene before her in both horror, shock and morbid fascination. In a blind rage, Gabrielle continues to strike Taphius in the face, but he is no longer offering any resistance. There is a flash of blue light and Ares appears beside Xena, watching with a grim expression on his face.

Eve breaks through the crowd.

EVE:
     For Eli's sake! Gabrielle--please! You're--!

Gabrielle gives no indication that she has even heard Eve.

Two arms wrap themselves around Gabrielle's waist. Xena drags her off of Taphius.

GABRIELLE (still kicking and swinging her fists):
     Let me go! I'm going to--! (she struggles but cannot break Xena's hold on her) Get off!

XENA:
     Gabrielle! (she jerks Gabrielle as if to shake her out of her haze) That's enough!

Finally coming back to her senses, Gabrielle realizes that it is Xena restraining her. She stops struggling and her body perceptibly sags.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena...

She notices Ares watching her. He sighs and shakes his head. Almost as if noticing him for the first time, Gabrielle looks down at Taphius, who is lying motionless on the ground. His face is covered in blood. Eve is kneeling beside him, her fingers pressed against his neck, feeling for a pulse. Finally, she pulls her hand back and looks up, her expression grave.

EVE:
     He's dead.

GABRIELLE (her eyes widening in horror):
     No...no, that's not possible.

XENA (gently):
     Gabrielle--

Gabrielle breaks Xena's hold on her and stumbles away, the crowd parting before her.

CUT TO

Gabrielle stands behind a house, breathing hard, staring at the blood on her hands.

She looks up, her lips pressed together, her eyes narrowing.

GABRIELLE (forcefully):
     Ares!

A silver-blue light flares, and then Ares is standing near her, arms folded on his chest. His face is cold and hard, and now he looks very much like the God of War.

ARES (gives Gabrielle a curious, slightly worried look):
     Don't tell me you could feel that I was there.

GABRIELLE (wearily):
     I don't know...maybe I just knew you would be. (she looks at him and flinches slightly under his heavy stare) Are you happy now?

ARES:
     Me? You think I wanted this?

GABRIELLE (bitterly):
     So why are you here, Ares? What's your problem?

ARES:
     I'll tell you what your problem is. Like it or not, you're a warrior with a warrior's reputation. But you refuse to accept the responsibility that goes along with it. That makes you dangerous.

GABRIELLE:
     What's that supposed to mean?

ARES:
     You could have avoided this if you had accepted his challenge in the first place. You would have stayed in charge the whole time and he would have gone home with a few cuts and bruises. (close-up on Gabrielle as she lowers her eyes) Instead, you let things get out of control.

GABRIELLE (whispers):
     Out of control...

Xena comes running around the corner.

XENA:
     Gabrielle! (she stops and looks suspiciously at Ares) What are you doing here?

ARES (stung by the hostile edge in her voice, assumes a sarcastic tone):
     Just discussing someone's problem with anger management.

XENA (brusquely):
     Leave her alone.

Ares stares at her heavily, biting his lip, and vanishes in a flash.

XENA (hugs Gabrielle and rests her head on Gabrielle's shoulder, blinking back tears):
     Oh, Gabrielle...

Gabrielle stands there stiffly, allowing Xena to hold her but not responding. After a moment she blinks hard and shakes her head.

GABRIELLE:
     Darion...is he--?

XENA (gently):
     He's okay...he's okay. He's with Haimon.

GABRIELLE:
     I need to find him. I need to try to explain.

Gabrielle turns and walks off. Xena is right behind her. Haimon and Darion are around the corner of the house. Haimon is rubbing the boy's shoulder soothingly. Gabrielle stops and watches them a second, biting her lip. Haimon looks up at her sadly and Darion turns around, seeing her. Gabrielle forces a tiny smile onto her face and takes a step forward.

GABRIELLE:
     Darion--

With a terrified expression, Darion shrinks back and throws himself against Haimon who immediately picks the boy up in his arms. Gabrielle stops walking towards them and watches in agonized guilt as Darion buries his face against Haimon's shoulder. Haimon hugs the boy tightly against him and gazes wistfully at Gabrielle a moment. He turns and the camera stays on him as he slowly carries Darion away:

FADE OUT

THE END

[Gabrielle's warrior angst reared its ugly head again during the production of this motion picture.]

Xena: Warrior Princess Shipper Seasons Season 8 Episode 5 The Challenge Story By: Sais 2 Cool Written By: LadyKate and Sais 2 Cool Collage By: Aurora Images Gathered By: Aurora Cast Xena Lucy Lawless Gabrielle Renee O'Connor Eve Adrienne Wilkinson Ares Kevin Smith Darion Alexander Gandar Haimon Michael Vartan Algiz Britnay Huse Urd Kate Travis Taphius Jason Badwell Klymene Hilary Duff Original Airdate December 17, 2002 Gabrielle's warrior angst reared its ugly head again during 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

This script is provided by GDev Resources.