Production #V708 - Episode 8

WRITTEN BY
Melissa Good

DIRECTED BY
Denise Byrd

PRODUCED BY
Carol Stephens

SCREENGRABS
Judi Mair

ARTWORK
Lucia

EPISODE TITLE GRAPHIC
MaryD

TEASER

FADE IN:

EXT. FOREST TRACK - DAY

A wagon trail winds through a deeply forested area. The trees are tall and full of thick leaves. However, they bend in the wind, and the sky indicates a coming storm. It is fall, and chilly.

XENA and GABRIELLE walk down the road together. They are dressed in long coats, and carry their gear in packs on their backs. Gabrielle has her walking stick. It is mid-day, and they have been walking for some time.

XENA

There's a creek. Thirsty?

GABRIELLE

Enough to drink that wine we

bought back at the harbor.

XENA

C'mon. Let's take a break and eat.

They leave the road and walk over to the creek. Several rocks provide seating, and Gabrielle takes advantage of them as Xena kneels to fill their waterskins. Gabrielle removes her diary from her pack and takes a quill out, sharpening it before she starts writing.

GABRIELLE

(VO)

It seems so strange to be back here in
Britannia. The storm that took us off
course could have brought us to so

Many places - why here? Why now?

Xena brings the waterskins back over and sits down on the ground, using the rocks as a backrest. She hands Gabrielle a cup. Gabrielle takes it with a smile and drinks, getting a little water on her hands that she flicks at Xena. She puts the cup down and continues to write.

GABRIELLE

(VO)

(Cont’d)

We're headed across to another harbor
town, where Xena says we can catch a
boat. I think she knows I don't want to
spend much time here. We haven't talked
about it, but this place holds so many
horrible memories for both of us.

A bird cries out nearby. Xena and Gabrielle both turn to look at it. Xena's hand clenches on her sword hilt, and it's obvious she's on edge.  After a moment, several robins chase each other through the trees, and they both relax.

GABRIELLE

(VO)

(Cont’d)

This is the place where I lost myself. The
Gabrielle that Xena met in Potadeia died here.

Xena breaks off half a loaf of bread and hands it to Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE

(Cont’d)

Thanks. How much longer to the coast?

XENA

If we keep going until dark, we
should make it by tomorrow noon.

GABRIELLE

Good.

Xena looks up at Gabrielle, then looks away out over the creek, her expression somber.

GABRIELLE

(VO)

(Cont’d)

The sooner we leave, the better.

CUT TO:

EXT. FOREST ROAD - AFTERNOON

A party on horseback ride down a broad, well used road. In the lead is FERGAL - a Celtic chieftain. With him are six men including his son, BONNACH.  The men are dressed in Celtic tartans, similar in style and identical in color.

FERGAL

Bonnach! Are you getting’
yourself ready, m'lad?

Bonnach sits in his saddle, his eyes closed, obviously concentrating. He is a tall, well built young man with a handsome face.  He jumps a little at being addressed.

BONNACH

Sorry, father. I was working out a
bit of my tale there. I want it
to be perfect for the competition.

FERGAL

And that it will, lad. You're the
best shot we've had in generations
to take the bard's title.

Bonnach smiles a touch shyly, but he is proud of his father's assurance in him.

The party rides down between two slopes as the road takes an old dried river bed's track between what was once banks on either side. As they ride through, a yell rings out and suddenly men pour over the banks and rush them. The men wear hoods to cover their faces.

FERGAL

(Cont’d)

Men! To me!

Fergal's men rush to defend him. The hooded men swarm over them and swing axes and pikes in a vicious attack. One of Fergal's men is dragged off his horse, and his arm is chopped off, sending a spray of blood into the air.

CUT TO:

EXT. FOREST TRACK - DAY

Xena and Gabrielle continue to walk through the forest, side by side. The track they are on is now moving downward, and through the trees, a glimpse of a larger road can be seen that intersects their path.

Xena is a little uneasy at the silence. She turns and regards Gabrielle's profile, which seems a little too serious for her tastes.

XENA

Hey. Human or animal?

Gabrielle has been deep in thought. She looks up in some surprise.

GABRIELLE

What?

XENA

C’mon. Play the game with me.

GABRIELLE

Oh.

(pausing)

Xena, I'm really not in the mood for it.

XENA

All right. You stump me, then. That
usually puts you in a better one.

Gabrielle has to smile at that, and does, because she knows it's true.

GABRIELLE

Okay.

(thinking)

Go ahead. Guess.

XENA

(pleased)

Animal, mineral, or vegetable?

GABRIELLE

No.

Xena looks at her in puzzlement.

XENA

What? What d'you mean no?

Gabrielle grins.

GABRIELLE

Heh. You'll never get this.

XENA

Oh yeah? We'll see….

Their banter is interrupted by the sudden sounds of battle.

XENA

(Cont’d)

Later. C’mon.

GABRIELLE

You always find an excuse.

Xena and Gabrielle run towards the sound of the fighting.

CUT TO:

EXT. FOREST ROAD - DAY - BATTLE

The hooded men are getting the better of Fergal and his clan. Most of Fergal's men are off their horses, and two are lying in the dirt, apparently injured or dead. The remainder have formed around Fergal and are fighting desperately. Bonnach is on the ground, grappling with an attacker.

Xena and Gabrielle run up from behind them and take on the hooded men. Xena unsheathes her sword and distracts three of them, drawing them away from Fergal.  With her staff, Gabrielle takes out one of the men who was about to spit Bonnach with a spear, then finds herself under attack by two others. She drops her staff, pulls out her sais and meets their swords.

Xena slugs one man with her sword hilt, then kicks another halfway across the road. She ducks as a man tries to take her head off with a pike.

XENA

Been there, done that.

Never again.

Gabrielle hears her, and is distracted for a moment. The man she's facing takes advantage of that and knocks her sai out of one hand. Gabrielle recovers, grabbing his arm and turning to deliver a roundhouse kick that sends the man sprawling.

A moment later, another man leaps at Gabrielle, and she turns instinctively, getting her sai up just as he lands on her. The sai guts him. Gabrielle rolls out from underneath his body and pulls her sai out dripping with blood.

Gabrielle stares at the sai, and for a brief moment her memory flashes back to Dahok's temple.

The hooded men have had enough. They scatter, leaving four of five men dead on the ground, and climbing up the banks to disappear off into the forest.

Fergal is kneeling by Bonnach's side. He is one of the injured clansmen. Another clansman tends to him. Xena and Gabrielle walk over.

FERGAL

Strangers, I thank you.

Xena kneels to examine Bonnach. Gabrielle hesitates, then follows.

XENA

Thieves?

FERGAL

Of lives. We have no coin.

(looking at Gabrielle)

You saved my son's life, bless you,
but they stole from us our hope.

Xena and Gabrielle both react slightly to the word.

GABRIELLE

What do you mean?

FERGAL

We were on our way to the great clan
gathering. Bonnach was to stand
for us to be named chief Bard.

GABRIELLE

Chief Bard?

Xena gives Gabrielle a quick glance, her own expression thoughtful.

XENA

What does that get you?

FERGAL

For our family? Wages enough to make it

Through this coming winter. The weather

Killed the crops this year, and we had

nought to trade with, save that.

Gabrielle keeps her eyes on Bonnach. He is unconscious, and bleeding.

GABRIELLE

How awful.

XENA

If it's a bard you need, you just
found one. Gabrielle can do it.

Gabrielle stares at Xena in utter shock. Fergal and his men look eagerly at her, despair turning to hope.

FADE OUT:

END OF TEASER

ACT ONE