FADE IN

On the same party scene. Xena is staring at Gabrielle. Before Xena has a chance to say anything, Gabrielle shakes her head and holds up her hands in an "It wasn't me" gesture. Xena looks over to Ares and Aphrodite, who do likewise.

GREBA:
     Xena! Oh! Thank goodness I've found you--I've been looking everywhere!

ARES (sardonically):
     Except the most obvious place...

HERCULES (moves forward):
     Are you in some kind of trouble? You look--

GREBA (gratefully):
     Yes--that's it! Enormous, terrible trouble, the kind that only... (she eyes Hercules adoringly, then abruptly turns her back on him) Xena can help with!

XENA (hiding a smirk):
     That kind of trouble, huh? (looks around) All right, Darion, Kara, Theon--you can start on the honeycakes.

The children race off towards the food table; Klymene, Virgil and Eve follow.

GREBA (bats her eyelashes):
     Oh--it looks like you're having a party... I didn't mean to interrupt but... (impatiently) ...this is serious, Xena--you need to come now!

XENA (raising an eyebrow):
     Oh?

GREBA:
     I--I got into some trouble after you all left the farm. A young, lonely widow...what was I to do? (looks imploringly at Xena) I had no one to guide me, no one to turn to. So... (she lowers her eyes, abashed) ...it's only natural that I'd get involved with the wrong kind of people.

Hercules, Iolaus, Xena and Gabrielle stare back at her, unimpressed. Ares is no longer listening; he's playing with a buckle on Xena's shoulder. She slaps at his hand.

XENA (smirks):
     Oh yeah--I imagine that was nature taking its course all right...

GREBA:
     Look, I didn't realize what kind of things they were mixed up with...a little theft here, a little mayhem there--but then they mentioned something (she gulps) so terrible--so shocking...well I just knew I had to come and tell you!

HERCULES (reassuringly):
     Of course you did!

GABRIELLE (patiently):
     And the problem is...

GREBA (dramatically):
     Gabrielle!

GABRIELLE (puzzled):
     Yes?

GREBA:
     No, I mean the trouble is Gabrielle!

VIRGIL:
     Now, wait a minute...

GREBA:
     She's in terrible danger...you see, these people, they want to--oh, I can't even say it! Xena, you've got to hurry!

XENA:
     Let me get this straight. You've gotten yourself mixed up with a bunch of thugs who want to do something terrible to Gabrielle.

GREBA:
     Well--er, yes. (rather deflated) Anyway, you need to come with me, now, before it's too late!

HERCULES:
     I think that everyone's a lot better off staying here, don't you? There's not much chance anything's going to happen here...

IOLAUS:
     Hercules is right. If anyone decides to do away with Gabrielle, I'm sure there's enough of us to sort them out.

GABRIELLE (snorts):
     Excuse me. I think I can look after myself... (her voice trails off) ...I know I can. (she looks away)

Xena sighs. She's as suspicious as the others, but also mildly curious.

XENA (to Greba):
     And why exactly am I supposed to come with you?

GREBA:
     Well, you see, one of those people in the gang--he's not a bad sort, really. I mean, he got mixed up with them the same way I did...

XENA (smirks):
     What, because he was young and lonely?

GREBA:
     N-no--I mean because he, er, didn't know any better. Anyway, he knows exactly what their plan is and he wants to talk to you. But he said you have to come alone--you see, the poor soul is too scared to show himself to anyone else. He's waiting in the woods not far from here.

XENA (turns to the others):
     Look, why don't you start the food--I'll be back to cut the cake.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena!

AREA:
     Oh, come on, Xena. This is Greba, after all...

XENA (acidly):
     I know who it is.

HERCULES:
     Don't you think it's a little odd that...

XENA (cutting him off):
     I won't be long.

She moves over to the door, then looks over her shoulder at Greba.

XENA:
     Well?

GREBA (humbly):
     Oh--of course. This way...

They walk out; Gabrielle, Iolaus, Hercules and Ares find themselves exchanging glances at one another at Xena's stubbornness.

HERCULES:
     The more things change...

IOLAUS:
     Yeah, yeah. Now what happened to that ale?

GABRIELLE (gratefully taking any excuse to defuse the situation):
     It's right here. (gets a pitcher of ale and pours it into Iolaus' goblet)

IOLAUS (grumbling):
     And I believe somebody mentioned honeycakes...

There is a knock on the barn door.

DARION (with his mouth full):
     Hey, maybe Xena's back!

EVE:
     She wouldn't knock.

The door opens. A boy of about ten stands in the doorway.

BOY:
     Excuse me--which one of you is Gabrielle?

GABRIELLE (steps forward):
     That would be me.

ARES (sarcastic):
     Oh, that must be one of those ferocious kidnappers.

BOY:
     There's a letter from your sister just delivered to the inn.

GABRIELLE (her face lights up with joy):
     A letter from Lila! (turns to the others) I'll be right back.

HERCULES (cautiously):
     Gabrielle, how about if I go with you? I mean, it could be a setup if there really is a plot to--

GABRIELLE (impatiently):
     Oh, come on! You're not going to take Greba seriously, are you? (scoffs) A plot! Listen, I bet I know exactly what happened. Greba got in some kind of trouble and she needed Xena's help. She just thought she needed to tell Xena this ridiculous story to get her to come along.

IOLAUS:
     Well, if you're sure...

GABRIELLE (smiles at him):
     Besides, I told you--I can take care of myself. (to the boy) I'll be right there.

CUT TO

The tavern where Xena, Gabrielle and Darion had shared a meal earlier. Outside it is now dark; inside, the place is lively and busy. A barmaid is moving around with a large tray of drinks, while the innkeeper is swapping jokes and laughing with a few men at the bar.

Suddenly the tavern door bursts open. A dagger swishes through the air and goes right through a roasted partridge that a man at a table was lifting to his mouth, nailing the bird to the table's wooden surface. The man turns and gasps in horror.

Pan to the open door. Abderus and Balasi, the two thugs from FIVE IN THE BED AND THE LITTLE ONE SAID... are standing in the doorway, armed with daggers.

ABDERUS (appreciative):
     Nice shot.

BALASI:
     Thanks, I've been practicing on rabbits--

ABDERUS:
     Shut up! (casts his eyes around the room, then raises his voice) Anyone makes a move and the next dagger goes right through your neck! (as the customers cower, he stares at the trembling innkeeper) Bet you made a nice profit tonight. (Goes over to the bar, lifts a mug of ale, and swigs a mouthful, before spitting it out onto the counter.) Watering down your beer, too! (he grins). Nice. All right--hand over the gold!

GABRIELLE:
     Or don't.

Abderus and Balasi turn around; Gabrielle is standing in the middle of the tavern, sais in hand. Everyone else is huddling by the walls or hiding under the tables. The frightened innkeeper leaps behind the bar and hides as well.

GABRIELLE:
     Last time I saw you, you were running for your life. Care for a repeat performance?

She raises her sais threateningly; Balasi cringes but Abderus laughs.

ABDERUS:
     Last time I saw you, you had a couple of friends with you for backup--and a couple of gods, too. Think you're going to get any help from this lot?

GABRIELLE:
     Think I'm going to need it?

Gabrielle moves swiftly to one side as Abderus throws a dagger; it buries itself in the wooden door behind her. She smirks.

GABRIELLE:
     Apparently not.

Abderus and Balasi roar and run towards her, but she manages to bring down Abderus with a swift kick and then spins, striking Balasi with the hilt of her right sai; he groans and falls back on the floor in front of her. Gabrielle smirks in triumph...

...and then cries out as the back of a chair crashes down on her head. She slumps down, unconscious. Her sais drop on the floor.

ABDERUS (scrambles to his feet):
     Oh yeah, I think you'll need all the help you can get.

He laughs. Balasi sits up and looks at the unconscious Gabrielle. A pair of leather boots come into view, seen in close-up as they step closer. Balasi looks up.

CUT TO

The party scene. Iolaus is busy with the honeycakes, while Hercules has Darion perched on his knee.

HERCULES:
     So, you see, every time I would cut off one of the hydra's heads it would just grow back.

DARION (listens, rapt):
     What did you do, then?

HERCULES:
     Well, I got Iolaus over there (nods toward Iolaus) to take a torch and burn the hydra's necks after I cut the heads off. See, that way, they didn't grow back.

IOLAUS (with his mouth full):
     Yep, that's exactly how it happened. (chuckles) Of course, I had a lot more energy back then--

DARION:
     And that's how you killed the hydra?

HERCULES:
     That's right.

DARION:
     Wow! That was smart.

ARES (approaches them, sourly):
     Found an audience for your legendary journeys?

HERCULES (rolls his eyes):
     Just be grateful I haven't gotten to any stories where you're a guest star...

Ares glares at him and growls.

DARION:
     Now, remember--Xena said you had to be nice--

Ares stalks away with an angry grunt.

HERCULES (looks after him):
     I think this is us being nice to each other.

DARION (tugs on his shirt):
     Come on, Hercules, tell me another--

The door crashes open again. Everyone looks over. The barmaid from the tavern is standing in the doorway.

BARMAID:
     Help! Please--we're in terrible trouble!

ARES:
     Been there, done that. Sorry, Xena and Gabrielle are both taken. You'll have to make do with... (he stares at Hercules, then shifts his stare and grins) ...Darion.

DARION (jumps down from Hercules' knee, excitedly):
     Really?

HERCULES (gives Ares a reproachful look, then looks over to the barmaid):
     What's happened?

BARMAID:
     Someone just tried to rob our tavern! (Hercules leaps to his feet) There were two men...and then a young woman who stays at our inn tried to help us--

EVE (looks across at Virgil):
     Gabrielle?

BARMAID:
     Yes--she saved us...but then this terrible one-armed man showed up--she fought well, but she was outnumbered. One of them hit her over the head with a chair and then they took her away--but they left behind her weapons... (she produces the sais, to scattered gasps)

VIRGIL:
     Gabrielle!

Everyone moves towards the barmaid.

EVE (suddenly gets an idea):
     Tell me something--is there a letter for Gabrielle back at the inn?

BARMAID (puzzled):
     What?

VIRGIL:
     You didn't send a boy here to tell Gabrielle there was a letter from her sister?

The barmaid shakes her head uncomprehendingly.

HERCULES:
     So...Greba was telling the truth.

IOLAUS (his mouth still full):
     Come on, Herc--we've got to go-- (swallows whatever he's eating) --we've got to go rescue Gabrielle--

DARION (about to cry):
     What's happened to Gabrielle? What's--

KLYMENE:
     Shh--she'll be all right.

She pulls Darion away, while Hercules and Iolaus move with the barmaid towards the door.

IOLAUS (to the barmaid):
     Was there anything else?

BARMAID:
     No-- (frowns) --except that that one-armed man went upstairs and got something from one of the rooms...

HERCULES:
     Did you see what it was?

BARMAID:
     No, he was hiding it under his cloak when he brought it back...

Everyone exchanges puzzled looks and shrugs.

HERCULES:
     Let's go start looking.

VIRGIL (suddenly):
     Wait!

Everyone stops and looks over at him.

VIRGIL:
     Ares!

ARES (defensively):
     What?

HERCULES (looks warily from Ares to Virgil):
     You think Ares has something to do with--

ARES (explodes, clenching his fists):
     Oh--that's great!

VIRGIL (hastily):
     No, no--I meant--can you--can you see where she is?

Hercules looks slightly disappointed, then gives Ares an expectant and almost-apologetic look.

ARES (nods):
     Oh. Of course. She's--

He focuses; then a strange look comes over his face. He frowns, grimaces. Then he looks at Virgil.

ARES:
     I can't. I could tell you almost everyone else-but--for some reason, I can't pick up Gabrielle at all.

Hercules shakes his head.

HERCULES:
     We'll have to search the place. Iolaus and I will start at the tavern--maybe the rest of you better stay here and wait for Xena.

EVE:
     Wait here? You've got to be kidding...

Virgil lays a restraining hand on her arm, but she shakes it off.

EVE:
     You start at the tavern--I'm heading towards the other side of town.

VIRGIL:
     Then I'm coming with you.

HERCULES:
     We can't all go--what if Xena comes back?

IOLAUS:
     Maybe by now, what's her name--

ARES:
     Greba.

IOLAUS:
     Yeah--maybe Greba has already led her to Gabrielle's kidnappers by now, anyway!

ARES (raising an eyebrow):
     Oh yeah. I bet that's exactly what Greba did... (he focuses)

CUT TO

Xena wandering around a dark forest, alone.

XENA (looks around, then stops and shouts):
     Greba?

CUT TO

The barn. Ares looks at the others.

ARES:
     Looks like Greba got lost.

IOLAUS (wryly):
     Oh, that's--tragic.

ARES:
     You know what? I'm going to go and get Xena.

HERCULES:
     Oh no you're not.

They stand and glare at each other. Eve steps uneasily between them.

EVE:
     Maybe it's best if we try to find Gabrielle ourselves. If Mother gets back and finds Gabrielle gone, she's going to feel really guilty that she went off and left her alone--

VIRGIL:
     You're probably right. Look, with two gods and one demigod between us, we should be able to find Gabrielle, wherever she is.

CUT TO

Gabrielle is lying motionless on the stone floor of a small room, her arms tied behind her back. The room is quite dark, with only a little moonlight coming in from a small window behind her.

Close-up on Gabrielle as she groans and moves a little, then opens her eyes. She manages to sit up and tries in vain to free her hands.

GABRIELLE:
     What in Tartarus--

Suddenly there is a sound at the door--a rattle of chains, then a lock being slid open. Gabrielle moves back a little against the wall. The door swings open. The camera pans to the boots of the person standing in the doorway--they are the same boots we saw in the tavern. Then it pans up, revealing a cloaked and hooded figure holding a torch that casts a reddish light on the cell.

GABRIELLE:
     Who are you? What--what do you think you're doing? (the figure comes closer) You know--I've got to warn you--I've got friends who are not going to be happy about this...

There is a horrible laugh as the figure inserts the torch into a holder in the wall, and then starts to remove the hood from its face. A close-up on Gabrielle's face as she gasps. The figure laughs again, and steps into the light.

It's Gascar.

A close-up of his laughing face as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO