Crusader
Around the hill, a warrior's destroying our men.
Uh!
Uh!
Gabrielle! No!
I'm so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
Why were you fighting these people, Dach?
DACH
We thought they might be on their way to Zoras.
NAJARA
You were wrong. These two are on a journey,
a quest. And they're our allies in our fight against
darkness. My name is Najara.
GABRIELLE
I'm Gabrielle. This is Xena.
NAJARA
You've suffered much, Gabrielle, but you've retained
your good heart. (to Xena) And you have chosen
to fight the darkness within you. What courage
that takes. Please forgive us.
GABRIELLE
How do you know all that?
NAJARA
The jinn told me.
XENA
The jinn?
NAJARA
Yes, they're my guides through life.
GABRIELLE
Are they spirits?
NAJARA
They're the jinn, that's all I know. I'd love to stay
and talk more to you, but I know my men are
anxious to move. Bonacar!
I hope you find what you're looking for. Once again,
please forgive us. It was an honest mistake.
What's she doin'?
Would you like to join us on our mission?
XENA
What's your mission?
NAJARA
To fight evil wherever we find it.
XENA
Can you be a little more specific?
NAJARA
We're riding against Marat.
XENA
Marat of Crete?
NAJARA
You know him.
XENA
I've heard of him. He's a dangerous man.
NAJARA
Yes, he is. My men thought you were working
with him. That's why they attacked you.
XENA
What's he doing in Phoenicia?
NAJARA
Hunting for slaves to bring back to Crete. A raiding
party of his men are on their way to harvest
human beings from the village of Zoras, about
a day's ride from here. We're going to stop them.
We can do it without you, but the jinn think that
you should come and I would love that.
GABRIELLE
What do you think?
XENA
I suppose we could travel with you a while.
GABRIELLE
Xena's a skilled healer. I'm sure she could
tend to your men.
XENA
Since it was all a misunderstanding, sure.
NAJARA
You're both very kind.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you looking for Marat's men?
NAJARA
No, I'm just enjoying the scenery.
GABRIELLE
You do that too.
NAJARA
Yes, all the time.
GABRIELLE
Najara, how long have you been hearing the jinn?
NAJARA
Since I was a little girl. At first, they frightened me.
After a while, I began to trust them, and now,
they're my best friends. They're so wonderful,
so full of love and goodness.
GABRIELLE
Where do they come from?
NAJARA
The light. They're sent to me so that I can fight
the darkness. It's quite a responsibility.
Well, I think we've smelled the flowers enough.
Come on. Let's get back to the others.
NAJARA, DACH and EXTRAS (voice-over)
(sings) Shine on!
Our labours-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(sings) -for thee.
Long may our voices sing
Praises to thee we'll bring!
Glory to thee
Ever and ever!
NAJARA
Well, it's a good thing our fight against evil
doesn't depend on our singing. We should all
get some sleep.
My men are very grateful for the care you gave them.
You both would be very valuable in my hospice.
GABRIELLE
Where is your hospice?
Up here. It's only a dream, now. It would be a
place where anyone could come to be healed,
poor and rich alike. We would care for lepers,
those too old to tend for themselves, men and
women with diseases of the mind as well as
the body. It's sole purpose would be to relieve
suffering. Oh, there's so much good to be done
and so little time to do it.
XENA
About tomorrow...
NAJARA
Of course. Marat's men should be arriving by
morning. We need to move on the village at dawn
if we want to stop them.
XENA
How do you know about this raid?
NAJARA
One of Marat's personal slaves escaped, came
to me, and informed me of his plans.
XENA
When?
NAJARA
You don't trust me.
Take my sword and command my army. Don't
let them do anything you don't think is right.
XENA
You can keep your sword. But I will take
command of your men.
NAJARA
Wonderful. I can't tell you how much I love
the challenge of winning your confidence.
(to Gabrielle) And you should listen to her. Don't
trust me too soon. Xena's wiser in that way.
Sleep well.
XENA
Oh, we will.
You're a tough sell.
XENA
I'm not going into any village with any army unless
I'm sure I'm doing the right thing.
GABRIELLE
I understand. I don't know what to make of her.
So that's the village?
XENA
It's too quiet. I'm going in.
Don't move until we get the signal from Xena.
Quit fighting us!
That's it! Bonacar!
Gabrielle!
ACT TWO
You fought with great courage. That can
be a virtue, but only when it's used on the
side of the light, against darkness. The
capture and selling of people is wrong.
EXTRA
Listen up!
NAJARA
It shames both its victims and those who would
profit from this evil. Slavery paves the path to
darkness. We can offer you initiation into the
way of the light. Let us help you.
GABRIELLE
Do you think it got through to them?
I hope so. Turning people away from their dark
side is the most important thing I do. Who knows?
Some of these men, one day, might be great
soldiers of the light.
EXTRA
Come on!
Forgive those people. They're confused and
misguided. Don't let hatred poison your hearts.
Now go to your homes, and live good lives.
EXTRA
Thank you.
Hmm. Oh.
EXTRA
Thank you.
EXTRA
Bless you.
NAJARA
Thank you.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I love you, Xena.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's a great curse to have seen one's own death.
XENA
The jinn told you?
NAJARA
Yes, but not everything. Your vision of death,
does it-
XENA
Yes. It includes Gabrielle.
NAJARA
Does she know?
XENA
No.
NAJARA
That's fortunate for her.
XENA
Do you think it can be avoided?
NAJARA
Of course. I believe our destiny is in our
hearts. But it will take drastic measures to change
an event you've foreseen in your soul's eye.
Xena? There you are.
NAJARA
Listen, I don't know what your plans are, but Marat
controls a village about a day's ride from here.
He uses it as a center for his slave trade. That's
where I'm headed. Would you like to join me?
Yes.
XENA
Sure.
NAJARA
Wonderful.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gabrielle? You've been awful quiet. You all right?
GABRIELLE
Yeah, I was just thinking about yesterday. Amazing.
XENA
Yeah, amazing.
Swans!
NAJARA
Looks like they're headed for Kuta Lake. Let's
go see them up close.
We'll catch up with you at Revo Falls. (to Xena)
Will you join us?
XENA
No, thanks. I'm not one for bird-watching.
I guess I was wrong.
GABRIELLE
Well, maybe they're circling?
NAJARA
Do swans circle?
I don't know. Why don't you ask the jinn?
NAJARA
They're not with me right now and I don't think
they know much about swans.
(to Najara) Can I ask you something?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personal?
NAJARA
Of course.
GABRIELLE
You seem so happy. It's like what you're doing
has so much meaning for you. Am I right?
NAJARA
I don't think about it much, but now that you mention
it, yes, I'm very happy. You're not?
GABRIELLE
I just...I don't know if I'm on the right path in my life.
NAJARA
You fight for good. What other path is there?
GABRIELLE
You mentioned opening a hospice.
NAJARA
That would be a good way, too. Why don't you
do that? I don't mind if you start without me.
GABRIELLE
You see, if I do that, then Xena and I have to go
our separate ways. She's not the hospice type.
NAJARA
Yes, I see.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(to Gabrielle) She's on a different path. Well-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-perhaps you need to commit totally to your life
with Xena. You two do a lot of good.
GABRIELLE
We do. Najara? Does the violence ever bother
you? I assume that you've killed before?
NAJARA
Yes, as little as possible, but, sometimes it's
inevitable.
GABRIELLE
I don't think I could get used to that.
NAJARA
Gabrielle, you need to make a full commitment
to the light. It will give you faith that what you're
doing is right.
GABRIELLE
The light. I need something.
Swans. Let's get a closer look.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marat's main slave center is here. We'll hit it in the
morning from the east, so that the sun will be at
our backs. The most important thing is to make
sure the people being held as slaves are not
harmed. Remember, there are children among
them. Let us move swiftly.
So where's Marat?
NAJARA
He rarely comes into the slave center. He has a
stronghold in the foothills east of the village.
XENA
Then that's where I'm headed.
NAJARA
I thought we'd all go after him once we've taken
the village.
XENA
He could swoop down while you're in the middle
of freeing the slaves. It could get messy.
NAJARA
But going after Marat alone-
XENA
I'll take my chances.
GABRIELLE
Look, I've learned you should listen to Xena when
it comes to this sort of thing.
NAJARA
All right. Xena will go after Marat, while we take
the village.
What is your plan of attack?
GABRIELLE
When do we head out?
XENA
I'm heading out before dawn. You stay
with Najara.
GABRIELLE
Are you sure?
XENA
Sure. I need you there to make sure those children
are safe.
Xena.
XENA
The jinn?
NAJARA
No. I recognized your footsteps. The jinn haven't
visited me all day. Sometimes, they disappear
for weeks at a time. I'm never angry, though. I
understand. They're very busy. There's so much
darkness in the world.
XENA
Najara, your hospice. Why don't you start it in the
village you're going to take tomorrow.
NAJARA
Ah, now I understand. You don't plan to return
after your mission against Marat. You want a
place to leave Gabrielle.
XENA
She'll die if she stays with me. You said it would
take something drastic to change our destiny.
Maybe this is it.
NAJARA
As soon as she realizes you've left her, you know
she'll follow you.
XENA
I see such joy in her eyes when she talks
to you about your mission. She's been looking for
meaning. I think you can give it to her. It
hasn't always been good for her, being with me.
I seem to hurt her.
NAJARA
I know she forgives you. I promise I'll do everything
I can to justify your trust.
XENA
You better. Thanks.
Goodbye, Gabrielle.
ACT THREE
There you are, my friend. You're welcome.
This must have been a very difficult time for you
all. Don't carry it with you. Live life to its fullest.
Seize every day as an opportunity to do good. And
remember, you're always free to turn to the
light that drives away all darkness. We'll
make sure you have some food for your journey
back home. And some of my men will escort you,
at least part of the way. As you travel, I
want you to tell all you meet, who are sick
and suffering, that I am here, that I am opening
a hospice here to care for them. Goodbye and may
the light illuminate your way.
EXTRA
Thank you.
For you.
NAJARA
Oh, thank you.
EXTRA
Thank you.
You're slave traders. What shall I do with you?
I'll tell you what I want to do. I want to forgive
you and love you all as brothers, but I can't do
that unless you turn to the light. And there's no
reason why you can't. We'll be glad to initiate you
into the way. Just let the light in and the darkness
will be gone.
Are you really going to open a hospice?
NAJARA
Yeah.
GABRIELLE
Right here. Now.
NAJARA
Of course.
GABRIELLE
I wanna be initiated into the way of the light.
NAJARA
Oh.
Good morning, Marat.
Do it, get it over with.
XENA
Do what?
MARAT
What you do to all the people you defeat, cut their
throats if they don't turn to the light.
XENA
What did you say?
MARAT
I've heard all about you, Najara, how you give your
captives three days to turn good before you execute
them. If you think I'm gonna pay lip service to your
mumbo-jumbo just so you can kill me anyway
when you decide I'm not being sincere, you're
dead wrong.
XENA
Where'd you hear all this?
MARAT
I talked to a couple of men who escaped the
massacre at Tyre, when you sent twenty men to
your light.
Come on, Najara, kill me now and get it over
with! Do it! You filth-
Flowers cannot blossom without the light of the
sun. Nor can the human soul flourish without
the warming glow of the eternal spirit. Gabrielle,
walk into the light and look no more on the darkness.
All right.
NAJARA
Yes.
NAJARA, DACH and EXTRAS
(sings) Show us our course.
Lead us to glory-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(sings) And through the darkest night,
Strengthen our will to fight.
Justice our cause
Faith is our beacon.
Xena, I'm glad you came.
XENA
Najara?
NAJARA
I didn't expect to see you.
XENA
There's been a change of plans.
NAJARA
Why is that?
XENA
I captured Marat.
NAJARA
Congratulations.
XENA
He told me some interesting things about you.
He said that you offer prisoners three days to
turn to the light and then you kill them.
GABRIELLE
Xena, he's a slave trader. You don't believe
him, do you?
XENA
Come on, Najara, how about it? Do you execute
unarmed men without a trial?
NAJARA
Definitely not.
GABRIELLE
You see, Xena?
NAJARA
I liberate their souls.
GABRIELLE
What does that mean?
NAJARA
Gabrielle, we're talking about thieves, slave traders,
murderers, and pirates, not decent people.
GABRIELLE
So you execute them, without a trial? A hearing?
NAJARA
What hearing or trial did these men here
give the people they were going to enslave? In
order for good to triumph, we must eradicate
evil. I always give evildoers a chance to turn to
the light but if they refuse or I sense their conversion
isn't sincere, I send them to look onto the light.
GABRIELLE
Najara.
XENA
Come on, Gabrielle.
NAJARA
No! Gabrielle has turned to the light. She's my
responsibility now. As you said yourself, you
hurt her. That's not going to happen again.
Najara, don't do this.
XENA
Get out of the way, Gabrielle.
NAJARA
(to her men) This is between Xena and me. Stay
out of it. (to Xena) The light will triumph, Xena.
Quit preaching and fight.
NAJARA
All right.
Xena.
In the name of the light! I smite the darkness!
GABRIELLE
What?! No!
You'll have to kill us both.
NAJARA
You don't understand, Gabrielle, that darkness
inside her will destroy you one day.
GABRIELLE
Put the sword down. Najara, you and I, we'll walk
out of here together.
NAJARA
You're just saying that to protect her.
GABRIELLE
Xena's dark side frightens me. I need to
move on, but I could never live with someone who
killed her. There would be no going back
from that.
NAJARA
All right. All right. Get the slave traders and let's
move out.
EXTRA
Come on!
ACT FOUR
Some water.
I hate that. (to child) I got my butt whipped, didn't I?
EXTRA
Uh-huh.
XENA
Well, it serves me right for trusting someone who
talks about being good all the time. You
know what? She's a tough girl, but she's got a
weakness. It's the same one I've got.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
What are you thinking about?
GABRIELLE
You're so close to being this ultimate force for
goodness, but that little bit makes you so wrong.
NAJARA
What should I do with those slave traders, Gabrielle?
What would Xena do?
GABRIELLE
She would make sure they were out of business.
She would turn them over to the local government.
NAJARA
But what if the local government supports slavery?
Probably not a problem, because Xena kills most
of them in combat, anyway.
GABRIELLE
Xena only kills if it's absolutely necessary.
NAJARA
And I only kill evil people. Why is she better than me?
GABRIELLE
Don't you think those people deserve a fair trial?
NAJARA
But some fool may find them innocent.
GABRIELLE
But with your way, innocent people could die.
NAJARA
You're right, Gabrielle. I'm sure I've made mistakes
before. But, all I've done is send them to the light.
The eternal powers will correct any mistakes I've made.
Gabrielle!
GABRIELLE
Xena, are you all right?
XENA
I lost one of those good chewing teeth, but other
than that, I'm fine.
GABRIELLE
Xena, we should get out of here.
XENA
No. She's too dangerous a girl to leave on the
loose. She likes killing too much.
GABRIELLE
But she beat you up so badly.
XENA
Well, that's another reason.
Xena.
Ooh, that's gonna hurt.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Najara!
So glad you could make it.
GABRIELLE
Be careful, Najara, she's snapped.
NAJARA
Do you expect me to believe you're going to let
her die?
XENA
Well, let's just see, shall we? I just asked her to
come with me right now and you know what she
said? She said she'd rather stay here and try to
reform you. Seems that your zealotry is less
scary than my dark side. Sniveling ingrate. But if
I can't have her, nobody's gonna have her. It's
part of that drastic change you talked about
and it's sure gonna change by my destiny.
GABRIELLE
Okay.
NAJARA
I knew you were no good for her.
You see, it's a little more difficult with a millstone
like her around your neck, isn't it? You probably
wouldn't care if one of your soldiers died. They'd
just go up to that big, old light in the sky. But you
might miss Gabrielle, huh?
Najara, hurry!
If ya don't mind my saying, your focus is a little off.
Xena! Don't kill her.
Looks like she saved both our lives today.
Uh, Xena, can you get me off this thing?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
You take her from here.
The slave traders are going to get a fair trial.
NAJARA
They'll probably bribe their way out of it.
GABRIELLE
The soldiers say that you wiped out a village
last year and many innocent people died.
NAJARA
They lied.
Could be a bit of a problem.
NAJARA
Those men were pirates. They sunk many passenger
ships for sport. They had to die. But you believe
what you want, Gabrielle. Be happy.
Well, these people aren't your biggest fans.
NAJARA
Can't please everybody.
XENA
Did you tell her about the vision?
NAJARA
No. That would hurt her and I don't ever want to
do that. That's your job.
I forgive you, Gabrielle.
END OF ACT FOUR
STARRING
Lucy Lawless as Xena
Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle
GUEST CAST
Kathryn Morris as Najara
Roy Snow as Dach
David Te Rare as Marat
Written by: R.J. Stewart
Directed by: Paul Lynch
Disclaimer: Xena's Best Chewing Tooth was not harmed during the production of this motion picture.
