7.13 Ghosts From the Past


ACT THREE

FADE IN

Long shot of Xena riding Argo out of the city gates, galloping along a dirt road toward the hills.

CUT TO

She is riding at a trot now. Argo's head hangs; she is obviously exhausted from the long ride. Argo neighs and Xena pats her.

XENA:
     Tired, eh girl? Yeah, me too. But we can't stop now; see, we have to save a man's life. And this time, it's personal.

CUT TO

A hillside. Dawn is breaking. Xena, who has dismounted, is wandering around looking intently at the ground. There is a strong wind that lashes at her, whipping through her hair. Suddenly Xena sees something that catches her eye: underneath a shrub, there is a very faint blue spot that glows slightly. She walks over and kneels, lifting up the twigs of the shrub. It is a five-petal flower about the size of a daisy that grows low to the ground. Its petals are a beautiful pink but it emits a faint blue glow. Xena's face lights up with a smile as she reaches toward the flower.

LYCAON (off-camera):
     The Warrior Princess. Thought I'd find you here.

Xena bolts upright and turns to face Lycaon, on horseback.

XENA:
     Lycaon. Back for more?

LYCAON:
     You could say that. You know, Xena, I figured one of those worthless peasants I cut with my sword might have survived...at least for now. And I thought there was a good chance you'd come here looking for the antidote.

XENA:
     What do you want?

LYCAON:
     I told you. Everything I do, I do in the name of the God of War.

XENA (bitterly):
     Don't tell me he sent you after me!

LYCAON (sneers):
     No, he didn't. And that's the problem.

XENA (narrows her eyes, looking at him in puzzlement):
     What?

LYCAON:
     You know something, Xena? Ever since I was a boy, Ares was the only god I revered. The god of warriors, the god who reveled in fighting and bloodshed. I became a warrior because I wanted to serve him. And then he betrayed us. Suddenly, we heard stories that he was now mortal. And you know what the story was? That he became mortal for you! (Xena's face remains impassive as she listens.) I didn't want to believe it. Not until I met him in a village...much like the one where my boys and I were (derisively) having fun yesterday. Not only was he mortal, he was defending a bunch of peasants!

Xena

XENA (flinches):
     Ares was what?

LYCAON:
     Believe it. He should have been on our side! You turned him soft, Xena...the way you turned soft. Even now that he's a god again, he isn't half the god he used to be.

XENA:
     You told me you fought in the name of Ares.

LYCAON:
     Oh, I do. He's disgraced the name of the God of War, made it nothing more than fodder for minstrels with no reverence for what is sacred. (accusing) And that was your fault too, Xena! You robbed the people of their faith, their dignity. Well, guess what? You won't rob me of mine. If Ares won't fight in his name, then I will!

He charges her and tries to cut her down, but Xena grabs his arm and yanks him down from his horse. Lycaon leaps to his feet and they begin a sword fight. Xena swings left and right as he does the same, countering every blow. She flips over him and kicks him in the back, sending him falling forward but he quickly rises to his feet.

LYCAON:
     And you know something else, Xena? When Ares was mortal, he wasn't even much of a fighter. (off Xena's distracted look) Are you listening?!

XENA (purrs):
     Oh, I promise, you have a captive audience.

LYCAON:
     I mean, he was no match for any real warrior.

Xena smirks. There is a flash of blue light. Ares materializes with the tip of his sword at Lycaon's chest.

ARES:
     I think I've listened to just about enough of this. (to Xena) Allow me.

LYCAON:
     Ares. I should have killed you when I had a chance.

ARES:
     Famous last words.

Lycaon snarls and raises his sword, but Ares is much too quick for him--in the next moment, Lycaon clutches at his chest and drops to the ground, his eyes never leaving Ares until they turn glassy. He's dead.

Ares looks at the blood on the sword. With a slight frown, he motions over the blade, and it is left clean.

XENA:
     You know, for mortals, it's not as easy to get the bloodstains out...they fade, but they never disappear completely. (sighs) Feel better?

ARES:
     Better than your friend back in town.

XENA:
     He's not just my friend; he's my brother. And he will feel better once I get back.

ARES:
     Your brother?

XENA:
     He's Toris. I...just found out.

ARES (reluctantly):
     Xena, Lycaon did almost kill me...with the same poison. If it weren't for... (he stumbles and lowers his eyes) ...a friend...I would have been dead.

Xena looks at him, horrified.

[FLASHBACK]

Chloe and Dymas rush Ares inside the house, Helice following, closing the door behind them. Ares sits down on the bed; he is starting to shiver and gasp. Chloe looks at his wound.

DYMAS:
     You were right about him, Chloe. I'm so sorry I didn't believe you.

CHLOE:
     That doesn't matter now. He needs help.

HELICE:
     Is he going to die?

CHLOE:
     I'll do all I can. (Ares gives her a surprised look) Luckily for you, Argeus, I'm the village healer. And I think I have an antidote for this poison.

Her eyes settle on a shelf across from the bed where several jars sit. She stands up and walks up to them, checking every one. Finally she finds a small green vial sitting behind a stack of other, larger jars. It is covered with cobwebs and dust.

Chloe picks it up and blows the dust off, looking at a mark on the vial. Her eyes light up with joy.

CHLOE:
     This is what we need. It's an antidote.

She takes a cloth and dips it into a small bowl of water by the bed, dabbing the wound to clean it. Ares groans and grits his teeth. Chloe pours a little of the antidote on another piece of cloth and starts dabbing at the wound. Ares cries out slightly.

CHLOE (a little surprised):
     For a warrior, you don't seem to be used to pain...

Ares manages a bitter smirk.

ARES:
     Oh, I'm getting used to it; believe me.

Once Chloe is done treating the wound, she wraps it firmly with a dry cloth and then looks at Ares. He looks back at her and nods gratefully. His face is covered with sweat.

CHLOE:
     Argeus...thank you very much for what you did. You risked your life for our daughter...that was very noble.

Ares blinks and says nothing.

CHLOE:
     I've treated your wound. You should be all right but you're going to get quite sick before the antidote takes full effect. It will probably take you a week or so to get back to normal. Until then, you'd better stay in bed. The only thing we can do now is let you rest and let the antidote do its job.

[END OF FLASHBACK]

Xena

XENA:
     You risked your life to save that girl?

ARES:
     Hey, what exactly you implying about my combat skills?

Xena looks at him and smiles, shaking her head a little.

XENA:
     So the antidote works. Great! All I have to do is get the flower...

CUT TO

Xanthus' study. Xanthus is asleep at his desk. Philyra comes out of the infirmary. The noise makes the elderly physician wake up with a start.

XANTHUS:
     How's the patient?

PHILYRA:
     He's delirious again... I hope we get the antidote soon. (her face changes suddenly as she thinks of something) Xanthus--you did tell Xena about the special quality of the Mickree Flower, didn't you?

XANTHUS:
     What are you talking about?

PHILYRA:
     The flower cannot be touched directly by human hands. (Xanthus gives her a nervous look) If it is touched, it will wilt and become quite useless.

XANTHUS (shocked):
     What?

PHILYRA:
     Didn't Lysander ever tell you?

XANTHUS (confused):
     I...I don't think so... If you can't touch it, then how are you supposed to get it?

PHILYRA:
     Use a cloth, a glove...anything. As long as it doesn't touch human skin, it's fine. But if you touch it with your bare hands, it will die.

XANTHUS (horrified):
     Oh no....

CUT TO

Mickree Flower

A ray of morning sunlight reaches the thicket where the Mickree flower grows. There is a sound like a soft chord played on a lyre--and one by one, the pink petals of the glowing flower turns a brilliant violet. Xena reaches down to pluck it and rises with a smile on her face. But suddenly, the flower starts to shrivel and fades to a grayish color. Xena's face turns from joy to bewilderment and then horror as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT THREE