Xena: Warrior Princess s04e15 Episode Script

[ Man Vocalizing .]
Xena, it's not as if people will stare at you.
- [ Xena .]
I'm not worried about that.
- It's the latest rage in India.
- You know what they say -- "When in Rome--" - Oh, please! Okay.
Different analogy.
Um-- When you want to fly with eagles -- Don't dress like a turkey.
Ooh.
I don't know, Gabrielle.
Look.
This is just not me.
No, it is you.
Uh, the color, the jewelry-- it's, um-- it says, um, casual.
- It says sexy.
It says-- - [ Kiaiing .]
[ People Gasping .]
It says a lot.
Glad to see you're getting into the swing of things, Xena.
Four.
It's a lot to be said about immersing yourself into the culture of a new land.
[ Man Speaking Softly In Foreign Language .]
- What's that? -I don't know.
Some sort of procession? Let's go check it out.
[ Man Continues Speaking .]
[ Kiaiing .]
What has this woman done? Naiyima's husband is dead.
She must join him.
Has she been found guilty of murder? Her? Our custom has been passed down and can only be changed by a Dharsham -- an enlightened one.
Her husband died.
She must join him.
That is the law.
Well, the law is about to be broken! [ Man Shouting .]
- [ Shouts .]
- [ Men Groaning .]
Come on.
Gabrielle, take her! Get back! [ Shouting .]
[ Screaming .]
[ Kiaiing .]
Come on! [ Both Shouting .]
Come on! Come on! Go! Run! [ Man .]
Get them! - [ Men Shouting .]
-Get those women! Stop them! There they are! Back! [ Gabrielle .]
This way! This way! Run! [ Shouting Continues .]
Come on! [ Both Grunting .]
Take some men and surround the back of the house.
You men, come with me! Come on, come on! You can get it open! We'll break down the door! Pry it open! Pile up some more furniture.
I'm gonna look for a way outta here.
[ Men Grunting, Chattering .]
[ Man .]
Naiyima, you must follow your husband.
No windows! Fantastic! [ Creaking .]
Naiyima, I don't know what you think you're doing-- [ Man Vocalizing .]
[ Continues .]
[ Naiyima .]
Have courage, Xena.
I'm sending you on a journey into your future-- a journey to save your karmic circle.
All this talk is tiring, Arminestra.
You wanted to negotiate, but I've heard nothing that appeals to me.
- What? - [ Scoffs .]
That spear-- I put it there.
[ Man Narrating .]
In a time of ancient gods -- [ Xena Yells .]
warlords and kings, a land in turmoil cried out for a hero.
She was Xena, a mighty princess forged in the heat of battle.
The power.
The passion.
-The danger.
- [ Kiaiing .]
Her courage will change the world.
Is the great peacemaker deaf as well? Arminestra? What is your business with these people? My business-- My business is to own them, life and soul.
Kill the men.
Capture the rest.
- Wait a minute! - [ Scoffs .]
Well, the Mother of Peace has a backbone after all.
Interesting.
But I have an army, and all you have are a handful of villagers and your message of peace.
The odds are in my favor, I think.
Kelta.
[ People Clamoring .]
To arms! Ready? Aim! Fire! [ Horse Whinnying .]
Hyah! Hyah! Hyah! [ Shouting .]
Find Arminestra! Find the Mother of Peace! [ Shouting .]
- Alti? - Xena! I knew I'd find your soul eventually.
Reverend Mother, run! [ Screaming .]
[ Sputtering, Whinnying .]
- Take her to safety, Acklin.
- [ Groaning .]
Who are you? Shakti.
The army needs me.
Go now! - Come, Arminestra.
- I can't leave.
You're the only hope the people have, Arminestra.
Come now! Shakti! - Hyah! Hyah! - Come on! Hyah! Xena, the great warrior, in the body of Arminestra, the peacemaker.
She's mine! Xena, you'd better hurry! [ Men Shouting .]
Xena? [ Man Vocalizing .]
Xena? Make move, sweet thing.
Look, I don't have time for this.
Where is Xena? Xena.
Xena in the sea.
In the sea.
In the sea.
In the sea.
In the sea.
[ Continues .]
Arminestra must have a place of hiding.
Where is it? Where was she taken? Fear.
I can feel it within you.
You see, there once was a powerful shamaness named Alti.
Alti knew what was in the hearts of men and women.
You are experiencing the torment of a thousand lifetimes, past and present.
[ Man Vocalizing .]
[ Screaming .]
Talk to me.
Tell me where Xena is.
He didn't know.
Who is this Xena? I thought you wanted Arminestra.
Xena is Arminestra.
She's an old, old friend of mine.
And once I capture her and make her power mine, I will have everything that has made her who she is-- timeless-- and I will be the Destroyer of Nations.
[ Naiyima .]
It is the beauty of the universe.
Each line has its place.
Each has a meaning.
Each drawing on the other to complete its totality.
That is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
There is a great evil in the future that is hunting Xena's soul.
It has found her.
If it succeeds, Xena's karmic cycle will end, along with all the good of her future lives.
Who is her enemy? I don't know.
I had to send her there quickly to defend herself.
I was not able to tell her much before she left.
Send me there.
I'm not sure that's wise.
This Karma that you're talking about, can you see mine? Can you see how much Xena's a part of that? Yes.
In many lives, past and future.
You are right.
But if you are to go, I must give you the weapon I could not give her.
You must lean the Mehndi.
Teach me.
Is it a problem, Acklin? - Break the tip and pull it out.
-It's not that easy.
There could be damage to the lung, and if I pull it out, it's possible-- Let me take a look at that.
Good Mother, this is not something for you to see.
I said I'd come get you when -- I'm not much one for waiting around.
I've been checking out your army.
Low numbers and even lower morale.
I've seen much of armies.
One does when one is a messenger of peace.
[ Arrow Breaks .]
[ Grunts .]
But just in case.
[ Groans .]
There.
That'll take care of the bleeding.
Amazing.
Well, we're not out of the woods yet.
Grit your teeth.
[ Groans .]
There's not many people who can take a crossbow bolt through the shoulder and still keep their arm.
Your abilities are surprising, Arminestra.
Just take it as a "thank you" for saving my life.
What man of peace wouldn't? You have ended wars throughout the subcontinent.
But I'm afraid Khindin has no soul, and she's already won.
I will fight as long as I am able, but I have to think about my people.
Shakti, if you surrender, your people will be enslaved.
And you -- Oh, I'll be executed.
That's a given.
But enslaved or not, at least my people will be alive.
And as long as they are, there must be hope.
No, not with this one.
Trust me, Shakti.
I've known her a very long time.
[ Naiyima .]
Just remember, the key is the Mehndi.
Together, you and Xena must use it to trap the evil and bring it back to be destroyed.
I understand.
Mehndi is the path to enlightenment.
Feel it.
Don't try to understand it.
Accept.
This is to create the Mehndi.
[ Man Vocalizing .]
It will be waiting for you in the future, there, hidden in the wall.
The men are in position.
It is time.
Break the door down now.
- You are ready.
-[ Man .]
Move it! Tell Xena the evil can only be destroyed here, where she's still powerful.
[ Thud .]
[ Men Shouting .]
Xena! [ Rumble .]
[ Gasps .]
Something wrong? No.
No, I'm fine.
I was just thinking of someone I need to find.
What-- What were we talking about? I was saying that Khindin's not afraid of your army.
She lives off the fear of others.
She's more than just a warrior.
A warrior? Khindin? I know this doesn't make much sense to you, but she's trying to recreate powers she lost long ago.
Is she still tall, black hair, a particular war cry when she attacks? Leave us.
Gabrielle! Xena? Is that really you? Naiyima didn't tell me that you'd -- you'd look so different.
So do you.
Your name is Shakti.
You're the leader in this land.
This is my Karma.
This is my reincarnated soul? Naiyima sent you here.
You have to defend your soul against a great evil.
I don't know what that is.
Alti.
The great evil is Alti.
I thought you killed Alti.
Her evil just moved on to its next life.
And this time, it not only has her spirit, but the strength of a warrior.
That's why the Mother of Peace had no success with Khindin.
The "Mother of Peace"? Me.
First things first.
We'll have to set free the people that Khindin captured.
Xena, the Mehndi is the key.
It's the only way we can bring Alti back to our world.
We have to use it so you can defeat her there.
We capture her, and her men will take revenge.
We'll have to set them free at the same time.
I'm sure your mind is as sharp as ever.
But how? That's a good question.
I'm so close to my goal.
I knew one day I would find the body of Xena's Karma.
I've been searching for it, hoping beyond hope that I could take her power.
And now I've found it.
She couldn't have done it alone.
I have an enemy in the past, and I don't know who it is.
Now, I need a sacrifice.
Her.
No! No! Don't! No! Not my daughter! Come on.
No! [ Wailing .]
You know, if this doesn't work, it all ends here.
Everything.
Us, our souls.
We don't have any choice.
It's funny.
Here, you're the warrior, the hero.
Xena, in this lifetime, the Mother of Peace would be a goddess to me.
That's a hero.
Be careful.
Good Mother, I'm afraid I don't understand a lot of this.
Just trust me, Acklin.
You're clear on where to find the box? Yes.
It'll be done.
Good.
Ah, fear! I want that fear.
I want that power inside you.
I want the power of your fear, and I can take it from you.
The blood of an innocent gives power to no one.
- I should know.
- No one touch her.
She's here to plead for life.
This one and those.
Right, Xena? Let the girl go, and I'll give you the answer to your question.
I posed a question? You know why I'm here, but you don't know how or who sent me.
Take the girl away.
Fine.
Let's talk.
We have so much to catch up on.
Last time I saw you, you were killing me.
You know what I'm after.
I can guess.
Your soul has moved on along with your evil.
You're looking for that spiritual power you once had.
You found it in the karmic circle.
[ Chuckles .]
Very good.
But I was shortsighted.
The spiritual power I was feeding on was nothing compared to this.
Every person here has generations of power, just waiting for me to take.
- And you know the key.
- Fear? Fear.
I know.
It's like heat radiating from your victim.
But fear is a flaw, Alti-- a subtle, human flaw-- given to us by the gods so that they can exploit us.
You think it's wonderful to have that power, but it's not.
It's not? What the power of fear gives me, I can look into your mind for the truth.
Who sent you, Xena? Who is it? Who's my enemy from the past? Is it an enlightened one? A Dharsham? [ Gasping .]
- Now! -[ Men Shouting .]
To arms! Everybody out! Okay, run! Run! [ Woman .]
Thank you, Arminestra! Head for the trees! Run! Run! Spread out! Run! [ Naiyima's Voice .]
The Mehndi is the path to enlightenment.
It will be waiting for you in the future, hidden in the wall.
- [ Shouting .]
- No! Good Mother, you can't kill! [ Groans .]
Let me see.
I've never known such pain.
I'm sorry, sweet Mother.
I couldn't let you kill.
I know you were protecting my soul.
Otherwise, Arminestra's -- my Karma would've been destroyed.
I've done what you asked.
[ Groaning .]
- Thank you, friend.
- [ Groaning Stops .]
[ Swords Clanging .]
[ Alti .]
Well, how pathetic.
The great warrior can't kill.
Take her away! [ Laughing .]
I'm in awe, Xena.
I truly am.
I see you found your friend.
Gabrielle, was it? Yes, she has a lot of power.
Her past lives have filled her.
Soon, that power -- your power-- will be mine! No, not here.
The people need to witness the death of their heroes-- Shakti and Arminestra-- on the stakes.
Now, don't worry.
You'll die slow.
I wanna feel every delicious moment of your pain.
Come! [ Gabrielle .]
Xena.
Alti just left.
If we're gonna bring her back to the past and beat her, you'd better start painting.
What if I don't remember everything Naiyima taught me? Don't try to think, Gabrielle.
She said that the Mehndi was the path home.
Trust that.
Just let it happen.
[ Man Vocalizing .]
[ Continues .]
It's time.
You must join your husband, Naiyima, in death.
[ Continues .]
Your spirit will rise, like smoke from the fire.
It's judgment day.
Today I realize what I was truly meant to be.
So the gods have told us, so it must be done.
Give her to the flames! [ Rumbling .]
- [ Men Shouting .]
-[ Rumbling Continues .]
- [ Shouts .]
- [ People Gasping .]
Get Naiyima to safety! Go! Hide her! Run! Run! Run! [ Clamoring, Screaming .]
Watch out! [ Alti Laughing .]
Ah! Another chance! You brought my soul back to try to defeat me, Xena.
[ Wind Howling .]
[ Screams .]
[ Groaning .]
The problem is, you also brought back my powers.
What's the matter, Xena? Having a problem fighting me in my spiritual state? Don't worry.
I'm real.
Formed from the evil of the earth.
[ Shouting .]
[ Shouting Continues .]
[ Kiaiing .]
And I'm a much better fighter than you ever dreamed.
[ Shouting .]
[ Growls .]
[ Gabrielle Groaning .]
What's she told you about me, little girl? Has she told you about my powers? Has she told you about this? [ Woman Vocalizing .]
[ Continues .]
That's my gift to you.
That's your future.
She's responsible for your death! You bi-i-i-itch! [ Groaning, Screaming .]
Give me that pain! Give it to me! You're the best thing in my life.
No! [ Groaning .]
[ Screaming, Groaning .]
[ Shouting .]
- [ Growling .]
- [ Shouting .]
[ Laughing Continues .]
You must be the Dharsham, the one that sent them.
I can feel it.
I'll have Xena's power, but yours is nothing compared to that.
I will have it! [ Groaning .]
[ Man Vocalizing .]
Gabrielle, Naiyima's not Alti's enemy.
It's the Mehndi.
[ Continues .]
[ Gabrielle Shouting .]
[ Grunting .]
No! - [ Shouts .]
- No! - [ Shouts .]
- No! [ Screaming .]
Gabrielle.
Gabrielle.
[ Chattering .]
Thank you, Xena.
You destroyed Alti at the one time in her Karma when she was most powerful.
- The "one time"? - Oh, yes.
Her soul is not destroyed.
It will return many times, filled with evil.
But you will always be there to meet it.
And you, Gabrielle, you both walk a path together.
Think of yourselves as lines in the Mehndi-- separated, but forever connected.
Mehndi contains truth.
[ Man Vocalizing .]
[ All Gasp .]
[ Continues .]
[ Crowd Murmuring .]
I guess it's a day for changes.
Oh, yeah.
How does this feel? Feels pretty good.
I wish I had some word in it though.
You know, it was like this in that vision.
I know.
I've been thinking about that.
Xena, Alti was evil.
Why should we believe anything she showed us? The Mehndi contains the truth.
I wish there was some way that we could do that again, just -- just to really know.
Naiyima could've told us.
Yeah.
There's so many questions I wished I had asked her.
About what this all means.
You know what she said? She said that your Karma and mine -- they're intertwined.
Maybe it's not the first time we've walked down this road, huh? Maybe it won't be the last.
How would I recognize you? We need a sign.
This way, no matter how we look, we'll always remember the women we were.
Like it? I love it.