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The following episode written for The
Xena Warrior Princess Virtual
Season is a work of fiction based upon the television series Xena:
Warrior Princess. The original characters are used strictly for fan
purposes and not for profit. There is no intent to infringe upon or
violate any copyrights held by Studio USA, Renaissance Pictures, Universal
Television or any other organization that owns the rights to this
series.
The
script, story ideas, and any characters created by the authors that
are not part of the original series are copyrighted and remain the
sole property of those authors. Also, any original artworks are
copyrighted and remain the sole property of those artists. Permission
to use any of the written or drawn works herein must be submitted to
the original author(s) and artist(s).
Xena
Warrior Princess Virtual Season
Episode 8.2: Children of the
Forest
Written by: Richard B.Kloosterboer
Beta-read by: Talice, Penny
Illustrated by: Vio B
TEASER
1. EXT. FOREST - A CAMP BY A RIVER - LATE AFTERNOON
During their travels in the new world, they have met many new
people.
In recent days they have traded rabbit, fox and raccoon pelts for
new outfits for the coming winter from a native village further to the
south.
Xena and Gabrielle are camped by a river. Their canoe is pulled up
on shore.
A rabbit pelt is drying out for eventual trade with the natives in
the future.
Gabrielle is turning the meat over on the spit.
GABRIELLE
Hopefully the fresh paint won't run out before we reach the next
village. I'd hate to write my next epic in rabbit's blood.
XENA
(smirk)
Or your own.
GABRIELLE
(indignant)
That's not funny.
XENA
Actually, I’m impressed you’ve been able to protect your scrolls
with what we’ve been through.
GABRIELLE
(smiling)
I have many skills!
Xena laughs as she reaches for a piece of meat.
She rips a leg off the roasting carcass.
GABRIELLE
(tossing a bone over her shoulder)
It’s a shame the hot air balloon was so damaged with our last
landing. But I’m glad that tribe was interested in the basket.
XENA
(tossing a bone over her shoulder)
I think we got the better of the deal.
(nods toward the canoe)
Xena cocks her head to listen. Gabrielle turns in the same
direction.
XENA
Do you hear that?
GABRIELLE
A child…
(beat)
…in trouble.
CUT TO:
2. EXT. RIVER SHORE - LATE AFTERNOON
Xena and Gabrielle rush to the river’s edge. Gabrielle points
upstream, about a half mile away.
There is a large tree with several branches extending out over the
water. A big branch is floating gently downstream as a young boy
flounders in the river.
On the bank, several children are yelling and laughing.
A large, hairy creature, about nine feet tall, lumbers out of the
woods and makes it way into the river.
Frightened, the children run toward the woods. Off in the distance,
there are several plumes of smoking rising above the trees indicating
a village located inland.
GABRIELLE
There! A bear! Xena, it’s going after the child!
XENA
(unsheathing her sword)
Not if we can help it!
(beat)
Come on, Gabrielle!
Xena and Gabrielle race along the embankment.
CUT TO:
3. EXT. RIVER SHORE - LATE AFTERNOON
The creature, with the limp body of the boy in its arms, emerges
from the water.
It sees Xena and Gabrielle running toward it on one side. Native
villagers, summoned by the frightened children are rushing toward it
from the other side.
The creature gently puts the unconscious boy on the ground and
flees into the woods.
Xena chases the huge animal until it disappears into the forest.
Gabrielle remains behind to see if she can help the boy.
As she listens for a heartbeat, hands grab her and shove her aside.
ne native, spear in hand, points the weapon in her face.
A man wearing many beaded necklaces lumbers over to the boy then
gets to his knees. He listens to the boy’s chest and hears nothing.
CUT TO:
4. EXT. RIVER SHORE - LATE AFTERNOON
Xena, sword now sheathed, trots back to the river embankment.
She sees Gabrielle on the ground, a spear pointed in her face.
GABRIELLE
(signing)
I can help him!
MAN
(signing)
He is with the Great Mystery! You can do nothing for him!
The tribe gathers as they watch the exchange between the woman with
sun in her hair, and their shaman.
He turns to his tribesmen.
SHAMAN
(signing and speaking)
Do not listen to this stranger. The boy is with the Great Mystery.
One woman bursts through the crowd and wails, seeing her young
son’s limp form.
XENA
What’s going on?
GABRIELLE
(looking up at Xena)
He's not breathing. And this guy won’t let me help him!
Xena gives the warrior holding the spear “the look” and lifts the
spear away from Gabrielle’s face. She helps Gabrielle to her feet.
Xena approaches the boy. The shaman bars her way.
She pushes him aside and quickly kneels beside the unconscious
child.
Pinching his nose with a thumb and forefinger, Xena tilts his head
back to clear the airway. She blows five quick breaths into him, and
then begins to pump his chest. She does this several times.
The boy stirs. He coughs and spits up water.
A gasp escapes the lips of all who have witnessed the miracle.
Xena gets up and stands back, making way for his mother, a native
woman with long black hair adorned with few feathers.
The woman stares first at Xena then at her son.
Xena nods toward the boy, and the woman kneels down and lovingly
takes her boy into her arms.
The natives approach Xena with both awe and caution. They touch her
lightly, and talk among themselves.
The shaman stares menacingly at her.
He turns on his heel and issues orders to the warriors.
Several approach Xena and Gabrielle with spears.
Others go into the forest, tracking the footprints in the ground.
XENA
What’s his problem? I just saved the kid’s life.
GABRIELLE
(shrugs)
I don’t know... You’d think they’d be a little more thankful.
Several warriors surround Xena and Gabrielle and level their spears
at them.
XENA
I think we’ve just gotten an invitation to stay for dinner.
GABRIELLE
(nervously)
As long as we’re NOT dinner, I think we can accommodate them, don’t
you?
XENA
Right now, I don’t think we have a choice.
DISSOLVE TO:
END TEASER
ACT
I
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