Episode
134 season 6 #
22 “A Friend in Need” (II)
XENA:Warrior Princess the director's cut
ACT VI:
scene 2:
http://miroirdarc.com/xwp/s6/afin2_2/xena_s6_afin2_dArc_1092.jpg
The teahouse.
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_092ati.htm
Xena walks across the bridge to the teahouse where she speaks with Akemi and her fellow geisha
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_094ati.htm
as Gabrielle remains on the middle of the bridge with Harukata & Kenji
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_095ati.htm
XENA: (To Akemi) “With this, we can bring Yodoshi to us when we’re ready."
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_097ati.htm
(She sees Gabrielle approach on the bridge)
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_098ati.htm
XENA: "This is my soul mate. She’s a poet like you, Akemi.”
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_100ati.htm
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_101ati.htm
The Ghost Killer grabs Gabby’s shoulder and turns her from scene unfolding before the teahouse
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_102ati.htm
Harukata: “I have
one question.
Would you risk your life for the return of hers?”
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_103ati.htm
GABRIELLE: “Without hesitation.”
Kenji: “There is a way, Gabrielle. You must take her body, burn it, then sprinkle the ashes into the Fountain of Strength on Mt. Fuji. You must find the fountain before the second sunset after death.”
GABRIELLE: (Whispers) “
That’s tomorrow.”
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_104ati.htm
Kenji: “Harukata will say the incantations necessary to give the sacred Katana power against malicious spirits.”
Xena leads Akemi across the bridge to meet Gabrielle. Akemi is very respectful, eyes downcast, half bowing as she goes.
Gabrielle, on the other hand...
well lets just say she looks a little off balance! I think Lucy said it best in the commentary when she laughed at how Gabrielle was "trying to be so gracious".
http://miroirdarc.com/xwp/s6/afin2_2/xena_s6_afin2_dArc_1136.jpg
XENA: “Gabrielle... this is Akemi.”
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_106ati.htm
Akemi: “It is an honor to meet you
at last.”
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_107ati.htm
GABRIELLE: (This is the gracious part) “And you, Akemi.”
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_108ati.htm
Kenji: (Clueless guy interrupts) “Gabrielle can’t help with our work in the tea house. She knows what she must do. And
she should leave
soon.”
XENA: (Whispers)
“Thank you.”
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_109ati.htm
Gabrielle takes ahold of the katana and turns towards the ghost killer when Akemi pipes up with a strange offer.
Akemi: “
Wait. I would like to give you something to protect you on your journey.
Gabrielle looks a little stunned, but anything to delay her mission and keep her near Xena is probably a good thing in her book.
http://miroirdarc.com/xwp/s6/afin2_2/xena_s6_afin2_dArc_1169.jpg
****
Inside teahouse:
http://miroirdarc.com/xwp/s6/afin2_2/xena_s6_afin2_dArc_1175.jpg
(Now this is an interesting scene, and I will NOT

delve into the double meaning... so let your own imagination take you there.

)
http://miroirdarc.com/xwp/s6/afin2_2/xena_s6_afin2_dArc_1177.jpg
A nude Gabrielle stretches out on her stomach upon a (?) bed, a sheet covering her lower half. Akemi kneels next to her and her fellow geisha brings a tray with dyes. Akemi dips her ancient tattoo instrument into the dye and then gently jabs Gabrielle.
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_114ati.htm
It must hurt as the woman grabs the sheet under her to keep from screaming
http://miroirdarc.com/xwp/s6/afin2_2/xena_s6_afin2_dArc_1185.jpg
and the red robed Warrior quickly lays down next to her to distract her.
http://miroirdarc.com/xwp/s6/afin2_2/xena_s6_afin2_dArc_1191.jpg
Outside the teahouse, The ghost killer is praying over the sacred katana as Kenji holds it in a supplicant manner.
http://miroirdarc.com/xwp/s6/afin2_2/xena_s6_afin2_dArc_1230dc.jpg
Its a nonverbal scene as we watch the amazing dragon grow on Gabrielle's back as she steels herself to tolerate the increasing pain,
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_117ati.htm
and Xena stays at her side, a hand on her arm to calm her and an eye on Akmei to keep her going.
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_121ati.htm
The prayers over the katana continue.
http://miroirdarc.com/xwp/s6/afin2_2/xena_s6_afin2_dArc_1217.jpg
Finally the dragon on her back is done as is another tattoo on her leg. Gabrielle stands serenely as the two women are draping a shimmering cloth about her.
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_119ati.htm
(As I said, its a powerful and yet very sexy scene, worth renting the dvd/paying for a month of hulu
all by itself.)
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_121ati.htm
****
We're outside again... on the side of the forest near the teahouse. Gabrielle looks different. Instead of the Japanese armor over her red sports bra... she's wearing it over this great blue blouse. And instead of her short red skirt, she's wearing what looks like a long blakc skirt. In reality they are long black leggings.
The sacred katana is passed from Harukata's hands to Xena's,
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_123ati.htm
and she turns to humbly place it in Gabrielle's hands.
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_124ati.htm
XENA: “Good luck, old friend.”
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_125ati.htm
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_126ati.htm
http://mikes-images.com/eps/afin4/pages/afin4_mq_127ati.htm
Gabrielle starts to turn away when suddenly she turns back to Xena with a passionate purpose!
http://miroirdarc.com/xwp/s6/afin2_2/xena_s6_afin2_dArc_1247.jpg
GABRIELLE: “I am going to get your body back, Xena--
no matter where they have hidden it. Before sunset tomorrow,
we will meet again… on the side of Mt. Fujisan.
XENA: (She smiles) “See you there.”
The blue robed warrior with the sacred katana in one hand, and the chakram on her right hip, walks away, but can not help stopping one more time to look back at her soulmate.
http://miroirdarc.com/xwp/s6/afin2_2/xena_s6_afin2_dArc_1264.jpg
Will it be the last time she sees her?