Production #V704 - Episode 4

WRITTEN BY
TNovan

PRODUCED BY
Carol Stephens

SCREENGRABS
Judi Mair

ARTWORK
Lucia

EPISODE TITLE GRAPHIC
MaryD

TEASER

FADE IN

1.

EXT. CAMPSITE. MORNING

GABRIELLE wakes up to the sound of things being tossed around. She rolls over and opens her eyes to find XENA stalking around the campsite. She is moving things with more force than necessary. There is clearly a frustrated look on her face as she roams around the campsite.

GABRIELLE
Something wrong?

XENA
I can't find it.

GABRIELLE
Find what?

XENA
My whip, I know it was here last night.

Gabrielle clears her throat shyly and looks under the blankets. Reaching down she slowly pulls out Xena's WHIP.

GABRIELLE
Here it is.

Xena looks over and frowns.

XENA
How did it get…

(beat)

Oh yeah.

Xena reaches over and takes her whip and begins coiling it.

XENA
(cont'd)
Thanks.

She turns and begins packing up things and stuffing them in the packs. Gabrielle throws back the furs and gets up. She stretches her arms high above her head and yawns.

GABRIELLE
Beautiful morning.

Xena doesn't answer verbally she just grunts and keeps packing up their gear.

GABRIELLE
(cont'd)
Okay, what's wrong?

XENA
(irritated)
Wrong?

(jams her shirt in a bag)

What could be wrong?

GABRIELLE
It's obvious something is up.
You're being grumpier than a
three legged centaur.

XENA
There's nothing wrong.

GABRIELLE
Is it because of last night?

(beat)

Xena, I was just tired.

XENA
(looks at her, slightly annoyed)
It's not about last night.

GABRIELLE
Then what is it?

XENA
It's a warrior thing.

Gabrielle quickly gets frustrated with Xena's attitude and she starts stalking around the campsite too. She grumbles to herself while picking up their bedding.

GABRIELLE
Fine. Pout.
You always get so moody when
you come back from the dead.

Xena stands up and places her hands on her hips.

XENA
I am not pouting!

From a short distance away the entire exchange is being watched by APHRODITE. She sighs and smiles at the two in a very motherly fashion.

APHRODITE
Are my girls in a snit?

She watches a moment longer as the exchange becomes more heated and Gabrielle storms toward her with water skins to be filled. It's clear Gabrielle can't see the goddess and she's still talking to herself.

GABRIELLE
Warriors! Do you know how
much easier life would be
if I could read minds?

Aphrodite perks up and smiles as her fingers twitch.

APHRODITE
Oh, what a totally rad
idea, my little bardling.
So it shall be.

Aphrodite makes a grand gesture of pushing up her sleeves and throwing a spell at Gabrielle. Gabrielle looks up for a moment sensing something as the spell settles around her, but she shakes it off, continuing to fill the water skins in the lake.

She has her hand totally submerged as the skin bubbles and fills up. Suddenly she yells and pulls her hand out, looking curiously at the finger.

GABRIELLE
Owww!

She shakes her hand, staring at where it has apparently just been bitten. Then she hears something and tilts her head to listen.

VOICE 1
I told you it wasn't a worm.

VOICE 2
Looked like one to me.

Gabrielle peers into the water where the voices seem to be coming from. She slowly reaches for the water skin, but continues to look into the water, feeling a little confused. She pulls back and caps the skin when she hears Xena call for her.

XENA
Okay, Narcissus, I'm ready
to go as soon as you can
tear yourself away.

Gabrielle stands up and turns toward Xena. She looks back to the pond one last time, still not quite sure what she heard.

GABRIELLE
Yeah, yeah, I'm coming.
So impatient.

Aphrodite watches Gabrielle walk away before she calls out even thought they can't hear her.

APHRODITE
You're welcome.
Think nothing of it!

The goddess giggles at her own joke before disappearing in a flash.

FADE OUT:

END OF TEASER

ACT 1