FADE IN:

12. EXT. DECHAMPS STREET - NIGHT

The full moon is making its way high into the night sky. There is no one in the street. We can hear a loud argument coming from Mathieu's house.

JULIANA (O.S.)

Mathieu! Don't!

MATHIEU (O.S.)

You don't tell me what to do!

CLAUDETTE (O.S.)

Go ahead! Hit me again!

There is a sickening sound of an open hand hitting flesh. And again.

JULIANA (O.S.)

Claudette! NO!

There is the sound of something reasonably solid hitting flesh. A few moments later, Claudette - no more than fifteen years old - runs out of the house, her nose bleeding, her cheek red, and her bottom lip swollen. She's holding a solid-looking urn in her hands, which she drops as soon as she realizes that she just hit her father over the head with it.

She doesn't see anything, much less the time, as she turns and runs to get away from her abusive father. Moments later, Juliana, her mother, comes out and looks for any sign of Claudette...then runs in the opposite direction. She's got a swollen eye, soon to be quite the shiner, and a split bottom lip.

CUT TO:

13. EXT. MOON SHOT - NIGHT

Clouds scuttling past the moon darken the bright orb momentarily, but not the power that it wields.

CUT TO:

14. INT. UNKNOWN LOCATION - NIGHT

There is heavy breathing in the room. A fire silhouettes a man on his knees, groaning in pain. He sits back on his legs and his hairy arm is clearly seen in the moonlight, already well into the transformation.

His arm hair grows longer and turns gray/black; muscles shift and transform. Bones pop as they're readjusted to form paws.

A voice strains to not call out as skin elongates and bones continue to pop, trying to fit this new form.

CUT TO:

15. INT. TAVERN - NIGHT

Xena and Gabrielle are sitting at the table, their drinks before them.

GABRIELLE

So what now?

XENA

We watch Mathieu...

GABRIELLE

Xena, I know I don't need to mention this, you're well-versed on the human anatomy and all, but...Mathieu's not a dog. At least, not in the physical sense.

CUT TO:

16. INT. UNKNOWN LOCATION - ANGLE - SILHOUETTED HEAD - NIGHT

From the mouth and nose area, a snout forms as do vicious-looking canines. Ears grow longer and fur covers them.

CUT TO:

17. INT. TAVERN - NIGHT

Xena takes a pull from her mug of ale, completely draining it.

XENA

Yeah...but maybe he has some sort of control over animals.

GABRIELLE

Like a beastmaster or something? Xena, that's...hey, wait, I like that idea...

Gabrielle takes out a scroll and quickly jots down the idea for further reference. Xena rolls her eyes, her smirk giving away her amusement, then signals Harriet over for a refill.

CUT TO:

18. INT. UNKNOWN LOCATION - CLOSE-UP - EYES - NIGHT

In a strip of moonlight, blue eyes are illuminated. They're bright with pain and fear...then they start to cloud over and turn into the feral brown of a hungry beast.

CUT TO:

19. INT. TAVERN - NIGHT

Gabrielle is finishing up her scribbles and Harriet comes over to refill Xena's mug.

XENAHarriet, what can you tell me about Mathieu?

HARRIET
(looks around and bends down then whispers)

He'd be a good man if he had better control over his anger.

Your food will be ready soon.

Harriet walks away. Xena and Gabrielle share a look then settle in for the wait. The bard grabs a couple of breadsticks and hands one to Xena, who takes it. Gabrielle bites an end off, then ponders the little stick a moment before looking at the warrior, her eyes glittering. Xena catches the look and, without a word, the two of them quietly commence a bread-staff fight.

CUT TO:

20. INT. UNKNOWN LOCATION - WIDE ANGLE - NIGHT

The transformation is complete. Out of the darkness walks a large gray/black wolf. It looks around calmly for an exit. It sniffs the air.

It so happens that Claudette runs past a partially shuttered window, attracting the wolf's attention.

CUT TO:

21. EXT. DECHAMPS STREET - NIGHT

Claudette continues to run, but she's tired and her eyes are clouded over with tears.

Behind her a window's wooden shutters explode into splinters, then the sound of a four-legged creature loping up behind her makes her turn in time to see the wolf pounce on her.

CLAUDETTE

DADDY!

CUT TO:

22. INT. TAVERN - NIGHT

Xena and Gabrielle are still bread-staff fighting, but Gabrielle gets the upper hand - so to speak - and breaks Xena's staff in two just as Harriet brings them their meal. The warrior and bard smile at Harriet.

GABRIELLE

Thank you!

Harriet smiles and leaves.

CLAUDETTE (O.S.)

DADDY!

Hearing a girl yelling, Xena and Gabrielle jump up and run out of the tavern and out into the street. The warrior draws her sword.

CUT TO:

23. EXT. DECHAMPS STREET - NIGHT

Xena and Gabrielle run out of the tavern and toward the screaming. They run past the pieces of wood and see Claudette sprawled on the ground being held by someone. Xena and Gabrielle circle around, the warrior's sword ready to kill the person, when it's revealed that Mathieu is holding her, crying, a large gash on his forehead going up into his hair from where she hit him.

FADE TO BLACK: