[balinor]

Yea, I remember fighting with this the first time I tried it as well. Also, while you are at it, to do it right and keep your code clean, save the javascript portion that you put in the head as a separate file - I usually call it slideshow.js. You won't need the literal or <script> part, just what is in between the <script> and </script> Put that file in skin1/. Then in your head of home.tpl, put this:

{if $main eq "catalog" and $current_category.category eq ""}
<script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript 1.2" src="{$SkinDir}/slideshow.js"></script>{/if}

That only runs the script on the home page, and keeps the code out of the source.