Episode Guide Teaser Act 1 Act 2 Act 3 Act 4

Production #V1007 - Episode 07
(Season Finale)
 


WRITTEN BY
Linda Crist


DIRECTED BY
Denise Byrd


PRODUCED BY
C
arol Stephens

SCREENGRABS
Judi Mair


ARTWORK
Lucia


EPISODE TITLE GRAPHIC
MaryD



 

TEASER

 

FADE IN:

 

EXT. DESERT HILLS - DAY

 

It is a bright sunny day.  Too sunny, in fact.  Across the hills, the heat rises from the desert floor in mirage-like fashion.  The only vegetation in sight is a few bits of brown scrub.  The wind whips across the terrain, lifting the sand in swirling dust devils.

 

Over the top of a hill, Xena and Gabrielle appear dressed in appropriate desert garb.  They trudge slowly over the crest of the hill and down the other side, their high soft boots leaving deep prints in the sand behind them.  Neither one appears very happy.

 

GABRIELLE

Are you sure we turned the

right way at the Dead Sea?

 

XENA

Yeah, yeah, I'm sure.

 

XENA

(cont’d, to herself)

I think.

 

Gabrielle stops and spins around a few times, untangling the ends of her long tunic which has wrapped itself around her legs.  She sighs in frustration and then spits.

 

GABRIELLE

Pah!  Bleck!  I hate

the taste of sand.

 

XENA

Then keep your

mouth closed.

 

 

Xena's eyes twinkle mischievously and she glances sideways at Gabrielle, who opens her mouth to protest just as another dust devil swirls between them, giving her another mouthful.

 

GABRIELLE

Ugh!

 

She spits again and glares at Xena, who flashes her a cheeky grin.

 

XENA

Told ya.

 

She walks on and Gabrielle shuffles to catch up with her.

 

GABRIELLE

Yeah, well, my mouth isn't the only

place full of sand.  Think we might

find a place to wash up a little?

 

XENA

Getting a little edgy, my bard?

 

GABRIELLE

(grumbling sarcastically)

You know how fond I

am of the desert.

 

XENA

That makes two of us.  But let me

point out that I'm not the one

who necessitated this little trip.

 

Gabrielle stops and places both hands on her hips.

 

GABRIELLE

What is that supposed

to mean?  Huh?

 

She catches up again.

 

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

You think this is my fault?

Xena!  There is no

'Gabrielle effect.'  I swear.

 

 

XENA

(drolly)

Uh huh.

 

GABRIELLE

Xena!

 

XENA

I love it when you

say my name.

 

Gabrielle gives her a close approximation of THE LOOK, and storms ahead of her.  Xena laughs lightly and shakes her head, then lengthens her stride until they are even, and places a hand on her shoulder.  Gabrielle shrugs her off.

 

XENA

(cont’d, softly)

Gabrielle, I'm sorry.

 

Gabrielle's eyes narrow as she considers the apology.  Xena smiles and she can't help but smile back.  She reaches out and Xena accepts the invitation, twining their fingers together as they continue to walk.

 

GABRIELLE

Thank you.  Xena, it's really

not my fault the grail

ended up in my pack.

 

XENA

I know, but I'll be damned glad to

be rid of it and the bad luck.

Fire-breathing dragons.

Ghosts.  Minion-wannabes.

 

GABRIELLE

(chuckling)

Xena, that was no bad luck.

Our life was like that before

we came to possess the grail.

 

XENA

True.  All the same, it needs to go

back where it belongs.  Merlin's

voice calling out from your bag in

the middle of the night gives me

the heebie-jeebies.  Not to mention

he has some lousy timing.

 

Gabrielle blushes.

 

GABRIELLE

I wonder why Galahad wanted

it so badly if it's supposed

to be such bad luck?

 

XENA

Beats me, but knowing Merlin, he

put it in your bag knowing we'd do

the responsible thing and return

it to the temple they took it from.

 

She stops and sniffs the air, and smiles broadly.

 

XENA

(cont’d)

Come on, your bath awaits.  There's

water just over that next rise.

 

She sniffs again and frowns.

 

 

GABRIELLE

What is it?

 

Xena doesn't answer, but leads them quickly to the top of the hill.  Below them is a beautiful oasis with a sparkling blue pond, surrounded by lush green grass and several tall palm trees.  On the other side of the pond is a herd of Arabian horses in various colors, some grazing and some lapping at the water.

 

GABRIELLE

(cont’d)

Oh.  They're gorgeous.

 

Xena's face is pained and her answer is almost whispered.

 

XENA

Yes, they are.

 

Gabrielle places a hand on her shoulder.

 

GABRIELLE

You okay?

 

XENA

Yeah.  Just... I found Argo in a

herd like that one.  Not too far

from here, as a matter of fact.

 

GABRIELLE

Really?  Xena, you never told me

you'd been this way before we met.

 

 

XENA

(sadly)

Never came up.

 

Gabrielle places her arm around her waist.

 

GABRIELLE

You wanna talk about it?

 

Xena manages a smile and returns the side-hug, nodding slightly.

 

XENA

It was right after I met Hercules.

Right before I met you.  It was

one of the loneliest times of my life.

 

GABRIELLE

If you were so lonely, why didn't you

go back to Hercules?  He was

your friend.  He would've welcomed

you, Xena.  After what he did for

you, wasn't he your hero?

 

XENA

(quietly)

Hero?  No.  Mentor, maybe, but I never

though of him as my hero.  Besides, I

was too pig stubborn.  I had to figure

out a few things on my own.

 

Xena smiles down at Gabrielle, and ruffles her hair.

 

XENA

(cont’d)

Come on, let's go

check out the water.

 

Gabrielle studies her intently and slowly nods in agreement, apparently accepting the change of subject.  They walk hand-in-hand toward the pond as we....

 

FADE OUT.
 

END OF TEASER

ACT ONE

 

 

Hit Counter