ACT THREE

FADE IN:

19 EXT. STONE JAIL - DAY (CONTINUOUS)

No time has elapsed. The chariot ropes are being attached to Xena's chained legs. There is plenty of slack in the ropes.

GABRIELLE

rushes up, and loops the middle of one of the ropes around her own neck.

ANGLE

Xena's as surprised as everyone else.

XENA
( to Gabrielle )
Stop it. Take that thing off.

FAVORING GABRIELLE

GABRIELLE
( angrily; to all )
Come on! If you're going to murder one, why
not murder two? What's the difference?

PERANIS
( re: Xena )
She's the only murderer here.

GABRIELLE
( in his face )
Not for long.
( to all )
And she's no murderer!

CLOSE ON XENA

She's staring straight at Ares, who's almost lost in the crowd.

CLOSE ON ARES

Still with his nice, genuinely gentle smile, he waits -- fairly certain -- for Xena to call his name. But suddenly:

BENITAR (O.S.)
Stop!

WITH BENITAR

He approaches Gabrielle. He removes the noose around her neck, as:

BENITAR
( to all )
I was chosen by you to bring justice to this
village. This isn't it.
( to Peranis )
Would you have us destroy the very
laws we live by?

PERANIS
( at Benitar; angry )
When someone destroys the people we've lived
with all our lives, yes!

Peranis steps forward. The Villagers look like they're willing to follow. Benitar waves toward the Guards who come to his side holding their spears in front of them sideways. They push the Villagers back a la police handling riot control.

BENITAR
If you want blood now, you'll have to come
through them. And if you get through them,
you'll have to kill me.

The Villagers begin to lose their nerve.

BENITAR
Peranis, justice will be done. I promise you.

Peranis angrily turns on his heel and stomps away. The crisis is past.

BENITAR
( to Guards; re : Xena)
Return her to her confinement.
( to Gabrielle )
You may act as her advocate.

20 INT. XENA'S CELL - DAY - START CLOSE ON XENA

She appears more annoyed than angry.

XENA
That was a pretty dumb thing you did;
you know that , don't you?

PULL BACK and WIDEN to discover that, once again, Xena and Gabrielle are alone in Xena's cell.

GABRIELLE
Why? You'd do the same for me.

XENA
Yeah, but that's different.

GABRIELLE
Why? Because you're a warrior? Well, just
normal people like me are willing to take
chances to save their best friends, too, you know.

XENA
You don't get it, Gabrielle. There's no
saving me. They have eyewitnesses who saw
me standing there with a bloody sword in
my hand and nobody else around.

GABRIELLE
Which brings us to the subject of your
defense. Are you sure none of the villagers
saw you fighting this mysterious hooded man?

XENA
I'm sure.

GABRIELLE
( ever the optimist )
Well, then I'll just have to find
some exonerating evidence.

Off Xena's sigh, go to:

20A EXT. ROAD NEAR WOODS - ATTACKED WAGON SITE - DAY

Gabrielle is walking around the wagon looking for clues. She stoops and studies something carefully.

CLOSE ON FOOTPRINTS IN THE DIRT

Boot prints are everywhere. We focus on two that face each other, toe to toe.

ON GABRIELLE

She kneels down to measure first one with her hand and then the other.

GABRIELLE
( eureka )
That's it.

She starts running toward the town.

20B EXT. VILLAGE STREET - DAY

Benitar is crossing the street. Gabrielle runs up to him.

GABRIELLE
Benitar. I can prove there was someone else at
the site of the murder. And that Xena fought him.

BENITAR
What are you talking about?

GABRIELLE
There are two sets of boot prints face
to face. One of them is Xena's and the other
is longer and wider. They're definitely prints
made by warrior boots. Not the footwear of
choice for humble villagers.

Benitar gives her a thoughtful stare.

BENITAR
Show me.

20C EXT. ATTACKED WAGON SITE - DAY

All is quiet for a moment and then a PIECE OF FABRIC on the wagon begins rippling as a breeze picks up. Soon the piece of fabric is waving like a flag and dirt has begun to swirl around.

ON THE FOOTPRINTS

The dirt begins settling on the footprints, covering them from view.

20D EXT. ROAD - DAY

Benitar and Gabrielle walk along.

GABRIELLE
The different footprints are toe to toe and
are all over the place, like footprints would
tend to be after a sword fight.

They round a turn in the road and spot:

20E EXT. ATTACKED WAGON SITE - DAY

Gabrielle runs up to the wagon and points to the ground.

GABRIELLE
They're right --

She freezes. Benitar joins her.

BENITAR
Where are they?

GABRIELLE
I don't understand it. They were here moments ago.

BENITAR
I don't have time for this.

He turns to walk back into town.

GABRIELLE
Here's one.

CLOSE ON A BOOT PRINT

wedged against one of the wagon wheels.

ON BENITAR AND GABRIELLE

as they peer down at the print.

BENITAR
One print? That doesn't prove a thing.
( walking back toward village )
I hope you don't waste our time with nonsense
like this during the hearing.

As he goes, a confused Gabrielle stares down at the dirt for a moment and then trudges thoughtfully back toward the village. We FOLLOW her for a few steps until she passes a large tree. We HOLD on the tree as she trudges on. After a moment, Ares appears out from behind the tree and smiles after Gabrielle. He gives a little flick of his head toward the wagon.

ON THE FOOTPRINT

as another little breeze comes up and covers this last print.

21 EXT. LARGE VILLAGE - DAY (STOCK)

Re-establishing.

BENITAR (V.O.)
And from your field, you could hear the
sounds of the massacre?

22 INT. MEETING HALL - DAY

Defendant Xena, now wearing her complete outfit, sits at one table at the left front with Gabrielle; Benitar sits in a large, high-backed chair squarely in the middle; the witness rail ( before which each witness stands ) is on the right. Currently, Areolis' widow is at the rail.

AREOLIS' WIDOW
I heard men screaming. I left my plow and
ran toward the road. That's when I recognized
my husband's voice. He was yelling "No...
Please, no..." Then I heard him scream, too.

E.C.U - XENA'S FACE

Feeling this woman's pain.

AREOLIS' WIDOW ( O.S.)
I was trying so hard to get there...
I fell down...

RESUME - SHOT

AREOLIS' WIDOW
...That's when I heard the fighting. But by
the time I did get there, my husband and the
others were dead.
( at Xena )
And I saw her...

E.C.U - GABRIELLE

This is pretty damning stuff.

AREOLIS' WIDOW (O.S.)
...kneeling over Teracles, robbing him...

RESUME - SHOT

AREOLIS' WIDOW
...Blood on her sword; blood on her hands...

ON VILLAGERS

riveted by her testimony -- and visibly hating Xena.

RESUME - SHOT

AROELIS' WIDOW
...My husband's blood coloring the ground.

CLOSE ON BENITAR

BENITAR
Your father and the others had just been
selling at the market, that means they each had money.

FAVORING TEEN SON

We discover it is the Teen Son ( of Doracles ), rather than the widow, who's now at the rail.

TEEN SON
His purse was gone when they finally brought
him to us. My two little sisters were...
eating supper.

CLOSE - XENA

Hurting for this kid. She happens to glance over at:

THE VILLAGERS

By now, there's hard and visible hatred for her emanating not only from the general Villagers, but from even the two hitherto tearfully mourning women.

E.C.U. - GABRIELLE

GABRIELLE
You all say you heard the sounds of the
massacre... that's what drew you to the road.

As CAMERA PULLS BACK and WIDENS, we see it's Gabrielle now standing doing the questioning -- and Peranis at the rail.

PERANIS
Yes.

GABRIELLE
In addition to the voices... there were
the sounds of the fight itself; the
swords clashing.

PERANIS
That's right.

GABRIELLE
But none of the men who died were carrying
swords. If you heard Xena fighting before you
got there... who was she fighting?
( off his silence )
She's said she fought with a hooded man and
kept him from killing the one man who did survive.
And that is what you heard, isn't it?

REACTIONS - VILLAGERS (INTERCUT AS DESIRED)

Throughout the following exchanges, we'll see the Villagers become more interested than angry; less and less certain in their general demeanor.

PERANIS
There was no hooded man, there was only her.

GABRIELLE
By the time you got there, yes. And she
was on her knees using her fine medical
knowledge to save that one survivor. If
she'd killed the others, why was she saving him?

CLOSE - BENITAR

Frowning in slight confusion, as:

BENITAR
She was covered in blood, young lady.
So was her sword.

RESUME - SHOT

as Gabrielle turns back to Peranis at the rail.

GABRIELLE
Have you ever helped someone an your farm
who was badly injured and bleeding?

PERANIS
Uh... one time, yes.

GABRIELLE
Any of his blood get on you?

PERANIS
Well of course, I was helping him.

GABRIELLE
Exactly my point.

CLOSE ON GABRIELLE

She turns away from the witness rail for a couple beats, thinking. Then, as she turns back:

GABRIELLE
You say the surviving man... Teracles?... He
still had his money scattered around in the dirt.

Again, CAMERA PULLS BACK and WIDENS to reveal it's now big Grathios she's talking to as he stands at the rail.

GRATHIOS
If we hadn't gotten there quick as we did,
she'd've picked him clean, too.

GABRIELLE
Like the others.

GRATHIOS
Just like the others.

GABRIELLE
Then where's their money?
( off his silence )
If she'd already robbed everybody else,
where'd she put their money?

GRATHIOS
So she tossed it away... go back for
it later, I don't know.

GABRIELLE
When the rest of you showed up, she could've
killed you too. No witnesses. Why didn't she do that?

GRATHIOS
Hey, if she wasn't guilty, why'd she run away?

GABRIELLE
Nobody here cares that she didn't murder anybody;
nobody cares that she was onlt trying to help... Nobody
believes she fought off the real murderer. All you care
about is executing someone. I'd've run away,
too... and so would you.

As we hear the (O.S.) Main door of the meeting room bang open:

FAVORING TERESIA, TERACLES AND STRETCHER BEARERS

The wounded man, Teracles, to whom Xena ministered in the Teaser is carried in by two Stretcher Bearers. His wife, Teresia, walks at his side, holding his hand.

INCLUDING XENA

She rises, relieved.

XENA
( to Gabrielle )
That's the man I was trying to save.

GABRIELLE
( mutters to self )
Thank the gods.

ANGLE

BENITAR
Stand clear everyone. Teracles... What happened?

TERACLES
( weakly )
Attacked... So quick...

BENITAR
By whom? Who murdered our three neighbors and left you like this?

TERACLES
I felt a sword strike me. I fell. I heard
Palinios call out in pain...

PALINIOS' MOTHER

Upon hearing her dead son's name, she MOANS in renewed grief.

RESUME - SHOT

TERACLES
Then the sword came down again. The last
thing I remember was...
( indicates Xena )
That woman, standing over me... my own
blood covering her sword.

A lot of negative, angry WALLA from the Villagers. During this:

REACTION - XENA

She SIGHS in defeat.

RESUME - SHOT

GABRIELLE
No!
( moves to Teracles )
Sir, if I could ask just a couple of questions...

TERESIA
Stay away from him. He's told what happened;
now leave him alone.

BENITAR
This hearing is finished. The counsil will meet
this evening; I will post my verdict in the morning.
( to Guards #1 and #2 )
Remove the accused.

As the two Guards approach Xena, and begin escorting her out, MOVE IN on an anxious, even desperate, Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE AND BENITAR

as she moves quickly to him, with:

GABRIELLE
About the verdict, and what that gentleman
said... I'd appreciate just a word or two with
your council when you get together?...

Benitar nods.

23 EXT. STONE JAIL - NIGHT

Re-establishing the place at this late hour.

24 INT. XENA'S CELL - NIGHT - FAVORING XENA

She's again well-shackled to the wall. This time they left her full outfit on. The heavy door opens, spilling light across her.

FAVORING PERANIS AND GUARDS #1 AND #2

as they enter. The Guards flanking him, Peranis holds a small horse whip.
He comes fairly close to her, and stops, with :

PERANIS
I'm glad now that we didn't kill you.
We've got until tomorrow morning before
we do kill you. Meanwhile...

XENA - PERANIS - INTERCUTS (AS DESIRED)

He uses the whip to WHACK her across the shoulder. If he expected anything from her but disdain, he doesn't get it. So:

PERANIS
Palinios...

He knees her in the stomach, then:

PERANIS
He was the best friend I had on earth. And now...

As he draws the whip back for another swipe:

E.C.U XENA'S FACE

She closes her eyes.

PERANIS (O.S.)
I'll tell you about the others you murdered...
( ominously )
One by one.

Now, even as her FACE LINGERS ON SCREEN... and we hear the terrible sound of Peranis WHACKING her again, Xena's FACE

BECOMES SLOWLY OVERLAID BY, then FULLY DISSOLVES INTO:

25 INT. XENA'S FANTASY BOUDOIR - NIGHT - XENA AND ARES

Again they stand facing each other across the bed. Ares, wearing no hood and looking somewhat dashing, will come slowly around to her, during:

ARES
You were almost willing to let them drag
you to death today. And now some unbearably
smelly farmer is beating you half to death.
This is grotesque.

XENA
You above all know what grief can
drive people to do.

ARES
I so hoped you'd call my name.

XENA
I think I almost did.

Still most casual and inoffensively confident, he'll take her hand. There's nothing about him to suggest malevolence.

ARES
Ah, now that's the important thing;
you did want my help.

XENA
I wanted to live, yes.

As he did last time, he takes her shoulders in his hands.

ARES
You want more than just living. Danger
excites you. And as you know, I am somewhat
dangerous. Action and power draw you like
a moth to flame...

TWO SHOT - XENA AND ARES

as he draws her closer.

ARES
... The god of war is a flame. It burns inside
you. I burn inside you. You can feel me there. Like
a fever. Xena will never be answerable to these
pathetic creatures. Not the Xena whose Army scorched
the earth at will. You are remembering it now. The
unfettered freedom of it. You're Xena!
( about to kiss her )
Unstoppable; unbeatable. Now summon forth
that super-mortal strength of yours.

They kiss.

26 INT. XENA'S CELL - NIGHT - START ON XENA

as she lets out her battle cry. QUICKLY PULL BACK and WIDEN to see Peranis and the two Guards jump reflexively back and away from this suddenly-scary demon of a woman.

ANGLE

Almost with ease, Xena RIPS loose from the shackles. With a single swipe she sends Peranis flying into the wall and totally out cold.

ANGLE

Guards #1 and #2 instantly flee. Rushing out through the heavy door, they lock it behind them ( the hell with Peranis ).

FOLLOWING XENA

She rushes at the locked door -- leaping upward and thrusting both legs full force against it.

OVER XENA'S SHOULDER

as the force of her legs striking the door bursts it down.

27 INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE XENA'S CELL - NIGHT

Guards #1 and #2 are stunned by Xena's bust-out -- but recover quickly. As Guard #1 moves toward her, Xena body-rolls at a low angle into him, knocking his legs out from under him. He's down, but not yet out.

ANGLE

Guard #2 swings his club at Xena's head. She blocks the heavy blow with only one forearm; grabs the club with her free hand... yanks it from him as she uses the elbow of her blocking arm to cold-cock him.

INCLUDING GUARD #1

as he ENTERS FRAME by leaping on Xena's back. With him hanging on her neck, she bends over -- reaches down between her own legs to grab his ankles -- and yank them forward. Guard #1 lands flat on his back. Then, as he starts to raise his head, Xena delivers a spinning round kick to his jaw. But just as she's putting his lights out, we:

INCLUDE GABRIELLE

who's just entering the other corridor door ( ostensibly from the (O.S.) Counsil meeting ).

GABRIELLE
Xena, the council said...

But, out of pure instinct, all Xena's aware of initially is that someone else is coming at her.

XENA - GABRIELLE (INTERCUTS AS DESIRED )

Even as she's finishing the round kick which just dropped the Guard, Xena lashes out with a vicious backhand sweep -- at Gabrielle.

The force of the slap literally flings Gabrielle several feet and flat against the wall. MOVE IN on GABRIELLE'S FACE. A fairly quick return to her senses is followed by an expression of her heartfelt anguish. She rises slowly... holding her bruised cheek. And with tears welling up in her eyes...

Only now does Xena vaguely recognize Gabrielle... the sight of whom will slowly bring her out of her madness.

Beat, then -- sobbing -- the heartbroken Gabrielle runs out of the place... then, with reality creeping back into her:

XENA
( dazed )
Gabrielle?...
( fully realizing; brokenly )
Oh, no...

Suddenly, emptied of all hostility -- indeed, all strength -- Xena leans back against a wall. What she's done pains her greatly. HOLD on her like this, before we:

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE

The Reckoning Act 3 | The Reckoning Act 4