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Production #V706 - Episode 6 |
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WRITTEN
BY
DIRECTED BY PRODUCED
BY |
SCREENGRABS ARTWORK EPISODE
TITLE GRAPHIC |
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TEASER
FADE IN
INT. INN BEDROOM - NIGHT
The inn is old, and shabby. There is a hole in the wall, and the window, what’s left of it, is cracked and hanging open. There is a pallet near the wall, and on the pallet is sprawled a woman dressed in dirty leathers. A wineskin lays empty on the floor next to her, and it is obvious the woman has passed out from drinking.
It is VARIA.
Possessions are scattered around the room, including a sword and a bow, tossed forgotten in a corner. The door to the room opens, making a loud creak. All noise stops, but Varia doesn’t stir and after a moment, the door continues to open. Four men enter cautiously. One holds up a torch to see the pallet better.
slaver #1 Out like a wet match.
slaver #2
This one’s been drinking so much,
The four men gag Varia, then they grab Varia’s arms and legs, and tie them tightly. They wrestle her into a heavy burlap sack and carry her out of the room, closing the door behind them.
The bow, leaning against the wall, slides down and clatters to the floor, next to the forgotten sword.
CUT TO:
ext. forest glade - night
In the middle of the forest, near a small brook, XENA and GABRIELLE sit in their campsite. Gabrielle is lying on a pile of furs with her leg in Xena’s lap while Xena tends to her healing wound. A fire burns nearby, with a pot hanging over it, and Argo is munching grass near the water.
gABRIELLE How does it look?
xENA
Not bad, considering you
Gabrielle rolls her eyes. Xena carefully replaces the bandage around her leg, wrapping it expertly and giving Gabrielle a comforting pat on the calf when she finishes.
GABRIELLE No one else does that the way you do.
XENA
Yeah? Thought you didn’t
Gabrielle looks fondly at Xena.
GABRIELLE
Well, your bedside manner’s gotten
XENA (smirks)
Depends on whose bed
Xena gets up and gives the pot a stir. She walks over to their gear and gets out two wooden dishes, but her attention is on the forest around them. She listens intently, then shakes her head.
GABRIELLE
Still hearing things out there? C’mon, Xena.
XENA
Maybe some of them came to us.
GABRIELLE
How could you tell? She’s acted
Xena goes to the pot and puts some stew in both bowls, then returns to Gabrielle’s side. She gives Gabrielle a bowl and sits down next to her.
XENA Something’s just not right.
Gabrielle eats some stew, then points her fork at Xena.
GABRIELLE I know what it is.
Xena looks at her.
XENA You do, huh?
GABRIELLE You’re just mad because she blew you off.
XENA What? Gabrielle, don’t be ridiculous.
Gabrielle chuckles.
CUT TO:
EXT. Village street - night
A wagon stands in the street, drawn by four horses. The wagon has high walls, and a barred door. Eight men meet by the back of it, and one man opens the door. The rest of them pick up two wrapped burlap bundles and toss them into the wagon, closing the door and locking it afterward.
slaVER #1
That’ll do for this run. Let’s get a
move on.
The men scramble onto the wagon and it starts off through the deserted streets.
CUT TO:
ext. forest glade - night
Gabrielle now has her scrolls out, and she is writing on one of them. Across the campsite, on the other side of the fire, Xena is sharpening her sword. Xena watches Gabrielle as she writes - Gabrielle realizes she’s being watched and looks up.
gABRIELLE (teasingly) You’re not still hearing things, are you?
Xena throws a pebble at her, which Gabrielle ducks.
xENA
Matter of fact, I was just thinking
GABRIELLE Uh oh.
XENA What?
GABRIELLE Every time you say that, chaos happens.
XENA C’mon, Gabrielle. Give me a break.
The peace is broken by the sound of people moving nearby, including hoof beats, footsteps, and the clinks of chains. A whip cracks. Gabrielle looks at Xena and shakes her head. Gabrielle puts her scrolls away and climbs to her feet, using her staff as Xena clips her sword to her back and dusts her hands off. Gabrielle starts to speak. Xena puts a hand over her mouth.
xENA Don’t say it. You told me so.
Gabrielle chuckles, and they head off into the forest to investigate.
CUT TO:
ext. forest road - night
A column of people move through the forest. Two men on horses lead, behind them are a line of shackled prisoners. Guards walk alongside the prisoners, and two more men on horses bring up the rear. All the guards are armed with crossbows.
Xena and Gabrielle creep up through the trees, watching the column.
gABRIELLE What is it?
xENA Looks like convicts. Moving them, maybe.
GABRIELLE Great. Nothing we need to get involved in.
Xena grunts in agreement. They watch the last of the prisoners walk by. The prisoner’s head turns, as though sensing their presence and they recognize Varia. Xena and Gabrielle look at each other in consternation.
FADE OUT.
END OF TEASER
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