FADE IN

A dark night. Pan through a large, sleeping city as the sounds of battle resonate from somewhere in the distance. The camera pans up and over the far wall of the city to a valley full of soldiers locked in combat. The battle is fierce, the only light is what is cast by the moon and a raging bonfire in front of a large temple high up on a hill. A man stands in front of the fire, silhouetted against the bright backdrop.

Pan over the battlefield until we see a man wearing a dark cloak sitting on a horse at the edge of the valley. He watches as men die in front of him, cut down by swords and arrows. He tilts his head up and the moonlight shines on his face, his expression grim and uncertain. It's Actaeon.

CUT TO

The sun rises. A cloaked young man on horseback rides at breakneck speed through a forest, the wind whipping around him. A satchel full of scrolls is secured to the back of the saddle.

CUT TO

Two soldiers in silver and black armor stand in front of a stone temple. One of them, an older man in his early 40's with dark brown hair and a beard, has a hammer and is nailing the door to the temple shut. Both soldiers look rather sad.

SOLDIER #1 (standing next to the soldier with the hammer):
     We really have to do this?

SOLDIER #2:
     What good is a temple to a god that no longer exists? We can't afford the upkeep ourselves now that even the priests have left. (he slaps a hand on the soldier's shoulder) We can still honor him without a place of worship. He'll never be forgotten--as long as there is war.

Another soldier runs up.

SOLDIER #3:
     Sir!

The two soldiers turn. The third soldier stops and catches his breath before holding a rolled up scroll, tied with a gold ribbon, toward them.

SOLDIER #3:
     A message...from Actaeon, King of Thebes.

Soldier #2 takes the scroll. He unties the ribbon and unrolls the scroll, beginning to read.

SOLDIER #2 (his expression that of curiosity and then understanding):
     He's asking for aid from all those still loyal to the God of War. (looks up) He says the cause is urgent.

SOLDIER #1:
     Cause to do what?

SOLDIER #2:
     To start a war.

DISSOLVE TO

Montage:

-- the boy with the bag of scrolls riding over the landscape.

-- soldiers from various temples getting these messages, reading them and nodding, grabbing their weapons and their horses and heading out.

-- the boy knocking on a simple villager's house, it opens to reveal an older, gray-haired man and three younger men. They read the scroll that is handed to them and then nod, understanding and eager.

-- a soldier standing out in front of a tent reading through the scroll. He looks at the messenger who'd given it to him and then shakes his head, handing it back. The soldier walks back into his tent and the messenger is left looking on.

-- several warrior women in leather training in a small courtyard of a large temple. They fight and dodge each other's blades with skill and agility. The messenger rides up, shows them the scroll and they read through it, looking intrigued.

-- soldiers, of all different ages and types (older men, young men and some women) riding in a large group over a valley toward a wooden building in the far distance. Ahead of them is soldier #2, looking proud and determined.

DISSOLVE TO

A quiet little village at dusk. Several dozen villagers are standing in a half circle surrounding a wooden platform. On the platform stands a man wearing a long robe and an Arabian-style turban: the magistrate. He faces Xena and Gabrielle who are standing in a picturesque view side by side on the platform, their hair blowing in the breeze. Behind them, four village guards are holding half a dozen dirty ruffians chained and gagged.

The magistrate holds out his arms in a warm gesture, a large smile on his chubby face.

MAGISTRATE (speaks in a very theatrical, overly emphatic way):
     The village of Lamia thanks you...from the bottom of our hearts. If you two had not shown up when you did, these men (gestures to the ruffians who try to struggle against their bonds) would have destroyed our homes, taken our money and our children and ruined our lives. We are forever grateful that you got here when you did.

The crowd goes up in cheers and enthusiastic clapping.

Off to the side, Ares stands beside one of the buildings in a casual pose, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. He watches as Xena and Gabrielle smile at the praise they receive and a young woman steps onto the platform, tears streaming down her face.

YOUNG WOMAN (emotional, shaking Gabrielle and Xena's hands with vigor):
     Thank you, thank you, thank you. You saved my children from being taken as slaves. I owe you...everything.

They nod their heads in response and then look at each other, the joy of doing good clearly showing by the expressions on their faces.

XENA (to the townspeople):
     Just doing our job. (pauses) For the Greater Good.

Pan back to show Ares watching silently, thoughtfully. The clapping and cheering begins to rise.

DISSOLVE TO

Xena, Gabrielle, and Ares ride over the landscape.

CUT TO

Close up of a strong hand as it lifts up a large rabbit by its back feet. Pull back to show that it's Ares holding the rabbit. He grins, looking it over approvingly.

ARES:
     Not too shabby.

CUT TO

A clearing beside a lake. Ares sits on a log in front of a campfire with a boiling pot hanging over it, slowing stirring a stew. The steam rises from it and Ares inhales.

ARES:
     Almost ready.

MAN (faintly, in the distance):
     This way!

Ares looks up at the sound. The rattling of metal and the pounding of footsteps becomes louder. Suddenly, a teenage boy, about 16, in makeshift leather armor, runs into the campsite, stumbling a bit. The ground is soft and slightly muddy, splashing his pants with dirt at every step.

He doesn't notice Ares, and runs right through the campsite to the water's edge, ducking under the cover of some dense bushes. Ares looks back, watching him. A moment later, four thugs in dirty, tattered leather clothes and scruffy beards appear from the clearing. They stop, seeing Ares sitting by the fire.

LEAD THUG (threatening, points his sword at Ares):
     You! Where is the boy?

ARES:
     Boy? (looks around innocently, casually stirring the stew) I don't see any boy.

Pan around to show the boy peeking out through the branches of a bush.

LEAD THUG (draws his sword forcefully):
     Don't play games with me. We saw him run into the clearing, there's nowhere else he could have gone.

ARES (slightly mocking):
     In a forest full of trees and bushes? Didn't you ever play hide and seek when you were young?

The lead thug growls, agitated by Ares' casual attitude, and loses his temper.

He turns to the pot hanging over the fire and kicks the wooden supports holding it up, knocking them down. The pot tumbles into the fire, spilling over and causing a huge plume of steam to rise around them, the stew sizzling in the fire.

ARES (stands up):
     Hey! (he grabs the handle of the pot and sets it upright before all of the stew can spill out) That does it. You just made an enemy.

LEAD THUG (sneers):
     Oh, I'm scared. That boy has stolen something that belongs to us. (Ares is silent, the thug is losing patience again) And we'll get it back, with or without you.

Ares glances over at his sword that is lying upright against the trunk of a tree.

ARES:
     Well... (he quickly steps sideways and grabs the handle of his sword, twirling it a couple times in front of the thugs) Guess it'll have to be without me.

The lead thug eyes Ares, then glances over to the lake where he sees the heel of a boot peeking out from the foliage.

LEAD THUG (grins, to Ares):
     Fine by me. (nods toward the other thugs casually) Get him.

The three thugs draw their weapons and attack Ares. Ares is forced into a fight but he can easily hold his own against them. He gets in a few good swings, ducking under and over their blades. He seems to be enjoying the fight, a grin on his face.

While Ares is occupied with the fight with the other men, the lead thug makes his way around them towards the bush. The boy, realizing he's been found, jumps up and tries to bolt. The thug grabs his arm and stops him from running away. The force of the jerk knocks a scroll to the ground that had been tucked into his vest. It falls onto the bank of the lake. During this, the sound of clashing metal and grunting from Ares' fight behind them can still be heard.

The thug draws his sword and grabs the boy by the collar.

LEAD THUG:
     You'll pay for stealing--boy.

CUT TO

A soldier--soldier #2 from earlier in the Teaser--riding on horseback through the forest.

SOLDIER (shouting):
     Nicos!

CUT TO

The boy reaches for a dagger and tries to use it against the thug, jabbing it toward his right side but the thug knocks the dagger from his hand and laughs. He raises the sword and the boy struggles. The sound of clashing metal and grunting behind them has now stopped. The thug pulls his hand back only to feel the tip of another sword touching the side of his neck. He pauses. Pull back to show Ares standing behind him holding his sword.

ARES:
     I wouldn't move if I were you.

Ares continues to hold the sword to his neck as he moves around until he's facing the thug, stepping between the thug and the boy.

Behind them, solider #2 rides into the clearing. Ares looks up at this and when he does, the thug snarls and attacks Ares while he's momentarily distracted. They cross blades a few times but Ares is clearly more powerful and more skilled than the thug. The boy runs over to the soldier who has ridden up. The soldier dismounts from his horse and embraces the boy in a hug in the background while Ares and the thug continue to fight.

Ares punches the thug a few times, and Ares is punched in the lip once causing it to bleed. He kicks back, knocking the thug to the ground, and his sword out of arms reach. The thug looks back to see the other three thugs lying on the ground, groaning--and further back to see the soldier standing next to the horse with the boy. He looks up at Ares.

ARES:
     Unless you want to wake up to a nasty headache, I suggest you leave quickly.

The thug stares up at Ares then snarls, reaching for his sword. Before he has a chance to grab it and rise to his feet, we see through his eyes as Ares brings the hilt of his sword down toward the thug's forehead, knocking him out cold.

ARES:
     And that's for the stew.

The soldier standing beside the boy watches Ares as Ares rubs his broken, bleeding lip.

NICOS (to the soldier):
     He saved me, uncle.

SOLDIER #2 (nods, looking at Ares):
     I saw. (to Ares, sincere) Thank you.

Ares nods slowly. He sheathes his sword and this catches the soldier's attention, the red jewel on the hilt glinting in the sunlight. His eyes turn to recognition and admiration, then he bows. Ares is surprised by this, at first.

SOLDIER #2:
     Lord Ares.

Nicos looks at Ares with realization, awestruck.

ARES (looks away, slightly deflated; to the soldier):
     Not really anyone's lord anymore.

SOLDIER #2 (rises to his feet):
     The news of your mortality is well known. But there are those whose loyalty has not been shaken by it. (holds a hand to his heart) I am Pandion, a general who served you for many years...and still does.

ARES (nods):
     Thanks.

He steps over the four unconscious bodies and walks up to the pot, the fire nearly out.

In the background, Nicos picks up the scroll lying on the bank of the lake, one end of it submerged in the water. Ares lifts the pot and finds a little stew left. He sighs.

ARES (to himself):
     So much for lunch.

Pandion watches him.

PANDION:
     We've heard you've been traveling with Xena. We've been searching for weeks.

ARES:
     Why?

PANDION:
     We need help to defeat a dangerous warlord.

ARES (sighs, slightly bitter and dejected):
     And let me guess, you need Xena's help.

PANDION (shakes his head, straight-faced):
     No. We need yours.

Ares looks back at him curiously, surprised and pleased.

Nicos walks up holding the scroll and hands it to Pandion. Pandion opens it and begins to read. He rolls up the scroll and looks at Ares.

PANDION:
     Those men you fought are part of a much larger force led by a vicious warlord named Brygus who has been terrorizing the region of Attica for months, hurting anyone who gets in his way, disgracing your name...killing without question. Brygus has eluded everyone--no one knows where his fortress is, no one even knows what he looks like. (Pandion hands the scroll to Ares) Now we know exactly where he'll be. It's a message to some warlord he wants to join forces with. In a week's time, he'll be meeting this warlord in the town of Oenoe. Even if he doesn't make an appearance himself, it may give us a chance to take out some of his reinforcements. Better than we have done recently.

Ares looks over the scroll. Pandion kneels and pulls out his sword, placing it point down into the dirt.

PANDION:
     This sword is always at your service, my lord. And there are still those loyal to you who would gladly follow you into battle, die in your name. You were the God of War; your presence will mean a great deal to those that still serve you if you come with me. (pause) Join us.

Slow zoom in on Ares' face as he ponders this, looking intrigued.

The whinny of a horse is heard off-camera. Ares and Pandion look over to see Xena riding into the clearing on Argo, a pack hanging from her shoulder. She slows Argo as she sees the unconscious men on the ground, the pot tilted over the dying fire, and Ares standing, with Pandion kneeling before him. Her expression is of surprised confusion as we:

FADE OUT

END OF TEASER