FADE IN

An open field. The light harsh and painfully bright. The sound of swords clanging breaks the silence and is drowned out by the sound of footsteps pounding the ground as well as rapid, heavy breathing. The camera follows two boots running across the field. It is obvious this is Gabrielle, from the sais sticking out of the boots.

CUT TO

Xena, fighting a large warrior, obviously very strong. His beard and hair are matted and there is a wild glint in his eyes. Their swords cross. Xena and the warrior both push against the other, trying to throw one another off balance but it is a stalemate.

CUT TO

Gabrielle running toward them. Her breath is becoming heavier and more and more frantic. She comes to an abrupt stop when she sees Haimon, holding Darion in his arms standing on the edge of the field. They exchange a long glance and it falls eerily silent, finally broken when the warrior growls. Gabrielle turns from Haimon and Darion and takes off across the field again.

CUT TO

The warrior throws Xena off balance and she sprawls on her back, her sword flying out of her hand. He raises his sword above his head, about to deliver the killing blow. A hand grabs his shoulder and he is spun around, confronting Gabrielle, her face twisted in rage. With a howl, Gabrielle drives her sai into his neck. His eyes fly open in shock and he clutches his throat as blood begins to spurt through his fingers. He crumples to the ground as Gabrielle watches, an almost dispassionate expression on her face.

A faint cry from a baby can be heard in the distance and Gabrielle looks around. It is heard again. Close-up on Gabrielle's terrified, anguished face. The camera pulls back as Gabrielle takes off running, speeding up as she runs.

CUT TO

A river with a basket floating in it. Gabrielle leaps in and splashes frantically towards it. Reaching it, she looks inside and the basket is empty.

CUT TO

A campfire. Xena sits on a log, casually sharpening her sword as Gabrielle paces frantically.

GABRIELLE:
     I know I put her in the basket and floated her downstream. I was going to pick her up later. But now I can't find her.

Xena looks up and frowns.

XENA:
     It's time to face the facts and wake up, Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE:
     ...and I would have called to her but I couldn't remember her name.

XENA:
     Gabrielle, wake up!

SMASH CUT TO

Close-up on Darion, looking alarmed.

DARION:
     Gabrielle, wake up!

Gabrielle gasps and her eyes fly open. Her face is pale and sweaty and her hair matted to her forehead. She looks around trying to figure out where she is. It is a campsite and it is high noon. Darion is kneeling above her, his hand on her shoulder.

DARION:
     You were having a bad dream.

GABRIELLE:
     Darion... (she reaches out and lays her hand on his forearm) I...that... (she shakily tries to sit up and Darion helps her) Water?

Darion hands her a skin and Gabrielle gulps down some water. After a moment she is a little more clearheaded and looks around.

GABRIELLE:
     Where's Xena?

DARION:
     Hunting. She didn't want to come to the Amazons empty handed.

GABRIELLE:
     You didn't want to go with her?

Darion shrugs and looks away.

DARION:
     I thought maybe I should stay with you. (he looks at her, suddenly appearing years older) Gabrielle, are you okay? Is it the baby?

GABRIELLE (smiles weakly):
     I'm fine, Darion...fine... (she pats his knee) Why don't you start packing up the camp? We should be getting a move on soon if we want to make it to the Amazon village before dark.

Darion gives her a worried, suspicious look and finally nods warily.

DARION:
     ...okay...

He gets up and busies himself with his bedroll. When he is not looking, Gabrielle lowers her head and puts a hand over her eyes. She sighs deeply.

CUT TO

Overhead view of the Amazon village, bustling with activity. The camera zooms down to sweep over the village. Some Amazons are working on fixing up huts--there's still damage left from the war with the renegades. A group of older women are tending to a vegetable garden while some teenage girls are training in the archery range on the edge of the village. There are other Amazons walking idly through the village.

Suddenly there's a commotion--Klymene is seen running through the village, out of breath. She nearly knocks down a woman carrying a bucket of water.

WOMAN (displeased):
     Watch where you're going, child!

KLYMENE (breathless):
     Sorry!

She continues to run. The woman looks after her, shaking her head.

CUT TO

Eve is outside the Queen's hut, talking about something to Cyane.

KLYMENE (off-camera, shouting):
     Eve!

Cyane and Eve stop talking and look in her direction, alarmed. She runs up to them, panting.

EVE:
     What is it?

KLYMENE (catching her breath):
     Scyleia. The healer says it's time.

Eve and Cyane exchange an anxious look.

CUT TO

Klymene walking quickly through the village, followed by Eve and Cyane. They hurry toward one of the huts. A woman's scream is heard from inside.

CUT TO

Eve, Cyane and Klymene enter the hut. An older Amazon, the healer, is standing next to a bed where a woman is lying.

EVE:
     How is she?

HEALER:
     It won't be long.

The woman lying in the bed moans. Eve steps up to the bed. The woman is hugely pregnant and clearly going into labor.

EVE (takes the woman's hand and squeezes it):
     This will be over soon, Scyleia.

SCYLEIA (nods):
     My Queen... (she moans and closes her eyes as another contraction overcomes her body)

Klymene comes over with a mug of water and hands it to Scyleia.

KLYMENE (worried):
     Here you go.

Scyleia opens her eyes, takes the mug with both hands and drinks avidly while Klymene holds up the mug.

SCYLEIA (gasping):
     Thank you...

HEALER:
     Make way, child.

Klymene steps aside. The healer dips a cloth into a bowl of water and places the damp cloth on Scyleia's head. Scyleia groans and shifts in the bed, clearly uncomfortable. The healer feels her stomach.

HEALER:
     Breathe and push!

She gets in the position to help Scyleia with the birth.

CYANE (reassuringly):
     You're going to be all right.

Scyleia moans, sweat dripping down her forehead; she grits her teeth, then screams.

HEALER:
     You're doing good. Come on.

Scyleia relaxes for a moment, breathing deeply.

SCYLEIA (turns to Eve):
     Eve...?

EVE:
     I'm here, Scyleia.

SCYLEIA:
     When the baby comes... (close-up on her face) don't let them banish me--please.

Scyleia cries out again as she is hit with another contraction.

Eve and Cyane look at each other, both looking conflicted.

Close up of Scyleia as she screams. There is silence for a moment, then a baby's cries are heard. The healer steps back from Scyleia who is panting heavily. The healer turns to Eve and Cyane, holding the baby in her arms. She has a grave look on her face.

Eve and Cyane look at each other.

HEALER:
     A boy.

FADE OUT

END OF TEASER