TEASER
EXT. Forest clearing. Night.
A sparse camp site, with hardly anything there apart from one threadbare bedroll and a roaring fire.
Footsteps approach from the east and LEAINA suddenly walks forward into the flickering light of the camp fire.
No older then Gabrielle when she first met Xena many years ago.
She is tall, slender and quite beautiful, with piercing green eyes and long dark hair that curls down her back in a long braid.
Dressed in the simple clothing of a young Amazon warrior and wearing a long black cloak that almost covers her for warmth she nervously toys in her hands with a similar fighting staff to the one the bard herself carried years ago.
Somewhat carefully, using the staff as leverage, she seats herself down upon a nearby sleeping fur and places it within easy reach beside her.
Reaching into a bag sitting beside her she unfurls a scroll, takes out quill and ink and begins to write.
LEAINA
(VO)
I've been following her now, for weeks, and I'm running out of time.
There are so many things I want to say, to make right, but I fear I may all ready be too late.
The darkness has come upon her now and I fear her light is all ready fading fast.
(Her voice wavers and brakes with emotion)
I...I...
At that last word her lip begins to tremble as her eyes fill with uncried tears and she stops writing for a moment to compose herself before she starts again.
LEAINA
(VO)
I live each moment reflecting on our life together.
Upon our very first adventure and...
She is interrupted as a sudden movement is heard from behind her, the cracking of a fallen tree branch and a loudly muttered curse.
The sound of footsteps grows closer until practically right behind her yet she remains completely still and makes no move to reach for the staff at her side in order to defend herself.
CUT TO: Behind Leaina.
A sweaty, hairy fat brigand puts the point of his sword to her neck and breaks into a smile not quite believing his luck at finding a defenceless beautiful young woman all alone in the woods at night.
BRIGAND:
(Lustfully)
Now, sweet thing, you and I are gonna be nice and friendly...Got it?
Keeping the sword firmly upon her left side of her neck he kneels down behind her and starts smelling her hair whispering all the rude things he planned to do to her in her right ear.
CUT BACK TO:
Leaina who suddenly cracks her head back quickly and head butts him hard in the face with such brutal force that you see and hear his nose break.
The shock of it all sends him on his back into the dirt and his sword beside him as he lies screaming in pain and holding his nose.
LEAINA:
(coldly)
Got it.
Finally her hand reaches for and closes upon the staff and she stands quickly before going over to hold it to his throat.
BRIGAND:
(Sarcastically)
What are you gonna do sweet thing? Give me a lethal splinter?
Using the bluntness of the staff and her own bodyweight she suddenly puts a large amount of pressure on his voice box that makes him choke and gasp for air.
LEAINA:
(Anger, boiling in her)
Tell me who sent you!
BRIGAND:
(Defiantly)
I ain't saying nothing.
With a look of regret she applies more pressure until finally he raises his hand for mercy and she releases the pressure but doesn't take the staff away.
BRIGAND:
(gasping for air)
There's a price on your head of a million dinars.
LEAINA:
(Genuinely confused)
For me? But I'm no one?
BRIGAND:
(Surprisingly kind)
Clearly you mean something to someone then.
Leaina smiles.
She is clearly thinking of that certain someone and finally takes her weapon away from his throat.
At that he sits up and feels his nose wincing with pain as he watches her walk over to her bag upon the furs near the fire.
Carefully she rummages inside to look for bandages and appropriate herbs etc. to tend to the injury she gave him before returning to his side once more.
LEAINA:
Here.
(She hands him a piece of cloth from her bag so he can clean up the blood from his nose)
Where did you here about all this?
He watches her awestruck as she tends to the injury she gave him very gently with infinite care and kindness.
BRIGAND:
(Being honest for perhaps the first time ever in his life)
A warlord.
A woman.
She hired me.
Wants you real bad.
LEAINA:
Sounds familiar.
(Smiles to herself at that last sentence, like a private joke, before continuing)
That village back there had a good Healer.
He'd be able to fix that in no time.
As she finishes up he reaches out to touch her hand in way of thanks and accidentally knocks her cloak from her shoulders.
For the first time you see that she is clearly around six months pregnant and he turns away from ashamed.
BRIGAND:
(Guiltily)
Hey. If I'd known about the...
(points at her now visible baby bump)
I wouldn't have even come here.
LEAINA:
(Sardonically, as quickly putting her cloak back on)
Well, aren't you a saint?
BRIGAND:
(Continuing, ashamed)
I've a child on the way myself.
Wife's due a lot sooner then you are though.
(Watching her as she packs up her belongs and whistles for a majestic white stallion to come and be saddled before walking over to join her)
You know, I was going to use the money from this to leave it all behind me and start again as an honest man.
LEAINA:
(Thinking, forming a plan before turning to him)
Then let's get you your money.
Respectfully he nods at her as we:
FADE OUT:
END TEASER