FADE IN

A group of Roman cavalry ride across the desert.

CUT TO

A small village. There are a few scattered trees with thin branches and sparse leaves surrounding the huts in the sand but most of the village is drenched in sunlight. In the distance, a man in his forties, holding a crooked cane, is tending to his small herd of goats.

Pan around to show a young boy, six or seven years old, walking into view, wearing long off-white clothes that shield his body from the intense mid-day sun. He is carrying a large bucket of water toward the village from a well behind him. Some of the water sloshes out of the bucket and he attempts to steady it.

VOICE (off-camera):
     Let me help you with that.

A hand reaches down to steady the bucket. The boy looks up. Pan up to show Haimon standing over him. He's wearing long desert clothes--light brown and somewhat tattered. His hair is also a little scraggly and he's grown a thin, scruffy beard.

CUT TO

Another part of the village. A grandmother, with her gray hair pulled back under a scarf, is seated on the ground beside the doorway of her hut, kneading dough on a large board. She stops for a moment to wipe the sweat from her brow with a rag and then resumes kneading.

A shadow falls on her from the side of the hut and she looks up and smiles. Pan up to show Haimon standing with the boy who's holding the bucket of water. He sets the bucket down.

GRANDMOTHER:
     Go wash up, Orren. (she looks to the doorway where, on a hook, two freshly killed jackrabbits hang) Haimon's caught dinner. We'll have a feast today.

Haimon smiles back at her and ruffles the boy's hair.

DISSOLVE TO

What remains of the rabbit meal sits on a large plate on a table inside the house. The grandmother is taking the dirty dishes from the table, and Haimon is helping her. The boy and the man we saw before with the goats are sitting on a bench by the wall. The man's cane is leaning against the side of the bench. Orren is sitting on his lap, and the man is quietly talking to him.

The grandmother smiles at them and then turns back to the dishes. She walks to a large basin with water in it.

GRANDMOTHER (to Haimon):
     You've helped us so much these past few months. Hunting. Fixing the roof. Helping around the house. (She pauses, then lowers her voice) Ever since that terrible accident when Orren lost his mother and my son was injured...life has been difficult. But you have made things a little bit brighter. I'm not sure we can ever thank you enough.

HAIMON (picking up a plate and some utensils):
     It's the least I could do. (after a brief pause, looking away, his voice quieter) You've helped me, too.

The grandmother puts the dishes in the basin.

There is a long moment of silence. Then she turns to Haimon as if to say something, but before she can speak someone is heard shouting outside. The words are indistinct at first but then they get louder.

VOICES (off-camera):
      They're coming this way!

Pan to Orren and his father as they look up.

ORREN:
     Who's coming, Dad?

The father grabs his cane and stands, favoring one leg over the other, and limps toward a window. He and the boy look out, and the grandmother follows; so does Haimon, looking wary.

From the window, three boys of twelve or thirteen can be seen running into the village, as people begin to come out of their houses to see what is going on.

BOY #1 (out of breath):
      We were out hunting and we saw them...

OLD MAN:
     Saw whom?

BOY #2:
     Romans, on horseback!

BOY #3:
     Probably a dozen of them!

BOY #1:
     Coming this way!

The camera pulls back inside the house.

ORREN (looks up at his father):
     Who are the Romans, Dad?

Orren's father shakes his head.

GRANDMOTHER:
     The gods protect us! Surely not another war...

She looks back at Haimon but he has disappeared. She frowns, puzzled.

CUT TO

A small room in the house. Haimon is frantically packing up his things into a small pack, throwing his Roman clothes, a dagger, some bread and a waterskin into it. As he stuffs things into his pack, a small silver medallion with a rough carving of a face on one side and an eagle on the other falls out of the pile of clothes and onto the floor.

Not noticing the medallion, Haimon closes the bag and latches the clasp, then heads out the doorway and nearly collides with the grandmother on the other side. The grandmother looks at him, startled, then notices his pack.

GRANDMOTHER:
     Where are you going?

HAIMON (urgently):
     I'm sorry.

He brushes past the grandmother and heads for the door. The father and the boy watch him. The father steps up.

FATHER (concerned):
     What's going on?

Haimon stops and looks back. The father is standing with his hands on his son's shoulders, and the grandmother beside him.

HAIMON (hesitates):
     I have to go.

She and Haimon share a look and then she looks out the window. The boys are standing in front of several villagers in the house across from them, talking.

GRANDMOTHER:
     The Romans...?

HAIMON (sighs, lowering his pack):
     We...have a history. I'm-- (heavy sigh) I used to be one of them.

FATHER (surprised and somewhat wary):
     When we found you in the desert--you...

HAIMON (interrupts):
     I didn't want you to know because I'm not proud of it. And because...it could put you all in danger. I just needed a new life.

GRANDMOTHER:
     And we gave that to you.

HAIMON:
     I left the army months ago. If they find me with you, you'll be punished for protecting a deserter. So I have to go. (he reaches for the door handle, then looks back) Thank you for all that you've done. These past few months... (Orren and the father stand looking back at him, Orren looking sad) ...they reminded me of what having a family could be like. (pause) Goodbye.

Haimon opens the door and leaves. The grandmother, father and boy stand together in the open doorway as Haimon heads away from the house.

CUT TO

The docks. A ship pulls away from port. Eve and Virgil are on the ship, waving from the bow. Pull back to show Xena and Gabrielle, from the back, standing on the dock, waving to them.

Pan around to Xena and Gabrielle from the front.

A short distance away, a smaller ship has just docked. The plank is lowered and a small group of simple looking villagers leave the ship. The fish emblem medallions around their necks indicate that they are Elijans. Gabrielle turns and notices the group as they walk along the dock. Among them is a recognizable face, a dark skinned woman with dark hair in a pale green and tan peasant dress.

GABRIELLE (surprised):
     Siran!

Xena turns toward the group of people. Siran looks up, shocked, then smiles brightly; the group of people continues on past her.

SIRAN (walking up):
     Xena. Gabrielle. It's good to see you.

GABRIELLE (giving Siran a brief hug):
     It's good to see you, too.

SIRAN:
     What are you doing here so far from home?

XENA:
     We're on business.

Siran nods, understanding.

GABRIELLE:
     Haimon has left the Roman army; he's a deserter. The Romans are now on his trail and we're hoping to catch up to him; with luck, before they do.

There is silence for a moment.

GABRIELLE (changing the subject):
     And what about you?

SIRAN (gestures toward the group of people who have now stopped behind her and are waiting):
     We're on our way to Palmyra. We're going to establish an Elijan community there. But for me, it's also a homecoming. I was born there and haven't seen it in... (pauses for a long moment) ...far too long. (she smiles) It's an exciting time to return, too, now that the queen is back.

GABRIELLE:
     The queen?

Xena and Gabrielle look at each other for a long moment, the look of realization finally appearing on their faces.

XENA and GABRIELLE:
     Zenobia.

DISSOLVE TO

The sun shines down over a large stone city in the middle of the desert; sparse palm trees inside and a river flowing not too far from the city walls.

DISSOLVE TO

On the balcony of a sandstone palace, Zenobia stands looking out over the city, dressed in gold and purple robes, her hair pulled back regally behind her head with a gold headband. The look on her face is a mix of pride and apprehension, as we:

FADE OUT

END OF TEASER