The Bitter Suite
This transcript is dedicated to the memory of Kevin Smith.
Three days, now. She's been undergoing the
purification ritual for three days.
JOXER
That's crazy! Look, we have to get her out! She
could be dying in there.
EPHINY
She was dying out here. You didn't see her after
the death of her child, the pain she was in, the
despair. When she and Xena parted, she came to us.
JOXER
If we leave her in there, she's gone.
EPHINY
She's already gone. Her only chance is to work
through the pain.
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Nice vocal! But you sure can't dance to it. Look,
I feel your pain, Okay, but how much longer before
you start doing something about it?
XENA
My son is dead, ya soulless bastard! What
can I do about that?
ARES
Just goes to prove what I've been telling ya all
along, no good deed goes unpunished. Saving
people, defending the weak, trusting someone
who betrayed you.
XENA
Gabrielle.
ARES
This whole...atonement kick you've been on lately,
it's not you. You're full of fire, bending the world
to your will. Full of rage, and revenge. Accept it,
Xena. Embrace it. You know what to do, who to kill.
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You're not real. You're in my mind.
CALLISTO
What difference does it make? You came here
for the truth, and the truth is that Xena made us both.
She shaped our lives, changed our fates...killed
our families.
GABRIELLE
No, I killed hers. Solan died because of my daughter.
CALLISTO
Because of Xena, you had a daughter. Her
hatred for Caesar, took you to Britannia.
GABRIELLE
Yes, b-
CALLISTO
Straight to Dahak, where she deserted you. Isn't
that right? Isn't that right?
GABRIELLE
Yes.
CALLISTO
And you hate her for it, don't you? For betraying
you? For failing you? You hate her, don't you?
Don't you? Don't you?!
GABRIELLE
Yes!
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No!
Xena. Stop her.
Xena.
Where's Gabrielle?!
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
Help! Somebody help her!
Joxer, run! Amazons, attack!
Xena?
JOXER
Go on, Gabrielle. Run!
GABRIELLE
Joxer!
Xena, what are you doing?!
Xena!
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Vengeance!
I hate you!
Absorb thyself in this great sea of the waters
of life. Dive deep in it, until thou hast lost thyself.
And having lost thyself, then thou shalt find thyself
again. Even as it is written, "She had her dwelling
in the great sea, as in a fish therein."
Aleph am I. From mine unfathomable will, the
universe hath its beginning. In my boundless
wisdom are the types and patterns of all things.
(singing) Glad that you're feelin' strong,
Thought I might lose ya.
Don't use words, sing a song,
This is Illusia!
ACT TWO
Xena be warned, Xena beware,
By closing your eyes you can see what isn't there.
Xena be calm, open your eyes,
Lies may be truth and truth may be lies.
XENA
All right, Callisto, cut the song and dance. What's
going on? Where are we?
ALEPH
Fate is a wheel, it will reveal,
All you've become, all that you feel.
Destiny knows what has to be.
You'll pay the price, nothing is free.
I'll be your guide, take the hand of your muse.
You just might lose your way in the land of Illusia!
(singing) Illusia is music, a world built on rhyme.
It's carved out of space in the absence of time.
You've tasted how evil and good coexist,
The bitter and sweet of it.
WHITE DOG
(singing) All in the lips that you kissed.
ALEPH
(singing) Lion and bull, eagle and snake.
To live or die,
It's a choice you've got to make.
Can you undo what you create?
Step through the wheel.
Follow your fate.
CHORUS OF ANIMALS
(singing) The Fates have a fix on you,
We can play tricks on you.
We deal in truths you're too troubled to face.
Gamble the worth of you, on the rebirth of you.
Don't turn away, don't start to fade.
What's still unwritten...
You can erase.
ALEPH
(singing) Your villainous infamy tortures your soul.
Descent into evil must levy its toll.
The darkness that rots you has brought you to this.
SNAKE
Surrender serenity, suffer sweet misery.
Sin seeks its cursed abyss.
ANUBIS
(singing) Oh, Xena, with death there is always rebirth.
SPHINX
(singing) Come see with a vision denied you on Earth.
ALEPH
(singing) Illusia is waiting - we'll show you the way.
But all consequences are your own creation.
And there's a price you must pay!
CHORUS OF ANIMALS
(singing) The Fates have a fix on you.
We can play tricks on you.
We deal in truths you're too troubled to face.
Gamble the worth of you on the rebirth of you.
Now is the time, this is the place.
What's still unwritten, you can erase!
ALL
(singing) Illusia is music, a world built on rhyme.
It's carved out of space, in the absence of-
All right, Callisto. You like little ditties? Fine. I got
one for ya.
You're acting so strangely,
That I hardly know ya.
But still, I wouldn't trust you
As far as I could throw ya.
Ow! You're wrong not to trust one
That knows you so well.
I never betrayed you.
That was, Gabrielle.
XENA
Gabrielle. Is she here? The one who betrayed
me, is she in this land?
ALEPH
I'm merely your guide, Dear,
Along for a grin.
You'll get no free ride here.
If you want to know more, then spin.
Changeless, this great deep of elemental water
remaineth forever pure. Because of this, it possesseth
the quality of stability. From water do all forms
have their beginning.
The Elysian Fields. Only heroes wind up here.
Dead heroes. Dead, naked heroes.
(singing) Joxer, the Mighty; master of geography.
Here to guide you on your way.
Stick with me, you'll never stray.
And if you're in a land that's new,
I'm the man who'll get you through.
(speaking) Even when you're slightly nude
(singing) I'm Joxer! Joxer the mighty!
(singing) We're in Illusia!
GABRIELLE
So much for the Elysian Fields theory.
JOXER
Yeah.
GABRIELLE and JOXER
Ahhh!
GABRIELLE
How did you...? Joxer, go away! Can't you see
I'm naked?!
JOXER
Okay, but, maybe I could, like, help you out, with-
GABRIELLE
Joxer!
JOXER
(singing) Being naked won't excuse ya.
Sing to talk, we're in Illusia.
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Xena! Xena! Xena! Xena! Xena!
(singing) Praise the winds of chance that blew.
Xena's back, where friends are true.
We would fight to death for you, brave Xena.
When your mighty chakram arcs
throwing fierce, magnetic sparks.
No one ever hits their marks like Xena!
Famed for prowess with a sword.
Who's as feared and as adored.
You've not lived 'til you've been gored, by Xena!
WARRIOR #1
(singing) You're the Warrior Princess
who's as strong as an oak!
WARRIOR #2
(singing) You've got eyes that can tear out
the heart of a bloke!
WARRIOR #3
(singing) With one look you can wilt a flower!
WARRIOR #4
(singing) Curdle milk, or make men cower!
ALL WARRIORS
(singing) Welcome home, Xena, welcome home!
Ares, I thought as much. But why the big production
number? What's the point?
ARES
(singing) You are the most divine, delicious warrior.
ALL WARRIORS
(whisper) Xena.
ARES
(singing) A man can't help saluting your return.
ALL WARRIORS
(whisper) Xena.
ARES
(singing) And if you start my heart,
it's just the way you slash and burn.
Bewitching woman, straining at the armour plate.
ALL WARRIORS
(whisper) Xena.
ARES
(singing) You singe me with the ardor you inflame.
And in my carnal heart,
there's not a sorry shred of shame.
(singing) You and me love war!
Doesn't matter what it's for!
Pandemonium reigns and we're bludgeoning brains!
Give us war, war, war
Keep it down to a roar!
WARRIOR #5
(singing) Words of wisdom, Ares said.
ARES
(singing) When in battle, keep your head.
ALL WARRIORS
(singing) Warriors love war, war, war! Yeah!
I know this place. These people. That shop! I'm
home. This is Poteidaia!
VILLAGER #3
Hey, look it's Gabrielle.
VILLAGER #2
Gabrielle, you're back.
VILLAGERS
Gabrielle! Gabrielle! Gabrielle!
(singing) O'er the Bridge of Tears
She's crossed, and she's paid a fearful cost.
Her blood innocence is lost, Gabrielle.
Now the past has set her free.
And she's traveled home to be,
With her old friends you and me, Gabrielle.
VILLAGER #1
(singing) You've been plucked out from
the heart of our lives for so long.
VILLAGER #2
(singing) Now we're grateful
you've come back to the place you belong.
VILLAGER #3
(singing) For what ails, the panacea.
VILLAGER #4
(singing) Surely waits in Poteidaia.
ALL VILLAGERS
(singing) Welcome home, Gabrielle, welcome home!
GABRIELLE
Lila! Sister! I--I can't believe it!
(singing) Villains, fools, and kings
have made their mark on you.
Leave their easy evil in the dust.
If your child had lived,
we'd surely make her welcome, too.
ALL VILLAGERS
(singing) You and me love peace
with the ducks and goats and geese.
Wile the hours away, baking bread, pitching hay.
We love peace, peace, peace
simple joys that never cease.
VILLAGER #1
(singing) Nothing changes but the time.
SMALL GROUP OF VILLAGERS
(singing) We don't even change our mind!
ALL VILLAGERS
(singing) Villagers love peace, peace, peace!
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(singing) Pulverizing foes requires strategy.
ALL WARRIORS
Yeah!
ARES
(singing) There's no mortal born who meets your skill.
ALL WARRIORS
Yeah!
ARES
(singing) Xena, join my vision - don't deny your destiny.
ALL WARRIORS
(singing) You and me love war!
Doesn't matter what it's for!
WARRIOR #6
Chop the tree down, burn the root!
ARES
Vengeance can be such a hoot.
ALL WARRIORS
(singing) Warriors love war, war, war!
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(singing) Xena was no friend, she worked to twist your mind.
Though you tried to change her deadly ways.
Take this scythe - it's just a case of killing to be kind.
ALL VILLAGERS
(singing) You and me love peace,
with the ducks and goats and geese.
LILA
(singing) Sit and watch the world go by.
VILLAGER COUPLE
(singing) Vegetate until you die!
ALL VILLAGERS
(singing) Villagers love peace, peace, peace!
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| WARRIORS | VILLAGERS |
| (singing) We love war! | (singing) Peace is such a lovely state... |
| Fears! Lies! Smite and smoke and pulverize. | War can kill you so can hate. |
| Pus and Gore. | Just you put your hand in mine, |
| sure your future's on the line. | |
| You've a son you must avenge, | You must know when |
| know you must extract revenge. | |
| Don't be put aside by beauty | When Hope died she freed you. |
| Xena you must do your duty! |
VILLAGERS
Peace!
WARRIORS
War!
VILLAGERS
Peace!
WARRIORS
War!
VILLAGERS
Peace!
WARRIORS
War!
VILLAGERS
Peace!
WARRIORS
War!
VILLAGERS
Peace!
WARRIORS
War!
VILLAGERS
Peace!
WARRIORS
War!
VILLAGERS
Peace!
WARRIORS
War!
VILLAGERS
Peace!
WARRIORS
War!
VILLAGERS
Peace!
WARRIORS
War!
VILLAGERS
Peace!
WARRIORS
War!
VILLAGERS
Peace!
WARRIORS
War!
VILLAGERS
Peace!
WARRIORS
War!
Xena!
ACT THREE
(singing) You're lost and confused, but I understand.
This once beloved friend has been slain
by your hand.
You feel all alone, betrayed and adrift.
But maybe her loss can be viewed as a gift.
(singing) Now I'll be your rock, your strength and support.
Your close confidant with whom you can consort.
I know you completely.
Come melt into me.
Unleash the power of your destiny.
You've proved to yourself now that
you've made the kill,
That you're just like me,
With as evil a will.
Our forces are meant to be merged into one.
The world will be panicked when our work is done!
Let the music of war, with its lustful refrain,
Arouse us to heights with a passionate strain.
Imagine how awesome together we'd be.
So feel what I'm feeling
Come melt into me.
(singing) Did that fill you with glee
To kill your little friend?
Did that ease your suffering
Or bring it to an end?
Let go...
All of your anger will poison you yet
Unless you can just - let go.
Nothing more need be said.
Ding-dong, the bitch is dead.
I killed Gabrielle.
You killed me.
By the gods, Xena. You killed me. I knew you were
trying before, Xena, but I didn't-
XENA
No, no I didn't, it wa-none of this is real! Ares and
Callisto, and Joxer. I didn't kill you. I killed an illusion.
GABRIELLE
If that's supposed to make me feel better-
XENA
Look, I need time to think.
What is that?
XENA
Us. Somehow, it's all about us.
Everything about this Illusia place has been bright
and cheery. The music, the colors. But this place
is dark. It's meant to scare us.
GABRIELLE
What if you're wrong?
XENA
You got any better ideas?!
GABRIELLE
You're asking me? Well, that's a first. You know,
ever since we've met, you've always made the decisions.
XENA
Because you always take so long to reach one!
Always weighing the pros and cons!
GABRIELLE
What's causing that?
XENA
We are. Or I should say you are.
GABRIELLE
There you go again! You're always blaming me
for everything! Xena, why is it never your fault?!
XENA
It's the past! Each time we accuse each other
about the past, the echoes start, and we can't
hear one another!
GABRIELLE
Well, how do we stop it?!
XENA
Tell me how you feel! Right now! Nothing about
the past, right now!
GABRIELLE
I hurt inside!
Don't you?
(singing) My heart is hurting beyond words.
The pain is tearing up my soul.
These days have seen my spirit die.
My life propelled out of control.
My wounds lie naked to the world.
My depth of suffering exposed.
This damaged past can never heal.
Until this nightmare book is closed.
GABRIELLE
(singing) My heart is hurting beyond words.
The pain is tearing up my soul.
Please tell me, how can I retrieve
the life that all this sadness stole?
(singing) Because of you this happened!
Because you had to carry out
your vengeful, little plans!
XENA
(singing) It's you who should feel guilty!
Because of you my child is dead!
His blood is on your hands!
GABRIELLE
(singing) If only you had never brought me there.
XENA
(singing) If only you had done what you were told.
GABRIELLE
(singing) It's you who's to be blamed.
XENA
(singing) And you should be ashamed!
(singing) It's your fault!
XENA
(singing) No, it's yours!
GABRIELLE
(singing) How could you?!
XENA
(singing) How could you?!
GABRIELLE
It's your fault!
XENA
It's your fault!
It's Dahak! No!
Gabrielle!
GABRIELLE
No! Not again! No!
XENA
I'm coming!
GABRIELLE
Not again! Please!
Hold on, tight.
GABRIELLE
No! Don't let go! Don't let go! No! No, Xena! Help!
ACT FOUR
Blood. No! Not here. It's Dahak. This is where
it started. I can't! I can't!
No!
GABRIELLE
I can't!
XENA
Gabrielle! Look, Gabrielle, think. Everything about
this world has been a torment. We've been guided
through it for a reason. Whatever happens, we
have to go through it together.
(singing) It begins very small
seems like nothing much at all.
Just a germ, just a speck, just a grain.
But the seed has been sown
and before you know it's grown,
It has spread through your life like a stain.
(singing) And its power will strangle your love and your joy
and its hunger consumes for it lives to destroy!
XENA
Hatred, Gabrielle, that's what we're fighting, hatred.
TORMENT'S CHORUS
(singing) Hate is the star; it becomes who you are.
Not the hated but the hater,
has a torment that's greater.
(singing) It will eat you alive, consume you and spit you out.
TORMENT'S CHORUS
(singing) Hate's gonna win!
TORMENT
(singing) That there's no doubt about!
TORMENT'S CHORUS
(singing) Hate doesn't care who you are - Hate is the star!
Learning hate is an art, even people who are smart
TORMENT
(singing) can be caught, can be crushed, can be creamed.
(singing) It has swallowed you whole.
Did you think you're in control?
Hate you thought, hate you spoke,
hate you dreamed.
(singing) All your hate gave me substance,
your lives are undone.
TORMENT'S CHORUS
(singing) It's your eve of destruction, your hatred has won!
GABRIELLE
No!
XENA
Gabrielle!
(singing) I never dreamed that we'd be distanced by a hate
that all the trust we had would go.
GABRIELLE
(singing) How could I hate you?
XENA
(singing) How could it come to pass
This awful twist of fate?
GABRIELLE
(singing) How could I hurt you?
XENA
(singing) This madness can't be so.
GABRIELLE
(singing) I can't believe it.
XENA
(singing) I never dreamed that any barriers could rise.
GABRIELLE
(singing) Or that I'd ever see the stranger in your eyes.
XENA
(singing) Our hearts were hurting both the same.
GABRIELLE
(singing) The hurt was tearing up our souls.
XENA
(singing) The fury in us made us blind.
GABRIELLE
(singing) We could not see beyond the pain.
XENA
(singing) If we can turn again to love.
GABRIELLE
(singing) If we can heal these open wounds.
XENA
(singing) We'll leave this hatred far behind.
GABRIELLE
(singing) So not a trace of hate remains.
XENA and GABRIELLE
(singing) We'll overcome our damaged past!
And we'll grow stronger side by side!
To stand together through the storms!
We're safe 'cause love will be our guide!
Solan. It was him.
XENA
Solan.
GABRIELLE
He's why we're here. It's the way out. It's gotta be.
He's here to lead us home. Come on!
Solan? (to Xena) Come on!
Xena, quick!
XENA
I can't.
Of course you can.
XENA
It's no use, Gabrielle. It's Ming T'ien.
I killed him. I killed you, you bastard!
You lied? You gave me your word. You lied.
(singing) Yes, I lied.
Thought I could protect you from the truth.
Deliver you from evil,
Spare your innocence and youth.
That I could simply will it
Was the real untruth.
I was wrong.
I wore a mask to cover my deceit.
But underneath it all
I couldn't keep away my doubt.
Now I'm left without a mask
And one question left to ask.
I'm sorry, please help me, forgive me.
Don't hate me, don't leave me, forgive me.
Forgive me my debt as only you could.
Forgive me the hate,
Replace evil with good.
Forgive me and find out that you will be able to
forgive yourself too.
(singing) My dear Solan,
I never told you that you were my son.
I didn't know the days we had left were so few.
If I only knew, I'd have been with you.
I'm so sorry,
I couldn't be the mother you deserved.
And I regret that I missed your first step,
your first word,
That I never heard - now it seems absurd.
(singing) Can you forgive me?
Open up your heart and let me in.
No matter if the Fates against us turn.
There's one thing through all of this I've learned.
That what I need from you is to...
Forgive me, I'm sorry, believe me.
Stop hating, stop hurting, forgive me.
(singing) Forgive those who'd harm you,
Do good for those who hate.
Forgive, if not forget
I know it's not too late.
Forgive me and you'll discover, too
That the love of your love is you.
No!
Mother?
XENA
Solan!
GABRIELLE
Go on.
I love you, Mother.
XENA
I love you, Solan. I'll always love you.
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We're home.
XENA
At last.
STARRING
Lucy Lawless as Xena
Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle
GUEST CAST
Hudson Leick as Callisto
Hudson Leick as Aleph
Ted Raimi as Joxer
Kevin Smith as Ares
Danielle Cormack as Ephiny
Willa O'Neill as Lila
David Taylor as Solan
Daniel Sing as Ming T'ien
Marton Csokas as Khrafstar
Karl Urban as Caesar
Singers:
Lucy Lawless as Xena
Kevin Smith as Ares
Ted Raimi as Joxer
Willa O'Neill as Lila
Susan Wood as Gabrielle
Michelle Nicastro as Aleph
Phil Marcus Esser as Torment
Keith Black, Robert Bugar and Gia Warner as Animals
Keith Black, Ron Coden and Judd Masher as Warrior Soloists
Kaith Black, Julie Moran, April Arabain Tini and Gia Warner as Villager Soloists
Written by: Steven L. Sears and Chris Manheim
Directed by: Oley Sassone
Disclaimer: The musical genre was not harmed during the production of this motion picture. In fact, the Producers sincerely hope you were A-MUSE-D by this episode.
