TEASER

FADE IN

It is night. Wide shot of the old, abandoned house in the forest where Xena and Ares made love for the first time during the storm.

CUT TO

Ares is standing in the bedroom, looking around. He seems thoughtful and uncertain. Slowly, he runs his hand along the bedpost.

Ares walks up to the window where Xena had been standing and sighs, looking outside.

Ares leans on the windowsill and looks out. An owl hoots quietly in the dark, accompanied by crickets. The stars are very bright and the moon is full. He seems troubled.

There is a golden flash off camera. Ares doesn't move a muscle. The camera pans over to Aphrodite walking up to him.

APHRODITE (cheerfully):
     Hey, Bro. Found yourself a new vacation spot?

Ares glances at his sister, then continues to look out the window. Aphrodite catches his blank expression and becomes serious.

APHRODITE:
     Something's bothering you.

Ares looks at Aphrodite, shakes his head and backs away from the window.

ARES:
     Nope.

APHRODITE:
     Yeah, like I'm gonna believe that one.

Aphrodite follows Ares, who is now standing next to the bed.

APHRODITE:
     What are you so bummed about, Ar? Hmm? I don't get it. You and the Warrior Babe are finally getting along... (giggles) ...so to speak. You should be happy. (Ares gives her a questioning look; Aphrodite rolls her eyes) Well what do you expect? I'm the Goddess of Love. It's my job. Of course I know what's going on. All I can say is, not a moment too soon. I'm all for taking your time on foreplay, but forty years is ridiculous.

ARES:
     Well, if you know what's going on, then you also know that (his voice softens) she's not okay with it.

APHRODITE:
     Xena? Not okay? Suuure. Ar--I love you, Bro, but you can be so clueless sometimes.

ARES:
     Don't you have anything better to do than insult me?

APHRODITE (pretends to think):
     Uh, let's see...no? (off his exasperated look) Hey, I'm getting to the point.

ARES:
     Oh, there's a point.

APHRODITE:
     Look, she was with you because she wanted to be. Has she ever done anything she didn't want to? Come on, you know Xena always had a soft spot for you, even when she was kicking your ass.

ARES:
     She's still worried about... (looks down) ...being with me.

APHRODITE (with the look of someone who has just had a brilliant insight):
     Oh, I get it! It bothers her, and it bothers you that it bothers her. (she frowns a little, as if trying to make sense of what she just said, then nods to herself)

ARES (shoots Aphrodite a slightly irritated look):
     Did you want something?

APHRODITE:
     I just thought you might want to talk to someone. You know, express your feelings and all that.

ARES (snorts):
     Talk?

APHRODITE (shrugs):
     Well, it beats zapping things with silly fireballs.

ARES:
     It does? (joking) Careful, Sis, or one of those fireballs might be coming your way. (he forms a fireball in his palm and tosses it from hand to hand before letting it dissolve)

APHRODITE:
     You wouldn't. You know I care about you, Bro. And maybe I'm not the only one.

She smirks, then disappears. Ares chuckles quietly.

ARES:
     Nice try... (to himself) But maybe she's right. (pause) They say there's a first time for everything.

CUT TO

Xena and Gabrielle are camped out under the stars, at the edge of a forest. They are sitting around a campfire. Gabrielle is writing in a scroll and across from her Xena is sitting near the fire, staring into the flames in deep thought.

Eve walks up from behind the trees, carrying a basket filled with berries.

EVE (walking up to Xena and Gabrielle):
     Here comes dessert.

Gabrielle looks up from her scroll.

GABRIELLE:
     Dessert? Too bad it's our whole dinner tonight. I still can't believe that we couldn't catch a single fish. (chuckles) Well, at least it's not rabbit. I think I've had my fill of that for a year or two.

EVE (sits down next to her):
     I'm sure the rabbits will be happy to hear that.

XENA (smiles at her):
     I think we can survive for a night on a vegetarian meal.

GABRIELLE:
     I'll hold you to that.

Eve, meanwhile, has shaken the berries out of the basket and started dividing them into three portions. Xena, Gabrielle and Eve start to eat.

GABRIELLE:
     You know, it's really nice to have a few days without much going on. That fight against the Persians took it out of me more than I thought.

XENA:
     A few days of peace and quiet...the fate of the world not resting in our hands...what a radical idea.

Eve finishes her food and stands up.

EVE:
     Speaking of peace and quiet, I think I'm going to go to sleep. (smiles) 'Night, Mother. 'Night, Gabrielle.

XENA:
      'Night, Eve.

Eve walks over to the side of the camp and crawls into her bedroll, falling fast asleep in moments. Xena watches her daughter for a moment, then picks up a cloth that is sitting next to her, lifts the chakram from her side, and begins polishing it. She does so for a few moments then puts the cloth down and begins to slowly spin the chakram in her hand, staring at it almost transfixed, the image of the fire flickering in its shiny metal surface. She is a million miles away.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena?

Xena jolts, her trance broken.

XENA:
     What?

GABRIELLE:
     That's the third time I said your name.

Xena looks over at Gabrielle who is looking back at her. She looks a little uncertain and Gabrielle catches this expression on her face.

GABRIELLE:
     What's wrong?

Xena doesn't answer but instead looks back down at the chakram, sighs and lays it next to her on the ground. Gabrielle watches this.

XENA (unconvincing):
     Nothing... I'm fine.

GABRIELLE (putting down her scroll and quill next to her and looks at Xena deeply, undeterred):
     It's bothering you again, isn't it? (softly) The thing with Ares?

XENA (looks up, softly):
     Yeah.

Gabrielle stands up and walks up to Xena who looks at her.

GABRIELLE (sitting down next to Xena):
     You wanna talk about it? It'll make you feel better.

XENA (shakes head):
     I don't think I'd know what to say.

GABRIELLE (reproachfully):
     After everything we've been through together, you still can't talk to me.

XENA:
     Gabrielle, that's not what I meant. I just--this isn't a good time.

GABRIELLE:
     Are you sure? It'll help if you let it out--it always does.

XENA:
     Maybe not always. (glances over at the sleeping Eve) I think Eve had the right idea. We'd better get some sleep. You never know what's going to happen tomorrow.

Xena stands and walks over to her bedroll, lying down in it. Gabrielle sighs and then does the same.

Just as Gabrielle closes her eyes, the sound of screaming echoes through the forest. Xena, Gabrielle, and Eve's eyes fly open. They sit up and look at each other.

GABRIELLE:
     It couldn't even wait until tomorrow.

She stands up, grabbing her sais. Xena rises too and picks up the sword and the chakram.

EVE:
     It?

GABRIELLE:
     Whatever was going to happen.

EVE (gets up):
     So much for peace and quiet.

GABRIELLE:
     That's usually my line.

XENA:
     Let's go.

CUT TO

Several warriors are pummeling and kicking a young man in ragged clothes. He struggles to his feet only to be knocked down again. The warriors laugh. Xena gives her ululating battle cry and the warriors stop and turn around to find Xena, Gabrielle and Eve running toward them from the forest. Xena and Gabrielle charge the warriors and knock them down one by one while Eve kneels over the injured man, whose face is bruised and bloodied.

EVE:
     Are you all right?

MAN (breathes heavily):
     I've been better. But I'll live.

The warriors having been taken care of, Xena and Gabrielle approach.

XENA:
     What'd you do to make them so mad?

MAN:
     I volunteered to leave and find help for my town, Coronea. No one else was brave enough to risk getting caught. I had to go.

GABRIELLE:
     Why?

MAN:
     Coronea has been under siege by Nicodemus the Warlord for nearly a month now. (Xena's face changes slightly at the mention of Nicodemus) Already, people are dying from hunger and disease. I was trying to leave in the hope that there would be someone who could help break the siege. Nicodemus' men went after me. (Nods toward the unconscious warriors)

GABRIELLE:
     Well, you've found that someone.

MAN (shocked):
     You three, go up against Nicodemus and his army? Do you know who you're dealing with?

XENA:
     I've dealt with tougher men than him.

EVE (defensive):
     They did save your life.

MAN (looks at Xena and Gabrielle, slightly embarrassed):
     I can't thank you enough. (still doubtful) Well...I'm sure the townsfolk will appreciate any help they can get.

XENA:
     That's more like it.

Some of the unconscious warriors begin to stir. Xena sees this and then looks at Gabrielle and Eve.

XENA:
     We'd better get going before naptime is over.

Xena whistles and Argo, followed by Gabrielle and Eve's horses, comes galloping up. The three of them mount.

MAN:
     I'll show you the way. It's a couple of hours' walk from here.

He starts to walk but Gabrielle trots up to him, extending her hand.

GABRIELLE (smiles):
     We'll get there faster this way. Climb on.

The man accepts Gabrielle's hand and she pulls him up behind her. Xena and Eve guide their horses up to Gabrielle's.

GABRIELLE (looking behind her at the man):
     By the way, my name is Gabrielle.

MAN:
     Lander. (looks over at Xena) Your friend doesn't look like anyone I've ever seen before.

EVE (cutting in):
     That's because she's Xena...and I'm Eve.

LANDER (in awe):
     Xena? The Xena? (he stares at Xena who looks back, raising an eyebrow) Wow, you were right. You will be able to handle Nicodemus.

XENA (shakes her head):
     It never changes.

GABRIELLE:
     And it never stops.

XENA:
     I appreciate your faith in me, Lander. But before you start savoring my victory, I should at least take a look at the enemy. Show the way.

Lander nods and Gabrielle starts her horse off in a trot. Xena and Eve follow as Lander points the way as we:

FADE OUT

END OF TEASER