The Convert
Come on! Let's get outta here!
EXTRA
She's too much for us!
EXTRA
Let's go!
EXTRA
Quickly!
Are you all right?
By the gods.
Save them.
GABRIELLE
Save who?
DYING ACOLYTE
The novitiates. Kryton took-
Where? Kryton took them where?
No! Stop!
KRYTON
I said answer me!
EXTRA
You can cry all you want if you-
Tell me who sent you!
Last chance. Either you tell me or tell it to Hades.
XENA
There's a thought. Why don't you tell him yourself?
My eyes!
Najara?
Kryton's dead!
EXTRA
Come on!
EXTRA
Let's get outta here! Move!
EXTRA
Run! Run!
ACT ONE
You all right?
JOXER
Yeah.
NOVITIATE #1
You saved us! He was a monster!
NOVITIATE #2
Thank you! Bless you!
Xena.
XENA
Najara. What are you doing here? Don't
tell me ya got time off for good behaviour.
NAJARA
I escaped.
GABRIELLE
I think he broke some ribs.
NAJARA
I'll be all right.
XENA
Stay put.
Ah-h-h-h-h!
XENA
Nope, nuthin' broken. Just a few cuts and bruises
and, uh...
...a mild concussion, it looks like. We'll have to
carry her outta here.
Joxer, we gotta get moving. Joxer?
JOXER
Yeah. I'm fine. What's the problem?
XENA
That woman you saved, Najara...she and I have
a checkered history. It turns out she just broke
out of prison.
YOUNG NOVITIATE
I don't believe it. That woman risked her life trying
to free us. And when Kryton caught and beat her
she never even raised a hand against him. She's
not a criminal. She's a saint.
XENA
Then maybe you and your friends would like to
help us rig a litter for your saint. A few good-sized
branches ought to do it. And vines.
JOXER
What are we gonna do?
XENA
Get her healthy and then take her back to jail.
JOXER
What about him?
XENA
We'll take him back to the village. They can deal with it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hold it, folks. Word is somebody around here
killed the warlord, Kryton.
JOXER
I did.
MAGISTRATE
Mind if I see for myself?
That's Kryton, all right. I'd like to buy the man, who
killed that son of a bacchae a drink.
Come on, you can tell me all about it.
Excuse me, where's the local apothecary?
TOWNSMAN
End of the street. On your left.
Thanks.
What happened?
GABRIELLE
She was choking on some water. (to Najara)
Are you all right?
NAJARA
Never better.
XENA
Excellent because the sooner you heal,
the sooner we can get you back to prison.
NAJARA
I've changed, Xena. I put down the sword.
XENA
And I'm the queen of Egypt.
GABRIELLE
You stopped fighting? Completely.
NAJARA
You think Kryton could do this to me if I hadn't?
XENA
Oh, Gabrielle, please, tell me you're not buying this.
GABRIELLE
Xena, the novitiates said she didn't fight back.
Now, would she look like this if it weren't true?
Come on, for God's sake, this woman needs help.
XENA
And she'll get it. I want you to go and set up
camp just outside of town. I'll go to the apothecary
and collect Joxer and then I'll meet you there...after
I've sent word to prison.
Then there was time when Kryton fed a man's
heart to a dog...while it was still beating. Yes, sir,
it takes a real man to stand up to Kryton, not to
mention the rest of his gang when they get word
he's dead.
You saying they'll take revenge?
MAGISTRATE
You let a man brand you it figures you're not going
to take his death lying down. And if the rumours
are true they won't be the only ones.
XENA
All right, I'll bite. What rumours?
MAGISTRATE
About his kid.
JOXER
What kid?
MAGISTRATE
Kryton's. Word is when his wife died in childbirth,
he had the boy shipped out to the academy in
Helios. At least, that's the story.
JOXER
Kryton has a son?
XENA
Okay Joxer the sooner we get out of here, the
sooner you'll sleep. Now, let's go.
JOXER
You're right.
XENA
Come on.
JOXER
I'm gonna tell him.
XENA
You're gonna tell who, what?
JOXER
Kryton's son. I'm gonna go to him. I'm gonna
explain things. I'm gonna explain everything.
XENA
No--no, no--no, Joxer, that's a really, really
noble idea, it is, but, uh, the chances of Kryton's
son understanding about your killing his father
are slim to none. Guess I could come along
as backup, though.
JOXER
No! No! I'm gonna do it myself. You know what,
Xena? You're always in everybody's business.
And this time, I'm gonna tell him by myself. Promise?
XENA
I promise.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This should take down the swelling.
NAJARA
Aren't you going to ask me?
GABRIELLE
Ask you what?
NAJARA
Why I gave up fighting.
GABRIELLE
I just assumed it was your voices telling you.
What did you call them? The jinn, right?
NAJARA
Yes, my spiritual guides. But you're wrong. The
truth is, the jinn stopped talking to me after you
and Xena left. It wasn't until I stopped fighting
that they returned. That's how I knew it was right.
GABRIELLE
Then what made you stop?
NAJARA
A while ago, a man came to our prison. He had
just returned from India and he spoke of a way
of life that seemed so right to me. A way
of peace. A way to break what he called-
GABRIELLE and NAJARA
The cycle of violence.
GABRIELLE
You met Eli. That's amazing. Xena and I knew
him in India. He changed my life.
NAJARA
I know. The same way he changed mine. I used
to justify my violence by saying it was for good.
Eli taught me that the greater good is to use no
violence at all. From that day on I stopped fighting
and vowed never to lift a sword again.
GABRIELLE
But if you stopped fighting, how did you escape?
NAJARA
A divine decree. The jinn move mysteriously.
They prepare a way for those who believe. So,
the next washing day, I hid amongst the prisoners'
laundry. And when they took it to the riverside I
escaped into the water. I must have swam for
miles. But I've been free ever since.
GABRIELLE
And what have you been doing?
NAJARA
Planting crops, helping harvest, mending clothes
working towards the day the jinn said would come.
The day you and I would meet again, united in
a common bond not even Xena shares.
GABRIELLE
The jinn said that?
NAJARA
We walk the same path, Gabrielle. Our lives are
dedicated to defeating evil, by promoting peace.
It's our way. The way Eli taught us. A reverence
for life. Stray from that path, whatever the reason,
the consequences could be devastating for everyone.
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
Yeah.
KRYTON
What's with the long face? You did it. You scored
your first kill.
JOXER
Go away.
KRYTON
Aw, come on. So what if you made some kid an
orphan? I've done it hundreds of times.
It's no biggie.
JOXER
You're the murderer.
KRYTON
So are you. Keep it up. Soon you'll be as bad as
me, 'cause underneath it all, we're just the same,
you and me. Two bad-ass, butt-kicking, slaughter-happy-
JOXER
Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Go away.
You talkin' to me?
JOXER
Xena.
XENA
Or are you just beating yourself up over Kryton?
Hmm? Joxer the guilt of killing never goes
away. Nor should it. But your first kill is definitely
the worst.
JOXER
How do you live with it?
XENA
I don't have a choice. And now, neither do you.
But doing what you're doing, going and
seeing Kryton's son, explaining things, it's gotta help.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm sorry I have to do this. I'll try not to hurt you.
Is that too tight?
Can you still sleep?
NAJARA
Like a baby. It's okay. Really. Xena's just being
true to her way. But if she thinks I'm going anywhere
now that I've found you and our path, she's crazy.
Good night Gabrielle.
Najara's asleep.
XENA
Good. Did you remember to tie her hands and feet?
Gabrielle?
GABRIELLE
Yes, I did.
XENA
Good. That little smoke compact you made was
pretty effective, huh?
GABRIELLE
Yeah, it seems to confuse them.
XENA
Still, I don't like you being in the thick of things
knowing you won't fight.
GABRIELLE
Xena, that's the beauty of my new techniques. I
can distract them without hurting anyone. Best
of all, no killing.
XENA
Hmm. Joxer's still pretty cut up about Kryton.
Think you can talk to him?
GABRIELLE
I don't know what to say. I keep remembering the
first time that I killed. I know it's strange,
but it still hurts.
XENA
Stranger if it didn't.
GABRIELLE
I'll try.
Xena, you'll never guess who's been teaching
Najara the path of non-violence. Eli. It's
amazing. He is living proof that peace really works.
Are you asleep?
Joxer, what you're doing, going to tell Kryton's
son, I think that's the bravest thing you've
ever done.
JOXER
I don't feel brave. I just feel bad.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
You're awfully quiet, Xena. But then you never
were one to waste words.
XENA
Nothing's changed.
NAJARA
Including me, is that it? You're wrong.
XENA
New outfit, new religion, same old wacko underneath.
NAJARA
Yet you claim to have changed. Why can't I? After
all, we both had the same inspiration. Gabrielle.
XENA
Ih.
NAJARA
But unlike you, I've changed my whole life for her.
You've just changed sides.
XENA
You hurt Gabrielle, and I will change you in ways
that are anything but peaceful.
NAJARA
You forget. Hurting Gabrielle is your job. Or
have those visions gone away? You know, the
visions of your death and hers? I
wanna share a life of peace with Gabrielle. You
wanna share a violent death. You tell me who's
the villain here, me or you?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(to Xena) I know you promised Joxer you wouldn't
interfere, but what happens if Kryton's son gets violent?
My assistant explained your business so I sent
for Kryton's son, Arman.
JOXER
Um, has he heard what happened yet?
HEADMASTER
No one knows anything at all, except me. Ah,
here he is now.
Arman, these people are here about your father.
Hi. I'm Joxer. Uh, this is Xena, Gabrielle and Najara.
ARMAN
Pleased to meet you. I can't tell you how long I've
waited for this.
GABRIELLE
You have?
ARMAN
Wouldn't you if your father was Kryton?
XENA
He's got a point.
ARMAN
I knew one day he'd send for me to ride beside
him, fighting evil, righting wrongs. Kryton the
Courageous and son.
JOXER
"Kryton the Courageous?"
ARMAN
I know. It's supposed to be a secret and all, but
an old nurse told me about him when I was little.
Guess she felt sorry for me 'cause I never got to
go home. But ever since then, the thought of my
father out there fightin' for good, has been like
a beacon of hope for me. A real-life hero. So,
where is he?
JOXER
Uh, he--h--he's, uh, um, he, um, h-uh, um-
XENA
Arman...your father's dead.
ARMAN
Dead? Wh--why? When?
XENA
He was killed in a fight yesterday. I'm sorry.
ARMAN
I'm gonna find the scum who killed my father and
when I do, I'm gonna spill his blood.
NAJARA
I know you're hurt and angry, but killing won't make
that go away.
GABRIELLE
Najara's right. Your father is gone. There's nothing
you can do to change that. But he was your hero.
As long as he continues to inspire you, he'll
never really die. I think that your father would
want you to stay here and finish school.
ARMAN
Oh, I will...just as soon as I've avenged him.
Wait. Arman, as long as you're set on leaving,
then why don't you travel awhile with us? Just
until you figure out something else.
Joxer, I'm just saying he's going to find out sometime.
JOXER
Well fine, but why does it have to be me?
Look, give me one good reason to tell him why
his father was a murderer and would've killed
ya if I hadn't'a stopped him.
XENA
Because it's the truth.
JOXER
Well it would really hurt him.
GABRIELLE
It would give him a chance to deal with it in an
honest way.
JOXER
It would break his heart.
XENA
She's just suggesting that you do what you said
you would.
JOXER
I'm not gonna tell him that his father was a murderer.
Every boy needs a hero.
XENA
Then be one.
JOXER
Okay, I already killed Kryton once. If you guys
wanna do it again that's fine with me.
Joxer...
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
This may hurt a bit. It's important if you want the
wounds to heal, you have to keep them cleaned.
Do you want me to stop?
NAJARA
No, it's not just that. It's what you said about healing
wounds. When I think about some of the wounds
I've caused, mortal wounds that'll never be healed,
I feel so ashamed.
GABRIELLE
I'm sure that's hard, but Najara you've turned your
life around. Take strength from that.
NAJARA
The jinn say the same thing.
GABRIELLE
Listen to them.
NAJARA
They also talk about that hospice we were gonna
start. Remember?
GABRIELLE
Yeah, I remember. A place whose only purpose
is to ease suffering. It was a good idea.
NAJARA
It still is.
GABRIELLE
Najara, I think what you're doing is wonderful.
Giving up fighting, working through peace and
starting a hospice would be good for you.
But it's not for me. My place is with Xena.
NAJARA
I know and it always will be, until her continuing
violence finally makes her do something even
you can't excuse.
GABRIELLE
That's not going to happen.
NAJARA
It has to. And then you will have to choose, not
between me and Xena, but between Xena and
your own soul.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey, Joxer! Look here!
Rabbit stew for dinner.
JOXER
Oh yeah, great.
Count me in. Killing someone always makes
me hungry.
XENA
You got a problem?!
PUNK
Not with you, with him. I hear you're the guy who k-
JOXER
You heard wrong. It's okay. No harm, no fowl.
PUNK
Hey! Wait! There's been some mistake!
JOXER
Nope. No mistake. It happens all the time. See
ya later.
PUNK
But back in town, they told me-
JOXER
They told you wrong. They told you wrong. I didn't
kill anybody, okay?
PUNK
Guess it's true. You sure don't look tough enough
to have killed-
Uh!
You wanna pick on someone? Pick on me?
PUNK
Done!
You're done, all right. Now, get outta here.
Okay, there ya go. Right, you're done.
Oh, you're welcome.
Xena.
XENA
Yeah.
GABRIELLE
Supper's ready.
XENA
Okay.
Xena.
XENA
Hm-m-m-m?
GABRIELLE
I've been thinking. I know there's no excuse for
what Najara did.
XENA
Sure, there is. She's a nut.
That was before she met Eli. He showed
her the truth. Now, all she wants to do is heal
people. Help them, you know? Give them hope.
XENA
Are you saying that we shouldn't take Najara
back to prison?
GABRIELLE
I just don't see the point if she's already reformed.
Isn't it better to have peaceful people around who
do good rather than people who fight?
XENA
Like me.
GABRIELLE
No, I'm not saying that. Xena you're trying to find
your true way, your path. Well, so is Najara.
XENA
Najara doesn't have a path. She follows
whatever path her voices tell her to. You don't
believe me? Test her. Say no to her. She'll blow
up in your face.
GABRIELLE
You have hardly-
XENA
Say no!
GABRIELLE
-spoken to her!
XENA
I don't have to! I'm sure that she says all the right
things. I'm sure she even believes them. But she's
a fanatic, Gabrielle. Don't trust her.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arman? Hey. Um, I, um, I--I, uh, wanted to tell you
thank you for, uh, saving me from that kid. And,
uh, I also wanted to tell you-
To tell you that, um, uh, that you're a--a--a hero
for doin' it. So, thanks.
ARMAN
Joxer wait. I know what you did back there. Xena
told me.
JOXER
She told you.
ARMAN
She said it was all your idea, comin' to tell me
about my father and all instead of letting me hear
it who knows how.
JOXER
Oh.
ARMAN
So, I'd say we were even, wouldn't you?
JOXER
Yes. We're even.
I hate this.
GABRIELLE
I've cooked better.
XENA
You said it.
JOXER
Not the food, this thing with Arman.
GABRIELLE
So, tell him the truth.
I don't believe you. My father was a hero.
He couldn't have done the things you say.
NAJARA
I know it's hard to hear, but it's true. Your father
had to be stopped. Joxer didn't want to kill
him. He had to.
ARMAN
Joxer...killed my father? Come on. Now I know
you're lying.
NAJARA
Go get his pack and I'll prove it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's a lie you know? My whole life. I'm not
a warrior.
What kind of warrior kills somebody then has
nightmares about it every night?
XENA
You're not alone in feeling guilty, Joxer. It's only natural.
JOXER
That's it, though. That's my point. It's not natural.
I killed somebody, so you know what that makes me?
I do. It makes you the first man that I'm
gonna kill.
END OF ACT THREE
ACT FOUR
How did you do it? Najara didn't tell me. What,
d'you hit him from behind?
XENA
Drop the knife, Arman.
ARMAN
Stay out of this, Xena. Tell me Joxer, how'd a moron
like you ever kill a warrior like my father?
JOXER
Uh, well, um, even morons get lucky, sometimes.
ARMAN
Your luck's just run out.
Arman, don't!
I couldn't letcha do it, Arman.
ARMAN
He killed my father!
Let it go, Arman.
ARMAN
I can't!
Give it up, Arman.
ARMAN
I want vengeance!
GABRIELLE
Well, then take it by letting Joxer go. For
him, living with what he has done is a fate worse
than death. 'Kryton the Courageous,' isn't
that what you called your father? Be brave, Arman.
Let Joxer live.
In memory of Kryton.
Why, Najara? Why didja tell him?
NAJARA
Because Gabrielle's right and everyone deserves
to know the truth about someone they love.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Going someplace?
ARMAN
Anyplace you're not.
XENA
Well, that's your choice. But before you make it,
you might wanna ask yourself who it was that Joxer
really killed.
ARMAN
Easy, my father.
XENA
That's one point of view.
ARMAN
You know another?
XENA
There's always another, Arman. In your dreams,
your father was Kryton the Courageous. But the
man that Joxer killed was dirt. Arman, you
don't need that dream anymore. You're one hundred
times the man your father ever was.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xena-
XENA
If you'll finish up, I'll saddle Argo, and we can get
outta here.
GABRIELLE
We can't leave Arman.
XENA
He left us, thanks to your little friend.
GABRIELLE
Najara was only trying to help.
XENA
Yeah, I heard.
GABRIELLE
Will you try to understand? You went to prison
after you were changed. You know what a waste that is.
XENA
That's what I'm trying to tell you. Najara hasn't changed.
GABRIELLE
And how do you know that?
XENA
Because I know her. She's the same
zealot she always was, only now she's even
more dangerous.
GABRIELLE
How is that?
XENA
'Cause she's won you over.
ARMAN
Xena!
What is it?
ARMAN
Kryton's men are coming for...
Let 'em. It'll be a relief.
ARMAN
No. You didn't kill my father. You killed a man I
didn't even know, an evil stranger who died
like he deserved. My father's not dead, Joxer.
He lives where he's always lived.
Right here. And that man, that man would call
you a hero.
Uh!
XENA
Get back!
Gabrielle and Najara, clear out!
Ah-h-h!
(to Joxer and Arman)You two take Argo and get
away from here! I'll cover! Now! Go!
Come on, Joxer!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get him!
EXTRA
Come on! Hurry!
You're dead!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here! Take my arm!
Xena!
Gabrielle! No!
GABRIELLE
No, no! She's hurt!
NAJARA
It's her way! Let her walk it alone.
GABRIELLE
Get off me!
You have to listen!
Don't you hear them? Sh! The jinn. Sh-h! Yes,
I understand.
You heard them!
GABRIELLE
No!
NAJARA
Don't say that!
The jinn get mad when you say that! Tell me you
heard them!
Back off, Najara. It's over.
NAJARA
Apparently not!
The light will triumph, Xena!
I told you you should've backed off.
Those jinn are cutting it mighty close.
Guide my hand to its destiny!
Do you think she'll ever wake up?
XENA
Who knows? Maybe her voices will call her back
home. In the meantime, the sisters will keep her
comfortable as long as she lives.
GABRIELLE
I really thought she had changed. You did.
XENA
So did you.
You've changed in ways that have shown me
choices I'd never have known without you.
GABRIELLE
Thanks. It's funny, it seems that when push comes
to shove, sometimes the only choice is to shov
back. But with this path that I'm on, I can't do that.
XENA
With me around, you won't have to. Hmm.
STARRING
Lucy Lawless as Xena
Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle
GUEST CAST
Ted Raimi as Joxer
Kathryn Morris as Najara
Mfundo Morrison as Armon
Darryl Brown as Kryton
Steve Wright as Magistrate
Dennis Hally as Headmaster
Stacey Edgar as Young Novitiate
Kevin Alexander as Punk
Nicholas Clark as Dying Acolyte
Susie Kleis as Novitiate #2
Mary Wilson as Novitiate #3
Dan Sharkey as Townsman
Written by: Chris Manheim
Directed by: Andrew Merrifield
Disclaimer: Argo's gastrointestinal condition was cleared up upon completion of this motion picture.
