Past Imperfect


TEASER

The vision.

GABRIELLE (voice-over)
Are you sure I was dying?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Campfire.

GABRIELLE
Xena, the gods know that I have been tied to a
cross before. You helped me then. What makes
you think this vision is different?

XENA
It was so real. The way you looked, the
mountain in the background. It's true, or it could be.

GABRIELLE
Well, I'm not going to believe it. It's almost dawn.
Come on, better get moving if we're gonna warn
the people of Actus about that army.

XENA
No sense in us both going. Stay here. Catch
up on some rest. I'll go to Actus.

GABRIELLE
No, you won't. The threat of a battle does not
mean I'm going to end up like your vision.
Xena, you're expecting Medusa behind every tree!
Y--y--you can't look left! You can't look right! You just-

XENA
All right. We're not staying long. Actus has its own
army. Once we warn them, we're out of there.

GABRIELLE
That's fine. This conversation is over, right?

Xena says nothing. Gabrielle faces her.

GABRIELLE
Deal?

XENA
Gods forbid I'd ever bring that subject up again. Hmm.

Xena starts to put the reins on Argo.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sun rises.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actus.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xena and Gabrielle enter the village.

GABRIELLE
The threat of battle isn't bothering business, is it?

XENA
Chances are they don't know. Did you see the
city walls? The battlements aren't manned. They
haven't even got the scouts out. We gotta find the
military commander.

GABRIELLE
Looks like he might know. He looks important.

They move over to Oaklin. Xena clears her throat.

XENA
My name's Xena. Who's in charge here?

OAKLIN
I am. My name is Oaklin. I'm in charge of the
forces of Actus, or what's left of them.

GABRIELLE
What does that mean? What happened?

OAKLIN
Disease. Half my men are down with the scourge.

XENA
Then you better pray for a speedy recovery. There's
a hostile army outside your gates. They're pretty
close now.

OAKLIN
That's impossible. We would have heard.

A whistling sound is heard.

XENA
You're about to. Take cover!

A flaming rock flies in and explodes near Oaklin, killing him. More follow throughout the scene.

XENA
It's already begun. Come on.

People scream. An explosion goes off behind Xena and Gabrielle, throwing them forward.

XENA
Gabrielle? Gabrielle!

She helps Gabrielle up.

XENA
Are you okay? Come on.

Xena brings Gabrielle to the wall.

XENA
Stay here.

Xena runs and Gabrielle shouts to the villagers.

GABRIELLE
Against the wall!

XENA
Take cover. Come on. Come on! Move!

GABRIELLE
Get down!

EXTRA
Where's my little girl?! Where's my little girl?!

The Little Girl is alone amongst all the chaos.

GABRIELLE
Xena!

Xena runs to the Little Girl and picks her up.

XENA
Come here. Come on. Okay.

An explosion goes off behind Xena, launching her and the girl into the air. Xena cries out, as they go flying towards a wall. Xena turns so her back hits it, but the Little Girl is safe. They land and the Little Girl runs to her mother. Xena is in shock.

EXTRA
Mommy!

EXTRA
Oh! Oh!

EXTRA
Oh no!

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Several years earlier. Xena and her men fire catapults at Corinth.

DAGNINE
Xena, the Corinthians have retreated inside their
fortress along with the civilians.

XENA
Excellent. With the army inside the city walls,
we'll still have time to search for the Ixion stone.

BORIAS
That's a waste of time, Xena. Even if it did exist,
it's power is not for us to hold.

XENA
Alti promised me that power. With it, I become
the Destroyer of Nations.

BORIAS
You need more than the promises of a witch. If
you forget that stone, my army can attack the south
wall immediately. You'll waste your men on a
search for nothing.

DAGNINE
Xena, what about the prisoners?

Xena's men have several Corinth soldiers and two centaurs.

EXTRA
Don't move!

DAGNINE
Kill them?

XENA
Well...

BORIAS
No! We aren't at war with the Centaurs.

EXTRA
Move it! Move it!

BORIAS
A wise commander would keep it that way.

XENA
I have my own plans, Borias. We'll hold all the
prisoners...for now.

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Present. Gabrielle moves to Xena.

GABRIELLE
Are you all right?

XENA
I saw the past.

GABRIELLE
What?

XENA
I saw the past. I was attacking Corinth like
this. And I had everyone trapped...like us.

END OF TEASER



ACT ONE

Actus.

GABRIELLE (voice-over)
Xena, they stopped firing on us.

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Hospital.

XENA
It was an opening volley to force people back into
the city. Now there are too many of us in here and
not enough supplies. (to an injured person) Here.

She looks at the injured man.

XENA
It was a good tactic. At least it was good when I
used it at Corinth.

Men are in pain on beds, crying out behind them.

EXTRA
Please.

GABRIELLE
What did you mean by that?

XENA
I went back there in my mind. I saw it so perfectly.
There was me, Dagnine...and Borias. We'd taken
a patrol of men and Centaurs. Borias wasn't happy
with that, but it didn't matter. He and I had split
the army by then. Mine was much more
powerful than his.

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Past. Xena enters her tent and sits. Satrina rubs her shoulders.

SATRINA
The pain again?

XENA
Uh.

SATRINA
Lean your head forward, my queen.

XENA
Don't call me your queen, Satrina. I don't like it.

SATRINA
Yes, my...yes.

Borias enters.

BORIAS
Leave us, Satrina.

Satrina starts to leave, but Xena grabs her arm.

XENA
You don't command in my tent, Borias...
not anymore.

She pulls Satrina back and she starts to rub Xena's shoulders again.

BORIAS
You've moved the Corinthians back behind their
walls. The way to Athens is clear.

XENA
I'm not-

She taps Satrina's hand. Satrina stops and moves aside.

XENA
I am not attacking Athens with a potential enemy
at my back. Borias, it all happens here. If only I
had that stone.

BORIAS
There is no Ixion stone. Alti was lying to you.

Xena gasps in pain and sits down.

BORIAS
Is it...

XENA
No. No, it's just a kick. His legs have your strength.

BORIAS
We should wait before assaulting Corinth until
after the birth. If the men find out you're with child...

XENA
The men don't know, and they don't need to
know. The minute I start hiding in this tent, I lose
morale, discipline.

BORIAS
Is it easier to lose our son?

XENA
This baby is nothing compared to my empire.
Borias, I've been working towards this for years.
Athens is within my grasp.

Borias grabs her face.

BORIAS
At what cost, Xena?!

Xena hits his hand aside and he stands.

BORIAS
Do we end there, or do we go on and on?! Even
with the wealth of Athens, do we-

XENA
And stop saying, 'we'! You're not in this for wealth
or glory, Borias. Not anymore.

Borias huffs and leaves.

SATRINA
He loves you very much.

Xena scoffs.

SATRINA
He reminds me of my former master, Demayeus.

XENA
Well, I killed Demayeus when I captured you.
Borias wouldn't be so easy.

SATRINA
This is true, but Demayeus was a great warrior
at one time. He assaulted the mighty fortress
on Rhodes. He couldn't force the gates or breach
the walls, but still, he--he was intelligent.

XENA
And what?

SATRINA
Demayeus allowed some poison grain to be
captured by the defenders. When they became
too sick to man the walls, he attacked, but not
against the gates. His men tunneled under the
walls and when they collapsed, he took the fortress.

XENA
But I am using every piece of digging equipment
I have to search for the Ixion stone. Besides, it
wouldn't work.

SATRINA
Y--you would know better than myself.

XENA
Mmm. Still...poison grain. There's an idea. Call Dagnine.

Satrina leaves and Xena grunts in pain.

XENA (voice-over)
Those were painful times. I learned many hard lessons.

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Present.

XENA
And I lost a lot.

Gabrielle touches her arm. Pasicus enters.

PASICUS
Xena. General Oaklin is dead.

XENA
I know. Do you have any idea who you're up
against here?

Nurses feed the sick men grain.

PASICUS
No, but whoever he is, he's got us boxed up.
We've locked down the gates, and all available
soldiers have been posted along the walls. And
I'm next in command. But I don't have any battle experience.

XENA
You're next in command, and you don't have any
battle experience? All right, take an inventory
of all weaponry. Get some civilians detailed on
fire duty. How's the water supply?

PASICUS
There's a dam further upstream controlling the
flow. If the enemy gets to it, we won't last long.

Xena runs to a nurse feeding a sick soldier the grain.

XENA
Stop! Stop!

Xena tastes the grain and spits it out.

XENA
Check the supplies, especially the grain. This
is poisoned. That's why your men are sick.

PASICUS
What?! That's impossible!

XENA
I did it myself at Corinth. Whoever's out there is
watching your walls. When your strength gets
down to half, the assault will begin. In the meantime,
put all the rest of the grain in the storeroom and
post a guard on it.

PASICUS
We have to have food.

XENA
Right now, I'm more concerned about the water.
Assemble all the men you can spare at the south
wall. I need some engineers and the fastest horse
you can find. Gabrielle, looks like this hospital
could sure use your hand.

GABRIELLE
No, Xena, this hospital is well protected.
It's in the center of the city. It doesn't need
me hiding in it. I'll start the fire brigade.

Gabrielle leaves.

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The dam. Xena, Gabrielle, Pasicus and a few soldiers are in the bushes.

XENA
The dam's still intact.

PASICUS
Good. Looks like they missed it.

XENA
Yes. You and you, come with me. The rest of
you stay here.

Xena and two soldiers leave and head to the dam.

PASICUS
What's she doing?

GABRIELLE
She's looking for an ambush. She's trying to
draw them out.

Xena and the soldiers get on the dam.

XENA
Here and here.

The soldiers start to chop the dam.

PASICUS
She's amazing.

Xena signals the others.

PASICUS
Okay, let's move.

XENA
This one's okay and this one.

Gabrielle, Pasicus and the rest join Xena.

XENA
I want you all to spread out. Be on your mettle
and keep an eye on the sentry. If we destroy the
dam, they won't be able to stop the water flow.
There'll be some flooding, but we can deal with that.

EXTRA
Over to the side. Over to the side.

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Past. At a river. Xena's men hold the prisoners.

XENA
This river flows directly into Corinth?

DAGINE
Oh, yes. It's their main source of water.

Xena looks at Jareyd, one of the centaur prisonars.

XENA
Your name is Jareyd and you report to Tyldus.
Am I correct?

JAREYD
No. My commander is Kaleipus. We
were on a peaceful patrol.

XENA
And armed to the teeth. What's Kaleipus waiting
for? A formal declaration of war? Or should we just-

BORIAS
Xena! I will not lead my army into useless battles.

XENA
Relax, Borias. I have no quarrel with the Centaurs.
Kaleipus still might be someone to deal with.
(to Borias) Go ahead.

BORIAS
You are free to go, without your weapons. But,
take a message to your leader. To prove his
good will we need to meet, to make a treaty.

JAREYD
I'll make sure Kaleipus hears your message.

The centaurs leave.

EXTRA
Come on, let's go.

EXTRA
Come on!

EXTRA
Get over there!

The Corinth soldiers are pushed towards Xena.

XENA
You, however, are soldiers of Corinth, my
enemies. And you have a message to deliver
as well.

Xena's men kill the Corinth soldiers and toss them in the river.

BORIAS
Is this your sacrifice to Alti?

XENA
No, it's just for shock value.

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Present. Soldiers come out of the water.

XENA
Get off the dam!

Xena and the others fight them. Xena looks at the mountain which looks like the one in the vision.

SENTRY/SOLDIER
We've got cavalry coming quick!

XENA
Retreat back to Actus!

GABRIELLE
What happened?!

XENA
I just got outsmarted by my own tactics.

Xena looks at the mountain.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The vision.

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Xena looks at the mountain, kills a soldier and they run.

END OF ACT ONE



ACT TWO

Actus.

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Hospital. Gabrielle hands Xena a scrap of paper.

GABRIELLE
Here's your list of supplies. The grain's been
locked away. The only water available is what's
left in the cisterns. It's three days, tops.

XENA
Gabrielle, did you see that mountain out there?

GABRIELLE
Yes. It's part of your vision, right?

XENA
What if this is the place where it happens?

GABRIELLE
It isn't.

Gabrielle leaves.

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Past. Xena's tent. Xena is lying down. She holds her stomach in pain.

XENA
Satrina, get me some water.

Satrina goes and Borias holds Xena.

XENA
It's all right. He just wants out.

BORIAS
Soon. Soon, I will see my son and I can name him.

Xena laughs.

XENA
Oh-h-h-h and you can take him from me. What
about 'us'?

BORIAS
There is very little left of us anymore, Xena.

Xena giggles.

BORIAS
The only reason our two armies haven't crossed
blades is because of common purpose.

XENA
And what would that be? It's not Corinth. You
can't convince me of that. No, there's only one
reason why you stayed. You want to take this
away from me.

BORIAS
As any father would. If my son stays here, he'll
become a target for your enemies. He'll see things
a child should not see, and...

XENA
And he'll become like me.

Dagnine enters.

XENA
Dagnine.

She sighs.

XENA
Was your meeting with Kaleipus successful?

DAGNINE
Oh, yes. Quite successful.

BORIAS
Good. A peace treaty with the Centaurs brings
us one step closer to victory.

DAGNINE
Perhaps we should step outside.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outside. Kaleipus and Jareyd are prisoners.

BORIAS
What is this?

XENA
Oh, come on, Borias. It was your idea to go after Kaleipus.

BORIAS
Under a banner of truce!

DAGNINE
Yes, of course it was a banner of truce. You think
they would have met with me just because I'm...pleasant?

KALEIPUS
This is war, Xena!

XENA
Well, just a little one. After all, how long do you
think the Centaurs can last without you in command?

JAREYD
We'll never forget this. The army of Tyldus
is on its way. We'll fight to the death!

XENA
Ya got that right. Your death.

BORIAS
You're mad. You've gone too far. My army-

XENA
Your army is nothing. This is nothing, not
compared to what was promised. (to Kaleipus)
I am the Destroyer of Nations. It has been foretold.
The Ixion stone is my path to power and I will
find it. I will unlock it's mysteries and the prophecy
of the great shamaness, Alti, will be complete!
(to Borias) You've lost your edge, Borias. You lost
it ever since you found out I...was no longer yours.

BORIAS
Ah-h-h-h-h. Don't do this! We lost our love
Don't make me an enemy!

XENA
You became an enemy the moment you
thought there was love. (to Dagnine) Kill him.

Dagnine moves to kill Kaleipus. Borias draws his sword and fights Dagnine. He frees the centaurs.

XENA
Get in there! Stop them!

Xena's men fight Borias and the centaurs. Xena throws a dagger at Borias.

XENA
Ah-h-h-h-h!

The dagger flies, but Borias knocks it with his sword. It hits Kaleipus in the eye.

KALEIPUS
Ah-h-h! Borias!

The centaurs and Borias escape.

DAGNINE
Cavalry! Call in the horses!

XENA
No! You go after them and they'll trap you! (to men)
Spread the word! From this moment on, we are
at war with the Centaurs! And Borias is their ally!
(to Dagnine) We're going to need a lot of wood.
When I'm done here, there'll be a line of crucified
bodies leading from Corinth to the Caspian Sea.
And I will crucify them all. Crucify them.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Present.

XENA (voice-over)
Crucify.

Xena is in the hospital.

XENA
Gabrielle. Gabrielle!

Gabrielle joins her.

GABRIELLE
What is it?

XENA
I understand what's going on now. This battle is
a reflection of one that I almost won years
ago. Whoever it is out there, they're using my
own tactics against me. He knows me. It's like he
is me. How do I defeat myself?

END OF ACT TWO



ACT THREE

Guards stand watch on the wall.

GABRIELLE (voice-over)
Xena, do you see what this is doing to you?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xena and Gabrielle walk through the town.

GABRIELLE
It's just like I was talking about.

XENA
I don't care. I want you out of here.

GABRIELLE
How?!

XENA
Tonight, we'll create a diversion. Pasicus can lead
a party of men and-

GABRIELLE
So, okay, in order to save me, you're willing to
risk these men? Their lives mean nothing
to you?!

XENA
All right, I will think of something else.

GABRIELLE
No, you won't. As long as you're concentrating on
me, you can't think about the problem.

XENA
I am thinking about the problem. This guy out there,
he--he thinks like me, fights like me.
And he's winning, just like I should have long ago.

GABRIELLE
But, you didn't!

XENA
Because I withdrew my army. That is not
going to happen here. If I had won back then,
if this man wins now, then my vision of your death
might come true.

GABRIELLE
I'm going onto the battlements. I'm going to reinforce
the men.

Gabrielle leaves.

XENA
Gabrielle. Gabrielle!

Gabrielle turns to face Xena.

GABRIELLE
Xena, I don't believe in your vision. I can't
afford to! Now, either I prove you wrong and we
go on from here, or I prove you right and we
die. But either way, I will not continue like this.

Gabrielle leaves.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The moon.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guards are on the wall, tired, but on watch.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Soldiers work, digging a tunnel under the wall.

MINER
Quiet! You want the guards on the wall to hear us?

Xena steps out and moves into the tunnel when the soldiers leave.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xena enters the tunnel. She is hit with a dart.

XENA
Ah-h-h! Uh!

Xena pulls the dart out of her neck and smells it.

XENA (voice-over)
Uh!

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Past. Xena is in labour in her tent. Satrina holds out a bowl to her.

XENA
What is that?!

SATRINA
It's the flower from the santra bush. It'll take away
the pain.

XENA
I can't be out during a battle.

SATRINA
Look, when your child is born, I'll give you the
kala root. It'll bring you back.

Xena drinks from the bowl.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Present. Xena turns to see Satrina.

XENA
You.

SATRINA
That's right, Xena, it's me. Satrina, your
loyal servant.

Xena falls to the ground.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Satrina's men drop Xena against a post.

SATRINA
Get out of the tunnel. We'll collapse the wall in
the morning. I'll deal with Xena. She's in no
condition to resist.

Satrina's men leave. Xena moans.

XENA
Why? How did...

SATRINA
'How' is easy. I studied you, Xena. All those
years, you thought I was this poor, defenseless,
little slave girl you captured from Demayeus?
Truth is, Demayeus was my partner. My lover.
My mentor before you came along.

XENA
That's how you knew what I was going to do.

SATRINA
Oh, Xena, the moment I realized you were
in command, I was ecstatic. Of all the people
I've studied, you, were the most complex,
the most brilliant of the minds I've defeated
this far. You see, Xena, I never did have that much
in the way of muscle. Never. But I am a survivor.
And I have this incredible ability to put myself into
my enemy's head. So, when I found myself in your
custody, I realized this was my one chance
to learn from the best. That's why I couldn't allow
you to see Borias that night.

Xena growls and faces her.

SATRINA
Oh, yes, the night your son was born. You had
just taken the santra-flower potion and Borias'
army attacked.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Past.

EXTRA
Fire!

Borias' men fire burning arrows into Xena's camp. Borias' men attack Xena's men.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Borias sneaks into Xena's tent. Xena is unconscious and muttering. Borias moves to her and holds her face. He sighs.

BORIAS
Before Alti, before all this, we had love, Xena.
Maybe we confused it with power, but it was there,
is still there. For the sake of our son, and
us, I'm taking you away.

He kisses her forehead and leaves.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrows are fired and tents catch on fire.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Borias' men attack.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Borias lays a blanket on a cart. Satrina sees him and moves to scream, but Borias grabs her and clasps his hand over her mouth.

BORIAS
Satrina, don't. I can give you your freedom.
But first, listen to me. The Centaurs know
everything about the Ixion stone and Xena's plans.
They've agreed to let me take Xena and my son
away from here. I have to.

SATRINA
Yes, I understand, he's your son. I'll help you.

Borias turns away to get the cart ready and Satrina stabs him in the leg.

BORIAS
Ah-h-h-h!

Satrina holds the dagger at his throat.

SATRINA
No, Borias. I can't do that. I can't let that happen,
not while I've got so much to learn from her.

BORIAS
You're a traitor.

SATRINA
My destiny is an empire and Xena's gonna
help me achieve it. Not with you around!
You'd just spoil the whole thing. So you have to
die and maybe your son, too. But we'll have
to wait on that one.

Borias grabs her and takes the dagger. He tosses her aside and moves to Xena's tent.

SATRINA
Dagnine! It's Borias! He's here to kill Xena!

Dagnine draws his sword and fights Borias.

END OF ACT THREE



ACT FOUR

Dagnine and Borias fight. Satrina enters Xena's tent.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xena groans.

SATRINA
Come on!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dagnine and Borias fight.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xena cries.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dagnine and Borias fight.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tent.

SATRINA
Come on! Ventilate! Come on, that's it!

Xena groans.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dagnine and Borias fight.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xena is in pain.

SATRINA
Push, Xena! Come on, just one more time!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dagnine and Borias fight. Dagnine pushes Borias against a burning cart and sticks his fingers in the wound Satrina made in Borias' leg. Borias screams.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xena screams.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dagnine puts a flaming stick in the wound Satrina made in Borias' leg. Borias screams.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xena screams.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Borias shoves Dagnine away.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xena sobs and then screams.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dagnine tries to stab Borias with the flaming stick. Borias dodges.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xena is in pain.

SATRINA
That's it, Xena!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dagnine attacks Borias.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xena pushes.

XENA
Ah-h! Boria-a-a-a-as!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Borias hits Dagnine and moves to Xena's tent.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Solan is born. He cries. Xena looks at him with shock.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Borias stumbles to Xena's tent.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xena cries with Solan.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dagnine throws his sword, which stabs Borias in the back. Borias falls.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Satrina holds Solan wrapped in a blanket.

SATRINA
It's your son, Xena.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Borias stands and keeps moving towards Xena's tent, but he falls. Dagnine pulls the sword out of Borias' back. The centaurs enter. Dagnine stabs Borias again and twists the sword. The centaurs attack. Dagnine runs off. Borias still tries to rise.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the tent. Xena holds Solan.

SATRINA
Come on! We have to go!

Satrina helps Xena up, and she groans.

SATRINA
Come on, Xena!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The armies fight.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Satrina pushes Xena along. Solan is crying. Borias looks up and spits blood. Xena sees him. He holds out his hand.

BORIAS
My...son.

Xena holds up Solan for him to see.

SATRINA
We gotta hurry.

Borias dies. Xena sits in the cart. Satrina drives the cart away. Xena turns slowly away from Borias' body.

XENA (voice-over)
When I saw Borias' body I-

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Present. The tunnel.

XENA
-I couldn't believe that he could come back for
me, and that he was in love with me.

SATRINA
But you were focused on the power Alti promised.
You shouldn't have left Corinth. You could have
taken it!

XENA
Like you're going to take Actus? By collapsing the
city walls with this tunnel? You and that story you
kept telling about Demayeus and Rhodes.

SATRINA
When I pull that rope over there, this column will
fall. The next rope pulls this column and so on
and so on. I think it's rather fitting that you should
be here to see it.

Satrina gets ropes ready.

XENA
The poison grain was the key. I tried to think who
knew my plans, who would know about the poison
grain? There was me, you and Dagnine.

Satrina moves to start tying Xena to the post. Xena looks at Satrina.

XENA
And Dagnine's dead. Ah-h-h!

Xena takes the rope and wraps it around Satrina's neck. Xena holds up some kala root.

XENA
Want some kala root?

SATRINA
Hmm?

XENA
I had some before I came, which means your
poison dart did nothing.

Xena stands and pulls Satrina up by the rope around her neck.

SATRINA
Oh-h-h!

XENA
Once I knew it was you, the rest was easy. You
always did like the tunnel idea.

SATRINA
Xena!

XENA
What's the matter? Ya having trouble getting inside
my head right now?

She tightens the rope.

XENA
Let me help you. You killed Borias, the man who
could have changed everything for me, if only I had
let him. You killed the father of my child!
(crying) And if he had lived, then maybe my son
would st...

Xena looks at her with hate.

XENA
Uh-h-h-h!

Xena tightens the rope in anger.

XENA
Did you get inside my head, now? Huh? What
am I thinking now, huh?

She tightens the rope.

XENA
Uh-h-h-h!

Xena tosses her to the ground. Satrina loosens the rope, a red ring around her neck.

XENA
I won't taint Borias' memory by killing you.
You're not worth it.

SATRINA
Wrong choice. Guards!

Satrina's men enter. Xena kicks one back. She holds her sword on Satrina and her chakram on them.

XENA
You come any closer, and she buys it!

SATRINA
You're completely outnumbered, Xena. You can't
stop me!

XENA
Not if my army takes this tunnel first!

EXTRA
Come on!

SATRINA
They're tunneling in from the other side. Guards,
get back up there!

Xena fights them. Gabrielle and the soldiers of Actus enter and fight.

GABRIELLE
Where's Satrina?

Satrina holds the rope. She pulls it and breaks the beam. Xena throws her chakram and breaks the ropes. The rocks fall on Satrina, and she screams. The tunnel holds and the soldiers cheer.

EXTRA
Xena!

EXTRA
Yeah!

GABRIELLE
Do you think she made it?

EXTRA
Yeah!

XENA
Probably. Like she said...she's a survivor.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Campfire. Xena polishes her sword.

GABRIELLE
Satrina's army sure broke up quickly.

XENA
She promised them a destiny she couldn't fulfill.

GABRIELLE
Funny think about destiny. You can't ignore it,
can't rely on it. Alti promised you one, didn't she?

XENA
I was to become the Destroyer of Nations. It's
funny how I used to look forward to those promises
of hers and every one of them ended in tragedy.
Maybe that's why I fear this prophecy so much.

GABRIELLE
A prophecy? Xena, no one said anything about
a prophecy. Maybe it's a warning? A sign?

She sits next to Xena who is staring into the fire. Gabrielle puts her arm around Xena.

GABRIELLE
A guide? The truth is, you don't know, like Alti
didn't know, because she didn't know you.

XENA
Borias knew. He showed me the hatred I had
for myself. He showed me the love that someone
could have for a child.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moon.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Past. Kaleipus walks. Xena steps out of the bushes, holding Solan. Kaleipus draws his sword and points it at her.

KALEIPUS
Stop there, Xena!

XENA
You got my message. I just wanna talk to you.

KALEIPUS
As you did before, when you tried to kill me?
It doesn't matter. You won't get the Ixion stone.
Borias, the friend of the centaurs, has told us
everything. We found his body in your camp. But
his legend will live on forever with our people.

Xena holds out Solan.

XENA
Take this child. He's my son. The son of Borias.
If he stays with me, he'll become a target for all
those who hate me. He'll learn things that a child
shouldn't know. He'll become like me. Please.

Kaleipus takes Solan and holds him up.

KALEIPUS
The son of Borias, shall be raised as my own.

A tear rolls down Xena's face and she leaves. She holds her hand over her heart and cries as she walks.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Present. Xena has tears rolling down her face. Gabrielle is at her side. She strokes Xena's hair and puts her head on Xena's shoulder.

END OF ACT FOUR


STARRING
Lucy Lawless as Xena
Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle

GUEST CAST
Marton Csokas as Borias
Catherine Boniface as Satrina
Paul Gittins as Kaleipus
Mark Ferguson as Dagnine
John Manning as Oaklin
Craig Muller as Pasicus
Mark Webley as Jareyd
Lyndon Hendrikse as Sentry/Soldier
Bill Florian as Lieutenant
Norman Potts as Guard
Paul McLaren as Miner
Annabelle Borrie as Little Girl [uncredited]

Written by: Steven L. Sears
Directed by: Garth Maxwell

Disclaimer: Borias' goose was cooked during the production of this motion picture.