FADE IN: EXT. CAMPSITE - LATE MORNING Gabrielle is tying her bed roll to the back of the saddle. Xena is patiently waiting as she sits upon Argo II, one leg wrapped nonchalantly around the saddle horn. GABRIELLE Tara’s son is nothing like I would expect him to be. XENA Probably takes after his father. GABRIELLE I wonder what kind of trouble Tara is in now? XENA No telling. Tara being Tara, it could be anything. GABRIELLE Even after all these years? You’d think she’d have settled down by now. Xena gives Gabrielle a wry grin. XENA Oh, you mean like how we’ve settled down?
	Putting her hands on her hips, Gabrielle sticks her tongue out at Xena. A mischievous glint appears in Xena’s eyes. XENA (cont’d) You shouldn’t stick that out unless you intend to use it. GABRIELLE Xena! Xena laughs heartily as a blushing Gabrielle mounts her sporadically appearing horse. The horses snicker and shake their heads, causing Xena to laugh even harder. Soon, the contagious laughter pulls in Gabrielle and both riders and horses appear to be bouncing through the brush as they head back to the main road. FADE TO: EXT. MAIN ROAD RUNNING THROUGH THE WOODS - MID DAY Dappled sunshine is filtering through the trees as Xena and Gabrielle walk beside their horses. There is no one else in sight on the road. GABRIELLE What a great day. I’m in a really good mood, Xena. XENA Well, you should be. I let you sleep longer than usual. GABRIELLE Yeah, thanks. I think I needed that. XENA Besides, it’s a short trip to Tara’s town. But I’m warning you, Gabrielle, I’m not doing any marital counseling. You can do the sensitive chat routine and settle the trouble in paradise. GABRIELLE I wonder why she wants us to settle their marital troubles. Xena shrugs as they walk along the road, kicking a stray rock or two out of the way. GABRIELLE (cont’d) It sure has been a long time since we saw Tara last. I wonder if she’s still dancing.
	Gabrielle smiles at the memory. She turns toward Xena and laughs. GABRIELLE (cont’d) Remember those boots I had to wear until mine were repaired? XENA Remember? I can still hear them clanking on every hard surface you stepped on.  What a racket you made.
	They walk down the road in silence for a bit, enjoying the warm breeze that had picked up. GABRIELLE Have you ever been to this town before? XENA Once. It’s a nice quiet town by the sea. GABRIELLE Does it have a sandy beach? XENA Um hm. GABRIELLE So, what are we waiting for? Gabrielle mounts her horse and spurs him into a trot then a full out run. Xena shakes her head and whispers in Argo II’s ear, then pulls herself up into the saddle. XENA Whaddya think, girl? Want to have some fun? Argo II whinnies and takes off, easily catching up. Xena and Argo race along side for a few paces, then Xena lets out a yell, verbally spurring Argo II on as they surpass Gabrielle. The race continues through the woods, across a meadow, over a ridge and down to a beach. They race in the surf, kicking up sand and water as the horses run.  Seeing the town in the distance, Xena slows Argo II to a trot then a walk, followed by Gabrielle. GABRIELLE That was fun! XENA Yeah, Argo likes to run. Gabrielle looks down the beach toward the town of Paendis. GABRIELLE So, want to swim now or later? XENA Later.  Let’s find Tara and get this over with. CUT TO: EXT. PAENDIS MARKETPLACE - MID AFTERNOON Xena and Gabrielle follow the directions in the scroll to an Inn with an attached stable. Xena nods appreciatively at the neatness of the stable and the stacks of hay, feed sacks, and clear, clean water in the trough for the horses. Ersep steps out of the stable and stops abruptly as he sees Xena and Gabrielle dismount. He walks over tentatively. ERSEP I’ll take care of your horses. Mother is in the inn, first room past the kitchen. She’s been waiting for you. I’ll bring in your things when I’ve finished with the horses. Xena watches as the horses quickly take to the gentle care of Ersep as he coos and talks softly to them. He picks up a brush and leads them to the watering trough where he takes off the saddles and gear and begins brushing them down. Xena notices the nicely laid rock floor by the hay stacks. XENA Nice idea. Keeps the muddiness down and the hay dry. Gabrielle takes Xena’s hand and leads her toward the inn. GABRIELLE C’mon, it looks like they’re in good hands. XENA (nodding) Ersep just went up a few notches in my book. CUT TO: INT. INN - MID AFTERNOON They enter the inn and find an older, grayer Tara in the room indicated. It’s a large bedroom and Tara is lying in the bed, both legs bound with stiff reeds and cloth to keep them from bending. GABRIELLE Tara!  What happened to you? TARA I took a fall off the barn roof.  You’d think I could have fallen on the hay stack, or at least the manure pile, but no…I had to fall on the new rock floor Ersep put in for the hay stacks!  Broke both legs. GABRIELLE Ouch, bet that really hurt. Tara nods her head and looks up at Xena. TARA Thanks for coming.  As you can see, I’m not able to get around too well or I’d go over to Paradise myself. GABRIELLE Paradise is a place? TARA Yes.  It’s where my daughter lives. It’s just a day’s ride from here. GABRIELLE You have a daughter too? Tara nods her head solemnly. TARA Yes.  Her name is Tessa and she’s just like me.  Pig headed, opinionated, and totally her own person... and... I believe she’s in trouble. Xena tries to stifle a laugh. XENA Like mother, like daughter, eh? GABRIELLE Xena, be nice.
	TARA No, Gabrielle, Xena’s right.  She is just like me, only worse!  It’s my fault that she’s left. I just forgot how I was at her age.  Maybe if I had had more patience.... GABRIELLE So, why do you think she’s in trouble? TARA We argued before she left. GABRIELLE Why were you arguing? TARA She told me she got married. GABRIELLE And that made you angry? TARA Furious! Tessa knew how I felt about Vicus, but she didn’t want to listen. No, she was already in his wagon and leaving. Tara turns her head toward the window, a single tear slides down her cheek. She quickly wipes it away and returns her focus to Gabrielle and Xena. TARA (cont’d) I was so angry. I wanted to stop her from making a mistake. Gods know, I’ve made my share of them! XENA It was too late to stop her, Tara. TARA I know, I know. I was just so furious that she got married behind my back. I lost my husband last winter and I was hoping she’d stay here and eventually take over the inn. She’s really not ready for marriage. She’s just a child! GABRIELLE A child? How old is she? TARA Eighteen... but she’s not... well, she’s just too.... XENA Independent?
	TARA No, I think I’d say wild.  She’s been a real handful.  Not like Ersep. He’s like a rock for me. He takes after his father. Tessa is.... GABRIELLE More like you used to be? TARA Exactly! She can barely cook and she hates to clean, but Vicus just turned her head with his words. GABRIELLE So, what makes you think she’s in trouble? You finally settled down. Xena coughs and Gabrielle gives her a tap across the stomach with her hand. GABRIELLE (cont’d) Is this Vicus a bad sort? TARA No. He said he’s quite wealthy and seems very nice... on the surface.  But there’s just something about him that makes me squirm. He’s *too* nice. He’s like a used wagon merchant... his words are just lamp oil slick. I just don’t trust him at all. (beat) Anyway, I ran after the wagon as it pulled out, and she yelled that she would write. GABRIELLE So, she’s been writing, right? TARA That’s just it. She did write for two moons then stopped. I haven’t heard from her in four moons now. I was going to travel to Paradise to see her and this happened. Tara slapped her legs then winced with the pain. XENA How long have they been broken?
	TARA Since the last full moon. The healer said they were broken in several places and he doubted I would be able to walk again. Tara grinned and winked at Xena and Gabrielle. TARA (cont’d) Guess he just doesn’t know how stubborn I can be.  I’m able to get around a little bit with these wooden braces Ersep made for me and I plan to be walking on my own again in another moon. Xena looks at the crude crutches leaning next to the bed and nods, her opinion of Ersep going up a few more notches. GABRIELLE And Paradise is only a day’s ride away?
	TARA Yes, that’s right.  I was going to send Ersep to check on her, but then I heard you two were near so I sent him to find you.  You two helped me... several times. Can you help me again?  I just know she’s in some sort of trouble. Gabrielle looks at Xena who signals agreement with a slow blink of her eyes. GABRIELLE Yes, we will. TARA (sighing audibly) Thank you.  Please, stay here tonight and get a good night’s rest.  I have a good staff that will take care of your meals and room needs.  You can leave for Paradise in the morning. XENA First things first. Let me take a look at those legs.... FADE TO: INT. GUEST ROOM IN THE INN - NIGHT Gabrielle and Xena are snuggled in bed. Gabrielle is barely keeping her eyes open while Xena watches the flames leap in the fireplace. XENA There’s just something refreshing about swimming in the sea. GABRIELLE Um hmm. XENA Those waves just took it all out of you didn’t they? GABRIELLE Um hmm. XENA Sleep well, my bard.  Tomorrow may prove to be interesting. Xena reaches down to pull the covers over them. GABRIELLE Xena? XENA Hmm? GABRIELLE Tara was pretty brave tonight when you re-broke her legs. XENA Yeah, she’s still tough all right. The healer here should be hung. Worst job I’ve ever seen. But now, she definitely will be able to walk on her own again and without a limp. GABRIELLE Maybe even dance? XENA Definitely dance! FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE