FADE IN

Inside Xenan and Nika's house. Xenan is kneeling on the floor by a table, looking very thoughtful. Lysippe sits on a chair, holding her child. Xena and Gabrielle stand by the table; the door of the house is open and we see Lykia sitting on the porch with her back to the camera. The laughter and shouts of Darion and Borias are heard from outside.

Nika comes up to the table and puts down a plate of fruit.

XENAN:
     I never thought the story could be true.

NIKA (a little nervously):
     What story?

XENAN:
     When a centaur girl child is born, the centaur race can return to its homeland.

GABRIELLE (confused):
     Homeland?

XENAN:
     It's a tale I heard from some of the older centaurs of my tribe. They told me that the centaurs came from another world--a world inhabited only by centaurs. (gives Nika a strange look) Three nights ago, I saw that world in a dream...maybe that was no coincidence.

As he speaks, we dissolve to:

XENAN:
     These centaurs' punishment was that they, and their children, would live as strangers among humans. The gods decreed that no female centaur children would be born in this world, so that they could only take human mates. But it was prophesized that one day a female centaur child would be born--and then the portal would reopen and the exiled centaurs could return to their true home.

NIKA:
     There's a whole world populated only by centaurs?

XENAN:
     Apparently, there is. (shakes his head) I thought it was just a fairy-tale...

XENA (bitterly):
     And now that the prophecy has come true, there are only two centaurs left to go back to their world.

Xenan lowers his head sadly; Nika looks guiltily away.

GABRIELLE:
     You don't know that. Maybe there were others who survived--other tribes...

LYSIPPE (brusquely):
     What does this prophecy have to do with me?

GABRIELLE (puts a hand on her shoulder):
     Lysippe--whatever the reason, you were chosen to bear this child.

LYSIPPE (bitter):
     That's a huge comfort. Whatever the reason, someone chose to ruin my life.

XENA:
     So where is this portal?

XENAN (aghast):
     I don't know. That knowledge was kept by the elders of our tribe...but they were all killed when-- (trails off)

Xena and Gabrielle look at each other in sadness and puzzlement; then at Lysippe and her child. The baby smiles and reaches up toward Lysippe, playing with a lock of her hair.

LYSIPPE:
     Here--you hold her. (hands the baby to Gabrielle, who takes it, giving Lysippe a reproachful look. The baby's smile crumples and she starts to cry. Gabrielle steps aside and rocks her in her arms, trying to comfort her)

DARION (off-camera, outside):
     Come on, I'll race you to the fence!

Xena walks over to the window. Through the window, we see the yard from Xena's point of view; Borias and Darion are racing each other laughing. Borias is first to touch the fence. Darion slaps his knees in frustration. Xena sighs and turns toward the others. Meanwhile, the baby in Gabrielle's arms has quieted down.

XENA:
     So there's no way for us to get to that portal.

Nika looks at Xena and at Xenan, with obviously mixed feelings.

NIKA:
     If there are other centaur tribes left, maybe they know where it is.

XENAN:
     If they do, they may not be able to go through the portal.

GABRIELLE (looks up):
     Why not?

XENAN:
     Because--

LYSIPPE (rises abruptly, interrupting him):
     Look, this is none of my business. I don't want anything to do with centaurs. Keep her here or take her to centaur-land, I don't care. I want to go back to my husband.

LYKIA (turns around):
     Do you really think he'll take you back, after what happened? And what about the other people in your village?

XENA:
     A better question is, do you want him back. (to Xenan) What were you saying before?

XENAN:
     For the centaurs to pass through the portal, the girl child must lead the way. So I heard.

LYSIPPE:
     I already said I don't care. (softening a little, looks at Xena, Gabrielle and Xenan) Look, I--I appreciate your help. But I have to go.

NIKA:
     At least take some food with you for the road.

LYSIPPE (shakes her head, a little ashamed):
     No--no, you've done enough. Thank you.

She walks out briskly. The tense silence that ensues, punctuated only by the sounds of Darion and Borias laughing in the background, is suddenly pierced by the baby's loud wail. Nika, Xenan and Xena look at the baby in alarm; Lykia flinches slightly.

In a moment Lysippe walks back inside.

LYSIPPE:
     What's wrong?

GABRIELLE (shrugs a little):
     She wants her mother.

The baby continues to wail. Suddenly, Lysippe crumples down on a chair and starts sobbing. Gabrielle comes up to her and gently places the baby in her lap. Lysippe picks her up and holds her tight.

LYSIPPE (through tears):
     My baby...

DARION (peeks in through the door):
     Hey, everything okay?

GABRIELLE (smiles):
     I think it is now.

Darion yelps as a ball hits him in the back and turns around to see Borias laughing.

DARION:
     Hey! No fair! (he runs off chasing Borias, who gallops away.)

Pan back inside the house. Smiling through tears, Lysippe kisses her baby, who starts to quiet down.

XENA:
     Isn't it about time you gave her a name?

LYSIPPE (looks up at her):
     Well...you've already got a centaur named after you. (glances shyly at Xenan) So I guess it's going to be--Gabrielle.

Quick pan to Gabrielle, who smiles proudly.

GABRIELLE:
     Thank you, Lysippe--I'm honored.

Pan back to Lysippe, who strokes Baby Gabrielle's fuzzy head. Giggling a little, the baby kicks up, throwing off the swaddling cloths.

LYSIPPE (hesitantly strokes her back and touches her tail):
     This will still take some getting used to...

The camera slowly pans around the house to show everyone else (except Lykia, who is still sitting in the doorway with her back turned) smiling at Lysippe and Baby Gabrielle. Then, close-up on Xenan as his smile slowly fades.

XENAN:
     We still have no idea how to find that portal...

CUT TO

The battlefield we saw in the teaser. A thick cloud of fog still stretches across the middle of the field. The camera pans back to show two soldiers in black armor standing at the edge of the field looking at the fog. They look at each other, shaking their heads.

CUT TO

A soldier in red armor (Soldier #3) peers between the trees out at a wide road. He is a young man, no more than 20, with gray eyes and ash-blond hair. A rumble is heard in the distance. The soldier perks up; the camera slowly zooms in for a close-up as his eyes widen.

CUT TO

The tent of the commander in red armor, who is sitting at a table with some maps on it, conferring with two officers. A soldier (Soldier #2) stands before him.

SOLDIER #2:
     It's still there, sir.

COMMANDER (strokes his beard, his hand jerking slightly--he is nervous but trying not to show it):
     All right. (to the officers) Then tomorrow, we start moving here-- (points to the map)

A noise distracts him. He turns to see Soldier #3 run into the tent, clear agitated.

SOLDIER #3:
     Sir--sir!

COMMANDER:
     What is it, soldier?

SOLDIER #3:
     I just saw--I saw (he stammers, panting for breath)

COMMANDER (rises abruptly, approaches the soldier and grabs his shoulders):
     Get a grip, man! Who's coming? The enemy?

SOLDIER #3:
     No--no, sir! (his lips tremble) I--I've never seen anything like this before!

The officers exchange startled looks.

OFFICER #3:
     The gods are against us! First that damned fog, and now--some terrible monster that has scared a grown man out of his wits!

A close-up of the commander's face as he yells at the soldier.

COMMANDER:
     What is it?

Quick pan to a close-up of the soldier's frightened face.

SOLDIER #3:
     Centaurs, sir! At least a hundred--maybe more!

As he speaks, a distant rumble of hooves is heard in the background, and the scene in the tent CROSS-FADES into one of a large group of centaurs, young and old, trotting down a road past green hills and distant forests. They are led by a noble-looking middle-aged centaur whose shoulder-length, wavy brown hair is streaked with a touch of gray. He is wearing brown leather armor. The horse half of him is brown as well. He stops, tail flapping.

LEAD CENTAUR:
     It should be close now...very close. Beyond those hills-- (points to hills in the distance)

The centaurs start advancing toward the hills.

CUT TO

The tent of the commander in red. The commander looks thoughtfully at the soldier, stroking his beard.

COMMANDER:
     Where did you see them?

SOLDIER #3:
     On the road about two leagues west of here. If they continue on their path, they should reach the Delians' camp in about an hour--

COMMANDER (thoughtfully):
     Not unless we get there first.

OFFICER (tentatively):
     Why would we want to do that?

COMMANDER (turns toward the officers):
     I know a thing or two about centaurs. They are strange beasts--but great fighters. If they're coming here--

As he speaks, the scene in the tent cross-fades once again to the centaurs, who are advancing toward the hills.

COMMANDER'S VOICE:
     --we can use it to our advantage.

The camera zooms in on the lead centaur and a younger centaur next to him.

YOUNGER CENTAUR:
     But Photios--are you sure the girl child will be there?

PHOTIOS (passionately):
     She must be! She had to be born to one of the other tribes--they must have kept the knowledge of the gateway, just as we did! If they are not there yet--we will wait for them.

The camera pulls back to show the centaurs riding toward the hills. A group of soldiers on horseback emerges from the trees on one side of the road and blocks the centaurs' path. The centaurs come to a halt. As the camera zooms in, we see that the group of soldiers is led by the commander in red.

The camera pans over the centaurs and the soldiers as they stand in a tense face-off, Photios and the commander in red facing each other. Finally, Photios breaks the silence.

PHOTIOS:
     We have no quarrel with you. Let us through.

COMMANDER:
     You must have traveled pretty far to get here. There are no centaur tribes living in the area as far as I know.

PHOTIOS:
     We have traveled here--for a reason that has nothing to do with you.

COMMANDER (looks at him thoughtfully):
     Would it have anything to do with--a cloud of thick white fog hanging over a field? (Quick pan to Photios, whose eyes widen, and then back to the commander, who smiles a little, obviously pleased with his deduction) Well, I've got good news and bad news. The good news is that your cloud of fog is right over the top of that hill. (gestures) The bad news is...this land is being disputed by two cities, Tanagra and Delium. Right now, the army of Delium is holding that field. (the centaurs exchange worried looks; that does not escape the commander, who smiles a barely perceptible smile.) Good luck seizing it from them.

PHOTIOS (dubiously):
     We could try to negotiate...

COMMANDER:
     Or you could join us--in driving the Delians off this land. (chuckles) Can't say I've ever seen anyone go to war over a patch of fog before, but hey--I'm not going to get judgmental about that. Once we've defeated them, that field is all yours.

The centaurs look at each other uncertainly.

The camera pulls back to show Ares standing by a tree, evidently unseen by either party. He shakes his head and smirks.

ARES:
      Now this is getting interesting.

The camera pans over to show Photios reluctantly extending his hand and shaking hands with the commander.

CUT TO

A sparsely furnished room in Xenan and Nika's house. It's nearly dark; dawn can be seen breaking out in the window. Gabrielle and Xena are sleeping in bedrolls spread out on the floor. Xena stirs and sits up, throwing off her blanket; she is wearing only a white undershirt. She sits still for a moment, then gets up, puts on her leather tunic and her boots, and walks quietly to the door. When her hand is already on the door handle, Gabrielle stirs and speaks up.

GABRIELLE:
     Where are you going?

XENA:
     Out for a swim.

GABRIELLE:
     A swim? At this hour?

XENA:
     Why not?

GABRIELLE (sits up and gives her a slightly mischievous look):
     You're not meeting Ares, are you?

XENA (a little brusquely, so that her whisper comes out as a near-hiss):
     No.

GABRIELLE (smiles):
     Hey, you don't have to get all defensive. So what if you are? I mean--I accept the fact that you're--

XENA (interrupts):
     Gabrielle, trust me--meeting Ares is the last thing on my mind right now. I'll be back soon. (starts to open the door)

GABRIELLE:
     Xena. (quick pan to Xena as she stops and turns around) Are you okay?

XENA:
     Fine. (She starts to leave, then stops and turns again, her look softening) Unless you count the fact that there's nothing I can do to help Xenan--or any other centaurs who may still be alive--

GABRIELLE (smiles):
     You'll find a way.

XENA (smiles back, but her smile is slightly forced):
     Thanks...I guess.

GABRIELLE:
     What?

XENA:
     It's not always easy to live up to those expectations.

GABRIELLE:
     Well, would you rather have me say, "That's okay, Xena, even you can't solve every problem?"

XENA (thinks a moment, then chuckles):
     You're right. (sighs) It's okay. I just want to have a little time to myself, that's all.

GABRIELLE (nods):
     That's okay.

She lies down again, while Xena goes out the door.

CUT TO

A riverbank at dawn, with some trees and shrubbery around. Birds are starting to sing. The camera pans over Xena's leather tunic, undershirt, and boots on the ground, then over to the river where Xena surfaces from a dive. She starts swimming toward the bank and dives again. Surfacing near the shore, she stands up with the water reaching up to her shoulders. She seems to be listening to something intently; then her eyes narrow and a hint of a smile creeps up on her lips. She starts to walk forward. We see a shot of her from the back, up to her waist in the water now.

XENA:
     Hoping to see anything interesting?

In a flash of blue light, Ares materializes, standing on the riverbank next to her clothes.

ARES:
     Oh...you? (Close-up on Xena's face as she chuckles indulgently; then close-up on Ares as he flashes her a roguish half-grin) It's hard to catch you alone, you know. I haven't seen you since, uh--that business in Rome.

Xena's face darkens for a moment. Then she shakes herself a little, as if trying to shake off unpleasant thoughts more than the water. She comes out on the riverbank, the camera zoomed in on her from the chest up, and sits down next to Ares. They are silent for a few moments.

ARES:
     So...feels good to be back on the job, huh?

XENA (shoots him a nasty look):
     Thanks for the moral support. (She reaches for her undershirt and slips it on, looking away from Ares)

ARES (confused, holds up his hands in a defensive gesture):
     What, what? (realization dawns on him) Oh. Things not going well?

XENA (brusquely, reaching for her tunic):
     As if you didn't know.

ARES (leans closer to her so that his lips are almost brushing her ear, and speaks in a soft voice):
     Contrary to what you may think, I don't watch you round the clock. (He kisses her shoulder; she shivers, the scowl melting away from her face, and lets go of the tunic.) Tempting though it may be... (Xena chuckles, shaking her head a little) Look, I've been pretty busy the past coupla days--

XENA (gives him a suspicious look):
     Busy?

ARES (vaguely):
     Oh--just a little something I got going... Anyway-- (he touches her face with the back of his hand) --what's wrong?

XENA (sighs and shakes her head):
     Forget it, Ares...it's nothing you would care about.

ARES (gently):
     I care about you--all right? Try me.

XENA (sighs):
     You've heard about the centaurs' true homeland, haven't you...

ARES (gives her a strange look):
     The centaurs?

XENA (nods):
     The story is that they came from another world... (puzzled) Ares, you're a god--you have to know something about that!

ARES (reluctantly):
     All right, I've heard about it.

Xena gives him a wary look.

CUT TO

A long shot of the military camp of the Delian army (in black) as dawn breaks out. The veil of fog still hangs over the field; it is tinged with pink in the dawn's light. A soldier in red is riding toward the camp.

The camera pulls further back to show Photios and the commander in red (on horseback) standing at the top of the hill, from which the camp and the field can be seen. They look on as the rider enters the Delian camp.

CUT TO

A large field by the bottom of the hill, on the other side. The Tanagra army (in red) is lined up and ready for battle. The camera zooms in on the centaurs lined up on the front lines, looking anxiously at the top of the hill. Photios and the commander in red appear on the hilltop and start riding down; they are followed by the soldier in red armor who served as the messenger.

CUT TO

Photios and the commander ride up to the front lines.

COMMANDER:
     They'll meet us here in an hour.

CUT TO

Xena and Ares sitting at the riverbank.

XENA:
     So that's where we are. We have no idea where this gateway is--and if there are surviving centaurs who have made the journey to that gateway, they won't be able to enter because they don't have the child.

ARES (looks at her, wonderingly):
     And this is important to you.

XENA (exasperated):
     Dammit, Ares--after everything that the centaurs have endured at the hands of humans--don't you think they deserve a chance to return to their own homeland? (As he stares at her intently, she looks away for a moment and then looks at him again. She speaks again, her voice dropping) I owe them, Ares. I waged war on them and tried to destroy them--and they raised (her voice almost breaks) my child. I was too late to stop Belach from slaughtering them. And now, when they need my help again--

She trails off, looking grim, her mouth rigid. Ares continues to stare at her, biting his lip. The camera zooms in for a close-up of his face, then pans quickly to a close-up on Xena, whose expression suddenly changes to a dangerous glare, her eyes glittering.

XENA:
     All right, Ares. Where is this gateway (the camera pulls back and we see Ares flinch) and how is it mixed up in whatever it is you have going?

ARES (slowly):
     It's--it's on a battlefield where I have two armies facing off against each other.

XENA:
     And?

Close-up on Ares' face as he stares at Xena; his face is hard and grim at first, then he sighs, his expression softening as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT THREE