Episode 19
Ulysses
Written by: R.J. Stewart
Directed by: Michael Levine
Edited by: Jim Prior

Regular Cast
Lucy Lawless as Xena
Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle

Guest Cast:
John D'Aquino as Ulysses
Rachel Blakely as Penelope
Tim Raby as Meticles
Carl Bland as Layos
Charles Siebert as Poseidon
Donna Pivac as First Siren
Geoffrey Knight as First Pirate

Xena and Gabrielle are walking along a cliff path on the coast. Gabrielle comments on how beautiful it is. Without much enthusiasm, Xena says "it's alright". Gabrielle tells her she should learn to appreciate the peaceful moments in life. She asks Xena to close her eyes and tell her what she can hear. Xena sourly replies that the gulls are irritating and the sea makes her glad she is on dry land. Gabrielle says she wants Xena to hear the waves beating on the shore and have a sense of peace. Xena then draws her sword, hearing the sounds of a battle nearby.

Down on the beach there are men fighting - 3 against 1. Gabrielle asks if they should help but Xena says she is taking Gabrielle's advice and smelling the flowers. As they watch the fight, more men arrive. Xena then charges into the fray, followed by Gabrielle. Xena introduces herself. The man thanks her for her help and tells her he is Ulysses. He then swings Xena round in a sweeping arc, knocking the men to the ground. They all run away. Ulysses tells Xena the men are pirates and do not want him to reach his Kingdom of Ithaca. If he fails to return home, their lord will give them control of Ithaca as their reward. The lord turns out to be Poseidon who, on cue, pops up out of the sea.

Poseidon tells Xena not to interfere in this matter. She asks why he has taken against Ulysses. Poseidon replies that Ulysses blinded his son, Polyphemus (a Cyclops). Xena defies Poseidon, saying she is going to help him get home. Poseidon reminds Ulysses that his wife is dead and, therefore, he should give up trying to get home. Ulysses refuses to give up so Poseidon warns Ulysses he can only reach Ithaca by sea. Laughing, he disappears into the sea.

Ulysses takes Xena and Gabrielle to the cave where he has been living since his ship was taken and his crew killed by the pirates. Whilst talking, Ulysses mentions fighting in the Trojan war. Xena tells him she fought against him in that war but Ulysses does not see her as his enemy and offers her his thanks again for helping him. She suggests they recapture his ship.

As Gabrielle lies sleeping, Ulysses creeps up on Xena, who is sharpening her sword. Hearing him, she swings round. She asks about his ship and he tells her it is swarming with pirates. They decide to wait till dawn before their attack. Ulysses talks about his wife (Penelope). He tells Xena that Poseidon destroyed her ship when she went in search of her husband.

The next day, Gabrielle, dressed as a dancing girl and aboard a small boat, tries to distract the pirates. They invite her on board the ship and Gabrielle dances for them. Meanwhile, Xena and Ulysses sneak up in another boat. They climb on board and Xena cuts the anchor rope whilst Ulysses fixes the sails. Gabrielle is still dancing when Xena calls to the pirates. They charge and there is a fight. Gabrielle joins in, using a mop as a weapon. Most of the pirates end up overboard. One pirate aims a crossbow at Gabrielle and Ulysses jumps in the way, taking a crossbow bolt in his shoulder. The pirate then draws his sword, preparing to kill Ulysses. Xena jumps on the rail, flips down and tosses the pirate into the sea. She then takes the bolt out of Ulysses' shoulder. She then uses the ropes to haul herself up the mast where she cuts the ropes on the sails, unfurling them. Ulysses is impressed.

Later, Xena tends to Ulysses' wound below deck. He asks about her chakram then tells Xena about his bow back on Ithaca - a bow only he can string. He then offers to drop Xena and Gabrielle off at the next port but Xena volunteers herself and Gabrielle as his crew. Ulysses is concerned for Xena and Gabrielle's safety but they both insist on staying on and helping him. Gabrielle starts to feel seasick.

Ulysses shows Xena a map. Xena suggests they island hop to avoid the storms but this would take them past the island of the Sirens, whose song lures men to their deaths on the rocks. Xena believes she can beat the Sirens.

The ship sails on, with Gabrielle throwing up over the side of it. Ulysses is at the helm. Xena taunts Gabrielle over the peacefulness of the sea. Ulysses points to the sky. Poseidon's storm is on its way. On hearing that things are going to get worse, Gabrielle asks Xena to knock her out!

It is dark and the ship is being tossed around in the storm. Below deck, Gabrielle is being thrown around the cabin. Meanwhile, Xena ties Ulysses to a post, saying this will save his life when they travel past the Island of the Sirens. Gabrielle is feeling so rough she asks Xena to kill her.

Inside a cave, peopled by three dancing beauties, Poseidon's voice hails the Sirens. His head appears out of the water inside a huge clam shell. He tells the Sirens that Ulysses is approaching and he makes sure they know what to do.

It is light again and the sea is calm. Xena is at the helm. The Sirens are singing and Xena hears them. Below deck, Ulysses and Gabrielle hear them. Ulysses wants to go to them; they are calling to him. He struggles and begs Gabrielle to untie him. She refuses. With the toe of his boot, Ulysses flicks up and catches a piece of broken pot. He kicks Gabrielle, knocking her down and cuts himself free.

In their cave, the Sirens sing on. Xena is stood at the helm when Ulysses appears. He jumps her, knocking her against the rail. He then grabs the wheel and steers the boat towards the rocks. Xena kicks Ulysses away from the wheel and steers the ship away from the rocks. The Sirens continue to sing louder. Ulysses runs across the deck and Xena tells him not to listen to the Sirens' call. She hangs on to the wheel.

Ulysses stands on the rail ready to jump. The Sirens are still singing. Xena, still at the wheel, begins to sing herself. This distracts the Sirens and their song falters. Their spell is broken and Ulysses comes to himself. He jumps from the rail back on to the deck. Gabrielle appears from below and Ulysses apologises for her injury. Gabrielle tells him that, at least this took her mind off her stomach! Ulysses praises Xena for saving them.

Below deck, Gabrielle is asleep in a hammock. Xena and Ulysses talk about food and the possibility of Xena staying on for a while in Ithaca. Ulysses admits he is falling in love with Xena. They kiss and Xena tells Ulysses she will think about staying on. Gabrielle overhears everything and does not look very happy about it.

The ship approaches land. Xena and Gabrielle are on deck. Gabrielle asks how Xena feels about Ulysses and Xena admits she has feelings for him. Gabrielle tells Xena she wants her to be happy.

Ulysses is at the helm. He shouts and points to land. They have arrived at Ithaca. Gabrielle is overjoyed about being on dry land again. Ulysses falls to his knees on the beach, glad to be home. Gabrielle kisses the sand.

The three are walking through a wood when they are distracted by the sound of fighting. They see one man fighting against half a dozen or so pirates. Xena, Gabrielle and Ulysses join in. The surviving pirates run away. Ulysses recognises the man as his friend, Meticles. At first, Meticles does not recognise his king, having believed him to be dead. Meticles reveals that Ulysses' wife, Penelope is alive and that Ithaca is swarming with pirates, all vying for Penelope's hand in marriage. Ulysses realises that Poseidon deceived him into believing Penelope was dead. Meticles urges Ulysses to act quickly because his people want Penelope to take a husband. They all go off to find a way into the castle.

Inside the castle, Penelope must decide who will be her husband. She has devised a plan; whoever can string Ulysses' bow will be her king.

Xena, Gabrielle and Ulysses find a tunnel leading into the castle. Ulysses sends Gabrielle to the servants' quarters. After she has gone, Ulysses tells Xena that Ithaca is no longer his home and that he does not love Penelope - he loves Xena. He says Ithaca belongs to Penelope and that, when they are rid of the pirates, he wants to travel with Xena and Gabrielle. Xena coldly tells him she is not in love with him and she likes her life the way it is. Upset, Ulysses walks away. Gabrielle arrives back and tells Xena that Ulysses will understand why she rejected him. They follow Ulysses into the castle.

Inside the castle, the pirate suitors are trying to string Ulysses' bow, watched by Penelope. Gabrielle appears, serving wine to the gathered throng. Ulysses also appears, dressed in a cloak with the hood pulled over his face. Beside the throne lies a dog (Argos) a bloodhound. It looks up, scenting its master. The suitors are still trying to string the bow. The dog disappears under a table.

Xena shows up, also serving wine to the crowd. Argos finds Ulysses and nudges him, whining but Ulysses tells him to go away. The pirate (Layos) currently trying to string the bow says it is an impossible task. Ulysses, in disguise, says he can do it. Layos disagrees, saying that a peasant certainly could not do it. Ulysses says that peasants should get a chance and Penelope nods her assent.

Ulysses takes the bow and tries to string it but he has grown weak and struggles to do so. Xena purposely drops a goblet on the floor. She bends down to pick it up but then scrambles under the table. Ulysses is still struggling to string the bow. Beneath the table, Xena helps him bend the bow. Everyone watches Ulysses and Penelope is amazed to see him succeed. Ulysses throws back his hood, revealing his true identity. Layos draws his sword but Ulysses kicks him away and shoots several of the pirates with one arrow. A fight ensues and Xena and Gabrielle join in. They defeat the pirates and Ulysses is reunited with Penelope. Xena leaves with Gabrielle.

Back on the ship, Xena prepares to set sail. Ulysses appears and tells Xena he want to go with her. He says he now knows Xena was giving him a chance to get back with Penelope but, because of this, he now loves her more than ever. Xena tells him his kingdom and his wife need him. She tells him to go home and walks away. After a second or two, Ulysses walks away too. Gabrielle asks Xena how she is feeling and Xena tells her she will live and that Ulysses will learn to love Penelope again. Xena tells Gabrielle she wants Ulysses to believe he bent the bow himself and, for the people to believe that too. It is his story and that is the way it should be.

Ulysses and Penelope stand on the beach and wave as the ship sails away.

Episode 20
The Price
Written by: Steven L. Sears
Directed by: Oley Sassone
Edited by: Jim Prior

Regular Cast
Lucy Lawless as Xena
Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle

Guest Cast:
Paul Glover as Menticles
Charles Mesure as Mercer
Tamati Rice as Garel
Mark Perry as Galipan
Jason Hoyte as Athenian #1
Bob Johnson as Athenian #2
Brent Gilbert as Drowned Athenian
Phillip Jones as Wounded Athenian
Allen O'Halloran as Fatigued/Gashed Athenian
Justin Curry as G'Kug
Sam Williams as Hordemaster

Synopsis:
Xena and Gabrielle must battle against the Horde, Xena's most feared enemy. They fight their way into an Athenian barracks where the soldiers are defeatist and hysterical. Xena agrees to lead them but it soon becomes clear to Gabrielle that this Xena is not the Xena she knows and that this Xena will ruthlessly slaughter all the Horde if she has to. A shocked Gabrielle goes into the field and gives the dying Horde water and it is this which makes Xena realise that perhaps her way is not always the best way. Xena fights the Horde leader and wins, causing the rest of the Horde to retreat into the woods.

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