Morning. Livia is crouched on her bed reading--she is near the end of one of the scrolls. There are two piles of scrolls at the foot of the bed, one much smaller than the other. Livia finishes the scroll and, after a moment's pause, puts it on top of the larger pile.

Xena enters and the door locks behind her. She is carrying a breakfast tray.

XENA (wary; testing the waters):
     Good morning.

LIVIA (with fake sympathy):
     Mother, you look tired. I hope I didn't keep you up worrying all night.

XENA (ignoring the comment):
     I see you've been reading these scrolls.

She seems to be about to say more but doesn't.

LIVIA (smirks):
     I just want to know my enemy better.

XENA (anguished):
     Eve...I'm not--

LIVIA (rises abruptly to her feet):
     I am not Eve!

Xena puts down the tray, her lips tightening, and raps quickly on the door. The door opens and Xena slips out.

CUT TO

Evening, inside Livia's room. Through the slot in the door, Livia takes a plate with a burger and vegetables from Gabrielle.

LIVIA (looks bored):
     Do you have any more scrolls? If I'm going to be stuck here, I might as well have something to read. Even if it's about Mommy Dearest.

GABRIELLE (looks into the slot and smiles):
     Sure.

CUT TO

Livia sitting at the table, reading.

CUT TO

Morning, inside Livia's room. Livia smashes a cup, screaming.

LIVIA:
     My name is Livia!

Resigned, Xena raps on the door. The door is opened and Xena walks out. Livia bounds toward the door and grabs it, keeping Xena and Gabrielle from closing it. After a brief tug-of-war, the door is released on the other side. Unprepared, Livia yanks it hard toward herself; the momentum causes the door to swing and Livia to stumble backwards. Xena quickly slams the door shut. The sound of the key turning in the lock is heard.

LIVIA (her face full of rage):
     Let me out!

CUT TO

Evening. Livia sits at the table, reading a scroll.

CUT TO

Morning. Livia sits on the bed, combing her hair. Xena comes in with a breakfast tray.

XENA (cautiously):
     Good morning. (nods toward an open scroll on the bed) Still reading?

LIVIA (there is a change in her face; she seems suddenly vulnerable):
     I wanted to ask you about something...

XENA (watching her daughter closely):
     What?

LIVIA:
     Did I really get baptized into the Amazons?

XENA:
     Yes, you did. Everything in those scrolls is true. You're an Amazon Princess.

LIVIA:
     Really... (her face grows pensive)

XENA:
     Maybe you'll get to meet the Amazons one day.

Livia looks very thoughtful. Xena watches her for a moment and smiles.

CUT TO

The main room in the restaurant. There are no customers as yet. Xena and Gabrielle are at a table eating breakfast; in the background, Joxer and Virgil are laying tables in preparation for the restaurant's opening.

XENA:
     Gabrielle, I think we're getting through to her. Your scrolls are doing the job.

GABRIELLE (chuckles):
     I was half expecting her to rip them to shreds.

Joxer comes over with a few sets of cutlery and starts laying the table next to Xena and Gabrielle's.

XENA:
     I missed her whole childhood. I hope she'll let me try to make it up to her.

JOXER:
     Hey, at least you didn't miss the temper tantrums.

Daytime. Xena is in the pen, brushing down Argo II.

LIVIA (off-screen):
     Hello?

Xena turns sharply and sees Livia's face pressed to the barred window. She jumps over the fence and strides toward the house.

LIVIA (shyly):
     Could you come in? I'd like to talk to you.

Xena looks at her, her face a mix of wariness and hope.

CUT TO

Inside Livia's room. Livia sits on the bed. Xena stands in front of her.

XENA:
     What's wrong?

LIVIA (her face suddenly vulnerable):
     I'll tell you what's wrong. You did everything you could to give me a good life...and I repaid you by becoming a murderer.

There is a flash of incredulous joy on Xena's face, followed by anguish at her daughter's guilt.

XENA (comes up to Livia and puts her hands on her shoulder):
     Oh, Eve...

LIVIA (vehemently):
     How can you call me that, after all the things I've done?

XENA (leans down and looks tenderly at Eve, tearing up):
     Eve, I've done some terrible things too. I'll always love you. You're still my baby--you're still Eve.

LIVIA (smiles timidly):
     It's a beautiful name...Eve. (almost in wonderment) My name is Eve.

Xena sits down on the bed next to her and they hug.

LIVIA (drops her head on Xena's shoulder):
     I have this ache now--inside me--and I feel like it's going to take me over.

XENA:
     That will always be there, Eve. But if you do good, you can start to atone for the wrongs you've committed. (she strokes Livia's hair) And remember, you have a family that loves you.

LIVIA (starts crying softly):
     What have I done?

XENA (soothing her and holding her close):
     Ssh, ssh, it's all right...mama's here.

CUT TO

Evening. The main restaurant, now empty except for Xena, Gabrielle, Livia, Virgil and Joxer, who are seated around a table eating. Livia has a brown wrap around her shoulders.

LIVIA (indicates her plate):
     This is excellent.

VIRGIL:
     Thanks. I'm glad you like it.

LIVIA:
     You made this? You're a good cook.

JOXER (slaps Virgil's shoulder):
     He's a good everything. Cook, fighter, blacksmith, bard--isn't that right, boy? (grins) He's good at flirting with the girls, too.

VIRGIL (grins in embarrassment):
     Dad!

LIVIA (smiles at him):
     You're a bard?

VIRGIL (smiles back shyly):
     I try... I'm not really good at it--not like Gabrielle.

LIVIA (turns to Gabrielle):
     Gabrielle, I've been meaning to tell you...your scrolls are wonderful. You have such talent...

GABRIELLE (grins proudly):
     Thank you. But it's hard to go wrong with such great material. (she nods at Xena, smiling)

LIVIA:
     Thank you. You preserved Xena for all the ages in these scrolls.

Gabrielle looks at her with a warm smile.

CUT TO

Outdoors. It's night; the lights are still on in the restaurant. Xena stands by the fence of Argo's pen, feeding her a carrot.

XENA (pats Argo on the neck):
     That's a good girl...

She shivers suddenly. Ares appears next to her.

ARES:
     Hey.

XENA (turns to him, smiling):
     Hey.

ARES:
     Tearing your hair out yet?

XENA (smiles):
     No, no, we're getting somewhere with her. (she pauses and smiles dreamily) She said her name was Eve.

ARES:
     Well, I guess that's a good thing.

XENA:
     I think we can stop locking her in.

ARES (shakes his head in mock hurt):
     After I made you those lovely bars...

There's a brief silence.

XENA:
     Ares...thank you. I--I couldn't-- (trails off)

ARES:
     Couldn't have done it without me? (cockily) Yeah, I know.

Xena laughs affectionately and shakes her head. Then she grows serious.

XENA:
     Your family doesn't know anything?

ARES:
     They heard that you were back and that you fought Livia in the arena. (Xena looks worried) Don't worry, I covered for you. I told Athena I checked you out and you were an impostor.

XENA (with a sigh of relief):
     Thank you. (she stares at him almost incredulously) I never thought-- (she trails off)

ARES (reaches out and brushes the back of his hand against her face):
     That I would make good on my promise?

XENA (smiles):
     That you would help me and--ask for nothing in return.

ARES (leans closer to her, teasing):
     Why, what could I possibly want from you?

They tilt their heads, leaning closer and closer to each other until their lips touch--gently at first, then melting into a passionate kiss.

After a moment Xena pulls away.

XENA:
     This isn't a good idea... (uneasily) Eve could see us--

ARES (slightly sarcastic):
     And we wouldn't want to waste all that hard work, would we?

XENA (gives him a smile, wry yet tender at the same time):
     I'll see you later, though.

She kisses him again briefly, and they clasp hands for a moment before Xena turns around and walks back to the house.

Xena walks into the now-empty main area of the restaurant, where Joxer and Virgil are cleaning up.

XENA:
     Need any help?

JOXER:
     Nah, we're all done. (to Virgil) Go off to bed, son. I'll put out the lights.

VIRGIL (wipes his hands on his apron and takes it off):
     Good night, dad.

XENA:
     Good night, you two.

The camera follows Xena as she goes into the back of the house. She stops outside Livia's room and looks in through the slot in the window. The lamp is burning dimly on the table; Livia lies on her side, sleeping.

XENA (smiles tenderly):
     Good night, baby.

She stands for a moment looking at the lock, then walks away. The sound of a door closing is heard.

CUT TO

Joxer comes up to the door of Livia's room and stops, thinking. Then he gets the key out of his pocket, puts it into the lock and turns it.

JOXER:
     Better safe than sorry...

CUT TO

Livia sleeping in her room, curled on her side. All is quiet. A close-up of Livia's face. Suddenly, her eyes fly open.

The camera pulls back. Livia glances around, sits up very quietly and throws off the blanket. Lying on her bed is a table knife. She picks it up.

Livia stands up and tiptoes to the door. She tries to open it only to find it locked. She pouts.

LIVIA (softly):
     I guess Mommy still doesn't trust Evie.

She puts the tip of the knife into the lock. After a few turns, it springs open and she smiles.

LIVIA:
     Mommy's right.

CUT TO

Livia is sneaking through the main restaurant, flooded with moonlight. A side door opens with a creak, and Joxer comes out, squinting at her in shock. Livia turns and slowly advances toward him.

JOXER:
     Wha--

LIVIA (presses a finger to her lips, still advancing toward him):
     One more sound and you're dead.

Joxer opens his mouth. Just as he starts saying "Hey!", Livia throws the knife at him. It slices through the air and strikes Joxer in the chest. He falls down with a gasp.

LIVIA (comes up to Joxer):
     Told ya. (she yanks the knife out of his chest) You should have kept an eye on the silverware.

Another door opens. Gabrielle runs out, wearing a nightshirt, and freezes in shock.

LIVIA (with a mock wave):
     Hi there.

GABRIELLE (whispers):
     Eve...

LIVIA:
     Gotta run.

She sprints toward the door.

GABRIELLE (screams):
     Noooo!

She runs after Livia and tackles her. Livia twists around, grabs her head and slits her throat just as Xena runs out, in her leather tunic, sword in hand. Xena's eyes widen in disbelief and horror. Livia, covered in blood, cradles Gabrielle's body in her arms.

LIVIA (makes a sad face):
     Oh, Mommy. I'm afraid Auntie Gabrielle has had a little accident.

XENA:
     Gabri--

Livia pushes Gabrielle's body toward Xena, leaps to her feet and makes a dash toward the front door. Horrified, Xena kneels over Gabrielle, pressing her hands to Gabrielle's neck and trying to stop the bleeding.

Virgil runs in and screams at the sight of his father's body.

VIRGIL:
     Dad!

He kneels over Joxer's body, crying and shaking him.

As the front door creaks, Xena looks up and sees Livia opening the door.

XENA (in a broken voice):
     Eve...

LIVIA (smiles brightly):
     Nope, it's still Livia. (tilts her head with an air of mock regret) Did you really think you were getting through to me? (clicks her tongue) Sorry to disappoint you.

Xena stares at her; she has no words left.

LIVIA (raises her eyebrows and sighs):
     Well, I've really enjoyed these past few days, but I'm afraid I have to go. Good-bye, Mother. (smirks) Oh, by the way--you can have Ares all to yourself.

She runs out, slamming the door. In a moment, she can be heard galloping away.

Xena kisses Gabrielle's forehead and gently lays her head on the ground.

XENA (tearful):
     Gabrielle...you were the purest thing in my life... (she pauses, looks at Virgil, who is still crying over Joxer, and then speaks up again in a dull voice) I'm going after her, Virgil. (she rises to her feet and pauses again, struggling to get out the next words. Her face hardens.) I'm going to kill her.

VIRGIL (viciously):
     Good. (he gets up) I'm coming with you.

XENA (heavily):
     No. I've got to do this on my own.

CUT TO

Xena is riding through a forest, her face set. There is a flash of blue light and Ares appears. Xena halts Argo and looks at him blankly.

ARES (grim):
     I know what happened.

XENA (still stunned):
     She killed Gabrielle. My daughter killed Gabrielle...and Joxer. My Eve. (her face and her voice harden suddenly) No. Livia.

Ares has no idea what he is supposed to say; he settles for taking Xena's hand. She listlessly squeezes his hand back.

ARES:
     It wasn't your fault.

XENA (gives him a harsh stare):
     I let my guard down because I wanted to believe my daughter had changed. And now, my best friend... (pauses) ...my two best friends are dead--and who knows how many more are going to die. What part of that isn't my fault?

She lowers her eyes.

ARES:
     Is there anything you want me to do?

XENA (looks up at him; there are tears in her eyes but her mind is made up):
     You should have turned her over to the gods.