ACT FOUR

FADE IN

The command tent. Tydeus and Pausanias are seated; King Nicosias of Thessaly stands in front of them. Xena, Gabrielle and Ares come in.

XENA (looks at Nicosias):
     This is the Persian messenger?

TYDEUS:
     Actually, it's King Nicosias of Thessaly. He has just arrived from the Persian camp.

GABRIELLE:
     A Greek king allied with the Persians?

NICOSIAS (a look of profound shame on his face):
     I cooperated with the Persians because Mardonius was--is holding my wife and children hostage. Mardonius made me deliver his messages to the leaders of other Greek states to intimidate them--to let them see that he could force a Greek king to run his errands for him.

XENA:
     Charming sense of humor.

NICOSIAS:
     But I won't put up with it anymore. I've escaped from Mardonius' camp and I'm here to help you.

PAUSANIAS:
     Help us, how?

NICOSIAS:
     I've overheard something that I think you should know. The Persians are camped some ten leagues west of here. In three days, they are expecting reinforcements. You have to break their back now, or they will be twice as difficult to defeat!

Tydeus, Pausanias, Xena, Gabrielle and Ares exchange thoughtful looks.

XENA:
     Then tomorrow, we must attack.

CUT TO

Xena and Gabrielle in their tent. It is night and the tent is only dimly lit by an oil lamp.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena, I've been meaning to ask you something...

XENA:
     About the chakram?

GABRIELLE (uncomfortably):
     Yes.

XENA:
     Go on.

GABRIELLE:
     If the chakram represented darkness...why did you keep it after you changed your path?

XENA (looks at her):
     At first, I wanted to return it.

XENA:
     Ares was right, Gabrielle. My darkness is always going to be a part of me, as long as I keep it in check.

GABRIELLE (thoughtfully):
     Xena...I'm glad you didn't try to take the dark chakram off the altar.

XENA (looks at her warily):
     Because it would have been the final proof that my soul was completely lost to evil?

GABRIELLE:
     Because I don't believe it was.

Xena wordlessly squeezes her hand and nods, her eyes getting misty.

CUT TO

The next day. The combined Greek armies are on the march, moving toward the Persian camp. Once again, Tydeus and Pausanias are riding at the head of the troops along with Ares, Xena, and Gabrielle. The front columns of the troops ride over the ridge of a hill and see the Persian camp below.

PAUSANIAS:
     Charge!

TYDEUS:
     To victory!

A wide shot of the Greek troops streaming down the hill and attacking the camp. Then, the camera closes in on the battle as the two armies clash once again.

At a distance, Pausanias spots Mardonius atop his mount. Mardonius sees Pausanias as well. They glare at each other intensely and then kick their horses and charge toward one another.

A montage of the battle. The Greek troops seem to be gaining the upper hand, as we see some Persian soldiers falling and others running. The camera closes in on Xena and Ares, who are now fighting on foot.

A Persian soldier runs his sword through Ares' abdomen. He blanches in shock and fear when he sees that he has not drawn blood and Ares is unfazed by the blow. Ares grins at him, and the soldier screams and runs away.

XENA (smirks):
     Are you sure that doesn't count as using your special powers?

ARES:
     What, that? (grins at her) I suppose it would have been good manners to fake some blood.

CUT TO

Pausanias and Mardonius fighting. Pausanias seems to be growing tired, and finally Mardonius knocks the sword out of his hand and knocks him down with a kick. Mardonius raises his sword over Pausanias. Just then, there is a "whoosh" in the air, and the chakram knocks the sword out of Mardonius' hand. Mardonius whips around to see Xena, the chakram already in her hand again.

MARDONIUS (furious):
     You again!

XENA:
     I'm the one you want, isn't it?

MARDONIUS:
     Let's finish what you started forty years ago.

Mardonius and Xena fight. They seem to be more or less evenly matched in strength, and neither is gaining the upper hand.

XENA (a little breathlessly):
     Tell me something, Mardonius. What are you really seeking? Revenge for your father?

MARDONIUS:
     You bet I am! He survived your cowardly attack, but he was forever a broken man after that. He never went back to being the warrior he had been. (he strikes out at Xena) You robbed him of the chakram--when I take it from your dead body, his honor shall be restored.

XENA (strikes back):
     And what about honoring your mother, Mardonius?

MARDONIUS (blocks her thrust):
     What are you talking about?

XENA (parries his attack):
     Didn't you know? Your father killed your mother and your elder brother just to prove to his war god that he was worthy of the chakram of darkness. (Mardonius looks shocked for a moment but then quickly recovers) Is that the legacy you would honor?

MARDONIUS:
     Liar! My mother and brother were slain by a Greek assassin--Father told me all about it!

He is slightly shaken and his blows become less coordinated.

XENA:
     Your father's the liar, Mardonius. I heard him brag about it with my own ears.

ARES (off-camera):
     And I heard his god brag about it to me.

MARDONIUS (whips around):
     Who are you?

ARES:
     Ares, God of War. I expect Dear Old Dad had a few choice words to say about me, too.

MARDONIUS (his face distorted with fury):
     You're immortal. But at least I can kill one of you!

He charges toward Xena, but his rage makes him lose focus, and Xena's sword runs him through. Xena yanks out the sword, and Mardonius falls to the ground, a look of disbelief on his face.

MARDONIUS:
     This isn't over, Xena. (dies)

Xena gazes sadly at his body, and then looks up at the Persians who are on the run everywhere.

XENA:
     It is for now.

CUT TO

Xena, Gabrielle, Ares, Tydeus and Pausanias, riding through the now-empty Persian camp.

XENA:
     It shouldn't be difficult now to chase the Persians out of Greece.

TYDEUS:
     We couldn't have done it without you, Xena.

PAUSANIAS:
     My lord Ares--when I get back to Sparta, the first thing I'll do is make sure that the city builds a large temple in your honor.

Ares looks pleased and Xena gives him an amused look.

GABRIELLE:
     And what about the friendship between Sparta and Athens? Is that going to crumble as soon as the Persian threat is gone?

PAUSANIAS (uncomfortably):
     I wouldn't call it a friendship. More of a strategic alliance.

XENA (to Gabrielle):
     I guess that answers your question. (to Pausanias) Come on, a man of your character can do better than that. There is no reason for Athens and Sparta to be enemies. The first step toward overcoming hostility and mistrust is the most difficult to make, and you have done that already. Why not continue on the road of peace?

GABRIELLE (pointedly):
     If Ares lets that happen, of course.

ARES (with semi-mock indignation):
     Me? Listen, half the time, I have nothing to do with starting the wars I get the credit for. Just look at Sparta and Athens--their last war started when I was mortal. It's just like you mortals to get yourselves into one mess after another and blame it all on the gods.

TYDEUS:
     I can't promise anything, Xena. But the Spartans have helped us, and we won't forget it.

PAUSANIAS:
     Neither of us could have beaten the Persians on our own.

They turn to each other and shake hands. Xena and Gabrielle exchange pleased looks while Ares adopts an impassive demeanor.

CUT TO

Xena and Gabrielle riding down a wooded road.

GABRIELLE:
     You think it will last?

XENA:
     Hard to tell what will happen next time either the Athenians or the Spartans think they've been wronged by the other side. The road to war is paved with good intentions.

GABRIELLE (nods thoughtfully):
     You know, Xena, there was something else I wanted to tell you. I'm glad you kept the chakram.

XENA:
     So am I. You can't get away from something that's a part of you...all you can do is use it for good or evil.

GABRIELLE:
     The training you got from Ares in the old days helped make you who you are today. (Xena nods) Oh, I appreciate that. It's just...weird to see you two together.

XENA (quickly):
     We're not "together."

A flash of blue light. Ares materializes, standing directly in Argo's path, arms folded on his chest.

ARES:
     Really. You could have fooled me.

XENA:
     Well--not all the time.

ARES:
     Oh, right.

XENA (after a brief pause):
     Ares, I wanted to thank you for your help.

ARES:
     Who knows, maybe there really is something to be said for that Greater Good thing. (gives Gabrielle a pointed look) Like having a new temple built in my honor.

XENA (teasingly):
     That's what it was all about, wasn't it?

ARES (suddenly serious):
     Hey, it was a pleasure fighting by your side again.

XENA (softly):
     Same here.

ARES:
     So--what happens now?

XENA (smiles):
     Don't be a stranger.

ARES:
     I'll see you around.

As Gabrielle starts moving ahead at a trot, Ares blows Xena a kiss--one that momentarily causes a red glow to appear in her chest, just like in "Path of Vengeance." Xena closes her eyes and sighs. Ares grins at her and disappears. Xena shivers, shaking off her pleasurable trance, and moves on, catching up with Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE:
     So you caught the chakram on your first try, did you?

XENA (nods):
     Uh-huh.

GABRIELLE:
     I guess you really do have many skills.

XENA:
     I was just about to say that!

Their voices and laughter gradually fade. The camera pulls back to show Ares standing at a distance, watching Xena and Gabriele ride away and smiling affectionately as we:

FADE OUT

THE END

[Gabrielle gathered more material for Xena's complete biography during the production of this motion picture.]

Xena: Warrior Princess Shipper Seasons Season 7 Episode 20 Of Love and War II Story By: Aurora Written By: Sally Edited By: LadyKate Collage By: Aurora Images Gathered By: Aurora Cast Xena Lucy Lawless Gabrielle Renee O'Connor Ares Kevin Smith Tydeus Michael Bell Pausanias Jim Hawksworth Nicosias Dudly Brooke Mardonius Keith Heitmann Kal Antonio Te Maioho Acadius Josh Whaley Original Airdate May 21, 2002 Gabrielle gathered more material for Xena's complete biography during 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.