ACT II

FADE IN:

19. AMAZON VILLAGE - SAME

Velasca is standing out in the middle of the main village, smirking, confident in her power.

For a strong Amazon Nation.

She extends her hand towards Medora, a cocky smirk on her lips. Medora doesn't budge.

CUT TO:

20. INT. HUT - SAME

Xena, Varia, Gabrielle and Aphrodite are hiding, listening to the words of the Amazon goddess.

What're we going to do?

We have to think of how to kill her...

Hind's blood.

Enchanted weapons.

Rock slides have worked pretty well.

Gods can kill other gods...

The three mortals look at Aphrodite.

Hey, don't look at me with those puppy dog eyes. When I say I kick ass, I don't mean LITERALLY.

What are we going to do?

You could try stoning her... I knew a god who got stoned once - it was Athena's fault. It was so not pretty because he was stoned in the middle of making this weird face. Zeus let him stay like that for a while, just for a laugh.

What do you mean stoned?

With Medusa's head.

Isn't Medusa still attached?

Nope. Perseus cut it off, remember?

I forgot...you've been kinda outta the loop. Long story short: Perseus was sent on a mission to cut off the head of Medusa and it eventually, through Hephaestus, ended up in Athena's aegis thingie.

Can we get it back out?

I think so. He used to threaten us when we got out of line. "Don't make me take Medusa's head out..."

Varia moves away from the conversation and looks out of the window.

CUT TO:

21. AMAZON VILLAGE - SAME

Medora hasn't budged, nor has she given Velasca the Mask of the Queen. Velasca's cocky smile wavers.

Make it easy on yourself, Medora, for We will have it. Give Us the Mask and restore greatness to the Nation. For if We have to take it back by force, you will come to rue the day you were born...

The Queen doesn't move.

CUT TO:

22. INT. HUT - SAME

Varia moves away from the window..

Things are charging up out there...whatever we're gonna do, we'd better do it fast...

Okay, Aphrodite, go back to Mount Olympus and find Athena's aegis. When you get it back, we'll worry about how to get the head out.

What're you going to do until I get back?

I'll think of something...just go.

Aphrodite disappears. Xena turns toward Varia.

We're gonna go out there, just follow my lead.

Varia nods. Xena cups Gabrielle's cheek tenderly before putting her game face on. They slowly and silently open the door and walk out of the hut.

CUT TO:

23. EXT. HUT

Velasca doesn't notice that her worst enemies are right behind her. Medora does, however, yet doesn't let Velasca know. Varia walks out first, then Xena, Gabrielle and Aphrodite. Medora looks directly at Gabrielle.

Get out of here! Now!

Velasca spins around and finds that only Aphrodite is standing there.

Ex-CUSE me?

This isn't the place for you, Aphrodite.

Oh, well, FINE. See if you get any more lovin'...like EVER.

And Aphrodite disappears. Velasca frowns, then turns back to her sisters, to sway them before whatever's going to happen happens.

Sisters, the time has come to take back our mantle of power. Under Gabrielle's rule, the Nation grew weak and could not find their way. When We were queen, we were never more powerful. We have come back - the Queen and the Goddess - to take over where Artemis had left and to lift the Nation to a greater glory than any had ever seen before.

Join with us and the Nation will be reborn in fire and thrive. Oppose me, and tremble before Us as We lay waste to all you hold dear. Gabrielle and Xena are enemies to Us...and therefore are enemies to the Nation. Our ascendancy will start with their deaths!

CUT TO:

24. INT. HUT - SAME

Xena, Gabrielle and Varia are inside, hiding. The young guard is peeking outside, listening to the droning voice of the crazed Queen Goddess.

Does she ever shut up?

This is quite a plan, Xena...we're back where we started...

We must hunt down and obliterate all Enemies of the Nation! No matter how long it takes or how far We must travel to do so, it must be done, for Our greater good!

Gabrielle turns toward Xena.

I'm going out there. I will stall her as long as possible, but when Aphrodite gets back, no matter what happens to me, get the head out of the aegis and stone Velasca. Protect the Amazons.

Xena nods, although she doesn't like this plan, evident only by the frown creasing her forehead. They stand and prepare to walk out.

CUT TO:

25. AMAZON VILLAGE

Gabrielle walks outside and Velasca slowly turns to look at her. The Queen Goddess smiles. When she hears footsteps behind her, she turns to see Medora walking towards her, her mask in hand.

To a strong Amazon Nation.

She reaches out for the mask, but Medora passes her right by and heads towards Gabrielle. The bard straightens up, her eyes hard, and accepts the mask from Medora's outstretched arm, then slides it on.

Velasca is outraged. She raises her arm to throw a lightning bolt, but is tackled by Varia from the side before she could. They roll on the ground, punching and pulling and kicking each other.

Amazons attack!

The Amazons rush forward.

Xena now holds a glowing purple globe that visibly pulses with powerful energy.

CUT TO:

26. INT. MOUNT OLYMPUS - SAME

Aphrodite arrives in the hall and starts to look for the gold and silver breastplate. She sees a glint of silver under a pillar and rushes over...but it's only a sword.

She continues to look.

CUT TO:

27. AMAZON VILLAGE - SAME

The Amazons pick Velasca up and hold her. Gabrielle comes to within two feet of the Queen Goddess, who squirms and tries to get free, but the Amazons are holding her tight.

Again, you have stolen what is rightfully Ours. You're not an Amazon...

Neither are you.

The bard rips Velasca's necklace from her and throws it aside. The Queen Goddess's eyes turn white with rage.

You have damned yourselves by siding with this traitor. If this is how it's to be then so be it!

Velasca screams and the air around them becomes charged. A wind picks up and Velasca pulls her arms together, in spite of the great strength trying to keep them apart.

Gabrielle looks around and steps away when she sees what she wants - two staves.

Lightning arcs between Velasca's hands as they come closer together. She laughs when Gabrielle comes back with her measly staff.

Your weapons can do nothing to Us.

Let her go.

The Amazons look back and forth at each other.

Do it.

The warriors let go. Velasca is puzzled. The bard tosses the other staff to her.

If you want to rule the Amazon nation, you're going to have to play by Amazon rules.

YOU are challenging US? Don't make Us laugh, little girl.

If a goddess can't beat a mortal in combat, wouldn't you agree that she's not fit to be a queen either?

Gabrielle weighs the balance of the staff, then twirls it around, getting a feel for it again.

We fight in the trees. The first to fall to the ground loses.

With that, the bard runs to and climbs up a sturdy tree on the outside edge of a forest. Velasca, with a cocky smirk, goes after her.

They find moderately sturdy branches and ready themselves. Slowly at first, Gabrielle starts spinning her staff and it soon becomes a blur of motion. She then hits Velasca on the nose with it.

Velasca raises her weapon and they start to fight. The Queen Goddess blocks a blow to her head and counters with a swift swing of the staff aimed for Gabrielle's ribs. The bard lowers the end of her staff to stop the attack, then slams the other end of the staff into the side of Velasca's head.

With a scream, Velasca leans forward and punches Gabrielle in the stomach, but that leaves the goddess open for a swift knee to her face. The Goddess stumbles backwards, and comes close to falling, but regains her balance fast enough to block a series of moves from the bard.

Gabrielle swings at Velasca's head again, then at her kidneys, then at her knees. The bard then spins and swings the staff at Velasca's arm. Spinning the opposite direction then, Gabrielle swings for Velasca's hip, then she pulls back on the staff and jabs into Velasca's midsection, then swings the staff around and sweeps the Queen Goddess' feet out from under her.

Velasca bounces on the branch, then starts to shake it. Gabrielle is unfazed, letting her knees take the shocks. Velasca stands and rushes at Gabrielle, swinging her staff.

CUT TO:

28. INT. MOUNT OLYMPUS - SAME

Aphrodite crouches and looks under pieces of marble for the aegis, but so far, nothing.

Here aegis aegis aegis...

Then, she sees, not far from Athena's throne what she's looking for: a golden breast plate with Medusa's head in the middle, her eyes glowing with red rubies.

She bends down and reaches to get it, but a crack is heard and the goddess winces. She pulls the aegis up from its resting place, then checks her nails. Yep...one is chipped.

This hero business bites.

She examines the breastplate. The inside is padded.

I knew they weren't real.

With a poof she, and the aegis, are gone.

CUT TO:

29. AMAZON VILLAGE - SAME

Thwarted at each and every attack, Velasca growls.

Impressive. Last time we met, you could barely hold a weapon, much less wield it.

I always hated the staff...

Velasca tosses the weapon away, then does a helicopter kick.

She rushes at bard with a jumping scissor kick, then a series of punches blocked by the staff. Gabrielle is about to get one more good hit in with her weapon, but Velasca blocks and yanks it from the bard's hands.

An intense fight ensues. Velasca punches and Gabrielle ducks. When the bard stands, the Queen Goddess punches again and Gabrielle ducks to the other side, then stands and punches Velasca in the stomach, then punches downward across her face.

CUT TO:

30. GROUND

Under the fight, Aphrodite has arrived with the aegis. She taps Xena on the shoulder, but Xena doesn't turn to face her, her eagle eyes intent on watching the bard.

Make with the happies 'cause I've got the aegis thingie, but uh, how're we gonna get it out?

Did Athena ever say anything about how she was going to retrieve it?

No.

How was it put into the aegis then?

I don't know.

What if you threw it at Velasca's head?

Xena looks at Aphrodite. The goddess shrugs and then both of their attentions return to the trees.

CUT TO:

31. TREES

Now, Gabrielle was charging at Velasca with a jump kick, which the goddess blocks with both arms, leaving herself open to a kidney punch.

The bard pulls back and launches a series of jabs towards Velasca's head. The goddess blocks them all and tries to counter with a kick to Gabrielle's midsection, but the blonde blocks and grabs onto Velasca's leg.

The Queen Goddess flips and kicks Gabrielle in the chin, knocking her backwards. With the bard out of sorts, Velasca runs towards her, punching wildly, her fury dictating every move.

Gabrielle drop kicks Velasca, then twists herself around so she can land on her hands on the branch. Using the kinetic energy in the bent limb, Gabrielle springs back up and flips over Velasca's head. The Queen Goddess flips to the side, sending a powerful kick to Gabrielle's ribs.

CUT TO:

32. XENA

Sunset approaches. On the ground, Xena is barely able to restrain herself from running up there and ripping the Queen Goddess apart. Varia sees this.

Why aren't you helping her?

It's an Amazon challenge and she didn't call upon her champion... I can't help her right now without causing more problems with both Velasca and the Nation.

CUT TO:

33. GABRIELLE

The bard falls and grabs onto a branch which bends almost to the ground, but it swings back up. It gives her the time to get to her feet and block a series of high kicks from Velasca, which the Queen Goddess ends with a jump kick.

Gabrielle herself jumps and blocks the kick with her shin, then puts her other foot onto Velasca's shoulder and pushes off for an extra boost in height. The bard flips in the air, then, as she comes down, kicks Velasca in the chest and the head just before she lands on her back.

Gabrielle winces upon landing, but flips herself up onto her feet and while the Queen Goddess is still disoriented, the bard launches an attack. She jump kicks Velasca in the face and for every punch the goddess manages to block, two more find their mark.

Finally, when the Queen Goddess is sufficiently disoriented, Gabrielle lands another kick to her head, then lands in a crouching position and spins, knocking Velasca's legs out from under her. Velasca falls to the ground with a solid WHOMP.

CUT TO:

34. VELASCA

The Queen Goddess growls.

ENOUGH!

She sends a lightning bolt into the trees, catching them on fire. Gabrielle covers her face with the mask and jumps out of the tree, landing right next to Velasca. Standing over her, Gabrielle puts her hands on her hips and draws herself up to full height.

I am still under the favor of Artemis. My word is hers and is binding to all Amazons in this domain and to the powers protecting our borders.

You've lost to me, Velasca, and as punishment for your crimes against the Amazon

Velasca's eye turn white and her face twitches in rage.

Sleep with both eyes open, bard.

Velasca screams and a force seems to rip the Queen Goddess from Amazon lands, claw though she might at the ground. Gabrielle turns and walks, with some difficulty, towards Medora and gives her back the mask.

Thank you, Medora.

Medora doesn't take it.

You are the queen.

The bard smiles.

You are better suited to be queen than I am.

If you won't take the title queen, will you accept the title of regent and rule in my place?

Medora salutes and takes the mask.

I would be honored...

Do you have any instructions?

Xena and I will be spending the night here and must leave tomorrow. We can't hide from Velasca forever...not when our families don't have the same protection.

Gabrielle, if I may...you need more time than that to rest up from today's battle, especially since as soon as you leave Amazon lands she'll hunt you mercilessly. Please stay for a little while longer. Recover and rest.

Gabrielle tries to inhale deeply, but winces instead. Medora moves forward to help her, but Gabrielle stops her with a small wave of her hand. The bard then starts to walk toward Xena and Varia. Aphrodite turns and goes into the hut carrying the aegis. The bard's trying to walk normally, but she's obviously in pain.

Draw up a letter to the people of the village on our western border explaining what happened and pledge our services to help rebuild what Velasca destroyed. Send the letter via messenger at first light tomorrow.

Medora nods and they reach the hut where Xena and Gabrielle will be staying. Xena barely restrains herself from leaping forward and picking the bard up to take her into the hut.

Thank you, Gabrielle, and Xena. I'm leaving Varia here with you. If you need anything, just let her know. The Nation owes its queen much.

Its queen owes the Nation more. Thank YOU, Medora. Good night.

Xena and Gabrielle head inside and Medora crosses to Varia.

Watch over them, Varia. I don't know if Artemis' protection still holds now that she's passed. If nothing else, we can buy them time to leave Amazon lands.

Varia nods and Medora leaves.

CUT TO:

35. INT. HUT - NIGHT

Aphrodite is sitting there, preening and fussing with her chipped nail. Behind her, the aegis gleams in the firelight.

I must really like you...I chipped a nail getting that aegis thingie for ya. And I started a fire...

I don't start fires for just anyone, y'know. Well, I mean, I DO, but not the burny, flamey, potentially destructive kind of fire...okay, that could be love, too. Ah, well, you know what I mean.

The things I'll do for my favored mortal.

Within the walls of the hut, and in front of friends, Gabrielle feels more comfortable in letting her aches and pains be known. She falls backwards and into Xena, who wraps an arm around her waist, mindful of her bruised ribs.

Xena lowers her head and closes her eyes, letting her fear of losing Gabrielle flow away. The bard puts her head back and onto Xena's shoulder.

Thanks.

Aphrodite doesn't look up at Gabrielle when she waves her hand dismissively.

Eh, don't mention it, sweetpea.

And thank you.

Have you figured out how to free Medusa's head?

Gabrielle, with Xena's help, walks over to the aegis and picks it up.

Nopers, but not to fear. I'll figure something out. Knowing Hephy and Athena, it's probably something simple.

Gabrielle holds it up to her chest.

Maybe I should wear it?

Those aren't dangerous enough.

I dunno about that...

The bard looks back at the silent warrior. Aphrodite rolls her eyes.

You know I'm all about the love, but is it possible to focus on me and how we're going to fight the bad haired, bad clothed badness that is Velasca?

Gabrielle reaches back and caresses Xena's cheek.

You okay?

There's no answer.

Aphrodite...

The Goddess of Love looks up and her eyes saucer.

Omigod. I, uh...need to go. I think. Yeah, definitely. I'll go work on it and get back to you. Later, skater.

The Goddess of Love disappears. Silently, Xena - still behind Gabrielle - walks the injured bard over to the pallet, turns her around and sits her down. She unlaces the bard's top enough to roll it up so she can get a good look at the angry bruise that is growing over her ribs.

Xena pointedly avoids eye contact as she gently passes her fingers over the injury. The warrior's eyes are nearly brimming over with tears and fear passes over her face briefly. Gabrielle winces slightly at the ministrations.

Xena's about to stand when Gabrielle puts a staying hand on her arm, then reaches up to turn Xena's face to hers. The bard wipes away the tears that roll down the warrior's cheeks.

Finally, the warrior looks into Gabrielle's eyes and starts to cry no matter how hard she tries not to. She reaches forward and smooths blonde bangs from the bard's forehead, then bends down and places a kiss there, pausing for a moment before pulling back.

Gabrielle smiles and it makes Xena smile. The warrior nods once to herself and dries away her tears.

You're lucky...nothing cracked or broken from what I can tell, but you're not going anywhere for a while.

Varia.

Varia comes in, then quickly backpedals when she sees Xena and Gabrielle on the bed with the bard's top rolled part-way up.

Uh...yeah?

The warrior and the bard look at each other, amused, then back towards the door.

I need a bowl of cold water, rags, a tub and some buckets of water to be heated, and some food for the queen, please.

Uh...sure thing, Xena. I'll be right back.

Varia leaves. Xena and Gabrielle look at each other for a moment, their eyes speaking words that only they understand, then the bard moves herself into a sitting position.

So...what're we going to do?

We're going to tend your wounds, then we're gonna get Medusa's head from Athena's aegis and end this once and for all.

What a fight today, huh?

Yeah...I was pretty good, wasn't I?

Where'd you learn all of that?

I've got moves you've never even seen.

Xena raises her eyebrows in surprise.

Oh? Well, maybe you'll teach me a few?

We'll see.

They smile again and Varia comes back with several Amazons toting everything Xena asked for. They put the bowl and rags on a chair by the pallet and the tub they put in the middle of the room. On a table next to the tub goes the food and the buckets of water start to heat over the fire.

The Amazons exit, some staring openingly, others trying to be covert, but failing miserably, their giggles betraying them. Varia is last.

Good night.

Varia leaves and closes the door behind her.

C'mon, queenie. Let's get you cleaned up.

They stand and start disrobing.

DISSOLVE TO:

36. EXT. - AMAZON BORDER - NIGHT

Velasca is pacing like a wild animal caught in a cage. She punches at something and a force ripples outwards from where her hand struck.

With a scream, she launches herself at the force and is thrown backwards. She throws lightning at it, but the unseen force absorbs it.

Frustrated, Velasca sits cross-legged, facing into Amazon lands. She hears a rustling from the bushes and trees.

Whomever is lurking in the shadows, come out and show yourself. We're tired and have little patience for games.

Oephelia comes out of the shadows and sits directly across from Velasca. They regard each other a moment.

OEPHELIA

Can you really restore the Nation to greatness?

Velasca's eyes go from angry white to their natural grey/green. She smirks as kindly as she can.

VELASCA

We can...but not while this boundary keeps Us from Amazon lands...and not while Xena and Gabrielle, the enemies of the Amazons, are alive.

OEPHELIA

How can I help?

VELASCA

As an Amazon, you can revoke Our banishment.

OEPHELIA

I'm afraid you'll kill my sisters...

VELASCA

We won't...we swear to you as an Amazon and a Goddess. Revoke the banishment.

Oephelia's face contorts in confusion while Velasca smirks in triumph.

FADE TO BLACK:

END ACT II

 

ACT III