FADE IN

The atrium of Nero's Palace. Gabrielle sits alone on a marble bench, bent over a scroll laying on her lap. Nero enters carrying a platter laden with fruits. He watches her a moment before clearing his throat to announce his presence. Gabrielle looks up and he steps forward, a nervous smile on his face.

NERO:
     You weren't at dinner. I wondered if you were all right.

GABRIELLE:
     I wasn't very hungry.

NERO:
     I took the liberty of bringing dessert for the both of us. Fresh melon, apricots and pears in a fig syrup.

Despite herself, Gabrielle cannot hide her delight at the mention of food.

GABRIELLE:
     My mother's fig syrup was the sweetest I've ever tasted.

NERO:
     I'm sure this can't compare to your mother's but I did find this particular recipe in Macedonia. I had my cook prepare it in your honor. May I join you?

Gabrielle sighs and nods, sliding over to make room for him on the bench. Nero takes a seat beside her, resting the platter in his lap. He takes a pear slice, dips it into the fig syrup and offers it to Gabrielle who takes it from him and eats pensively. Nero watches her carefully.

Nero reaches up and wipes a drop of syrup from the corner of her mouth.

NERO:
     Good?

GABRIELLE (nods with a sigh):
     Sweet.

She reaches out and takes a slice of melon from the tray on Nero's lap. He is silent a moment, then frowns.

NERO:
     Gabrielle, I want you to know that I would never deny you anything if it was in my power to give. But my hands were tied with Sabina. (he smiles sadly.) In some ways being Emperor makes me more a slave to Rome than anyone.

GABRIELLE:
     Do you want me to feel sorry for you, Domitius? You know, a part of me thinks Sabina deserves everything she's got coming to her. (she pauses a moment, then shivers and shakes her head) But it's not about Sabina. It's no secret how I feel about slavery.

He nods gently and touches the back of her hand.

NERO:
     I understand. Perhaps one day someone far smarter than I will come along who's figured out how to abolish slavery in the Empire. (he grins) I wouldn't be surprised if that someone was you and Xena. (he touches his temple as his memory is jarred) Oh! I almost forgot! After reading one of your scrolls last night, I was inspired to write a poem in tribute of the Warrior Princess. It can't compare to your writings, but may I have the honor of reciting it for you?

Gabrielle is a bit flustered at the sudden turn in the conversation but she nods.

GABRIELLE:
     Of--of course.

Nero stands and very carefully arranges himself. He takes a deep breath, squeezes his eyes shut and raises his arms dramatically.

NERO:
     The Warrior Princess rides alone
     Her past drives her from shame.
     Against the forces of a dark world
     She fights for good, not for fame.

     Horns sound her coming, blare her name
     "Make way the Warrior! Cheer!"
     Drums beat a rhythm
     Let villains beware
     The Warrior Princess is here!

GABRIELLE (claps):
     Domitius, I think Xena would be--

She is cut off by Tigellinus marching in.

TIGELLINUS:
     Caesar, treason has been committed!

Nero leaps to his feet, slightly panicked.

NERO:
     Treason? What? Where?

TIGELLINUS:
     Sabina has escaped with the help of a Centurion--on my horse!

NERO:
     How many men did you lose, Tigellinus?

TIGELLINUS:
     How many? I don't know...perhaps three or four. No doubt Sabina used her feminine wiles to lure that Centurion into helping her. That horse was the pride of my stables--

NERO (reddening in rage):
     Forget about your horse! Organize a search party. I don't care what it takes. I want Sabina and that Centurion found--and I want them both alive, Tigellinus. If anything happens to either one of them then you'll suffer in their place. Understood?

CUT TO

A field with a few sparse trees. Xena and Sabina come into view riding over a hilltop. Xena pulls on the bridle, slowing down the horse.

XENA:
     You didn't have to kill that man.

SABINA (shrugs):
     After all this time, I needed the target practice. Thought I might be getting rusty. (chuckles) So, what's your plan, Xena? Are you taking me in your personal custody?

XENA:
     Don't worry, I'll find someone to watch over you.

SABINA:
     Ooh--let me guess. You want to turn me over to that goody-two-shoes--what's his name?--the one who was chasing me all over Greece when you and I first met. (pauses) Unless, of course, you're talking about your boyfriend. I'm sure that would be a lot of fun for all involved. (chuckles) So...how is Ares these days?

Xena gives her a thoughtful look, then kicks the horse in the sides, making it go faster.

CUT TO

Xena and Sabina ride up to a gray granite building near a grove. The entrance is decorated with images of skulls and swords. Xena stops the horse.

SABINA (genuinely puzzled):
     What's this?

XENA:
     You ask too many questions. Get down.

She pushes Sabina off the horse, then dismounts, grabs Sabina's arm and heads inside the building.

CUT TO

Inside the building. It is a temple of Ares, decorated in the customary black, silver and red, with a massive throne with silver skulls for armrests and a tall statue of Ares carved from black stone. A priest, a middle-aged dark-haired, bearded man in a black robe with silver ornaments, is sorting through some of the sacrificial donations on the altar.

Xena comes in, pushing Sabina ahead of her.

XENA (businesslike):
     Are you the priest of this temple?

PRIEST (turns around with a dignified air):
     I am. Are you here to make a sacrifice to my lord Ares? (guardedly looks over Sabina) Uh--you do know that we don't do human sacrifices, right?

XENA (wryly):
     Well, that's a relief. Nah, she's not a sacrifice--just someone I want to stash away here for the next three or four days.

PRIEST (indignant):
     Excuse me, young woman. This is a temple of the God of War, not a babysitting service.

XENA (smirks):
     And this is a warrior, not a baby. Look, all you have to do is make sure she doesn't escape. Oh, and feed her, I suppose. (gives Sabina a wry look) Nothing too fancy.

PRIEST (haughtily):
     Absolutely not.

XENA (sighs):
     I guess I'll just have to get your boss, then. (raises her voice) Ares!

Ares materializes in a flash of light; the priest drops to his knees, mouth agape.

PRIEST:
     My lord--

ARES:
     Get lost. (turns to Xena as the priest scrambles to his feet and hastily retreats to a back room) That's a rather different look for you... (as he notices Sabina, his eyes widen and his voice drops) ...isn't it. Well, there's a surprise.

SABINA (smiles brightly):
     Ares. Last time we met, you were selling me out to your girlfriend after promising me your help.

ARES (points a finger at her):
     I never promised you my help.

SABINA (cocks her head):
     Hmm... "lead your armies to victory and make me proud" sounded pretty convincing to me.

Xena gives Ares a grim, suspicious look.

ARES (to Xena):
     What are you doing with her?

XENA (reluctantly):
     She was about to be crucified by the Romans.

SABINA (mocking):
     And of course, our dear Xena had to save me--especially when she found out that I was sentenced to death for (makes a shocked face) doing a good deed. (turns to Xena, who is still holding her arm) So tell me, Xena--do you think I'm all ready to try and redeem my evil past? Think you can reform me?

XENA (gives her a narrow-eyed glare):
     Sabina? Put a lid on it. (to Ares, coldly) All I need is a safe place to keep her before Gabrielle and I can take her back to Greece. Think you can arrange that?

ARES (thinks a moment, then raises his voice):
     Massalus!

The frightened-looking priest comes out of the back room.

PRIEST:
     My lord?

ARES:
     Do what she (nods toward Xena) tells you.

PRIEST (bows):
     I'm sorry, my lord--I didn't know she was acting on your--

ARES (impatiently):
     Cut out the pleasantries. (gestures toward Sabina) Just make sure this one stays put.

PRIEST (nods nervously):
     Yes, my lord. (to Sabina) Come along.

Sabina gives Ares a scornful look and follows the priest into the back of the temple. Just before disappearing from view, she stops and turns around.

SABINA (the sarcasm suddenly gone from her voice):
     Xena?

XENA (harshly):
     What?

Sabina's face reflects an emotional struggle.

SABINA (in a hushed voice):
     Would you check up on Siran?

XENA (stares at her intently, then nods):
     I will.

Sabina turns to go, then stops again and half-turns her head.

SABINA (in a tone that may or may not be sarcastic):
     By the way, it was fun fighting by your side.

XENA (her eyes narrowing):
     I wish I could say the pleasure was mutual.

Sabina shrugs and follows the priest, disappearing into an arched passageway. Ares stares after her, then turns to Xena.

ARES:
     What was that all about?

XENA:
     I'll tell you later. I have to get back to Rome. (she walks toward the door, then turns toward Ares, who is standing with his arms folded on his chest, scowling) Thanks.

ARES:
      Thanks? I don't see you for a month and that's all you have to say to me?

XENA:
     I've been busy.

ARES:
     All right--what did I do now?

Xena's lips tighten; she is obviously struggling with something she wants to say but isn't sure she should. Then she whips around, a bitter look on her face.

XENA:
     You used her, didn't you?

ARES (flabbergasted):
     Who? Sabina? What did you want me to do, help her?

XENA:
     No, stay away from her. (bitterly) It amused you, didn't it? Here was this girl who wanted to play Warrior Queen. And a pretty good fighter, too. Oh, you never actually told her she was your new favorite--you just let her believe she was. Don't forget, Ares--I know how you operate. (Ares scowls and says nothing) So she set her sights on Corinth, and ended up losing her army--and then her freedom.

ARES:
     Give me a break. Sabina knew what she wanted long before she met me.

XENA:
     Oh, I don't doubt it. You just made her think she could have it.

ARES (exasperated):
     Look, what's with this sudden outbreak of fondness for Sabina? What is this, Love Your Enemy Week?

XENA (lowers her eyes):
     She's done terrible things. But what happened to her wasn't right.

ARES:
     And that was my fault? (Xena shrugs slightly and says nothing, still staring down. Ares approaches her and puts a hand on her arm) This isn't just about Sabina, is it?

Xena looks up at him, an anguished look on her face.

XENA:
     At the Fates' temple--when we saw the lives we would have had if we'd made different choices--

ARES:
      Great! Now it's something I would have done in a different future? You know--as I recall, your little sidekick killed you in one of those futures. Are you busting her chops about that?

XENA (vehemently):
     I'm talking about what happened in this life. When Gabrielle and I fought the Horde--you were watching me the whole time. (Ares says nothing, watching her intently) You were waiting for things to get desperate enough that I'd have no choice but to accept your help.

ARES (reluctantly):
     I was.

XENA:
     And then Gabrielle gave water to a wounded enemy--and made a truce possible. (sarcastic) You must have been really pissed off. (she pauses, watching Ares as he scowls) There you were--just waiting for a chance to turn me.

ARES:
     That's not exactly news to you, is it? (off her stricken look) Come on, Xena--I thought we'd agreed to put the past behind us.

XENA:
     It's not just the past.

ARES:
     What are you talking about?

XENA:
     I saw your face when you were watching me--in that other future. Leading your army into battle--wading knee-deep in blood--running my sword through the gut of an enemy who had surrendered... (vehemently) Don't tell me you didn't enjoy it!

ARES (defiantly):
     So I enjoyed watching you kick some ass. It was a good battle.

XENA:
     You enjoyed watching me turn into a vicious killer.

ARES:
     And you think I still want to turn you? (off her heavy silence, bitterly) I would have thought you'd know the answer to that by now.

XENA:
     I don't have time for this.

She starts walking toward the door. Ares watches her, obviously struggling with himself; then his face softens.

ARES:
     Xena!

Xena stops but doesn't turn.

ARES:
     I saw what it did to you--watching that battle. This isn't what I want, okay?

Xena slowly turns to him and looks at him thoughtfully.

XENA (softly):
     I believe you. (pauses) I'll see you when I'm back in Greece, okay?

ARES:
     Yeah.

Xena hesitates for a moment, then comes up to Ares and takes his hand, lacing her fingers with his. He watches her guardedly; she leans forward to give him a short but tender kiss on the lips. When she pulls back, Ares looks at her with a faint smile, his face relaxing.

ARES:
     See you back in Greece.

Xena nods, pulls her hand away and walks toward the door, then stops and turns.

XENA:
     And Ares--thanks for letting Sabina stay here.

ARES:
     You already thanked me.

XENA:
     This time I mean it.

She walks out. Ares watches her thoughtfully, then vanishes.

CUT TO

A hallway in the imperial palace. Gabrielle approaches an ornate door guarded by a slave.

GABRIELLE:
     Is the Emperor in?

SLAVE:
     Yes--he just returned from a Senate session. (bows his head) He said you should be admitted to see him whenever you want.

Gabrielle looks slightly disconcerted. The slave opens the door and lets her in.

CUT TO

Inside Nero's office. He is sitting at a desk, a parchment in front of him. One of his advisors stands at his side.

As Gabrielle comes in, Nero lifts his head.

GABRIELLE:
     Domitius. (she comes closer to the desk) I was just wondering if there was any news of Sabina.

NERO (shakes his head sadly):
     No--none at all. She and that accursed centurion might as well have vanished into the ether. (off Gabrielle's startled look) What is it, Gabrielle?

GABRIELLE (to herself):
     The ether...

NERO (jokingly):
     What, do you think that Sabina may have been whisked away by a god? (Gabrielle looks away uncomfortably) Really, Gabrielle--all those adventures you have had with Xena have given you an overactive imagination. But I suppose that's a good thing in a bard. (he chuckles; then, suddenly, his expression turns sad) I would laugh about it--if you hadn't found me at such a dreadful moment.

GABRIELLE (looks up worriedly):
     Dreadful? What happened?

NERO:
     Because Sabina has escaped punishment for her master's murder, every slave in his house must be held responsible.

GABRIELLE (shocked):
     What are you saying?

NERO (points to a parchment in front of him):
     The Senate has just voted. Tomorrow, every one of Gracchus' slaves will be put to death.

GABRIELLE (gasps):
     No!

NERO:
     It's the law, Gabrielle. (he reaches for the quill in the inkstand)

GABRIELLE:
     But you can't--you can't sign--that!

NERO:
     Unfortunately, I can. (sighs dramatically) At moments like these, I do wish that I had never learned to write.

The camera zooms in on the parchment as he signs the decree with a flourish, then pans back to Gabrielle who looks on in dismay as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT THREE