Prod. #VO211
XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS
"Intimate Stranger"
("Callisto's Nightmare")
Written by
Steven L. Sears
Directed by
Gary Jones
Executive Producers
Sam Raimi & Robert Tapert
Renaissance Pictures
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608 (818)-777-0088
SHOOTING DRAFT
June 25, 1996
Prod. #VO211
XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS
"Intimate Stranger"
("Callisto's Nightmare")
CAST LIST
XENA
GABRIELLE
CALLISTO
JOXER
ARES
HADES
CYRENE
THEODORUS
ARLEIA (ar-LAY-uh)
MORIAN
GRESSIUS
FISHERMAN #1
XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS
"Intimate Stranger"
("Callisto's Nightmare")
SET LIST
INTERIORS:
VILLAGE HALL
UNDERWORLD
UNDERWORLD CAVERN
HIDING CAVE
EXTERIORS:
WOODS
WOODS #1
WOODS #2
WOODS #3
WOODS #4
NEAR WOODS #4
WOODS NEAR AMPHIPOLIS
WOODED PATH
NEAR WOODS EDGE
CLEARING NEAR HUGE BOULDER
LAKE
ROAD
XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS
"Intimate Stranger"
("Callisto's Nightmare")
CHRONOLOGY
NIGHT 1 SCENES # 1 - 15
DAY 2 SCENES #16 - 26
NIGHT 2 SCENE #27
XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS
"Intimate Stranger"
("Callisto's Nightmare")
TEASER
FADE IN:
EXT. WOODS NIGHT
Dark and moody, a mist creeps along the forest floor. A BEAT, then two WARRIORS enter the frame with their swords drawn. Complete silence... not even the bugs are making noise. The warriors move cautiously, then head off into the brush. A second later:
XENA
drops down from the trees, landing in a cat's crouch, silently. She pauses, "feeling" her surroundings. Then, without looking, she motions to:
GABRIELLE
who enters the area cautiously and kneels next to Xena. They speak in low tones as they talk.
GABRIELLE
Are these men with Theodorus?
XENA
Yes. They're sure to be heading back to him.
(noticing)
Are you going to be okay?
GABRIELLE
Yeah. I'm all right. It's just...
anything to do with Callisto...
XENA
I understand. But that's why he has to be brought to justice. All of Callisto's men.
(then)
You think you can find your way back to
Argo in the dark?
GABRIELLE
Sure.
XENA
Good. I'm going to see if I can catch
one of them.
Gabrielle nods and heads off into the dark. Xena draws her sword and stands to move forward when:
CYRENE'S VOICE
Daughter... Xena, welcome home...
Xena spins to see her mother, CYRENE, standing near the wood's edge.
XENA
Mother! What are you doing out here?
CYRENE
You're on your way home. I came out to
meet you.
XENA
But, I'm not. This is dangerous. You
shouldn't be here.
CYRENE
But you are coming home. Back to where you're loved and needed. Back where you belong.
Xena's eyes flash with suspicion.
XENA
Who are you?
Cyrene laughs and MORPHS into Ares.
XENA
Ares ... What do you want?
ARES
Want? I told you, I just wanted to
welcome you back into my fold.
XENA
I have no idea what you're
ARES
I'm talking about revenge... and murder... and what you consider as justice. I'm talking about your execution of Callisto.
XENA
That's not what happened.
ARES
Didn't you serve as judge, jury and
executioner?
Or, am I missing something? A young girl was before you... she had committed.. . oh, unspeakable crimes, for certain... just like you. You were given a chance to reform. A chance you never gave Callisto.
Xena is frozen. Deep down, the accusation preys on her guilt.
XENA
That's not... that's not what
happened...
Ares chuckles and points. Xena turns. CALLISTO is sinking into quicksand. She stretches her hand out to Xena.
CALLISTO
Xena! Help! You can't let me die,
Xena. I am you.
XENA
No...
CALLISTO
Who are you to judge anything I've
done? I can change!
Xena shakes her head but, even as she does, her hand lifts her sword and points it at Callisto. Xena looks at her hand in horror. She has no control over it. She grabs her wrist with her free hand, fighting to control it. The blade SLIDES INTO CALLISTO.
ARES
Welcome back, dearest.
Someone screams.
SMASH CUT TO:
2 EXT. WOODS 11 - NIGHT
Xena POPS UP INTO FRAME and comes out of the DREAM that she was in. Gabrielle is by her side immediately.
GABRIELLE
Xena! Are you okay?
Xena takes a BEAT, looking around, confused. Her sword is in its sheath. Xena looks terrible, though. As if she hasn't gotten a good night's sleep in weeks. She hasn't.
We do notice, however, that there is the happy chirping of crickets and the like in the background.
XENA
Yes... yes, I'm fine.
GABRIELLE
Another nightmare. You screamed.
XENA
That was me?
GABRIELLE
Yeah. I just hope Theodorus and his
men didn't hear it.
(then)
Maybe we should call this off. You haven't had a good night's sleep since we started tracking Theodorus.
XENA
No. If we wait, Theodorus might attack another village. I'll be okay. You get some sleep, though. One of us has to be awake tomorrow.
She tries a smile. Gabrielle returns it, but we can tell she's worried. Gabrielle goes back to her blanket and lays down.
XENA
is trying to keep her eyes open. Her head nods. Her eyes blink... Silence... the bugs have stopped. But somewhere in the distance, a woman's laugh is heard. Xena is on her feet immediately, sword drawn.
XENA
(whispering)
We've got company...
She quietly moves over to the sleeping Gabrielle.
XENA
Gabrielle... get ready. Something's happening...
She turns Gabrielle over. Instead of Gabrielle, we find Callisto again, in Gabrielle's outfit, staring up at her with lifeless eyes. Xena backs away... she sees blood on her hand... the blade of her sword is covered with blood.
SMASH CUT TO:
3 EXT. WOODS 11 NIGHT
Again, Xena's eyes pop open. This time Gabrielle is shaking
her shoulders.
GABRIELLE
Xena, come out of it!
Xena looks really lost right now. And a bit scared.
GABRIELLE
This is enough! We have got to get you some help. You're beginning to scare me!
XENA
Gabrielle... do you think I executed
Callisto?
The mention of Callisto's name is not easy for Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
Executed? Xena... you did what you had
to do.
XENA
These dreams... they've been about her. With Ares taunting me... telling me that I murdered her. That I never gave her a chance to prove she could change. And... part of me... part of me believes it.
GABRIELLE
Callisto chose her path, not you. I'm sure, somewhere, there was a bit of goodness to be mined, but that's not your responsibility. Just because you didn't try to change her... just because you didn't show her the mercy that others have shown you... that doesn't make you a murderer.
Xena is staring at her friend. Gabrielle is staring strangely into Xena's eyes. We might notice, at this point, the absolute silence of the woods...
XENA
What are you saying?
GABRIELLE
I'm saying that if Hercules had treated you the way you treated her, we wouldn't be here right now. You'd be dead. And you'd deserve it, more than her. After all, she didn't create YOU.
Xena's eyes widen, as we:
SMASH CUT TO:
4 EXT. WOODS 11 - NIGHT
As before, Xena's eyes blink open. The night is still, with the exception of the crickets. Gabrielle is sleeping nearby. Cautiously, Xena crawls over to Gabrielle. It is, indeed, Gabrielle sleeping. Xena touches her face, then falls back, exhausted. And scared.
FADE OUT.
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
5 EXT. WOODED PATH - NIGHT
Xena leads Argo, working to keep her eyes open. Gabrielle walks alongside. If it helps, we can HEAR the sounds of the woods. Xena stops. She looks around, listening.
GABRIELLE
What is it?
XENA
Nothing. I thought I heard something.
GABRIELLE
I don't hear anything. Except the bugs
and the wind...
(yawns)
Sorry. I'm not used to traveling at
night.
XENA
We can make better time. (beat)
Do you dream, Gabrielle?
GABRIELLE
I used to dream every night. In fact, my best stories came from my dreams. Mostly heroic things with heroic people. Good f ighting evil. But... I haven't dreamed once since Perdicas died. And the stories... just aren't there anymore.
Gabrielle says nothing more, but keeps walking. Xena shakes her head sadly, then looks down and sees something. She kneels to examine the earth.
GABRIELLE
What's the matter? Are we still on
their trail?
XENA
Yes.. It looks like they're heading toward that deserted village on the other side of the river. But someone else is following Theodorus.
(beat)
And this someone's going to get himself
killed.
Off this, we:
CUT TO:
6 INT. VILLAGE HALL - NIGHT
A large town hall for a deserted village. Several men are gathered around what appears to be a pinata. It is, in fact, JOXER. He is strung up, the rope wrapping around his midsection, binding his arms. As one man pulls a rope that raises Joxer, the other men have bludgeons and swords that they smack into the palms of their hands, eager to get the game started. THEODORUS walks up to Joxer.
THEODORUS
I'm trying to figure out if I want to
give you any last words.
JOXER
You don't scare me!
Theodorus steps right into Joxer's face.
THEODORUS
Really?
JOXER
Well... you don't scare all of me. My fists, for example. If they were free right now, you'd be begging for your life.
THEODORUS
You're gonna feel such pain...
JOXER
I laugh at pain! Hah!
Theodorus punches Joxer in the face, spinning him around on his rope. The "Hah!" gets repeated until it becomes a painful "Houch!" Theodorus reaches out and stops Joxer's spinning by grabbing him by his jaw, scrunching his mouth.
THEODORUS
What were you doing following me?
JOXER
(through scrunched mouth)
I'm going to bring you to justice. The way Xena and I brought justice to Callisto.
THEODORUS
Callisto was a fool. I was going to kill her anyway. Xena saved me the trouble. Look who's alive now.
(to his men)
What do you say, boys? Should we see what the mighty Joxer is made of? They all laugh, displaying their weapons.
JOXER
Wait! I'm worth more alive. You'll need a hostage to get away from the Athenian Army!
THEODORUS
What Athenian Army?
JOXER
I didn't tell you about them?
With a yell, Theodorus grabs Joxer and pushes him, spinning him around the heads of his men as each one tries to nail Joxer with a sword or mace.
Suddenly, another sound is heard above the din. It is Xena's war yell! Theodorus stops his men.
THEODORUS
That's Xena!
JOXER
And the Athenian Army!
THEODORUS
Regroup! Into the woods. Now!
The men run out, heading for the hills, leaving Joxer suspended and kicking at one or two men as they pass.
JOXER
Come back, you cowards! Come on! One
at a time!
The room is clear barely a second when a figure crashes through a shuttered window and rolls to her feet, sword out: Xena. She quickly scans the room.
JOXER
We're safe. I cleared the place out.
Gabrielle enters, staff ready.
XENA
They're gone.
GABRIELLE.
Are we going after them?
JOXER
Hello...?
XENA
No. We've gotten as close to them as I
want to at night. They won't be far.
JOXER
Again... Hellooo!
XENA
We'll make camp here.
GABRIELLE
I'll get the blankets.
She walks off. Joxer is getting really pissed.
JOXER
Hey! Doesn't anyone
Xena clamps her hand over his mouth.
XENA
We see you, Joxer. Calm down.
She walks over to the rope tied off on the wall. She raises her sword.
JOXER
Think you can cut me down without
dropping me flat on my face?
XENA
No.
She swings the sword. Joxer drops, as mentioned, flat on his face.
TIME CUT TO:
7 INT. VILLAGE HALL - NIGHT
Joxer sits holding his bruised eye. Gabrielle comes over to him.
GABRIELLE
Here. Put this over your black eye.
JOXER
It's beef jerky.
GABRIELLE
It's the best I can do.
He takes it and puts it over his eye. Gabrielle starts to move away. Joxer stops her.
JOXER
Gabrielle... Uhm... I wanted to say something.
(clears his throat)
Being a warrior, as I am, I find it hard sometimes to talk to people. That is to say... well, strength is a weakness sometimes when you have something important to say.
GABRIELLE
Joxer, just spit it out.
JOXER
I'm really sorry... about Perdicas.
Gabrielle looks away.
JOXER
I know that there's nothing I could say that'll come close to making you feel better... in fact, I'm pretty good at saying the wrong things. But I've often thought that maybe... if I had been there when it happened, things might have been different. Maybe she would have gone after me instead of Perdicus. Or, maybe... I don't know.
(then)
Look, it's just dreaming on my part, but if I could have killed her when I had the chance...
Gabrielle turns back to him.
GABRIELLE
Joxer, don't. Please. Just... please.
She moves away from him. He watches her go and silently berates himself for not finding the right words.
XENA
stands near the window, staring out into the forest. Gabrielle comes over to her with a blanket. Xena doesn't look at her as Gabrielle puts it on Xena's shoulders. A BEAT, then:
XENA
I can't deny it anymore. I murdered her. My nightmares... it's all true. I realize that now.
Gabrielle leans against the wall, frustrated.
GABRIELLE
This is such a mess. You wish you hadn't killed her. Joxer wishes he had killed her sooner. And I wish she had never been born.
(beat)
I guess Callisto won after all.
With that, she moves off to her own blanket, leaving Xena alone. Xena looks back out into the night and closes her eyes.
CALLISTO'S VOICE
Xena...
Xena's eyes open as she sees:
CALLISTO - NEAR WOODS EDGE (DREAM)
Silence from the woods. This time, though, we're not fooling anyone. Callisto motions for Xena to follow her. Xena looks back at her sleeping companions, then crawls through the window.
8 EXT. CLEARING NEAR HUGE BOULDER - NIGHT (DREAM)
Xena enters the clearing. Callisto is waiting. Xena walks up to her.
CALLISTO
Hello, Xena. I've missed you.
XENA
This is a dream.
CALLISTO
You're only half right. Dreams are the fine line between the real world and the Underworld. And, with a little help, that line can disappear.
XENA
What kind of help?
Ares appears, leaning against the boulder.
ARES
Help from a god, perhaps.
XENA
What are you doing, Ares? What's your
plan?
ARES
My plan? My plan is what it's always been. To find that one special warrior who will lead the world into peace and prosperity.
XENA
Me.
ARES
Ahh... no. Not anymore. Funny, but I never really got to know Caliisto until you killed her. She's got potential.
XENA
Too bad she's dead.
ARES
True. But, all things are possible. One last question, Xena. Do you now see that you're guilty of murdering Callisto?
XENA
(difficult)
Yes.
Callisto and Ares exchange a look.
CALLISTO
I've been waiting for you to say that.
And, suddenly, she grabs Xena by the arm and neck, and whirls her around, throwing her into the boulder. With a FLASH OF SPARKS:
SMASH CUT TO:
9 INT. VILLAGE HALL - NIGHT (REALITY)
Xena POPS UP INTO FRAME with a gasp. She looks around, getting her bearings. She moves quickly to Gabrielle and whispers to her.
XENA
Gabrielle! wake up! I've figured out
the nightmares.
GABRIELLE
What... ? What is it?
XENA
Callisto is free. Somehow she's back.
And I think she's working with Ares.
Gabrielle reacts strongly to this. she looks away, then back to Xena, trying to control her feelings.
GABRIELLE
What can we do? If Ares is helping
her...
XENA
We have to get to Amphipolis. I can't explain it, but that's where she's heading. She wants revenge. I think she's going to kill my mother.
Gabrielle is wide awake now. She starts to wake Joxer.
XENA
No! Joxer would only get himself killed. Gather up your things. I'll meet you outside.
Gabrielle nods. Xena creeps away.
10 EXT. NEAR WOODS EDGE - NIGHT
Xena leaves the Hall. A BEAT, then she looks over to see Ares standing nearby. Without a word, he walks right up to her.
ARES
(smiling)
You look lovely.
Xena smiles, grabs the back of his head, and pulls him into a hungry kiss! He returns it with lust. After a BEAT, they pull apart.
ARES
Welcome back, Callisto.
It should be obvious by now; this is Callisto in Xena's body (henceforth to be referred to as CALLISTO-X).
CALLISTO-X
I wonder how Xena likes her new surroundings
And, to answer that, we:
CUT TO:
INT. UNDERWORLD - NIGHT
Where we find Xena in the body of Callisto (XENA-C). Confused, Xena-C looks around and realizes her situation. Then she looks upward and screams:
XENA-C
Callisto!!
Off this, we:
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT ONE
Xenaphile | I.S. Act 1 | I.S. Act 2 | I.S. Act 3 | I.S. Act 4