7.19 Of Love and War I

ACT TWO

FADE IN

A close-up of Mardonius galloping at the head of the Persian troops.

CUT TO

Xena and Gabrielle at the Athenian city gates, staring at the advancing army.

Xena

XENA (grim):
     I've fought the Persians before.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena, let's not wait for our luck to run out. We need to get out of here--find out what happened to the Athenians, and then think of some way to deal with the Persian army.

XENA:
     Let's go.

They gallop away, taking a side path.

CUT TO

Xena and Gabrielle riding through the woods. They slow down.

XENA:
     Maybe Ares can tell us what happened.

GABRIELLE:
     You think he had something to do with this?

XENA (hastily):
     No! (Gabrielle gives her a sideways look) But maybe he knows something. Ares!

There is a flash of blue light and Ares appears. He looks concerned.

XENA:
     Ares, I want to know--

ARES:
     About the Persian army? They have taken Thessaly, and now they are about to take Attica.

XENA (wary and a little angry):
     And it never occurred to you to tell me before?

ARES:
     I didn't know.

GABRIELLE:
     There's an invading army sweeping through Greece and the God of War doesn't know about it?

ARES (exasperated and slightly embarrassed):
     Look, I've been a little preoccupied lately, okay?

GABRIELLE:
     Athens is completely deserted--what happened there?

ARES:
     I'm going to find out soon enough.

XENA:
     Funny, I was just about to say that.

ARES:
     Look, let me take you to one of my temples. I'll see what I can find out for you, and then we can figure out what to do about those Persians.

GABRIELLE:
     We?

ARES:
     What, you have a problem with that? I could always leave you behind.

GABRIELLE (thinks a moment and looks at Xena):
     Um...I guess not.

They disappear in a flash of light.

CUT TO

The Persian army, riding through the deserted streets of Athens.

MARDONIUS:
     Looks like the cowards ran away.

Two Persian soldiers appear from behind a corner, dragging the man we saw before talking to Xena and Gabrielle.

MARDONIUS:
     But some aren't as swift as others. (stares contemptuously at the man, who is dragged before him) If you want to live, you'd better tell me what happened here.

MAN (stammers):
     I--I d-don't know, my lord! I was out of town and I found everything like this when I got back... I know nothing!

MARDONIUS:
     Well, if you know nothing, then you can't be of much use to me. (to the soldiers) Kill him.

MAN (desperately):
     No, no, my lord! Wait--wait! Maybe I can tell you something useful...

MARDONIUS:
     What?

MAN:
     Before your army got here, I ran into two women, on the square before the temple of Demeter...

MARDONIUS (laughs):
     Two women? They'd have to be really good-looking if you think that kind of information could buy you your life!

MAN:
     They said they were Xena, Warrior Princess, and her friend Gabrielle.

MARDONIUS (suddenly looks serious and even shocked):
     Take him away. (continues thoughtfully as the soldiers drag the man away). Xena, the legendary Warrior Princess... (to his lieutenant) You know what happened the last time one of our armies crossed her path?

LIEUTENANT (nods nervously):
     Yes, my lord.

MARDONIUS:
     So those stories of her return must be true. (smiles nastily) Oh well...miracles don't happen twice.

CUT TO

One of Ares' temples. Gabrielle paces around nervously; Xena sits on a chair, seemingly lost in thought again. Ares stands watching them, arms folded on his chest.

GABRIELLE (stops and turns to Xena):
     Xena? (pauses as Xena does not respond) Xena!

XENA (looks up with a start):
     What?

GABRIELLE:
     Are you all right? You looked a little...out of it.

XENA:
     I'm fine. What did you want to say?

GABRIELLE:
     Do you think it's possible that the Persian army wiped out all the Athenians?

XENA:
     No. There were no traces of battle. Besides, if the Persians did slaughter the Athenians, there was no reason for them to leave and then return to an empty city.

ARES:
     I'll be right back.

XENA:
     Where are you going?

ARES:
     My sister should know something about this.

GABRIELLE:
     Why would Aphrodite--oh, I see. Yeah, after all she is the patron goddess of the city.

CUT TO

A room on Olympus. Athena is at a desk reading a scroll. Ares enters.

ARES:
     Hello, sis.

Athena looks up. She replies sharply but without the hostility she's showed him before.

ATHENA:
     Hello, brother.

ARES:
     I suppose you're wondering why I'm here.

ATHENA:
     Let me guess--to spend some quality time with your sister? (smiles slightly at his embarrassed expression) So I take it this isn't a social call. Something to do with the Persians army?

ARES:
     Your wisdom is right on the money. So--what exactly is going on?

ATHENA:
     When they learned that the Persians were coming, they were not ready to defend themselves. So they prayed to me for help, and I told them to go to the island of Salamis and seek refuge there for a while. Meanwhile, their army is headed to Eulesis where they will meet with the Spartans.

ARES (raises an eyebrow):
     The Spartans?

ATHENA:
     The Athenians and the Spartans have agreed to join forces to fight the Persian invasion...

ARES:
     Really. (sarcastic) The beginning of a beautiful friendship?

Athena

ATHENA (leans forward on her elbows and stares at him intently):
     Brother, I know that the hostilities between Athens and Sparta go a long way back. And I know you've had a hand in those hostilities. But this alliance is too important right now for you to mess it up. So I suggest you stay out of this.

ARES (gives her a "who, me?" innocent look):
     Who says I'll do anything to mess it up? Maybe I'm interested in the welfare of the Athenians.

ATHENA (mockingly):
     Since when have you taken interest in the welfare of any mortals?

ARES (wryly):
     Hey, I'm always up for new experiences.

Ares disappears. Athena shakes her head, looking after him; then, a small smile crosses her face, and she returns to her scrolls.

CUT TO

Ares' temple, Xena is now the one pacing around, lost in thought. Gabrielle is examining the decor of the temple, shaking her head at some of the grisly symbols such as human skulls. Periodically, she turns and glances worriedly at Xena.

A close-up of Xena's face, and then dissolve to:

[FLASHBACK]

A close-up of Ares' face.

Ares

ARES:
     Ares, God of War. At your service.

Xena looks shocked at first, but manages to keep her emotions in check and assume an arrogant expression.

XENA:
     Xena, Destroyer of Nations. So, now that we've completed the introductions--what do you want?

ARES (slightly surprised):
     You're not afraid of me.

XENA:
     If you wanted to kill me, you'd have done it already. Anyway, I don't have time to chat. If you have a reason for being here, cut to the chase.

Ares walks around behind Xena. Xena follows him with her gaze.

Xena

XENA (sarcastically):
     What are you trying to do, size me up for a new dress?

ARES:
     Do you know what you're meant to be?

XENA:
     The Destroyer of Nations. I've been promised the greatest power.

ARES:
     Is that all? (Xena eyes him in confusion) You can have so much more than that, Xena.

XENA (dreamy):
     More...?

ARES (suavely):
     Oh sure, there is a lot to be said for wanton slaughter. But real power...that comes from something else. When you destroy, people feel your power for a very short time--between the moment when they know you can kill them and the moment you actually do. And then one day, you'll have destroyed everything in your path, and then what? (Xena looks at him, entranced by his words and his presence) If you conquer and rule, your power will last.

XENA (regaining her composure, bitterly):
     That sounds great. With what I've got left of my army, maybe I can take over a small fishing village.

ARES:
     Join with me, Xena. I can give you a new army.

XENA:
     Why?

ARES:
     I have had my eye on you for a long time. Ever since Cortese's army attacked Amphipolis.

XENA (steps toward him, her eyes suddenly flashing with anger):
     Was he working for you?

ARES (slowly shakes his head):
     Cortese wasn't smart enough or good enough to serve me. But someone else caught my eye that day. A girl of seventeen who was determined to fight when everyone else in the town wanted to give up. That girl didn't have much in the way of combat skills, or experience...but what she had in her was the spirit of War. And with that fire burning inside her, she led men into battle.

While speaking, he has been coming even closer to Xena until they are face to face. Lifting a hand, Ares touches Xena's chin, staring into her eyes. She suppresses a shiver.

ARES:
     Join me, Xena. Then you can experience war like you never have before.

His sensuous whisper suddenly seems to fill the air, echoing in the trees, carried by the wind.

ARES:
     Join me.

[END OF FLASHBACK]

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO