FADE IN

Livia standing at the entrance of the cave, staring at Eve II.

DARION (off-camera):
     Eve! I'm in here!

LIVIA (regains her bearings):
     Who are you?

EVE II:
     My name is Eve.

LIVIA (sneers):
     Well, this has been a week of surprises. First my long-lost mother shows up, then my twin sister...

EVE II:
     I'm not your twin. I'm you. (Livia looks at her warily) I'm what you're meant to become... (she shakes her head, looking lost and confused for a moment) At least--for a while.

LIVIA (mockingly):
     And what's that?

EVE II:
     A messenger of love and peace--bringing the word of Eli to people.

LIVIA (cocks her head in mock interest):
     Really. And what do I become after that?

EVE II:
     An Amazon queen.

LIVIA (laughs):
     Well, whoever you are, you sure have a sense of humor. Best joke I've heard in a long time.

EVE II:
     The love of Eli's God has room for everyone--and there's room for him in everyone's heart.

LIVIA (sneers and shakes her head):
     You're going to be so much fun to kill.

EVE II:
     Let the boy go, Livia.

LIVIA:
     Now why would I do a thing like that?

EVE II:
     Remember, Livia, I used to be you. I know what's in your heart. All the rage--all the pain... Your brother--

A grimace of rage flits across Livia's face; she grabs her sword and walks closer to Eve II, pointing the sword at her.

LIVIA (screams):
     Shut up!

EVE II (doesn't flinch):
     Let him go, Livia. I know you have some goodness inside you--

LIVIA (sneers):
     Goodness? If goodness means turning into a sniveling twit like you--I hope not. (eyes Eve contemptuously) If you were me once, then you should know some fighting moves. Why aren't you defending yourself?

EVE II:
     I don't fight.

LIVIA II (makes a face):
     How boring. (raises her sword) Too bad for you.

Just as she prepares to strike Eve II, Eve II dodges the blow, does a lightning-quick flip and ducks past an astonished Livia into the cave. Darion huddles by the wall of the cave, now wearing his shirt.

DARION (jumps up, joyfully):
     Eve!

EVE II (shakes her head):
     I'm not the Eve you know. Come quick--I'll explain later...

She extends her hand to a puzzled Darion, who takes it. They dash to the cave entrance and run outside, only to find themselves at the tip of Livia's sword.

LIVIA:
     Going somewhere?

Eve II looks at her intently, then suddenly drops down, pulling Darion down with her. Livia swings her sword but Eve dodges it and rolls down the hillside with Darion.

LIVIA (pouts and shakes her head):
     She does know my moves... (grins, raises her voice) Not good enough!

She bounds after Eve, who leaps to her feet, pulling up Darion, and starts to run. Near the bottom of the hill, Livia catches up with them and raises her sword.

XENA (off-camera):
     I'm the one you want!

Livia turns, grinning evilly.

LIVIA:
     Perfect. Here comes mommy.

Pan over to Xena and Gabrielle, coming toward Livia.

GABRIELLE:
     Darion!

DARION (his face lit up with joy):
     Gabrielle!

He breaks away from Eve II and races toward Gabrielle. She hugs him tightly and he presses his face into her stomach. She strokes his hair.

GABRIELLE:
     Are you all right?

Xena stares in amazement at Eve II.

XENA:
     Eve? What are you--?

LIVIA:
     Auntie Gabrielle. Looks like everyone's here for the party.

Ares materializes in a flash of blue light.

ARES:
     Not quite.

LIVIA (sneers):
     Whose side are you on this time?

Ares looks her over, with a mix of admiration and unease. Then he draws his sword and walks over to stand next to Xena. Livia shrieks, her face distorted with rage.

XENA (without turning her head):
     Gabrielle, take Darion and Eve and go back to the village.

GABRIELLE:
     Are you sure?

XENA:
     Yeah.

GABRIELLE:
     Come on.

She walks away quickly with Eve II and Darion. Xena and Ares stand side by side facing Livia.

LIVIA (snarls):
     How touching. Or should I say--pathetic.

She charges Ares and their swords clash. Xena attacks her from the flank; Livia spins and manages to kick the sword out of Xena's hand, taking her by surprise. Xena leaps over to pick up the sword while Livia battles with Ares, in a scene reminiscent of their sparring in the arena in LIVIA, except that now there is a look of rage on her face. She strikes out at Ares, screaming; he parries her blow.

ARES (cocks his head mockingly):
     I see you still have the anger management issues.

They continue to spar. As Xena watches them and sees the look of enjoyment on Ares' face, a strange look crosses her face. She charges toward them; Livia does a back-flip and assumes a battle stance facing Xena.

LIVIA:
     So I guess you're not tough enough to take me on without backup from your boyfriend, huh, Mommy? (mockingly) I'm disappointed.

XENA (glares):
     Let me handle this, Ares.

ARES (rolls his eyes and slips his sword into its scabbard):
     Even when I'm playing on your side, you have to spoil my fun.

Livia charges Xena.

XENA (parrying her blow, to Ares):
     This isn't a game!

ARES (cocks his head mockingly):
     Well, then--guess I'll go play somewhere else.

He vanishes. Xena and Livia continue to fight ferociously, sparring, spinning, kicking, leaping. Xena seems to be clearly gaining the upper hand. She delivers a kick to Livia's midsection that makes her stagger, snarling in pain and rage; without giving Livia time to recover, she knocks the sword out of her hand and sends it flying. Livia shrieks and flips in the air, landing next to her sword and picking it up. Instead of charging Xena again, she eyes her for a moment and then flips again and races away into the trees. Xena runs after her; she sees Livia untie her horse from a tree and get in the saddle.

LIVIA:
     It's not over yet!

She gallops away.

XENA (stares after her, exasperated):
     Damn...

CUT TO

Inside the queen's hut at the Amazon village. Darion is sitting at the table devouring a meal. Gabrielle sits next to him.

DARION (speaks indistinctly with his mouth full):
     I wasn't really scared. Just hungry.

GABRIELLE (smiles tenderly):
     Right. (She strokes his back)

The camera pans back to the two Eves who are sitting on a bench by the wall.

EVE I (uncomfortably):
     Thank you--for what you did for Darion.

EVE II (sighs):
     I had to do something. I felt like Livia was my responsibility.

EVE I (shakes her head):
     No, only mine. If I hadn't asked Alcinoe to perform that ritual... I should have known that nothing good ever comes from trying to get rid of your past. It's part of who you are.

Overhearing her, Gabrielle rises and comes up to the two Eves.

GABRIELLE (gently):
     Don't be too hard on yourself, Eve. Some memories are so painful that you want to get rid of them at any cost. I tried it too once.

EVE I (looks up at her):
     What happened?

GABRIELLE (sighs):
     It's a long story. I realized that I couldn't get rid of the bad memories without losing the good ones as well--without losing everything that made me who I was.

EVE II (looks away wistfully):
     So at sunrise, Livia and I will just--disappear.

GABRIELLE (touches her shoulder):
     I'm not sure how this works, but I think you'll just go back to being a part of--the real Eve.

EVE II (to Eve I, smiling faintly):
     You'll take good care of me, I know.

EVE I (smiles back):
     I will. (shakes her head) It's so odd...to see myself when I'm not even looking in the mirror.

EVE II:
     You can say that again.

EVE I:
     It's definitely an experience I won't forget.

GABRIELLE:
     I don't think any of us will. (chuckles and shakes her head) It's even stranger than Xena's three identical twins to whom she isn't related.

DARION (pushes his plate aside and turns around):
     Wow--Xena has three twins? That's so cool! Are they all warriors too?

GABRIELLE (smiles):
     Not exactly.

The door opens and Xena walks in briskly.

GABRIELLE (turns around):
     What happened?

XENA (looks exasperated with herself):
     She escaped. (shakes her head) It was all my fault.

EVE I:
     Mother--I had Alcinoe perform a ritual to reverse the spell. At sunrise, Livia will be gone. And... (she stumbles a little and looks guiltily at the other Eve) ...she will be, too.

XENA (lets out a sigh of relief):
     Then all we have to do is make sure she doesn't wreak too much havoc before that.

EVE I:
     There's only one village close enough for her to get to before sunrise--the one she attacked today. (rises and walks toward the door) I'll dispatch half a dozen Amazons to protect it--in case she comes back.

GABRIELLE:
     We'll have to post some extra sentries here for the night.

CUT TO

Inside Sabina's jail cell. She stands by the barred window, listening intently to some Amazons talking outside. Dusk is falling.

CUT TO

Gabrielle talking to two Amazons near the jail.

GABRIELLE:
     Be careful. This woman is very dangerous.

AMAZON #1:
     But she's not really Livia, is she? She couldn't be.

GABRIELLE (hesitates a moment):
     Let's say--she's just as bad. Don't take any chances.

Sabina walks back to the bench and sits down, thinking.

DISSOLVE TO

The same jail cell at night. Sabina lies asleep on her cot. The camera zooms in on her face. Her eyes fly open at a sound outside. After a moment she sits up, gets up from the cot and walks toward the window.

CUT TO

Outside the jail; a moonlit night. We see Livia wiping the blade of her dagger on her cloak as an Amazon guard collapses at her feet, dead. She looks around cautiously; her gaze falls on the barred window of the jail where she sees Sabina's face pressed to the bars. Sabina beckons to her. Livia eyes her curiously and approaches. Sabina looks at her in the moonlight, obviously struck by her resemblance to Eve.

SABINA (whispers incredulously):
     You really are Livia, aren't you?

LIVIA (coldly, also in a whisper):
     And who are you?

SABINA (smirks):
     Another warrior who has a bone to pick with Xena. (Livia tilts her head, obviously curious) You know, if I was out of here, we could work together.

LIVIA:
     Thanks, but I'm not really into teamwork.

SABINA:
     Come on, Livia. Even you can't take on a whole village of Amazons and Xena and Gabrielle all by yourself.

LIVIA (thinks):
     You got a point.

The camera follows Livia as she prowls stealthily around the jail building. Seeing a guard seated on a bench by the door, she takes aim and throws her dagger at the guard. Struck in the neck, the guard makes a strangled sound and crumples to the ground.

CUT TO

Inside the jail. Sabina listens intently to the sounds outside. She goes over to the table and lights a lamp.

The door is pushed open with a creak, and Livia steps in. She and Sabina eye each other curiously.

SABINA:
     So you're Livia. I always wondered what it would be like to meet you. I've only had the pleasure, if you'd call it that, of meeting the reformed you. And I gotta say, I always knew I'd like you better.

LIVIA (with quiet rage):
     So it's true. I became an Elijan preacher and then an Amazon queen. Pathetic. (sneers) I suppose Mommy dearest did a job on me after all. (puzzled) How did I come back?

SABINA:
     Who cares? The point is, you're here now. Which I think could be to our mutual advantage.

LIVIA:
     Who are you?

SABINA:
     The name's Sabina. I think we have a lot in common.

LIVIA (raises an eyebrow):
     Such as what?

SABINA:
     Xena, for one. We both had it pretty good until she spoiled our fun, didn't we? (Livia scowls) And--Ares.

Livia stalks up to Sabina, her face distorted in a grimace of rage; she pulls a dagger and puts it to Sabina's throat.

LIVIA:
     What do you know about Ares?

SABINA (unruffled):
     I know he dropped you as soon as your mother showed up. (Livia growls and grimaces in rage, making as if to stab Sabina. Sabina gives her a mocking look.) You know, you're a great warrior but you've got to get a handle on that temper. Anyway, Ares played that same trick with me--the "use them and lose them" game. Now he's nothing more than Xena's lapdog.

LIVIA (lowers her dagger, eyeing Sabina):
     So. What do you want?

SABINA:
     Oh, I'm just a little tired of being cooped up in here. Got places to be, people to kill... What do you say?

She and Livia stare at each other.

CUT TO

The village. It's still night, but the first light is beginning to show on the sky. Livia and Sabina are prowling through the village, Livia carrying a torch. Sabina is now armed with a sword.

Livia takes a swing and throws the torch at the thatched roof of one of the huts, which immediately goes up in flames.

Shouts are heard in the distance as the sentries and other Amazons come running. The blaze gives everything an eerie reddish glow.

Several Amazons, including children, run out of the burning hut. Livia raises her sword over a cowering teenage girl, preparing to strike her down. Sabina grabs her arm.

SABINA:
     You don't have to do that!

LIVIA (snarls at her):
     You're just another spoilsport.

SABINA:
     Remember the plan!

LIVIA (sighs):
     Right. Go get the horses.

Sabina runs off. Livia grabs a screaming little girl, no more than five or six years old, hauls her up and holds a dagger to her neck. The Amazons who run toward her stop, horrified.

AMAZON #1 (gasps and lifts her hands to her mouth):
     My baby!

Xena, Gabrielle and Eve come running.

LIVIA (raises her voice):
     All right--listen up. (to the girl, who is still screaming) Shut up and hold still! (to the Amazons) There's nothing I'd like more than to kill the whole lot of you, but (pouts) I guess we can't have everything we want. I guess I'll just have to do with--

Sabina comes up, leading two horses. The Amazons gasp.

GABRIELLE:
     She's escaped!

SABINA (mockingly):
     Very perceptive of you.

She gets in the saddle; so does Livia, still holding the dagger to the little girl's neck.

LIVIA:
     As I was saying before--I'll have to do with Mommy and Auntie Gabrielle. If anyone else follows us... (makes a motion as if to stab the little girl) ...you'll be sorry. (nods to Xena, who looks on in horror) See you later, Mommy.

Livia and Sabina gallop away. Several Amazons run up with pails of water to put out the blazing hut.

OTHILA:
     What are we going to do?

XENA (her face set):
     You heard her. This is for me to take care of.

GABRIELLE:
     For us.

XENA (grimly):
     Right.

AMAZON #1:
     They've got my daughter! I'm coming too!

XENA (whips around angrily):
     No. You heard what Livia said. Go after your daughter and it's a sure way to get her killed.

CUT TO

Xena and Gabrielle galloping out of the Amazon village. The Amazons stand looking after them anxiously.

EVE:
     Be careful, Mother!

CUT TO

A quick montage of Sabina and Livia racing through the forest with Xena and Gabrielle in hot pursuit, the camera cutting back and forth between them.

Sabina and Livia ride out of the forest and onto a plain. The sky is now turning light.

CUT TO

Xena and Gabrielle riding out on the plain.

GABRIELLE (looks up at the sky):
     It shouldn't be too long now--if we can only stall her until sunrise--

XENA:
     We can't take any chances, Gabrielle. Not when they've got a child as a hostage.

GABRIELLE (hesitantly):
     Xena--

XENA:
     What?

GABRIELLE:
     This time around--do you think you could kill Livia if you had to? She's not really Eve--the real Eve will still be alive and well--

XENA (looks away grimly):
     Let's hope I won't have to find out. (urges on Argo) Yah! Yah!

CUT TO

A large field by a riverbank. Livia brings her horse to a halt; Sabina does likewise.

GIRL (crying):
     Please let me go!

LIVIA (irritably):
     Shut up! (She lifts her hand to slap the child; Sabina reaches up and catches her wrist, and Livia gives Sabina a dirty look) What are you, some kind of do-gooder?

SABINA (coldly):
     I just don't think it's very sporting, picking on little kids.

LIVIA (snorts contemptuously):
     Oh, look--here comes the big game. (quick pan to Xena and Gabrielle galloping toward them) Remember, Mommy's mine. You take Gabrielle.

Xena and Gabrielle approach and bring their horses to a halt. Livia throws the little girl off the horse and then, with a loud screech, leaps at Xena; they both go tumbling down on the ground. Sabina and Gabrielle dismount and face each other.

Xena flips over Livia, turns around and then kicks her in the back. Livia falls to the ground but quickly gets up, jumps up and aims a kick to Xena's head. Xena catches her leg; Livia launches into a flip over Xena's head. Xena spins around as she lands and pushes her hard before she has regained her balance. Livia hits the ground again.

Pan to Gabrielle sparring against Sabina. She does a good job of parrying Sabina's sword with her sais, but then Sabina manages to knock the sai out of her left hand. Gabrielle loses focus for a moment--enough for Sabina to deliver a kick to the stomach that sends Gabrielle staggering back.

Pan to Livia charging at Xena, sword drawn. They start sparring.

Pan to Sabina, who leaps, spins in the air and slams a boot into Gabrielle's chest, knocking her down on her back.

Pan to Xena, who is parrying Livia's blows but is distracted by seeing Gabrielle fall.

XENA:
     Gabrielle--

The camera pulls back for a wide shot of all four combatants.

Before Gabrielle can get up, Sabina leaps forward and straddles her, digging one knee into her chest and using the other to pin down her right arm, leaving Gabrielle unable to use her sai.

A close-up of Gabrielle; she looks to her left and sees her other sai lying in the grass. She tries to reach it with her left hand but it is too far, and she is securely pinned down by Sabina.

SABINA (with a smirk of mock regret):
     You aimed too high for a sidekick.

She picks up the sai Gabrielle dropped and twirls it in her hand.

Pan to Xena, whose face has a look of open-mouthed horror.

XENA:
     Gabrielle!

She leaps toward Gabrielle and Sabina; Livia kicks out at her, tripping her up, so that Xena goes down hard, sprawling on her stomach. Grinning, Livia raises her sword.

LIVIA:
     I've been waiting so long for this--

Something hits her in the side of the head. She drops her sword and falls down, unconscious. Xena picks herself up, kneeling, and looks at Livia; she sees Gabrielle's sai on the ground next to her. In shock, she looks at Sabina, who is still pinning down Gabrielle. A close-up of Sabina, a mocking smile on her face.

XENA:
     You--

SABINA (shrugs):
     You saved me from being crucified in Rome. One good turn deserves another. But remember--only one. (she smirks) Doesn't mean I won't go after you next time I see you.

GABRIELLE (raises her head):
     Sabina...thank you.

SABINA:
     You're welcome.

As she speaks, she gives Gabrielle a punch in the face that knocks her out. Pan to Xena as she cries out in shock and rage, and makes to charge toward Sabina.

SABINA (holds out her sword):
     Uh-uh-uh. It's nothing personal, Warrior Princess. Just have to make sure you're too busy to follow me.

She leaps to her feet and runs toward her horse as Xena rushes toward Gabrielle, who has blood trickling down her face. Xena looks up to see Sabina mount her horse and gallop away. She hesitates for a moment, looking from Gabrielle to the unconscious Livia to Sabina. Then she goes over to Argo, gets a piece of rope from her saddlebag and securely binds Livia's hands behind her back. Gabrielle groans and Xena runs toward her and helps her sit up.

XENA:
     Gabrielle--are you okay?

GABRIELLE (tries to smile):
     For someone who's just had a close encounter with Sabina's fist--yeah.

Xena helps her up and leads her toward the riverbank. Gabrielle kneels and scoops up some water to drink and to splash over her face.

GABRIELLE (looks at Xena):
     Sabina's escaped?

XENA:
     Don't worry, we'll catch up with her.

GABRIELLE:
     What about... (she pauses and looks up at the sky) Look--it's sunrise!

The orange disc of the sun is starting to rise over the horizon. Xena and Gabrielle turn to look at Livia. Livia looks at Xena with a sneer, tugging at the ropes that bind her hands.

LIVIA (with a mock pout):
     I guess mommy doesn't love me.

An anguished look crosses Xena's face. Just then, Livia's body starts to turn transparent. Her lips still move but her voice can no longer be heard, and in a few instants she disappears.

Xena lowers her eyes. Gabrielle gently puts a hand on her arm.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena, she wasn't Eve. She wasn't even supposed to exist--she was just...something conjured by a spell.

XENA (quietly):
     A ghost from the past.

She looks up at Gabrielle, her eyes full of anguish. They hug for a long moment, then break apart. The sound of quiet whimpering is heard.

GABRIELLE (gasps):
     The little girl! (She rushes toward the girl, who is sitting in the grass crying, and helps her up) Are you all right?

GIRL (still whimpering):
     I want my mommy!

GABRIELLE:
     We'll get you to your mommy right away. (She walks back to her horse, helps the girl into the saddle, and then mounts herself, with the girl in front of her. Then she turns to Xena.) Come on, Xena, let's head back to the village.

Xena walks toward Argo. Then she suddenly stops, her eyes widening slightly.

XENA:
     You go ahead--I'll catch up with you.

Gabrielle gives her a look of surprise that turns to one of understanding.

GABRIELLE:
     Okay.

She rides off with the little girl. Xena stands motionless, her hand on Argo's flank. In an instant there is a flash of blue light and Ares materializes.

XENA (quietly):
     Go ahead, say it. It's all my fault.

ARES:
     You have to be a little more specific. You probably think it's your fault if it rains for a straight week.

XENA (looks at him):
     Sabina escaping...Livia torching a hut in the Amazon village and nearly killing a child...it's all because I refused your help.

ARES:
     Well, you were always stubborn. It's one of the things I like about you.

XENA (in no mood to banter):
     Cut it out. (She is silent for a moment) Ares--when I saw you sparring with Livia, I--I-- (she falters and looks away) It reminded me...

ARES (incredulous and clearly flattered):
     You were jealous?

XENA (sighs and looks at him):
     Look... Back then when I saw you with my daughter...it made me ill that you had turned her into--what she was, but... (she sighs again and lowers her voice) ...it wasn't just that.

ARES (gently):
     Xena--I told you, no one else is like you. Not for me. And if I did see something special in Livia...maybe it was something of you.

He raises a hand and strokes her cheek. Xena nods uncomfortably and shivers a little.

XENA (quietly):
     I guess that was the last of Livia.

She looks up, and she and Ares stare at each other.

CUT TO

The Amazon village. Xena and Gabrielle are already in the saddle, Gabrielle with Darion in front of her; Eve is preparing to mount her horse. Klymene, her head bandaged, is standing next to her.

KLYMENE:
     I'll miss you.

EVE (strokes her shoulder):
     I know--I'll miss you too. (smiles) Don't forget your math homework.

XENA:
     You don't have to come with us, Eve.

EVE (shakes her head):
     I do. It's my fault that Sabina has escaped. (She and Klymene hug) Good-bye. I'll be back soon, I promise.

XENA (joking to defuse the tension):
     You'd better be. Someone has to decide on the weekly lunch menu.

CUT TO

Xena, Gabrielle and Eve riding away from the Amazon village toward the forest. A wide shot of the village is seen in the background.

EVE (pensively):
     You know, in a funny way, Alcinoe's spell really did help. I think it's only now that I can really start putting it all behind me. Livia. Eve, Messenger of Eli. They're both a part of who I am--but they're both gone. (she sighs) I just wish innocent people hadn't gotten hurt because of it.

XENA:
     Eve--lay off yourself a bit. Not everything that goes wrong in the world is your fault. (she smiles wistfully, struck by the irony of her own words)

EVE:
     I think we both need to remember that sometimes.

There is a brief silence.

DARION:
     I think that spell was kinda fun. (seized by a sudden burst of inspiration) Can you imagine if there was three of me running around?

GABRIELLE:
     Three of you? (grins) No thanks. Ever heard the expression "too much of a good thing"?

She ruffles his hair and kisses the top of his head. The camera pulls back to show Xena, Gabrielle, Darion and Eve riding toward the forest as we:

FADE OUT

THE END

[Eve's discovery of multiple personality disorder puts the "Xena: Warrior Princess" therapy clinic one step closer to opening during the production of this motion picture.]

Xena: Warrior Princess Shipper Seasons Season 8 Episode 14 Three Way Split Story By: Aurora Written By: Aurora and LadyKate Edited By: LadyKate and Amber Collage By: Aurora Images Gathered By: Aurora Cast Xena Lucy Lawless Gabrielle Renee O'Connor Eve/Eve II/Livia Adrienne Wilkinson Ares Kevin Smith Darion Alexander Gandar Sabina Jennifer Garner Klymene Hilary Duff Antiope Jessica Sax Othila Claudia Octa Alicinoe Julia Siverston Original Airdate June 21, 2003 Eve's discovery of multiple personality disorder puts the "Xena: Warrior Princess" therapy clinic one step closer to opening 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.