Endgame


TEASER

Ephiny kneels next to a fallen Amazon.

EPHINY
Solari.

Amarice joins her.

AMARICE
They've gotta be on the other side of the trees,
my queen. Let's go.

EPHINY
No. Amarice you follow behind me. We look first,
and then we attack.

AMARICE
In my tribe, looking first is like giving a warning.

EPHINY
What does your tribe think about following orders?

Ephiny gives commands with her hands to several Amazons behind her and then draws her sword.

EPHINY
Let's go.

They move out.

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Amazons fight Romans. Brutus kills all the Amazons that attack him. Ephiny and her group enter.

EPHINY
Chilapa, move to the rear. Protect the flank.

CHILAPA
Come on!

EPHINY
Amarice stay close.

CHILAPA
This way!

Ephiny fights. Amarice takes on Brutus. He knocks her to the ground and raises his sword over her head. Ephiny runs in and save Amarice. She fights Brutus and he kills her.

AMARICE
No! My queen!

Amarice moves to Ephiny's side.

BRUTUS
Pull back! Re-form!

The Romans retreat and the Amazons give chase.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gabrielle throws a net into a river and chuckles. She pulls it back towards herself.

XENA
You've gotten really good at that.

GABRIELLE
Well, I've been practicing on rocks long enough.
You see it won't hurt the fish. They're not going
to suffer at all.

XENA
Oh, they told you that?

GABRIELLE
Yeah. Yeah, they did. You wanna see?

Gabrielle throws the net on Xena.

XENA
You know, Gabrielle-

She takes off the net.

XENA
-there's only one way that you can know how fish
really feel and that's to become one with them.

GABRIELLE
Don't do it.

XENA
Oh, yeah.

GABRIELLE
Xena, this outfit takes forever to dry.

XENA
Oh, well I've got time. Come on, fishy, fishy, fishy.

Amarice flips in with a yell and lands between the two of them, sword drawn and held on Xena.

AMARICE
What are you waiting for?! Run! I'll hold her off!

XENA
Oh, no. I surrender before Gabrielle.

AMARICE
Is this a trick, my queen?

GABRIELLE
No this is Xena. She's my friend.

AMARICE
Xena? Wow. I--I thought you'd be...taller.

GABRIELLE
Who are you?

Amarice kneels before her.

AMARICE
My name is Amarice. I come from the village of your
tribe, my queen. You must come with me, quickly.

GABRIELLE
What happened? Why do you keep calling me
Queen? I'm not queen unless...unless Ephiny were...

AMARICE
Ephiny is dead and we need our queen to lead us.

END OF TEASER



ACT ONE

Xena, Gabrielle and Amarice enter the Amazon village. Amazons put out a fire. There are wounded everywhere.

CHILAPA
She's here!

Chilapa moves to them.

GABRIELLE
Chilapa, what happened?

CHILAPA
Ephiny was leading patrol. We ran into some
Romans in the highlands. There was a battle
and...she was killed.

GABRIELLE
Romans?

XENA
Go on.

CHILAPA
We brought Ephiny's body back here to the village
when we were hit again. We managed to throw
them back, but they captured most of our sisters.

AMARICE
Captured? I'm going after them.

She starts to leave, but Xena stops her.

XENA
Just calm down. When you saw the Romans, was
Caesar leading 'em?

CHILAPA
No, but I did see the other one, the one who killed
Ephiny in the highlands.

GABRIELLE
What did he look like?

CHILAPA
Young, black hair, wore silver armour.

XENA
That's Brutus, Caesar's right hand.

AMARICE
What are we waiting for? Why hasn't anyone gone
out after them?

CHILAPA
They left on rafts down the river. We couldn't track
them. But we're ready now. (to all) Now that the
queen has returned!

The Amazons cheer. Gabrielle looks to Xena.

XENA
All right, we need to build a defense for this village.

AMARICE
What's left of it.

XENA
Chilapa, post two guards down at the river. We
need to know if they come back. And I want a
squad working in shifts to repair the huts.
Is that correct, Gabrielle?

GABRIELLE
Thank you. (to Chilapa) Where's Ephiny's body?

CHILAPA
We hid it during the attack. It's in the queen's hut.

Gabrielle leaves.

AMARICE
In my tribe, we never needed to defend. We
always attacked.

XENA
Well, we do things differently here.

Xena picks up a broken Roman sword and studies the crest.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Queen's hut. Gabrielle takes the blanket off of Ephiny's body and kisses her forehead. Xena enters.

GABRIELLE
This doesn't make any sense. This fighting. War.

XENA
Over the last ten years, I've watched the Amazons
go from mighty nation to scattered tribes and
I wondered if, what I was seeing was their greatness
coming to an end. But Ephiny showed me there
was hope.

GABRIELLE
Xena, why would Caesar attack the Amazons?
Why would he take prisoners?

XENA
It wasn't Caesar. It was his enemy Pompey.
Look, I found this.

She holds up the broken sword.

XENA
That's Pompey's crest. See that would make sense.
Pompey's trying to rebuild his army so he can go
after Caesar again. For that he needs money. So
he's selling our friends as slaves. Look, Pompey's
trail has gone cold. I want to go after Brutus. He'll
lead me to Pompey and to the Amazon prisoners.

Xena looks at Ephiny.

XENA
Ephiny, this will not go unpunished. I will not
let the Amazons just die away. That I promise you.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xena mounts Argo.

EXTRA
Take me!

XENA
No, the rest of you need to stay here in case they
come back. Chilapa, come with me. Meslena,
mount up.

Chilapa and Meslena mount. Amarice looks at her feet, a faked sad look on her face.

XENA
Amarice, you too.

AMARICE
Okay.

Amarice chuckles, then jumps on her horse. They all ride out.

AMARICE
Yah! Yah! Yah!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The four ride.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brutus walks with a patrol. Two arrows go flying in front of his face. The Romans draw their swords.

BRUTUS
Two men, go! Find them!

Xena rides in, ululating.

BRUTUS
Xena! Char-r-r-r-r-r-ge!

The Romans yell and run at Xena, who gives a yell. She fights the Romans from atop Argo.

XENA
Yah! Yah-h-h-h!

Amarice enters and attacks several Romans. Chilapa and Meslena fire arrows. Brutus raises a crossbow. Xena uses her whip to lasso his legs. Xena drags Brutus behind her.

XENA
Yah! Yah! Go, Argo! Yah-h-h! Yah!

BRUTUS
Xena-a-a! Yah-h-h!

XENA
This one's for you, Ephiny. Yah!

BRUTUS
Xena-a!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xena rides Argo into the Amazon village at a walking pace. Gabrielle steps down from the Queen's hut, several Amazon guards behind her. Xena dismounts.

GABRIELLE
Where's Amarice?

XENA
She took off before we got here. I think she was
upset I didn't let her kill him.

Xena pulls Brutus through the gates. He's battered and bleeding.

EXTRA
Come on!

Brutus is brought before Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE
Hello, Brutus.

BRUTUS
Gabrielle, they told me you were the new leader
of this tribe.

GABRIELLE
Thanks to you. You killed Ephiny, our queen.
My friend.

BRUTUS
Ephiny, that was her name. One of the best fighters
I've met. She died as a warrior. And for that, I have
no guilt in my actions.

XENA
All right, where's Pompey?

BRUTUS
Ah-h, you're after the slaves. That's why I'm important.

XENA
No, that's why you're alive.

BRUTUS
Then I still have some power. I'd like some water
first and then I'll tell you what you want to know.

XENA
(to an Amazon) Get it.

Someone up in a tree holds an arrow aimed at Brutus.

END OF ACT ONE



ACT TWO

An arrow is aimed at Brutus. The arrow is fired.

XENA
Ah-h-h!

Xena uses her whip to knock it astray.

XENA
Ah-h-h-h!

Xena throws her chakram, which cuts the branch Amarice is standing on. She falls.

AMARICE
Ah-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h! Uh.

Amarice is brought before Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE
What were you thinking?!

AMARICE
Amazon justice for a killer! In my tribe-

GABRIELLE
"In your tribe" doesn't matter here. This is
my tribe. I think you need a few days to think
about that. Take her away.

Amarice is taken away.

AMARICE
Come on.

XENA
(to Brutus) Don't get too comfortable. I don't think
anyone would have been too upset if she had
have killed you.

BRUTUS
Except that I have the knowledge that you need.
The location of Pompey's army.

XENA
Oh, yeah. About that.

Xena puts The Pinch on Brutus.

XENA
All right, you know the drill. Thirty seconds, you die,
no blood to the brain. Where is Pompey?

Brutus says nothing.

XENA
Come on, Brutus. Pompey's no friend of yours.
Anything I do to him can only make Caesar happy.

BRUTUS
F--follow the river north. Move west past the cliffs.

He coughs.

BRUTUS
His army's camped in the forest.

XENA
That'll do it.

Xena starts to walk away.

GABRIELLE
Xena!

Xena turns to face Gabrielle, but Chilapa stands in her way.

CHILAPA
No. We have the information. Now let Amazon
justice be done. Let him die Xena.

Xena looks at Gabrielle.

XENA
Get out of my way Chilapa.

CHILAPA
He killed the queen. Amazon law says-

GABRIELLE
Amazon law says that Brutus' punishment is
my decision!

Xena moves Chilapa and releases Brutus.

GABRIELLE
Take him and hold him.

Brutus is taken away.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jail. Amarice is in one wooden cell, and Brutus in another.

AMARICE
Hey Roman, have you ever witnessed an Amazon
execution before? I don't know how they do it here,
but in my tribe...it took a long, long time. And as
the life oozed out of you, we'd talk with you, ask
you how it felt.

BRUTUS
You're such a child. I've seen death that you could
never dream of. And the fact that you would tell
me that story means either you never saw it, or
you're a fool.

Xena enters. She opens Amarice's cage and Amarice kneels.

XENA
You're coming with me.

AMARICE
I betrayed my queen. I know the price of that.

XENA
Yeah, I'm sure they covered that in your tribe.
Gabrielle has pardoned you. Let's go.

Xena leaves.

BRUTUS
Xena doesn't give many second chances, little girl.

Amarice leaves.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xena lifts some dirt with her sword and lets it fall. She is with a small group of Amazons, including Amarice, Chilapa and Meslena.

XENA
Yeah, this is the route that Pompey will take to
the sea.

AMARICE
How do you know?

XENA
Because it's quickest and easiest. Besides he's
got no reason to be cautious. He thinks he's
already beaten us. (to others) All right, you know
what to do!

EXTRA
All right, let's go!

Amarice moves to Xena.

AMARICE
I don't get it.

XENA
What?

AMARICE
You and Gabrielle. Are you really gonna
just let her pardon Brutus?

XENA
Well, what do you suggest? That we take over
the village, chain up Gabrielle and kill him?

AMARICE
Pick one. I'll go with it.

XENA
You know Gabrielle is not the weakling that you
think she is. She's seen more of life and death
than you will ever know. This is just one more
battle and she's got her own way of fighting it.

AMARICE
By letting him go? Are you crazy?

XENA
Her battle isn't with Brutus. It's with-

She holds up her sword.

XENA
-this.

She pulls Amarice's dagger out of its sheath and holds it up.

XENA
With this. With war and with hatred. And
you know what? Sometimes I don't like
the way she goes about it, but I've come to understand
her. Amarice you're so young and when you're
young, ya think the answers are simple to find.
You think you're gonna find them on the point of
a sword? Well, you're wrong. I just pray
that you live long enough to lay down your sword
and look for those answers in yourself.

AMARICE
Well, I still think she's wrong, but if you trust her
...nah, sorry, I can't go there. You'll just have to
trust her on your own.

XENA
I hope that you can follow orders.

AMARICE
Not a problem. In my tribe, we would...well, it's
not a problem. I mean, I followed Ephiny's orders.

Xena has a sad look on her face.

AMARICE
I still think I could have done something to save her.

XENA
You know Amarice that wasn't your fault. If it wasn't
for women like Ephiny, the Amazon nation would
have died out a long time ago. But you and
I and Gabrielle aren't gonna let that happen.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pompey's camp.

POMPEY (voice-over)
Excellent.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pompey walks by the Amazons with Carminus. They all glare at him.

POMPEY
There's not one in the lot that'll go for less than
five hundred dinars.

An Amazon spits at his feet. A soldier hits her.

POMPEY
Any word from the Serate pirates?

CARMINUS
They should be in port tomorrow. I understand
the captain has brought two ships just
to carry the gold.

Pompey chuckles.

POMPEY
Amazons. They'll fetch a big price in the
desert states.

One moves to attack him, but is hit with a club by a soldier.

CARMINUS
If they can be broken.

She is hit two more times.

POMPEY
They can be killed for all I care. As long
as I get my money! With that I'll buy weapons
for my army and the mercenaries I need to take
Caesar and Rome.

EXTRA
Yes Centurion!

POMPEY
Head them out Carminus. Get back here as
quickly as you can.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carminus and several soldiers move along with the Amazons. Bird calls are heard.

EXTRA
Keep movin'!

CARMINUS
(to soldier) We're about to be ambushed. Quietly
take a man behind the trees and wait there.

The soldier nods and leaves. The bird calls continue. The Amazons exchange glances.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The two soldiers move along. Amarice jumps down from a tree and attacks them. She's captured.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Romans move along with their prisoners.

CARMINUS
Halt!

Xena stands alone on the path, sword in hand.

CARMINUS
Xena.

He draws his sword.

CARMINUS
I didn't know you were in the area?

XENA
Just passing through. Where's Pompey?

CARMINUS
Not here, but don't worry, Pompey the Magnus
is just passing through as well. Just long enough
to make some money.

XENA
Well, you're going to have to tell him to take up a
new hobby, because he's not making
money out of my friends.

The two soldiers enter with Amarice.

CARMINUS
Well, look what we have here.

AMARICE
I'm sorry, Xena. They were trying to get around
you. I had to do something.

XENA
You could'a stayed put like I told you.

CARMINUS
Any more out there? Tell me quick or she dies!

XENA
Meslena. Chilapa!

Meslena and Chilapa step out. Xena drops her sword. Chilapa throws hers down.

CHILAPA
Hm-m-m!

Meslena throws down her sword. Two soldiers move to take Chilapa and Meslena.

EXTRA
Move!

CHILAPA
Get your hands off me!

EXTRA
Get over there!

Chilapa and Meslena are brought over to the other Amazons.

CARMINUS
(to Xena) So much for your ambush.

END OF ACT TWO



ACT THREE

Carminus looks at Amarice.

CARMINUS
Thank you, whoever you are. I'm not sure the
pirates can afford Xena, but Pompey can find a
buyer somewhere.

Carminus moves to Xena.

XENA
I'm gonna give you one chance, Carminus. You
give up now and I'll go easy on ya.

The Romans laugh.

CARMINUS
Oh, please. You and what army?

EXTRA
Yeah!

Xena uses her foot and pulls her chakram out of the dirt, which she tosses into her hand.

XENA
Now!

The Amazons all reach into the dirt and pull out swords.

XENA
Me and this army.

Xena and the Amazons fight the Romans.

XENA
Ah-h-h!

Most of the Romans are killed and the rest are knocked unconscious. Carminus runs to a horse. Amarice moves to follow him.

XENA
No! Let him go.

Carminus rides off.

AMARICE
He'll warn Pompey!

XENA
That's right. I want him to.

EXTRA
Get up! Get back here.

XENA
(to all) Round up all the men that are still alive.
I want you to take 'em back to the village.

EXTRA
Come on!

XENA
That's where Pompey'll be headed next.

AMARICE
Lucky for them, we've got just the queen
for the situation.

Xena glares at her.

AMARICE
Sorry.

EXTRA
Chicken!

AMARICE
But I did good. I really fooled them.

XENA
Yes, ya did. Now get moving.

EXTRA
Come on! Chicken.

XENA
You've got your orders. I'm gonna ride ahead.

Xena leaves.

EXTRA
Let's go!

Amarice moves off.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pompey's tent.

POMPEY
Xena. Always Xena. I get this close to
victory and she turns up. I used to think all her
hatred was reserved for Caesar. Now I'm beginning
to wonder.

CARMINUS
She does have a habit of...getting in the way?

POMPEY
Yes and you let her save those Amazons!
She's taking money from me! Money that I need.
(to guard) Break camp. We move back to Amazon
land by morning.

The guard leaves.

CARMINUS
They'll be ready this time.

POMPEY
Xena's left me no choice. We attack, only this
time, we don't leave any behind.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night. Amarice watches.

EXTRA
Break camp! We strike at dawn!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brutus is led into the queen's hut.

GABRIELLE
Leave us.

The Amazons leave. Gabrielle moves to Brutus.

GABRIELLE
We want to talk about peace between Xena
and Caesar.

BRUTUS
Impossible. Can you blame Caesar for hating
Xena? Look at all she's done to him.

GABRIELLE
(whispers) What?

BRUTUS
Xena interfered in Caesar's war with Pompey.
He would have been out of the picture long ago
if it wasn't for her.

GABRIELLE
Xena was trying to stop a war.

BRUTUS
And why do ya think there was a war?!
Because of Pompey! He opposes everything
Caesar wishes for Rome. Peace, prosperity, a
return to the republic.

GABRIELLE
We really know different Caesars.

BRUTUS
Caesar doesn't care about the Amazons. What
happened was an accident. We can make sure
it doesn't happen again.

GABRIELLE
I can. As queen of the Amazons, I propose
a treaty of peace to Caesar. We're not afraid to
fight or to die. Guards!

The Amazons enter.

BRUTUS
You surprise me. I accept. Contingent on Caesar's
approval, of course. And Xena.

Brutus is led out.

GABRIELLE
What do you think?

Xena steps out of an adjoining room.

XENA
Well he's not Caesar, but he may be the chink
in Caesar's armour.

Amarice runs in.

AMARICE
Xena! Pompey's turned his army around. He'll
be here by morning.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pompey's army is on the move.

EXTRA
Fall in your lines! Tighten up those ranks!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amazon village. Xena moves along the lines. The Amazons build their defenses.

EXTRA
I'll get the other one!

XENA
Fell those trees! We need clear sightlines! Make
the breastworks half-height. We may need to jump
over them. Amarice?! Get the prisoners.

CHILAPA
Xena-

EXTRA
Bring 'em in.

CHILAPA
-we've got scouts trailing them, but they outnumber
us three-to-one.

EXTRA
Come on.

XENA
That's all right. He'll come straight on.

CHILAPA
Is he that foolish?

EXTRA
Stay still.

XENA
No, but he's that angry.

An Amazon steps before Xena with a Roman prisoner.

XENA
Tie him up.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amazons beat drums and dance.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Romans are tied to X shaped logs before the Amazon camp.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amazons dance.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Romans are tied to the 'X's.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amazons dance.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Romans are tied to the 'X's. Xena moves along the lines. Gabrielle enters.

GABRIELLE
Xena, I brought Brutus. He-

Gabrielle sees the men tied up.

GABRIELLE
What is this?

AMARICE
Isn't it great? Pompey's gotta get through his
own men just to get to us. And when he does,
we light the pit.

GABRIELLE
You light a pit?

AMARICE
This one's filled with oil. While they're trying to
untie their men, we toss in a torch and poof!
Pompey-cue.

XENA
Amarice.

GABRIELLE
(whispers) Xena-

XENA
Gabrielle, Pompey outnumbers us. We need
every advantage we can get.

GABRIELLE
You put them on crosses.

XENA
If that's what it takes to preserve Ephiny's tribe,
then that's what I'll do.

BRUTUS
Trade me to Pompey.

GABRIELLE
He'll only kill you.

BRUTUS
Pompey needs money. His supplies are low
and he has to pay his mercenaries. He'll risk
everything because he's desperate. He can sell
me to the pirates for more than he could've
gotten for your Amazons.

XENA
He'll only use you against Caesar himself.

BRUTUS
Either way, he'll be certain of getting his money
and there would be no reason to risk losing
his army here.

AMARICE
Are we gonna believe him? It's a trick.

CHILAPA
Xena, you'd better come to the top of the hill. Quickly.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hill.

CHILAPA
There. To the south of us.

It's Caesar's army.

GABRIELLE
I thought Pompey was coming from the north.

XENA
He is. That's-

BRUTUS
Xelifus. The legion I was to command when I
located Pompey. Caesar's taken advantage
of the situation.

Xena looks over to the North to see Pompey's army.

EXTRA
Stay together!

XENA
Pompey hits us from the north and Caesar hits
us from the south. In getting to Pompey, Caesar
wants to obliterate us.

END OF ACT THREE



ACT FOUR

On the hill.

EXTRA
Centurion!

EXTRA
Keep in formation!

XENA
Brutus, if I hand you over to Pompey he's going
to kill you.

EXTRA
Come on!

BRUTUS
I'm willing to take that chance and I don't think
you have much choice.

XENA
That's where you're wrong. I do have choices.
I've had choices since we first captured you.

EXTRA
That's it men! Come on!

XENA
No I think I'd rather give you back to Caesar.

Xena draws her sword and cuts Brutus free.

EXTRA
Forward!

XENA
(to Amarice) Cut down the Romans and take
them to the rear.

AMARICE
What about our defense?

XENA
If my plan works, we won't need them. And besides
...we don't kill just for the sake of it.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brutus rides to Xelifus. Xelifus touches his fist to his chest and then hold it out. Brutus returns the gesture.

XELIFUS
Brutus. We were told you were captured by the Amazons.

BRUTUS
I'm taking command, Xelifus.

XELIFUS
The honour of command is yours as always.

BRUTUS
Give the order to wheel eastward. We're taking
Pompey from the side.

XELIFUS
Yes sir, immediately.

BRUTUS
And bring up the artillery. We're gonna blast a
path right through to Pompey's command, starting
from that hill.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pompey watches his men as they attack.

EXTRA
Char-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-ge!

The soldiers charge.

XENA
Ready.

The Amazons raise their bows.

XENA
And...fi-i-i-i-i-ire!

Arrows fly and the Romans kneel, holding up their shields.

XENA
First wave atta-a-a-ack!

A line of Amazons charges. Amarice rises.

AMARICE
Ah-h-h-h-h-h!

Xena pulls her back.

AMARICE
What are you doing?!

Explosions start to go off from Brutus' catapults.

XENA
(to all) Pull back! Now!

EXTRA
Get the Romans!

EXTRA
Kill him!

XENA
Amarice I need you to do something for me.
I need you to stay here and hold the line.

AMARICE
Right, count on it.

XENA
One more thing. Protect Gabrielle.

AMARICE
Are you kidding me?

XENA
You heard me. Do as I say.

Xena runs off.

AMARICE
(to waiting Amazons) Hold! Hold!

Xena mounts Argo. She yells and rides through the line onto the battlefield.

AMARICE
(to Gabrielle) You better get back to camp. You
might get hurt.

GABRIELLE
You don't know me very well.

Xena rides through the Romans, killing all in her way. The Romans and Amazons fight.

GABRIELLE
Hold your positions! We have to wait and give
Xena more time! Hold the line.

Xena yells as she rides through the Romans.

GABRIELLE
For Ephiny!

EXTRAS
For Ephiny!

The Amazons charge into the battle.

GABRIELLE
Ephiny-y-y-y-y!

AMARICE
Go! Go! Go!

GABRIELLE
Ephiny-y-y-y-y!

A javelin is thrown at Gabrielle.

AMARICE
Duck!

Amarice jumps and pushes Gabrielle down.

GABRIELLE
Thanks.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amazons and Romans fight.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carminus moves over to Brutus.

CARMINUS
Pompey Magnus, Brutus is approaching from
the east. We have to disengage with the
Amazons and turn-

POMPEY
No! We stay and we fight!

Xena ululates. Pompey mouths "Xena."

POMPEY
Xena. To ar-r-r-r-r-rms!

Several of the men with Pompey move to attack Xena, but an explosion goes off behind them and kills them. Two more men charge. Xena ululates and flips off of Argo. Xena takes care of the Romans. Carminus attacks and Xena kills him. Pompey attacks Xena. She knocks him to his knees and holds her sword above, ready to kill him.

POMPEY
Wait! If you kill me, Caesar gains control.
You know it and I know it. That's the balance I
give you, Xena. It's always been like that. And
you may hate us both, but without one you can't
control the other. Now if you let me live, well...we
can't destroy the world if we're trying to destroy
each other now, can we? Hmm?

Xena turns and walks off. Pompey stands and raises a dagger to kill Xena. Xena turns and cuts his head off.

XENA
It's not about balance anymore.

The battle is over. The Amazons cheer.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xelifus walks with Brutus.

XELIFUS
Pompey's army is scattered. We're ready to move
the legion into the area near the hill.

BRUTUS
No. No, that's Amazon land. We stay out.

EXTRA
Rider approaching!

Xena rides up on Argo. The Amazons help the injured behind her.

BRUTUS
Well your plan worked.

XENA
If you wanna stay alive don't mention my name
to Caesar. The plan was yours.

BRUTUS
Xena, your vision of Caesar is blinded by hatred.
He is the only hope to restore the democracy
of the republic.

XENA
And a man like you would do well in his democracy,
huh? Brutus, your faith in Caesar is misplaced.
One day you're going to have to decide whether
your Caesar's man or your own.

BRUTUS
Never. I know Caesar. He wouldn't betray a friend.

XENA
Pompey was a friend. And Crassus. Wasn't
Crassus a friend, too? I was once a very good
friend of his. But maybe you're special.

Xena drops a bag at Brutus' feet.

XENA
Remember, this was your doing.

Xena rides off.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caesar's Palace in Rome.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inside the palace. Brutus drops the sack Xena gave him at Caesar's feet. Caesar picks it up and looks inside.

CAESAR
Pompey's changed his hairstyle. Too bad.

BRUTUS
I'm afraid I was unable to bring him back alive
as you requested Caesar.

CAESAR
Alive or dead, no matter, he's out of Rome's way.
Now the future can begin.

BRUTUS
This is a personal message from the queen of
the Amazons to Caesar, ruler of all of Rome.
A peace treaty. The queen of the Amazons promises
to respect the territories of...

Caesar lights the treaty on fire.

CAESAR
If they're not under my control Brutus, they're a
threat. There was a rumour that Xena was
headed towards the Amazons. Any word of that?

BRUTUS
No. Not that I'm aware of.

CAESAR
Hmm, well, her time will come. Thank you, Brutus.
You're a loyal friend.

Caesar leaves.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amazon village. Ephiny's pyre is lit. Amazon sing, dance and mourn. Xena and Gabrielle watch, sad looks on their faces. Chilapa moves to Gabrielle, who holds the Queen's mask.

CHILAPA
Are you sure?

GABRIELLE
Chilapa, you would make a better queen than I.

CHILAPA
But you have wisdom that I don't have.

Gabrielle hands her the mask.

GABRIELLE
There's a trick to that. When you need to make a
decision, think of Ephiny. Do what she would do.

Chilapa moves off.

GABRIELLE
It's so unreal, Xena. I don't know why I don't just cry.

XENA
Maybe you're trying too hard or maybe part of you
knows that Ephiny didn't die in vain. She made a
difference with her life and in her death she
became a symbol. One way or another, the
Amazons will go on.

Amarice moves over to them.

AMARICE
Well, when do we leave?

XENA
I thought you were staying here with the tribe.

AMARICE
I gave it a shot; long enough to know it's not my
place. I mean, they're all great and everything,
but they treat me like a kid.

GABRIELLE
You are a kid.

AMARICE
Right, and you're a warrior. Besides I need to
see more of the world. I was thinkin' about what
you said, Xena, about not finding my answers
at the end of a sword and it seemed to make
sense. Then I started thinkin' about old Pompey,
and it seems to me he found an answer at the
end of yours.

GABRIELLE
Amarice, did you not find any philosophy behind
those words?

AMARICE
Yeah, kick butt and take names later.

XENA
(to Gabrielle) It's gonna take some time.

AMARICE
So where are we headed?

XENA
That way.

AMARICE
Perfect. Exactly where I was thinking we'd go.

Amarice leaves.

XENA
Trouble. So you ready-

Gabrielle moves down and towards the pyre. She starts to cry and Xena holds her. Xena doesn't cry, but she looks sad. Chilapa puts on the mask of the queen and the Amazons dance and mourn the death of Ephiny.

END OF ACT FOUR


STARRING
Lucy Lawless as Xena
Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle

GUEST CAST
Jennifer Sky as Amarice
Danielle Cormack as Ephiny
Karl Urban as Caesar
Jeremy Callaghan as Pompey
David Franklin as Brutus
Stephen Butterworth as Carminus
Nicole Whippy as Chilapa
Tony Wood as Xelifus

Written by: Steven L. Sears
Directed by: Garth Maxwell

Disclaimer: Pompey's reign came to a head during the production of this motion picture.