Ares is walking along a small dirt path. It is dark out; the moon is full. He looks like he is dragging with each step, his head hanging slightly, fatigue setting in. Then, he lifts his head, as if something has caught his attention. He looks around and slowly draws his sword, holding it firmly. The sound of footsteps can be heard; he jerks his head from one side to the other, listening intently. The footsteps get apparently closer; Ares keeps still.

From out of the bushes jump several rugged looking bandits. They grin at Ares.

BANDIT #1:
     Well, well, what do we have here, boys?

BANDIT #2:
     Looks to me like some sorry excuse for a warrior.

BANDIT #1 (looks at Ares):
     All right. You give us your valuables and there will be no trouble.

ARES:
     You think you can take me on?

BANDIT #1:
     Oh, I know we can.

They attack Ares and many of them are no match for his skills. He proceeds to fight them but in the process, Bandit #1 swings his sword, and the blade grazes across Ares' arm. Instantly, Ares swings at the bandit, wounding him. The man screams, he and the other bandits run off, realizing that Ares is too much of a match for them.

Once they are gone, Ares' hand comes to his shoulder, seeing the small slit across his skin. Ares slowly sinks to the ground and leans against a tree. In the bright moonlight the glistening image of blood is visible running down his right arm from the cut.

Ares just lies there for several minutes, almost falling asleep and then hears the sound of footsteps coming toward him. His eyes open and he looks around. He slowly stands and grips his sword with his wounded arm, listening. Then, he turns around quickly, sword pointed out in front of him and there before him, he finds three simple villagers, frozen with fear.

There is a woman looking to be in her early forties holding a covered basket and standing next to a man of about the same age holding a bundle of sticks. Between them is a young girl about thirteen or so.

WOMAN (pleading):
     Please! Please don't hurt us! We were just on our way home. Please, we'll give you whatever you want just don't hurt us.

The girl huddles next to her mother and father. Ares lowers his sword.

ARES (grins):
     Sorry. Bad habit.

Ares puts his sword back in its scabbard at his side. Then the villagers relax, realizing that they aren't in danger. Ares looks at them uncertainly, not sure how to address them. The woman looks at him sympathetically--she can tell that he's had a long day by the looks on his face and in his eyes.

Ares turns around and starts to walk away.

WOMAN:
     Wait. (he stops and looks back) You look like you've had a long day. (sees the blood on his arm) And you're hurt. Why don't you come back with us tonight? I'll treat that wound.

The man standing next to her jerks her arm, pulling her toward him.

MAN:
     What do you think you're doing, Chloe? He was going to kill us!

CHLOE:
     Calm down. It was a mistake. He didn't know it was us, he admits that. (his eyes are angry) Dymas, please. He looks like he hasn't had a chance to rest in a long time. And he's wounded. All I'm asking is to let him spend one night with us. He needs help.

DYMAS (exhales):
     But we don't even know who he is or what he's like. He could be a cold-blooded killer for all we know.

Ares watches as they talk. Chloe looks back at him.

CHLOE (noticing the softened expression on Ares' face):
     Does he look like someone who's a murderer? (looks back at Dymas)

DYMAS (looks at Ares, closes his eyes, then sighs):
     All right. But only for one night. We don't know what kind of influence he might have on this family.

CHLOE (kisses him on the cheek):
     Thank you. (she walks up to Ares) We have an extra room for you if you'd like to stay with us tonight. We wouldn't want you spending the night out in the cold.

Ares looks at her thoughtfully, thinking a warm bed would be better than the cold, hard ground.

ARES:
     Sure.

CHLOE:
     Come on. (she leads him back toward her family, they stop for a moment) By the way, my name is Chloe; this is my husband Dymas and my daughter, Helice. What's your name?

ARES:
     Ar-- (looks around, trying to think of something) --Argeus.

CHLOE:
     Well, it's nice to meet you.

Chloe, Dymas, and Helice start to walk down the path. Ares waits behind them and then starts to follow.

CUT TO

Night. Wide shot of a small village, sparkling with lights from the fires that burn in the houses.

CUT TO

A small house, the window is open. Seen through it, a man paces back and fourth. Move in closer inside the house--it is Dymas. Chloe is standing next to a small table fixing dinner.

DYMAS:
     I don't know about this, Chloe. I don't trust him.

CHLOE:
     So you can't trust my judgment, either?

DYMAS:
     I have a feeling about him and it's a bad one.

CUT TO

Ares, standing behind the door, listening to their conversation. He looks a little troubled.

CUT TO

DYMAS:
     I mean, look at him. He could be some kind of warlord. We don't know anything about his past--who he's fought for, who he's fought against...

CHLOE:
     Dymas...

DYMAS (raising voice):
     Didn't you see the way people looked at us when we walked into the village with him? I bet they had a bad feeling about him too.

CHLOE:
     Well, like you said, Dymas--we don't know anything about him. He could be a warlord. Or he could be a hero who has fought for his homeland. Like Achilles, or Ulysses. Anyway, right now, he's just a man....alone and tired. Maybe he did some bad things in the past. But you know something, Xena used to be a warlord too, and now she's the greatest hero in Greece. (focus on Ares' face; at the mention of Xena, his eyes widen slightly.) Just let him stay here for one night.

DYMAS:
     All right. But he leaves in the morning.

CHLOE:
     Thank you. (kisses him briefly)

She takes a plate of food from the table and heads for the door. Ares sees this and moves away and over to the small table in the room, sitting down. There is a fireplace behind the table, a kettle hanging over the flickering fire.

Chloe walks in followed by Dymas. She sets the plate of food on the table. It has several loaves of bread and some slices of cheese on it. Dymas sets a pitcher on the table and sets out three wooden plates and cups. He sits down across from Ares.

CHLOE (shouts):
     Helice, time for dinner!

HELICE (calling from another room):
     Coming, Mom!

She rushes into the room and sits down next to her father. Chloe sits down at the table next to Ares. She looks at him.

CHLOE:
     I know it's not much, Argeus...I wish we could feed you a better meal, but this is all we've got.

ARES (taking a piece of bread):
     Bad times?

CHLOE:
     It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for Tycan, the warlord. He passes through here every month or so and demands that we pay him tribute--supplies, food, and money for his army. We obey and give them what they want but...

DYMAS:
     So, Argeus, what is it you do for a living?

ARES:
     I...I...used to be a soldier in the...Athenian army.

CHLOE:
     Used to be? What happened?

ARES (looks down):
     Lots of things.

Ares continues to eat, looking up every so often at the family before him.