ACT THREE

FADE IN

The sun is going down. Eve and Virgil are sitting at a table in front of the fireplace, fire flickering inside it. A large pot in which Eve has mixed the herbal is on the table. Coughing is heard from the bedroom. Eve and Virgil get up quickly to check on Kara and Theon. Virgil goes to the beds. Theon and Kara both look worse than they had before. They seem feverish.

THEON (groans):
     Ohhh.

VIRGIL:
     Eve, they're getting worse. I thought you said Eli would help them?

EVE (winces, realizing that her prayers did not have the desired effect):
     I don't always understand why he does what he does, but we have to have faith. The herbal should be ready now--can you please go and get that pot, Virgil?

VIRGIL:
     All right.

He leaves the room and then comes back carrying the pot. Eve takes it from him and carefully feeds some of the medicine to each child with a spoon, then gives the pot back to Virgil, who has been standing quietly, watching her.

EVE:
     As I told you, Virgil, this isn't a cure but it should help bring their fever down and make them feel a little better--help them make it through the worst of the illness. All we can do now is hope that, with this medicine and with Eli's help, they'll get better. Give them more of this every few hours. And take good care of them.

VIRGIL:
     Again, thanks.

EVE:
     I think I should go check on my mother... Is that all right?

VIRGIL:
     Yes, go. You've helped enough here.

EVE:
     Goodbye, Virgil.

She reaches out to shake hands with him and then pulls her hand back and looks down, embarrassed, obviously overcome by the awareness that she killed Virgil's father. Virgil reaches out, takes her hand and shakes it. Their eyes meet. Then, slowly, Eve walks out the door.

CUT TO

The hall of the city government, lit with candles now that it's dark outside. Xena is still looking over the map with Cleon, trying to decide the best place to attack.

XENA:
     If we want to defeat the Spartan army, we'll have to use tactics that they won't expect. But remember that the Spartans are superb fighters; we'll have to be sneaky. What we must do is split our troops in three parts. The first will confront the Spartans in open field, and then pretend to run. The Spartans will give chase, and then we will lure them here (points to the map) where the two other parts of our troops will be waiting on both sides of the pass to attack--so that the Spartan army will be trapped.

CLEON:
     That sounds like a good plan. I'll go tell the troops and get them ready for battle tomorrow. Our scouts have told us that Sparta is preparing an attack on Athens' west gate very soon.

XENA:
     All right.

Cleon looks again at the map and then leaves. Xena sighs and then walks over to the window behind her, looking out into the night. There is a flash of blue light behind Xena.

ARES (claps sarcastically three times):
     Well, if it isn't Xena, the ruler of Athens. Xena at the head of an army... I've waited so long for this day to come. (he cocks his head in mock surprise, pretending to suddenly remember something) Wait a minute--I think I distinctly remember someone telling me that she had no desire to ever lead an army or rule people again...

Xena quickly turns around, shifting her eyes.

XENA:
     Well, these are special circumstances.

ARES (saunters toward her):
     You know, Xena (lowers his voice seductively), maybe everything is special when it comes to you. (he reaches out to touch her face and she turns away) Whatever the circumstances--you do it well.

XENA:
     What do you want anyway, Ares? Here for the cheap thrills? Except that I wouldn't call it cheap...Sparta and Athens, the two most powerful cities in Greece, going to war for the right to rule--you must be thrilled.

ARES (grins):
     Actually, I'm here to help.

XENA (whips around):
     What? Did you just say what I think you said--you want to help?

ARES:
     That's right.

XENA (sarcastically):
     Right. Ares, you've never helped anyone but yourself.

ARES:
     Now, Xena, you of all people should know that's not true. Or maybe you should ask Gabrielle and Eve to remind you?

XENA (slightly embarrassed):
     Yeah...that was different.

ARES:
     How? (in a challenging way)

XENA:
     Well...it just was.

ARES:
     So you still don't trust me.

XENA:
     Come on, Ares. What have you got up your sleeve? (he sarcastically raises his bare arms and she snorts impatiently) What's the game plan?

ARES:
     See, Xena, if Sparta wins, then my greatest temples, here in Athens and in all the territories that Athens controls right now, are going to be destroyed. I'm going to lose a lot of my worshippers.

XENA (shakes her head):
     I should have seen that one coming--Ares out for himself again.

ARES (grins cunningly):
     What can I say? I'm not a god without my temples or my worshippers.

Xena gives him a curious, skeptical look, narrowing her eyes.

XENA:
     Why should the Spartans destroy your temples? Conquest is their main business. I'd think they would be pretty big on the God of War.

ARES:
     Oh, things have gone kinda sour between us ever since the Spartans lost a couple of wars even though they prayed for my help. Unfortunately, at the time, I was a little busy being mortal, you know? So now, they've got a grudge against me. You know, Xena, it's taken me long enough to rebuild my power base as a god after I spent all that time as a mortal. I can't afford such a setback.

XENA (in a mock whine):
     Oh, I feel so bad for you.

She walks over to the terrain map again; Ares follows her and surveys the map.

ARES:
     So, you plan to lure the Spartans into a trap here in this valley and attack them from the sides? That's good; it should work as long as they don't see it coming.

XENA:
     Well, I hope so. (pause) I guess I don't really need your help then, do I, Ares?

ARES:
     You never know.

He's gone in a flash of light. She looks at the place where he was standing and then sees her daughter walk into the room.

EVE:
     Mother? Are you alone? I thought you were talking to someone.

XENA:
     No, it was no one. How are Virgil's brother and sister?

EVE (sadly):
     They're ill, Mother. I made them an herbal from a recipe I picked up in Indus; I'm hoping it will help...

XENA:
     I sure hope so, Eve. It's so good of you to help take care of them. (she smiles encouragingly and puts her hand around Eve as they walk to the window)

EVE:
     Where's Gabrielle?

XENA:
     She went to Potidaea to make sure that her family is all right. The plague struck there too. I hope we can go out to meet up with her as soon as the battle is over tomorrow.

EVE:
     Battle?

XENA:
     Yes, Sparta plans to attack so we are going to be ready for them. I'll be leaving early in the morning, Eve. But if my plan works, tomorrow's battle should be the end of the war.

EVE:
     All right, Mother. Just be careful... I couldn't bear to lose you...again.

XENA:
     I will. I promise.

They smile at each other; Eve rests her head against her mother, staring into the night as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT THREE