A Friend In Need - Page 3
Xena: Warrior Princess
"A Friend In Need"
page 3
ACT TWO
EXT ROAD TO THYATIRA
Xena rides argo along the road. She stops, looks around, then disappears into the forest at the side of the road. Perseus rounds a bend in the road. He twirls Gabrielle's bag around.
As he passes Xena, she jumps out and grabs him.
XENA
Where're you going?
PERSEUS
Nowhere. Honest.
XENA
Where'd you get the bag? It's nice.
PERSEUS
My parents gave it to me last winter soltice.
XENA
I'll give you one more chance. Where'd you get that bag?
PERSEUS
I found it. In town.
XENA
Where in town?
PERSEUS
By the statue. In the town square.
XENA
That bag belongs to my friend.
PERSEUS
Um. She dropped it. And I was trying to find her to give it back.
XENA
Right.
Xena pulls his head back to show an ornate necklace.
XENA
And I suppose you were wearing this to keep it safe?
PERSEUS
No! I mean, yes. Maybe.
XENA
Come on. Let's go find this friend of yours and give her back her things.
CUT TO:
EXT DARK FOREST
Gabrielle looks nervously around. She jumps as a bird squawks.
GABRIELLE
It's okay. It's just a forest. A big, dark, scary forest, with a thing that changes people to stone. No. Don't think about that. Think about Joxer.
The strains of "Joxer the Mighty" start playing.
GABRIELLE
No! Don't think of Joxer. Think about real heroes. Like Perseus. How he saved Andromeda from the sea monster. How he fought the Medusa. That must have been a terrible creature, turning everyone to stone, just by looking at them. Almost like what happened today.
Sudden realization hits Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
Just like what happened today. Maybe this is not such a good idea after all. Okay, how do I get out of here?
Gabrielle looks around, worried.
GABRIELLE
Great. I talk too much, and now I'm lost. Xena? Where are you?
CUT TO:
EXT THYATIRA
Xena and Perseus enter the town.
XENA
Where is this statue you mentioned earlier? I don't recall Thyatira having a statue.
PERSEUS
It's brand new. He's a mighty warrior. One of our best heroes. He saved us from a giant...um...thing. It was a terrible monster. It was killing our flocks, but then HE came.
XENA
Does HE have a name?
PERSEUS
Uh, yes. But I can't tell you right now. You have to see the statue first.
They round a corner and see the statue. Xena stops in her tracks.
PERSEUS
Isn't it great? So lifelike. I can take you to see the sculptor. He's a friend of mine.
Xena approaches the Joxer statue. She walks completely around it.
JOXER (V.O.)
Xena! Boy, am I glad to see you. See, there was this thing, and it turned me to stone. Then they lifted me up here. Then Gabrielle left to go catch the thing. And then there was this pigeon...but that's not important. You're here, and you can figure out how to change me back.
XENA
How long has he been like this?
PERSEUS
The statue? Oh, it was carved probably two or three months ago.
Xena grabs Perseus by the throat.
XENA
Don't lie to me any more, boy. I know this man. His name is Joxer. How did he get turned to stone?
Perseus struggles for breath.
PERSEUS
I don't know. Really. I don't know. There was this blonde girl-
Xena releases Perseus.
XENA
What blonde girl?
Perseus rubs his throat, and then extends his hand to Xena.
PERSEUS
Much better. And my name is Perseus.
XENA
All right, hero. What blonde girl?
PERSEUS
I am not a hero. And she said her name was Gertrude, or something.
XENA
Gabrielle?
PERSEUS
Yeah, that's it. Uh oh. You know her?
XENA
Yeah, I know her. You're holding her bag.
Perseus sighs, and hands over the bag. Xena takes it, and holds her hand out again. Perseus hands over the necklace. xena takes it and gestures with her hand again. Perseus reluctantly hands over a handful of dinars.
PERSEUS
That's all I took, I promise.
XENA
Where are your parents?
PERSEUS
They died when I was little.
Xena gives him a stern look.
PERSEUS
Okay, they live on a farm just over that hill.
XENA
Maybe I should go and have a chat with them.
PERSEUS
No! Please. My father beats me.
Xena looks at him, as if to say, "I don't blame him."
PERSEUS
He says I lie too much.
XENA
You do. Since I met you, you haven't told me anything but lies. Now where is Gabrielle?
PERSEUS
I don't know. She said something about going to find whatever did this to him.
XENA
Did you see which way she went?
PERSEUS
No. But I could go look for her.
XENA
All right. You go and find Gabrielle. I have a meeting with a priest.
CUT TO:
INT ATHENA'S TEMPLE
Priests go about their duties. Erichthonius opens a door to a back room.
INT ATHENA'S TEMPLE - BACK ROOM
Xena admires an arrow. Erichthonius stops when he sees her.
XENA
Come in. I have something I need to discuss with you.
ERICHTHONIUS
You walk a dangerous path, woman. It is not healthy to trespass on sacred ground. The Goddess of Wisdom and War will not look upon this intrusion lightly.
XENA
What if I find that "item" you were looking for earlier?
ERICHTHONIUS
I think I could arrange a pardon for your intrusion. What do you have in mind?
XENA
First of all, what was taken?
ERICHTHONIUS
No, I see what you are doing. You humiliate my men, and now you have come to humiliate me. I don't even know who you are.
XENA
My name is Xena.
ERICHTHONIUS
The warrior princess? Many apologies, your highness. Athena looks on you with respect.
XENA
No apologies necessary. And it's just Xena, okay?
ERICHTHONIUS
The Goddess respects your fight agains evil. You are spoken of highly by the many Athenian temples throughout the land. I must say, you grace our temple by your presence here.
XENA
It's all right. But I need to know what was taken.
ERICHTHONIUS
Oh, yes. The Bow of Athena was taken by an unknown thief. We tracked this thief to the village of Thyatira, then we met you.
XENA
And just what does this Bow do?
ERICHTHONIUS
It is a magical bow, forged by Hephaestus. The arrows it shoots become deadly weapons - they explode when they hit their target. In the wrong hands, that bow could mean desruction for hundreds, maybe even thousands, of innocent lives.
XENA
We'll try not to let that happen. How many arrows were taken?
ERICHTHONIUS
A quiver full. Minus two or three. Why?
XENA
Without the magical arrows, she...this thief won't be able to do as much damage.
ERICHTHONIUS
What? Oh. Of course, you're right. Why didn't I think of that?
XENA
You probably have other things on your mind. Do you have any idea who this thief is?
ERICHTHONIUS
No. We know that they are from Thyatira, but that's all. You wouldn't let us search that house.
XENA
I need to talk to Athena.
ERICHTHONIUS
Oh, no, you can't. No one talks to Athena. Not even me.
XENA
But you're the Chief Priest, right?
ERICHTHONIUS
Yes, but-
XENA
Then you can arrange a meeting. If she is so fond of me, the Warrior Princess, like you say, I'm sure she could spare a few minutes.
ERICHTHONIUS
I don't think-
XENA
I'll be waiting out back.
Xena exits. Erichthonius sighs heavily.
CUT TO:
EXT THYATIRA - TOWN SQUARE
The sun is setting, to show the passage of time.
Perseus sits down by the Joxer statue. He has obviously not gone after Gabrielle. Perseus talks to Joxer.
PERSEUS
What would you do? I mean, I want to do good. Well, actually, I don't, but everyone tells me I should shape up and help out. You're a hero, say something heroic.
JOXER (V.O.)
Heroic? Okay, how about, "Give me liberty, or give me death?" Lighten up, kid. Just go find Gabrielle.
PERSEUS
Maybe I should just go find Gabrielle, or whatever her name is.
JOXER (V.O.)
It's getting dark, and she's out there all alone.
PERSEUS
But it's getting dark. She is out there all alone. I'm sure she'll be fine. Then why do I feel so bad?
CUT TO:
EXT DARK FOREST - EVENING
The shadows are getting long. The forest is getting spookier. Gabrielle gets more nervous by the minute.
GABRIELLE
I'm okay. It's getting dark, but I'm all right. Xena taught me all about wilderness survival. Okay, the sun sets to the west. If I go west, where will I be? I don't know. Maybe it's on the map.
Gabrielle reaches for her bag. It is gone.
GABRIELLE
My bag? It's gone.
She searches frantically about for her bag.
GABRIELLE
Wonderful. Just great. Not only am I lost, but my bag is lost, too. Where could it be?
Realization hits her.
GABRIELLE
It's by Joxer. I set it down, and then I went into the woods. Well, that doesn't help much right now, does it, Gabrielle?
Gabrielle looks around and sees a mountain up ahead.
GABRIELLE
Ah, there we go. I can climb up that mountain and find Thyatira.
As Gabrielle leaves the forest, she sees a cave - the same cave that Tara went in to.
GABRIELLE
A cave? Even better. I can sleep there tonight.
CUT TO:
EXT ATHENA'S TEMPLE - GARDEN
Xena stands next to a small pool. She looks at the statue in the middle of the pool.
Erichthonius enters the garden.
ERICHTHONIUS
It's a statue of Athena.
XENA
I know.
ERICHTHONIUS
You've been staring at it for a few minutes.
XENA
One of my friends was turned to stone.
ERICHTHONIUS
They must have offended the gods. Normal people don't just get turned to stone. That's why I think everyone should have a deep-rooted faith in the gods. If we satisfy them, they leave us in peace.
XENA
Peace is the last thing on the gods' minds. All they care about is themselves.
ERICHTHONIUS
You say that, but some of them do care about us. Take Prometheus, for example. He gave us the gift of fire, and the ability to heal ourselves.
XENA
But look at Ares. All he wants is war.
ERICHTHONIUS
By the same token, look at Athena. She embodies all the noble qualities of war. She has even bested Ares twice in combat.
XENA
Look, this history lesson isn't going to get my friend changed back. Where is Athena?
ERICHTHONIUS
I can't just call her.
XENA
Why not? Busy signal?
ERICHTHONIUS
It's not that easy. You see, there have to be sacrifices made, prayers offered, and the ceremonial cleansing. It takes time.
XENA
Time is something we don't have. If Joxer is left as stone, he'll starve and die. We have to change him back by tomorrow evening. Now get your goddess!
The garden grows bright with light from off screen. Erichthonius prostrates himself on the ground.
ERICHTHONIUS
Goddess! Forgive me.
ATHENA (O.S.)
Xena, Warrior Princess.
XENA
Athena.
Off Xena's look, we:
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT TWO
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