PERSEPHONE'S REVENGE I: DEMETER'S DAUGHTER
ACT II FADE IN:
19. EXT. A FOREST CLEARING - MORNING
A commanding voice rings out loudly in the clearing. The villagers hesitate. Everyone turns to see an elderly man approaching at a slow pace. He is frail yet there is determination in his eyes and fearlessness on his craggy face. He carries a wooden staff.
The man walks to stand directly before Cassio. The crowd moves back to let him through.
PALOMIDES
(angrily addressing the lead villagers in turn)Cassio! Pelios! Marenus! Why are you attacking these good people? They have done you no harm!The villagers stare at the old man. There is a deathly silence as if no one dares even breathe.
PALOMIDES
(addressing all the villagers)All of you, you should be ashamed of your behavior. You are farmers, blacksmiths and carpenters, not common thieves!Cassio speaks up, his tone defiant.
CASSIO You are a fool, old man. These are desperate times. Our children are sick and dying from hunger. Should we stand by and do nothing? We must take what we can or perish from starvation.The villagers angrily mutter in agreement, but seem less sure of themselves.
PALOMIDES Listen! I understand your anger but it is you who are foolish, my friends. These people may be the only ones who can help us and you are trying to rob them! Now go home!All the villagers start to leave, except for Cassio, Pelios and Marenus who stand their ground. Xena drops her pack and, unseen, kicks it into the bushes. She and Gabrielle remain alert, ready to defend themselves if necessary.
CASSIO No! We've listened to you so far, Palomides. We're not gonna let you order us about any more!MARENUS
(brandishing his club)That's right, old man. Get out of the way before you get hurt.The villagers pause, unsure what to do. They mutter amongst themselves. Palomides' eyes blaze fiercely.
PALOMIDES I'm warning you, Cassio...PELIOS Are you threatening us, old man? We're not afraid of you!XENA You should be! The odds look pretty favorable to me!Keeping the horses behind them, she and Gabrielle move to stand beside Palomides. The rest of the villagers move back to watch.
CASSIO Enough of this! Get them!Cassio attacks Palomides with his club.
For one who appeared frail, Palomides swiftly blocks the attack with his staff then spins round to strike a blow that sends Cassio flying backwards into the bushes with a yell.
XENA Nice move!PALOMIDES Thanks!He moves slowly towards Cassio who is getting to his feet.
Xena faces Pelios.
XENA
(dropping her sword)So, you think you can beat me, eh? Let's see how you fight without a weapon.She unhooks her chakram, lets it fall to the ground. She curls her fists.
Pelios gawks at her momentarily. He drops his club and raises his fists.
They circle each other warily.
Pelios makes a clumsy swing. Xena dodges and responds with a vicious right-hand jab that clips Pelios across the nose. It starts to bleed.
They circle again.
Pelios moves to attack. Quick as lightning, Xena throws a one-two combination, hitting Pelios squarely on the jaw.
The force of the blows knocks him backwards. He tries to sit up but Xena elbows him in the face. Dazed, he flops back down again and lies still.
Gabrielle grasps her spear like a staff.
As Marenus approaches, she aims low, striking at his ankles. He trips and falls over. She waits for him to rise.
He gets up and lifts his club. She whacks him across the ribs with each end of the spear. He groans and doubles over, clutching his side. He staggers forward a few steps and tries to straighten up. Instead, he falls forward heavily, dropping his club.
Cassio attacks Palomides again, bashing him on the arm with a powerful blow. Crying out in pain, he clutches his arm and drops his staff.
Xena steps in before Cassio can swipe at the healer again. Coming up behind him, she grabs his club and twists it painfully from his grasp.
XENA No, you don't!As he turns, she whacks him hard, sending him flying back to where he landed before. He groans and doesn't get up.
The three defenders survey the scene. Their attackers lie defeated on the ground. They rise and stagger to their feet, dazed and weak from hunger. There is no fight left in them.
PALOMIDES
(still clutching his arm)Now, return to your homes, all of you! I will talk to these people. See if we can sort out this mess.The villagers depart through the trees. Cassio, Pelios and Marenus follow sheepishly.
Gabrielle relaxes her stance and calms the horses. Xena retrieves her pack. She strides towards the old man, sheathing her sword and replacing her chakram at her hip.
XENA Thanks. I didn't really want to have to hurt anyone, and I certainly didn't want to throw good food away. My name is Xena. This is Gabrielle.Gabrielle turns slightly to smile at Palomides. He draws in a sharp breath, hope in his eyes. He straightens up.
PALOMIDES Xena? The Warrior Princess? And Gabrielle, the Battling Bard of Potidaea? Praise the gods! There is hope for us after allHe looks past Xena and Gabrielle expectantly. His brow furrows and disappointment crosses his face.
PALOMIDES For a moment I dared hope you'd brought supplies with you.(sighing) Oh well. Let me introduce myself. My name is Palomides and I am the village healer at Acharnae, just across the river. We are in desperate need of food and medicines. Can you help us?XENA We're on our way to Eleusis to speak to Demeter. We're hoping to find some answers there.PALOMIDES We have made offerings to Demeter at the Eleusinian temple but to no avail; even the priests there are powerless. She is a tolerant goddess yet she is deaf to our pleas! We don't understand what we've done wrong!GABRIELLE I'm sure there's a simple explanation.PALOMIDES I hope so. We've sent messengers to the coast requesting supplies, but they never return. We fear the worst and don't know what else to do.XENA Perhaps it's not Demeter you need to worry about. Here...She removes most of the remaining food from her pack and hands it to the startled healer.
XENA Distribute this amongst the children and the sick. Be strict with the rations and make sure they are locked safely away at night so no one is tempted to take more than their share.PALOMIDES Thank you, Xena. Hopefully this food will last us long enough for you to get help.Xena nods and prepares to leave. Gabrielle lays her hand on the old man's arm.
GABRIELLE I promise we'll do what we can to help. Xena will find a way. If anyone can do it, she can.PALOMIDES Your faith in your friend is admirable, Gabrielle. Thank you and Demeter's blessings go with both of you.Gabrielle smiles warmly then climbs into her horse's saddle. Xena is already mounted and ready to leave. Together they ride on, leaving Palomides to watch them disappear into the distance.
CUT TO:
20. EXT. DEMETER'S TEMPLE AT ELEUSIS - MID MORNING
Xena and Gabrielle circle around the village of Eleusis. They soon reach Demeter's temple that stands on the east side of a steep hill. It is a simple, stone-built, circular structure with several steps leading up to the entrance.
GABRIELLE It's so quiet! I wonder where everyone is? I'd have thought the priests would have posted guards here.XENA
(indicating a nearby building)They've probably locked themselves in there, praying until they're blue in the face.GABRIELLE
(listening)I think you're right. I can hear chanting!XENA Let's leave them to it. We'd better take the horses inside if we don't want to risk losing them to bandits...(beat) ...or hungry villagers.The two companions dismount and lead their horses up the steps into the inner entrance of the temple.
CUT TO:
21. INT. DEMETER'S TEMPLE - MID MORNING
Inside, the temple is lavishly decorated with colorful wall hangings depicting Demeter, Persephone and several other gods. The domed ceiling has a center panel made of clear glass, allowing sunlight to illuminate the room.
In the middle of the temple stands a stone altar on which there is a carved wooden statue of Demeter. A smaller statue of Persephone stands beside it. Where the altar would normally contain fresh flowers, fruit and other offerings, there is nothing but bare scraps and a small basket of rotten food. Dead flowers are strewn about a floor normally covered in clean rushes and sweet scented petals.
Xena and Gabrielle make their way towards the altar. Xena picks up a rotten piece of fruit and examines it.
XENA
(dropping the fruit in disgust)Look at this! Even while starving the villagers have brought food here to appease their goddess. A lot of good it's done them!As she speaks, a figure emerges from the shadows. A beautiful, dark-haired, slender woman approaches Xena. There is pain and sorrow in her eyes as if she carries a burden too great to bear.
DEMETER Xena. Always ready to judge others without knowing the facts. Quick to place blame but blind to her own faults. A mother who has fought and killed gods to protect her child yet has no understanding of what another might do to protect theirs.GABRIELLE Demeter!XENA
(folding her arms)What I don't understand is how you've got the nerve to preach about my faults while you stand by and watch people starve. That doesn't sound caring and compassionate to me!DEMETER You see, Xena? You are so full of anger yet you know nothing of what you speak.(beat) Let me ask you something: should a man do any less than you when protecting his family?Gabrielle moves slightly forward.
GABRIELLE Are you talking about Hades and Persephone?DEMETER
(to Gabrielle)Hades was my son-in-law. Persephone is my daughter. She is still grieving over the loss of her husband.XENA She's got a long memory, hasn't she? It's been at least three years since the gods tricked Gabrielle into almost killing my daughter and I've got over it!She glances at Gabrielle apologetically for mentioning this. Gabrielle bites her lip and looks away guiltily.
XENA As for Hades, I didn't realize you were a member of his fan club! I seem to remember he kidnapped your daughter but all is forgiven now, eh?DEMETER
(sighing)Hardly. Hades and I were never fond of each other, that's true, but we reached an...understanding. We realized we had one thing in common: we both loved Persephone deeply and we respected each other for that.XENA Oh, please! Give me a break! You don't for one minute think I'm gonna start feeling sorry for you, do you? Or regret killing Hades when he was trying to murder my child?DEMETER He was protecting his family, his realm...XENA He was looking out for his own interests, nothing more.DEMETER
(shrugs)Xena, you must listen to me if you are to fulfill your part in this. Let me give you some advice...XENA You want to give me advice? That's rich, coming from you! I tell ya what; let me give you some...Demeter's image slowly starts to fade.
DEMETER
(her voice getting fainter)Speak to one who knows, Xena. Speak to one who knows.She disappears. Silence fills the room.
GABRIELLE Speak to one who knows? I wonder what she meant by that?XENA It's got to be Persephone. She's the key.GABRIELLE We've not been to the Underworld since Hades' death. Can we still set foot in it?XENA We'll get in. There's an entrance not far from here. It'll lead us through Tartarus and into the Elysian Fields. We can make our way to Hades' palace from there.The two friends exit the temple with their horses in tow.
As they leave, Demeter reappears next to the altar. She picks up the statue of Persephone. She strokes it gently, holding it close to her bosom. Suddenly, her image shifts from that of the earth goddess. In her place stands Hecate, goddess of the moon and Persephone's handmaiden.
HECATE Soon, my friend...soon, the world will rejoice at your beauty once more, if Xena has the courage to complete the tasks required of her.(beat) But if she fails...then the people of Greece will die and you will be avenged against the warrior princess.Hecate sighs. Still clutching the statue she disappears.
CUT TO:
22. INT. THE UNDERWORLD - MIDDAY
Xena and Gabrielle enter the Underworld. As they move through Tartarus, they hear the screams and moans of the persecuted. Disturbed, they hurry through this area until they reach the edge of the Elysian Fields.
CUT TO:
23. INT. THE ENTRANCE TO THE ELYSIAN FIELDS - AFTERNOON
This section of the Underworld is in disarray. A morbid silence hangs over the place. Xena and Gabrielle enter the Elysian Fields to see people milling around in confusion.
XENA I don't like it. It's way too quiet.GABRIELLE You're right. The Elysian Fields is supposed to be a happy place! There's no joy, no laughter!A gray-haired old man drifts past them, dreamily. He doesn't appear to notice them. Xena catches hold of his arm, thinking it odd he doesn't resist.
XENA What happened here? Why is everyone wandering in a daze?The man faces Xena with a glazed expression. She reels in shock as she recognizes the aged face of her older brother.
XENA Toris?TORIS What? Do I know you?XENA Toris, it's me...your sister, Xena! What are you doing here?Toris doesn't answer. He looks confused.
GABRIELLE He doesn't remember you, Xena. I've seen that look before, on the face of that young woman when I visited Mnemosyne's temple.Toris struggles to remember. He grasps Xena's arms and looks at her pleadingly. Xena is unsettled by his behavior.
TORIS
(urgently)You...you called me Toris? Tell me is that my name? I can't remember! I can't remember anything! Who am I? Who am I?He clutches Xena's arm tightly, willing himself to remember.
Xena releases his grip gently and moves past him. She quickly strides away, clearly upset.
Gabrielle looks back to see Toris staring at her before moving away as if the incident had never happened.
As Xena and Gabrielle continue their journey, they notice that everyone they pass looks as confused and disorientated as Toris.
After a short silence, Xena finally speaks.
XENA Toris was the last of my immediate family! Now, he too is dead and I don't even know why or how it happened!GABRIELLE Xena, it's not your fault. You didn't know. How could you?XENA I don't like this, Gabrielle. The whole thing with Greece and the big freeze up there...and now this! In the Elysian Fields, no one seems to know who they are - or rather who they were!GABRIELLE We'll get to the bottom of this, Xena. I know we will. We'll talk to Toris again and find out what happened.XENA
(angrily)When you said I should go see Toris, Gabrielle, I didn't expect to find him like this! If this is Demeter's doing...GABRIELLE Let's talk to Persephone first.XENA Right.(beat) Thanks, Gabrielle.GABRIELLE For what?XENA
(smiling)For what else? Being you!Xena and Gabrielle exit the Elysian Fields and continue their journey until they arrive at the entrance to Hades' fortress.
CUT TO:
24. INT. THE THRONE ROOM OF HADES' PALACE - AFTERNOON
A beautiful, raven-haired young woman dressed in black sits mournfully on her throne. At her side stands Celesta. Occasionally, the woman glances at the empty throne beside her and sighs.
PERSEPHONE It's been three years, Celesta. Three long, empty years without my husband and I miss him more than ever. Will the pain ever go away?CELESTA No, but it will ease. One day, you will think of him without tears.PERSEPHONE What of my beloved? Where is his spirit? He was a god, yet he cannot return to me. These wretched humans die and enter the Underworld, yet my husband disappears without a trace!CELESTA Persephone, you are still angry with mortals for their part in this. They could not have stopped Xena, even if they had tried. The combined armies of the gods could not do that, as you well know.PERSEPHONE
(clenching her fists)She will pay for this! I will never forget what she did to my husband, never!CELESTA What can you do? You are ruler in Hades' stead. You know you can't ever leave here now.PERSEPHONE
(smiles to herself)There is much I can do. You'll see, Celesta. I...A loud rumbling is heard as the throne room doors swing open. Persephone looks up in astonishment as Xena and Gabrielle enter, weapons drawn. She rises from her throne, fury spreading across her lovely features.
PERSEPHONE You! How dare you come here! Murderer!Before Celesta can stop her, Persephone charges at Xena, fists flailing. Xena firmly grasps her hands until Persephone stops struggling.
PERSEPHONE
(eyes flooding with tears, expression defiant)You killed my husband!Without warning, she lunges at Xena with a concealed dagger, hidden in the sleeve of her gown.
GABRIELLE Xena! Look out!Swiftly, Xena grabs Persephone's arm. With a sharp flick of her wrist, she forces the dagger out of her grasp.
PERSEPHONE Guards! Kill them! Kill them both!FADE OUT:
END ACT II
ACT III since 22 December 1999
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