ACT TWO

FADE IN

A beautiful beach on the edge of town. In the distance are the rocky cliffs Gabrielle was admiring earlier. The camera tracks left to show the ruins of what had once been a temple colonnade. The steps lead directly into the sea; greenish tidemarks are visible on the marble.

Xena and Ares emerge from the market lane onto the beach; walk around the ruined temple and up the stairs. A few steps from the water level, they pause. The camera moves closer as Xena turns.

XENA:
     Okay, Ares. This is private enough. You wanted to talk?

ARES (innocently):
     Unless you have something else in mind?

XENA (smirks):
     Don't count on it.

ARES:
     Actually, it's about our mutual friend.

XENA (with disbelief):
     Our mutual friend. Ares--we have no mutual friends.

ARES:
     Well, you know--the enemy of my enemy--

XENA:
     I'm not your enemy...

Ares pauses and looks at her slyly. Xena winces.

XENA:
     All right, let's say that you're...not my enemy, either.

ARES:
     For the purposes of this discussion?

XENA:
     Something like that.

ARES:
     Works for me. As I was saying, I have a feeling our friend Michael has something...unpleasant...in the works.

XENA:
     Which is...?

ARES:
     I don't know. But something doesn't feel right.

Xena gives him a skeptical look.

ARES:
     It's in the ether, okay? This God of Love--or the angels--or whoever, they're doing something to it. It's like they're trying to tug at it.

XENA:
     Tug at the ether? Next you'll be telling me the fabric of the universe shrinks in the wash?

ARES:
     This is not a joke, Xena! They are trying to do something very ugly.

XENA:
     And you know this how?

ARES:
     What they're doing to the ether--it's like they are pulling the rug from under my feet. (exasperated) I can feel it!

XENA (snorts):
     Since when have you been so in touch with your feelings?

ARES (snapping):
     Oh I don't know--maybe since the only other time I've felt this, when they gave you the power to kill my entire family?!

There's a too-silent pause; Ares' last words seem to hang in the air.

XENA (stonily):
     I have to get back to Gabrielle. She's going to get worried.

She walks away briskly. Ares looks after her.

ARES (closes eyes briefly):
     Damn.

CUT TO

On the hillside, the archangels stand behind Eve. She is oblivious to their presence--they are invisible. Michael and Raphael look at the storyteller. Uriel looks at the gathered crowd.

URIEL (to Michael):
     I'm guessing we're not here to pick up chicks.

Raphael glares at him, Uriel grins.

MICHAEL (displeased that Eve isn't teaching):
     What's going on? This wasn't part of the plan.

OLD WOMAN:
     ...The Titans were born from the Earth and Sky, twelve mighty children of Gaia and Uranus. More than anything in the world, old Uranus feared losing his power--and so, as each of his children was born, he chained them in the depths of Tartarus. Furious at the imprisonment of her children, Gaia descended into Tartarus and helped the youngest of the Titans, Cronus, to rise up against his father and defeat him.

URIEL (humming):
     Mmm-hmmm... You say you want a revolution, we-ell, you knoooow... We all wanna change the world... (at Michael's scornful look) What? I'm just listening to the story.

OLD WOMAN:
     And so that which old Uranus feared most indeed happened--he lost his power to his own children.

LITTLE GIRL BESIDE EVE:
     But if he hadn't been mean to them, Gaia wouldn't have helped Cronus, right, grandma?

The old woman chuckles.

OLD WOMAN:
     You're a clever girl, Androcleia. But listen to the story.

ANDROCLEIA:
     Okay.

OLD WOMAN:
     The Titans began to rule over the world. But Cronus was a tyrant, every bit as bad as the father he had killed. And just like Uranus, Cronus feared his own children. One by one, he devoured them all--Hestia, Demeter, Hades, Poseidon, then Hera. Once again, it was up to Gaia to try to set things right. She helped Cronus's wife, Rhea, to hide her youngest child, Zeus, from her power-crazed husband.

ANDROCLEIA:
     And then Zeus freed his brothers and sisters and fought the Titans, right?

OLD WOMAN:
     Right. Just as Cronus had defeated Uranus, so did Zeus defeat Cronus, and imprison the other Titans in Tartarus.

RAPHAEL:
     This is fascinating, Michael, but what does it have to do with us? Unless I'm much mistaken, Eve is supposed to be preaching to them and not the other way around?

URIEL (stifling a yawn):
     All right, Eve failed the test. Her faith isn't strong enough, blah, blah. Let's get out of here and find someone else.

MICHAEL (to both of them):
     We're not giving up that easily. I have an idea.

RAPHAEL (mutters):
     Oh, goody. Who ends up in Hell this time?

MICHAEL:
     What was that?

RAPHAEL:
     Never mind.

Michael comes forward and lays his hands on the head of the little girl sitting next to Eve--Androcleia. A white light envelops her for an instant then fades. Michael steps back.

MICHAEL (to Raphael):
     From the mouths of babes...

ANDROCLEIA (with a newfound hint of nastiness in her voice):
     But that's not the end of the story, is it, grandma?

The old woman looks uncomfortable.

OLD WOMAN:
     What do you mean, little one?

ANDROCLEIA:
     Well, Uranus was scared of his kids, and tried to kill them--but he failed and Cronus won. Then Cronus tried the same thing, and Zeus won. So--go on! Zeus was afraid of another child, wasn't he? And he tried to kill her.

She gets up and points down to Eve. Startled, Eve looks up.

ANDROCLEIA:
     It was her! Zeus was scared of her, and then he died...

OLD WOMAN:
     Androcleia! Sit down this instant--you will offend our guest.

EVE:
     No, no--it's all right...

She gets up and turns to the girl.

EVE:
     It's not me that Zeus feared, Androcleia, but the God of Eli.

ANDROCLEIA:
     Fine. So this new God then--he is more powerful than Zeus was, right?

EVE (uncomfortably):
     Yes. But his power is different--He is the God of Love.

ANDROCLEIA:
     Doesn't matter. Cronus killed Uranus. Zeus killed Cronus. This God of Love you follow killed Zeus. They're all as bad as each other, and you want us to follow this evil god of yours?!

There are murmurs in the crowd--Androcleia's words are making sense to some.

OLD WOMAN:
     What's gotten into the child? Androcleia, stop this nonsense! You have to excuse her, Eve; she's tired...

ANDROCLEIA:
     No! This woman wants us to follow her nasty god! She's bad! Bad, bad, bad!

Eve turns around frantically, trying to make herself heard over the chattering crowd.

EVE:
     No, you don't understand--Eli's God is not evil. It's not like that...

ANDROCLEIA:
     How is it then? Didn't you say he's all about-- (mockingly) Peace and love? Well, I don't think he's any different to those other gods!

OTHERS IN THE CROWD:
     She's right!

Androcleia and the others are getting more and more excited. The old woman tries in vain to restore order. Eve looks around at the faces of the children and young people gathered around her, she is horrified.

EVE (softly):
     God...is good. Please, believe me!

We cut back to the archangels watching this; Uriel pats Michael on the back.

URIEL:
     Why, Michael--I'm impressed.

RAPHAEL (sourly):
     You would be.

MICHAEL:
     Nothing like a little attack on one's faith to banish doubts.

EVE (to the rowdy crowd):
     Listen, please! Please!

No one listens. Sobbing, Eve pushes her way out of the crowd and runs.

The three archangels watch her leave.

RAPHAEL (to Michael):
     Now look what you've done!

URIEL:
     Somehow, I don't think this counts as an unqualified success.

MICHAEL (thoughtfully):
     We'll see.

CUT TO

Back at the marketplace, Gabrielle is paying a merchant for some scrolls. She is holding a few wrapped parcels; quills are visible in one.

SALESMAN:
     There you are, miss--your change.

GABRIELLE (smiling):
     Thank you.

She looks up and sees Xena striding towards her, her face set. A few startled people move hastily out of her way.

GABRIELLE (scared):
     Xena? What's wrong?

She touches Xena's arm, trying to look into her face.

GABRIELLE:
     It's Ares, isn't it? What did he want from you? I knew I shouldn't have let you go alone!

XENA (jerking away):
     Don't baby me, Gabrielle!

Gabrielle looks startled, then hurt. She clutches the parcels to her chest, looking squarely at Xena. After a moment, Xena's defensive stance eases a little.

XENA (sighs):
     Let's just...get out of here, okay?

GABRIELLE:
     And go where?

XENA:
     Somewhere quiet.

GABRIELLE (after a pause):
     All right. And you're going to tell me just what is going on.

XENA (smiles weakly):
     Have you always been this bossy?

GABRIELLE:
     Yep. And you love me for it.

XENA (laughs, rolling her eyes):
     Sure...

She puts her arm around Gabrielle and they walk away from the market.

CUT TO

Forest. Eve is sitting on a fallen log. She is holding a long thin branch, swirling it absentmindedly in the fallen leaves at her feet. Finally, she drops the branch and looks up at the patches of sky visible through the canopy.

EVE:
     Eli...I don't know if you can hear me. But--you've heard my prayers in the past... You helped to restore my mother's life, and gave me back my own life, when I was lost as Livia. For all of that and more, I can never be grateful enough. But--I can't do this anymore, Eli. I can't be your messenger. (she kneels) Forgive me.

MICHAEL'S VOICE OFF-CAMERA:
     Eve, Eve, Eve... Why the melodrama? You were doing so well.

Eve raises her face to see Michael standing over her. She scrambles to her feet and takes a hurried step back.

EVE:
     I was praying to Eli.

MICHAEL:
     Eli has moved on, Eve. He is with God now, just as he wished. But his message lives, in you. Through you, it will live in the whole world. You are the Messenger.

EVE:
     And what if I don't want to be the Messenger anymore?

MICHAEL (kindly):
     Now, why might that be?

EVE (disconcerted by his unexpected warmth):
     These people...they're happy as they are. They don't need my message, Michael.

MICHAEL (laughs dismissively):
     Nonsense! Everyone needs your message. Who can afford to shun love and peace?

EVE:
     They have enough love and peace! I'm only offending them by staying here. I feel like a hypocrite!

MICHAEL:
     And what do you call that little scene back there? (he motions with his chin) Those people chased you out. Hardly peaceful.

EVE:
     It would have been, if I hadn't tried to preach. (thoughtfully) They were just kids. And they had a point.

MICHAEL (worried and trying not to show it):
     How so?

EVE:
     Why did the Olympians have to be killed?

MICHAEL:
     Well, now. You understand all that, don't you? They were scared of losing their power, so they tried to kill you. Your mother had no choice about their deaths--she was protecting you.

EVE:
     Why couldn't God protect me?!

MICHAEL:
     Don't be a fool, Eve. God did protect you. Through your mother. She was doing the will of God and she'll have her reward, just as you will.

EVE:
     My mother will be rewarded for killing the Olympians?

MICHAEL:
     Eve, the Olympian gods had great power, and they used it for terrible, wicked things. Our God is good, and just. He rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked.

EVE:
     I don't want a reward for doing anyone's dirty work--and I'm sure my mother doesn't, either. Preaching here is wrong. And I won't do it.

MICHAEL:
     Only God can decide what is or is not wrong. Humble yourself before the God of Love, Eve--before it is too late. Pride is a terrible sin.

XENA'S VOICE OFF-CAMERA:
     If I didn't know better, Michael, I'd say you were trying to scare her.

Michael turns abruptly. Xena and Gabrielle come out from behind some trees.

MICHAEL:
     Well, isn't it nice that you do know better then, Xena? Because if I didn't know better, I'd say you've forgotten the consequences of sin.

GABRIELLE (quietly):
     Hell...

MICHAEL:
     Ah, see--Gabrielle recalls.

Xena shudders slightly at the memories.

MICHAEL:
     Now, unless you like the idea of Eve sharing the fate of the gods, I suggest you stop trying to prevent her from following her calling.

XENA:
     The gods are in Hell?!

MICHAEL:
     Of course.

He waves his arm and an undulating black window warps out of the air in front of them.

MICHAEL:
     See for yourself.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO