ACT TWO

FADE IN:

EXT. THE STREETS OF ROME - DAY

Gabrielle guides Argo II along the road. The streets are crowded, and they are given curious looks from those around them.

GABRIELLE

Romans always give me
the creeps. Why is that?

Xena looks around.

XENA

They're pretentious?
They smell bad? Caesar?

(beat)

They crucified us?

GABRIELLE

Hmm. Yeah. Maybe that was it.

Xena ducks to one side and snatches something, then returns and hands Gabrielle a small bag.

GABRIELLE

(Cont’d)

What's that?

XENA

Your drachmas, lady. Otherwise,
you'll be sleeping in the stables.

Gabrielle examines the leather bag, which jingles.

GABRIELLE

Where did you get this?

Xena gives her 'the look'.  Gabrielle hastily puts the bag away in her robes, and looks around.  Xena points down a pathway.

XENA

That way.

GABRIELLE

You've got some memory,
you know that?

Xena glances at the sign that says "Coliseum" with an arrow pointing the direction they are going.

XENA

Just one of my many skills.

CUT TO:

EXT. ROMAN COLISEUM - DAY

The walls of the stadium rise above them, throwing the road into shadow. Xena and Gabrielle walk up the long ramp to the stone gates, where they are greeted by yet more guards. These guards are dressed in fine armor, however. They regard both Gabrielle on her horse, and Xena walking alongside, with evident disdain.

STADIUM GUARD

Hold. What business have you here?

Gabrielle stops Argo II.

GABRIELLE

I have brought my slave here
to be trained as a gladiator.

The guards walk forward and examine Xena. They laugh.

STADIUM GUARD

A woman? Go on with you, and take her to
the harlot's house for some useful instruction.

Xena's hands tense on the shackles. Her eyes narrow.

GABRIELLE

Hey, wait a minute! I'm not kidding.
Listen, I paid good drachmas for her,
and the guy who sold her said
she was a good fighter. Honest!

The guards laugh.

STADIUM GUARD

Citizen, you got taken. Go on and see if you

can get some of it back at the slave auction.

Gabrielle hears the iron start to creak.

GABRIELLE

Now, c'mon! You guys can't just send us away!
I've come all the way from Lissae just to
bring my new slave here - give her a chance!

The guards roll their eyes.

STADIUM GUARD

Citizen….

GABRIELLE

C'mon, what can it hurt?
Hey, she's nice and strong.
Look at those legs, would you?

The guards look.

XENA

(under her breath)

C'mon a little closer, boys.
I'll give ya an eyeful.

STADIUM GUARD

Well, yeah, but....

GABRIELLE

And look at these shoulders! I'm sure
she'll be great as a gladiator, don't you?

Gabrielle slaps Xena on the back. The guards tire of the scene. They shrug.

STADIUM GUARD

Okay, fine. Give me her tether.
Let's just get this over with.

Gabrielle unclips the Xena's chain from her saddle and hands it over. She lets her hand brush over Xena's head on the way back. She leans over.

GABRIELLE

(whispering)

Good luck.

Xena pats Gabrielle on the calf before she is lead away by the guards.  Gabrielle watches until they disappear through the gates.

GABRIELLE

(Cont’d)

Please be careful.

The gates close behind Xena and the guards. Gabrielle is left alone on the ramp. Slowly she turns Argo II around, and moves off.

CUT TO:

INT. GLADIATOR TRAINING PITS - DAY

A ramp descends into a dark, noisome space full of gladiators in training. It is the basement, essentially, of the stadium and there is little light. The floor is covered in dirty straw, and all around are square stalls where fighter wannabe's are hunkering.

From the top of the ramp, the guards throw Xena into this pit.  She hits the floor and rolls, getting her feet under her and standing up. The guards laugh, and leave, slamming the door behind them.

Xena looks around. She is noticed by the slaves nearest her, and immediately attracts attention.

MALE SLAVE

Ooo… Look what
we've got here, boys!

Xena steps back and realizes she's being surrounded.

XENA

Hold it.

MALE SLAVE #2

We've been asking for action.
Here it is! C'mere, baby!

XENA

You don't wanna do that.

MALE SLAVE #1

Oh, yes we do. You know how long it's
been down here with all these MEN?

The two men lunge for Xena. Xena snaps the iron chains shackling her wrists and whirls the ends, using them as a weapon and wrapping them around the men's necks. She yanks hard, and they spin like tops, cracking their heads together with a very annoying noise. The men both collapse to the floor. Xena faces the rest of the slaves, arrested in mid motion across from her.

XENA

Anyone else?

Xena twirls her chains suggestively. The rest of the slaves slowly back off, tiptoeing away from her. Xena points at them.

XENA

(Cont’d)

*YOU* are all NOT my type.
So back off.

Xena walks forward, stepping over the two unconscious men. She starts searching the stalls one by one.

CUT TO:

INT. ROMAN NOBLE'S CLASSY INN - DAY

A tall, blond woman in white robes leads Gabrielle through a marble and stone hallway into a high ceilinged, light and airy room.

ROMAN INNKEEPER

Will this do, citizen? We have another,
but it's a bit smaller, I fear.

Gabrielle looks around.

GABRIELLE

I'll manage. Thanks.

The woman ducks her head, and leaves. Gabrielle walks around the large chamber, her fingers brushing over the silken wall hangings. Against one wall is a large, soft bed.

GABRIELLE

(Cont’d)

Well. This sure beats the bushes.

Gabrielle stops, as she hears voices nearby. She walks out onto the small balcony and listens.

PATRICIAN

(V.O.)

Darling, I know you've worn that
before, but after all, it's just a party.

PATRICIAN #2

(V.O.)

Yes, darling, but Marielius will be there,
and you know I've been trying to…
Oh, hello there!

Gabrielle has been spotted. She joins the two other women near a fountain in the center of the courtyard.  They, too, are dressed in togas, and wear jewels at their throats and ears.

PATRICIAN

You're new here, aren't you? I am
Seleinia, wife of Gaius Alaranus.

PATRICIAN #2

And I am Carolia, wife of no one.

(beat)

Yet.

GABRIELLE

It's nice to meet you. My name is Tellus...
Tellus Astorias. Do you live in Rome?

SELEINIA

Live here? Eek. No, my dear. We're here
for the games, of course. And you?

GABRIELLE

The games?

CAROLIA

The gladiator contests.  Big men, lots of
sweat, blood flying across the Coliseum

GABRIELLE

Oh! Yeah! What a coincidence! I’m here
for that too. I have a slave I just entered.

Selenia and Carolia exchange significant glances.

SELEINIA

Really? How interesting! Why we're just
on our way to a party to celebrate the
contents. Come with us, Tellus!

CAROLIA

Yes, do! You must. I'm sure the
others would love to... meet you!

The two nobles take hold of Gabrielle's arms and start to guide her off.

GABRIELLE

Um… okay. Sure. I love a good party.

Gabrielle allows them to escort her away.

CUT TO:

INT. GLADIATOR TRAINING PIT - LATER THAT DAY

Two Roman gladiator trainers enter, carrying an armful of short swords each.  The first one takes out a stick and beats a gong next to the door loudly.

Xena covers her ears. She is standing near the back of the chamber, having had no success in finding Beowulf.

ROMAN TRAINER

All right, you scum! Everyone over here,
and take one of these. Try not to cut
your hands off while you're at it!

The warrior wannabe's shuffle forward and take swords from the two men. They obviously don't much know what to do with them. Xena is one of the last to take a sword.

ROMAN TRAINER

(Cont’d)

Hey! What's a woman doing in here!
They didn't tell me they let your kind in!

XENA

Just my luck.

ROMAN GUARD

Want me to take her outta here?

Xena decides to turn on the charm. She saunters over and chucks the trainer under the chin with the hilt of her practice sword.

XENA

Oh, I'm sure a little old girl like me
won't cause you any trouble. I just
like to watch you boys... play.

ROMAN TRAINER

Uh….

XENA

You don't mind, do you? Nice big
strong man like you? Hmm?

ROMAN TRAINER

You can stay. I'll train you myself.

XENA

I knew it was my lucky day.

The gladiators all start to mill around, waving the short swords. Xena ducks gracefully and avoids getting an unfortunate haircut.  She continues to look around, searching the men's faces.  The trainer catches her arm.

ROMAN TRAINER

You ready to learn from
the best, sweetheart?

Xena smiles at him.

XENA

Oh yeah. Teach me, big boy.

The trainer grins broadly and leads her off.

CUT TO:

INT. ROMAN NOBLE'S CLASSY INN PARTY ROOM - LATE AFTERNOON

The room is full of Roman nobles, drinking wine and lying to each other. In modern times, it would be remarkably like a business cocktail party, only with monochrome fashions and no pigs in blankets.

Gabrielle is standing near one of the windows, sipping a glass of wine, and appearing to listen to a large, blustering man in front of her speak.

BLUSTERING ROMAN

I tell you, Tellus, it's all in the wrist!
The wrists! My man's got the best of
‘em! He can break rocks with his wrists!

GABRIELLE

Wow. That's a really useful skill.
What about his ankles?

BLUSTERING ROMAN

Ankles? Ankles? What about ‘em?

GABRIELLE

Well, my slave can break a
man's neck with her ankles.

BLUSTERING ROMAN

You don't say. Really?

The blustering man looks around carefully.

BLUSTERING ROMAN

(Cont’d)

Keep that quiet, citizen.
You and I can profit from it!

GABRIELLE

Profit? What do you mean?

The man looks around again, then motions Gabrielle to follow him.

BLUSTERING ROMAN

Shh. Let's talk.

Gabrielle also looks around, then follows the man through a nearby doorway.

CUT TO:

INT. GLADIATOR TRAINING PITS - EARLY EVENING

The gladiators in training are paired off against each other, and each has a short sword. The trainers are attempting to teach them basic moves.

Xena stands nearby, going through the motions with her opponent without paying much attention to him. She blocks his feeble strikes easily, but does not try to best him. He swings against her, and she steps out of the way, then she lifts the short sword and takes a clumsy swipe at him, which unexpectedly connects, ringing his bell.

XENA

Sorry.

GLADIATOR-IN-TRAINING

No. I’m learning! I’m learning.

Xena is distracted by a yell, barely heard from beyond the wall. She listens intently, then she starts nudging her opponent towards the wall.

GLADIATOR-IN-TRAINING

(Cont’d)

Okay… Okay…
To the right… To the right..…

Xena blocks the man's strike and pushes him back.

Xena leans closer to the wall. She can hear voices, but not clearly enough to hear the words. There is a voice she thinks is familiar.

ROMAN GUARD

You idiot!

Xena turns, to see the guard beating on her opponent. Her push threw the man against the guard, and now he's paying for it.

GLADIATOR-IN-TRAINING

Ow! Wait! It was an accident!

The guard swats him on the back of his head with the sword, then he knocks him down and stands over him, raising his weapon and laughing.

Xena reacts without hesitation or thought. She blocks the soldier’s sword and roundhouse kicks him back. The soldier staggers, then comes at her, furious. He swings his sword at her. Xena neatly deflects it, rolling her sword over her forearm and ducking under the soldier's swing. Xena boots him in the rear.

The guard whirls and yells in outrage, leaping at her.

Xena stands her ground. She waits for the attack, then disarms the soldier easily, whirling and gracefully nailing the guard in the head with her elbow, sending him down and out.

XENA

He said it was an accident.

The guard rolls over and drops his sword.

A loud gong rings out. Everyone freezes. The Roman trainer points slowly at Xena.

ROMAN TRAINER

You.

The slaves move nervously back from Xena. The guards surround her.

ROMAN TRAINER

(Cont’d)

You are not what you seem.
I think we need to find out the
truth of who you really are.

Xena takes a step and puts her back against the wall.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE