ACT THREE

FADE IN

Xena, Gabrielle and Eve watch in horrified fascination as Michael makes a motion with his hand. Ripples radiate from the center of the black window and it expands, filling the screen.

A dark, leaden river becomes visible. Translucent gray shadows are milling about on the far bank. A ferry moves noiselessly through the water without disturbing it.

MICHAEL (voice over):
     The river Styx. Beyond it lies what you like to refer to as the Underworld.

As he speaks, the camera moves forward. We glide past the river and the shades of the dead, moving quickly over the desolate dark gray landscape. Occasionally, a face comes into view--invariably blank and expressionless.

MICHAEL (voice over):
     This, Xena, is a vast domain. A labyrinth, if you will, that spirals deep into an eternity of darkness. The Underworld is merely the outermost circle. Beyond it lies Tartarus.

The view changes from flat rocky terrain to ragged peaks of bare black stone. We approach one such mountain, riddled with caverns. Heart-rending moans are coming from inside.

MICHAEL (voice over):
     Watch.

Several gray shades approach the red-glowing mouth of a cavern. A whirlwind rises around them, and they are sucked into the opening.

Cut back to Xena and Gabrielle, watching the portal.

GABRIELLE:
     What happened to them?!

MICHAEL:
     They have moved down to Tartarus. Progressed, if you will.

XENA:
     Like the purification ritual in Heaven, huh? Only instead of spiraling upwards towards the Light, they descend into Darkness. The Underworld, then Tartarus, then Hell...

MICHAEL:
     Very good! You do catch on quickly, Warrior Princess. As you have figured out, there are only two ways out of this world--downwards, spiraling into Darkness--or upwards, towards the Light. (to Eve) Quite a simple choice, really.

EVE:
     Is that what happened to Eli? He--ascended to the Light?

MICHAEL:
     Indeed.

XENA:
     I'd love to stay and talk philosophy, but I don't see the gods.

MICHAEL:
     Patience, Xena.

We follow his gaze as he motions back to the portal. We're now inside the caves of Tartarus. The slimy walls glow red. It looks like the cave where Xena found Solan in "God Fearing Child". People forced to watch their earthly lives cry and moan in distress.

XENA (voice over):
     Get to the point!

MICHAEL (voice over):
     Just as you wish.

We whirl through more caverns so quickly that they seem barely a blur, then come to a sudden stop. Dark, almost growling, music sounds in the background. Here, everything is black with a tinge of blue. A massive gate rises up ahead, topped with flaming torches, smoking into the blackness above. Over the gate is an ornate rusty sign.

MICHAEL (voice over):
     Behold, the gateway to the kingdom of Hell. My guess is that the dead gods are here--if they haven't already...progressed...beyond it.

GABRIELLE (voice over):
     What does the sign say?

MICHAEL (voice over):
     That depends entirely on you. I wouldn't recommend looking too closely.

GABRIELLE (voice over):
     I want to see.

MICHAEL (voice over):
     Suit yourself.

The camera focuses on the sign, panning across it slowly from left to right. It reads: "Abandon Hope, and you will enter here".

Cut back to Gabrielle's horrified face.

XENA:
     What is it, Gabrielle?

Gabrielle looks at Michael for a moment; her face is pale and vulnerable, then turns around and flees into the forest. Michael looks after her with a touch of regret.

XENA:
     Gabrielle!!! Where are you going?! (to Michael) What did you show her?

MICHAEL (shakes his head sadly):
     There are horrors untold in Hell, Xena, and more horrors hidden deeper still, feeding on the demons inside every soul. Gabrielle has merely glimpsed the surface of her own fears.

EVE (interrupting with sudden determination):
     Show me.

XENA:
     Eve! No, you don't want... This is crazy!

EVE:
     I need to know! (to Michael) Show me!!

MICHAEL:
     Then look, Messenger of Eli.

The camera follows Eve's eyes as she looks at the sign. This time, it reads: "You shall honor your mother and father".

Cut to Eve's shocked face.

EVE:
     My father?!

XENA:
     What?!

MICHAEL:
     He who placed Callisto's soul in your mother's body. Who gave you life. The God of Love is your father in everything but flesh, Eve. And you're betraying Him.

Eve shakes her head violently.

EVE (anguished):
     You never stop, do you? It never stops!!

She runs away after Gabrielle.

XENA:
     All right, that's it. This magical mystery tour is over--

Suddenly, a series of short, high-pitched shrieks come from the portal. Xena and Michael turn to look.

The gate has opened slightly. Three shades are dragged into the seething, boiling darkness beyond, shrieking in agony. They try to run back, but the ground beneath their feet carries them inexorably closer to the threshold of Hell. They continue to run uselessly and scream as the gates slam shut, cutting them off.

The air around the portal wavers and the window disappears. Cut back to Michael, lowering his hand. He looks at Xena.

XENA (shaking with rage):
     Get out! Do you hear me--get away from me!

MICHAEL (winces):
     I'm not deaf, Xena.

Xena draws her sword.

XENA:
     No, only dumb.

MICHAEL:
     Wouldn't you like a glimpse of your demons, Warrior Princess?

XENA (sneering):
     I know the face of every one.

She points the tip of the sword to Michael's chest.

MICHAEL:
     Are you absolutely sure of that?

White light pierces her eyes; Xena drops the sword and shields her face with her arm. When she looks up, Michael is gone.

Xena stamps on the hilt of the sword, flipping it back into her hand and whirls the weapon overhead. With a cry of anguished rage, she brings her whole body forward to drive the weapon into the ground.

There is a swish of light behind her.

ARES:
     You could put that to better use. Like clipping some wings.

Xena straightens jerkily, but doesn't turn. Ares walks around to her. He gives the sword hilt a twist and pulls it free.

ARES:
     You ought to take better care of that blade, you know--it's practically an antique.

He swings the weapon experimentally. Xena snatches it out of his grasp and returns it to the scabbard on her back.

XENA:
     Oh, I think it's in perfect condition--given that it's spent twenty-five years of its life on ice! Thanks for reminding me to whom I owe that.

ARES:
     It might sound a little crazy, Xena--but when someone you...care about...drinks poison and dies before your eyes; you don't tend to think they're faking! It didn't have to be that way! If you'd have just trusted me, for once.

XENA:
     Trusted you?! Trusted you with the life of my child, after everything you put me through?

ARES:
     I was willing to protect you both!

XENA:
     In return for what?! My body? My soul?

She draws her sword, advancing.

XENA:
     My sword?

ARES:
     Xena...it wasn't--

XENA:
     You wanna tell me that none of it was your fault? Huh?

She swings the sword at him; he draws and parries the blow.

ARES:
     I never said that!

XENA:
     Say it, then...

Swords clash again.

XENA:
     Go ahead!

She lunges again and again, Ares parrying each time, but not going on the offensive.

XENA:
     What's the matter? Not in the mood?!

Screaming, she swings her sword again; it swishes past Ares' neck.

ARES (dodging the blade):
     You're fighting the wrong god!

Xena holds the sword at Ares' neck, breathing hard. The camera pans around, showing Xena's face. Anger gives way to regret. At length, she lowers her sword.

ARES:
     You wanna tell me what this is about?

Xena's face softens slightly.

XENA:
     Other than you being a manipulative bastard?

ARES:
     Other than that.

Xena sheathes her sword.

XENA:
     Michael.

ARES:
     Ah. So I'm not the only manipulative bastard around?

XENA:
     Apparently not. (uncomfortably) Ares, about your family...

ARES (shrugs):
     It's over now.

XENA:
     That's just it. It's not.

She licks her dry lips.

XENA:
     The gods...are in Hell.

The camera focuses on Ares' face for a moment.

CUT TO

Another part of the forest. Gabrielle is leaning against a tree, her eyes closed. A tear is rolling down her cheek. There is a rustling noise, Gabrielle's eyes fly open--it's Eve, walking up to her.

EVE:
     Gabrielle--are you all right? What did the sign show you?

GABRIELLE (closes her eyes again):
     The past.

EVE:
     Can I ask you something?

Gabrielle opens her eyes.

GABRIELLE:
     Sure.

EVE:
     Was my mother surprised when she found out she was pregnant?

GABRIELLE (smiles despite herself):
     I'd say. (lovingly) You were the best surprise she'd had in years. A beautiful little girl.

Her smile wavers and fades. Her voice becomes more wistful and pained, remembering.

GABRIELLE:
     A beautiful, perfect little girl, to hold and cradle, and love... To watch her sigh in her sleep. To soothe her when she cries and see her smile at you so peacefully, and know that everything is all right in the world, and she is everything you need...

EVE:
     You--had a child, too.

GABRIELLE (shaking her head):
     No...

EVE:
     What was her name?

GABRIELLE (whispers):
     ...Hope.

EVE:
     Oh, Gabrielle... What happened to her?

GABRIELLE:
     I killed her.

CUT TO

Ares and Xena. Ares nods, once.

ARES:
     Hell. So that's where dead gods go.

XENA:
     Yeah. (looks at Ares, shaking her head slightly) I'm sorry.

ARES (digesting this information):
     Well... It's a god eat god world.

XENA:
     Once, you told me this was your world. (shudders) When you were trying to warn me about Dahak and his cult.

ARES:
     And you said that before that, it had belonged to the Titans, until Zeus chained them in Tartarus. That we deserved a taste of our own medicine.

Xena flinches.

XENA:
     I'm not going to make the same mistake again. The gods were petty, and cruel...

ARES:
     ...and plagued mankind with suffering...

XENA (looking at him oddly):
     You're not exactly helping your case here.

Ares gives her an innocent look; Xena shakes her head.

ARES (sighs):
     Look, Xena--I know that we had our faults. But each of us had only our own slice of power. This God is gathering it all up--to himself.

XENA:
     That's right... (thoughtfully) No one should control all the power of creation. There's no room in this world for one god.

ARES (grins):
     I thought that was my line?

There is a slight pause--then Xena moves closer.

XENA (looking at him):
     Maybe for once, our lines have crossed.

She holds Ares' gaze; close-up as he, too, moves towards her.

ARES (dropping his voice):
     Stranger things have happened...

XENA:
     Like someone tugging at the ether?

ARES (normal voice):
     That, too.

XENA (with a little smile):
     You were going to tell me about it.

CUT TO

Gabrielle and Eve, now sitting down by the tree.

EVE:
     It must have been awful for you, thinking about her. Watching me.

GABRIELLE:
     Hope wasn't...wasn't a child. She was never really mine--she belonged to her father. Dahak. But--yes. It was hard.

EVE:
     I'm so sorry, Gabrielle. So sorry.

Gabrielle takes Eve's face in her hands. Close-up as she talks.

GABRIELLE:
     You must promise me never to compare yourself with her, Eve. Never, do you understand? (harshly, but with determination) Hope was just a vessel for evil, nothing else. I know that. I don't blame Hope--she never had a choice. But you do. That's what makes all of us human. In your heart, you always know what's right, if you look deep enough.

She releases Eve. Eve sighs and looks down.

EVE:
     When I was... When I still thought I was Livia, and I was about to kill my mother--the God of Eli stopped me. I felt such--peace. Love. It was real, and it... It changed me. (bitterly) And now, I find out that I was made as a pawn, so that my mother could kill the Olympian gods--made by the same god whose love I thought I felt then. How can that be, Gabrielle?

GABRIELLE (sincerely):
     I don't know, Eve. But I'll tell you this: a man I once...knew...told me that when he had been about to kill a man, the same thing happened to him. His god revealed himself, and the man felt such love, that he knew that he would not kill. (she looks directly at Eve) That god was Dahak.

EVE:
     Dahak?

GABRIELLE:
     Yes. Love, Eve--it's in your heart. It doesn't come from above.

There is movement in the trees. Eve and Gabrielle jump up, Gabrielle drawing her sais. Something hits the tree behind them--a rock.

GABRIELLE:
     Watch out!

She and Eve huddle near the tree, covering their heads with their arms, as they are pelted with stones from the bushes around them.

GABRIELLE (yells):
     Who are you? What do you want?

A GIRL'S VOICE:
     Hold it!

The attack stops. Gabrielle and Eve watch in astonishment as children step out of hiding spots. The camera pans around quickly--they are surrounded. A little girl holding a slingshot steps forward--it's Androcleia.

ANDROCLEIA:
     I'm Androcleia, and we-- (she motions at the others) --want the woman who calls herself the Messenger to leave our island.

GABRIELLE:
     What? Why?

ANDROCLEIA:
     She's trying to get us to follow her evil god!

There are cries of agreement among the children.

EVE:
     I'm really, really sorry--I didn't mean to hurt you...

The kids raise their slingshots threateningly.

ANDROCLEIA:
     Unless you leave, Messenger--we mean to hurt you.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT THREE