09.25.1995 "CRADLE OF HOPE" 2
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GABRIELLE
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And Xena says she will... disguise herself to deliver a message.
...
What?
Is there something I'm not understanding here?
Disguise herself to deliver a message? But... what about me?
What am I here for, damnit!
Why does Xena look at me like that? Is that... condescension? Pity?
What? But I'm so useful!
Have I made a bad impression on Xena, maybe? Just because of a few blunders?
So now she won't even trust me enough to deliver a message?!
But I wanted to outdo her?
No! I won't have things this way! I will show her that she indeed can trust me to at least deliver a message! Maybe even more, I'm not sure what I'll do yet!
Xena won't let me go out alone... just how bad of an impression has she got of me?
But I'm helpful!
...
Have I really been that bad?
Time to beg!
Oh please, Xena, please let me at least deliver a message! I swear I'll do good! I won't try to do extra!
I can't live with myself if Xena has to disguise herself to deliver a message because she can't trust me!
I will force her to trust me! ! !
Want it or not, it'll be me delivering that message!
Somehow I manage to convince her. She still looks at me with doubt. I'll show her!
Hooray! Finally I'm useful to Xena!
Xena sends me on a mission! I won't fail her! I'll succeed it, and I'll exceed it!
I won't only deliver the message. I'll also gather information! I'll also get some milk!
I have asked around. Apparently it was milk and not port that you feed to babies. We almost made another blunder! But I prevented that! Aren't I great!
The town's going crazy. Apparently now that they know Gabriel's in town, they posted a reward for him. A whole thousand dynars! I can't even imagine how much gold that is. You could probably buy a whole cattle of cows with that much!
No wonder everybody's looking. Our Gabriel is a very treaured baby. I'm so proud of him!
Anyway, I got this information, and I got milk. And as I come back triumphant. Xena disappoints me.
Xena wants to go to the meeting alone! Still Xena doesn't trust me! But I've been so good!
Oh you stingy, greedy Xena, you! You just want all the glory to yourself!
Pandora isn't feeling well. Oh don't worry, Pandora - nobody is stupid enough to actually open the cursed box!
Says the box will open by itself. Oh.
Guess humanity'll be doomed afterall!
But at least I got mik.
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XENA
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So I'll have to use Gabrielle as my messenger. I really don't want to. But I have to. Doing everything alone is just too humiliating.
Can I trust her this much? She is both mad and stupid. She won't fail us all, will she? She won't let her loose lips bring us all to damnation?
...
She comes back. Alive. Alone. It's a miracle. I guess I could trust her this much?
She wants to go to the meeting with me. Don't be ridiculous - they can't see you, otherwise you can't be my messenger.
Pandora regrets saving the baby. Says she should have grabbed her box, instead.
Don't be like that, Pandora. Don't regret saving a baby. Don't regret choosing hope.
Don't wish you had abandoned a baby.
How much I wish I could have kept a baby instead of leaving him.
How much I wish I could have saved babies instead of killing them. But now it's too late. Too late for anything.
Pandora says her box will open by midnight. So now I'm on a time restraint. Or humanity is doomed!
Time to meet king Gregor. As I wait, guess I'll kill time by terrorizing that disgusting pig of an innkeeper. He will know to cross me. Also I need him obedient.
Good thing I got me a proper dagger lately. I don't wanna use Gabrielle's on any random scum. I want to treasure that one.
I meet the king. He's here with his adviser. Hey that's the guy who took my sword before.
The king hates every moment of this. He is disgusted with me. He feels nothing but contempt for a monster like myself.
He is no baby-killer. He is better than me.
He's a honest man. He just wants safety for his people. He's willing to die for his people. I believe that. He did honestly come to meet me, the destroyer of nations, after all.
He probably knows that that I could kill him instantly. Yet he came. For the sake of people.
Only someone courageous would know me yet come to me.
But he believes the child must die.
If I can't convince him to stop... then I'll have to kill a honest man.
And then his adviser talks. And he smiles about all this.
He's enjoying this situation. He smiles when looking at me. Me and him, we're the same kind. We belong in the same pit. This guy is the same scum as me.
I can't tell them the box will open itself. The advisor will totally hold humanity hostage for his own gain. That's what I would do. I can't show them any weakness. Can't give them any leeway.
Gregor is a honest man. It's his adviser that's pulling the strings.
But if Gregor honestly keeps this scum around, listens to him, trusts him... then Gregor is a harmful fool, himself.
He says he cares for his people. But if he listens to scum like that, he is actually a danger to his people, himself.
If I can't convince Gregor to stop...
Gregor is the same thing as me before I ruined everything.
He has the chance of being something good. He wants to. But if he chooses to associate with scum, if he chooses to kill a child for this... then he can't.
Then he'll be the same thing as me.
I can't let another me to be born.
If I can't convince him to stop... then I'll have to kill him.
Because I wish I died before it was too late.
I try and convince him. Honestly. But my talking skills are worthless.
Gregor won't listen. I fail at negotiations. I can't get the box. Humanity is doomed.
Gregor leaves. And with that... he signs his death warrant.
Is he wants that baby dead... then only one can survive.
He should die.
I will have to kill a honest man.
Because killing good people is what I do.
I am death. Death is the only thing I can do. Death is the only thing that I will ever do.
Death is the only thing I am.
Death awaits anyone who will ever be near me.
I cannot escape my fate. I can't hope to be something different than myself.
...
I'll think about that later. First the box.
I can't get it honestly, then I'll have to take it by force.
I will have to... break into the castle... and kill them all. As I do.
Spreading death everywhere I go.
Alone against an army. My new routine.
At least Gabrielle will be left alone in a safe enough town. I'm sure she can find her way home from here.
At least I could keep Gabrielle safe. One silver lining.
And as I come back to our hideout... Gabrielle isn't there.
Pandora says she went somewhere.
...
What in the Tartarus, woman! Why can't I take my eyes off you for a moment!
Is she gonna bring Gregor's army here to our hiding place? Is this where we're all gonna die?
But I thought I was the death-bringer here! Apparently, it's Gabrielle!
I should have just dumped her somewhere on the road!
And as I pace the room madly... Gabrielle comes back. Happily. Proudly. Not alone.
I should have known I can't trust her! This woman drives me nuts. I may kill her myself before anyone else gets the chance to!
Who did she bring? Just a woman? No army this time? Guess we got lucky!
Gabrielle says I wanted her to scout the castle. I never said anything of the sort. She's inventing that for her own convenience. She's mad beyond all belief.
The woman works at the castle, and she's the one who dumped the baby. Oh.
How did Gabrielle ever find her? Did she just wander around town, asking everyone? Yet she didn't bring the royal guards to us? How did she manage that?
Did Gabrielle... do something useful?
Is Gabrielle... actually not all that hopeless?
There may still be a chance for her. If only she would go home, or settle somewhere safe, she may actually make something of herself!
I guess I owe her an apology. She's not as bad as I thought!
Can we trust this woman? If she saved the baby before... and came alone this time... then I guess so.
If Gabrielle trusts her, then so should I.
I didn't know what to do except take the most drastic measures by myself. And Gabrielle may have just brought us all a way out.
I despaired. But she found a solution. If we win this, this victory is yours, Gabrielle.
Every time I get desperate, Gabrielle saves the day. Gabrielle is hope itself.
She is so freaking proud of herself. She's such a baby. I can't help but smile back. I'm so childish.
What is it about her that brings out the child in me? But I'm a monster! I shouldn't be alive!
Yet here I am standing her and smiling at this womanchild like a fool. As if I was an innocent child myself.
She really is a bad influense on me. I forget myself when I'm with her.
We each have our own gifts? We each do our part? Girl, you have no idea.
You don't realize how much you're doing. You don't know what influence you have on me.
You don't know how much of this is yours.
Even this baby. We only get the chance to save it, because you heard him cry while I didn't. This baby lives because you were there. This whole ordeal is happening because of you.
And I can't even tell you. I don't want to encourage you.
I want you to leave this life of impossible hardship. I want you to go somewhere safe, somewhere nice. And become something great in there.
I want you to have a good life away from me.
So I can't encourage you. I can't tell you how crucial you are. No matter how much I want to.
All I can afford to tell, is a curt "good work". That little should be allright? I can afford to tell this much?
How much I wish I could tell you more.
...
Ophelia says there'll be a celebration with dancers tonight. That's my way in. Now I don't have to fight an army alone. Now there is hope. Now we may retrieve that box in time.
But I'll have to disguise myself as a dancer... that means no weapons. Means if I get caught... I'm defenseless.
I'll be fighting an army alone, without my weapons, without my armor, on their own territory. While wearing some flimsy dancer girl number.
That's the worst thing that can happen. I can't fight an army alone, again. I'll be slaughtered. This is ridiculous!
... But I have to risk this. This is our only chance. For humanity.
Nemos chooses a servant girl for himself, and has his way with her?
In my heyday, that would be me doing that. And worse. Guess I'm on the other side, now. I'll teach him a lesson in how to treat ladies, while at it.
What kinda dancing is it, I wonder. Anything I know? I always liked a good dance.
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GABRIELLE
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Xena went on her way to the negotiations. She wouldn't let me come with her. But I wanted to see the king! I've never seen a king before. Stingy, greedy Xena. Always hogging all the fun to herself!
If she succeeds, we get the box back, and humanity is saved! If she fails, we will have to get the box somehow else.
Guess she may have to perform a theft mission, then.
She told me to stay put, but I'll go out anyway.
I must find a way for her to get into the castle safely. She is such a good warrior, so she probably wants to fight an army again, like she always does. But I don't wanna let her hog all the fun to herself, all the time. I wanna do something, too. Let me do my part! I don't know how, but I'll smooth the way for her, somehow.
She won't let me do anything. The way this goes, let alone "outdo her", she won't even let me be her lowly assistant!
Also I don't like how pitifully she looked on me. Don't look down on me, Xena! I'm not as dumb as I look.
Also I guess we need to find out who Gabriel's parents are. As much as I wish we could keep him!
So it's time for me to perform an information-gathering mission!
Just you wait Xena! I will prove myself to you yet! You won't be looking at me with pity anymore!
I'll find a way to outdo you yet!
These two missions require brain, and I'll show you how smart I can be when I want to! I'm no village fool! I can read, I can write, and I've spoken with philosophers!
And so I go around town, asking people about the baby. Pretend I want to find it myself for the reward.
The town is even crazier than it was before. Everybody wants to find Gabriel. The reward is very big.
But they know Gregor means to kill him? All these people are willing to let a baby die, if they get paid for it?
...
After I started my travels with Xena, I learned that the world is full of gross, disgusting people. But I thought they were the exception. That good people are still the norm.
But this... this is unsettling.
It's like... this is an entire town of baby-killers.
The whole humanity can't be this way... can it?
And as I investigate, I see this woman who stands out. Who hates this whole thing as much as I do! She defends the sought baby, even though she gets yelled at for this! She's an ally! Not the whole town is like this! Perhaps she knows something!
And she does, but she hides things! I am very intuitive, and I can read people very well. And I judge that I can trust her! I tell her that we have the baby because she looks honest and caring!
And I was right! She does know things! She's the one who saved Gabriel in the first place! I knew I could trust her! My gift of prophecy has saved another day!
Apparently, Gabriel has no parents anymore. He is all alone in the world right now. That means we can keep him! Me and Xena are gonig to be his mommies!
And so I bring Ophelia to our hideout. She works at the castle, so she will also help us get in.
She's the one who put the baby into the river. She only wanted to save him! I'm sorry for thinking badly about you.
I killed two birds with one stone. Aren't I incredible! Xena will be so impressed! She will look at me with respect! Maybe she'll even praise me!
And as we make it to our hideout, Xena looks annoyed for some reason. Oh you worrywart you! Wait til you learn what a great job I did!
Annoyed Xena! Now you will become an impressed Xena!
Now you will learn how great I am! Now you will know that I can do my part in this team!
And then Xena... praises me. For the first time. Xena recognizes my greatness! I have outdone Xena. This is happiness. I wish this moment could last forever.
Xena says "Knowledge is power." What a beautiful quote. Just when I said "she fights, and I walk". Just when I thought "I have outdone her". She immediately becomes a better talker than me. She has outdone me yet again.
Still, what a beautiful quote. I should write that down.
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And so we separate. Me, Pandora and Gabriel will wait just outside the castle so that Xena could bring the box as soon as possible before midnight.
We will wait. While Xena will hog all the fun to herself and enter the palace as a dancer.
How much I begged her to let me join. I tried everything. I used every trick in the book. Even Pandora and Ophelia ended up looking at me as if I was crazy.
But nothing worked. Xena was adamant. Xena has resisted my power of conviction yet again. She resists it every time. Her resistances are very high.
This is a travesty. This is a tragedy. This is a catastrophe.
Now Xena will perform a dancing number, and I won't see it.
But I wanted to see Xena dance so very much! Or even better - I want to dance with her! She should have taken me! I could have done it okay! I'm sure I could. I'm not that bad of a dancer. I'm sure I could mix right in!
But she didn't. So now I'm stuck in the slums, doing the boring stuff.
Stingy, greedy Xena. She won't even let me become an exotic dancer with her.
And so we wait. The people in the town are getting absolutely desperate. They all want the death of a baby for a monetary reward.
Every single one of them.
What does money ever mean if you can't live with yourself?
What's even the point of humanity, if everybody's like this?
Is humanity like this even worth saving?
I think that, and I look at Pandora.
She was about to get hanged when we first saw her. Hanged for carrying humanity's burdens. Punished for her best efforts.
Yet she still carries it. Everybody hates her, yet she still chooses to suffer for others.
Same thing with Xena. She does so much good. Yet everybody treats her like the enemy. Everyboody wants her punished for her goodness.
Them two are such incredible people. Perhaps that's the true meaning of greatness?
To do the right thing even when you suffer for it. Even when the whole humanity's wrong. That just means you fight the whole humanity. The whole world. To support what you believe is right.
Maybe the whole world hates Xena. Maybe this whole town is working together to kill a baby.
But that's not everybody.
Because among these lowlife "almost everybody", there are people like Xena, like Pandora, like Ophelia.
People willing to risk everything, to fight the world, to protect the life of this small child.
I wish... I was as great as them.
Me, Xena, Pandora, Ophelia, are working so hard, risking so much right now, all to save this baby.
Xena more than anyone. She takes all the danger upon herself. She is really is the goddess of goodness. I wish I could help her more.
Among this disgusting crowd... how many there are just like that? We just can't see them.
Or maybe... not only that.
But also people that *could* become like that. If only they were given the right opportunity.
I was nothing before I met Xena. And now I'm on my way to greatness. Seeing her has inspired me to become more than what I was before.
I may be something little right now. But I know that someday, if I just keep working on it.
I will become something great myself.
I will become my own "Xena".
Maybe among this crowd... there are people who could also become like Xena. They just haven't met their inspiration yet.
I shouldn't think badly about them. We should believe in people. We should try, and give a chance to everybody.
I was nothing when I met Xena. Yet she let me go with her. She gave me a chance. She saw the potential in me. Because she believed in me.
If Xena believes in people. Then so should I.
Everybody deserves a chance.
Maybe this town, maybe humanity, looks disgusting at the first glance.
But everyone could still carry their own invisible Xena inside them. They just haven't discovered her yet.
Maybe humanity looks irredeemable at a glance.
But it's people like Xena that redeem it.
I'm so happy that we all have Xena.
Humanity will be alright. Because Xena is with us.
Gabriel is so lucky that he has Xena on his side. He will be alright, because he has Xena. We all are lucky that we have Xena.
Xena will never let a baby come to harm. Xena is an ally of all the babies in the world.
I wish I was as good as Xena.
I wish the whole humanity was as good as Xena.
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XENA
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And so, Ophelia helps me sneak into the castle. Delivered together with the dancers in a cart. While wearing convenient veils so they don't see my face.
I feel naked without weapons. All I could take was Gabrielle's breast dagger. It'll be my charm for good luck.
What kinda dance it'll be, I wonder? I don't recognize these clothes. Something southern, I think?
Oh it looks good on the girls. If humanity wasn't at stake, I may have gotten distracted right about now!
How could I fail so hard and never travel further south. If they wear things like that there, then I have missed a whole world of joy.
This looks good... Distractions! Think of humanity!
And so we start the dance. The girls have done this countless times before so they don't need to rehearse. So I have no idea how it'll look. But that's alright -
I'll just learn by looking. I'm a quick learner.
And so they dance. Can I really learn this instantly? And I do! I pick it up right away. Piece of cake! I can actually do better than that. Let me show them a few moves!
! I'm getting distracted! I'm on a mission here! Focus! Humanity!
Can't get distracted by the girls. Have to seduce Menos. He has to choose me as his flavor of the night. In case I have to steal the box from his chambers. Have to dance better and better!
And just as I get into it... I see some fool is about to open the box! He's as crazy as Gabrielle!
Humanity is about to be doomed right now!
And I can't reveal myself - it'll be a slaughter!
And so I have to dance myself to the moron that wants to open the box.
I have to dance to save humanity!
I distract the fool, and lead him to the girls. He gets carried away by them easily. The gullible, easily distracted fool. Alright, one predicament over. One crisis at a time!
I can't let this cursed box stay here, surrounded by fools that may open it. It's almost midnight!
It's right there. Surrounded by armed guards. Time's passing. I can't afford to waste another moment. Maybe if I'm quick enough? Dare I risk it?
Will I have to fight an army alone on their own territory, while dressed like a stripper, after all?
Also while carryiing a burden. How fragile is that box? I can't fight while carrying it - it may shatter!
I can't wait anymore. I'll have to risk it.
And just when I'm about to... Gregor comes in and takes the box away! More time wasted. But now I won't have to fight an army, I guess?
Menos plans a coup. Talks about it where everybody can hear him. So it's almost there already? Maybe this king isn't so good after all? He's so bad at what he does. Maybe anyone's better than him?
And then Menos chooses me. Good, now I can steal the box without witnesses.
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GABRIELLE
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And so we wait in hiding.
Those greedy, disgusting people are still looking for the baby.
We have hidden so well. Nobody will find us here!
And then Gabriel starts crying. Oh.
I forgot. We may have made a blunder.
This plan has a flaw. Babies cry. Did Xena forget, too?
We may not be hidden as well as I thought. He'll give us away!
I despair! I've tried so hard to make him stop crying before, but he just wouldn't listen! It's almost like he doesn't like me, or something!
I don't know how to make him silent! It's possible that we are doomed!
And just as I despair. The most incredible thing happen.
Pandora starts singing a lullaby. And as if by magic. Gabriel calms down.
What is this I'm seeing?
All this time until now. Pandora was so sad. So desperate.
When she lost her box, it was like she couldn't function. Like her box was her everything.
But now... she's happy. She smiles!
It's like she forgot that box has ever existed.
Apparently, all she needed in life, was a baby. I always knew babies make everything better.
Oh. I want a ton of babies so much, someday.
This baby, Gabriel, is an orphan. He has no one.
And Pandora clearly needs him so much.
I want to have all the babies in the world. I want to keep Gabriel to myself so much.
But perhaps I should let Pandora have him.
I think Pandora needs him more than I do.
And then I remember.
After Xena's successful... Pandora will get back her cursed box.
She will continue wandering. She will continue being punished for her sacrifices.
She said she can't have a life. That means... she can't have a baby?
That's... too sad.
She's afraid to dream. How can you live, and not dream?
My dreams are my everything. How can one live without dreams?
She knows too much. She knows the happiness of having Gabriel. Now when they part... she'll be sad.
She will now be sadder than she was before. Because she learned something good, then lost it.
That cursed box! I want to shatter it to pieces!
That's heartbreaking.
To love someone, and then lose them.
I couldn't bear it if that was me.
Is it better to know and lose, or to never know at all?
I don't think I have the answer.
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XENA
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So I'm in the bedroom of the scum that forces helpless girls to provide services for him.
That corrupts innocent maidens for his own cruel amusement. That bastard. How dare he do what I do.
I sit there and wait, wait and wait.
...
The scum isn't coming.
BUT THE CLOCK IS TICKING!
Doesn't this fool know that humanity is about to perish?! Hurry up, you loser!
Finally he comes in. Took his sweet time! I was about to burst!
He smells of soap. He was... taking a *shower* for this?
...
While singing and dancing, I'm sure. WHILE I WAS GOING NUTS FROM IMPATIENCE HERE! ! !
... Patience. Focus on what's at hand. One scum to pummel, one box to steal.
...
He's so self-assured of his superiority over me.
The fool doesn't realize that he's got the destroyer of nations in his bedroom. I'll give him some "pleasure", alright!
I make it to the king's bedroom. Luckly, it's empty. And just as I'm about to steal the box... the king comes in!
So the moment is now. The time to decide whether he lives or dies.
The worthless king that listens to scum. That's this close to being overthrown.
The hopeless fool that's going to kill a newborn baby over a prophecy.
But he's a good person. He's just hopeless and foolish.
I don't want to kill good people anymore.
But he's going to kill a baby. And he will be overthrown soon, anyway.
I tried and failed to stop him from killing the baby. He won't listen.
So he has sealed his fate.
I have to kill him. Want to or not.
I will kill him. Because this is a world of death. Good people have to be killed sometimes, and that's fine.
I am death. Death is the only thing I can do. Death is the only thing that I will ever do.
Death is the only thing I am.
And with this, I confirm.
I will kill him. I decide.
I will kill him. Because to hope is wrong. Death is all there is.
I will kill him. This way, the baby will be safe.
Death is the only answer.
And I go on my way towards him.
I will kill one to save another. It's the right thing to do.
I will kill him.
And as I am steps away from him...
I see him crying over an empty cradle.
I can relate to that.
There should not be empty cradles.
I'm already in his sight. Yet he can't see me over his tears.
He... doesn't want to kill a baby.
He is... in this situation... by the force of circumstance.
If... death is not all there is... if... we dare to hope... then... I should not be killing him.
I should try... and convince him to spare the baby, again. Again and again. I should try and... keep hoping.
But if I'm wrong... if I spare him now... and he wants to kill the baby anyway...
Then, if I fail, and he succeeds... it will be my fault.
I... can't spare him. I can't risk a baby's life.
If I want the baby to survive... then I have to kill this man right now.
This man crying tears over an empty cradle about not wanting to kill a baby...
I want the baby to survive. I want him to live.
But I also... want him to be happy.
I don't want that baby, or any child... to live in the world of death without hope.
If I want... for our children to have hope... then I should hope, too.
I can't do this.
I can't kill a man that cries over an empty cradle.
I can't kill him.
I approached him to kill him. But I can't.
I'll just knock him out, and try another way.
This is scary. But I want to hope.
I'm not sure of anything. I don't know what I'm doing at all.
But I will hope.
I can't hope. It's too scary. But I'll try to anyway.
We can't hope. I know that. If I wanted the baby safe, I would just kill the man.
But I want to hope. I know I shouldn't. I know it's crazy. This is madness. But I want to hope.
So if I can't do this sane. I'll embrace crazy. I'll hope.
I will try and convince him to spare the baby.
I think I'm making a huge mistake here. But I want to try.
But first, the box. There was humanity about to be doomed, and I forgot. Is it almost midnight already?
Thing's heavy. How do I steal it away? The window!
But this is the second floor! I can't possibly survive jumping from this height. Good thing there's this convenient rope just lying nearby.
Nemos comes in with his men. Gregor's unconcious on the floor. If Nemos wants him dead, now's his chance. And I made this happen.
I'm intending to convince this useless king to raise the baby. Yet I also may have just doomed him. I don't know what I'm doing at all. I think I'm losing control again. Hoping is scary. Someone help, I can't deal.
I can't think about every little thing and function. I should just focus on what's directly in front of me. Something I know how to deal with.
I don't know anything.
Only one thing I know.
I sure would have enjoyed seeing Nemos' face as I jump outta the window. I bet his jaw had dropped. I can't help but laught. I'm so shallow.
But it feels good to have something creative to do, and do it well. Why wasn't I this creative before?
Perfect escape! Aren't I great?
This thing's as soon as done! Now all that's left is to find Gabrielle, and humanity's saved!
...
That reminds me. Where IS Gabrielle?
I run and run and run.
She is nowhere to be found.
She hid too well.
That damn woman. She drives me nuts!
Only seconds are left! We won't make it! Now humanity will be doomed!
Now Gabrielle has doomed humanity for real! ! !
Oh there she is! I searched half the town!
Pandora locks the box. We barely made it. Humanity was THIS close to extinction!
Next time, we should coordinate our rendezvous better!
Oh look, Gabrielle is staring. These darn outfits, they kept distracting me, too.
Now the baby.
""""""""""
GABRIELLE
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And so, we wait and wait and wait. Pandora likes the baby so much!
Is this almost midnight already? What's taking Xena so long? She's usually better at this.
And as I wait. Suddenly I realize.
We hid well, didn't we?
How will Xena find us?
...
Oops, I think I made another blunder.
We rush out!
I call out to her.
Xena, where are you?
And as if by magic, she immediately materializes!
What's wrong with her, she's looking a little crazy.
And what... is she wearing?!
! ! !
My beathing stops. My lungs fail me. My lips get dry.
What is this feeling I'm having?
Why, when I look at Xena dressed like that... I feel these incredible sensations!
I feel like I've been trapped all my life, like all I've ever knows was captivity, and now suddenly I see a way out!
I feel like I've known no joy all my life, like all I've ever known was misery, and suddenly, I see a toy!
I feel like I've been in a drought all my life, like all I've known was thirst, and suddenly, I see a spring!
I feel like I've been starved my whole life, like all I've known was hunger, and suddenly, I see a feast!
Why do I feel this way when I look at Xena? What's wrong with me?
Is she really a magician? Did she put me under a spell? She must be a witch.
What's the matter with me? I'm getting distracted in weird ways. I should be thinking about humanity!
What's wrong with her, she's looking a little crazy.
Pandora locks the box. All's done! Happy ending. Now we just have to raise our baby, is all.
But Xena... has another idea.
She takes Gabriel (Hooray! For the first time! Xena looks so good holding our baby!) and... carries him away. Says she'll take him to Gregor.
What? The king that wants the baby dead?
She doesn't make any sense. That crazy look in her eyes worries me. Is she alright?
I somehow get a foreboding sensation. Like incredible things are about to happen very soon.
""""""""""
XENA
""""""""""
Now the baby.
Gabrielle says we leave. She hopes we can save a baby from a king that wants it dead.
Run and try to escape is what we should do, if we were sane.
But I've decided to embrace madness. So I will hope.
I will bring the baby to the man that wants it dead.
I'm so crazy. That I even do what I should never do.
I grab the baby.
Me, touching a baby with my hands of a murderer. And not caring.
I really am crazy. But I will hope!
Because what I want is bigger than this, bigger than me, bigger than anything.
I want a world of hope.
So I can risk this. I can bear this.
Gabrielle says I fight, she talks. My talking skills are worthless. But I'll try and use my talking skills now.
I will try and connect two lonely hearts together.
And so I do the impossible. I am carried by my madness!
I come back to the castle that I just escaped, with an army that wants me dead, and I bring a baby with me!
Look Gabrielle, you taught me madness! You taught me hope!
Gregor wakes to the sounds of the baby.
And here I am, standing in the same place I was a hour before. I was death before.
Now I'm not. Now I'm crazy. Now I hope.
I was going to bring death.
Now I bring life.
And I convince him to let the baby live. I talk about goodness. I talk about families. I talk about love.
Me, a horrible monster that shouldn't live.
I really am crazy beyond all reason.
But I still hope.
And I'm succesfull. Gregor accepts the baby. The baby will live. Hope is real. Happy ending.
And then Nemos comes in with his people.
Oh.
In the fit of madness, I forgot. There was also a coup going on. The baby isn't safe here!
The happy madness is immediately over. I come back to my senses and do the logical thing.
I grab the baby and rush out! This room is a trap! I'll take the baby away, and deal with the coup!
I don't know how, but somehow this puts me into the situation where I have to fight an army alone, again.
But I wanted to avoid that?
Now I'm figting an army alone, on their territory, while carrying a baby.
... Did I do that? This is worse than the usual. I said I know how to weaponize a baby, but I don't actually *want* to do that!
Oh there, a convenient Gabrielle on a bench. Catch!
Leave it to me to have a baby for a minute, and immediately start throwing it around!
Good thing I'm an excellent thrower!
And as I deal with the guards. I hear horrible words.
"Xena, catch!"
...
Leave it to me, to spend a couple weeks with someone innocent. And to immediately teach her to throw babies.
Gabrielle... sucks at baby-throwing. Did she really just throw it with her eyes closed? It lands nowhere near to where I was. She should find another sport.
Leave it to me to spend a couple weeks with someone innocent, and I almost turn her into a baby-killer, herself.
Good thing that she'll leave soon, before I teach her even worse things.
And now I'm fighting a battle to the death while holding a baby.
I always knew I shouldn't be allowed near babies.
The people join the battle too, for some reason. Is madness contagious?
More enemies come. I can't do it all.
Gabrielle is useless. She can't be allowed near babies, either.
Actually, I give up on her. Anything's better than Gabrielle. So I take my chances, and throw the baby into the sky.
Somehow only after doing that, I come to the idea. "I shouldn't have done that!"
I did a good job giving my son away. He wouldn't have lived long with me!
Somehow, the baby survives. But even more enemies come.
Do I throw it to the sky again? Gabrielle, or the sky? Which is worse? I can't decide.
I just threw it to the sky. Guess I'll take turns. To Gabrielle, this time!
Hey, this is kinda fun!
Menos comes at me. And takes my sword, right away! What's wrong with me, everybody takes my sword, lately!
But hey, an opportunity. I'll reuse the trick that Hercules used against me. And catch the blade! And then improve the trick! And throw the enemy over me!
I really am good at this fighting thing! First I succeed at talking, and now at fighting! I'm just good at anything I'm doing!
And then I kill the guy! And everybody rejoyces, for some reason. Guess he had a bad reputation, just like me.
The madness is over. The baby survived. I'm surprised.
""""""""""
GABRIELLE
""""""""""
Xena just left without explaining. So all we can do is wait again. Pandora misses the baby.
Xena wants to give Gabriel to Gregor? I don't get it.
He wants the baby dead? Isn't that a bad idea?
Won't the baby be much safer with us? I sorta want to keep him.
I guess I'll just have to wait and see. Trust Xena's judgement.
But aw, I really wanted to keep the baby.
And as we wait. Outta the palace escapes Xena while carrying Gabriel in her hands.
She does look completely insane.
...
I'm beginning to worry.
The enemies surround her! While she's carrying a baby! But it's okay, she's a magician, she can perform miracles. ... I think?
What miracle will she perform this time?
And then she... throws me the baby.
...
The baby somehow survives.
Why did she do that?
Doesn't she know babies are fragile? Even I know that!
I'm beginning to doubt that Xena should be allowed near babies.
To throw a baby? Who does that! That's insane! I would never!
And then the enemies come at me, wanting the baby.
...
Okay, I guess. Xena, catch!
Look! I'm doing what Xena does! I've become just like her!
And Xena catches it!
I throw it nowhere near to where she was, but she still catches it! Xena performs another miracle!
And then she starts fighting while holding a baby! I can't reason with what I'm seeing anymore. Madness is the only answer!
And then Xena... throws the baby towards the sky. Aw why she didn't throw it to me?
But I'm sorta glad she didn't. I kinda suck at this baby-throwing sport.
I'm beginning to suspect that we both shouldn't be allowed near babies.
And then, with some hesitation, Xena throws the baby back to me.
Hey, this is kinda fun.
But why did she hesitate? I anticipated this! I wanna play, too!
And then Xena kills Menos. And everybody rejoyces.
Distracted by the baby-throwing game, I didn't notice that the people started fighting the royal guards too. Together with Xena. They have joined Xena's side!
Same people that, just a moment ago, have spent days searching for this baby, hoping to get rewarded for his death.
Now they fight to protect him.
What this means. Is that I was right. It is wrong to condemn anyone! Everyone should be given a chance!
Just like me, these people were worthless before. But then they saw Xena. And through seeing her, they have found their way to greatness.
Xena inspires people into greatness with her presense alone.
Xena really is the saviour of humanity.
This was a town of scum before. But now that Xena's been here. This is now the town of goodness! It's another miracle!
And so, Xena kills the man that wanted a baby dead. Good work, Xena! People that hurt babies shouldn't be forgiven!
And people agree! People celebrate! Guess that guy had a bad reputation. And now Xena has fixed him.
And just like that, Gabriel's safe. Xena has defeated an army alone while carrying a baby. Another miracle!
And then king Gregor adopts the baby as his son, and Pandora is also there. How did they get together? Have I missed something?
So now the baby will have a life and parents. And Pandora will have a home. So this was Xena's plan all along.
Xena has performed another miracle.
Xena has healed the hearts of three people today.
Just when I thought I wanted to help them. Xena immediately did it.
She has outdone me yet again.
Xena isn't just a miracle-worker. She redefines the word "miracle" itself.
Her whole being, is a never-ending stream of miracles.
This entire world is a miracle, because Xena is a part of it.
And she wants nothing for it. She just does what she does out of the goodness of her heart.
I won't complain about not having a bed anymore. Any sacrifice is good for goodness like this.
Xena is so good. She can do anything and everything.
...
I wish I could have helped more.
She can do it all herself. She doesn't need anyone. This is kinda lonely.
I feel like I'm just getting in the way. There's nothing she couldn't have done alone.
I've bragged about helping her. About doing my part. About outdoing her a little.
Who was I kidding. There's nothing she can't do. She is almighty.
I should grow and reach her level sooner. I wonder if that's even possible.
And as we celebrate. I cheekily invite myself into the royal treasury.
Just to look at the legendary box one last time.
King Gregor did say we could ask anything for a reward, so we're welcome to come in and look. I just wanna look.
I enter... and my eyes scatter. There's so much treasure!
So this is a fortune. It's so pretty!
And as I look, I realize.
None of this matters. Nothing I see touches my soul.
The one true treasure is the box. The box of legends.
It's a treasure... because of what it represents.
The box that connects three generations of women that were working, sacrificing, suffering - for the sake of us all.
They were carrying humanity's hope on their shoulders, their entire lives.
They did it because... they love. They love humanity so much, they will suffer for it.
They are just like Xena.
I wish I was like that, too.
Just like Xena, this box represents everything that is good with the world.
A couple weeks ago I was just a village girl. And now I'm an adventurer. A traveler. And now I touch the stuff of legends.
Thank you, Xena, for letting me have this. Thanks to you, I get to touch greatness.
And as I admire the box. I wonder.
Pandora thought this box was her curse. But it led her to Gabriel. Today it became her blessing.
Is it possible for the same thing to be a curse and a blessing, at the same time?
Xena comes in. Guess we're leaving already?
Aw, we won't even stay for the celebration? I kinda wanted to try the royal cuisine. Same old game every day gets old. I've never eaten this much meat before in my life. At first I though "that's luxurious" but now I can't stand it.
We won't even spend one night as royal guests? It's been so long since I've slept in a bed.
But... I won't complain. Because Xena doesn't.
If she likes to eat the same thing every day, then so will I. If she likes to sleep on hard, cold ground, then so will I.
I wish to share everything with Xena. If she says we go, then we go.
I'll go away from this room full of wonders, yet I feel nothing towards them.
I guess I'm indifferent to riches? I thought I wanted a nice house. But it doesn't have to be nice.
All I want, my biggest dream, is our neibouring houses together with Xena. They don't have to be rich. They just have to be full of love.
That future is so beautiful. Isn't that great when you get to anticipate a future lifetime of love?
I have the gift of prophecy. I know my every dream will come true. I know this will happen.
I believe in human bonds. I know it for a fact and me and Xena will stay friends forever. For as long as we live.
We don't need riches. We will make our own treasures.
Hey that sounds good. I should write that down.
Real treasures aren't things.
Real treasures are people like you.
Xena.
And as we are about to leave. I make a careless move and... the box drops.
I drop the legendary box a second time.
It's a good thing it's sturdy and can survive a fall or two.
Except I look at it... and it's open!
I HAVE DOOMED HUMANITY AFTER ALL! ! !
...
Nothing happens.
I look again and see.
The box is empty.
There was never anything inside it.
All these years... Pandora, her mother, her grandmother... were carrying an empty box.
All these years... they were suffering for nothing.
The box of legends, was just an empty shell.
The treasure never really existed.
That's kinda... disappointing.
Is there anything else that I think is great, but is actually nothing?
Xena says they were still carrying our hope.
I suppose... the intentions matter. They were doing worthless effort... but their hearts were in the right place.
Whether were succesfull or not... the intentions matter.
People that are willing to suffer for the sake of others... are our hope.
Just when I was feeling disappointed. Xena made everything alright.
Xena always fixes everything like this.
And I'm supposed to be the storyteller. The overthinker.
Yet Xena has thought about this deeper than I did.
Xena has outdone me yet again.
Xena makes everything better.
Xena. The real hope is you.
""""""""""
XENA
""""""""""
So now the baby willl have a life and a father. The king will have a son and keeps his throne. And Pandora will be relieved of her burden. Pandora will have a life. A happy ending!
Goodbye, you three. You are lucky to have each other.
Pandora asks me if there's anything I want.
I already have what I want.
Call the baby "Gabriel".
And as I come to pick Gabrielle from the royal treasury. Cheeky girl, she just invited herself there. She admires the cursed box. She shouldn't be allowed near it. She may drop it again.
She wonders how can the same thing be a curse to one but a blessing to another.
She doesn't understand. Blessing or a curse, you make that yourself.
True blessing are people like you.
And just as I think that.
She drops the box.
It opens.
Is this the end? Has Gabrielle just destroyed humanity?!
But the box is empty. All of Pandora's burden was just in her mind.
But the reason she kept carrying it... was because she cares for humanity.
Perhaps the real hope... is this desire to care for others?
Gabrielle. I could do something wonderful today.
And all of it happened because I was alive to do it.
All of it happened because you cared enough to hope for a monster.
All of it happened because you heard that cry in the bushes.
You couldn't sleep the whole night. Because you kept hearing that cry.
And I slept well because I didn't hear a thing.
Me, the master of everything, with countless skills and every ability, that can do anything well.
I slept so well. All while there was a baby dying right next to me.
Because I am a monster. I'm a baby-killer. I hear a dying baby cry, and pretend I don't. And continue sleeping comfortably.
Because there's no redeeming me.
And you, the village fool that knows nothing at all. That sees nothing, notices nothing.
You couldn't sleep because you couldn't ignore those sounds you kept hearing.
You would never let a baby hurt if you are nearby. Because you are the true goodness. For a baby to die unnoticed next to you? Impossible. The universe won't allow it.
You would never let a baby be hurt. You would never see something and pretend you don't.
You would never forgive a baby-killer.
Because I know I couldn't.
You are too good. You care too much.
It is thanks to you that this baby lives. It is because of you that I saw the way to resolve everything.
This whole ordeal is thanks to you.
All because you are so good, that you would even care for a monster.
It's caring people like you that are the real hope.
The real hope is you.
And I'm going to miss you so much when you leave.
""""""""""
GABRIELLE
""""""""""
And off we go. Goodbye, Gabriel, goodbye Pandora. Have a good life!
Goodbye, kingdom of Gregor, it's been nice visiting you!
The most incredible thing happened here.
Xena's deepest secret has been leaked.
Now in this kingdom, there live people that know it. People that know the secret of Xena.
Now the people of this kingdom know that Xena is a kind, selfless hero with the heart of gold.
Now there are people who know to admire Xena as much as I do.
I'm so happy about this.
I've spent a while thinking that nobody except me likes Xena. Now I am proven wrong.
Xena really is a hero of goodness. I wish the whole world worshipped her as much as I do.
I am Gabrielle, and I'm a storyteller. And now I have one more story to tell about the incredible heroics of Xena, the warrior princess.
What a great adventure this has been!
It's a shame we couldn't keep this baby.
But that's okay. We can always create more babies. We are going to give birth to our own babies!
I am Gabrielle, and I have the gift of prophecy. I know what the future is, and I know my every dream will come true.
And I foresee the future in which me and Xena have each other for life, among with many, many babies.
Won't that be just wonderful!