ACT FOUR

FADE IN

Forest. Ares and Xena are still talking.

XENA (frowning):
     So you're saying that this...disturbance you feel around Eve--you felt it when I was given power to kill gods?

ARES (nods):
     Through the ether. Then, a ray of light--and zap! It's Xena, slayer of gods, harbinger of Twilight.

XENA (with mounting horror):
     But if they're doing it to Eve... They're planning to use her, instead! (anxiously) I've got to find her.

ARES:
     That shouldn't be hard.

He motions at something over Xena's shoulder. She turns. At that moment, screams and jeers come from beyond the trees--then, Eve and Gabrielle stumble out into the clearing, pursued by a crowd of rowdy children. Both women have livid marks on their arms and bodies; Gabrielle has a gash on her cheekbone.

XENA:
     Gabrielle! Eve!!

With a battle cry, she somersaults through the air, landing between them and the pursuers, and draws her sword.

XENA:
     All right, kids--game over.

The children look at her, then at each other, beginning to panic. Androcleia is the only one who seems unafraid.

Cut back to where Ares is still standing behind Eve and Gabrielle--he is looking at Androcleia. His expression becomes thoughtful--he glances over at Eve, then disappears.

Xena lets out another battle cry. Terrified, the children run, scattering into the forest. Androcleia pauses for an instant with a defiant look, then runs after the others.

Xena turns to Gabrielle and Eve.

XENA:
     Are you two all right? What happened?

GABRIELLE:
     Those kids decided to chase Eve off the island.

EVE:
     It was my fault, Mother; I knew I shouldn't have tried to teach here.

Xena hugs her, then Gabrielle, before examining their bruises and cuts.

XENA:
     They did this to you?!

GABRIELLE (shrugs):
     Rocks. (rubbing her sore arm) They pack quite a punch.

XENA:
     Why didn't you stop them?

EVE:
     They're just children.

XENA:
     Hm. Let's see what's going on, shall we?

The three of them walk back, towards the town. Pan back to show the archangels watching them walk away.

URIEL:
     Looks like it's more than just her faith that was attacked.

MICHAEL (irritably):
     The kid wasn't supposed to raise an army! Just...shout a bit.

URIEL:
     I don't suppose she has an off switch? (at Michael's disgusted look) No, didn't think so.

RAPHAEL:
     Accept it, Michael! Your plans aren't working; Eve is beyond our reach. It's gone too far. She will never serve our Lord now.

URIEL:
     My point exactly. I say we cut our losses and move on. The little kid looks promising--I like her fire. Why don't we use her instead of Xena's whiny brat? (mocking) "Mommy, come save me!" (shudders) At least she had a nice easy name, though. Androcleia, on the other hand, is a bit of a mouthful. How about Andri? Or Cleia? No, wait--Rocky! How fitting.

MICHAEL (motions silence at him):
     Perhaps you're both right. We are running out of time--we do need to move on. But not with Xena and her (smiles) --whiny brat--at our backs.

He and Uriel exchange a meaningful look. Raphael looks from one to the other in horror.

RAPHAEL:
     You're both insane! I've had it up to here with your intrigues, Michael--this is called murder.

MICHAEL (calmly):
     Let's not get overexcited. Death for the glory of our Lord is not murder.

RAPHAEL:
     What is it, then?

URIEL:
     Martyrdom. All the great martyrs were stoned. (to himself, grinning) May they be an example to us all.

RAPHAEL (clearly losing ground, with less conviction):
     Call it what you will. I will not be a party to it.

MICHAEL (looking into Raphael's eyes):
     Of course you will. The ways of the Lord, contrary to popular belief, are very simple. There are but two. Reward...

RAPHAEL (whispers):
     ...and punishment.

MICHAEL:
     I won't have to remind you again, Raphael.

They open their wings and take off into gathering white light. The camera rises to follow them. When the light fades, we see Ares, standing quite comfortably on a wide branch of a tree overlooking the scene.

ARES (to himself):
     Now, isn't this interesting?

CUT TO

The town square. There is a gathering of people in the center, where an important-looking man, presumably the town magistrate, is trying to speak over the noise. Xena, Gabrielle and Eve are standing beside him.

MAGISTRATE:
     May I please have your attention again? Fellow citizens of Andros, your attention, please!

The noise dies down.

MAGISTRATE:
     As we have just heard, a scandalous incident has taken place today that has blackened the name of our peaceful island. Our long-time friends and allies-- (indicates Xena and Gabrielle) --were attacked.

There are cries of indignant horror.

MAGISTRATE:
     It is unthinkable, that the same people who drove the pirates from our shores should be chased forth from those same shores by our own children! I would like all of you to hear the matter. Bring forward the girl.

Androcleia is brought forward by her humiliated-looking parents. She stands upright with utter dignity.

MAGISTRATE:
     What have you to say for yourself, Androcleia?

ANDROCLEIA (looking at Eve with contempt):
     She calls herself the Messenger of the God of Love. But her god has nothing to do with love. She herself told us that he destroyed Olympus and ordered her (pointing to Xena) to kill the gods.

There are murmurs in the crowd. Xena remains expressionless; Eve and Gabrielle look uncomfortable.

MAGISTRATE (awkwardly):
     We know something of that. Be that as it may, this woman did nothing to harm you. By attacking her, you are bringing dishonor to your family and our town.

ANDROCLEIA:
     We want the Messenger of this evil god gone from our island. That's all.

MAGISTRATE:
     What do you say to that, Eve?

Xena gives Eve an encouraging nod. Eve steps forward and looks at the people.

EVE:
     My message was only that we should love and respect one another. When I arrived here, I had thought that I need not talk of harmony in this place--it had seemed so peaceful.

Approving sounds in the crowd.

EVE:
     Now (looks at her bruises) I see that I was wrong. Peace is too easy to shatter, and much harder to restore. But I was also wrong to think that love and peace can come from above.

She smiles over at Gabrielle.

EVE:
     They come only from our own hearts.

MAGISTRATE:
     Can you promise, Eve, that you will not speak of this god again in Andros, nor try to gather followers?

EVE:
     Yes. But my message will remain what it has always been--peace.

Someone begins to applaud, and before long, the whole crowd is cheering. Eve looks over at Xena and Gabrielle, who are beaming. She grins back.

MAGISTRATE:
     And for your part, Androcleia, are you satisfied with that answer?

The girl looks at Eve steadily. Eve's smile falters and disappears beneath that look.

ANDROCLEIA:
     Almost. (yells) Now!!!

Rocks pellet Eve, Xena and Gabrielle from all directions--the camera pans quickly around the square--the roof of every building is covered with children and teenagers, all armed with slingshots. Eve spins around, trying to avoid the rocks, but she's exposed--in the center of the crowd, she's an easy target; Gabrielle and Xena are faring no better. The adults in the crowd scatter, screaming.

CUT TO

Xena grabs her chakram and sends it flying at the roof of the nearest building. It loosens the ties holding its reeds together, and the roof collapses, sending the kids to the ground, into a pile of reeds and straw.

Suddenly, everything seems to slow down, then freeze. Rocks hang in mid-air. Gabrielle, Xena and Eve look up; all three have cuts and bruises on their faces and arms. The three archangels blaze onto the scene.

MICHAEL:
     Such a shame it had to end this way, Eve. Xena. What a terrible waste.

Xena draws her sword and tries to run, but her feet are rooted to the ground, she can't move. Neither can the others. Xena's hand reaches automatically for the chakram--but it's frozen mid-flight to the next roof. It dissolves into thin air as we watch. Michael shakes his head in reproach.

MICHAEL:
     Let's not make this any more unpleasant than it has to be. Just think--you and your daughter will die as martyrs. What could be more glorious?

URIEL (immediately):
     You don't have to answer that.

XENA:
     Isn't that sweet of you? And does God approve?

Michael turns his face to Xena; he looks every bit the heavenly messenger, his face simultaneously terrible and beautiful.

MICHAEL:
     Know this, Warrior Princess: our task is to bring the power scattered in this world to our Lord. You cannot stand in His way.

EVE:
     Will the God of Love then stand idly by and watch us be killed?

URIEL:
     If you love something, let it go.

MICHAEL:
     Do you stand idly by as one ant kills another? You were special once, Eve. You and your mother. The God of Love rewarded you with new lives, but you have betrayed him. You are special no longer. But God is merciful and just--you will have an honorable death.

XENA:
     So you're here to gloat.

MICHAEL:
     Hardly. (to Gabrielle) There is no need for the innocent to share the fate of the guilty.

He motions at Gabrielle, who takes a hesitant step forward--evidently, she is free to walk. She stops and glares at Michael.

GABRIELLE:
     I'd rather die here!

MICHAEL (shrugs):
     It's your choice.

Raphael looks at Michael in revulsion.

A flash of silver-blue light reveals Ares, posed nonchalantly between the archangels and the three women.

ARES:
     Choice, choice, choice... That's all I hear from you lot. Free choice, free will...

URIEL:
     Free love...

ARES (mock fascination):
     Really?

MICHAEL:
     No. Get out of our way.

ARES (ignoring him):
     Well--choice, and slaughter of the innocent. Not necessarily in that order.

MICHAEL:
     I think you need to get with the program. We're here to get Gabrielle out--no slaughter of the innocent, as you so aptly put it.

ARES:
     While I understand that the subject of Gabrielle's innocence could be an interesting point of debate-- (grins at Gabrielle) --that's not why I'm here.

He walks towards Michael, apparently at ease. Xena and the others watch him warily.

ARES:
     You see, I don't recall being given much of a choice about our survival. Eve is born, everyone on Olympus dies. Simple, really. Trouble is-- (he makes a point of looking at Raphael) --from what I hear, that's against the rules. No choice about our fate.

MICHAEL:
     And yet, you're still here.

ARES:
     But for the grace of Xena and those golden apples of immortality... Your point was?

MICHAEL:
     You chose to give up your godhood. The others did not.

ARES (makes air quotes):
     "Free choice"? Like...let me see--"Your power or your life?"

MICHAEL (missing the irony):
     Exactly.

ARES (again looking directly at Raphael):
     So, actually, my family didn't need to die at all, if we'd only chosen to give up our powers voluntarily?

MICHAEL:
     Right again.

Ares wanders towards the spot where Xena is standing; close-up.

XENA (under her breath):
     What are you doing?!

ARES (also under his breath):
     Just my job. Encouraging a little...civil dispute.

Cut back to the archangels.

RAPHAEL:
     No. No, it's not right, Michael--none of it is! And none of it was.

ARES (to Xena, smugly):
     You see?

Raphael approaches Androcleia's frozen form and lays his hands on her. White light begins to form around his fingers.

MICHAEL:
     Stop! What do you think you're doing?

RAPHAEL:
     You spoke to the Darkness in this girl's soul. I speak to the Light. She is free to choose as she wills.

The light glows and expands, then fades. Michael grabs Raphael by one arm; Uriel takes the other. Raphael tries in vain to protest.

MICHAEL:
     This is going to have to wait.

URIEL (to Xena):
     Real pleasure meeting you, though.

Michael opens a shining portal and thrusts Raphael through it, then follows. Uriel snaps his fingers at the frozen people, then follows Michael. The portal irises shut. In its place, the chakram falls to the ground and spins. Xena picks it up.

XENA (to Ares):
     I'm impressed.

She turns around--he is no longer there. Abruptly, the noise returns, along with all the action.

Xena throws the chakram again--this time, it completes its circuit of the roofs, sending all the stone-throwers toppling down into piles of reeds. The attack grinds to a halt.

ANDROCLEIA (looking somewhat dazed and scared):
     What's going on?

XENA:
     You might want to have a chat with your warrior wannabe pals. (indicates the children)

ANDROCLEIA:
     I think...I think I wanted them to throw stones at you. (looks at the women's injuries) Oh, no...

GABRIELLE:
     I think it's safe to say you succeeded in that.

ANDROCLEIA:
     I'm so sorry...I have no idea what came over me.

EVE:
     That's all right. We do.

ANDROCLEIA (seeing her mother in the distance):
     Mama!!

She turns and runs to her mother, while Eve watches thoughtfully.

CUT TO

Evening. Long shot of the temple ruins on the beach where Ares and Xena had been talking earlier that day. The colonnade looks eerily beautiful, bluish in the gathering dark. The waves are lapping at the marble steps.

The camera moves closer, focusing on the stairs. Gabrielle and Xena are sitting one step above the water line; Eve is lying on her back, looking up at the sky, her head in her mother's lap. Xena is stroking Eve's hair slowly, talking to Gabrielle in a whisper.

Eve moves, Xena looks at her questioningly, but Eve smiles and shakes her head before getting up. She walks up the stairs to one of the columns and leans against it, apparently lost in thought.

XENA (to Gabrielle):
     She's all grown up.

GABRIELLE:
     Aren't we all?

Xena smiles.

GABRIELLE:
     We're very lucky, you know. It's not every parent that gets the chance to see their daughter find her place in the world.

Xena gives Gabrielle a searching look.

XENA (gently):
     Hope?

GABRIELLE (shakes her head, smiling sadly):
     We can't change the past. (nods in Eve's direction) But she's our future.

XENA (looks at Eve, then back to Gabrielle):
     We missed so much of her life...

GABRIELLE:
     But we've gained more.

They are silent, looking out at the rocky headlands in the distance, their base lost in the evening mist and sea spray as we:

FADE OUT

THE END

[Michael, Raphael and Uriel are purely fictional. Any resemblance to actual archangels, real or imagined, is entirely coincidental.]

Xena: Warrior Princess Shipper Seasons Season 7 Episode 9 Harbinger of Twilight Story By: Tango Written By: Tango Collage By: Aurora Images Gathered By: Aurora Cast Xena Lucy Lawless Gabrielle Renee O'Connor Eve Adrienne Wilkinson Ares Kevin Smith Michael Charles Mesure Raphael Tamati Rice Uriel Carmon Hanson Woman Emily Woods Old Woman Paula Frankenss Androcleia Heather Shine Salesman Mike Cameron Magistrate George Sents Original Airdate January 5, 2002 Michael, Raphael and Uriel are purely fictional. Any resemblance to actual archangels, real or imagined, is entirely coincidental. 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

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