FADE IN

A large grey stone building. Writing appears across the screen:

JERONIM

A large crowd of people are gathered outside the building. Some are milling about aimlessly, others are on a long line for food. There is a sense of unrest in the crowd. A young, slight man of twenty or so ladles a gruel-like substance from a pot into the bowl of a large, older man, then makes to move on to the next in line. The older man looks at the small portion in his bowl, then grabs the younger man's wrist.

MAN:
     I think you've forgotten something, Alban.

ALBAN:
     We have to make it last. More people are coming in every day and there's not enough to go around.

The old man grabs the ladle and dips it into the pot.

MAN:
     Well I say first come, first served!

The tip of a sword appears at his throat.

SABINA:
     And the first to die.

The man's eyes widen as he shakily hands the ladle back to Alban and takes a half step back, holding up his free hand.

MAN:
     Sorry! No harm done!

Sabina glares hard, as if deciding how to handle this. Finally, she lowers her weapon.

SABINA:
     Get out of here.

He turns to leave.

SABINA:
     Leave the food.

He hesitates a moment, then cautiously hands the bowl back to Alban and backs away quickly, never taking his eyes off Sabina.

ALBAN:
     Siran wouldn't approve of what you just did.

SABINA (grimly):
     I know.

Alban stares nervously over her shoulder, his eyes widening. Sabina turns.

Pan to Xena, who is coming toward her.

XENA:
     Hello, Sabina.

Close-up on Sabina, a flash of joy in her face.

SABINA:
     Xena! I knew you'd turn up sooner or later. You never could resist a good war, could you?

XENA:
     We thought you could use some help. (nods toward the swords in her hand) Trouble?

SABINA (frowns as she slips the sword back into the scabbard):
     Every day more refugees are showing up--and Siran won't turn anyone away. Problem is, we don't have the food to feed all these people. (She sighs and gestures at the food line) So I have to make sure the children behave themselves. (she smiles dryly) Actually, this job is more suited to your little friend than to me. She was always the more maternal type.

Xena frowns and moves away from the line. Sabina follows.

XENA:
     You've got a bad situation here. You don't need me to tell you that. These people are scared and they feel helpless. Won't take much to push them over the edge. (she shakes her head) Reminds me of Corinth.

SABINA (clucks her tongue):
     Ah, the good old days. (after a brief pause) Well, plenty of time for us to chat about that later. Business before pleasure. (She looks around) Speaking of your little friend, where is she? Don't tell me she ran off with that goody-two-shoes and finally made an honest man of him?

Xena presses her lips together tightly. Her tone is even and her expression inscrutable.

XENA:
     We were able to scrounge up a few sacks of flour and grain on our way in. Gabrielle and Haimon are making sure they get to the kitchens.

SABINA:
     Young love. How precious.

Siran comes out of the building with Gabrielle, Haimon and Darion.

SIRAN:
     Xena! I'm so happy you're here! (She hugs Xena and Xena returns the embrace a bit awkwardly) Eli knows we need every pair of hands we can find. Gabrielle and Darion have already volunteered to help in the kitchens.

DARION (muttering):
     I didn't volunteer.

Haimon gives him a light swat on his back and Darion looks away.

XENA:
     Unless we find some more food soon, I'm afraid your kitchen will be closed.

Two men appear at the gates of the hospice. One is dressed as a Roman soldier. He is obviously badly wounded in the chest and is being supported by an older man in peasant garb who half drags him.

PEASANT:
     Siran! I found him just down the road, barely conscious.

Siran kneels to inspect his wounds and Sabina inspects his uniform.

SABINA:
     He's one of Civilis's men.

SIRAN:
     He's lost a lot of blood. His wound should be treated and cauterized immediately. Someone help me get him inside.

No one moves for a moment. Then a middle-aged woman in fine, though worn Roman clothing steps forward.

ROMAN WOMAN:
     No! You can't treat his kind here! Sabina said it herself. He's one of Civilis's men!

A crowd has started to form around the soldier and there is a loud buzz of agreement from the crowd and it begins to swell forward.

YOUNG MAN:
     Civilis is the one that drove us from our homes in the first place. I say let him rot!

Siran leaps to her feet.

SIRAN:
     No! I've told you before that politics and armies mean nothing here. You were all welcome here--no matter what your allegiance--or your faith. Why shouldn't he be entitled to the same kindness?

ROMAN WOMAN:
     And how much kindness do you think Civilis and his army would show you?

Siran looks desperately to Gabrielle.

SIRAN:
     Gabrielle--I know you understand.

GABRIELLE (frowns):
     Siran is right. If we give in to vengeance we become just like them. Is that worth the price of losing our souls?

YOUNG MAN:
     We'll worry about our ruined souls later. Right now I'm more concerned with my farm that Civilis and his army burned to the ground two mornings ago.

The crowd shouts angrily in agreement.

ANGRY VOICE #1:
     Hang him!

ANGRY VOICE #2:
     Burn him at the stake. Give him a dose of Nero's medicine!

ANGRY VOICE #3:
     Leave him for the vultures!

They lurch forward again, obviously prepared to go through Siran. Sabina steps up, drawing her sword and putting herself between Siran and the crowd. Xena, Gabrielle and Haimon stand beside Sabina.

SIRAN:
     Violence will only bring more violence! Eli told us--

GABRIELLE:
     Sometimes actions speak louder than words. (to Xena) Let's take them.

XENA (softly to Gabrielle):
     Gabrielle, get back with Darion.

Gabrielle thinks a moment then nods, stepping back and moving Darion protectively behind her.

SABINA:
     Take one more step and you won't live to take another.

The crowd stops, looking from Sabina to Xena, Haimon and back at Sabina. They seem to move back a step en masse. Xena, Gabrielle and Haimon watch them carefully. Sabina still has her sword trained on the crowd. Siran steps up beside her, closing her fingers around Sabina's wrist.

SIRAN:
     Please put that away.

Sabina doesn't move.

SIRAN:
     Sabina--please!

Sabina sighs and slips the sword back in the scabbard.

SIRAN:
     Haimon, would you help me bring him inside?

HAIMON:
     Yeah, sure.

He and Siran pick the soldier up and carry him into the hospice. Sabina watches them in inscrutable silence a moment then turns and storms off, pushing her way through the crowd.

Xena stares after her. Gabrielle seems lost in thought, then shakes her head as if shaking herself out of a stupor.

GABRIELLE (almost guilty):
     I--I should go help Haimon and Siran.

XENA (still staring after Sabina):
     You do that.

She walks off in the direction where Sabina went.

CUT TO

A stable. Sabina is brushing down her horse, obviously wound up and trying to calm herself down.

Xena comes in and stops, eyeing her pensively.

SABINA (brusquely, without turning around):
     What do you want?

XENA:
     I don't think I've ever seen you lose your cool before. Not like this.

SABINA:
     I've never been stuck babysitting a bunch of destitute, hungry peasants before. It's not a fun job.

XENA:
     It's not always easy to do the right thing.

SABINA (chuckles):
     Why don't you leave the platitudes to Gabrielle. Besides, I've just about had it with--

She shakes her head and trails off, going back to brushing the horse.

XENA (after contemplating her another moment):
     Let's go for a ride.

Sabina stops brushing and looks back at her, surprised.

SABINA:
     What are you talking about?

XENA:
     I'm going out to do some scouting. If that villager found one of Civilis' men just down the road from here, that means Civilis' army is nearby. We need to find out what's going on.

SABINA (mockingly):
     Good thinking.

CUT TO

Xena and Sabina riding through the woods. Xena gives Sabina a thoughtful, wondering look which Sabina intercepts.

SABINA:
     What?

XENA:
     Just--wondering.

SABINA (with an edgy chuckle):
     Oh, still trying to figure me out?

After a moment's silence Xena speaks up again.

XENA:
     You know, once, when Gabrielle and I were in Rome, we saw a lioness in a cage--pacing back and forth...

SABINA (sarcastic):
     Speaking in metaphors? You really are taking tips from--

Xena suddenly holds out a hand, silencing her.

SABINA (whispers):
     You hear something?

Xena nods and directs Argo off the path, into the trees on the roadside. Sabina follows.

Male voices are heard in the distance.

The camera pans to Xena and Sabina, listening, then back to the path. A group of six or seven riders are coming toward them.

SABINA (whispers, pointing to their insignia):
     Civilis' men.

RIDER #1:
     Come on, hurry up. We want to get to Jeronim, then report back to Civilis before sundown.

RIDER #2:
     Looks pretty good. Vespasian's troops are nowhere near, not a single militia around--nothing but peasants.

RIDER #1:
     Easy pickings.

The rest of the riders laugh.

Suddenly, Sabina charges forward before a shocked Xena has a chance to stop her.

SABINA:
     Or maybe not so easy.

She draws her sword, facing the men in the middle of the path.

RIDER #3 (laughs):
     Looky here, boys. She's going to stop the army of Civilis all by herself.

Pan to Xena, her mouth tight in an obvious expression of displeasure. With visible reluctance, Xena rides out onto the path to stand next to Sabina.

XENA:
     Look. We don't want any trouble.

SABINA:
     As long as you stay out of Jeronim.

RIDER #2:
     Says who? (guffaws suggestively) You and your girlfriend?

RIDER #3:
     Ready to take on some real men?

SABINA (scornfully):
     Just tell me where to find them.

RIDER #3 (outraged):
     Why, you--

He charges at Sabina, his sword at the ready. She ducks his blow, grabs him and throws him off his horse, then dismounts herself.

XENA:
     Sabina!

Two of the riders charge her. Xena lifts herself up in the saddle, then launches herself up with a battle cry--"A-yi-yi-yi-yi!"--and somersaults in the air, knocking two of the Romans off their horses. They scramble to their feet and charge at Xena, who briefly spars with them and then knocks them down.

Three other Romans charge toward her on horseback. Xena draws her chakram and throws it. It slices through the air and bounces off the Romans' helmets, knocking them off their horses, then flies back to Xena who catches it.

Pan to Sabina, who kicks the sword out of the Roman's hand, making it fly up, and then catches it in her other hand. Two other Romans run up behind her. With a ferocious snarl, she whips around and, with a simultaneous thrust, drives both swords into their chests. As they collapse, she turns to see the stunned Roman she disarmed. She raises the swords as he stares in terror. Then she lowers the swords, spins around and kicks him in the midsection with a harsh yell, knocking him down.

Pan to Xena knocking down another Roman.

Pan to another Roman soldier, still on horseback.

RIDER #4:
     Retreat!

The Romans scramble away, some mounting their horses in a hurry, others running off on foot. In a moment the field is clear, except for several dead or unconscious Romans lying on the ground.

Xena looks after them as she pushes her sword back into the scabbard on her back with a brusque gesture. Sabina turns around to look at her. There is a slightly bleeding scratch on her face and a cut on her shoulder. She has a slight grin and a glint in her eye, which quickly fades as Xena stares at her heavily.

XENA:
     What was that all about?

SABINA:
     Come on, Xena. They were asking for it.

XENA:
     Really. And what were you asking for?

Sabina shrugs.

SABINA:
     What's your problem?

XENA:
     They'll be back with an army and they'll be ready for a fight. And that's going to be Siran's problem as well, isn't it?

There is a flicker of emotion in Sabina's face as she slips her sword back in the scabbard.

SABINA:
     We'll be ready for them. (She whistles for her horse, then mounts it in one swift motion and looks down at Xena with a forced smile) They needed a lesson. I needed the exercise. Mission accomplished.

She rides off at a trot. Xena shakes her head, then goes to mount Argo.

CUT TO

An angry, noisy crowd gathered before the hospice. Siran is facing them, obviously distraught. Alban stands next to her.

The camera pulls in on Siran and Alban while the crowd remains off-camera.

SIRAN (pleading):
     Look, I know you're hungry. But I told you we cannot give out any more food tonight--otherwise we'll have nothing left for tomorrow or the day after!

The crowd erupts in shouts.

VOICE #1 (female):
     We need food--now!

VOICE #2 (male):
     If you don't have enough food, get more!

SIRAN (raises her voice to shout above the noise):
     We're doing all we can--

VOICE #3 (female):
     Well, it's not enough!

The crowd erupts in shouts.

VOICE #4 (male):
     Now, wait a minute--you know how much she's done to help us--

VOICE #2:
     And now we're all going to starve here with her help!

Siran looks pained and near tears as she listens. Alban puts a protective arm around her shoulder.

ALBAN:
     Listen--

VOICE #5 (male):
     No, you listen!

The camera pans to the speaker. It's the middle-aged man who had the confrontation with Alban earlier.

MAN (steps forward):
     We've had it with the way you run the place. It's time for someone else to take charge!

The camera pulls back to show the angry crowd, many of the people armed with sticks.

GABRIELLE (off-camera):
     And who would that be?

Pan to Gabrielle and Haimon, who come up to Siran and Alban.

MAN:
     Someone who knows what they're doing!

The crowd erupts in murmurs; several people look like they're mustering the courage to charge forward.

GABRIELLE (assumes a threatening stance, fists at the ready):
     Stand back!

Haimon puts his hand on the hilt of his sword.

SIRAN (pleadingly):
     Gabrielle, Haimon--no!

GABRIELLE (turns to her):
     Siran, I know how you feel--believe me I do. But there's a time to back down and there's a time to push back.

HAIMON:
     I don't know how long we can hold them back without things getting ugly.

GABRIELLE:
     I think they're about to get ugly right now.

Haimon follows her stare and sees Xena and Sabina ride up. Seeing Siran being crowded by the refugees, Sabina jumps off her horse.

SABINA:
     What's going on?

She pushes her way through the crowd, which instinctively parts to let her through. Many in the crowd look visibly nervous.

SABINA:
     Siran! (She reaches out to make sure Siran isn't hurt.)

SIRAN:
     Sabina! I'm fine, there's no need to--

GABRIELLE (interrupts):
     There's a riot about to break out.

Xena pushes her way through the crowd and stands next to Siran and Sabina.

XENA (calmly but menacingly):
     All right--what seems to be the problem?

ROMAN WOMAN (the one seen in the earlier scene):
      Seems to be! You try living on the rations we've been getting. We're tired of going hungry while she (nods toward Siran) feeds the same men that drove us from our homes in the first place!

MIDDLE-AGED MAN:
     We want food and we want some say in how this place is run!

SABINA:
     Got anything else on that wish list?

XENA (raises her voice):
     Listen. We know you've lost everything. We know you're tired and hungry and we'll do whatever we can to get you food. If you tear the place down trying to get to the food supplies, it will only--

YOUNG WOMAN:
     Enough with the talk! Let's take the kitchen!

The crowd charges forward.

SABINA:
     That's right. Enough with the talk.

As Haimon starts to draw his sword, a man tries to hit him in the head with a stick.

GABRIELLE:
     Haimon!

Haimon ducks the blow and it lands on his shoulder; he repels his attacker with a punch to the face. Two other men tackle him, trying to wrestle him down to the ground. While he rallies and throws them off, Gabrielle spins around and kicks down two men who run up to attack her.

As the crowd charges forward, Xena, Sabina, Gabrielle and Haimon start fighting them, spinning around, kicking and punching. Gabrielle is pushed up against the wall.

XENA (worried):
     Gabrielle--

GABRIELLE (fighting her way out):
     I'm fine!

SIRAN:
     No! Stop!

One of the women swings a stick, its sharp end nicking Siran's cheek. Siran gasps and clutches at her face.

Xena wrests the stick from the woman and shoves her away, then grabs the stick with both hands and uses it to put one of the rioters in a chokehold.

SIRAN (pleading):
     Xena--

XENA (through clenched teeth):
     This really isn't the time to turn the other cheek.

At the same time, Sabina throws the middle-aged man from the first scene to the ground, then draws her sword and points it at his chest.

SIRAN:
     What are you doing!

SABINA (to the crowd):
     Stop, or he dies--and he won't be the last!

A frightened hush falls over the crowd as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT ONE