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

FADE IN: EXT. TOWN - NIGHT It is just after sunset in a peaceful, small town built on a hillside in the middle of the forest. The town is surrounded by a sturdy, well build log wall, and the gates are heavily barred but not guarded. In a clear space just inside the walls, a wagon train is gathering in the light of pine pitch torches. The people seem cheerful, even somewhat excited, but move around at their tasks calmly and with purpose. CUT TO: INT. TOWN INN - MAIN ROOM - NIGHT The inn's main room is not overly busy, but a good number of the tables are occupied. Set in one wall is a huge hearth, and in a nice warm corner nearby is a table with two occupants and the last remains of a nice dinner. On the table is a square piece of parchment, weighted down on all four corners by the unusual practice of a dagger neatly nailing them in place. XENA and GABRIELLE ponder the board with serious expressions. They are dressed in nondescript peasant-type clothing, rather than their usual stand-out-in-any-crowd garb. The parchment is drawn off into a playing board with squares, half the cream color of the parchment, and half a dark black. On the playing board are perched carved wooden pieces, also half natural wood and half darker stained. Xena is contemplating one of the pieces for an extended time. GABRIELLE (teasingly) I know we've been experimenting with this new mind thing we have, Xena, but I really don't think you can move that just by looking at it.

Xena picks up the piece and moves it by a more conventional method. XENA Check. (smiling, then frowning.) I could have, way back when.

Gabrielle ponders the board with a frown herself. She considers, then a little hesitantly, moves one of her pieces. GABRIELLE The Lao Ma thing? XENA Mm. (drumming fingers) Y'know, you're picking up on this. Xena moves another piece, and captures one of Gabrielle's. She leans back and takes a sip out of her nearby mug as Gabrielle sighs, and rests her chin on her fist. GABRIELLE After all this time, you'd think so. Ah. She moves piece, and captures one of Xena's taller pieces. GABRIELLE (cont’d) But it sure doesn't come naturally like it does for you. XENA Uh huh. Xena moves a piece and captures one of Gabrielle's taller pieces. XENA (cont’d) Check. (pause) Mate. Gabrielle frowns at the board. GABRIELLE You knew I was going to do that, didn't you? Xena smiles, and tips her mug back. GABRIELLE (cont’d) So you sacrificed your piece to trap me. How do you always know what to do? You drive me nuts! Xena begins to set the pieces back up. XENA It's all strategy. And knowing your opponent.... She takes Gabrielle's fingers in her own. XENA (cont’d) Like the back of her own hand. Xena rubs her thumb over Gabrielle's knuckles. Gabrielle chuckles, and shakes her head. She glances around them. GABRIELLE Nice not to be the center of attention for a change. Dressing like this was a good idea. Xena twirls one game piece on the table. XENA Yeah. Tomorrow we'll be gone, and they'll never know we were here.

CUT TO: EXT. TOWN GATES - NIGHT The wagon train gets ready to leave. It consists of at least a dozen huge carts, all piled high with a variety of goods and produce. Each cart is pulled by four horses, most mismatched as though horses from any possible source were put in to pull. More horses are brought alongside, and men mount up on them. Near the gates, an older man stands with one of the riders, who is still holding the reins of his horse, and has not yet gotten into the saddle. The older man clasps the younger on the shoulder. This is MEDEINUS, leader of the town, and BALAR, his son. MEDEINUS That's all of it, my son. Are you ready? BALAR Ready as I can ever be, Father. It seems so dangerous to leave at night though. Are you s....

MEDEINUS Balar, we have spoken of this many times. No one will expect us to send our wealth, our harvest out in the darkness. By day they watch the roads. By night, they sleep or drown themselves in ale. Balar nods. BALAR I know you're right. It just worries me. Theses wagons represent all we have. Medeinus seems a little impatient. MEDEINUS And that is why I am sending every able man in the town with you, to make sure it gets to market, son. Medeinus turns and motions to two men near the gates. MEDEINUS (cont’d) Throw them open! (to Balar, lowering voice) Do not disappoint me, Balar. I am counting on you to get what we need to survive to the next harvest. Reluctantly, Balar gets onto his horse. The other riders cluster around him, and we can now see that they are young, and most do not carry anything resembling a weapon. The few that do have pitchforks. MEDEINUS (cont’d) (loudly) Fare well, men of Pontus! May the gods see you a swift journey, and a lucrative return! The gates swing open, and the riders move out, followed by the wagons. The sound of hooves and wheels seems very loud in the quiet of the surrounding night. After the last wagon and man leaves, the gates swing shut.  Two women struggle to put the bars into place, assisted by an old man. Medeinus watches them briefly, then dusts his hands off and turns, walking up the path to a large, two story building nearby. CUT TO: INT. TOWN INN - PRIVATE ROOM IN THE BACK - NIGHT This is a smaller room at the rear of the inn, but nicely decorated. On one side is a comfortable looking bed more or less big enough for two people, and a thick bearskin rug on the floor. It is very dark inside. The door opens and Xena and Gabrielle enter, each bearing a candle. Xena walks to the tiny table on one side and puts the candle in a clay dish, while Gabrielle walks around and lights a few other candles around the room. XENA Waste of wax. We're just going to blow em all out. Gabrielle turns and puts one hand on her hip. GABRIELLE Maybe I want to write for a while. Xena walks over to her and unties the string holding closed the neck of Gabrielle's shirt. Gabrielle watches as Xena slowly removes it hole by hole, all the way down to her navel. XENA All right. I'll get your quills.

Gabrielle lifts her eyes and one eyebrow. GABRIELLE We're coming back around to this whole 'strategy' discussion, aren't we? She pokes Xena in the arm. GABRIELLE (cont’d) I'm being outmaneuvered.

Xena smirks. XENA First step to good strategy is knowing it when you see it, Gabrielle. Besides, you're getting better at the game. Gabrielle seems a touch pensive. GABRIELLE I don't think it's my game. (smiling) Now you, on the other hand.... Gabrielle puts her arms around Xena. GABRIELLE (cont’d) ... are my idea of fun, so let's go play. Xena douses the candles. A breeze from outside creeps through the shutters and rattles them as two shadows glide across the room and fall into bed. CUT TO: EXT. HILLSIDE ABOVE THE TOWN - NIGHT In a thick grove of trees, a large group of mounted horsemen wait. They watch the moon slowly set behind the mountains, and the lights just as slowly go out in the town. At the front of the horses, two men stand, dressed in black leather armor. FIRST MAN (to second man) Kill everyone you can get your hands on. SECOND MAN Right. FIRST MAN Just try not to wreck the place. We gotta live in it.

The men chuckle, and turn to mount their horses. FADE OUT. END OF TEASER