So, you’re Hercules.
That I am.
I thought Hercules didn’t drink.
Now two of my regulars saw him - lift a rock off a woman. He’s Hercules, all right.
Yeah - I’ll believe it when I see it.
Nobody wants to believe in heroes anymore.
I need help! I heard Hercules was here!
At your service.
It’s my children. They were playing in the old mine. It just caved in.
Say no more.
This way - hurry.
Daddy!
In here. The other villagers wouldn’t even come inside!
You’re a brave man.
I’m Hercules. What did you expect?
I found Hercules! He’ll help!
Here - let me do that. You go dig them out.
Daddy, help us!
Go! Go! Stay back! It’s not safe!
And he was running through the street naked, going, ‘Eureka! Eureka!’
Well, what did he find?
Well - he was sitting in the bath - and he realized that any object - will displace its own mass in water!
Hey - hey, what’s going on here?
Mine collapsed. A couple of children got caught inside.
So, how come nobody’s helping?
No need - Hercules is already inside.
I thought you were with me.
Look out! Gang way!
Hey! I wouldn’t go in there! It’s dangerous!
Hurry!
Please, please! Do something! Help them!
Daddy!
Come on!
Hang on!
Daddy!
I got this one! Come on!
Come on! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!
Get them out of here!
- Herk - - Go!
It’s OK - come on!
Hang in there - I’m coming.
I can’t hold it!
Mommy!
Come on; come on.
OK - now -
Do you think they’ll make it?
Let’s go.
Hey, where’s, uh - Hercules?
Dead. Hercules is dead. He died saving our lives.
If it weren’t for this stranger, we’d be on the other side with him.
Um, folks. This - stranger - is Hercules.
He’s Hercules? Then who was the other guy?
His name was Kazankas.
Turgeus.
Hello, Hercules. It’s been awhile.
I wish it was under better circumstances.
I’m afraid you’re under arrest.
Arrest? For what?
You are responsible - for the death of Kazankas.
Wait a minute. Who are you guys?
I’m the Provincial Magistrate.
This village is in my district.
This gentleman is Spensius.
I’m the government prosecutor.
I’m here to ensure that you pay for your crimes.
There - must be some mistake.
Mistake? A citizen is dead. There’s no mistake about that. And you are charged.
Will you come peacefully?
Yeah.
This is crazy. You could just bust outta here.
I can’t do that. It would look like I have no faith in the system.
You didn’t kill Kazankas.
Of course not. That’s why I won’t run like a guilty man.
Yeah - but, I, I -
It’ll be all right.
Needs - curtains.
I heard what he said. This isn’t easy for me, Hercules.
But the prosecutor laid a complaint. I have no choice.
So, this is - what’s become of your justice system, huh?
I’m sorry. Will you abide by the law?
Stay in jail until the trial’s over and the jury’s verdict comes out?
You have my word. I won’t break out.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Nice - you could use a decorator.
Ares - why do I get the feeling you’re behind this?
Oh, I wish. The irony is delicious.
You in the pokey -
put here by the same mortals you insist on protecting.
I’m sorry - I just find that - priceless.
So, you’re - here. Why?
Ah, little brother. You look at me with petty eyes.
I see a far greater picture than your - temporary inconvenience - although I - do find it funny.
Well, enjoy it while you can, because it won’t last for long.
Perhaps long enough for you to see the reality - that you’ve refused far too long.
We’ll talk again.
That’s - what I live for.
You people are crazy! You can’t arrest the world’s greatest hero!
Let me assure you, this was no hasty, frivolous decision. I've been building this case for months.
But he saved those children!
What about the man he let die?!
He didn’t let anybody die! He just couldn’t save them all!
And this is Hercules we’re talking about!
That’s exactly the kind of attitude that’s brought us here today.
Would there be this sense of outrage - this rush to acquittal - if anyone but the son of Zeus were in jail?
You know, he’s got a point.
Silence!
All I’m asking is that you listen to me.
This is a preliminary hearing.
It’s for the prosecutor to state his case.
I can save us all a lot of time.
Please - help us out here.
Thank you, Magistrate.
Hercules is accused of the following crimes -
involuntary manslaughter, undermining the authority of the gods, and sedition;
denying the authority of our government, encouraging rebellion.
How do you plead?
I don’t plead. I didn’t kill Kazankas.
I’ve never condoned rebellion against a just government in my life.
And who decides if a government is just?
We all do. It’s called freedom.
Interesting. You tell men to go out and follow their hearts - to do what’s right - whatever the cost!
I tell men to follow their hearts - that’s all.
And what if their hearts tell them to - ignore a law, or that it’s wrong?
I don’t tell people to ignore the law.
I do tell them to speak up if they disagree with it.
It’s that flippant attitude to the law that’s brought us here, today!
Why am I here, Spensius? I mean, why am I really here?
Because you encourage people - to act like you - to try to be like you - even to pretend they are you!
You’re twisting - !
By your actions - you are as responsible for poor Kazankas’ death -
as if you had shoved that beam down on him, and crushed him yourself!
I call the widow, Galea, to the witness circle.
Stay right here, OK? Mommy’ll be right back.
Kazankas was your husband.
Yes. He, he was.
He was a farmer. What happened?
He met Hercules.
There was a whole family that was trapped by this spring flood -
and no one could get to ‘em - except Hercules.
And he saved them all.
Kazankas was there. And he saw it happen.
He said that, once he’d met Hercules, his whole life had changed.
And did it?
Unfortunately, yes.
He started - spending less and less time at the farm, and then, um - one day, he just took off.
Tell me, who’s tending the farm? Harvesting the crops?
There are no crops.
Kazankas didn’t plant any.
No crops?
You have two small children.
How will you eat? How will you survive?
I don’t know.
So, your husband meets Hercules - is inspired to go out and do good
- and he leaves you and your children - to starve.
That says it all; I have no further questions.
We don’t know if Hercules is immortal.
We do know Kazankas wasn’t.
He went into that mine saying he was Hercules.
And he never came out.
How sweet it is.
Hercules - the court finds - that the charges stand - and you are bound over.
Your trial will begin in Athens one week from today.
Are you really Hercules?
Yes - I am.
Why did you kill my daddy?
That’s what I heard.
Hercules. They say the food here is really bad - even for prison food.
Thanks. I, uh - feel better already.
You know? I don’t know you insist on going through with this charade.
I gave my word.
Besides, this isn’t just about Kazankas anymore.
I know.
Hey - I heard this guy Spensius never lost a case.
Great. Now I really feel better.
Hercules - it’b be so easy for you to just - bust out of this place.
And do what?
Iolaus, I have to clear my name.
If they can do this to me, they can - do it to anyone.
Order, order!
Your farm was being ravaged by a wild boar -
and you were waiting for Hercules to take care of the problem.
Yes, sir - but he was too busy.
War broke out in Arlis - a Hydra problem in Eubola.
So, what you’re saying is that he raised false hopes.
Right. He - he couldn’t get to us in time -
and that big pig tore up all my crops and me, and destroyed my farm.
This is ridiculous. I’ve never seen this man before.
My point exactly.
You influence people you’ve never even met.
That’s why you’re so dangerous.
Dangerous? To whom?
Could we have a little order here, please?
Don’t interrupt, Hercules.
This is Athens, and you’ll do things our way.
You’ll get a chance to be heard.
Proceed.
Is there any, uh - lesson that you’ve, uh - learned from this?
Y-y - you can’t count on him.
I should’ve found a way to deal with that boar myself, instead of waiting for - Hercules to show up.
How many of your sons went to war?
All four of them.
How many came home?
None - they all died in battle.
They heard the story of - Hercules’ rescue of Ajax and his soldiers at Mt. Pentelikos -
how he risked - all odds - to -to save those soldiers.
They thought it was what they wanted - to be heroes - like Hercules - but -
So - now - without a son - your family name dies with you.
Yes, that’s right, but that’s not important.
I miss my boys.
They wanted to be heroes - just like Hercules.
Come on, Hercules. You can’t let these stories - get you down.
I never realized - what I do - can affect people I’ve never even met.
You’re a good influence on people.
Even when they die.
It is not your fault - if people hear about your adventures, and then risk their lives trying to be like you.
I wanna see Hercules.
Lady, you can’t go in there.
Hey, I got some good news - I think. You, um - have a visitor.
No. You don’t understand. I’m his lawyer.
Dirce.
You don’t understand.
I came as soon as I heard - that you need someone in your corner, Hercules - someone that knows the law.
That would be me.
That would be you.
I don’t think so.
I’ll have you out of this inside a week.
Yeah.
I represented Iolaus, didn’t I, in his trouble with King Menelaus.
Hi.
King Menelaus is your father - and you still almost got Iolaus killed.
I’ve learned a lot of the law since then.
Now! What we need to do - is put someone up there, who knows you personally -
somebody that Spensius can’t twist around.
Well, that’d be me.
No, it wouldn’t.
It wouldn’t?
You’re his partner. They expect you to stand up for him.
No, what we need are people that Hercules has helped.
Well, piece of cake, I mean, they’re all over the place!
Well then, show me!
You know, Dirce, we can go and find some right now!
Great! Now, what we need are people that are trustworthy -
Hey, you know, you, you - dropped your -
see ya.
Bye, Daddy.
It was horrible The ground was shaking, and it was tearing open, and - builings falling, people screaming.
But - I wasn’t afraid.
How could you not be afraid?
I, I mean, how could anyone not be terrified?
Because I knew that Hercules was going to save me - just as he did in my dreams.
The flying machine you told us about - uh - built for two people?
No, they carried one soldier, the operator.
So Hercules took a great personal risk, knowing that the machine might not fly with the two of you on board.
I don’t think it entered his mind.
He was going to save my life. We both knew it.
That’ll be all. Your witness.
Atlantis. Imaginary city of mortals.
It wasn’t imaginary.
Tell me - this dream you mentioned where Hercules saves your life - would you call this - a vision?
You could call it that.
Visions of the future; imaginary cities; machines that fly!
You made it all up, didn’t you?!
Objection!
Proceed.
No. Hercules saved my life.
OK, say he did. What about all the other people who lived there - what, he just - let them die?!
He tried to help them, but they wouldn’t listen.
You see, that’s the problem with heroes, isn’t it, hmm?
They have to make decisions - who lives, who dies.
It doesn’t seem fair - does it?
No. This - is what isn’t fair.
I have no further need of this witness.
Look on the bright side.
They can’t fine you.
You don’t have a dinar to your name.
This isn’t about money.
What if Spensius convinces the jury that I’m guilty of - whatever - and I end up going to prison.
How can I help people if I’m in prison?
Things are always darkest before the dawn.
This afternoon, all we have to do is - choose better witnesses.
No.
No? No what?
What are you thinking?
I want to go into that witness circle, and speak for myself.
Amateurs! Read my lips - no way.
No self-respecting lawyer would ever let a client do a thing like that.
It’s not your call.
That is not how the game is played.
This isn’t a game. It’s not about - winners or losers.
This is about truth and justice, and I’m doing it.
I’m on your case.
As long as I am - we do things my way.
Dirce!
That’s final.
I’m hearing a lot about the choices I’ve made -
but nothing about the choice Kazankas made, and - that does the man a grave disservice.
I wish - more than anything, I could have saved his life -
but trying to make me responsible for his actions, it - it takes away from the greatest, most -
selfless act a human is capable of - sacrificing one’s life - for another.
You can try to discredit me - at least, I’m here to defend myself.
But, Kazankas isn’t.
So don’t take away from his death - his self-sacrifice - by making it my responsibility.
He made that heroic choice himself.
And he deserves our honor - and respect for doing so.
That was a nice speech.
There’s a good chance they might drop the involuntary manslaughter charges.
OK. Now we’re getting somewhere - well this is good, right?
Kinda not. I don’t think Spensius is interested in manslaughter.
He wants you on the sedition charge. If the -
jury convicts you of that, then - you’ll be banished from all of Greece - forever.
Your husband, Derk, was a hired killer. He killed people for money.
But they were bad men - all of them.
None of these executions were government-sanctioned, correct?
That’s true, but -
So, Hercules brought your husband back to justice, but -
when he didn’t like the court’s verdict, he helped him escape.
Is that right?
Derk became a good man.
He was a killer!
Hercules - half-god - and hero - put himself above the law!
That - is seditious behavior by my standards!
Ob - jection!
I have no - further questions.
I call Daedalus, the world’s greatest inventor.
Thank you, Kara.
Daedalus, tell us about Hercules.
He’s the best friend a man could have.
He is there when you need him.
Early on, I had trouble convincing people that my inventions were useful.
Hercules persuaded me to follow my dreams, as long as I felt I was right.
And we’re glad he did.
And after my boy, Icarus, died, I - I lost my way for awhile.
I was inventing weapons - helping an evil man to - to destroy innocent lives.
What part did Hercules have in all this?
He opened my eyes.
He helped me see that I was blinded by my grief - that what I was doing was hurting people.
Next to my boy, Hercules is the best friend I’ve ever had.
Thank you, Daedalus. He’s been that kind of friend to many of us.
Objection!
No further questions.
Your witness.
Hercules knew your son, Icarus.
Did he encourage him also to follow a dream?
Icarus wanted to fly like a bird.
Hercules told him that - anything was possible - as long as he wanted it badly enough.
So, Hercules - immortal, for all we know -
encourages an impressionable young man to be just like him -
and to risk everything - to follow his dream.
And that risk is what killed him!
Objection!
How can you say something like that?!
Hercules!
A friend for life. Is that what you said?
He shattered your world! What kind of a friend would do that?!
Leave him alone, Spensius!
Hercules, I’m warning you! You’re out of order!
This trial can proceed without you here, you know.
Proceed.
This half-god would like us all to follow our hearts - to do what’s right - to ignore the law!
To rebel against order and defy the state! Sedition!
Objection!
Overruled!
Had Icarus lived - he could’ve been an even greater inventor than his father.
But, we’ll never know - because Hercules told him to go for it!
Chase your dream! Lose your life.
No further questions.
Look - I, I know you’re upset because things don’t seem to be going our way.
I can read a jury. We’re not so badly off.
That is not - what’s bothering me.
Maybe I am - somehow responsible for the death of Kazankas, for - for Icarus.
How many others have died trying to live up to my standards?
Look. Tomorrow’s another day.
What?
Don’t start to doubt yourself.
We’re in the right here. Hang on.
Right.
There you go. You just gotta think positive.
I knew this’d happen sooner or later.
You beat yourself bloody to help these people - and how do they show their loyalty?
Like this.
What do you want now, Ares?
I’m trying to understand.
You see, you puzzle me.
Where is your anger, man?
They shouldn’t treat you like this. You are my brother.
Half-brother. Don’t make it worse than it already is.
You could have a much easier life, you know.
How? What, by being like you?
Huh, I don’t think so.
We’ve had our differences - but it’s because you refuse to look past what you think you see in me.
We want the same things for this world.
Really?
Yeah. Order - perfect order.
It could be a place without crime, without vice.
Think how happy that’d make your beloved mortals.
And wouldn’t it set Zeus back a step or two?
You and me? Think about it.
You and me.
Yeah.
A team.
What - color - is the sky in your world?
See, that’s your weakness.
You don’t have the stomach for it.
No, it’s just that, whenever you’re around, I lose my appetite.
So, without Hercules’ help, our kingdom would’ve fallen into the hands of my evil sister.
You know?
You’re an uncommonly beautiful woman, Queen Melissa.
You know? I was just about to say the same thing!
Oh.
But, let’s keep to the business at hand.
You said that Hercules’ compassionate treatment of wounded soldiers inspired you.
He was an inspiration to us all.
Jason.
Order! Order!
That will be all, Queen Melissa.
I call Jason as a witness for the defense.
Jason. Well - everybody knows who you are - a former king of Corinth, former Argonaut.
How would you describe your relationship with Hercules?
Why, he’s my stepson, and - my best friend.
We fought together on the first expedition for the golden fleece.
And in a darker time - he helped me turn my life around.
I’d - I’d become a hopeless drunk - because of - well, personal problems.
Well, thank you, thank you.
That’ll be all.
The second expedition for the fleece.
Your idea - or Hercules?
Hercules.’ It was a matter of honor.
How many died?
Two men - Otis and Valerus.
How many died on the first?
Four - what’s your point?
My point - that’s how you rogues think.
The end - their glory - their honor justifies the means.
No matter how many lives are lost or how many families are ruined.
Hold it - that’s not right, that’s not the way it was.
Objection!
Order! Order!
Mother.
Hercules.
This is awful.
Oh, yeah.
How could they do this to you?
Uh - I’m just - trying to cooperate with the system.
I was the one who taught you to do that.
You taught me exactly as you should have.
Are you getting enough to eat?
It’s not your cooking, but - I’ll survive.
Time to go.
I love you, Hercules.
I love you, Mother.
It’ll be all right. Believe me.
Come here.
You know, these scrolls are so outdated, it’s not funny.
Dirce, there’s something I have to tell you.
Look, I know things look bad, but you know?
It’s not over till it’s over.
There’s no way I’m gonna let that fast-talking chariot-chaser beat me in a court of law.
Would you listen to me?
I’ll show him.
If I can’t find something in [?], then I’ll find in ‘The people of Athens versus Deaphones.’
Would you stop?!
By the way, I’ve changed my mind.
I think things might go better for Hercules if I put you in the witness circle before closing arguments.
That is exactly - what I want to talk to you about.
I have some - news.
Well?
Iolaus is going to testify tomorrow.
Great!
For the prosecution.
Prosecution?
The list is long.
Good men dead before their time - trying to live up to Hercules’ impossibly-high standards.
What about the lives he saved.
I mean - I can’t begin to count the number of times he saved mine.
Which brings us to another question.
Didn’t you, uh - didn’t you die once, yourself?
Well - yeah.
Yeah, and - and Hercules, using his godly contacts, managed to bring you back from the other side.
Yes, he did, but -
Too bad for Kazankas and the others, that they didn’t know him as well as you.
This has nothing to do with sedition.
You have a problem with one man trying to make a difference.
That one man being you, a hero? Yes, I do.
There’s no place for it in the modern world.
Maybe in the past, but now - we’re civilized.
Civilized. Since when?
We have courts and laws.
You - you upset the order of things.
The government is supposed to serve the people - not the other way around.
You refuse to accept the truth.
Men like you are a danger to all around them.
The death of your own family is a good example.
This trial is not about the death of my family!
You refused to ask the other gods for help in your war with Hera.
You didn’t even ask your own father Zeus for help!
I did ask Zeus! I pleaded with him!
It wasn’t Zeus’ fault.
It’s your heroic behavior - that cost your wife and children their lives!
He’s such a liar - it gives lawyers a bad name.
He, uh - he’s turned everything around.
But some of what he says could be true.
Come on, you can’t believe that.
I try to do what I think is right.
I do it my own way, alone.
If I - if I wasn’t so independent, you know, maybe my family would still be alive.
Hercules - that was not your fault. That was Hera.
Yeah - maybe.
Yes, Iolaus! Iolaus!
Mong’s on a rampage!
We need Hercules’ help!
Mong? You mean, Mong?
Yes - he’s destroying our village.
Hercules is in jail, friend.
But you’re right. He’s the only one that can deal with Mong. Come on.
I can’t do that.
What do you mean?
I told Turgeus I wouldn’t break out.
Yeah, but - Hercules -
With Mong, anything can happen.
Iolaus. I made a promise to stay in custody until a verdict is reached.
Yeah, I - I understand.
Well, I guess I’ll, uh - try and - think of something.
Mong, like - big Mong?
I’m impressed.
Knowing you, it’s not an easy promise to make, when piddly mortal lives could be at stake.
I think you’ve reached a turning point.
I have - but not in your direction.
That jury - wants to bring the hammer down on you.
Banishment from the whole of Greece.
My, my - think what that’ll do to your reputation.
And think of the fun I’ll have.
My warlords will - rampage, loot, and burn.
They may even burn your mother’s house - maybe even with her inside - and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.
See? Even as we speak, war breaks out in Plathos - a nice bloody one.
So, that’s your perfect world, huh?
This court - will set me free.
And I will see you in Plathos.
Yeah! Come on!
Mong! Stop this. You have to go back to your cave.
OK. You asked for this.
Mong!
What?
What, what, wait - I can’t understand what you’re saying.
What’s he doing?
Hercules, will you help me? My tooth is killing me!
Uh - this is gonna hurt you more than it - hurts me.
Ah - I’d like to rephrase that. Oh -
It was incredible.
- it was a bad tooth. He just - wanted someone to help.
Ah - toothache. Huh?
Now, Mong, you gotta help these people clean this place up.
OK? Good. I gotta go.
Hey, HerK, wait! What about the trial?! HerK!
The guards confirm he’s not in his cell.
Hercules has obviously fled Athens.
Sorry I’m late.
There was - something I had to do.
Shall we get on with this?
Hercules means well.
But we can’t ignore the facts.
Around him - because of what he does - people die a lot.
He causes others to - reach beyond their abilities.
He admits his dislike of the gods, and - encourages us all to ignore their edicts.
He disrupts our order - our perfect order.
Think of the effect on future generations.
Heroism. Follow your heart. Do what you think is best.
It corrupts our youth. It puts the future of our great city-state in peril.
It’s treason!
I just want to make it right.
We can’t bring back Kazankas, Icarus, or any of the other victims -
but we can make sure that what happened to them can never happen again!
Enough! Spensius is right.
There’s no need for him to continue.
I have resisted the gods.
Because, instead of helping us - they interfere with us.
And I’ve bent the law, when my heart tells me it’s unjust.
‘Cause justice is not about the letter of the law - but its spirit.
And I do try to inspire others - to be everything that they’re capable of being.
If this is sedition - then I am guilty.
But there’s something more on trial here.
A hero.
A hero is a person who’s not afraid to risk his life for another.
And sometimes - like Kazankas, it means losing that life.
It’s what - it’s what separates us from the animals and from the gods who would like us to believe that we are less than we are.
And that is why we all need heroes - to set a higher standard that others can aspire to.
If I’m guilty of this, well, then - then I’m proud of it.
If this is sedition, then I’m proud of that too, and you might as well sentence me -
‘cause I won’t stop trying to do what’s right.
No, my - my heart won’t allow it.
And if this is wrong - then you, uh - take me now.
No! Take me.
I’m Hercules.
I think like him. I try to be like him.
If you think what he’s doing is wrong, you’ll have to banish me, too.
No, take me. I am Hercules.
No, I am Hercules.
Take me. I am Hercules.
And me.
I am Hercules.
Don’t say it.
If we proceed, I shall have to banish myself, also.
I am Hercules.
Case dismissed.
Congratulations, Hercules.
I’m, uh - sorry about Kazankas.
And I’m sorry about all of this.
I should’ve never listened to Spensius.
You did what you thought was right.
No. You and your friends are right.
The world needs heroes.
Before he met you, my husband’s life was, um - lost and misguided - and he changed because of you.
It cost him his life.
He died a hero.
Now my children have - two heroes to look up to - you - and their father.
I’m - I’m sorry to rush you, but, uh - we got a war to stop in Plathos.
Yeah. I have to go.
You know - this trial did prove one thing.
There aren’t enough of you to go around.
Be safe.
And you too.
Goodbye, Hercules.