FADE IN

Gabrielle and Nero are alone in Nero's private quarters, luxuriously decorated with exotic plants, tapestries depicting scenes from Greek history and mythology, and statues. Nero is nibbling with relish on the drumstick of a roasted pheasant while Gabrielle circles the room restlessly.

NERO:
     Gabrielle, please sit and eat. After the distasteful way in which our dinner was interrupted earlier, I would think you'd be starving.

GABRIELLE:
     No thanks. I've lost my appetite.

NERO (licks his fingers and frowns):
     I'm sorry, but I fail to see why you're so broken up about this slave. I would have thought you'd be pleased that we found the killer. Or would you rather see two hundred innocent slaves condemned to death?

GABRIELLE:
     No. No of course not--but--

NERO:
     Not to mention the fact that, as you yourself have told me, Sabina has been a thorn in your side for quite awhile now. Isn't that true? For you, Xena and your Amazons. Trust me, we'll all sleep better once Valeria Sabina is hanging from a cross.

Gabrielle flinches noticeably.

GABRIELLE:
     Domitius...I know that Sabina has to pay for her crimes. But can't she be--can't it be some way other than... that? Something more--

NERO (sneering):
     Humane?

Gabrielle looks at him.

NERO:
     Why?

GABRIELLE:
     Sabina was born a Roman citizen. Isn't there some other way?

NERO (sighs):
     Gabrielle, don't think for a moment that I don't understand how hard this is for you. I'm sure seeing anyone--even Valeria Sabina--suffer this way must churn up all sorts of unpleasant memories for you. Believe me, if there were any other way, I would take it. But this is about more than justice. It's about preserving law and order in the Empire. Sabina is a slave--a slave that murdered her master. Besides, her father was stripped of his Roman citizenship by Julius Caesar. The law requires that Sabina be executed by crucifixion. It's my only option. I'm sorry.

Gabrielle studies him a moment, then nods sadly.

GABRIELLE:
     I know. I know.

CUT TO

A half-dark prison cell. Sabina sits on a pile of straw in a corner. The door opens with a screech. Sabina lifts her head and sees Xena standing in the doorway, a lantern in her hand. Xena's face is impassive; Sabina stares at her for a moment and then gives her a cold, sarcastic smile.

SABINA:
     Well, look who's here. Xena. Did you come to offer me moral support?

XENA (in a steely voice):
     Maybe to see you get what you deserve.

SABINA (smiles):
     Oh, really. Well, you'll enjoy this.

She stands up, turns her back to Xena and lifts her shirt. In the light of the lantern, we see that her back is cris-crossed with scars. A close-up on Xena's face as she flinches.

XENA:
     Who did that to you?

SABINA (lowers her shirt and turns around):
     What a funny question to ask of a slave. This is what happens to slaves, didn't you know? Especially slaves who don't know their place. (she leans against the wall, smiling again) Got to hand it to your Corinthian friends, Xena--they're smart.

XENA:
     Or maybe you were stupid enough to get caught.

SABINA:
     Now, now, Xena--you know better than that. You never did manage to catch me, did you? (cocks her head in mock sympathy) All they had to do was put a bounty on my head--big enough to give my former lieutenant an incentive to turn me in. Of course, they got their money back when they sold me to Roman slave traders. Now that was a masterstroke! They could have put me in prison, you know--or killed me. But putting me up on the slave market--now that was creative. You might say it was revenge for fun and profit.

XENA (her face is still rigidly impassive but the look in her eyes is one of growing unease):
     You're breaking my heart.

SABINA (stares at her attentively):
     You know, I think I am. It's tough, isn't it--having principles? Part of you thinks I'm getting what I deserve. Part of you thinks no one deserves to be a slave, not even Valeria Sabina. Quite a dilemma, isn't it?

XENA (abruptly):
     Why did you kill Senator Gracchus?

SABINA (mockingly):
     Changing the subject? (off Xena's expectant glare) Why did I kill Senator Gracchus... (pretends to think) Oh, I don't know. All work and no play makes for some very boring Saturday nights?

Xena's lips tighten; realizing the futility of asking any further questions, she turns around and starts to leave.

SABINA:
     Oh, Xena?

Xena stops and half-turns toward her.

SABINA:
     I guess I'm going to follow in your footsteps after all. Want to share some tips on getting crucified?

Xena flinches visibly and knocks on the door. The door is opened from the outside and Xena leaves, without looking at Sabina.

CUT TO

Outside the prison--a low building of gray stone, with steps leading down to the entrance. Xena walking briskly up the steps, her face set. The camera pulls back to show the Roman forum, where the prison is located. It's a bright, sunny afternoon and the forum is bustling with activity. As Xena walks away from the prison entrance, she is approached by a dark-skinned girl in a green dress--the one who was seen in Senator Gracchus' house at the end of the teaser.

GIRL (timidly):
     Are you Xena? (lost in thought, Xena walks on, oblivious, and the girl speaks louder) Xena?

XENA (flinches and turns to her):
     Who are you?

GIRL:
     My name is Siran. I'm... (she hesitates) I'm one of Senator Gracchus' slaves.

Xena stops and looks at her curiously.

XENA:
     What do you want?

SIRAN:
     You saw her, didn't you? Leonia?

XENA (frowns, looking at Siran's stricken face):
     Was she a friend of yours?

SIRAN (dismayed):
     Was? Is she--

XENA (sharply):
     Not yet. But she might as well be. There's nothing anyone can do to save her now.

SIRAN (her eyes filling with tears):
     Can you get me in to see her?

XENA (warily):
     I...I could try. (she puts a comforting hand on Siran's shoulder) Siran...how much do you really know about Leonia?

SIRAN (vehemently):
     I don't care! She's--she's going to die for me!

XENA (shocked):
     What?

Siran starts to cry. Some people give them curious looks, and Xena pulls her aside around the corner of the prison.

XENA:
     Siran, tell me what happened. (pauses, then adds uncertainly) Maybe I can help her. (Siran continues to cry, saying nothing) Did--did Sabina kill Senator Gracchus?

SIRAN (sniffles):
     Who?

XENA:
     Sabina--that's her real name. (Grabs Siran's shoulders) Come on, Siran. Tell me!

SIRAN:
     She did. But she was... (sniffles again) ...she was protecting me.

XENA:
     Protecting from--?

SIRAN (burst into sobs):
     --that horrible, horrible man!

XENA (her face darkens):
     Your master?

SIRAN:
     Yes! (she calms down a little and wipes away tears) He--he wanted me to-- (her voice falters)

XENA (grimly):
     I understand. So--what happened?

SIRAN:
     That day, he told me that from now on, I would be the one to bring him his bedtime goblet of wine. (she sniffles again) Leonia knew he was up to no good--so she followed me and stayed in the antechamber. Then... (her voice breaks off)

XENA:
     He attacked you? (Siran nods wordlessly) And Sabina--

SIRAN (whispers):
     She was only trying to defend me. I didn't see her kill him--as soon as I broke free she told me to run away, and then they continued to struggle--but... (she bursts into tears again)

Xena gives her a thoughtful, grim look, and then rather awkwardly pats her hair.

XENA (softly):
     Thank you for telling me this, Siran. I'll-- (she sighs) I'll see what I can do.

She starts to walk away.

SIRAN:
     Wait! (Xena turns) Can't you get me in to see her?

Xena pauses, obviously hesitant; then her face softens.

XENA (takes Siran's shoulder):
     All right, come on.

CUT TO

The prison entrance. Xena and Siran start to walk down the steps.

CUT TO

A murky corridor inside the prison. Xena shows a parchment on which one can see the imperial Roman seal to the jailer.

JAILER (grumbles):
     You again? But you just left!

XENA:
     You're so observant.

JAILER (examines the parchment):
     This doesn't say anything about letting in anyone else.

XENA:
     It doesn't say anything about wasting my time, either. (scornfully) What are you afraid of? Think this girl (motions toward Siran) is going to break your prisoner out of jail?

JAILER (doubtfully):
     Well, I guess there's no real harm in it... (he takes a bunch of keys off his belt and goes to open the door to Sabina's cell)

CUT TO

Inside the cell. As the door opens, Sabina looks up; for a moment she looks surprised before assuming her habitual mask of cool irony.

SABINA:
     Forget something?

XENA:
     Yeah. Her.

She steps aside to let in Siran. As Siran steps forward timidly, Sabina's emotional control slips for a moment and her face reveals a complex mix of joy, tenderness, and anguish.

SABINA (rises abruptly):
     Siran!

Siran rushes toward Sabina and falls into her arms, hugging her tearfully.

SABINA (regains control):
     Now, now...come on, Siran...don't be silly... (she pats the girl's hair and then glances at Xena, obviously embarrassed)

XENA:
     Why didn't you tell me?

SABINA:
     Tell you what?

XENA:
     Why you killed Gracchus.

SABINA (smirks):
     A girl's got to protect her reputation. Next thing I know, little Gabrielle would be writing about it in one of her scrolls, telling the whole world that I've become a do-gooder just like you.

XENA (exasperated):
     Right. (to Siran) I'll wait for you outside.

CUT TO

Xena walking toward the imperial palace.

CUT TO

A room in the palace. Nero sits in a chair, absent-mindedly touching the strings of a lyre. Xena sits across from him, leaning forward, her posture tense.

XENA:
     Nero, I'm not asking you to spare Sabina's life, merely to change the method of her execution...

NERO (impatiently):
     Gabrielle and I have been over that already. I told her--nothing can be done. She's a slave who killed her master.

XENA:
     But if you knew why--

NERO (puts the lyre aside, his face hardening suddenly):
     The law doesn't care, Xena. There is no mitigation to such an act. Otherwise, none of us will be safe in our beds.

XENA (vehemently):
     Maybe people who think they can own other human beings shouldn't expect to be safe in their beds.

NERO:
     Our customs and institutions are what they are, Xena. Don't forget--

XENA (bitterly):
     --that I'm speaking to the Emperor of Rome? How could I. Gabrielle and I helped put you on the throne.

NERO (his manner softening):
     I'm not forgetting that, either. I would never begrudge you--or Gabrielle--any favor that's within my power. But Sabina's fate is decided. Even as Emperor, I can't change it.

On the words "Sabina's fate is decided," the camera pans to Xena, who stares at Nero, calm but obviously pondering something. While Nero is still speaking, we start a slow:

DISSOLVE TO

The Forum, just outside the prison.

Sabina is led out of the prison in a white linen cloth wrapped around her body, barefoot, hands tied behind her back.

A montage of images as Sabina is marched along a road toward a hill on the edge of Rome. She is led by two guards, with an escort of eight uniformed, helmeted Roman soldiers marching single file, four on each side. The procession is headed by Tigellinus riding a gray horse. Sabina looks calm, her hair blowing in the wind.

The procession approaches a hill and marches up the slope. At the top of the hill, a cross is lying flat, two soldiers with hammers and nails standing on both sides of it. Tigellinus stops, signaling to the procession behind him to stop as well, and dismounts. He turns to Sabina.

TIGELLINUS:
     Leonia, slave of Senator Horatius Gracchus! You have been sentenced to die for the crime of taking the life of your master. Let the sentence be carried out.

He gestures to the guards who are holding Sabina. They lead Sabina toward the cross; one of them pulls out a dagger and cuts the rope binding Sabina's wrists.

One of the eight soldiers lined up behind her suddenly breaks rank and charges at the guards holding Sabina, downing one of them with a powerful punch to the face and kicking the other down.

Pan to Tigellinus' shocked face.

TIGELLINUS:
     Mutiny!

The soldier and Sabina run toward Tigellinus' horse. Sabina turns abruptly toward the soldier to get a look at his face. The camera zooms in on the soldier's face: it's Xena, her hair tucked in under the Roman helmet. Her eyes meet Sabina's; the camera pans back to Sabina, who smiles a little.

Recovering from the surprise, the other seven soldiers charge at them. Xena draws a sword and holds them off; Sabina punches one of the soldiers in the throat and grabs his sword while he doubles over choking, then quickly runs him through with his own sword, spins around and cuts down another soldier who comes at her. Xena looks at her and her lips tighten; she is obviously disturbed by Sabina's readiness to kill. A soldier charges at Xena; she kicks the sword from his hand, making it fly up into the air, then catching it and using its flat side to knock out the soldier with a blow across his helmet. Another soldier swings his sword at Xena; she spars with him quickly and runs him through.

Just as some of the soldiers who are down are starting to get up, Xena leaps on Tigellinus' horse, then reaches out to Sabina but stops before Sabina can take her hand.

XENA:
     Drop the sword. (Sabina hesitates) Drop it, or I leave without you!

Sabina turns around and throws the sword at one of the soldiers who is staggering to his feet; the sword goes through his chest and he falls down, dead. Xena looks very grim; still, she extends her arm to Sabina and helps her up in the saddle in front of her.

TIGELLINUS (yells furiously):
     Stop them!

XENA (prods the horse with her boots):
     Yah!

The horse takes off at a gallop--the camera zooms in on the cross as the horse leaps over it--and Xena and Sabina ride away, going over the top of the hill, in the direction leading away from Rome, as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO