FADE IN

[MONTAGE OF PREVIOUS EPISODE]

ANNOUNCER:
     Previously on Xena...

A room in an abandoned house.

XENA:
     You have been human, Ares. I think that human part of you is still inside you.

Xena and Ares are on a bed, kissing. Ares lifts up his head to look at Xena, who looks uncertain and a little confused. He starts to pull away, but Xena gently tightens her grip on his back. She pulls him down and they start to kiss again.

CUT TO

Xena and Gabrielle riding through the deserted streets of Athens.

GABRIELLE:
     There isn't a soul in sight. What could have happened to all those people?

CUT TO

Xena and Gabrielle at the city gates, looking out an army headed toward the city.

XENA:
     It's the Persian army.

CUT TO

The Persian camp.

MARDONIUS:
     Xena, the legendary Warrior Princess... (to his lieutenant) You know what happened the last time one of our armies crossed her path?

CUT TO

Athena's quarter on Olympus.

ATHENA:
     The Athenians and the Spartans have agreed to join forces to fight the Persian invasion.

ARES:
     Really. (sarcastic) The beginning of a beautiful friendship?

ATHENA (leans forward on her elbows and stares at him intently):
     Brother, I know that the hostilities between Athens and Sparta go a long way back. And I know you've had a hand in those hostilities. But this alliance is too important right now for you to mess it up. So I suggest you stay out of this.

CUT TO

A messenger pigeon flying over the Athenian army camp. It flies down into the hands of one of the soldiers, who carefully detaches a scroll from bird's leg and goes inside the command tent.

CUT TO

Xena and Ares sitting by a brook. Gabrielle stands facing them; she is out of breath.

GABRIELLE:
     You know the Spartan army that was supposed to be on its way here? Well, it isn't. Pausanias, the Spartan commander, made the agreement with Tydeus. When he got back to Sparta, he was overruled by the governing council. Xena, they still mistrust the Athenians...they don't want an alliance.

XENA:
     This will mean the destruction of Athens and Sparta...perhaps all of Greece.

GABRIELLE:
     Unless we do something.

She looks from Xena to Ares.

[END MONTAGE]

The same scene as at the end of the previous episode: Xena and Ares sitting by the brook, Gabrielle standing in front of them and looking back and forth from Xena to Ares.

ARES (to Xena):
     Well, I guess this is the point at which someone asks, "What's the plan?"

XENA (grimly):
     There is no plan...as yet. But I do have an idea. And I'm going to need your help.

ARES (grins):
     Poor Uncle Hades. It must be a cold day in Tartarus.

XENA (smiles a little):
     Don't get too smug. I only need your help because there's no time to lose.

ARES:
     Let me guess...shuttle service? Where to?

XENA:
     Sparta.

CUT TO

The hall of the governing council in Sparta--a grand but very austere, minimally decorated interior. Seven council members, four men and three women in long dark blue robes with golden medallions on their necks, are sitting in armchairs on a circular platform, with Pausanias standing in the center.

COUNCILMAN #1:
     This is not satisfactory, Pausanias. We were hoping that the wall fortifications would be much further along by now.

PAUSANIAS (looks exasperated):
     With all due respect, Sir, we haven't had much time--the army had been preparing for a very different task.

COUNCILWOMAN #1:
     Joining the Athenians in their campaign. Yes, Pausanias, we know that you would much rather take that course of action. But the council has made its decision.

PAUSANIAS (bitterly):
     To put off the fighting until the Persians are at our gates.

COUNCILMAN #2:
     If the Persians meet the Athenian army in the field, the Athenians won't be able to defeat them, but the battle will surely weaken the Persian forces. If they attack us then, we will be ready for them. And we won't have anything to fear from Athens for a long time.

PAUSANIAS:
     I beg you, once again, to reconsider. If the report I have heard is true, Xena, the great Warrior Princess, has joined the Athenian army. With her on our side--

COUNCILMAN #1:
     Xena has never been a friend to Sparta. She fought for the Athenians in the last war.

COUNCILWOMAN #1 (sarcastic):
     And if she's as good as everyone says she is, she should be able to lead the Athenians to victory without any help from us.

COUNCILWOMAN #2 (sadly):
     Pausanias, you know I was on your side in this matter. But the council has voted, and there is nothing more to be said. You have to continue fortifying the walls.

CUT TO

The hallway. Pausanias comes out of the council room, looking grim. Xena and Gabrielle are walking toward him, accompanied by a guard.

GUARD:
     That's him.

Pausanias looks up, surprised.

XENA:
     Pausanias?

PAUSANIAS (coldly):
     That's me. And you are--

XENA:
     Xena.

GABRIELLE:
     Gabrielle.

PAUSANIAS (shocked):
     Xena? Impossible! I was told you were with the Athenian army.

XENA:
     We were.

PAUSANIAS (skeptical):
     Unless you travel faster than a messenger pigeon--

XENA (smirking):
     We took the express.

Gabrielle can't help chuckling.

PAUSANIAS (frowns):
     If you really were with the Athenian army, then you must know this isn't a very good time for jokes.

XENA (bitterly):
     That's exactly what I was going to tell you, Pausanias. Was it a joke when you pledged your support to the Athenians? No, wait--maybe the real joke is fortifying the walls in the hope than you can keep out a hundred thousand Persians.

PAUSANIAS (defensively):
     It wasn't my call. The council overruled me.

GABRIELLE:
     Then we'll talk to the council.

PAUSANIAS (looks at them hopefully but somewhat doubtfully):
     I don't think you'll be very popular in there.

XENA:
     That's just as well. We're not here to win a popularity contest.

FADE OUT

END OF TEASER