FADE IN

The same scene. Sabina stands over the man pointing her sword at his chest.

SIRAN:
     Sabina, stop!

SABINA (ignoring her, to the crowd):
     Everyone back!

The crowd slowly begins to retreat.

Finally Sabina moves her sword and steps back. The man gets to his feet, looking at her fearfully.

SABINA:
     You're leaving--now.

MAN:
     Wh-what do you mean?

SABINA:
     I mean, you've outworn your welcome! You've been nothing but trouble since you got here.

SIRAN:
     Sabina! He has nowhere else to go.

SABINA:
     That's his problem.

SIRAN (firmly):
     He's not going anywhere except back to his quarters. (to the man) Go on.

The man nods nervously and walks off. The courtyard is now empty except for Xena, Gabrielle, Haimon, Sabina, Siran, and Alban. Sabina slips her sword back in the scabbard and approaches Siran.

SABINA (frowns):
     You're hurt. (She reaches out to touch the cut on Siran's face)

SIRAN (a little brusquely):
     I'll be fine, it's just a scratch.

There is a tense silence. Finally, Siran speaks again.

SIRAN (bitterly):
     These people came here to be sheltered and fed and cared for--not beaten, kicked and threatened with swords!

XENA:
     Siran, this was a mob--ready to tear this place down. If they had--how were you going to take care of anyone?

SIRAN:
     They weren't bad people. They were desperate.

XENA:
     And sometimes, desperate people do desperate things.

SIRAN (looks from Xena to Sabina and the others):
     So you believe that words of love and compassion are powerless in the face of--desperation and anger.

Gabrielle approaches her and takes her hands.

GABRIELLE (gently):
     Siran...of course Xena and I don't believe that. But you have to understand that there are times when-- (she pauses for a moment, then continues, pained) there is simply no other choice than to fight back.

SIRAN:
     And how do you know when it's that time? How do you know there's really no other choice?

Gabrielle looks at her uneasily.

XENA (snaps):
     Maybe when you're facing a mob that's about to burn down your hospice and loot your food supplies.

SIRAN (continues):
     Have you really tried--

XENA (cuts in):
     We have something else to worry about right now. Civilis' army is headed this way.

SIRAN (gasps):
     How do you know this?

XENA:
     We had a--run-in with an advance party of his troops. (She gives Sabina a meaningful look)

GABRIELLE:
     Then we have to organize a defense.

HAIMON:
     Against an army?

SABINA (brusquely):
     What do you suggest? Sitting here waiting to be slaughtered like sheep?

GABRIELLE:
     We can fortify the walls, dig trenches--at least we'll have a chance to hold them off until Vespasian's army gets here.

SIRAN:
     And that's supposed to be any better? I don't want anyone fighting here. We could talk to them--persuade them to leave us alone.

GABRIELLE (uncertainly):
     You're right...we should at least try to talk to them.

SABINA:
     I don't think they'll be in a mood to talk.

XENA (harshly):
     Well, not after your little workout back there.

Sabina gives her a sharp look and Siran turns to her, surprised.

SIRAN:
     What?

XENA:
     Never mind. (She turns to the others) All right. Siran is right--we should try to resolve this without violence. But we also need to be prepared to defend ourselves if we have to. And we need more food, or the Romans aren't the only ones we'll have to worry about.

HAIMON:
     I'll get to work on the fortifications and the trenches. (to Gabrielle) Come on, let's get Darion. He's old enough to pitch in with the digging.

GABRIELLE (looks at Xena, then back at Haimon):
     All right. (looks back to Xena) Uh--you don't need me back here, do you?

XENA:
     No, it's all right. (looks at Sabina) Sabina and I are going to take charge of the food.

SABINA (shoots her a surprised look):
     We are?

CUT TO

A close-up of Xena's face, impassive but obviously anguished.

MAN'S VOICE (off-camera):
     No offense, ladies, but you must be out of your mind! Donate food, now?

The camera pulls back to show Xena and Sabina standing next to their horses in a village square, facing a group of villagers.

MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN:
     There's a war going on--we've got our own families to worry about!

XENA:
     So do the refugees at the hospice. They lost everything in this war. You were lucky.

OLD MAN:
     And we want to keep it that way. There's nothing for you here.

Sabina looks at Xena, her upper lip curling slightly in a sneer.

CUT TO

Xena and Sabina riding away from the village.

SABINA (sarcastic):
     I can see that our mission is going to be a smashing success.

CUT TO

Long shot of Xena and Sabina riding downhill toward another village at the bottom of the hill.

CUT TO

A village market. Xena and Sabina, their horses behind them, stand at a stall while two middle-aged female vendors fill a medium-sized sack with vegetables. One of the vendors hands the sack to Xena, who is already holding another similar sack.

VENDOR:
     There you go.

XENA (grim):
     That's all?

VENDOR:
     That's what ten dinars'll get ya. I trade fair, ask anyone in the village.

XENA (brusquely):
     Thanks.

She turns abruptly, walks over to Argo and starts tying the sacks to her saddle. Sabina follows her and stands next to her horse, which also has two small bags tied to its saddle.

SABINA:
     So much for charity. Well, at least it's cheaper than buying food in town.

XENA (turns to her with a grim look):
     It's still barely enough to keep the people at the hospice fed for another day.

SABINA (impassive):
     Then I guess we'll just have to take it one day at a time.

CUT TO

Xena and Sabina riding onto the hospice grounds, where refugees have already begun to assemble in the courtyard. Their hopeful looks turn to visible disappointment as they eye the bags at Xena and Sabina's saddles. More refugees come up and an angry murmur rolls through the crowd as Xena and Sabina exchange nervous glances.

Siran pushes her way through the crowd. As Sabina dismounts, Siran runs up to hug her. Sabina pats her rather stiffly on the back.

SIRAN (trying to sound cheerful):
     You've brought back food!

The murmurs in the crowd grow louder.

CUT TO

Close-up on a man's face. His features are fine and aristocratic but with a striking look of arrogance and cruelty.

MAN:
     The hospice at Jeronim.

The camera pulls back and we see the speaker. He is dressed in a Roman military outfit with golden armor. He is reclining on a couch inside a richly decorated tent, a helmet with white plumes lying by his side.

The camera pulls further back to show a Roman officer standing in front of him.

OFFICER (somewhat nervously):
     What about it, my lord Civilis?

CIVILIS:
      It's the perfect shield, Quintinus. If we camp out in town, Vespasian can't attack us without mowing down a bunch of refugees. His hands will be tied. (contemptuously) I know Vespasian. He's not as tough as he thinks.

QUINTINUS:
     What about those two women who attacked our troops? Sir, from the description the men gave, it sounded like--

CIVILIS (interrupts scornfully):
     Xena, the Warrior Princess, and wannabe Roman empress Valeria Sabina. Yes, I heard Sabina was in Jeronim. So? I'm supposed to be afraid of them?

QUINTINUS:
     We don't want to take on them and Vespasian, sir--

CIVILIS:
     I've made my decision. We stay here for another day so the men can get some rest. Then we move on Jeronim.

CUT TO

A montage of the night sky turning to sunrise.

DISSOLVE TO

A long shot of the hospice in the morning.

PAN TO

Refugees lined up with bowls in their hands. Siran and Alban are pouring thin gruel out of a large pot. The refugees look grimly at the small portion of gruel in their bowls. They now look more resigned than angry or restless as they shuffle off to consume their meager breakfast.

Pan to Xena as she approaches briskly.

XENA (comes up to Siran):
     Hey. How's it going?

SIRAN (turns):
     Oh--Xena. (She smiles but her smile is somewhat forced.) Good morning. We're almost done here. I wanted to talk to you.

She beckons Xena aside, then gives Alban a questioning look.

ALBAN:
     I'll handle the rest of it, don't worry.

As Xena and Siran step aside, Siran's smile fades and she looks anxiously at Xena.

XENA:
     Is everything all right?

SIRAN (sighs):
     I don't know what to do. Even with what you and Sabina brought yesterday, we're only going to last one more day. And then what's going to happen? These people are my responsibility. (She looks away, almost tearful) As followers of Eli, we're taught to believe that faith and love will provide. But--

XENA (bitterly):
     Faith and love have never fed or clothed anyone yet.

She looks away and the camera follows her gaze, panning to the last of the refugees receiving food. Xena turns back to Siran.

XENA (continues):
     Siran, we almost had another food riot last night. What's going to happen when these people haven't eaten for a day? For two days? You can't just sit here and pray and expect a miracle--

A rising murmur draws her attention. She stops and turns, as does Siran.

The refugees are all looking in the same direction, toward the entrance to the courtyard. They are talking in low, animated voices, the expression on their faces one of relief and incredulous joy.

Xena and Siran look in the same direction.

WOMAN'S VOICE (in the crowd of refugees):
     It's a miracle!

Pan over to Sabina, riding into the courtyard. She sits on the trestle of a horse-drawn wagon laden with sacks of food, vegetables spilling out of some of them.

Sabina rides into the courtyard. Her expression turns almost triumphant as the joyful exclamations from the refugees grow louder and the crowd breaks into applause.

Xena and Siran come slowly toward her and stop. The camera pulls around to face them. Medium close-up on Xena and Siran. Siran looks overjoyed while Xena looks skeptical.

Pan to Sabina as she smirks, looking down at the two women.

SABINA:
     Come and get it.

The camera zooms out for an overhead shot of the courtyard as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO