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GUEST STARS
Ebonie Smith (M'Lila)
Karl Urban (Julius Caesar)
Nathaniel Lees (Nicklio)
Grant Triplow (Brutus)
Mark Perry (Vicerius)
Grant Boucher (Telos)
Slade Leef (Sitacles)
Dan Ryan (Roman #1)
Rebecca McKinnon (Slave Girl)
Rebecca Kopacka (Young Callisto)
Story by Robert Tapert
Teleplay by R. J. Stewart and Steven L. Sears
Edited by Robert Field
Directed by Robert Tapert
After being critically injured in a fight, Xena lets her mind flash back to the time that Julius Caesar taught her a valuable lesson about destiny. Gabrielle: “So this is Cirra. It’s beautiful.” Xena: “To me, it’s the ugliest place on Earth.” Gabrielle: “I don’t think you should keep punishing yourself for what happened.” Xena: “I didn’t come here to punish myself. I wanna understand why.” Gabrielle: “Why what?” Xena: “Why it happened. Why I was who I was. And how I can ever atone.” Gabrielle: “You’ve changed, Xena. Like this valley. Once it was a place full of death and violence. But now it’s full of beauty and life. The same kind of change has happened to you.” Xena: “I wish that I could see it that way. I’m going down there.” Gabrielle: “I’ll wait here.” [Flashback to the destruction of Cirra] Girl [Presumably the young Callisto]: “Why?” Xena: “Get up! Yah!” Xena: “Gabrielle?! Gabrielle?!” Man: “Lord of the Moon, Mistress of the stars...we...the children of the sun ask you for an omen. Send us a sign. Hail, goddess! We are your servants. Tell us our future.” Xena: “I got nothing but bad news for you.” [Fight] Xena: “Gabrielle, catch!” Gabrielle: “Run! Come on, run!” Xena: “Gabrielle?” Gabrielle: “Wait, wait, stop! I think I hear Xena.” Xena: “Hey! Glad to see ya. Now, get outta here.” Gabrielle: “Quick! Run!” [Fight continues] Gabrielle: “Come on! Don’t stop! Let’s go!” Warrior: “Get her!” Girl: [Speaks Gaelic, presumably] Xena: “Get out of the way!” Gabrielle: “Ahhh! Ah! Ah! Ah! Xena? Ah! Open your eyes. Wake up! Ah! Wake up!” Xena: “Gabrielle...the girl.” Gabrielle: “What girl? One of the captives?” Xena: “Only she can save me.” Gabrielle: “They’re gone. Xena.” Xena: “Mt. Nestus.” Gabrielle: “Oh, I’m sorry. Mt. Nestus?” Xena: “Take me there.” Gabrielle: “I...I can’t take you there. I...I don’t know. It’s too far away. I...uh...Xena, I don’t know if, if...” Xena: “Please.” Gabrielle: “OK.” Xena: “Amphipolis.” [Flashback to TEN WINTERS AGO] Soldier: “Come on! Get moving!” Village Man: “Have mercy! Please!” Soldier: “Come on! Get on over to Xena!” Xena: “People of Neopolitis. Friends...you’re free to go. But spread the word. My army will punish any village that allies itself with the enemies of Amphipolis. And I will do anything to ensure the safety of my homeland. Those who don’t heed my warning...will pay a terrible price.” Tellus: “Get going! You hungry? Ah, what’s the matter? You not hungry? [Laughs]” Julius Caesar: “I generally don’t eat food touched by a pig. You have a woman’s touch.” Tellus: “So, you not afraid of a beating, huh? You afraid to die?” Julius Caesar: “A brave man dies only once. A man like you...dies a thousand times.” Tellus: “All right, brave man...you’re one time is now!” Xena: “Tellus...look at him...the robes; the bearing, the poise. Why, we have a Roman nobleman...a valuable commodity.” Tellus: “What are you talking about?” Julius Caesar: “Ransom...she’s talking about ransom, pig.” Xena: “That’s right, we can get 20,000 dinars for him.” Julius Caesar: “20,000 isn’t enough.” Xena: “Oh, really?” Julius Caesar: “They’ll never believe you have me, if that’s all you’re asking. I’m worth five times that.” Xena: “Very well. But if you’re wrong, it’s your neck. Lyserius...send out a ransom demand to the nearest Roman settlement. Tell them to send 100,000 dinars if they ever want to see...what’s your name?” Julius Caesar: “Caesar, Julius Caesar.” Xena: “Caesar, Julius Caesar, again. You really weren’t afraid to die, were you?” Julius Caesar: “I knew someone would stop him.” Xena: “And, how could you know that?” Julius Caesar: “I know what I’m fated to do with my life.” Xena: “And what’s that?” Julius Caesar: “Rule the world.” Lyserius: “Let’s go, Roman.” Gabrielle: “Xena...can you hear me? Xena. Xena, can you hear me? Mt. Nestus. Is it north of the Strymon River?” Xena: “North...Strymon.” Gabrielle: “I think that’s a ‘yes.’” Xena: [Mumbles] Xena: “Do you hear me? Don’t make a move.” Lyserius: “What is it?” Xena: “We have a stowaway.” Warriors: “Come down!” “We got her.” “Hold onto her.” Don’t let her get away.” “A woman.” Xena: “What did you do to my leg? Fix it. My leg, fix it! Bring over Tellus. She can fix whatever she did to him.” M’Lila: [Speaks Gaelic] Xena: “What’s she saying?” Julius Caesar: “She said it’s too late for him.” Lyserius: “She’s killed him!” Xena: “Wait. You speak her language. Tell her I’ll spare her life if she’ll teach me how she did that.” Julius Caesar: [Speaks Gaelic] Xena: “Take her down below.” Warrior: “Let’s go.” Julius Caesar: “Be careful. Runaway slaves are very dangerous people.” Xena: “How do you know she’s a runaway?” Julius Caesar: “She speaks Gaelic...but she’s clearly from the land of the Pharaoh...probably abducted as a child by raiders from Western Gaul.” Xena: “Western Gaul, huh? Why do you say that?” Julius Caesar: “Gaul is divided into three parts. Each area speaks its own different dialect. One day I’ll conquer all three provinces.” Xena: “How can you be so sure of yourself.” Julius Caesar: “I told you. I’m...” Xena: “Oh, that’s right. You’re fated to rule the world. Do you really believe that?” Julius Caesar: “Of course. Each event in our life is part of a great plan. There are no accidents. Only destiny.” Xena: “And who shapes this destiny...the gods?” Julius Caesar: “Perhaps. Or it’s the blood in our veins, our...souls, our desires...our will. They’re all in it...together, weaving a tapestry we call...‘destiny.’” Xena: “Well, I can tell you one thing about your destiny...you’re fated to have dinner in my cabin tonight.” Warrior: “Grab his legs!” Xena: “Show me that thing you do. No...no, not on my leg. Show me on my neck. Yeah...come on. That was too fast. Now, take it off and do it again, slower. Take it off. Come on!” Xena: “You got some sense of humor. Now, teach me how you did that. No, not on me. Teach me on yourself. Here? There...oh.” M’Lila: [Speaks Gaelic] Xena: “You see...I can play, too. Come on.” Julius Caesar: “Where did you steal that dress?” Xena: “Stugeira.” Julius Caesar: “Maybe someday, you can go back for the rest of it.” Xena: “Are you complaining?” Julius Caesar: “No...not at all. It’s lovely. Why Stugeira?” Xena: “It’s the ancient enemy of my home village, Amphipolis.” Julius Caesar: “Amphipolis. So all your raiding and looting is about protecting your homeland?” Xena: “That’s right. It was once brutally attacked by a warlord. But I’ve made sure that’ll never happen again. And what about you?” Julius Caesar: “What about me?” Xena: “What drives you?” Julius Caesar: “The desire to be great.” Xena: “You mean powerful.” Julius Caesar: “No...greatness isn’t just about possessing power. If it was, any thug with an army would be entitled to that label. Greatness is about achieving what seems impossible...to other men.” Xena: “Why don’t you and I work together?” Julius Caesar: “What do you mean?” Xena: “This life I’m living is beginning to bore me. I’d love to join forces with you.” Julius Caesar: “So...you wanna help me conquer the world.” Xena: “Why not? We’d make an unstoppable team.” Julius Caesar: “Indeed. I bet you know a lot...about conquest.” Xena: “Yes...I love it. Pursuing the enemy; breaking down his defenses; cutting off his only path of retreat; and then closing for the kill.” Julius Caesar: “Some enemies are...harder...that others.” Xena: “Oh, I count on it.” Julius Caesar: “What’s the matter? Not all there?” Xena: “No...I was just wondering if we’ll ever see one another again.” Julius Caesar: “A moment won’t pass...when I’m not thinking about you. Now go. I’ll find you, I promise.” [M’Lila’s Song] Lyserius: “Ship ahoy!” M’Lila: [Speaks Gaelic] Xena: “Bring her around! We’re going to join them! It’s all right. He’s my friend. Hurry up!” Julius Caesar: “Now!” Xena: “What do you think you’re doing?!” Julius Caesar: “This...is my destiny. You’re a part of it. And I’m a part of yours.” Brutus: “The ship is secured, Caesar.” Julius Caesar: “Good. Where’s that friend of yours...the Gaelic slave girl?” Xena: “I had to kill her...because she betrayed me.” Julius Caesar: “Really? Well I don’t blame you. Still, she would have fetched a good price with the gladiator dealers.” Xena: “Is that what you have planned for me? We were going to conquer the world together. What happened to those plans for us?” Julius Caesar: “Us...there was never any us, Xena...only Rome. And I am Rome. Still...don’t think that what we had was meaningless. I’ll always remember it...and you’ll have a special place of honor...among my conquered.” Brutus: “She was an easier prey than I expected.” Julius Caesar: “Divide and conquer, my friend. You divide a woman’s emotion from her sensibilities...and you have her. I could’ve sold you and all your friends into slavery, Xena...but that’s what any common warlord would do. But with this...and especially with you...I defy myself...to all those who would dare oppose me...all those who would dare prey on Rome. Goodbye, Xena. Break her legs.” Xena: [Screams] Gabrielle: “Sleep. You’re getting worse.” Roman Soldier: “Who goes there?! I asked you a question!” Brutus: “The Senate will never approve the funds for a northern invasion. You move too fast, Caesar. Time is on your side. Take advantage of it.” Julius Caesar: “I shall. And my time is now. The plunder I have taken from these pirates makes it so. I can finance my invasion without the approval of the Senate. And with victory...the army will pledge allegiance...and Rome will be mine. No, Brutus...from this moment on, I am no longer subordinate to old men in white robes. I’m their rival. What is this?” Soldier: “Caesar-- the barbarian woman...the one name Xena...escaped.” Julius Caesar: “Your life is forfeit...that you already know. But you can redeem yourself. Take my centurion guard and find her. I want her lifeless body brought back to me by the end of the night. Go.” Nicklio: “What is this?!” M’Lila: “Nicklio!” [Speaks Gaelic] Xena: “Are you a healer?” Nicklio: “You could say that. I’m the healer.” Gabrielle: “Please...please help me. Please help me. My friend...she needs help.” Nicklio: “Xena? What happened to her? Her organs are swelling from internal bleeding.” Xena: “Nicklio...don’t, please. Let me go.” Xena: [Screams] Nicklio: “I’ve just reset your bones You’re lucky M’Lila brought you here.” Xena: “Yeah, lucky. M’Lila, huh? Ask her why she saved me?” Nicklio: [Speaks Gaelic] M’Lila: [Speaks Gaelic] Nicklio: “She says it’s not your time to die.” Xena: “Well, if not now, then when?” Nicklio: “Let me see your wound.” Gabrielle: “Will you help my friend?” Nicklio: “Xena can wait. You, I can do something about.” Gabrielle: “What do you mean?” Nicklio: “You have amazing recuperative powers. How are you feeling?” Xena: “Fine...much stronger. Those needles are fascinating.” Nicklio: “Hmm.” Xena: “M’Lila...up on that cross...I wasn’t sure that I wanted to live. You...you had no reason to save me, but you did. Thank you. I know you can’t understand.” M’Lila: [Speaks Gaelic] Nicklio: “She wants to know if you feel anger...towards Caesar.” Roman Soldiers: “There she is!” “Get her!” [Fight] Nicklio: “Something’s happening.” [Xena Fight Song] Nicklio: “Her pulse is failing.” Xena: “You’ll be dead in thrity seconds. But know this...you won’t be the last.” Nicklio: “She’s gone.” Gabrielle: “She can’t be gone.” Xena: “Tell Hades to prepare himself. A new Xena is born tonight...with a new purpose in life...” Gabrielle: “No.” Xena: “Death.” Gabrielle: “No!” Nicklio: “Let her pass over.” Gabrielle: “Please...please wake up. Wake up!” Gabrielle: “Wake up!” Gabrielle: “Oh...please wake up. Oh...do something! Do something!” Xena: “M’Lila.” M’Lila: “Hello, Xena.” Xena: “You should have left me to die back there on that beach.” M’Lila: “You have a destiny, Xena. But you have to choose it.” Xena: “I did choose it.! I chose evil!” M’Lila: “Now that you know evil...were evil...you can fight evil. When the living think of the dead...the dead can hear their thoughts. Listen.” Voice of Gabrielle: “Xena...I know you can hear me...wherever you are. I know you always told me to be strong. I can’t be...not now. You can’t leave me. I know it’s not your time. I can feel it in my heart. I should feel this emptiness that I’ve never known before, and it scares me. Xena...above all...just remember your destiny. Remember it and fight. Just, fight to come back. This world needs you. I need you.” Xena: “I have to go back.”
