FADE IN:

17. INT. ZEUS INNER CHAMBER - MOUNT OLYMPUS - LATE EVENING

AAAARRRGGGHH!!! This is NOT happening!

Apollo smashes his fist into the scrying water, sending its contents in every direction. He takes no notice as the stone pool magically replenishes itself of its lost liquid as he storms out of the room.

CUT TO:

18. ARES' WAR ROOM - LATE EVENING

Ares lifts his eyes, barely, from his war maps catching the tell tale flash of brilliant light signaling the usual arrival of the sun god. Apollo's face is stormy, far from that of his usual carefree expression.

This One God has to be stopped at all costs!!

Hello, Apollo, nice to see you've been paying attention.

Do not mock me Ares, I'm serious.

So am I.

You don't understand, things have changed.

Ares raises an inquiring dark eyebrow as he straightens to his full height, patiently crossing his arms over his chest waiting for Apollo to continue his rant.

Apollo walks the length of the room, nervously running his hand through his golden hair.

He's more powerful than either of us realized. He healed the one called Gabrielle.

And you did nothing?!

Suddenly, the Sun God stops and slams his fists down on the table, effortlessly smashing through the thick wood.

I did EVERYTHING I could and it still wasn't enough!

Apollo pauses a moment looking frustrated before quickly recovering.

He has many worshippers and has grown far too strong. His Messenger must be dealt with now, dealt with in a way that none can dispute.

Don't worry; I know exactly what to do.

Ares smiles wickedly as he summons the winged foot god.

HERMES!

Appearing in a blur of motion, Hermes comes to a halt in front of the god of war. He looks annoyed.

What is it I can do for the great God of War?

Ares pointedly ignores Hermes' insolence, opting instead to cut straight to the chase.

Tell the Emperor our plans for Eve have changed.

Hermes gives Ares a quizzical look, but remains silent.

I want him to make her publicly renounce her god by any means necessary. If the One God's very own Messenger renounces Him, the rest of his followers won't be very far behind.

And then?

And then?

Then he can do whatever he wants to her and her companions so long as they end up dead.

Ares looks at Apollo with approval, while Hermes reveals nothing in his expression before disappearing in a blur of motion to carry out his message to the Emperor of Rome.

CUT TO:

19. ROMAN CAMP: HOLDING PEN - LATE EVENING

Gabrielle is leaning against the wooden bars of the pen. The dark circles under her eyes have faded.

Eve is seated in front of her, slowly spooning the healing broth into Gabrielle's mouth.

The Bard gives a grateful smile as she takes each spoonful of liquid.

How is it?

Quite good, actually. When we get out of this, I'm going to have to ask him for his recipe.

The others Amazons are seated nearby. Effie is breaking off pieces from one of the loaves of bread and is doling the pieces out to her sister Amazons.

Varia, with the bucket of water and a ladle, is filling each of their small cups with water.

OW!

There is a blade visible.

Ssssssssshhh... quietly... see if there are others...

Her sister Amazons carefully take their loaves apart, passing each segment along to those anxiously waiting. Heads begin to nod.

What's wrong?

Eve turns in time to see Effie carefully tip the bread so that the blade can be seen, then quickly turns it away.

By the Gods...

He's managed to smuggle us weapons...

Suddenly, Gabrielle begins to cough.

What the???

Eve turns to see Gabrielle holding a key in her opened hand. Eve takes it and examines it.

It's the key to our manacles...

The Amazons smile and huddle together.

Don't let the guards see anything...

Obeying, the Amazons hide the knives, and Eve unobtrusively slips the key in the bracer on her left arm.

The Roman commander approaches the holding pen, a smirk on his face.

How's the blond doing? Is she still bleeding?

She's very weak. She's lost a lot of blood but the wound stopped bleeding. Your emperor isn't going to be very happy if she dies.

Gabrielle looks up at the Roman commander and moans softly. An Amazon gently sponges her brow.

Personally, if it were up to me, I'd get rid of the both of you and be done with it. But since Caesar wants you both alive, tell the guard and I'll have the battle surgeon take a look at her.

He turns away as the Amazons let loose a collective sigh of relief, all but Tae. She looks at Gabrielle and her sister Amazons with disdain.

CUT TO:

20. HEPHAESTUS' FORGE - LATE NIGHT

Xena is pacing and scratching her head, as Aphrodite sits on the cold stone forge, watching her.

Cupid is leaning against the forge, next to his mother, his arms folded across his chest.

There's got to be something we can use to hold him! Something that Hephaestus must have around here somewhere, because the Eye just isn't going to be enough!

The Goddess of Love hops off her perch, nervously shaking her hands.

Okay... okay... there IS something!

Both Xena and Cupid stare at the blonde goddess.

WELL?!?

Xena, balls her fist in an attempt to control her frustration.

Well, there is this one little bitty thing I seem to remember...

There's this net ...

He... uhmmm... he decided to...um... make a magical net that can Uhm... hold and bind a god -

NET! There's a NET that can hold him? Where? And why is it that NOW you remember this!?

Wellllllllll... it's a long story... and one I've put out of my mind...

That probably wasn't hard...

Now THAT wasn't very nice, Warrior Babe... After all, I'm under a lot of stress right now...

Sorry, but my patience is at its end... AND there's a million, stupid containers, full of everything under the sun ~ but NO net!

Where in Tartarus IS the damned thing?

Well, D'UH, Warrior Babe, you ain't gonna find it just like that!

It's INVISIBLE for gods' sake!

Xena whirls on the Goddess, brows furrowed.

Why in Tartarus didn't you say so!? If you know where it is, I suggest YOU find it and find it fast because our time is running out!

CUT TO:

The encampment is quiet, save for the chirping of crickets in the foliage. Every few minutes, an owl can be heard hooting in the darkness. Several campfires, Roman soldiers asleep nearby, are still burning; keeping the encampment lit enough to ward off animals. Two sentries walk the perimeter, their paths equidistant from one another. On the far side, one sentry keeps to his route of patrol. Another keeps vigil closest to the captives.

Eve is awake. She watches as they make their rounds.

Quietly she nudges Gabrielle, who opens her eyes sleepily and looks up at her adopted daughter. Eve nods, giving the signal.

With stealth, she inches toward the closest Amazon, Varia, and removes the key from her bracer. Carefully she reaches for the manacles. Varia, startled, jerks awake.

Eve puts a hand to her mouth, preventing her from uttering a word.

When you're free, undo the others.

Varia nods her understanding.

CUT TO:

22. ROMAN CAMP - AFTER MIDNIGHT

A shadow appears behind the sentry closest to the Roman captives. There's a muffled thump and the guard collapses. A body is dragged away and hidden behind a tent. A Roman soldier re-emerges and continues on the patrol route. It is Justus.

CUT TO:

23. ROMAN CAMP - HOLDING PEN

The Amazons are bunched together in the front of the first cage. As Justus walks by, he nods and continues on.

Ready?

Silent nods greet her question.

Eve eases the key into the lock and slowly turns it. The lock falls open. She quietly unwraps the chain from around the wooden bars and carefully opens the gate.

One by one, the Amazons silently creep through the opening, bent low. Stealthily they move to open the remaining cages containing their sisters, then they quickly move to the rear of the camp, away from most of the tents.

Justus watches them escape while continuing his patrol. Once they are out of sight, he moves quietly toward his bedroll, removes his gear and takes a swig of wine before lying down.

CUT TO:

24. MT. OYMPUS - ZEUS'S THRONE ROOM

Ares, the Furies idling up beside him, bends over the scrying pool, and waves his hands until images appear. His face turns to a mask of fury. The Furies cower away from him.

Damn those Amazons!

Well, they aren't going to escape that easily.

The Furies hiss their agreement as Ares turns away, seething with rage.

HERMES!

HERMES!

Hermes appears in a flash of silver light. He looks annoyed.

Yeah, what do you want now?

The Furies point and hiss in his direction.

Take a message to the Roman commander. Tell him the Amazons have escaped and are heading east.

You are going to owe me big time after this is over.

Hermes looks at the God of War for a moment, curls his lip and disappears.

CUT TO:

25. MT. OLYMPUS - OUTSIDE THRONE ROOM

Crouched beside the doorway, an intently listening Cupid hears the exchange between Ares and Hermes.

As he turns to leave, a hand clasps his shoulder.

Going somewhere?

Uhmm, yeah, Uncle Ares isn't in too good a mood right now.

Well, suppose we go find out what's wrong?

Well, umm if you think it's a good idea.

I think it's a VERY good idea.

FADE OUT: