The Debt (Xena episode)

Xena: Warrior Princess episode
“The Debt (Part 1)”
Episode no.	Season 3 Episode 6
Guest star(s)	Jacqueline Kim (Lao Ma); Marton Csokas (Borias); Grant McFarland (Ming Tzu); Daniel Lim (Ming T'ien, 12 years); Daniel Sing (Ming T'ien, adult)
Writer(s)	R. J. Stewart (teleplay); Robert Tapert & R. J. Stewart (story); Robert Field (editor)
Director	Oley Sassone
Production no.	#V0406
Original airdate	1997 Nov. 3
Episode chronology
← Previous	Next →
"Gabrielle's Hope"	"The Debt (2)"
List of Xena episodes

Xena and Gabrielle head many days toward the rising sun to the land of Chin, where Xena once studied with a woman named Lao Ma.

Dialog

Xena and Gabrielle, traveling, meet an emissary, dying, and attacked; he gives Xena a message: I was sent by the weak one, who's ... soft as water --" Xena finishes: "--hard as the raging flood." His message: "The Green Dragon has become too large -- and must be made ... small." Xena must kill the Green Dragon.

Gabrielle, trying to persuade Xena to explain more of her latest mission is, helps Xena negotiate for the purchase of a bunch of supplies:

X: How much for the lot of this? (to the shopkeeper)

Shopkeeper: Twenty dinar.

G: Twenty dinars? Do we look stupid?

S: Oh, well... fifteen dinar?

G: (to Xena): Give him twelve; it's more than it's worth.

X: Thanks, Gabrielle.

G: You're welcome. I'm glad I could help you get a deal on the things you need to commit murder.

Xena rounds on her and stares coldly.

... Later, after Xena and Gabrielle take a break from the flashback:

X: You ain't heard nothin' yet.

G: I don't think I want to hear any more about this tale of war, greed, hate.

X: Hate? It's not about hate. It's about love.

And then she introduces the part of the story that includes Lao Ma.

... When Xena's and Lao Ma's eyes meet, there is a charge; the camera zooms in on Xena's face; and Lao Ma says:

M: You must be Xena.

X: Oh, you've heard of me.

M: Oh yes. They say you're a dangerous woman.

... Shortly after, Xena, somewhat stoned, watches Lao Ma and Borias with apparent jealousy. As Lao Ma reaches for something on the table, Xena throws a knife and says, dangerously:

X: That's my piece of meat you're reaching for.

M: You're wrong. I don't eat meat.

Lao Ma gently corrects her, before reaching for a piece of bread.

... In her conversation with Gabrielle, recounting the story, Xena expressly denies that jealousy was her motivation, saying that she and Borias were just using each other. Instead, she said, it was that she knew Lao Ma would be a civilizing influence on Borias. After they go to the city, Gabrielle can't stand it any more; she can't go to Chin to be with Xena as she murders someone. Xena understands but must go.

G: You owe someone so much, that you would just throw away these last few years?

X: Yes.

... Flashback: Later that evening, Xena tries to kill Lao Ma, but Lao Ma defeats her easily with her own skills. Xena kidnaps Ming's child (Ming T'ien), but in negotiating his ransom and return, is betrayed by Borias and one of her subordinates. Ming Tzu takes her, and intends to hunt her with his son. They encounter Lao Ma who gives her permission for the hunt to occur on Lao lands -- and we understand that Lao Ma is Ming T'ien's mother, and that he is the Green Dragon. Xena, fleeing, suddenly encounters Lao Ma, who says come with me if you want to live. The next scene shows Lao Ma, sitting beside a bathing pool, brushing her hair; we see that Xena is underwater, hiding as Ming's men search the tent. As Xena's air gives out, Lao Ma ducks her head under water to breathe air into Xena's mouth, in a 15-second kiss. When she emerges from the pool, Ming Tzu is suspicious:

Tzu: You had better not be hiding her!

Lao Ma: My lord, I would never hide what is yours. (she laughs gently)

Tzu: When I arranged your marriage to Lao I expected you to show more loyalty towards me!

Lao Ma: (pausing) I was a courtesan and you sold me. You expected loyalty?

Tzu: You're a strange woman, Lao Ma. Soft -- and hard at the same time.

Lao Ma: Like water. Nothing is soft as water, yet who can withstand the raging flood.

Ming leaves, and Lao Ma and Xena engage in some sensuous girl grooming.

Flashback is over, and now Xena paints herself in camouflage, and emerges from the river in a filmic homage to (that stalking vengeance movie? Or was it Apocalypse Now?) While conflicted over what she is about to do, she stalks/sneaks around, nude or nearly so, and is ready to kill Ming T'ien -- when suddenly Gabrielle reveals that it is she in the bed, not Ming T'ien.

G: "I'm sorry, Xena -- I couldn't let you do this."

Ming T'ien, stares at Xena: Lao Ma said you'd return one day. ... Lock her up.

Disclaimer

"No Frock Tarts were killed during the production of this motion picture although they wish they had been."