Seeds of Faith
This transcript is dedicated to the memory of Kevin Smith.
For as long as we can remember-
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-we've been slaves to the gods.
EXTRA
He's right.
PETRACLES
It's time we take our lives back into our own hands!
VILLAGER #1
But if we defy them, they'll destroy us.
PETRACLES
That's what they want you to believe. The gods
rule through fear! But it's they who are Afraid.
Afraid we'll realize the truth!
VILLAGER #2
How are we supposed to fight them? They're immortal.
PETRACLES
Our teacher will show you the way, as he's shown us.
VILLAGER #1
Are you out of your minds?! Defy the gods and
you'll bring their wrath down on all of us.
EXTRA
Yes.
VILLAGER #1
Have you forgotten what happened to Ulysses?
Or the carnage at Troy?
PETRACLES
Some of us don't want to live in fear anymore.
VILLAGER #1
I will not let you put us all in danger.
PETRACLES
I'm sure your heart is in the right place but we're
doin' this to save you too.
I'm warning you.
All right, ease off. You'll all be much more comfortable
walking without a limp.
Gabrielle!
What's the matter? He gonna hit you with his hankie?
GABRIELLE
I--I thought that he had a weapon.
XENA
(to Petracles) What's going on here?
PETRACLES
Just a disagreement. Thanks for stoppin' it before
it got out of hand.
XENA
It did get out of hand.
Just when things were startin' to get fun you have
to go spoil my good time.
XENA
Ares at a village squabble? You must be bored.
ARES
You on the other hand, have been keeping yourself
busy. I wish I'd known you were lookin' for a father.
XENA
I'm not.
ARES
Oh? Well somebody clearly got the job.
XENA
Yeah, Gabrielle.
ARES
I would have paid to see that.
GABRIELLE
Hm-m.
XENA
All right Ares, what are you doing here? I can't
imagine that a petty civil dispute would get you
up in the morning.
ARES
Those men you saved are part of a growing
movement. A movement that incites people to
disobey the gods.
XENA
So you're worried that this could be the beginning
of the Twilight.
ARES
It's a myth.
XENA
(whispers) You are.
GABRIELLE
What is the Twilight?
XENA
The fates spoke of a time when mankind would
no longer need the gods and they would lose
their power.
GABRIELLE
If it's just a myth Ares, then what are you worried about?
ARES
Let's just say I believe in being thorough. I don't
like taking chances.
XENA
Then we have a problem, because these people
are entitled to believe anything they want to.
We're not gonna stand by and see you take that
right away from them.
ARES
I warn you, get in my way this time you leave me no choice.
XENA
You threatening me?
You're afraid.
The decisions you make don't just affect you
anymore Mom, they affect your child. And I would
hate to have to kill you both.
ACT ONE
Why are you doing that?
GABRIELLE
Nine out of ten times the first strike means victory.
XENA
We're not at war Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
Don't patronize me.
XENA
It's just you've been so quick to pull those things
lately, when words have always been your
strongest weapon.
GABRIELLE
Do you have a point?
XENA
Yes. Couldn't we have settled that argument back
there without busting heads, huh?
GABRIELLE
Xena I made a bad call. There was a time I used
to pull you off anyone who looked at you sideways.
XENA
I guess I'm starting to think like a mother, huh?
GABRIELLE
Yeah, but I'm not your child. I can handle situations
like that.
PETRACLES
Xena I wanna thank you for escorting us.
XENA
Oh.
PETRACLES
You know, unfortunately, some people don't
understand what we're trying to achieve but in
time the world will hear our teacher's message.
GABRIELLE
Who's your teacher?
PETRACLES
His name is Eli.
It's a time to celebrate!
ELI
We don't need a sacred dagger! Love, is the only
weapon we need!
EXTRA
Yes!
EXTRA
This is true!
It's a weapon the gods neither have, nor understand
and so they can't defend themselves against it!
True love cannot exist without the risk of loss.
The gods are immortal, my friends. What can
an immortal possibly know about loss?
EXTRA
That's right Eli.
ELI
We don't need to fear them anymore. It's their
turn to fear us!
Eli.
Gabrielle. What are you doing here?
GABRIELLE
Looking for you.
ELI
Xena.
Hi.
ELI
You're with child.
XENA
Yup.
ELI
You look beautiful.
XENA
Thank you. I see you found yourself some new
friends, huh?
ELI
Every day more and more people are embracing
the Way of Love.
XENA
Are you sure they're getting the right message?
ELI
What do you mean?
XENA
Eli, these people think that you're going to lead
them in a war against the gods.
ELI
It's not a war of violence. It's a war of peace.
XENA
How does that work?
ELI
The time of the Olympians is over Xena. The gods
have no choice but to give us what is rightfully ours.
GABRIELLE
Not without a fight they won't.
ELI
Let them come. Love will be our shield and
our weapon.
XENA
What if love isn't strong enough? Are you gonna
take the chance that these people could die in
your name?
ELI
I never ask them to do anything I'm not prepared
to do myself.
DISCIPLE
Teacher, the food is prepared.
ELI
Thank you. (to Xena and Gabrielle) Come, join us.
XENA
No, no, no. I've got some things to take care of.
You go ahead.
EXTRA
No more weapons!
Heal the spirit!
He has desecrated the temple! He is turning the
people against you.
Do you think I don't know what goes on in my
own temples, Milos?
MILOS
Of course not master. It's just that I thought he
would have been destroyed on the spot, you know?
Fireball, lightning, one of your trademark executions.
ARES
Still, he has become more of a pest than I'd anticipated.
MILOS
Well...if this keeps up you run the risk of losing
your worshippers.
ARES
Then it's high time I paid Eli a visit. Fear...always
makes a good impression.
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Fresh vegetables.
ELI
You've been quiet all afternoon. What's wrong?
GABRIELLE
I feel like I've disappointed you.
EXTRA
Olive oil! Freshest around!
GABRIELLE
You're walking through life preaching peace and
Xena and I have swords in our hands.
ELI
What, you feel like you've made the wrong choice?
EXTRA
Give us a hand.
GABRIELLE
Yeah, I mean no. My heart says that you're right,
that everything you say makes sense. But then
my head tells me that sometimes the only answer
is to fight.
ELI
Sometimes I feel the same way.
GABRIELLE
But you seem so sure of yourself, like you have
no doubt about your cause.
ELI
Everyone lives with doubt Gabrielle. This is the
path I've chosen. I just hope I have the strength
to see it through. At least you've got Xena to buoy
you in these times of doubt.
GABRIELLE
She's afraid I'm becoming numb to the violence.
Look, I'm not. Believe me.
ELI
I do believe you. Besides, you could never
disappoint me.
Ah-h-h-h-h-h...touching!
GABRIELLE
What do you want?
ARES
Want? I'm here to make Eli an offer. Forget your
pathetic crusade.
ELI
Or what?
ARES
Oh, I'll think of something.
EXTRA
That's right.
ELI
You've had plenty of time to kill me Ares, yet here
I am. Now why is that?
ARES
I'm a sportsman. I wanna give you a fighting chance.
ELI
Then perhaps under all that rage there's a little
compassion after all.
I wouldn't confuse caution with compassion if I
were you, Eli. The only reason you're still standing
here...is that a good tactician does not make
a move until he's seen all the angles. My advice?
Walk away Eli. You'll save a great many lives,
including your own.
Hello Xena.
What are you doing here? I thought you were
supposed to be floating on a cloud someplace.
CALLISTO
Thanks to you. You saved me from an eternity
in Hell and for that I owe you my soul.
XENA
You don't owe me anything.
CALLISTO
I've been purified by the waters of Heaven and
yet, still all you see in me is a black heart.
XENA
I know that the old Callisto is dead but she's alive
in my memory. Don't expect too much from me.
I've come here to ask you not to interfere with Eli.
He'll handle Ares on his own terms.
XENA
Ares' army's about to march on Pylos. Eli thinks
he can stop them with a kind word. He can't. All
I'm gonna do is give him a fighting chance.
Eli has a destiny to fulfill. He's brought hope to
the world and if that's to survive, he's gonna have
to face this challenge alone.
Look here boys. First catch of the day.
ACT TWO
Am I gettin' too old for this? Na-a-a-h.
Now tell me, which direction are you hitting Pylos from?
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I've been sent in answer to your prayers. The
kingdom of Heaven is beautiful Eli.
ELI
The kingdom of Earth is beautiful too Angel. My
place has always been among the people.
CALLISTO
And it always will be.
ELI
Are you sure this is how it has to be? Isn't there
some other way?
CALLISTO
The new world can only be built on the foundation
of the old one. The order of the gods must fall.
And you Eli, are the hammer. There is no reason
to be afraid. Your faith is stronger than any who
have come before you.
ELI
Until now.
CALLISTO
You said it yourself. "All fear is the fear of loss
and only through that fear can we truly love." You
wouldn't have been chosen if you weren't afraid.
Remember...in everything you do we are always
with you.
Xena.
Eli! Come here. Ares' army is on the move. Pretty
soon they'll be coming over the bridge north of
the village. If we leave now I can get you and your
people to safety through the southern pass.
ELI
I'm not leaving Xena.
GABRIELLE
Eli these people are in danger.
XENA
I might not share your view Eli. I am trying to respect
it. But you gotta listen to me. You have to pick and
choose your battles.
ELI
I have Xena. I appreciate your concern for me
but I have to handle this in my own way.
XENA
Ares is a god. You can't win this.
ELI
Maybe not this battle but you should know,
sometimes you have to lose a few to win the war.
GABRIELLE
Eli.
So much for convincing people with words. Gabrielle
I need you to stay here. Make sure nothing happens
to Eli before I get back.
Sorry boys, the bridge is closed.
If we are united in the spirit of love-
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-then no one can stand against us. If we are
joined in peace and friendship, then we have
no need of the gods.
You really are quite the salesman.
Such passion. I am truly honoured that I get you
so worked up. People, Eli is lying to you. He's
gonna lead you all to your deaths.
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The only thing these people are being led to is
the truth.
ARES
The truth. (to all) The truth is, I am a god. I decide
whether you live or die.
ELI
We can make the same choice for ourselves.
ARES
I really don't have time to debate this with you.
Now, I'm gonna give you one last chance.
Eli...
It's all right.
No Ares, I'm gonna give you one last chance.
No Gabrielle! If you save my life with violence,
the future will pay the price.
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Eli!
ELI
Now I understand my calling, now. Please, it's
for the greater good. Believe me.
ARES
Enough talk.
Gabrielle, please! I've never asked anything of you.
So I'm asking you now...have faith in me.
ARES
(to people) Since the beginning of time, it's been
warriors who have shaped the world!
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That's about to change.
ARES
I don't usually take matters into my own hands,
but in your case...
...I'm gonna make an exception.
Help me!
EXTRA
Hold on!
EXTRA
Hold on!
EXTRA
Grab her hand!
Eli?
This can't be.
No-o-o-o-o-o-o!
ACT THREE
What happened?
GABRIELLE
Ares uh...I... (whispering) I don't know.
DISCIPLE
She let Ares kill him! She betrayed us all! She
should be punished!
EXTRA
That's right!
EXTRA
Yes!
XENA
Is that what Eli would have you do?! Huh?! Try
to find a scapegoat when you should be banding
together?! Oh Eli.
GABRIELLE
I believed him.
XENA
You defended him, didn't you?
You defended him, didn't you?
GABRIELLE
Don't you blame me.
XENA
You put up a fight, didn't you?
GABRIELLE
Don't you dare blame me! Don't you dare
blame me!
XENA
(whispering) You didn't put up a fight?
GABRIELLE
Xena, you were gone! I did what he asked me
to do!
XENA
What about what I asked you to do?!
The only reason that people like Eli exist is
because people like us defend them when they
won't defend themselves!
GABRIELLE
So Ares is right?! The whole future is shaped
by warriors?!
When I first met you, you barely had the skill to
skip a rock. I guess Xena's been a positive
influence on ya after all.
You're gettin' pretty good with these.
Not good enough! You!
You did it! You did it!
ARES
I did what I had to do.
I didn't.
Don't be so hard on yourself Gabrielle. It was
selfish of Eli to put you in that position. You can't
fool me Gabrielle. I can see you know the truth.
GABRIELLE
What truth is that?
ARES
That might is right, even when it's wrong.
GABRIELLE
You don't know what I believe.
I can see into your heart Gabrielle. I know you're
trying to do the right thing. You'd have no regrets
if you listened to your head instead of Eli. Imagine
how it could be if you had the power to save him.
Let me show you what it feels like.
That is how I feel every moment of every day. It
is the power of the gods. And with it you can change
the world. Isn't that what you've always wanted?
Eli lived and died by his message and as long
as you keep it in your heart his spirit will live on.
XENA
I'm not much for flowery sentiment. I'm not gonna
start now.
What can I do to ease your pain?
XENA
Nothing. You wanted him dead.
CALLISTO
Eli's death was not arbitrary Xena.
XENA
I know that! You set it in motion!
CALLISTO
This isn't an ending. It's a beginning. Eli will continue
the cycle of life, as a soul that's reincarnated
into a new body.
I liked him just fine in the old one! And what about
Gabrielle? She's suffering because she's caught
up in the middle of your game.
CALLISTO
I'm afraid Ares will cause her the real harm.
XENA
That's why I'm going after him.
I realize you may never believe this but I care
about Gabrielle and about you.
XENA
Well if that's true, you can take me to the dagger
of Helios. They say that no person on Earth knows
where it is, which is why I'm betting you do.
CALLISTO
I don't know if I can do that.
XENA
Well, why not? Doesn't your God believe in free will?
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Is this your big accomplishment Eli? If I hadn't
listened to you...I wouldn't be talking to your ashes.
You probably think that I'm betraying you by
standing with Ares, but I am just trying to use his
knowledge for a greater good. I keep telling
myself that. You believed in me Eli...but you
always knew that we were on a separate path.
Have faith in me now.
Eli chose his path, now you choose yours.
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I've remained in this realm, simply to help you
along. So if it's the dagger you want-
-it's what you'll get.
The dagger of Helios. The power to kill a god.
CALLISTO
Consider this: by killing Ares, are you honouring
Eli's memory?
XENA
Eli's dead. Now we do things my way.
Listen. Please listen. I've spent my time in Heaven
trying to reconcile the monster I was with the
being that I am now. And I've come to realize we
are all born of two natures Xena, good and evil.
The side we choose to nurture defines who we are.
XENA
Last person I need a morality lesson from is you.
CALLISTO
If you won't listen to me, then listen to Eli. He
sacrificed himself to make it easier for people to
follow the way of peace.
XENA
Like sheep to the slaughter. It's easy to preach
peace when you live in Heaven. Where I come
from, you've gotta fight for what you believe in. Why
don't you come along? It's not every day you get
to witness the Twilight of the gods. It should be
a good show.
ACT FOUR
Your precious Eli is dead. So is his crusade.
PETRACLES
No! His spirit lives on in all of us!
EXTRA
Yes!
PETRACLES
Eli! Eli!
EXTRA
Eli!
PETRACLES and EXTRA
Eli! Eli! Eli! Eli! Eli! Eli! Eli! Eli! Eli! Eli! Eli! Eli! Eli!
Eli! Eli!
I'm glad to see your faith is strong...because
you're gonna die with it.
Not if I can help it.
ARES
Uh, gee Gabrielle, I'm kind of in the middle of
sum'in' here. We'll continue our lesson later.
GABRIELLE
It's actually a lesson for you. Something I learned
from Xena a long time ago.
ARES
Oh please, enthrall me with your insight.
Peace is worth fighting for!
ARES
Oh really.
Why the return to form? I thought you'd given up
on Xena.
GABRIELLE
It would take more than you to do that.
ARES
Hm-m-m-m. I guess this means it's over between
us. Oh well, your loss.
GABRIELLE
What do you know about loss?
You'll always be a goodie-two-shoes.
GABRIELLE
Yeah, but with a really big sword.
I warned you about gettin' in my way again.
You took the words right out of my mouth.
Make a move on me. Please.
ARES
A dagger? You're gonna have to do better than that.
XENA
The dagger of Helios. So no I don't.
ARES
How'd you get it?
XENA
Let's just say I have friends in high places.
ARES
Even if you kill me, you've already lost. Eli's dead!
XENA
Then it's only fair that you pay for his life with yours.
We don't need a sacred dagger! Love, is the
only weapon we need!
GABRIELLE
So Ares is right?! The whole future is shaped
by warriors?!
CALLISTO
If you won't listen to me, then listen to Eli. He
sacrificed himself to make it easier for people to
follow the way of peace.
GABRIELLE
I believed him.
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Come on. Do it!
XENA
When you killed Eli, you made sure that his cause
would never die. It's what he wanted Ares. You
played right into his hands. Now you're hopin'
that I'll play into yours.
ARES
Sounds to me like the rationale of a coward.
XENA
I'm gonna do worse than kill you. I'm gonna spare
your life.
And what makes you think I'm gonna spare yours?
XENA
You martyr me to Eli's cause Ares and you make
it twice as strong. It's the beginning of the end.
Enjoy your reign while it lasts. The Twilight's
upon you.
You make no mistake, we're gonna see each
other again, when we've got a little more privacy.
XENA
Count on it.
ARES
(to Gabrielle) And you, I could 'a given you the world.
GABRIELLE
You can't give me what you don't have.
(whispers) I'm sorry.
XENA
Gabrielle, I shouldn't have blamed you for Eli's
death. I'm-
GABRIELLE
Xena I was blaming myself. I'm sorry.
No, I'm sorry.
Your enduring faith in one another is the greatest
miracle of all.
Eli?
ELI
Thank you Xena...for keeping my cause alive.
XENA
I had help.
ELI
Thank you Gabrielle for listening to your heart.
Like I said, you can never disappoint me.
Xena, my time has come to be reincarnated into
the mortal world and the body that will bear my
spirit has been ordained. I can think of no greater
mother than you.
XENA
It was you all along? You gave me this child.
CALLISTO
In the past, I destroyed your life Xena.
XENA
And I destroyed yours. Maybe it's time that we
both gave back what we once took from each other.
Love is the way.
STARRING
Lucy Lawless as Xena
Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle
GUEST CAST
Hudson Leick as Callisto
Kevin Smith as Ares
Timothy Omundson as Eli
James Gaylyn as Petracles
Peter Rowley as Milos
Ross Brannigan as Villager #1
Tim Beveridge as Villager #2
Greg Ward as Villager #3
Ann Baxter as Disciple
Albert Heimuli as Head Soldier
Written by: George Strayton and Tom Oneill
Directed by: Garth Maxwell
Disclaimer: Thanks to Eli's non-violent ways, many people lost their lives during the production of this motion picture.
