ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

EXT. TOWN - DAY

Xena and Sappho are walking through the town. Sappho is dressed in Gabrielle's gear, right down to the sais in her boots.

SAPPHO

I don't know how Gabrielle can

dress like this all the time. It's

chilly and the sais are heavy.

XENA

It’s less restrictive in a fight. Being

able to move is very important.

SAPPHO

I imagine it would be.

Do you two do that often?

XENA

Too often. But it's what we do.

I'm not sure we'd know how to

behave under other circumstances.

Sappho points to a well dressed man, standing near a vegetable cart, obviously doing business with the merchant.

SAPPHO

That's Danos.

He's the island magistrate.

XENA

Have you two had problems?

SAPPHO

Not really, but he didn't seem

thrilled when I mentioned

the school to him.

XENA

Then he's as good a

place to start as any.

CUT TO:

EXT. GARDEN - DAY

Gabrielle and Adrienne are walking through the immense gardens of the estate. Adrienne seems to be looking at everything but Gabrielle as they talk.

GABRIELLE

So, who do you think

could be behind this?

ADRIENNE

I have no idea. I asked her to

let me look into it, but she said

she had sent for help. I guess

you and Xena were the help.

GABRIELLE

She hurt your feelings, didn't she?

ADRIENNE

That's not important. What's important

is you find out who wants to hurt her.

GABRIELLE

That we find out. Xena told

you to help me, remember?

ADRIENNE

And you're really going

to let me help you?

GABRIELLE

Absolutely. You can help me

from making any big mistakes

while I'm impersonating Sappho.

ADRIENNE

Umm then you need to be more....

more....

GABRIELLE

More what?

ADRIENNE

Girly.

GABRIELLE

Excuse me?

ADRIENNE

Well, Sappho is the epitome

of woman. Very feminine.

GABRIELLE

And I'm not?

ADRIENNE

Sure you are.  It's just a different style.

You have confidence in the way you

walk, like if anyone messes with you,

you can kick their butts. Sappho

couldn't hurt a fly. You need to....

GABRIELLE

Femme it up?

ADRIENNE

Just a little.

GABRIELLE

I can do that.

She takes a few steps ahead of Adrienne, walking with a sway to her hips that is about to give Adrienne whiplash.

ADRIENNE

That's it! You've got it.

CUT TO:

EXT. TOWN - DAY

DANUS stands staring at Sappho pretending to be Gabrielle, shaking his head.

DANUS

I can't believe it.

You look just like Sappho.

XENA

Amazing isn't it?

DANUS

Very.

He takes his eyes away from Sappho and looks to Xena

DANUS

(Cont’d)

So, what can I do for you?

XENA

I'm hoping you can give us some

information. Gabrielle and I are

here because Sappho said

someone is trying to kill her.

DANUS

Kill her? Who would want to kill her?

XENA

That's what we're trying to

find out. We hoped you might

have some answers.

SAPPHO

She thinks someone wants to

keep her from starting her school.

DANUS

Oh that. Well, I must say that there

are members of the island who

would rather not see that happen

simply because it would bring to

many outsiders to the island, but

to kill Sappho over it. I don't think so.

Xena chews on the inside of her lip for a moment, giving his words serious consideration.

XENA

So you don't know of anyone who

would take such drastic measures?

DANUS

No. I wish I could help you more.

XENA

You've been more help than you

can know. Gabrielle and I are

going to keep looking around.

I hope you don't mind.

DANUS

No, of course not.

XENA

Come on, Gabrielle.

They walk away but not too far. Xena stops near a wall and guides Sappho back against it as well so they are out of sight.

SAPPHO

What?

XENA

Just wait.

Xena watches as Danus makes a beeline to the back of the market and disappears.

XENA

(Cont’d)

I thought as much. He knows

more that he's telling us.

CUT TO:

INT. GUESTHOUSE - DAY

Gabrielle and Adrienne are sitting at a table waiting for Chancellor Aubin. Gabrielle is picking at the wood grain on the table; Adrienne reaches over and takes her hand, shaking her head no.

GABRIELLE

Sorry.

ADRIENNE

It's okay.

GABRIELLE

What's taking him so long?

ADRIENNE

Chancellor Aubin is at best....

trying on the nerves.

GABRIELLE

Wonderful.

The door opens and Aubin enters.  He is walking with a cane and his right foot sports a large white bandage.

AUBIN

To what do I owe this

wonderful surprise?

ADRIENNE

We wanted to see how you

were recovering, Chancellor.

Aubin takes a seat, eyeing Gabrielle curiously.

AUBIN

Oh I'm fine, getting better each day.

(to Gabrielle)

My dear, are you feeling all right?

You don't seem quite yourself?

GABRIELLE

Oh I'm fine.  Just a lot on

my mind, you know.

AUBIN

Have you had any other problems?

GABRIELLE

No. Not recently.

ADRIENNE

We have also brought in some

help. Friends who are going

to get to the bottom of this.

AUBIN

And these friends would be?

GABRIELLE

Xena, the Warrior Princess

and her partner, Gabrielle.

AUBIN

Gabrielle and Xena? Not possible,

they'd have to be in their fifties by now.

ADRIENNE

They look great. As a matter of fact

there is an astonishing resemblance

between Sappho and Gabrielle.

They could be twins.

Aubin eyes ‘Sappho’ with some suspicion.

AUBIN

Is that why you cut your

beautiful hair my dear?

Gabrielle runs her hand through her hair and smiles.

GABRIELLE

Well, it was just time for a change.

I saw Gabrielle’s hair and decided

I liked it, and thought I would give it

a try. I can always let it grow out again.

AUBIN

Very true. So you called them here

to help you find out who is behind

the problems that you’ve had?

GABRIELLE

That’s the plan.

AUBIN

How long have you known them?

Gabrielle definitely gets the feeling that Aubin is trying to turn the tables here and she’s not about to let that happen.

GABRIELLE

This is the first time I’ve ever met

them, but I did a poem for Xena once.

So she could give it as a gift to Gabrielle.

I figured she owed me a favor and she

is supposed to be the best person

for this sort of job.

AUBIN

Or if you need a small village

slaughtered in under two hours.

Gabrielle takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly so Aubin doesn’t get the response he wants. Adrienne can see Gabrielle is getting mad, so she reaches out and gives her hand a squeeze.

ADRIENNE

Well, Chancellor, we won’t keep you

any longer. We just wanted to see

how you were feeling. If you need

anything to assist in your recovery,

please don’t hesitate to ask.

AUBIN

Thank you.

(beat)

Both.

CUT TO:

EXT. GARDEN – DAY

Gabrielle is furious, madder than one human being has a right to be. Adrienne is watching her as she tries not to blow and start beating the first thing she comes into contact with.

GABRIELLE

Of all the....

ADRIENNE

Gabrielle....

GABRIELLE

That son of a....

ADRIENNE

Gabrielle....

Gabrielle proceeds to hit a small statue, knocking its head right off its shoulders. Adrienne’s brow arches. She moves forward slowly, waiting to see if Gabrielle is going to go off again. Gabrielle is now holding her throbbing hand and grimacing.

GABRIELLE

Damn it! Xena always tells me not

to hit anything harder than her head.

ADRIENNE

Here... let me look at it.

Adrienne takes Gabrielle’s hand and slowly checks it for broken bones. Gabrielle watches and smiles.

GABRIELLE

You’re a natural nurturer aren’t you?

ADRIENNE

I try, but it’s not always well received.

If something goes wrong for Sappho,

she likes to have an artistic hissy fit and

pout. She won’t let me try to make it better.

Adrienne pats Gabrielle’s hand.

ADRIENNE

(Cont’d)

It’s not broken, but it may bruise up.

That’s quite a temper you have there.

GABRIELLE

Would you believe me if I told you there’s

only one thing I go that crackers over?

ADRIENNE

Sure. And I’ll bet it’s the only thing in

the world that can drive me that crazy too.

Gabrielle smiles and nods.

GABRIELLE

I just get so mad when people

say that kind of stuff about Xena.

ADRIENNE

Now you know why I keep my little shed.

I have to go someplace to work off my

frustration. Why is it the ones we love

most are always the ones who

can make us feel that way?

GABRIELLE

Oh, that’s easy. They’re the

only ones who make us feel the

need to be that passionate.

(beat)

How long have you and

Sappho been together?

ADRIENNE

Mmm ten years.

How about you and Xena?

GABRIELLE

Does the twenty-five years

we spent encased in ice count?

Adrienne laughs and pitches a rock across a pond, causing it to skip several times.

ADRIENNE

Could you talk, fight

and make love?

GABRIELLE

No, we were just pretty

much frozen in ice.

ADRIENNE

Then no.  It doesn’t count.

GABRIELLE

About seven years,

almost eight then.

ADRIENNE

Long enough to know

each other’s faults.

GABRIELLE

Oh yeah, definitely long enough

for that. And long enough to truly

love each other in spite of them.

Adrienne continues to follow Gabrielle as they walk the path back to the house, only now she is wearing a very thoughtful look as she watches Gabrielle walk ahead of her.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. WORKSITE - EVENING

Xena is poking around to now deserted worksite. She is looking at the one completed wall and then begins examining the partially completed wall and the debris of the scaffold that collapsed.

Gabrielle enters though a grove of trees and smiles as she sees Xena bend over and pick up a board.

GABRIELLE

What do we know?

XENA

Come here.

Gabrielle joins her partner in the construction site. Xena hands her the board.

XENA

(Cont’d)

Have a look at that.

GABRIELLE

It’s been partially cut through.

XENA

Yup. I was actually hoping that

this might have been an accident.

Gabrielle tosses down the board.

GABRIELLE

No such luck.  Lemme tell ya, it

couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.

XENA

You don’t like Chancellor Aubin?

GABRIELLE

I couldn’t like him if he were the

last man on the planet. He did his

best to try and trip me up today.

XENA

Really? You think he’s on to us?

GABRIELLE

I think he thinks he is.

XENA

Interesting.

GABRIELLE

What did you and Sappho

find out in town today?

XENA

Not much, to be honest. The

magistrate is a squirrelly little

fellow with more to tell than he’s saying.

GABRIELLE

Sounds like we have two suspects.

XENA

Yes, it does.

GABRIELLE

Maybe they’re working with each