FADE IN

The sun is going down. We see a village in the middle of a forest, fenced in by thick wooden posts. A dirt road leads toward the front of the village, where a massive wooden gate stands, two Amazons standing at the watch posts inside the village, surveying their surroundings and armed with crossbows.

In the near distance, Eve, Xena and Gabrielle are seen riding along the dirt road. One of the Amazons on the watch posts blows a horn and the gates begin to open. We get a wide shot of the road, the gates opening and a partial shot of the inside of the village as Xena, Gabrielle and Eve ride in.

CUT TO

Eve is standing beside her horse; Xena dismounting beside her and Gabrielle is off to the side, helping Darion down from the horse.

Antiope, Othila and several other Amazons approach them with warm smiles and welcoming faces.

ANTIOPE:
     We're happy to have you back, my queen.

Eve smiles and clasps hands with Antiope, then with the other Amazons.

ANTIOPE (looks at Gabrielle and Xena):
     And it's good of you to visit, Gabrielle, Xena.

Gabrielle hugs Antiope and steps back. Othila looks at Eve.

OTHILA:
     Eve, we hate to spoil your homecoming with business, but there are some matters that you need to attend to now.

EVE (concerned):
     What is it? What's wrong?

OTHILA (quickly):
     Oh, nothing wrong. Just some issues we need you to decide on, regarding the tribe. The kinds of things the queens must decide.

EVE:
     All right. (turns to Gabrielle and Xena) I'll see you in a little bit, all right? Queenhood beckons.

GABRIELLE:
     See ya.

Antiope and Othila walk into the village, Eve following them. Gabrielle looks at Xena.

GABRIELLE:
     Aw, the joys of being queen. I'm glad I've been relieved of that duty.

XENA:
     What, you're telling me you didn't enjoy being in charge? Making all the big decisions?

GABRIELLE:
     Oh, that was fine. It was the little decisions that got on my nerves. (chuckles) Like whether the entire tribe should have pork or venison for dinner.

XENA (wryly):
     What a job.

Klymene looks at Darion, who is standing next to Gabrielle.

KLYMENE:
     Hey, Darion, you want to see my toys?

DARION:
     Sure. (looks at Gabrielle) Can I?

GABRIELLE:
     Of course, honey. Just don't forget, we're having supper in two hours.

XENA:
     Pork or venison?

Gabrielle chuckles, wrinkling her nose.

DARION (to Klymene):
     Let's go.

Darion and Klymene race away, Darion trying to catch up with her.

GABRIELLE:
     Well. Now that Eve is busy discussing tribal matters and Darion is off playing, I think I'll go and talk to some of my Amazon friends.

XENA:
     You do that. I've got a social visit to pay, too.

Close-up on Xena's face, hard and rather grim.

CUT TO

A jail cell with a small barred window. There are two torches on both sides of the cell, their flickering fire casting shadows on the walls. The cell contains a bunk, a small bench and a table. A woman in a short tunic sits in a corner of the room. The door opens with a screech. The woman does not look up. Xena walks in and stops. Her face is unreadable. The camera pans back to the woman, who lifts her head and sweeps her hair away from her face. It's Sabina. As she sees Xena, a sarcastic spark lights up in her eyes.

SABINA:
     Xena. They got you, too? (off Xena's steely glare) Nice of you to come by and check up on your project. You couldn't deal with me yourself so you turned me over to be kept under lock and key by a bunch of warrior women. You think this is a better deal than being a slave in Rome?

XENA:
     There's a big difference between being a slave and being punished for your crimes.

Sabina stands up and walks closer to Xena. Xena eyes her but doesn't move.

SABINA:
     What about you, Xena? Were you ever punished for your crimes?

Xena flinches but steadily holds her gaze.

XENA (coldly):
     I was always ready to accept my punishment.

SABINA (smiles a cold, feral smile):
     But you still don't want to see me die for what I've done, isn't that right? That's why you brought me here, didn't you? I think that somewhere deep down, you've got this notion that you can save me. (smiles) You seem to think I'm not that different from you...right?

Xena doesn't answer; she continues to look at Sabina, her face set. Sabina chuckles and steps back.

SABINA:
     You don't have to answer. (she walks back and sits down) Well, you're obviously not here to chat. So what do you want?

XENA:
     I just came to say that your stay here isn't going to be much longer.

SABINA:
     Oh, is that right. (sarcastic) What have you got in mind for me now?

XENA:
     Another trial.

SABINA:
     Oh, and we know how well that worked out last time.

XENA:
     This time, I'll be there. You won't get anything you don't deserve. I'll make sure of that.

SABINA (raises her eyebrows):
     Really. And what do I deserve?

XENA:
     Maybe hard labor.

SABINA:
     You mean, slavery.

XENA (flinches slightly):
     No, I mean a way to make up for the wrongs you've done.

SABINA:
     You mean, for being a murderous warlord? And you plan to have me tried before a nation ruled by Livia, the Bitch of Rome? (smirks) Good one, Xena. (quick pan to Xena's face, her eyes expressing quiet anguish; then back to Sabina) I wouldn't put it past you to call Ares as a witness against me. He'd probably show up, too, now that you've turned him into your lapdog. (her smile grows more feral) Makes you feel good, doesn't it, Xena? I bet you must be thinking that if you've got the God of War doing the do-gooder gig, maybe you are a good person after all.

Xena glares at Sabina, then steps back and turns around, heading for the door.

SABINA:
     I'm disappointed, Xena. Do you really have nothing to say to me? After all, you've got a captive audience.

Without replying, Xena knocks on the door to get the guard to open it.

CUT TO

Outside the jail, a large, solid stone building with a roof of wooden beams. Xena walks out. Two Amazon guards are standing at the door, armed with spears and with swords at their backs. One of them locks the door after Xena. Xena walks away, then stops and turns to look at the jail. Then she shakes her head and walks away.

CUT TO

Xena is sitting outside one of the Amazon huts, sharpening her sword. A short distance in front of her, Darion and some of the younger Amazons are playing a game, running around and kicking a ball trying to get it into a net that is strung between two huts. They all seem to be having a good time, shouting and laughing going on. Gabrielle is with them, acting as the referee. She is laughing. Xena smiles a little at them and continues to sharpen her sword.

Soon, Eve exits from the hut that Xena is sitting beside and comes up to Xena.

XENA (looks up at Eve):
     How'd the meeting go?

EVE (sighs and sits next to Xena):
     Oh, same old, same old. (ticks each point off on her fingers) Today, I had to decide the agenda for next week, decide when and where we will be hunting--oh, and declare the official bedtime for the younger Amazons.

XENA (chuckles):
     Sounds fascinating.

EVE (smiles):
     It seems like while I've been gone, the Amazons have lax about the rules for the youngsters and they've been pretty much doing what they want. Guess I'm the only one who has the authority to tell them exactly what to do.

XENA:
     It's like being a parent. Only to a couple of dozen children.

EVE (smiles, then grows serious):
     So, I heard you went to see Sabina.

XENA:
     I did.

EVE:
     How's she doing?

XENA (impassive):
     A little sick of being cooped up all the time.

EVE:
     We can't keep her in that cell forever...

XENA (nods):
     She has to be properly tried and sentenced. (turns and looks at Eve) Eve, as the queen, you're going to have to preside over her trial.

EVE:
     A trial... (lowers her head) You mean--I'm going to judge her for the crimes she committed as a warlord?

Eve looks up and stares at Xena, her eyes full of anguish.

XENA (gently):
     Eve...she can get a fairer trial from the Amazons than from anyone else.

EVE:
     You really want to see her get another chance, don't you. (Xena looks at Eve, her face set; Eve nods) I understand. But do you really believe Sabina is one to take it?

XENA:
     That's up to her, but she can't take something she isn't given.

EVE (nods):
     Yeah, I think you're right.

Xena smiles, Eve smiling back, resting her head on her mother's shoulder for a moment. Xena strokes her hair slowly.

XENA:
     It's what any good person would do.

There is a loud noise from the group of children. Darion has scored a spectacular point. Gabrielle and Klymene are applauding him.

EVE (grins):
     Fun game.

XENA:
     Yeah--just don't ask me to try and explain the rules.

Eve laughs. They sit and watch the game for a moment.

EVE:
     I should put the matter of Sabina's trial before the Amazon Council.

XENA:
     Right.

EVE:
     I'll do it in the morning, then.

CUT TO

Night. The Amazon village is quiet, only a few huts still have light flickering inside them. Amazon guards are posted on the walls surrounding the village, quietly patrolling along the wall.

DISSOLVE TO

Inside the queen's hut, Eve is asleep under a blanket of feathers. She's sleeping restlessly, tossing and turning. The camera zooms in on her face; she is frowning in her sleep.

DISSOLVE TO

A close-up of Eve's face, her eyes filled with tears, as she watches a bunch of villagers throwing harsh words and nasty looks at her. Eve looks at them, completely guilt-ridden.

CUT TO

A close-up of Livia fighting, her eyes full of fire, as she swings her sword over her head, screeching, and lets it land in a village man who cries out in pain and drops to the ground, dead.

We pull back to see that all around her are dead bodies of villagers, some mutilated beyond description. Livia grins sinisterly and holds up her sword in front of her face. She takes her hand and runs it along the blade, covering her fingers in the blood that drips off of it.

She grins again and then smears the blood across her face. She looks up into the sky and screams a piercing scream, one that echoes for miles as we pull back to get a wide shot of Livia in the middle of a bloodstained meadow and murdered villagers. The remains of a village still smoldering from the fire, the smoke rising into the air, is all around her.

CUT TO

Eve standing in front of the villagers.

EVE:
     I'm sorry...

The villagers' faces do not change. One picks up a small stone from the ground and throws it at her. Eve gives a short sob and runs off, away from the crowd.

A quick montage of scenes that cut back and fourth:

* Eve running through a forest, tears streaming down her face
* a sword covered with blood, runs through a woman holding an infant, her screams of pain and the baby's cries resonate loudly
* Eve runs through the forest even quicker, her cries heard now
* Livia's menacing grin, standing over the dead mother and her child, still alive and crying, Livia has a look of mock pity
* Eve stubbles and falls to her knees in a bed of leaves, her hands coming to her face, her sobs muffled
* Livia is fighting in a battle with Roman soldiers around her. Her opponents are soldiers also but they wear the symbol of Eli's god, a fish emblem
* Eve is sobbing in the forest
* One of the soldiers charges Livia but she guts him, and laughs

CUT TO

Eve's eyes fly open; she wakes up and sits up gasping. She puts her face in her hands and sighs, then looks up.

EVE:
     I can't live like this.

She lies in her bed for a moment, then quickly gets up and leaves the room.

CUT TO

Eve walks through the night, toward the edges of the village where there is a hut that is a bit further away from the rest, solitary. She goes up to it and knocks on the door. After a moment, the door opens and an old woman, with gray hair and a wrinkled but still-beautiful face appears in the doorway.

OLD WOMAN:
     Eve. My queen, what have you come for at this hour of the night?

EVE:
     I need your help, Alcinoe.

Alcinoe steps aside and lets Eve enter. Alcinoe closes the door behind her.

CUT TO

Inside the hut. There are many shelves of herbs, potions and other mystical and medicinal ingredients. A fire flickers in a fireplace, a large pot sitting next to it. Alcinoe turns to Eve.

ALCINOE:
     What do you need help with, my queen?

EVE:
     Memories. Memories I don't want to have. (pauses) My mother and Gabrielle tell me those memories make me who I am--but I don't know if I want to be that person anymore. I want to get rid of them--so I can go on about my life without having my past haunt me all the time.

ALCINOE:
     You want me to erase your memories?

EVE:
     Not all of them. Livia's memories. It's like--this other person I have inside me, a person who has done horrible things, and I want her gone.

ALCINOE:
     That's a pretty tough job, even for a skilled shamaness.

EVE:
     Can you do it? You're the only one I can trust.

ALCINOE (hesitates, then speaks):
     There is a ritual I know...

EVE (impatient):
     Yes?

ALCINOE:
     It's supposed to purge you of your past selves.

EVE (shocked):
     Past selves?

ALCINOE:
     Some people's lives change so completely that they truly become a different person. (quick pan to Eve, looking at her hopefully) This ritual is supposed to free you from the other person you were before.

EVE:
     Then do it.

ALCINOE:
     My queen--I have never tried it before. I don't know what the full consequences are...

EVE:
     I'll risk it. I can't go on anymore.

Alcinoe walks over to one of the shelves and begins examining the bottles. Eve stands back, watching. After rummaging through several vials, Alcinoe finally picks out one and walks back to Eve.

ALCINOE:
     I'll perform the ritual right now; the memories should be gone by morning. Ready? (Eve nods; Alcinoe picks up a piece of charcoal and draws a circle on the wooden floor) Kneel inside the circle.

Eve kneels, a nervous but determined look on her face.

CUT TO

Eve is asleep in her bed again, looking more peaceful than before. Moments pass; then, two clouds of mist begin to form in the air beside the bed and begin to solidify as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT ONE