ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

28 INT. CATACOMBS/BOTTOMLESS PIT - NIGHT (CONTINUOUS)

Joxer stands for a beat, in total shock.

JOXER
Xena...

He regards the Bacchae, who begin to surround him, then takes off into the dark catacombs.

Bacchus looks into the pit, saddened ...

BACCHUS
(shaking his head)
What a waste ...

Bacchae #1 approaches him.

BACCHAE #1
Shall we go after the others, Master?

BACCHUS
Don't bother. It was Xena I wanted.
(then; announcing)
Back to the lair. The Bacchae moon
will soon appear. It's time to
initiate your newest sisters!

The Bacchae SHRIEK with delight as they fly off towards Bacchus' lair.

We HEAR the SOUND of SOMEONE GRUNTING. Ever hopeful, we MOVE down into the pit to find --

XENA, hanging from the wall by. two Dryad Bones she jammed in on her way down. The heat is intense, as Xena uses the bones to slowly climb out.

CUT TO:

29 INT. ELSEWHERE IN CATACOMBS - NIGHT

Orpheus is held by a shaken and discouraged Joxer.

JOXER
I can't believe she's gone.

ORPHEUS
Once again Xena fails me. She should
have died killing Bacchus ...

JOXER
(getting angry)
You know something, you're one ungrateful,
bitter man. Not even a man. Just a head!
(then)
Xena gave her life to help you and
this is the thanks she gets?!
(leaving without him)
You can find your own way out of here.

Joxer stomps off for a few steps, then stops. He has no idea how to get out of there.

JOXER
(back to Orpheus)
Do you remember how we got in here?

Orpheus stews for a minute, then --

ORPHEUS
It was my fault.

JOXER
Okay ... What are we talking about?

ORPHEUS
Eurydice.
(then)
She went to Xena's camp that night
because of me. I was so foolish, I
thought I could defeat Bacchus on my
own. I refused to team up with Xena's
army. Eurydice knew I was wrong. She
was just trying to save me from my
own stupid pride.

Joxer picks up Orpheus and looks at him sympathetically.

JOXER
You don't know how many times Xena
saved my butt. I should've been there
for her, backing her up, fighting those
she-demons but I, uh... had to guard
you. That's it. My hands were tied...

Joxer hesitates. His blustering dissipates as Xena's demise really sinks in.

JOXER
Who am I kidding? I didn't fight because
I'm a coward. I always have been and I
always will be. My mother was right, I
should've been a musician.

ORPHEUS
(with an idea)
You are a musician... and a warrior.
And you can stop Bacchus.

JOXER
I can? How?

ORPHEUS
(with a smile)
Play the lyre.

Joxer and Orpheus trade looks. Are they really gonna do this?

CUT TO:

30 INT. CATACOMBS/BOTTOMLESS PIT - NIGHT

ON JOXER'S FEET

as they cross the narrow ledge around the pit.

ON JOXER

as he carries Orpheus.

ORPHEUS
Watch your step.

Just then, Joxer looks into the pit and sees SOMEONE

JOXER
(hopeful)
Xena?!

Joxer reaches down into the pit. Suddenly, a BACCHAE drops from above, grabbing hold of Joxer!

She's about to take him apart when

Xena JUMPS OUT of the pit, wielding a Dryad Bone. She stops the Bacchae cold, driving a stake right through her heart!

The Bacchae's face contorts in horrid pain as the Dryad bone burns through her with a nightmarish SIZZLE. She shrieks and falls back into the pit.

Xena turns to the slack-jawed Joxer --

XENA
What are you waiting for? Come on.

Xena races towards Bacchus' lair. Joxer shakes his head in amazement, then falls in behind her.

CUT TO:

31 INT. BACCHUS' LAIR - NIGHT

A single RAY OF MOONLIGHT filters into the chamber and SHINES down on Bacchus' BOWL and GOBLET of wine/blood. Other Bacchae DANCE to the SOUNDS OF BEATING DRUMS.

High atop a ROCKY PRECIPICE, Bacchus sits on his THRONE. Next to him is ORPHEUS' GOLDEN LYRE. He SEES the moonlight, then --

BACCHUS
(calling out)
It is time!

The DRUMS stop. Bacchus FLIES OFF his throne, down to the Bowl and Goblet where the INITIATES, all dressed in WHITE GOWNS, eagerly fall in line before him. One of them is Gabrielle.

Bacchus takes the Goblet, dips it in the Bowl, then looks down at the innocent face of the FIRST INITIATE.

BACCHUS
Drink. And you will be one
with me... forever.

The First Initiate looks lovingly at Bacchus, completely transfixed. She takes the Goblet to her lips and drinks.

Her body begins to tremble as her features turn HORRIFIC! She's now a full-blown-Bacchae! The Other Bacchae SHRIEK in delight, as --

Behind her, NEXT IN LINE, we see GABRIELLE, eagerly awaiting her turn.

CUT TO:

32 INT. CATACOMBS - NIGHT

Xena leads the way as she and Joxer race through a myriad of dark passageways.

They follow the SOUNDS of the ceremony to:

THE ENTRANCE OF BACCHUS' LAIR

Before they enter, Xena and Joxer regroup. Joxer pulls Orpheus out of the pack, then --

XENA
(to Joxer)
Remember, your job is to find the lyre
and play it as soon as you can.
That'll give me time to reach Bacchus.

JOXER
Right.

ORPHEUS
(to Xena)
I owe you an apology. I just miss
Eurydice so much ... I guess I was
looking for someone to blame.

XENA
I understand. Bacchus has caused you a
lot of pain.
(drawing her sword)
Maybe now we can bring you some peace.

Xena and Orpheus exchange a smile, then:

CUT TO:

33 INT. BACCHUS' LAIR - NIGHT

Gabrielle, with vacant eyes, steps into the glow of the moonlight. Bacchus hands her the Goblet, and she looks deeply into his eyes. A BEAT of hesitation, then:

BACCHUS
Go ahead, child. Be one with me.

She raises the Goblet to her lips, but before she can drink --

-- A CHAKRAM slices through the air, knocking the drink from her hand, then ricochets off the cave walls and back to --

-- Xena, standing at the mouth of the cave, flanked by Joxer and Orpheus.

XENA
She's not interested, Bacchus.

Bacchus smiles.

BACCHUS
Xena! So glad you could join us
after all.
(to his minions)
Get her!

With that, THREE EVIL BACCHAE perched on ledges above Xena, drop down to surround her. But Xena SPOTS -- THE LYRE!

XENA
Joxer, quick... On Bacchus' throne.
The lyre!

JOXER follows Xena's gaze to the Lyre at the other end of the cave. He takes off towards it, as --

-- THREE BACCHAE attack Xena at once. Xena grabs a JUG of wine from a nearby table, chugs it, and...

-- as Bacchae #1 approaches her, Xena grabs a TORCH and BLOWS FIRE! BACCHAE #1 stops, mid-flight, as a ball of fire engulfs her and she crashes into the cave wall.

Meanwhile --

-- BACCHAE #2, laughing demonically, leaps for Xena. She knocks Xena down and exposes her fangs to bite, as --

-- Xena kicks her off, then wrests a Dryad bone from her pack, and drives it through her heart. Bacchae #2 SHRIEKS as she vanishes in a HORRIBLE, SIZZLING MESS, as --

-- BACCHAE #3 attacks Xena from behind. Xena struggles with her. Meanwhile --

BACCHUS

refills the Goblet for Gabrielle.

BACCHUS
Drink! I command you!

Gabrielle tips the Goblet to her lips, as JOXER sneaks along the side of the cavern, up the rocky slope, finally arriving at the lyre. He puts ORPHEUS down beside him, then:

JOXER
(to Orpheus; panicking)
What should I play?

RESUME XENA

As she fights a SECOND WAVE of Bacchae. just then, she SEES Gabrielle put the Goblet to her lips. Realizing there's nothing she can do, she calls

XENA
Play, Joxer! Now!

ON JOXER AND ORPHEUS

Near the lyre. Joxer is about to play when, a Bacchae jumps onto his back! Joxer wrestles her, as --

GABRIELLE tips the goblet towards her mouth, but --

with panic in his eyes, and a Bacchae on his back, Joxer -PLAYS THE LYRE and ORPHEUS SINGS! Gabrielle swoons, dropping the Goblet to the ground. She sinks to the floor, along with the Other Initiates and the rest of the Bacchae.

ON XENA

as the Bacchae who surround her drop harmlessly to the floor.

ON BACCHUS

As the Lyre MUSIC ECHOES in the cavern, he winces. It is the most horrible sound he knows. Enraged, he advances on Joxer, scaling the rocky slope in a matter of seconds --

BUT JOXER

keeps playing, unaware of Bacchus' presence. Then, Orpheus spots him.

ORPHEUS
Joxer! JOXER! LOOK OUT!

But Bacchus is there.

CLOSE ON HIS FACE

As his evilness manifests itself, his face contorts in a horrid mess.

Joxer LOOKS AT HIM. He cowers.

JOXER
Any requests?

BACCHUS quickly SWATS him away from the lyre, sending Joxer flying. Bacchus turns to his Bacchae --

BACCHUS
(calling)
Awake, my Bacchae! It's time to feed!!

The Bacchae slowly stir, as --

XENA attacks Bacchus! She flies at the hulking god, sending him tumbling off his throne. Bacchus quickly counters with a BLISTERING PUNCH! Xena goes flying --

Xena jumps to her feet and rushes at Bacchus. This time, she lands a combination of her own! He falls back, just as Xena takes a Dryad Bone from her belt and drives it --

RIGHT INTO BACCHUS' HEART! Bacchus closes his eyes. Xena breathes a sigh of relief, until --

He opens them again! Bacchus pulls the Dryad Bone from his chest.

BACCHUS
Oh, Xena. don't you know? Only a Bacchae can kill me. And you're not one of us ... Yet.

With that, Bacchus opens his mouth to REVEAL his GIANT SET of FANGS! He comes at Xena, but she FLIPS out of his reach, up onto the plateau on which his throne sits.

Gabrielle, seeing Xena, leaps up in the air and grabs onto her. GABRIELLE transforms into her Bacchae self, fangs extended as she climbs up towards Xena's neck.

Below them, Bacchus smiles with glee. He extends his arms, then calls to Gabrielle --

BACCHUS
Bite her! And I will make her
one of US.

Gabrielle reaches Xena's neck as Xena pulls a Dryad bone from her pack.

XENA
Go ahead, Gabrielle. Do it.

GABRIELLE chomps down on Xena's neck with an enormous set of fangs. As BLOOD spurts out, Xena TRANSFORMS into a HORRID BACCHAE!

Xena and Gabrielle drop down towards Bacchus, the deadly Dryad bone extended before them. Xena plunges the bone right into his heart! Bacchus CRIES OUT as his body convulses, then --

HE EXPLODES in a BALL OF FIRE!

As the explosion settles, WE SEE --

-- Xena, Gabrielle and the Other Initiates TRANSFORM BACK into their OLD SELVES:

The Other Bacchae MELT AWAY into dust.Orpheus, now a whole man, picks up his lyre and walks towards --

A BRIGHT LIGHT. He looks back to Xena, gratefully, then DISAPPEARS INTO THE LIGHT. Xena, now joined by Gabrielle and Joxer, watch him go, as we:

DISSOLVE TO:

34 EXT. HILLSIDE - DAY

Xena and Gabrielle, leading Argo, crest a hillside covered with flowers. We HEAR the beautiful SOUNDS of a LYRE.

GABRIELLE
What was that?

XENA
(looking skyward)
Eurydice's favorite tune. Sounds like
she and Orpheus are together again.

GABRIELLE
That's music to my ears.

As they continue on, they HEAR:

JOXER (O.S.)
Hey, guys! Wait up!

They turn to see Joxer.

JOXER
So, what's next for us?

Xena and Gabrielle exchange a look, then:

GABRIELLE
Next? We fight, uh... Medusa ... you
know, the one with snakes all over her head.
(trying to scare him)
One look and she turns the mightiest of
men into stone.

JOXER
Stone, huh?
(then; realizing)
I almost forgot. It's my mother's
birthday. I have to get home.
(then)
Catch up with you guys later?

GABRIELLE
No problem.

Joxer starts off. They watch him go, as:

GABRIELLE
(to Xena)
You know, you almost died saving me
back there. I want to do something to
thank you.

Joxer, a short distance away, calls back to them.

JOXER
Farewell, my warrior chums!

XENA
(to Gabrielle; re: the
exiting Joxer)
You just did.

They share a laugh and, as they continue on to another adventure, we:

FADE OUT.

THE END