8.17 Ashes To Ashes


TEASER

FADE IN

Fade up on a long shot of Rome. Large plumes of smoke can be seen rising from the city-whose skyline is now jagged, black and burnt.

CUT TO

Gabrielle picking her way through the smoldering remains of a building. Something catches her eye and she reaches down, moving aside a piece of furniture burnt beyond recognition. We do not see what she is looking at, but she swallows hard, as if trying to keep from being sick. She shakes her head sadly and straightens up. A blue light flashes behind her and she flinches.

GABRIELLE:
     Ares...

ARES (looking around):
     A waste, isn't it?

GABRIELLE:
     What are you talking about?

ARES:
     Rome. The greatest city the world has ever known--mankind's monument to power, wealth and might--gone. (Ares snaps his fingers.) Just like that. Kind of makes you look at things differently, doesn't it?

Ares and Gabrielle

GABRIELLE:
     That's all you would care about, isn't it? A bunch of buildings. What about the people in the city?

ARES:
     People come and go, Gabrielle. Rome was supposed to last forever.

GABRIELLE (agitatedly):
     You picked a bad time to get philosophical.

Gabrielle turns to walk away.

ARES:
     You've heard the saying 'Rome wasn't built in a day,' right? Well, the saying is right--Rome wasn't built in a day. But some madman throwing a temper tantrum managed to tear it down in a few hours.

Gabrielle frowns and bows her head--Ares has confirmed her suspicions.

GABRIELLE:
     Nero. (she turns to look at him) He did this?

ARES (shrugs):
     Let's just say he's on the short list of suspects.

Gabrielle says nothing, staring up at Ares.

Ares shakes his head in an exaggeratedly rueful manner.

ARES:
     I gotta be honest. I almost feel sorry for Nero right now. Once Xena gets wind of this his life won't be worth a plug dinar.

Gabrielle frowns and shakes her head.

GABRIELLE:
     I wouldn't count on Xena if I were you, Ares.

ARES:
     What? You actually believe she's laid down her sword for good? (he smirks mockingly.) Silly girl. I thought you knew Xena better than that.

GABRIELLE:
     You didn't see her after Agrippina died. (she shakes her head sadly.) I've never seen Xena so...lost.

[FLASHBACK]

The cliff from "Judgment Calls." Xena throws down her sword, then after a moment kicks it off the cliff. She unhooks her chakram from her belt and throws it. The camera follows the chakram's flight and descent, until it sinks in the ocean. Cut back to a close-up of Xena's anguished face. Slowly the camera pulls back and Gabrielle can be seen over Xena's left shoulder. Sensing Gabrielle is there, Xena turns her head slightly to speak over her shoulder.

XENA:
     I'm done.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena...

Gabrielle steps forward and takes Xena in her arms, hugging her. Xena lays her head on Gabrielle's shoulder. She looks like a lost child.

XENA:
     I can't do this anymore, Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena, you made a mistake. We both did. Everyone makes mistakes.

Xena steps out of Gabrielle's embrace and shakes her head.

Xena

XENA:
     Not like this. My mistakes get people killed.

GABRIELLE (gaping):
     So you're just going to...walk away?

XENA:
     It's for the best, Gabrielle.

Gabrielle frowns, almost in annoyance and points out towards the horizon.

GABRIELLE:
     The best for who? Xena, there are people out there that need our help.

Xena gazes out in the direction that Gabrielle has indicated, but her expression is distant and frozen.

[END OF FLASHBACK]

Xena seated at a table in a tavern. She is dressed in a simple peasant's dress, her chin resting in her hand as she absently picks at the remains of her meal. The shadow of someone falls across her but she doesn't react.

PEST:
     Xena!

She blinks as if coming out of a haze and looks up to be confronted by a leather clad thug with a crowd of his friends standing around him. The spark of Xena's former self can be seen flickering in her eye and heard in her tone.

XENA:
     Yeah?

Pest laughs and turns his head slightly to address his friends.

PEST:
     Ha! You see? I told you it was her. (he turns back to Xena) My friends didn't believe me when I told them it was you. Not that I can blame them. Who would expect Xena Warrior Princess to show up here looking like some peasant? (he smirks) Word on the street is that you've lost your nerve.

Xena glares and Pest's friends take a collective step backward in fear of Xena losing her temper. The tension is palpable as they all await her reaction. After a long moment, Xena's shoulders sag and she sighs tiredly, looking away.

XENA:
     Leave me alone.

Pest senses Xena's unwillingness to fight and presses his advantage.

PEST:
     I never thought I'd meet you face to face--and now that I do you're such a disappointment!

Xena leaps to her feet.

XENA:
     Why you little--

Xena reaches behind her, out of habit reaching for her sword. She pauses, realizing it's not there. Her hand drops tiredly and she looks away.

PEST (laughs dryly):
     How does it feel to be nothing but a has-been?

Xena stares at him, clearly wanting to fight. But after a moment she simply turns and walks out of the tavern.

CUT TO

The interior of a small, dark and dusty cabin. It is sparsely furnished--only a table with two chairs, a stove, and a narrow cot. The front door opens and Xena steps in. She turns and softly closes the door then rests her forehead against it, squeezing her eyes shut. In frustration, she strikes at the door with the heel of her hand.

Off camera a voice is heard.

VOICE:
     My...how the mighty have fallen.

Xena

Xena turns to confront the voice. Seated on the edge of Xena's cot is Agrippina, shaking her head in disapproval as we:

FADE OUT

END OF TEASER