FADE IN

On the same scene as before. Ares, Gabrielle and Eve stand around Xena's bed. They look worried.

The camera zooms in on Xena's face, then her closed eyes, and then moves in to take us inside Xena's mind.

ZOOM IN

On the arena. Xena leaps to her feet, fully healed, and knocks Livia back with a swift kick.

Livia flies back and falls, screaming in rage.

Xena picks up her sword and faces Caesar, grinning confidently.

XENA:
     No getting rid of me, is there.

She and Caesar start to spar when a cry of "Yah!" and the sounds of galloping horse hooves are heard off-camera.

Xena turns her head abruptly.

A horseman in richly decorated armor, with two other horsemen behind him, is galloping toward her across the arena. Zoom in to show that it's Pompey.

Xena's hand goes toward the chakram on her hip but it's not there. She looks over to see Livia hold up the chakram with a sneer.

Pompey rides up close to Xena and stops.

POMPEY:
     Long time, no see, Xena. (sneers) Interesting how people have a tendency to lose their heads around you.

He charges toward her, followed by the two soldiers behind him, and swings his sword. Xena ducks the sword and manages to strike down one of the soldiers.

Pompey turns around and rides toward Xena again, with Caesar and Livia advancing toward her simultaneously. Xena looks around, then starts running, gaining momentum. With her ululating battle cry, she leaps up (much like in Livia) and lands in one of the spectator rows above the arena, then runs away.

CUT TO

Xena's room.

GABRIELLE (almost frantic):
     What's wrong with her?

The medic silently spreads her arms, as if to say that it's beyond her understanding. Gabrielle and Eve look at Ares.

ARES (exasperated):
     I don't know! (shakes his head) It's--it's almost like her soul is--trapped somewhere else.

GABRIELLE (quietly, horrified):
     Trapped...you mean--she could stay like this...until she dies?

ARES (testy):
     Let's not jump to any conclusions.

NYMPHIDIUS:
     Liv-- (his voice breaks off as he looks at Eve, who is kneeling at Xena's side) Eve.

At the sound of his voice, Eve turns around and looks at him expectantly.

NYMPHIDIUS (gently):
     I know you want to be by your mother's side right now. But we need to think about the Visigoths--about what to do next. You know they haven't gone away.

CUT TO

The Visigoth camp at dusk. The half-darkness is dispelled by campfires. The men are clearly in a festive mood, eating, drinking and laughing. Outside his tent, Alaric sits on a fur-covered seat in front of a fire, holding a large mug of ale as he surveys the scene. Herman, also sipping his ale, sits on a stool nearby. Alaric takes a gulp of ale and wipes the foam off of his face.

HERMAN:
     You think they're ready for more?

ALARIC:
     More what? Drinking or fighting?

Before Herman can answer, Zenobia comes up.

ZENOBIA (sarcastically):
     Did I miss something? Do we have a victory to celebrate?

ALARIC (grins):
     Relax, Zenobia. Have a drink. Herman! A seat for our honored ally.

HERMAN:
     Yes, sire.

He goes inside the tent. Alaric puts down his mug of ale, reaches for a jug standing on the ground, pours ale into an empty mug and hands it to Zenobia.

ALARIC:
     A toast.

ZENOBIA:
     To what? Getting kicked around by the Romans?

ALARIC (grins):
     Come on, take it. A little drink never hurt anyone yet.

Zenobia takes the mug, eyeing him suspiciously. Herman comes out with a seat and puts it down. After a moment's hesitation Zenobia sits down and sips her ale.

ALARIC:
     We were doing good out there, Zenobia--until some fools started a panic because they thought a god had showed up to fight on the Romans' side. (He chuckles) That won't happen again. The Romans may have been able to push us back from the walls of Moesia this time--but they've lost more men than we have, and we're not going to give them much time to regroup. (He takes a gulp of ale) And besides--they tell me Xena was badly wounded in the battle. She's dying right now, for all I know. Just think what that will do to the Romans' morale.

ZENOBIA (smirks):
     As we speak, Livia may be watching her mother die. (raises her mug of ale) I'll drink to that.

They clink their mugs and drink.

ALARIC (laughs):
     Livia, huh? I take it this is personal.

ZENOBIA (with sudden grimness):
     It doesn't get much more personal than that. (A grin spreads slowly across her face) Whatever else happens here--the Bitch of Rome will pay for what she did to me--and my people.

ALARIC (chuckles):
     I like your attitude, Zenobia. (takes another gulp of ale) But--you need to have patience.

ZENOBIA (scoffs):
     Patience. The virtue of slaves and housewives.

Alaric laughs and she joins in his laughter.

CUT TO

Xena's room. Xena remains unconscious. Gabrielle, Ares, and Eve are sitting by the bed; Haimon and Nymphidius are standing behind them.

NYMPHIDIUS:
     Unless we get those reinforcements--the next time the Visigoths come, we're not going to fare very well.

EVE (looks up at him):
     We were able to push them back.

NYMPHIDIUS:
     The men are exhausted. It took all they had to repel this attack. (shakes his head) If we at least had a way to buy us some time...

Gabrielle looks at him, then rises suddenly.

GABRIELLE (firmly):
     Maybe I can find a way.

NYMPHIDIUS (puzzled):
     What are you talking about?

GABRIELLE:
     I'll go to the Visigoths under a banner of truce.

HAIMON (worried):
     Gabrielle!

NYMPHIDIUS:
     Are you mad? Truce? What makes you think they'd be interested?

GABRIELLE:
     What makes you so sure they won't be? Have you even tried to find out what they're after--

NYMPHIDIUS (scoffs):
     What's there to find out?

GABRIELLE:
     --or what's driving them?

NYMPHIDIUS:
     Come on--you can't talk to these barbarians!

GABRIELLE (glances uncomfortably at the still-unconscious Xena):
     Nymphidius... Once, Xena said something like that about another--enemy force we had to fight. (quietly) And she was wrong. Look--if nothing else, maybe it will buy us some time. Isn't that what you wanted?

NYMPHIDIUS:
     Or maybe they'll kill you on sight. Are you willing to take that risk?

HAIMON and GABRIELLE (in unison):
     No.              Yes.

CUT TO

The gates of Moesia. Nightfall. Gabrielle rides up to the gates, accompanied by Haimon and Nymphidius, also on horseback.

HAIMON:
     Are you sure you don't want me to--

GABRIELLE (reaches out and presses her fingers to his lips):
     I'm sure. (smiles) I'll be all right.

NYMPHIDIUS (frowns):
     I still don't like this.

GABRIELLE (ignoring him):
     Haimon... (there's a catch in her voice and her eyes tear up slightly) Stay with Xena.

HAIMON:
     Don't worry so much. (he presses her hand) Xena will be fine--maybe she just needs time to recover fully. She's got Eve with her--and Ares.

Gabrielle nods but doesn't look very reassured.

CUT TO

Gabrielle riding through the forest.

CUT TO

Alaric in his tent, in the reddish-gold light of some oil lamps. He has in front of him a large open box filled with jewelry and other trophies that he is examining, grinning as the stones sparkle in the lamplight.

The tent flap opens. Alaric turns his head to see Zenobia come in, twirling a dagger in her hand. Alaric scowls and slams the lid on the box.

ALARIC:
     This is a private tent, you know.

ZENOBIA:
     If there'd been a door, I would have knocked. (contemptuously) Don't worry, I'm not interested in your loot. I have news.

ALARIC:
     Yes?

ZENOBIA (taps the dagger on her palm):
     I interrogated one of the captured Romans.

ALARIC (lifts an eyebrow):
     Poor devil.

ZENOBIA:
     He told us something--interesting. (pauses for effect as Alaric listens) It seems my good friend Livia is here to protect someone--someone who lives just outside the town. This man heard Livia order two soldiers to be dispatched to watch over--whoever it is. If we find out more...it's something we could use for leverage.

ALARIC (looks at her probingly):
     Or payback. (pauses) Isn't that what you mean?

ZENOBIA:
     There's nothing wrong with payback.

ALARIC:
     No--not unless it distracts you from your main goal.

The tent flap is lifted and Herman's voice is heard from outside.

HERMAN:
     Sire? There is a woman here to see you.

ALARIC (glances sarcastically at Zenobia):
     She'll have to get in line.

Zenobia rolls her eyes and gives him a disgusted look.

HERMAN:
     She's a Roman emissary, sire. It's Gabrielle of Potidaea.

ALARIC (sits up, alert):
     Send her in.

ZENOBIA (grins):
     So. They want to negotiate.

ALARIC:
     They want something. We'll find out soon enough what it is.

Gabrielle comes in and stops.

ALARIC:
     Gabrielle, I presume. Queen of the Amazons--Battling Bard of Potidaea.

GABRIELLE:
     That's right. And you're Alaric.

Alaric rises, steps toward her and takes his sword off his belt. Slowly, he raises it until the tip is a finger's width away from Gabrielle's chest. Gabrielle looks at him unflinchingly.

ALARIC:
     Do you know that two years ago, my brother Euric died fighting you and your Amazons?

GABRIELLE:
     And you're going to avenge him by killing me?

ALARIC:
     I could.

He stares at her, holding the sword to her chest.

GABRIELLE:
     I came here to talk. I'm not armed.

Alaric stares at her intently, then lowers his sword.

ALARIC:
     The Romans may call us barbarians; but we're not animals. (he slips his sword back in the scabbard and sprawls in his seat again) I have to say I'm impressed. I would have thought only Xena would have the nerve to walk into an armed enemy camp just like that. (eyes her mockingly) Speaking of which--how is Xena?

GABRIELLE (uncomfortably):
     She's--recovering...very quickly.

ALARIC:
     Is she, now. I've heard a great deal about Xena's amazing powers of healing, but I would think that this one would be beyond even her--if what I've heard of her injuries is true.

GABRIELLE:
     Maybe you've heard wrong.

ALARIC:
     Maybe. (strokes his beard) You're here to talk. I'm listening.

Gabrielle casts a questioning look at Zenobia; Zenobia chuckles.

ZENOBIA:
     You don't know who I am, do you. Queen Zenobia of Palmyra.

GABRIELLE:
     I've heard the stories... You fought for your people's freedom--against Rome.

ZENOBIA:
     That's right. For eight long years, I was a prisoner of Rome. And now, her worst nightmare. (smirks) I hope.

She raises her dagger in a mocking salute to Gabrielle and walks out. Gabrielle looks after her anxiously.

ALARIC (gives her a probing look):
     What are you and Xena doing on the side of the Romans, anyway? I would think you'd hate them more than anyone else.

GABRIELLE:
     Hate innocent people? That's who we're trying to help.

ALARIC (chuckles):
     Very noble. So, what do you want?

GABRIELLE:
     What do you want, Alaric?

ALARIC:
     To take Moesia. (with a hearty laugh) Isn't that obvious?

GABRIELLE:
     And then what? You know Rome has enough legions to win it back.

ALARIC (chuckles):
     Today, Moesia; tomorrow-- (he trails off, looking meaningfully at Gabrielle)

GABRIELLE:
     You can't believe that you and your army can topple the Roman empire!

ALARIC:
     Baby steps, Gabrielle. Moesia will fall--we'll take its riches. The Romans can have what's left when we're done. We'll move on to other colonies, and ally ourselves with other tribes. We can't strike at the heart of the empire--yet--but we can inflict small wounds until the beast bleeds to death. Rome wasn't built in a day; it won't fall in a day, either.

GABRIELLE:
     And for that, you're willing to kill--and send your own men to die.

ALARIC:
     That's the way of the world, Gabrielle-- (takes a gulp of ale) whether it's Romans conquering lands for their empire, or Visigoths taking what should be theirs--or two villages fighting over a patch of land for their crop fields.

GABRIELLE:
     That doesn't make it right.

ALARIC:
     Right. (he pensively cradles his mug of ale) You know, Gabrielle, I wasn't always an enemy of the Roman empire. A few years ago, Augustus offered my people land and full Roman citizenship if we joined them. We did. I myself fought in a Roman legion. (Gabrielle looks at him curiously) But the Romans lied to us. They used us to battle and die for them--and then they wouldn't give us what was our due. So we're going to take it. The way I see it--this is justice.

GABRIELLE (chuckles bitterly):
     Justice? You're even worse than they are.

ALARIC:
     We're playing to win, not to get a consolation prize for good sportsmanship.

Gabrielle turns away and Alaric calls out after her.

ALARIC:
     If you do decide to switch sides--the offer's open.

Without replying, Gabrielle walks out of the tent. Alaric looks after her, stroking his beard.

CUT TO

Night. Gabrielle is riding through the forest, dimly lit by moonlight.

In the near-darkness, a figure moves into her path.

Gabrielle brings her horse to a halt, staring ahead warily. She reaches for a sword attached to her saddle.

The figure steps into the moonlight. It's Zenobia.

GABRIELLE:
     What do you want?

ZENOBIA:
     How about--to see the Romans get what's coming to them? (pauses) Especially one Roman. One who dragged me through the streets of Rome like a chained animal.

She pauses for effect. Pan to Gabrielle who stares at her warily and expectantly.

ZENOBIA (continues):
     Livia--the Bitch of Rome.

Gabrielle looks stricken.

GABRIELLE (whispers):
     Eve...

ZENOBIA:
     From what they tell me, she's like a daughter to you, isn't she? Her mother is a very, very good friend of yours... (sneers) or should I say--was.

GABRIELLE (hastily):
     Xena's going to be all right.

ZENOBIA:
     Oh, really.

Gabrielle stares intently at Zenobia, then dismounts and stands facing her.

GABRIELLE:
     Zenobia...if there's one thing I've learned in the years I've been traveling with Xena--

ZENOBIA:
     Go on?

GABRIELLE:
     --there is nothing worse than to make vengeance your goal. It consumes your soul. It destroys your life.

ZENOBIA (gives her a strange look):
     I wish those words could move me, Gabrielle. I really mean that. But--it's too late.

She looks at Gabrielle as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT ONE