ACT TWO

FADE IN:

INT. FRONT HALL - EVENING

Xena is looking at various weapons along the walls as Gabrielle inspects art hung there as well. It’s clear that they’re waiting to hear the king’s response.

GABRIELLE

Kinda eclectic, isn’t he?

XENA

Most definitely.  These look

more like an art collection

than a weapons display.

PALAEMON

(from the end of the hall)

That’s because they are.

They both turn and smile when he approaches them with a huge smile and arms wide open.  He hugs them both with one arm.

PALAEMON

(cont’d)

It is so good to

see you again.

He pulls back and whistles low and appreciatively.

PALAEMON

(cont’d)

I see that time hasn’t had

the same effect on you that

it has on we mere mortals.

XENA

Time in deep freeze doesn’t

make us immortal.

Just well preserved.

PALAEMON

I guess it doesn’t matter how

it happened.  What matters is

it happened. Come! Where

are my manners? Let me get

you some food and wine!

He gestures down the hall and they take a few steps ahead of him.  Xena leans toward Gabrielle and whispers.

XENA

Does he seem just a bit

too happy to see us?

GABRIELLE

He is acting a little odd.

PALAEMON

Vidalus will be

thrilled to see you.

GABRIELLE

You’re still together?

PALAEMON

Why wouldn’t we be?

GABRIELLE

Well, I um... I....

XENA

We weren’t sure you would

make good traveling companions

when we last saw you. You had

quite a chip on your shoulder.

PALAEMON

I suppose I did, but he became a

good friend.  After a while I couldn’t

really think of life without him.

XENA

It’s good to see you’ve

gotten rid of the chip.

PALAEMON

I did. Because of you and the

things I learned from my friend.

Xena and Gabrielle just smile knowingly as they follow him.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. DINING ROOM - EVENING

Xena and Gabrielle sit with Palaemon at a large table.  Dinner is complete and now they are sipping from golden goblets.

XENA

So where is Vidalus?

PALAEMON

Well, I’m afraid that we have a

situation here that has him a

bit upset.  I had hoped he would

come down to dinner, but, well

Vidalus can be so emotional

I’m sure he didn’t want

you to see him like that.

GABRIELLE

What’s the problem?

Xena notices that Palaemon seems to try and hide a smile as he prepares his answer, almost as if he is pleased and they’ve been caught in some trap.

PALAEMON

My son is getting married.

XENA

How is that a problem?

Palaemon knows that the jig is up; Xena knows something is going on.  He decides to be straight with them.

PALAEMON

My son, Valius was the product

of a short and very intense

time with a young Amazon.

GABRIELLE

Well, that explains that.

PALAEMON

Excuse me?

XENA

We heard that your kingdom was

here and that there was some

connection to the Amazons.

That’s why we came.  To see

you and find out if there was

some sort of problem since

they’ve all disappeared.

PALAEMON

My problem isn’t

because they’re gone.

He sighs and shakes his head.

PALAEMON

(cont’d)

It is sort of because

they’re gone.

GABRIELLE

Start from the top.

PALAEMON

Val is marrying Alicia.

King Dameus is expecting

to meet his mother and me.

XENA

But she’s not around.

PALAEMON

Right and never has been.

The whole reason Val is even

here is because I had the

unfortunate luck to be held

hostage by the Amazon’s

during a mating ritual.

XENA

I see. So they used

you as a stud service?

PALAEMON

And when Val was born his mother

returned him to me. So I guess

since I got my son out of it, it wasn’t

that unfortunate. Anyhow, Rhea....

GABRIELLE

Rhea!

PALAEMON

Yeah, did you know her?

GABRIELLE

Yes, she was part of a tribe

we once lent a hand.

PALAEMON

She was a sweet girl, but Val was

not welcome in the tribe so she

brought him to me and I never

saw her again. Vidalus is the closest

thing to a mother Val has ever had.

XENA

But he’s not the one you

want to present to Dameus?

PALAEMON

Right.

GABRIELLE

And Vidalus isn’t

taking it well?

PALAEMON

Right again.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. BEDCHAMBER - NIGHT

Xena is washing up in a basin as Gabrielle sits in front of the fire staring at the flames.   She joins Gabrielle on the floor.

XENA

Dinar for your thoughts.

GABRIELLE

I’m not sure they’re

worth that much.

XENA

Care to share?

Gabrielle leans back into Xena’s arms, resting her head on her shoulder, but continuing to stare at the flames.

GABRIELLE

Does it seem to you that we

keep finding ourselves involved

in the lives of Amazon progeny?

Xena chuckles and kisses Gabrielle’s temple.

XENA

They do seem to pop up

in the strangest places.

GABRIELLE

How long do you think it’s

going to take Palaemon to get

up the courage to ask us for help?

XENA

If we sneak out before breakfast,

he won’t have a chance.

Gabrielle chuckles and seems to sink further into Xena’s embrace.

GABRIELLE

That quickly?

XENA

I’ll bet my saddle on it.

GABRIELLE

Are we going to?

XENA

Do you want to?

GABRIELLE

Yes and no.

XENA

That was decisive.

GABRIELLE

Well, on one hand I want to help

anyone of Amazon blood, but on

the other hand, I must admit I’m

not wild about getting involved in

something that has Vidalus so

upset. I dunno, it just seems

wrong for Palaemon to be trying

to deny his place in Val’s life.

XENA

Ah yes, but Dameus has a large

army he’s not afraid to use.  So if

something goes wrong here, it

could be the end of this kingdom.

No wedding, no Vidalus, no nothing.

GABRIELLE

You’re not playing fair.  You’re

making it impossible for me to

justify making Palaemon get

himself out of this mess.

XENA

Shall we wait until morning

and see if he even asks?

GABRIELLE

Sure. I guess it’s not our problem

unless we make it our problem huh?

XENA

Exactly, and in the meantime,

we can enjoy that big soft bed.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. GARDENS - MORNING

Gabrielle is walking through the palace gardens.  In the distance Xena can be seen doing a series of sword drills. Gabrielle has a scroll tucked under her arm and is apparently looking for a place to sit and write.  As she comes to a bench she finds Vidalus seated and looking miserable.

GABRIELLE

Morning.

He looks up at her and gestures aimlessly.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

May I join you?

VIDALUS

Of course.

She takes a seat and there is an uneasy silence between them for a moment.

VIDALUS

(cont’d)

I’m sorry I didn’t join you

for dinner last night.  I

was rather out of sorts.

GABRIELLE

I understand.  Palaemon

kind  of explained

what was going on.

VIDALUS

I’m not speaking to

him at the moment.

GABRIELLE

I can understand that.

VIDALUS

After all these years! After

everything we’ve gone through

together, he has the nerve to

treat me like this during one of the

most important times in Val’s life.

GABRIELLE

I don’t think he wants

to exclude you.

VIDALUS

Of course he does.  How can he

think of bringing some woman

in here to pose as Val’s mother

and not think he’s excluding me?

GABRIELLE

Good point.

Gabrielle looks over at Xena and considers her next words carefully.

GABRIELLE

You know, Xena and I

had a daughter together.

VIDALUS

You did?

GABRIELLE

Yup, a beautiful little girl named Eve.

And there were times when Xena

was pregnant that I felt excluded.

We weren’t sure for a long time

exactly how she got pregnant and

I think I held that against her.  I

knew she hadn’t been unfaithful to

me, but somewhere in the back

of my mind there was this

nagging little voice, ya know?

VIDALUS

I can imagine.

GABRIELLE

But as the baby grew and Xena

began to glow with the pregnancy

somehow I came to realize that she

was changing both physically and

mentally and that it was a good thing.

I put up with morning sickness and

mood swings and.... Gods the

cravings that woman had

would make a cannibal sick.

Gabrielle notices that a short smile flicker’s across his face so she presses on.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

So suddenly we had this

precious little girl with us.

VIDALUS

I remember the day Val was

brought to us. I fell in love the

second I laid eyes on him.

GABRIELLE

Same with Eve and me.

VIDALUS

I helped raise him the best way

I knew how.  Pal and Val... the

two most important men in my

life.  I did my best and now....

He stops and his head drops.

GABRIELLE

Xena and I didn’t get to raise Eve.

She grew up without us and when

we found her she had become

Livia, the Bitch of Rome.

VIDALUS

Oh Gods!  How did that happen?

GABRIELLE

It’s a long and unimportant story,

but what I’m trying to say is that

you have been an important part

of Val’s life, all his life. He is who

he is today because you were

there to help him. No matter

what happens, Val will always

carry a part of you with him.

VIDALUS

And I’m being silly?

Gabrielle bumps shoulders with him and takes his hand.

GABRIELLE

No, I don’t think you’re

being silly, but maybe

Xena and I could help.

VIDALUS

Would you do that for us?

GABRIELLE

To help keep your

family together, yes.

VIDALUS

Where is Eve now?

GABRIELLE

She’s dead.

VIDALUS

I’m sorry.

GABRIELLE

So am I.

CUT TO:

EXT. GARDEN - MORNINIG

Gabrielle wanders over to Xena who is wiping her face with a cloth before wiping down her blade with it.

GABRIELLE

I did a very silly thing.

XENA

I know.

GABRIELLE

Now, I know your hearing is

good, but I was WAY over there.

She gestures to the other side of the garden. Xena smiles and sheaths her sword. Taking Gabrielle’s hand they begin a slow stroll through the gardens.

XENA

I knew the second you sat down

on that bench we were going to

be involved.  You don’t like to

see people hurting and it’s damn

clear that Vidalus is hurting.

And we sort of owe him.

Xena stops and turns Gabrielle so they’re facing each other. She gently cups her cheek.

XENA

(cont’d)

He did save my sight. Gave

me the ability to see the

beautiful things in my life.

Leaning in before Gabrielle can reply, Xena kisses her very tenderly, but with passion and playfulness as she nips her bottom lip before pulling away.

XENA

(cont’d)

Now the question is,

which one of us is going

to be Val’s mother?

GABRIELLE

I think you should do it.  You

look more Palaemon’s type.

XENA

I think Vidalus is

Palaemon’s type.

GABRIELLE

You know... I’m not sure.

I mean I can’t tell....

Gabrielle begins to walk through the garden with Xena behind her.

XENA

We still need to decide.

I’ll flip you for it.

GABRIELLE

You do mean with

a coin right?

FADE OUT.
 

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE