FADE IN

Medium shot of a small cottage at the edge of a village, near a forest. Klymene ties the horses to a tree outside as Xena, Darion, and Eve approach the cottage.

XENA (to Eve):
     Maybe you can find some answers here. (She pauses a moment) Look, before we go in, there's something I haven't--

She is interrupted by the door swinging open and Aphrodite, in peasant dress, coming out on the porch.

APHRODITE (beams):
     Warrior Babe!

She comes toward Xena and embraces her in a hug.

APHRODITE (shouting inside):
     Come on out, kids! We got company!

A boy about seven years old, with sandy blonde hair and bright blue eyes, runs outside.

SAMUEL (joyfully):
     Darion!

Darion laughs and picks up Samuel in a giant bear hug.

DARION (smiling):
     I've missed you, kiddo.

Klymene approaches the cottage and gives a warm smile at seeing Darion and Samuel together. Darion sets down Samuel, who immediately wraps his arms around Xena's legs.

Zoom in on Eve, who looks on, puzzled.

KLYMENE (noticing Eve's confused expression):
     This is Samuel. Gabrielle's son.

Close-up on Eve as understanding dawns on her face. Then, the camera pans back on Samuel as Xena squats down and hugs him.

SAMUEL:
      Are you going to take me fishing again?

XENA (smiling):
     We're only going to be here for a little bit.

APHRODITE (looks out at the sky, then at Xena):
     Don't be ridiculous, it'll be dark in a few hours. Where are you going to go? At least stay the night with us.

SAMUEL:
     Please, Aunt Xena!

Xena rises to her feet.

XENA:
     All right, if you're sure there's enough room for us all.

APHRODITE (smiles):
     For you, Warrior Babe--always.

XENA:
     Where's Arielle?

APHRODITE (shouts):
     Arielle! Come on over! Your mommy's here!

Close-up on Eve as she stares at Xena in shock.

EVE (whispers):
     Mommy...?

Pan to Xena as she nods, a small, tender smile appearing on her face, her eyes blurring a bit with tears.

XENA (softly):
     Arielle was born four years ago. Just as the rebellion took off.

A dark-haired girl in a blue dress wanders out of the cottage and stops on the porch. She stands still, staring at Xena.

XENA (softly):
     Arielle.

ARIELLE (gravely):
     Hi, Mommy.

She comes slowly toward Xena as Aphrodite and Eve look on. Xena's face is suffused with tenderness and she is clearly fighting back tears as she bends down and sweeps Arielle up in her arms.

(In the background during this conversation, we see Klymene and Darion talking to Samuel; they show him some combat moves which he tries to imitate.)

XENA (smiling):
     How's my girl?

ARIELLE:
     Good. (proudly) Guess what happened to me last week!

XENA (a little concerned):
     What's that?

ARIELLE:
     I turned four!

Xena's face is shadowed by sadness.

XENA:
     I'm so sorry I couldn't be here for your birthday, baby. (she kisses Arielle)

APHRODITE (trying to cheer her up):
     Aw--all you missed was the worst birthday cake ever baked.

ARIELLE (nods):
     Uh-huh, it was.

APHRODITE (pretends to be affronted):
      Hey!

XENA:
     I've got a present for you.

Holding up Arielle with one arm, she opens her cloak, takes something off her belt and hands it to the little girl, who takes the object and examines it with curiosity. The camera zooms in to show that it's Ares' dagger pendant.

XENA:
     It's from your daddy.

ARIELLE (looks up at her):
     When is daddy coming?

Xena looks guilty.

XENA:
     Soon, sweetheart. Soon, we'll all be together again. I promise.

She strokes the girl's hair. Arielle throws her arms around Xena's neck, pressing her cheek to her mother's face.

Pan to Eve, who looks away, obviously struggling with emotion.

XENA (with somewhat forced cheer):
     Oof--you're getting big and heavy! (She puts Arielle down.)

ARIELLE:
     When I'm really big, are you and daddy going to teach me how to be a warrior?

Xena frowns a little.

SAMUEL (in the background):
     Alalalala-CHEE-YAH!

Xena glances over at Samuel, who assumes a fighting stance as the camera focuses on him.

XENA (continues):
     Right now, we're all going fishing.

Samuel and Arielle jump up and down, almost squealing with joy.

CROSS-FADE TO

An exterior shot of the cottage at nightfall.

DISSOLVE TO

A small room inside the cottage. Aphrodite (holding a candle) and Xena, now without the cloak, stand over a small bed in which Arielle is asleep. Samuel is sleeping on a cot on the other side of the room. In the dim candlelight, we see a portrait of Gabrielle on the wall.

XENA (quietly):
     She's beautiful... (smiles) She has his eyes, you know.

APHRODITE (chuckles):
     And your strength. Try prying some nasty old stick from these little hands when she's got her mind set on using it as a sword.

XENA:
     She must be a handful.

APHRODITE:
     Is she ever! But hey--I'm not complaining. (She gives Xena a nudge) Come on, or we'll wake them up.

CUT TO

The kitchen in the cottage. Xena and Aphrodite are at the table eating a meat pie while Eve and Darion are cleaning up.

XENA (with restrained but heartfelt emotion):
     Thank you so much for taking care of them, Aphrodite. I can't think of anyone I'd rather want for the job.

APHRODITE (smiles):
     Well, I always did want another shot at the whole mommy gig. (she takes a bite of the pie and winces) It's just too bad they didn't teach cooking on Olympus.

XENA:
     Hey, you couldn't do worse than me.

There is a brief silence, then Aphrodite speaks up again.

APHRODITE (concerned):
     I worry about you and bro, Warrior Babe. How's the rebellion?

XENA:
     It's--going all right. (cutting the conversation) So, Samuel's in school now?

Aphrodite smiles.

APHRODITE:
     Yeah, and doing great. The teacher says he's a better writer than kids twice his age.

Xena gives a warm smile. There is another brief silence. Eve and Darion turn, listening.

APHRODITE (softly):
     We talk about her every day, Xena. He always wants me to read him her scrolls.

Xena looks away for a moment, her face grim, then looks at Aphrodite again.

XENA:
     Speaking of Gabrielle's scrolls... (close-up on her face, now hard and set) we need to see them.

CUT TO

A bedroom. Xena and Eve are sitting on the floor by an open chest looking through some scrolls; a bed and a night table with a lamp on it are visible in the background.

EVE:
     So Gabrielle had her baby while you were in Jerusalem?

XENA (quietly and curtly):
     Yes.

EVE (already knowing the answer):
     And Haimon?

XENA:
     Dead.

Eve looks as if she wants to say something else but just then Xena unravels one of the scrolls and holds it up.

XENA (quickly):
     Here it is.

She hands the scroll to Eve.

XENA:
     This was the last scroll she wrote, before she died. (softly) She never finished it.

Eve takes the scroll, her eyes meeting Xena's, and nods, deeply moved.

DISSOLVE TO

Early morning. Outside the cottage. Eve is sitting on the some grass, her back against a tree, reading Gabrielle's scroll. Close-up on her face as we hear Gabrielle's voice.

GABRIELLE (voice-over):
     I cradled Samuel in my arms and looked at the great temple of Artemis...

Fade to a shot of the temple.

GABRIELLE (voice-over):
     Down below, the streets were filled with the blood of Elijans and others who had refused to worship her. As the sun set on the great city, I watched the Warrior Princess prepare herself.

Fade to Xena walking down a street with several bodies lying on the ground. She looks grim.

GABRIELLE (voice-over):
     For years it felt as though the sun had never set, that the twilight lingered on longer than it should.

Fade back to Eve's face.

GABRIELLE (voice-over):
     We had one last move to make, and our only hope was that the sun would finally rise and a new day would begin...for all of us.

Eve rests the scroll on her lap.

EVE:
     It still might, Gabrielle. For all of us, if I have any say in things.

CROSS-FADE TO

The sky and the bright morning sun.

DISSOLVE TO

Xena walks through the forest. She bends down to pick a yellow flower for the small bunch of wildflowers and leaves she has already collected. She sniffs at it.

Close up on her face, as she smiles sadly.

XENA:
     When you told me I should stop and smell the flowers more often, I don't think you had this in mind, did you?

CUT TO

A small clearing with a view of the village in the background. A round wooden board, carved with a flower in the center and a few Greek letters at the base, is set into the dirt in front of a small pile of rocks. This is Gabrielle's grave.

Xena steps out from the trees into the clearing and stands in front of the tombstone, before kneeling and propping her bunch of flowers against the stone. She remains kneeling.

XENA:
     You're missing a beautiful sunrise, you know. I brought you some nice spring flowers, I hope you like them.

She reaches out and touches the carving on the stone.

XENA:
     Aphrodite's taking good care of Samuel for you, and she says he's already the best writer in his school--I wonder where he gets that from. You would be proud of him. (pause) The rebellion is--going. Sometimes I wonder if it's just a way of giving people false hope...does it really make any difference to them if Artemis kills them or if we do? (sigh) I wish you were here to tell me if we're doing the right thing...

She shakes her head and blinks a couple of times.

XENA:
     Ares keeps telling me we're doing the only thing we can, and he's right. But there's always another way, and you were the only person who could have seen it.

Close-up on her face as she struggles to hold back tears.

XENA:
     I miss you.

VOICE (off-camera):
     Xena.

It sounds very much like Gabrielle's voice. Xena's eyes widen and she whips around towards the trees she had appeared from. Samuel is standing there, with some flowers of his own.

As she stands up, he walks over to the grave.

XENA (snaps at him from surprise and her emotional state):
       Did Aphrodite say you could follow me here? Does she know you came?

SAMUEL (defensively):
     I snuck out so she wouldn't wake up. She worries that I'll get lost even though (petulant) I know the way.

XENA:
     You should do what she tells you. She wants to take care of you.

Samuel bends down and puts his flowers next to Xena's.

SAMUEL:
     But I want to be with Darion and Ares and you. I want to tell stories like my mom did.

XENA (trying to be cheerful):
     There's plenty of time for that--later.

SAMUEL (earnestly):
     You've got to take me with you!

Shocked, Xena reaches out to touch his shoulder. She looks conflicted, but then shakes her head.

XENA (firmly):
     I can't, Samuel. (close-up on her anguished face as she continues, sounding more emotional) I can't. This is the safest place for you right now.

Samuel's face falls as he nods.

XENA (gently):
     Come on, let's go back.

SAMUEL (sighs):
     All right.

He starts to walk toward the trees. Xena follows him; as she walks, she turns back to the gravestone.

XENA:
     I told you you'd be proud of him.

A wide shot of the clearing, now flooded with sunlight, as Xena slowly walks away into the trees with Samuel ahead of her.

CROSS-FADE TO

Outside the cottage. Aphrodite is standing in the doorway. Darion, Eve and Klymene (now wearing their travel cloaks) are now mounted on their horses. Xena, also in her cloak, is sitting on her haunches with her arms around Arielle and Samuel.

XENA (hugs the children tight):
     Ooh--I'll miss you both.

ARIELLE:
     We'll miss you too.

SAMUEL:
     Come back soon, okay?

XENA:
     Promise.

She kisses them, then gets up.

XENA (to Aphrodite, her voice tight with restrained emotion):
     Thanks again.

APHRODITE (sincerely):
     You guys be careful.

Xena nods and mounts her horse.

SAMUEL (waves to all them):
     See you soon! (to Eve) Hey, be careful with my mom's scroll!

EVE (smiling):
     I will be.

Xena, Eve, Darion and Klyemene ride off as Samuel, Arielle and Aphrodite wave them goodbye.

DISSOLVE TO

Montage of Xena, Eve, Darion and Klymene riding fast along country roads and through forests.

CROSS-FADE TO

The four riding along a country road and approaching a curve. Suddenly, Xena slows down and holds out her hand, signaling the rest to stop.

XENA (mutters):
     Damn it.

A group of seven people appear from around the curve in the road. Three of them are Roman soldiers and four are female archers in the garb of Artemis' temple warriors. One Roman, an officer, and the head archer are on horseback.

ROMAN OFFICER:
     And where are you good folks headed?

XENA:
     To Melios, sir. For my niece's wedding.

HEAD ARCHER:
     Well, then I hope you won't mind taking a little detour to make a sacrifice at the temple of Artemis, just down the road--so that your niece and her young man will always have the protection of the goddess.

There is a tense pause. Eve, Klymene and Darion cast uneasy glances at Xena. The camera zooms in on Xena as she stares at the archer.

XENA (through clenched teeth):
     Sacrifice this.

With a swift motion, she throws open her cloak, whips out a crossbow and shoots the head archer before she can say another word. The woman sways in the saddle and falls dead. The camera pans over the faces of the other arches, twisted with rage.

ARCHER #2:
      No! (draws her bow) Fire!

The other archers take aim. Zoom in on Xena's face as she sneers.

XENA:
     Yah!

She throws her chakram. Two of the archers fall dead; the third releases an arrow which grazes Xena's arm as she catches the chakram.

ROMAN OFFICER (yells, sword drawn):
     Get her!

In the same isntant, he collapses with an arrow in his chest. The camera pulls back to show Klymene holding a bow and smiling.

The other two Romans and the remaining archer exchange a panicked look, then turn to run. Xena raises the crossbow and shoots the archer in the back. She falls with a cry.

Pan to Eve, who looks shocked.

EVE:
      Mother!

Quick pan to Darion, who looks down.

Xena hooks the crossbow to her belt and gallops after the two running soldiers; as she rides, she yanks the chakram apart into two blades. With a piercing war cry, she launches herself off her horse and somersaults in the air.

XENA:
     A-la-la-la-la--CHEE-yah!

Slow motion. The Roman soldiers turn and scream "NO!" in unison as she hurtles down, plunging the chakram blades into their chests.

Xena turns toward her companions, the bloodied blades in her hands, as the two Romans collapse, dead.

Pan to Eve (resuming normal speed), who looks on in shock as Xena walks toward her horse and mounts it. She joins the chakram blades together and hooks the chakram to her belt, then frowns and examines the scratch on her arm.

Eve, Klymene and Darion catch up with Xena.

DARION (points to her arm):
     Are you all right?

XENA:
     Just a scratch.

EVE (vehemently):
     Mother--they were running!

Xena turns her head sharply and nails her with a hard stare.

XENA:
     And they would have put others on our trail. We're at war, Eve. Every fight is a fight to the death.

EVE:
     And that means there's no place for honor--for mercy?

XENA (grimly):
     It's seven years too late for that. (Her voice softens) I know you're new to all this. Get used to it.

Medium close-up on Eve and Darion as they exchange a troubled look. The camera pulls back for a wide shot, panning over the dead bodies on the ground as Xena and her companions ride off.

DISSOLVE TO

Xena riding at a slow trot along a forest trail, with Darion a few paces behind her, and Eve and Klymene riding behind him side by side. Xena looks troubled and lost in thought.

Pan back to Eve and Klymene.

EVE (to Klymene):
     So where is this meeting place, anyway?

KLYMENE:
     We should be there by nightfall. It's safest to enter the caves at night, so there's no chance of being spotted.

EVE:
     Caves?

KLYMENE:
     We discovered some old catacombs several years ago, and we set up a base camp there once we were sure Artemis didn't know about them. The nearest entrance is in a cave just outside Rome. It used to be a hiding place for the Elijans, back in... (she glances uncomfortably at Eve) the old days.

EVE (remembers):
     The catacombs! Back when I was with the Elijans--that's where I hid from Caligula... (pauses) I had no idea they extended outside the city.

DARION (glances back at the women):
     There are a couple of tunnels that lead right into Rome, underneath the main streets. But we don't go in unless we really have to. (he pauses) Some of us believe it was a miracle that Eli opened up the entrances for us, so we could keep fighting to protect his followers.

KLYMENE (sharply):
     If Eli's as powerful as that, you'd think he could give us a little more than some empty old caves. Like, I don't know...a way to kill that bitch Artemis?

DARION (irritated):
     You really think it was just a coincidence? There just happened to be a small earthquake that didn't hurt anyone but exposed the entrance to the caves--when we were there to find it?

KLYMENE:
     I just don't think every little thing that works in our favor ought to be called a miracle, that's all.

DARION:
     Maybe the miracle is that we're still here.

CUT TO

The exterior of a cave in a wooded area. Xena, Eve, Klymene and Darion ride inside.

CUT TO

Inside the cave. Klymene, holding a torch, stands bya pile of rocks. Xena pushes the rocks aside to reveal the entrance into a tunnel.

XENA (to Eve):
     Careful on the way down.

Klymene bends down and goes into the tunnel, torch in hand. Eve follows.

CUT TO

A much bigger cave, with some tents pitched. It is a military camp and there are people moving everywhere. Several passages branch off from the main cave, with people coming and going through them. We see the sky through a couple of air holes, which offer enough natural light to see by.

Klymene emerges from one of the passages, still holding the torch. She is followed by Eve, then Xena and Darion.

KLYMENE:
     Home sweet home, at least until we defeat Artemis...if we ever do.

DARION:
     With Eli's help, of course we will.

KLYMENE (rolls her eyes):
     So you keep telling me...

XENA (interrupts her, sharply):
     All right, that's enough chitchat. If we don't start doing our jobs, none of us will live long enough for Eli to help. Klymene, you're going on a raid tonight, so start planning it. (to Eve) Eve--you go help her.

Eve opens her mouth to protest but Xena cuts her off.

XENA (frostily):
     Eve, I am in charge here. People do as I say. Go.

She turns and walks away from a shocked Eve.

CUT TO

Inside a tent. Eve and Klymene are talking, next to a table with a map on it.

KLYMENE:
     Everyone knows this rebellion is our only real hope, Eve. Xena is the best person to lead it ...someone has to take charge. And let's put it this way--I'd much rather take orders from Xena than from Artemis.

EVE:
     It's just that... I feel like I hardly know her anymore.

Both women look up at the sound of someone entering. It is Lykia.

LYKIA:
     Xena says you need help with a food raid on the city?

KLYMENE (smiles briefly at Lykia):
     Yep--going for take-out. We're going to hit this warehouse. (she indicates the street map) It's very close to the tunnel entrance. It's well-guarded, though.

LYKIA:
     So you need a distraction.

Eve is looking at the map, her brow furrowed.

EVE:
     There used to be trees only a short distance from that building. Are they still there?

LYKIA:
     Yeah.

EVE:
     Then why not use the Amazons?

Lykia gapes at Eve; Klymene looks down sadly.

LYKIA:
     What Amazons?

EVE (not understanding):
     Our Amazons, of course.

KLYMENE (sigh):
     I should have told you.

EVE:
     Told me what? Don't tell me they chose to fight for Artemis.

Lykia looks incredulous.

KLYMENE (before Lykia can speak):
     They didn't.

She pauses, Eve looking at her expectantly.

KLYMENE (continues):
     And ... she killed them all.

Eve gasps.

KLYMENE (continues):
     Lykia and I weren't there, we and a couple of others had already left to fight for Xena. With you.

Eve looks bewildered. So does Lykia.

LYKIA:
     Why are you telling her this? Is this some kind of sick joke?

KLYMENE:
     Uhhh...it's complicated. (to Eve) Artemis came with her temple army and told Cyane to join her or die. When Cyane refused, Artemis used her powers to set the village aflame...

As she speaks, we cut to

DISSOLVE TO

Close-up on Eve, her face full of anguish.

EVE:
     So Cyane, Nari, Othila...

KLYMENE:
     They're all dead.

CUT TO

Close-up of another map, this one showing the entire Italian peninsula. A finger traces one of the roads leading to Rome from the north.

Pull back to see Xena studying the map inside a simply furnished tent. Her armor is off and she wears a simple leather undergarment. She doesn't look happy.

Ares enters the tent, and as he reaches her, she turns around.

XENA (smiles):
     Hey.

ARES (glances at the map):
     There's no use staring at that every spare moment you get. It won't make a difference.

Xena sighs. She sits down on a couch.

XENA (bitterly):
     What happened to "there's always a way out, Xena, we just have to find it"?

Ares sits next to her and puts his arm around her.

ARES:
     Oh, I never said there was no way out...just that you probably won't find it on the map. (Xena gives him "the look"; he grins back) You shouldn't worry so much.

XENA:
     I worry all the time. Ares--we have nothing here. No food, one little stream for water, fewer warriors every day. (pause) And most of the ones that are still here think we can't win this fight.

ARES:
     Well, we must be doing something right. We're still here.

XENA (closes her eyes):
     Not all of us. (She opens her eyes and shakes her head) Gabrielle wouldn't think we were doing the right thing. But I can't see any other choices. Except to get beaten slowly or surrender immediately.

ARES:
     There are no other choices.

He puts an arm around her shoulders. As Xena leans against him, he notices the scratch and dried blood on her upper arm and frowns.

ARES:
     Run into some trouble on the way?

XENA (chuckles):
     You do know there's a war going on, right? Trouble is a way of life. (off his questioning look) One of Artemis' road patrols.

ARES:
     What happened?

Xena picks up a wineskin and takes a drink.

XENA (with gusto):
     Seven down, zero to go.

ARES:
     Damn it, Xena--

XENA (teasing):
     Worried you're missing out on the fun?

ARES (serious):
     Worried I won't be there when you need me.

XENA (with mock indignation):
     What are you implying? That I can't take care of myself?

ARES:
     Just don't take any extra chances. (changing the subject and trying to be lighthearted). So, how's my sister? Her usual perky self?

XENA (carefully):
     She's fine.

Ares nods slowly, meeting her eyes.

ARES (quietly):
     How's Arielle?

Xena's eyes reflect a bittersweet wistfulness.

XENA:
     She's beautiful. (shakes head) I can't believe how quickly time passes... (after a pause) She loved her present. And she was asking about you.

Ares looks away. Xena looks down, the sadness returning to her face. After a moment she stands, walking over to the side of the tent. Ares watches her, then stands up and moves toward her. He rests a comforting hand on her shoulder and she turns around. She's fighting back tears again.

XENA:
     No matter what happens, these are four years of her life we are never going to get back. (resentful and hurting) Once again, I've had to give up the chance to raise my own child. (looks down, fighting emotion) If we had stopped Artemis in time--then everything would have been different. (her voice almost breaking) If Gabrielle... (she trails off, blinking away tears)

Ares touches her face and brushes away a tear with his thumb.

ARES (gently):
     You know we can't dwell on that. (he touches her cheek with his hand and she closes her eyes, letting his fingers graze her skin) Even with everything against us--we had this child. (Xena looks at him) That's gotta count for something, right?

Xena looks down. Ares watches her for a long moment, then touches her cheek, raising her chin so that she's looking into his eyes.

ARES:
     And if all goes as planned, we'll have her with us...very soon.

Ares leans forward and kisses her lightly, her cheek still wet from her tears. She winds her fingers through his long, curly hair as she pulls him closer, deepening the kiss.

Finally, she pulls back.

XENA (sincere):
     Thank you.

ARES:
     For what?

XENA:
     For being here.

She rests her head on his shoulder and he puts an arm around her.

CROSS-FADE TO

The arena in Rome (the sound of cheers from the crowd fading in along with the image and growing louder). Artemis is now sitting next to Sabina. Pan for a wide shot of the arena, where the sand is stained with blood.

Sabina makes an imperious gesture, silencing the crowd. The noise gradually dies down.

SABINA (shouting to the crowd):
     Now, as an example of the fate that awaits those few who still oppose the goddess (pauses) --and me--I offer you a dozen members of (scornful) the cult of Eli.

The crowd roars as guards roughly haul a group of Elijans onto the sand.

Zoom in on Artemis' face. Her eyes glitter and the corner of her mouth twitches in a small, sadistic smile. The camera pulls back to show Sabina; unnoticed, she gives Artemis a slightly contemtptuous look.

SABINA:
     My goddess.

ARTEMIS (raises her voice):
     Bring on the lions!

Pan down to the arena. The Elijans kneel on the bloodstained sand and begin to pray. Their clothes are torn and many look like they have been beaten.

Pan to Sabina, who looks aloof and rather bored. She glances down at the Elijans. The camera pans back to them and zooms in on one Elijan woman, who raises her head as she chants a prayer with the others. We recognize her as Siran.

Pan back to Sabina, who momentarily looks shocked; her face reflects a struggle. Then, she rises and holds out her hand, stilling the crowd. Artemis glances at her in surprise.

SABINA:
     The goddess is terrible in her wrath--but she can also be merciful. She chooses to spare one of these deluded criminals and give her another chance.

The camera pulls back to show Sabina pointing to Siran and giving orders to a Praetorian guard standing next to her. He walks down to the arena as some people in the crowd applaud and others murmur in displeasure. The camera pulls in on one spectator, a middle-aged, portly Roman in a toga.

SPECTATOR (yells out as he gives a thumb-down gesture):
     No mercy! No mercy for the criminals! Let them all die for the glory of Artemis!

Sabina fixes him with a glare.

SABINA:
     Are you questioning the goddess?

Pan to the spectator, who turns pale and stammers.

SPECTATOR:
     N-no, Empress--I j-just--m-meant that they're--they're all t-traitors to Rome and--and to the g-goddess--

As he speaks, the camera pans away for a long shot of the arena. We see the Praetorian grab Siran and drag her away as she struggles; her shout, "I want to die with them!" can be heard in the distance. Then pan back to Sabina, who looks on, her face inscrutable. She turns to look once again at the spectator who questioned her. There is a small, cruel grin on her face.

SABINA:
     You'll take her place.

Long shot of the spectators' rows. Two guards drag the man off his seat as he screams.

The crowd roars its approval.

Pan down to the arena, for a close-up of the Elijans praying; then, to the other end of the arena where several lions are released.

Close-up on a lion roaring, its teeth bared.

Close-up on Artemis, a look of pleasure on her face.

CUT TO

Ares and Xena's tent. Eve is now with Xena and Ares.

EVE:
     So we're stocking up on supplies while we have the chance? (looks at Xena) Why, what are you going to do? You must have some plan...I don't know how much longer this undercover war can last.

XENA:
     At this rate, not long at all. And yes, we do have a plan, but we need some reinforcements before we can go ahead with it. (off Eve's look) We're going to take Rome.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO