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FADE IN
Gabrielle, Xena and Darion are walking away from the house.
DARION:
So this King Orantes--he's a bad guy?
XENA:
Let's just say we didn't get off to a very good start.
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[FLASHBACK]
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Inside Victor and Alida's house. Xena and Gabrielle are alone in the main room.
XENA:
There's got to be a way to beat that thing. There's always a way.
Teria comes out.
TERIA:
So you're going to fight him, huh?
XENA:
Yeah.
TERIA:
Good. (she picks up an apple from the tray of fruit and bites into it) 'Course, it's not like you're gonna win or anything. But hey--at least for a day, it'll be kind of nice to go on thinking that you might.
XENA:
Thanks for the vote of confidence.
TERIA (shrugs):
I tell it like it is. (takes another bite of the apple) That's probably why I don't have a lot of friends.
GABRIELLE:
We can be your friends.
There is a loud knock on the door. Xena and Gabrielle turn their heads. Teria goes toward the door.
TERIA (tensely):
Who's there?
VOICE (off-camera, muffled):
His majesty King Orantes is here to see you!
GABRIELLE (glances at Xena):
The king!
TERIA (surly):
Come on in.
The door is pushed open by an attendant in a dark blue tunic and pants, embroidered with gold. After a moment he is followed by a small, plump middle-aged man in purple robes, with a crown on his balding head.
KING ORANTES (to the attendant):
Wait outside. (to Teria) Leave us alone, child.
Teria goes into a back room.
XENA:
So you're the king of this island. (she gets up)
KING ORANTES:
Please! No abrupt gestures. And keep your voice down.
XENA (puzzled):
Why?
KING ORANTES:
Because I'm very, very, very high-strung. Some people even call me "the mad king." (suddenly, he starts laughing hysterically, a high-pitched hyena-like laugh. Xena and Gabrielle look at each and shrug. Then Xena goes over to the table, pours some water into a goblet and offers it to Orantes; he takes a few sips and calms down) You think it's easy to be the king of an island ruled by a dragon?
XENA:
Well, I'll kill the dragon and things are going to get a lot easier.
KING ORANTES:
Easier? Hah! (he has another fit of hysterical laughter, then drinks some more water and quiets down) You don't know what you've done with that challenge of yours! My sister's been plotting to take over the throne and the dragon's been keeping her on a pretty tight leash. Now he's going to be busy getting ready for the fight and Sis is going to get completely out of hand.
XENA:
Listen, your majesty. (with heavy sarcasm) I don't know if you're crazy or stupid, but don't you realize that I'm going to save this island?
KING ORANTES:
Save the island? Hahahahaha! (drinks some more water) Believe me, my sister is worse than five dragons. Who asked you to fight the dragon, anyway?
XENA:
Everyone who's afraid to ask.
KING ORANTES (petulantly):
Listen, I'm the king. I'm telling you to drop it!
GABRIELLE:
Actually, your majesty, according to Victor, there's an agreement which says that if someone challenges the dragon to a fight, the people of Elis have to help the challenger.
KING ORANTES:
Help? What am I, crazy? I mean--I'm not that crazy.
XENA (scornfully):
I don't need anything.
GABRIELLE:
How about a shield? Or a helmet? You don't even have a horse!
KING ORANTES:
How about if I just offer you five hundred dinars from our treasury to go away and leave us alone?
XENA:
That's not going to work.
KING ORANTES (hopefully):
Six hundred?
Xena glares at him.
There is a knock on the door. King Orantes shudders theatrically and then presses his hand to his heart, panting.
KING ORANTES:
No one spares my poor nerves.
The door is pushed open. A blond-haired, blue-eyed handsome young man in dark green clothing comes in. A medallion around his neck has an image of three dragon heads.
YOUNG MAN (bows slightly):
King Orantes.
KING ORANTES:
Oh yes--Gregor. Here to meet our so-called liberator? (he gives another mad laugh, but this time a mercifully short one) Xena, Warrior Princess--Gregor, personal attendant to my lord Dragon.
XENA:
Gregor. You were Alida's fiance, weren't you?
GREGOR (haughtily):
I'm not here to discuss my private affairs. I have orders from the dragon. Actually, I was looking for you, your majesty.
KING ORANTES (eagerly):
Orders? Do tell. (rubs his hands) Are we going to throw these two in a dungeon?
GREGOR (coldly):
No, you're going to supply Xena with anything she requests.
KING ORANTES:
Help! I think I'm hallucinating! Did you just say that I have to supply Xena with anything she requests?
GREGOR:
That's right.
KING ORANTES (crestfallen, looks at Xena):
What did you say you needed? A shield, a helmet and a horse?
Xena shrugs.
GABRIELLE:
That would be good.
GREGOR (to Xena):
My lord Dragon also wants you to know that he will meet you on the main city square at noon tomorrow. And now, if you'll excuse me, I need to talk to Alida privately.
He moves on to knock on the door leading to the inner part of the house. The door opens. Xena gives him a thoughtful look.
KING ORANTES (sighs):
All right, all right...come to the palace before noon and you'll get your weapons.
He turns and walks out.
XENA (stares after him thoughtfully):
Come along, Gabrielle. Let's go check out that city square and see if I get any ideas.
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[END OF FLASHBACK]
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Xena, Gabrielle and Darion walk along a city street. The noise of a still-distant crowd is heard.
XENA:
Well, there it is--the city square.
The noise is getting closer. Music, drumming and singing can be heard, as well as celebratory shouts.
DARION:
Sounds like a big party.
As they come out into the square, we see a wide shot of the square filled with jubilant men and women. The square is dominated by a tall, imposing castle of gray stone, with a large balcony in front. On the sides of the steps leading up to the castle are two large identical stone sculptures of the dragon, two of its heads cut off and lying on the pedestal, with the figure of a sword-wielding King Orantes standing on its back.
Cheers go up as a richly clad man comes out on the balcony. The camera zooms in on him. It's Gregor.
GREGOR:
People of Elis! We celebrate the second anniversary of our liberation from the tyranny of the cruel, greedy, inhumane and utterly disgusting dragon who used to lord it over us! (cheers) Two years ago, a feckless warrior wannabe challenged the dragon to a fight.
Pan back to Xena, who looks at Gabrielle in open-mouthed shock.
XENA:
I'm starting to understand how Joxer felt...
Pan back to Gregor.
GREGOR:
A special royal investigative commission has determined that this so-called hero gave the dragon a couple of light wounds and then fled, leaving behind an enraged and dangerous beast. (Xena rolls her eyes in disgust) It was then that our brave King Orantes charged into battle, attacked the monster and finished it off in a glorious heroic feat.
The square erupts in loud cheers.
GREGOR (starts to speak again as the cheers begin to die down):
On that day, the curse of slavery was forever eradicated from our soil! Long live the free people of Elis!
The cheers rise again.
GREGOR:
And now, the dragon-slayer himself, King Orantes!
The cheers in the square become deafening. A close-up of a man applauding, tears streaming down his face.
MAN:
Hail, King Orantes, Dragon-slayer!
KING ORANTES (raises his arms and waves to the crowd):
Thank you, thank you, my good people!
Cheers of "Hail, dragon-slayer!" go up from the crowd.
KING ORANTES:
Our long nightmare is over, and happy days are here! You all remember what a nervous wreck I used to be under that damned dragon! And look at me now--I'm the picture of health! And I know you're all happy as larks! (cheers go up again) And now, the best news of all, which you may have heard already...today, I am going to marry Alida, the beautiful maiden who was doomed to die in the lair of the beast!
The cheers erupt again.
XENA (grimly):
Let's get out of here.
Xena, Gabrielle and Darion start making their way out of the crowd and away from the square as the sounds of Orantes' voice and the noise of the crowd begin to fade.
GABRIELLE:
Xena, we have to help Alida. She would have never agreed to this of her own free will.
XENA:
Of course not. Alida's a very brave girl.
DARION:
I thought Alida didn't want you to fight the dragon.
GABRIELLE:
She didn't, at first.
DARION:
So what happened later?
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[FLASHBACK]
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Night. A guest room in Victor's and Alida's house, moonlight streaming in through the window. Xena and Gabrielle are asleep. A female figure in a long gown walks stealthily into the room and tiptoes toward Xena's bed. A metallic object in the woman's hand gleams in the moonlight as Xena breathes evenly. After standing over Xena for a few moments, the figure puts the object--a dagger--down on the small bedside table, then reaches over and shakes Xena's shoulder.
WOMAN (whispers):
Xena, wake up!
XENA (opens her eyes):
I woke up when you opened the door. (sits up) Just wanted to see what you were going to do.
The camera pans to show Alida's moonlit face. She sighs and sits down on the bed next to Xena, who sits up.
ALIDA:
I wanted to talk to you.
XENA:
Did Gregor want you to kill me?
ALIDA (nods):
He did. On the dragon's orders. He said that if I killed you, the dragon would let me live and we could still be married. (smiles in disbelief) Xena, the Dragon is scared of you.
XENA (thoughtfully):
I guess so.
Gabrielle stirs and sits up, awakened by their voices.
GABRIELLE (sleepily):
What's going on?
XENA:
It's all right. It's Alida.
ALIDA:
You know, I realized something tonight. I've always been an obedient little girl. Well, not anymore. When I saw you and Gabrielle, and the way you stood up to the dragon, I realized that there's a different way to live. You made me want to respect myself. And you know what? Even if I die the day after tomorrow--at least I'll respect myself for those last two days of my life.
XENA (hugs her):
Listen to me, Alida. You're not going to die. You're going to live and be free.
ALIDA:
Thank you, Xena. (turns to Gabrielle) Thank you, Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE (smiles):
Thank you, Alida. It's not easy to find your courage when you've lived in fear your whole life.
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[END OF FLASHBACK]
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Xena, Gabrielle and Darion walking down a city street.
DARION:
So what did King Orantes do? Did he ever give you those weapons?
Xena smiles bitterly.
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[FLASHBACK]
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Day. The city square. It looks much as it does in the present, only the two stone sculptures on the sides of the palace steps are intact statues of the three-headed dragon (and no figure of King Orantes). Xena and Gabrielle are approaching the palace.
GABRIELLE:
Do you think they'll really give you weapons?
XENA:
Doesn't matter. My plan doesn't really depend on having a helmet or a shield. And I definitely don't need a horse. But it would do them some good if they did.
GABRIELLE (worriedly):
Are you sure there's nothing I can do to help?
XENA (shakes her head):
Not this time.
They come up the palace steps and approach the two guards at the front door.
GUARD #1:
Are you Xena?
XENA:
I am.
GUARD #1:
This way. (points to a corridor) King Orantes and his councilors will meet you in the inner courtyard.
Xena and Gabrielle enter the palace.
CUT TO
Xena and Gabrielle come out into the large inner courtyard of the palace, edged with green shrubbery and some sparse flowers. In the center of the courtyard, a large, richly decorated throne stands on a dais. On the lower level of the dais stands a much smaller and more modest throne, with chairs lined up on both sides of it. Xena and Gabrielle stop and look around.
Voices are heard, and King Orantes comes out from under an arch on the other side of the courtyard, followed by a group of somber-looking, middle-aged and old men and women.
KING ORANTES (ecstatically):
Hail, hail, O great and mighty Warrior Princess! (in a normal voice) Sorry, nerves. (coughs) Our meeting is now open.
He goes up to the lower dais and sits down on the small throne. The councilors take the other seats. Two attendants stand at the foot of the dais.
KING ORANTES:
So, here's our agenda for today. Xena, Warrior Princess, has challenged our Lord Dragon to a fight. In accordance with an agreement most magnanimously signed (his voice breaks up a little as if he's about to laugh) by our magnificent Lord Dragon, we are supposed to provide the challenger with (he seems to stifle another laugh) any weapons she requests. (This time he bursts into paroxysms of quiet laughter, almost choking; finally he motions to an attendant who brings him some water. He takes a few sips and calms down, then raises his voice a little) Bring the weapons, please!
The attendants walk off into the arcade on the side of the courtyard and return, one carrying a helmet, the other a shield. Xena takes the shield and looks it over suspiciously, then takes a swing and punches it hard--punching a hole in it.
XENA (looks up and glares at King Orantes):
This is wood.
KING ORANTES:
You don't say. It's what they use on stage in the best theater on Elis. (peevishly) You should be a little more careful, you know--damaging public property like that.
XENA:
I take it the helmet is from the theater too?
KING ORANTES:
Of course. We only use the best.
GABRIELLE:
Xena, after this, I'm not sure you want to see the horse.
Before anyone can continue, a deafening noise is heard overhead--the flapping of giant wings and the sound of something huge hurtling through the air. A large shadow falls over the courtyard. King Orantes and the councilors look up.
KING ORANTES:
My Lord Dragon! He's coming here!
The king and the councilors jump to their feet, run off the dais and line up, standing at attention. Xena draws her sword.
The dragon hurtles down in a cloud of smoke in which his paws with huge claws, his webbed wings and his three heads are visible. When the smoke clears, he is in human form--that of the gaunt, pallid-faced redhead--seated in the ornate throne on the upper dais.
DRAGON (snaps):
Everyone out. Except these two. (indicating Xena and Gabrielle)
KING ORANTES:
Sir, yes, sir!
King Orantes and the councilors file out quickly.
DRAGON (to Xena):
So. They came through with the weapons?
Xena throws down the shield and the helmet. The helmet cracks as it falls on the stone floor of the courtyard.
XENA:
Theater props.
DRAGON (shakes his head):
Ouch. That must've hurt.
XENA (coldly):
It's all right.
DRAGON:
Let me tell you, it would have hurt my feelings--and I'm a cold-blooded creature. (rubs his hands together) Literally. Aren't you scared?
XENA (lifts an eyebrow):
Of you?
DRAGON:
Not of me. Of my people. They're pretty scary, you know. I made them that way.
GABRIELLE (defensively):
They're still human.
DRAGON:
They look human on the outside. (leans forward, his eyes glittering) If you could see their souls...you'd be scared to death.
XENA:
Not me.
DRAGON:
I guarantee you, you'd get out of here instead of dying for these freaks. (leans back in his throne and sounds almost philosophical) It's a funny thing, you know--the human soul. You cut a man's body in half and he'll croak. You rip his soul to pieces, and he'll be fine--just...easier to handle. You should see some of the souls on this island. Crippled souls, poisoned souls, blind souls, deaf souls--dead souls. You know why King Orantes pretends to be crazy? He doesn't want anyone to know that he hasn't got a soul anymore.
GABRIELLE:
Bodies can be healed. Souls can, too.
DRAGON (to Xena):
Quite the optimist, isn't she? (rises from the throne) Well, now. That's enough chit-chat. Shall we get started?
XENA:
I'm ready.
DRAGON:
Get out on the square and wait. You'll know when it starts.
He walks away briskly, disappearing into the arcade as we:
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[END OF FLASHBACK]
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FADE OUT
END OF ACT TWO
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