The Reckoning

ACT I

XENA: “I didn't kill these people. There was a man here with a sword.”
PERANIS: “You're the only one we've seen.”
GRATHIOS: “He was my friend!”
XENA: “I don't wanna hurt anyone. I fought the man that killed these people!”
PERANIS: “Fought an invisible man, did you?”
PERANIS: “One who ran away without the money he was stealing? And left his blood all over your hands and sword? I don't think so.”
GRATHIOS: “Together now. Take her!”
XENA: “Stand back!”
VILLAGERS: “After her! Come on! After her!” “Come on! We can do it!” “Hurry! Hurry!” “Quickly!” “Come back!” “Better grab her!” “Murderer!” “Stop her!”
XENA: “Gabrielle! Gabrielle!”
XENA: “Gabrielle!”
GABRIELLE: “Here! Come on in. This stream is great!”
XENA: “Gabrielle come on. Time to go. Climb aboard.”
GABRIELLE: “This horse hates me.”
VILLAGERS: “There she is! This way! Over here!”
XENA: “No time to argue.”
VILLAGERS: “Hurry!”
BENITAR: “Grathios? You're sure she's trapped in the mountain glade?”
GRATHIOS: “There’s no way out except through the pass we've got covered. She can't escape not even on horseback.”
BENITAR: “Good. Then I can begin preparations for the trial.”
PERANIS: “Trial?!”
MAN: “Trial!”
WOMAN: “We don’t need a trial!”
PERANIS: “I saw her standing over the bodies, and her hands, covered with their blood. We don't need a trial!” BENITAR: “She should be heard like any other accused.”
PERANIS: “Will Doracles' son and daughters care what excuse their father's murderer may offer? And Areolis” PERANIS: “ whose young widow carries his child. You expect us to stand quietly at this?!”
PERANIS: “Grathios didn't Polinios labor in your fields as a boy? I say, why waste time with some useless hearing?!”
BENITAR: “She will have a fair trial. Peranis, I understand your rage. But we can't allo ourselves to become as savage as the savage we hunt.”
GRATHIOS: “With respect, Benitar you weren't there. You didn't see the carnage. Neighbors, Peranis is right! We need swift revenge, not slow justice!”
VLLAGERS: “He's right!” “Let's do it!” “I'm ready!” “We're with you, Peranis!”
XENA: “We'll wait here till nightfall. Then we can slip by them in the dark.”
GABRIELLE: “I don't know what you're worried about. They’re farmers, not warriors.”
XENA: “I've seen what can happen to people whose loved ones are butchered. Their vision gets bent and twisted. Then there's no telling what they'll do.”
GABRIELLE: “But you didn't do anything.”
XENA: “The villagers saw me standing there, covered with blood.”
GABRIELLE: “Well, appearances aren't everything. That's why they have trials. If it comes to that, we'd just prove you didn't do it."
XENA: “That hooded assassin who did do it, he fights as well as I do maybe better. He’s strong and fast, and then he just disappeared.”
GABRIELLE: “Do you have an idea who it might have been?”
XENA: “Maybe. Gabrielle, if anything happens to us, and we get separated, I want you to get as far away from here as possible.”
GABRIELLE: “What do you mean? What do you think is going to happen?”
XENA: “Just do it.”
GABRIELLE: “Looks like the way we came up is the only way back down.”
XENA: “Uh-huh.”
GABRIELLE: “What's the matter?”
XENA: “Here get up on the horse now.”
GABRIELLE: “What is it? What’s wrong?
VILLAGERS: “Come on!” “This way!” “Keep it moving!” “We almost got her!”
XENA: “Whoa.”
VILLAGERS: “We’ve got one of them!” “Hold onto her!” “Now!”
XENA: “It's me you want. Let her go.”
BENITAR: “Then give up your sword.”
XENA: “She has done nothing. So either she goes free right now, or she comes with me right now.”
BENITAR: “So be it. All of you Peranis Grathios the young girl goes as she pleases. You have our word.” GABRIELLE: “What're you doing?”
GABRIELLE: “Xena!”

ACT II

PERANIS: “If enough of us are willing, we can give her our own special hearing.”
PERANIS: “She took our loved ones from us. We have to make her pay for that. Quickly, and without mercy. A trial is a waste of time and will just give her a chance to escape. We owe her nothing but an efficient execution."
PERANIS: "I'd get away from there if I were you, young lady."
GABRIELLE: "You gave your word. I'm free and I can go where I want. Or does your oath mean as little to you as your laws?
GABRIELLE: "I'm here to speak with the wrongfully detained hostage."
GABRIELLE: "She could've just ridden away ya'know. Have you thought about that?
GRATHIOS: "The only place to go, little lady, was right back down where the rest of us were waiting."
PERANIS: "Alinar! I'd like a word with you."
GABRIELLE: “Are you all right? That was quite a blow you took.”
XENA: “I do have a throbbing headache. It's not my biggest worry right now.”
GABRIELLE: “Whe did you just give up? Why didn't you fight them?”
XENA: “They're not warriors. It would’ve been a slaughter. Gabrielle, I told you to get away from here if anything happened. I meant it. Save yourself. We're up against more than you know.”
GABRIELLE: “I understand you may be feeling a little negative at the moment. You can't give in to that! Justice prevails.”
XENA: “Well, that'd be nice.”
GABRIELLE: “I'll get you out of here.”
XENA: “No, Gabrielle, leave. Get away from here.”
ARES: “Look at you.”
ARES: “Hardly a suitable situation for a warrior princess.”
ARES: “You're probably wondering who I am.”
XENA: “No, I know who you are Ares, god of war.”
ARES: “Very good. I should have known you'd figure it out. Who else could outfight your sword?”
ARES: “Behold your former mentor, and still greatest fan at your service.”
XENA: “I used to wonder what you look like.”
ARES: “Ah, now that's the problem. You used to wonder. I can't tell you how disappointing that is. Better? Of course it is.”
ARES: “Take my hand, Xena. Give me your hand and come with me out of yourself into what is wonderful.”
ARES: “Behold.”
XENA: “You slaughtered those four villagers."
ARES: “Only three so far. That one you ministered to might actually recover. By all the gods you are a beauty. You must know I've missed you.”
XENA: “What do you want?”
ARES: “I want you back, of course. My warrior princess living as my warrior queen. We were once a great match.”
XENA: “I didn't know any better then. I thought your ways were all there was for me.”
ARES: “I think you'll be more comfortable in this. Now that you do know there is another side to life now tell me are you really having more fun these days?”
XENA: “I'm fighting for a better world.”
ARES: “My dear Xena, you were always fighting for a better world. You were going to conquer it and then you were going to rule it the perfect way to bring order out of chaos. And you were doing very, very well.”
ARES: “Take a look at these documents on the table here.”
XENA: “Each village taxed only on itsprofits, reads second document Comfort for the elderly, reads third document The teaching of medicine.”
ARES: Reads documents “They need only your signature.”
XENA: “I can pass these decrees?”
ARES: “If it'd make you happy. Your destiny is to rule the world with me. Fulfill your destiny. And fill me again with the delicious sight of you the warmth the strength of you. Go look out the window.”
ARES: “What do you see?’
XENA: “Warriors thousands of them.”
WARRIORS: “Xena! Xena! Xena! Xena! Xena! Xena! Xena!Xena!”
ARES: “All of them yours, trained ready willing to die if you command it. With an army like that you could mold the world anew eradicate injustice. You can't tell me that all this holds no attraction even maybe a slight fascination?”
XENA: “What’s in it for you?”
ARES: “The world at peace under a great leader you. And to bring all this about you need only call out my name. Call upon me to help you, and I shall be there instantly. ”
ARES: “I seriously doubt you're gonna get a better offer. Jusst call for my help, Xena and you'll hold the world. And you better hurry. That crowd doesn't seem as fond of you as I am.”
BENITAR: “Your friend will have a hearing. We're not barbarians.”
GABRIELLE: “Who will speak for her?”
BENITAR: “I'll act as her advocate if that's what you mean.”
GABRIELLE: “With respect, sir, the fairest way would be to let her advocate be the person who believes the most in her innocence like me.”
BENITAR: “That's impossible. You don't understand. It was all I could do to get these people to agree on a trial. If I were to allow a an outsider to speak on her behalf, they may explode.”
GABRIELLE: “What is this?”
BENITAR: “This is the way the condemned are executed.”

ACT III

XENA: “Here take this.”
BENITAR: “Once again, you could’ve escaped if you chose. We don't understand you.”
XENA: “I realize now it doesn't matter whether I killed your friends or not. I've done a lot worse in my time. And I guess I'm capable of it again. You saw what I did to my best friend.”
BENITAR: “As your friend argued before the council, we can hold you answerable only for what you've done here. Our verdict will be objective.”
GABRIELLE: “Hi.”
XENA: “Gabrielle?”
GABRIELLE: “I found Argo.” I'll wrap this rope around the bars, and we can pull them out of the wall.”
XENA: “How could you come back after what I did to you?”
GABRIELLE: “What you did wasn't you, I know that. I also know now that there's a big difference between what justice is and what the law is. I don't think we'd better wait around for justice.”
XENA: “No. If I run now, I'll be running forever.”
GABRIELLE: “Well, it beats being dead.”
GABRIELLE: “You've got an idea.”
XENA: “Someone made me a better offer. I need you to leave me alone for a while.”
GABRIELLE: “Okay.”
XENA: “I didn't mean that like it sounded. I'm glad you came back.”
XENA: “Ares.”
XENA: “Uh.”
ARES: “Somehow I felt I might hear my name.”
XENA: “If the verdict's guilty, they'll execute me in the morning. I'd rather live.”
ARES: “But you won't merely live. You'll make the world a better place by leading it our way. Mmm it is a joy to have you back.”
XENA: “Well, I'm not back yet. ”
XENA: “Only if they find me guilty.”
ARES: “I wouldn't've bothered killing those village fools if I didn't know they would find you guilty.”
XENA: "I'm a little concerned about something. If I do have to escape, the whole village'll be after me and I won't have my sword. How do I fight my way out of there?"
ARES: "My dear, do you honestly think I won't supply you with whatever's necessary? This particular wine really is delicious."
XENA: “You did all this just to get me back. I'm flattered. Well, if I'm going to be your warrior again”
ARES: “No, not just my warrior. You'll be the architect of a new world my kind of world where force of arms keeps the peace and one great Warrior Queen rules.”
XENA: “You're irresistible. But I suppose you already know that. I'll have to have a new army.”
ARES: “Whatever you want, whom ever you want the most legendary fighters in history if you’d like."
XENA: “Hector? Achilles? Agamemnon? They're long gone.”
ARES: “I’m Ares, god of war. For you I'll bring them back and anyone else you desire.”
XENA: “Anyone? I just want to be sure of the deal.”
ARES: “Anyone you name.”
XENA: “As long as I have your word.”
ARES: “You have my word my pledge whatever you want.”
XENA: “It's almost time. See you later, then.”
BENITAR: “The woman, Xena, having been found guilty of murdering the good and innocent men, Palinios, Doracles, and Areolis, of this village will now, and publically pay the supreme penalty for her crimes.”
XENA: “Guilty! You said I could have anyone I name. I call on you to send forth the following protectors the good and innocent men of this village Palinios, Doracles, and Areolis.”
ARES: Laughs “Marvelously manipulated, my dear.”
GABRIELLE: “Nobody's even dead. Nobody.”
PALINIOS: “Everybody! Hear me, my friends! This brave and noble woman she was the last thing I saw battling a cowardly hooded man who attacked us. She fought him for our lives, though we were total strangers. Truly, I say she is the very soul of goodness. And we thank her, with all our hearts.”
GABRIELLE: “Excuse me again, sir.”
BENITAR: “Not guilty; charges dismissed.”
ARES: “Well played my dear. Your choice was totally wrong of course but even as an adversary you are one of a kind.”
XENA: “I know my choice was the right one for me.”
ARES: “In that case”
ARES: “ until next time.”
XENA: “You coming back for me really meant a lot after what I did to you.”
GABRIELLE: “I trust you. I never thought for a moment you meant to hurt me.”
XENA: “Well, I owe you. Thanks.”
GABRIELLE: “I owe you, too.”
XENA: “What was that?”
GABRIELLE: “Paybacks for hitting me.”
XENA: “Feel better?”
GABRIELLE: “I think I broke my hand but, I do feel better.”
XENA: “Good so do I.”
GABRIELLE: “How did those guys come back from the dead?”
XENA: “Well, ever hear of Ares?
ARES: “Until next time Xena. Until next time.”