9.03 What Separates Us I


ACT THREE

FADE IN

On the same scene as before. Xena stares grimly at Eve and Nymphidius; Gabrielle looks worried.

Close-up on Eve as she looks at them in alarm.

EVE:
      Mother! Gabrielle... What are you doing here?

XENA:
      Orphelia told us where you were.

EVE (stammering a little):
      Th-this is Nymphidius. He used to be my teacher--many years ago.

XENA:
      Well, this lesson's over. Come on, Eve. (she puts her hand on Eve's arm) We're getting out of here.

NYMPHIDIUS:
      You're making a mistake.

XENA (narrows her eyes at him; icy voice):
      No, the mistake's all yours.

EVE:
     Mother, wait. I promised I'd protect Orphelia. I have to--

XENA:
     Don't worry about Orphelia. We'll get her to safety. You have no other business here.

NYMPHIDIUS:
      What about you, Xena?

XENA (almost snarling):
      What are you talking about?

NYMPHIDIUS:
      I thought your business was to protect innocent people. There are five thousand people living in this colony--and not enough soldiers to protect them from being slaughtered.

Xena looks at him hesitantly, then her face hardens again.

XENA:
     I'm sure Rome can take care of its own.

She turns around and starts to walk away, then stops and looks back.

XENA (irritably, to Gabrielle and Eve):
      Are you coming?

Gabrielle and Eve exchange hesitant looks.

NYMPHIDIUS (to Eve):
     If you're going away--I suggest that you ride west, and stop to look at a village called Calpa. It's only two days' ride from here. You'll have a chance to look at the Visigoths' handiwork.

As he speaks, we:

DISSOLVE TO

The remnants of a small village, burned completely to the ground. All the buildings have been flattened and all that remains are piles of charred wood, some still smoldering from the fire. Bodies of men, women and children strewn all over the place, many of them are bloodied, battered and bruised and others charred badly from the fire.

NYMPHIDIUS (voice-over):
     Out of nearly two hundred villagers--not one man, woman, or child left alive.

The image of the destroyed village...

DISSOLVES TO

Destroyed village

...a close-up of Xena's anguished face, Eve's equally anguished face superimposed on it.

The camera pulls back to show Xena staring at Nymphidius.

XENA (turns to Eve):
      How do you know this is true? All you have is his word--and he wants you to stay and lead his troops.

EVE (firmly):
      I know Nymphidius, Mother. He wouldn't lie to me. (She turns to Nymphidius) I'm staying. I'll fight by your side--but they're your men. You lead them.

Nymphidius nods slowly. There is a long pause. Xena is stone-faced; Gabrielle's face reflects mixed emotions. Finally Xena speaks.

XENA:
      Then we stay too.

EVE:
     You don't have to. I can handle this on my own.

XENA (sarcastic):
      Haven't you heard your teacher? I have to stay--it's my job.

Eve looks at her uneasily.

DISSOLVE TO

Alaric's tent in the Visigoth camp. Alaric is reclining on some furs sipping wine from a goblet. A Visigoth warrior peers into the tent.

VISIGOTH WARRIOR:
      Sir?

ALARIC:
      What is it, Herman?

Herman comes in and bows.

HERMAN:
      There are rumors...

ALARIC:
      Rumors about what?

HERMAN:
      That Xena, Warrior Princess, Gabrielle the Battling Bard and Livia of Rome are inside the walls of Moesia--working with the Romans.

ALARIC (sits up):
      Xena, do you say? (rubs his beard) And Livia of Rome--also known as Eve of the Amazons. They fought with the Amazons when my brother Euric was killed. (grins) Maybe it's finally time for them to lose a battle.

HERMAN:
      You want to attack--now? With Xena there, they'll be ready for us.

ALARIC:
      And we for them. (thinks a moment) I think we would do well to--think small.

Herman gives him a puzzled look.

DISSOLVE TO

A large room in the Roman military headquarters. Xena, Gabrielle, Eve, Haimon, and Nymphidius along with two other Roman officers are standing around a large table with a map laid out on it.

NYMPHIDIUS:
      My scouts tell me the Visigoth camp is right here (points to a spot on the map), in the Alconne Forest. So if they attack, they should be coming from this direction. If we--

He is interrupted by the door flying open. A Roman guard rushes in. Nymphidius looks up as the guard stops and places his fist on his chest in an official salute.

GUARD:
      Commander--we've captured a Visigoth spy scouting out the town.

NYMPHIDIUS (interested):
      Bring him here.

The Roman exits and quickly returns with two other Roman soldiers who are dragging a Visigoth, a powerful, bearded man with his hands bound behind his back. He snarls as he looks at Nymphidius, Xena and the others. The Roman soldiers push him down on his knees in front of Nymphidius as the man struggles. He stares up at Nymphidius defiantly.

NYMPHIDIUS:
      So. You were stupid enough to get caught. Are you going to tell us everything you know--or are you stupid enough to wait until we make you?

The Visigoth remains silent. Nymphidius slaps him in the face, so hard that he nearly falls. Gabrielle flinches and Eve looks away. Xena's face remains impassive.

NYMPHIDIUS:
      What are your friends planning? You know we can make you talk.

The Visigoth remains silent, blood trickling from his cut lip. He glances at Xena, almost as if expecting something.

VISIGOTH CAPTIVE:
     I will tell you nothing.

NYMPHIDIUS:
     Wrong answer. (To the soldiers) Take him outside.

As the soldiers haul the man to his feet, he glances at Xena once again.

XENA:
      I can save you some time.

She comes up to the Visigoth and jabs her fingers into his neck. He starts gasping for breath.

XENA:
      Let's keep this short. You'll be dead in thirty seconds unless you start talking.

VISIGOTH CAPTIVE (gasps):
     All right...all right! They're planning the attack tomorrow--at noon.

XENA:
      From which direction?

VISIGOTH CAPTIVE (groans):
      From the west...using the woods as a cover...

Xena takes off the pinch. The man takes deep breaths as he glowers at her.

NYMPHIDIUS:
      Lock him up for now. We'll deal with him later.

ROMAN SOLDIER:
     Yes, sir.

The soldiers drag the Visigoth away. Xena looks after him thoughtfully.

XENA (shakes head):
      That was too easy.

NYMPHIDIUS :
     That was easy? (with a grim chuckle) I'd hate to see how you do things the hard way.

XENA:
      No, he's up to something--I can feel it. It's almost as if he expected me to put the pinch on him.

EVE:
      You think it's a trap? (She thinks a moment) They could be planning to launch a surprise attack before noon. Or come from a different direction.

NYMPHIDIUS:
      You may be right. We'd better be on guard.

XENA:
     Or they could use the attack as a distraction and try to break through the gates in a different part of the city. There's a lot of ways to lay a trap, Nymphidius. You're lucky if you can think of half of them.

NYMPHIDIUS (looks at her with respect):
      We'll try to leave nothing to chance. (To Eve) Come on, Livia--

Quick pan to Xena, who flinches at the name. Eve catches her expression and looks intensely uncomfortable.

NYMPHIDIUS (continues):
      -- we have to get the troops ready.

Eve looks uneasily at Xena and walks to the door with Nymphidius. Nymphidius stops and turns to Xena.

NYMPHIDIUS:
      Xena--I know there's been a lot of...bad blood between you and Rome. But I wanted to say--it's an honor to meet you and fight by your side. (looks at Eve) It's amazing how I can see you in her. Even though you look so young, it's easy to forget that you're her mother...

XENA (harshly):
      You'd better not forget it.

CUT TO

A dark room in the Roman headquarters, illuminated only by the moonlight coming in from the outside. Gabrielle stands at the window, staring out at the city where torches and lanterns burn in the night.

HAIMON (off-camera):
      Gabrielle?

Lost in thought, Gabrielle doesn't hear him. Haimon, shirtless, comes up behind her and puts his hands on her shoulders. Startled, she flinches slightly, then puts her hand over his.

HAIMON (gently):
      Are you worried?

GABRIELLE (sighs):
     Of course I am. So many things... Tomorrow's battle-- (she glances uneasily at Haimon)

HAIMON (facetiously but with an undertone of annoyance):
     Maybe one of these days you'll finally believe that I can take care of myself.

GABRIELLE (turns around to face him):
     Oh, Haimon, I do! It's just that-- (she trails off and lowers her head, then looks up at Haimon again) There are so many things... The last time we fought the Goth tribes--

HAIMON (looks embarrassed as realization hits him):
     You were almost killed.

GABRIELLE:
     The Amazons lost many of their best warriors... (sighs) It's not like they had a lot to spare. (She looks away) But it's not just that... I never thought we'd be fighting side by side with Romans again, after...

HAIMON:
      We're helping innocent people. Isn't that what it's all about?

GABRIELLE:
      Yes, but...I'm not sure you understand how this makes Xena feel.

HAIMON:
      Xena will always do the right thing even if it hurts her. Isn't that what you told me once?

Gabrielle nods slowly. Haimon hugs her and she rests her head on his shoulder. Close-up on her worried face.

HAIMON (softly):
     It's late, Gabrielle. Come to bed.

GABRIELLE:
      I think I should go and talk to Xena.

Unseen by Gabrielle, Haimon frowns slightly but looks resigned.

CUT TO

Xena's room. Like Gabrielle in the earlier scene, she is standing by the window looking out. Ares materializes behind her in a flash of blue light; Xena does not react to his appearance. He caresses her shoulders. She sighs and leans back into him slightly.

ARES (lightly stroking her face and her hair):
      Bad time?

XENA:
      You mean--because I have to watch my daughter lead Romans into battle... (her voice drops) again.

ARES:
      There is that.

He presses his face to her hair, breathing in the scent of it.

XENA:
      Fighting by the side of men for whom she's still Livia...

Ares continues to stroke her hair.

XENA (a bitter smile touching her mouth):
      She must have been really something.

ARES (pulls back slightly and sighs):
      It's always going to come between us, isn't it.

XENA (softly and sadly):
      I don't want it to...

She sighs, putting her hand on top of Ares' hand as he caresses her face. Looking down to the torch-lit courtyard, she catches sight of two figures walking side by side. It's Eve and Nymphidius.

Xena puts her hand over his and is silent for a moment.

XENA (pensively):
      The past isn't dead, Ares. It isn't even past.

There is a knock on the door. Xena turns abruptly.

GABRIELLE (off-camera):
      Xena?

Xena lingers a moment to look at Ares.

ARES:
      Good luck with the battle, Xena.

He blows her a kiss and vanishes in a flash of light. Xena stands still for a moment, then turns to the door.

XENA:
      Come in.

The door opens and Gabrielle comes in.

GABRIELLE (stops, looking at Xena with concern):
      Are you all right?

XENA:
      Yes. Yes, I'm fine. (looks away) We should both get some sleep.

Gabrielle comes up to her and puts a hand on her arm.

GABRIELLE:
     I know how tough this is for you.

XENA (looks at her):
      For both of us.

GABRIELLE:
      It's not the same. When that man called Eve Livia--

She trails off. Xena's eyelids flicker and her jaw trembles a little but she says nothing.

GABRIELLE (continues):
     You trust Eve, don't you? (Off Xena's alarmed look) To do the right thing.

Xena sighs, walks over to the bed and sits down.

XENA:
     I wish I knew what the right thing was.

A brief silence.

GABRIELLE:
      Xena...are you fighting to help the people in this colony--or to help Eve?

XENA (after a pause):
      Does it matter? A fight is still a fight.

Xena and Gabrielle look at each other, Gabrielle with anxiety, Xena with grim determination.

DISSOLVE TO

Daylight. Romans soldiers are lined up outside the city walls, facing the forest. The camera pans over the faces of several soldiers who stare intently ahead of them, listening for any sign of an attack; then pulls back to show Nymphidius and Eve walking down the line inspecting the troops.

Eve

CUT TO

Roman soldiers guarding the city gates inside.

CUT TO

Roman soldiers guarding another city gate.

CUT TO

The Roman lines outside the walls. Close-ups of Xena, Gabrielle, and Haimon staring tensely ahead of them.

Pan to the woods a short distance from the city walls. Movement is seen amidst the trees. Suddenly, Visigoths--some of them on horseback and some on foot--start pouring out of the woods.

NYMPHIDIUS:
      Formation!

The Romans move a square formation, holding up their shields and easily repelling the spears thrown by the Visigoths.

CUT TO

A montage of battle scenes:

Romans fighting

* Two Romans fighting a Visigoth with a mace. He manages to swipe one of the Romans and knock him down but the other one runs him through and he falls dead.

* Eve, on horseback, leads a group of Roman warriors charging into the thick of the Visigoth army.

* A lone rider, cloaked and helmeted, staying behind the Visigoth troops; the rider's face is hidden by the visor of the helmet.

* Xena and Gabrielle fighting back to back, performing almost identical moves, as if one were a reflection of the other

* Haimon stabs a Visigoth with his sword

* A wounded Roman falls

* Nymphidius' sword shatters a Visigoth's spear

* The rider at the back of the Visigoth troop lifts the visor of the helmet; it's Zenobia. She scans the battlefield, a gleam in her eye, and finally zeroes in on Eve, who is fighting off several Visigoths.

ZENOBIA (hisses):
      Livia...

She rides up closer to the battlefield. A Roman on horseback charges her but she easily cuts him down and his riderless horse gallops off, neighing in fright.

Pan to Eve as she knocks down a Visigoth with a kick, then flips over three other Visigoths who are attacking her and slams two of them into each other, knocking them out.

Close-up of Eve as her eyes meet Zenobia's. She looks shocked, staring at Zenobia as if transfixed. Zenobia stares back, her lips curling up in a sneer.

NYMPHIDIUS (off-camera):
     Livia! (Eve flinches) Watch out!

Eve is shaken out of her trance, just in time to whip around and avoid the thrust of a Visigoth's sword. The edge of the blade slashes her side just underneath the leather armor, drawing some blood. She and the Visigoth spar briefly before she slashes at his arm, knocks the sword from his hand and delivers a kick that causes him to stagger back. Drawing a dagger, the Visigoth charges at her again but Nymphidius cuts him down.

NYMPHIDIUS (to Eve):
      Are you all right?

EVE (nods):
     Yeah. (looks at the cut on her side) It's only a cut.

NYMPHIDIUS:
     I'm glad I got you to wear the armor. It would have been madness going up against the Visigoths in those Amazon rags. (ignoring Eve's angry look) What happened? It's not like you to get distracted. You looked like you saw a ghost.

EVE:
      I...I think I did.

XENA (off-camera):
     Eve!

Xena comes running toward them.

XENA:
      Are you all right? (moves to look at the cut on Eve's side)

EVE:
     I'm fine (a little impatiently) --I'm fine, it's just a scratch.

They're interrupted by several Visigoth warriors who come running toward them. Xena, Eve and Nymphidius easily beat them back.

CUT TO

The Visigoths are pushed back by the Romans.

A shrill whistle sounds. Pan to Zenobia as she gallops away into the woods, followed by the other Visigoths.

The Romans cheer their victory.

ROMAN SOLDIER (off-camera, among the general cheer):
      Livia!

Others join in and a chant of "Li-vi-a! Li-vi-a! Li-vi-a!" picks up and grows louder.

Close-up on Xena. Her face is frozen, only her eyes betraying her horror and anguish.

Close-up on Eve, who looks dismayed.

The camera pulls back. Gabrielle looks from Xena to Eve in alarm. Nymphidius looks at Eve as well, his expression mixed feeling--an almost paternal pride, as well as disappointment at her reaction.

Zoom out for an overhead shot of the battlefield as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT THREE