Trascrizione in inglese dei dialoghi dell'episodio:

The Reckoning

Episodio: n. 6

Prima serie

(si ringrazia Xenamedia e Cristina Creek)

prima parte / seconda parte

[TEASER]

FADE IN:

1 EXT. FIRST SITE IN WOODS - DAY

Xena rides, Gabrielle walks as usual -- and is trying to see
through the wooded
landscape on either side.

G: (Frustrated) “I'm gonna go find that road.”

X: “It should be straight ahead, I told you.”

G: “Yeah, well you told me that an hour ago when I still had
feet.”

Gabrielle angles off; will disappear into the woods, during:

G: “Maybe it’s over here.”

X: “Don't get lost.”

Xena continues on her way.

ON XENA

just a little farther now, she brings her horse to a pause.

CLOSER - XENA

as, listening, she hears the faint sound of a man crying out in
pain.

RESUME - ON XENA

She spurs her horse forward with urgency.

2 EXT. ROAD NEAR WOODS - ATTACKED WAGON SITE - DAY

Villagers: “Mercy! No!”

A wagon has been stopped in the road. Doracles and Areolis, two
of its hefty male
occupants, by now lie sprawled, lifeless, on the ground. The
third, POLINIOS, still
living (and conscious, but slipping away fast), is seated on the
ground, looking
stunned. The fourth, still (but barely) alive, will prove to be
named, TERACLES.
Badly wounded, he's seated on the ground, his back against a
wagon wheel.
Though he's totally defenseless, his attacker -- a tall,
cloaked, HOODED BEING
(who'll later prove to be ARES) -- is just about to finish him
off anyway, as :

XENA

sees this grisly scene and urges her horse forward -- drawing
her sword as she
goes.

ATTACKED WAGON SITE

The Hooded Being turns from Teracles to give his full attention
to the onrushing
Xena.

XENA - HOODED BEING - INTERCUTS (AS DESIRED)

In a fluid movement, Xena dismounts.

X: “You're pretty good against unarmed people. How are you
against somebody who can fight back?”

She engages the Hooded Being, blade-to-blade. Xena feints,
then thrusts -- but the Being parries;

Xena lashes across his legs, but he adeptly jumps above the
cutting sword, and brings his own blade hard toward her
head;

Xena shields her head with her blade, but the unusually powerful
downward hack
of the Being sends her down to one knee for a moment... and on
the defensive
now, she must parry to left, then right, then thrust with great
effort just to get the
Being to retreat a step so that she can regain her feet.

CLOSE - POLINIOS

He's been watching Xena's valiant fight... but now dies.

RESUME - XENA - HOODED BEING (INTERCUT AS DESIRED)

Outraged at facing one who seems to be, so far at least, as good
at this as she is,
Xena ROARS as she throws her whole body into a frontal assault
on the Hooded
Being...

...who jumps high, OUT OF FRAME, causing her to be assaulting
thin air. She
regains her balance -- wheels; finds herself facing...

XENA'S POV

...no one. Where the Hooded Being should've landed after
somersaulting over her
-- there is no one. He's evaporated.

CLOSE REACTION - XENA

Confused disbelief. Beat -- then we HEAR the GROAN of:

TERACLES

Bleeding badly, he still sits against the wagon wheel. Xena
ENTERS FRAME to
kneel next to him. As she inspects, and then treats him, her
hands will become
covered with his blood. Noting the sword cut at the base of his
neck, she quickly
rips away his already torn sleeve, folds it, presses it against
the neck wound. She
then uses her sword as a lever; its tip under the bottom of the
wagon, the flat of
the great blade laid hard against, and covering, the now
wound-soaked cloth. With
her free hand, she brings his hand to press down on the blade
where it helps
staunch the blood flow from his neck via direct pressure.

X: “Stay with me. You’re going to make it. Press down on this
as hard as you can.”

WIDER ANGLE

She inspects his badly wounded leg. Looking around quickly, she
spots the money
pouch attached with leather string to his waist. She rips the
pouch off, strips it of
the leather string, dumps out the pouch coins, and -- utilizing
the string as a leg
tourniquet -- uses the pouch (as one would a stick) to turn that
tournuquet and hold
it in place.

TERACLES: (indicates bodies; very weak) “My brother.”

X: “Yeah. We just have to stop the bleeding. Keep pressing
down hard.”

But Teracles, weak but slightly crazed now by his loss of blood,
throws off the
(now bloodied) sword, and rips away the tourniquet, during:

TERACLES: (weakly) “My friends! My friends.”

Just as Xena's picking up her bloody sword:

PERANIS (O.S) (shouting) “There they are!

OVER XENA'S SHOULDER - LONG SHOT

Several villagers, led by a young, strong-looking fellow named
PERANIS, are
rushing toward Xena and the wagon scene. Among them is a lovely
young woman,
TERESIA (whom we'll learn is Teracles' wife), AREOLIS' lovely
young pregnant
WIDOW and a large, 40ish farm fellow named GRATHIOS. Aside from
one or
two farm-working knives, they carry only pitchforks, scythes,
wooden staffs.
These are all big, tough farmers with big scary farm implements.

ON XENA

She rises, absently holding her sword, as she sees them coming.

FAVORING PERANIS, TERESIA AND VILLAGERS

Teresia rushes immediately to Teracles. Peranis, forgetting his
pitchfork and letting
it drop, will kneel alongside each of the dead bodies in turn.

TERESIA: “Teracles! Oh! Oh!”

XENA - PERANIS, TERESIA AND TERACLES - VILLAGERS (INTERCUTS)

To Xena's surprise, Grathios and the other villagers will
surround her; level their
farm implements threateningly, as :

TERESIA: “Teracles! Husband! Can you hear me, my dearest?!”

Peranis, his quick inspection of the others finished, comes to
kneel alongside
Teracles.

PERANIS: “We heard the cries, and the swords clashing. We came
as fast as we could.”

X: “We've got to stop the bleeding.”

But as Xena approaches to once more give
aid, the
grief-stricken Teresia rises quickly to her
feet -- blocking
Xena's access to Teracles. Confronting
Xena, she'll fix her
eyes on Xena's bloody sword and hands.

TERESIA: “No! Stay away from him. Haven't you got enough blood
on you already from our poor good neighbors?!”

TERACLES: (last gasp; re: Xena) “That woman--”

Teracles passes out.

Now Peranis slowly rises to stand alongside Teresia, with:

PERANIS: (to Teresia) “We'll get him home.”

Peranis joins Teresia in riveting his loathing gaze on Xena.
Xena, in turn realizes
what these looks portend, and:

Woman’s Voice: “Murderer.”

X: (calmly) “Now, wait a minute.”

But as one, the villagers with their levelled farm implement
weapons, close in --
with Xena's back against the wagon, as we :

FADE OUT

----------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------

[ACT I]

FADE IN :

3 EXT. ROAD NEAR WOODS - DAY - FULL SHOT - ATTACKED WAGON
SITE -
CONTINUING INTERCUTS ( AS DESIRED )

No time has passed. Teresia and Peranis again turn their
attention to the
unconscious Teracles. The rest of the villagers still crowd
slowly in (Trepidatious,
but determined) toward Xena.

X: “I didn't kill these people. There was a man here with a
sword.”

PERANIS: (interrupts; deadly) “You're the only one we've
seen.”

GRATHIOS: “He was my friend!”

Grathios raises his staff to strike Xena down. She easily
catches his wrist; holds it
immoble; squeezes just enough to force him to drop the staff,
as:

X: “I don't wanna hurt anyone. I fought the man that killed
these people!”

Peranis, with Teresia helping, has been lifting the unconscious
Teracles; is now
cradling him in his arms.

PERANIS: (scornfully) “Fought an invisible man, did you?”

Peranis watches Tersia bending to pick up Teracles' blood-soaked
money pouch
and a couple coins, as:

PERANIS: “One who ran away without the money he was stealing?
And left his blood all over your hands and sword? I don't think
so.”

GRATHIOS: (pitchfork forward) “Together now. Take her!”

WIDE ANGLE

X: “Stand back!”

Xena doesn't want anyone else getting hurt, but doesn't want to
be captured either.
She swings her huge sword around above her head... and the
Villagers step back
and aside almost reflexively... as she dashes out of the
semicircle to her horse. But
even as Xena mounts, the Villagers are recovering. As she wheels
the horse, and it
takes a first galloping step away, Grathios and several
Villagers are after her at a
frenzied run, farm weapons brandished.

Villagers: “After her! Come on! After her!” “Come on! We
can do it!” “Hurry! Hurry!” “Quickly!” “Come back!” “Better
grab her!” “Murderer!” “Stop her!”

ON PERANIS, TERESIA, AND TERACLES

Peranis and Teresia remain preoccupied with Teracles, whom
they'll begin loading
gingerly onto the cart, as we go to :

4 EXT. SECOND SITE IN WOODS - DAY - FOLLOWING XENA

Loping along through the woods, looking for:

X: (calling O.S) “Gabrielle! Gabrielle!”

5 EXT. STREAM IN WOODS - DAY - ON GABRIELLE

Fully dressed, she's just emerging from a blissful time in the
cool stream. Behind
her, in middle b.g., is the crest of a small hill.

X: (from distance) “Gabrielle!”

Gabrielle quickly puts her sandals
back on, during:

G: (calling O.S.) “Here! Come on in. This stream is great!”

INCLUDING XENA

as she rides into view over the crest of the hill and down
toward the stream.

X: “Gabrielle-- come on. Time to go. (reaching Gabrielle)
Climb aboard.”

G: (no way) “This horse hates me.”

Villagers: “There she is! This way! Over here!”

X: (still calmly; proffers arm) “No time to argue.”

FAVORING CREST OF HILL

The Villagers, led by Grathios and coming hard, crest the hill
in a horizontal line,
"weapons" in hand.

Villagers: “Hurry!”

RESUME - XENA AND GABRIELLE

As usual, Gabrielle's a very quick study. One look at the
oncoming Villagers, and
she extends her arm to meet Xena's. As Xena hoists her aboard.

XENA AND GABRIELLE - VILLAGERS (INTERCUTS AS DESIRED)

Xena will spur her horse across the stream, with Gabrielle
hanging on for dear life
behind her. As they disappear into the heavy woods on this side
of the stream, the
Villagers halt on the far edge, looking vengefully after their
escaped prey.

6 INT. LARGE MEETING HALL - DAY - FULL SHOT

This is the City Hall of the villager. Later, it'll be used as
the courtroom. In addition
to the main door at the front, is a side, interior 0door,
leading to some other part of
the building.

The villager elder, BENITAR, speaks firmly to the large
gathering of Villagers.
Toward the front of the gathering are Teresia and Peranis, who
hugs to him a
weeping woman (Palinos' Mother). Three of four other tearful
mourners (Including
Doracles' TEEN SON and Areolis' Widow) are alongside. Also near
the front is
Grathios.

INCLUDING HOODED BEING

Unobstrusively, he enters, stands in the rear, and hears:

BENITAR: “Grathios? You're sure she's trapped in the mountain
glade?”

GRATHIOS: “There’s no way out except through the pass we've got
covered. She can't escape-- not even on horseback.”

BENITAR: “Good. Then I can begin preparations for the trial.”

ON PERANIS

He glares around at his neighbors; disapproving and incensed.

PERANIS: “Trial?!”

Man: “Trial!”

Woman: “We don’t need a trial!”

PERANIS: “I saw her standing over the bodies, and her hands,
covered with their blood. We don't need a trial!”

BENITAR: “She should be heard-- like any other accused.”

PERANIS: (indicates Doracles' son) “Will Doracles' son and
daughters care what excuse their father's murderer may offer?
And Areolis--”

ON AREOLIS' WIDOW

Hearing her husband's name, she resumes her soft weeping.

PERANIS (O.S.): “-- whose young widow carries his child. You
expect us to stand quietly at this?!”

RESUME - SHOT

Peranis now points his finger at Grathios, with:

PERANIS: “Grathios-- didn't Polinios labor in your fields as a
boy? I say, why waste time with some useless hearing?!”

BENITAR: “She will have a fair trial. (off Peranis' scowl)
Peranis, I understand your rage. But we can't allow ourselves to
become as savage as the savage we hunt.”

CLOSE - HOODED BEING

Watching the goings-on

FAVORING GRATHIOS

More meditative than the fiery Peranis, he nonetheless has come,
in his own time,
to the same conclusion as Peranis.

GRATHIOS: “With respect, Benitar-- you weren't there. You
didn't see the carnage. (suddenly strident; to all) Neighbors,
Peranis is right! We need swift revenge, not slow justice!”

FULL ANGLE

This time more Villagers than before are rooting for vigilante
justice, as we hear:

VLLAGERS: (simultaneously) “He's right!” “Let's do it!” “I'm
ready!” “We're with you, Peranis!”

Most of the Villagers (excepting Teresia, the grieving Palinios'
Mother, Areolis'
Widow and the other Mourners), rally to, and behind, Peranis --
as he turns to lead
them out.

FAVORING HOODED BEING

He's not even seen by Peranis, Grathios and the crowd of
Villagers who storm
right THROUGH him on their way out.

ON TERESIA

As sad as everyone else, but still understanding the need for a
balanced justice.

FOLLOWING - BENITAR

Beat -- then, in agreement, he rushes to follow the vivilante
segment of the
Villagers. CAMERA STOPS on the Hooded Being -- and we HOLD on
him for a
beat -- as Benitar, too, goes right past without seeing him.

7 EXT. SECOND SITE IN WOODS - DUSK - XENA AND GABRIELLE

Gabrielle is lying on her stomach. Xena is alertly peering into
the woods.

X: “We'll wait here till nightfall. Then we can slip by them in
the dark.”

G: “I don't know what you're worried about. They’re farmers,
not warriors.”

X: “I've seen what can happen to people whose loved ones are
butchered. Their vision gets bent and twisted. Then there's no
telling what they'll do.”

G: “But you didn't do anything.”

X: “The villagers saw me standing there, covered with blood.”

G: “Well, appearances aren't everything. That's why they have
trials. If it comes to that, we'd just prove you didn't do it.”

X: “(thinking aloud) “That hooded assassin who did do it--”
(to herself now) “-- he fights as well as I do-- maybe better.
He’s strong and fast; and then he just disappeared.”

G: “Do you have an idea who it might have been?”

X: (thoughtful, troubled) “Maybe. (suddenly) Gabrielle, if
anything happens to us, and we get separated, I want you to get
as far away from here as possible.”

G: “What do you mean? What do you think is going to happen?”

X: “Just do it.”

CAMERA now PANS SLIGHTLY, so that Xena and Gabrielle are OUT OF
FRAME. Then, it ZOOMS SLOWLY IN TOWARD, and INTO, the dense
woods.

8 EXT. RAVINE IN WOODS - DUSK - SLOW PANNING SHOT

[The first people we see -- through the foliage -- are Grathios
and another Villager,
both at work sharpening stakes. PAN further to see three or four
Villagers doing
the same.

MEDIUM CLOSE ON GRATHIOS AND VILLAGER

His stake sharpened, Grathios now picks up several stakes
already at his feet, and
begins taking them somewhere. They're vicious looking
instruments.

ON PERANIS AND A VILLAGER

Each with a lasso in hand, they start climbing a pair of trees
on opposite sides of
the relatively narrow ravine.]

9 EXT. VAST MOUNTAINOUS WOODED AREA - NIGHT (STOCK)

Establishing the area at night. Beat, before:

10 EXT. MOUNTAINOUS AREA OF WOODS - SUNRISE (STOCK)

Establishing -- early morning.

11 EXT. THIRD SITE IN WOODS - DAY - XENA AND GABRIELLE

Xena rides, Gabrielle walks.

G: “Looks like the way we came up is the only way back down.”

X: (looking around; preoccupied) “Uh-huh.”

CLOSER - XENA

She senses something which seems not quite right in the foliage
through which
they're moving.

G: “What's the matter?”

Xena continues peering from left to right, trying to see through
the dense foliage.
Something...

X: (calm but not conversational) “Here-- get up on the horse--
now.”

RESUME - XENA AND GABRIELLE

G: “What is it? What’s wrong?

Xena's tone impels Gabrielle to do as instructed without the
usual hesitation. She
grabs Xena's outstretched arm and again finds herself riding
behind Xena.

XENA

More and more wary of what she cannot see but somehow feels is
out there.

XENA'S POV

The right and then left side of the ravine. Are bushes moving
slightly?...

Was that a bit of leather clothing we just saw back in the
shadows?

XENA AND GABRIELLE

And Xena suddenly spurs her horse forward.

INCLUDING VILLAGERS

Carrying long spikes, they rush forward from the foliage on
either side -- just a
beat too late to nail Xena and Gabrielle.

VILLAGERS: “Come on!” “This way!” “Keep it moving!” “We
almost got her!”

FAVORING XENA AND GABRIELLE

as Xena guides her galloping horse around a bend in the ravine
-- she suddenly
reigns in tightly, stopping the horse on a dime, because:

SHARPENED STAKES

are jutting up out of the ground directly across their path.

RESUME - SHOT

X: “Whoa.”

As Xena turns the horse, it rears -- and Gabrielle slides off
onto her butt on the
ground.

VILLAGERS: “We’ve got one of them!” “Hold onto her!” “Now!”

WIDER ANGLE

Before Xena can react, the lassos thrown expertly from the two
trees entwine
Xena. Despite this, she draws her sword and hacks away the
lassos.

ON GABRIELLE AND VILLAGERS

Before Gabrielle can regain her feet, the Villagers are upon her
-- pinioning her
arms behind her and with a couple of pikes ready to run her
through should she
struggle.

XENA AND HORSE

With Xena having hacked away the lassos, her horse will dash
forward, carrying
Xena away from the immediate harm surrounding Gabrielle. But
Xena slides off
the horse, sword in hand -- leaving the horse to continue its
gallop away from the
scene.

VILLAGERS SURROUNDING GABRIELLE

She's scared; they're venomous.

INCLUDING XENA

Sword still in hand, she walks back toward the Villagers
surrounding Gabrielle.
Despite theire number, they're very uncertain about having to
face her sword.

X: “It's me you want. Let her go.”

INCLUDING BENITAR

who comes into view from the foliage for the first time.

B: “Then give up your sword.”

X: (re: Gabrielle) “She has done nothing. So either she goes
free right now, or (brandishing sword) she comes with me right
now.”

B: (thoughtful beat) “So be it. (to Villagers) All of you--
Peranis-- Grathios-- the young girl goes as she pleases. (beat;
to Xena) You have our word.”

Benitar gestures the pikes away from Gabrielle. The Villagers do
back off and
lower their pikes.

ANGLE

To the Villagers relief -- and Gabrielle's shock -- Xena tosses
her sword at
Benitar's feet.

GABRIELLE

in semi-shock.

G: “What're you doing?”

RESUME - SHOT

Xena stands there, waiting for the Villagers to do whatever
they'll do. Suddenly:

PERANIS

appears behind Xena and slams a club down on her head. As she
falls to the
ground unconscious, we:

G: “Xena!”

FADE OUT.

----------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------

[ACT II]

******NOTE: Scenes twelve and thirteen were not in the final
episode. I left them in for your perusal.******

[[[[[FADE IN :

12 EXT. LARGE VILLAGE - DAY - FULL (STOCK)

Re-establishing.

13 EXT. STONE JAIL - DAY

A crowd of the still-irate Villagers is gathered. A genreal
lynch mob mentality...
With Peranis and Grathios the motivating hatemongers. Two guards
stand between
the crowd and the jail.

P: ( to all ) “If enough of us are willing, we can give her
our own special hearing.”

The crowd responds with an affirmative ANGRY HUBBUB. Not yet at
fever
pitch, however.

P: “She took our loved ones from us. We have to make her pay
for that. Quickly, and without mercy. A trial is a waste of
time and will just give her
a chance to escape. We owe her nothing but an
efficient execution.

INCLUDING GABRIELLE

as she walks bravely makes her way through the crowd toward the
jailhouse door,
which is barred from within.

PERANIS
( to Gabrielle )
I'd get away from there if I were
you, young lady.

Gabrielle, careful to appear unintimidated, and certainly
undeterred, bangs on the
door, as:

GABRIELLE
( in Peranis' face )
You gave your word. I'm free and I can go
where I want. Or does your oath mean as
little to you as your laws?

Someone opens a peephole from within; sees Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE
( staunch dignity )
I'm here to speak with the wrongfully
detained hostage.

As the door is opened from within, Gabrielle tries another
verbal thrust at Peranis
and the nasty crowd:

GABRIELLE
( her first try at defense counsel )
She could've just ridden away, y'know. Have
you thought about that?

GRATHIOS
( easily )
The only place to go, little lady, was
right back down where the rest of us were
waiting.

This evokes a derisive HECKLING CHUCKLE from the Villagers.

INCLUDE GUARD #1

Even bigger than Grathios, it is he who's admitting Gabrielle.

PERANIS
( shouting to guard #1 )
Alinar! I'd like a word with you.

Guard #1 acknowledges Peranis with a friendly nod, and holds up
a finger
indicating Wait just a minute.' Then, he closes the door behind
Gabrielle.]]]]]

14 INT. XENA'S CELL - DAY - FULL

Xena is sturdily shackled to an equally sturdy wall. She has
been stripped of her
armor and wears only her undergarment. Through a small barred
window, we may
hear the WALLA of the ( far O.S. ) Villagers. GUARD #2 (also
huge ) unlocks the
cell door from without, and admits Gabrielle -- closing the door
again behind her.

G: “Are you all right? That was quite a blow you took.”

X: “I do have a throbbing headache. It's not my biggest worry
right now.”

G: “Whe did you just give up? Why didn't you fight them?”

X: “They're not warriors. It would’ve been a slaughter.
Gabrielle, I told you to get away from here if anything
happened. I meant it. Save yourself. We're up against more
than you know.”

G: “I understand you may be feeling a little negative at the
moment. You can't give in to that! Justice prevails.”

X: ( wearily ) “Well, that'd be nice.”

The door's opened by Guard #2.

G: “I'll get you out of here.”

X: ( as Gabrielle exits ) “No, Gabrielle, leave. Get away
from here.”

The door's closed and locked; Xena's alone again.

ON XENA

She takes a deep breath, closes her eyes; exhaling lengthily,
as:

A: ( V. O. ) “Look at you.”

We follow Xena's startled gaze across the cell to discover:

ON THE HOODED BEING (ARES)

Leaning casually against the opposite wall.

A: “Hardly a suitable situation for a warrior princess.”

XENA - HOODED BEING (ARES) - INTERCUTS (AS DESIRED)

Her face reflects only great caution and distrust, not fear.

A: “You're probably wondering who I am.”

X: “No, I know who you are-- Ares, god of war.”

A: “Very good. I should have known you'd figure it out. Who
else could outfight your sword?”

The Hooded Being now comes toward her -- and pulls off his hood
as he does so.
He is tall, lithe, dark-haired and sophisticatedly handsome.
He's neither slithery nor
a creep. Worst of all, even we may find some charismatic charm
in him.

A: “Behold-- your former mentor, and still greatest fan-- at
your service.”

X: “I used to wonder what you look like.”

Reaching her, he begins removing her shackles without the
slightest difficulty. And,
having done so, he'll begin gently to rub her aching wrists...
massage her equally
aching neck... rub her throbbing temples. He displays nothing
but true and gentle
kindness. Throughout the above : ..............

A: “Ah-- now that's the problem. You used to wonder. I can't
tell you how disappointing that is. ( re: massage ) Better?
Of course it is.”

She hesitates; his smile remains truly kind. Understanding.

prima parte / seconda parte