ACT TWO

FADE IN:

EXT. CAMPSITE - NIGHT - PRESENT

Xena pulls slightly away from Gabrielle when she notices the tears trailing silently down her soulmate's face.

XENA

(cont’d)

Why are you crying? 

Don't cry.

Shaking her head, Gabrielle swipes at the tears.

XENA

(cont’d)

Sweetheart, please, don't cry.  What

happened to me back then was no

less than what I deserved.  I was

a greedy, selfish, foolish bit....

GABRIELLE

I don't care.  No one deserves to be

treated like that, Xena. No one.

XENA

Gabrielle....

GABRIELLE

I love you, Xena, all of you.  Who you

were then is part of who you are now.

Please don't ask me not to grieve for you

being hurt.  Please.  I just can't do that.

Xena sighs.

XENA

All right.  I won't ask.

GABRIELLE

Thank you.

XENA

I think it's time we

get some sleep.

GABRIELLE

No!  Not yet!  I've got

so many questions!

Xena smiles.

XENA

They can wait.  The story's not going

anywhere, but we are.  You did want

to make it to Selopolis in time to catch

Homer's performance, didn't you?

Gabrielle nods reluctantly.

XENA

(cont’d)

All right, then.  Time for bed.  I'll

pick it up again in the morning

after we've hit the trail, okay?

Gabrielle nods again.

GABRIELLE

Okay.

Xena rises to her feet, gently pulling Gabrielle up with her, and both head for their bedroll.  Within moments, they're snuggled into their furs, and the only sound is of crickets telling their own stories to the night sky.

CUT TO:

EXT. TRAIL - MORNING - PRESENT

As usual, Xena and Gabrielle are up early and on the trail before the sun has fully risen.  Xena is atop Argo and Gabrielle walks beside her, munching on some travel rations.  Finishing her breakfast, she wipes her hands on her skirt and looks up at Xena.

GABRIELLE

Nice morning.

XENA

Mm.

Gabrielle sighs.  Xena has been uncommunicative since they woke up, and she suspects that the story she so wishes to hear will be forgotten.

Instead, Xena surprises her.  Looking off into the distance, she begins to speak.

XENA

(cont’d)

I don't know how long it was, but I eventually

woke up in the temple.  My wounds were well

tended, so I knew that whoever had taken

care of me planned to keep me around for a bit.

CUT TO:

INT. TEMPLE - DAY - PAST

Xena opens her eyes to see the smiling face of an old, gaunt, gray-bearded man looking down at her.  He is dressed in a red robe with a black belt and sash.  Beyond him is a small, immaculately kept room with space enough for a cot and small bedside table bearing a pitcher of water and a wooden cup.

XENA

(hoarsely)

How... long?

MAN

Several days, warrior.  You

were badly injured when

you crossed our threshold.

Xena lifts an eyebrow in surprise.

XENA

You speak Greek.

The man's smile broadens.

MAN

Fortunate indeed, since

I am Greek and serve in

a Greek temple besides.

Xena struggles to her elbows.

XENA

How...?  Where?

The man puts a restraining hand on her shoulder.  It's a strong hand, despite the man's apparent frailty.

MAN

Fear not, warrior.  You are in the

same place where you fell

unconscious from your wounds.

XENA

A Greek temple?

On the steppes?

MAN

Indeed.

XENA

(suspiciously)

A temple to whom?

The man raises an arm and sweeps it grandly.

MAN

To Ares, of course.  What better

place to honor War than where it

is always so gloriously practiced?

Xena continues to look suspicious.

XENA

What's your name?

MAN

Aeneas.

XENA

(smirking)

"Praise-worthy".  Think a

lot of yourself, do you?

Aeneas laughs.

AENEAS

Once, perhaps.  Now I am but a

lame, old man good only for

keeping the altar cleaned.

XENA

Mm.

AENEAS

And look!  My mind slips

from me even now.

He reaches for the pitcher and pours a mug of water, handing it to Xena.

AENEAS

(cont’d)

Drink slowly. Your body is still

healing from its wounds.

Xena heeds his words and sips the water.  It is clean and cold and slakes her thirst admirably. She hands the empty cup back to him with a nod.

AENEAS

(cont’d)

You are a woman of few words,

yet I see many questions

burning in your eyes.

Xena narrows said eyes at him, causing him to grin.

AENEAS

(cont’d)

Well, then, may I at least have your

name, warrior?  It's good to know

for whom one is invoking blessings.

XENA

I don't need your

blessings, Priest.

AENEAS

You'll receive them, nonetheless.

It is my job, after all.

(beat)

Your name?  Please?

Growling, Xena relents.

XENA

I'm Xena.

AENEAS

Ahh.  I've heard talk of you.  It is said

you left this land a cripple, yet aside

from your most recent wounds, even

an old man like myself can see that

you are strong and fit of body.

XENA

(smirking)

I had a little help.

AENEAS

Indeed.  A story well worth

hearing, I'd wager.

Xena's smirk broadens, but she remains silent.

AENEAS

(cont’d)

Another time, perhaps.  For now, you

must rest and regain your strength.

If you have any needs, you need

only call out and I will return.

Still silent, Xena lowers herself back down to the cot and closes her eyes, almost instantly asleep.  Aeneas smiles at her; it is one filled with glee and calculation.

AENEAS

(cont’d, whispering)

You'll do, Xena of Amphipolis.

You'll do very well indeed.

CUT TO:

EXT. TRAIL - MIDDAY - PRESENT

Xena and Gabrielle have stopped their traveling to help a merchant whose wagon has lost a wheel.  Having turned down the offer of a live chicken, Gabrielle waves to the departing merchant. Xena wipes the mud from her neck and face with a wet rag.

GABRIELLE

Well, that was our good

deed for the day.

XENA

Don't speak too soon.

Gabrielle grins.

GABRIELLE

You're right.  The way our lives are,

we'll be rescuing a king and his

family from a well before dark.

Rolling her eyes, Xena stows the rag, then hops aboard Argo.

XENA

C'mon. The faster we go....

GABRIELLE

The faster we can avoid that

king and his wells, I know.

So... what happened after you

woke up the second time?

XENA

Glutton for punishment,

aren't ya?

GABRIELLE

Hey!  I happen to think it's a very

interesting story.  The delivery

could use a little work, but....

XENA

Excuse me?  What's wrong

with my delivery?

Gabrielle pats Xena’s leg.

GABRIELLE

Xena, Xena, Xena... it's nothing

to be embarrassed about.

It happens to all novices.

XENA

(growling)

Novice, huh?  See if you

get another word outta me.

GABRIELLE

Oh, come on, Xena, please?

Xena hides her grin.

XENA

Hmph.

GABRIELLE

Pretty please?

XENA

Nope.

GABRIELLE

Pretty please with those little

dumplings with the red

stuff inside on top?

XENA

For dinner?  Tonight?

Gabrielle laughs.

GABRIELLE

Walked right into

that one, didn't I?

XENA

(smugly)
With both feet.

GABRIELLE

All right, all right, I promise.

Story now, dumplings with red

stuff inside tonight.  Deal?

XENA

Deal.

CUT TO:

INT. TEMPLE - DAY - PAST

Xena sits on the edge of the cot, looking herself over.  Her broken arm is neatly set and wrapped and doesn't pain her all that much.  The arrow wounds, scrapes and cuts are already starting to heal, and she nods with satisfaction. 

She rises to her feet, not letting herself sway as a temporary dizziness takes hold.  Teeth bared and jaw clamped, she takes a few tentative steps then relaxes as her body is well able to support her weight and activity.

Aeneas is standing by the door, watching.

AENEAS

You are a very

determined individual.

XENA

Determined to get the

Tartarus outta here, yeah.

AENEAS

Why?  Has your care been so

poor that being here repulses you?

XENA

This is a temple.  I bow to no god.

Not even the god of War.

Aeneas smiles.

AENEAS

I don't recall asking you to

bow.  Is my mind slipping

away from me again?

Xena growls.

AENEAS

(cont’d)

Xena, Ares neither wants

nor needs your worship.

Xena snorts.

XENA

Yeah, right.  He's a god.  That's what

all gods want.  They're capricious,

egotistical little slimeballs who like

to meddle in the affairs of the mortals

they're supposed to care for.

The priest hides a chuckle behind a cough.

AENEAS

Xena, you are a warrior.  Ares is War.

Don't you realize that every time you

draw your sword, you are invoking him?

That every time you feel joy in battle,

you are feeling joy in him?

XENA

Any joy I feel, Priest, is my own.  My

strength is my own, my will is my own.  I

don't need some two-bit god claiming

credit for what I do. I decide my own destiny.

AENEAS

And yet, if you had not been fortunate enough

to literally fall into one of his temples, you would

be dead now.  If not from your current wounds,

then certainly from the barbarian horde intent

on displaying your head as a trophy.

XENA

I wouldn't feel all warm and

cuddly about that if I were you.

AENEAS

Oh, believe me, I'm not.

(beat)

Please, stay.  Khan's army roams at will over

these lands.  As you are now, your chances

at getting through one of his many patrols is

slim at best.  What can a little time spent

regaining your strength hurt?

XENA

You’re a lot worse than me if you insist

on trying to turn me into one of your

little Ares-worshipping puppets.

AENEAS

Believe me... that thought never crossed

my mind. Please.  I obviously cannot hold

you here against your will.  But I would like

to see you stronger before you leave here.

XENA

(calculatingly)

What's in it for you, Priest?

AENEAS

Only the satisfaction of restoring

a warrior to her full potential.

Nothing more.

XENA

And I can leave

any time I want?

AENEAS

Any time.

Xena looks around the small, neatly kept room, considering.

XENA

All right, but I want my weapons and

armor brought to me.  I'm not about to

walk around this place half-naked.

AENEAS

(sotto voce)

Pity.

XENA

What?

AENEAS

I said, right away.

Xena stares coldly after him as he leaves, then she sits down on the cot.

XENA

Right away, my a....

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE