Xena Scripts

A lot of subtext friendly websites that i have visited have criticized Gabrielle for not having a clue about Xena's love for her. All i have to say to them is: Watch THIS episode. This is where the relationship is begun, and it is Gabrielle who is the pursuer, Xena the pursued. There is some initial attraction or interest between the two immediately on sight, shown during the opening fight sequence. But Xena is not ready or willing to act on her impulses. Gabrielle is. She begs to follow Xena. She could not be more interested in Xena, less interested in her home life, or her fiancee. She is overwhelmed by the newness of her emotions, the exciting opportunities they present. Xena, the more experienced lesbian, has been burned a few times, is not looking for a relationship, but Gabrielle's enthusiasm triggers something in her. She leaves Poteidaia, but goes right to Draco and asks him not to torment that village any linger. Draco, who knows Xena well, sees in her that there is a reason...a person that means something to Xena. Meanwhile, Gabrielle leaves her old life to journey with Xena, whether Xena wants her to or not. It is not until the scene in her brother's crypt that Xena is willing to explore the relationship that might blossom between Gabrielle and herself. In the penultimate scene, Gabrielle wanders into Xena's campsite to throw herself at Xena. They quickly find that they are on the same wavelength and consummate the relationship that night. (Hence the laughter when Xena tells Gabrielle to sleep on the other side of the fire--not gonna happen.) The next morning, Xena just needs to know one thing: was this just a fling? or is this the begining of a relationship. Gabrielle quickly reassures her.

"So Zeus, in his appreciation, turned the two lovers into oak trees. And then do you know what happened?" "Somebody built a boat out of them?" "No, their branches intertwined and they spent the rest of their days in each other's embrace." "What's the point?" "Come on, Xena. I believe everyone will find their tree in the forest someday. Even you." "I find the strongest trees in the forest stand alone." "You don't have to be strong all the time, Xena. Sometimes it's good for the soul to be soft."

"Let me buy you a mug of ale. But then you'll owe me." "How generous. Of course, I have to decline. What would people think? I mean me, a young, innocent girl, taking gifts from a swarthy stranger? The gossip alone would send this town reeling." "Is that yes?" "Well, not in the customary sense of the word. But perhaps you could help me. I'm looking for a friend of mine." "I could be your friend." "I'm serious. And you better back off before I find her. It's Xena." "The warrior princess?" "Yeah." "I like it. I could be a friend to both of you." "And I'm looking for my boyfriend. Big, strong, jealous type. And there he is now. He's resting, after polishing his giant, lethal sword collection."

Sphaerus talks about his father: "He makes me do things I never thought I would. Things I regret." "I can understand that. My mother always wanted me to get married and have kids. And I remember telling her that I'd always be grateful for the way that she raised me, but she couldn't expect me to pay for that with my future. ...I came to a point in my life where I had to make a choice. And I thought about who I really was. And I made it."

Once again, most of the subtext in this episode is centered around Gabrielle. As the story opens, she is telling a story of love to Xena, trying to get her to soften up. What happened since the end of the last episode, you may ask? My guess is that Xena was ready to renounce her old self and violent ways. But since she has retaken the sword for good, she has a habit of slipping into "warrior mode" which is what Gabrielle is trying to get her out of. Too many walls between the two of them when Xena is like that. Darius recognizes this in Xena when he asks her "Are you so brave that you fear someone caring for you?" So anyway, Gabrielle is stuck in taverns warding off men for most of the episode. When describing her "boyfriend" to a persistent suitor, her description sounds a bit like Xena. She opens up to Sphaerus, telling him about leaving home because of her lesbian lifestyle. Eventually Gabrielle gets sick and tired of these men, so she goes looking for Xena. After finding her, Gabrielle, mischevious as she is, tries to arouse some sort of jealousy from Xena by describing some guy she met in a bar. Xena ignores her until she sees the guy, and then decides she and Gabrielle must have a talk in the near future.

The no-holds-barred review: This episode is fairly straightforward. The only scene i would like to expand upon is when Xena and Gabrielle meet in the dreamscape. Xena says "My dreamscape passage and your dream must be overlapping." Gabrielle says "Nice outfit." Now one cannot underestimate the power of nonsequiturs. Why would she say this? My guess (my wish?) is that Gabrielle is trying to alter the dream. She is not quite convinced that Xena is real. Or she wants to use this time in the dreamscape judiciously. She just wants to forget about the terrifying predicament she has been placed in. Time for a little relaxation...

One thing that makes this story subtextual is the presence of the baby which Xena and Gabrielle carry around throughout the episode, protecting. It is a constant reminder of a family structure between the three of them, an idea which is reinforced when King Gregor asks Xena if there is anything he can do for her, and she says, referring to the baby, "Name hime Gabriel."

What this story is about is Gabrielle's acceptance of her role as the inexperienced Lesbian. Hence the conversation they have as they enter town. While they are in the tavern, Xena says, referring to meeting up with her evil ex-cums, "In a strange way, it will be nice to see some of them again." "You're terrible at reassurance, did anyone ever tell you that? I don't want you to go in there and then decide you like it again." See, Gabrielle's worried about her own lack of experience. Is Xena bored? Are there things Gabrielle is hesitant to try? Well, Gabrielle apparently has a right to worry, because as soon as Xena "re-enters" her old life, she is crawling all over Marcus. Not only does Gabrielle have to keep Xena on the straight-and-narrow morally, but keep her away from the straight-and-narrow sexually.

Also, ATM has this to add: "At the very end of "The Path Not Taken," Xena repeats to herself "My friend," referring to Marcus. We've all heard her refer to Gabrielle as her "best friend." Now, everyone knows that she and Marcus were lovers. If she refers to Marcus as "her friend" and she refers to Gabrielle as her "best friend", what does it make Gabrielle? Hmm, something to think about!

..."You've got an idea." says Gabrielle. "Someone made me a better offer. I need you to leave me alone for a while." Gabrielle looks saddened after being told this. "Okay." she murmers. Xena immediately recognizes the hurt and says: "I didn't mean that like it sounded. (Giving a REAL intense look) I'm glad you came back." Gabrielle looks all giggly-happy again.

Xena: "You coming back for me really meant a lot after what I did to you." "I trust you. I never thought for a moment you meant to hurt me." "Well, I owe you one. Thanks." "I owe you too." says Gabrielle as she suddenly hits Xena on her breastplate. "What was that?" asks Xena. "Payback for hitting me." "Feel better?" "I think I broke my hand. But I do feel better." "Good. So do I."

This is only the sixth episode, but what keeps coming up is that these two are more than willing to die for each other. (Or at least risk their lives for each other, which is pretty much the same thing.) Also, i believe that this may be the first episode where Xena and Gabrielle start calling each other "best friend." Of special significance is the last scene of this episode. When Gabrielle punches Xena, she is probably punching her arm (difficult to see in slow motion.) But it sure looks like she is punching Xena's breast. When Gabrielle says she feels better and Xena says "Good. So do I." there is a VERY odd expression on Xena's face. As if she is turned on, or something.

Xena says: "Maybe there's a reason that the gods encased them in stone." "No, you're wrong. I trust them, Xena. You're just being too cynical." "Do you realize the power you hold?" "Yes." "It's a big responsibility." "She's up to it. She can do anything." Interrupts Philius. Xena ignores him. "How long do you think you can go on convincing them that you're a goddess?" "If anyone can do it, it's her. She has the aura of a goddess."

Philius explains that the scroll "...needs to be read by someone with the proper understanding of Dorian rhythms." "In other words, me." says Gabrielle. "Forget it. Too risky." says Xena. "I won't be captured. I'll wait 'til they're asleep and then I'll sneak in--" "Forget it Gabrielle!" Gabrielle says in a hurt voice with a shocked expression on her face: "She has no respect for me."

At the begining, the weird look Gabrielle gives Philius could be because she HAS had sex, just not the kind that Philius is thinking of. Which also explains the quick look she throws at Xena when it is next mentioned by Crius. Otherwise, this is a complicated psychological tale of what can build up in a relationship when either partner is not careful. Gabrielle does something foolish, ruling the titans, and Xena calls her on it. She is hurt, but her ego is somewhat smoothed over by Philius' instantly jumping to her defense. Gabrielle's bruised feelings try to spark jealousy in Xena by playing up the bond between Philius and herself. This jealousy play is just hurting Xena and causing her to back off. Hence, the initial rift. (But a very wee one at that.) Also, there is the first suggestion that Xena and Gabrielle are allowed to explore possibilites outside of their relationship when Xena says "...if you did, it's none of my business." One final note: Gabrielle, referring to Argo, says "You told me to take care of her." She is now a girl. (In Sins Of The Past Xena referred to her as "boy.")

"Once a long, long time ago, all people had four legs and two heads. And then the gods threw down thunderbolts and split everyone into two. Each half, then, had two legs and one head. But the seperation left both sides with a desperate yearning to be reunited; because they each shared the same soul. And ever since then, all people spend their lives searching for the other half of their soul."

As far as I can tell the best reference to an implied same-sex love occurs in Gabrielle's story to Iolaus while they wait in the cave. She tells him of a prehistoric time when mankind had "two heads and four legs", an idlyic state which Zeus destroyed by cutting them in half. This remembered loss, she states, is what drives people to constantly look for their missing mate.

Although she does not tell the whole tale, this is a paraphrase of the story told by the character of Aristophanes in Plato's symposioum. This well known allegory describes a primordial state in which there were three sexes, not two, and each person was two beings together -- either male/male, male/female, or female/female. "The reason for the existence of three sexes and for their being of such a nature is that originally the male sprung from the sun and the female from the earth, while the sex which was both male and female came from the moon, which partakes of the nature of both the sun and the earth." Because of the great strength of these units, Zeus decided to seperate each of them, saying "I will cut each of them in two; in this way they will be weaker."

Aristophanes goes on to describe the results of the operation saying, "Man's original body having been thus cut in two, each half yearned for the half from which it had been severed. When they met they threw their arms around one another and embraced, in their longing to grow together again... Each of us then, is the mere broken tally of a man, the result of a bisection which has reduced us to a condition like that of a flat fish, and each of us is perpertually in search of his corresponding tally...Women who are halves of a female whole direct their affections towards women and pay little attention to men; Lesbians belong to this category..."

"Whenever [such a woman has] the good fortune to encounter [her] own actual other half, affection and kinship and love combine and inspire in [her] an emotion which is quite overwhelming, and such a pair practically refuse ever to be separated even for a moment. It is people like these who form lifelong partnerships, although they would find if difficulty to say what they hope to gain from one another's society. No one can suppose that it is mere physical enjoyment which causes the other to take such delight in the company of the other. It is clear that the soul of each has some other longing which it cannot express, but only surmise and obscurely hint at."

Even though Gabrielle does not give all the story, the script writers certainly knew it. She tells it following a remark in which she wonders aloud what Xena sees in her. Even as she holds Iolas' head in her lap, she is thinking of a different kind of connection than the one she shares with him, and I believe the story is offered as a clue to the alert audience member.

To me, it seems obvious that because of their experiences in "Prometheus," Xena and Gabrielle are giving their relationship a little break. A little cooling off period. Perhaps Gabrielle is bitter about this? It would explain why she seems adamant about rubbing her barely-a-relationship with Talus in Xena's face. And Xena acts as any ex-lover would do in this situation, she is cooly distant, taking pleasure when the relationship doesn't seem to be blossoming. Acting very magnanimous.

Well, this is a momentous episode for Gabrielle. This is where she discovers her weapon of choice, the staff. It also marks her first fighting scene. Strangely enough though, she is back to her first outfit, the `peasant' outfit. There is definitely some chemistry going on between Gabrielle and the Amazons, in particular Terreis. Meanwhile, Ephiny is on the prowl for some warrior princess action. i think this episode is well placed, for it marks Gabrielle's return to women from her brief daliances in the past two episodes. Time for her now to get back to Xena.

AlBi astutely points out: "Interesting that Gabrielle assumes that Xena was anticipating Gabby joining her in the dungeon. It's also an interesting way that Gabrielle shows Xena that she has brought her chakram and whip with her. Instead of just telling Xena about this, she appears to take great delight in twirling around, allowing Xena to gawk at her."

Ignacio points out: Xena and Perdicas, Gabrielle's former fiancee, share some short but meaningful words when they're alone on Troy's wall. Perdicas says: "You've taken good care of Gabrielle. I wanted to thank you for that", "There's no need; she's like family", answers Xena. That's what someone would say to the new lover of his past love, showing that he's not jealous but still cares for her happiness. I think this incident is really meaningful because it's very short, has no connection with what happens before and after and is unnecessary for the episode's argument. It seems like put there for subtext finders.

What to say about Gabby's behavior in this episode? Yet another fling? Well, let's look at Xena's behavior recently: hanging out with the Amazons a couple of episodes ago, flirting with a long lost childhood friend (lover?) in the previous episode, and now Xena spends all of her energy in this episode keeping up with Helen of Troy. No wonder Gabrielle is feeling bored and decides to take advantage of what is around her. Perdicus is of course ready and willing. Why not play with him for a while?

Gabrielle and Xena's former fiancee are engaged in a bragging match, in which the fiancee declares that he got Xena to agree to marry him. Gabrielle gives an ambiguous smile, could be a smile of defeat, or a knowing smile, of what she could say. Xena later confronts her fiancee over his flirting with Gabrielle. "Don't mess with my friend." "What makes you think I have?" "I've seen your line of seduction before, remember? Your giving her all the same looks you used on me. It's very familiar territory." "If you didn't have your fingers pressed against my life at the moment, I'd say you were jealous. Are you?" "You hurt my friend and I will rip your throat out." It could be inferred that Xena is jealous over Gabrielle.

AlBi points out: Gabrielle bursts into a clearing where Petracles is chopping firewood, making a lame excuse to talk to him. The first thing she says to him, in a jealous tone, is "I wanna know what happened between you and Xena". Later on, an unusual insight into Xena's protectiveness of Gabrielle emerges - Gabrielle: She warns me about you. Petracles: She's right to warn you (in light of the fact that Petracles later makes a play for Gabrielle, he is confirming Xena's suspicions of him as competition for Gabrielle's heart). Further into the conversation we learn about Gabrielle's depth of feeling for Xena - Petracles: I asked her to marry me because I thought that was the best way to conquer her. Gabrielle: (snorts) I bet you had a surprise coming. Petracles: No Gabrielle, it worked (Gabrielle looks shocked). She was mine (Gabrielle looks crestfallen). At the end of this conversation, Gabrielle runs back to the camp fire, where Xena is sharpening her sword. When Gabrielle sees Xena she stops running, and looks incredibly guilty. When Petracles enters the camp site soon after, Xena looks deeply upset..

And Ignacio points out: When they're walking, Xena warns Gabrielle about Petrakles, her former fiancee, and Gabrielle answers: "You can trust in me. I'm not a kid already". Xena stops walking, like surprised, and lets Gabrielle walk before her. At first she doesn't answer, but seems like she's thinking a lot about what Gabrielle said. After some intense seconds, watching Gabrielle walk before, she says smiling to the air: "I know". After kissing Petrakles, Gabrielle runs away from him to Xena. She seems really ashamed, lowering her eyes, and when Petrakles walks on by, she looks at Xena with a really guilty expression. It could be because Xena warned her, but nothing dangerous happened. That's why I think the correct interpretation is that Gabrielle feels she treasoned Xena's love.

Gabrielle decides to leave Xena for a little while, and Xena's expression as Gabrielle walks away is very emotional (for Xena.) Also, Gabrielle's constant talk of Xena gets this reaction from her sister: "Well if Xena's so perfect, I'm surprised you can stand to be around simple people like us, your family!" Lilla says to Gabrielle :"It doesn't take an oracle to realize that you belong out there, in the world with Xena, helping to change people's lives for the better, like you did here." "You knew all along, didn't you?" asks Gabrielle. "Yup," responds Lilla. "You're my sister and I love you more than everything." (Ignacio points out that this conversation makes the most sense if what Lilla knew was that Gabrielle is a lesbian.)

From Ignacio: "Just at the end of the episode when all is done, Gabrielle shares an interesting talk with her sister Lila when she starts with "One dinar for your thoughts". After a Lila's long talk about Gabrielle's destiny with Xena, Gabrielle looks impressed and asks: "You always knew, true?". And if that wasn't enough (what did she know about Xena and Gabrielle but didn't tell?), Lila answers, almost crying from emotion: "Yes... you're my sister, and I love you more than anyone else". Seems like Lila is finally accepting, after trying to refuse it, that her sister is gay. She may not like it (Lila has been explicitly angry with Gabrielle through all the episode for going away with Xena), but she's her sister and that's the way she is. Anyway, even if you don't accept this interpretation, this scene is very emotional, and seems like there's something very meaningful but a bit embarrasing they both know but don't tell. If the point they don't touch is that Gabrielle is gay, the whole conversation gets all its sense, otherwise seems incomplete and a little absurd (why all that emotions and tears?)."

Finally, after a bunch of subtext-lite episodes comes this! It starts off with the camera panning by Xena's clothing hanging up on some trees, and the sounds of water and giggling. "How's that?" asks Gabrielle. "Very good." purrs Xena. "Really?" "Come on, Gabrielle, you've been wanting to do this for ages. Just reach under this rock...give it your best shot." "Okay..." Gabrielle swimming nude with Xena, ducks her head under water. Xena pauses, then smiles, satisfied with something. Gabrielle emerges with a fish. Later, evil guy of the week is talking to his troops about Xena: "All you have to do is look at her to see she's unnatural! An affront to God! A woman with the strength of 10 men?! Out in the world alone save only her scrawny little companion? It's a complete abomniation!" Interesting that this religious -right sounding speech comes in an episode about one true god. Anyway, Gabrielle gets drugged with henbane and collapses at Xena's feet saying, "By the gods...you're beautiful!" Also, They are both trapped on a rope in a well. The way Gabrielle climbs up Xena's body is rather suggestive. Too bad this otherwise excellent episode has a cheesy-ass ending.

In one scene, Xena is relaxing next to her horse, apparently watching a group of women bathe. Later Gabrielle has a discussion with Xena's "father." "Gabrielle, let me put your mind at rest. Once we get the girls back home and defeat Corillus, I'll be moving on." "What are you saying? You don't think that I..." "Oh no, I can see that you and Xena are a team; I don't want to come between you two." "You won't. You're her father. She deserves to spend some time with you." "No, I've made up my mind. As long as the two of you are together, and you should be, there's just no place here for me." At the end of the episode Xena says: "Gabrielle, I want you to understandsomething. We both have families we were born into. But sometimes families change and we have to build our own. For me our friendship binds us closer than blood ever could." "For me too."

Xena is possibly dying from a poison dart, and asks Gabrielle if she had a pony when she was young: "...he got very sick one day and, well, i thought he would get better, but it's just what happens with things that you love. Sometimes they just leave you." She and Xena share a look. Later, when Xena does die, Gabrielle stares at the corpse and the mood is very intimate. She leans over and kisses Xena on the cheek. At the end, Xena (back from the dead) is congratulating Gabrielle on a job well done, and Gabrielle responds, "Change the subject...I'm gonna get all soft on you." "Xena responds with a hint of sarcasm, "We wouldn't want that, would we?"

From Ignacio: "Xena starts to tell Gabrielle she should go to the village in order to keep her away from danger. But Gabrielle reacts angryly, arguing she's not going away from Xena because "that village doesn't need me, but you (pointing her finger towards Xena) do". It's interesting to see Gabrielle react that way, like she's trying to show Toris she's not a little girl who does all what Xena tells her to do, after all she finally agrees to go to the village a little later. That could be meaningless, but after cutting Xena with an "end of discussion!", Gabrielle walks by Toris' side (who heard all that but not watching, like disgusted) and says to him, whispering: "Sorry you had to hear all this". That transforms a normal discussion into an embarrasing lover's dispute. And a little later, when Toris and Gabrielle are waiting for Xena's return, Gabrielle starts telling how much she learned from and how marvelous Xena is, but Toris cuts her, like offended, just when Gabrielle is saying: "When we first met, I was only a girl in Poteidaia..." Does that mean that Xena transformed her from a girl into a woman? And did Toris cut her at that point because he didn't want to hear about that? Anyway, Toris' expression of disgust is obvious at that point. And his reject to Xena's relation with Gabrielle is obvious too through all the episode, only assuming it at the end with the referred "I understand"."