ACT ONE

FADE IN:

EXT. CAMPSITE - LATE MORNING

Gabrielle is tying her bed roll to the back of the saddle.  Xena is patiently waiting as she sits upon Argo II, one leg wrapped nonchalantly around the saddle horn. 

GABRIELLE

Tara’s son is nothing like

I would expect him to be.

XENA

Probably takes after his father.

GABRIELLE

I wonder what kind of

trouble Tara is in now?

XENA

No telling.  Tara being Tara,

it could be anything.

GABRIELLE

Even after all these years? 

You’d think she’d have

settled down by now.

Xena gives Gabrielle a wry grin.

XENA

Oh, you mean like how

we’ve settled down?

Putting her hands on her hips, Gabrielle sticks her tongue out at Xena.  A mischievous glint appears in Xena’s eyes.

XENA

(cont’d)

You shouldn’t stick that out

unless you intend to use it.

GABRIELLE

Xena!

Xena laughs heartily as a blushing Gabrielle mounts her sporadically appearing horse.  The horses snicker and shake their heads, causing Xena to laugh even harder.  Soon, the contagious laughter pulls in Gabrielle and both riders and horses appear to be bouncing through the brush as they head back to the main road.

FADE TO:

EXT. MAIN ROAD RUNNING THROUGH THE WOODS - MID DAY

Dappled sunshine is filtering through the trees as Xena and Gabrielle walk beside their horses.  There is no one else in sight on the road.

GABRIELLE

What a great day.  I’m in a

really good mood, Xena.

XENA

Well, you should be.  I let you

sleep longer than usual.

GABRIELLE

Yeah, thanks.  I think

I needed that.

XENA

Besides, it’s a short trip to Tara’s town.

But I’m warning you, Gabrielle, I’m

not doing any marital counseling.

You can do the sensitive chat routine

and settle the trouble in paradise.

GABRIELLE

I wonder why she wants us to

settle their marital troubles.

Xena shrugs as they walk along the road, kicking a stray rock or two out of the way.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

It sure has been a long time

since we saw Tara last. I

wonder if she’s still dancing.

Gabrielle smiles at the memory.  She turns toward Xena and laughs.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

Remember those boots I had to

wear until mine were repaired?

XENA

Remember?  I can still hear them

clanking on every hard surface you

stepped on.  What a racket you made.

They walk down the road in silence for a bit, enjoying the warm breeze that had picked up.

GABRIELLE

Have you ever been to

this town before?

XENA

Once.  It’s a nice quiet

town by the sea.

GABRIELLE

Does it have a sandy beach?

XENA

Um hm.

GABRIELLE

So, what are we waiting for?

Gabrielle mounts her horse and spurs him into a trot then a full out run.  Xena shakes her head and whispers in Argo II’s ear, then pulls herself up into the saddle.

XENA

Whaddya think, girl?

Want to have some fun?

Argo II whinnies and takes off, easily catching up.  Xena and Argo race along side for a few paces, then Xena lets out a yell, verbally spurring Argo II on as they surpass Gabrielle.  The race continues through the woods, across a meadow, over a ridge and down to a beach.  They race in the surf, kicking up sand and water as the horses run.  Seeing the town in the distance, Xena slows Argo II to a trot then a walk, followed by Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE

That was fun!

XENA

Yeah, Argo likes to run.

Gabrielle looks down the beach toward the town of Paendis.

GABRIELLE

So, want to swim now or later?

XENA

Later.  Let’s find Tara

and get this over with.

CUT TO:

EXT. PAENDIS MARKETPLACE - MID AFTERNOON

Xena and Gabrielle follow the directions in the scroll to an Inn with an attached stable.  Xena nods appreciatively at the neatness of the stable and the stacks of hay, feed sacks, and clear, clean water in the trough for the horses.

Ersep steps out of the stable and stops abruptly as he sees Xena and Gabrielle dismount.  He walks over tentatively.

ERSEP

I’ll take care of your horses.  Mother is in

the inn, first room past the kitchen.  She’s

been waiting for you.  I’ll bring in your things

when I’ve finished with the horses.

Xena watches as the horses quickly take to the gentle care of Ersep as he coos and talks softly to them.  He picks up a brush and leads them to the watering trough where he takes off the saddles and gear and begins brushing them down.  Xena notices the nicely laid rock floor by the hay stacks.

XENA

Nice idea.  Keeps the muddiness

down and the hay dry.

Gabrielle takes Xena’s hand and leads her toward the inn.

GABRIELLE

C’mon, it looks like

they’re in good hands.

XENA

(nodding)

Ersep just went up a

few notches in my book.

CUT TO:

INT. INN - MID AFTERNOON

They enter the inn and find an older, grayer Tara in the room indicated.  It’s a large bedroom and Tara is lying in the bed, both legs bound with stiff reeds and cloth to keep them from bending.

GABRIELLE

Tara!  What happened to you?

TARA

I took a fall off the barn roof.  You’d think

I could have fallen on the hay stack, or at

least the manure pile, but no…I had to

fall on the new rock floor Ersep put in

for the hay stacks!  Broke both legs.

GABRIELLE

Ouch, bet that really hurt.

Tara nods her head and looks up at Xena.

TARA

Thanks for coming.  As you can see,

I’m not able to get around too well or

I’d go over to Paradise myself.

GABRIELLE

Paradise is a place?

TARA

Yes.  It’s where my daughter lives.

It’s just a day’s ride from here.

GABRIELLE

You have a daughter too?

Tara nods her head solemnly.

TARA

Yes.  Her name is Tessa and she’s

just like me.  Pig headed, opinionated,

and totally her own person... and...

I believe she’s in trouble.

Xena tries to stifle a laugh.

XENA

Like mother, like daughter, eh?

GABRIELLE

Xena, be nice.

TARA

No, Gabrielle, Xena’s right.  She is

just like me, only worse!  It’s my

fault that she’s left. I just forgot

how I was at her age.  Maybe

if I had had more patience....

GABRIELLE

So, why do you think

she’s in trouble?

TARA

We argued before she left.

GABRIELLE

Why were you arguing?

TARA

She told me she got married.

GABRIELLE

And that made you angry?

TARA

Furious!  Tessa knew how I felt about

Vicus, but she didn’t want to listen.  No,

she was already in his wagon and leaving.

Tara turns her head toward the window, a single tear slides down her cheek.  She quickly wipes it away and returns her focus to Gabrielle and Xena.

TARA

(cont’d)

I was so angry.  I wanted to stop her

from making a mistake.  Gods know,

I’ve made my share of them!

XENA

It was too late to stop her, Tara.

TARA

I know, I know.  I was just so furious

that she got married behind my back.

I lost my husband last winter and I was

hoping she’d stay here and eventually

take over the inn.  She’s really not ready

for marriage.  She’s just a child!

GABRIELLE

A child?  How old is she?

TARA

Eighteen... but she’s not...

well, she’s just too....

XENA

Independent?

TARA

No, I think I’d say wild.  She’s been

a real handful.  Not like Ersep.

He’s like a rock for me.  He

takes after his father.  Tessa is....

GABRIELLE

More like you used to be?

TARA

Exactly!  She can barely cook and

she hates to clean, but Vicus just

turned her head with his words.

GABRIELLE

So, what makes you think she’s in

trouble?  You finally settled down.

Xena coughs and Gabrielle gives her a tap across the stomach with her hand.

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

Is this Vicus a bad sort?

TARA

No.  He said he’s quite wealthy and seems

very nice... on the surface.  But there’s just

something about him that makes me squirm.

He’s *too* nice. He’s like a used wagon

merchant... his words are just lamp oil

slick.  I just don’t trust him at all.

(beat)

Anyway, I ran after the wagon as it pulled

out, and she yelled that she would write.

GABRIELLE

So, she’s been writing, right?

TARA

That’s just it.  She did write for two moons

then stopped.  I haven’t heard from her in

four moons now.  I was going to travel to

Paradise to see her and this happened.

Tara slapped her legs then winced with the pain.

XENA

How long have they been broken?

TARA

Since the last full moon.  The healer said

they were broken in several places and

he doubted I would be able to walk again.

Tara grinned and winked at Xena and Gabrielle. 

TARA

(cont’d)

Guess he just doesn’t know how stubborn

I can be.  I’m able to get around a little

bit with these wooden braces Ersep

made for me and I plan to be walking

on my own again in another moon.

Xena looks at the crude crutches leaning next to the bed and nods, her opinion of Ersep going up a few more notches.

GABRIELLE

And Paradise is only

a day’s ride away?

TARA

Yes, that’s right.  I was going to send

Ersep to check on her, but then I heard

you two were near so I sent him to find

you.  You two helped me... several times.

Can you help me again?  I just know

she’s in some sort of trouble.

Gabrielle looks at Xena who signals agreement with a slow blink of her eyes.

GABRIELLE

Yes, we will.

TARA

(sighing audibly)

Thank you.  Please, stay here tonight

and get a good night’s rest.  I have a

good staff that will take care of your

meals and room needs.  You can

leave for Paradise in the morning.

XENA

First things first.  Let me

take a look at those legs....

FADE TO:

INT. GUEST ROOM IN THE INN - NIGHT

Gabrielle and Xena are snuggled in bed.  Gabrielle is barely keeping her eyes open while Xena watches the flames leap in the fireplace.

XENA

There’s just something refreshing

about swimming in the sea.

GABRIELLE

Um hmm.

XENA

Those waves just took it

all out of you didn’t they?

GABRIELLE

Um hmm.

XENA

Sleep well, my bard.  Tomorrow

may prove to be interesting.

Xena reaches down to pull the covers over them.

GABRIELLE

Xena?

XENA

Hmm?

GABRIELLE

Tara was pretty brave tonight

when you re-broke her legs.

XENA

Yeah, she’s still tough all right.  The

healer here should be hung.  Worst

job I’ve ever seen.  But now, she

definitely will be able to walk on her

own again and without a limp.

GABRIELLE

Maybe even dance?

XENA

Definitely dance!

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO