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scifi_rewatchThis is kind of like the Xenaverse's version of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" (and a little bit of the TV show "Once Upon a Time"--more on that later) except that this came out first. :p More accurately, it plays into the fable of the Flying Dutchman.
It's also basically a rehash of the Odysseus/Ulysees story a few eps back, but it's way better. Part of that has to do with the actor, Tony Todd, who brings the emotional gravitas to his scenes. More than that, though, the story is more appealing. We don't have to put up with some loser who nearly abandons his wife for a second time, thanks to some schoolboy crush on Xena. Nah, Cecrops's story is much more tragic and sympathetic. And grounded in more Greek mythology! Sorta. :p (And some real life irony, thanks to the Xena wiki—there was a real-life cyclone nearby during filming!)
Overall, it's not a huge episode for our girls. I mean, Xena goes through hoops to make sure Gabs isn't cursed alone, which is awesome; our bard is either seasick or waxing poetic about beauty, and the warrior princess abrasively guilts and pep talks Cecrops to action. None of this is particularly new, or character progressive. But I enjoy the plot and the worldbuilding with this one.
Summary is here, courtesy of whoosh.org.
So the story here revolves around the naming of Athens, where (you can probably guess the ending) the gods Athena and Poseidon were vying to be patron. The decision came down to one dude, in Xenaverse's it's Cecrops, who chose in favor of Athena. Then we go off book to where vengeful Poseidon banishes Cecrops to the sea, unless he can be redeemed by true love. Athena takes pity on him and turns him into an immortal, basically banking on the fact that some day (say, 300 years later,) Cecrops may ultimately find someone and pursue a happy ending on land. Which really, given all this time and angst, seems almost as much of a dick move as Poseidon's (Cecrops agrees with me, at least originally). And all of this vengeful life-ruining, though not authentic to this particular myth, is certainly authentic to the Greek gods in general. In fact I'm almost shocked that Poseidon didn't go through with it. Maybe he was too focused on Odysseus. :p
Xena and Gabrielle's part in all of this starts when they're on a ship of some kind, pursued or being pursued by a pirate vessel. We hear their panic over ADR as the ship crashes into some rocks. Actually, whoosh.org unveiled a longer opening (and lots of script cuts) where the pirate ship basically forced the other one onto the rocks, but it's hard to accept that Xena's awesome abilities (remember, she flips onto Cecrops's ship later,) would allow that to happen. :p. Storm makes more sense. Anywho, the pirates are there mostly to be a minor plot foil--to detain Xena as she tries to make for Gabs, throw daggers that she easily catches, overhear (from a great distance, mind you,) Xena refuse Poseidon's offer of safe harbor, which leads them to seek the sea treasure and ultimately (maybe? Final image?) be cursed in Cecrops's stead. Why does Poseidon get to win?
Whoosh.org also points out some hanging plot points, particularly what happens with the treasure, and, more tangibly, the lady love bust. They spend a lot of time building up the backstory—it’s not of Cecrops’s mortal lover, Terai, but of Athena (bounty he took from pirates.) But production wise, it was also used in "For Him the Bell Tolls" in Aphrodite's temple (and will be used again in a Hercules ep). And honestly, given all of Cecrops's hang ups, it would make sense for him to have a crush on the goddess of love. :p. I guess it's just weird that he has this momentum of his lover that we get to see a few times, but nothing that significant happens either with the object, or with his love life in general.
All of that being said, I'm glad that his "act of true love" isn't ye standard romance. I mentioned "Once Upon a Time," a show that premiered a decade after "Xena" went off the air, because it routinely deals with debunking the "true love=romance only" myth. Plenty of magic is either made or destroyed based on the love between parents and children, siblings, friends. In Cecrops's case, he realizes that though he captured his crew for being pirates, with time he grew to understand them, and consider them his friends. And certainly vice versa, as Hidsim sacrifices himself for him (and even gives him a unique nickname). The actors did a good job of building that up, really--Hidsim spoke with Gabrielle about wanting to see his daughter again, which later gives Cecrops direction when he's back on land (cos c'mon, man, just because you're immortal doesn't mean that your 300-year-old lover is. The gods are capricious!). And Todd brought some real guilty emotion to his reaction--was nice to watch from a guest star. I enjoyed his whole character arc, from stern but sympathetic ruler of his lifetime crew, to battling with resentment and blame about his curse, to being afraid to end it, but ultimately taking that leap of faith. Deep stuff.
Most of Cecrops's crew seemed to be good (or reformed) guys, but the show also didn't shy away from sexual harassment. It's a mixed bag, really. From the moment Cecrops warned Gabs that she was the first woman aboard in 200 years so watch out, I knew the show wouldn't depict anything too graphic; they didn't have too adult a rating. But they also didn't shy away from the issue of creepy, unwanted male attention, a la Gabby's stalker, Altrech. Granted, it was mostly played for laughs (she even accepts squid--which whoosh.org points out was actually marinated octopus--from him after Xena's anti-seasickness pressure points dulls her taste buds. I liked the continuity and evolution of Gabs continuing to have seasickness and Xena working to help, though). But I thought it highlighted the annoying reality that many women have to face.
Finally, a closer look at some of our Greek gods. Poseidon (voiced again by Charles Seibert) makes a showy entrance from out of the water, mostly to threaten Cecrops as he and the gals grow closer to unlocking his curse. But later, after Xena rejects his offer (and, presumably, because of her actions with Ulysees a few eps back; hello continuity?) the God of the Sea makes Cecrops a more private (green water talking outside a window) offer to throw the warrior princess into the whirlpool. An attempt to stir dissent into the ranks? Petty revenge? Knowing the Greek gods, probably both. Also, interesting point out of fempop.com, but the whirlpool, in mythology, is Poseidon's daughter, Charibdys, who made whirlpools with her mouth. The more you know!
___
Disclaimer Cecrops' "Joie de Vivre" was not harmed during the production of this motion picture.
Favorite Quotes:
*Gabrielle and Cecrops get to know one another*
Cecrops: Xena. The pirate ship survived the rocks. But if she was on the merchantman, she would’ve drowned, most likely-- pushing up seaweed by now.
Gabrielle: There-- She would have made her way to land.
Cecrops: Maybe she did. Let’s get back to it! We have to be around this island by nightfall!
Gabrielle: Wait! Can’t you take me to shore?
Cecrops: You’re staying with us. You don’t seem to understand the danger.
Gabrielle: No. You_ don’t understand the danger. This is a boat-- on water. Water, boat, my stomach-- We don’t mix very well. So, unless you want a quick and colorful deck-washing, I suggest you put me on a boat for shore.
Cecrops: Do you hear that, Hidsim? I’m not averse to a bit of color. But you’re not leaving this ship.
*scary life sentence*
Gabrielle: I’m on the cursed ship of Cecrops.
Cecrops: Yes-- you are.
Gabrielle: For eternity?
Cecrops: Ah-- no. That particular part of the curse is mine. You’ll just be here until you die. Xena-- is the lucky one-- even if she drowned.
*Xena’s got no time for pirates*
Basculis: Hah! Thought you might wash up here!
Xena: Basculis-- I don’t have time for this. My friend got picked up by that ship, and I need to get to her!
*Gabrielle and Altrech’s introduction*
Gabrielle: I’m still trying to deal with this situation.
Cecrops: Deal with it quick. It’s been awhile since we’ve had a woman aboard my ship. I don’t like my men to get-- distracted.
Altrech: Hi. My name is Altrech. If you’re not feeling too good, I might have just the thing for you.
Hidsim: Leave her alone, Altrech. She doesn’t need the likes of you breathing in her face.
Altrech: I’m only trying to help. See? It-- it-- It’s ash. I eat it-- it settles my stomach.
*emerald and lady bust storylines that go nowhere*
Cecrops: It’s OK. It’s not like it’s valuable. It’s only an emerald.
Gabrielle: Yeah-- it’s a big emerald.
Cecrops: Still, it might as well be a grain of sand for all the good it does me. It sparkles when the sun hits it. It reminds me of-- well-- something more than money.
Gabrielle: That’s the only way to judge beauty-- not by the price, but how it touches the soul. She’s beautiful. Have you ever heard of the lost Athena of Antigus? It was a carving so beautiful, that men swore she came to life in the moonlight.
Cecrops: It has to be a full moon-- but the story is true. Pirates stole it. I stole the pirates. Some of my crew, in fact.
*Athens storyline goes further*
Cecrops: Poseidon’s curse was that I could never return to land until-- love redeems me.
Gabrielle: But, that was so long ago.
Cecrops: 300 years ago. Athena decided to give me immortality. I can’t die, and I can’t return to land. It’s a toss-up between who I hate more-- Poseidon or Athena.
Gabrielle: But Athena gave you hope. Don’t you see that? She knew how powerful love was, she gave you enough time to defeat the curse-- until love redeems you. That has to be the key.
Cecrops: Oh, please. Who’s going to love me? I mean, I’m hardly the catch of the day-- tall, dark, and-- cursed for eternity. Yeah-- quite a draw. With the exception of you, there hasn’t been a woman onboard this ship for-- 200 years-- and she had an attitude because I sank her ship.
*Xena shows where her cards lie*
Cecrops: Are you out of your mind?!
Xena: Gabrielle, are you all right?
Gabrielle: Yeah, I’m fine. I’m-- seasick. I’m cursed. Actually, I’m really seasick.
Cecrops: Excuse me. Do you know who I am?
Xena: You’re Cecrops. I wasn’t gonna let you take off with my best friend.
*the pirates insert themselves into the episode*
Basculis: Xena’s not crazy! She knew what she was doing. And I know what she’s after-- Poseidon’s treasures. All the riches Cecrops robbed from Poseidon are on that ship. And we’re gonna get it all!
*Xena wants Cecrops to act with faith—maybe Terai is still alive??*
Cecrops: I was on my way to see Terai when-- Poseidon arose from the waters. He cursed me at that moment. Terai was watching from the shores. Then Poseidon created Charybdis, the mighty whirlpool, as a reminder. For many years, I stayed in the area, sailing the coastline. And every evening-- Terai would come to the cliffs, and we would-- look at each other. Even as she grew older-- she grew more beautiful. And then, one evening—she didn’t come and-- and I knew-- I knew I would never see her again.
Xena: Turn east. Let’s go back to Terai’s village.
Cecrops: That was 300 years ago. Terai is dead-- dead. The village couldn’t exist with Charybdis just outside the shore. It’s gone-- all gone.
Xena: The whirlpool is still there. Poseidon created it. It might just be part of the answer. Athena knew what she was doing. You just have to have faith.
Cecrops: Faith?! Faith has killed more people than war!
Xena: You said that Terai had faith in you. So either were lying to her then, or you’re lying to yourself now.
*Gabrielle gets Hidsim’s backstory*
Hidsim: Ah, it’s good to hear laughter on the ship. Rama—he doesn’t laugh. Too bad-- he’s a good man.
Gabrielle: How did you meet him?
Hidsim: A long time ago, ah-- I was rescuing orphans from a tidal wave, while trying to keep my mother from sinking under water.
Gabrielle: You did that?
Hidsim: No, little one. But it sounds better than saying I was a pirate. I was just about to quit. I had enough-- bad stuff, and, then we attacked a ship-- his ship. I’ve been here ever since.
Gabrielle: How long, now?
Hidsim: A long time. I don’t know how old I am now. Don’t need to know any more.
Gabrielle: I have faith in Xena. You should too. She’ll get us out of this.
Hidsim: Well-- it’d be nice to lay on the grass again. Me and my daughter-- we used to do that all the time when I was home—lay on the grass and look at the clouds.
Gabrielle: You have a daughter?
Hidsim: Somewhere. She’d be about your age, now. Probably thinks I’m dead. Yeah, little one, it’d be nice.
*Poseidon offers Xena (and Gabrielle) safe harbor*
Poseidon: Xena! This is between Cecrops and me!
Gabrielle: Excuse me! But we don’t have a choice!
Cecrops: You made the rules, Poseidon!
Poseidon: Very well. Xena, I grant you safe passsage from the ship of Cecrops. Go.
Xena: Not without Gabrielle.
Poseidon: Take her. Love can’t redeem Cecrops. He doesn’t even know where to look.
Xena: Thanks for the offer, Poseidon, but, we like the smell of the ocean!
*Xena and Gabrielle talk Ulysees continuity, harassment and squid-eating*
Xena: Let’s hope it doesn’t get any worse. Poseidon obviously doesn’t want us reaching Charybdis.
Gabrielle: That means you were right. The key must be there, and he doesn’t want you to figure it out.
Xena: And if I’m wrong?
Gabrielle: If you’re wrong? Xena, I have to spend the rest of my life dodging-- Altrech! 60 year old adolescent, who hasn’t had a girlfriend since his voice was an octave higher. Xena, why didn’t you show me this when we were on Ulysses’ ship?
Xena: Oh, well, uh-- I couldn’t risk it. It has side effects.
Gabrielle: Side effects? Yeah, what kind of side effects?
Xena: Well, that pressure point numbs your taste buds. Anything tastes good-- even things that aren’t good for you.
Gabrielle: Like-- raw squid. Oh, I‘m gonna be sick.
*Xena calls Cecrops out*
Cecrops: Make yourself at home.
Xena: Why are you turning back?
Cecrops: I changed my mind. It happens.
Xena: No. No, you’re afraid.
Cecrops: Afraid? Afraid of Poseidon?! Not quite.
Xena: It’s not Poseidon. It’s because you think I might be right-- that I might be able to end the curse. Poseidon wouldn’t have offered me my freedom, if he didn’t think I was onto something.
Cecrops: You don’t think-- that I would end this curse in a second, if I could.
Xena: No-- because it’s gone on too long. Thousands of people have been cursed along with you. And you feel the guilt of dooming all those people.
Cecrops: Shouldn’t I? For the first hundred years, it was merchant vessels-- innocents. These people spent the rest of their lives, on this ship because of me! So I switched to pirates. No innocents there-- like the people I have on this ship, now-- all pirates!
Xena: And all become your friends. This isn’t a curse to you-- it’s justice. You’ve begun to believe that you deserve it!
Cecrops: How in the name of _Zeus_, did you ever come up with such a lame theory?
Xena: By watching you. I’ve known many types of fear in my life, Cecrops. But the fear of your own guilt is distinctive.
Cecrops: What do you know of fear?! Do you fear death?! Do you fear injury?! Do you fear losing your friend out there? Well, I fear life, because every die of life means another day someone can lose their freedom to me!
Xena: Then break the cycle, Cecrops. You didn’t start this-- Poseidon did-- but you can end it!
*Hidsim sacrifices himself for his friend*
Cecrops: What? What? What? What were you thinking?! You pathetic old fool! Hadsim! I’m immortal! It wouldn’t have killed me!
Hidsim: I just-- I just reacted, Rama. I saw you were in danger. I guess I’m not gonna lay on the grass after all-- little one, with my-- with my daughter.”
Gabrielle: No, you’re gonna be OK.
Cecrops: Hidsim!
Hidsim: Rama. Touch the Earth for me.
*did Poseidon throw a wrench in the system?*
Poseidon: There is a way out for you and your crew. I can give you your freedom.
Cecrops: Why now?
Poseidon: Because now, you have something I want-- the Warrior Princess. Take her to Charybdis. When the time is right, throw her into the whirlpool-- and you and your men will be free again.
Cecrops: Just yesterday, you were offering her her freedom.
Poseidon: And she defied me! No one does that to me! Your curse is nothing compared to the satisfaction I will have when she is mine!
Xena: Cecrops.
Cecrops: We’re going to Charybdis. It’s going to end there.
*Ceclops goes through his goodbyes for Hidsim…*
Cecrops: It makes no sense. I was his enemy.
Xena: Maybe at one time you were, but over the years, Hidsim saw something different-- someone he respected and cared about.
Cecrops: He always called me ‘Rama.’ Where he’s from, I guess Rama was a great hero-- but not worth dying for.
Xena: Obviously, to him you were.
Cecrops: Goodbye, friend.
*…and realizes the power of love*
Cecrops: It isn’t that-- someone loves me! It’s my love for others! The love you had for Gabrielle, Xena! When you risked your life for her! The love Hidsim had for me, when he died! You’re right! It really is-- just that simple! Thank you! Thank you!
*Cecrops is on land and Xena doesn’t like hugs (but picks up a new disciple for good)*
Cecrops: I’m alive! I-- I’m alive! I-- I thought I would never feel the Earth again! I don’t know how I made it through it, but-- I’m alive!
Xena: Athena-- she gave you immortality. Even Poseidon couldn’t take that away.”
Cecrops: You know? All these years, I-- I--I’ve been cursing her name? Aah, I think I owe her a big apology. Have you ever-- felt anything-- so wonderful?!
Xena: Yes-- almost anything else!
Gabrielle: Where will you go?
Cecrops: I don’t know! I don’t know. A lot has changed in three hundred years. But, first I’m going to-- to sit here and-- remember.
Xena: Terai.
Cecrops: Terai. I can’t thank you enough. But-- maybe I can—help others, the way you’ve helped me.
Gabrielle: Oh, I know how you can start. Hidsim had a daughter. Maybe you could see her.
Cecrops: I think I will. But I’m going to walk there!
___
It's also basically a rehash of the Odysseus/Ulysees story a few eps back, but it's way better. Part of that has to do with the actor, Tony Todd, who brings the emotional gravitas to his scenes. More than that, though, the story is more appealing. We don't have to put up with some loser who nearly abandons his wife for a second time, thanks to some schoolboy crush on Xena. Nah, Cecrops's story is much more tragic and sympathetic. And grounded in more Greek mythology! Sorta. :p (And some real life irony, thanks to the Xena wiki—there was a real-life cyclone nearby during filming!)
Overall, it's not a huge episode for our girls. I mean, Xena goes through hoops to make sure Gabs isn't cursed alone, which is awesome; our bard is either seasick or waxing poetic about beauty, and the warrior princess abrasively guilts and pep talks Cecrops to action. None of this is particularly new, or character progressive. But I enjoy the plot and the worldbuilding with this one.
Summary is here, courtesy of whoosh.org.
So the story here revolves around the naming of Athens, where (you can probably guess the ending) the gods Athena and Poseidon were vying to be patron. The decision came down to one dude, in Xenaverse's it's Cecrops, who chose in favor of Athena. Then we go off book to where vengeful Poseidon banishes Cecrops to the sea, unless he can be redeemed by true love. Athena takes pity on him and turns him into an immortal, basically banking on the fact that some day (say, 300 years later,) Cecrops may ultimately find someone and pursue a happy ending on land. Which really, given all this time and angst, seems almost as much of a dick move as Poseidon's (Cecrops agrees with me, at least originally). And all of this vengeful life-ruining, though not authentic to this particular myth, is certainly authentic to the Greek gods in general. In fact I'm almost shocked that Poseidon didn't go through with it. Maybe he was too focused on Odysseus. :p
Xena and Gabrielle's part in all of this starts when they're on a ship of some kind, pursued or being pursued by a pirate vessel. We hear their panic over ADR as the ship crashes into some rocks. Actually, whoosh.org unveiled a longer opening (and lots of script cuts) where the pirate ship basically forced the other one onto the rocks, but it's hard to accept that Xena's awesome abilities (remember, she flips onto Cecrops's ship later,) would allow that to happen. :p. Storm makes more sense. Anywho, the pirates are there mostly to be a minor plot foil--to detain Xena as she tries to make for Gabs, throw daggers that she easily catches, overhear (from a great distance, mind you,) Xena refuse Poseidon's offer of safe harbor, which leads them to seek the sea treasure and ultimately (maybe? Final image?) be cursed in Cecrops's stead. Why does Poseidon get to win?
Whoosh.org also points out some hanging plot points, particularly what happens with the treasure, and, more tangibly, the lady love bust. They spend a lot of time building up the backstory—it’s not of Cecrops’s mortal lover, Terai, but of Athena (bounty he took from pirates.) But production wise, it was also used in "For Him the Bell Tolls" in Aphrodite's temple (and will be used again in a Hercules ep). And honestly, given all of Cecrops's hang ups, it would make sense for him to have a crush on the goddess of love. :p. I guess it's just weird that he has this momentum of his lover that we get to see a few times, but nothing that significant happens either with the object, or with his love life in general.
All of that being said, I'm glad that his "act of true love" isn't ye standard romance. I mentioned "Once Upon a Time," a show that premiered a decade after "Xena" went off the air, because it routinely deals with debunking the "true love=romance only" myth. Plenty of magic is either made or destroyed based on the love between parents and children, siblings, friends. In Cecrops's case, he realizes that though he captured his crew for being pirates, with time he grew to understand them, and consider them his friends. And certainly vice versa, as Hidsim sacrifices himself for him (and even gives him a unique nickname). The actors did a good job of building that up, really--Hidsim spoke with Gabrielle about wanting to see his daughter again, which later gives Cecrops direction when he's back on land (cos c'mon, man, just because you're immortal doesn't mean that your 300-year-old lover is. The gods are capricious!). And Todd brought some real guilty emotion to his reaction--was nice to watch from a guest star. I enjoyed his whole character arc, from stern but sympathetic ruler of his lifetime crew, to battling with resentment and blame about his curse, to being afraid to end it, but ultimately taking that leap of faith. Deep stuff.
Most of Cecrops's crew seemed to be good (or reformed) guys, but the show also didn't shy away from sexual harassment. It's a mixed bag, really. From the moment Cecrops warned Gabs that she was the first woman aboard in 200 years so watch out, I knew the show wouldn't depict anything too graphic; they didn't have too adult a rating. But they also didn't shy away from the issue of creepy, unwanted male attention, a la Gabby's stalker, Altrech. Granted, it was mostly played for laughs (she even accepts squid--which whoosh.org points out was actually marinated octopus--from him after Xena's anti-seasickness pressure points dulls her taste buds. I liked the continuity and evolution of Gabs continuing to have seasickness and Xena working to help, though). But I thought it highlighted the annoying reality that many women have to face.
Finally, a closer look at some of our Greek gods. Poseidon (voiced again by Charles Seibert) makes a showy entrance from out of the water, mostly to threaten Cecrops as he and the gals grow closer to unlocking his curse. But later, after Xena rejects his offer (and, presumably, because of her actions with Ulysees a few eps back; hello continuity?) the God of the Sea makes Cecrops a more private (green water talking outside a window) offer to throw the warrior princess into the whirlpool. An attempt to stir dissent into the ranks? Petty revenge? Knowing the Greek gods, probably both. Also, interesting point out of fempop.com, but the whirlpool, in mythology, is Poseidon's daughter, Charibdys, who made whirlpools with her mouth. The more you know!
___
Disclaimer Cecrops' "Joie de Vivre" was not harmed during the production of this motion picture.
Favorite Quotes:
*Gabrielle and Cecrops get to know one another*
Cecrops: Xena. The pirate ship survived the rocks. But if she was on the merchantman, she would’ve drowned, most likely-- pushing up seaweed by now.
Gabrielle: There-- She would have made her way to land.
Cecrops: Maybe she did. Let’s get back to it! We have to be around this island by nightfall!
Gabrielle: Wait! Can’t you take me to shore?
Cecrops: You’re staying with us. You don’t seem to understand the danger.
Gabrielle: No. You_ don’t understand the danger. This is a boat-- on water. Water, boat, my stomach-- We don’t mix very well. So, unless you want a quick and colorful deck-washing, I suggest you put me on a boat for shore.
Cecrops: Do you hear that, Hidsim? I’m not averse to a bit of color. But you’re not leaving this ship.
*scary life sentence*
Gabrielle: I’m on the cursed ship of Cecrops.
Cecrops: Yes-- you are.
Gabrielle: For eternity?
Cecrops: Ah-- no. That particular part of the curse is mine. You’ll just be here until you die. Xena-- is the lucky one-- even if she drowned.
*Xena’s got no time for pirates*
Basculis: Hah! Thought you might wash up here!
Xena: Basculis-- I don’t have time for this. My friend got picked up by that ship, and I need to get to her!
*Gabrielle and Altrech’s introduction*
Gabrielle: I’m still trying to deal with this situation.
Cecrops: Deal with it quick. It’s been awhile since we’ve had a woman aboard my ship. I don’t like my men to get-- distracted.
Altrech: Hi. My name is Altrech. If you’re not feeling too good, I might have just the thing for you.
Hidsim: Leave her alone, Altrech. She doesn’t need the likes of you breathing in her face.
Altrech: I’m only trying to help. See? It-- it-- It’s ash. I eat it-- it settles my stomach.
*emerald and lady bust storylines that go nowhere*
Cecrops: It’s OK. It’s not like it’s valuable. It’s only an emerald.
Gabrielle: Yeah-- it’s a big emerald.
Cecrops: Still, it might as well be a grain of sand for all the good it does me. It sparkles when the sun hits it. It reminds me of-- well-- something more than money.
Gabrielle: That’s the only way to judge beauty-- not by the price, but how it touches the soul. She’s beautiful. Have you ever heard of the lost Athena of Antigus? It was a carving so beautiful, that men swore she came to life in the moonlight.
Cecrops: It has to be a full moon-- but the story is true. Pirates stole it. I stole the pirates. Some of my crew, in fact.
*Athens storyline goes further*
Cecrops: Poseidon’s curse was that I could never return to land until-- love redeems me.
Gabrielle: But, that was so long ago.
Cecrops: 300 years ago. Athena decided to give me immortality. I can’t die, and I can’t return to land. It’s a toss-up between who I hate more-- Poseidon or Athena.
Gabrielle: But Athena gave you hope. Don’t you see that? She knew how powerful love was, she gave you enough time to defeat the curse-- until love redeems you. That has to be the key.
Cecrops: Oh, please. Who’s going to love me? I mean, I’m hardly the catch of the day-- tall, dark, and-- cursed for eternity. Yeah-- quite a draw. With the exception of you, there hasn’t been a woman onboard this ship for-- 200 years-- and she had an attitude because I sank her ship.
*Xena shows where her cards lie*
Cecrops: Are you out of your mind?!
Xena: Gabrielle, are you all right?
Gabrielle: Yeah, I’m fine. I’m-- seasick. I’m cursed. Actually, I’m really seasick.
Cecrops: Excuse me. Do you know who I am?
Xena: You’re Cecrops. I wasn’t gonna let you take off with my best friend.
*the pirates insert themselves into the episode*
Basculis: Xena’s not crazy! She knew what she was doing. And I know what she’s after-- Poseidon’s treasures. All the riches Cecrops robbed from Poseidon are on that ship. And we’re gonna get it all!
*Xena wants Cecrops to act with faith—maybe Terai is still alive??*
Cecrops: I was on my way to see Terai when-- Poseidon arose from the waters. He cursed me at that moment. Terai was watching from the shores. Then Poseidon created Charybdis, the mighty whirlpool, as a reminder. For many years, I stayed in the area, sailing the coastline. And every evening-- Terai would come to the cliffs, and we would-- look at each other. Even as she grew older-- she grew more beautiful. And then, one evening—she didn’t come and-- and I knew-- I knew I would never see her again.
Xena: Turn east. Let’s go back to Terai’s village.
Cecrops: That was 300 years ago. Terai is dead-- dead. The village couldn’t exist with Charybdis just outside the shore. It’s gone-- all gone.
Xena: The whirlpool is still there. Poseidon created it. It might just be part of the answer. Athena knew what she was doing. You just have to have faith.
Cecrops: Faith?! Faith has killed more people than war!
Xena: You said that Terai had faith in you. So either were lying to her then, or you’re lying to yourself now.
*Gabrielle gets Hidsim’s backstory*
Hidsim: Ah, it’s good to hear laughter on the ship. Rama—he doesn’t laugh. Too bad-- he’s a good man.
Gabrielle: How did you meet him?
Hidsim: A long time ago, ah-- I was rescuing orphans from a tidal wave, while trying to keep my mother from sinking under water.
Gabrielle: You did that?
Hidsim: No, little one. But it sounds better than saying I was a pirate. I was just about to quit. I had enough-- bad stuff, and, then we attacked a ship-- his ship. I’ve been here ever since.
Gabrielle: How long, now?
Hidsim: A long time. I don’t know how old I am now. Don’t need to know any more.
Gabrielle: I have faith in Xena. You should too. She’ll get us out of this.
Hidsim: Well-- it’d be nice to lay on the grass again. Me and my daughter-- we used to do that all the time when I was home—lay on the grass and look at the clouds.
Gabrielle: You have a daughter?
Hidsim: Somewhere. She’d be about your age, now. Probably thinks I’m dead. Yeah, little one, it’d be nice.
*Poseidon offers Xena (and Gabrielle) safe harbor*
Poseidon: Xena! This is between Cecrops and me!
Gabrielle: Excuse me! But we don’t have a choice!
Cecrops: You made the rules, Poseidon!
Poseidon: Very well. Xena, I grant you safe passsage from the ship of Cecrops. Go.
Xena: Not without Gabrielle.
Poseidon: Take her. Love can’t redeem Cecrops. He doesn’t even know where to look.
Xena: Thanks for the offer, Poseidon, but, we like the smell of the ocean!
*Xena and Gabrielle talk Ulysees continuity, harassment and squid-eating*
Xena: Let’s hope it doesn’t get any worse. Poseidon obviously doesn’t want us reaching Charybdis.
Gabrielle: That means you were right. The key must be there, and he doesn’t want you to figure it out.
Xena: And if I’m wrong?
Gabrielle: If you’re wrong? Xena, I have to spend the rest of my life dodging-- Altrech! 60 year old adolescent, who hasn’t had a girlfriend since his voice was an octave higher. Xena, why didn’t you show me this when we were on Ulysses’ ship?
Xena: Oh, well, uh-- I couldn’t risk it. It has side effects.
Gabrielle: Side effects? Yeah, what kind of side effects?
Xena: Well, that pressure point numbs your taste buds. Anything tastes good-- even things that aren’t good for you.
Gabrielle: Like-- raw squid. Oh, I‘m gonna be sick.
*Xena calls Cecrops out*
Cecrops: Make yourself at home.
Xena: Why are you turning back?
Cecrops: I changed my mind. It happens.
Xena: No. No, you’re afraid.
Cecrops: Afraid? Afraid of Poseidon?! Not quite.
Xena: It’s not Poseidon. It’s because you think I might be right-- that I might be able to end the curse. Poseidon wouldn’t have offered me my freedom, if he didn’t think I was onto something.
Cecrops: You don’t think-- that I would end this curse in a second, if I could.
Xena: No-- because it’s gone on too long. Thousands of people have been cursed along with you. And you feel the guilt of dooming all those people.
Cecrops: Shouldn’t I? For the first hundred years, it was merchant vessels-- innocents. These people spent the rest of their lives, on this ship because of me! So I switched to pirates. No innocents there-- like the people I have on this ship, now-- all pirates!
Xena: And all become your friends. This isn’t a curse to you-- it’s justice. You’ve begun to believe that you deserve it!
Cecrops: How in the name of _Zeus_, did you ever come up with such a lame theory?
Xena: By watching you. I’ve known many types of fear in my life, Cecrops. But the fear of your own guilt is distinctive.
Cecrops: What do you know of fear?! Do you fear death?! Do you fear injury?! Do you fear losing your friend out there? Well, I fear life, because every die of life means another day someone can lose their freedom to me!
Xena: Then break the cycle, Cecrops. You didn’t start this-- Poseidon did-- but you can end it!
*Hidsim sacrifices himself for his friend*
Cecrops: What? What? What? What were you thinking?! You pathetic old fool! Hadsim! I’m immortal! It wouldn’t have killed me!
Hidsim: I just-- I just reacted, Rama. I saw you were in danger. I guess I’m not gonna lay on the grass after all-- little one, with my-- with my daughter.”
Gabrielle: No, you’re gonna be OK.
Cecrops: Hidsim!
Hidsim: Rama. Touch the Earth for me.
*did Poseidon throw a wrench in the system?*
Poseidon: There is a way out for you and your crew. I can give you your freedom.
Cecrops: Why now?
Poseidon: Because now, you have something I want-- the Warrior Princess. Take her to Charybdis. When the time is right, throw her into the whirlpool-- and you and your men will be free again.
Cecrops: Just yesterday, you were offering her her freedom.
Poseidon: And she defied me! No one does that to me! Your curse is nothing compared to the satisfaction I will have when she is mine!
Xena: Cecrops.
Cecrops: We’re going to Charybdis. It’s going to end there.
*Ceclops goes through his goodbyes for Hidsim…*
Cecrops: It makes no sense. I was his enemy.
Xena: Maybe at one time you were, but over the years, Hidsim saw something different-- someone he respected and cared about.
Cecrops: He always called me ‘Rama.’ Where he’s from, I guess Rama was a great hero-- but not worth dying for.
Xena: Obviously, to him you were.
Cecrops: Goodbye, friend.
*…and realizes the power of love*
Cecrops: It isn’t that-- someone loves me! It’s my love for others! The love you had for Gabrielle, Xena! When you risked your life for her! The love Hidsim had for me, when he died! You’re right! It really is-- just that simple! Thank you! Thank you!
*Cecrops is on land and Xena doesn’t like hugs (but picks up a new disciple for good)*
Cecrops: I’m alive! I-- I’m alive! I-- I thought I would never feel the Earth again! I don’t know how I made it through it, but-- I’m alive!
Xena: Athena-- she gave you immortality. Even Poseidon couldn’t take that away.”
Cecrops: You know? All these years, I-- I--I’ve been cursing her name? Aah, I think I owe her a big apology. Have you ever-- felt anything-- so wonderful?!
Xena: Yes-- almost anything else!
Gabrielle: Where will you go?
Cecrops: I don’t know! I don’t know. A lot has changed in three hundred years. But, first I’m going to-- to sit here and-- remember.
Xena: Terai.
Cecrops: Terai. I can’t thank you enough. But-- maybe I can—help others, the way you’ve helped me.
Gabrielle: Oh, I know how you can start. Hidsim had a daughter. Maybe you could see her.
Cecrops: I think I will. But I’m going to walk there!
___
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