Xena: Warrior Princess - A Friend in Need (The Director's Cut) (2002) - full transcript

A director's cut version of the final two episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess.

In the time of ancient gods,

warlords

and kings,

a land in turmoil

cried out for a hero.

She was Xena,

a mighty princess

forged in the heat of battle.

The power.

The passion.

The danger.

Her courage

will change the world.

XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS

Looking out at the cosmos

makes you think...

about where we are...,

where we've been...,

where we're going now.

Yeah.

And like the bigger now.

I mean, Gabrielle,

what are we gonna do?

Wander around Greece our whole lives

looking for trouble?

Why don't we go away?

Far away? Whaddya say?

I can't believe you're awake,

much less listening to me.

Let's go south,

to the land of the pharaohs.

I hear they're in need

of a girl with a chakram.

You know

that there's somebody out there.

Yeah, he's been trying to find us

the past half-hour.

Are you all right?

Oh. Yes. Thank you.

Whoa!

Are you Xena?

Who's askin'?

A messenger, sent by Akemi.

Akemi?

You saw Akemi?

Several weeks ago...,

I was journeying with another monk

through a forest,

near the town of Higuchi.

It started to rain...,

and we sought shelter

at a teahouse.

Kenji...,

not even you

could be frightened of this.

Your shuji has

great dignity and beauty.

I am blessed with a certainty...

about what it means to be a monk.

But my companion...

was not as steadfast in his resolve.

You must leave... now.

Come on!

What?!

I know you're a good man.

In the teahose, I felt

the compassion in your heart.

Don't fear me.

Who-Who...

Who was that demon?!

The Lord of the Dark Land.

He's preparing an army

to wage war in Higuchi...

and slowly, the populace.

Honorable monk...,

I beg you to do

what must be done:

to stop him enslaving the souls

of that city.

But I'm no swordsman!

There's one in the west...

far beyond the setting sun.

A samurai?! A priest?! A god?!

No.

A warrior princess.

Xena, you must save Higuchi

from destruction.

The Land of the Rising Sun.

That's beyond Chin[a].

I didn't know

you were there, Xena.

Yes, I was there.

I was there.

Gabrielle, this is not going to be

the trip that I promised you...,

but if Akemi calls,

I must go.

Wherever you go,

I'm by your side.

I knew you'd say that.

The way of the sword...

is the most ancient

of the warrior's art.

With practice,

the samurai develops

the sacred virtues of bravery...,

self-discipline, and honor.

A samurai would rather die

a warrior

than live as a coward.

This Akemi who sent for Xena...,

what do you know about her?

She was forced by Yodoshi...,

the Lord of the Dark Land...,

to seduce souls...

into his grasp.

She's very beautiful.

- And she's a ghost.

- She's a...?

Gabrielle, before we reach

Japa...,

I should tell you everything

that happened there last time.

Many years ago...,

Borias told me

about a young girl who was kidnapped

by a Chinese warlord.

She'd been taken hostage

from a mighty island...

even further east than Chin[a].

Being the kind of person

I was then...,

the challenge of finding

a new land to plunder

was just too much for me.

I had to meet her.

So, her daddy's rich, you say?

And powerful.

He should pay well

for the return of his sweet daughter.

Come.

- Akemi, meet...

- ...Xena, the Warrior Princess.

You know me?

Oh, yes.

I've heard that

you're afraid of nothing.

Kao, here...,

- he's afraid of many things.

- This girl has spirit.

This girl deserves to die...,

speaking like that

in front of my guests.

You won't kill me.

Xena won't let you.

Because in her heart...

she knows

that she will soon love me.

Xena loves no one.

I'll be your student, Xena.

You'll take me with you.

You'll teach me everything you know.

I have a few lessons for you!

Here.

Fifty pieces of gold.

It's the best offer

you'll get for her.

I do what I want

with my property.

I say this isn't a good day

to trade.

Is it a good day to die?

It's unhealthy to negotiate

with this one.

I'd take the gold.

Guards!

I've shut off the flow of blood

to your brain.

You got ten, nine, eight...

Ah, forget it.

I would have taken the gold.

You know, Borias,

I have a dream...,

a dream of conquering every land

between here and Brittania.

Xena, you're always looking

for green pastures

to rape and pillage.

Yep.

And maybe there's more in this

than just the ransom, huh?

I mean, with her father

as an ally,

I could get a nice toehold

on that island.

What makes you so sure

she'll lead you to daddy?

Ah, she wouldn't lie to me.

Hmm.

She worships her teacher.

What's so funny?

Xena, you couldn't teach

a dog to bark.

Akemi!

Come here,

I wanna show you something.

You're wrong.

Xena will be a great teacher.

I'm ready.

All right.

If someone's comin' atcha

with a right/left combination...,

this is what I wantcha to do.

You feint back,

twist in the direction of the blow,

and then deliver a vicious jumping,

spinning back-kick.

All right?

Right. So...,

that's right, a left,

a feint, uh,

a jumping, swinging...

Jumping, spinning back-kick.

All right.

Now, I'll be a bad guy.

Hmm.

Lesson One:

trust no one.

Remember, Xena,

I get 10% of the ransom.

Good luck, teacher.

Come on, Akemi, keep up.

My ribs are still a little sore.

Well, next time we'll start

with something a little simpler.

Like listening.

Listen to that.

To what?

To life and death.

Every sound, every movement

is a message.

A wagon just crossed

a creek up ahead.

A deer grazing nearby.

When you listen to the Kami

like that...,

you must be at peace.

The Kami? What's that?

The Kami are the powers

behind all nature.

They make the sun shine,

the grass grow.

They brought you to me.

No, no, no. When I listen

like that, I'm at war.

Every sound is a possible warning

of an enemy approaching.

I believe that one day, Xena...,

the Kami will help you

know peace.

And I would be honored...

if you would accept this.

Oh.

Uh...

It's really pretty.

It's our scripts.

When my people are overcome

with a feeling

that needs to be preserved...,

we write verse.

Oh, yeah?

- Like what feeling?

- Love.

Love?

"Yesterday...,

the moon took lodging

on my sleeve.

Today...,

I've hope for even

the brokenhearted stars."

So beautiful.

To write something like that,

she must have loved you very much.

What's wrong?

The truth is, Gabrielle...,

she broke my heart.

She broke your heart?

I don't understand.

For a while,

I didn't understand myself.

When I travelled with Akemi

to her island for the ransom...,

I was to learn that my heart

was seeking something else.

I thought I was taking you

to your father.

His castle's in the north.

We came here first

to visit my grandfather.

He... died here...

many years ago.

Are you telling me

that we've walked days

in the wrong direction

to see a dead guy?!

We must visit my grandfather

to seek his blessing.

He's dead..., but...

I can still speak to him.

All your talk

about moons up your sleeve...,

you were playing me

for a fool.

I oughtta just...!

You hear the Kami

through the sounds of nature.

In the same way,

I hear sounds

that are silent to you.

My grandfather says

that you are a wise and appropriate

teacher.

And...

he feels your sword...

is not good enough.

There's a string of widows

from here to Greece

that say different.

Compared to a katana...

all other swords

are toys.

Well...,

then get me one of those.

The Great Katana

lies near here.

But... you must know.

In our country...

women are forbidden

to own katana.

Well, they're just gonna have

to get used to it, aren't they?

Sensei!

I come bearing a challenge.

My master wishes to fight you

for possession of the Katana...,

forged from the purest ore

of the Hakiman temple.

Your master must be

a mighty samurai.

Oh, no.

I'm just a girl... in search

of a really good sword.

A woman?

A foreigner?!

Challenging us?

For the sacred katana?!

This is a great insolence!

Well, I guess you're gonna have

to teach me a lesson, hmm?

Ooh, gimme, gimme!

Yeah.

Grandpa was right.

Now, this is a sword.

"In a flurry of snow,

two breaths of wind unite...

and become as one...,

and then disappear

into each other."

Listen, Akemi...,

I don't want you to take this

the wrong way.

I really love this sword...,

and you're a nice kid, but

I just came for the ransom.

I don't believe that.

What do you hear now?

Snow falling on cedars.

No.

Your heart...

beating harder than normal.

You're a master of war...,

yet... you know no words

to speak of love.

And then you go

and save my life.

There's no greater gift of love

a teacher can give a student

than that.

I have another gift

I must ask of you.

I saw what you did

to kill that coward, Kao.

It's a sacred trust.

I would be honored,

beyond words...,

if you'd teach me that.

All right.

You knew her for a few weeks

and you taught her the pinch?

- Xena, in all the time...

- Higuchi is under siege,

and there's no place to dock.

I'm turning back.

What?!

Gabrielle, I've got to go ashore.

I'm with you.

I knew you'd say that.

The katana!

You sent it

to the foreign whore!

Thank you.

She's traveling

to the city of Higuchi...,

which my army

right now...

is destroying.

My general awaits her...,

and when he captures Xena

and my katana...,

she'll lose her head...

to the sting of its blade.

So, thank you...,

daughter.

Firebombs!

They're going to burn Higuchi

to the ground.

We've gotta release the water

from the tower.

Gabrielle, what would you do?

I saw these acrobats.

- They used to...

- Show me, Gabrielle.

Climb on!

All right. What's next?

This way!

Gabrielle!

Whoa!

Xena!

Go for the ladder!

Kill her!

Retreat!

A wise general

knows when a fight

is lost...,

but I think

we will meet again...

soon.

Whoohoo!

We've won! We've won!

Move! Move!

We've won! We've won!

Move! Move!

This way! Follow me!

Higuchi is saved.

Not quite the way I would have done it,

Gabrielle, but it sure worked.

You know, Xena,

I still don't understand.

You taught Akemi

the pinch.

Did she ever use it?

Yes, unfortunately she did.

After a many days' walk,

we reached her father's fortress.

Akemi?

Akemi, what are you doing?

You've thirty seconds to live.

My brothers...,

my sisters...,

my mother...,

and my gentle grandparents.

I avenge all your deaths...

at the hands of this monster.

- Father.

- Father?

I pray you suffer

in death...

the way your family

suffered in life.

What the hell

did you do that for?

It was my duty.

He had to die.

I don't care about that!

What about the ransom?!

Where's my money?!

Forgive me, Xena.

I don't suppose

there's any inheritance in this!

I have one last thing

to ask of you.

Restore my honor.

The sacred katana.

You want me to cut off...?

That's why you wanted me

to take the katana.

After that is done...,

take my ashes...

and place them

in the family shrine...,

in the town of Higuchi.

No, no.

No, I'm not going to...!

Akemi.

I pray you will.

"The... snow melts.

Flowers fade.

And I pass...

as all things do."

You...

"But-But time...

and love...,

they go on."

Restore my honor, Xena.

Xena!

How will you feel when you come

face-to-face with Akemi's ghost?

Better question is...,

how will Xena feel...

face-to-face...

with the ghosts of the people

she killed at Higuchi?!

What?!

Who are you?

My family name is... Harukata.

But he's known as

the killer of ghosts.

- Xena saved your city.

- This time.

But that does nothing to atone...

for what happened...

when last she was here!

What's he talking about?

I was fulfilling

Akemi's dying wish:

to place her ashes

at the family shrine here in Higuchi.

Word got out that I was

honoring the ashes

of a girl

who'd killed her father.

The townsfolk felt that I

would be defiling their graveyard.

They banded together

to stop me.

Xena.

Bitch!

Bitch!

Go home, bitch!

Go home, bitch!

Go away!

She killed her father!

Go! Go! Go!

Get out! Get out!

- Get out!

- Get out! Kill her!

I tried to ignore them,

but they came after me.

Xena!

Akemi!

Akemi!

Akemi!

Watch out!

Run! Run; fire! Fire!

The wind took the fire...

from house to house.

40.000 of my townsfolk...

perished... in the flames!

No, it's not possible.

That is... only the beginning!

Akemi told me that

after she killed her father,

Yodoshi's spirit

was so full of evil,

even the underworld

would not allow him to enter.

He became Lord Yodoshi...,

the eater of souls.

Now he holds them...

inside him...,

enslaved.

If that is true...,

then I am guilty

of a greater evil

than I ever thought possible.

Xena, it was a horrible accident.

No.

No, I must put things right.

Can you hear them?

I thought I heard a horse

before.

Listen not just to the sounds...,

but to what's behind the sounds.

How many are there?

At least three armies

are gathering.

The general we met

at the water tower was right.

We will meet again

and soon.

I'll warn the others.

Ghost killer...,

I know that you think of me

as your enemy...,

but you must believe this:

my spirit aches

for the torment I've caused.

We both want... the same thing:

to release those souls.

You've devoted your life

to killing Yodoshi.

Why is it

that you have never succeeded?

I have the power...

to slay him.

But it is impossible for me

to get close enough...

to use my blade.

Why?

Because... I am mortal.

Only... another ghost...

can trap... a spirit

as mighty as Yodoshi.

Akemi...,

I know what I must do.

But I'm afraid that this day...

what's done

may not be undone.

Xena, the militia is prepared.

Why aren't you ready?

Gabrielle, come here.

Come here,

give me your hands.

All right.

Here.

Feel the surge of blood

under the skin.

- Now, just behind...

- Xena.

You don't have to do this.

I understand why you would never wanna

teach me the pinch.

No.

No, today

more than ever...

I want you to know

what I know.

Please.

Why are you doing this?

Gabrielle...,

if I only had thirty seconds

to live...

this is how I'd want to live them...,

looking into your eyes.

Stop this.

Stop it.

Always remember: I love you.

Why would you teach me this

right now?

I don't understand!

There's nothing to understand.

I just wanted you to know

everything I know.

Are you ready?

Let's go,

we got a battle to win.

Wouldn't it be better

if we stayed with Xena?

Xena wants us to lead

a contingent to the east plain.

She said a group of Yodoshi's

archers are gathering there.

It's too quiet out here.

Gabrielle, what would you do?

(what would you do?)

Listen not just to the sounds...,

but to what's behind the sounds.

(what's behind the sounds.)

Always remember: I love you.

(I love you. [...])

Xena! (Xena!)

Xena!

All right.

Now you asked for it.

Gabrielle!

If I only had thirty seconds

to live...

We're going to be together.

You brought out the best in me.

Gabrielle!

...this is how I'd want to live them...,

looking into your eyes.

Xena!

You came to me

in my dreams...

and I thought it was reality.

Now you come to me

in reality...

and it feels like it's a dream.

Either way,

I'm filled with joy.

The ghost killer.

What's he doing?

His job.

Speeding wandering souls

on their way,

before they can be devoured

by Yodoshi.

Perhaps he sees Xena.

Xena is alive!

Do you understand?

She is alive.

I want to write a verse

to express how I feel...,

but there's no poetry

of sufficient beauty.

Akemi...,

I've been in the underworld before,

but it never felt like this.

What's goin' on?

Our bodies...,

they're an illusion...

projected by Yodoshi.

While we are

under his power...

we must obey his will.

Funny, you're just the way

I remember you.

I am at your service,

Lord Yodoshi.

You most certainly are.

An eternity...

of playing the whore

to service my appetite for souls.

Xena...,

I was so worried that you

wouldn't show Yodoshi respect.

He's very dangerous.

It wasn't respect

I was showing him.

I have a job to do.

The job

that you called me for.

I'm going to destroy Yodoshi.

It will be very dangerous.

He seems to grow mightier

with each passing day.

You're going to have

to trust me, Akemi.

There's someone

I have to meet...

that can help us.

You know

you are being watched.

Akemi, I can still hear

your heart beating.

And I can hear every one

of Myuki's clumsy footfalls.

She'll try to follow me.

Let her.

Shh.

I saw something.

The samurai may have

Xena captive.

We'll split up.

- Xena.

- Gabrielle.

What are you doing here?

I was so worried about you.

I found your chakram.

There's so much blood.

I'm all right.

What's with the robes?

Gabrielle, I'm going to kill

the Lord of the Dark Land.

You'll need this.

I can't take that.

It's difficult to explain.

You're dead.

How could you let yourself

be killed?

I'm sorry, Gabrielle,

I couldn't tell you.

You'd have tried to stop me,

and then we'd both be dead.

Is that supposed

to make me feel better?

We've overcome death before.

We will find a way

to bring me back.

But only by becoming a spirit

can I kill Yodoshi

and free those souls

that I condemned to torment.

Don't you see that?

You're my whole life,

Xena.

I won't lose you.

You won't lose me.

Harukata,

don't you come near her.

Put down your weapons, Gabrielle.

He's working with me.

The anklet!

With this, we can bring Yodoshi

to us when we're ready.

This is my soul mate.

She's a poet like you, Akemi.

I have one question.

Would you risk your life...

for the return of hers?

Without hesitation.

There is a way, Gabrielle.

You must take her body,

burn it...,

then sprinkle the ashes

into the Fountain of Strength

on Mount Fuji.

You must find the fountain before

the second sunset after death.

That's tomorrow.

Harukata will say

the incantations necessary...

to give the sacred katana

power against malicious spirits.

Gabrielle.

This is Akemi.

It is an honor to meet you

at last.

And you, Akemi.

Gabrielle can't help

with our work in the tea house.

She knows what she must do,

and she should leave soon.

Thank you.

Wait.

I would like to give you something...

to protect you on your journey.

Good luck, old friend.

I am getting your body back, Xena,

no matter where they have hidden it.

Before sunset tomorrow,

we will meet again...

on the side of Mount Fujisan.

See you there.

Give me her head!

I've been expecting you.

Your friend was a fine opponent.

She provided me

with one of the greatest trophies

an honorable samurai

could ever claim.

You call yourself honorable?

You outnumbered her

a thousand to one.

You're not a samurai,

you're a fraud.

You couldn't've killed Xena

unless she wanted you to.

I think it's you

with a death wish!

I accept the challenge.

Listen not just to the sounds...,

but to what's behind the sounds.

(behind the sounds.)

It was the greatest honor of my life...

to send Xena to an early grave.

If I cannot

do the same to you...,

then I ask you...

to grant me a noble defeat.

Please, remove my head

in one stroke.

Good.

Huh?

Where is Miyuki?!

Where is he?

Duck!

We finally meet,

ghost killer.

Akemi.

Akemi.

Akemi. Are you all right?

Harukata, what went wrong?

There is...

only one explanation.

He's drinking...

from the Fountain of Strength

on Mount Fuji.

If you drink...

from the fountain...

and use... the sword

I blessed...,

it will be the final destruction...

for any spirit.

Xena...,

my soul...

will soon join the others...,

trapped in...

Yodoshi's grasp.

You must finish a job...

and release us all.

I will not rest

till it is done.

I can't let you die.

If I only had thirty seconds

to live...

this is how I'd want to live them...,

looking into your eyes.

Even in death, Gabrielle...,

I will never leave you.

You will return to me,

my friend.

Yodoshi a hawk?

Even with his injuries,

in bird form,

he could make Fujisan

in half a day.

Yes, but he's weakened.

We're no longer confined

to these physical illusions.

We could change

into other vessels.

What about them?

Yes.

Good.

Xena.

Gabrielle...

is on her way

to Mount Fujisan.

And...

if she succeeds...

She'll succeed,

don't worry.

She's very good

at what she does.

I'm so sorry.

Akemi...,

what's wrong?

I have to tell you...

what must be done...

to save those souls...,

but I feel my own soul

is doomed...

for what I'm about

to tell you.

I know that you did

what you thought you had to,

Akemi.

And perhaps by releasing

those souls...,

we'll all be redeemed.

Come on.

You'll come to regret

not allowing me

a warrior's death.

It's not too late to put that right!

I will not allow you to find

the fountain... and revive your friend.

No!

No! No!

Come on. Come on!

What?

My own daughter?!

Akemi!

Xena?

Xena?

Xena.

Xena..., what happened?

Told you I'd see you here.

The Fountain of Strength...

Get water...

Fountain... Water...

Gabrielle...

Gabrielle, I need the sacred katana

to finish the job. Thank you.

The sun is setting, Xena.

I have to find your ashes.

- Gabrielle...

- Come on!

Gab...

Enough of this!

You are about to join the 40.000

souls you condemned, Xena.

And the first thing I'll do...

is take the head off

your little friend with the tatoo.

You won't live that long.

I deserve the dignity

of a warrior.

Dignity, huh?

Like you showed my friend?

- Xena.

- Akemi.

You've redeemed me.

You've redeemed them!

- You've redeemed yourself!

- Go in peace, Akemi.

We'll meet again...

one day.

- No, Gabrielle.

- Xena.

- No.

- Xena..., the sun is setting.

- I have to bring you back to life.

- No.

Not if it means condemning the souls

of the 40.000 who burned at Higuchi.

- The souls are free.

- They're free from Yodoshi's grasp.

Akemi didn't wanna tell me this

in case I wouldn't come back to help...,

but for those souls to be released

into a state of grace...,

they must be avenged.

I must stay dead.

- But if I bring you back to life...

- Those souls will be lost forever.

Xena...

That is not right.

I don't care.

- You're all that matters to me.

- Don't you know

how much I wanna let you do this?

But if there is a reason

for our travels together..., it's

because I had to learn from you...

enough to know the final, the good,

the right thing to do.

I can't come back.

I can't.

I love you, Xena. How am I supposed

to go on without you?

I'll always be with you,

Gabrielle.

Always.

Xena.

A life of journeying has brought you

to the farthest lands...,

to the very edges of the Earth.

And to the place where

I'll always remain: your heart.

- So, where to now?

- I think we should go south,

to the land of the pharaohs. I hear

they need a girl with a chakram.

Where you go...,

I'm at your side.

I knew you'd say that.