ACT II

34. INT. DUNGEON CELL – NIGHT

Eve and Xena are attending to the still-unconscious Hercules. Eve has used the white fabric of her outfit as makeshift bandages, wrapping one around his head to staunch the bleeding. Xena checks his wrist’s pulse and gently places his hand over back on his chest.

The demigod lays there, face drawn and tense. We can clearly see the scars marring his handsome face: one along his left jaw line, the other tracing along his hairline from his forehead to his right temple. Xena traces this second one with her fingertips, an intense, thoughtful expression to her.

Eve sees this as she finishes wrapping his head and looks up at her mother.

EVE

What do you think happened to him?

Xena scowls for a moment, pressing her lips together tightly so they won’t tremble.

XENA

I’d rather not think about it.

Eve contemplates the unconscious demigod.

EVE

I read all the stories about him when I was growing up in the provinces, about the Seven Labors, his battles with the gods, how he was supposed to have killed Zeus...

XENA

He did kill Zeus.

Xena looks up holds Eve’s eyes.

XENA

He did it to protect you.

EVE

(surprised)

Me?

XENA

(nodding)

You’d just been born, the "Bringer of the Twilight". Zeus had sent an army of assassins to kill you, then had to try doing the job himself.

EVE

And Hercules stopped him?

XENA

Hercules killed him, just before Zeus was about to incinerate us both.

Eve sighs quietly and looks back down upon Hercules.

EVE

What happened to him afterwards?

Xena shakes her head and sits back. She looks rather tired and drawn now.

XENA

We never knew. Between Athena attacking Amphipolis and our running off to the Northern Amazons for sanctuary, we never found out to where he disappeared.

EVE

Being frozen in a cave for twenty-five seasons didn’t help, did it?

Xena’s head drops to her chest as Eve realizes what she just said. She leans over Hercules and places both hands on her mother’s shoulders.

EVE

(intently)

Mother, I told you already: I don’t blame you. I know it was Ares who put you both in the ice, that neither of you wanted to leave me.

XENA

(voice low and hoarse)

Look what happened because of that.

EVE

(more intently)

Yes, look at what happened. Yes, I was "Livia" for years, and yes I committed crimes that will never be forgiven.

Eve lifts Xena’s chin so their eyes meet.

EVE

But, mother, could I have become what I am now if I hadn’t been "Livia"? Could I preach Eli’s word if I didn’t know what it was to be without it?

Xena opens her mouth to say something, only to have Eve shush her with a hand over her lips.

EVE

I told you, I have no plans to die here, like this.

Xena brushes Eve’s hand away and smiles grimly.

XENA

Oh, don’t worry about that. I wouldn’t let you anyway.

Hercules unexpectedly groans.

HERCULES

(low and weak)

Glad to hear it.

Eve and Xena look at him in surprise. He gives them a weak grin without opening his eyes.

HERCULES

Could you keep it down, please? I’ve got a headache.

Mother and daughter look down at him for, both open-mouthed with shock, then have to both cover their mouths to keep their laughter as muted as possible.

CUT TO

35. INT. BARRACKS – NIGHT

The Norsemen are sitting about various tables in a common barracks, laughing and drinking. A few are playing dice, which involves good-natured shoving and shouting between the players.

Beowulf stands away from it all, his broad arms crossed, watching his men with affectionate amusement. A shouting match between two of the men causes him to frown slightly, but he makes no move to intervene. On the whole, however, the men are restrained and respectful of each other.

The door to the barracks opens and Gabrielle walks in, flanked by four Praetorians. The room goes quiet as the Norsemen all quickly stand and drop to one knee. Beowulf does likewise and kisses her hand.

Gabrielle plays the part of royalty to the hilt, nodding regally to the Norsemen and dismissing the Praetorians with a casual wave. Unsure what else to do, the quartet actually turn and march outside.

Only when the door closes behind them do Gabrielle and the rest relax. Gabrielle and Beowulf exchange smiles as the Norsemen get back to their feet. One moans painfully.

BALDIR

(groaning)

Argh! The things we do for...

BEOWULF

(warning)

Baldir!

This causes some chuckling among the other Norsemen, none of who dare so much as look in Gabrielle’s direction. Gabrielle merely shakes her head and motions Beowulf over so they might speak privately. Beowulf nods and moves over to the corner with her.

Gabrielle looks over at the Norsemen, clearly ill at ease. Beowulf frowns but waits for her to begin.

GABRIELLE

Things aren’t going...quite as we’d hoped, Beowulf.

BEOWULF

(nodding)

I gathered from the number of guards following you in here. What happened?

GABRIELLE

(sighing)

Xena was captured trying to break Eve out of the dungeons. Now they’re both in there.

BEOWULF

They’re alive?

GABRIELLE

For the moment.

BEOWULF

My men can be ready to attack...

Gabrielle vehemently shakes her head.

GABRIELLE

Absolutely not! There’s too many guards, too many troops in the city, and Nero is just waiting for an excuse to crucify us all.

BEOWULF

(sighing)

Then what can we do? I heard what happened in the Coliseum today.

GABRIELLE

(surprised)

You did?

Beowulf gestures towards the closed door.

BEOWULF

These Romans love to boast. Is it true it was that girl-prophet of yours that beat a living giant with her bare hands?

Despite herself, Gabrielle chuckles.

GABRIELLE

Yes, she did.

BEOWULF

(nodding)

Then she’s definitely her mother’s daughter.

GABRIELLE

Well, I’m not Xena...

Beowulf leans in close and stares hard.

BEOWULF

(quietly)

I didn’t mean her in particular.

Gabrielle looks at him and bites her lip, momentarily surprised by his perceptiveness. She quickly shakes her head.

GABRIELLE

We have to make plans...

BEOWULF

I still say we can attack them...

Gabrielle silences him with a look.

GABRIELLE

No! I forbid it! I will not have you and your men throwing your lives away like that! Understand?

Beowulf opens his mouth to argue, but quickly thinks better of it and nods. Gabrielle sighs and starts to think. Beowulf remains close by, but watches the men over her shoulder. A few are whispering among themselves, pointing towards them, trying to cover themselves when they see him watching them.

Unseen by Beowulf, a slow smile begins to creep over Gabrielle’s lips. Evidently a plan has come to her.

CUT TO

36. INT. DUNGEON CELL – NIGHT

Hercules is still lying on the floor of the cell, a low, rumbling snore coming from him. Eve is on the low bench towards the back, covered with a blanket and quiet as a mouse.

Xena herself is wide-awake and standing at the cell’s door. She examines the lock, then pulls on the bars of the cell itself. Both refuse to budge even a hair. Her expression says this is what she expected.

XENA

(admiring)

Hmm. Nice construction.

She suddenly freezes and wrinkles her nose as though catching a whiff of something rotten. Her eyes rove all around and she grips the bars of the cell tight. Then she relaxes and slowly turns around.

XENA

(annoyed)

May I ask what you’re doing here?

We see Michael is now standing behind her, his hands clasped behind his back and a smug smile gracing his face.

MICHAEL

Hello, Xena.

Xena narrows her eyes at him as she turns to fully face him.

XENA

You’re very lucky I don’t have my sword, Michael.

MICHAEL

Surely you wouldn’t attempt to kill me again, Xena. Not after what happened last time.

Xena grins back and shakes her head. She advances a step towards the archangel. Her grin hints at all manner of danger.

XENA

(grinning)

Oh, no. This time I wouldn’t wait 30 seconds. I’d just reach down your throat and pull your heart out!

Michael sniffs dismissively at the implied threat.

MICHAEL

Angels do not have hearts, Xena.

XENA

(teeth clenched)

Obviously.

Xena shakes her head again.

XENA

What happened to you, Michael? We used to be allies. Friends.

Michael face goes strangely blank. When he speaks, it’s with a flat, almost inhuman tone.

MICHAEL

Do you truly believe I have any choice in this? I have one purpose to my existence, Xena, and only one purpose: to serve The Almighty. What My Lord God commands, I must do.

Xena stares at him.

XENA

Does that include trying to throw me into Hell? Or trying to kill Eve?

MICHAEL

Yes.

They stare at one another.

XENA

And the Four Horsemen? You were commanded to release them?

MICHAEL

Yes, though that was more of a test of this one’s mettle.

He nudges the unconscious Hercules with the toe of his boot. Hercules doesn’t make a sound from this.

MICHAEL

I have done things you could not begin to imagine, Xena. Even the Destroyer of Nations is the holiest penitent compared to me.

Xena snickers, disbelieving. Michael just continues to stare, his empty eyes hinting at terrible things. Xena, however, is unimpressed.

XENA

So you’re just a tool, eh? Well, I don’t care what your orders are, Michael, or what power gives them to you. If any harm comes to Eve, or Gabrielle, or any of us...nothing, nothing in all of creation will save you from me.

Michael simple fades like smoke into the darkness. A second later, the door is thrown open and in strides Nero, followed by Gabrielle, Beowulf, and several Praetorians.

Xena remains where she is. The commotion rouses Eve from her sleep and she gets to her feet. Hercules remains prone on the floor, seemingly unconscious. Eve gives him a worried glance as she carefully steps over him to stand beside Xena.

The Praetorians quickly move in and keep their javelins ready, though a few have their hands on their swords as well. Neither Xena nor Eve looks at them, both keeping their eyes on Nero.

Nero himself is careful to keep a safe distance from them. He looks down at his former champion lying on the stone floor and clicks his tongue.

NERO

So hard to find decent warriors these days. To think, the greatest gladiator in Rome’s history, the champion of over a hundred battles...beaten by a weak-willed parasite of a prophet!

EVE

(curious)

I thought I was a traitor?

She turns to Xena.

EVE

Isn’t that what he called me last time? A traitor to Rome?

The corner of Xena’s mouth twitches slightly at both characterizations. Eve puts a discreet hand on her arm, restraining her. Nero misses all this and turns to Gabrielle, who is careful to keep her own expression neutral.

NERO

I believe we have similar problems, Queen Gahilda. Wouldn’t you agree?

GABRIELLE

Indeed, Great Caesar. Perhaps another contest is in order.

Nero looks at her, at once amused and surprised.

NERO

(smiling)

My thoughts exactly.

Gabrielle returns the smile, though hers is one of almost smug triumph. Nero misses this as well and turns back to the cell, staring straight at Eve.

NERO

We shall see if you, Queen Gahilda, prove a worthy ally...by ridding me of this parasite.

Gabrielle and Eve’s eyes go wide in unison. Xena by contrast simply stares holes into Nero. Nobody is able to say a word.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT II

ACT III