Remember Nothing
How much further 'til we get to the temple?
XENA
Not too far. Sure you don't want a ride?
GABRIELLE
No, I'm enjoying the walk.
XENA
You don't have to come with me, you know? After
all, it's a family thing.
GABRIELLE
I think it's wonderful, honouring your brother like this.
XENA
It's something I do every year at this time.
GABRIELLE
You two must have been very close.
XENA
We were.
GABRIELLE
Maybe I will take that ride. I always wanted to have
a brother.
XENA
Hah! That must have made your sister happy.
GABRIELLE
I mean, in addition to Lila.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
By this flame, I call on the three Fates. The Maiden,
the Mother, and the Crone. Comfort my brother,
Lyceus, whose life you cut short this day eleven
years ago. In his memory, I ask it.
I wish I could have known your younger brother.
XENA
If I hadn't insisted that we rally against Cortese,
you might have.
GABRIELLE
Xena, it's not your fault. He chose to stand for
something he believed in.
XENA
Yeah, me. Gabrielle, you don't know what it's like
to take a life, let alone cause the death of someone
you love. The gods grant you never do.
I know you! You're Xena!
Xena, behind you!
He's just a boy.
Xena.
CLOTHO
You-
LACHESIS
Know-
ATROPOS
Us.
XENA
Everyone knows the three faces of Fate.
CLOTHO
But few glimpse them.
LACHESIS
And fewer still incur our debt.
ATROPOS
You saved our temple. Name your reward. If it's
ours to bestow, it's yours.
XENA
Reward. For what? For killing a boy barely out
of his childhood? I don't want a reward, I want
that boy's life back. By the gods, I wish I'd never
followed the sword in the first place.
ATROPOS
So be it. All is restored.
XENA
You mean you can bring him back?
LACHESIS
All is restored, until the first time you draw blood
in anger.
XENA
What are you saying?
CLOTHO
Spill so much as a drop of blood in rage, and
everything changes back.
XENA
But I'm a warrior. How can I obey that?
ATROPOS
As a warrior, you can't.
Gabrielle?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xena! Hey, where are you?
XENA
Lyceus?
Lyceus? Lyceus! Oh!
Hey! Sisters.
ACT ONE
What are you grinning at? Okay, what is it, what's wrong?
XENA
Wrong?
LYCEUS
Well, you keep staring at me. Is my face dirty
or something?
XENA
No, it's perfect.
LYCEUS
Uh-huh. You sure you're all right?
XENA
I'm not sure about anything anymore.
LYCEUS
You seem sort of, I don't know, funny.
XENA
Look who's talking. The guy who still wears his
Virillus token.
LYCEUS
Hey, come on. Lots of guys still wear their tokens.
Besides, it's good luck. It saved my life, remember?
XENA
How could I forget?
LYCEUS
Yeah, well I never will. If that arrow had'a hit me
instead of my token, I'd be a memory.
XENA
Instead, you're a grown man.
LYCEUS
Look, uh, I can handle things at the inn. Why don't
you go home, maybe lie down. Relax. Go home.
I have.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eleven. Twelve. Thirteen. Fourteen. Fifteen. Sixteen.
Seventeen. Eighteen. Nineteen. Twenty.
MEZENTIUS
Enough! Anymore, and the slave'd pass out. And
they make much better examples to the rest when
they're writhing in pain. (to Krykus) Don't you agree?
KRYKUS
Absolutely, though I admit my Amazons rarely give
me the pleasure of hearing them scream. Still,
given time, I'll break them.
MEZENTIUS
Soon, the whole world will feel our boots on
their necks.
KRYKUS
Or our whips on their backs. If they resist us.
MEZENTIUS
Resist?! By the gods, I'd like to see any fool
who tries.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lower. A little lower.
Hello, Xena.
XENA
Morning.
EXTRA
Hi.
XENA
Morning.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
One move and I break it.
MAPHIAS
Okay, I'm a statue. Bad day at the inn?
XENA
Maphias?
MAPHIAS
Of course. Who else? Unless you've got another
suitor on the side.
XENA
"Suitor"? N--no, I mean, I mean, of course I don't.
I hope.
MAPHIAS
Well, good. Then let me show you a few moves
of my own.
Something wrong?
XENA
What could be wrong?
MAPHIAS
You're not gonna try and postpone the wedding
again, are you?
XENA
Why would I want to do that?
MAPHIAS
You tell me. First, it was Cortese's attack, then
the town's reconstruction. I'm warning you, Xena.
You keep putting me off like this, and I'm liable
to give up. In ten or fifteen years.
XENA
I'll keep that in mind.
MAPHIAS
Do. After all, it was the last thing we promised
her. We ought to make good on it.
XENA
Promised who?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mother.
Xena? Maphias said you were here.
XENA
I just, just had to see...I guess I'm having trouble
accepting it, you know?
LYCEUS
I know. It's been nearly ten years now, and I still
feel responsible.
XENA
You?
LYCEUS
It broke her heart losing everything to Cortese,
but what else could I do? You were there, we had
to run.
XENA
Lyceus, it is not your fault, believe me. If it's
anybody's fault, it's mine.
LYCEUS
Sure, and what could you have done? Fought
Cortese yourself? On second thought, that might
have been something to see. Listen, I'm just
gonna wait outside.
XENA
Be there in a bit.
LYCEUS
All right.
Mother, I never meant for this to happen. I just
wanted that boy's life back. And now, I've got another
chance at life, too. So, I'm gonna take it. The
hardest thing is losing you and Gabrielle. But
it makes it easier just knowing that in this life, I
never shamed you. And Gabrielle never left her
family, and I never led Lyceus to die in battle. And
I know that's what you would have wanted.
It's like Xena, Warrior Princess, never existed.
The world's a better place without her.
I don't know, maybe it's just a brother thing, but
she's not herself today.
MAPHIAS
Yeah, I sensed that myself.
LYCEUS
You two have a fight or something?
MAPHIAS
Trust me, if we'd had a fight, I'd have noticed. No,
it's something else.
LYCEUS
Like what?
MAPHIAS
Well, I'm not sure. At first I thought it was cold feet.
You know, about the wedding.
LYCEUS
Well, given the groom, can you blame her?
MAPHIAS
Hey, whose side are you on? It's odd, though,
when I mentioned our promise to your mother,
it was almost like she was hearing it for the first time.
LYCEUS
She's been that way all day, sort of foggy and dazed.
MAPHIAS
Maybe she's coming down with something. Hey
look, if you're really worried, I could talk to her,
see what's going on.
LYCEUS
Would you? I mean, it's probably nothing, but
she's all the family I've got.
MAPHIAS
Not all.
Hey!
MAPHIAS
Thanks.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please.
STOREKEEPER
Hold on. What do you think you're doing?
SLAVE BOSS
We're here to place an order. Two wagonloads
of food and hay to be delivered by midday tomorrow.
That a problem?
STOREKEEPER
No, but I'll need some dinars. As good faith.
SLAVE BOSS
You wanna see some good faith?
Start praying and if I spare you, that's as good
as it gets.
Oh, I'm sorry. I--I was just checking the price of
this rug. Are you all right? I guess I don't know
my own strength. Can you ever forgive me?
SLAVE BOSS
Next time, watch what you're doing. You might
hurt someone. (to warrior) Well, don't just stand
there, bring in the slaves to fetch dinner!
Quick thinking.
XENA
Thanks.
CLOTHO
Guess you'll be doing quite a lot of that, unless
you're tired of the quiet life. If so, you know the remedy.
XENA
I do. But I'm through with fighting, and nothing's
going to change that.
Watch it, slave girl. Move!
ACT TWO
Oh, you clumsy fool! I'll teach you.
Don't touch her.
SLAVE BOSS
Out of my way, unless you wanna join her.
XENA
I won't let you beat her.
SLAVE BOSS
Won't let me?
Wait! Stop! I can explain. It's all a misunderstanding,
right, Darling? You see, we're getting married
soon, which means we're in the market for a house
slave. Isn't that so, Sweetheart? And she's right,
this girl should be perfect. But if I've told her
once, I've told her a thousand times, ask before
you examine the goods. Isn't that true, my love?
XENA
Yes, that's true. So, how much?
SLAVE BOSS
Forget it. Mezentius likes her too much to sell her
at any price.
XENA
Mezentius.
EXTRA
Ready to go!
SLAVE BOSS
Right. Load everyone into the wagons. Come
on, you worthless slave. Come on. Move!
XENA
Gabri-
Let go, they're taking her away. What do you think
you're doing?!
MAPHIAS
Saving your neck! What's gotten into you, today?
Lyceus is worried, and so am I. That's why I'm here.
XENA
Lyceus sent you?
MAPHIAS
Good thing he did, too. What were you doing,
interfering like that?
XENA
I wasn't interfering! I was trying to save a fr...to
save a girl from being beaten.
MAPHIAS
She was a slave. The way you were acting, you'd
think slavery was a crime.
XENA
It is.
MAPHIAS
Don't give me that argument again. It's very generous
and noble, but, when are gonna learn that you've
gotta go along to get along? That's how the world
works. And you can't change the world, Xena, no
matter what you think.
He's wrong, you know? One drop of blood and
the world changes back to what it was.
XENA
No. No, this world might not be perfect, but my
world wasn't perfect either. And I won't take my
brother's life. Not again.
LACHESIS
And your friend. What about her life?
XENA
I can change that. All I have to do is free her,
and Gabrielle will be fine.
LACHESIS
You sound very sure. But as you said, things are
different here. People too.
XENA
This is Gabrielle we're talking about - how different
can she be?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
It won't work. They've gotta know we're coming,
or they won't be scared. (to Gabrielle) Give me
that bread.
KRYKUS
If the village knows we're coming, they'll mount
a defense.
MEZENTIUS
Yeah?
KRYKUS
That's why we want to surprise them.
Where's the fun in that? Let them put up a defense.
My men need the exercise.
KRYKUS
I wanna minimize casualties.
MEZENTIUS
Since when do you care about villagers?
Since they became potential slaves. Fewer
casualties. Higher profits.
MEZENTIUS
Yeah, well higher profits would be good, especially
when you're dividing them by three.
Right, sweet thing?
Yeah, I know, three's a lot. But by combining your
muscle, my strategies and Caputius' deadly arts,
we'll more than triple our take.
MEZENTIUS
The three of us will be a regular force of nature.
(to Gabrielle) Not so fast, sweet thing. More wine.
GABRIELLE
Yes, sir.
KRYKUS
Our first move is the most important. What's the
word from Amphipolis?
Ripe for the picking...like some other things around
here. (to Gabrielle) Hey, sweet thing. (to Krykus) A
guy by the name of Lyceus could give us trouble,
though. According to my spies, he and his sister
stood up to Cortese a few years back, before they
were forced into the hills.
KRYKUS
If they thought Cortese was bad, what'll they think
of us?
Crazy! Your sister has totally lost her mind! Taking
on a slave boss, and not just any slave boss, but
one who works for Mezentius.
LYCEUS
To tell you the truth, I'm relieved.
MAPHIAS
Relieved? She could have been hurt, or worse.
LYCEUS
Xena?
MAPHIAS
Oh, that's right. You two practice fighting and
swordplay. While these guys are professionals.
They hurt people for a living.
LYCEUS
We may not get paid to fight. But I'd put us up
against the best they've got.
MAPHIAS
Well then you'd lose. And--and, for what? To stop
someone you don't even know from being legally
punished?
LYCEUS
To stop someone, anyone from being abused,
legal or not.
MAPHIAS
Oh, gods deliver me, you're as bad as she is!
LYCEUS
What's so bad about wanting to help someone?
MAPHIAS
Well, nothing, as long as you don't get hurt in
the process.
LYCEUS
So, Xena didn't get hurt.
Not yet.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry, we're closed, you'll have to come back
tomorrow. Oh, it's you, Xena. Forget something?
XENA
No. No, I--I just wanted to get some ah-
-one of those.
STOREKEEPER
I'll get you a fresh one.
XENA
So I guess you'll be taking those supplies out to
Mezentius tomorrow, huh?
STOREKEEPER
It's like dealing with Ares himself. But a man's
gotta make a living, right?
XENA
Right. So, your men will be leaving early?
STOREKEEPER
Gone by first light, back by dark. Why, are you
looking for a job?
XENA
No, ha-ha. No, just dinner.
STOREKEEPER
There you go. Is that all you need?
It'll be fine. Thanks. Put it on the tab.
You should've seen him, Lyceus. Petty son of a
blood-sucking bacchae. That's what all slavers are.
LYCEUS
You act like it's news. Why do I think I wanted to
stop Cortese? Not just to get the town back. Men
like that can't go unchallenged. Look what happened
to the Amazons.
XENA
The Amazons? Yeah, I guess they're a good
example, aren't they?
LYCEUS
Sure. No one challenged the warlord who started
things with them and the Centaurs, and now where
are they? Dead, mostly, or enslaved by the same
scum who tricked them. What was his name?
Cretan. No, Crouton.
XENA
Krykus.
LYCEUS
Yeah, right, another charmer. Seems like everywhere
you look these days, things are going from bad to
worse. And, no one's doing a thing to stop it, except you.
XENA
Me?
LYCEUS
Why, going up against a slave boss like you did.
Guess all that sparring finally paid off, huh? Next
thing you know, you'll be taking on Mezentius himself.
XENA
Don't think I wouldn't love it. No, there's gotta
be another way to go.
LYCEUS
It's not your fault the world's the way it is. And
with Mezentirus lording it safely in his castle, what
can you do?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whoa!
ACT THREE
You're drunk!
EXTRA
So?
GATE GUARD
You shouldn't be allowed on the road! Move on!
That's it, move. Over here. Shut up! Come on, you slave!
Don't worry, it's me. I was at the market yesterday,
remember?
GABRIELLE
Yeah, I remember. You tried to buy me. What do
you want?
XENA
To get you out of here. As soon as it's clear, we
make our move. But stick close, timing is everything.
GABRIELLE
You're crazy. The only move I'm making is back
to work.
No, wait.
GABRIELLE
Why? Do you even know what they do to runaway
slaves? You ever seen it?
Oh, Gabrielle, I'm so sorry.
GABRIELLE
How do you know my name? Who are you?
XENA My name is Xena. I just want to help you.
GABRIELLE
Right.
Gabrielle, my brother, Lyceus and I, we can hide
you until it's safe.
GABRIELLE
Lyceus? The same Lyceus who stood against
Cortese? Before he ran for the hills, I mean.
XENA
How do you know about that?
GABRIELLE
I heard 'em talking, Mezentius and Krykus. They
think I'm like an animal. But I hear, and I remember.
Myzentius and Krykus?
GABRIELLE
Yes.
XENA
They're sworn enemies.
GABRIELLE
So is Caputius. He's gonna join 'em too, come tomorrow.
XENA
All three of them together. Gabrielle, we must tell
my brother what you know. If those three warlords
combine, no one is safe.
GABRIELLE
I'm not going anywhere.
XENA
So, you're just gonna let these three kill and destroy
and do nothing about it. I don't buy that, not from you.
GABRIELLE
You don't even know me.
XENA
Maybe you don't know yourself.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
What do you mean, she's gone?
LYCEUS
Gone, as in not here.
MAPHIAS
Since when?
LYCEUS
I don't know, since before I got up, though. I thought
maybe the two of you, you know?
MAPHIAS
No, I haven't seen her since yesterday.
LYCEUS
Oh, well maybe she went for a walk or a ride.
MAPHIAS
Oh yeah, maybe.
LYCEUS
You don't think she's in some sort of trouble?
MAPHIAS
Let's hope not.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
You! What are you doing with this mead?
GABRIELLE
I'm taking it to the fire to mull.
SLAVE BOSS
I take my mead full strength. Bring me a cup!
EXTRA
Yes, sir.
Bar's closed.
Put out the fire!
SLAVE BOSS
Guards!
Here you go. Give me the broom!
Get on the plank!
GABRIELLE
What?
XENA
Get ready to fly, Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
What are you doing?
Bye boys.
I hate long flights. Welcome to freedom, Gabrielle.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
My mother was about your size, so this ought to fit.
GABRIELLE
It's beautiful.
So was she. Guess I'll leave you to change.
GABRIELLE
Why are you doing this? I know what you said
about wanting to help me, but if there's one thing
I've learned, it's that you can't trust anyone. Now,
what about you? Guess, you need another slave, huh?
XENA
No. You're right, though. There is a reason I'm
doing this. You remind me of my best friend.
GABRIELLE
I do?
XENA
When I look at you, I see the purest, the kindest
person I've ever known. Someone who's full of
wonder, and--and stories, and would never give
up on anything, or anyone.
GABRIELLE
Then you better look again. It's not me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lyceus, relax. I'm sure he's fine.
LYCEUS
I don't like it. Maphias should have been back by now.
XENA
Maybe he's having trouble convincing the others.
LYCEUS
Well, I have to admit, the thought of three warlords
banding together does sound pretty unbelievable.
XENA
I'm sure that's what they're counting on, the element
of surprise.
LYCEUS
Yeah? Well, they're the ones who are gonna be
surprised when we counter their attack with one
of our own. What I've thought was Maphias and I
will lead the attack through here, while you and
the others arm yourselves and do what you can,
here and here. What do you think?
XENA
Lyceus, I can't.
LYCEUS
Sure you can. Don't underestimate yourself. You're
nearly as strong as I am, and better with a sword.
The fact is, if I didn't need you to organize the others,
I'd have you riding with me.
XENA
No, I mean I-
Excuse me. Xena, am I interrupting?
LYCEUS
No, not at all. Please, come in. Won't you have
a seat?
Thank you. It's too good to be true.
LYCEUS
I know what you mean.
It's all right, you're safe here. It's just Maphias.
Did you bring the others?
It's all right. They just want the slave. I made a
deal. We give her back, they leave us alone,
no problems.
LYCEUS
Leave her alone!
MINION
Take 'em all!
MAPHIAS
Hey, what are you doing? We have a deal?
MINION
Deal's changed.
MAPHIAS
Why, you lying piece-
Come on!
LYCEUS
Xena! Here, catch!
What's wrong with you?
XENA
Lyceus.
LYCEUS
Xena!
ACT FOUR
Try cutting against the grain.
LYCEUS
I'm surprised you care one way or the other,
seeing how you sold us out.
XENA
Aren't you confusing me with Maphias?
LYCEUS
At least Maphias thought he was protecting us.
You just gave up. We could've taken those guys,
but you didn't even try. Why not?
XENA
You wouldn't believe me if I told you.
LYCEUS
Well, try me! 'Cause right now, I don't know what
to believe. I thought we felt the same way about
these monsters!
XENA
We do.
LYCEUS
Then why didn't you fight?! I saw you Xena, you
wanted to! Why didn't you pick up the sword?!
XENA
Because I...because I was afraid.
LYCEUS
We're all afraid to die, Xena. But for me, some
things are worth fighting for. You, our friends,
Gabrielle. These men have gotta be stopped!
XENA
I know, and given time-
LYCEUS
Given time, they'll be unstoppable. Look, maybe
it's a lost cause, but I'd rather die fighting these
bastards, than live with myself if I don't.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gabrielle? If it wasn't for me, none of this would
have happened.
GABRIELLE
You're right. If it wasn't for you, I would never have
known how it felt to be free again. I don't know
whether to thank you or to hate you.
XENA
Hate me?
GABRIELLE
At least, before, I'd forgotten what a real life was.
You showed me all of that. You gave me hope.
You made me think that maybe it wasn't too late
for me. But now...
XENA
I'm sorry.
GABRIELLE
I reminded you of your friend.
XENA
No, you are my friend.
All right, you three, look alive so as I can tell you
from the others. Which one does Caputius want?
MAPHIAS
The boy.
HEAD GUARD
Think you can help me with the-
Maphias.
MAPHIAS
I made a big mistake, last night. But I figure,
better late than never. Right?
XENA
Right.
LYCEUS
Hey! You gonna keep us hanging around here all day?
I guess this means we're postponing the wedding again?
XENA
Let's get out of one fix before we jump into another.
LYCEUS
It's about time you showed up.
MAPHIAS
Well, it took me awhile to wake up, but I have.
Okay, here's how things stand. All three warlords
are meeting in the great hall. So if we hurry, we
can be gone and out of here before they even
know we're missing. Any questions?
GABRIELLE
Yeah, where's Lyceus?
All right, you men. Stow it! I'm about to make a
toast. To the fiercest fighting force the world will
ever see.
Thanks for the tribute. Now, I'll earn it.
MEZENTIUS
We'll see about that. Get him!
Welcome to the party!
KRYKUS
What are you waiting for? Kill them!
Right!
XENA
Maphias, catch!
Where are your table manners?
Get a sword!
XENA
No.
LYCEUS
Arm yourself!
XENA
I can't.
Don't fight destiny!
Gabrielle!
Here's your sweet thing.
Goodbye, Lyceus.
Xena, behind you!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get up. You've got a second chance. Swear you
won't waste it by killing.
BOY
I swear it!
XENA
Get outta here!
He dropped something. It's a Virillus token. Huh!
What's this for?
XENA
Just for being you.
GABRIELLE
Uh-huh. Are you okay?
XENA
Mmm.
GABRIELLE
You don't seem yourself.
XENA
No, you're wrong, I'm more myself than ever.
GABRIELLE
Hmm. Xena, aren't you gonna go back inside?
XENA
Do you think the Fates have our lives planned out?
GABRIELLE
If they do, I wish they'd tell us.
XENA
Me too.
END OF ACT FOUR
STARRING
Lucy Lawless as Xena
Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle
GUEST CAST
Aaron Devitt as Lyceus
Robert Harte as Maphias
Stephen Tozer as Mezentius
Mark Ferguson as Krykus
Slade Leef as Caputius
Chris Graham as Slave Boss
Rebecca Kopacka as Clotho
Micaela Daniel as Lachesis
Elizabeth Pendergrast as Atropos
Mariao Hohaia as Minion
Geoff Barlow as Storekeeper
Andrew McMillan as Gate Guard
David Geary as Guard #2
Allan Wilkins as Head Guard
Daniel Chilton as Boy
Teleplay by: Chris Manheim
Story by: Steven L. Sears and Chris Manheim
Directed by: Anson Williams
Disclaimer: Xena's memory was not damaged or...what was I saying?
