ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

EXT. OUTSIDE OF MINES - DAY

Standing off to one side and holding the birdcage and his tools, Vanus watches with interest.  Xena and Gabrielle examine the dirt-packed ground just outside the mines' entrance, looking for clues.

GABRIELLE

Find anything?

XENA

Not yet.

The dirt is tightly packed and hard to read.  Looking very closely, Xena can just see scuff marks indicating human boot prints.  All appear to be heading in the direction of the mine entrance.  Despite meticulous examination, she can find none going the other way.

XENA

(cont’d, softly)

Not good.

GABRIELLE

What is it?

Xena gestures to the marks she's found and after a long moment, Gabrielle nods gravely.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

They went in, but nobody

came out, right?

XENA

Looks that way, yes.

Turning to Vanus, she takes the birdcage from his hand and walks toward the entrance.

GABRIELLE

Xena....

XENA

Relax.  I'm not gonna go

that far.  Be right back.

CUT TO:

INT. CAVE - DAY

Entering the cave with the cage and a torch in her hands, Xena notices first off a heavy, musky scent, indicating that an animal had used the mines for a den.  She checks the ground for spoor, but can find none.  What she does find are dozens of gems scattered all over the ground.  Most are crushed or badly chipped.  Seeing this, Xena frowns.  Gems are, in her experience, a very hard mineral, not usually capable of being crushed by a careless step or drop.  Squatting down, she picks up one of the more whole ones and examines it by the light of the flickering torch.  A frown creases her brow. After a moment, she carefully replaces the stone, then rises. 

Taking the bird cage, she walks several more long steps until the light of her torch is the only light seen, then sets it down in the middle of the path.  The bird twitters up at her as it hops about on its perch.

XENA

(cont’d)

That's right. You keep singing, and

everything's gonna be just fine.

With a final look around, she turns and strides back to the entrance, welcoming the sun as it shines down upon her.

CUT TO:

EXT. MINES - DAY

Xena opens the door to the cage and the bird flies quickly away, chirping happily. 

GABRIELLE

Guess we're set then, huh?

XENA

Yup.

Visibly gathering his nerve, Vanus hefts his tools and torch and takes a step forward.

VANUS

I'm ready.

XENA

It's better if you stay here....

VANUS

What?  What do you mean stay

here?!  It was my idea to come here

in the first place!  I'm not going to....

GABRIELLE

(interrupting)

Vanus, listen.  What Xena means it that

we need someone standing guard at

the entrance.  We think that's why

none of you know what happened to

the miners, because there was no one

on guard who could come back and tell

the tale.  It's a very important job.

VANUS

(huffily)

Very important. Hah! 

My mother could do this

job standing on her head.

XENA

(silkenly)

Your mother isn't

here now, is she?

VANUS

But....

VOICE

(off camera)

Finally!

After much huffing and puffing the old man from the inn appears, red-faced from exertion.

OLD MAN

Figured ya'd need someone ta pull

guard duty out here.  I ain't young

enough ta go gallavantin’ in them

mines, but I reckon I can stand

out here in the sun easy enough.

Xena and Gabrielle cast the man equally dubious looks, then look at one another.  After a moment, Xena shrugs, and the old man grins, toasting them with whatever he's got stashed in his waterskin.

OLD MAN

(cont’d)

Good luck to ya, then....  And don't

worry.  If I hear a single peep outta

place, I'll be outta here so fast

you'd think my feet was on fire.

Xena stares at the now cackling codger, then eyes her two companions.

XENA

Let's go.

CUT TO:

INT. MINE - DAY

The mine shaft is long, narrow and very, very dark.  The combined light of three torches casts only a feeble, flickering light that does little to dispel the gloominess within.  As they walk deeper into the mine, the musky stench becomes almost overpowering.  Vanus pulls up the neck of his shirt to cover his nose and mouth.  Gabrielle waves a hand in front of her face, her eyes watering.  Xena seems unaffected.

GABRIELLE

Xena?

XENA

Mm?

GABRIELLE

Are you sure that whatever's making

this smell isn't in here with us?

XENA

I didn't say that.

GABRIELLE

Oh.

They continue walking.

Suddenly, Vanus steps forward, holding his torch high so that it casts a wider circle of light.  The floor seems to come alive with a sparkling myriad of pure color.

VANUS

(whispering)

By the gods.... There must

be thousands in here!

We've been saved!!

He begins to run, only to be held up by Xena's hand clamping down hard on his arm.

XENA

Don't touch them.

VANUS

(shocked)

Don't... what?  Why not?? 

 Don't you know what this means?

Gabrielle pats him fondly on the shoulder.

GABRIELLE

A little piece of advice, my friend.

When Xena says don't do

something.. don't do it.

VANUS

But....

GABRIELLE

Come on. 

We've got work to do.

VANUS

But....

He finds himself yanked almost off his feet, and his words cut off, unuttered.

CUT TO:

INT. MINES - DAY

It is an hour later, and the party has stopped briefly to wrap and light new torches.  Gems litter the floor in greater numbers than before.  Vanus stands to one side, staring at them and sucking from a waterskin.  Gabrielle stands near the opposite wall, staring closely at it.

GABRIELLE

Xena?

XENA

Yes?

GABRIELLE

Come here a second,

would you please?

A second later, Xena materializes over her shoulder.

XENA

Yeessss?

Gabrielle looks over her shoulder and grins.  Then she turns back and cocks her head at what she's found on the wall.

GABRIELLE

What is this?

Xena looks on.  There is a large brownish-black streak on the wall.  It shines as if wet, but when she touches it, it is very smooth, and very dry.  There are several more such marks further back, and on the opposite wall as well. Her eyebrow raises.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

You know something.

XENA

I might.  These look

like scorch marks.

GABRIELLE

Scorch marks?

But they look wet!

XENA

Fire melted the rock

beneath. See?

GABRIELLE

Wow. That must have

been some hot fire.

XENA

Mm.

CUT TO:

INT. MINES - DAY

The trio continues their trek.  It has steadily become hotter and danker as they have traveled, and all are liberally covered with sweat. 

Gabrielle quickens her pace to come alongside Xena.  Xena looks down at her.

GABRIELLE

(whispering)

Where are the bodies?  I mean, if

those men were killed, wouldn't

we see evidence of it?  Bodies?

A cave in?  Something?

Xena lifts an eyebrow.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

You *do* know something.

XENA

I'm workin' on it.  Vanus!

A few steps behind her, Vanus straightens guiltily.

XENA

(cont’d)

Put it back.

VANUS

I....

XENA

Now.

As Xena stalks ahead, Gabrielle drops back to make sure Vanus replaces the gem he's picked up.

VANUS

Does she have....

GABRIELLE

Yes.

VANUS

Oh.

GABRIELLE

Come on.  I have a feeling,

whatever the answer to this

mystery is, it's close.

They both quickly catch up to Xena.  Gabrielle is attracted by something near the far wall and surges ahead.  At the same time, Vanus looks over at the opposite wall, and his jaw drops.  Halfway buried in the rock is the biggest gemstone he's ever seen.  Eyes dazzled, he crosses the shaft as if pulled and reaches for it.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

Xena!

XENA

Vanus!!  Don't!

She leaps toward him, but it's too late.  Unhearing, Vanus tugs hard, and the gem slips into his hand.

There's a loud rumble, and the ground begins to shake.

XENA

Gabrielle!!!

GABRIELLE

Xena!!!

Before either can move, the rumble becomes a roar and a section of the mine caves in directly in front of Xena and Vanus.  Vanus jumps back to avoid being crushed.  Xena surges forward, beating the rocks back with the sword suddenly in her hand.

XENA

Gabrielle!!!  GABRIELLE!!!

The last of the rocks falls, leaving a dusty silence behind.

XENA

(cont’d)

GABRIELLE!!!!

A beat of silence, then....

GABRIELLE

(very softly)

Xena?

XENA

Gabrielle!  Thank the gods!

Are you all right?  Can you

move?  Are you hurt?

GABRIELLE

I'm okay, I think.  I lost my torch

in the cave-in and I can't see

anything, but I'm all right.

XENA

Can you move?

Another long beat of silence.

GABRIELLE

My leg.  It's stuck.  I think

it's pinned between two

rocks or something.

XENA

Ok. It's ok.  You're gonna be all right,

Gabrielle.  Vanus and I will start

digging from this side.  Just sit tight.

We'll have you outta there in no time.

Xena looks over at Vanus, who is standing there with the gem in hand, staring at her in shock.

XENA

(cont’d)

MOVE!  NOW!!

Dropping the gem as if it's burning his fingers, Vanus grabs his pick-axe and moves toward the rock pile as Xena begins grabbing huge rocks and tossing them out of her way.

Suddenly, another rumble sounds.  This time, however, the noise is a bit different.  Xena's  eyes narrow and a snarl curls her lips as the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

VANUS

Wh... what was that?

XENA

Keep digging.

GABRIELLE

(nervously)

Xena? Xena, I... I think there's

something in here with me.

XENA

Just hold tight, Gabrielle.

Do you hear me?

Just hold tight.  I'm coming.

The rumbling becomes an unearthly roar, a sound that none of them has ever heard before.  Vanus drops his axe, but can get no more than a step away before he's grabbed by Xena.

XENA

(cont’d)

Run, and you die here.

VANUS

B-b-but....

XENA

Keep digging.  GABRIELLE!!

GABRIELLE

XENAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Her voice quickly fades away.

Like a woman possessed, Xena begins throwing rocks half her size and larger against the walls of the mine, shattering them.  Vanus gulps, then wades in to help.

CUT TO:

INT. MINES - DAY

Xena has dug out a hole big enough for her to squirm through.  Before she does so, she looks back at Vanus, dirt-covered and contrite.

VANUS

Xena, I--I'm sor....

XENA

Stay here.  And don't touch

any of those stones.  Not

even one.  Understand?

VANUS

I swear it.

XENA

Good.

Turning, she tosses a lit torch through the hole, then squirms through to follow it.  Coming to her feet, she looks at the ground near the caved in wall.  She sees something wet and squats down.  She runs her fingers against it and snarls.

XENA

(cont’d, quietly)

Blood.... 

I'm coming, Gabrielle.

Standing, she sets off down the shaft at a quick run.

She begins to notice that there is a faint, colorful light up ahead.  The shaft continues to get brighter as she approaches, and she tosses down her torch, having no more need for it.  The musky odor has become almost overpowering as well.

In the near distance, where the light is the brightest, the shaft appears to widen out, and she slows her steps, coming to a stop where the narrow walls end.  Cautiously, she peers inside to see a gem-covered room, and in the middle is the largest creature she's ever seen.  She remembers seeing representations of this creature many times in Chin, but never thought to see one in person, as it were.

Perched comfortably next to the creature is Gabrielle, whose face lights up when she sees Xena.

GABRIELLE

(happily)

Xena!

Xena draws her sword and steps forward.

CUT TO:

INT. CHAMBER - DAY

XENA

Gabrielle....

Xena jumps to the side, barely missing becoming a pile of soot by a streaming jet of fire directed at her.

GABRIELLE

Now, Penelope, that isn't

nice.  She's a friend.

XENA

Penelope?!?

GABRIELLE

It's better than Dagmar, isn't it?

Penelope, I'd like you to meet

my friend, Xena.  Xena, this

is Penelope.  She's a....

XENA

Dragon.  Yes, I know.

GABRIELLE

(shocked)

You knew this whole time?

Xena shrugs.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

I suppose that doesn't matter

right now.  What does matter

is that Penelope told me....

XENA

Wait a minute.  You can

talk... to a dragon?

Penelope rumbles.  Smoke comes from her nostrils as she nuzzles against Gabrielle's side.

GABRIELLE

Well, not talk exactly. I mean, really,

Xena.  She's a dragon, and I'm...

well... not.  Anyway, it's more like...

we understand one another.

XENA

You... understand...

one another.