ACT THREE

FADE IN:

29 INT. UNDERGROUND CHAMBER - DAY

Xena (dressed as Diana), Philemon, Diana and Gabrielle enter this secret chamber.

DIANA
This chamber is known only to the Royal
Family.

XENA
Good. I want you and Philemon to stay
here until I find the baby.

PHILEMON
But you can't expect me to just hide down here when my child's life is in danger.

XENA
Your life is in danger now, too.
(off Philemon's frustration)
Philemon, you just have to trust me. My plan is the best way to save your child.

DIANA
Then we'll stay down here.
(to Philemon)
We have to trust Xena now. She's our
only hope.

Philemon nods his reluctant acceptance.

XENA
(to Gabrielle)
Gabrielle, you need to find Meg and keep her in one place. I'll do the rest.

GABRIELLE
Right.

Xena and Gabrielle exit as Diana and Philemon comfort each other with an embrace.

CUT TO:

30 INT. CORRIDOR #5 - DAY

Xena (dressed as Diana) makes her way down the hall. ioxer appears at the end of the hallway behind her.

He hurries to catch up with her and throws his arms around her waist.

JOXER
Got ya!

Xena instinctively plunges an elbow into his stomach. Joxer slumps against a wall.

JOXER
Hi, Xena.

XENA
Sorry, Joxer. Just habit.

JOXER
That's alright. I've been trying to
keep an eye on the fake Diana --

XENA
Her name's Meg.

JOXER
Meg. That's a pretty name.

XENA
You're not falling for her, are you?
She's bad news.

JOXER
I've seen a different side of her.

XENA
I'm sure you have.

JOXER
I think she's just a victim of
circumstances.

XENA
Well, she'll be a victim of some more circumstances once I get my hands on her.. By the way, don't worry about keeping an eye on her anymore. I've got Gabrielle on that.

JOXER
(offended)
You think Gabrielle can do it better
than me?

XENA
It's not a competition.

JOXER
You think I'm a complete joke, don't
you?

XENA
I don't have time for this right now.

She turns to go and then sees Agis rounding the corner. Joxer doesn't see him. Xena grabs Joxer and plants a passionate kiss on his lips.

AGIS
(barely controlling his anger)
Princess, may I talk to you, please?

XENA
(coming up for air)
Can it wait?

AGIS
No, it can't.

Xena (now playing Meg) reluctantly lets go of her hold on Joxer and follows Agis around the corner. WE STAY ON JOXER as he wears a bemused expression.

CUT TO:

31 INT. DIANA'S ROOMS DAY

Meg stands in front of a mirror, altering one of Dianals gowns to make it more sexy. She reaches down and tears a slit in the dress so that part of her leg is exposed.

MEG
Yeah, that's the look.
(studies her reflection)
A little more cleavage wouldn't hurt.

She reaches over to a table to get- a pair of scissors. when she looks back in the mirror she sees the reflection of Gabrielle standing behind her. She spins around.

GABRIELLE
Relax. You're not going anywhere.

Meg tries to bull her way out of the room but Gabrielle tackles her.

THE CAT FIGHT

These two mix it up real good. Meg's style of fighting is of the barroom variety. She knees, kicks, bites and gauges.

Gabrielle uses all the fighting techniques she has learned in order to subdue her. At one point, Meg grabs Gabrielle's hair and swings her around, slamming her against the wall. Meg's about to get out when Gabrielle jumps onto her back, wraps her legs around her torso and starts pommelling her head with her fists. This is too much for Meg who collapses into a heap on the floor.

GABRIELLE
You gonna stay here?

MEG
(beginning to cry)
Have mercy on me, please.

GABRIELLE
Hey, tears won't do any good with me.

Meg stops crying on cue. She sits up and stares at Gabrielle.

MEG
(with a bitter laugh)
Look at you, sitting there, looking down your nose at me. That's alright, I'm used to it. Spoilt brats like you always hate girls like me.

GABRIELLE
What do you expect, considering what
you've been doing?

MEG
What was I supposed to do? Agis said held kill me if I didn't do what he said.

GABRIELLE
(facetious)
Oh, sure. None of this is your fault,
I suppose.

MEG
I didn't say that.
(looking genuinely sad)

Everything's my fault. My whole worthless life is my fault.

Real tears begin rolling down her cheeks. A wave of sympathy crosses Gabrielle's face but she shakes it off.

GABRIELLE
I've got to admit I feel for you. I know I shouldn't but you look so much like my best friend it's --

MEG
Shut up. I don't want your pity. I've been on my own since I was ten. I'm stronger inside than you'll ever be.

GABRIELLE
Since you were ten?

MEG
Yeah. My father died in childbirth.

GABRIELLE
Your father died in childbirth?

MEG
Yeah, he got drunk and fell off the
roof when I was being born.
(wistfully)
I've always wondered what it's like to
have a father.
(to Gabrielle)
I bet you had a good one.

GABRIELLE
Yeah, I guess I did. What about your mother?

MEG
One of her boyfriends liked me too much so I left home. I heard she died the next year. I wish I could have been there to say good-bye to her. She was no good, but I loved her.
(wipes away some tears)
I hate it when I get like this.

Gabrielle looks on with sympathy.

Agis is strutting around angrily. Xena (as Meg, dressed as
Diana) sits on the throne pouring herself a glass of wine.

Agis furiously slaps the wine glass out of her hand and grabs her by the hair. Alcibiades stands behind the throne. Several other henchmen stand around.

AGIS
This is not a party. will you qet that through your head while it's still attached to your shoulders?

Xena nods, looking afraid.

AGIS
Now that Diana is on the loose there's
only one thing to do.

XENA
What's that?

AGIS
Kill the King. You can't assume the throne until he's dead. As long as we have the baby, Diana and Xena won't do anything. Lias is still surrounded by loyal palace guards. I want you to take him some poison.

XENA
No.

Agis draws his sword and holds it at Xena's throat.

AGIS
what?

XENA
I meant poison isn't the right way to go. You can never be sure it's going to do the job. I should stab him. I could smuggle the knife in under the baby's blanket and pretend I'm bringing the tyke to see the old buzzard.

Agis smiles.

AGIS
That's good. I like that.
(to one of the henchmen)
Go get the baby.

The henchman exits.
CUT TO:

Gabrielle stands guard over Meg. Meg has no more tears to shed. ' She sits on the bed eyeing Gabrielle. Suddenly, the door opens and Lias enters, on wobbly legs.. Gabrielle hurriedly helps him to the bed beside Meg.

GABRIELLE
Are you alright?

KING LIAS
No.
(looking at Meg)
Why haven't you come to see me?

Meg glances toward Gabrielle. Gabrielle throws her a stern look as if to say, "don't hurt this sweet old man."

MEG
Sorry, Father. I've been bothered by
some things.

KING LIAS
Well, nothing could give my final days in this life more worth than to be able to comfort you. Tell me what it is that's troubling you.

MEG
I don't think you'd understand.

KING LIAS
My sweet.
(turns her face toward him with his quivering hands)
We've always shared all our hopes, dreams and pains. Don't shut me out now. if your soul has been darkened, let my love bring light to it.

MEG
I've done some terrible things, Father.

KING LIAS
Nothing could be terrible enough to
stop my love for you.

She lets herself drift into his loving embrace. For a moment, at least, she has a father's love.

CUT TO:

The henchman enters with the baby. Agis approaches him as Xena watches carefully.

AGIS
Here it is.

Suddenly, Joxer leaps into the room with a sword in each hand.

JOXER
Xena! Let's take the baby.

He tosses one of the swords at Xena. She lets it clatter to the floor. She's still playing the part of Meg, hoping that she can still pull this off in spite of Joxer's idiot move.

AGIS
(chuckling)
Meg. He thinks you're Xena.
(to Alcibiades)
Kill the idiot.

Alcibiades walks toward Joxer. Xena sighs. She has no choice now. She flicks the sword with her foot and it pops up into her hand. With a SCREAM she charges Alcibiades.

ON THE HENCHMAN
He sees Xena's charge and exits quickly with the baby.

ON XENA

She drives Alcibiades and the others back long enough to flee the room with Joxer. Alcibiades, Agis and the other henchmen give chase.

CUT TO:

35 INT. DIANA'S ROOMS - DAY

Meg is still in Lias' embrace. Gabrielle looks on. Suddenly, the door bursts open and Agis and his henchmen enter. Alcibiades grabs Gabrielle and holds a knife to her throat. The other henchmen point their swords at Meg.

MEG
What are you doing? It's me, Meg.

Agis eyes her for a moment and then pulls a dagger and hands it to Meg.

AGIS
Then prove it.

Kill him. (points at Lias)

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE