| Episode Guide | Teaser | Act 1 | Act 2 | Act 3 | Act 4 |
|
|||||
|
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
EXT. CAMPSITE - NIGHT - PRESENT
The fire has been laid, Argo tended and the dumplings with the red stuff inside have been made and duly enjoyed. Xena and Gabrielle lie on their furs, looking up into the star-speckled night. Gabrielle points to a certain collection of stars.
GABRIELLE Look, there's the fish you shot into the heavens.
XENA Mm.
Gabrielle's finger moves just the slightest bit as she points out a star that looks as if it's been dipped in blood.
GABRIELLE There's Ares' planet.
Xena's head turns slowly and she eyes Gabrielle.
XENA Nice segue.
Gabrielle's eyebrows lift.
GABRIELLE Segue! I'm impressed.
Xena smirks.
XENA Pays to live with a bard.
Gabrielle chuckles.
GABRIELLE Well... since we're on the subject.
Xena's own eyebrow raises and she considers refusing, not wanting to break the feeling of well-being she's currently experiencing. But the look of poorly hidden expectation on Gabrielle's face changes her plans and she sighs.
XENA All right, then....
CUT TO:
INT. TEMPLE - DAY - PAST
Xena stands at the threshold of the temple, looking out onto the small clearing. Ten men in mismatched armor and weapons spar with one another. Two or three have the makings of decent fighters, but the others are inept at best. Xena rolls her eyes as she watches a giant, bearded bear of a man trip over his own boots, almost impaling himself on his sparring partner's sword.
Aeneas approaches Xena quietly and stands beside her, looking into the melee.
AENEAS Mercenaries.
Xena snorts.
XENA Whoever hired 'em sure didn't get their money's worth.
AENEAS Ah, he's dead now, actually. These are the only ones who remain out of an army of nearly five hundred who had the misfortune to go up against one of Khan's war bands.
XENA Serves him right, hiring pathetic idiots like these.
AENEAS True, true. This group escaped only under the most... fortuitous... circumstances.
His lips twitch slightly, suppressing a smile.
AENEAS (cont’d) Seems a storm blew in out of nowhere and they blundered their way here under its cover.
Xena's eyes narrow as she looks at the priest.
XENA Lucky bastards.
AENEAS (smugly) Yes, they are, aren't they?
Lifting the hem of his robe, he steps over the threshold and glides down the step to the small, dirt-packed clearing that surrounds the temple.
AENEAS (cont’d) Come. Join me. The fresh air will do you good.
Xena continues to look at him with suspicion for a long moment, then shrugging, casually saunters outside.
CUT TO:
EXT. TEMPLE - DAY - PAST
Several of the men, seeing the priest, stop sparring and bow in his direction. These men are quickly knocked to their knees by their less pious fellows. Xena snickers.
AENEAS (cont’d) When in battle, never let anything distract you. Focus. Let that be your watchword. Distraction equals death. Isn't that right, Xena?
The smirk falls from Xena's face, and she stares at the man coldly. His lips twitch again.
AENEAS (cont’d) Gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to a fellow Greek and warrior, Xena.
All the men stare at her; some coldly, some leeringly, some haughtily and some with no expression at all. Xena holds their stares until, one by one they have no choice but to look away. Aeneas laughs softly.
AENEAS (cont’d) An excellent example of focus, no?
The mercenaries shuffle in place, swords hanging limply in their hands.
AENEAS (cont’d) We are actually very fortunate to have this warrior among us, gentlemen. It's said she has traveled many lands and led many armies to victory. Perhaps she will be kind enough to share some of her knowledge with us.
XENA (sarcastically) I'm not the sharing type.
AENEAS Pity, but perhaps you'd consent to doing a bit of sparring with these brave lads, then?
Xena looks at the priest, then down at her splinted arm, then back at the priest. One eyebrow slowly elevates. Smiling, he steps closer to her until their bodies touch.
AENEAS (cont’d, whispering) Surely you realize that you could beat all of these men with both arms broken.
He eyes her long frame, lingering for a moment or two.
AENEAS (cont’d, whispering) And perhaps a leg or two as well.
XENA I'm not laughing.
AENEAS And I'm not joking. Xena, these men are haughty, thinking that their lucky escape has proven them blessed of the gods.
XENA Mm.
AENEAS I believe you're just the person to teach them the error of their ways.
XENA And why would I wanna do that? They're pathetic.
AENEAS Perhaps... but you could make them less so. When it comes time for you to leave this place, they could be of great value to you.
She looks past the priest's bony shoulder toward the group of men who are either staring blankly at nothing or are picking at or scratching various parts of their anatomy. She returns her gaze to the priest.
XENA Yeah. Right.
AENEAS Then think of this as an opportunity to regain your strength. That is your goal, is it not?
Xena sneers at him, well aware he's trying to play her like a lyre. Still, he does have a point, and she draws her sword with her good left hand, twirling it, then laying the tip against her shoulder. She looks at him challengingly, and he laughs in true delight.
Turning to the men, he claps his hands.
AENEAS (cont’d, aloud) All right then, gentlemen. Line up by twos please. Each group will spar with Xena in turn.
MERCENARY #1 But... she's a woman!
XENA Just figured that out, didja, Plato? What clued ya in?
The man flushes.
MERCENARY #2 And she's injured!!
AENEAS You refuse to fight injured enemies, then? How very honorable.
His tone suggests it's anything but.
MERCENARY #2 No, it's not that. It's just....
AENEAS (firmly) You came here asking... no begging... for my help. I am offering it to you right now. If you think you can find better elsewhere then by all means, eave this place and search.
The men shuffle their feet again, then mercenaries one and two heft their swords.
AENEAS (cont’d) Well?
MERCENARIES #1 and #2 GRAAAAHHH!!
Xena meets their combined attack with negligent ease, blocking their two swords with her one and using it to push them away from her. As they gather themselves, she twirls her sword again and grins at them.
XENA Is that the best you can do, boys? I thought we were fighting, not dancing.
MERCENARIES #1 and #2 GRAAAAHHH!!
The men run forward again, one aiming high, one low. Xena stomps the low sword onto the ground, trapping it beneath her boot as she easily sweeps the second man's blade from his hand and sends it sailing across the clearing. She uses the hilt of her sword up against the man's temple, then frees the second sword and kicks the handler right between the legs. He goes down with a breathless groan, cupping his injured parts.
XENA Next?
Aeneas stands off to one side, grinning widely with his dark eyes flashing as Xena easily decimates the men sent against her. Even injured, she hardly breaks a sweat, though he's pleased to note that she's pulling her blows just the slightest bit to avoid killing those she's sparring against.
In all too soon a time, the clearing is littered with injured, groaning men. Xena stands among them, untouched and smirking. She turns to a grinning Aeneas and speaks with obvious sarcasm.
XENA (cont’d) Nice workout. I feel stronger already.
And with that, she saunters back into the temple.
CUT TO:
INT. TEMPLE - NIGHT - PAST
Xena is sitting on her cot, staring down the length of her weapon as the light from the full moon reflects off the high polish. She shrugs the shoulder of her broken arm, trying to loosen the stiffening muscles. She wasn't much tested during the sparring, but her arm does not appreciate even the small amount of work it's been forced to do.
She looks up a second before Aeneas joins her.
AENEAS You were quite impressive out there today.
XENA (disinterestedly) A trained monkey could have fought off those idiots.
AENEAS Mm. Is your shoulder paining you?
XENA What's it to you, priest?
AENEAS One good turn deserves another, does it not?
Xena stares at him, her suspicion plain.
AENEAS (cont’d) You did me the favor of sparring with the men, yes? The least I can do is lessen the pain of your injury.
She stiffens as he approaches, staring at him through dangerously narrowed and glittering eyes. He laughs softly.
AENEAS (cont’d) You have no need to fear me, Xena. I will not hurt you.
XENA I fear no one.
AENEAS Good. Now that we've got that settled....
With a quickness belied by his age, he glides behind Xena and gently presses his hand down on her shoulder. Heat, intense and immediate, radiates through her skin, instantly softening her tense muscles.
She yanks herself away after a moment and turns to glare at him.
XENA How did you do that?
Aeneas smirks.
AENEAS One of the perks of being a Priest of Ares, actually. It pays to know how to comfort those on his side.
XENA
(growling)
AENEAS Accept it as a 'thank you', then.
XENA I don't like being touched without my permission.
AENEAS (dryly) I'll be sure to keep that in mind for the future. Not a very trusting soul, are you?
XENA Trust is a distraction. You trust, you wind up dead. I much prefer being alive. What's your angle, anyway?
AENEAS Angle?
XENA Yeah. Angle. You claim to be interested in me as just another warrior, but I don't see you out there 'comforting' the men I beat the Tartarus out of today. I'm sure there are a few of them a lot worse off than I am.
Smiling, Aeneas shrugs and holds his hands, palms up.
AENEAS What can I say? You're rather a unique specimen, Xena. A woman, yes, but with beauty, brains and brawn; quite a combination, wouldn't you say?
Xena grunts.
AENEAS (cont’d) And so rare in one who is not an Amazon.
Xena's head snaps up.
XENA How do you know I'm not an Amazon?
He laughs again.
AENEAS I wouldn't be much of a priest if I couldn't tell an Artemis worshipper when I saw one, now would I? There is great potential in you, Xena. I feel the need to nurture that potential, to bring it out, shining and glorious.
Xena's face goes stony.
XENA (coldly) Others better than you have thought the same thing, priest. They wanted to use that potential for their own ends. I am no one's tool.
AENEAS I don't want to use you, Xena. I am but a priest of an obscure temple in the middle of nowhere. The local barbarians already fear me. What need have I for another warrior, even one so... impressive... as yourself?
XENA What need indeed?
Aeneas sighs.
AENEAS Either you will learn to trust me, Xena, or you will not. I certainly cannot force you to. You are free to leave here at any time. Nothing is holding you here but your own desire.
He crosses to stand in front of her.
AENEAS (cont’d) Think about what I have said. I will see you in the morning.
With a slight bow of his head, he turns and leaves. Xena looks after him, suspicion and thoughtfulness warring for position on her features.
CUT TO:
EXT. CAMPSITE - NIGHT - PRESENT
Gabrielle is laughing, and Xena looks at her, uncomprehending.
GABRIELLE Like god, like priest. You draw them like moths to a candle, Xena.
Xena rolls her eyes.
XENA If you say so.
GABRIELLE Oh, come on! Tell me you can't see it. It's plain as day!
XENA Whatever you say, Gabrielle.
Gabrielle shakes her head.
GABRIELLE Fine. So, what happens next? Did you stay? And what about the chakram? I thought that's what this story was about.
XENA Such impatience. It's coming.
GABRIELLE Xena, it's been two days already!
XENA (growling) Do you want to hear the rest of the story?
GABRIELLE Of course I do!
XENA Then let me tell it my way. And that includes ending it here or the night. It's getting late.
GABRIELLE Aww. C'mon!
XENA Nope!
GABRIELLE Please?
XENA No. Besides, I'm in the mood for another story. One that'll take your mind completely off of this one.
Gabrielle catches her tone and smiles.
GABRIELLE Oh yeah? Think so?
Xena slowly slips one of Gabrielle's straps down over her shoulder, and kisses the skin laid bare there.
XENA (huskily) Oh yeah. I guarantee it.
FADE OUT. |
|||||
|
END OF ACT THREE |
|||||
