FADE IN

Inside Xena and Gabrielle's quarter's. Morning. Gabrielle comes into the room, groggy.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena, who was-- (sees John) What's going on?

XENA:
     The Romans have taken the Yodfat garrison. Josephus is dead.

GABRIELLE (shakes her head):
     Josephus killed in battle. I would have bet against that.

JOHN:
     Actually, he had about thirty men left when he decided they should conceal themselves in an underground crypt. When they realized there was no escape Josephus decided they would commit suicide rather than submit to the Romans.

For a second, it looks like John is quite proud of what Josephus did.

GABRIELLE:
     Then there's nothing left between the Romans and Jerusalem.

JOHN:
     The Romans haven't won yet. They'll still have to take Jerusalem if they want to claim victory.

XENA:
     Which will be a lot easier with Josephus out of the way.

JOHN:
     You've got a point. It's too bad Bar-Giora and his lot are such madmen. We could have used their help right about now.

FADE TO

Overhead shot of the sun beaming down on the temple. As two dozen white robed pilgrims enter.

CUT TO

Interior of the temple. A panoramic shot lets us see that it's floored and wainscoted with Cedar of Lebanon and its walls and floor are overlaid with gold. There's an ornate door between it and the spacious altar that's overlaid with gold; A veil of blue purple and crimson and fine linen also drapes the altar. It has no windows.

The pilgrims go up to the altar. They kneel in two rows to pray.

About a dozen men of John are spread around the temple. They watch the pilgrims, absent-mindedly. Some are engaged in conversation.

One of the pilgrims glances up sideways at John's men.. He then leans over to another pilgrim and whispers something to him. This train keeps going until the last pilgrim receives the message.

A warrior goes up to the pilgrim who started the train.

WARRIOR:
     What's going on over here?

The Pilgrim stands. He holds his head down, demurely.

PILGRIM:
     We were just having a discussion.

WARRIOR #2:
     About what?

PILGRIM:
     The best way to kill you.

Warrior barely registers the Pilgrim's words before the Pilgrim pulls a dagger from underneath his robe and plunges it deep into his abdomen. The warrior drops to the floor, dead.

The rest of John's men draw their weapons as the pilgrims disrobe. They're Bar-Giora and the Sicarii.

John's men realize they're outnumbered two to one, but they charge in to fight, determined to defend the temple.

A warrior charges Bar-Giora, swinging his sword. Bar Giora ducks, then swipes across the warrior's neck with his dagger, slitting his throat. Another warrior with a sword advances on Bar-Giora and manages to drive him back against the wall.

Bar-Giora looks around. He sees that his Sicarii are defeating John's men.

CUT TO

Outside of the temple. Several worshippers are at the top of the stairs, wondering what the commotion inside is all about.

A few moments later Bar-Giora comes out, his face and his hands spattered with blood. The pilgrims look at him, concerned. A woman steps forward .

FEMALE PILGRIM:
     Everything all right in there?

BAR-GIORA:
     It is now.

The pilgrims try to go in, but Bar-Giora blocks their path.

BAR-GIORA:
     Not yet.

FEMALE PILGRIM:
     Who are you to tell us we can't go in our own temple?

BAR-GIORA (smug smile):
     My lady, this temple is mine.

Off the pilgrims' disconcerted looks as we...

DISSOLVE TO

Xena and Gabrielle's quarters. John is still there with them. Gabrielle has taken a seat while Xena and John remain standing.

XENA:
     John, you have to close the temple.

JOHN:
     Xena, I've told you already: It's impossible.

XENA:
     Don't you see? Nothing stands between the Romans and Jerusalem now. They have every reason to attack immediately and if they do, innocent people will be trapped inside the city.

JOHN:
     Yes--I can't argue with that. (he pauses) But this is Passover. It's not just another holiday. It's the day we commemorate our liberation from bondage to the pharaohs--the freedom given to us by God and by our forefathers. (passionately) Then how would it look if we closed the temple right now, when we have another enemy at our gates trying to put us back into bondage?

Xena nods grimly but with some sympathy, acknowledging his point.

XENA:
     All right. If you won't close the temple--

ELEAZAR (off-camera):
     John!

Eleazar rushes in.

JOHN:
     Eleazer?

ELEAZAR:
     Bar-Giora and the Sicarii have taken the temple.

John is taken aback. Xena grimaces.

ELEAZAR:
     They've killed two of our men inside and taken the rest as prisoners.

John pauses a moment, trying to decide what to do. Finally:

JOHN:
     Eleazar, come with me.

They exit. Xena watches them as they go, a grim expression on her face.

XENA:
     Gabrielle, get your things ready. We're leaving.

GABRIELLE:
     We're not leaving.

Darion comes out of the bedroom, just now waking up.

DARION:
     We're leaving?

XENA:
     Yes, we are.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena, these people need our help.

XENA:
     We can't help here anymore. Josephus is dead and Rome is on the way. I've got to get you out while I can.

Gabrielle looks skeptical. The two women stare at one another a moment in a test of wills.

XENA:
     Think about Darion and your baby. Do you really want to put them both in danger? We need to get out. You know I wouldn't run from a fight unless I had to.

Gabrielle's conflicted. She thinks a moment.

GABRIELLE:
     Fine. I'll go pack.

CUT TO

One of the city gates. Twilight. Xena, carrying their things. Gabrielle and Darion follow behind. There is pandemonium. People are in a panic, running in every direction, shouting:

PEOPLE:
     The Romans are coming, the Romans are coming! Run for your lives!

Xena and Gabrielle share a look of dread.

XENA:
     There's another gate. Come on.

Xena leads the way, shoving people aside in order to clear a path.

CUT TO

The western gate. Xena, Gabrielle, and Darion arrive in time to see the Roman infantry fighting their way through the open gates. Xena hands Gabrielle their things.

XENA:
     Get somewhere safe. I'll find you later.

Gabrielle swallows and nods wordlessly, grabbing Darion by the hand.

XENA (somersaulting through the air):
     Alalalasheeeyah!

Three soldiers fall under Xena's blade after sparring with her briefly. She spin kicks and palm heels another.

Gabrielle and Darion watch Xena fight from behind a building.

Xena runs a soldier through with her blade, then kicks him off. A soldier disarms her from behind. Without looking she kicks behind her, hitting him in the groin. Gasping for breath, he drops his sword.

Xena kicks her sword up and continues to battle. Some of the citizens attempt to fight as well, but it's obvious they're no match for the Romans.

Somehow, a Roman soldier manages to get past Xena. He's coming straight for Gabrielle and Darion, his sword raised high.

Gabrielle sees him coming. She looks to Xena who is busy fighting. She turns toward Darion.

GABRIELLE:
     Stay behind me.

DARION:
     But--

GABRIELLE:
     Do it.

He grudgingly nods his consent.

Gabrielle meets the soldier head on. With amazing alacrity for a pregnant woman, she blocks and grabs the wrist of his sword arm with one hand, and pulls him to her, using his forward momentum. As she pulls, she steps into him, delivering a hard punch to his nose. She then brings said hand up to his shoulder and knees him in the groin. He drops to his knees, gasping in pain. Gabrielle wrests the sword from his hand and brings the hilt down on his temple, he crumples to the ground, unconscious.

Gabrielle goes back to Darion, who has been watching, his eyes wide.

DARION:
     That was amazing.

GABRIELLE:
     Just promise me you won't tell Xena.

DARION:
     I won't. Promise.

John and Eleazar have finally arrived with reinforcements. Xena sees them, but a group of soldiers block her path.

Xena begins swinging wildly with her sword, felling every man that comes within reach of her. She is finally able to fight her way through to John, who is also in the thick of fighting. She grabs his shoulder.

Thinking someone's coming at him from behind, John swings on Xena. She catches his wrist. It takes John a moment to register that it is her.

XENA:
     Tell your archers to fire, now!

JOHN (nods breathlessly):
     Archers, fire.

Two lines of archers fire from Jerusalem's towers, decimating a large portion of Roman infantrymen.

Xena lets her chakram fly. It splits in half, each piece cutting or killing about a dozen men before returning to Xena.

In all the mayhem, John's men push forward, forcing the Romans outside the gates.

JOHN:
     Lock the gates! Quickly.

John walks up to Xena.

JOHN:
     You were right about everything.

XENA (sheathes sword):
     Don't thank me yet. We're still in this mess. Post four archers on the wall and two in each tower.

JOHN (nods):
     Right.

He goes off. We can hear him giving Xena's orders in the background. Gabrielle and Darion come to Xena.

XENA:
     Let's get you somewhere safe.

DISSOLVE TO

Evening. Thousands of Roman infantry and cavalry surrounding the city. Pull back to reveal Xena and Gabrielle looking out of the window.

GABRIELLE:
     I'll say one thing for the Romans: they really know how to go all out. We'll never be able to--

XENA:
     Never say never. Look!

Xena points to a man, wearing a hooded brown robe, on horseback, waving a white flag. Four Roman soldiers follow behind him on horseback.

GABRIELLE:
     I guess it's too much to hope that the Romans are surrendering--especially when we're the ones that are under siege.

XENA:
     Let's get down there in case John does something stupid.

CUT TO

Western gate. Xena and Gabrielle walk up to John, who is standing next to Eleazar.

XENA:
     What's happening?

JOHN:
     The Romans have sent someone to negotiate the surrender of the city. They must be stupid if they think we're going down without a fight.

XENA:
     Open the gates.

JOHN:
     Xena--

XENA:
     Trust me. Open the gates, but only the emissary gets in.

JOHN:
     Open the gates!

The men closet to the gates open it slightly. The man on horseback enters. John's men lock the gate after he does so.

Xena, Gabrielle, John, and Eleazar keep their eyes on the brown robed man as he removes his hood, curiosity in all of their eye which quickly turns to shock when they realize who it is.

XENA (grimly):
     Josephus...

FADE OUT

TO BE CONTINUED...

[The reputation of Ares' babysitting service was severely harmed during the production of this motion picture.]

Xena: Warrior Princess Shipper Seasons Season 9 Episode 20 The Fall I Story By: LadyKate and Sais 2 Cool Written By: LadyKate and Sais 2 Cool Co-Written by: toxic64 Collage By: Aurora Images Gathered By: Aurora Cast Xena Lucy Lawless Gabrielle Renee O'Connor Ares Kevin Smith Darion Alexander Gandar John of Giscala Eric Bana Josephus Angus Macfadyen Bar-Giora Richard Armitage Sabina Jennifier Garner Titus Rich Harrmen Eleazar Michael Clemet Preacher Joseph Davidson Original Airdate August 9, 2007 The reputation of Ares' babysitting service was severely harmed during the production of this motion picture. DEDICATED TO KEVIN SMITH All characters and storylines that have appeared in the syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess are a copyright and trademark of Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No infringement was intended during the writing of this script. All original characters and storylines are a copyright of the respective authors and of the Shipper Seasons. No script may be reproduced on a website elsewhere without the author's consent. © Shipper Seasons www.shipperseasons.com

This script is provided by GDev Resources.