PLEASE NOTE: This script has been formatted for optimum viewing at a screen setting of 800x600.
1998 Aug 08
jsandsmark@gmail.com
INT. COTTAGE - NIGHT
Xena and Gabrielle are in a stark room that contains only a crude wooden table, two chairs and a goblet of wine. Everything is in black and white. A single lantern lights the room, throwing meaningful shadows everywhere. Gabrielle's hair is in a tight bun, Xena's is braided intricately.
SUBTITLE: I FOUGHT AN ARMY. DEATH WAS EVERYWHERE. BLOOD FLOWED LIKE WINE.
SUBTITLE: YOU'RE A BLOODY MESS. I SUPPOSE YOU'RE GOING TO WANT ME TO CLEAN ALL THAT, HUH? GREAT. I'LL NEVER GET THE CRUD OUT OF MY FINGERNAILS.
SUBTITLE: PEACHY. GONNA GRAB SOME WINKS.
Xena goes to one corner of the room and curls into a ball. Superimposed over her image is that of a baby, fetally curled, innocent yet covered in the blood of birth. For about ten minutes, Gabrielle stares at Xena sleeping. A voice-over of her thoughts plays after about five minutes of intense staring.
SUBTITLE: SURE, SHE GETS TO TAKE A NAP, BUT NOT ME! I'M SUPPOSED TO FIND A WAY TO CLEAN THOSE DAMN LEATHERS. MY WORK IS NEVER DONE.
SUBTITLE: HOW LONG IS SHE GONNA SLEEP, ANYWAY?
The door opens, flooding the room with an overbright light. In the doorway stands Deth. He has a game of Parcheesi in one hand and a sickle in the other. His face is hidden by a shadowed hood.
SUBTITLE: YOO HOO! ANYBODY HOME?
SUBTITLE: I BOUGHT THE WATCHTOWER LAST WEEK. YOU JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES NEED TO COORDINATE YOUR ROUTES.
Angle on Gabrielle's face, superimposing it on the sleeping Xena so that they overlap. Xena's eyes open and we see them as one person yet divided. Xena rises and faces Deth, spilling the glass of wine. A dark stain spreads on the wood, as if it were a pool of blood.
SUBTITLE: WHO PASSED GAS?
SUBTITLE: SORRY. HAD BEANS FOR LUNCH.
SUBTITLE: I THINK I HAVE SOME PEPTO...
Gabrielle faints, hitting her head on the table, her hand landing in the spilled wine. Xena turns her over and Gabrielle lies as if on a cross, the dark wine marking her palm. A single tear falls from Xena's eye as she watches Deth gather the bard in his arms.
SUBTITLE: DON'T WORRY ABOUT HER. SHE'S JUST CLUMSY.
Xena falls to her knees before Deth, trying to take Gabrielle from him, but his hold is strong.
SUBTITLE: MAN, IS SHE SKINNY! LIGHT AS A FEATHER.
As Deth leaves, carrying Gabrielle, Xena crawls toward the door, her face a mask of pain and suffering. She looks down at her blood-streaked leathers then back at the disappearing form of Deth.
SUBTITLE: YOU FORGOT YOUR PARCHEESI!
Xena crawls to the window, puts her hand through a pane of glass and grabs a sharp shard, plunging it into her heart.
SUBTITLE: THIS HURTS MORE THAN YOU'D THINK.
Deth returns, lays the sleeping Gabrielle down and takes Xena's hand, leading her away.
SUBTITLE: THAT WAS OVER THE TOP.
SUBTITLE: LEAVE ME ALONE, I'M BUCKING FOR AN EMMY.
As they disappear, Gabrielle awakens. She picks up the empty wine glass, tips it over and lets the last dark drop fall on her tongue. Then she wails in grief as we:
FADE OUT.
THE END.