10. EXT. COUNTRYSIDE

Xena is some distance from the campsite, moving cautiously through the forest. Her eyes register every movement in her quest for prey.

Birds chatter noisily overhead. She draws an arrow from the quiver on her back and notches the feathered shaft into the bow in her left hand.

She steps carefully, her footsteps calculated and light.

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11. EXT. CAMPSITE: STREAM -

Gabrielle strolls down to the stream, leading Argo and her own mare with one hand and holding the water skins and staff in the other.

She allows the animals to sate their thirst a bit downstream from where she bends to replenish their water supply.

As she catches a glimpse of her reflection in the water, she instinctively reaches out to touch it.

By the gods, Xena's right. I look awful!

She scoops the cold water up in her hands and splashes it on her face, then begins to wash her hands and arms.

Both mares have made their way closer to the bard.

Argo nuzzles the bard's neck.

Argo... I just don't understand what's happening to me... why I can't sleep... why I'm having these awful dreams...

Suddenly Argo skitters and whinnies.

What's wrong, Girl?

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12. EXT. COUNTRYSIDE

Beneath her foot, a twig snaps. The noise startled a grazing doe and her fawn in the clearing ahead. Xena stands motionless as the doe lifts her tawny head, her ears twitching forward and back, listening avidly for another unfamiliar sound.

The animal raises its head; its muzzle greets the summer breeze, searching for a scent that means danger is near. Then suddenly, she whirls and dives into the brush, her fawn close behind.

From the corner of her eye, Xena catches a glimpse of quick movement. She turns slowly... silently. There, no more than a dozen paces from where she stands - balanced on hind legs, pink nose sniffing the air - sits breakfast.

Pivoting almost imperceptible on her left foot, she slowly raises her bow.

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13. EXT. CAMPSITE: STREAM -

Gabrielle instinctively reaches for her staff.

Approaching her from the direction of their campsite, are the men she and Iolaus had fended off several days earlier.

Well, well, well... What have we got here?

Why it's the little girl who thinks she's a warrior!

His men laugh wickedly as they begin to inch around the bard.

Just stay right where you are, or you'll get more of the same.

Well...

I'm just shakin' in my boots!

His close-set eyes sweep the entire area, darting to his three circling companions before finally settling on the determined bard.

Personally, I don't find you all that threatening without your male companion, little girl!

Look, I don't have anything you need. So, why don't you just leave? That way no one gets hurt.

Oh... but you do have something I want, girlie, and you know exactly what it is!

Now! Where's the body of the Warrior Princess!?

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14. EXT. CAMPSITE - BEHIND A TREE

With head cocked, the Warrior Princess listens to the heated exchange. She peers from behind her cover and takes inventory. The determined look and warrior stance taken by Gabrielle was unmistakable. She recognized it all too well, having taken the stance a hundred times or more during her reign as warlord.

Gabrielle?

Xena glances ruefully at what would have been their breakfast. She gives a slight shrug and drops the limp carcass to the dusty, leaf-littered ground and begins a slow, silent approach to their campsite, using the trees for cover.

As she closes the distance between them, she sizes up the four scruffy looking men closing the gap between themselves and the defiant young woman facing them. The proximity of the leader to the bard makes the Warrior Princess nervous. One wrong step on the wet ground and slippery leaves could prove fatal.

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15. EXT. CAMPSITE: STREAM -

Argo and the other mare appeared to be protecting Gabrielle's back as she slowly moved forward.

Gabrielle moves cautiously away from the river's edge. Her green eyes twinkle and she feels a rush of adrenalin as she gauges the moves of the four men. A smile spreads across her face as she eyes the leader, whose sword sways threateningly in front of her.

What are you grinning at!

Oh... trust me... nothing... NOTHING at all... Now... why don't you and your friends just turn around and go back to where you came from?

Me and my friends ain't goin' nowhere 'til we get what I came for!

You don't get it do you?

There IS nothing HERE for you! So, just move along and no one will get hurt!

Hurt?! HA! The only one who's gonna get hurt here, Girlie, is YOU! Now! I want the body of the Warrior Princess, or I'll finish you off right here!

I don't THINK so!

... Now I told you and your smelly, ignorant, desperately-in-need-of-a-bath friends to get moving. I really HATE having to repeat myself!

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16. CAMPSITE - THICKET OF TREES

Xena is stunned at Gabrielle's reactions.

If I didn't know better... I'd swear to Tartarus that she's enjoying this!

Blue eyes dart from the bard, to the two mares protecting Gabrielle's back, to the leader and his three companions.

Having seen and heard enough, the Warrior Princess reaches for the strongest limb above her head and makes a quiet, yet hasty climb. Cautiously she moves along the thick bough and braces herself against the rough trunk. The bow on her shoulder finds its way to her left hand and an arrow is drawn from the quiver. Notching the shaft into the bowstring, Xena takes careful aim, just past Argo's withers at the man who is trying to get at Gabrielle from behind.

Xena lets out a shrill whistle, and Argo rears on her hind quarters, front hooves dancing threateningly at the interloper, frightening him to a standstill. Gabrielle's mare follows suit, and knocks the man to his knees. Then both horses gallop away.

A singing vibration registers in the wind, catching Gabrielle's attention. A moment later, there is an agonizing scream and a thud, as the man hits the ground.

A barrage of curses from the remaining men fills the air, and a familiar battle cry rings in their ears.

YI-yi-yi-yi-yi-yi-yi-yi-yi!!!

From the limbs of a tree behind them, a lone, leather clad figure somersaults and lands with dignity and grace; bronze breastplate gleaming in the morning sun.

Hi guys... sorry to break up this little party... but I simply HAD to show you that I wasn't quite finished with my body yet!

YOU!! Alive?!?

Sorry to disappoint...

Oh... No disappointment, Warrior Princess! It just gives ME the pleasure of killing you myself!

Xena, smirking, raises her free hand and beckons him to come at her.

Gimme your best shot.

Growling contempt, the man takes the bait; the others take their cue from his actions and begin to move in.

Before the leader can take another step, Gabrielle, smiling evilly, tucks her staff between the man's feet.

Oh, I don't think so, hot stuff!

The man falls face down in the dirt. Before he can recover, a staff smashes down on his wrist. As he turns to glare at the bard, the staff collides with a crack, full in the face. He falls back moaning, his eyes rolling back in his head.

Xena fends off thrusts from the other two with her sword. A high kick sends one man sailing through the air, in Gabrielle's direction, and he lands on his back with a thud.

With a familiar battle cry, the Amazon Queen somersaults through the air, eluding the large but shaky blood-stained hand about to grab her ankle.

The battle cry startles and distracts the second combatant in the middle of a downward swing of his sword-arm. Xena uses the distraction to her advantage. Her sword clashes heavily into his, causing a flash of sparks and drives the blade into the ground.

Gabrielle lands with grace immediately behind the man recovering from Xena's kick, and as he rises, her staff connects with his head.

Unphased by the blow, he turns to face a malevolently grinning young blonde.

Hmmmm... you must be what my mom would call a thick head.

An instant later, the end of her staff connects with his jaw. He falls backward, eyes rolling up.

Xena's opponent tries to free his sword from the ground. The elbow of her sword arm connects with his face with such force and speed, the impact sends him sailing backward several feet to land in a heap in a pile of leaves.

Xena and Gabrielle, stand back to back, triumphant.

Oh, Xena! THAT was fun!

Xena, brow raised high into her bangs, gives her companion a side-long glance.

Uh-huh... Well... don't get too comfy... It's not over yet.

Gabrielle walks beside her companion.

Oh?

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17. BACKGROUND - THUGS

The men regain their senses, shaking their heads as they sit up. They reach for their weapons and stand. With angered growls they charge toward the two women.

The sound of feet on the leaf-laden ground prompts Xena into giving Gabrielle a side-long glance.

Lao Ma once told me...

If you turn your back on your enemy, listen for them, that you may know their position...

Both women spin around.

Xena's sword makes a clashing collision with one of their antagonists.

Gabrielle brings her staff up in time to block the downward thrust of the others heavy sword.

Together the duo struggle effortlessly, blocking blows, dodging jabs, using high kicks and quick spins to counter their attackers' lunges.

Their faces grow stern and determined.

As Xena's attacker makes another charge, a strong sinewy leg kick-boxes him in the mid-section. She follows up with a forceful kick to his shin, disabling him, before her fist, still holding her sword, connects with his jaw. He reels backward, unconscious.

Gabrielle's staff connects with her opponent's stomach.

Xena takes a quick inventory of their assailants. The leader has recovered and is charging toward Gabrielle.

BEHIND YOU!

Xena runs toward Gabrielle and takes on the second thug, giving Gabrielle the freedom to handle the leader.

Without thought, Gabrielle swings viciously around. Her staff connects with the leader's ribs, sending vibrations up her arms. He drops his sword and falls, face first to the ground with a groan.

The look on Gabrielle's face is one of pure satisfaction.

Xena backhands the second thug, sending him sprawling to the ground, semi-conscious.

If you know what's good for you, you'll stay down!

The man nods, absently.

Xena turns to Gabrielle. The color washes from her face.

Gabrielle reaches for the leader, and with uncanny strength, turns him over. Two small hands with firmly extended fingers descend to the man's neck.

GABRIELLE! NO!!

I've just cut off the flow of blood to your brain! You will be dead in 30 seconds unless you swear by the gods that you'll leave and never bother us again!

Xena leans over and places a firm hand on the bard's shoulder.

Gabrielle...

Gabrielle doesn't seem to realize Xena is speaking to her. Xena reaches down and grabs Gabrielle by the scruff of her neck and yanks her off the man who lay quivering beneath her.

Just WHAT do you think you're doing?

What!?

Where'd you learn how to do that?

Gabrielle rubs her temples and blinks several times.

Do what? What are you talking about?

I... I swear!!!

Smart choice, fleabag...

As Gabrielle watches in a daze, Xena bends over and releases him from the Pinch.

Now, get your men and clear out of here!

The man rubs his neck and nods. He gets up slowly, wiping blood from his nose, and makes his way toward his men.

As the three men limp toward their fallen comrade, Xena turns to Gabrielle. Two strong hands grasp each of the bard's shoulders firmly. Her blue eyes burn into her friend's consciousness.

Gabrielle, do you know what you just did?

I... I think so... But... I don't understand how...

Xena closes her eyes and puts an arm around the young woman.

Come on... Let's get you cleaned up... We'll break camp and pick something up to eat on the way to Amphipolis...

Gabrielle looks up at the warrior.

I thought you were getting us breakfast... what happened?

It got away...

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18. EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - MIDMORNING

Large puffy white clouds dot the sky, casting living shadows over the rolling hills. Tall pine trees align both sides of the man-made path, providing shade for the two women who walk side-by-side, leading their horses.

So... you wanna tell me what happened back there, this morning?

I... I really don't know.

Besides, I don't know where to begin...

You can start by telling me what you were thinking... maybe what you were feeling...

I was thinking how much I wanted to send that smelly, over-confident, beady-eyed weasel to Tartarus... Him and his smelly friends with him...

Gabrielle's mare bobs her head and whinnies.

... And how did that make you feel?

I don't know...

Exhilarated, I guess...

... Like I could take on an army and win... It was a real rush, you know?

I guess it made me feel... sort of like you...

Xena raises an eyebrow and is silent for a long while. They walk on in silence for several yards.

Gabrielle, do you remember anything about the nightmare you had the other night?

Vaguely...

Can you tell me about it?

Well... it was a little disjointed... made no sense... but there was this ship and I... I mean you... well, not sure which one of us... but one of us was wearing a fancy outfit... there was this guy... kind of handsome... He was wearing a red cape thingy that was attached to some fancy leather armor...

He was kind of full of himself...

Xena frowns, recognizing the man from the description.

You said something about a girl...

Gabrielle thinks for a moment.

Yes... from Gaul I think... she seemed scared, but loyal... I got this feeling like she wanted to help me... You... Well... one of us...

I told you... the dream was crazy... mixed up... And when we were on a beach... I started getting scared...

Why are you asking me about that?

Ephiny and I were talking about your nightmares... and I was just curious... that's all...

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19. EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - LATE AFTERNOON

Gabrielle and Xena are riding the trail to Amphipolis, along the shoreline. The distant sound of waves crashing on the shore, the rhythmic saunter of the horse beneath the bard, the sound of hoof-beats on the dusty trail had a lulling effect, and her lids grow heavy. Gabrielle begins to lag behind. Soon her head is bent forward, chin resting on her chest.

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20. FADE INTO DREAMSCAPE:

Screams of women and children fill the air as they scurry to find shelter.

Angry male voices ring out, shouting curses and orders. The sound of swords clashing one against another assaults her ears as her steed gallops through the acrid, swirling smoke.

Women are being dragged from their homes as men, who are trying to protect them, are cut down.

Cortese and his blood-thirsty army have finally managed to make their way to Amphipolis.

In the din, a single cry for help went unheeded by all. As the cry turned to screams of terror, Gabrielle pulls back on the horse's reins.

The smoke parts and she sees three men tearing the clothes off a young woman they've thrown to the ground.

HELENA!!!

She reaches for the sword in her scabbard and kicks her steed hard, urging it forward.

Her weapon arcs upward with an audible SWOOSH, coming down with a sickening crack through the assailant's vertebrae, decapitating him.

The man, who had been attempting to straddle the young woman, draws his sword and thrusts it at the charging warrior.

She counters with her own sword and kicks him hard in the face. As he staggers back, she leans low and runs him through.

She turns her attention to the third man, still holding the struggling woman, one arm across her throat.

His eyes lock with her glaring green ones in an unspoken dare.

As she kicks her mount into action, a dagger suddenly appears, and slices across his victim's throat.

His victory is short-lived. As his victim falls to the ground, Gabrielle's sword pierces his heart.

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