8.08 This Is Your Life II


ACT TWO

FADE IN

Night at Ares' temple. Xena and Ares are in bed, under silk black covers (as in SUCCESSION). Xena is asleep with her head against Ares' chest; Ares has his arms around her. He is awake, looking up into the darkness with an expression of pure bliss.

GABRIELLE:
     I can't believe it--you really were willing to give up Olympus, even back then.

ARES:
     Looks that way, doesn't it.

XENA (somewhat bitterly):
     Sure--if you got something in return. (sighs, off Ares' look) It's okay.

Xena opens her eyes, stares at Ares' chest for a moment in incomprehension, then winces and starts to move away. Ares catches her hand.

ARES (kissing her wrist):
     Good morning.

Xena's face softens; she touches his face, then smiles.

XENA:
     Mm. That was--quite an alliance.

ARES:
     We're gonna make a great team.

XENA:
     You think?

ARES:
     Oh, I know.

XENA (sultry):
     Prove it.

ARES:
     With pleas---

They are interrupted by a baby's wail.

GABRIELLE (wryly, to Eve):
     Timing!

Eve can't help a small smirk.

ARES (resigned):
     That'd be time for breakfast.

CUT TO

Xena enters a back room in the temple, Ares a step behind. It has been converted to a nursery, Eve's cot is in the center, surrounded by some chairs. There are toys all over the floor, and a mobile of birds over the cot. Gabrielle is sitting in one of the chairs, holding Eve, who is still crying.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena! I think she's hungry.

Xena takes Eve, who quiets immediately, and prepares to feed her.

XENA:
     Thanks. (looks around) Where's Mom?

GABRIELLE:
     She went to--

ARES (also looking around):
     --to pick up more baby toys?

GABRIELLE:
     As a matter of fact... (clears her throat) --yes. Xena...we're going to have to think of something. We can't just keep Eve cooped up forever in Ares' temple.

ARES:
     I hate to say this, but she has a point. Eve's safe here for now, but the gods aren't going to give up this easily.

Eve starts crying.

XENA:
     Oh Eve... What happened to regular meals?

GABRIELLE:
     We're making her restless.

XENA:
     She'll be all right. You hear that, Eve? Everything's going to be fine.

Eve quiets down, looking curiously past Xena, to Ares.

XENA (solemnly):
     Eve, meet Ares.

ARES (uncertain):
     Hi.

XENA:
     Ares, meet Eve. (passes the baby to him; Ares hesitates before taking her) Hold her head, like that.

Ares holds her carefully, staring at her in wonder. Suddenly, Eve gives him a broad grin.

ARES (thrilled):
     See? I told you she likes me.

GABRIELLE:
     So what's our plan?

ARES (looking up):
     We can run--or we can stand and fight.

XENA:
     I'm not leaving these people to be slaughtered by the next god who comes along. And--we can't run forever.

ARES:
     In that case, we're gonna need my armies.

GABRIELLE:
     You want to bring another army to Amphipolis?

XENA (vehemently):
     What other choice do we have? (takes Eve from Ares) As long as my daughter lives, they're going to keep coming. I can't let her die, Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE:
     No--no, of course not. (takes a deep breath) All right. We stand and fight.

CUT TO

Ares and Xena come out into the main temple area.

XENA (glances at Ares with wry amusement):
     You were right--Eve does like you.

ARES (shrugs):
     The kid obviously has good taste.

XENA (gives him a nudge):
     I think you like her.

ARES (grins):
     We-ell...let's just wait until she's old enough to hold a sword.

XENA (shoots him a suddenly wary look):
     Don't get any ideas.

ARES:
     What, you don't like it? (lifts up his palms in surrender) Okay--a chakram, then. (off her glare) A whip?

Xena is about to say something when they are interrupted by a flash of golden light and a "whoosh." Xena quickly draws her sword and assumes a battle stance. The light clears, however, to reveal not Athena but Aphrodite.

ARES (guardedly):
     Sis.

APHRODITE (to Xena):
     Hey, lighten up, Warrior Babe! (looking slightly embarrassed, Xena puts away her sword) I just wanted to congratulate you two.

XENA (sarcastic):
     On what? Being the target of a bunch of angry gods?

APHRODITE (pouts):
     On what? Come on, honey, you're talking to the Goddess of Love here. This is my department. (rolls her eyes) I mean, it took you long enough to figure this out.

ARES (uncomfortably):
     Figure what out?

APHRODITE (beaming):
     That you two were like totally, head over heels--

ARES (holds up a finger, stopping her):
     Sis, I'm warning you--

APHRODITE (sighs prettily):
     Oh look, he still doesn't want to admit it. (sighs, her face clouding over a little) Listen, I should get going--wish I could stay, but if Athena and the others find out I'm here... (she makes a face)

ARES (slowly):
     So. I'm a pariah on Olympus now.

APHRODITE (uneasily):
     Let's face it, Ar--this whole Twilight thing is a pretty big deal. I mean--what if we all become mortal? I tried it for like, one day and it was totally gross.

XENA (caustic):
     So I guess we shouldn't be counting on your support.

APHRODITE (looks somewhat embarrassed, then smiles brightly):
     'Course you should. My moral support. It's the best kind there is.

ARES (dryly):
     That means a lot.

APHRODITE (beams at him, obviously missing the irony):
     Aww...thanks, bro. Well, good luck, you two. And remember, love always wins out in the end.

She waves at them and vanishes in a flash of golden light.

ARES (shakes his head):
     Good old sis.

Ares and Xena appear in an army camp. Soldiers shy away from the blue flash, shielding their eyes, then snap to attention.

SOLDIER #1:
     My lord Ares!

COMMANDER (ingratiatingly):
     The campaign is going perfectly to plan. With your support, we'll have Laotia on its knees within days...

ARES:
     The plan's changing. (at Xena) You've got bigger fish to fry.

Soldiers mutter uneasily.

COMMANDER:
     But lord Ares--Laotia's just sold a shipment of salt; there's gold there for the taking...

ARES (barks):
     Forget Laotia!!

XENA (steps forward, catlike):
     I don't think he can do that, Ares. He's got his heart set on that gold. (the commander is nodding to her words) Looks like your armies are nothing but a bunch of worthless looters who think a battle is a brawl in a bordello.

COMMANDER (snaps up):
     What?

ARES (insulted and hurt):
     Hey, hey, wait a minute--

COMMANDER:
     I'll have you know that these are the best troops Greece has seen since the Trojan war! Whoever it is you want us to fight, they're as good as gone.

XENA:
     Excellent. Then we can move out, now. You're going to Amphipolis.

COMMANDER (salutes):
     Yes, lady. (salutes Ares, then leaves) You heard the orders! Move out!!

ARES (relieved and impressed, to Xena):
     You've still got it.

XENA (grins):
     And I still know how to use it. (sobering) One down, three to go.

ARES:
     Four.

XENA:
     You got another army?

ARES:
     Didn't I tell you? It was when--

Still talking, they disappear.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena, I don't like where this is going. They'll get to Amphipolis and you'll end up leading an army again and joining Ares.

ARES:
     Have a little faith, will ya? Xena's not that easily seduced. (flashes a grin at Xena) Besides, we've already done our joining here. I'm on your side.

XENA (to Gabrielle):
     It's not like the last time. We're all in this together, and we know exactly what we're fighting for. Eve.

EVE (ashamed):
     The Bringer of Twilight.

GABRIELLE (warmly):
     No--the Messenger of Peace.

Gabrielle touches the bead.

Gabrielle opens the temple doors to find a middle-aged woman on the doorstep.

WOMAN:
     Excuse me--but we've heard rumors, of a miracle baby in this temple--a baby who ended the siege.

GABRIELLE (hedging):
     It was Xena who ended the siege...

WOMAN:
     Eli used to say the baby would be a sign--that the age of the Olympian gods is over. Is it true?

GABRIELLE:
     It is true. The gods ruled us in fear; Eli fought them with love.

WOMAN (exclaims):
     Of course! And Ares, the same god who struck Eli down-- (looks up at the temple) --is now on your side. We heard he'd abandoned Olympus to side with Xena.

GABRIELLE:
     That's true...

WOMAN:
     Then Eli's prophecy is fulfilled! The baby will usher in a new world. (calls over her shoulder) It's true!! The miracle baby is here!

Before Gabrielle can react, dozens of people are pouring into the temple forecourt.

VOICES IN THE CROWD:
     --It's a miracle!
     --Eli was right!

GABRIELLE (struggling to keep the crowd back):
     What--uh--stop, you can't come in!

Cyrene comes up behind Gabrielle, holding Eve.

WOMAN:
     The baby!

The crowd surges forward with a roar.

CYRENE:
     Gabrielle! What's going on?

GABRIELLE (gasping):
     These--uh--people--heard about Eve and the Twilight... They want to--see her!

CYRENE:
     Not like this they won't. (to crowd) Neighbors! Stop. (the people start to quiet down) Eve is only a child, she needs peace and quiet. (the crowd calms down further) Now, you can all see her--if you have a little patience.

ARES:
     Why don't I like the sound of that?

Xena touches the bead.

Xena and Ares materialize in front of the temple, smack in the midst of a long queue of people that snakes all the way from the temple and around the corner, and presumably continues into the town.

ARES:
     What in Tartarus is this?

XENA:
     I have no idea.

WOMAN IN LINE:
     What do you think you're doing? You can't just push in!

MAN BEHIND HER:
     Yeah! We've been waiting since dawn!

XENA:
     Waiting for what?

MAN:
     You mean, you haven't heard? This is the temple of the miracle baby--the messenger of peace!

ARES ("say what?"):
     This morning it was the temple of the God of War.

WOMAN:
     Not any more.

She points to a handmade sign in Greek over the doors. A translation appears onscreen:

"Miracle baby gifts--line starts here.
Worship hours: noon to 3 pm"

Gabrielle is sitting at a trestle table underneath the sign, holding a laughing Eve (in an imitation of a "Madonna and child" tableau). There is a growing pile of gifts around her, everything from loaves of bread and pottery to flowers and wooden toys.

XENA (runs to the table):
     Gabrielle!

GABRIELLE (embarrassed):
     I hope this was Cyrene's idea.

Xena and Ares jostle through the crowd to Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE:
     It was Cyrene's idea. Xena, these people came to pay their respects to Eve--

XENA:
     Their respects--Gabrielle! Remember what happened last time?

GABRIELLE:
     They can't all be assassins.

XENA (growls):
     I want to talk to my mother!

GABRIELLE:
     She's gone back to the inn--seems they couldn't do without her.

BLONDE WOMAN:
     Ohh--is that Ares?

Ares whips around, startled.

WOMAN #2:
     The god who chose love over Olympus!

Ares scowls and turns around.

WOMAN #3:
     Can you sign my baby? (holds out a toddler and a quill)

ARES:
     All right, that does it! (turns to crowd, creating a blue fireball in his palm) Start running!

People look curious. Nobody moves.

ARES:
     I said, scram!

No movement.

ARES (screams):
     Aaaarrggh!!!

He pitches the fireball into the crowd; the people scream, scattering in all directions. Within moments, the forecourt is empty.

XENA (dryly):
     Very impressive.

GABRIELLE:
     Did you have to do that? (holds up a bewildered-looking Eve) She was having fun.

ARES:
     She was not. She's tired and cranky and the last thing she needs is a bunch of Elijan fanatics fawning over her. (takes Eve) C'mon, kid. We've got maps to look at.

Gabrielle casts a look in Xena's direction, but finds no support. Xena is shaking her head, watching Ares carry Eve inside. Gabrielle sighs.

GABRIELLE:
     I'm sorry. They started mobbing the temple, I didn't know what else to do.

XENA:
     It's okay. The armies are on their way, we should get some guards for the place soon. (smiles a little absently, still looking after Ares and Eve)

GABRIELLE (resigned):
     Let's go inside.

XENA:
     Yeah. (alert, looks at Gabrielle warmly) I think things are finally looking up for us.

GABRIELLE (returns the smile, but her expression remains guarded):
     I hope so.

Xena heads for the door; Gabrielle watches her, her face unreadable--then follows.

EVE (to Xena):
     That was kind of...insensitive. Gabrielle was only trying to help.

XENA:
     I'm sorry.

GABRIELLE (laughs ruefully):
     No, you and Ares are right, Eve is not a showpiece.

XENA:
     Still. I shouldn't have taken you for granted like that.

ARES:
     Are we going to have a group hug or are we going to watch the show? That army plan has potential; if it works we could be on to something this time.

Xena moves the bead forward.

The main area of the temple. There is now a low map-table in the center, with a pile of parchment maps over it. Xena, Ares and Gabrielle are standing around it, deep in discussion.

XENA:
     How can you be so sure they'll attack? These armies aren't going to be cheap to feed if they have to sit out here for months, waiting.

GABRIELLE:
     The gods could just starve us out.

ARES:
     I doubt it. They're too eager to get their hands on Eve now. But if they try-- (shrugs) --we can always move on. Leave a garrison here and take the rest of the army.

GABRIELLE:
     Or we could force their hand. Xena, you could get the Hind's Blood Dagger, or the Dagger of Helios, or anything else that can kill gods...

XENA (horrified):
     Gabrielle!

ARES (glances at Gabrielle):
     Was it something you ate?

GABRIELLE:
     Why not? The gods believe Eve can kill them anyway. At least this way we'd have insurance.

ARES:
     Or a bunch of dead gods and a fulfilled prophecy.

XENA:
     We're not going to force anything. Let's wait and see what happens.

A golden glow appears beside them. In the next instant, Xena and Ares have their swords drawn and Gabrielle her sais--all point-first at Athena's neck.

ATHENA (amused):
     I'm not mortal yet. Put those away. I came to talk.

ARES (sarcastic):
     We're all ears.

ATHENA:
     Gabrielle, would you excuse us? I'd like to speak with my brother and Xena in private.

GABRIELLE (with a worried look at Xena):
     All right.

She picks up Eve and goes to the nursery. Athena sits down in the chair vacated by Gabrielle; Ares and Xena sit down as well.

XENA (wryly):
     So, why are you here? To explain to me why I should let my child be slaughtered?

ATHENA:
     No. To offer you a compromise. (Xena looks interested but suspicious) This fighting can only destroy us all. (she pauses)

ARES:
     All right--we're listening.

ATHENA (to Xena):
     We're willing to call off our armies and leave your child in peace. But you must agree to some conditions.

XENA:
     You expect me to trust you?

ATHENA (pointedly, with a slight sarcastic raise of the eyebrows):
     You were willing to trust Ares.

ARES (ignoring the barb):
     So what are those conditions?

ATHENA:
     We don't want Eve to be an icon for the Eli cult.

ARES:
     Hey, I couldn't agree more.

ATHENA (to Xena):
     You have to take her someplace where no one knows who she is.

EVE (gives Xena a hopeful look):
     Maybe this is going to work out.

Xena stares intently into the portal.

XENA (slowly shakes her head):
     I don't like this. Athena's up to something.

GABRIELLE (struck by a sudden, obviously disturbing thought):
     Wait...

She touches the bead.

The nursery. Eve is sitting on her cot, gurgling and playing with a stuffed toy. The camera pans to Gabrielle, who is staring into the air, a dismayed look on her face.

GABRIELLE (in a quiet, intense voice):
     No! No, she can't be! (whirls around) Go away!! You're lying! (she puts her hands over her ears and closes her eyes) I said, go away! (opening her eyes, she turns to Eve and stares at her; her face crumples.) Oh no...it's true... (decisive) I'm not going to let Xena down again. This time, I'll stop you myself. (she bends down and starts pulling a sai from her boot) Good-bye, Hope.

XENA:
     The Furies!

Xena

Horrified, she grabs the bead.

The main temple room. Xena and Ares are still talking to Athena.

ATHENA:
     Believe me, Xena, you are not going to get a better--

Eve's cry slices through her voice.

XENA (leaps to her feet, her face changing):
     Eve!

She rushes out into the nursery. Ares looks suspiciously at Athena, who gives him a smug, chilly little smile.

ATHENA:
     I got the idea from you, brother. (off his questioning look) Using the Furies. Only my method was--more subtle.

CUT TO

Gabrielle, with her back to the camera, stands over Eve's cot, raising the bloodied sai. She starts to bring it down.

XENA (screams):
     Noooooo!!!

She throws her chakram at Gabrielle; it hits her in the head. Gabrielle collapses.

XENA (jumps to her feet and steps toward the portal):
     Stop it! Enough!

ARES (intensely):
     Wait.

Xena pauses.

Ares runs in after Xena and finds her crouched on the floor wailing over Gabrielle's cooling body, covered with blood. She is clutching a small bundle--presumably Eve's body wrapped in a blanket--to her chest.

XENA (realizing):
     You could heal them.

Ares gives a tense nod.

Ares goes to Xena's side, trying to touch her shoulders. Xena shrugs him off.

ARES (gently):
     It wasn't your fault. Xena, it wasn't your fault, it was Athena and the Furies. (with genuine feeling) I'm going to hunt them down and leave nothing behind...

XENA (snaps):
     If you care so much, why don't you heal them?

ARES:
     Gods can only heal with Athena's blessing. (sighs) Xena--I'm sorry...

Xena hunches over Gabrielle's body, sobbing wretchedly--then abruptly grabs her sai and falls on the blade.

XENA (gasps):
     Go back to your family. Tell them it's a package deal--they get me, too.

Paralyzed by shock, Xena, Ares, Gabrielle and Eve watch in complete silence.

Ares lays Xena's body into an ice coffin in the cave, next to the bodies of Gabrielle and baby Eve.

Ares

ARES (leans over the coffin):
     I love you, Xena.

He kisses Xena's dead lips.

Xena

XENA (whips around, staring furiously at Ares):
     You didn't do it. You didn't give up your godhood; you didn't heal them! You let them die! (Ares looks down, not knowing what to say. Xena turns abruptly to the Fates) Why? Why did it happen differently?

ATROPOS:
     Everything happens--

LACHESIS:
     --in due time.

ARES (irritated):
     Meaning what?

CLOTHO:
     You weren't ready yet--

LACHESIS:
     --to give--

ATROPOS:
     --selflessly.

The camera pans to Xena, who is comforting a distraught Eve.

XENA (softly):
     Eve...I'm so sorry you couldn't get your wish...

ARES (stares at them thoughtfully):
     Maybe she still can.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO