FADE IN

Day. Xena, Gabrielle and Darion ride through the forest.

DARION:
     So where are we going now?

XENA:
     Back to the clearing where we found those unicorns. (looks at Darion, concerned) You can stay behind--you don't have to look at them again.

DARION (puts on a brave face):
     I can handle it.

Gabrielle pats him on the shoulder.

CUT TO

Xena, Gabrielle and Darion approach the clearing. As they look through the branches, Darion gasps and points at something off-camera.

GABRIELLE:
     Shh...

Pan to Isabella, who stands near the bodies of the unicorns, digging the ground with a shovel. A roan horse grazes nearby.

Xena rides ahead at a fast trot. Gabrielle follows her. Hearing the sound, Isabella flinches and turns around quickly. There is plain relief in her face at the sight of Xena and Gabrielle, though a little wariness comes back into her look a moment later.

ISABELLA:
     Who are you?

XENA:
     I could ask you the same question. (she rides up close to Isabella and stops, then takes the pendant off her belt and holds it up) You haven't lost anything around here, by any chance?

With a small cry, Isabella reaches up for the pendant but Xena snatches her hand away.

XENA:
     Not so fast. First, you're going to tell us a few things about the unicorns.

Isabella watches her for a moment, then her face crumples as she drops the shovel.

ISABELLA (almost tearful):
     I didn't want to do it...I love the unicorns.

GABRIELLE:
     That's what Lionel and Cordeilla told us.

ISABELLA (looks up sharply):
     You've seen Lionel and Cordeilla? You've been to Avalon?

DARION:
     Yeah, we have. It's a really cool place. These huts they have are just amazing--

ISABELLA (interrupts):
     That's impossible! No one can get in from the outside--except... (her voice breaks off)

XENA:
     Except if they ride a unicorn? (Isabella nods brokenly.) Well, I'm not sure how, but we got a ticket in. I suspect it has something to do with the unicorns being killed.

Isabella shudders.

GABRIELLE (gently):
     Tell us what you know about that.

ISABELLA (sighs):
     It's my adoptive father, King Meliadus. After I left Avalon, he and his men found me in the woods, and he adopted me. He's always been good to me...but now, he's been forcing me to bring his men to this forest and to lure the unicorns to be killed. (pauses) I'm so sorry. It's my fault...

XENA:
     Why does he want to kill the unicorns?

ISABELLA:
     He says it's for the good of the people...but I think that mostly, he's just in this to make money. (bitterly) He isn't wasting any time, either. Two of his advisors are already going out on the city square today to sell ground unicorn horn to people. It's the power, too...he believes that if he has the horns with their medicinal powers, he can become the most powerful king in Britannia--by deciding which kingdoms will get access to the horn.

GABRIELLE:
     We need to stop him, then.

XENA (with a steely look):
     Do we? (off Gabrielle's and Isabella's startled looks) If these horns have such power to cure, should it be up to us to deny them to people? So the king wants to make money by selling them. Does it matter what his motives are, as long as he ends up doing something good?

GABRIELLE:
     But Lionel and Cordeilla said Avalon would die if the unicorns were gone...

XENA (her face darkens):
     And what if it did? Gabrielle--those people took refuge on their little enchanted island to hide from Dahak... (quick pan to Gabrielle, who flinches; Xena stumbles, looking guilty) All they wanted was to wait out the danger--let everyone else do something about it.

GABRIELLE (softly):
     But look at the wonderful world they've built...so peaceful and beautiful and full of harmony-- (off Xena's unconvinced look) And this forest--didn't they say it would start dying too if the unicorns died?

XENA (skeptical):
     That's what they said.

GABRIELLE (points to a withering branch with wilting leaves):
     Look at this! What happens if the forest dies, Xena? What about all the plants in these woods that have medicinal properties? What about all the people who depend on the forest for their livelihood?

ISABELLA (imploringly):
     Please...I don't know who you are, but if you can do something to save the unicorns, please do it. The king... (lowers her eyes) ...my father is sending out his men today for another hunt, and he wants me to help them again. I don't think I can bear it if any more of these poor animals die because of me...

XENA (thinks a moment, then nods grimly):
     All right, we'll do it. (to Isabella, who looks up joyfully) Don't start thanking us yet. You said you lured the unicorns. Where?

ISABELLA:
     There's a beach not far from here--the one where the crossing to Avalon is...

XENA:
     When is the hunt?

ISABELLA:
     Five hours after noon.

XENA:
     We'll be there, don't worry.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena, wait. So we'll stop the king's men from killing the unicorns for now. But what happens when we leave this kingdom?

XENA (thoughtfully):
     Good point.

GABRIELLE (thinks a moment, then her face lights up):
     Hey--what if we do something to make sure that no one wants to buy the unicorn horns anymore?

XENA (frowns):
     What are you talking about?

GABRIELLE (wrinkles her nose, thinking hard):
     Maybe start a rumor that it has side effects of some kind...

DARION:
     Like what? (thinks, then grins) You use it and you grow a horn on your forehead!

XENA:
     A little too melodramatic.

GABRIELLE (smirks):
     Leave it to me, Xena. I'll think of something. (to Darion) Maybe you can help me out, huh? What do you say?

DARION (his face lighting up):
     I get to help? That's really cool!

XENA:
     Fine. Why don't you and Darion ride back to town with Isabella, and I'll stay here and wait for the hunt.

GABRIELLE (her smile turns to a frown):
     And you're going to fight alone?

XENA (haughtily):
     Gabrielle, I think I can handle a few unicorn hunters.

ISABELLA (nervously):
     I should be going back to the palace or they'll miss me... (nods toward the unicorns) Would you help me bury them? I don't want to leave them like this...

GABRIELLE (smiles gently and puts a hand on her arm):
     Sure.

CUT TO

The town square in Eborac. One of King Meliadus' counselors, a portly man in rich clothes, stands on a platform before an assembled crowd.

COUNSELOR:
     Not only can the horn of the unicorn cure all those illnesses, it is also an antidote to nearly every poison known to man! (gasps in the crowd) Ten gold pieces for a mere pinch of magical horn ground to powder (he holds up a tiny satchel) may seem like a lot, but trust me, my good people, it's worth it.

As he speaks, the camera starts to pan over the crowd and finally zooms in on Gabrielle, dressed in an ordinary-looking brownish-green dress with a kerchief covering her head, and with Darion standing at her side.

GABRIELLE (sighs and mutters, as if to herself):
     It's too bad about the side effects.

A man standing next to her--tall and imposing-looking, with grayish blond hair and a beard--turns and gives her a wary look.

MAN #1:
     Side effects?

GABRIELLE (sighs):
     Yes, the gods preserve you. You see, my husband tried powdered horn of unicorn as a cure for an old battle wound that left him with a bad limp.

MAN #2 (young and dark-haired, turns to Gabrielle):
     And what happened?

GABRIELLE (wistfully):
     Oh, he was cured all right. To watch him walk about, you'd never know he's been wounded at all.

DARION:
     My uncle's the fastest runner in the whole town!

MAN #1:
     Then what's the problem?

GABRIELLE (looks nervously at Darion, then coughs and smiles coyly, batting her eyelashes):
     Oh...let's just say that ever since then, I haven't been able to enjoy my husband's-- (gives Darion another nervous look) --companionship.

DARION (looks puzzled):
     That's not true. Uncle spends almost every evening at home.

GABRIELLE (pats him on the head):
     Hush, sweetie. Some day you'll be old enough to understand.

MAN #2 (shocked):
     You mean, he hasn't been able to--perform?

DARION (puzzled):
     Perform what? (thinks for a moment) My uncle can dance really well! Isn't that true, Auntie Gabrielle?

GABRIELLE (gives him a nervous look):
     Yes, of course, sweetie. (to the two men and several other people, men and women, who have been listening curiously) This is my nephew. He's like a son to me. And thank the gods for him--because unless a miracle happens (she scrunches up her face, as if about to cry) my husband and I are not going to have any kids of our own...

The people standing around them start eyeing each other nervously. The men, in particular, look sickened. They start whispering to others.

WOMAN #1 (a tall blonde of about thirty):
     But how do you know it was because of the unicorn's horn?

GABRIELLE (indignantly):
     I'll say! Let me tell you--before he took the stuff, he may have had a bad leg but there was nothing wrong with the rest of him. (sighs) Besides, the exact same thing happened to my neighbor Janell and her husband. He took the powder because he was nearly blind in one eye. Well, I'll tell you one thing...his eyesight has improved, but he isn't taking much pleasure in what he sees, the poor man, and neither is his wife.

The whispers grow louder, rising to an audible murmur in which voices can be heard:

-- What?
-- I knew it sounded too good to be true!
-- Better stay away from the stuff!
-- But they say it can cure the deadliest illnesses!
-- Yeah, and by the time you're done with the cure you wish you were dead!

The camera pans back to the counselor on the platform and his voice, heard in the background before, is heard at full volume again.

COUNSELOR:
     And I haven't told you the best thing yet. For all you men out there... (grins salaciously) ...and of course the ladies will want to hear this too...the unicorn's horn does wonders for a man's virility!

The camera pans to the crowd as a loud indignant murmur erupts.

WOMAN #2 (middle-aged):
     Yeah, we've heard all about these wonders!

MAN #3 (shakes his fist at the counselor):
     Lies, all lies!

Other voices:

-- We weren't born yesterday!
-- Come on, we've heard enough!
-- Let's get out of here!

The crowd starts to disperse as the counselor looks on in dismay.

COUNSELOR:
     Wait! Where are you going? I was getting to the best part!

Close-up on Gabrielle as she smirks in triumph.

CUT TO

The grove near the beach. Argo is grazing, tethered to a tree. The trees rustle and Xena appears, sword in hand, looking around her thoughtfully. She has obviously been surveying the terrain in preparation for the fight.

XENA (comes up to Argo pats her on the neck):
     What do you think, Argo? If they come from the direction of the island, we can come out on the beach right there (points to an opening in the trees) and cut them off. Then-- (she pauses suddenly; her eyes widen slightly as she clearly senses Ares' presence. She sounds pleased and a little wary at the same time as she speaks.) Ares.

There is a faint whooshing sound. The camera pans down to Xena's waist as Ares' gauntleted arm comes into view, encircling it; then it pulls back to show Ares standing behind Xena and kissing her shoulder. Argo gives an alarmed neigh but then calms down. Xena sighs and closes her eyes for a moment, throwing her head back in pleasure.

ARES (suavely):
     Busy?

XENA (opens her eyes):
     As a matter of fact--

ARES (sighs in exasperation):
     Of course.

XENA (turns to him and smiles):
     I was going to say, not for another hour.

ARES:
     Really. I wonder how a Warrior Princess and a God of War can spend an hour in the woods when there's nothing to do...

XENA (teasingly):
     Talking strategy?

ARES:
     Of course. Why didn't I think of that.

They kiss, their kiss slowly growing deeper and more passionate as Xena winds her arms around Ares' neck and he holds her close.

CUT TO

Isabella's chamber. The door swings open; Isabella, who is seated in an armchair reading a scroll, looks up anxiously. Meliadus stands in the doorway.

MELIADUS:
     Isabella, it's time for the hunt again. Are you ready?

ISABELLA (rises and looks at him sadly):
     Yes, father.

CUT TO

The grove. The camera pans over Argo, then down to the ground and over Xena's breastplate and boots lying on the grass, and then over to Xena and Ares. Ares, his vest and gauntlets off, is reclining against a tree; Xena is leaning back against his chest, her eyes closed, wearing only her tunic. He is stroking her hair.

ARES:
     So, what's the job this time?

XENA:
     Saving some unicorns from a greedy king.

ARES (incredulous):
     Unicorns. You've expanded into animal protection?

XENA (chuckles):
     They're not just animals.

ARES (mockingly):
     Oh, that's right. They're the stuff of legend and song and poetry. Why do I have a hunch that Gabrielle has a hand in this project?

XENA:
     The unicorns protect the forest, Ares. (sighs) And--other things.

ARES (runs his fingertips along her cheek, making her shiver slightly):
     So it's all about the Greater Good.

XENA (a pensive look on her face):
     The Greater Good... (she looks up at the position of the sun; then, her expression turns businesslike) Time to get ready for work.

She turns to Ares and gives him a quick kiss; as she is about to pull away, Ares draws her closer and prolongs the kiss.

CUT TO

A grassy section of the beach. The sea is shrouded in mist, which has thickened again. Isabella stands by the water's edge, still wearing the same blue-green dress as before. Her hair is flapping in the wind; her face looks anguished. She is holding out her hands toward the sea.

Something can be seen moving inside the mist. We see the glimpse of a golden horn, and then golden hooves. The water can be heard splashing. Finally, a unicorn emerges from the mist, trotting toward Isabella as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT THREE