STORY BY
Trish Kocialski & Denise Byrd

WRITTEN BY
Trish Kocialski

DIRECTED BY
Denise Byrd

PRODUCED BY
Carol Stephens

SCREENGRABS
Judi Mair

ARTWORK
Lucia

EPISODE TITLE GRAPHIC
Linda (Calli)


FADE IN:

EXT. OVERCAST MEADOW - MIDAFTERNOON


Two young girls about ten years of age are running through the meadow chasing butterflies. The area is large and open with a flowing river nearby. To one side, under a large olive tree, sits a middle-aged woman keeping one eye on them while doing a bit of embroidery.

SISTER #1

Carena! We’re never
gonna catch one.

The first sister flops on the ground in disgust. Carena laughs.

CARENA

C’mon, Serena! It’s the chase
that’s fun... live a little!

Serena groans as Carena laughs and runs off again until she is out of sight. Overcast skies suddenly become violent, bringing rolling thunder and flashes of lightning.

NANNY
(running)
Serena! Carena!

She gathers Serena close to her.

SERENA
(frantically pushing)
Rhea, let me go!

The woman holds tighter.


RHEA
(anxiously)
Serena, be still!
Carena! CARENA!!

Carena appears from down slope running as fast as she can. A burst of lightning hits the ground at precisely that moment and Carena disappears from view. Serena collapses into unconsciousness.

RHEA

(cont’d)
CARENA!!!!

CUT TO:

EXT. SMALL TOWN - EARLY EVENING


Xena and Gabrielle enter the town. They look around, and finally spot a tiny inn.  It has been a long road to get here, and from their disheveled appearance, it has been a fairly rough one as well.

GABRIELLE
(relieved)
Thank the gods!


They walk towards the inn.

GABRIELLE
(cont’d, resignedly)
It’s not just my imagination, is it?

Xena glances around, noting the nervous looks they are receiving when anyone will actually look at them. The numerous guards stationed along the street eye them with suspicion.

XENA

(sighing)
Nope, and I’m really not in
the mood for dealing with
idiots tonight. You wanna...?

Gabrielle nods.

GABRIELLE

We passed that clearing
just outside of town.

XENA
Perfect. Let’s go.

FADE TO:

EXT. CLEARING - NIGHT


The clearing is the same one we saw earlier with the two sisters. Xena and Gabrielle are reclined beside a fire in a neatly laid camp.  Wet hair is the only indication of their recent swim. They are relaxed and apparently in a much better frame of mind than they were in the town.

GABRIELLE

Wonder what their
issue with us was?

XENA

(shrugging)
We were strangers.
They don’t like outsiders.

Gabrielle cocks an eyebrow in question. Xena smiles affectionately at her.

XENA
(cont’d)
It’s not that unusual, Gabrielle.
But I heard the whispers.

Gabrielle gently cups Xena’s ear and chuckles.

GABRIELLE
Figures. You don’t miss
much. C’mon. I’m beat.

Xena banks the fire and they curl up together to sleep.

FADE TO:

EXT. CLEARING - SHORT TIME LATER


Xena and Gabrielle are tangled together, sound asleep. A light rustle of grass causes Xena’s eyes to open to slits.  A light squeeze lets her know that Gabrielle is also aware of the intruder.


Another rustle brings them to their feet, sword drawn and sais in hand. There is nothing but mist to be seen.

Xena and Gabrielle stand back to back surveying the area around the campsite. When their attention returns to the fire, a young woman is sitting calmly by the fire.

They move as one towards her, and she looks at them with pleading eyes.

YOUNG WOMAN

My name is Carena, and I need
your help to save the Queen.

FADE OUT.

END OF TEASER

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