FADE IN

Hilltop. Ares notices Haimon as well.

ARES:
     Isn't that Gabrielle's boy toy?

XENA:
     Yeah.

ARES:
     Sure is taking well to being a Roman.

Xena nods and glares.

XENA:
     I can see that.

ARES:
     Well--he's really just a soldier following orders.

XENA (through gritted teeth):
     Thanks. That makes me feel so much better.

ARES:
     So. Got a plan?

XENA:
     I do now. Follow me.

She starts riding out from behind the trees.

ARES:
     What are you doing?

XENA:
     Surrendering.

Ares gapes at her.

ARES:
     What?!

XENA:
     Just play along.

She rides out toward the Romans.

ARES (scowls):
     The things we do for love.

He follows her lead.

A wide shot of Xena and Ares riding toward the approaching column. Spotting them, the commander gives a signal to stop and the convoy comes to a halt.

Pan to the commander.

COMMANDER (to the men behind him):
     Bring them over here.

Several men on horseback ride out and then return flanking Xena and Ares, who follow them without protest. They dismount. The Roman commander looks them up and down.

COMMANDER:
     Who are you and what are you doing out here?

XENA:
     We're merchants, sir.

Quick pan to Haimon, who flinches as he recognizes Xena's voice.

XENA (continues):
     Got separated from our caravan ‘cause this no-good husband of mine took a long detour to a tavern in the last village we passed.

She gives Ares a light smack on the back of the head. The Romans laugh.

ARES (scowls):
     Shut your mouth, woman! You'll drive any man to drink.

More laughter from the Romans. Meanwhile, Haimon stares at Xena, trying to conceal his shock; then he looks away so as not to be conspicuous.

COMMANDER:
     Merchants, huh? Which way are you headed?

XENA:
      To Yaffo, sir. Why, is there any trouble?

COMMANDER:
      Can't be too careful out here. We've got all sorts of fools and wannabe heroes trying to free our prisoners.

XENA (scoffs):
     I look like a fool about as much as he looks like a hero. (gestures toward Ares) Why, he can barely kill a chicken.

More laughter from the Commander and his men while Ares scowls at Xena.

COMMANDER:
     Well, better safe than sorry. (to his men) Check them out.

HAIMON (quickly):
     I'll do it.

COMMANDER:
     Go on, Centurion.

Haimon leaps down nimbly off his horse. He goes to Xena first, reaching for her cloak.

XENA:
     Watch where you put your hands.

Haimon gives her an intense look then looks inside Xena's cloak. Her chakram is clearly visible. He pauses a moment, then drops her cloak, as if it's soiled.

HAIMON:
     She's unarmed, sir.

He goes over to Ares to check him, handling Ares somewhat roughly. He seizes the dagger at Ares' waist and finally pushes him back. Ares glares at Haimon who moves over to the Roman commander, offering up the weapon.

HAIMON:
     Just a dagger, sir.

The commander gives Ares a suspicious look.

ARES:
     Well, like you said, sir--can't be too be careful out here.

XENA:
     Can't just ride around unprotected. I carry a dagger too, but (to Haimon) if I showed you where it is, you'd have to marry me afterwards.

She glances down at her bosom. The Romans stare at her, grinning, some of them exchanging what are obviously lewd remarks.

ARES (annoyed):
     Are we done here or what?!

COMMANDER (waves his hand abruptly):
     Move along.

Xena glares intensely at Haimon. When she speaks, her tone is faintly threatening.

XENA:
     Next time keep your hands to yourself.

She swings up onto her horse. Ares does the same. They quickly ride off, not looking back.

CUT TO

Night. The convoy is down for the evening. Everyone is resting in their own way: some are sleeping, some are writing letters by firelight, some cleaning their boots or sharpening their swords.

The camera zooms in on Haimon, who sits by a fire cleaning his sword. He looks troubled. Finally, he rises, sheathes his sword, and turns to the men near him.

HAIMON:
     I'm going out to check the perimeter.

ROMAN SOLDIER:
     Want me to go with you, sir?

HAIMON:
     No, it's all right. I won't be long.

Haimon walks off.

CUT TO

A small grove. Haimon walks into view, looking around.

XENA (off-camera):
     Ave, Haimon.

He whips around and sees Xena and Ares standing before him, wearing their black cloaks.

HAIMON:
     I'm not a Roman, Xena.

XENA (crosses arms):
     Really? Could've fooled me, considering I just saw you guarding Rome's prisoners--caged and shackled for the crime of defending their country.

HAIMON (perturbed):
     Those men? They're thugs. They've killed their own people--terrorized anyone that they accused of straying from their faith. They desecrated their own--

XENA (interrupts):
     Not these men. Simon Bar-Giora and his zealots--those were the thugs. Well, Bar Giora's dead--they say at the hands of one of his own men. The man you got in the cage over there is John of Giscala. (Off his uncomprehending stare) John is the reason I'm here. He's a good man, Haimon. He wanted to keep his people free from both the Romans and the zealots. And he asked for my help.

There is a brief, uncomfortable silence. Then Haimon speaks up again.

HAIMON:
     Is Gabrielle here?

XENA:
     She's with some refugees from Jerusalem, leading them to a safe haven.

HAIMON:
     How is she?

Xena gives him a somewhat hesitant look, as if unsure what to say. Ares glances at her expectantly. Haimon frowns. Finally, Xena speaks.

XENA (firmly):
     She's just fine.

Haimon sighs and nods.

HAIMON:
     Well--guess I should get going before they start to wonder where I am.

He turns to leave.

XENA:
     Haimon. (He stops) In your heart, you know this is wrong--what the Romans are doing here. What you're helping them do. You know it. You're a good man.

HAIMON (turns toward her):
     I'm glad you know what kind of man I am--because I don't think I know anymore.

Xena draws her sword and points it at Haimon. A beat and Ares does the same. Haimon raises his hands, alarmed.

HAIMON (stammers a little):
     I'm--pretty sure I'm not an evil one!

Xena gestures with her head, indicating something behind him. He turns his head slightly and sees torchlight approaching.

XENA (off-camera; whispering):
     Haimon! (he turns around) Play along!

Before he gets what she means, she and Ares swing their swords at him. He instinctively parries. They continue their fake fight.

ROMAN SENTRY 1 (off-camera):
     Haimon!

Xena signals Haimon with her eyes.

HAIMON:
     Over here! I could use some help!

XENA (still sparring with him):
     Haimon, I need you to help me free those prisoners.

HAIMON:
     I can't do that.

XENA:
     Yes, you can.

HAIMON:
     No, I can't. I took an oath of loyalty. To me, that means something.

XENA:
     You have a higher loyalty.

HAIMON:
     You mean--to you and Gabrielle.

XENA:
     I mean to yourself.

Close-up on Haimon; she has clearly gotten through to him.

HAIMON:
     The convoy stops in Kefar tomorrow. It's about fifteen leagues from here. I'll be at the main city inn.

Three Romans come running up, swords drawn. Ares grins.

ARES:
     Finally. A real fight.

XENA:
     We're not staying.

ARES:
     Spoil my fun.

Xena and Ares disappear into the trees. The Romans try to give chase but they're already lost in the night. Haimon sheathes his sword, breathing hard.

HAIMON (to Roman Sentry 1):
     Thanks.

ROMAN SENTRY 1:
     You were gone so long I thought you might have run into trouble.

HAIMON:
     Good thinking.

ROMAN SENTRY #2:
     Rebels?

HAIMON (shakes head):
     Just nomads. I think they wanted to rob me. Don't worry, I ran them off.

CUT TO

Morning. Xena and Ares sit under a tree, near a small pool where their horses are drinking. Xena is mending her boot.

XENA:
     I have to talk to Haimon. We need his help. It's the only way we can free both John and the prisoners who are being taken to Caesarea.

ARES:
     You think he'll help?

XENA (pauses):
     I have to take a chance on that.

ARES (skeptical):
     So--we'll just walk into an inn full of Romans and chat up Haimon.

XENA:
     Well...not exactly ‘walk'. And not exactly ‘we'. I'm going in there alone.

ARES (disappointed but curious):
     Why?

XENA (with a mischievous little smile):
     Because there are some jobs for which you aren't equipped.

Ares looks at her with a mix of admiration and slight annoyance as her meaning dawns on him.

CUT TO

The camera travels up the body of a woman clad in a blue and black dancer's outfit, low cut and showing lots of cleavage and thigh, with a lot of jewelry (an outfit that's similar to the ones from Cradle of Hope and Who's Gurkhan). As the camera pan up, we see that it's Xena. Her face is half-covered with a black veil.

She is standing in the middle of a tavern filled with Roman soldiers. Xena starts to dance. The Romans watch her, enthralled, some of them banging their fists on the table and whooping, rowdily shouting their approval. Some of them throw coins at her feet.

The camera pans over to Haimon, who is sitting in a corner finishing his mug of ale. He glances at Xena but doesn't recognize her and turns away.

Xena starts approaching some of the Romans and flirting with them--moving in close, touching their faces and arms, running her scarf over them but always moving away, teasing, before any one of them can make a move on her. Finally she approaches Haimon and taps him on the shoulder.

HAIMON (not looking at her):
      Sorry, miss. I'm not interested.

XENA (in a low, sultry voice):
      Oh, I think you are.

He looks up and realizes that it's Xena. She lowers herself, straddling his knees, and starts to sway back and forth. Haimon looks extremely uncomfortable.

HAIMON (in a whisper, in close-up):
     Is this really necessary?

XENA (likewise):
     It was the best idea I could come up with.

ROMAN SOLDIER (calls out):
     You're wasting your time on him, honey!

The Romans laugh. Paying no attention, Xena leans seductively toward Haimon's ear.

XENA (whispers):
     Made your decision yet?

HAIMON (nods quietly):
     I'll help.

XENA (running a finger over his lips, still in a seductive whisper):
     Know how to break a lock?

HAIMON (uncomfortably):
     No.

Xena grins and runs her hand down his chest.

XENA:
     Then you've got some things to learn.

She stands up and pulls him with her. She leads him upstairs and he follows, among bawdy laughs and cheers from the Romans, as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT THREE