ACT TWO

FADE IN:

INT. EGYPTIAN PYRAMID - NIGHT

Deep within the base of a looted EGYPTIAN PYRAMID, a brilliant white light shines for an instant. Then it is gone, leaving the tomb in perfect, stale darkness once again.

A moment later, a gasp for breath is heard, followed shortly thereafter by a soft moan. The sounds which follow do so in rapid succession: an almost silent scuffle of feet which are definitely not human; a low, rumbling growl; a loud, sharp squeak which abruptly cuts off, and a soft thud.

XENA
(from the darkness)
I. Hate. Rats.

Xena sits up and fights off a wave of dizziness as she gets used to being in a living, breathing body again.

XENA
(Cont'd)
This rising from the dead stuff
is getting really old.

Still, she can't help but grin at the feeling of life coursing through her veins once again. It's something that even the powers of a demon can't equal, and she's well pleased. She stretches, taking satisfaction in the stretch of strong muscles and the quiet pop of joints slipping back into place.

XENA
Well, Lucy, ya kept your word. Now let's
see what I can do about keeping mine.

As she gingerly begins to stand, she hazards a guess that she's in a crypt of some sort. The fetid air, the sharp, bitter scent of musty spices, and the feeling of death all around her. This suspicion is confirmed as her feet hit the floor and encounter what can only be bits of broken, moldering bones.

Grimacing at the pain in her tender soles, she makes her way toward one wall on blind instinct, sensing its presence a foot before she encounters it with one outstretched hand. Careful exploration with the tips of her fingers soon yields pay dirt in the form of a flint and tinder, which she takes and immediately strikes together.

XENA
Time to shed a little light on the subject.

The small spark is enough for her to see a torch slightly to her left, and the next strike of flint and tinder sets it alight, illuminating a very large, very ornate, and very plundered tomb.

A tomb she currently shares with one mummy, several piles of disjointed human bones. There is an entire army of fat rats, whose beady, glowing eyes stare out at her from the shadows where the torch's light can't reach.

Baring her teeth, she growls at them, snickering when they squeak and skitter deeper into the shadows.

Looking down, finally, at her quite naked body, her smile broadens as she sees that it is very definitely her own, down to the last scar. The one she's spent decades perfecting as her ultimate tool of destruction.

The smile becomes a dark laugh which fills the still tomb, causing the rats to shrink further back in fear.

XENA
Gotta hand it to ya, Lucy. For a rotten,
conniving little bastard, ya did all right.

She looks briefly around for some sort of clothing, but only the mummy's wrappings have survived the desecration, and she quickly decides against it. A weapon is next on her list, and this she finds without too much difficulty.

The surviving arm and finger bones of what once was an interior door guard lie near the sealed entrance to the tomb. In that hand is clasped the broken shaft of what was likely a SPEAR in better times.

Even without the tip, however, it's a suitable weapon, especially in the hands of one such as the Warrior Princess.  Xena pulls it from the hand with little difficulty, giving it an experimental twirl and nodding her pleasure.

XENA
Sorry, buddy. I think I need this a little
more than you do right now.

Spear shaft  in hand, she makes her way back across the tomb and pulls the torch from its elaborate wall bracket. The flame sputters slightly.  She lifts her head and sniffs the air, smiling at the freshness she detects.

XENA
(hungrily grinning)
Ready or not... here I come.

CUT TO:

EXT. EGYPTIAN PYRAMID - NIGHT

Near the south wall of the tomb, three EGYPTIAN MEN stand, armed with TORCHES, crude SPADES, PICKS, and SACKS.

MAN #1
This one ain't been touched.

MAN #2
(sarcastically)
No kiddin', dummy.
What gave ya your first clue?

MAN #1
(offendedly)
Hey!

MAN #3
Cut it out, both of you. Let's just get in there,
get the loot, and get back to Brakus' camp
before he misses us.

MAN #1
Ya think this'll make up for not tellin'
him about blondie?

MAN #2
If it don't, we'll give him your ass on a
platter. Maybe that'll make him happy.

MAN #3
(scowling)
I said cut it out! Let's just get this over with
and back to camp. Doin' this in the middle
of the night gives me the creeps.

The three men start forward again, rounding the corner of the pyramid to where they know a second, smaller entrance is hidden. Laying their tools aside, they move closer to the tomb itself, only to freeze in their tracks as the sealed door starts moving... from the inside.

Three jaws drop, followed by three torches. As the door opens completely, a naked Xena strolls casually into the warm night air.

XENA
(grinning)
Hello, boys.
Nice night for a resurrection, isn't it?

Her voice spurs them into action, and the three take off as if Lucifer's demons are at their heels.

Xena's eyebrow raises.

XENA
First time that's ever happened.

Snorting softly, she utters her battle cry, and jumps, easily flipping to land in front of them, grinning darkly.

XENA
Was it something I said?

The men freeze, turn, and start running in the opposite direction, slipping and sliding in the soft sand beneath their feet.

Before they can get too far, Xena catches up and grabs two of them from behind, and tosses them into the third. The three fall into a jumbled heap.

Striding to the human pile, she stares down at them, hands on her hips and a smile on her face. It isn't a pleasant smile by any means. More like one a shark would wear when contemplating dinner.

The first man quickly scrambles to his knees and begins bowing fervently.

MAN #3
Oh Mighty Isis, please have mercy on me.

XENA
(mouthing)
Isis?

The other two men copy their leader and press their faces into the sand.

MAN #1
Please, Goddess, don't hurt us! We wasn't
gonna rob your tomb! Honest!
We was just gonna... oof!

MAN #1 finds himself eating sand, courtesy of his partner in crime.

MAN #2
(laughing weakly)
He... he didn't mean that, your Holiness.
We were just...

(beat, thinking)
takin' a walk, right, boss?

MAN #3
Yeah! That's right! Just takin' a walk we were.
Beautiful night, like you said, my Goddess.

Keeping silent, Xena towers over them, assessing. Finally, she points.

XENA
You. Stand up.

All three jump to their feet. Xena pushes the two rejects back down to their knees, then assesses the one she has chosen.

XENA
(nodding)
You'll do. Take em off.

MAN #3
Say again?

XENA
You heard me. Strip.

After a moment, a light dawns and, leering, the man strips off his clothes in a blur of motion. He straightens and stands proudly before her.

Xena gives him a brief head to toe glance, then rolls her eyes.

XENA
Back down on the ground.

MAN #3
Yes, my Goddess!

He drops to his knees, and reaches for her, only to fall to his face as she easily sidesteps him and grabs his clothes. Within moments, she's dressed in his black pants, boots, coarse shirt, and black vest and feeling rather pleased with herself.

XENA
So... you guys were thinking about
looting my tomb, were ya?

MAN #1
Yes!

MAN #2
No!

XENA
(shaking head)
Stand up.

MAN #2
Please, Isis! Have mercy on me!

XENA
Stand. Up.

The three men obey her command, shaking in terror.

Xena gives them a piercing glare, secretly enjoys their predicament.

XENA
(Cont'd)
I really should just fry you into tiny little pieces
and be done with it, ya know. But I find you
amusing, in a degrading, despicable sorta
way, so here's what I'm gonna do.

(gesturing them closer)
First you're gonna close this door back up,
and then cover it with sand so that nobody,
and I do mean nobody, knows it exists.
Got me?

The three nod emphatically.

XENA
(Cont'd)
Good. Then you're gonna walk twenty paces
to the west. Twenty paces exactly, and you're
gonna start digging. And you're gonna keep
digging until I come back and tell you to stop.
Understand?

Man #2 nods as man #1 raises a hand.

XENA
(scowling)
What?

MAN #1
Um... why do you want us to dig there, Goddess?

XENA
(smiling darkly)
Because I told you to.

MAN #2
Works for me.

MAN #1
But....

Xena steps forward, pressing the sharp edge of the broken spear against his neck.

XENA
Would you rather die a slow and painful death?
I can arrange that, if you prefer.

MAN #1
Digging sounds good, Goddess.
Digging sounds real good.

XENA
Thought it might.
(beat)
Now get going, before I change my mind and
zap you out of existence just for the fun of it.

The men jump as if goosed, and begin to run for their tools. Before the naked man can get more than two steps away, Xena grabs him by the shoulder and spins him around.

XENA
Not you. You're coming with me.

MAN #3
Wh--where are we going, Goddess?

XENA
The city. And you're just the man to
accompany me there.

MAN #3
But... but I'm naked!

Xena gives him another head to toe glance.

XENA
Relax, buddy. Nobody's gonna notice.
(Cont'd, off his offended look)
MOVE!

Nakedness forgotten, the man begins to run back toward the city as Xena saunters along
behind him.

CUT TO:

EXT. CAPITOL CITY - NIGHT

Gabrielle is restless, unable to sleep. She walks out into the night and takes a deep breath of the cool evening air, watching idly as people wander through the square. Some are coming off watch, others are going on duty. She knows she should go and make sure everything is as quiet as it seems, but at the moment all she can bring herself to do is walk slowly through the compound.

She smiles at the areas that have now been cleaned up and organized. It's apparent that the people are slowly regaining both their will to live and their will to fight. She gives an unamused snort as she considers that.

GABRIELLE
(to self)
Now all I have to do is teach myself what
I've helped teach them.

Standing atop the city wall, Yavin watches her, and frowns as he sees Gabrielle stop abruptly. She puts a hand to her head to rub her brow, then drop it to touch her chest for a brief instant.  She shakes off whatever stilled her, and turns in his direction.

He smiles and waves her closer, pleased when she joins him on top of the wall.

YAVIN
Are you all right?

GABRIELLE
(slightly distracted)
Yes, it's...
(beat)
It's nothing.
(brightening)
Can't sleep either?

YAVIN
Actually, I think I'm getting used to it.

A volley of arrows fly at them, but land short and stick in the ground outside the wall.

GABRIELLE
Looks like our opponent
has insomnia too.

YAVIN
So it would seem.

GABRIELLE
So, why are you not sleeping?

YAVIN
I'm keeping watch for demons.

GABRIELLE
(chuckling)
I'm sorry, Yavin. Trust me when I tell you
that if they were coming, you wouldn't
have time to look for them or time to fight
them. I've done it, it's nearly impossible.

YAVIN
But you have been successful?

GABRIELLE
I guess you could call it that.
I'm still standing.
(beat)
At what cost, I'm not sure yet.

A YOUNG MAN runs up the stairs and shoves a FLASK into Gabrielle's hand as he catches his breath.

MAN
(panting)
Gabrielle, the healer asked me to bring
this to you. Our water, it's….

She takes the stopper out of the skin and sniffs.

GABRIELLE
Stagnant.

MAN
Yes, our water stores have gone bad.

GABRIELLE
Great, this was the last thing we needed.
(to Yavin)
Is there a fresh water source close by?

YAVIN
Brakus' men have cut off our natural
sources, but there are irrigation ditches
from the Nile that we can use. But it is a
dangerous journey, especially at night.

GABRIELLE
The wounded and the sick have to have
fresh water. We can boil this for washing
bandages, but we can't drink it.
(to young man)
Get my horse, saddle her and get me a
pack horse loaded with as many skins
as possible. I'll go for the water.

YAVIN
Gabrielle, you can't, it's suicide.

GABRIELLE
(jokingly)
Oh, ye of little faith.

YAVIN
I'll accompany you.
We'll take two extra horses.

GABRIELLE
Yavin….

He puts his hands up to quiet her protest.

YAVIN
I've lived in this area all of my life, Gabrielle.
You've been here for a few days. Tell me
you can find our irrigation canals faster
with me than without me, and I'll stay here.
If not, then please, just let's go together
and get this done as quickly as we can.

GABRIELLE
(nodding)
All right.
I know when not to argue.

YAVIN
Good. I'm glad that's settled.

A PAGE comes forward with the requested horses, and the two mount up and head quietly out of the city.

CUT TO:

INT. CAPITOL CITY - TUNNEL

Xena stands against a wall of one of the tunnels as two guards pass by an entrance just behind her. She's made it into the city easily, blending in when she's needed to, sticking to the shadows when she hasn't. Her erstwhile guide is sleeping off a right cross somewhere nearby where he'll be close to hand should she require any more of his services.

As she allows the guards to pass by unmolested, she takes a careful look around her. The tunnel she's chosen is one relatively unfrequented, which is perfect for her needs. Once the two men are out of hearing range, she moves forward again, sharp eyes assessing every shadowed nook and cranny for unexpected surprises.

Stopping, she catches glimpse of a carefully concealed trip wire running across the floor. She kneels down and runs her finger over the small rope and smiles. Then she stands up and uses her foot to pull on the rope. Both hands shoot up and catch two arrows that would have hit her directly in the chest had she not been prepared for their rather sudden appearance. Bringing the arrows up, she examines them, sniffing to detect any poison, then smiles darkly as she breaks them in half and drops them casually to the ground.

XENA
Not bad. Not bad at all, Gabrielle.
It seems I've taught you well.

Continuing down the tunnel, she stops again as a large rat starts to cross in front of her. The rat pauses and looks up at her, whiskers twitching.

XENA
Don't even think about it.

The rat turns quickly and runs the opposite direction.

XENA
Smart rat.
Now let's see what other
presents Gabrielle left.

She stops at another trap and examines it carefully, her eyes tracking to the spiked beam at the top of the tunnel.

XENA
That'd leave a mark.
Well done.

Careful not to trigger the trap, she moves on until she comes to a spot in the floor, and looks down at it carefully. Kneeling, she pulls up the hidden cover to reveal pit. The bottom is covered with shards of metal. A brow raises and she shakes her head.

XENA
Might not kill you...
(beat)
But you'd sure wish you were dead.

Taking a step back she moves and jumps over the pit, leaving the trap intact. Then she stops immediate, almost skidding to a halt as she realizes something. She sniffs and looks slightly ahead. She moves in and has a look at the firetrap that has been set.

XENA
Very clever, Gabrielle.
I'm impressed.

Continuing forward, she walks until she comes to a larger intersection, from which she can hear the sounds of voices rising and falling in a random cacophony. Several steps from the intersection, she stops and blends easily into the shadows, resting back against one chilled wall.

CUT TO:

EXT. DESERT - NIGHT

Gabrielle and Yavin are riding out into the desert night, having rather easily evaded the opposing army's guards. Yavin is slightly in lead, pack horses in tow, and Gabrielle brings up the rear, comfortably astride Argo.

As she rides, she tilts her head back slightly and looks up into the vast night sky, gazing up at the immense perfusion of stars as they rest in the velvet blackness. Argo knickers and Gabrielle pats her neck, comforted by the familiar sound.

As she continues to look at the sky, she remembers the first time she ever spent the evening stargazing with Xena.

XENA
(pointing at the stars)
That bunch up there looks like a big dipper.

GABRIELLE
A dipper?

XENA
Yeah, you know, like one of those cups that
you draw water out of a bucket?

GABRIELLE
It looks like a bear to me.

XENA
A bear?

GABRIELLE
Yeah.

XENA
Where do you get a bear?

GABRIELLE
Look there's the body, look see the little ears….

Coming back to the present, Gabrielle winces and hides a grin as she remembers hitting Xena on the nose with her staff. A small, if somewhat rueful, chuckle escapes, which brings Yavin back around to her side.

GABRIELLE
(off Yavin's concerned look)
Just remembering.

YAVIN
Happy memories, by the sound of things.

GABRIELLE
Yes, very happy ones.

YAVIN
You have a very beautiful smile.

GABRIELLE
(looks vaguely uncomfortable)
I....
(beat)
Thanks.

YAVIN
(smiling)
My pleasure.
The water should be just ahead.

CUT TO:

INT. EGYPTIAN TUNNELS - NIGHT

AMUN, the Queen's advisor, passes by the intersection where Xena is hiding. Reaching out from the shadows, she grabs him by the back of the shirt and pulls him into the tunnel's entrance with no one else being the wiser. Her arm slides easily around his neck and her hand clamps firmly against his mouth.

Bending her head just slightly, she whispers into the advisor's ear.

XENA
This isn't gonna be a long conversation,
so you just nod yes or no, got it?

AMUN
(nodding)

XENA
Good. You look like a guy with some
connections, am I right?

AMUN
(nodding)

XENA
Thought so. You're just the type.
(beat)
Now, I want you to tell me where the
little blonde warrior, Gabrielle,
beds down for the night.

Amun struggles against her grip, but Xena holds him easily, increasing the pressure around his throat until he stills once again.

XENA
(Cont'd)
Try that again and you'll be looking at the
world from a completely different angle.
(beat)
Now, do you know where she sleeps?
Yes or no?

Amun hesitates, but when the pressure increases again, he finally nods.

XENA
Good. Now I'm willing to bet that you know
your way around these tunnels pretty good.
So here's what you're gonna do for me.
Listen close, 'cause I don't like to
have to repeat myself.
(beat, to make sure he's listening)
You and I are gonna take a casual walk
to Gabrielle's rooms. And we're gonna
get there by way of tunnels that nobody
uses. I don't want any unexpected guests
crashing our little party, understand?

AMUN
(nodding)

XENA
I knew I could count on you.
Let's move.

CUT TO:

EXT. CANAL - NIGHT

Gabrielle and Yavin are finishing with their task of drawing water from the canal. Gabrielle seems distracted, a pensive frown on her face. Every so often she pauses in her duties and stares off in the direction of the city.

YAVIN
That's the last of them. This canal won't be
good to us much longer. The drought has
caused the water levels to run very low.

As he ties the waterskin on the packhorse, he looks over to Gabrielle and realizes she hasn't heard a word he's said.

YAVIN
(Cont'd)
Is something bothering you, Gabrielle?
You've been acting strangely since
before we left the city.

GABRIELLE
(honestly)
I don't know, Yavin. I keep getting this
strange feeling. I don't know what it is,
or why I'm having it.
(beat)
I guess maybe I just realized that it probably
wasn't the smartest of ideas to have the two
top military leaders wandering off on a water
rescue mission while the city is under siege.

YAVIN
Do you think anyone else could have gotten
away from the city without being noticed?

GABRIELLE
(considering)
You may have a point. Still....

YAVIN
Well, we're done here, so the best thing for it
is to head back as quickly as possible, right?

GABRIELLE
You're right. Let's go.

CUT TO:

EXT. CAPITAL CITY - NIGHT

Yavin and Gabrielle return and gratefully hand off their horses and the fresh water. Gabrielle stretches and takes a deep cleansing breath.

GABRIELLE
That was...
(beat)
tiring.

YAVIN
Maybe now you'll be able to sleep.

GABRIELLE
(rubbing her neck)
I just might at that.
I suggest you do the same.

YAVIN
I will, Gabrielle.
Good night.

GABRIELLE
Good night, Yavin.
Rest well.

Gabrielle turns on her heel and starts to walk away when a guard stops her. Yavin sees this and knows it can't be good so he runs to join her.

GUARD
(quietly)
Gabrielle, one of the sentries has discovered
that on of the traps in the secondary tunnel
out of the city has been tripped.

GABRIELLE
Only one?

GUARD
Yes. The first one.

GABRIELLE
Was anyone hurt?

GUARD
No.

GABRIELLE
Let's go. Show us.

CUT TO:

INT. UNDERGROUND TUNNELS - NIGHT

Gabrielle examines the triggered trap, paying special attention to the broken and casually discarded arrows. She looks over to where Yavin is standing.

GABRIELLE
What do you think?

YAVIN
Could have been an accident.

Gabrielle hands the pieces of the destroyed arrows to Yavin.

GABRIELLE
Accidents don't snap arrows.
This was done on purpose.

YAVIN
Perhaps there is a spy in our ranks?

Gabrielle hands the arrows off and scrubs her face.

GABRIELLE
I hope it's that simple.

The pair hear a scuffle behind them, and when they turn, Zenobia strides up to them, clearly displeased.

ZENOBIA
I just heard. What happened?

GABRIELLE
We don't know yet. If it wasn't an accident,
and I don't think it was, whoever
or whatever did this is long gone.

ZENOBIA
Perhaps it would not have happened it all if
you two were where you were supposed to
be instead of heading out of this city on
some pointless quest.

GABRIELLE
(standing slowly)
Now wait just a....

YAVIN
(over Gabrielle)
My Queen, we needed the water.

ZENOBIA
You could have sent someone else. Do you
realize what could have happened if you
had been captured by the enemy?
(beat)
Leaders just don't sacrifice themselves
needlessly, Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE
(growing cold)
You're right, Zenobia. Sometimes that just
happens whether we want it to or not.

ZENOBIA
Did you ever stop to think what would have
happened if you had been attacked
and killed out there?

GABRIELLE
Yes. I would have collected the other half
of my soul and finally gotten some sleep.

GABRIELLE
(Cont'd)
(to Yavin)
Double the guards around the perimeter.
Wake me if I'm needed.

Gabrielle stalks off, leaving Yavin and Zenobia to stare after her, shocked looks on their faces.

CUT TO:

INT. GABRIELLE'S CHAMBERS - NIGHT

Willing her anger to subside, Gabrielle climbs into her straw filled bed and rolls over, facing the wall. Her thoughts, emotions, and body are all on a hair trigger.

GABRIELLE
(whispering)
Xena?
(beat)
I know I sent you away, but by all the gods in
all the world, what I wouldn't give to have you
here with me right now. Sometimes it's almost
as if you're so close I can feel you. But....
(sighing)
Goodnight, Xena.
I love you.

With that soft entreaty, she closes her eyes and forces her tense muscles to relax, and drops off into a troubled sleep without ever realizing she's done so.

A moment later, a large shadow looms over Gabrielle, covering her body with a darkened blanket in the flickering torchlight. Piercing blue eyes, gone almost indigo in the shadowed room, stare out from the darkness. Waiting.

FADE OUT.

ACT 3