The Way
The producers of the following episode took
liberties with Hindu deities and historical timelines,
but their sole intent was to illustrate the beauty
and power of the Hindu religion.
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I love rivers.
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They're all right, if you don't have to get to the
other side.
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There's a certain inevitability to a river.
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Nothing stops it from finding its way.
XENA (voice-over)
You ever hear of a dam? Beavers?
GABRIELLE (voice-over)
Why do you do that?
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What?
GABRIELLE
You shoot me down while I'm doing my
philosophical stuff.
XENA
Whaddya mean?
GABRIELLE
Xena, since I met you, I've been on this spiritual
quest. I've been looking for the meaning to it all.
Why don't you ever ask those questions?
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As a matter of fact, I've been thinking a lot about
reincarnation since we came to India.
GABRIELLE
You see? Maybe being a warrior isn't the right
karma for you. Maybe you should look to peace.
XENA
Hmm. Maybe violence isn't the answer to anything.
Ah-h-h-h-h-h-h!
Why are you following us?
DEMON
We were ordered to stop you from reaching
the avatar!
XENA
Who's "We"?
Xena!
All right, who's tryin' to stop us from reaching
the avatar?
DEMON
Indrajit. The King of Demons! The Prince of
Darkness! The best of -ah-h-h-h!
I get it. He's a bad guy.
We've gotta beat Indrajit to this avatar, whatever
that is.
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An avatar is a deity in human form. They're usually
destined to save humanity from a great evil. What's
the matter?
XENA
It's this wound. That demon should never have
gotten a blade on me.
GABRIELLE
Xena, you're only human. Everybody loses
focus sometimes.
XENA
It's not just that I lost focus. It's why. A few
days ago, I saw my future life. You saw it, too. I'm
destined to be reborn as some kind of a saint.
GABRIELLE
But that's wonderful, isn't it?
Yes, but if I already earned that karma or
can I still mess it up? Maybe I was shown my future
life for a reason. Maybe I'm supposed to change
the way that I'm living this life, here and now.
But, either way, a warrior cannot ask these
questions in the heat of battle. When the kill is
there, you have to take it. If I can't do that,
I can't be a warrior, anymore.
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
Avatar!
XENA
What's the attraction?
MAN
The avatar.
ELI
And so, you must cast all hate and violence
from your heart.
GABRIELLE
It's Eli.
MAN
I have heard that you're a healer. Is this true?
ELI
I...have been given a gift.
MAN
My daughter is very ill. She fell into a feverish
sleep three days ago. I cannot awaken her.
Please...heal her.
ELI
Have you treated her with the proper herbs?
MAN
I have done all that I can. Please. She'll
die if you don't heal her.
Come on, Eli.
Is she awake?
EXTRA
Oh avatar.
Thank you. Thank you.
Eli. Eli, wait up! What's the matter with you?!
ELI
Hello, old friends. You're a sight for sore eyes.
GABRIELLE
Eli, you healed that little girl.
ELI
Yes.
XENA
So, you really are the avatar.
Yes.
GABRIELLE
That's wonderful.
ELI
It's not as wonderful as you might think. People
suffer so, Gabrielle, it breaks my heart. And they
look to me for salvation.
GABRIELLE
That must be an awesome responsibility.
ELI
You wanna know what the scariest part is? It's
that I know the truth.
GABRIELLE
The truth?
ELI
No, not the truth; the truth. I've seen
it. It's as real to me as these trees are to you.
You know, I was jealous of you.
GABRIELLE
Me?
ELI
When I thought you were a Devi. You seemed to
have the power to heal people. That thing
I sought after all my life. I envy that.
Now I have this power to heal people
and cast out demons, give people hope. And it
terrifies me.
Something's out there watching us.
GABRIELLE
Maybe it's one of your followers.
XENA
It's not human. Eli, have you heard of Indrajit?
ELI
The King of Demons?
XENA
He's coming after you.
ELI
I heard that, too. If he comes, he comes. There's
nothing I can do about that.
XENA
You can let us travel with you.
ELI
No, I can't let you put yourselves in danger for me
again. Besides, I have to make this trip on my own.
GABRIELLE
What trip?
ELI
I'm goin' to the coast to catch a ship. I'm
going home.
XENA
Well, that's great, 'cause we were thinking of
going to the coast ourselves.
ELI
Xena, I don't want you fighting in my defense.
XENA
What are you gonna do to stop us?
Come on, then.
ACT TWO
Please, don't hurt me. I meant no harm.
XENA
Put me down.
HANUMAN
Of course.
What do you think you're doing, prowling
around our camp?
HANUMAN
I wanted to get a closer look at the avatar. My
name is Hanuman.
XENA
You've been following us for some time.
HANUMAN
Yes. I thought perhaps I could be of some help
to Eli. Indrajit is coming for him.
ELI
I don't need any help, really.
HANUMAN
Most young avatars say that.
GABRIELLE
You've known others?
HANUMAN
Only one. If I were you, I would take Eli to
the Great Temple and ask for Krishna's help.
XENA
Krishna?
HANUMAN
The supreme personality of the godhood.
He will know how to handle Indrajit. And as long
as Eli stays in the temple, he'll be safe.
XENA
Great Temple it is, then.
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Indrajit's demons.
XENA
Is His Badness with them?
HANUMAN
If he is, he won't be leaving any tracks. Quick,
take cover.
I'll keep watch!
XENA
(to Gabrielle and Eli) Go.
GABRIELLE
(to Eli) Come on.
How wonderful. You can climb trees just like
one of us. You must have learned from monkeys.
XENA
Nope. Amazons.
HANUMAN
Amazons?
XENA
It's a long story. What did you mean when you
said that Indrajit wouldn't leave tracks?
HANUMAN
Indrajit attacks from the sky.
XENA
You seem to know a lot about Indrajit.
HANUMAN
I know a lot about his entire family. I assisted Rama,
when Rama killed Indrajit's father.
XENA
Rama. I've heard people speak of Rama since
I've been in India. But didn't he live a long time ago?
HANUMAN
Yes, centuries.
XENA
Then, you're immortal?
HANUMAN
Not quite. There is one being that could kill me.
XENA
Let me guess. Indrajit.
What is the truth?
ELI
So, you really wanna know?
GABRIELLE
Yeah.
ELI
It's life; that we must revere it wherever we find it.
To bring peace to this world, I have to teach mankind
a reverence for life.
GABRIELLE
So, if someone were to walk up to you and knock
you down...
ELI
Then I'd get up.
GABRIELLE
But if they knocked you down again...
ELI
Then I'd get up again, if I could. But under no
circumstances would I fight back. If I did, I would
simply be perpetuating the cycle of violence that
has ravaged the Earth for centuries. That
cycle has to be broken, Gabrielle. And the
truth is that that can only be done through non-violence.
GABRIELLE
So, that's the truth.
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Hanuman, you've been walking the Earth for
centuries, now. How do you know what
is the right code, or--or lifestyle, or-
HANUMAN
Way.
XENA
Yes. How do you know what's the right way for you?
HANUMAN
My way is the way of obedience and loyalty.
I can see it's not your way. You're too proud.
XENA
What happens when a person gets stuck between
two ways?
HANUMAN
That is not good. For each person, there can
only be one way.
What's that?
HANUMAN
Indrajit. He's north of us. We may still have time
to reach the temple.
XENA
Let's go.
Look! It's the avatar!
EXTRA
Oh! The avatar! Avatar!
EXTRA
Heal me, avatar!
EXTRA
Take away my pain!
HANUMAN
He's close. (to villagers) Indrajit is coming!
XENA
Go to your homes.
HANUMAN
Take the trail behind the temple!
MAN
No. We know who he has come for. We must
stay and fight for the avatar!
EXTRA
Yes!
MAN
Avatar!
ELI
No, no, no, no, no! Listen to me, please! Listen!
Listen! Listen to me! Thank you for your
concern. It means a great deal to me, but I will
not have you fighting in my defense. The only
reason I've been able to help you is that because
in your hearts...you're as innocent as children.
If you were to do battle with Indrajit, it would harm
not only your bodies, but your souls as well. I'll
be all right.
XENA
He's right. You must go to safety. Hurry!
Now!
(to Gabrielle) Get Eli inside the temple. I'm gonna
make sure everyone gets gone before Indrajit comes.
GABRIELLE
Be careful.
Come on, Eli.
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The statue with the flute, is that Krishna?
HANUMAN
Yes, though he can appear in whatever shape
he chooses. He's the ultimate manifestation
of the supreme deity.
GABRIELLE
Hanuman, no offense. You see Xena and I aren't
used to waiting around for the gods to bail us out.
Eli's words have troubled you haven't they, Gabrielle?
How did you know what he said to me?
HANUMAN
I have been following him for weeks. I know his
words touch anyone with an open heart.
GABRIELLE
So, what do you think of his message.
HANUMAN
His way is the ultimate way. Few can follow
it. Those that do, truly walk with the spirit.
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Come on, move it!
Get out!
MAN
It is not safe to be here. Danger is approaching.
We must leave.
Xena's in trouble.
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Eli, come back! Eli! Wait!
Stop!
Come, child.
Here. Take her to safety.
Eli!
ELI
Please. Stop!
GABRIELLE
No!
HANUMAN
Indrajit!
Let go!
INDRAJIT
Y-y-yah!
Gabrie-e-e-e-e-elle!
Oh-h-h-h!
Go back! Run, Gabrielle! He's coming! Go! Go!
No-o-o-o-o-o-o!
XENA
Gabrielle! Gabrie-e-e-e-elle!
GABRIELLE
Xena-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a!
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
Where did he take them?
HANUMAN
He went to the demon land of Lanka.
XENA
Then, that's where we're headed next.
HANUMAN
Xena, you saw how powerful he is. In Lanka,
he has hundreds of demons to help him.
We can't beat him.
XENA
Well, your friend Krishna didn't show.
HANUMAN
We need to get his attention.
XENA
And how do we do that?
HANUMAN
With these gods, sometimes you've got
to try something unusual.
XENA
Like what?!
HANUMAN
I pray to him all the time. What Krishna needs
is for someone to call upon him who doesn't
respect gods, doesn't trust them, doesn't
like them. Someone who thinks she doesn't need them.
XENA
You want me to pray.
Wait! Uh! Eli I think if we put both our weights
against this door, we can pro--probably just, uh!
You're not gonna do anything to try to get outta
here, are you?
ELI
No.
GABRIELLE
(yelling) Open the door!
ELI
Be patient. We'll be all right.
GABRIELLE
I don't think that's very realistic. This is an
evil man!
ELI
He's not a man at all, Gabrielle. He's the incarnation
of evil itself.
GABRIELLE
Is that supposed to make me feel better?
ELI
He and I may be here in mortal bodies, but our
war is a spiritual one. I'm sure that if I can stay
faithful to my way, I can defeat him. His is the way
of evil. Mine is the way of-
GABRIELLE
Love! I know that. I know that.
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All right, what's he into? Chanting? Sacrifices?
HANUMAN
You understand who Krishna is. He's not like
other gods. He is in everyone, every living
being. So, to find him, you need only to look within.
Hello, Eli. Don't be afraid. I come in love.
ELI
Love?
INDRAJIT
Can't you have compassion for me, Eli? I've suffered,
too. Didn't I love my father, who was killed
by another avatar; the one they call Rama.
ELI
What do you want, Indrajit?
INDRAJIT
I want to be your friend and ally.
ELI
We both know that's impossible.
You, uh, you're not afraid of me, are you, Eli?
ELI
I know you can't hurt me.
INDRAJIT
You, uh...like her, don't you? Well, congratulations,
Eli. You have your first, real disciple. How
passive and serene will you remain while she's
...being tortured?
How am I doing, Hanuman?
(whispering) Krishna.
Krishna. Thank you for coming. Where's Hanuman?
KRISHNA
I asked him to step outside. I thought it best we
be alone for this.
XENA
For what? We are going after Gabrielle and
Eli, right?
KRISHNA
How do you expect to defeat Indrajit?
XENA
I can't without your help.
KRISHNA
But I can't help you, unless you let me.
XENA
I'm not one for cryptic talk. Get to the point.
KRISHNA
You must open up your heart to me if you're
going to tap into the strength that will allow you
to defeat Indrajit.
XENA
I thought that's what the prayers were for.
KRISHNA
That got my attention. Now you have to go
one step further. You have to embrace the way.
XENA
The way? I've heard about the way in Greece,
Chin, Anatolia, and now India. I don't get it.
The way is not for people like me.
KRISHNA
You're wrong. You're very close to the way
now. However, missing it by the width of a hair
is the same as missing it by the height of a mountain.
XENA
I'm close? I don't think so. I don't have the patience
of Gabrielle, the love of Eli, or the serenity of my
mentor, Lao Ma. I'm just an angry, ass-kicking-
KRISHNA
Warrior.
XENA
Yes, a warrior.
KRISHNA
You say that with disgust.
XENA
Well, it doesn't rank up there with the saints,
does it?
KRISHNA
Xena, you have seen what you're destined
to be. In your next life, you will walk the way
of the saints. However, you will never achieve
that life if you don't follow the way you're on now.
XENA
The Way of the Warrior?
KRISHNA
Yes, you must not be hesitant to fight in a
just cause. It is better to die following your own
way, than to live following someone else's. When
you ride into combat, act without attachment
and carry with you the confidence that you are
fulfilling your calling in this life. Then you will
know the way.
XENA
I understand.
Then go. Rise up like fire and burn all
that oppose you. And if you're following the path
of the way, call my name and the strength to
defeat Indrajit will be given to you. Are you ready?
XENA
I'm ready.
I'm ready, too.
(whispering) Gabrielle.
Gabrielle. Help me.
ELI (voice-over)
Gabrielle, be careful.
ACT FOUR
Won't you help me?
ELI (voice-over)
Gabrielle.
No, no! Don't!
GABRIELLE
No-o-o-o-o-o-o!
There, now. That wasn't so hard, was it?
You're in my world now, little girl.
I got her to cave with a simple illusion. Your
disciple gave into the first temptation. Let's see
how you do, Eli. You feel her pain, don't you?
That's your curse. You feel everyone's pain.
Eli, I could arrange it so you may never have to
look on human suffering. I could surround
you with joyous, happy people. Save yourself and
this girl. Join me.
ELI
No.
INDRAJIT
Then...she dies.
Ah-h-h-h-h! Ah-h-h-h-h! Ah-h-h-h-h!
Xena!
(weakly) Gabrielle.
(weakly) Krish-na.
Yah-h-h-h!
(whispering) Xena.
Thank you, Krishna.
Eli? I failed my first test.
ELI
It's hard, the way of love. It may not be right for you.
But if you choose to follow it, you must do so with
all your heart. You'll fail more than once. But don't
give up hope. In the end, you'll redeem the world.
GABRIELLE
Where are you going?
ELI
Home. I need to take the message to my own
people. I believe they'll be the most receptive.
Thank you, Gabrielle. You were the first one to
understand me. I won't forget you.
So, it's the Way of Love for you, huh?
GABRIELLE
Yeah. Yours is the way of the warrior. I think I've
always known that.
XENA
And I've always known that it was wrong for you.
I'm sorry I took you so far from your truth.
GABRIELLE
Don't be sorry. Xena, do you think I could have
understood the power of selfless love if it
weren't for our friendship?
XENA
Still, I think maybe you should travel with Eli
for awhile.
GABRIELLE
No. You and I stay together.
XENA
Gabrielle, we're headed in opposite
directions in life.
GABRIELLE
All rivers run to the sea. We'll end up in the same
place, I'm sure of it.
Thank you.
XENA
For what?
GABRIELLE
For not mentioning dams.
You're welcome.
CLOSING CREDITS
LUCY LAWLESS
In today's episode Xena prayed to Krishna the
supreme godhead of Hinduism. We hope that
we have portrayed it in a revered and respectful way.
SUNIL AGHI
My name is Sunil Aghi. I am the community
activist and president of the Hindu American
political foundation.
RENEE O'CONNOR
More than a billion people throughout the world
practice the Hindu religion.
SUNIL AGHI
An accurate portrayal of our deity is important to
us, but an even more important goal is to enlighten
people of other faith about Hinduism.
RENEE O'CONNOR
With understanding comes tolerance.
LUCY LAWLESS
If you would like to learn more about this great
religion please visit your local library or internet
website.
STARRING
Lucy Lawless as Xena
Lucy Lawless as Indrajit
Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle
GUEST CAST
Timothy Omundson as Eli
Jake McKinnon as Hanuman
Rajneel Singh as Indrajit
Rajiv Varma as Krishna
George Sabbage as Man
Slade Leef as Demon
Written by: R.J. Stewart
Directed by: John Fawcett
Disclaimer: Any similarity between Hanuman and a major character in the motion picture classic "Planet Of The Apes" is purely coincidental.
