"One Against An Army" episode 59/313
TRAILER TRANSCRIPT
(An army on horses)
ON THE NEXT, ALL-NEW, XENA--
Xena: Persians.
Pheidippides: They're headed this way.
THE ODDS ARE AGAINST THEM.
(An army approaches)
Xena: If they reach Athens, Greece is lost.
(Xena throws a sword to Gabrielle.)
TWO--
Gabrielle: As in you and me?
--AGAINST AN ENTIRE ARMY.
(The army approaches. Xena punches a soldier. Gabrielle rides
on horseback. A soldier shoots an arrow. Gabrielle is shot in
the back.)
BUT GABRIELLE'S LIFE IS ON THE LINE,
(Xena holds Gabrielle while looking at the arrow.)
Xena: Poison.
AND IN THE HANDS OF FATE,
(Xena holds broken bottle. Xena looks through crack in building
at Persian army.)
Gabrielle: How long do I have?
(Xena opens wide double doors.)
XENA MUST FACE THEM ALONE.
Gabrielle: There are things in life worth dying for.
Xena: I am _not_ going to let you die.
Gabrielle: There's no other way.
CAN SHE STOP THE PERSIAN INVASION--
(The army enters a building. Xena fights the men.)
-- BEFORE GABRIELLE'S TIME RUNS OUT?
(Xena sits by Gabrielle.)
Xena: Even in death, Gabrielle-- I will never leave you.
Gabrielle: I love you Xena.
(Xena and Gabrielle hold hands. Xena fights Persians)
BATTLE ON, XENA.
[TEASER]
G: "Swing! Ha!"
X: "Terrific! Now, can we head for Thessaly, before you hurt
yourself?"
G: "No, no, no-- no, wait. You see-- I've worked out the
mechanics-- the speed, trajectory, and finally, the arc of the
spin."
X: "Good. What's the point?"
G: "Your flip. Basically, I've broken it down into its
relatively simple steps."
X: "Oh, yeah? What foot do I start on?"
G: "Don't confuse me. This time, no staff. Watch."
X: "Gabrielle-- before I tried the flip without the staff, I
made 300 attempts with it."
G: "Slow learner, huh, Xena? I had that problem with
basket-weaving."
X: "It's the right foot, but I'd rather you didn't."
G: "It's not like it's gonna kill me. Let me try it one time--
OK? That's all I need. One time."
X: "Wrong foot."
G: [Leaps and shouts]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
G: "I'm telling you, my ankle is fine."
X: "Come on, let me take a look at it. Don't let pride get in
the way. You tried something-- and you failed. It happens."
G: "It's nothing serious, Xena. Ow! Ow! Ooh."
X: "Good thing it's nothing serious."
G: "Ah! [Groans] Ow! That doesn't hurt."
X: "Already too swollen, huh?"
G: "I'll walk it off."
X: "I'm not gonna tell ya that you shouldn't'a tried that flip."
G: "You'll work it in."
X: "Gabrielle, look out! Hit the dirt!"
G: "Ahh! Why did you do that?"
X: "A new theory on testing for sprains. Elevation-- and
ice-cold water."
G: "Yeah, well I'm not very thirsty."
X: "Sit down."
G: "Now you owe me a nice pair of boots."
X: "Yeah."
G: "Ow!"
Pheidippides [Phei]: "You, there! Run for your lives."
X: "Why? What's going on?"
Phei: "A huge army-- landed two nights ago-- and a fleet of tall
ships--
foreign-- laid
waste to our troups in Marathon. They're headed this way-- on a
forced
march for
Athens."
X: "Tall ships-- three masts?"
Phei: "Yes."
X: "A double row of oarsmen."
Phei: "That's right."
X: "Persians."
G: "Have you fought these guys before?"
X: "Gabrielle, over that mountain is the most ruthless army ever
to take
up
weapons. If
they reach Athens, Greece is lost."
G: "What are we going to do?"
X: "Stop them."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
--------------------
[ACT I]
G: "The Spartans were fighting at Marathon, alongside the
Greeks? That's
a
first."
Phei: "Unfortunately, they were slaughtered. They fought
bravely, but--
they were so
outnumbered, they-- never had a chance."
X: "Persians will swarm through this land like man-eating
locusts. We'd
better move
quickly."
Phei: "I've never seen such an attack. The sky was so thick
with arrows,
you couldn't
see the sun."
X: "Someone had better warn the Athenians."
G: [Groans]
X: "Pheidippides-- can you run on to Athens and tell them about
Marathon?"
Phei: "Yes."
X: "Good. Pace yourself. In this heat, a run like that could
kill you.
We'll try to slow
them up."
G: "Stopping an army-- isn't that something that you try about--
300 times
before you
actually do it?"
X: "Keep that foot elevated."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
--------------------
G: "Go on, say it. We'd move a lot faster if I hadn't tried
that."
X: "Tried what?"
G: "The flip?"
X: "Oh, the pass."
G: "The pass?"
X: "The pass at Thermopylae-- that's the answer."
G: "What's the question?"
X: "That's the shortest route from Marathon. The Persians have
to go
through there, so
it's the best place to stop them."
G: "Two against an army?"
X: "No, an army againt a landslide that _we_ cause, thereby
sealing it
off."
G: "Of course. Look, Xena, I'm slowing you down. Why don't you
go ahead,
create the
landslide? I'll wait here."
X: "No-- Persian advance scouts travel ahead of the infantry--
they'd find
you."
G: "Stupid ankle-- if only I hadn't tried that."
X: "Well, it that is the worse thing that happens today, I'll be
thrilled."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
--------------------
G: "Xena-- what about that thing that you did in China? You
know? That
power that
you had-- it could destroy an entire army."
X: "I wish I could still call it up, but, that took a purity of
essence
that-- well, it's gone
now."
G: "Has it occurred to you that-- well, maybe the landslide will
only
delay
them? I mean,
what if the Persians just go around the mountain, and continue on
to
Athens?
X: "Then we'll have them exactly where we want them."
G: "Where?"
X: "Tripolis. I used to keep a secret armory in the area. If
we're lucky
the weapons will
still be there. Wel'll be ready for 'em."
G: "We? As in you and me? The two of us?"
X: "As in you, me, and the Tripolis militia."
G: "Oh-- that 'we.'"
[Dorian attacks X and G.]
Dorian: "Give up the horse-- or the last thing you see will be
your heart
in my hand."
X: "I don't give up my heart to just anyone. You've been
following us for
the last half an
hour. All that time for this move?"
Dorian: "Help her down, or I will!"
X: "All right-- I can see you're obviously pressed for time."
G: "Right foot first."
[X fights Dorian.]
X: "He's a Spartan from his clothes-- unless he stole them from
some real
warrior."
Dorian: "I _am_ a Spartan! I fought at Marathon! When my
commander saw
we
were
losing, he sent me to find a fall-back position! Unfortunely, my
horse
came
up lame, and I
had to kill him!"
G: "Don't get any ideas."
Dorian: "I wanted your horse to finish my mission-- and get this
treated."
G: "It's pretty bad."
X: "It's only a flesh wound. I can dress it. Did you get that
running
from battle?"
Dorian: "Spartans don't run."
X: "Oh, I know-- they fight to the death. Not a nick on it.
You're a
deserter, aren't
you?"
Dorian: "No-no-no-no-- I, s-- I swear, on my father's life!"
X: "Oh, a coward and a liar-- your father must be proud."
Dorian: "All right, all right! I admit it! I ran! I abandoned
my people
to slaughter. I'm a
disgrace to my homeland!"
G: "Everybody feels fear."
X: "But we don't all run. If we did, there'd be no home left to
run to.
I'm offering you a
chance to redeem yourself. Join us."
Dorian: "Join you?! Huh-- against that army?! What good can
the three of
us possibly
do?!"
G: "Xena has a plan to stop them."
Dorian: "You do?"
X: "Yeah, and you'll fit into it nicely."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
--------------------
G: "What village in Sparta are you from, Dorian?"
Dorian: "Mizola (sp?)-- the most beautiful village in the
Peloponnese."
X: "Oh, yeah, yeah-- that's famous for that waterfall-- 70 feet
high."
Dorian: "Yes-- I pray that I one day see that waterfall again--
and my
wife
and son,
Zacheris. Wonder what he'll think of me when he discovers his
father is a
coward."
G: "You can change. He doesn't have to know about the one time
that you
failed."
Dorian: "What if I fail again?"
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
--------------------
Persian Soldier: "Quickly! The enemy!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
--------------------
Dorian: "Xena-- you still haven't told me your plans to stop the
Persians."
X: "Oh, haven't I? Huh. Hey-- I want you to take Gabrielle
into the
woods
and keep her
there, all right?"
G: "What is it? Did you see something?"
X: "Sunlight glinting on steel up ahead. It's the advance party
I've been
expecting."
G: "I can still fight."
X: "Don't argue with me. I'll explain later. Go on, get out of
here.
Get
ready for a
fight, Spartan."
[Fight]
Persian Soldier: "Get her!
G: "Dorian! Dorian, snap out of it! Dorian-- fight or take
refure! Come
on! Come on!"
[G struck with arrow and moans]
Dorian: "Gabrielle."
X: "Gabrielle."
Dorian: "This is my fault-- my fault!"
X: "Go and do something useful! Make a fire!"
G: "It's not-- it's not that bad.
X: "Gabrielle, this is going to be painful. Ready?"
G: "Ahhh! Ooohhh! Ah! Ahh! That's enough!"
X: "[Mumbles something]"
G: "Ahhhhh! Ohhh! Ah-- I hardly felt a thing. What is it?"
X: "Poison."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
--------------------
[ACT II]
X: "Ready?"
G: [Screams]
Dorian: "Will it get the poison out?"
X: "No-- it's already moving through her system."
Dorian: "Why did you come back for me?"
G: "I wanted you to see that waterfall-- and your son Zacheris."
Dorian: "I'm sorry I froze. I guess I came up short again, huh?
Can we
still execute your
plan?"
X: "Don't you worry about my plan."
G: "Dorian's right to be concerned, Xena. J-- why don't you
leave me and
go on ahead?"
X: "The advance scouts travel a day ahead of the main force, so
we still
have time."
G: "Be honest with me Xena. How bad is this poison."
X: "It didn't hit a main artery. This poultice will delay the
effects
until we can get to
Tripolis and treat it with a serum. By tomorrow, you'll be
trying those
flips again-- with a
staff."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
--------------------
Dorian: "If she dies-- "
X: "She won't!"
Dorian: "Yes but, _if_ she dies, I'm sure you'll hate me for
freezing up
like that. You'll
blame me for the rest of your life!"
X: "How I feel about you doesn't matter! You're the one who has
to live
with yourself.
After today, I'll never see you again, one way or the other."
Dorian: "But with Gabrielle hurt, doesn't this change your
plans?"
X: "Yes! Yes, it does. Look-- I need you to come through for
me, now
more
than ever.
With Gabrielle injured, we're moving too slowly. I need you to
run ahead
to
Tripolis."
Dorian: "Anything-- anything at all."
X: "I need you to tell the head of the militia to get his men
ready to
meet
me. There's
been a landslide at the pass at Thermopylae-- "
Dorian: "The pass is blocked? Then there's hope! You didn't
tell me
that!"
X: "Well, you better get moving. It's risky-- there may be more
Persian
scouts ahead."
Dorian: "Thanks for giving me another chance. I'll see you
later-- with
help. This time,
no amount of fear will stop me from doing my duty."
G: "Make your son proud-- be careful."
Dorian: "OK."
G: "I think you might have changed him."
X: "Hmm."
G: "I don't understand-- there's no landslide at the pass."
X: "And there's no waterfall at Mizola."
G: "What?"
X: "Spartans, from the age of 8, carry around a wooden stake.
They're
constantly
squeezing it between their hands to harden them. When I helped
him up this
morning, I
noticed there were only a few callouses on his sword hand. He's
no
Spartan."
G: "Then where is he from?"
X: "Persia-- he's a spy."
G: "But-- he has a wound."
X: "One of his fellow Persians gave him that to make his story
more
convincing. Right
now, he's rushing back to tell them there's been a landslide."
G: "So that we don't have to do it. The army will be diverted
anyway."
X: "Right into us and the the militia. Now, let's get you to
Tripolis and
get you treated."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
--------------------
G: "What is this place?"
X: "Tripolis-- or what's left of it."
G: "Hmm. [Coughs] Everybody's fled."
X: "The militia razed their own town. They didn't want to leave
anything
behind for the
Persians. There-- "
G: "It's the physician's hut."
X: "Stay here."
[Xena looks around for something.]
G: "No serum. No militia. You know, Xena, they say that bad
things come
in threes.
How about that armory, huh?" [Coughs]
X: "We're not staying here. We're moving on to Thessaly after
all.
They'll have
medicine there."
G: "No, just wait."
X: "We can take the back roads."
G: "But your plan? Dorian would have told the Persians about
Thermopylae
[coughs].
That means that they'll be heading here, and you've promised the
people
that-- you will
slow them down-- right? So, let's, let's take care of that
first."
X: "No-- first, the serum. We can get back in time to-- "
G: "Xena, we can't make it back in time to slow down the
Persians. And if
we can't stop
them while the Athenians are moving up, then Athens is going to
fall. How
long do I
have? Well, we'll just have to stand and fight now, won't we?
Tomorrow,
we'll go to
Thessaly. It's a chance that we have to take."
X: "Horses. Persian cavalry. It's the advance party. Come
on."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
--------------------
X: "Here, sit down."
G: "Xena-- aren't we going to the armory?"
X: "Yep-- we just got there. We bought ourselves some time with
that
shortcut. Not too
shabby for three years. I hid these here in case I ever had
another army.
Didn't think I'd
need them again."
G: "I didn't know that I qualified as an army."
X [whispers]: "OK."
G: "Xena-- in case this poison starts spreading faster-- I do
have a last
request."
X: "You can tell me about it later-- years from now, when we're
old and
gray."
G: "Oh-- that's funny. Really, uh-- after you've slowed down
the
Persians,
if I can't
make it, I want you to save yourself. I don't want to be a
burden to you."
X: "I can't promise that."
G: "We're all gonna die, eventually."
X: "Not today. Look, Gabrielle-- I know it's bad, but we've
survived
worse, right?
Right?"
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
--------------------
G: [Coughing]
X: "Are you all right? What are you doing sitting up?"
G: "I was just uncomfortable on my back. The Perisans are out
there,
aren't they?"
X: "Yes."
G: "How many campfires?"
X: "30 or 40."
G: "10 men or so per fire. That's good. For a minute there, I
thought we
were in
trouble. [Coughs] At least we have the element of surprise in
our favor."
X: "It's the main cavalry-- their best warriors."
G: "Well, we only have to delay them, right? Just bloody their
noses a
little bit."
X: "You just let me worry about their noses. I've gotta find
someplace to
hide you until
after the battle."
G: "I guess I'm gonna miss out on all the fun, huh? You know,
it's
occurred to me that,
this is just a clever diversion, to make me forget about my
boots.
[Coughs]
My chest
feels so he-- heavy. What?"
X: "Blood. The arrow must've grazed your lung. The poison-- "
G: "I just ran out of time didn't I?"
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
--------------------
[ACT III]
G: [Coughs] "That doesn't look like a weapon."
X: "It's not. It's a litter. I'm putting you on it and getting
you outta
here."
G: "Why? Did the Persians pull back? Xena-- you can't do this.
You
can't
leave-- not if
they're still out there. You're the only one."
X: "Gabrielle, quiet!"
G: "Look, I know what you're doing. You can't. If you don't
hold them
up-- "
X: "I am not going to let you die. I can still get you to
Thessaly and
the
antidote."
G: "And then what? What happens to Athens? What's my life
worth then?"
X: "First things first."
G: "The first thing is the greater good-- you taught me that.
You taught
me that there are
things in life worth dying for-- things that hold a higher
meaning than our
own existence."
X: "Not your existence."
G: "Why? 'Cause I'm your friend?"
X: "Yes!"
G: "Well then, honor my memory. We both know that I'm right.
This is
right. Xena,
promise me-- promise me that you will not leave this battle
because of me."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
--------------------
G: [Coughs]
[Xena attempts telekinesis, fails, then destroys vase in
frustration.]
G: "Help me."
X: "Hey. Hey. I'm here."
G: "Xena."
X: "Yes?"
X: "You've got to take me with you-- teach me everything you
know. You
can't leave
me here in Poteidaia. I wanna go with you. I've studied the
stars--
spoken
with
philosophers-- and I have the gift of prophecy. I can be very
valuable to
you. Take me
with you. I want so much to be like you."
X: "And I want to be like you." [Cries]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
--------------------
[G's dream sequence]
[Fight]
Persian Soldier: "Kill her!"
G: "Xena!"
X: "Ugh!"
[G awakes and looks at the sleeping X, lying next to her.]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
--------------------
G: "Xena?"
X: "We're leaving."
G: 'I thought that we agreed."
X: "I changed my mind."
G: "There's no other way."
X: "There has _got_ to be another way! I'm going to get us out
of this."
G: "It's too late for me."
X: "I don't accept defeat. There are always choices. I'm done
paying for
my past
mistakes. My responsibility now is you."
G: "Don't."
X: "Don't argue with me now."
G: "Don't you argue with me! I know that I'm going to die-- I
accept
that.
Why can't
you? A long time ago, I accepted the consequences of our life
together--
that it might one
day come to this. It has. I'm not afraid."
X: "You always said that I was the brave one. Look at you now.
If this
is
to be our
destiny, let's see it out together. Even in death, Gabrielle-- I
will
never
leave you."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
--------------------
X: "Hey. Hey. I want you to run away from here. You run as
far as you
can. Don't you
stop for any stallions. Go on! You do as I say! Go!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
--------------------
X: "Gabrielle?"
G: "I'm still here-- I think. Strange-- I seem to have moved
beyond the
pain."
X: "Here-- I have a poultice ready for you."
G: "No, please, don't-- don't bother with that. I can't fight.
I can't
be
of any help to
you, so please-- I'm just distracting you."
X: "But you're my source, Gabrielle. When I reach down inside
myself and
do things that
I'm not capable of, it's because of you. Don't you know that by
now?
Let's
just see this
one through together, all right? Here we go. Yeah. Uh-uh."
[Carries G
upstairs]
G: [Coughs]
X: "OK. Here, you-- come on."
G: "Now I have a better view."
X: "I'm gonna put the boiling oil over by the ladder. The
minute they
start up, you tip it.
Just-- push it on them."
G: You'll be down there."
X: "If they're coming up the ladder, then it means they got past
me. If
they got past me,
well-- "
G: "Watch out for a man with a double-edged sword."
X: "What?"
G: "I had a dream-- and he came through the roof. Just be
careful."
X: "Always looking out for me, huh?"
G: "Always. Xena? About China-- I hope you know I never meant
to hurt
you. I only
did what I thought was right."
X: "Gabrielle, that's all in the past. All I want is to be with
you right
now. You're my
best friend-- my family. I love you, Gabrielle."
G: "I love you, Xena."
X: "Till the other side, then-- we'll be together."
G: "Till then."
X: "They're coming."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
--------------------
[ACT IV]
[X does war cry.]
Persian Commander: "Archers! Fire!"
[G's dream sequence re-created]
G: "Xena, see it."
X: "Gabrielle, do it!"
G: "Oh."
X: "Gabrielle! Now!"
G: "Uhhhhhh!" [Pours boiling oil on Persian soldiers]
X: "Come and get me!"
Dorian: "Told you I'd be back-- with help."
[Fighting continues inside the armory]
X: "Poison-- just like Gabrielle. I'm going to let you die
quicker-- but
with much more
pain."
[More fighting]
X: "That's right, crawl. Crawl for your stinking life! Yah!
Down!
Down!
You feeling
better, now that you found your medicine?"
[More fighting]
X: "Go home-- there are _thousands_ more like me!"
Persian Soldiers: "Yeah, come on." "Enough, come on! Back to
the
horses."
X: "Gabrielle, I have the antidote." [X finishes off two last
Persians.]
Hey, Gabrielle.
Hey. Hey, can you hear me?"
G: "Hmm-- are we dead?"
X: "No. No. Here, drink this."
G [Coughs]: "I thought that you said those guys were tough."
X: "Must have caught them on an off day."
G: "You're hurt."
X: "No, I'm all right. Hmm, you just get some sleep. We'll be
heading
out
in a few
hours."
G: "Xena?"
X: "Hmm?"
G: "When we get to Thessaly-- you still owe me a new pair of
boots."
