FADE IN Xena and Gabrielle are riding through the countryside--a hilly green valley with some sparse trees. The camera zooms in. They are talking, their conversation still inaudible, both of them looking happy and relaxed. Suddenly Xena pulls Argo to a halt and stops and listens. Gabrielle stops as well. XENA (whispering to Gabrielle): GABRIELLE (frowns): A distant noise is heard; it sounds like screams. Xena kicks the stirrups and rides forward. XENA: Gabrielle rides fast behind her. CUT TO Xena and Gabrielle bring their horses to a halt on the top of a hill. Down below a village can be seen. People can be seen running around frantically; some houses are burning or smoldering. GABRIELLE (sighing): XENA (kicking the stirrups): Xena rides down the hill. CUT TO Xena and Gabrielle ride into the village to survey a scene of chaos. Many huts are caved in or seriously damaged; people are putting out fires; household utensils, bread loaves and fruit are scattered on the ground, as well as broken clay pots; many villagers look bruised and scratched. MIDDLE-AGED MAN (standing near a collapsed hut): Several people rush toward him. Xena and Gabrielle dismount and join them as well. A faint cry of "Help!" is heard from under the wreck. The villagers start pushing the broken boards away, with Xena and Gabrielle helping them. Finally a young woman is pulled out from the rubble. She looks frightened and bruised. MIDDLE-AGED MAN: XENA: YOUNG MAN: Xena looks around. XENA: GABRIELLE (sadly):
Close-up of the face of a terrified-looking old woman in the crowd of villagers. OLD WOMAN: GABRIELLE (shocked): XENA (skeptical): Gabrielle can't help but snicker, getting cold stares from the villagers. GABRIELLE (holding back laughter): FEMALE VILLAGER (shouting): All of the villagers start to nod, using their hands and arms to show how massive the dog was. OLD WOMAN (piping in): All of the villagers nod and begin talking over each other. XENA (frowns):
Xena and Gabrielle are staring at the villagers. XENA (still skeptical): All of the villagers nod and talk over each other again. GABRIELLE: MALE VILLAGER (laughs): The camera pulls back to show Xena smirking. XENA (sarcastically): MALE VILLAGER (oblivious to her sarcasm): OLD WOMAN (piping in): MALE VILLAGER: Xena and Gabrielle exchange puzzled looks. GABRIELLE (quietly): VOICE (off-screen): Xena whips around abruptly and draws her sword. At the point of her sword, there is a flash of orange light. Then, a black-clad figure materializes. The camera pulls back to show that it's Hades, God of the Underworld. HADES (smiles thinly): XENA (narrows her eyes at him suspiciously): Hades smiles a bit sheepishly as we: FADE OUT END OF TEASER |