FADE IN

A small though lavish banquet in Nero's palace. About a dozen diners are reclining back on cushions and eating in the typical Roman fashion. The atmosphere is tranquil. Nero and Gabrielle are reclining next to one another, talking. Xena and Agrippina look on a moment. Xena's expression is unreadable; Agrippina smiles at her.

AGRIPPINA:
     My son is very fond of your friend.

XENA:
     I think Gabrielle is loving the idea of a Roman emperor being her biggest fan.

AGRIPPINA (musingly):
     Maybe not just a fan. Domitius hasn't made an official announcement yet, but he's liberating Greece. Of course it's more a symbolic gesture than anything--but it would mean that Roman taxation of Greece would be a thing of the past.

Xena's mouth drops open in shock. Agrippina giggles almost girlishly and shrugs.

AGRIPPINA:
     Ordinary men send flowers. This is courtship to a Roman emperor.

XENA:
     You mean--

AGRIPPINA:
     Empress Gabrielle has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

Xena stammers in effort to respond to this.

CUT TO

Nero and Gabrielle.

NERO:
     I know it's bad manners for me to ask--especially since you're here as my guest--but I would love to hear you perform after dinner, Gabrielle.

Gabrielle is clearly flattered. Before she can answer, a Praetorian guard enters and glances at Nero, clearly needing to speak to him. Nero gains to his feet.

NERO (to Gabrielle):
     Excuse me a moment.

He steps away to confer privately with the Praetorian for a moment. He returns to Gabrielle appearing very distressed.

GABRIELLE:
     Are you all right?

NERO (numbly shaking his head):
     Senator Gracchus has just been found dead.

GABRIELLE:
     I'm sorry. Was Gracchus a very close friend of yours?

NERO:
     No...as a matter of fact he was one of my most stubborn political opponents. Not only that--but personally, I always thought him to be a vicious, despicable man. May the gods forgive me for speaking ill of the dead, but I think the world will be a much better place without Gracchus in it.

GABRIELLE:
     Then why are you--?

NERO (shakes his head):
     You don't understand, Gabrielle. Gracchus was found murdered inside his own home--with no signs of a break in. Which means it was most likely one of his slaves that did it. Unless the killer can be found, Roman law requires that every one of Gracchus' slaves pay for his murder with their own lives. (off Gabrielle's astounded look) Oh, I know it sounds cruel. But it's proven to be a rather...effective deterrent against anyone that has designs on killing their master--though, by the gods, I would sooner honor the murderer of Gracchus than execute him. (sighs) Well, I have sent Tigellinus, my head counselor, to investigate. I pray he finds the killer before I must order the deaths of those innocent slaves.

GABRIELLE:
     How many slaves belong to Gracchus?

NERO (with a sickened expression):
     Over two hundred.

Gabrielle stares at him, horrified.

CUT TO

The antechamber to Gracchus' bedroom. Tigellinus, a dignified middle-aged man in a dark blue cloak over a white toga and a large golden medallion with the imperial eagle of Rome on his chest, is conferring in hushed tones with one of the Roman officials. The Praetorian guard seen in the teaser enters and salutes.

TIGELLINUS (turns to him):
     Well, Praetorian? Has your investigation of the crime scene turned anything up?

PRAETORIAN:
     It has, Tigellinus. (he places an unseen piece of evidence into Tigellinus' hand) I found it lying under the bed. The chain is broken. Gracchus probably tore it off in the struggle with his assailant. It's not the kind of jewelry you'd find Roman gentry wearing.

TIGELLINUS (musingly, as he inspects the still-unseen object in his palm):
     No...no it's not.

CUT TO

Nero's private chambers. Xena and Gabrielle slowly pace back and forth. Agrippina can be seen sitting in the background, embroidering. Nero stands by the window, plucking nervously at his lute. Tigellinus enters.

NERO (eagerly):
     What news, Tigellinus? Tell me you've found the killer.

TIGELLINUS (bows):
     I have, Caesar. (he pauses.)

NERO:
     Well? Are you going to keep me in suspense? Out with it! Who is the devil?

TIGELLINUS:
     Xena of Amphipolis, Destroyer of Nations.

GABRIELLE:
      What?

XENA:
     I didn't even know--

NERO:
     Nonsense! Xena hasn't left the palace grounds since she arrived yesterday.

TIGELLINUS:
     With all due respect, Caesar, Xena's stealth is legendary. I've no doubt she could come and go from these grounds with you none the wiser.

AGRIPPINA:
     Oh, this is ridiculous! Tigellinus, I would suggest that you produce some particularly damning evidence before you go hurling insane accusations.

TIGELLINUS:
     My Empress (bows slightly), I am about to do just that.

He holds up a medallion in his hand. Nero reaches out to take it but Agrippina steps forward, snatching it from Tigellinus.

AGRIPPINA:
     Let me see that! (she studies it carefully, reading the inscription carved into it) Xena of Amphipolis, Destroyer of Nations...

She hands the medallion off to Xena.

TIGELLINUS:
     We found it near the body. Given the broken chain, I'm assuming that Gracchus ripped it off the neck of his killer in a struggle. In the haste to get away the killer wasn't able to retrieve the medallion.

XENA (shrugs calmly):
     It isn't mine.

TIGELLINUS (snorts):
     I wouldn't expect you to claim ownership.

Gabrielle steps forward to get a look. Recognition flashes across her face.

GABRIELLE (blurts out):
     But this is--

Xena gives her a sharp look.

GABRIELLE (lamely):
     ...not Xena's medallion.

AGRIPPINA:
     Tigellinus, I hardly think that Xena would wear such a thing with her own name inscribed on it. (smiles) She doesn't strike me as quite so--narcissistic.

TIGELLINUS (rubs his chin reflectively):
     Perhaps you're right. Perhaps it doesn't belong to Xena at all. Perhaps it's more likely that it belongs to one of her...loyal minions.

He glances meaningfully at Gabrielle. Nero steps in front of her, as if to shield her from Tigellinus.

NERO:
     Have you gone mad, man? To even suggest that Gabrielle would-- (he shakes his head, almost speechless with anger. After a moment he regains control of himself.) Have you even tried to find out if the medallion belonged to one of Gracchus' slaves?

TIGELLINUS:
     What would be the point? What would a slave be doing with such a thing?

NERO:
     Tigellinus, I put you in charge of this investigation to find the truth. But you seem to be more interested in besmirching the name of two of our closest friends. Obviously I have to take matters into my own hands.

Nero storms out of the room, with Tigellinus and Agrippina are close behind. Gabrielle steps up close to Xena.

GABRIELLE (murmuring):
     We have to tell them, Xena.

XENA:
     I'm hoping we won't have to. (she shakes her head) I'm sorry. But the idea of being an informer for Rome is just so...

Gabrielle looks at her.

XENA:
     Don't worry. I'm not about to let anything happen to those slaves either.

CUT TO

The atrium in Gracchus' house. A crowd of slaves has been gathered. Tigellinus stands before them, arms folded imposingly across his chest. Nero, Agrippina, Xena and Gabrielle look on.

NERO:
     Which one of you is the house steward?

The blond-haired slave in the brown tunic who was seen in the teaser tentatively raises his hand and takes a nervous step forward.

HOUSE STEWARD:
     I--I am.

NERO (snaps his fingers at Tigellinus):
     Show him.

TIGELLINUS (holding out the medallion for the steward's inspection):
     Have you ever seen this before?

HOUSE STEWARD:
     I--I--I'm not sure. I might have but--

TIGELLINUS:
     I have very little patience for slaves and even less for fools. Do I really need to remind you that your life hangs in the balance here--as well as the lives of two hundred of your fellow slaves? So I'll ask you again. Have you ever seen this medallion before?

HOUSE STEWARD (paling):
     Yes...it looks like the one I've seen Leonia wear.

Xena and Gabrielle look at each other.

XENA:
     Who's Leonia?

HOUSE STEWARD (pointing):
     That's her. That's Leonia.

The camera pans over to the slave to whom the steward is pointing. It's Sabina. She steps forward with a cool, contemptuous smile on her face as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT ONE