XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS
SUBTEXT VIRTUAL SEASON 

PRODUCTION #V901
Who Watches the Watcher – Part 1

VIRTUAL AIRDATE
October 29, 2003

WRITTEN BY
Melissa Good

PRODUCED BY
Carol Stephens

DIRECTED BY
Denise Byrd

SCREENGRABS
Judi Mair

ARTWORK
Lucia

TITLE GRAPHIC
MaryD

Xena: Warrior Princess is a trademark and copyright of Universal/StudiosUSA and Renaissance Pictures.  This is a fan based not-for-profit work of fiction and is not intended to infringe upon their rights.

TEASER

FADE IN:

EXT. SMALL BACKWATER VILLAGE - LATE AFTERNOON

In another of a very long series of small, nondescript villages, a tiny festival is in session.  The villagers are gathered around in a central area, listening to three musicians play some tunes. 

Nearby, the tavern keeper has set up a table, and is selling cups of ale and pita sandwiches including an indeterminate meat species and a greenish sauce equally anonymous. 

The musicians are surprisingly good. The crowd starts clapping in more or less rhythm and some of them dance. 

Xena and Gabrielle wander in from down the road, entering the village behind the crowd and stopping to listen. 

They are wearing heavier clothing. Xena has a cloak on, and Gabrielle has found her coat of many colors she stashed away in some magical tree bole because she ran out of room in her bag, and is wearing that. 

They appear a little travel weary, a little ragged around the edges. Xena has a bandage wrapped around one hand, and Gabrielle seems to be limping slightly - using her staff to lean on. 

XENA
Catchy. 

Gabrielle nods in agreement. She walks over to the tavern keeper's table, while Xena stands and listens. 

GABRIELLE
How much?

TAVERN KEEPER
Well, it's a very good year this year....

Gabrielle raps her staff against the barrel of ale, making a sharp bang. The tavern keeper jumps. Xena watches in amusement. 

GABRIELLE
Buster, I'm thirsty, she's thirsty, and we're both in a bad mood. How much?

TAVERN KEEPER
A q-q-q-q-q-quarter dinar.

Gabrielle slaps two coins on the table. 

GABRIELLE
Two cups. 

TAVERN KEEPER
Want a sandwich?

Gabrielle looks at the sandwiches, then at the man. Then she looks down at the sandwiches quickly as one appears to possibly be moving. 

GABRIELLE
No thanks. 

The man gives Gabrielle two cups of ale. Gabrielle takes them over and hands one to Xena. The musicians continue to play, the villagers continue to dance.  Xena and Gabrielle sip their ale together in silence briefly.

XENA
I like your new bargaining style. 

Gabrielle hitches herself up onto a barrel and sits there. 

GABRIELLE
My knee's killing me. I just wasn't in the mood to dicker with him. 

XENA
Ah. Is that a subtle hint you want to stay at the inn tonight?

GABRIELLE
(grumpily)
I'm not hinting. We're staying here. 

Xena gives Gabrielle a look. Gabrielle just watches the musicians. 

CUT TO:

EXT. SMALL BACKWATER VILLAGE - A LITTLE LATER

The musicians finish playing, and take their bows. The villagers applaud, and congratulate the performers as they moved through the crowd.

The tavern keeper hustles over to offer them drinks. They accept, appearing a little surprised but very grateful.

LEAD MUSICIAN
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

TAVERN KEEPER
Great stuff! You folks staying long? Glad to put you up in my inn.

WOMAN MUSICIAN
Wow. Sure. That'd be great, but....

The tavern keeper wipes his hands on his apron and starts to head off.

TAVERN KEEPER
No trouble! No trouble.... Glad to have you. 

The musicians watch the tavern keeper go, then look at each other. 

LEAD MUSICIAN
Boy, that's different. 

WOMAN MUSICIAN
You can say that again. Not like the last place. We were lucky we got out of there when we did.

LEAD MUSICIAN
Good thing is right. Making their own rules like that.... Ought to be a law. 

WOMAN MUSICIAN
Yeah? Who'd enforce it? Those guys were mean, and they sure didn't like our stuff. 

Gabrielle has been listening.

GABRIELLE
Why? What was the problem? Your music is really good. 

The musicians look at Xena and Gabrielle. The lead musician walks over to where they are sitting. 

LEAD MUSICIAN
Hi. I can see you're fellow travelers. My name's Gorat, and these are my mates Ela and Dano. 

GABRIELLE
Yes we are. My name's Gabrielle, and this is Xena. 

The musicians all stare at them. 

GORAT
You don't mean....

GABRIELLE
Yes.

ELA
Are you...?

GABRIELLE
Yes.

DANO
But are you the real…?

GABRIELLE
We're the only ones we know. 

GORAT
Wow. Ah... uh....  We didn't mean to sound like we were complaining....

ELA
Or bother you.... Ah....

Thunder rumbles overhead. Xena looks up. 

XENA
Can we take the awe inside? I’m over getting rained on. 

GORAT
I... inside?

XENA
Inside. 

Xena points. Everyone starts walking where she points, even Gabrielle. This seems to surprise Xena just a little. 

XENA 
(cont’d)
(under breath)
Hmph. Just like in the good old warlord days. 

Gabrielle turns and looks at Xena, both eyebrows raised. Xena smiles at her and joins her as they walk on towards the inn.

GABRIELLE
You think it's trouble?

XENA
(wryly)
You and I are here. What do you think?

It starts to rain. Gabrielle looks up at the rain, looks over at Xena, and just shakes her head. 

FADE OUT.

END OF TEASER

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

CUT TO:

INT. VILLAGE INN - NIGHT

The inn looks better than might have been expected. It is small... a half dozen wooden tables, a firepit and some benches and stools are inside.  Xena, Gabrielle, and the musicians sit around the largest table; there are three other villagers at a second. The rest are empty. 

GORAT
So, you asked me about the last village we were in.  It was Petronikus. Have you been there?

Xena and Gabrielle exchange looks. Xena shrugs. 

GABRIELLE
Not lately. What happened?

ELA
It was the craziest thing. We'd been there a couple months before, and it was fine. But this time....

The musicians all shake their heads. 

GORAT
This time they nearly arrested us. Told us music wasn't welcome there anymore. Real strange. 

ELA
They ran us out of town. 

GABRIELLE
Is it some kind of local superstition?

GORAT
No. Some kind of new god. 

Xena rolls her eyes. 

GABRIELLE
A god who hates music? That makes no sense.

GORAT
That's what we thought. But they told us their new teachings said music and dancing were immoral. 

Xena rolls her eyes again.

ELA
Not only that, they were talking about spreading all this teaching stuff to the other villages. 

GABRIELLE
(reassuringly)
I'm sure it's just a temporary thing. Next time you go back there, it'll be fine. 

ELA
I don't know.... They seemed really well organized. 

XENA
Goats look well organized when they're being herded. 

Gorat looks uncertain, but shrugs and nods. He gets up. The other musicians join him. 

GORAT
Maybe you're right. I hope so. If that spreads far, we're sunk. 

He looks at the others.

GORAT
(cont’d)
So let's enjoy our nice reception while we can. 

The musicians leave.  Xena and Gabrielle sit for a moment, then get up and follow them. 

CUT TO:

INT. XENA AND GABRIELLE'S ROOM - NIGHT - SHORT TIME LATER

Xena is sitting up in the somewhat small bed. Gabrielle is lying down with her legs over Xena's thighs. Xena is applying a bandage to Gabrielle's knee.  They are both dressed in their all purpose muslin shifts, and near the window their regular clothing is hung out to dry. 

XENA
How's that?

Gabrielle flexes her leg. 

GABRIELLE
A little better. How's your hand?

Xena flexes her hand, also encased in a new bandage.

XENA A little better. Teach me to punch a bear in the head. 

GABRIELLE
(wryly)
Teach me to try stealing honey from one. 
(beat)
Hey, Xena?

XENA
Mm?

GABRIELLE
I think we should go back to that town and see what's up. 

XENA
With the music? 

GABRIELLE
Sounds like it's more than music. I'd just like to be sure. 

Xena thinks about it. 

GABRIELLE 
(cont’d)
Maybe it's nothing, but on the chance it isn't....

XENA
We can nip it in the bud. 

GABRIELLE
Yeah. 

XENA
Sure. It's not like we've got anyplace we've got to be otherwise. Might as well. 

Gabrielle looks up at the ceiling. 

GABRIELLE
Good a direction as any, huh?

XENA
Yeah. 

They both sit quietly for a few minutes, relaxing and enjoying the peace. 

XENA 
(cont’d) But let me tell ya, we find a guy in a condom hat again, I'm not wasting time on talking. 

Gabrielle groans, and covers her eyes. 

GABRIELLE
(wryly)
And if we find another Tara, I'm not waiting to get my ear bitten.

She makes a punching motion.

GABRIELLE
(cont’d)
Bam. She's going down. 

They both start laughing and we -

FADE TO:

EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - MORNING

Xena and Gabrielle walk down a dirt wagon road. Gabrielle still uses her staff as a prop, and Xena appears to be weaving something out of tree vines in her hands. 

Argo II ambles along behind them, appearing moderately bored. 

It is bright and sunny, but there is a strong wind, and it blows leaves across the road, pelting both Xena and Gabrielle with them. Gabrielle catches a leaf, and examines it. 

GABRIELLE
Why do leaves fall, Xena?

Xena gives Gabrielle a strange look.

XENA
Because they're dead. 
(beat)
You know, it's that whole circle of life... thing. 

GABRIELLE
Well, yeah, I know, but why do the leaves all die every year? You'd think it would be better for the tree to keep them around it to keep it warm in the cold weather. 

Xena continues her work. She is braiding some kind of basket. 

XENA
Trees' got limited resources in the winter, so it kills off its leaves so it doesn't have to feed them. 

GABRIELLE
Ah.

XENA
Nature. It's practical. 

GABRIELLE
(musing)
And sometimes very brutal. 

They both look up as they hear people coming down the road towards them. It is what is left of a merchant train... a wagon that has seen much better days, two bony, tired looking horses, and eight or ten men and women walking beside it. The wagon has a few boxes and some bundles of cloth in it. 

As the people come up to them, they slow and stop, obviously wanting to speak.

MAN
Ho, strangers. Where are you headed?

GABRIELLE
(under breath)
Ho?

XENA
Who's asking?

The people look at Xena and Gabrielle uneasily. 

MAN
I meant no offense! My name is Elios, and I was just going to pass on a friendly warning! But never mind... we'll just go on our way.

GABRIELLE
(under breath)
Xena, be nice.

XENA
(under breath)
You're the nice one, remember? So get cracking. 

The people start to move on, edging around Argo II who is standing in the middle of the road.  Gabrielle goes after them.

GABRIELLE
Sorry about that... we don't usually find friendly people in our travels. We're headed to Petronikus. 

Elios is still in a bit of a snit. The others react visibly to the town name, however, whispering to each other and giving Xena and Gabrielle doubtful looks. 

ELIOS
Have a nice trip, then. 

A woman behind him pokes him. 

WOMAN
Elios, tell them. 

XENA
(scowling)
Tell us what?

Gabrielle takes Elios arm. 

GABRIELLE
Really, we're sorry. What's wrong?

Elios allows himself to be charmed. Xena watches this and rolls her eyes, then she goes to Argo II and starts packing away her vine basket. 

XENA
(over her shoulder)
She's Gabrielle, by the way. 

ELIOS
If you're going to Petronikus, I hope you're not staying long. We've just come from there. 

WOMAN
Ran from there, you mean. 

ELIOS
It was horrible. They invited all the merchants in the area to come to their festival, and then....

WOMAN
Then they robbed us blind!

Xena looks up over Argo's back in surprise. 

GABRIELLE
Robbed you?

ELIOS
They did! Oh, they claimed it was god's tax. Some new temple they put up there... they've taken the place over. Everything's changed. 

XENA AND GABRIELLE
I see. 

WOMAN
Oh, we could sell our things, sure, but they took half of whatever we made.

XENA AND GABRIELLE
Really?

ELIOS
And they made us sit and listen to this new doctrine they're preaching. All about how we have to listen to god, and do what god says, and give god all of this, and all of that....

GABRIELLE
Which god?

ELIOS
(shrugging)
Doesn't have a name, according to those guys. It was creepy. How can you pray to a god with no name? What do you call him, hey you? 

Xena and Gabrielle exchange looks. 

GABRIELLE
Well, thanks for telling us. Sorry you had such a rough time. 

The wagon starts to move on. Xena, Gabrielle and Argo II move in the opposite direction. 

ELIOS
Hey.... Where are you going?

Gabrielle turns and walks backwards.

GABRIELLE
Petronikus. 

WOMAN 
But we told you what happened to us!

GABRIELLE
That's why we're going. We don't want it to keep happening. 

Gabrielle turns and catches up to Xena. They continue walking away down the road. 

XENA
I don't like the sound of that.

GABRIELLE
Me either. You think it's a scam?

Xena looks vaguely troubled.

XENA
Maybe. 

GABRIELLE
Well, we'll find out soon enough.
(pausing)
And next time, you get to be nice. I'm over being the nice one all the time. 

Xena looks at Gabrielle.

XENA
You ever see me try to be nice?

GABRIELLE
You can be very sweet when you want to be, Xena. Don't give *me* that old curmudgeon act. 

Xena gives Gabrielle an evil look.

XENA
Hmph. 

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

EXT. PETRONIKUS - DAY

Petronikus is a medium-sized town, with a well kept road leading up to it lined with stones. There is a mud brick wall around the town, with a gate standing wide open. 

Everything seems neat and tidy, and the town has a general air of being prosperous. 

Xena and Gabrielle pause just before the town and look it over. 

GABRIELLE
Looks peaceful.

XENA
Very. C'mon.

Xena and Gabrielle walk towards the gates. As they approach, a man standing just inside them turns and sees them coming.

Both Xena and Gabrielle stiffen, and in reflex, reach for weapons. But the man only holds a hoe, and he hesitantly waves at them.

MAN
Afternoon, strangers. 

Xena and Gabrielle relax. 

XENA
Afternoon. 

MAN
Just passing through?

GABRIELLE
Not exactly. We were hoping to stop and rest a while. 

The man looks them over, but remains apparently friendly.

MAN
Well, this is the place to do it. Our inn's the best around. Just go right down that road there, and it's on the left hand side. 

XENA
Thanks.

Xena and Gabrielle move past the man and continue on into the town.

The town spreads out on either side of them. It contains small, well kept houses and neatly tended paths. A few chickens dash past them as they walk by, and in a yard, a milk cow looks up as Argo snorts. 

GABRIELLE
Looks....

XENA
Idyllic.

GABRIELLE
Hm.

Xena examines one of the small houses. It is whitewashed, and has a small box of flowers planted outside.  Everything does seem neat and perfect. 

XENA
Last time I saw a place that looked like this, it was....

GABRIELLE
Potadeia. When Hope was there. 

Xena looks around and nods. 

XENA
Yeah.

Gabrielle walks close to one of the walls, and touches a symbol painted there... a circle, with triangles surrounding it somewhat resembling a crown. 

She looks over to the next house, which also has the symbol. 

They reach the town center, and find a square filled with soft grass. On one side is a larger house, on a second, an inn. The third side has a set of three wells and the forth is a path lined with stones leading off between the trees. 

A woman comes out of the large house and starts across the grass. She spots Xena and Gabrielle and changes direction, coming over to intercept them. She is young and pretty, and dressed in a bright yellow apron over a gray shift like dress. 

WOMAN
Good day! Welcome to our town. 

Xena looks at Gabrielle. Gabrielle looks pointedly back at Xena. Xena rolls her eyes.

XENA
(forced smile)
Thanks. Nice place you have here. 

WOMAN
Oh, thank you! We're very proud of it. Everyone loves living here. Are you just passing through?

XENA
Matter of fact....

GABRIELLE
(interrupting)
We were thinking of settling down around here. Would that be a problem?

Xena's eyes grow to the size of duck eggs before she realizes Gabrielle is not serious. 

WOMAN
Ah.... Why no! Of course not. We welcome everyone. What did you say your name was?

GABRIELLE
Gabrielle. 

WOMAN
Nice to meet you, Gabrielle. I'm Heriet, and I live over there in my father's house. He's in charge of the town. I'm sure if you talked to him he'd let you stay.

XENA
Great. Let's talk to him. 

HERIET
Oh... well, maybe you can't right now. He's busy. But he'll be free around dinner time. Why don't you go over to the inn and wait there?

Xena appears impatient. Gabrielle takes a step in front of her.

GABRIELLE
Great. That's over there, right? I'm hungry. Aren't you, Xena?

Xena watches Heriet's face. Heriet does not react to Xena's name.

XENA
Sure. 

Heriet turns and leaves them, looking over her shoulder as she returns towards her house.  Xena and Gabrielle wait for her to disappear, then they turn towards the inn.

CUT TO:

INT. HERIET'S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Heriet enters. A woman, her mother, sits near the window, sewing. 

MOTHER
Who were you talking to, daughter? They looked like very odd girls. 

HERIET
Newcomers. They were all right, I guess.
(beat)
They say they want to stay and live here.

Heriet's mother looks up at her. They both smile grimly. 

CUT TO:

INT. PETRONIKUS INN - DAY - MOMENTS LATER

A woman, the inn keeper, stands near the open kitchen stirring a pot. The room is meticulously clean, and pieces of cloth are draped over the eight or ten trestle tables stretched across the big room. 

The woman hums softly to herself. Over the firepit, the wall has the crowned sun symbol painted on it in blue. 

The door opens, and Xena and Gabrielle enter. The woman looks up in some surprise. 

INNKEEPER
Oh! I wasn't expecting anyone today. 

Xena and Gabrielle exchange looks. 

GABRIELLE
Do you usually know when people are coming through town?

INNKEEPER
(warily)
Well, for the festivals, you know. Otherwise we don't get many visitors.... Are you just passing through?

XENA
No. 

The woman seems a little apprehensive. 

GABRIELLE
Could we get some lunch? 

The inn keeper starts to get some bowls down.

INNKEEPER
Of course, of course. Please sit down. I'll be right with you. 

Xena and Gabrielle take a seat. Gabrielle notices the sigil over the firepit, and points at it. Xena frowns. 

GABRIELLE
(whispering)
Ever seen that before?

XENA
I don't think so. 
(to woman)
Hey!

The innkeeper hustles over and puts down two bowls and two mugs.

INNKEEPER
Yes?

Xena points to the sigil.

XENA
What is that?

The woman stares at the wall. 

INNKEEPER
That is the sign of the one who watches over us.  

XENA
Yeah? And who's that?

INNKEEPER
The beneficent one. The rule maker who guides our lives. But you know nothing of this, I take it.

The outer door opens, and a man enters. He is tall and broad-shouldered. He gives Xena and Gabrielle an obvious once-over then dismisses them.

MAN
Helga, there be six of us tonight, yeah?

The woman nods. The man leaves. 

INNKEEPER
I have to go. Enjoy your meal. It will be two dinars, plus one dinar for the one who watches. 

The innkeeper vanishes out the back door.  Xena and Gabrielle are left alone. 

GABRIELLE
Beneficent one? One who watches? Xena, this is all new. Isn't it?

XENA
Yeah. The rule maker. Why do I get the feeling we're not gonna like the rules?

Gabrielle examines the piece of bread on her bowl.

GABRIELLE
When do we ever?

FADE TO:

INT. HERIET'S HOUSE - EVENING

Heriet is setting the table. Her mother is putting dinner out. The door opens, and a man enters. It is Heriet's father. He is a tall, bearded man, heavyset, with very good quality clothing. 

HERIET
Good evening, father!

Heriet's mother hurries out.

MOTHER
Alstan.... You're early. I....

ALSTAN
I keep the schedule of the one who watches over us, woman. Not yours. Have I not told you that many times?

Alstan hangs up his cloak, and comes to the table.

HERIET
Father....

ALSTAN
The brothers and I are meeting after the sun sets. Get the soup on. 

Heriet's mother goes to the pot and hurriedly puts soup in a bowl. 

MOTHER
But I thought we....

ALSTAN
Soup, woman! I don't have time for talk. Those damned merchants ran out without tendering us what was due, and there's a shortfall to be made up!

HERIET
Father....

ALSTAN
(gruffly)
What? Did you finish those baskets? 

HERIET
Not yet, father, but....

ALSTAN
Not yet!!! What?

Alstan stands up and bellows, waving his arms.

HERIET
Father! Wait... I will finish them tonight, I promise, but there are....

ALSTAN
You had better!

HERIET
Father, there are some strangers here! They want to see you. They want to live here!

Alstan pauses, and looks at her, suddenly wary. 

ALSTAN
Strangers? What kind of strangers?

Heriet's mother brings the soup over and places it down before her husband. She seems very glad of the subject change.

MOTHER
Odd ones, to my eyes. Women! Outlandisly dressed! Can you imagine? You should have seen them!

Alstan grabs Heriet's arm.

ALSTAN
Where did they go? You just let them wander through the town? Why didn't you come get me?

HERIET
(frightened)
Father, I sent them to the inn to wait for you! You were in the temple! You told me never to....

ALSTAN
Ah.
(suddenly calm.)
So I did. So I did. To the inn, you say? Good. Women? Hah. 

Alstan starts to eat, ignoring his wife and daughter. After a moment, he chuckles. 

CUT TO:

INT PETRONIKUS INN - NIGHT

The inn is now full. Xena and Gabrielle are at a smaller table near the back wall. The biggest table near the front has been taken up by six men, including the man who had come in that afternoon. They are all dressed in dark over-tunics with the crowned sun emblem on the back. 

The crowd seems to be giving the six men a wide berth... more so than they seem to be even giving the two strange women at the back table. 

GABRIELLE
Something's really off here, Xena.

XENA
Oh yeah.

Xena leans forward and points at the six men.

XENA 
(cont’d)
I've seen those guys before. 

Gabrielle appears surprised.

GABRIELLE
You have? Where? I don't remember it.

XENA
You wouldn't. They could be six of my men, back in the bad old days. People treated us just like the folks in here are treating them. 

GABRIELLE
Oh. 

One of the men stands up.

MAN
(loudly)
In the one who watches name, I say to you, listen.

The room quiets immediately.

MAN 
(cont’d)
Starting tomorrow, we will be collecting every trade item from all at the temple. It will be blessed, and sent from us for the glory of the one who watches. What is sent back to us for it will be shared with us all. So be it!

The crowd looks at each other uneasily, but....

CROWD
So be it. 

The man sits down and continues to eat. 

GABRIELLE
You really want to wait here for that guy?

XENA
Nooo.... I think I've heard enough to make me want to go and find him. C'mon. 

Xena and Gabrielle get up. They leave out the side door just as the front door opens up again, and Alstan enters. The six men spot him, and hastily stand up. The rest of the crowd stands as well, and bow respectfully.

ALSTAN
My children. Be at ease. 

Everyone sits down. Alstan looks carefully around the tavern, but doesn't see what he's looking for. With a slight shrug, he turns and leaves again. 

CUT TO:

EXT. PETRONIKUS TOWN SQUARE - NIGHT

Xena and Gabrielle walk along in the darkness.

XENA
Okay, so he's not at home. 

GABRIELLE
And he's not at the inn. 

They both stop, and look at one of the rocks in the path, which has a crowned sun painted on it. As they look at the next rock, and the next, they all have the sigil. Xena peers off into the shadowy darkness, where the path goes. 

XENA
Any bets?

GABRIELLE
Nope. 

They start off down the path. 

CUT TO:

EXT. PETRONIKUS TEMPLE - NIGHT

In the middle of a clearing, under a canopy of trees stands the temple. On either side of the door there are torches burning. The building is large, and made of stone, and the doors are shut. The sun sigil is painted on both the doors, and the lintel overhead. 

Gabrielle walks over to the doors and gives them a tug. They are locked tight. She turns and looks at Xena in question.

Xena makes a dismissive gesture, and starts to circle the building looking for another entrance. After a moment, Gabrielle joins her. 

GABRIELLE
We could just knock. 

XENA
Nah. That'd be boring. 

Xena spots a thick ivy growing up one side of the building. She heads for it, pausing to spit on both hands and rub them together before she commences climbing up it. 

Gabrielle leans against the wall and watches Xena until she gets near the roof. Then she sighs and starts climbing after her. 

GABRIELLE
(under breath)
Least I get a nice view first. 

XENA
(V.O.)
(whispering)
I heard that!

CUT TO:

INT PETRONIKUS TEMPLE - NIGHT 

Inside the temple several men are working, arranging boxes and bundles in an efficient and methodical way. They drag several bales across the large open space inside, which appears more a warehouse than a place of worship. There are benches around the perimeter of the room, apparently shoved out of the way for later use. Near the front of the room is a raised area, which has an altar-like platform behind it complete with a carved, wooden crowned sun symbol. 

Above them in the rafters, Xena and Gabrielle creep into view, and peer downward. 

More men continue to come in, all in their dark tunics. They work mostly in silence, sorting and arranging things with a businesslike air. 

MAN
We're gonna need more space in here for sure.

Several men laugh.

SECOND MAN
You can say that again. Hope those wagons show up soon. 

FIRST MAN
For what we should get for all this, we can double the size of this place. I'm getting tired of sleeping with six of you guys in one room!

The men all laugh now. 

Xena and Gabrielle both look grim. 

Alstan enters, and walks through the crowd of men. They all stop and bow. 

ALSTAN
Well done, men.

Alstan goes to the raised platform and stands on it. The men all turn to face him and stand respectfully. 

ALSTAN 
(cont’d)
I have great news. We have been so successful here, I have been given permission by the one who watches to spread out our cause to the neighboring towns. 

The men murmur to each other approvingly. 

ALSTAN 
(cont’d)
I will be choosing a few of you to take and spread our message of love and peace...

A few chuckles

ALSTAN 
(cont’d)
And obedience...

More chuckles.

ALSTAN 
(cont’d)
And devotion to the one who watches to others, so that they may benefit from knowing the message, and the wisdom of the messenger.  And we will!

The men cheer. 

Xena and Gabrielle exchange looks. Xena frowns. 

GABRIELLE
(whispering)
Interesting way of putting that. 

XENA
Mm.

ALSTAN
The key of course, is to maintain our holy bond of brotherhood, and our code of trust. 

XENA
(whispering)
And not let anyone catch on to their scam. 

ALSTAN
And we must remember our pledge to keep that trust against any threats from unbelievers, right?

The men cheer and stamp. They raise a thick cloud of dust, which wafts up to the rafters. Both Xena and Gabrielle have to let go with one hand and clamp their noses and mouths, trying frantically not to sneeze. 

MEN
Death to unbelievers! All praise the message, and the watchers!

Gabrielle starts to lose her grip on the rafters. 

Xena makes a grab for her, and they both begin to slide towards the ground.

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

INT. PETRONIKUS TEMPLE - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

Gabrielle slips off the rafter. She grabs on to a piece of wood, but it breaks off in her hands and she heads for the ground two stories below

XENA
Ga....

Xena throws herself off the rafters. 

Abruptly, Gabrielle's flight is arrested as she is caught by the leg and the scruff of her neck and held dangling in mid air. 

Xena has her legs wrapped around a roof support, and is holding Gabrielle up over the heads of the men below. 

GABRIELLE
(hissing)
Xena!

XENA
Sh!

The men finish clapping, and the room quiets.  

ALSTAN
All right men, let's get this place ready for what I hope will be very substantial additions to our stock. 

Alstan turns to go. Xena tightens her grip on Gabrielle and looks up as a bit of the roof support cracks free and lands on her head. 

MAN
Sir, will you be speaking the watcher's words tomorrow night? 

ALSTAN
I will.  I have received a new scroll of messages. Tomorrow you will hear them.

The men nod.

Another piece of wood falls and bounces off Xena's shoulder. Xena swiftly snatches it out of mid air with her teeth so it doesn't fall on Alstan's head.

Gabrielle remains absolutely still, trying not to swing. Her eyes are tightly shut. 

MAN
I know we have our mission here, but I love hearing the words, sir. I do. 

Alstan claps the man on the shoulder.

ALSTAN
Well, that's nice, my son. Now get to work. 

Alstan starts to leave, then he pauses, looking down at the ground. There are bits of wood there. He looks at the wood, then looks around. 

Xena gives Gabrielle a tiny shake and Gabrielle opens her eyes. She sees Alstan directly below her, looking at the debris. 

Just shy of looking up, Alstan shrugs and leaves instead, followed by the other men. They take their time, each one walking under where Gabrielle is hanging. 

Finally, they are gone, and the door slams shut behind them. After a second, Xena spits the piece of wood out of her mouth and it goes bouncing off. 

GABRIELLE
(whispering)
Son of a bacchae. 

XENA
Couple of other words come to mind. 
(grunting)
Listen, there's no....

GABRIELLE
Just drop me. 

Xena looks down.

XENA
That's a hard looking floor. 

Gabrielle looks around and sees few options.

GABRIELLE
Well, you could just drop me on my head. 

XENA
Hang on... just go with me. 

Gabrielle grimaces. Xena heaves herself upward, then releases Gabrielle's leg. Gabrielle tumbles in the air, and extends her hands up to meet Xena's as she falls. They lock wrists, and now Gabrielle is dangling in a much better position.  

GABRIELLE
Okay.

XENA
Go.

Xena releases her grip, Gabrielle releases hers. Gabrielle lands hard, but keeps her balance and waits as Xena lets go of the roofing and somersaults in mid air to land next to her. 

Footsteps approach again, and voices get louder outside the door. Xena and Gabrielle slip to either side of the door and flatten themselves against the wall. Xena draws her sword. Gabrielle draws a sai.

The door latch starts to work. The door starts to open. 

They hear a shout from farther off, and the door slams shut and the footsteps recede. 

Xena and Gabrielle relax. Gabrielle flexes her leg and winces, then sheathes her sai.  Xena puts her sword away and starts examining the room. 

GABRIELLE
Guess there isn't much doubt about these guys, huh?

Xena lifts a piece of parchment and holds it up towards the light. After a moment, she tosses it to Gabrielle. 

XENA
Not much. 

Xena looks around, then puts her hands on her hips. Her expression is somewhere between disgusted and profoundly disturbed. 

GABRIELLE
So, what do we do? Just chase them off? There's a lot of them, Xena, but....

XENA
But there's two of us, yeah. 

Xena looks around again.

XENA
(cont’d)
We chase them off, they'll just be back. Besides, there's something bigger behind this. 

Gabrielle drops the parchment on the box. 

GABRIELLE
So we have to go to the source. 

Xena nods. 

XENA
Now we just have to make them take us to it. 

Xena goes to the wall and climbs up on some boxes. She extends a hand down to Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE
The door's just not good enough, huh?

Gabrielle climbs up on the boxes and takes Xena's hand as they climb up into the ceiling and disappear.

FADE TO:

INT PETRONIKUS INN - MORNING

The innkeeper is busy baking bread. It is just after dawn, and the sun is shining in the window. 

Gabrielle enters from the back, appearing freshly scrubbed and wide awake. She whistled softly as she crosses to the kitchen area. 

GABRIELLE
Morning!

The innkeeper seems surprised to see her. 

INNKEEPER
Oh! Good morning! I didn't see you and your friend come back last night so I thought....

GABRIELLE
We came in the back door.

The innkeeper looks puzzled.

INNKEEPER
But we don't have a back door. 

GABRIELLE
Sure you do. Now. 
(pausing)
What's that you're making, raisin bread?

The innkeeper looks around her table. It is covered in loaves, at least two dozen of them.

INNKEEPER
Yes, I have to start early. It takes time. 

GABRIELLE
(smiling)
Must be a popular choice here. 

INNKEEPER
(frowning)
Well, not really, but it holds very well. It's for the glory of the one who watches. The brothers take it for their works. 

Gabrielle crosses her arms and studies the loaves.

GABRIELLE
But they pay you for them, right?

INNKEEPER
Oh, no, no, of course not. It's my gift to them.

Gabrielle picks up a loaf and studies it.

GABRIELLE
But they sell it, don't they?

INNKEEPER
Well... Yes. 

GABRIELLE
So.... They get paid for your work. What do you get out of it?

The innkeeper seems quite disturbed. She goes back to baking her bread, turning her back on Gabrielle. Gabrielle filches a raisin from a loaf and nibbles it. 

CUT TO:

EXT. PETRONIKUS HOMESTEAD - MORNING

Xena rides Argo II along a dirt path. On either side of her are fields of grain and other growing things being harvested. On the side of the path is a big wagon, with a number of town men working around it. 

Xena slows as she approaches them, and the men look up from their work. 

XENA
Morning.

One of the men approaches her. 

TOWNSMAN
That's a beautiful mare.

Fortunately for Gabrielle, the way to Xena's heart is not through praising her horse, but it never hurts. 

XENA
Thanks. Looks like you've got a nice crop there. 

The men look at their work, then at the wagon.

TOWNSMAN
Yes, it is. We've been grateful that our prayers were answered. 

Xena gets off Argo II and goes to the wagon. She lifts a bit of the harvested grain.

XENA
You prayed for this?

The men all gather round Xena, more than slightly intrigued by her appearance. 

TOWNSMAN
We've had hard times since the old gods left us. This season, the brothers came and told us the message of the one who watches. It gave us hope.

Xena flinches slightly at the word. 

SECOND TOWNSMAN
Since they've been here, the harvests have increased. Life is better. 

XENA
You don't think that might be a coincidence?

The men all frown.

TOWNSMAN
How could it be?

XENA
(shrugging)
Weather's been good. I've seen great harvests from the coast all the way here. 
(pausing)
Where's all this going? You have a big storehouse? Probably sell what you don't need and make a profit. 

The men murmur to each other. 

SECOND TOWNSMAN
Oh no. This is for the one who watches. Our tribute for the good harvest.

Xena steps back, looks at the wagon, looks at the men, looks back at the wagon, and assumes a very skeptical expression. 

XENA
Uh huh. Okay. Gotta go. 

Xena leaps back on Argo II, and gives the wagon one more look, shaking her head. The men's attention is glued on her and she is aware of that.  Xena waves, and rides off, still shaking her head.  The men watch her go, then they gather around the wagon, voices rising in argument in very short order.

CUT TO:

EXT. PETRONIKUS INN - LATE AFTERNOON

Gabrielle is sitting outside the inn on the grass, writing on a scroll. She is leaning against a tree, but is watching the square with her peripheral vision.

Heriet exits from her house, and starts heading for the path to the temple. She spots Gabrielle sitting in the grass and pauses, watching her. 

GABRIELLE
And Xena killed the bad giant, saving the village from destruction.

Heriet hears the words and wanders closer. 

HERIET
What are you doing?

GABRIELLE
Writing down a story about something that happened to us. 

Heriet comes over and sits down next to Gabrielle.

HERIET
My father says storytelling is evil. 

Gabrielle looks up. 

GABRIELLE
Why?

HERIET
It takes time from work, and it spreads lies. He says the only stories we should be hearing are from the one who watches. 

Gabrielle puts her quill down and blows on her parchment to dry it.

GABRIELLE
Do you really believe that?

Heriet shrugs.

GABRIELLE 
(cont’d)
What makes the stories from your watcher any truer than mine?

HERIET
(outraged)
They are the word of god!

Gabrielle doesn't appear intimidated, naturally. 

GABRIELLE
Well, I've learned the hard way that the word of a god and the word of one of us is about equally trustworthy. 

Heriet gets up and backs away.

HERIET
You speak nothing but worthless lies. My father is right.

Heriet storms off, leaving Gabrielle sitting in the grass. Gabrielle rolls up her scroll, and taps it against the side of her neck as she ponders. 

Just before disappearing down the path to the temple, Heriet stops, and looks back uncertainly. 

Gabrielle smiles, and salutes her with the scroll. Heriet frowns, and hurries off. 

CUT TO:

INT. PETRONIKUS INN - BACK ROOM - EVENING

Xena is sprawled on the room's small, somewhat low bed. Gabrielle is packing the last of their belongings into a carry bag. 

GABRIELLE
You think this is going to work?

Xena has an apple balanced on her stomach. She bounces it up and down a few times idly.

XENA
Hard to say. We planted some seeds. Let's see what we harvest. 

Gabrielle walks over and sits down next to her. She removes the apple and takes a bite of it, then hands it back. 

GABRIELLE
Bags are ready. You want to take them outside, and I'll meet you near the temple?

Xena takes a bite of the apple. 

XENA
You ready for this?

GABRIELLE
(sighing)
As I'll ever be. C'mon.

Xena hoist the bags up, and turns to jump out the window. Gabrielle hops out after her, and they disappear into the darkness. 

CUT TO:

EXT. PETRONIKUS TEMPLE - NIGHT 

The temple courtyard is full of townsfolk. A platform has been set up outside the doors, hastily decorated with ribbons and swatches of cloth. A piece of board with the crowned sun sigil is propped in front of the platform. Torches stand to either side, lighting the area. 

The door to the temple opens and a dozen tunic wearing men emerge. They take up positions on either side of the platform and stand waiting. 

CUT TO:

EXT. PETRONIKUS INN SURROUNDING TREES - NIGHT - SAME TIME

Xena and Gabrielle stand behind a tree, watching the crowd. Xena straightens out Gabrielle's coat and flicks her bangs a little more evenly. Gabrielle gives her the kind of look often given mothers trying to clean off dirt with a thumb-full of spit. 

Seeing this, Xena leans over and kisses Gabrielle on the lips. 

Gabrielle is much happier with this approach, and apparently forgives Xena her fussing. 

CUT TO:

EXT. PETRONIKUS TEMPLE - NIGHT

Alstan walks out of the temple and goes to the platform. The crowd all bows respectfully, and he holds his hands up as his men all cheer. 

ALSTAN
The peace of the watcher be with you, my friends. You have learned your lessons well, and we have prospered. Thanks be to the one who watches over us. 

CROWD
So it will be. 

ALSTAN
The message of the watcher tells us to take care of each other, to obey those who know the watcher's word, and to give to the watcher all but what is necessary for one's body. 

ALSTAN’S MEN
(together)
Obey the watcher!

ALSTAN
This has given us peace, and a good harvest. What more can we ask? 
(waiting)
We can ask nothing. But the watcher has sent us a new message, and we must listen and obey this new message, so our bounty can continue. 

The crowd murmurs. 

ALSTAN’S MEN
(together)
All heed the message and the messenger!

ALSTAN
We must do more to bring the message to others! It is not enough to know it ourselves, we must shout it from every corner, so that our neighbors, and their neighbors will hear it and listen to its wisdom! That is the path to true enlightenment. 

MAN IN CROWD
But.... We've done everything asked of us. When can we attend to living our lives?

Alstan points at him.

ALSTAN
It is those such as you who threaten our message! See! Among us, participating in our bounty, there is doubt! This angers the watcher! 

The crowd whispers uneasily. They move away from the man. 

ALSTAN 
(cont’d)
You will only know peace through obeying the watcher's word!

Gabrielle steps out from behind the trees and moves to stand opposite Alstan.

GABRIELLE
Obeying someone else has never brought anyone peace. 

The crowd reacts in shock. Alstan is also shocked. 

ALSTAN
Who are you? How dare you come in here in this place of holiness and blaspheme!

GABRIELLE
My name is Gabrielle. I've traveled the world, and I know more about gods than you can ever imagine. 
(pointing)
Blasphemy depends on who's doing the talking. 

Alstan's men stir angrily. 

ALSTAN
Stranger, you have no place here. Leave, before you anger the watcher. You cannot feel the love of the watcher's message. 

GABRIELLE
My place is wherever ordinary people's fears are being used to take advantage of them. 

ALSTAN
(angrily)
You do not hear the message!

The crowd starts to cluster around Gabrielle. Alstan's men close in around him. 

GABRIELLE
(loudly)
The message is - give me everything you've got so I can sell it and make a profit. Why not show them what's in your temple?

ALSTAN
You are an enemy of the watcher! Men! Brothers, sisters... Heed the message and defend the messenger! Take up your stones!

Gabrielle turns her back on them, and faces the crowd.

GABRIELLE
Am I an enemy? Think about what you're being asked! To obey without question? To give up your hard earned profits? To make these men rich with your efforts? Is that the message you hear?

ALSTAN
Defend the messenger! Stone her!

The crowd picks up stones from the ground, shifting angrily as Alstan’s men rush to grab sticks from a nearby pile.

Gabrielle is caught between the two of them. 

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

EXT. PETRONIKUS TEMPLE - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

Gabrielle holds her hands up.

GABRIELLE
You can throw them. But I'll throw them back. 
(pausing)
Think! What would a god need with grain?

ALSTAN
Yes! Think! But think of the peace the message of the watcher has brought to us all. The message of love, and of brotherhood....

Gabrielle turns again to face him.

GABRIELLE
And of thievery?

ALSTAN
My brothers, stop her tongue. The watcher commands me to ask it. Now!

CUT TO:

EXT. PETRONIKUS INN - SURROUNDING TREES

Xena gets ready to leap out. 

XENA
Duck, baby. Duck. 

CUT TO:

EXT. PETRONIKUS TEMPLE - NIGHT 

The men rush Gabrielle. Gabrielle dives out of the way, as rocks start to fly.

But the rocks are not aimed at Gabrielle. They strike the men in tunics instead. The crowd lets out a yell.

CROWD
Ahh!!!

The men in tunics react, attacking the crowd. Gabrielle, caught between them, picks up a stick and whacks one of the brothers with it. 

GABRIELLE
Feeling the love?

ALSTAN
In the name of the watcher, I order you to disperse!

Xena leaps over most of the crowd and lands next to Gabrielle. She grabs one of the men attacking and swings him around, smashing him into the platform. The crowned sun sigil goes flying off into the bushes. 

The crowd is not much use, but they throw sticks and rocks, half afraid, half excited as the brothers start to fall back before Xena and Gabrielle's attack. 

ALSTAN 
(cont’d)
Hold them, my brothers! The holy word is behind you!

GABRIELLE
Watch out!

The innkeeper is struggling in the grasp of two of the brothers. She screams in terror. Gabrielle ducks under one of the brother's arms and punches him in the guts. He keels over. Gabrielle whirls and takes the second man out with a roundhouse kick to the side of the head. The innkeeper stumbles away, half hysterical.

ALSTAN
Take them! Take them!

XENA
Take this!

Xena grabs the edge of the platform and heaves it over. Alstan goes tumbling off and falls to the ground.

Two of the brothers take hold of Alstan and bolt for the temple doors. The rest fall back, fending off the rocks from the now emboldened crowd. 

GABRIELLE
Run! Run like the cowards you are. Wherever you spread your false words, we'll find you and stop you!

The men rush into the temple and slam the door shut. A heavy bolt is heard being thrown.

Xena draws her sword and lets it fly. It buries itself a foot deep in the wooden door and a faint scream is heard through it. 

XENA
And don't you forget it. 

It grows quiet in the courtyard. The crowd seems unsure of what to do now that the fight is over. They also seem a little doubtful of what they did.

GABRIELLE
Thanks for not stoning me. 

The innkeeper edges closer. Her dress is ripped, and she is scratched from her close call with the two men. 

INNKEEPER
What have we done? 

MAN
What if he was right and the watcher hates us now?

A nervous whisper starts up.

XENA
I'm not sure what kind of message he was giving you, but I know a bunch of con men when I see them, and I just saw them.

INNKEEPER
It didn't start out that way! When they came, they talked about how empty our lives had been since the gods left us, and how we should join together and love each other....

SECOND MAN
It sounded good. 

INNKEEPER
It did... but then after a while they started asking for more and more and....

The crowd mutters, and nods. 

SECOND MAN
If you said no, the brothers would come to you and talk you into it. 

Xena nods. She has seen it all too many times before.

XENA
They took advantage of you. 

INNKEEPER
You must think us fools.

GABRIELLE
No. Wanting to believe in something isn't foolish. We all want that. 

The crowd looks uneasily at the temple.

SECOND MAN
Well, now what? They'll come out of there soon enough, and then we'll be in big trouble.

Xena walks over near the door and stands in the torchlight. 

XENA
No you won't. We'll put a guard on this door tonight, so no one gets out, right?

The crowd seems willing and interested in following this new leader among them. 

SECOND MAN
Okay, then....

XENA
Then tomorrow, me and Gabrielle'll go in there and clean the place out. 

INNKEEPER
Why would you do that, for us? We don't even know you.

Xena looks at Gabrielle, who smiles. 

GABRIELLE
It's just what we do. 

The crowd shifts. Three or four big men emerge, and head for the door. They all have somewhat sturdy looking sticks in their hands, and they plant themselves on either side of the doorway to watch. 

XENA
That's it. You men stay there, and if you hear anyone trying to open that door, you start yelling. 

The men nod. Xena claps Gabrielle on the back, and they start to head off back down the path towards the town center. 

CUT TO:

EXT. PETRONIKUS TOWN SQUARE - NIGHT 

As the crowd moves through the square, Alstan's wife and his daughter Heriet hide behind a tree, looking upset and terrified. 

Coming last, Gabrielle spots them as they try to escape towards the temple. Her eyes meet Heriet’s. 

There is nothing but anger and hatred in the girl's eyes. Gabrielle turns and continues walking. 

CUT TO:

EXT. PETRONIKUS TEMPLE - REAR - NIGHT 

It is dark. The moon is behind the trees. The town is mostly silent, except for the torches kept burning at the front of the temple, along with the sound of men talking nearby. 

In the back wall of the temple, a panel very slowly starts to open. 

After a few seconds, one of the brother's heads pokes out, and he looks around carefully. Seeing no one, he exits the back of the building, followed by a few of the others. 

They stop and press themselves against the wall of the building and listen. 

Nothing disturbs the silence. One man nods. A second makes a hand signal in the opening in the back of the temple. More men emerge, along with Alstan. 

They all have backpacks on their backs, stuffed full. After a few more moments of listening, they start off through the trees after closing the panel in the back of the temple.

CUT TO:

EXT. OVERLOOK OUTSIDE PETRONOKUS - NIGHT 

Alstan and his men walk along the ridge. Behind them, several other figures stumble... it is Alstan's wife and daughter and two other women who followed them from the town. 

ALSTAN
(angrily)
Heathens. 

BROTHER
Sir, it wasn't the people. It was those... those women. 

ALSTAN
I know. 

BROTHER
Did you hear what they said? They're going to other places....

ALSTAN
I heard. That is why we're going right to the holy place. The guard of the watcher will know what to do, and must be warned. 

He pauses and glances back.

ALSTAN
(cont’d)
Then we will go back there and re-teach them the message. 

BROTHER
What about those women?

ALSTAN
(smiling grimly)
They will be taken care of. The word of the messenger will not be denied. 

The small group walks on down the path. 

CUT TO:

EXT. OVERLOOK OUTSIDE PETRONOKUS - NIGHT 

Xena and Gabrielle crouch on a ridge over the path. They watch Alstan and his people walk past them. 

GABRIELLE
There they go. 

XENA
With any luck, right back to wherever this thing started. 

Xena and Gabrielle get up and follow the group, walking along the ridge over the path just out of sight. 

CUT TO:

EXT. HEDELON CITY - DAY - ONE WEEK LATER

Hedelon City stands at the end of a stone lined road. It is large, and has thick stone walls. The crowned sun sigil is painted in several prominent places, and many people walking in and out of the city also wear the sigil on their robes. 

Alstan and his people enter the gates. They are greeted by the men standing nearby with waves and warm shouts. 

GUARD
Alstan! Brother! We didn't expect you before another moon!

ALSTAN
Ah, my friend. I need council! There has been a challenge to the message, and I've come for wisdom in defeating it. 

Several men gather around him. Unnoticed, Xena and Gabrielle pause in the shadow of the walls to listen. They look around in disbelief at the size of the city, and the number of people. 

GABRIELLE
Xena, this is a lot bigger than I imagined.

XENA
Me too. Hard to believe something like this grew so fast.... Right under our noses. 

The guard puts his arm around Alstan's shoulders. 

GUARD
Trouble? Hard to believe. The word has gone out over the land, and many have come here to celebrate it. Look around!

Alstan turns and looks. The city seems full of pilgrims. 

ALSTAN
A sight for sore eyes. But no matter, it's only a minor setback. Come. Let's go to the temple, so I can hear again the message and restore myself. 

The travel party heads off down a wide avenue. As they pass a statue, they turn and bow respectfully to it, then continue on.  Xena and Gabrielle start after them.

GABRIELLE
We need to find out who's behind this, Xena. We can't take on a whole city. And these people really sound like they.... Hey!

Xena has stopped short in her tracks. Gabrielle plows into her and bounces off, grabbing hold of Xena's arm to steady herself. 

XENA
(grimly)
We just found out. 

Gabrielle turns and finds herself staring at the statue. 

It is Eve.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT FOUR

To be continued....

DISCLAIMER
No Benedictine Monks were harmed in the making of this motion picture, mostly due to the fact they hadn't been invented yet.