FADE IN

The same scene as before. Xena and Capaneus are standing. Capaneus starts laughing again; Xena scowls at him.

CAPANEUS:
     You expect the God of War to come here and do his girlfriend's bidding? I don't think so.

He stops laughing abruptly as the familiar "whoosh" is heard. Pan to Ares as the blue light fades around him; he looks rather somber, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

XENA:
     Go on, Ares. Tell him what you told me about the medallion.

Ares looks at her expectantly, then turns to Capaneus.

ARES (with gusto):
     The medallion--possesses an amazing power...

Xena stares at him in shock while Capaneus' eyes widen with joy.

CAPANEUS (an almost maniacal gleam in his eye):
     Yes! I knew it!

XENA (explodes):
     Ares, you--

Ares holds out a hand, stopping her, and turns to Capaneus, his face suddenly breaking into a sarcastic grin.

ARES:
     ...the power to make grown men like you fight over nothing.

Xena breathes a sigh of relief and shakes her head, smirking a little.

CAPANEUS (momentarily speechless as the excitement drains from his face, then sputtering):
     Wh-wh-what?

ARES:
     The medallion is just a trinket from my temple.

CAPANEUS (uncomprehending):
     You mean--the tales of its powers are--exaggerated?

ARES:
     You might say that. Or, maybe a better word is--I don't know-- (emphatically) made up? So I suggest you give up your quest. (grins again, glancing at Xena) 'Cause otherwise, you'll have to deal with her and I don't think you want that.

CAPANEUS:
     But the stories! People fought and died for this medallion--

ARES:
     So you're not the first one to fall for a fairy tale. That should make you feel better. (chuckles) Do you really think I'll make someone my right-hand man just because he's managed to get hold of a piece of jewelry? Please. I do have my standards.

CAPANEUS (savagely):
     I don't believe you. You're just trying to throw me off the trail so that your little Xena can get her hands on the medallion instead. (Xena and Ares roll their eyes) Everyone knows she's always been your favorite.

Xena glares at him.

XENA:
     If that's the way you want it...you'll be sorry.

She gives Ares a brief amused glance, then turns around and walks out. Ares gives Capaneus a pitying look, shakes his head and vanishes. Capaneus looks thoughtful for a moment; then, his look turns decisive.

CAPANEUS (shouts):
     Melander! (Guard #1 rushes in) Get my horse! (thinks a moment) And stop that woman before she leaves the palace!

GUARD #1 (stammers a little):
     That--that woman? You mean--Xena?

CAPANEUS (furiously):
     Yes, I mean Xena. Go do your job, you fool!

CUT TO

Xena walking down a palace corridor at a brisk pace. Ares materializes in mid-stride as he walks by her side, half-turned toward her.

ARES:
     That didn't go too well. Maybe I should have been a little more creative. (Dreamily) I could have told him that the medallion came with some terrible curse that would haunt him and his descendants for generations...

XENA (gives him an amused but slightly irritated look):
     I suggest you leave the storytelling to Gabrielle.

As she reaches the top of a large staircase, several guards come running up the stairs, blocking her way, swords at the ready. They apparently don't see Ares. Xena stops and looks at them mockingly.

GUARD#2:
     We've got orders to stop you.

XENA (smirks a little):
     Go ahead.

The guards stare at her nervously and then start moving in on her. Just as they get close, she grins and grabs two of the men by the collars.

XENA:
     Nice try.

She slams the two guards together, knocking them out and throwing them down the stairs. Two of the other guards charge her while four more try to get around her. She finds herself in the middle of a small skirmish. Grinning, she draws her sword and fights with relish, parrying their blows, spinning and kicking, then leaning on her sword to kick out her feet to the left and then to the right, knocking out two guards.

Pan over to Ares, a short distance away, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, casually watching Xena fight. Xena punches a guard in the face and he staggers backward, falling down the stairs; at the same time, she kicks back and hits one of the other guards behind her, sending him flying. The two guards who are left standing start backing up slowly; they reach the bottom of the stairs and stand there with their swords drawn. With an ululating cry, Xena jumps, flipping in the air and knocking them both out as she lands. She pauses, catching her breath.

Ares materializes next to her and sighs contentedly.

XENA (glances at him wryly):
     Aren't you tired of this yet?

ARES (grins):
     Never.

A few more guards come running down the steps.

ARES (casually):
     Need any help?

XENA:
     Nah, I've got it under control.

She throws her chakram, cutting a rope on which a large chandelier is suspended. The chandelier falls, knocking down and trapping several guards. The three who are still standing rush toward Xena but she is ready for them, punching out one of them, dodging a blow from another's sword and then spinning around and knocking the two guards together. They fall.

One of the guards Xena knocked out before starts to rise. Seeing this, Ares smirks and flicks a finger at the man, sending a small blue spark through the air that zaps him back into unconsciousness. Noticing this, Xena gives him a mock glare and he responds with a wry, mock-apologetic shrug. Xena shakes her head slightly and smiles; then she races out of the palace.

CUT TO

Outside Capaneus' palace. Xena runs out and whistles; Argo comes running, she mounts in the saddle and rides off, keeping to the edge of the palace square. Hearing a noise behind her, she slows down momentarily and looks back. Capaneus troops are lining up, ready to move again.

CUT TO

Xena galloping out of the gates of Plateia.

CUT TO

The palace in Thebes. Antigone is standing in the chamber room. Gabrielle is next to her.

ANTIGONE (shakes head):
     I can't believe Actaeon would do this... He seemed so sincere... (hurt) But he lied to me--to all of us...

GABRIELLE (comforting):
     Antigone... (Gabrielle touches her shoulder) ...you need to talk to him. Xena seems to think it's all a big mistake. If she can give him the benefit of the doubt, maybe--

ANTIGONE (her face hardens):
     No, I'm not talking to him--ever again.

Gabrielle sighs. An officer comes in and bows down before Antigone. She looks at him.

OFFICER:
     Your majesty--Plateia's troops are advancing toward the hill again.

ANTIGONE (distressed):
     Thank you.

He bows and leaves. Antigone turns to Gabrielle.

ANTIGONE:
     What am I going to do? Actaeon led the Thebans last time. And now, he's--not here--and neither is Xena. (Suddenly, her eyes light up--she clearly gets an idea) Gabrielle, you could do it. (Off Gabrielle's skeptical look) You could lead the Theban troops against Plateia.

GABRIELLE (uncertain):
     Antigone--I--

ANTIGONE:
     I know you've led an army before... I've read your scrolls. Here. (Antigone takes a gold ring with the Theban seal off of her finger and hands it to Gabrielle who takes it hesitantly) Take this. With this ring, I give you full authority to command.

GABRIELLE:
     I... (sees Antigone's pleading eyes) All right.

Gabrielle closes her hand around the ring.

DISSOLVE TO

Gabrielle is walking through the hallway in the palace. She stops for a moment, looks like she is considering something and then opens her hand to look at the ring. She pauses, then walks off at a determined stride.

CUT TO

The dungeon. It is dark and dank; prisoners are in their cells behind metal bars. A door is heard creaking open and light floods into the room briefly and then dissipates as the door closes. Pan over to see Gabrielle walking in and up to a guard who sits at a table to the side of the cell area. He is a portly, burly, intimidating bald-headed man. He is playing a game of solitaire with cards cut out of wood.

GABRIELLE:
     I need to see Actaeon.

PRISON GUARD:
     The traitor? What do you want with him?

GABRIELLE:
     Just take me to him. (pauses) By order of the queen.

The prison guard sighs and stands up.

PRISON GUARD:
     Fine. This way.

He walks down the corridor, Gabrielle following him. At the end of the corridor is a cell where we see Actaeon, sitting on a rickety bench. The guard unlocks the door and Gabrielle walks in, the guard locking the door behind her and then walking away.

GABRIELLE:
     Actaeon.

Actaeon looks up at her when he hears her voice and stands.

ACTAEON:
     Gabrielle. Please believe me, I never wanted--

GABRIELLE:
     What's going on, Actaeon? Xena didn't have a chance to tell me.

ACTAEON (hesitates):
     Well--my father--

As he begins to tell her what happened, we pull back and his voice begins to fade.

CUT TO

Xena is riding up to a small encampment of Theban soldiers at the foot of the temple. They are playing dice and relaxing, and are startled when Xena gallops up. She hops off Argo and rushes toward them.

XENA (grabs one of the soldiers who is sitting on the ground and pulls him to his feet):
     Get up! (looks around at the other soldiers) There is no time to relax. Capaneus' army is on the move again. They'll be here in no time.

An officer who seems to be in command of the group walks up to her.

OFFICER:
     I know. We're expecting reinforcements from Thebes, led by King Actaeon himself.

XENA (grimly):
     I wouldn't get your hopes up about that.

The soldiers look at her, puzzled.

CUT TO

Gabrielle is still in the cell with Actaeon. She walks up to the bars.

GABRIELLE (shouts):
     Guard!

The prison guard comes up to her and unlocks the cell. Gabrielle walks out and just as the guard begins to lock the cell again, she reaches out, stopping him. He looks at her.

PRISON GUARD:
     What are you doing?

GABRIELLE:
     Antigone has ordered him released.

PRISON GUARD (disbelieving):
     She was the one who sent him down here.

GABRIELLE:
     And she's the one who gave me this--to act on her authority.

She shows the guard the ring bearing the royal seal. The guard nods, clearly impressed.

PRISON GUARD:
     All right.

Actaeon walks out of the cell and follows Gabrielle as she heads out of the dungeon.

GABRIELLE (walking):
     Make sure Antigone doesn't see you. Who knows what she'll do if she finds out I set you free. Right now--let's just say she's pretty upset with you.

ACTAEON:
     She has every right to be.

GABRIELLE:
     This is your second chance to prove yourself to her. (smiles at him) Use it well.

They open the door to exit the dungeon.

CUT TO

The Thebans guarding the temple are now lined up at the base of the hill in military fashion, swords drawn, ready for combat. Capaneus' army advances, with Capaneus and his officers riding amidst their troops. The Thebans are vastly outnumbered and it looks like they will be easily crushed. The camera pans over the soldiers' nervous-looking faces.

The front lines of Capaneus' army approach the hill.

Xena's ululating battle cry pierces the air. Quick close-ups of the frightened faces of some of Capaneus' soldiers, and of Capaneus himself, looking very annoyed. The camera pans to show Xena riding out from behind the hill. She dismounts in a spectacular flip, charging into the front rows of Capaneus' army and knocking down several men at once. Laughing gleefully, she easily dodges the blows of their swords as she kills one of her attackers with a backward thrust and, without pausing, head-butts another.

A quick montage of the battle as the Thebans fight back. Several Thebans are seen fighting the Plateians. One Theban falls under the blows of several opponents. Xena is surrounded but then she is seen leaping into the air and leaping over the heads of several opponents; she lands, spins and punches out two soldiers with a furious yell.

THEBAN SOLDIER (off-camera):
     They'll kill us all!

Xena whips around to see a group of Plateian archers aiming their arrows at the Thebans. She grabs her chakram and throws it. It whizzes through the air and slices several of the archers' bows in half. The other archers flinch back, obviously frightened. Pan back to Xena as she catches the chakram with a victorious grin.

THEBAN OFFICER (to Xena):
     We can't hold out much longer!

Pan to Capaneus as he gallops across the field, his sword raised.

Pan to another Theban soldier who falls dead.

VOICES (off-camera, heard through the noise of the battle):
     --Look!
     --They're coming!
     --It's Actaeon!

Xena whips around, an expression of surprise on her face.

Pan to the Theban troops coming toward the hill. Zoom in on Gabrielle and Actaeon riding at the head of the troops. Gabrielle's face lights up with joy as she sees Xena. She rides toward her and dismounts.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena!

XENA:
     Actaeon. What's he doing here--how?

GABRIELLE:
     I'll explain later.

Several Plateians run up to attack them. Xena and Gabrielle fight side by side, their backs half-turned to each other, Gabrielle parrying her opponents blows with her sais and repelling them with kicks, Xena sparring with a Plateian and then killing him.

As the Theban reinforcements join the battle, the camera pans over the battlefield and lingers on a cloaked figure in the back of the Theban troops; the person's face is hidden by the black cloak wrapped around their head, only the eyes visible.

Wide shot of the battlefield, with the battle raging everywhere.

Pan to Xena and Gabrielle taking a quick break from fighting, several dead or unconscious bodies lying around them.

XENA:
     So what happened with Actaeon? Did he and Antigone kiss and make up?

GABRIELLE:
     No, I let him out of the dungeon. (off Xena's curious look) I didn't tell her.

XENA (shakes her head):
     You'll have some explaining to do.

GABRIELLE (glances over at Actaeon, who is now on foot, leading the Thebans into battle):
     Let's hope his actions speak for themselves...even for someone as stubborn as--

She is cut off as a man screams and lunges at her. She ducks his blade and kicks him back.

The battle continues. As the camera pulls back, we see that the Theban army is starting to push the Plateian troops away from the hill.

Pan to Actaeon, alone at the steep side of the hill, fighting off two Plateian soldiers. He kills one of them, running him through with his sword, and knocks out the other, hitting him on the head with the flat of his sword. As he stands over them, breathing hard and looking down, he sees a pair of dark leather boots with dragon-shaped silver buckles come into view, walking slowly. He looks up and finds himself staring at Capaneus.

ACTAEON:
     Father. (holds up his bloodied sword)

CAPANEUS (sarcastic):
     Son. How does it feel to have your countrymen's blood on your blade?

ACTAEON:
     I'm fighting for what's right.

CAPANEUS:
     And I'm fighting for what's rightfully mine.

ACTAEON:
     Rightfully yours? Why? Because you're willing to kill people to get it?

CAPANEUS (sneers):
     And you call yourself a follower of Ares. Do you really think Ares appreciates sentimental fools like you?

ACTAEON:
     Ares appreciates good warriors. Maybe the better warrior is the one who fights for a good reason.

Capaneus looks at his son, his lip curling up in a sneer. He looks almost disappointed.

CAPANEUS:
     Shall we test your theory?

Capaneus charges Actaeon and they begin to fight, skillfully parrying and dodging each other's sword thrusts. Actaeon seems to be limiting himself to defensive moves, not really going on the offensive against his father.

Seeing Actaeon's hesitation and reluctance to attack, Capaneus distracts him with a fake move and then slashes at him so quickly that Actaeon doesn't have time to block Capaneus' attack. Capaneus' sword slashes across Actaeon's thigh; as he gasps in pain, Capaneus kicks the sword out of his hand and advances on him. Limping from his wound, Actaeon retreats, his back against the hillside. Capaneus raises his sword toward his son's chest.

CAPANEUS:
     Don't expect help from Xena--or anyone else. You're cut off from your troops.

With a curt nod, he indicates the Plateian soldiers around them, their backs to Capaneus and Actaeon, fighting the Thebans.

CUT TO

Another part of the battlefield. Xena and Gabrielle are fighting side by side. The Theban officer we saw before comes racing toward them.

THEBAN OFFICER:
     The king! Actaeon--he's surrounded!

Xena and Gabrielle exchange worried looks and follow him.

CUT TO

Capaneus, holding Actaeon at sword point.

CAPANEUS:
     Tell the Thebans to surrender. Then I'll let you live.

ACTAEON (defiantly):
     Never! You don't deserve to win.

Capaneus snarls and raises his sword to Actaeon's throat. Actaeon looks at the blade's point, then back at his father.

ACTAEON:
     Go ahead, do it. After all the people you've sacrificed to your lust for power, sacrifice your own son.

CUT TO

The Thebans trying to break through the Plateian ranks to get to Actaeon.

CUT TO

CAPANEUS:
     It was your choice. You know that.

ACTAEON (bitterly):
     You keep telling yourself that and maybe after the hundredth time, you'll actually believe it.

Pan to Xena, in the thick of the battle, trying to take aim with her chakram. A soldier slams into her and she momentarily loses her footing.

Pan to Capaneus, still holding his sword at Actaeon's chest.

CAPANEUS:
     Oh, I believe it already. (Draws his arm back to strike the fatal blow) Goodbye, son.

Close-up on Actaeon's face as he closes his eyes.

Pan to Xena; with an ululating cry, she soars into the air over the heads of the Plateian soldiers and lands on the ground, reaching for her chakram.

A close-up on Capaneus; his face looks hard and cruel. Suddenly, his eyes widen and he makes a gulping sound. The camera pulls back to show him drop his sword and raise his hand toward his throat, from which an arrow is protruding. He starts to stagger.

ACTAEON (opens his eyes):
     Father?

Pan to Xena, who stares in shock as Capaneus falls slowly to the ground. The cloaked figure we saw before comes out from behind a tree. The person pulls off the cloak. It's Antigone, wearing pants and a shirt; she is holding a crossbow. She walks toward Actaeon.

ACTAEON (stares in disbelief):
     Antigone? You--here?

ANTIGONE:
     I noticed you with the troops. I had to see if could trust you. (pauses) I'm sorry.

ACTAEON:
     No, I'm sorry--for having agreed to that deal in the first place.

They stare at each other for a moment. Then Actaeon turns to Capaneus and kneels by his side. He is dead, his eyes staring blankly into space. Actaeon places his hand over his father's face and closes his eyelids, then lifts his hand. Actaeon closes his eyes for a moment and rises to his feet a little gingerly, his leg bleeding.

ANTIGONE (regretfully):
     I know you wish it hadn't ended this way...so do I.

ACTAEON:
     You did--the only thing you could have done. (He takes her hand as they stare at the body of Capaneus.) Thank you, Antigone.

She smiles slightly and puts a hand on his arm.

ANTIGONE:
     Come on. We've got a war to stop.

Pan to Xena, who looks at them with a bittersweet smile.

Meanwhile, the fighting slows down as Plateian soldiers realize that their king is dead and look around in confusion.

ACTAEON (raises his voice):
     Soldiers of Plateia! Listen to me! Your king--my father--is dead. (he waits for the murmurs to die down) He started this war between our two cities for his own selfish goals. I am his rightful heir--joined in marriage to the queen of Thebes. (points to Antigone)

ANTIGONE:
     I'm willing to put our past hostilities behind us--for the sake of my city-- (she looks tenderly at Actaeon) --and my husband.

The camera pans over the battlefield. Some of the soldiers on both sides are throwing down their weapons; as others look at them, more follow their example.

GABRIELLE:
     Long live the king and the queen!

She is echoed by some of the soldiers. Soon their exclamations grow into a chorus of "Long live the king and the queen!" Antigone and Actaeon smile slightly to each other and clasp hands.

CUT TO

The battle aftermath. Soldiers on both sides are carrying away their dead and wounded.

Pan to some Plateian officers carrying away Capaneus' body as Actaeon looks on sadly. Antigone, Xena and Gabrielle stand by his side.

Xena puts a comforting hand on Actaeon's shoulder.

XENA:
     You did everything you could to prevent this war. He made his choice.

Gabrielle, Xena, Actaeon, and Antigone look out over the battlefield in silence.

Then Xena shivers slightly and raises her eyes to the top of the hill, where she sees Ares standing in front of the temple. He looks down at her. They stare at each other. A close-up of Ares' face, his gaze thoughtful and grave, and then of Xena's face, as her expression grows anxious and doubtful.

The camera pulls back for a wide shot of the entire scene: the dead and injured soldiers being carried away from the field, Xena, Gabrielle, Antigone and Actaeon looking on quietly, and Ares at the top of his hill, looking down at the valley below. The camera lingers on this scene for a few seconds.

DISSOLVE TO

Close up of a sparkling crown, studded with small diamonds. We pull back to see a man in a robe holding the crown and pulling back further reveals Antigone in front of him, dressed in an elegant royal gown. The man sets the crown on her head. A loud cheer goes up and we get a wide shot of the entire court room--people all around, cheering "Hail, Queen Antigone!" White and red rose petals are tossed down from the balcony, showering the room. Antigone looks out over her people smiling. She glances over to the side where we see Gabrielle, Xena and Haimon standing. They are smiling.

Actaeon, who is also dressed in an elegant outfit, comes up to her and takes her hand. She smiles at him. They kiss, and the crowd cheers even more.

Pan to Xena, Gabrielle and Haimon as they applaud.

GABRIELLE:
     It's amazing. Their marriage started out as a lie--and now it's turned into the real thing.

HAIMON:
     Just goes to show you how the best can come out of the worst.

Xena gives him a silent, thoughtful look.

DISSOLVE TO

The Theban palace gates. Xena, Gabrielle and Haimon are on their horses, starting to ride away.

ANTIGONE:
     Have a safe journey!

ACTAEON:
     You're welcome back in Thebes or Plateia any time.

XENA:
     Thank you.

GABRIELLE:
     Antigone--Actaeon--I hope you're going to be very happy. (smiles) Good-bye.

They ride away, looking back to see Actaeon and Antigone standing together, their arms linked. Gabrielle smiles; then she reaches out to Haimon and squeezes his hand. He smiles at her.

CUT TO

Night. Xena and Gabrielle are sitting at a campsite. Gabrielle is tending to the fire. She glances over at Haimon who is sleeping in a bedroll nearby, his blanket half off. She gazes at him tenderly, then gets up and goes over to fix his blanket. When she returns and sits down, Xena gives her a probing look.

XENA (in a hushed voice):
     You love him, don't you?

Gabrielle looks at her, startled, then turns away and is silent for a while.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena--when you were leaving for Plateia, you told me Ares could help you stop the war. What happened? Did he refuse?

Xena looks away briefly, then looks back at Gabrielle, their eyes meeting.

XENA (sighs):
     Gabrielle, Ares has been starting wars for thousands of years. When he finally tried to stop one, the most loyal of his worshippers wouldn't obey him. For Capaneus, Ares is war. And it was the call of war that he continued to follow...rather than listen to what Ares was actually trying to tell him. (sadly) Maybe the God of War can change--but war cannot.

Xena looks on, staring into the fire, a sad, wistful look on her face as we:

FADE OUT

THE END

[Ares' storytelling abilities were not appreciated during the production of this motion picture.]

Xena: Warrior Princess Shipper Seasons Season 8 Episode 21 Blood Feud Story By: Aurora, LadyKate and Tango 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 Haimon Michael Vartan Antigone Kate Elliot Capaneus Stephen Peter Actaeon Rob Flank Original Airdate April 4, 2004 Ares' storytelling abilities were not appreciated 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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