ACT ONE

FADE IN

Xena, Gabrielle, Eve, and Lander approach the town walls of Coronea and dismount.

LANDER (whispers):
     We need to be quiet. There are guards everywhere.

EVE:
     Then how did you escape in the first place?

LANDER:
     I'll show you.

Lander walks up to the wall, followed by Eve, Gabrielle and Xena. He comes to a part in the wall that is covered with branches and foliage, moves the branches aside, and removes a stone from the wall to reveal a secret entrance. Lander gestures to the three women to follow him in and they do.

CUT TO

Xena, Gabrielle, Eve and Lander stand in the doorway of a tavern where about a dozen people are sitting around a table.

MAN #1 (finishing a meal):
     I never knew fried rat could taste so good.

The camera pans over to Gabrielle and Eve as they wince.

MAN #2:
     Don't forget to ask for the recipe.

MAN #3:
     I wonder what happens when we run out of rats...

MAN #1:
     Well, we've sent Lander. Hopefully, he'll find someone and bring them back to help.

WOMAN #1:
     You didn't send Lander. He went willingly because none of us were brave enough to leave. But we don't even know if he made it out alive.

MAN #2:
     We can't give up hope, you know.

WOMAN #1:
     Why do we always wait for someone else to bail us out while we sit around and wait?

MAN #2:
     That's all we can do. Sit around and wait.

LANDER (off screen):
     Not any longer.

Everyone in the room turns to see Lander, Xena, Gabrielle, and Eve standing in the doorway. Their faces become animated.

WOMAN #1:
     Lander! You actually found someone.

LANDER:
     Oh, not just someone. (gesturing to Xena) This is Xena, the Warrior Princess. And this is Gabrielle the Battling Bard, and...Eve. (he jerks his head at them in turn)

MAN #1:
     Xena? Well, we're sure to be saved now.

XENA:
     Oh, it's all up to me?

MAN #2:
     Isn't that why you're here?

GABRIELLE:
     Yes, but you have to do something, too--we can't help you unless you're willing to help yourselves.

XENA:
     Just give us the details and we'll see what we can do.

MAN #1:
     We're under siege by the Warlord Nicodemus. He wants us to accept him as the ruler of this town and pay tribute to his army. We don't want to submit to his rule, but Nicodemus has cut off our food supplies from the countryside, and we're running out of food, fast. If this siege goes on for another couple of weeks, half this town will starve to death. (points to his plate) We're already dining on filet of rat.

XENA:
     All right, we're on it.

WOMAN #1:
     Thank you so much.

Xena looks at Gabrielle and Eve.

XENA:
     Let's go. We've got work to do.

Xena, Gabrielle and Eve leave the building.

CUT TO

It's night. Xena walks into a room and puts her sword and chakram down on the bed. She seems a little troubled and she blinks.

Xena opens her eyes and sighs. She looks around the room and then tenses for a moment. She turns to find Ares standing in the doorway. She looks away from him. Ares walks up to her.

ARES:
     What? Not even a hello?

He brushes his fingers through her hair and she turns to look at him.

XENA:
     Why are you here?

ARES:
     Do you still have to ask?

She looks away for a moment.

ARES:
     Worried about this town?

XENA:
     It's not just this town. (softly) Ares, last time I was in a town under siege...

ARES (grimly):
     Yes?

XENA:
     You were there...asking me for things that you had no right to ask.

ARES:
     As I remember it, you were the one who came to me.

XENA:
     But you left me no choice. Ares, the gods were going to kill my child, and you were using my desperation to get me where you wanted me.

There is a slight pause. Ares looks at her almost guiltily, then switches to his usual bravado.

ARES:
     I thought we had put the past behind us.

XENA:
     The past may be behind us, but it's never over, Ares. (she looks into Ares' eyes) I may be able to forgive the things you've done...but I'll never forget them.

ARES (looks down):
     Neither will I.

XENA:
     And now that... (breaks off) I don't know when or where those memories will come back to haunt me. Being with you makes me think about them even more.

Xena and Ares look into each other's eyes.

Xena steps away from Ares and walks over to the bed where her sword and chakram are. Ares turns, watching her for a moment.

ARES:
     Xena. (walks up to her) I was...who I was. For thousands of years, I knew that when I wanted something, all I had to do was go for it. Anyone who stood in my way had to be broken, or crushed, or trapped. That's what War is about. When I wanted you (he puts his hands on her shoulders), it was different from all the other times I had wanted something...and I had no idea how to handle that. So I tried to do things my way--because I didn't know any better.

XENA (bitterly):
     And that's supposed to make it all right?

ARES:
     No. (he pauses and turns her around, staring into her eyes) I'm sorry, Xena. (she looks at him in amazement) Sorry about--everything.

XENA (nods gravely):
     I know you are.

ARES (gives her a somewhat surprised look):
     If there's anything I can do to make those memories hurt less, I'll do it. I don't want you to hurt...because of me. (he lifts a hand to touch her face) You know why? Because you've changed me...and I love you for it. (pause) I didn't ask for this--these feelings--but I wouldn't give them up...for anything.

Music fades in: "Piece of My Heart" {3.88 MB} (Right-click or Ctrl-click sound icon to save file)

Ares moves his hand across her cheek and she lifts her hand to meet his, closing her eyes.

ARES (singing):
     How could this happen, I don't understand
     Falling in love was just not in my plan
     But I want you to know

Xena opens her eyes.

ARES (singing):
     You just got a piece of my heart

He squeezes Xena's hand.

ARES (singing):
     I've been through the changes
     I've walked through the pain
     I told myself I would never do this again
     But I want you to know
     You just got a piece of my heart

He wraps his arm around Xena's waist. Drawing her closer, he leans down and kisses her lightly.

ARES (singing):
     'Cause love has been a stranger
     Love has been cruel
     Lovin' made me feel like the world's one and only fool
     And I promised myself I would never trust my heart again

Xena smiles, he smiles back.

XENA (singing):
     I protected my feelings
     I fought to be free
     I can't believe I would let this happen to me
     But I want you to know
     You just got a piece of my heart

Xena disengages herself from him and walks up to the bed. She stands, her back facing him, then turns to look at him.

XENA (singing):
     Tell me where did you come from
     Tell me who sent you here

ARES (singing):
     Whatever the reason, girl, God made the message clear
     'Cause nobody else can make me feel the way that you do

Xena slowly walks up to him.

XENA (singing):
     I just gotta say
     That the struggle is over
     My story's true, I finally realize
     I want to spend my life with you
     'Cause you are the one that changed the way I feel
     And I swear I know this time it's real

Ares begins to rub her arm; she closes her eyes briefly, almost shivering at his touch.

XENA (singing):
     Never in my lifetime, in my wildest dreams
     Could I ever, ever imagine the love that you brought to me

ARES (singing):
     You are the one that changed the way I feel

Xena runs a hand along his face and through his hair, Ares doing the same to her.

XENA (singing):
     How could this happen, I don't understand

ARES (singing):
     Falling in love was just not in my plan
     But I want you to know
     You just got a piece of my heart

They join hands, their fingers intertwining. Xena looks at their hands, Ares following her gaze.

XENA (singing):
     But I want you to know
     You just got a piece of my heart

She looks at him and then they lean closer together, their eyes staring deeply at each other.

XENA and ARES (whispering):
     Just got a piece of my heart

The music fades. They both lean forward and capture each other's lips in a passionate kiss.

CUT TO

Gabrielle is walking toward Xena's room and stops at the door, looks in and sees Xena and Ares kissing and then breaking apart. Gabrielle stands, watching.

CUT TO

ARES:
     So...what now?

XENA:
     I don't know.

They stare at each other for a moment, then she steps back away from him and sits down on the bed, sighing. Ares stands back for a moment then slowly walks up to her. She looks up and sees him extending his hand, a small object in his palm.

XENA (curious):
     What's this?

Ares lifts it up so she can see. It is a small silver medallion, with a picture engraved into it--a picture of her chakram with the symbol of Ares overlapping it.

ARES:
     I wanted to give this to you a long time ago...before you left.

Xena takes it and looks at it--it's polished and shiny.

ARES:
     Back then, I wanted it to be a token of the bond between the God of War and his Warrior Queen. Now, it's just--a token of love. Do you still want it?

XENA:
     Yes.

She looks up at him. Ares leans over and places a tender kiss on her cheek.

XENA:
     Ares--I have something to tell you, too.

ARES:
     What?

XENA (smiles a little):
     You know, in that other town under siege...when I told you that I felt nothing...I lied.

ARES (grins):
     I know you did.

He's gone in a flash. Xena stares at the spot where he was for a moment, then looks back at the medallion in her hand. The camera pans over to the doorway to where Gabrielle is standing. Slowly, she walks into the room.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena.

Xena looks up, a little startled, to see Gabrielle walking toward her. Gabrielle glances at the object in Xena's hand.

GABRIELLE (tentatively):
     What's that?

Xena quickly closes her hand, concealing it.

XENA:
     It's nothing.

GABRIELLE:
     Uh-huh. Listen, Xena--

XENA:
     Gabrielle, look. Whatever's on your mind, I can't talk about it at the moment.

Xena stands up and grabs her chakram and sword from the bed. While doing so, the medallion falls to the ground, but she doesn't notice it--she's too distracted.

XENA (now all business):
     Gabrielle, you stay here. I'm getting out of this--I'll go to see if I can talk to Nicodemus. I'll be back by morning.

GABRIELLE:
     You've met him before.

XENA:
     Yes, a long time ago. (suddenly, there is a puzzled look on her face) Gabrielle, this is strange. I knew Nicodemus before we went to sleep for twenty-five years. If this is the same Nicodemus, he would be about seventy years old by now.

GABRIELLE:
     Maybe it's his son.

XENA (shrugs):
     Could be. Anyway, that's not important. I'll see if I can get him to lift the siege without a full-scale war.

Xena turns to exit the room.

GABRIELLE:
     Good luck.

Xena nods and then exits.

CUT TO

Xena creeps through the dark toward the secret exit, past the guards watching on the wall. She slips through quietly, finds Argo and mounts, galloping off. The camera moves back to show Gabrielle watching from the window.

She sighs and then looks around the room, seeing the medallion lying on the ground. Gabrielle picks it up and looks at it, rubbing her fingers over it. She looks thoughtfully at it, turning it over to show the engraving.

GABRIELLE (to herself):
     Why, Xena? Why can't you just talk to me?

There is a flash of golden light and Aphrodite appears in front of Gabrielle, sitting on the bed.

GABRIELLE (smiles):
     Aphrodite! Good to see you.

APHRODITE (smiles brightly):
     Hello, little one. Something bothering you?

GABRIELLE (nods):
     Yeah...

APHRODITE:
     Let me take a wild guess. Xena and Ares?

GABRIELLE (sighs):
     I don't understand why she won't talk to me about it. She's my best friend; we've been through so much; she should be able to talk to me about anything.

APHRODITE:
     Hey, join the club. I'm having the same problem with my big bro.

GABRIELLE:
     Isn't it easier to confide in someone?

APHRODITE:
     Duh! That's what I keep telling Ar. Well, you know how they are. (giggles) Or at least you know how Xena is. Take everything about her that drives you crazy and multiply it by, oh, three...and you get my bro. Maybe they will talk about it, eventually.

GABRIELLE:
     I hope so.

Aphrodite looks around the room, Gabrielle is rubbing the medallion between her fingers, thinking.

APHRODITE:
     Is that all that's bothering you, honey? That Xena won't talk about it?

GABRIELLE:
     Are you asking me if I think it's wrong for them to be together? (Aphrodite looks at her quizzically) The answer to that is, I don't know. Aphrodite, you know your brother has made a lot of trouble for Xena and me over the years. But--he's not the same as he was...and Xena thinks of him differently now. She may not tell me much, but I know her well enough to know it's affected her...a lot.

APHRODITE:
     I can tell you one thing, Gabrielle. I used to think that when it came to my line of work, big bro was a lost cause. Oh, he had his little pets (she makes a face), but I never thought I'd see the Big Bad God of War, head over heels in love. Until Xena came along.

Gabrielle nods and sighs, then sets the medallion back on the bed and walks over to the window. Aphrodite looks at the medallion lying on the bed, then glances at Gabrielle, who is standing at the window looking out.

GABRIELLE:
     So maybe he's right for her. But I know something about it is bothering Xena.

APHRODITE:
     Yeah, whatever it is, my bro's bummed out about it too. What can I say--they have lots of issues from the past. (glances at Gabrielle) And maybe they're not the only ones... But hey, don't worry about them too much--they'll work it out eventually. Like I said, it's just the way they are. Sleep tight, Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE:
     Good night.

Aphrodite blows her a kiss and disappears.

GABRIELLE (shakes her head):
     The way they are...

CUT TO

Gabrielle walks into a room--her room--closing the door behind her. She unlaces her boots and places them at the foot of the bed, laying her sais next to them. Then strange sounds of creaking are heard in the room. Gabrielle notices this and quietly grabs her sais, holding them defensively.

GABRIELLE (stern):
     Who's there?

Gabrielle looks around and in moments, a figure appears out of thin air. It is Joxer, looking just the same as when he died. Gabrielle's face softens and she drops her sais to the ground in shock.

GABRIELLE:
     Joxer...

Gabrielle goes toward him as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT ONE