XENA WARRIOR PRINCESS VIRTUAL EPISODE
DISCLAIMER: The following episode is an independent piece and is a work of fiction based upon the television series Xena: Warrior Princess. The original characters are used strictly for fan purposes and not for profit. There is no intent to infringe upon or violate any copyrights held by Studio USA, Renaissance Pictures, Universal Television or any other organisation that owns the rights to this series.
The script, story ideas, and any characters created by the authors that are not part of the original series are copyrighted and remain the sole property of those authors. Also, any original artworks are copyrighted and remain the sole property of those artists. Permission to use any of the written or drawn works herein must be submitted to the original author(s) and artist(s).
WARNING: [ALT] Some content may offend younger readers. Parental discretion is advised.
My gratefulness is extended to Hadley Langosy for introducing me to script-writing. To MacavityCat for teaching how to refine the stories. To Talice, Heather and a few others that Beta-read many of my works. And to Scully, Vio B, Gina and many other artists that have drawn such captivating pictures for the XWPVS.
My special thanks to MaryD for allowing my stories to be published on her web-site to be read by so many Xena fans.
SEPARATION
Written by Richard B.Kloosterboer
Beta-read by the Elysian Bards
TEASER
1. EXT. TOWN IN NORTHERN SCANDINAVIA - AFTERNOON
Xena and Gabrielle are stocking up on supplies, trading with pelts and have bartered a couple of sturdy horses. Gabrielle has sold several copied scrolls of their adventures across the world so that they can afford proper lodgings for the chilly nights in Scandinavia.
At a little market in a township Gabrielle is browsing through a shopping stall and her eye catches the glint of an unusual piece of jewellery.
The shopkeeper approaches her enthusiastically.
SHOPKEEPER
That will make a fine wedding heirloom, young lady.
(beat)
Do you have someone special in mind?
Gabrielle blushes and smiles while she studies the brooch.
SHOPKEEPER
Yes… I see it in your eyes…
(beat)
Come by later… no, keep it. A gift.
Gabrielle wants to give the heirloom back. The Shopkeeper's eyes have a strange exciting glow.
XENA
(voice-over)
Gabrielle… it's time to go.
GABRIELLE
(half-turns)
I'll be right there.
Gabrielle turns back to empty air. The shopkeeper has disappeared.
Xena is by her side.
XENA
What's that? Let me see?
GABRIELLE
It's nothing.
Gabrielle hides the heirloom selfishly into her pouch.
XENA
(indifferent)
Fine. Lets go get some rest. We have a long way to travel tomorrow.
Gabrielle ponders about her encounter. She feels eyes spying on her.
CUT TO:
2. INT. SHOPKEEPER STALL - EVENING
Two shadowy figures are talking to each other.
SHADOW 1
Are you sure she is the one?
SHADOW 2
I am sure, milord. She has the guilt of death. She will kill no more.
SHADOW 1
Perfect. She will be my wife.
(beat)
Gather the others. Tonight I will wed.
SHADOW 2
By your leave, milord.
The second shadow rushes away. The first shadow comes under a flickering torch light. His handsome face with long ginger curls flow onto a strong muscular body dressed in a simple white shirt and baggy blue pants.
His ice cold stare glares at the full moon on the horizon. His grim smile matching his eyes in contrast to his features.
CUT TO:
3. INT. TAVERN GUEST ROOM - NIGHT
Gabrielle gets out of bed very carefully and puts on her long winter coat over her dress. She takes her boots outside the room and sits near a bench to put them on. Then she leaves the tavern.
Xena's eyes open and she quickly gets up to follow Gabrielle.
CUT TO:
4. INT. SHOPKEEPERS STALL - NIGHT
Gabrielle enters the little shop cautiously and by herself. The Shopkeeper greets her.
SHOPKEEPER
Welcome back, Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
(defensive)
How do you know my name?
The shopkeeper laughs heartily and holds up a scroll.
SHOPKEEPER
You are a celebrity. You've autographed this scroll for my daughter. She is your biggest fan, you know?
GABRIELLE
(smile)
If you've asked me to come and meet your daughter then…
SHOPKEEPER
No, there is another admirer of yours who wants to meet you.
GABRIELLE
Who?
SHOPKEEPER
Your husband.
Gabrielle's jaw drops open in shocked surprise.
FADE OUT:
FADE IN:
5. EXT. SHOP IN MARKET PLACE - NIGHT
Xena is trying to keep warm in the shadows.
Suddenly alert she sees Gabrielle come out of a shop. She approaches her cautiously.
XENA
Gabrielle?
Gabrielle sees Xena and gives her an icy cold stare.
GABRIELLE
I have to leave…
(beat - whisper)
…you!
Xena remains speechless at the cold response as Gabrielle walks back to the tavern.
CUT TO:
6. EXT. A MEADOW IN NORTHERN SCANDINAVIA - MIDDAY
The next day Xena and Gabrielle are leading their horses through a meadow. The weather is still chilly and they are wearing their long winter coats over their usual gear.
Gabrielle seems despondent as she fondles the purple glowing brooch clipped to her mantle. Xena is hiding her worry for her.
XENA
You don't mind if I just tag along a bit?
GABRIELLE
No… I don't mind. Its not far.
XENA
Gabrielle… I…
Xena clamps up. The words stick in her throat.
GABRIELLE
Don't Xena. Don't make it harder then it already is.
(beat)
My choice, remember? My decision.
Xena stops walking. Gabrielle turns around and her emerald eyes lock fearfully with her friend's grief stricken blue eyes.
Xena's heart is breaking and Gabrielle can't stop her own anguish.
XENA
(stressing)
There must be another w…
GABRIELLE
(terse)
There isn't!
Gabrielle climbs onto her mare in one swift move and looks ahead.
GABRIELLE
I've changed my mind. I will travel alone. You cannot come with me to The Edge.
Xena clutches Gabrielle's arm.
Gabrielle looks down at Xena, both have tears brimming on edge.
GABRIELLE
(whispers)
I will never stop loving you.
Gabrielle drops her backpack with scrolls and ink on the ground. She spurs her mare on leaving Xena behind.
Xena watches her best friend disappear into a mist near The Edge.
XENA
(stammering)
Gabrielle! Don't lea…
DISSOLVE TO:
END TEASER
ACT I
7. INT. ICE CASTLE
A minion wearing a light blue robe approaches a handsome fellow with long ginger curls flowing onto a strong muscular body dressed in a simple white shirt and baggy blue pants.
MINION
My Lord Derrickson.
(beat - bow)
Your bride has arrived at The Edge.
Derricksson waves his hand in a wide vertical arc. An image appears on a sheet of crystal clear ice. He sees Gabrielle waiting patiently.
With a snap of his fingers an ice bridge forms.
CUT TO:
8. EXT. ICE BRIDGE AT THE EDGE - DAY
Gabrielle's features don't even flinch when a bridge of ice appear in front of her.
DERRICKSSON
(voice over)
Gabrielle…
Gabrielle betrays a little surprise at the disembodied voice.
DERRICKSSON
(voice over)
Step onto the bridge.
Gabrielle spurs her mare forward. The horse refuses to budge.
She dismounts and cautiously puts her foot on the ice bridge.
Its not an illusion and she continues on.
CUT TO:
Out of the mist Xena arrives.
XENA
Gabrielle… stop!
Gabrielle's mare shifts nervously and refuses to move further.
GABRIELLE
(strain)
You are making it so hard.
(beat-turns)
I'm trying to protect you.
XENA
Why?
Gabrielle shakes her head and continues over the bridge.
Xena reaches the bridge, but already its connection to The Edge are eroding. A wall of ice stops Xena in her tracks.
XENA
(hits the wall of ice)
I won't give up.
(beat)
I'll get the bastard that did this to you.
Gabrielle smiles ironically as she reaches the other side of the bridge.
GABRIELLE
(whispers)
I know you will.
The Ice Bridge collapses behind her marooning her near the Ice Castle.
CUT TO:
9. INT. ICE CASTLE
Derricksson leaves the illusion of the ice bridge on for a moment longer as Gabrielle sets foot on the side of the castle. He curls his hand in a fist and the ice bridge shatters.
Gabrielle does not budge and does not look behind her.
DERRICKSSON
Impressive! She shows no fear. However…
(beat)
Xena could be a problem.
Derricksson turns to his minion.
DERRICKSSON
Find someone to quietly dispose of Xena…
(beat)
And let Gabrielle inside her new home.
MINION
(bows obediently)
By your command, milord.
CUT TO:
10. INT. ICE CASTLE THRONE ROOM
A bluish light appears and a portal opens.
DERRICKSSON
Sister Lysia. Just in time for my latest wedding.
LYSIA
I've come to warn you, brother. This mad obsession of yours has gone on far enough.
(beat)
Release this woman from the curse she carries.
DERRICKSSON
The Sabre-Tooth Brooch is our most coveted heirloom. It has chosen this mortal woman to be my wife. I can't disappoint its blessing.
LYSIA
This brooch is not for the gods. We cannot touch it.
(beat)
Let her go.
DERRICKSSON
She will love me…
(beat - looks at Lysia)
The Brooch will be mine to wield.
LYSIA
Foolish boy. The Sabre-Tooth Brooch is not a weapon one can wield.
(beat)
It shares its strength with true love.
(beat)
What you are doing destroys the very fabric of mortality.
Derricksson gives Lysia an icy look. Lysia just chuckles infuriating him even more.
DERRICKSSON
You are fortunate that you are immune to my powers, or else…
LYSIA
Yes, I would have joined your legacy.
(beat - arm sweeps around the throne room)
Look at the lives you destroyed. Your former wives encased in ice.
DERRICKSSON
They deceived me… they lied to me…
(beat)
They didn't love me.
LYSIA
Like you were honest to them? You ripped them away from their loved ones.
(softens)
Brother, you have to be responsible with mother nature.
(beat)
You have a heart of ice and only true love can melt it.
DERRICKSSON
Yes… but she has to forsake her own true love and put me in that place.
LYSIA
(annoyed)
Oh you are behaving like a spoiled brat.
(beat)
Can't you see she's hurting inside? Look at her. Her face is stone cold. Her heart belongs to someone else and you are tearing them apart.
DERRICKSSON
I will give her everything she has ever dreamed of.
Lysia steps through her portal.
LYSIA
If you give Gabrielle her freedom, that will be enough.
(beat)
Your home will be her prison.
Lysia's portal closes. Leaving her bewildered half-brother pondering her words. Derricksson shrugs and looks onto the vision of Gabrielle with selfish anticipation.
CUT TO:
11. EXT. ICE CASTLE
Gabrielle stares at the high walls of the castle studying its defences. The ice wall glows briefly and melts a hole in front of her. The minion of the Ice-God steps through.
GABRIELLE
(cold stare)
You are the shopkeeper that gave me this brooch.
MINION
I am the humble servant of the God of Ice.
(beat)
Welcome, Queen Gabrielle.
Gabrielle reluctantly enters the Ice Castle without looking back.
The ice wall closes behind her.
CUT TO:
12. EXT. TOWN IN NORTHERN SCANDINAVIA - EVENING
Xena rides slowly into town. She's towing Gabrielle's mare and the Bard's backpack is tied to the saddle. Curious townsfolk look once and then quickly hide inside their homes.
A man of importance confronts Xena's horse and she stops.
MAN
Turn back to where you've come from. You will take no more of ours.
XENA
(glowering)
You must have mistaken me for someone else.
The man unrolls a scroll with a picture of Xena on it.
MAN
There is no mistake.
An eerie glow is in the man's eyes. Xena squints.
XENA
(husky)
What are you?
The man stiffens.
MAN
I am Dolfsson… Town Magistrate.
XENA
(relaxing)
I don't think you are…
Xena notices that she is being surrounded.
XENA
(patting the mare)
Well girl, we're very popular today.
(beat - flip)
SHEEEEEYAA!
Xena flips off the horse's back and through the air. She lands on a rooftop. Not wanting to stick around she quickly traverses over the roofs and jumps over alleyways.
She crouches down on another roof and listens for the sound of running feet in the streets below her.
Looking over the edge Xena spots the shop where all the trouble began and jumps gently to the ground. Hiding her face in the cloak she's wearing she makes her way to the shop.
Xena hears footsteps and hides in the shadows. She sees the possessed Magistrate looking around. His eyes have an icy look to them.
He is by himself and before he can react Xena knocks him to the ground. She applies the Pinch on him.
The possessed magistrate smiles evilly.
Xena gets up quickly and stands ready to fight.
POSSESSED MAGISTRATE
My blood is frozen. Do you really think you can stop me…
Xena kicks him in the stomach. She hears something shatter, like ice breaking.
XENA
Guess you are vulnerable, huh?
POSSESSED MAGISTRATE
(icy eyes wide)
NO!
Xena kicks him again against his head and he completely shatters in a million ice-splinters.
She looks around, sees no-one and quickly enters the shop.
CUT TO:
13. INT. THE SHOP - EVENING
Cautiously Xena moves inside the shop. A dim light is on in the back
and she takes a look inside the next room.
She sees stacks of open wooden boxes with flattened scrolls and parchments in them.
A frail old man is concentrating deeply into them.
OLD MAN
(excited)
Come in… Come in… I've been expecting you.
Xena comes in but stays alert. She studies the face of the old man.
XENA
What did you do with Gabrielle?
OLD MAN
I'm an old man selling old things. There was someone here who gave a special brooch to a young woman.
(beat)
It is he you must seek.
Xena's knees feel weak and her face whitens. The old man quickly sets a chair behind Xena as she collapses onto it.
XENA
(anger - sad)
Why did she leave?
OLD MAN
She left to protect you from the God of Ice.
(beat)
I'm sorry Xena. You'll never see Gabrielle again.
XENA
(grabs old man's tunic)
Do you have a death wish? I want…
Xena abruptly lets the old man go when she sees his eyes glow in a pale blue hue.
XENA
You are one of them!
OLD MAN
(chuckles)
I am an enigma, but I'm not one of my brother's minions.
(beat)
I am simply using this man's body the same as my brother Derricksson once did with others.
XENA
Why shouldn't I just kill you right now?
OLD MAN
I can help you.
XENA
(scoffs)
I don't need any help from gods.
OLD MAN
Derricksson, the God of Ice has Gabrielle body and soul.
XENA
(livid)
That Ice-god does not have her soul…
(beat)
She will die before she lets him touch her.
OLD MAN
No need to worry about that. They can not consummate unless she forsakes her true love. If she doesn't someone will die.
XENA
(surprised)
What?
OLD MAN
(opens a box)
This text says that the Sabre-Tooth Brooch protects any bride that wears it until she fully loves her betrothed.
(beat)
The brooch chose her because she loves someone dearly, but brother Derricksson…
XENA
He steals the bride away so that he will be loved by the kidnapped girl?
(beat)
That's sick!
The old man nods sadly.
OLD MAN
You must find the Temple of Lysia. There you will find what you need to reach Gabrielle.
XENA
(stoic)
Right, lets go.
OLD MAN
(shaking no)
I must stay here. This body grows weary. He must lie down.
(beat)
Here is a map to the Temple. Farewell.
Xena takes the map and exits the shop without looking back.
CUT TO:
14. INT. BAR IN A NORTHERN SCANDINAVIA - EVENING
Xena has decided to calm her nerves in a bar in town. After a few drinks she's talking about her current problems to another patron.
BARKEEPER
I think you've had enough to drink for tonight.
Xena grabs the barkeeper in one swift move and pins him over the bar. She eyes him evilly with bloodshot eyes.
XENA
I'm not drunk enough if I can surprise you like that.
(beat)
Now fill up my mug… all the way to the brim.
Xena turns around drowsily and sees a young blond girl approaching on the arm of one of the patrons.
Angrily she turns back to the bar.
XENA
(mumbling)
Forty years…
DRINKING BUDDY
What?
XENA
(sigh)
Over forty years we've travelled together…
(beat)
And then she dumps me for the first handsome guy that comes along.
(beat)
Its not fair, ya-know-what-I-mean?
DRINKING BUDDY
I hear ya. It happens to me all the time…
(beat)
…there's this woman that I…
XENA
Well… we're not talking about you right now…
(beat)
I'm paying for your drinks… so you just listen…
(continues)
So she tells me that she's leaving me for my own good.
(beat)
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