ACT TWO
FADE IN
The sun is setting. Xena is walking briskly along a shore, leading Argo. Waves crash on the sand, sparkling gold in the fading sunlight. Xena hears coughing and looks over her shoulder, at the man in the cart.
XENA:
Hang in there. We'll reach Athens by nightfall.
CUT TO
A wide shot of Athens by night. Xena rides up to a building and dismounts. She knocks on the large doors. It opens and a woman stands in the doorway. She wears a starched white tunic and has a sheaf of parchments in her hand.
WOMAN (impatiently):
No patients can be admitted until dawn.
She tries to close the door, but Xena blocks it with her foot.
XENA:
There's been a change of plans. I have a dying man here (motions at the cart) --if he's not treated tonight, it will be too late.
The woman glances over at the sick man.
WOMAN (sighs, after a pause):
All right then, here. (she pushes the parchments into Xena's hands) Fill these out--here, and sign over here--and I need the name, father's name, mother's name, place of birth, marriage records, childhood diseases, allergies, sexual orientation...
XENA:
Whose?!
WOMAN:
The patient's!
Xena scowls and throws the parchments away.
WOMAN:
Hey! What do you...
Xena pushes past her, inside.
XENA (yelling inside the house):
Xanthus!
CUT TO
Inside the house; a small room, lit by lamplight. An elderly, kindly man rises from his table with some difficulty just as Xena storms in.
XANTHUS:
Xena. What brings you here at this hour?
XENA:
Xanthus, how much do you know about poisons?
XANTHUS:
Well, I really...
XENA:
I have a man outside who's been wounded with a poisoned sword. He's delirious, there's not much time.
XANTHUS:
Why didn't you say so right away! (yells) Philyra! Bring the patient in!
The woman who met Xena and another servant carry in the man on a stretcher. His eyes are closed, his forehead sweaty but he is shivering.
XANTHUS:
Let's take him to the infirmary. (to Xena) I'll be right back.
Philyra and the servant carry the stretcher into the adjoining room. Xanthus follows.
CUT TO
The infirmary. It is a large room, all white, well lit with oil lamps. There are shelves all along the walls with bottles and vials.
Philyra and the servant carefully move the wounded man to the table in the middle of the room, then stand back while Xanthus inspects him. He removes the cloth that is wrapped around his body and then removes the bandage covering the wound at his side. It is now surrounded completely with a patch of dead white skin and has started to fester.
CUT TO
Xanthus' office where Xena is waiting. Xanthus comes out of the infirmary, a worried look on his face.
XENA:
Well?
XANTHUS:
The poison has spread through his body, Xena. It is the venom of a plant they call "widow's tears" --without the antidote, it will consume him by morning.
XENA:
But that's why I'm here! (glancing at the shelves, where there are countless vials of all sizes) You have the antidote, right?
XANTHUS (regretfully):
Not for "widow's tears". It requires a vital ingredient we don't have--an extract of the Mickree flower.
XENA:
Well, where can we get it?
XANTHUS:
It grows in the hills of Athens, north of the city. My assistant, Lysander, usually collects it. Unfortunately, he's not here right now...I gave him a week's leave to visit his family.
XENA:
Then I'll go get it myself.
The camera pulls back and the image of Xanthus' office grows slightly hazy. We see Ares, still sitting on his throne on Olympus, watching Xena and Xanthus through a viewing portal. He has a thoughtful look on his face.
|
[FLASHBACK] Chloe, Dymas and Helice are running around their house in a frenzy, gathering things in baskets and taking them to the front door. Ares walks into the main living area, seeing all the commotion. DYMAS: ARES: CHLOE: HELICE: Chloe looks over at Helice, who is looking out the window, pointing. Half a dozen warriors ride into the town, at the head of them is Tycan. He is wearing a feathered helmet over dirty blonde hair, brown leather armor and silver gauntlets. Chloe pulls Helice away from the window. CHLOE (looks at Dymas): Chloe picks up a basket of fruit and vegetables, while Dymas takes two small pouches of coins. They open the door and walk outside. Ares tries to follow; Helice grabs his arm. HELICE: ARES (breaking away): He walks out. Helice rushes to the window to watch. CUT TO Ares emerges from the doorway, but no one is looking in his direction. He walks a little way ahead and looks to his left. Chloe and Dymas are standing there, holding out the tribute for the warriors. Along the street, others are doing the same. The warriors make their way to each house, taking everything. They reach the house of Dymas and Chloe.
TYCAN (cantering up, the other warriors behind him): DYMAS (a little nervous): He extends his hands; Tycan snatches the moneybags. Chloe hands the food basket to him and he takes it as well. Tycan opens the bags and paws through them roughly; disappointment turning to anger. He looks at Dymas. TYCAN: DYMAS: CHLOE: TYCAN: CHLOE: TYCAN: The warrior nods and dismounts, heading into the house. Dymas and Chloe look terrified. TYCAN (bites into one of the pears then spits it out): ARES (quietly to himself): HELICE (from inside the house): Helice is pushed out of the house by the warrior. Close up as she tries to struggle, but is held fast. WARRIOR'S VOICE: TYCAN: CHLOE (pleading): TYCAN: CHLOE: TYCAN: ARES (off-camera): The camera pans back to show Ares drawing his sword and slowly walking forward. Tycan stops what he is doing. TYCAN (grins):
ARES: TYCAN (his face changes slightly as he recognizes Ares): ARES: TYCAN (sounds cocky): ARES: He charges the warrior who is holding Helice. We see the warrior's face. It's Lycaon. Lycaon lets go of Helice; the girl runs to her mother and father, who hug her tightly. Ares and Lycaon clash; even though Ares is mortal, it is obvious that his fighting techniques are still superior. Lycaon manages to slash Ares' arm, but Ares knocks the sword out of his hand with a powerful blow that makes Lycaon sprawl on the ground. Ares is about to run him through when two of Tycan's other men rush toward him. Ares charges Tycan's men and cuts down one of them; the thug falls off his horse, dead. In quick succession, Ares wounds another one of the men and knocks the sword out of the hand of a third. Emboldened, a few villagers grab sticks and pitchforks and start heading toward them. WARRIOR #1: They gallop away, Lycaon getting on the horse of his dead comrade. LYCAON (turns around and yells at Ares): As the warriors ride off, Ares turns around, runs back toward Chloe's and Dymas' house. Some of the other villagers burst into applause, while others look fearful. VILLAGER#1: DYMAS (angry): Ares looks embarrassed. CHLOE (comes up to look at the wound on Ares' arm): ARES: Chloe inspects the wound, which we now see in close-up. It looks much like that of the man Xena found in the village. There is not much blood, but there's white foam coming out of the wound. CHLOE (a frightened look on her face): DYMAS: CHLOE: A close-up on Ares' face. He looks terrified. [END OF FLASHBACK] |
Ares glances again at the portal--Xena is still in Xanthus' study.
XANTHUS:
Xena, the flower changes color depending on the time of day. But no matter what color it is, there is always a blue iridescent glow to it. I know if anyone can find it, you can.
Xena nods. Off-screen, the door to the infirmary creaks open. Xena and Xanthus turn to see Philyra come out.
PHILYRA:
Xena? Your father is awake...
XENA:
He's not my father.
PHILYRA:
...and he is asking for you.
Xena and Xanthus exchange a look; Xena nods and follows Philyra.
CUT TO
Infirmary. The man is lying on a low bed, cold compresses around his wound. He opens his eyes halfway, his breaths growing shallow.
MAN (whispers):
Xena?
Xena comes up to the bed; he takes her hand.
XENA:
Yes?
MAN (smiles slightly):
This is a nice dream. Such a nice dream...
XENA:
Dream?
MAN:
You even sound like her. (he opens his eyes wide) Have you come to take me to join my family? Is mother there, too? And Lyceus? I'm ready.
XENA (jumps):
Lyceus? What do you know about him?
MAN:
He... (draws a breath) Our brother...
XENA (disbelieving):
Toris?!
MAN (seems to regain clarity):
Xena? It's really you? But... (looks her over) You look so young!
XENA:
Toris.... (she takes both of his hands, rubbing them) Toris, it's been so many years...
TORIS:
It is you! How?! By the gods... Have you seen our mother? I...haven't h-heard from her for a long time...
XENA (averting her eyes):
It's...things have happened. She's...passed away.
Toris makes a small sound and reaches for Xena, embracing her. He strokes Xena's hair.
TORIS:
I don't have much time left...I just wanted to tell you--
XENA (interrupts):
No. You need to get some rest. (lays him down) Here. Rest. I'll be back soon, with the medicine.
Toris starts to protest, but his words turn into coughs. Eventually, he lies back, exhausted and nods weakly, trying to smile.
TORIS:
Yes...I'll be waiting...when you...return.
XENA:
Won't be long. I promise.
She walks out, Toris watching her. He looks away slowly, tears rolling down his cheeks.
TORIS:
Xena...
FADE OUT
END OF ACT TWO