Production #V904 - Episode 04

WRITTEN BY
TNovan

DIRECTED BY
Denise Byrd

PRODUCED BY
Carol Stephens

SCREENGRABS
Judi Mair

ARTWORK
Lucia

EPISODE TITLE GRAPHIC
MaryD

TEASER

FADE IN:

EXT. FOREST - EVENING

Xena is standing under a grove of trees brushing Argo, who is munching grass as she does.  Behind Xena, Gabrielle can be seen moving around, apparently setting up their camp.

The sun is setting behind a high ridge of hills, causing a soft red glow all around them.  The wind is blowing through the trees, not hard, but steady. The sky overhead is full of gray clouds that are moving quickly across the sky.

There is a loud crash and then from near the camp....

GABRIELLE

(offstage)

Damn!

XENA

You okay?

GABRIELLE

I smashed my thumb. I’ll live.

XENA

Be careful.

She goes back to brushing Argo, who is swishing her tail as if to play with Xena.

XENA

Be good.

GABRIELLE

(offstage)

What did I do?

XENA

I’m talking to Argo.

GABRIELLE

(offstage)

Oh, snowstorm coming.

XENA

(amusedly)

Oh yeah?  What makes you so sure?

GABRIELLE

(offstage)

Please.  After all these years? If I can’t

smell a snowstorm by now, I should go

back to Austinopolis and just spin yarn.

Xena chuckles and sends Argo II off with a gentle swat to her rump.  She picks up a leather bag, placing the brush inside before slinging it over her shoulder.

As she walks back toward the camp it is very clear that Gabrielle has indeed been busy.  There is a small tent pitched, a fire is burning with a rabbit roasting over the spit. A small tree trunk serves as a table, with a light blue tablecloth and packs set as soft stools.  Two glasses of wine sit on top of it, separated by a single small candle and a plate of something that resembles hummus and a few pieces of flat bread.

XENA

Camp looks great. Very homey.

Gabrielle mumbles around the thumb stuck in her mouth.

GABRIELLE

Nothing to it.

XENA

Let me see.

Gabrielle offers her smashed thumbnail to Xena, who looks at it and clucks her tongue.

XENA

That’s going to be ugly in the morning.

GABRIELLE

It’s ugly now; it’s going to be hideous

in the morning. Come on, let’s eat.

They settle down at the makeshift table and begin eating from the plates.

XENA

Gabrielle, are you sure you’re not

wanting to settle down?

GABRIELLE

No, Xena I’m happy on the road.  Once

in a while it’s nice to make camp feel

a bit more permanent, especially

on a night like tonight.

XENA

You’re right about the storm. We may

have to spend a couple of days

here if it snows too hard tonight.

GABRIELLE

(smiling)

And we’re prepared for it. We

have all the supplies we need

and the tent is very... cozy.

XENA

(with mock surprise)

Why madam, do you intend to

take me in there and seduce me?

GABRIELLE

(teasingly)

Only if you want to be seduced.

XENA

Yes, please.

Gabrielle chuckles through a sip of her wine and then begins digging into a pack next to her.  She finds what she is looking for and holds them up in triumph.  In her hand she holds, a deck of cards.

GABRIELLE

How about a game?

XENA

The strip version of Gods and Mortals?

GABRIELLE

Only if we go in the tent first,

it’s getting too cold out here.

The wind has picked up.

Xena looks around, sniffing the air and nodding.

XENA

It’s going to be a good storm. But we should

be fairly well protected here.  You picked us

a good spot. The trees will give Argo plenty

of shelter, but leave enough grass

uncovered for her to graze.

Gabrielle takes the deck of cards, her wine cup and the candle then crawls for the tent.

GABRIELLE

She’ll probably find some

guy with an apple....

Gabrielle disappears into the tent. Xena stands there watching her backside disappear through the flap.

XENA

(quietly to herself)

Wow.

Then she realizes the intent of Gabrielle’s last comment.

XENA

(cont’d)

Oh, funny. Very funny.

FADE OUT.
 

END OF TEASER

ACT ONE