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ACT THREE
FADE IN:
EXT. CASTLE WALL- NEAR DAWN
Xena and Gabrielle are standing in deep shadows on the far side of the castle wall. A guard comes around the corner, and the two of them go very still. He walks right by them.
GABRIELLE (whispering) There weren’t this many guards yesterday.
Xena somersaults to the top of the castle wall.
XENA Nope.
She reaches a hand down to Gabrielle who takes a running leap towards the wall before accepting the hand. Xena pulls Gabrielle to stand beside her.
GABRIELLE Thanks. You think they’re looking for us?
They jump down to the other side, looking around again to see if they’ve been spotted.
XENA Good bet, yeah.
They move into the shadows.
A pair of guards walk over and stand inches from them. The guards look the area over carefully.
FIRST GUARD I’m telling you I saw something.
SECOND GUARD Well, there’s nothing here now. Let’s get back to our posts before Cyrus gives us stock duty.
Both wince and turn to go. Two shadows follow them back to the castle unseen.
Xena and Gabrielle lose the guards when they enter the castle.
GABRIELLE Okay, now what?
XENA Now we find Rhea in this maze.
Xena begins retracing their steps from the previous day. She hears two voices approaching them. She and Gabrielle slip into an alcove.
Rhea and what appears to be a chambermaid walk by. Xena reaches out and taps Rhea on the shoulder.
Rhea stops walking, looking around carefully and peering into the darkness before finally spotting them.
RHEA Go ahead, Miriam. You have work to do.
The chambermaid nods her head and withdraws.
When she is out of hearing range, Rhea moves to the alcove.
RHEA (whispering) What are you doing back here?
GABRIELLE We need to find out exactly what Cyrus is up to.
XENA When did he add the guard patrols?
RHEA Last night. He knows you were here yesterday.
XENA Yeah, we had company last night.
She looks around thoughtfully.
XENA (cont’d) We need a way to blend in.
CUT TO:
INT. CASTLE - LATE AFTERNOON
Rhea is leading a now disguised Xena and Gabrielle along the corridor. She hands Gabrielle a cloth and opens a door, motioning her in.
RHEA Cyrus’ room.
Gabrielle nods and steps into the room, closing the door firmly behind her.
Rhea looks to Xena and beckons her with a nod.
RHEA (cont’d) C’mon. I think they need more help in the kitchen.
Xena’s eyes widen in horror. She motions back towards the room where Gabrielle is.
XENA Kitchen!? Um, no. Gabrielle should take the kitchen, and I’ll....
Rhea takes her arm with a chuckle
RHEA You don’t have to cook... well, not much at any rate. You just have to listen. Trust me; it’s the best place for gossip in the whole castle. Gabrielle said you had the perfect ears for it.
Xena’s eyes narrow, and she casts a final glance towards Cyrus’ room before motioning to Rhea.
XENA Well, lead on, then.
CUT TO:
INT. CYRUS’ ROOM - SHORT WHILE LATER
Gabrielle is wandering through the room, not really sure what she is looking for. The large desk on one side draws her attention.
She sees a small stack of fine parchment sitting on one corner of the desk.
GABRIELLE Wow! That’s nice parchment. Must have cost a fortune.
She looks around the room.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) Not like he can’t afford it though.
Gabrielle runs a hand across the soft texture, her brow furrowing at the surprising lack of smoothness. Her eyes widen when she realizes there is a firm imprint on the sheet. Taking a chance, she folds the page and carefully stuffs it in her bodice.
She shifts uncomfortably.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) Ouch. Pokey parchment.
The door swings open.
FADE TO:
INT. KITCHEN - SAME TIME
Xena is in an alcove. Her back is to the room, but she can still hear plainly all the conversation in it. She is busy stirring the pot and the look on her face shows she is not thrilled to be here.
A nearby conversation catches her attention.
WOMAN It’s not right, Bellus. Serena is a good Queen. Or she was until Cyrus started running things.
BELLUS Hush, Myra! Do you wanna get us all into trouble?
MYRA No! But Bellus, you know the staff would rather take orders from the Queen. She should have given those strangers a chance. They were willing to help.
BELLUS And… don’t forget the castle guards. Most of them hate Cyrus and only follow orders from him because the Queen said to. Besides, Cyrus has managed to cut off all outside trade and get himself named as heir. It’s only a matter of time before....
A guard strides into the room, coming to a stop at the bottom of the stairway next to Xena’s alcove.
He turns to her, grabbing her by the arm. He jerks her around to face him.
GUARD Where is...? Hey, you’re X...!
Xena throws a punch right from the shoulder laying the guard out flat. Heads turn at the commotion as Xena steps nonchalantly into the main kitchen area.
XENA Bet he doesn’t put his hands there again.
Xena walks out the door without a backward glance. She hears the conversation behind her.
MYRA Wasn’t that...?
BELLUS Yeah. Things are suddenly looking up.
Xena makes a beeline for the stairs... and Gabrielle.
CUT TO:
INT. CYRUS’ ROOM - CONCURRENT
Gabrielle hears a noise in the hallway and begins dusting the desk when the door swings open and slams against the wall. Cyrus notices a body but not a face, and begins demanding petulantly.
CYRUS Girl, I need fresh sheets... and towels. And clean up the mess in the bathing room too. Oh, and I need a flagon of wine and two more pillows.
Gabrielle is fuming, but keeps her head down. She nods.
Cyrus doesn’t acknowledge her again, but picks up several parchments from the table near the door and slams the door shut behind him.
GABRIELLE Of all the chauvinistic, pig-hearted, cow-brained....
Her fuming is stopped by the reopening of the door.
XENA C’mon. We’ve got trouble.
GABRIELLE (drolly) There’s something new.
CUT TO:
INT. CASTLE STAIRS - SAME TIME
Cyrus passes Xena and Gabrielle without giving them a second glance. He stops at the door to the audience chamber. They slide off into the shadows.
The guard Xena hit comes staggering out of the kitchen holding his face. He sees Cyrus walking down the corridor and shouts.
GUARD Thir! Theentha’s in na cassle.
CYRUS Idiot! What??
He snatches the man’s hands from his face and sees the man’s nose has been broken.
CYRUS (cont’d) What in Tartarus happened to your face?
GUARD Theentha... Theentha’s in na cassle.
Cyrus stands perplexed processing the man’s nasally words for a moment. When light dawns, he gets a panicked look on his face.
CYRUS (bellowing) GUARDS!!!!
FADE TO:
INT. CASTLE - EARLY EVENING
Xena is standing in the middle of the hall frowning, hands on hips muttering to herself. Gabrielle is peering around a conveniently placed tapestry that affords her a view around the corner without putting her in plain sight.
GABRIELLE (mumbling) It’s never easy.
XENA Two lefts, one right, another left, down the stairs, left, up the stairs, two more lefts, then a right. I know that’s how we got there before.
GABRIELLE Well, we’ve got bigger problems right now.
XENA Such as...?
GABRIELLE Guards are headed this way, and by the look on their faces, it’s not for a friendly chat. I think we’ve been made.
XENA We don’t have time for this.
Three guards step into the hallway where Xena and Gabrielle are. Xena doesn’t hesitate. A head butt to the first man causes him to fall into the two behind him, and they tumble down the two short stairs in a pile.
Xena takes Gabrielle’s hand.
XENA (cont’d) C’mon....
Before they can choose a direction, running footsteps are heard coming from two different directions.
They choose the only direction they’ve got left... forward.
The guard leader spots them.
GUARD LEADER AFTER THEM!!
CUT TO:
INT. DARK ROOM - EVENING
Xena and Gabrielle rush into a darkened room, surprised by several whoosh sounds and the lack of footsteps behind them.
GABRIELLE Ouch! Something cut me!
They keep moving, around several high walls until the guard’s voice can barely be heard.
GUARD LEADER (muffled) Pull back. That’s the labyrinth. If they’re in there, they’re history. Let’s move.
Xena and Gabrielle wait patiently until the footsteps fade.
XENA Gabrielle?
GABRIELLE Yeah?
XENA Ya ever have a day that goes from bad to worse?
GABRIELLE Why do I get the feeling the answer to that question is gonna be yes?
XENA Because you’re smarter than the average battling bard.
She draws a deep breath and tries to see in the dark.
XENA (cont’d) Unless we find a torch, we’re gonna have to figure a way out of this labyrinth in the dark.
GABRIELLE Wonderful.... Well, at least I won’t be able to see myself bleeding.
FADE TO:
INT. LABYRINTH - EVENING
They walk slowly in the pitch darkness, feeling their way along the high wall. They reach an opening in the wall, stumbling slightly.
GABRIELLE What was that?
Xena feels around on the floor. A strike is heard, then a spark is seen.
XENA Bones.
GABRIELLE Someone died trying to get outta here?
XENA Looks like it. C’mon.
Xena takes Gabrielle’s hand and holds the torch high with the other. They step between the high walls and stare across the flat expanse of space.
GABRIELLE It can’t be that easy.
Xena examines the floor nearest them.
XENA It’s not. Look at the floor.
The floor is covered with odd markings and glyphs.
XENA (cont’d) There has to be a key to unlocking the pattern.
GABRIELLE Yeah, but what? And where?
They study the floor.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) You think it might be something in those tapestries we saw?
Xena shrugs.
XENA I dunno, but it doesn’t do us a lot of good in here if it is.
GABRIELLE Good point.
Xena takes a tentative first step. Successful, she turns to Gabrielle.
XENA Make sure you step exactly where I do.
GABRIELLE No problem there.
Xena’s takes a second step and is nearly skewered by the blade that springs up from the ground.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) You all right?
XENA Yeah. Bad choice.
She steps safely again. Then she takes another, and this time the ground begins crumble out from under her, revealing a very long drop.
Her next step drops a blade from the ceiling and she twists out of the way.
XENA Okay, this isn’t working.
GABRIELLE You want me to try?
XENA NO! I have an idea. C’mere.
Gabrielle steps tentatively to share the marked stone Xena is standing on.
XENA (cont’d) Whaddya think about making a run for it?
GABRIELLE I’m thinking someone really doesn’t want anyone in here.
She looks at the ceiling, then at the blade that narrowly missed Xena.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) Wonder what other lovely surprises are hidden in here.
VOICE Perhaps I can help?
Out of the darkness, Carena seemingly floats into their circle of light.
GABRIELLE How did you...?
XENA It doesn’t matter. Can you get us out of here?
CARENA Yes. The entire castle was built with secret passages and tunnels, and a labyrinth surrounds the royal quarters. The only way in or out is through the front, or knowing the secret. (beat) My great-grandfather was... shall we say, eccentric?
GABRIELLE So what’s the key?
CARENA You were right... the answer is in the tapestry. It shows exactly what steps to take, but you have to be taught to read it correctly. It is how we learned the way.
XENA (impatiently) Can we discuss this later? We need to get to the Queen.
CARENA Certainly. Follow my footsteps exactly.
Carena lifts her gown to her knees, and suddenly her feet are apparent. Xena follows directly behind Carena with the torch in one hand and holding Gabrielle’s hand with her other as they make slow progress through the floor puzzle.
Left, forward, skip two, forward; right, right, forward, skip.... and so forth.
CARENA (cont’d) Once we reach the other side, I’ll take you through the other maze. Then you’ll go through the door and it will take you to the audience chamber. You should be able to find Serena there or in her private rooms just off it.
GABRIELLE Thank you, Carena. I’m not sure we could do it without you.
Carena casts a glance at Xena.
CARENA You and Xena would have found a way I’m sure, but I was glad to help. Serena is my sister, and I love her.
GABRIELLE You must, to have stuck around here all this time. Why didn’t you go to the afterlife?
Carena shrugs.
CARENA I couldn’t... I couldn’t leave Serena alone. I tried to appear to her shortly after my death to comfort her and say goodbye, but it sent her into a terrible depression so I’ve stayed around to protect her. When I found out about Cyrus’ plan I knew I would need help.
They reach the other side of the puzzle, and step back into the maze.
CARENA (cont’d) Careful. It gets a little tricky here.
GABRIELLE At least we have light this time.
Finally, they reach the end of the labyrinth and arrive at a door.
CARENA Now you must go, quickly. We don’t know how much time we have left.
Gabrielle removes the paper she’d stuffed in her bodice earlier.
GABRIELLE We might be able to find out though.
She hands the paper to Xena, who unfolds it carefully.
CARENA It’s blank.
XENA Not for long.
She looks at Carena.
XENA (cont’d) How do we get the door open?
CARENA Sorry. Push the stones. Top, left, left, right, bottom.
Xena follows her directions and the door silently swings open. Xena douses the torch. The trio steps through to an empty room. Xena goes directly to the fireplace.
Carena glances at Xena, who has placed the parchment on the stones and is carefully shoveling warm ash to one side of the fireplace.
CARENA (cont’d) What is she doing?
GABRIELLE Finding some answers.
Xena spreads the warm ash on the parchment and waits a moment. Then she removes the parchment from the stones and gently shakes the ash off.
Gabrielle and Carena make their way to her side. Xena hands the paper to Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE (cont’d) Oh boy.
The sound of a door opening draws their attention and Serena steps into the room
SERENA What are you two doing here? Better yet, HOW did you get in here??
Xena and Gabrielle look at one another, realizing the Carena has once again disappeared and they are alone with an unhappy Queen.
SERENA (cont’d) GUARDS!!!
FADE OUT.
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END OF ACT THREE |
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