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

FADE IN: Scenes from last week’s episode…. EXT. TOWN - NIGHT Xena and Gabrielle, drawn on by the smoke and screams, have pitched in to help. Xena stands with a stable hand helping to get the panicked horses from their burning quarters, while across town, Gabrielle stands atop the roof of the village inn, wetting it down to prevent the fire’s spread. From her position on the roof, Gabrielle can see a young woman running back and forth, pulling at her hair and screaming. She can’t make out the words, but she knows the woman is in trouble. GABRIELLE Hold this! Handing off her water pail to a middle aged man, she makes for the ladder and quickly slides down. Running to the woman, Gabrielle gently grabs her elbow and spins her to face her. GABRIELLE (cont’d) What is it? What’s wrong?

WOMAN My baby!  Oh, please… my baby!! CUT TO: INT. BURNING HOUSE - NIGHT The fire is still blazing all around them despite the great amounts of water being thrown at it. GABRIELLE What now? Xena looks up at where the roof had been just moments before. She gifts Gabrielle with a wicked grin. XENA Ready?

GABRIELLE Somehow, I just knew that was going to be your choice. CUT TO: EXT. CAMPSITE - NIGHT GABRIELLE Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

XENA Vacation? GABRIELLE Oh, yeah. CUT TO: INT. FALAFEL’S SHOP - DAY FALAFEL (cont’d, dramatically) Oh, fair Pompeii, the land of beauty and legend, an artist’s paradise! Rolling green hills, the beautiful Mount Vesuvius.... GABRIELLE Excuse me. Did you say artist’s paradise? FALAFEL Indeed I did, dear woman. GABRIELLE Sold! CUT TO: EXT. POMPEII - DAY GABRIELLE By the gods, Xena, did you ever see anything so beautiful? CUT TO: EXT. POMPEII MAIN SQUARE - DAY ORATOR I tell you, my brothers and sisters, the time for my God’s wrath is at hand! But you can save yourselves! Repent your sinful ways! Repent your wickedness! Repent and you will be saved! XENA (whispering) Loos. CUT TO: EXT. POMPEII - MORNING LOOS You thought I was crazy! Well you were wrong! Come see! Come see the wrath of the God of Eli against this unholy city! Come see!! GABRIELLE (nervously) Xena? What is it? XENA (softly) Son of a bacchae….

FADE OUT. END OF TEASER