ACT TWO

FADE IN:
10 INT. WATER FACTORY - DAY (CONTINUOUS)

Gabrielle is pulling the breastplate back into place.

GABRIELLE
Okay, So it's a little big. Tighten it
for me.

Salmoneus crosses to adjust the straps in the back. Gabrielle picks up a small barrel top and looks at it.

XENA
Talamdeus is sure to attack us. We're going to be ready. And when Gabrielle makes an appearance as me, it should be enough.

GABRIELLE
I just stand there, wave this fake chakram and give that yell thingie of yours.

She holds the small barrel top like a chakram.

SALMONEUS
And can you give that yell thingie?

Gabrielle clears her throat and lets loose with a mighty...

GABRIELLE
Yelp! Yelp! Yelp!

SALMONEUS
(to Xena)
This is not going to fool Talmadeus!

And he gives a tug to the straps, tightening them.
Gabrielle reacts, going into a YIP YIP that sounds vaguely similar. Even Salmoneus is impressed.

SALMONEUS
Okay. That could work.

XENA
Salmoneus, round up your workers.
We're going to have to move fast.

SALMONEUS
Done.

He heads off. Gabrielle kneels next to Xena. She feels Xena's forehead, but Xena shakes her hand away.

XENA
Gabrielle, listen carefully. I know you've been in battles before, but this will be different. You have to stay focused. Let the world disappear, let me disappear from your thoughts. Focus. I want you riding in and out quickly.

GABRIELLE
Riding? That would mean... Argo. She
doesn't like me.
(then)
I know. I have to forget that.

Gabrielle tightens the laces on the boots.

XENA
Argo doesn't hate you. I thought you
had a pony when you were young.

GABRIELLE
I did. His name was Tympani. He was
about this high:..,
(four feet)
...and he had a beautiful golden mane and little white spots right above his eyes that made him look like he was always asking you a question. I only tried to ride him once. It didn't work out, for either of us. Still... he used to follow me around everywhere. I even let him sleep in my room a couple of times.

XENA
Did you leave Tympani with your sister?

GABRIELLE
No. One day, he got real sick. I
thought he might get better but...
(beat)
That's the trouble with things you love. Sometimes they just... leave you.

Xena puts her hand on Gabrielle's arm. Gabrielle attempts a smile. Of this, we:

CUT TO:
11 EXT. FACTORY - DAY

Salmoneus is here with Argo. A few of the workers are cleaning up the kegs, carefully stacking them.

Gabrielle comes walking out of the factory. Argo gives a double take.

GABRIELLE
(to Argo)
Yes, it's me. We need to call a truce,
okay? Understand?

She straps her staff to the saddle. Then, she carefully mounts up.

GABRIELLE
Okay. Stand back. I'm going to give
her the "gallop" whistle.

Salmoneus stands back. Gabrielle sets herself ... takes a deep breath ... then, whistles loudly! Argo sits back on her haunches.

SALMONEUS
I must have a different definition for the word "gallop". I thought the whistle was this ...

He gives a whistle. Argo leaps to her feet ... and begins circling. Gabrielle fixes a stern look on Salmoneus, her head staying toward him as Argo walks around.

CLOSE ON A BIRD

watching all this, his head following the movement of Argo. He lets out with a whistle.

BACK TO SCENE

as, you guessed it, Argo straightens out and bolts for the forest, Gabrielle hanging on. Off this:

DISSOLVE TO:

12 EXT. ROAD TO FACTORY - DAY

Ness and his men are marching up the road. One of his seconds, KALUS, moves over to him.

KALUS
How certain are we that Xena isn't
going to interfere?

NESS
You saw her go down. Talmadeus defeated her. She's probably halfway to Athens by now.

Suddenly, a loud WHISTLE is heard. The men freeze.

KALUS
What's that?

A fairly convincing WAR CRY is heard, then Argo comes bounding out of the woods and right through the middle of them, the figure of a Warrior Bard clinging desperately to her saddle. The men are knocked to the side as Argo heads down the path. Another WHISTLE and Argo stops, almost throwing his passenger. The men recover as Argo turns and faces them. Gabrielle raises herself up.

GABRIELLE
Thought you'd come back for some more, did you? You fell for my little trick and I have you just where I want you!

KALUS
(to Ness)
Does she seem smaller than before?

GABRIELLE
This is your only warning. Talmadeus will lead you to your death! Leave this valley forever or suffer the wrath of Xena! Up, Argo!

A mighty WHISTLE... and Argo bows. Confused reactions.

GABRIELLE
Umm... I always bow to my enemies
before I destroy them.

Another WHISTLE and Argo stands up.

NESS
She's bluffing! Get her!

And the men give chase. Gabrielle WHISTLES again. This time, Argo spins and heads toward:

13 EXT. THE FACTORY - DAY

All the windows are shuttered. Argo and Gabrielle position themselves next to the water tank. Ness and his men enter the area. Gabrielle holds up the fake chakram.

GABRIELLE
Your last warning.

NESS
The man who gets her, gets her! By
Talmadeus' orders!

And they charge. Gabrielle throws the fake chakram over their heads, as:

CLOSE - ON XENA

who is watching from one of the windows. She has her chakram out and throws it!

BACK TO SCENE

The real chakram sails past the fake chakram toward the men. They duck as it ricochets and SLICES THROUGH THE WATER TANK. The pressurized water SPRAYS OUT in a concentrated stream. (NOTE: Gabrielle is off to the side so no water touches her.) Ness and his men are hit by the torrent of water. This confuses and blinds them.

XENA
Ready...

The shuttered windows of the factory open and at the windows are villagers, each armed with flasks. In the end of each flask is a cork with a sharpened stick.

XENA
Now!

The villagers. SHAKE THE FLASKS, then aim them at the men. The pressure SHOOTS THE CORK-DARTS AT:

NESS' MEN

They all react as these stingers hit them all over.
Gabrielle WHISTLES and charges back through, knocking a few more down until she is next to the factory. Another wave of cork-darts are on their way, but the men have had enough. They run away.

The villagers cheer.

14 INT. WATER FACTORY - DAY (CONTINUOUS) - ON XENA

She rolls over and leans next to a barrel. She looks exhausted. She knocks on the side of the barrel. The top of the barrel rises with Salmoneus' head underneath.

SALMONEUS
Did we win?

XENA
We won the first battle.

SALMONEUS
First battle?

With that, he lowers himself back into the barrel.

CUT TO:

15 INT. FACTORY - DAY - NEAR CRATES

Xena is on a stretcher being brought to this area by Gorney and another man. Photis is with them. Salmoneus is acting like an aircraft carrier flagman, directing them into this area. Photis carries a bunch of small pouches on ropes.

SALMONEUS
Closer... Careful... Watch the kegs ...

The men set Xena down. Photis sets the pouches next to her.

PHOTIS
I can't tell you how much we appreciate what you're doing, Xena. Lord Seltzer means the world to us.

GORNEY
We don't have much to offer, but it's
all yours for the asking.

XENA
That's okay. I'm sure Lord Seltzer is more concerned with his people than himself.

SALMONEUS
(uncomfortable)
Indeed. Now, back to work. I want all
those corks picked up and inventoried.

They move off.

SALMONEUS
Sweet people ... not a business brain
among them.

He starts to shoot some more water into his mouth with the water flask nozzle. It points the wrong way and the water hits Xena. Salmoneus reacts and lays the flask at her side.

SALMONEUS
If you'll just give me a few minutes to
make my peace with the gods ...

Gabrielle enters and heads straight for Xena.

GABRIELLE
I made sure guards were posted, like
you said.

XENA
Now, make sure that this factory is cleared out of everyone else. Tell them to go home, board up their houses and stay inside. Talmadeus' focus right now is here.

GABRIELLE
Can you stop thinking about everyone else for a second? Isn't there anything I can do for you?

SALMONEUS
Chicken soup!
(off their reactions)
That's what you need. Some of my patented chicken soup. Yes? Soup is good food, trust Salmoneus. Let's see ... lots of chickens around here. I just need a knife.

XENA
Take my breast dagger.

He starts to reach toward her breasts.

XENA
(calmly)
My breast dagger is in my pouch.

SALMONEUS
Oh. Perhaps a name change of that particular equipment might be in order.

He heads off. Gabrielle sits next to Xena.

GABRIELLE
I'm worried about you. I mean, are you sure there isn't something that can fight this poison?

XENA
(intense)
Don't worry about me. What did I tell you? Focus! We have Talmadeus on his heels ... You have to hit him at his camp. A direct attack will really make him cautious. Take these...

She reaches out to grab the ropes on the pouches, but her hands have to struggle with them. Gabrielle helps, then:

GABRIELLE
Xena ... Are you going to die?

XENA
The poison just has to run its course.
I'm going to be okay.

Gabrielle stares into her eyes and doesn't like what she reads.

GABRIELLE
No... Xena, please. I don't...
don't want the last thing you tell me to be a lie..... if it is the last thing...

Xena struggles with the answer. Finally:

XENA
It's possible... it's a very strong
poison. It could... take me.

GABRIELLE
This can't be happening... Not to you.

Xena grabs her hand.

XENA
Gabrielle, this isn't about me. It's about these people. That's why we're here. People like this used to be my victims. I keep that in mind every time we come up against warlords like Talmadeus. It's the greater good. Remember that.

Gabrielle nods, her emotions in turmoil. She picks up the pouches and starts to rise, but Xena stops her.

XENA
Gabrielle ... If ... if it does happen... now, or whenever ...
I want to be taken back home and buried
next to Lyceus, my brother.

Gabrielle can barely speak. She can only nod.

XENA
Go. I'll be here when you come back.

Gabrielle stands and exits with the pouches. Salmoneus watches her walk by.

16 INT. FACTORY - NEAR DOOR - DAY

Gabrielle is about to exit through the door. Salmoneus can see her distress.

SALMONEUS
(re: Xena)
She'll be okay. She's strong. And with my chicken soup racing through her body, she'll be as good as new.

She tries to smile at him and exits.

CUT TO:

17 EXT. TALMADEUS' CAMP DAY

All seems quiet. Several guards mill about, but there is nothing to fear. Talmadeus and Ness exit one of the tents.

TALMADEUS
I don't care if she is back. She's not going to keep me from Salmoneus! I've beaten her once, I can do it again.

Then, in the distance, a horrifying WAR YELL is heard. As it echoes away, the men stare off into the darkness in fear.

VARIOUS VOICES
That's her! Where'd it come from?
Over here! No, it's by the river!

TALMADEUS

comes out of his tent and listens. Then, something illuminates his face. He looks up to see:

A FIERY OBJECT

streaking across the sky and into his tent! His tent bursts into flame as more objects fly through the air. Men start SCREAMING and running this way and that, trying to put out the fires.

TALMADEUS
It's Xena!

No, it's:

GABRIELLE

She's got a torch stuck in the ground. She holds a pouch by the rope, ignites it with the torch, and swings it, letting it go and watching it sail off. She grabs another, as we HEAR her war yell again. Meanwhile:

18 INT. FACTORY - DAY

Salmoneus enters the front door holding a chicken. He starts to announce his arrival when a beefy hand goes over his mouth and pulls him through the door. A loud THUD is heard.

CUT TO:

19 EXT. TALMADEUS' CAMP - DAY

Fire all over the place. The men are in utter confusion, running back and forth from a water trough as Talmadeus tries to keep control.

TALMADEUS
More water! Save my tent first! Get
the guards back in place before ...

A mighty WAR YELL is heard and Talmadeus sees a figure on horseback racing into the camp, swinging a staff. Talmadeus reacts quickly, grabbing a tent pole from behind him and swinging it at Argo's knees. Argo reacts, jumping over the pole.

Unfortunately, Gabrielle wasn't prepared for that maneuver. She loses her grip and flies off Argo, landing in the water trough. Immediately, men surround the trough as Gabrielle stands ... her golden hair reflected in the sun.

CUT TO:

20 INT. FACTORY - DAY

The factory is deserted except for Xena. She tries to pick up her sword, but her grip is weak. She tries again, and drops it. Her movements are labored and her breathing is shallow. She is trying to concentrate. Behind her, the front door opens silently and we SEE Nymis and Kalus enter, weapons drawn ...

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO