Intrigue

An archangel called Lucifer is sent to Earth to force Xena to go to Hell as the new Queen and thus close the portal to Hell before evil takes control of the people, but the Warrior Princess decides to trick him to take her place.

TEASER

In Heaven, Michael (Charles Mesure) and Raphael (Tamati Rice) look down at the portal to Hell, discussing that Xena will never go to Hell voluntarily. Lucifer (Alex Mendoza) arrives and tells the other two that he plans to throw Xena into Hell himself in order to get a promotion.

At Cyrene's tavern, Gabrielle (Renee OConnor) and Eve (Adrienne Wilkinson) stand before the portal to Hell. Eve comments that the portal is waiting for something. Lucifer appears and informs her that it's waiting for Xena (Lucy Lawless). He offers Eve the chance to say good-bye to Xena. Gabrielle and Eve run off.

Aliyah (Kara Douglas) pets Argo the Second. Xena enters and grabs Aliyah by the back of her neck, pulling her back. Aliyah offers her services to Xena to help restore Cyrene's tavern. Gabrielle and Eve run over to Xena. Lucifer appears. Lucifer is very vain as he talks about becoming a household name once he sends Xena to Hell. Xena and Lucifer fight. Xena knocks Lucifer down and kneels beside him, with her sword ready to strike the killing blow. She asks Lucifer's name and he tells it to her. Xena says it has a nice ring, like a death knell. She raises her sword to kill him.

ACT ONE

Xena is ready to bring down her sword on Lucifer, but Eve stops her, saying that Xena can't kill a servant of god. Xena lowers her sword. Lucifer warns Xena that if she doesn't kill him, that he will try again to send her to Hell. Xena helps him up and offers to buy him a drink, saying that things are dull since Mephistopheles lost his throne. Xena leads Lucifer towards the tavern. Eve looks at Xena and then through her, to her heart, to see a black evil growing there.

Inside the tavern, Xena, Gabrielle and Eve are on a bench, while Xena is packing a picnic basket. Gabrielle warns Xena that Hell is seeping through the portal into Xena's heart. Eve observes that Hell is coming to claim Xena as its new queen. Xena says that it won't be the case if Xena finds someone to take her place and looks at Lucifer. Xena leads Lucifer away for a picnic.

In a clear patch in the woods, Xena and Lucifer are having a picnic. Xena works to tempt Lucifer to commit the seven deadly sins. The picnic is to get him to commit gluttony. She also tells him how glad she is that these events have brought him to her.

Eve stands before a group of villagers, Gabrielle at her side. Shes trying to convince them to join the Way of Love, but they suddenly start fighting. Eve can see into their hearts and the same darkness is growing in them that is growing in Xena. Aliyah arrives and says there's a man looking for Gabrielle. She and Eve go with Aliyah.

Xena and Lucifer are on the blanket. Xena asks Lucifer why Heaven doesn't allow its denizens the same pleasure mortals can enjoy, working to make Lucifer commit the sin of envy. Xena entices Lucifer to join her.

Eve, Gabrielle and Aliyah walk along. Villagers are gathered in a circle, cheering. Two men are fighting. Gabrielle moves to the loser, thinking it's Virgil (William Gregory Lee), but Virgil saunters over, the victor of the fight. Virgil moves to attack the man again, but Gabrielle stands in his way and holds up her hand. Eve sees the same darkness in Virgil. Eve informs Gabrielle that the darkness entering people's hearts is creating a Hell on Earth.

ACT TWO

In a bedchamber, Lucifer is has taken off his armour and wears only his cloths. Xena is changing behind some hanging sheets. Lucifer picks up a dagger and hides it under the pillow as Xena calls Lucifer a sinner. Xena enters the room in a red outfit. Xena offers Lucifer the chance to rule Hell and Earth with her as she begins to give him an Egyptian massage. Lucifer's hand reaches slowly for the dagger.

Virgil, Gabrielle and Eve enter the tavern. Gabrielle tries to reach through the darkness in Virgil. Eve tells Gabrielle that Virgils heart is lying to him, which, in turn, makes Virgil yell at her saying that his heart lied to him when it told him to forgive her for killing Joxer. Virgil then says he needs to see Xena in order to pledge himself to her as she's about to take the reigns of power.

Xena hums as she massages Lucifer. He reaches for the dagger, but Xena beats him to it and holds it at his throat, then throws it away, saying she doesn't want to kill him and waste potential. She offers him everything. He leaves.

Eve prays to Eli in a temple. Lucifer arrives and tells her her prayer is a long winded way to ask for help. Eve tells him that he needs Eli's assistance, but then wonders if he's too far gone for that. Music starts up and villagers, all in small, leather outfits enter the temple. They are carrying Xena on a large, pillowed litter. Xena is dressed in a small black top, black underwear and a long, black, leather coat, as well as a black, mesh mask. Eve is horrified. They all begin to party. Eve confronts Xena over desecrating the temple and Gabrielle knocks her out from behind. Eve groggily looks up at Gabrielle and sees into her heart. It's started to turn black from the evil. Eve loses consciousness.

The villagers dance and party.

The portal to Hell opens wider.

Gabrielle and Virgil are lying down on a bed. Gabrielle and Virgil start to kiss each other, and Gabrielle kisses his neck and chest as well. Lucifer is seated next to Xena, watching them. Again Xena works to talk Lucifer into joining her. She then moves away and starts to dance. Gabrielle joins her and then Virgil. Virgil and Gabrielle move and they dance seductively together. Xena takes off her leather coat, now only in the very small, almost lace-like under garments. She dances seductively and points at Lucifer. She holds up her hands, inviting him to join her. Lucifer drowns his drink and joins her. Everyone is now dancing seductively in the temple. Lucifer drops Xena onto the litter she was carried in on. Everyone is all lying down or sitting, making out. Lucifer tells Xena that she makes him feel a hunger, which Xena informs him is lust. Lucifer offers himself to Xena, body and soul. Michael and Raphael appear and Michael tells him that the soul of an archangel belongs to his God and isn't his to give away.

ACT THREE

The villagers flee. Xena stands. Virgil gets his sword from under a pillow. Gabrielle picks up her sais and stands. Michael hits Gabrielle with a white ball of light and she falls down next to Virgil. Virgil moves to attack, but Raphael fights him and kicks him back, and he lands heavily next to Gabrielle. More archangels appear and attack Xena. She battles them with ease but kills none. Michael and Raphael fight Xena. The archangels use magic to transport the three away.

Xena, Michael and Raphael appear at the portal to Hell. They battle. Lucifer appears and draws his sword. Lucifer attacks, but Xena dodges. She tells him he's smarter than that, but Michael says it's not about intelligence, but about devotion. Xena and Lucifer fight. Xena asks him why he gives his loyalty to a god that gives mortals all the pleasures of Earth but denies them to angels. Lucifer attacks Michael. Xena stands beside him and smiles. Michael and Raphael disappear. Xena and Lucifer kiss.

Inside the tavern, Gabrielle confronts Xena, saying she was supposed to throw Lucifer into the portal but Xena says he wasn't ready. Xena and Gabrielle enjoy the intoxicating feeling of darkness. Xena says she needs to work out the new partnership with Lucifer because with no on one on the throne, the portal is going to burst open and Hell and Earth will merge. Lucifer and Virgil enter, followed by Eve. Eve tries to help Xena, but when she touches Xena's chest with her index finger. A burst of lightening shoots out from Xena and sends Eve flying back. Virgil holds out his arms to catch her, but then pulls them away at the last second, letting Eve crash to the floor. Xena leaves and Lucifer follows. Virgil whistles and then leaves the opposite way Xena and Lucifer left.

Xena and Lucifer enter the bedchamber and Lucifer wants Xena, but she says she has a headache - Eve. She says she needs Lucifer to tell Michael and his god that the world is theirs and they better stay out of their way. They will send the message by killing their messenger, Eve.

ACT FOUR

Eve runs through the woods. Xena and Lucifer are following at a walking pace. Eve arrives at the temple.

Eve enters the temple. She grabs a stone for support. A pot breaks. She looks, but sees nothing. Eve is covered in scratches. She looks around to see if anyone is there, then she sees two swords leaning against a stone, candles around them. It's what she's come for. A cat meows and she turns to face the direction the sound came, startled. She looks back to the swords to find Virgil standing there. Virgil tells her that prayer won't help her, to which she replies, "That's why I came for those" and looks at the swords on the altar. She moves past him. Gabrielle enters, blocking her and she won't let her get the swords. Virgil and Gabrielle grab Eve. Xena and Lucifer enter. Eve breaks free of Gabrielle and Virgil and flips over to the swords. Lucifer fights Eve. Lucifer kicks her back against the stairs. He holds his sword and gets ready to kill her. Xena grabs his hand. Xena stops him, saying that the opportunity belongs to Gabrielle because she's been her partner for years. Lucifer turns his sword on Xena and says she will feel his wrath. Xena congratulates him on being guilty of all seven sins. Lucifer replies that mortals sin everyday to which Xena says that it's what makes them human, but that he, as an archangel, to succumb to such temptations makes him a monster. Lucifer turns into the Devil. The portal to Hell opens in the temple. Xena and Lucifer fight and Xena knocks Lucifer into the portal to Hell. Eve sees Xena's heart, the blackness fades. Everyone is normal. Eve runs to Xena and they hug. Virgil and Eve move to clean up the temple. Gabrielle mentions she thought she'd lost Xena for a moment. Xena replies that anytime she felt herself starting to lose control, she just thought of Gabrielle, which led her back.