FADE IN:

5. EXT. DECHAMPS ENTRANCE - LATE AFTERNOON

The five men, dragging the carcass of the horse come into the village. The villagers look at the horse and lower their shaking heads. They're not sickened by what they see, they're saddened and it's almost as if the sight of the horse has stripped away that much more hope from an already gray and mucky village.

XENA
(to Urbain)

If this has been going on so long, why haven't you done anything about it?

URBAIN
(whispers)

We did, but it's hard to hunt something when you don't even really know what it looks like. It did stop for a while, but it started up again shortly after Mathieu and his family moved here.

GABRIELLE
(whispers)

You sound as though you think he might be involved...

URBAIN
(whispers)

With his temper anything's possible.

A slightly portly and good-natured fellow exits a building and heads toward the horse carcass and those who brought it. He's wringing his hands worriedly.

URBAIN (CONT'D)
(to Xena and Gabrielle)

That's Maurice, our newly elected magistrate. Best one we've had in years.

(to Maurice)

Ho there, Maurice!

MAURICE

Welcome back, Urbain...gentlemen. Oh... This is Isobel, isn't it?

URBAIN

Yes, sir.

MAURICE

Oh dear...I'd better break the news to Carson myself. I think he was secretly hoping you'd find her alive.

Maurice is about to run off when Urbain stops him.

URBAIN

Maurice, this is Xena and Gabrielle! From Greece! They're going to help us!

Xena and Gabrielle look at each other. Maurice smiles and then frowns when he realizes why they need help.

GABRIELLE
(to Xena)

Obviously, we are, but we said this when?

Xena smirks as she clasps arms with the magistrate.

MAURICE

How wonderful of you...uh, I'm Maurice. Welcome to DeChamps. Urbain, could I possibly bother you to fill them in? I want to get to Carson before someone else does.

(beat)

Please forgive me, ladies. Perhaps, I could join you for an early dinner?

GABRIELLE

We'd be honored.

MAURICE

Well, then, I'll see you later. Thank you, Urbain.

Maurice nods his good-byes to Xena and Gabrielle then hurries off toward Carson's house. Urbain steps forward.

URBAIN

Follow me. I'll take you to the inn.

They arrive at the inn and Urbain opens the front door.

URBAIN (CONT'D)

I hope you don't mind that I told Maurice you'd help us. I'm just so excited to get the chance to see you two do your thing...

Xena and Gabrielle walk in, giving him a look about his wording.

URBAIN (CONT'D)

Not that kind of thing, I meant the sweating, flipping, kicking, beating people up kind of thing, which really could be that same thing and I think I'll shut up now...

Urbain walks in after the warrior and the bard.

CUT TO:

6. INT. INN - LATE AFTERNOON

Urbain walks around Xena and Gabrielle to get to Alyse, the counter clerk. There is an entrance to the tavern next door near the rear of the inn's surprisingly spacious lobby. There are potted plants and well-used chairs and benches lining the walls.

URBAIN
(to Alyse)

Alyse, this is Xena and Gabrielle...they're going to help us with the beast. Maurice will pay their tabs.

Xena and Gabrielle look at each other in disbelief at what he's just said.

ALYSE

Okay, Urbain. Can you do me a favor and get the dinner for room fourteen from next door? I can't find Claudette...

URBAIN

Again? Don't tell Mathieu...

ALYSE

Believe me, I won't.

URBAIN
(to Xena and Gabrielle)

Excuse me. Alyse will take care of you.

Urbain heads to the back tavern door as the warrior and the bard step up to the counter.

XENA

We'll pay for our own room.

ALYSE

I know.

GABRIELLE

Does he do that often?

ALYSE

Constantly. Everyone overlooks it because he's a good man. At heart, his intentions are good, you know? Let's get you in your room...

7. INT. INN SECOND FLOOR - LATE AFTERNOON

Alyse takes them up a flight of stairs and into their room. It's very simple: a hard-looking bed, a table and two chairs, an uncleaned fireplace, and a view of an ugly wall.

GABRIELLE

Is it possible to get a bath sent up?

ALYSE

Bath? Sent up? Where do you think you are? Caesar's palace?

XENA
(to herself)

Been there, done that.

ALYSE

The bath house is down the road, but it's closed at this time of day during the full moon. Too dangerous.

Alyse gives the key to the room to Xena.

XENA

What have you heard about who's behind these attacks every moon?

ALYSE
(thinks)

Well, I've heard talk that some folks think it's a curse. Others think it's this crazy old man who lives in the deep woods just stirring up trouble in his boredom. And there are a few who think someone's jealous of the owners and kills their animals to get back at them...

XENA

What do you believe?

ALYSE
(shrugs)

Maybe it's a little of everything...all I know is that we lock the front door to the inn during the full moon...almost like clockwork.

(short pause)

To get to the tavern, use the door near the rear of the lobby. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Enjoy your stay in DeChamps and I hope Urbain hasn't gotten you into anything.

Alyse leaves. Gabrielle looks at Xena.

GABRIELLE

So...do you have any ideas yet? About what could be causing this?

XENA

A few...

GABRIELLE

Urbain seemed to think that Mathieu is involved... We should try to talk to him first, right?

XENA

Might be a good idea...he might, at least, know what's going on. We'll talk to him after we eat with Maurice...

Gabrielle nods and the two of them head out of the room to go to the tavern.

CUT TO:

8. INT. INN LOBBY - LATE AFTERNOON

From a P.O.V. - Point Of View - shot of someone hiding behind several potted plants, we see not only Alyse come down and head into a back room, but Xena and Gabrielle follow a few seconds later. Xena looks towards the spy briefly before they head into the tavern.

CUT TO:

9. INT. TAVERN - LATE AFTERNOON

The tavern, even though it's barely before suppertime, is packed. The general atmosphere is subdued, sombre. The effect of finding the horse dead is so much more palpable in the confined space of the tavern. A young woman comes up to them.

HARRIET

You must be Xena and Gabrielle. I'm Harriet and I'll be serving you today.

(points to a woman behind the bar)

That's Marguerite...she owns the tavern and the inn. It'll die down in here soon...it's already getting close to moonrise.

Shows them to a table in the far corner.

HARRIET (CONT'D)

Urbain already came in and arranged everything. Isn't he a sweetie?

GABRIELLE

Yes, he's quite a character...

HARRIET

He is...and absolutely well-meaning.

Harriet seats them and hands them both a small menu scroll.

HARRIET (CONT'D)

Can I get you a port or ale?

XENA

Ale, please.

GABRIELLE

Water, please.

HARRIET

Sure thing. I'll be right back.

Harriet bustles off to get them something to drink.

CUT TO:

10. EXT. TAVERN / INT. INN - P.O.V. SHOT - LATE AFTERNOON

This P.O.V. shot is from a window in the door between the tavern and the inn. We can see Xena and Gabrielle sitting at their table. When Xena noticeably looks over to the door, we duck down so she can not see us.

CUT TO:

11. INT. TAVERN - LATE AFTERNOON / EVENING

Xena notices that a group of men at the bar are the same ones they met in the woods - Jean-Marc, Alain and Andre. They're sitting there with their heads in their hands as they nurse an umpteenth ale.

XENA

Stay here...I'll be right back.

Gabrielle connects the dots from Xena's eyes to the group of men at the bar and nods once as the warrior stands and heads over to talk to them. She sits in an empty stool and Marguerite hands her the ale she ordered. Before Xena can open her mouth to ask anything of the three men, Mathieu walks up behind her.

MATHIEU

You're in my spot.

Xena gives him her patented Steely Gaze, but relinquishes the stool. Mathieu smirks, cocky. Marguerite serves him up an ale.

MARGUERITE

Mathieu, I hired Claudette with one simple expectation...that she WORK. This is the third time she's disappeared while on an errand for me.

Anyone within earshot looks at Mathieu fearfully, and at Marguerite as if to say "Why did you say that? You know what's going to happen." Then, the barmaid realizes what she's said and to whom...and by the look on her face, she regrets saying anything.

Mathieu has said nothing and done nothing...and it's this calm that's gotten everyone worried.

MATHIEU
(chilling, calm)

I'll deal with her when I get home.

MARGUERITE

She's a good girl, Mathieu...just easily distracted. I'm not going to fire her or anything...maybe I should talk-

MATHIEU

I SAID I'll handle it. Thank you, Marguerite.

Marguerite turns pleading eyes toward Xena.

XENA

So...Mathieu...I hear you're new here. Where're you from?

MATHIEU
(stresses her name with contempt)

What business is it of yours, Xena?

XENA
(whispers)

You might want to make it your business to help me find out what's going on here. People have started accusing YOU.

MATHIEU

Which people?!

Xena neither flinches, nor backs away when Mathieu turns his angry blue eyes toward hers. Maurice enters.

MAURICE

Ah! Xena! There you are! Hello, Mathieu.

(notices tension)

Is there a problem?

MATHIEU

No. No problem at all. Good evening.

Mathieu stands and brushes past Xena and exits through the front. By the waning light we can see through the door, we can tell that evening - and the full moon - is approaching quickly.

MAURICE

Shall we sit?

Xena shows him to their table and they sit.

MAURICE (CONT'D)

Hello, Gabrielle.

The bard smiles and nods cordially.

MAURICE (CONT'D)

Please pardon me for I cannot stay too long.

(shifts uneasily)

Pressing matters...

XENA

Then I promise we won't take up too much of your time.

(pauses)

I've heard that some of the villagers think Mathieu is behind the attacks in some way.

MAURICE

He is hardly harmless, but I do not think he is capable of what was done to that horse.

XENA

No...I suppose not. Do you know where he's from?

MAURICE

Not precisely. Only that he and his family are from somewhere south.

Maurice glances outside at the night's approach.

XENA

What about this old man who lives in the woods?

MAURICE

I do not think he is even still alive...much less able to rip out the throat of a horse...

XENA

I'm sorry to hold you up, but I've only got one more question for now... Is this area known for large wild dogs?

MAURICE
(carefully)

I suppose we have our fair share, but I cannot be absolutely sure without looking over our records. Perhaps you should speak with the farmers...but not Carson - he owns the southern-most farm. He is very distraught over the loss of Isobel.

(pauses)

I'm sorry, but I must leave. I did not realize when I got here just how late it was. Perhaps I can join you for lunch tomorrow?

Xena smiles and nods, Maurice stands.

MAURICE (CONT'D)

Good...great. Have a nice dinner, on me...and stay indoors.

Maurice nods towards Harriet, who finally returns with a goblet of water for Gabrielle and a basket of bread, and leaves. Maurice leaves. Xena gives Gabrielle a look of puzzlement at his hasty departure before giving Harriet her order.

FADE TO BLACK: