FADE IN

The same scene.

CASSANDRA:
     This is Atlantis? How is that possible? Atlantis sank nearly forty years ago.

GABRIELLE (looking at Cassandra):
     How do you know that?

CASSANDRA:
     Because I was there.

CASSANDRA:
     Atlantis was my home before it was destroyed. (looks at Xena and Gabrielle) Hercules and I were the only two survivors--the ocean swallowed the city up like a vortex. There was nothing left.

MAN:
     Well, you're wrong about that. Come on--as visitors from outside, you'd better come see the king.

CUT TO

The camera pans over a large open room surrounded by glass on all sides. There are tall candleholders along the walls, holding crystals, glowing white, blue and green. At the end of the long hall there is a throne made out of hardened coral and shells. A man wearing a crown, also made out of seashells along with precious stones, is sitting on the throne, looking at Xena, Gabrielle, Darion, Cassandra and Keyana standing in front of him.

KING:
     So you're the visitors. Amazing. (narrows his eyes at Xena) How did you get here?

XENA:
     Let's just say we were tipped off about a passage.

KING (somewhat petulant):
     And I take it you're not saying anything more.

XENA:
     Not at the moment.

KING:
     Very well. (strokes his beard, then turns to Cassandra) I understand you're Cassandra--the woman who predicted the sinking of the city forty years ago.

CASSANDRA (calmly):
     I am.

KING:
     I'm Panthius. I believe you knew my father.

CASSANDRA:
     But how--?

PANTHIUS:
     They say it was Poseidon who saved the city, by encasing it in a great dome and giving us air. Before that, our people had never believed in the gods--thought they were just figments of human imagination, in the rest of the world--but that miracle had us convinced.

GABRIELLE:
     And that's why the Atlantians built a temple to Poseidon.

PANTHIUS:
     He did save our lives. (to Cassandra) So, what brings you here? I've heard the stories. You didn't really--get along well with the people here.

Cassandra gives Keyana and the others a quick look as if to warn them not to say too much.

CASSANDRA:
     My visions told me Atlantis still existed. I wanted to see my birthplace again--before I died.

PANTHIUS:
     And nothing else.

He strokes his beard pensively, then stands up and extends his hand toward them.

PANTHIUS:
     Come. You are guests here and you will be treated as such. You can stay in the guest quarters here in the palace.

CUT TO

Xena, Gabrielle, Darion, Cassandra and Keyana are looking around a large room with glowing crystals in the walls and a large glass door that opens up to a balcony that looks out over the city.

KEYANA:
     This place is really amazing.

GABRIELLE:
     It's definitely--different.

DARION:
     I can't believe we're underwater! (to Gabrielle) You think Lykia is going to believe this?

GABRIELLE (gives Darion a slightly worried look):
     I'm sure she'll--love to hear all about this.

She approaches an ornately decorated chest with carvings of dolphins for legs, and opens the front panel of the chest. A crystal light begins to glow. There are jars, bottles and food inside. Gabrielle reaches inside and gasps.

GABRIELLE:
     It's cold.

She takes one of the bottles and stands up. Cassandra walks toward her.

CASSANDRA:
     Yes--it's called an icebox. It's powered by crystals embedded in the back. It can keep things cold for hours, even days.

GABRIELLE:
     Incredible. (grins at Xena) We sure could use something like this.

CASSANDRA:
     It's one of the Atlantians' many inventions. When it comes to science and technology, they were always more--advanced than the rest of the world. And they always prided themselves on it.

Cassandra walks toward the balcony. Keyana follows her, as do Xena and Gabrielle (Darion can be seen in the background poking around the icebox).

The camera follows them as they stand on the balcony, looking down at the city which is bustling with life.

CASSANDRA:
     I can't believe I'm back here. I had a vision about the destruction of Atlantis years ago. And now--maybe history is about to repeat itself.

KEYANA:
     Or maybe you're here to see that it doesn't. (puts a comforting hand on Cassandra's shoulder)

GABRIELLE:
     Why didn't you tell Panthius about your vision?

CASSANDRA:
     My warnings weren't very well received the last time--by his father. I thought it was a good idea to wait before saying too much.

XENA:
     You're right. Never tip your hand too soon.

CASSANDRA (to Keyana):
      We have to go. We need to find this woman from my vision.

Cassandra and Keyana walk back into the room and toward the door.

GABRIELLE:
     We'll go with you. (to Xena) Come on. We should check this place out.

CUT TO

A street in Atlantis. There is a marketplace in the distance, people bustling about going about their daily routines. Xena, Gabrielle and Darion walk into view, looking around, followed by Cassandra and Keyana.

Gabrielle is looking around, intrigued by everything. There is a tall building at the back of the street that has a clock with Roman numerals for the numbers. A bell rings three times. Hanging above the street are red, green and yellow crystals sitting inside metal casings. The red light turns to green and people start walking across the street from one side to the other. Some people are riding down the street in motorized carts that look like small chariots with a steering wheel, made for one person. They are powered by a large glowing crystal secured to the front of the cart. Gabrielle, Xena and Darion look on in fascination as one of the carts zooms past them and down the street.

GABRIELLE:
     Everything here is powered by crystals.

CASSANDRA:
     It looks like their machinery has advanced even further since--my time.

DARION:
     Look!

He points to a dolphin swimming just above the top of the dome, poking its nose against the glass.

DARION:
     You think it's Echo?

GABRIELLE:
     Maybe. Come on.

CUT TO

The busy marketplace of Atlantis. There are vendors lined up along the side of the stone path, selling their wares. There is a clothing stand where garments of green, brown, and blue colors are hanging on racks, people looking at them and the salesman gesturing excitedly at the outfits. There is a stand run by a plump middle-aged woman selling jewelry made from shells, coral, pearls and other sea items. There is a bearded man standing behind a large stand selling nothing but seafood: crab, lobster, clams, oysters, and assorted kinds of fish stacked in piles and sorted by kind.

Xena, Gabrielle, Darion, Cassandra and Keyana are walking away from the stand, eating seafood wraps.

GABRIELLE:
     This is great.

DARION (his mouth half-full):
     Yeah, it is. But I really hope we don't get stuck here 'cause I don't think I want to eat just fish for the rest of my life.

XENA:
     Too much of a good thing, huh?

DARION:
     Way too much.

They continue walking.

KEYANA:
     You know, this place doesn't look like it's in danger.

XENA:
     Looks can be deceiving.

CUT TO

Xena, Gabrielle, Darion, Cassandra and Keyana are walking down street with many small houses. The houses have gardens with no vegetation but beautiful rock arrangements.

Cassandra looks tired and out of breath.

KEYANA:
     Grandma, we should rest.

CASSANDRA:
     We have to find that woman.

XENA:
     That could take a long time. You don't even know her name. And we can't knock on every door to see if she's inside.

CASSANDRA (emphatic):
     We have to find her.

WOMAN (off-camera):
     You found me.

Pan over to see the woman from Cassandra's vision.

Close-up of Cassandra's stunned face.

The woman comes closer to Cassandra and Keyana.

WOMAN:
     I'm glad I was able to get through to you in your dreams.

CASSANDRA:
     You sent that dolphin after us.

WOMAN:
     Yes--he and I have a special bond.

XENA:
     What about the ladder in the passage?

WOMAN:
     It was left there by...a friend of mine. He was the only person ever to leave Atlantis. He came back to see me and tried to get me to leave with him, but I was too afraid and--too used to this place. (looks down) He's dead now, but--he told me about the passage and the ladder. (pauses) By the way, I'm Calypso.

CASSANDRA:
     In my dream, you called me sister.

WOMAN:
     I am your sister. Half-sister, to be exact.

CASSANDRA (in disbelief):
     How is that possible? My mother died when I was young--my father, a few years later.

CALYPSO:
     Your mother didn't die. She left your father because she had very different views on things. She thought the way most other Atlantians did. She finally went to live with them while he secluded himself in the forest. I think she left you with your father because she felt you were--too much like him..

CASSANDRA (stares at her in shock):
      My mother--

CALYPSO:
     I was born many years later, when our mother remarried. I was five when the island sank. And it was much later--just before her own death--that Mother told me I had a sister.

KEYANA (curious):
     So you're--forty-five? You look much younger.

CALYPSO:
     Here in Atlantis, people don't age the same way as they do on land. I'm not sure why. It could be something about the air here; or maybe our science.

CASSANDRA:
     You contacted me. So you have the gift of sight as well?

CALYPSO (looks down):
     It's hard to explain. Sometimes, I can send--thoughts to other people. But I don't really have visions the way you do. I just had this urgent sense that Atlantis is in danger--and that you could help.

CASSANDRA:
     I had a vision of--chaos and death. And of a battle underwater.

XENA:
     Who would you be fighting down here?

CALYPSO:
     I'm not sure. But there are other--intelligent creatures here in the sea. Let's just say we've--had our disagreements.

CUT TO

A coral reef. Amidst the colorful fish and seahorses, a man is seen swimming through the waters. Visible only from the waist up, he swims toward the camera, his dark hair blowing back in the water.

Two arms with green sleeves grab him on each side.

The camera pulls back to show men in sleek green suits, with transparent bowls fitted around their heads and metal canisters on the back. They pull the man away as he struggles.

CUT TO

Xena, Gabrielle and Darion wandering through the marketplace in Atlantis.

XENA:
     We should have asked Calypso more questions.

GABRIELLE:
     About what?

XENA:
     This place. Whatever could be threatening it.

GABRIELLE:
     Come on, Xena--she and Cassandra have a lot of catching up to do.

XENA (shrugs):
     Something's going on. I hope we're not too late to stop it.

GABRIELLE:
     Maybe Cassandra's vision was wrong.

XENA:
     I wouldn't take any chances.

GABRIELLE:
     Well, we'll keep our eyes open. But Xena, come on. (She puts a hand on Xena's shoulder) It's like a--magical world down here. (smiles) Let's enjoy it while we can.

XENA:
     Yeah--I'd just like to know how long that is. Come on, let's check out that temple to Poseidon.

GABRIELLE:
     Why?

XENA:
     Just--something about it.

GABRIELLE (wrinkles her nose):
     You know, I hate it when you get cryptic.

CUT TO

A wide shot of Darion, Gabrielle and Xena approach the temple to Poseidon. A commotion is heard off-camera.

Xena and Gabrielle exchange a look.

GABRIELLE:
     Darion, stay back.

They run toward the commotion.

CUT TO

Some Atlantian men are dragging someone along; the person (hidden from view by the Atlantians) is struggling.

Xena and Gabrielle come running.

The Atlantians' captive collapses. His face now comes into view; it's the man who was snatched at the coral reef. One of the Atlantians kicks him in the chest; his face contorts in pain as he cries out.

The Atlantian is about to kick the captive again when Xena's hand comes down on his shoulder and yanks him away.

ATLANTIAN MAN #1 (angrily):
     What do you think you're doing?

XENA:
     What do you think you're doing?

ATLANTIAN MAN #1:
     This is no concern of yours!

XENA:
     Five of you beating up one man? I think it is.

ATLANTIAN MAN #1:
     Who said anything about a man?

Xena looks down. The camera pans over to the man on the ground.

He is a triton, with a long, scaly green fish tail. His face and chest are bruised from the beating he's taken.

Xena and Gabrielle stare in shock. Darion comes running up.

DARION (eyes grow wide):
     A fish man!

Xena looks at the Atlantians. The one she had talked to before steps up.

GABRIELLE:
      What did this man do?

ATLANTIAN MAN #1:
     Do? Him and his kind are the sworn enemies of Atlantis!

Xena and Gabrielle stare at them grimly as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO