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Production #V903 - Episode 03 |
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WRITTEN
BY
DIRECTED BY PRODUCED
BY |
SCREENGRABS ARTWORK EPISODE
TITLE GRAPHIC |
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TEASER
FADE IN:
EXT. FOREST ROAD - AFTERNOON
Xena and Gabrielle are seated on a small outcropping of rocks just off the side of the road. They are taking a break from walking, and having a drink of water.
The weather is mildly threatening. Xena is still wearing her cloak, Gabrielle her coat. The wind stirs their hair and blows a few dead leaves across the dirt path they have been traveling on.
GABRIELLE Feels good to be on familiar ground.
XENA (faintly smiling) It does, even though I know there'll just be ruins at the end of the road.
GABRIELLE (warmly) I remember running down this road, chasing you after you rescued us from those slavers.
Xena nods, her expression quiet and pensive.
XENA I remember riding down this road cursing myself because I couldn't stop thinking about this chatty little blonde kid I just yanked out of a scrape.
Gabrielle boots a small rock across the road.
GABRIELLE Really? I thought you couldn't get rid of me fast enough.
Xena gets up and prepares to continue on.
XENA Well, this was after I'd gotten rid of you, wasn't it?
Gabrielle joins Xena.
GABRIELLE You wished.
Xena and Gabrielle start walking. Argo II ambles after them without being directed. It is quiet around them; the only sounds are of Argo II's hooves and Xena and Gabrielle's boots.
Gabrielle watches Xena out of the corner of her eye. Xena appears somewhat down. After a few steps, Gabrielle reaches out and takes Xena's hand and holds it as they walk.
CUT TO:
EXT. AMPHIPOLIS ROAD - LATE AFTERNOON
Xena and Gabrielle slowly approach up the road. The town is mostly in the same shambles as it was the last time they saw it, during the Haunting of Amphipolis.
There are a few people around, but it is mostly deserted. Some dead leaves blow past Xena and Gabrielle as they approach and pass boarded-up huts on either side of the path leading to the inn.
There is an older woman standing by one of the few inhabited cots. She stares at Xena, then deliberately turns her back and goes into the hut, closing the door.
Xena and Gabrielle keep walking, until they turn a corner and pass between some very overgrown trees.
CUT TO:
EXT. AMPHIPOLIS INN - LATE AFTERNOON
The inn is in shambles. Most of the front has collapsed, but there is a partial gap where the door once stood. There is moss and ivy growing everywhere.
XENA (sighing) Maybe this wasn't a good idea.
Gabrielle walks over and picks up an old, cracked piece of wood. On it is lettered "Cyrene's Inn" but the words are almost indistinguishable.
Gabrielle looks up at the wreck of the inn.
GABRIELLE It's always worth coming back here. No matter what it looks like now, there are some memories I cherish about this place.
Xena walks over and takes the sign. She looks at it sadly.
A yell comes on the wind, and they both look up. Following the sound comes hoofbeats, and then the town erupts in what little human activity is possible given its condition.
A man comes running past.
MAN Hide! Run! Quickly!
Xena and Gabrielle turn to see a group of bandits riding down on the town, brandishing weapons. Xena gently tossed the sign down and whistles.
Argo II races in from wherever she's been eating grass and or hay or whatever it is Xena's horses do when they're not in view. Xena catches hold of Argo II's saddlehorn and pulls herself aboard as the mare runs past.
XENA Yeahhh!!
Xena heads Argo towards the raiders as she draws her sword. Gabrielle pulls her sais and starts to run after her.
GABRIELLE Some things just never change.
CUT TO:
EXT AMPHIPOLIS ROAD - MOMENTS LATER
The bandits attack the town. They do not appear to want to destroy it, but they race between the huts and bend over to take whatever they can get their hands on.
The few villagers in sight run in terror. One falls and is run down by one of the raiders, who tries to trample him as the raider laughs.
Gabrielle jumps in front of the raider and grabs hold of the man, dragging him clear just as the horse reaches them. The horse slams against Gabrielle's shoulder, throwing her to one side. She ducks under the raider's ax swing and whirls, booting the horse in the rear in frustration.
GABRIELLE Bastard!
The horse bucks, throwing the raider half off.
Two more raiders ride at Gabrielle, yelling as they lean over to grab her.
Xena rides Argo from between the trees and meets the first of them, not hesitating an instant as she swipes her arm in an arc and cuts the raider's head clean off his shoulders.
XENA YeeeaahhhhHH!!!!!!!
Two raiders swerve towards her. Xena rides straight forward between their horses, and ducks at the very last second as they both swing axes at her and hit each other instead.
The two men fall off their horses.
RAIDER CHIEF Forget it! Let's go! Let's go! We'll come back later!!
One of the raiders grabs a chicken and tucks it under his arm as he retreats. Gabrielle spots him and pitches her sai at him, thumping him in the back of the head and making him release the bird.
The raiders leave, disappearing into the dusk. Xena rides over to the small clump of people gathering near the last few habitable huts and jumps off Argo's back.
XENA What was that all about?
Gabrielle retrieves her sai and comes to Xena's side. She is limping slightly.
TOWNSMAN Just finishing what you started, Xena.
He looks around, disgusted.
TOWNSMAN (cont’d) That's it! I'm out of here. We're leaving tomorrow. This place is dead.
The man turns and walks off. The rest of the crowd looks at Xena and Gabrielle, then they too turn and walk off.
Xena and Gabrielle are left alone in the street in the twilight, with only a headless man and curious chickens avoiding the blood.
FADE OUT. |
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END OF TEASER |
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