ACT THREE

FADE IN:

INT. BEDROOM - DAY

Gabrielle is now sitting up in a chair. Xena is standing at her feet, gently working them, rubbing them and slowly bending her legs. Gabrielle grimaces and grips the arms of the chair.

GABRIELLE

That hurts.

XENA

I know, but we need to work

the muscles. Just a minute

or two more, okay?

Gabrielle nods and braces for the next round. She sighs in relief when there is a knock on the door and Xena gently places her legs on a footstool in front of her.

XENA

Come in.

Adrienne and Sappho enter. Sappho goes directly to Gabrielle and kneels next to her.

SAPPHO

How to you feel?

Gabrielle is relieved beyond words that her exercise routine has been put on hold.

GABRIELLE

I think I love you.

ADRIENNE

(laughing)

Sorry, she’s spoken for.

Besides that would be just....

She shivers involuntarily.

XENA

A narcissus’ dream come true.

What can we do for you today?

SAPPHO

I wanted to let you know that I have

my finest artisans making that chair

you drew the plans for. You know

Xena... you have a natural talent for

sketching. You should take that up.

GABRIELLE

She has many skills.

ADRIENNE

And in the meantime, we thought we

would come see if you would like to

go to the garden for lunch. We have

of course provided transportation for

Gabrielle if you both would like to join us.

SAPPHO

(to Gabrielle)

It’s a beautiful day.

You should come out.

XENA

(to Gabrielle)

You up to a little fresh

air and sunshine?

GABRIELLE

Will it get me out of

those exercises?

XENA

Yes.

GABRIELLE

Let’s go.

Adrienne gestures to the door.

ADRIENNE

Madam, your carriage awaits.

GABRIELLE

(teasingly)

Thanks, Fred.

Xena bends over and gently pulls Gabrielle into her arms and cradles her close as they walk to the door.

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY - DAY

There is a large, plush sedan chair in the middle of the hall. Standing at the ends near the rods to carry it, four scantily clad well-muscled servants. Gabrielle smiles.

GABRIELLE

Now this is the only way to travel.

XENA

(teasingly)

Un-huh. Don’t get used to it.

She places Gabrielle in the chair and throws a light blanket over her legs. Then she turns to Adrienne.

XENA

How long before the

chair is ready?

ADRIENNE

Just few days.

XENA

We can’t let her get use to this.

She’s an Amazon Queen you

know. This could go to her head.

They all laugh as the servants gently lift the chair.

CUT TO:

INT. BEDROOM - EVE

Xena is untying Gabrielle’s boots and gently slipping them from her feet. She looks up and sees the depression on Gabrielle’s face.

XENA

Hungry?

GABRIELLE

Not really.

XENA

Tired?

GABRIELLE

A little.

XENA

Do you want to talk about it?

GABRIELLE

What’s to talk about?

I’m not getting better.

Xena stands up and walks to the other side of the room to change.  She’s angry, but she doesn’t want to take her aggravation out on Gabrielle. Xena knows that Gabrielle is just frustrated and she is trying to maintain some sense of calm so that the situation doesn’t blow up between them.

GABRIELLE

Xena?

XENA

Yeah?

GABRIELLE

I think the problem is that I’ve never

felt so helpless. I’ve never had time

to deal with anything like this. Our life

lends itself to decisions on the fly.

This is the first time I’ve had to take

a long hard look at what is and what

will be. And I’m not sure I like what I see.

XENA

I understand. Been there, done that.

CUT TO:

EXT. BUILDING SITE - DAY

Xena and Adrienne are back at the building site. As they pretend to look around the area, they look up to find Aubin walking toward them. He’s still using a cane but the bandage is gone from his leg and foot.

Aubin eyes Xena, then addresses Adrienne.

AUBIN

How is Sappho doing?

ADRIENNE

As well as can be expected

under the circumstances.

AUBIN

And your companion

Xena, where is she?

XENA

She’s with Sappho. We think it’s

best that she not be left alone at

the moment. Some one tried

to kill her you know.

Aubin smirks and turns to Adrienne.

AUBIN

I suppose that since her recovery

is taking so much time, the plans

to open the school are put on hold.

ADRIENNE

Not at all. As a matter of fact, with

Xena and Gabrielle’s help I will

personally be rededicating the

building. I intend to see to it that

the school is completed no

matter what happens to Sappho.

AUBIN

Aren’t you afraid that whoever tried

to kill Sappho will come for you?

XENA

Do you think someone would

make the same mistake twice?

AUBIN

Anything is possible.

ADRIENNE

We’ll be rededicating the building

in two weeks.  Chancellor, will

you stay on until then?

AUBIN

I’d be honored.

Aubin bows and slowly walks away. Xena and Adrienne cross their arms in exactly the same way and watch him go.

XENA

He’s an idiot.

CUT TO:

EXT. BEACH - DAY

Xena and Gabrielle are in the ocean. They have their arms wrapped around each other as they share a passionate kiss, while the surf splashes gently around them.

GABRIELLE

Now I know what paradise is.

XENA

This is good. Hold on, all right?

Gabrielle pushes herself around to Xena’s back and holds on around her neck.

GABRIELLE

I got ya.

Xena starts swimming for shore, but before she gets there, she feels something bump her and stops. Carefully treading water with Gabrielle holding on, she looks around. Everything seems all right and there is no apparent danger. Then Gabrielle points.

GABRIELLE

Look!

Xena looks at the dorsal fin cutting through the water and as her mind processes what need to be done, a dolphin pops up out of the water and chatters at her.

GABRIELLE

Isn’t he cute?

She reaches out and rubs his nose. The dolphin chatters wildly and then goes back under the water only to appear a second later with a friend. Both dolphins swim in circles around them.

XENA

I think they want to play.

Gabrielle reaches out and runs her hand along the back of the dolphin closest to her and then takes hold of the protruding fin. The dolphin slowly pulls her away from Xena and through the water as the second dolphin comes out of the water and dances on its tail before Xena. As she watches, it flips over backwards and is gone.

Xena starts to swim for the dolphin that’s playing with Gabrielle, but they turn and Gabrielle is delivered safely back into Xena’s arms.

They both watch as their two new friends jump and play with each other in the deeper water.

GABRIELLE

Now that was cool.

XENA

Yes, it was, but I’m

prunin’. Come on.

She once again pulls Gabrielle into her arms and they head for shore.  As she approaches the beach, Xena stands and carries Gabrielle the rest of the way onto dry sand.

She settles her down gently on a blanket, shaded by two large umbrellas. Gabrielle tosses Xena a cloth so she can dry off as she uses a matching one to do the same.

Xena flops down on the blanket next to Gabrielle and finishes drying off.

XENA

How do you feel?

Gabrielle looks down at her feet.

GABRIELLE

Well the fact that I can wiggle

my toes makes me feel pretty

good. That’s a good sign, right?

XENA

It’s a very good sign. I’m proud

of you. You’ve been working hard.

GABRIELLE

I’ve had my moments. Like the

other night, I’m sorry about that.

I didn’t mean to bite your head off.

XENA

You’re allowed Gabrielle. What

you’re trying to do is very difficult.

You had a serious back injury.

The fact that you can move your

toes and are starting to get

some feeling back is amazing.

GABRIELLE

I just want to be back

on my own two feet.

XENA

I know you do.

Xena reaches out and caresses Gabrielle’s cheek.

XENA

(Cont’d)

But no matter what happens,

you’re doing great.

GABRIELLE

You have to say that.

You love me.

XENA

I don’t have to,

but it’s the truth.

GABRIELLE

Yeah well.... So you and

Adrienne have narrowed

down the suspect list?

XENA

We have a short list. Danus,

his idiot son Demis,

or Chancellor Aubin.

GABRIELLE

Why those three?

XENA

Well, we think Danus may be

holding a grudge because

Sappho pawned the idiot

son back off on him.

Gabrielle chuckles a bit and lies back on the blanket.

GABRIELLE

That’s not nice.

XENA

Nice, no. True, yes. And we think

Demis is holding a grudge because

he got tossed out of here before there

was even a school to get tossed from.

GABRIELLE

And Aubin is just jealous.

XENA

That’s the theory.

GABRIELLE

But he got hurt.

XENA

I can’t prove it, but I think his accident

was not so much an accident. I think

he was trying to scare her out of opening

the school by staging his own mishap.

GABRIELLE

Stupid, just stupid.

XENA

Yeah, he’s not the brightest

torch in the holder.

CUT TO:

EXT. BUILDING SITE - DAY

Adrienne, Xena and Sappho, continuing to pose as Gabrielle, are standing back from the group that has gathered for the rededication ceremony. The three chief suspects are there as well as about fifty others.

Adrienne is cautiously watching the entire crowd. Xena is focused on the three men she believes responsible for Gabrielle’s injuries. It’s not long before Aubin walks over to them.

He eyes Xena and ‘Gabrielle’ and then smiles at Adrienne.

AUBIN

Beautiful day.

ADRIENNE

It is a beautiful day and perfect

for rededicating the school.

Danus and Demis join them. Danus stands up straight and inserts himself into the conversation.

DANUS

How is Sappho today?

ADRIENNE

Better. We moved her to the large

bedroom at the south side of the house.

Adrienne points to the estate house.

ADRIENNE

(Cont’d)

She wanted to be able to watch the

construction as she recuperates.

AUBIN

And neither of you are with her? Aren’t

you afraid some one will try to hurt her?

XENA

Not today. Whoever tried to hurt her

is too busy with something else.

Xena notices Demis looks away from them and slowly raises his eyes to the window that ‘Sappho’

XENA

(Cont’d)

Isn’t that right, Demis?

DEMIS

I certainly hope so. You’re going

to catch him, aren’t you, Xena?

She smiles at the questioning tone. It’s not disdainful. It is filled with respect and expectation.

XENA

Yes, Demis, I am.

CUT TO:

INT. BEDROOM - EVENING

Xena carefully lifts Gabrielle into her arms and with Adrienne serving as lookout, she carries her out of the bedroom.

Adrienne speaks quietly into the second room.

ADRIENNE

We’re ready.

Sappho, dressed in her own clothes with a bandage showing underneath, slips quickly into bed. Adrienne sits on the bed next to her and caresses her cheek.

ADRIENNE

I am so proud of you.

SAPPHO

Really? Why?

ADRIENNE

This is very courageous. Xena and

I think we can trap him without using

you as bait, there’s no need for

you to put yourself in harms way.

SAPPHO

No. I want to do this. Gabrielle has

given up a lot for me. I owe this to her.

ADRIENNE

That was a very kind offer you made

to Xena to allow them to stay here.

SAPPHO

She told you about that?

ADRIENNE

Yes, she said she would have to talk

to Gabrielle about it first, but she was

grateful they had another option open

to them. Have I told you lately what a

wonderful woman you are and

how much I love you?

SAPPHO

I don’t think you’ve

mentioned it recently.

ADRIENNE

My mistake.

Adrienne leans in and kisses Sappho. Xena slips quietly back into the room. She gives them a minute before gently clearing her throat.

XENA

We’re ready. Gabrielle is

safely tucked away.

ADRIENNE

Good. Why don’t you go

ahead and get ready?

XENA

Yeah, I will.  But before I do, I just

wanted to say thanks. I mean it’s not

very often that we have to rely on

someone else and I don’t know how to....

Adrienne smiles and saves Xena the trouble.

ADRIENNE

It’s okay. We all have our moments

and if it really were Sappho in Gabrielle’s

place, I know we could depend on you.

XENA

Well anyhow, thanks.

Adrienne nods and Xena slips into the room where she will wait until someone makes their move.

CUT TO:

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

Adrienne is asleep in a chair next to the bed. Sappho is sleeping peacefully under the covers.

Xena is still watching the room from her hiding spot, peering from behind the door, which is just barely opened a crack. She perks up when the door to the bedroom opens and a cloaked figure slips in. Just as she is about to spring into action a noise from the balcony draws her attention there as she watches someone come over the top rail. She takes a deep breath and waits. Watching, she sees the figure on the balcony slip into the shadows while the figure in the room readies a dagger. When the cloaked figured starts across the room to the bed, both Xena and the figure spring to life. Xena tackles the hooded figure and knocks the knife from its hand before knocking it into unconsciousness.  Then she springs on the other figure and kicks him back causing him to stumble and fall. The hood is pulled back to reveal DEMIS.

DEMIS

Wait!

He scrambles to his feet and puts his hands up in defense.

DEMIS

(Cont’d)

I’m not here to hurt her!

I’m here to stop him!

He points frantically at the figure on the floor. Keeping an eye on the young man, Xena goes back to the unconscious figure and throws his hood back to reveal Aubin.

Adrienne is now on her feet armed with a knife of her own as she stalks over to Demis.

ADRIENNE

Explain yourself.

DEMIS

I found out that he was the one who wanted to

stop her from opening the school. He was afraid

of the competition. He knew everyone would

come here to study under Sappho. It was him

in the tree, he shot Sappho. I had been following

him and I knocked him out of the tree, before he

could do anymore damage. He took off running

and I hurt my hand. I couldn’t stay around because

I knew it looked like I had been the one.

XENA

And we should believe you why?

DEMIS

Because I care about her. I would never want

anyone to hurt her. I tried to tell my father, but

he wouldn’t listen. He thinks I’m an idiot.

I had to do it myself. I didn’t know who

I could trust. I swear! It’s the truth.

He looks to Adrienne.

DEMIS

(Cont’d)

Look, I know she loves you and that

I never stood a chance. But that

doesn’t stop me from caring about

her. I would never hurt her. I promise.

Adrienne looks to Xena who nods her belief and Adrienne stands down. Sappho sits up then climbs out of the bed. Demis’ eyes widen again.

DEMIS

Gabrielle?

SAPPHO

No Demis, it’s me. Gabrielle was the one

that was hurt, but we couldn’t let anyone

know that. We had to let people think it

was me in order to flush out the real

culprit. We knew word would get around

and if people knew where they could

find me they would try again.

DEMIS

(to Xena)

I’m sorry. I wish I could have been

quicker to keep her from getting hurt.

SAPPHO

Why didn’t you come forward

when you found out?

DEMIS

Because until the other night, I wasn’t sure.

Then I hurt my hand in the fall and I was

afraid that if I came forward you would

think it was me, and that I was just trying

to lay the blame on Aubin. I had to wait

until he did something else. I’m sorry.

ADRIENNE

It’s okay Demis.

Thank you for you efforts.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR