FADE IN

Xena, Gabrielle and Josephus are walking through the inner yard of the fortress, talking.

JOSEPHUS:
     I myself, you understand, consider both sword and quill to be tools of my trade.

GABRIELLE (with curiosity):
     You're a bard?

JOSEPHUS:
     More of a historian. Someday, after these wars are over, I hope to chronicle them for the future generations. And in writing about war, I can think of no better model--

XENA (cuts him short):
     It's the war that we're here to talk about.

Josephus stops and turns to face Xena and Gabrielle; they stop as well.

JOSEPHUS:
     So--you want to help us fight the Romans. That's why you're here.

XENA (emphatic):
     Josephus, the way things are going now--the people who seek freedom for this land will kill each other before the Romans even get here.

JOSEPHUS:
     And you--want to help us end our differences.

GABRIELLE:
     It's the only way you stand a chance.

Josephus looks at them probingly.

JOSEPHUS:
     I don't suppose you want me to ally myself with that madman Bar-Giora. So--you must be emissaries for John of Giscala.

XENA (impassive):
     John is the one who sent for us.

GABRIELLE:
     We have no allegiance to any faction. All we want--

JOSEPHUS (holds out a hand, interrupting her):
     Wait. I'll be happy to talk to you. But you must do me the honor of joining me for a meal.

CUT TO

Xena, Gabrielle and Josephus sit at a table laden with fruit, meat, flatbread and other food.

JOSEPHUS (to Gabrielle):
     Few have been able to capture the truth of war the way you have. In your scroll about your battle with the Horde--

GABRIELLE (interrupts, gently but firmly):
     Josephus--as much as I'd love to discuss my work, we're here to talk about--

JOSEPHUS:
     --an alliance with John of Giscala. (He picks up his goblet and sips from it, then sets it down with a thin smile) You're very single-minded.

XENA:
     There's no reason the two of you should be enemies. If you were to work together--

JOSEPHUS (interrupts):
     John can be a rash man. When he started these hostilities, he had no real plan--he gave very little thought to how ready we were for such a war. When he launched his attack on the Roman troops, he demanded that I give him supplies--

XENA (with some bitterness):
     And you refused.

JOSEPHUS (with a sudden harshness):
     Because I didn't think it was in our best interest. John and his men then raided my granaries and took what they wanted--by force.

Xena gives him a long, pensive look as she finishes a piece of meat. Then, she speaks.

XENA:
     At the time, you were the governor of Galilee--under the Romans.

JOSEPHUS (defensively):
     I served my people the best way I could--at the time. And that's what I'm trying to do today.

XENA (with a passionate note in her voice):
     Then join forces with John of Giscala. He's willing to look beyond your past differences; why not you? You both want the same thing--freedom for your people.

JOSEPHUS:
     John also thinks our people are ready to govern themselves.

XENA:
     You disagree?

JOSEPHUS:
     Look how many of them are willing to follow Bar-Giora and his zealots. What they need right now is wise leadership.

GABRIELLE:
     And you and John could provide it--together. Make an agreement to govern jointly.

XENA:
     You can trust him to keep his word. (She moves aside her plate and looks intently at Josephus) If not to you--then to me.

Josephus sips his wine, looking pensively from Xena to Gabrielle.

JOSEPHUS:
     It looks like both of us will have to trust you. (pauses) I'll think it over.

XENA (somewhat brusquely):
     Don't take too long.

CUT TO

Xena and Gabrielle ride across the harsh landscape, with the fortress visible behind them.

XENA (gives Gabrielle a slightly amused look):
     Looks like you have a new fan.

GABRIELLE (chuckles):
     I have a long way to go before I catch up with you in that department. (She pauses briefly, the smile giving way to a pensive look.) What do you make of him?

XENA (impassive):
     He's--a clever man.

Gabrielle glances at her questioningly.

GABRIELLE:
     You don't mean that in a good way.

XENA (sighs):
     I know--you're going to tell me I don't see the good in people.

GABRIELLE (shakes her head):
     No...no, I wasn't going to say that. (Off Xena's surprised look) I...I'm not sure what to make of Josephus myself.

Xena glances at her and frowns a little, as if unsure whether she likes this attitude coming from Gabrielle. Finally, she shrugs.

XENA:
     We're not here to make friends with him. The question is--can we get him and John to work together as allies.

GABRIELLE:
     You think he can be trusted.

XENA:
     To do the smart thing--yes. The right thing... (she trails off)

GABRIELLE:
     Hmm. (reflects a moments) Let's hope the smart thing and the right thing happen to be the same.

They ride on in silence, a montage of shots dissolving into each other indicating the passage of time as the Yodfat fortress behind them recedes farther and farther into the distance. Xena stares ahead of her, her face unreadable; Gabrielle looks down, lost in thought. Suddenly, Xena speaks up.

XENA:
     I'll tell you one thing.

Gabrielle looks up at her sharply.

XENA:
     Whichever side Josephus is on has good odds. He's a survivor.

CUT TO

Jerusalem, just outside the temple. The crowds are large and lively and the street is heavily congested. There is a loud din of merchants and customers haggling, baying sheep and bleating goats. Xena walks slightly ahead of Gabrielle, clearing a path for them through the crowd.

GABRIELLE:
     I just don't get it, Xena. How can Josephus not jump at the chance to form an alliance with Giscala? One of the first things I remember you teaching me is that there's strength in numbers. Together they stand a real chance against the Romans--not to mention weakening the Sicarii.

Xena frowns and shakes her head.

XENA:
     Josephus is tough to read. I haven't been able to get a fix on him yet. Maybe he's hoping Giscala's men and the Sicarii will kill each other off, clearing the way for him to seize power in Jerusalem. (she sighs.) I don't know...

GABRIELLE:
     I can't believe he would betray his own people like that.

XENA:
     It isn't about betrayal, Gabrielle. It's about survival.

The gates of the temple open and an ornate litter born by six slaves exits. A large, burly slave begins cutting a path through the crowds.

SLAVE:
     Make way! Clear the streets for Simeon bar Naphtali!

The crowd slowly parts. Xena and Gabrielle are not intimidated by the large slave and don't move. Xena folds her arms across her chest and plants her feet wide apart, confronting the slave. He assesses both women, obviously notes Xena's size and intrepid stance and reaches for Gabrielle.

SLAVE:
     Out of the way, woman!

Gabrielle shoots her hand up to shove his away.

GABRIELLE:
     Who do you think you're grabbing?

The slave looks her up and down contemptuously.

SLAVE:
     Greek pagans!

He tries shoving them aside but Xena grabs his wrist, roughly twisting it. The slave winces in pain.

XENA:
     Greek pagans or not, someone needs to teach you some manners.

The slave and Xena stare at one another a moment, the contest broken by a cry from the crowd.

VOICE:
     Fire! Oh, help! Fire!

A small fire can be seen erupting from a merchant's stall.

XENA:
     Gabrielle, wait here!

Xena shoves the slave and pushes through the crowd. The owner of the burning stall looks on in shock.

MERCHANT:
     They just torched it! I haven't done any--.

Xena grabs his shoulder and shakes him to jolt him out of his shock.

XENA:
     Worry about that later. Get some water!

He runs off and she grabs a blanket from a neighboring stall, beating down the flames with the blanket. Just as the fire is almost out, a panicked cry erupts from the crowd.

VOICE:
     Murder!

Cut to the litter, falling over on its side and the occupant, an expensively dressed man in his mid to late 50's tumbles out. He is bloodied and he is clutching at his slit throat, gasping for breath.

VOICE:
     It's the Sicarii!

Chaos breaks out and people begin running in every direction. One woman is pushed to the ground by the crowd and Xena is able to pick her up moments before she is trampled.

XENA (to woman):
     Are you all right?

WOMAN (nods, gasping for breath):
     Yes--I--I think so!

Xena takes off running against the tide of the frightened crowd.

XENA:
     Gabrielle! Gabrielle!

She looks to where she left Gabrielle but she is gone. Xena's voice is slightly more anxious now.

XENA:
     Gabrielle!

Cut to the litter. The slaves have disappeared and Gabrielle crouches over the wounded man. Xena runs over, dropping to her knees beside Gabrielle.

XENA:
     Are you all right?

GABRIELLE (nods):
     I wish I could say the same for him. (she shakes her head sadly.) He's dead.

Gabrielle looks up and spots Darion in the crowd, crouching beside a merchant stall, witnessing the chaos.

GABRIELLE:
     Darion!

Xena looks up and sees Darion. She grabs Gabrielle by the elbow and leads her through the crowd. Gabrielle is obviously upset at seeing Darion here.

GABRIELLE:
     What are you doing here?

DARION:
     I wanted to see the temple. I saw the whole thing happen. It was the Sicarii, Xena! I saw one man set fire to that booth while another one attacked the man in the litter. (Darion points to the litter.) That's Simeon bar Naphtali! I heard people say he was a rich merchant that wouldn't give any of his supplies to the Sicarii.

XENA:
     So they killed him...

DARION:
     I saw them run into the temple after the attack.

XENA (musingly to herself):
     The temple...

GABRIELLE:
     Darion, from now on I want you to stay away from here. It's too dangerous.

A man can be seen standing near the gates of the temple. In the midst of all the panic and chaos around him he is surprisingly still. He is in is late 50's, his beard and hair are long and unkempt and he has a wild eyed look as he preaches.

PREACHER:
     ...And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath! And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence!

OLD WOMAN:
     He's quoting the prophet Jeremiah!

Gabrielle looks troubled and glances at Darion. Some people pause to listen to the preacher, obviously disturbed by his words. A young woman bursts into tears while an older man buries his face in his hands in terror. Xena, calm but clearly ill at ease herself, approaches the preacher, clamping a hand on his shoulder.

XENA:
     Look, that gloom and doom preaching isn't doing anyone any good. Why don't you just move along?

The preacher blinks wildly at Xena, almost as if coming out of a trance.

PREACHER:
     I'm delivering a warning from above! Destruction awaits Jerusalem!

Xena moves ominously close. She is several inches taller than him and affects a menacing posture.

XENA:
     Well, consider this a warning from above. Pain awaits you if you don't get out of here.

The preacher backs away, leaving. Once he is several paces away from Xena, he turns and spits at her over his shoulder.

PREACHER:
     Heathen!

XENA:
     I wish I had a dinar for every time I've been called that!

CUT TO

Night in Xena and Gabrielle's quarters. The two women are seated at the table. Darion is seated near the window, whittling. The mood is relaxed and the lantern light casts a soft glow over the room. Gabrielle takes a piece of bread, dips it in a bowl, chews it ponderously then sighs in contentment.

GABRIELLE:
     This is nice.

XENA (smirks):
     Oh sure. The Romans are about to come knocking on the gates of Jerusalem any day now, there are murders in the streets daily and on top of all that the city is about to erupt in a civil war. But aside from all that, this is a real paradise.

Gabrielle nudges Xena's foot playfully.

GABRIELLE:
     That isn't what I meant and you know it. I just meant that this feels like family...

Xena smiles tenderly at Gabrielle. After a moment Gabrielle turns to Darion, sitting by the window.

XENA:
     What are you working on, Darion?

Darion holds it up.

DARION:
     I'm carving a goat.

Xena goes over to Darion, inspecting his work. She is clearly impressed.

XENA:
     That's some very impressive carving, Darion. You're going to make a fine craftsman one day.

Darion smiles shyly and shrugs.

DARION:
     Well, it was supposed to be Argo but it came out looking more like a goat. But you always say that a warrior should be flexible.

XENA (smiles indulgently):
     A warrior, huh.

Gabrielle comes over to Darion.

GABRIELLE :
     Well, it's beautiful no matter what it is.

Darion watches Gabrielle a moment. He contemplates something a moment, then speaks.

DARION:
     Gabrielle...

He seems to be working up the courage to say something.

GABRIELLE (a little concerned):
     Yes?

DARION:
     Are we ever going to see Haimon again?

Gabrielle glances at Xena, shocked and at a loss. Xena shrugs slightly and Gabrielle turns back to Darion.

GABRIELLE:
     I don't know, sweetie.

Darion frowns and nods.

DARION:
     Why did he leave?

Gabrielle strokes his hair lovingly.

GABRIELLE:
     It's complicated. People walk paths together--but sometimes those paths split and...they need to go their separate ways.

There is a short silence.

DARION (with a worried note in his voice):
     That won't ever happen to you and Xena, will it?

GABRIELLE (fervently):
     No, never! (then, more calmly) No--that won't ever happen to Xena and me.

Darion nods and looks out the window. He is obviously struggling with something.

DARION:
     Do you miss him?

Gabrielle stares a moment.

GABRIELLE:
     Do you?

DARION (shrugs, still staring into the window):
     I used to... (he pauses a moment) But not so much anymore.

He turns and looks at Xena and Gabrielle. Pan for a medium close-up on the faces of the two women standing side by side, looking troubled, as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO