8.03 Power Play


ACT THREE

FADE IN

The same room as in the previous scene.

XENA:
     Claudius dying... What's going to happen if he dies? Who is his heir?

RUFUS:
     Claudius has no children--his only daughter, Octavia, died a few years ago.

XENA:
     I thought he had a stepson, Domitius.

RUFUS (his face darkens):
     Oh yes--Agrippina's boy. I believe he's in Greece right now.

XENA (looks at him curiously):
     Rufus, what do you know about Agrippina?

RUFUS (sighs):
     Only what we all heard during the trial. She had some strong supporters in the Senate who thought she had been falsely accused, and that the principal witness against her had been paid off. Me, I'm just glad I didn't have to be the judge in that case. (Xena nods pensively) In any case, when Agrippina was banished from Rome, Claudius wrote her son out of his will, and Domitius was unofficially advised to leave the city as well.

XENA:
     So who will become emperor after his death?

RUFUS:
     Claudius has chosen one of his advisors, Junius Drusus, a distant relative, to be his successor.

XENA (frowns almost imperceptibly at the name):
     I see. (brusquely) Thank you for the information, Rufus. I'll probably see you again before too long.

She starts walking toward the door.

RUFUS:
     Wait--you still haven't told me what you're doing in Rome...

XENA (without looking back):
     Once I know, I'll tell you.

CUT TO

Xena walks into the room at the inn; Gabrielle and Darion aren't there yet. There is a flash of blue light, and Ares materializes, lounging casually on Xena's bed.

XENA:
     What are you doing here?

ARES (grins and pats the bed next to him):
     Waiting for you to join me?

XENA (chuckles):
     I'm here on business, Ares.

ARES:
     You're always on business somewhere. You know what they say about all work and no play...

The camera pans quickly to show him suddenly standing behind her, softly kneading her shoulders with his hands. She closes her eyes in pleasure and leans back into him. Ares kisses her neck and starts to draw an arm around her waist, but just then Xena turns to face him, a strange, slightly wary look on her face.

Xena

XENA:
     You know, seeing you here in Rome brings back--memories.

ARES (sighs, slightly exasperated):
     Just be careful you don't end up having more bad memories of Rome.

XENA (frowns):
     Meaning what?

ARES:
     I don't like your new friends.

XENA:
     What do you know about Agrippina and Domitius?

ARES (shrugs):
     I didn't say I knew anything about them. I said I didn't like them.

XENA (coldly):
     And I'm supposed to trust you as a judge of character? Maybe you just find it hard to believe that someone whose first concern is for the good of others can be sincere. (looks at Ares with sudden wariness) Ares--are you up to something?

ARES:
     Well, as a matter of fact--I do have a special reason for being in Rome.

XENA (brusquely):
     What?

Ares

ARES (reaches out to touch her face with the back of his hand):
     I missed my girl.

XENA (sighs, visibly softening):
     Ares, look--

ARES:
     I know. You're working.

He blows her a kiss, obviously about to disappear.

XENA:
     Ares--wait!

ARES (hopeful):
     What?

XENA:
     Do you know anything about the Romans planning to invade Britannia again?

ARES (looks disappointed for a moment, then purses his lips thoughtfully):
     All I can tell you is, they haven't mentioned it in their prayers.

XENA (nods):
     Thank you... (looks at him and smiles a little) You know, Ares, maybe when I'm done here we can spend--a little quality time together.

ARES (grins):
     How about a lot of quality time?

XENA (smiles faintly):
     Don't push it.

She leans toward him and they're about to kiss when there's a knock on the door.

AGRIPPINA (off-camera):
     Xena?

ARES (rolls his eyes):
     Do all your friends do that?

XENA (chuckles):
     It's one of the job requirements. (she gives him a quick kiss on the lips) I'll see you later. (steps back and raises her voice) Come on in!

Ares vanishes as the door opens and Agrippina and Domitius come in.

AGRIPPINA:
     Are you alone? I thought I heard--

XENA:
     Never mind that. Claudius' letter about invading Britannia--where is it?

AGRIPPINA (puzzled):
     In my room. But--

XENA:
     The advisor it was addressed to--it was Junius Drusus, wasn't it?

AGRIPPINA:
     Yes. Why do you ask?

XENA (grimly):
     Because your husband is dying. And he's appointed Drusus to be his successor.

A brief pause during which Agrippina and Domitius digest this news.

AGRIPPINA:
     You can't let this happen, Xena.

XENA (looks at her intently):
      We can't let this happen.

CUT TO

Later in the afternoon; the same room where Xena was talking to Rufus before. Xena stands with her arms folded while Rufus and two other senators--one about the same age as Rufus, the other a young man--are poring over the scroll with Claudius' letter.

SENATOR #1 (the middle-aged man):
     Shocking!

SENATOR #2 (the young man):
     This is definitely Claudius' handwriting.

RUFUS (looks warily at Xena):
     How did this fall into your hands?

XENA (calmly):
     Let's just say I have my sources.

RUFUS:
     The Senate would never approve of a campaign to conquer Britannia right now. Our military forces are already weakened by the recent war in Germannia, and by rebellions in several parts of the Empire...

SENATOR #1:
     What are we going to do? In less than an hour, the Senate meets for an emergency session to vote on the succession.

XENA (looks at him):
     So Claudius is--

RUFUS:
     The physicians say that he will not live through the night.

SENATOR #2:
     If we bring this evidence before the Senate, it could sway them.

SENATOR #1:
     Let's say that it does. Who else is going to succeed Claudius?

XENA:
     How about Domitius, his stepson?

RUFUS:
     We don't even know where he is.

XENA:
     Don't worry, you will.

CUT TO

Xena coming out of a side door of the curia. The sun is beginning to set. As she walks through the forum, Xena hears a hum of voices and notices that a crowd has begun to gather in front of the curia. She heads toward the crowd.

XENA (to a young woman in the crowd):
     What's happening here?

YOUNG WOMAN:
     Haven't you heard? The emperor's dying. They're about to choose a new one.

OLD MAN:
     I still say they should bring back the Empress and her son. It isn't right!

An old woman standing next to him, obviously his wife, elbows him in the side.

OLD WOMAN (scoffs):
     As if anyone cares what you think is right!

MAN (in his thirties):
     Maybe it's time they did care about what we think!

Xena looks at them thoughtfully, then moves on.

CUT TO

The Senate meeting hall inside the curia. In the torchlight, the senators are arguing vehemently.

SENATOR #1:
     You know very well that many of us were never satisfied with the case against Agrippina!

SENATOR #3:
     Only because Agrippina fooled you just like she's fooled all those ignorant commoners who worship her.

SENATOR #4:
     In any case, there was never any evidence that her son was implicated in any wrongdoing. And the emperor had adopted Domitius as his son.

SENATOR #5:
     Most of us have never even met this Domitius--they say he's far more interested in Greek theater than in Roman affairs of state. Why should we pick him over Junius Drusus, whom we've known for a long time?

RUFUS (brandishes the scroll Xena got from Agrippina):
     The question is, how well do we know him?

SENATOR #3:
     He denies ever seeing this letter!

SENATOR #2:
     Of course he would!

CUT TO

Xena and Gabrielle's room at the inn. Xena and Gabrielle are now dressed in their regular outfits, while Agrippina is wearing a white gown with a purple sash and a purple wrap around her shoulders, and Domitius is wearing a warrior's brown leather outfit with a sword at his side. Darion is playing in a corner, making his wooden chakram roll along the floor like a wheel.

Xena

XENA:
     Just remember, Agrippina, things may get ugly out there.

AGRIPPINA (smiles):
     I'm ready. I told you, Xena--we work well as a team.

CUT TO

The hall in the curia. The debate continues.

SENATOR #5:
     Claudius is still the emperor as long as he lives--and while he's made mistakes, he has been a good emperor. (a murmur in the hall) It would be wrong to disrespect his wishes on dubious evidence.

SENATOR #2:
     You call a scroll with an imperial seal dubious evidence?

The murmur grows stronger.

SENATOR #6:
     And what if Rufus does want to conquer Britannia? Many of us believe such a war would breathe new vigor into the Empire!

A mix of cheers and boos erupts across the hall.

CUT TO

The room at the inn.

GABRIELLE (squats down next to Darion):
     Are you sure you'll be all right staying here? (looks up at Xena, anxiously) I just don't like leaving him alone.

DARION (indignantly):
     Of course I'll be all right!

GABRIELLE:
     Just remember, keep the doors locked and don't let anyone in until we get back.

CUT TO

The forum. Night has fallen, but many torches illuminate the majestic buildings and the crowd gathered in front of the curia. The crowd is now quite large, and obviously growing more and more impatient. As its noise grows louder, the guards standing by the steps leading up to the curia are exchanging nervous glances.

The front doors of the curia are thrown open, and the crowd stills for a moment. Several senators come out. Senator #5 is carrying in his hands a golden laurel crown. Next to him is a man in his forties, tall, with curly dark hair, wearing a dark blue shirt and a white cloak draped over it. The white cloak looks almost orange in the torchlight.

SENATOR #5:
     Citizens of Rome! It is my sad duty to inform you that the Emperor Claudius is dead. (a loud murmur runs through the crowd; the senator waits until it dies down before resuming) We have chosen his successor-- (points to the man in the blue shirt and the white cloak) Junius Drusus.

After a brief silence, there are scattered cheers but even louder murmurs in the crowd as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT THREE