FADE IN

Ares sits atop a large boulder, slightly dazed as Xena checks him over.

ARES:
     Ares, God of War, getting sucker-punched by the short preachy sidekick. It's all downhill from here.

XENA (smiling in bemusement):
     You'll live.

ARES:
     Reputation is everything, Xena. You should know that better than anyone. The moment your pesky little bard puts this in one of her scrolls--it's all over for me.

SABINA:
     Today, God of War--tomorrow, Elijans are beating you up for your lunch money.

ARES (gives her a venomous look and gets up):
     There's got to be a war going on somewhere that needs my help.

Blue light starts to flare up around him but Xena reaches out to touch his hand, and the light fades as he looks at her expectantly.

XENA (warmly):
     Thank you.

Ares cocks an eyebrow at her, as if surprised, then suddenly clicks his fingers.

ARES:
     Almost forgot. Want to know where to find your Vikings? (off Xena's expectant look) They've set up camp about ten leagues northwest of here--by a marble tablet in (clears his throat somewhat self-consciously) my honor.

SABINA (wryly, as if talking to herself):
     They still have those around?

Ares zaps out without another word. Sabina shakes her head and snorts.

Haimon cradles the orb in his hands.

HAIMON:
     I don't blame him for leaving.

GABRIELLE:
      Oh, so now you're sticking up for him? (snorts) Suddenly, Ares is Mr. Sensitive!

HAIMON:
     Well, have you ever stopped to consider what he might be feeling?

GABRIELLE (snorts):
     I try not to.

XENA:
     All right. Let's all calm down.

Xena takes a step forward and trips over an exposed tree root. Haimon and Gabrielle are glaring at one another. Haimon speaks before he notices Xena has fallen hard on her hands and knees.

HAIMON:
     I mean, what makes Ares such a bad guy?

The bell rings. "Reset."

XENA:
     All right. Let's all calm down.

Xena takes a step forward and again trips over the exposed tree root. Haimon and Gabrielle are glaring at one another and once again Haimon speaks before he notices Xena has fallen hard on her hands and knees.

HAIMON:
     So Ares starts all those wars. It's just his job. He probably doesn't even enjoy it--

The bell rings. "Reset."

XENA:
     All right. Let's all calm down.

For the third time Xena takes a step forward and trips, landing hard on her hands and knees. Haimon and Gabrielle are still glaring at one another.

HAIMON:
     What I mean is that--

Xena glares menacingly at him. Gabrielle and Sabina watch Haimon nervously as he falters, searching for the right thing to say.

HAIMON (lamely):
     Ares and I understand each other...

Everyone but Siran pauses, waiting for the bell. Siran rushes over to Xena, helping her up.

SIRAN:
     Xena, are you all right?

Xena waves Siran away, brushing off her hands and knees.

XENA:
     I'll live.

SABINA (smirks):
     Not if he can't learn to keep his mouth shut.

HAIMON (angrily):
     Why don't you--

Xena glares at Haimon and takes a menacing step towards him. Gabrielle and Siran glance nervously at Haimon. Sabina purses her lips in humorous anticipation. Haimon thinks a moment and good sense finally prevails.

HAIMON:
     Never mind.

The tense moment passes.

XENA:
     Okay--so. We've got to find the Vikings, get the scroll back and get the orb to Ostia before the ceremony. And before someone gets stuck with that thing forever. We need a plan.

SABINA (casually):
     By the way, I know where that marble tablet is. Siran and I passed it on our way here.

XENA (gives her an icy look):
      Nice of you to tell us. (pauses) All right--Gabrielle, Haimon and Siran--you head for Ostia. Sabina and I will go after Sven and Ragnar.

GABRIELLE:
     Are you sure? I think I should come with you.

XENA:
     No. With that orb Haimon is defenseless. He needs someone to look after him in case you run into trouble between here and Ostia.

GABRIELLE:
     But why can't Sabina--

Quick pan to Haimon, who shoots her an irritated look.

SABINA:
     Because Sabina doesn't babysit goody-two-shoes sidekicks--or their boyfriends.

XENA:
     Sabina knows where the Vikings are camping. That settles it.

CUT TO

Xena and Sabina walking down a road in the moonlight.

SABINA:
     Isn't this liberating, Xena? No bell, no right and wrong or fear of repercussions. (she stretches dramatically) Your little sidekick is a preachy, sanctimonious little goody-goody with an overactive conscience. And I bet she's not even a real blonde. Now you can even say it. (she does a gleeful little twirl) Ah...Freedom!

Xena stops and looks and Sabina curiously.

SABINA:
     What?

XENA (smirks knowingly):
     You have changed.

SABINA:
     And I thought Gabrielle was the unwitting dupe in your partnership.

XENA:
     You can quit the act. If you were the old Sabina, it wouldn't even occur to you that it was wrong to say what you just said about Gabrielle.

SABINA (shakes her head tragically):
     I knew hanging around those Elijans would bring me to a bad end.

XENA (curiously):
     Why are you hanging around with that girl?

SABINA (gives her an amused look):
     Are you still trying to figure me out?

XENA:
     You don't make it easy.

SABINA:
     Good.

XENA (thoughtful):
     You could have been the Empress of Rome and you walked away. I still don't get it.

SABINA (laughs):
     I told you the job came with a low life expectancy. And I was right, wasn't I? For a while there, they were changing emperors more often than their society women change husbands.

XENA:
     That can't be the only thing. I could call you many things, but coward isn't one of them.

SABINA (after a moment's silence):
     Xena--after all your years of conquering and leading armies, you never even got close to the kind of power I had within my grasp. All I had to do was reach out and take it. (sarcastic) Once you've left your role model in the dust, you know it's time to look for another line of work. Otherwise, things tend to get boring.

XENA (looks at her inquisitively):
     Is that really the answer?

SABINA (gives her a wry look):
     That's for you to figure out.

As they continue to walk side by side, Xena looks at Sabina and shakes her head with an imperceptible smile.

CUT TO

Gabrielle, Haimon and Siran at a crossroads.

SIRAN:
     Which is the road to Ostia?

GABRIELLE (shakes her head):
     I don't know.

HAIMON:
     You should have gotten directions from Xena before she took off with Sabina.

GABRIELLE (affronted):
     Well, you were there. Why didn't you ask her?

HAIMON:
     I thought Xena put you in charge of this operation. Getting directions should have been a part of your job description.

The bell rings. "Reset."

GABRIELLE:
     Well, you were there. Why didn't you ask her?

Haimon throws up his hands in a "hands off" gesture.

HAIMON:
     Far be it from me to come between old friends.

The bell rings. "Reset." Gabrielle rolls her eyes, sighs and mutters her line automatically--quickly and without emotion.

GABRIELLE:
     Well-you-were-there-why-didn't-you-ask-her?

Haimon reddens and ducks his head..

HAIMON:
     I forgot...

SIRAN:
     So which way do we go?

Haimon and Gabrielle glance at one another, both unsure. Finally, Haimon takes the orb out of his pocket and studies it a moment. His look turns to resolve and he starts down the closest road.

HAIMON (pointing):
     This way.

The bell rings. "Reset" to Haimon standing back at the crossroads, holding the orb. Without batting an eye, he starts down the second road.

HAIMON:
     Make that this way.

They continue to walk and Gabrielle looks over her shoulder. Haimon notices and frowns.

HAIMON:
     Looking for Xena?

GABRIELLE:
     No...I... (she sighs) It's just that she's been so crabby over this orb thing. And she is with Sabina...

HAIMON:
     So that's why you wanted to go with her. You're afraid that when she catches up to Sven and Ragnar she might do something she'll regret.

Quick pan to Siran who is considering what Gabrielle has said and is obviously troubled.

GABRIELLE:
     Well-- (she falters)...

HAIMON:
     So Xena has no idea about right and wrong and it's your job to tell her?

Gabrielle turns to face him.

HAIMON:
     I'm sure after all these years she can figure it out for herself.

GABRIELLE:
     Are you saying she doesn't need me?

HAIMON:
     You're twisting my words. I just mean that maybe you've got an inflated sense of your own importance--.

The bell rings. "Reset" to Gabrielle facing off with Haimon.

GABRIELLE:
     Are you saying she doesn't need me?

HAIMON (curiously):
     Is that what this is really all about?

The bell rings. "Reset" to Gabrielle facing off with Haimon.

GABRIELLE:
     Are you saying she doesn't need me?

Haimon opens his mouth to speak but clamps his mouth shut. He thinks a moment and takes a deep breath, speaking slowly as if exerting great patience.

HAIMON:
     I'm just saying that I have faith in Xena.

Gabrielle studies him a moment, deciding whether or not to continue the argument. Finally she nods.

GABRIELLE (unconvinced):
     Great...then we both agree... (she turns) Now let's get moving. We've got to make it to Ostia by tomorrow evening.

Gabrielle starts walking down the road.

HAIMON:
     Wait a minute.

She stops and turns back.

HAIMON (looking around):
     Where's Siran?

CUT TO

Xena and Sabina crouching behind a rock, observing Sven and Ragnar seated before a camp fire. A large marble tablet is visible behind them.

RAGNAR:
     Sigmund or herring?

SVEN:
     Herring, of course!

RAGNAR (thinks a moment):
     Thor's hammer or a troll?

SVEN (rolls his eyes):
     Too easy. A troll.

SABINA:
     What are they talking about?

XENA:
     I have no idea. And for once--ignorance is bliss.

SABINA:
     Well, they were able to get a fire started. I would have bet against that. (she glances at Xena) So what's the plan?

Xena stands, draws her sword and marches straight into Sven and Ragnar's camp. Her lip is curled in an angry snarl.

XENA:
     We don't need one.

Sabina leaps up and follows after Xena who strides into Sven and Ragnar's camp to stand between the two men.

XENA:
     Hand over the scroll.

Ragnar stares, wide eyed. Sven clutches the scroll tighter.

SVEN:
     Or else what?

SABINA:
     I don't think there is an 'or else.'

CUT TO

Close up of Sven. He has a black eye and groans groggily.

RAGNAR:
     I told you you weren't a god.

SVEN:
     You let them get away.

Ragnar sighs. Both are silent a moment until his expression suddenly brightens.

RAGNAR:
     Odin or reindeer?

SVEN:
     Not now!

Ragnar's expression falls. He sits in dejected silence. Sven hears something and picks his head up, listening. Ragnar watches him curiously.

RAGNAR (whispers):
     What is it? A wolf? The tall lady?

SVEN:
     Warriors. (he cocks his head to listen) At least twenty. They've heard the tales of Vikings marooning the countryside and they've come to apprehend us. Well, they'll never take Sven the Invincible alive!

He leaps to his feet, fumbling to pull his sword. Before he is able to, Siran steps out into the light of the campfire.

SVEN:
     The girl! (Sven's face lights up and he turns to Ragnar) Ragnar, are you thinking what I'm thinking?

RAGNAR:
     I think so, Sven. But where are we going to find wooden shoes at this time of night?

CUT TO

A clearing in the woods. Dawn. Sabina is pacing impatiently around. Gabrielle and Haimon are sitting by a tree, looking glum and rather guilty. Xena is sharpening her sword.

SABINA (agitated):
     How in the world could you just lose her and not notice?

GABRIELLE (wearily):
     Sabina, we've been through this before.

SABINA:
     Oh--and that makes it all right?

XENA (to Gabrielle):
     Why are you so sure she wandered off? She could have been kidnapped.

GABRIELLE (shakes her head):
     Xena--I...just know. (She pauses and then suddenly looks up at Xena, obviously struck by a thought) I think she went to find the Vikings--to follow you.

SABINA (baffled):
     Why?

GABRIELLE (sighs):
     It's--hard to explain.

Haimon raises his head and gives her a curious look.

HAIMON:
     Well, then maybe those Vikings have her. All we have to do is track them down and--

Footsteps are heard. Sabina whips around, her sword at the ready. Standing behind them is a nervous-looking young villager.

SABINA:
     What do you want?

VILLAGER (stammering a bit):
     Sorry, ma'am--do you good folk have a missing friend named Siran?

SABINA (harshly):
     What about her?

VILLAGER:
     She's safe. I saw her with two...(pauses, looking for words) strangely dressed warriors.

SABINA (her anger rising):
     Did you. (her hand on the hilt of her sword, she turns to Xena) Our Viking friends.

VILLAGER:
     They sent you a message. If you give them the scroll and the other thing, the girl will be released.

SABINA:
     Oh, really. Well, you take a message to them--

Xena holds out a hand, stopping her.

XENA:
     Fine. Tell them we'll meet them at sundown--

Gabrielle and Haimon look up in shock. Sabina whips around.

HAIMON:
     What?

SABINA:
     Have you lost your mind?

GABRIELLE:
     Wait. I'm sure Xena knows what she's doing.

XENA (resumes):
     We'll meet them at sundown--in the same place where (she smiles crookedly) we met them last night.

VILLAGER:
     Oh, one more thing. They said for only one person to come with the scroll and--the thing... (sheepishly) ...and it can't be the tall lady.

XENA (amused):
      All right. It'll be him. (points to Haimon) Just tell them one thing: they have to be there before sundown.

VILLAGER (nods, relieved):
     I sure will. Thank you, ma'am.

The villager walks away.

SABINA:
     All right. So you know what you're doing. Would you mind enlightening the rest of us?

XENA (with a wicked grin):
     They want the orb? They got it.

The camera pans over Haimon, Gabrielle and Sabina as their shocked look changed to one of dawning understanding, as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT THREE