ACT THREE

FADE IN

Polyeidus and Xena are sleeping inside Athena's temple. Everything inside is glittering with gold, which reflects the flickering light of candles and oil lamps. Statues of owls are mounted into the walls of each corner of the temple. The altar is lavishly decorated with gold brocade.

Dissolve into Xena's dream. She is standing in the Great Hall on Mt. Olympus, the same one where she battled Athena in "Motherhood." Everything is enveloped in clouds of white mist. As the mist clears, Xena looks around her, surprised and wary.

ATHENA (off-camera):
     Xena.

Xena whips around and sees the Goddess of Wisdom standing behind her, the shimmer of golden sparks fading around her form. Xena's hand jerks instinctively toward her sword; then, recollecting herself, she brings her hand down and stares at Athena.

XENA:
     What am I doing here?

ATHENA:
     I know you are on a mission, Xena. I know my seer, Polyeidus, told you to come to my temple. In order to kill the Chimaera, you need to catch and tame the winged horse, Pegasus. I was the one who first tamed Pegasus and gave him to the Muses. This is what you need to capture him.

A golden bridle, glowing brightly, appears in Athena's hand. Its clasps have Athena's seal on them. The goddess hands the bridle to Xena. Xena hesitates.

XENA (intrigued):
     Did you send Polyeidus to me?

ATHENA (smiles):
     I did.

XENA:
     Why?

ATHENA:
     Maybe it's my way of saying that what's past is past. You know, Xena, when mortals fear for their lives...or the lives of those they love...it can bring out the worst in them. (she pauses) And the same goes for gods. (Xena nods and lowers her eyes) You risked your life to save me and the other gods, and for that, you have my thanks. Here.

She holds out the bridle again.

XENA (still hesitant):
     It is not my way to ask the gods for help...

ATHENA:
     I know you don't care for the gods very much, Xena. And perhaps you have your reasons. For immortals, we have often been...petty. (she pauses again, clearly making an effort to get the words out) Perhaps we wouldn't have lost the loyalty of as many people as we did if we had used our powers more often to help mortals, not for our own selfish ends. (Xena stares down thoughtfully) And Xena? (Xena flinches slightly and looks up) You have always made your own destiny. But there is no shame in accepting help--even from the gods.

XENA (takes the bridle):
     Thank you.

Athena nods slightly. Xena turns around and starts walking away.

ATHENA:
     Xena? (Xena stops and turns around) You haven't asked where to find Pegasus. (Xena looks at her expectantly) Fortunately for you, it's not too far from here. The spring of Pirene is only three hours' ride from the city gates of Lycia, on the other side of the swamp. That spring was born when Pegasus first landed and struck his hoof on the ground, and at first the water flowed so abundantly that it created the swamp. It is still his favorite drinking place. Just wait for him there.

XENA:
     Thank you. (she starts to leave)

ATHENA:
     There is one other thing you need to know. (Xena turns, a little impatiently) I pledged to Pegasus that he would never have to obey the will of a mortal for more than one full day out of a year. So you have only a short time to do what you need to do before the bridle loses its power and Pegasus becomes wild once again. Good luck, Xena.

The white mist starts clouding again, and the golden flash of Athena's disappearance is seen through the mist. Xena looks around in bewilderment, trying to figure a way out.

Back in the temple, Xena wakes up with a start. It is morning already and a shaft of sunlight shines through the single small window. Polyeidus is still asleep. Xena looks around but the golden bridle is nowhere to be seen.

XENA (sighs as she stands up):
     Gods...

Suddenly, there is a golden shimmer in the air in front of her, which begins to take shape and solidify. It is the golden bridle, which falls gently into Xena's hands.

XENA (shakes her head and smiles):
     They do love their special effects...

CUT TO

The temple gardens. Gabrielle and Theias are asleep on the bench; he has an arm around her and she is leaning on his shoulder. Letters and words are scratched into the ground in front of them.

Xena and Polyeidus walk up, Xena supporting Polyeidus by the elbow while he uses his cane to find the way. Xena looks at the sleeping Gabrielle and Polyeidus and a shadow of a smile crosses her face.

XENA (gently, but loudly enough to wake up her friend):
     Gabrielle!

Gabrielle and Theias wake up and are a little startled by their physical proximity. Xena can't help grinning a little.

GABRIELLE (rubs her eyes):
     Xena...is it morning already?

XENA:
     Yes. And now, we have a way to catch Pegasus. (she shows Gabrielle the golden bridle)

CUT TO

The forest clearing where Pegasus first landed and where the clear blue spring now flows. Xena and Gabrielle are sitting behind some trees waiting. Their horses are tied to a tree nearby. Argo's harness and saddle are lying on the ground.

XENA:
     After we catch Pegasus, I think we'll build a campsite right here. I don't think it would do to bring him to the stable at the inn and frighten the horses. (smiles) Not to mention the people.

GABRIELLE:
     If we catch Pegasus. I think we've been out here for two hours.

XENA:
     He'll show up.

GABRIELLE (looks at Xena, obviously having got an idea):
     Xena--that thing we saw fly overhead when we were on our way to town...do you think that could have been--

XENA (thoughtfully):
     Maybe it was.

A brief pause.

GABRIELLE:
     So I guess Athena came through.

XENA (dryly):
     I guess so.

GABRIELLE:
     You always did say you respected her more than any of the other gods...

XENA (gives her a quick glance and changes the subject):
     So...seems like you and Theias are getting along pretty well.

GABRIELLE (blushing a little):
     What exactly do you mean?

XENA (smirking):
     Just what I said. You're getting along pretty well.

GABRIELLE:
     Well, he's very sweet...

XENA (teasingly):
     And very good-looking?

GABRIELLE (blushes even more):
     Xena!

XENA:
     What? What did I say?

Suddenly, the smile is gone from her face and she presses her finger to her lips as the flapping of giant wings is heard. The two women look up and see the magnificent white winged steed flying toward the clearing. Pegasus lands, folds his wings and begins to drink from the spring.

GABRIELLE (staring in awe at the winged horse):
     That's incredible...

Xena takes out the golden bridle, rises, and walks slowly toward Pegasus. She walks stealthily toward it but then accidentally steps on a twig that cracks under her boot. Pegasus looks up, startled, and rears, hoofing at the air and flapping its wings in hopes of warding off the intruder. Gabrielle follows Xena with her eyes, alarmed.

Xena puts a hand up and murmurs, trying to calm the horse, but he is only getting more agitated, neighing loudly. Then, Xena raises the golden bridle in front of her face--and at the sight of it, Pegasus instantly lowers himself onto all fours. He folds his wings and, with a soft whinnying, walks up to Xena. Xena looks amazed and awed. She rubs Pegasus' velvety nose and the winged horse nuzzles against her shoulder. Xena slips the golden bridle over his head and then looks over at Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE:
     It was the bridle that did it. Athena did come through.

XENA:
     All right...now get me the harness.

Gabrielle tosses Argo's harness and saddle to Xena. Carefully, petting Pegasus on the head, Xena saddles the steed--who whinnies a little nervously but does not resist--and climbs into the saddle. Pegasus flaps his wings a couple of times.

GABRIELLE:
     You did it!

THEIAS (off-camera):
     Oh, by the gods...!

The camera pans over to Theias and Polyeidus, who have just arrived in the clearing. Theias is leading his father's horse by the bridle.

THEIAS (staring at Pegasus):
     That is the most beautiful sight I've ever seen!

XENA (surprised):
     What are you two doing here? I thought you were staying back at the inn.

POLYEIDUS (a little embarrassed):
     I have seen this wondrous horse in my dreams and visions, Xena... Although my eyes do not see what is before me, it would mean a great deal to me to touch him with my own hands.

XENA (obviously moved):
     Of course.

Theias helps his father dismount and leads him toward Pegasus. Smiling dreamily, the old man runs his hands over the horse's muzzle, neck, and side, stroking the soft fur, and then reaches over to touch the wings. Pegasus whinnies at first but calms down when Xena pats him on the head.

THEIAS:
     He's magnificent, father.

POLYEIDUS (in an awed whisper, with a blissful look on his face):
     It's him all right....Pegasus.

Theias helps him step aside.

XENA:
     I have to go. There isn't much time.

GABRIELLE (with a worried look):
     How are you going to tackle the Chimaera? Even from the air, it can't be easy.

XENA:
     I've thought of something, Gabrielle. The monster's scales are too hard and thick--I wouldn't be able to get through with my sword or the chakram. But from the air, I can kill it by stabbing it in the eye. I just have to get close enough.

GABRIELLE:
     Just be careful.

XENA:
     Aren't I always? (smiles) Start making a campsite. I'll be back soon.

Xena gently kicks Pegasus in the side. He slowly spreads his wings and starts to flap them, faster and faster until he rises off the ground, turns and flies up past the treetops and into the open sky.

Gabrielle looks at Polyeidus, grabs a blanket from her saddlebag and spreads it on the ground.

GABRIELLE:
     Here, sit down and get some rest.

With Theias' assistance, Polyeidus sits down.

POLYEIDUS (gruffly, but with a little more softness in his voice than he has previously shown toward Gabrielle):
     Thank you, young woman.

GABRIELLE (to Theias):
     Come on! You can help me make camp.

CUT TO

Xena guiding Pegasus through the air, soaring above the land. As they near the canyon cliffs, the Chimaera comes into view, still positioned motionless on the cliff. Xena directs Pegasus to fly higher to make sure the monster does not see her. From the air, she can observe the devastation that the Chimaera has caused.

As far as her eyes can see, the land on the other side of the rock face is charred, burnt to the ground. The Chimaera's fiery breath has destroyed the crops and now the land is barren. Along the sides of the cliff, scattered all over, Xena sees the bones of the unlucky victims that crossed the Chimaera's path. She winces painfully. Closing her eyes, she replays in her mind a flashback of the previous day's events--the screams of the people hidden from her view by the Chimaera's huge body, the flames that are consuming them, her chakram bouncing uselessly off the monster's back.

CUT TO

The campsite. Polyeidus is sleeping on the blanket. Gabrielle and Theias are sitting nearby, hunched over a scroll. Gabrielle is writing something.

GABRIELLE (in a half-whisper):
     Here, can you read that?

THEIAS (moves his lips, reading, then looks up at Gabrielle):
     That's my name, isn't it? Theias?

GABRIELLE (beaming):
     Yes! There you go! I told you, there's nothing to it.

They stare into each other's eyes.

THEIAS:
     You're very beautiful.

He looks away, struck by the boldness of his own words. Gabrielle is a little flustered.

CUT TO

Xena, circling over the Chimaera and planning her attack. Finally she swoops down, aiming her sword at its left eye. Seeing her, the monster roars. Xena strikes--but the Chimaera lowers its transparent inner eyelids, which are actually scales, as hard as diamonds. The sword shatters in half. A close-up of Xena's face. She looks shocked and dismayed.

Angered by the attack, the Chimaera flicks its lion head, hitting the winged horse and its rider. The force of the blow knocks Xena out of the saddle. The Chimaera snarls again and lets out a stream of fire, barely missing Xena in her fall. She lands on a cliff, momentarily hidden from the Chimaera's view by a rock. Shakily, Xena clambers up to her feet while Pegasus swoops down toward her. As she tries to grab the bridle with her right hand, her face is distorted in a grimace of pain. She looks at her right arm and sees that it's badly damaged--covered with blood, the skin turning blue. Using her left hand, she starts, with difficulty, to get back in the saddle.

The Chimaera's roar is heard again, and there is another flare of fire. Pegasus bucks nervously.

XENA (pats the horse on the neck with her good hand, wincing with pain):
     Shhh...shhh....there's a good boy...

She finally manages to get back in the saddle. Pegasus flies upward and away from the beast as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT THREE