ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

27 INT. MISTY CAVE - DREAMSCAPE PASSAGE

As we last left Xena, she is facing her Doppel.

DOPPEL
You can't go through that door until
you have the key. And you can't go
through life trying to deny that I'm
the *real* you! We were so happy for
all those years. Don't you remember?
Putting fear into all. Pushing aside
those who stood in our way, taking what
we wanted. Ah, those were the good
times.

XENA
That wasn't me. That was never what I
really was.

DOPPEL
Oh? Let me ask you this: Back then,
didn't it feel right? Everything we
did felt right. It felt *good*!

XENA
But it wasn't.

DOPPEL
How do you now? You think this goody
goody act of yours is going to last?
There's no profit in being a hero, ask
around. You're weak without me, Xena,
but the fire is still there. Join me.

It reaches out Its hand. Xena stares at the hand in a daze.

XENA
All through this Dreamscape Passage,
I've had to fight people I've killed
before. And I couldn't bring myself to
kill them again. As I face you, I
realize it can mean only one thing...

DOPPEL
(excited)
Yes? It means what? Tell me?

Xena locks eyes with the Doppel.

XENA
It means that I finally get to kill
*you*!

And she flies into the Doppel, hitting It low and driving It back. They go tumbling into a ball. Xena rolls to her feet. The Doppel turns as Xena puts the side of her foot into the Doppel's face. The other foot comes up under the Doppel's chin. The Doppel recovers. Xena, however, is breathing heavily. She won't hold up much longer.

DOPPEL
You can't defeat me! I'm stronger!
I've always been stronger!

XENA
You're only a dark reminder of a
disease I once had! If you were that
strong I would never have left you.
But I did.

At that moment, we hear an echoing voice:

GABRIELLE'S VOICE
Xena! Hurry!!

CUT TO:

28 INT. MORPHEUS ROTUNDRUM - NIGHT

In the center of the room is a large cage. It has bars as its walls and the bars have ugly spikes on them. Gabrielle stands in the center of the cage. At her feet lies the always-provided sword. One of the walls of the cage has a door and in it stands a huge man, leather-masked like the rest, Wielding an equally large sword. He is waiting for Gabrielle to try and come through. Gabrielle doesn't want to take that exit, but she may have no choice... the spiked wall behind her is moving. She moves about, unsure of what to do as the room gets smaller. Every time she passes near the Warrior, he crouches, ready to deliver his death blow.

BACK TO:

29 INT. MISTY CAVE - DREAMSCAPE PASSAGE

Xena sprints for the door with the Morpheus etching. But, suddenly, in front of her is the Doppel, armed with a sword.

DOPPEL
Have you ever wondered how the rest of
the world sees you? Curious? Watch as
if you had the eyes of your victims!

And the Doppel's face starts to MORPH! It becomes misshapen and hideus, a grotesque comedy of Xena's real features. Xena recoils as the Doppel's face snaps back to Xena's image and It swings the sword at her. Xena ducks, but she is slowing down.

CUT TO:

30 EXT. ROAD - NIGHT

Elkton is still moving through the night trying to put as much distance between himself and the danger he left. Suddenly, the warriors descend on him from all about. He tries to defend himself, but they quickly subdue him.

MYSTIC WARRIOR
Where is she?

ELKTON
No! You men... You don't know what
you're doing! Don't let Manus get away
with this!

One of the Warriors pulls the blanket off the cart. Xena's body lies there, still in its deep sleep. But the body is becoming misshapen and ugly. It is almost dead.

CUT TO:

31 INT. MISTY CAVE - DREAMSCAPE PASSAGE

The battle between Xena and the Doppel continues. Xena manages to knock the sword from the Doppel's hands, but they are each sustaining horrendus damage as they move about the cave. The Doppel stays between Xena and the exit as we:

CUT TO:

32 INT. MORPHEUS ROTUNDRUM - NIGHT

The wall has halved its distance. Gabrielle is forced nearer the Warrior. He is ready for her...

MANUS
Defend yourself, Innocent! He will
kill you as soon as you are within
reach!

Gabrielle presses herself carefully agains the back wall, avoiding the spikes, trying to push it back. The Warrior is closer...

Finally, Gabrielle picks up the sword. She holds it in front of herself defensively.

CUT TO:

33 EXT. ROAD - NIGHT

Elkton is held prisoner to the side. The Mystic Warrior stands like an executioner above Xena, who is still in the wagon. He raises the sword high, then brings it down... on the wagon axel. The wagon drops, spilling Xena's body onto the ground. Her throat is exposed. The Warrior stands over her...

BACK TO:

34 INT. MISTY CAVE - DREAMSCAPE PASSAGE

As Xena is slammed against the wall next to the exit door. The impact is hard and Xena feels it. In her weakened state she can barely lash out at the Doppel with her open hands. The Doppel ducks and moves out of the way. Xena turns to the door and pushes it.

DOPPEL
Not yet, my sister! You still haven't
found the key!

The Doppel hits her in the face. She stumbles back, the Doppel pursuing.

DOPPEL
Your living your life trying to be
something you aren't.

It hits Xena again.

DOPPEL
In the process, you take your gifts and
talents for granted. Me!

Again a hit. Xena tries to dodge, but she still gets a glancing blow that knocks her to her knees. The Doppel looks down at her.

DOPPEL
Everything you are today. Everything
you had. Every spark of noble quality
that made men tremble at your name, it
all came from *me*! All of the qualities
that made you a great leader... *me*!
And your strength...

The Doppel spreads her hands as if to say "What can I say?" Xena nods.

DOPPEL
You understand now.

XENA
I understand. If it weren't for you, I
wouldn't exist. Whether I like it or
not... you're the key.
(realizing)
You're the *key*!

The Doppel freezes, realizing Xena has hit on something. Xena realizes it, too.

She smiles through he bloody lips as she stands. The Doppel back away, afraid. Xena grabs it and starts to pivot, using her momentum to keep the Doppel off balance and moving toward the door. The Doppel knows what she plans and tries to fight her.

XENA
There's only one way out of this
Dreamscape... you! You're the key to
my nightmares! And no matter what part
of me you think you are, I still
control you!

With that, she throws the Doppel into the door. The Doppel
EXPLODES when it hits, shattering the door into a hundred
pieces. Xena picks up her last bit of energy and dives
through the door in a SLOW MOTION STUTTER CUT as we:

CUT TO:

35 EXT. ROAD - NIGHT

The Mystic Warrior brings the sword down toward Xena's neck. Xena's body dissapears and the sword passes straight to the earth.

MYSTIC WARRIOR
What...? What happened? Where'd she
go?

ELKTON
(victorious)
Yes!!

CUT TO:

36 INT. MORPHEUS ROTUNDRUM - NIGHT

Gabrielle has to make a decision. In another second she will be within striking distance. The Warrior raises his sword. Gabrielle raises hers...

ANGLE - THE WALL

Where a section bursts open and Xena and the Doppel come flying through, still locked in combat. Manus and his men, Warriors and Priests alike are frozen in awe. Meanwhile, the Warrior in the cage doorway turns his attention from Gabrielle to the arena. Gabrielle takes a chance and, using the blunt end of the sword handle, hits the Warrior in the back of the head.

The warrior turns his attention back to her. *That* didn't work. He raises his sword again. A mighty arm circles his throat and he is pulled from the doorway. Xena throws the Warrior across the room. Manus screams at his Warriors.

MANUS
Kill her! Kill them both!

GABRIELLE
Xena! Catch!

Gabrielle is free of the cage and tosses her sword to Xena, who catches it just in time to cleave some unfortunate's liver. She follows it up by quickly cutting down three of the Warriors.

But, coming up behind her, is the Warrior from Gabrielle's cage.

GABRIELLE
Xena!

Xena spins and barely has time to deflect the first sword thrust. But her sword goes flying. She jumps to avoid his other swing and, this time, when she turns toward him she reaches for the breast dagger and throws it. It nails the warrior in the chest and he drops.

The other Warriors and Priests take this as their exit cue. They run for safety. Manus is the exception. He remains.

Gabrielle comes up to Xena.

GABRIELLE
I know you would come! I was pretty sure
you would! I almost gave up on you!
(then)
Are you all right?

They turn and find Manus, pointing to the statue of Morpheus.

MANUS
You have no idea what kind of an enemy
you have made! Morpheus wil not be
denied! You think he's just going to
let you walk out of here?

Gabrielle punches him straight in the face. He drops. Gabrielle reacts to the pain in her hand.

GABRIELLE
Punching is all right?

XENA
I'm impressed.

Off this we:
DISSOLVE TO:

37 EXT. VILLAGE - DAY

Xena is packing up the horse with goods. The Storekeep comes out of his store with a pack and hands it to her.

STOREKEEP
That's the last of it.

XENA
How much do I owe you?

STOREKEEP
Owe me? After taking away the fear of
the Mystics? After making it safe to
raise a family in these parts?
(then)
Ten percent off everything.

Xena takes out a pouch and starts looking through it.

ELKTON
You miser! Don't you *dare* charge her
one nugget of gold!

Elkton comes walking up the street wearing a fine grey robe and carrying a ceremonial staff. This time, the Storekeep is a bit more respectful.

STOREKEEP
Ah... Lord Elkton.... No, I wouldn't
think of it. I was just kidding.

ELKTON
I hope so. Unless you want nightmares
the rest of your life.
(to Xena)
What'd ya think?

He turns slowly, modeling his robe.

XENA
Very nice. I take it you have your old
job back?

ELKTON
My old job as the Mystic Head Priest
*and*... my eyesight!

He wiggles his eyebrows and rotates his eyes.

ELKTON
We start the grain festival tomorrow.
From now on, the most we will sacrifice
will be corn. Thanks to you.

XENA
Glad I could help.
(then)
What did you decide to do about Manus?

ELKTON
Manus? Oh, that was easy. We're going
to put him into his own Dreamscape
Passage and let his past demons decide
his fate.
(sincerly)
Xena, you and your friend saved this
valley, these people, and me. From now
on, we'll worship the three Dream God
brothers the way there supposed to be
worshipped; with joy and not fear.
(then)
Speaking of your friend...?

XENA
She's waiting for me. I have to go.

ELKTON
If you're ever in this area... well
you know where to come.

XENA
Thanks. I will.

As she leads the horse down the street -

ELKTON
Sweet dreams.

She shoots him a look. He shruggs. She smiles and continues.

CUT TO:

38 EXT. A MEADOW - DAY

Only slightly like the one in Gabrielle's dream, but close enough. Gabrielle sits next to a small pond. She is deep in thought. Xena walks up.

XENA
Are you ready to go? Gabrielle?

GABRIELLE
(beat)
I *could* have killed someone. I mean,
I was capable of it.

XENA
We're *all* capable of it. But you
didn't cross that line.

GABRIELLE
I got close enough to peek over the
line. And what I saw scared me.
(then)
One thing I know, Xena; you're not like
that. Or, if you were, you weren't
meant to be.

Xena sits next to her. A beat, then:

XENA
I'm not very good with wisdom.

GABRIELLE
That's a given. Go ahead.

Xena thinks, then picks up a stone and gestures to the pond.

XENA
See how clear and calm the surface is?
That was me, a long time ago. And,
then, this...

She tosses the stone into the water. It splashes and sends ripples rebounding about the edges.

XENA
The water ripples and it churns.
That's what I became.

GABRIELLE
But if we sit here long enough, the
water will be still again. It will go
back to being calm.

XENA
I hope so. But the stone is still
under there. It's now a part of that
pond. It may look as it did before,
but it's forever changed.
(beat)
Come on. Let's go.

They both stand and head back to the horse.

GABRIELLE
For your first stab at wisdom, you did
okay.

XENA
I made it up for your sake. You don't
think I believe that stuff, do you?

GABRIELLE
Not me. I wasn't fooled.

They walk a few steps away and Xena turns for a moment and looks back at the pond.

XENA'S POV - THE POND

The waters are, again, calm and clear.

XENA

She smiles as we:

FREEZE FRAME

FADE OUT:

THE END