Xena (Lucy Lawless) and Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) are travelling to Archon, but Gabrielle is upset over losing the scroll that details her latest journeys with Xena. Xena tells her to go back to Piraeus to find the scroll and they can meet in Archon later. When Gabrielle returns to Pireaus, she encounters Joxer (Ted Raimi) and is approached by Zehra (Jennifer Ward-Lealand) and Milo (Mark Hadlow), who have the missing scroll. Zehra, who thinks Gabrielle's message of peace is inspirational, introduces herself as a producer and convinces Gabrielle to base a play on her writings. Thrilled with the idea, Gabrielle sends word to Xena about her new business venture and she and Joxer head to the theater to begin casting.
Meanwhile, Zehra and Milo individually approach the warlords Kaelus (William Davis), Cleon (Mark Nua) and Therax (Stephen Hall) and convince each of them to invest large sums of money in Gabrielle's play. Knowing that the play will be a failure on its first night, Zehra plans on taking the money and leaving town. Gabrielle would be blamed for the loss and would have to fend off the angry warlords. Back at the theater, the cast grows restless. They are bored with the material and everyone, including Joxer, tries to get Gabrielle to add more blood, guts and glory to her vision. Gabrielle does not want to compromise her artistic integrity, but becomes so overwhelmed with the cast's pleas she goes to seek advice from the great Sophocles (Eduardo de Campos), who has a play opening the same night. Gabrielle is stunned when she enters the theater and sees the stage full of sex and violence. She convinces herself that if the great Sophocles can produce such material, so can she. Gabrielle rushes back to the theater with a new vision in mind.
Later, as Gabrielle and the cast change the play, two of the warlords sneak into the theater. Engrossed by the violence, they like what they see. Zehra also sneaks into the theater, sees the warlords in hiding, and is shocked at the new violent version of the play. Realizing that the new version of the play will be a hit, Zehra convinces Gabrielle to go back to her original vision of peace. Later that night, Gabrielle's play opens to a sell-out crowd and people start to leave almost immediately. Enraged with the thought of losing their money, the warlords rush the stage. Suddenly, Xena emerges from backstage and fights the warlords. While Xena and Gabrielle battle the warlords, Zehra and Milo attend to exit the theater. Gabrielle yells for the audience to become involved with "the play" and they stop the two scam artists. Xena retrieves the warlords' money and convinces them to donate the funds to the local orphanage. Meanwhile, an unreformed Zehra attempts to con some of the actors into letting her represent them.
Guest Starring: Ted Raimi (Joxer), Alison Wall (Minya), Jennifer Ward Lealand (Zehra), Mark Hadlow (Milo), Peter Muller (Dustinus Hoofmanus), Polly Baigent (Paulina), William Davis (Kaelus), Mark Nua (Cleon), Stephen Hall (Therax), John McKee (Rivus), Tammy Barker (Gabrielle Look-alike), Eduardo de Campos (Sophocles), George Port (Critic #1), Denys Hoskins (Critic #2), Rietta Austin (Woman #1), Mary Henderson (Woman #2), Dee Wernham (Woman #3)
Starring: Lucy Lawless as Xena, Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle
Written by Ashley Gable & Thomas A. Swyden
Directed by Christopher Graves