The following is the first eleven pages of a currently unproduced script. If you find it interesting and would like to read more, see the instructions at the end of this text to receive a copy of the complete screenplay.

			"FREEDOM'S PRICE"


FADE IN:

EXT. HILLSIDE - DAY				(2008)

A PERSON in a gas mask walks on a hillside overlooking
a city at sunset.  He is carrying a tall, high-tech
canister.

		KAYLA (V.O.)
	It was in two-thousand-eight.  New
	advances in transportation and food
	production promised to feed the
	world for centuries to come.

Person sets the canister down, and twists the top.  A
mist comes from it and drifts toward the city.

		KAYLA (V.O.)
	Claiming that the resulting
	overpopulation and pollution would
	destroy the Earth, an environmental
	terrorist group released a
	genetically-engineered virus in
	twenty cities around the world.  The
	plague spread quickly, and all
	attempts at containment failed.


URBAN CHAOS

Scenes of riots, burning buildings, lines of stopped
cars, with the dead scattered around homes and offices.

		KAYLA (V.O.)
	As billions died, all governments
	collapsed.  Anarchy and chaos were
	everywhere.  When the dying stopped,
	those that were immune to the virus
	emerged from where they hid and started
	on the long road back to civilization.


EXT. HIGH DESERT - DAY				(2014)

A large, high-power car travels down a hilly road into
the California desert.


EXT. GAS STATION - DAY

The car pulls into a weathered store/gas-station.

KAYLA gets out.  She is tall, dark haired, and dressed
in black.  Her utilitarian style emphasizes an air of
confidence, but doesn't conceal attractive features and
a lean, muscular build.

She enters the store, poised, not threatening, but alert.
HERB, old and grizzled, is behind the counter.

		KAYLA
	I need some gas.

		HERB
	I'll turn on the pump for you.

Herb walks from behind counter, holding a sawed-off shotgun.
He flips switch up.  Kayla goes out the door.

		HERB
	That's cash in advance!  Oh, hell.

He nervously follows her.  She starts filling tank.

		HERB
	You need to pay first, Miss.

Kayla leaves gas pumping, goes to front bumper.  Pushes
casing for claymore up against bumper, reaches around,
tightening.

		HERB
	What are those, Miss?  Some kind of
	fog light?

		KAYLA
	Claymores.  Shrapnel mines.

		HERB
	Ah.  I'll just be in the store, when
	you're ready.

Herb goes back in, peers out at her cautiously.  Kayla
tops off tank, heads to store.  Herb scurries behind
counter.  She enters, goes to cooler of plain bottles.

		HERB
	Sorry there's not much.  I'm
	expecting the truck this week, but
	you just never know.  They come out
	of L.A., you know.

Kayla takes a bottle, goes to counter.  Herb rings it up.

		HERB
	They don't like coming out this far,
	but I'm the only store for miles.
  	Not many people out here, but they've
	got to shop somewhere!

Kayla steps to window.  She drinks while staring out
at the hills.

		HERB
	I was one of the first back into
	L.A., you know, After.  If you
	weren't there, you can't imagine.
	You won't catch me back there again.

Kayla watches pickup drive by, carrying DICK and six
other RUFFIANS.

		KAYLA
	Are there any towns up that road?

		HERB
	Nah, maybe half dozen farms, 'bout
	ten miles.  Then nothing.

Kayla shows him a slightly ragged photo of a good-
looking blonde woman in her late teens.

		KAYLA
	Have you seen a woman who looks like
	this?  She'd be about twenty-five
	now.

		HERB
	Nope, never seen her.  Not out here,
	anyways.

		KAYLA
	Thanks.

Kayla starts to leave.

		HERB
	Oh, Miss!  I hope you find what
	you're looking for.

Kayla gives a small nod and smile in return.  She gets
into the car and drives off.


EXT. STORE - DAY

Kayla is walking out of a rural store, carrying a small
bag of food and a cold drink.  She pauses at middle-
aged FARMER going in, shows him the picture.

		KAYLA
	Have you seen this woman, maybe in
	the last few years?

		FARMER
	No.  Sorry.

		KAYLA
	Thanks.

The ruffians' truck drives up, and they get out.  They
are rowdy, talking loudly and rough.

Ruffian #1 heads around corner to restrooms.  The
others notice Kayla.

		RUFFIAN #2
	Whoa, hello!

		DICK
	Man that's nice!

		RUFFIAN #3
	Go talk to her, I think she likes
	you!

Dick moves to intercept Kayla as she walks to her car.
He blocks her way, and she stops.

		DICK
	Hi!  I can tell you don't belong in
	a nowhere place like this.

Kayla says nothing.

		DICK
	Why don't we find someplace more
	interesting?  I'm available if you
	want some company.

		KAYLA
	I don't think so.

Ruffians react, amused at Dick's failure.
		DICK
	Hey, that's not very friendly.  You
	know it's not safe around here for a
	woman alone.  Not everyone is as
	nice as I am.

		KAYLA
	You're in my way.

		DICK
	Sorry, Babe!  It's cool.

Dick pulls his arm back, letting her pass.

He looks at the other ruffians, and gives them a grin.

Dick lunges at Kayla, grabbing at her arm.

Kayla spins, intercepting his hand and twisting him
into a painful wrist lock.

She slams him back against the wall, while drawing his
sheath knife.

Stunned, everybody freezes.  Dick blinks, starts to
react.

		KAYLA
	Uh uh.

Kayla dips her eyes down, he looks, and sees his knife
pressed up against his groin.  He looks at her.

		KAYLA
	Next time I won't be nice.

She releases him.  He moves away, massaging his hand.
Turns to speak, as Kayla is putting knife in her belt.

		DICK
	Um, could I have my knife back?
		(beat)
	Never mind...

Ruffians head back toward store, ridiculing Dick.
Kayla watches them go.

SAM pulls up on motorcycle.  He's a thin teenager,
average height, pale hair, and good looks.  He wears
work boots and rough clothes.

He's ignored until he raises a large, double-barreled
shotgun at the ruffians.

		SAM
	All of you, on the ground!  Now!
	Don't even think about it!

They mutter, but comply.  Kayla moves behind her open
car door, watching.

		RUFFIAN #3
	Hey man, what's the deal?

		SAM
	You're going to pay for what you did
	last night!

		RUFFIAN #4
	Whoa, you must have the wrong guys.
	We've never done anything to you!

		SAM
	You know what I'm talking about!

		RUFFIAN #2
	Hey, we didn't mean to kill her!

		SAM
	Shut up!
		(Sam kicks him)
	She didn't deserve to die, but you
	do.  You're all going to die.

Ruffian #1 comes from around corner of building, sees
the situation, starts to draw his gun.

		KAYLA
	Look out!

Sam looks up, sees Ruffian #1, fires shotgun.  He
misses terribly.

Kayla draws and shoots Ruffian #1.  His gun fires as he
drops, hitting the motorcycle.

Others ruffians leap for truck, firing.  Sam goes for
cover.

Kayla returns fire, but shooting over their heads.

STOREKEEPER drops steel blinds over front windows.

Truck peels out.  Sam runs to road, fires shotgun
again, no apparent hit.

Sam looks at his damaged motorcycle, runs up to Kayla's
car.

		SAM
	Come on!  We can catch them!

		KAYLA
	No.  This isn't my fight, I'm not
	involved.

		SAM
	But you are involved, you already
	shot one!

		KAYLA
	Only to keep him from killing you.

		SAM
	They'll rape and kill other people
	if we don't stop them!

		KAYLA
	That's not my problem!  I've seen
	lots of people like them.  Sooner or
	later, they're going to piss off
	someone stronger and meaner than
	they are, and they'll get what they
	deserve.

		SAM
	Damn!  Damn!  You're as bad as they
	are, you don't care anything about
	what's right!

		KAYLA
	Don't tell me what I care about.
	You don't know anything about me.  I
	know you are incompetent.  You're
	just lucky I didn't want to see you
	killed for being so stupid.

Kayla stalks off toward ruffian's body.  Sam follows.

Storekeeper peeks out cautiously, opens blinds.

		SAM
	Why am I incompetent?

		KAYLA
	A double-barreled shotgun isn't
	exactly the weapon to use on seven
	armed men.

		SAM
	Oh.
		(pause)
	They really did kill my fiance.

		KAYLA
	I'm sorry.

Kayla kneels by the dead ruffian, and looks intently
into his eyes.  She holds this position while Sam
speaks.

		SAM
	We thought if we stayed out at the
	farms we'd be safe.  Nobody ever
	comes out this far any more.  Lynn
	and I were going to be married next
	week.  They took all that away from me.

		KAYLA
	Let me give you some advice.  Go
	home.  Work on your farm.  Life will
	go on, and eventually the pain will
	go away.

Kayla picks up the ruffian's gun and checks the clip.

		SAM
	No, I can't go back.  Without her, I
	don't care about any of it.

		KAYLA
	Then catch a ride to L.A.  I think
	there's a truck coming by in a few
	days.

Kayla starts going through ruffian's pockets.

		SAM
	No, I don't know anyone there, that
	would be even worse.  I have an
	uncle in Fresno, I could live with
	him.  Which way are you going?

		KAYLA
	I'm working my way north, but
	taking the back roads.

		SAM
	Perfect!  Let me ride with you!

		KAYLA
	No.  You'd just slow me down.

Kayla pulls out ruffian's wallet, rifles through it.
Takes cash out and stuffs it in her pocket.

		SAM
	I won't be any trouble, and it's not
	that far, even if you take the back
	roads.  Please!

		KAYLA
	I don't think it's a good idea.

		SAM
	I'll pay you!  I don't have a lot of
	money, but you can have it.

		KAYLA
	I don't want your money.

		SAM
	Please don't leave me here!  I don't
	have anywhere to go.  I can't stay,
	and I don't have any other family...

		KAYLA
	You're not going to give up, are you?

		SAM
	Please?

		KAYLA
	All right.  I'll give you a ride to
	Fresno.

		SAM
	Great!  I really appreciate this.
	Oh, I'm Sam...

		KAYLA
	Kayla.

		SAM
	I won't be a problem, honest.

		KAYLA
	Get any gear off your bike you want
	to take.

Gets in car, shaking her head.  Sam gets bag from bike,
runs to car, gets in.

		SAM
	Thanks for saving my life, I'd pay
	you back if I could, somehow.  This
	is a really great car!  Where did
	you get it?

		KAYLA
	I'm going to regret this, aren't I?


EXT. TOWN - DAY

Kayla's car drives into small town, pulls up in front
of general store.  Three CHILDREN are playing near by.

		KAYLA
	Don't shoot at anybody, okay?

 		SAM
	Don't worry.  I don't have any more
	shells.

Kayla looks at him in disbelief for a moment.  She
shakes her head and gets out, not looking back.

As they get out of car, BERT and JUNE step out of
doorway, both have hands resting on holstered guns.
They watch as Sam and Kayla approach.

		BERT
	Afternoon.  What can we help you
	with?

Kayla holds out the photo.

		KAYLA
	I'm looking for this woman, have you
	seen her?  She'd be in her mid-
	twenties now.

Bert and June look at the picture, shake their heads.

		BERT
	She owe you money?

		KAYLA
	She's my sister.

		JUNE
	We're the only store for thirty
	miles, we would have seen her if
	she's in the area.

		BERT
	Why don't you all come inside and
	cool off.  You like soda?  We just
	got some in.

A motorcycle is heard, coming down road.  They turn and
watch as the BIKER rides toward store.  He is huge,
muscular, wild; he's dressed in black leathers, and has
guns and a large knife at his waist.

		JUNE
	Tina, Greg, take Jamie and get
	inside.

The kids quickly go in.  Kayla slides her sunglasses
back on, steps to the side.

The Biker pulls up to gas pump, casually gets off bike
and starts pumping gas.

		JUNE
		(quietly)
	I don't want any trouble.

		BERT
	We'll just let him do what he wants.

		KAYLA
	It's okay, he'll pay for the gas.

Bert looks at her, unsure.  Kayla nods slightly.  Bert
walks out to Biker as he finishes pumping.

Biker looks at Bert, who stops.  Biker's gaze goes to
Kayla, who is relaxed, not moving.

Biker pulls out wallet, opens it, showing thick wad of
bills, pulls out several, hands them to Bert.

Biker gets back on bike, starts it up.  Turns to look
at Kayla, and gives small nod.

Kayla gives small smile and nod in return.  Biker rides
off.

		JUNE
	Thanks.

		KAYLA
	I didn't do anything.

		SAM
	Who was that?

		KAYLA
	That was the Black Angel of Death.

		SAM
	No!  Really?

		KAYLA
	Of course not!  How should I know
	who that was?

		SAM
	But you knew he'd pay for what he
	took.

		KAYLA
	He wasn't looking for trouble
	either.  I could use something cold
	to drink, what have you got?

		JUNE
	Come in, the cooler's near the back.
	You folks hungry?

They all go into the store.