ACT ONE

FADE IN

Xena looks troubled.

CALLISTO:
     I need your help, Xena.

GABRIELLE:
     Again?

CALLISTO (uncomfortable):
     I know I have no right to ask anything of you--not after you gave up your own salvation for me. But please--I have no one else to turn to. Michael is keeping me from joining my family.

XENA (heard enough):
     All right, that's enough. It's time Michael and I had a little chat.

CALLISTO:
     I can take you to see him.

XENA:
     Do it.

Gabrielle catches her arm.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena, wait! You sure you want to do this?

XENA:
     I have to do this.

Eve walks up to Xena and puts a hand on Xena's shoulder.

EVE:
     Please be careful, Mother. You know how Michael can be.

XENA:
     Don't worry. I can handle him. You know that. (to Callisto) Let's go.

Xena steps up next to Callisto and then looks at Gabrielle and Eve.

GABRIELLE (worried):
     Good luck.

EVE:
     We'll be here waiting for you.

Xena nods, then looks at Callisto and they disappear.

CUT TO

They appear in a quiet area of a forest where Xena finds Michael standing in the shadows. Callisto disappears, leaving Xena and Michael alone.

Xena's eyes narrow as she stares at Michael who has begun to slowly walk toward her.

MICHAEL:
     Well, it seems we meet again.

XENA:
     I wouldn't say it's a pleasure. (pause) So...what's your game this time, Michael? This is not exactly playing fair.

MICHAEL (innocently):
     Whatever do you mean?

XENA:
     You know very well what I mean. Callisto told me what happened to her. You condemned her to the life of a ghost because Eve gave up her duties as your god's messenger. Callisto's redemption had nothing to do with Eve or me following the faith of your god--it was something I bought with my own salvation. You had no right to do that to her.

MICHAEL:
     You are in no position to presume to understand how redemption works.

Xena's lip comes up into a snarl, clearly angered with Michael.

XENA:
     Try me.

MICHAEL:
     The simplified version is that as Callisto and Eve are the same being, spiritually, the sins that one commits affect the other.

He starts to walk around her slowly.

MICHAEL (continuing; changing the subject):
     I'm just curious, Xena. Are you in the habit of considering the consequences of your actions?

XENA:
     Don't change the subject. We were talking about your actions.

MICHAEL (jovially):
     We'll get there, never fear. But let's talk about you for a minute. You tricked Lucifer into taking your place in Hell. You turned against the agents of the Light, who had resurrected you after your crucifixion and given you a daughter. You restored Ares and Aphrodite to Olympus, and then all the other gods and thus, derailed the Twilight prophecy, which was meant to come true.

Xena's snarl begins to fade, but her face is still set. Michael stops circling her.

MICHAEL:
     How can you be so sure you didn't screw up the destiny of the whole world by doing that?

XENA:
     Simple. You gave me a daughter for your own purposes, and as I recall, you weren't at all opposed to the idea of me corrupting Lucifer. As for screwing up the world's destiny, it doesn't need me to do that. You seem to be doing just fine on your own.

MICHAEL:
     I am bringing about a change for the better--have you forgotten how cruel and despotic the ancient gods could be? The Twilight was supposed to begin a new era in the world and you single-handedly prevented it. How many people would be living happier lives if it weren't for you?

XENA:
     Off the top of my head--one. You.

MICHAEL:
     Eli's message--

XENA:
     Eli's message wasn't about your god destroying all other gods in the world! His message was that people are free to create their own destiny--and that neither the Olympians nor your God can have power that isn't theirs to take. It belongs to the people, who, frankly, could do a much better job of running the world than any god I've ever met.

MICHAEL:
     Is that so? Then answer me this, Xena. How could you ally yourself with Ares, who has tried again and again to lure you back to the path of war and darkness? He wishes to lead the world into darkness through you, so he, not the people, has all the power. I thought you'd given up on that path. You go around helping people and doing good and all the while, you still feel you must join Ares, the very soul of what I thought you were against.

Xena wavers a little at the mention of her alliance with Ares. She looks down for a moment. Michael sees her hesitation and grins slightly, not noticeable to Xena though.

MICHAEL:
     And don't forget, Xena, that after your ridiculous theatrics in Jappa, it was Eli and the God of Love who enabled you to come back to life--by steering the 40,000 souls to redemption and freeing them. How do you know that, now that you have openly set yourself against the God of Love, the souls haven't been lost again?

Xena looks up at him, visibly shaken.

XENA:
     Talk straight, Michael. What have you done to them?

MICHAEL:
     I can't answer that. You must look for the answer inside your own heart.

Xena hesitates and then suddenly, she is zapped out of sight in a burst of brilliant white light.

CUT TO

Xena appears in the middle of a desolate, gray, rocky, almost completely barren landscape, which stretches as far as the eye can see. Xena looks bewildered and she begins to walk, but soon bumps into an invisible wall that keeps her from going any further.

Michael's gleeful laughter suddenly fills the air and Xena looks around quickly.

MICHAEL'S VOICE:
     You are free to leave at any time, Xena...as soon as you feel completely free of guilt.

His voice fades in the air with another faint laugh. Xena continues to look around.

XENA (infuriated):
     Michael!!

CUT TO

Heaven. A spacious room. Callisto walks into it and down a hall to find Michael seated on a large golden chair. Callisto looks a little troubled.

MICHAEL:
     Ah! There you are--nice job!

CALLISTO:
     I'm not sure this is right, Michael.

MICHAEL:
     What, losing heart so soon? What about your family? No, no--we don't do things by halves around here. If you're to have your reward, you must complete your mission.

CALLISTO (looks at Michael a little worried):
     Will Xena be all right?

MICHAEL:
     Of course--she will be saved. And you will have repaid your debts.

Callisto looks around for a moment, still a little uncertain, and then walks away. Michael watches her leave and a gleeful smirk appears on his face.

CUT TO

Gabrielle and Eve are in the forest at a campsite. They are both sitting around a campfire, looking worried.

EVE:
     She's been gone an awfully long time, Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE:
     I know.

EVE:
     Hope nothing's gone wrong.

GABRIELLE (shakes her head):
     Me too.

Ares appears before them. He looks slightly concerned.

GABRIELLE:
     What's wrong?

ARES:
     Where's Xena?

GABRIELLE:
     She went off to talk to Michael about Callisto.

ARES:
     What?

GABRIELLE:
     It's a long story--but she's okay.

ARES (distracted):
     I can't feel her.

GABRIELLE (confused):
     You can't feel her?

ARES:
     No... (closes eyes; trying to reach out again) No, she's not in this world.

GABRIELLE:
     What do you mean?

ARES:
     The last time I didn't feel her was in Jappa... (he trails off)

Gabrielle and Eve glance at each other, now looking very worried as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT ONE