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Production
#V912 - Episode 12 |
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WRITTEN
BY
DIRECTED BY PRODUCED
BY |
SCREENGRABS ARTWORK EPISODE
TITLE GRAPHIC |
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FADE IN:
EXT. OCEAN - NIGHT
There is a fierce storm rolling across the water. A ship is being badly battered on the harsh waves. Even as crewmembers struggle to keep the ship steady, others are washed overboard into the angry sea.
Xena, with Gabrielle hot on her heels, moves from the stern to the bow, trying to get past men fighting ropes to keep the sails in some sort of working order.
Over the howl of the wind, the sounds of timbers creaking and breaking can be heard clearly over the shouts of the men.
XENA (shouting) Gabrielle! The foremast is going! There’s nothing we can do. Get ready to go into the water!
Before Gabrielle can respond, the foremast begins to splinter and crumble. As it swings from side to side, the ropes holding the main mast begin to snap and ricochet around the deck. Gabrielle’s eyes widen. Without a moment’s hesitation she charges Xena and knocks her to the deck, just as the main stays break loose sending rope and tackles directly toward where her head had been.
As they hit the deck, the ship suddenly pitches to the port side, causing them to half roll, half slide to the port side railing. Hanging on to each other they both understand that there is little to be done and the ship will be lost. There is only confirmation when they hear a crewmember.
CREWMAN WHIRLPOOL!
FADE TO:
EXT. OCEAN - DAY
The view is of an expanse of ocean; it is calmer now but the angry storm clouds on the horizon tell a different story. The wind is still strong enough to cause whitecaps on the waves that carry lengths of wood that are the remains of a ship.
An arm shoots straight from the water and wraps around a large piece of debris. Xena’s head appears above the water. She gasps and draws in a lungful of badly needed air as she draws herself up and onto the remains of the ship.
Her eyes are closed and it’s clear that whatever has befallen her and Gabrielle is serious enough to have sapped her strength and energy. Taking several slow, deep breaths she opens her eyes and focuses on what appears to be ripples in the water just in front of her. With what little strength she has left, Xena’s hand darts out and snatches something in the water. She pulls Gabrielle above water and draws her to the plank.
Once she is resting on the wood, Gabrielle begins to choke and expel water from her mouth and nose. She is quiet for a moment then her eyes open, dazed and confused. She still manages to find Xena’s face and she smiles weakly.
GABRIELLE (hoarsely) The other side?
XENA The other side.
Gabrielle seems to accept this fate and her eyes close. With the last of her strength, Xena reaches out and places her hand in Gabrielle’s hair, making contact as her own eyes slip closed.
FADE TO:
EXT. ISLAND - DAY
Two men pull a small boat onto the beach and tie it up to a log. Gathering packs from the boat they sling them over their shoulders and begin walking a well-worn path along the sand.
AIAS Did you have a good trip?
PHAIDON Yes, it was wonderful to see my family again, but it is always difficult to remember that they are not accustomed to the same things that I am. And you?
AIAS It was a quiet trip. I am sure Soteres will be pleased that there is very little talk of us any longer.
AIAS I’m sure of it. I know he was concerned that someone might come looking again, but I don’t think that will....
Before he can finish, Phaidon raises his hand in a gesture for Aias to be quiet. Aias looks in the direction that Phaidon is staring, but he can’t see anything that might have raised his friend’s alarm. He strains to see.
AIAS What?
PHAIDON I think I heard something.
AIAS It is probably a gull.
PHAIDON I don’t think so.
Phaidon takes a few steps, moving to a cluster of scrub brush. He drops his pack quietly and then parts the vegetation. Aias peers over his shoulder and gasps when he sees Xena and Gabrielle, lying on the beach.
AIAS Are they dead?
Phaidon watches them for a moment and shakes his head.
PHAIDON I don’t think so.
AIAS What should we do? We could go tell Soteres.
PHAIDON If we take time to do that I think they’ll be dead by the time we get back. We have to help them. Aithousa would demand it.
FADE OUT. |
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END OF TEASER |
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