FADE IN

A busy Greek marketplace. Crowds of people are making there way through the city while the vendors try and sell them overpriced goods.

The words "Two Days Later" appear across the screen.

The camera pans though the crowd to show Xena, Gabrielle, and Darion walking through the marketplace. Xena and Gabrielle are leading their horses, neither horse enjoying the morning traffic.

XENA (under her breath, to Gabrielle):
     I told you we shouldn't have stopped here.

GABRIELLE:
     Darion wants something to eat, and we are still a couple hours from Corinth.

XENA (looking for a food vendor):
     Well, we better hurry up and get back on the road, or we'll miss the festival.

They continue to walk, pushing their way through the crowded streets.

XENA: (indicating a stall):
     How about fish?

Gabrielle frowns and wrinkles her nose.

GABRIELLE:
     Ugh. No thanks.

Xena raises an eyebrow at her.

XENA:
     Since when are you so picky?

CUT TO

Xena, Gabrielle and Darion walking through another village street. A commotion is heard off-camera and they stop to look. There is a crowd of people arguing. One man's voice rises above the din of the crowd.

MAN:
     Accept the God of Love into your hearts!

The camera zooms closer to show the speaker, a tall man in his mid-forties wearing a long purple robe. On his robe is the fish of Eli, symbolizing his Elijan religion.

Xena and Gabrielle approach, Gabrielle protectively keeping Darion back.

XENA:
     What seems to be the problem?

OLD WOMAN:
     Them Eli people want to take over Demeter's temple!

She gestures to a building in the background. It's a small shrine, much smaller than the one seen in the teaser but looking equally neglected.

YOUNG WOMAN #1:
     And why shouldn't we? At least we'll get the place fixed up!

YOUNG MAN:
     No one even comes here anymore!

GABRIELLE (to Xena):
     There's no harm in their taking over the temple if it's fallen into disuse.

YOUNG WOMAN #2:
     Everyone knows the time of the old gods has passed!

DARION (tugs plaintively at Gabrielle's arm):
     Hey, are we going to eat? I'm hungry.

XENA (glances at him, then at the temple and the crowd, and turns to Gabrielle):
     Come on. This is none of our business.

As they make to walk off, the tall Elijan in the purple robe calls out after them.

ELIJAN:
     My friends! Have you accepted the God of Love into your lives?

XENA (brushing him off):
     We're not interested.

The man steps in front of Xena, obviously not fearful of the Warrior Princess.

ELIJAN (raising his voice):
     The God of Love and His angels will fill you with joy if you let Him!

XENA (moving past him, almost snarls):
     Thanks. We've had our fill of his angels already.

As they walk past, the man shouts out, obviously not taking "no" for an answer.

ELIJAN:
     He will give you peace if you open your hearts to him! (speaking louder) Accept him, or worship false gods and suffer his wrath.

Pan to Gabrielle, who shakes her head in disgust.

ELIJAN (taking notice of Darion):
     Think of your little boy! Surely, you don't want to deny him--

As he speaks, Gabrielle whips around, a venomous look on her face; bringing up Darion was the last straw. She takes a step closer to the man, looking so furious that he breaks off, clearly intimidated.

GABRIELLE (angrily):
     You know, if you're going to preach about Eli's message, at least do a little research first. Eli's message was about love--not condemning those who won't follow him!

ELIJAN:
     Eli's God is the one true God. If you continue your sinful ways and defy Him, then Hell awaits you on the other side!

GABRIELLE (angrily):
     Been there, done that.

Gabrielle whips back around and follows Xena and Darion away from the zealot.

ELIJAN MAN (shouting out to the crowd):
     The sinners will be washed away by His power. A new day is coming, a day where he will vanquish all evil. Only those that side with Him will survive Judgment Day!

The camera pulls out as the man's voice begins to die down.

CUT TO

Later. Forest.

Xena and Gabrielle walk through the forest pulling their horses behind them. Darion is seated on Klio eating from the meal in his sack. Gabrielle seems to be lost in thought.

XENA (to Gabrielle):
     Don't let him upset you, Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE (shaking her head):
     It just seems so wrong that he can preach those things in Eli's name.

XENA:
     Every religion has their zealots.

Suddenly there is a cracking sound above them, and Xena and Gabrielle both stop in their tracks. Gabrielle quickly draws her sais and looks above her. Xena scans the trees.

Suddenly a warrior woman leaps down from the trees and Gabrielle spins around, pointing her sais in a defensive posture.

The camera pulls around to show Lykia, getting up from her crouching position.

GABRIELLE (lowering her weapons, startled):
     Lykia...

Lykia manages a short smile.

DARION (exclaiming):
     Lykia!

Darion slides of the horse and runs up to her. They hug.

LYKIA (sighs):
     I've been tracking you guys all day.

XENA (surprised):
     What for?

LYKIA (uneasily):
     There's trouble back at the Amazon village.

XENA (worried):
     What's going on?

Gabrielle looks concerned.

LYKIA:
     We've had some visits from the goddess Artemis. She says she wants to restore the broken bond between her and the Amazons.

Close-up on Xena, who looks angry and alarmed; then on Gabrielle, who looks shocked and confused.

GABRIELLE:
     Artemis? But she abandoned the Amazon tribes many years ago. She hasn't been part of their lives in a long time.

LYKIA:
     Well, it seems like now she wants back.

XENA (hiding her anger):
     And Artemis has been known to get what she wants.

LYKIA (nodding):
     When Eve and some of the elders wouldn't accept her demands, she began to talk to some of the other Amazons--trying to turn them against Eve.

XENA (concerned):
     How's Eve--

LYKIA:
     She's okay. But...I think she's in danger. (softly) She doesn't know that I came here to find you--she said she'd handle it herself...but--

XENA:
     Well, you did the right thing. We'll head to the Amazon village straight away.

Gabrielle looks thoughtful for a moment; then she goes back to her horse and takes a small pouch of dinars from the saddlebag.

GABRIELLE (to Lykia, handing her the money):
     Here. You can take Darion to the festival at Corinth.

LYKIA (hesitant):
     Listen, I just came to warn you. If the Amazons are in danger, I should be with my sisters.

GABRIELLE (snaps):
     He's your brother!

The camera pans down to show Darion, who looks hurt. Lykia scowls at Gabrielle, frustrated; then she glances at Darion and looks guilty.

LYKIA:
     Darion...I'm sorry. Come on. (She takes his hand) We'll go to the festival.

GABRIELLE (dryly, handing her the pouch of dinars):
     We'll meet back up with you in a few days at Corinth.

She bends down toward Darion, her expression changing to a warm smile.

GABRIELLE:
     Bye, Darion.

Darion yanks his hand out of Lykia's and goes to hug Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE:
     Be good.

DARION (softly):
     Be careful, Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE:
     I will. I'll see you soon, sweetheart.

Darion walks back over to Lykia, who grabs his hand almost roughly and gives Gabrielle a resentful look. They begin to head out of the forest, onto the road that leads to Corinth.

Gabrielle looks over at Xena.

GABRIELLE:
     It doesn't make sense. Why Artemis would want the Amazons' worship after so many years?

XENA:
     Maybe it's just a ploy to hide her true motive.

GABRIELLE (understanding):
     You think she's just after Eve...for revenge because of the Twilight?

Xena mounts Argo with an abrupt motion and looks down at Gabrielle.

XENA:
     Look, I killed her. (She clutches the reins brusquely.) And then I killed her only son. She's held a grudge over less.

Xena kicks the stirrups and brings Argo into a gallop down the forest path. Gabrielle jumps on her horse and follows behind her.

DISSOLVE TO

Amazon village, with the Amazons all going about their daily tasks. The camera pans in on the Queen's hut.

CUT TO

The Queen's hut. Eve is sitting at a table, rather stressed as she looks through some old scrolls.

Cyane enters the hut.

CYANE (softly):
     Queen Eve.

Eve looks up.

CYANE:
     Your mother and Gabrielle are here to see you.

Eve shakes her head, distressed. Xena and Gabrielle enter the hut behind Cyane.

EVE (holding back her frustration):
     Mother, you shouldn't have--

XENA (cutting her off):
     Lykia told us what's going on.

EVE (sighing):
     We are having a Council Meeting tonight--to decide if the Amazons should embrace Artemis as their patron goddess.

XENA:
     Do you think Artemis really cares about what the Amazon Council decides?

Eve ignores her, and continues looking through the scrolls.

GABRIELLE:
     Lykia said Artemis was trying to get some of the other Amazons to overthrow you. If the Council decides against worshipping Artemis--

EVE (cutting her off):
     That's the problem. No matter what the Council decides, there are still Amazons who will side with Artemis. (looking up at Gabrielle) And there are people in this tribe who have been against me since day one.

GABRIELLE (understanding):
     Morai?

EVE:
     Artemis stands for everything Morai believes in: war--worship of the gods--making the Amazons a powerful nation of conquerors. I've had a hard enough time with Morai trying to turn the Amazons on me, but now, with Artemis-- (trails off)

XENA:
     Lykia said you were in danger.

EVE (sighs and looks away):
     There was a hunting accident--

XENA (shocked):
     Accident. You mean, someone tried to--

EVE:
     I don't know for sure. It might have been an accident, or-- (shrugs tensely) An arrow came out of nowhere--I caught it at the last second. (with a bitter, edgy laugh) Don't worry, Mother--I'm not that easy to kill. Runs in the family.

Eve continues rummaging through the scrolls, looking rather irritated and obviously not wanting to talk about anything else.

XENA (softly):
     Something else is bothering you. (after a short silence) Eve, what is it?

Eve sets down the scrolls, finally giving in.

EVE (sighing):
     I've been having dreams lately. (pause) Dreams about the Twilight.

GABRIELLE (disbelief):
     The Twilight?

EVE (nodding):
     Things I shouldn't even remember: Zeus' death, the Fates, Eli, Callisto...

Xena looks dismayed.

EVE (softly):
     And that's when Artemis started showing up.

GABRIELLE:
     Do you think that maybe--the gods still think you're a danger to them?

EVE:
     None of the others have made an appearance.

XENA:
     Maybe Artemis is the only one that didn't learn her lesson.

EVE:
     Either way, she doesn't just want me dead. She wants the Amazons to worship her.

There is a short silence between them.

XENA:
     I'm going to go talk to Ares. (Off Eve's look, filled with mixed emotions) See if he knows something we don't.

Xena leaves.

Eve and Gabrielle exchange tense looks.

DISSOLVE TO

Xena heads out into the woods and stops, as if she was waiting for someone.

XENA (harshly):
     Ares!

Ares materializes, looking rather grim--his expression, in fact, a good match for Xena's.

ARES (dryly):
     I take it this isn't a social call.

XENA:
     It's about your sister trying to get my daughter killed. Again.

Close-up on Ares' shocked face.

ARES:
     My sister. (pause) Athena?

XENA:
     Artemis.

ARES:
     Artemis--wants to kill Eve.

XENA:
     Artemis wants the Amazons to worship her. Killing Eve is just a bonus. Or maybe it's the other way around.

Ares stares at her silently.

XENA:
     What's this about, Ares? I have a hunch it's something more than vengeance. (pauses) It's something to do with the Twilight, isn't it.

ARES:
     What makes you say that?

XENA:
     Eve's been having dreams about it.

ARES (wryly):
     Has she.

XENA (explodes angrily):
     Never mind. I should have known better than to expect help from you when it comes to saving your own--

ARES (heavily):
     Xena.

She trails off, looking guilty.

ARES:
     You should know better than that.

XENA (brusquely):
     Just tell me what's going on. (pauses, reluctantly) I'm--I'm sorry.

Ares thinks a moment, staring at her, then sighs.

ARES:
     No one really knows for sure, but--the Twilight may be happening all over again.

XENA (not entirely shocked but confused):
     What are you talking about?

ARES:
     Well--Demeter's been very ill. Possibly--

He trails off.

XENA:
     Dying?

Ares nods tensely. Xena looks at him expectantly.

ARES:
     Zeus went to the Fates and they gave him one of those typical cryptic messages--

CROSS-FADE TO

The three Fates, whose image is superimposed on the scene of Xena and Ares talking.

CLOTHO:
     A time is near--

LACHESIS:
     --when the gods--

ATROPOS:
     --will have one last chance--

CLOTHO:
     --to make a choice of life or death--

LACHESIS:
     --and change--

ATROPOS:
     -- their destiny.

On those last words, the image of the Fates starts to fade until we see only the present scene again. Xena stares intently at Ares.

XENA:
     What does that mean?

ARES (shrugs):
     No one knows. But I suppose Artemis thinks that Eve has something to do with it.

XENA (disgusted and dismayed):
     So it's starting again.

ARES (emphatically):
     No. It doesn't have to. If you--

XENA (abruptly):
     I need the Dagger of Helios.

ARES (disbelief):
     To kill my family?

XENA (forcefully):
     No. To protect mine.

Ares doesn't move, obviously conflicted.

ARES:
     Xena--it doesn't have to be this way.

XENA:
     Tell that to your sister.

She turns around and stalks off. Ares looks after her, shaking his head.

ARES:
     Just like old times...

He vanishes as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT ONE