ACT TWO

FADE IN :

12 EXT. LARGE VILLAGE - DAY - FULL (STOCK)

Re-establishing.

13 EXT. STONE JAIL - DAY

A crowd of the still-irate Villagers is gathered. A genreal lynch mob mentality... With Peranis and Grathios the motivating hatemongers. Two guards stand between the crowd and the jail.

PERANIS
( to all )
If enough of us are willing, we can give
her our own special hearing.

The crowd responds with an affirmative ANGRY HUBBUB. Not yet at fever pitch, however.

PERANIS
She took our loved ones from us. We have to make
her pay for that. Quickly, and without mercy. A
trial is a waste of time and will just give her
a chance to escape. We owe her nothing but an
efficient execution.

INCLUDING GABRIELLE

as she walks bravely makes her way through the crowd toward the jailhouse door, which is barred from within.

PERANIS
( to Gabrielle )
I'd get away from there if I were
you, young lady.

Gabrielle, careful to appear unintimidated, and certainly undeterred, bangs on the door, as:

GABRIELLE
( in Peranis' face )
You gave your word. I'm free and I can go
where I want. Or does your oath mean as
little to you as your laws?

Someone opens a peephole from within; sees Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE
( staunch dignity )
I'm here to speak with the wrongfully
detained hostage.

As the door is opened from within, Gabrielle tries another verbal thrust at Peranis and the nasty crowd:

GABRIELLE
( her first try at defense counsel )
She could've just ridden away, y'know. Have
you thought about that?

GRATHIOS
( easily )
The only place to go, little lady, was
right back down where the rest of us were waiting.

This evokes a derisive HECKLING CHUCKLE from the Villagers.

INCLUDE GUARD #1

Even bigger than Grathios, it is he who's admitting Gabrielle.

PERANIS
( shouting to guard #1 )
Alinar! I'd like a word with you.

Guard #1 acknowledges Peranis with a friendly nod, and holds up a finger indicating Wait just a minute.' Then, he closes the door behind Gabrielle.

14 INT. XENA'S CELL - DAY - FULL

Xena is sturdily shackled to an equally sturdy wall. She has been stripped of her armor and wears only her undergarment. Through a small barred window, we may hear the WALLA of the ( far O.S. ) Villagers. GUARD #2 (also huge ) unlocks the cell door from without, and admits Gabrielle -- closing the door again behind her.

GABRIELLE
Are you alright? That was quite a blow you took.

XENA
My head's throbbing, but it's not my
biggest worry at the moment.

GABRIELLE
You just gave up. Why didn't you fight them?

XENA
I'd've had to kill them. They're not warriors.
It would have been a slaughter. That's not
what I do. Look, I told you to get away from
here if something happened. I meant it. Save
yourself, Gabrielle. We're up against more
than you know.

GABRIELLE
I understand you may be feeling a little
negative at the moment. ( pounds on door )
But Xena, you shouldn't give in to that.
Justice prevails.

XENA
( wearily )
That'd be nice.

The door's opened by Guard #2.

GABRIELLE
I'll get you out.

XENA
( as Gabrielle exits )
No, Gabrielle, leave.

The door's closed and locked; Xena's alone again.

ON XENA

She takes a deep breath, closes her eyes; exhaling lengthily, as:

ARES ( V. O. )
Look at you...

We follow Xena's startled gaze across the cell to discover:

ON THE HOODED BEING (ARES)

Leaning casually against the opposite wall.

ARES
...Hardly a suitable situation for a warrior princess.

XENA - HOODED BEING (ARES) - INTERCUTS (AS DESIRED)

Her face reflects only great caution and distrust, not fear.

ARES
You're probably wondering who I am.

XENA
I know who you are. Ares, God of War.

ARES
Very good. I should have known you'd figure
it out. Who else could outfight your sword.

The Hooded Being now comes toward her -- and pulls off his hood as he does so. He is tall, lithe, dark-haired and sophisticatedly handsome. He's neither slithery nor a creep. Worst of all, even we may find some charismatic charm in him.

ARES
Behold your former mentor, and still greatest
fan: At your service.

XENA
I used to wonder what you looked like.

Reaching her, he begins removing her shackles without the slightest difficulty. And, having done so, he'll begin gently to rub her aching wrists... massage her equally aching neck... rub her throbbing temples. He displays nothing but true and gentle kindness. Throughout the above : ..............

ARES
Ah, now that's the problem. You used to wonder.
I can't tell you how disappointing that is.
( re: massage )
Better? Of course it is. Now take my hand, Xena.

She hesitates; his smile remains truly kind. Understanding.

ANGLE (OPTICAL)

ARES
Give me your hand...
( as she does so )
...and come with me.. Out of yourself...
into what is wonderful...

The entire SCENE CHANGES around Xena and Ares. And, though standing just as they were, they are now:

15 INT. XENA'S FANTASY BOUDOIR - DAY

The entire boudoir is scarlet in color. Magnificent scarlet drapes hang from ceiling to floor here and there; opulently framed full view mirriors; a chandelier such as Xena's world has never seen; a wonderful fireplace; a lushly cushioned

chaise-type couch; a great four-poster bed. On one table is a candle-lit dining set for two; and alongside a window ( which we cannot see through this angle ) is a table on which we'll soon learn are several documents.

ARES
... And now behold.

ON XENA

Looking around; awed... but catched herself; resumes as much of a poker face as she can muster.

XENA
You slaughtered those four villagers.

ON ARES

He walks to a large closet.

ARES
Only three so far. That one you ministered
to might actually recover. By all the gods you
are a beauty. And you must know I've missed you.

He opens the cabinet. Inside is a dazzling wardrobe fit for a queen.

XENA
What do you want?

TWO SHOT

Ares takes out a beautiful robe from the wardrobe.

ARES
I want you back, of course.
( gestures around )
My warrior princess living as my warrior
queen. We were once a great match.

XENA
I didn't know any better then. I thought
your ways were all there was for me.

Ares gently drapes the robe across Xena's shoulders.

ARES
It's chilly in here. You'll be more
comfortable in this.
( beat )
Now that you do know there's another
side to life. All I ask is that you compare
the two. Tell me : Are you really having
more fun these days?

XENA
I'm fighting now for a better world.

ARES
My dearest Xena, you always were fighting
for a better world. You were going to conquer
it, then run it. The perfect way to bring
order out of chaos. And you were doing very
well, you know.

Xena allows him to finish putting on the robe.

ARES
Take a look at the documents on the table there.

She moves to the table; perfunctorily goes through the documents, with:

XENA
( re: 1st document )
...Each village taxed only on its profits...
( re: 2nd document )
...Comfort for the elderly...
( re: 3rd document )
...Teaching of medicines...

ARES
( re: documents )
They need only your signature.

XENA
I could pass these decrees?

ARES
If it'd make you happy.

He gently turns her around to face him. They're pretty close together.

ARES
Your destiny is to rule the world. With
me. Fulfill your destiny ... And fill me
again with the delicious sight of you...
the warmth and strength of you. Go
look out the window.

Xena does so; peers out.

ARES
What do you see?

XENA
All those warriors... Thousands...

ARES
And all of them yours. Trained; ready; willing
to die if you command it. With an army like that
you could mould the world anew. Eradicate
injustice. You can't tell me all this holds no
attraction... even a slight... fascination, maybe?

Xena's affected, and it shows. But she summons all her will, to wonder aloud:

XENA
And what do you want out of it?

ARES
I only want the world to be at peace under
a great leader. You. And to bring all this
about you need only call out my name...
Call upon me to help you, and I shall be
there instantly...

The entire SCENE CHANGES around them -- back to:

16 INT. XENA'S CELL - DAY

Still Xena and Ares -- but she's still shackled to the wall as we first saw her here. Ares facing her.

ARES
I seriously doubt you'll get a better offer.
Just call for my help, Xena... and you'll hold
the world.
( indicates window; re : angry crowd noise )
And you better hurry. That crowd doesn't
seem as fond of you as I am.

ON XENA

She turns for a beat to the window; then turns back to find...

XENA'S POV

Ares is gone.

CLOSE ON XENA

Surprised, and a bit confused. Did this actually happen?

FULL SHOT

The heavy cell door crashes open, Guards #1 and #2 enter. They wait for a hate-filled Peranis to enter between them. He stops; stares at her in nasty anticipation. Obviously, he's got a little something planned.

17 INT. MEETING HALL - DAY

Currently, only Benitar and Gabrielle are present. He sits looking up at her in some surprise; whatever he's been writing momentarily forgotten, as:

BENITAR
( all business )
Your friend will have a hearing before she's
executed. We're not barbarians.

GABRIELLE
Who'll speak for her?

BENITAR
I'll act as her advocate if that's what you mean.

GABRIELLE
With respect, Sir... The fairest way is
to let her advocate be the person who believes
the most in her innocence. Like me.

BENITAR
That's impossible. You don't understand.
It was all I could do to get those poeple
to agree on a trial. If I let an outsider
speak on her behalf, they may explode.

GABRIELLE
So you're afraid? To get real justice
takes a little guts sometimes, you know.

An uncomfortable beat for him, while he digests this. But then, they're interrupted by the sudden LOUD CHEERING of the ( far O.S. ) Villagers. Benitar rises; hurries quickly toward the front door. A very concerned Gabrielle follows.

18 EXT. STREET FRONTING MEETING HALL - DAY

The Villagers line each side of the street in gleeful anticipation.

ON GABRIELLE AND BENITAR

as they emerge from the Meeting Hall to watch.

GABRIELLE
What is this?

BENITAR
This is the way the condemned are executed.

THEIR POV FOLLOWING CHARIOT

From up the street comes a racing chariot, with Peranis driving. As it churns past, we see that, hanging from ropes attached to the chariot's rear, is a stuffed dummy. It's being torn to shreds as it drags along. Peranis slows the chariot, turns it around, comes slowly back to us.

CLOSE - THE STUFFED DUMMY

A total, shredded, almost shapeless mess.

REACTION - GABRIELLE

Horrified. Suddenly, the (O.S.) Crowd again CHEERS. Gabrielle looks up to see:

STONE JAIL - XENA AND GUARDS #1 AND #2

Xena, in chains, is being dragged from the jail.

CHARIOTEER AND CHARIOT

The Charioteer drives the chariot back toward Xena.

GABRIELLE

Horrified, she starts trying to make her way through the crowd.

ON BENITAR

He looks concerned.

ON XENA

Grim, pulling at her thick chains, but without success. As she looks around her, someone (O.S.) catches her eye, and she stares fixedly at:

ARES

No longer hooded, he stands amidst the Villagers who cannot see him.

CLOSER - ARES

His eyes on ( the O.S. ) Xena. Smiling slightly, he waits for her to call upon him. He offers a gesture, which silently says : "Here I am; call me."

FAVORING XENA

as the chariot arrives, and they start tying the ropes at its rear to Xena's legs.

CLOSE - ARES

Unpleasantly surprised. Isn't Xena going to save herself?

CLOSE - XENA

Her eyes riveted on ( the O.S.) Ares, she slowly, almost imperceptively, shakes her head. HOLD on her resigned expression, then...

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO

The Reckoning Act 3 | The Reckoning Act 4