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ACT TWO
FADE IN: INT. TEMPLE OF THE VIRTUES - DAY Janos rises to his feet and faces the carving of one of the Virtues. She is standing, wearing flowing robes and a peaked cap. She holds a staff capped with a many-pointed star in one her right hand, an unfurled scroll in her left.
JANOS Great Virtues, I beseech you to help us in this trial of guilt or innocence. Reach into her soul that we might know her FAITH!
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. XENA’S DREAMSCAPE - DAY
Xena comes slowly to, fighting the lingering nausea twisting in her guts. Though her eyes are tightly closed, she notices several things immediately. The first is that it is extremely hot. The second is that she can hear piteous moaning, screeching, and wailing all around her. And the third is that she is laying on a very narrow, very hard, and very hot surface that is threatening to boil the skin from her bones.
Eyes flashing open, she jumps to her feet, balancing precariously on a razor thin ledge jutting out from an impossibly tall cliff. Beneath her is a bottomless chasm from which the sounds of torment emerge.
XENA
Great. Tartarus again.
Staring across the yawing chasm, she can faintly make out another cliff facing the one she is on. There is no obvious way of going from one to the other, but she senses that her test, whatever it is, involves crossing the chasm at her feet.
Shaking her head and rolling her eyes, she begins to search for a means of crossing.
DISEMBODIED VOICE Xena....
Xena looks up immediately, her eyes narrowing. The voice has come from the other cliff, but she can see no figure standing there.
DISEMBODIED VOICE Xena....
XENA Who is it? Who’s there?
Directly opposite Xena’s position, a ball of white light coalesces, then grows. It is so pure and so blinding that Xena must shield her eyes with her hand lest she be blinded.
The glare dims somewhat, and Xena lowers her arm. Her eyes widen.
There across from her is Gabrielle, glowing like the heart of a sun. She is wearing flowing garments of purest white. The fabric of the garments floats around her in a dance of unbelievable beauty. She smiles radiantly.
XENA Gabrielle! (beat) How…? What are you doing here?
GABRIELLE I live in your heart, Xena. This is how your soul sees me.
Xena nods, swallowing back tears.
CUT TO:
INT. TEMPLE OF THE VIRTUES - EVENING
Gabrielle leans forward in her chair, watching everything going on in Xena’s dreamscape through the mirror by the table. Tears sparkle in her eyes. Her expression is an interesting combination of awe, love, and a strange heartsickness.
GABRIELLE Is that true? Is that really how she sees me?
Janos shifts uncomfortably in his chair.
JANOS Yes.
GABRIELLE After all I’ve… after all we’ve been through… still?
Janos shifts again.
JANOS Still, yes.
GABRIELLE (whispering) By the gods.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. XENA’S DREAMSCAPE - DAY
XENA Why are you here?
GABRIELLE This is a test of Faith, Xena.
XENA Faith? Faith in what? In who?
GABRIELLE In yourself, Xena.
XENA (quizzically) In myself? I already have faith in myself.
GABRIELLE In your abilities, yes. But do you have faith in your heart? Do you have faith in yourself as a good person? A faith that is as unbreakable as the mountain you are standing on?
Xena hesitates, knowing that this is part of the test she must pass.
XENA (sotto voce) Speak in haste, repent in leisure.
She looks down into the chasm.
XENA (cont’d) I’ll be having a lot of leisure time down there.
She takes a deep breath, then lets it out slowly.
XENA (cont’d) How will I know that I have this faith? How can I be sure?
Gabrielle smiles.
GABRIELLE Come over to me.
Xena’s eyes narrow.
XENA How?
GABRIELLE
Your faith in yourself
will guide your steps.
Gabrielle holds her arms out, as if in supplication.
Xena hesitates a moment longer, then, gathering up her will, she relaxes, closes her eyes, and takes a step into the chasm.
Her eyes shoot open as some invisible power holds her foot, feeling as firm and as steady as the cliff face which most of her body still rests against.
She shoots a look over at Gabrielle, who beams a radiant smile.
Xena clears her throat and, with as much courage as she’s ever displayed on any battlefield, she takes another step, leaving the safety of the ledge behind.
The invisible bridge continues to hold steadily.
Just then, a gust of wind rises up from the pit, bringing with a sulfurous stench. Xena wavers a bit, then stands steady.
Following the stench, wispy, translucent SOULS pour up from the pit, flying so close to Xena that she wavers again, trying to avoid them. She moves, and dodges, and ducks, all the while keeping her precarious perch atop the bottomless chasm.
As the souls pass by, she begins to recognize in them the faces of those she’s killed. Their mouths are gaping maws frozen in silent screams. Their eyes and cheeks bear bloody tracks from fingernails renting insubstantial flesh in torment and pain. Her name is uttered over and over again as the souls pour up and over and around her.
SOUL #1 Xena....
SOUL #2 Xena… why....
SOUL #3 Xena… why did you kill us?
SOUL #4 Why did you hurt us?
SOULS Why? Xena. Why? Xena. Why?
Xena barely resists clamping her hands over her ears. Her own face is a grimace of pain and torment.
XENA I’m not that person anymore!
SOULS Xena....
XENA I’m sorry!
SOULS Xena....
XENA I’m sorry I hurt you!
SOULS Xena....
XENA I’m sorry I killed you!
SOULS Xena....
As Xena feels the guilt of her actions, the invisible bridge begins to waver. She can feel it cracking beneath her feet. She throws her arms out to steady herself as her body rocks wildly to and fro.
XENA
It’s in my mind. None of
this is real.
Gabrielle’s voice is heard easily over the wailing of the souls.
GABRIELLE Yes, Xena, they are real. They are the ghosts of your conscience, pulling you down with them. Forgive yourself, Xena. Forgive yourself and let it go. Let it all go. Have faith.
XENA (to herself) You’re in my mind too.
GABRIELLE Yes, I am. You already have the answers you need inside you. What you do with them will prove your Faith.
Xena continues to sway violently as the bridge becomes more unstable beneath the weight of her conscience.
XENA (to herself) Faith. I must have faith. I must have faith.
Standing up straight, she wills herself to be steady, trying her best to will the bridge beneath her to become stronger. Going back is not an option. Either she goes forward, or she fails.
CUT TO:
INT. TEMPLE OF THE VIRTUES - EVENING
Gabrielle is sitting so far forward in her chair, it’s a wonder she doesn’t topple out of it onto the floor. Her hands are tightly clamped over the arms, and her short nails dig divots into the aged wood. Her face is pale, her eyes large and intent on the image in front of her.
In marked contrast, Janos is relaxed, and grinning for all he is worth, obviously enjoying himself immensely.
JANOS Her first test and she’s failing already. (beat, turning to Gabrielle) Now do you believe me?
GABRIELLE She won’t fail.
JANOS How can you say that? She’s about to fall right into that chasm!
GABRIELLE She won’t fail.
Janos’ smile fades a bit, and he sits back, slowly returning his attention to the mirror.
CUT TO:
EXT. XENA’S DREAMSCAPE - DAY
Xena’s eyes change. The resolution can easily be seen in them. She turns and faces forward again, her body strong and steady.
XENA I...
XENA (cont’d) Am...
XENA (cont’d) NOT...
XENA (cont’d) That...
XENA (cont’d) Person...
XENA (cont’d) ANYMORE!
She takes a step forward and the souls explode into brilliant light that bathes her as the bridge once again becomes steady beneath her feet.
She takes several more steps, resolute, and the invisible bridge continues to unfurl before her feet, steady and strong.
Halfway across, a large body blocks her way.
Xena stops again and rolls her eyes.
XENA
exactly the giving up
type.
This doesn't concern you. about you concerns me.
His dark eyes rake over
her with lascivious intent.
XENA
games some other time. See, I have a vested interest here. Your loss is my gain, so to speak.
Reaching to his vest, Ares pulls out a GOLDEN APPLE. Smirking, he tosses it in his hand.
XENA
Ares shrugs.
ARES
Ares laughs.
ARES with you, if you can believe that.
Xena gives him a mocking smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes.
ARES couple of new Valkyries to replace the ones you shamed into quitting, and
in return, he gave me
this.
Ares grins.
ARES for the old tried and true `please'.
never grow old. Never be sick. Never
‘accidentally' die on your
girlfriend again. could have a few kicks. It'd be
like old times. Whaddya
say?
before I kick you off this
bridge.
violence thing, remember?
Ares gives a mock shudder.
ARES little wannabe warlord. I trained you to become
the best of the best! The
world trembled at your feet! for you!! I let you murder my entire
family to save that little
brat of yours! have my gratitude for the sacrifice you made. But that debt is paid. I gave you back your godhood. I can't do anything more.
It's good. You won't
regret it.
Xena continues to walk forward, unafraid.
ARES
As Xena continues across the chasm, the air seems to coalesce and shimmer. A FORM takes shape, standing several feet away, seeming to hover in thin air. Xena’s eyes widen.
XENA Solon?
Tears spring to her eyes and a tremulous smile curves her lips.
XENA Solon? How did you…?
She takes a step forward. The figure hovers back an equal distance, face expressionless. Xena stops. She reaches out, but is unable to touch the figure of her son.
XENA Solon? What’s wrong? Is there something…?
The air coalesces again, and a second figure forms, floating close by the first.
XENA Mother?
Cyrene slides an arm around Solon’s narrow shoulders. They look at one another, then back at Xena. Their expressions are neither welcoming nor foreboding, but rather, intent. Upon her.
XENA Mother, please. What is it? What’s wrong?
She takes another step. The figures float back, as if repelled by her very essence.
A third figure forms from the very air, and the tears trapped in Xena’s eyes spill over onto her cheeks.
XENA Lyceus? Is that you? (beat) But how? Why? (beat) Mother? Solon?
She reaches out again, fingers almost trembling as she strains to touch the members of her family, dead so very long ago.
Beneath her feet, the bridge again begins to tremble, and she sways with it, though the figures remain still, unfazed by the turmoil in Xena’s soul.
XENA Please.
She steps forward. Her arms flail as her tread meets only open air. She steps back and tries to steady herself on the rapidly crumbling bridge.
XENA It’s my guilt, isn’t it? My guilt pushes you away from me.
The figures don’t answer, but Xena knows that she’s right.
A roll of thunder peals through the chasm, shaking the already unsteady bridge.
XENA I thought I’d come to terms with it. With your deaths. But it seems I haven’t.
She savagely wipes the tears from her eyes and cheeks.
Thunder rolls again, almost dumping her from the bridge. Her hair whips back as gusts of wind batter her from all angles.
XENA (cont’d) I love you all… so very much. And I would have given anything to keep you safe. Even my life. (beat) And I know you know that.
The wind dies slightly.
XENA (cont’d) And I know, in my heart, that you’ve forgiven me. (beat) And that to go on, I have to forgive myself for not being there when you needed me.
The figures look on silently.
Xena closes her eyes and breathes deep of the humid, sultry air. Her head lowers, then rises as she lets go the guilt that has festered deep in her soul. Her eyes open again, blazing with new purpose.
XENA (cont’d) Mother, Lyceus, Solon, please. (beat) Let me hold you one last time.
And with another act of great courage, she crosses the distance between them, arms flung open wide to the heavens.
The four meet in an explosion of light.
VOICE It is done.
The world around them explodes in a flash of blinding white that then draws in upon itself into a single point of blackness.
CUT TO:
INT. TEMPLE OF THE VIRTUES - EVENING
Gabrielle slumps back in the wooden chair, breathing hard as a trail of tears run a course down her cheeks.
On the table, Xena breathes slowly and evenly, still deeply asleep.
Brushing the tears from her face, Gabrielle rises, only to be stopped again by a hand to her wrist. Janos shakes his head slowly. His face is pale and drawn.
GABRIELLE But I need....
JANOS (softly) You can’t help her, Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE But....
JANOS Sit.
Gabrielle clenches her jaw, but complies.
GABRIELLE What now?
JANOS We wait until the Virtues are ready for the next test.
GABRIELLE Fine.
Leaning her head back against the chair, Gabrielle closes her eyes, deliberately shutting Janos out. She forms an image of Xena in her mind and smiles to herself as those blue eyes lock onto hers.
CUT TO:
INT. XENA’S DREAMSCAPE PASSAGE. RESTING AREA - NIGHT
A strange sense of dislocation overcomes her, and when she next opens her eyes, she is with Xena in a dimly lit passage. They are lying embraced on a damp, warm floor.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) Xena?
Xena opens her eyes. They seem to glow with a joy rarely seen.
XENA I saw them, Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE Who?
XENA Mother. Lyceus. Solon. (beat) In the Fields. I saw them. I held them. It was....
Xena’s voice trails off as a single tear of joy spills over.
GABRIELLE Oh, Xena....
They embrace more tightly. Gabrielle strokes Xena’s hair softly, rhythmically.
XENA (voice muffled) Thank you.
GABRIELLE Thank me? For what?
XENA For giving me this chance.
Gabrielle chuckles softly.
GABRIELLE It’s not as if I meant to, Xena.
Xena pulls slightly away, and smiles.
XENA Maybe not, but thank you anyway.
GABRIELLE You’re welcome. I think. The person you should be thanking, though, is yourself. The faith you had in yourself made it all possible, you know.
XENA Maybe....
Gabrielle grins and hugs Xena again.
GABRIELLE How do you feel?
Xena’s eyelids droop.
XENA Tired.
GABRIELLE Rest now. I’ll be here.
CUT TO:
INT. TEMPLE OF THE VIRTUES - EVENING
Gabrielle is shaken from her reverie by movement beside her.
GABRIELLE Wha-? What is it?
JANOS The Virtues. The next test is about to begin.
Gabrielle turns to look at Xena.
GABRIELLE (whispering) Good luck.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT TWO
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