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ACT II
FADE IN:
15. INT. CAMP - MID-DAY
The sun has long since risen - and the campfire long
since burnt out - but Xena and Gabrielle have yet to rise.
Finally, slowly, first one blue eye, then the other
opens, aware of a blinding light peeking through the treetops.
Xena tosses her arm over her eyes to block out the
intrusive light when it dawns on her that sunrise has come and gone. She
bolts upright in her bedroll, startling Gabrielle.
Gabrielle sits up and looks around, her hair sticking up
at all sorts of odd angles.
GABRIELLE
(half asleep)
No, you can't put boots on a fish, how's it gonna tie
the laces?!
Xena grasps her head in pain, as if she'd had quite the
bender the night before.
GABRIELLE (CONT'D)
(blinking)
Morning.
XENA
Afternoon is more like it...
Xena stands up and brushes herself off, then realizes
that something is missing, but can't remember what. She looks around on
the ground, under bedding, under Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
(scoffs)
Yeah...right. Afternoon.
(beat – as Xena pokes around under her)
What are you doing?!
XENA
(distracted)
Seriously, Gabrielle. Look at the sun.
Gabrielle holds her hand up to shield her eyes and
notices it is indeed afternoon. The bard stands up, then the blood
rushes to her head, making her dizzy. Xena notices and catches her.
GABRIELLE
Heh...thanks.
XENA
(still distracted)
Don't mention it.
Instead of starting to put things away, Xena tears apart
the campsite looking for whatever it is that she's lost.
Gabrielle watches, amused.
GABRIELLE
Looking for something?
XENA
Yeah...
GABRIELLE
What?
XENA
I dunno...something's missing...
The warrior frowns and rubs her temple as she circles
back around and ends up where she woke up. There, she finds the bow and
quiver of the young warrior from the night before.
Instinctively, she grabs for her chakram, which isn't
there.
Gabrielle, meanwhile, has started to follow Xena,
breaking down their camp and cleaning up her mess.
XENA (CONT'D)
Son of a bacchae!
GABRIELLE
What?
XENA
He came back and stole it...that little –
GABRIELLE
(scoffs)
Not possible. One of us would have heard him...
Xena crouches by the fire and finds a few leaves that
hadn't completely burned. She examines them, sniffs them.
XENA
He drugged us. He drugged us, took my chakram and gave
me his stinking bow and arrows. Unbelievable...
Xena throws the leaves to the ground and walks to her
bedroll. She picks up the bow and quiver.
Xena works her jaw and collects herself.
XENA (CONT'D)
Break down camp, then we'll hunt him down...and when we
find him...
Xena notices that Gabrielle has already broken camp and
managed to get their gear together.
XENA – (CONT’D)
oooh... kay... Then let’s get a move on!
Gabrielle frowns at the commanding voice, but does as
told.
DISSOLVE TO:
16. AFTERNOON - TREE TOP
A watchman sees movement in the woods and does a
trilling birdcall. The movement stops and another birdcall is heard, but
much higher and in intervals of three. The watchman smiles and sends out
a hooting-type of birdcall to the village below.
CUT TO:
17. AFTERNOON - VILLAGE
Tribe members come rushing out of their dwellings
towards the woods from which Falcon emerges. They rush over to touch
him, to make sure that it's really him and not a specter.
Clutched in his hand, covered with furs so as to not
cause a disturbance, is the chakram.
VILLAGER 1
Where have you been?
VILLAGER 2
Have you brought us meat?
FALCON
I've brought much more than that...I need to see
Snarling Fox...
The villagers walk with him as he heads towards the
shaman's hut. They wait anxiously as he steps up to the door. As he
raises his hand to pull back the flap, Snarling Fox steps out, catching
Falcon off-guard.
FALCON (CONT'D)
Knew I was coming?
SNARLING FOX
I could hear you from miles away. Well, don't just stand
there...come in, show me what you brought.
Falcon looks back at his people briefly before walking
into the hut.
CUT TO:
18. INT. HUT
A small pot is bubbling on a low fire. There is very
little clutter and everything is quite orderly. Along one wall is a row
of small containers, some sealed, some containing dried herbs.
FALCON
(re: fire)
Cooking up a new remedy?
SNARLING FOX
No...my lunch. Have a seat, Falcon.
He sits as Snarling Fox stirs his lunch in the pot, then
sits.
SNARLING FOX (CONT'D)
What have you got for me?
Falcon, his face a mask of pure excitement, lifts away
the furs to reveal the chakram. Snarling Fox’s eyes go wide at the sight
of it.
FALCON
It exists! It really does exist!
Not wanting to appear as eager as he felt, Snarling Fox
reaches for the weapon, and then looks at Falcon.
SNARLING FOX
M-may I?
FALCON
Of course...
Falcon hands it over.
FALCON (CONT'D)
Be careful...it's very sharp.
SNARLING FOX
Where did you find it?
FALCON
A warrior woman had it...she used it. She scared a bear
with it!
SNARLING FOX
What tribe was she from?
FALCON
She didn't look like she was from any tribe I know of.
Her skin and that of her companion were very light. The warrior had hair
the color of a raven’s feathers and eyes the color of a clear winter
sky. Her companion was as strange. Her hair was a red gold like the
leaves that turn in the fall and her eyes were the color of the great
spruce tree. Their clothes were similar to ours but not of our tribe or
any tribe we know.
Falcon watches in wonder as Snarling Fox handles it.
FALCON (CONT'D)
To think...all this time I thought you were just making
the story up, about a round thing sent from the Great Spirit to control
the animals of earth, but now that I've seen it in use, with my own
eyes...
Snarling Fox looks nervous.
FALCON (CONT'D)
When can we see it in use?
Snarling Fox winces.
FALCON (CONT'D)
The feast of the Hunter's Moon is close...
Snarling Fox turns around, gripping the chakram tightly.
SNARLING FOX
(rises to his feet)
Soon...very soon. But for right now, I think you need to
rest. I see you have had no sleep.
Falcon stands, taking his cue from Snarling Fox.
Snarling Fox is nonchalantly forcing Falcon from his
home.
FALCON
But when...?
SNARLING FOX
Uh...tomorrow! Tomorrow night, we'll demonstrate it for
the tribe!
Falcon's face lights up and satisfied with that, he
leaves to face his people.
CUT TO:
19. EXT. HUT
Villagers are shouting at him, wondering where their
sumptuous feast is. He quiets them with broad gestures.
FALCON
I have not failed you! All will be revealed tomorrow
night when my word and more comes true!
The villagers grumble to themselves and make
accusations, words that are lost in the din of voices.
FALCON (CONT'D)
Please believe me! I swear that we will have a Hunter's
Moon feast like none before!
His speech was supposed to make his people cheer.
Instead, they grumble as they walk away, almost dismissing him.
FALCON (CONT'D)
(to self)
I hope this works...
CUT TO:
20. INT. SNARLING FOX’S HUT
Snarling Fox is still clutching the chakram, examining
it for a clue as to how to work it.
SNARLING FOX
I hope this works...
He sighs and sets it down on the floor, then sits down
beside it to stare at it. Behind him, his pot boils, forgotten. He
smells the food burning, turns and grumbles loudly, running to deal with
his new mess...
DISSOLVE TO:
21. INT. FOREST - LATE DAY
Xena and Gabrielle are following Falcon's trail. The
warrior is crouched down as she walks, looking for signs.
Gabrielle follows behind; still amused that the mighty
Warrior Princess's cherished chakram was stolen right from her
belt...while she slept. The bard giggles very softly.
XENA
Will you let it go already?
GABRIELLE
I'm sorry...I can't help it.
XENA
This is a very serious situation, Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
(stifling a giggle)
Oh, I wholeheartedly agree.
Xena glares at her for a moment before turning back to
the trail.
GABRIELLE (CONT'D)
Oh c'mon Xena...it's not like the guy is going to go
parading down Athens' main street shouting, "I stole Xena's chakram!!"
(beat)
Besides, he really didn’t steal it. He did leave you his
bow and quiver. He believes it was a fair trade.
XENA
Yeah, but he doesn't know what it is or how to throw
it...he could hurt someone. And where I come from, taking something
without permission, is still stealing.
GABRIELLE
Technically you’re right... But we aren’t home...
Simultaneously, they stop and look at each other. Up
ahead of them, they can hear the sounds of a village - children playing,
people shouting and talking. Billows of smoke from cooking fires can be
seen swirling heavenward.
Xena looks up and, far ahead of them in the highest
branches of the trees; she sees a watchman scanning the forest, his back
toward them.
Both Xena and Gabrielle quickly turn off of the trail,
heading to some tall trees. Each time the watchman turns in their
direction, they take cover, while gradually making their way,
undetected, closer to the village.
They climb the tallest tree and walk on the branches to
a good vantage point to watch the village.
They arrive in time to see Falcon walk out of a hut and
quiet a gathering of villagers.
Through the window of the hut, Xena and Gabrielle see a
flash of silver and gold - her chakram!
XENA (CONT'D)
We should go get it now...
GABRIELLE
Xena, don't be ridiculous. What if you offend him when
you try to take it back? You aren’t always known for your tact.
XENA
(vehemently whispers)
Offend HIM? HE stole my chakram!
GABRIELLE
Shhh! I know that, but maybe he doesn't realize that
what he did was wrong...especially since he left you his bow and quiver.
C'mon, there's GOT to be a better way to get it back without offending
him... Let's go think of something brilliant to do.
Xena looks like she's just wants to rush in and take it
back, but she nods. They disappear back down the tree.
CUT TO:
22. VILLAGE
The people have gone back to their business and Falcon
is walking around with a spring in his step.
Several young men stand outside a hut boasting of the
hunt.
A pretty young girl around Falcon's age runs up and
starts walking next to him. He regards her with a smile.
They pause to talk.
WHITE DOVE
What's going on, Falcon? Why'd you go see Snarling Fox?
FALCON
You promise to not tell anyone?
WHITE DOVE
On the feather of an eagle.
FALCON
I found the Circle! Snarling Fox was right! No one
believed him when he told them what he saw in his dream, except me, and
I found it!
A brazen warrior, Talon, also Falcon's age, has
overheard what he said and strides up to them.
TALON
You're just trying to cover up for the fact that you
didn't bring back anything for the feast.
FALCON
And what did you bring back, Talon?
TALON
Only the biggest bear in the forest. Face it...you can't
bring back something that doesn't exist.
(pauses)
Liar.
Talon walks off and rejoins the loud young warriors, who
are all bragging about what they brought back for the feast.
White Dove puts her hand reassuringly on Falcon's
shoulder.
WHITE DOVE
I believe you, Falcon.
Falcon looks at her and smiles wanly, but it's enough
for White Dove.
Falcon looks back at Talon who's bragging to the group
of warriors.
CUT TO:
23. EXT. – VILLAGE
Talon turns back to White Dove and Falcon.
White Dove leans forward and gives Falcon a peck on his
cheek, then walks back towards where her mother and younger sister are
preparing the evening's meal.
Talon’s face clouds over briefly with jealousy. He then
turns to his comrades.
TALON
And did you hear what Falcon brought back? The
Circle...can you believe that? We go out to hunt food for the feast and
he finds a circle. Ridiculous...
Various warriors agree, but excitement at the
possibility that the Circle from the shaman's dream exists is too hard
to ignore.
TALON (CONT'D)
I think we should prove Falcon wrong...tonight. What
will White Dove think of him then?
Hesitant at first, the warriors grudgingly consent as
Talon outlines his plan. Talon smiles wickedly.
FADE TO BLACK:
END OF ACT II
ACT III
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