ACT ONE

FADE IN

Xena, Gabrielle and Eve exchange a glance and rush to the window to look outside. There is a small group of people standing in the square around the well with torches in their hands.

EVE:
     What's going on there?

XENA:
     Don't know, but we're going to find out.

GABRIELLE:
     Or die trying.

Eve and Xena give her stunned looks.

GABRIELLE:
     Okay, bad joke. I'm not a morning person. Especially when morning happens at night.

Xena has put her armor on while they have been talking and reaches for her chakram and sword. She, Gabrielle and Eve rush out of the room.

CUT TO

Outside. The three of them run through the dark square, toward the crowd of people; everyone is looking at something in front of them. They bump into Virgil, who looks tired.

XENA:
     Virgil, what's going on?

VIRGIL:
     I was hoping you could tell me.

Xena, Gabrielle, Eve, and Virgil move through to the front of the crowd to see what everyone is looking at. A young man, Vasilis, in his early twenties, is kneeling beside the woman at the well. He has short dirty-blonde hair and a gentle look about him. An elderly woman, presumably a healer, is beside him, sprinkling something on her.

XENA (in her best authoritative voice):
     What happened?

Vasilis looks up at her. His eyes are worried.

VASILIS:
     I thought she was dead, at first--I screamed for help. She's not--but I don't know what's wrong with her.

GABRIELLE:
     She was just lying there when you found her?

HEALER (clucks):
     She has been struck with a terrible disease.

XENA (skeptical):
     Very sudden, for a disease.

VASILIS:
     She was fine just a few hours ago!

EVE (to the healer):
     What kind of disease could this be?

HEALER:
     I don't know, but look at her face--she's burning up.

VASILIS (almost crying):
     I can't lose her. I can't lose another sister.

The healer starts to sprinkle more herbs over the woman's body.

GABRIELLE:
     What are those herbs for?

HEALER:
     Perhaps evil spirits have invaded her body and caused this malady. This will help ward them off.

Xena makes a sarcastic sound, but says nothing.

VIRGIL:
     Are you sure you don't know what else could have caused it?

HEALER:
     If I did, I'd be giving her the cure.

The woman moans softly.

VASILIS:
     She's in pain! Isn't there anything you can do?

EVE:
     I might be able to help. (shyly) I know of some herbs that could ease the pain, quite common ones. It won't take long to find them; I'll be back soon.

She tries to leave, but Xena puts an arm out to stop her, doing the "protective mother" bit.

XENA:
     Eve, you won't find anything in the middle of the night! (waves in the direction of the forest) It's pitch black out there.

EVE (irritated):
     Mother, this woman is hurt!

XENA:
     Wait a few more hours, until there's at least some light to see the plants. (looks appraisingly at the sick woman) She'll hold out until morning.

VASILIS:
     If you wait until morning, she might be dead!

HEALER:
     We can't do anything now. We don't know what's wrong and it's the middle of the night, as this woman has pointed out. (gentler) I don't mean to sound callous, Vasilis, but if her illness takes a turn for the worse, no painkillers could be of help. Go and get some sleep, all of you.

EVE (not impressed; but she knows she can't fight Xena and the healer at the same time):
     All right. I'll find them in the morning.

VIRGIL:
     I'll come with you, if you like.

Eve smiles. Vasilis stands up and looks at Eve and Virgil.

VASILIS:
     I hope your herbs work.

CUT TO

Morning. Virgil and Eve are standing outside the inn with Xena and Gabrielle.

EVE:
     We'll be back soon, Mother. Stop worrying about me.

XENA:
     It's my job to worry.

Eve rolls her eyes.

EVE (to Virgil; only half-kidding):
     Come on. Let's go before she decides to ground us.

Eve and Virgil head off into the forest surrounding the village. Gabrielle turns to Xena.

GABRIELLE:
     You know, for all she's your daughter; she is a grown woman. One more capable than most of looking after herself.

XENA (ruefully smiling):
     I know. But, like I said, it's my job.

GABRIELLE:
     She and Virgil will be fine.

Pause.

XENA:
     I'm turning into my mother...I can feel it.

They both laugh.

GABRIELLE (sobering):
     We've got to find out what's wrong with that woman. You don't really think it could be evil spirits, do you?

XENA:
     No. (smiles slightly) At least, none that I've met.

GABRIELLE:
     Well, I suppose that's something. Still, it does seem too sudden to be...natural. She just keeled over--what would cause that?

XENA:
     I don't know--

MAN #1:
     I do.

Xena and Gabrielle look over at a man, in his late thirties, walking up to them. He has light brown, long hair and a gaunt look about him, as though he has been getting little food and sleep.

XENA (angry):
     If you do, you better have a good reason for not speaking up last night.

MAN #1:
     Like you said, last night it would have done no good. I know she has a few more days--I figured it would be slightly more believable when people are fully awake.

XENA:
     All right, we're awake. So tell us.

MAN #1:
     My village, Sphacteria, had the same problem: people getting seriously ill with no warning--and no one could figure out why. People were dying, friends, neighbors... My sister fell ill a week before she was to get married, and died, too. I lost my parents and two sisters to the disease.

GABRIELLE:
     I'm sorry.

MAN #1 (nods):
     I left, because I had no choice. We all did--to stay meant certain death.

XENA (bluntly; she is not interested in sob-stories--she wants to get to the point):
     So, did you discover what caused it?

MAN #1:
     Yes. It's a creature, a serpent dragon called the guivre. It has no legs or wings but it has venomous breath, bringing plague onto anything that it touches--it can kill plants instantly, leaving the land barren. Everywhere, the guivre means death and destruction. We're lucky there's only one left--Hercules slew most of its kind years ago.

Xena and Gabrielle glance at each other.

GABRIELLE:
     I don't blame it for being a little...angry...with humanity.

XENA:
     I'm guessing it had a nasty habit of being angry with humanity before Hercules became angry with it. (to the man) Do you know how it can be defeated?

MAN #1:
     That I don't know. No one's been able to get close enough to find out, without being struck by the disease. But I think I can tell you why that woman fell ill--

GABRIELLE:
     Why?

MAN #1:
     The guivre likes water. It must have emerged from the forest in the rain last night, and become stranded when the storm cleared.

GABRIELLE:
     And then it found the well.

MAN #1:
     That would be my guess. The creature was probably looking for a way back into the woods. I believe it usually makes its home near a lake or a stream...

XENA (looking worried; to Gabrielle):
     I have a nasty feeling Eve and Virgil are gonna manage to run into this thing. Gabrielle, stay here and tell the village what we know about this guivre. I'm going to go help them out.

GABRIELLE (attempting a joke):
     All right, Mom.

Xena rolls her eyes.

XENA:
     I told her it wasn't safe.

She walks out of the village, Gabrielle watching as she does so. The man looks at Gabrielle, thinking. He suddenly smiles; he has had an idea.

MAN #1:
     There is one other thing that may help you...

CUT TO

Eve and Virgil are walking in the forest, picking up plants and examining them meticulously. Most are discarded, but a few are put in a small basket Eve carries.

VIRGIL:
     How many more do we need?

EVE (looking at the basket, which is about half full):
     A few more, I think. (smells a leaf and puts it in the basket) They're not strong--if any more people get sick we won't have any left. I just hope they work.

There is silence for a moment as Eve reaches down and picks another plant.

VIRGIL (awkwardly):
     It's...kind of you to help these people.

EVE:
     You mean, you wouldn't have expected it from the Bitch of Rome. (bitterly) And you'd have been right.

VIRGIL:
     That's not what... Well... Yes, I suppose that's true.

EVE:
     After what I did, I expect nothing--and yet, there is such kindness in people. I look into those faces and wonder, what would they think of me if they knew what kind of monster I was? How much suffering I caused? (sadly) I hope only to one day deserve their kindness. I will never expect their forgiveness.

VIRGIL:
     Perhaps no one can expect forgiveness--but those people, if they saw you now, they couldn't hold hatred in their heart forever. Even those who can't forgive will stop hating, one day.

EVE:
     And if they do, what will they have left? Only pain, pain which I caused--by destroying their lives, taking away their families. (shakes head) No one should have to hurt over those they love.

VIRGIL:
     But that's a part of loving someone! Having to hurt over them, to treasure every moment you're with them. To learn to forgive.

Virgil and Eve look at each other a little uneasily. Virgil lifts his hand and gently rubs her cheek.

VIRGIL:
     It's hard to forgive others--but the hardest thing is forgiving yourself.

Eve looks down at her collection of herbs.

EVE (awkwardly):
     We'd better get back. My mother will have sent out the search parties by now, I expect.

Virgil is staring at something up ahead of him.

EVE:
     What is it?

Virgil walks forward into a part of the forest that looks different from what they've previously been in. The grass and shrubs are shriveled and dying and the trees have no leaves on them.

VIRGIL:
     What's happened here? Looks like someone's set fire to the place.

EVE:
     And what is that disgusting smell?

We see a creature slithering in the shadows of the forest, behind a large pile of rocks. Slight fear grows on both Eve and Virgil's faces. The creature doesn't come any closer for a moment, but then it appears out of the shadows, crawling toward Virgil and Eve. In the bright sunlight it can be seen perfectly.

Its body is at least thirty feet long, and it slithers like a snake. Its scales are an interesting shade of orange, with a healthy amount of brown and yellow all mixed together.

VIRGIL:
     What...is that thing?

EVE:
     I think we're about to find out...

The creature stares at them with unblinking, reptilian eyes. Eve and Virgil slowly back away. The creature raises its head and directs a foul breath at them; a brownish cloud forms in the air and at the sight of it, Eve and Virgil turn and run back into the forest, towards the village. The cloud drifts after them for a while, until it finally dissipates into the air.

CUT TO

Xena is in the forest, searching for Eve and Virgil. She moves cautiously, her sword drawn, prepared for anything.

ARES (appearing before her, blocking her way):
     Now, what are you doing this fine day? Lose something?

XENA (shoulders past):
     Yeah. My patience.

ARES (turns around, sarcastic and a little put out):
     Oh, that's too bad--it's always been your strong suit. Should I forget about offering to help then?

XENA (softens; she didn't mean to be cross with him):
     Sorry. I'm having a bad day.

ARES:
     I can tell.

Xena continues to walk through the forest, looking. Ares follows.

ARES:
     So, you going to answer my question?

XENA:
     I'm looking for Virgil and Eve.

ARES:
     They're lost?

XENA:
     No. But they might be in danger if I don't find them.

ARES (interested):
     Danger? What kind of danger?

XENA:
     What is it with the questions today, Ares? You're starting to sound like Gabrielle.

ARES (shudders):
     Zeus knows what the world would be like with more than one of her.

They turn a corner, and a lake comes into view. Xena stops. She looks around for a moment suspiciously, and then sees the same patch of charred forest that Virgil and Eve saw. In the shadows, something large and scaly moves slowly, almost imperceptibly. Abruptly, the guivre's head emerges from the trees. Xena and Ares stop in their tracks.

XENA:
     You wanted to know what the danger was. Well...now you know.

ARES:
     I would've been content with a description.

XENA:
     That's Gabrielle's specialty.

ARES:
     I take that back. Can't beat the real thing.

The guivre lowers its head to stare at them.

ARES:
     Uhh...I'm no expert on these things, but whatever it is you wear that's attracting it, I suggest you dump it.

XENA (sweetly):
     I tried, but you wouldn't go away.

ARES:
     I only attract the good stuff. You, for example.

XENA:
     Ares, move!

The guivre slithers toward them; Xena runs forward, somersaults over its head, trying to strike it with her sword, but it simply swings its head aside and slithers around. Xena makes a few more attempts, Ares just watches her in admiration, grinning a little. The guivre lets out its breath, which swirls in the air. Xena dodges it and pushes herself and Ares down to the ground, rolling them out of the guivre's way.

ARES:
     Xena, I know it's hard, but could we wait until that thing's gone? It's a little kinky with a homicidal dragon in the background.

XENA (rolls her eyes):
     This is your cue to get us out of here.

ARES:
     Although, if I had to die, I'd prefer it to be like that.

The guivre is crawling towards them again.

XENA:
     Ares, shut up.

ARES:
     It was meant to be a compliment, but...

He pulls Xena close to him--closer than she probably needs to be--and they blink out of existence in a flash of blue light.

CUT TO

The edge of the forest. The village is in sight. Xena and Ares reappear, standing up, but still close together.

ARES:
     What was that?

XENA (not making much effort to step away):
     It's called a guivre.

ARES:
     So tell me again why you're out here with it? If you're stuck for entertainment, you know whom to call. (he starts playing with her hair)

XENA (a little annoyed by all of Ares' questions):
     I told you, I'm looking for Eve and Virgil.

ARES:
     ...who are, at this very moment, back in the village.

XENA (glares and jerks her head away from him):
     Why didn't you mention that before?

ARES (shrugs innocently):
     Hey, it slipped my mind, okay? Your incredible beauty distracted me, not to mention your sunny personality.

XENA (huffs):
     And watching me fight a serpent.

ARES (grins):
     The highlight of my morning so far.

XENA:
     Thanks for all your help.

ARES:
     Well, I wouldn't want to steal your thunder. A few more of these and you'd have your own Legendary Journeys. And besides... (he touches her cheek, she closes her eyes briefly) ...you've never needed my help before.

XENA:
     I don't need it now.

ARES:
     'Course not. (he grins and disappears).

XENA (to herself):
     But you could have offered.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT ONE