ACT TWO

FADE IN:

EXT. TEMPLE COURTYARD - DAY

Walking away from the temple, Xena looks over at Gabrielle.

XENA

Tell me again why we

suddenly have the Goddess

of Love as a sidekick?

GABRIELLE

Xena, I’m worried about

her. I mean, doesn’t

seem a little... off to you?

XENA

Gabrielle, we’re talking

about Aphrodite here.

She’s always a little off.

GABRIELLE

No, no, this is worse than usual.

I mean, given what happened with

Ares and everything, you’d think

she’d be sad.  Or angry.  Or

something.  Not this... this...

manic ‘I’m the Love Goddess

and nothing can touch me’

attitude she’s got going on.

XENA

(shrugging)

Gods react differently than

humans do.  And Aphrodite is

about as different as you can get.

GABRIELLE

I just get the feeling that there’s

a lot going on beneath the surface.

(softly)

Xena, I’m worried about

her, and I want to help.

XENA

(doubtfully)

I’m just not too sure putting her in

the company of the two people who

destroyed her family is the best

help she can have right now, Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE

Do you trust anyone else

to make sure she’s okay?

XENA

(softly, defeatedly)

No.

GABRIELLE

Can we please just try this?

After a moment, Xena nods.

XENA

Okay.  I think you’re asking

a lot of her, but okay.

GABRIELLE

I know, but I think she’s worth it.

CUT TO:

EXT. TRAIL - DAY

Xena heads the group, leading Argo by her reins.  Gabrielle follows along slightly behind.  Aphrodite lags far to the rear, then stops, looks at her hand, and stomps her foot.

GABRIELLE

Aphrodite, what is it?

APHRODITE

Oooo, I broke another nail!

I’m telling you, Gab, this

walking stuff is for the birds.

GABRIELLE

Birds fly.

APHRODITE

You know what I mean.

How much further?

GABRIELLE

Quite a while yet.

Just stick close to me.

You’re doing fine.

CUT TO:

EXT. TRAIL - LATER

Xena is still in the lead.  Gabrielle lags further behind, frustration evident.  Aphrodite has stopped again. 

GABRIELLE

Yes?

APHRODITE

Do you know what I have

to go through to get a good

pedicure up there?

CUT TO:

EXT. TRAIL - STILL LATER

Xena is watering Argo by a small stream.  Gabrielle is sitting against a rock, her eyes turned heavenward.  She looks almost comatose.

APHRODITE

….And this!  Do you call this

hair?  And my favorite dress!

Look at it!  It’s ruined!

CUT TO:

EXT. TRAIL - LATER STILL

Aphrodite continues to lag further and further behind.  If anything, she looks worse than when they met her earlier in the day.  Her hair hangs in sweaty ropes around her face.  Her dress is dirty and torn.  She limps along with the heel of one dainty shoe broken beyond repair.  In short, she’s a mess.

GABRIELLE

Xena....

Xena stops and turns. She stares at Gabrielle, then beyond her at Aphrodite.

XENA

Fine.  Pop, poof, whatever

you do, just do it.  We’ll see

you when we get there.

Aphrodite grins, completely revived.

APHRODITE

Thanks, guys! 

You’re the best!!

With a poof of pink sparkles, Aphrodite is gone.

GABRIELLE

(softly)

Sorry.

Gabrielle puts a hesitant hand on Xena’s arm.  With the touch, Xena’s anger dissolves completely away.  She smiles slightly.

XENA

It’s all right.  I’m the one who

made her walk, anyway. At

least we’ll have a little peace

and quiet for awhile.

GABRIELLE

Watch it.  You know what happens

when you say those words.

XENA

Right now, a fight with a

dozen smelly bandits would

be peace and quiet.

After a moment, Gabrielle laughs, and the pair move ahead, linked arm in arm.

CUT TO:

EXT. TOWN OUTSKIRTS - EARLY EVENING

Xena and Gabrielle finally catch up with Aphrodite just as the sun is beginning to set behind the hills.  The rays highlight Aphrodite in all her golden beauty.  Xena and Gabrielle can see a suspicious wetness glimmering on her cheeks.  They look at one another in silent communication.  Gabrielle nods and Xena moves off to the side, leading Argo to a small stream that runs along the town’s outskirts.

Gabrielle approaches Aphrodite and lays a hand on the sun-warmed rock that serves as the goddess’ seat.

GABRIELLE

Hey.

Aphrodite gives her an overly bright smile.

APHRODITE

Hi, Gab. What took

you two so long?

GABRIELLE

(playing along)

Getting slower in

our old age, I guess.

APHRODITE

As if.  I’m surprised she

didn’t make you try to

outrun her horse to get here.

Gabrielle doesn’t laugh.

GABRIELLE

(seriously)

Aphrodite.

APHRODITE

Yes?

GABRIELLE

It... I....

APHRODITE

Spit it out, Gab. We’re

missing a totally

awesome sunset, here.

After a minute, Gabrielle sighs and shakes her head.

GABRIELLE

It’s nothing.

Both turn to watch the sun set behind the mountains, painting the sky with a riot of pinks, purples, golds, and deep reds.

APHRODITE

(softly)

You know, when we were younger...

not that we were ever ‘young’,

mind you... Ar and I used to fight

over who’d get to ride with

Apollo during the sunset.

GABRIELLE

(surprised)

You?  Fought with Ares??

Aphrodite laughs.

APHRODITE

Cool, huh?

GABRIELLE

I’ll...  take your word for it.

APHRODITE

I’ll tell you a secret, though.

(beat)

He knew how much I loved

the beautiful colors, and he

used to let me win.  A lot.

She draws up her knees and wraps her arms around them.

APHRODITE

(cont’d)

I think that’s one of the things I’ll

miss the most about him.  He

didn’t show it very often, but there

was a little warm spot in him. You

had to dig really deep to find it,

but when you did... He wasn’t

such a bad brother to have.

With no words with which to reply, Gabrielle simply stands beside Aphrodite as the sun sets behind the hills.

CUT TO:

INT. TAVERN - EVENING

Like the rest of the town, the tavern has suffered the ravages of war.  Though kept as clean as is humanly possible, it nonetheless bears its own battle scars which nothing, save a tear-down and rebuild will erase.

Xena, Gabrielle and Aphrodite sit at a scarred wooden table.  Xena and Gabrielle sit across from one another. Aphrodite sits to Gabrielle’s right.  After a moment, a SERVING GIRL approaches their table.  She, too, bears the scars of war.  Her left hand ends in a ragged stump, and a horrid scar runs from her left temple all the way to the left corner of her mouth, twisting her lips up in a perpetual sneering grin.  Her eyes, though, are kind, and her voice is softly pleasant and shy.

Aphrodite stares, open mouthed, as Xena gives the young woman their order.  Gabrielle pinches her on the thigh, causing Aphrodite to switch her stare to the bard.  After the woman leaves, Gabrielle looks to Aphrodite.

GABRIELLE

It’s not polite to

stare, you know.

APHRODITE

I couldn’t help it, Gab!

Her poor face!

Her poor hand!

XENA

(flatly)

War does that to innocents.

Aphrodite’s face falls.  She and Xena exchange a long, poignant look.  Xena’s eyes shift to Gabrielle.  Their shared look is even more poignant.

Xena then returns to the ale she’s sipping.

The young girl returns with their order, and places the bowls of steaming stew before Xena and Gabrielle.  Aphrodite stares again.  The girl pretends not to notice and slips away.

GABRIELLE

(hissing)

Aphrodite....

APHRODITE

Sorry.

She smiles.

APHRODITE

(cont’d)

Ooo. Would you look at that?

Gabrielle turns.

GABRIELLE

What?

APHRODITE

Her. Making googly eyes

at Farmer Fred there.

Aww. Isn’t that sweet?

Spoon halfway to her mouth, Gabrielle looks over at the “Farmer Fred” in question.  Of average height and average build, he doesn’t appear to be anything other than a perfectly ordinary man sitting at a table with his friends. 

As if feeling eyes on his back, he turns to look to, or rather through, the young waitress.

GABRIELLE

(sadly)

He doesn’t even

know she’s alive.

Aphrodite grins.

APHRODITE

I can fix that in a jiffy.  This

calls for a little loooove action,

and I’ve got just the thing.

Gabrielle grabs her hand as she lifts it.  Aphrodite shoots her a look.

APHRODITE

(cont’d)

Why so grabby, Gabby?

GABRIELLE

You can’t just put a spell on him

so that he’ll fall in love with her.

APHRODITE

Like, duh?  That’s what

I do!  Hel-lo.

Gabrielle sighs.

GABRIELLE

Aphrodite, that’s not fair to

either of them.  You shouldn’t

force people to fall in love.

APHRODITE

C’mon, Gab, once I hit them

with a little love bolt, they’ll

never know why they were

apart!  It’s perfect.  Now, let

me do my job and you can

go beat up some smelly

warlords or something, ok?

GABRIELLE

Aphrodite, I think they’d kind

of like to have a say in

the matter, don’t you?

APHRODITE

What, like you and....

Aphrodite tilts her head in Xena’s direction.

Xena keeps eating, ignoring the conversation.

GABRIELLE

Yes.

APHRODITE

Sorry, Gab, but you’re a

special case, you know?

Some people need my help.

GABRIELLE

I didn’t say you couldn’t help

them.  I’m just asking you

not to force them.

(beat)

Why don’t you go over and

talk to her?  Find out who she

is, what she likes, stuff like that.

Aphrodite looks doubtful.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

She looks like she could use

a friend.  I’m sure she could

benefit from your wisdom.

APHRODITE

(smiling)

Wisdom, huh?

GABRIELLE

Yep.

APHRODITE

All right. Why not?  I can

always work my magic

after I talk to her.

GABRIELLE

Aphrodite....

Aphrodite stands. Waggles her fingers at Gabrielle.

APHRODITE

Toodles!

Xena gives Gabrielle a little smile before returning to her food.  Gabrielle grins, and begins eating with gusto.

A moment later, she looks up.  Several older men, far in the back of the tavern, are staring at Xena and talking among themselves.  Gabrielle well knows that while her back is to the men, Xena is aware that she is the subject of their attention, so she says nothing.

XENA

(softly)

Five.  Four.  Three.

Two.  One.

At “one”, the oldest of the men stands, cap in hand.  Xena turns her head enough to look over her shoulder at him.

XENA

(cont’d)

Yes, my name is Xena, yes,

I’ll help you with your problem,

no, I’m not gonna do it right now.

Sit back down and finish your

meals.  I’ll see you when

I’m through with mine.

Xena returns to her food, leaving the man standing, gaping at her.

Gabrielle gives him a sunny grin.

GABRIELLE

(to man)

She has many skills.

Xena just shakes her head.

CUT TO:

INT. TAVERN – EVENINING - APHRODITE’S POV

The young waitress has just taken a seat at a table near the bar, and is hastily eating her dinner.  Aphrodite slides in next to her.

APHRODITE

Hi.

WAITRESS

(shyly)

Hello.

APHRODITE

I... um... wanted to say

I’m sorry for staring earlier.

That was totally uncool of me.

WAITRESS

That’s ok. I’m kind

of used to it by now.

APHRODITE

Yeah, but it was still

a pretty grody thing

to do.  I’m sorry.

WAITRESS

(softly)

Thank you.

Aphrodite smiles.

APHRODITE

So, what’s your name?

WAITRESS

Lira.

APHRODITE

That’s a groovin’ name.

Lira actually laughs softly, which causes Aphrodite to grin.

LIRA

Thank you.  What’s yours?

APHRODITE

Aaaaa…far!

LIRA

(quizzically)

Aaaafar?

APHRODITE

Pretty cool, huh?

It’s Egyptian!

LIRA

You don’t look Egyptian.

APHRODITE

(brightly)

On my mother’s side.

LIRA

Oh.

APHRODITE

So... how’d this happen?

As she reaches up to gently touch the scar on Lira’s face, the young woman flinches away, hiding both face and hand.

APHRODITE

Oh, I’m so sorry, sweet pea!

I didn’t mean to upset you.

LIRA

It’s... it’s okay.  I know you

weren’t asking that to be mean.

APHRODITE

Cross my heart.

Lira looks up. Her eyes are distant, her mind far away.

LIRA

It was just some warlord.  We

never even knew his name.

All I can remember is that he

and his men were marching

under the banner of Ares.

APHRODITE

Ares?!

LIRA

Yes.  He and his men came

like demons from Tartarus,

slashing, burning, killing.

(beat)

My... my brother, Tomus, he was

only ten and couldn’t even hold a

sword, but he was determined to

protect our homestead. They

came for him.  All these big men

swinging their swords at a ten

year old boy.  I... I tried to fend

them off.  They did this.

(beat)

And they killed my brother.

APHRODITE

(with feeling)

I’m so sorry.

LIRA

He was all I had.  The only family

I had left. He was everything to

me, and they cut him down

like a lamb to slaughter.

Reaching out, Aphrodite touches Lira’s shoulder, and when the young woman slumps into her, she wraps her arms around the trembling body in a tight hug.

APHRODITE

(whispering)

I know what it’s like to lose

your family. I know, and I’m

so sorry it happened to you.

As Lira continues to weep, Aphrodite holds her, rocking her gently, tears shining in her own eyes.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE