Altared States
It's not true! It can't be!
ZORA
Icus, he told me himself.
ICUS
Oh, but mother!
ZORA
There's no time to argue. Now, get your coat while
I pack some food. You're bound to get hungry.
ICUS
How long must I be gone?
ZORA
Until it's safe for you to return.
ICUS
Oh, but mother, I don't understand.
ZORA
Neither do I, love. Neither do I.
Icus!
Run!
Find a place to hide and stay there. I'll find you
when it's safe.
ICUS
Oh, but...
ZORA
Go!
How was that?
XENA
Very good, you're getting the hang of it.
GABRIELLE
Really?
XENA
Come on, Gabrielle, you've been wanting to do
this for ages.
Just reach under this rock. Give it your best shot.
GABRIELLE
Okay.
I did it! I did it!
Where is he?
Over here!
EXTRA
Head to the west!
Here.
Check behind those trees.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here! Come on.
ZEALOT #1
You're mine.
Let go!
Didn't your mother ever teach you, it's rude to stare?
Stay here. You'll be safer.
Come on Come on.
Excuse me.
Enough! I don't know who or what you are. But
this business is none of yours.
XENA
My name is Xena, and the way I see it, half a
dozen men going after one small, defenseless
boy kinda makes it my business. Call it
my maternal instinct.
ICUS
Don't let them take me, please.
XENA
No one's taking you anywhere. (to Maell) Hmmm?
MAELL
What will be, will be! This isn't over.
What was all that about?
ICUS
That want to take me to be sacrificed.
GABRIELLE
Sacrificed? You mean like on an altar,
with a knife?
XENA
Who would do such a thing?
ICUS
My father.
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
I know how it looks, but my father's a good man.
Once, when I was sick, he stayed by my bed,
night and day. He never left 'til I was feeling better.
He's always been like that.
XENA
Then why did he send that thug after you?
ICUS
Thug? Oh, you mean my brother, Maell.
XENA
Your brother?
GABRIELLE
Nice family.
ICUS
Maell and his men are very strong in their faith. He
helped my father teach our people new ways to
farm. Now we grow twice as much as we used to.
XENA
And your mother? You said she warned you.
How does she feel about all this?
ICUS
Oh, I don't know. She's mixed up about all this
too, I guess.
It's just my father's never hurt anyone, ever.
GABRIELLE
There's gotta be an explanation. Look, we'll find
it, right Xena? Xena? Xena!
XENA
I'm up here, I found it!
Found what?
XENA
This cave. My army came through here a couple
of years ago. I used it as shelter for my wounded
men. You'll be safe here. So make camp. I'll be
back as soon as I can.
ICUS
Where are you going?
XENA
To have a talk with your family. I wanna see for
myself what kind of a father would want to kill
his own son.
Come on.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you telling me you don't have Icus.
MAELL
Well, at the moment, no. But, don't worry, my
men and I will get him back, even if we have to
die doing it.
ANTEUS
No! There's been too much violence already.
That's not our way.
MAELL
Well, nor would I choose it, father. But this Xena's
left me no alternative. These are new times. They
demand new ways.
ANTEUS
To follow a path of peace is new. We teach by
example, not by force.
MAELL
But when the truth can help so many, surely,
we're honour-bound to spread it in the most
aggressive way we can.
XENA
One that includes killing children?
No.
I said no!
You better sit down. You don't look well.
My father's health, like everything else here, is
not your concern. Now, just give us Icus and be
on your way.
ANTEUS
You have Icus? How is he?
XENA
Confused. He doesn't understand how his
father could love him one day and wanna kill
him the next.
ANTEUS
I don't want to kill him. Surely, he knows that.
XENA
Then, why are you doing this?
ANTEUS
Because God has commanded it.
XENA
God? Which god? Ares? Or Zeus?
MAELL
There is only one true Supreme Deity. The
Almighty God of my father. The one whose voice
speaks only to him.
XENA
Uh-huh. So this all-powerful deity, he told you
to kill an innocent boy? And I thought Ares was
cold. Why does he want you to do it?
MAELL
Our Holy One is not accountable to anyone, let
alone a non-believer.
XENA
Then you'd better pray he has a change of heart.
Because, until he does, Icus stays with me.
She goes unharmed. I will pray for guidance,
but until I get it, there will be no more violence.
(to Xena) Of any kind.
She's gotta die.
ZEALOT #1
But how? You said yourself, Anteus forbids it!
MAELL
My father is a wise man, but also an aging man,
in failing health. No doubt, he doesn't see Xena
for what she truly is. A trial, sent to us, by the
Almighty, to test our resolve. Can you doubt it?
All you have to do is look at her to see she's
unnatural, an affront to God. A woman with the
strength of ten men? Out in the world alone, save
only her scrawny little companion? It's a
complete abomination! And to think, this freak of
nature has my brother, a boy so innocent and
pure, that the All-powerful One has called him to
his side at the tender age of twelve. How do
you think the Supreme Deity feels about that?
Leaving his chosen one in the hands of a woman
whose gods are as primitive as she is!
EXTRA
Xena must die!
EXTRAS Yeah! Yeah!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Then suddenly, the soldiers burst out of the
wooden horse, surprising everyone, and uh-
-and then the--the Trojans turned into growling
lions, with blood dripping from their lips. And
then, oh, the Greeks, they brought in an army of,
oh, fire-breathing, tin-headed Hydras. And
this is very interesting, isn't it? Right?!
ICUS
Oh, yeah. Right.
GABRIELLE
Huh! You haven't heard a word I said, have you,
hmm?
ICUS
Sorry, you tell a great story. It's--it's just I can't
stop thinking about my father, a--and wondering
why he'd wanna-
GABRIELLE
Oh, hey, look, there's no use in speculating.
We'll know more when Xena gets here. I just
hope she brings some food. I'm famished.
ICUS
Oh, I've got food.
GABRIELLE
You do?
ICUS
My mother packed it for me. I've got apples and
pears and cheese and some-
GABRIELLE
Is this nutbread? Ah, yum! I haven't had this
since I was home.
ICUS
Help yourself. I'm not hungry.
GABRIELLE
Oh, no, I couldn't. I...well, if you're sure. Hah-hah!
Yeah. You don't know what you're missing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hestia, Goddess of Hearth and Home. It is many
years since I've honoured you. But, please, hear
my prayer. Protect my son, Icus.
Don't worry, Icus is safe.
ZORA
You know my son? Where is he? Who
are you?
XENA
My name is Xena. Icus is staying with me and a
friend until we can sort this thing out. That's why
I wanted to talk to you.
ZORA
But how did you know I was here?
XENA
Where else would a woman who loves her son
enough to defy her husband go? A shrine to the
patron goddess of families.
ZORA
If Anteus knew I'd broken with his Gods and
gone back to the old ones, it would kill him.
XENA
Not a tough choice, seeing his God wants to
kill Icus. How can he believe in a God who
needs to murder children?
ZORA
Well, he never has before. And what's even
stranger, not two months ago, our Supreme One
told Anteus to break with tradition, and make
Icus our next leader, not our oldest son, Maell.
XENA
Does Maell know this?
ZORA
I don't know. Lately, Anteus has seemed so secretive
and strange. I'm afraid he confides more in
his own God than he does in me. That's why
you have to try and reach him, Xena, please.
To kill a child, it can't be right, no matter
what god you follow.
XENA
I'll talk to Anteus. It's probably better if we went
separately. It might not be good for your health
to be seen with me.
ZORA
Oh, wait, wait, I have a little more nutbread. Would
you take it to Icus? I packed some in his sack,
but, well you know how children are about nutbread.
And, Maell had this one specially made, so,
I thought...
XENA
Maell had this made?
ZORA
Uh-huh. It's one of those special treats he's been
bringing Anteus lately. Still I don't think he'd mind
Icus having some, do you?
ACT TWO
Gabrielle. Gabrielle, can you hear me? Wake up.
Uh-h-h-h-h-h.
Ah.
XENA
Here. You all right?
GABRIELLE
I'm great. I--I can't see, but, I'm good.
XENA
Try using both eyes.
Oh, ah, yeah, that's better, uh-huh.
XENA
Think you can stand?
GABRIELLE
You mean, I'm not?
XENA
Come on!
There you go.
GABRIELLE
By the gods!
XENA
What is it?
You are beautiful!
XENA
Uh-huh. And you are drugged.
With henbane, if I'm not mistaken, so the effects
should be temporary. But we've got to get you...
...walking. Come back here. Gabrielle, I need
you to concentrate.
GABRIELLE
Okay, uh, yep. But I think this is a big waste of
time, because I have been walking since I was one.
XENA
This is not about walking, Gabrielle. It's about
Icus. You do remember Icus, don't you?
GABRIELLE
Of course I remember Icus.
XENA
Good. Do you know where he is?
GABRIELLE
Where?
XENA
No, I'm asking you. Where's Icus?
GABRIELLE
I don't know.
Icus! Icus!
I lost Icus!
I lost him. I lost Icus! (crying) I lost Icus!
XENA
Gabrielle, calm down.
Look, I'm sure you didn't lose him. He probably
just saw you pass out and went for help. By the
way, how much nutbread did Icus eat?
GABRIELLE
None! He, oh, you know, I really wanted
to share, but it was just too good! And he said
he wasn't hungry. And, then, the next thing I knew,
it was just gone! Like Icus!
It's okay.
There's no sign of a struggle. My guess is he
went to get his mother. Aside from us, she's
his only ally.
What are we waiting for? Let's go! The rest of
you, follow me!
Hold it!
GABRIELLE
At ease! (to Xena) Yeah!
XENA
I've got a better idea. I'll go and get Icus,
while you and the...others try to, um-
GABRIELLE
Work on our song? Mmm, yeah. Just between
you and me, the altos are slightly flat.
XENA
Perfect. Gabrielle, don't let anyone leave the
cave. Understand? Stay here, and wait for me
to get back. Have I made myself clear?
GABRIELLE
Uh, no. You're a little fuzzy around the
edges, so you keep trying, you'll get there.
Now I want everyone this side of the cave. We're
gonna keep working 'til we get it right! And I've
got all day. So, let's start with the top! Are
you ready? You!
You're a tenor. Get away from the sopranos! Hey,
hey! You're standing like a stone. Relax.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hurry, mother. I think she's really sick. She started
talking all strange and then she fell asleep, and
I couldn't wake her!
ZORA All right, I'm coming. But I'll be no good to this
Gabrielle without my medicines, now, will I?
Here, go get me some bitterwort from the garden.
Oh, oh, Icus, I need some haleanthus, too. Icus?!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Icus, do you hear?!
No! No! No! No!
Mother! Don't hurt her! I'll go with you! Just, don't
hurt her, please!
SENIOR ZEALOT
Make sure she stays here.
Don't give me any trouble!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Close in behind.
Come on!
XENA
Yah! Yah! Yah!
Oh.
EXTRA
What'll we do now?
XENA
Hmm.
Why, you. I-
That looks mighty painful. You really oughtta
see a doctor about that.
Are you all right?
ZORA
Don't bother with me. The zealots took Icus.
You've got to stop them.
XENA
Where? They took him where?
ZORA
To the mountain; to Anteus.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please God. I beg you God.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
What was that? You and you, go!
Shhh!
We couldn't find anything.
SENIOR ZEALOT
It's some sort of trick. Keep moving! Hurry!
Where's the boy?
EXTRA
He's gone! Icus is gone!
Wow! Great percussion! Now, from the top!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
And I thought our gods were harsh.
Please, please, almighty God. You alone know
how I have struggled to follow you always. I have
given you my life! To use however you will.
And it is yours even now, to take or leave as
you choose. But, my son. Please, don't take Icus.
How dare you deny me anything? Either
sacrifice Icus before the next sun, or I will
turn my face upon you and your people forever.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prove your faith to me, Anteus. Prove it to me
above all things.
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
Father! Father! What's wrong with him?
XENA
The strain must've been too much for him.
Anteus. Anteus!
ICUS
Father, it's me!
What happened. Who-
XENA
Don't try to speak.
You're very ill. We'll get you home.
ANTEUS
You heard it, didn't you? The voice. You heard it.
XENA
Yes, but unlike you, I don't believe everything I
hear. This way.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
What did you say? I asked him. What did you
say? That's what I thought. Thank you! I gotta go.
You stay here!
EXTRA
Oh-h-h-h-h!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
We'll stop and rest a while. No sense in killing
ourselves. So to speak.
ANTEUS
You don't think much of us, do you?
XENA
I don't think much of your god or any god who'd
wanna kill a child. But then, I'm not sure he does.
It'll ease your breathing. Lean forward.
Anteus, I know your mind is hazy right now, but,
did you ever stop to wonder why he'd ask
you to do such a thing?
ANTEUS
Every waking moment of every day since it
happened. I keep wondering, is it me? Have I
done something wrong, and he's punishing me?
Or is this some kind of a--a test, to see how
far I'll go to prove my faith? (to Icus) Or, is he
angry with me because he knows how much I
love you? Or does his love demand the best,
the brightest? You see, it--it never stops.
XENA
You can stop it. You're still the leader here.
You don't have to do this.
ANTEUS
You're asking me to deny my god.
XENA
I am asking you to spare your son!
ANTEUS
And teach him what?! That faith is just for those
times when it's convenient to believe? That--that
when it gets hard, and--and--and it hurts to keep
faith, y--y--you let go, until it gets easy again?
What's the good in sparing his life if I rob him
of the very thing that makes it worth living?
XENA
You know, I'll stop you.
ANTEUS
I know you'll try. God help me, deep down inside,
part of me hopes you succeed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mother!
ZORA
Oh!
ICUS
Mother!
Icus, you're safe! Anteus! What is it? What's wrong?
XENA
Nothing that some rest and a change of diet
won't cure. He's being drugged. That's why he
seems so strange to you lately.
ZORA
Drugged? But I don't understand. Who'd want to..
Y--yes? Who's there?
GABRIELLE
You don't know me. I'm looking for a woman
named Xena, Warrior Princess!
Ah! No! Ow!
XENA
What are you doing here? I thought I told you to
wait for me at the cave.
GABRIELLE
I did, and then this rock told me I had to
come find you.
XENA
The rock spoke to you.
GABRIELLE
Oh, yeah, I mean, his voice was a little gravely,
but I understood.
Right.
XENA
You see, even she's hearing voices-
-and all because she ate some of the drugged
food meant for you.
Where are you going? What's the matter? What
is it, Icus? Come on, I can't help you if you won't
tell me what's wrong? What is it?
ICUS
You! It's God's command I should die but as
long as you're free, we can't obey him.
One move and she dies.
ANTEUS
Maell, what are you doing?
MAELL
Quiet, father. The time for peaceful ways has passed.
GABRIELLE
You know, he was just outside.
MAELL
Silence!
XENA
All right, you've made your point. Now, let her go,
and I'll come with you.
GABRIELLE
You know, she gets to go everywhere. You
could take me.
MAELL
I don't bargain with savages.
XENA
And what are you? Drugging your father. Trying
to kill your own brother.
MAELL
Enough! One more move and I'll
kill her, I swear!
No! Stop! There's no need to hurt them!
MAELL
Then I won't. As long as they cooperate.
XENA
What do you want us to do?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
That's a long way down.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't let go.
XENA
Just don't let go of my hand.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Come, father. God's waiting.
ACT FOUR
Go ahead, climb up my body. All right?
GABRIELLE
Yeah.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
All right. Okay, now what?
XENA
Now, for the fun part.
Xena, ah, how could you do this? Did I hurt you?
XENA
No, no. Lovin' every moment of it.
GABRIELLE
How did we get in here, anyway? And, why does
my head feel like it was kicked by a centaur?
XENA
Does it? Good. The henbane must be wearing off.
GABRIELLE
Henbane?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ah!
XENA
Long story.
Yeah, well, if we fall, tell it to me on the way down.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I couldn't let others die protecting me, father,
not when my death is part of God's plan. I--Isn't
that right? Father, let me help you.
ANTEUS
No, no, no, it's all, it's all right. Lead the way.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xena?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Icus, wait!
ICUS
Father, what is it? Are you ill again?
ANTEUS
No. I can't do this, Icus. I know what I said about
faith but, it's too hard. It's too much to ask! I'm
old! (to Icus) I can't.
Father, it's okay. Really, it is.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
No, our god is a benevolent master.
What is heaven like, father?
ANTEUS
I don't know, son, but it must be glorious.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
My stomach doesn't feel so good.
XENA
Don't even think about it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
We're almost there. Almost there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
What's next?
Come on.
I love you, father.
Anteus, hear me and obey.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am your one, true god.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The one who should come first in your heart.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yet, you love Icus more. You always have.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Therefore, you must obey this command.
XENA
Tell him to stop. Make him let Icus go.
MAELL
Kill him!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(to Gabrielle) Get that thing! Try to stop them!
MAELL
You're too late! It's already begun!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
You'll never stop the will of our god.
XENA
Killing Icus isn't the will of any god. It's your idea.
Drugging your father simply helped convince him
that your voice was real.
MAELL
You know, for a pagan non-believer, you're really
quite bright.
Pity.
Your schemes won't work forever.
MAELL
It doesn't need to. You see, with Icus gone, father
will have to make me leader. There'll be no one
left to stand in my way. No one.
May our god show you mercy, for I never will.
Take my hand.
MAELL
Let God's will be done.
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
Hold Anteus.
Let your son live. Your faith is enough.
Father! Oh, father!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bye, Xena.
ICUS
Thank you.
XENA
Take care!
Do you think you can talk any louder? I don't think
they heard you on Mount Olympus. Unless, of
course, you're trying to convert to the one
true god.
XENA
One god. Although, you've gotta admit, it's a pretty
interesting theory.
How's the head?
GABRIELLE
Hey!
Whoa.
Look, do me a favour, okay? If you ever see me
take a drug again, just kill me.
XENA
You've got a deal. Still, for someone high on
henbane, you do a pretty fair voice of god routine.
GABRIELLE
What's that supposed to mean?
XENA
Your voice of god impersonation. Not bad, although,
you could improve your timing. You almost cost
Anteus an arm.
GABRIELLE
Wait! Are you saying that you heard it, too? The
voice! And here, I--I thought it was the henbane.
XENA
Very funny. Although, it wouldn't have been if you
had taken much longer getting that loud-talking thing.
GABRIELLE
Well, that's just it, I never did get the loud-talking
thing. I mean, I tried. I even had it in my hand,
but I lost it.
XENA
That can't be. I mean, come on. If you didn't do
it, then who...
STARRING
Lucy Lawless as Xena
Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle
GUEST CAST
David Ackroyd as Anteus
David de Lautour as Icus
Karl Urban as Maell
Teresa Woodham as Zora
Sean Ashton-Peach as Zealot #1
Graham Smith as Senior Zealot
Jack Dacey as Brawny Zealot
Peter Ford as Zealot Guard
Written by: Chris Manheim
Directed by: Michael Levine
Disclaimer: No Unrelenting or Severely Punishing Deities were harmed during the production of this motion picture.
