ACT II

11. INT. NEFERTUM’S QUARTERS – PRE-DAWN

From the state of things, it is obvious they have been up late into the night. Scrolls have been pushed aside to make space for a select few which lay unrolled on the table. The rubbing Airyn had made in the tomb can also be seen emerging from under one of the scrolls.

Xena and Gabrielle can be seen sleeping on a small pallet beside the embers of the fire. Gabrielle moves gently in her sleep, slapping an arm over Xena and letting out a little snort, causing Xena to awake abruptly. She gently lifts Gabrielle’s arm and stands, glancing about the room.

Airyn lays on the couch, a blanket thrown over her. She is watching Xena silently.

She reaches down and lifts her armor, which she begins to fasten silently.

XENA

(quietly, without looking at her)

You should get some more sleep.

AIRYN

(matching her whisper)

So should you.

She rises quietly off the couch and stretches, glancing out the window at the coming dawn.

AIRYN

(continued)

I’ll wake Nefertum.

She heads silently across the room and vanishes through a small door. Xena, fully dressed, gazes out at the new day.

Suddenly, a scream is heard in the distance.

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12. EXT. MARKET PLACE – DAWN

A merchant, who has gotten up early to set up his stand, cowers against a wall, his hand shielding his face. Cast against the wall, in the early morning sunlight, is a tall, staggering shadow.

He opens his mouth and screams again as we can see the shadow moving closer. The creature's hands come closer to the man, and are just about to grab him when we...

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13. INT. NEFERTUM’S QUARTERS – DAWN

Xena has her hand on Gabrielle’s shoulder trying to gently awaken her sleeping companion. Gabrielle stirs slowly, then grabs the blanket and pulls it over her head.

XENA

We’ll come back for her. Let’s go.

She and Airyn head quickly out the door in search of the source of the screams as Nefertum enters the room carrying a tray with breakfast on it.

He glances at the two as they rush out the door then looks down at the sleeping Gabrielle.

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14. EXT. MARKET PLACE - DAWN

Xena and Airyn round the corner to find a man, pale with fright, being shaken like a rag doll by a mummy.

Xena draws her sword and charges towards him, grabbing him from behind and pulling him off his victim. She twists her sword in the air and then plunges it into the mummy's breast. The mummy and Xena both glance down at where the sword has entered and then look at each other before the mummy suddenly jerks himself free and goes stumbling down the street away from her.

Airyn, meanwhile, rushes to the aid of the fallen merchant who lies trembling and hysterical on the ground.

MERCHANT

Kill it! Kill it!

Xena bolts after the mummy and chases him down the street, sword raised and ready to strike. She catches up with him again and does a running kick through the air, hitting him in the back. He collapses to the ground and then rolls onto his back, turning to face Xena who raises her sword and neatly chops his head off.

She sheaths her sword and heads back towards Airyn and the fallen merchant to find them both standing and the man close to tears.

MERCHANT

It just appeared. It just came at me.

XENA

You're safe now.

She glances at Airyn who is looking down the street and then turns to follow her eyes and sees another mummy coming towards them.

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15. EXT. DESERT – EARLY MORNING

A large army can be seen out on the desert, banding together under various banners. As we move closer we see that the banners are worn and dusty and that the army is compiled of a large number of mummies, dressed in whatever armor they have been able to find in their tombs. One stands in the center of them.

HOREMHEB

I am Horemheb! I served under two Pharaohs before finally becoming Pharaoh myself! Many of you have been led by me before. Allow me to lead you again!

He looks out over his army before he continues.

HOREMHEB

(continued)

The time has come for the armies of Egypt to regain their homeland!

His army cheers and draws in closer. We see a mummy off to the left who is trying to re-bandage his lower leg to his thigh so he can join his companions.

HOREMHEB

(continued)

It is time for Egypt to return to its former glory as the most powerful empire in the world!

His army cheers again. The mummy gives up on his leg and, tossing it into the sand, hops to join his comrades.

HOREMHEB

(continued)

Ride with me now you will be given riches beyond your wildest dreams!

The cheer is deafening. One mummy, while attempting to cheer, accidentally expels his teeth onto the sand and stoops quickly to collect them.

HOREMHEB

(continued)

To Memphis!!

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16. EXT. MARKET PLACE – MORNING

Xena and Airyn are moving quickly through the market place, gathering supplies. Very few vendors are brave enough to be out minding their stands and renegade mummies can be seen wandering through the streets. For every five stands they pass, four are abandoned, with those vendors remaining looking nervously around.

XENA

What does Nefertum do exactly?

AIRYN

Nefertum originally worked as an advisor to Cleopatra. However, when she died and Egypt came under Roman occupation, he retired to Memphis to continue his studies.

XENA

Studies?

AIRYN

(laughing)

Yes. The research I do is based on a project he began to record human history accurately.

They duck into a small shop.

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17. INT. SHOP – MORNING

Xena inspects the rope for sale while Airyn pays for a few water skins and some tools.

A mummy suddenly staggers in. Xena calmly tosses her chakram in its general direction, severing it in half. It’s obvious from her lack of interest that she’s been at this all morning.

XENA

Do we need any rope?

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18. INT. NEFERTUM’S QUARTERS – MORNING

Gabrielle, still in bed, stirs gently and then, realizing she’s alone, bolts upright.

GABRIELLE

Xena?

Nefertum peeks his head in from the backroom and smiles at her. Just as she’s about to open her mouth, the door opens and Xena and Airyn come in with their arms full of supplies.

NEFERTUM

(entering the room)

Did you get everything we need?

XENA

Yeah, but I don’t think we have too much to worry about. Besides frightening people, they seem pretty harmless.

AIRYN

She’s right. But then, she’s cut most of them into tiny pieces, so they couldn’t do much harm even if they wanted to.

There's a knock at the door and Nefertum goes to answer it. Gabrielle comes to join them.

GABRIELLE

Did you get everything we need?

Xena moves the scrolls on the table aside so Airyn can put down the supplies.

GABRIELLE

(continued)

Xena...

XENA

Yes Gabrielle. We got all the supplies.

GABRIELLE

(quietly)

Why didn’t you wake me?

XENA

(putting an arm around Gabrielle’s shoulder)

I tried, but you were out cold.

(beat)

So, did you sleep well?

GABRIELLE

Ha ha ha.

Nefertum returns, a worried look on his face.

NEFERTUM

We have a problem. The dead have raised an army and are heading for Memphis.

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19. EXT. DESERT – MID-DAY

A large column of soldiers can be seen marching slowly across the desert. A few individuals can be seen outside the main group on camelback, riding to meet one another.

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20. INT. NEDERTUM’S QUARTERS – EARLY EVENING

The fire is lit and Xena, Gabrielle, Nefertum, and Airyn sit huddled around it. Airyn is speaking in a low hushed voice.

AIRYN

Another time I heard of someone who attempted to break into the tomb of a great priest. There was a curse on the door – that death would follow those who broke it. He, and everyone he was with, died horrible death.

GABRIELLE

But how?

AIRYN

(laughing uneasily)

I don’t know. I don’t even know if it’s true. I’ve heard such stories. Of cannibalistic zombie mummies who rise from their tombs and eat their victims while they're still alive...

GABRIELLE

Really?

AIRYN

Who knows? I have always discredited them as fables. Stories told to try to keep the secrets of the dead safe…to ward off people like myself.

(she lets out a burst of laughter)

Now I’m not so sure...

XENA

(breaking in)

It’s getting late. We should get some rest before we head out.

(beat)

Assuming we can pass unseen, I think we could reach the tomb by dawn. But we should leave under the cover of night.

NEFERTUM

And what happens if we fail?

XENA

We won’t fail.

NEFERTUM

Someone should keep watch...

XENA

I will. I’ll wake everyone in a few hours.

Nefertum rises and heads slowly towards the back room, resting his hand gently on Airyn’s shoulder as he passes. She smiles at him and then turns back to Xena and Gabrielle.

AIRYN

Are you sure you don’t want me to keep watch?

XENA

No, get some rest.

Xena goes and settles herself against the window and looks out at the torch lit courtyard. Gabrielle removes her breastplate and then comes over and leans against Xena, glancing out at the night.

GABRIELLE

(smiling)

Well, I hope this is interesting enough for you.

XENA

This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.

(beat – taking Gabrielle’s hand)

Go get some sleep.

Xena turns back to the night as Gabrielle lies down in the background.

Outside the torches flicker and somewhere off in the night a scream is heard.

FADE TO BLACK.

END OF ACT TWO

ACT III