Now, are you sure you don't
want me to come with you?
And miss Adar's speech?
Please.
Send my regrets. I'll be there
first thing tomorrow.
Welcome. Welcome
to the Festival of Peace.
- Peace to you!
- Back at ya!
- Peace forever!
- For everybody, yeah!
I'm gonna need my arm back.
Peace to us all!
- Adar.
- Gabrielle! You made it.
Where's Xena?
She had business in Pergos,
but she sends her apologies.
But she'll miss my
speech honoring Pax.
I'll give her all the highlights.
She'll be back tomorrow morning.
They're ready, Mr. Mayor.
Thank you.
Please be seated.
We are gathered today...
from many villages...
for our annual
celebration of Pax,
the personification of peace.
This statue was created
years ago...
at the end of a bitter w*r...
and serves as a reminder...
that we are truly one people,
bound by a spirit
of cooperation...
and understanding.
My Zeus and all the gods!
Pax is gone!
I guess it's pretty bad, huh?
Pretty bad? It's worse than
pretty bad. This is a disaster!
Already there are angry recriminations
between the villagers...
as to what's happened
to the statue.
Everyone's so mistrustful because
it's just so hard to believe.
It was there last night,
and then it's just vanished.
Things don't just vanish, Adar.
Somebody stole it.
It's taller than a house.
Who could've stolen it?
I think we have a suspect.
- I'm talking to you, Grandma!
- Ah, what's that, sweetie?
What--
I want to ask you
a few questions.
I'm sorry.
I need to tend to my--
Broken hip.
That was pinned on!
Autolycus?
Of course. Who else could
pull off a heist like this?
Well, it is impressive, isn't it?
I mean, a statue that size just...
disappearing like that?
It would not be immodest to say
that that's the greatest theft ever.
There's only one problem.
And what's that, genius?
I didn't do it.
In a time of ancient gods...
...warlords...
...and kings...
A land in turmoil
cried out for a hero...
She was Xena...
a mighty princess,
forged in the heat of battle...
...The power...
...The passion...
...The danger...
Her courage will
change the world...
[font color="#d "]Vanishing Act[/font]
What do you mean,
you didn't do it?
Xena, I'm very flattered
that you don't believe me,
but the truth of the matter is
I did not steal the statue.
Granted, I can't believe
I didn't steal the statue.
If you are innocent, why were
you wearing a disguise?
That's a very good question.
You see, it's like this.
Try as I may to keep it quiet,
I have a reputation as--
- The King of Thieves?
- Because of that reputation,
well, if I were to
be spotted in a town
where a major theft
has just taken place,
as in here, well, the local
authorities might be
somewhat inclined to,
uh, incarcerate me.
I'll take care of this.
That statue represents
a long tradition
of peace between
these villages,
and I didn't come here
to fool around!
Well, like I'm here
for the pony rides.
Xena, I want to get that statue
back just as much as you.
Give me a break.
Oh, not for any goody-goody
reasons, but for me.
Don't you get it?
I don't know who
stole that statue.
What's worse, I don't know
how they stole it.
So if I don't find out
who did and steal it back--
You're no longer
the King of Thieves.
Exactly.
Which is why I'm gonna
let you work with me on this.
Oh, thanks, but no thanks.
It takes a thief
to catch a thief.
Look, I just want your
help to steal it back
so I can put it back
where it belongs.
Autolycus, it's not
called stealing if you
retrieve stolen property
for the rightful owners.
No, not if you go in there busting
heads like you usually do.
But if you use finesse...
and steal it from under their
noses without them knowing it,
that counts as stealing.
Why would I
want to do that?
As a favor to me?
No.
Oh, I get it. What have I
done for you lately, huh?
- Yeah.
- Yeah, nothing besides
letting you live inside my body
while I risk my life...
to steal back your
shapely corpse,
all the while having to
endure Gabrielle whining
and crying hours a day about
how much she misses Xena!
- Are you quite finished?
- That depends. Did it work?
- It worked.
- Then I'm finished.
- Xena, one more thing.
- What?
It's gotta be done my way.
My reputation as the King of
Thieves is not gonna be restored
if you sling that chakram around
and poke people with swords.
It's gotta be done
the Autolycus way.
Deal?
Come on.
Give me a smile.
Give me some teeth.
Little smile.
Deal!
That's my Xena.
Working with us might
rub off on Autolycus.
It could change him.
Or not.
Autolycus became a thief
to avenge a terrible wrong.
I know.
He told me.
He stole everything from the
merchant who k*lled his brother.
He left him with nothing--
just a broken man.
You see, that was
Autolycus's defining moment.
He'll always think
of himself as a thief.
If he wants me to help him regain
the title of king, then so be it.
It's the least I can do.
The man did save my life.
Come on!
Well?
Just as I suspected.
There's a deep furrow
in the seabed.
So the statue was toppled over
and dragged out by ship.
Exactly, my dear.
Now all we have to
figure out is what ship.
- Right.
- Right.
Be right with you.
Just gotta get this off.
Get ready.
Greetings.
I am told you are the one
called Wharfmaster.
I am Namin,
an antiquities dealer,
trading in rare
Armenian... antiquities.
I need to ship some rather,
uh, delicate cargo.
I can't help you.
Ah, no, no.
You misunderstand.
I was hoping you could recommend
a ship captain who could help us
with such a, uh,
sensitive transaction.
Look, blinky, I don't know
what you're talking about, okay?
Then, perhaps,
for you it is very fortunate
that I speak
the universal language.
You'll have to speak it
louder than that, my friend.
Uh, I think you should talk
to my associate.
Good centurion,
bad centurion.
- Put a little pressure on him.
- Right you are.
Now tell us who
shipped out that statue.
You don't have to answer that.
What are you doing?
- Putting a little pressure on him.
- Psychological pressure.
Xena, you agreed
to do this my way.
- Undo that pinch.
- , , --
Now, are you willing to tell us?
- It was Tarsus.
- Tarsus? Of Siros?
- Yeah.
- You know him?
Yeah. We have
a history of sorts.
Where is his home base now?
A castle on the island
of Mykonos.
The first thing we should do
is size up the castle from outside,
try and determine the best way
to get the statue out.
What if they're in the process
of selling it right now?
It could be on the move
before we get to it.
Good point. Then one
of us should go in
as a fence and make
a bid on the statue.
That'll keep it
in place for a while.
Impersonating a fence?
Let me guess who does that.
What is it?
There's someone here
asking about Pax.
All right.
Tarsus, I presume.
And you are?
Myopia the fence.
I... fence.
I come to tell you, I make
offer on the statue of Pax.
What makes you
think that I have Pax?
This?
You'd be surprised
how little it takes
to loosen lips of
corrupt wharfmaster.
Get the furnace going.
Furnace?
When strangers start knocking
on my door with offers,
I'd say things were
a bit too hot to have
a stolen piece of
art hanging around.
These city states have
been known to send
armies after
the silliest artifacts.
On the other hand,
who's to say where I got a few
hundred pounds of raw gold?
I'm not sure I understand.
As soon as the furnace
is hot enough,
the statue of Pax
will be melted down.
Wait. You can't
melt the statue down.
Why not?
Be-- Because it gets gooey.
I do not pay for goo.
This is exactly what I meant...
about things being too hot.
Seems we have another
unsolicited bidder.
You ever heard of
a fence named Ezra?
I've heard
of her, of course.
- Darling.
- Ezra! Nice to meet you.
Charmed, I'm sure,
but I'm here on business.
Well, you're going to have
some competition.
This is Myopia. She's also
interested in the statue.
Myopia.
I've heard of you.
They say you used
to be good-lookin'.
Plan Beta.
I saw the furnace belching smoke,
and then we had to come in right away--
Are you paying attention to me?
This is part of his way.
So, where are you
hiding that statue?
Tarsus was just about to
have the statue melted down.
Of course I tell him, the statue
is much more valuable intact.
Well, that would be because
you're a rank amateur.
Of course it's more valuable
if you melt it down--
easier to transport,
easier to sell--
and frankly I'm surprised
you didn't do it earlier.
- I mean, surprised but pleased.
- Why is that?
Because I don't buy anything
I don't see melted down.
One can so easily dilute it.
You don't trust me?
I sell to the richest
men and women on earth,
so forgive me if my reputation for
dealing in only the finest materials
is too valuable to risk
on the word of a thief.
So, do I get to see
the statue or not?
- Right away.
- Fabulous.
Oh, my manservant's outside.
Would you give him a hand
with the baggage?
Oh, gorgeous!
Let's do it.
Here's my guy now.
This is my assistant...
Bentley.
Bentley.
What an unfortunate name.
Well, Mother had quite
the sense of humor.
Stay out of the way, Bentley.
They're about to melt
down the statue.
Go on.
- Your man is an idiot.
- You're telling me.
Get inside, you buffoon.
A thousand pardons.
I--
Something wrong with the
furnace. It's losing heat.
What?
I thought you were running
a classy operation here.
Interesting.
You incompetent scum.
Make sure that furnace
is working.
We can wait inside while
they work. It won't take long.
We gotta keep them out here till
Autolycus gets finished looking around.
Oh, that's just great.
Great, yeah.
Now she wants to bid
on the raw gold.
Well, I guess there's nothing
wrong with changing your mind.
All right.
Well, let's settle this
right now, shall we?
I'll give you
, dinars for it.
- Twenty.
- Twenty-five.
- Thirty.
- Thirty-five.
Thirty-five thousand dinars.
- Going once, twice--
- Forty thousand.
One hundred and forty
thousand dinars.
One hundred sixty thousand.
Two hundred thousand dinars.
Two hundred thousand dinars.
Going once--
Two hundred fifty thousand.
Two hundred and fifty
thousand dinars.
- Going--
- Three hundred thousand.
- Three hundred fifty.
- Four hundred thousand dinars.
And I'll throw in
the Ring of Apollo.
- Let her have it.
- Sold.
Well, the money will be
here in the morning.
Perfect. We'll have the furnace
operational by then.
You and your gold will be
on your way by midday.
Break out the wine.
Tonight we celebrate.
I hope there are
no bad feelings.
But who could compete
with the Ring of Apollo?
Don't you agree?
You just had to outbid me,
didn't you?
You outbid me first.
It's a wonder you didn't
go even higher.
Right. Like I can top
the Ring of Apollo?
Are you two out of your minds?
What difference does it
make who outbid who?
We're pretending, remember?
Now, I happen to have a plan,
and if it works,
I will be a legend...
and you two will be
a legend's helpers.
First I've gotta find something.
I'm comin' with you.
Fine. But you know the rules.
You go to the party.
Tell them we'll join them later.
No problem.
This plan of yours
is kind of ambitious.
What else would you expect
from the King of Thieves?
- Oh, "Thebes." I've been there.
- Pay attention.
See?
Paint drippings.
This is probably it.
Locked, of course.
Not a problem.
Watch and learn, my dear.
You see, this is
no ordinary lock.
This happens to be a reinforced
Corinthian steel lock.
With a high-security, double-hinged,
pin-tumbler mechanism.
Darling!
Sorry you didn't get the gold,
but I'll have some more
interesting wares very soon.
Where's your rival?
In her room, I imagine.
She's missing the party.
I'll send somebody for her.
Oh, she'll come later.
She's with someone.
With someone?
- The hunchback?
- Who else?
Hunchback?
Oh, interesting.
She can be with him anytime.
Right now, I want her
here at this party.
Bring Ezra and her man
down immediately.
I wouldn't do that
if I were you.
Oh, you naughty guard, you!
Hold everything!
The party starts here.
Make yourself scarce, dummy.
Yoo-hoo, Myopia!
I am so sorry you lost.
Better luck next time, huh?
As soon as we're out of here,
we'll put his plan in motion.
Congratulations, Ezra.
I am obligated to tell
you that a well-known
Scylosian general is on his
way here to make a bid.
Really?
Is he good-lookin'?
Look, if you have
the money here by morning,
I'm sure he can't
top your offer.
Oh, it'll be here.
So, tell me more
about this naughty general.
Excuse me.
My name is Thea.
Oh, uh, Bentley.
Forgive me for staring, but I
just can't help but notice your--
- Smile?
- To be honest,
I was actually referring
to your hump.
Oh, that.
Would you mind if I asked
you a few questions?
Well, s-sure. Go ahead.
Wh-What do you want to know?
Would you mind
if I touched it?
Oh, oh, no, no. I would
really rather that you didn't.
Why? Does it hurt?
Well, of course it hurts. Why do
you think camels are so miserable?
I kid you not, it was this big.
So tell me, how did you manage
to steal the statue of Pax?
A magician never gives
away his secrets.
But I will tell you this. It was
the best work I've ever done.
Really?
Of course, I haven't
always been a thief.
Oh, no. For many years,
I was a moderately
successful merchant,
making a decent living.
One day, I had a disagreement
with a competitor.
I had to eliminate
him as a rival.
Well, you would.
Unbeknownst to me, my competitor
had a younger brother.
Rather than face me like a man,
he took his vengeance
by stealing from me.
Cleaned me out,
but in so doing,
he taught me a lesson:
The world belongs to those
who make it their own.
- A toast, then.
- A toast, yes.
To the man who has
brought us all here tonight.
To Autolycus,
the former King of Thieves.
Auto!
Auto, baby, you promised me
this was gonna work.
You're supposed to be
the King of Thieves!
My father-- My father told me
he was a loser and a fraud,
with his phone disguises and
that silly moustache, but...
I will always love you.
Oh, look, you gotta believe me.
He put me up to this.
You know how he is
with that charm of his.
He's so shallow,
yet so persuasive.
I'm not really a bad person.
I just fell in love with the
wrong man at the wrong time.
Shut up!
Take her too.
And gag her.
Get them both out of here!
Watch the hump!
Quick.
Come on. Get her.
If Ezra isn't real,
the bidding isn't real either.
That's right.
You can bid again
in the morning...
against the Scylosian general.
But your money
better be here by then.
If not, I'll assume
you're a fraud too.
That's feet of the strongest
chain wrapped around you, Autolycus,
fastened by of
the best locks in the world.
Good.
I enjoy a challenge.
Well, enjoy it while you can,
because I've just sent word to everyone
who has a reward out on your head:
I'll deliver you
to the highest bidder.
Outwardly, you're
always calm, Autolycus,
but I'm not fooled.
Inside, you burn with hatred
toward me, don't you?
And it's only gonna get worse.
Just think:
I k*lled your brother.
I stole your mantle
as King of Thieves.
And soon I'll be delivering you
to your executioners.
It's all so perfect.
I want this door
guarded at all times.
Well,
this should be interesting.
You pathetic weakling!
I plan to sell you
to the Scylosians.
Don't worry. You won't
be with 'em for long.
They usually b*at their sl*ve girls
to death in a matter of weeks.
And don't think
Autolycus'll save you.
I have him bound by
of the strongest locks.
Have a nice evening.
You stay here, and don't
let anyone talk to her.
Especially that Myopia.
I don't trust her either.
Help me.
Help me.
Can I ask you a question?
- sh**t.
- What are we doing!
We're doing it his way.
You call that his way?
Don't get technical on me.
Now that we know it was
Tarsus who k*lled his brother,
it's even more essential that
we let Autolycus win his way.
Why do you think he didn't
tell us who Tarsus was?
I'm hoping because it doesn't
make any difference.
So where is he?
Somewhere in this castle, chained
and manacled with locks.
- Two hundred locks?
- Yes.
It's gonna take him at least
an hour to get out of that lock.
Come on.
Let's get on with it.
All righty.
Get the door.
Thank you.
Sorry.
Come on.
Come on, talk to me.
I'm listening,
but I'm not hearing.
Come on.
Just a little more.
There we go.
Sixty-four.
Okay. I found everything
we need to get
through with this plan,
except for one thing.
- What's that?
- Brushes.
I just couldn't begin to think
how to do that his way.
- What do you think, huh?
- That'll do.
Good. We'd better get everything
we need into the courtyard.
Don't you think
we should find Autolycus?
Are you kidding? He'd never
forgive me if I robbed him
of the joy of getting
out of that by himself.
As long as he's back
by sunrise, it'll work.
One hundred and ten.
- We did it.
- Yeah.
The sun's up.
Where is he?
Xena, why don't you go get him?
Look. This wouldn't be--
His way. Yes, I know.
But this plan will go to
Tartarus if he's not here.
You're right.
I know it's not quite your--
Where is he?
I don't know.
He wasn't in the dungeon.
That's great. He got out.
The Scylosians will be
here any moment.
I don't think
he's gonna be joining us.
What do you mean?
His plan was to meet here.
He's not concerned
with his plan anymore.
I don't understand.
He's going to k*ll Tarsus.
But Autolycus doesn't k*ll.
He got revenge on Tarsus
before by stealing from him.
Now he plans
to finish the job.
Xena, Autolycus isn't a k*ller.
Not even to avenge
his brother's death.
He'd be a good one.
Think about it.
With his skills of disguise and
escape, he'd be one of the best.
That's if he crosses the line.
We're not gonna let him.
Come on.
Hello from Malechis.
You plan to k*ll me, don't you?
Why, Autolycus, I didn't
know you had it in you.
That's why I'm here.
Don't you want to thank
me first? Think about it.
You pride yourself on being the King
of Thieves, the best at what you do.
And who made you that way?
Me. For better or worse,
I made you who you are!
Too bad this isn't about me.
It's about a decent man
you k*lled a long time ago.
Look, Autolycus, I can't
bring your brother back,
but I can offer you money--
lots of money.
Money?
I do love money.
How much?
Everything I own.
Not enough,
but thanks for trying.
Don't do it, Autolycus.
Stay out of this, Xena.
Don't get me wrong.
I agree with you.
He k*lled your brother,
turned you into a thief...
and he was determined
to see you dead.
Most people would think you had
every right to act as his judge.
But I'm asking you,
what would Malechis think?
The man you told me about
loved his brother.
He gave everything to see
that you became a good person.
Tarsus may have
created the thief,
but it was Malechis who
gave the thief his heart.
Was it the heart
of a m*rder*r?
All right, Xena. You've been waiting
for this moment since we started.
Some good old-fashioned kick-butt,
that's-my-Warrior-Princess action.
Go get 'em!
- Retreat.
- What?
We got a plan. Remember?
After them, you idiots!
Run, Xena!
They're coming!
Get them!
What are you doing?
You loved your brother so much.
Say hi to him in the underworld!
Come on.
Come play with me, huh?
Xena, up and over.
Let's get out of here!
They're too much for us.
Quickly!
Run! This way!
Hurry! Hurry!
Tarsus.
Tarsus!
General, your timing is perfect.
Arrest these people.
They're trying to deprive
you of your gold.
I'm afraid we have a different
sense of humor in Scylosia.
So where is it?
The gold!
Where is it?
What, are you blind?
It hasn't been melted down yet,
but the statue is right
there against that--
But i-it was there!
I stole it!
You stole it?
Now, how can that be?
Obviously, it's not even here.
Unless someone
stole it from you.
Someone like, uh--
Oh, what's his name?
Autolycus, the King of Thieves.
So I'm negotiating with you?
No. Sorry. I've made
other arrangements.
You ever offer me goods
you don't have again,
I'll slash your throat!
Autolycus, I hope
you don't mind that I--
No, no. Say no more.
Sometimes your way is,
uh, just fine.
Well, looks like my plan
worked rather well.
Yeah. They'll be talking about
you from Scylosia to Britannia.
Now let's get that
statue back home.
They'll be happy to have
the guy who stole it too.
You know the problem
with your greatest work?
You can never tell anyone
how you did it.
My Zeus and all the gods!
Pax is back!
Pax is back! Hey, hey!
Wake up, you guys!
Pax is back!
Come on!
Pax is back! This is
incredible! Pax is back!
I cannot believe what
I'm seeing! Look!
Pax is back!
Pax is back!
This is absolutely fantastic!
That's what makes doing work
like this worthwhile.
Yes, half-naked men screaming
through the square.
I see your point.
Autolycus, tell me you don't
feel a little bit happy
that you've given the people
their statue back.
I'll tell you what makes
me feel a little bit better--
is knowing that the crown of--
- The King of Thieves?
- Has been restored again.
And if these people want to feel
happy, well, that's okay too.
- Xena.
- Autolycus, baby.
I tried to thank you
back there at the castle,
but you are not an easy
person to thank.
- I don't need any thanks.
- I'm sure you don't.
And I don't have
gems or money
or anything else
of value to offer you,
except this.
You are the second-best
thief I've ever met.
And if you ever need to get inside
my body again, you just look me up.
- Thanks.
- Gabrielle.
Yes?
You'll miss me.
Autolycus!
Oh, what a sweet sound.
Well, if you'll pardon me,
my public awaits.
Ta-ta.
How does it feel
to be a thief?
"Second-best"?
He's got some nerve.