'Haunted'




 ACT ONE



 10 EXT. THE BEACH - DAY 10

 Xena is sitting on a hill overlooking the ocean. This is the
 same beach from 'Motherhood' and 'Coming Home'. Gabrielle is
 off in the distance.

 XENA
 Something isn't right. Gabrielle can't
 see or hear me. And no matter what I do,
 nothing seems to be able to ease her
 pain.

 SFX SHOT OF CALLISTO APPEARS BEHIND HER. 
 This is the CALLISTO from 'Ides of March'. She gives Xena an
 unsympathetic stare.

 CALLISTO
 (sarcastic)
 	Maybe you're the one with the problem.

 XENA
 (sarcastic as her eyes
 narrow)
 Callisto. 
 (beat)
 I should have known you'd show up.
 What... no singing animals and illusions
 this time?

 Xena stands, turns around and sees Callisto GRINNING.

 CALLISTO
 My dear, dear Xena... Is that what you
 think this is? Illusia?

 XENA
 What do you want, Callisto? Aren't you
 supposed to be in my daughter? 
 (turns away)
 You can't be real.

 CALLISTO
 (smiling)
 Maybe I am,
 (beat)
 maybe I'm not. That's for you to figure
 out.

 XENA
 (turns back around mad)
 Enough with the cryptic games, Callisto.
 I don't have time for this. I've got-

 CALLISTO
 -More important things to do?
 (beat)
 Callisto slowly circles around Xena. Xena tries to ignore
 her.

 CALLISTO
 Like trying to figure out why poor, sweet
 Gabrielle can't see or hear you? 

 Xena's eyes narrow and she flashes Callisto a disgusted look.

 XENA
 Look, I'd really like to stay here and
 play games with you...

 Callisto SKIPS around Xena.

 CALLISTO
 (excited)
 Oh goody! Games! What shall we play? Pin
 the tail on the ghost? Truth or Dare?
 Spin the bottle?
 (winks)
 	20 questions? 

 Xena begins to walk away. Callisto follows her.

 XENA
 Go away.

 CALLISTO
 20 questions it is! I'll ask the first
 one. 

 Callisto steps in front of Xena, walking backward to face
 Xena. Callisto stops.

 CALLISTO
 Where does it hurt?

 Xena stops and ponders the question.

 XENA
 (irritated)
 I have no idea what you're talking about.

 CALLISTO
 Ah, a difficult patient. Perhaps it's
 time to dig a bit deeper.

 The waves crash into the beach. Suddenly the waves come of
 the shoreline...

 CUT TO:



 11 INT. PSYCHIATRIST'S OFFICE - DAY 11

 Xena is lying on the couch, and Callisto is sitting next to
 her, glasses lowered on her nose. She's wearing a doctor's
 white coat and a stethoscope around her neck. In her hands is
 a note pad. Xena is in a straight jacket with the buckles
 undone. Xena looks around the scene trying to figure out
 what's going on.

 CALLISTO
 (concerned)
 Tell me about your childhood.

 XENA
 My what? I'm outta here.

 The straps TIGHTEN as Xena tries to get up. Xena is now
 restricted to the couch.

 CALLISTO
 There's no sense fighting, Xena. You're
 never going to find out how to solve your
 problem until you look inside yourself.

 XENA
 But Gabrielle is the one who can't see
 me.

 CALLISTO
 Like I said, maybe you're the one with
 the problem.

 XENA
 (solemn)
 I don't seem to be getting through to her
 anymore.

 CALLISTO
 Um hum. And why do you think this is
 happening?

 XENA
 (frustrated)
 I don't know! You're the DOCTOR. You tell
 me.

 CALLISTO
 Back to the original question. Where does
 it hurt?

 XENA
 I'm not sure... I've never felt anything
 like it before. It's not guilt, is it?

 CALLISTO
 You tell me.

 Xena rolls her eyes in obvious frustration.

 CALLISTO
 You've felt guilt before. Is this the
 same?

 XENA
 No.

 CALLISTO
 Look deeper, Xena. Where do you feel it?

 XENA
 (hesitates)
 My heart.

 CALLISTO
 A simple diagnosis then. Guilt rides on
 the soul. Pain hangs on the heart.

 XENA
 I've felt pain and grief before but this
 is different.

 CALLISTO
 Let's investigate further, shall we?



 12 INT. SFX TRANSITION TO A DARK ROOM 12

 The room is dark, cold and has three entries to three
 different hallways. Callisto is back in her 'Ides of March'
 outfit.

 XENA
 Where are we?

 CALLISTO
 Inside your mind. 

 Xena and Callisto look around in amazement.

 CALLISTO
 I'm impressed Xena, I always knew you
 were complex, but really-

 Xena puts her hand over Callisto's mouth.

 XENA
 What are all these hallways?

 CALLISTO
 These are the different paths you must
 take to end the pain.

 XENA
 How can I end the pain of a problem that
 I can't figure out? 

 CALLISTO
 (ignoring Xena)
 That pain you feel... it's different this
 time because you are carrying the pain of
 those you care about with you. 

 Xena looks at Callisto trying to understand. Callisto walks
 around the room as Xena watches her hoping for an answer.

 CALLISTO
 Add that on top of your bigger issue and
 you're carrying a lot of baggage, my
 dear.

 Callisto is now standing directly in front of Xena.

 XENA
 And what is my bigger issue?

 CALLISTO
 You tell me.

 Xena pushes Callisto out of the way as she heads toward the
 hallways. Callisto laughs. Xena BUMPS into an invisible
 barrier and can not enter any of the hallways.

 CALLISTO
 Troubling, isn't it? 
 (beat)
 You can't enter until you've come to
 terms with YOUR problem.

 XENA
 (mad)
 You're my problem.

 CALLISTO
 (happily)
 Now we're getting somewhere! Look at me
 Xena. 
 (Beat)
 What are you thinking? What about me is
 so terrible?

 XENA
 (confused)
 I don't know... I don't even know if
 you're real...

 CALLISTO
 Xena...
 (emphatically)
 What are you thinking?

 XENA
 (frustrated)
 Lots of things! Why am I here? Why are
 YOU here? Will Gabrielle ever be able to
 see me again? What thought could I
 possibly have that is so terrible...

 Xena gets a shocked look on her face. She's had a revelation.
 She turns and looks at Callisto who is grinning.
To listen to Terrible Thought.wav, copy and paste this link in a new browser window--- http://www.babes4bush.com/misc/haunted/TerribleThought.wav


MUSIC FADES IN- 'Terrible Thought' Xena starts to slowly walk around the room as she begins to sing. XENA (singing) A terrible thought has moved into my mind. Like an unwanted roommate drunk on wine. Callisto coyly lowers a goblet from her mouth and TOSSES it over her shoulder. XENA It feeds on my happiness won't pay the rent. I must take proper measures to evict it. (Beat) A terrible thought has moved into my mind. Rat ears, nose and whiskers, appear to GROW on Callisto's face. XENA (singing) A giant rat that's nibbling on my pride. It's tearing away my patience and my wit. I must take proper measures, set a trap for it. CALLISTO (singing) (sarcastic) What a terrible thought. Xena turns to Callisto. XENA (singing) I don't care what you've done. I don't care who you've won. I know in the end you'll have your fun. Callisto is grinning as she CHANGES back to her normal self. XENA (singing) But you can't have it here. And I won't let you steer. You know I don't want you in my mind. CALLISTO (singing unsympathetically) What a terrible thought. What a terrible, terrible thought. XENA (singing) I must stay calm you know, and I must be clear. It's gonna take a hundred thoughts to make this one disappear. CLOSE UP Callisto. CALLISTO (singing) A train like that can travel a soul for years. CLOSE UP Xena. XENA (singing) A terrible thought could have a terribly long career. CALLISTO (singing) What a terrible thought. XENA (singing) What minds have you shredded? I bet they regretted Having ever thought you up. Xena looks over to Callisto and sings directly to her. Xena is becoming increasingly more ANGRY. Callisto smiles at Xena's words. XENA Just look at you shine. Committing your crimes. I know I don't want you in my mind. Xena EXPLODES in a rage and grabs objects and begins THROWING them. XENA (singing) Cause you're breaking my stride! You poisonous vine... Xena throws and object at Callisto. Callisto DUCKS. XENA (singing angrily) You're strangling me inside. You're breaking my stride. Xena turns and begins throwing objects at the entries to the halls. XENA (singing) You poisonous vine. A barrier SHATTERS. XENA (singing) You're strangling me inside... A second barrier SHATTERS. Callisto looks unimpressed. XENA (yells) You're breaking my stride! A third barrier SHATTERS. Xena continues throwing her tantrum until the music decrescendos. Xena turns around to see Callisto brushing off her body. XENA (happily) I know what it is, Callisto! It all has to do with me and this thought. CALLISTO (singing) What a terrible thought... XENA No! It's not terrible! It's good because I can go forward now. CALLISTO (singing) What a terrible thought... Xena ignores Callisto and looks down each hallway. XENA (looking down each hallway) Which one should we go down first? CALLISTO (singing) What a terrible, terrible thought. What a terrible, terrible thought. What a terrible, terrible thought... What a terrible, terrible thought... MUSIC FADES UNDER. XENA (excited) Come on, Callisto! Which one do we go down first? Callisto walks up beside Xena. They look down a hallway. CALLISTO Well... (beat) Considering an unbalanced god of war could have dire consequences in the present day, we should probably go so Ares. XENA Ares? Why? CALLISTO To put it mildly, he has issues. And for the god of war, that's not good. Callisto motions to hallway number one. CALLISTO Shall me? Callisto and Xena walk into hallway number one and disappear. MUSIC FADES OUT. FADE OUT. END OF ACT 1