Production #V802 - Episode 02
 

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. COZY LAKESIDE CAMPSITE - NIGHT

Xena and Gabrielle sit on their bedroll. Their campsite is arranged around them, neat and tidy. A lake nearby reflects the sunset. A pot of something is bubbling on the fire. Argo stands off to one side, nibbling on grass. Everything looks inviting and as comfortable as an outdoor bedroom could possibly look.

However, Xena is sharpening her sword in a decidedly aggravated manner.

XENA

Son of a Bacchae.

Gabrielle gives the pot a stir. She looks over her shoulder at Xena with an amused expression.

GABRIELLE

C'mon, Xena, lighten up.

Xena glares at her.

XENA

Lighten up? Gabrielle, do you realize
what him taking my chakram means?

Gabrielle gives the pot another stir, pulling the spoon out and tasting her creation. She licks her lips in approval.

GABRIELLE

Sure I realize.

XENA

Good.

GABRIELLE

It means he wants something.

(beat)

Again.

(under breath)

Other than you, that is.

Xena rolls her eyes.

XENA

Don't start. I don't think

that's it this time.

Gabrielle rolls HER eyes.

GABRIELLE

Xena, get real. It's always that.

Maybe it's something PLUS

that, but it's never NOT that.

Xena shoves her sword into its scabbard and tosses it to one side.

XENA

I almost had it back.

Son of a Bacchae!!!

Gabrielle shakes her head, and gets up onto her knees, crawling over to where Xena is sitting.

GABRIELLE

Lie down. Let's see if a backrub

will get you to quit being so grumpy.

Xena looks at Gabrielle in some outrage.

XENA

I am not grumpy!

Gabrielle crossed her arms over her chest.

GABRIELLE

So you don't want a backrub?

XENA

I didn't say that.

Gabrielle points at the bedroll. Reluctantly, Xena lies down on her stomach and rests her chin on her forearm as Gabrielle straddles her and begins to give her a massage.

FADE TO:

EXT. DUSTY ROAD - DAY

Xena and Gabrielle walk along the road, with Argo walking behind them. Xena kicks rocks ahead of her as she walks in some kind of mysterious pattern.

Gabrielle watches Xena, her lips moving as she tries to figure out what rhythm Xena is using.

XENA

Maybe it's not me this time.
Maybe it is the chakram he's after.

GABRIELLE

Huh?

(looking up)

Oh. Ares. Right.

(frowning)

Why would he want it?

Xena continues kicking rocks.

XENA

Maybe he wants it back.

GABRIELLE

Back?

XENA

He's the one who gave it to me

to start with. He said it was a

weapon that suited my nature.

GABRIELLE

What, circular?

(smiling)

Xena, even if he wanted to claim

it back after all this time - that's

not the chakram he gave you.

Xena looks thoughtful.

GABRIELLE

(Cont’d)

It's grown as much as you have.

Xena turns and looks at Gabrielle.

XENA

As we both have.

(smiling)

Yeah, good point. Maybe he'll get

more than he's bargained for.

GABRIELLE

He'll probably be back here throwing

it back at you any time now.

Gabrielle links her arm with Xena's, and they head off down the road.

FADE TO:

INT. ARES' TEMPLE - DAY

The interior of this stone building is in shambles. Parts of the wall itself are missing, and sun pours in holes in the roof. The altar is cracked, and lying in pieces, and the imposing statuary lies in tiny shards of marble on the floor. Ares strolls in, dressed in his customary leather and chain metal number. He stops in the middle of the floor and turns around slowly, examining the destruction.

Walking to the altar, he picks up a birds nest from one of the cracks and turns it over, dumping the eggs into his hand. One by one, he releases the eggs, to crack into smithereens on the floor.

He dusts his hands off and puts them on his hips. As he turns, the sun glints off the chakram hanging from his belt - eerily in the same spot Xena usually carries it.

ARES

First things first.

Ares pulls a leather glove from his belt and puts it on his hand, then he takes the chakram up in his fist, and holds it up in front of him. It reflects the sun into his eyes, and he laughs.

ARES

(Cont’d)

You've been spending too much

time around her. I need to

get you back to basics.

FADE OUT.

END OF TEASER

ACT ONE