ACT 2

FADE IN:

8.

INT. VILLAGE COUNCIL CHAMBER - EVENING

The villagers assemble in what is obviously the largest hut in the village. There are handmade tables and chairs. The hut is used for meetings, and for other large group gatherings. At the front, there is what appears to be an altar of some kind, made of very heavy, naturally carved wood. The villagers mill around, very upset.

Around the walls of the chamber, woven mats have been hung which are painted with the jagged symbol the villagers all wear. The VILLAGE LEADER enters and goes to the altar.

LEADER
My friends, my friends... please.
We have a lot to talk about.

The villagers take a seat.

LEADER

(cont'd)
Bring in the prisoners.

Xena and Gabrielle are led inside. Guards surround them.

GABRIELLE
(low, to Xena)
I'm sure this is just
a misunderstanding.

Xena looks at the altar, which is stained with a dark substance.

XENA
Uh huh.

LEADER
The laws of our village
have been broken. The
culprits are here.

The leader points at Xena and Gabrielle.

XENA
Watch where you're
pointing that, buddy.

(beat)

What rule did we break?

LEADER
You prevented us from giving our
tribute to the great Toola. Now he will
take revenge on us, unless we
find a way to appease him.

GABRIELLE
Toola? What's that?

The villagers react in shock.

MAN
Blasphemer! Stone her!

The crowd yells agreement.

LEADER
Toola is our god. Our great god.
Bringer of the rains, father of
the sun, provider of all that is good,
propagator of the Universe...

XENA
(interrupts)
We get the idea. So where
does the not yet dead
mummy come in?

The leader looks puzzled. The crowd murmurs to each other, confused.

GABRIELLE
(under her breath)
I don't think they know what
a mummy is, Xena.

XENA
The guy wrapped in sheets.

LEADER
Ah. The bringer of the tribute.
It's a great honor.

XENA
Uh huh...so... he
chose to do that?

LEADER
Not... exactly.

FADE TO:

9.

EXT. VILLAGE STREET - EVENING

Several small children play with a goat in a nearby pen. As they run and laugh, a low sound is heard. The children do not hear it at first. The sound gets louder. The children stop laughing and look around fearfully.

The sound gets louder, making water in the horse trough vibrate.

The children scream in terror.

Animals start to race around in fear.

The sound comes again, this time with a definite vibration that shakes the ground.

FADE TO:

10.

INT. VILLAGE COUNCIL CHAMBER - EVENING

The crowd is chattering, the leader shakes his head, and shrugs. Gabrielle decides to take charge.

GABRIELLE
(to Xena)
Let me try.

(to Leader)

What was the tribute?
Were you going to kill
that man we let go?

The leader reacts in horror.

LEADER
Kill him! What do you take
us for! Of course not!

Xena pokes Gabrielle in the ribs, amused.

XENA
(softly)
Atta girl.

The crowd starts yelling in anger, shaking their fists at Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE
(clears throat)
Sorry.

LEADER

(cont'd)
He was to be given the tribute
for this moon, and gently placed
in Toola's hands, as he manifests
himself to us in the form of the
Great Waterfall of Life.

The leader places his hands together, and bows his head. The crowd imitates him.

XENA
I get it. You don't kill them,
the god does. Nice.

LEADER

(cont'd)
We must meditate, and ask
Toola what we should do. Take
them to the holding place.

XENA
Wait a minute....

LEADER
Ooommm....

XENA
Hey!

The crowd starts to chant, drowning Xena out. The guards surround Xena and Gabrielle and march them outside.

CUT TO:

11.

EXT. MOUNTAINSIDE OUTSIDE MILLTOS - EVENING

From an opening in the mountainside outside the village, smoke begins to drift. An eerie light is seen within. The low rumble sounds, and small rocks trickle out of the opening, to bounce down the mountainside and roll onto the main road of the village.

CUT TO:

12.

INT. VILLAGE JAIL - EVENING

The jail is a dark, dingy, dismal, yet very well constructed pit, obviously intended not to allow it's occupants to escape. Xena and Gabrielle are thrown inside, and the hatch slammed behind them, something heavy being dropped on top of it to keep them in.

A shower of debris cascades down and covers them. Xena brushes herself off disgustedly. Gabrielle examines the pit. There is a tiny window near the top of the wall that lets in light.

XENA
Great. Just great.

Gabrielle finds a boot, it's laces tied, and it's sock still in place. She studies it with a perplexed expression.

XENA

(cont'd)
Ya think just once we could
go into a town and kick a few
butts, and not get involved in
a sacrificial god cult.

Gabrielle looks at Xena, and smiles.

GABRIELLE
Feels like old times, doesn't it?

A low vibration shakes the room, showering Xena with sticks, bits of dirt, and debris. Gabrielle laughs and walks over to brush Xena off. She continues to chuckle.

XENA
Yeah, it does.

(beat)

What's so funny?

Xena plucks a twig from under her armor.

GABRIELLE
I can't believe after all we've
been through, here we are in a
dirty pit, in trouble for doing a
good deed. It's so...

Another low vibration shakes the pit. This time, both Xena and Gabrielle pay attention to it.

GABRIELLE

(cont'd)
What is that?

Xena cocks her head and listens. The noise rumbles again.

XENA
Too regular for an earthquake.

(beat)

Almost sounds like
a giant's around.

Xena suddenly smiles as she remembers something and her expression softens.

XENA

(cont'd)
Remember Goliath?

Gabrielle leans against Xena.

GABRIELLE
Sure I do.

Gabrielle seems suddenly pensive.

GABRIELLE

(cont'd)
Back in the days when
dealing with giants was the
worst of our problems.

The ground shudders again. Xena puts her arms around Gabrielle. As they listen, they can hear cries of terror outside.

XENA
Sounds like this Toola meaner
than I thought. We'd better
humor them until we find out
what the real story is.

There is a sound of footsteps heading their way, and voices calling out.

GABRIELLE
I have a feeling we won't
have long to wait for that.

CUT TO:

13.

EXT. MILLTOS VILLAGE ROAD - NIGHT

The opening in the mountain is now glowing. The light pulses as though the mountain itself has a heartbeat. Rocks tumble out and down the road almost continually. The villagers run in fear back and forth, avoiding touching the rocks.

CUT TO:

14.

INT. VILLAGE COUNCIL CHAMBER - NIGHT

The chamber is now lit with torches. The front of the chamber is filled with the hooded guards. The leader enters, dressed in the same manner. He stops as the ground shakes, then with a determined look, he goes to the altar and stands behind it. The entire atmosphere of the village has changed, from irritation to fear bordering on panic.

LEADER
Bring them.

Xena and Gabrielle are brought inside. They are surrounded by guards, who are heavily weaponed. The men are nervous, most of them flinch when the rumble sounds. The noise comes more often, every minute or so.

XENA
All right. Let's talk.

LEADER
The time for talking is over. The
time for action is at hand.

XENA
Catchy, but I think you'd better
tell us what's going on.

A low roar interrupts them. The sound of debris clattering outside is clearly heard. Several villagers cry out at the noise.

GABRIELLE
Listen to her.
We can help you.

LEADER
Yes, you will help us.

The leader produces a large, ornamental staff from under his apron and lays it on the altar.

LEADER
(cont'd)
Our tribute is gone. You
must take it's place.

XENA
Hold it right there.

LEADER
Don't be afraid. Toola will
be gentle with you.

GABRIELLE
You can't do this.

LEADER
Guards! Take them and
prepare them! Quickly,
before the waters rise!

The guards rush Xena and Gabrielle, yelling at the top of their lungs.

FADE OUT.