Dreamworker
GABRIELLE
You think you're man enough to test my blade?
Do you? Your type are all cowards! I've met and
defeated tens of hundreds of your type! So, come
on. Make your move. Or, are you waiting for me
to make the first move? First mistake? Well, that's
your first mistake, waiting for my mistake! 'Cause
I don't make mistakes!
Hah! Huh! Let that be a lesson to you.
Are you finished with my sword?
GABRIELLE
Don't do that!
XENA
This is not a plaything.
GABRIELLE
I said I'd get some wood. I didn't say how I was
going to get it.
XENA
You're lucky the tree was unarmed. You could've
been hurt.
GABRIELLE
Maybe I wouldn't if someone would teach me
how to use it?
XENA
No.
GABRIELLE
You know, doesn't it make more sense that I
should learn how to defend myself? I think it
makes more sense.
XENA
Don't confuse defending yourself with using a
weapon. When you pull a sword, you have to be
ready to kill.
GABRIELLE
You don't think I know that?
XENA
No, I don't think you do. People are too quick to
go for their sword. It should always be the last resort.
GABRIELLE
I don't want to learn to kill. I want to learn to survive.
XENA
All right. The rules of survival. Number one. If
you can run, run. Number two. If you can't run,
surrender, and then run. Number three. If you're
outnumbered, let them fight each other, while
you run. Number four-
GABRIELLE
Wait. More running?
XENA
No. Four is where you talk your way out of it, and
I know you can do that. It's wisdom before weapons,
Gabrielle. The moment you pick up a sword, you
become a target. And the moment you kill...
GABRIELLE
"The moment you kill..." what?
XENA
Everything changes. Everything.
What is it?
EXTRA
Sweetie.
XENA
Trouble.
EXTRA
Easy pickings.
GABRIELLE
Is this the "run" part?
XENA
Not yet, but just be ready.
Nice day, isn't it?
XENA
That depends on you. What do you want?
GOTHOS
Oh, we're but poor men trying to scrape an existence
in this evil world. Every now and then we ask for
a little something from travelers, like your horse,
your gold, or any jewelry you might be carrying.
And I think I'll have that fancy sword of yours, too.
Now, all things considered, I think a surrender
would be a good start.
XENA
I accept. Gabrielle, take their weapons.
"Take their weapons."
GOTHOS
Get them!
A-yi-yi-yi-yi-yi!
EXTRA
Get the little one!
EXTRA
She's got a sword!
EXTRA
Kill her, quick!
I know this sword. Only one person carries a
sword like this. You're Xena, aren't you?
XENA
Do you really wanna find out?
GOTHOS
My reputation is going to soar!
Run!
EXTRA
Run for it!
EXTRA
Come on!
EXTRA
Let's get out of here!
Very good. Did you notice the young one? She
has a fire about her, and yet, she didn't stain
herself with blood. Morpheus will be pleased.
Yes, she's the one. She's perfect.
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
Salt pork! Get your salt pork!
GABRIELLE
I still can't believe it. They came right for me when
I picked up the sword.
XENA
Maybe they thought you were a threat.
GABRIELLE
You're waiting for the right moment to say, "I told
you so," aren't you?
XENA
Nope. I'm waiting for you to say it for me.
GABRIELLE
I don't know what I was thinking. Maybe something
like, "Xena needs my help," or, "I wonder if I could
take some of the heat off Xena?"
XENA
In both cases, no.
EXTRA
Salt pork! Salt pork!
GABRIELLE
I'm gonna pick up some more salt pork. I'll meet
you back here in a few minutes.
XENA
Mmm.
Afternoon? Is that your friend?
XENA
Yeah, why?
STOREKEEPER
Oh, no reason. Just strangers in town, is all.
So, what can I do for you?
XENA
I need a sharpening stone and some oil. Who
do I report a dead highwayman to?
STOREKEEPER
Dead? Your friend didn't kill him, did she?
XENA
No.
STOREKEEPER
Oh. Well, that's good.
XENA
What difference does it make who killed him?
Hey! Elkton! Get outta here!
ELKTON
I--I know, I'm sorry. I--I wouldn't've come, but my
horse has lost his halter.
STOREKEEPER
Out! Now!
ELKTON
Please, I can't guide him very well with just a rope.
STOREKEEPER
I'm warning you, old man. Leave! And don't
come back!
XENA
Why don't you just sell the man a halter?
STOREKEEPER
Because, I don't do business with his kind.
ELKTON
But I'm not a Mystic anymore!
STOREKEEPER
A Griffin can't change its feathers! Mystic, ex-Mystic,
it's all the same! Go on, out!
ELKTON
I'm no...Mystic!
STOREKEEPER
Sure, that looked cruel, but, uh, he's one of them.
So, it was a sharpening stone, right?
XENA
No, I've changed my mind. I need a halter for
my horse.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey! What are you doing here?
GABRIELLE
Aren't you open?
SWORDSMITH
Well, of course I'm open, young lady, but, what
are you doing in town? You're supposed to be
off by the water's edge until after the Solstice,
unless you've got no reason to fear Morpheus.
GABRIELLE
Morpheus? God of Dreams? Now, why would
I fear him?
SWORDSMITH
Ah! You must be experienced, then.
GABRIELLE
Yeah! I mean, I've had experiences. Are you
always this nosey?
SWORDSMITH
I should have known. Otherwise, why would you
be in my shop? Looking to replace your arms?
Lose your weapon of choice in a battle, did you?
GABRIELLE
Yeah, right!
Big battle.
SWORDSMITH
You don't look like a fighter. Sure, that's your
strength. Like the beautiful seed hidden in an
eagle's dung.
GABRIELLE
Nice image.
SWORDSMITH
Ah! Now, let me see what I can show you.
Ah, the steel. It's from the Albanian mines of
Iskander Beg.
GABRIELLE
It's the most beautiful sword I've ever seen. And,
oh, believe me, I've handled plenty.
SWORDSMITH
Ah!
Um, but, um, maybe something more...petite.
SWORDSMITH
Ah. Well, let me see what's over here.
Oh, how cute!
SWORDSMITH
It's a breast dagger.
GABRIELLE
Oh, you mean, it's designed to pierce the breast
into the heart of your enemy.
SWORDSMITH
No, not quite.
Ah. Oh, a breast dagger. Yeah, I like it. Yeah. Yeah.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get out of town, Mystic.
It's--it's a halter! Who did this?! Who?! Thank
you! Thank you.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Did you get your sharpening stone?
XENA
No. What's the matter with you?
GABRIELLE
What do you mean?
XENA
I don't know. You just seem...bigger.
GABRIELLE
Oh! Hmm! No, I'm not. It's just this mountain air.
I feel motivated.
XENA
You didn't find a sorcerer to enhance your motives,
did you?
GABRIELLE
No. Would you get over it? Ooh! Ah!
Wow! Look at you look at that? I wonder what
else is in these clothes? They're hand-me-downs,
you know? I know, "Wisdom before weapons."
XENA
I'll keep this for the time being.
Hah! It's not like your breasts aren't dangerous
enough. That was a joke. You can laugh.
What's going on?
EXTRA
Hide!
EXTRA
Hurry!
XENA
Get on the horse.
Gabrielle! Gabrielle!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
They took her. Where are they?
STOREKEEPER
They're probably at the...fortress of Morpheus
by now. It's the Solstice. The...Mystics need a
young maiden. We normally send our young girls
away. I thought you knew.
XENA
No. Your eyes practically lit up when you saw
us come into town. What are they going to do
to her?!
Stop! By the gods, you're strong. Every Solstice,
the Mystics come down from the mountain and
they take a young girl. We never see them again.
XENA
That blind man, he was a Mystic.
STOREKEEPER
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, go and see him! If you dare.
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
Soon, my Lord Morpheus. I think you'll be pleased
with your bride, as soon as she proves herself worthy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let me out of here. Believe me, you are in big trouble!
MANUS
My child, I understand your confusion. But take
heart. You are being honoured today.
GABRIELLE
Okay, keep talking.
MANUS
You have been selected to be the bride of Morpheus.
GABRIELLE
Bride? Morpheus? No, you've got the wrong girl,
take my word for it. I'm not the wifely type. I, well,
I sleep late, I don't know a lick about housework,
and children? I mean, look at these hipbones.
No way.
MANUS
None of that matters to Morpheus.
GABRIELLE
Really? Well, what does matter? I've got lots
of faults.
MANUS
You're to go through a series of challenges
against worthy opponents. If you survive, you
will become the honoured wife of Morpheus. If
not, you'll have been sacrificed in the name-
GABRIELLE
Wait a minute. Back up to that "If you survive" part
for a moment.
MANUS
The challenges will not be easy. And each one
will be a fight to the death.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Who's there?! I'm not as blind as you think I am!
I have senses you can't conceive of! Come on!
Speak up!
XENA
I'm not here to harm you.
ELKTON
That voice. You were in the store today. You
bought me that halter.
XENA
I want to know about the Mystics.
ELKTON
They're evil. A perverted cult that worships the
dark brother of the dream gods. I know all about
them. I was a Mystic once, back when the order
was good. But why do you ask? And who are you?
XENA
My name is Xena. They took my friend, and I'm
going to get her back.
ELKTON
She's been chosen as Morpheus' bride. She's
going to lose her blood innocence.
XENA
"Blood innocence"?
ELKTON
Your friend has never killed anyone. She will go
through a series of challenges. She will be tricked
into killing to survive. As soon as she does that,
she will be sacrificed.
XENA
You know where this fortress is. Take me there.
ELKTON
It's no good! It--it--it's hidden in the mountains,
and well protected by an army of warriors. It would
take you months-
-days - to fight your way in. By then, your friend
will be dead. Unless, unless you're the one! In
a dream vision, I saw a warrior who could travel
the Dream Passage and defeat Morpheus! You
must be the one. A woman with a dark past,
strong and brave.
XENA
I'm the one.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The world of dreams is made of many passages.
It is possible to follow one from one location to
another. Essentially, you bypass the physical world.
XENA
What can I expect?
ELKTON
Everything in the Dreamscape comes from your
own mind. Once in, Morpheus will know everything
that you know. He will use that to try and stop you.
Drink this and lay back.
This is N'Kama oil. The instant your soul enters
the Dream Passage, your body begins to lose
its life fluids. N'Kama oil will give you more time.
XENA
How much time is that?
Just a few hours at best. You must find the exit
door at the other end of the Dream Passage.
Once you pass through it, your body will reunite
with your soul. If not, the body dies. Until then,
I will guard it. Don't worry, I'm a gentleman.
This is the fire of dreams!
This is the key. Morpheus knows what we're up
to. Listen to me carefully, Xena. He will try to use
your own mind against you. If you can defeat him
there, you'll win. Don't be obvious. Remember,
this is your Dream Passage. The gods be with you.
Xena! Xena! Xena! Xena! Xena! Xena!
Xena! We've been waiting for you, our Queen!
2ND XENA WARRIOR
Our brilliant commander!
EXTRA
We've taken another town!
EXTRA
They're all dead, as you wished! Every one of them!
EXTRA
As you ordered!
XENA
No! I left all this behind me!
2ND XENA WARRIOR
You can't change who you are!
1ST XENA WARRIOR
And you are a warrior. To be feared and obeyed.
And those that don't...die!
EXTRAS
Xena! Xena! Xena! Xena! Xena! Xena!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xena, do you know me, Warrior Queen?
XENA
Should I?
MESMER
This was my village. All gone now. Your people
came and wiped it out, and me, as you commanded.
Did you know, I had a name?
XENA
I didn't do this.
MESMER
My name is Mesmer. My wife's name-
XENA
I'm sorry, I-
MESMER
Sorry? Sorry to know my name? Oh, that's right.
Your victims were always faceless. You never
knew much about them, did you? Or cared.
I am Baruch. I had two brothers, one fifteen,
and the other twenty. They were killed, too. Do
you wanna know their names?
XENA
No, I left this behind me.
BARUCH
Septim and Valius.
DOLAS
I am Dolas. My brother and I were the first to
die. His name was Linius.
Stand back!
DOLAS
We're not crowding you, Xena.
BARUCH
It's the weight of your conscience.
MESMER
You can end this, Xena. You can end it easily.
Kill us. You know how. Take the sword. Valius.
Septim. Valius. Septim.
The villagers begin to chant "Kill us" as Xena speaks.
Morpheus! I won't do it! It's a trick! You're trying
to slow me down! You're using the past of a
Xena long dead! I'm not her anymore!
The Innocent has a friend who has entered the
Dreamscape Passage. This is Elkton's work.
Find him and you will find her body. Morpheus
wants them both to die. Go!
No, no! It's happening too fast! Morpheus is
draining your life quicker than I expected! You--you
must hurry, Xena! You must hurry! We must flee!
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
The first challenge awaits you.
GABRIELLE
First challenge? How many of these challenges
are there?
MANUS
Enough for our lord, Morpheus, to make an
estimation of your worth.
GABRIELLE
So if I get through this, then you'll let me go?
MANUS
By the grace of our lord, Morpheus, of course.
GABRIELLE
Of course.
What's this for?
MANUS
You want to win, don't you?
Find your way to the other end, Innocent. There'll
be two men trying to stop you. Stop them first.
If you're outnumbered, let them fight each other.
Very good, Innocent. I had thought you would
have killed, but you didn't. Rest now. Morpheus
requires a second challenge soon.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
They're going to sacrifice me. They're going to
sacrifice me not. They're going to sacrifice me.
XENA
They're not going to sacrifice you.
GABRIELLE
Xena!
XENA
Wait. I don't know if you're real or not.
GABRIELLE
You don't know if I'm real? This is my dream. I'm
the only one who is real.
XENA
Tell me something about you I don't know.
GABRIELLE
How's that going to prove anything?
XENA
Morpeus can guess anything I know. Tell me
something about you I don't know.
GABRIELLE
Very well. All right. N--nobody but my mother
knows this. I had six toes on my right foot when
I was born.
Don't look! It's gone now!
XENA
It must be you. Yeah, it must be you. Morpheus
would have used something vaguely familiar to
me. My Dreamscape Passage and your dream
must be overlapping.
GABRIELLE
Nice outfit.
XENA
Yeah.
Are you all right?
XENA
Listen to me, Gabrielle. They want you to kill. And,
no matter what, you can't do it.
GABRIELLE
I thought they wanted me to marry Morpheus.
XENA
Morpheus wants you to lose your blood innocence.
Once you do, you'll be sacrificed as his bride.
GABRIELLE
I--I've already been through one of their challenges.
And there were two of them. I did what you said.
They killed each other. Does that count?
XENA
Nah, if it did, you'd be on your honeymoon by now.
GABRIELLE
Okay. Option A is out. No killing. So, let's talk
about option B. What is it?
XENA
I need time. Use what you know to defend yourself
until I can break through the passage into the fortress.
GABRIELLE
What do I know that's going to keep me alive
until you show up?
XENA
What's the matter?
GABRIELLE
I don't know. I feel strange. Xena.
Talking! That's what you're good at! Use your
mind, Gabrielle!
GABRIELLE (voice-over)
Xena?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xena? Xena? Xena? Xena?
I don't suppose you want my breakfast order.
MANUS
Prepare yourself for the next challenge, Innocent.
This one will not be quite as easy as the first.
You shouldn't fear using a blade to protect yourself.
Morpheus would understand.
GABRIELLE
I bet he would. He seems like an understanding
kind of god.
What if I just killed you right now?
MANUS
Is that what you wish to do?
It was a hypothetical question. I don't suppose
that y--you'd want to let me sleep a little longer,
would you? I mean, I'd hate to show up the blushing
bride with circles under my eyes. Just, uh, seven
or eight hours?
MANUS
Time is not on your side, Innocent. I know about
your friend in the Dreamscape Passage. I have
warriors looking for her body. She'll be dead long
before she could help you.
Look for wagon tracks. Manus wants them dead.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is all the N'Kama oil I have, Xena. Morpheus,
you're not gonna win!
Save yourself, Innocent. Morpheus wants you
to succeed.
GABRIELLE
I'll bet he does.
I won't be needing this.
Yes, Innocent. Draw blood.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(to herself) Use what I know. Use what I'm good
at. I'm not really good at anything except talking.
(to the warriors) Slow down! Not all at once. I
mean, let's face it, I'm going to get a bit tired. So
why don't we be fair about this? Whichever one
of you is the best fighter, I'll take you on first. And
then the second, and then, well, the easy pickings.
So, who is it? Who's the best?
You? Really? Well, I would have thought-
Yeah, that would have been my guess.
Clever girl.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(to third man) I guess we know where they
place you.
One of you has got to be better than the other.
No! No! No! No!
You're smarter than I gave you credit for, Innocent.
Somehow, you've learned that Morpheus demands
you spill blood. You've had two opportunities.
The next challenge will not have options. You
take the life offered you, or you die.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Surprised to see me again?
XENA
Not really. Nothing surprises me anymore.
TERMIN
How about me?
Termin?
TERMIN
Even in your weakened state, you can't forget
your first. And I was only the first of many, wasn't
I? The first notch on your hilt. Here, I still have
the scar where you slit my throat.
XENA
You attacked our village. Friends of mine, people
I grew up with, died under your sword.
TERMIN
You were still an innocent then. Like Gabrielle.
Soon, she'll be just like you.
GOTHOS
She's going to taste blood. She'll be haunted by
all the familiar demons. There'll be a first kill
to remember.
TERMIN
Like me. And a last kill to try and forget.
GOTHOS
Like me. Everything you have felt, she will know.
The screams of her murdered will deafen her.
XENA
No.
TERMIN
And there's nothing you can do to save her. Your
body in the outside world dies, and you die along
with it.
XENA
I can stop you.
GOTHOS
With what?
XENA
This is my dream. My passage. I control it.
Hold on, Gabrielle! I'm almost there!
No, no, Xena, you can't leave, yet. You haven't
passed your final test.
XENA
Who are you?
DARK XENA
Oh, you know me. You know me better than any
opponent you've ever faced. This might be your
Dreamscape, but you can't control me.
I am you.
ACT FOUR
DARK XENA
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 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 days.
XENA
That wasn't me. That was never who I really was.
DARK XENA
Oh. Well, 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.
DARK XENA
Oh, how would you know? You think this goody-goody
act of yours is going to last? There's no glory in
being a hero, ask around. You're weak without
me, Xena. But the fire is still there.
Join me.
XENA
All through this Dreamscape Passage, I've had
to fight people I've killed before. And I couldn't
bring myself to kill 'em again. But as I face you,
I realize it can mean only one thing.
DARK XENA
Yes, it means what? Tell me.
XENA
It means I finally get to kill you.
Xena! Xena! Xena, hurry!
MANUS
Defend yourself, Innocent. He'll kill you as soon
as you come within reach. Pick up the sword.
You can't defeat me! I'm stronger! I've always
been stronger!
XENA
You're just a dark reminder of a disease I once
had. If you were that strong, I would never have
left you. But I did.
Ever wonder how the rest of the world sees you?
Curious? Watch as if you had the eyes of your victims.
Hold him!
ELKTON
You men don't know what you're doing! Don't
let Manus get away with this!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pick up the sword!
No, no, my sister. You can't leave. You still haven't
found the key.
You take for granted all your gifts and talents...me.
Everything you are today came from me. Every
spark of noble quality that made you a great
leader...me. The strength that made men tremble
at your name...it all came from me!
You understand?
XENA
I understand. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't exist.
Whether I like it or not, you're the key. You're the key.
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 control you.
What happened?! Where is she?
ELKTON
Yeah-h-h-h-h-h-h!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kill her! Kill them both!
GABRIELLE
Xena! Catch!
I knew you'd come! Well, I thought you would.
I almost gave up on you.
MANUS
You have no idea what kind of enemy you've
made. Morpheus will not be denied. You think
he's just going to let you walk out of here?
Punching's all right?
XENA
I'm impressed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salt pork! Get your salt pork!
STOREKEEPER
This is the last of it.
XENA
How much do I owe you?
STOREKEEPER
Owe me? After taking away the fear of the Mystics?
After making this valley a safe place to raise a
family? Ten per cent off everything.
You miser! Don't you dare charge her one single
nugget of gold!
STOREKEEPER
Lord Elkton. Ah, of course not. Just kidding.
ELKTON
I hope so. Unless you want nightmares for the
rest of your life. What do you think?
XENA
Very nice. I take it you got your old job back.
ELKTON
My old job as Mystic Head Priest and my eyesight?
Tomorrow, we start the grain festival. From now
on, the only thing we'll sacrifice will be corn,
thanks to you.
XENA
Glad I could help. What did you decide to do
about Manus?
ELKTON
Manus? That was easy. We decided to put him
into his own Dreamscape Passage, and let his
past demons decide his fate. Xena, you and your
friend have saved this valley, these people, me.
From now on, we'll worship the three Dream God
brothers, the way they were supposed to be,
with joy, not fear. Speaking of your friend...
XENA
Ah, she's waiting for me. I have to go.
ELKTON
If you're ever in this area...well, you know where
to come.
XENA
I do. Thanks.
ELKTON
And, um, sweet dreams.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ready to go?
GABRIELLE
Xena, I could have killed someone. I mean, I
was capable of it.
XENA
We're all capable of it. The point is you didn't
cross that line.
GABRIELLE
But I got close enough to peak over. And what
I saw scared me.
XENA
See how calm the surface of the water is. That
was me once. And then...
The water ripples and churns; that's what I became.
GABRIELLE
But if we sit here long enough it will go back to
being still again. It will go back to being calm.
XENA
But the stone's still under there. It's now part of
the lake. It might look as it did before, but it's
forever changed. Come on, let's go.
GABRIELLE
For your first stab at wisdom, you did all right.
XENA
I was just saying that for your benefit. You didn't
think I meant it, did you?
GABRIELLE
Huh! Not me, I wasn't fooled.
STARRING
Lucy Lawless as Xena
Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle
GUEST CAST
Nathaniel Lees as Manus
Desmond Kelly as Elkton
John Palmer as Baruch
Bruce Hopkins as Termin
Matthew Jeffs as Gothos
Michael Daly as Mesmer
Sydney Jackson as Storekeeper
Colin Francis as Swordsmith
Patrick Smith as Dolas
Peter Phillips as 1st Xena Warrior
Grant Boucher as 2nd Xena Warrior
Lawrence Wharerau as Mystic Warrior
Polly Baigent as Doppelganger
Written by: Steven L. Sears
Directed by: Bruce Seth Green
