ACT I

4. EXT. TOWN CENTER - DAY

FADE IN.

Gabrielle and Xena are looking around some of the shops in a small town. Xena smiles as Gabrielle finds a hat she likes.

XENA

I knew this was a mistake.

She looks at some of the clothing nearby.

GABRIELLE

Oh come on Xena, shopping is fun and relaxing.

XENA

And expensive.

(beat)

And we seem to be doing way too much of it lately.

VIRGIL

(coming up behind them)

I thought I heard some familiar voices.

Xena and Gabrielle look at each other and then turn to see Virgil standing behind them smiling. Gabrielle gives him a warm hug. He smiles and returns the hug.

GABRIELLE

Virgil, it’s really good to see you! How’s Meg and everyone else doing?

VIRGIL

They're doing just fine.

He smiles at Xena who returns the smile.

XENA

What have you been up to?

VIRGIL

I decided to take after my dad... a bit. Travel the world, try to help others. I can't hide behind my mom's skirt for the rest of my life blaming myself for my father's death.

(he smiles sadly at them)

So I'm off... in search of high adventure and a good story to bring home to my sisters and brothers.

He winks at Gabrielle who smiles.

GABRIELLE

Have you found any "high adventure" yet?

VIRGIL

(laughing)

No, not yet. I actually only left Athens last week. Heard you two had come this way and figured I'd try to catch up with you.

XENA

You become more like your father everyday. I remember how he used to turn up in the strangest places... Like once, while we were -

GABRIELLE

(cutting her off quickly)

Have you eaten yet?

Virgil is about to respond when Aphrodite appears in a puff of pink smoke between them.

She glances at the hat Gabrielle is holding and then looks at her with her nose slightly wrinkled.

GABRIELLE

(to Aphrodite)

All wrong for me?

APHRODITE

Totally.

(pause - turning to Xena)

Xena, I need your help.

Xena stops smiling and looks at her.

XENA

What's wrong?

APHRODITE

It's Ares. He's up to something... I'm not sure what... but something's gone wrong with one of my new pet projects.

VIRGIL

Pet projects?

APHRODITE

Yeah. Prince Ammon and Princess Maia of Patra. Their two kingdoms had been fighting way too long so I hooked them up...

(pause)

...but rumor has it that Maia's left Ammon for someone else... and rumor also has it that's she's left him for you know who.

She raises her eyebrows at Xena.

XENA

We'll head to Patra and see what we can learn.

APHRODITE

Do you want me to zap you there?

She wiggles her finger at them.

GABRIELLE

(smiling uneasily as she grabs Aphrodite's hand)

No! No, that’s all right. Really. Thanks for the offer, but I think we’ll walk. Good exercise… keeps the weight off…

Gabrielle pats her thighs. Aphrodite gives her a puzzled look and vanishes in a puff of smoke.

VIRGIL

To Patra it is then!

GABRIELLE

I wouldn't necessarily call this high adventure.

XENA

You never know.

CUT TO:

5. INT. CASTLE - DAY

Ammon is seen pacing back and forth in a room, wringing his hands together. Maia sits behind him on a chair, looking very cross.

PRINCE AMMON

How could you?!

Maia ignores him and looks out the window dreamily instead.

PRINCE AMMON

You promised to love me! You... you said it just this morning... and what about our kingdoms? What if this causes a war?

PRINCESS MAIA

You only think about yourself!

A knock is heard at the door and interrupts them, as a servant sticks his head in.

SERVANT

My lord, Xena the Warrior Princess is here to see you.

PRINCE AMMON

(puzzled)

Xena? Here? Why would she come here? She doesn't even know...

(his face brightens)

Send her in!

(turning to Maia)

She must know something about what happened! She must have some information we don't.

(beat)

She probably here to convince you of how silly you're being.

The door opens and Xena, Gabrielle, and Virgil are ushered in.

SERVANT

Allow me to introduce Xena the Warrior Princess and her traveling companion Gabrielle, the Battling Bard of Potiedaia.

VIRGIL

(piping in)

And I am Virgil... the Barding... Bard... of Athens!

The servant bows and leaves, eyeing Virgil oddly as he departs. Virgil smiles shyly. Ammon turns to Xena.

PRINCE AMMON

Please Xena. You must help. My wife has become convinced she's in love with another man... with Ares the God of War no less!

He laughs nervously, as if unsure he believes what he's just said.

GABRIELLE

Wait.

(beat)

She says she's in love with Ares?

She raises her eyebrows and looks at Xena.

XENA

Have you seen this man she claims to be in love with?

PRINCE AMMON

Yes.

XENA

Is he tall? Dark hair? Funny little goatee? Wears black leather? Stands a bit like this?

She stands tall and macho for a moment, imitating Ares, then looks at him closely.

PRINCE AMMON

Why yes! But how did you know?

XENA

That's Ares all right!

PRINCE AMMON

But what would the God of War want with Maia?

PRINCESS MAIA

(standing)

I happen to be a beautiful young woman! Why wouldn't he desire me!

Everyone turns and looks at her with puzzled expressions on their faces.

PRINCESS MAIA

(continued - walking towards them)

I plan to marry him and start a family. I shall become the Goddess of Love!

APHRODITE

(suddenly appearing as she's speaking)

EXCUUUSE me? I'm sorry sister, but I don't think so.

Maia furrows her brow and looks at Aphrodite angrily.

PRINCESS MAIA

He loves me!

She stomps her foot.

APHRODITE

Maia, honey. Trust me. The only person my brother loves is himself... and possibly her.

She thumbs a finger at Xena, who looks quickly at her feet. Gabrielle shoots Xena a look, which seems to be a mixture of jealousy and discomfort.

XENA

(defensively)

Well, the feeling isn't mutual!

APHRODITE

(continued)

And besides, it isn't his place to take my godhood and transfer it to you. Sorry but you're out of luck.

(turning to Xena and Gabrielle)

She's definitely not herself.

MAIA

I have never been more myself! Today I am a woman who knows her own heart! Today I truly know what I want from life. Until today, I was a naive girl who knew nothing.

They all give her another puzzled look and then turn to look at one another.

XENA

Aphrodite, do you have any idea what might be wrong with her?

APHRODITE

Hey, I’m a goddess, not a mind reader! The two lovebirds were like totally together yesterday. Now, it’s like they’ve been visited by Discord!

XENA

Is there anything Ares might have said to you...?

APHRODITE

Nah. He came and asked me if I wanted to play a "what if" game... said something about seeing if love could survive a war and I told him that of course it could because...

(she snaps her fingers)

A war! He said something about the lack of love starting a war.

Prince Ammon has been listening carefully to what everyone has been saying, and slowly looks more and more confused. Finally, he can't help but break in.

PRINCE AMMON

But what does this have to do with my Maia?

PRINCESS MAIA

I am not yours!

PRINCE AMMON

How could she start a war?

GABRIELLE

Maybe he wants another Trojan war. Look what happened over Helen. That was for love.

XENA

No... that doesn't make any sense. Then why have her fall in love with him... he would have had someone from a rival kingdom fall in love with her... and more importantly, how did he get her to fall in love with him.

They turn and look at Aphrodite who looks back at them and jumps a little.

APHRODITE

Why are you all looking at me? I didn't do it. Why would I want her to hook up with Ares?

VIRGIL

What about a love spell or a potion... could he have gotten his hands on any...

APHRODITE

(laughing)

Silly boy. I don't use potions. I'm far more advanced than... wait! He was asking me about the potions I keep locked up in my...

XENA

(cutting her off)

Could he have taken one?

APHRODITE

I was there the whole time... he couldn't have...

XENA

Can you check?

APHRODITE

Sure.

She vanishes in a puff of smoke.

XENA

(to Virgil and Gabrielle)

You two, search the castle. We might be able to figure out how Ares pulled this off. Look for anything, which might give us a hint. No matter how small.

(to Ammon)

Stay here with Maia.

(to herself)

I've got me a god to find!

CUT TO:

6. INT. HALLWAY - DAY

Gabrielle turns a corner in the hallway, surveying her surroundings carefully. She stops and turns back towards the way she came.

GABRIELLE

Virgil?

Virgil peeks his head around the corner and then stops, studying a piece of parchment in his hands.

VIRGIL

Gabby, I'm pretty certain we wanted to turn left back there.

Gabrielle looks around the hallway again and then back at Virgil.

GABRIELLE

No, I'm pretty certain we want to go this way. Let me see the map.

Virgil heads towards her down the hallway.

Ares appears leaning against the wall beside Virgil, obviously invisible as Virgil seems to pay no attention to him. Ares is visibly amused, holding his stolen potion like a mischievous child. Gabrielle, sensing a change in the hallway due to Ares' presence, puts her hand up to still Virgil.

GABRIELLE

Don't move.

Virgil looks at her for a moment then around the hallway.

VIRGIL

Why?

She turns to look at him just as he takes a step towards her.

GABRIELLE

I said, don't move!

At that instance Ares uncorks the potion, ready to sprinkle it on Virgil, only Virgil trips and stumbles into him, knocking the potion from his hand where it shatters to the floor. And while Virgil and Gabrielle can't see Ares, they do see a faint purple cloud rising from the stones.

FADE OUT.

END ACT I

ACT II