| ACT FOUR |
FADE IN
Ares and Xena's tent, where Ares and Xena are sleeping; his arm is draped loosely over her.
DARION'S VOICE (off-camera):
Xena. Xena!
Xena and Ares both jerk awake and sit up. (He is bare-chested, she is wearing only her leather tunic.)
XENA:
Come in.
Darion enters, looking troubled.
ARES:
What's going on?
DARION:
It's Eve. She's--gone.
XENA:
What?
DARION:
She--she went into the city.
Xena rises abruptly to her feet.
DARION (continues):
She took the tunnel that leads to the Palatine hill.
XENA:
And the guard let her through?
DARION:
She said she was going on your orders.
XENA:
Did he ask her for the password?
DARION (hesitates):
Well--she is your daughter...
XENA (curtly):
Who's the guard on that post?
DARION (intimidated):
Severus.
Ares gives Xena an uneasy look and rises to his feet.
XENA (thinks a moment):
He's a good warrior. Lucky for him we need all the manpower we can get right now, or else he'd pay for this.
Quick pan to Ares as he lowers his eyes, looking relieved.
DARION:
But why would Eve go into the city? I don't get it.
ARES (sarcastic):
I assume it wasn't for fresh air.
Xena gives him a probing look, as if suspecting something.
XENA:
Did you tell her what we were planning to do?
ARES:
I did.
XENA:
Damn it! I wasn't going to tell her until after the battle had started. (frustrated) I can't trust anyone, not even you!
ARES (touches her arm):
You don't really mean that.
XENA (sighs, placing her hand over his):
You shouldn't have told her. (after a brief pause) I bet she decided to be a hero, talk some sense into Sabina and save the day. (to Darion) How long has she been gone?
DARION:
Almost five hours.
XENA (scoffs):
Well, then--obviously, Sabina wasn't interested in a deal. Stupid girl--I could have told her it was pointless.
She closes her eyes for a moment, thinking, then opens them.
XENA(continues, abruptly):
All right--we're moving up the attack. (off Ares' inquiring look) With Eve in Sabina's hands, we can't wait and run the risk of our plan being found out. (to Darion) Alert the camp. And send a message to Zenobia. We move at daybreak.
DARION (taken aback):
But that's an hour from now.
XENA:
Exactly.
She brusquely motions with her head to the tent exit. Darion leaves.
Xena walks over to the table, unfolds the map and almost mechanically traces her hand over it. Ares walks over to her and puts his hands on her shoulder, then leans forward to kiss her neck.
ARES (in a low voice):
Okay, I screwed up.
XENA (harshly):
Eve screwed up.
ARES:
Well, so much for her going back into the past and changing things for the better.
She turns around to face Ares. There is a look of quiet anguish on her face.
XENA (softly):
I guess a part of me was hoping she might. (she sighs) Stupid, huh?
Ares shakes his head. She looks away.
ARES:
So--what's the plan?
XENA:
She's probably in the dungeons under the palace. Which means that if we can't get her out before the explosions start... (she trails off, looking at Ares, her face unreadable)
ARES:
We'll get her out.
XENA:
How? You and I are going to have our hands full leading the charge against the temple warriors. (Her face hardens) Remember, none of them must get out alive. The more worshipers Artemis loses--
ARES:
Then send Evander.
Xena shakes her head.
XENA:
His troops have to engage the warriors from the temple on the north side. Besides, he needs to save his strength--you know that.
ARES:
Right. (He pauses and gives Xena a heavy look) Funny--twelve years ago, you killed the Olympian gods to protect your daughter. Now, you'd sacrifice Eve to take down Artemis.
Xena stares at him mutely, stricken. Ares takes her hands in his.
ARES (continues):
You lead the charge against the temple warriors. I'll take a dozen men and go after Eve.
Xena stares at him thoughtfully.
XENA:
You mean...we get separated.
ARES:
We'll be fine.
They hug each other tightly.
XENA (murmurs):
Ares... Be careful. I love you.
ARES (tender):
Just don't do anything too heroic. We have enough problems. (he kisses her briefly) I love you, too.
They hug again, their eyes closed.
CUT TO
A montage:
-- Dawn breaking out over Rome
-- Xena's troops preparing for battle: one man pulls on his armor, another sharpens his sword, a woman slides a knife into the side of her boot.
-- Evander rides over a hilly area, a grim look on his face.
-- Klymene loads up her quiver with arrows. We see that she also carries a sword.
-- Darion surveys a group of armed men.
CUT TO
A cell in a dungeon. Eve in inside, sitting on a bench. Sabina is on the other side of the bars, looking at her with a wry smile on her face.
SABINA:
You know, so far, I've played nice. I haven't even told Artemis I've got you here. I bet she'd have some interesting ideas about what to do with you.
EVE:
Are you finished with the threats?
SABINA (chuckles):
Oh, I've barely begun. You know, it would be a lot easier for both of us if you just told me what Xena and Ares are planning. (She looks thoughtfully at Eve) Whatever it is--I know it's something you don't like. Otherwise you wouldn't have come here. (She clicks her tongue in mock sympathy) You still have that sentimental side, don't you? How inconvenient. Xena lost hers years ago.
Eve scowls at her.
EVE:
You're wasting your time.
SABINA:
I'll be back at noon. By then--you'd better have some answers. Remember, I don't have a sentimental side.
She turns around and walks away. Eve leans against the wall with a frustrated sigh.
CROSS-FADE TO
Evander's army charging toward one of the gates of Rome.
CUT TO
Sabina walking down a hallway in the palace.
CUT TO
Two of Evander's archers fire at sentries at the top of the wall. They fall to their deaths.
CUT TO
Roman soldiers start to bring down the gate but a battering ram smashes into it.
CUT TO
Sabina sits down at a desk and reaches for some scrolls.
CUT TO
Evander's forces pour into the city as people run in terror, screaming.
CUT TO
A group of male and female warriors in the outfits of Artemis' temple army--silver, with a laurel branch embroidered on the chest and a crescent moon on the headdress--run down the street, some carrying bows, some spears or swords.
CUT TO
Evander on his horse. An arrow flies toward him; he holds out his hand, using his powers to divert it and turn it around. The arrow flies at the female archers who fired it and strikes her down as she screams.
CUT TO
A montage of Evander's men fighting the temple warriors. We see several temple warriors cut down, one by one.
CUT TO
A Roman soldier running down a hallway of the palace.
CUT TO
EVANDER (yells):
Cut them off at the crossroads! Drive them toward the temple!
Evander's men start pushing the temple warriors back.
CUT TO
Sabina in her study. There is a frantic knock on the door.
SABINA (raises her voice):
Come in!
The door opens. It's the soldier we saw running down the hallway before.
SOLDIER (out of breath):
Empress--an attack on the northern gate!
SABINA (leaps to her feet):
It's started more quickly than I thought.
CUT TO
A wide shot of the forum, which is erupting in pandemonium as Xena and Ares' troops attack, running down the side of a hill.
CUT TO
The battle on the forum. Xena and Ares are fighting together. She is sword-fighting two men at the same time; as a third opponent approaches her from behind, she side kicks one man to the ground, grabs the second one's free arm and swings his body into the path of the third man's weapon. As the second man falls over, dead, Xena picks up his sword and kills the third man too. Pan to Ares, who twirls his sword and kills a Roman soldier with a backward thrust while downing another soldier in front of him with a powerful kick. He swings his sword just in time to bring down another Roman who is coming at him.
Pan to Darion and Klymene, fighting back to back. Darion's opponent raises his sword arm to strike, but Darion drops his weight and uses one leg to sweep the man's legs from under him. Darion jumps back as he falls, then runs him through as he tries to rise. Klymene cuts down another Roman.
The camera pulls back to show the ground littered with dead and wounded Roman soldiers.
XENA:
All right--the way's clear. We're headed toward the temple to take on Artemis' warriors. (She nods, pointing to the left.) You go for the palace.
They briefly clasp hands, staring into each other's eyes. For a moment they look as if they were about to kiss, but then Xena nods briefly and pulls her hand away. She turns to Darion, who is breathing hard as he looks at his bloodied sword.
XENA:
You okay?
DARION (nods):
Fine. Am I going with you?
XENA:
No. (she pauses) Half an hour from now--start lighting the fires.
Darion nods grimly, pursing his lips.
FLASH TO
Sabina, in full armor, riding out of the palace with a cohort of Roman soldiers behind her.
FLASH TO
The Goths, led by Zenobia, ride through the streets of Rome.
FLASH TO
Ares and a small group of men run up the hill toward the palace.
FLASH TO
In another part of the forum, Xena and her army are fighting Artemis' temple warriors. Xena now has a small cut on her face and another on her upper arm. The temple of Artemis we saw in Act 3 is visible in the background.
A female temple warrior falls, struck down by an arrow.
Pan up to show Klymene in the opening of a wall, with a bow and arrow. She grins gleefully, then levels another arrow and shoots it at another one of Artemis' warriors, killing her.
FLASH TO
Ares and his men fighting some Roman soldiers at the palace entrance. Ares picks up a sword dropped by a fallen guard, then uses both swords to kill two soldiers. The surviving soldiers turn and run.
ARES:
Come on.
CUT TO
Eve, still in the dungeon, hears a noise and leaps to her feet, gripping the bars. Two prison guards come into view. They look alarmed.
PRISON GUARD #1:
Hey, what's going on?
They draw their swords.
Ares and five other warriors burst into the dungeon and charge the guards, holding them at swordpoint. The guards drop their swords.
ARES (points to Eve, breathing heavily):
Open this cell. Now.
PRISON GUARD #2:
I can't. Not without orders from--
Ares drives his sword into the man's gut. The guard's eyes bulge, blood running from his mouth. He falls down.
ARES (turns to the other guard):
You.
PRISON GUARD (panicking):
Yes, sir.
He bends down and, with shaking hands, takes a bunch of keys off the dead guard's belt, then fumbles for the right key and opens the door.
ARES:
Good for you. (he lowers his sword) All right, get out of here.
The prison guard backs away with a sigh of relief.
PRISON GUARD (mutters):
Praise Artemis!
The prison guard is now behind Ares, who is facing the camera. Ares' face hardens. Without another word, he thrusts his sword backwards, running the guard through. The guard collapses with a strangled cry. Eve gasps.
ARES (to Eve):
Get moving. We have to get out of here before this whole place goes up in flames.
Eve comes out of the cell.
EVE:
Ares--
ARES:
Save the thank-yous for later. Come on!
He grabs her arm and they run toward the exit.
CUT TO
A wide shot of the forum. Roman soldiers are running through the forum, some of them clashing with the rebels.
An explosion rocks one of the buildings. Fire erupts. This is followed by another explosion.
CUT TO
A tight shot of the forum. Two Roman soldiers fly through the air, thrown by the force of the explosion.
Ares and Eve come into view, running. Three Romans charge them; Ares spars with two of them. Eve has no weapons, but she blocks the Roman's sword strike at her head with one arm, then grabs his wrist and twists his body around to meet her vicious kick. As he falls, she slams her elbow up into his chin.
Ares, who has just dispatched both of his opponents, looks at her with grudging respect.
ARES:
Not bad.
EVE:
One down--how many more to go?
ARES:
Come on, let's find Xena.
They run toward the other end of the forum. As they run, more Romans run toward them. Ares yanks at Eve's arm and they dive away as another explosion goes off, almost under their feet. In slow motion, the debris from the explosion settles and the flames starts to spread. As we return to normal motion, Ares and Eve scramble to their feet. The Romans lie on the ground, their bodies now engulfed in flames.
Eve turns to look at the palace. It is now in flames.
CUT TO
Near the temple of Artemis. Xena's troops are pushing Artemis' temple warriors back toward the temple. Sabina and her troops ride up and engage the rebels. As the battle rages, we see some of the rebels fall.
Pan to Klymene on the wall, taking aim at Sabina and releasing the arrow.
Pan to Sabina as she and her horse go down, the norse neighing loudly.
Pan to Klymene, who pumps her fist in the air.
Pan back to the battle as Sabina rises to her feet, unhurt.
Pan back to Klymene, who scowls, disappointed.
CUT TO
Ares and Eve still running toward the battle scene.
CUT TO
Xena fighting on the temple steps. She cuts down two of Artemis' temple warriors.
SABINA (off-camera):
Xena. (Pan to Sabina to show her standing a few feet away, sword drawn.) We meet again. I guess it was meant to be, huh?
XENA:
Please spare me the platitudes.
SABINA:
Gladly.
They start fighting. Both women are hurting, Sabina from her fall and Xena from assorted scratches and bruises covering her body. But the battle is spirited. Sabina strikes Xena with a side kick and a backfist at the same time, but Xena dances out of the way of the fist and grabs Sabina's extended leg. She pulls hard and Sabina loses her balance but rolls out of Xena's range.
Sabina leaps to her feet and advances again, driving Xena back toward the top of the steps.
Pan to Eve and Ares, who are now at the bottom of the steps. Ares looks tense and jumpy as he watches Xena.
Xena has taken control of the fight and with a strong series of punches, front kicks and sword blows, she drives Sabina back toward the columns of the portico.
ARES (yells):
Xena! Get back now!
Xena turns and looks over at Ares. They make eye contact for a second; her expression is one of tenderness and regret.
ARES:
No.
He starts running toward the steps, pushing his way past the rebels and the Roman forces (soldiers and temple warriors) who are still fighting.
Suddenly, everything happens at once:
A Roman appears out of nowhere and knocks Eve to the ground while she is distracted watching the fight.
Ares is running towards Xena and Sabina.
From Eve's perspective, we watch in slow motion as Sabina uses Xena's focus on Ares to attack her. Xena stumbles but remains standing.
A huge explosion rocks the stairs, flames and smoke shooting out. There are loud screams.
As the explosion settles, there is no sign of Xena, Ares, or Sabina.
Eve screams, horrified. The Roman soldier raises his sword over her--
SMASH CUT TO
[film in full color]
The Fates' Loom, as we hear Eve screaming. She is lying on the floor of the temple in the same position as she was in the Forum, flat on her back, arms outstretched, eyes open but unfocused. She still has a couple of scratches she got during the battle.
The Fates watch her impassively. Lachesis is holding a length of thick black thread, which Atropos' scissors are poised to cut. They watch Eve scream, and finally Atropos nods decisively, as if to say, "that's enough." She cuts the thread clean in two.
Eve immediately snaps awake. She is disorientated and looks around for a second before remembering where she is.
She looks at the Fates.
EVE (incredulous):
What was that? Are you telling me that's the future we're all facing?
CLOTHO:
Perhaps. But mortals...
LACHESIS:
...always have the power...
ATROPOS:
...to alter Fate.
Atropos lifts up the length of thread she just cut. We follow its path down to the floor and across to Eve's black cloak. She tugs it and Eve feels the motion of the fabric.
EVE (slowly but firmly):
So, if we don't stop Artemis now, that's the future. (shakes her head) But it's not inevitable. (to the Fates) Is it?
CLOTHO (raises an eyebrow):
Is it?
Close-up on Eve's pale but determined face as we:
FADE OUT
THE END
[The future was harmed, though perhaps not permanently, during the production of this motion picture.]
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Xena: Warrior Princess Shipper Seasons Season 10 Episode 4 The Dark Ages Story By: Ryan and Aurora Written By: Amber and Ryan Co-Written By: LadyKate Edited By: LadyKate Collage By: Aurora Images Gathered By: Aurora Cast
Original Airdate June 15, 2009 The future was harmed, though perhaps not permanently, during the production of this motion picture.  DEDICATED TO KEVIN SMITH All characters and storylines that have appeared in the syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess are a copyright and trademark of Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No infringement was intended during the writing of this script. All original characters and storylines are a copyright of the respective authors and of the Shipper Seasons. No script may be reproduced on a website elsewhere without the author's consent. © Shipper Seasons www.shipperseasons.com |
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