FADE IN

The same scene as before. Cerberus continues to advance towards Xena and Gabrielle.

XENA (to Cerberus, calmly):
     All--right, easy boy.

Xena's hand slowly trails down towards her chakram.

Cerberus' three heads starts barking and snarling in a discordant chorus, baring their teeth.

GABRIELLE (whispering to Xena, standing very still):
     What do we do now?

Xena stands very still. Cerberus comes up close and starts sniffing her. A gob of slobber falls down from the middle head's mouth on Xena's boot.

XENA (whispers back, trying not to move):
     Just stay calm. We've been in worse situations.

GABRIELLE (sounds dubious):
     Umm...yeah, I guess we have.

Suddenly, as Cerberus is about to a snap at her, Xena grabs her chakram off her side and tosses it.

The chakram flies through the air, striking a nearby tree. The camera pulls back to show all three of Cerberus' heads darting towards the sound of the chakram. Then, his snarls turning to excited barks, he runs off chasing it.

XENA (chuckles):
     Some monster.

GABRIELLE (with a nervous laugh):
     I don't know, Xena. It still looked like it was about to bite your head off. (In the distance we hear the chakram strike against something.) Saved by the chakram...again.

GABRIELLE:
     Oh no--look!

The camera pans over to show Cerberus running and leaping after the chakram as it whizzes back toward Xena. Leaping in the air, the dog catches the chakram with the jaws of its right head. Close-up of Gabrielle as she gasps and of Xena as she glares.

Cerberus trots up to Xena, wagging its tail, and lays down the chakram at her feet. Then it looks up at her, wagging its tail even more vigorously, it's tongues hanging out, drooling everywhere. Xena bends down slowly to pick up the chakram, covered in doggy slobber, and then stands up straight.

XENA (grins):
     Like I said--not much of a monster...

GABRIELLE:
     Now we just have to catch him. (looks around, exasperated) Where is that kid and his dart with the sleeping potion?

TALIS (off-camera):
     Hey, I found him!

Cerberus turns one of his three heads and growls.

Talis can be seen running toward them. Then he stops in his tracks, looking terrified.

TALIS:
     Uhhh...hold still...uhhhh....nice pooch... (he rummages frantically in his pack; then, to Xena) Uh--could you, uh, distract it while I get the dart?

XENA (lifts an eyebrow):
     Distract it, uh? I thought you were the professional.

TALIS:
     I am....it's just that... (still rummaging) ...this is an--uh--unusual breed...

Xena clicks her tongue and makes as if to throw the chakram in a direction away from Talis. Cerberus yelps and takes off running but then realizes that the chakram hasn't been thrown and comes back toward Xena.

TALIS:
     All right, I got it!

He puts the dart in a blowpipe, comes closer and blows the dart at Cerberus. The dart misses the dog and hits Klio, who gives a short alarmed neigh and starts to sag, then drops on her knees.

GABRIELLE (furious):
      You!

She charges at Talis, who screams and starts running. Alarmed by the ruckus, Cerberus turns and runs off, disappearing into the grove.

TALIS (runs up to Xena, with Gabrielle in pursuit):
     Help! Save me!

XENA (steps to stand in front of him):
     Come on, Gabrielle. He meant well.

GABRIELLE:
     He shot my horse!

XENA:
     It's okay, she'll just take a nap. (shrugs) At least now we know that this thing really will knock out a horse...

GABRIELLE:
     That's not funny, Xena!

XENA (mischievously):
     Well, you did want to try his plan... (off Gabrielle's glare) Come on, we've still got a dog to catch. (To Talis) Next time, I shoot the dart.

CUT TO

Forest clearing. Xena is leaning against a tree. The camera follows up the tree to see Talis tying a large rope around a branch. The camera pulls around following the rope through many twists and turns around different branches and trees all leading down to a large noose in the rope lying on the ground in the forest pathway.

TALIS (explaining to Xena):
     So you see, once the dog steps in the noose it will trigger a chain reaction, eventually causing the animal to be pulled up into the air.

Pan down to Xena, who raises an eyebrow looking at Talis' handiwork. She doesn't look too convinced.

TALIS:
     And that's when you shoot it with the dart...

He makes a gesture to indicate blowing into a pipe, only to lose balance and fall off the tree. He gets up and shakes himself off as Xena gives him a wry look.

The camera pans back to show Gabrielle coming into the clearing.

GABRIELLE:
     It's headed this way.

XENA:
     How's Klio?

GABRIELLE (glares at Talis):
     Still sleeping it off... All right--are we ready?

TALIS:
     Yeah. And now for your part... (Grinning, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a large dog biscuit, which he hands to Gabrielle.) You lead the pooch into the trap.

GABRIELLE:
     Wait a minute--

XENA (sarcastic):
     Gabrielle, it's his plan.

Gabrielle gives her a smirk that may be mock exasperation or a genuine "Oh, you're going to get it!"

Xena smirks back at her, then turns around and begins running up the side of a tree Amazon style. She flips up to the top and settles herself between some branches.

TALIS (looks up in amazement):
     How did you do that?

XENA:
     Didn't you know? I have many skills.

Gabrielle, waits in the pathway, biscuit in her hand.

GABRIELLE (to herself, sarcastic):
     Gabrielle put into a position to be saved. Now there's something you don't see every day.

The camera pans up to show Xena and Talis nestled in the tree safe above. The camera pulls back on Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE (muttering to herself):
     Why do I feel like I'm the bait and not the biscuit...

Gabrielle stands in the path as the camera pulls around to show Cerberus entering the pathway, all three heads sniffing on the ground until it's head darts up to Gabrielle--and the biscuit!

GABRIELLE (calmly):
     Hey buddy... (taking a step back while extending her hand out to show the biscuit) You want this?

Cerberus takes a step forward, his three tongues sticking out. Gabrielle smiles as she continues to bait him.

GABRIELLE (smiling):
     Come on, you can have it.

Cerberus takes another step forward and we see that the noose is just a few yards in front of him.

The camera pulls up to show Talis and Xena as they watch as Cerberus slowly gets closer. We zoom into Cerberus' foot as it lifts up and hovers over the noose.

Gabrielle looks a little worried as she sees all three of the heads dart to the side towards a cluster of bushes.

Suddenly from the bushes a rabbit jumps out and runs across the path in front of Cerberus. In an instant Cerberus takes off after the rabbit, missing the noose on the ground.

Xena leaps down and lands behind Cerberus as he takes off after the rabbit. Xena blows the dart at Cerberus and it hits him in the behind. He continues to run. Xena stares after him, perplexed, and Xena gives a long sigh as the barking is heard in the distance. From the trees above Talis "falls" down.

TALIS (sighing):
     Well, that didn't quite work out the way I wanted it to...

GABRIELLE:
     I don't have very good luck with rabbits...

TALIS (to Xena):
     You missed!

GABRIELLE:
     Xena never misses.

XENA:
     I didn't miss. That dart didn't do a thing to him. (realization dawns on her) Of course--this isn't just any dog! He belongs to the gods. He's immortal. You can't knock him out with an ordinary sleeping potion.

TALIS (deflated):
     Of course.

XENA:
     We'll just have to go with a different plan. (patting him on the back) It was a good effort, though.

TALIS (incredibly flattered):
     Wow--thanks!

Xena rolls her eyes as Talis stumbles away behind her.

XENA:
     I'm going to see where Cerberus went.

In the background behind them we see that Talis accidentally walked into the noose, causing him to fling up in the air.

GABRIELLE:
     Okay. What's the plan after that?

In the background Talis hangs upside down, swinging from side to side.

XENA:
     I'm not sure yet.

She starts walking away.

GABRIELLE (shouting to her):
     You're kidding me, right? You always have a plan!

She shakes her head and walks toward the hanging Talis.

TALIS (still upside down):
     Hey. Have you ever thought of settling down?

GABRIELLE (laughs):
     With you?

TALIS:
     Nah. I mean, once Xena and I have hooked up, I don't think she's going to have too much time for you anymore.

GABRIELLE (laughs):
     Riiiight...

Still laughing, she starts to walk away.

TALIS (shouting to her):
     Uh...wait... (fumbling for her name) ...you! You think you could let me down?

Gabrielle walks back to Talis with one of her sais in her hand.

GABRIELLE (smiling):
     Of course I could.

Gabrielle swings the sais across the rope, causing Talis to fall flat on his face.

TALIS (getting up):
     Thanks.

GABRIELLE:
     No problem.

CUT TO

A riverbank. Xena is taking off her armor; Gabrielle comes up, leading Klio who is still a bit wobbly. Argo stands nearby.

GABRIELLE:
     What are you doing?

XENA (puts her chakram down on top of her armor):
     The tracks end here--I think he swam to the other side. I'm going to try and track him down. (nods toward Klio) How's the horse?

GABRIELLE:
     Seems like it's worn off.

XENA:
     Good. (she takes off her boots and wades into the water, wearing only her tunic) Wait for me here. We may not be able to catch him yet, but I want to make sure we've got him some place where he can do no harm.

GABRIELLE (grinning):
     Are you talking about Cerberus or Talis?

XENA (grins back at her):
     Both.

She jumps into the water and swims toward the other side. Just then, Talis comes up.

TALIS (looking around):
     Where's Xena?

GABRIELLE (brushing Klio):
     Tracking Cerberus to the other side of the river. She'll be back.

Talis nods and the camera pans down to show Talis has picked a handful of wild daisies.

TALIS:
     Good. I picked these for her. Think she'll like them?

GABRIELLE:
     Well, she...to tell you the truth, Xena isn't really a flowers kind of person.

TALIS (crushed):
     Oh. You mean, she's never liked flowers...at all?

Gabrielle thinks a minute.

GABRIELLE:
     Uh... (shakes her head) ...not really.

Talis gives out a sad sigh. All of a sudden his eyes light up and he takes off towards the stump, dropping the flowers and picking up the chakram.

TALIS (grins):
     Well, then--maybe I could polish her chakram for her.

The camera pulls back as Gabrielle drops the brush and rushes towards Talis, taking the chakram away.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena doesn't like people touching her chakram.

Gabrielle carefully sets the chakram back down.

TALIS:
     Wow...it's an amazing weapon. I heard only Xena herself can wield it.

GABRIELLE (slightly miffed):
     Well, actually...you're wrong. I can use it too.

TALIS (amazed):
     Really? I bet it took a lot of practice.

GABRIELLE:
     Yeah--you could say that...

TALIS:
     And you can actually make it return to you?

GABRIELLE:
     Yeah.

TALIS:
     I don't believe you. I bet only Xena can do that.

GABRIELLE (picks up the chakram):
     All right--watch!

Gabrielle, pulling her arm back, lets go of the chakram, letting it fly through the air. The camera follows as it strikes one...two...three trees before it makes its way back to her.

Extending her hand, Gabrielle catches the chakram by the handle.

XENA (off-screen):
     Gabrielle...

The camera pans around to show Xena coming out of the river, looking obviously displeased.

XENA:
     What was that?

Gabrielle turns around to face Xena, caught in the act.

GABRIELLE (smiling sheepishly):
     Well--see--Talis--

TALIS (piping in):
     I told her not to do that!

Gabrielle turns her head giving Talis a "what?!" look. Xena raises an eyebrow as she walks up to Gabrielle and extends her hand. Gabrielle hands that chakram back to Xena.

XENA (smiles wryly):
     Now that's a good girl.

She puts the chakram down with her other weapons, then shakes herself off, spraying a startled-looking Talis with water.

GABRIELLE:
     Well?

XENA:
     I tracked him to a cave on the other side of the river. He's asleep.

TALIS (excited):
     Hey, the potion worked! (grins broadly) See--I told you!

XENA (shrugs):
     A little too late. But at least it will keep him away from other villages.

TALIS (comes up to Xena, nervously):
     Xena? I picked these (holding out the flowers) for you.

XENA (slightly at a loss for words):
     Uh--thanks. That's nice.

TALIS (giggles):
     See, I knew you'd like them.

He thrusts the flowers at Xena but she turns around and starts putting on her armor, leaving Talis to stand with his hand outstretched still holding the flowers.

TALIS (deflated):
     Um...I'll go get some of my stuff (pointing towards his supplies) over there.

As he walks off, Gabrielle comes up to help buckle Xena's armor. She shakes her head and smiles.

GABRIELLE:
     You know, he's starting to remind me of Hower.

Xena glances over at Talis, who is picking up his bag and casting furtive glances at Xena.

XENA (raises an eyebrow):
     Hower? This guy makes Hower look like...

GABRIELLE (chimes in):
     Marc Antony?

XENA (picks up her sword and chakram):
     All right--we'd better get going.

GABRIELLE:
     Where to? You still haven't told me what the plan is.

Xena looks at Gabrielle.

XENA (smiles):
     I'm going to pay a visit to an old friend.

Gabrielle gives her a quizzical look as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO