Death Mask
I don't get it. I've seen speeding arrows come
right at you, and you just you catch 'em before
they hit you. No--nobody can do that. I mean,
even when you don't see them coming, you do
it. Now, I can't figure this out.
XENA
Stop trying.
GABRIELLE
Huh?
Stop trying to. It's not something you can think
your way through. It's your body that has to listen.
GABRIELLE
What if my body doesn't hear the arrows?
XENA
Then they've got you.
I did it!
XENA
Yes, you did. Now, get back!
GABRIELLE
Now, how did I do that?
I guess you don't need my help.
GABRIELLE
Not this time, but stay close.
Where'd you get this mask? Who sent you?
That pinch to the neck cuts off the blood to your
brain. If I don't relieve you, you'll be dead in thirty
seconds. Now, who gave you the mask? His
name, say it.
ASSASSIN
Cortese.
GABRIELLE
Who's Cortese?
XENA
Where is he? Where?
ASSASSIN
He's attacking the village across that ridge.
Cortese.
GABRIELLE
Who is he, Xena?
XENA
The men who attacked and razed my village to
the ground wore the mask of Cortese. This
mask. I have never stopped looking for him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, he's the one who made you so, you
know...aggressive?
XENA
It was fighting him that twisted me into what I
became. But now, I have him.
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
Take no prisoners!
EXTRA
Kill the men!
EXTRA
Kill them all!
EXTRA
Good-bye, woman!
EXTRA
This village is ours!
EXTRA
You won't get away from me, witch!
EXTRA
Hah-hah!
Leia! Where are you?!
LEIA
My dollie!
GABRIELLE
No!
Leia! Leia!
GABRIELLE
Are you okay?
SERA
Thank you! Thank you!
Easy, girlie!
MALIK
Retreat! Everybody out!
EXTRA
Let's go and retreat!
We're too late, again!
EXTRA
They're into the border woods!
EXTRA
We'll never catch them!
GABRIELLE
What are you doing?! Go after them!
AESCALUS
I'd love too, believe me. But those woods mark
the border I can't cross. Nor do I even have enough
men to keep our boundaries secure. (to Xena)
You fought well.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let's go. Hurry!
TORIS
Whoa.
EXTRA
This way! Over here!
It's Cortese, all right. He's always one step
ahead of us.
TORIS
Xena.
Malik! Malik! Malik! Malik. I know that woman.
Take me to Cortese. I can tell him everything he
needs to know about her.
MALIK
You? Newcomers don't meet Cortese, until
they've earned the privilege. You speak to me. I
speak to Cortese.
TORIS
Her name is Xena. She's a--a warrior from Amphipolis.
MALIK
I'm sure Cortese will be grateful for the information.
Hey look at this lady.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
My lord, Cortese.
CORTESE
Malik, my friend, there's no need for my right
arm to kneel before me.
MALIK
My lord, we had no time to gather the loot before
the king's soldiers arrived.
CORTESE
Why not?
MALIK
A woman. I've never seen anyone like her, with
the fighting skill and strength of-
CORTESE
Xena, the Warrior Princess, Xena. My two assassins
must have failed. Get up!
You already know of her?
CORTESE
I created her.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
And it went zoom! And I hit it! Did you see that?
XENA
Mm-hmm.
GABRIELLE
Yeah, of course you did. Even while you were
explaining it, my whole body was listening for
that arrow. I can still feel that warrior fever just
coursing through my blood.
XENA
Do you think you could do it again?
GABRIELLE
Yeah. I think so. I mean most of the time. Well,
if you shot ten arrows at me, how many do you
think I'd miss?
XENA
Only one.
GABRIELLE
Uh, that could be a problem, huh?
What's he doing?
XENA
I don't know.
GABRIELLE
I've got a bad feeling about this.
XENA
He's one of Cortese's raiders. Alone. Still, I don't
like it. Keep back.
All right, I'm close enough.
TORIS
Then stop, unless, of course-
-you wanna kill your brother?
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
I thought you said your brother was killed by Cortese.
XENA
No, that was my younger brother. Gabrielle,
this is my older brother, Toris.
GABRIELLE
Huh, you're full of surprises.
XENA
Toris has some surprises of his own. That's
the mask of Cortese.
TORIS
That's right. It's the only way I can get close enough
to Cortese...to kill him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's just about ready. Of course, it's missing my
sister's seventeen secret herbs and spices.
You know? My sister and I used to argue. Yeah,
yeah, we would just go for hours without talking
to each other. Come on! This is supposed
to be touching. Uh, uh, uh, I mean, a brother
and sister who haven't seen each other for years
should have more to say to each other than just-
XENA
So, you're an assassin, now, huh?
GABRIELLE
It's a start.
TORIS
It's taken me years to find Cortese. Now that
his raiders are starting to trust me, I'm almost
close enough to kill him, which is why I want you
to stay out of this.
XENA
I can help you bring him to justice.
TORIS
He'll find justice at the end of my sword.
GABRIELLE
Wing, thigh, breast? Who wants what?
XENA
He likes drumsticks. Gabrielle, go and see if
Argo needs to be fed, would you?
GABRIELLE
Argo? He can...right, checking on Argo.
I want Cortese just as much as you do. But
murder is not the answer. I learned the hard way
about justice since-
TORIS
Learned the hard way? Are you bragging? What
I saw of you when I left our village, Xena, was
not something to be proud of.
XENA
And what did you see? Someone had to step
forward. Cortese would have slaughtered us all
if we hadn't fought.
TORIS
If our people had followed me to the hills-
XENA
Cortese would've hunted us down like dogs! I had
to make a stand and I wasn't the only one who
believed that!
TORIS
That's right. Our brother believed it. Lyceus stood
by you to the end. And it was his end, remember?
XENA
I said "Fight" because it was our village. Lyceus
believed in that and I would say it again.
Argo is...fed?
XENA
Gabrielle, that mother whose baby you saved
the other day...
GABRIELLE
Yeah.
XENA
Ask her to put you up for a few days. You know,
guard the village.
GABRIELLE
Huh, oh no. No, no, that's your way of saying, "It's
too dangerous to be around me right now, Gabrielle."
Well, have you ever considered that there isn't a
safe time to be around you? Now, that village
doesn't need my help, but you might and I'm
going with you. Now, if that's all, I'll just be practicing
with my staff. End of discussion. Sorry you had
to witness that, Toris.
How close are you to Cortese?
TORIS
I'm new. I have to earn their trust. My leader is
his lieutenant, a butcher named Malik.
XENA
Then we'll start there. I need to look around
Malik's campsite.
TORIS
No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Too dangerous.
You don't know what these monsters do to women.
XENA
No, I'm counting on it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get down!
EXTRA
I'll take that bet.
Yeah! Good one!
EXTRA
Yeah.
EXTRA
Come on.
EXTRA
You guys are fighting like a couple of girls!
Well, look what I've captured, boys! Cortese will
be very pleased to see my gift to him.
TORIS
This time, you have to take me to Cortese. I
brought him the warrior.
MALIK
"Have to"?! I don't have to do anything. This prize
is mine. And I will take the time that I need.
I'm the one who has to take her to Cortese.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
There seems to be some confusion about who
I am and who you aren't. There are two types
of men who question me-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-the dead and the dying!
EXTRA
Yeah.
MALIK
Which one do you wanna be, boy?
TORIS
I'm not questioning anything.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I just think Cortese should hear how I managed-
MALIK
He'll hear. He'll hear whatever I tell him. Now,
go away. The woman and I have to, uh...talk-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-before she meets our master.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Very well. You're in control. (to himself) For now.
MALIK
You keep walking, boy! And if I ever see your
face again, I'll hang it over the cooking fire!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now, my dear, let's not waste time with, uh,
senseless pleas of mercy or, silly games. Right
to it, shall we?
XENA
Have it your way.
Right to it. I like that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
It shouldn't take this long. Where is she?
GABRIELLE
She'll be here.
TORIS
It's a stupid idea. She's outnumbered and alone.
GABRIELLE
How many warriors in that camp?
TORIS
Fifteen, maybe twenty.
GABRIELLE
She'll be here.
TORIS
What are you doing?
GABRIELLE
I'm listening with my body. See, Xena says that
you have to listen for the attack before you see
it. She's just...she's amazing. I mean, I've learned
so much about inner strength just from watching
her. When we first met, I was this little girl from
Poteidaia-
TORIS
She's doing to you what she did to our village.
GABRIELLE
Excuse me?
TORIS
She turned our simple villagers into warriors
and got them killed. She's doing the same thing
to you. She hasn't changed. I can't believe we
share blood.
GABRIELLE
If you hate here so much, then why are you
worried about her now?
TORIS
What do you mean, worried?
Xena! Are you all right?! You took so long?
(to Toris) You see, now that's worry. (to Xena)
Hey! Hey, how'd it go?
XENA
It went fine.
TORIS
By the luck of the gods, you could've destroyed
everything I've worked on.
XENA
I still might. Did you know that Malik uses
messenger pigeons?
TORIS
Sure, he uses them to communicate with the
other raiding parties.
XENA
Then, why do they carry the Royal crest?
Malik must have a spy inside the king's household.
XENA
Well, if he does, he's reporting everything straight
to Cortese.
GABRIELLE
No wonder they can't catch him. You know, the
king should be told.
TORIS
He doesn't just see anybody. And the castle's
pretty well guarded.
XENA
I have my ways of getting in. (to Gabrielle) Hey.
GABRIELLE
Oh, I know. It's easier to get two in than three.
I'll just go...guard some villagers or something,
even if they're not in danger.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
What's the problem? How did you get this far?
I had guards posted.
XENA
Oh, they're lying around somewhere. I need to
talk to the king and I don't like formalities.
AESCALUS
You were in that village earlier. Tell me what
you have to say to the king and I'll see what I
can do.
XENA
I'm not that trusting.
AESCALUS
Neither am I.
TORIS
The bandit Cortese has a spy inside the castle!
AESCALUS
Come.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your weapons.
Wait here.
It was dangerous speaking out like that, Toris.
TORIS
It got us in here.
XENA
And what if Aescalus had been the spy?
But, Aescalus isn't the spy. The king is the spy.
Recognize me, Xena? It's been a while.
XENA
Cortese.
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
Oh, come now. You must have something to
say after all this time and effort just to see me.
TORIS
Yes, Cortese. You're dead!
XENA
No!
That's just one of the surprises in this room.
Don't try it again! So, what do you think of my
little operation?
XENA
It's very cunning. You rule over a kingdom
threatened by raiders and your people tolerate
huge taxes, because they think it goes to the
war effort.
CORTESE
I become incredibly rich off the taxes, not to
mention, the pure fun of being able to put my
mask on, go out and slaughter a few dissident
farmers and come back to a warm bath. I'm
glad you like it.
XENA
I said it was cunning, I didn't say I liked it.
TORIS
You murdering harpie!
Careful! You're talking to the legal regent of this
land. Cortese, now he's a murdering harpie.
XENA
So, what's next? You haven't killed us, and you're
not talking just to hear the sound of your own voice.
CORTESE
The people are getting tired of my army losing.
My army is getting tired of losing.
XENA
Your army doesn't know who you are.
CORTESE
They're loyal to the king. But, they need a victory.
And, they can't have Cortese, of course. So, I'm
gonna give 'em the next best thing, his second-in-command,
the evil Warrior Princess, Xena.
Guards!
Open the doors! Knock it down!
TORIS
I can't hold them!
XENA
Then let them in.
TORIS
What?!
XENA
Open the door.
Let's go!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halt!
TORIS
I think we can take 'em out.
XENA
No, we can't kill them. They're the good guys,
remember? That window behind them.
TORIS
How do we get to it?
Remember this, Toris?
Come and get it! Let's go.
I want them for execution by morning!
AESCALUS
What time?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
He wants them for execution by the morning.
Avoid the soldiers, they'll be looking, too. Move!
EXTRAS
All right! Come on. Come on. You got my horse.
Let's go.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Huh.
Okay, let's try it again. Okay.
Xena! I'm glad you're all right. Hey, Sera, this is
my friend Xena who I told you about and her--her
brother, Toris. This is my little friend and warlord, Leia.
XENA
Sera, I need to speak to your village elders. Can
you bring them back here? It's very important.
SERA
I'll try.
What's going on, Xena?
XENA
The good king and Cortese are one and
the same.
GABRIELLE
Not happy news. What are you gonna do?
TORIS
We could've murdered him, but we didn't.
GABRIELLE
Murder. You can't just murder someone.
TORIS
As if you know the difference between murder
and justice!
Toris.
TORIS
How do you put up with that girl?
XENA
Why? She knows more about wisdom and justice
than you'll ever know.
TORIS
At first, I thought she was just blindly following
your lead, and that you were gonna do the same
thing to her that you did to our village, use their
fear to manipulate them, but that's not it! She's
brave because that's the way she is! I was
so sure that I had you figured out, that I never
bothered to figure myself out. All these years,
I've been trying to convince myself that I knew what
was best for our village.
XENA
Toris, we all made decisions based on what
we thought was right. We did what we had to do,
because we cared about our friends.
TORIS
No, no, no, no, you don't get it! You stayed because
you cared for us all! I left because, because I was...
XENA
Because you were afraid.
TORIS
I was afraid I would die! That was all I could
think of! I mean, I cared about you and Lyceus
and Mother, but...I was a coward.
XENA
Murdering Cortese will not ease that guilt.
TORIS
You don't know that. When I found out that you
and the others had turned him back, when I
found out that Lyceus had died, my life meant
nothing anymore. There was only one thing left
to do. That was to take Cortese to the grave,
the grave that I should have had. The grave that
Lyceus has now. I have to find Malik and force
him to take me to Cortese.
You listen to me. I already lost one brother to
that madman and I'm not gonna lose another.
Xena? The elders are gathered. You better come quick.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now, now, think for a minute. When Cortese
and his bandits were about to obliterate this
village, who stopped them?
VILLAGE ELDER
The two of you did.
GABRIELLE
Two of us? Yeah, well, right, but, mostly Xena.
Her.
VILLAGE ELDER
And we are truly grateful. But still, she may not
stay here.
XENA
The king and the raider, Cortese, are one and
the same.
VILLAGE ELDER
But, that's impossible. The king is at war
with Cortese.
EXTRA
This can't be true.
VILLAGE ELDER
Now we hear that the army is searching for you,
as well as the raiders. You'll get this village destroyed!
GABRIELLE
We'll stay and we'll help you fight. Whatever it
takes, we're with you.
XENA
No, Gabrielle, he's right. Cortese will only come
here if he knows I'm here. We only stand and
fight when we have to.
VILLAGE ELDER
And we appreciate it.
Where's Toris?
SERA
He's gone. He said he had a debt to pay and
that you'll understand.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toris.
It's a trap.
XENA
I know. The wood is soaked with oil.
MALIK
There she is!
One arrow and your brother dies in a ball of fire.
Oh, yes, I know he's your brother. You'd be surprised
what a man will say when he's been tortured.
You're going to Cortese, but first, there's something
that I owe you.
Wait! This is Cortese's pleasure and when he's
done with you, I'll spit on your burning carcass.
END OF ACT THREE
ACT FOUR
Well, it wasn't too difficult getting back into the
castle. But it sure is gonna be hard to figure
out our escape with you not talking to me.
TORIS
Why'd you have to follow me? This is my time,
I told you that.
XENA
Your time? What's that supposed to mean?
TORIS
It means you should'a stayed out of this! Do you
know how long I planned the moment when
Cortese and I face off?!
XENA
Things don't always work out the way you want.
TORIS
What did it feel like after you had beaten Cortese?
XENA
Feel? I didn't have time to feel anything. Maybe,
that was the problem. I knew that he'd come
back, so I decided to form an army for defense.
And then I figured to take the surrounding villages
for a buffer. And then somewhere, I don't know
where, I changed. I didn't have time to feel
anything. And I promise you, Toris, if you murder
Cortese, you'll become what I was.
TORIS
I've seen you kill, Xena. What's the difference?
XENA
Maybe it's just a difference in my head, but the
pure evil of murder is that it's premeditated. It's
not in the heat of battle. And it's not for self-defense.
You have been planning this for years. When the
guards come back, we've gotta move.
Is something funny?
TORIS
I'm sorry I got you into this mess, Xena, but I'm
glad you're with me.
EXTRA
All quiet, sir.
The king has ordered your burning tomorrow. I
don't believe in such executions, so if you can
find me where I can find Cortese, I'll try to make
your death quick and painless.
XENA
Very well. Go to the throne room. You'll find him
seated on the big, comfy chair. Your king is
Cortese.
You'll never get out of the castle alive!
XENA
Oh, no? Oh, we don't have any intention of
leaving the castle. First, you're going to show me
where the messenger pigeons are kept.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gabrielle! Gabrielle! Gabrielle!
What is it?
SERA
Gabrielle! Your friends! The king has them!
Why don't we just find Cortese?!
XENA
'Cause I wanna stir the pot a little. (to Aescalus)
Now, where is the king?
AESCALUS
I'd rather die.
That can be arranged. Now, where is he?
AESCALUS
My king practices at the archery range outside
the west wall, but you'll never get there.
XENA
We'd better split up. Can you handle this?
TORIS
I'll take care of him.
Now we both know that you are protecting the
king. So tell me where he really is.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
On your feet! We're to attack the castle immediately
in full strength! Go!
EXTRAS
Yes, sir.
EXTRA
Come on.
At last.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cortese! Where are you?!
EXTRA
Huh?
The captain lied and Xena knew it!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
You are dead!
Where's Xena?!
TORIS
Xena!
Xena!
XENA
Go get your men. Go!
You deceived me!
XENA
Fight now, talk later.
Cortese, order the raiders to drop their weapons.
CORTESE
Someone, kill her!
Take a good look at my chakram, Cortese. It'll
be the last thing you ever see, if you don't tell
them now.
Wait! Give your weapons to the soldiers. Surrender!
EXTRA
Surrender?
CORTESE
I'm ordering you!
No!
XENA
There's only one man with the power to make
them do that!
AESCALUS
Cortese.
MALIK
No! You betrayed us!
You knew he was lying, didn't you? You wanted
him to yourself.
You're so hungry for that blood you'll never wash
off, here he is. Everything I hated about me, you're
determined to make of yourself. Go on, do it.
And then tell me how much better you feel
about yourself.
Lyceus would have been proud.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I feel, ah, so free, after so long. In all the rush,
I forgot to tell you something. I missed you.
XENA
I guess you had other things on your mind.
TORIS
The wrong things. Thanks for setting me straight.
XENA
Oh. What now?
TORIS
It's time I came full circle. I'm going back home
to see Mother.
XENA
That'll make her very happy. Tell her I said...just
tell her you saw me.
Maybe you could come with me.
XENA
No, not yet. Besides, Gabrielle and I are headed
the other way.
TORIS
I understand. After so long, I should bring Mother
some kind of gift.
XENA
You already are.
STARRING
Lucy Lawless as Xena
Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle
GUEST CAST
Joseph Kell as Toris
Michael Lawrence as Cortese
William Davis as Malik
Doug McCaulay as Aescalus
Elizabeth Skeen as Sera
Peter Needham as Village Elder
???????????? as Leia [uncredited]
???????????? as Assassin [uncredited]
Written by: Peter Allan Fields
Directed by: Stewart Main
Disclaimer: No messenger doves were harmed during the production of this motion picture. However, several are reportedly missing in action and search-and-rescue efforts are under way.
