FADE IN

A hallways in Pygmalion's palace. A commotion is heard behind the closed doors of a hall. The doors are thrown open and Pygmalion runs out, followed by several counselors.

COUNSELOR #1:
     Your majesty--come back! The meeting's only just started!

PYGMALION (clearly distraught):
     Leave me alone!

COUNSELOR #2:
     These are urgent matters! The villages are rebelling!

PYGMALION:
     I don't care!

He takes off running with the counselors following him. As he turns a corner, he bumps into a palace guard running toward him and they both fall. Two counselors help Pygmalion to his feet.

COUNSELOR #1:
     Your majesty, are you all right?

PYGMALION (abruptly):
     No, I'm not! I said, leave me alone!

GUARD (scrambles to his feet):
     I'm sorry, your majesty--we have a situation outside. Another riot--this one is worse than ever--they're threatening to burn the palace down--

PYGMALION:
     Well, you're supposed to keep the peace! Do your job and stop them!

GUARD:
     We're trying! Your majesty, if you were to come out and talk to them, tell them to calm down--maybe they'll stop...

PYGMALION (with bitter irony):
     Really? As if the people still had any respect for me. If they want to riot, they'll riot--there's nothing I can do about it.

GUARD (can't contain himself any longer):
     And whose fault is that? (Pygmalion gives him a shocked look; the guard seems shocked by his own boldness but continues) I'm sorry, sir, but you've locked yourself up in this palace for weeks on end, paying no attention to anything that's going on... No wonder the people don't respect you!

There is a long, uncomfortable silence. The guard looks frightened. Pygmalion looks furious at first but then sighs, his face softening. He turns from the guard and the counselors.

PYGMALION:
     Just...do what you can to stop them and leave me be. I want to be alone.

He walks away.

CUT TO

Pygmalion's chamber. Pygmalion is standing by the window looking out on the city and the setting sun. The shouts of rioters are heard from the distance.

PYGMALION (nearly crying):
     I've lost her. I've lost everything. Where are you, Galatea? Who could have stolen you? How?

FEMALE VOICE (off-camera, far below):
     Down with Pygmalion!

PYGMALION (sighs):
     They're right. I don't deserve to be the king.

APHRODITE (off-screen):
     Oh, honey. You just need some pointers.

Pygmalion turns around, startled to find Aphrodite standing by a large indoor fern, popping a grape in her mouth from a bowl that sits on the table beside her. Pygmalion looks very startled.

PYGMALION:
     Who are you?

APHRODITE:
     Chill, sweetie. I'm not going to hurt you. Do I look like the type?

PYGMALION (calms down):
     No. I guess not. So why are you here? Where did you come from? (bitterly) Just another meddling woman?

APHRODITE:
     Nope. (smiles) Another meddling goddess. (he looks at her, wide-eyed) Goddess of Love.

PYGMALION (shocked):
     Go-Goddess of Love?

APHRODITE:
     That's right.

PYGMALION:
     And you're here to--

APHRODITE:
     Do a little intervention. (sighs, puts her hands on her heart) It's so sweet that you've fallen in love with your own creation...such a beautiful piece of work.

PYGMALION (gasps):
     Galatea! You know where she is, don't you? You can bring her back to me?

APHRODITE (beams, popping another grape in her mouth):
     Think big, hon. I'm a goddess. I can do a lot more than that.

PYGMALION (stunned):
     You mean--make her real?

APHRODITE:
     You got it.

Pygmalion's face reflects a mix of joy, bewilderment, and apprehension.

CUT TO

The square where the guards are trying in vain to contain the rioters, some of them armed with torches. There are many men in the crowd as well as women. Some fights are already breaking out.

Xena's ululating battle cry cuts through the noise of the crowd and brings everything to a halt. Xena soars over the crowd, doing a spectacular flip in the air, lands on the shoulders of one of the guards (who groans and winces) and then jumps down on the ground, taking a fighting stance, a feral grin on her face.

XENA:
     All right. Break it up.

WOMAN #1:
     No! The king's got it coming!

CROWD (roars):
     Yeah!

GABRIELLE (off-screen):
     This isn't the way to make things better!

The camera pans over to show Gabrielle coming toward Xena. With her is Galatea.

WOMAN #2 (pointing to Galatea, puzzled):
     Who's that?

XENA:
     It's your king's bride. (smiles) And once she becomes his wife, I have a hunch that everything will be different.

CUT TO

Xena and Gabrielle walk into Pygmalion's chambers.

PYGMALION (looks at Xena):
     Oh...it's you again. (looks to Gabrielle) And you--you're the one who was here two days ago pretending to be my servant, aren't you? (understanding dawns on him) You're working together.

GABRIELLE:
     We just want to help.

The door opens, and Galatea walks in.

PYGMALION (looks at her, amazed):
     Who's she?

APHRODITE (giggles):
     Honey, you ought to recognize her. It's--

PYGMALION (gasps, his eyes widening with surprise and then joy):
     Galatea!

He runs toward her to embrace her.

GALATEA:
     Pygmalion. (smiles at him tenderly but sadly)

PYGMALION (to Aphrodite):
     You--you gave her a soul!

GALATEA (shakes her head):
     She only gave me life, Pygmalion. My soul was born the moment you first looked at me with love. Every time you touched my face or held my hand or brought me flowers or kissed me, my soul became more real. By the time Aphrodite brought me to life, I already loved you back.

PYGMALION (joyfully):
     Galatea! (he leans forward to kiss her but stops in his tracks when he sees the tears in her eyes) What's wrong, my darling?

GALATEA:
     Pygmalion, I've spent this day in the city with my friends. (points to Xena and Gabrielle) And everywhere I went, I was told that I wasn't allowed to do this or that because I'm a woman. Because of laws that you passed. (she sighs) I had only just become a human being--and then suddenly, I was being treated...as if I was less than that.

PYGMALION (looks deeply disturbed):
     I'm so sorry... I never thought that I-- (stumbles)

XENA:
     That you would hurt someone you loved? That's the way it goes. It was my idea for your girlfriend to have a day on the town before you met her in the flesh--so to speak. I thought she should know how the man who says he loves her treats people like herself.

Pygmalion hangs his head in shame.

GABRIELLE:
     Pygmalion, what made you feel that way about women? You seem to have a good heart...

PYGMALION:
     Well, it started with my mother. Everyone says she was such a great queen, but trust me, you wouldn't want to have her for a mother. I never saw any kindness from her; all she cared about was preparing me for my job as the king. I could never do anything right as far as Mother was concerned. She even hated my passion for sculpture because she thought it wasn't a fit hobby for a king. The only one she cared about was my younger sister--she always got babied and coddled and got away with everything. Such a brat! I sent her into exile the moment I became king.

XENA:
     So you got a beef with women because your mother and sister were mean to you. (teasing) Isn't that just like a man.

PYGMALION (looks down, embarrassed):
     It wasn't just that... When I was eighteen years old, I fell in love with a beautiful girl named Hilara. She told me she loved me. And then one day, I came to see her when she wasn't expecting me, and I overheard her talking to her nanny. She said that... (he pauses, struggling to get out the words) She said that she actually loved somebody else, but she wanted to marry me because I was the prince. And once she married me, she was going to use my position and my riches to advance the career of the man she really loved.

GABRIELLE (sighs sympathetically):
     That's terrible.

PYGMALION:
     So I vowed that I would never marry and that I'd do whatever I could to punish women for their treachery.

XENA (shakes her head):
     Pygmalion, Pygmalion. You can't blame all women just because a few of them have been rotten to you. (teasing) Otherwise, women would take one look at a guy like you and start hating all men, and then where would we be?

PYGMALION (nods):
     Yes, I understand that now. (turns to Galatea) My love, I'm so sorry that I've wronged you. I promise--the first thing I'll do is repeal those stupid decrees.

XENA:
     And you're going to start paying a little more attention to your job, right?

GABRIELLE (smiling):
     At least once you're back from your honeymoon.

PYGMALION (his face lights up):
     Honeymoon... (turns to Galatea, who is smiling at him) Are you ready to be my queen?

GALATEA:
     I'm ready to be your wife.

They embrace and capture each other's lips in a longing, loving kiss. Xena and Gabrielle smile as they look on, while Aphrodite is sniffing and holding a handkerchief, dabbing at her eyes. After a few moments Pygmalion and Galatea break apart, still holding hands.

PYGMALION (to Aphrodite):
     You saved my life. How can I ever repay you?

APHRODITE:
     Oh, sweetie. Don't make it sound like a chore. (pause) Xena will let you know what you can do.

PYGMALION (to Xena and Gabrielle):
     I'm indebted to you, too. Tell me, what can I--

XENA:
     Just be a good king, Pygmalion. That should be enough.

CUT TO

The palace square, where the people are getting restless again. The noise of the crowd grows louder.

Pygmalion, holding Galatea's hand, comes out on the front steps of the palace. Xena and Gabrielle follow behind. The noise dies down.

VOICES IN THE CROWD:
     -- It's the king!
     -- Holding a woman's hand!
     -- It's a miracle!

PYGMALION:
     Men... (pauses, then emphatically) and women of Cyprus! This woman, Galatea, is going to be my wife!

There is a long, stunned silence. Then, a few people in the crowd start to applaud and cheer. In a few moments the whole crowd is clapping and cheering. The camera pans back to the palace steps, where a guard standing behind the king sighs in obvious relief.

PYGMALION:
     And I promise you that from now on, things will be different in this kingdom!

GUARD (mutters):
     Thank the gods!

The camera pans to Aphrodite, who is perched on the ledge of a palace window, smiling.

APHRODITE (to herself):
     Well, at least that expression actually fits the situation this time.

PYGMALION:
     And one more thing. (looks at Galatea, then glances at Xena and Gabrielle) I want to apologize to all the women of this kingdom. From now on, I'll treat you with the respect you deserve.

The crowd bursts into even louder cheers. Pygmalion and Galatea kiss, then wave to the crowd. Xena and Gabrielle exchange pleased looks.

CUT TO

Xena and Gabrielle walking through a city street. It's evening.

GABRIELLE:
     I hope Darion's going to be okay. That village girl we left him with was pretty young...

XENA:
     She was doing a pretty good job with her younger brothers.

As they round a corner, Aphrodite appears next to them in a flash of golden light.

XENA:
     Aphrodite. (smiles) I guess our work here is done.

APHRODITE (beaming):
     Aren't they just the sweetest couple you've ever seen?

XENA (chuckles):
     Don't you say that about every couple? Especially if you've had a hand in bringing them together?

APHRODITE (pouts):
     Well, you've got a point. But Pygmalion and Galatea--they're really special. I'll be checking in on them once in a while.

GABRIELLE (puts a hand affectionately on her arm):
     Thanks for your help, Aphrodite.

APHRODITE:
     Well, I think I've done enough for today. Got places to be. (looks at Xena and Gabrielle) Toodles! (she disappears)

GABRIELLE:
     So, what now?

XENA (smiles):
     Now, maybe we'll have that vacation.

GABRIELLE:
     Yeah, we haven't had much time for that.

CUT TO

The next morning. Xena, Gabrielle and Darion are sitting on the porch eating apples.

DARION:
     So the mean man is going to marry that beautiful lady.

GABRIELLE:
     He really wasn't that mean, sweetie. Just misguided.

There is a flash of blue light and Ares appears in front of them.

ARES:
     So, Sis tells me you two saved the day once again.

GABRIELLE:
     We couldn't have done it without her.

Ares and Xena gaze tenderly at each other. Gabrielle catches their look, looks at them thoughtfully and then gets up.

GABRIELLE (to Darion):
     Hey. Want to go pick some berries?

DARION:
     No, I want to stay here! Maybe Ares and I can play with toy soldiers!

Ares and Xena give him an amused look.

GABRIELLE:
     Not now, sweetie. Come on.

She takes Darion's hand and they walk away. Xena gets up and she and Ares continue to stare at each other.

ARES:
     So. (grins) You wanna play?

XENA (very serious):
     Ares...

ARES (obviously a little nervous):
     Yeah?

XENA:
     You know, over these past few days, I realized something. (sighs) I've probably known it for a while...but I can't deny it anymore. Not to you, not to anyone else...and not to myself.

ARES (anxiously):
     What?

She reaches up and rests her hand on his cheek, stroking it gently.

XENA:
     I love you.

Ares looks shocked. They stare into each other's eyes; Ares' eyes light up, and he takes Xena's face in his hands and kisses her with such passion that she is momentarily taken aback, but then responds to him with equal fervor. When he pulls back, he looks at her again.

ARES (deeply moved):
     I wasn't sure I'd ever hear you say it. (Xena smiles at him tenderly; he lifts a hand and touches her face) I love you.

XENA (rests her hand on his):
     I know. I've known it for a long time.

Xena leans toward him, kissing him again. They quickly melt into a deep, passionate kiss.

CUT TO

Xena and Ares sitting together under a tree, locked in another kiss. Tiny sparkling golden dust start to rain down on them, and the camera pans up the tree to see Aphrodite lounging on a branch, sprinkling the dust over Xena and Ares. The dust dissolves around them. Aphrodite is grinning happily.

The camera slowly moves away to get a wide shot of the whole scene. Gabrielle and Darion are coming back toward the house. They stop as they see Xena and Ares embracing under the tree and Gabrielle smiles as we:

FADE OUT

THE END

[Xena and Gabrielle struck a blow for women's rights during the production of this motion picture.]

Xena: Warrior Princess Shipper Seasons Season 8 Episode 4 Love's Creation Story By: Aurora Written By: Aurora and LadyKate Edited By: LadyKate Collage By: Aurora Images Gathered By: Aurora Cast Xena Lucy Lawless Gabrielle Renee O'Connor Ares Kevin Smith Darion Alexander Gandar Pygmalion Brian Renner Galatea Sarah Inbody Aphrodite Alexandra Tydings Original Airdate December 5, 2002 Xena and Gabrielle struck a blow for women's rights during the production of this motion picture. 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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