Xena: Warrior Princess (TV Series)

Maternal Instincts (1998)

Renée O'Connor: Gabrielle

Quotes 

• Xena : What makes you think we can trust this child?

  Gabrielle : What makes you think that we can't?

  [pause] 

  Gabrielle : Xena, she gave us Callisto's plan.

  Xena : Exactly! Callisto wouldn't tell her anything she didn't want us to hear. The child's probably a pawn or worse!

  Gabrielle : That is not true! Xena, you were always so quick to blame her, weren't you? Well, she is not evil! She's NOT!

  Xena : [shocked]  Hope? The child is Hope?

  Gabrielle : [Gabrielle nods]  I'm sorry. I never meant to lie. Xena, I couldn't kill her. She's my daughter. You're a mother, you know this! I had to save her.

  Xena : Maybe it's not too late. She's young; poison'll kill her if her powers aren't mature.

  Gabrielle : Poison? XENA, SHE IS MY CHILD!

  Xena : She is NOT a child! She is a body, a vessel, an instrument for evil, THAT IS ALL!

  Gabrielle : YOU ARE WRONG!

  [pause] 

  Gabrielle : Xena, Hope is the victim here! That is why I sent her to Kaleipus' hut, so she would be safe from Callisto...

  Xena : [pause]  You sent her to Kaleipus' hut?

  [Xena frantically runs to the hut where Solon was left in] 

• Gabrielle : [Gabrielle purchases some goods from a seller in a shopping hut]  Thanks...

  [Gabrielle bumps into Hope who is holding a wooden lamb toy; Hope drops it and Gabrielle picks it up] 

  Gabrielle : Where did you get this?

  Hope : I didn't steal it! It's mine. It's always been mine!

  [pause] 

  Hope : The people who found me said so...

  Gabrielle : [Gabrielle looks at her showing confusion]  Found you?

  Hope : They said it was in the basket with me. All's I remember is lots of water, me crying for my mom...

  [pause] 

  Hope : But she never came.

  Ephiny : [yelling from outside]  Gabrielle?

  [pause] 

  Ephiny : Gabrielle! Xena says to hurry; they're ready to go-

  [Ephiny notices Gabrielle's distraught face; she looks over at Hope] 

  Ephiny : Is there something wrong?

  Gabrielle : [to Ephiny]  No. No, I'll be right there.

  [Ephiny leaves the hut. Gabrielle, now realizing that the little girl she ran into is her daughter, Hope, talks to her] 

  Gabrielle : Look, um, there's something that I have to do, here. So, I want you to do a favor for me, okay? I want you to wait in my hut 'til I get back. And this way, I - I'll know you're safe...

  Hope : [pretending to be distressed]  Don't see why *you* care...

  Gabrielle : You will!

  [pause] 

  Gabrielle : Do you promise?

  Hope : I promise.

  Gabrielle : [Gabrielle is filled with emotion]  Bye!

  [she quickly leaves the hut] 

  Hope : Bye-bye...

  [pause] 

  Hope : Mommy!

• Gabrielle : [Gabrielle barges into her hut. She's frantically looking for Hope, who's going by the name Fayla]  FAYLA!

  [Gabrielle looks around and throws her staff near her, covering her face with her hands; Fayla then enters the hut. Gabrielle grabs her] 

  Gabrielle : Where have you been? I have been looking all over for you! You said that you would wait here, remember?

  Hope : [Hope starts to cry]  I'm sorry, but she wouldn't let me! I tried to get away, but she-!

  Gabrielle : [Gabrielle hugs her]  Who? Who... Callisto?

  Hope : [whispers]  Yeah.

  [pause] 

  Hope : I have this power... to move things. I don't know why. She says it's 'cause I'm... evil.

  Gabrielle : That is a lie. You are not evil. Never believe that!

  Hope : My mother thought so. She tried to drown me in a basket.

  [pause] 

  Hope : She wanted me dead.

  Gabrielle : She wasn't trying to drown you. She was trying to save your life...

  Hope : YOU WEREN'T THERE! YOU DON'T KNOW!

  Gabrielle : [starts to sob]  I do!

  [pause] 

  Gabrielle : The basket is all there was. I - I had to put you in it or I had to watch you be killed. Now, I had no choice, I LOVED you!

  Hope : [smiles]  You... you loved me?

  Gabrielle : I - I prayed that the Gods would protect you, and they did. They brought you home.

  Hope : [they hug]  We have to go! I'm sorry, Mommy, it was me; I helped Callisto get out. And now she's coming for the kids. We have to go! Come on, hurry!

  [Hope starts to leave, but Gabrielle grabs her arm] 

  Gabrielle : No. Wait, wait. Xena has to know this.

  Hope : No, Xena hates me!

  Gabrielle : She doesn't hate you. She just doesn't understand. Now, she will see what I've known all along, that you can fight your dark side, just like her!

  Hope : But I'm scared! If Callisto finds out I told, she'll kill me, SHE WILL!

  Gabrielle : She will not find out!

  [pause] 

  Gabrielle : I will take you to the safest place there is until we can go. Okay?

  Hope : [smiles]  The safest place? You promise?

  Gabrielle : I cross my heart. Don't be afraid okay? Now, come with me. Let's go.

  [Gabrielle leads Hope out of her hut]