Penelope gets Odysseus's bow down and ready for the competition. She remembers the story of how he got it from Iphitos as payment for a debt and the two had become good friends. Now Penelope tells the suitors about the contest and all the rules that it has. Eumaios and Philoitios have to get the weapons ready and start to cry because she has given up hope that Odysseus will return. Telemachos lines up first to shoot the arrow because he wants to prove his strength and manliness. He has to try four times before it looks like he will succeed, but the beggar tells him not to do it. So then the first suitor is up to try but he fails. So does the second suitor. Antinoos wants to cheat and and limber up the bow so it's easier. Odysseus reveals his identity to Eumaios and Philoitios and proves it with his scar. Antinoos tries to wait to have his turn, by suggesting they all go in to eat now. The beggar says that he wants to string the bow and all the suitors don't want that because they're worried he will do better than them. Penelope lets the suitor have a try at the bow. Then Telemachos says this isn't a woman's job and tells her to go upstairs and stay in her room. But Penelope obeys because she's proud of his newfound bravery. He also instructs the old maid Eurikleia to lock all the women in their rooms and not to come out. Odysseus successfully strings the bow through all the axe things and the suitors stop making fun of him. Zeus sends a thunderclap and Telemachos stands next to the now revealed Odysseus.
Odysseus shoots Antinoos first, by sending an arrow through his throat while he drinks wine. The suitors runs when they realize they have no weapons. Eurymachos begs for mercy on everyone since Odysseus has killed the worst one. Odysseus is all like "Nah, man." So Eurymachos starts rallying up the suitors to fight Odysseus and so he kills him too. Odysseus and Eumaios and Philoitios and Telemachos fight the men, who now have weapons. Athena arrives disguised as Mentor to help. Athena tells Odysseus to use his great skills from Troy because justice is coming. Athena is protecting Telemachos and Odysseus and when the suitors realize they have godly help they back off. Odysseus has killed off all the suitors because he is ruthless. The disloyal maids are forced to drag out the dead corpses and clean the room. Telemachos then hangs them at his father's order. Odysseus is going to purify the great hall with herbs and spices.
Eurikleia tells Penelope that Odysseus is alive and has returned, but she doesn't believe it. Even when the maid tells her that the suitors are dead, Penelope thinks some unknown hero came to save her. Penelope sees him but isn't instantly convinced and sees if this man knows her and her husband's secret. Odysseus orders everyone in the house to keep his murders a secret from all of Ithaka. He plans to throw a feast so people think the noise was just Penelope's wedding. At dinner that night Penelope says he can sleep outside her room on the bed Odysseus made. Odysseus gets mad because he built the bed around an olive tree and carved it into the roots, so it couldn't be moved. Penelope rushes to him and begs for forgiveness, this is the secret she mentioned earlier in the evening. They "catch up" and tell stories about the last 20 years of their lives, but Odysseus leaves out the stuff about Circe and his time with Kalypso. Athena slows time so they have time together and get enough sleep. In the morning Odysseus decides to go see his father Laertes, and goes with Telemachos and the herdsmen under Athena's protection mist.
In the Underworld Hermes leads the suitors. When asked why they are there, they blame everything that happened on Penelope. Everyone thinks it's great Odysseus has someone as faithful as her. Odysseus sees his old father plowing his land very depressed like, Odyesseus decides to test his loyalty. He insults his appearance and makes up a story about housing Odysseus once. Laertes is grateful the man helped his son, but doesn't believe he is back. Then Odysseus reveals himself and hugs his father but has to prove who is by showing his scar. Telemachos and the herdesmen have prepared a meal back at the house and Athena makes Laertes look stronger. People in town heard about Odysseus's slaughter and Antinoos's father wants revenge and gets it approved by the council. Athena thinks her father has something to do with all the blood shed, but he said it's up to them to make peace and be civil. The people are all ready to kill Odysseus but his friends are ready to defend him and his father kills Antinoos's father. Athena tells them to stop, leaving her thirst for blood behind for peace. Odysseus stops fighting because Athena tells him zeus will be mad. The fight stops and Ithaka is back at peace.
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