ORIGINAL TRANSCRIPT

4X15
- BETWEEN THE LINES -


[TEASER]

"What we sow in this life,
we reap in our future lives.
This is our karma."

From the Xena "Blue" Scroll

Author Unknown

G: "Xena, it's not as if people will stare at you."

X's Voice: "I'm not worried about that."

G: "It's the latest rage in India. You know what they say--
`When in Rome-- '"

X: "Oh, please."

G: "OK-- different analogy. Um-m-m-m-m-- when you want to fly
with eagles-- "

X: "Don't dress like a turkey?"

G: "Ooh."

X: "I don't know, Gabrielle. Look-- this is just not me."

G: "No, no. It-it _is_ you. Uh-- the color-- the jewelry.
It's, um-- it says, um-- `Casual'. It says-- `Sexy'. It says--
"

X: "She-e-e-e-yah-h-h-h!"

G: "It says a lot. Glad to see you're getting into the swing of
things, Xena."

Merchant: "Four."

G: "There's a lot to be said about immersing yourself into the
culture of a new land."

X: "What's that?"

G's Voice: "I don't know. Some sort of procession?"

X: "Let's go check it out. _What_ has this woman done?!"

Man: "Naima's husband is dead. She must join him."

G: "Has she been found guilty of murder?"

Man: "Her? Our custom has been passed down and can only be
changed by a darsham-- an enlightened one. Her husband died.
She must join him. That is the law."

X: "Well, a law is about to be broken!"

Blue Turban: "Huh-h-h-h-h!"

[Fight]

X [Whispers]: "Come on." [Normal Voice] Gabrielle-- take her."

G: "Get back!"

X: "Yah-h! Ah-h-h-h-h-h-h-h! Ah-h-h-h-h-h-h! Ah-h!"

G: "Come on!"

X: "Come on! Come on! Go! Run!"

Men's Voices: "Get them!" "Come on!" "Get those women!" "Stop
them!"

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Man's Voice: "There they are!"

X: "Back!"

G: "Run! This way! Run!"

X: "Ah-h-h-h!"

Men: "Come on! Take some men and surround the back of the
house." "You men-- come with me!"

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X: "Pile up some more furniture. I'm gonna look for a way outta
here."

Man's Voice: "Naima-- you _must_ follow your husband."

X: "No _windows_-- fantastic. Naima-- I don't know what you
think you're doing-- "

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Naima [Nai]'s Voice: "Have courage, Xena. I'm sending you on a
journey into your future-- a journey to save-- your karmic
circle."

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[A Future Life]

Khindin [Khi]: "All this talk is tiring, Arminestra. _You_--
wanted to negotiate. But I've heard _nothing_ that appeals to
me."

X-in-Arminestra [X-in-Arm]: "What? That spear-- I put it
there."

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[ACT I]

Khi: "Is the great peacemaker deaf as well?"

X-in-Arm: "Arminestra? What is your business with these
people?"

Khi: "My business-- my business-- is to own them-- life-- and--
soul. Kill the men. Capture the rest."

X-in-Arm: "Wait a minute!"

Khi: "Uh. 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. Kill them."

[Fight]

Khi: "To arms!"

Man: "Ready?! Aim?! Fire!"

Shakti [Sha]: "Find Arminestra! Find the mother of peace!"

X-in-Arm: "Alti?"

Khi [Morphs into Alti-- Heretofore known as Alti-in-Khi]: "Xena!
I knew I'd find your soul, eventually."

A Man: "Revered mother, run!"

Sha: "Take her to safety, Athlin."

X-in-Arm: "Who are you?"

Sha: "Shakti. The army needs me. Go-- now!"

Athlin [Ath]: "Come, Arminestra."

X-in-Arm: "I can't leave."

Ath: "You're the only hope the people have, Arminestra. Come--
now!"

A Man: "Shakti! Yah! Yah!"

Ath: "Come on!"

X: "Ah-h-h! Uh!"

Alti-in-Khi: "Xena-- the great warrior in the body of
Arminestra, the peacemaker. She's _mine_!"

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[The Present]

G: "Xena-- you better hurry! Xena? Xena?"

Nai: "Make move, sweet thing."

G: "Look, I don't have time for this. Where is Xena?"

Nai: "Xena-- Xena-- in the sea-- in the sea-- in the sea-- in
the sea-- in the sea."

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[The future]

Alti-in-Khi: "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. And Alti
knew what was in the hearts of men and women. You are
experiencing the torment of a thousand lifetimes-- past and
present. Talk to me. Tell me where Xena is. He didn't know."

Warrior: "Who is this Xena? I thought you wanted Arminestra."

Alti-in-Khi: "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."

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Nai: "It is the beauty of the universe. Each line has its
place. Each has a meaning-- each-- drawring [sic] on the other
to complete its totality."

G: "That is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

Nai: "There is a great evil in the future that is hunting Xena's
soul. It has found her. If it succeeds-- Xena's karmic circle
will end-- along with all the good of her future lives."

G: "Who is her enemy?"

Nai: "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."

G: "Send me there."

Nai: "I'm not sure that's wise."

G: "This karma that you're talking about-- can you see mine?
Can you see how much Xena's a part of that?"

Nai: "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 learn the mandhi."

G [Whispers]: "Teach me."

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[The Future]

Sha: "Is it a problem, Athlin? Break the tip and pull it out."

Ath: "It's not that easy. There could be damage to the lung,
and if I pull it out, it's possible that we'll-- "

X-in-Arm: "Let me take a look at that."

Ath: "Good mother, this is not something for you to see. I said
I'd come and get you when we-- "

X-in-Arm: "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."

Sha: "Uh!"

X-in-Arm: "But just in case-- "

Sha: "Uh."

X-in-Arm: "There. That'll take care of the bleeding."

Sha: "Amazing."

X-in-Arm: "Well-- we're not out of the woods, yet. Grit your
teeth."

Sha: "Uh-h-h!"

X-in-Arm: "Ah-- there's not many people who can take a crossbow
bolt through the shoulder and still keep their arm."

Sha: "Your abilities are surprising, Arminestra."

X-in-Arm: "Just take it as a thank you for saving my life."

Sha: "What man of peace wouldn't?"

X-in-Arm: "Hmm."

Sha: "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."

X-in-Arm: "Shakti, if you surrender, your people will be
enslaved-- and you-- "

Sha: "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."

X-in-Arm: "No, not with this one. Trust me Shakti. I've known
her a very long time."

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[The Present]

Nai: "Just remember-- the key-- is the mandhi. Together, you
and Xena must use it to trap the evil-- and bring it back-- to be
destroyed."

G: "I understand."

Nai: "Mandhi is the path to enlightenment. Feel it-- don't try
to understand it. [Whispers] Accept. [Normal Voice] This is
to create the mandhi. It will be waiting for you-- in the
future-- there-- hidden in the wall."

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A Man: "The men are in position."

Man: "Then it's time. Break the door down now!"

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Nai: "You are ready. Tell Xena the evil can only be destroyed
here-- where she's still powerful."

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[[[[[[G: "Xena!]]]]]]

X-in-Arm: "Something wrong?"

G-as-Sha: "No. No, I'm fine. I was just thinking of someone I
need to find. What-- what were we talking about?"

X-in-Arm: "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."

G-as-Sha: "A warrior-- Khindin?"

X-in-Arm: "I know this doesn't make much sense to you-- but
she's trying to recreate powers she lost long ago."

G-as-Sha: "Is she still-- tall-- black hair-- a particular
warcry when she attacks?"

X-in-Arm: "Leave us. [Whispers] Gabrielle."

G-as-Sha [Morphs into G-in-Sha]: "Xena? Is that really you?
Naima didn't tell me that you'd-- you'd-- look so different."

X-in-Arm: "So do you. Your name is Shakti. You're the leader
in this land."

G-in-Sha: "This is my karma. This is my reincarnated soul?
Naima sent you here. You have to defend your soul against a
great evil. I don't know what that is."

X-in-Arm: "Alti-- the great evil is Alti."

G-in-Sha: "I thought you killed Alti."

X-in-Arm: "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."

G-in-Sha: "The mother of peace?"

X-in-Arm: "Me. First things first. We'll have to set free the
people that Khindin captured."

G-in-Sha: "Xena, the mandhi 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."

X-in-Arm: "We capture her, and her men will take revenge. We'll
have to set them free at the same time."

G-in-Sha: "I'm sure your mind is as sharp as ever-- but how?"

X-in-Arm: "That's a good question."

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[ACT II]

Alti-in-Khi: "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."

Mother: "No! No! Don't! No-o-o-o-o-o! No, please don't!
No-o-o-o-o-o-o!"

G-in-Sha: "You know? If this doesn't work-- it all ends here--
everything-- us-- our souls-- "

X-in-Arm: "We don't have any choice. It's funny-- here, you're
the warrior-- the hero."

G-in-Sha: "Xena, in this lifetime, the mother of peace would be
a goddess to me. That's a hero."

X-in-Arm: "Be careful."

Ath: "Good mother-- I'm afraid I don't understand a lot of
this."

X-in-Arm: "Just trust me, Athlin. You're clear on where to find
the box."

Ath: "Yes-- it'll be done."

X-in-Arm: "Good."

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Alti-in-Khi: "Ah-h-h-- 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."

X-in-Arm: "The blood of an innocent gives power to no one. I
should know."

Alti-in-Khi: "No one touch her. She's here to plead for life--
this one-- and those. Right, Xena?"

X-in-Arm: "Let the girl go, and I'll give you the answer to your
question."

Alti-in-Khi: "I posed a question?"

X-in-Arm: "You know _why_ I'm here. But you don't know _how_,
or who sent me."

Alti-in-Khi: "Take the girl away. Fine-- let's talk."

[Cut to G-in-Sha and her/his men]

Alti-in-Khi: "We have so much to catch up on. Last time I saw
you-- you were killing me. You know what I'm after."

X-in-Arm: "I can guess. Your soul has moved on along with your
evil. Your looking for that spiritual power you once had. You
found it in the karmic circle."

Alti-in-Khi: "Hmm-hmm. 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 do you know the key?"

X-in-Arm: "Fear?"

Alti-in-Khi: "Fear."

X-in-Arm: "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."

Alti-in-Khi: "It's not?! With the power 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
Darsham?"

G-in-Sha: "No-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!"

[Fight]

X-in-Arm: "Hurry up! OK, run! run! Head for the trees!"

Man's Voice: "Quickly!

X-in-Arm: "Spread out! Run!"

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Nai's Voice: "Mandhi is the path to enlightenment. It will be
waiting for you-- in the future-- hidden in the wall."

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[Fight]

Ath: "No! Good mother! You can't kill!"

X-in-Arm: "Uh!"

Ath: "Ah-h-h-h!"

G-in-Sha: "Uh!"

Ath: "Oh-h-h!"

X-in-Arm: "Let me see."

Ath: "I've never known such pain. I'm sorry-- mother-- but I
couldn't let you kill."

X-in-Arm: "I know you were protecting my soul-- otherwise,
Arminestra's-- my karma would have been destroyed."

Ath: "I've-- done what you asked."

X-in-Arm: "Thank you, friend."

Alti-in-Khi: "Well, how pathetic. The great warrior can't kill.
Take her away!" [Laughs]

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[ACT III]

Alti-in-Khi: "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.
But don't worry. You'll die slow. I wanna feel every delicious
moment of your pain. Get up!"

G-in-Sha's Voice: "Xena."

X-in-Arm: "Alti just left. If we're gonna bring her back to the
past and beat her, you'd better start painting."

G-in-Sha's Voice: "What if I don't remember everything Naima
taught me?"

X-in-Arm's Voice: "Don't try to think, Gabrielle. She said that
the mandhi was the path home. Trust that. Just let it happen."

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[[[[[[Man: "It's time. You must join your husband, Naima-- in
death."]]]]]]

[[[[[[Man's Voice: "Your spirit will rise, like smoke from the
fire."

Alti-in-Khi: "It's judgment day. Today I realize what I was
truly meant to be. Ah! Ah-h!"

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[The Present]: "So the gods have told us-- so it must be done.
Give her to the flames!"

X: "Get Naima to safety! Go!"

G: "Come on!"

X: "Hide her! Run! Run!"

G: "Watch out."

Alti [Laughs]: "Ah-h-h-h-- another chance! You brought my
_soul_ back to try to defeat me, Xena."

X: "Ah-h-h-h! Ow-w-w-w-w!"

Alti: "The problem is-- you also brought back my powers!"

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[ACT IV]

Alti: "What's the matter, Xena? Having a problem fighting me in
my spirtual state? Don't worry. I'm real-- formed from the evil
of the earth."

[Fight]

X: "Ah-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h! Uh! Ah-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h!
[Etc.]"

Alti: "And I'm a much better fighter than you ever dreamed."

X: "Ah-h-h-h-h! Ah-h-h-h-h-h! Ah-h-h-h!"

G: "Uh-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h! [Etc.]"

Alti: "What's she told you about me, little girl?! Has she told
you about my powers?! Has she told you about this?!"

[[[[[[Vision of the crucifixion]]]]]]

Alti: "That's my gift to you! That's your future! _She's_
responsible for your death!"

X: "You bi-i-i-i-i-itch! Ah-h-h-h-h! Ah-h-h-h-h-h-h-h!
Ah-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h! Ah-h-h-h-h!"

G: "Uh-h-h-h!"

Alti: "Give me that pain! Give it to me!"

[[[[[[X: "You're the best thing in my life."]]]]]]

G: "Ah-h-h-h-h-h-h! Ah-h-h! Ah-h-h-h-h! Ah-h-h-h-h! [Etc.]"

Alti [Laughs]: "You must be the darsham-- the one that sent
them. I can feel it. I'll have Xena's power, but yours is
_nothing_ can compare to that. And I _will_ have it!"

X: "Gabrielle-- Naima's _not_ Alti's enemy! It's the mandhi."

G: "Ah-h-h-h-h! Ah-h-h-h-h-h-h-h!"

X: "Ah-h-h-h-h-h! Ah-h-h-h-h-h-h-h! Ah-h-h-h-h-h-h-h!
Gabrielle-- Gabrielle-- "

Woman's Voice: "How can it be?"

Nai: "Thank you, Xena. You destroyed Alti at the one time in
her karma when she was most powerful."

X: "The one time?"

Nai: "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 yourselfves as lines in the mandhi-- separated-- but forever
connected. Mandhi-- contains truth."

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G: "I guess it's a day for changes."

X: "Oh,yeah. How does this feel?"

G: "Feels pretty good. I wish I had some word in it, though.
You know? It was like this in that vision."

X: "I know. I've been thinking about that."

G: "Xena, Alti was evil. Why should we believe anything she
showed us? The mandhi contains the truth. I wish there was some
way that-- that we could do that again, just-- just to really
know."

X: "Naima could have told us."

G: "Yeah. There's so many questions I wish I had asked her--
about what this all means. You know what she said? She said
that your karma-- and mine-- they're intertwined."

X: "Well, maybe it's not the first time we've walked down this
road, huh?"

G: "Maybe it won't be the last. How would I recognize you?"

X: "We need a sign. This way, no matter how we look, we'll
always remember the women we were. Like it?"

G: "I love it."