Amazon High - Page 5

Amazon High

Friends In Low Places

page 5

ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

INT BARRACKS - NIGHT

Everyone is asleep. Xena lights a small candle and writes on a scroll.

XENA (V.O.)

(Writing)

Dear Megaera and Larissa, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I can't be as good as you think I am. It was stupid of me to try to be an Amazon. Morine is right, I'll never be anything more than a peasant. I'm going home. My family needs me. My father left years ago, and I can't leave Mother alone. If you're ever near Amphipolis, stop by. I'll miss you both. Xena.

Xena rolls the scroll and sets in next to Megaera. Xena takes her small bundle of possessions and slips out of the barracks.

EXT HALLWAY

Xena slips down the hallway. She is alert for any noises. She ducks behind a wall as two amazons on guard duty pass by.

XENA

I'm going to miss this place.

INT AMAZON HIGH - GATES - NIGHT

Xena hurries across the open area to the gates. There is no one in sight. Morine slips from the shadows and leans against the gate.

MORINE

Going somewhere, Xena?

XENA

Leave me alone, Morine.

MORINE

I asked you a question.

XENA

Look, you've won. I'm not an Amazon. I'm going home.

MORINE

Home? This is your home now, Xena.

XENA

No, it isn't. I can't learn to be an Amazon. It was just a foolish dream.

MORINE

Sometimes it takes a fool to make others see the truth. I misjudged you. I was wrong.

XENA

About what?

MORINE

You do have what it takes to be an Amazon. I won't let you quit.

XENA

Why? So you can show everyone how much better you are than me? No. I won't let you make a fool of me again.

Xena pulls open the gate. Morine puts out a hand to restrain xena.

MORINE

Xena, stop. You pushed me harder in that fight than anyone ever has before. I thought I was going to lose. I've never lost before.

XENA

Neither have I. And I don't intend to start now. Get out of my way, Morine.

MORINE

Why do you have to be so difficult? I am trying to ask you to stay.

XENA

Well, you're not doing a very good job at it. I'm going home.

MORINE

If you walk out that gate, I win.

XENA

You've already won.

MORINE

Xena, listen to me. No one here can beat me, except you. Maybe. I can't learn from defeat if I keep winning. I want you to stay.

XENA

Why can't you just leave me alone? You have humiliated me, injured me, beaten me - you've won. I don't want to keep going. Why can't you accept that?

MORINE

Because you're better than that, Xena. You know it, and I know it. If you quit, we both fail.

XENA

So what do you want?

MORINE

Give it another chance. After you walked out, Solymaia said some things that really made me think. I can't get better without out, and you can't get better without me.

Xena closes the gate.

XENA

So does this mean that we're friends?

MORINE

We'll see. For right now, it means that I trust you to guard my back.

They walk back toward the barracks.

XENA

Morine, what did you think when I punched you in the face?

MORINE

I thought you were the worst cheater I had ever fought. But I got scared, too. No one had ever gotten close enough to do that before. You're good, Xena. Really good.

XENA

Really? You really think so?

MORINE

I do. But I'm still better.

XENA

We'll see. Tomorrow.

The barrack door closes. The foundation of a friendship is laid.

FADE OUT:

END

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