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Finally, let me say, I wrote these scripts out of love for the characters and the stars of XWP. I am posting them here as a tribute to those wonderful and talented people who mean more to me than I can fully express here.

TEASER

FADE IN:

EXT. MODERATELY-WOODED WILDERNESS VALLEY - DAY

Camped in a small clearing, XENA and GABRIELLE are sleeping, with Argo tethered in the background. Xena rolls over and sits up, looking and listening. She looks around at Argo, as the horse SLIGHTLY REACTS to some sensed danger.

Gabrielle doesn't move, so Xena kicks the girl's legs.

Jarred from a deep sleep, Gabrielle sits up with a start and rubs her leg.

Xena is quickly gathering her bed roll.

Following Xena's gaze, Gabrielle turns to see a long line of men on horseback appear along the crest of a low ridge. It is a well-trained, impressively-outfitted military force.

Xena and Gabrielle look in the opposite direction to see many similar soldiers riding through the trees toward them.

Gabrielle jumps to her feet and starts pulling her things together.

The army closes in around them, tightly surrounding the clearing. The leader is a rather flamboyant middle-aged man wearing colorful civilian attire. He rides his horse into the clearing and circles the women, who just look up at him and remain silent. The man, KING AJARRO, stops beside a soldier that looks more like a sneak thief than a warrior.

Ajarro turns his attention back to the women.

Xena rolls her eyes toward the sky.

Gabrielle looks at Xena, as if expecting her to say or do something, but Xena only glares up at Ajarro and remains silent.

FADE OUT:

END OF TEASER

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

EXT. THE CAMPSITE - DAY

We pick up where we left off. Xena and Gabrielle glance around at the soldiers, then look back at Ajarro.

Ajarro laughs as if he just made a big joke, and he looks around at his soldiers, obviously hoping to hear their laughter, too. Many comply.

The LAUGHTER dies.

Xena looks away and remains silent.

Xena suddenly turns and grabs Gabrielle by the shoulders.

Gabrielle sees Ajarro motion to some of his men.

Xena jerks Gabrielle back around, and shakes her. Then, two soldiers come forward and start draping chains around Xena.

The two savage brutes lock the chains tightly in place, then yank Xena backward. The Warrior Princess reluctantly releases her grasp on Gabrielle. Her strong hands slip from her friend's shoulders, then reach out for a moment, before falling helplessly to her sides.

There is no reply.

Gabrielle picks up her belongings, including her staff, and walks hurriedly away. The soldiers open a gap for her to pass through. Finally, Gabrielle breaks into a run, and doesn't look back. Watching Gabrielle go, Xena's face is a mask of pain.

CUT TO:

EXT. A SPOT IN THE THICK FOREST - SAME

Gabrielle frantically tears her way through the thick trees and bushes. She abruptly slumps against a large tree, then bursts into tears, totally unable to hold it back any longer.

CUT TO:

EXT. A RIDGETOP - DAY

Concealed behind low bushes, Gabrielle watches the Royal Coach and the large army moving through the valley below. AJARRO is riding his horse near the coach. Xena is on the other side of the coach, in chains and lashed to Argo. Xena is flanked by guards.

Gabrielle picks a berry from a bush and puts it in her mouth. She lays down, rolls over onto her back and gazes up at the sky as she eats the berry.

Suddenly, Gabrielle seems almost overwhelmed.

Gabrielle returns to her kneeling position and looks over the low bushes.

The large entourage is now moving into the thick grove of trees at the far end of the valley.

Gabrielle springs to her feet, staff in hand, and dashes along the ridge crest.

EXT. A RIDGETOP - SAME

Gabrielle comes crashing through thick tree branches to find three of Ajarro's soldiers waiting for her. She slides to a stop and stands blinking at them.

Swords in hand, the soldiers step toward Gabrielle. SOLDIER #1 smiles at her, revealing his rotten teeth.

Gabrielle swings her staff, hitting Soldier #1 in the neck and sending him flipping backward. She quickly swings left and then right, taking out the other two. The three soldiers tumble down a steep slope and end up on a pile of large rocks. Moaning, they struggle, trying to stand.

Gabrielle turns and runs down the other side of the hill.

CUT TO:

EXT. THICKLY FORESTED AREA, ALONG THE TRAIL - DAY

Gabrielle is up a tree, laying on a large limb that stretches out above the narrow trail. She stares uncertainly at something in the distance.

O.s., we hear the SOUND of approaching horses.

As six of Ajarro's soldiers come down the trail and abruptly stop, looking ahead. Their leader, a YOUND OFFICER, points in Gabrielle's direction.

Gabrielle is frightened, but she holds her position, as the soldiers quickly ride toward her. The troopers stop directly below Gabrielle, who is obviously unhappy about the situation.

Gabrielle follows their gaze and sees three loaded wagons making their way up a little valley. The Young Officer turns to one of his men.

The chosen soldier rides away toward the distant wagons, while the others ride back the way they came. Gabrielle scurries down the big tree, plucks her belongings from bushes and vanishes into the thick trees.

CUT TO:

EXT. A CLEARING IN THE FOREST - DAY

Using shards of stone and other materials she has gathered from the forest, Gabrielle sits at the base of a huge tree and fashions a bow and several arrows. She looks up from her work at sunbeams slanting through the huge trees and at colorful birds flitting among the branches. The scene seems to vanquish all her troubles for a moment.

Gabrielle shakes herself out of the impasse and returns to the task at hand, even more determined.

CUT TO:

EXT. TOP OF A LOW BLUFF - NIGHT

Gabrielle looks down at the three supply wagons camped below her position. There are a couple of campfires, and several soldiers are milling about. Gabrielle steps back from the edge of the drop off and puts the bow and arrows on the ground, and then builds a small fire. She quickly places the cloth-wrapped arrowheads into the flames. Wasting no time, she grabs the burning arrows one at a time and shoots them into the wagons. All three are in flames before the soldiers realize what is happening. Gabrielle discards the bow and flees back into the night. O.s., we can hear the SOUNDS of flames and shouting men.

CUT TO:

EXT. ANOTHER, MORE DISTANT RIDGE TOP - DAY

Gabrielle leans against a tree and watches as Ajarro's coach and his large army arrive at the site of the burned wagons.

Gabrielle watches a moment longer, then she shrugs and shakes her head. She turns away and starts up the slope.

CUT TO:

EXT. A HIGH, FORESTED MOUNTAIN TOP - DAY

Gabrielle makes her way among trees and boulders and walks into a small, level clearing. Suddenly, she finds herself effectively surrounded by twelve of Ajarro's soldiers. She assumes a defensive stance. With swords drawn, they tighten the circle, moving in on their prey. Soldier #1 smiles at Gabrielle, showing his rotten teeth.

Everybody stops as Soldier #1 puzzles over the questions.

Play for humor: Gabrielle charges directly at Soldier #1 and uses her staff to pole-vault high over his head. Taking her staff along, her trajectory carries her beyond the edge of the plateau to the steep mountain side. The slope is not far from vertical, and she can't stop sliding. Going faster and faster, she twists and turns to miss jutting rocks and shrubs. We can hear INTERMITTENT SCREAMS all the way down.

Several hundred feet down, Gabrielle encounters a wide smooth ledge that takes her on an even more dizzying ride, diving and twisting for several hundred more feet. At last, she comes to a large flat rock that forms a ramp which shoots her into space. At first rising higher, she finds herself flailing in mid-air.

Then Gabrielle drops with the high-pitched, diminishing SOUND of a bomb falling. She drops another two-hundred feet to a deep pool. The splash is immense, but the water quickly grows calm. When Gabrielle finally surfaces, she gasps loudly and swims toward the shore. She pulls herself onto a sandbar at the base of the cliff. At first she appears to be doing push-ups, but then collapses face down in the sand. Then, she slowly turns her head sideways.

CUT TO:

EXT. ON THE ROAD - DAY

Gabrielle tops a hill and comes face to face with three dozen men, women and children. They all seem content to ignore Gabrielle, or they're too much in shock to even know she is there. At the bottom of the hill, the village is in flames, and beyond that a band of soldiers are escorting a loaded wagon away from the scene.

No one answers her, so she grabs a woman by the arm. The woman seems about to jump out of her skin.

Gabrielle stands and watches the refugees stream passed her. She stares at the pathetic faces, as realization sinks in, and then guilt.

Gabrielle walks down the hill, and through the burning village. The flames roar all around her, the bright light flickers across her deeply troubled but determined face. She steadily walks on in the direction the raiders went.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

EXT. THE TRAIL, THINLY WOODED LANDSCAPE - DAY

Gabrielle is walking along the narrow road. She suddenly stops and seems to be straining her eyes to make out something ahead. She runs forward and finds a water skin full of water, a loaf of bread, and a chunk of cheese neatly placed on a flat rock at the edge of the trail.

She looks all around.

Gabrielle slumps down beside some bushes, trying to stay within the shade. At first she just looks at the food and water out of the corners of her eyes, but then she grabs the water skin and starts to bring it to her lips. Then she suddenly stops.

Then she quickly turns the water skin up and drinks voraciously. Finally, she lowers the skin, breathing heavily. A movement draws her attention, and she looks off in the distance.

Five of Ajarro's soldiers on horseback are on a nearby ridge watching her. They rein their horses around and ride away. Gabrielle slowly shakes her head in bewilderment, then quickly reaches for the food.

CUT TO:

EXT. CAMPSITE OF AJARRO'S MEN - NIGHT

Gabrielle's head slowly rises from thick foliage. Light from a nearby campfire flickers on her face and on the bushes and trees.

A dozen or so of Ajarro's men are sitting and laying around the fire, several feet from the loaded wagon that they stole from the villagers. Most of them are passed out, drunk or well on their way to that state.

Gabrielle cautiously pulls back and moves around the bushes to another position. The wagon is shielding her from the drunken soldiers. She eases forward out of the thick bushes. She climbs into the wagon bed, near the front, and pulls the tarp over herself.

CUT TO:

EXT. CAMPSITE OF AJARRO'S MEN - DAY

Gabrielle is peering through a crack in the wooden sideboards, as the soldiers are mounting their horses. Most of the men are moaning and groaning, obviously suffering hangovers. The mounted troops move out and the old wagon lurches forward in a lame attempt to keep up with the horse riders.

CUT TO:

EXT. AJARRO'S MAIN ENCAMPMENT - DAY

The wagon rattles into the Ajarro's camp. Soldiers and horses are scattered across a large area.

Gabrielle peers through the crack and, seeing the many troops, she seems to try to make herself smaller, perhaps invisible. The wagon hits a bump and the jolt makes Gabrielle bump her head.

She quickly clamps her hand over her mouth, remembering that she has to be quiet. She glances up toward the driver, as if to see if he heard her outburst. Apparently, he didn't.

Near the center of the encampment, the wagon climbs a gentle hill and stops on a wide flat area under a stand of large trees. Camped soldiers can be seen in every direction. Gabrielle continues to stare through the crack, clearly growing weary. She blinks, as her eyelids grow heavy, and finally she falls asleep. Then, she awakens with a start, at the SOUND of approaching voices.

Two soldiers escort Xena in chains and ankle shackles to an aging officer who is standing only a few feet from the old wagon where Gabrielle is hiding.

Anton slowly turns to look at Xena.

The two soldiers lock Xena to the large tree, then walk away.

Gabrielle's eyes are at the crack in the sideboards.

Anton steps a little closer to Xena.

Anton moves his hand in a sweeping gesture, looking out at the vast panorama stretching out before them.

Gabrielleis still at the crack, listening.

Four soldiers quickly walk up to General Anton.

The soldiers free Xena from the tree. She just quietly looks at Anton, as the soldiers lead her passed the General.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE ENCAMPMENT - DAY

Soldiers are unloading the last of the supplies from the old wagon. Gabrielle has managed to stay hidden under the tarp. With the work finished, most of the soldiers walk away. One young soldier remains to deal with the large tarp. He lifts one side of the covering and gets a surprise, Gabrielle smiles out at him. He smiles and quickly lowers the tarp. Just then, an officer rides up on horseback.

The young soldier lifts the tarp to look at Gabrielle again. They both smile for a prolonged, uncertain moment.

The young soldier replaces the tarp over Gabrielle and runs off, to join his departing army. Gabrielle again tries to shrink and vanish as the troops ride by on both sides of the wagon.

With her face against the old boards and her eyes peering through the narrow crack, Gabrielle is badly displeased with this turn of events.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE DESERTED ENCAMPMENT - SAME

Gabrielle is trudging slowly along in the direction that Ajarro and his large army went. Behind her, the dilapidated wagon sits abandoned, like a symbol for the anguish and despair in the young woman's heart.

FADE OUT:

END ACT TWO

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

EXT. PLEASANT SPOT BESIDE A CREEK - DAY

Gabrielle stands quietly on the bank looking at the water. The serenity is abruptly ended, as a man on horseback seems to come out of nowhere. Gabrielle whirls around, bringing her staff up to meet the threat, but the horse stops and the rider calls out to her.

The boy dismounts and turns to face Gabrielle.

Gabrielle is not sure how to respond, but her smile returns. Darrian leaves his horse and walks toward Gabrielle, then passed her to peer into the water.

Gabrielle walks away and starts gathering sticks, and Darrian goes for something in his saddlebags.

CUT TO:

EXT. CAMPSITE BESIDE THE CREEK - DUSK

Leaning against a fallen tree, a few feet apart, Gabrielle and Darrian are finishing their meal.

Gabrielle is shaking her head.

Gabrielle smiles, her face aglow in the firelight.

CUT TO:

EXT. CAMPSITE BESIDE THE CREEK - NIGHT The fire has died to glowing embers. Gabrielle is stretched out on the ground near the fire. Darrian is laying a few feet away.

Gabrielle hears a RUSTLING OF LEAVES and opens her eyes, listening. The SOUNDS stop. She closes her eyes, but opens them as the RUSTLING OF LEAVES start again, then stop again. She waits, watching and listening. After a long interval, the SAME SOUNDS are heard again.

Darrian is standing a few feet behind Gabrielle. He is slowly working his way toward Gabrielle, trying to muster the nerve to get closer.

Gabrielle closes her eyes, and then smiles knowingly.

CUT TO:

EXT. CAMPSITE BESIDE THE CREEK - DAY

Darrian has saddled his horse and he is ready to leave. Gabrielle walks up to him, and he turns to face her.

Darrian mounts his horse and quickly rides away. Gabrielle watches him go somewhat somberly.

CUT TO:

EXT. A SPOT ALONG THE TRAIL - DAY

Gabrielle is plodding along, clearly exhausted. She chooses a large fallen tree as a place to rest. She drops her belongings, sits on the ground and leans back against the fallen tree.

A band of about a dozen of AJARRO'S PERSONAL GUARDS come riding up, quickly dismount and rush toward Gabrielle. She springs to her feet and takes out the first man with her staff. She jumps onto the fallen tree, and there downs two more soldiers. She jumps off the other side of the tree and makes a run for it across a wide open area, but the soldiers quickly surround her.

The soldiers move in, and Gabrielle's expression says she knows she is defeated. Just then, a high-pitched scream, A BATTLE CRY, immediately draws everyone's attention. A horse and rider come jumping high over the fallen tree. Gabrielle realizes who it is and reacts with renewed hope.

Darrian rides into the surprised group, scattering soldiers in all directions, reaches down and grabs Gabrielle by her arm to swing her up behind him on the horse. Their attackers are leaping at them from all sides.

A soldier thrusts a knife into Darrian's side, then grabs hold of the boy, trying to pull him from the horse. Darrian pulls the knife out of his own side and shoves it into his attacker's neck. The soldier falls to the ground.

Gabrielle kicks an attacker from the other side of the horse. The soldier falls backward, knocking down several more soldiers. Darrian digs his heels into the horse's side, and he and Gabrielle burst out of the vicious pack of killers and ride away.

Soldier #1 watches Darrian and Gabrielle ride away.

CUT TO:

EXT. A WOODED RIDGE SIDE - SAME

Still riding double, Darrian and Gabrielle slowly make their way up the steep slope. Darrian winces with pain and strains to speak.

Gabrielle slowly raises her hand to find that it is bloody. She quickly looks at Darrian's bloody side and reaches out to gently touch it again.

Gabrielle's face is a mask of fear and concern.

The horse balks and refuses to go any farther. They dismount, and Darrian looks at the horse's front hoof.

They take a few steps, but Darrian collapses to the ground. Gabrielle kneels beside him and quickly pulls his shirt open to reveal the wound. Her face tells the story, it's hopeless. She looks at Darrian and forces herself to smile.

Darrian dies, and Gabrielle just looks down at him for a moment, then lowers her head to his chest and weeps.

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

EXT. A RIDGE TOP - DAY

Gabrielle has found another vantage point where she can view Ajarro's latest campsite. The army is spread out over a wide area. Ajarro's coach can be seen near the center of the bivouac. Here and there, several campfires have been lit, and soldiers are slowly moving about.

A bright flash draws Gabrielle's attention. She turns to her right and looks off in the distance. Lightening is flickering all along the horizon, and the sky is growing black in that direction, as the cloud bank rolls ever closer. The first SOUNDS of thunder rumble across the sky. Gabrielle smiles slightly and nods.

CUT TO:

EXT. FORESTED PERIMETER OF AJARRO'S CAMP - DARK, RAINY NIGHT

TWO SOLDIERS on sentry duty are patrolling the area on foot. They pause under low tree branches trying to escape the downpour. There is occasional LIGHTENING FLASHES, followed by SOUNDS OF THUNDER.

Gabrielle is standing behind a tree near the soldiers. She is frightened and seems unsure about what to do. Holding her staff tightly against her body, she stares into the darkness as resolve sets the expression on her rain-drenched face. She swings around the tree and the two soldiers quickly turn to confront her. She knocks both of them unconscious with one determined blow. She quickly walks on her way, moving along a line of thick bushes. The rain is coming down in torrents, as lightening flashes and thunder explodes overhead.

EXT. AJARRO'S CAMP - SAME

Xena is securely chained underneath Ajarro's coach. She leans against the wheel, not totally escaping the rain. A movement draws her attention. She is terrified to see Gabrielle crawling from the nearby bushes toward her. She looks around, deeply troubled. The dim silhouettes of soldiers and horses can be seem nearby. Wet and muddy, Gabrielle crawls underneath the coach.

Gabrielle is struggling with the chains, but it is hopeless. Frustration and tears are clearly visible on her face.

Gabrielle pulls at the chains, and starts to cry. Xena looks at her friend and tries to choke back her own tears.

Xena shoves Gabrielle away, harder than she intended, and Gabrielle falls back on the wet ground.

They hear a low creaking sound and Xena detects a movement of the coach.

The coach door opens and Ajarro sticks his head out.

Ajarro looks down and sees Gabrielle on the ground.

Gabrielle bolts to her feet and dives into the nearby bushes, immediately vanishing into the dark, wet night. Xena is near panic, struggling against the chains, as a group of soldiers charge up to the coach.

The soldiers rush around the coach, and Xena manages to get her foot out and trips the first man, then several more fall over him.

A large muscular officer rushes up to the coach and reports to the King. He is the CAPTAIN OF THE GUARDS. The downed soldiers are getting back on their feet, a couple of them give Xena a dirty look. She smiles at them.

The Captain walks briskly away, then suddenly stops and looks under the coach at Xena. They exchange dark glares, but say nothing, yet somekind of understanding clearly seems to pass between the soldier and the captive. Then, the Captain walks on, just passing right by the disorganized group at the rear of the coach.

The soldiers follow their captain into the wet night. Xena silently watches in deep distress.

EXT. THE FOREST - SAME

A long line of soldiers are methodically combing the forest. Two soldiers walk by Gabrielle on either side of the large tree where she is hiding, and both glance back and spot her. Before the nearest soldier can cry out, Gabrielle swings her staff and knocks him out, then she whirls and takes out the second man. She turns and runs into the arms of a Herculean-like Captain. She solidly crashes into the soldier's broad chest, and she is dazed by the impact. She shakes her head and looks up at him.

Gabrielle struggles, but he has her in a tight bear hug.

Gabrielle relaxes, hanging limp in his strong arms, and just looks up at the big man. He is glancing around apprehensively, and seems unsure about what to do next.

The Captain carried her to nearby bushes and put her down. He put his hand on her shoulder and eased her down to the ground.

The Captain takes several steps away, then calls out to his men.

The Captain turns to look in the opposite direction.

Gabrielle remains hidden, peering out of the bushes at the Captain. The Captain watches as his soldiers move away, then he walks back to Gabrielle and gently lifts her from her hiding place.

The Captain whirls and hurries up the hill. Gabrielle stares at him in disgust, then turns and rushes into the darkness.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE MOUNTAIN PASS - DAY (HIGH NOON!)

Xena, still in chains, is riding on Argo beside the coach. Soldiers are all around the coach, and all around the Warrior Princess. She reacts, spotting something disturbing ahead.

Gabrielle is standing defiantly in the middle of the trail. She holds her position as the vast army draws near and stops.

Ajarro, seated on the top seat of the coach beside the driver, stands and raises his arms and gestures as he speaks.

Ajarro laughs with exaggerated exuberance, and he looks around at his soldiers to solicit their laughter, but only a few respond. Ajarro tries to recover, turning back to silently glare at Gabrielle. Deep Silence hangs over the crowd, all eyes on Gabrielle.

Anton dismounts, draws his sword, and walks toward Gabrielle. Xena is almost frantic trying to free her feet from the leather straps, while trying not to draw attention to her efforts. Anton stops squarely in front of Gabrielle, who doesn't move.

Anton looks at her for a moment, then slowly nods. He suddenly turns to face Ajarro and his powerful army.

Ajarro looks back at his army and motions for them to advance.

The long double column surges forward toward Anton and Gabrielle, who stand their ground. The column splits to pass on either side of Anton and Gabrielle and to take up formation behind them. Somewhat perplexed, Gabrielle turns to Anton.

Sword in hand, Anton determinedly strides forward. Gabrielle, her staff at the ready, marches at the soldier's side.

Ajarro's henchmen draw their swords, but wait for orders from their king. Livid, Ajarro turns to his several loyal men.

Xena is still sitting on her horse, and still in chains, but she finally frees her feet. She springs into the air and kicks the two guards on either side of her from their horses. Her feet land on her saddle and she jumps high into the air, flying over the coach. Her loud, high-pitched BATTLE CRY echoes through the canyon, as her trajectory carries her violently tumbling into the half dozen mounted soldierswho are advancing on Anton and Gabrielle. The immediate result of her assault is a tangle of disoriented humans and frightened horses. A

nton and Gabrielle, now running to join the foray, are only a few paces away.

Xena is avoiding thrusting swords and kicking her opponents unconscious. Gabrielle takes out one of the attacking soldiers with her staff and moves on to another. Anton crosses swords with two particularly savage soldiers and is forced to kill them. The battle is all but over as the mounted army closes in to surround the scene, including Ajarro's coach. Ajarro has taken questionable refuge on top of the coach.

Ajarro stands on top of the coach frantically ringing his hands. Silence and stillness falls over the scene. Gabrielle takes a few slow, deliberate steps to stand beside the coach and look up at the pathetic man trapped there.

Immediately, a loud cheer erupts from the ranks. Anton removes the last of the chains from Xena's body. They are both watching Gabrielle, as the cheering subsides.

Anton turns back to look at Gabrielle again, and Xena follows his gaze.

Xena walks off to join her friend. Gabrielle turns to face Xena as she approaches. Caught up in a mixture of emotions, Gabrielle finds it difficult to smile, but she tries.

Xena embraces Gabrielle.

Tears flood Gabrielle's eyes, but she laughs.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE MOUNTAIN PASS - DAY

Ajarro and his remaining henchmen are bound to the coach. The troops are mounted and in abreast formation facing the trail. Xena and Gabrielle, leading ARGO, walk passed the soldiers to go on their way. Near the end of the formation, the soldiers turn their heads toward the departing women.

Gabrielle and Xena quickly turn to smile broadly at the soldiers. Gabrielle waves goodbye.

With military precision, the troops salute. In the distance, a horn sounds and someone shouts commands. The coach lurches forward, and the formation moves out.

Xena turns to Gabrielle.

Gabrielle turns away and walks on, tugging at Argo's bridle.

Catching up, Xena puts her arm around Gabrielle's shoulders, and they both laugh. Life is good again and, at least for the time being, all is well in the ancient world. Surely the gods are smiling, hearing the beautiful young women's laughter this glorious day...

FADE OUT

THE END.

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