ACT TWO

FADE IN:

EXT. VILLAGE - MORNING

The day is clear and warm with only the slightest hint of a breeze. Xena and Gabrielle watch as several groups of people gather and prepare for the hunt. There are people working in pairs and small groups, looking at their lists and collecting supplies.  A man standing on the dais is giving last minute instructions to the participants.

Xena and Gabrielle are hanging back watching as everybody seems to get ready for the start of the competition.  Gabrielle has a handful of grapes that Xena occasionally filches from. 

There are a few people that Xena is keeping a close eye on, recognizing the type. She knows they could be trouble if their paths cross later.

She nudges Gabrielle, who is looking at a map that has been provided to all the teams.  They didn’t have a chance to study it much the previous evening.

GABRIELLE

Yeah?

Xena discretely points to three fellows standing near a wall and keeping to themselves, but watching everyone else carefully.  Then she turns and glances away from them nonchalantly, apparently absorbing the words from the man on the dais. 

XENA

Trouble.

Gabrielle watches them and nods, turning in a circle to take a good look around.

GABRIELLE

Yep.

XENA

We need to keep

an eye on them.

GABRIELLE

Or we could just take them

out of the picture now.

Xena’s eyebrows shoot to her hairline, even as her face breaks into a grin.

XENA

Before they do anything?

Am I rubbing off on you?

GABRIELLE

Yes. To both. I mean come on Xena.

Look at them. They’re trying to

decide who would be easiest to rob.

Xena looks around again, seeing a second group of the same nature.  She glances at all the people preparing for the hunt, noting that they are all well-dressed and sturdy. 

XENA

Well, the pickings are

sure good in this town.

GABRIELLE

Yep... lots of choices.

XENA

And even though I am intrigued

by your idea, I think it’s best to

let them tip their hand first.

GABRIELLE

(grinning unrepentantly)

If you insist.

XENA

Come on. Let’s have a look at

that map and put together a plan.

Taking a seat next to Gabrielle, she looks at the map. Gabrielle unfolds the third piece of parchment they were given the previous night, and shows it to Xena.

This is also a map, but it is more comprehensive than the hunt map, and has several markings on it that form an interesting pattern.  There is a note written under it.

Gabrielle reads it and turns to Xena.

GABRIELLE

Here’s the kicker. Apparently Zeus wanted

to keep mere mortals from getting their

hands on it, so the location of the ring

changes from year to year. Maybe

he had plans to reclaim it later.

XENA

Clever.

Gabrielle just shakes her head and points to a spot on the map.

GABRIELLE

This is where they THINK it was last

year. According to these notes

someone saw it but couldn’t get

close to it. These notes record all

the sightings and I’ve found a pattern.

XENA

Well that’s handy.

GABRIELLE

And if my calculations are

right, it should be here.

She taps a spot on the map. Xena looks at it carefully.

XENA

It’s a swamp.

GABRIELLE

Nobody said it was

going to be easy.

XENA

Riiiight.  What was I thinking?

Gabrielle laughs and folds up the papers, putting them into a pouch at her waist.

Xena nods and stands up to see the first three men seemingly follow a man and his family as people move out to begin the hunt.

XENA

We need to take care

of something first.

GABRIELLE

Can you handle it? I have one

more place to check out.

XENA

Meet you at the swamp?

GABRIELLE

See ya shortly.

FADE TO:

EXT. ROOF TOP - MORNING

Xena is walking along the edge of a roof, watching as the three bandits get closer to the family.

One of the men reaches one of the children.  Xena anticipates the move and executes a forward flip, kicking him away from the child and landing between the other two thugs.  Her hands reach out in a quick efficient motion, each hand coming to rest behind the head of a thug.  She quickly brings her hands and their heads together leaving them to slump in a pile at her feet. 

The man she kicked away from the child struggles to his feet and comes rushing at her from behind.  Xena hears his approach, grins, and forcefully lifts a fisted right hand to meet the third thugs face as he reaches her.  She steps to the side, allowing him to join his partners. 

CUT TO:

EXT. TEMPLE - DAY

Gabrielle approaches the TEMPLE.  It is unkempt and in disrepair and it’s no longer clear exactly which deity the building was dedicated to.  It is littered with leaves and the floors are cracked and broken in places.  Gabrielle steps over fallen debris and ducks under crumbling pillars before reaching the altar area.  Her eyes wander to the altar itself.

GABRIELLE

(mumbling)

If I was a priest trying

to hide something....

She moves around slowly, careful of all the marble fragments strewn liberally around the floor as she continues to search for clues.  She vaguely wishes for a chance to study the murals at greater length while her eyes wander the room.  Her hands lightly glide along the edges of the altar, searching for the trigger she is sure is there.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

C’mon.  It’s gotta be

here some... Gotcha!!

With a snick, the top slides away to reveal a hidden space on the right side of the altar.  Gabrielle leans over cautiously to examine the marble tablet lying within the niche.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

Well, let’s just see what

this says, shall we?

MALE VOICE

Yeah, why don’t we just do that?

Then we can go claim this treasure.

Gabrielle whirls in place, peering into the gloom.  She can see the man’s undisguised leer from where she is.

GABRIELLE

What makes you think

I’m here for treasure?

The man steps into the temple with two of his comrades.  These are not the same men Xena and Gabrielle saw earlier, but their purpose is identical.

MAN

C’mon, blondie.  We know you’re

treasure hunting just like the others.

We saw you at the starting line.  We’re

just gonna take what you’ve found.

You be nice, and we’ll go on our way.

Gabrielle looks down at the tablet and then back at the man.  She nods her head, and steps away from the altar to give herself a bit of breathing room.  They don’t seem to take the hint and step onto the dais.  She takes another step away from them.

GABRIELLE

I don’t want trouble.  Just

take it and leave me alone.

The largest man reached his hand into the space and finds it caught in a vise grip.  He screams as the trap crushes his bones.  His two compatriots stand still, shocked by the turn of events.

MAN

GET HER!!!

The other two men approach her from either side, figuring to get the drop on her.

GABRIELLE

You really don’t want to do this.

MAN #2

(leering)

Just stand still.  This

won’t hurt too much.

CUT TO:

EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY

Xena dusts her hands off and glances at the bandits, now unconscious and tied up at her feet.  The looks from the family watching her are filled with something akin to awe and they make her twitchy.

XENA

They won’t be giving

you any more trouble.

The woman, a well-dressed middle class type citizen, swallows hard and nods her head.  She clasps her children closer to her.

WOMAN

How can we repay you?

Xena looks around in vain for Gabrielle, hoping she will appear to do the sensitive chat thing with these people.  Knowing that is impossible, she sighs and clears her throat to answer.

XENA

Just be more aware of your surroundings.

There’s a lot of bad characters around

looking to take advantage of unsuspecting

folks.  Now, if you’ll excuse me....

The twitchiness has become a full out roiling of her guts, and she takes off at a jog in the direction Gabrielle had gone in.

CUT TO:

INT. TEMPLE - SAME TIME

Gabrielle draws her sais and shrugs, shaking her head.  The men continue to advance on her.

GABRIELLE

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

She reverses the sai in her hand and swings her right hand with the hilt forward, aiming for the man’s face closest to her.  The crunching sound of the contact makes her wince a bit and the man stumbles backward, holding a now bleeding nose. 

The second man moves closer, extending both arms to grab her in a bear hug.  Gabrielle ducks his arms and brings her right hand forward into his groin as the left hand pushes him backward.  She then tucks and rolls beneath the legs of the altar and comes up to a standing position. 

Both men are now standing on the other side of the altar facing her.  As they each move around opposite ends to attack her again, Gabrielle sees a long rod on the floor in front of the altar that once held a tapestry.  She bends and replaces her sais, and in the next motion, picks up the rod firmly holding it against her body. 

As they round the altar, she spins and connects with one, then the other, knocking them both to their knees.  She flips the rod up and crashes the end of it first on the man on the right, then twists, reversing position and crashing the end on the other man.  They both fall to the floor unconscious. 

When it is all over, she looks at the heap of humanity on the floor, drops the rod and dusts her hands off.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

They never learn.

Gabrielle looks back at the man still trapped in the vise grip.  He is trying to snarl at her, hoping to intimidate.  The best he can do is grimace in pain.

Gabrielle peeks into the altar, wincing at the damage that’s been done to his now mangled hand.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

Easy way or hard way?

MAN

Bite me, bitch!

Gabrielle crinkles up her nose at the visual offered. 

GABRIELLE

Ew!  No thanks.

She looks at him contemplatively.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

Ya know, you’re just not worth the

effort and I’ve got things to do.

She hits him in the back of the head with the butt of her sai.  Then she moves him out of the way so she can study the tablet.

CUT TO:

EXT. TEMPLE - DAY

Gabrielle emerges from the temple just as Xena arrives on the steps.  Xena is only slightly winded, but she still stands still for a moment breathing.

GABRIELLE

Xena?

XENA

(sheepishly)

I finished, and thought I’d

see how you were doing.

GABRIELLE

Checking up on me, huh?

She smiles at the blush that tints Xena’s face.  Xena smiles back at her with the crooked half-smile Gabrielle loves so much. Gabrielle takes Xena’s hand and begins to lead her towards the swamp.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

I’m glad you’re here.  We’ve

got quite the dilemma.

FADE TO:

EXT. WOODS - DAY

The woods are old, and the foliage is so thick that it is cool in spots.  The trees have grown together over the paths, forming a canopy that keeps out most of the light and warmth.

As they approach the swamp, the ground begins to soften and grow mushy, and the air becomes dank and earthy.

XENA

So the power of the ring

really is Zeus’ power?

GABRIELLE

That’s what the tablet said.

And there was a warning...

but it was pretty vague.

XENA

(drolly)

Naturally.

GABRIELLE

I’m not sure it can be

destroyed, Xena. Or what the

consequences will be if we try.

Xena wraps an arm around Gabrielle and smiles at her affectionately.

XENA

Well, I guess we’ll find

out when we find it.

CUT TO:

EXT. SWAMP EDGE - DAY

Gabrielle and Xena arrive at the swamp to discover they are not the only ones there.  Apparently the King is hedging his bets and has several searchers hunting for the ring.

Everyone seems to be looking in the same general direction, and Xena notes that while each party is somewhat separate from all the others, no one seems to want to be out of sight completely.

XENA

This has all the earmarks

of a disaster.

GABRIELLE

Umm, and we’re not

even to the hard part yet.

Xena makes a show of looking around in one direction while Gabrielle looks in the other.  They count two couples and a trio of people studying their maps and making preparations to go deeper into the swamp.

XENA

We need to get the rest of these

people out of here before we

go after the ring.  Suggestions?

Gabrielle looks thoughtful before her lips crinkle into an evil grin and her eyes twinkle mischievously.  Xena recognizes the signs and waits expectantly.

GABRIELLE

Yeah, you’ve heard of the swamp

monsters that live here, right?

The expression on Xena’s face is a combination of disbelief, surprise and mirth.  Whatever she had been expecting to come from Gabrielle’s mouth, this wasn’t even on the list.

XENA

Um, no.  But I’m sure you’ll be happy

to share that with me, won’t you?

CUT TO:

EXT. SWAMP INTERIOR - DAY

It is darker here.  The trees are thick and covered with moss.  The ground is slick and treacherous, and several people show signs of having fallen.  By unspoken consent, everyone is traveling fairly close together.  Gabrielle decides to use this factor to her advantage.

Gabrielle looks around pointedly, surveying her surroundings.  She clutches at Xena’s bracer when she hits an unexpectedly slippery patch, grateful for the steady support she feels under her hands.  She draws a deep breath and catches Xena’s eye.

GABRIELLE

Ya know, Xena, when we were at

the Academy there was an entire

section dedicated to monsters the

gods created for their amusement.

XENA

Oh?

GABRIELLE

Yep. The Chimaera was a fearsome

beast that was part lion, part goat and

part dragon.  It breathed fire.  The

Gryphon was another.  It was a

combination of a lion and an eagle, and

was used to protect the gods’ treasures.

A screech at that moment coming from deeper in the swamp makes one couple turn and flee.  Gabrielle is hard pressed to keep from smiling.  She continues talking, knowing she has everyone’s attention.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

We know about Achindnea from Iolaus’

stories.  Hercules defeated her and her

children.  And of course there was Medusa.

One of the women listening speaks up.

WOMAN

Perseus defeated Medusa, didn’t he?

GABRIELLE

Yes, he did.  But Medusa was only

one of many of the gorgons created,

and the scrolls said that the worst

of them live in the swamps.

Her voice drops to a conspiratorial whisper.  The woman’s eyes grow wide.  The sound of hissing makes her swallow loudly.  Gabrielle looks around, and the woman does the same.

WOMAN

You don’t suppose....?

The woman straightens and joins her compatriots, slogging back towards the edge of the swamp.  She turns after having moved a couple steps and motions to her companions.  It doesn’t take much for the rest of the people to join her.

WOMAN

(cont’d)

I don’t think there is enough reward

in the world for this.  C’mon.  We can

win the hunt with what we have.

We only have a few more things

on the list left to find.

Xena and Gabrielle watch as the five turn and swiftly go back the way they came.  They don’t even glance back in their haste to get out of the swamp.  Gabrielle waits until Xena’s hand falls on her shoulder before bursting into laughter.

GABRIELLE

Do I wanna ask how you did that?

Xena looks at her, batting her eyelashes and blinking her innocent blue eyes.

XENA

I have no idea what you’re talking

about, Gabrielle.  I was just listening

to you talk about the monsters.

Gabrielle rolls her eyes, but continues to wonder.

GABRIELLE

Uh huh.

XENA

C’mon.  We’ve still got a lot

of ground to cover and

we’re burning daylight.

CUT TO:

EXT. SWAMP - MID AFTERNOON

It has been quite a trek, and though not filthy, neither of them are as fresh as daisies either. The gloom of the surrounding area isn’t helping matters either.

The sunshine is quite bright when Xena and Gabrielle come to a sudden break in the trees.  They take a moment or two to allow their eyes to adjust.  What greets them makes their eyes widen in disbelief.

Before them is a flat expanse of sand, and beyond that, a small island.  On the island there is a tree, and in the tree near the top rests what appears to be the ring... on the largest snake either of them have ever set eyes on. 

XENA

It’s never easy.

GABRIELLE

Of course not.  We wouldn’t know

what to do if it was easy.

They both look at the sand then at each other.

XENA

Odds?

GABRIELLE

No way.  I know better.

Xena looks around for a long moment before finding what she needs. She picks up a rock the size of her fist and hurls it into the middle of the sand.  They wait for all of about five seconds before it begins to slip below the surface.

XENA

Quicksand.

GABRIELLE

Great.  Now what?

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE