FADE IN: EXT. CASTLE GATE - DAY Once safely in the town square, Gabrielle finally speaks GABRIELLE So, Carena is the one wandering the castle halls. XENA Right.

GABRIELLE Why doesn’t she appear to her sister and tell her she’s in danger? XENA Like Rhea said, she’s fragile. GABRIELLE Yes, she certainly lost it when we mentioned Carena’s name. Gabrielle turns and looks at Xena. GABRIELLE (cont’d, sighing) I can understand how the death of a loved one can affect you so strongly. Xena stops and takes Gabrielle’s face into her hands. XENA Yeah. We both understand that, don’t we?

Gabrielle smiles and turns her head to kiss the palm of Xena’s right hand. GABRIELLE Yes, we do. So, do we leave or do we stay? XENA We stay. Xena releases Gabrielle and looks around the town. XENA (cont’d) C’mon, let’s see what we can find out. FADE TO: INT. CASTLE - DAY Cyrus is standing by the window watching Xena and Gabrielle leave, a cautious look on his face. A knock on the door diverts his attention. CYRUS Come in. The two gate guards enter and bow. BOTH GUARDS M’lord. CYRUS I gave orders that no one was to be allowed into the castle! FIRST GUARD But, M’lord… the small one is a visiting Queen. Quickly the second guard speaks up. SECOND GUARD Yes, M’lord. She’s an Amazon Queen and she wanted to speak to Queen Serena. Visiting royalty is always permitted entrance. CYRUS Does this Amazon Queen have a name? SECOND GUARD Oh, yes, M’lord. It’s Gabrielle. FIRST GUARD And her bodyguard is Xena! CYRUS (surprised) Xena, eh? SECOND GUARD Yes, M’lord. CYRUS Have Rhea come to see me. He waves a hand at them in dismissal. After they exit he looks out the window, watching Xena and Gabrielle walk down the road. CYRUS (cont’d) Well, well. Now why are you two here? No matter. I’ll make sure you don’t interfere. Another knock on the door begs his attention. CYRUS (cont’d) Enter. Rhea enters the room with her head bowed low, but a look of distrust can be seen in her eyes. RHEA You asked to see me, M’lord? CYRUS What did those women want with the Queen? Head still bowed, Rhea shakes her head. RHEA I wouldn’t know, M’lord. I just escorted them to the Queen’s chambers as they requested. CYRUS Oh, come now Rhea. You mean to say you left strangers in the room with the Queen? RHEA Yes, M’lord. The Queen dismissed me. CYRUS And you didn’t overhear their conversation? RHEA No, M’lord. CYRUS Have Captain Bigos report to me. RHEA Yes, M’lord. Rhea backs toward the door, head still bowed. CUT TO: EXT. TOWN MARKET PLACE - DAY Gabrielle and Xena decide that the best place to get information is at the town market. Gabrielle moves from stall to stall, inspecting goods while Xena inspects the townsfolk. XENA These people aren’t hostile. They’re scared.

Gabrielle looks around at the vendors and town folk. GABRIELLE You’re right. XENA Let’s go over there. Xena points to a stall selling dried fruits. GABRIELLE Sure.  We can replenish our supply and maybe get a little information. Arriving at the stall, Gabrielle looks over the fruit and selects several pieces while questioning the shopkeeper. GABRIELLE Nice town. SHOPKEEPER Mpf. GABRIELLE Not very friendly though. SHOPKEEPER We just mind our own business. GABRIELLE Doesn’t seem like a good way to make money. SHOPKEEPER There’s no one to sell to but townsfolk. XENA Why? The shopkeeper just shrugs his shoulders and wraps Gabrielle’s purchases, refusing to say anything else. They walk away, ignoring the stare of the shopkeeper. GABRIELLE You may have to put the pinch on someone to get a straight answer around here. XENA (growling) Don’t tempt me.

Gabrielle’s stomach rumbles loudly. Xena and Gabrielle both laugh and look around the market place. Xena points to the inn and they head toward it. CUT TO: INT. INN - MIDDAY Xena and Gabrielle find a seat in the back near a window facing the alley. They look around the interior of the room, and Gabrielle points to an Amazon ceremonial mask on the wall. GABRIELLE Hey, look at that. XENA Not something you’d expect to see in a place like this. A smiling young innkeeper approaches their table and takes their order. She returns with two mugs of cold cider and a plate of bread, cheese, and assorted fruit. GABRIELLE (pointing) Where did the mask come from? YOUNG INNKEEPER Ah, that would be my grandmother’s mask.  She was an Amazon. GABRIELLE Really?

YOUNG INNKEEPER I would have loved to know more about the Amazons but my grandmother died before I was born. Seeing an opportunity to gather more information, Gabrielle smiles graciously. GABRIELLE Maybe I can answer a few of your questions.  I’m an Amazon Queen. YOUNG INNKEEPER (smiling) No kidding? I thought they were all gone! You really are? XENA Yep, she’s the real deal all right. GABRIELLE Why don’t you sit down with us for a while? The young innkeeper looks around the room. YOUNG INNKEEPER Might as well. Business isn’t exactly overflowing. GABRIELLE Have you lived here all your life? YOUNG INNKEEPER Nah. I’ve only been here about a year. This place belongs to my grandfather. I came to help out when he fell off the roof fixing a leak. GABRIELLE Have the town folk always been so unfriendly?

YOUNG INNKEEPER Only with strangers. They don’t talk much around visitors.  I asked my grandpa Arius about it and he said things used to be different. XENA How so? YOUNG INNKEEPER The Princess, that would be Queen Serena now, used to come down into the market herself.  Even came in here to eat.  But then her parents died suddenly and she became Queen. GABRIELLE So, she had to stay in the castle? YOUNG INNKEEPER Oh, no.  At first, she would still come down, but then her advisor, Cyrus, told her it wasn’t wise to mix with the people.  It’s a shame too.  Queen Serena was always well liked and fair. I used to see her occasionally when I first came here, but now I never do. GABRIELLE So why do you think she stays in the castle? YOUNG INNKEEPER My gramps says that she was never the strong one and that she lets Cyrus make most of the decisions. XENA Never the strong one? YOUNG INNKEEPER Yeah, I guess she had a twin sister that died or disappeared or something. Gramps said she was the stronger of the two.  He said things would be different if they had ruled together. There would be more trade with other towns and we wouldn’t be so alone. Business isn’t that good as you can see. GABRIELLE Really?  Why would he think that? YOUNG INNKEEPER Gramps feels that Carena would have ruled with her head and Serena with her heart.  They would have been a good balance for each other and would have helped them to create better relations with surrounding villages. XENA So, tell us about Cyrus.... FADE TO: EXT. RIVER CAMPSITE - EVENING Gabrielle finishes eating and stands up clean to their plates.  As she cleans, Xena pokes at the fire with a stick. XENA Well, it certainly sounds like Cyrus has an agenda.

GABRIELLE What a set up.  Keep the town isolated, and then when he takes over, open up the borders to trade.  The people will be overjoyed with him and forget all about poor Queen Serena. XENA Exactly. GABRIELLE Yes, but how does he expect to eliminate the Queen without arousing suspicion? Xena ticks off the points on her fingers. XENA One, get her to commit suicide. Two, use her grief over Carena to drive her nuts.  Three, have her assassinated. GABRIELLE Well, my bet’s on the number three, but would he try to assassinate the Queen himself? XENA I don’t think so.  He doesn’t sound like the type that would want to get his hands dirty.  We need proof that he’s up to something. A gust of wind stirs the ashes forcing Xena and Gabrielle to turn away from the swirling ash. When it stops and they look back at each other they see Carena standing by the fire. CARENA Please, you must go back and help the Queen! GABRIELLE What’s wrong? CARENA Cyrus…. Their conversation is interrupted by a noise in the bush as Cyrus’s guards enter the campsite. Xena and Gabrielle reach for their weapons and turn towards their attackers.  Xena glances over her shoulder to see that Carena has disappeared once more. Three guards rush them from the right and three more from the left.  Xena and Gabrielle turn to face them as they slide into battle mode. XENA I’ll get these guys. GABRIELLE And I’ll get these!

Gabrielle raises and crosses her sais as the first guard tries to send his sword toward her head.  Deflecting it easily, she kicks out with her right leg and hits the man squarely in his crotch sending him immediately to the dirt.  The other two guards rush her at the same time and she catches each sword with a sai and turns and twists their swords out of their hands. She then flips the sais over and punches both in the head with the butt ends.  The guards’ heads snap back and they slump to the ground. Gabrielle walks over to her the first attacker and knocks him over the head with the grip of the sai. He falls forward, still clutching his crotch. Xena’s attackers rush her at once, each with their swords poised to hack at her head. She flips her sword sideways and catches their downward thrusting swords. With a great heave she pushes their weapons back into the air and out of their hands, then jumps up and kicks the two outermost guards in the face with her boots sending them unconscious to the ground. The center guard continues toward her as she remains in the air after completing the kick. Xena allows him to come forward and immediately wraps her legs around his head, her weight and the force of her momentum drags him backward to the ground. Sitting on his chest, Xena reaches forward and gives him the pinch. XENA You know who I am? The guard nods as he begins to choke. XENA (cont’d) Then you know the drill. The guard nods again. XENA (cont’d) Who sent you?

GUARD Cy…Cyrrruuss Gabrielle has now joined Xena and is kneeling next to the gasping guard. GABRIELLE Why? GUARD He…he said you were here to assassinate the Queen. Xena and Gabrielle exchange glances. GABRIELLE Really?  If we wanted to assassinate the Queen, wouldn’t we have done that when we were at the castle today? The guard obviously is not the brightest candle in the box and he shakes his head. GUARD Don’t kkknnnoww. Xena releases the pinch and punches the guard into unconsciousness.  She gives her hand a little shake. XENA Ooww.  Not too bright, but he sure has a hard head. Gabrielle reaches over and takes Xena’s fist, placing a gentle kiss on the knuckles. GABRIELLE (grinning) All better? CUT TO: EXT. RIVER CAMPSITE - NIGHT Xena and Gabrielle are inspecting the knots on the rope tying the six guards to a large tree. The men are still unconscious. GABRIELLE Think they’ll be able to find their clothes? Xena grins evilly as she reaches down and grabs their packed gear. XENA C’mon. Let’s get back to the castle before daybreak. We need to find something that will prove to the Queen that her life is truly in danger and that Cyrus is behind it all. GABRIELLE Sure wish Carena would reappear. I think she could help us get the proof we need.

FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO