FADE IN

Stream. Gabrielle is tending to the horses, while Xena sits near a small stream running through the forest. Eve is on her back next to her, the color is drained from face and she seems to be in intense pain. Xena applies a pressure point to her daughter's midsection.

XENA (softly):
     Looks like you broke a couple ribs. We'll have to get you patched up as soon as we can.

Eve closes her eyes, not wanting to think about the pain. Gabrielle comes up next to her, having soaked a rag in the river. She gently begins to clean Eve's wounds.

EVE (mutters):
     I'm sorry, Mother...

XENA (confused):
     What?

EVE:
     I'm sorry...you warned me and I didn't listen. I thought I could take her on, and now--because of me--she has control of the Amazons.

Xena brushes back her daughter's hair, as we notice the weariness in Eve's eyes.

XENA:
     No, she doesn't. Not for long.

Zoom in on her resolute face.

CUT TO

An abandoned temple. The exterior of the temple has caved in, but some of the statues and pillars still remain.

Artemis appears in front of the temple, with Morai by her side.

ARTEMIS:
     One of my greatest temples--destroyed by Velasca many years ago.

As the camera moves on the temple ...

DISSOLVE TO

MORAI:
     We will rebuild the temple in your honor, my Queen.

ARTEMIS (nods):
     Start at once. It will affirm the renewal of the bond between the goddess and her people. (thinking) Put the children, the old, and weak to work on it at once. I want it completed as soon as possible.

MORAI:
     What about the others?

ARTEMIS:
     I have other plans for them. My first act as your patron goddess and Queen will be to wipe out that pathetic little village that has settled on our lands.

Pan to Morai, a flash of wild joy on her face.

ARTEMIS (continues):
     Get the Amazons ready to attack by morning.

MORAI (eagerly):
     Yes, my goddess. (pauses for a moment) But--

ARTEMIS (frowns):
     But what?

MORAI:
     What about Xena and Gabrielle?

ARTEMIS:
     What about them?

MORAI:
     They're not going to go along with this.

ARTEMIS:
     I'm a goddess, Morai. I don't have to worry about (sneering) Xena and Gabrielle. Especially now while they're busy tending to poor little Eve.

CUT TO

We fade into the village from "Grey Areas"--the Lanis settlement. The camera moves in on a small home on the outskirts of the village.

CUT TO

Inside the home. Caleb, the boy put on trial in "Grey Areas," is bringing two cups of some beverage to Xena and Gabrielle, who are sitting by a bed where Eve lies sleeping. He hands them the mugs.

CALEB:
     Here you are.

XENA (nods):
     Thank you. (she starts to drink)

GABRIELLE (softly, taking the mug):
     We can't thank you enough for letting us stay here, Caleb.

CALEB (smiles):
     It's the least I can do.

The camera pulls over to show is mother, sitting at a table, nervously tapping her fingers on the tabletop.

CALEB'S MOTHER (fearful):
     If they find out we are housing an Amazon, they could throw us out of the village.

XENA (reassuringly):
     We'll be out of here by morning. (Looking at Eve, softly) Besides--she isn't an Amazon anymore

Zoom in on the sleeping Eve. She begins to shake her head, as if having a nightmare.

EVE (muttering):
     The Twilight is upon us. (whispering) A new day is a coming.

Pan to Xena and Gabrielle, who exchange a shocked look.

CROSS-FADE TO

The sun setting behind the trees.

DISSOLVE TO

A field at dusk. Xena is striding through the field, looking grim. Ares materializes in front of her. She continues to walk, brushing past him. He follows her. Tension fills the air between them.

XENA (coldly):
     I hope you're happy.

ARES (sarcastic):
     Oh yeah. Aunt Demeter's dying, all of us may be next, Dad is getting cryptic messages from the Fates about life-and-death choices...never better, thanks for asking.

XENA (forcefully):
     Well, my daughter almost died today at your sister's hands. And you still won't give me a weapon to protect her.

ARES:
     Artemis. Yeah, we had a few--words before.

XENA (bitter):
     Did you. Well, I'll have a few words with her before this is over--with or without your help.

Ares walks ahead of her and stops, blocking her path. He puts his hands on her shoulders.

ARES (trying to be gentle, his voice strained):
     Xena. I won't let any of the other gods hurt you--or Gabrielle or Eve. But no more Xena, Slayer of Gods. (his voice rises) Once was enough.

XENA:
     So you're siding with your family.

She walks around him and starts to walk away.

ARES:
     And you're siding with the God of Eli--even though you defied his angels and brought the Olympians back from Hell!

XENA (stops and turns her head toward him abruptly):
     I'm siding with my daughter. What do you expect me to do? She's a part of this and I'll protect her.

ARES (quietly):
     So a god creates a child--one whose sole purpose is to wipe out the other gods and bring about a new order. And he chooses a mother who'll do whatever it takes to protect her child. Except there's a flaw in his plan...

XENA:
     What's that?

ARES:
     Gabrielle finally saw through Hope.

Xena looks as if she has been struck in the heart.

XENA (vehemently):
     You're comparing my daughter to Hope?

ARES (shaking his head):
     No, I'm just saying there are certain--similarities. You were used as a weapon once--

XENA (bristles):
     And what do you expect me to do now?

ARES:
     Come up with a better plan than kill first and ask questions later.

XENA (cuttingly):
     Nice advice from the God of War. (Their eyes meet and she looks away rather guiltily, then looks at him again) How do you know that what's happening to the gods now even has anything to do with Eve? Or with the God of Eli?

ARES (shrugs):
     I don't. (looks at Xena intently) That's just the thing. Nobody knows anything.

DISSOLVE TO

Nightfall. Inside Caleb's house.

Gabrielle is seated in a chair, the house only lit by a few candles and moonlight. She is writing in a scroll. Across from her, Eve is sleeping in her bed. The door opens and Xena comes in. Gabrielle looks up.

GABRIELLE:
     You saw Ares?

XENA (stoned-faced):
     Yeah. He wasn't much help.

GABRIELLE:
     What did you want from him?

XENA:
     The dagger of Helios. (off Gabrielle's appalled look) Gabrielle, believe me, I'm not in a hurry to kill any more gods. But if she's after my daughter--

GABRIELLE:
     I'm not so sure about that. I think she's mainly after the Amazons.

XENA (gives her a questioning look):
     And that's all right with you?

GABRIELLE (reluctantly):
     Look, maybe we should give her what she wants. She was the Amazons' patron goddess before--maybe it's not that bad if they follow her again. Do you really want to risk Eve's life over this?

The camera zooms in on Xena's conflicted expression.

CUT TO

Night. Exterior shot of the ruins of Artemis' temple, the area lit with torches. The older and younger Amazons are working on rebuilding it, with Morai supervising the work.

The camera pans to Klymene, who is pushing a wheelbarrow filled with bricks toward the temple. The look on her face clearly says that she is doing this work reluctantly. She stops to rest.

MORAI:
     Move along, girl! I didn't say you could take a break.

KLYMENE (defiant):
     Well, I need one.

Morai cracks a whip and Klymene shudders.

MORAI (snarls):
     Move it. You ever give me attitude again, you'll regret it.

Klymene nods sullenly and starts pushing the wheelbarrow again.

MORAI (shouts):
     Pick up the pace, people--this temple needs to be completed as soon as possible!

There is a flare of green light and Artemis appears next to her.

MORAI (bows):
     My Queen.

ARTEMIS (surveys the area):
     The reconstruction is going well. (smiles) I'm pleased with you, Morai. How are the preparations for the battle going?

MORAI:
     The troops are ready, my Queen--just as you ordered.

ARTEMIS:
     Excellent. You have earned my favor. (pauses, smiling coldly) We will attack an hour after dawn. By noontime, that village will no longer be a blot on our land.

The camera pans to Cyane and Antiope approaching.

CYANE (bows her head with outward respect, but clearly resentful):
     Artemis. The orders you gave for the attack--

ARTEMIS:
     Yes?

CYANE:
     With all due respect, all battle plans must be approved by the Amazon Council--

ARTEMIS:
     With a goddess to lead you, you don't need the council. Those villagers are on Amazon lands. They will be taken care of. End of story.

Artemis gives Morai an encouraging smile and vanishes. Cyane and Antiope exchange uneasy looks.

CUT TO

Mount Olympus.

Lightning flashes across the sky. The camera moves in on Olympus as we notice that it is nothing but ruins. Broken pillars and statues cover the mountaintop.

The camera pulls around fast to reveal Eve standing in the midst of the ruins. The camera zooms in on her face.

VOICE (off-camera):
     The time of the many gods has come to an end.

The camera pulls out to reveal Eli standing next to her.

EVE (softly):
     Eli?

Eli smiles.

ELI:
     The Twilight is coming, Eve. The way it was always meant to. Not through bloodshed, but through free choice.

EVE (puzzled):
     Free choice?

ELI:
     The choice of mortals--to worship or not to worship. To follow many gods blinded by their whims and their powers, or one god who is the love within every heart.

EVE (uncomprehending):
     Why now?

ELI:
     When you embraced your destiny as my Messenger five years ago, the Twilight was set in motion.

EVE:
     But I gave it up to lead the Amazons. (uneasy) I--turned my back on you, Eli.

ELI (smiles benignly):
     You never turned your back on me, Eve. And it doesn't matter. When Livia, the ruthless Champion of Rome and the worst enemy of the followers of Eli, walked away from wealth, power and war to become Eve of the Elijans--that was the greatest victory of our faith, a victory that drew multitudes to my message--and yours. That you then dedicated your life to the service of the Amazons--another people you had persecuted--only served further to show what a change God's love can make in a human heart.

Eve nods wordlessly, her eyes filling with tears.

ELI:
     The miracle of love and freedom has already happened. The old gods now have their powers--only by grace of humanity.

His figure starts to fade and become transparent.

ELI (continues):
     When mortals turn their backs on the gods...

Eve suddenly notices something and walks towards a fallen pillar. She reaches down and pulls out a sword. Its Ares' sword. The blade has been broken in half. She holds it up, looking at it.

ELI (whispering):
     The gods will fall.

SMASH CUT TO

Eve jolts up from her bed, her breathing ragged. Xena rushes to her bedside.

XENA:
     Eve. What is it?

Eve is silent, breathing heavily. A noise is heard outside the cabin.

EVE (panting):
     Someone's outside.

Xena picks up her sword, its blade gleaming in the moonlight, and turns to the door as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT THREE