ACT THREE

FADE IN:

21 INT. TEMPLE/ALTAR - NIGHT

CLOSE-UP of Xena's bloody hands putting down a knife and picking up a bone needle and coarse thread.

Working by torchlight, Xena examines Gabrielle on the altar. She has multiple knife wounds, but is still conscious. Xena works on her wounds, stanching blood and sewing up gashes throughout the scene. Marmax helps the Mitoan on a table next to her. Worried, Ephiny has waddled over. Democritus and Galen stand by.

GABRIELLE
Xena, I'm sorry.

XENA
Shhh. Just relax. You'll be okay.
(to Marmax)
Keep that soldier awake. If he falls
asleep, he may never wake up.

GALEN
If she had hit him an inch lower, she
could have killed the monster.

XENA
She knew that. That's why he's alive.

MARMAX
Are you telling me that she'd rather die than take the life of a man she doesn't even know?

XENA
She lives by her own code and that code
doesn't include killing.

MARMAX
As I said before, a girl like that
shouldn't be brought into a war zone.

Marmax's counterattack on Xena's guilt has hit its mark. She darts a look at Marmax and then back to Gabrielle.

DEMOCRITUS
(bitterly to Marmax)
It was your man who did this.

MARMAX
He didn't know who she was.

DEMOCRITUS
He knew she wasn't a Mitoan and that made her the enemy? I can't believe I let her go alone.

GABRIELLE
Ephiny?

EPHINY
I'm right here.

GABRIELLE
I want you to have my Right of Cast.

Xena and Ephiny look at each other in shock.

EPHINY
Stop talking like that.

GABRIELLE
No. This is important. I won't be
needing it anymore.

Gabrielle passes out

DEMOCRITUS
What does she mean? Right of cast?

EPHINY
It's a right passed on by Amazons on

their death. But I won't take it. I won't lose her, too.

DEMOCRITUS
Death? She's going to be all right.
Isn't she?

Xena looks extremely worried.

A RUNNER comes in the door and hurries to Galen. He's exhausted, and gasps.

RUNNER
Galen! The battle is near! The Mitoans are over the next ridge and they're heading this way.

Marmax looks over to his POWs. They've heard the news as well and smiles break out across their faces. The POW Leader quietly confers with his men. But Marmax knows the temple will be overrun. Xena looks accusingly at him.

GALEN
I'm not leaving. They won't dare
desecrate my temple.

XENA
They'll destroy anything at this point.
They smell victory.

Outside, our group hears the screams of people fleeing the war. Democritus and Galen look to each other and run outside.

22 EXT. TEMPLE STEPS - NIGHT

The temple steps are lit with torches. Arrows fly nearby intermittently. Democritus is organizing a group of women and children for the oncoming attack. He tries to calm an HYSTERICAL WOMAN.

DEMOCRITUS
Please! You have to follow the rest to
higher ground. You'll be safer there.

An arrow lands near them.

HYSTERICAL WOMAN
We'll all be killed!

DEMOCRITUS
You won't be killed if you follow the others.

He pushes her towards the rest of the group. Suddenly, an arrow hits Democritus in the chest, The woman SCREAMS and flees. The others see him fall and run from the steps. Democritus looks down at the arrow in amazement. Galen sees him hit, scoops him up in his arms and runs with him into the temple.

23 INT. TEMPLE - NIGHT

Galen carries Democritus into the temple, cradled in his arms. With tears silently coursing down his checks, he stumbles up to the altar. Gabrielle has been moved to the table adjacent, where Xena looks after her. Galen puts Democritus on the altar and looks up at the impassive and unmoving statue of Asclepius. Then he turns to Xena.

GALEN
(to Xena)
Please. You have to help him. I don't
know what to do.

Xena examines Democritus.

XENA
Hippocrates ...

HIPPOCRATES
I know. Rags, cobwebs, and a knife.

XENA
Right.

Hippocrates runs back with the supplies. Xena removes the arrow and tries to stop the severe internal bleeding. Marmax, Galen and Hippocrates are gathered around them. Democritus is looking at Gabrielle on the table next to him.

DEMOCRITUS
What about Gabrielle?

XENA
Marmax. Hold this down.

GALEN
You've got to save him.

XENA
I'm trying.

Democritus coughs up blood. He looks over to Gabrielle and sees her comatose.

DEMOCRITUS
Forget about me. Help Gabrielle.

XENA
I've done everything I can do. It's up
to her now.

DEMOCRITUS
You've got to save her!

Democritus closes his eyes in exhaustion.

GALEN
Is he dead?

XENA
No. He's passed out from the pain.
He's going to be all right.

Xena and Galen look at each other. Galen lowers his head in shame. He realizes how right Xena has been all along. Hippocrates puts his arm around Galen and escorts him away to rest.

Xena walks up to Gabrielle and gently caresses her forehead.

XENA
I'm so sorry, Gabrielle. If I could do it over again, I'd take the southern route.

Marmax joins her.

MARMAX
She's strong. She may pull through.

Xena throws Marmax an exhausted look.

XENA
You were right. I shouldn't have
brought her here.

MARMAX
(thoughtfully)
We all make mistakes.

XENA
My pride may have killed my best friend.

As Marmax thinks of what his pride might have killed, we:

CUT TO:

24 INT. TEMPLE/MITOAN AREA LATER THAT NIGHT

Marmax is checking on his fellow Mitoans. He walks among them and they all reach out an arm in thanks and respect. One arm of a BLIND SOLDIER gropes out to him. Marmax puts his hand in the Blind Soldier's and sits down next to him. His eyes have been wrapped with cloth.

MARMAX
How are you doing, soldier? Do you
need anything?

BLIND SOLDIER
(whispers)
Is it true? Is General Marmax really
here?

MARMAX
(whispers back)
Yes, he is. What's happened to you?

BLIND SOLDIER
A flaming arrow flew by my eyes. The priest said I'd never see again. Thessalian dog! I'll see again. I know it. Hey.

MARMAX
Yes?

BLIND SOLDIER
I want to go back to the front.

MARMAX
But ...

BLIND SOLDIER
I want to go. Please let me die with honor.

MARMAX
I can't ...

A sudden impact from outside rocks the entire temple.

25 ALTAR

Xena, tending to Ephiny and Gabrielle, and Hippocrates, checking Democritus, look up. Another huge jolt shakes the building.

HIPPOCRATES
What was that?

XENA
Catapults.

MARMAX
It's the Thessalians. We don't have
catapults.

Galen, resting on a floormat, bolts up.

GALEN
Gods preserve us!

HIPPOCRATES
Calm down, Galen!

XENA
We're caught in the crossfire of the Thessalians' defense from the Mitoan advance.

MARMAX
My forces are converging on this temple. If we overrun them in this valley, we've cut off the kingdom.

XENA
They're surrounded. The Thessalians
will be crushed for good.

HIPPOCRATES
Where can we go?

XENA
Anywhere, just out of the building.
They're going to demolish it.

HIPPOCRATES
But many of these patients can't be moved.

XENA
I know. I'll stay with them. Marmax will get his men to higher
ground and allow you safe passage with the rest.
(to Marmax)
Won't you?

MARMAX
Of course.

HIPPOCRATES
But you'll die!

Xena gives Hippocrates a look that says, "Don't bet on it." A more violent impact hurls a catapult rock right into a temple wall and brings it crashing down, sending debris everywhere.

As the dust settles and the sounds of the battle and catapults continue. Xena checks on Gabrielle and Ephiny.

XENA
Ephiny! Are you okay?

EPHINY
Yes.

Xena checks on Gabrielle. The impact of the debris didn't help. Gabrielle's breathing is labored. Democritus still sleeps.

XENA
Marmax. Stay with Ephiny. We'll get
the patients ready.

Galen wanders to the collapsed wall.

GALEN
My temple!

Small groups of the ambulatory are already heading out the door. Marmax sits with Ephiny. Her contractions are frequent.

MARMAX
We have to leave.

EPHINY
I can't. The baby. It's coming. Now!
As Marmax reacts, we:

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE