Ties That Bind
This transcript is dedicated to the memories of Kevin Smith and Charles Siebert.
You little slave girl.
EXTRA
She's being sold as a slave girl.
KIRILUS
Slaves from Locia. Very nice. I understand some
of you were more cooperative than others. Lock
them up. I'll have my fun later.
Get in there!
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Enjoying the fruits of your labour, General Kirilus?
KIRILUS
Ares.
ARES
Is this a bad time?
KIRILUS
My greatest ally is always welcome in this camp.
Hail to you, Ares.
ARES
Oh, I must commend you on a job well done. In
only seven months you have turned these wretched
thieves and murderers into a fierce army.
KIRILUS
I live only to serve you, my Lord.
ARES
Ah, I appreciate that. But there is a problem.
KIRILUS
A problem?
ARES
It's time for you to move on. I've found your replacement.
KIRILUS
My replacement? I don't understand. Where have
I failed you? Have I not made sacrifices?
ARES
Oh, yeah, yeah, you've been great about the
sacrifice thing. No, that's not the problem. It's
more a question of...desire, a fire in the eyes.
Quite frankly, you just don't have it. But I know
someone who does. Someone born for greatness.
KIRILUS
No man can better lead this army.
ARES
Perhaps, but sometimes, the best man for a
job...is a woman.
KIRILUS
Xena.
You always did like a good woman.
GABRIELLE
That explains the cries of help we heard from
the village. They're gonna sell 'em as slaves.
XENA
No, they're not.
GABRIELLE
There must be twenty men down there, Xena.
XENA
I didn't say it would be easy.
Hey guards!
GABRIELLE
What's he doing?
XENA
I don't know, but he's gonna get himself killed.
I've come for the girls. If you want to live-
-get out of my way!
Ow, ow!
XENA
You're wounded. Let's get out of here before
the others realize what's happened.
Watch out. Here. Sit down. Were you trying to
kill yourself, or are you just new at this?
ATRIUS
I've been a warrior longer than you've been alive.
If you hadn't interfered, those girls'd be free
right now.
XENA
If I hadn't interfered, I'd be digging your grave
right now.
Xena?! Is he all right?
XENA
Uh-huh.
ATRIUS
Xena?
XENA
Do I know you?
ATRIUS
You should. I'm your father.
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
I'm sorry. C--could you repeat that? I thought
you said you were Xena's father.
ATRIUS
I did. The name's Atrius.
XENA
(to Gabrielle) Don't believe everything you hear.
(to Atrius) You must've taken a blow to the head.
ATRIUS
Hah-hah! Xena, I've missed you! Look at you!
You mean, you really don't recognize me?!
XENA
I don't know who you are, but my father wouldn't
rescue slave girls. All he cared about was himself.
Don't you walk away from me.
XENA
Keep the arm elevated, maybe you won't lose it.
GABRIELLE
Is he your father?
XENA
Give me a break.
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Hey, boys. Wanna play?
We've come to free you. Now, keep quiet. Stick
together. I'll have you out in a flash. Come on.
Hurry. Stay to the right.
Hey! Wait, wait! (to others) Wait here!
Where's the girl who let you out?
SLAVE GIRL
She ran after Rhea.
XENA
I want you to head for the woods and wait for
me there. Go!
Wait! Wait a minute! We're supposed to go the
other way!
WARRIOR #1
Going somewhere?
Let's go.
GABRIELLE
Come on.
Locia is a day's walk from here. We'll return the
girls and then take on Kirilus.
GABRIELLE
Come with me.
ATRIUS
I know where we can get a second horse. It'll
make the trip easier.
XENA
No thanks.
What does it take, Xena? How can I win with you?
XENA
You already have. You helped my friend and I
appreciate it. It's nice meeting you.
ATRIUS
You're just gonna ride off?
XENA
Why shouldn't I?
ATRIUS
Because I'm your-
XENA
No you're not! (to the women) Come on.
GABRIELLE
Okay. Go on.
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Xena's headed for Locia. She'll use the woods
for cover. Take as many men as you need. But
I want her stopped.
Not going well, is it? I understand you were
robbed. That is just a shame. All those beautiful,
beautiful girls.
KIRILUS
I have it under control. Xena won't escape.
ARES
Of course not. That was never her plan. She's
here to take your command, General.
KIRILUS
I'll never take orders from Xena.
ARES
You won't have to. You'll be dead.
Nice shot, Tarkus.
TARKUS
I know. One minute, it's flying along, happy as
can be, not a care in the world. The next, splatt!
Oh, I love my job!
I'm glad, because I have an assignment for you.
TARKUS
Do I get to kill someone?
KIRILUS
Ooh, you do. Xena.
TARKUS
Xena.
Why don't you get some rest? It won't be long
before we move again.
RHEA
I'm sorry for putting you in danger back there.
GABRIELLE
No apology necessary. I'm Gabrielle.
RHEA
Rhea.
GABRIELLE
Bet you can't wait to get back to Locia.
RHEA
I don't--I don't think they want me back.
GABRIELLE
Because of Kirilus?
RHEA
You can't imagine the shame.
GABRIELLE
Rhea, no matter what happened to you, it wasn't
your fault.
RHEA
You don't understand. When Kirilus' men came
to our village looking for women, they didn't have
to kidnap me. I volunteered.
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Are they almost ready?
GABRIELLE
Yeah. I wonder where Atrius went.
XENA
I don't know.
GABRIELLE
It must've been hard growing up without a father.
XENA
My father left us when I was little. I haven't seen
him since and that's fine by me.
GABRIELLE
Is there anything that you remember about him?
XENA
Well, there was one thing. When I was very young,
I would stand in the field and watch my father
ride his horse. And he'd come so close, and I'd
stand fast, not moving a muscle. Then he'd
gather me up into his arms and off we'd go.
GABRIELLE
It sounds exciting.
XENA
It was. I thought he was the greatest man in the world.
Xena! Xena!
RANCH HAND #1
After him!
Yah!
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Yah!
Atrius! Come back here, Atrius! Atrius! Turn and
fight like a man! Come back here, horse thief!
You wanna fight? Come here and I'll fight you
for my horse! You're dead!
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
Thief, this is what you get for stealing horses.
Thanks. You really helped me out.
XENA
You nearly got yourself killed.
ATRIUS
We needed a second horse.
XENA
So you stole it?
ATRIUS
No. I won a bet awhile ago. The stable-owner
owed me.
XENA
Then you won't mind me checking out your story.
ATRIUS
Just like your mother. Why can't you trust me?
Do you remember when you were a little girl,
the way I would lift you up into the saddle behind
me? Back then, you trusted me with your life.
Xena, I'm the same man.
We don't want any more trouble.
XENA
Then answer me one question. That man you
were chasing, did your stables owe him a horse?
RANCH HAND #1
What's it to you?
XENA
Yes or no.
RANCH HAND #1
All right, what if we did owe him?
XENA
Thanks.
Where were you?
XENA
Seeing a man about a horse.
GABRIELLE
He stole it, didn't he?
XENA
Nope.
GABRIELLE
Is he your father?
XENA
All I know is that he didn't lie about the horse.
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I'll turn off up ahead.
GABRIELLE
Won't someone in Locia be worried about you?
RHEA
There's my younger sister, Areliesa. Would you
find her, and tell her I had no choice? She
shouldn't feel bad.
GABRIELLE
Kirilus' men were going after her. But--but you
took her place, didn't you?
RHEA
My sister was to be married this spring. She
has her whole life in front of her. I couldn't let
her be taken.
GABRIELLE
You must really love her.
RHEA
I did what I thought was right.
GABRIELLE
You did the only thing you could. And the people
in your village can't blame you for that.
RHEA
I wish I could believe you.
GABRIELLE
Rhea, Kirilus' men wanted to ruin your life. Now
if you don't go home, they've won.
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You know that song, huh?
ATRIUS
Of course.
You know the reason I left the family. I was young
when I married your mother. I was too young. I
thought I was missing out on something. I convinced
myself that true happiness lay somewhere just
over that next hill. The problem was, the hills
never ended. Oh, don't get me wrong, sometimes
life was hard with your mother, she was so stubborn.
XENA
Strong.
ATRIUS
Yeah maybe that's what I mean. I miss those days.
XENA
Me, too.
ATRIUS
Well, now we have each other. What about you,
Xena? Anything about your life that you might
like to tell me?
XENA
No.
ATRIUS
Maybe another time.
What is that?
XENA
Take cover!
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Tell Kirilus I'm not easy to kill.
You tried to kill my little girl.
TARKUS
Don't kill me.
ATRIUS
You're pathetic.
ACT THREE
What happened?
Gabrielle, what is it?
GABRIELLE
He was, he was surrendering, and Atrius killed him.
ATRIUS
It was self-defense. Xena, he had a dagger. He
was trying to kill me. Look for yourself.
I didn't see that.
ATRIUS
You look surprised.
GABRIELLE
I was right here, Xena, but I--I--I didn't see it.
XENA
Everybody makes mistakes, including me. Come
on, let's get going.
Gabrielle, let me put your mind at rest. Once we
get the girls back home and defeat Kirilus, I'll
be moving on.
GABRIELLE
What are you saying? You--you don't think that I-
ATRIUS
Oh, no! I could see that you and Xena are a team.
I don't wanna come between you two.
GABRIELLE
You won't. You're her father and she--she deserves
to spend some time with you.
ATRIUS
No, I've made up my mind. As long as the two
of you are together and you should be, there's
just no place here for me.
Gabrielle, are you all right?
GABRIELLE
Now, you--you loved your sister. But you left her?
RHEA
I told you. I had no choice. She deserved to be
with her husband. I had to leave so she could
be happy. Do you think that's wrong?
GABRIELLE
No, it's right. It's very right.
Xena.
XENA
Hmmm.
GABRIELLE
Listen, I have an idea. Why don't I take Rhea and
the others the rest of the way? You and your father
can wait here and make sure Kirilus' men don't
follow us.
XENA
What's going on, Gabrielle?
GABRIELLE
Nothing. I'll see you soon.
XENA
Okay, see you soon.
(to herself) Goodbye, Xena.
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Watch the branches.
RHEA
Careful.
EXTRA
Careful.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
We'll be in Locia soon. How's everyone doing?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
It won't be long.
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Split. Take your points.
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If you're gonna be part of my life again, there's
something you should know. I've done terrible
things in my past.
ATRIUS
You don't need to explain. What's past is past.
I only care about the future, our future. And don't
be ashamed of your past, Xena. It's made you
the great woman you are today.
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It doesn't seem right. I don't know.
I've just cut off the flow of blood to your brain.
Talk, or you'll be dead in seconds.
ATRIUS
Where's the rest of Kirilus' army?
WARRIOR #2
Headed for Locia, to ambush you. Kirilus flanked
his men on all sides of the village when he saw
you headed that way.
Gabrielle and the others, they'll be there by now.
I've gotta go.
ATRIUS
Right. We can organize the villagers to defend themselves.
XENA
No, this is my problem. You don't go.
ATRIUS
Yes, I do. I've done some things in my past that
I regret. I hurt the people of Locia. I need to make
it up to them. There was a...it's hard to explain.
XENA
Let's go.
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Over by the stables.
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Kirilus' army is approaching. We must mobilize
a militia.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Come on, Rhea. Be brave.
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Rhea! We were so worried about you.
RHEA
Oh.
ANDRUS
I can't thank you enough for what you did.
RHEA
Then you're not ashamed of me.
ANDRUS
Every moment of happiness that I have from
this day on, I owe to you.
RHEA
(to Gabrielle) What can I say to you? I wouldn't
have come back, except-
GABRIELLE
Say nothing. Just know you did the right thing.
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Glad you could drop in, Ares. You can watch my
army dispose of Xena. We have her trapped
near Locia.
ARES
All dressed up and no one to kill. Your men
haven't trapped anything. Xena rides through
your army at will. And you should hear the things
she says about you.
KIRILUS
I'll cut out her tongue.
ARES
Yeah, well, you gotta fight her first. You can't do
that standing around in your tent.
KIRILUS
I promise you, Xena won't live to see another day.
Tell your people there's danger headed this way.
VILLAGE ELDER
I know you. You're Atrius, right?
ATRIUS
Yes.
It's him. That's the man who razed our village.
XENA
What're you doing? Let him go. We're here to help.
VILLAGE ELDER
You can't trick us. We know there's an army up
in the hills. Atrius is one of them.
XENA
No, you're wrong.
VILLAGE ELDER
He pulled this trick once before, pretended to
be our ally, then attacked with his army. Now,
it's time for revenge. Take him away!
No, Xena, don't. It's true. All of it. Now you see
why I had to come. I have a lot to make up for.
XENA
He's changed. He's here to help you.
ATRIUS
They won't listen, Xena. They're too angry. Go,
you have to stop Kirilus before his army attacks.
Please, do it.
XENA
If I stop this army, will you let him go?
VILLAGE ELDER
You. Stop an entire army? Impossible.
XENA
Watch me. I have many skills.
I've been looking forward to this, Xena. How do
you want to die? Slow and painful? Or fast...and
even more painful?
XENA
I want you to stop your army from invading Locia.
KIRILUS
Throw down your sword and we'll talk.
XENA
You first.
This may be easier than I thought.
Not very sporting, Kirilus.
I'm gonna beat you, Kirilus, and take your army.
No, you're not. You're gonna die.
You're dead, Kirilus.
KIRILUS
No, you'll be mine, Xena!
Now this army is mine!
Anybody got any questions?
WARRIOR #3
All hail the new commander! Xena! Hail Xena!
EXTRAS
Hail, Xena! Hail, Xena! Hail, Xena! Hail, Xena!
Hail, Xena! Hail, Xena! Hail, Xena! Hail, Xena!
Hail, Xena! Hail, Xena! Hail, Xena! Hail, Xena!
Hail, Xena! Hail, Xena! Hail, Xena!
WARRIOR #3
Shall we commence the attack on Locia?
XENA
No, we do this my way. Come on!
EXTRA
Come on, come on.
Lord Ares, you were right. Xena was destined to
succeed, I to fail.
ARES
Fail? No, you didn't fail. You succeeded far beyond
my wildest expectations. Xena rides at the head
of my army. And that would never have happened
if you hadn't played your part to perfection. You
don't know how happy that makes me.
KIRILUS
You--you used me. From the beginning, I was
nothing but a tool to get her back?!
ARES
Yes and I'm really grateful.
KIRILUS
She'll never be yours.
ARES
This time, I hold all the cards.
They strung him up for the vultures.
Take the village!
ACT FOUR
Xena?!
Run for your lives!
GABRIELLE
Wait, no! She won't hurt us! Xena!
What are you doing?! Xena's my best friend!
WARRIOR #3
Yeah, yeah and Zeus is my uncle.
XENA
You'll be all right.
Who did this to my father?
VILLAGE ELDER
He brought it on himself. He tried to escape
from our guards.
ATRIUS
Xena.
XENA
Hush, now. You're gonna be all right.
ATRIUS
I'm dying. They did this to me. All I wanted was
to be with you.
XENA
I know. I know.
Kill 'em all!
GABRIELLE
No!
Wait!
XENA
Gabrielle?
GABRIELLE
Put it down, Xena.
XENA
They killed my father. Now, they'll die, too. Get
out of my way.
GABRIELLE
No! Look at me! I'm standing up to a murderous
warlord, like I saw you do against Draco, but this
time, the warlord is you!
Xena.
The villagers, you're not going to kill them?
XENA
No, it's over.
ATRIUS
Where is your anger, Xena? Look what they've
done to me. Don't you want to strike them down?!
Of course, you do! Come! Join me! We'll kill
them all!
XENA
What? No.
ATRIUS
You defeated Kirilus, now use his army and
fight for me!
XENA
Fight for you? Ares.
Yes, Ares. I thought about it for a long time. What
could I do to win you back? Money? Power?
What was your weakness? And then it came to
me. Daddy! It was so glorious. You did everything
I wanted! You killed soldiers. You even left your
pesky little friend for me. I knew that ruthless warrior
was still inside you. And now you're back where
you belong. This is your army, Xena. I had it created,
for you. And it feels good, doesn't it?
Leading an army into battle for the glory of Ares.
XENA
Give up on me, Ares. I'm never coming back.
ARES
I know what's in your heart. There's a reason
why I play the part of Atrius so well.
XENA
You're not my father.
ARES
What is a father, Xena? A man who guides you,
who teaches you how to live your life. I did it all
for you. And I'll never let you go.
Take your place with me now!
So foolish! Wasting your talents on these pitiful
villagers! I'll make it easy for you. Join me...or die.
XENA
Go ahead, kill me. I'd rather be dead than come
back to you.
Don't do it, Xena!
XENA
Stay out of this, Gabrielle.
Oh, Xena, you could'a had it all. I think one day
you will.
Until next time, Xena. Until next time.
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Ready?
XENA
Gabrielle, I want you to understand something.
We both have families we were born into. But
sometimes families change and we have to
build our own. For me, our friendship binds us
closer than blood ever could.
GABRIELLE
For me, too.
Let's go.
You swing a pretty mean pitchfork.
GABRIELLE
Well, I learned from the best.
XENA
Well, I owe you one.
END OF ACT FOUR
STARRING
Lucy Lawless as Xena
Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle
GUEST CAST
Kevin Smith as Ares
Tom Atkins as Atrius
Stephen Lovatt as Kirilus
Sonia Gray as Rhea
Lutz Halbhubner as Tarkis
Jonathon Whittaker as Andrus
Nancy Broadbent as Areliesa
Heidi Anderson as Slave Girl
John Manning as Ranch Hand #1
Mark Perry as Warrior #1
Tony Williams as Warrior #2
James Marcum as Warrior #3
Robin Kora as Village Elder
Written by: Adam Armus and Nora Kay Foster
Directed by: Charles Siebert
Disclaimer: No Fathers, Spiritual or Biological, were harmed during the production of this motion picture.
