XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS
Spec Script
© 1999, WGAw Registered
XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS
"Leap of Faith"
Written by: S. M. Mears
TEASER
FADE IN:
EXT. ALTERNATE UNIVERSE - OLYMPIAN PALACE - ESTABLISHING - DAY
INT. THE PALACE - A HALLWAY - DAY
VELASCA and "GUARD #1" come into the hall through two large double doors. A "WOMAN'S" voice booms after them.
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"WOMAN'S" VOICE
And don't forget to check on how the recruitments are coming along, darling.
VELASCA
(as she shuts the doors)
Oh, I won't.
(to herself, with great sarcasm)
...Goddess.
(to "Guard #1")
Have you found it yet?
"GUARD #1"
Not yet, Warrior Goddess. We've searched everywhere.
VELASCA
Obviously not, or I would have it by now. That hind's blood is here somewhere, and I'm going to find it! |
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CUT TO:
EXT. "OUR" UNIVERSE - ARCADIA - RIVER BANK - DAY
GABRIELLE is sitting, staring into the water.
DISSOLVE TO:
SHOTS FROM "NECESSARY EVIL" (FLASHBACK)
Velasca threatening Gabrielle.
SCENE FROM "SACRIFICE" (FLASHBACK)
Gabrielle and HOPE falling into the lava pit.
SCENE FROM "THE HUNT" (FLASHBACK)
Gabrielle has Velasca in a head lock. NYMPHS come and take Velasca away, while PHYLLIDA takes Gabrielle's hand and draws her up towards the surface.
DISSOLVE TO:
RESUME ON GABRIELLE (PRESENT)
XENA comes up to Gabrielle and sits next to her.
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XENA
Weren't we supposed to meet them at noon?
(Gabrielle is silent)
What's wrong?
GABRIELLE
Velasca. She's still out there.
XENA
Come on. You're just being paranoid. You heard what Phyl said--
GABRIELLE
You're taking her word over mine?
XENA (surprised)
Of course not.
(pause)
All right. We'll keep looking. Ok?
(beat)
As soon as Phyl and Joxer get here with the food. I'm starving.
GABRIELLE
Why do you keep calling her that?
XENA
What?
GABRIELLE
Her mane is Artemis.
XENA
Whatever you and I may think we know, to the rest of the world, she's Phyllida.
GABRIELLE
Fine. Be that way.
XENA
Look, I don't agree with it any more than you do, but it's how she protects herself.
GABRIELLE
From what?
XENA
I don't know. The other gods? You know the stories better than I do.
GABRIELLE
All I know is, yet another god has chosen to use deceit in order to manipulate mortal lives.
XENA
Boy, has she put a bee in your bonnet. What did she do to you?
GABRIELLE
Nothing. I just wish the gods would leave us alone.
PHYLLIDA'S VOICE
Beware of what you wish for. It just might come true. |
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Xena and Gabrielle turn to see
JOXER AND PHYLLIDA
come from the woods. They bring a dead deer on a horse.
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JOXER
Sorry we're late. It took us forever to take this stag. We've been tracking it for days. You should have been there! Phyl was amazing!
GABRIELLE
Amazing.
XENA
(noting Gabrielle's sarcasm)
Sorry we missed it. Let's eat. |
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CUT TO:
EXT. THE WOODS - LATER
Gabrielle and Phyllida are setting up camp.
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PHYLLIDA
Velasca's long gone. Believe me.
GABRIELLE
How can you be sure?
PHYLLIDA
I told you. Artemis took care of her.
GABRIELLE
Artemis. Right.
PHYLLIDA
(beat)
You don't trust me, do you?
GABRIELLE
Should I?
PHYLLIDA
Well... I saved you life.
GABRIELLE
In the river.
PHYLLIDA
(beat)
The arrows.
GABRIELLE
Of course... It was Artemis in the river. Who just happened to look like you.
PHYLLIDA
Maybe she didn't want to frighten you. You know, a familiar face.
GABRIELLE
Then why not look like Xena. I hardly know you.
PHYLLIDA
(beat)
Good point.
GABRIELLE
So... Why you?
PHYLLIDA
I don't know.
GABRIELLE
I don't believe you. |
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Xena walks up to them with meat to cook.
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XENA
Well, that's all done.
GABRIELLE
(staring at Phyl)
So are we. I'll get some more wood.
(she walks away)
XENA
(to Phyl)
What was that about?
PHYLLIDA
She doesn't trust me.
XENA
Do you blame her? |
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Phyllida shoots a curious look at her, then turns, sensing something.
Gabrielle is HEARD, "Xena!" They rush after her, toward:
EXT. A CLEARING - ON GABRIELLE
She is staring at something, while a HIGH WIND is blowing. Xena and Phyllida rush out of the woods.
They stop short when they see what it is:
THE PORTAL to the Alternate Universe has opened up in the sky in front of them.
FADE OUT:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
EXT. A CLEARING - DAY
Xena, Gabrielle, and Phyllida stare at the PORTAL.
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GABRIELLE
What is it?
XENA
The doorway to the other world.
GABRIELLE
What's it doing here?
PHYLLIDA
Velasca's gone there.
GABRIELLE
How do you know?
PHYLLIDA
Trust me. |
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Gabrielle is about to protest, but Xena interrupts.
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XENA
Let me guess. Artemis tried to trap her in-between worlds.
PHYLLIDA
Yeah. But she's found a way to the other side.
XENA
We have to go after her.
GABRIELLE
What?!
XENA
She said she wanted to kill Artemis, right?
GABRIELLE
Right.
XENA
And the way to kill a god...
GABRIELLE
...is with hind's blood! But I thought Hercules destroyed it.
XENA
(looking at the Portal)
Not all of it.
PHYLLIDA
I wish I could join you, but I'm forbidden.
GABRIELLE
Naturally.
XENA
(to Gabrielle)
Are you coming?
GABRIELLE
Do I have a choice?
XENA
Yes.
GABRIELLE
(looks at Xena, then Phyllida)
Yeah, right! |
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She takes a running leap into the PORTAL. With a nod to Phyllida, Xena dives in, too. The PORTAL closes immediately after her entrance. Joxer runs up, just in time to see it close.
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JOXER
Where did they go?
PHYLLIDA
To another world.
JOXER
Without me?! |
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Phyllida looks off, curiously.
THE PORTAL - A SWIRL OF LIGHTS
EXT. ALTERNATE UNIVERSE - A CLEARING - DAY
The PORTAL opens up several feet above the ground and "spits" Gabrielle out. She lands in a heap on the hard, grass turf. Xena then emerges from the "mouth." She misses landing on Gabrielle by a foot.
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XENA
You ok?
GABRIELLE
(sitting up, with a moan)
Barely. Tell me again why we're doing this.
XENA
To help Artemis.
GABRIELLE
Right... And that's because...? |
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Suddenly, a herd of bandits come out of the woods and surround them. "Joxer" emerges from behind the men. He is roguish and confident.
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"JOXER"
Are you friend or foe?
XENA
We're not sure.
"JOXER"
That's unfortunate. For if you're not with us, then you're against us. |
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He signals the men to attack. Xena and Gabrielle quickly take defensive positions. They fight. "Joxer" turns out to be a most worthy opponent, as are his men. However, Xena ends the fight by putting the pinch on "Joxer's" neck.
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XENA
I've just cut off the flow of blood to your brain. Now, who are you?
"JOXER"
(choking)
I could ask you the same thing.
XENA
You could, but you could also be dead by then. Answer me.
"JOXER"
My name is Joxer.
XENA
Who do you work for?
"JOXER"
No one. We escaped from the Goddess and are free men.
GABRIELLE
What goddess?
"JOXER"
THE Goddess... Artemis.
XENA
What do you mean you escaped? Were you prisoners?
"JOXER"
No. Slaves! |
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Xena releases the pinch, and "Joxer" collapses with a gasp.
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GABRIELLE
Artemis had you enslaved? Why?
"JOXER"
She's insane, that's why. And she controls Olympus. She does what she likes.
(beat)
You're not from around here, are you?
XENA
We're looking for someone. Another goddess.
GABRIELLE
She's not from here either.
"JOXER"
You must mean the Savior.
XENA
Savior?!
GABRIELLE
I don't think so. Her name is Velasca. She's--
"JOXER"
That's right. The goddess Velasca. The Savior. |
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Xena and Gabrielle look at each other, surprised.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE BANDITS' CAMP - NIGHT
Xena, Gabrielle, and "Joxer" sit around a campfire.
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"JOXER"
Artemis somehow swindled Olympus from Zeus. Two of kind, you know.
(twirling a finger at his temple)
But an oracle predicted the coming of a warrioress, who would bring a new age of order and prosperity. Things we haven't seen in generations.
GABRIELLE
And you believe it's Velasca?
"JOXER"
I don't know. Some do.
XENA
Where is she?
"JOXER"
At the palace on Mount Olympus.
GABRIELLE
With Artemis?
"JOXER" (nodding)
They say she's building an army for her. There are massive recruitments going on in all the surrounding villages. |
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Xena and Gabrielle look at each other.
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GABRIELLE
Why would Velasca build an army for Artemis?
XENA
I have a feeling the army isn't for Artemis. It seems our friend learned a few things in her lava prison. Sometimes, the easiest way to kill your enemy is to become their friend.
GABRIELLE
So you can get close enough to stab them in the back.
XENA
Exactly.
(to "Joxer")
How have you managed to stay out of this army.
"JOXER"
I've learned that if you can stay far enough away from your enemies, you live longer.
GABRIELLE
Make's sense.
XENA
Would you be willing to join us?
"JOXER"
Will there be fighting?
XENA
Probably.
"JOXER"
Then count us in! |
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CUT TO:
EXT. THE OLYMPIAN PALACE - ESTABLISHING - NIGHT
EXT. THE WOODS SURROUNDING THE PALACE - NIGHT
"Joxer" leads Xena and Gabrielle to a wall.
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GABRIELLE
This is the way in?
"JOXER"
Patience. |
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He begins to take a stone out from the wall. Then another, and another, revealing a secret entrance.
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"JOXER"
Behold.
GABRIELLE
(to Xena)
An industrious Joxer. Who knew? |
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They enter the small breach.
INT. THE PALACE - A DARK HALLWAY
"Joxer" leads Xena and Gabrielle cautiously down the hall.
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XENA
You sure you know where we're going?
"JOXER"
Positive. |
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They turn a corner, and two GUARDS are there to greet them.
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XENA
Of course you do.
GABRIELLE
Right into a trap.
"JOXER"
I swear, I didn't--
XENA
Don't swear. Fight! |
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She leaps into the air and kicks both guards in the face, sending them to the floor.
Xena spins around to face him, and nods in the direction to which they came.
"Joxer" and Gabrielle turn to face five charging guards. A fight erupts. As guards fly every which way, they are replaced by more, who come from all directions. At one point:
GABRIELLE is grabbed from behind. The fight continues until...
The fighting stops. Xena and "Joxer" look to see:
VELASCA holding Gabrielle around the throat.
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VELASCA
I've been waiting for you, Xena. You are so predictable.
(to Gabrielle)
And you... always following her like a puppy. You're a fool.
(to guards)
Take them. |
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Four guards grab Xena and "Joxer," bind their hands in chains, and roughly escort them off.
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VELASCA
As for you, Gabrielle... You're going to help me do what I came here to do... You refuse, and you watch Xena die. |
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FADE OUT:
END OF ACT I
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