Family Tree

The Messenger Series

Written By © Caina Q.  Fuller

 

 

Teaser

 

Fade In—Virgil

It’s a cool but sunny day in the village of Torone, the village Virgil and his family have decided to make their home in since their other home was destroyed in the firefight with the gods of Olympus in “Motherhood.” 

 

In the stables, Virgil brushes the horses down that he has been hired to care for.  He wears a light shirt but sweat covers his brow from his efforts. As he brushes one horse down Phobos, the Greek god of Fear, appears in front of him.  He is invisible to Virgil but the horses can sense his presence and they become skittish, dancing around in their stalls.

 

 

Virgil

Hey boys. What’s the matter huh?

 

The horses refuse to calm down under his touch.  Phobos moves up to the horse Virgil is brushing and suddenly jumps out at it.

 

Phobos

Boo!

 

The horse rears back, almost kicking Virgil.   

 

Virgil

Whoa boy! Calm down!

 

The horse bolts past Virgil who barely has a chance to move out of the way before he’s ran over.  As the horse passes by, Virgil slams his right hand into a nail and it puts a small wound on his wrist.  He nurses it as company arrives.  Behind him his sister Calantha enters.  She is a beautiful young woman with dark hair and blue eyes, very similar in looks to Meg.  She is also dressed like she could be the village whore.

 

 

 

Calantha

You ok bro?

 

Virgil

I’m fine. What are you wearing?

 

Calantha

(defensive)

Clothes, what’s it look like?

 

Virgil

You’re barely dressed.  You’re not

going out in public like that.

 

Virgil approaches her and as soon as he’s near her he begins waving his hand in front of his face as if to shoo away a bad odor.

 

Virgil

Did you drink the mead or bathe in it?

 

Calantha

I should have known you’d start as

soon as I got in.  I’m leaving.

 

Virgil

What do you expect Calantha?  You spend

all of your time with that Tarsus jerk.  You’ve

abandoned your family-

 

Calantha turns on him with hot anger.

 

Calantha

(interrupting)

He is not a jerk!

 

Virgil

Then what is he?

 

Calantha

He’s the man I love.

 

Virgil gives a derisive snort at this news and Calantha takes off towards the main house.  She stops and turns back to him.

 

 

Calantha

And you wonder why I’m never home anymore.

 

Virgil realizes he’s taking the wrong approach with his little sister and tries a different track.

 

Virgil

Cally, wait!  I’m sorry. Let’s try

and talk about this.

 

Calantha

What’s there to talk about?  You treat

me like a child since Dad died.

 

Virgil

I don’t want to hurt your feelings

Calantha, but if you want to be

treated like an adult, you have to

start acting like one.

 

Calantha

That’s it. I’m out of here and I’m not

coming back this time.

 

Calantha runs into the house and slams the door, and Virgil shakes his head, moving back into the stables.

 

Virgil

Like I’ve never heard that one before.

 

Phobos, who has been watching the entire exchange, begins to laugh. Unlike his brothers Deimos and Strife however, he is not hyper or psychotic in any way. He is calm and cool and comes off as being a very dangerous god.  As Virgil walks past Phobos, the god speaks a suggestion to him.

 

Phobos

You’re thirsty Virgil.  Why don’t you

go and get a nice drink of cold water?

 

Virgil wipes his mouth with sudden thirst as he walks past Phobos and heads out back to get a drink of water. 

 

 

 

Phobos

Good boy.

 

Phobos disappears from the stables and appears next to the well in the back yard of the house.  As soon as Virgil has taken in some of the water he falls to the ground, almost seeming to choke from something.  Once he calms, he sits up, looking himself over.  Right before his eyes the wound on his right hand fades away. Virgil stares at his body with a sense of wonder, then looks up. With his new godly vision he can see Phobos reclining beside the well.

 

Virgil

Who are you?  What have you

done to me?

 

Close up on Virgil. 

Fade out.  End of Teaser.

 

 

**************************

 

Family Tree-Act One

 

Fade In-Virgil

 

Virgil stands before Phobos, looking him over with no small amount of skepticism.

 

Virgil

I asked you a question. Who

are you?  What have you done

to me?

 

Phobos

My name is Phobos.

 

Virgil

Phobos…God of fear?  That would

explain the horses. Why are you

here?  What do you want?

 

Phobos

I’m here to welcome you to your

god-hood. Since I’m your brother

I figure it’s the least I could do.

 

Now Virgil is really skeptical, and he shows it by laughing in Phobos’ face.

 

 

Virgil

My brother?  That’s rich.

 

Phobos

You don’t believe me?

 

Virgil

Well, let me see.  You’re the

son of Ares. You’re a known

liar.  A wound on my hand heals

and suddenly I’m a god, your

brother?  No, I don’t believe you.

 

 

 

Virgil turns and begins to walk away from him when Phobos calls out to him.

 

Phobos

I’m telling you the truth. You

are my brother. Why would I

lie to you?

 

Virgil

(turning)

That’s the 10,000 dinar question

of the day, now isn’t it?  Look,

I’m not going to play whatever

little game you’ve got going here

ok?  Now get off my land and

leave me alone.

 

 

Phobos is incredulous, and he appears right in front of Virgil.

 

Phobos

You would dare attempt to kick me,

a god, off your land?

 

Virgil

(un-intimidated)

That’s right.  I said get off

my land, and I meant it.  If I’m

the son of a god, you can’t hurt

me, right?

 

Phobos

And what will you do if I don’t?

 

 

Virgil throws a punch at Phobos, but the god of fear catches his hand and shoves him back.  Virgil throws several more punches but to no avail.  Then, almost on instinct, Virgil shoves his hand toward Phobos, palm first, and an angry red fireball shoots out, slamming into Phobos’ chest and sending him flying all the way through the yard.  Now Virgil looks at his hand in amazement, then back up to the laughing god of fear.

 

 

Phobos

I told you!  We are brothers.  Your

mother was barren, so she made a

deal with Ares.

 

Virgil

(walking away)

I don’t want to hear this.

 

Phobos

Well you are. She made a deal with

him to make his fantasy of having

Xena come true since he’d believed

her to be dead…

 

Fade into the past…

 

Meg walks toward her home in Torone.  She has just recently become married to Joxer and settled down to start a business with him, and she has dreams of perhaps adopting children.

 

A handful of Ares guards are in the village, as well as Ares, and some of the guards begin making rude comments to Meg as she passes.  One bold guard steps out and blocks her path.  Ares watches with mild interest.

 

Tilus

Hey sweet thing.  You must be Meg.

 

Meg

That’s right.  Who are you?

 

Tilus

My name is Tilus.  You know, the local’s

talk about you. They say you used

to run a brothel here, but I can’t find it.

 

Meg

That’s because I don’t run one

no more.  I’m out of the business.

 

 

 

 

Tilus

(mock surprise)

You quit the oldest profession

known to man? 

 

Meg

(proud)

That’s right. I’m a married

woman of honor now.  So if

you’ll excuse me.

 

Meg moves to walk away but Tilus blocks her path.  The situation quickly turns ugly.

 

Tilus

A woman of honor huh? I hate

to break it to you sweetheart, but

once a whore, always a whore.

 

The men laugh, and we can clearly see that this hurts Meg deeply.

 

 

Meg

Look fella, I don’t want no trouble.

I just wanna go home and cook dinner

for my husband.

 

She tries to move around him again, but Tilus grabs her arm and slaps her.  Meg falls to the ground, holding her stinging cheek and staring up at Tilus in surprise, which is quickly turning to anger.  Ares, who sees Xena in her so much, is about to call Tilus off when Meg takes control of the situation.

 

Tilus

You’ll leave when I say you can leave.

 

Meg

(Xena-like)

You don’t want to make me angry.

 

This tone to her voice really catches Ares’ attention.

 

Tilus

Really?  And what are you gonna

do about it little girl?

 

Meg drives her foot into his crotch.  When he doubles over she kicks him in the face, sending him flying back about 20 feet.  She jumps to her feet as two more men attack.  When they are close to her, Meg flips through the air and kicks them in the backs, sending them sprawling.  Now she’s practically got Ares salivating.  The three men get to their feet and draw their swords, but Ares steps in.

 

Ares

Enough!

 

The men stop and bow to Ares, but they stare at Meg hatefully.

 

Ares

This woman isn’t to be touched.

ever, do you understand me?

 

Guards

Yes sir.

 

Ares lays a hand on her shoulder and smiles down at her.

 

Ares

Go home Meg. 

 

Meg

How do you know…oh, that’s

right.  I remember you from

your bachelor party.  You’re Ares,

the god of war.

 

Ares

I am. 

 

Meg

Well thanks.

 

 

Meg walks off, and Ares stares her down until she disappears into the new restaurant she and Joxer will be opening.

 

Ares

I miss you Xena.

 

 

Suddenly an evil grin comes over his face and he rubs his chin.

 

Int.  Megs place night

 

Meg is putting dishes away when Ares appears behind her.  He touches her shoulders and Meg smiles.

 

Meg

Jox?  You still here? I thought

you were off to Potidea to-

 

She turns and finds Ares behind her and she quickly moves away from him.

 

Meg

Ares.  What are you doin’ here?

 

Ares

I had to see you again.  You have

the face of the only woman I

have ever loved.  I can’t…I just

had to see you.

 

Ares reaches out to caress her face, but Meg moves away again.

 

Meg

Look, Ares, I heard about you

from Gabrielle’s scrolls.  You have

a way of getting an idea in your head

and you won’t let it go.  Now, I may

look like Xena, but I ain’t Xena. I’m

Meg, and I’m happily married to

Joxer.  So uh…whatever you’ve got in

mind ain’t happenin’. 

 

 

 

 

Meg turns to leave the kitchen area when Ares calls out to her.

 

Ares

Fair enough.  I have a proposal

for you then.

 

Meg

I ain’t interested.

 

Ares

Even if it means healing your

barren womb?

 

Meg stops dead in her tracks and turns to Ares.  Now she’s interested in what he has to say.

 

Meg

You can do that?

 

Ares

I’m a very powerful god. I can

do anything.  You make my dream

of having Xena for one last time,

and I will make your dream of motherhood

a reality.  Think about it.

 

Meg

What do I have to do?

 

Close up on Ares wicked smile.

 

 

Ext. Small village-Day

 

Fade In-Flag with Xena’s X symbol inside her old Chakram. 

 

Ares stands in the center of a village, that is being raided by one of his armies.  Each soldier wears Xena’s symbol on their chests.  The soldiers kill the men and force the women and children into wagons. Gabrielle comes riding into the village and begins defending the people.

 

 

Gabrielle is holding her own, along with some help from a few villagers, when “Xena” comes riding into town.  It’s really Meg fighting as Xena for Ares’ fantasy.  Xena flips from Argo’s back with her customary battle cry and lands in front of Gabrielle.

 

Gabrielle

Xena! I can’t believe you’re

fighting for Ares now.  How could

you leave me to go back to that

life, with him? 

 

Xena

Love Gabrielle.  That’s how.

 

Xena and Gabrielle go into battle, and Gabrielle puts up an impressive fight before Xena disarms her former companion of her sai’s.  She runs her old best friend through just as Ares appears next to her.  As Gabrielle lies dying on the ground, Ares pulls Xena to his side.

 

Ares

(to Gabrielle)

You won a lot of the battles

Gabrielle, but I win the war.

 

“Gabrielle’s” last sight is Xena in a passionate kiss with Ares.

 

 

Int. Ares temple

Ares sits in his throne and Xena enters.  She is spattered with blood, dirt and sweat from the day’s battles (just as Ares likes his women to be), and even dirty like she is, she is beautiful in a fierce, murderous kind of way.

 

 

 

Ares

The battle?

 

Xena

I was victorious of course.

I totally annihilated those weaklings,

and I did it all in your name. 

 

Ares

No. In our name. 

 

Ares arises from his throne and moves toward her.  Slowly they meet in the center of his temple and begin kissing passionately. 

 

Xena

I did it for us.  I love you

Ares.  I have always loved

you. Can you ever forgive me

for leaving your side for so

long?   

 

Ares

Of course I can.  Make love to me

Xena.  Like we used to in the old days.

 

Xena

Just like the old days…

 

The camera moves around them slowly as they kiss passionately, and when it comes full circle there is a bed behind them.

 

“Xena” shoves Ares back onto the bed. 

 

Xena

I will never leave you again.

Never.

 

 

 

Ares

I have always wanted to hear

you say that.

 

 

 

Fade into present day on Virgil’s stunned face.

 

 

Family Tree-Act Two

 

 

Fade In.  Village of Scione

 

Eve moves through a brightly decorated village as the villagers prepares for the festival of Aphrodisia (a festival in honor of Aphrodite).  She is holding the hand of a little girl about seven years old named Maya, who is the daughter of a friend Eve has made, and it’s clear the girl worships Eve. 

 

Maya

Look Eve!  You said you wanted

to change your outfit.  Here’s a

good place. 

 

Eve

Yes it is.  I’ll be right back.

 

Eve disappears into the booth.

 

Ext. Booth

 

Maya paces back and forth in front of the booth, impatient.

 

Maya

Evie!  Hurry up.

 

Evie

Ok, here I come Maya.

 

Eve steps out from the booth wearing a pair of knee high boots, tight fitting black pants with a belt that has a buckle in the form of the Christian fish symbol.  She wears a leather bra top and silver armlets, and Eve’s has pulled her hair back into a French braid with a few loose wisps of hair framing her face.  Maya likes the new look and claps with glee.

 

 

Maya

I love it Evie.  I love it.

 

Eve

Thank you Maya.  I like it too.

 

 

 

The booth keeper, a portly old woman, calls to Eve, holding up a scabbard with the petite version of Michael’s sword from “Moving On” inside.

 

 

Booth Keeper

The smith has finished your

scabbard Eve.  What do you think?

 

Eve

It’s a fine piece of work.  Thanks.

 

Once the woman is paid off, Eve puts on the scabbard and starts down the street with Maya.

 

Eve

What do you want to do now?

 

Maya

I’d like to look for the pie booth.

 

Eve

(laughing)

Great idea sweetheart.

 

Eve and Maya pass by another booth with Calantha and Tarsus watching her every move.

 

Tarsus

You ready?

 

Calantha

I’ve been ready for a long time.

 

Ext. Booth

 

Maya looks over a booth displaying dolls and wooden figurines when Calantha comes to stand beside Eve.

 

Eve

Calantha! What brings you all

the way to Scione?

 

 

 

Calantha

I’m traveling with Tarsus.

 

Eve’s disapproval is obvious and it inflames Calantha’s anger even further.

 

Calantha

What?

 

Eve

Nothing. Really.

 

Calantha studies Maya playing with the dolls.  By now the young woman’s attitude toward Eve tells us that she doesn’t like Eve.

 

Calantha

She reminds me of me when

I was her age.  Why is she with you?

 

Eve

She’s the daughter of a friend.

I’m sitting for them while they

attend a wedding in Corinth. 

 

Calantha

So there are a couple of people

out there you didn’t murder?

I’m surprised Livia.

 

Eve ignores the remark.  Perhaps she can remind Calantha of the blessings she had to have grown up with both of her parents.  Something she didn’t have.

 

Eve

You have something else in

common with Maya, Calantha. You

both were blessed to have grown

up with both of your parents.

 

Calantha

I had both parents.  Now I have

only one, thanks to you.  I have

a question for you.

 

Eve

Anything, though I don’t

guarantee you’ll like the answer.

 

 

 

Calantha

Can you begin to imagine what it’s

like to be married to someone for twenty-five

years? I was talking with mother right

after you murdered father (her words  have a

definite effect on Eve). She said that in the

entire time she and dad had been together,

they had only spent the night apart twice.

Twice in all that time.

 

They share a moment of silence, which Calantha forces Eve to face her crime and the pain it’s caused once again. 

 

Eve

I’m sorry Calantha-

 

Calantha

(disgusted)

You murder my father and now

you get to walk around free!  You

know what really disgusts me

about you?

 

Eve says nothing.  She only stands there, absorbing the anger and hurt coming from Calantha in tidal force waves. 

 

Calantha

You have the nerve to preach about

peace.  Every day I wake up to the

knowledge that my father is gone from

my life forever. Every day I have to face

the fact that I will never see him

again, and I know that so many other

people are facing the same torment, all

because of you.

 

Maya and several other villagers are staring at the two women now, but Calantha doesn’t care.  She’s started and she can’t stop her rage.

 

Calantha

And what about my mother? What

about my younger sister and

brothers? They still cry for him at night!

 

Eve

Calantha, try to calm down-

 

Calantha slaps Eve across the face, hard.   Tarsus, who is watching from the booth, grins at this, thinking it funny.  Eve looks at her calmly and without anger.

 

Calantha

Don’t you dare try to tell me what

to do!  You’ve ruined my life! 

(her voice drops, low and deadly)

Every day I feel my heart getting colder

and colder, and it’s all your fault. I

hate you Eve, and I hope you

die a slow, ugly death.

 

Eve now notices that six men have surrounded her, along with Tarsus.

 

Tarsus

Eve.  You’re under arrest for

your crimes as “Livia”.

 

Off Tarsus cut to:

 

Ext.  Hill-Day

 

Virgil stands with Phobos on a hillside, watching a Roman army raid a small village.

 

Virgil

What is this?