Xena: Warrior Princess s04e16 Episode Script

The producers of the following episode took liberties with Hindu deities and historical timelines, but their sole intent was to illustrate the beauty and power of the Hindu religion.
I love rivers.
They're all right, if you don't have to get to the other side.
There's a certain inevitability to a river.
Nothing stops it from finding its way.
You ever hear of a dam? Beavers? -Why do you do that? -What? You shoot me down while I'm doing my philosophical stuff.
Whaddya mean? Xena Since I met you I've been on this spiritual quest.
I've been looking for the meaning to it all.
Why don't you ever ask those questions? As a matter of fact, I've been thinking a lot about reincarnation since we came to India.
You see? Maybe being a warrior isn't the right karma for you.
Maybe you should look to peace.
Maybe violence isn't the answer to anything.
Why are you following us? We were ordered to stop you from reaching the avatar.
Who's "we"? Xena! All right, who's tryin' to stop us from reaching the avatar? Indrujid, the king of demons! The prince of darkness! I get it.
He's a bad guy.
We've gotta beat Indrujid to this avatar, whatever that is.
An avatar is a deity in human form.
They're usually destined to save humanity from a great evil.
What's the matter? It's this wound.
That demon should never have gotten a blade on me.
Xena, you're only human.
Everybody loses focus sometimes.
It's not just that I lost focus.
It's why.
A few days ago, I saw my future life.
You saw it, too.
I'm destined to be reborn as some kind of a saint.
But that's wonderful, isn't it? Yes, but if I already earned that karma can I still mess it up? Maybe I was shown my future life for a reason.
Maybe I'm supposed to change the way that I'm living this life, here and now.
But either way a warrior cannot ask these questions in the heat of battle.
When the kill is there, you have to take it.
If I can't do that I can't be a warrior anymore.
In the time of ancient gods, 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 Her courage will change the world.
XENA, THE WARRIOR PRINCESS What's the attraction? The avatar.
And so, you must cast all hate and violence from your heart.
-It's Eli.
-I have heard that you're a healer.
Is this true? I have been given a gift.
My daughter is very ill.
She fell into a feverish sleep three days ago.
I cannot awaken her.
Please Heal her.
Have you treated her with the proper herbs? I have done all that I can.
Please She'll die if you don't heal her.
Come on, Eli.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Eli Eli, wait up! What's the matter with you? Hello, old friends.
You're a sight for sore eyes.
Eli You healed that little girl.
Yes.
So you really are the avatar -Yes.
-That's wonderful.
It's not as wonderful as you might think.
People suffer so, Gabrielle, it breaks my heart.
And they look to me for salvation.
That must be an awesome responsibility.
You wanna know what the scariest part is? -It's that I know the truth.
-The truth? No, not the "truth".
The Truth.
I've seen it.
It's as real to me as these trees are to you.
-You know, I was jealous of you.
-Me? When I thought you were a devi you seemed to have the power to heal people.
That thing I sought after all my life.
I envy that.
Now I have this power to heal people and cast out demons, give people hope.
And it terrifies me.
Something's out there watching us.
-Maybe it's one of your followers.
-It's not human.
-Eli, have you heard of Indrujid? -The king of demons? -He's coming after you.
-I heard that, too.
If he comes, he comes.
There's nothing I can do about that.
-You can let us travel with you.
-No.
I can't let you put yourselves in danger for me again.
Besides, I have to make this trip on my own.
What trip? I'm goin' to the coast to catch a ship.
I'm going home.
That's great, 'cause we were thinking of going to the coast ourselves.
Xena, I don't want you fighting in my defense.
What are you gonna do to stop us? Come on then.
Please, don't hurt me.
I meant no harm.
-Put me down.
-Of course.
What do you think you're doing prowling around our camp? I wanted to get a closer look at the avatar.
My name is Hanuman.
You've been following us for some time.
Yes.
I thought perhaps I could be of some help to Eli.
-Indrujid is coming for him.
-I don't need any help, really.
Most young avatars say that.
-You've known others? -Only one.
If I were you, I would take Eli to the great temple -and ask for Krishna's help.
-Krishna? The supreme personality of the godhood.
He will know how to handle Indrujid.
And as long as Eli stays in the temple, he'll be safe.
Great temple it is, then.
Indrujid's demons Is "His Badness" with them? If he is, he won't be leaving any tracks.
Quick, take cover.
I'll keep watch! Go, come on.
How wonderful.
You can climb trees just like one of us.
You must have learned from monkeys.
-Nope, amazons.
-Amazons? It's a long story.
What did you mean when you said that Indrujid wouldn't leave tracks? Indrujid attacks from the sky.
You seem to know a lot about Indrujid.
I know a lot about his entire family.
I assisted Rama, when Rama killed Indrujid's father.
Rama? I've heard people speak of Rama since I've been in India.
But, didn't he live a long time ago? -Yes, centuries.
-Then you're immortal? Not quite.
There is one being that could kill me.
Let me guess.
Indrujid.
-What is the truth? -So you really wanna know? -Yeah.
-It's life.
That we must revere it, wherever we find it.
To bring peace to this world I have to teach mankind a reverence for life.
So If someone were to walk up to you -and knock you down -Then I'd get up.
But if they knocked you down again Then I'd get up again, if I could.
But under no circumstances would I fight back.
If I did, I would simply be perpetuating the cycle of violence that has ravaged the Earth for centuries.
That cycle has to be broken, Gabrielle.
And the truth is that that can only be done through nonviolence.
So that's the truth Hanuman, you've been walking the Earth for centuries, now.
How do you know what is the right code, or lifestyle, or? -Way -Yes.
How do you know what's the right way for you? My way is the way of obedience and loyalty.
I can see it's not your way.
You're too proud.
What happens when a person gets stuck between two ways? That is not good.
For each person there can only be one way.
-What's that? -Indrujid.
He's north of us.
We may still have time to reach the temple.
Let's go.
Look! It's the avatar! Heal me, avatar! Take away my pain! He's close.
Indrujid is coming! Go to your homes.
Take the trail behind the temple! No! We know who he has come for.
We must stay and fight for the avatar! No, no, no, no, no! Listen to me, please! Listen! Listen! Listen to me! Thank you for your concern.
It means a great deal to me, but I will not have you fighting in my defense.
The only reason I've been able to help you is that because in your hearts you're as innocent as children.
If you were to do battle with Indrujid, it would harm not only your bodies, but your souls as well.
I'll be all right.
He's right.
You must go to safety.
Hurry! Now! Get Eli inside the temple.
I'm gonna make sure everyone gets gone before Indrujid comes.
Be careful.
Come on, Eli.
The statue with the flute, is that Krishna? Yes, though he can appear in whatever shape he chooses.
He's the ultimate manifestation of the supreme deity.
Hanuman, no offense You see, Xena and I aren't used to waiting around for the gods to bail us out.
Eli's words have troubled you, haven't they, Gabrielle? How did you know what he said to me? I have been following him for weeks.
I know his words touch anyone with an open heart.
So, what do you think of his message? His way is the ultimate way.
Few can follow it.
Those that do truly walk with the spirit.
Come on, move it! Get out! It is not safe to be here.
Danger is approaching.
We must leave.
Xena's in trouble.
Eli, come back! Eli! Wait! Stop! Come, child.
Here, take her to safety.
-Eli, no! -Please, stop! Indrujid! Let go! No! Gabrielle! Go back! Run, Gabrielle! He's coming! Go! Go! No! Gabrielle! Gabrielle! Xena! Where did he take them? He went to the demon land of Lanka.
Then that's where we're headed next.
Xena! You saw how powerful he is.
In Lanka, he has hundreds of demons to help him.
We can't beat him.
-Your friend Krishna didn't show.
-We need to get his attention.
And how do we do that? With these gods, sometimes you've got to try something unusual.
Like what? I pray to him all the time.
What Krishna needs is for someone to call upon him.
Who doesn't respect gods, doesn't trust them, doesn't like them.
Someone who thinks she doesn't need them.
You want me to pray Wait! I think if we put both our weights against this door, we can probably just You're not gonna do anything to try to get outta here, are you? No.
Open the door! Be patient.
We'll be all right.
I don't think that's very realistic.
This is an evil man! He's not a man at all, Gabrielle.
He's the incarnation of evil itself.
Is that supposed to make me feel better? He and I may be here in mortal bodies but our war is a spiritual one.
I'm sure that if I can stay faithful to my way, I can defeat him.
His is the way of evil.
-Mine is the way of -Love! I know that.
I know that.
All right, what's he into? Chanting? Sacrifices? You doesn't understand who Krishna is.
He's not like other gods.
He is in everyone, every living being.
So, to find him, you need only to look within.
Hello, Eli.
Don't be afraid.
I come in love.
Love? Can't you have compassion for me, Eli? I've suffered, too.
Didn't I love my father? Who was killed by another avatar.
The one they call Rama.
-What do you want, Indrujid? -I want to be your friend and ally.
We both know that's impossible.
You You're not afraid of me, are you, Eli? I know you can't hurt me.
You like her, don't you? Well Congratulations, Eli.
You have your first real disciple.
How passive and serene will you remain while she's being tortured? How am I doing, Hanuman? Krishna Krishna Thank you for coming.
-Where's Hanuman? -I asked him to step outside.
I thought it best we be alone for this.
For what? We are going after Gabrielle and Eli, right? How do you expect to defeat Indrujid? -I can't without your help.
-But I can't help you -unless you let me.
-I'm not one for cryptic talk.
-Get to the point.
-You must open up your heart to me if you're going to tap into the strength that will allow you to defeat Indrujid.
I thought that's what the prayers were for.
That got my attention.
Now, you have to go one step further.
You have to embrace the way.
The way? I've heard about the way in Greece, China, Anatoli and now India.
I don't get it.
The way is not for people like me.
You're wrong.
You're very close to the way now.
However missing it by the width of a hair is the same as missing it by the height of a mountain.
I'm close? I don't think so.
I don't have the patience of Gabrielle, the love of Eli or the serenity of my mentor, Lao Ma.
-I'm just an angry, ass-kicking -Warrior.
Yes, a warrior.
You say that with disgust.
Well, it doesn't rank up there with the saints, does it? Xena You have seen what you're destined to be.
In your next life, you will walk the way of the saint.
However, you will never achieve that life if you don't follow the way you're on now.
-The way of the warrior? -Yes.
You must not be hesitant to fight in a just cause.
It is better to die following your own way than to live following someone else's.
When you ride into combat act without attachment, and carry with you the confidence that you are fulfilling your calling in this life.
Then you will know the way.
I understand.
Then go.
Rise up like fire, and burn all that oppose you.
And if you're following the path of the way call my name and the strength to defeat Indrujid will be given to you.
Are you ready? I'm ready.
I'm ready, too.
Gabrielle! Gabrielle! Help me.
Gabrielle, be careful.
Won't you help me? Gabrielle No, no, don't! No! That wasn't so hard, was it? You're in my world now, little girl.
I got her to caave with a simple illusion.
Your disciple gave into the first temptation.
Let's see how you do, Eli.
You feel her pain, don't you? That's your curse.
You feel everyone's pain.
Eli, I could arrange it so you may never have to look on human suffering.
I could surround you with joyous, happy people.
Save yourself and this girl.
Join me.
No.
Then she dies.
Xena! Krishna Xena Thank you, Krishna.
Eli I failed my first test.
It's hard the way of love.
It may not be right for you.
But if you choose to follow it you must do so with all your heart.
You'll fail more than once.
But don't give up hope.
In the end, you'll redeem the world.
Where are you going? Home.
I need to take the message to my own people.
I believe they'll be the most receptive.
Thank you, Gabrielle.
You were the first one to understand me.
I won't forget you.
It's the way of love for you, huh? Yeah.
Yours is the way of the warrior.
I think I've always known that.
And I've always known that it was wrong for you.
I'm sorry I took you so far from your truth.
Don't be sorry.
Xena Do you think I could have understood the power of selfless love if it weren't for our friendship? Still, I think maybe you should travel with Eli for a while.
No.
You and I stay together.
Gabrielle, we're headed in opposite directions in life.
All rivers run to the sea.
We'll end up in the same place, I'm sure of it.
Thank you.
For what? For not mentioning dams.
You're welcome.