| ACT II
37.INT. NERO'S THRONE ROOM - DAY
Replay of the previous scene: Nero throws Eve back to the floor. She
looks up again, defiant but not quite as confident, as the emperor raises his sword to
deliver the killing blow.
CUT TO:
38.INT. NERO'S THRONE ROOM - DAY
Close up of Eve's eyes. We see defiance, but with fear.
CUT TO:
39.INT. NERO'S THRONE ROOM - DAY
Close up of Nero's eyes. We see burning, almost inhuman hatred.
CUT TO:
40.INT. NERO'S THRONE ROOM - DAY
Nero's shoulders tense, preparing to strike when a senior
legionnaire races in. The soldier is clearly agitated, but is brought up short by the
scene he finds. He quickly comes to attention and salutes the emperor.
Nero is less than pleased with the intrusion. He looks up from Eve
very reluctantly and glares at the soldier.
NERO
(snarling)
What?!
SENIOR LEGIONNAIRE
Caesar! There is...there are...people approaching the city.
Nero's arm drops, and he stares in disbelief at the soldier.
NERO
(disbelieving)
And you interrupt me for this?!?
SENIOR LEGIONNAIRE
(agitated)
They are...their leader...demands to speak with you.
Nero can only blink, not certain if he should believe his ears.
NERO
Their leader "demands" to see me?
Shaking his head, he pushes past the soldier, still holding the
sword and looking dangerously on edge.
NERO
(over his shoulder)
Bring her!
The senior legionnaire snaps his fingers and a pair of guards
appears from the next chamber, their tunics darker and armor more polished. The senior
legionnaire gestures towards Eve, who is unceremoniously hoisted to her feet and all but,
shoved after the emperor.
CUT TO:
41.EXT. IMPERIAL PALACE - DAY
At a window overlooking the concourse before the palace, Nero, the
senior legionnaire, and Eve crowd about to look down to see what all the commotion is.
CUT TO:
42.EXT. IMPERIAL PALACE - DAY
A group of riders on horseback enters the concourse, all of them
wearing furs and pointed helmets marking them as barbarians from the far north, their fair
hair falling out from beneath the helmets and their beards
wild and untamed. They carry fierce battle-axes and dismount their horses with a warlike
gleam in their eyes. This obviously doesn't sit well with the legionnaires there, who
watch them all and look ready to draw their own weapons.
One figure among them commands attention. He is a tall, rough-hewn
warrior we recognize: Beowulf. He commands the Norsemen with confidence and keeps them
from running wild.
Beowulf looks upward and apparently spies Nero and company in the
window, eyes narrowing slightly.
CUT TO:
43.INT. IMPERIAL PALACE - DAY
Nero steps away from the window and turns to the senior legionnaire.
NERO
He is the leader you spoke of?
SENIOR LEGIONNAIRE
Yes.
Nero nods after a moment, looking unusually thoughtful.
NERO
Tell him I shall speak with him shortly. He and his men are to
remain in the compound. And summon my personal champion.
The senior legionnaire salutes and hurries off. Nero turns to Eve,
who remains silent but looks confrontational.
NERO
Friends of yours, Livia?
EVE
No.
NERO
(smirking)
No matter.
He turns to the guards hovering nearby. He pokes Eve in the chest
with the sword point as he speaks.
NERO
Take her to the dungeons. If she resists, cripple her.
The emperor marches off down the corridor, while Eve is pulled none
too gently in the opposite direction.
CUT TO:
44.EXT. IMPERIAL PALACE - DAY
We follow Nero as he strides out of the palace's main entrance and
down the long flight of steps that lead to the concourse. The massive gladiator seen in
the teaser follows closely behind, his dark armor gleaming in the daylight. Several of the
palace guards are also in attendance, though they stand a
good distance back.
Nero stops just short of the last step and looks Beowulf over. The
Norse warrior returns the favor. Neither seems impressed with the other, but fortunately
are still willing to be courteous.
NERO
I am Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, Emperor of Rome and
all her peoples.
Nero holds out his hand for Beowulf to kiss
his ring. The Norseman gives a simple bow instead.
BEOWULF
Beowulf. Son of Ecgtheow, nephew of Hygelac, and leader of these
men.
Nero, realizing Beowulf won't submit to him, lets his arm drop and
gives a small wave to his champion, who is only a few paces away.
NERO
Well, son of Ecgtheow, can you give me one reason to allow you to
keep your head for another breath?
The giant champion draws his sword at Nero's signal, as does every
legionnaire nearby. Beowulf and his men hardly seem concerned; their own weapons have
always been out and ready.
Beowulf himself keeps his eyes firmly fixed upon Nero.
BEOWULF
I did not come to your great city to begin a war with you.
NERO
(curious)
No? Yet you demand to meet with me?
Beowulf shakes his head.
BEOWULF
It is not I who wishes to meet with you.
Nero is clearly surprised by this and turns to the senior
legionnaire.
NERO
(casually)
You lied to me, soldier.
SENIOR LEGIONNAIRE
(confused)
Caesar, I...
Nero nods to the nearest of the palace guard.
NERO
Kill him.
The guard, who had been standing directly behind the legionnaire,
quickly draws his sword and runs it through the soldier's back, killing him instantly.
This causes not a stir from either the Romans or the Norsemen.
Beowulf boldly pins Nero with a stare.
BEOWULF
Actually, your man wasn't lying. I did say our leader wished to meet
with you.
NERO
(slightly confused)
Did you not claim to be the leader of these men?
BEOWULF
I did.
NERO
Then, who...
Nero is stopped by a new commotion approaching the concourse. We
follow his view to see the arrival of an impressive-looking chariot, one large enough to
require six horses to pull it.
The chariot itself is driven by a woman wearing a golden helmet with
a facemask built into it (not unlike Xena's in "The God You Know") and dressed
in golden armor reminiscent of the Valkyries of Asgard. She carries two swords on her back
under a cape of white silk. We can't immediately see if there are other occupants.
The chariot's approach is almost as wild as the horses that pull it,
causing several of the legionnaires and even the barbarians to scamper out of its way.
Only Nero, his champion, and Beowulf seem unaffected.
Beowulf turns back to Nero with a grim-looking smirk.
BEOWULF
As I said, our leader wishes to meet with you.
NERO
Yes, I see.
They watch as the woman in golden armor steps down from chariot. She
looks around for a moment, as though sizing the place up. Her stance suggests she actually
finds it lacking. She nevertheless turns back to the chariot and extends a hand.
Out of the vehicle steps Gabrielle, adorned in the dress of a Norse
Queen. Her bearing is regal as she too looks about the palace grounds, wrinkling her nose
as though smelling something unsavory.
Gabrielle nods dismissively to the helmeted warrior holding the
reins and marches forward to stand beside Beowulf. The driver follows a short distance
behind her and takes up position opposite Nero's champion. Beowulf meanwhile falls to one
knee, as do the rest of the Norsemen. He reverently kisses the hand she casually holds
out. Without looking at him, she gives a curt nod and meets
and holds Nero's gaze.
Beowulf rises and turns to Nero.
BEOWULF
Emperor of Rome, I present our Queen and Liege Lady: Gahilda, Maiden
of the Ring of Fire and Bard of Epics.
Nero appears less than impressed by this recitation. He actually
seems to look down his nose at her, literally, as he speaks.
NERO
An impressive recitation, though hardly explanation as to why I
should continue to tolerate the existence of you and your men, Queen Gahilda.
GABRIELLE
(regally)
Your reputation suggests you are not one who would quickly cast
aside a potential ally, Caesar Nero. Surely you would at least offer a weary traveler some
small refreshment before sending her and her men to the lions?
Despite himself, Nero is intrigued.
NERO
You presume much, Queen Gahilda.
GABRIELLE
(grinning suggestively)
I have much to offer.
NERO
We shall see.
Nero turns to the head of the palace guard. He speaks loudly enough
so all can hear.
NERO
Quarter her men in the residential wing. Kill any that prove
difficult.
(beat - To Gabrielle)
You understand certain precautions must be taken.
GABRIELLE
(demurely)
Of course.
NERO
(smiling)
Of course. They must surrender their weapons.
Gabrielle gives him a thin smile and snaps her fingers. Beowulf and
his men all calmly hand their swords, axes, and daggers over to the Romans.
Several of the warriors pull extra daggers from hidden sheaths; a
few of the legionnaires find themselves somewhat overburdened by the sheer number of
weapons that are handed over.
Beowulf glares at one particularly large warrior near the edge of
their group. The two stare at one another for a moment, Beowulf glancing meaningfully at
the warrior's side. The man sighs and reaches into his cloak, producing a full-size mace
from there, which he hands over with clear reluctance. Gabrielle watches this with
carefully hidden amusement.
The disarming process is eventually completed and Beowulf looks back
to Gabrielle.
BEOWULF
'Tis done, milady.
Gabrielle nods regally and turns back to Nero. Nero however waves
towards the woman in golden armor and helmet, an expectant expression on his face.
GABRIELLE
She is my personal champion, and cannot surrender
her weapons.
NERO
Then I fear she must die.
Gabrielle shakes her head, though apparently not out of concern for
her 'champion'.
GABRIELLE
You misunderstand, Caesar. Her weapons are bonded to her very person
by powerful runes. She literally cannot surrender them to another even if I ordered her
to.
To underscore this, the woman holds up her arms and displays a
complex set of Norse Runes that have been drawn there.
GABRIELLE
(continuing)
You need not fear, however. Only if my life is endangered is she
allowed to draw her swords.
NERO
(smiling sinisterly)
This is Rome. No one is safe here.
GABRIELLE
(challenging)
Even in the court of the Poet-Emperor himself?
Nero is momentarily taken aback.
NERO
(flattered)
You've heard of my work?
GABRIELLE
Why do you think I have brought my people all the way here to meet
with you, Caesar?
They gaze levelly at one another, trying to size the other up. Nero
then gestures expansively towards the palace.
NERO
Please, be my guests for a few days.
Gabrielle gives a polite bow and allows Nero to take her arm as he
leads her up the stairs and into the palace. Their respective champions follow a short
ways back, Gabrielle's warrior actually allowing Nero's to take the lead.
CUT TO:
45.INT. IMPERIAL PALACE - DAY
We watch as Nero continues to escort Gabrielle through the palace
corridors, his champion and several legionnaires trailing them, with Gabrielle's own
champion bringing up the rear. Nero points out items of interest as they move.
NERO
(pointing to something off-screen)
I had this wing expanded recently, to accommodate the increasing
size of my family.
GABRIELLE
(nodding patiently)
A beautiful addition.
This doesn't last long, however. Nero's champion senses something
suddenly amiss and stops in mid-stride. The rest of the guard marches on around him. He
turns and finds Gabrielle's warrior has somehow managed to disappear.
The giant looks about for a moment, then shrugs and moves on. We
remain stationary, however, and a few moments later the warrior woman literally drops back
into sight from her perch above. She stalks off in the opposite direction and quickly is
gone from sight.
CUT TO:
46.INT. STAIRWAY - DAY
The warrior woman eases open a massive wooden door opening to a
stone stairway leading downwards. She quickly slips in and heads soundlessly down the
stairs.
CUT TO:
47.INT. DUNGEON - DAY
The warrior woman slips through another door, this one leading
directly to a row of iron cages. Only one is occupied: by a quiet contemplative Eve
sitting in a lotus position. She looks up at the woman's approach, not especially
surprised or concerned.
EVE
Hello, mother.
This brings the warrior up short. She pulls off her helmet,
revealing herself as Xena. Xena quickly begins to examine the bars between them. Eve
continues sitting where she is.
XENA
I've got to get you out of here.
EVE
(shaking her head)
No.
Xena looks at her stubborn daughter, not for the first time
exasperated with her.
XENA
We'll discuss it once I've gotten...
The door at the opposite end of the corridor suddenly opens; two
legionnaires and a serving girl enter. The girl sees Xena first and drops the food tray
she had with her in surprise.
SERVING GIRL
Ahh!
FIRST LEGIONNAIRE
You there, halt!
Xena barely manages to get her helmet back on before the two
legionnaires charge forward. She moves to draw her swords, but seems to think better of it
and meets the two with her fists instead.
She belts the first legionnaire across the face, sending him
sprawling.
XENA
(shouting)
Iye-yah!
The second legionnaire also falls quickly to a solid kick to the
stomach, followed by a roundhouse kick to the chin that sends him spinning into the wall.
Xena rushes past the serving girl and back out into the corridor.
CUT TO:
48.INT. UNDERGROUND CORRIDOR - DAY
Unfortunately, she finds Nero's champion and another half-dozen
legionnaires waiting for her there. The legionnaires all have their swords drawn, though
Xena doesn't seem concerned by this.
It's only when the champion himself draws his sword that she tenses
for battle.
The legionnaires charge as one.
LEGIONNAIRES
(in chorus)
Argh!
CUT TO BLACK:
END OF ACT II
ACT
III
|
