ACT ONE

FADE IN:

EXT. AMAZON VILLAGE - DAY

Gabrielle is walking through the village taking stock of what is there and what is not there. She stops at the area where grain is normally prepared for storage but there is no grain and no one working in the area.  She leans against the fence and hangs her head, shaking it slowly.

GABRIELLE

(mumbling)

This can’t continue.

A YOUNG AMAZON approaches and joins her at the fence.

SERENA

They raided the fields and what they

couldn’t carry away they burned.

GABRIELLE

I know. Xena and I took a ride through

some of the devastated areas today.

SERENA

We need to replant.

Gabrielle looks to the young woman with some disbelief on her face.

GABRIELLE

It’s not possible. Not only is it simply too late

in the year to replant, and the ground will not

let anything grow. Xena and I found salt in the

fields. They’ve made it impossible for

anything to grow here for years.

SERENA

Then we will find other places for our fields.

GABRIELLE

Yes, but you understand it may not be here?

SERENA

We can’t give up our ancestral home.

GABRIELLE

You’re willing to forfeit your life

and the lives of your children?

SERENA

Forgive me, My Queen, but this is the only

home we’ve ever had. History says Queen

Nicia led us here, so that we might live

as we wished, free and without being….

Gabrielle holds up her hand to stop the flow of words that she can tell is quickly becoming a rant.

GABRIELLE

I know the legend.

SERENA

It’s history.

GABRIELLE

All right. I have too much to think about to argue

the semantics with you. What if Xena and I could

take you some place that would allow you to

continue to live, as you are accustomed?

SERENA

Why do we need Xena?

GABRIELLE

There are several very good reasons, but

the best is that Xena has the knowledge

to safely move a large group of people.

SERENA

Knowledge from leading her armies

through their various battles and....

GABRIELLE

(angrily)

All right, that’s enough! You will

not speak of Xena in those terms.

She has done more for this nation….

SERENA

Yes, like killing our Queens and

decimating our people.

GABRIELLE

Stop!

SERENA

Our people won’t follow her, and we won’t

leave our land. I’m sorry if this is not what you

wanted to hear, My Queen, but it is the truth.

CUT TO:

EXT. RIVER BANK - DAY

Xena is sitting on the bank pulling in a fishing net. She smiles when she sees a half dozen good size fish trapped inside. She opens the net and tosses the fish into a basket with another six or so fish already there.

An OLDER AMAZON walks slowly down the bank leaning on a walking stick and smiling as she watches Xena toss the net.

ADELIA

Catching them with your

hands too slow?

Xena turns and smiles as she takes a seat on a rock.

XENA

Much. Lots of hungry mouths

to feed in the village.

Adelia stops and seats herself next to Xena, leaning on her walking stick and looking out over the river.

ADELIA

Thanks you for helping Esme and the others

and for brining Queen Gabrielle back here.

XENA

It’s where we needed to be.

ADELIA

This is true. Seems you always come

to us when we are needed most.

XENA

Funny how that works out.

ADELIA

I don’t think it’s necessarily

funny.  Fate maybe.

XENA

(grinning)

Oh, don’t use the F word.

ADELIA

You know there are many of us who

will  follow you. We remember what

you have done for us in the past.

XENA

I made a promise. I’d like to keep it.

ADELIA

Some of our more strident members think we

should fight for this land. They are also the younger

members and not necessarily the wise ones.

XENA

Yes, but are they the strong ones and

the ones most likely to put up a fight?

ADELIA

Very good point.

XENA

Gabrielle won’t want to move the tribe

unless she thinks she can move all of

you. She won’t want to leave anyone

behind to face certain death.

ADELIA

This is what makes her a good queen.

She is concerned for all her people.

No matter how pig headed they may be.

XENA

She’s had a lot of practice with me.

She’s used to pig headed.

Xena stands and brings in the net again, then dumps a few more fish into the basket before recasting it.

ADELIA

You know all the Amazon traditions Xena.

XENA

Most of them.

ADELIA

Then you know there is a way.

XENA

I don’t want to talk about it.

It’s not an option.

CUT TO:

 INT. HUT - EVENING

Xena is relaxing in a hot tub. Head back, eyes closed and a very relaxed look on her face. She looks totally peaceful and very happy. There is a loud bang from outside the hut and slowly one blue eye opens. She listens for a moment and decides there’s nothing to be alarmed about.  She closes her eye again, then sinks under the water.

The door flies open and Gabrielle rushes in, slamming it behind her and leaning against it in relief.

GABRIELLE

Finally!  A few minutes to myself.

Pushing off the door, she starts stripping out of her clothes, completely unaware of the pair of mischievous blue eyes peering at her from just above the surface of the water.

When Gabrielle turns back toward the large tub, Xena slips back under the water leaving no trace of her presence. Gabrielle climbs in and settles against the rim.

GABRIELLE

Oooo.  That’s so good.

She closes her eyes and rolls her head around, rather enjoying the satisfying little crunch it is making as she does.

Xena’s eyes pop on the other side of the tub and silently move through the water toward Gabrielle who is seemingly oblivious to them. You don’t need to see Xena’s entire face to know she has a huge smile on her face.  It’s very clear in her eyes.

She slowly surfaces and carefully approaches Gabrielle, very gently placing a kiss to her lips.  Gabrielle smiles and opens her eyes.

GABRIELLE

That’s good too.

XENA

Glad you like it. So, how was your day, dear?

GABRIELLE

These women are making me insane, Xena.

This is worse than howling naked at the moon.

Xena settles in next to her.

XENA

Depends on why you’re howling.

Gabrielle just slips under the water, bubbles rising to take her place.  Xena grins and reaches under the water to retrieve her. Gabrielle spits out a huge mouthful of water.

GABRIELLE

You couldn’t just let me drown?

XENA

(teasingly)

Nope, sorry. Too much effort and time

has  gone into your training. I can’t

afford to start all over again.

GABRIELLE

Thanks so much. Aren’t you glad

you finally got me house broken?

Xena laugh and hugs her.

XENA

So, tell me, what are they doing now?

GABRIELLE

They seem to think that I’m the great redeemer

or something, that I’m single handedly going

to be able to reconstruct the nation. They

don’t realize that it’s going to take all of us

working together. And they refuse to

understand they need to leave this land.

XENA

Life has gotten very complicated for them.

They’re trying to defend the land and

their not properly prepared to do it.

GABRIELLE

You’re going to fix that, right?

XENA

Is that a royal request?

GABRIELLE

You know it.

XENA

Then how can I refuse? I suppose I

could take a few of them in hand

and teach them a thing or two.

A brow rises over Gabrielle’s eye as she looks to Xena.

XENA

About defense.

She reaches over and pinches some delicate part of Gabrielle’s anatomy, causing a squeal, which then degenerates into a splashing fight. They’re laughing and having a very good time when the door to the hut bursts open and two women come charging in, swords drawn.

The taller of the two, RAINIA, realizes immediately that their presence is not needed and quickly turns the other one away and shoves her out the door, before bowing deeply.

RAINIA

Forgive us my Queen, we

heard noises and thought....

(beat)

But I can see….

XENA

Rainia?

RAINIA

Yes?

XENA

Get out.

Rainia looks to Gabrielle who makes ‘shooing’ motions with her hands.

RAINIA

Yes, my Queen.

She backs out and closes the door. Xena now slides under the water and Gabrielle retrieves her.

GABRIELLE

Oh no, you wouldn’t let me out that

way. You have to stick around too.

CUT TO:

EXT. VILLAGE - NIGHT

Gabrielle and Xena walk into the center of the village where dozens of women are gathered eating and talking.  As they make their way through the crowd, some women great them with smiles while others don’t seemed quite as pleased.

Adelia gestures for them to join her and another group of women who are seated at a large round table.

Taking their seats, Xena pours a cup of wine for Gabrielle and then one for herself. She looks across the clearing at another group of women, who are talking among themselves. She sighs, knowing they’re going to be trouble down the line and returns her attention to the table.

LOURA

So tell us, do you have any suggestions

for where the tribe should move?

XENA

I have heard of a place that is far

away from here. It is unexplored and

 will serve your needs perfectly.

GABRIELLE

It’s lovely there, peaceful.

There is lots of land….

Two of the women who had been sitting across the clearing rise and approach the table. They nod to Gabrielle and then look to Xena.

RAYA

Xena, do you still serve as

Queen Gabrielle’s champion?

Xena and Gabrielle exchange looks. Gabrielle shrugs.

XENA

Gabrielle is perfectly capable of defending

herself, but if there were a need for me

to do so, I would be her champion.

NOFIA

Raya and I think you should

relinquish the title to a true Amazon.

Gabrielle bites the inside of her lip and waits for the explosion.

XENA

(calmly)

Oh, you do?

RAYA

Yes, it’s disgraceful that our Queen should

have a non-Amazon as a champion.

The Queen should choose a champion.

GABRIELLE

The Queen did. Xena is my champion. She

has been since I became a member of the tribe

and she will be until I am no longer a part of you.

Xena takes the last drink of her wine and stands up, turning slowly to the two young women. A little more than annoyed that this issue has come up.

XENA

Of course if you’d like to fight me for it….

CUT TO:

INT. HUT - NIGHT

Xena is sitting on the bed while Gabrielle tends to a small cut on her forehead.  Gabrielle is trying not to grin.

GABRIELLE

That was mean.

XENA

No it wasn’t. They needed

to be taught a lesson.

GABRIELLE

How fast to run? Xena….

XENA

I knew they wouldn’t fight me, Gabrielle.

They’re young, but they’re not dumb.

GABRIELLE

Good thing they didn’t see you hit your head

on that tree limb when we were walking home,

they might have changes their minds.

XENA

(leering)

Not my fault. I just love you in those

leathers, really shows off your….

GABRIELLE

Ah, ah, ah… be good.

Gabrielle sets aside the cloth she was cleaning Xena’s forehead with and sighs as she sits next to her one the bed and rests her head on Xena’s shoulder.

GABRIELLE

(Cont’d)

I’m so tired.

Xena puts her arm around Gabrielle and pulls her close.

XENA

I know. How about I tuck you in

and bring you a warm cup of

spiced wine to help you sleep?

GABRIELLE

That would be wonderful.

XENA

Okay, you get into bed,

and I’ll take care of it.

Xena places a kiss on Gabrielle’s forehead before standing up and moving to the small cooking area.  Gabrielle undresses and crawls into bed, pulling the covers up around her shoulders as she watches Xena.

GABRIELLE

Not everyone believes

that you know.

XENA

What?

GABRIELLE

That you’re not Amazon.

Xena sighs and smiles as she pours Gabrielle’s wine.

XENA

Well, I guess it depends on whose stories

you believe. There are some who think I

am and then there are some like our new

friends out there who don’t think I am.

GABRIELLE

You know more about Amazon rites

and laws than all of us combined.

XENA

I know a lot about Roman law too,

but it doesn’t make me Caesar.

Xena joins Gabrielle, hands her the cup, then undresses and gets into bed with her.

GABRIELLE

You are Amazon.

XENA

I might have been once, but I’m not anymore.

I did too many things that just won’t let

me be a part of the tribe anymore.

FADE OUT.

END ACT ONE

ACT TWO