FADE IN

It's pouring rain now.

Xena lets out her battle cry as she attacks a strong, fierce warrior woman. She flips over the woman's head and lands across from her. The warrior woman is in silver armor with blue accents and a very distinct half moon and arrow carved into the metal of the breastplate. They also wear headbands with a pendent of the same moon/arrow emblem that hangs down over the bridge of their noses.

WOMAN WARRIOR (sneers):
     You defy Artemis?

XENA (snarls back):
     Every day.

Pull back to show the fight is taking place on the shoreline, the view of a large, gold and marble temple standing on a cliff behind them. There are already many dead or unconscious warrior women lying around them.

ON-SCREEN TITLE: Ephesus.

Xena's feet shuffle on the wet sand as she and the warrior woman circle one another. Ares jumps into view as he pushes another female warrior and knocks her down nearly at Xena's feet. Ares gives her a swift kick in the back and she rolls across the sand. Her head hits a piece of wood and she is knocked out.

Pan back to show four Elijans huddled behind an outcrop of rocks on the shore. Darion is with them, holding Samuel in his arms and shielding his face from the rain. They watch Xena, Gabrielle and Ares fight.

Xena stabs the warrior women she'd been fighting and as she dies, Xena steps back. Gabrielle comes running up, breathing hard from the fighting. They look up and see three other warriors sitting on horseback in front of them. With them, there is a man on a horse of his own. He's dressed in robes similar to that of Artemis' worshipers. He wears a small feathered headband.

XENA (her sword extended, ready for more):
     Had enough?

The warrior women in front of the others, clearly the leader, hisses at Xena and then turns her horse around, riding off. The other two warriors follow. The man on horseback lingers a bit, looking uncertain, and then follows. Xena, Gabrielle and Ares watch until they have disappeared around the cliff.

The Elijans come out of hiding, as do Darion and Samuel. Gabrielle turns to them. Just then, a warrior at Gabrielle's feet stirs, grabbing her sword and tries to stab Gabrielle in the leg. Gabrielle notices her intentions and quickly bends down, pushing her sai into the woman's chest. The warrior dies.

Gabrielle looks down at the dead body and then at the blade of the sai. The blood covering it slowly washes off in the rain as if it had never been there. She is very troubled.

Pan around to show Xena's troubled expression that matches Gabrielle's.

Suddenly, a flash of green light illuminates the scene. Everyone turns to see Artemis standing on top of the outcrop of rocks that the Elijans had been hiding behind before. Her posture is commanding and much scarier than ever before, her eyes glowing slightly with green.

ARTEMIS:
     This is my city.

She holds out her hands and the bodies of two people dressed in robes appear, her hands held tightly around their necks. They are dead. She drops them carelessly to the ground, their bodies rolling across the sand, their robes tattered and stained with blood.

ARTEMIS (in a low, deep, eerie voice that almost echoes):
     Leave now...unless you wish to join them.

In a flash, she is gone. Gabrielle comes up and holds a frightened Darion close, while Xena, Ares and the Elijans stand, frozen. The Elijans walk toward the bodies of the people Artemis had brought and when they get closer, they gasp. Xena, Ares and Gabrielle look as well. The dead are the two leaders of the Elijans, Felix and Petronia from Judgment Calls, Ashes To Ashes and Take Two.

Gabrielle brings a hand to her mouth in shock; Xena looks on sorrowfully.

The Elijans begin to pray over their bodies, kneeling down and bowing their heads. Some of them are crying. Gabrielle looks around, seeing all the dead warriors around her and the rain coming down around them.

GABRIELLE (solemn):
     The storm has come.

DISSOLVE TO

The shoreline. Some time later. The rain has nearly stopped. The four Elijans are carrying Felix and Petronia into the city in a ceremonial procession. Other Elijans have gathered around the four carrying the dead bodies of their leaders, their heads are bowed in a show of respect. Gabrielle and Darion are watching them from beside a building. Gabrielle holds Samuel in her arms.

As the Elijans walk past, Xena comes forward toward Gabrielle, putting a hand on her shoulder.

XENA:
     The ceremony will start soon.

GABRIELLE (nods, sadly, turning her head as the Elijans disappear inside a building):
     They were strong. I'm sure they stood by their cause until the very end. (pause) They were good people.

XENA (nods, following her gaze):
     They were.

DISSOLVE TO

A small, fenced-in yard behind one of the buildings in Ephesus. There are many gravestones. The Elijans are gathered around two fresh mounds of dirt under a large tree. A simple wooden gravestone with Elijan markings carved into them sit behind each mound of dirt.

Xena and Gabrielle are standing outside of the Elijan circle, black cloaks covering their clothes in a show of respect and mourning.

ELIJAN PRIEST (holding a staff with a banner hanging from it that displays the Elijan fish emblem):
     In life, Felix and Petronia were good, noble people. In death, they will live on in God's grace. We commit their bodies to the ground, and allow their souls to soar. May we never forget their deeds in life as we honor them in Heaven.

The Elijans bow their heads, praying silently.

Pan back to show Gabrielle and Xena bowing their heads, as well.

DISSOLVE TO

After the funeral service. Xena and Gabrielle are standing outside of the graveyard as the Elijans slowly begin to walk out, some lingering longer than others. Gabrielle has her hands on the posts of the wooden fence surrounding the graveyard, looking quietly at the graves of Felix and Petronia. Freshly cut flowers have now been placed around the gravestones, offering a bit of color in such a bleak scene.

An Elijan man steps up to Xena and Gabrielle, followed by three other Elijans, two men and one woman.

ELIJAN MAN:
     Thank you for what you did earlier, saving us from Artemis' warriors. We didn't get the chance to say it before.

GABRIELLE (nods):
      You're welcome.

XENA:
      Why were they after you?

The Elijan man looks down, somewhat ashamed. One of the other Elijans steps up.

ELIJAN MAN #2:
      We had been caught--trying to break our friends out of the jail. We surely would have been executed if not for you.

GABRIELLE:
      Why are your friends in jail?

ELIJAN WOMAN:
      We're told it's because they committed crimes against the goddess--desecrated a shrine, beat up a guard. (with fervor) All lies! No Elijan would do such things! We know they're feeding us these lies to hide the truth.

GABRIELLE:
      Truth?

ELIJAN WOMAN:
     That they were taken because of their faith. (vehemently) Persecution, that's what it is!

The Elijan Priest who had lead the ceremony for Felix and Petronia walks up, still holding the banner. He's an older man and looks wise and noble.

ELIJAN PRIEST (placing a gentle hand on the woman's shoulder):
      Calm yourself, Nela.

Nela sighs and nods. The Elijan Priest turns to Xena and Gabrielle.

ELIJAN PRIEST:
     These are hard times we live in. We have been able to live in relative peace with the worshipers of Artemis but sometimes, relations become strained.

NELA (getting angry again):
     Artemis rules this city and everyone in it. Well, (looks at the group of Elijans) almost everyone. She's converted nearly the entire town to her way of thinking. They bow at her feet, make sacrifices to her daily. (gestures to the group of Elijans) We are the only ones here who don't.

The Elijan Priest tries to calm Nela again.

GABRIELLE (shocked):
     Did she kill all the others?

ELIJAN MAN (shakes head):
     No. (pause, close up on his face) Many of them have joined her. (Gabrielle looks at Xena, concerned) They would rather change their faith than die for a "useless cause". Their words, not ours. The rest...lie dead in that graveyard. (gestures forward)

GABRIELLE (sad):
     I'm sorry.

ELIJAN MAN (looking at Xena):
     That man who was with Artemis' warriors on the beach-- (Xena nods slowly, knowing who the Elijan is talking about because she'd seen him) --that's Kyros. He was one of the most devoted, pure followers I have ever seen. He was an orphan in his young life who looked up to Felix and Petronia as if they were his birth family. In the end, he lost all faith and hope in Eli because he feared Artemis' power. Now...he does her bidding.

Gabrielle lowers her head.

ELIJAN MAN #2:
     Every day I pray for those who have lost their way, that they might one day see the light.

ELIJAN PRIEST (to Xena and Gabrielle):
     We're lucky to have warriors like you here with us.

A young Elijan boy walks up, looking at Xena and Gabrielle with rapt adoration.

YOUNG ELIJAN (to the Priest):
     What if they are the ones foretold by Thanos? (to Xena) She's a strong warrior. Surely, she's been sent by Eli himself.

XENA:
      I wasn't sent by Eli. I just fight--wherever it's needed.

The Elijan Priest smiles, laying a hand on the boy's shoulder.

ELIJAN PRIEST:
     Now, now, Cole. (to Xena) I'm sorry about that. He can be quite passionate.

GABRIELLE:
     Who is Thanos?

ELIJAN PRIEST:
     He was the oldest and wisest Elijan in this city. He died four days ago. On his deathbed, he foretold that a warrior who is called the Messenger of Eli would come to lead us against Artemis with an army sent by God. At first, we found it strange that a warrior could be Eli's Messenger, since his teachings condemned all violence--but perhaps in these terrible times, this is what Eli and his God would want for our protection.

Zoom in on Xena's shocked expression.

XENA:
     The Messenger?

DISSOLVE TO

A forest clearing. It's cloudy but the sun shines through the clouds.

An army of about 70 or so is camped amongst the tall trees, tents set up. There are many men and women in armor. Many of them are dressed differently from one another: some wear black armor with silver and metal studs in the leather, some are women in silver with bows and arrows, and silver headdresses with beads dangling from them, some are in black armor with red accents with a lightning bolt carved into the breastplate, and still others wear black armor with silver and blue accents, a peacock feather etched into the metal.

Pan across the campsite and up a small hill where Eve, wearing a red-leather Amazon outfit and headband, is leaning against a large poplar tree, sleeping. Close in on her face as she seems to be twitching restlessly.

FLASH TO

Inside Eve's dream.

Brief, rapid flashes appear on screen:

* Eve's birth and Zeus' death;
* the light shining on Eve's face just as she prepares to kill her mother;
* Xena hugging Gabrielle and Eve after Ares has revived them;
* the gods emerging from the spheres in which they were trapped in Hell;
* Eve fighting back against Artemis with the Amazons at her side;
* Eli's face in a portal of swirling clouds in the bright blue sky, saying something inaudible, his face gentle.

FLASH TO

Still within the dream, close up on Eve's face as she is standing on the dark streets of Rome. Destruction is all around her. The sky is a dark black, only the glow from the fires in the distance providing light; large plumes of smoke rise into the air. Eve's expression is of sorrow. Pull back to show her standing in the outfit we saw her in during the future in The Dark Ages. Bodies lie dead all around her, mutilated and burning. A tear falls from her eye as she scans the scene.

A short distance away, her eyes fix on a very familiar looking object--the chakram. She runs forward, looking at it. It's cracked in half, jagged, not split along its normal breaking point. She picks it up and as she does, something catches her eye. She gasps and drops the chakram, the camera tracks downward as it slowly falls and clatters to the ground with a resonating echo.

Pull back to show what she is looking at.

Xena and Ares are lying facing each other amongst the rubble of a collapsed building. Their bodies are very bloody, their leather torn, their eyes closed. Ares' arm is extended out, and so is Xena's, their fingers are nearly touching as if they were reaching for each other as they died.

Eve stands, shell shocked, as the tears begin streaming down her cheeks. She brings a hand to her face and cries.

FLASH TO

Eve jolts upright, waking from the nightmare. She breathes deep. The nightmare has bled into reality and her eyes have tears in them.

Pan back to show Virgil walking into view, carrying a bowl with some porridge in it. He stops, seeing Eve's distressed look, the tears in her eyes, her hand on her head as she looks down. He walks up, kneeling down in front of her. She hasn't noticed him yet.

VIRGIL (frowns):
     Another dream?

EVE (nods and wipes her eyes):
     I haven't been getting much sleep lately because of these nightmares. I thought taking a quick nap would help. But... (sighs)

Virgil sets the bowl of porridge on the ground in front of her and reaches out, running his hand along her face and through her hair, gently. She looks back at him.

VIRGIL:
      How much longer are you going to let this torment you?

Eve, suddenly defensive, tenses up and moves back. He moves his hand away.

EVE:
     I didn't choose to have these dreams, Virgil. I didn't choose to be in the middle of all this from the moment I was born--or even before I was born. I just have to deal with it.

VIRGIL (edgy):
     What do you expect to do once we get to Ephesus? Fight and kill Artemis yourself?

EVE:
     If that's what it takes.

VIRGIL:
     And what if she kills you?

Eve is silent, then stands up, and Virgil does, as well.

EVE:
     You don't-- (her voice breaks a little) you don't know...what it was like in the future. The desolation. The hopelessness. Ephesus is where Artemis was most powerful. It was where Gabrielle had written about her final battle, and where she died. Whatever happens there will set that future in motion. (pause, with determination) I've seen it. And I can't-- (her voice breaks briefly at the memories) --I can't let it come true if there's anything I can do about it.

Eve sighs, looks down and turns her back to Virgil.

EVE (softly):
     If you don't want to come with me...I understand.

Virgil watches her silently for a moment, then speaks.

VIRGIL:
     I'm not going back.

Eve doesn't look back at him. There is a long pause before a hand rests on her shoulder from behind.

VIRGIL:
     I'm sorry. (she looks at him) I'm here for you, as long as you want me.

EVE (nods):
     Thank you.

Virgil walks back to the bowl, picks it up off the ground and then steps in front of Eve, handing it to her.

VIRGIL (gently):
     You should eat.

Eve nods, taking the bowl from him and smiling just a little. Then she turns to look sideways, down the small hill toward the campsite below--and the armies gathered there.

EVE:
     There's going to be a big battle when we reach Ephesus. Zeus, Hera, Athena and Poseidon all joining their most skilled fighters together for one cause: to fight against Artemis... (shakes head) I never thought I'd be fighting with them...but it's my duty to stop her.

MAN (off-camera):
     Mine, too.

Eve and Virgil turn to see a man with long, slightly curly black hair, wearing a black cloak and armor underneath, coming up to them. It's Evander. Eve greets him with a nod; it's obvious that they have met before, in this timeline.

EVANDER:
     We're in this for a common cause. (steps closer to Eve and smiles as Virgil watches) I'm just glad to have the daughter of the Legendary Xena (his voice drops slightly) by my side.

Eve nods. Pan around to show Virgil looking somewhat wary.

CUT TO

Xena and Gabrielle are walking through the streets of Ephesus.

GABRIELLE:
     Do you really think Eve is calling herself The Messenger again?

XENA (shakes head):
     She gave that up a long time ago.

GABRIELLE:
     Maybe with the Twilight she has found renewed faith in the cause she was born for?

Xena gives her a thoughtful look.

The two of them come to the base of the small hill leading up to the temple doors, female guards posted on either side of the temple with spears and bows and a quiver of arrows at their backs. Flags depicting a crescent moon pierced by an arrow line the marble walkway leading to the top, about every seven feet or so.

Xena and Gabrielle stop walking, looking up at the temple.

GABRIELLE:
     I'm worried about what Artemis will do, Xena. (Xena turns sharply toward her) She didn't exactly give us a friendly greeting when we arrived. And now, after we destroyed her plans for Brygus and turned some of her worshipers away from her... There's no telling what she is capable of.

Xena looks thoughtful, then puts on a cheerful front.

XENA:
     Well, if she can dish it out (grins crookedly) we'll see if she can take it.

GABRIELLE (nods thoughtfully, then looks up at the temple):
     I think she's changed.

XENA (frowns):
     How?

GABRIELLE:
     She's colder, harder...more ruthless.

XENA (scoffs):
     Right. So unlike the warm and cuddly Artemis we all know and love.

GABRIELLE (shakes her head with a rueful smile, then turns serious):
     That's just it, though. She's worse than before. It's not me I'm worried about...

XENA (after a brief pause):
     Darion and Samuel are safe--Ares is watching them. (touches Gabrielle's shoulder) Don't worry.

GABRIELLE:
     You know, I wonder if everything that has happened has driven Artemis crazy. Losing her brother, being rejected by her family... (sheepishly) Maybe I'm crazy too--but...in some small way, I feel sorry for her.

XENA:
     You're right. (beat) You're crazy.

GABRIELLE (chuckles and sighs, then changes the subject):
     You know what's crazy? Coming here without a plan. This is the one time we should have had a plan first. Anything could happen.

Suddenly, there is a loud noise--a bang of metal followed by shouts--and the camera pans to show the doors of the temple flying open. A man runs out, dressed in robes of blue, black and silver, the kind worn by people in high positions in the Artemis cult. He stumbles a bit as several female warriors of Artemis chase him down; running down the hill, he trips and falls, rolling the rest of the way down and landing hard in the dirt at the base. Artemis' warriors catch up with him and start kicking him; one of them draws a sword.

Xena charges the woman with the sword and kicks the sword out of her hand, then kicks her in the gut as the warrior doubles over in pain. Gabrielle pushes another one away, takes the blunt end of the sai to her head and knocks her out cold. Xena faces the last two warriors. Splitting her chakram in two and holding one half in each hand, she attacks, slicing this way and that, forcing the warriors to back away from the man. While Xena finishes with the two remaining warriors in the background, Gabrielle kneels down next to the man. His head is bleeding and he seems dizzy and disoriented.

GABRIELLE:
     You'll be all right.

MAN:
     I--

He passes out.

Gabrielle looks up; the fighting has stopped. Xena comes around, standing across from Gabrielle and looking down at the man.

XENA (realizing):
     This is Kyros, the Elijan traitor.

Gabrielle looks back at the man, surprised.

GABRIELLE (to Xena):
     Let's get him out of here. Then we'll find out what happened.

Xena nods and picks up Kyros' feet while Gabrielle lifts him up from behind his shoulders. They carry him away. In the background, the warriors of Artemis lie unconscious at the base of the temple hill.

CUT TO

Eve is in the forest, kneeling down in front of a stream with several waterskins, filling each one. In the silence of the forest, she hears murmuring and humming and turns to look in the direction of the sound.

CUT TO

A small grove beside the stream. A dozen or so Elijans are gathered in a circle, holding hands and praying. A metal Elijan fish statue sits in the center of the circle. Eve walks toward them but stops a distance away so as not to disturb them.

ELIJAN WOMAN (her eyes closed, praying):
     Eli, give us strength and guidance, for we cannot do this on our own. Hard times are ahead but since you have sent your Messenger to watch over us, protect us and guide us, we have no fear.

Pan to Eve, a shocked expression on her face. She steps forward and a twig breaks underneath her foot. The crack breaks the concentration of the Elijans and they open their eyes, looking back in her direction. The Elijan woman that had been speaking before notices Eve and smiles, standing.

ELIJAN WOMAN:
     Did you wish to join in our prayers? (she notices the sword at Eve's back, clearly realizing that she is a warrior) Eli can save anyone from their sins if that is what you seek.

EVE (shakes head):
     No, I just-- I'm sorry to have disturbed you. (pause) You said the Messenger is leading you. I'm--

ELIJAIN WOMAN:
     Oh yes. We can take you to him.

EVE (surprised):
      Him?

CUT TO

Back at the camp. Evander is standing beside his horse. The camp has nearly been dismantled, and the army is packed up and almost ready to head out.

Evander sees Eve walking toward him, the group of Elijans with her. They come up to Evander and nod.

ELIJAN WOMAN (holding her hand out toward Evander):
     The Messenger of Eli.

Zoom in on Eve, her expression of shock and confusion.

EVE:
     You?

Pan to a close-up of Evander's face as he nods with pride and conviction.

EVANDER:
     Yes.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT ONE