ACT FOUR

FADE IN

Raphael and Michael are standing on one of the cliffs. Raphael looks furious.

RAPHAEL:
     This is getting beyond a joke!

MICHAEL:
     I don't recall it ever having been a joke, Raphael. Some of us take our responsibilities seriously.

RAPHAEL:
     And some of us just take. And take, and take. The power that was vested in you is corrupting your heart--or has done so already. You've lost sight of our Lord's way.

MICHAEL:
     Your concern is touching, but quite unnecessary. Rest assured, I remain in our Lord's favor.

RAPHAEL:
     It isn't your place to decide whom the Lord favors.

MICHAEL (short laugh):
     Oh, is that so? Have you forgotten the consequences of opposing Him? I think you're about due for a reminder.

RAPHAEL (shakes head):
     No, but I think you have.

They both draw their swords; a fight ensues.

MICHAEL (sneering):
     You know, I thought better of you.

RAPHAEL:
     I was about to say the same to you.

They fall silent, concentrating on parrying each other's blows. The fight heats up, until every blow looks set to kill. Michael manages to trip Raphael up, but just as he raises his sword to strike the killing blow, a burst of brilliant light surrounds them. As it fades, cut to Raphael's face--the look on it suggests that he has just had some kind of revelation. Michael blanches.

RAPHAEL (breathes):
     My Lord!

He disappears.

CUT TO

The campsite. Raphael appears to Xena, Gabrielle, Eve and Callisto.

RAPHAEL (speaking quickly):
     I may have figured out a way to defeat Michael and restore your War God.

XENA:
     Which would be?

RAPHAEL:
     I'll show you--come.

Raphael puts his hand on all four of them and they disappear.

CUT TO

Heaven. Raphael arrives with Xena, Gabrielle, Eve and Callisto. Out of nowhere, a golden trumpet appears in his hands. Raphael sounds the trumpet and the air around them fills with angels.

They land on the rocky cliffs surrounding where Raphael and the four women stand.

RAPHAEL:
     Fellow servants of the Light--I have something to say, something that needs to be heard. Michael has been lying to you--to us. All this time, he has been deceiving us into thinking he alone controls what our Lord hears from us--but no longer. Our God stands for something that everyone has in their hearts: love.

Murmurs go through the crowd of angels.

RAPHAEL (continued):
     By using that power, we can draw upon His goodwill. He favors no one--not Michael, not me, not anyone.

XENA:
     All this time, Michael has been going against what the Light is all about. A child should be born of love, but Michael used that power to bring about the downfall of the Olympians.

CALLISTO:
     It was Michael who gave Xena the power to kill gods, and ransomed their lives for the life of her child.

EVE:
     And he corrupted me, the Light's own Messenger, into persecuting and murdering our own followers. He twisted Eli's words into nothing but power play.

CALLISTO:
     He's deceived us all. Even me, by saying that if I got Ares, the Olympian God of War, to become an angel, I would be allowed to see my family.

GABRIELLE:
     Michael is not to be trusted.

Suddenly, Michael appears, accompanied by Ares.

MICHAEL (looks at the angels):
     Are you seriously going to believe that Xena (he spits the name out), the same person who is responsible for corrupting an archangel and casting him down into Hell, would actually tell the truth to you? She has no respect for our God--any god. (pause) You should be proud of what I've been able to accomplish. (puts a hand on Ares' shoulder, arrogant) I was able to redeem the God of War and turn him into a servant of the Light. What could be better than that--the very soul of war becoming one of us?

RAPHAEL:
     We've heard enough, Michael! (to the whole gathering, loudly) Who is with me?

All of the angels glance at each other, murmuring. Then, one by one, they draw their swords and fly over to their respective sides, those that are loyal to Michael and those that are loyal to Raphael.

MICHAEL:
     So be it!

With a fanfare, the sky explodes into a furious battle. Angels draw swords and take to the air; others fight on the rocky cliffs. There are screams as two angels fall into the abyss below, still locked in combat.

As the battle rages in the air above, the sound of swords clashing, several of Michael's minions alight on the plateau where Xena and the others are standing. Gabrielle draws her sais and engages one, while Xena takes on two others.

GABRIELLE (shouts to be heard):
     Xena, behind you!

Xena manages to throw her assailants off the plateau and turns with her sword--to find herself face to face with Ares. His face shows no anger, but it is stern, his sword pointed at her; Xena's is blocking it. The sounds of the battle become almost silent, raging in the background, as they look at each other.

ARES:
     Don't let this hate you have for Michael corrupt you, Xena. Let the Light into your heart and you will be redeemed.

Xena looks at his sword and then lowers hers, looking into his eyes.

XENA:
     Ares, this isn't you. The world needs a God of War. You've always known that. Are you going to take second place and be Michael's lackey forever?

Ares' face begins to soften a little, it seems that he has begun to hesitate.

ARES:
     Michael saved me. I owe him everything; I was drowned in darkness. The Light saved me from myself.

XENA:
     No, Ares. You weren't evil.

Xena reaches out and touches his cheek, stroking it gently.

XENA:
     You weren't evil... (continues to stroke his cheek, then his lips) You could love.

Ares slowly raises one of his hands to meet hers and holds it silently for a few moments. We zoom in slowly on his face, to see the real Ares break through the mask.

ARES (whispers):
     Xena? I'm...free.

XENA (almost a sob):
     That's right.

Ares lowers his sword, and comes over to stand at Xena's side. Neither of them says anything, they continue looking at each other.

The battle begins to slow as all the angels see Ares standing next to Xena. Uriel, who has been fighting side by side with Michael suddenly flares out of view--and reappears next to Raphael.

MICHAEL:
     Uriel, what are you doing?! You're choosing to defy me?

Uriel just shakes his head.

URIEL:
     You know what your problem is, Michael? You don't know when the game is up.

He does not budge from his spot beside Raphael. Slowly, the other angels look at each other and then begin to desert Michael, until he is finally left all alone.

The angels move away from him and begin to form a circle around him, with Raphael and Uriel leading them, stern expressions on their faces.

MICHAEL (looking at the angels surrounding him):
     You are all fools! The Lord will not be happy about this!

An overhead shot of Michael standing in the middle of a circle of angels. Michael begins to look frightened. Raphael and Uriel raise their swords and direct them at Michael; a golden glow begins to radiate from Michael's body, flowing into the tips of their swords as they seemingly drain him of power. All the other angels do likewise. There is another overhead shot of Michael writhing in agony surrounded by a golden glow. After a few moments of this and him screaming in pain, he explodes in a blinding burst of golden sparks.

Gabrielle, Eve, Callisto, Xena, Ares and all the angels cover their eyes. When the light fades, Xena looks at Ares standing next to her and puts her hand on his arm. He now looks like himself again, dressed in his leathers; he is no longer an angel, though he seems a little dazed.

Gabrielle walks up to him, followed by Eve and Callisto. He eyes Gabrielle suspiciously.

GABRIELLE:
     I don't suppose you get to keep the wings?

ARES:
     No, thanks. This flight over the cuckoo's nest is over.

XENA (grins):
     Welcome back.

Raphael flies over to them and looks at Callisto.

RAPHAEL:
     Callisto, you're free to join your family in the Elysian Fields.

Callisto smiles, then looks at Xena.

XENA:
     Callisto... Thank you.

CALLISTO:
     For what?

XENA:
     You were willing to give up the one thing you wanted most in order to help right a wrong you'd done. I'm grateful for that.

CALLISTO (nods):
     Goodbye, Xena.

Xena nods. Callisto looks at Eve.

CALLISTO:
     Eve, I hope you find your true path someday. Never give up looking for it.

Eve smiles slightly and nods. Callisto steps back from all of them and slowly begins to fade from view.

RAPHAEL (to Xena and Gabrielle):
     I promise, from now on, things will be run differently. The Light will no longer try to expand its realm; there is no reason why we can't coexist peacefully with the other gods. We certainly have no quarrel with the Olympians.

XENA:
     Thank you, Raphael. (sighs) Now, how about you get us out of here?

Raphael nods and they disappear.

CUT TO

The Elysian Fields. Callisto is walking through a meadow and a smile soon crosses her face as she sees the image of her mother and father in front of her. Her face lights up with joy as she runs toward them, they welcome her with open arms and tears in their eyes.

CUT TO

The campsite. Xena, Gabrielle, and Eve are sitting around the fire.

EVE:
     You know, redemption really is a strange thing. (looking at Xena) You were trapped in that place, held there only by your guilt. How can one ever truly know when they have been redeemed?

XENA:
     I guess you can never really know. As long as you believe it and believe in yourself, then that's all that counts.

GABRIELLE:
     I don't think you can "be" redeemed. It needs to come from within you. Michael made it possible for you to see that, Eve, but I think it came from you.

EVE (considers):
     You know, I think you're right. While I was Eli's Messenger, I was so focused on proving that the God of Love was worthy of people's worship...and I didn't feel worthy of His goodwill. I wanted to prove to Him that I was.

XENA:
     Don't worry. (reaches out and strokes Eve's hair) You are worthy.

Ares appears. Xena looks at him caringly.

GABRIELLE (smiles):
     Well, that was quite an adventure, wasn't it, Ares?

ARES (wryly):
     Don't remind me. I just hope that you weren't recording all the things I said while I was an angel. That part of history is best left unsaid.

Ares looks at Xena, who is still watching him. Gabrielle glances thoughtfully at them.

GABRIELLE (to Eve; obviously as a diversion):
     How about we go back to that zoo, Eve? You never did get to pet the zebra. (she jerks her head subtly at Xena and Ares)

Eve nods, following Gabrielle as they leave. Before they are gone, Gabrielle looks back at Ares.

GABRIELLE (mischievous look):
     You know, Ares, you really do look good in white.

He gives her a teasing look.

ARES:
     Not you as well--what is it with you three?

Gabrielle and Eve walk away. Xena and Ares look at each other, but for several moments, they don't say a word.

XENA:
     Ares...I wanted to thank you for what you did trying to save me. (seems to want to say more, but then smirks) Not many war gods I know would do that. (she walks over to him)

ARES (raises an eyebrow):
     You know other war gods?

Xena chuckles and shakes her head. Ares chuckles a little too, then becomes serious, looking into Xena's eyes.

ARES:
     And I wanted to thank you as well...for bringing me back. To think that I could still be spouting that oh-come-to-the-Light stuff! (cringes dramatically)

XENA:
     It might not have been so bad. (sighs melodramatically) Ooh...those wings...

ARES (raising an eyebrow):
     You can't mean that.

XENA:
     What if I did?

ARES:
     Okay, who are you and what have you done with Xena?

XENA (grins):
     I'm right here.

They once again become serious, looking deeply into each other's eyes. They both seem uncertain for a moment. Xena rests a hand on his cheek.

XENA (softly):
     You really have changed, Ares.

ARES (grins):
     Well, I think it would be best if we kept that between us. We don't want it getting out, now do we? Bad for my reputa--

Xena leans forward and ever so slightly, brushes her lips with his, then moves back.

XENA:
     Not even the God of War has to be bad all the time.

They look into each other's eyes again and then she slowly places her hand at the back of his head, capturing his lips. They melt into a caring, tender kiss as we:

FADE OUT

THE END

[Callisto changed her mind about the aesthetic appeal of the zebra's stripes in the production of this motion picture.]

Xena: Warrior Princess Shipper Seasons Season 7 Episode 18 Lord of the Wings Story By: LadyKate and Tango Written By: Aurora Edited By: Amber Collage By: Aurora Images Gathered By: Aurora Cast Xena Lucy Lawless Gabrielle Renee O'Connor Eve Adrienne Wilkinson Ares Kevin Smith Michael Charles Mesure Raphael Tamati Rice Uriel Carmon Hanson Callisto Hudson Leick Woman Maria Fitzgerald Toddler James Ernest Original Airdate April 20, 2002 Callisto changed her mind about the aesthetic appeal of the zebra's stripes in the production of this motion picture. DEDICATED TO KEVIN SMITH All characters and storylines that have appeared in the syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess are a copyright and trademark of Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No infringement was intended during the writing of this script. All original characters and storylines are a copyright of the respective authors and of the Shipper Seasons. No script may be reproduced on a website elsewhere without the author's consent. © Shipper Seasons www.shipperseasons.com

This script is provided by GDev Resources.