9.08 Unleashed


ACT TWO

FADE IN

Ares and Darion stare at the woman in front of them. She smiles at Ares and walks toward him slowly.

WOMAN:
     What? Not even a hello? (As Ares remains silent, anger fills her voice after each word) Maybe you don't remember me.

Ares

ARES (not letting his guard down, firmly):
     I remember you, Enyo.

Enyo begins to circle around him, looking him over, studying his clothes, checking him out in a blatantly sexual way. Then she stops in front of him.

ENYO (raises her eyebrow, unimpressed):
     You've changed.

ARES (coldly):
     You haven't.

ENYO (smiles bitterly):
     Well, you didn't give me much of a chance, did you now?

She looks down at Darion. He holds the wooden chakram pressed tightly against his chest. His hands are shaking with fright. He gulps, his eyes wide. Ares' hand is draped protectively across Darion's body. She smiles and then looks at Ares.

ENYO (sarcastically):
     How sweet. You have a son. (sighs) And who's the mother? Let me guess-- (contemptuously) --a mortal? (Ares is silent, staring at her) Well, I see that one thing hasn't changed. (smirks) You still can't keep your hands off those mortal females. Not to mention...other body parts.

Ares remains silent. Enyo begins to get more enraged as she talks. She paces back and forth, absorbing her surroundings.

ENYO:
     Well, no matter. (grins) We had some good times--(annoyed) --until you dumped me because you didn't like my...special qualities. (sighs) But you can't make me jealous no matter how hard you try. I'm a goddess. (filling with hatred) They've got nothing on me.

She whips around, staring at Ares. Her eyes are glowing a bright red.

Pan on Darion as he cowers in fright.

ARES (sarcastically):
      You know--you really shouldn't hold a grudge after all this time.

Enyo

ENYO (as if hearing the word for the first time):
      Oh yes. Time. (hissing) Do you know what time became for me when you stuck me inside that thing? (indicates the pile of broken sphere on the ground). An instrument of torture. (voice filling with rage) Oh yes. It has been a long--long--time.

She glares at Ares, and raises her hand to create a blaze of fire. She screams in fury as she launches the fire towards Ares and Darion. Ares, with a tight hold of Darion, quickly moves out of the way. The fire explodes on the ceiling, causing a bit of a cave in. A grin appears on her face.

She launches another fireball and Ares grabs Darion and ducks out of the way. He then stands up and in anger, launches a fireball towards her. She quickly deflects it with her hand. The fireball explodes on the side wall. Dust fills the room.

Enyo laughs wickedly as Ares stares at her nervously.

ENYO (chuckling):
     You know--I forgot how much I enjoyed doing that. (She sighs and stretches) Well--now, I think I'll go get some fresh air. (She winks at him and gives him a sultry smile) Catch you later--War God.

Lightning begins to flare up around Enyo. She grins, laughs wildly and vanishes and in a flash of red light, lightning and smoke. The light dissipates and the room becomes almost pitch black. Ares spins Darion around and looks at him, gripping his shoulders.

ARES:
     What did you think you were doing?

DARION:
     I... (gulps) I...I'm sorry. I was just...curious.

Darion looks away and begins to sniffle, tears coming to his eyes. His sniffling turns to sobs and Ares looks intensely uncomfortable, not knowing what to do. Finally Ares pats Darion's head rather stiffly.

DARION (wiping his tears):
     Am I in trouble?

ARES:
     I don't know about you. I am.

Darion looks up at Ares nervously.

DARION:
      Who...who was she?

Ares looks away.

[FLASHBACK]

A quick flash of the battle we saw in the beginning of the teaser. Ares--with a thick beard and shaggy hair, a necklace of animal fangs around his neck--is fighting next to Enyo. Ares grins evilly as he guts a man with his sword. Enyo laughs wildly as she throws a fireball towards a group of the men and sets them on fire. She continues to laugh as they scream.

[END OF FLASHBACK]

Ares stares off into the darkness.

[FLASHBACK]

A temple comes to view, lit by candlelight. In the middle of the temple is a large bed with silk sheets. Enyo is on top of Ares, the covers draped over her, as she fiercely kisses him.

Enyo and Ares

ENYO (breaking the kiss):
      Together...we're unstoppable.

[END OF FLASHBACK]

Ares looks down at Darion.

ARES:
      Lets just say...she's bad news.

Close up of Ares' grim face.

CUT TO

Inside a temple to Ares. There are two priests and a priestess working in the temple. The priestess is lighting candles and the priests are washing down the alter stone that has bloodstains on it, clearly left there by a recent sacrificial offering. There is a flash of red light behind them. Pan back to see Enyo standing in the middle of the temple. The priests and priestess do not see her--she is invisible to them.

Enyo looks around the temple, taking in her surroundings.

ENYO:
     So this is a temple to Ares, God of War.

She scans the interior of the temple.

ENYO (sighs, shaking her head):
     You've really mellowed out, haven't you? No carnage anywhere? (looks at the priests and priestess who are keeping the place tidy) That's pathetic. (looks up at the ceiling) What has happened to you while I've been gone? (shakes head) Nothing good, I can see that.

Enyo sighs, unimpressed, and walks toward the door of the temple. She begins to disappear when something catches her eye. She appears fully and gazes upward. Over the door of the temple is an image of Xena's yin-yang chakram carved into the stone. Enyo cocks her head looking at it, interested.

[FLASHBACK]

Enyo standing in front of Ares and Darion. She looks at them and sees the wooden chakram that Darion holds in his hand.

[END OF FLASHBACK]

Enyo raises an eyebrow, staring intently at the carving, then spins around and rushes toward one of the priests. She grabs the priest by the shoulder and he gasps. She is still invisible to him, so it looks like he is hanging in mid-air. He struggles, frightened and gasping. The other priest and the priestess look at him, terrified, not knowing what to do. Enyo appears in a flash of red and white light. The priest and priestess stare at her, eyes widening. The priest that she is still holding onto shakes nervously.

ENYO:
     I need information.

PRIEST #1 (stuttering):
     Who- who are you?

Enyo grins and sighs, looking sweetly at him.

ENYO:
     Relax. (she sets the priest down) I'm not going to hurt you--

The priest coughs and nervously adjusts his robes.

ENYO:
     --much.

The priest looks up at her, terrified.

ENYO:
      Now. Tell me what that is.

She points to the chakram carving above the doorway.

PRIEST #1 (still nervous, stuttering ):
     That's the cha-cha-cha-

ENYO (sarcastically):
     Bless you. (she grabs the priests by the collar and picks him up again as he whimpers; her eyes glow red) Now spit it out!

PRIESTESS:
     It's the chakram of Xena, the Warrior Princess!

ENYO:
     Xena?

She drops the priest and he falls to the floor, rubbing his neck and whimpering.

Enyo whips around and turns to the cowering priestess.

ENYO (curious):
     Who is this--Xena?

PRIESTESS (gulps):
     She's...she's a favorite warrior--of Ares, God of War.

ENYO (narrows eyes):
     Oh really? (mockingly) Just how favorite is she?

PRIESTESS (nervously):
     Well...

ENYO (smiles sweetly):
     Now, let's make a deal.

She paces around the temple, then turns to the priests and the priestess just as the priest she had picked up by the collar before scrambles to his feet, still rubbing his neck.

ENYO (turns to them):
     You're going to tell me everything you know. And I will spare you a very painful death.

The priests stare at her. She grins.

CUT TO

Xena and Gabrielle walking through the forest, leading their horses.

GABRIELLE:
     I wonder what Darion is doing right now.

XENA:
     Having fun. (smirks) Probably getting in some kind of trouble. (off Gabrielle's alarmed look) Just kidding.

Gabrielle chuckles and shakes her head. There is a flash of blue light in front of them and Ares appears with Darion.

GABRIELLE:
     Darion? (she steps toward them) Done with the tour already? (smirking, to Ares) Don't tell me Darion was too much for you to handle. (to Darion, teasing) You've been a good boy, haven't you, Darion?

Darion looks away, tearing up. Gabrielle looks at him, suddenly troubled.

ARES (very serious):
     The fun is over.

XENA:
     Why--what's wrong?

GABRIELLE (kneels down in front of Darion):
     What's wrong, sweetie?

Darion stares down. After a long moment of silence, Gabrielle touches Darion's chin and moves his head so that he is looking at her.

GABRIELLE (gently):
     Darion, come on--

DARION (blurts out):
     I've been very bad!

GABRIELLE:
     Oh, that can't be true! (She smiles at him and then turns to Ares, her expression changing to a frown) Ares--have you been giving him a hard time? You should--

DARION (cuts her off):
     Some really mean goddess got out and it's all my fault! (he starts to sniffle)

Gabrielle shakes her head, confused, and glances up at Xena and Ares.

GABRIELLE:
     What is Darion talking about?

ARES (sighs):
     It's true.

GABRIELLE (stands up, disbelieving):
     You've got to be kidding! (she laughs) Darion set loose a goddess?

DARION (looking down):
     I...I picked up this funny-looking round thing and--and there was this other thing that was like a key...and the goddess was inside it and she got out.

XENA (stepping closer to Ares):
     What's this all about?

ARES:
     A blast from the past. A thousand years ago, to be exact.

Ares looks away uncomfortably. Xena is troubled and curious. Gabrielle moves closer to Ares.

GABRIELLE (angry):
     How could you let this happen, Ares? You were supposed to look after Darion!

Darion runs up to Gabrielle, standing between her and Ares, and grabs her hands, looking up at her.

DARION:
     Please don't blame Ares, Gabrielle. It's not his fault. It's mine. (sniffles) It's all my fault! All my fault!

He turns around and runs off into the forest.

GABRIELLE:
     Darion!

Gabrielle rushes off into the forest after Darion. There is a long moment of silence. Xena turns to Ares.

XENA:
     Who is she?

Ares is silent for a moment, looks away, then looks back at Xena.

ARES:
     Enyo was a goddess from the island of Mysia, in the Aegean. I was the one who found her. She was not born a war god, but she had a natural skill for war.

XENA (bluntly):
     So she became your Warrior Queen.

ARES:
     I took her under my wing--taught her everything I knew.

XENA (wryly):
     I bet you did.

ARES:
     We were the ruling gods of war--and, together, we caused mayhem throughout the mortal world. I didn't even care about worshipers back then--just... (move in slowly on his face) ...death.

DISSOLVE TO

[FLASHBACK]

On Screen Writing: A THOUSAND YEARS AGO

Two armies are facing off in a field. The leaders of the two armies on horses. They raise their swords and the soldiers of their armies attack. The battle quickly becomes bloody and fearsome.

There is the sound of rumbling. Off to the side of the battlefield there is a flicker of red light and billows of black smoke appear in the air. The smoke gets thick until there is a bright burst of white light and a loud whinny and cackling sound. Out of the smoke charge two black Clydesdales with glowing red eyes and silver bridles. The two horses charge toward the battlefield, pulling behind them a gruesome black chariot, with razor sharp spikes on the wheels. The chariot's face has embossed depictions of people battling each other: some stabbing opponents in the gut, others chopping off heads and body parts and dead bodies lying on the ground.

Standing in the chariot are Ares and Enyo holding the reins. Enyo looks exactly the same as she did when she was released from the sphere. They both have evil grins on their faces as the chariot races into the battlefield, mowing down people as it goes, the spikes of the chariot disemboweling some unsuspecting victims. Ares, Enyo and their chariot are invisible to the soldiers.

The chariot stops in the middle of the battlefield. Ares and Enyo look around at all the fighting.

Ares

ARES:
     You're good, Enyo.

ENYO (grins):
     I know.

ARES:
     Getting that fool of a king to follow you--believing you would help him in battle.

ENYO:
     And you did the same with his brother. (chuckles) Nice touch. Little did they know that we'd be leading them in a battle against each other...

Enyo draws her sword and thrusts it forward, stabbing one of the soldiers in the gut. He gasps and falls to the ground, dead. She smiles, satisfied and looks at Ares

ENYO:
     ...or that we'd be fighting on whatever side we like.

ARES (casually):
     Too bad for them.

Enyo grins and jumps out of the chariot, brandishing her sword. Ares shakes his head and gets out of the chariot and joins Enyo in the fight. They fight side by side, killing soldiers on both sides, laughing as they kill.

Enyo lays a good blow into one of the soldiers, thrusts her sword through his gut so that it sticks out the other side, then pulls it out, spins it around in her hand and then slices his gut open. He dies instantly.

Ares grins and kicks the body to the ground; then, with his free hand, he sends a lightning bolt through the battlefield, killing half a dozen soldiers who turn to ashes. Enyo shakes her head, impressed.

Ares lowers his hand and is breathing heavily. He looks at the blade of his sword. Blood drips from it. Ares moves the blade closer to his face. He closes his eyes and throws his head back a little, inhaling the scent of death around him.

A close-up of Ares' face. He opens his eyes. They are glowing red. He looks like no Ares we've ever seen before--nothing more than a vessel for war and bloodlust.

Pan over to Enyo, who is facing him. Her eyes are glowing red too.

Pull back for a full view of the battlefield. Most of the solders are dead. Ares and Enyo stand side by side amongst the carnage, blood-spattered, their faces filled with bliss.

[END OF FLASHBACK]

Xena is sitting by a tree, her arms wrapped around her knees, lost in thought. Ares sits down next to her.

CUT TO

Darion is sitting next to a tree in the forest, in a position similar to Xena with his arms wrapped around his knees, except that he has his head down and is crying softly. There is a rustle of leaves. Gabrielle approaches and stands still for a moment, then sits down next to Darion.

GABRIELLE:
     Are you okay?

Darion wipes his eyes.

DARION:
     I did a really bad thing, Gabrielle.

She puts a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Gabrielle

GABRIELLE:
     I'm sure you didn't mean to, Darion. We all make mistakes sometimes.

DARION (anxiously):
     But this goddess...she's really, really scary.

GABRIELLE:
     Don't worry--we'll deal with her. Everything will be fine. (gently) Okay?

Darion is silent. He sighs and then looks at Gabrielle.

DARION (sadly):
     This hasn't turned out to be a very happy birthday. (looks away)

Gabrielle looks at him, sympathetically. She pulls him toward her and hugs him.

CUT TO

Xena and Ares.

ARES:
     Enyo and I...we were--

XENA (bitterly):
     A perfect match.

ARES:
     Yeah.

[FLASHBACK]

Ares' chambers on Olympus. There is a flash of red and blue light. Enyo and Ares appear, fiercely and violently kissing each other. Ares moves his hands over her body and then pushes her against the wall of the room. She slams against it. He darts toward her and grabs her arms, pinning her against the wall. She grins and forces his lips onto hers and they kiss passionately. She wraps her leg around him, pulling him closer to her.

DISSOLVE TO

Enyo and Ares are lying next to each other in a bed covered with silky sheets, both naked. Enyo runs her hand over Ares chest and he looks at her.

ENYO:
     I don't think I'll ever get tired of this.

Ares

ARES:
     Oh really? Eternity is a long time. Let's just take it one decade at a time.

Enyo grins and leans toward him.

ENYO:
     Sounds good. Starting right now, hmm? (she captures his lips in a kiss; when she pulls back, he is grinning at her) What?

ARES:
     You know, it's time we moved on to bigger and better things.

ENYO (grins, her gaze trailing down his body):
     Bigger and better than what?

ARES (chuckles):
      All these battles between mortals are starting to bore me. Oh, don't get me wrong--I love a good bloodbath as much as the next war god. But...we need more of a challenge.

ENYO:
     Like what?

ARES:
     I have a perfect one in mind if you're up to it. (Ares props himself up against the headboard of the bed and looks at Enyo) It's time to take down Zeus.

ENYO (surprised):
     Your father?

Ares

ARES:
     It's kind of a family tradition. Grandpa Cronus did it to Uranus; Zeus did it to Cronus--now it's my turn. I should be top god around here, anyway. I've had enough of my family looking down their noses at me because of what I do. It's time I showed them who's boss.

ENYO:
     So you want to kill Zeus...how?

ARES:
     I know there's at least one weapon out there that can kill gods. Maybe more. (smirks) Zeus has his little secrets. All we need to do is figure them out.

ENYO (grins):
     I've got a little secret of my own. (she moves toward him and touches his face) I can do it.

ARES (catches her wrist, suddenly wary):
     You? With what?

ENYO (whispers):
     A kiss. (smiling) You see, I have an unusual ability. I can drain gods of their powers--their immortality. (seductively) A special kiss--that's all it takes.

Ares stares at her silently. Enyo leans down toward him.

ENYO:
     All you have to do... (whispers) ...is ask.

[END OF FLASHBACK]

XENA (gasps):
     The same ability Caligula had--

ARES (nods):
     Yes. And this ability...made her a little too powerful for my taste.

Ares trails off, looking into the distance.

[FLASHBACK]

A hill overlooking a raging battlefield. Out of a great cloud of dust, a chariot comes rolling. A blood spattered Ares jumps off the chariot and stands atop the hill, throwing his head back, crossing his arms on his chest. There is a flash of red light behind him. He whips around to face Enyo.

ENYO (angry):
     I've been looking all over for you.

ARES (irritated):
      Can't the God of War enjoy a nice battle on his own once and a while?

ENYO (furious):
     Ares, you have been ignoring me for days!

Ares turns away and stares at the battle. Enyo leans in and starts to kiss his neck. Ares backs off a bit.

ENYO (smiles, whispering into his ear):
     You're afraid of me--aren't you, God of War?

ARES (chuckles, hiding his nervousness):
     Of you? That's ridiculous.

ENYO (seductively):
     Then kiss me.

ARES (brusquely):
     Not in the mood.

ENYO:
      Your afraid I'll take your powers. (shaking her head) If I wanted to do that, Ares, wouldn't I have done it already?

ARES:
      Maybe not--as long as you can use me.

Enyo

ENYO (getting angry):
     Use you? If you want to be top god, then you need me.

Ares' expression turns vicious.

ARES (growling):
      I don't need anyone. Especially you.

ENYO (furious):
     If that's the way you want it...you'll be sorry.

She stretches out her arms and, with a screech, launches two fireballs into the battlefield. The screams of warriors hit by the fireballs are heard from below.

Enyo starts to stalk down the hill, her back to Ares.

ARES (quietly):
      Enyo.

Enyo stops, then turns around hopefully.

ARES (forcefully):
      If you know what was good for you, stay out of my way.

ENYO (viciously):
      If you know what's good for you--don't make me angry.

She vanishes in a flash of red light. With a frustrated road, Ares creates a fireball in his hand and chucks it down at the spot where she vanished.

[END OF FLASHBACK]

ARES:
     After that, we were enemies. It wasn't too long before things came to a head.

[FLASHBACK]

Inside the gods' palace on Olympus. There are bright flashes of light. Ares and Enyo are battling it out in the main hall, each punch, kick and clash of their swords creating sparks. Enyo charges Ares and thrusts her sword at him, screaming. He parries the blade and pushes her aside. Their swords clash several times, both of them knowing all there is to know about the art of war.

Ares knees Enyo in the stomach several times and then grabs her by the waist and throws her across the room. She hits the wall hard, causing some of the stones to be pushed in and dust to fly. Enyo shakes herself and stares at Ares as he walks up to her. She growls and throws her sword arm at him but he catches it.

She growls and tries to kick him in the groin but instead he throws her down and plants his knee in her chest, pinning her down. She struggles, snarling and hissing.

Ares leans down, his face now close to Enyo's. His eyes are chilly and menacing.

Ares

ARES (his voice low and dangerous):
     I am the God of War. You can't win this fight. Everything you know about fighting, about war... Everything that the world knows about war... It's all because of me. You can't ever hope to take my place no matter how you try.

Enyo glares at him. Then, with an artful moves, she pushes him off, jumps to her feet and vanishes in a red glare.

Ares jumps to his feet just as Enyo appears behind him. He spins around to find her sword pressing up against his chest. He looks down at the blade and then at Enyo. Ares sneers.

ARES:
     You know those toys aren't going to do you any good.

ENYO:
     I'm not leaving that easily. I'll fight you 'till the end. You know I can.

Ares

ARES:
     I know you can try.

Ares hits her sword with his and their fight begins again. She lays some good blows into him but he parries her every time. She is filled with rage as she fights Ares but it is clear that Ares is enjoying this. He has a cocky smirk on his face. Sparks continue to fly and thunder erupts around them as they battle.

For a moment Enyo manages to get the upper hand. She knocks Ares' sword from his hand, then flips herself over him and kicks him in the back. He stumbles forward and spins around to face Enyo. She screeches, laughs wildly and grabs his shoulders, bringing her face close to his as she tries to kiss him on the mouth. Her lips barely touch his when he manages to push her back.

With a cry of fury, Enyo extends her hand and sends a lightning bolt toward Ares. He holds up his hand to catch the energy surge and it disintegrates in his hand. He grins wickedly, then thrusts his hand forward and shoots a lightning bolt into her. Enyo is thrown back across the room and hits the wall so hard that she knocks a hole in it.

She lies in the rubble for a moment, then shakes herself and sits up. Ares walks slowly up to her. Her eyes meet his. She jumps up and punches Ares in the face. She tries to kick him in the stomach but he grabs her leg and flips her over so that she lands on the ground, face down. He plants a foot in her back as she struggles.

ARES:
     You know, I did warn you.

Enyo lifts her head up, struggling, her hair disheveled. Ares holds out his hand and a black sphere appears in it.

ARES:
     It's a shame. To see a young... (glances at Enyo and raises an eyebrow) beautiful goddess in the prime of immortality reduced to a footnote in history.

ENYO:
     What?

ARES:
     I have more important things to do than fight you forever--I've got a world to wage war on. (he holds out the sphere toward her and stares at it) It's lights out for you.

He stands back, taking his foot off Enyo's back, and stares intently at the sphere as Enyo scrambles to her feet. His eyes begin to glow red and the sphere gets a glowing red aura around it. The light gets brighter. A wind begins to blow through the hall, growing stronger. Enyo staggers as the wind begins to pull her toward the sphere.

ENYO (shouting over the noise as she is pulled closer toward the sphere):
     What are you doing? What is this?

Ares

ARES:
     A little present from Hephaestus. This is the price you'll pay for ever crossing paths with the God of War.

The wind pulls harder at Enyo. A red and white fog begins to form around her. It sweeps her off her feet and she begins to disappear.

ENYO:
      Ares!!!!!!

Enyo disappears and a wisp of red and white smoke sweeps around the sphere and then enters it, filling the interior of the sphere with the smoke, the sound of Enyo's echoing scream finally dying down. The light fades and the wind stops. Ares continues to stare at the sphere.

ARES (nonchalantly):
     Goodbye, Enyo. (sighs, genuinely saddened for a moment) I'll miss you. (grins) But I'll get over it.

Close-up of the sphere as the red and white smoke floats around inside, with sparks of lightning. Close-up of Ares' face as he laughs.

[END OF FLASHBACK]

Xena is looking at Ares.

ARES:
     I put the sphere in a secret room in my halls on Olympus. (shrugs) Haephestus devised a pretty good safety system...

XENA:
     Obviously, it wasn't child-proof.

ARES (chuckles, despite the situation):
     There's no such thing as child-proof.

Xena stares at him and then stands up.

XENA:
     So she's back... (looks down at Ares) She'll be after you again.

ARES:
      I can handle her.

CUT TO

Ares' temple. The frightened priests stand before Enyo.

ENYO:
      All right. I've heard enough about this (spitting out her name) Xena. Now tell me about their son.

PRIEST#1 (confused):
      Their son?

PRIESTESS:
     I don't know about any of my lord Ares' children. (mustering up the courage to question Enyo) Why do you need to know about his son?

ENYO (hissing):
      Lets just say...I need to get his attention. What better way than going after his son? (thinks a moment) Well. Maybe going after his priests.

She raises her hands, screeching, and sends out two fireboats, striking down Priest #1 and the priestess. They scream as they fall.

ENYO (to the remaining priest, who cowers before her):
     You can live--to give Ares the message. (to the fallen priestess) And by the way--don't ever question a goddess.

Enyo vanishes in red light and smoke as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO