| ACT II
12. EXT. RIVER BANK - PRE-DAWN
The sun is just rising from below the horizon. Xena is standing mid-thigh in the water 'fishing' with her hands as Gabrielle sits on the shore staring out at the water.
XENA
You know I actually believe the fish are smarter here!
Xena turns back with a grin, but finds Gabrielle blankly staring at her. Realizing that Gabrielle is in no mood for casual conversation, Xena returns to the task of trying to catch dinner. For her part, Gabrielle sighs and shifts her eyes back to the water. Something bobs up catching her attention. She looks closer as two more sets appear and then two more.
GABRIELLE
Xena?
Xena turns to Gabrielle.
XENA
Yeah?
GABRIELLE
Out there...
(pointing)
What’s that?
Xena looks out across the water just a few yards in front of her.
XENA
(softly)
Eyes in the water.
Xena starts to back up slowly.
XENA
(continued)
Get up Gabrielle. Grab my boots.
Gabrielle jumps to her feet, boots in hand. The quicker Xena starts to move the faster the eyes come toward her. She decides to sprint the rest of the way, not looking back. As soon as her feet hit the shore the head of an enormous crocodile breaks the surface and charges after her. Xena reaches to her back for her sword but comes up empty, having removed it to go fishing.
GABRIELLE
Good gods!
Gabrielle glances down to see the sword at her feet.
GABRIELLE
(continued)
Xena!
She picks it up and tosses it over. Xena catches it with ease as she turns back swiftly. The croc stops its movements. It doesn't advance, but it doesn't retreat either. Gabrielle scurries behind a tree next to Xena. She tosses Xena her boots. The beast and Xena stare each other down as the warrior quickly dons her footwear.
XENA
No more fishing.
GABRIELLE
No arguments here.
Once her boots are on, Xena motions Gabrielle back. She slowly begins to walk forward and Gabrielle grabs her arm.
GABRIELLE
(continued)
What do you think you're doing?
XENA
I've gotta get my shin guards on the beach.
GABRIELLE
Are you crazy?
XENA
No - traveling with all these killer snakes and frogs and the gods knows what else, is crazy.
(beat)
I have to have them.
Gabrielle lets Xena go, and Xena creeps closer to the beach as the croc watches her movements.
XENA
(continued - to the croc)
Okay let's make a deal.
(beat)
You don't eat me -
(beat)
and I won't turn you into a new pair of boots for Gabrielle. Agreed?
Xena takes two more steps, and the croc charges. Xena swings hitting its snout as she backs up toward her shin guards, but it doesn't stop. She continues to work her way backward to her guards, swinging as hard as she can. She connects with the croc's face two more times. Although it seems impervious, it finally stops. Xena looks at her position. It’s on land. Her back is to the water.
XENA
(continued - smiling)
You're clever.
(beat)
Trying to get me to fight on your turf, huh?
She reaches down, stuffing the guards into her boots. Her eyes never leave the croc during the action, and its eyes don't leave her.
GABRIELLE
Okay you got them! Now get out of there!
Xena gives a slight grin and waves her sword in front of the crock, taunting it. Once more it charges, and she lets out a powerful war-cry before doing a summersault over its head to land in front of Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
(continued)
Are you done now?
Xena looks back as the croc gives up and slips back into the water.
XENA
Come on.
(beat)
Let's see if we can find something else to eat around here before we continue.
Gabrielle gives a nod as Xena glances behind them before making their way from the riverbank.
CUT TO:
13. EXT. RIVER BANK - mOMENTS LATER
Chena and two scouts stop and listen.
SCOUT
Did you hear that? A war cry.
CHENA
Yes. Far in the distance.
(beat)
They must have crossed the river at some point, that would explain why we lost them.
SCOUT
Should we attack?
CHENA
No.
(beat)
We do not have enough women here.
SCOUT
But there are ten more behind us.
(beat)
It's only two of them.
CHENA
We have seen these two fight. Or did you forget?
(beat)
Send a runner back to the Queen and inform her that we have found them, but we need more troops before we advance.
The scout looks reluctant.
CHENA
(continued)
Trust me, You do not want to tangle with these two. Now go.
The scout takes off, and Chena looks out into the forest.
FADE OUT.
14. EXT. FOREST PATH - MORNING
FADE IN.
Xena and Gabrielle step out of the thicket and find themselves on a newly made path beaten flat by much use.
XENA
Well, it looks like that instinct of yours to head east was correct.
They continue down the path quietly until they notice a puff of smoke rising from behind a small hill in the morning light. Xena takes Gabrielle's arm and pulls her off the path, and they advance slowly through the underbrush.
CUT TO:
15. EXT. MORNING – EDGE OF CLEARING
They crouch at the edge of a clearing and take in the surroundings. There are many grass huts, but otherwise the village seems deserted. No guards can be seen keeping watch.
XENA
You ready?
GABRIELLE
As I'll ever be.
XENA
Let's do it.
Xena and Gabrielle rise and walk into the clearing. Immediately a group of warriors appear from thin air and surround them with spears. Both women hold up their hands.
GABRIELLE
We don't want to harm you. We've come to talk.
WaRRIOR 1
Hands higher!
Both women do as they are told and two other guards come over to strip Xena of her sword and chakram as another takes Gabrielle's sais.
GABRIELLE
We need to speak to your leader.
The warrior looks reluctant, but he nods in agreement, as the other warriors poke Xena and Gabrielle in the back to make them march.
As they move through the village they pass an open hut. Inside rest rows of stretchers with bodies covered in shrouds. A few are wrapped, mummy like, and decorated with paint and feathers. A few women, children, and men linger about them, weeping or working on preparing them.
Gabrielle gives a pained look as they pass, which does not go unnoticed by Xena.
CUT TO:
16. INT. GRASS HUT - MOMENTS LATER
Behind a bamboo table sits an older man. He is dressed in a ceremonial robe. He rises as his warriors enter with Xena and Gabrielle.
WARRIOR 1
I present the fair skinned warriors you were searching for, Echanim.
He looks them over carefully.
Chief
How did you capture them?
WARRIOR 1
They walked into the village. They requested an audience with you.
CHIEF
You are the two from Queen Guila's tribe? The ones my scouts mentioned?
Gabrielle nods.
GABRIELLE
We've come to offer our help.
CHIEF
I think you have helped enough. I lost nearly 500 men because of your interference.
GABRIELLE
We didn't know you were trying to regain your homeland. We've traveled a great distance and Queen Guila's troops found us -
The chief looks less than pleased.
CHIEF
Silence!
He moves from behind the table and steps closer to them.
CHIEF – CON’T
Over a thousand of my people have been killed. Women! Children! Honorable warriors! And since you arrived the numbers have increased. Only two of my warriors from the scouting party were lucky enough to make it back and brought with them tales of your abilities!
XENA
Luck had nothing to do with their return. We let them live!
CHIEF
(turns vehemently to Xena)
And what gives you the power to deem who lives and who dies? What manner of spirit moves you!?
XENA
(stares coldly at him)
Survival!
The chief frowns. Gabrielle steps forward.
GABRIELLE
Put yourself in our place. A new world. New people. People who rescued you... People who had saved your life... suddenly they are attacked... Who would you think is the enemy?
XENA
Queen Guila’s tribe rescued us. Her shaman healed us. Those who helped us appeared to need help in return. Had we known the truth, we never would have interfered.
(beat)
But because we know the truth now, we offer you our help.
The chief eyes them both suspiciously.
CHIEF
And to what do we owe your enlightenment?
GABRIELLE
I have held the Queen’s weapon. It showed me things...
Upon those words, the chief’s eyes widen.
CHIEF
You have held the sacred ‘chibchadah’?
(beat)
And were granted the sight? To see into a man’s spirit?
Gabrielle nods.
CHIEF
Impossible!
XENA
Why?
CHIEF
Only a high priestess... One chosen by the gods is able to receive the vision of truth by the Great Spirit.
CUT TO:
17. EXT. JUNGLE - MID-DAY
Chena and several of her warriors are crouched outside the Chibcha village, watching it intently.
SCOUT
(to Chena)
They're in the hut on the left.
Chena looks out across the village and then back at her troops.
CHENA
We can't fight them here. There are too many, and it would be to our disadvantage. But equally, we cannot allow them to remain for they might ally with the Chibcha. We must lure them out.
(beat)
You know what to do.
The scout nods and disappears into the forest. A few moments pass and then suddenly a team of two dozen women comes running from the jungle, weapons raised. Some bear lit torches. Screaming, they run into the village, several of them engaging in combat with the Chibcha lookouts, as their sisters manage to run past, thrusting torches into the grass huts.
CUT TO:
18. INT. HUT - SECONDS LATER
Hearing the commotion, Xena, Gabrielle, the chief and the warriors rush from the hut.
Women run past them, huts are going up in flames.
As one of the chief’s warriors throws a spear, downing one of the Amazons, Xena grabs her sword from the stunned warrior holding their weapons. At the same time she throws her fist out, punching one of the Amazon runners as she passes. She goes sprawling, dropping her torch and spear.
The Amazon warriors, having taken down several male warriors brandishing spears, run through the encampment and vanish into the forest at the other end of the clearing.
XENA
(shouting)
Come on, Gabrielle! After them!
Xena sprints after them. Gabrielle quickly turns and grabs a spear from the hands of a stunned guard. Before the guard can react, she sprints off after Xena.
CUT TO:
The remainder of the warriors, taken by surprise by the attack, have gathered their weapons and are about to give chase, when the chief calls out an order.
CHiEF
Stop! It is time for the strangers to prove themselves!
He turns to his warrior aide.
CHiEF
(continued)
See that everyone is protected with armor and restocked with a full supply of arrows.
(beat)
Once they are, go after them and find them! If they have lied, they will pay the price with their lives.
The warrior nods and runs away to organize the hunt.
CUT TO:
19. EXT. JUNGLE - MOMENTS LATER
Gabrielle and Xena are moving as quick as they can through the forest, but the Amazons have vanished. Gabrielle stops to catch her breath while Xena examines the ground.
XENA
(continued)
I'm going to backtrack to see if they’re following us, or if we've missed their trail somewhere.
(beat)
Stay put.
Gabrielle nods.
Xena runs a short distance down the overgrown path and stops to listen.
CUT TO:
Gabrielle is leaning against a thick moss covered tree trunk, breathing deeply. Suddenly her eyes go wide. We pull back to find she is being coiled by a huge anaconda. Her voice is stuck in her throat, but still she tries to make a noise to alert Xena. Finally her vocal cords work, but her voice comes out faint, almost strangled.
GABRIELLE
Xena! Big snake! BIG snake!
CUT TO:
Xena peering into the forest toward the Chibcha village.
XENA
(over her shoulder)
Then kill it.
GABRIELLE
(off-screen)
Xena!
XENA
(angry whisper)
What?!
Xena quickly jogs back to find Gabrielle shaking and unable to move. A snake bigger than Xena has ever seen is making a path around Gabrielle. Xena's eyes grow as large as Gabrielle’s, as she draws her sword and rushes to Gabrielle’s aid.
XENA
(continued)
Don't move.
GABRIELLE
(whispering)
I couldn't if I tried.
Xena waits as the snake starts to complete its first pass around Gabrielle. As the head comes back around Xena lops it off in one powerfully swift slice. She pulls the bard up to her feet so she can step out of its girth.
XENA
Did it bite you?
GABRIELLE
No. I think it wanted to hug me.
Xena goes over and inspects it, trying to pick up the limp body.
XENA
Look at the size of this thing.
Gabrielle consciously looks away.
GABRIELLE
Trust me. I saw it. Once was enough.
(beat)
Any sign of the Chibcha or the Amazons?
Xena drops the snake and turns back to Gabrielle.
XENA
No. None. I thought the Chibcha would follow after us and try to get them... but not a sign...
(beat)
As for the Amazons... I suggest we make our way to their camp... more than likely, that’s where they’re heading... With any luck, we’ll catch up with them before they get back.
CUT TO:
20. EXT. JUNGLE - MOMENTS LATER
Xena and Gabrielle continue their quick pace through the forest. They come to a clearing and search the area. They are about halfway through when a circle of Guila’s warriors step out from the trees and surround them.
CHENA
Hello, Xena and Gabrielle.
(beat)
Looking for something?
Xena and Gabrielle look at each other as the group starts to close in. Chena has a sinister smile on her face.
FADE TO BLACK.
End of Act II
ACT
III
|
