7.19 Of Love and War I

ACT THREE

FADE IN

Ares' temple, in the present day. Xena paces nervously. Gabrielle walks over to her and puts a hand on her arm.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena, I know something is bothering you. Something besides the Persians...

XENA:
     Gabrielle--

GABRIELLE:
     You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to. I'm just worried about you.

XENA (smiles a little):
     You worry too much.

She starts to pace around again.

Gabrielle

GABRIELLE:
     It's Ares, isn't it? You-- (she stumbles and blushes slightly) You were with him last night?

XENA (looks down):
     Yes. I've just been thinking about...the old days. Back when I first met him.

GABRIELLE (softly):
     You never told me about that.

XENA:
     After I gave Solan to Kaleipus, I was...lost. And that was when he came to me. He offered me to join him, and I accepted. I thought that, together, we would be unstoppable.

[FLASHBACK]

Xena and Ares are in Xena's tent. Xena is sitting at the edge of her bed fixing her armor. Ares is behind her, naked, his arms around her waist.

Ares and Xena

XENA (voice-over):
     And for a while, we were.

ARES (in the flashback):
     You are good.

XENA:
     I hope so. I conquered that miserable town in your name.

ARES:
     Oh yeah--that too.

VOICE (off-camera):
     Xena!

XENA (raising her voice):
     What is it?

Darphus comes in. Xena stands up as he walks over to her. He does not see Ares.

DARPHUS:
     I have news of the centaurs.

XENA:
     I'm no longer interested in the centaurs. I don't need the Ixion Stone anymore--I've got something much better.

Ares grins.

DARPHUS:
     But they've split up. They're easy prey if we attack now.

XENA (sneers):
     What part of "no" don't you understand? There's no glory in taking out a nation of losers. They're hardly worth my time. Now, if you don't have any more bright ideas, I suggest you get going.

Darphus gives Xena a resentful look before he leaves. Xena turns around and walks back to the bed.

ARES:
     Better watch out for him. He could be trouble.

XENA:
     That fool? I'll get rid of him when he no longer serves my needs.

ARES (smirks):
     Speaking of needs-- (he pulls Xena down to the bed and rolls on top of her) where were we?

XENA:
     Well-- (she flips over so that she's on top) I was leaving to attend to some business.

ARES:
     Come now, my dear. When are we going to really celebrate your victories? (he reaches up to kiss her neck)

XENA (momentarily closes her eyes in pleasure but quickly gets a grip on herself and reverts to a sarcastic tone):
     You gods are all alike--you're only after one thing.

ARES (teasing):
     You know other gods?

XENA (extricates herself from his arms and gets up):
     No, but I know what sorts of unpleasant things happen to mortal women who get a little too close to them.

ARES (looks irritated but then laughs):
     Remind me again why I put up with your insolence.

XENA (smiles):
     Because it's fun?

She leaves the tent. The camera follows her outside as she walks, surveying her camp with a small, feral smile on her face.

ARES' VOICE:
     Xena!

[END OF FLASHBACK]

Xena flinches and finds herself staring at Ares, in the present.

XENA:
     Ares... (composes herself) Got any news?

ARES:
     The Athenians have taken refuge on the island of Salamis--Sis told them to go there when they asked for her help. Meanwhile, their army is headed to Eulesis, to meet with their new allies. (he pauses for dramatic effect) The Spartans.

GABRIELLE (incredulous):
     The Athenians and the Spartans are working together?

ARES:
     Oh, I can think of stranger--bedfellows. (glances at Xena)

XENA (chuckles):
     In that case, we need--

ARES (cuts her off):
     Shuttle service to Eulesis? Done.

The three disappear.

CUT TO

The Athenians' army camp. The camera pans over groups of soldiers engaged in various activities to kill time--playing dice, having knife-throwing contests, sharpening their swords, wrestling. The camera then takes us inside the command tent where Tydeus sits on a chair, reading a scroll.

GUARD'S VOICE OUTSIDE:
     My lord?

TYDEUS (looks up sharply):
     Come in.

A guard enters.

TYDEUS (hopefully):
     News of the Spartans?

GUARD (shakes his head):
     None, my lord. (Tydeus looks disappointed) But there is some news. Xena, Warrior Princess, and her companion, Gabrielle, have just arrived at the camp. They wish to see you.

TYDEUS (stunned, glances at the scroll he has been reading):
     Xena! (eagerly) Show them in, show them in.

The guard goes out. A moment later, Xena and Gabrielle come in.

TYDEUS (rises):
     Xena! Gabrielle! This is the most extraordinary coincidence--you won't believe what I was reading just now.

She holds up the scroll. Gabrielle approaches and takes a look. A strange look crosses her face, expressing both pride and painful memories.

GABRIELLE (softly):
     It's my scroll... (to Xena) ...the story of how you fought the Persian army.

XENA (looks away uncomfortably):
     I had luck on my side... (glances at Gabrielle) ...and desperation.

TYDEUS:
     Still, I feel much more hopeful knowing that we have the legendary Xena in our corner. You know what's happening, don't you?

XENA:
     We've come straight from Athens--or the ghost town that's left of it. We'll help, in whatever way we can.

GABRIELLE:
     We've heard that you are allied with the Spartans now. You're expecting reinforcements from them?

TYDEUS:
     Just before we learned of the Persians' attack and were forced to leave the city, Pausanias, the Spartan commander-in-chief, gave me his promise of an alliance. (disappointed look) We agreed to meet here, as soon as possible. Our ambassador in Sparta was supposed to notify us by messenger pigeon when the Spartan army started its march to Eleusis. Yet, so far, there is no word from him. I just hope they get here before the Persians do.

Xena, Gabrielle and Tydeus exchanged worried looks as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT THREE