ACT ONE

FADE IN

Inside the council room. Xena and Gabrielle stand in the middle of the circle of council members while Pausanias stands in the back of the room.

COUNCILWOMAN #1:
     Why should we trust you, Xena? Everyone knows that you helped the Athenians defeat us.

XENA (impassive):
     I fought for Athens because I believed their cause was just. (a murmur among the council members.) Now, we have one cause--we are all Greeks.

COUNCILMAN #1:
     The Athenians are nothing but a bunch of cunning money-grubbers. The only kind of fighting they're really good at is backstabbing. Right now, they're pretending to be our allies because they need us. But do you think they'd hesitate to use this so-called alliance to spy on us and turn on us when it's more convenient?

COUNCILMAN #2:
     Our first duty is to the people of Sparta.

GABRIELLE:
     Don't you understand? It's by joining the Athenians that you can best serve Sparta's interests right now. We have seen the Persian army. You won't be able to stand against the Persians on your own.

COUNCILMAN #3:
     If you wouldn't listen to Pausanias, at least listen to them. They know what they're talking about.

COUNCILMAN #1:
     Our own commander couldn't persuade us, so we should listen to a couple of interlopers?

COUNCILWOMAN #1:
     Especially when one of them is said to be in the service of Ares, God of War.

Xena flinches and lowers her eyes; Gabrielle looks completely stunned, and several council members exchange shocked glances.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena, come on--say something!

XENA (troubled):
     Ares and I have sometimes...worked together. But I serve no one and nothing--except the Greater Good.

PAUSANIAS (speaks up from the back of the room):
     Maybe it wouldn't hurt to have the God of War on our side.

COUNCILWOMAN #1 (vehemently):
     Ares has never been a friend to Sparta. All he's ever done is get us into wars and help our enemies.

Xena stares down with a somewhat guilty look. Then, the familiar blue light flares next to her, and everyone gasps as Ares appears.

ARES (nonchalant):
     Didn't you know it's not nice to talk about people behind their back? I think that goes for gods, too.

The camera pans over the stunned, frightened faces of the council members.

XENA (through clenched teeth):
     Ares...I don't think you're helping much.

ARES:
     Wait and see. (to the council) I'm only going to say this once, so listen good. (sarcastic) All this squabbling between Greek cities can be a lot of fun, but this is serious business. Normally, I may be a trifle allergic to the spirit of brotherhood, but I want to see those Persians get their asses kicked. And if the way to do that is for you to get warm and fuzzy with the Athenians, then you go right ahead. Do what she says and send your army to Eulesis, and who knows--maybe the next time you pray to me, you'll find me in a good mood.

He vanishes. The council members exchange doubtful looks.

GABRIELLE (quietly to Xena):
     You think that helped?

XENA (quietly):
     I don't know. Somehow, when Ares doesn't have any mischief up his sleeve, he doesn't make a very good sales pitch.

GABRIELLE (quietly):
     Let me try. (steps forward and speaks up) Esteemed members of the Spartan council, listen to me. Even the God of War is willing to put internecine wars aside for the sake of Greece. Won't you do the same?

COUNCILMAN #1:
     Why should we believe the God of War? Everyone knows Ares is only out to help himself.

GABRIELLE:
     Maybe in this case, Ares can help himself by helping you. The Persians don't worship him--they have their own gods. If they overrun Greece, Ares will have no temples left. Maybe you can take a tip from him--help yourselves by helping the Athenians.

The council members exchange thoughtful looks.

COUNCILMAN #1 (reluctantly):
     I believe the circumstances call for a new vote.

COUNCILWOMAN #1 (pointing toward Xena and Gabrielle):
     You two, wait outside. You are not Spartan citizens.

CUT TO

The hallway. Xena is pacing around impatiently while Gabrielle leans against a pillar, lost in thought, her arms folded.

XENA (stops and turns to Gabrielle):
     You really think that's the only reason Ares is doing this? To make sure he still has temples and worshippers?

GABRIELLE (snaps out of her reverie and looks at Xena, thoughtfully at first, then with a bit of mischief):
     Well, that and...maybe he wants to fight on your side. It's kind of like foreplay for him, don't you think?

XENA (shocked):
     Gabrielle!

GABRIELLE (smiles):
     What? When will you realize that I'm not a little girl anymore?

XENA (embarrassed):
     Come on, I'm serious. Why do you think he's doing this?

GABRIELLE (shrugs):
     Ares always has his reasons for doing things. Maybe sometimes, they're good reasons. (she walks over to the other side of the hallway while Xena perks up suddenly, obviously sensing Ares' presence. Gabrielle turns around.) You know, I have to say one thing--I never thought I'd see Ares try to do the right thing.

ARES (materializes in a flash of light):
     And I never thought I'd hear you saying good about me, so we're even.

He disappears.

GABRIELLE (shakes her head):
     To think that he would travel through the ether just to deliver a supposedly witty one-liner...

Xena grins affectionately. Gabrielle is about to say something else, but just then, the doors of the council chamber open and Pausanias comes out. Xena and Gabrielle turn to him.

PAUSANIAS:
     Well, it worked.

GABRIELLE (excited):
     It did?

PAUSANIAS:
     Last time, the vote was four to three against sending our army to help the Athenians. Sometimes, all it takes is to change one person's mind.

CUT TO

A port near Athens, bustling with activity. Persian soldiers in large numbers are getting aboard ships while Mardonius surveys the scene atop his horse. A lieutenant rides up to him.

LIEUTENANT:
     Everything is going well, my lord. We should be ready to embark in another hour.

MARDONIUS (smiles gleefully):
     Good. Then it won't be much longer before we get to Salamis and seize our hostages.

The camera zooms in on a soldier galloping through the port toward Mardonius.

SOLDIER:
     My lord! My lord! I have news!

MARDONIUS:
     News of what?

SOLDIER:
     The Athenian army, my lord. They are camped outside the town of Eulesis.

MARDONIUS (smiles):
     Very good. By the time we have to face them, we'll have quite a surprise in store for them.

SOLDIER:
     That's not all, my lord.

MARDONIUS:
     What else?

SOLDIER:
     The Spartans, my lord. Their army is on the move, and headed toward Eulesis too.

MARDONIUS (turns grim):
     So the Spartans and the Athenians have decided to join forces. Well, well, well. We can't allow that to happen--their combined army would be almost equal to ours in numbers. (turns to his lieutenant) Cancel the orders to sail to Salamis! Tell all our soldiers to disembark, right now! (to the soldier) Where is the Spartan army now?

SOLDIER:
     This morning, our scouts saw them at the Merida pass.

MARDONIUS (thinking):
     Then they will be at Eulesis in less than two days. No, that will never do. (to the lieutenant) We will cut them off at the Larissa River crossing before they can join the Athenians. Get the troops moving--now.

SOLDIER:
     My lord...one more thing...

MARDONIUS (impatiently):
     Yes?

SOLDIER (reluctantly and almost fearfully):
     Our scouts report that a woman warrior with dark hair, in black leathers, with golden decorations on her armor and a peculiar round weapon at her side, was seen riding with the Spartan leader.

CUT TO

The Spartan army on the march through a valley, with the cavalry units ahead and the infantry bringing up the rear. Pausanias rides at the head of the troops, flanked by Xena and Gabrielle.

CUT TO

The Persian army in the port.

SOLDIER:
     It sounded, my lord, like a description of the legendary Xena. The one who--

MARDONIUS (obviously excited by this news):
     Yes, yes, I know what she did. If you have nothing more to report, you're dismissed.

As the soldier rides away, Mardonius turns to his lieutenant.

MARDONIUS (an almost dreamy look on his face):
     Xena. So we're about to meet again.

LIEUTENANT:
     I understand, my lord. At last, you'll have a chance to avenge the humiliation our army suffered at her hands thirty years ago.

MARDONIUS:
     Oh, it's about revenge, all right. But it isn't just about our army. It's personal.

CUT TO

Xena riding with the Spartan troops as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT ONE