ACT TWO

FADE IN:

INT. BEDROOM - EVENING

Gabrielle is laying face down on a huge bed. It's obvious she's had better days. Xena is pacing back and forth like a caged tiger.

XENA

Something is not right here.

GABRIELLE

Ya think?

XENA

Okay, you stay here. I'm going

to try and find some answers.

Gabrielle sighs and lifts her head.

GABRIELLE

No, no.  I'll go with you. I think

we should stick together until

we figure out what's going on.

She pushes herself up from the bed. Just as they are about to leave the door opens and SAPPHO enters. Xena's jaw drops, and Gabrielle just stares. Before she notices Gabrielle, Sappho addresses Xena.

SAPPHO

Who are you and what are

you doing in my room?

GABRIELLE

What are you doing with my face?

SAPPHO

Excuse me?

She draws closer to Gabrielle giving her an extensive looking over.

SAPPHO

(Cont’d)

Seems you have MY face.

She reaches out and touches the ends of Gabrielle's hair.

SAPPHO

(Cont’d)

And a hideous haircut. What did

you do that with... a dull knife?

Gabrielle pulls away and gives her best indignant look. She's busy fuming when Xena's laughter begins ringing through the room. Both women turn to face her.

GABRIELLE/SAPPHO

What?!

XENA

Gabrielle, this explains everything!

Those people in town weren't crazy.

They thought you were Sappho.

Gabrielle looks to the tenth muse and nods her head slowly. Except for the long hair that the poet sports, they could indeed be twin sisters.

GABRIELLE

You know, I think I like

it better short.

SAPPHO

(insultedly)

Speak for yourself.

I happen to like it long.

XENA

Okay ladies, this discussion

is fascinating but,

(to Sappho)

You called us here for a reason.

SAPPHO

I called you here?

XENA

Yes, I'm Xena and this is Gabrielle.

Sappho relaxes considerably and smiles at them.

SAPPHO

I'm sorry. You have no idea the stress

I've been under lately. Nothing is working

out the way it should. The school I wanted

to open is meeting opposition. Adrienne

and I had a HUGE fight and she's sulking

somewhere. Even my muse seems

to have abandoned me.

XENA

It's okay. We're here to help if we can.

Where would you like to start?

SAPPHO

I suppose the beginning is

as good a place as any.

CUT TO:

INT. DINING ROOM - EVENING

Sappho has noticeably relaxed, and is now being a very gracious hostess.  Xena and Gabrielle are enjoying a huge meal being served by a variety of servants.  Some of the staff are obviously thrown by the woman seated at the table who looks so much like their employer.  They are from time to time whispering among themselves about her.

SAPPHO

(sipping her wine)

And that's when the trouble started.

XENA

So someone is not happy about the

fact that you want to open a school here?

SAPPHO

I'd say the death threats make that very clear.

(sighing)

All I wanted to do was create a place where

people could come study and learn from

each other. I wanted to help nurture the

creative spirit. I didn't realize that

people would be so set against it.

GABRIELLE

People are afraid of what they don't

understand. And I think people tend

to be more afraid of things that

don't seem normal to them.

SAPPHO

There is some truth to that, but I've always

had a good relationship with the people

on this island. We trade with them

regularly and they have come here to

see performances. I just don't understand

what has happened recently.

XENA

You think it's someone from the island?

SAPPHO

It's almost has to be. The threats started when

I had a conference with some other chancellors

from various academies around Greece. I

wanted to pick their collective brains about

what to do to start a school. Three days after

they got here the first threat came and then

two days after that the chancellor from the

Athens Academy was injured.  A scaffold

being used to build one of the walls collapsed

as he was making a tour of the construction sight.

XENA

When did this happen?

SAPPHO

Not long ago. He's still using on of my

guesthouses to recover. He's going to

be fine, but it'll be some time before

he's well enough to travel.

GABRIELLE

Has there been any other

threats or attempts?

SAPPHO

I received another note yesterday, telling

me to drop my plans for the school or else.

XENA

Or else? Well, that's about as open

ended a threat as you can get.

GABRIELLE

So the first thing we need to do is

figure out who is threatening you,

and why they don't want this school built.

XENA

And who is Adrienne?

SAPPHO

Adrienne?

GABRIELLE

Yes, you mentioned that she was upset

about something.  Maybe she's the one who....

SAPPHO

Oh no, not Adrienne. Our problems

are of a far more 'personal' nature.

XENA

Ah, lovers spat. I understand.

GABRIELLE

Oh you do, do you?

XENA

Absolutely.  We know a lot of people

who have problems in their relationships.

GABRIELLE

(smiling)

Nice save.

XENA

I thought so.

Sappho smiles at them, enjoying their banter. She sighs and shakes her head.

SAPPHO

Adrienne and I have lost that.

GABRIELLE

What?

SAPPHO

The ability to tease each other. There's been

so much stress around here lately that all we

seem to do is argue. We had a horrible fight

the other night and she stormed out of

here in a huff. I haven't seen her since.

XENA

Have you looked for her?

SAPPHO

Oh, I know where she is. There's a small hut

right on the edge of the estate. When she gets

mad that's where she goes. She goes down

there to work off her frustration by throwing pots.

GABRIELLE

Potter?

SAPPHO

No. Lousy temper. She really THROWS

pots. It’s bitch on the bric-a-brac.

Gabrielle laughs and Xena wiggles a finger at her.

XENA

Don't say it.

Gabrielle winks, then returns her attention to Sappho.

GABRIELLE

Who do you think it is?

SAPPHO

I don't know. I wish I had a clue. I don't

mind the thoughts of having an enemy.

I just wish I knew who I was

supposed to be watching out for.

XENA

Then the most logical place to start

is in town. We'll go in and do some

snooping around tomorrow....

Xena stops, and begins looking between Sappho and Gabrielle as an idea takes form; a smile begins to spread across her face. Gabrielle takes notice and sits up in her seat a little straighter.

GABRIELLE

Oh, I know that look.

What are you thinking?

XENA

It just might be crazy

enough to work.

SAPPHO

What?

Xena gets up and walks around the table. Standing at the corner between Sappho and Gabrielle, she looks closely at both of them.

XENA

I have to say that if I didn't know Gabrielle

so well and had just met you both

I wouldn't be able to tell you apart.

Gabrielle suddenly realizes what Xena is thinking and stands up.

GABRIELLE

Oh no. Nonononono.

XENA

Gabrielle....

GABRIELLE

What part of that

didn't you understand?

XENA

It's perfect.

GABRIELLE

It's ridiculous.

SAPPHO

Okay, you two obviously have

developed the ability to read

each other’s minds. Now how

about letting me in on it?

Gabrielle is still looking at a grinning Xena, while answering Sappho’s question.

GABRIELLE

She is hatching some crazy plan

where I pretend to be you in order to

draw out the people trying to hurt you.

XENA

Gabrielle, it's not crazy.

GABRIELLE

You're right. It's not crazy. It's insane.

Xena, no one with half a brain

is going to believe I'm Sappho.

XENA

Sure they will, Gabrielle.

You look exactly like. You're

a bard; she's a poet....

SAPPHO

I hate to argue, but there's a

huge difference Xena.

Bards are far more epic....

XENA

It doesn't matter. It's not like she

going to be performing for

anyone. She's just going to be....

Xena pauses, trying to find the proper word.

GABRIELLE

Bait. I'm going to be bait.

XENA

Aw, c'mon Gabrielle.  It'll be fun.

GABRIELLE

Has it escaped you that there

are differences between us?

XENA

Just little ones. Nothing a

Change of wardrobe can't

cure. We can get you a wig....

GABRIELLE

Oh no!  NO wigs.

I look awful in a wig.

Xena eyes swing slowly to Sappho.

XENA

Well, there is another option.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE