FADE IN

Previously on Xena...

* A fight in a crowded city marketplace.

* An unkempt, wild-eyed preacher in the streets.

PREACHER:
     Destruction awaits Jerusalem!

* The fight in the marketplace. Eleazar and Simon Bar-Giora are sparring when John of Giscala interposes his sword between theirs.

JOHN:
     Enough! Do you want to kill each other and do the Romans' work for them?

* John and Eleazar talking.

JOHN:
     If we were to make an alliance with Josephus--

ELEAZAR:
     There's someone who can help.

* Xena and Ares on the docks, Gabrielle and Darion visible in the background.

XENA:
     I'll see you in the fall.

Ares places his hand over hers.

* The ship sails out into the harbor.

* Xena and Gabrielle in the cabin of the ship, facing Darion.

GABRIELLE:
     You were supposed to stay with Ares.

DARION (holding back tears):
     Something bad could happen to you and I would never know.

Gabrielle nods, obviously moved.

* Jerusalem . Xena and John are walking together along a crowded street.

XENA:
     This does not look like the city on the brink of a war.

* A long shot of Xena, John and Eleazar fighting the black-clad Sicarii warriors.

* Zoom in on Xena fighting another Sicarrii warrior. She spins around and kicks him in the chest, then knocks away his sword as he staggers back, and downs him with another kick. She points her sword at him.

* A Sicarii warrior looks contemptuously from Xena to John of Giscala.

SICARII WARRIOR:
     So the great defender of Israel has a pagan murderer on his side.

* Xena and John walking down the street.

XENA:
     So, tell me more about this Bar-Giora.

* Simon Bar-Giora faces John, a sarcastic smile on his face.

* Xena and John.

JOHN:
     He wants to rid us of the Romans, yes--but only to put us under the tyranny of fanatics like himself.

* Xena and Gabrielle, in Legacy-type outfits, ride across the desert toward a distant fortress.

* Xena and Gabrielle face Josephus in the fortress courtyard.

XENA:
     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.

* Xena and Gabrielle ride through the desert.

GABRIELLE:
     You think he can be trusted.

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

* Josephus and his defenders face the Roman legion.

SOLDIER:
     My lord, they outnumber us at least three to one.

* Josephus smashes his shield into a Roman soldier's face and sweeps his legs out from underneath him before running him through.

* Josephus and his men are inside the garrison while ramming is heard at the door.

* Xena, Gabrielle and John in Xena and Gabrielle's quarters in Jerusalem , Xena clad only in her tunic and Gabrielle in a gown.

JOHN:
     Josephus decided they would commit suicide rather than submit to the Romans.

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

* The Roman troops on the move, with Titus and Sabina riding at the head of the cavalry.

* Xena and Gabrielle in their quarters.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena, these people need our help.

XENA:
     We can't help here anymore.

* Pandemonium near the city gates. People are in a panic, running in every direction, shouting.

PEOPLE:
     The Romans are coming!

Xena and Gabrielle share a look of dread.

* A wide shot of the Roman troops camped out by the walls of Jerusalem. A man in a hooded brown robe, on horseback, rides toward the gates waving a white flag. Four Roman soldiers follow behind him on horseback.

* Xena, Gabrielle, John and Eleazar by the Western gate.

JOHN:
     The Romans have sent someone to negotiate the surrender of the city.

* The brown-robed man removes his hood. Xena, Gabrielle, John, and Eleazar stare at him with curiosity which quickly turns to shock.

XENA (grimly):
     Josephus...

Slow fade to Ares and a Roman Centurion seated over mugs of ale in a tavern. The Roman has a dusty appearance, as if he has been traveling a long distance. He is in his mid-late 30's and it is apparent from his bearing that he is a veteran.

BUCCO:
     ...of course the rebels refused Josephus's offer and sent him packing.

ARES (wryly):
     So Josephus was the only survivor of a suicide pact that was his idea in the first place. Funny that.

BUCCO:
     Josephus claims he was captured before he was able to see it through. He told Titus he thinks his god must have meant him for a higher purpose.

Ares snorts in disgust, dismissing Josephus.

BUCCO:
     So that's where Jerusalem stands right now--under siege by four of Vespasian's best legions.

ARES (shrugs):
     I'd match Xena up against a hundred Roman legions.

Bucco shakes his head ruefully.

BUCCO:
     Your confidence in Xena's skill is naturally warranted, my Lord Ares. But in this particular situation I respectfully beg to disagree with you. Titus is content to let the siege play out. Sooner or later Jerusalem will starve. Already there are signs of food shortages.

ARES:
     War breeds opportunity, Bucco. You should know that better than anyone. Smugglers will get through with food, medicines--not to mention the luxuries.

BUCCO:
     Three weeks ago my men captured two trying to bring food back into the city. Titus ordered them crucified in the hills overlooking Jerusalem so that the people within the city were able to see what we do to smugglers. (he snorts) Smugglers--a father and his ten year old son trying to get food to their hungry family.

Close up of Ares's face as he flinches. The screen flashes white to a long shot of a hill overlooking Jerusalem. Two bodies hang from crosses, one a grown man and the other a young boy of ten.

CUT TO

Xena and Gabrielle both staring grimly up at the hills. Xena turns to look at Gabrielle and her jaw clenches.

The screen flashes white again back to Ares.

ARES:
     Fear is a powerful weapon, Bucco.

Bucco takes a long sip of his ale.

BUCCO:
     Perhaps I've gone soft, but when I saw that I lost heart for this campaign. I was only too glad to be away from there, to serve as dispatch between Titus and the Emperor. (he frowns in self-disgust) Here I am--confessing this to you of all people--sounding like some silly schoolgirl with no spleen.

Ares bumps Bucco on the shoulder in a comradely way.

ARES:
     You've always been a loyal follower as well as a good friend. One thing I've come to understand is that people change. The God of War would have reveled in the siege of Jerusalem. But as a mortal... (he trails off and shakes his head, taking a long sip of ale)

BUCCO:
     The world is a different place, my lord Ares. Despite what happens in Jerusalem, Rome is fighting a losing battle. This one god business has taken root. (he takes another sip of ale) But still, I wouldn't want to be in the place of the Israelites right now. They've got the weight of history on their shoulders. And I'm sure even Xena realizes that this war isn't for fighting--it's for surviving. Titus is determined to spare no one. Neither man, woman--nor child.

Close up of Ares, a troubled look on his face. A bit shakily he downs his mug of ale.

SLOW FADE TO

Gabrielle walking down a street in Jerusalem. Her belly is large and she is obviously very close to term in her pregnancy. She moves slowly, tiredly, clearly uncomfortable. The sun is hot and bright and the streets are overcrowded. Darion walks ahead of her, determinedly pushing people aside to clear the way for her. Gabrielle stops a moment to catch her breath and inspects the contents of her food basket, which is nearly empty. She frowns and then follows resolutely after Darion.

FADE OUT

END OF TEASER