ACT THREE

FADE IN:

EXT. CAMPSITE - NIGHT

Xena, Gabrielle, and Talia are seated around a campfire.  Xena is replacing a lace on one of her boots. Gabrielle is watching as Talia picks through the food she prepared for supper.  Talia is seated against a tree.

GABRIELLE

Too much pepper on the rabbit?

Talia looks up, startled by Gabrielle’s voice in the quiet campsite.

TALIA

No. Yes.

(rubbing her temples)

I mean... I’m just not hungry.

Gabrielle shoots Xena a meaningful look.  Xena glances at her uncertainly before a mental light bulb pops on and she quickly shoves the last of her dinner into her mouth.  She snatches up Gabrielle’s empty and Talia’s mostly full plate.

XENA

I’m uh… I’m… I’m going to the creek
to wash these so you two can....

GABRIELLE

(warmly)

Thanks, Xena.

Xena nods and disappears into the darkness leaving Talia and Gabrielle in an uncomfortable silence.

GABRIELLE

We will get him back, you know.

TALIA

(frustratedly)

We don’t even know if he’s still alive.

Her jaw works silently for several seconds.

TALIA

(Cont’d)

Mother is already gone.
It would kill Father to lose him.

GABRIELLE

(quietly)

I know.  And believe me, Talia, so
does Xena. We’ll move heaven
and Earth. You need to trust us.

TALIA

How do you know you can do this?

GABRIELLE

Autolycus has never let either of us
down. We won’t let him down either.

(smiling gently)

But that’s not the main reason.

TALIA

The main reason?

GABRIELLE

Xena.

A little of Gabrielle’s confidence appears to wear off on Talia and she relaxes.  She tries to scoot closer to Gabrielle but the bard begins to move as she tidies up around the campsite.  Giving up on being able to sit next to Gabrielle, Talia holds out her arms out like an expectant child.

TALIA

(wriggling her eyebrows)

How about a hug in my hour of need?

GABRIELLE

(shaking her head)

Gods, you really are a chip off the old block.

TALIA

(hopefully)

Is that a yes?

Gabrielle hasn’t had a chance to reply when Xena’s CHAKRAM flies out of the darkness and impales itself in the tree behind Talia, about an inch above her head.  A chunk of dark hair is hacked off in the process.  Talia gasps and fearfully reaches up, making a face when her fingers find the loose tuft and strands of hair sprinkle down onto her face.

TALIA

(disgustedly)

Ugh!

The expression on Gabrielle’s face tells the young woman she had it coming.

GABRIELLE

(wryly)

If I were you, I’d take that as a definite ‘no’.

FADE TO:

EXT. FORK IN THE ROAD - EVENING

Xena, Gabrielle, and Talia wait anxiously atop their horses.

TALIA

Where are they? It’s almost sunset.

Gabrielle’s gaze drifts towards the bushes.

GABRIELLE

They’re already here.

XENA

(nodding approvingly at Gabrielle)

They’re just waiting to come out.

Making us sweat.

TALIA

(mumbling)

It’s working, too.

A loud MALE VOICE suddenly booms from the bushes.

MALE VOICE

Leave the money under the big tree in front
of you and ride away. Don’t make me tell you
twice or Darius gets it! If there are no tricks,
we’ll bring him back to his tutors unharmed.

TALIA

Wait just a damn minute!

GABRIELLE

(under her breath)

It’ll be okay, Talia.  Relax.

Wordlessly, Xena dismounts Argo, pulls the bags of dinars from the saddlebags and pads over the large tree on the edge of the fork in the road.  She sets the bags down, goes back to Argo and all three riders turn around and disappear around the bend in the road.  Several moments pass before a dark-haired BOY, age 12-14, peeks out from the bushes and carefully makes his way to the bags of dinars.  He lifts the first bag, and peers inside.  Xena sneaks up behind him and silently peers over his shoulder and into the bag.

XENA

All there?

BOY

I think... AHHH!

The boy turns and sees Xena. Wide-eyed, he stumbles backwards and right into Gabrielle’s waiting arms, where she keeps hold of him by the scruff of the neck.

BOY

AHHH!

GABRIELLE

Gotcha.

Talia appears on the road holding the reins of all three horses.  She rushes over to her brother.

TALIA

Darius?

(looking around)

Where are the kidnappers?

XENA

(glaring menacingly at Darius)

There aren't any kidnappers, are there?

DARIUS

(croaking)

No.

Gabrielle winces.  Talia drops the reins and yanks her brother from Gabrielle’s grasp.

TALIA

No kidnappers!  YOU did this?

GABRIELLE

(warningly)

Talia.

Xena takes Talia by the arms.

XENA

Easy, Taila. We'll figure out what's
going on, but you don't want to hurt him.

TALIA

You’re right, Xena.
I don’t want to hurt him.

Xena, Gabrielle and Darius all let out relieved breaths.

TALIA
(Cont’d)

I want to KILL him!

GABRIELLE

(quickly pulls Darius away from Talia)

I think...

(another pull)

...we need

(grunts as spins around to
put Darius behind her)

...to cool off.

(to Xena)

I’ll talk to him.  You get Talia.

Gabrielle and Darius walk several paces into the woods and out of sight.  Xena pries the bag of dinars out of Darius’ hand as he passes her.  She waits several moments to speak, allowing Talia some time to get a grip on her temper.

XENA

Talia, I know you’re mad, but if he went to
all the trouble to set this up,  then something
is wrong. We need to find out what it is.

TALIA

(gesturing wildly)

Doesn't he know how worried we've been?

XENA

Probably not. Didn't you see him?
He was scared to death.  Your
brother needs our help, Talia.

Her brow furrows as she’s reminded of the doe eyes Talia’s been turning on her partner the entire trip.

XENA

(Cont’d)

Though killing someone you find annoying
can be a very appealing prospect.

TALIA

Don’t tell me you fell for that scared....

Gabrielle bursts out of woods alone. Panting, she wildly looks around.

GABRIELLE

Is he...?

(throwing hands in the air)

Gods, of all the rotten tricks!

(beat)

He started to cry, Xena. Cry! Big, fat,
crocodile tears.  I sat him on a log and
lanced away to look for something to
wipe his pitiful face with and
when I looked back he was gone.

XENA

Oh, for Zeus’ sake!

(disgustedly)

Fan out.  Let's find him.

CUT TO:

EXT. WOODS - EVENING

Darius is securely tied to a tree. Xena checks the ropes to make sure he can’t go anywhere.

XENA

That should hold you.

Darius doesn’t say anything. He just glares at Xena.

XENA

You’re going to have to do better than that
if you want to scare me.  Are you hungry?

The boy remains quiet.

XENA

(Cont’d)

Have it your way. You don’t know
what you’re missing. Gabrielle has
a real knack when it comes to fish.

Xena walks over and joins Talia and Gabrielle at the fire, careful to keep one eye on Darius.

GABRIELLE

He’s still not talking?

XENA

Nope.

TALIA

(poking the ground
viscously with a stick)

I can’t believe he did this.
I love my brother.
But I don’t know....

Talia looks away as she tosses her stick into the woods.

TALIA

(Cont’d)

I don’t know if I can forgive this.

(beat)

He’s never really gotten on with Father.
For some reason I can’t fathom, he has
an “issue” with Father being a thief.

GABRIELLE

(pushing herself to her feet)

Okay.  I can do this.  Let me go talk to him.

XENA

(fixing a plate of fish)

That’s your specialty. Sensitive chats.

Gabrielle retrieves an apple from their saddlebags and shoulders by Argo, whose head swings around for the treat.  She whispers to Argo, patting her affectionately.

GABRIELLE

Not this time, girl. Later, I promise.

She approaches Darius casually, tossing the apple as she walks.

GABRIELLE

(Cont’d)

Hi. Hungry?

Darius refuses to acknowledge Gabrielle’s presence.

GABRIELLE

Okaaaay. Well, lucky for you I can
hold up two sides of a conversation
without any problem at all.

She sniffs the air and inclines her head toward the fire.

GABRIELLE

(Cont’d)

Mmm... wow, you can smell that flaky
steamed trout all the way over here.
Xena caught four really nice ones.

Despite himself, Darius licks his lips. A tiny smile etches its way across Gabrielle’s face.

GABRIELLE

My name is Gabrielle.

DARIUS

(his head snapping around)

Liar!

Gabrielle jumps, startled by the volume of Darius’ voice.  Xena sits up straight and calls from across the camp.

XENA

Problem, Gabrielle?

Darius blanches.

GABRIELLE

Nope. We’re fine.

She holds the apple to Darius’ lips.

GABRIELLE

(Cont’d)

Wanna bite?

He reluctantly takes a bite.

DARIUS

(mumbling)

Thanks.

GABRIELLE

You’re welcome. Now, why
do you think I’m lying?

DARIUS

I’m not stupid. You’re not
old enough to be her.

Gabrielle quickly looks back at Xena hoping she heard the comment.  She frowns when she sees that Xena is engrossed in her dinner and didn’t hear Darius.

GABRIELLE

Rats.

DARIUS

Huh?

GABRIELLE

Never mind. I am Gabrielle and that
intimidating-looking warrior across
the campfire is my partner, Xena.

(sincerely)

She’s really quite lovable once you get
to know her, Darius.  She won’t hurt you.

DARIUS

Well, then I guess it’s true then.

GABRIELLE

What’s true?

DARIUS

What Father said about you two.

He looks back and forth between Gabrielle and begins to make obnoxious kissing sounds.

GABRIELLE

(rolling her eyes)

What exactly did your
father tell you about us?

Darius continues with the kissing noise, only louder.

GABRIELLE

Very funny.

(beat)

But it’s old news. Instead, why don’t
we talk about why you did all this?

DARIUS

Aren’t you going to yell at me?
Tell me how much I worried Father
and how I should be ashamed?

Gabrielle purses her lips for a moment then shakes her head.

GABRIELLE

Nope. You seem to be doing okay on your own.

DARIUS

Right!

(confusedly)

I think.

Gabrielle absently buffs the apple in her hand against her skirt.

GABRIELLE

But I would still like to know why.

DARIUS

(lifting his jaw)

None of your business.

GABRIELLE

Wrong. We were sent to find you by
your father. That makes it our business.

DARIUS

Would you buy that I'm a brilliant
beyond my years and was bored?

GABRIELLE

This isn't a joke, Darius.

DARIUS

(quietly)

My whole life is a joke.

GABRIELLE

(her concern growing)

Why would you say that?

DARIUS

I repeat. None of your business.

GABRIELLE

If you’d just....

DARIUS

I don’t want to talk!

GABRIELLE

But....

Darius lowers his voice so that Gabrielle has to lean very close to him in order to hear what he’s saying.

DARIUS

You know, you’re cute... for an older woman
and all. If you’d could stop talking so much,
you could use that pretty mouth of yours to....

CUT TO:

EXT. CAMPSITE - NIGHT

Gabrielle marches off into the woods and the sound of her muffled cursing floats over the campsite.  Xena and Talia look over at Darius, who has the apple shoved in his mouth so that he can’t talk.  Rivulets of drool are running down his chin and he’s shaking his head in an attempt dislodge the piece of fruit.  But he can’t.  Xena cocks her head to the side and regards Darius speculatively.

XENA

I think that probably went well, don’t you?

Talia claps her hands together.

TALIA

I’d say so.

(beat)

Well, I’ll just go and see if
Gabrielle needs... anything.

Xena casually unhooks her chakram holding up the razor-sharp blade and allowing it to glisten in the firelight.

TALIA

(squeaking)

Or not.

CUT TO:

EXT. CAMPFIRE - NIGHT

Xena rolls over to face the fire and look across the campsite at Talia and Darius. She glances back briefly when Gabrielle groans and rolls over.  Xena smiles fondly at her and pulls her blankets up around her shoulders, patting Gabrielle’s back gently.  Looking back across the campfire, she watches as Darius slips out of the ropes around his wrists that tether him to his sister.

Xena sighs heavily as the boy slips into the woods.  As she begins to rise, Gabrielle sleepily lifts her head and mumbles something unintelligible. 

XENA

(whispering)

S’okay. I’ll be right back.

GABRIELLE

Promise, Xena?

Xena trails her fingers through Gabrielle’s hair.

XENA

No. I swear.
Go back to sleep, now.

Eyes already closing again, Gabrielle smiles.

GABRIELLE

’Kay.

Xena gets up and moves to the spot where the boy disappeared into the woods.  She cocks her head and listens, waiting patiently for Darius to finish his business.  After several seconds, she’s still waiting, so she takes a seat on a large rock. She crosses her legs and rests her arms over them.

XENA

Gods, how much did
Gabrielle give him to drink?

She glances as Darius comes emerges from the bushes.

XENA

Everything come out all right? I was
a little worried  there for a minute.

DARIUS

Is everything a joke to you?

XENA

No. As a matter of fact some things
are deadly serious.  Like for instance....

DARIUS

(interrupting)

Like what I tried to do.

XENA

See, I knew you were a smart one.

Xena slides over and pats the rock.  Darius takes a seat next to her.

XENA

So?

DARIUS

So?

XENA

Want to tell me about it?

DARIUS

If I didn’t want to talk to Gabrielle,
what makes you think I’ll talk to you?

XENA

(shrugging)

Call it a hunch.

(beat)

It might help, Darius.

DARIUS

Why should I bother? You
probably wouldn’t understand.

XENA

You, know, I’ve done some things
Well, I’m... I’m far from perfect myself.
You’d be surprised at the things I understand.

DARIUS

(blurting out)

Have you ever felt ashamed?

XENA

Shame? Oh, yeah.
That’s one I know real well.

DARIUS

(licking his lips nervously)

Really?

XENA

MmHmm. But you don’t want to talk
about me. What are you ashamed of?

DARIUS

Do you have any idea what it’s like
being the son of the most notorious
known thief in the world?

XENA

(muffling an amused snort)

The world?

(turning serious)

Ummm... No, can’t say I do.
Do you have any idea what it’s like to be
responsible for the countless deaths?

Darius’ eyes grow wide as though he’s giving serious consideration to bolting.

DARIUS

Father... he... umm... sort of
forgot to mentioned that.

XENA

I’m not surprised. Darius, your
father is a good man.

DARIUS

Good? Do you know how he hurt himself?

XENA

(shrugging one shoulder)

Talia told us.

DARIUS

Do you have any idea how embarrassed
I was when that came out?

XENA

Came out?

DARIUS

I’d been pestering Father about his illness.
Finally, he broke down and told me what
really happened in a letter. Some boys at
school found the parchment and read
it out loud to everyone in the dorm.

XENA

(wincing)

Ouch.

Darius kicks at a stone near his foot.

DARIUS

Yeah.  I thought if I staged the kidnapping that
I’d never have to rely on him again. I could pay
for my own way. Be what I want to be.

(sighing)

It was stupid.

Xena sigh answers Darius’ and she looks longingly towards their bedroll and Gabrielle.  But one look at Darius, and she firms her resolve to muddle through.

XENA

He didn’t mean to hurt you,
Darius. I know that for a fact.

DARIUS

He never means to, but it always
seems to happen, doesn’t it?

XENA

And so he’s responsible for everything in
your life that’s not the way you want it?

DARIUS

(defensively)

Well....

XENA

That’s not how it works, Darius.

DARIUS

But he...

XENA

... loves you and has made mistakes in his
life just like the rest of us.  Just like you will.

DARIUS

(whispering)

Like I have, you mean.

XENA

(closing her eyes briefly in relief)

He can be forgiven and so can you.

DARIUS

I don’t think anyone can forgive me this.

Xena spoke, her voice tinged with wonder.

XENA

When somebody really loves you, they
can forgive just about anything. Trust me
on this one, kid.  I would know.

Xena hears the beginning of sniffles but looks straight ahead, allowing Darius his dignity.

XENA

(Cont’d)

It seems to me that you can spend the rest
of your life letting your father’s reputation
embarrass you, or you can embrace
it and make it work for you.

Darius wipes his eyes with the back of his hand.

DARIUS

And how can I do that?

XENA

By taking responsibility for your own actions
and being a stronger… a better person because
of it. Stop trying to make other people responsible
for you happiness and your unhappiness.

(beat)

The only person who can make you feel
responsible for something, is you, Darius.

DARIUS

You make it sound…

(sniffing)

...easy.  It’s not easy.

Xena’s eyes soften and she puts her arm around his shoulder, giving him a little tug until his head is resting on her shoulder.

XENA

Nothing any good ever is.
But you can do it. I believe in you.
And so does your family.

She searches for something more she can say to help.

XENA

(Cont’d)

You’re all going to be okay.  I know it.

Darius nods against her shoulder and continues to cry, while she rubs his arms slowly, her own eyes glistening.

CUT TO:

Xena watches as Darius slides back down in his bedroll next to his sister, who is still sound asleep.

DARIUS

Thanks, Xena.

XENA

Don’t mention it.

DARIUS

(smiling)

I won’t.

XENA

(smiling back)

I know.

Xena moves back to her own side of the fire and slides under the blankets, spooning tightly against Gabrielle’s back.

GABRIELLE

(softly)

Good job.

XENA

Thanks. It wasn’t as good
as you’d have been.

GABRIELLE

(whispering)

Nuh uh, Warrior Princess. It was perfect.

(sleepily)

I am so keeping you.

Xena’s body shakes with silent chuckles.

XENA

What a relief.

Gabrielle grabs Xena’s hand and brings it to rest against her chest.

GABRIELLE

Mmm... I love you, Xena.

Xena brushes her lips against Gabrielle’s neck and sighs as she looks up into a sky full of brilliant stars.

XENA

I love you too, Gabrielle.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. CAMPSITE - SUNRISE

Xena and Gabrielle are ripped out of a sound sleep by loud arguing between Darius and Talia.  Xena is up immediately, Gabrielle follows, still not quite awake, but drawing her sais in defense.

GABRIELLE

Where are the bad guys?

Xena moves between the siblings and pushes them apart.

XENA

What is going on?

Talia is so preoccupied by Gabrielle and the most horrendous case of bed-head she’s ever laid eyes on that for a moment she can only gape in wonder.  Xena looks back at Gabrielle and snickers fondly.

GABRIELLE

What?

She uses a sais to self-consciously comb through her hair.

XENA

(to Talia)

Forget about Gabrielle.

Her voice deepens.

XENA

(Cont’d)

Permanently.
Now, I repeat, what is going on?

TALIA

Nothing. Darius is just being is
typical self. Trying to escape.

DARIUS

(lamely)

I had to use the bushes.

XENA

(hands on hips)

I was there last night, Darius. You’re going
to have to do a lot better than that.

TALIA

Exactly.

DARIUS

(to Talia)

And how would you know what I was going
to do? Do you often have to keep people
tied to you in order for them to stay near you?

XENA

Darius, I’ve had just about
enough of your little escapes.

CUT TO:

EXT. CAMP - DAY

Xena, Gabrielle, and Talia are eating breakfast around their camp.  Darius has been strung up by his feet and is hanging upside down from a branch of a tree.  His head is dangling a few feet from Xena.

GABRIELLE

(in a stage whisper to Xena)

You can’t leave him like that too long, Xena.
You know what could happen.

(wrinkling her nose)

And what a mess it makes.

XENA

I’m telling you, Gabrielle, that guy’s head
exploding was a fluke.  A once in a lifetime thing.

Darius whimpers and Xena and Gabrielle share conspiratorial smiles.

XENA

(in a mock-aggrieved tone)

Oh, all right.  Think you can stay
put from now on, Darius?

DARIUS

W-w-without a doubt, ma’am.

Xena gives Gabrielle and Talia a self-satisfied smirk.

XENA

Now that’s more like it.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR