Past Imperfect
Are you sure I was dying?
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Xena, the gods know that I have been tied to a
cross before. You helped me then. What makes
you think this vision is different?
XENA
It was so real. The way you looked, the
mountain in the background. It's true, or it could be.
GABRIELLE
Well, I'm not going to believe it. It's almost dawn.
Come on, better get moving if we're gonna warn
the people of Actus about that army.
XENA
No sense in us both going. Stay here. Catch
up on some rest. I'll go to Actus.
GABRIELLE
No, you won't. The threat of a battle does not
mean I'm going to end up like your vision.
Xena, you're expecting Medusa behind every tree!
Y--y--you can't look left! You can't look right! You just-
XENA
All right. We're not staying long. Actus has its own
army. Once we warn them, we're out of there.
GABRIELLE
That's fine. This conversation is over, right?
Deal?
XENA
Gods forbid I'd ever bring that subject up again. Hmm.
The threat of battle isn't bothering business, is it?
XENA
Chances are they don't know. Did you see the
city walls? The battlements aren't manned. They
haven't even got the scouts out. We gotta find the
military commander.
GABRIELLE
Looks like he might know. He looks important.
My name's Xena. Who's in charge here?
OAKLIN
I am. My name is Oaklin. I'm in charge of the
forces of Actus, or what's left of them.
GABRIELLE
What does that mean? What happened?
OAKLIN
Disease. Half my men are down with the scourge.
XENA
Then you better pray for a speedy recovery. There's
a hostile army outside your gates. They're pretty
close now.
OAKLIN
That's impossible. We would have heard.
You're about to. Take cover!
It's already begun. Come on.
Gabrielle? Gabrielle!
Are you okay? Come on.
Stay here.
Against the wall!
XENA
Take cover. Come on. Come on! Move!
GABRIELLE
Get down!
EXTRA
Where's my little girl?! Where's my little girl?!
Xena!
Come here. Come on. Okay.
Mommy!
EXTRA
Oh! Oh!
EXTRA
Oh no!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xena, the Corinthians have retreated inside their
fortress along with the civilians.
XENA
Excellent. With the army inside the city walls,
we'll still have time to search for the Ixion stone.
BORIAS
That's a waste of time, Xena. Even if it did exist,
it's power is not for us to hold.
XENA
Alti promised me that power. With it, I become
the Destroyer of Nations.
BORIAS
You need more than the promises of a witch. If
you forget that stone, my army can attack the south
wall immediately. You'll waste your men on a
search for nothing.
DAGNINE
Xena, what about the prisoners?
Don't move!
DAGNINE
Kill them?
XENA
Well...
BORIAS
No! We aren't at war with the Centaurs.
EXTRA
Move it! Move it!
BORIAS
A wise commander would keep it that way.
XENA
I have my own plans, Borias. We'll hold all the
prisoners...for now.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you all right?
XENA
I saw the past.
GABRIELLE
What?
XENA
I saw the past. I was attacking Corinth like
this. And I had everyone trapped...like us.
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
Xena, they stopped firing on us.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was an opening volley to force people back into
the city. Now there are too many of us in here and
not enough supplies. (to an injured person) Here.
It was a good tactic. At least it was good when I
used it at Corinth.
Please.
GABRIELLE
What did you mean by that?
XENA
I went back there in my mind. I saw it so perfectly.
There was me, Dagnine...and Borias. We'd taken
a patrol of men and Centaurs. Borias wasn't happy
with that, but it didn't matter. He and I had split
the army by then. Mine was much more
powerful than his.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The pain again?
XENA
Uh.
SATRINA
Lean your head forward, my queen.
XENA
Don't call me your queen, Satrina. I don't like it.
SATRINA
Yes, my...yes.
Leave us, Satrina.
You don't command in my tent, Borias...
not anymore.
You've moved the Corinthians back behind their
walls. The way to Athens is clear.
XENA
I'm not-
I am not attacking Athens with a potential enemy
at my back. Borias, it all happens here. If only I
had that stone.
BORIAS
There is no Ixion stone. Alti was lying to you.
Is it...
XENA
No. No, it's just a kick. His legs have your strength.
BORIAS
We should wait before assaulting Corinth until
after the birth. If the men find out you're with child...
XENA
The men don't know, and they don't need to
know. The minute I start hiding in this tent, I lose
morale, discipline.
BORIAS
Is it easier to lose our son?
XENA
This baby is nothing compared to my empire.
Borias, I've been working towards this for years.
Athens is within my grasp.
At what cost, Xena?!
Do we end there, or do we go on and on?! Even
with the wealth of Athens, do we-
XENA
And stop saying, 'we'! You're not in this for wealth
or glory, Borias. Not anymore.
He loves you very much.
He reminds me of my former master, Demayeus.
XENA
Well, I killed Demayeus when I captured you.
Borias wouldn't be so easy.
SATRINA
This is true, but Demayeus was a great warrior
at one time. He assaulted the mighty fortress
on Rhodes. He couldn't force the gates or breach
the walls, but still, he--he was intelligent.
XENA
And what?
SATRINA
Demayeus allowed some poison grain to be
captured by the defenders. When they became
too sick to man the walls, he attacked, but not
against the gates. His men tunneled under the
walls and when they collapsed, he took the fortress.
XENA
But I am using every piece of digging equipment
I have to search for the Ixion stone. Besides, it
wouldn't work.
SATRINA
Y--you would know better than myself.
XENA
Mmm. Still...poison grain. There's an idea. Call Dagnine.
Those were painful times. I learned many hard lessons.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
And I lost a lot.
Xena. General Oaklin is dead.
XENA
I know. Do you have any idea who you're up
against here?
No, but whoever he is, he's got us boxed up.
We've locked down the gates, and all available
soldiers have been posted along the walls. And
I'm next in command. But I don't have any battle experience.
XENA
You're next in command, and you don't have any
battle experience? All right, take an inventory
of all weaponry. Get some civilians detailed on
fire duty. How's the water supply?
PASICUS
There's a dam further upstream controlling the
flow. If the enemy gets to it, we won't last long.
Stop! Stop!
Check the supplies, especially the grain. This
is poisoned. That's why your men are sick.
PASICUS
What?! That's impossible!
XENA
I did it myself at Corinth. Whoever's out there is
watching your walls. When your strength gets
down to half, the assault will begin. In the meantime,
put all the rest of the grain in the storeroom and
post a guard on it.
PASICUS
We have to have food.
XENA
Right now, I'm more concerned about the water.
Assemble all the men you can spare at the south
wall. I need some engineers and the fastest horse
you can find. Gabrielle, looks like this hospital
could sure use your hand.
GABRIELLE
No, Xena, this hospital is well protected.
It's in the center of the city. It doesn't need
me hiding in it. I'll start the fire brigade.
The dam's still intact.
PASICUS
Good. Looks like they missed it.
XENA
Yes. You and you, come with me. The rest of
you stay here.
What's she doing?
GABRIELLE
She's looking for an ambush. She's trying to
draw them out.
Here and here.
She's amazing.
Okay, let's move.
XENA
This one's okay and this one.
I want you all to spread out. Be on your mettle
and keep an eye on the sentry. If we destroy the
dam, they won't be able to stop the water flow.
There'll be some flooding, but we can deal with that.
EXTRA
Over to the side. Over to the side.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This river flows directly into Corinth?
DAGINE
Oh, yes. It's their main source of water.
Your name is Jareyd and you report to Tyldus.
Am I correct?
JAREYD
No. My commander is Kaleipus. We
were on a peaceful patrol.
XENA
And armed to the teeth. What's Kaleipus waiting
for? A formal declaration of war? Or should we just-
BORIAS
Xena! I will not lead my army into useless battles.
XENA
Relax, Borias. I have no quarrel with the Centaurs.
Kaleipus still might be someone to deal with.
(to Borias) Go ahead.
BORIAS
You are free to go, without your weapons. But,
take a message to your leader. To prove his
good will we need to meet, to make a treaty.
JAREYD
I'll make sure Kaleipus hears your message.
Come on, let's go.
EXTRA
Come on!
EXTRA
Get over there!
You, however, are soldiers of Corinth, my
enemies. And you have a message to deliver
as well.
Is this your sacrifice to Alti?
XENA
No, it's just for shock value.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get off the dam!
We've got cavalry coming quick!
XENA
Retreat back to Actus!
GABRIELLE
What happened?!
XENA
I just got outsmarted by my own tactics.
ACT TWO
Here's your list of supplies. The grain's been
locked away. The only water available is what's
left in the cisterns. It's three days, tops.
XENA
Gabrielle, did you see that mountain out there?
GABRIELLE
Yes. It's part of your vision, right?
XENA
What if this is the place where it happens?
GABRIELLE
It isn't.
Satrina, get me some water.
It's all right. He just wants out.
BORIAS
Soon. Soon, I will see my son and I can name him.
Oh-h-h-h and you can take him from me. What
about 'us'?
BORIAS
There is very little left of us anymore, Xena.
The only reason our two armies haven't crossed
blades is because of common purpose.
XENA
And what would that be? It's not Corinth. You
can't convince me of that. No, there's only one
reason why you stayed. You want to take this
away from me.
BORIAS
As any father would. If my son stays here, he'll
become a target for your enemies. He'll see things
a child should not see, and...
XENA
And he'll become like me.
Dagnine.
Was your meeting with Kaleipus successful?
DAGNINE
Oh, yes. Quite successful.
BORIAS
Good. A peace treaty with the Centaurs brings
us one step closer to victory.
DAGNINE
Perhaps we should step outside.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is this?
XENA
Oh, come on, Borias. It was your idea to go after Kaleipus.
BORIAS
Under a banner of truce!
DAGNINE
Yes, of course it was a banner of truce. You think
they would have met with me just because I'm...pleasant?
KALEIPUS
This is war, Xena!
XENA
Well, just a little one. After all, how long do you
think the Centaurs can last without you in command?
JAREYD
We'll never forget this. The army of Tyldus
is on its way. We'll fight to the death!
XENA
Ya got that right. Your death.
BORIAS
You're mad. You've gone too far. My army-
XENA
Your army is nothing. This is nothing, not
compared to what was promised. (to Kaleipus)
I am the Destroyer of Nations. It has been foretold.
The Ixion stone is my path to power and I will
find it. I will unlock it's mysteries and the prophecy
of the great shamaness, Alti, will be complete!
(to Borias) You've lost your edge, Borias. You lost
it ever since you found out I...was no longer yours.
BORIAS
Ah-h-h-h-h. Don't do this! We lost our love
Don't make me an enemy!
XENA
You became an enemy the moment you
thought there was love. (to Dagnine) Kill him.
Get in there! Stop them!
Ah-h-h-h-h!
Ah-h-h! Borias!
Cavalry! Call in the horses!
XENA
No! You go after them and they'll trap you! (to men)
Spread the word! From this moment on, we are
at war with the Centaurs! And Borias is their ally!
(to Dagnine) We're going to need a lot of wood.
When I'm done here, there'll be a line of crucified
bodies leading from Corinth to the Caspian Sea.
And I will crucify them all. Crucify them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crucify.
Gabrielle. Gabrielle!
What is it?
XENA
I understand what's going on now. This battle is
a reflection of one that I almost won years
ago. Whoever it is out there, they're using my
own tactics against me. He knows me. It's like he
is me. How do I defeat myself?
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
Xena, do you see what this is doing to you?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's just like I was talking about.
XENA
I don't care. I want you out of here.
GABRIELLE
How?!
XENA
Tonight, we'll create a diversion. Pasicus can lead
a party of men and-
GABRIELLE
So, okay, in order to save me, you're willing to
risk these men? Their lives mean nothing
to you?!
XENA
All right, I will think of something else.
GABRIELLE
No, you won't. As long as you're concentrating on
me, you can't think about the problem.
XENA
I am thinking about the problem. This guy out there,
he--he thinks like me, fights like me.
And he's winning, just like I should have long ago.
GABRIELLE
But, you didn't!
XENA
Because I withdrew my army. That is not
going to happen here. If I had won back then,
if this man wins now, then my vision of your death
might come true.
GABRIELLE
I'm going onto the battlements. I'm going to reinforce
the men.
Gabrielle. Gabrielle!
Xena, I don't believe in your vision. I can't
afford to! Now, either I prove you wrong and we
go on from here, or I prove you right and we
die. But either way, I will not continue like this.
Quiet! You want the guards on the wall to hear us?
Ah-h-h! Uh!
Uh!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is that?!
SATRINA
It's the flower from the santra bush. It'll take away
the pain.
XENA
I can't be out during a battle.
SATRINA
Look, when your child is born, I'll give you the
kala root. It'll bring you back.
You.
SATRINA
That's right, Xena, it's me. Satrina, your
loyal servant.
Get out of the tunnel. We'll collapse the wall in
the morning. I'll deal with Xena. She's in no
condition to resist.
Why? How did...
SATRINA
'How' is easy. I studied you, Xena. All those
years, you thought I was this poor, defenseless,
little slave girl you captured from Demayeus?
Truth is, Demayeus was my partner. My lover.
My mentor before you came along.
XENA
That's how you knew what I was going to do.
SATRINA
Oh, Xena, the moment I realized you were
in command, I was ecstatic. Of all the people
I've studied, you, were the most complex,
the most brilliant of the minds I've defeated
this far. You see, Xena, I never did have that much
in the way of muscle. Never. But I am a survivor.
And I have this incredible ability to put myself into
my enemy's head. So, when I found myself in your
custody, I realized this was my one chance
to learn from the best. That's why I couldn't allow
you to see Borias that night.
Oh, yes, the night your son was born. You had
just taken the santra-flower potion and Borias'
army attacked.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fire!
Before Alti, before all this, we had love, Xena.
Maybe we confused it with power, but it was there,
is still there. For the sake of our son, and
us, I'm taking you away.
Satrina, don't. I can give you your freedom.
But first, listen to me. The Centaurs know
everything about the Ixion stone and Xena's plans.
They've agreed to let me take Xena and my son
away from here. I have to.
SATRINA
Yes, I understand, he's your son. I'll help you.
Ah-h-h-h!
No, Borias. I can't do that. I can't let that happen,
not while I've got so much to learn from her.
BORIAS
You're a traitor.
SATRINA
My destiny is an empire and Xena's gonna
help me achieve it. Not with you around!
You'd just spoil the whole thing. So you have to
die and maybe your son, too. But we'll have
to wait on that one.
Dagnine! It's Borias! He's here to kill Xena!
ACT FOUR
Come on!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Come on! Ventilate! Come on, that's it!
Push, Xena! Come on, just one more time!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
That's it, Xena!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ah-h! Boria-a-a-a-as!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's your son, Xena.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Come on! We have to go!
Come on, Xena!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
My...son.
We gotta hurry.
When I saw Borias' body I-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-I couldn't believe that he could come back for
me, and that he was in love with me.
SATRINA
But you were focused on the power Alti promised.
You shouldn't have left Corinth. You could have
taken it!
XENA
Like you're going to take Actus? By collapsing the
city walls with this tunnel? You and that story you
kept telling about Demayeus and Rhodes.
SATRINA
When I pull that rope over there, this column will
fall. The next rope pulls this column and so on
and so on. I think it's rather fitting that you should
be here to see it.
The poison grain was the key. I tried to think who
knew my plans, who would know about the poison
grain? There was me, you and Dagnine.
And Dagnine's dead. Ah-h-h!
Want some kala root?
SATRINA
Hmm?
XENA
I had some before I came, which means your
poison dart did nothing.
Oh-h-h!
XENA
Once I knew it was you, the rest was easy. You
always did like the tunnel idea.
SATRINA
Xena!
XENA
What's the matter? Ya having trouble getting inside
my head right now?
Let me help you. You killed Borias, the man who
could have changed everything for me, if only I had
let him. You killed the father of my child!
(crying) And if he had lived, then maybe my son
would st...
Uh-h-h-h!
Did you get inside my head, now? Huh? What
am I thinking now, huh?
Uh-h-h-h!
I won't taint Borias' memory by killing you.
You're not worth it.
SATRINA
Wrong choice. Guards!
You come any closer, and she buys it!
SATRINA
You're completely outnumbered, Xena. You can't
stop me!
XENA
Not if my army takes this tunnel first!
EXTRA
Come on!
SATRINA
They're tunneling in from the other side. Guards,
get back up there!
Where's Satrina?
Xena!
EXTRA
Yeah!
GABRIELLE
Do you think she made it?
EXTRA
Yeah!
XENA
Probably. Like she said...she's a survivor.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Satrina's army sure broke up quickly.
XENA
She promised them a destiny she couldn't fulfill.
GABRIELLE
Funny think about destiny. You can't ignore it,
can't rely on it. Alti promised you one, didn't she?
XENA
I was to become the Destroyer of Nations. It's
funny how I used to look forward to those promises
of hers and every one of them ended in tragedy.
Maybe that's why I fear this prophecy so much.
GABRIELLE
A prophecy? Xena, no one said anything about
a prophecy. Maybe it's a warning? A sign?
A guide? The truth is, you don't know, like Alti
didn't know, because she didn't know you.
XENA
Borias knew. He showed me the hatred I had
for myself. He showed me the love that someone
could have for a child.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stop there, Xena!
XENA
You got my message. I just wanna talk to you.
KALEIPUS
As you did before, when you tried to kill me?
It doesn't matter. You won't get the Ixion stone.
Borias, the friend of the centaurs, has told us
everything. We found his body in your camp. But
his legend will live on forever with our people.
Take this child. He's my son. The son of Borias.
If he stays with me, he'll become a target for all
those who hate me. He'll learn things that a child
shouldn't know. He'll become like me. Please.
The son of Borias, shall be raised as my own.
STARRING
Lucy Lawless as Xena
Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle
GUEST CAST
Marton Csokas as Borias
Catherine Boniface as Satrina
Paul Gittins as Kaleipus
Mark Ferguson as Dagnine
John Manning as Oaklin
Craig Muller as Pasicus
Mark Webley as Jareyd
Lyndon Hendrikse as Sentry/Soldier
Bill Florian as Lieutenant
Norman Potts as Guard
Paul McLaren as Miner
Annabelle Borrie as Little Girl [uncredited]
Written by: Steven L. Sears
Directed by: Garth Maxwell
Disclaimer: Borias' goose was cooked during the production of this motion picture.
