-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WRITTEN BY Melissa Good -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DIRECTED BY Denise Byrd -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRODUCED BY Carol Stephens -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SCREENGRABS Judi Mair -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ARTWORK Lucia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EPISODE TITLE GRAPHIC MaryD --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FADE IN: EXT. A QUIET, ROCK LINED POOL DEEP IN THE FOREST - EVENING The air is thick and hot, despite the fact that it is almost sundown. Insects buzz around, but the animals are lying low in the forest, waiting for nighttime to start moving around. The pool is surrounded by trees, and thick underbrush. It is difficult to see, in fact, how Xena and Gabrielle have gotten to where they currently are. Xena and Gabrielle sit in the pool, very much enjoying the cold water. Next to Xena is a dip in the rock, filled with water. A bottle sits inside it, and there are two cups on the ledge next to it. Gabrielle extends her arms along the rock, letting her head rest back against it as well. GABRIELLE Boy, this feels great.

Xena is sunk almost up to her nose, only her blue eyes are visible. She turns her head and looks at Gabrielle with a quite serious expression, then very slowly raises up a little and squirts a mouthful of water at Gabrielle, hitting her in the face. GABRIELLE (cont’d) Pah! Xena! Gabrielle swipes her hand through the water and returns the favor, but Xena's head has already disappeared under the surface. After a moment, Xena pops up. Gabrielle has been waiting and splashes her. Xena reaches over and does something under the water that causes Gabrielle to squeak, and submerge. Xena chuckles. XENA She never learns. Gabrielle surfaces, and shakes the water out of her eyes. She is smiling, however, and seems to be enjoying the horseplay. GABRIELLE You never let me get the last swipe in, do you? XENA Never. Good leaders always get the last shot. Gabrielle ducks under the water again and after a second, Xena's eyes nearly pop out of her head and she scrambles to grab Gabrielle, who slides out of the water and snickers at her expression. XENA (cont’d) No fair!

GABRIELLE All's fair in love and water fights, Xena. You taught me that. Xena laughs, and shakes her head. XENA True. Remind me not to give you so many pointers next time. Gabrielle finds a new spot to relax in... seated between Xena's legs and using her as a backrest. Xena reaches over and uncorks the bottle, pouring some of its contents into the two cups, then handing Gabrielle one. GABRIELLE Besides, leadership isn't always that simple, Xena. I should know.

XENA (chuckling) You make it complicated. It's a lot easier if you just tell people what to do, and when they don't listen, bash 'em. Gabrielle takes a sip of her now chilled wine and sighs in contentment. GABRIELLE Sure, if you're *you*. She looks over shoulder at Xena. GABRIELLE (cont’d) But I'm not you, and it's not that easy sometimes. You have to work with people, and get them to do what you want them to do willingly. Force isn't always the answer. XENA (shaking head) Leadership by the masses isn't the way either, Gabrielle. Look at the Amazons... everything's a deal with them. GABRIELLE And? You don't mean to say Velaska was right, do you? Xena takes a drink, giving herself a moment to consider. XENA No. GABRIELLE Damn right. No one has all the right answers. I always found that listening to people... getting their ideas was the best way to make a decision that everyone would be happy with. XENA Leaders aren't supposed to make people happy, Gabrielle. They're supposed to keep them alive. My way does it better. Gabrielle gives Xena a look. Xena grins and shrugs. Gabrielle also shrugs, but she looks a little thoughtful. GABRIELLE Well, it's a moot point. The Amazons are across the sea, and I doubt I'll get the chance to put my theory to the test with anyone else any time soon.

Xena puts her arm around Gabrielle. XENA You could try it on me. GABRIELLE (rolling eyes) Oh, yeah, right. The original 'my-way-or-the-highway' Xena, Warrior Princess. She elbows Xena in the ribs. GABRIELLE (cont’d) Not in this lifetime. Maybe the next? XENA Chicken. Xena tickles Gabrielle on the side. Gabrielle is caught in the midst of taking a sip of wine. She turns and ends up spitting the wine all over Xena as she laughs, and they both toss their cups and start wrestling in the water. GABRIELLE I'll chicken you....

The water becomes almost obscured by wild splashing and lots of fast moving limbs. Gabrielle is holding her own until Xena grabs hold of her and jumps half across the spring, ending up taking them both under the water. It is quiet in the spring. A few bubbles erupt. The insects buzz. A frog croaks. Xena and Gabrielle erupt from the water together and fall back, sending a huge wave splashing over the edges of the rocks with a significant roar. GABRIELLE (cont’d) Chicken this, you.... Xena realizes they are not alone, and she claps her hand over Gabrielle's mouth as she treads water. Gabrielle looks around, only to find a dozen men and women standing around the spring watching them. They are dressed in plain, white garments. Xena removes her hand. GABRIELLE (cont’d) (under her breath) Oh... Gods... I hope they're not virgins again. XENA Hm... we could fix that, if you're.... Gabrielle puts her hand over Xena's mouth swiftly, and gives the watching men and women a smile. GABRIELLE Hi. Something we can do for you? XENA (mumbling) Ya have to ask for trouble, don'cha?

One of the men steps forward. He is middle aged, and has a kindly face. He rubs his hands and looks at Xena and Gabrielle as though he has found a treasure before him. Given that they are naked, Gabrielle appears unsure if she should be outraged or flattered. MAN My name is Escobar. I am from the village of Delios, and my fellow citizens and I are on a quest. Gabrielle brightens. GABRIELLE Oh, a quest? How interesting. What kind of.... XENA (interrupting) For what? Escobar does not appear to be put off by Xena's gruff attitude. He positively beams at her. ESCOBAR We are on our yearly quest to find a stranger... a wise and noble stranger who will serve as our town's queen for a day. Gabrielle's eyebrows shoot up, and she looks intrigued. XENA Good luck. Now if you'll excuse us.... GABRIELLE Xena, wait a minute.... ESCOBAR Thank you, but our luck has been excellent! We have only been searching for a few days, and now our quest is at an end. We have found our perfect candidate. XENA Great. Scram.

Escobar takes out a scroll. It is much tattered, and he unrolls it carefully, studying its contents. One of the others also reads it over his shoulder, and nods in satisfaction. ESCOBAR Yes, it's all here. Eyes like stars, hair as dark as the night.... Xena can see where this is all going. She stands up in the pool, letting the water sheet off her body. She puts her hands on her hips. XENA Don't you even think about it. Escobar and the rest look at her, look at the scroll, and smile. Escobar lets the scroll roll up again. ESCOBAR And beauty incomparable. Please, will you be our queen? Gabrielle covers her mouth and starts to sink under the water, laughing hysterically at the expression on Xena's face. ESCOBAR (cont’d) We would be greatly honored. Xena looks at Gabrielle, who is submerged to her eyes. Ripples of water shake around her shoulders as she laughs. XENA *We* are not amused.

FADE OUT. END OF TEASER