THE SHIPPER SEASONS XENA WARRIOR PRINCESS VIRTUAL SEASON NINE BENEATH THE WAVES Production #XWP191/SS57 Episode #9.10 Story By: Aurora and LadyKate Written By: LadyKate Adapted From Original Script Written By: Aurora Collage By: Aurora Images Gathered By: Aurora Logline When Xena, Gabrielle and Darion decide to take a vacation on an island they meet up with two women who are on an unusual mission and when they offer to aid them in their quest it leads them all on an underwater adventure of a lifetime. Airdate March 12, 2006 TEASER FADE IN Underwater. Water swirls around violently. The water is dark blue and there isn't much light anywhere. In the distance, a blurry view of what looks like a great city. Montage of chaotic images begin to fade from one to another. * Water swirling and churning * Medium close-up of two men, one in a green shirt and a glass helmet over his head and the other with no shirt on (both visible only to the waist) fighting in the water, one with a metal sword, the other with a white spear that looks made out of bone. * Water crashing and foaming in large waves * A group of men and women, some screaming, others clamping their hands over their mouths in horror * A palatial building swept away by a huge wave of water The face of a young woman, in her 30's, begins to fade on screen, superimposed over the chaotic scenes of underwater disaster. She has wavy brown hair and brown eyes and looks very distressed as she stares into the camera. WOMAN (voice soft and echoing): Sister... Our destruction is near. We need your help. Echo will show you the way to Thera. (pause) You're our only hope... (pause) Please, Sister... Save us... There is a flash of white light across the screen. CUT TO Close up of two deep blue eyes as they fly open. We pull back to see a woman in her sixties sit up in her bed with a start. She is breathing heavily and looks distressed. The camera pulls back to show a simple room, modestly furnished, with a table and a fireplace. The moonlight is shining through the window. Distracted, the woman closes her eyes and moves her hand back; her hand accidentally hits an extinguished lamp on the bedstand and knocks it to the floor with a loud crash. FEMALE VOICE (off-camera): Grandma! A woman in her early 20's, with long brown hair, rushes in, goes up to the bed and sits down on the bed, taking the old woman's hands. YOUNG WOMAN: Are you all right? GRANDMOTHER: I'm fine, Keyana. She continues to stare ahead, gasping for breath. Keyana rubs her fingers, concerned. KEYANA: Did you have a bad dream? After a long moment Grandmother turns to look Keyana in the eye. GRANDMOTHER: Not just a dream. It was...a vision. KEYANA (shocked): But you haven't had a vision in twelve years. GRANDMOHTER (nods): Not since your parents died. (pause) It was a vision, though, Keyana. It felt so...real. There was water, and a battle over some city, and this...woman. She was calling for my help and... (pauses) she said she was my sister. KEYANA (puzzled): But I thought you were an only child. GRANDMOTHER: I was. KEYANA: Then maybe it was just a dream. GRANDMOTHER: I don't know. She said something about a place called Thera--and that someone named Echo would show me the way. She throws off the covers off her body and begins to stand up, her legs weak. KEYANA: Grandma, what are you doing? The healer said-- GRANDMOTHER: Let's pack. We're going to Thera. A close-up of her face. She looks determined. DISSOLVE TO A close-up of Xena's face, lit by the bright sun. XENA: So. This is Thera. The camera pulls back to show Xena, Gabrielle and Darion standing on a sun-drenched beach; the sand is almost black as it glitters in the sun. A small boat is moored nearby. There are trees and white cliffs visible in the distance. XENA: Remind me again why we're here? GABRIELLE: Only because the beauty of this island is legendary. (She sweeps an arm around her) Look at this. Black sand and white cliffs. Have you ever seen anything like this before? XENA: Nope. And I can't say I've missed it. GABRIELLE: Oh, come on, Xena. Don't be so grumpy. Even you can use a vacation. DARION: I bet it's not going to end up being just a vacation. GABRIELLE (grins): What do you mean? We're here to relax--have a little fun-- XENA: --do a little fishing-- GABRIELLE (grins at her): See? I knew you'd end up looking at the bright side eventually. DARION (unflappable): You'll see. Some kind of job will turn up. (grins mischievously) It always does. GABRIELLE: Come on. I don't think there are even any people on this island. XENA: Oh yeah? Well, think again. The camera pans around for a long shot of the beach. We see a female figure coming from the distance. DARION: I bet it's someone with a problem you're going to fix. GABRIELLE (ruffles his hair): Darion, I think you're getting a little ahead of yourself. (laughs) I bet it's just another visitor. The woman approaches. It's Keyana, the young woman we saw in the preceding scene. She stops, eyeing Xena, Gabrielle and Darion uncertainly. KEYANA: Xena? Close-up Darion, who beams proudly. DARION: Told ya. Gabrielle shushes him. XENA (squinting at Keyana in the sun): Who wants to know? KEYANA: My grandmother said you'd be here. She-- (a little sheepishly) she had a vision. She thinks you could help. You see, we're here on a mission. DARION (pumps his fist into the air): YES! FADE OUT ACT ONE FADE IN A cave. Keyana's grandmother is sitting on a blanket by a fire, knitting. There is a jug nearby, along with a basket of fruit and some bread on a plate. Keyana walks in, followed by Xena, Gabrielle and Darion. Grandmother looks up. KEYANA: Grandma, this is Xena and Gabrielle. And Darion. (to Xena and Gabrielle) My grandmother--Cassandra. Cassandra sets down her knitting as a small smile appears on her face. CASSANDRA: So my dream came true. XENA: What's all this about? CASSANDRA: Sit down. (gestures toward the stones on the floor of the cave.) Xena remains standing expectantly, while Darion looks around in fascination at the stalactites hanging off the cave's ceiling. CASSANDRA (sigh): I once knew a very good friend of yours. [FLASHBACK] Cassandra stands in front of Hercules. CASSANDRA: Hercules--nice to put a name to the face. Are you hungry? HERCULES: Yeah, I am--if it's not too much trouble. CASSANDRA: Oh--it's no trouble at all. It's nice to have the company. I'm all alone up here. It can get pretty lonesome. HERCULES: Well, then it's lucky for both of us that you found me. CASSANDRA: Luck? It had nothing to do with it. I've been expecting you--although--you're taller than I thought you'd be. HERCULES: I--think you have me confused with someone else. [END OF FLASHBACK] CASSANDRA: Hercules tried to help me a long time ago--when I had a vision that I hoped to keep from coming true. My dreams told me he was coming then. A dream last night told me you were coming here. I'm hoping that maybe this time, things will be different. Xena walks toward her and sits down on a rock; Gabrielle follows her example while Darion continues to explore the cave. XENA: I'm listening. DISSOLVE TO Later. Xena, Gabrielle, Keyana and Cassandra are sitting around fire, eating. Darion is off wandering around, munching on an apple and examining the walls of the cave. XENA: So what was the trouble this woman in your dream talked about? CASSANDRA: She didn't say much, only that she needed my help. But, in the vision, I saw a great city crushed by waves, and a battle--underwater. GABRIELLE: Underwater? How is that even possible? Cassandra is about to speak when she has a coughing fit. A worried-looking Keyana pours some water from a jug into a cup and brings it to her grandmothers lips. Cassandra takes a few sips and her cough subsides. CASSANDRA: Sorry. (clears her throat) Anyway, I don't know what the vision means or where this city is or if it is even real, but I have to do something. My visions have always come true before. (She looks at Xena and Gabrielle who are staring quietly at her, and sighs) You don't believe me. I understand how crazy this sounds-- DARION (turns around, his mouth half-full as he still munches on an apple): Lady, you wouldn't believe some of the crazy stuff we've seen. GABRIELLE (chuckles): Darion is right. After everything Xena and I have seen in our time--there isn't much that can surprise us anymore. XENA: Though an underwater battle takes the cake. (off Cassandra's anxious look) We believe you. CASSANDRA: Thank you. (smiles faintly) Your friend Hercules was one of the few others who did. XENA: How can we help? CASSANDRA (sighs): I wish I knew. Keyana and I have searched the entire island for any clue to why the woman in my vision would have called us here. But we've had no luck. (discouraged) My vision could have already come to pass for all I know, and then I've failed her. KEYANA (puts a hand on her grandmother's shoulder): Don't give up hope. XENA: I'll see what I can do. Tell me about that dream again--and don't leave anything out. CUT TO A wide shot of Xena, Gabrielle, Darion, Keyana, and Cassandra (leaning on a cane) walking across the island, covered by lush and colorful vegetation. They are approaching the beach with white cliffs. CUT TO The beach; a small cove by the white cliffs. Darion, barefoot, comes racing toward the water and into the surf, where he runs around laughing and splashing. DARION: Come on--the water's great! Xena and Gabrielle come up to the water's edge; Keyana and Cassandra come up behind them. GABRIELLE (calls out): Careful, Darion! DARION (stares at something, fascinated): Hey, look! GABRIELLE (slightly alarmed): What is it? Darion points ahead. Pan to a bottlenose dolphin bobbing its head out of the water. It submerges before propelling itself into the air, doing a spectacular back flip and then landing back in the water with a giant splash. DARION (laughs and claps): Wow--that was amazing! KEYANA: There he is again. XENA: The dolphin? CASSANDRA: It's the same one, with a silver mark on the forehead. He's been around since we arrived--he even followed our boat on the way to the island. KEYANA (smiles): He even helped me catch fish the other day. He's quite tame--like a pet. Look. Hitching up her dress, Keyana walks into the water toward the dolphin. It swims closer, bobbing its head up and down and letting out soft squeaks and whistles. Keyana reaches out her hand and touches its nose as it chatters. Darion comes up, fascinated but a little scared, and gingerly reaches out to touch the dolphin's nose. He touches it, then snatches his hand away as the dolphin erupts in happy squeaks. KEYANA: Don't be afraid. He's friendly. Darion reaches out again to pet the dolphin. Xena cocks her head as she watches; then her eyes light up slightly, as if an idea has struck her. XENA (to Cassandra): What did that woman say in your dream? Someone would show you the way? CASSANDRA: Echo. The dolphin immediately perks up and lets out a rhythmic sound of clicks and whistles. He moves away from Keyana and swims closer to the water's edge where Cassandra stands. KEYANA (looks at Cassandra, surprised): What happened? CASSANDRA: His name is Echo. He's the one who's supposed to show us the way. I thought the woman in the vision was talking about a person--but she meant the dolphin. Cassandra walks toward the water's edge and wanders in, the hem of her dress getting soaked in the surf. Echo swims closer to her and she reaches out to pet his nose. CASSANDRA: So you're Echo. (Echo squeaks and clicks as if to say yes) Are you here to show us something? Echo chatters again, nodding, then swims away. We see him swimming and leaping as he makes his way around the white cliffs. XENA: Come on. Let's find out where he's headed. (to Cassandra) You'd better wait here--you're in no shape to be climbing rocks. CASSANDRA (sharply): I came here all this way to follow my vision. I'm not turning back now--or staying behind. Echo jumps out of the water, bobs, flips and whistles, as if inviting the people to follow him. XENA: All right--come on. She and Gabrielle walks toward the cliffs; Darion runs along in the surf. Cassandra follows, leaning on her cane and supported by a worried Keyana. A wide shot of the beach as they round the cliffs. CUT TO The base of the white cliffs. Echo leaps out of the water, then swims. Xena and the others come into view, walking slowly to give Cassandra a chance to catch up. Echo swims into a semicircular opening in the rocks, then dives and vanishes from view. KEYANA (after a pause): Where did he go? XENA: Wherever it is--that must be our way. She takes off her armors and drops it on the sand, along with her weapons. XENA (continues): I'll be right back. Xena walks out into the surf and then dives in, swimming toward the spot where Echo had been. She takes a deep breath and submerges under the water. DISSOLVE TO Gabrielle, Cassandra and Keyana are still standing on the beach. Darion is playing in the water. Keyana looks worried. KEYANA: It's been nearly five minutes. GABRIELLE (worried herself but trying not to show it): She'll be here, don't worry. In a moment, Xena surfaces, gasping for breath. Gabrielle rushes toward her as she clambers out on the shore. GABRIELLE: Are you all right? XENA (catching her breath): Yeah. Echo led me to a cavern. Gabrielle looks back at Cassandra. CASSANDRA (no hesitation, determined): Show us the way. KEYANA (grabs her grandmother's arm, worried): Grandma, you can't go down there. You're too... CASSANDRA: No. I said I have to do this. That's why we're here. If that's the way to the underwater city I saw in my vision then I'm going down there. XENA: This time, I'd better bring my sword. CUT TO Inside an underwater cavern. It is not filled entirely with water and it has a large air pocket. Echo is swimming around the large open cavern. White stalactites hang from the ceiling of the cavern. The cavern is filled with a mystical bluish light reflecting off the clear water, shimmering on the walls of the cavern like jewels. The interior sparkles with all shades of blue and green. Xena surfaces with a gasp; she is still without armor, but with the sword strapped to her back and the chakram at her belt. Shortly after her Gabrielle surfaces with Darion at her side and then Keyana and Cassandra. Cassandra is out of breath more than the rest of them. They look around. Xena sees a stone ledge and climbs up onto it. Gabrielle and Darion follow her and climb onto the ledge. Keyana follows them and helps her grandmother up. GABRIELLE (looking around, in awe): Amazing... Echo chatters. The five of them look at the dolphin. DARION: I think he's trying to tell us something. Echo swims over to the far corner of the cavern. There is another ledge and a passageway that goes further back into the cavern. Darion looks curious and gets off the ledge, swimming to where Echo went. GABRIELLE: Darion, wait. DARION: It's okay. Gabrielle steps into the water and begins to follow Darion. Darion climbs up onto the ledge. He looks down the passage into the darkness. DARION (turning back to Gabrielle as she swims toward him, his eyes wide with excitement): There's--some kind of tunnel leading down, way down! Gabrielle climbs up on the ledge. CUT TO Xena, Gabrielle, Darion, Cassandra and Keyana are looking down a pitch-black passageway. CASSANDRA: That's where we have to go. (determined) I'm ready. DARION (nervous): But you can't even see anything down there! (Gabrielle puts a comforting hand on his shoulder and he looks sheepish) Look, I know this is going to be a really cool adventure and everything but--it' a little scary. GABRIELLE: Everything's going to be all right. (to Cassandra) Hold on. If we're going down this tunnel, we'd better get some light. XENA: Good thinking. I'll get out and bring us a torch. GABRIELLE: I'll get a torch. (Off Xena's look) Oh, come on, Xena. You went down to investigate this cave before we all got here, I go back up for a light. (teasing) You don't have to be in charge of everything. Xena gives her a mock glare. DARION (to Cassandra and Keyana): Don't pay attention. They're always like this. Xena shifts her mock glare to Darion. DISSOLVE TO The same group standing at the same tunnel entrance, except that this time Gabrielle is holding a torch. KEYANA (looks worriedly at Cassandra): Are you sure--? Cassandra gives her a silent look. XENA: She's sure. CUT TO Xena, Gabrielle, Darion, Cassandra, and Keyana making their way down the tunnel, Gabrielle holding the torch. DISSOLVE TO A round opening in a rock wall. Xena and Gabrielle peer out of the opening, Gabrielle holding the sputtering torch. XENA (looks down): It's a very long drop. I can't see all the way to the bottom. (looks back at the others) Don't even think about it. KEYANA (behind her): Then what are we going to do? Xena looks around and suddenly sees something. XENA: Look! The camera pans to show a rope ladder going down. GABRIELLE: Well, someone really thought this thing through. Xena drops down the rope ladder and starts to climb down while Gabrielle holds the torch so as to light the way. CUT TO In the near-darkness, Xena jumps down from the bottom rungs on the ladder and lands on some surface that makes a small splash. XENA (her voice echoing): Come on down--it's safe. CUT TO Cassandra climbing down the rope ladder very slowly, with Keyana ahead of her, holding her up. Gabrielle and Darion are looking on from the opening in the wall, Gabrielle still holding the torch which is burning rather faintly now. DISSOLVE TO Gabrielle and Darion climbing down. DISSOLVE TO The whole group at the bottom of the drop. XENA (looks around): This way. CUT TO Xena, Gabrielle, Darion, Cassandra and Keyana emerge from a passageway into a temple. It is quite luxurious, made of marble and decorated with many gems, dominated by a large blue statue of a crowned man holding a trident. Everything is beautifully decorated but looks somewhat deserted and a bit shabby. DARION (looks around, fascinated): Wow--is this a temple? GABRIELLE (looks around as well): Looks like a temple of--Poseidon. KEYANA: Whoever built this put a lot of work into it. XENA (runs her hand along a dusty surface, then touches a chipped empty vase): Sure doesn't look like they're putting much work into the maintenance. GABRIELLE: Where are we? XENA: Let's get out of here and find out. Exterior shot of the temple. It is made out of large stones, decorated with gold and shells, the roof supported by columns on either side. The double doors are made out of thick dark wood; in each door there is a carving of a dolphin, each facing the other. The doors fly open. Xena and Gabrielle come out onto the temple steps. Darion is at Gabrielle's side. Keyana and Cassandra follow. A wide shot of he view they see. It's a bustling city with stern angular buildings of stone. The people walking around are clothed in blue and green. DARION: Gabrielle, I don't think we're in Greece anymore. Xena raises her head. Instead of the sky there is a large dome overhead, through which one can see the ocean. The water is a dark blue; one can see fish of all colors swimming and a pod of dolphins going by in the distance. GABRIELLE: It looks like we're underwater…under some sort of...glass dome. DARION: Wow. That's amazing! XENA (looks at Cassandra): This must be the underwater city you saw in your vision. CASSANDRA (looking around, seeing the jagged buildings just inside the archway): This place looks familiar... They come down from the temple steps. The passerby give them curious looks. A tall, dignified-looking man approaches them. MAN: You look like you're not from around here. GABRIELLE: Where is here? MAN: You don't know? Well, of course if you're from topside, you probably wouldn't have heard of this place. You're in Atlantis. Xena and Gabrielle look at each other, surprised. Zoom in on Cassandra's face. She is speechless, her mouth gaping open as we: FADE OUT ACT TWO FADE IN The same scene. CASSANDRA: This is Atlantis? How is that possible? Atlantis sank nearly forty years ago. [FLASHBACK] From the Hercules: The Legendary Journeys episode "Atlantis". A grand city is shaking and falling apart, people running around, screaming. CUT TO A view from high above the sea. The entire island of Atlantis is sucked under the water. When the waves calm, there is nothing left of the island and there is only the vast, blue sea. [END OF FLASHBACK] GABRIELLE (looking at Cassandra): How do you know that? CASSANDRA: Because I was there. [FLASHBACK] Cassandra is standing in front of Hercules. CASSANDRA: You're going to save us. HERCULES: From what? CASSANDRA: Atlantis is going to be destroyed. CUT TO Cassandra and Hercules are standing inside a house. HERCULES: Have you told anybody? CASSANDRA: No. I've--I've been afraid. I don't exactly fit in. The people here--they're all alike. They dress alike. They think alike. HERCULES: But you don't and they have a problem with that. CUT TO CASSANDRA: The people here think that the rest of the world is, well, let's just say, less than civilized. [END OF FLASHBACK] CASSANDRA: Atlantis was my home before it was destroyed. (looks at Xena and Gabrielle) Hercules and I were the only two survivors--the ocean swallowed the city up like a vortex. There was nothing left. MAN: Well, you're wrong about that. Come on--as visitors from outside, you'd better come see the king. CUT TO The camera pans over a large open room surrounded by glass on all sides. There are tall candleholders along the walls, holding crystals, glowing white, blue and green. At the end of the long hall there is a throne made out of hardened coral and shells. A man wearing a crown, also made out of seashells along with precious stones, is sitting on the throne, looking at Xena, Gabrielle, Darion, Cassandra and Keyana standing in front of him. KING: So you're the visitors. Amazing. (narrows his eyes at Xena) How did you get here? XENA: Let's just say we were tipped off about a passage. KING (somewhat petulant): And I take it you're not saying anything more. XENA: Not at the moment. KING: Very well. (strokes his beard, then turns to Cassandra) I understand you're Cassandra--the woman who predicted the sinking of the city forty years ago. CASSANDRA (calmly): I am. KING: I'm Panthius. I believe you knew my father. [FLASHBACK] Panthius (who looks rather like the present king) faces a young Cassandra. PANTHIUS: I'd be doing the people a disservice if I let you shatter their faith. CASSANDRA: If you really cared about your people, you would tell them to leave the island, now. PANTHIUS (chuckles): Even I couldn't get them to leave. And why should they? There's nothing we can't overcome. Science--is a proven--safeguard. CUT TO The city of Atlantis is sinking beneath the waves. [END OF FLASHBACK] CASSANDRA: But how--? PANTHIUS: They say it was Poseidon who saved the city, by encasing it in a great dome and giving us air. Before that, our people had never believed in the gods--thought they were just figments of human imagination, in the rest of the world--but that miracle had us convinced. GABRIELLE: And that's why the Atlantians built a temple to Poseidon. PANTHIUS: He did save our lives. (to Cassandra) So, what brings you here? I've heard the stories. You didn't really--get along well with the people here. Cassandra gives Keyana and the others a quick look as if to warn them not to say too much. CASSANDRA: My visions told me Atlantis still existed. I wanted to see my birthplace again--before I died. PANTHIUS: And nothing else. He strokes his beard pensively, then stands up and extends his hand toward them. PANTHIUS: Come. You are guests here and you will be treated as such. You can stay in the guest quarters here in the palace. CUT TO Xena, Gabrielle, Darion, Cassandra and Keyana are looking around a large room with glowing crystals in the walls and a large glass door that opens up to a balcony that looks out over the city. KEYANA: This place is really amazing. GABRIELLE: It's definitely--different. DARION: I can't believe we're underwater! (to Gabrielle) You think Lykia is going to believe this? GABRIELLE (gives Darion a slightly worried look): I'm sure she'll--love to hear all about this. She approaches an ornately decorated chest with carvings of dolphins for legs, and opens the front panel of the chest. A crystal light begins to glow. There are jars, bottles and food inside. Gabrielle reaches inside and gasps. GABRIELLE: It's cold. She takes one of the bottles and stands up. Cassandra walks toward her. CASSANDRA: Yes--it's called an icebox. It's powered by crystals embedded in the back. It can keep things cold for hours, even days. GABRIELLE: Incredible. (grins at Xena) We sure could use something like this. CASSANDRA: It's one of the Atlantians' many inventions. When it comes to science and technology, they were always more--advanced than the rest of the world. And they always prided themselves on it. Cassandra walks toward the balcony. Keyana follows her, as do Xena and Gabrielle (Darion can be seen in the background poking around the icebox). The camera follows them as they stand on the balcony, looking down at the city which is bustling with life. CASSANDRA: I can't believe I'm back here. I had a vision about the destruction of Atlantis years ago. And now--maybe history is about to repeat itself. KEYANA: Or maybe you're here to see that it doesn't. (puts a comforting hand on Cassandra's shoulder) GABRIELLE: Why didn't you tell Panthius about your vision? CASSANDRA: My warnings weren't very well received the last time--by his father. I thought it was a good idea to wait before saying too much. XENA: You're right. Never tip your hand too soon. CASSANDRA (to Keyana): We have to go. We need to find this woman from my vision. Cassandra and Keyana walk back into the room and toward the door. GABRIELLE: We'll go with you. (to Xena) Come on. We should check this place out. CUT TO A street in Atlantis. There is a marketplace in the distance, people bustling about going about their daily routines. Xena, Gabrielle and Darion walk into view, looking around, followed by Cassandra and Keyana. Gabrielle is looking around, intrigued by everything. There is a tall building at the back of the street that has a clock with Roman numerals for the numbers. A bell rings three times. Hanging above the street are red, green and yellow crystals sitting inside metal casings. The red light turns to green and people start walking across the street from one side to the other. Some people are riding down the street in motorized carts that look like small chariots with a steering wheel, made for one person. They are powered by a large glowing crystal secured to the front of the cart. Gabrielle, Xena and Darion look on in fascination as one of the carts zooms past them and down the street. GABRIELLE: Everything here is powered by crystals. CASSANDRA: It looks like their machinery has advanced even further since--my time. DARION: Look! He points to a dolphin swimming just above the top of the dome, poking its nose against the glass. DARION: You think it's Echo? GABRIELLE: Maybe. Come on. CUT TO The busy marketplace of Atlantis. There are vendors lined up along the side of the stone path, selling their wares. There is a clothing stand where garments of green, brown, and blue colors are hanging on racks, people looking at them and the salesman gesturing excitedly at the outfits. There is a stand run by a plump middle-aged woman selling jewelry made from shells, coral, pearls and other sea items. There is a bearded man standing behind a large stand selling nothing but seafood: crab, lobster, clams, oysters, and assorted kinds of fish stacked in piles and sorted by kind. Xena, Gabrielle, Darion, Cassandra and Keyana are walking away from the stand, eating seafood wraps. GABRIELLE: This is great. DARION (his mouth half-full): Yeah, it is. But I really hope we don't get stuck here 'cause I don't think I want to eat just fish for the rest of my life. XENA: Too much of a good thing, huh? DARION: Way too much. They continue walking. KEYANA: You know, this place doesn't look like it's in danger. XENA: Looks can be deceiving. CUT TO Xena, Gabrielle, Darion, Cassandra and Keyana are walking down street with many small houses. The houses have gardens with no vegetation but beautiful rock arrangements. Cassandra looks tired and out of breath. KEYANA: Grandma, we should rest. CASSANDRA: We have to find that woman. XENA: That could take a long time. You don't even know her name. And we can't knock on every door to see if she's inside. CASSANDRA (emphatic): We have to find her. WOMAN (off-camera): You found me. Pan over to see the woman from Cassandra's vision. Close-up of Cassandra's stunned face. The woman comes closer to Cassandra and Keyana. WOMAN: I'm glad I was able to get through to you in your dreams. CASSANDRA: You sent that dolphin after us. WOMAN: Yes--he and I have a special bond. XENA: What about the ladder in the passage? WOMAN: It was left there by…a friend of mine. He was the only person ever to leave Atlantis. He came back to see me and tried to get me to leave with him, but I was too afraid and--too used to this place. (looks down) He's dead now, but--he told me about the passage and the ladder. (pauses) By the way, I'm Calypso. CASSANDRA: In my dream, you called me sister. WOMAN: I am your sister. Half-sister, to be exact. CASSANDRA (in disbelief): How is that possible? My mother died when I was young--my father, a few years later. CALYPSO: Your mother didn't die. She left your father because she had very different views on things. She thought the way most other Atlantians did. She finally went to live with them while he secluded himself in the forest. I think she left you with your father because she felt you were--too much like him.. CASSANDRA (stares at her in shock): My mother-- CALYPSO: I was born many years later, when our mother remarried. I was five when the island sank. And it was much later--just before her own death--that Mother told me I had a sister. KEYANA (curious): So you're--forty-five? You look much younger. CALYPSO: Here in Atlantis, people don't age the same way as they do on land. I'm not sure why. It could be something about the air here; or maybe our science. CASSANDRA: You contacted me. So you have the gift of sight as well? CALYPSO (looks down): It's hard to explain. Sometimes, I can send--thoughts to other people. But I don't really have visions the way you do. I just had this urgent sense that Atlantis is in danger--and that you could help. CASSANDRA: I had a vision of--chaos and death. And of a battle underwater. XENA: Who would you be fighting down here? CALYPSO: I'm not sure. But there are other--intelligent creatures here in the sea. Let's just say we've--had our disagreements. CUT TO A coral reef. Amidst the colorful fish and seahorses, a man is seen swimming through the waters. Visible only from the waist up, he swims toward the camera, his dark hair blowing back in the water. Two arms with green sleeves grab him on each side. The camera pulls back to show men in sleek green suits, with transparent bowls fitted around their heads and metal canisters on the back. They pull the man away as he struggles. CUT TO Xena, Gabrielle and Darion wandering through the marketplace in Atlantis. XENA: We should have asked Calypso more questions. GABRIELLE: About what? XENA: This place. Whatever could be threatening it. GABRIELLE: Come on, Xena--she and Cassandra have a lot of catching up to do. XENA (shrugs): Something's going on. I hope we're not too late to stop it. GABRIELLE: Maybe Cassandra's vision was wrong. XENA: I wouldn't take any chances. GABRIELLE: Well, we'll keep our eyes open. But Xena, come on. (She puts a hand on Xena's shoulder) It's like a--magical world down here. (smiles) Let's enjoy it while we can. XENA: Yeah--I'd just like to know how long that is. Come on, let's check out that temple to Poseidon. GABRIELLE: Why? XENA: Just--something about it. GABRIELLE (wrinkles her nose): You know, I hate it when you get cryptic. CUT TO A wide shot of Darion, Gabrielle and Xena approach the temple to Poseidon. A commotion is heard off-camera. Xena and Gabrielle exchange a look. GABRIELLE: Darion, stay back. They run toward the commotion. CUT TO Some Atlantian men are dragging someone along; the person (hidden from view by the Atlantians) is struggling. Xena and Gabrielle come running. The Atlantians' captive collapses. His face now comes into view; it's the man who was snatched at the coral reef. One of the Atlantians kicks him in the chest; his face contorts in pain as he cries out. The Atlantian is about to kick the captive again when Xena's hand comes down on his shoulder and yanks him away. ATLANTIAN MAN #1 (angrily): What do you think you're doing? XENA: What do you think you're doing? ATLANTIAN MAN #1: This is no concern of yours! XENA: Five of you beating up one man? I think it is. ATLANTIAN MAN #1: Who said anything about a man? Xena looks down. The camera pans over to the man on the ground. He is a triton, with a long, scaly green fish tail. His face and chest are bruised from the beating he's taken. Xena and Gabrielle stare in shock. Darion comes running up. DARION (eyes grow wide): A fish man! Xena looks at the Atlantians. The one she had talked to before steps up. GABRIELLE: What did this man do? ATLANTIAN MAN #1: Do? Him and his kind are the sworn enemies of Atlantis! Xena and Gabrielle stare at them grimly as we: FADE OUT ACT THREE FADE IN Xena, Gabrielle and Darion are still standing in front of the Atlantian men. ATLANTIAN MAN #1: Get up, you scum! You're going to the dungeon. He and another Atlantian roughly grab the triton's arms and haul him up as he groans. GABRIELLE (steps closer): Hey, let up. As far as I can see, he's pretty helpless here. He's no threat to you. You don't need to be so-- ATLANTIAN MAN #2 (glares at Gabrielle): Lady, don't tell us what to do. I know you're guests down here. But if you want to be welcome--stay out of this. XENA (glares back): You know, my friend and I were never very good at staying out of things. I don't think that's about to change. ATLANTIAN MAN #2: So much the worse for you. They walk away, dragging the triton with them. Xena stares after them. Darion looks upset. XENA (to Gabrielle): Go talk to Calypso and Cassandra. I'm going to the king to ask some questions. DARION: Are they going to hurt that fish man? XENA: Not if I can help it. They walk off in different directions. DISSOLVE TO The vast, blue ocean, sun shinning from above. A school of fish swim across the camera as it moves through the water toward a cliff in the distance. The camera zooms in on the cliff, then moves down to below water level. Two tritons swim into view, swishing their tails about. The camera follows them into an underwater cave. Beautiful and luminous, it looks more like a palace than a cave, with carvings in the walls and decorations of seashells and corals. A fish-tailed naiad (mermaid), wearing a crown of seashells on her blond hair and a gorgeous seashell necklace, comes swimming toward the camera. TRITON #1: Queen Nautica--it's the Atlantians! NAUTICA: What happened? TRITON #2: They're a menace--just like I always said! We have to do something about them! NAUTICA: Calm down, Glacus. What have they done? GLACUS: They have captured Agenor. NAUTICA (gasps): My son? GLACUS: This means war! NAUTICA: Maybe not. Let's see if we can save him some other way. GLACUS (angry): We must do something! NAUTICA (holds up her hands in a gesture to calm Glacus down): You know how superior their weapons are. GLACUS: All we have to do is find a weapon strong enough to shatter their dome. Their greed will destroy us all! NAUTICA: Poseidon has protected them in the past. If we move against them, it could anger him. GLACUS: Then ask Poseidon! They stare at each other. CUT TO The palace in Atlantis. Xena walks into a hall. Panthius comes toward her. PANTHIUS (cheerful): Xena. I was told you were here. How's your stay in Atlantis? XENA: Interesting. (narrows her eyes at him) I need to talk to you. PANTHIUS: Good. I would very much like to talk to you--about how you got here. XENA: First, you're going to tell me about that triton your men captured and took to the dungeons. PANTHIUS: Oh, yes. (smiles rather nastily) My men did say that you tried to interfere. He was caught trespassing on our coral reef. XENA: Really. (sarcastic) You own the coral reefs around here? PANTHIUS: Yes, we cultivate them for our use. You see, Xena-- (he continues to talk as they walk down a hallway together) we have great plans for expanding our domain. With our crystal technology, we're about to find a way to build other glass domes ourselves and purify the air supply inside. We will take over new fishing grounds--harvest new coral reefs. The entire undersea world will be ours. XENA: No wonder the tritons don't like you. PANTHIUS: Those slimy animals--surely you're not taking their side? Xena looks at him silently. PANTHIUS (continues): We have great plans, Xena. And you can be a part of them. XENA (puzzled): How's that? PANTHIUS: It can't be an accident that you arrived from topside. You know about a passage here from land. You can help us establish a link to the world up there. A link that can help enhance our power. XENA: Well, at the moment I'm not sure I want to do that. PANTHIUS (with a subtle threat in his tone): If you knew me better, Xena, you'd know I'll end up getting the information I want--one way or another. XENA (sneers): If you knew me better, Panthius, you'd know that I don't respond well to threats. PANTHIUS: Oh, it's not a threat. Merely--a statement of fact. Xena thinks a moment, then looks at him thoughtfully. XENA: I'll tell you what, Panthius. I'll show you the passage that leads outside. You take me to the jail to see the captive. PANTHIUS (gives her an appraising look): All right. Come with me. They walk away, their backs to the camera. CUT TO A dark, watery pit in a dungeon. The dark form of the triton is splashing about in the water, a few feet below the floor. CUT TO Xena, escorted by a jailer carrying a lantern, is walking down the corridor of a dungeon. CUT TO Xena and the jailer appear over the edge of the watery pit. The triton looks up, his face now lit up by the torch. XENA (to the jailer): Leave us. The jailer gives her an unfriendly look, hands over the lantern and leaves. AGENOR (the triton): Who are you? XENA: Someone who's here to help. AGENOR (bitterly): You're one of the Atlantians; why would you want to help me? XENA: I'm not. I come from the land. AGENOR (disbelieving): No one ever comes here from the land. XENA: Until now. AGENOR (angry): Well, even if you are--you're still human. What do you care about us? XENA: I care about stopping a war that's going to happen unless someone intervenes. AGENOR: You may be too late. XENA: What are you talking about? AGENOR: The people of the sea have been talking about war for months--they're not too happy about the way the people of Atlantis have been plundering the seas. By capturing me, the Atlantians have thrown down the gauntlet. I am the son of Queen Nautica. And trust me, our people will not stand by and let them get away with this. XENA: Well, I'm not going to stand by, either. CUT TO Xena walks briskly into a palace hallway. Panthius is waiting for her. As he steps forward, she stops abruptly. XENA: You have to release the triton. PANTHIUS: Impossible. You were going to tell me-- XENA: Do you know that he's the son of their queen? This means war. PANTHIUS: Well, then let there be war. I assure you, it will only benefit our people. We'll be rid of the half-breeds and have the bottom of the sea all to ourselves, with no one getting in the way. XENA: And how many of your people are you willing to lose? PANTHIUS: However many it is--we are sure to win. You've seen our machinery. Surely you know these--half-fish cannot possibly be a match for us. XENA: I'm going to stop this war from happening. PANTHIUS: Good luck with that. (chuckles) Now, you were going to tell me how you got here. XENA: There's a passage under Poseidon's temple--I'll show you. But first, there's someone you need to talk to. PANTHIUS (skeptical): Don't tell me you want me to have a chat with the half-breed. XENA (contemptuous): No, I mean Cassandra. CUT TO A close-up of Cassandra's face. She seems to be in a trance, her eyes closed, her face twitching slightly. The camera pulls back to show Gabrielle, Darion, Calypso and Keyana standing around her. GABRIELLE: What's wrong with her? KEYANA: She's having one of her visions. I remember that she used to be like this when I was a child. It scared me--but I got used to it eventually. Cassandra opens her eyes, dazed. CALYPSO: What did you see? CASSANDRA: Death. (she is quiet for a moment) There were men with these-- (looks for words) glass bowls on their heads-- CALYPSO (nods): The helmets the Atlantians wear when they venture outside the dome. CASSANDRA: They were being attacked--by others who were half-man, half-fish-- DISSOLVE TO Underwater. An Atlantian in a glass helmet is spreading out a fish net. He convulses suddenly, his mouth opening in a cry. The camera pulls back to show him being speared in the chest by a triton, wielding a spear made out of whalebone. The camera pulls further back to see several Atlantians being attacked by tritons. CUT TO Xena and Panthius walking down a palace hallway. PANTHIUS (reluctantly): All right, I'll listen to your Cassandra. But-- XENA: Listen to me, Panthius. Your father didn't listen to Cassandra forty years ago and her visions came true. The city only survived thanks to a miracle-- She suddenly stops abruptly in her tracks and whips around to face Panthius. PANTHIUS (puzzled): What? XENA: There was something I meant to ask you before. You told me the Atlantians built a temple to Poseidon because he saved them. PANTHIUS: That’s right. XENA: When we saw the temple, it looked neglected. Is Poseidon still worshipped here? PANTHIUS: A few years ago, Poseidon stopped appearing to our high priest. (Xena's face hardens in understanding) At the time, we still had negotiations with the half-breeds. It was from them we heard that Poseidon was dead--slain with the rest of the gods by a great warrior up on land--a mere mortal. Xena lowers her eyes for a moment. PANTHIUS (continues): And we survived just fine, without his help or protection. You see, our people had thought all along that the gods were merely creations of human fantasy. They had been wrong about that, but they were right about something else: humanity does not need the gods. The topsiders just took longer to figure that out. XENA: The gods are back, Panthius. I just hope you don't get to find out the hard way. Panthius gives her a puzzled look. A commotion is heard off-camera and Panthius turns. Two palace guards are running toward them. GUARD #1: Your majesty--the tritons are on the move! PANTHIUS: What? GUARD #2: They've killed several of our fishermen near the sea bass breeding grounds--and now they're attacking the Western coral reef! PANTHIUS: Send out a squadron! (to Xena) I told you, there's no stopping this war now. XENA: Send me out with your soldiers, Panthius. PANTHIUS (shocked): You! XENA: Trust me, you want me on your side. CUT TO An area by the glass dome. Xena getting suited up along with a group of Atlantian soldiers. She's now wearing a body-fitting green suit. One of the Atlantians hands her a glass helmet and an air canister. ATLANTIAN: This will allow you to breathe underwater--for as long as two hours. Xena puts on the helmet and the Atlantian helps strap the canister to her back. She then straps on her sword. One of the men, without a diving outfit on, pushes a crystal in the side of the dome. The glass opens up; the Atlantian soldiers and Xena swim outside, even as the water starts to rush in, and after the last soldier leaves the man pushes the crystal again, closing the opening. CUT TO The Atlantian soldiers and Xena swimming through the deep waters. DISSOLVE TO A long shot of a coral reef, with a group of tritons collecting corals. DISSOLVE TO The Atlantian soldiers are approaching, Xena along with them. CUT TO The tritons draw whalebone swords and spears and face the Atlantians. The two groups clash. A montage of battle scenes: * A triton and an Atlantian fighting, the Atlantian's metal sword clashing against the triton's whalebone sword. * A triton's spear is shattered. * An Atlantian soldier is stabbed with a triton's sword. * A triton is stabbed by an Atlantian soldier. * Xena battles two tritons, beating them off with kicks. * Several tritons attack Xena but she manages to dodge their blows and dive out of the way. * Three tritons surround an Atlantian and while he fights off two of them, the third manages to smash his helmet. He gasps for air, his eyes filled with horror as he sinks. * A triton tries to smash Xena's helmet but she manages to push back his blade with the flat of her palm, then kick him away. * A wide shot of the underwater battle. * Xena grabs two tritons and knocks their heads into each other. While they are disoriented, she yanks the sword from one and a spear from the other and then pushes the weapons away, watching them sink. * An Atlantian is about to kill a triton but Xena grabs his arm, stopping him. He gives her an angry look. Before the triton can react, Xena disarms him and breaks his sword in half, then kicks him away. * The tritons start to flee. The Atlantians try to pursue them but Xena gets in their way, gesturing to point the way back to the city. The leader of the Atlantian soldiers tries to push her out of the way. She grapples with him and finally punches him hard in the chest. As he doubles over in pain, she grabs him and starts to swim in the other direction. CUT TO Inside the dome. The soldiers are getting out of their swimming gear. ATLANTIAN SOLDIER #1 (to Xena, angrily): You stopped us from finishing off the slimy bastards! The king will know about this! Xena gives him a sneering look as she holds the helmet in her hand, her damp hair streaming over her shoulders. XENA: Well, if your king knows what's good for the city, I think he just might see my side. CUT TO Close-up on a very nervous-looking Panthius. The camera pulls back to show him in a palace room, facing Cassandra and Keyana. Gabrielle and Darion stand nearby. CASSANDRA: It's Poseidon. He wants to destroy you. FADE OUT ACT FOUR FADE IN The interior of Poseidon's temple. Xena and Gabrielle walk in, looking very determined. XENA (raises her voice): Poseidon! GABRIELLE: What makes you think he'll show up? They haven't been worshipping him for years; maybe he's abandoned this temple. XENA (yells): Poseidon! I need to speak to you. The water in the pool in front of the altar begins to swirl, and then forms into the watery figure of Poseidon rising. He is not quite as gigantesque as he was when rising from the ocean, but still towering above the two women. His features are now clear rather than watery. His blue eyes are very hard and cold. POSEIDON: Warrior Princess. We meet again. XENA: And as always, not under the best of circumstances. POSEIDON: Aren't you afraid, now that you're in my domain? XENA: I've never been afraid of the gods and I'm not about to start--on land or underwater. POSEIDON: What do you want? XENA: The question is, what do you want. You're trying to make this war happen, aren't you. POSEIDON: The people of Atlantis have grown too arrogant and too powerful. They have to be stopped. XENA: And you can't do this without destroying them--or getting a lot of the sea folk killed as well? POSEIDON: I don't answer to mortals--especially not to you. You have some nerve confronting me this way when you are the one who cost me my worshipers! You killed me. GABRIELLE: You were trying to kill us--and Xena's daughter. And don't forget--we went down to Hell to save the gods. We brought you back to life. XENA: Stop this war, Poseidon. POSEIDON: It's out of my hands. They're doing this of their own free will. It's greedy mortals who start these wars--whether they have legs or fish tails, it's all the same. XENA: What if I'm able to stop the war? Will you spare the Atlantians then? POSEIDON (chuckles): I'd like to see you try. Stop the war--and the Atlantians' lives will be spared. Water starts swirling around his figure, turning into a vortex that shrinks and disappears into the pool. Xena and Gabrielle stand still for a moment looking at the spot where he vanished. CUT TO The square before the palace. A large, raucous crowd. Voices are heard shouting "Death to the tritons!" and "Kill the half-breeds!" A nervous-looking Panthius is standing on the palace steps. Several guards haul out Agenor, the triton. VOICES IN THE CROWD: --Kill him! --Death! --Kill them all! A struggling Agenor is pushed down on the ground, his hands tied behind his back. One of the guards raises his sword. Close-up on Panthius as he obviously steels himself in resolve. PANTHIUS: Do it. The camera pans to Darion, who is standing in the crowd with Keyana, Cassandra and Calypso. He winces and hides his face in Keyana's side. CASSANDRA (with quiet despair): I failed again... Calypso squeezes her shoulder sadly. As the guard starts to bring down his sword, the "whoosh" of the chakram is heard. Pan to the chakram flying toward the camera. The crowd gasps as the top of the sword is sliced off. Close-up on Darion as he looks up, gasping with joy. DARION: Xena! Pan over to an angry-looking Xena as she catches the chakram. PANTHIUS: Xena. You're intent on meddling in our affairs, aren't you. XENA: I'm intent on saving your lives, Panthius. (gestures toward Agenor) What's the meaning of this? PANTHIUS (furious): Our people were ambushed and killed by the tritons. The people of Atlantis want justice. GABRIELLE: Don't you mean vengeance? PANTHIUS: Call it what you will--he has to die! (to the guards) Seize them! Pan to Darion. DARION (shouts out): Mister, you just made a serious mistake. There is laughter in the crowd, but the laughter quiets quickly as several guards rush Xena and Gabrielle and Xena lets out her battle cry. XENA: A-yi-yi-yi-yi-yi-yi! She leaps up in the air and knocks down two guards down as she lands, grabbing a spear from one of them as he stumbles. She uses the spear as a staff to knock down to other guards before tossing it to Gabrielle, who uses it to fight four of the guards while Xena spars with two others and then disables them with powerful spin-kicks. Xena bends down and slashes the rope Agenor's hands are tied with. He sits up, gaping at her in amazement. XENA: I guess asking if you can walk would be pointless. (to Calypso) Get a cart! Calypso slinks away into the crowd while Xena hauls up Agenor on her shoulders and runs, moving as fast as she can and staggering a little under the triton's weight. Gabrielle runs after her, still holding the spear. An agitated murmur runs through the crowd. ATLANTIAN #1: Someone stop her! Cassandra steps forward. CASSANDRA (raises her voice as much as she can): People of Atlantis--please listen to me! Forty years ago, your parents did not believe me when I had a vision of the city sinking. VOICES IN THE CROWD: --Who is she? --Cassandra! --Who? --She's crazy! --She's telling the truth! CASSANDRA: Now I'm back, and I've had more visions of doom. The only way you can avoid it is to stop the war with these sea creatures--before it starts! Pan to Panthius, who looks uncertain. While the crowd reacts to this with loud murmurs, Xena and Gabrielle disappear from view. CUT TO Xena, with Agenor on her shoulders, reaches the edge of the square. Calypso drives up in a crystal-powered cart. XENA (puts down Agenor with a grunt): All right--I'll take over from here. CALYPSO: But you've never driven-- XENA: Just tell me what to do. I'm a quick learner. CUT TO Xena driving along a street in Atlantis, with Agenor perched uncomfortably in the back of the small cart. Passerby in the street turn their heads in amazement. XENA: Hang in there--it won't be long. AGENOR: Look, I'm sorry I didn't trust you before. Thank you-- XENA: Save your thanks. I need you to talk to your mother and tell her to call off the war. AGENOR: Impossible! The people of Atlantis aren't like you. They think we're just animals. They won't stop until they've taken over all of the seas. XENA: I can talk some sense into them. Look, Agenor, there is always time to go to war. But sometimes, it's too late to make peace. Don't let that happen. CUT TO The crowd on the square is getting more agitated; Panthius finally makes a decision. PANTHIUS: Go after her! Several guards run off in pursuit. CUT TO Xena pulls up by the wall of the dome. XENA: Well? AGENOR (sighs): Look, you saved me and I owe you. I'll talk to Mother. If the Atlantians want to meet and negotiate, we'll meet with them. XENA: Good. (She smiles a little) Eventually, you'll see I'm right. Stay safe. She jumps out of the cart, hauls out Agenor and helps him toward the crystal that opens the wall. A guard is standing by the crystal, looking at her in bewilderment. GUARD: What do you think you're doing? VOICE (off-camera): Stop her! The guard steps forward, uncertainly starting to draw his sword. XENA: I don't have time for this. She knocks him out with a punch and pushes the crystal. The glass opens; Xena quickly pushes Agenor out into the opening and pushes the crystal again, closing the glass. Pan to Agenor swimming on the other side of the glass. He smiles to Xena and waves. Close-up on Xena as she smiles and waves back at him. Gabrielle comes running, slightly out of breath. The two women stand together, facing the palace guards as they run up. GUARD #1 (a little sheepishly): You better come back with us. XENA: With pleasure. CUT TO Back in the palace square. Panthius paces nervously in front of the palace. Cassandra, Calypso and Keyana stand apart from the crowd, Darion with them. The crowd looks agitated, with a lot of people talking. Xena and Gabrielle come into view, escorted by the guards. GUARD #2: Your majesty, we couldn't stop her--she released the animal. Pan to Cassandra, who breathes a sigh of relief, and then to Panthius, who doesn't know whether to look angry or relieved. XENA: Panthius--be a wiser man than your father was. Listen to Cassandra and listen to me. Cassandra was right; Poseidon does want to destroy you. Your only chance is to stop this war. PANTHIUS (hesitates visibly): But the tritons and naiads-- XENA: --they're willing to negotiate peace. Agenor gave me his word. Take this chance, Panthius. You may not get another one. Panthius struggles as he ponders this; then he sighs. PANTHIUS: All right. I'll negotiate. (raises his voice) People of Atlantis! I know how angry you are about the violence we've suffered at the hands of the half-breeds. But I'm persuaded that for the good of the city--we should negotiate peace. There is a loud murmur from the crowd; then, cheers, which eventually prevail. CASSANDRA (overjoyed): It wasn't in vain! She hugs Keyana, then Calypso. DARION (to Xena and Gabrielle): I knew you'd do it! Xena looks around warily. GABRIELLE: What is it? XENA: Something is happening... She points to the top of the dome, where the water is swirling and churning. CUT TO An outside view of the dome; from the outside, the city looks like a snow globe. Through the waters, the giant figure of Poseidon is seen. He raises his trident and strikes the dome, shattering it. CUT TO Inside Atlantis. People are screaming and running around as water crashes into the city. Close-up on Xena, her face filled with fury. XENA (yells): Poseidon! A montage of images as the city is crushed under the waves, buildings collapsing and being swept away. Close-ups of Gabrielle hugging Darion, then Cassandra's horrified face. CASSANDRA: Oh, Keyana--I'm so sorry--I had no right-- CUT TO The spires of the royal palace collapsing under the crashing waters. CUT TO Poseidon holding out his hands, sending forth a wave of power. DISSOLVE TO The waters settling. As the churning and foaming stops, we see Pantheus swimming toward the camera. He looks shocked. The camera pans down to show that he now has a triton's tail, flapping in the water under the mantle he's still wearing. The camera pulls back to show people swimming around. All the Atlantians have become tritons and naiads. The people are gasping in shock and disgust as they look at their new forms. Pan to Xena. XENA (bitterly, her voice muffled by water): So this is how Poseidon kept his word. GABRIELLE (bewildered): Xena--are we-- XENA (grimly): Yes, we are. The camera pulls back to show that they both have fish tails, as do Darion, Cassandra and Keyana. DARION (frightened): Gabrielle? Without a word, Xena propels herself upward, flapping her naiad tail. CUT TO Xena diving out of the sea. XENA (yells furious): Poseeeeeeidon! The watery figure of Poseidon rises, towering over her. POSEIDON: What's the matter, Warrior Princess? You don't like the way I kept my promise? XENA (through clenched teeth): Can't say that I do. POSEIDON: I said I'd spare them. I didn't say how. How many times have you played games with words to get something you wanted? XENA (narrows eyes): You know, Poseidon--if you think you want me in your domain, you'd better think again. Give me a month or two and you might find that the naiads aren't quite the docile subjects you're used to having. POSEIDON: Feisty as ever, Warrior Princess. I'll miss you. (He gives a roaring laugh, then looks down at Xena) Anyone who is not one of my subjects will return to human form once they're back on land. I hope that pleases you. XENA (grimly): I'm overjoyed. She dives under the water. CUT TO A long shot of Xena swimming under the water, swishing her tail as she dives downward. CUT TO The beach on Thera, under the bright blue sky. Xena surfaces in the water and swims toward the shore, followed by Gabrielle and Darion. When she rises from the water, she is in human form again. Gabrielle and Darion follow. GABRIELLE (looking down at herself): Well, that's a relief. DARION: Wow. Actually, it was kinda cool to have a fish tail for a while. And to be able to breathe underwater. As long as it wasn't for too long. GABRIELLE (laughs nervously and musses his wet hair): Right. Cassandra and Keyana, wet but otherwise all right, rise from the water. Calypso swims up behind them, then stops. CASSANDRA (to Calypso): Come on. Calypso shakes her head, her eyes filling with tears. She pulls herself up, using her arms, and flips her fish tail. CALYPSO: It's like Poseidon said. Only those who are not his subjects can turn back. We became his people long ago... when he saved us. XENA (bitterly): And I bet he thinks you deserve his gratitude. CASSANDRA (sighs as she kneels down in the water next to Calypso): Sister--I'm so sorry I couldn't help. CALYPSO: You did the best you could. They hug tenderly. CALYPSO: I can't believe I'm losing you again--just as I found you. They break the embrace. CASSANDRA: Good-bye, sister. I hope you find--some joy in your new life. XENA (her face filled with sadness): Good-bye, Calypso. GABRIELLE and DARION: Good-bye. CALYPSO: Thank you for trying to help. She starts to swim away. As she does, Echo rises from the water and leaps up, chattering. CALYPSO (looks back): At least I still have my friend. She hugs Echo, and they dive and disappear under the water. Xena, Gabrielle and Darion stand watching them. Keyana helps Cassandra stand up. KEYANA: Grandma...I'm so sorry. CASSANDRA: Don't be. If we hadn't made this journey, they'd all be dead. KEYANA: Do you really think they'd prefer this? You saw how they felt about the sea-creatures. They've become what they despised the most. XENA (sighs): I guess you could say there's a certain--poetic justice to that. (Off Cassandra's reproachful look) I'm sorry about your loss. CASSANDRA: You did the best you could. But sometimes, when the gods decide to play with people's lives, even that isn't enough. DISSOLVE TO Xena, Gabrielle and Darion walking along the beach. Keyana and Cassandra are following in the distance. GABRIELLE: Think they'll ever be happy? XENA: You'd be surprised the things people get used to. There is a flash of blue light in front of them and Ares appears. He looks tired and worried. XENA (chuckles lightly): What happened to you? ARES: Don't start with me. It's been a very busy week. And then, when I feel like taking a vacation--I can't find you anywhere. (worried) Where were you? XENA: Spending some time in your uncle's realm. ARES (squints at her, puzzled): What--Hades? XENA: Not quite. She waves toward the water. ARES: Poseidon? (off her grim nod) Doesn't sound like you had a lot of fun. DARION: It was kinda fun, at first. There was this big underwater city, with castles and spires and things-- ARES: Oh yeah, I heard something about that. Atlantis--Uncle Poseidon's pet project. DARION: And then it got really scary and all the people got turned into fish people. You know, kind of like centaurs only with fish tails. Even we did. ARES (uncomprehending): Say what? DARION: We had fish tails. Just for a little bit until we got back to land. (grins) Actually it was kinda cool, except I was scared we'd get stuck that way. Ares looks down at Darion, curious, then looks up at Xena and Gabrielle. ARES: The kid's making it up, right? XENA: Nope. The camera starts to pull away as they walk down the beach, their voices fading gradually. ARES: You--had a fish tail. XENA: That's right. A brief silence. ARES: Well, I'm certainly glad you didn't get stuck that way. I mean--I would have had to have a serious chat with Uncle. XENA (with a somewhat bitter laugh): Oh--would you, now? Just think-- Their voices fade as we: FADE OUT THE END [Xena's passion for fishing may have been damaged during the production of this motion picture. Stay tuned for updates.]