PROMO TRANSCRIPTION
A WARRIOR, A WOMAN, A CHILD, AND A KING
Xena: I want to make sure this little party was just between us.
BOUND TOGETHER BY PROPHECY
Nemos: You're being seduced, it's a trick.
TORN APART BY JEALOUS RAGE
(Chakram cutting a rope that Pandora is hanging from)
(Xena spits fire)
Guard: Surrender now, and I'll spare your life.
Xena: You'll be dead in less than a second, or we can talk.
(Xena catching baby with Gabrielle covering her eyes)
XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS
TV GUIDE PROMO
Xena and Gabrielle set out to find the parents of an
abandoned baby, and discover that the infants's been marked for
death due to a prophecy declaring him a future threat to a local
king.
Xena employs stealthy maneuvers to protect an infant who an oracle claims will one day usurp a king's throone.
AIRING AND RATING INFORMATION
1st RELEASE: 09-25-95
An AA average of 4.8
Competition from Syndicated Action Dramas:
(1) HERCULES 10th with 5.6
(2) XENA 11th with 5.5
(3) STAR TEK DS9 12th with 5.3
(4) BAYWATCH 16th with 4.8
2nd RELEASE: 12-18-85
An AA average of 4.9
Competition from Syndicated Action Dramas:
(1) STAR TREK DS9 9th with 5.9
(2) HERCULES 15th with 5.4
(3) XENA (did not make top 20) 4.9
3rd RELEASE: 03-31-97
An AA average of 5.6
Competition from Syndicated Action Dramas:
(1) XENA 1oth with 5.6
(2) HERCULES 11th with 5.3
(3) STAR TREK DS9 12th with 5.2
(4) BAYWATCH 18th with 4.2
SYNOPSIS 1:
Pandora, who happens to be THE
Pandora's granddaughter is traveling around neurotically guarding
a box. Meanwhile, Xena and Gabrielle find a baby in the bulrushes
(can you say Moses?). Turns out a king is out to kill the baby
because of a prophecy saying that the child shall grow up and
depose the king (can you say Jason?). Xena and Gabrielle protect
the child from an evil captain of the guards who plots in secrecy
to overturn the king (can you say Saddam Hussein in Iraq in the
1960's?). Xena figures out that the king was meant to adopt the
baby since his own child died with its mother in childbirth. The
evil captain of the guard does not like this, so Xena kabobs him.
The king takes a liking to Pandora and he promises to guard her
little box.
SYNOPSIS 2:
A just king who recently lost his
wife and child was told that a child who was born in his kingdom
would be the next king. The king had an evil advisor/commander of
the army who had convinced the king that the child would become
king by overthrowing him.
Servants at the palace fearful for
the child, sent the baby floating in a basket down the river
(they obviously never took a logic class). Xena and Gabrielle
found the baby in the bulrushes. Then Xena and Gabrielle met up
with Pandora the III (THE Pandora's granddaughter), and
discovered Pandora had a severe neurosis about a box she carried.
If the box opened, said Pandora, then HOPE would be denied to
humans.
After many subterfuges, the evil guys
stole the box and Xena, of course, was destined to kill them all.
She did and somehow the king and Pandora got together and decided
to raise the baby together. Afterwards, Xena and Gabrielle
discovered that there was nothing in the box. Ha ha. The women
hit the road and resumed their travels.
COMMENTARY 1:
Commentary Kym Taborn.
CRADLE OF HOPE was the first overtly
myth-fusion episode of Xena. The episode used bits and pieces of
the story of Moses (sending the bassinet in the river), Jason
(baby born which will supplant the King), and Pandora's box, of
all things.
Both XWP and HTLJ are fortunate that
their subject matter allows them to mine the rich beds of
traditional ancient stories found in world civilization. Both
shows' anachronistic approach, along with their embedded cultural
flexibility and diversity, create a new pool out of an old ocean
of material which offers a revised and an albeit, often confused,
reworking of old myths which beg the audience to rethink
previously held views. It might not be incredibly profound, but
it does inspire the viewer to expand their minds. Anything that
expands a mind, even by a millimeter, is a worthwhile endeavor
these days. XWP and HTLJ, in their strong mythological or
biblical storylines, are clearly putting new wine into old
bottles, and shaking it up so much that it's hard to figure out
what is what. But it's darn entertaining what they pour out.
COMMENTARY 2:
Commentary Beboman.
Let me see how I can put this in a nice way..(I'm thinking, I'm thinking).
Well, I'll have to say that this episode is not one of my favorites of the
first season or any season so far. But, like I have always said, "I'll try
to be nice." Maybe if I focus on the few things I like and then gradually
move into those I did not like, it might make things easier. I'll give it
a try.
It was the first time we see the "Fire Breathing" trick. Like it. Loved
the dance sequence. Enjoyed when Xena was at the market place after she
got Pandora's box. The baby-tossing scene was not bad. However, I
wouldn't want to see anyone's children try it.
There were also a few touching/interesting moments. I found the dialog
between Gabrielle and Xena interesting when they find the baby:
X- He belongs with his mother.
G- Well, whoever she is, she obviously doesn't want him. I mean, imagine
sending a baby down the river.
X- Maybe she had a reason. (Was Xena speaking from experience, about
giving away a baby.)
When Gabrielle returns to the barn with Ophelia and Xena calls for Pandora,
the look Pandora gave Ophelia was great. I also found it touching when, at
the end, Xena asks the King and Pandora to name the baby Gabriel.
Now, with all that said, let's take a hard look at this episode. This was
the first episode to try (and I use the term lightly) mixing both
Christianity and Mythology. (I just wish they had picked one or the
other.)
We have Pandora and Moses. What a combination (it might have worked if the
script had been a little more solid and the interaction of the characters
not so pulled by the hairs.) At the end, Pandora stays with the King and
the baby. The idea is somewhat interesting.
In the arena of character development, we get a glimpse at a few of Xena's
many talents. The talent to ascertain someone's need and be able to
provide a satisfaction for that need without letting the person feel
indebted to her.
Also, we see Xena's ability to come upon a problem, solve the problem and
come out of the problem triumphant. We are able to see Xena think on her
feet while still maintaining her focus. She is able to see both the trees
and the forest, traits that made Xena a great warrior and leader.
Xena's problem in this episode was to find a home for the baby and Pandora
and to fulfill the prophecy. In the end, all the problems were solved.
In this episode, Xena's past was something of a hinderance, but it was not
the focus of the story. It was there to serve as a reminder.
I think one of the things that really bothered me about this episode was
Gabrielle. After the three first episodes, seeing how she was growing, all
of a sudden she sounded whiny, self-centered, and not very in tune with
what is happening around her. To me, as a spectator, the character of
Gabrielle is, at times, annoying.
Looking at the technical part of this episode, I found the script weak and
bland. The directing also weak. With the exception of LL, ROC and Mary
Elizabeth McGlynn, who played Pandora, the rest of the cast should have
kept their day jobs a little longer.
At the end of the episode, I felt very annoyed. I had not gained any
sympathy for any of the characters, except possibly for the baby, who was
going to be stuck with the King as his father. I was glad when the King's
advisor was killed. He should have been killed at the beginning of the
show. For me, on a scale of "Must See TV", this episode was a "Must Not
See TV" type of episode.
MUSIC GUIDE
Click here to read a Music Guide to CRADLE OF HOPE by DJWP. If you like this feature, CLICK here to write to DJWP and tell her to start making more of these because the fans DEMAND IT!
WHIMPERS, MURMURS, AND A LOVE GONE TOO
FAR
05-30-98. Michael Levine, the director of CRADLE OF HOPE, on 01-18-98, was asked at the Burbank II Con what his favorite episode was that he had worked on, He said that he had a fondness for CRADLE OF HOPE since that was his first episode and it was a challenge to do the "baby tossing" scenes; but if pressed, he had to answer his faves were THE QUEST and STRANGER (a HERK episode from the 4th season)..
05-30-98. Brad Carpenter, the out-going Director of Marketing at Renaissance Pictures, on 01-18-98, stated at the Burbank II Con that in CRADLE, Lucy Lawless did her own fire-breathing stunts, but when
a stunt-person got injured in a later episode, she stopped doing it by herself.
EXERCISES IN PHYSICS
The physics problem: Xena tosses a baby
straight upward. Seven seconds later, our warrior princess
catches 'Air Infant'. How high did she throw him?
Jeanne (xenite@inetdirect.com) offers
this solution:
y = height of baby in air
y2 = maximum height of baby in air
v = velocity at max. height (constant at 0m/s)
vo = max. velocity (the point at which Xena either releases the
baby or
catches it)
a = acceleration due to gravity (constant on earth of
9.8m/(s[squared})
t = total time baby spent in the air (7s)
We wish to detirmine y2. We also have
the unknown of vo. We must find vo to find y. The formula to
find vo is:
y = (vo * t) + (1/2a(t[squared])
Since vo occures when y is 0, we will
chose to calculate from the point at which she releases the baby
which will make "a" negative. Trust me, doing this makes the
calculating easier.
0 = (vo * 7s) + (1/2(-9.8m/(s[squared])(t[squared]))
0 = (vo * 7s) + (-240.1m)
240m = vo * 7s
240m/7s = vo
vo = 34.3 m/s
Now that we know vo, we can detirmine
y2. Once again we will choose to calculate from the point which
Xena releases the baby. Again this makes the calculations
easier. The formula for finding y2 is:
y2 = ((v[squared]) - (vo[squared]))/(2a)
y2 = (0 - ((34.3 m/s)[squared])/(2(-9.8m/(s[squared])))
y2 = (-1176.49m )/(-19.6)
y2 = 60.025m
Therefore the maximum height that the
baby reaches is 60.025m. Ummmm, I don't think even Xena can do
that! Then again . . .
CHANGING TIMES
Changing Times is by Debbie White.
Xena and Gabrielle become more of a team in this
episode. Xena learns to appreciate Gabrielle's help,
deals with a baby again, and fixes three peoples lives.
Gabrielle, well, she gets on Xena's nerves, has
insatiable curiosity, but is ultimately invaluable
help.
Changing Xena
Xena is full of surprises in this episode. Yet
again, she is very uncomfortable around a baby. She
seems ignorant about them, too, saying, "What, are you
holding him wrong or something?" when the baby cries.
However, she is very protective and makes sure the
child is safe and has food. Since Gabrielle likes the
baby so much, though, Xena mainly plays back-up in baby
care.
Xena saves Pandora from a hanging by a mob.
Pandora says she is cursed to live alone, watching over
the box containing hope. Xena sees how lonely Pandora
is and has her holding the baby in no time. Pandora
has never held a baby and says she does not want to,
yet Xena (who also does not want that honor), makes
her. Xena shows her knack for emotional healing of
others as the baby and Pandora immediately fall in love
with each other.
Xena's bad reputation still is out there, however,
and Nemos, an evil commander/advisor to King Gregor,
uses that to further his plots. He wants the baby dead
since a prophecy states the baby will one day take over
King Gregor's throne. He probably wants that honor
himself. King Gregor, however, lost his wife and son
in childbirth and is not ready to kill a baby before he
is a threat. Xena is surprised to see that the king is
not the bad guy, so she has to solve the prophesy so
the baby can live. She dances her way to the answer.
Yes, the warrior princess can dance seductively.
Where did she learn it? She did not NEED it for
leading an army. Why learn it when she turned good? It
was not exactly just modifying village dances. Maybe
she picked it up when learning the neck pinch.
Xena is after Pandora's Box, which is ready to
open soon and let hope escape. When Xena finally has
the box, she comes upon the king's room and the empty
cradle and realizes that yet another lonely heart is
out and about. The king gets a son (the baby), Pandora
gets to stop wandering (becomes queen), and the baby
gets a family.
Though she can heal others, Xena is still
struggling to heal herself. Pandora proves there is
hope for wandering souls to be happy one day, too.
The Warrior Princess was simply being the warrior
princess, though she did learn that not all the bad
guys are the leaders. Also, she learned that people can
do an evil thing while trying to do the 'right thing,'
since the king was willing to kill the baby to save his
kingdom from civil war. This may lead to Xena realizing
more about how she turned evil.
One major difference in Xena in this episode than
in previous ones is that instead of directly attacking
the castle ('fighting fixes all' mentality), she
realizes it is better to sneak in and only fight when
she is forced to. The ability to think this way shows
she can also adopt other (new) methods of solving
problems.
Interesting fact: Xena uses her whip for the first
time.
Changing Gabrielle
Gabrielle was...Gabrielle. She did prove her
worth to Xena yet again. She found a palace maid, the
one that saved the baby in the first place, to help
take care of the baby. She also gets milk for the
baby, delivers Xena's 'let's meet' message to the king
without getting caught, and manages to keep the baby
safe out in the open in the middle of a city-wide
search. Xena needed Gabrielle's help and knowledge,
and they now have started to work together as a team.
Xena even asks that the baby be named Gabriel (a token
of her appreciation for Gabrielle).
"We all carry hope around inside of us." --Xena, CRADLE
OF HOPE
HIGHLIGHTS:
(1) The infamous fighting while
juggling the baby scene which was used as the clip in almost
every televised interview with Lucy Lawless during her 1996
February to March promotional tours; and
(2) Xena as an exotic dancer, part 1.
SHOOTING SCRIPT
DIFFERENCES
Prepared by
SheWho.
These observations were made from the
00-00-00 ----- shooting draft (-th revision)
The opening scene with Xena and
Gabrielle begins slightly differently, particularly in the
sleeping arrangements:
"With her horse tied to a nearby tree, Xena straps on her sword
and Chakram, then begins to fold up her bedroll. Gabrielle lays
nearby, covered in a blanket, still sleeping. After a beat, she
awakens and begins to rise, sleepy-eyed."
Minor dialogue difference in
teaser: Gabrielle says she slept
"On a rock. And that cat kept waking me up."
"Xena shoots her a look as they cross to the water's edge."
Gabrielle: "Don't tell me you didn't hear it."
Xena: "We're in the woods, Gabrielle. There are no cats
out here."
"Just then, we hear a noise from off camera. (It's actually
a baby's cry, but we don't know that yet.)"
Gabrielle (concerned): "That's it. That's the noise."
"Xena draws her sword cautiously."
Gabrielle (re: sword): "I guess you're figuring it's a
pretty big cat, huh?"
Xena: "You can't be too careful."
Next scene opens as:
"Gabrielle holds the smiling Baby in her arms. Xena looks
at her like she's crazy."
After Gabrielle asks if they can keep him,
Xena says: "We're on the road, Gabrielle. This is no place for a baby."
"Gabrielle frowns as Xena takes another look at the child.
It looks like she may be softening, but . . ."
Xena then says the baby belongs with his mother...
After Xena saves Pandora, thunder is
heard.
Gabrielle says: "I don't really want to walk in the rain.
The Baby doesn't want us walking in the rain."
The next scene opens in the cave.
Xena: "We can't stay here too long."
Gabrielle (to Pandora): "Even when we're not in a rush,
we're in a hurry. See, we found this baby in a stream . . ."
Gabrielle puts down Pandora's bag, and the box falls out...
In the cave, Xena is checking Argo's
hooves for rocks, rather than cleaning her chakram.
After they discuss the contents of the box,
Xena says: "I'm done here. We can get going. Where are you headed?"
Pandora: "Calchinia. I'm going there to live--alone. Away
from people who can only hate me. You don't know what it's like,
being cursed with this Box."
Gabrielle: "It's not your fault your grandmother opened the
Box."
Pandora: "I wish that were true. But, I'm stuck with it."
Pandora then talks about the Box being the most important thing
in her life...
After Nemos orders that the child be
turned over, the innkeeper says:
"Look, I just redecorated. Can you take this outside
maybe?" (Off Nemos' look) "Just asking."
After the bar fight,
Xena turns to Gabrielle and Pandora: "Are you two okay?"
"They both nod ..." (I think her question is directed only
at Gabrielle in the televised version.)
It is Gabrielle who tells Pandora she
made the only choice in saving the baby rather than the Box
during the brawl.
An omitted scene:
"A pair of figures in cloaks moves through the streets among
the common folk. The common folk are having uncommon discussions
tonight..."
Old man: "I don't care if it's a child or a man, he's a
threat! He has to be found!"
Woman: "But I've heard he's not even a year old! Just a
baby!"
Old man: "I think the king is right. Kill him now before
we pay the price later."
Young man: "You remember the last uprising?"
"And talk of that ilk. The figures move toward a door."
The figures are Gabrielle and Ophelia.
A small but interesting slight change
in the scene with Ophelia:
Ophelia asks if the child is safe.
"Xena gives a look at
Gabrielle. Gabrielle nods.
Xena calls out to [Pandora]."
This
suggests to me that Xena is 'asking' Gabrielle if Ophelia can be
trusted, and accepting Gabrielle's opinion. In the televised
version, that step is omitted as Xena goes ahead and calls to
Pandora.
In another omitted (brief) scene,
Ophelia gets a wagon full of dancers through the gate; Xena is
among them.
The next scene has
"Gabrielle and
Pandora look up at the walls, then settle onto the ground."
Gabrielle: "This should be close enough. I'll bet old
Nemos would have a fit knowing we were right outside his walls."
The baby cries, and Pandora comforts him. Gabrielle remarks on
her knack for children, and Pandora says she can't afford to
dream about things that never will be.
Gabrielle: "Can I ask you something" (off Pandora's nod)
"Did your grandmother ever tell you why she opened the Box?"
Pandora: "She just gave in to the temptation, curious of
what was inside. We all have curiosities. Wanting to know
what's inside a closed Box. Wanting to know what it's like to be
a King."
Gabrielle: "Wanting to know what it's like to have a
child."
Pandora then says now she feels as if she knows too much...
As Xena sneaks up on the King in his
chambers, she tells the dog "Good boy. Easy now. time to get
some rest..." and uses the pinch to put the dog out. (Much
better just to have her wave him off, as in the televised
version.)
The final fight scene is a little
different.
Xena explains the prophecy to the King, and they are walking
with Gabrielle and Pandora among the populace. Nemos tells the
King he's being seduced and attacks Xena. She grabs the baby and
tosses it to Gabrielle, who catches it by pulling up the front of
her long skirt.
During the fight, Ophelia uses a staff to disable one of
Nemos's men, then grabs his sword. Xena tosses the baby a second
time to Gabrielle, who "dives to the floor underneath her, barely
managing to catch the Baby before he splats." (LOL!)
Xena later spots a soldier heading toward Gab and the baby,
and
"runs, picking up the fallen sword, approaching Gabrielle
from behind."
Xena: "Gabrielle. Behind you!"
"Just then, Gabrielle hands off the Baby to Xena and dives
to the floor as the Soldier lunges - right into her extended
sword. Xena turns holding the Baby. She looks up to see two
soldiers coming at her at once. Gabrielle isn't around to catch
the child, so in a flash, she tosses him high in the air, cuts
both the Soldiers down, and catches the child inches from the
ground on her foot! She flicks her foot and the Baby sails up
and back into her arms."
After she kills Nemos, Xena takes the baby from Gabrielle
and hands it to the king, to the cheers of the servants.
In the closing scene, Pandora can't
bring herself to take the box into the guarded room, so Xena
agrees to do it.
"She takes the Box from Pandora and starts up
the steps. Gabrielle falls in line behind her. Xena gives her a
look, then a smile. Xena places the Box on the altar. Gabrielle
reaches in to straighten it and trips, knocking the Box to the
floor!"
They then learn that it's empty...
There is no mention in this version of
the script of Xena's request that Gregor name the baby Gabriel -
one of my favorite lines of the first season.
XENA SCROLLS COVERAGE
The scroll which CRADLE OF HOPE is based upon was discussed in Pouch 2 of the Xena Restoration Society's dispatches, and concerned e-mails numbers 2:01 (04-01-94, from Dr. Costantakos), 2:02 (04-10-94, from Dr. Covington), and 2:03 (04-12-94, from Dr. Costantakos) specifically.
The scroll was translated by Dr. Evan Costantakos of the Oxford School of Antiquities on or about 04-01-94.
Excerpts from the translation released in the dispatches:
'...There is truth in your dreams,' reads Cynara from the golden stones, 'Your Lordship, there is indeed a child in your future.' But Gregor, the caring king; Gregor, blinded by the loss of his only son and wife, could not see with the ... eyes of the old woman. The only child for him was his infant son, dead these many [months]. 'But this child is not of your line,' spake the prophet, 'Born on the equinox, he is a child in your possession.'
'The child will speak as you speak; will walk as you walk; will sit where you sit and will wear what you wear.' went the prophesy.
Her hair, as gold as the Sun, seemed to creat a light all it's own. her eyes matched that sun with the blue of the sky itself. Yet she carried a heavy load in her small wooden box. Light enough on the outside; inside, it weighed heavy on her heart.
Dr. Covington was impressed with Dr. Costantakos use of alliteration in his translation, although she was offended by his assertion that the author of the scrolls was tampering with the "established" myths (2:02). Dr. Costantakos was quite surprised by the compliment (2:03).
TRANSCRIPT
Click here to read a transcript of CRADLE OF HOPE .
DISCLAIMER:
No babies were harmed during the
production of this motion picture. [First humorus XWP disclaimer]
