WRITTEN BY
Linda Crist

DIRECTED BY
Denise Byrd

PRODUCED BY
Carol Stephens


SCREENGRABS
Judi Mair

ARTWORK
Lucia

EPISODE TITLE GRAPHIC
MaryD


FADE IN:

EXT. DESERT HILLS - DAY


It is a bright sunny day. Too sunny, in fact. Across the hills, the heat rises from the desert floor in mirage-like fashion. The only vegetation in sight is a few bits of brown scrub. The wind whips across the terrain, lifting the sand in swirling dust devils.

Over the top of a hill, Xena and Gabrielle appear dressed in appropriate desert garb. They trudge slowly over the crest of the hill and down the other side, their high soft boots leaving deep prints in the sand behind them. Neither one appears very happy.


GABRIELLE
Are you sure we turned the
right way at the Dead Sea?

XENA
Yeah, yeah, I'm sure.

XENA

(cont’d, to herself)
I think.

Gabrielle stops and spins around a few times, untangling the ends of her long tunic which has wrapped itself around her legs. She sighs in frustration and then spits.

GABRIELLE

Pah! Bleck! I hate
the taste of sand.

XENA

Then keep your
mouth closed.


Xena's eyes twinkle mischievously and she glances sideways at Gabrielle, who opens her mouth to protest just as another dust devil swirls between them, giving her another mouthful.

GABRIELLE
Ugh!

She spits again and glares at Xena, who flashes her a cheeky grin.

XENA
Told ya.

She walks on and Gabrielle shuffles to catch up with her.

GABRIELLE

Yeah, well, my mouth isn't the only
place full of sand. Think we might
find a place to wash up a little?

XENA

Getting a little edgy, my bard?

GABRIELLE
(grumbling sarcastically)
You know how fond I
am of the desert.

XENA
That makes two of us. But let me
point out that I'm not the one
who necessitated this little trip.

Gabrielle stops and places both hands on her hips.

GABRIELLE
What is that supposed
to mean? Huh?

She catches up again.

GABRIELLE
(cont’d)
You think this is my fault?
Xena! There is no
'Gabrielle effect.' I swear.


XENA

(drolly)
Uh huh.

GABRIELLE
Xena!

XENA
I love it when you
say my name.

Gabrielle gives her a close approximation of THE LOOK, and storms ahead of her. Xena laughs lightly and shakes her head, then lengthens her stride until they are even, and places a hand on her shoulder. Gabrielle shrugs her off.

XENA
(cont’d, softly)
Gabrielle, I'm sorry.

Gabrielle's eyes narrow as she considers the apology. Xena smiles and she can't help but smile back. She reaches out and Xena accepts the invitation, twining their fingers together as they continue to walk.

GABRIELLE
Thank you. Xena, it's really
not my fault the grail
ended up in my pack.

XENA
I know, but I'll be damned glad to
be rid of it and the bad luck.
Fire-breathing dragons.
Ghosts. Minion-wannabes.

GABRIELLE
(chuckling)
Xena, that was no bad luck.
Our life was like that before
we came to possess the grail.

XENA
True. All the same, it needs to go
back where it belongs. Merlin's
voice calling out from your bag in
the middle of the night gives me
the heebie-jeebies. Not to mention
he has some lousy timing.

Gabrielle blushes.

GABRIELLE
I wonder why Galahad wanted
it so badly if it's supposed
to be such bad luck?

XENA

Beats me, but knowing Merlin, he
put it in your bag knowing we'd do
the responsible thing and return
it to the temple they took it from.

She stops and sniffs the air, and smiles broadly.

XENA
(cont’d)
Come on, your bath awaits. There's
water just over that next rise.

She sniffs again and frowns.


GABRIELLE
What is it?

Xena doesn't answer, but leads them quickly to the top of the hill. Below them is a beautiful oasis with a sparkling blue pond, surrounded by lush green grass and several tall palm trees. On the other side of the pond is a herd of Arabian horses in various colors, some grazing and some lapping at the water.

GABRIELLE
(cont’d)
Oh. They're gorgeous.

Xena's face is pained and her answer is almost whispered.

XENA

Yes, they are.

Gabrielle places a hand on her shoulder.

GABRIELLE
You okay?

XENA
Yeah.  Just... I found Argo in a
herd like that one. Not too far
from here, as a matter of fact.

GABRIELLE

Really? Xena, you never told me
you'd been this way before we met.


XENA
(sadly)
Never came up.

Gabrielle places her arm around her waist.

GABRIELLE

You wanna talk about it?

Xena manages a smile and returns the side-hug, nodding slightly.

XENA

It was right after I met Hercules.
Right before I met you. It was
one of the loneliest times of my life.

GABRIELLE

If you were so lonely, why didn't you
go back to Hercules? He was
your friend. He would've welcomed
you, Xena. After what he did for
you, wasn't he your hero?

XENA
(quietly)
Hero? No. Mentor, maybe, but I never
though of him as my hero. Besides, I
was too pig stubborn. I had to figure
out a few things on my own.

Xena smiles down at Gabrielle, and ruffles her hair.

XENA
(cont’d)
Come on, let's go
check out the water.

Gabrielle studies her intently and slowly nods in agreement, apparently accepting the change of subject. They walk hand-in-hand toward the pond as we....


FADE OUT.

END OF TEASER

1