ACT TWO

FADE IN

The Spartan army continues its march through the valley, Xena and Gabrielle riding at Pausanias' side.

SPARTAN OFFICER:
     Look! Who's that?

He points toward a hill. A black-clad figure, atop a black horse, is riding toward the army.

PAUSANIAS:
     It could be a messenger.

GABRIELLE (looks close at the approaching rider and then gives Xena a puzzled glance):
     It's...it's Ares!

XENA (lifts an eyebrow):
     Ares? That's not his usual style of arrival.

ARES (rides up to Xena):
     Hey. Mind if I tag along?

XENA (smiling):
     Ares on horseback? I haven't seen such a sight since... (her smile turns wistful) ...since you were mortal.

ARES:
     Well, I usually don't get into the fray myself--mine is more of a management position. But do you really think I'd miss a chance to fight side by side with you? Especially now?

Xena looks at him with a faint, fond smile, while Gabrielle turns away, obviously embarrassed.

XENA:
     All right, then. Tag along. I'm sure it will be good for the soldiers' morale. It's not every day that they get to see an actual god in their ranks.

They ride side by side.

ARES:
     So. Let's get this war on the road, shall we?

Xena gives him a tolerant smile and shakes her head.

CUT TO

The Persian army on the move at night, by torchlight.

LIEUTENANT (to Mardonius):
     We're making good time, my lord. In less than two hours, we should reach the Larissa River.

MARDONIUS:
     Excellent. We will camp out there and get some rest. By sunrise, we'll be ready for the Spartan warriors. (pauses, smirking) And for the Warrior Princess.

CUT TO

The Spartan army, riding through a valley at dawn. Two scouts gallop at breakneck speed toward the army's head column.

PAUSANIAS:
     Something is wrong.

SCOUT #1:
     The Persians, my lord. They are waiting for us at the river crossing.

SCOUT #2:
     It looks like their army is at least twice ours in size.

GABRIELLE (alarmed):
     They obviously wanted to stop the Spartans from joining the Athenian army.

PAUSANIAS (glances at Ares, and a look of joy and relief flashes suddenly on his face):
     What am I worried about? The God of War is worth fifty thousand men.

ARES (the smug look on his face quickly changes to worry):
     Look, it's not that I don't appreciate the compliment, but there's a problem.

XENA (warily):
     What?

ARES:
     Xena, I can't use my special powers on the battlefield.

Xena and Gabrielle give him a skeptical look.

GABRIELLE:
     What is it--some obscure clause in the Olympian rulebook?

ARES:
     You know, I should check that rulebook. The part about turning pesky mortals into trees.

XENA:
     Hey, can we cut the witty banter for now? Ares--

ARES:
     Look, the point is, the Persians have their own war gods. If I start tossing fireballs at the Persian army, trust me, their gods are going to get involved. And then things are really going to get ugly.

XENA (grimly):
     Well, it's not going to be very pretty if the Spartans have to face an army that outnumbers them two to one. (she looks thoughtfully at Ares and then, suddenly, her eyes are animated) Maybe there is something you can do.

CUT TO

The Persian troops waiting by the river crossing. A scout rides up to Mardonius.

SCOUT:
     My lord, the Spartan troops have stopped two leagues from here.

MARDONIUS:
     They must have spotted us. (strokes his beard thoughtfully) Is there any way they can reach Eulesis?

OFFICER:
     No, my lord. This is the only river crossing within hundreds of leagues.

MARDONIUS:
     Then they're just stalling for time.

CUT TO

The Spartan army. Pausanias, Xena and the other Spartans are waiting. There is a flash of light, and Ares and Gabrielle appear.

XENA:
     Done?

GABRIELLE:
     Yeah.

ARES (teasing):
     Xena, one of these days I'll start suspecting that you only want me around as a means of transportation.

XENA (responds in kind):
     Well, it is nice to see you make yourself useful.

CUT TO

The Persian army.

MARDONIUS:
     Whatever they're planning, let's not leave them time to do it. We attack now!

The Persian army charges forward.

CUT TO

The Spartan army. Xena, Gabrielle, Ares, and Pausanias turn as a rumbling is heard in the distance.

ARES:
     Sounds like the Persians are on the move.

OFFICER (points ahead):
     Look there!

The Persian banners are now visible over the horizon.

XENA:
     We have no choice but to fight now.

PAUSANIAS:
     Charge!

Cut back and forth between the two armies moving toward each other.

When it seems that the armies are about to clash, Mardonius gives a sudden signal to stop and the troops behind him come to a halt. Pausanias does likewise and the Spartan army stops as well. The front ranks of the two armies are now at a stone's throw from each other.

MARDONIUS (sarcastic):
     Pausanias. Long time, no see. I'm sure you're disappointed that your meeting with your new friends, the Athenians, has been cancelled.

PAUSANIAS (contemptuously):
     I'm a soldier, Mardonius. I'm not here for a battle of wits.

MARDONIUS:
     Of course not. You're not equipped for such a battle. (behind him, his lieutenants burst into laughter) Then again, on this occasion, I don't think you can handle the real thing, either. I'm offering you and your soldiers a chance to live--if you give up.

PAUSANIAS:
     I think you know my answer.

MARDONIUS:
     Yes, trying to reason with you Spartans is a mere formality. But before we go on... (turns to Xena) ...I wanted to pay my respects to the legendary Warrior Princess.

His eyes lock on the chakram at Xena's side.

XENA (sneering):
     It's good to know the Persians still remember me.

MARDONIUS:
     Oh, Xena, I have special reasons to remember you. That thing you're wearing at your side (points to the chakram) should have been mine.

XENA (sarcastic):
     Really. You must have been five years old when I got it--what was it, one of the toys in your playroom?

MARDONIUS:
     No, it was my father's rightful prize. (Xena stares at him blankly) Does the name Acadius ring any bells?

Xena's eyes widen; Ares looks grim. Gabrielle glances sideways and notices both their reactions.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena--

XENA (cuts her off):
     Later, Gabrielle. We have a battle to fight. (to Mardonius, sneering) Well, I guess if you want this toy, you're just going to have to come get it.

MARDONIUS (slightly nervous, despite his bravado):
     With pleasure.

He raises his sword and abruptly brings it down in a signal to charge. Pausanias gives a similar signal, and the two armies charge each other. In a hazy montage of the battle, we see swords clashing, horses bucking and rolling their eyes in fright, people on both sides falling pierced by swords and arrows. Occasionally we see glimpses of Xena and Ares racing across the battlefield and slaying the enemy. At one point, they pass each other and pause briefly.

XENA (shouting over the noise of the battle):
     You're not doing too badly, even without using your powers!

ARES (also shouting):
     It's more sporting this way!

They ride on, continuing to fight. Despite their efforts, we soon see that the vastly outnumbered Spartan army is wavering and starting to retreat under the overwhelming pressure of the Persians.

PAUSANIAS (rides up to Xena and shouts):
     We won't be able to hold on much longer!

GABRIELLE:
     They should be here any minute!

The camera pans over to Mardonius.

MARDONIUS (yells):
     Victory is ours! Just remember, men--no one kills Xena but me!

Behind him, cries of alarm go up suddenly in the Persian ranks. A wide shot of the battlefield shows troops attacking the flanks of the Persian army.

MARDONIUS:
     What's going on?

LIEUTENANT (rides up to him):
     A sneak attack, my lord! It's the Athenians!

MARDONIUS:
     The Athenians? How is that possible? Someone must have gotten word to them in Eulesis...

LIEUTENANT (scared):
     That can't be, my lord--we had sentries posted everywhere--we even watched for messenger birds, just like you ordered--

MARDONIUS (hits him in the face):
     Then you weren't watching well enough, because someone obviously got through!

CUT TO

Ares, riding up to Xena, Gabrielle, and Pausanias.

ARES:
     They're here.

Another montage of the battle shows the Persians dying and running under the onslaught of the two Greek armies.

MARDONIUS:
     Retreat! Retreat!

A wide shot of the battlefield, the Persians retreating.

CUT TO

Tydeus, riding up to Pausanias.

PAUSANIAS:
     It's about time!

TYDEUS:
     I could say the same about you.

They look at each other rather tensely and then exchange a nod, acknowledging each other's help.

TYDEUS:
     They're on the run--shall we give pursuit and finish the job?

PAUSANIAS:
     Our troops are too tired--we have many wounded. We need to rest and regroup.

TYDEUS:
     All right. Then we'll call a retreat.

CUT TO

Inside a tent in the Greek army camp, sometime later. Gabrielle is tending to some wounded men.

CUT TO

Gabrielle coming out of the tent as Xena comes up.

XENA:
     Hey. How's it going?

GABRIELLE (sadly):
     More wounded than the army can handle...or than the healing potions can help. Victories come at a heavy price... You said it yourself--war is tough on the soul.

XENA (nods):
     But sometimes, it's our only choice.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena, what Mardonius said--about the chakram, and his father--

XENA (guardedly):
     What about it?

GABRIELLE (sighs):
     You don't need to talk to me about anything you'd rather not talk about...but you know, in all those years you've never told me how you got the chakram. Mardonius' father--what was he to you?

XENA (darkly):
     Nothing, Gabrielle. Just a warlord with ambitions...as great as mine. He and I were both after the chakram.

ARES (comes up):
     And you weren't the only ones. (puts his hands on Xena's shoulders) Maybe you should let the real expert tell this one. After all, if it weren't for me you wouldn't have ever gone after the chakram.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO