CRADLE OF HOPE

A king seeks interpretation to his dreams. Translation? A child in his possession will one day occupy his throne. He feels threatened. Having heard, the child's caretaker puts him in a basket like Moses. The child is found by Gabrielle and Xena. Later, they cross paths with Pandora and her box. They are soon found by the king's men. A tavern fight! Xena wins and the men flee. Fire breathing debuts! Pandora's box is gone! (It holds the hope of mankind). It will open itself at midnight if Pandora doesn't reset the lock herself. Xena goes to meet with this king. And she decides his motives are good. It's his advisor who is untrustworthy. Xena enters the castle disguised as one of the dancers. She sneaks around and sneaks off with the box...just in time! (Xena is so unnecessarily mysterious sometimes). The baby is then given to the king in place of his dead son to take his throne as HEIR, people! All threats are off. And we learn that the box was EMPTY! Hope lives "inside every one of us."