ACT TWO

FADE IN

We see a room filled with clouds of bluish smoke; everything is blue black. Xena, Gabrielle, Ares, and Eve enter and are soon lost in the fog, separated from each other.

GABRIELLE (moving the fog with her hands in an attempt to see):
     Xena! Eve! Ares!

CUT TO

Another part of the room. Xena is hidden in fog away from the others.

XENA (hearing the calls):
     Gabrielle! Eve! Ares!

CUT TO

Another part of the room. Eve is hidden away from the others as well.

EVE:
     Mother, where are you?! Gabrielle!

CUT TO

Another part of the room. Ares is calling.

ARES:
     Xena!!

They all continue to call for each other but are unable to locate each other through the thick fog.

CUT TO

Xena walks through the fog, looking, hearing the calling cease. The fog suddenly parts for her and she enters a clearing, seeing Ares standing in front of her. He looks almost transfixed by her appearance.

XENA (glad to see him):
     Ares. (she smiles) Come on, we have to go find Eve and Gabrielle.

She tries to get him to come, but he pulls away from her, only to step closer again.

ARES:
     That can wait... (seductively) I've waited so long to do this.

He gazes at her so tenderly that she can't help but stay where she is. He kisses her wildly. Xena tries half-heartedly to pull away, but soon starts kissing back.

XENA:
     Ares...we have to go...

Ares caresses her body with his hands, ignoring what she's saying.

ARES (in a tender voice):
     Tell me you're mine, Xena. Tell me you're mine...

XENA (closing her eyes in pleasure):
     Yes...

Suddenly, his sinister laugh echoes through the room. Xena looks at him alarmed and sees an evil smile on his face.

ARES:
     Welcome back! (continues to caress and kiss her) You and I will be unstoppable. We will rule the world like we had always dreamed of doing... (whispers) ...together.

She can't resist his touch, though she is clearly distraught.

XENA (weakly):
     No. No... I have left that behind me...

ARES:
     Have you, Xena? They don't think so.

He points to rows of severed heads surrounding them--heads of murdered villagers all muttering accusations at Xena.

HEAD #1:
     You destroyed my village, Xena! My family!! You think you can just put that behind you?

HEAD #2:
     My son died at your hand even as he begged for mercy!

HEAD #3:
     You think the good deeds you do now will ever make up for what you did to us?

Xena's anguished. She shakes her head, putting her hands over her ears trying to drown out their voices but is unable to, they just get louder and louder.

XENA:
     No... No!

CUT TO

Ares is walking through the fog. The fog begins to clear a path in front of him and he sees something that looks to be a figure before him.

ARES:
     Xena?

The fog clears more and he sees Gabrielle and Eve lying on the ground.

ARES:
     Ah. Two for the price of one. What are you doing? We have to go look for Xena. Come on.

There is no response from either woman.

ARES:
     Wake up--we've got to go.

There is still nothing. Ares crouches by them and picks up Gabrielle's arm, pressing his finger to her wrist to check for a pulse. There isn't one.

ARES:
     Not again...

He puts his hands on them, letting a blue glow shine around all three of them. He heals them again. When the blue light fades and Gabrielle and Eve stir slightly, Ares collapses to the ground. He is extremely weak, barely able to move. He looks up and sees the faint image of Xena coming toward him.

ARES (to himself, weakly):
     You're coming for me...

Xena steps right over him, not even looking at him.

XENA (causally--almost sarcastically):
     Thanks, Ares.

She helps Gabrielle up and they stand over him. Eve scrambles up as well but stays a little way behind Xena and Gabrielle.

XENA (begins to laugh, looking down at the weak and helpless Ares):
     You are so pathetic, Ares, you know that? Your love...is a joke! It's really funny if you think about it. Did you really think that if you saved Gabrielle and Eve, you'd actually have a chance with me? So foolish. (she sounds incredulous; disgusted at what Ares did)

Ares looks at her, hurt and pain in his eyes. Gabrielle is grinning evilly.

Xena starts to kiss Gabrielle passionately and then they both begin to laugh.

XENA:
     Yeah, I know why you did it. I know why you do everything. You trained me too well. You know what, Ares? You've failed. Now you're just a washed up, useless mortal that won't ever amount to anything in this world. But you want to know the best part, right?

ARES (numbly):
     No.

GABRIELLE:
     I do.

Xena ignores him.

XENA:
     The best part is that the only memory of your (sarcastic) true love you'll have is the knowledge that everything you've done for me has been for nothing.

Gabrielle starts snickering. Ares looks at Xena--horrified, shocked, confused all at once. Xena sees him and starts laughing again.

GABRIELLE (through the laughter):
     She's right, Ares. You've been trying to keep us apart ever since Xena and I met. Well, it didn't work; you should have realized that a long time ago. I'm the only one Xena is in love with. You mean nothing to her.

ARES (shakes head):
     That isn't true...

GABRIELLE:
     Oh, it is. She's told me. She hates you and I don't blame her after all the hurt you've caused her. To tell you the truth, I agree with her. I hate you too. No one in their right mind would be able to love the God of War. Or should I say ex God of War?

Xena beckons Eve to come closer while Gabrielle speaks.

EVE:
     I used to think that you were serious about the two of us, ruling the world, death and destruction... And then you go and betray me! Did you really think my mother would let you into her bed?! If I didn't follow Eli, I'd kill you on the spot--but this is even better. Now my mother's life is complete.

XENA:
     That's right. (puts her arms around Eve and Gabrielle) I have my daughter and Gabrielle--four's a crowd, Ares.

Xena, Eve, and Gabrielle begin to cackle evilly. Gabrielle grabs Xena's head and starts to kiss her again while Eve continues to laugh. They completely ignore Ares who looks distraught.

CUT TO

Xena is still looking at the severed heads, still muttering accusations at her.

HEAD #3:
     Are you scared to look at us, Xena?

Ares comes up behind her and begins to rub Xena's shoulders tenderly. Then, he starts kissing her neck.

ARES:
     Forget them, Xena. Forget them. The only thing that is important now is that we're together and we will rule together.

He leans in closer to her, nuzzling her neck.

ARES (whisper in her ear):
     Imagine it...two great armies going head to head, with you and me riding at the head of the victory. I know you want it.

XENA (shakes her head, anguished):
     No.

She starts to walk away but Ares takes hold of her arm, spins her around and captures Xena's lips once again.

ARES:
     And then, of course, there's our victory celebration...

The next scene is similar to Xena's dream in "Eternal Bonds". He fiercely kisses her neck, her face, then moves down. He lowers the straps of her leather tunic and he begins to slip it off her body, as he kisses the skin just above her breasts. Xena's head is arched back. It is clear that though she enjoys what Ares is doing, she knows that something is not right.

Ares straightens up and wraps his arms firmly around her waist; Xena is now pressed up against him. He looks deep into her eyes.

ARES:
     I know you want me, Xena. I can see it in your eyes. It's that fire, the lust for power... You know what I can bring you. We could be equals on and off the battlefield. Join me, Xena.

He leans to kiss her again but this time, she is able to free herself from his grasp and walks away. Then in front of her appears a head, floating in the air.

HEAD #4:
     Why do you fear what you are?

Xena's face soon turns from anguish to realization, the word "fear" echoing in her mind.

XENA (confident; to the severed heads):
     I'm not that way anymore.

She turns to the nightmare Ares.

XENA (firmly):
     You're not that way anymore. I'm not afraid of you.

ARES:
     Of course not, Xena. Don't be afraid of me. Don't be afraid of the darkness inside you. Embrace it.

Xena shakes her head and closes her eyes, remembering the past; clips from "Motherhood" show.

The nightmare Ares leans in to kiss her lips again, but she stops him, forcefully pushing him away.

XENA (firmly):
     I'm not afraid of you.

We see that the nightmare Ares is weakening.

XENA:
     I'm not afraid of you. I'm not afraid of you!

ARES:
     No... No... (voice begins to falter and fade)

CUT TO

Ares is still lying on the ground. He looks at Xena who is kissing Gabrielle. Xena looks down at him for a moment.

XENA:
     Do you fear your mortality, Ares? You should.

Ares begins to look around thoughtfully.

XENA:
     It's a cruel world out there; you're not cut out to live in it. I bet you won't be able to survive your first night. So, you should be afraid. (she goes back to kissing Gabrielle)

ARES (quietly, to himself):
     Fear...

Ares still looks at Xena. She stops kissing Gabrielle and she looks quite annoyed by his staring.

XENA (snapping):
     What are you looking at?

He closes his eyes, reliving the same flashback as Xena used, from "Motherhood".

Ares opens his eyes. He stands up and walks up to Xena.

ARES:
     You're not real. This whole thing isn't real.

She looks at Gabrielle who is grinning wickedly and then they both burst into laughter.

XENA (she starts to laugh again):
     Oh, you think so, do you?

ARES:
     Yeah. You know how I know? (Xena eyes him) Because you care. I know you do.

The nightmare Xena's laughter begins to fade.

ARES:
     You care! I know you do.

XENA:
     No...

ARES:
     You care! I know you do.

Suddenly we see both the real Xena and Ares breaking out of their nightmares. They find themselves standing, facing each other. They don't know that they have escaped and keep repeating their phrases.

XENA (repeating):
     I'm not afraid of you. I'm not afraid of you.

ARES (repeating):
     You care! I know you do. You care! I know you do.

There is momentary uncomfortable silence as they realize that they're free from their fears and that the person in front of them is real--no longer the nightmare.

XENA (looking around, not wanting to look at Ares):
     I...

ARES:
     Let's go.

They look at each other; their expressions both show a hint of embarrassment.

XENA:
     Yeah. We don't have the time to waste talking.

CUT TO

Xena walks up to a clearing in the fog and sees Gabrielle and Eve.

CUT TO

Inside Gabrielle's nightmare. She is in a generic tavern room, sparsely furnished with a bed, a table and a crib. She sees the crib and walks slowly over to it. Inside is a young baby, wrapped in a white blanket. Only her face is visible. She is smiling and waving her arms around.

A smile comes over Gabrielle's face.

GABRIELLE:
     Hope...my baby.

She reaches into the cradle and picks up Hope, who immediately settles into her mother's arms with a satisfied gurgle. Gabrielle hugs her tightly. Hope's face is visible to us but not to Gabrielle. We watch them for a moment as Gabrielle sits down on the bed, nursing her daughter.

GABRIELLE:
     I knew you weren't evil. Just like I told Xena, you're my child. You're not evil.

We see Hope's face suddenly change from a sweet baby to a monstrous demon. Her skin shrivels and turns red and her eyes become slits. Small triangular fangs appear between her lips. Gabrielle is still totally oblivious.

GABRIELLE:
     I love you, Hope.

Hope makes a snarling noise as she breaks away from Gabrielle's arms. She becomes bigger and bigger as we watch, until she is only just smaller than Gabrielle herself. Her white blanket falls to the floor and we see her demonic form: she has red skin and is partly covered in gooey stuff, similar to the beginning of "Sacrifice II". It, however, is also red.

Gabrielle at first doesn't understand what is happening.

GABRIELLE (shouting):
     Hope! Don't worry! I'll protect you!

She draws her sais.

Hope laughs, before speaking. She has a raspy, snake-like voice that Gabrielle can only just hear.

HOPE:
     I think you'll have enough trouble protecting yourself. Mother.

Gabrielle is too shocked to speak. She drops her sais.

HOPE:
     Yes, yes, it's me. Your beloved daughter. Did you miss me?

Gabrielle manages to find her voice.

GABRIELLE:
     You're--you aren't my daughter!

HOPE:
     Oh, but I am. It's ironic, really, don't you think?

GABRIELLE (weakly):
     What?

HOPE:
     That you're the one who gave me life. I existed before you knew me, Mother, before that day in that temple in Britannia. Father and I were waiting for the right one, the one to give me human form.

GABRIELLE:
     You're not human, Hope.

HOPE (musing):
     No, I'm not, am I? Do you know why that is? It's because you never loved me. Not once. Even when I was just a baby, you were always trying to get Xena (she spits the name out bitterly, as though it's a curse) involved too. It was never you and me. It was always you and her.

Hope is quite emotional by this time, almost human, but she abruptly calms herself down. Gabrielle is openly sobbing.

HOPE:
     Anyway, back to the irony of the situation. You gave me life. I'm about to give you--

She pauses a moment and waits for Gabrielle to look at her. Her eyes and voice go ice-cold as she reaches out her arms and starts to choke Gabrielle.

HOPE:
     --death.

They struggle as Hope grips Gabrielle's neck tighter and tighter, forcing Gabrielle down onto the floor. She kneels over her to watch her mother die. Gabrielle has other ideas though; she rolls over and over on the floor, finally breaking Hope's grip. She has ended up within arm's reach of one of her sais. She takes a few deep breaths before grabbing the sai and jumping back onto her feet.

Hope is at first admiring, but quickly becomes incensed that her mother is still living.

HOPE:
     You're a lot better than you look, Mother. I hate that.

She charges towards Gabrielle, expecting to be able to knock her over again. Gabrielle reacts quickly though and steps to the side, allowing Hope to impale herself on the outstretched sai. She dies immediately.

Gabrielle falls to the ground, by her daughter, sobbing.

GABRIELLE:
     My Hope, my baby. You're not evil; you can't be evil!

CUT TO

Xena appears out of the mist and sees Gabrielle writhing on the ground.

GABRIELLE:
     You're not evil; you can't be evil! I won't let you be evil!

Xena runs to Gabrielle and starts shaking her.

XENA:
     Gabrielle, face your fear! Hope is gone! She's not coming back! Face it!

Gabrielle shudders violently, before jerking awake.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena?

XENA:
     It's me, Gabrielle. It's me. It's over. You're all right.

She rocks Gabrielle gently, soothing her.

CUT TO

We see inside Eve's nightmare. The final fight sequence from "Eve":

LIVIA:
     Attack!

Various fight clips are shown of Livia/Xena in the temple. Livia raises the chakram over Xena's throat.

XENA (whispering):
     Eli, save my daughter. I couldn't. (looks at Livia) I love you.

As in the episode, a light shines through the roof of the temple.

Condensed baby Eve clips are shown from "Seeds of Faith", "God Fearing Child" and various other episodes...

XENA:
     We're going to be together, now, Eve. You and me.

Xena is singing a lullaby.

As the light fades away, Eve looks at her mother. Xena is lying on the temple floor, vulnerable to attack. They share a long look.

LIVIA:
     I know.

She slams the chakram down, killing Xena. There is no emotion in her face at all.

CUT TO

Hell. Eve is lying on the ground, moaning. Xena is trying to wake her up. Gabrielle is standing watching them.

XENA:
     Eve! Wake up!

EVE (screaming out):
     No! I didn't kill you! I didn't kill you! It didn't happen! I didn't kill you, Mother!

XENA (shaking Eve):
     Come on, Eve, you can do it! I love you! You didn't kill me!

CUT TO

Inside Eve's nightmare. Now we are in Rome, watching Livia deliver a speech to a cheering crowd.

LIVIA:
     So, as you can see, the Elijans have now been completely annihilated.

We pan across the crowd to see rows and rows of crosses stretching off into the distance, each with a crude, mocking fish emblem scratched into the wood.

LIVIA:
     If any other members of this ungodly cult dare to show their faces in Rome's Empire again, they will suffer the same fate. Even now, I doubt they are getting what they so obviously deserve.

The crowd cheers again. Livia smiles coldly. She is completely evil, totally beyond redemption.

We zoom in on Livia's face and sound bites of her thoughts play. She smiles evilly all the while.

[LIVIA'S THOUGHTS]

XENA:
     Eve! Wake up! You didn't kill me--I'm right here! Eve, face your fears! You're not Livia anymore!

[END LIVIA'S THOUGHTS]

CUT TO

Hell. Eve jerks awake and instantly seeks Xena's arms. They hug for a time.

GABRIELLE:
     Well, I guess we know what that riddle Raphael gave us means now, that we had to escape from our greatest fears in order to move through Hell freely.

XENA (nods):
     Let's find the gods and get out of here before anything else happens.

EVE:
     Good idea.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO