Both sound as if they haven't had water for days. Xena's camouflage of oil and ash has sweat streaked and dried into zebra stripes. None of the travelers appear to be sweating anymore.

Just then they crest a dune and smile. The Nile stretches blue before them with lush greenery at its sides.

none of them run, they are too tired. They shamble down to the edge and continue right in.

Xena and Autolycus move back into the trees. Gabrielle continues to brush. Two small streams of bubbles drift towards her. Just as she glances at them the crocodile lunges for her. She throws herself backwards and does a frenzied crab-walk. The croc sinks below the surface again.

Gabrielle enters with toothbrush in hand. She is shaking and white. Xena's not looking at her she's still catching dates.

Xena grabs the toothbrush and goes.

Autolycus looks into the nest and gets a beak in the face. He falls.

Xena's at the rivers edge looking for crawdaddys.

Xenas head is turned to Gabrielle as the croc strikes. We watch the faces of Gabrielle and Autolycus as we listen to the sounds of titanic struggle. Quick cut of the crocs tail swinging. Xena tumbles into the shot with them and rolls immediately to standing. She pulls out her dagger and marches straight back to the water.

They go to the edge of the reeds and sure enough its a passing boat. A big, flat bottomed river boat with a paddle wheel in back and smokestacks, sort of Mark Twain goes Cleopatra.

From screen right Autolycus strolls down the deck with Capt. Samuel and the Cook. Camera dollies left with them. Xena and Gabrielle scroll by in the background.

The cook thinks its funny, the Capt. is confused.

Siduri passes in the opposite direction. She has dark hair, skin, and eyes and is clothed head to toe in brilliant primary silks. There is a ruby red dot between her eyes. Autolycus disengages himself from the men and follows her. Samuel and the cook shrug. Camera dollies right with Autolycus. Xena and Gabrielle scroll by in the background again.

Siduri smiles at his obvious ploy and decides to get him into trouble.

The camera swings back to Xena and Gabrielle.

Siduri's husband, Michlos, begins shouting off screen.

Autolycus backs into the shot. Off screen we hear Siduri calming Michlos.

Autolycus catches his heals on Gabrielle's lounge spilling her drink, tumbles over her backwards and into Xena's lap.

Autolycus reaches a finger out to touch the spot. Xena takes him by the ear with an accompanying rubbery sound

Helen, the serving girl/chamber maid, passes with an empty tray.

Sitting in a corner, engaged in conversation, are an Egyptian priest (Achnautn) and an older woman (Prosperino). The glint came from what hangs around Prosperino's neck, a very sizable sparkly. The gem is a flattened baguette cut blue-white diamond set in a platinum backing. Autolycus veritably drools at the sight of it but there is something else, Autolycus and Achnautn seem to recognize one another.

Helen places the finished drink on a tray and starts to leave. Once again Simon falls in behind them.

Simon goes to a corner and produces a recorder which he plays.

She stands and there is a minor sway.

She exits with glass still in hand.

We hear muffled singing from the hall and then distinctly

she brushes up against Michlos

Achnautn briefly ducks his head in agreement.

LAYERED FADE as the camera dollys around the table. Everyone is just about done, the cook is serving desert.

Achnautn looks embarrassed that she has told the others.

Gabrielle passes out face first into dessert.

as they exit we see that Gabrielle still has her glass in hand.

Prosperino removes the stone and hands it to Autolycus. ANGLE OVER HIS SHOULDER we see a palm sized piece of clay in his hand. Flipping the stone as if to examine the backing he impresses it on the clay.

as she backs out of the room Simon bumps into her.

Simon continues to the bathroom, Helen goes to Autolycus room. Although we didn't see it Simon has just taken Helen's keys.

There is the sound of a port hole being shut and thieves tools kicked under the bed. He opens the door.

the door closes. Some muffled giggles. Achnautn's door opens and he creeps to Prosperino's door. Sliding a few picks from his sleeve he deals with the lock and slips inside.

We pan to Xena who closes her one open eye.

There is the sound of a dart leaving its blow tube. The sound is a little musical as the tube doubles for Simon's recorder. Prosperino takes the dart in the neck and slumps over.

Continued...