Amazon High - Page 2
Amazon High
Friends In Low Places
page 2
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT BARRACKS
Xena is pinned to the ground by Morine. Morine gets up and walks away.
MORINE
You can't beat me, princess.
XENA
My name is Xena.
MORINE
Whatever.
Megaera pulls a dagger from her satchel.
MEGAERA
I could kill her now.
XENA
No. Let her go. She'd end up killing you.
LARISSA
Are you okay, Xena?
XENA
I'm fine. Just a little bit embarrassed.
LARISSA
You don't have to be embarrassed. She was better than you.
XENA
That's just it. Back home, nobody was better than me. I was the leader of the pack.
MEGAERA
So was I. Back in Corinth, I was the best. Even the king's son couldn't beat me.
LARISSA
You don't have to be the best, just good enough.
Xena and Megaera turn to look at Larissa incredulously.
LARISSA
What?
XENA
I'm going to look around.
CUT TO:
EXT COURTYARD
Xena walks into a peaceful courtyard. Several Amazon students are there. When Xena approaches, they turn their backs on her and walk away.
XENA
I must smell bad, or something.
Xena sits down on a bench. She writes a letter to her family.
XENA
(continuing; Writing)
Dear Mother, I'm sorry that I left so suddenly. I had to get out of Amphipolis. I'm not in any trouble this time, but I just needed to get out on my own and find myself. Lyceus, don't let Toris push you around. Be strong. I'm at the Amazon High Academy of War. I'll be here for a while. I love you all, Xena.
Xena rolls up her scroll. Morine approaches.
MORINE
Hey, Xena? Right? Homesick already?
XENA
Leave me alone.
MORINE
I'm sorry about earlier. Really. I want to make it up to you and your friends. Some of us are going on a hunting trip tonight, and we'd like you to come along.
XENA
Why?
MORINE
We got off on the wrong foot. We all want to welcome you into the academy. We'll wait outside the gates after dark. See you then.
XENA
Right.
CUT TO:
EXT AMAZON HIGH - GATES - NIGHT
Xena, Larissa, and Megaera huddle together in the chill night air.
LARISSA
Isn't this exciting? They want us to go hunting with them.
MEGAERA
I'll show them hunting. Back in Corinth, I could catch anything. What about you, Xena?
XENA
Hunting's just fine. I'm just worried that they have something else planned.
LARISSA
You're too suspicious. I think they really want to be our friends.
MORINE (O.S.)
There you are. Ready?
Morine and some of her friends approach with horses.
LARISSA
Oh, this is so exciting.
XENA
Morine, what exactly are we hunting for?
MORINE
Stymphalian Birds. We've seen a few of them near here. It's a tradition to take the new recruits out hunting. Traditions are strong here at Amazon High.
XENA
I'll bet.
They all mount up and ride off.
CUT TO:
EXT FOREST
The horses are picketed a short distance away. Morine explains how to catch the Stymphalian birds.
MORINE
We have these large sacks to catch the birds. You have to be careful, because they have very sharp beaks. You'll be able to see their blood-red eyes in the dark. Hold the sack open in front of you and walk forward. You have to whistle like this
(Whistles)
to attract the birds.
XENA
I'm not sure I understand. Could you demonstrate?
MORINE
All of us will be doing this together. We'll all walk about ten paces apart, okay?
Everyone picks up their sacks and walks into the trees. After a few steps, Xena sneaks over to Larissa and pulls her to the ground.
LARISSA
What are you doing? You'll scare away the birds.
XENA
Larissa, there aren't any birds. They're planning to leave us out here.
LARISSA
How do you know?
XENA
I did it to some kids back in Amphipolis. Except we called the birds "snipes".
LARISSA
I think you're too suspicious.
XENA
Wait here. I'm going to get Megaera.
Xena pulls Megaera down to the ground.
MEGAERA
What?
XENA
It's a snipe hunt.
MEGAERA
Really?
XENA
Trust me. They don't like us at all.
MEGAERA
What are we going to do?
XENA
Follow me.
The three girls sneak back to the picketed horses. They pull the pickets, mount the horses, and lead the other horses away.
CUT TO:
EXT FOREST - LATE
Morine and her Amazons emerge from the forest. They laugh at Xena and her friends' foolishness.
MORINE
I can't believe they fell for it. That has got to be the oldest trick in the scrolls.
One of the Amazons, Lyra, notices the horses missing.
LYRA
Hey, Morine?
MORINE
What, Lyra? You feel sorry for them?
LYRA
The horses are gone.
MORINE
What? That little...peasant!
Morine is quite angry. They all run back toward Amazon High.
CUT TO:
INT AMAZON HIGH - GYMNASIUM - MORNING
All of the Amazons are gathered for the morning instruction. all except for Morine and her bunch. Xena and her friends giggle to themselves.
MEGAERA
We got them.
XENA
Yeah.
Ariadne begins the morning instruction.
ARIADNE
This morning you will begin the art of battle.
Morine throws open the doors. She strides directly toward xena.
XENA
We missed you at breakfast.
MORINE
We had to walk all night to get back here.
XENA
You bring any Stymphalian Birds with you?
MORINE
How dare you.
XENA
Turnabout is fair play, and I always play fair.
Amazons begin exiting to their classes. As Xena turns to go, Morine sticks out her foot to trip Xena. Xena stumbles, but doesn't fall. She keeps her anger in check.
XENA
Excuse me.
MORINE
No. I don't think you know who you are dealing with. I am decended from the great Amazon Queens.
XENA
And I'm sure you're proud of that. Now let me through.
Morine shoves Xena.
MORINE
You don't belong here.
Xena shoves Morine back.
XENA
Try to stop me.
A fight ensues. Xena swings at Morine. Morine ducks and sweeps Xena's feet out from under her. Morine punches down, but Xena rolls out of the way. Xena jumps at morine, but Morine throws her over her shoulder.
Xena gets up and kicks Morine in the stomach. Xena grabs Morine's hair and tilts her head back. Xena cocks her fist back. Morine grabs Xena's throat. Xena grabs Morine's throat. their faces get red and their eyes start bulging. This is a stand off.
ARIADNE (O.S.)
Stop it! Stop it now!
Ariadne pulls them apart. Xena and Morine glare at each other.
ARIADNE
You are both warriors, not common rabble.
MORINE
One of us is, anyway.
ARIADNE
If you want to fight so badly, I'll arrange it. Until then, you will be kept in isolation. Purify your hearts, and prepare for battle.
Two Amazon warriors grab Xena and Morine and drag them off to the holding cells.
LARISSA
(To megaera)
Is she going to be okay?
MEGAERA
Xena's a fighter. No one can break her.
CUT TO:
INT HOLDING CELLS
These cells have wooden walls in between the cells. Xena and Morine sit at opposite ends of the room, in separate cells. in the cell between them, an handsome young man, Thestius, hums to himself.
XENA
(To thestius)
Will you please be quiet?
MORINE
What's the matter, Xena, can't stand that someone is happier than you?
THESTIUS
Correct me if I'm wrong, but you two don't like each other, right?
Silence is his answer.
THESTIUS
Okay, well, whenever me and my friends would get into a fight, we'd always talk things out. Well, after we were too tired to hit each other any more.
MORINE
Are you supposed to be helping us?
THESTIUS
Is it working?
XENA
No.
THESTIUS
Well, at least you agree on something.
XENA
Why are you in here?
THESTIUS
I'm Thestius. A prisoner of war.
MORINE
We're not at war with anyone right now.
THESTIUS
Cheiron, you know, the centaur that runs that other academy, he sent me to see what type of things you're learning over here.
XENA
So you're a spy.
THESTIUS
I prefer to think of it as competitive espionage.
MORINE
And you got captured sneaking around here.
THESTIUS
I can't think of a better place to be, surrounded by beautiful women, you know, like that.
Both Xena and Morine roll their eyes.
XENA
So you like it here?
THESTIUS
Oh, yeah. Well, sometimes the food is a little salty, but I can live with that.
The prison door opens, lighting the room considerably.
THESTIUS
Speak of the goddess of love, and she shall appear.
Larissa enters, followed by Megaera. Larissa stops short when she sees Thestius. There is a mutual attraction here. Megaera sees this, and goes around Larissa to talk with xena.
MEGAERA
Xena, how are you doing?
XENA
Well enough.
Megaera gestures to Thestius.
MEGAERA
Who's your friend?
XENA
He calls himself Thestius. Looks like Larissa's found a friend. What can I do for you, Megaera?
MEGAERA
I came to warn you. The Amazons are setting up a sparring match between you and Morine.
XENA
I can handle that.
MEGAERA
No you can't. It goes until one of you is unconscious or yields. Xena, I've heard of people dying in these kind of matches.
In her cell, Morine smiles wickedly as she slips a dagger halfway out from its hiding place in her clothing.
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT ONE