ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

ext. forest - late afternoon

Xena and Gabrielle, riding borrowed horses, move swiftly down a narrow trail deep in the woods. After passing yet another broken branch, Gabrielle pulls her horse to a stop. Xena follows, patiently awaiting an explanation.

gabrielle

Are we following the right trail?

Xena raises an eyebrow.

gabrielle

(Cont'd)
(gesturing)

That’s the third sign we’ve

passed in the last ten minutes.

xena

And?

gabrielle

C’mon, Xena. This is you we’re talking about here.

The person the gods couldn’t track unless she

wanted them to?  A blind man could follow this

trail with both legs tied behind his head.

xena

Interesting image.

Gabrielle rolls her eyes.

gabrielle

I’m serious.

xena

I know you are.

(beat)

Listen, she’s already told you where she’s headed,

and she knows you’re going to follow her eventually,

so covering her tracks wouldn’t be a priority.

gabrielle

(doubtfully)

Maybe you’re right.

Xena gives her a look.

gabrielle

(Cont'd)
Ok, you’re probably right.

(beat)

I just don’t like it.  These tracks seem too fresh.

Someone on a mission to conquer the known world

wouldn’t be stopping to smell the roses like this.

(beat)

Face it, Xena.  You don’t even do that when

you’re not looking to take over the world.

The look of guilt in Xena’s eyes freezes Gabrielle where she stands.  Her heart plummets into the depths of her belly.

gabrielle

(Cont'd)
By the gods.  I’m so sorry.

I didn’t mean....

xena

You were right, though.

That’s something I’ve never done.

gabrielle

(softly)

Xena....

xena

(sadly smiling)

It’s all right.

(beat)

Let’s keep moving.

It’ll be dark soon.

dissolve to:

ext. camp - night

The fire has burned down to a few hot coals.  Beneath a heavy fur, Xena lies spooned tightly against Gabrielle’s back.  Both are awake, though Xena’s eyes are closed.

gabrielle

Xena?

xena

Mm?

gabrielle

Do you think Spiros and Leanthos will be

able to convince the rest of them to help

put you back the way you were?

xena

Don’t see why not.

You were pretty convincing.

gabrielle

(flushing)

I don’t know what came over me.

xena

Frustration.

gabrielle

I suppose.

The camp falls silent for several moments.

gabrielle

(Cont'd)
Are you nervous?

xena

(half-asleep)

‘bout what?

gabrielle

About what Leanthos said.  About how the act

of reintegrating two halves results in insanity.

Xena opens her eyes and pulls Gabrielle more tightly against her.

xena

That won’t happen with me.

gabrielle

How can you be so sure?

xena

I’m not an animal, Gabrielle.

I’ll know what’s happening.

I’ll understand it.

gabrielle

But still....

xena

I’ll be fine.

(beat)

It’s not as if this hasn’t happened before, you know.

gabrielle

But that was different.

xena

The principle is the same.

(beat)

I’ll be fine.

gabrielle

(softly)

There was a time, not so long ago, that this… the

way you are now… is all I could have wished for you.

xena

(slowly)

And there was a time when it would

have been an answer to a prayer.

(beat)

But the demons I battle… the evil I’ve done…

doesn’t go away with the darkness within me.

(beat)

And it shouldn’t.

I don’t deserve that sort of peace.

gabrielle

Xena....

xena

Gabrielle, when I think about the things

I’ve done to people… done to you....

Gabrielle turns within Xena’s embrace.  Reaching up, she clasps her face between her hands.

gabrielle

Xena, listen to me.  I know it’s easy to get

into a place where thinking about the

things you’ve done overwhelms you.

xena

Gabrielle....

gabrielle

Because I’ve been there.

Xena falls silent.

gabrielle

(Cont'd)
You have to put your trust in love, and the

ability of those you love to forgive you.

Xena grasps Gabrielle’s hands, removing them from her face, and clasping them tight against her chest.

xena

Trusting in love--in your love--was one of

the hardest lessons I’ve ever had to learn.

(beat)

That trust takes a strength that I

just don’t have in me right now.

There’s a moment of silence as Xena takes in a deep breath, then releases it.

xena

(Cont'd)
And if I don’t get it back, I’m not sure

how I’m gonna live with who I was.

(beat, softer)

Or who I am.

Unable to speak for the lump in her throat, Gabrielle releases her hands from Xena’s grip, and enfolds her partner into an all-encompassing embrace, resting the dark head on her shoulder and stroking the soft hair beneath her fingers.

Dissolve to:

ext. wooded trail - day

Xena and Gabrielle sit atop their restive mounts, just before what they know to be a sizable clearing.  Gabrielle’s body is tense as she stands up in the saddle, head turning back and forth, searching.

gabrielle

She’s close.  I can feel her.

xena

Very close.

gabrielle

Why is she doing this?
It doesn’t make any sense. She should have
already entered Amazon territory by now.

Hearing no response, Gabrielle looks over to Xena, catching a very familiar expression on her partner’s face.

gabrielle

(Cont'd)
You know something.

(beat)

Of course you do. She’s you.

Or you’re her.  Or something.

(beat)

Share?

Xena turns to her, expression somber and deadly serious.

xena

(softly)

Whenever you’ve been in trouble, Gabrielle...

hurt, or captured, or worse... it wasn’t just this part

of me that tried to move heaven and earth to help.

Understanding dawns on Gabrielle’s face, together with a flush that displays her chagrin.

gabrielle

I… think I always knew that, somehow.

(beat)

But maybe I was a little afraid to admit that.

Even to myself.

Xena nods gravely in response, then softly urges her horse down the narrow trail.  Gabrielle stares after her for a moment, her expression deeply thoughtful, before she too continues on.

cut to:

ext. clearing - day

Gabrielle remains deep in thought as she slowly crosses the clearing.  She is jerked from her reverie when her horse suddenly stops very close to the rear of Xena’s horse, which is likewise standing still near the very edge of the clearing.

gabrielle

Xena?

There is a rustle in the thick bushes just beyond the clearing’s boundary, and DARK XENA emerges, a cold smile curving her lips.

DARK xena

Speak of a satyr and she shall appear.

Dark Xena’s gaze flicks briefly to her doppelganger sitting motionless atop the brown gelding, then flicks dismissively away, to settle once again on Gabrielle.

Her smile grows.

DARK xena

(Cont'd)
I knew you couldn’t stay away for long.

gabrielle

You left me, remember?

Dark Xena’s hand waves in a dismissive gesture.

dark xena

A minor detail.

gabrielle

I’m surprised to find you here.

I thought you’d be halfway to the Amazons by now.

Dark Xena shrugs, unconcerned.  She begins a slow, stalking approach toward Gabrielle.

dark xena

You always did tell me to slow down....

Another step and she is eye to eye with Gabrielle’s horse, who snorts and shies away nervously.  She laughs, then looks up, her eyes roaming possessively over Gabrielle.

dark xena

(Cont'd)
…and appreciate the beauty around me.

(beat)

Why don’t you come down

from there, so we can…talk?

Gabrielle looks over to where the woman she’s come to think of as “Good” Xena still sits atop her horse. Xena nods once, and they both slip from their mounts.

dark xena

(Cont'd)
Much better.

(stepping closer)

If you’ve changed your mind about joining

me, I should warn you that I don’t share.

She looks over her shoulder, glancing at her double meaningfully.

dark xena

(Cont’d)

Not even with myself.

gabrielle

Actually, I was wondering if

you had changed your mind.

Dark Xena throws her head back and laughs, delighted.

dark Xena

Oh, Gabrielle, you are a treasure.

gabrielle

I’m serious.

dark xena

I can see that, yes.

Now let me explain to you why this little

fantasy of yours can never come to pass.

Circling Gabrielle slowly, she comes in close behind her.  Xena places her hands on Gabrielle’s shoulders, squeezing slightly.

dark xena

(Cont'd)
My foot is on the neck of the world,

Gabrielle, just waiting to bend it to my will.

gabrielle

(murmuring)

Bend it?  Or break it?

dark xena

(lips to Gabrielle’s ear)

Does it matter?

Smirking at Gabrielle’s shivering reaction, she straightens, but doesn’t remove her hands.

dark Xena

(Cont'd)
It’s my destiny, Gabrielle. And it will happen

because I now have the strength, the drive,

and the focus to make it happen.

Lifting a hand, dark Xena points across the clearing to her double, who stands motionless.

dark xena

(Cont'd)
That was my weakness.

My shame.  My guilt.

(beat)

It’s all that stands between who I am…

and who I am meant to be.

gabrielle

You’re wrong.

dark xena

Am I?

Pulling away, Gabrielle spins, facing her head on.

gabrielle

Yes. Who you are meant to be, Xena, is who you were.

A full and complete person, who is capable of loving,

and being loved.  Not feared and despised.

Someone who leads by example, not by force.

dark xena

And that’s where you’re wrong, Gabrielle.

Love is a mindless quest sought by spineless fools.

It’s an illusion, nothing more.

gabrielle

It’s not an illusion!