ACT FOUR

FADE IN

Hard and fast Gabrielle rides until she finally reaches Potidaea the next morning. Four guards with spears stand in front of Potidaea's gates, allowing no one to pass. Through the trees, Gabrielle can see them. She dismounts the horse and draws her sais. But she does not believe that she will need to fight anyone, for she knows a secret entrance into the city having lived there for a huge part of her life.

Stealthily, she creeps through the forest, past the guards and around the first length of wall. She walks up to it and places herself firmly against the side, listening to other guards talking on top of the city's watch posts on the wall.

Gabrielle continues down the wall, where no guards are, until she comes to a brick in the wall that is slightly pushed further into the wall. It is a fairly large stone brick. Gabrielle pushes on it until it falls through to the other side, leaving an open spot in the wall. Gabrielle squeezes through it and into the city.

GABRIELLE (sighs in exhaustion but tries to be humorous):
     I used to fit through there a lot better when I was a child.

She walks through the city streets, people going about their lives as usual. Most of them seem completely healthy.

Finally Gabrielle comes to a small cottage surrounded by a wooden fence. She opens the gate, walks toward the house, and knocks on the door. After a moment it opens, her sister standing in front of her.

LILA (excitedly):
     Gabrielle! Oh, it is so good to see you.

GABRIELLE:
     It's good to see you too, Lila.

They hug and then look at each other again.

GABRIELLE:
     How have you been? I was so worried about you--I heard about the plague...

LILA:
     Oh, Gabrielle--Sarah got it a couple of months ago...

GABRIELLE (turns pale):
     What?

LILA:
     But she's all right now...she was among the lucky ones who recovered. (sadly) We have lost a lot of people, Gabrielle--but I think the epidemic has run its course in Potidaea. There have been no new cases of illness reported in over a week.

GABRIELLE (breathing a sigh of relief):
     Thank the heavens!

LILA:
     We're fine now. Come on in, we have a lot of catching up to do.

They smile and enter the house.

CUT TO

Xena is mounted atop of Argo, Cleon next to her, atop his own horse. They're in a valley surrounded by two hills of forest.

CLEON:
     The troops are ready, Xena. They are positioned just as planned.

XENA:
     Good. (reaches down into the saddlebag and retrieves a telescope, looks through to see the Spartan army in hot pursuit of the Athenian detachments that served as a decoy) The Spartans are about half a mile away and approaching fast. I'll give you the signal when it's time to attack.

CLEON:
     All right.

Cleon gallops off toward the troops on the east hill. Xena gallops to the troops on the west hill and waits there until the Spartans arrive.

Soon, Xena sees the Spartan army coming toward them. She draws her sword and looks across the hill to see Cleon and his army ready. When the Spartans come through the valley, she raises her sword and swings it, signaling to Cleon that it's time. Cleon raises his hand and his troops begin the descent down the hill; Xena does the same, both troops coming down toward the Spartan army. The sounds of war cries fill the air. Cleon and Xena gallop down the hills behind their troops.

The Athenians attack and battle the Spartans. The Spartans are taken by surprise at first. Their leader Brasidas, mounted atop a black steed, gallops about the battlefield rallying his troops and mounting a counterattack.

CLEON (galloping toward him, sword raised high):
     Brasidas!

BRASIDAS:
     Well, if it isn't Cleon, my most revered enemy. Have you come to meet your fate?

CLEON:
     No, you've come to meet yours!

Cleon and Brasidas battle on horseback while Xena is leading the Athenians against the Spartans. The Spartans's numerical advantage, however, is too strong and they soon begin to gain the upper hand. Cleon and Brasidas continue to fight until Brasidas is able to gain the advantage and he stabs Cleon in the heart.

XENA (screams):
     Cleon!

Just then, two warriors on horseback come charging at her. She leaps up in the air, doing a back flip, and knocks them out with powerful kicks to the face, then lands on her feet and runs over to Cleon just in time to catch him as he falls off his horse. Meanwhile, a laughing Brasidas gallops back into the heat of battle, leading his troops and mowing down the Athenian soldiers.

XENA (runs up to Cleon and kneels, holding his head):
     Cleon.

CLEON (gasps, blood drips from his nose and mouth):
     Xena, we're losing. I don't see how...Athens can win...

XENA:
     We'll find a way. There's always a way.

CLEON:
     Xena... (coughs) ...you must kill...Brasidas. It's the only way to defeat his army and...Sparta. If he's gone, Athens will surly...win...the...war. (exhales, falls limp)

Xena lays him down on the ground, stands up and whistles. Argo comes toward her, she mounts and gallops back toward the thick of the battle, letting out a war cry so piercing that for a moment the sounds of combat are stilled as the warriors of both armies turn around to look at the Warrior Princess.

XENA (yelling):
     Brasidas! I'm coming for you!

BRASIDAS (laughs mockingly):
     I don't know who you are but this will be the last battle you'll ever see!

Galloping toward her, Brasidas reaches behind his back and grabs a crossbow, shooting two arrows at her. Xena catches one but the other embeds itself into her left shoulder.

Stunned, she totters back and falls off Argo. She breaks the tip of the arrow and pulls it out of her shoulder, gritting her teeth in agony and nearly crying out.

Meanwhile, Brasidas gallops toward her and then all around her many of the Athenians start retreating, thinking that there is no chance of winning and the Spartans have carried the day.

Brasidas raises his sword over Xena and, still in shock from her wound; she is not quick enough to react. It seems that she's about to be struck down. But just then Brasidas' sword seems to run into some invisible obstacle in the air, delaying the blow for a second. Brasidas frowns in puzzlement; meanwhile, the brief reprieve is enough time for Xena to collect herself. Thrusting her sword upward, she runs him through. A look of shock on his face, he slides off his horse and falls, dead.

The Spartans are obviously shaken by the death of their leader, while the Athenians are heartened. Taking advantage of the moment, Xena mounts Argo again, still wincing from the pain in her shoulder.

XENA:
     Attack!

She charges forward, leading the Athenians in their charge. Stunned, the Spartans begin to retreat, while the Athenians cheer and holler at their win.

Xena, breathing hard and still wincing a little from the pain in her shoulder, hangs back a little as the troops celebrate, then lifts her head, tensing a little, and looks around.

XENA:
     Ares?

The God of War materializes next to her. He looks emotionless, his arms folded on his chest.

XENA:
     You... Did you deflect that blow?

ARES:
     I told you I wanted to help you fight the Spartans. Don't look so shocked.

XENA:
     Ares...

ARES:
     Oh, there's no need to thank me. I told you why I was doing this. Like I said--what's a god without temples? (he winks at her and disappears)

XENA:
     Hmm.

She stands quiet for a moment, looking thoughtfully at the spot where he vanished, and then mounts Argo, careful not to use her wounded left arm. Then, she raises her sword in her hand.

XENA:
     Warriors of Athens! We have suffered many losses but we have defeated the enemy. We can go home.

The troops cheer and follow her as she gallops off to Athens.

CUT TO

Back in Athens, Xena enters the hall of the city government to meet Delemus, who is waiting for her. Eve is there as well; they both rise to their feet to greet Xena.

EVE:
     Mother, we've already heard the news--you won!

XENA:
     Yes, we won. We lost a lot of men...Cleon is dead. (Delemus looks down, dejected) But Sparta is beaten. The war should be over now; their leader is dead and they are in retreat.

DELEMUS (looks at her arm):
     You're wounded!

EVE:
     Here, let me dress that for you. (she starts to bandage Xena's wound) And, Mother, I have some more wonderful news--Virgil's brother and sister are feeling better! Their fever broke today. I think the herbal worked.

DELEMUS:
     Herbal? You gave them something that helped them recover from the plague?

EVE (a little uncertain):
     I think our prayers may have helped too. But yes, I gave them an herbal that I made. It's not a cure, but it eases the suffering of the sick and strengthens the body so that it can fight off the disease better.

XENA:
     What was in that herbal, Eve?

EVE:
     It was herbs I brought back with me from Indus...but I don't have much left.

Having finished dressing the wound, she takes two pouches out of her satchel and hands them to Xena. Xena opens them, shakes the contents out on a table and begins to examine the herbs.

XENA:
     Eve, do you have the recipe for making this tonic?

EVE:
     Yes, I do...but where can we get more of the herbs?

XENA:
     Delemus. There are herbs that grow around Athens that have the same medicinal properties. I'll tell your people where to find them. Let Eve show your healers how to make this herbal.

DELEMUS (to a servant):
     Kyniros, quick--take this young woman to our chief medic.

Eve picks up the contents of the pouches and heads toward the door with the servant.

XENA:
     I'll see you soon, Eve--we'll be heading back to Potidaea first thing tomorrow morning.

After Eve and the servant leave, Xena turns to Delemus again.

XENA (shuffles her feet and looks down, reluctantly):
     Delemus...uh...I have to tell you that I had some help. You might want to go to the temples of Ares and offer thanks.

DELEMUS:
     Temples? But, Xena, there is only one small temple to Ares in all of Athens.

XENA (gives him a startled look):
     Huh?

DELEMUS:
     Xena, didn't you know? Our patron deity was always Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom and Warfare. (he averts his eyes a little awkwardly, remembering that Athena met her death at Xena's hands) As you know, she was never one especially good with Ares, so the God of War never had a lot of worshippers here.

XENA (frowns, pondering what happened):
     Oh...well, never mind, then.

CUT TO

The next morning. Xena approaches Virgil's house and knocks on the door. Eve opens it.

EVE:
     Mother. How is everything?

XENA:
     Great. (smiles warmly) We're all ready to go. I was able to explain to the medics where to find the herbs they need to make a tonic similar to what you made. It may just be the turning point in this epidemic. Good work. (she proudly pats Eve's shoulder)

Virgil walks out of the house.

XENA:
     Hey, Virgil. I hear your brother and sister are doing much better.

VIRGIL:
     Yes, Xena--thanks to Eve. (looks at Eve) So, I guess you'll be leaving with Xena.

EVE:
     Yeah. You take care of these kids, okay?

VIRGIL:
     I will.

They hug briefly, a little awkwardly, and then Eve looks at Xena.

EVE:
     Well, Mother, are we ready to go?

XENA:
     Yeah. We've got to catch up to Gabrielle.

Xena mounts Argo and helps Eve up before taking off for Potidaea.

CUT TO

When they finally reach Potidaea, the siege has been lifted and they are free to enter. Xena and Eve go to Gabrielle's house and find Gabrielle talking to Lila and Sarah outside.

XENA:
     I see that everyone is all right.

GABRIELLE:
     Yeah.

XENA (looks at Sarah, smiling):
     Sarah.

SARAH:
     It's good to see you again.

Xena sighs and walks over to Lila, Sarah, and Gabrielle. Eve follows her and Xena puts her arms around all of them.

XENA:
     Gabrielle, remember when you said you wanted to stay here for a few days just relaxing?

GABRIELLE (looks at her):
     Yeah.

XENA:
     Well, I don't see why we still can't do that. I'm still in the mood for a good meal and a warm bed. (smiles at them)

GABRIELLE:
     Still sounds like a plan to me.

She puts her arm around Xena and the five of them head into the house as we:

FADE OUT

THE END

[No temples of Ares were harmed during the production of this motion picture.]

Xena: Warrior Princess Shipper Seasons Season 7 Episode 3 Last Hope Story By: Aurora Written By: Aurora Edited By: LadyKate Collage By: Aurora Images Gathered By: Aurora Cast Xena Lucy Lawless Gabrielle Renee O'Connor Eve Adrienne Wilkinson Ares Kevin Smith Pericles Julius Gregson Virgil William Gregory Lee Kara Kate Smeda Theon Gregory Stephen Delemus Timothy Gragus Cleon Rich Fane Brasidas Peter Bramm Lila Willa O'Neill Sarah Tandie Wright Original Airdate October 13, 2001 No temples of Ares were harmed during the production of this motion picture. DEDICATED TO KEVIN SMITH All characters and storylines that have appeared in the syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess are a copyright and trademark of Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No infringement was intended during the writing of this script. All original characters and storylines are a copyright of the respective authors and of the Shipper Seasons. No script may be reproduced on a website elsewhere without the author's consent. © Shipper Seasons www.shipperseasons.com

This script is provided by GDev Resources.