ACT ONE

FADE IN:

EXT. FOREST - EVENING

Argo is moving through the forest, taking the time to nibble various forms of plant life that she happens upon.  The grass doesn’t seem to interest her much and she wanders toward a patch of clover which seems to be more to her liking as she begins munching in earnest.

From the camp in the distance there is a loud squeal of laughter. The mare looks back and snorts in a disgusted manner. Shaking her head, she returns to the clover.  When another round of laughter erupts from the camp, she all but rolls her eyes and moves further into the forest as if trying to escape the laughter of her traveling companions.

If someone didn’t know better, they might think Argo was a bit put out.

CUT TO:

EXT. RIVERBANK - EVENING

Argo stops by the back of a river to take a drink of the cool water.  She tosses her head, noticing that it’s growing colder. All the muscles in her body seem to ripple staring at her chest and working back to her hindquarters as if she is trying to shake off a chill.

Lowering her head back to the water, she starts to drink but looks up across the river as her ears prick forward. She watches intently as something moves through the trees. She paws the ground and whinnies.

After a moment the movement stops and there is a return whinny from the thick of trees.

Argo waits for a moment, and then there is another loud whinny and she steps into the water, crossing to the opposite bank, where she disappears into the woods.

CUT TO:

INT. TENT - NIGHT

Xena and Gabrielle are lying curled up around each other under warm blankets. A small candle in a holder provides a little light. They are both awake and seem to be listening to the wind blowing outside.

GABRIELLE

Do you think Argo is okay out there?

XENA

She’s fine. She’s used to finding shelter

in weather like this.  She’s probably

found a nice grove of trees. I don’t

think the storm will be that bad.

GABRIELLE

We should have put

a blanket on her.

Xena laughs softly and pulls Gabrielle even closer if that’s possible.

XENA

You worry too much.

GABRIELLE

Part of the job, I guess.

XENA

I guess.  Are you warm enough?

GABRIELLE

(snuggling closer)

Oh yeah, you make a

great hot water bottle.

XENA

Ready to sleep?

GABRIELLE

(yawning)

Getting there.

Xena reaches up and snuffs out the candle between her thumb and forefinger putting them in totally darkness.  The only sounds remaining are Gabrielle’s gentle snores and the wind blowing against the tent.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. FOREST - MORNING

Overnight it has snowed, leaving everything covered in a fine white powder about an inch deep.  The area around the campsite is pristine. It’s clear that no one has left the tent. A small smoldering fire continues to glow, the only sign of life in the area.

Inside the tent there is rustling, the sides move obviously pushed out by someone moving around inside. There’s a squeal that’s definitely not Xena.

GABRIELLE

(offstage)

Oooo... your hands are cold.

Xena’s head pokes out of the tent, and she’s smiling.

XENA

(amusedly)

Bitch, bitch, bitch.

She comes out of the tent, wearing a heavy sweater looking thing, much heavier and more covering than crucifixion garb.  As she emerges completely her ‘winter sleeping gear’ is completed with leggings and something that looks like furry half boots.

XENA

I’ll get the fire going and we can

decide if we’re going anywhere today.

GABRIELLE

(offstage)

How bad is it out there?

XENA

Could be worse. 

Could be Rome.

GABRIELLE

(offstage)

I’m married to a comedian.

Xena chuckles to herself, and bends down near the embers of last night’s fire.  Lifting a piece of tarp, she takes a few pieces of tinder and places them on the embers. Blowing gently, she gets a small flame going.  As she adds more wood, Gabrielle emerges from the tent.  She’s dressed like Xena, in warm, comfortable clothes.

GABRIELLE

It’s beautiful out here.

XENA

Actually... it is.

Gabrielle’s brow goes up and she smiles, moving in behind Xena and wrapping her arms around her waist.

GABRIELLE

You’re going soft in your old age.

XENA

Probably.

Xena gestures to the fire,

which is now burning nicely.

XENA

(cont’d)

If you take care of breakfast,

I’ll go check on Argo.

GABRIELLE

Go. Make sure she’s okay.

I can handle this.

CUT TO:

EXT. MEADOW - MORNING

Xena, now wearing a heavy cloak over her winter outfit, is treading through the snow, leaving clear tracks in the snow.  The meadow that she is moving through is also pristine, with no sign that Argo has been in it recently.

XENA

Argo! Hey girl, come on.

She stops and looks around trying to find the horse. Then she gives a shrill whistle, before setting off again.

XENA

(cont’d)

Argo!

CUT TO:

EXT. CAMP - MORNING

Gabrielle is turning the rabbit into stew and brewing something in a kettle that is coming to a stream as Xena comes back into the camp.

GABRIELLE

How’s Argo?

XENA

I don’t know. I can’t find her.  I came

back for some rope and her halter.

GABRIELLE

Hold on. I’ll go with you.

She turns and scrambles back into the tent. When she comes back out she has Xena’s sword in one hand and her sais in the other.  She tosses the sword to Xena as she gets to her feet and pulls her sais into her hands.

GABRIELLE

Let’s go.

Xena gestures to the sais.

XENA

What are those for?

GABRIELLE

This is Argo we’re talking about.  Something

has to have happened.  She didn’t just

wander off and the snow wasn’t bad

enough that she got trapped somewhere.

Xena nods, conceding the point.  She and Gabrielle gather up rope and the horse’s harness and head out of camp.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. RIVER BANK - DAY

Xena and Gabrielle are walking along the bank, following what are obviously horse tracks.

XENA

Looks like she crossed here.

Gabrielle looks at the river, which isn’t running hard, but appears to be very cold.

GABRIELLE

Just my luck.

XENA

(teasingly)

I could carry you across.

GABRIELLE

No, no, I’ll make it. That

water just looks really cold.

Xena removes her cloak and rolls it up, laying it over her shoulder to keep it dry.  Gabrielle follows suit and does the same.

Xena steps into the water.

XENA

That’s because it is.

GABRIELLE

You’re a big help.

She follows Xena and shivers the second her foot hits the water.

GABRIELLE

Ah yeah, that’s COLD!

Xena smiles and without turning around, offers Gabrielle her hand. They make their way through the water, which comes to just over Xena’s waist at the deepest spot and a little higher on Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE

Argo better be in trouble

or I’m gonna kill her.

Crossing over to the other side, Gabrielle quickly replaces her cloak as Xena picks up Argo’s trail.

XENA

Interesting.

GABRIELLE

What?

XENA

It wasn’t a guy with an apple

she followed this time.

Xena points at a second set of tracks.

GABRIELLE

Well what do ya know,

she found a friend.

XENA

A wild friend by the looks of it.

No shoes on the second set.

GABRIELLE

Apparently she found someone

to keep her warm last night.

XENA

ARGO!

FADE OUT.
 

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO