WWEact1




	FADE IN: INT. BEDROOM - DAY Gabrielle draws a slow deep breath and blinks her eyes until they are finally focused on the room around her.The walls seem to be shimmering with bluish silver light but she can’t quite make out more than that in her current state. Her hand travels over the soft bedding until she finds Xena’s hand. She turns her head to find her partner sleeping soundly next to her. She knows immediately that Xena is alive by the gentle rise and fall of her chest. Reassured and comforted by what she does know at the moment, that they are alive and together, Gabrielle closes her eyes to rest. FADE TO: INT. BEDROOM - SOMETIME LATER Xena awakes this time, apparently feeling much better as she sits up immediately and tries to take in everything around her. After a quick examination of the room she determines there is no immediate threat. Her attention is drawn to Gabrielle, who is now curled up on her side with her arms wrapped around a pillow. Xena reaches out and touches a bandage on Gabrielle’s forehead. Her brows draw together as her finger traces strips of something she’s not familiar with that appear to be holding the bandage in place. Suddenly she realizes that she’s not in the best shape of her life either. Lowering the blanket covering her and Gabrielle, she finds a large white bandage on her side. It’s held on with the same kind of strips that are completely intriguing to her. She tries to remove her bandage, and hisses when the tape pulls at her skin. XENA Son of a Bacchae!

	*The curse brings Gabrielle out of her slumber. She sits up, immediately concerned by the look on Xena’s face.* GABRIELLE What’s wrong? Are you in pain? XENA Hell yes! What is this? *She points to her side, causing Gabrielle to notice.* GABRIELLE A bandage?

	XENA Oh funny. I mean the stuff holding it on. *Gabrielle fingers the one edge of the tape.* GABRIELLE It’s sticky. XENA Yes, I am aware of that. It takes the skin with it when you remove it. GABRIELLE The skin it still there, Xena. It must sting a little. XENA It stings a lot. GABRIELLE Maybe we should put it back? *Xena nods and lays back so Gabrielle can press the bandage back into place. She glares at Gabrielle’s little smile.* XENA Don’t be so smug; you have one on your forehead. *Gabrielle’s fingers travel to her forehead.* XENA *(cont’d)* And it’s right on your hairline. That should be fun. *Gabrielle decides to ignore Xena’s comment as she pulls the blanket over her nude body.* GABRIELLE Where are we? XENA I have no idea. GABRIELLE We survived, right? XENA Oh yeah, trust me. No ‘other side’ has soft beds and silk sheets.

	GABRIELLE Or food. Gabrielle gets up from the bed, wrapping a blanket around her body as she makes her way to a corner of the room where a small table has been prepared with several types of food. Taking a seat at the table, she samples food from several different plates before she notices Xena staring at her. GABRIELLE What? XENA I’ll bet if we had died, you’d have gone to the other side hungry. GABRIELLE Come join me and stop being such a grouch. This lamb is wonderful. *Xena wraps the sheet around her body and takes a seat next to Gabrielle.* GABRIELLE *(cont’d)* So, how long do we wait before we go exploring and find out where we are?

	*Xena picks through the food before answering.* XENA Obviously we’re not in any immediate danger. They wouldn’t save our lives to hurt us later. *Gabrielle stops in mid bite and puts the food back on her plate, staring at it.* XENA *(cont’d)* What’s wrong? GABRIELLE One word…. Cannibals. *Xena chuckles, pushing Gabrielle’s plate back to her.* XENA Does this look like a place where cannibals live? GABRIELLE Maybe they’re neat cannibals. XENA Eat. After we’ve rested a bit more, we’ll see if we can find something to wear besides the bedclothes and try to locate our host. FADE TO: INT. COUNSUL ROOM - SAME DAY Several men and women are seated around a large oval table. They are talking quietly among themselves and there seems to be a very serious current to their conversations. Finally, after a few minutes, an older woman taps a small crystal on the table to get the attention of the others. VERA As you are all aware, we have a very serious problem right now that we need to address. Aias and Phaidon brought two strangers here. They were absolutely correct in bringing these women to our home. They had no choice in the matter in adherence to our laws, but now we are faced with what to do with them. *An elderly gentleman with a long gray beard and a ponytail of the same color running down his back, seems to consider her words as he strokes his beard.* SOTERES I think we must try and persuade them to remain here with us. It is the wisest course of action, since allowing them to return topside is nearly impossible. GEDEON And if they don’t wish to stay? Then what? SOTERES Then Vera and I will decide if it is time to hand them over to you and the military. TERALYN Seems we are caught between a rock and a hard place. On hand we can’t see any harm come to them, because our laws forbid us to, but on the other we can’t let them leave because they could give us away to the topsiders. SOTERES It is indeed a difficult position we are in. Before we consider any options, we should talk with our guests and see how reasonable they are. Gedeon, are they still sleeping? *The general turns to a small screen in the table and presses a few buttons. The screen comes to life and shows Xena and Gabrielle rummaging through the cabinets in their room.* GEDEON No sir, they are awake and appear to be looking for their clothes.

	SOTERES What did you do with their clothes? GEDEON We took them. The tall one was wearing armor, primitive, but armor nonetheless and weapons. She must certainly be a warrior topside. The fair-haired one had a pair of defensive weapons. They appear to be fairly harmless, but I’m sure in the right hands they could be deadly. SOTERES Do you think hers are the right hands? GEDEON I’m sure of it. Our technology gives us weapons these two could not even dream about, but it also give us a disadvantage when dealing with topsiders. They are far more cunning because they have to be. We just point and destroy; they must have plans, with options and contingencies in their warfare. They adapt quickly to any situation and can be quite deadly when provoked. SOTERES Then let us not provoke them. VERA A wise decision I think. Let us talk with them and hopefully reason with them. TERALYN Perhaps when they see the riches and the advancements our world has to offer they will stay without argument. SOTERES Perhaps, but don’t count on it. People from the topside world can be frightened and mistrustful of things they do not understand. This may spur them to fight to escape. GEDEON They can’t escape from Atlantis and live to see the surface. CUT TO: INT. BEDROOM - CONCURRENT *Xena sits at the table, drumming her fingers and looking very irritated. Gabrielle closes the door on the cabinet and turns to her partner.* GABRIELLE Ideas?

	XENA Sheets are fashionable? *As Gabrielle is about to reply, there is a knock on the door and they both stand to face it. Both of them look as if they’re prepared for a fight.* XENA Come in. *The door slides to the right revealing Soteres, Vera and Gedeon. They step inside and the door slides closed behind them.* SOTERES Welcome to Atlantis, friends. I am Soteres. This is Vera and Gedeon. XENA I’m Xena. This is Gabrielle. VERA Welcome, Xena and Gabrielle. GEDEON I have your clothes. *He steps forward with their clothes all neatly folded in one hand and their boots in the other. He places the items on the table between them.* GEDEON We had them cleaned for you. XENA Thank you. Where are my armor and weapons?

	SOTERES I’m afraid we had to keep them for the time being, Xena. Surely you understand. You are strangers to us. We are a peaceful people, and we wish no trouble. Two of our young men found you on the beach, close to death. They brought you here and our staff saw to your needs. XENA Gabrielle and I are grateful for your assistance. The ship on which we were traveling was caught up in a storm and broken apart. Without your help, we would have died, but if you will be so kind as to return my armor and our weapons, we’ll be on our way. SOTERES Well you see, there’s the problem. If you leave, you could jeopardize the lives of everyone who lives here. GEDEON And you understand we can’t allow that. GABRIELLE And you don’t seem to understand it’s a bad idea to try and keep Xena someplace she doesn’t want to stay. VERA You don’t know that you don’t want to stay here. Let us show you our world. We have much to offer. Things the likes of which you have never seen before. You may find our home to your liking. XENA Where the people are prisoners? Somehow I don’t think so. GEDEON Our people are not prisoners Xena, but they understand the need for secrecy. They do not speak of their home when they are among your people. XENA My people? Aren’t they your people too? SOTERES No. We are different. *(beat)* Please, before you make any judgments about us, let us show you our world and explain it to you. Please? XENA Just a second. *Xena and Gabrielle turn their backs, taking a few steps away from the elders.* GABRIELLE *(whispering)* Have a look around?

	XENA I think so. If there is a way out of here, we need to find it. *Gabrielle nods her agreement and they turn their attention back to the trio.* XENA We’d love to have a look around. FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE