Legacy
What was wrong with staying on the coast? There
was sun, surf, sand.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
You got two out of the three.
GABRIELLE
We were supposed to relax, remember?
XENA
We had bad luck. Goin' inland didn't have to be
this way.
GABRIELLE
No, deserts don't have to be dry, windy, and desolate,
Xena. It's optional. I can't see anything.
XENA
Here, take my hand.
GABRIELLE
Do you even know where we're going?
XENA
Do we ever know where we're going?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't say I never give you anything.
Sun. Sand.
Surf.
XENA
That was unnecessary.
A little uncalled for. All right, I'm pruning. I'm
outta here.
Strange beauty to the desert.
XENA
You do look for the good in everything, don'tcha?
GABRIELLE
Why does it sound like an insult when you say it?
XENA
Well, maybe not everything.
GABRIELLE
Yeah, well sand up my wazoo gets me a little edgy.
XENA
Mm-m. Hate it when that happens.
What's that?
Let's go check it out.
Nomads.
EXTRA
Crawl, you snakes of the desert!
GABRIELLE
Let's even the odds.
Yah! Yah! Yah! Yah! Yah!
E-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e!
A-la-la-la-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-yah!
Retreat!
EXTRA
Ride!
EXTRA
Ride!
EXTRA
Yah!
EXTRA
Yah!
EXTRA
Yah!
EXTRA
Yah!
EXTRA
Yah!
Who do you think you are? Who asked you to interfere?
GABRIELLE
You were being attacked.
KAHINA
Well, in the desert we learn young to mind our
own business. Otherwise, you don't become old.
XENA
Growing old is overrated. I never pass up a good fight.
KAHINA
You should pick your fights more wisely, then.
GABRIELLE
We don't pick them - they pick us. Come on, Xena.
Who are you to take that name? Xena, the legendary
Warrior Princess is long dead.
XENA
No, she's not.
GABRIELLE
This is Xena.
KAHINA
Impossible.
GABRIELLE
No, it's just hard to explain.
KAHINA
Oh, and I suppose you're Gabrielle, the Battling
Bard of Poteidaia.
GABRIELLE
I've never heard it used like that, but yeah, I'm Gabrielle.
KAHINA
You're both lying.
I guess that's supposed to be the legendary chakram.
XENA
Supposed to be.
KAHINA
So, you have a chakram. That means nothing.
You didn't use it in the battle.
XENA
It wasn't necessary.
KAHINA
You are a coward and a fraud! Only the real Xena
knows how to use a chakram.
GABRIELLE
Show her.
Xena.
ACT ONE
So this is the desert hospitality that I've heard
so much about.
XENA
That's right. Though the fact they worship us
could be influencing the welcome a bit. Don't
refuse anything. You'll insult them.
Thank you.
What is this?
XENA
Something yummy.
Kahina.
Xena, I sent word that you will lead us against
our enemy.
GABRIELLE
Is it the people who attacked you today?
KAHINA
Oh, no. No, that's Tazere. We're rivals, yes, but
the enemy we both face comes from across the
seas. They've invaded our lands and killed many
of our people. You know them, Xena.
XENA
Romans?
KAHINA
Yes.
GABRIELLE
Some things never change.
KAHINA
Every time our tribes try to join together and fight,
ancient feuds drive us apart. There's been so much
bloodshed, sometimes I think uniting is an impossibility.
But with you to lead us, Xena, I have renewed hope.
XENA
Thanks for the compliment, but-
KAHINA
Xena, we've grown up on the stories of your victories.
There's nothing you can't do, no place we wouldn't
follow you.
GABRIELLE
Stories.
KAHINA
Oh, of course. Your scrolls. We were brought
up listening to them. Well, surely you knew, Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
I had no idea they'd come this far. I'm pleased.
XENA
All right. We'll do what we can to help you defeat
the Romans.
Bring us wine. We shall honour our guests.
Of course, our tradition is one of hospitality. My
cousins will be honoured to take you both to bed.
(aside to Xena) What was that you said about not
refusing anything?
Do you think those guys bought that 'Amazon
chastity oath' I made up?
XENA
Oh, I think they were hanging on every word of
Gabrielle, "The Battling Bard."
GABRIELLE
Hm-m-m - I think it has character.
XENA
Yeah.
I wish I had a dinar for every time I heard "Xena, the
legendary Warrior Princess."
XENA
Bet you do.
GABRIELLE
I think you're loving it.
XENA
Sure, what's not to love? Nah! It's just that these
people need help. If anyone knows Romans,
we do.
GABRIELLE
I'll say.
Xena? Do you ever have those moments in battle - where
you have to decide whether to disable someone...or
to kill them?
XENA
(whispering) What?
GABRIELLE
Don't you ever think about it?
XENA
You just have to trust your instincts, that's all.
GABRIELLE
Well, what if your instincts are wrong?
If you're gonna stop and debate that, you're gonna
get hurt.
Riders!
EXTRA
It's Kahina!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you ready to join with me, Tazere?
TAZERE
Show me this myth you claim to have found
wandering in the desert.
XENA
Watch who you're calling a myth.
Korah, is this the woman you saw?
KORAH
Yes, Father, it is. She and her magnificent friend
swept down on us, and drove us away as though
we were children. It was incredible, as I told you.
I have never seen anyone-
TAZERE
That's enough.
KORAH
-fight like either one of them. Xena has more
strength, but Gabrielle fights-
TAZERE
Korah, I said that's enough. I could hardly believe
my son's crazy tale, but maybe the prophecies
are coming true after all. Come...we welcome you.
How far have the Romans gotten?
KAHINA
Uh, they invaded nearest town not long ago.
TAZERE
They come in great numbers and overwhelm
any resistance as if - as if they're tryin' to wipe us
from the face of the Earth.
I want to be a warrior. I dare not aspire to Xena's
greatness, but I've seen your fighting style - such
intelligence and restraint. I'm going to model
myself after you.
These weapons you use, they--they help you to
fight defensively when you don't wanna draw blood.
GABRIELLE
They do, but you see, you can kill someone with it.
KORAH
Could you teach me to use those weapons?
GABRIELLE
If you want me to.
KORAH
(chuckles) May I wash your feet?
GABRIELLE
I don't think you wanna do that.
KORAH
No, it is a custom. Please-
GABRIELLE
No, really, you-
KORAH
-may I?
GABRIELLE
Okay.
If you must.
Your descriptions of the battles you've been in
show growth and understanding from the earliest
of the scrolls to the latest. Were you aware of that?
GABRIELLE
No.
They've started building roads across the sand.
XENA
How many legions are there?
KAHINA
We don't know.
XENA
Gabrielle.
Let's go check out the town and find out what the
Romans are up to.
It's too risky!
TAZERE
We can't-
KORAH
No!
XENA
Hold it! Gabrielle and I can handle this. Everyone
else stay here.
GABRIELLE
(regarding her boot) Just need to put this on.
What's with the desert boy?
GABRIELLE
He wants me to teach him how to use the sais.
XENA
He's picked a great teacher.
GABRIELLE
It's kind of strange being thought of as a warrior
more than a bard. Guess I've come a long way.
XENA
Is that a good thing?
GABRIELLE
Yeah, it is.
For once, Xena, I'd like to be Roman noble and
you be the slave.
Yes, what is it?
XENA
My loyal servant and I have just arrived from Rome.
Are you in charge here?
DALIUS
Yes, yes I am. What can I do for you?
XENA
I am Fasmia, wife of Cypio Africanus the fifth. I
assume you've heard of my family.
DALIUS
Indeed I have, madam. Cypios are well-known everywhere.
XENA
Hm-m. I've come to see whether this would be a
profitable place to invest our money.
DALIUS
My dear lady...please excuse my manners. Our
prospects here are excellent. We've set up a
profitable trade route, protected by the forces of Rome.
GABRIELLE
Protected from what? The Nomads?
XENA
I've heard they're very fierce.
DALIUS
Scattered savages, I assure you. The tribes fight
more amongst themselves than with us.
XENA
And what if they were to unite? They'd be dangerous,
wouldn't they?
ROMAN CAPTAIN
There is no chance of that. They spout old stories
of Xena, Caesar's Thracian whore, and wait for
a legendary warrior to rise out of the sand and
lead them.
GABRIELLE
Are you concerned?
ROMAN CAPTAIN
Concerned? About a long-crucified annoyance? Hardly.
My dear lady...your money will be safe with us.
At this moment, three legions are preparing an
offensive to pacify the ethnics once and for all.
Call it a...cleansing, if you will.
GABRIELLE
Seems overconfident, if I may say so.
You seem a little outspoken for a slave. I think
someone should be punished.
XENA
Oh, someone will be. I promise. Thank you,
Governor. You've been most helpful.
I think we should stop!
XENA
We'll get covered over! Keep moving!
Gabrielle?
GABRIELLE
Xena!
Gabrielle?! Gabrielle!
Gabrielle!
Gabrielle! Gabrielle!
Xena!
Gabrielle!
Korah?
KORAH
Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
What?
The scroll.
GABRIELLE
What have I done?
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
I never thought I'd see this.
XENA
What's that?
GABRIELLE
You washing blood off my hands.
XENA
I never thought I'd see it, either.
It says that Kahina and Tazere have finalized their
peace treaty. I want you to go back to Kahina's
camp and wait for me there.
GABRIELLE
Where are you going?
XENA
To take him home.
GABRIELLE
I'm going with you.
No, just give me a chance to explain to them.
GABRIELLE
Xena, I have to talk to Tazere.
XENA
You will - later.
A rider approaches! It's Xena!
Xena, did the message reach you?
It's Korah. Korah!
KAHINA
Tazere.
What happened?! Quickly, men! Korah! How?
KAHINA
What's going on? Xena?
Someone'll die for this, I swear it!
KAHINA
Who could have done it? Thieves?
TAZERE
Thieves - yes! More like one of your men, Kahina!
KAHINA
Get your hands off me! We had nothing to do
with it!
TAZERE
You've been trying to weaken my position for years.
Now you take my son?!
Tazere, wait. I saw tracks where he was killed - tracks
of a thousand men a mile wide.
TAZERE
Tracks?
KAHINA
My people wouldn't leave a grain of sand out of
place. My people had nothing to do with it!
EXTRA
True.
TAZERE Only the cursed Romans would...Romans. Xena,
did you see them?
XENA
No, there was a storm.
TAZERE
It must have been the Romans.
How foolish I was to send Korah.
XENA
The Romans are coming in several legions. We
have to hit them before they're ready.
TAZERE
They have cost me my son. They will all die for
this. I will slaughter them one by one with my own
hands. I will have justice for my son's blood!
Take me with you!
XENA
Save it for the Romans!
EXTRA
Yes!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
How'd it go?
XENA
Not good.
I should have gone with you. I'll talk to him, Xena.
XENA
No, it's more complicated than you think.
GABRIELLE
Xena, it's not complicated. It is simple - I killed Korah.
XENA
Out here, the penalty for that is death.
GABRIELLE
I accept that.
XENA
Well, I don't.
GABRIELLE
(whispering) Xena.
XENA
What purpose would it serve? It can't bring Korah
back now, can it
GABRIELLE
Xena, that man out there deserves to know the truth.
XENA
He thinks he does. He thinks the Romans did it.
GABRIELLE
Did you tell them that?
XENA
It was an accident. Let him believes the Romans
did it. They have to fight them anyway.
GABRIELLE
I can't lie about this.
XENA
You don't have to lie.
Xena!
XENA
(whispering) Please, I beg you. Please! Don't
say anything.
Xena?
We've spotted Romans in the desert. We sent
a patrol out.
XENA
All we have to do is find out where they are now
and lure them into a trap.
KAHINA
There's a valley just north of here. We could lead
them there.
XENA
That's perfect.
KAHINA
They cannot come soon enough. I hunger for this
fight to begin, Xena, and for you to lead us to victory.
NOMAD #1
Kahina...we found him.
He's the killer?
NOMAD #1
Of course. We caught him near the water-hole.
He tried to escape. See?
Korah's blood is still on it.
KAHINA
Let's take him to Tazere. Let him make an example
of him.
XENA
Just because he's a Roman doesn't mean he's
the killer, Kahina.
KAHINA
I have all the proof I need right here. Tie him! We'll
drag him into Tazere's camp!
XENA
Hold it. To kill a man in a fight to protect your
homeland is one thing, but to pick out a Roman
at random and execute him for a crime he may
not have committed, that is something else.
KAHINA
If he didn't do it, someone just like him did. Come
with us, Xena. You're one of us, now.
GABRIELLE
Wait! He isn't the killer. I am.
ACT THREE
Where are they taking her?
KAHINA
To Tazere's camp.
XENA
She doesn't deserve to die, Kahina.
KAHINA
Neither did Korah. The law is a just one, Xena.
This changes everything. You lied to us.
XENA
That's right - I lied. And even if you were to kill
Gabrielle, the Romans would keep coming.
KAHINA
Then they will. We can't follow you now. Tomorrow
at dawn...she dies.
How does it feel?
GABRIELLE
How does what feel?
TAZERE
Killing an innocent?
GABRIELLE
It's unbearable.
TAZERE
He admired you and you slaughtered him.
GABRIELLE
No-
Silence! If I had know what a snake you were, I'd
have struck your head off and my son would still
be alive. Murderer.
I'm going to join up with Xena. I'm going to be a
warrior - like her.
A warrior? Gabrielle, I can beat you up.
GABRIELLE
Ha!
You've got to take me with you, teach me everything
you know.
You have a remarkable gift for healing.
GABRIELLE
No, that's Xena's specialty.
No, Perdicus! Oh! No!
GABRIELLE
I won't take a life-
-even yours.
It's hard, the way of love. But if you choose to follow
it, you must do so with all your heart.
No, look, you promise me - if something happens
to me, you will not become a monster.
Get up!
XENA
I can't, Gabrielle.
You're walking through life preaching peace and
Xena and I have swords in our hands.
Char-r-r-r-r-rge!
GABRIELLE (voice-over)
Sometimes, the only answer is to fight.
If I kill you...you win. I become like you.
These weapons you use, they--they help you to
fight defensively when you don't wanna draw blood.
GABRIELLE
They do, but you see, you can kill someone with it.
Korah?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xena...you once prayed never to see the light go
out in me. I just don't think there's much of that
left in here. This is best for everyone.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The end will come too quickly for what you deserve.
EXTRA
Pray the vultures don't get to you before we do.
Bury the murderer.
My dear lady...is there something I can do for you?
XENA
Actually, there my be something I can do for you.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yah! Yah!
EXTRA
Yah! Yah!
EXTRA
That's it! Harder! Harder!
EXTRA
Yah!
EXTRA
Yah! Bash it again.!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Nomads are joining forces. They found
someone to lead them. This could mean trouble
for you.
DALIUS
A minor annoyance.
XENA
But one you could avoid if you knew where they
were gathered.
DALIUS
True. Our legions could use a diversion.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kill the murderer! A life for a life!
EXTRA
Justice for Korah!
TAZERE
Avenge my son! Avenge Korah!
She must die!
ACT FOUR
Yah! Yah!
XENA
Yah!
Yah.
The Romans! The Romans are coming!
KAHINA
Get the horses! Quickly!
I hate to interrupt their game, but I'm getting you
out of here.
TAZERE
To the valley!
All right.
Over here!
Saved by the Romans. I would have bet against that.
XENA
It sure took 'em long enough.
GABRIELLE
Xena?
XENA
I needed a diversion.
GABRIELLE
Last night, I thought letting them kill me was the
best thing for everyone.
XENA
Gabrielle, you may never forgive yourself for
what happened to Korah, but you'll be a stronger
person for it.
GABRIELLE
I don't know.
XENA
I felt that way once. I felt there was nothing left to
live for. I was tired of hurting and I just wanted it
to end.
GABRIELLE
What changed it for you?
XENA
You did.
GABRIELLE
I guess we've come full circle, huh?
Come on.
You're out of time and you're out of options. Now
they know that you're here, they'll hunt you down
unless you stop them.
You expect us to trust you now? Why should we?
XENA
You have no choice.
GABRIELLE
We could have ridden in the opposite direction.
TAZERE
Why didn't you?
GABRIELLE
Tazere, your son's blood is on my hands, and it
will be for as I walk this Earth. I can't change that.
But I can help his people win their freedom.
Maybe his death'll have some meaning then.
XENA
And I promised you that I'd help you defeat the
Romans. I keep my promises.
NOMAD LOOKOUT
The Romans are coming! They found our trail!
KAHINA
She's right. We have no choice.
All right.
XENA
Let's move it! Get those horses outta here!
You said the sun had to be in this position?
TAZERE
Yes. That's how we know when one is coming.
EXTRA
They're right behind us!
XENA
Everyone, get covered up! Move!
KAHINA
We don't have enough people, even with the surprise.
GABRIELLE
You have Xena. What more do you want?
KAHINA
Funny how the Romans showed up just in time
to save your friend - almost like it was planned.
XENA
You got the fight you wanted. Stop complaining.
Left a few details out of those stories, didn't you?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form up!
You heard him! Move up the line!
EXTRA
Hold steady. Hold steady, men!
Eeh-yah!
Die!
Come on!
Tell Caesar Xena sends her regards.
ROMAN CAPTAIN
Xena?
Do you think they'll succeed against the Romans?
XENA
They've got a good chance. The desert's a powerful
weapon in their favour.
GABRIELLE
For a while there, I didn't think the day would end
so well.
XENA
Neither did I.
GABRIELLE
Hm-m-m. You saved me today, Xena, against
the greater good. Why? Isn't that what we've been
fighting for?
XENA
Gabrielle, in everyone's life, there's something
that goes beyond the greater good. That's what
you are in my life. I wasn't about to let you die out
there if there was something I could do about it.
GABRIELLE
What if it was my choice?
XENA
Especially if it was your choice.
It seems I've traded Korah's life for my own - thanks
to you. That evens the scales between us.
GABRIELLE
It doesn't really, does it?
TAZERE
No. He could have become a great warrior - just
like you.
Just like me.
STARRING
Lucy Lawless as Xena
Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle
GUEST CAST
Alison Bruce as Kahina
Rawiri Paratene as Tazere
Owen Black as Korah
John O'Leary as Dalius
Philip Spencer-Harris as Roman Captain
Gregor McLennan as Nomad #1
Graham Dolan as Nomad #2
Barry Te Hira as Nomad Lookout
Written by: Melissa Good
Directed by: Chris Martin-Jones
Disclaimer: Despite severe air turbulence, no sand dunes were harmed during the making of this motion picture, although some experienced periodic bouts of motion sickness.
