A Friend In Need - Page 4

Xena: Warrior Princess

"A Friend In Need"

page 4

ACT THREE

EXT ATHENA'S TEMPLE - GARDEN

Athena appears, wearing designer sunglasses. She takes them off as she steps toward xena.

ATHENA

What do you want, Xena?

XENA

I'm here to make an offer.

ATHENA

What do you have that I could possibly want?

XENA

Where's your bow?

ATHENA

That's a good question. Erichthonius, where is my bow?

ERICHTHONIUS

We haven't been able to locate it yet, goddess, but we are working on it even as we speak.

ATHENA

There, you see, Xena. I have good help. I don't need you.

XENA

I know where the bow is.

ATHENA

Then tell me, so I can send Erichthonius to get it.

XENA

I will get it for you, but I want something in return.

ATHENA

What is it with you mortal types? You show devotion and sacrifice, and you always want something in return. It gets a little old. Just between you and me, Xena, I don't think you bargain very well.

XENA

I can always talk to Ares. He'll do a favor for me. Nice talking to you, Athena.

Xena turns to go. Athena and Erichthonius whisper to each other.

ATHENA

(To Erichthonius)

Where is the bow?

ERICHTHONIUS

I don't know. We'll find it. Just let Xena go.

ATHENA

What if she can help me?

ERICHTHONIUS

I can help you, Goddess.

ATHENA

Um, Xena?

XENA

Yes?

ATHENA

What do you want for the safe return of my bow?

CUT TO:

INT CAVE

Tara fingers athena's bow. The cave is sparsely furnished. A bag of food is in the corner. Several weapons lay on the floor. Tara is in the shadows, so we don't see all of her. We see her scaly hands as she touches the bow. A small mirror lies prominently on a rock.

TARA

Such a nice bow. It's too bad Athena can't have it back. So nice of her to give it to me. I can show everyone how great I am. Nobody will dare to laugh at me now.

Tara picks up the mirror.

TARA

You've changed, Tara. Athena was jealous that you were more beautiful. She cursed you.

As Tara looks in the mirror, we see her reflection. There is now no doubt that she is a gorgon.

TARA

She will pay. They will all pay. I'll kill them all. Not even Xena will stop me.

Tara slams the mirror down on the rock. She heads back into the shadows, through a tunnel, to another cave.

Gabrielle cautiously enters the cave. She sees Tara's back, and her serpent's tail. Gabrielle's eyes get wide with shock. the sound of her sharp intake of breath causes Tara to stop. Gabrielle hurries out of the cave as Tara turns around.

EXT CAVE

Gabrielle runs toward the forest.

GABRIELLE

It's a gorgon. It's a gorgon.

Tara comes to the mouth of the cave. She is silhouetted agains the light from in the cave.

Gabrielle makes it to the trees. An arrow zips by her and hits a boulder, which explodes. Gabrielle is thrown to the ground. She lies still. Then twitches.

Tara, satisfied the intruder is disposed of, turns and enters the cave.

GABRIELLE

(continuing; Mumbling)

Xena, it's a gorgon.

CUT TO:

EXT THYATIRA - TOWN SQUARE - NIGHT

Perseus still sits at the base of the Joxer statue.

JOXER (V.O.)

You can't sit there all night. You've got to go find Gabrielle. That's what being good is all about. Look at me. I've done lots of good things. Like there was the time I saved Cleopatra. And the time I was Adis, the ape man. Come to think of it, I don't think I gave Gabrielle back her nightgown. Anyway, just go find Gabrielle. You'll feel a lot better about yourself.

PERSEUS

Maybe you're right. I should go find Gabrielle.

Perseus gets up and stretches.

PERSEUS

Thanks, Joxer. I know you haven't said anything, but just being around you makes me feel better. Like I can be a hero.

JOXER (V.O.)

Yeah, that's me, the hero. Have at it, kid. Live up to your name. And could you get me something to eat? I'm getting pretty hungry.

Perseus heads off toward the forest.

CUT TO:

EXT ATHENA'S TEMPLE - GARDEN

Athena and Xena are still conversing.

ATHENA

That's all you want?

XENA

That's it.

ATHENA

You don't want wisdom, beauty, style, money, or anything else?

XENA

I'm wise enough to not ask for too much. I like the way I look. My leather suits me fine. And I don't want money.

ATHENA

Okay, suit yourself.

Athena shrugs in resignation.

ATHENA

Of all the mortals, Xena, you puzzle me the most. I mean, Hercules, he's half god, so he does whatever he wants, but you, I don't know. You have the opportunity to have whatever you want, and you choose to help a friend. Funny.

XENA

Where can I find the elixir that will change Joxer back into flesh?

ATHENA

It's in a cavern, in a mountain, right near the edge of the forest. But are you sure you don't want anything else, Xena? You're not going to get another chance like this.

XENA

I'm fine, thank you.

ATHENA

Whatever. Just get my bow back. I'm tired of this girl screwing everything up.

XENA

She's done this before?

ATHENA

Sure, lots of times. But I usually catch her and scare her off. This time she kept the bow.

XENA

What did you do to her?

ATHENA

Well, to put it simply, I cursed her.

XENA

What kind of curse?

ATHENA

Let's just say, she's not as beautiful as she once was.

XENA

You made her ugly?

Athena laughs at the understatement.

ATHENA

Ugly? That's a good one. I made her hideous. No one will dare look at her.

Xena is getting impatient.

XENA

Why not?

ATHENA

She's a gorgon.

XENA

You turned Tara into a gorgon?

ATHENA

Yeah, what's it to you?

XENA

She was my friend.

Xena turns and hurries away.

ATHENA

Geez. What's her problem?

ERICHTHONIUS

Goddess, I beseech a favor from you.

ATHENA

Yeah, you and all the other mortals. Forget it. I've done my good deed. See ya.

Athena disappears.

CUT TO:

EXT THYATIRA - TOWN SQUARE - MORNING

The sun rises, to show the passage of time.

Xena rushes into the town square.

JOXER (V.O.)

Xena, am I glad to see you. I had this terrible dream. I dreamed I was turned to...hey! I can't move.

XENA

Joxer, I know you can hear me. I know how to turn you back to yourself. Just hold on. I've got to find Gabrielle. There's a gorgon out there. That's why you got turned to stone.

JOXER (V.O.)

A gorgon? Well, that explains everything. A GORGON?!! Gabby's in trouble. She can't fight a gorgon.

Xena mounts argo and rushes toward the forest.

JOXER (V.O.)

Don't worry about me, Xena. I'll just wait here. Boy, I'm hungry.

EXT DARK FOREST

Perseus stumbles around the forest. He is lost.

PERSEUS

Um. Gabrielle? It's me, Perseus. Where are you?

Gabrielle awakens to the sound of her name being called.

GABRIELLE

Hmm? What? Xena?

Gabrielle sits up suddenly, remembering where she is.

GABRIELLE

The gorgon. I've got to warn Xena.

Gabrielle gets up and hurries deeper into the forest.

Elsewhere, Perseus continues his search for Gabrielle.

PERSEUS

Gabrielle? Are you out here? If not, I'm going home. I mean it.

Gabrielle steps out from behind a tree.

GABRIELLE

Perseus? What are you doing here?

PERSEUS

Gabrielle? Thank the gods you're all right. I came to find you.

GABRIELLE

Well, you found me.

PERSEUS

Let's get back to Thyatira. I don't like these woods.

GABRIELLE

There's a gorgon in a cave back there.

PERSEUS

A gorgon! Even more reason to get out of here.

GABRIELLE

Wait a minute. Do you remember the story of how Perseus defeated Medusa?

PERSEUS

I think I've heard that before. Didn't he throw a rock that hit her in the forehead. Then he cut off her head when she fell down?

GABRIELLE

No, that was David and Goliath. Perseus had Medusa look into a mirror and she turned herself to stone. We could do that. Except I lost my bag. It had a mirror in it.

Perseus pulls out a mirror from in his shirt.

PERSEUS

Here.

GABRIELLE

My mirror. But how did you get it?

PERSEUS

I found your bag by the statue. I thought I could sell the mirror for a couple of dinars. Some Amazon took everything else.

GABRIELLE

Some Amazon?

PERSEUS

Yeah. Long, black hair, piercing blue eyes, nice...um... armor.

GABRIELLE

That's Xena. So she knows I'm out here?

PERSEUS

I think so. She said she had some business to do with a priest. Whatever that means.

GABRIELLE

Okay, so Xena's out of the picture. We've got to stop the gorgon. It's the least we can do for Joxer.

They start walking back toward the cave.

PERSEUS

You know, Gabrielle, when I was sitting by Joxer, I felt...I don't know, good.

Gabrielle smiles at Perseus.

GABRIELLE

Joxer has a way of making people feel good. Sure he's clumsy, self-centered, and annoying, but I like him, too.

PERSEUS

But he's a hero. How can he be clumsy?

GABRIELLE

He finds a way. Perseus, Joxer wants to be a hero, but he just isn't cut out for it. I think being a hero has more to do with what's in your heart than with how well you can swing a sword.

PERSEUS

So, even I could be a hero?

GABRIELLE

Sure, anyone can. But not everyone can go out stopping armies like Xena. Just do your best every day. That's all heroes do.

Perseus stops for a minute to think about his past mistakes and lies.

PERSEUS

What if I've done bad things? Could I change and be a hero?

GABRIELLE

Xena did. She was a ruthless warlord. She conquered a lot of villages. She put it all behind her. You can, too, Perseus.

PERSEUS

I'm sorry I lied to you, Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE

About what?

PERSEUS

Being an orphan. My parents have a farm back in Thyatira. I just really don't want anything to do with them.

GABRIELLE

Have you ever been away from home?

PERSEUS

No. Not really. I don't know anything different from Thyatira. This is my home.

GABRIELLE

Talk with your parents about it. I'm sure they'll understand. Now, let's set up a trap for the gorgon.

CUT TO:

Ext dark forest - later

Gabrielle and Perseus hide behind a large boulder.

PERSEUS

Are you sure this will work?

GABRIELLE

Sure. I've seen Xena do it a few times. You throw rocks toward the cave. Then, when the gorgon comes out, she'll get tied up in the snares, then we can put the mirror in front of her face so she'll turn to stone.

A voice from behind them causes them to stiffen in fright.

TARA

A good plan, except for one thing - I'm already out here.

Tara holds an arrow nocked in Athena's bow, aimed right at their backs.

Off Gabrielle's and Perseus' frightened looks, we:

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT THREE

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