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ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
INT. CYRENE'S INN - FRONT ROOM - NIGHT - SHORT TIME LATER
Xena and Gabrielle sit at one of the newly built tables. A woman sits across from them, angry and distraught.
GABRIELLE Look, if you don't tell us what happened....
WOMAN You happened! You came here, and you destroyed this place, again!
Xena is visibly losing patience.
XENA Look.
Gabrielle puts a hand on Xena's arm.
WOMAN Why didn't you leave? Haven't you done enough to this place?
Xena stands up angrily.
XENA You know what? You can just get out of here. Door's that way.
GABRIELLE Would both of you please SHUT UP!
Surprisingly, they do. Gabrielle reaches over and grabs the woman by the shirt, pulling her closer.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) Now look. You tell us what happened, and then either we'll help you, or we'll go to bed because I'm tired of being yelled at.
Xena puts her hands on her hips and give Gabrielle a look of consternation.
WOMAN (chastened) All right. We got three leagues down the road, and those raiders caught us. I got away, but I heard them saying they were going to hold the rest of them hostage.
XENA For what?
WOMAN For YOU. (exasperated) They think YOU would give yourself up for US.
Gabrielle and Xena fall silent. Gabrielle looks away, Xena looks at the table. Xena starts to reply, then stops and shakes her head.
WOMAN (cont’d) So now they'll all die, when they were just trying to get away from you.
XENA They're not gonna die.
GABRIELLE We'll figure something out.
The woman looks from Xena to Gabrielle.
WOMAN Why couldn't you just have...?
XENA Because we didn't.
GABRIELLE There's a few sacks in the corner there and a bench. You're welcome to them, and what's left in the kitchen.
WOMAN (uncertainly) Aren't you going to go find them?
XENA No. They'll come to me.
Xena gets up and walks out. After a brief pause, Gabrielle does the same.
CUT TO:
INT. CYRENE'S INN - BACK ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
Xena is standing at the window, looking out. Gabrielle enters and walks over to stand next to her.
GABRIELLE Too dark to track them.
XENA Yeah.
Gabrielle goes over to the bed and sits down on it. After a moment, she lies down on her back and stares at the ceiling. Xena turns and leans against the wall.
XENA (cont’d) Looks like these guys won't scare off. Got any ideas on how we can get out of this?
Gabrielle looks at Xena curiously.
GABRIELLE Outside of taking them on, you mean?
XENA (nodding) Who knows how many of them there are? We could be fighting for months.
GABRIELLE (conceding) Mmph. Yeah.
Xena walks over and sits down on the bed and leans against the headboard. She waits, watching Gabrielle out of the corner of her eye.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) Are you asking me just to pacify my need to be involved in our decision making?
XENA (seriously) No.
Gabrielle goes back to thinking. After a few minutes, she looks at Xena again.
GABRIELLE Maybe they can be scared off.
Xena appears doubtful, and a little disappointed.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) Just not by us.
She rolls over, and hitches up on her elbows.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) Everyone knows this place is haunted, Xena. Why can't we use that to protect Amphipolis instead of ruin it?
Xena raises an eyebrow, and looks intrigued.
XENA We'll need a damn frightening yarn to do that. Think you can come up with one?
GABRIELLE (softly) You know, I think maybe I can.
Xena gives Gabrielle a pat on the shoulder. Gabrielle squirms up and settles in Xena's arms with a pleased expression.
XENA Hey, I could be a....
GABRIELLE If you say ghost, you die a slow ticklish death covered in honey, and the feathers in this mattress, Xena.
Xena prudently doesn't answer. She kisses Gabrielle instead.
FADE TO:
EXT. CYRENE'S INN - FRONT - MORNING
Gabrielle sits on a stump outside the inn, whittling. It is very quiet. There is a sound of a horse approaching, and several moments later, the horse arrives with a brigand on his back. He rides between the trees, spots Gabrielle, and pulls the horse to a halt.
RAIDER Hey! HEY!
Gabrielle finishes a bit of her work, then finally looks up.
GABRIELLE Hi.
RAIDER I have a message for Xena.
GABRIELLE She's busy.
The raider looks around. A set of newly hung shutters in front of the inn suddenly creak open of their own volition, then swing shut again with a bang.
RAIDER Well, tell her to get out here.
GABRIELLE I can't.
RAIDER Listen, girlie, you better change that answer! Where is she?
Gabrielle does not seem overly intimidated.
GABRIELLE Feeding the demons.
Far off, a low, eerie howl is heard.
RAIDER What? There ain't no such thing as demons!
Abruptly, a flock of chickens bursts from under the inn and dashes past Gabrielle, shedding feathers all over the place as they bolt in fear.
They run under the raiders horse, who rears, almost throwing the man off.
Xena scrambles out from under the inn and dashes after the chickens, a bloody dagger in one hand.
XENA Get back here you little....
Xena runs under the horses belly also, and she and the chickens disappear around the corner of the inn.
RAIDER Hey!
A loud roar is heard, shaking the foundations of the building. From under the inn, a cloud of white feathers spattered in blood appear, and slowly drift to the earth, followed by a brassy burp.
A low, evil laugh echoes from behind the inn. The raider starts to back off, his face stark white.
Gabrielle resumes whittling.
GABRIELLE Did you say something about a message?
The raider turns his horse and slaps it on the butt, frantically trying to get away from the inn. He rides between the trees, breaking branches and taking a clump of leaves with him.
Xena strolls from around the edge of the inn, twirling a chicken feather between her fingers. She and Gabrielle exchange grins.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) You have such a sexy growl. Too bad he didn't think so.
Gabrielle gets up and heads towards the inn, giving Xena a pat on the arm as she goes past and through the door.
Xena sits down on the stump and picks up Gabrielle's piece of wood. She starts whittling, whistling softly under her breath.
XENA (chuckling) Rowr.
All of a sudden, the breeze blowing around the inn stops, leaving it eerily silent. Xena looks up, and her brow creases.
XENA (cont’d) Gabrielle? How'd you do that?
A soft creak sounds behind Xena. Xena turns, expecting to see Gabrielle, but finding their mysterious spectre instead. This time the figure doesn't disappear. It stays in the doorway to the inn, watching Xena.
Xena stands and faces it.
XENA (cont’d) Lyceus?
Xena steps forward. The figure disappears.
CUT TO:
INT. CYRENE'S INN - KITCHEN - MORNING
Gabrielle is mixing something up in an urn. She hears footsteps behind her. She stiffens, waits, then whirls as they come closer.
WOMAN (jumping) AHH!
GABRIELLE (chagrined) Sorry. Thought you were someth... someone else.
The woman approaches Gabrielle warily.
WOMAN I don't know what you're trying to do. There's no demon here. (beat) Except Xena.
Gabrielle turns her back on the woman and resumes mixing.
GABRIELLE The raiders don't know that.
WOMAN They will. My friends they're holding won't back up your stupid story.
Gabrielle keeps her back turned, a faint smile appears on her face.
GABRIELLE Not unless someone tips them off, no. But wouldn't it be great if they did believe it? Then people would leave Amphipolis alone.
The woman appears angry, then pauses in thought.
WOMAN No. That would scare the merchants off too.
GABRIELLE Not really. We'd say the demon protects anyone who lives here. Get you better prices, maybe.
WOMAN (calculating) Maybe. (pausing) But there's no way to tip them off, so it doesn't matter.
Gabrielle turns, the urn of black, gooey something in her hands.
GABRIELLE Sure there is. (smiling) You ever hear of the Trojans?
CUT TO:
INT. CYRENE'S INN - BACK CORRIDOR - DAY - LATER
Xena is prowling the dark recesses of the inn, where they have not yet begun to clean up. She moves past the small room they have taken over, apparently searching for something.
XENA Ly? C'mon, where are you?
Xena pulls back some wreckage. One part of a wall has collapsed, and it is very dark. She removes another piece of half-rotted wood, and tosses it behind her.
A support beam is in her way. Xena puts her arms around it and tugs backwards. The walls around her creak ominously.
XENA (cont’d) Uh oh.
Xena pauses, but the wood is already in motion. She releases the support and dives back out of the way, but the entire wall in front of her collapses with a crash, and clatter of falling debris.
CUT TO:
EXT. AMPHIPOLIS ROAD - DAY - SAME TIME
Gabrielle hides behind a good sized boulder, watching the deserted road. There are a few scattered belongings of the villagers dropped here and there.
In the center of the path are gooey piles of black, tarry appearing droppings, artfully arranged with the odd chicken feather sticking out of them, small animal bones poking up here and there, and the occasional belt buckle and button showing.
From around the bend in the road comes a fairly large party of people.
Raiders are on horseback, struggling to pull along the villagers who are tied to them by stout ropes. The villagers are protesting wildly, fighting being brought back near the village.
Gabrielle grins.
GABRIELLE Hope you're ready, Xena.
CUT TO:
INT. CYRENE'S INN - BACK CORRIDOR - DAY
It is silent. Then a pile of debris stirs, and a hand pokes out. It grabs a piece of wreckage and slings it aside, then reaches for another.
Slowly, Xena emerges, covered completely in dust, dirt, rotten wood, and mud. She stands up and looks behind her. The corridor has been closed off by the collapse, but tiny gaps are apparent. Xena shoves against the blockage, and it sways.
Xena turns back around and looks in front of her. There is another wall, and a spot where something had been boarded up over time.
Xena searches in the wreckage for her ax, then she sets to work chopping the boards away. Behind her, a faint, silvery presence appears.
CUT TO:
EXT. AMPHIPOLIS ROAD - SAME TIME
The raiders stop at the first pile of goo. The raider chief jumps off his horse, and goes to look at it. He covers his nose and mouth and backs off at the smell.
The villagers spot the droppings and scream in concert, turning as a group and trying to run the other way. At the front of the villagers is the woman, now a part of the captives.
RAIDER CHIEF Come on you idiots! It's just animal dung!
The raider gets on his horse, and forces it forward. A bit uneasily, the raiders follow, dragging the villagers behind them.
Gabrielle slips out from behind her rock and runs to a tree overhanging the road. She climbs up into it.
CUT TO:
INT. CYRENE'S INN - BACK CORRIDOR - DAY
Xena has uncovered a door in what was an older section of the inn, set at the bottom of some crudely cut steps not unlike the ones that descend into the room she and Gabrielle are using.
Xena straightens, her expression wary. Behind her shoulder, we see the pale figure drifting. Xena can barely be seen in the thin shafts of light coming in through the destruction.
XENA Ly?
Xena eases down the steps, and puts her hand on the old door. As she does, a hand appears next to hers, white and translucent.
XENA (cont’d) Was this what you were looking for?
Xena pushes, but the door does not give way. She throws her shoulder against it, then spots a lead seal that is holding the door shut.
Her fingers trace the seal, and she frowns. Raising her ax, she breaks the seal, and as she does so, a bright light flares from it, then quickly fades.
Xena pushes the door with her fingertips, and now it opens inward.
CUT TO:
EXT. AMPHIPOLIS ROAD - DAY
Gabrielle juggles a handful of nettles. Carefully, she steps on a branch to bend it down, clearing a little space for her to throw.
The raiders ride into view, going slowly since they are practically dragging the villagers along after them.
Gabrielle aims, and side arms a nettle, smacking the raider chief on the side of the face with it. She lets the branch up as he jumps, and looks around.
RAIDER CHIEF Hey!
Gabrielle moves another branch, and throws a second nettle, bouncing it off a tree on the other side of the raider, and hitting him in the shoulder. The raider chief whirls, and looks in the other direction.
RAIDER CHIEF (cont’d) HEY!!!
Gabrielle grins impishly. She is obviously enjoying herself. She chucks another nettle and it hits the ground, bouncing up and hitting the chief's horse in the belly. The horse bucks violently.
RAIDER CHIEF (cont’d) Son of a bacchae!!!!
WOMAN That's what 'e does! Bites you, and you never see ‘im!!!
Gabrielle hits the chief in the head with another nettle. The chief spurs his horse on towards the Inn, stubborn to the core. She peppers the other raiders with thorns, and they duck, starting to appear a little rattled.
CUT TO:
INT. CYRENE'S INN - HIDDEN ROOM - DAY
Xena enters the hidden room, taking a step forward as she senses something entering behind her.
She looks around. Unlike the other room she and Gabrielle have taken over, this room was not used for storage. It was left in the condition it had been in since the door was sealed over.
This room, though barely seen in the very scant light, was the bedroom of a young man. A bed, a small table, some boots, other small items, all lay were they had been left, and they are completely covered in layers of dust.
The white figure forms in front of Xena, facing her. It is now recognizably Lyceus. He lifts a hand towards Xena.
LYCEUS Been a long time.
Xena walks towards him, stopping just short of touching.
XENA Way too long.
She searches Lyceus' face.
XENA But why are you here? Now?
Lyceus' ghost turns and looks around, then sits down on the bed. The dust doesn't stir.
LYCEUS I've always been here.
Xena is visibly stunned.
LYCEUS (cont’d) Where else would I go? This is home, isn't it?
Xena slowly sits down on a dust covered stool near the bed.
XENA The Fields are home for you. Not this place.
LYCEUS (smiling sadly) This place....
He looks around.
LYCEUS All my hopes... my dreams... my goals... our goals, were here. All the things we used to talk about, that I never got to do.
Xena studies the floor.
XENA Wish I could say the same.
Lyceus gives Xena a look of profound compassion, which she does not see. He reaches out and touches Xena's shoulder.
CUT TO:
EXT. CYRENE'S INN - FRONT - DAY
The raiders finally make it into the town. The villagers are now fighting like wildcats, trying to get away. They keep pulling the raiders this way and that way, keeping them almost constantly unbalanced.
Gabrielle watches from behind the corner of the inn, she frowns and looks at the inn door, then shakes her head.
RAIDER CHIEF All right! Now, where's Xena?? XENA! Get out here!
The brush between two boarded up suddenly rustles wildly. The villagers scream, as the leaves burst apart and Argo II charges right at them, covered in what appears to be blood.
The raiders scatter, dragging the villagers with them.
GABRIELLE Whoops. Okay, Xena, now it's your turn.
Gabrielle looks at the door to the inn, which stays shut.
RAIDER CHIEF Xena!!! I’m gonna start killing these idiots if you don't get your face out here!
The door remains shut.
CUT TO:
INT. CYRENE'S INN - HIDDEN ROOM - SAME TIME
Lyceus stands and walks around the room.
LYCEUS At least you've had a chance to make a difference.
Xena looks at him.
LYCEUS (cont’d) I couldn't even help mother. All I could do is watch....Watch them torture her.
His voice breaks.
LYCEUS The one place she could get away from them was here.
Xena stands and walks over to him.
XENA Here?
LYCEUS She used to come here and just sit. They left her alone here... until they figured it out and put that lock on it.
Xena looks at the remnant of the seal on the door, then she looks back at Lyceus.
LYCEUS (cont’d) Yes. (sitting) At least here, I can remember who I was.
Xena puts her hand on his shoulder. Lyceus starts a little as he feels the touch, and her hand does not go through him. Xena lifts her head to listen. She hears sounds outside.
XENA There's something I have to go do.
LYCEUS I know. Standing up for the old homestead all over again, huh?
Xena starts to turn, then pauses and looks at Lyceus.
XENA Yeah. Wanna help? For old time's sake?
Xena holds her hand out to Lyceus. He hesitates, then reaches out to take it.
LYCEUS For old time's sake.
CUT TO:
EXT. CYRENE'S INN - FRONT - MOMENTS LATER
The raider chief gets his horse under control and grabs one of the villagers, pulling her up over his saddle and putting a dagger to her throat.
Gabrielle gets to her feet and starts to bolt forward.
RAIDER CHIEF XENA!
Xena drops out of a tree behind the raiders. Gabrielle sees her, and drops behind a barrel.
XENA (yelling) WHAT!!!!!??????
The raiders all whirl around, confused, until they spot her.
RAIDER CHIEF All right! Now you listen here....
Xena saunters into the sunlight. She is half covered in what appears to be old blood. Two dead rabbits tied together are slung over her neck. She has a bone of indeterminate origin stuck in her belt.
XENA Hey! Thanks for bringing ‘em back. I was getting a little... hehehe, short... and Gabrielle was getting nervous.
Behind the barrel, Gabrielle growls softly.
GABRIELLE (under breath) Oo... You're gonna pay for that one.
The villagers all get as far away from Xena as they can. The girl on the back of the raider's horse starts to struggle. He hits her on the back of the head with his dagger hilt.
RAIDER CHIEF Cut the crap! I don't believe in any of this spook stuff. Now you just turn yourself over, or this wench gets it.
The raider raises his dagger. Suddenly, it's knocked from his hands. He grabs for it, but it falls to the ground.
Gabrielle crawls under the front of the inn, and pulls a string. A long, low rumbling is heard.
XENA Not a believer huh?
The raider chief pulls out another dagger. It's knocked from his hands. Xena catches it. Gabrielle pulls the string again, then jerks on a second cord. A screech sounds, making Xena grimace slightly.
A shadow falls over the inn courtyard. The men all look up, to see a hazy cloud obscuring the sun, rippling in and out.
RAIDER Uh.... Boss.... This ain't looking so good. Maybe you was wrong....
The villagers too, appear now uneasy and truly frightened.
WOMAN It is the demon!!!
RAIDER CHIEF (desperately) All right! I'll just break her neck! I don't need a stinking dagger!
The raider chief picks the girl up and grabs her jaw, twisting her body.
The cloud descends on him, as Xena hurls herself towards the horses, waving her arms.
The horses get the scent of dead animals and blood and panic.
RAIDER CHIEF (cont’d) AHHH!!!!!
The horses all rear and try to break away, terrified of the scent Xena is emitting and the dark cloud over the raider's horse.
Despite it all, the raider keeps squeezing the girl's neck.
Xena leaps through the melee, throwing herself up and over the raider's horse. She grabs hold of the girl and rips her from his grasp as the dark cloud coalesces around his head, making a sound like angry bees.
RAIDER CHIEF (cont’d) AIIIEEEE!!!!!!!!!!
The raider chief falls from his horse, and wraps his head in his hands, screaming in terror.
RAIDER Get outta here! Leave ‘em! Let the damn thing take ‘em!
The raiders all turn and run, dropping the ropes holding the villagers. After a second of shock, the villagers bolt as well, heading away from the inn as fast as they can run.
Xena checks the girl's pulse, then lays her on the ground before she runs back to where the raider chief is. He is writhing on the ground, lost in fear, screaming his head off.
Xena grabs him by the lapels and slugs him in the face. His scream cuts off, and he slumps, unconscious. Xena drops him.
The cloud lifts and moves away, changing from black, to gray, to a soft white. The wind dies down, the sun returns, and a timid bird starts chirping gamely after a few seconds.
Gabrielle emerges and goes to Xena's side. The girl stirs, then lifts her head, spotting them. She scrambles groggily to her feet and runs off towards the break in the hedges.
GABRIELLE (sighing) Wasn't exactly how we planned it....
XENA (faintly smiling) It never is.
The white cloud hovers nearer. Gabrielle turns to look at it, then looks at Xena.
GABRIELLE Going to introduce me?
XENA Yeah. Let's go inside.
They walk towards the inn. The cloud follows after them.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT FOUR
TAG
FADE IN:
INT CYRENE'S INN - MAIN ROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT
Gabrielle sits at the new table, watching the small fire in the rebuilt fireplace. She appears lost in thought.
Lyceus' ghost forms nearby and stands watching her briefly, before he drifts over. Gabrielle looks up, and gives him a warm smile.
Lyceus smiles back.
GABRIELLE Thanks.
Lyceus seems a bit surprised. He becomes a bit more solid, and apparently has to struggle a little to communicate with Gabrielle.
LYCEUS Why?
GABRIELLE For getting in touch with Xena. It means so much to her.
Lyceus sits down in the chair next to Gabrielle.
LYCEUS She's the only one I could talk to. No one else... not even mother. I don't know why.
GABRIELLE (wryly) Oh, I think I do. But I'm glad I got to meet you, after hearing about you all these years.
Lyceus smiles.
LYCEUS I think I should say thanks to you.
GABRIELLE Why?
LYCEUS For saving her.
This time it is Gabrielle's turn to smile. She is about to answer when the front door opens and Xena enters.
XENA I packed that last bastard off tied to the back of an ass covered in your dragon poop and the rest of those feathers. I figure he won't be back.
GABRIELLE (chuckling) Remind me to forget that recipe, hm?
Xena comes over and sits down. She watches Lyceus, who appears to be fading in and out.
XENA Thanks for the help.
LYCEUS (distracted) Hm? Oh. It was good to....
Lyceus' voice trails off.
XENA What's wrong?
There is a knock at the door. After a second, it opens, and the woman the raider chief was trying to kill walks in. Lyceus fades from view.
WOMAN Hello.
Xena and Gabrielle exchange glances.
GABRIELLE Feeling any better?
The woman walks over to them, and hesitantly sits down in the chair Lyceus had just been in and clasps her hands together.
WOMAN You saved my life. Now that the whole thing's over, it's easier to see that.
Xena leans back in her chair.
XENA We had to make it look good. That meant scaring everyone.
WOMAN (ruefully) You did. We were scared. It was so real.
GABRIELLE How do you feel about it now?
The woman seems a bit unsure. She hesitates and looks at the floor for quite some time before she answers.
WOMAN The raiders won't be back. We heard they're still running. (looking up) So we all figured... maybe we'd stick around here for a while. See what happens.
The woman gets up.
GABRIELLE I'm glad you're staying. It'll work out.
WOMAN (shrugging) We'll see. Anyway, thanks again.
The woman leaves. Xena looks mildly surprised.
XENA Huh. (looking around) Ly?
Very slowly, Lyceus fades in, appreciably more transparent than he was previously.
LYCEUS Something strange is happening.
Xena and Gabrielle both get up and look quickly around, clearly expecting an attack of some kind.
XENA What is it?
Lyceus fades out a little, then comes back.
LYCEUS Someone's calling me. Calling me away from here.
XENA Who? To where?
LYCEUS (softly) I don't know. This is where I've always been. I couldn't go anywhere else, but now.... (listening) It sounds like mother.
Xena steps towards him. Gabrielle puts her hand to her mouth, a look of realization on her face.
XENA You made a difference here, Ly.
LYCEUS (astonished) I did?
He looks at Xena.
LYCEUS We did.
Xena's expression is a mixture of joy and sadness.
XENA (huskily) Give mom a hug for me.
Lyceus starts to fade out, then he strengthens again, and moves towards Xena, wrapping his arms around her. They hug each other tightly, then he slowly fades, going transparent, until all that is left is a faint golden light dusting Xena's skin.
Xena lets her arms drop, and she smiles wistfully. Gabrielle finally lets out a breath she's been apparently holding.
GABRIELLE Wow.
XENA Yeah.
Gabrielle moves closer and puts her arm around Xena's waist. Xena puts her arm around Gabrielle's shoulders, and they stand there together, enjoying the moment.
CUT TO:
INT. CYRENE'S INN - MAIN ROOM - TWO WEEKS LATER - MORNING
The change is almost incredible. The inn appears completely rebuilt. The main room has tables, chairs, sideboards to put things on, etc.
The mantel of the fireplace is decorated with various pieces of pottery.
The walls are all repaired, the roof is complete, a view into the kitchen from the open door reveals a bright, restored room, with a glimpse of a very beaten out of shape frying pan hanging on the wall.
Gabrielle enters, in evident good spirits. She gives a table a pat, then goes to the window and looks out.
GABRIELLE What a gorgeous day.
Xena comes in behind her, and hears. She sets a pitcher down on one table and walks over to join Gabrielle.
XENA Sure is. (pausing) Well, we're almost done here.
Gabrielle turns and surveys their work.
GABRIELLE And a damn fine job we've done, too. (grinning) This place looks great.
XENA Uh huh. Too bad we can't get anyone to take over running it. Guess we went a little too real for ‘em.
Gabrielle nods in rueful agreement.
GABRIELLE It's a shame we're just going to lock it up, but maybe we can find someone out there to come back here and live in it.
Xena watches Gabrielle from the corner of her eye.
XENA You want to?
Caught by surprise, Gabrielle turns and looks at Xena for a long moment.
GABRIELLE Find someone? Or...?
XENA Live here.
Gabrielle studies Xena, and it appears Xena is serious. However, after a brief pause, Gabrielle smiles somewhat wistfully.
GABRIELLE We can't stay here. You and I both know that. It's not where our road's leading us.
Xena nods in concession.
XENA I know.
GABRIELLE (quietly) But maybe someday.
XENA (smiling slightly) Someday.
She looks around.
XENA (cont’d) We'll probably have to rebuild it from scratch by then.
GABRIELLE (chuckling) Probably.
They hear some yelling outside, and both turn to look out the window again. The hedges have all been cut back and the inn is clearly visible from the street. Up the road, they can see a wagon approaching pulled by a single, sad looking donkey. A woman walks in front of the donkey, and her face turns towards the inn.
Gabrielle gasps.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) Sarah!
FADE TO:
INT. CYRENE'S INN - MAIN ROOM - SHORT TIME LATER
Lila, Sarah, her husband, and the baby sit around one of the inn tables. They are battered and travel worn, and look much the worse for wear. Their clothing is singed at the edges.
LILA The fire took everything. The entire village is gone. We weren't really headed here but....
Xena and Gabrielle exchange looks.
XENA But here you are.
SARAH We didn't even know this place was still here... or that we'd find you two here.
Sarah gazes around the inn.
SARAH (cont’d) We don't have much money. I don't think we can afford this place. You think they'd take half price for a room?
Gabrielle hides a smile. Xena seems somewhat bemused.
XENA I think you could work something out. Got any plans from here?
SARAH Not really. Find someplace else to settle. Maybe we can get some work in a town.
Gabrielle looks at Xena. Xena looks back at Gabrielle.
XENA Ever thought about being innkeepers?
FADE TO:
EXT. CYRENE'S INN - FRONT - SEVERAL DAYS LATER.
Xena and Gabrielle prepare to leave. They wave to Lila and Sarah standing at the door to the inn, and start off down the road.
GABRIELLE You know, Xena, it's amazing how this all worked out.
Xena stamps her boots, which appear somewhat new.
XENA That your family needed a home at just the same time we were looking for someone to give one to? Yeah, well....
Xena takes a breath of fresh air, as they leave the town.
XENA (cont’d) Sometimes life just comes together for ya.
She looks at Gabrielle.
XENA Feel better?
Gabrielle is busy trying to learn to juggle. She looks up in some surprise.
GABRIELLE Me? I feel great. (laughing) Now, show me that toss again?
Xena smiles and they walk off down the road.
FADE OUT.
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DISCLAIMER No inns were harmed in the making of this motion picture, but Gabrielle ended up removing splinters for months. |
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