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ACT I
6. EXT. FOREST – FOLIAGE - DAY
The young warrior, Falcon, continues to crouch
in the foliage at the edge of the clearing and watching the two strange
women. From this vantage point he can only hear them speak in a language
he is unfamiliar with.
CUT TO:
7. EXT. FOREST – CLEARING - DAY
Xena’s fingers carefully probe over
Gabrielle’s neck and shoulders. This appears to be more of a light
massage than a search for injury. Gabrielle gives a low hum of approval.
XENA
(satisfied)
Well, no damage that I can find.
Satisfied that no serious injury was done, she
helps the bard sit up.
GABRIELLE
Good to hear. Think we should get going?
Both look up as a distant, indistinct call is
heard. The hardened warrior women look to each other and quickly get to
their feet.
GABRIELLE
(somewhat quickly)
We should definitely get going!
XENA
Yeah. Good idea.
Another cry is heard, this one definitely
originating from the direction the two bears fled.
GABRIELLE
(thoughtfully)
Sounds like its further up towards the hills.
Xena nods and gestures in the opposite
direction.
XENA
(thumbing)
Then lets head in that direction.
They walk quickly out of the clearing.
A moment later we see the foliage sway as
Falcon moves to follow them.
FADE TO:
8. EXT. FOREST – DAY
Falcon continues shadowing the two. We watch
just behind him as he takes up position just out of easy sight, blending
in with the trees as Xena and Gabrielle move first across a shallow
stream, then up a hill until they come upon another clearing.
Xena frequently looks back over her shoulder
at Gabrielle as the bard struggles a little to keep up.
XENA
Need a rest?
GABRIELLE
No. I’m okay. That bump on the head back there
has given me a bit of a headache though.
Gabrielle can’t stop the small yawn that hits
her right then. Her shoulders sag as Xena gives her “The Look” and taps
her foot ever so lightly.
GABRIELLE
(reluctantly)
Well, maybe. Think we’re far enough away from
momma bear back there?
XENA
Should be. I think we can camp here for the
night. Gabrielle!
Xena nearly shouts the last as we see
Gabrielle all but fall to her butt, her eyes wide and blinking rapidly.
Xena is immediately by her side. She holds Gabrielle’s chin gently
between her fingers and lifts up her head. She looks deep into
Gabrielle’s eyes.
Gabrielle shakes her head as though trying to
clear it...or shake off Xena’s fingers.
GABRIELLE
I’m all right. I’m all right. I’m just...I
guess I’m more tired than I thought.
Xena looks like she wants to argue, but
decides it isn’t worth it. Instead she stands and unhooks the chakram
from her belt as she visually scans the surrounding forest.
XENA
Good. Then it’s settled. We’ll camp here for
the night.
(beat)
I’m going to rustle us up some dinner. You’re
sure you’re...?
Gabrielle stands and gives her a glare,
stopping the question cold.
GABRIELLE
I can certainly handle starting a cook fire
and opening out bedrolls, Xena.
Xena again looks ready to argue.
Gabrielle holds up her hand, extending a
single finger.
Xena’s protest is silenced when Gabrielle
presses her finger to her own lips, eyebrows raised and expression
sincere.
Xena can only sigh in defeat as Gabrielle
gives a small, dismissive wave.
GABRIELLE
Go on and go kill something. You’ve been
itching to all day. I know it.
XENA
Ha!
Xena’s expression sobers as she takes a small
step closer, leaning in slightly so she can speak quietly into
Gabrielle’s ear.
XENA
You know, there’s someone out there.
GABRIELLE
(nodding)
Yeah. He’s been there since we ran into momma
and baby bear.
XENA
Just be careful.
Gabrielle raises her hands as though making a
vow.
GABRIELLE
I swear I won’t approach any adorable, furry
little animals while you’re gone.
She says this with such complete sincerity to
make it completely hilarious.
Xena grins and claps her on the shoulder
before turning and gliding into the forest. Gabrielle watches her go,
looking as though a thought has just hit her.
GABRIELLE
(to herself)
I just hope we’re completely away from the
Sasquatch lands. Ah well.
Gabrielle starts to unpack their gear.
CUT TO:
9. EXT. FOREST - DAY
Falcon likewise slides away into the forest,
the smaller branches and leaves rustling ever so slightly at his
passage.
Gabrielle looks over her shoulder as she works
and gives a small, disapproving shake of her head.
CUT TO:
10. EXT. FOREST – DAY
Xena moves cautiously through the underbrush,
the chakram loose in her hand. Her boots make no sound as she glides
across the ground. She looks about with the same smooth, relaxed
movement, a small grin playing on her lips.
Xena hears a rustling a little ahead. She
inches forward.
Behind her, we see Falcon quickly moving from
cover to cover, shadowing Xena’s progress. He makes no move towards
either his bow or the knife sheathed on his belt. Instead he crouches
behind cover, watching the tall woman’s every move.
Seemingly unaware of the presence behind her,
Xena herself crouches and goes still. Her eyes narrow and the air itself
goes silent, as though the forest holds its breath.
A slight, almost inaudible rustle of dry
leaves several feet away suddenly breaks the stillness.
Xena whips up the chakram and lets it fly
slightly to the left of the disturbance. The chakram whirls through the
air, ricocheting off a tree and plunging down behind a fallen tree
nearby. There is the choked sound of something dying, then silence once
again.
Xena nods to herself, satisfied, and strides
forward. She steps over the tree trunk and retrieves the chakram,
expertly twirling the blood streaked weapon one-handed for a moment
before wiping it off and placing it on the hook at her hip. She leans
down again to examine her catch. She picks up the bloodied body of an
adolescent rabbit, followed by the equally bloodied body of a large
rabbit.
With a grunt of open satisfaction, Xena
carries the two small carcasses away, heedless of the noise her
footfalls make upon the frosty ground.
Falcon breaks his cover once more, mouth open
and eyes agape at the sight he has just witnessed. He can only blink in
amazement.
CUT TO
11. EXT. FOREST – DAY
Xena drops the pair of kills besides the
crackling cooking fire Gabrielle has managed to start. The warrior bard,
who is kneeling nearby, looks at the two carcasses for a moment before
looking up at Xena with a semi-quizzical expression.
The warrior princess merely shrugs and kneels
down to rummage around inside her bag.
Gabrielle lifts one of the rabbit’s hind legs
an inch or two then lets it drop, doing so with a look of anticipation.
GABRIELLE
Uhmmm, you want rabbit stew or roasted rabbit?
Xena simply shrugs.
XENA
(loudly)
It’s getting cold out here.
GABRIELLE
(loudly)
Yes, very. Wouldn’t want all this good meat to
go to waste, do we?
Both know they aren’t speaking to each other
anymore. They share a look of resigned patience between them as Xena
produces a small knife from her bag. She picks up the rabbit and begins
to prepare it for dinner.
FADE TO:
12. EXT. FOREST - DUSK
Gabrielle dumps the last of the small bones,
now picked clean, into a wooden bowl.
The cooking fire continues to burn, a small
spit over it.
Xena sits across from Gabrielle and takes a
drink from their waterskin.
Gabrielle gives a nod towards the forest
behind them as she licks her fingers clean.
GABRIELLE
Think he’s still out there?
XENA
(disinterested)
Probably.
GABRIELLE
Hmmm. I just wish...oh.
Gabrielle is now staring directly over Xena’s
shoulder, leading the warrior princess to turn and see what has her so
distracted.
Falcon has finally broken his cover completely
and is slowly approaching them. He still has his bow and quiver in hand,
though held away from him, as though offered as a gift.
Gabrielle carefully moves to crouch beside
Xena, who has yet to stand or even move an inch.
GABRIELLE
Hello?
Falcon looks at her, as though startled by
hearing her speak.
GABRIELLE
(signing)
It’s all right. We won’t hurt you. Do you
understand me?
Falcon looks increasingly frantic, shaking his
head in confusion.
XENA
Wonderful. Another new language to learn.
GABRIELLE
Well, I guess each tribe around these parts
has different signs and words for things...
Falcon is no longer listening, but instead is
moving closer.
Both Xena and Gabrielle instinctively tense at
his approach, but he appears to pay it no mind. Rather, he sets down his
bow and quiver on the ground between them, doing so with almost
religious reverence.
Xena and Gabrielle are a little confused by
this.
Falcon continues to crouch before them and
grasps his wrists before him, forming a sort of square with his arms. He
bows to them and settles back on his haunches.
Xena and Gabrielle share a look of open
confusion. Falcon bows again and stares at the chakram on Xena’s belt.
Gabrielle is the first to notice where he’s
staring and gives a small laugh.
GABRIELLE
Ah. I see. You want to trade.
XENA
What?
GABRIELLE
(to Falcon)
Trade? You want to trade?
Xena looks between them in further confusion
for another moment, and then realizes what the silent young hunter is
staring at. She cannot help but laugh as well, though with a bit of an
edge. She then gets to her feet and moves closer to Falcon, who appears
a bit startled by this but hold his ground nevertheless.
Xena looks down into the young man’s earnest,
challenging eyes. She glances back to Gabrielle before sighing and
picking up the bow and quiver. Falcon’s eyes literally light up as he
watches this, only to go quiet again as Xena clearly holds them away
from herself and offers them back to him.
Rather than immediately take them back, Falcon
reverently holds hands over the weapons, then raises them over his head
and moves in a stationary circle before stopping and pointing at the bow
once more.
Xena can only stare at him, uncertain of his
meaning.
XENA
What was that about?
Gabrielle stands and walks over to her with a
thoughtful expression.
GABRIELLE
I think he’s trying to say...there’s a spirit
infused within the bow...maybe...
XENA
Magic?
Gabrielle shrugs.
XENA
Well, I don’t care if he got it from Artemis
herself. No trade!
GABRIELLE
(placating)
All right, Xena. I think he gets the message.
Falcon, despite not understanding them,
clearly has. He glares at Xena’s rebuff and snatches both bow and quiver
out of her hands. He gives Gabrielle an equally telling glare, turns,
and stalks back off into the forest.
GABRIELLE
I hope he wasn’t hungry.
Xena says nothing; instead she turns back to
their camp to get ready for the night.
Gabrielle waits a moment longer, looking
slightly discomforted for some reason, before she too returns to their
camp.
FADE TO:
13. EXT. FOREST – NIGHT
Xena and Gabrielle lie within their bedrolls,
looking up at the stars.
GABRIELLE
I still don’t see it.
Xena points upwards, slightly to her left.
XENA
It’s over there, just above the bright one.
GABRIELLE
The one we’ve been following?
XENA
Yup.
Gabrielle squints a little.
GABRIELLE
Oh, okay. I see it now. What did you call it?
XENA
“The Big Dipper.”
Gabrielle gives her a skeptical look, but soon
settles back.
GABRIELLE
You really think we’ll find a way home?
XENA
I’m sure of it.
GABRIELLE
Hmm.
FADE TO:
14. EXT. FOREST – NIGHT
The forest surrounding the two women is quiet
now. The campfire has begun to burn out.
A dark figure silently approaches, careful not
to disturb the ground. Falcon’s hunting skills pay off as he nears the
campfire.
He kneels slowly and from a small leather
pouch at his hip, he removes something and sprinkles it into the dying
embers and then swiftly takes his leave.
The smoke from the fire starts to become
thicker, and it begins to blow towards Xena and Gabrielle.
Xena catches the first whiff of the dark fumes
and stirs slightly, only to be almost immediately overcome by them as
they render her unconscious. Gabrielle doesn’t even have the chance to
stir, never mind protest.
Once the pair is completely overcome by the
fumes, Falcon creeps out of the darkened forest to crouch near them. He
waits for several beats, as though unsure of himself. He quickly rallies
and, lips pressed tight together, inches forward.
He delicately lifts the chakram from Xena’s
belt, supremely careful not to disturb the slumbering warrior woman.
Once it is free of the belt, he sets it aside and once again unlimbers
his bow and quiver, setting them directly beside Xena.
The young hunter backs up as silently as he
approached. He once again grasps his wrists and bows to the two
unconscious women, and is gone without making a sound.
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT I
ACT II
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