ACT ONE

FADE IN

GABRIELLE:
     The Chimaera?

XENA:
     Look, Iobatas, killing monsters really isn't my thing. I think you'd be better off summoning Hercules.

IOBATAS:
     Xena, you're our only hope. Lycia is doomed without your help.

Xena sighs and Gabrielle walks up to Iobatas.

GABRIELLE:
     You said this monster is outside the city. But we saw nothing on our way in.

IOBATAS:
     It's entrenched itself outside the city gates to the north, in the mountains overlooking the trade routes that our merchants use to deliver food and other goods to the city. Already it has ravaged portions of our land, and it kills everyone who braves the mountain passes. The creature breaths fire from a lion's mouth and tears its victims with dragon claws. None of us have any hope of dealing with it on our own. (he looks past Gabrielle to Xena) Please, Xena, help us. I assure you that your bravery will be handsomely rewarded. Shall we say...five hundred dinars?

XENA (scowling):
     I thought your city was on the verge of bankruptcy.

IOBATAS:
     What about six hundred, then? Seven? I'm sure no one would fault me for spending our emergency resources at a time like this.

XENA (disgusted):
     Keep your money, Iobatas. I'm no mercenary.

She starts to turn around; Gabrielle catches her arm.

GABRIELLE (quietly):
     Xena, you know, you can't just not help. You have to try, at least. No one will blame you if you fail. Remember how you said before that you weren't perfect? Well, you're not. And no one is expecting you to be. We've never been ones to get discouraged by a problem. Why start now?

XENA (surprised):
     Who's getting discouraged? I just don't want his money. Lycia is going to need every last dinar, even after we've taken care of the monster.

Gabrielle looks relieved.

GABRIELLE:
     You mean, we are going to help?

XENA (to Iobatas):
     Of course we'll help. It just might be a little more...challenging. (grins at Gabrielle) And you know how I love a good challenge.

IOBATAS (daring to hope):
     You mean, you don't even want a reward?

XENA:
     No.

IOBATAS (sighs in relief):
     Thank you, Xena.

CUT TO

Xena and Gabrielle are standing outside the castle entrance.

GABRIELLE:
     Any ideas?

XENA:
     It wouldn't hurt to find out more about this monster. I'm going to check it out--I'll be back soon.

GABRIELLE:
     You expect me to stay here while you are out monster hunting?

XENA:
     Yep.

GABRIELLE (warningly):
     Xena...

XENA:
     Listen, Iobatas could have been rid of this Chimaera a long time before things got to this stage, if he'd been willing to part with the dinars it would have cost him.

GABRIELLE:
     You're saying the monster is no big deal.

XENA:
     I'm saying that killing the monster is going to be the easy part. Get something to eat. I won't be gone long.

CUT TO

Xena rides Argo out of the city toward a cliff in the distance. As she nears the cliff overlooking the mountain pass, the Chimaera becomes visible. The closer Xena gets, the more she realizes how large it really is. Xena halts Argo just to the side of the pass, far enough away so that the Chimaera doesn't see her.

Towering almost into the clouds, the Chimaera sits motionless on the rock face guarding the canyon road. The creature has the body of a lion, except that it's covered with thick scales; it has a goat's head growing out of its back, facing in the other direction, and its tail is the head of a serpent.

While Xena continues to study the creature, it suddenly stirs, standing up but still making no noise. Xena looks up at it curiously, trying to figure out what aroused it. The camera pans down, to show a caravan of merchants winding their way through the pass, armed guards on either side of the wagons.

The Chimaera approaches the lip of the cliff, stalking its prey. Without a sound, it leaps down into the pass.

Xena's eyes widen and she immediately goes into action, drawing her chakram and heading for the pass.

The Chimaera lands on all fours, hisses and rears up. The armed guards panic, and the merchants scatter, but the monster is too quick for them. Like a cat toying with mice, the Chimaera flicks its paws and tail around the screaming merchants, herding them towards the narrowest part of the pass.

Xena urges Argo into a gallop, and races toward the people caught in the pass. It seems that she is going to make it--but at that moment, the monster pounces on its prey, blocking Xena's path, and her view.

Xena hears the screams and sees the fire, but she can't see what's going on. Enraged and helpless, she throws her chakram at the back of the monster's neck, but the scales are too thick, the weapon just bounces back harmlessly and the monster returns to its hideout in the cliffs.

The pass is thick with black smoke. Xena rides into it slowly. Charred bodies are everywhere; the sight is horrifying. Xena looks pale and sick.

As the smoke begins to dissipate, four men and two women, looking very shaken and with their clothes torn and singed, emerge from behind some rocks.

MALE MERCHANT #1 (potbellied and middle-aged):
     Is it gone?

XENA:
     I...I think so. (she is visibly trying to keep a grip on herself)

The merchants come closer to the scene of the carnage and look in horror at the charred bodies. Some seem dazed; others are crying and wringing their hands. One of the women mechanically picks up what's left of a sack of merchandise.

FEMALE MERCHANT #1 (stocky, tough-looking woman):
     It's all gone....they're all gone...

XENA (almost angrily):
     What were you doing here? Hadn't you heard about the monster?

MALE MERCHANT #1:
     Oh, we had... (wipes the sweat from his forehead) That's why so few merchants even venture into Lycia any more...but to tell you the truth...the prices in the city being what they are right now, it was such a great chance to make a profit, we thought we'd take the risk. (Xena gives him a scornful look) I mean, we had armed guards with us...

MALE MERCHANT #2 (a tall, lanky younger man, speaks sarcastically but with a hysterical edge in his voice):
     Armed guards! A lot of good that did us...

FEMALE MERCHANT #1:
     It's like trying to hide from a storm in a papyrus sack!

MALE MERCHANT #1 (stares curiously at Xena):
     And who are you?

XENA:
     My name is Xena. I'm a warrior and I'm here to... (her face darkens and her voice drops) ...kill the monster.

The merchants stare at her in bewilderment, clearly skeptical of her ability to fulfill the task. Xena stares back, a defiant look on her face, as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT ONE