Episode Guide Teaser Act 1 Act 2 Act 3 Act 4

ACT TWO

 

FADE IN:

INT. TEMPLE OF THE VIRTUES - DAY

Janos rises to his feet and faces the carving of one of the Virtues.  She is standing, wearing flowing robes and a peaked cap.  She holds a staff capped with a many-pointed star in one her right hand, an unfurled scroll in her left.

 

JANOS

Great Virtues, I beseech you to help us in

this trial of guilt or innocence.   Reach into

her soul that we might know her FAITH!

 

DISSOLVE TO:

 

EXT. XENA’S DREAMSCAPE - DAY

 

Xena comes slowly to, fighting the lingering nausea twisting in her guts.  Though her eyes are tightly closed, she notices several things immediately.  The first is that it is extremely hot.  The second is that she can hear piteous moaning, screeching, and wailing all around her.  And the third is that she is laying on a very narrow, very hard, and very hot surface that is threatening to boil the skin from her bones. 

 

Eyes flashing open, she jumps to her feet, balancing precariously on a razor thin ledge jutting out from an impossibly tall cliff.  Beneath her is a bottomless chasm from which the sounds of torment emerge.

 

XENA

Great. Tartarus again.
This
is original.

 

 

Staring across the yawing chasm, she can faintly make out another cliff facing the one she is on.  There is no obvious way of going from one to the other, but she senses that her test, whatever it is, involves crossing the chasm at her feet.

 

Shaking her head and rolling her eyes, she begins to search for a means of crossing.

 

DISEMBODIED VOICE

Xena....

 

Xena looks up immediately, her eyes narrowing.  The voice has come from the other cliff, but she can see no figure standing there.

 

DISEMBODIED VOICE

Xena....

 

XENA

Who is it?  Who’s there?

 

Directly opposite Xena’s position, a ball of white light coalesces, then grows.  It is so pure and so blinding that Xena must shield her eyes with her hand lest she be blinded.

 

The glare dims somewhat, and Xena lowers her arm.  Her eyes widen.

 

There across from her is Gabrielle, glowing like the heart of a sun.  She is wearing flowing garments of purest white. The fabric of the garments floats around her in a dance of unbelievable beauty.  She smiles radiantly.

 

 

XENA

Gabrielle!

(beat)

How…?  What are you doing here?

 

GABRIELLE

I live in your heart, Xena.

This is how your soul sees me.

 

 

Xena nods, swallowing back tears.

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. TEMPLE OF THE VIRTUES - EVENING

 

Gabrielle leans forward in her chair, watching everything going on in Xena’s dreamscape through the mirror by the table.  Tears sparkle in her eyes.  Her expression is an interesting combination of awe, love, and a strange heartsickness.

 

GABRIELLE

Is that true?  Is that really

how she sees me?

 

 

Janos shifts uncomfortably in his chair.

 

JANOS

Yes.

 

GABRIELLE

After all I’ve… after all we’ve

been through… still?

 

Janos shifts again.

 

JANOS

Still, yes.

 

GABRIELLE

(whispering)

By the gods.

 

DISSOLVE TO:

 

EXT. XENA’S DREAMSCAPE - DAY

 

XENA

Why are you here?

 

GABRIELLE

This is a test of Faith, Xena.

 

XENA

Faith?  Faith in what?  In who?

 

GABRIELLE

In yourself, Xena. 

 

XENA

(quizzically)

In myself?  I already have faith in myself.

 

 

GABRIELLE

In your abilities, yes.  But do you have

faith in your heart?  Do you have faith in

yourself as a good person? A faith that

is as unbreakable as the mountain

you are standing on?

 

Xena hesitates, knowing that this is part of the test she must pass. 

 

XENA

(sotto voce)

Speak in haste, repent in leisure.

 

She looks down into the chasm.

 

XENA

(cont’d)

I’ll be having a lot of leisure

time down there.

 

She takes a deep breath, then lets it out slowly.

 

XENA

(cont’d)

How will I know that I have this

faith?  How can I be sure?

 

Gabrielle smiles.

 

GABRIELLE

Come over to me.

 

 

Xena’s eyes narrow.

 

XENA

How?

 

GABRIELLE

Your faith in yourself will guide your steps.
Believe in yourself and come over to me.

 

Gabrielle holds her arms out, as if in supplication.

 

Xena hesitates a moment longer, then, gathering up her will, she relaxes, closes her eyes, and takes a step into the chasm.

 

Her eyes shoot open as some invisible power holds her foot, feeling as firm and as steady as the cliff face which most of her body still rests against.

 

She shoots a look over at Gabrielle, who beams a radiant smile.

 

Xena clears her throat and, with as much courage as she’s ever displayed on any battlefield, she takes another step, leaving the safety of the ledge behind.

 

The invisible bridge continues to hold steadily.

 

Just then, a gust of wind rises up from the pit, bringing with a sulfurous stench.  Xena wavers a bit, then stands steady.

 

Following the stench, wispy, translucent SOULS pour up from the pit, flying so close to Xena that she wavers again, trying to avoid them.  She moves, and dodges, and ducks, all the while keeping her precarious perch atop the bottomless chasm.

 

As the souls pass by, she begins to recognize in them the faces of those she’s killed.  Their mouths are gaping maws frozen in silent screams.  Their eyes and cheeks bear bloody tracks from fingernails renting insubstantial flesh in torment and pain.  Her name is uttered over and over again as the souls pour up and over and around her.

 

SOUL #1

Xena....

 

SOUL #2

Xena… why....

 

SOUL #3

Xena… why did you kill us?

 

SOUL #4

Why did you hurt us?

 

SOULS

Why?  Xena. Why?  Xena. Why?

 

Xena barely resists clamping her hands over her ears.  Her own face is a grimace of pain and torment.

 

XENA

I’m not that person anymore!

 

 

SOULS

Xena....

 

XENA

I’m sorry!

 

SOULS

Xena....

 

XENA

I’m sorry I hurt you!

 

SOULS

Xena....

 

XENA

I’m sorry I killed you!

 

SOULS

Xena....

 

As Xena feels the guilt of her actions, the invisible bridge begins to waver. She can feel it cracking beneath her feet.  She throws her arms out to steady herself as her body rocks wildly to and fro.

 

XENA

It’s in my mind. None of this is real.
None of you are real!

 

Gabrielle’s voice is heard easily over the wailing of the souls.

 

GABRIELLE

Yes, Xena, they are real.  They are the

ghosts of your conscience, pulling you

down with them.  Forgive yourself, Xena.

Forgive yourself and let it go.

Let it all go.  Have faith.

 

XENA

(to herself)

You’re in my mind too.

 

GABRIELLE

Yes, I am.  You already have the answers

you need inside you.  What you do

with them will prove your Faith.

 

 

Xena continues to sway violently as the bridge becomes more unstable beneath the weight of her conscience.

 

XENA

(to herself)

Faith.  I must have faith.

I must have faith.

 

Standing up straight, she wills herself to be steady, trying her best to will the bridge beneath her to become stronger.  Going back is not an option.  Either she goes forward, or she fails.

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. TEMPLE OF THE VIRTUES - EVENING

 

Gabrielle is sitting so far forward in her chair, it’s a wonder she doesn’t topple out of it onto the floor.  Her hands are tightly clamped over the arms, and her short nails dig divots into the aged wood.  Her face is pale, her eyes large and intent on the image in front of her.

 

In marked contrast, Janos is relaxed, and grinning for all he is worth, obviously enjoying himself immensely.

 

JANOS

Her first test and she’s failing already.

(beat, turning to Gabrielle)

Now do you believe me?

 

GABRIELLE

She won’t fail.

 

 

JANOS

How can you say that?  She’s about

to fall right into that chasm!

 

GABRIELLE

She won’t fail.

 

Janos’ smile fades a bit, and he sits back, slowly returning his attention to the mirror.

 

CUT TO:

 

EXT. XENA’S DREAMSCAPE - DAY

 

Xena’s eyes change.  The resolution can easily be seen in them.  She turns and faces forward again, her body strong and steady.

 

XENA

I...

 

XENA

(cont’d)

Am...

 

XENA

(cont’d)

NOT...

 

XENA

(cont’d)

That...

 

XENA

(cont’d)

Person...

 

XENA

(cont’d)

ANYMORE!

 

 

She takes a step forward and the souls explode into brilliant light that bathes her as the bridge once again becomes steady beneath her feet.

 

She takes several more steps, resolute, and the invisible bridge continues to unfurl before her feet, steady and strong.

 

Halfway across, a large body blocks her way.

 

Xena stops again and rolls her eyes.

 

XENA
Figures. Do you ever give up?

ARES
Hardly, my dear. I'm not

exactly the giving up type.

XENA
Get outta my way, Ares.

This doesn't concern you.

ARES
(laughing)
You wound me, Xena. Everything

about you concerns me.

 

His dark eyes rake over her with lascivious intent.

Xena rolls her eyes again. She makes a shooing gesture with her hand.

 

XENA
G'wan now. Play your little

games some other time.

ARES
Sorry, but…no can do, I'm afraid.

See, I have a vested interest here.

Your loss is my gain, so to speak.

 

Reaching to his vest, Ares pulls out a GOLDEN APPLE. Smirking, he tosses it in his hand.

 

XENA
(suspiciously)
Where'd you get that?

 

Ares shrugs.

 

ARES
(offhandedly)
Odin and I… we talk.

 

Ares laughs.

 

ARES
(cont’d)
He seems to have this obsession

with you, if you can believe that.

 

Xena gives him a mocking smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes.

 

ARES
(cont’d)
He owed me a favor. I rustled him up a

couple of new Valkyries to replace the

ones you shamed into quitting, and

in return, he gave me this.
(beat)
It's yours if you just say the word.

XENA
And what word is that?

 

Ares grins.

 

ARES
Oh, I could think of plenty, but I'll settle

for the old tried and true `please'.

 



XENA
Why would I want to do that?

ARES
Immortality, Xena. Think about it. You'd

never grow old. Never be sick. Never

‘accidentally' die on your girlfriend again.
(beat)
I could move you up to Olympus.  We

could have a few kicks. It'd be

like old times. Whaddya say?

XENA
Forget it, Ares. Now move it

before I kick you off this bridge.

ARES
Uh uh uh.  Ixnay on the

violence thing, remember?

XENA
I'll improvise.

 

Ares gives a mock shudder.

Sighing, Xena strides forward.

Ares disappears, only to rematerialize behind her. He grabs her arm and whirls her around to face him.

 

ARES
You owe me, Xena!!

XENA
For what?!?!?

ARES
(getting red-faced)
I trained you! Before me you were a nothing

little wannabe warlord.  I trained you to become

the best of the best! The world trembled at your feet!

XENA
I'm not that person anymore, Ares.

ARES
I saved your life! I gave up my godhood

for you!!  I let you murder my entire

family to save that little brat of yours!

XENA
And I thanked you for that, Ares. You'll always

have my gratitude for the sacrifice you made.

But that debt is paid. I gave you back

your godhood. I can't do anything more.

 



ARES
Sure you can. Take the apple.

It's good. You won't regret it.

XENA
I'll regret it more than you
could ever imagine.

(beat)
Goodbye, Ares.

ARES
(thundering)
DON'T YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON ME!!!

 

Xena continues to walk forward, unafraid.

 

ARES
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

As Xena continues across the chasm, the air seems to coalesce and shimmer.  A FORM takes shape, standing several feet away, seeming to hover in thin air. Xena’s eyes widen.

 

XENA

Solon?

 

Tears spring to her eyes and a tremulous smile curves her lips.

 

XENA

Solon?  How did you…?

 

She takes a step forward.  The figure hovers back an equal distance, face expressionless.  Xena stops.  She reaches out, but is unable to touch the figure of her son.

 

XENA

Solon?  What’s wrong?

Is there something…?

 

The air coalesces again, and a second figure forms, floating close by the first.

 

XENA

Mother?

 

 

Cyrene slides an arm around Solon’s narrow shoulders.  They look at one another, then back at Xena.  Their expressions are neither welcoming nor foreboding, but rather, intent.  Upon her.

 

XENA

Mother, please.  What is it?

What’s wrong?

 

She takes another step.  The figures float back, as if repelled by her very essence.

 

A third figure forms from the very air, and the tears trapped in Xena’s eyes spill over onto her cheeks.

 

XENA

Lyceus?  Is that you? 

(beat)

But how?  Why?

(beat)

Mother?  Solon?

 

She reaches out again, fingers almost trembling as she strains to touch the members of her family, dead so very long ago.

 

Beneath her feet, the bridge again begins to tremble, and she sways with it, though the figures remain still, unfazed by the turmoil in Xena’s soul.

 

XENA

Please.

 

She steps forward. Her arms flail as her tread meets only open air.  She steps back and tries to steady herself on the rapidly crumbling bridge.

 

XENA

It’s my guilt, isn’t it?  My guilt

pushes you away from me.

 

 

The figures don’t answer, but Xena knows that she’s right. 

 

A roll of thunder peals through the chasm, shaking the already unsteady bridge.

 

XENA

I thought I’d come to terms with it.

With your deaths.  But it seems I haven’t.

 

She savagely wipes the tears from her eyes and cheeks.

 

Thunder rolls again, almost dumping her from the bridge.  Her hair whips back as gusts of wind batter her from all angles.

 

XENA

(cont’d)

I love you all… so very much.

And I would have given anything

to keep you safe.  Even my life. 

(beat)

And I know you know that.

 

The wind dies slightly.

 

XENA

(cont’d)

And I know, in my heart, that

you’ve forgiven me.

(beat)

And that to go on, I have to

forgive myself for not being

there when you needed me.

 

The figures look on silently.

 

Xena closes her eyes and breathes deep of the humid, sultry air.  Her head lowers, then rises as she lets go the guilt that has festered deep in her soul.  Her eyes open again, blazing with new purpose.

 

XENA

(cont’d)

Mother, Lyceus, Solon, please.

(beat)

Let me hold you one last time.

 

And with another act of great courage, she crosses the distance between them, arms flung open wide to the heavens.

 

The four meet in an explosion of light.

 

VOICE

It is done.

 

The world around them explodes in a flash of blinding white that then draws in upon itself into a single point of blackness.

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. TEMPLE OF THE VIRTUES - EVENING

 

Gabrielle slumps back in the wooden chair, breathing hard as a trail of tears run a course down her cheeks.

 

On the table, Xena breathes slowly and evenly, still deeply asleep.

 

Brushing the tears from her face, Gabrielle rises, only to be stopped again by a hand to her wrist.  Janos shakes his head slowly.  His face is pale and drawn.

 

GABRIELLE

But I need....

 

JANOS

(softly)

You can’t help her, Gabrielle.

 

GABRIELLE

But....

 

 

JANOS

Sit.

 

Gabrielle clenches her jaw, but complies.

 

GABRIELLE

What now?

 

JANOS

We wait until the Virtues are

ready for the next test.

 

GABRIELLE

Fine.

 

 

Leaning her head back against the chair, Gabrielle closes her eyes, deliberately shutting Janos out.  She forms an image of Xena in her mind and smiles to herself as those blue eyes lock onto hers.

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. XENA’S DREAMSCAPE PASSAGE. RESTING AREA - NIGHT

 

A strange sense of dislocation overcomes her, and when she next opens her eyes, she is with Xena in a dimly lit passage.  They are lying embraced on a damp, warm floor.

 

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

Xena?

 

Xena opens her eyes.  They seem to glow with a joy rarely seen.

 

XENA

I saw them, Gabrielle.

 

GABRIELLE

Who?

 

XENA

Mother. Lyceus. Solon.

(beat)

In the Fields.  I saw them.

I held them.  It was....

 

Xena’s voice trails off as a single tear of joy spills over.

 

GABRIELLE

Oh, Xena....

 

They embrace more tightly.  Gabrielle strokes Xena’s hair softly, rhythmically.

 

XENA

(voice muffled)

Thank you.

 

GABRIELLE

Thank me?  For what?

 

XENA

For giving me this chance.

 

Gabrielle chuckles softly.

 

GABRIELLE

It’s not as if I meant to, Xena.

 

Xena pulls slightly away, and smiles.

 

XENA

Maybe not, but thank you anyway.

 

GABRIELLE

You’re welcome. I think.  The person

you should be thanking, though, is

yourself.  The faith you had in yourself

made it all possible, you know.

 

XENA

Maybe....

 

Gabrielle grins and hugs Xena again.

 

GABRIELLE

How do you feel?

 

Xena’s eyelids droop.

 

XENA

Tired.

 

GABRIELLE

Rest now.  I’ll be here.

 

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. TEMPLE OF THE VIRTUES - EVENING

 

Gabrielle is shaken from her reverie by movement beside her.

 

GABRIELLE

Wha-?  What is it?

 

JANOS

The Virtues.  The next test

is about to begin.

 

Gabrielle turns to look at Xena.

 

GABRIELLE

(whispering)

Good luck.

 

FADE OUT.

 

END OF ACT TWO

 

ACT THREE