ACT I

24. EXT. COLISEUM FLOOR – DAY

Eve, grinning wildly, brings her sword down...missing Hercules’s head by a good distance. The blade breaks as it impacts on the ground, rendering it all but useless.

The crowd slowly goes quiet again as they realize there will be no death. The atmosphere is one of shock and surprise.

Eve removes her foot from Hercules’s chest and backs up a step, watchful as to whether or not the demigod will attack again. When it’s clear he’s too stunned to even get to his feet, she turns away and looks up towards Nero’s box.

CUT TO

25. EXT. NERO’S BOX – DAY

Nero looks down from where he stands, eyes alight with anger at this latest defiance. He frowns a little, the rest of his expression slowly darkening. He then turns away and strides out of the box, his Praetorian Guard following.

CUT TO

26. EXT. SENATOR’S BOX – DAY

Gabrielle continues to watch, still whipcord tense.

CUT TO

27. EXT. COLISEUM FLOOR – DAY

Eve watches Nero’s departure, then looks around at the stunned crowd. With calm deliberation, she hurls the broken sword away to the furthest corner of the Coliseum floor. Looking around at the crowd once more, she spits into the dusty ground, her body language fairly screaming contempt for them all.

Hercules slowly, painfully, begins climbing to his feet. Eve looks over and takes a half-step over to help him. A glare from the demigod, his face half-covered with blood from where the shield hit his head, stops her in her tracks. She watches as he tries to stand, only to collapse once again.

Suddenly, units of Praetorian Guards pour out of various entrances to the Coliseum’s floor, their swords unsheathed and shields up and ready. They move in to encircle Eve and the defeated Hercules. The two combatants pay them no notice, Hercules continuing to glare at Eve.

Nero arrives after a few moments. He walks with all the confidence of a conquering emperor, though as he approaches the combatants, it’s clear he’s furious.

CUT TO

28. INT. SENATOR’S BOX – DAY

Gabrielle watches all this from her place at the box’s ledge. She’s no longer gripping it but stands there, still and calm as a statue, just a hint of a grin to her face.

CUT TO

29. EXT. COLISEUM FLOOR – DAY

Nero stands now a short distance from Eve, looking upon her with distaste. His words are threaded with both disappointment and annoyance.

NERO

(shaking his head)

You continue to disappoint me, Livia.

Eve interrupts him, calmly and firmly, as though speaking to a child.

EVE

My name is Eve.

Nero snickers harshly.

NERO

Ah, yes. Eve, Prophetess of Peace.

Nero pushes past her and nods towards the battered and bloodied Hercules.

NERO

You preach a strange definition of peace...Livia.

Eve lets this pass without comment and continues to regard the emperor coolly. Nero meets her eyes for a moment, then looks away, seemingly disturbed by her calm. He looks around at the assembled crowd as he speaks.

NERO

(quietly)

You and your followers sap the strength from my people with your infernal preaching, your blasphemy against the gods...and now you have the arrogance to defy me here, embarrass me before my people and allies!

He turns to her again, undisguised rage in his eyes.

NERO

Why shouldn’t I simply have you run through, here and now?

Eve remains still, but speaks in the same low tones.

EVE

Do as you will, Caesar Nero. I will not kill for your amusement.

Nero glares at her for another moment, then gives a small, satisfied grin.

NERO

No, perhaps you won’t.

He takes a menacing step towards her.

NERO

But you will die for it!

Nero turns away from her and motions to the Senior Praetorian, who quickly scurries forward.

NERO

(loudly)

Take them both to the dungeons. They shall make excellent food for the lions later!

As the Praetorians move in, Nero catches the Senior by the elbow and leans in close.

NERO

(quietly)

Make sure they go into the same cell.

SENIOR PRAETORIAN

(nodding)

As you order, Caesar.

Nodding to himself with satisfaction, Nero takes his leave of them. Behind him the Praetorians crowd in around Eve and Hercules. The demigod bats away the couple who leans in to help him up. He rises with obvious difficulty and moves along as they direct.

Eve watches this with some concern, allowing herself to be led away without resistance. As she marches away, she glances up towards the Senator’s box, where she sees Gabrielle. Eve merely sighs quietly, seemingly resigned to her fate.

CUT TO

30. INT. SENATOR’S BOX – DAY

Gabrielle watches Eve and Hercules being marched away, her fists clenched and face expressionless.

Once the pair is out of sight, she turns on her heel and marches away, brushing past the Senators in attendance without so much as a glance towards them.

CUT TO

31. INT. DUNGEON – DAY

Xena sits alone in her cell, hunched over and her face in her hands. Her shoulders shake ever so slightly as she sits there silently.

Only when the door opens does she look up, her face a picture of despair for just a moment before hardening into a perfectly neutral mask. She gives no sign of her thoughts or feelings as Eve is pushed inside, followed by Hercules, whose head is bowed low enough that his face is obscured. If anything, her face becomes even blanker as the cell’s door is opened and the pair is all but shoved inside.

Xena remains where she sits, watching silently even as Eve stumbles and nearly falls as she tries to make room for Hercules. Much to everyone’s surprise, the demigod catches her arm and stops her from falling.

The Praetorians shut and re-lock the door, then turn and leave as hastily as possible. Xena and Eve look at each other, Eve slightly taken aback by the sudden hostility she sees there. She shrugs off Hercules’s grip on her and hastily steps back as the demigod collapses at her feet.

Xena sneers in harsh amusement at the sight.

XENA

Playing rough with the boys, have you?

Eve glares at her mother for a moment, unsure what to make of her attitude, and kneels beside the fallen demigod. She manages to roll him completely over so his face is visible to Xena for the first time. She cautiously feels about his neck for a pulse.

Xena looks over at him, mouth hanging open in surprise at the sight.

XENA

(whispering)

Hercules?

Eve looks up from her examination, at once nervous and irritated.

EVE

(annoyed)

Yes, mother. Hercules. He’s injured.

Xena leans in for a closer look, noting the cut on his temple, the amount of blood covering his face, and the bruises here and there.

XENA

(curious)

You do all that?

EVE

(irritated)

Yes, I did.

Xena grins at her for the first time. Eve looks a moment later and sees this, her brow furrowed in confusion.

XENA

(proudly)

Good girl.

She slides off the bench to kneel opposite Eve.

XENA

(briskly)

Let’s see how bad all this really is.

CUT TO

32. INT. NERO’S CHAMBERS – DAY

Gabrielle allows her goblet to be filled by a young male servant then waves him away. She takes a small sip as she watches Nero pace back and forth, muttering to himself. She contemplates the goblet in her hand for a moment or two before speaking.

GABRIELLE

(lightly)

Your contest this afternoon was most...informative, Great Caesar.

Nero ceases his pacing and looks at her, unsure if he’s being mocked or not. Gabrielle gives him a small smile and continues.

GABRIELLE

I confess I’m rather surprised you didn’t simply kill the insurrectionist yourself. I rather expected you to run her through when you marched into the arena with all your guards.

Nero sneers, then gets hold of himself. He even grins a little as he speaks.

NERO

Among your people, is it customary for the royalty to execute traitors and criminals yourself?

GABRIELLE

(nodding)

When necessary. It is not unheard of for the King or Queen to even enter into open combat with such fools, to prove themselves fit to rule.

There is an unspoken challenge to her words, one that hangs between them. Gabrielle takes another sip of her wine while Nero watches her intently.

NERO

I take it that is how you came to be Queen, by besting your predecessor in single combat?

GABRIELLE

Oh, no. My...mother was killed by an assassin’s poison, as were my sisters.

NERO

Then you have never killed in battle.

Gabrielle pins him with a stare.

GABRIELLE

(coolly)

I did not say that, Great Caesar. I have killed in battle...more men than can be easily be counted. Can you say the same?

NERO

You’ve seen my troops...

GABRIELLE

(grinning)

I have seen your soldiers, Caesar Nero. While they are impressive, it is one thing to command others to kill.

Gabrielle sets her goblet down on the table beside her and narrows her eyes, holding Nero’s in intense scrutiny.

GABRIELLE

It is quite another to hold the blade that ends another’s life. To look into their eyes as the light fades. Have you ever had a man blow his last breath into your face, Great Caesar?

Nero says nothing, but neither does he look away. Gabrielle shakes her head with a small sigh.

GABRIELLE

No, I thought not. I fear this does not bode well for any alliance we might make.

Now Nero scrutinizes her intently.

NERO

Oh?

GABRIELLE

(nodding)

My people value courage in battle above all other virtues, you see. I fear they will not prove...accepting of an ally who has never shown such bravery.

Nero laughs aloud at this, as though having heard a bad joke.

NERO

(laughing)

I suppose they would demand I battle you in the Coliseum, to prove my courage?

Gabrielle looks at him, deadly serious.

GABRIELLE

Yes, they would.

This makes Nero laugh even harder.

NERO

(shaking his head)

Forgive me, Queen Gahilda. That is...

His words are cut short as a knife flies past his head, imbedding itself in the marble pillar directly behind him and missing his ear by inches.

He spins around, looking at it in shock before turning back towards Gabrielle. He holds his hand up to halt the pair of Praetorians who are moving towards Gabrielle with swords drawn.

Gabrielle remains calm and impassive.

GABRIELLE

(calmly)

I have killed men, been close enough to feel them go cold as death stole their souls off to the Afterlife. I have no wish to kill you, Great Caesar...not if I can help it, anyway.

She makes a showy little yawn.

GABRIELLE

With your leave, Great Caesar Nero?

Nero nods his assent, his eyes not leaving hers. He gestures towards the nearest pair of Praetorians.

NERO

These men shall accompany you back to your quarters. We shall speak more of this tomorrow.

Gabrielle gives him a small bow of respect and sweeps out of the room, the Praetorians trailing in her wake.

When she has gone, Nero pries the knife out of the pillar, grunting from the effort required. He examines it carefully, a thoughtful expression to his face.

33. INT. GABRIELLE’S CHAMBERS – DAY

Gabrielle enters her palatial quarters alone, breezing in without the least apparent care or concern. She stops just a few steps inside, suddenly on-guard and frowning.

She waits until the guards outside have shut the doors behind her before calling out.

GABRIELLE

(slightly irritated)

You can show yourself now.

Michael shimmers into existence, smirking arrogantly.

MICHAEL

I take it your "plan" isn’t working as you’d hoped?

Gabrielle smirks back, which puts the archangel slightly off balance.

GABRIELLE

Hardly, Michael.

She turns away and grins to herself.

GABRIELLE

Everything is going exactly as planned.

Michael studies her back, now uncertain and not a little worried at such an unfamiliar feeling.

MICHAEL

Remember, Gabrielle. I will be watching.

Gabrielle, her grin now a bit grimmer, meets his gaze over her shoulder.

GABRIELLE

As will I, Michael.

Michael holds her gaze for a moment, even more disturbed now, then vanishes.

Gabrielle turns back and lets out a nervous breath, her bravado gone, a trace of uncertainty taking its place.

END ACT I

ACT II