FADE IN

Replay of previous scene. Apollo's temple warrior slowly swings his metal-tipped spiked club at the Niobe statue, ready to smash its head.

A familiar whooshing noise is heard, and the chakram strikes the man's club, causing it to fall to the ground. The temple warrior quickly turns. Pan to Xena as she catches the ricocheting chakram.

XENA (yells):
     Alalalala-sheeya!

Xena flips in the air, grabs the temple warrior by the back of his shirt and throws him across the courtyard.

XENA:
     Some people just don't know good art when they see it.

Several of the temple warriors charge toward her, obviously gluttons for punishment. Xena jumps up and side-kicks one, then spins around and backhands another.

Another warrior attacks her from behind; she spins around and kicks his legs out from under him, causing him to sprawl on the ground. She leans down and grabs him by the collar.

XENA (snarls in his face):
     Tell Apollo he's not getting the statue. And if he comes after Niobe again, I'll make sure he hears from me.

She lets go of the warrior, dropping him to the ground. The camera spins around to show Evander and Gabrielle knock down a few more warriors while the rest of them beat a hasty retreat.

GABRIELLE (sheathing her sais; to Xena):
     So, I take it your chat with Artemis didn't exactly go well.

XENA:
     I can tell you one thing. It wasn't Artemis and it wasn't Apollo that turned Niobe to stone.

LICHAS (angrily):
     What do you mean?! Of course it was them, who else?

XENA (shaking her head):
     No, don't you see--they wanted her to suffer. Artemis said some other god showed her mercy, by turning her to stone.

CYNTHIA (disbelief):
     Mercy? It sounds worse than death...

GABRIELLE (shaking her head):
     Not if they were protecting her from Apollo and Artemis. But who could it be?

NEMESIS (speaks up):
     It sounds like something Athena would do. She was one of the few gods that ever showed mercy to mortals.

XENA (nods slowly):
     That was my guess, too.

There is a flash of golden light, and Athena materializes next to them.

ATHENA (calmly):
     Good guess.

She turns toward Nemesis, eyeing her with some amazement.

ATHENA:
     Nemesis?

NEMESIS (softly):
     Hello, Athena.

Athena looks as if she doesn't know what to say, then quietly walks towards her, embracing her in a hug.

NEMESIS (whispers):
     It's been a long time.

Athena nods slightly as she pulls away from Nemesis, then turns and sees Evander, recognizing him immediately.

ATHENA (smiling):
     Evander. You've grown.

Evander looks away uncomfortably.

XENA (impatiently, to Athena):
     So. You're the one who turned Niobe to stone after Artemis and Apollo killed her children.

ATHENA (gently but firmly):
     Yes, I did. As an act of mercy.

LICHAS (angrily):
     An act of mercy? Turning her into a piece of rock?

ATHENA (shaking her head):
     As stone, she feels nothing. You didn't see the pain she was in.

CYNTHIA:
     She would have been better off dead!

ATHENA:
     Would she? Dead, she'd be spending eternity in Tartarus.

CYNTHIA (shocked):
     What are you talking about?

ATHENA (taking a deep breath):
     After her children were killed, Niobe wanted revenge...

Athena has just finished the story; Lichas and Cynthia look at her, teary-eyed.

XENA (to Athena, pointing to Lichas and Cynthia):
     These are her great-grandchildren, Lichas and Cynthia. They want you to free her--to restore her to life.

ATHENA:
     All right. (looks at Cynthia and Lichas) Are you sure she would want this?

LICHAS:
     Anything is better than being trapped in stone!

ATHENA:
     She wanted to die.

CYNTHIA:
     Back then, she had no one left. Now, she has us.

ATHENA:
     So be it.

Athena approaches the statues and raises her hands, radiating golden energy into the stone. Suddenly a bright light flares; when it fades, we see Niobe alive. She gasps as air fills her lungs, winces at the light, lifts her hands to her eyes. Her vision clearing, she looks around and blinks in confusion, noticing all the people looking at her. Lichas and Cynthia, beside themselves with joy and disbelief, cautiously approach her.

NIOBE (confused):
     Who are you? (to Cynthia) Medora? (shakes her head in confusion) No...you look like my daughter Medora, but you're not. (to Lichas) And you...no, you're not my son. Who are you? Where am I?! (Her eyes widen suddenly and fill with tears as her memory returns) My children... (in a half-whisper) They're dead. My whole family--dead.

LICHAS (softly):
     No--not your whole family. (off her bewildered look) I'm Lichas, your great-grandson. And this is your great-granddaughter, Cynthia.

Niobe stares at them in utter confusion.

NIOBE:
     But--how is that--

CYNTHIA (smiling wistfully through tears):
     It's true. It's been fifty years since your children were killed and Athena turned you to stone.

NIOBE (in disbelief):
     Great-grandchildren? I don't understand--

LICHAS:
     After your son, Teragon, died, his wife Melena found out she was pregnant. She had a son--she named him after his father. He searched for you for years until he died recently. (he sighs) I'm so sorry he didn't live to see this day. But we found you.

Niobe is momentarily speechless.

NIOBE (looking at Lichas and Cynthia):
     I...this is just too much... (shakes her head) I have a family?

There is a "whooshing" sound off-camera.

APOLLO (off-camera):
     Not for long.

Pan to Apollo and Artemis standing on the other side of the courtyard. Apollo has a fireball in his hand and is about to launch it.

Apollo releases the fireball, and everything goes in slow motion as Xena flips over his head. She lands in front of Niobe, Lichas, and Cynthia. She grabs her chakram and deflects the fireball, sending it exploding on the courtyard wall. Xena puts her chakram on her side and draws her sword.

Artemis pulls out an arrow, pulling it back on her bow and releasing it towards Cynthia. The arrow flies toward her but Xena catches it. Zoom in on another arrow flying toward Cynthia; Xena catches this one too.

ATHENA (yelling):
     Artemis. Apollo. Stop this at once!

XENA (to Lichas and Cynthia, nodding toward Niobe):
     Get her out of here--now!

NEMESIS:
     This way! Follow me!

She runs toward the palace.

CYNTHIA (grabs Niobe's arm):
     Come on!

NIOBE (stands still, staring at Artemis and Apollo, her face full of anger and anguish):
     They killed my family--

Apollo throws another fireball, as Xena bounces it off her sword.

XENA:
     And they'll kill the rest of you if you stay here!

Lichas and Cynthia pull Niobe away.

Artemis places another arrow in her bow and pulls back, aiming at them. Before she can release it, Gabrielle runs up behind her, spins around and kicks her foot out from under her, causing Artemis to stumble and her arrow to fly harmlessly into the shrubbery.

Artemis turns, her face distorted in a snarl, and is about to grab Gabrielle's throat when something causes her to fly back, screaming, and land in the same shrubbery where her arrow fell.

The camera pulls back to show Evander lowering his arm.

Pan to Apollo as he readies another fireball. Evander extends his hand and sends Apollo flying, hitting the side of the palace wall as the fireball fades harmlessly in his hand. He lands on the ground, looking worriedly at Evander.

Artemis, back on the ground, approaches him and they stand side by side, aiming fireballs. They release their fireballs simultaneously only to have them both deflected by Evander; meanwhile, Xena throws her chakram and the two gods duck as it flies around the courtyard.

Evander raises his hand, concentrating hard, and Apollo is lifted off the ground and held in the air where he flails helplessly, glaring furiously at Evander. Finally Evander lowers his hand, unceremoniously dropping Apollo who stumbles and nearly falls as he lands. Xena's chakram whizzes by again, nicking his ear; it doesn't cause any damage since Xena can no longer kill gods, but Apollo instinctively flinches back, and this time stumbles and lands on his backside.

EVANDER (brusquely):
     I don't much care for the gods. I especially don't like the two of you. So why don't you do yourselves a favor and get out!

Apollo scrambles to his feet, looking scared.

ARTEMIS (to Apollo):
     Stay here and fight, you wimp!

Apollo and Artemis face off against Xena, Gabrielle, and Evander. In a flash, Athena teleports to stand between them.

ATHENA (raising her voice):
     What are you doing?! All this for a fifty-year-old grudge over a temple? Haven't you learned anything?

ARTEMIS (angrily):
     Learned what? To let the mortals say and do whatever they want? Athena, the gods have become jokes! We've lost most of our followers! Back in the days when we killed Niobe's children, we were feared--we were worshipped. Tell me you don't miss that.

ATHENA:
     You don't get it, do you? It's because of such acts of senseless cruelty that we did lose worshipers!

ARTEMIS (nastily):
     It wasn't senseless.

Artemis and Apollo dematerialize, leaving an angry Athena behind.

ATHENA (to Xena):
     They won't ever harm Niobe or her family again, I'll make sure of it.

XENA (moved):
     Thank you, Athena.

ATHENA (softly):
     Thank you, Xena and Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE (puzzled):
     For what?

ATHENA (smiling):
     For everything. (turns to Evander, smiling) Evander. Years ago, I took your powers from you because your mother wanted to protect you. Now that you have them back--use them well.

Athena begins to dematerialize.

GABRIELLE:
     Athena, wait.

ATHENA (the light around her fading):
     What is it?

GABRIELLE:
     When Niobe dies--will she...

ATHENA (shaking her head):
     Don't worry. Her soul will be safe.

Athena vanishes. Xena and Gabrielle look thoughtfully at the spot where she vanished.

CUT TO

Nemesis' quarters. Niobe is sitting on the bed, her sapphire necklace in her hands. She is running her fingers over the sapphires. Lichas and Cynthia are sitting next to her. Nemesis is sitting in a chair nearby, while Xena, Gabrielle, and Evander are standing, watching Niobe and her grandchildren.

XENA (to Niobe):
     Artemis and Apollo aren't going to hurt you anymore. You're safe.

Niobe manages a warm smile.

NIOBE (softly):
     I've had everything ripped away from me...

Lichas carefully touches her hand, Cynthia placing hers on top of his.

CYNTHIA (softly):
     Not everything.

Niobe smiles, tears coming to her eyes, and embraces Lichas and Cynthia.

XENA (looks at them, then quietly motions to the others):
     Come on.

She and Gabrielle leave the room, followed by Evander and Nemesis.

CUT TO

Hallway. Xena and Gabrielle stand in front of Nemesis and Evander.

NEMESIS:
     I think they're going to be all right. They can stay here as long as they want.

XENA (to Evander and Nemesis):
     Thank you for your help.

CUT TO

Xena and Gabrielle leaving the palace. Xena seems lost in thought.

GABRIELLE (glances at her):
     What is it?

XENA:
     For a long time, I wondered if I did the right thing when I killed the gods. Now, I sometimes wonder if we did the right thing bringing them back.

GABRIELLE (thinks a moment):
     Well...without Athena, Niobe would have been trapped inside that statue forever. This way, she has a new chance at life.

XENA:
     You're right. I suppose it's the closest she could have to a happy ending... (after a pause) You know, I once told Athena that among all the Olympians, she was the one who had my respect. I'm glad to see I was right.

They walk on in silence for a moment.

GABRIELLE:
     So I guess Ares and Evander never really got into the father-son thing, huh. (after a pause) You know, I could try to talk to Evander--

XENA (shakes her head, grimly):
     Leave it alone, Gabrielle. (off Gabrielle's questioning look) Not every story gets to have a happy ending.

A wide shot of Xena and Gabrielle walking down the hallway as we:

FADE OUT

THE END

[Xena developed a new appreciation for sculpture during the production of this motion picture.]

Xena: Warrior Princess Shipper Seasons Season 9 Episode 5 Set In Stone Story By: Ryan Written By: Ryan Edited By: LadyKate Collage By: Aurora Images Gathered By: Aurora Cast Xena/Diana Lucy Lawless Gabrielle Renee O'Connor Ares Kevin Smith Philemon Iain Rea Evander Oded Fehr Artemis Josephine Davison Apollo Scott Michaelson Athena Paris Jefferson Autolycus Bruce Campbell Niobe Lisa Ann Hadley Cynthia Johanna Elks Lichas Brian Kula Nemisis Kimberly Joseph Original Airdate April 8, 2005 Xena developed a new appreciation for sculpture during the production of this motion picture. 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.