- A modern day reporter arrives in the Norse country to find the truth behind Xena's recent arrival, and also to discover if she really is a hero or a villain.
- TEASER
Xena and Gabrielle journey to Norway.
A raven flies into Valhalla and caws. Odin screams, "What!? Here?!"
Xena (Lucy Lawless) and Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) enter a tavern and move over to Beowulf who is at the bar. Beowulf (Renato Bartolomei) is formal with them. Gabrielle gives Xena a questioning look and Xena asks Beowulf what's up since he was willing to walk through fire to be at Gabrielles side the last time they were together. He says it was love-struck foolishness. Xena says they have come to see Odin (Alexander Petersons). A group of Valkyries enter and tell Xena she can see Odin in Valhalla if she dies a hero's death, which she'd be happy to help her out with. Xena fights the Valkyries.
Outside the tavern, Nigel (Michael Hurst) is there with a film crew. The boom mike is moved near him. You can hear Xena and the battle going on inside. He's hit in the head with the boom mike. He pushes past some Vikings. Valkyries are tossed out of the tavern. Xena tosses a Valkyrie. Nigel moves over to Xena as the Valkyries run off. Xena is following the Valkyries, but Nigel stops her and holds the mic out. He asks her why she's returned to the Norse lands. Xena looks in silence at the camera. Nigel tells her that Odin has vowed to kill Xena if she returns to Valhalla. He asks Xena if she has a comment on that. She shoves him out of the way and takes a step closer to the camera.
ACT ONE
In a Viking village, Nigel speaks to the camera. He's doing a report on Xena. He asks which is the real Xena - the hero or the killer. He says that tonight they will get the answer to that question from Xena herself.
In the studio, Xena and Gabrielle are sitting in the guest chairs, make-up and sound people moving around them. A make-up person is putting powder on Xena's face. A sound guy is attaching a mike to Gabrielle's top. Xena warns him to watch where he's putting his hands. Nigel enters. Nigel starts the interview, talking about Xenas past misdeeds in Norway. Xena replies that it was a long time ago. Nigel asks Xena if she intends to kill Odin and have herself proclaimed a god in his place. Xena and Gabrielle find the question ridiculous. Nigel asks about the Olympian gods, but Gabrielle defends Xena's actions because she did them to save Eve. Nigel comments that Eve was following Xena's bloody footprints, which ticks Xena off. Nigel asks if Xena still has the power to kill gods. Xena stands and Gabrielle with her, putting a hand on her arm. Xena threatens Nigel and Gabrielle says that the interview is over. Xena and Gabrielle head out. Nigel calls after to admit that she is here to kill Odin.
Charon (Peter Rowley) ferries the boat across the river. The dead wait to be ferried across. Nigel is with Charon who tells Nigel that Xena has been good for his business. Nigel asks if most of the passengers are there because of Xena. Charon says that Xena is a drop in the bucket, but she has sent him some heavy hitters like Callisto, Velasca, Marc Antony, etc. Caligula (Alexis Arquette) demands his turn on the boat. Nigel interviews Caligula who says that he was a god and Xena took him out.
In the studio, Nigel faces an empty chair. He says that the Odin declined an interview, for an anonymous source agreed to speak with him. The source is using a rune that makes him invisible. The source tells Nigel that Xena wants the golden apples because they turn anyone who eats them into a god. Nigel points out that only Odin knows the rune spell to make someone invisible. Odin makes himself visible. He says that Xena is going to steal the golden apples in order to become a god, as well as Ares. Nigel says that Xena and Ares have an adversarial history. Odin asks Nigel why Xena didn't kill Ares then when she was had the chance. He answers it himself; that Xena has a thing for Ares. Odin roars at the camera that he will never let Xena become a god.
ACT TWO
In the woods, Nigel talks to the camera, saying that they are witnessing an epic struggle between Odin and Xena. He moves back some branches. Gabrielle can be seen bathing in her clothes. Nigel moves over to her and asks her if there's a sexual relationship between Xena and Ares. Gabrielle starts to hit him with her sponge. Nigel asks if Xena is Ares' love slave. She hits him some more, then knocks him face down into the mud. She leaves. Nigel raises his head from the mud and moans.
Nigel arrives at Ares' homestead. He knocks on the door. Ares opens the door and sees the camera. Nigel asks why Xena wants the golden apples. Ares replies that he has nothing to say and then takes a swig from his beer mug. Nigel tells him Odin's theory that Xena is stealing the apples for Ares. Ares replies that it would be nice, but that Xena doesn't owe him anything. Xena arrives and enters from a backdoor. Nigel says that he was right about them plotting together. Ares starts to throw him out. Ares puts his hand on the camera.
Michael (Charles Mesure) sits with Nigel. Nigel asks if Odin has anything to fear from Xena. Michael says he wouldn't trust her. He tells Nigel about Xena willing to risk unleashing Hell on Earth in order to protect Eve (Adrienne Wilkinson). Nigel says that Xena prevented that when she killed Mephistopheles, but Michael replies that she didn't take her place in Hell, but instead cast an archangel into Hell to take her place. Nigel falls, screaming. Michael shakes his head.
Nigel falls into Hell. He moves over to Lucifer (Joel Tobeck). Nigel asks Lucifer for a portrait of the real demon, not to cover anything up. Lucifer replies that he's the devil, so he doesn't have anything to cover up. Nigel says that he is doing an investigation on Xena. Lucifer gets angry at the mention of Xenas name. Nigel asks Lucifer to confirm the rumors that Xena cast him into Hell. Lucifer replies that Xena will defend herself and say that it was his pride that brought him down, but he says that it was her lies and deceit. Lucifer is not happy that Xena's good acts will prevent her from going to Hell. He leaves. Nigel clears his throat and then faints.
In the woods, Nigel moves some branches to reveal Eve and her prayer circle. Nigel challenges Eve about Xena's relationship with Ares. Eve starts to go off on him, swearing and trying to attack him, but her followers hold her back. Eve moves off, but Nigel keeps challenging her until she punches him in the face. She and the followers leave.
In the studio, Nigel turns to Gabrielle. Gabrielle tells him that Xena is trying to save the world, which is why she's going after the apples. Nigel says that maybe Xena is driven by her lust for Ares, which Gabrielle denies. Nigel asks if she's confused by her own feelings for Xena, saying they are more than friends. He says that they were lovers, until she was replaced by Ares. Nigel asks Gabrielle if she's in love with Xena and Gabrielle replies, "I don't love Xena."
ACT THREE
In the studio, Nigel is shocked by Gabrielle's answer. Xena enters and throws a crewman into the snack table. Nigel asks Xena if she's in love with Gabrielle. Xena puts the Pinch on him. Xena tells him that he can't love, that no one can, that the world has lost the greatest gift the gods ever gave them and Xena plans to get it back. She takes the Pinch off and faces the camera. She faces the camera and tells Odin shes coming for him.
Outside the studio, Xena and Gabrielle walk by some props from "Cleopatra 2525." Xena and Gabrielle argue when Xena won't spell out the plan for Gabrielle and Gabrielle gets ticked at Xena for treating her like a useless sidekick. Xena stops and says that it isn't them. Gabrielle observes that they saying things that people who love each other would never say. Xena says they have to get love back into the world and fast.
At a Norse tavern, Nigel looks for the truth in regards to whether love really has left the world or not. Nigel moves over to the madam and comments on how business is booming. Nigel says that it doesn't appear theres been any loss of love in the world. The madam replies that her business isn't about love. The less love, the better for her and her purse. She calls the next number and it's Ares. Ares sees Nigel and starts to head off. Nigel follows him. Ares shouts behind him that he's just trying to get laid.
Nigel enters a cave saying they have been contacted by a source. Grinhilda (Luanne Gordon), hidden under a cloak, tells Nigel he is following the wrong story and that he should instead follow the love.
In the woods, Aphrodite is surrounded by villagers, who are reaching out and touching her. Nigel moves through the crowd and asks Aphrodite if he can ask her a few questions.
Nigel sits down with Aphrodite. Nigel asks her about when she lost her mind because of Caligula. Aphrodite admits that she did, but that Xena saved her from her madness and gave her back her life. Nigel asks what all the villagers are doing here around her. She tells him that when she left Olympus, the world was full of her love, but with her no longer there to replenish it, it faded away and now it's gone. She says that the villagers around her noticed it leaving and they are drawn to the last breath of love that still clings to her, but that soon even that will be gone. Nigel asks if there's anything she can do, but Aphrodite says that as a mortal, no, theres not.
Aphrodite and Nigel are in Norway at the foot of Valhalla. Aphrodite screams as they run through the fleeing people. They join Gabrielle and Beowulf. Xena is inside Valhalla having an epic struggle with Odin. Nigel asks if Xena is trying to kill Odin, but Gabrielle says that Xena doesn't have the power to kill him, but he can kill her.
ACT FOUR
The sounds of Xena and Odin fighting can be heard. The sounds of the battle end. Odin is being forced down the mountain by Xena. She has the apples. The group stands and moves over to her. Nigel says that Xena is not going to eat the apple herself. Xena asks why not. Nigel tells her that it was never her plan; that she is, in fact, going to give the apple to Aphrodite. Xena observes that that would be a very unselfish thing, not really something that the Xena Nigel knows would do. Nigel replies that maybe he was reporting on the wrong Xena. Ares arrives. Nigel says that Xena can't give the apples to Ares. Xena gives an apple to Ares and he takes a bite of it. A golden light surrounds him. He shoots a bolt from his hands and laughs. Ares encourages Xena to take a bite from the apple. Xena replies that she wouldn't want Ares to be alone on Olympus and then tosses the apple to Aphrodite. She bites it and the golden light washes over her. Golden mist with little hearts comes out of Aphrodite and washes over the group. Xena and Gabrielle look at each other and smile. Aphrodite giggles. Beowulf moves over to Gabrielle and Gabrielle comments on the gleam in his eye. Xena gives the apples back to Odin. Aphrodite and Ares disappear. Odin asks Xena how she got past his defenses. Xena said she had help. Grinhilda, still cloaked comes down from the mountain and pulls back the hood.
In the studio, Grinhilda talks with Nigel. She informs him that Xena saved her from the creature she became. Nigel comments that Xena is the one who turned her into the creature in the first place. Grinhilda replies that that was a different Xena and that the real Xena restored her to her human form and to Valhalla where she could unmake the legacy of bloodshed that Xena had left on the Norse people. Nigel asks why Xena sent Ares back to Olympus.
In the studio, Xena is sitting with Nigel. She says that you can't have love without hate or peace without violence. She knew that Ares had to go back with Aphrodite in order to have balance.
Grinhilda tells Nigel that the Norse people's lust for living is what makes them who they are and that the two competing forces of their fierceness and their passion is what defines them, which is why she sent him to get Aphrodite while she got Ares. Nigel doesn't understand and Grinhilda reveals to him that she was the informant in the cave. Grinhilda leaves.
Eve and the Elijans are kneeling before Nigel in the studio. They offer apologizes for their behaviour. Eve insists that he flagellate them for their transgressions.
On Olympus, Ares is on his throne. He tells Nigel that Xena did what she did because she needs to redeem herself. He then orders them to leave.
Xena and Gabrielle are with Nigel in a tavern. Nigel asks Xena and Gabrielle if they are lovers. Xena starts to answer the question, but then the camera dies.
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