FADE IN: EXT. MEADOW - MID MORNING Twickenham looks at the two women staring back at him. TWICKENHAM Surely you’ve received the invitation, Gabrielle? He looks back and forth between them. TWICKENHAM (cont’d) To the induction ceremony? All of the Academy’s most famous graduates will be there to show support for the new Chancellor. I know you were invited. I sent the invitation out myself! GABRIELLE We... travel a lot.  Your messenger probably couldn’t find us. TWICKENHAM Well, invitation or not, you have to be there. The Academy, it’s... worse, much worse, than it was when we entered, Gabrielle. It’s nothing but a den of rich thieves who accept bribes in plain sight for admittance. Talent isn’t counted. Wealth is.  It’s... horrible. Even the library, home to scrolls from the best bards around the world is only open to those with enough money. GABRIELLE (horrified) That’s absurd!

Twickenham looks at ‘Xena’. TWICKENHAM I didn’t realize you were such an admirer of the Fine Arts, Xena. XENA Oh yeah, she admires ‘em all right. Twickenham returns his attention to ‘Gabrielle’. TWICKENHAM And I’m sure you’ve heard about what happened to the last Chancellor. Xena mightily resists making the comment she wants to make, and settles for a simple nod instead. XENA We heard.

TWICKENHAM He was a bastard, if you’ll pardon my language. But he was only part of the problem. GABRIELLE What was the rest? TWICKENHAM Well, as I’ve said, it’s become nothing but a den of thieves. When the reigning Chancellor made his trip to Lesbos, the vipers were left to fight among themselves. They never expected him to come back, you see. XENA Mm. TWICKENHAM The students aren’t all bad though. Not by a long shot. Somehow, even in the midst of their greed, they managed to admit some very talented, upstanding young men and women.  While the vultures were arguing among themselves, the students formed a committee, asked for help from the distinguished alumni, and held a secret ballot to elect their own Chancellor. XENA (knowingly) And the vultures didn’t appreciate that. TWICKENHAM (outraged) Th-th-they tried to k-k-kill him! GABRIELLE Who? Twickenham looks over at ‘Xena’ as if she’s gone a bit slow. TWICKENHAM The Chancellor, of course. Gabrielle takes in a deep, calming breath. GABRIELLE And the Chancellor is.... The same look. Squared. TWICKENHAM The head of the Academy? Xena laughs softly. XENA Uh, Twickey? I think she wants his name.

TWICKENHAM Oh! Ohhhhh! He smiles broadly. TWICKENHAM (cont’d) It’s Homer! GABRIELLE Homer! TWICKENHAM Homer, yes. I didn’t realize you knew him as well, Xena. But then, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I’m sure Gabrielle told you how close they were. Xena looks at Gabrielle. XENA Close, huh? TWICKENHAM Why yes, Gabrielle. Don’t you remember the two of you were going to be married? XENA AND GABRIELLE Married?!?!?

Twickenham looks at them both, shocked. TWICKENHAM It was all over the dorms. We thought.... GABRIELLE You thought wrong. She did come back to me, after all.

Twickenham scratches his chin in thought. TWICKENHAM I guess that’s right... I suppose. Regardless, I know he’s looking forward to seeing you again, Gabrielle. And we really do need your help. When their assassination attempt failed, the Regents elected their own Chancellor. Merikus. A more corrupt man you’ve never met. They insist he is the rightful Chancellor and will be inducted into the position the day after tomorrow. Unless we can stop them. XENA And how are you planning to do that? TWICKENHAM That was the reason for the invitations, Gabrielle. The induction ceremony is a very public affair. Half of Athens will be there.  We need to show strong public support for our choice for Chancellor. We’re all planning to stand with him, perhaps tell some of our longer epic stories to hold the stage, and give the public a taste of what the Academy once was and could be again. Please, will you stand with us? Xena and Gabrielle look at one another for a long moment, communicating more in silence than most do with speech. TWICKENHAM We could also use your help, Xena. I don’t think they’ve given up trying to take Homer’s life. You are the perfect person to help prevent that from happening. Another bit of silent communication before Xena turns to their guest. XENA We’ll help.

Twickenham beams. TWICKENHAM Thank you! Thank you!  Please, gather up your belongings. We’ll place them on my carriage and we can be off to Athens. Another look is exchanged. XENA Thanks for the offer, but we’ll catch up with you in Athens. TWICKENHAM (shocked) But why? GABRIELLE We…have things we need to take care of first.  We weren’t expecting to make this trip at all, remember? Twickenham sighs. TWICKENHAM You’re sure I can’t talk you into coming with me? GABRIELLE No, but thank you for your offer. We won’t be far behind you. TWICKENHAM Will you at least take up my offer of lodging at my villa? Please? Gabrielle nods. GABRIELLE We’ll do that. Thanks. TWICKENHAM Well... goodbye then. See you in Athens. XENA See you there. Twickenham turns, enters his carriage, and is soon gone from their sight. Alone once again, Xena turns to Gabrielle, a smirk on her face. XENA Homer, huh? Gabrielle shoots her a sideways look. GABRIELLE Please. He was just a friend.

Xena grins. XENA Using my definition of the word friend, are ya? GABRIELLE Ha. Ha. XENA Hey, don’t look at me! You were the one getting married. GABRIELLE (primly) I’m already married, thank you very much. Xena’s eyes soften as she smiles. XENA I know.

Gabrielle’s eyes widen. She slowly lowers herself to a log at her feet. Her face is slightly pale. GABRIELLE Dear gods! Xena looks down at herself to see if perhaps she’s popped out of her top or something equally strange to engender such a reaction from her partner. XENA What? GABRIELLE Is that really how I look when I look at you that way?

Understanding dawns, and Xena can do nothing but grin. GABRIELLE No wonder they’ve been talking about us for years! Chuckling softly, Xena crosses the distance between them and stoops in front of Gabrielle, taking her hands. XENA Let ‘em talk. Leaning in, she gently brushes Gabrielle’s lips with her own, then settles in for a longer kiss.  After a moment, they pull away, both women distinctly flushed.

GABRIELLE Wow! That was.... XENA Different. GABRIELLE That it was. I think I liked it. XENA (faux shocked) You think?! Gabrielle grins. GABRIELLE Let’s just say that your body has some... interesting responses and leave it at that, shall we? XENA Let’s. GABRIELLE So, I guess we should try to switch back now.

XENA I suppose you’re right. Gabrielle slides off the log and to the ground, still holding Xena’s hands. She smiles and looks around, taking in a deep, bracing breath of fresh air. GABRIELLE I want to remember this. The time I was in the body of the best warrior in the world. Should make for a great story sometime, huh? Xena can only smile. GABRIELLE Ok, I’m ready. Both women close their eyes and begin the process of meditation. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. MEADOW - EARLY AFTERNOON Sighing, Xena leans back, looks up at the sky, then up into similarly colored eyes. XENA It’s obvious this isn’t going to fix things, Gabrielle. I think that if we’re gonna head for Athens, it’s probably best that we get ready to move. GABRIELLE Maybe we should give it a little longer to work? XENA We’ve given it half a day, Gabrielle. It’s obvious I’m missing something, and I don’t think we’re gonna find it just sitting here. Gabrielle comes to her feet more fluidly now that she’s become accustomed to the body she’s currently inhabiting. GABRIELLE (flexing a knee) Do your joints always hurt this much? Xena shrugs. XENA Occupational hazard.

Reaching down, Gabrielle gives Xena a hand up, then abruptly lets go at her partner’s wince. GABRIELLE What is it? What’s wrong? Xena holds up a rather mangled looking hand. XENA You don’t know my own strength. GABRIELLE (worriedly) Is it broken? Xena shakes the hand in question, then squeezes it into a fist a few times. XENA Nah. Just don’t blame this one on me when you start wearing it again. GABRIELLE Speaking of which... I personally don’t think I’ll have a hard time catching an assassin, especially with these new... enhancements... but Xena, you’re not exactly known as a bard. XENA (exaggerated dignity) I’ll have you know that I’m a perfectly adequate storyteller.

Gabrielle laughs. GABRIELLE Adequate for putting your audience to sleep maybe. Xena gives her a look. GABRIELLE (cont’d) I’m serious! “We came, we saw, we kicked their asses” is hardly the height of bardic talent, Xena. XENA Hey!  It has a beginning and an ending! GABRIELLE (laughing) Just no middle. Ok, if you can teach me the sounds behind the sounds, I can teach you how to make those sounds sound more interesting. Sound good? Xena clasps her hands together in a deliberately overdramatic pleading posture. XENA Take me with you. Teach me everything you know.

GABRIELLE Oooh, that’s very good!  No wonder you couldn’t resist my charm!

XENA (sotto voce) If that was the only reason, you’d still be sitting in Poteidia. GABRIELLE What? XENA Nothing. Let’s just get going. The daylight’s wasting. Gabrielle follows Xena to Argo. GABRIELLE Nothing my eye. She forgets about my hearing.

FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO