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
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.
Good morning, students.
(beat; no response) I said, Good morning, students!
(sing-song)
Good morning, Fiducius.
(ahem)
Until further notice, I will be acting headmaster here at the academy.
THE CADETS groan. The guys whisper as Jason join them:
Where's Cheiron?
He was called home to his Kindrah. A courier came at dawn. They just left.
Boy, that's kinda weird.
Yeah... What's a 'Kindrah'?
That's Centaur for 'clan'. Don't you ever listen in language class?
'Class dismissed' usually gets my attention.
They clam up as Fiducius goes by in martinet mode.
And, while I am in charge, I'll be making a few changes around here --
Fiducius backs up and glares right at Iolaus.
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:
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.
Y'know, Herc, I think we oughta go after Cheiron! What if he needs our help?
Cheiron can handle himself.
True, but, now, hear me out. Cheiron would never leave the Academy unless there was a major crisis. It's our duty to go!
(not buying it)
Uh-huh.
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:
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.
Wait, hang on. I've got you!
(shouts to cadets) Okay, everyone, exercises!? Let's move!
Hercules nods to Iolaus. They whisper in unison:
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.
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.
Aw, we'll never catch up with Cheiron.
(panting)
Sure... we will.
Hercules, get real. He's too fast. He has twice as many feet.
Hey, you've got two feet, I got two feet. Add us together, and we're just like a Centaur!
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.
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:
EXT. WOODS - RESUME - DAY
THE SHARD BALL WHIZZES at Iolaus... holding the log hunk as a shield. The shard ball THUDS harmlessly into the bark. Iolaus looks over Hercules' shoulder at the lethal orb.
(gulp)
Nice catch.
FIVE PAIRS OF GLOVED HANDS REACH IN and grab them by the arms. The guys struggle, then do a double-take and freeze.
Leggo! Hands off, you dirty...!
ZOOM OUT TO REVEAL their captors are FIVE MASKED AMAZONS. Two hold HAND-HELD SLINGS, which they are putting away.
Amazons?
(sotto, to Hercules) Y'know, this is getting to be a habit.
MASKED AMAZON #1 steps around to grab Iolaus by the face.
Quiet, insolent cadet!
(through pursed lips)
The lips! Easy with the lips.
Iolaus whimpers as she releases his face. Hercules pulls free of his captors and points at Masked Amazon #1.
Wait! I know that voice. Lilith?
Masked Amazon #1 doffs her mask. It's LILITH the ex-cadet!
You have a good ear.
(rubs face, mutters)
And I have a sore mouth.
So I see you're still an Amazon.
And captain of this scouting party!
Get outta town! The last time we saw you, you were just a junior cadet.
Lilith, hiding her shaky confidence under a bellicose manner, goes nose-to-nose with Iolaus. He backpedals.
Well things have changed, haven't they?
He bumps into the other amazona, who pin his arms.
Tie him to an ant hill! / Give him a thrashing! / Shave off his hair!
Ladies, Ladiees, can't we all just get along?
Hold on, Lilith. Iolaus meant no offense. Right, Iolaus?
Right. Definitely. No offense!
At the academy, they teach us that leaders don't need to be cruel to be in charge. the best ones can also be merciful. I'm sure you remember that, Lilith.
They guys wait anxiously. Lilith mulls; then, stymied:
We'll take you to Princess Cyane. She'll decide what to do with you.
Iolaus and Herc share a worried look.
WIPE TO:
EXT. AMAZON CAMP - ESTABLISHING - LATE DAY
IN A CLEARING we see TENTS, a FIRE PIT, and more AMAZONS: practicing archery; sharpening spears; fencing; etc.
INT. CYANE'S TENT - AMAZON CAMP - LATE DAY
THE AMAZONS toss Hercules and Iolaus to the floor of the tent, an Amazon CEO's office. They look up to SEE CYANE standing, imperious, her back to them.
The prisoners, my queen.
(hard, officious)
Thank you, scout leader.
Hercules and Iolaus look nervously to each other, then back up to Cyane.
Cyane turns to look down at them, frowns -- and then smiles.
Well! What a pleasure to see you both.
Hercules and Iolaus double-take and exchange shrugs. Cyane helps them to their feet. She holds Hercules' hand just a beat longer then necessary.
Especially you, Hercules.
Lilith and her squad stand set to kill. They lower their weapons, disappointed, as Cyane walks by with the guys.
Uh... same here!
Cyane shows Hercules to a DIVAN. He sits, a bit tentative.
It pleases me to have the son of almighty Zeus witness the founding of our new homeland.
(calls off) Where is Simula?
The other Amazons part to REVEAL SIMULA. Tall, haughty, a drama-queen/fortune-teller-type. She bows slightly.
Yes, highness?
Perhaps you remember meeting Simula. She is our oracle. It was she who divined the will of the gods, and led us here, to our new home.
Hercules extends his hand.
A pleasure to see you again.
Maybe for you.
Simula scornfully eyes him, then exits out a side portal. Hercules looks at his palm, then wipes it on his shirt.
Well, guess we better be on our way.
But we're preparing a great banquet for tonight to celebrate our good fortune. You must stay!
Thanks. But we have a friend who may be in trouble, so --
IOLAUS glances out through a side flap. He sees THREE FETCHING AMAZON DANCERS rehearsing and flouncing. Iolaus grabs Hercules, whispering (out of Cyane's earshot):
Herc, we're talking Amazons here! Besides, what's the rush? It's nearly sundown. We'll never find Cheiron in the dark. Let's stick around. Huh? Please?!
Hercules glances at Cyane. She smiles beguilingly.
(sighs)
Okay.
Thank you!!
INT. ARES' THRONE ROOM - MT. OLYMPUS
STRIFE slouches on Ares' throne, head bobbing, cocky.
Awright. Here's your new assignments.
A WIDER ANGLE REVEALS that he's talking to an empty room.
Zeus? Kitchen duty -- apron's in the corner. Hera, the garden -- and cheer up for once, give it a try. Now as for you, Uncle Ares --
DISCORD MATERIALIZES beside him in a BIG FLASH OF LIGHT AND SMOKE. Strife spazzes out of the throne like Jerry Lewis.
Discord!? Don't -- do that!!
You know, Strife, you're lucky it was me, and not your 'Uncle Ares.'
Straightening his hair, Strife turns his back on Discord, sneering as he silently mouths along as she speaks.
My brother hates it when lesser gods use his throne. Kind of a clean freak thing. Got the message?
Regaining his composure, Strife turns and coolly replies:
Got it. And speaking of messages, did your Amazon friends get theirs?
They're feeling right at home. My plan is working perfectly.
Your plan? Ha! You just think you're so smart because you're a millennium older! Well, this was my plan! Mine-mine-mine-mine!
All right, fine! It's your plan! Happy? The important thing is, we are about to stir up some serious misery.
Yes! Oh, yes! The suffering! The pain! Ares will be so pleased with us!
EXT. AMAZON CAMP - THAT NIGHT
THE ROARING CAMPFIRE'S FLAMES offer a dandy analogy to the surrounding action. Sultry AMAZON DANCERS whoop and shimmy to spirited MUSIC in a choreographed frenzy: it's Busby Berkeley meets Elizabeth Berkley, and yet somehow, G-rated.
Iolaus sits surorunded by THREE AMAZONS, who ravenously gnaw on hefty flame-broiled shanks of some wild game. He tries to get chummy. They ignore him.
So, what is this, roast elk? Mutton?
(eyes food askance) Hope it's not anyone I know.
Hercules sits a few feet away on a pile of blankets, smiling as he watches the dance. Cyane sits down beside him, rather close. He slowly edges to one side.
Settle down, Hercules, I don't bite.
Huh? Oh, no, I was just making room. Are you, uh, comfortable?
You don't seem to be.
I -- I guess I don't know how to behave with you. I mean, the last time --
Was last time. Let's put it behind us.
(looking at him) From where I sit the future looks good.
Hercules nods, shooting for nonchalance. Cyane gazes off.
We've finally found a place to call our own. We can hunt, we can build homes. Finally be at peace.
I'm glad for you, Cyane. I really am.
Yes. there's just one thing missing.
She inches closer. He tries to change the subject.
Boy, y'know, those dancers must practice a lot, 'cuz they are really --
Hercules...
(busted; wincing)
Yeah?
You could stay a while, you know. Here, with us. With me.
They are really close now, face to face.
I thought Amazons only gave men orders -- not choices.
You're no ordinary man.
Before they can kiss, Simula SCREAMS O.S.! They leap up.
Iolaus' THREE AMAZONS jump up, spilling a sauce bowl in Iolaus' lap. They draw their knives, ready to fight.
Hey! ...Aww, yuck.
The MUSIC grinds to a halt. The Dancers stop as Simula staggers into view, carrying a dazed AMAZON SENTRY #1.
Help! Help us!
Hercules, Cyane, Iolaus, and the three Amazons crowd around. Sentry #1 GROANS, holding her head, Cyane calls off:
Bring a poultice for her wounds!
The Amazons react as Simula rambles, breathless:
Thank the Fates I was nearby. I managed to save Melina -- but for the other two, I was too late!
What do you mean? Where are the other sentries?
Gone! The beasts attacked under cover of darkness and dragged them away! Those vicious, cowardly --
Who did this thing?!
Centaurs!
As Hercules and Iolaus react incredulously:
FADE OUT.
Act Two
FADE IN:
