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ACT 4
FADE IN:
int. tunnel shaft - momENTS LATER
Xena and Gabrielle fall through the shaft. Xena twists and turns, frantically trying to find something to hold onto, but the rock walls are smooth.
xena Gabrielle!
They hear a loud rumbling noise just below them, and they realize they are reaching the end of the tunnel. Xena reaches out and grabs Gabrielle around the waist.
xENA This is gonna hurt.
gaBRIELLE Not for long.
Gabrielle puts her arms around Xena’s neck and looks into Xena’s eyes.
gABRIELLE
But if I only had thirty seconds left to
They run out of tunnel shaft. Xena answers Gabrielle’s words with a kiss.
CUT TO:
int. vat - MOMENTS LATER
Xena and Gabrielle drop out of the tunnel shaft and plunge into a huge, roiling vat of liquid. They go all the way to the bottom and the impact separates them. They struggle through the liquid to reach the surface. Xena emerges first, gasping for air. She looks around.
xENA Gabrielle!
Gabrielle surfaces behind her, coughing. The liquid pushes them apart and they fight against the current - which is forcing them into a rapidly moving stream of water that goes into an aqueduct.
gABRIELLE (yelling) If we get sucked in there....
XENA I know! Grab on!
A surge of water pulls them towards the wall. At the last moment, Gabrielle gets her arm hooked around a pipe in the vat and hangs on, grabbing hold of Xena’s belt as she goes past. Gabrielle pulls Xena back from the aqueduct.
xENA
What a time to haveta trust
Xena turns and gets hold of the pipe as well, and they climb up it, getting to the top of the vat wall and falling over it.
CUT TO:
int. vat cavern - contINUOUS
Xena and Gabrielle roll over the top of the vat wall and tumble to the ground. They get to their feet and lean against the vat to catch their breath.
gABRIELLE (coughing) I must have swallowed a cartload of that stuff.
Xena gives her a concerned look.
xENA Me too.
Xena looks around the chamber they are in. It is fully stocked with bales of herbs. There are boxes of a powdered mixture sitting on top of the vat. Square holes have been cut in the boxes to let the mixture out steadily into the water.
xENA That must be what they’re giving the slaves.
Gabrielle stares at the boxes, then at Xena. Xena walks to the bales of different herbs and starts examining them. Gabrielle puts her hand up to her head.
gABRIELLE I... I’m starting to feel a little strange.
Xena keeps searching through the herbs.
XENA
So am I. Let’s hope we get lucky
FADE TO:
int. vat CAVERN - a short while later.
Xena and Gabrielle are sitting together on the floor. Between them is a box. They are fully under the influence of the herbs.
gABRIELLE So this is what they meant.
Xena appears totally relaxed and unconcerned.
xENA Bout what?
GABRIELLE Being at peace. Everything’s just... clean.
XENA Yeah. I’ve never felt like this before.
CUT TO:
int. slave enclosure corridor - same time
Guards rush through the corridors, searching for Xena and Gabrielle. Avon steps out of Varia’s room.
avon They were here. Find them!
guard captain They’re not in the upper halls, sir.
AVON
Then check the lower ones.
GUARD CAPTAIN But....
AVON (angrily) Just do it, fool!
The guards run off. Avon’s Lackey emerges from Varia’s room.
lackey
Good thing she warned us who they are,
Avon nods and smiles grimly.
CUT TO:
int. vat CAVERN -moments LATER
Xena and Gabrielle still sit with the box between them. There is now a cup on the top of the box. They hear guards coming closer, but apparently don’t care.
gaBRIELLE
Do you feel lighter? I do. It’s like this very (beat, laughing) Listen to me. I must sound like a....
xENA
You sound like the Gabrielle I met
Gabrielle thinks about that for a minute.
GABRIELLE Yeah. It’s been a long time, hasn’t it? (beat) Since either of us has really known peace.
xENA Maybe Varia was right.
CUT TO:
int. lower corridors - same time
Guards search the lower corridors. They open storage rooms and look inside. One guard is loading his crossbow. The guard captain stops to talk to him.
guard CAPTAIN.
Just be ready.
guard
With the poison on these arrows, sir,
Another guard yells down the hallway.
guard #2
Sir! We’ve cleared this section.
guARD CAPTAIN Let’s go.
CUT TO:
int. vat CAVERN -MOMENTS LATER
The sounds of pursuit are louder. Xena is now on her knees, holding the cup in her hands and examining it. Gabrielle is watching her.
xENA Peace. (beat)
Maybe that’s what I was
Gabrielle looks at her in sudden understanding.
gABRIELLE Not only their peace - your own?
Xena nods. Xena stands up and steps onto the edge of the vat, reaching up and filling the cup with water as it comes into the cistern. She kneels back down and takes a handful of the substance in box and pours it into the water, stirring it with her finger. Xena looks at Gabrielle.
XENA Is this what you really want?
Gabrielle takes the cup from her.
GABRIELLE Yes.
Gabrielle takes a drink from the cup.
gABRIELLE
I don’t think we’re made for peace, Xena. (looks at Xena) But also to laugh and love and live.
Gabrielle hands the cup back, then she makes a face and shudders, as the antidote takes effect. Xena finishes off the cup and tosses it against the wall. It shatters.
The door to the vat cavern slams open, and guards start pouring into the room.
xENA I’ll hold em off - you dump the antidote.
Gabrielle grabs the box and starts climbing up the side of the vat while Xena grabs two bales. The guards attack her. Xena fends them off with the bales. She catches an arrow in one.
Gabrielle reaches the top of the vat and dumps the herbs into it, then throws the box in for good measure. She grabs the edge of the box of bad herbs and pulls on it. With a crack, it breaks loose and falls backwards, sending the herbs everywhere. Gabrielle falls to the ground.
Xena grabs a mixing paddle and paddles the guards. Gabrielle grabs another paddle and joins her. She is wincing, and a little green around the gills.
GABRIELLE That stuff gave me a killer hangover.
XENA (snarling) Tell me about it.
Xena takes her discomfort out on a guard, punching him in the face then smacking him between the legs with her paddle. She shoves him out of the way and kicks another guard back into a hay bale. Two more guards rush at her with torches, trying to drive her back.
Gabrielle goes into action, letting out an angry yell as she lays into the guards, picking up Xena’s forgotten paddle and using it to knock out the man closest to her. Then she grabs his crossbow and turns, firing it at a guard charging at her. The man collapses, clutching the arrow sticking out of his guts. Gabrielle looks for another target, but the men scramble away from her.
Xena grabs a torch from one of her attacker and sets his hair on fire. He bolts away, screaming. Xena whirls and puts the torch to a bundle of herbs, then another. Fire springs up and starts to spread quickly. Xena kicks a guard in the throat, then grabs Gabrielle’s arm.
xENA Let’s go!
Gabrielle throws the crossbow at the nearest guard and follows Xena. They duck arrows as they make it to the door to the vat room and run though it.
CUT TO:
int. LOWER CORRIDORS - conTINUOUS
Xena leads Gabrielle through the hallways. Smoke is starting to spread, and cries of alarm are heard.
gABRIELLE (yelling) How long will it take the antidote to work?
Xena pulls Gabrielle into a side corridor. Several guards rush by them, oblivious.
xENA
Longer than it did for us.
Gabrielle peeks around the corner.
GABRIELLE
Xena, this is our best chance to get
Xena thinks.
XENA Maybe. If we stir em up.
GABRIELLE You mean... like, kick them around a little?
Xena nods.
XENA Think you’re up to that?
Gabrielle produces a not really that pleasant smirk.
GABRIELLE Yeah. (pokes Xena)
You take the Amazons.
Gabrielle heads off. Xena hesitates, then shakes her head and follows.
CUT TO:
int. varia’s room - DAY
Varia puts down her cup. She sits down on her couch and picks up her harp. She plucks a few notes idly. Gabrielle enters behind her, unseen. Gabrielle’s leathers are tattered, and she is covered in soot and liquid. Her face has a fierce, almost feral expression on it.
gABRIELLE You’re out of tune.
Varia whirls and spots Gabrielle.
varia Guards!
Gabrielle stalks towards her.
GABRIELLE They won’t hear you. They’re busy.
Varia gets up and moves around the couch warily.
VARIA I warned them about you.
GABRIELLE
Not well enough, apparently.
VARIA
Gabrielle, you’re wrong.
GABRIELLE
No, Varia. The drug only makes
VARIA
What’s the difference?
Varia reaches for her head.
vARIA Wait. What’s happening?
gABRIELLE The truth is happening.
Gabrielle reaches out and shoves Varia hard. Varia stumbles towards the wall and hits it, then stares at Gabrielle. Gabrielle follows her, then grabs her again and shakes her. Varia’s eyes narrow.
CUT TO:
int. amazon’s chamber - sAME TIME
Xena enters the chamber and stops. She puts her hands on her hips and surveys the Amazons. They all seem very glad to see her.
cyANE
Xena! Glad you came back.
xENA All right, girls. Party time’s over.
The Amazons look at each other. Xena steps down among them and picks up a mug of the liquid.
CYANE
Oh! You’re joining us!
Xena tosses the cupful of liquid in the woman’s face.
XENA Like that? Looks good on you….
The Amazons start laughing.
xENA Think that’s funny?
Xena picks up two grapefruit halves, and shoves them in two of the Amazon’s faces. The cherries in the center pop out and bounce on the floor. The woman who got wet now starts laughing at the halves stuck to their faces.
XENA Now that’s funny.
Cyane Hah! Like a pair of mules!
One Amazon pulls the grapefruit off.
amazon #2 Mules? I’ll give you a mule!
The Amazon picks up a melon and chucks it.
CYANE Hey! Stop that, you little pig!
AMAZON #2 Who are you calling a pig?
Xena takes a step back, watching the carnage begin.
CUT TO:
int. varia’s room - same TIME
Varia is on the ground, a bruise across her left cheek. Her face is now set in anger, and she reaches for the harp as she leaps at Gabrielle. She swings it, intending on smashing across Gabrielle’s head.
vaRIA
Bitch! I knew I should have killed you instead
gABRIELLE
Fair’s fair. I knew I should have killed you
Instead of backing off, Gabrielle grabs the harp as it descends and rips it out of Varia’s hands. She whirls and kicks Varia in the ribs, sending her flying, then tosses the harp onto the couch and jumps on top of her. They grapple. Varia pins Gabrielle down, but Gabrielle twists and locks her ankles around Varia’s neck, arching her back and slamming Varia to the ground.
gABRIELLE Not this time, Varia.
Gabrielle pulls Varia up, then abruptly releases her, and before Varia can catch her balance, Gabrielle cocks her fist and puts everything she has into one pile driver right-handed blow. She hits Varia right in the chops and her head snaps back. She flips over the couch and lands in a heap on the other side, out cold. Gabrielle leaps over the couch and stands over her, ready to continue the fight. She lets her hands drop as she realizes she no longer has an opponent.
CUT TO:
int. amaZON’S CHAMBER - momENTS LATER
The Amazons are still all squabbling with each other. They bump into Xena, who shoves them back. The room is now a shambles, and Xena’s out of patience. She is wondering where Gabrielle is, and is about to go find her.
Xena’s ears prick - she hears the guards coming.
xENA
All right. Enough.
CYANE
Oh yeah? Who are you to tell
XENA You’re welcome. Now get packing.
CYANE
I’m not going anywhere!
The door opens, and Gabrielle enters, carrying Varia on her shoulders.
gABRIELLE No. But I can.
Gabrielle dumps Varia’s unconscious body on the ground. Gabrielle is a sight. She has blood streaked across her skin, along with dirt and grime from the tunnels and sweat.
gABRIELLE (growling) Now get moving!
There are yells coming from the corridor. Guards are approaching at full speed. The Amazons look at each other for a brief moment, then burst into action, running for the door. Two of them pick up Varia’s body and take it with them. Gabrielle and Xena follow.
CUT TO:
int. slave cOMPOUND HALLWAYs - DAY
The Amazons run down the hallway in their shifts and bare feet. Xena and Gabrielle chase after them in their dirty leathers. The guards are gaining on them, and arrows start falling around Xena’s feet.
Xena catches the next arrow and holds it, using it to bat away an increasing number of others. She looks behind her, and sees a mass of guards with bows and spears closing in on her.
Up ahead, the noise of another crowd approaching suddenly becomes audible. Xena realizes they will get trapped between the guards behind and in front of them.
xENA (yelling) To the right!! To the right!!
gABRIELLE Xena! More guards!
XENA I know. Just keep running!
Two corridors intersect. The Amazons, Xena and Gabrielle race through the intersection just as the guards catch up with them, one throwing a spear that grazes Xena on the leg.
They clear the crossroads just as a huge, screaming, angry crowd of slaves comes barreling down from the other direction. The slaves crash into the guards and start attacking them mindlessly.
Xena and Gabrielle look behind them, to see the pile of thrashing arms and legs, as the hapless guards are pummeled.
GABRIELLE That was lucky.
XENA
No, it was brilliant timing.
Xena and Gabrielle throw the gate open and push the Amazons outside to freedom. Screams and puffs of smoke follow them as they leave. The compound is in complete ruin.
FADE OUT:
END ACT FOUR tag
ext. dockside - morning
The smouldering remains of the slave compound is in the background. The ship that brought Xena and Gabrielle to the island is at the docks, with it’s hold open. A large number of angry, jostling ex slaves wait to get on board. The citizens of the town watch fearfully from behind the town walls. The huge gate to the city is firmly shut.
To one side, the Amazons are clustered, very much hung over, very much embarrassed, and very cranky. Varia sits away from them, looking out at the water.
Xena and Gabrielle appear, dressed in new clothing, silken robes. They approach the Ship captain. He is obstinate.
SLAVE MASTER
Why should I take this lot back?
XENA (growling)
You get to live all the way back to Greece, and
Xena glares at the man coldly. He meekly backs off.
SLAVE MASTER Okay! Okay!
The slave master scurries off. Xena twitches at her new, silk sleeve and smirks.
gABRIELLE
No herbs, no slaves.
xENA
True. But it’s gonna take time,
Gabrielle nudges her, and points towards Varia. They walk over to her. Varia does not look at them. Her jaw is covered with a huge bruise.
vARIA I’m not going back with you.
gABRIELLE So you’re just abandoning your people?
Varia looks at her, then she touches her jaw.
vARIA
They’re not my people.
Varia gets up and walks off, not looking back. Gabrielle looks at Xena.
GABRIELLE Wasn’t what I was going for.
Xena drapes her arm over Gabrielle’s shoulders.
xENA
You’re not going to ask me if
GABRIELLE No. I know we did. (sighing) I just wonder if they do.
Gabrielle looks off into the distance, deep in thought.
xENA
Hey. Maybe it won’t be so bad
Gabrielle leans against Xena.
GABRIELLE Yeah. I think we could use a break.
Xena steers her towards the ship. The Amazons are squabbling with each other, as Xena and Gabrielle approach, one of them shoves another into the water. Xena and Gabrielle sigh, and shake their heads as they keep on walking.
FADE OUT.
DISCLAIMER
Gabrielle's macha was not harmed in the
making of this motion
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