ACT TWO
FADE IN
Gabrielle reaches out to touch Joxer but he backs away.
JOXER:
No. I'm a ghost. You can't touch me.
GABRIELLE (almost crying):
I've missed you.
JOXER:
Me too.
GABRIELLE (suddenly gives him a suspicious look):
Joxer--last time you appeared to me after you died, you were trying to get me to kill Eve...
JOXER (shakes his head):
Gabby, Gabby, Gabby. Does that sound like something I would do? I held Eve in my arms when she was just a baby. No matter what she became or what she did...I could have never wished her harm.
GABRIELLE:
So that wasn't you?
JOXER:
Nope. Just the Furies messing with your head.
GABRIELLE:
Joxer...I'm so glad. I always wondered if you were mad at me because I forgave Eve.
JOXER:
Me? Naah. And you know...if I had been...I could never, you know, stay mad at you for very long.
GABRIELLE (smiles wistfully and then turns away, a little uncomfortable):
So why have you come back now?
JOXER:
This town was my home, Gabrielle--for many years. I bet you didn't know Virgil was born here. I came...because I can't let it be destroyed.
GABRIELLE:
Xena and I are on it, Joxer. Don't you worry. We'll deal with Nicodemus one way or another.
JOXER:
Hey, I'm glad you two are still on the job. You know, helping people, righting wrongs and all that. And with no help from Joxer the Mighty. (Joxer looks down, then back at Gabrielle) I have to go now. We're only allowed on the mortal plane for a little bit at a time.
Joxer starts to disappear.
GABRIELLE:
Wait, wait--wait! (but Joxer's already gone, and Gabrielle looks down and whispers tearfully) I'm sorry you had to die because of me.
CUT TO
Xena is galloping through the night toward a lighted camp ahead. She dismounts near the camp and walks up to the largest tent. Two guards stand outside of it. Quietly she creeps up behind them and slams their heads together, knocking them out. She smirks and then causally walks into the tent.
CUT TO
A tall armored man pacing inside, fiddling with a dagger in his hand.
XENA:
Nicodemus.
He quickly turns his head and sees Xena standing in front of him.
NICODEMUS:
Xena. How did you get--
XENA:
I have many skills, or have you forgotten?
NICODEMUS:
You just refreshed my memory.
XENA (gives him a puzzled frowns):
You don't look much older than the last time we met.
NICODEMUS:
Neither do you.
XENA:
I have a good reason.
NICODEMUS:
Well, I guess so do I. (sneers) So, what brings you here? I thought one meeting on the battlefield would be enough to satisfy you.
XENA:
I guess I'm not easily satisfied.
NICODEMUS:
So, what can I do for you?
XENA:
You could start by leaving Coronea alone.
NICODEMUS:
Ah, Coronea. I knew you had to be here for something.
XENA:
I want to make a deal. (Nicodemus raises his eyebrows) You lift the siege...
NICODEMUS:
And you?
XENA:
I leave you your army.
NICODEMUS:
That doesn't sound like a very fair bargain. You're pretty sure of yourself, aren't you?
XENA:
Nicodemus, I know you're not a very merciful man, but you're reasonable. Those people are not giving up. If they die of hunger, they'll be of no use to you at all. Are you going to install yourself as the ruler of a town full of dead bodies?
Nicodemus places the dagger on a table next to him and walks toward her, sternly.
NICODEMUS:
I don't think we're going to be making any deals, Xena, because you haven't got any bargaining chips. I'm just doing my duty. Ares will be able to reward me a lot better than you.
XENA (shocked):
Ares?
NICODEMUS:
Everything I do, I do in the name of Ares.
XENA (frowns, speaking as if to herself):
That sounds so familiar... (speaks up) I don't believe you.
NICODEMUS:
Believe whatever you want. Ares is behind me.
XENA:
Oh yeah? Well, you try to mess with Coronea and you'll find me right in front of you. I'll stop you one way or the other.
Xena turns away but is stopped short by Nicodemus' voice.
NICODEMUS:
Xena. If I ever see you again, I won't hesitate to kill you. (sneering) Just for old times' sake.
XENA (turns, her eyes steely):
Now, you know, that's really familiar. I've heard it a million times before--and you know what? It doesn't get any scarier after a while.
Xena turns and walks out of the tent.
CUT TO
The sun is just coming up. Xena is riding through the forest back to Coronea when she halts Argo suddenly. In front of her Ares appears.
XENA:
Ares--
ARES (quickly):
Xena, I have nothing to do with the siege of Coronea.
XENA (reluctantly):
I didn't think you did.
ARES:
Nicodemus is in my service, but I never sent him to attack this town. He was supposed to take his army to Delium.
XENA:
I heard something was going on there. Two towns fighting each other over a couple of scraps of land--we were planning on going there next.
ARES:
Yeah. So...it seems Nicodemus has disobeyed me.
XENA (smirks):
Maybe you're just not scary enough these days.
ARES:
Scary? You want me to be scary?
XENA (still smirking):
Let me get back to you on that.
ARES:
Well, I promise you, he'll pay.
Pause.
XENA:
I have to get back to the town.
She kicks Argo gently and she starts off but before she can go very far, Ares grabs the reins, stopping her horse. Xena looks at him, a little confused.
ARES:
Xena, you know, I could just zap the guy for insubordination.
XENA (thinks a moment):
Ares, I don't mind accepting your help when it's for the Greater Good. (he shudders theatrically at the words and she smiles) But you know, if I start relying on your godlike powers to bail me out all the time, I'll no longer be the person I want to be...or the kind of person you want to be with. I have to do this my way.
ARES (smiles fondly):
What a surprise.
Xena smiles and then urges Argo on, galloping off past Ares further through the forest.
CUT TO
Eve and Gabrielle are on a square by the town gates, in the middle of a crowd of villagers who are all talking at once.
WOMAN #1:
There is no way this siege will ever be lifted. (the crowd murmurs in agreement) We're going to die before we're free. There's no hope.
EVE:
There's always hope. If you believe there is, anything can happen.
Skeptical murmurs in the crowd.
WOMAN #2 (shakes head):
I don't see how you three will be able to stop Nicodemus. He's got a whole army out there.
GABRIELLE:
We've got Xena. And you've got--your love of freedom. Your love for your town.
MAN #1:
Maybe with Xena's help, this siege will be broken. And then what? Some other greedy warlord will pass this way and we'll be under attack again. It's either the warlords, or the Romans, or the Persians. Will there ever be a time when we, or our children, or our children's children, won't always have to live wondering what new calamity tomorrow will bring?
GABRIELLE:
Xena and I... (she pauses) ...and Eve...we have spent our whole lives trying to create a better world. A world in which people can live and work and raise their children in peace and freedom. I know it seems like a crazy dream now, but... (pausing, she looks around the room at everyone and then at Eve) ...we have to have faith.
EVE:
I know how you all feel--thinking there's no way you're going to survive this. But I promise, it will get better someday.
Music fades in: "Someday" 
{3.96 MB} (Right-click or Ctrl-click sound icon to save file)
Eve looks at Gabrielle and then steps out in front of the entire crowd.
EVE (singing):
Someday
When we are wiser
When the world's older
When we have learned
I pray
Someday we may yet live
To live and let live
The townspeople look at each other, thinking.
EVE (singing):
Someday
Life will be fairer
Need will be rarer
And Greed will not pay
Godspeed
This bright millennium
On it's way
Let it come someday
Eve smiles at Gabrielle who smiles back.
GABRIELLE (singing):
Someday
Our fight will be won then
We'll stand in the sun then
That bright afternoon
'Till then
On days when the sun is gone
We'll hang on
And we'll wish upon the moon
A beat.
EVE (singing):
There are some days dark and bitter
Seems we haven't got a prayer
GABRIELLE (singing):
But a prayer for something better
Is the one thing we all share
Smiles begin to grow across the villager's faces.
EVE and GABRIELLE (singing):
Someday
When we are wiser
When the world's older
When we have learned
I pray
Someday we may yet live
To live, to live, to live and yet live
EVERYONE (singing):
Someday
Life will be fairer
Need will be rarer
Greed will not pay
God speed
This bright millennium
Let it come
And we'll wish upon the moon
GABRIELLE (singing):
One day
Some day
EVE (singing):
Soon
The music fades. Gabrielle puts a hand on Eve's shoulder and they both smile.
WOMAN #1:
We can't give up.
The crowd nods and murmurs in agreement. Suddenly, screams are heard coming from beyond the city walls.
VOICE (beyond the walls):
Kill the dogs!
Gabrielle and Eve look at each other; the townspeople look at them. Gabrielle draws her sais as we:
FADE OUT
END OF ACT TWO