A Friend in Need - Director's Cut
Gabrielle is looking up at an aura in the sky.
Looking out at the cosmos makes you think about
where we are, where we've been, where we're
going now.
Xena sits up on her elbows from her bedroll.
Yeah and like the bigger now. I mean, Gabrielle,
what are we gonna do? Wander around Greece
our whole lives looking for trouble? Why don't
we go away - far away? Whaddya say?
GABRIELLE
I can't believe you're awake, much less listening
to me.
XENA
Let's go south to the land of the Pharaohs. I hear
they're in need of a girl with a chakram.
GABRIELLE
You know that there's somebody out there.
XENA
Yeah, he's been trying to find us the past half-hour.
Xena whistles. Gabrielle gets up and leaves. Xena follows.
Are you all right?
KENJI
Ah, yes. Thank you.
Xena enters. He bows, nearly hitting Gabrielle with the wood piece on his back.
Whoa!
KENJI
Are you Xena?
XENA
Who's askin'?
KENJI
A messenger - sent by Akemi.
XENA
Akemi? You saw Akemi?
KENJI
Several weeks ago. I was journeying with another
monk through a forest - near the town of Higuchi.
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It started to rain. And we sought shelter at a tea house.
Saburo knocks on the door, the door opens and they enter.
Kenji...
...not even you could be frightened of this.
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Your shuji has great dignity and beauty.
Akemi pulls her robe back up and continues to play.
I am blessed with a certainty about what it means
to be a monk. But my companion was not as
steadfast in his resolve.
Miyuki shakes her foot and the anklet on her ankle rings. Akemi looks up in shock.
You must leave - now.
Akemi helps Kenji up and leads him out.
Come on!
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I know you're a good man. In the tea house, I
felt the compassion in your heart. Don't fear me.
KENJI
W--who--who was that demon?!
AKEMI
The Lord of the Dark Land. He's preparing an
army to wage war in Higuchi and slaughter, the
populace. Honorable monk...I beg you to do what
must be done to stop him enslaving the souls
of that city.
KENJI
But I'm no swordsman!
AKEMI
There's one in the west, far beyond the setting sun.
KENJI
A samurai?! A priest?! A god?!
AKEMI
No. A warrior princess.
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Xena, you must save Higuchi from destruction.
Xena slowly takes the katana.
The Land of the Rising Sun. That's beyond Chin.
I didn't know you were there Xena.
XENA
Yes I was there. I was there. Gabrielle, this is
not going to be the trip that I promised you, but
if Akemi calls, I must go.
GABRIELLE
Wherever you go, I'm by your side.
XENA
I knew you'd say that.
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Xena sits with the sacred katana and watches as Kenji trains Gabrielle with staffs like they are using swords.
The way of the sword is the most ancient of the
warrior's art. With practice, the samurai develops
the sacred virtues of bravery, self-discipline and
honour. A samurai would rather die a warrior, than
live as a coward.
GABRIELLE
This Akemi who sent for Xena, what do you know
about her?
KENJI
She was forced by Yodoshi, the Lord of the Dark
Land, to seduce souls into his grasp. She's very
beautiful...and she's a ghost.
GABRIELLE
She's a-
Gabrielle looks at Xena.
Gabrielle, before we reach Jappa...I should tell
you everything that happened there last time.
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Many years ago...Borias told me about a young
girl who was kidnapped by a Chinese warlord.
She'd been taken hostage from a mighty island,
even further east than Chin.
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Being the kind of person I was then-
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-the challenge of finding a new land to plunder
was just too much for me. I had to meet her.
XENA
So, her daddy's rich, you say?
BORIAS
And powerful. He should pay well for the return
of his sweet daughter.
Come.
He leads them over to Akemi who is bowing on the floor.
Akemi, meet-
AKEMI
Xena, the Warrior Princess.
Xena lifts Akemi's head with her boot.
You know me?
AKEMI
Oh, yes. I've heard that you're afraid of nothing.
Kao here - he's afraid of many things.
BORIAS
This girl has spirit.
KAO
This girl deserves to die. Speaking like that in
front of my guests.
AKEMI
You won't kill me. Xena won't let you. Because in
her heart...she knows that she will soon love me.
BORIAS
Xena loves no one.
Xena glares at him.
I'll be your student, Xena. You'll take me with you.
You'll teach me everything you know.
KAO
I have a few lessons for you!
Kao pulls her to her feet and moves to strike her, but Xena stops him.
Here. Fifty pieces of gold. It's the best offer you'll
get for her.
KAO
I do what I want with my property. I say this isn't
a good day to trade.
XENA
Is it a good day to die?
BORIAS
It's unhealthy to negotiate with this one. I'd take
the gold.
KAO
Guards!
Xena puts the Pinch on Kao. Xena flips.
She-e-e-a-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-she-e-e-e-e-e-yah!
She defeats the guards. Akemi watches. Xena moves over to Kao who is lying on the floor, dying.
I've shut off the flow of blood to your brain. You
got ten...nine...eight...ah, forget it.
Akemi holds out her hand to Xena who takes it and pulls her up. They leave. Borias moves over to Kao.
I would have taken the gold.
Borias leaves. Kao dies.
You know, Borias? I have a dream - a dream of
conquering every land between here and Brittania.
BORIAS
Xena, you're always looking for green pastures
to rape and pillage.
XENA
Yep. And maybe there's more in this than just
the ransom, huh? I mean, with her father as an
ally, I could get a nice toehold on that island.
BORIAS
What makes you so sure she'll lead you to Daddy?
XENA
Ah, she wouldn't lie to me. Hm-m. She worships
her teacher.
What's so funny?
BORIAS
Xena, you couldn't teach a dog to bark.
Xena hits his hand away when he reaches out to her and Borias laughs. Xena whistles.
Akemi! Come here. I wanna show you something.
Akemi joins them.
You're wrong. Xena will be a great teacher.
I'm ready.
XENA
All right. If someone's comin' atcha with a right/left
combination, this is what I wantcha to do - you
feint back, twist in the direction of the blow, and
then deliver a vicious jumping, spinning back-kick.
All right?
AKEMI
Right, so...that's right, a left, a feint, uh, a jumping,
swinging-
XENA
Jumping, spinning back-kick. All right. Now, I'll be a bad guy.
Lesson one - trust no one.
Xena moves off.
Remember, Xena, I get ten percent of the ransom.
Good luck, 'Teacher.'
The row boat moves off.
Come on, Akemi. Keep up.
My ribs are still a little sore.
XENA
Well, next time we'll start with something a little simpler.
Xena stops and listens.
Like listening. Listen to that.
AKEMI
To what?
XENA
To life and death. Every sound, every movement, is
a message. A wagon just crossed a creek up ahead.
A deer grazing nearby.
AKEMI
When you listen to the Kami like that, you must
be at peace.
XENA
The Kami? What's that?
AKEMI
The Kami are the powers behind all nature. They
make the sun shine, the grass grow. They brought
you to me.
XENA
No, no, no. When I listen like that, I'm at war. Every
sound is a possible warning of an enemy approaching.
AKEMI
I believe that one day, Xena, the Kami will help
you know peace. And I would be honored...if
you would accept this.
Akemi hands her a scroll with Japanese writing on it.
Oh-h-h-h...uh-h-h-h-h...
Xena chuckles, confused.
It's really pretty.
AKEMI
It's our scripts. When my people are overcome
with a feeling, that needs to be preserved, we
write verse.
XENA
Oh, yeah? Like what feeling?
AKEMI
Love.
XENA
Love?
AKEMI
"Yesterday, the moon took lodging on my sleeve.
Today, I have hope for even the brokenhearted stars."
Xena turns away from her.
So beautiful.
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To write something like that, she must have loved
you very much.
Xena says nothing.
What's wrong?
XENA
The truth is, Gabrielle...she broke my heart.
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
She broke your heart? I don't understand.
XENA
For a while, I didn't understand myself.
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When I traveled with Akemi to her island for the
ransom, I was to learn that my heart was seeking
something else.
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I thought I was taking you to your father.
AKEMI
His castle's in the north. We came here first to
visit my grandfather. He...died here many years ago.
XENA
Are you telling me that we have walked days in
the wrong direction to see a dead guy?!
AKEMI
We must visit my grandfather to seek his blessing.
He's dead, but I can still speak to him.
Akemi moves before a stone statue. She claps her hands, puts them together and kneels.
All your talk about moons up your sleeve - you
were playing me for a fool.
Xena draws her sword.
I oughtta just-
Xena is ready to strike off Akemi's head with her sword, when Akemi moves her hair aside to show a glowing on her skin on her neck.
You hear the Kami through the sounds of nature. In
the same way, I hear sounds that are silent to you.
Akemi faces the statue again and prays. She places a scroll on the statue and smiles. She stands and faces Xena.
My grandfather says that you are a wise and
appropriate teacher and...he feels your sword
is not good enough.
XENA
There's a string of widows from here to Greece
that say different.
AKEMI
Compared to a katana...all other swords are toys.
XENA
Well...then get me one of those.
AKEMI
The great katana lies near here, but...you must
know - in our country, women are forbidden to
own katana.
Akemi moves off.
Well, they're just gonna have to get used to it,
aren't they?
Xena follows.
Sensei...I come bearing a challenge. My master
wishes to fight you for possession of the katana,
forged from the purest ore of the Hakiman temple.
MASTER SWORDSMAN
Your master must be a mighty samurai.
Xena enters.
Oh, no. I'm just a girl...in search of a really good sword.
Xena takes off her coat and hat.
A woman? A foreigner - challenging us for the
sacred katana?! This is a great insolence!
Xena draws her sword.
Well, I guess you're gonna have to teach me a
lesson, hm-m?
He holds out his katana. Xena attacks him with her sword, but the katana breaks hers in half. The Master Swordsman laughs.
O-oh, gimme, gimme.
Xena punches him and then fights the other four men. She fights them with no weapons, even though they all have katanas. Two of them grab her and run her over to a wall with spikes. She manages to use her feet to prevent being impaled on them, but one spike stabs her above her right breast (where Lucy Lawless has a small scar in real life, thus explaining where Xena got the scar). Xena pushes them back with her feet and escapes. She flips.
She-e-e-e-e-yah!
Xena lands on a table where finished katanas lie face up. She lands with her feet on either side of a katana. The guys come at her again. Xena flips off of the table.
She-e-e-e-e-e-e-yah!
She kicks one of the men back, onto the swords. The Master Swordsman moves on Akemi. Xena battles the other men. Akemi backs away from the Master Swordsman who comes at her with a katana. Xena grabs a rope and swings.
She-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-
e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-yah!
Xena lands before the Master Swordsman and punches him until she knocks him out. She runs over and holds the sacred katana.
Yeah. Grandpa was right. Now, this is a sword.
She smiles.
"In a flurry of snow, two breaths of wind unite and
become as one and then disappear into each other."
XENA
Listen, Akemi...I don't want you to take this the
wrong way. I really love the sword and you're a
nice kid, but I just came for the ransom.
AKEMI
I don't believe that.
Xena looks away from her.
What do you hear now?
XENA
Snow falling on cedars. Now...your heart...beating
harder than normal.
You're a master of war, yet you know no words
to speak of love. And then you go and save my life.
There's no greater gift of love a teacher can give
a student than that. I have another gift I must ask
of you. I saw what you did to kill that coward, Kao.
XENA
It's a sacred trust.
AKEMI
I would be honored, beyond words...if you'd teach
me that.
All right.
You knew her for a few weeks-
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-and you taught her the pinch? Xena, in all the time-
CAPTAIN
Higuchi is under siege, and there's no place to
dock. I'm turning back.
XENA
What?!
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
Gabrielle, I've got to go ashore.
GABRIELLE
I'm with you.
XENA
I knew you'd say that.
Xena jumps into the water and Gabrielle follows her.
The katana! You sent it to the foreign whore.
Akemi shares a look with Miyuki who is bowing behind Yodoshi.
Thank you.
She's traveling to the city of Higuchi which my
army, right now, is destroying. My general awaits
her and when he captures Xena and my katana...she'll
lose her head to the sting of its blade. So thank
you...daughter.
He turns into a tornado and leaves the tea house and the wall reforms behind him, like he had never been there.
Come on!
Firebombs.
GABRIELLE
They're going to burn Higuchi to the ground.
Xena sees the water tower on the other side of the village.
We've gotta release the water from the tower.
Gabrielle, what would you do?
GABRIELLE
I saw these acrobats. They used a-
XENA
Show me, Gabrielle.
Climb on!
She does and they swing through the village.
She-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-yah!
They land on a cloth overhang and bounce, flipping backwards.
A-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-she-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-
e-e-e-e-e-e-yah!
They land on a roof top.
All right. What's next?
GABRIELLE
This way!
They run off. More explosions go off. Gabrielle jumps through a window into another building, but before Xena can follow, a firebomb hits the window, blocking Xena's way.
Gabrie-e-e-e-e-elle!
A warrior climbs up the ladder to the window. Gabrielle kicks the ladder. The warrior yells. The ladder lands on a crate, like a see-saw. Gabrielle jumps.
Whoa!
Gabrielle lands on one end of the ladder.
Xena!
Xena sees the other side of the ladder and jumps onto it.
She-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-yah!
Gabrielle is launched across the village and yells as she flies across. She lands hard on a roof top. Xena cartwheels and then flips.
A-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-she-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-
e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-yah!
Xena jumps off of a bar and grabs another, and starts to swing around it.
Go for the ladder!
She stops, upside down and looks at the ladder. Gabrielle runs to the ladder.
A-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-she-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-
e-e-e-e-e-e-yah!
Xena starts to spin around the bar again. Gabrielle gets to the ladder.
Kill her!
Xena flips from the bar, across the village.
A-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-she-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-
e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-yah!
Xena hits the ladder on the other side of Gabrielle. They spin through the village on the ladder until they reach the water tower. Gabrielle grabs the wheel and grunts as she turns it. Xena draws her sword and hits it.
A-a-a-a-a-ah!
Water sprays out over Higuchi, putting out the fire.
Retreat!
Morimoto looks up at Xena.
A wise general knows when a fight is lost, but I
think we will meet again. Soon.
He bows he head and Xena nods. He rides off. Xena laughs.
Whoo-hoo!
The soldiers retreat.
Yeah! We've won! We've won! We won! We won!
EXTRA
This way!
EXTRA
Hurry!
GABRIELLE
Higuchi is saved.
XENA
Not quite the way I would have done it, Gabrielle,
but it sure worked.
ACT FOUR
You know, Xena, I still don't understand.
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You taught Akemi the pinch. Did she ever use it?
XENA
Yes, unfortunately, she did.
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After a many days' walk, we reached her father's fortress.
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Akemi?
Xena enters.
Akemi, what are you doing?
Akemi puts the Pinch on him. The guards attack Xena and she fights them.
You have thirty seconds to live.
My brothers, my sisters, my mother, and my
gentle grandparents - I avenge all your deaths
at the hands of this monster.
Xena defeats the guards and moves over to Akemi.
Father...
XENA
Father?
AKEMI
...I pray you suffer in death the way your family
suffered in life.
What the hell did you do that for?
AKEMI
It was my duty.
He had to die.
I don't care about that. What about the ransom?
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Where's my money?!
Xena follows her.
Forgive me, Xena.
XENA
I don't suppose there's any inheritance in this!
AKEMI
I have one last thing to ask of you. Restore my
honour. The sacred katana.
You want me to cut off...that's why you wanted
me to take the katana.
AKEMI
After that is done, take my ashes and place them
in the family shrine in the town of Higuchi.
XENA
(whispering) No, no. (normal) No, I'm not going to...
Akemi.
AKEMI
I pray you will. "The snow melts...flowers fade...and
I pass as all things do."
XENA
You...
"But--but time and love...they go on." (gasping)
Restore my honour, Xena.
A-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-
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-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-
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-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-
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-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-
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-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-
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-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-
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-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-
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-aaaaaaaaaa-
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-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-ah!
Xena cuts off Akemi's head.
Xena!
EXTRA
Yeah, Xena!
EXTRA
Xena!
GABRIELLE
How will you feel when you come face-to-face with Akemi's ghost?
HARUKATA
Better question is, "How will Xena feel face-to-face
with the ghosts of the people she killed at Higuchi?!"
XENA
What?
GABRIELLE
Who are you?
HARUKATA
My family name is Harukata.
KENJI
But he's known as the Killer of Ghosts.
GABRIELLE
Xena saved your city.
HARUKATA
This time. But that does nothing to atone for what
happened when last she was here.
GABRIELLE
What's he talking about?
XENA
I was fulfilling Akemi's dying wish - to place her
ashes at the family shrine here in Higuchi.
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Word got out that I was honoring the ashes-
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-of a girl who had killed her father. The townsfolk
felt that I would be defiling her graveyard. They
banded together to stop me.
One person throws a snowball at her. Most of them carry torches. They surround her. Another snowball is thrown. Xena takes a drink and spits.
Bitch! Go away.
EXTRA
She killed her father.
EXTRA
Go! Go!
EXTRA
Get her! Get her.
XENA (voice-over)
I tried to ignore them, but they came after me.
One attacks her and she knocks him back and takes the torch he is holding. Xena swings the torch around to try to hold them off. The townspeople attack Xena. Her feet are knocked out from under her and she falls, the jar holding Akemi's ashes flying into the air.
Akemi! Akemi.
The jar hits the ground and breaks, Akemi's ashes blowing away in the wind.
O-o-o-o-oh! No! Akemi!
Xena swings the torch around at the feet of the townspeople.
A-a-a-a-a-ah! A-a-a-a-ah! A-a-a-a-a-a-a-ah!
A-a-a-a-a-a-ah!
She takes a swig from the bottle as she stands and spits the liquor onto it. A flame hits one of the townspeople who runs around, screaming since he's on fire. The town catches fire as he runs.
Fire! Fire!
Xena walks off. She looks at the torch and drops it as she takes a swig from the bottle.
The wind took the fire from house to house. Forty
thousand of my townsfolk perished in the flames!
XENA
No, it's not possible.
HARUKATA
That is only the beginning!
KENJI
Akemi told me that after she killed her father,
Yodoshi's spirit was so full of evil, even the underworld
would not allow him to enter. He became Lord
Yodoshi, the Eater of Souls. The forty thousand
lost spirits were at his mercy. Now he holds them,
inside him, enslaved.
XENA
If this is true, then I am guilty of a greater evil than
I ever thought possible.
GABRIELLE
Xena, it was a horrible accident.
XENA
No. No, I must put things right.
END OF ACT FOUR
ACT FIVE
Overlooking the land.
Can you hear them?
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I thought I heard a horse, before.
XENA
Listen not just to the sounds, but to what's behind
the sounds.
How many are there?
XENA
At least three armies are gathering. The general
we met at the water tower was right. We will meet
again and soon.
GABRIELLE
I'll warn the others.
Ghost Killer...I know that you think of me as your
enemy, but you must believe this. My spirit aches
for the torment I've caused.
We both want the same thing - to release those souls.
XENA
You've devoted your life to killing Yodoshi. Why is
it that you have never succeeded?
HARUKATA
I have the power to slay him, but it is impossible
for me to get close enough to use my blade.
XENA
Why?
HARUKATA
Because...I am mortal. Only another ghost can
trap a spirit as mighty as Yodoshi.
Xena looks out over the country. She nods to Harukata and moves off.
Akemi...I know what I must do, but I'm afraid that
this day, what's done may not be undone.
Gabrielle enters wearing Japanese armour over her clothes.
Xena, the militia is prepared. Why aren't you ready?
XENA
Gabrielle, come here.
Come here. Give me your hands.
All right. Here. Feel the surge of blood under the
skin. Now, just behind-
Xena, you don't have to do this. I understand why
you would never wanna teach me the pinch.
XENA
No. No, today more than ever, I want you to know
what I know. Please?
Why are you doing this?
Blood runs down from Xena's nose.
Gabrielle, if I only had thirty seconds to live, this
is how I'd want to live them - looking into your eyes.
GABRIELLE
Stop this. Stop it.
XENA
Always remember, I love you.
Xena uses Gabrielle's hand to undo the Pinch. Xena coughs and falls forward onto Gabrielle, who holds her.
Why would you teach me this right now? I don't
understand!
Xena wipes the blood from her nose.
There's nothing to understand. I just wanted you
to know everything I know.
Harukata enters.
Are you ready?
Xena looks at Gabrielle.
Let's go. We got a battle to win.
Xena leaves. Gabrielle is stunned and doesn't move.
Wouldn't it be better if we stayed with Xena?
GABRIELLE
Xena wants us to lead a contingent to the east
plain. She said a group of Yodoshi's archers are
gathering there.
Gabrielle and the others move off. Xena steps out behind them and watches them leave. Xena moves off in the other direction, off into the mist.
It's too quiet out here.
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Gabrielle, what would you do?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(echoing) What would you do?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Listen not just to the sounds, but to what's behind the sounds.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(echoing) What's behind the sounds.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Always remember, I love you.
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(echoing) I love you. Love you.
GABRIELLE
Xena!
Xena!
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Look out! Look out!
The oil catches fire.
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She shields her head from the after shock.
Ugh!
Gabrielle runs.
Xena!
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She-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-yah!
They all hit their marks. Xena lands and fights a group of soldiers who all have spears. Xena breaks off the tips of the spears and they land in the dirt. She then kicks them, killing the soldiers. She kicks a spear head into the air.
She-e-e-e-e-e-yah!
Xena kicks the spear head.
A-a-a-a-ah!
She leans against one of the trees.
Ugh!
However, the arrows are coming from both sides of the cart and it offers no real protection. More arrows are coming from behind her however, so she ducks over to the other side.
Ugh!
Xena falls to her knees and breaks off most of the shaft. She bares her teeth in pain. Blood is running down her stomach from her other shoulder wound and down her leg from the one in her knee. Xena tosses the broken shaft away.
Ugh-ah!
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All right.
Now you asked for it.
She draws the katana as even more arrows hit the cart. Xena marches forward.
Gabrie-e-e-e-elle!
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If I only had thirty seconds to live...
Clip from "Chakram."
We're going to be together.
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You brought out the best in me.
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Gabriee-e-e-e-elle!
Overlapping image from "A Friend in Need - Part I."
...this is how I'd want to live them - looking into
your eyes.
Xena battles, killing everyone who moves to fight her.
ACT SIX
Xena-a-a-a!
She sees the chakram, sitting in a river of blood. Gabrielle follows the river of blood with her eyes.
You came to me in my dreams and I thought it
was reality. Now you come to me in reality. It feels
like it's a dream. Either way, I'm filled with joy.
Xena moves to her, the red robe floating behind her.
The Ghost Killer. What's he doing?
KENJI
His job - speeding wandering souls on their way
before they can be devoured by Yodoshi.
Perhaps he sees Xena.
GABRIELLE
Xena is alive! Do you understand? She is alive.
I want to write a verse to express how I feel but
there's no poetry of sufficient beauty.
Xena smiles. Miyuki slowly moves her foot.
Akemi...I've been in the underworld before, but
it never felt like this.
What's goin' on?
AKEMI
Our bodies? They're an illusion, projected by
Yodoshi. While we are under his power, we must
obey his will.
Miyuki raises her foot.
Funny, you're just the way I remember you.
Miyuki brings down her foot.
I am at your service, Lord Yodoshi.
YODOSHI
You most certainly are. An eternity of playing the
whore to service my appetite for souls.
He leaves like a tornado. Once he leaves out the smashed part of the tea house, it repairs itself like he had never been there.
Xena...I was so worried that you wouldn't show
Yodoshi respect. He's very dangerous.
XENA
It wasn't respect I was showing him. I have a job
to do. The job that you called me for. I'm going
to destroy Yodoshi.
AKEMI
It will be very dangerous. He seems to grow
mightier with each passing day.
XENA
You're going to have to trust me Akemi. There's
someone I have to meet. They can help us.
AKEMI
You know you are being watched.
XENA
Akemi, I can still hear your heart beating and I
can hear everyone of Miyuki's clumsy foot falls.
She'll try to follow me. Let her.
Shh. I saw something. The samurai may have
seen the captive. We'll split up.
She moves off.
Xena.
XENA
Gabrielle.
What are you doing here?
GABRIELLE
I was so worried about you. I found your chakram.
There's so much blood.
XENA
I'm all right.
GABRIELLE
What's with the robes?
XENA
Gabrielle, I'm going to kill the Lord of the Dark Land.
You'll need this.
Xena tries to take the chakram, but her hand passes through it. Xena is as surprised as Gabrielle.
I can't take that. It's difficult to explain.
GABRIELLE
You're dead. How could you let yourself be killed?
XENA
I'm sorry, Gabrielle. I couldn't tell you. You'd have
tried to stop me, and then we'd both be dead.
GABRIELLE
Is that supposed to make me feel better?
XENA
We've overcome death before. We will find a way
to bring me back. But only by becoming a spirit
can I kill Yodoshi and free those souls that I
condemned to torment. Don't you see that?
Gabrielle hugs her.
You're my whole life, Xena. I won't lose you.
XENA
You won't lose me.
Harukata, don't you come near her.
XENA
Put down your weapons, Gabrielle. He's working
with me.
She-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-yah!
Xena tosses Miyuki who screams she is tossed. She lands on Harukata's sword and vanishes, screaming. Her anklet falls.
The anklet!
Xena leaps and catches the anklet before it hits the ground. Harukata looks to Kenji who is behind him. Kenji smiles.
ACT SEVEN
Xena hands the anklet to Akemi outside of the tea house.
With this, we can bring Yodoshi to us when we're ready.
This is my soul mate. She's a poet like you, Akemi.
Harukata and Kenji enter. Harukata touches Gabrielle's shoulder and Gabrielle turns to face him.
I have one question. Would you risk your life for
the return of hers?
GABRIELLE
Without hesitation.
KENJI
There is a way, Gabrielle. You must take her body,
burn it, then sprinkle the ashes into the Fountain
of Strength on Mount Fuji. You must find the fountain
before the second sunset after death.
GABRIELLE
That's tomorrow.
KENJI
Harukata will say the incantations necessary to give
the sacred katana power against malicious spirits.
XENA
Gabrielle...
Xena and Akemi join them.
This is Akemi.
Akemi bows low.
It is an honour to meet you at last.
GABRIELLE
And you, Akemi.
KENJI
Gabrielle can't help with our work in the tea house.
She knows what she must do. And she should
leave soon.
Thank you.
Gabrielle sniffs and starts to leave.
Wait.
Gabrielle turns back.
I would like to give you something to protect you
on your journey.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good luck, old friend.
Gabrielle starts to leave, but she turns back to face Xena.
I am getting your body back, Xena no matter where
they have hidden it. Before sunset tomorrow, we
will meet again on the side of Mount Fujisan.
Gabrielle starts to leave, but then looks back.
See you there.
Gabrielle leaves.
Give me her head!
Gabrielle cuts down Xena's body and wraps it in a cloth. Morimoto enters behind her. Gabrielle stops, stands and turns to face him.
I've been expecting you. Your friend was a fine
opponent. She provided me with one of the greatest
trophies an honorable samurai could ever claim.
GABRIELLE
You call yourself honourable? You outnumbered
her a thousand to one. You're not a samurai.
You're a fraud. You couldn't have killed Xena
unless she wanted you to.
MORIMOTO
I think it's you with a death wish!
GABRIELLE
I accept the challenge.
Listen not just to the sounds...but to what's behind
the sounds. (echoing) Behind the sounds.
Gabrielle listens to the sounds of the rain, the fire, the horses and Morimoto's boots in the mud. This scene is greatly extended from what is shown in "A Friend in Need - Part II." Suddenly, Morimoto attacks with a yell, but Gabrielle is ready and knocks him forward onto his knees. She holds the katana at his neck.
It was the greatest honour of my life to send Xena
to an early grave. If I cannot do the same to you
then I ask you to grant me a noble defeat. Please,
remove my head in one stroke.
Gabrielle knocks him out. The soldiers part, revealing Xena's head on a table.
Good.
Huh? Where is Miyuki?!
Hyah!
Where is he?
Du-u-u-u-uck!
A-a-a-a-a-a-ah!
We finally meet...Ghost Killer!
Ag-g-g-gh-ugh!
A-a-a-a-ah!
Akemi.
Akemi.
(whispering) Akemi, are you all right?
Egha-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-ah!
END OF ACT SEVEN
ACT EIGHT
Harukata, what went wrong?
HARUKATA
He's drinking from the fountain of strength on
Mount Fuji. If you drink...from the fountain and
use the sword I blessed it will be the final destruction
for any spirit. Xena my soul will soon join the
others, trapped in Yodoshi's grasp. You must
finish a job and release us all.
I will not rest 'til it is done.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(whispering) I can't let you die.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
If I only had thirty seconds to live-
-this is how I'd want to live them - looking into
your eyes.
Even in death, Gabrielle-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-I will never leave you.
GABRIELLE
You will return to me, my friend.
Yodoshi a hawk. Even with his injuries, in bird
form he can reach Fujisan in half a day.
AKEMI
Yes, but he's weakened. We're no longer confined
to these physical illusions. We could change into
other vessels.
XENA
What about them?
Yes.
XENA
Good.
Xena starts to move off, but Akemi stops her.
Xena. Gabrielle is on her way to Mount Fujisan
and...if she succeeds...
XENA
She'll succeed, don't worry. She's very good at
what she does.
AKEMI
I'm so sorry.
XENA
Akemi...what's wrong?
AKEMI
I have to tell you, what must be done to save those
souls but I feel my own soul is doomed for what
I am about to tell you.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I know that you did what you thought you had to
Akemi and perhaps by releasing those souls
we'll all be redeemed.
Come on.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
You'll come to regret not allowing me a warrior's death.
GABRIELLE
It's not too late to put that right!
I will not allow you to find a fountain and revive
your friend.
No-o-o-o-o! No-o-o-o! No!
Oh.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
She-e-e-e-e-e-e-yah!
Xena jumps behind him and tosses him aside. He yells. When he falls, he loses the katana. Xena stands under the fountain, waiting for the water. Akemi watches, still in the form of the small bird.
Come on. Come on!
Yodoshi freezes the water, and it knocks Xena back.
U-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-uah!
Xena goes flying. She lands. Akemi takes her form and picks up the katana.
What?! My own daughter!
Xena turns and sees Akemi moving on Yodoshi and then get blown back.
Akemi!
Xena sees the frozen fountain and runs to it. Xena tries to reach up and grab an icicle, but Yodoshi spits out a fireball, which breaks the fountain and sends Xena flying.
Uh! A-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-ah!
Xena goes flying. She smashes into a rock and then falls to the ground. Gabrielle sees her.
Xena.
Shards of ice fall near Yodoshi. Gabrielle runs to Xena. The fountain flows. Yodoshi sees the ice and his tongue snakes out and grabs a piece, which he swallows.
Xena?
Gabrielle sees her.
Xena.
Gabrielle runs to her.
Xena, what happened?
Yodoshi stands and in a blaze of fire, his arm reappears. Yodoshi inhales, pulling Akemi to him. She plants the katana into the ground, trying to stop being sucked in, but it's only slowing her down.
(weakly) Told you I'd see you here.
Yodoshi inhales and Akemi is pulled closer to him, and finally, she's sucked into him. Yodoshi catches the katana. Gabrielle holds Xena.
(weakly) The Fountain of Strength...get water.
Fountain...water.
Xena is nearly unconscious. Gabrielle runs over to the fountain and scoops up some water in her hand which she puts in her mouth. Yodoshi spits a fireball, which hits her back, but the dragon tattoo protects Gabrielle and sends the fireball flying back at Yodoshi. It hits him and he is sent flying back. Gabrielle runs to Xena and kisses her, putting the water into her mouth. Xena opens her eyes and Gabrielle smiles.
ACT NINE
Gabrielle.
Xena flips up and her leather and breastplates form on her, the robe gone. Yodoshi stands.
Gabrielle, I need the sacred katana to finish the job.
Thank you.
The sun is setting, Xena. I have to find your ashes.
XENA
(whispers) Gabrielle-
YODOSHI
Come on!
He turns into fire and spins into the air. Xena looks at him and Gabrielle runs off. Xena turns back to finish what she was going to say, but Gabrielle has already moved to the cliff.
Gab-
Xena looks back to Yodoshi who is still flying fire.
A-la-la-la-la-la-la!
Xena turns into fire and jumps into the air.
Ar-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-rugh!
Gabrielle looks at the jar and then back at Xena and Yodoshi who are both flying fire, setting the forest ablaze.
E-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-yah!
They hit into each other and explode. Xena lands on the ground and reforms. Gabrielle starts to climb down the cliff. Yodoshi lands in pieces and then reforms before Xena.
Enough of this!
They battle as Gabrielle climbs. Xena kicks Yodoshi back and he disappears into the woods. Xena looks for him.
Ea-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-ah!
Yodoshi flies down at Xena. She knocks him aside and he lands. They fight. They each kick each other and go flying into the air. They battle above the trees and then come back to the ground and lock katanas.
You are about to join the forty thousand souls
you condemned, Xena. And the first thing I'll do
is take the head off your little friend with the tattoo.
XENA
You won't live that long.
They fight.
She-e-e-e-e-e-yah!
She flips over him then kicks him back. He flies back at her and she stabs him.
A-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-ah!
Gabrielle gets the jar. Yodoshi falls and Xena pulls the katana out of him.
A-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-ah!
Xena cuts off his head and the souls begin to fly free of him. Gabrielle gets to the top of the cliff and Morimoto is there, his katana drawn. Gabrielle looks back at the setting sun.
I deserve the dignity of a warrior.
GABRIELLE
Dignity, huh?
Like you showed my friend?
She throws the chakram and it cuts him across his forehead, killing him. Gabrielle catches the chakram and looks at it. Gabrielle looks again at the sun and then moves towards the fountain. The souls move around Xena. Akemi is before her as a soul.
Xena.
XENA
Akemi.
AKEMI
You've redeemed me. You've redeemed them!
You've redeemed yourself!
XENA
Go in peace, Akemi.
Akemi leaves and the souls are freed.
We'll meet again...one day.
Xena moves off.
ACT TEN
Gabrielle is moving to place Xena's ashes in the fountain, but Xena stops her.
No, Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
(whispering) Xena.
XENA
No.
Xena, the sun is setting. I have to bring you back
to life.
XENA
No. Not if it means condemning the souls of the
forty thousand who burned at Higuchi.
GABRIELLE
The souls are free.
XENA
They're free from Yodoshi's grasp. Akemi didn't
wanna tell me this in case I wouldn't come back
to help...but for those souls to be released into
a state of grace, they must be avenged. I must
stay dead.
GABRIELLE
But if I bring you back to life...
XENA
Those souls will be lost forever.
GABRIELLE
But, Xena-
She turns away and then looks at her again.
That is not right.
I don't care. (crying) You're all that matters to me.
XENA
Don't you know how much I wanna let you do this?
But if there is a reason for our travels together, it's
because I had to learn from you, enough to know
the final, the good, the right thing to do. I can't
come back. (whispering) I can't.
I love you, Xena. How am I supposed to go on
without you?
XENA
I'll always be with you, Gabrielle.
Always.
The sun sets and Xena closes her eyes and disappears. Gabrielle looks to where Xena was and then out at the sun set.
(whispering) Xena.
Xena's face is shown in an overlaying image over the sun.
A life of journeying has brought you to the farthest
lands, to the very edges of the Earth.
Xena moves into frame and puts her arm around Gabrielle.
And to the place where I'll always remain - your
heart. So, where to now?
GABRIELLE
I think we should go south to the land of the
Pharaohs. I hear they need a girl with a chakram.
XENA
Where you go...I'm at your side.
GABRIELLE
I knew you'd say that.
STARRING
Lucy Lawless as Xena
Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle
GUEST CAST
Marton Csokas as Borias
Michelle Ang as Akemi
Mac Jeffery Ong as Kenji
Adrian Brown as Yodoshi
Yvonne Tan as Ayako
Shiori Terada as Miyuki
Kazuhiro Muroyama as Harukata
Venant Wong as Morimoto
Gary Young as Saburo
Travor Sai-Louie as Kao
Ric Chan as Master Swordsman
Gregor McLennan as Captain
Story By Rob Tapert and R.J. Stewart
Teleplay By R.J. Stewart
Directed By Rob Tapert
Disclaimer: Xena was permanently harmed in the making of this motion picture, but kept her spirits up.
