FADE IN

Morning. The sun shines through a window in the hut and onto Eve's face. She slowly opens her eyes, looking sleepily, then quickly sits up and looks around, thinking. After a moment, she sighs in disappointment.

EVE:
     It didn't work... (sighs again)

CUT TO

Eve is walking through the village when she sees Xena come up to her and then walk right past her. Eve turns.

EVE:
     Where are you going? They're about to serve breakfast.

XENA:
     Well, actually, I was going out and catch my own. (Eve raises an eyebrow) I'm in the mood, okay?

EVE (teasing):
     You'd rather spend your morning out there killing some innocent creatures than have a nice meal with family and friends?

XENA (thinks for a moment):
     Yep. (Eve shakes her head and smiles.) Hunting keeps my skills sharp. Besides, I'm not much for all this Amazon togetherness.

EVE (pensive):
     I've felt like that sometimes. But you know--whenever I get sick of all the Amazon rules and regulations, I just think about how happy I am to have found a place where I belong. (Pause; Xena looks somewhat doubtful) I wish you had a place where you belong, Mother.

XENA (with somewhat forced jocularity):
     I do. The road--there's no better place. (smiles) I'll be back in a bit.

Eve nods and Xena walks away.

CUT TO

A quiet meadow in a forest. Close-up of a rabbit munching peacefully on some grass. Suddenly, it perks up and freezes. We pull back to find Xena behind a tree, a bow in her hand, drawing the arrow back. She has a look of intense focus.

Suddenly, loud voices and shouts are heard nearby; Xena loses concentration for a moment and the rabbit bolts just as she shoots off the arrow, which embeds itself in the ground. Xena sighs.

XENA (rolls her eyes):
     Eve-ry time you want to catch some food...

She looks around, trying to figure out where the noise is coming from. Then she whistles and Argo comes trotting up. Xena mounts and heads in the direction of the sounds.

CUT TO

The edge of the forest, a village visible in the distance. A group of about a dozen men and women in peasant clothes are dragging an unresisting woman in an olive-green skirt and top, her hands tied behind her back and a black hood over her face, toward the trees.

MAN #1:
     Hang the bitch!

One of the villagers loops a rope over the branch of a tree and ties a noose. The camera pans over to Xena riding out of the woods, and back to one of the men throwing the noose over the woman's neck.

XENA:
     A-yi-yi-yi-yi!

She stops Argo and dismounts, flipping in the air, drawing her sword as she lands.

XENA:
     Party's over, boys and girls.

WOMAN #1:
     Get out of here. You don't know what she's done! She deserves to die!

XENA:
     Then she'll get a proper trial. Break it up!

The villagers hesitate, clearly intimidated. Xena flips the sword to her left hand, grabs the chakram from her belt and throws it, severing the rope. There is a collective gasp among the villagers as she catches the chakram. With a triumphant air, Xena hooks the chakram on her belt, then flips the sword over to her right hand again and advances toward the lynching party. The villagers turn and run, leaving their intended victim standing under the tree.

Xena comes up to her.

XENA (starts to remove the hood from the woman's face):
     Whatever you've done, you-- (as she yanks off the hood, her eyes widen and her mouth drops in astonishment) Eve...?

The camera pulls back and we see that the woman is indeed Eve, dressed in her Season 6 outfit. She looks at Xena in obvious bewilderment.

EVE:
     Mother? What are you doing here?

XENA (still in shock):
     What am I doing here? The question is, what are you doing here!

EVE:
     I came to their village to preach the message of Eli. Some of them recognized me (stumbles) from before. (she looks at Xena with sudden belligerence) I didn't need you to save me, Mother.

XENA:
     You mean, I was just going to let them hang you? (she cuts the ropes binding Eve's hands)

EVE (looks down):
     If they think that killing me will bring them satisfaction, then so be it.

XENA:
     I'm not going to let you become a martyr.

EVE (raises her voice):
     It's not for you to decide!

XENA (bewildered):
     Eve, what's gotten into you? And what's this about preaching the message of Eli? (she looks Eve over) I thought you had given up preaching. Why are you dressed like that, anyway? Last time I saw you, you were going to the communal breakfast at the Amazon village.

EVE (equally bewildered):
     The Amazons? What would I be doing with the Amazons? I don't think they'd want me around... (looks at Xena and lifts her hand to her forehead) You know--it's strange. The last thing I remember before this is going to Andros Island and preaching to the people there...and then suddenly I found myself walking through the forest here until I got to this village.

XENA (stares at her, then shakes her head):
     I don't know what's going on, but something is wrong here. (thinks for a moment) Come on.

Xena starts to walk, Eve following.

EVE:
     Where are we going?

XENA:
     Back to the Amazons.

EVE:
     You're taking me back there?

XENA:
     Something is happening, Eve, and we're going to find out what. But I can't do that in the middle of the forest. Gabrielle's with them, maybe she'll be able to figure it out.

Xena continues to walk forward with Argo, Eve watching her for a moment. She wears a confused and wary expression on her face.

CUT TO

A village hillside, screams echoing through the air. The camera moves up toward the village to show people running around in a panic. There are several dead bodies lying on the ground.

VOICE'S (off-camera):
     --Livia!
     --Livia is back!
     --Run for your lives!

We move in closer on the panicking villagers as we see one of them run around a building. A close-up on his face; it's one of the men who tried to hang Eve before. Suddenly, he gasps and his eyes widen. The camera pulls back to show a sword being yanked out of his chest. His body falls to the ground, a bloody wound in his chest. The camera pans to show a grinning Livia in her Roman military outfit and her red cape. She wipes off her sword on her cape and then sighs contentedly.

LIVIA:
     Now that was fun.

CUT TO

Livia galloping through the countryside.

CUT TO

Inside a small temple, its decor--the red and the black, the swords on the walls, a throne decorated with images of skulls and bones--clearly showing that it's dedicated to the God of War. A priestess is tidying up the altar. The doors are pushed open and Livia walks in, her clothes spattered with blood. She struts toward the altar.

PRIESTESS:
     Can I help--

LIVIA (raises her sword menacingly):
     Shut up and scram. I'm here to talk to your boss.

The priestess turns pale and backs up toward a back door, retreating. Livia grins and lays her sword on the altar.

LIVIA (looks up):
     Ares! (long pause; she repeats more impatiently) Ares!

After another moment, there is a flash of blue light and Ares materializes in front of the throne. He stares at Livia, frowning; his jaw nearly drops open in shock.

LIVIA (smiles coolly):
     Ares. (Ares is clearly speechless) What? Didn't expect to see me?

Livia walks toward him; Ares steps back, stumbles a little and sinks down on the throne. Livia walks up to him and puts her hands on his arms.

LIVIA (teasingly):
     Aren't you going to say hello?

ARES (regaining speech):
     Wh-what are you doing in this getup? What's got into you?

LIVIA (puzzled):
     What's got into you?

ARES:
     Me? I'm not the one in costume.

LIVIA:
     Costume? (leans toward him, seductively) I don't know what you're talking about, but it wouldn't take me long to get out of it. (She reaches back to undo the straps of her armor)

ARES (grabs her arms):
     Hey, hey, hey! Stop that.

LIVIA (her face suddenly distorted by a grimace of fury):
     What is it? Mommy dearest? (she pauses suddenly, the look on her face turning to one of puzzlement) It's strange--the last thing I remember is fighting her in some Elijan temple and then-- (she winces a little, lifting her hands to her head) I have no idea what happened, but (smirks) it feels like forever since my last kill...until today.

ARES (stares):
     Today?

LIVIA:
     Yeah, I put on quite a show in a village nearby that didn't want to pay me tribute. (grins) I wanted you to be the first to know.

ARES:
     I'm...honored.

LIVIA (grins):
     Of course you are.

She leans down and gives Ares a passionate kiss that takes him by surprise, sliding a hand down his vest. A moment later Ares pulls back, staring at her in bewilderment; before she can say anything, he's gone in a flash of light.

LIVIA (annoyed):
     Don't want it. (A grimace of rage flits across her face again) Mommy...

CUT TO

Xena and Eve, Messenger of Eli walk through the Amazon village, Eve looking very uncomfortable. Xena leads Argo by the bridle and ties her up to a post at the entrance to a hut. Gabrielle walks out of the hut.

GABRIELLE (not noticing Eve):
     Xena. Eve tells me you went hunting. (Pan to a confused-looking Eve) Did you have a good meal? You should have stayed here. This was the best breakfast the Amazons have had in a very long time.

XENA:
     Actually, I ran into some trouble so I haven't had a chance to eat.

GABRIELLE:
     Trouble? What kind of trouble?

Xena points to Eve; Gabrielle notices her and looks confused.

GABRIELLE:
     Eve? Why are you dressed like that?

XENA:
     Gabrielle, she's--she's back to being Eve, Messenger of Eli. She doesn't remember anything that happened after we went to Andros island. When I found her, she was about to be hanged by some villagers...she had gone to them to preach Eli's message and some of them recognized her as--Livia. Something's very wrong with her.

GABRIELLE (taken aback):
     But...but Eve's been here all morning.

Xena looks at her in bewilderment. The camera pulls back to show Eve in her Amazon queen outfit approaching.

EVE (smiles):
     Mother, you're back. Catch anything--

She stops short when she sees Eve standing beside Xena. Xena, Gabrielle, and the two Eves look at each other, all in shock.

GABRIELLE (looks from Eve to Eve):
     There's...two of them.

Eve I (Amazon Eve) walks up to Eve II, who looks at her warily, and touches her face.

EVE (looks at Xena):
     Well, she's real.

Gabrielle shakes her head, trying to take in what she is seeing while Eve I and Eve II examine each other curiously. Xena and Gabrielle step a little away from them.

GABRIELLE (looks at Xena):
     What if this is like Meg or Diana or Leah? Maybe she just happens to look like Eve but it's a completely different person?

XENA:
     No, Gabrielle. This is Eve as she was before we went to Andros Island--before she gave up Eli's way. She has all of Eve's memories--she calls me mother--

GABRIELLE:
     But--how can that be?

XENA:
     I wish I knew.

GABRIELLE (looks in amazement at Eve I and Eve II, who are still staring at each other):
     This is going to be an interesting day.

XENA:
     I think it already is. (collects herself) Look, they'd better go inside before everyone else sees them.

CUT TO

Inside the queen's hut. Eve II is sitting on a bench, looking around in bewilderment. Xena, Gabrielle, and Eve I are standing in the middle of the room.

GABRIELLE:
     Where did she come from? Why is she here?

XENA:
     That's what we'd all like to know. The only thing we do know is that it seems she is exactly what Eve used to be. The clothes, the attitude...she's you, Eve. (looks at Eve) She's what you used to be.

Eve's eyes widen slightly; she has a look of sudden realization on her face. Then she lowers her eyes.

XENA:
     What is it, Eve? Do you know something?

EVE (looks up and shakes her head):
     No--no, I just--it's just so--strange, to see myself as I used to be...

EVE II:
     So this is what I'm going to become? An Amazon queen? (shakes her head) I can't believe it... How could this have happened?

GABRIELLE (sighs):
     It's a very long story, Eve. (looks at Eve I again, then smiles slightly) At least Darion is going to get a kick out of this.

XENA:
     Where is Darion?

GABRIELLE:
     He and Klymene are down by the creek playing with some other kids... So, what are we going to do? Try and find out how this happened?

Blue light flashes in the corner and Ares materializes.

XENA (looks at him):
     Ares... I'm afraid this is not a good time for a social visit. (off his bewildered stare at the two Eves) See what I mean?

ARES:
     There's...two of them.

XENA:
     That's right.

ARES (a look of realization comes across his face):
     I've got news for you.

XENA (warily):
     What?

ARES:
     I just saw number three. (Xena raises her eyebrows) You're not going to like this.

XENA:
     What?

ARES:
     It's Livia. (quick pan to Eve I, her eyes widening in horror) Got a visit from her earlier today--in her old Roman armor, covered with blood and bragging about her latest slaughter in some village. (A close-up of Xena's anguished, horrified face; Ares puts a hand on her arm) It's the truth.

XENA (quietly):
     Livia...

ARES:
     So...what exactly is going on?

XENA:
     I wish we knew. (briskly) Look, we can always figure that out later. What matters right now is that Livia is on the loose. Do you know where she was headed?

ARES:
     No. I didn't exactly hang around and ask questions about her plans. She was a little too...

XENA:
     Too what?

ARES (embarrassed):
     Er--intense.

Xena nods, understanding his meaning.

XENA:
     All right. We've got to stop her before she hurts anyone else.

CUT TO

A clearing outside the Amazon village. Darion, Klymene and five other young Amazons are wading through a shallow creek, splashing around, throwing pebbles into the water, laughing and smiling happily.

Pan to Livia riding out of the forest, grinning ferally as she sees the children.

LIVIA (to herself):
     Oh, look. Little Amazons...

She dismounts and starts walking toward the children. Darion turns around and sees her. Their eyes meet and Darion's eyes widen in surprise as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO