FADE IN

Gabrielle leading her horse by the reins into a stable. The chakram is not at her side. The hay is burnt and the walls are blackened with soot. Discernible on the wall despite the fire damage is a fish, the Elijan symbol. A young blond man of about twenty--his clothes also sooty from the fire--waves from where he mucks out a stall.

GABRIELLE:
     Evening, Felix.

FELIX:
     Gabrielle! I'm glad you're back! Where've you been?

GABRIELLE (smiles thinly):
     Rescuing a goat.

FELIX (shakes his head):
     You have such an interesting life.

GABRIELLE:
     How are things here? Quiet?

FELIX (shrugs):
     A few of Petronia's people were looking for you tonight. Rumor is there's going to be some trouble at this evening's prayer circle.

Gabrielle immediately tenses up.

GABRIELLE:
     Trouble? What kind of trouble?

FELIX:
     Can't say. Though these days wherever there's trouble you can bet Nero is involved.

Gabrielle's eyes widen in alarm.

GABRIELLE:
     Where's the prayer circle being held tonight?

FELIX:
     Down at the docks under one of those overturned fishing boats--

Gabrielle spins and runs towards the door.

GABRIELLE:
     Come on!

CUT TO

Gabrielle and Felix running down the street towards the docks. She stops short when she sees the Elijans being forced into caged wagons by a band of Roman soldiers. She reaches down and pulls her sais from her boots.

GABRIELLE (to Felix):
     Stay here!

She charges into the soldiers and the Elijans can be heard gasping in shock and awe.

"It's Gabrielle!" "I knew she wouldn't let us down!" "-just wait 'til Xena hears about this."

Gabrielle takes down three soldiers in rapid succession with kicks and punches. A large centurion finally squares off against her, deftly brandishing his sword. He and Gabrielle fight--she has a hard time laying a hand on him because his size prohibits her from getting too close. Her strategy is to keep low to the ground, ducking and tumbling out of his sword's reach. Finally he swings at her head and Gabrielle ducks, performing a tumble between his legs. She gains to her knees and before he has the chance to turn around, Gabrielle punches him in the back of the knee, collapsing it. The centurion crumbles to his knees. Gabrielle raises a sai high above her head, about to drive it down into the centurion's back. A hand shoots out and grabs her by the wrist.

PETRONIA (a tall, thin woman in her forties, wearing white, with light brown hair tied in a bun behind her head):
     Gabrielle, don't!

Gabrielle looks up at Petronia, distracted long enough for the centurion to throw a punch, knocking Gabrielle to the ground, unconscious.

CUT TO

A large prison cell filled with three or four dozen prisoners. Seated in a circle are twelve to fifteen people. Petronia is seated in the center of the circle, leading her followers in meditation. Gabrielle looks on from where she leans against the cell door, her arms folded across her chest.

PETRONIA:
     ...by obtaining inner stillness you become a perfect vessel for love...

Gabrielle sighs impatiently and turns, gripping the cell bars tightly, as if she can bend them.

SIRAN (meekly):
     Gabrielle?

Gabrielle turns. It is obvious she doesn't recognize the girl.

SIRAN:
     Do you remember me? Siran--

GABRIELLE:
     Sabina's friend. I remember you. (she looks around.) What are you doing in here? I didn't know you were an Elijan.

SIRAN:
     I wasn't--not until I saw Petronia and her followers stand up against Nero for the lives of a bunch of slaves they didn't even know.

GABRIELLE (nods):
     After Senator Gracchus' murder...

SIRAN:
     When you're a slave you don't realize there are actually good people in the world. And when I heard Petronia speak about peace and love I knew I wanted to feel it too. (She stares ahead of her for a moment, then her face clouds. She presses her lips together, looks down at her feet and speaks in a hushed voice) How is she?

Gabrielle gives her a puzzled look; then understanding dawns on her face.

GABRIELLE:
     Sabina, you mean?

SIRAN (nods):
     Is she okay? I just need to know.

Gabrielle reaches out and pats Siran's arm.

GABRIELLE:
     The last I saw she was fine.

SIRAN:
     You've seen her?

GABRIELLE:
     A few months ago...right before she escaped.

Siran looks crushed and Gabrielle feels oddly compelled to boost her morale.

GABRIELLE:
     But I'm betting that she'll find you as soon as she's able to. She's probably just lying low for right now.

SIRAN (reluctantly):
     Gabrielle... I know Sabina has done some terrible things in the past. Do you think she would go back to that?

GABRIELLE:
     I don't know. But I do know that a good heart can touch even the darkest soul. You have a good heart, Siran. If anyone could touch Sabina it would be you.

Footsteps and rough voices are heard. Gabrielle and Siran look toward the sounds, as do the other Elijans. A prison guard comes down the corridor, escorted by two soldiers. They stop in front of the cell. The guard scans the cell, as if looking for someone, and then points his finger at Gabrielle.

GUARD:
      You. Say goodbye to your little friend. The emperor wants you.

He pulls a set of chains down from where they hang on the wall.

GUARD:
     I was told you can be tricky and that you shouldn't be trusted. (he holds out the chains.) Stick your arms through the bars.

CUT TO

A room in Xena's cabin. Xena sits on the bed, turning the chakram in her hands.

AGRIPPINA'S VOICE (off-camera):
     So she returned it. See--she knows you'll come back.

Xena looks up to see Agrippina standing in front of her, arms folded on her chest, a wry smile on her face.

XENA (wearily):
     She thinks I'll come back.

AGRIPPINA:
     She knows. (she comes over and sits down next to Xena; Xena gives her an alarmed look) The only time she wore it, you were dead. (Xena turns away, a guilty look on her face) And she knows something else, too. No matter what, she can't fill your shoes.

XENA:
     She doesn't have to be just like me. She's a different kind of warrior. Maybe she can do a better job than I have.

AGRIPPINA (contemptuously):
     And what makes you think so? She was deceived as much as you were.

XENA (stares, not knowing what to answer):
     Gabrielle will always do the right thing.

AGRIPPINA:
     Sure. And maybe she'll get herself killed doing it.

Xena gives Agrippina a troubled look.

CUT TO

The two soldiers seen in the dungeon before are marching Gabrielle down a corridor in the imperial palace. Her hands are chained in front of her.

CUT TO

Nero in his throne room, flanked by Aquilo and Tigellinus. A squad of soldiers stand guard. Gabrielle is led in.

Nero raises his eyebrows at her.

NERO:
     Those chains are rather...becoming on you.

GABRIELLE (glares):
     More courtship from a Roman emperor?

NERO (sighs wearily):
     Gabrielle, what can I say to convince you that you've been duped? First by Agrippina then by my enemies that would have you believing--

GABRIELLE:
     The truth. I know what you are.

NERO:
     It was the Elijans that started the fire, Gabrielle. I have proof.

Gabrielle gives a short, dry laugh and tosses her head in contempt.

GABRIELLE:
     Proof? What kind of proof?

NERO:
     Claudius' temple was the first to be burned down. Everyone knows the Elijans disapprove of the worship of the old gods--including the emperor gods.

GABRIELLE:
     And that's proof?

Nero sighs and leans forward on his knee, resting his chin on his hand.

NERO:
     You know, if I was the monster you're making me out to be I would have you thrown to the lions--the fate that awaits your precious Elijans. (pan to Gabrielle; she is in shock) Call me a sentimental fool, but I can't help having a soft spot for you, Gabrielle. I'm letting you go. You'll forgive me if I wait to unchain you until you're outside the palace. The emperor of Rome can't be too careful, can he? After all, what would the people do without their beloved emperor?

Nero rises and positions himself in a dramatic pose.

NERO:
     Nero the Compassionate.

Gabrielle gapes in disbelief.

CUT TO

A long shot of the two soldiers leading Gabrielle out into the palace courtyard. There, one of them removes the chains from her arms. Rubbing her wrists, Gabrielle walks toward the exit. An exterior shot of the palace as she emerges from the door guarded by two soldiers. She walks past them, rubbing her wrists, and across the square.

CUT TO

A busy street in Rome; it's early evening. Gabrielle walks briskly down the street, looking worried and preoccupied.

A loud angry roar rises suddenly above the din of the crowd. Gabrielle flinches, stops and turns in the direction of the roar. She sees that she is passing by the Collosseum. The road is joined by another and then another.

OLD MAN:
     It's the lions, little lady. Hungry ones. They're not feeding them much so they're good and ready when they go out into the arena.

Gabrielle looks sickened. She stands still for a moment, then walks on, a look of quiet determination on her face.

CUT TO

Gabrielle walks down a deserted street. Hearing a sound behind her, she stops. Before she can turn around, she is grabbed from behind and a dagger is held to her throat.

FEMALE VOICE (off-camera):
     Hello, Gabrielle.

The camera pulls back to show Sabina (dressed as a Vestal Virgin in a white robe and a veil that covers her head) behind Gabrielle, an arm around her shoulder, holding a dagger to her throat as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO