SOLDIER: “Thief this is what you get for stealing horses.”

Fight

ATRIUS: “Thanks. You really helped me out.”
XENA: “You nearly got yourself killed.”
ATRIUS: “We needed a second horse.”
XENA: “So you stole it?”
ATRIUS: “No I won a bet awhile ago, the stable-owner owed me.”
XENA: “Then you won’t mind me checking out your story.”
ATRIUS: “Just like your mother. Why can’t you trust me? Do you remember when you were a little girl the way I would lift you up into the saddle behind me? Back then you trusted me with your life. Xena I’m the same man.”
SOLDIER: “We don’t want any more trouble.”
XENA: “Then answer me one question. That man you were chasing did your stables owe him a horse?”
SOLDIER: “What’s it to you?”
XENA: “Yes or no.”
SOLDIER: “All right what if we did owe him?”
XENA: “Thanks.”
GABRIELLE: “Where were you?”
XENA: “Seeing a man about a horse.”
GABRIELLE: “He stole it, didn’t he?”
XENA: “Nope.”
GABRIELLE: “Is he your father?”
XENA: “All I know is that he didn’t lie about the horse.”
RHEA: “I’ll turn off up ahead.”
GABRIELLE: “Won’t someone in Locia be worried about you?”
RHEA: “There’s my younger sister Areliesa. Would you find her and tell her I had no choice? She shouldn’t feel bad.”
GABRIELLE: “Kirilus’ men were going after her but but you took her place, didn’t you?”
RHEA: “My sister was to be married this spring. She has her whole life in front of her. I couldn’t let her be taken.”
GABRIELLE: “You must really love her.”
RHEA: “I did what I thought was right.”
GABRIELLE: “You did the only thing you could and the people in your village can’t blame you for that.”
RHEA: “I wish I could believe you.”
GABRIELLE: “Rhea, Kirilus’ men wanted to ruin your life. Now if you don’t go home, they’ve won.”

Atrius is humming

XENA: “You know that song, huh?”
ATRIUS: “Of course.”

Atrius is humming again

ATRIUS: You know the reason I left the family. I was young when I married your mother, I was too young. I thought I was missing out on something. I convinced myself that true happiness lay somewhere just over that next hill. The problem was the hills never ended. Oh, don’t get me wrong, sometimes life was hard with your mother, she was so stubborn.”
XENA: “Strong.”
ATRIUS: “Yeah maybe that’s what I mean. I miss those days.”
XENA: “Me too.”
ATRIUS: “Well, now we have each other. What about you Xena? Anything about your life that you might like to tell me?”
XENA: “No.”
ATRIUS: “Maybe another time. What is that?”
XENA: “Take cover!”
XENA: “Tell Kirilus I’m not easy to kill.”

Fight

ATRIUS: “You tried to kill my little girl.”
TARKUS: “Don’t kill me.”
ATRIUS: “You’re pathetic.”

XENA: “What happened? Gabrielle, what is it?”
GABRIELLE: “He was, he was surrendering and Atrius killed him.”
ATRIUS: “It was self-defense. Xena he had a dagger. He was trying to kill me. Look for yourself.”
GABRIELLE: “I didn’t see that.”
ATRIUS: “You look surprised.”
GABRIELLE: “I was right here, Xena but I, I I didn’t see it.”
XENA: “Everybody makes mistakes including me. Come on let’s get going.”
ATRIUS: “Gabrielle let me put your mind at rest. Once we get the girls back home and defeat Kirilus, I’ll be moving on.”
GABRIELLE: “What are you saying? You, you don’t think that I ?”
ATRIUS: “Oh, no! I could see that you and Xena are a team. I don’t wanna come between you two.”
GABRIELLE: “You won’t. You’re her father and she she deserves to spend some time with you.”
ATRIUS: “No, I’ve made up my mind. As long as the two of you are together and you should be there’s just no place here for me.”
RHEA: “Gabrielle are you all right?”
GABRIELLE: “No you, you loved your sister but you left her?”
RHEA: “I told you I had no choice. She deserved to be with her husband. I had to leave so she could be happy. Do you think that’s wrong?”
GABRIELLE: “No it’s right. It’s very right.”
GABRIELLE: “Xena.”
XENA: “Hmmm.”
GABRIELLE: “Listen I have an idea. Why don’t I take Rhea and the others the rest of the way? You and your father can wait here and make sure Kirilus’ men don’t follow us.”
XENA: “What’s going on Gabrielle?”
GABRIELLE: “Nothing I’ll see you soon.”
XENA: “OK see you soon.”
GABRIELLE: “Goodbye Xena.”
GABRIELLE: “Watch the branches.”
RHEA: “Careful.”
GIRL: “Careful.”
GABRIELLE: “We’ll be in Lotia soon. How’s everyone doing?”
GABRIELLE: “It won’t be long.”
KIRILUS: “Split. Take your points.”
XENA: “If you’re gonna be part of my life again, there’s something you should know. I’ve done terrible things in my past.”
ATRIUS: “You don’t need to explain. What’s past is past. I only care about the future our future and don’t be ashamed of your past Xena. It’s made you the great woman you are today.”
SOLDIER: “It doesn’t seem right. I don’t know.”

Fight

XENA: “I’ve just cut off the flow of blood to your brain. Talk or you’ll be dead in seconds.”
ATRIUS: “Where’s the rest of Kirilus’ army?”
SOLDIER: “Headed for Locia to ambush you. Kirilus flanked his men on all sides of the village when he saw you headed that way.”
XENA: “Gabrielle and the others they’ll be there by now. I’ve gotta go.”
ATRIUS: “Right we can organize the villagers to defend themselves.”
XENA: “No this is my problem you don’t go.”
ATRIUS: “Yes I do. I’ve done some things in my past that I regret. I hurt the people of Locia. I need to make it up to them. There was a, it’s hard to explain.”
XENA: “Let’s go.”
VILLAGE LEADER: “Kirilus’ army is approaching. We must mobilize a militia.”
GABRIELLE: “Come on Rhea. Be brave.”
ARELIESA: “Rhea! We were so worried about you.”
RHEA: “Oh.”
FIANCE: “I can’t thank you enough for what you did.”
RHEA: “Then you’re not ashamed of me.”
FIANCE: “Every moment of happiness that I have from this day on I owe to you.”
RHEA: “What can I say to you? I wouldn’t have come back, except ”
GABRIELLE: “Say nothing. Just know you did the right thing.”
KIRILUS: “Glad you could drop in Ares. You can watch my army dispose of Xena. We have her trapped near Locia.”
ARES: “All dressed up and no one to kill. Your men haven’t trapped anything. Xena rides through your army at will and you should hear the things she says about you.”
KIRILUS: “I’ll cut out her tongue.”
ARES: “Yeah well, you gotta fight her first. You can’t do that standing around in your tent.”
KIRILUS: “I promise you Xena won’t live to see another day.”
XENA: “Tell your people there’s danger headed this way.”
VILLAGE LEADER: “I know you. You’re Atrius, right?”
ATRIUS: “Yes.”
MAN: “It’s him. That’s the man who razed our village.”
XENA: “What’re you doing? Let him go. We’re here to help.”
VILLAGE LEADER: “You can’t trick us. We know there’s an army up in the hills. Atrius is one of them.”
XENA: “No, you’re wrong.”
VILLAGE LEADER: “He pulled this trick once before pretended to be our ally then attacked with his army. Now it’s time for revenge. Take him away!”
ATRIUS: “No Xena don’t. It’s true all of it. Now you see why I had to come. I have a lot to make up for.”
XENA: “He’s changed. He’s here to help you.”
ATRIUS: “They won’t listen Xena. They’re too angry. Go you have to stop Kirilus before his army attacks. Please do it.”
XENA: “If I stop this army, will you let him go?”
MAN: “You stop an entire army? Impossible.”
XENA: “Watch me, I have many skills.”
KIRILUS: “I’ve been looking forward to this Xena. How do you want to die? Slow and painful or fast and even more painful?”
XENA: “I want you to stop your army from invading Locia.”
KIRILUS: “Throw down your sword and we’ll talk.”
XENA: “You first.”
KIRILUS: “This may be easier than I thought.”
XENA: “Not very sporting Kirilus. I’m gonna beat you Kirilus and take your army.”

Kirilus Laughs

KIRILUS: “No you’re not. You’re gonna die.”

Fight

XENA: “You’re dead Kirilus.”
KIRILUS: “You’ll yet be mine Xena!”
XENA: “Now this army is mine! Anybody got any questions?”
SOLDIER: “All hail the new commander! Xena!
SOLDIERS: “Hail Xena! Hail Xena! Hail Xena! Hail Xena! Hail Xena! Hail Xena! Hail Xena! Hail Xena! Hail Xena! Hail Xena! Hail Xena! Hail Xena! Hail Xena! Hail Xena! Hail Xena! Hail Xena!”
SOLDIER: “Shall we commence the attack on Locia?”
XENA: “No we do this my way. Come on!”
KIRILUS: “Lord Ares you were right. Xena was destined to succeed I to fail.”
ARES: “Fail? No you didn’t fail. You succeeded far beyond my wildest expectations. Xena rides at the head of my army and that would never have happened if you hadn’t played your part to perfection. You don’t know how happy that makes me.”
KIRILUS: “You you used me. From the beginning I was nothing but a tool to get her back?!”
ARES: “Yes and I’m really grateful.”
KIRILUS: “She’ll never be yours.”
ARES: “This time I hold all the cards.”
SOLDIER: “They strung him up for the vultures.”
XENA: “Take the village!”

GABRIELLE: “Xena?!”
VILLAGE LEADER: “Run for your lives!”
GABRIELLE: “Wait no! She won’t hurt us! Xena! What are you doing?! Xena’s my best friend!”
SOLDIER: “Yeah, yeah and Zeus is my uncle.”
XENA: “You’ll be all right. Who did this to my father?”
VILLAGE LEADER: “He brought it on himself. He tried to escape from our guards.”
ATRIUS: “Xena.”
XENA: “Hush now. You’re gonna be all right.”
ATRIUS: “I’m dying. They did this to me. All I wanted was to be with you.”
XENA: “I know. I know. Kill ‘em all!”
GABRIELLE: “No! Wait!”
XENA: “Gabrielle?”
GABRIELLE: “Put it down Xena.”
XENA: “They killed my father. Now they’ll die too. Get out of my way.”
GABRIELLE: “No! Look at me! I’m standing up to a murderous warlord like I saw you do against Draco but this time the warlord is you!”
ATRIUS: “Xena the villagers, you’re not going to kill them?”
XENA: “No it’s over.”
ATRIUS: “Where is your anger Xena? Look what they’ve done to me. Don’t you want to strike them down?! Of course you do! Come! Join me! We’ll kill them all!”
XENA: “What? No.”
ATRIUS: “You defeated Kirilus! Now use his army and fight for me!”
XENA: “Fight for you? Ares.”
ATRIUS: morphs into
ARES: “Yes Ares. I thought about it for a long time. What could I do to win you back? Money? Power? What was your weakness? And then it came to me Daddy! It was so glorious. You did everything I wanted. You killed soldiers. You even left your pesky little friend for me. I knew that ruthless warrior was still inside you and now you’re back where you belong. This is your army Xena. I had it created for you and it feels good, doesn’t it? Leading an army into battle for the glory of Ares.”
XENA: “Give up on me Ares. I’m never coming back.”
ARES: “I know what’s in your heart. There’s a reason why I play the part of Atrius so well.”
XENA: “You’re not my father.”
ARES: “What is a father Xena? A man who guides you, who teaches you how to live your life. I did it all for you and I’ll never let you go.”
ARES AS ATRIUS: “Take your place with me now!”

Fight

Atrius morphs back into Ares

ARES: “So foolish! Wasting your talents on these pitiful villagers! I’ll make it easy for you. Join me or die.”
XENA: “Go ahead kill me. I’d rather be dead than come back to you.”
GABRIELLE: “Don’t do it Xena!”
XENA: “Stay out of this Gabrielle.”
ARES: “Oh Xena you could’a had it all. I think one day you will. Until next time Xena, until next time.”
GABRIELLE: “Ready?”
XENA: “Gabrielle I want you to understand something. We both have families we were born into but sometimes families change and we have to build our own. For me our friendship binds us closer than blood ever could.”
GABRIELLE: “For me too.”
XENA: “Let’s go. You swing a pretty mean pitchfork.”
GABRIELLE: “Well I learned from the best.”
XENA: “Well I owe you one.”

Gabrielle Laughs