FADE IN

Xena, along with Darion, running through the streets of Jerusalem. Off-camera, the sounds of battle are heard, like a soundtrack to a film.

CUT TO

The battle just outside the city gates. The Israelites are retreating with the Romans pushing them back to the gates.

A close-up on John fighting. He has a bleeding cut on his cheek.

CUT TO

The Western Gate. Eleazar and Bar-Giora stand ready. The square in front of the gates is filled with Bar-Giora's Sicarii. A small group of John's men huddle around Eleazar.

A watcher shouts from the gate tower.

WATCHER:
     They're almost at the gates!

ELEAZAR (shouts):
     All right! Remember, once we're out of the gates, the archers fire!

QUICK CUT TO

Archers on the towers, hidden behind the battlements.

CUT TO

At the gates. Eleazar turns to Bar-Giora.

ELEAZAR:
     It's time. Give the signal to open the gates.

Bar-Giora stares at him, not moving. Eleazar frowns slightly.

CUT TO

Naomi's Home. Naomi is sitting beside Gabrielle's bed, clutching her hand. Xena and Darion rush through the door, slightly out of breath.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena? (to Darion) You were supposed to get the midwife.

DARION:
     I couldn't find her.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena, you shouldn't be here. You're needed on the battlefield.

Xena goes over to Gabrielle.

XENA:
     Never mind about that right now. How are you?

Gabrielle presses her lips together, knowing it's futile to argue.

GABRIELLE:
     It's breech.

Xena puts her hand on Gabrielle's abdomen.

CUT TO

A Roman soldier getting his hand chopped off by John's axe on the battlefield.

CUT TO

Western Gate. Eleazar stares expectantly at Bar-Giora.

The camera pulls back as Bar-Giora turns to the crows of his followers. He stands in an almost regal posture and raises his arms.

BAR-GIORA (in a resonant voice that carries above the crowd):
     The gates--stay locked.

Pan to Eleazar, who is in shock. There are gasps from John's followers, drowned out by cheers from the Sicarii. The camera pans over the crowd of onlookers who have gathered nearby. They look worried. One of them is Samuel.

ELEAZAR (explodes):
     Bar-Giora, you--madman! We had a deal!

BAR-GIORA (smiles brazenly):
     Exactly--we had a deal. Xena was part of it. And now--she's not.

ELEAZAR:
     Get out there and fight, coward!

BAR-GIORA (still smiling):
     Sticks and stones, my friend. (he raises his voice again) I know a sign from the Lord when I see one.

ELEAZAR (stunned):
     What are you talking about?

BAR-GIORA:
     At the very hour that the final step of this plan was to be carried out--the Greek harlot deserted us. Do you think that was mere coincidence? No, it was a sign from our Lord--that we have earned his wrath by taking orders from a heathen. And why do you think it is that John and his followers are out there-- (he gestures toward the gates) being slaughtered by the Romans--while my men and I are in here?

Quick pan to Samuel, who steps forward. He looks furious.

SAMUEL:
     Because you locked them out, you charlatan!

Bar-Giora stares at him with a cold, terrifying smile.

SAMUEL (continues, looking at John's followers, the onlookers, and the Sicarii):
     Come on! Are you going to listen to him? Desert your brothers? (he gestures toward Bar-Giora) I used to follow him once, until I saw him for what he is.

Bar-Giora walks toward him while Samuel continues to speak.

SAMUEL:
     I promised my mother--who has no family left but me--that I would not go into this battle. But I would rather break my word to her than watch him get away with this! Come on--let's open the gates and get out there and fight!

He moves to walk toward the gates, but Bar-Giora blocks his way and puts a hand on his shoulder. He is still smiling.

BAR-GIORA:
     You should have heeded the word of God.

Pan to Samuel, who stares at him with puzzlement and hostility; then to Bar-Giora for a close-up.

BAR-GIORA (continues):
     Honor your mother.

He clenches his jaw and grunts slightly, as if from exertion.

Pan to a close-up on Samuel. His eyes bulge and he groans.

The camera pulls back to show Bar-Giora yanking a dagger out of Samuel's chest. Samuel crumples to the ground, dead.

There are gasps from the crowd. Pan to Eleazar, who looks horrified; then to the ranks of Sicarii. Even some of them look troubled. The camera pans over to Barnabas, the Sicarii who was involved in the confrontation with Samuel in Act 1. He looks at Samuel's dead body, clearly uneasy.

Meanwhile, Bar-Giora turns to the crowd and continues to speak as if nothing happened.

BAR-GIORA:
     They're being killed out there--because they followed Xena. Now I can clearly see what the Lord wants: he has chosen me to lead Jerusalem. And I accept.

Most of the Sicarii cheer loudly. Unnoticed by the rest, Barnabas breaks off from the crowd and leaves, walking off into a side street. Many of the onlookers begin to back away and leave the square as well.

CUT TO

The battlefield. John and his men are trying to hold off the Romans. One of John's lieutenants yells to him over the noise of the battle.

LIEUTENANT:
     They should have been out of the gates by now!

JOHN:
     Something's wrong.

CUT TO

The square by the gates.

BAR-GIORA (raises his arms):
     Behold--your true king! Together, we shall defeat the Romans--and restore this city to the glory of the Lord!

As the Sicarii cheer, Eleazar and the rest of John's followers look around grimly, realizing that resistance is futile.

Pan to Eleazar as one of his men speaks to him quietly.

WARRIOR #1:
     We've got to do something to help them.

Eleazar nods. After the cheers die down, he shouts out.

ELEAZAR:
     Archers--fire!

Pan to the archers on the walls as they pop up from behind the battlements and rain arrows down on the Romans; then down to the field to show dozens of Romans falling, dead or wounded.

Pan to Titus.

TITUS:
     Fall back!

As the second volley of arrows comes down, the Romans fall back.

Pan to John. He is breathing hard and looks very grim, realizing he is cornered.

JOHN:
     We'll have to do this ourselves, then. (raises his voice) Charge!

Though exhausted and outnumbered, the Israelites charge at the retreating Romans.

CUT TO

Inside the gates. As the Sicarii gather around Bar-Giora, Eleazar gestures to his men.

ELEAZAR:
     Come on. We have to get out there and help John.

WARRIOR #1:
     How? They'll kill us if we try to unlock the gates. The other gates are too far--we'll never reach them in time.

ELEAZAR:
     The tunnel. Come on.

WARRIOR #2:
     Didn't Xena say it was too dangerous?

ELEAZAR (grimly):
     Well, Xena's not here.

CUT TO

Xena and Gabrielle at Naomi's house.

Xena lays her palms on Gabrielle's stomach.

XENA:
     I can fix this.

GABRIELLE:
     You'll have to-- (she winces) make an incision and--

XENA (shakes her head):
     Not necessarily...

Naomi breaks down a little in relief.

NAOMI:
     Praise the Lord of Hosts!

Gabrielle manages a small smile.

Xena puts both of her hands on Gabrielle's abdomen. She slowly but purposefully moves the fetus in a clockwise motion. Gabrielle lets out a small gasp and tosses her head. Xena works intently, slowly trying to turn the baby. Gabrielle squirms in discomfort. Finally satisfied that she has turned the baby, Xena nods in reassurance.

XENA:
     Okay, now push.

Gabrielle grits her teeth and pushes with a loud grunt.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena, what if this baby--?

XENA:
     Don't think about that right now! Push!

CUT TO

The battle. John and Titus, both on horseback, clash with each other. John is the better trained of the two, and it shows. John makes graceful and skilled movements with his axe while Titus makes sloppy movements with his sword.

CUT TO

Naomi's home. Gabrielle is still pushing. Xena is kneeling by the foot of the bed. She wipes a sweaty lock of hair from her forehead and nods calmly.

XENA:
     You're doing just fine, Gabrielle. I can see the crown of the head.

CUT TO

The battle. Sabina is in a sword fight with the lieutenant to whom John was talking before. He manages to hold his own for a few seconds before Sabina kicks his sword out of his hand and then, with another kick, sends it flying toward him so that it is buried in his chest. The man falls dead.

Medium close-up on Sabina as she smiles, clearly impressed with her own skill.

Sabina turns and the camera follows her gaze to show Titus battling John not far away. The two men grapple and tumble down from their horses. John is the first to jump to his feet and swing his sword, but Titus manages to dodge the blow by rolling away and then scrambling to his feet as well.

SABINA:
     Oh my.

She whips around and, with a fierce cry, chops down two Israelites who were coming up behind her.

CUT TO

Naomi's house. Xena is still kneeling by the foot of the bed as Gabrielle has propped herself into a nearly sitting position by her arms. Her face is contorted by the exertion of pushing.

XENA:
     Come on Gabrielle...just breathe and focus...one more push...

GABRIELLE:
     You keep saying just one more!

XENA:
     Well, I never was very good at math.

CUT TO

The battle. The ground is littered with bodies. The Israelites are clearly losing; most of them are dead or wounded, and the rest are trying in vain to hold off the Romans.

Pan to Sabina at the head of a squadron, advancing on the Israelites and pushing them back toward the walls.

Pan to Titus and John, who are still fighting.

As the camera zooms in, we see that Titus has several cuts on his face and nicks in his armor from John's axe. Each sword thrust he tries, John deflects. John twirls his axe, sharp side down. Thinking he has a shot, Titus goes for the kill--but John twirls his axe again, disarming Titus in the process, then slams the flat end of the axe into Titus' face, knocking him off his feet so that he lands flat on his back.

CUT TO

Naomi's house. Gabrielle lets out a final, guttural cry and collapses back on the bed in exhaustion. Xena proudly lifts the newborn up for Gabrielle's inspection. Her eyes are visibly moist from emotion.

XENA:
     You have a son, Gabrielle.

Gabrielle gasps.

GABRIELLE (weakly):
     Is he--

XENA:
     He's fine. He's--perfect.

Close-up on Gabrielle, smiling through tears.

CUT TO

John raises his axe over Titus, about to make the kill. We see him from Titus' point of view. As he starts to bring the axe down, a kick in the side sends him flying--and, in his place, we see Sabina holding out her hand to Titus.

Pull back to show Sabina helping Titus to his feet.

TITUS:
     Took you long enough.

SABINA:
     Better late than never.

She turns around and charges John. He swings his axe at her, but she bobs and weaves, deftly avoiding his strikes. She somersaults over him, then kicks him in the gut as he turns around. He stumbles backward as she brings her sword down on his head. He raises his axe to block it; she moves the sword so that it chops the handle of the axe in half. John manages to catch the blade with the now-shortened handle and swings it at Sabina, cutting her on the arm.

SABINA (nonchalantly):
     Not bad.

John draws a shortsword at his belt and charges Sabina, swinging the axe blade in his left hand and wielding the shortsword with his right.

CUT TO

A courtyard in Jerusalem. An opening in the side of a brick wall leads into what looks like an underground crypt. Eleazar, followed by a group of warriors loyal to John, come up to the wall.

ELEAZAR:
     This way.

The warriors follow him into the crypt. The camera pans back to show that they are followed by a crowd of people who left the square after Bar-Giora proclaimed himself king.

WOMAN IN THE CROWD:
     Come on, follow them! I heard them talking about a tunnel--it's a way out of the city!

MAN IN THE CROWD:
     Are you mad, woman?

WOMAN:
     Do you want to stay here, trapped between the Romans and that maniac?

She runs down into the crypt. The crowd hesitates a moment. Voices are heard shouting:

--This is madness!

--No, she's right!

--Don't listen to her!

--It's the only way out, let's go!

A few more people rush down into the crypt. The rest follow them.

DISSOLVE TO

Sabina fighting John. He manages to drive her back a few steps before she somersaults over him. He turns just in time to receive a kick from Sabina that knocks the shortsword from his hand. He swings the axe blade, which she blocks with her sword; however, John sees an opening and spins to deliver a kick at her gut. She staggers back, but rallies in time to dodge his punch, then spin and sweep his legs out from underneath him.

John starts to get up, only to find Sabina's sword at his neck.

SABINA:
     Give it up. You have nothing left to fight for.

John looks around. Hundreds of his men lie dead or wounded; others are being shackled by the Romans.

John drops to the ground in defeat.

CUT TO

The underground tunnel, crammed with people. Pan to Eleazar and his men out in front.

ELEAZAR:
     Hurry up!

One of the wooden beams holding up the ceiling of the tunnel snaps in half under pressure from the crowd. Soil, sand and pieces of rubble and stone are starting to rain down from the ceiling.

WARRIOR #2 (looking up):
     God help us--it's going to cave!

The crowd erupts in shots of panic as some people try to push back and others to push forward.

CUT TO

John, now disarmed, his hands shackled, standing before Sabina and Titus.

SABINA (to John):
     So. What is Xena up to?

John remains silent. Titus glances at Sabina, surprised.

TITUS:
     What are you talking about? We both saw her go down. She's probably dead or dying somewhere behind those walls. (chuckles) Some great warrior she turned out to be. (To the soldiers, nodding toward John and his men who have been captured alive). Take them away.

As John and his surviving men are led away, Sabina shakes her head.

SABINA:
     You don't get it. There's no way she'd go down so easily. It's got to be part of a plan. (to herself, puzzled) But what is it?

TITUS:
     No matter. We finish this now. (off Sabina's questioning look) We storm the gates.

SABINA:
     Bad idea. I'm telling you, Xena's in there and she's got a plan. Storming the gates is probably just what she wants us to do. I know her.

TITUS:
     Maybe you don't know her as well as you think.

CUT TO

The tunnel. It now looks ready to cave in at any moment. The people are screaming in panic; it's a complete pandemonium. Eleazar and his men are still trying to make their way forward.

ELEAZAR:
     Keep moving!

The tunnel collapses, burying everyone under dirt and rubble. Their screams can be heard as the screen fades to black.

CUT TO

A portion of the city walls, over the tunnel, caves and collapses in slow motion.

CUT TO

Titus and Sabina, facing off against each other.

TITUS:
     Forget about Xena! Get the men ready to storm the gates.

There is a commotion among the Roman soldiers.

SOLDIER (off-screen):
     Sir! Look--over there!

Titus and Sabina turn around abruptly (with a "whoosh" sound) to see the wall collapsing and settling in a pile of rubble.

Pan to John, being led away in shackles. He turns and looks at the walls. A close-up on his face, filled with shock and horror.

Pan to Sabina, who shrugs slightly and grins.

SABINA:
     Well. I guess that saves us the trouble of knocking down the door.

DISSOLVE TO

The Roman army, with Titus and Sabina riding at the head of the troops, pours into Jerusalem through the breach in the walls.

DISSOLVE TO

Gabrielle, dressed in a loose white robe, is breastfeeding her baby, seated in bed. Her face is lit with a quiet glow.

The camera pulls back to show Naomi washing up with Darion's help, then pans to Xena, who sits on the edge of the bed, looking at Gabrielle. Close-up on Xena, a tender, bittersweet smile on her face.

GABRIELLE (looks up at Xena):
     Thank you.

Xena nods wordlessly and reaches out to squeeze her hand. After a moment she speaks.

XENA:
     Look--I have to go back there. I just hope--

There is a loud, insistent knock on the door. Xena turns abruptly.

XENA (to Naomi):
     You stay here. I'll see who it is.

She goes out. Naomi and Gabrielle exchange a worried look. Then Gabrielle smiles at Darion.

GABRIELLE:
     Look. You have a baby brother.

Darion comes up to her, a little apprehensive.

Xena returns with Barnabas. Gabrielle sits up, a look of fear and shock on her face.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena, this man--

BARNABAS (interrupts, speaking to Xena):
     You've got to stop him!

XENA:
     Stop who?

BARNABAS:
     Bar-Giora! He's gone mad!

Xena and Gabrielle exchange a look of dismay.

BARNABAS (continues):
     I used to think he wanted the best for our people, but now--

Naomi comes up to him, looking fearful.

NAOMI:
     Barnabas, what's going on?

Barnabas gives her a guilty look, as if not knowing what to say.

NAOMI:
     Where's Samuel?

BARNABAS (stumbles over his words):
     He's-- (takes a deep breath) He's dead.

Naomi cries out and covers her hands with her mouth, then collapses to the floor.

Gabrielle looks on, horrified.

XENA:
     What happened?

Barnabas looks at her and swallows nervously.

CUT TO

A montage of Roman soldiers on the rampage through the city, the shots dissolving into each other:

* Roman soldiers running:

* houses burning;

* Roman soldier shouting, "Burn everything!"

* men, women and children running around in a panic;

* a man tries to fight back against a Roman soldier, wielding a shovel, but is quickly cut down;

* a woman runs out of burning house carrying a sack with some of her possessions; a Roman soldier grabs the sack out of her hands and pushes her to the ground;

* an old woman runs through the street, carrying a small child;

* Roman soldiers come out of a large house carrying looted jewelry, dishes, goblets, and rich fabrics;

* in a courtyard, a woman hits a Roman soldier with a frying pan; he punches her, knocking her to the ground;

* a Roman soldier torches a house.

CUT TO

An exterior shot of the temple. Zoom in to show Roman soldiers battling the Sicarii on the temple steps by the doors. Pull back to show Sabina, on horseback, looking on as the Sicarii fall.

CUT TO

Inside the temple. A crowd of people has gathered. They are kneeling and praying, led by an elderly priest in a prayer shawl.

PRIEST:
     Heavenly father, protect us in this our hour of need. Shelter us from the storm.

CUT TO

Outside. The bodies of the dead Sicarii are on the temple steps. A Roman soldier comes down the steps and approaches Sabina.

SABINA:
     Are there people inside?

SOLDIER:
     At least five or six dozen. Your orders?

Sabina pauses, looking at the majestic temple.

SABINA:
     Get them out. Collect the temple treasures.

Zoom in on her face. There is a flicker of regret in it, but then her expression turns cold and hard.

SABINA:
     Then--burn it.

CROSS-FADE TO

MONTAGE:

* Roman soldiers dragging people out of the temple, beating and kicking some of them;

* Roman soldiers looting the temple, carrying out vases, jars, plates and other things;

* Fire sweeping across the interior of the temple;

* an exterior shot of the temple in flames.

DISSOLVE TO

Naomi's house. Naomi is crouched on the floor, sobbing as Gabrielle (holding her baby) tries to comfort her. Darion looks frightened. Barnabas stands by the wall, looking uneasily at Naomi. Xena stands at the window, looking out.

Pan to the window, from Xena's point of view. Flames are seen in the distance; a growing din of pandemonium fills the air.

XENA:
     Something's going on. I'm going outside to check it out.

She grabs her sword and heads toward the door.

XENA (to Barnabas):
     Make sure they're safe.

He nods silently.

CUT TO

Exterior of the house. Xena comes down the porch and a sees about a dozen Roman soldiers coming out of the house next door, carrying their loot, which they throw into a cart. A sobbing woman, carrying a small child with two other children clinging to her skirts, is herded out of the house. The Romans then fling two torches into the house, setting it on fire.

Several of the Romans approach Xena.

ROMAN SOLDIER #1:
     You don't look like one of the locals.

XENA (sneers):
     Funny, neither do you.

ROMAN SOLDIER #1:
     Well, whoever you are, you and anyone else that's in there (gestures toward the house) have got two minutes to get out.

Xena gives him the death glare.

XENA:
     Oh yeah? Well, you've got ten seconds.

The Romans look at each other and burst out laughing, then charge. Xena leaps up, then stretches her body out horizontally, striking out with fists and feet, knocking four soldiers down.

She goes straight into a somersault. Her feet connect with a tree. She pushes off of it into a back somersault and hits a soldier dead in his chest with her feet, knocking him down.

As the remaining soldiers charge her, Barnabas runs out of the house, dagger drawn. He charges one of the Romans from behind and slits his throat while Xena runs another soldier through with her sword. Barnabas stabs another Roman in the chest and whips around--only to fall as a Roman's sword plunges into his chest. As he crumples, the Roman who killed him yanks his sword out of the dead body --only to be run through by Xena's sword.

As the Roman falls, Xena grabs his sword; with a fierce yell, she twirls both swords and kills two Romans coming up behind her.

ROMAN SOLDIER #2:
     Come on, let's get out of here!

The remaining soldiers run off, abandoning the cart with the loot. Xena stands looking after them, breathing hard. Then she notices that the flames of the burning house are already licking the walls of Naomi's house. She turns and races inside.

CUT TO

Inside the house.

Naomi, who is slightly more composed now, sits on the bed, her hands crossed in her lap. Gabrielle with the baby is sitting next to her. Darion stands next to them, tense and anxious. Xena rushes in.

XENA:
     We've got to get moving. Now. The Romans have taken the city.

NAOMI (broken):
     I can't. I--I have nothing left. (choking a sob) This is the house where my son grew up--

XENA:
     Naomi, the house is about to burn. Come on!

NAOMI:
     Just save yourselves. All I can do is slow you down.

GABRIELLE:
     We're not leaving you.

XENA:
     Come on. (to Gabrielle) Can you walk?

Gabrielle gets up but is a little wobbly on her feet.

GABRIELLE:
     I'll be fine.

CROSS-FADE TO

The burning temple. A crowd of wailing Israelites is watching the inferno. Suddenly, an imposing figure in purple robes pushes its way through the crowd. It's Simon Bar-Giora. He goes up the steps of the temple and addresses the crowd.

BAR-GIORA:
     People of Jerusalem! Listen to me! The cleansing fire has come! (the camera zooms in on him as he speaks until we see him in close-up, a mad gleam in his eyes) It is the Lord who has sent this destruction--because our wickedness has made him turn away from us! His just wrath is upon us! He--

He is interrupted in mid-sentence, choking suddenly as his eyes bulge.

The camera pulls back to show the handle of a dagger protruding from his chest.

Pan to a black-clad Sicarii warrior standing in the front of the crowd, lowering his hand. His face is implacable.

Bar-Giora clutches at the dagger in his chest, trying to pull it out. Then he falls, dead.

DISSOLVE TO

A city street. Dusk is starting to fall, the air colored by the eerie light of flames. The houses have been reduced to still-smoldering rubble. Several dead bodies are lying on the ground.

A group comes into view: two women, one tall and one shorter, wrapped in black cloaks that cover their heads and leave only the faces open; a small boy; and a horse led by the taller of the two women. As they walk toward the camera, we recognize the women as Xena and Naomi. (The cloaks are similar to the ones that Xena and Gabrielle wore in Motherhood.) The camera pulls around and we see that the horse is pulling a cart--the one in which the Romans were carrying their loot before. In the cart is Gabrielle with the baby.

Xena looks up. The camera follow her point of view to show a Roman officer on horseback, blocking their way. Zoom in closer to show that it's Sabina. There are about a dozen foot soldiers behind her.

Xena stops abruptly, holding out a hand to stop Naomi. Sabina rides closer as the other soldiers stay behind.

SABINA:
     You sure you aren't half-god, Xena? Because you do heal fast.

She rides closer. Xena remains silent.

SABINA:
     So tell me, Xena--what was your game? Of course I figured out that you weren't really hurt out there on the field. (She thinks a moment) A couple of your own men in Roman uniforms, was that it?

Xena stares silently, her face hard and impassive.

SABINA (continues):
     Hmm--I figured. Good one. So--what went wrong? I kept waiting for a trap--a trick--

An infant's wail is heard. Sabina's eyes widen. She rides closer and sees Gabrielle in the cart, rocking her baby. Her eyes meet Gabrielle's defiant stare. Then she looks at Xena, whose look suddenly turns soft and anguished.

SABINA:
     So that's it. It was all about her. (She shakes her head) Oh, Xena, Xena. I knew that sentimental side would be your downfall.

XENA (through clenched teeth):
     Spare me the lecture.

SABINA:
     Straight to business? Well, then. (she pauses) I could take you prisoner. Titus really has his heart set on leading you two in his triumphal procession alongside John of Giscala. And something tells me you're not in the mood to fight.

Xena's hand goes toward her belt.

VOICE (off-camera):
     Let them go.

Pan to Josephus, who has come up behind Xena and Gabrielle. He steps forward to stand by Xena's side. She whips around and gives him a stunned stare.

SABINA (mock surprise):
     Now--why didn't I think of that?

JOSEPHUS:
     I think you did.

SABINA:
     Really.

JOSEPHUS:
     If you take Xena down--you'd want it to be one on one, a fair fight. As your own victory--not a gift to your boss.

SABINA (scornfully):
     I don't have a boss, little man. (Pan to Josephus, who bristles) Just--a supervisor.

She pauses a moment, then turns her horse around and shouts to her men.

SABINA:
     Let's move along! (gestures toward Xena and her companions) These can go through.

Extreme close-up on Xena as she stares at Sabina with a mixture of shock, resentment, and gratitude. The camera pulls back slightly as she nods quietly and mouths a "Thank you."

Sabina rides back toward her men. Xena touches the bridle of the horse and they resume their walk, with Darion and Naomi in tow. They pass by Sabina and her soldiers.

SOLDIER:
     Who are they? The way you were talking to that tall one, I thought she was someone special.

Sabina stares pensively after the small group, then finally speaks.

SABINA:
     She's nobody.

CUT TO

Further down the street. The group continues to walk. Josephus catches up with them and starts to walk by their side.

JOSEPHUS (to Gabrielle):
     Are you all right?

GABRIELLE (sighs):
     I'm alive... ( She pauses, then adds with a sigh) Josephus...I guess I should thank you.

JOSEPHUS (with a small, slightly mocking smile):
     Yes, I guess you should.

Xena lets out an angry, sarcastic "Hmph" and Josephus turns to her.

JOSEPHUS:
     Come on, Xena. I'm not a bad man.

XENA (scoffs):
     Some of us would beg to differ.

JOSEPHUS:
     There was nothing I could have done to stop the Romans, Xena. Nothing! But now--because I'm alive--I can do something for my people. I can write the history of this war.

XENA:
     Going to write about how your new masters burned down the temple of your God?

Josephus gives her a troubled look.

JOSEPHUS:
     They didn't. It was the Sicarii. (heatedly) Come on, you know what madmen they are!

XENA (sarcastic):
     Are you trying to convince me, or yourself?

They continue to walk in silence for a few moments. The dusk deepens, and the tint of orange flames in the sky is becoming more visible.

JOSEPHUS:
     You know, some years ago we had a preacher here in Jerusalem who said that if the temple was destroyed, he could rebuild it in three days. (he chuckles mirthlessly)

XENA:
     Too bad he's not here right now. You sure could use his help.

She continues to walk, Josephus still walking next to her.

XENA:
     You know, just because you did us a good turn doesn't mean I want you following us around.

Josephus sighs and gives up, realizing that his attempts at friendliness are getting nowhere.

JOSEPHUS:
     Xena, all I want is to help you get out of the city. Go to the Lions' Gate; it's lightly guarded.

XENA:
     Thanks--but we're going out by the Western gate.

JOSEPHUS (puzzled):
     Why?

XENA (glances at Naomi):
     We have to find someone there--to pay our last respects.

Naomi bows her head in sorrow.

Josephus stops, his arms crossed on his chest. The camera tracks Xena, Naomi, Darion, and Gabrielle in the cart as they recede into the distance.

CROSS-FADE TO

Night. A campfire is burning. The camera pulls back to show Gabrielle nursing her baby. Darion is sitting nearby, staring thoughtfully ahead.

Off-camera, Xena's keening funeral song is heard.

Pan over to Xena to show her standing over a fresh burial mound with a rock on it. Naomi is kneeling at the burial mound, hands folded in prayer.

The song ends. After a brief silence, Xena walks back to Gabrielle and sits down next to her.

After a moment Naomi rises unsteadily and joins them, sitting down .

NAOMI (her voice shaky):
     He's a beautiful boy. (after a pause) Have you chosen a name?

Gabrielle looks up at her and nods.

GABRIELLE:
     I'm going to call him Samuel.

Naomi takes her hand and holds it between her palms, her eyes filling with tears. She pats the back of Gabrielle's hand and nods, then lets go of her hand and wipes away tears. Xena puts her arm around Gabrielle's shoulder.

The camera pulls away to show the group by a dying campfire: Gabrielle holding her baby, her head resting on Xena's shoulder, and Xena leaning slightly against Gabrielle, both of them staring into the distance; Darion sitting next to Gabrielle, also staring ahead; and Naomi, staring in the same direction, her face full of grief.

The camera slowly pulls around behind them until it is showing their point of view, then zooms out to show the distant, sinister glow of Jerusalem in flames as we:

FADE OUT

THE END

[The tragic true events that form the basis of the episode continue to reverberate in history until the modern day.]

Xena: Warrior Princess Shipper Seasons Season 9 Episode 21 The Fall II Story By: LadyKate and Sais 2 Cool Written By: LadyKate, Sais 2 Cool and 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 Samuel Robert Harte Naomi Liddy Holloway Barnabas Josh Heartman Bucco Rich Livsen Original Airdate October 17, 2007 The tragic true events that form the basis of the episode continue to reverberate in history until the modern day. 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.