~ Muse ~
by William James
MUSE
An Original Screenplay
by
William James
October 16, 2000
Disclaimers: Hm, what to disclaim?
Well, Joxer, violence, and faux bad
language. The rest we proclaim.
Feedback, baby: do your worst.
w.james at latrobe.edu.au
FADE IN:
INT. TAVERN -- DAY.
GABRIELLE
So, will you show me one?
MAN
No.
GABRIELLE
Not one?
MAN
No.
GABRIELLE
If you don't mind me asking, doesn't that defeat the purpose?
MAN
I draw to draw, not to show.
GABRIELLE
I, I don't think I could write if I wasn't writing to someone.
Don't you miss that?
MAN
Perhaps. I have the impression now that I know who you are.
You are Gabrielle of Potedeia.
GABRIELLE
Oh, sorry. They didn't say?
Gabrielle glances back at a group of lunchers who raise mugs in
salute. She nods. Her eye wanders to the main door.
MAN
You tell stories of the powerful and wise Xena, who, reformed,
travels with the burden of a disgraceful past.
GABRIELLE
I guess I started that way.
MAN
The stories have changed? I haven't seen one in a while.
GABRIELLE
You've seen my scrolls?
MAN
Yes, I follow them avidly.
GABRIELLE
Oh. Well, they stopped altogether for a while, but there's some
new ones. They're more... Well, anyway, I hope you like them.
MAN
I expect I will. I used to wonder of what you were afraid.
GABRIELLE
I'm sorry?
MAN
Your stories tended toward the emphatic: "I sing of Xena, proud
and true, beset by demons internal and eternal...". Bespeaks a
wish.
GABRIELLE
Mm, "bespeaks", that's good, I can use that. You know, too
many ales on an empty stomach, I've forgotten your name.
The man passes over a sandwich.
MAN
I apprenticed in one of Xena's armies.
GABRIELLE
Oh.
Gabrielle looks him over but finds no warning signs. He sits still with
his hands on the bar top.
GABRIELLE
Do these people know?
MAN
I'm not sure. They hear rumours, but I don't think they know
what it means anymore.
GABRIELLE
I understand.
MAN
You do?
GABRIELLE
I better finish up here.
MAN
As you wish.
GABRIELLE
Will you... would you like to meet Xena?
BARKEEP
Here you go, Bobbie.
The barkeep slaps down a mug. Gabrielle waits but nothing is
forthcoming.
GABRIELLE
Goodbye then... Bobbie?
MAN
Don't bet on it.
GABRIELLE
If you have something to say...
MAN
No.
GABRIELLE
Look, you're obviously in pain, mabye I can help.
MAN
I never knew her, except as the woman who used to give the
orders, and then she was gone and someone else gave the
orders. Somewhere near the time you met her, I think.
GABRIELLE
Why did you even join?
MAN
Join?
He smiles into his mug.
MAN
There was no-one left. I could have gone out on my own, but
to where? I had no idea of anything beyond the hills that
surrounded my valley. They tore me apart. I couldn't've
told you my name after a month.
GABRIELLE
I'm sorry.
XENA
Gabrielle, there you are!
GABRIELLE
Xena, I... This is... Bobbie?
XENA
Hi.
The man stares.
XENA
Cat got your tongue?
GABRIELLE
Xena, don't.
XENA
Something going on I should know about? Speak up, buddy.
GABRIELLE
He was a soldier. For you.
Xena looks him over. He carries no weapons.
XENA
I don't recognise you. Perhaps he was telling you a story?
The man drops his head, smiling a little. He turns back to the bar.
Xena gestures -- "See" -- and turns. Gabrielle and Xena leave the bar.
Xena glances over her shoulder before they take a seat at a table.
Xena puts her back to the wall.
TABLE.
GABRIELLE
He told me...
XENA
What?
GABRIELLE
Horrible things.
XENA
Why did you listen?
GABRIELLE
He's an artist, we were talking, and it just came out.
XENA
An "artist", that's a first.
GABRIELLE
No, it's not like that. They asked for a story and then they
told me about the great man who chose to live and work in
their village, so I... Something's not right, Xena.
XENA
I'll grant you, he's no farmer, but now he's gone...
Gabrielle twists and sees that indeed the man has left the bar.
XENA
...so, let's eat. What did you find out about the local
warlord?
GABRIELLE
It's nothing. He's just some old guy who drinks too much
and threatens to raise an army. He's been doing it since last
year.
XENA
Nice enough place, anyway -- Argo likes the stable -- I guess
we could stay a while. Make sure nothing happens.
GABRIELLE
Is that such a good idea?
XENA
What, that man? If every man who said he was in my army was
even anywhere near my army... Besides, it's been years.
Joxer clanks into view.
JOXER
Hi guys!
Xena and Gabrielle just look at him.
JOXER
Oh, right, the supplies.
Joxer hauls out a bag and plonks it in the middle of the table
in a cloud of flour dust.
JOXER
Just the one! And it's the brand you like, Gabby... I, uh,
well...
XENA
Any dinars left?
JOXER
No, I was just going to... See, well, I...
Joxer takes a small box from behind his armour. With a big grin he
passes it to Xena.
Xena unwraps the box. It contains a small cube with an eye painted on
one side.
XENA
That's great, Joxer. I'll treasure it.
JOXER
No, see, it's...
He picks it up.
JOXER
You go, "Look at that"...
He fumbles with the box, bringing the eye side up to his face.
JOXER
And...
Pressing the top of the box, he makes a small jet of water shoot out,
arcing onto his vest.
JOXER
He he, he he. And, see, it's...
He turns the cube and points it at Xena. She gives him the look.
JOXER
Right.
He drops the cube into her hand and turns on his heel. He clanks off
to the bar. Xena smiles at his back.
XENA
I never quite figured out how these things work.
GABRIELLE
You could open it.
XENA
No, there's something about the mechanism, it comes apart
and you can never put it back together. The thing that always
puzzled me was why no-one saw it coming.
She points it at Gabrielle, who winces.
GABRIELLE
Mabye you have to know about the world first. Know when not
to believe.
XENA
Mabye. What's to eat?
GABRIELLE
The barkeep said steer clear of the soup.
Xena makes a face.
XENA
Steaks all round!
TABLE -- LATER.
JOXER
You know, Sheena, I think you're great. And you too, Garry.
You're the best.
He sits down where there is no chair.
JOXER
Nice gams.
His helmet, seen above the edge of the table, slips away. He crashes
to the floor.
GABRIELLE
We shouldn't let him drink so much.
XENA
Yeah, tommorrow'll be pretty bad.
GABRIELLE
No, I mean, he could hurt himself.
Xena shrugs.
XENA
His choice. So, where're we staying?
GABRIELLE
There's some rooms, but the stable'ld be better.
Xena makes a face.
XENA
Right, stable it is. I can check on Argo.
GABRIELLE
I thought you said she liked it here.
XENA
Yeah, but, y'know.
GABRIELLE
Yeah, I know. A woman and her pony.
XENA
Don't let Argo hear you call her a pony.
GABRIELLE
You want to get his feet?
XENA
No.
GABRIELLE
We can't just leave him there.
Xena steps over Joxer and goes to the bar leaving Gabrielle nonplussed.
Xena haggles with the barkeep, pointing at Joxer and then upstairs. An
agreement is reached and she hands over some dinars. She returns.
XENA
All fixed. We'll have the place to ourselves.
GABRIELLE
I don't think so.
Xena sighs. She turns around and trudges back to the bar. She makes a
last plaintive look over her shoulder. Gabrielle stands firm. Xena
turns back to the barkeep, who crosses his arms and shakes his head.
Xena grabs him by the shirt and though he resists she pulls him slowly
forward over the bar. His feet dangle. Xena mutters something into his
ear. He goes pale.
The barkeep lifts a hand and drops the coins into Xena's waiting palm.
Xena lets him go. He lands with a jolt and slips down behind the bar
in a dead faint.
Xena walks back. She throws her hands down and grabs Joxer's
shirtfront.
XENA
Okay bozo, lets go. Wakey wakey.
JOXER
I never touched 'em, Mother. Ma?
INT. STABLE -- NIGHT.
Joxer snores.
Xena and Gabrielle lie together on a pallet of hay.
XENA
This "artist", he have a name?
GABRIELLE
Wah?
XENA
Nothing. Go back to sleep.
EXT. EDGE OF TOWN -- DAWN.
On this side of town the land falls away quickly into a deep, green
valley and further away is the sea and the rising sun. The "artist"
sits sprawled in a low chair with wide armrests.
GABRIELLE
Nice view.
The man looks around, fixing Gabrielle with a steady eye.
MAN
I would have thought you would have done for old Metricles
by now.
GABRIELLE
The "warlord"? No, I think Xena just wants to take a break
for a while.
MAN
You're not leaving?
GABRIELLE
No. Do you want us to go?
The man turns back to the sunrise.
GABRIELLE
Uh, could you tell me where the market is? I kind of got lost.
MAN
There's a place to meet, but no-one will be there yet. It's
too early.
GABRIELLE
Really? Darn.
Gabrielle perches on a rock.
MAN
I thought you were the legendary late sleeper.
GABRIELLE
Ah, well yeah. But I lost a bet. Two weeks kitchen patrol.
I forget sometimes, that people actually read my stuff. You
knowing that, it's a little strange.
MAN
I followed the stories closely. They were the talk of Rome
for a while.
GABRIELLE
You're Roman?
MAN
No. I worked there for a while. A guy I worked with showed
me a copy once and after that I kept watch for as many as
I could.
GABRIELLE
Thanks. Oh, but--
MAN
You began the stories when you first met Xena.
GABRIELLE
That was what I knew.
MAN
Did you ever find out why she changed?
GABRIELLE
I don't think she really changed. It was more that she
realised--
MAN
She didn't tell you?
GABRIELLE
No. Uh, why do you want to know so much? You could ask her
yourself.
Gabrielle watches him unwind his hand from the end of the chair arm.
GABRIELLE
Were you out here all night?
The man flexes his hand and straightens in his chair.
GABRIELLE
Look, you're not like the others, I can see that. The people
Xena used to know are usually in prison or they've moved far
away. Or they're dead. But I can see that you're in pain. It
might do you good to see her, if what you say is true. She
might surprise you.
MAN
She might. I don't need surprises right now.
GABRIELLE
You think you want to fight her? You're a good man, Bobbie.
That is your real name, right?
MAN
What does a good man do in a bad situation?
GABRIELLE
You'll do the right thing.
MAN
I think I agree.
JOXER
Hey, Gabby -- Hiya, big guy -- Xena says to come quick.
GABRIELLE
What is it?
JOXER
Hidunno.
Gabrielle takes off at a dead run. Joxer grins at the man, producing
a two thumbs up gesture and a dopey giggle, then holds his head and
stumps off after Gabrielle.
EXT. STABLES.
Xena is bent over a water drum, hiding her face. Gabrielle charges in.
GABRIELLE
Xena, what is it?
Gabrielle skids to a halt reaching out for Xena. Xena whirls around.
Hissing she throws her hands back from her face revealing celery
sticks in her mouth as fangs.
XENA
I'm a Bachae, Gabrielle! You cannot resist me!
Gabrielle waves her finger at Xena. Joxer sniggers.
GABRIELLE
And you, you big doofus.
She swings at Joxer, and misses.
GABRIELLE
I was really worried there, Xena.
XENA
In this place? C'mon, Gabrielle. Let's see a smile.
Xena moves on Gabrielle, waving the celery sticks as daggers.
EXT. ACROSS THE WAY.
Gabrielle squeals in the distance. ArtBoy turns unseen and leaves.
EXT. MARKET -- DAY.
Gabrielle browses stalls. Xena watches a bird wheel in the sky. Joxer
gamboles back and forth.
XENA
Hey, Gabrielle. Back in a minute.
Xena veers off and makes for a table full of weapons.
STALL OWNER
Miss?
The stall owner reaches out and places a hand on Gabrielle's arm.
STALL OWNER
That story you told yesterday was just wonderful. To be so
much in love...
The woman sighs deeply.
GABRIELLE
Well, okay, thankyou.
STALL OWNER
Will you be staying in town long, we have a wonderful arts
community here, I'm sure you'd love it?
Gabrielle looks over at Xena, who is in deep, disgusted conversation
with the weapons stall owner -- she pushes aside his offering to go
searching through the piles of weapons.
GABRIELLE
I guess we'll be moving on in a day or two. We're really just
taking a break, but they never last too long.
STALL OWNER
That's such a shame. We have a painter here who is said to
have prepared a masterpiece for Caesar himself. It is said
to be so beautiful as to make grown men cry. Oh look, here
he is now.
The "artist" walks into the square.
MAN
Is this Xena I see?
Xena continues to rummage through the weapon stacks.
MAN
Killer?
People begin to filter away.
MAN
Hero?
Xena turns at that remark.
MAN
She never came through here. You're lucky. Back then there
would be nothing left now. Women. Children. Men. Gone. Taken.
Xena does not like the looks she is getting from the people, even as
they move away.
MAN
They used to send someone in, asking for shelter. Giving
everyone a chance.
Xena steps out into the square. There are some gasps in the crowd.
Xena turns her back. The man starts walking.
MAN
But what happened then? How many people have you killed?
How...
Suddenly Xena and the man are face to face.
XENA
You know, friend, you must be very unhappy.
He manages to be impassive. Gabrielle skips up.
MAN
You know, I think I am. That's just the way these things
seem to work out.
XENA
So I'll allow you this... display.
GABRIELLE
Xena.
XENA
And since I don't know you, or what happened to you, you
may not believe it, but I'm sorry.
MAN
And I'm sorry too.
The man takes a step back and raises his hand, and like a card trick
there is a dagger there. Xena's hand goes to her chakram.
The man flips the dagger up. It makes a high, lazy arc, well over
Xena's head, spinning down toward...
JOXER
Gulp.
MAN
Schiavo. I am.
Gabrielle pulls her sais. Xena flips backward sending her chakram
out. It zips up in front of Joxer's face, deflecting the dagger and
continues on to clang against a pot and begin it's return journey.
Returning, it meets a second dagger thrown hard that sends it
whanging away, tumbling in the air. It bangs into a wall and sticks
there.
Xena turns back drawing her sword, but the man is gone.
EXT. MARKET.
Xena tugs on the chakram.
XENA
Dammit.
GABRIELLE
How could he do that?
XENA
It's not friggen magic.
The chakram pops from the wall. Xena stumbles.
XENA
It's just never happened before.
JOXER
I...
XENA
Don't say it!
Xena mumbles to herself -- the word "liability" can be heard.
JOXER
I'm sorry.
GABRIELLE
It's not your fault, Joxer.
XENA
No, it's not. I'm sorry, Joxer.
JOXER
Who was that guy?
XENA
The name's not familiar, but I'm kinda out of touch with
the whole scene these days. What does he want?
GABRIELLE
Why are you looking at me?
XENA
He's your "friend", isn't he?
GABRIELLE
I barely know him. I just know that he's hurting. He said
it has something to do with you.
XENA
Oh, he's going to be hurting.
GABRIELLE
Wait, Xena. He hasn't actually done anything.
XENA
Except call me a murderer, a child killer.
GABRIELLE
Well...
XENA
I never killed children.
GABRIELLE
He said he was taken in by your army but it was right about
the time you quit.
Xena watches Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
I'm sorry, Xena. Just like old times, huh? You've changed,
I know that.
XENA
Everybody's sorry. I suppose I should be too. But this guy's
trouble. We better find out who he really is.
INT. ROOM.
Xena looks through shelves in the nearly unfurnished room. It has a
bed, some shelves, and Gabrielle standing with a fat man by the door.
XENA
Some artist, there's nothing here.
FATMAN
He keeps all his stuff somewhere else, no-one knows where.
GABRIELLE
So why does everyone call him a great artist?
FATMAN
Mostly because of the Rome mural thing.
XENA
So basically he's just a guy who rents a room from you.
FATMAN
Well... yeah.
XENA
And he pays on time, everytime?
FATMAN
Yeah.
XENA
And never goes out?
FATMAN
To the tavern sometimes.
XENA
Great.
INT. TAVERN.
Xena leans on the bar waiting on an answer. The barkeep shrugs.
Xena and Gabrielle step away.
XENA
Well, what now?
GABRIELLE
Why do you want this guy, really?
XENA
Mabye I want to help.
GABRIELLE
That's good, Xena.
EXT. FOREST.
The man runs, heedless. He plunges through brush and over felled
trees, making a long, straight line.
INT. TAVERN -- NIGHT.
Joxer and a very drunk old man sit at the bar.
DRUNK
And then I ripped his arms right off.
JOXER
Oh yeah?
DRUNK
Blood? There was a river of the stuff.
JOXER
Yeah. Blood!
TABLE
Xena scratches the top of her head.
XENA
I guess he's not going to show.
Gabrielle nods. They both watch the drunk man blow in Joxer's ear.
GABRIELLE
Joxer has the warlord problem under control.
XENA
Yeah, he brings out the best in people.
GABRIELLE
Xena, I'm worried. I think he might... hurt himself.
XENA
Get his heart broken?
GABRIELLE
You know what I mean?
XENA
Yeah, sorry.
She pauses.
XENA
Mabye a man makes his own fate.
GABRIELLE
That's not fair, Xena.
XENA
No, I guess not. Well, he hasn't done anything, hasn't hurt
anyone, 'cept me...
GABRIELLE
And you can live with it.
XENA
And I can live with it. As far as we know, there's no-one to
warn or speak to, and no-one can find him in town, so let's
get some sleep. We can start tracking him tommorrow.
GABRIELLE
Thankyou, Xena.
XENA
Makes a change from "sorry", anyway.
INT. STABLE -- NIGHT.
Xena snores lightly. Gabrielle stares up at the roof.
Carefully, Gabrielle slips out from under Xena's arm.
INT. STABLE.
Gabrielle shrugs into her coat and goes to the door of the barn. She
pushes, but it does not budge. She pushes again, harder.
JOXER (O.S.)
Hey!
Which fades away into grumbles.
GABRIELLE
Get away from the door, you idiot!
Xena rolls over, but continues to snore. Experimentally, Gabrielle
pushes the door, which moves enough to let her out.
EXT. STABLE.
Gabrielle stands with one hand on her hip and the other arm extended,
pointing into the stable. Joxer, shamefaced, his shirt on inside out,
creaks and clanks inside (though he is wearing no armour).
Gabrielle closes the door and makes off into the night.
EXT. EDGE OF TOWN.
Gabrielle huddles in her coat. The chair is empty. She sits down on a
rock to think.
EXT. EDGE OF TOWN -- DAWN.
Gabrielle wakes, sore from the cold. By her hand is a scroll of smooth
paper. She takes it, looking from it to the man. He sits in the chair,
his back to her, resting his head on a hand. The sun rises ahead of
him.
Opening the scroll Gabrielle finds a light sketch of herself -- head
and shoulders. Gabrielle is very taken with it. She touches it and it
smudges.
GABRIELLE
Oh!
The man looks around.
MAN
Made to fade, sister.
GABRIELLE
What?
MAN
It's charcol. It'll rub off if you touch it. The paper's not
any good either. It'll go yellow in the sun. I haven't done
one of them in years.
GABRIELLE
Will you come back with me? You must be cold.
EXT. STABLE.
Xena steps through the barn door, puzzled.
EXT. EDGE OF TOWN.
GABRIELLE
Xena would like to help.
MAN
What do you think of that?
GABRIELLE
I think it's a chance you can give yourself.
MAN
You make a good case, Gabrielle. Is it your case?
GABRIELLE
What do you mean?
MAN
How did you come by these ideas?
GABRIELLE
I just, I just want to help.
MAN
But you travel with Xena? How is it that you help?
GABRIELLE
It's too early for riddles and I'm too cold. If you'd like,
we can have something to eat. I'm going to the tavern.
MAN
Such authority. Xena must be proud.
GABRIELLE
Was that some kind of insult? Xena's not what you think...
MAN
And what do I think?
GABRIELLE
You called her a murderer.
MAN
But she's changed? You see the problem, don't you?
GABRIELLE
I... I love Xena. I've had enough of trying to pick her
apart. If you want to be her enemy, you have to be mine,
too.
Gabrielle turns.
MAN
You said your stories had changed?
GABRIELLE
Mabye you dissect too much, Bobbie. Without seeing the
obvious.
MAN
If the method works, it leaves a clear space for the obvious
to reach out. What have I missed?
GABRIELLE
You blame her for your pain, don't you?
She waits for an answer but none appears.
GABRIELLE
But you haven't talked about that yet.
MAN
Is it not there always? Always below the surface?
GABRIELLE
Why do you smile when you say that?
He gives no answer.
GABRIELLE
Thankyou for the drawing, it's lovely.
She turns and leaves.
EXT. MARKET -- DAY.
Xena stands amid the gathering, wary throng, tapping her foot. She
sees Gabrielle walk into the square.
XENA
Where have you been?
GABRIELLE
Good morning to you, too.
XENA
Well?
GABRIELLE
He's back. He has a spot out on the edge of town.
XENA
How nice.
A dagger zips through the air. Xena grabs it just before her nose.
The man, on the edge of the square, is impressed. He calls out.
MAN
I read that, that you could do that. I'm impressed.
The people, warned, mutter among themselves. A little grumpy, they
move away, again. The man hefts another dagger. Xena points a finger.
XENA
Don't.
MAN
Or?
She walks toward him flipping the dagger in her hand.
XENA
Or you'll run out, and then what'll you throw?
MAN
Harsh words? That's close enough.
Xena stops, making a show of it.
XENA
Alright. So now you tell me what this is about.
MAN
Is that what I do?
XENA
I'm waiting.
MAN
Yes, I see that you are. I commend you on your... restraint.
XENA
You want me here, I'm here. Speak.
MAN
No.
Xena shrugs elaborately.
XENA
Fine.
She turns to go.
MAN
You've had enough, I suppose, of people bringing up the past?
Xena chooses not to answer.
MAN
But... I was just speaking to Gabrielle...
XENA
Yes?
MAN
Not all of us died.
XENA
Us?
MAN
Yeah, you know, the one's who have to remember.
XENA
I'm sorry.
MAN
Apology accepted.
The two watch each other.
Gabrielle appears. She looks from one to the other.
GABRIELLE
How we doing?
MAN
Wouldn't it be nice to have a space for the last word?
Xena quirks a smile.
The man lashes out, striking Gabrielle squarely in the mouth. On
instinct Xena throws her shoulder forward slamming into the man's
body, throwing him backward. Gabrielle sits forcibly down.
The man rolls away to his feet.
Xena, putting her hand to her chakram, draws her sword over her
shoulder. The man stands his ground.
Xena, snarling, advances. The man bows his head. Xena draws her sword
back to strike.
GABRIELLE
Xena!
Xena stops. After a moment the man lifts his head. He smiles.
MAN
Killer.
Yelling her disgust, Xena hops from one foot to the other, launching
a high roundhouse kick. The man slips underneath the blow and sweeps
her foot out from under her. She falls. The man, on his hands and
knees, scrambles away. Hidden, a dagger slips into his hands.
Xena is very annoyed. She unhooks her chakram.
GABRIELLE
Don't Xena! He's making you fight. He's...
Xena has a moment of revelation.
XENA
No, he...
GABRIELLE
I'm so tired of being the excuse.
Xena holsters the chakram. She begins to walk toward the man,
picking up and shouldering her sword along the way.
XENA
He wants me to kill him.
MAN
Is that it? I wondered.
Deliberately Xena walks closer.
MAN
If you think you can.
Two fingers against his neck she raises her other hand to strike.
She presses the first two fingers and he begins to feel pain.
He twists suddenly and the second strike misses it's mark. Xena
finds herself shouldered backward.
XENA
What's the matter, afraid?
MAN
What's the matter?
Xena lunges backward but the man's dagger, whipped up, scores her
cheek.
MAN
Afraid?
Xena spins, turning her back on the man only to spin back throwing
out her fist, striking him across the throat and pushing him down.
In a flurry of movement she strikes out jamming her fingers into the
side of his chest.
The man finds himself on the ground unable to move his arms.
MAN
Oh, of course! Of course!
XENA
Shut up.
EXT. MARKET.
The man sits on a hay bale, his hands folded useless in his lap. His
feet are tied. Gabrielle watches him. He has lost his vitality.
GABRIELLE
Can he stay like that for long?
XENA
No.
SHERRIF
We'll take it from here.
GABRIELLE
What has he done, really, Xena?
XENA
Disturbed my peace.
Xena looks at the sherrif, and he -- an ostentatiously armoured man --
waits out the scrutiny, oppressed. Xena preempts him. She strides over
to the man.
XENA
I want your word.
MAN
That's nice.
GABRIELLE
Xena, just let him up.
XENA
You've got Gabrielle to thank for this. Don't let her down.
MAN
Or what?
XENA
Or you'll have me to deal with.
MAN
Again? Learn the lesson, Xena.
XENA
And what lesson is that, exactly?
Xena strikes out at the man releasing the pinch on his arms.
MAN
I don't know, the usual.
GABRIELLE
Mabye you could tell the story, in drawing.
This gains her a curious look from Xena.
GABRIELLE
You don't have to fight.
MAN
I'd like to go home.
GABRIELLE
Where is that?
MAN
It's where I was born.
XENA
Fine. We're finished here: you're on notice.
She waves the sherrif in.
INT. STABLE.
Xena packs saddle bags.
GABRIELLE
Did he leave?
JOXER
Yeah. Sherrif took him to the edge of town and vamoosed him
good.
Gabrielle considers the scroll without opening it.
XENA
Win some, lose some.
GABRIELLE
What did we lose?
XENA
Don't you start.
GABRIELLE
Okay.
JOXER
Metricles says hi, by the way. Warlord to warlord, you know.
XENA
Yeah? Common courtesy is a lost art.
JOXER
Yeah, like when...
XENA
Relax, Joxer.
JOXER
I was only...
Xena gives him the evil eye.
XENA
C'mon, lets blow this dump. The people here are getting a bit
much.
Xena watches Gabrielle, waiting for her. Xena walks over to her. The
two touch.
XENA
Loose ends.
Xena shrugs.
XENA
I can't tie them all.
GABRIELLE
I know. I know.
XENA
I wouldn't mind dropping him on his ass, though. That I could
live with.
GABRIELLE
I guess you'll get your chance.
Xena looks puzzled.
GABRIELLE
Well, they never leave us alone, do they? He'll be back, just
like all the others.
JOXER
He said he was going home.
GABRIELLE
He also said he doesn't have a home anymore. And we just drove
him out of here.
XENA
So we find him.
GABRIELLE
And do what?
XENA
Whatever. Whatever needs doing.
JOXER
It's the way of the warrior.
They both look at him. He takes off his helmet and waves it beside his
head.
JOXER
Huh cha chaah.
FADE TO BLACK:
--THE END--
The Athenaeum's Scroll Archive