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.