| ACT II
7. INT. HALLWAY - DAY
The smoke envelopes Gabrielle and Virgil who look at one another.
Ares throws his head back to laugh, only to cough on the smoke. He gives Gabrielle an
irritated look and vanishes, still coughing.
CUT TO:
8. INT. CASTLE DINING ROOM - DAY
Xena walks slowly through the dining hall, surveying her
surroundings carefully, sword drawn.
The dining room contains a long wooden table with three elaborate
fruit and flower decorations on it. Large windows allow sunlight to filter through the
room.
Suddenly she turns, pointing her sword directly in front of her and
into a ray of sunshine. Ares materializes with the sword but an inch from his chin.
ARES
Nice aim!
She drops her sword and glares at him.
XENA
What's the deal Ares?
ARES
So, how's Gabrielle?
Xena glares at him again, pursing her lips, and then sticks her
sword back in its scabbard.
 
XENA
Now I'm going to ask you this once and I'd like an honest answer.
What are you gaining in this little venture?
ARES
A god's gotta do what a god's gotta do to get worshipped these days.
XENA
You didn't answer my question.
She gives him a flat look as he leans casually against the table,
plucking a banana from the display in the center and begins to peel it.
ARES
Since the so called "Elijians" began to spread out across
the world, I've been losing my worshippers.
(in a sarcastic voice)
Follow the way of love. Follow the way of peace.
(beat)
No one wants to go to war anymore. Bah! Sure, the Romans are good
for a few battles here and there, but even they're not like they used to be in the days of
Julius Caesar. So I figured stir up the lesser kingdoms.
(he takes a bite from the banana)
Get everyone's blood boiling, remind them of the old days.
XENA
You are so petty!
ARES
(sarcastically)
Ouch!
(beat)
Why do you even care?
XENA
I care because...
(long pause)
Aphrodite asked me to help.
He gives her an amused look.
ARES
Tell Gabrielle I say hi.
He vanishes as he takes another bite of the banana. Xena looks
angrily around.
XENA
Why shouldn't I care?
She stomps out through the door.
CUT TO:
9. INT. CASTLE HALLWAY - DAY
Xena storms down the hallway, brow knit, muttering to herself.
XENA
I care because I'm trying to -
She suddenly stops and listens. Giggling can be heard coming from
within a room to her left. She listens and then pushes the door open.
CUT TO:
10. INT. GUESTROOM - DAY
Xena enters a room to find Gabrielle sitting on a couch, Virgil's
head resting in her lap. She runs her fingers through his hair as she smiles.
GABRIELLE
She was a great pony. I miss her -
Xena knits her brow again.
XENA
Oh for Zeus sake! What is going on!
Gabrielle and Virgil both look at her.
XENA
(continued)
Didn't I ask you to look for clues? For something which might
explain how Maia fell in love with Ares? Didn't I give you a simple task to do and
here you are like...
She suddenly pauses and fully takes in the scene before her for the
first time.
XENA
(continued)
Oh no! Not again!
(screaming)
Aphrodite!!
CUT TO:
11. EXT. CASTLE COURTYARD - EARLY AFTERNOON
Gabrielle is standing to one side watching Xena pace small circles.
Virgil, Ammon, and Maia are seated before them on a bench. Aphrodite stands beside the
bench looking puzzled.
As they talk, Gabrielle and Virgil keep looking at one another,
making doe eyes and giggling.
Ammon keeps trying to make eye contact with Maia who is utterly
ignoring him.
APHRODITE
Just the one passion bottle is missing.
Xena continues to pace back and forth, shooting Gabrielle occasional
disapproving looks.
XENA
And you're sure there isn't any sort of antidote for it?
APHRODITE
Definitely. It's one of my more experimental ones. I never even
tested it.
(beat)
It's going to take me a while to come up with something.
She looks apologetically at Xena as she vanishes.
Xena turns to Gabrielle, stepping in front of her to block her view
of Virgil.
XENA
Gabrielle, listen to me. You have to convince Maia that she's under
a spell.
(beat)
Just like you are.
GABRIELLE
Listen Xena, I know you keep telling me that, but I seriously think
you’re mistaken. I know what I feel. I know I love him! I think I'm old enough to
make this decision for myself. I know you don't approve since he's Joxer's son and all...
XENA
(cutting her off)
Focus Gabrielle. You need to focus.
(once she's certain Gabrielle is paying attention to
her)
You need to talk to Maia.
GABRIELLE
Because I handle the delicate situations well?
XENA
Sure.
GABRIELLE
(smugly)
I do handle the delicate situations well. I was just telling
Virgil -
XENA
(cutting her off again, pleading)
Gabrielle. Please talk to Maia.
GABRIELLE
Right. On it.
(pause)
Doesn't Virgil have the most beautiful eyes?
She walks over to Maia and bends to speak to her. We see her lead
her away in the background.
Xena, meanwhile, is glaring at Virgil who seems oblivious as he
longingly watches Gabrielle walk to the far side of the garden.
XENA
(abruptly)
Virgil!
Virgil snaps to attention.
XENA
(continued)
Prince Ammon. May I speak with both of you?
They both rise and walk over to her. Virgil and Ammon are both
constantly look over at Gabrielle and Maia.
XENA
(continued)
I think the best course of action is to probably see if Aphrodite
will take Gabrielle and Princess Maia with -
Suddenly Ares appears, flowers in hand. He looks at Xena, Virgil,
and Ammon and then over at Maia and Gabrielle.
Maia and Gabrielle, sensing the commotion, turn to look at Ares.
Upon seeing him, Maia rushes towards him, Gabrielle hurrying after her, trying to grab her
arm.
PRINCESS MAIA
(to Ares)
My love! You've returned!
GABRIELLE
Maia! Wait!
Ares pushes past Maia as she reaches him and faces Gabrielle,
extending the flowers towards her.
ARES
These are for you.
GABRIELLE
(puzzled)
For me?
Virgil, disliking what he sees, steps up, tapping Ares on the
shoulder.
VIRGIL
That's my woman you're talking to!
Xena shakes her head in dismay, unsheathing her sword as she does
so.
ARES
Your woman?
VIRGIL
Yes!
Gabrielle giggles. Xena rolls her eyes.
ARES
(a bit louder)
Your woman?!
(almost screaming)
Don't you know who I am? I am
(screaming)
The God of War!
Xena steps forward, twisting her sword in her hand.
XENA
Ok boys, break it up.
Maia looks in shock at Ares and then turns to Gabrielle.
Suddenly she reaches out and grabs a handful of Gabrielle's hair
with her hand.
PRINCESS MAIA
He's mine!
Gabrielle tries to pull free.
GABRIELLE
Ow! You can have him! I don't want him!
PRINCESS MAIA
You can't fool me! I know you're trying to take him from me, but you
can't have him! Oh no! You can't!
She kicks Gabrielle in the shin and Gabrielle howls in pain, trying
to take a swing at her.
Virgil and Ares, as if fueled by the fight, pounce on each other,
Ares immediately pinning Virgil to the ground and hitting him on the head with the bouquet
of flowers.
Xena stands and takes in the scene for a moment before stepping in to try and break it up.
XENA
(to herself)
Here we go again.
(to Ares and Virgil)
Break it up you two!
She jabs Ares in the butt with her sword, making him howl in
surprise.
Gabrielle and Maia, hearing the sound, look over and seeing Virgil
and Ares fighting, rush to their aid, Gabrielle pouncing on Ares and Maia on Virgil.
As Maia pulls at Virgil’s hair he frantically tries to pry her off, Gabrielle tries
to pull Ares as far from them as she can.
Ares, realizing Gabrielle is tugging on him, turns and swoops her
into a huge hug, trying to kiss her. Gabrielle lets out a gasp as she tries to free
herself, catching the attention of Virgil and Maia who immediately stop fighting and rush
over to try to stop what's happening, Virgil attacking Ares and Maia attacking Gabrielle.
Ammon sits sadly on the bench, sighing in disbelief and sorrow.
PRINCE AMMON
Why is this happening to me?
Xena sits down beside him in disgust, tapping the ground with her
sword and looking on in disbelief.
Once the fight begins to resemble a bit of a twister game with
bodies and limbs tangled together, Xena stands up and puts her fingers to her lips,
letting out a high pitched whistle.
XENA
This has gone on long enough!
Everyone stops and looks at her.
XENA
Enough!
CUT TO:
12. INT. CASTLE HALLWAY LEADING TO CASTLE KITCHEN - AFTERNOON
Xena is walking briskly down the hallway, with Gabrielle in tow.
GABRIELLE
I still say you're wrong.
XENA
How many times do we have to go through this? This is like the time
you were shot with cupid’s arrow and thought you were in love with Joxer. Same thing!
We just have to figure out how and why? Are you paying attention to me?
(beat)
Gabrielle? HELLO?
(she glances at her)
And Draco chasing you around...
GABRIELLE
As I recall, you did a little bit of chasing too, Xena.
XENA
DON’T remind me!)
(pause)
Think about Draco!
GABRIELLE
He was an isolated case.
Xena stops and looks at her in disbelief.
XENA
You have got to be kidding me!
She begins to hurry down the hallway again.
GABRIELLE
But I do agree that we have to do something about Maia... and what's
going on with Ares. Why did he try to give me flowers?
Xena stops dead in her tracks.
XENA
What?
She turns to look at Gabrielle who's trying to straighten her hair
with her fingers.
XENA
(continued)
If it's the last thing I do, I will straighten out this mess.
(beat)
I have a plan.
She turns and pushes open the kitchen door, vanishing inside and
leaving Gabrielle outside looking puzzled.
GABRIELLE
(loudly)
You never let me in on the plan!
(beat - grumpily)
I bet Virgil would let me in on it.
FADE OUT.
END ACT II
ACT III
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