FADE IN

Fade up on the hunting party arriving back at the Amazon camp. Gabrielle rides at the head of the column at a slow, careful gait. Darion, riding in front of her in the saddle, has fallen asleep and is slumped against her. A voice can faintly be heard calling out: "Eve! They're back!"

Eve comes running. She sees Gabrielle and lets out a heavy sigh of relief.

EVE:
     Gabrielle--thank the Heavens! I was about to organize a search party to go after you. (Eve glances at Darion) Oh...who's this?

Gabrielle takes Darion in her arms and gently slides from the saddle. The boy stirs but does not wake up. Gabrielle holds him protectively against her shoulder and speaks barely above a whisper so as not to disturb him.

GABRIELLE:
     This is Darion. I'm going to be taking care of him for a while.

EVE (regaining herself from the surprise):
     His parents--?

GABRIELLE (frowns and shakes her head):
     Let me get him settled first. We'll talk later.

She carries Darion into her hut. The scene fades to Gabrielle kneeling beside Darion who is asleep in her bed. She stares at him pensively, softly caressing his hair. Finally, she leans over, gently kisses his forehead and blows out the candle on the table beside him.

CUT TO

Outside Gabrielle's hut. The sun is beginning to set and Eve slowly paces back and forth. The door opens and Gabrielle steps out, softly shutting it behind her.

EVE:
     How is he?

GABRIELLE:
     He's exhausted. This is the first he's slept in two days.

EVE:
     Cyane told me what happened to the village--his family...

GABRIELLE:
     His sister Lykia was taken in the raid. Rumor has it that it was Roman noblemen. If that's true then she was probably taken as a slave. I've promised Darion I'd find her.

EVE:
     Gabrielle--Morai has been talking. She's been telling everyone about the ten deer you ordered her to leave behind for the villagers.

GABRIELLE (shrugs):
     So? It's not a secret.

EVE:
     She's becoming a problem. Morai has been speaking out against you ever since--

GABRIELLE:
     Ever since her sister was killed fighting Sabina at Corinth.

Eve whips around to stare at Gabrielle in disbelief.

EVE:
     Don't tell me you're going to let Morai get away with this because you feel guilty!

GABRIELLE:
     Guilty? No. I made a decision I felt was in the best interest of the Amazon Nation. And like it or not, I have to accept responsibility for it. That's what being a leader is all about. Morai needs some time to work through her grief--and her way of doing that is finding fault with me and everything I do. It's harmless enough right now.

EVE (frowns and speaks almost to herself):
     I wonder how much longer it'll continue to be harmless.

GABRIELLE:
     Eve, I--

A noise is heard from inside the cabin, causing Gabrielle and Eve to spin around. A cry of distress that is obviously from Darion can be faintly heard and Gabrielle races into her hut. She finds Darion frantically tossing and turning while muttering in his sleep. She sits on the edge of the bed and touches his shoulder.

GABRIELLE:
     Darion? Hey--

Obviously still in the grips of a nightmare, Darion suddenly sits upright swiping wildly with his fists and gasping in terror.

DARION:
     Raise the roof!

Gabrielle jumps back a little, grabs his wrists and stares in puzzlement at his choice of words.

DARION:
     Raise the--

GABRIELLE:
     Darion, wake up! It's just me!

The boy opens his eyes. He is groggy and clearly confused. Gabrielle reaches out to stroke his cheek and he bursts into tears. Gabrielle holds him in a tight, protective hug.

GABRIELLE:
     It's okay...it was just a bad dream. (she kisses the top of his head) Shh...just a bad dream. Nothing is going to hurt you here. I promise.

DARION (sobbing):
     I miss Lykia!

GABRIELLE (soothingly):
     I know. Don't worry...I will find your sister. And the people responsible for what happened to your village.

DARION:
     Why...why would anyone do that?

GABRIELLE:
     I don't know. I have a very close friend that wonders about the same thing. His village was attacked when he was young too. And he grew up to be a brave warrior.

A memory comes back to Gabrielle and her expression grows a little wistful.

GABRIELLE:
     Maybe someday you'll meet him. Maybe someday you'll meet my best friend in the whole world. Her name is Xena and she's a mighty warrior princess. Do you want to hear a story about Xena, the Warrior Princess? (Darion nods and she tucks him back under the covers.) A long time ago a warlord named Draco rode into a little village named Potidaea...

Gabrielle continues telling Darion a story about Xena as her voice gets softer and softer and the scene slowly fades out.

CUT TO

Morning. Xena rides in through the gates of Pompeii. The city is bustling with activity. The camera pans over: peddlers hawking their wares, a noblewoman carried in a semi-open litter by four slaves, a bundle-laden donkey and its driver, a group of laughing children on their way to school, women workers washing wool in large vats in front of a workshop. A loud high-pitched voice obviously making some sort of announcement rises above the general din of the streets, and as it gets closer we can make out the words, "Only today!" Then we see a boy of about twelve standing on a street corner shouting.

BOY:
     Only today! See Ostorius, the famous gladiator of the Empire, fight in the grand amphitheater of Pompeii! Come and see the great Ostorius fight! Never yet defeated in the arena!

As Xena rides past the boy, the camera closes in her face, and we see her frown slightly, her lips creasing; it is obvious that the mention of the arena and gladiatorial contests brings back bad memories for her. As she continues to ride, the boy repeats his cry, his voice fading gradually behind her.

CUT TO

The dimly lit anteroom of an inn in Pompeii, adorned with a somewhat dusty marble bust of the Emperor Claudius on a shelf behind the counter. The innkeeper, a bald, stocky middle-aged man, is sitting behind the counter looking at parchments and counting something using an abacus. An insect running across the counter catches his attention; he raises a hand and swats it with an open palm, just as the door swings open with a groan and Xena walks in.

INNKEEPER (looks up with a big fake smile):
     Ah! Welcome, welcome to the finest establishment in Pompeii...

XENA (wryly):
     Obviously very popular with the bugs.

INNKEEPER (with a nervous, obsequious little laugh):
     Just an unfortunate little accident, I assure you. (hopefully) Will you be needing a room?

XENA (comes up to the counter):
     Don't know yet--depends on how long I'm staying in this town. What I'll be needing first is some information.

INNKEEPER:
     Oh, let me tell you all about our tourist attractions...

XENA:
     Save it for the tourists. (leans forward, resting her elbows on the counter) See, I'm trying to track down a friend of mine I've lost sight of. She would have arrived in this town sometime in the past month. A woman almost as tall as me--slender build--light brown hair--grey eyes. Probably a little secretive about who she is and where she came from.

INNKEEPER:
     Anything else you can think of that could jog my memory? (he taps his fingers suggestively on the abacus)

XENA (glares at him, her eyes narrowing):
     She doesn't take nonsense from anyone. Something she and I have in common.

INNKEEPER (sighs, defeated):
     That sounds like Lavinia Flora. Yeah, she stayed here for a couple of days before she got her own place. (sounds a little peeved) She sure does act like she was used to giving orders. There are all sorts of strange rumors about her in the town--some say she's a criminal, in exile or on the run from justice...

XENA (poker-faced):
     Her own place. And where would that be?

CUT TO

Xena stepping out of the inn into the street, a look of grim determination on her face. As she starts to walk, she suddenly frowns, stops, lifts her arm and looks at something on her skin. She picks up a small grey flake and examines it in puzzlement.

XENA (mutters to herself):
     Ash...

She brushes several more flakes off her arm, and then looks down at herself and flicks them off her armor and leathers.

XENA (stops a woman passing by):
     Hey. Is there a fire somewhere?

WOMAN (gives her a nervous look):
     A fire?

XENA:
     Either that or it usually rains ashes around here. (points to the flakes, brushing a few more of them off herself)

WOMAN (understanding dawning on her face):
     Oh, these! Don't worry about that. We've had them floating about occasionally--they probably come from up there.

She points, and Xena follows the direction of her hand. She's pointing at the mountain looming over the city. There is a wisp of smoke rising over the top of the mountain, clearly visible against the backdrop of the bright blue sky.

XENA:
     You live at the foot of a volcano.

WOMAN (dismissively):
     Yeah, it's old Vesuvius. Hasn't bothered anyone in years.

Xena shakes her head and walks on.

CUT TO

Xena knocking on the door of a small house. A middle-aged, tawny-skinned woman, obviously a servant, opens.

XENA:
     Is this where (contemptuously emphasizes the words) Lavinia Flora lives?

SERVANT (eyes her nervously, looking at her weapons and armor):
     What is your business?

XENA:
     Let's just say I'm here to settle a debt.

SERVANT (looks frightened):
     She--she isn't here.

There is a noise inside. Xena purses her lips in determination and moves forward. The woman stands in her way.

XENA:
     Stay out of this. (bitterly) Do you have an idea who you're trying to protect?

SERVANT:
     A good woman who's never harmed a living soul in her entire life.

XENA:
     Yeah? Well, I've seen hundreds of dead and wounded that say otherwise.

The woman gapes at her, bewildered. Xena easily pushes her aside and walks inside the modestly furnished house.

SERVANT (raises her voice):
     The blood of an innocent woman will be on your hands!

FEMALE VOICE (off-camera):
     I'm not going to hide!

A door opens and a woman comes out. She bears a slight resemblance to Sabina but this is clearly a different woman, about forty years old, with a regal bearing and an austere hairstyle, wearing a simple white dress and a silver necklace.

FLORA (scornfully):
     Let it be, Smyrna. There is no point in reasoning with an assassin.

Her eyes fall on Xena, and her faces changes momentarily as if in recognition.

XENA (recovers from the shock):
     I'm sorry. I was looking for...someone else.

SMYRNA (with a gasp of relief):
     You're not a killer sent from Rome?

XENA (turns toward her harshly):
     From Rome? I'd rather take a job cleaning out stables.

FLORA (gives her a long curious stare, then turns to her servant):
     Leave us to talk, Smyrna. It's all right.

Smyrna leaves. Flora walks over to a small couch and sits down, then motions toward a chair.

XENA (remains standing):
     Look, I'll be on my way. I didn't mean to scare you or your servant. I told you--I thought you were someone else. I have no business with you.

FLORA:
     And what business does Xena, Warrior Princess have in Pompeii?

XENA (surprised look):
     You know me.

FLORA:
     I saw you in Rome...at a banquet where you called yourself Saba.

XENA (flinches slightly and lowers her eyes, reliving the memory):
     Caligula...

FLORA:
     You feel bad because you tricked him into killing himself. You shouldn't. You did what you had to do.

XENA (sighs):
     I always do what I have to. That doesn't mean I always feel good about it.

FLORA:
     Just like you would have killed that woman you mistook me for.

XENA (harshly):
     No. I would have brought her back to Greece to face justice. (she pauses, then walks over to the chair and sits down across from Flora, looking at her curiously.) You and your servant were afraid of assassins from Rome--you must be someone pretty important if you think they'd be sending killers after you.

FLORA:
     Important, or--dangerous.

XENA (eyes her probingly, thoughtfully):
     You were at Caligula's court...the local rumors are that you're an exile... Your name isn't Flora any more than mine is Saba, is it? You're Agrippina, Empress of Rome. ("Flora" meets her gaze unflinchingly, clearly acknowledging the truth of what she has said.) Exiled for trying to poison your husband, the Emperor Claudius.

AGRIPPINA (lifts her head, a proud expression on her face):
     Exiled for trying to speak up against injustice. When I married Claudius, I thought he would bring peace and prosperity to Rome after Caligula's madness. At first, he lowered taxes on the working people and promoted relief for the poor; he listened to my counsel and made peace with the Amazons. (Xena's eyes flicker slightly in response.) But now, he's fallen under the influence of advisers who seek only their own fortunes. It's more of the same: new conquests for the Empire and oppressive taxes to finance them. I tried to speak for the common people, and the people saw me as their defender. So, something had to be done. They falsely accused me of trying to plot the death of Claudius and trying to seize the throne. I was exiled--forbidden to come within a hundred leagues of Rome on pain of death. (She pauses and stares at Xena, who is listening impassively) Xena, I had heard a great deal about you even before I saw you in Rome. I've always admired you. I don't put much stock in the gods or the Fates--but maybe they brought you here for a reason. (Xena's expression turns mocking) We have a lot in common, you and I. We could work together.

XENA:
     To do what? Get you back to Rome and make you sole ruler of the Empire? (Rises abruptly from her chair) You tell a good story, Agrippina. Maybe it's even true. But if you think I'm going to put my sword in the service of someone I barely know--

AGRIPPINA (interrupts):
     This isn't about my political ambitions, Xena. It's about saving the people of this town.

XENA (skeptical):
     From what?

AGRIPPINA:
     The volcano.

XENA (looks at her thoughtfully):
     Those grey flakes of ash...

AGRIPPINA:
     So you've noticed them too. I knew you were a smart woman.

XENA:
     Cut the compliments. What's going on?

AGRIPPINA:
     The people in this town have gotten so used to these ashes falling once in a while, they scarcely notice it. But in the past week, it's gotten worse. I've made some study of the sciences, Xena. I think there's going to be a major eruption, and it's going to happen soon.

XENA:
     Have you tried to warn the authorities?

AGRIPPINA (shakes her head):
     The chief magistrate has been warned against me. He doesn't know who I am--but he's not going to listen to anything I say. But maybe if he learns that the famous Xena wants to see him--

XENA (chuckles bitterly):
     I'm not exactly popular with Roman officials, Agrippina.

AGRIPPINA:
     He doesn't have to like you. He just has to be impressed.

XENA:
     And if he isn't?

AGRIPPINA:
     You're Xena--I'm sure you can think of something. Otherwise, thousands could die.

A close-up on the grim, weary look on Xena's face.

CUT TO

Inside Gabrielle's hut. It is obviously days later. Darion now sleeps in his own bed and children's items such as toys can be seen scattered around. Gabrielle sits on the edge of Darion's bed, stroking his forehead lovingly.

GABRIELLE (whispering softly):
     ...and so, thanks to Xena, Cupid got his bow back from Baby Bliss and was able to break the love spell. The end. (she smiles then leans down and kisses him on the cheek) Time for bed.

DARION:
     Gabrielle? Will you sing me a lullaby?

GABRIELLE:
     Are you sure? I've sang to you three nights in a row and my voice hasn't gotten any better.

DARION:
     Please? Mama used to sing to me every night before bed.

GABRIELLE:
     What would you like to hear?

DARION:
     You know! That song...

GABRIELLE (sighs):
     But I've sang that every night for you. Aren't you tired of it by now? How about the Amazon lullaby? (singing) Moon shines bright. By fire's light--

DARION:
     No! I want to hear my song! Please, Gabrielle! You know it's my favorite!

GABRIELLE:
     Well...okay...

She coughs uncomfortably, looks away and begins to sing. Her voice is little more than a low, indistinct mumble.

DARION:
     Louder! I can't hear!

GABRIELLE:
     Okay!

She takes a deep breath as if to steel herself to the task at hand.

GABRIELLE (singing):
     Joxer the Mighty,
     He roams through the countryside.
     He never needs a place to hide.
     With--Gabby as his sidekick,
     Fighting with her little stick.

Darion sits up on his haunches and begins to bounce up and down in time to the music. He joins in with Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE and DARION (singing):
     ...Righting wrongs and singing songs.
     Being mighty all day long.
     He's Joxer,
     He's Joxer the Mighty.

Darion laughs and claps his hands.

DARION:
     I love that song! You'll sing it for me tomorrow night too, right?

Gabrielle presses her lips together and nods, clearly restraining herself.

GABRIELLE:
     We'll see.

DARION (throws his arms around her):
     Goodnight, Gabrielle!

She hugs him back and lays him down in the bed, tucking him in. The boy shuts his eyes, quickly dropping off. Gabrielle remains seated on the bed, watching him sleep. Her smile is sad, tender and loving at the same time. The door can be heard opening.

GABRIELLE (whispering):
     Shh! Don't wake him.

EVE (backs up a few steps into the doorway):
     I'm sorry. The council--they wish to speak with you...it's about Darion.

GABRIELLE (touching Darion's cheek, she nods gravely):
     I'll be there in a minute.

CUT TO

Council chambers. The twelve Amazon Council members from "Divided We Stand, Part II" are seated in their usual circle. Gabrielle and Eve enter together. Eve's look is troubled while Gabrielle's is wary. She seats herself upon her throne.

GABRIELLE:
     Kind of late for a council meeting, isn't it?

OTHILA:
     The council understands that you have some different responsibilities now and that this time of the evening might be more convenient for you.

GABRIELLE (nods carefully):
     That's very generous.

NARI:
     Speaking of that, we were wondering how the boy is getting along.

GABRIELLE:
     Every day he's a little better. He's talking more now--and the nightmares don't seem to be coming as often.

NARI:
     Excellent! Then I take it you've given some thought to finding him a permanent home?

GABRIELLE:
     A permanent home--?

EVE:
     Nari, I don't think this is the time for Darion to be separated from--

GABRIELLE:
     Until I find his sister, Darion's permanent home is here with me.

OTHILA:
     Given the tragedy the boy has suffered, the council has been lenient. But as Queen, I'm sure you're well aware that keeping that boy here is in violation of Amazon law. A male child is permitted to stay with his mother only until weaned. After that, he's sent to his father.

GABRIELLE:
     He doesn't have a father, Othila--or a mother for that matter. If he did, I wouldn't have taken him with me in the first place.

OTHILA:
     I don't have to remind you how the Amazon Nation has been weakened over the years. (her glance quickly darts to Eve then away again) We raise our daughters to be productive members of this tribe. Keeping our sons here would mean using up the tribe's limited resources on someone that's going to grow up and leave us anyway, giving us nothing back in return.

NARI (in genuine sympathy):
     A male child is a luxury we simply can't afford, Gabrielle. We don't like sending our sons away either. But it's a sacrifice we all have to make if the Amazon Nation is to survive.

GABRIELLE:
     I'm all Darion has. You expect me to abandon him in the name of the sisterhood? (she shakes her head) He's already been orphaned once.

OTHILA:
     I'm afraid I don't quite understand your reluctance. I could see if he actually was your child--

GABRIELLE (her face darkening in anger):
     I don't think it's your place to question me, Othila.

OTHILA (drops her gaze in contrition):
     You're right. I apologize. (she lifts her head) However, your rank doesn't entitle you to any special privileges, Gabrielle. You're bound by the law just as we are.

GABRIELLE:
     Maybe our law should take into account that a little boy just lost his entire family.

CYANE:
     I agree with Gabrielle. I think that under the circumstances--

OTHILA:
     The law is a just one. It's there to protect us and our way of life. You above all people should understand that, Cyane. Your namesake--

CYANE:
     I doubt the great Cyane would have thought that an orphaned little boy was a threat to our way of life.

NARI:
     It's not a question of one child being a threat. But if we allow Darion to stay then every Amazon mother with a son will expect the same. You're our queen, Gabrielle. It's up to you to set the example for the rest of the tribe.

GABRIELLE (shaking her head in disbelief):
     I can't believe that a noble people like the Amazons would abandon a child simply because he's of the wrong sex.

NARI:
     We're not asking you to abandon him. We're asking you to find the boy a proper home.

GABRIELLE (menacingly):
     And if I don't?

NARI (shakes her head sadly):
     Don't let it come to that, Gabrielle. Failure to obey our law is punishable by exile. You're our Queen and your place is here with your people. Are you willing to forsake your vow to the Amazon Nation and threaten our way of life for this child?

A close up of Gabrielle's stricken face.

OTHILA:
     You have a week.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO