FADE IN

On a burning house in a village. As the thick clouds of black smoke clear, we see panicked villagers running for their lives. A group of warriors on horseback gallop through the village.

A woman runs, looking around in fright, carrying a piglet. A soldier on foot catches up with her and grabs her shoulder. He's in a Roman uniform.

SOLDIER #1:
     Hand that over!

WOMAN:
     No, please! It's the only thing I've got left!

SOLDIER #1 (grabs the piglet from her hands):
     Move it! Soldiers got to eat!

He shoves her away and she runs off, crying.

The camera pans over the village, which is in a state of pandemonium. People are running for their lives, trying to carry away whatever they have.

The camera comes to rest on a house as one of the soldiers kicks down the door. An elderly man and woman and three children are huddled inside.

SOLDIER #2:
     Get out!

The children start crying.

OLD MAN (in a trembling voice):
     Why are you doing this? To your fellow Romans!

SOLDIER #2:
     You peasants had your chance--to support Civilis against that usurper Vespasian. You made your choice. Now you face the consequences! Get moving!

The old couple and the children walk out of the house, the children crying and clinging to their grandparents.

CUT TO

Early morning in an open serene field. Darion's laugh breaks the silence and Haimon runs into frame. Darion is close on Haimon's heels, chasing him in a game of tag. The chase continues for a few moments until Darion is able to close the gap between them and tackles Haimon to the ground.

DARION:
     Ha! Caught you!

Haimon rolls onto his back and sits up on his elbows.

HAIMON:
     You sure did. (he is breathing heavily and shakes his head) I'm getting too old for this and you're getting too big. (he rumples Darion's hair playfully) You've really shot up since the last time I saw you.

DARION:
     I'm almost as tall as Gabrielle now.

HAIMON (smirks):
     Well, that's not so hard to do. Before long you'll be as tall as Xena.

Gabrielle waves to them from across the field.

HAIMON:
     I think breakfast is ready.

CUT TO

The camp. Gabrielle lifts the frying pan off of the fire.

GABRIELLE:
     Darion, go wash your hands before you eat.

Darion frowns, ready to argue and Haimon holds up a hand.

HAIMON:
     Hey, we talked about this, remember? Now go.

DARION:
     I'm just going to get dirty again when we play after breakfast.

GABRIELLE:
     Sorry, sweetheart but you've got studying to do. The rest of Aesop's Fables, remember?

DARION:
     It's so boring.

GABRIELLE:
     Darion, we agreed that if you were going to go out on the road with us that you would finish your studies.

DARION:
     Xena says the road is a school in itself.

GABRIELLE:
     And that's why Xena isn't in charge of your education. Now go wash up.

DARION (muttering under his breath):
     I should have gone fishing with Xena. She wouldn't make me wash my hands.

GABRIELLE:
     Well, Xena won't be back until tonight. So until then we do things my way.

Darion pouts and walks off slowly and reluctantly. Gabrielle sighs and shakes her head.

GABRIELLE:
     I don't know what's gotten into him lately. He's been so...headstrong. Doesn't listen to a word I say.

HAIMON (smiles gently):
     He's growing up. He's feeling out his own independence. I'll have a talk with him.

Gabrielle touches his arm affectionately.

GABRIELLE:
     Thank you. (she sighs) I worry about him so much. Life on the road is hard enough for a child. But sometimes I wonder if I'm enough...

HAIMON:
     He's got Xena too.

GABRIELLE (nods):
     True. But a boy needs something more...

HAIMON:
     Well, you know I spend as much time as I can with him.

GABRIELLE:
     I know. And you're wonderful with him. But...

Haimon reaches out and kisses her hand.

HAIMON:
     I think you're doing fine with him. We both are. (he reaches for the frying pan.) I'm starved. Let's eat.

GABRIELLE:
     You go ahead. I'm not very hungry.

HAIMON:
     Are you feeling all right?

GABRIELLE :
     I'm just a little under the weather this morning. I'll be fine.

Haimon spoons the fish onto two plates. Gabrielle watches him pensively.

GABRIELLE:
     You know, Haimon, there's something I've been wanting to talk to you about--

Darion's voice can be heard from a distance.

DARION:
     Gabrielle, Haimon! Come quick!

Gabrielle and Haimon jump up, exchanging a worried, look and run off.

CUT TO

Darion stands on the side of the road, Gabrielle and Haimon on either side of him, watching as dozens of people trudge down the road. They appear tired and beaten.

DARION:
     Where are they going?

A graying, frail looking man with a thick beard carries a heavy bundle in his arms. He hears this and pauses a moment, dropping his bundle and catching his breath.

REFUGEE:
     We're headed to the hospice at Jeronim. Word is that they're offering refuge to anyone that needs it. Our village was caught between the forces of Vespasian and Civilis--who looted our village then entrenched himself there. We had no choice but to move on.

HAIMON:
     So Rome is in the middle of another civil war...

GABRIELLE:
     And something tells me these people won't be the last refugees we see. There are probably more just like them that have heard about the hospice at Jeronim.

HAIMON (uneasily):
     That's where Sabina is, isn't it?

GABRIELLE:
     Siran too. And with this civil war and all those refugees--she's going to need help.

HAIMON (nods):
     You and Darion get the camp packed up. I'll get Xena.

Gabrielle stares at him, troubled, as we:

FADE OUT

END OF TEASER