Sacrifice
This transcript is dedicated to the memory of Kevin Smith.
Just weren't built to hold a real god, were you? Huh.
Go away.
Can you see your friend?
GABRIELLE
No, but she's gotta be here. These are the people
that her parents told me about, I'm sure.
I wish I could just make out what he's saying.
XENA
I can't make it all out, but it's--it's something about
the return of a goddess. They need to build temples
to her, prepare the way.
Xena, there she is. That's my friend, Seraphin.
What is she doing?
Seraphin!
WERNFER
Let's take her!
GABRIELLE
This way!
Now! Quickly!
XENA
I'm gonna get Seraphin!
Right!
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ACT ONE
We have to find her, Xena. I've known Seraphin
since she was, she was five. I can't believe that
she would be a worshipper of Callisto's.
XENA
More than that, she was a sacrifice. When we
stepped in, Callisto decided to take one of the
other priests.
GABRIELLE
Do you think it's possible that Callisto could end
up like the other gods? With temples, and followers?
XENA
It's not like her. There has to be something else.
I--I just don't know what. The first thing is to find
your friend. Come on.
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Hi, Honey, I'm home. Ah, well, there you are. Hello,
Pumpkin. Your Auntie Callisto's brought you a
little treat. It is what you wanted, isn't it? They called
him the, the Priest to the Flesh. Now-
-shall I carve, or will you?
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Most of them are headed toward the river. They're
going to regroup.
GABRIELLE
Right.
XENA
Gabrielle, I want you to take Argo. Go on ahead.
I'll catch up with you later.
How long have you been watching me?
Since you broke up Callisto's little party. Looks
like the new kid on the block wants to create her
own dynasty. She's got a lot to learn, though. I,
uh, don't suppose she happened to be wearing
a, uh, pendant, at all?
XENA
You mean the hind's blood? No. I heard the story,
Ares. Callisto killed Strife using a dagger of hind's
blood, and then Hercules forced her through the
gate into that other world.
ARES
What I want to know is, how she got through that gate.
XENA
She's a goddess. How long would it have taken you?
ARES
Good point. Still, it's good she didn't have it on
her because, now-
XENA
Now, she can't use it against you.
ARES
Or against any other god. Callisto didn't come
back for a few temples. She wants it all. Now,
Xena, you're gonna need an ally. Maybe we can,
come up with some arrangement.
XENA
Forget it. I'm not in this for your petty revenge.
ARES
Callisto is not a true god. She was mortal. She's
got no control, no respect for any of us. All she
can bring is destruction. And when she gets an
army of worshippers, conquers the world, what then?
XENA
Then she's comin' after you.
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Priest of the Flesh has gone. Glory to him!
EXTRAS
Glory!
WERFNER
He will be replaced. But the blood, the time of the
blood has come.
And this time, there will be no interruption. Glory
to the blood! The rebirth of the goddess!
Hmm, not happy to see me, are you? Neither am
I, really. But I've got a plan to solve both of our problems.
XENA
Why don't you let me in on it?
CALLISTO
Oh Xena, tsk-tsk-tsk-tsk. I tell you about it and the
first thing you know, you'll be trying to stop me.
You just trust me. You're gonna love it. Well,
least half of it.
XENA
Oh, goody.
You know, it's funny that I keep this thing around.
I don't really need it. It's just for decoration and
for fun.
I don't know if I'm toying with you, or you're toying
with me. Oh, you can't beat me, Xena. You can
only...you can only delay me.
Sorry, Xena, but I'm on a schedule. Oh, yes.
Oh, I've been lookin' forward to this reunion for
a long, long time. Oh, you're going back through
the gate, but not before we settle a few things.
Love to chat, but gotta go.
I am really gonna enjoy tearing her limb from limb.
Seraphin! What is wrong with you?! We're trying
to save your life!
SERAPHIN
Gabrielle, you don't understand. I don't want to go.
GABRIELLE
No, I know, you wanna be sacrificed to the temple
of Callisto. Well, it's not going to happen.
SERAPHIN
Who's Callisto?
GABRIELLE
Who's...? You mean you aren't being sacrificed
to Callisto?
SERAPHIN
I'm chosen for the Priestess of the Blood, for
the rebirth of the goddess?
XENA
This isn't about Callisto. It's about something
else. The Goddess of Dahak. It's about Hope.
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
Hope is gathering a following.
GABRIELLE
Can't be.
XENA
Yes. She's building a power base of people to
worship her.
SERAPHIN
And why shouldn't we worship her? I mean, we're
not fools. We look at how the world is today.
Where is the happiness? Where is the peace?
Seraphin, you have no idea what you're talking
about. Hope is bringing Dahak's destruction.
SERAPHIN
The goddess, Hope, is the savior of this world.
I must get back to Werfner. The high priest needs
me, needs me, for the goddess.
Your goddess killed my child.
It's okay. Come along. I'll explain to you.
ARES
Hope is building an army of the ignorant. Incredible.
Are mortals so stupid as to believe Dahak will
actually bring them peace? They all deserve what
they get. I really don't know why you continue to
protect them.
XENA
Shut up, Ares. Hope must die.
ARES
Oh, my thoughts, exactly, but my way. I got a
lotta options, here. I can raise a combined army
of all my warriors. Hope wants to fight? I'll be
there, but on my terms. Not to press a point, but
I could really use an overall commander.
XENA
Your army means nothing to me.
ARES
Takin' this all a little personally, aren't we? Okay.
When you realize you're wrong, call me. If you survive.
Are you okay?
XENA
Ares is right.
GABRIELLE
About leading his army? Xena, are you sure that's best?
XENA
I'm taking it all too personally. I can't afford that.
GABRIELLE
It's okay to be angry.
XENA
No, it's not. Anger clouds the mind. It prevents
focus. Hope still has a mortal form. Maybe, we
can use that to our advantage.
GABRIELLE
That's if we can get past her powers.
XENA
She still hasn't made an appearance. It's possible
that she's not able to. The rebirth that Seraphin
mentioned, talk to her. Find out what it means.
GABRIELLE
Do you think that Hope is vulnerable?
XENA
That's exactly what I think. And if I'm right, we got
a chance to kill her.
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Wait! This is a place of rebirth. The Cave of the
Sister Peaks. This is where the goddess is.
CALLISTO
Very good.
WERFNER
No, please, please! We are only a servant to the
greatness of the goddess-
CALLISTO
Yes, I know who you serve, you little worm. She
and I are old friends. I've already given her the
Priest of the Flesh, and now she's waiting for the
Priest of the Blood. And just guess who gets that honour?
WERFNER
No, it can't be us.
CALLISTO
Mm-hmm. Afraid so.
No! We are not the chosen one! The priest's servant,
she's the chosen one. It's her blood.
CALLISTO
What exactly do you mean?
WERFNER
If our blood could release the goddess, we would
drive the sword into our own chest, but it won't!
You're here to help her, aren't you? To release
her. We can talk to her for you.
CALLISTO
Really?
No, you aren't listening! I said everybody! I want
every warlord, every soldier who ever professed
an allegiance to me, all of them. This is gonna
be the largest army ever assembled.
WARLORD
But this is Dahak and his daughter.
ARES
And I am Ares, God of War! I will not end up some
footnote in the annals of history! Dahak wants a
battle for dominion, all right. I'll give him one
he'll never forget. But we strike now! So, do as
I tell you and go.
Do you remember the river near your house?
SERAPHIN
I remember.
GABRIELLE
Your parents used to get so upset at us for
swimming there.
And we would nod our heads and we'd say, "Oh,
we'll never do it again." But, we'd go and we'd do
it. We didn't want anyone telling us what to do.
SERAPHIN
I'm not going home, Gabrielle. I've found my place.
GABRIELLE
But, this isn't your place. These aren't your friends,
Seraphin. What happened to the girl that I knew,
who had a mind of her own? I just can't believe
that you'd blindly follow Dahak and his followers.
SERAPHIN
Look, it's not as blind as you think. Yes, I know
Dahak has a plan. And yes, I know people must
die. But it's for the greater good.
GABRIELLE
Don't tell me about the greater good, because
you have no idea what it means.
SERAPHIN
And you have no idea of the greatness of Dahak.
When the goddess is reborn, she will return from
the Sister Peaks. The bringer of the destroyer
will wash the land of its sins. On the rebirth, it
will come to pass. Werfner, the high priest, has
promised us this.
GABRIELLE
This rebirth. What is that? Can--can you explain
it to me, 'cause I don't know what it means.
SERAPHIN
It's the time when she becomes her destiny, and
she emerges stronger and more powerful. Let
the goddess, Hope, touch your soul.
GABRIELLE
She already has. Hope is my daughter.
Very good. You molded her cocoon from Janiclea's
flesh, as it is written.
CALLISTO
The Priest of the Flesh, it wasn't that hard to figure
out. Now, talk to her.
WERFNER
What--what do you want us to ask her?
CALLISTO
Ask her if she understands what I'm doing, and
exactly why I'm protecting her.
You wanna die?
CALLISTO
More than that. I want oblivion. I want my life to end.
I want it all to stop. No nothing! No memories,
no Tartarus, nothing! And I know, I know she can
do it. Now, does she agree?
WERFNER
The goddess understands, and she agrees.
You should've been my child, you know that? But,
that's okay. Such power, it's almost scary. Daughter
of Dahak, with the power of her father behind her.
Yes it's quite scary.
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Hey. Every village has got the same story, people
leaving home to join Dahak's followers. Disciples,
they're calling themselves now.
GABRIELLE
Are they under a spell or something?
XENA
No, they're simple people. They're--they're poor
nd they're--they're disillusioned. That's all she
needs to draw them in. What's wrong with her?
GABRIELLE
I told her about Hope. About me and Hope.
XENA
And?
GABRIELLE
I don't know. When she looks at me, it's like there's
somebody else in there. How could this happen?
I mean, if I were to bet what she'd be doing right now-
XENA
That's the funny thing about people. Just when
you think you've got them figured out, they show
a completely different side to their character.
GABRIELLE
I know what you mean. You think we'll ever get
her back? The Seraphin I know?
XENA
We're gonna do everything we possibly can. But
first, I gotta deal with Callisto.
GABRIELLE
And, what about Hope?
XENA
I don't wanna split my efforts. Callisto is protecting
Hope. So, whatever happens, I gotta take her out
of the picture. The villagers mentioned a drifter
who'd been stealing food from the markets, and
by the description, it sounds like the priest that
we saw with Seraphin. He's gotta be in the same
general area as Hope.
GABRIELLE
The Sister Peaks.
XENA
Right. Look, Gabrielle, do not turn your back on
her. She is not your friend any longer. She belongs
to Hope. Be back as soon as I can. Okay.
You should have told us you didn't eat. We wouldn't
have brought back so much. If we were immortal,
we would still like to eat all kinds-
CALLISTO
Quiet! We've got a visitor. Oh, she's so good. I'll
be right back.
Visitor. We don't like visitors.
Oh, Xena, come on. I know you're here. Still trying
to stop me, even though I'm doing you a favour.
You can do me a favour by handing over Hope.
CALLISTO
Oh, you figured it out, did you? Well, no can do.
She's not quite up to snuff at the moment. She's
cocooned, helpless. She needs her Auntie Callisto.
And you would just run her through.
XENA
That's the idea.
CALLISTO
Yeah, well, I can't let it happen. See, I have plans
for her. Big plans.
XENA
Well, forget about them-
-and hand over that monster!
What is this? Some kind of martyrdom phase
you're going through? I could kill you in an instant.
Nice try, but that threat worked when I was only a mortal.
But, I'm a god now, Xena. Welcome to my world.
Now, get ready to leave it.
Give me your best shot.
CALLISTO
Oh, clever, clever girl. You want me to use my
powers in here, so all these stupid rocks come
tumbling down on me.
XENA
You're a god. It won't kill ya.
CALLISTO
No, won't kill me. But it will keep me locked up
long enough for you to get to my precious little
baby. Oh well, back to basics.
Ouch! Don't do that. The best you can hope for
is a stand-off, and who do you really think's going
to tire out first, huh?
Well, I gotta give you credit for trying.
You should've kept running. I couldn't use my
powers in there, but out here, well, can you say,
"Nighty-night"?
No!
XENA
Nighty-night.
Stay back, Ares. I'm the one who gets to kill her.
ARES
Then I guess we got a problem, 'cause I just
can't let that happen.
ACT THREE
We had heard about the mother of the goddess,
Hope. She's known as the betrayer, the one who
selfishly killed her own daughter.
GABRIELLE
That's not how it was.
SERAPHIN
We were never told her name, because it was
said that to speak it was obscene blasphemy.
I didn't know it was you, but I guess it makes sense.
GABRIELLE
How does it make sense?
SERAPHIN
She's your daughter. She's a balance of Dahak's
power. The goddess, Hope, is a balance of good
and evil. But born as a mortal, she is one of us.
GABRIELLE
She's evil. That's what she is. She's like her father.
SERAPHIN
She has a harsh father, yes. That's why Hope
was born of a good person, of you. She can stand
as a champion for mortals, a leader for us all.
GABRIELLE
She is a murderer. She doesn't care about any
of us. Even as a child-
SERAPHIN
Can you blame a child for not understanding a
power that was given it? A child, without guidance,
without her mother? After the rebirth, the goddess,
Hope, will have the wisdom to know what's best.
She's your daughter, Gabrielle. How could your
daughter be evil?
Ares has got Hope.
GABRIELLE
You saw her?
XENA
Yes, I saw her, or something very like her. She's
in a cocoon.
GABRIELLE
What is Ares up to?
XENA
I know he's not taking her to Mount Olympus
because of the other gods. There's only one place
that she'd be safe.
GABRIELLE
One place. The Halls of War.
XENA
We'll need every bit of time we've got. We'll travel
overnight by foot. I think we can be there by morning.
GABRIELLE
And then what?
XENA
First things first. Let's just get there.
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Can you hear me? Can you? You and Callisto
killed Strife. You tried to kill me. But as you've
probably figured out, I forgive you. Xena's not finished,
you know. When she puts her mind to killing
someone, they generally get killed. I know. I gave
her that focus. I suggest that you do something
to discourage her.
What is that?
SERAPHIN
The goddess. Oh, she's speaking to us. You
have to leave, Gabrielle. They're coming.
GABRIELLE
Who's coming?
XENA
Gabrielle.
EXTRAS
Priestess of the Blood.
GABRIELLE
By the gods.
Priestess of the Blood. Priestess of the Blood.
XENA
They're just innocent people. Hope knows I won't
kill 'em. There was a hut on the other side of the
ridge. Run to it. I'll meet you there. Okay, fellas,
break it up.
EXTRA
Stop her.
Come on.
Hurry!
SERAPHIN
You don't understand, Gabrielle. They're trying
to save me!
GABRIELLE
They're trying to save you for a sacrifice!
They won't hurt us. They wouldn't!
GABRIELLE
Right, they won't hurt the betrayer?
SERAPHIN
No, no, no, but I will tell them that-that you realize
that you were wrong. Hmm, I can see it in your
eyes. They're coming.
Xena!
XENA
Gabrielle, up through the roof. Climb down the
tree, and head for the river through the forest.
(to Seraphin) Come on, your turn.
SERAPHIN
No, leave me here.
XENA
Come on!
SERAPHIN
No, Xena!
This is the area. The Halls of War are around
here, someplace. The entrance is along these cliffs.
GABRIELLE
Xena, about this rebirth of Hope. What if it changes her?
XENA
It won't change her, except to make her more
powerful and more evil.
GABRIELLE
I just can't help thinking that--that she was a child
when she did all those things.
XENA
And my son was only a child when she killed him.
Don't you dare defend Hope to me. I'm gonna
head south and see if I can find anything. You
stay here and don't let her outta your sight.
You can sense her, can't you? She's your daughter,
Gabrielle. She loves you. Don't you know that?
She needs you.
GABRIELLE
Don't you think I know that? I have thought of that
every minute, but I can't play "What if?"
SERAPHIN
But it doesn't have to be like that. She knows.
The goddess, Hope, knows. I can feel it. And if
Xena kills her, I-
Go to her. Find her. Warn her.
SERAPHIN
I will. I'll tell her that her mother loves her. Oh,
you are the saviour of the world, Gabrielle.
That was good. With the connection Hope has
to her followers, Seraphin should lead me right
to her. You almost convinced me.
GABRIELLE
I'm not blind, anymore. You realize that we've
given Hope exactly what she wants. Seraphin.
XENA
It was the only way that we could get to her in
time. If we waited, Hope would just choose a new
Priestess of the Blood.
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We thought this place safe. You told us it was.
ARES
No, safe was not the word I used. When Xena
starts to move, nothing is safe. But once Hope
is released, we won't have to worry about that.
Weren't you supposed to bring Seraphin here, first?
WERFNER
We--we failed. But we're looking.
ARES
I do have one card to play. Something even Xena
won't see coming.
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Be careful.
XENA
Yeah.
Shh. Sh-sh-sh-sh-sh. You and I have got something
to talk about.
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Where are we? What-what is this place? Who
are they?
CLOTHO
We-
LACHESIS
Are-
ATROPOS
The Fates.
ARES
Yes, the Fates. They spin the thread of life for
all you mortals.
GABRIELLE
What am I doing here?
ARES
Oh, I don't know, old time's sake? To call in a debt,
remember? You still owe me for getting' you to
Chin ahead of Xena. Now, I'm callin' that favour
in. If Xena kills Hope, this thread is cut.
GABRIELLE
If I have to die to keep Dahak's evil from the world
then I will.
That--that's--that's Xena. This is Xena's life thread.
ARES
That's right. And if she kills Hope, chk-chk-chk.
The Fates agree? I have the right to ask this?
CLOTHO
The debt is binding.
LACHESIS
The burden is-
ATROPOS
On Gabrielle.
CLOTHO
If Xena kills Hope-
LACHESIS
Xena-
ATROPOS
Will die.
ACT FOUR
My goddess, I'm here. I bring you my life's blood.
I bring you freedom.
The offering of the Priestess of the Blood, the rebirth
of the goddess. With this offering, the goddess
awakens. The daughter of Dahak, the Bringer
of the Destroyer.
Kill her!
No, Xena!
What do you think you're-
STARRING
Lucy Lawless as Xena
Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle
Renee O'Connor as Hope
GUEST CAST
Hudson Leick as Callisto
Kevin Smith as Ares
Jodie Rimmer as Seraphin
Stephen Ure as Werfner
Elizabeth Pendergrast as Atropos
Micaela Daniel as Lachesis
Samantha Adriaanse as Clotho
Jeremy Curry as Warlord
Written by: Steven L. Sears
Directed by: David Warry-Smith
Disclaimer: No Pulsing Cocoons were hatched during the production of this motion picture. What you witnessed was purely a reenactment.
