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Map Quest.
2nd episode of the
Beyond the Xena Scrolls
Mini Series
Legend of the Falls
ACT 4
[fade in]
OUTSIDE THE CAVE - DUSK
Xena, Gabrielle and Joxer exit the backside of the cave. It is just before sunset and the serenity of dusk is a welcome relief.
XENA
There's a clearing just ahead, we'll camp there.
Joxer, go collect some fire wood. Gabrielle,
set up the camp. I'll go find us supper.
Xena walks off into a stand of trees, leaving Gabrielle and Joxer to perform their jobs.
GABRIELLE
I guess the "PLEASE" was implied.
After a short while, Xena returns with a fat rabbit all gutted and ready to be
cooked. The fire is roaring and Gabrielle has all the utensils ready to go. She
takes the rabbit from Xena and begins the preparations.
Just as the last rays of day vanish, the meal is ready.
GABRIELLE
Xena...Joxer... supper time.
Joxer walks up to the pot and inhales the aroma.
JOXER
Mmmm... There is nothing better than rabbit stew.
Gabrielle dishes out 3 bowls and everyone sits down around the fire to consume the meal.
JOXER
If nobody is going to eat that last
piece of bread, send it my way.
Xena picks up the morsel and tosses it over to him.
After supper, they all stay around the fire tending to their individual needs. Xena sits sharpening her sword, methodically running the stone down each side of the blade. Gabrielle studies the map, contemplating their course for tomorrrow. Joxer just stares into the fire, trying to figure out how he is going to continue with part of his pants burned away.
GABRIELLE
The Falls are just over that ridge.
Xena stops honing her sword and in the distance they listen to the strong, pulsating beat of the water.
JOXER
That sound reminds me of when I was a
kid and my brothers and I would go camping
in the woods out back of our shack. We would
stay up all night telling ghost stories and then
in the morning, go swimming at Cecrops Falls.
We had some pretty good times.
Xena and Gabrielle listen in silence. They both think to themselves how much they like Joxer eventhough he tends to be a bumbling fool.
XENA
Well, we got another big day ahead
of us. Let's get some sleep.
Joxer removes his armor and lays it down next to him. He curls up into his bed roll and is practically asleep before his head hits the ground. Xena and Gabrielle lay down adjacent to eachother. Xena rolls to her side and closes her eyes. Gabrielle lays on her back, staring up into the night sky.
GABRIELLE
Xena?
XENA
What?
GABRIELLE
Do you really think the waters of the Falls
have powers of rejuvenation?
XENA
I've seen stranger things from the gods.
Anyway, I'm just here for the scenery.
GABRIELLE
(annoyed voice)
Can't you ever be serious when I ask you questions like that?
XENA
Not when it is this late and I am tired.
Now go to sleep.
Gabrielle stares up at the night sky for a little while longer.
GABRIELLE
Good night, Xena.
XENA
Good ni.... z z z z z z .
[cut to]
CAMPSITE - THE NEXT MORNING
Xena rises at first light to a cool, misty morning. She puts on her armor silently and goes over to where Gabrielle is still asleep. She kneels down next to her.
XENA
(whispering)
Gabrielle, wake up.
GABRIELLE
(sleepy voice)
Five more minutes mom.
Xena reaches down and rustles her by the shoulder.
XENA
Hey sleepy head, wake up.
GABBRIELLE
Okay... okay...I'm up.
Gabrielle lazily rises to her feet.
XENA
Don't wake up Joxer.
I thought we would let him sleep a little
longer while we go check out the Falls.
GABRIELLE
Great! Let's go.
Gabrielle clears the cobwebs from her head, then picks up her staff, backpack and
the map. She and Xena head off toward the ridge.
They ascend upwards at a casual pace, making small talk as they walk. When
they reach the top of the ridge, Gabrielle's eyes grow wide as she catches her
first glimpse of the Falls. The waters are a cascade of blue foam and mist .
As they move closer, the waters changing to softer colors and and the shape of the Falls mysteriously elongates.
GABRIELLE
Xena look! Isn't it magnificent?
XENA
I have to admit, it is pretty easy on the eyes.
GABRIELLE
Let's get closer.
Xena and Gabrielle walk until they reach a cliff that is positioned directly opposite the Falls. They stop at the edge and stand motionless for a minute, just enjoying the breathtaking beauty before them.
GABRIELLE
Just think, according to legend, we are looking
at the point where the waters originate.
XENA
It does kind of boggle the mind, doesn't it.
GABRIELLE
I need to write this down.
The bard goes into her pack in search of writing tools. She soon discovers that the only thing she has to write on is the map scroll. Thinking that they already know the way to the Falls, she decides to use it to pen her thoughts. Gabrielle sits down and begins to write while Xena stands poised like a statue.
The wind shifts slightly and a spray of mist engulfs the cliff where they are positioned.
XENA
I must admit that this view has a very tranquill effect on me.
GABRIELLE
If that's true, I'm going to bottle and sell
the stuff to every warlord in Greece.
(beat)
We'll make a fortune.
Xena rolls her eyes..
A few more lines of scribe and Gabrielle puts the pen and scroll back in
her pack. Xena continues to stand next to her, gazing at the Falls.
As Gabrielle looks up, horror comes over her face.
GABRIELLE
(screaming)
XENA! LOOK OUT!
Before she has a chance to react, Xena feels something powerful grab her by the
shoulders and pull her off the ground. She looks up and discovers that she is in the grasp of the creature they fought in the cave.
GABRIELLE
(frantically)
XENA!
Having been in this position before, when she and Hercules saved Prometheus, Xena quickly ties her whip to the creature's leg.
With that, the beast looks around at her and snorts fire her way. Xena swings from her whip, flips over and lands on the creature's back. She then let's out a war cry and a mischevious smile comes over her face.
XENA
Come on "HOT STUFF", let's see what you got.
The creature circles the Falls as Xena continues to ride it. Irritated with the situation, the beast dive bombs through a stand of trees, trying to knock Xena off. After this happens several times, Xena decides to end this wild ride. She unsheathes her sword and with a mighty thrust, drives it into the creature's back.
The last time she was in this situation, Hercules was there to catch her, on the way
down, but this time she has no choice but to ride the beast to the ground.
The creature spirals downward and crashes close to the Falls. Upon impact, Xena is thrown from its back and lands hard on the ground, rolling and skidding for quite a distance. As she tumbles, her head strikes a rock. When she comes to rest, Xena lies motionless.
Gabrielle scales down the side of the cliff quickly, so she can find Xena. When she reaches the valley floor she runs in the direction where the creature went down.
GABRIELLE
(shouting)
Xena! Xena where are you?
There is no response.
GABRIELLE
Xena, answer me.
As Gabrielle continues to search, she suddenly stops dead in her tracks, at the site of the creature lying on the ground. She cautiously approaches the hulk. With staff poised for action, Gabrielle pokes its head. There is no movement. She sees Xena's sword still embedded in its back.
GABRIELLE
Okay, you're dead.
She circles the creature looking for any sign of Xena. Then, in the distance, she sees a bright reflection on the ground. Running to it, Gabrielle leans down and picks up Xena's chakram. She continues to walk in that direction.
GABRIELLE
Xena..... Please answer me.
Then, Gabrielle's eyes light up, as if she just discovered a rare treasure, at the
sight of Xena on the ground just ahead of her. She drops her gear and runs to
her friend.
GABRIELLE
Xena!!!
Gabrielle slides down next to Xena's body and cups her face, looking for signs of life. There is a deep gash over Xena's right eye. She leans down close to Xena's face and listens for breath sounds, but hears none. Gabrielle puts her ear to Xena's chest and listens for a heart beat. All is still.
Gabrielle grabs her by the shoulders and begins to shake Xena, still searching for signs of life.
GABRIELLE
No... No... This can't be happening.
She cradles Xena's lifeless body in her arms, sobbing, as she looks up at the
majestic beauty of the Falls in the distance.
After regaining some of her composure, Gabrielle's mind recalls the story of the Falls and how they are said to have powers of rejuvenation.
GABRIELLE
If the legend is true, there could be a chance.
Gabrielle stands up, grasps Xena from behind and starts to drag her. With
strength, she did not know she possessed, Gabrielle pulls Xena to the base of the Falls and eases her into the water. She keeps a tight grip, making sure that Xena doesn't sink. Gabrielle gently pours water over the gash on Xena's forehead as she keeps her afloat.
GABRIELLE
Come on Xena... This has got to work.
Gabrielle continues to float Xena's body in the swirling colors of the water. Eventhough the situation is grave, Gabrielle begins to feel an inner calmness that she has never experienced before. Suddenly, Xena's body tenses and her eyes flutter open.
GABRIELLE
(extactic)
Xena! Thank the gods, you're alive.
Xena begins to move around, so Gabrielle has to hold on tighter to keep her from sinking.
XENA
(groggy)
What happened?
GABRIELLE
You had a difference of opinion
with an over grown fireball.
XENA
Oh Yeah, now I remember.
(beat)
What are we doing in the water?
GABRIELLE
Just proving that the Legend of the Falls is true.
Xena looks up at Gabrielle with confusion on her face.
XENA
What do you mean?
GABRIELLE
You know how you have that nasty
habit of dying? Well, you did it again.
Xena's body tenses up and then relaxes.
XENA
Gabrielle, as I keep telling you... I have many skills.
Gabrielle looks at her in amazement.
The water is warm and soothing so they stay in as Xena regains her strength.
[cut to]
BASE OF THE FALLS - LATER THAT MORNING
Xena and Gabrielle look up when they here someone shouting at them from the
top of the cliff.
JOXER
Some pals you are, letting me sleep all day
while you're out here having all this fun.
[disolve to]
MELINDA'S APARTMENT - PRESENT DAY
MELINDA
And once again, the warrior princess escapes
the jaws of death with the help of the bard.
THE END
(beat)
Well Janis, what do you think?
Janis, still nestled down in the couch clutching a pillow, raises an eyebrow. She thinks back to when she and Melinda were in Ares' tomb. Now she knows why Xena, while in Melinda's body, told her that Gabrielle was very important to her.
Janis leans forward.
JANIS
So Gabrielle saved Xena's life.
MELINDA
Yes ma'am.
JANIS
That's quite a story.
Melinda sets the scroll down on the couch and goes into the kitchen to refill her tea
cup. Janis picks it up. She looks at the writing one way and then turns it upside
down to look at it the other way. As she examines the scroll closer, Janis holds it
up to the fire light and notices something that looks like a water stain. She traces
the mark with her finger and the her eyes grow wide.
JANIS
Melinda?
MELINDA
Yes, Janis?
JANIS
There is an outline of a map on this scroll.
Melinda rushes back into the room, takes the scroll from Janis and holds it up to the light.
MELINDA
OH My!
[dissolve to commercial and closing credits]
