Xena: Warrior Princess

Wait ! Wait !

Just hold it there a minute !

You know, it's not polite to interrupt a bard

when she's relating a heroic tale.

But you said... it was day !

Excuse me ?

It was morning... when this... Xena lady got loose.

So it was day... not night.

- Right. - That's right.

Very well.

Day...

And out of nowhere, Xena came upon a fierce-hooded warrior,

who had just laid waste to a group of villagers.

She fought valiantly until he vanished.

She tended the wounds of a fallen man.

She did everything she could to help...

- but... - Press down on this as hard as you can.

We've got to stop the bleeding.

No ! Stay away from him.

Haven't you got enough blood on your hands...

The villagers believed that she had killed their friends.

Nobody here cares that she didn't kill anyone.

Nobody cares that she was only trying to help.

Nobody believes that she fought the real murderer.

All you care about is executing someone.

But they refused to listen.

You'll get what you deserve.

Everybody ! Hear me, my friends.

- Until... - This brave and noble woman...

she was the last thing I saw...

battling a cowardly hooded man who attacked us.

She fought him for our lives, though we were total strangers.

Truly, I say she is the very soul of goodness.

And we thank her, with all our hearts.

And with that, they knew the real Xena.

- Great story, nice job. - Thank you.

- That was really good. - Thanks.

That was beautiful.

- Who trained you ? - Trained me ?

Oh... no one...

not in the classical sense. I just... I like stories.

And you're going to the competition ?

What competition ?

The bard competition...

for the Athens City Academy of the Performing Bards.

Only the top four contestants will get an invitation.

I'm... I'm hoping I'll be one of them.

- You tell stories, too ? - Yes, he does.

But he doesn't have time to tell them now.

Dad, she's great. I was just telling her she should sign up.

It's not nice to give someone false hopes, son.

I'm sure your story was cute.

Cute ?

But the Academy only takes talented individuals.

The roster is already full.

And besides, being a bard is not for young ladies.

Stories of housework are just not popular.

Come on.

"Stories about housework..."

"cute."

I just talked to this guy from Keremus.

There's a Cyclops there stealing cattle from the local farmers.

We can be there by tomorrow morning.

I guess I don't have to ask you if you're interested.

How far is it to Athens ?

In a 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...

I have always wanted to study at the Academy.

And I might finally have my chance.

Are you sure it's not just to show up this guy's father ?

Well... OK... so he irks me a bit.

But... this is the Academy.

Am I supposed to pass up my shot at a dream come true ?

Nope... no one should pass up their dreams.

How long would you be gone ?

Oh... maybe four or five years,

or... maybe a little less, if I... if I study real hard.

You'd hardly notice I was missing.

Even if I had an army around me,

I'd still notice you were missing.

You want some company ? At least as far as Athens.

Well...

you've got that Cyclops problem in Keremus to take care of.

And... in case I don't get in...

Oh, you'll get in, Gabrielle.

You're a good storyteller.

I only remember one story told me when I was young.

It was about two orphans who decided

to search the world for their families.

And it's all about their adventures and how they kept searching.

But the part I remember most is the end.

- And when the first man... - ...reached the end of his journey,

he found himself... ...at the beginning.

The family he had sought had travelled the world with him.

The only family he had ever known...

ever needed...

was standing right beside him.

I know the story.

Thanks for being my family.

You're like a sister to me.

Now, go get your dream.

He...

draws his s-s-sword.

He d-d-draws...

he d-d-draws

his s-s-sword.

I hope I d-d-don't do this

when I g-get up to talk.

Hey, just calm down.

If it bothers other people, let it be their problem.

Storytelling isn't diction, it's the story.

Hey, hi, you made it. That's great.

- I just thought I'd give it a look. - Her vision fell upon the countenance

- of a horrific specimen. - A lot of people here.

Yeah... some of the competition is really good.

That guy over there...

that's Euripides. He tells a story...

...if you can stay awake long enough.

And... Stallonus... there's no way to fall asleep with his stories.

... but he missed ! And he stabs him !...

You know, we never got to proper introductions.

I'm Gabrielle.

Gabrielle... I like the sound of it.

I... I hate like my name.

I'm gonna change it to something dramatic, something heroic.

How about,

Draco ?

- Draco. - Yeah.

No, no, no...

not Draco.

He's a villain.

You see, I've met Draco.

he was about to slaughter a village when Xena stepped in.

We could be great together.

You must know, by now, you can never escape your past.

Xena... celebrate your dark side, don't run away from it.

Ride with me.

You said one way or the other.

It's the other.

Xena met his challenge... a fight... to the death.

Whoever touched the ground first would lose.

And then, he departed... never to stain the grounds of the village...

with his presence again.

OK... so... Draco's out.

I have to come up with something.

How about...

Orion ? There's a heroic name.

Orion...

I like it.

Your name ?

An appellation does not illuminate the foreboding mysteries

of one's etheral essence.

Was your name in there someplace ?

Euripides.

Ah... yeah...

Euripides.

You're lodging in the hall of Zeus... room twelve.

Twelve...

the blessing of the Zodiac. It bodes well.

Next.

- No. - Oh, it's got to be there.

Are you sure ?

Well, did you look ?

What about under here ?

No, no ! Oh ! Oh ! I'm sorry !

I'm sorry ! Sorry.

Here... let me look.

Clean this up.

Sorry.

What about... this one ?

Ah... ah, yes... here it is...

Oh... this is very strange.

They forgot to list your lodging.

They did ?

I specifically asked for the double-bed with the view.

For the time being, you'll be staying in the servants'quarters...

in the hall of Zeus.

All artists suffer for their art.

Next.

Take your seats, please...

so we can begin.

Hey !

For the next few days, your lives will be given over to the Muse.

At the end of that time, four will be chosen

from this group to continue on.

Great storytelling...

it comes from our observation of life.

- How does one relate the mysteries... - What's the matter ?

Nothing... I, I'm just thinking like a friend of mine.

I mean, what could happen here ?

As... I was saying...

how do we translate an event