XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS
Spec Script
© 1999, WGAw Registered
XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS
"The Hunt"
Written by: S. M. Mears
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
EXT. POTEIDAIA'S MAIN STREET - DAY (DREAM)
Gabrielle and Xena are separated by the crowd. They are trying to reach each other.
A HAND
grabs hold of Gabrielle's shoulder from behind. Gabrielle turns to face the HOODED FIGURE.
Taking Gabrielle's hand, she leads her on. Gabrielle tries to resist.
Xena is trying desperately to get to her.
But the woman is too forceful as she pulls Gabrielle along. Gabrielle looks forward and sees:
HER PARENTS
off in the distance. She turns to the woman.
The woman points towards Gabrielle's parents.
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GABRIELLE
Answer me!
GABRIELLE'S PARENTS
Gabrielle. Come. It's time. |
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As Gabrielle turns to them
HER PARENTS
are engulfed by FIRE. She screams, "No!" then turns on the woman.
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GABRIELLE
WHY!?
WOMAN
It's time.
GABRIELLE
For what! |
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The woman slowly takes off her hood. VELASCA, the make-shift goddess, is revealed underneath. Gabrielle is stunned to see her assumed dead nemesis standing before her.
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VELASCA
For you... to pay! |
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CUT TO:
INT. LILA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT (PRESENT)
Gabrielle, lying on one of the beds, suddenly sits up, awakened from her nightmare.
She looks at the empty bed next to her, then jumps up and runs out the door.
CUT TO:
EXT. A STREET IN POTEIDAIA - LATER THAT NIGHT
Joxer walks cautiously down the street, looking for something. He encounters some wedding guests, who are still celebrating. A few try to coax him to join them, but he's on a mission. As they pass by, he spies someone further off. It is the hooded stranger he seeks. She appears to see him and ducks around the corner of a building. Joxer heads off after her.
EXT. A ROAD OUTSIDE OF POTEIDAIA
Joxer comes running from town, stops, looks around, and sees someone running down the road, in the distance.
P.O.V. SHOT OF HOODED FIGURE
She stops to look back at him, then runs off the road, towards the woods. Joxer follows her.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE WOODS - NIGHT
Xena is carefully walking through the woods, observing her surroundings. Suddenly, she stops. An arrow is heard WHIZZING towards her. She catches it in her hand just as it's passing her ear.
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XENA
Bad shot.
WOMAN'S VOICE
Nice catch. |
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Xena turns to face the hooded stranger.
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XENA
(indicating the arrow in her hand)
Is this a test, a warning, or are you just happy to see me?
WOMAN
It took you way too long to figure out it was me, Xena.
XENA
Not really. I felt your presence a few days ago. I've been waiting to see if you'd actually show yourself.
WOMAN
We've been testing each other then.
XENA
It's been a long time.
WOMAN
For you perhaps. |
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O.T.S. SHOT as she slowly circles around Xena.
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XENA (mockingly)
That's right. You've become quite the spy, haven't you?
WOMAN (amused)
A spy, am I? And here I thought I was a friend.
XENA
Friends don't disappear without a trace for--
(turning to her)
--how long?... 20 years?
WOMAN
(stopping)
That couldn't be helped.
XENA
Of course not. You prefer to hide in the shadows. Watching. That's not very sporting of you.
WOMAN
On the contrary. A good hunter knows how to keep herself hidden from her prey. Diluting her sent. Camouflage. Keeping a proper distance.
XENA
And we both know what a genius you are at keeping your distance. So why the sudden reappearance? Don't tell me the great Artemis is still interested in me.
WOMAN
Not exactly. |
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CUT TO:
EXT. ELSEWHERE IN THE WOODS - NIGHT
P.O.V. SHOT -- someone "sneaking" through the forest. A hooded figure is just ahead.
THE HOODED FIGURE
slowly draws a knife, at the ready. Suddenly, Joxer attacks from behind. The woman punches him in the face as he grabs her. He falls back onto the ground. She faces him.
O.T.S. SHOT OF JOXER
looking up at her, as she pulls her hood off, for only Joxer to see. He gives a sheepish smile before panic fills his face.
CUT TO:
EXT. ANOTHER PART OF THE WOODS - NIGHT
Xena walks along, talking with her hooded friend.
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XENA
Are you sure it's her?
WOMAN
Positive.
XENA
You've seen her then?
WOMAN (disgustedly)
I've seen her. |
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GABRIELLE runs towards them through the woods.
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GABRIELLE
Xena! I had another dream. I know who the woman is. It's-- |
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Upon reaching them, she stops short when she sees the stranger take off her hood, revealing a pleasant looking young woman.
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GABRIELLE
--not Velasca!
XENA
This is an old friend of mine.
GABRIELLE
Your friend?
XENA
Phyllida, this is Gabrielle.
PHYLLIDA
(offering her hand)
It's nice to finally meet the Queen of the Amazons.
GABRIELLE
Phyllida?
PHYLLIDA
(with a slight bow)
At your service.
GABRIELLE
(to Xena)
She's your friend.
XENA
That's right.
GABRIELLE
Then... I guess, you're not an evil Amazon with a vendetta against us, wanting to kill my family.
PHYLLIDA
...No. I'm a nymph. I knew Xena when she was a child.
(winking at Xena)
GABRIELLE
(sudden realization)
Phyllida! The companion of Artemis!
PHYLLIDA
(eyeing Gabrielle curiously)
That's right.
XENA
Phyl saved my life once...
(pointedly)
A long time ago.
PHYLLIDA
And I'm afraid it's time for a pay-back, Xena. Artemis needs your help.
GABRIELLE
A goddess wants our help? From what?
XENA
Velasca.
GABRIELLE
That's who I saw in my dream!
PHYLLIDA
You've had this dream before, haven't you?
GABRIELLE
Every night for over a month. Minus Velasca, 'til tonight. How did you know?
PHYLLIDA
She escaped several weeks ago from the lava river in which the two of you so cleverly put her.
GABRIELLE
How?
PHYLLIDA
The other gods, probably.
XENA
Why?
PHYLLIDA
I don't know. |
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She obviously has some idea, but isn't willing to share.
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PHYLLIDA (cont.)
By the way, how did you know I was with Artemis?
GABRIELLE
Are you kidding? The tales of Artemis the huntress and her nymph companions!? They were some of my favorite bed time stories.
PHYLLIDA (amused)
Really.
XENA
Artemis has always been a self-sufficient god. Why does she need our help?
PHYLLIDA
It wasn't exactly her idea to involve you in this...
GABRIELLE
It was Velasca's.
PHYLLIDA
(nods affirmatively)
I tracked her here yesterday. But now she's disappeared.
GABRIELLE
She's coming after me... Like in my dream...
(sudden panic)
My parents! |
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Gabrielle rushes off, as Xena and Phyllida follow to:
EXT. THE FARM - NIGHT
Gabrielle bursts out from the woods, and stops abruptly, as Xena and Phyllida do the same. They all stare at:
THE FARM HOUSE
which has smoke and flames rising from it.
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT II
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