"Come on!" "Let's get outta here!" "She's too much for us!" "Let's go!" "Quickly!" "Are you all right?" "By the gods." "Save them." "Save who?" "The novitiates." "Cryton took..." "Where?" "Cryton took them where?" "No!" "I said answer me!" "Tell me who sent you!" "Last chance." "Either you tell me or tell it to Hades." "There's a thought." "Why don't you tell him yourself?" "My eyes!" "Najara?" "Cryton's dead!" "Come on!" "Let's get outta here!" "Move!" "Run!" "Run!" "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, THE WARRIOR PRINCESS" "You all right?" "Yeah." "You saved us!" "He was a monster!" "Thank you!" "Bless you!" "Xena!" "Najara..." "What are you doing here?" "Don't tell me ya got time off for good behavior." "I escaped." "I think he broke some ribs." "I'll be all right." "Stay put." "Nope." "Nuthin' broken." "Just a few cuts and bruises and a mild concussion, it looks like." "We'll have to carry her outta here." "Joxer, we gotta get moving." "Joxer?" "Yeah." "I'm fine." "What's the problem?" "That woman you saved, Najara She and I have a checkered history." "It turns out she just broke out of prison." "I don't believe it." "That woman risked her life trying to free us." "And when Cryton caught and beat her she never even raised a hand against him." "She's not a criminal." "She's a saint." "Then maybe you and your friends would like to help us rig a litter for your saint." "A few good-sized branches ought to do it." "And vines." "What are we gonna do?" "Get her healthy, and then take her back to jail." "What about him?" "We'll take him back to the village." "They can deal with it." "Hold it, folks." "Word is somebody around here killed the warlord Cryton." "I did." "Mind if I see for myself?" "That's Cryton, all right." "I'd like to buy the man who killed that son of a bacchae a drink." "Come on." "You can tell me all about it." "Excuse me." "Where's the local apothecary?" "End of the street, on your left." "Thanks." "What happened?" "She was choking on some water." "Are you all right?" "Never better." "Excellent." "Because the sooner you heal, the sooner we can get you back..." "...to prison." "I've changed, Xena." "I put down the sword." "And I'm the queen of Egypt." "You stopped fighting?" "Completely?" "You think Cryton could do this to me if I hadn't?" "Gabrielle, please, tell me you're not buying this." "Xena..." "The novitiates said she didn't fight back." "Now, would she look like this if it weren't true?" "Come on, for God's sake, this woman needs help." "And she'll get it." "I want you to go and set up camp just outside of town." "I'll go to the apothecary and collect Joxer." "And then I'll meet you there..." "after I've sent word to prison." "Then there was time when Cryton fed a man's heart to a dog while it was still beating." "Yes, sir..." "It takes a real man to stand up to Cryton." "Not to mention the rest of his gang, when they get word he's dead." "You saying they'll take revenge?" "You let a man brand you it figures you're not going to take his death lying down." "And if the rumors are true, they won't be the only ones." "All right, I'll bite." "What rumors?" "About his kid." "What kid?" "Cryton's." "Word is, when his wife died in childbirth he had the boy shipped out to the academy in Helios." "At least that's the story." "Cryton has a son?" "Ok, Joxer." "The sooner we get out of here, the sooner you'll sleep." "Now let's go." "You're right." "Come on." "I'm gonna tell him." "You're gonna tell who... what?" "Cryton's son." "I'm gonna go to him." "I'm gonna explain things." "I'm gonna explain everything." "No, Joxer." "That's a really, really noble idea, it is, but the chances of Cryton's son understanding about your killing his father are slim to none." "Guess I could come along as backup, though." "No, no." "I'm gonna do it myself." "You know what, Xena?" "You're always in everybody's business." "And this time, I'm gonna tell him by myself." "Promise?" "I promise." "This should take down the swelling." "Aren't you going to ask me?" "Ask you what?" "..." "Why I gave up fighting." "I just assumed it was your voices telling you." "What did you call them?" "The jinn, right?" "Yes." "My spiritual guides." "But you're wrong." "The truth is, the jinn stopped talking to me after you and Xena left." "It wasn't until I stopped fighting that they returned." "That's how I knew it was right." "Then what made you stop?" "A while ago a man came to our prison." "He had just returned from India and he spoke of a way of life that seemed so right to me." "...A way of peace." "...A way to break what he called..." "...the cycle of violence." "The cycle of violence." "You met Eli." "That's amazing." "Xena and I knew him in India." "He changed my life." "I know." "The same way he changed mine." "I used to justify my violence by saying it was for good." "Eli taught me that the greater good is to use no violence at all." "From that day on I stopped fighting and... vowed never to lift a sword again." "But if you stopped fighting, how did you escape?" "A divine decree." "The jinn move mysteriously." "They prepare a way for those who believe." "So the next washing day I hid amongst the prisoners' laundry, and when they took it to the riverside, I escaped into the water." "I must have swam for miles." "But I've been free ever since." "And what have you been doing?" "Planting crops, helping harvest, mending clothes Working towards the day the jinn said would come." "...The day you and I would meet again." "...United in a common bond, not even Xena shares." "The jinn said that?" "We walk the same path, Gabrielle." "Our lives are dedicated to defeating evil, by promoting peace." "It's our way." "The way Eli taught us." "A reverence for life." "Stray from that path, whatever the reason, the consequences could be devastating for everyone." "Yeah." "What's with the long face?" "You did it." "You scored your first kill." "Go away." "Oh, come on..." "So, what if you made some kid an orphan?" "I've done it hundreds of times." "It's no biggie." "You're the murderer." "So are you." "Keep it up." "Soon you'll be as bad as me." "'Cause underneath it all, we're just the same, you and me..." "Two bad-ass, butt-kicking, slaughter-happy..." "Shut up!" "Shut up!" "Shut up." "Go away." "You talkin' to me?" "Xena..." "Or are you just beating yourself up over Cryton?" "Joxer, the guilt of killing never goes away." "Nor should it." "But your first kill is definitely the worst." "How do you live with it?" "I don't have a choice." "And now, neither do you." "But doing what you're doing..." "Going and seeing Cryton's son, explaining things, it's gotta help." "I'm sorry I have to do this." "I'll try not to hurt you." "Is that too tight?" "Can you still sleep?" "Like a baby." "It's ok, really." "Xena's just being true to her way." "But if she thinks I'm going anywhere now that I've found you and our path she's crazy." "Good night, Gabrielle." "Najara's asleep." "Good." "Did you remember to tie her hands and feet?" "Gabrielle?" "Yes, I did." "Good." "That little smoke compact you made was pretty effective, huh?" "Yeah, it seems to confuse them." "Still, I don't like you being in the thick of things knowing you won't fight." "Xena, that's the beauty of my new techniques." "I can distract them without hurting anyone." "Best of all, no killing." "Joxer's still pretty cut up about Cryton." "Think you can talk to him?" "I don't know what to say." "I keep remembering the first time that I killed." "I know it's strange but it still hurts." "Stranger if it didn't." "I'll try." "Xena..." "You'll never guess who's been teaching Najara the path of nonviolence..." "Eli." "It's amazing." "He is living proof that peace really works." "Are you asleep?" "Joxer, what you're doing, going to tell Cryton's son..." "I think that's the bravest thing you've ever done." "I don't feel brave." "I just feel bad." "You're awfully quiet, Xena." "But then, you never were one to waste words." "Nothing's changed." "Including me, is that it?" "You're wrong." "New outfit, new religion, same old wacko underneath." "Yet you claim to have changed." "Why can't I?" "After all, we both had the same inspiration." "...Gabrielle." "But unlike you, I've changed my whole life for her." "You've just changed sides." "You hurt Gabrielle, and I will change you in ways that are anything but peaceful." "You forget?" "Hurting Gabrielle is your job." "Or have those visions gone away?" "You know, the visions of your death and hers." "I wanna share a life of peace with Gabrielle." "You wanna share a violent death." "You tell me who's the villain here..." "Me or you." "I know you promised Joxer you wouldn't interfere but what happens if Cryton's son gets violent?" "My assistant explained your business so I sent for Cryton's son, Armon." "Has he heard what happened yet?" "No one knows anything at all, except me." "Here he is now." "Armon..." "These people are here about your father." "Hi." "I'm Joxer." "This is Xena, Gabrielle and Najara." "Pleased to meet you." "I can't tell you how long I've waited for this." "You have?" "Wouldn't you?" "..." "If your father was Cryton?" "He's got a point." "I knew one day he'd send for me to ride beside him." "Fighting evil, righting wrongs." "Cryton, the Courageous, and son." "Cryton, the Courageous..." "I know." "It's supposed to be a secret and all, but an old nurse told me about him when I was little." "Guess she felt sorry for me 'cause I never got to go home." "But ever since then the thought of my father out there fightin' for good has been like a beacon of hope for me." "...A real-life hero." "So?" "Where is he?" "He..." "He..." "Armon..." "Your father's dead." "Dead?" "Why?" "When?" "He was killed in a fight yesterday." "I'm sorry." "I'm gonna find the scum who killed my father." "And when I do I'm gonna spill his blood." "I know you're hurt and angry but killing won't make that go away." "Najara's right." "Your father is gone." "There's nothing you can do to change that." "But he was your hero." "As long as he continues to inspire you, he'll never really die." "I think that your father would want you to stay here..." "...and finish school." "Oh, I will." "...Just as soon as I've avenged him." "Wait." "Armon, as long as you're set on leaving then why don't you travel awhile with us?" "Just until you figure out something else." "Joxer..." "I'm just saying he's going to find out sometime." "Well, fine, but why does it have to be me?" "Give me one good reason to tell him why his father was a murderer and would've killed ya if I hadn't 'a stopped him." "Because it's the truth." "Well..." "It would really hurt him." "It would give him a chance to deal with it in an honest way." "It would break his heart." "She's just suggesting that you do what you said you would." "I'm not gonna tell him that his father was a murderer." "Every boy needs a hero." "Then be one." "Ok, I already killed Cryton once." "If you guys wanna do it again, that's fine with me." "Joxer..." "This may hurt a bit." "It's important if you want the wounds to heal, you have to keep them cleaned." "Do you want me to stop?" "No." "It's not just that." "It's what you said about healing wounds." "When I think about some of the wounds I've caused, mortal wounds that'll never be healed,..." "..." "I feel so ashamed." "I'm sure that's hard." "But Najara, you've turned your life around." "Take strength from that." "The jinn say the same thing." "Listen to them." "They also talk about that hospice we were gonna start." "Remember?" "Yeah, I remember." "A place whose only purpose is to ease suffering." "It was a good idea." "It still is." "Najara..." "I think what you're doing is wonderful." "Giving up fighting, working through peace..." "And starting a hospice would be good for you." "But it's not for me." "My place is with Xena." "I know." "And it always will be." "Until her continuing violence finally makes her do something even you can't excuse." "That's not going to happen." "It has to." "And then you will have to choose." "Not between me and Xena but between Xena and your own soul." "Hey, Joxer!" "Look here!" "Rabbit stew for dinner." "Yeah, great." "Count me in." "Killing someone always makes me hungry." "You got a problem?" "Not with you." "With him." "I hear you're the guy who k..." "You heard wrong." "It's ok." "No harm, no faul..." "Wait!" "There's been some mistake!" "Nope." "No mistake..." "It happens all the time." "See ya later." "But back in town, they told me..." "They told you wrong." "They told you wrong." "I didn't kill anybody, ok?" "Guess it's true." "You sure don't look tough enough to have killed..." "You wanna pick on someone?" "Pick on me." "Done!" "You're done, all right." "Now get outta here." "Ok." "There ya go." "Right, you're done." "You're welcome." "Xena..." "Yeah?" "Supper's ready." "Ok." "Xena..." "I've been thinking..." "I know there's no excuse for what Najara did." "Sure, there is." "She's a nut." "That was before she met Eli." "He showed her the truth." "Now all she wants to do is heal people Help them, you know?" "Give them hope." "Are you saying that we shouldn't take Najara back to prison?" "I just don't see the point if she's already reformed." "Isn't it better to have peaceful people around who do good rather than people who fight?" "Like me." "No, I'm not saying that." "Xena, you're trying to find your true way." "Your path." "Well, so is Najara." "Najara doesn't have a path." "She follows whatever path her voices tell her to." "You don't believe me?" "Test her." "Say no to her." "She'll blow up in your face." "You have hardly spoken to her!" "Say no!" "I don't have to!" "I'm sure that she says all the right things." "I'm sure she even believes them." "But she's a fanatic, Gabrielle." "Don't trust her." "Armon?" "Hey..." "I wanted to tell you thank you... for..." "saving me from that kid." "And..." "I also wanted to... tell you to tell you that you're a hero for doin' it." "So... thanks." "Joxer, wait." "I know what you did back there." "Xena told me." "She told you..." "She said it was all your idea." "Comin' to tell me about my father and all instead of letting me hear it who-knows-how." "So I'd say we were even, wouldn't you?" "Yes." "We're even." "I hate this." "I've cooked better." "You said it." "Not the food." "This thing with Armon." "So tell him the truth." "I don't believe you." "My father was a hero." "He couldn't have done the things you say." "I know it's hard to hear, but it's true." "Your father had to be stopped." "Joxer didn't want to kill him." "He had to." "Joxer?" "Killed my father?" "Come on..." "Now I know you're lying." "Go get his pack and I'll prove it." "It's a lie." "You know..." "My whole life." "I'm not a warrior." "What kind of warrior kills somebody then has nightmares about it every night?" "You're not alone in feeling guilty, Joxer." "It's only natural." "That's it, though..." "That's my point." "It's not natural." "I killed somebody, so you know what that makes me?" "I do." "It makes you the first man that I'm gonna kill." "How did you do it?" "Najara didn't tell me." "What, 'jou hit him from behind?" "Drop the knife, Armon." "Stay out of this, Xena." "Tell me, Joxer, how'd a moron like you ever kill a warrior like my father?" "Well..." "Even morons get lucky sometimes." "Your luck's just run out." "Armon, don't!" "I couldn't letcha do it, Armon." "He killed my father!" "Let it go, Armon." "I can't!" "Give it up, Armon." "I want vengeance!" "Well, then take it by letting Joxer go." "For him, living with what he has done is a fate worse than death." "Cryton, the Courageous..." "Isn't that what you called your father?" "Be brave, Armon." "Let Joxer live." "In memory of Cryton." "Why, Najara?" "Why didja tell him?" "Because Gabrielle's right." "And everyone deserves to know the truth about someone they love." "Going someplace?" "Anyplace you're not." "Well, that's your choice." "But before you make it, you might wanna ask yourself who it was that Joxer really killed." "Easy, my father." "That's one point of view." "You know another?" "There's always another, Armon." "In your dreams, your father was Cryton, the Courageous." "But the man that Joxer killed was dirt." "Armon, you don't need that dream anymore." "You're 100 times the man your father ever was." "Xena?" "If you'll finish up, I'll saddle Argo, and we can get outta here." "We can't leave Armon." "He left us." "..." "Thanks to your little friend." "Najara was only trying to help." "Yeah, I heard." "Will you try to understand?" "You went to prison after you were changed." "You know what a waste that is." "That's what I'm trying to tell you." "Najara hasn't changed." "And how do you know that?" "Because I know her." "She's the same zealot she always was, only now she's even more dangerous." "How is that?" "'Cause she's won you over." "Xena!" "What is it?" "Cryton's men..." "are coming for..." "Let 'em." "It'll be a relief." "No." "You didn't kill my father." "You killed a man I didn't even know." "An evil stranger who died like he deserved." "My father's not dead, Joxer." "He lives where he's always lived." "Right here." "And that man..." "That man would call you a hero." "Get back!" "Gabrielle and Najara, clear out!" "You two take Argo and get away from here!" "I'll cover!" "Now!" "Go!" "Come on, Joxer!" "Get him!" "Come on!" "Hurry!" "You're dead!" "Here!" "Take my arm!" "Xena!" "Gabrielle, no!" "No, no!" "She's hurt!" "It's her way!" "Let her walk it alone." "Get off me!" "You have to listen!" "Don't you hear them?" "The jinn..." "Yes." "I understand." "You heard them!" "No!" "Don't say that!" "The jinn get mad when you say that!" "Tell me you heard them!" "Back off, Najara." "It's over." "Apparently not!" "The light will triumph, Xena!" "I told you you should've backed off." "Those jinn are cutting it mighty close." "Guide my hand to its destiny!" "Do you think she'll ever wake up?" "Who knows..." "Maybe her voices will call her back home." "In the meantime the sisters will keep her comfortable as long as she lives." "I really thought she had changed." "You did." "So did you." "You've changed in ways that have shown me choices I'd never have known without you." "Thanks." "It's funny, it seems that when push comes to shove sometimes the only choice is to shove back." "But with this path that I'm on, I can't do that." "With me around, you won't have to."