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