The bitter conflict between Xena and Gabrielle reaches a crescendo, set in the dreamworld of Illusia.

The scene centres on the Amazon village. Gabrielle lies naked whilst being 'whipped' by an Amazon with some rushes. She sheds a tear. She is in a purging hut, trying to heal the emotional wounds created in "Maternal Instincts." Joxer is also there, speaking to Ephiny about the fact that Gabrielle has been in the hut for over three days. Joxer wants her out of the hut. Ephiny tells him Gabrielle must work through the pain.

Meanwhile, Xena is grieving for Solan up in the mountains. Ares appears and manipulates Xena whilst she is vulnerable. He tells her that this is all Gabrielle's fault and that she must take her revenge.

Whilst Gabrielle is lying in the hut, someone strokes her face and then slaps her. She opens her eyes and sees Callisto who tells her that Xena is responsible for their loved ones' deaths and that it is because Xena wished to take her revenge against Caesar that this happened in the first place. She says to Gabrielle “You hate her, don't you?". She persists until Gabrielle replies “Yes!". Xena rides into the village asking where Gabrielle is. Ephiny orders her warriors to attack and tries to prevent Xena from getting to the hut but Xena strikes her, knocking her down.

Joxer races to the hut to get Gabrielle and carries her out. Xena sees this and tries to throw her chakram at Gabrielle, but Ephiny knocks Xena's arm and it misses. Joxer tells Gabrielle to run. She does but Xena uses her whip and wraps it round Gabrielle's legs and pulls her to the ground. She then gets on Argo and rides at full speed, dragging Gabrielle behind her. She does this until they reach the edge of a cliff. Gabrielle is bloody, battered, and unconscious.

Xena picks her up and holds her high above her head to throw her over the cliff. Xena: "Vengeance!" Gabrielle regains consciousness and kicks Xena in the face with her heel. Xena falls backward. Gabrielle stands up and looks at Xena.        Gabrielle: "I hate you!" She runs at Xena and they both go over the cliff into a waterfall and begin to sink.

"Absorb thyself in this great sea of the waters of life. Dive deep in it until thou hath got lost in it, and having lost thyself, then thou shalt find thyself again. Even as it is written, she had her dwelling in the great sea, as in a fish, therein.

"Holyph am I, for mine unfathomable will the universe hath its beginning. In my boundless wisdom are the types and patterns of all things."

Callisto pulls Xena from the water. She bends down and her lips touch Xena's lips, reviving her. She is dressed kind of like "Little Miss Muffet" in an "Alice in Wonderland" world. When Xena asks where they are she tells her (in song) that they are in the Land of Illusia. Callisto: "Xena be warned, Xena beware By closing you eyes you can see what isn't there. Xena be calm, open your eyes Lies may be truth and truth may be lies." Xena: "Alright Callisto, cut the song and dance. What's going on? Where are we?“ Callisto: "Fate is a wheel, it will reveal All you've become, all that you feel. Destiny knows what has to be. You'll pay the price, nothing is free. I'll be you guide, take the hand of your muse You just might lose your way in the land of Illusia. Illusia is music, a world built on rhyme. It's carved out of space in the absence of time. You've tasted how evil and good coexist, The bitter and sweet of it ..." White Dog: "All in the lips that you kissed."

Callisto: "Lion and bull, eagle and snake, To live or die It's the choice you've got to make. Can you undo what you create? Step through the wheel. Follow your fate." Chorus of Animals: "The fates have a fix on you, We can play tricks on you, We deal in truths you're too troubled to face, Gamble the worth of you, on the rebirth of you, Don't turn away, don't start to fade. What's still unwritten ... You can erase." Callisto: "You're villainous infamy tortures your soul. Descent into evil must levy its toll. The darkness that rots you has brought you to this." Snake: "Surrender serenity, suffer sweet misery, Sin seeks its cursed abyss." Anubis: "Oh Xena, with death there is always rebirth." Sphinx: "Come see with a vision denied you on Earth."

Callisto: "Illusia is waiting -- we'll show you the way, But all consequences are your own creation And there's a price you must pay." Callisto and Chorus of Animals: "The fates have a fix on you. We can play tricks on you. We deal in truths you're too troubled to face, Gamble the worth of you, on the rebirth of you. Don't turn away, don't start to fade ..." Callisto: "What's still unwritten you can erase." Chorus of Animals: "Illusia is music, a world built on rhyme, It's carved out of space in the absence of ..." Xena: "Alright Callisto, you like little ditties? Fine, I got one for you: you're acting so strangely that I hardly know ya, but still I wouldn't trust you as far as I could throw ya." Callisto: "You're wrong not to trust one that knows you so well. I never betrayed you, that was Gabrielle.“ Xena: "Gabrielle. Is she here? The one who betrayed me, is she in this land?" Callisto: "I'm merely your guide, dear, along for a grin. You'll get no free ride here. If you want to know more, then spin."

A Reading of the Tarot Symbolism in Bitter Suite For those of you not familiar with the Tarot, there are 22 Major cards, and 56 minor cards.  The 56 minor cards correspond to the modern day card deck, with four suits.  Each of the four suits has four court cards (king, queen, knight, page) and 10 "number" cards from ace thru ten. The 22 Major Arcana cards each represent an archetype.

Callisto opens as the FOOL (beginning of the journey, what you create is up to you) -- the words of Callisto's song play on this. Callisto then turns into the MAGICIAN (the Magician manipulates the elements, juggling them in the air and balancing their antagonistic energies,  showing the possibility of guiding -- and being guided by -- the archetypes).  Callisto continues this role as she begins playing with the chakram/wheel, which finally turns into...

The WHEEL OF FORTUNE (the revolution of experience and progress) -- which Callisto forces Xena to spin. This is the wheel of birth, death, and rebirth, to which all souls are bound. It's the wheel of karma. To master your destiny, you must understand the process of life and death, cause and effect, from the center -- not from the periphery of the wheel. By the way, at the four corners are the symbolic figures of the fixed zodiacal signs: the bull of Taurus, the lion of Leo, the eagle of Scorpio, and the man -- or Gabrielle -- of Aquarius. The sphinx rides above the wheel, the snake and the dog spin on the wheel.

During this sequence Xena is depicted as the HIGH PRIESTESS (Juno, Diana, the priestess of the Eleusinian mysteries, etc. She is shown in the vestments of Isis, a crown of two horn-shaped crescents astride a lunar orb, a solar cross on her breast...) The High Priestess is the potential uniting intelligence of subconscious memory. In other words, enlightenment to illumine the darkness of nonunderstanding -- and the way is through the Priestess, intuition, revelation, mystery.

Gabrielle arrives in Illusia, The scene switches again to the water. Gabrielle floats through the water and Callisto's voice is heard again. "Changeless, this great deep of elemental water remaineth forever pure. Because of this, it possesseth the quality of stability. From water do all things have their beginning." A man, hanging above the water, pulls Gabrielle from the river and she somersaults into some bushes. Gabrielle: "The Elysian Fields ... only heroes wind up here ... dead heroes ... dead, naked heroes." But then she hears Joxer singing…

Joxer: "Joxer, the Mighty: master of geography Here to guide you on your way. Stick with me you'll never stray. If you're in a land that's new I'm the man who'll get you through, Even when you're slightly nude. I'm Joxer! Joxer the Mighty!" Gabrielle: "So much for the Elysian Fields theory." Joxer: "Yeah." Gabrielle: "Ah! How did you ... Joxer, go away. Can't you see that I'm naked?!" Joxer: "I thought maybe I could help you out ... being naked won't excuse ya. Sing to talk you’re in Illusia." He picks up a grass turf which turns into a dress.

Now we jump scenes, with Joxer playing the HANGED MAN, pulling Gabby out of the water. Yep, there he is, hanging upside down with one leg crossed. Water is a symbol of emotional life, as a transmitter and medium for feelings from the unconscious, which flow into forms made available for it. (The hanged man represents how feelings actually hold us up by their apparent reality.) The Hanged Man is also about spirit moving us towards initiation or understanding. Transition.  Undergoing initiation or revelation or mystery in order to transcend outmoded forms of behavior. Sets us up for what is about to happen.

Callisto's dog leads the way into a castle whilst Callisto and Xena follow. There is an army waiting and they shout Xena's name. Warriors: "Praise the winds of chance that blew Xena back where friends are true. We would fight to death for you, brave Xena. When your mighty chakram arcs Throwing fierce magnetic sparks No one ever hits her mark like Xena. Famed for prowess with a sword, Who's as feared and as adored, You've not lived ‘till you've been gored by Xena." Warrior #1: "You're the Warrior Princess who's as strong as an oak." Warrior #2: "You've got eyes that can tear out the heart of a bloke." Warrior #3: "With one look you can wilt a flower," Warrior #4: "Curdle milk or make men cower." Warriors: "Welcome home, Xena, welcome home."

Xena: "Ares. I thought as much. But why the big production number? What's the point?“ Ares: "You are the most divine, delicious warrior. A man can't help saluting your return. And if you start my heart ... It's just the way you slash and burn. Bewitching woman, straining at the armor plate You singe me with the ardor you inflame And in my carnal heart there's not a sorry shred of shame." He sings seductively to Xena, tempting her to his side. He slices at the dress she is wearing and gives her armour to wear instead. Warriors: "You and me love war. Doesn't matter what it's for. Pandemonium reins and we're bludgeoning brains. Give us War, War, War. Keep it down to a roar." Warrior #5: "Words of wisdom Ares said," Ares: "When in battle keep your head." Warriors: "Warriors love War, War, War."

Xena loses her clothing, and in her new attire becomes the HIGH PRIEST (an opportunity to transform material desire into higher understanding; ceremonial traditions bring guidance to worldly affairs). The symbolism on Xena's new garb is great. Xena has been joined by Ares, who sits on his throne as the EMPEROR. (In Tarot, the Emperor is Ares, the fire sign, manifesting self-assertion, authority, power.)

Gabrielle: "I know this place ... these people ... that shop ... I'm home ... this is Poteidia.“ Villagers: "O'er the Bridge of Tears She's crossed and she's paid a fearful cost. Her blood innocent is lost, Gabrielle. Now the past has set her free And she's traveled home to be With her old friends you and me, Gabrielle." Villager #1: "You've been plucked out from the heart of our lives for so long." Villager #2: "Now we're grateful you've come back to the place you belong." Villager #3: "For what ails the panacea," Villager #4: "Surely waits in Poteidia." Villagers: "Welcome home, Gabrielle, welcome home."

Gabrielle: "Lila ... sister ... I can't believe it." Lila: "Villains, fools and kings have made their mark on you. Leave their easy evil in the dust. If your child had lived, we'd surely make her welcome, too." Villagers: "You and me love peace, With the goats and ducks and geese. While the hours away baking bread, pitching hay. We love peace, peace, peace, simply joys that never cease." Villager #1: "Nothing changes but the time." Group of Villagers: "We don't even change our mind." Villagers: Villagers love Peace, Peace, Peace."

Gabrielle emerges next as the EMPRESS (great goddess earth mother, with dominion over the natural world). Perfect here with attendant images of villagers, farm, harvest, family, nature. The Empress is about following the path of harmony through conflict. Nurturing. Perfect for Gabby. In the meantime, Ares and Xena are riding a chariot and leading their army forward.

Ares: "Pulverizing foes requires strategy. There's no mortal born who meets your skill. Xena join my vision -- don't deny your destiny." Warriors: "You and me love war, Doesn't matter what it's for." Warrior #6: "Chop the tree down, burn the root." Ares: "Vengeance can be such a hoot." Warriors: "Warriors love War, War, War."

Lila: "Xena was no friend, she work to twist your mind, Though you tried to change her deadly ways. Take this scythe -- it's just a case of killing to be kind." Villagers: "You and me love peace, With the goats and ducks and geese." Lila: "Sit and watch the world go by." Villager Couple: "Vegetate until you die." Villagers: Villagers love Peace, Peace, Peace."

Lila hands Gabrielle a scythe, goading her to kill Xena. Whilst Xena is approaching a door from one side, Gabrielle approaches from the other. Each opens the door and Gabrielle attacks Xena with her scythe. Warriors: "We ... Love ... War" Villagers: "Peace is such a lovely state ... War can kill you so can hate." Warriors: "Fear! Lies! Smite and smote and pulverize." Villagers:   "Here the simple life's a delight." Warriors: "Pus And Gore." Villagers: "Just you put your hand in mine, Sure your future's on the line."

Warriors: "You've a son you must avenge, Know you must extract revenge." Villagers: "You must know that when ..." Warriors: "Don't be put aside by beauty, Xena you must do your duty." Villagers: "Hope died she freed you." Villagers: "Peace!" Warriors: "War!" Villagers: "Peace!" Warriors: "War!" Xena parries the attack and knocks Gabrielle to the ground. She twirls her blade and stabs Gabrielle who sighs and then lies still.  Joxer arrives, holds a candle near Gabrielle's face to check if she is breathing and then sadly shakes his head.