ACT TWO

FADE IN:

13 EXT. STREAM - DAY

Iolaus and Xena are getting to the heart of the matter as they water their horses.

XENA
(re Hercules)
Just in case you're still
wondering, I really would
rather go into battle with you.

IOLAUS
You don't have to make me feel good.

XENA
And you don't have to treat me
like I'm a hypocrite. Believe
it or not, I don't give a fig for
Hercules' name or his reputation.

IOLAUS
Then you're the only one, Xena.

XENA
Maybe you and the rest of his admiring
legions should take a closer look at him.
(off Iolaus' look)
What's Hercules really fighting for?
Go ahead, Iolous, tell me.

IOLAUS
He fights to help people. I thought
everybody knew that. He wants to stop
slavery and injustice and...

XENA
Oh, stop it. You're a grown man, an
honored warrior, and yet you're taken
in by the same lies that
schoolchildren cling to.

IOLAUS
They're not lies. I've seen the
good that Hercules has done. I've
been there with him.

XENA
In that case, you should know that
all Hercules fights for is to prove
he can succeed without Zeus, and to
get revenge on Hera for killing his
family. He's selfish, Iolaus.
Selfish right to the bone.

Iolaus is taken aback by Xena's blunt disrespect. It takes him a beat to recover.

IOLAUS
I don't need to hear that.

XENA
And I don't need to hear you say
Hercules should be here instead of
you. The fact is, I think you're a
better man than he'll ever be.

Iolaus is touched by the flattery, particularly when Xena underscores her sentiment with a lingering kiss.

CUT TO:

14 INT. ALCMENE'S HOME - NIGHT

Hercules is getting ready to hit the road. Alcmene is watching him, concern written all over her face.

ALCMENE
I don't know why you think it's her.
There must be lots of other Xenas in
the world.

HERCULES
I'd agree with you if the warrior who
attacked me hadn't been wearing a medallion
just like the one she had on.

ALCMENE
But that still doesn't explain him
trying to kill you, Hercules.

HERCULES
He loved her, and he wanted to
prove it.

ALCMENE
Are you sure that's why he died?

HERCULES
He didn't just die mother. Xena sent
him on a suicide mission.

ALCMENE
But there's no reason for that.

HERCULES
Yes, there is. He was the bait. Now
Xena expects as to go after Iolaus and
walk right into whatever trap she's laying.

Alcmene swallows hard. It's agonizing to hear her son be so candid about the kind of danger he routinely faces.

ALCMENE
And that's what you're going
to do, isn't it?

HERCULES
I have to.

ALCMENE
Iolaus is going to think you're coming
to steal his glory. This woman will
make sure of that. Even if you don't
get killed, you could end up destroying
your friendship with Iolaus.

HERCULES
Saving his life is more important.

Alcmene nods. After a beat:

ALCMENE
Just promise me you'll come back
in one piece.

HERCULES
In one piece -- and with Iolaus.

Off our hero's steely resolve as he heads for the door -

CUT TO:

15 EXT. HILLTOP - DAY

Iolaus and Xena rein in their horses. Iolaus is clearly impressed by the lush foliage around them.

IOLAUS
Beautiful country. I can see why
you're fighting to keep it.

XENA
(suddenly grim)
You're going to do more than see.

She draws her sword and nods toward the valley that she and Iolaus are about to ride into. Iolaus turns and look at what has attracted her attention:

A BAND OF FIVE SOLDIERS

is escorting a horse-drawn supply wagon across the valley. The soldiers are on foot, but that doesn't make them any less impressive. They're large, muscular, well-armed and obviously primed for action.

XENA (O.S.)
They're part of Petrakis' legion.

RESUME IOLAUS AND XENA

He's watching her intently.

IOLAUS
What do you want to do?

XENA
(low but menacing)
Wipe them off the face of the earth.

She takes the bolo off her belt and, swinging it over her head, urges her horse down the hill toward the soldiers' traveling party.

Iolaus can't believe what he's seeing. The odds are against Xena, and still she never spent a second wondering if she should tiptoe around the soldiers. Shaking his head in wonderment, Iolaus draws his own sword.

IOLAUS
(to himself)
I can't sit this one out.

And he rides into the valley after her. He's far enough behind to watch the early stages of the battle unfold.

HIS POV

Two of the soldiers rush out to challenge Xena, intent on knocking her off her horse. No way she's going to let that happen. She hurls her bolo at one soldier; wrapping it around his neck in a death grip. The she draws her sword and puts it to work on the other soldier. Color him dead.

IOLAUS

is more amazed than ever. But he can't stay that way for long, because he has ridden into the middle of the battle and one of the soldiers is knocking him off his horse. Iolaus lands on his feet, in perfect position to sword fight the soldier and simultaneously cast a satisfied glance toward Xena, who's battling two of these killers. They quickly move so they're back-to-back, and as they fight from at position, there's something almost sexual out the choreography of their movements.

IOLAUS
You sure know how to show a
fellow a good time!

XENA
Don't talk ... Fight ...

IOLAUS
Okay.

Finally he succeeds in knocking the sword out of the soldier's hand and sending his running.

XENA
Don't let him get away!

She shouts this, mind you, while she's still dueling her two foes. What Iolaus thinks of her response is written all over his face: The woman is a beautiful savage. And she proves it by taking care of her foes with two vicious slashes of her sword. Then she starts chasing the escaping soldier, only to be grabbed by Iolaus.

XENA
What are you doing

IOLAUS
(the voice of reason)
It's over, Xena. Let him go.

But she continues to struggle against Iolaus in front of the soldiers' supply wagon. In the process, his magnificent knife falls to the ground.

CLOSE ON KNIFE
as it lies there unnoticed.

RESUME SCENE

It looks like Iolaus is finally getting Xena under control.

IOLAUS
No, no, it's okay. We won. He won't
be coming back.

XENA
(a trifle gloomy)
I guess you're right.

IOLAUS
Hey, don't sound so blue. You
were great. No, you were better
than great. You were amazing.

XENA
You don't have to say that.

XENA
But it's true. The only warrior I've ever seen who's as magnificent as you is Hercules.

At last, Xena smiles.

XENA
I'm honored.

IOLAUS
You deserve to be.

XENA
If you mean that, you won't try to
stop me from burning their wagon.

off her defiant look --

CUT TO:

16 EXT. XENA'S COMPOUND - DAY

Xena's biggest and fiercest warriors are hard at work when one of them glances at the main entrance and breaks into a worshipful smile.

WARRIOR #1
It's Xena!

The rest of the warriors shout out their greetings as Xena rides in with Iolaus at her side. He can't help being impressed by the adulation pouring out of the warriors surging around Xena. But Xena can.

XENA
Give me some room! Act like warriors!

She jumps off her horse as the warriors obey her order. Then she looks up at Iolaus-

XENA
After all the riding we've
done, I'd think you'd want
to get off that horse.

IOLAUS
Good idea.

As Iolaus dismounts, Estragon steps to the front of the pack and eyeballs him defiantly.

ESTRAGON
Who's this?

XENA
This is the man who gives us
the power to defeat Petrakis.

Iolaus, emboldened by the praise, offers Estragon his hand.

IOLAUS
I'm Iolaus.

Estragon reluctantly shakes with him.

XENA
He's Hercules' best friend, Estragon.
I've never seen anyone better with a sword.
(to lolaus)
I want you to teach me the move
you used to knock the sword out
of that soldier's hand.

IOLAUS
Even if I didn't kill him with it?

XENA
I can always fix that.
(a beat)
You can, too.

Then she turns back to her warriors.

XENA
You've all got things to do.
We'll never defeat Petrakis if
you just stand around.
(to Iolaus)
As for YOU...
(smiling seductively)
... come with me.

She doesn't wait for a reply before walking away. Iolaus has to hurry to catch up with her.

CUT TO:

17 EXT. VALLEY - DAY - LATER

Smoke rises from the burning wagon. The bodies of the four dead soldiers litter the battle site.

On the far side of the carnage, Hercules appears. He slowly makes his way through the bodies, checking to see if anyone is still alive, wondering if Iolaus and Xena had anything to do with this. And then he stops, frozen in his tracks by what he sees beside the burning wagon:

IOLAUS' KNIFE
is lying in the dirt.

HERCULES
kneels and picks it up. He turns it over in his hands, studying it, hoping it wasn't used to kill any of the soldiers lying nearby. Finally, Hercules rises. He puts the knife In his pouch, looks around the battle site once more and, satisfied there's nothing more to find, resumes his pursuit of Iolaus and Xena.

CUT TO:

A SERIES OF SHOTS

showing Hercules as he races to catch up with Iolaus.
He weaves through woods;
Splashes through a stream;
Pounds across a valley;
Scales a cliff;
And runs along a ridge, outlined against an azure sky.
CUT TO:

15 INT. BEDROOM, XENA'S MANSE - DAY

in this lavish setting, Xena is bathing Iolaus.

IOLAUS
I wasn't expecting this from someone
whose warriors treat her like a hero.

XENA
You deserve what you get, I
deserve what I get.

IOLAUS
I'm not going to argue. I saw the way
you handled yourself in that fight.

XENA
Did I surprise you?

IOLAUS
When a woman asks for help, I don't
expect her to be so...

He's searching for the right adjective. She helps him.

XENA
Independent? Violent?

IOLAUS
Yes, and fearless, too.

XENA
Hard times make hard people, Iolaus.
There's no avoiding that. My father
died in battle. So did all three
of my brothers.
(a beat)
I'm not going to.

IOLAUS
I admire your goal. But there
may be a warlord out there who
would wade through an ocean of
blood to keep you from achieving
it. If not Petrakis, then the
next one who comes along.

XENA
You sound like you're worried about me.

IOLAUS
I am. It's not every day that I
meet a beautiful woman who
wants to wash my back.

With a look that says she can wash more than that, Xena stands, slips off her gown and eases her naked body into the tub with Iolaus.

IOLAUS
Do you do this for all
your warriors?

XENA
Only the special ones.

IOLAUS
I hope there aren't many of them.

XENA
Right now there's only you.

They lock in a soapy embrace and kiss passionately until they're interrupted by a knock on the door.

XENA
Come back later!

SERVANT (O.S.)
But Hercules is here!

Iolaus and Xena trade a surprised look.

IOLAUS
Hercules?

XENA
He must have followed us.

IOLAUS
But why would he do that?

XENA
(teasing)
Maybe he doesn't trust you with me.

IOLAUS
(teasing right back)
He shouldn't.

XENA
(getting serious)
Or maybe he doesn't think
you're man enough to help me.

IOLAUS
(his pride stung)
I better go see what he wants.

As Iolaus rises and turns away to grab his clothes, a satisfied smile creeps onto Xena's face.

CUT TO:

19 EXT. XENA'S COMPOUND - DAY

Hercules is waiting when Iolaus steps out of Xena's manse. For a beat, the two old friends regard each other almost as strangers. All around them, Xena's warriors are watching expectantly. At last:

HERCULES
Hello, Iolaus.

IOLAUS
I didn't expect to see you
here, Hercules.

HERCULES

I didn't expect to come.

IOLAUS
You didn't have to. I thought we'd
agreed on that.

HERCULES
That was before your warrior princess
sent someone to kill me.

Iolaus' eyes go hard. The watching warriors stir ominously as he starts walking toward Hercules.

IOLAUS
I don't like the way you're
talking about a brave woman.

ANOTHER ANGLE

Xena appears in a second-story window to watch where her treachery will lead.

RESUME SCENE

HERCULES
Since when is there anything brave
about sneak attacks or the people
behind them?

IOLAUS
You'd better turn around and go back
home, Hercules.

It's a statement that draws a verbal line in the sand, but Hercules does his best to get past it.

HERCULES
I was hoping you'd go with me.

IOLAUS
No chance.

They're toe-to-too now.

HERCULES
Even though she wants me dead?

IOLAUS
Where's your proof?

HERCULES
My word should be enough for you.

IOLAUS
It's not.

HERCULES
I guess that means friendship doesn't
count.

IOLAUS
Not when you poison it by coming here.

HERCULES
You've got it all wrong. I'm trying
to save your life.

IOLAUS
Don't make me laugh. Just get out of
here, would you? We're through talking.

HERCULES
Why? Are you afraid of what
you'll hear?

IOLAUS
(with cold fury)
Get out.

HERCULES
You haven't answered my question.

BOOM! Iolaus hauls off and punches Hercules, driving him backward two or three steps.

IOLAUS
There's your answer.

XENA

is delighted by what she sees from her vantage point.

RESUME SCENE

Hercules looks at Iolaus, surprised, stunned, hurt more emotionally than physically. He doesn't speak, but he does reach into his pouch and pull out Iolaus' knife. Everybody watching expects the worst, especially Iolaus. Knife in hand, Hercules studies his wayward friend for a beat. Then:

HERCULES
I think you lost this.

He throws the knife in the dirt between them, but Iolaus doesn't move to pick it up. His eyes stay on Hercules.

HERCULES
Goodbye, Iolaus.

With a heavy heart, he turns and walks away. XENA sneers triumphantly.

IOLAUS

watches, his face devoid of emotion.

AND HERCULES

leaves, his shoulders slumped with the weight of the worst defeat he can imagine: rejection by his best friend.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO