FADE IN

A large hall in the palace festively decked out in garlands of white, pink and red roses. A priestess in a pink gown wearing a pink flower wreath stands on a small elevation, up a few steps. General Mopsus, dressed up in an impressive dark red leather outfit with a large gold medallion on his puffed-out chest, stands in front of her with his arms folded on his stomach, looking very pleased with himself. A group of musicians with flutes and lyres stand to the side. The hall is filled with courtiers standing on both sides of the aisle.

There's a loud sound somewhere outside the hall and General Mopsus flinches and looks nervously in the direction of the sound.

CUT TO

A secret passage, weakly lit by the lantern in Gabrielle's hand. Xena, Gabrielle and Cyril are walking through the passage. They stop at a dead end, before a locked door.

XENA:
     Okay. This leads into one of the royal bedrooms...should be empty now. Stand back.

She takes a few steps back, then starts running and flips in the air, ramming both her boots into the door before landing on the floor. The door shakes a little but doesn't give.

CUT TO

The wedding hall. The large ornate doors are thrown open. The musicians start playing "Here Comes the Bride." Ariadne in a wedding gown and a veil walks in, escorted by King Nestor, a gray-haired, gray-bearded man in a rich robe of gold brocade with a fur mantle, a golden jeweled crown on his head. Ariadne's face is expressionless. King Nestor looks upset and confused, occasionally casting timid glances at his daughter as if trying to muster the courage to say something.

As he sees them come in, Mopsus smiles with a relieved expression and wipes beads of sweat from his forehead.

A close-up of King Nestor and Ariadne.

KING NESTOR (softly):
     Sweetheart, you don't have to do this.

ARIADNE:
     Don't make it worse, Daddy. I do.

The camera pans over to Polemos and Eliante, who are standing on the side of the aisle.

POLEMOS (mutters):
     Xena, where are you?

CUT TO

The secret passage. Xena does yet another flip, crashing her boots into the door. The door groans but remains intact.

There is a flash of golden light, and Aphrodite appears.

APHRODITE:
     Really, Warrior Babe--you are so stubborn! No wonder you and Ar are a match.

She extends an arm and touches the door, which instantly falls, opening up the way into a room. Aphrodite smiles a satisfied smile.

XENA (reluctantly):
     Thanks, Aphrodite.

APHRODITE (blows Cyril a kiss):
     Good luck, kiddo.

She disappears.

XENA:
     All right, let's go.

CUT TO

A palace hallway. Xena, Gabrielle and Cyril come out of a door.

GABRIELLE:
     Now, this would be a lot faster if we knew which way to go from here--

XENA:
     They'll tell us. (points toward four guards who emerge from behind a corner)

GUARD #1:
     Hey, it's them! Stop them! (To one of the guards, as they draw their swords.) Go get help!

GABRIELLE:
     No, you don't. (She throws a sai with the blunt end forward and knocks him out)

Xena does a flip and simultaneously kicks two other guards in the face with her boots, knocking them down. Guard #1, the only one left standing, looks from Xena to Gabrielle and lowers his sword.

XENA (smirks):
     Smart move. Now, if you want to be even smarter, you'll tell us where the wedding is.

CUT TO

The wedding hall. Ariadne stands stiffly next to a grinning General Mopsus.

PRIESTESS:
     We are gathered here to celebrate the union of Princess Ariadne and (sighs) General Mopsus.

CUT TO

Xena, Gabrielle and Cyril racing down the hallway toward the open doors of the wedding hall.

CUT TO

The wedding hall.

PRIESTESS:
     If anyone knows of--

As she continues to speak off-camera, we see Xena, Gabrielle and Cyril running up to the doors.

PRIESTESS:
     --a reason why these two should not be joined together in matrimony, speak now--

Two guards cross spears to stand in Xena, Gabrielle, and Cyril's way. Xena and Gabrielle exchange glances and deliver simultaneous kicks that knock down the guards.

The camera pans to General Mopsus, who looks back at the noise, a panicked expression on his face, and then to the priestess.

PRIESTESS:
     --or forever hold your peace.

XENA (walks through the open doors):
     A reason? Just one? We could go down the list until nightfall.

A murmur in the hall. The camera pans quickly to Polemos, who breathes a visible sigh of relief, and then to King Nestor, who looks slightly befuddled but immensely relieved. Ariadne's eyes lock on Cyril's. For a moment her face lights up with joy, then it hardens and she turns away defiantly.

MOPSUS (yells):
     Get her out of here!

XENA (ignoring him as she, Gabrielle, and Cyril walk down the hall):
     But here's reason number one. (points to Cyril)

ARIADNE (a pained look on her face):
     I don't want to hear this. Can we just get it over with?

XENA:
     Ariadne, no! You've got to hear him out! Believe me, you want to hear him.

There is a long, tense pause as Ariadne visibly hesitates. Mopsus draws his sword and charges at Xena with a snarl.

XENA:
     Still haven't learned your lesson, have you?

She knocks the sword out of his hand. He stands still for a moment, looking bewildered, and then turns. Xena gives him a kick in the behind that sends him flying and then sprawling on his stomach. There is a somewhat hesitant laughter in the crowd.

POLEMOS (loses his self-control for a moment and pumps his fist in the air):
      Yeah! (off King Nestor's startled look) Sorry, your majesty...

KING NESTOR:
     Oh, that's, uh, quite all right. I know how you feel--after all, I'm the girl's father.

ARIADNE:
     All right. Everyone, leave us alone. Please. (She starts out with an imperious note in her voice, but her tone softens and becomes almost imploring by the end)

KING NESTOR:
     You heard what the princess said. Let's go, everyone!

The murmur grows louder as the courtiers starts streaming out of the hall. General Mopsus scrambles to his feet and walks out too, giving Cyril a hateful look.

When everyone has left, the servants close the doors.

ARIADNE (approaches Cyril, who stands still with his eyes downcast):
     What did you want to tell me?

CYRIL (looks up):
     That I love you.

CUT TO

The hallway outside. King Nestor is eavesdropping at the keyhole. His face lights up in a big smile.

KING NESTOR (in a loud whisper):
     He said he loves her!

GABRIELLE (reproachfully):
     King Nestor--really, you know--isn't this a little beneath your royal dignity?

KING NESTOR:
     Look, I'm just worried about my daughter, okay? Shh-- (listens again)

CUT TO

The wedding hall.

ARIADNE:
     I don't believe you. Why did you--

CYRIL:
     Ariadne, please listen. I'm under Aphrodite's spell. If a princess falls in love and kisses me, I'm supposed to turn into... (he pauses and looks down again)

ARIADNE (frightened):
     What--a monster?

CYRIL:
     No. A dog.

CUT TO

The hallway. King Nestor stands up straight, a look of dismay on his features.

CUT TO

The wedding hall.

ARIADNE (frowns):
     Is this some sort of sick joke?

CYRIL:
     Aphrodite's joke, maybe. Ariadne, I swear it's true. I was a dog and Aphrodite turned me into a man. I didn't like being a man and I asked her to turn me back...and she came up with this spell.

A close-up of Ariadne's horrified look. Slowly, she covers her face with her hands.

CYRIL:
     I'm sorry, Ariadne--I'm so sorry. That's why I ran when I found out who you were. I didn't want to hurt you. And that's why--

ARIADNE (lowers her hands and lifts her head):
     I understand. (she comes up to Cyril and takes his hands) I love you.

They gaze at each other silently for a moment.

CYRIL:
     Ariadne...

ARIADNE:
     What are we going to do? Can she reverse the spell?

CYRIL (shakes his head):
     No. (off Ariadne's stricken look) But Xena thinks there may be a way out.

CUT TO

The hallway.

KING NESTOR:
     Oh dear. The poor girl is going to be very upset. (sighs) Well...I suppose at least a dog isn't as bad as a lizard or something...maybe we could keep him as a pet?

GABRIELLE (shakes her head):
     I don't think Ariadne would go along with that.

CUT TO

The wedding hall. Ariadne and Cyril are holding each other. Slowly, gazing into each other's eyes, they move closer until their lips meet.

A cloud of golden sparks rises from the floor and envelops them, swirling around them, growing bigger and bigger. A slight tremor shakes the room, making a vase fall and the chandelier on the ceiling tremble and clank.

CUT TO

The hallway. The courtiers exchange startled looks as they feel the vibration.

POLEMOS:
     What was that?

XENA (tensely):
     That was the kiss.

POLEMOS (under his breath):
      That just the kiss?

KING NESTOR:
     Oh my...I guess if we hear barking, we'll know what happened.

CYRIL (off-camera, behind the doors):
     Xena! Gabrielle! I'm all right!

A close-up of Xena's face. She looks profoundly relieved. The camera then pans to Gabrielle, who is overjoyed as well.

ARIADNE (off-camera):
     Daddy!

A close-up of the joyous look on King Nestor's face.

Xena pushes the door open. She, Gabrielle, Nestor, and Polemos rush into the wedding hall, followed by the others.

GABRIELLE:
     Cyril, you're okay! (she runs up to hug Cyril)

KING NESTOR:
     Sweetheart! (With tears in his eyes, he hugs Ariadne)

ARIADNE:
     Daddy... (raises her voice) Everyone--this young man (points to Cyril) is my fiancé!

A chorus of cheers goes up.

KING NESTOR (gives Xena a puzzled look):
     So the spell wasn't real?

XENA:
     Oh, it was real all right.

KING NESTOR (even more puzzled):
     Then--you did something so it wouldn't work?

XENA:
     Nah. I just got an idea. The spell said that when a princess fell in love with Cyril and kissed him, he would return to his true form. Well, by now (points at Cyril) this is his true form. He's just as human as you or me or anyone else.

King Nestor nods, obviously impressed by her reasoning.

CYRIL:
     Xena...you saved my life. How can I ever thank you?

XENA (obviously pleased):
     Don't forget to thank Gabrielle, too. It was something she said that made me think of it.

GABRIELLE (smiles):
     I'm just glad I could help.

KING NESTOR:
     Listen! I have an idea... We've got the priestess here, you're in a wedding gown, we've got all the wedding decorations...why don't we just go ahead and have the wedding right now?

ARIADNE (to Cyril):
     What do you say to that?

CYRIL (a happy, almost incredulous look on his face):
     Sounds good to me!

XENA:
     Congratulations, you two.

GABRIELLE (sighs):
     Too bad Darion is going to miss the wedding.

In a flash of golden light, Aphrodite appears with Darion.

APHRODITE:
     No, he's not!

DARION (looks dizzy for a moment, then grins broadly, grabbing Aphrodite's wrist):
     Wow! Can we do that again?

There is a chorus of gasps in the hall.

APHRODITE:
     Hey, let go of the goddess, kid!

DARION (lets go, more seriously):
     Please, can we do it again? It was too fast--I didn't see how you did it...

APHRODITE:
     Maybe another time. (To Cyril) Hey, kiddo.

CYRIL:
     Hello, Aphrodite.

A murmur of "Aphrodite, Aphrodite" runs through the hall.

APHRODITE (comes up to Cyril and Ariadne and addresses Cyril):
     So. Still mad at me, kiddo?

CYRIL (shakes his head and smiles):
     I guess not. It's all worked out for the best in the end.

APHRODITE (beaming):
     Yeah--don't you just love it when that happens? All right, you two lovebirds...be good!

She blows the couple a kiss, then waves at Xena and Gabrielle and disappears in a cloud of golden sparks.

The camera pans over the happy faces of Xena, Gabrielle, Polemos, Eliante and King Nestor, and then back to Cyril and Ariadne as they kiss again.

DISSOLVE TO

A road outside the city. It's a beautiful sunny morning. Xena and Gabrielle are riding, with Darion in the saddle in front of Gabrielle.

DARION:
     Hey, Gabrielle?

GABRIELLE:
     What, honey?

DARION:
     Aphrodite told me that story about how she enchanted a scroll.

GABRIELLE (suspiciously):
     She did?

DARION:
     Yeah. She said when Joxer wrote in the scroll and those three Gabbys showed up, they weren't wearing ugly hats. (Gabrielle blushes profusely while Xena gives her a teasing look) Actually, she said you weren't wearing--

GABRIELLE (cuts him off):
      Darion! Don't believe everything you hear from Aphrodite.

DARION (smirks):
     I bet that was pretty embarrassing. Especially with all those guys around--Joxer and Ares--

Xena glares at him and he trails off.

GABRIELLE (to Xena, exasperated):
     I can't believe she would tell him that!

XENA (smirks):
     I thought it was you who told me not to be so tough on her when she messes up?

Gabrielle fumes for a moment but then calms down. They ride silently for a moment.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena. When you figured out that Cyril might stay human after the kiss--were you sure?

XENA:
     Of course I wasn't.

GABRIELLE:
     So they were taking a pretty big risk.

XENA:
     You always do when you fall in love.

GABRIELLE:
     I guess so... (thinks for a moment) I guess true love can make anyone human.

XENA (a pensive, faraway look on her face):
     Yeah, it can...

GABRIELLE (gives her a curious look):
     Why do I get the feeling that you're thinking about somebody else?

XENA (glances at her, startled out of her reverie):
     Like who?

Gabrielle chuckles indulgently as we:

FADE OUT

THE END

[The spell used in the production of this motion picture was not actually tested on animals. Often.]

Xena: Warrior Princess Shipper Seasons Season 8 Episode 2 And They Called It Puppy Love... Story By: LadyKate Written By: LadyKate Collage By: Aurora Images Gathered By: Aurora Cast Xena Lucy Lawless Gabrielle Renee O'Connor Ares Kevin Smith Darion Alexander Gandar Aphrodite Alexandra Tydings Cyril William Dike Ariadne Rachel Mace Polemos Don Mass Eliante Michael Wane Mopsus Wesley Yimmer King Nestor George Ring Original Airdate November 18, 2002 The spell used in the production of this motion picture was not actually tested on animals. Often. 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.