Episode: Heart
of Darkness (S-6, E-3)
Author:
CN Winters
Fandom:
Subtext report, Xena Fanfiction, Xena and
Gabrielle fanfiction
Author
Note: Many of these reports are littered with errors
because I wrote them quickly and 'on the fly' so I could post
them quicker to the 'Nutforum' back in the day.
Feedback:
Drop me a line at cnwinters71@yahoo.com.
Heart of
Darkness
Sorry the report is
late today folks but I needed about three cold showers before
I could focus on my monitor (VBG). I wondered how I could
start this report but I think I’ll use a quote from my hubby
– "Guess Tapert doesn’t worry about those 2-11 year
olds anymore huh?" (LOL)
For those of you
that are upset that Gabby doesn’t ‘get any’ you’ll
enjoy this ep. For those of you who enjoy those longing looks
between bard and warrior you’ll enjoy this ep. For those of
you who like to see Xena playing up to a pretty boy stud
you’ll like this ep. Those folks that want to know that Gabs
is still the driving ‘light’ in Xena’s life will like
this ep. Even folks who want to see Virgil ‘gay’ will like
this ep since Xena not only ‘saved the world’ she stopped
him from making the ‘worst mistake of his life’ (VBG). But
then again perhaps he just heard all those red shirt stories
from his dad. (LOL)
Okay enough of the
intro….on to our tale.
The story opens
with a rehash of last week for all those folks that missed it
– you know the folks like HP and Nah-ah who don’t actually
WATCH the show yet continue to be critics. If you ask me
that’s like Roger Ebert giving a movie a thumbs down when
all he saw was the marquee but anyway….
Angels Michael and Raphael
(no not the Ninja Turtle) are watching earth. Seems they are a
bit scared with Xena as the ruler of hell. She almost took
over heaven the last time as just a demon. But since Xena did
the deed of offing the King of Hell she has to take his place.
A pretty boy angel shows up and says he can do it. He’ll
cast Xena into the pit. And with a flap of his wings he sets
off to earth.
We see Eve and
Gabby standing over the burning pit and Evie, the newly
reformed good girl that she is, thinks that strange things are
afoot at the Circle K (Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure
fans will get that joke(G)). Gabby, the newly reformed cynic
of X:WP, says it’s probably because Eve’s standing so
close to the pit of Hell. She should just move away and then
she’ll feel better. Eve says nope something really bad is
gonna happen. (She must get her gift of prophecy from
Gabby’s side which convinces me even more that this is
Gabby’s kid too. (G)). Before Eve can elaborate pretty boy
shows up and says Xena’s gotta date with the firepit and
Gabby and Eve run off to warn Xena.
A young woman is
touching Xena’s horse. NO ONE touches Xena’s horse and she
shoves the young woman away. The young woman says she meant no
harm. In fact, she wants to reopen Cyrene’s tavern as a way
of saying thanks for saving Amphipolis. Xena has a ho hum
whatever attitude. Gabby and Eve arrive on the scene and tell
Xena they got trouble. Another ho-hum do I HAVE to save the
world AGAIN? response. Yes Xena. Yes you do. It’s ALL up to
you. Always. (VBG)
A pretty boy shows
up and says he’s gonna take Xena down. He’s not just an
angel, but an ‘arch’ angel – the best of the best. At
this point, you can see Xena’s wheels starting to turn. She
makes a comment about him being full of pride. The angel tells
Xena that she’s twisting his words. Xena says no that
she’s straightening them out. (Check out MaryD’s spoiler
page that has the transcript – seems the ebay script someone
bought is very close to this one). They fight. Xena gets
knocked down. Gabby charges and the angel warns her with a
light bolt to stay out of it. He doesn’t want to hurt
anyone. He’s just trying to get Xena where she belongs. Xena
however gets the upper hand and pins him with her sword drawn
above her. She asks his name and he says Lucifer. She says
that’s good and she’ll see that Gabby records it for
people to know years from now. She goes to stab him and Eve
yells no. He’s a servant of God. Xena asks if he was serving
God by trying to kill her and send her to hell. Gabby yells NO
and Lucifer says yes.
Xena pulls Lucifer
to his feet and asks if he minds if she calls him Lucy while
they sort things out(LOL). He doesn’t and they all go into
Cyrene’s tavern. Gabby Xena and Eve are sitting on a bench
while Xena’s doing something with her shoe it seems ( I
don’t remember. Point is….) They discuss the situation.
Gabby asks what Xena is going to do. Xena says she’s gonna
give Lucifer the throne. Eve says it’s wrong to corrupt
another (Arghhh…someone shoot this girl with a crossbow
would ya. She’s TOO goody, goody now. Like that damn
Callisto angel. Too much light and sunbeams for my taste).
Xena says she’s not corrupting him. The man is rotten
underneath and she’s just going to peel away the shell. She
walks back over and he compliments her on the place
sarcastically. She says that’s the last time she lets an
evil demon redecorate but the more you drink the better it
looks.
She grabs a basket
and tells him to come on. As they go find a grassy place to
get acquainted, Gabby and Eve are on the steps of the tavern.
Eve is preaching Eli’s gospel (Look out Jerry 'Fraudwell' (VBG))
when the people listening start to argue. Gabby doesn’t
understand what’s going on but Eve does. It’s that pesky
blackness she saw in her mother’s heart gripping them.
Suddenly a woman who says a man is looking for them approaches
them. Back in the wilderness Xena is getting Lucy to enjoy the
earthly delights of food and such. She tells him that ‘he
doesn’t know what it’s like to sample human flesh in every
form’ and asks that if heaven is so great then why is he
denied food, sex, etc. He doesn’t seem to have an answer but
he is intrigued to stay on earth to learn more.
They go out to the
square where they see a group of people cheering on a man
getting beaten. Gabby sees that it’s Virgil and runs over to
help. When she rolls the man over she sees that it’s not
Virgil. Virgil does come walking up telling Gabby that she
looks even tastier than he remembers. Gabby brushes it off and
asks for Virgil’s help as she tries to lift the injured man.
He says sure and then when his high enough kicks him back into
the crowd. He starts to go after the man but Gabby puts her
hands on his chest stopping him. He tries to stroke her face
but she turns away and asks what’s wrong. He doesn’t see a
problem. Eve comes up and says that darkness is consuming his
soul like all the people of the village. They realize that if
Xena won’t go to Hell then Hell is coming to earth with the
blackening of men’s (and women’s(G)) hearts. The pit is
like a magnet drawing more and more people.
Back at the inn
Xena is getting changed off camera while Lucy talks to her,
hiding a dagger under the bed pillow. Xena says they have a
lot in common. Lucy says "Sure. You’re a mortal female
with a lying tongue, savage tendencies and a blonde
girlfriend. I’m a celibate archangel in service to the
lord." Yes but they’re both sinners Xena points out and
she sees them as being able to rule both hell and earth. Lucy
suggests she first send him to heaven. Xena agrees and throws
him to the bed where she proceeds to give him an Egyptian
message.
Gabby, Eve and
Virgil all get together. Gabby asks why Virgil is there and he
said that rumor says since she’s killed the gods she’s
about to get all the power. He wants to pledge his service to
Xena on one condition. He wants Gabby at his side. He strokes
her under the chin but this time she doesn’t move away. Eve
takes it in and she’s not feeling real positive.
Back at the bed of
Xena during the rubdown Lucy and Xena go for the dagger he
stored. Xena tells him to lose the dagger if they are going to
be together. She says she knows he really doesn’t want to
send her to hell – not yet. He says she doesn’t know him
as well as she thinks. But Xena offers him EVERYTHING.
Everything is a big word he tells her. But everything is what
she says she’ll give him. Xena’s got him on the ropes and
he decides to get some air and leaves.
Next we see Eve
praying at the temple for Eli’s help. Lucy is there and
berates Eve for praying for assistance. Eve suggests that Lucy
is falling into the trap too. Just then a party makes its way
to the temple and they carry Xena into the temple on a throne.
Xena’s got her black leather number on and Gabby’s got the
Fredrick of Hollywood collection thing going on. Eve tells
Xena that she won’t stand for this desecration of the temple
But Xena says it’s not a desecration it’s farewell bash
for Lucy. Lucy is flattered but the only celebration he will
celebrate is banishing Xena to hell. Gabby goes up to Eve and
tells her she should listen to Xena because she knows what
she’s doing. Eve doesn’t buy it and when she starts to
argue Gabby wacks her on the back of the head, knocking her
out. No one likes a party pooer, Gabby says getting a hoot of
support from Xena and a smile from Lucy.
The party goes on
and everyone is getting into the…ahem…friendly spirit.
Gabby is lying down with Virgil drinking wine. She says
she’s had enough. He says perhaps but it will help them
bridge the gap more quickly from when they last saw each
other. Gabby says you mean it will make me drunk and loose. He
replies No one understands my words better than you. And with
that they start to make out (LOL).
Lucy and Xena are
standing there. Lucy says ‘Your friends seem to be enjoying
themselves’ and Xena replies, ‘Almost as much as you enjoy
watching them’. She adds that down here people have free
will and choice. Lucy can either rule the world with her or
spend eternity in heaven taking orders. She hands him her
goblet and gets up saying it’s your choice. He watches her
walk to the dance floor and the tide of people part as she
walks up. Gabby stops necking like most of the folks and
watches Xena.
Xena waves her arm
out and motions Gabrielle toward her. Gabby reaches out to her
and gets up leaving Virgil in ‘midkiss’. She walks up to
the dance floor as Lucy and the group looks on. Gabrielle runs
her arm up Xena’s until they come hip to hip. Xena strokes
Gabrielle cheek and neck while Gabby runs her fingers through
Xena’s hair pushing it back over her shoulder. Gabby’s
fingers then jump to the other side of Xena’s neck as
Xena’s head falls back as Gabrielle strokes her. Lucy is
still watching with a great deal of interest as Xena raises
her hands in the air while Gabrielle strokes down the sides of
Xena’s body. Virgil had about all he can take (LOL) and
starts on his way over. Xena and Gabrielle circle each other
with their hands on back of each others head. (I have to tell
you folks these women have chemistry. As some of you may know
I was always a huge Cagney and Lacey fan. Gless and Daly had a
great spark with each other but I have to admit that they
never ‘burned’ like this. LL and ROC have great chemistry
too but there’s a sexual chemistry there that I haven’t
anywhere else between two women. I think ROC said that she
can’t do ‘sexy’ things on camera with people that she
isn’t comfortable with. After this scene it is OBVIOUS that
she and LL have a wonderful working relationship. And to all
those folks that say that ROC could never do a kissing scene
with LL I’d have to say you are either sadly mistaken or a
flat out liar. Okay, my rant is finished. (VBG) Back to the
story(VBG)).
As Virgil arrives
both women stroke his face and Lucy looks ready…ahem…burst
(LOL). Gabby leads Virgil away and the two of them start to
dance. Xena looks to Lucy and does her little ‘strip
tease’ while Gabby and Virgil trip the light fantastic
behind her. Lucy has all he can take and pulls Xena to him.
They end up next to Gabby and Virgil on the furs. (Score one
for ole Vir – he got farther than his old man ever did (LOL))
Xena tells Lucy what he feels is lust. And he wants to spend
an eternity devouring her. She wants to know if she’s going
to get another unexpected dagger. He says no and pledges his
body and soul to her.
Bad move. Michael
and turtle guy shows up and tells him that his soul belongs to
his god and is not something to give away. Two more angels
appear and the crowd scatters except for Lucy, Xena, Gabby and
Virgil. Xena battles the ‘reinforcements’. Gabby charges
Michael but he hits her with a light bolt knocking her back.
Virgil gets trades blows with Raphael but gets kicked back to
where Gabby fell. Xena then battles Michael and Raphael and
their swords all cross. They suck Xena outside to the hole but
can’t manage to knock her in. Lucy starts to join the angels
in the battle. Michael said now is Lucy’s time of
redemption. Xena manages to talk him out of it and turns on
Michael and Raphael. Realizing they can’t win at this time
Michael and Raphael disappear. Xena turns to Lucy and said I
told you we’d make one hell of a team. They start to kiss
when Xena gets whipped in the head by the black coat she was
wearing earlier. She looks up as if she knows who hit her (LOL)
and says ‘Yes’. Gabby is standing there but doesn’t say
anything. Xena picks up her coat and walks inside with
Gabrielle trailing behind her. They have this exchange inside:
X: I was kinda in
the middle of something Gabrielle.
G: Xena you were
supposed to throw him in the portal.
X: Yeah well he’s
not ready
G: Xena no one is
ready to go to hell. That’s the POINT
X: Really? You and
Virgil were looking ready to burn not that long ago!
G: Yeah . . . so. .
.?
X: Evil…the
darkside…it’s intoxicating, isn’t it?
G: Oh
yeah…intoxicating.
They start to talk
about the partnership between Xena and Lucy. Gabby isn’t too
keen on this new ‘partnership’ but has Lucy points out as
he and Virgil appear, Xena will need some help besides a mere
mortal to run it. Virgil says ‘who you callin’ mere?’ (LOL)
Lucy waves his hand as if to say no offense (ROTFL)
Next Eve comes in
from her ‘nap’ and tells Xena that she has to save her.
Xena tells her that Eve may have the gift of sight but she has
a vision. Trust her. Eve goes to put the ‘touch’ on her
mom and gets blown back about 10 feet for her trouble. Xena
turns to Gabby and says where did I go wrong (LOL) as Gabby
chuckles. Xena walks back to her room. Lucy has love on his
mind but Xena has a headache…named Eve. She’s gonna send a
message to Eli’s god by killing his messenger.
Next we see Eve
running toward a temple with Xena and Lucy in pursuit. Momma
just wants to clear things up but Eve knows better (LOL).
Lucy tells Xena he loves the way she baits a trap. She kisses
him and says you ain’t seen nothing yet. Once inside the
temple Eve sees the swords of the angels. She’s decided she
can’t let hell on earth rule and she has to kill her mother.
Virgil comes in first. Eve asks what he’s doing there. He
said just chating with Eli about why he chose his father’s
murderer as his messenger. What did he say, Eve asks. He said
prayer won’t help you now, Virgil replies. She sidesteps
Virgil, only to be met with Gabby. Gabby said she can’t let
Eve give up her values and harm Xena. Eve says the only thing
left of her mom is their memories of her. She asks Gabby to
help. Gabby looks reluctant but agrees. Eve relaxes and Gabby
screams ‘I got her!!’ Xena walks in and says ‘Nice run
Eve. You made your mom proud.’ Virgil tells Xena that Eve is
going after the sword to do her in. Xena says ‘My little
pacifist. How hypocritical of you? Have you learned nothing
with me?’
Eve says I’ve
learned this’ as she knocks Vir and Gab away doing a flip to
get the swords. Lucy steps up and goes toe to toe with Eve. He
wins and knocks her down. He’s ready to strike the deathblow
up Xena stops him. She wants Gabby to do it.
X: IF anyone
deserves this historic opportunity it’s Gabrielle. (Gabby
looks happy in the background)
L:
Ga..Gab..Gabrielle?
X: She’s been my
partner for years. She’s shared things with me you could
never understand.
L: What about OUR
partnership (turning the sword on Xena)
X: Can’t expect
me to trust someone so quick to switch sides. And who, without
even realizing it has committed every deadly sin but one…
L: You tricked me!
X: You tried to
kill me. What did you expect?
L: I will spend
eternity making sure you feel my WRATH!
X: Wrath?
Congratulations Lucifer. You just one the deadly sin lottery
with a perfect 7 out of 7. You’re prize is a one way ticket
to hell.
Lucifer then starts
to transform. The floor opens up as they battle. He’s
stronger now but as Xena points out he’s a lot more ugly.
Lucy asks Xena what she’s done to him. Xena says something
she suspected Michael wanted all along – to put him in touch
with his true inner-self.
Lucifer grabs Xena
by the neck and said that she’s his. She informs him ‘the
hell she is’(LOL – Of course not, she belongs to Gabby (VBG)
I love Gabby. Have I mentioned that? (VBG) ). With that she
kicks him into the hole sending him to reign over hell. The
floor closes up and everyone goes back to ‘normal’. Eve
says Mother your back and as Xena points out part of her never
left. Virgil comes up with Gabby. Gabby said you did more than
saved lives and Virgil smiles to Gabby and says you saved me
from making the mistake of a lifetime (LOL). He says I better
go clean that mess up. Eve says she’ll help.
Xena and Gabby have
this exchange.
G: I thought I lost
you for a minute there.
X: Oh yeah? Which
minute was that?
G: You and Lucifer
were looking….(rolling her hands around)….a little . . .
X: Gabrielle every
time I felt myself start to lose control I just thought of
you. It brought me back home
G: Really?
X: Sure
G: Don’t go
getting all emotional on me Xena
Fade to black.
(BTW, did I say I really liked this ep? If not yes I did (G).)
Next: I want
vengeance, Gabby screams as Xena jumps at the sound of her
voice. Xena tells her ‘Gabrielle you are not an assassin’
but by the dagger Gabby’s holding I’d have to argue the
contrary. Looks like the gals are on their way to save Gab’s
family or at least what’s left of it, next week.
CN Winters
|