Episode Guide Teaser Act 1 Act 2 Act 3 Act 4

2

Production #V812 - Episode 12
 


WRITTEN BY
Melissa Good


DIRECTED BY
Denise Byrd


PRODUCED BY
C
arol Stephens

SCREENGRABS
Judi Mair


ARTWORK
Lucia


EPISODE TITLE GRAPHIC
MaryD


 

TEASER

 

FADE IN:

 

EXT. TOWN - NIGHT

 

It is just after sunset in a peaceful, small town built on a hillside in the middle of the forest. The town is surrounded by a sturdy, well build log wall, and the gates are heavily barred but not guarded.

 

In a clear space just inside the walls, a wagon train is gathering in the light of pine pitch torches. The people seem cheerful, even somewhat excited, but move around at their tasks calmly and with purpose.

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. TOWN INN - MAIN ROOM - NIGHT

 

The inn's main room is not overly busy, but a good number of the tables are occupied. Set in one wall is a huge hearth, and in a nice warm corner nearby is a table with two occupants and the last remains of a nice dinner.

 

On the table is a square piece of parchment, weighted down on all four corners by the unusual practice of a dagger neatly nailing them in place. XENA and GABRIELLE ponder the board with serious expressions. They are dressed in nondescript peasant-type clothing, rather than their usual stand-out-in-any-crowd garb.

 

The parchment is drawn off into a playing board with squares, half the cream color of the parchment, and half a dark black. On the playing board are perched carved wooden pieces, also half natural wood and half darker stained. Xena is contemplating one of the pieces for an extended time.

 

GABRIELLE

(teasingly)

I know we've been experimenting with this

new mind thing we have, Xena, but I really don't

think you can move that just by looking at it.

 

 

Xena picks up the piece and moves it by a more conventional method.

 

XENA

Check.

(smiling, then frowning.)

I could have, way back when.

 

 

Gabrielle ponders the board with a frown herself. She considers, then a little hesitantly, moves one of her pieces.

 

GABRIELLE

The Lao Ma thing?

 

XENA

Mm.

(drumming fingers)

Y'know, you're picking up on this.

 

Xena moves another piece, and captures one of Gabrielle's. She leans back and takes a sip out of her nearby mug as Gabrielle sighs, and rests her chin on her fist.

 

GABRIELLE

After all this time, you'd think so. Ah.

 

She moves piece, and captures one of Xena's taller pieces.

 

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

But it sure doesn't come

naturally like it does for you.

 

XENA

Uh huh.

 

Xena moves a piece and captures one of Gabrielle's taller pieces.

 

XENA

(cont’d)

Check.

(pause)

Mate.

 

Gabrielle frowns at the board.

 

GABRIELLE

You knew I was going

to do that, didn't you?

 

Xena smiles, and tips her mug back.

 

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

So you sacrificed your piece to

trap me. How do you always know

what to do? You drive me nuts!

 

Xena begins to set the pieces back up.

 

XENA

It's all strategy. And knowing

your opponent....

 

She takes Gabrielle's fingers in her own.

 

XENA

(cont’d)

Like the back of her own hand.

 

Xena rubs her thumb over Gabrielle's knuckles. Gabrielle chuckles, and shakes her head. She glances around them.

 

GABRIELLE

Nice not to be the center of

attention for a change. Dressing

like this was a good idea.

 

Xena twirls one game piece on the table.

 

XENA

Yeah. Tomorrow we'll be gone,

and they'll never know we were here.

 

 

CUT TO:

 

EXT. TOWN GATES - NIGHT

 

The wagon train gets ready to leave. It consists of at least a dozen huge carts, all piled high with a variety of goods and produce. Each cart is pulled by four horses, most mismatched as though horses from any possible source were put in to pull.

 

More horses are brought alongside, and men mount up on them. Near the gates, an older man stands with one of the riders, who is still holding the reins of his horse, and has not yet gotten into the saddle.

 

The older man clasps the younger on the shoulder. This is MEDEINUS, leader of the town, and BALAR, his son.

 

MEDEINUS

That's all of it, my son.

Are you ready?

 

BALAR

Ready as I can ever be, Father.

It seems so dangerous to leave

at night though.  Are you s....

 

 

MEDEINUS

Balar, we have spoken of this many

times. No one will expect us to send

our wealth, our harvest out in the

darkness. By day they watch the

roads. By night, they sleep or

drown themselves in ale.

 

Balar nods.

 

BALAR

I know you're right. It just worries me.

Theses wagons represent all we have.

 

Medeinus seems a little impatient.

 

MEDEINUS

And that is why I am sending every

able man in the town with you, to

make sure it gets to market, son.

 

Medeinus turns and motions to two men near the gates.

 

MEDEINUS

(cont’d)

Throw them open!

(to Balar, lowering voice)

Do not disappoint me, Balar. I am

counting on you to get what we

need to survive to the next harvest.

 

Reluctantly, Balar gets onto his horse. The other riders cluster around him, and we can now see that they are young, and most do not carry anything resembling a weapon. The few that do have pitchforks.

 

MEDEINUS

(cont’d)

(loudly)

Fare well, men of Pontus!

May the gods see you a swift

journey, and a lucrative return!

 

The gates swing open, and the riders move out, followed by the wagons. The sound of hooves and wheels seems very loud in the quiet of the surrounding night.

 

After the last wagon and man leaves, the gates swing shut.  Two women struggle to put the bars into place, assisted by an old man.

 

Medeinus watches them briefly, then dusts his hands off and turns, walking up the path to a large, two story building nearby.

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. TOWN INN - PRIVATE ROOM IN THE BACK - NIGHT

 

This is a smaller room at the rear of the inn, but nicely decorated. On one side is a comfortable looking bed more or less big enough for two people, and a thick bearskin rug on the floor. It is very dark inside.

 

The door opens and Xena and Gabrielle enter, each bearing a candle. Xena walks to the tiny table on one side and puts the candle in a clay dish, while Gabrielle walks around and lights a few other candles around the room.

 

XENA

Waste of wax. We're just

going to blow em all out.

 

Gabrielle turns and puts one hand on her hip.

 

GABRIELLE

Maybe I want to write for a while.

 

Xena walks over to her and unties the string holding closed the neck of Gabrielle's shirt. Gabrielle watches as Xena slowly removes it hole by hole, all the way down to her navel.

 

XENA

All right. I'll get your quills.

 

 

Gabrielle lifts her eyes and one eyebrow.

 

GABRIELLE

We're coming back around to this

whole 'strategy' discussion, aren't we?

 

She pokes Xena in the arm.

 

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

I'm being outmaneuvered.

 

 

Xena smirks.

 

XENA

First step to good strategy is knowing

it when you see it, Gabrielle. Besides,

you're getting better at the game.

 

Gabrielle seems a touch pensive.

 

GABRIELLE

I don't think it's my game.

(smiling)

Now you, on the other hand....

 

Gabrielle puts her arms around Xena.

 

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

... are my idea of fun,

so let's go play.

 

Xena douses the candles. A breeze from outside creeps through the shutters and rattles them as two shadows glide across the room and fall into bed.

 

CUT TO:

 

EXT. HILLSIDE ABOVE THE TOWN - NIGHT

 

In a thick grove of trees, a large group of mounted horsemen wait. They watch the moon slowly set behind the mountains, and the lights just as slowly go out in the town.

 

At the front of the horses, two men stand, dressed in black leather armor.

 

FIRST MAN

(to second man)

Kill everyone you can

get your hands on.

 

SECOND MAN

Right.

 

FIRST MAN

Just try not to wreck the

place. We gotta live in it.

 

 

The men chuckle, and turn to mount their horses.

 

FADE OUT.

 

END OF TEASER

 

ACT ONE