Amazon High - Teaser (page 1)
Amazon High
Page 1
TEASER
FADE IN:
INT XENA'S HOME - MAIN ROOM - NIGHT
Xena, a 17-year old beauty, leaves a note on the table and quickly exits the front door. She has a small satchel with her belongings on her back.
Xena travels through the country.
EXT ATHENS - STREET - DAY
As Xena walks down the street, she sees a line of girls her age heading into a gymnasium. She gets in line behind Larissa, a shy and quiet girl.
XENA
Hey, what's going on here?
LARISSA
Entrance exams for the Amazon High Academy of War.
XENA
They're training warriors?
LARISSA
If you can pass the exams. I heard that they are very difficult, and some girls have even died trying to get in.
XENA
I'll try it. I've got nothing for me at home.
LARISSA
Where's your home?
XENA
Amphipolis. I came to Athens to find a new life.
LARISSA
I'm Larissa. What's your name?
XENA
I'm Xena.
LARISSA
Well, I hope you make it.
XENA
You too.
They pass through the door into the gymnasium.
CUT TO:
INT GYMNASIUM
About twenty girls stand in a group around an Amazon warrior, Ariadne.
ARIADNE
You have been told that entrance into the Amazon High Academy of War is nearly impossible. You have come here today to prove me wrong. I will warn you that the tests you are about to take could easily kill you. If any of you wish to leave, the choice is yours.
Three girls leave.
ARIADNE
For the rest of you, the next two days will be a test of your strength, determination, and desire. My warriors will show you no mercy.
Series of shots
Xena climbing a rope. Shooting bow and arrow. Running with a rope around her neck behind an amazon. Fighting with a wooden sword.
INT GYMNASIUM - TWO DAYS LATER
The group has lost about half of the girls. Those remaining are bruised, tired, and hurting.
ARIADNE
Congratulations. You have proven yourselves fine warriors. However, I can only take three of you with me. You will know tomorrow who I have chosen. Dismissed.
The girls gather in their small groups to talk. Xena and Larissa step away from the rest of the group.
XENA
Larissa, do you think you made it?
LARISSA
I hope so. I need to get into the Academy. My whole life depends on it.
XENA
Me too. I can't go back to Amphipolis now. I left to find a new life. I can't go back and say I failed.
LARISSA
What did your family say when you left?
XENA
I don't know. I left them a note. I left in the middle of the night.
LARISSA
So you didn't even say goodbye?
XENA
I couldn't. They would have tried to stop me.
CUT TO:
INT GYMNASIUM - BARRACKS - NIGHT
All of the girls sleep soundly. Three Amazon warriors wake up three girls - Xena, Larissa, and Megaera.
The three girls wake up and follow the Amazons.
EXT FIELD - NIGHT
Xena hurries to catch up to Ariadne.
XENA
What is going on? Why did you wake us up?
ARIADNE
I should think it would be obvious, Xena. You have been chosen.
XENA
Me? The three of us? Really?
ARIADNE
Yes. All of you show great potential. I must warn you, though. You are not Amazons by birth, so you will be treated as outsiders. Many of the other Amazons do not respect outsiders as much as I.
Xena drops back to talk to Larissa and Megaera.
XENA
I found out. We're in.
MEGAERA
All of us?
XENA
We made it.
LARISSA
Praise Athena.
CUT TO:
EXT AMAZON HIGH
In the dense forest, a large building appears. This is the Amazon High Academy of War. Ariadne leads her group inside.
INT AMAZON HIGH
Ariadne stops her group in front of a statue of Marpesia, the greatest amazon queen, who founded Amazon High.
ARIADNE
This is a statue of Queen Marpesia, our greatest queen. It was she who extended our lands out to the lands of the east. It was she who established this fine academy of war.
XENA
Where do we go from here?
ARIADNE
You will find your bunks down that corridor. May the gods smile on you, my new warriors.
Ariadne leaves.
MEGAERA
I say we find our bunks, and get some sleep, we've been walking for two days.
XENA
I want to meet some of the other warriors here.
LARISSA
Megaera's right, Xena. We need to get some rest.
XENA
Fine. Lead the way.
CUT TO:
INT BARRACKS
They find three empty bunks and lay their belongings down. A finely dressed Amazon student, Morine, yells at them.
MORINE
Hey! The servants quarters are over there, girls.
XENA
Sorry, we're the new recruits from Athens.
MORINE
Oh, outsiders. Well, I don't want you here. These bunks were reserved.
XENA
Who are you? Zeus's gift to Amazons?
MORINE
(Smugly)
You don't belong here. This is for warriors - true warriors.
MEGAERA
We passed the tests!
XENA
I'm just as good as you are.
MORINE
Not even close, princess.
XENA
I'll fight you now.
MORINE
Ooh, look, the princess wants to be a warrior.
Xena wildly swings at Morine. Morine catches Xena's fist and twist her arm, driving Xena to the ground. Morine pins Xena to the ground, and whispers in her ear.
MORINE
Get used to it, peasant. I'm better than you will ever be.
FADE OUT:
END TEASER