FADE IN

On the caravan of refugees traveling across the desert.

DISSOLVE TO

The view of a large, imposing cliff. An intricate doorway resembling a temple has been cut into the face of the cliff, with columns holding up the facade and more columns stacked on top of the doorway. Gabrielle stops to marvel at the site.

Gabrielle and the refugees enter under the large archway and into the city.

CUT TO

Gabrielle, Darion, Naomi and the other refugees walk through a narrow gorge with a light visible at the end of it. Coming out at the end of the gorge, they find themselves in a large square, in front of a magnificent building with columns, also hewn into rose-colored rock, surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. There is an intricately carved fountain in the center of the square. The place is bustling with activity: there are riders on horseback, camels, mules pulling carts filled with goods, people walking around dressed in bright garments of many colors. The new arrivals gape at all this as they walk through the square.

A succession of quick cuts shows them walking through the city, past a large amphitheater, an aqueduct, and houses two and three stories high, many of them carved into natural rock.

DISSOLVE TO

Gabrielle and the refugees arrive in what is obviously a poorer part of the city. The buildings are smaller, with some scattered, dusty plants around them--nothing like that magnificent structures we saw before. The people's clothes are shabbier and simpler, and sometimes ragged.

One large building with a garden, and a well outside the gate, stands out amidst the poverty.

GABRIELLE:
     This must be it.

There is a thankful murmur among the refugees as they stop. One of the women brings up a bucket of water from the well and others come up to fill their waterskins, or scoop up water to drink. Meanwhile, Gabrielle walks through the garden gate, comes up to the front door of the building and knocks. Some of the refugees follow her, looking around.

After a moment the door creaks open and a young woman wearing a long white robe steps out.

YOUNG WOMAN:
     May I help you?

GABRIELLE:
     We have traveled a long way. We're just looking for food and shelter--for my friends and me. (she indicates the refugees behind her).

The young woman glances at the dozens of people, then turns to Gabrielle and nods, smiling.

YOUNG WOMAN:
     Yes, of course. We are here to help those in need. I'll go get the Holy Mother. Wait here.

The woman turns around and walks back into the building, leaving the door ajar.

GABRIELLE (turns back toward the refugees, smiles):
     Looks like we're about to get a good meal and a place to sleep.

MALE REFUGEE:
     God has smiled on us.

Samuel wakes up in the sling and starts to coo. Gabrielle rocks the baby, shushing him.

DARION:
     So who's this Holy Mother?

WOMAN (off camera):
     I am told you need help.

Something about the voice startles Gabrielle. She turns around as the camera zooms in on her face. She looks completely stunned and alarmed as she stares ahead, speechless.

The camera pulls back and pans around to the middle-aged woman in a white and blue robe and headdress standing in front of Gabrielle, then zooms in on the woman's face. It is a much older, but still unmistakably recognizable Najara. She has aged well, and looks dignified and still beautiful.

NAJARA (in a calm, unwavering voice):
     Gabrielle. (pause) I thought our paths might cross again someday.

GABRIELLE (slowly recovering from shock):
     I didn't.

A small smile crosses Najara's face.

Darion touches Gabrielle's arm.

DARION (getting the feeling that Gabrielle knows the older woman):
     Who is this?

GABRIELLE (looks down at Darion then back toward Najara):
     She, um... We have a history. (pause) From many years ago.

The tension and uneasiness in the air are apparent. Gabrielle turns back toward the Israelites who are watching intently.

GABRIELLE (looks from them to Najara):
     Maybe we should find some other place...

NAJARA (holds out her hand):
     No. You came here for shelter. That's what you'll get. (turns back toward the door) Jannah.

The young woman comes out of the building.

NAJARA:
     Show these people to the rooms and give them whatever they need. They've been on a long journey--they need food, water, rest.

JANNAH (nods):
     Yes, Holy Mother. (to the Israelites) This way.

Jannah walks out of the building and around the side through the garden. The Israelites begin to follow, bringing their bundles with them. Gabrielle's eyes are fixed on Najara as the refugees disappear around the corner. Najara opens her mouth to speak, then stops. Gabrielle looks uneasy.

NAJARA:
     Jannah will show you where to stable your horse. I hope he doesn't mind sharing a room with our milking goat.

GABRIELLE:
     Thank you.

She and Darion follow the other refugees, Gabrielle leading her horse with her.

Najara looks down as Gabrielle disappears around the back.

CUT TO

The garden. Gabrielle is seated on a stone bench in front of a large fern, holding Samuel in her arms and breastfeeding him. The sky above is cloudy but the sunlight peeks through clouds and casts an uneven light onto the garden.

Pan over to Darion a few feet away, practicing fighting moves with a small stick he's chosen as his staff. He's swinging it around and twirling it, trying to imitate what he saw Gabrielle do.

Gabrielle looks up at him and smiles slightly.

GABRIELLE:
     You're getting pretty good at that.

DARION (twirls it once but misses the catch and it falls to the ground):
     Not as good as you. The way you clobbered those guys out in the desert... Wow. I hope I can--

GABRIELLE (interrupts):
     Darion, about that. I know you were trying to help me out. It's just that... (she shakes her head) I don't want to see you having to deal with the kinds of things that I've had to deal with. Especially not when you're just a kid.

DARION (picks up the stick; offended):
     I'm not a kid! And I'm going to learn how to fight.

GABRIELLE (sighs):
     If that's what you want.

NAJARA (off-camera, to Darion):
     You should listen to Gabrielle.

Gabrielle looks up, startled.

DARION (sullenly):
     Yeah? Well, you shouldn't listen in on other people talking.

He throws the stick away, scowling.

GABRIELLE (suppressing a smirk):
     Darion. Be nice.

NAJARA (coming closer):
     May I talk to you?

Gabrielle looks at her hesitantly, then turns to Darion.

GABRIELLE:
     Darion, go check up on Naomi to see if she needs anything.

DARION (grumbles):
     Fine.

He walks away. Najara sits down next to Gabrielle.

NAJARA (trying to make conversation):
     Would you like some new clothes? These look worse for the wear.

She points to Gabrielle's desert clothes, which look quite grimy from the dust and sweat.

NAJARA (continues):
     Not that we can offer anything fancy--

GABRIELLE (interrupts):
     Thanks, but I'll get something in town.

There is a long moment of silence.

GABRIELLE (blurts out):
     I hope you don't expect me to trust you again.

NAJARA:
     I thought you of all people would believe that everyone deserves a second chance. (off Gabrielle's skeptical look) Or sometimes, a third.

This has clearly struck a chord with Gabrielle; she looks at Najara, troubled.

CUT TO

Xena, Ares and Haimon riding in silence. They reach a crossroads and Xena slows her horse down.

XENA:
     Haimon.

He gives her a questioning look. Xena brings her horse to a halt; Ares and Haimon do likewise.

XENA:
     Ride on ahead. Ares and I will catch up with you later.

HAIMON:
     Why?

XENA (impassive):
     I've got some old friends in these parts that I want to catch up with.

Ares shoots her a suspicious look. Haimon nods slowly, looking puzzled.

XENA:
     We'll be heading this way. (She points down the road that goes off to the left, toward a row of trees in the distance.)

HAIMON:
     All right. (hesitates) What--should I tell Gabrielle?

XENA (quietly):
     You'll know what to tell her.

HAIMON:
     Okay. I'll--see you later.

He nods to Ares, then picks up speed and rides on while Xena and Ares take the road to the left and ride silently. After a few moments Ares speaks.

ARES:
     "Old friends," huh?

XENA (curtly, staring ahead):
     Nope.

Ares digests this for a moment.

ARES:
     I get it. (Xena shoots him a sharp look.) You want him to get there first.

A moment's pause. Xena says nothing.

ARES (sighs and rolls his eyes):
     I hate self-sacrifice.

Xena gives him a small, amused smile.

XENA:
     Do you, now. (After a moment her look turns serious and thoughtful as she continues) Me too.

ARES (flippant):
     Thought so.

He reaches toward her and touches her hand on the bridle of her horse. She looks down at his hand, then slowly squeezes it with her fingers as the camera zooms in on their hands.

CUT TO

Gabrielle and Najara are still sitting in the garden.

GABRIELLE:
     How did you end up in Petra?

NAJARA:
     I was unconscious for more than ten days after that fight with Xena...

NAJARA:
     And when I woke up...I was changed. (Gabrielle listens intently but skeptically) After that, I did a lot of searching. Soul-searching. Finding out who I was--what I had done with my life--with my gifts. I went back to the teachings of Eli. I traveled--and my path finally led me here, where I found people who needed my help, and didn't know anything about my past.

GABRIELLE (uneasy and with an undertone of challenge):
     Did the Djinn lead you here?

NAJARA (looks away for a moment, then meets Gabrielle's gaze):
     No. I haven't spoken to them since I saw you last. I've realized that they were not the good spirits I thought they were.

GABRIELLE (still skeptical):
          Oh really. And when did you realize that?

NAJARA:
     Almost as soon as I woke up. (after a brief pause) You still don't trust me.

GABRIELLE (exasperated):
     Najara, what do you expect? Last time we met, you told me that you had changed and given up all violence--and the last thing I remember is you attacking me and trying to kill Xena. (she pauses) Xena kept telling me you were insane. I argued with her. And then--

NAJARA (quietly):
     I was insane, Gabrielle. At first, when I regained consciousness, I couldn't understand what happened. It was as if some power had possessed me and driven me on.

GABRIELLE:
     Power...you mean, the Djinn?

NAJARA (nods slowly):
     I think it was their way of punishing me because I had stopped following their path--because I was following the path of Eli instead. They drove me mad. They tried to get me to kill Xena, and to hurt you. (her voice drops) And that's something I will never forgive myself for.

GABRIELLE (hesitant):
     Najara....

NAJARA:
     I know this sounds like an excuse. I can't blame you if you don't believe me. But all I want to tell you is that I'm very sorry, Gabrielle.

Gabrielle stares at her, struck by the sincerity and intensity in Najara's voice.

NAJARA (continues):
     I mean it.

Gabrielle nods wordlessly.

GABRIELLE (whispers):
     Najara...I don't know what to think. All I know is what people have told me. You've been doing a lot of good.

NAJARA:
     So have you and Xena, from what I heard.

GABRIELLE (nods, not looking at Najara):
     Yeah. (after a pause) A lot of fighting.

A pause.

NAJARA:
     I know.

GABRIELLE (looks at Najara):
     And you...?

NAJARA:
     I've given up fighting.

GABRIELLE:
     Completely?

NAJARA (nods):
     I've done enough fighting in my life. (pause) But I won't judge those who choose to fight. If Eli thought the Way of Love wasn't the way for you--

GABRIELLE (surprised):
     How did you know?

NAJARA (smiles):
     You'd be surprised, the places where your scrolls turn up. Well, if that's what he thought--that's good enough for me. We each have our path in life.

Gabrielle looks down at Samuel, sleeping peacefully in her arms.

GABRIELLE (quietly):
     Yes, we do.

Najara looks at her probingly, then raises a hand and touches Gabrielle's shoulder. Gabrielle flinches, then looks Najara in the eye.

NAJARA (in a low voice):
     And someday you'll know which one is right for you.

The two women look at each other for a moment; then, Najara rises and speaks up.

NAJARA:
     Come, join us for dinner. All that traveling must have made you hungry.

Gabrielle stands up from the bench and follows Najara.

The camera pans around to show a man in the shadows in the back of the garden, watching Gabrielle and Najara intently.

CUT TO

Night. A small room. Gabrielle is in bed, asleep. Samuel sleeps in a crib by the side of her bed. The camera pans to Darion; he is lying on a small cot, wide awake. He hears a noise that alerts his attention, and gets up and goes to the window.

The camera pans down to show something moving in the garden, then back to Darion. He looks thoughtfully at Gabrielle, then tiptoes to the door. Before he goes out, he grabs the stick he was practicing with before, propped against the wall.

CUT TO

Darion walks through the darkened garden, holding the stick at the ready. He hears a twig cracking and he crouches down, hiding behind the bench.

A male figure is seen, moving stealthily. Positioned behind the bench, Darion watches the man as he walks closer; then, he jumps out from behind the bench and hits the man with the stick, knocking him down. As the man sits up with a groan, Darion comes over to him and raises the stick again, preparing for another strike. The moonlight shines down onto the man's face. It's Haimon.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT ONE