FADE IN

Night at the campsite. Xena is preparing Argo for travel while Gabrielle looks on in disapproval.

GABRIELLE:
     I know we've had our differences with Domitius, Xena, but I can't believe he'd do anything to hurt his mother.

XENA (turns and glares at Gabrielle):
     You know, this isn't just your friend Domitius anymore. It's Nero, Emperor of Rome.

GABRIELLE (with a touch of resentment in her voice):
     And what is that supposed to mean? You're so quick to rush to judgment without even bothering to find out what really happened.

XENA:
     That's why I'm going to see Agrippina--to get to the bottom of this.

GABRIELLE:
     And what makes you so sure you can trust her?

XENA:
     What makes you so sure you can trust Nero?

GABRIELLE:
     Xena, he's not the monster you make him out to be.

XENA (snorts):
     Oh yeah--he's a real prince.

GABRIELLE (holding up her hands placatingly):
     All I'm saying is that we shouldn't side with Agrippina until we have a chance to hear Domitius' side of the story.

XENA:
     Gabrielle, if Agrippina believes she's in danger and that she needs my help then that's good enough for me.

GABRIELLE:
     Well, I don't believe it. Let me go and talk to Domitius.

XENA (shakes her head):
     No. I don't think that's such a good--

GABRIELLE:
     Xena, I know him! He'll listen to me. Maybe I can end this feud between him and his mother.

Xena shakes her head slowly, contemplating this. Finally she sighs.

XENA:
     Okay.

DISSOLVE TO

A field at dusk. Xena and Gabrielle are both on horseback, wearing dark cloaks; Darion is in the saddle with Gabrielle. He is dozing.

XENA (quietly, so as not to wake up Darion):
     Are you sure you want to do this?

GABRIELLE (a little impatiently):
     Xena, we've been over this before. I think I can help.

XENA (gives her a sharp, worried look):
     Just make sure you stay safe.

GABRIELLE (winces a little):
     Xena, you don't think that Domitius would ever... (shakes her head) I'll be all right.

XENA:
     We meet up in Ostia in two days--at the tavern in the port. (she looks at Gabrielle gravely) Gabrielle, if you're not there--

GABRIELLE (nodding confidently):
     Don't worry--I'll be there.

CUT TO

A long shot of Xena, still wearing the cloak over her customary leathers, getting off a boat at a small dock on what is obviously an island. The camera zooms in as Xena comes up to a fisherman unloading fish from his net.

XENA (appreciatively):
     Nice catch.

The fisherman turns to her; he is a middle-aged, stocky man with a weather-bitten face and a scraggly russet beard.

FISHERMAN (shrugs):
     I've had better.

XENA:
     Then this island must be a great fishing spot. (businesslike) Can you tell me where Agrippina's house is?

FISHERMAN:
     Agrippina? The Empress?

XENA (obviously getting impatient):
     What, you have more than one Agrippina on this island?

FISHERMAN:
     You're here to see her, then? (off Xena's glare) Did you hear about the shipwreck?

XENA (gives him a worried look):
     Shipwreck?

FISHERMAN:
     A terrible thing, it was. Such a shame, too. Another half hour and it would have reached the shore. (shakes his head) Terrible. And that poor woman's body washing up on the shore the next morning, with her head all bashed in--

XENA (brusquely):
     Agrippina? She's dead?

FISHERMAN (shocked):
     No, the gods love you! No, the Empress is alive and well. Shaken up, she was, but not injured. She swam to shore. (shakes his head admiringly) A real strong lady.

XENA (breathes an audible sigh of relief):
     All right. Where's her house?

The camera starts to pull back as we hear the fisherman's voice fading.

FISHERMAN:
     Just walk down this path and then--

CUT TO

Xena knocks on the door of a small brick house with a garden. A glum-looking female slave opens the door.

XENA:
     I'm here to see the Empress Agrippina.

AGRIPPINA'S VOICE (off-screen):
     Xena!

CUT TO

Inside the modestly furnished house. Agrippina and Xena sit on a couch, a fruit-laden tray in front of them on a table.

AGRIPPINA:
     I barely recognize my own son anymore. I've never thought much of his passion for poetry--I thought it was too frivolous a pastime for an emperor--but now he performs on the stage in Rome!

XENA (wryly):
     Well, the theater isn't my thing--but if that's what he's into... (shrugs) Sounds like a harmless enough hobby to me.

AGRIPPINA:
     Xena, whenever he performs, he orders the Praetorian guards to lock all the exits--no one is to leave until he is finished. For any reason. (off Xena's shocked look) Once, a pregnant woman gave birth--right in her seat. Another time, a man who tried to push his way past the guards was beaten so badly that he may be left crippled. (pan to Xena, who nods slowly) And there's more. His hostility toward the followers of Eli has become an obsession--he blames them for his humiliation in that wretched affair with the slaves of Senator Gracchus. (Xena looks at her in alarm, narrowing her eyes) He has had several Elijan leaders thrown into prison on charges of conspiracy. He's also had several senators and noblemen jailed--mainly because he was starting to fear that their popularity would pose a threat to his power...

XENA (grimly):
     And you want me to do something to stop him.

AGRIPPINA:
     We put him in power, Xena--you and I. (off Xena's stricken look) We're responsible.

CUT TO

A stately room in the imperial palace in Rome. Gabrielle and Darion enter. The camera pans over the room and zooms in on Nero, who is sitting in a chair talking to a group of men, obviously his advisors.

ADVISOR #1 (holds up a scroll):
     My Emperor--over a hundred distinguished citizens are petitioning you for the release of Petronia.

NERO (glances at the scroll and frowns):
     The Elijan conspirator?

ADVISOR #2 (timidly):
     She is greatly respected in Rome, Sire-- (Nero turns and notices Gabrielle as the man continues to speak) --her charitable work--

Nero rises abruptly and walks briskly toward Gabrielle, never noticing that he has bumped several people as he crosses the room.

NERO:
     Gabrielle! I could hardly believe it when Tigellinus told me you were here. It's so good to see you again...and your boy, of course.

GABRIELLE (in a slightly strained and nervous voice):
     It's...good to see you too, Domitius. (Gabrielle glances down at Darion who is now clutching her hand.) Darion, where are your manners? Say hello.

Darion presses himself against Gabrielle's side, burying his face.

DARION (mumbles):
     Hello.

In an obvious attempt at forced affection, Nero ruffles Darion's hair and the boy ducks away. Nero looks visibly miffed for a moment but quickly recovers, pretending not to notice.

NERO:
     You've come to see this evening's performance?

GABRIELLE (unconsciously smoothing Darion's hair):
     Whose performance?

NERO (peevishly):
     My own. (with a slightly forced smile) Gabrielle, haven't I always told you that at heart, I am an artist? Some day I should tell you about the time I spent on the road as a traveling performer.

GABRIELLE (uncertainly):
     That's...wonderful. But actually, Domitius, I came here to talk about the rift between you and Agrippina. (off his sour look, trying to be light-hearted) Isn't Rome big enough for the two of you?

NERO:
     For the two of us, yes--but it may not be big enough for two empresses. (he raises his eyebrows meaningfully)

GABRIELLE (slightly taken aback):
     You--you have a bride?

NERO (trying to be suave):
     Oh, I've--got someone in mind.

Gabrielle looks confused and uncomfortable for a moment, then collects herself and moves on.

GABRIELLE:
     Domitius, we need to talk about your mother.

Nero waves his hands as if clearing away smoke.

NERO:
     No! I won't allow such an unsavory subject to mar this evening's performance. I'm reciting from Orestes, you know. It should be quite educational for the lad.

He reaches out to pat Darion on the head but Darion ducks his hand again.

DARION:
     I saw that with Gabrielle and Haimon. It was really boring.

GABRIELLE (laughs uncomfortably):
     Darion! That isn't very polite. I'm sure Domitius is an accomplished--

NERO:
     Haimon? And who might this Haimon be?

DARION (petulantly):
     Haimon is our friend. Gabrielle really likes him--a lot.

NERO (gives Gabrielle a strange look):
     Does she now? Well...I'm sure Euripides with Haimon (he makes a mocking emphasis on the name) was quite an experience. I hope Rome's interpretation won't be too much of a disappointment.

Nero turns to leave, then abruptly stops and turns back.

NERO (smiling):
     Oh--and Gabrielle? Do be on time for the performance. I would hate to have to send the Praetorian Guard to fetch you.

He smiles teasingly, but one gets the sense that this may not be entirely a joke. The camera pans over to Gabrielle, who looks visibly uncomfortable, her arm wrapped protectively around Darion's shoulder.

CUT TO

Later in the afternoon. The steps of a building at the forum. Gabrielle is talking to Rufus, the Senator who helped her and Xena in POWER PLAY.

RUFUS:
     The stories about Agrippina build every day. Some are even starting to suspect that Claudius' death wasn't as it appeared.

GABRIELLE:
     You mean that he might have been murdered? (Rufus shrugs, as if to say "anything's possible.") But Agrippina was in exile when Claudius died.

RUFUS:
     True. But some say she had a clever accomplice. I'm sure it's that rumor that has made Nero increasingly wary of his mother. She has been accused of plotting to oust her son.

GABRIELLE:
     Do you believe that, Rufus?

RUFUS (sighs tiredly):
     It's hard to know what to believe these days, Gabrielle. I've seen very little in the way of actual evidence. But the Emperor can't afford to take any chances. First Claudius, now Nero. Perhaps where there's smoke, there's fire.

CUT TO

Xena and Agrippina walk through the garden of Agrippina's house on Bauli, among shrubbery and flowers.

AGRIPPINA:
     Xena-- (hesitant) --there are things I still haven't told you.

XENA (gives her a wary look):
     Like what?

AGRIPPINA (reluctantly):
     The shipwreck-- (trails off)

XENA (looks at her sharply):
     You think it was no accident.

AGRIPPINA:
     I have no proof. But the way it happened-- (shakes her head) We didn't hit a rock, there was no storm--the ship just started to fall apart. (bitterly) Rome has clever engineers.

XENA:
     You really think that your own son would--

AGRIPPINA:
     Believe me--I wish I didn't have the suspicions I have. There is nothing worse than... (trails off and shakes her head) I had a lady-in-waiting traveling with me, Acerronia. Her body washed ashore the morning after the shipwreck. (pauses) Xena, she hadn't drowned--her head was bashed in.

XENA:
     She could have been crushed during the shipwreck.

AGRIPPINA:
     It's not very likely. She was on the deck, unharmed (while Agrippina speaks, Xena listens to something intently) --I saw her jump--

With an abrupt movement, Xena pulls Agrippina off the path on which they are walking. A faint clanging sound is heard and the camera pans to an arrow that has fallen on the path--then to Xena, who has a cut on her arm. Xena and Agrippina both look up at the garden wall to see a person peering over the top of the wall; the person disappears.

XENA (grimly):
     This is getting to be a habit. (to a speechless Agrippina) Go back to the house--now!

Xena races toward the wall and leaps up on top of the wall. The camera pans to show a figure in dark clothes (one can't see if it's a man or a woman), on a gray horse, galloping away from the house across a field, toward a nearby grove. The rider is still reasonably close.

XENA:
     A-yi-yi-yi-yi!

She launches herself off the top of the wall, flipping in the air and falls hard on the ground, barely missing the escaping assassin who gallops away and disappears into the grove. Xena slowly gets up with a grunt, looking after the rider, the expression on her face a mix of frustration, disappointment and disbelief as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT ONE