ACT TWO

FADE IN

ARES (seeing their worried expressions):
     Why is she with Michael?

GABRIELLE:
     I told you--it's about Callist--

ARES (interrupting):
     I know that, you told me. But why her?

GABRIELLE (shakes head):
     Callisto came to us, asking for Xena's help. She says she has been condemned because Eve left the service of the God of Love. Xena went to confront Michael about it and we haven't seen her since.

Ares looks very perplexed and then vanishes.

CUT TO

Ares is standing in the halls of Olympus. He is pacing back and fourth, throwing fireballs into the walls at an alarming rate.

ARES:
     Damnit. Xena, what trouble have you found now? There's only so many times I can save you. (throws another fireball to the left)

CALLISTO'S VOICE:
     I can help you find Xena...

Ares turns sharply to the side and sees Callisto standing there. She has a gaping hole through her midriff, which has flames licking around the edge. She closes her eyes, tenses her muscles and slowly her body becomes whole again.

CALLISTO (continued):
     ...if you promise not to do that again.

ARES:
     You have something to do with Xena's disappearance, don't you.

CALLISTO:
     All I want is to help you find her.

ARES:
     Why should I believe you? That's what you told her.

CALLISTO:
     The question is...will you risk that I'm telling the truth? Isn't it worth being sure?

His eyes narrow in suspicion, it is clear that he suspects there is something wrong. Callisto gestures for him to follow her, he hesitates and then does so.

ARES (looking at Callisto, sarcastically):
     You know, you always looked better in black.

Callisto pretends not to hear.

ARES:
     Then again, I also preferred you with a mind of your own. Much more interesting than anything Michael has to say.

CALLISTO:
     Ares, are we going to save her or am I going to have to listen to you complain that we didn't manage to?

ARES:
     Ooh...your claws are still there after all.

Callisto just puts her hand on his arm and they disappear in golden sparks.

CUT TO

They appear in the same part of the forest that Callisto had taken Xena to meet Michael. Michael is again standing in the shadows and Callisto disappears.

Ares looks at Michael, rage in his eyes.

ARES:
     What have you done with Xena?

Michael doesn't answer, but instead, he opens a window in the air in front of them that shows Xena, who is wandering restlessly in the place where she is trapped, looking for a way out.

Ares snarls, enraged. He moves toward the window and tries to walk through it, but it dissolves the moment he touches it. He shoots a lightning bolt at it, but it is no use, nothing he does is strong enough for him to get to her--Michael and the Light control the place and Ares is powerless to do anything.

MICHAEL (seeing Ares trying to get to Xena):
     You might as well give up, Ares. (studies him disparagingly) You're nowhere near strong enough to reach her.

Ares looks at Michael, draws his sword and charges the archangel, who draws his sword. He fights Michael fiercely, but is never able to beat Michael. Their swords clash and when Ares rushes at Michael again, he parries Ares' sword and causes it to fly out of his hand. Then Michael kicks Ares in the shins and knocks him flat on his back, Michael quickly pointing his sword against Ares' throat.

MICHAEL:
     You know, we'd get on much better if you learned to trust me. I did say that you're not strong enough.

ARES:
     Oh, and you are? Go ahead then--kill me.

Ares looks at Michael, challenging him. Michael pauses.

MICHAEL (as though talking to himself--although it is for Ares' benefit):
     It would not be the Way of Love to kill a god...even you.

Ares looks at Michael for a second, before grinning triumphantly.

ARES:
     You can't! You can't kill gods. (realizing) That's why you had to use Xena as your instrument. (Ares backs away from Michael and stands, staring at him) You have no more power over me than anyone else does.

MICHAEL:
     Oh, but you forget. I can still make your existence quite unpleasant and above all...I have the one person who does have power over you in my control.

Ares sheathes his sword and looks at Michael firmly.

ARES:
     Quite the hunter and collector, aren't you? So. What do I have to do to get her back?

MICHAEL (sanctimoniously):
     All I want is to increase the power of the Light.

ARES (chuckling hollowly):
     Oh, really? And just how do we fit into that? Gonna ransom Xena for my godhood--have me give up my immortality yet again? (raises eyebrows) I thought you've covered that one.

MICHAEL:
     Oh no, not at all. All I want from you is much less...or much more, depending on how you look at it. (pause)

ARES:
     Get on with it.

MICHAEL:
     I have an offer for you...a gift. You could call it (pauses) a win-win situation.

Move in on Ares who looks very curious.

CUT TO

The campsite. Eve is sitting near the campfire, stirring a pan of food, and Gabrielle is standing up, looking a little restless.

EVE:
     Come on, please eat some of this. There's nothing we can do.

GABRIELLE:
     I can't just sit here not knowing what's happening with Xena. Eve, I'm going to go and try to look for her.

She gets up and starts loading a few things onto her horse, which is standing in the background, along with Eve's horse and Argo.

EVE:
     I hate to say it, but if Ares can't find her, there is no chance you'll be able to.

GABRIELLE:
     I'm worried about her--and two sets of eyes are better than one.

Eve looks like she's about to object again.

GABRIELLE:
     You stay here--if she comes back, tell her I went south. There's an oracle there, maybe I can find out where she is.

EVE:
     Gabrielle--wait!

Gabrielle doesn't look at her again, but walks away into the forest.

EVE (muttering to herself):
     Honestly, with her, Ares and Mother between them, no wonder we have an interesting life.

She keeps stirring her food and after several moments, there is a flash of light. Callisto appears. Eve sees her, but says nothing. Callisto walks up to Eve and they study each other.

EVE (warily):
     Will my mother be all right?

CALLISTO:
     I assure you, Xena will be all right.

EVE:
     Where is she?

A pause as Callisto sits down next to Eve.

CALLISTO:
     Not in this world.

EVE:
     We gathered that.

CALLISTO:
     Of course--Ares was with you.

EVE:
     If Gabrielle and my mother believe him, I don't see any reason not to. But, personally, I trust him only a little more than I trust Michael. Or you, for that matter.

CALLISTO (ignores the barb):
     You are angry, Eve. It's...not the Way of Love to seek a focus for that anger.

EVE:
     The way of Michael, you mean. Which happens to be whatever suits him best.

CALLISTO (uncertainly):
     Michael is only serving the Lord. His intentions are good.

EVE:
     And you know what they say about the path to Hell. I ought to know; I've spent my entire life as his puppet! (bitterly) How do you think that feels?

CALLISTO:
     You've had a tough life, Eve. Most people never have anything much happen to them...but those that do, they more than make up for it.

EVE (coughs bitterly):
     Oh yeah.

CALLISTO:
     You did some terrible things (Eve looks at her, but Callisto smiles--the comment was not meant as an insult) --I know. So did I.

EVE:
     Gabrielle told me about some of them.

Callisto looks away; her eyes show she is reliving some bad memories.

CALLISTO:
     Yes...I expect she would have done.

EVE:
     And then... Eli's god--your god--redeemed me in that temple. But you know the funny thing?

CALLISTO:
     Tell me.

EVE:
     He didn't redeem me. Maybe he put some spell on me, but I'm still Livia, deep down. (softly) Only now, it scares me.

Callisto has a look of recognition on her face. Her eyes are very sad.

EVE:
     I don't think you can just be "redeemed". You have to want it--and I wanted it so badly. Maybe that's why I was so blind about Michael.

CALLISTO (thoughtful):
     Maybe.

There is a moment of silence between them before they see Gabrielle walking through the trees toward them. Gabrielle sees Callisto and anger shows on her face.

GABRIELLE:
     What are you doing back here? You already have Xena--now you want her daughter too?

CALLISTO (stands up):
     Gabrielle--

Before she can continue, there is a flash of white light. The camera slowly pans up the figure's body. He is dressed in resplendent white and gold robes, a pair of white wings extending majestically from the figures back. Continue panning up until the figure's face is seen--it is Ares. His face is strangely bland and washed out. Gabrielle and Eve, who has now stood up, stare at him, completely stunned and speechless. Callisto looks rather uncomfortable.

EVE:
     Wh-what happened to you?

ARES:
     I've been rescued from damnation.

GABRIELLE (nonplussed):
     Where's Xena?

ARES (emotionless):
     She will be saved too.

Ares suddenly winces and seems to be trying to say something more. However he soon stills and stares at them with the same blank expression. Gabrielle looks at Eve; they are both still taken aback by Ares' appearance. Callisto has her head hanging down; she seems somewhat ashamed.

CUT TO

Xena is standing in the middle of the barren landscape looking around. Suddenly, in front of her appears a window in which she can see the image of the new Ares standing with Eve, Gabrielle, and Callisto at the campsite. Xena's mouth nearly gapes open, a horrified, incredulous expression on her face..

XENA:
     Ares?!

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO