FADE IN

A small seaside village almost entirely engulfed in flames, dark clouds of thick, black smoke rising from the charred buildings. The sound of horse hooves pounding at the ground can faintly be heard, becoming louder until the sound fills the air.

The camera tracks around the village to see five heavily armed warriors riding through the village, chasing the women and children that scatter around their destroyed homes, screaming in terror, the men of the village lie dead.

The warriors ride through the village, slicing at the defenseless women who hold their children in their arms, trying to protect them and begging for mercy. All are killed without a thought.

There is a shrill, rhythmic war cry and in an instant, the camera turns to see Xena galloping through the water along the shoreline. She rides hard and fast toward the village. The warriors on horseback look up. Fear becomes apparent on many of their faces except for one--a rugged looking warrior.

WARRIOR #1:
      It's the Warrior Princess!

He along with the three other warriors, turn and flee from the village just as Xena enters.

WARLORD (shouting to them as they disappear in the distance):
      Come back, you cowards!

XENA (galloping up):
      Maybe you should find more dependable thugs to do your dirty work.

The warlord turns around to look at Xena.

WARLORD:
      Well, well. I see you still have lousy timing. Showing up right when we were starting to have some fun.

XENA:
      This is fun?

WARLORD:
      You used to enjoy it, I've heard.

XENA:
      I'm not in the mood to reminisce. The fun stops here.

WARLORD (draws sword):
      Let's see you stop me.

XENA (grins, draws sword):
      Love to.

Xena dismounts, as does the warlord. They attack, their swords clashing several times. Xena counters his every swing, then makes a flying leap over him, landing behind him. Before he has a chance to turn, she kicks him on the back; he falls face down. Xena quickly moves toward him as he turns around, looking up at Xena who now has her sword pointed at him. She grins devilishly.

XENA:
      I guess you're not so tough without your loyal thugs to help you. Oh, wait. Looks like they changed their minds and ran the moment it looked like a real fight. Too bad.

The warlord's face twists with hatred. He grabs the sword at his side and slashes at Xena, she ducks as it swings over her head, then drops the sword she has pointed at his neck and quickly puts the pinch on him as he swings again. The sword drops from his hand, he starts to gag and blood drips from his nose.

XENA (kneels and grabs the warlord by the lapel and pulls him forward, forcing him to sit):
      Now, I'm guessing you know the drill so lets cut to the chase. You tell me what possessed you to take the lives of these people and I might think about sparing yours.

WARLORD (coughs):
      You...take it off and I'll tell you...what you want to know...though you won't like what I have to say.

Xena eyes him suspiciously, and then takes the pinch off him. He coughs briefly; Xena backs off as he stands rubbing his throat.

CUT TO

Another part of the village. Many of the houses are burning, and there are dead bodies lying everywhere. There is a flash of blue light and Ares materializes, looking very grim. He walks slowly through the street, almost transfixed. He blinks and we are taken into a flashback of an unknown event in the past.

CUT TO

Xena, staring expectantly at the warlord.

XENA (snarls slightly):
      So tell.

WARLORD:
      I was just doing my job, Xena. As you do yours. Only difference is, I don't do it for myself, I do it for my god.

Xena raises an eyebrow, curious.

WARLORD:
      I live only to serve the greatest god of the Pantheon, Ares God of War.

CUT TO

Ares runs his hand along a charred wall. It comes away black. He blinks again.

CUT TO

XENA:
      Ares? I don't believe that.

WARLORD:
      Yeah, I've heard you two have gotten a bit friendly lately. Maybe you thought he'd gone soft, the way you did? Well, sorry to disappoint you.

Xena is silent for a moment then she looks at him, anger in her eyes. She points her sword at him, lifting it so it is at the tip of his chin.

XENA:
      Get out of here. And if I find you causing trouble again, you'll end up with more than a warning.

The warlord backs away until he reaches his horse and gets in the saddle. He starts to ride off, then stops and raises his sword.

WARLORD (shouting):
      By the way, Xena, I didn't introduce myself. I am Lycaon of Thessaly. Don't forget that name the next time we meet.

Lycaon sends his horse galloping off, out of the village. Xena sighs and rubs her forehead before putting her sword back in its scabbard.

The camera follows Xena through the village as she walks around the smoking buildings, hoping to find any signs of survivors. All around her there are villagers lying on the ground, covered with blood. Xena's face is drawn.

Next to one building are the bodies of a middle-aged woman and a young boy. The boy is cradled in his mother's arms. They are covered with dirt; scrapes all over their bodies. Xena kneels down and touches their faces but quickly jerks it away at the ice-cold feel of their skin. Xena walks around the building, then hears a faint groan coming from within. She runs inside.

CUT TO

Inside the building, Xena looks around, searching for the source of the sound. In the far corner of the room is a pile of large beams. Xena walks over to it and hears the groaning again.

She starts to lift the beams away from the corner and throws them behind her. As she does so, she starts to see a body buried underneath. She works quickly until finally she is able to uncover the body.

It is a man in his mid to late fifties. His grayish hair is ruffled and there is a gash on the side of his head, bleeding. Other than the cut on his forehead and a few scrapes and bruises on his face, he looks unharmed. He groans again, then opens his eyes only half way--his eyelids are swollen and bruised; we get a glimpse of how he sees her; his vision blurry, he doesn't get a clear picture of who he's looking at.

MAN:
      Who...who are you?

XENA (holding his head):
      Xena. I'm here to help you.

MAN (almost shocked):
      Xena? (to himself) That's not possible... (he gasps and coughs, struggling to speak)

XENA:
      What is it?

MAN:
      Nothing...I just thought... (he coughs again)

XENA:
      Lie still. I'll be back soon with something to patch that wound.

The man nods in response, Xena leans his head against the wall and then stands, turning and walking to the door.

CUT TO

Ares stands motionless, looking around him. He sees the dead body of a young woman and closes his eyes.

CUT TO

Xena walks back inside and sits down next to the man. She holds a bowl and fills it with water from a wineskin, then dips a piece of cloth into the water, squeezes it and then gently dabs at the wound on his head. The man starts in pain, moaning.

XENA:
      I've got to clean this wound. You'll be fine.

The man nods, gritting his teeth. Xena finishes cleaning the wound.

XENA (reaching for a piece of dry cloth lying beside her):
      You want to tell me about it?

MAN (with difficulty):
      It...it all happened so fast. My wife and I were outside tending to the horses. Our...son...was playing with the dog. That's when we heard hoof beats... And--metal. Warriors. I looked up and saw them, riding toward the village.

Xena takes a piece of dry cloth and begins to bandage his wound as he continues.

MAN:
      I told my wife to take our son into the house and stay there, and I went outside...I had to do something! But then I heard...screams. Coming from my house.

Xena secures the bandage around his head and listens intently.

MAN (starts to cry):
      I ran as fast as I could, back to the house but...I was too late. One of the warriors...was... (closes his eyes as tears roll down his cheeks, Xena puts a hand on his shoulder) ...dragging my wife and son out of the house. (he pauses, sobbing) Th-they were tied to the back of the horse and he...dragged them away. I didn't know...didn't know what I could do, but I was so angry! I grabbed the first thing I saw--a scythe, I think--and charged one of the other warriors, but he just sliced his sword across my side and pushed me back into my house. I hit the wall, that's all I remember--and then there were beams crashing down on top of me. (crying again) I should have died...I should be dead, with them. (to Xena) Why should I be the one to live?!

XENA:
      Don't blame yourself. It wouldn't do anyone any good if you were dead. (pause) Can you stand?

The man nods, leaning heavily on Xena. She supports him as they walk out of the house.

CUT TO

Outside, Xena tries to shift the man to a more comfortable position, but he almost shrieks with agony. He moves a hand to his side, where Xena notices a wound. She slowly pulls the cloth away from his side to get a better look at it. Ares comes into view. He stops as he sees Xena helping the wounded man.

Ares winces slightly, as if the image caused him pain. He walks toward Xena. Sensing Ares' approach, Xena turns around and glares at him, her eyes blazing.

XENA (bitterly):
      Ares.

ARES (blinks):
      Xena, I--

XENA:
      Come to admire your handiwork?

ARES (gives her a bewildered look):
      What are you talking about?

XENA:
      Does the name Lycaon ring any bells? (Ares flinches a little) I see that it does. I gotta hand it to you, Ares, you had me fooled this time. I actually believed things were going to be different now. Didn't think I'd find you sending your men to kill innocent peasants.

ARES:
      Xena--

XENA (in a low snarl):
      Get out. Just get out!

She takes a swing and punches him. He rubs his face as if in a daze, stares at her grimly and disappears.

On the ground, the man moans again. The camera closes in on his wound. It is producing a white foamy substance and isn't bleeding. Xena touches it and raises her fingers to her nose, curiously. She inhales and instantly her expressions change to that of fear. She looks around and the man catches the hint of fear in her eyes.

MAN:
      What is it?

XENA (rubs her fingers together):
      Poison.

FADE OUT

END OF TEASER