Death Mask

ACT I

WARRIORS: “Take no prisoners! Kill the men! Kill them all! Goodbye woman! This village is ours! You won’t get away from me witch! Hah-hah!”
SERA: “Leia! Where are you?!”
LEIA: “My dollie!”
GABRIELLE: “No!”
SERA: “Leia! Leia!”
GABRIELLE: “Are you OK?”
SERA: “Thank you! Thank you!”
WARRIOR: “Easy girlie!”
MALIK: “Retreat! Everybody out!”
WARRIOR: “Let’s go and retreat!”
SOLDIERS: “We’re too late, again!” “They’re into the border woods!” We’ll never catch them!”
GABRIELLE: “What are you doing?! Go after them!”
AESCALUS: “I’d love too believe me but those woods mark the border I can’t cross. Nor do I even have enough men to keep our boundaries secure. You fought well.”
WARRIOR: “Let’s go hurry!”
TORIS: “Whoa.”
WARRIOR: “This way! Over here!”
AESCALUS: “It’s Cortese all right. He’s always one step ahead of us.”
TORIS: “Xena.”
TORIS: “Malik! Malik! Malik! Malik! I know that woman. Take me to Cortese. I can tell him everything he needs to know about her.”
MALIK: “You? Newcomers don’t meet Cortese, until they’ve earned the privilege. You speak to me. I speak to Cortese.”
TORIS: “Her name is Xena. She’s a a warrior from Amphipolis.”
MALIK: “I’m sure Cortese will be grateful for the information.”
MALIK: “My lord Cortese.”
CORTESE: “Malik my friend there’s no need for my right arm to kneel before me.”
MALIK: “My lord we had no time to gather the loot before the king’s soldiers arrived.”
CORTESE: “Why not?”
MALIK: “A woman I’ve never seen anyone like her with the fighting skill and strength of.”
CORTESE: “Xena the Warrrior Princess, Xena my two assassins must have failed. Get up!”
MALIK: “You already know of her?”
CORTESE: “I created her.”

Garielle makes the sound of the arrow made when it hit her.

GABRIELLE: “And I hit it! Did you see that?”
XENA: “Mm-hmm.”
GABRIELLE: “Yeah of course you did. Even while you were explaining it, my whole body was listening for that arrow. I can still feel that warrior fever just coursing through my blood.”
XENA: “Do you think you could do it again?”
GABRIELLE: “Yeah. I think so. I mean most of the time. Well if you shot ten arrows at me, how many do you think I’d miss?”
XENA: “Only one.”
GABRIELLE: “Uh that could be a problem, huh? What’s he doing?”
XENA: “I don’t know.”
GABRIELLE: “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
XENA: “He’s one of Cortese’s raiders alone. Still I don’t like it. Keep back. All right I’m close enough.”
TORIS: “Then stop, unless of course you wanna kill your brother?”

ACT II

GABRIELLE: “I thought you said your brother was killed by Cortese.”
XENA: “No, that was my younger brother. Gabrielle this is my older brother, Toris.”
GABRIELLE: “Huh you’re full of surprises.”
XENA: “Toris has some surprises of his own. That’s the mask of Cortese.”
TORIS: “That’s right. It’s the only way I can get close enough to Cortese to kill him.”
GABRIELLE: “It’s just about ready. Of course it’s missing my sister’s 17 secret herbs and spices. You know? My sister and I used to argue. Yeah, yeah we would just go for hours without talking to each other. Come on! This is supposed to be touching. ah ah ah I mean a brother and sister who haven’t seen each other for years should have more to say to each other than just ”
XENA: “So you’re an assassin now, huh?
GABRIELLE: “It’s a start.”
TORIS: “It’s taken me years to find Cortese. Now that his raiders are starting to trust me, I’m almost close enough to kill him, which is why I want you to stay out of this.”
XENA: “I can help you bring him to justice.”
TORIS: “He’ll find justice at the end of my sword.”
GABRIELLE: “Wing, thigh, breast? Who wants what?”
XENA: “He likes drumsticks. Gabrielle go and see if Argo needs to be fed, would you?”
GABRIELLE: “Argo? He can, right checking on Argo.”
XENA: “I want Cortese just as much as you do but murder is not the answer. I learned the hard way about justice since.”
TORIS: “Learned the hard way? Are you bragging? What I saw of you when I left our village Xena, was not something to be proud of.”
XENA: “And what did you see? Someone had to step forward. Cortese would have slaughtered us all if we hadn’t fought.”
TORIS: “If our people had followed me to the hills ”
XENA: “Cortese would’ve hunted us down like dogs! I had to make a stand and I wasn’t the only one who believed that!”
TORIS: “That’s right. Our brother believed it. Lyceus stood by you to the end and it was his end remember?”
XENA: “I said ‘fight’ because it was our village. Lyceus believed in that, and I would say it again.”
GABRIELLE: “Argo is fed?”
XENA: “Gabrielle that mother whose baby you saved the other day ”
GABRIELLE: “Yeah.”
XENA: “Ask her to put you up for a few days. You know, guard the village.”
GABRIELLE: “Huh oh no. No, no that’s your way of saying, ‘It’s too dangerous to be around me right now Gabrielle.’ Well have you ever considered that there isn’t a safe time to be around you? Now that village doesn’t need my help but you might and I’m going with you. Now if that’s all, I’ll just be practicing with my staff end of discussion. Sorry you had to witness that Toris.”
XENA: “How close are you to Cortese?”
TORIS: “I’m new. I have to earn their trust. My leader is his lieutenant a butcher named Malik.”
XENA: “Then we’ll start there. I need to look around Malik’s campsite.”
TORIS: “No, no, no, no, no, no, no too dangerous. You don’t know what these monsters do to women.”
XENA: “No I’m counting on it.”
CORTESE'S MEN: "Four dinars on Spikous." "I'ill take that bet." "I'ill just watch uh." "Come on you guys are fighting like cuppule of girls."
MALIK: “Well look what I’ve captured boys! Cortese will be very pleased to see my gift to him.”
TORIS: “This time you have to take me to Cortese. I brought him the warrior.”
MALIK: “’Have to’?! I don’t have to do anything. This prize is mine and I will take the time that I need.”
TORIS: “I’m the one who has to take her to Cortese.”
MALIK: “There seems to be some confusion about who I am and who you aren’t. There are two types of men who question me the dead! and the dying! Which one do you wanna be boy?”
TORIS: “I’m not questioning anything. I just think Cortese should hear how I managed.”
MALIK: “He’ll hear he’ll hear whatever I tell him. Now go away. The woman and I have to uh talk before she meets our master.”
TORIS: “Very well you’re in control, for now.”
MALIK: “You keep walking boy! And if I ever see your face again, I’ll hang it over the cooking fire!”
MALIK: “Now my dear, let’s not waste time with, uh senseless pleas of mercy or silly games. Right to it shall we?”
XENA: “Have it your way. Right to it, I like that.”
TORIS: “It shouldn’t take this long. Where is she?”
GABRIELLE: “She’ll be here.”
TORIS: “It’s a stupid idea she’s outnumbered and alone.”
GABRIELLE: “How many warriors in that camp?
TORIS: “15, maybe 20.”
GABRIELLE: “She’ll be here.”
TORIS: “What are you doing?”
GABRIELLE: “I’m listening with my body. See Xena says that you have to listen for the attack before you see it. She’s just she’s amazing. I mean I’ve learned so much about inner strength just from watching her. When we first met, I was this little girl from Poteidaia.”
TORIS: “She’s doing to you what she did to our village.”
GABRIELLE: “Excuse me?”
TORIS: “She turned our simple villagers into warriors and got them killed. She’s doing the same thing to you. She hasn’t changed, I can’t believe we share blood.”
GABRIELLE: “If you hate here so much, then why are you worried about her now?”
TORIS: “What do you mean worried?”
GABRIELLE: “Xena! Are you all right?! You took so long? You see, now that’s worry. Hey! Hey how’d it go?”
XENA: “It went fine.”
TORIS: “By the luck of the gods, you could’ve destroyed everything I’ve worked on.”
XENA: “I still might. Did you know that Malik uses messenger pigeons?”
TORIS: “Sure he uses them to communicate with the other raiding parties.”
XENA: “Then why do they carry the Royal crest?”
TORIS: “Malik must have a spy inside the king’s household.”
XENA: “Well if he does, he’s reporting everything straight to Cortese.”
GABRIELLE: “No wonder they can’t catch him. You know the king should be told.”
TORIS: “He doesn’t just see anybody and the castle’s pretty well guarded.”
XENA: “I have my ways of getting in. Hey.”
GABRIELLE: “Oh, I know. It’s easier to get two in than three. I’ll just go guard some villagers or something even if they’re not in danger.”
AESCALUS: “What’s the problem? How did you get this far? I had guards posted.”
XENA: “Oh, they’re lying around somewhere. I need to talk to the king and I don’t like formalities.”
AESCALUS: “You were in that village earlier. Tell me what you have to say to the king and I’ll see what I can do.”
XENA: “I’m not that trusting.”
AESCALUS: “Neither am I.”
TORIS: “The bandit Cortese has a spy inside the castle!”
AESCALUS: “Come.”
AESCALUS: “Your weapons. Wait here.”
XENA: “It was dangerous speaking out like that Toris.”
TORIS: “It got us in here.”
XENA: “And what if Aescalus had been the spy?”
CORTESE: “But Aescalus isn’t the spy. The king is the spy. Recognize me Xena? It’s been a while.”
XENA: “Cortese.”

ACT III

CORTESE: “Oh come now. You must have something to say after all this time and effort just to see me.”
TORIS: “Yes Cortese You’re dead!”
XENA: “No!”
CORTESE: “That’s just one of the surprises in this room. Don’t try it again! So what do you think of my little operation?”
XENA: “It’s very cunning. You rule over a kingdom threatened by raiders and your people tolerate huge taxes, because they think it goes to the war effort.”
CORTESE: “I become incredibly rich off the taxes not to mention, the pure fun of being able to put my mask on, go out and slaughter a few dissident farmers and come back to a warm bath. I’m glad you like it.”
XENA: “I said it was cunning, I didn’t say I liked it.”
TORIS: “You murdering harpie!”
CORTESE: “Careful! You’re talking to the legal regent of this land. Cortese now he’s a murdering harpie.”
XENA: “So what’s next? You haven’t killed us and you’re not talking just to hear the sound of your own voice.”
CORTESE: “The people are getting tired of my army losing. My army is getting tired of losing.”
XENA: “Your army doesn’t know who you are.”
CORTESE: “They’re loyal to the king but they need a victory and they can’t have Cortese of course. So I’m gonna give ‘em the next best thing his second in-command the evil Warrior Princess, Xena. Guards!”
GUARDS: “Open the doors!” “Knock it down!”
TORIS: “I can’t hold them!”
XENA: “Then let them in.”
TORIS: “What?!”
XENA: “Open the door. Let’s go!”
SOLDIER: “Halt!”
TORIS: “I think we can take ‘em out.”
XENA: “No we can’t kill them. They’re the good guys remember? That window behind them.”
TORIS: “How do we get to it?”
XENA: “Remember this Toris? Come and get it! Let’s go.”
CORTESE AS THE KING: “I want them for execution by morning!”
AESCALUS: “What time?”
MALIK: “He wants them for execution by the morning. Avoid the soldiers they’ll be looking too. Move!”
GABRIELLE: “OK let’s try it again. OK Xena! I’m glad you’re all right. Hey Sera this is my friend Xena who I told you about and her her brother Toris. This is my little friend and warlord, Leia.”
XENA: “Sera, I need to speak to your village elders. Can you bring them back here? It’s very important.”
SERA: “I’ll try.”
GABRIELLE: “What’s going on, Xena?”
XENA: “The good king and Cortese are one and the same.”
GABRIELLE: “Not happy news. What are you gonna do?”
TORIS: “We could’ve murdered him but we didn’t.”
GABRIELLE: “Murder you can’t just murder someone.”
TORIS: “As if you know the difference between murder and justice!”
XENA: “Toris.”
TORIS: “How do you put up with that girl?”
XENA: “Why? She knows more about wisdom and justice than you’ll ever know.”
TORIS: “At first I thought she was just blindly following your lead and that you were gonna do the same thing to her that you did to our village use their fear to manipulate them but that’s not it! She’s brave because that’s the way she is! I was so sure that I had you figured out that I never bothered to figure myself out. All these years I’ve been trying to convince myself that I knew what was best for our village.”
XENA: “Toris we all made decisions based on what we thought was right. We did what we had to do, because we cared about our friends.”
TORIS: “No, no, no, no you don’t get it! You stayed because you cared for us all! I left because because I was.”
XENA: “ because you were afraid.”
TORIS: “I was afraid I would die! That was all I could think of! I mean, I cared about you and Lyceus and Mother but I was a coward.”
XENA: “Murdering Cortese will not ease that guilt.”
TORIS: “You don’t know that. When I found out that you and the others had turned him back when I found out that Lyceus had died my life meant nothing anymore. There was only one thing left to do that was to take Cortese to the grave, the grave that I should have had, the grave that Lyceus has now. I have to find Malik and force him to take me to Cortese.”
XENA: “You listen to me I already lost one brother to that madman and I’m not gonna lose another.”
SERA: “Xena? The elders are gathered. You better come quick.”
GABRIELLE: “Now now think for a minute. When Cortese and his bandits were about to obliterate this village who stopped them?
ELDER: “The two of you did.”
GABRIELLE: “Two of us yeah, well right but mostly Xena, her.”
ELDER: “And we are truly grateful but still she may not stay here.”
XENA: “The king and the raider Cortese are one and the same.”
ELDER:“But that’s impossible. The king is at war with Cortese.”
WOMAN'S VOICE: “This can’t be true.”
ELDER: “Now we hear that the army is searching for you as well as the raiders. You’ll get this village destroyed!”
GABRIELLE: “We’ll stay, and we’ll help you fight whatever it takes we’re with you.”
XENA: “No, Gabrielle he’s right. Cortese will only come here if he knows I’m here. We only stand and fight when we have to.”
ELDER: “And we appreciate it.”
GABRIELLE: “Where’s Toris?”
SERA: “He’s gone. He said he had a debt to pay and that you’ll understand.”

Toris is moaning

XENA: “Toris.”
TORIS: “It’s a trap.”
XENA: “I know. The wood is soaked with oil.”
MALIK: “There she is! One arrow and your brother dies in a ball of fire. Oh yes I know he’s your brother. You’d be surprised what a man will say when he’s been tortured. You’re going to Cortese but first there’s something that I owe you. Wait! This is Cortese’s pleasure and when he’s done with you I’ll spit on your burning carcass.”

ACT IV

XENA: “Well it wasn’t too difficult getting back into the castle but it sure is gonna be hard to figure out our escape with you not talking to me.”
TORIS: “Why’d you have to follow me? This is my time I told you that.”
XENA: “Your time? What’s that supposed to mean?”
TORIS: “It means you should’a stayed out of this! Do you know how long I planned the moment when Cortese and I face off?!”
XENA: “Things don’t always work out the way you want.”
TORIS: “What did it feel like after you had beaten Cortese?”
XENA: “Feel? I didn’t have time to feel anything. Maybe that was the problem. I knew that he’d come back so I decided to form an army for defense and then I figured to take the surrounding villages for a buffer. And then somewhere I don’t know where I changed. I didn’t have time to feel anything. And I promise you Toris if you murder Cortese you’ll become what I was.”
TORIS: “I’ve seen you kill Xena. What’s the difference?”
XENA: “Maybe it’s just a difference in my head but the pure evil of murder is that ist’s premeditated. It’s not in the heat of battle and it’s not for self-defense. You have been planning this for years. When the guards come back we’ve gotta move. Is something funny?”
TORIS: "I’m sorry I got you into this mess, Xena but I’m glad you’re with me.”
AESCALUS: “The king has ordered your burning tomorrow. I don’t believe in such executions so if you can find me where I can find Cortese, I’ll try to make your death quick and painless.”
XENA: “Very well go to the throne room. You’ll find him seated on the big comfy chair. Your king is Cortese.”

Fight

AESCALUS: “You’ll never get out of the castle alive!”
XENA: “Oh no? Oh, we don’t have any intention of leaving. First you’re going to show me where the messenger pigeons are kept.”
SERA: “Gabrielle! Gabrielle! Gabrielle!”
GABRIELLE: “What is it?”
SERA: “Gabrielle! Your friends! The king has them!’
TORIS: “Why don’t we just find Cortese?!”
XENA: "Cause I wanna stir the pot a little. Now where is the king?”
AESCALUS: “I’d rather die.”
XENA: “That can be arranged. Now where is he?”
AESCALUS: " My king practices at the archery range outside the west wall but you’ll never get there.”
XENA: “We’d better split up. Can you handle this?”
TORIS: “I’ll take care of him.”
XENA: “Now we both know that you are protecting the king. So tell me where he really is.”
MALIK: “On your feet! We’re to attack the castle immediately in full strengh! Go!”
WARRIORS: “Yes sir.” “Come on.”
MALIK: “At last.”
TORIS: “Cortese! Where are you?!”
SOLDIER: “Huh?”

Fight

TORIS: “The captain lied and Xena knew it!”
MALIK: “You are dead!”

Fight

GABRIELLE: “Where’s Xena?!”
TORIS: “Xena!”
GABRIELLE: “Xena!”
XENA: “Go get your men. Go!”
TORIS: “You deceived me!”
XENA: “Fight now talk later."

Fight

XENA: “Cortese order the raiders to drop their weapons.”
CORTESE: “Someone kill her!"
XENA: “Take a good look at my chakram Cortese. It’ll be the last thing you ever see if you don’t tell them now.
CORTESE: “Wait! Give your weapons to the soldiers. Surrender!”
WARRIOR: “Surrender?”
CORTESE: “I’m ordering you!”
MALIK: “No!"
XENA: “There’s only one man with the power to make them do that!”
AESCALUS: “Cortese.”
MALIK: “No! You betrayed us!”
TORIS: “You knew he was lying didn’t you? You wanted him to yourself.”
XENA: “You’re so hungry for that blood you’ll never wash off here he is. Everything I hated about me you’re determined to make of yourself. Go on do it and then tell me how much better you feel about yourself. Lyceus would have been proud.”
TORIS: “I feel ah so free after so long. In all the rush I forgot to tell you something. I missed you.”
XENA: “I guess you had other things on your mind.”
TORIS: “The wrong things. Thanks for setting me straight.”
XENA: “Oh. What now?”
TORIS: “It’s time I came full circle. I’m going back home to see Mother.”
XENA: “That’ll make her very happy. Tell her I said, just tell her you saw me.”
TORIS: “Maybe you could come with me.”
XENA: “No not yet, besides Gabrielle and I are headed the other way.”
TORIS: “I understand. After so long I should bring Mother some kind of gift.”
XENA: “You already are.”