~ 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--


   



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