Between the Lines
we reap in our future lives.
This is our karma."
From the Xena "Blue" Scroll
Author Unknown
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Xena, it's not as if people will stare at you.
XENA
(from the dressing room) I'm not worried
about that.
GABRIELLE
It's the latest rage in India. You know what
they say, "When in Rome--"
Oh, please.
GABRIELLE
Okay, different analogy. Um-m-m-m-m.
When you want to fly with eagles--
XENA
Don't dress like a turkey?
Ooh.
XENA
I don't know, Gabrielle. Look, this is just not me.
GABRIELLE
No, no. It--it is you. Uh, the color, the
jewelry. It's, um, it says, um, "Casual." It says,
"Sexy." It says--
She-e-e-e-yah-h-h-h!
GABRIELLE
It says a lot. Glad to see you're getting into the
swing of things, Xena.
EXTRA
Four.
There's a lot to be said about immersing yourself
into the culture of a new land.
What's that?
GABRIELLE
I don't know. Some sort of procession?
XENA
Let's go check it out.
What has this woman done?!
SUHLEEMA
Naiyima's husband is dead. She must join him.
GABRIELLE
Has she been found guilty of murder?
SUHLEEMA
Her? Our custom has been passed down and
can only be changed by a Darsham, an enlightened
one. Her husband died. She must join him. That is
the law.
XENA
Well, a law is about to be broken!
(whispers) Come on.
Gabrielle, take her.
GABRIELLE
Get back!
Come on!
Come on! Come on! Go! Run!
Get them!
EXTRA
Come on!
EXTRA
Get those women!
EXTRA
Stop them!
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There they are!
XENA
Back!
GABRIELLE
Run! This way! Run!
Come on! Take some men and surround the
back of the house.
EXTRA
You men, come with me!
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Pile up some more furniture. I'm gonna look
for a way outta here.
SHIMLAI
(yelling from outside) Naiyima, you must
follow your husband.
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No windows, fantastic. Naiyima, I don't
know what you think you're doing.
Have courage, Xena. I'm sending you on a
journey into your future. A journey to save...your
karmic circle.
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All this talk is tiring, Arminestra. You wanted
to negotiate. But I've heard nothing that appeals
to me.
XENA
What?
That spear. I put it there.
ACT ONE
Is the great peacemaker deaf as well?
XENA
Arminestra?
What is your business with these people?
KHINDIN
My business. My business is to own them, life
and soul. Kill the men. Capture the rest.
XENA
Wait a minute!
KHINDIN
Uh. Well, the Mother of Peace has a backbone
after all. Interesting, but I have an army and all you
have are a handful of villagers, and your message
of peace. The odds are in my favour,
I think. Kelta.
To arms!
EXTRA
Ready! Aim! Fire!
Find Arminestra! Find the Mother of Peace!
Alti?
ALTI
Xena! I knew I'd find your soul, eventually.
SHIMLAI
Revered Mother, run!
Take her to safety, Acklin.
XENA
Who are you?
SHAKTI
Shakti. The army needs me. Go now!
ACKLIN
Come, Arminestra.
XENA
I can't leave.
ACKLIN
You're the only hope the people have, Arminestra.
Come now!
Shakti! Yah! Yah!
Come on!
Ah-h-h! Uh!
Xena, the great warrior in the body of Arminestra,
the peacemaker. She's mine!
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Xena, you better hurry! Xena?
Xena?
NAIYIMA
Make move, sweet thing.
GABRIELLE
Look, I don't have time for this. Where is Xena?
NAIYIMA
Xena. Xena, in the sea. In the sea. In the sea.
In the sea. In the sea.
(to Martyr) Arminestra must have a place of hiding.
Where is it? Where was she taken?! Fear. I can feel
it within you. You see, there once was a powerful
shamaness, named Alti. And Alti knew
what was in the hearts of men and women.
She grabs his neck.
ALTI
You are experiencing the torment of a thousand
lifetimes, past and present.
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Talk to me. Tell me where Xena is.
He didn't know.
KELTA
Who is this Xena? I thought you wanted Arminestra.
ALTI
Xena is Arminestra. She's an old, old friend
of mine. And once I capture her and make
her power mine, I will have everything that
has made her who she is. Timeless. And I will be
the Destroyer of Nations.
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It is the beauty of the universe. Each line has its
place. Each has a meaning, each drawing on the
other to complete its totality.
That is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
NAIYIMA
There is a great evil in the future that is hunting
Xena's soul. It has found her. If it succeeds Xena's
karmic circle will end, along with all the good of
her future lives.
GABRIELLE
Who is her enemy?
NAIYIMA
I don't know. I had to send her there quickly to
defend herself. I was not able to tell her much
before she left.
GABRIELLE
Send me there.
NAIYIMA
I'm not sure that's wise.
GABRIELLE
This karma that you're talking about, can you
see mine? Can you see how much Xena's a
part of that?
NAIYIMA
Yes, in many lives, past and future. You are right.
But if you are to go, I must give you the weapon
I could not give her. You must learn the Mehndi.
GABRIELLE
(whispers) Teach me.
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You're feeling better.
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Is it a problem, Acklin? Break the tip and pull it out.
ACKLIN
It's not that easy. There could be damage to the
lung, and if I pull it out, it's possible that we'll--
Let me take a look at that.
ACKLIN
Good mother, this is not something for you to
see. I said I'd come and get you when we--
XENA
I'm not much one for waiting around. I've been
checking out your army. Low numbers, and even
lower morale. I've seen much of armies. One does
when one is a messenger of peace.
Uh!
XENA
But just in case.
Uh.
XENA
There. That'll take care of the bleeding.
SHAKTI
Amazing.
XENA
Well, we're not out of the woods, yet. Grit your teeth.
Uh-h-h!
Ah, there's not many people who can take a
crossbow bolt through the shoulder and still
keep their arm.
SHAKTI
Your abilities are surprising, Arminestra.
XENA
Just take it as a thank you for saving my life.
SHAKTI
What man of peace wouldn't?
XENA
Hmm.
SHAKTI
You have ended wars throughout the subcontinent,
but I'm afraid, Khindin has no soul and she's
already won. I will fight as long as I am able.
But I have to think about my people.
XENA
Shakti, if you surrender, your people will be
enslaved and you--
SHAKTI
Oh, I'll be executed, that's a given. But enslaved
or not, at least my people will be alive.
And as long as they are, there must be hope.
XENA
No not with this one. Trust me Shakti. I've known
her a very long time.
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Just remember, the key is the Mehndi. Together,
you and Xena must use it to trap the evil and bring
it back to be destroyed.
GABRIELLE
I understand.
NAIYIMA
Mehndi is the path to enlightenment. Feel it.
Don't try to understand it. (whispers) Accept.
This is to create the Mehndi. It will be waiting for
you in the future. There, hidden in the wall.
The men are in position.
SHIMLAI
Then it's time. Break the door down now!
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You are ready. Tell Xena the evil can only be
destroyed here, where she's still powerful.
Xena!
Something wrong?
GABRIELLE
No. No, I'm fine. I was, just thinking of someone
I need to find. What--what were we talking about?
XENA
I was saying that Khindin's not afraid of your army.
She lives off the fear of others. She's more than
just a warrior.
GABRIELLE
A warrior. Khindin?
XENA
I know this doesn't make much sense to you,
but she's trying to recreate powers she lost
long ago.
GABRIELLE
Is she still tall, black hair, a particular war cry
when she attacks?
(to Acklin) Leave us.
(whispers) Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
Xena? Is that really you? Naiyima didn't tell me
that you'd--you'd look so different.
XENA
So do you. Your name is Shakti. You're the leader
in this land.
This is my karma. This is my reincarnated soul?
Naiyima sent you here. You have to defend your
soul against a great evil. I don't know what that is.
XENA
Alti. The great evil is Alti.
GABRIELLE
I thought you killed Alti.
XENA
Her evil just moved on to its next life. And
this time, it not only has her spirit, but the strength
of a warrior. That's why the Mother of Peace had
no success with Khindin.
GABRIELLE
The Mother of Peace?
XENA
Me. First things first, we'll have to set free the
people that Khindin captured.
GABRIELLE
Xena, the Mehndi is the key. It's the only way we
can bring Alti back to our world. We have to use it,
so you can defeat her there.
XENA
We capture her, and her men will take revenge.
We'll have to set them free at the same time.
GABRIELLE
I'm sure your mind is as sharp as ever, but how?
That's a good question.
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
I'm so close to my goal. I knew one day I would
find the body of Xena's karma. I've been searching for
it, hoping beyond hope that I could take her power
and now, I've found it. She couldn't have done it
alone. I have an enemy in the past, and I don't
know who it is. Now, I need a sacrifice.
Her.
WOMAN
No! No! Don't! No-o-o-o-o-o!
No, please don't! No-o-o-o-o-o-o!
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You know? If this doesn't work, it all ends here.
Everything. Us. Our souls.
XENA
We don't have any choice. It's funny. Here you're
the warrior, the hero.
GABRIELLE
Xena, in this lifetime, the Mother of Peace would
be a goddess to me. That's a hero.
XENA
Be careful.
Good Mother, I'm afraid I don't understand a lot
of this.
XENA
Just trust me, Acklin. You're clear on where to
find the box.
ACKLIN
Yes, it'll be done.
XENA
Good.
Ah-h-h, fear. I want that fear. I want that power
inside you. I want the power of your fear
and I can take it from you.
The blood of an innocent gives power to no one.
I should know.
No one touch her. She's here to plead for life.
This one and those. Right, Xena?
XENA
Let the girl go, and I'll give you the answer to
your question.
ALTI
I posed a question?
XENA
You know why I'm here. But you don't know
how, or who sent me.
ALTI
Take the girl away. (to Xena) Fine...let's talk.
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We have so much to catch up on. Last time I saw
you...you were killing me. You know
what I'm after.
XENA
I can guess. Your soul has moved on along with
your evil. You're looking for that spiritual power
you once had. You found it in the karmic circle.
ALTI
(chuckles) Very good, but I was shortsighted. The
spiritual power I was feeding on was nothing
compared to this. Every person here has generations
of power, just waiting for me to take. And do you
know the key?
XENA
Fear.
ALTI
Fear.
XENA
I know. It's like heat radiating from your victim.
But fear is a flaw, Alti. A subtle, human flaw,
given to us by the gods so that they can exploit
us. You think it's wonderful to have that power,
but it's not.
It's not?! With the power fear gives me, I can look
into your mind for the truth. Who sent you, Xena?
Who is it? Who's my enemy from the past? Is it
an enlightened one? A Darsham?
No-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!
Hurry up! Okay, run! Run!
EXTRA
Thank you Arminestra!
XENA
Head for the trees!
EXTRA
Quickly!
XENA
Spread out! Run!
Mehndi is the path to enlightenment. It will be
waiting for you, in the future hidden in the wall.
No! Good Mother! You can't kill!
Uh!
Ah-h-h-h!
Uh!
Oh-h-h!
XENA
Let me see.
ACKLIN
I've never known such pain. I'm sorry, Mother,
but I couldn't let you kill.
XENA
I know you were protecting my soul, otherwise,
Arminestra's...my karma would have been destroyed.
ACKLIN
I've done what you asked.
Thank you friend.
Well, how pathetic. The great warrior can't kill.
Take her away!
She laughs wickedly.
ACT THREE
I'm in awe, Xena. I truly am. I see you found your
friend. Gabrielle, was it? Yes. She has a lot of
power. Her past lives have filled her. Soon, that
power, your power, will be mine.
No not here. The people need to witness
the death of their heroes, Shakti and Arminestra,
on the stakes.
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But don't worry. You'll die slow. I wanna feel every
delicious moment of your pain.
(to her men) Get out!
Xena.
XENA
Alti just left. If we're gonna bring her back to the
past and beat her, you'd better start painting.
GABRIELLE
What if I don't remember everything Naiyima
taught me?
XENA
Don't try to think, Gabrielle. She said that the
Mehndi was the path home. Trust that. Just
let it happen.
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It's time. You must join your husband, Naiyima
in death.
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Your spirit will rise, like smoke from the fire.
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It's judgment day. Today I realize what I was truly
meant to be.
Ah! Ah-h!
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So the gods have told us, so it must be done.
Give her to the flames!
Get Naiyima to safety! Go!
GABRIELLE
Come on!
XENA
Hide her!
(to people) Run! Run!
Watch out.
Ah-h-h-h, another chance! You brought my soul
back to try to defeat me, Xena.
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Ah-h-h-h!
Ow-w-w-w-w!
The problem is you also brought back my powers!
END OF ACT THREE
ACT FOUR
What's the matter, Xena? Having a problem fighting
me in my spiritual state? Don't worry. I'm real,
formed from the evil of the earth.
And I'm a much better fighter than you ever dreamed.
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What's she told you about me, little girl?! Has
she told you about my powers?! Has she told
you about this?!
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That's my gift to you! That's your future! She's
responsible for your death!
XENA
You bi-i-i-i-i-itch!
Give me that pain! Give it to me!
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You're the best thing in my life.
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You must be the Darsham, the one that sent
them. I can feel it. I'll have Xena's power, but yours,
nothing can compare to that.
She grabs Naiyima's neck.
And I will have it!
Gabrielle, Naiyima's not Alti's enemy! It's
the Mehndi.
Gabrielle. Gabrielle.
How can it be?
Thank you, Xena. You destroyed Alti at the one
time in her karma when she was most powerful.
XENA
The one time?
NAIYIMA
Oh, yes. Her soul is not destroyed. It will return
many times, filled with evil, but you will always be
there to meet it. And you, Gabrielle, you both walk
a path together. Think of yourselves as lines in
the Mehndi. Separated, but forever connected.
Mehndi contains truth.
I guess it's a day for changes.
XENA
Oh, yeah.
How does this feel?
GABRIELLE
Feels pretty good. I wish I had some word in it,
though. You know it was like this in that vision?
XENA
I know. I've been thinking about that.
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Xena, Alti was evil. Why should we believe anything
she showed us? The Mehndi contains the truth.
I wish there was some way that--that we could do
that again, just--just to really know.
XENA
Naiyima could have told us.
GABRIELLE
Yeah. There's so many questions I wish I had
asked her about what this all means. You know
what she said? She said that your karma and
mine, they're intertwined.
XENA
Well, maybe it's not the first time we've walked
down this road, huh?
GABRIELLE
Maybe it won't be the last. How would I recognize you?
XENA
We need a sign.
This way, no matter how we look, we'll always
remember the women we were. Like it?
GABRIELLE
I love it.
END OF ACT FOUR
STARRING
Lucy Lawless as Xena
Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle
GUEST CAST
Claire Stansfield as Alti
Tharini Mudaliar as Naiyima
Ajay Vasisht as Acklin
Gabriella Larkin as Khindin
Saras Govender as Arminestra
Colin Mathura-Jeffree as Shakti
Jaswant Singh as Kelta
Wimal Wickramasuriya as Suhleema
Jason Fonseca as Shimlai
Sheikh Nabi as Martyr
Radhika Rani as Young Girl
Nira Bottinga as Woman
Written by: Steven L. Sears
Directed by: Rick Jacobson
Disclaimer: Xena's Chakram got Gabrielle by the short hairs during the production of this motion picture.
