FADE IN

Previously on Xena:

[MONTAGE]

* Ares faces a soldier.

SOLDIER:
     You don't serve in the Monarch's army, do you?

* Xena faces some villagers on a road.

XENA:
     The Monarch? What monarch?

AN OLD WOMAN:
     The one that rules everything!

* Medium close-up of Xena as the Monarch, in red dress and tiara.

GABRIELLE (voice-over, her voice filled with hatred and disgust):
     Xena of Amphipolis.

* The Monarch (Conqueror Xena) is facing Ares, in an Egyptian-style room.

ARES:
     It's funny--you're everything I wanted her to be... (trails off)

* The Conqueror stands over Ares.

CONQUEROR XENA (softly):
     I'm the only Xena you're ever likely to see from now on.

She leans down and kisses him on the lips.

* Ares and Conqueror Xena are in bed, her head resting on his shoulder, his hand in her hair. He is drifting off to sleep.

ARES (mutters drowsily):
     I love you, Xena...

Close-up on the Conqueror's face. There is a strange, startled look in her eyes.

* Conqueror Xena and Ares in the Egyptian-style room.

CONQUEROR XENA:
     Tell me about her.

ARES:
     Who?

CONQUEROR XENA:
     The other Xena. The one in your world.

* Xena faces several of the Monarch's soldiers on a road, with crosses in the background. Four soldiers advance on her. Xena backs away, holding them at bay; then, gaining enough distance to charge, she sprints forward and leaps, somersaulting over the soldiers' heads. On landing, she slams her boots into two of the soldiers just as they start to turn around, and knocks down all four. As the first of them tries to rise, she points a sword at his neck.

XENA (dangerously suave):
     You better get out of here before I start to play rough.

* Conqueror Xena, on her throne, faces an officer.

CONQUEROR XENA (off-camera):
     This woman. What did she look like?

OFFICER:
     You know who she is?

CONQUEROR XENA:
     I have a pretty good idea.

* Xena faces villager Gabrielle outside the farmhouse in Potadeia.

XENA:
     I'm from some kind of...other world.

Gabrielle stares at her in shock.

XENA:
     I ended up here because a battle between two gods opened up a window between worlds--and now I have no idea how to get back.

* A village being raided by the Conqueror's troops. Houses are burning, armed men are galloping through the village, the villagers are running around in a panic. A little boy runs through the burning village.

* Xena and Gabrielle in the farm yard.

XENA:
     She's my responsibility, Gabrielle. I have to stop her--maybe I'm the only one who can. I am her.

GABRIELLE:
     You are nothing like her.

XENA:
     Gabrielle, I was on that path once. I could have been the Monarch. Even now--there's still a piece of me that's her...and that's what's going to help me defeat her.

GABRIELLE:
     If you're going--I'm not letting you leave me here. You've got to take me with you.

* In a forest, Xena is putting on her armor while Gabrielle watches admiringly.

* Xena and Gabrielle in the farm yard.

XENA:
     Do you have any idea how dangerous this is?

GABRIELLE:
     That's what friends do, Xena. They stand by each other when there's trouble.

Xena thinks a moment, moved; she smiles and squeezes Gabrielle's hand back.

XENA:
     All right, friend.

* Xena and Gabrielle ride away through the forest on a horse, Gabrielle riding behind Xena.

[END OF MONTAGE]

Xena and Gabrielle make their way through a forest. Xena is leading her horse behind her.

GABRIELLE:
     I wish I could have told Mother and Lila where I was headed.

XENA:
     Gabrielle, you're joining the rebellion against...the Monarch. It's safer for both your mother and Lila--as well as us--if they don't know where you're headed.

GABRIELLE (sighs):
     I know you're right. It's just that if anything were to happen to them...

Xena stops and turns to Gabrielle, placing her hands on the girl's shoulders.

XENA:
     Gabrielle, are you having second thoughts? If you want to turn back, now is the time to do it. (gently) I wouldn't blame you one bit.

Gabrielle thinks a moment, then shakes her head.

GABRIELLE:
     No. Something is telling me this is where I belong.

XENA:
     If that's how you feel, then I'm not going to stop you. But you have to remember one thing. You can't tell anyone your real name or where you're from. You've got to protect your family--and yourself.

GABRIELLE:
     What about you? You don't think the rebels would find it a little strange if you came in and introduced yourself as Xena of Amphipolis?

XENA (sighs):
     I suppose you're right. Okay, from here on out we're Varinia and Charis from Thebes and Sparta.

GABRIELLE:
     Can I be from Athens? I've always wanted to live in Athens.

XENA (chuckles):
     All right. Athens it is.

GABRIELLE (sighs dreamily):
     Charis of Athens.

XENA:
     Now wait a minute. I was going to be Charis.

Gabrielle studies Xena a moment.

GABRIELLE:
     You don't look like a Charis to me. You definitely look much more like a Varinia.

Xena scowls at her.

GABRIELLE:
     I'll play you Rock, Parchment, Dagger for it.

Xena gazes thoughtfully at Gabrielle a moment, then laughs in spite of herself.

XENA:
     You win.

GABRIELLE:
     Just like that?

XENA:
     Just like that.

GABRIELLE:
     I never though you'd be so...easy, Xena.

XENA:
     It's Varinia from now on. And let's just say you remind me of someone.

Gabrielle (quietly):
     You mean your Gabrielle?

Xena's head suddenly snaps around. She has heard something.

XENA:
     Gabrielle...

GABRIELLE:
     It's Charis, remember?

XENA:
     Whatever your name is, follow my lead.

Xena clasps her hands above her head in the Amazon symbol for peace and Gabrielle imitates her.

Six rebels emerge from the underbrush. They are obviously not Amazons. They eye Xena and Gabrielle warily. A large, muscular man in his thirties approaches slowly, his sword trained on Xena.

XENA:
     Just take it easy. We're friends.

CRISPIN:
     You'll forgive me if I don't take your word for it.

Xena glares at him.

XENA:
     You could move that sword yourself...

CRISPIN (laughs):
     Or?

XENA:
     Or I could move it for you. But then you wouldn't have any fingers left.

CRISPIN:
     Big talk for someone that entered our lands with some kid.

Velasca emerges from the bushes, a cool, smug smile on her face.

VELASCA:
     First of all, Crispin, it's not your land--it's Amazon land. Secondly, they obviously know the Amazon symbol for peace, which is more than I can say for you. Put down your sword.

Crispin reluctantly does. Velasca looks over Xena and Gabrielle.

VELASCA:
     You have business on these lands?

XENA:
     We do. I'm Varinia and this is my friend Charis. We've come to fight the Monarch.

Velasca looks them up and down appraisingly.

VELASCA:
     Varinia, huh? Where are you from?

XENA:
     Varinia of Thebes.

VELASCA:
     I've never heard of you. You'd think a warrior as formidable as you seem to be would have quite a reputation.

XENA:
     I've spent many years in Gaul and Britannia. I came back to defeat the Monarch.

Velasca thinks a moment, debating whether or not to take them in.

VELASCA:
     Ephiny.

An Amazon steps forward, lifting her mask. Her look and tone are respectful though cool towards Velasca.

EPHINY:
     Yes, my Queen?

VELASCA:
     Find them a hut. (to Xena and Gabrielle.) Nothing fancy, just a bedroll and a fire pit. You'll have to collect your own wood.

XENA:
     Sounds fine.

Ephiny gestures with her hand to lead them off toward their hut when Velasca grabs Ephiny by the arm and pulls her back to hiss in her ear.

VELASCA:
     And make sure you watch them.

CUT TO

It is twilight; Xena is busy setting up her hut. Velasca enters and Xena turns around at her footsteps.

VELASCA:
     I trust your quarters are adequate?

XENA:
     All the comforts of home.

VELASCA:
     Where's your friend?

XENA:
     Gab- (catches herself) Charis is out collecting firewood.

VELASCA:
     Some of us are wondering what that girl is doing here. She doesn't seem to have anything to offer.

XENA:
     Don't sell her short. Charis will surprise you. Besides, there's more than one way to win a war.

VELASCA:
     True. We've had to develop some rather unconventional tactics ourselves.

XENA:
     You mean these hit-and-run suicide raids? (Xena frowns.) They're getting you nowhere and you're getting a lot of people killed.

VOICE (off-camera):
     My thoughts exactly.

Xena and Velasca turn to see Callisto standing in the doorway, clad in warrior gear. She has a scar on her face. Xena looks at her in shock as we:

FADE OUT

END OF TEASER