Production #V707 - Episode 7

WRITTEN BY
Susanne Beck

DIRECTED BY
Denise Byrd

PRODUCED BY
Carol Stephens

SCREENGRABS
Judi Mair

ARTWORK
Lucia

EPISODE TITLE GRAPHIC
Linda (Calli)

TEASER

FADE IN

ext. rutted path - day

XENA and GABRIELLE are traveling along a lightly forested path.  Xena sits atop ARGO, her expression alert. Gabrielle walks ahead, eyes scanning the thick growth of trees lining either side of the path.

Her gaze sets upon a flash of red high in the canopy overhead, and she smiles, triumphant.

gabrielle

Apple.

Xena rolls her eyes and shakes her head, but doesn’t comment on Gabrielle’s find.

Perturbed, Gabrielle turns and begins to walk confidently backward, a look of frustration on her face.

gabrielle

All right, so it’s not the best game in the world.
I don’t hear you offering up any suggestions.

xena

(deadpan)

Branch.

gabrielle

Branch? 

Her hands gesture wildly.

gabrielle

(Cont’d)

All of this beauty around us, and branch is
the best thing you can come... oof!

Gabrielle stumbles forward, rebounding lightly away from a thick, fruit-laden bough hanging low over the trail. She catches herself just short of falling and fixes Xena with a look hot enough to fry ice.

Xena returns her look with a raised eyebrow and a smirk as she steers Argo deftly around the hanging branch. As she passes Gabrielle she leans forward and her smirk broadens.

xena

Warned ya.

Xena passes blithely on, leaving Gabrielle to clench her fists and jaw, and turn, teeth bared.

gabrielle

(to Xena’s back)

I’ll get you for this, Warrior Princess.
Just see if I don’t.

Xena

(wickedly grinning)

Promises, promises.

Gabrielle’s mock frustration passes away like a summer shower, and she grins, throws up her arms, and trots off after her unrepentant partner.

dissolve to:

ext. same path - day

Xena and Gabrielle continue their travels, with Gabrielle once again in the lead.  Argo stumbles, and Xena utters a fluid curse as she brings the mare back under control.

gabrielle

Well, that works, I suppose, but I don’t
think it’s anatomically possible, Xena.

Xena

It’s all right, girl.  It’s all right.

Gabrielle turns to see Xena jump off of Argo’s back and lift the mare’s front leg, peering at the hoof in disgust.

gabrielle

What’s wrong?

xena

She threw a shoe.

gabrielle

(concernedly)

That’s the second one this month.

xena

I know.  Remind me to thank our ‘friend’
Pellos if we’re ever in the area again.

Gabrielle winces.

xena

(Cont’d)

There’s a town not far from here.
C’mon. I know a shortcut.

dissolve to:

ext. woods - day

An old, abandoned, and crumbling TEMPLE stands off the narrow path Xena and Gabrielle are following.  It is surrounded by a ring of very old trees, most of whom have shed their leaves, even in this, the height of summer.  The bone white of their naked branches resemble human skeletons bleached by the sun.

The temperature seems as if it’s dropped twenty degrees, and Gabrielle shivers as an almost autumnal breeze brushes across her bared flesh.

xena

Not exactly welcoming, is it?

gabrielle

Tell me about it.

(beat)

I wonder whose it used to be?

Xena peers closely at the structure, but most of the identifying markers have crumbled away.

xena

Hard to tell.

Might be something inside, though.

gabrielle

If it’s all the same to you, I think
I can live with not knowing.

Argo snorts in agreement, and Gabrielle grins a ‘thank you’ at her.

Xena hesitates for a moment, then nods, taking a tighter grip on Argo’s reins.

xena

All right. It’ll still be here when
we come back this way.

gabrielle

(sotto voce)

Joy.

xena

Say something?

gabrielle

(false smile)

Oh no. Nothing at all.

Xena narrows her eyes, but refrains from commenting, and the two start down the path again, leaving the abandoned temple behind.

As they retreat, a pair of eyes follow their movements until they are out of sight.

FADE OUT.

END OF TEASER

ACT ONE