Battle Lines I Production Draft

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Battle Lines

Episode #7
Production #V0807

Written by: Len Uhley

Directed by: Charlie Haskell

Production Draft - April 07, 1998
Pages 1-2, 7-8, 16-18 - April 08, 1998
Pages 2, 4-5, 20 - April 24, 1998
Pages 3, 12, 18, 19 - May 02, 1998

Pacific Island Pictures, LTD, All Rights Reserved © 1998

Cast List

Hercules
Jason
Iolaus - (ee-OH-lus)
Cheiron - (KI-ron)
Lilith
Fiducius - (fi-DOO-shus)
Strife
Discord
Cyane - (si-AN)
Simula (an Amazon Seer)
Cavil (a Centaur Elder; Strife in disguise)
Amazon Sentry #1 (Melina)

CENTAUR PRONUNCIATION GUIDE:
Kindrah - (kin-DRAW)
Qu-ho - (KWOH, ending with a sharp, snort-like breath)
Solon - (sow-LAWN)

Set List

Interiors:
Cheiron's Academy - Workout Room
Cyane's Tent
Ares' Throne Room
Great Hall - Centaur Village

Exteriors:
Cheiron's Academy - Rampart
Woods
Amazon Camp
Amazon Camp - Perimeter
Meadow

Teaser

FADE IN:

INT. CHEIRON'S ACADEMY - WORKOUT ROOM - DAY

HERCULES, IOLAUS and other CADETS mill about, ready for their morning drills. FIDUCIUS enters, followed by JASON.

FIDUCIUS

Good morning, students.

(beat; no response)

I said, Good morning, students!

CADETS
(sing-song)

Good morning, Fiducius.

FIDUCIUS
(ahem)

Until further notice, I will be acting headmaster here at the academy.

THE CADETS groan. The guys whisper as Jason join them:

HERCULES

Where's Cheiron?

JASON

He was called home to his Kindrah. A courier came at dawn. They just left.

HERCULES

Boy, that's kinda weird.

IOLAUS

Yeah... What's a 'Kindrah'?

JASON

That's Centaur for 'clan'. Don't you ever listen in language class?

IOLAUS

'Class dismissed' usually gets my attention.

They clam up as Fiducius goes by in martinet mode.

FIDUCIUS

And, while I am in charge, I'll be making a few changes around here --

Fiducius backs up and glares right at Iolaus.

FIDUCIUS

Particularly in the area of discipline! Furthermore, I will be asking Cadet Jason to supervise your drill instruction.

Fiducius moves on. Jason smirks at Iolaus, who mutters:

IOLAUS

Oh, yeah. I am definitely doomed.

FIDUCIUS stops ar a RACK OF QUARTER-STAFFS. Trying to look macho, he yanks one out. The rest CLATTER to the floor. JASON hurries off. Iolaus whispers, feigning concern.

IOLAUS

Y'know, Herc, I think we oughta go after Cheiron! What if he needs our help?

HERCULES

Cheiron can handle himself.

IOLAUS

True, but, now, hear me out. Cheiron would never leave the Academy unless there was a major crisis. It's our duty to go!

HERCULES
(not buying it)

Uh-huh.

IOLAUS

Also, it's Friday! The school week is over. We won't miss a thing.

Hercules gives him a 'you're pitiful' look. Iolaus confides, eyes darting:

IOLAUS

Okay. Bottom line. Do you really want to spend every waking minute with Fiddledace and the Royal Pain telling you what to do?

Jason tries to help Fiducius stand, but his feet keep going out from under him as he trips over the strewn staffs.

JASON

Wait, hand on. I've got you!

(shouts to cadets)

Okay, everyone, exercises!? Let's move!

Hercules nods to Iolaus. They whisper in unison:

HERCULES/IOLAUS

This is us, leaving.

EXT. CHEIRON'S ACADEMY - RAMPART - CONTINUOUS - DAY

The guys step out. Over their shoulder, IN B.G., CHEIRON and a CENTAUR MESSENGER gallop away, headed north.

IOLAUS

There he goes!

WIPE TO:

EXT. WOODS - SOON - DAY

Hercules, winded, trots over and leans against a tree. Iolaus, gasping hard, staggers in and drops to his knees.

IOLAUS

Aw, we'll never catch up with Cheiron.

HERCULES
(panting)

Sure... we will.

IOLAUS

Hercules, get real. He's too fast. He has twice as many feet.

HERCULES

Hey, you've got two feet, I got two feet. Add us together, and we're just like a Centaur!

IOLAUS

Yeah. And I know which end you are.

Iolaus playfully tackles Hercules, both laughing -- until a VOLLEY OF ARROWS NAILS the tree where they'd been!

THE GUYS react and leap up, back to back in fighting poses. Then -- FURTIVE ATTACKERS SWISH out of the trees, spinning Hercules and Iolaus with THUDDING kicks as they swing by, only to disappear amond the leaves. Suddenly -- silence.

HERCULES

What next?

On cue, a BASEBALL-SIZED WOODEN BALL JAMMED WITH RAZOR-SHARP SHARDS whips past them...

IN A POV SHOT (e.g., Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves), another shard ball whips right at Iolaus! On his fearful scream:

FADE OUT.

Act One

FADE IN: