A Friend In Need - page 2
Xena: Warrior Princess
"A Friend In Need"
page 2
ACT ONE
EXT TARA'S HUT
Xena approaches a humble home. Tara's mother, NISSA (50's), comes to the door. Nissa is a motherly but naive woman.
NISSA
Who is that? Is that little Xena?
XENA
Not so little anymore. Hello, Nissa.
NISSA
Oh, you've grown up so much. I hardly recognized you. Come in, come in.
They enter the hut.
INT TARA'S HUT
The home is comfortable. Several weapons adorn the walls.
XENA
What's with all of the weapons?
NISSA
Oh, they're Tara's. She collects them.
XENA
How is she doing? I've missed her.
NISSA
It's hard to know sometimes. She doesn't come home very often. She's always out. She says she's helping people, but sometimes I wonder.
XENA
What do you mean?
NISSA
Oh, you know how she is. You two always found trouble to get in to.
XENA
I remember. Like that time she let the sheep loose during that wedding. We got in trouble for that.
NISSA
I wish that's all that is was. Xena, Tara has gotten, well...she's not the same anymore.
XENA
What? She's gotten married, settled down, and had children?
NISSA
No. You don't understand. She is...different.
XENA
You're not joking, are you?
NISSA
Xena. She's always talking about her suffering. You know, back then.
XENA
I thought we took care of that a long time ago.
NISSA
So did I. You went off to war, and Tara...she went to war, too.
XENA
Where is she now?
NISSA
I haven't seen her for a few days. She said she had some business to take care of.
Argo whinnies outside.
XENA
Stay here.
Xena runs outside.
EXT TARA'S HUT
Four warriors approach the hut. They are dressed in the colors of priests of Athena.
XENA
What do you want?
The lead warrior steps forward. This is erichthonius, head priest of Athena's temple. Erichthonius is pompous, but very devout in his faith to Athena.
ERICHTHONIUS
I am Erichthonius, Head Priest of the Temple of Athena. Three days ago, an item of major significance was stolen from our temple. We have reason to believe that the thief is hiding here.
XENA
There's no one here but me and a friend.
ERICHTHONIUS
Nevertheless, we must search the hut to find the Bow.
Xena draws her sword.
XENA
You'll have to go through me first.
ERICHTHONIUS
If that is Athena's will, you have no hope, woman.
Erichthonius motions to his men. They rush toward Xena.
Xena blocks the first blow, and knocks warrior #1 into the wall. She grabs an iron pot from on the porch and swings it roundhouse at the other two warriors. They go flying.
Warrior #1 recovers, and charges at Xena's back. She stops him with a back kick, and spins him toward the other two.
Xena tosses the iron pot up in the air. She charges the warriors. She ducks under a swinging sword, and then blocks two overhand strikes. The pot falls down on warrior #1's head. He falls down.
ERICHTHONIUS
Get her! She is only one person!
Xena knocks the two swords away from the warriors. Warrior #2 picks up a rake. He swings it wildly. Warrior #1 stands up groggily, the pot still on his head. The rake hits the pot. warrior #1 goes down again.
XENA
Nice try, farmboy.
Xena flips over the warrior's heads. She picks up a shovel. she vaults into the two warriors, knocking them back. Xena plants the shovel into the ground between their heads.
XENA
Go. And don't come back.
The three warriors stumble away. Erichthonius is very angry.
ERICHTHONIUS
The goddess of wisdom and war will not tolerate such offenses.
XENA
Next time you see her, ask your goddess for more wisdom. Maybe you'll learn not to pick fights.
Erichthonius turns and stomps away.
Nissa comes to the door, carrying an axe.
NISSA
I heard fighting. Is everything all right?
XENA
Nothing I couldn't handle. Nissa, did Tara mention anything about Athena?
NISSA
Not that I can remember. Why do you ask?
XENA
No reason. Just a hunch.
CUT TO:
EXT THYATIRA - BARN
Gabrielle sneaks around the barn, her staff at the ready. She hears a footstep. She tenses, then leaps around the corner.
A young man, PERSEUS (20's), falls back, startled. Perseus is the town rebel. He causes a lot of mischief.
PERSEUS
No! I didn't do it!
Gabrielle holds her staff poised at his throat.
GABRIELLE
Didn't do what?
PERSEUS
The sheep were already loose. Someone else opened the gate.
GABRIELLE
What are you talking about?
PERSEUS
Me? Nothing. I didn't say anything.
Gabrielle steps back, and looks around.
GABRIELLE
Is there anyone else around here?
PERSEUS
No. Just me. Why?
GABRIELLE
Someone was shooting arrows. Exploding arrows. And you didn't see anything?
PERSEUS
No, I didn't see anything. I can help you look for whatever it is you're looking for.
Perseus gets up off the ground and dusts himself off. He extends his hand.
PERSEUS
Hi, I'm Perseus.
GABRIELLE
Did your parents name you after the hero Perseus?
PERSEUS
I don't know. I was raised by a shepherd near here. I don't know my parents.
GABRIELLE
You're an orphan?
PERSEUS
It's sad, really, when a person doesn't even know his parents, then gets apprehended by a beautiful blonde warrior with a staff.
Gabrielle smiles, embarrased.
GABRIELLE
I'm Gabrielle. Look, there's something I need to tell you.
Gabrielle looks around, then pulls Perseus around the corner of the barn.
GABRIELLE
Something happened a few minutes ago. It turned my friend to stone.
CUT TO:
EXT THYATIRA - INN
A crowd has gathered around the new "Joxer statue". Gabrielle and perseus push their way through the crowd.
GABRIELLE
See? Stone.
Gabrielle knocks on Joxer's head.
JOXER (V.O.)
Uh? Gabrielle? I can't move.
PERSEUS
So what are we going to do?
GABRIELLE
First of all, we need to find out who did this.
PERSEUS
You think someone did this?
GABRIELLE
Yeah. There were arrows flying, and things started exploding. Joxer, him, he turned around, and then he was turned to stone.
PERSEUS
No. You're not dragging me into this. This sounds like he made the gods mad, so they turned him to stone. They do that to people, you know.
GABRIELLE
No. I didn't know. And since when are you an expert on the behavior of the gods?
PERSEUS
All I know is, I'm not going anywhere near whoever, or whatever did this. I like being able to move.
JOXER (V.O.)
Uh, Gabrielle? I can't move.
Gabrielle gestures to Joxer.
GABRIELLE
Do you think he likes it? Being stuck like that? No. I wouldn't, either. But now you're just turning your back on him. Fine, leave.
Perseus turns to go.
PERSEUS
Don't think I'm being selfish.
GABRIELLE
(Sarcastically)
Oh, I don't. Save yourself, Perseus. It's not like you have to live up to your name.
Perseus turns and walks away.
GABRIELLE
(continuing; To the crowd)
What are you looking at? Never seen someone turned to stone before?
The crowd disperses.
GABRIELLE
Joxer? I don't know if you can hear me, or not, but I'm really sorry that this happened to you.
JOXER (V.O.)
Oh, it's okay. At least I've got my own heroic statue.
GABRIELLE
I'll find whoever did this to you. I'll get you changed back into yourself again.
Gabrielle holds the Joxer statue's hand.
GABRIELLE
I promise. I'll find a way.
JOXER (V.O.)
Gee, that's really nice of you, Gabrielle. And while you're at it, could you get me something to eat, too?
Gabrielle walks away. A bird lands on Joxer's head.
JOXER (V.O.)
Hey, get off me. Gabrielle? Gabrielle?
CUT TO:
EXT DARK FOREST
Tara moves in and out of the trees. She is changed from her original self. We don't see the whole form, but she has been changed into a gorgon.
TARA
Laugh at me, will they? I am a warrior, just like Xena. She's not better than me. She never has been.
(Sardonically)
Xena saved a village. Xena defeated an army. But Tara, she's just a thief. Hah. I'm the best. They'll see.
Tara goes toward a cave.
CUT TO:
INT TARA'S HUT
Xena and Nissa talk.
XENA
What was the last thing Tara said to you?
NISSA
I think it was something about showing them something. Why? What is this all about, Xena?
XENA
I think that Tara has gotten herself into trouble with the gods.
NISSA
But how? She's a good girl.
XENA
That's just it - in your mind, she's always been a good girl. You've been saying that for as long as I can remember. She never wanted you to put her up on a pedestal. She just wanted to be accepted for what she was.
NISSA
What do you think she did?
XENA
There were some men here looking for her. They said she took something from them.
NISSA
But Tara would never steal anything. She's-
XENA
"Always been a good girl." Yes, you've told me. Nissa, maybe you don't know your daughter as well as you think you do.
NISSA
I've always been here for her. She knows that.
XENA
Maybe that's why those men came here, looking for her.
NISSA
What if they find her? What are they going to do to her?
Xena walks outside.
EXT TARA'S HUT
Xena unties argo.
XENA
Don't worry. They won't find her first. I will.
NISSA
Be careful. If Tara's really in trouble, those men might be back. I don't want to see you hurt.
XENA
I can take care of myself. You just watch for Tara. If she comes back, let me know.
Xena mounts argo.
NISSA
Where are you going?
XENA
I'm going into Thyatira. Maybe someone there knows something.
CUT TO:
EXT THYATIRA - TOWN SQUARE
Gabrielle paces back and forth, talking to herself. The townsfolk have rigged up a crane and are hoisting the Joxer statue onto a pedestal.
GABRIELLE
I could go find Xena. No, she's visiting her friend. Maybe I could go find Hercules. Yeah. No. He's probably off on some legendary journey. I could go after that thing myself.
Joxer comes to rest on the pedestal. Several birds now land on his head.
JOXER (V.O.)
I think you should wait for Xena. She'll know what to do.
GABRIELLE
Maybe I should wait for Xena. She'll know what to do. No. That'll take too long. Well, Gabrielle, here we go.
JOXER (V.O.)
I don't think that's a good idea.
Gabrielle turns and looks up at Joxer.
GABRIELLE
You probably don't think this is a good idea, right?
JOXER (V.O.)
Gabrielle, you can't go. That thing...yecch. It's so...Gabrielle, no!
Gabrielle turns and walks toward the forest.
JOXER (V.O.)
Gabrielle. Oh, no. I get turned to stone, and the woman I love is going off to get herself killed. Joxer, this is one fine mess you've gotten in to.
Off Joxer's statue, we:
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT ONE