Moving On

A screenplay

Written By (Copyright):  Caina Q.  Fuller

(This story takes place approx.

Six months after the events in

A Friend In Need Part 2).

 

 

Fade In

 

 

Eve rides over the lush landscapes of Greece until she comes to Amphipolis and reaches the family mausoleum.  She rushes inside and locates the newest sarcophagus in the room.  It has the urn containing Xena’s ashes.  It’s clear who’s grave it is by the large X symbol on the head of the sarcophagus. Eve touches it, her face a mask of shock.  This is her first visit to her mother’s grave.

 

Eve

It’s really true.  You’re

gone before I had a chance to

really get to know you.  Mother…

 

 

Eve collapses over it, weeping for her lost mother.  We can feel the pain in hear heart for we loved Xena too, but now she is gone. 

 

 

Int-Lucifer’s throne room

Lucifer watches Eve on a viewing wall that allows him to witness the events on earth.  He watches Eve weep over her mother’s loss and begins to laugh.

 

Lucifer

(Mocking)

Oh Mother…More like Oh please.

Your mother ruined my life, but

you will make my existence sweet

again.  You just don’t know it yet.

 

He waves a hand over the viewing wall and it changes to show the war going on between Heaven and Hell. He watches as a young woman, the spitting image of Callisto, fights with a guardian angel.

 

Lucifer

(laughing)

They’ve grown so desperate

they’re using those Guardian

Angel’s in battle now.  Send his

soul to me Rachel! 

 

The demon woman looks around as if hearing his command and she runs the angel through with her sword.  She tries to force him to the edge of the cliff they are fighting on but he twists her around, pulls her sword out of his body then kicks her in the gut. She comes falling back into hell, landing before Lucifer.  The new king of hell watches Rachel with disappointment and disgust.

 

Lucifer

You allowed one of those

pathetic Guardian’s to get the

best of you?  I expected more

from the daughter of Callisto.

 

Rachel

He’ll whistle when he flies from

now on but I don’t suppose

you’re going to give me credit

for any of that are you?

 

Lucifer

If you’re looking for someone to

coddle you I’m afraid you’ve come

to the wrong place.

 

Rachel

Lucifer, I’m really very busy so

If you don’t mind, get to the point.

I don’t have time to stand here and

chit-chat with you about non-sense-

 

He cuts her off by grabbing her by the throat and the demons lining the corner begin to cheer, hoping for a good fight to entertain them.  However Rachel is the princess of Hell and she’s not about to let the new king manhandle her. She forces his hand from her throat but he kicks her, sending her flying for the rear wall.  This time she stops her descent just before she makes contact and comes flying back with a Callisto-like scream on her lips.

 

Lucifer tries to hold her off by hitting her with a fireball but Rachel swats it away as if it’s nothing and he barely has time to dodge out of the way before he’s hit with his own fireball.  It hits his throne instead, exploding it into dust.  Rachel attacks with frightening ferocity and he can barely hold his own against her. Finally he succeeds in shoving her away.

 

Lucifer

Enough! 

 

Rachel

(exaggerated southern drawl)

Aw but paw!  I was just

startin ta have a little fun!

 

Lucifer

I have a job for you Rachel. One

I know you will love doing.

 

Rachel

(exaggerated reverence)

And what would that be

my lord?

 

Rachel begins giggling, almost hysterically, and we get the impression she may not be all there after all.  Powerful and a little unstable all mixed together makes for a serious threat.

 

Lucifer

Have you ever heard of

Heaven’s gate Rachel?

 

Rachel

Of course. It’s a portal that

opens all entrances to Heaven

simultaneously. Whoever holds

control of the Gate can force

the angels out leaving Paradise

ripe for the forces of hell to take.

 

Lucifer

Correct.  There is a soul vulnerable

to our attack who knows the

location of Heaven’s Gate.

 

Rachel is momentarily interested enough to take the conversation seriously and she leans in for more.

 

Rachel

No kidding. Who would that be?

 

Lucifer

Your mother was one of the

Most powerful souls ever

to grace the pits of hell.  As you

know she was re-incarnated

into the body of a woman named

Eve.  Find her and induce the

Awakening.

 

Rachel circles Lucifer, her excitement growing by the second.  She was excited at the possibility of winning the war against heaven, but her real motivation was seeing her mother again. She may be a demon, but she’d loved Callisto.  Lucifer has an idea of this and hopes to use  it against her.

 

Rachel

Then we can bring her back to

Hell, corrupt her and take the

Gate.

 

Lucifer

And better still, you’ll have your

precious mother back.  Wouldn’t

you like that?

 

Rachel

(Lying)

It makes no never mind to me

Lucy.  If I’m going to do this I’ll

need unlimited access to earth.

 

Lucifer

Of course you shall have it.

 

Rachel turns to the wall where Eve is sitting against the sarcophagus mourning her mother’s loss. 

 

Rachel

My precious Mommy indeed.

 

 

Close Up on Rachel

Fade Out

End of Teaser

 

Moving On-Act 1

Int-Palace In Heaven

Eli and Michael watch Eve suffer on a reflecting pool in the floor before them.

 

Eli

I feel for her.

 

Michael

Time heals all wounds Eli.

 

Eli

I know. Speaking of time…

Mine has come.

 

Michael

If we are to save the location

of Heaven’s Gate, we must stop

Lucifer from inducing the Awakening.

Are you ready?

 

Eli

I am.  I just wish Xena was there

to help us.  I fear that without

one as powerful as she, we may

lose.

 

Michael

You won’t lose. You will what is

necessary. I have faith in you.

 

Eli

And if I don’t succeed in stopping

Rachel from inducing the Awkening?

 

 Michael

Then Eve will regain all her memories

of her past as Callisto.  She will have

until sunset tomorrow before her new

body dies out. After that Callisto will

once again walk the earth.  If Rachel

does succeed your job will be to keep

Eve out of Lucifer’s grasp until the sun

sets. Then Lucifer will lose his power

to send demons to earth after her

soul.

 

                         Eli

But Eve…

 

Michael

Eve will be gone, replaced forever

by Callisto.  Remember:  Once the

Awakening begins, there is no

stopping it.  All you’ll be able

to do is keep Eve’s soul out of hell

until her transformation is complete.

Make sure you give this to Eve.

She’ll need it to defend herself

with against Lucifer’s demons.

 

Eli steps back, taking Michael’s sword with him.  They share one last look before Eli fades away.

 

Michael

Good-luck my friend.

 

                                                                                      Cut to:

Ext-Village of Eion

 

Gabrielle stands in the center of a small village called Eion.  It’s a fishing town, its main trade being seafood and sales of fishing equipment.  Today Gabrielle is helping to defend the village from an attack from a warlord named Teodore. The villagers are all armed and the town is heavily booby-trapped.

 

Gabrielle

I know you’re all frightened.

I know you don’t want to

lose everything you’ve spent

your entire lives building.

That’s why I’m here.  To do

my best to see that doesn’t happen.

 

The villager’s cheer her but she quickly calms them down.

 

Gabrielle

Wait!  It’s important you remember one

thing: These are trained warriors. Some

of you will die today. Be prepared

for losses.  Also know that I am ready

to give my all to save you. 

 

Villager

And we are prepared to give

our all for you Gabrielle.

 

Suddenly there is a loud banging noise as Teodore’s men begin to ram the city gates.

 

Villager

In memory of Xena!  Xena! Xena!

 

The people pick up the chant, and this touches Gabrielle to her soul. Her hand falls to touch the Chakram which she has now learned to use, and closes her eyes.

 

Gabrielle

For Xena.

 

The city doors burst open and thugs come riding in on horseback. Gabrielle unhooks the Chakram, separates the two halves and throws them in opposite directions.  The halves cut ropes on either side of the main street, releasing two huge logs that swing directly at the foot soldiers storming behind the horsemen.  The battle is on.

 

                                                                                                Cut to:

Ext-Temple to Dahak-That morning

A portal from hell cracks open in the ground before an abandoned temple to Dahak and Rachel comes flying out. She is in full demon form until she settles to the ground.  When her hoofed feet touch the ground she transforms until she looks completely human,  though she’s not aware of that yet.  She holds her head back and sticks out her tongue to catch the cool, refreshing rain.  She relishes in the feel of earth’s nature around her.

 

Rachel

Now this is what I call paradise.

 

She bounds playfully up the steps and proceeds to walk right through the doors. 

 

Int-Temple Interior

The once glorious temple is now full of dead leaves, spider webs and dust.  The formerly shiny shields and swords adorning the walls now barely hang on, and as Rachel saunters further into the room a shield falls the floor with a loud clang.  She laughs in delight, clapping her hands together.

 

Rachel

Will you look at this?  An

honest to goodness temple to

some puny, powerless god. 

 

She rushes up to the altar where she finds a mirror.  For the first time she sees her beautiful face and she holds a hand up to feel her smooth skin.  She doesn’t notice Hope behind her.  Hope is dressed as the Season Three Gabrielle, and she holds a staff tipped with a wicked blade, an evil grin covers her face.

 

Rachel

I’m so beautiful!

 

Hope

At least you’ll go out with a high

self-esteem.

 

Instead of turning, Rachel tilts her head to the side to see who is behind her.  She is thrilled it is Hope, for the daughter of Dahak is exactly whom she is after.

 

Rachel

You must be Hope.

 

Rachel runs a finger through the grime on the altar.

 

Rachel

This place could use a good

scrubbing you know?

 

Hope

You’re right.  I think I’ll start

by washing down the altar. 

With your blood.

 

Hope swings her bladed staff at Rachel but it merely passes through her, causing no harm.  Hope blinks up at her in shock.

 

Hope

Who are you?

(Rachel turns around)

Callisto!

 

Rachel

Wrong.  I’m much more dangerous

than Callisto ever was my dear.

 

Hope attacks again but to no avail.  The blade just passes through Rachel without causing harm. She quickly tires of the game and flicks at Hope as if flipping away a bug, sending her would-be killer flying across the room.  Hope smacks into the rear wall hard enough for pieces of if to rain down on her.  Next Rachel holds up a finger in a “come here” motion and Hope tumbles and rolls toward her.  When she has reached Rachel’s feet, the demon grabs her by the throat and hoists her up, preparing to do more damage.

 

Hope

Stop it!

 

Rachel

Ooh.  Is that fear I hear in

your hoarse voice my dear?

Oh my, that rhymes.  Did you

notice that?

 

Hope

Who are you?  What do you want?

 

Rachel

My name is Rachel, and I want

my Mommy back.

 

                                                                                                Cut to:

Ext-Amphipolis

A man rides into the village, calling for Eve. 

 

Man

Eve! Eve!

 

Int-Mausoleum

 

Eve hears the man yelling for her and she rushes outside to greet him.

 

Eve

I’m Eve. What’s the matter?

 

Man

It’s Eion!  Teodore is attacking the

village and Gabrielle is trying to defend

them.  She’s alone you know, since

Xena died.

 

Eve

                           I know.  Thanks for the message.

 

Eve turns to mount up, but a green mist begins swirling before her and Rachel solidifies within.

 

Rachel

                                                                 Hello Mommy. It’s so good to

                                                see you again.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Time Elapse:

 

Eve

Who are you?  What do you want?

 

Rachel

I’ve been sent by Lucifer.  I’m here

to pierce the veil that is the lie of

re-incarnation. 

 

Eve

In the name of Eli and all the powers

of Heaven I command this evil presence

be cast down.

 

Rachel

(Unaffected)

You must be kidding me.  You’d

try to cast down your own daughter?

 

Eve

What are you talking about?  I

have no children.  Besides, you’re

older than me.  You couldn’t be

any child of mine.

 

Rachel

Now that’s where you’re wrong.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Cut to:

Ext-Village of Eion

Gabrielle and the villagers continue to do battle against Teodore and his men.  Her Chakram flies through the line of charging soldiers in two pieces, cutting them down.  After a few men fall it rejoins and flies back to her.  Once she has it she separates it and uses the halves to cut down the enemies attacking her left and right.  Gabrielle gives her own, distinctive battle cry and executes an impossibly high flip to the roof of a building where she sees two enemies converging on one woman.  When she lands she draws her the Katana and begins sword fighting with the men.

 

Once she has dispatched the men she takes inventory of her people versus Teodore’s men, and finds her side is winning.  The villagers set off booby-trap after booby-trap, killing the men in groups.  Finally Teodore himself makes an appearance by riding in on horseback. He is cutting down villager after villager as he rides in, so Gabrielle flips down and lands on the horse behind him.  She wraps her arms around his waist and flips out of the saddle with him, and he lands on the ground before her.  About six of his men rush her, swords drawn, but she quickly puts the pinch on Teodore.  When they see her do this his men hesitate.

 

Gabrielle

I’ve just cut off the flow of blood

to his brain.  He’ll be dead in less

than thirty seconds if I don’t undo

it.  Tell your men to surrender

and I’ll spare you.  If you don’t, I’ll let

you die then kill them all.

 

Teodore is stubborn and he waits trying to call her bluff, but Gabrielle shows no sign of being anxious to take off the pinch.  After she turns to walk away, he relents. 

 

Teodore

Throw down your weapons.  Do it!

 

His men obey and the villagers begin to cheer. Gabrielle removes the pinch.

 

Gabrielle

Chain Teodore’s men and put

them in lock up until they

can be bound for trial.

 

Villager

(who started the chant)

Don’t you mean execute them for

attacking us? 

 

Gabrielle

(dead serious)

I mean bound them and put them

in lock up.  There will be no more

blood shed here today.  Have I made

myself clear?

 

The people complain, clearly not liking Gabrielle’s decision, but they do as she asks and begin to chain the men. 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Cut to:

Int-Villager’s house

Gabrielle, bloody and dirty from her battle, enters the house of one of the villagers to freshen up.  She’s tired and soul-sick for Xena, and we can see this in her eyes. Her weariness goes a lot deeper than the physical. 

 

Gabrielle

Xena…

 

Hope

Oh.  How sad.  You miss your

precious Warrior Princess.

 

Gabrielle’s blood runs cold at the sound of the familiar, hard voice of her daughter Hope.  She slowly turns to confront her.

 

Gabrielle

Hope.

 

Cut to:

Amphipolis-Eve and Rachel

 

Eve faces off with Rachel, though Eve is unarmed.  The man who’d ridden into town calling for her unsheathes his blade and tosses it to Eve.

 

Rachel

So Mommy wants to play with

her long lost baby.  I’m touched.

Really I am.

 

Rachel draws a sword from thin air and attacks Eve. The fight quickly turns to Eve’s favor so Rachel spits a long string of disgusting slime at Eve’s blade and it eats through the metal like acid. Rachel quickly breaks Eve’s blade with hers. 

 

Rachel

You know Mommy, I don’t

like that outfit you’re

wearing.  It’s so…I don’t know.

Prissy. How about this?

 

Rachel waves her hand over Eve and her outfit transforms into the outfit Callisto wore when she made her appearance on Xena the first time. Eve looks down at her body, clueless as to what Rachel is talking about.

 

Rachel

Now doesn’t that just feel right?

 

Eve

What is this?  What are you doing?

 

Rachel

This is the Awakening.

 

Rachel’s hand snakes out lightning fast and grabs on to Eve’s face. When she gets hold, Eve begins to see images from her past as Callisto.

 

Image #1-A young 14 year old girl stands in the middle of a burning village as Xena and her men kill the men trying to fight them off.

 

Image #2-Callisto’s father charges Xena and the Warrior Princess cuts him down.  Callisto screams for her father and collapses at his feet.

 

Image #3-“Callisto” Xena and Callisto come face to face for the first time.

 

Eve pulls free from Rachel’s grasp, draws the replica of Callisto’s sword and tries to take Rachel’s head off.  Rachel ducks, Eve thrusts and runs Rachel through, but the sword becomes stuck in Rachel’s body.

 

Rachel

Why don’t you stop fighting?

You can’t defeat me with mortal

weapons.  Come home with me

now. We can get to know each

other again. Wouldn’t you like

                           that mother?

 

Eve

I am not your mother!

 

These words seem to genuinely hurt Rachel but Eve doesn’t care.  She runs to her horse and mounts up, riding out of town.  Rachel allows her to go.

 

Rachel

That’s right Mommy. Run.  You

can’t elude me forever.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Cut to:

Int-Eion-Gabrielle and Hope