FADE IN

Morning. Xena and Gabrielle are packing up the campsite. In the distance, the sound of splashing water and loud, boisterous laughter can be heard. They work in silence. Xena grins when she sees Gabrielle yawn.

GABRIELLE:
     What?

XENA:
     Late night, huh?

GABRIELLE:
     It's not what you think.

XENA (smirking):
     Sure it isn't.

GABRIELLE (sharply):
     Sorry to disappoint you, Xena but after chasing off Taphius, almost breaking Haimon's jaw and taking care of Darion, I didn't have a lot of energy left for...anything else.

XENA:
     No wonder you're so cranky. (she frowns) I'm sorry. I shouldn't have run off with Ares last night. You and Haimon obviously need to talk.

GABRIELLE (sighs):
     I suppose we do.

Gabrielle glances over her shoulder towards the lake where Haimon is playing with Darion and Klymene. She smiles as she watches Haimon pick Darion up and throw the boy over his shoulder and into the water. Darion reappears on the surface, laughing hysterically.

KLYMENE:
     My turn!

GABRIELLE (bows her head):
     Haimon...he...he talked about the two of us settling down together.

Xena is clearly upset but hardly surprised by this.

XENA:
     And what was your answer?

GABRIELLE:
     I told him I'd think about it. Xena, you know I wouldn't make a decision like that without talking about it with you first. (she glances towards the lake again) But it would be good for Darion to have--

XENA:
     You mean if we can't find his sister.

GABRIELLE (blinks):
     Right. If we can't--

XENA:
     Gabrielle, I've already told you that I'll support whatever you decide.

GABRIELLE:
     But I don't want the two of us to--

XENA:
     Be separated like before? (Gabrielle nods) That's not going to happen. Who knows? Maybe I should think about settling down too.

GABRIELLE (smiles teasingly):
     You mean you and Ares? I think someone is going to have to get him pregnant before you get him to tie on the apron strings.

CUT TO

Xena, Gabrielle, and the others riding along a wide road.

XENA (sighs in exasperation):
     Well, we've lost them. Once they got out on the main road, it was hopeless--whatever tracks they've left have long been trampled by other riders.

EVE (points into the distance):
     Look, there's a village. Maybe we can stop there and find out something useful.

HAIMON:
     For the sake of that village, I hope not.

CUT TO

Xena, Gabrielle, and the others ride into a village. They stop outside the tavern and start to dismount.

CUT TO

Inside the tavern. Xena and the others are eating.

DARION:
     If I finish the lentil soup, can I have two desserts?

GABRIELLE (thinks a moment):
     Well, I suppose you can.

XENA (rolls her eyes):
     Watch out--pretty soon we'll be getting two desserts with every meal. (gets up) All right, you finish up here and I'll go take care of business.

She walks up to the tavern-keeper, a middle-aged woman with a kerchief tied carelessly around her graying hair.

XENA (leans on the bar):
     Hey. Everything quiet here lately?

TAVERN-KEEPER (gives her a bored look):
     As quiet as things can be in a tavern.

XENA:
     Seen anyone strange or unusual hanging around? (skipping a beat) Other than me and my friends.

TAVERN-KEEPER (chuckles):
     You don't know this village too well, do you? Traveling salesmen are about as unusual as it gets around here.

XENA:
     Nothing like, say, about a dozen riders passing through?

The door of the tavern bursts open with a loud clatter. Xena turns around, alarmed. A teenage boy, obviously one of the villagers, bursts in.

BOY (agitated, shouts at the top of his voice):
     Hey, come in and look! Traveling actors have just arrived!

XENA (gives the tavern-keeper a wry look):
     Well, at least it's not traveling salesmen.

An excited murmur swells up in the tavern and people start walking out to take a look at the new arrivals.

CUT TO

The square in front of the tavern. People from all over the village are coming up. A group of about a dozen people, mostly men, in brightly colored cloaks and robes are riding on horseback into the square. At the head of the procession is a man in a red-and-gold cloak with a turban of similar colors, with a curly, carefully styled dark beard. A group of children are running after the group, laughing and shouting.

Xena comes out of the tavern and stands by the door, arms folded on her chest, watching the scene before her. Gabrielle follows, holding Darion's hand, with Haimon close behind her, and then Eve and Klymene.

HEAD ACTOR (in the red and gold cloak):
     Greetings, my good people! We are actors from Athens, traveling the countryside to bring the fine pleasures of the theater to villagers like yourselves. (Shouts and applause in the square) We will perform a play for you today. (More shouts and applause) Since we are doing this for the love of our art and not for profit, we ask each of you to donate only what you feel you can afford--so that we can continue performing in other villages. (pauses for effect) Give ten dinars or give nothing--you are still welcome to the show!

The applause grows even louder. The head actor looks down at the crowd with a satisfied smile. The camera pans to Xena and Gabrielle while the voices of the crowd and the actors are heard in the background.

GABRIELLE (to Xena, smiling):
     Isn't it good to know that there are still people like this out there? You know, people who think about others and--

XENA:
     Who are a little too good to be true?

GABRIELLE (wrinkles her nose):
     You're such a cynic. I think Ares' company is having a bad--

DARION (tugs on her hand):
     Hey, I remember these guys!

GABRIELLE (gives him a surprised look):
     You do?

DARION:
     Yeah--they did a show in my village-- (his face suddenly turns troubled and he turns away, looking almost as if he were about to cry)

GABRIELLE (sits down on her haunches in front of him and gently takes his face in her hands):
     What is it, sweetheart?

DARION (sniffles a little):
     Nothing...I just remembered they did a show in my village the day before-- (he stumbles and looks away again)

GABRIELLE (understanding):
     The day before (her voice drops) the village was attacked?

Darion nods silently. The camera pans up to Xena, who has been listening to this conversation and has a very thoughtful look on her face. She turns from Darion to the actors. We see a wide shot of the square, some villagers coming up to the actors to give them money, others staying in the background. The camera pans closer and we see a young man with frizzy blond hair handing some coins to the head actor.

YOUNG MAN:
     Five dinars is usually a lot of money for me, but I can afford it--sold a prize calf on the market yesterday!

The camera pans back to Xena.

XENA (turns to Gabrielle):
     We're staying for the show.

GABRIELLE (stunned):
     We are? (stares at Xena) Xena, what was in that wine you just had back there?

XENA (gives her an amused look):
     Look who's a cynic now.

GABRIELLE:
     I wouldn't call it a cynic. I'm just being-- (she pauses, looking for a word)

XENA:
     --a realist? (smirks) That's what cynics always say.

EVE (looks curiously at Xena):
     Come on, Mother. You're not going to convince us that you've developed a sudden taste for theater. What are you up to?

XENA (stares thoughtfully at the actors, who are still being mobbed by the villagers):
     Just an idea I had. I need to think about it some more. Let's go back inside and finish dinner.

CUT TO

Evening in the village square. The villagers are seated around the actors, the wide circle they have formed makes up the performance area. There is a long shot of the performance over the shoulders of Xena and Gabrielle.

ACTRESS #1 (as Electra):
     ...Grab her! Get hold of her! Sword to her throat--keep her quiet...

Gabrielle turns to where Haimon is seated on the other side of her and her eyes widen in shock. Darion is asleep in his arms.

GABRIELLE:
     He fell asleep during Euripides?

HAIMON (grinning):
     Some people have no appreciation of culture.

XENA:
     I know just how he feels. I'd probably be there right alongside Darion if I wasn't working right now.

EVE:
     Mother, please! I'm trying to watch the play.

Xena holds up her hands disarmingly and they all fall silent. The performance goes on.

ACTORS (as Chorus):
     ...the music! Raise the roof!
     Let them think "it's just the chorus"--
     The victim's screams will not be heard.

Gabrielle ponders in silence a moment or two and finally:

GABRIELLE:
     Xena, you know I usually trust your instincts, but this time I think you're way off.

XENA (shrugs):
     We'll see.

GABRIELLE:
     Artists create--they don't destroy!

XENA:
     And there's never an exception to that rule?

Both Haimon and Eve cast a cautious, sidelong glance at Gabrielle. Eve leans over to whisper to Haimon.

EVE:
     Haimon, why don't you take Darion back to the tavern and put him to bed?

Haimon nods a touch eagerly and carries Darion away.

GABRIELLE (laughs nervously):
     Of course there are exceptions. There are always exceptions. What? Are you--?

XENA:
     I'm just saying that an appreciation of fine poetry doesn't necessarily make someone a good person.

GABRIELLE (she looks away):
     Let's just wait and see what happens.

ACTOR #2 (as The Phyrigian):
     ...How shall I flee, stranger women? Shall I grow wings and soar through the sullen sky Or boat across the surging Ocean tides?

CUT TO

Gabrielle pushing her way through the crowd toward the actors after the performance. She comes up to the head actor.

GABRIELLE:
     That was wonderful! You know, I've been to some of the finest theaters in Greece--Athens, Corinth, Thebes--and this was one of the best performances I ever recall seeing! I could see how much you love your material--you know, an actor, that's one of the most important things--

HEAD ACTOR (gives her a curious look):
     So you're a well-traveled young woman. (looks at her outfit) Obviously a warrior, not a villager. (smiles at her) It's always a pleasant surprise to run into a warrior who appreciates our craft. Most of them seem to think it's nothing but a frivolous pastime.

GABRIELLE:
     Some warriors feel that way. (smiles a little shyly) But I'm also a bard.

HEAD ACTOR (stares at her):
     A warrior bard? Wait a minute...you're Gabrielle, the Bard of Potidaea, aren't you?

GABRIELLE (pleased):
     Yes, I am. (smiles pensively) That's funny, people usually say "Battling Bard."

HEAD ACTOR:
     Oh, my friends and I have heard stories of your battles, Gabrielle--but to us, you're always going to be a bard first and a warrior second. (pan to Gabrielle--close-up of the rather wistful smile on her face) It's a great honor to have you at our performance. (calls out to the other actors) Doron! Myrtilla! Come here and meet Gabrielle of Potidaea!

ACTRESS #1 (a tall golden-haired woman):
     Gabrielle, the Bard?

ACTOR #1:
     You saw our performance?

GABRIELLE:
     Yes, I-- (smiles and shakes her head, obviously a little overwhelmed by all this attention) I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

ACTOR #1:
     I can't tell you what an honor this is. Tell me, have you written for the stage, too?

GABRIELLE:
     I--I've tried my hand at it, yes--but you know, these days, I'm much too busy with other things to devote much time to writing...

ACTRESS #1:
     That's a shame. (looks curiously at Gabrielle, as if she's just thought of something) Your friend the Warrior Princess--is she here too?

XENA (off-camera):
     Yes, she is. (Xena comes into view, pushing her way toward Gabrielle. She gives the actors a nod and a rather cool smile.) Nice show. Come on, Gabrielle. You wanted to see the play, we've seen the play. Time to move on. We've got things to do, places to be...

GABRIELLE (gives her a slightly exasperated look):
     Oh--all right.

HEAD ACTOR:
     Are you sure we can't change your mind? The elders of this village are holding a special dinner for us. We would be delighted if you two could join us.

GABRIELLE (hesitant):
     Well, I--

XENA (interrupts):
     Very nice of you, but (tugging discreetly on Gabrielle's arm) we must get back on the road.

GABRIELLE (smiles at the actors):
     It was wonderful meeting you. Thanks again and--good luck with your shows!

HEAD ACTOR:
     A delight to meet you, Gabrielle of Potidaea!

CUT TO

Xena and Gabrielle making their way through the crowd of villagers.

GABRIELLE (shakes her head):
     Xena...I don't know--I think you're wrong on this one. They're not--that kind of people.

XENA (looks around cautiously):
     If I'm wrong, good for them. If I'm right and we don't check it out...it's going to be too bad for this village. Let's get out of here.

CUT TO

A quick montage of Xena, Gabrielle, Eve, and Haimon untying their horses outside the tavern and getting in the saddle, Gabrielle with Darion in front of her.

CUT TO

A long shot of Xena, Gabrielle, and the others riding out of the village.

CUT TO

A wide shot of the village at night in the moonlight. Everything is quiet. Suddenly, the rapid clatter of horses' hooves is heard, coming closer. A group of about a dozen riders is seen approaching the village, a few of them carrying torches. In the torchlight we see that the riders are all wearing masks.

Reaching the village, the riders scatter and use their swords to bang loudly on the doors. A couple of doors open and startled, sleepy-looking villagers look out.

Close-up on one of the riders, with the torch lighting his masked face. The mask, which has openings for the eyes and nostrils and only a small opening for the mouth, glitters surreally in the torchlight.

BANDIT #1 (his voice slightly muffled by the mask):
     Give us all you've got and then we won't have to torch this miserable village!

An overhead shot of the village, with people running out of their houses in a panic as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT THREE