Last week, on Xena:
The Green Dragon has
become too large.
Is the Green Dragon a person?
Yes-- the one I'm gonna k*ll.
At least, tell me why?
Many years ago, as you know,
Caesar left his mark on me.
I went east to lose
myself in vengeance.
I didn't care if I lived or d*ed.
But she did.
Come with me if you
wish your freedom.
You owe someone so much--
that you would just throw away
these last few years
Yes.
I'm sorry, Xena--
I couldn't let you do this.
Lock her up.
I want to see Xena.
That would be impossible.
Why?
Our laws say a prisoner charged
with a capital offense
cannot receive visitors.
And I'm a man of the law.
Your Highness--
you said you would let Xena go.
Gabrielle--
I owe you my life.
Anything in this kingdom
you wish is yours.
But if you think banishing Xena--
will keep her from
returning to k*ll me--
you don't know her as
well as you think.
Hey, Xena-- I hear you were
betrayed by a friend.
No, not by a friend.
Throw her in!
This one's mine.
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...
[font color="#d "]The Debt[/font]
[font color="#a "](Part )[/font]
If you had her promise--
then you would let
her go-- right?
It would take more than that.
Xena would never go
back on her promise.
Of course, she would.
I want to see her.
Out of the question.
You said that I could have
anything in your kingdom.
Except that.
You don't understand--
I need to talk to her.
I have to explain to her
why I did what I did.
I'm terrified of what she
might be thinking of me.
You betrayed her--
therefore, you're her enemy.
She'll k*ll you now,
as soon as look at you.
You're wrong.
You don't know her.
I know her.
Tell me-- why did you do
it if you love her so?
I felt that she was
betraying herself--
if she went back to
the way of m*rder.
m*rder is in her blood,
Gabrielle-- her soul.
It is more natural
to her than love.
Look-- I know what Xena did
to you is a terrible thing.
No-- you are wrong.
It wasn't terrible.
It changed my life--
gave it a meaning
and a direction.
She taught me how to rule.
I'm the scourge that your gods
sent to punish your people.
Scary, huh?
What do you want?
It's Borias--
he's riding this way.
How many men?
He's alone.
Come on. Get up!
She understood how to send fear
flooding into your very soul.
And when that kind of terror
lives deep inside people--
they're yours forever.
My father didn't
understand this.
He was too soft.
The boy?
He's on the third packhorse
out there under some skins.
When he ransomed me that night,
he held me to him like
a foolish woman
tears in his eyes.
You can't blame your
father for being
emotional at a time like that.
He was a fraud--
just like Xena said.
He cared about me only
because a king needs an heir.
Where is he now?
Dead--
but we're alive, Gabrielle--
so let's quit living in the past
and celebrate your heroic deed.
If it weren't for you,
I wouldn't be emperor of Chin.
I would be another
of Xena's victims.
What do you want?
Just giving you this shirt.
I don't want your clothes.
What-- what are they doing?
Clothing you-- it's their way
of paying you tribute.
For what?
They heard what you did--
or tried to do
your attempt at trying
to k*ll the emperor.
They like that, huh?
There's not a man here
that hasn't lost many of
of his loved ones at the
hands of that monster.
Where are you from?
From the kingdom of Lao.
Lao? Then you know Lao Ma.
Lao Ma? Of course.
She's the wife of our king--
beautiful woman.
When was the last
time you saw her?
What?
Like you--many of us had heard--
of her great powers--
and thought she would
use them to escape.
Perhaps-- they were all a lie.
No.
No. Her powers were real.
Would you k*ll a mosquito
with an a*?
This is very beautiful.
That's good.
It could be a very usable w*apon--
if thrown at the right body part.
You could k*ll someone,
using a hair brooch.
If necessary.
I don't like to k*ll, however.
Everyone has their preferences.
I happen to like a good k*ll.
You're so full of anger and hate.
Everyone's gotta be
full of something.
Put up another bottle.
Teach me to do that.
Well-- try it.
I'm sorry, Xena--
but you're trying to att*ck
the bottle with your will.
What else is there?
Exactly.
What?
The entire world is
driven by a will--
blind and ruthless.
In order to transcend the
limitations of that world,
you need to stop willing--
stop desiring-- stop hating.
How do I do that?
Heaven endures--
and the Earth lasts
a long time, because
they do not live for themselves.
Therefore, she would
live a long time--
should live for others--
serve others.
I could serve you,
if that's what you mean.
Of course, you can.
It's easy to serve
someone you love.
You feel it will make
them love you more.
It's like a good
business investment.
That's not what I'm talking about.
You mean that--
I should serve someone
who hates me.
More than that--
you need to serve
someone you hate--
Ming Tzu.
Ming Tzu.
Yes--
the man who had
you hunted like an animal.
He comes here
tomorrow with his son.
Serve Ming.
I'd rather die.
You've been a dead woman
for a long time now, Xena.
I'm offering you
the chance to live.
Welcome to my home.
I wish only that it were
worthy of your presence.
Welcome, Ming T'ien.
Dinner awaits, Ming Tzu.
So, Borias is still a problem?
Yes--
the gold and the horses
we gave him for
double-crossing that whore
have made him too powerful.
Be careful, you idiot!
Borias is very dangerous.
He's more dangerous
than that witch, Xena.
He's very clever.
She was a stupid thug.
Something the matter, son?
Goodbye, Lao Ma.
All right, Lao Ma.
I did the whole servant bit,
and it accomplished nothing.
You're wrong, for a few hours,
you actually silenced your will.
It's a beginning.
A beginning to what, huh?
I should've just sliced
that pig's throat.
To conquer others is to have power;
to conquer yourself--
is to know the way.
Come with me, Xena.
My husband.
I heard that you
keep him in a coma.
I didn't believe it, but it's true.
Oh, yes.
If he were actually dead,
word would get out--
and his imbecile cousin
would become king.
No, I make sure he stays alive
but in this-- half-conscious state.
You understand pressure
points, don't you?
I make sure he's seen every
once in a while, in the garden.
It helps to convince doubters.
So you rule in his name.
The only way a woman could
rule in the kingdom of Chin.
It's my gift to him.
He was a vicious tyrant.
I'm going to make him
the most loved of rulers.
Don't you get sick of him getting
the credit for everything that you do?
Not at all.
As long as good is done.
You write down all that
wisdom stuff-- huh?
Yes-- in his book.
You give him credit for that, too?
This wisdom comes from Heaven.
What difference does it
make who gets credit for it--
Lao Ma or Lao Tzu?
Yeah, nothing seems to phase you--
except that boy I kidnapped.
Everytime he ignores you,
that cuts deep.
I know, it's foolish of me.
Just because we give birth to
them doesn't mean we own them.
He's your son?
Say it!
Say it!
Xena, promise them that you will never
attempt to k*ll Ming T'ien again.
Promise them!
Xena-- if you promise them,
they will banish you.
Please--
we can ride away from this.
Come to me, Xena--
now.
So, you have nothing to say
in your defense, Xena.
Xena--
So be it.
Tomorrow at dawn, you'll experience
this life for the last time.
The sentence-- is death.
Don't feel like you failed.
I would've ex*cuted her
no matter what she said.
It's amazing, really.
She did all of this
out of some fool gratitude to
Lao Ma for saving her life.
I suppose even wild beasts have a
sense of loyalty, sometimes.
Can I see her?
Oh, yes.
Now that she's condemned
you can visit her.
I'm not a monster, you know.
Move it along!
Can we talk?
Of course not.
I betrayed you.
The pathetic thing is--
I thought I was saving you.
My reverence for life kept
a brutal tyrant in power,
and led to my best
friend's execution.
I know you
hate me Xena--
no more than I
hate myself.
Scratch my nose, will you?
Come on.
I know you only did what
you thought was right.
I was angry with you
but I didn't hate you.
I never could.
I think I understand
why you thought you
had to k*ll Ming T'ien.
It was Lao Ma's last request--
and she saved your life.
Not just my life.
She saved my soul--
my spirit, my entire being.
Xena, stop. Control yourself.
He's here, because I sent for him.
Stop Xena, just stop. Stop willing;
stop desiring; stop hating.
That was the moment.
I could've done it right there.
I could've just--
let go and buried all
my hatred forever.
That was my chance.
You always were a leg man.
All right.
We'll do this
a different way.
What's he doing here?
We're going to have
peace in this land,
and the two of you are
going to help bring it about.
You've gotta be kidding!
Tomorrow, Ming Tzu comes here
to talk with Borias and me.
We're going to include him
in a three-way alliance.
If you think that I am playing
servant-girl to these two,
then you've got another thing--
Quiet, Xena.
I plan to inform Ming Tzu
of your presence.
He has to accept that.
You're going to help me
run the kingdom of Lao.
You'll be my Warrior Princess.
Tomorrow, you'll ask for
Ming's forgiveness.
Today, you're going to learn
how to deal with Borias.
Xena's capable of
profound loyalty, Borias.
She just doesn't know it yet.
I'm gonna leave
the two of you alone.
It serves both your
interests to get along.
If you k*ll each other--
so be it.
So you and Borias made up.
Oh, yeah, we made up.
I also asked Ming Tzu
for his forgiveness.
You expect me to forgive the
woman that kidnapped my son.
Then permit me to point out the
detail that perhaps you missed.
Xena belongs to me.
She's my property.
Ming Tzu--
I know a man of your
wisdom wouldn't endanger
an important treaty
by holding a grudge.
To have the treaty,
I must forgive her?
Then I apologize for
wasting your time.
Ming T'ien-- let us go.
Lao Ma, if I may make a suggestion.
Ming Tzu is a man of great courage.
I say you should put me up as
the stakes in a game of chance--
and see who wins.
Excuse me--
but I do not have to
play such a game.
You belong to me, now!
I have a claim on Xena.
I discovered her--
so to speak.
And I was fortunate
enough to save her.
And I should say
I belong to myself.
It should be an interesting game.
This is ridiculous!
Gambling over this
worthless whore.
Why don't we throw something
of value into the pot?
All right.
Let's say the winner gets me--
and a body part
from each of the losers.
What do you mean?
A body part.
Minimum bet is a hand.
I'm in.
I don't want anyone's body part.
Then I'm sure we all
pray that you win.
What about you, Ming Tzu?
You got the jewels for this one?
Fine-- all in one throw.
I win.
Pay up.
This is ridiculous.
I want a piece of him.
You're crazy!
Then you're not gonna pay up?
Are you?
Yes-- I give you my heart.
I accept.
I'll settle for that from you too,
Ming Tzu--your heart.
This is nonsense!
I'm getting out of here!
Ming T'ien!
We're leaving this madhouse!
Not till I collect my winnings.
Xena!
Now for the kid.
What are you doing?
Now, we can wipe out
the entire line.
Then it'll just be
the house of Lao.
We can rule the whole
kingdom of Chin together.
You can do all
your noble stuff,
and Borias and I'll
keep the peace.
We'll have some laughs
along the way.
She had such dreams
of peace for her land--
and for my soul.
I ruined them all.
It was years before I understood
finally what she wanted from me.
Not long before I met you,
I was at the end of my rope.
I-- was ready to give up.
And then I thought of her and
what she taught me, and--
and I was reborn.
That's the debt.
It's time.
The entire world
is driven by a will--
blind and ruthless.
In order to transcend the
limitations of that world--
you need to stop willing.
Stop desiring.
Stop hating.
To conquer others
is to have power;
to conquer yourself is
to know the way.
Stop her!
Come on! Let's go!
Be careful.
Let's go.
Xena!
I have something to tell you.
Gabrielle, make sure everyone
gets clear of the building.
It'll collapse at any moment.
- Are you--?
- I'm fine.
Don't worry, as far as
I'm concerned, this is all over.
Say it.
You made me, Xena.
You taught me to be
the monster I am.
I know.
It's part of the reason I'm here.
I've learned to
clean up after myself.
Is that all?
One other thing.
You probably heard that
I had Lao Ma ex*cuted.
Yes.
But, I just wanted you to know-
it's not true.
Really?
No. I did it myself.
I have something
to tell you, Ming T'ien.
What's that?
Lao Ma was your mother.
I knew that the whole time!
What?
That was why I did the execution.
I knew she wouldn't use
her powers to hurt--
her little boy.
I think this belongs to you.
Her last request was that
it was returned to you.
It turns out that she was
just a sentimental fool.
Remember this?
Mother's book of wisdom?
It failed her in the end.
That philosophical sense
of peace fell apart!
She cried like a baby.
She even cried on after I had
torn her heart from her body!
You're powerless now.
You've lost face in
front of your people.
They won't follow you, anymore.
You were right.
I didn't have to resolve
this with m*rder.
I finally understood
Lao Ma's message--
and I made him small again.
Xena--
your not k*lling him
made you exactly
what Lao Ma wanted you to be.
A memento of Lao Ma.
We'll take good care of this.
I love you, Xena.
Love you too, Gabrielle.