ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

INT. HEDELON CITY DOCKYARD PRISON - NIGHT

The wagon rolls to a halt inside the prison courtyard. Eve and Xena jump out as a group of men approach from the other side. They open the back of the wagon and start loading boxes in.

Xena and Eve hide in the shadows.

EVE

I don't recognize

any of them.

Xena watches the men.

XENA

You have any idea

what they're doing?

EVE

(shaking head)

No. What's in the boxes?

You know, don't you?

XENA

Stuff to sell at market.

Eve watches the men.

EVE

Maybe they're just

making a living.

(eying Xena)

I know that's not the

 first thing you'd think of.

Xena's eyes narrow.

XENA

Nope. Gabrielle's the honest

wage earner in *this* family.

Xena gives Eve a pointed look. Eve looks briefly away. Then she looks back.

EVE

Sorry. I know you're trying to

do what you thinks right.

(pausing)

And I'm glad you're

still around.

XENA

(sighing)

You're doing what

you thinks right too....

Three men in robes enter the courtyard. Eve lets out a just audible gasp.

XENA

(cont’d)

Recognize em? Or are

you going to tell me

anyone can grab a robe?

EVE

(softly)

No. I know them.

Eve moves towards the men, taking the lead now. Xena slinks along behind her until they are just in back of where the men stand talking.

ROBED MAN

Hurry up. I want to get this

stuff out of here in case

someone thinks

to come looking.

WAGON LOADER

What's the hurry? You're

not scared of that big

monster woman the

guards saw, are you?

Eve looks at Xena. Xena looks vaguely amused.

ROBED MAN

No. I just don't want any

more mistakes. We're

moving the prisoners

outside the city, too.

Eve now looks pretty upset.

WAGON LOADER

Get better work out of em, I bet.

ROBED MAN

We're jacking up the taxes too. Had a

whole bunch of yokels show up here

this afternoon hearing about....

(affected voice)

The Message.

Eve's hands tense. Xena merely watches her.  The men all laugh.  The robed men turn and walk out, passing within inches of where Eve and Xena are.

Eve and Xena fade back into the shadows.

CUT TO:

INT. HEDELON CITY TEMPLE - INNER CHAMBER - NIGHT

Gabrielle sits surrounded by acolytes. San is there, as is the blond girl. They seem to have reconciled themselves to Gabrielle's presence, and appear relaxed and interested.

GABRIELLE

So, that's the story. I'm glad to see

that Eve is spreading Eli's message

to so many people. It's a good one.

SAN

Gabrielle, how do you know so

much of what happened? You're

not any older than we are.

GABRIELLE

(wryly)

You'll just have to take

my word for it.

GABRIELLE

(cont'd, looking up)

I'll see if the mediation's over.

Be right back.

Gabrielle gets up and leaves. Behind her, the acolytes gather together and whisper.

CUT TO:

EXT. HEDELON CITY MAIN TEMPLE - NIGHT

The robed men who have just left the prison walk towards a back entrance to the temple. Xena and Eve follow them.

ROBED MAN

Let's get a drink while they're

all up studying their navels.

His two companions laugh. They open a hidden door and slip inside.  Xena and Eve pause as the door closes quickly behind the men and they are caught outside.

XENA

You need to see more?

EVE

(quietly)

No.

Xena puts a hand on Eve's shoulder.

EVE

(cont’d)

How can something as

good as his teachings

go so bad, mother?

Xena nods towards the front of the temple.

XENA

I don't know.

XENA

(cont'd, pointing)

Let’s go inside.

Xena and Eve walk towards the entrance. Behind them, the hidden door slides open and two men look out, watching them leave.

CUT TO:

INT. HEDELON CITY TEMPLE - CORRIDOR - NIGHT

Gabrielle walks down the corridor towards Eve's chambers. She hears voices coming, and ducks into a small alcove.  Two men walks slowly towards her.

ROBED MAN

I told you they followed us. We

can't take any more chances.

SECOND ROBED MAN

What can we do? You

know those crowds suck

up every word she says.

ROBED MAN

They'd follow anybody.

(laughing)

We just have to give them

another Enlightened One.

The men turn down a side hallway and disappear. Gabrielle pops out of the alcove and races to the corner, looking around it to see if she can spot the men.

GABRIELLE

Damn it.

The men have disappeared from view.  Gabrielle turns and races for Eve's chambers.

CUT TO:

INT. HEDELON CITY TEMPLE - EVE'S CHAMBERS - NIGHT

Gabrielle enters. The room is still empty. Disturbed, Gabrielle sits down on the edge of the bed to wait.

GABRIELLE

Why can't it ever be simple with us?

(musing)

It used to be just scrungy warlords

every week. Then it was armies.

Then it was gods. Then it was ghosts.

(sighing)

Now we can't even stop for a festival

without getting involved with the fate of

the world.  Boy that gets old sometimes.

Gabrielle leans her elbows on her knees and props her chin on her fists.

The outer door opens, and Xena and Eve enter. They both look grim.  Eve goes to her prayer table and sits down, staring pensively at the floor.

XENA

I see you survived the sermon.

GABRIELLE

Did you see what you

needed to, Eve?

Eve nods.  Xena sits down on the bed next to Gabrielle.

XENA

They know something's up. They

were moving their slave goods out.

GABRIELLE

I know. They're also planning

on a change of prophet.

Eve looks up at her in surprise.

EVE

What?

GABRIELLE

(steadily)

I heard two of your helpers

discussing how to replace you with

someone less dangerous.

EVE

(hotly)

I'm not dangerous!

I realize these men....

(sighing)

I know they've been taking

advantage of people, but....

XENA

(flatly)

Eve, you know better than that.

Eve falls silent.

XENA

(cont’d)

These bastards know a good thing

when they see it. We've got to....

Eve gets up.

EVE

*I* have to decide

what to do about it.

She turns and speaks firmly.

EVE

(cont’d)

And I need time to think. Alone.

Xena gets up. Gabrielle joins her.

XENA

All right.

Eve seems to regret being somewhat rude.

EVE

There's another room beyond

that door. You can get

some rest if you want.

(hesitating)

I just have a lot to consider.

Xena and Gabrielle walk to the door.

XENA

Don't think too long. The longer

they have to plan, the tougher

it'll be to stop them.

Xena opens the door and walks through. Gabrielle gives Eve a worried look, but follows.

Eve sits down on her bed. She stares at her folded hands for a few moments. Then a knock comes at the outer door.

EVE

Yes?

The door opens, and the little blond girl looks in.

EVE

(cont’d)

Hello, Amber.

Encouraged, the girl enters.

AMBER

That new woman said you were

meditating, Enlightened One. I

didn't want to bother you, but I

knew you’d had no supper.

EVE

(quietly)

I’m not hungry, thanks.

(thinking)

But you know what

you could do for me?

AMBER

Anything, you know I will.

EVE

Tell everyone that tomorrow I want

to have the biggest listening ever.

I have a new message to give you.

The girl's eyes light up.

AMBER

Oh! I will! I'll tell everyone!

The girl runs out. Eve hitches herself back and sits against the wall, appearing very thoughtful.

CUT TO:

INT. HEDELON CITY TEMPLE - GUEST CHAMBER - NIGHT

The guest chamber is even more austere than Eve's. There is a pallet roughly large enough to hold a small goat, one chair, and a table.  Xena and Gabrielle have chosen to sit on the floor instead, which has a woven reed mat on it.

Gabrielle has produced a pita sandwich from somewhere, and she is sharing it with Xena, along with the contents of a furry waterskin.

XENA

I think I was too rough on her.

GABRIELLE

(thinking)

Sometimes you see your goal so

clearly, you don't have much

patience with people who don't.

They are both silent, thinking of other times.

XENA

I could have given her the

benefit of the doubt.

(pausing)

But I don't tend

to do that either.

Gabrielle breaks her half of the sandwich in half and gives it to Xena.

GABRIELLE

It’s a lot to absorb, Xena. She's really

done some good things here, and now

she has to face the fact that those good

things have been so twisted.

(sighing)

That's hard. But I think she

just needs some space.

Xena nods.

XENA

You're right. Tomorrow we'll

figure out how to save the

sheep and boot the wolves.

Gabrielle snuggles up against Xena and they put their arms around each other.

CUT TO:

INT. HEDELON CITY TEMPLE - EVE'S CHAMBERS - LATE NIGHT

Eve is standing, her hands clasped, her eyes closed in mediation.

After a moment of silence, she opens her eyes and goes to the inner door, opening it carefully.  She looks through the open doorway.

Inside, Xena is seated against the wall, apparently dozing. Gabrielle is curled up sound asleep in Xena's arms.

Eve stands there just looking at them for a little while. Then she slowly closes the door again, and leans against it.

CUT TO:

INT. HEDELON CITY TEMPLE - MAIN CHAMBERS - MORNING

There is an air of great excitement. Many of the acolytes stand in small clusters, talking together. 

Xena and Gabrielle enter and look around.

XENA

Where is she?

Gabrielle points to the door leading into the worship area of the temple.

GABRIELLE

That's a good bet.

Xena and Gabrielle walk to the large, closed doors. Xena takes hold of the handles and hauls the doors open, striding through them into the main worship hall. The crowd of acolytes stops and stares in shock.

Gabrielle follows Xena, closing the doors after them with a little smile for the crowd.

CUT TO:

INT. HEDELON CITY TEMPLE - WORSHIP HALL - MORNING

Eve is standing near the raised platform at one end of the hall. It has a high ceiling, and is gracefully, if austerely decorated.

Eve turns as Xena and Gabrielle enter. She stands near the platform and waits as they approach.

EVE

Good morning.

I’m glad you found me.

Xena had been about to say something. Now, she pauses and apparently changes her mind.  Gabrielle steps up to the dialog box instead.

GABRIELLE

San just told me you're

calling a big meeting.

Eve nods.

EVE

That's right. I intend on sharing

with  everyone what we... What

I found out yesterday.

XENA

(warily)

That could be dangerous if word

gets out that's what you're doing.

Eve nods again.

EVE

Yes.

(briefly smiling)

I made sure it got out.

A knock at the door sounds very loud inside the room. The door opens, and Amber sticks her head in.

AMBER

Enlightened One, I have

done as you asked. The

messages are posted.

EVE

(smiling)

Thanks, Amber.

Amber leaves. Eve turns and goes back to the platform, walking up onto it and arranging some draping.

XENA

(flatly)

You're making yourself a target.

Gabrielle crosses behind Xena and stands near the back wall, where the crowned sun sigil is carved in wood and mounted on the stone.

EVE

We both know people need to

see the truth. Just hearing it

isn't enough sometimes.

XENA

Are you expecting your faithful

to rise up in outrage?

(wryly)

What if they're in on it?

Eve seems disturbed. She fiddles with the draping again.

EVE

That's my chance to take. I'm putting

my message... the values I've

chosen to teach, on the line.

XENA

These guys have a lot a stake.

They might not care who gets hurt.

(pausing)

Or killed.

EVE

I’m aware of that. But someone

has to stop this, and I started it.

Eve walks off the platform and heads for a side door.

XENA

Eve....

Eve turns.

EVE

You're not going to lecture

me on putting myself in the

line of fire, are you, Mother?

Xena's jaw clicks shut.

EVE

(cont’d)

I’m glad. I know you

understand what I'm doing.

Eve walks through the side door. Xena looks at Gabrielle. Gabrielle merely turns and follows Eve. After a second, Xena also follows.

CUT TO:

EXT. HEDELON CITY TEMPLE STEPS - DAY