There it is, Hercules, Thebes. Oh, yeah.
[ Hercules ] Why do hometowns always look smaller than you remember them?
Where are Jason and Alcmene meeting us?
Out by the old homestead. Be good to see them again.
Yeah. [ Horse Neighs ]
Great-- Hera's welcome.
That lightning wasn't meant for us. Come on.
[ Townspeople Yelling ]
[ Man ] It's useless! The fire's more than we can handle!
[ Woman ] We need more buckets. [ Man ] Watch the roof!
[ Man #2 ] It's spreading. More water!
Get more water over there!
[ Woman ] We need more help up here!
- Need a hand? - Hercules, thank the gods!
All our supplies are in that barn. If they burn, we'll starve.
Keep those buckets coming!
Herc, we're never gonna get enough water to put this fire out.
Watch out!
[ Woman ] Hurry! Bring some water!
[ Man ] Throw some water on the roof!
Everyone, get back! [ Grunting ]
[ Man ] Quickly! It's spreading!
Hurry back!
[ Man ] Save what you can!
What's he doing?
Improvising in the face of disaster.
Okay, come on! Get out! Get back! Come on! Get back!
[ Yelling ]
Get back! Come on!
[ Woman ] Check over there!
Iolaus. Hey.
Oh, oh! [ Laughs ]
You can leave us in here as long as you want.
We still won't worship Hera.
We're not going to pay her a tithing either.
And if you don't like that, you can take it up with Hercules.
Your villages will worship Hera or die.
Then you'd better kill us, whatever you are.
[ Yells ]
Now where is Hercules?
Stop! I'm not going to kill you.
I want you to spread the word about me.
Now bow down to Hera!
And prepare for a world in which Hercules lies rotting in his grave.
[ Laughing ]
[ Man Narrating ] This is the story of a time long ago,
a time of myth and legend,
when the ancient gods were petty and cruel,
and they plagued mankind with suffering.
Only one man dared to challenge their power--
Hercules.
Hercules possessed a strength the world had never seen,
a strength surpassed only by the power of his heart.
He journeyed the earth, battling the minions of his wicked stepmother, Hera,
the all-powerful queen of the gods.
But wherever there was evil,
wherever an innocent would suffer,
there would be... Hercules.
- [ Screeching ] - [ Roaring ]
Hail!
You couldn't have arrived at a better time, Hercules.
You sticking around for a while?
I am not sure, Vytos.
Well, the village still has a potluck every noon.
Come join us. We'll see.
[ Man ] We're lucky the whole town didn't go up.
[ Woman ] Thanks to Hercules.
You know, uh,
the fire's out.
Look at these people.
There's such strength in this community.
Everything that's good and decent.
And Hera can wipe it all out with a single act of vengeance.
How long has it been?
Almost two years.
I've only visited their graves once since I buried them.
That's not right.
Yeah, but beating yourself up about it isn't right either.
You know, um, you can't live in the past.
I don't want to. I just don't want to lose it. That's all.
Well, look. Why don't you go ahead.
Take some time. I'll catch up later.
I think I will.
I wish I'd been here to take better care of you.
From the day we met, that's all I ever wanted.
It's hard to be reminded that I can't do it anymore.
[ Sighs ] I guess that's why it's taken me so long to come back.
I'm afraid to admit this, but sometimes I feel like...
without you, I don't know why I keep on fighting.
I know what you'd say. You'd say I did a great thing today,
helping to save all those people.
But tomorrow,
Hera's just going to destroy something else.
And the day after that.
Things just...
seemed to make more sense when I had you and the children to hold.
I miss you, Deianeira.
Yeah.
[ Man ] Hercules!
There he is.
[ Woman ] Hercules!
[ Chuckling ]
Oh, Hercules! Oh, Mother. Oh, your flowers.
Jason, good to see you. Hercules, good to see you.
Where's Iolaus? He's back in the town. He'll join us later.
Oh, come on. I want to show you something. Okay.
Iolaus, if it weren't for you and Hercules,
I'd be standing in a pile of ashes about now.
So what does Hera got against you?
Well, this village and all the neighboring ones,
we haven't been keeping up her temple.
It's persecution.
Vytos! Vytos! Vytos! She's terrible! Terrible!
Hey, take it easy, friend. No, you don't understand.
She's deadly. Worse than I've ever seen. At the Hera temple.
- She? - Perdeus, from the next village,
he hit her from behind with a sword, split her like a melon, he did.
Fire shot out from her insides,
and she just pulled herself back together.
Said she was-- was-- What? What did she say?
Said she was gonna kill Hercules.
I gotta warn him.
[ All Laughing ] It was over there, Mother.
[ Enforcer II Laughing ]
[ Grunts, Groaning ]
Tell me where Hercules is.
Never!
[ Yelling, Groaning ]
[ Grunting ]
[ Yells, Groaning ]
Last chance, little man.
Where's Hercules?
Okay, okay, I'll tell you.
You just have to come a little closer.
[ Groaning ] [ Bones Crunching ]
Eat dirt.
[ Laughs ]
[ Groaning ]
[ Grunting ]
[ Hercules ] This is where I taught the kids to swim.
Ilea took to the water like a mermaid.
[ Alcmene ] This will always be your home, no matter where you travel.
Hmm. [ Jason ] Maybe you're getting ready to settle down again.
Aren't you the same man that taught me to chase adventure no matter where it led me?
[ Laughs ] And I meant it.
But it sounds like you've forgotten a more important lesson.
Really? And what's that?
Well, a warrior can find greater comfort in his own home.
Oh, I haven't forgotten, Jason.
It's just that that kind of life seems so far away now.
Do you think you could ever let yourself have that chance again?
Mother, I ask myself that same question every day.
[ Groaning ] Hercules!
Iolaus?
Iolaus, what happened?
Th-There's another enforcer...
at Hera's temple.
Worse than before.
She's-- She's after you.
Iolaus.
Come on, Iolaus.
Come on!
Hercules.
He's dead.
No.
No!
I'm so sorry.
He was a brave warrior.
He put off dying so he could warn you.
No. I'm not gonna let him die.
Hades, I know you can hear me!
Where are you? Hades!
Hades, where are you?
[ Iolaus Yelling, Indistinct ]
Why were you carrying me?
Wait a minute. Where are we?
The other side.
Other side of what?
You're dead? [ Softly ] No.
I'm dead?
Yeah.
- Toast. - Yeah.
- Oh, I can't believe that! - You'd better believe it.
Show a little consideration, Hades.
Iolaus has had a rough day.
That's Hades?
Iolaus isn't staying here, Hades. Do I make myself clear?
Well, considering the condition he was in when he left Earth,
which, if I must remind you, was dead,
I don't see he has any other choice.
But don't worry. He'll be going to the Elysian Fields.
No, no, no. My wife and children are the ones who didn't have any other choice.
Hercules, please. Think of the precedent I'd be setting. I can't.
Think of the precedent I set...
when I convinced Demeter to let Persephone stay down here with you.
Hercules is right. He's the reason you and I are here together.
Yeah, but only six months of the year.
If you're not nice to him, it's going to be no months a year.
But-- But, sweet pea, Iolaus is practically permanent inventory right now.
That's not true. You know how badly things are backed up...
after the earthquake in Thracia.
You're buried in paperwork, overbooked...
and this new enforcer is just gonna make things even worse.
Besides, you did promise me a little quality time.
We were supposed to go on vacation last week.
Well?
Okay, okay, okay.
If you want Iolaus back,
you're going to have to defeat Hera's latest homicidal freak.
But there are conditions. What conditions?
Well, firstly, you have to do it by sunset.
Why sunset? Well, those are just the rules.
And second-- Walk with me. I'll explain.
Just Hercules.
Who makes these rules?
[ Hercules ] Make it quick. I've got a deadline, remember?
[ Hades ] Keep your hair on. I'm trying to find out a way...
to tell you that there's no way you can win on your own this time.
I've beaten everything else Hera's thrown at me.
You've never gone up against anything like this.
It can't be tougher than the Enforcer.
She is.
- Trust me. -No need to be reacquainted I see.
What is she doing here? She's not even human.
Yeah, well, Charon's been slipping up a little bit lately,
and he brought her here.
Persephone can't stand her. Always following us around like a guard dog.
And I mean everywhere. It's putting a real cramp on our love life.
Quite frankly, I haven't been able to figure out what to do with her.
I can think of a few things.
Until now.
You're gonna need some help.
Oh, no, no, no. Not on your life.
What about Iolaus's?
Hades, she was put on this earth for the sole purpose of destroying me.
Because she had no soul. Now she needs one.
If she does a good deed up there, then I'll know what to do with her down here.
And if she screws up?
Don't do this to me, Hades.
Hercules! What happened?
Where's Iolaus? He's with Hades.
I've got till sunset to save him.
[ Jason ] Get behind me, Alcmene.
No, it's all right. It's all right. She's with me.
[ Chuckles ] You have to help everyone?
It's good to be back.
[ Iolaus Chuckles ] Hard to get a tan down here, huh?
Don't be so blue, Iolaus. You'll like it. I just know you will.
Those guys don't seem too crazy about it.
That's because they're doomed to stay in the Asphodel Caverns for all eternity.
They're the fallen generals.
And all they can talk about is battles and strategy and weapons.
Nobody wants to listen to them, so--
Iolaus?
Well, well. What are you doing here, boy?
Hello to you too, Dad.
[ Birds Squawking ]
[ Alcmene ] Hercules, where are we going?
I know a place where you'll be safe until I get back.
Sofia Caves? You got it.
So, how long have you and Hercules been friends?
Friends? That's what I thought.
Hercules! Don't ask, Mother.
[ Alcmene ] Your friend's not much of a conversationalist, Hercules.
[ Jason ] Oh, they say, "Still waters run deep."
[ Hercules ] I'm not sure that applies in her case.
So this new enforcer, what do you think Hera's concocted?
I don't know. But she could be carved in stone...
and be better company than this one.
She's Hera's enforcer? Yep.
She-- She's going with you?
I'm afraid so. Can you trust her?
Ah, nope. But I don't have a choice.
Don't worry. I'll be careful.
Trouble.
[ Hercules ] Split up!
[ Whimpering ]
- [ Enforcer II Laughing ] - Jason, what's she doing?
Great.
Mother! Jason!
We're all right, Hercules. No, we're not. Get us out of here!
That's hot.
[ Hercules ] She's sealing us in.
Great.
Signed, sealed, delivered!
For you, Hera!
Got any bright ideas?
Huh, that's what I thought.
Jason, your leg! Get it out!
A knife. Jason, throw me a knife!
Knife? Why does he want a knife?
[ Jason ] Don't ask.
How quickly can you heal yourself?
Do it.
Are you sure? Now.
- Jason, Mother, go! - That way!
Leave this to me.
[ Hercules Yells, Grunting ]
Oh! Oh!
Is everyone okay?
[ Laughing ]
She is also made of water?
Hmm? Oh, no, no.
Sometimes people cry when they're happy.
You are not happy.
Oh, yes, yes, I am.
I do not understand.
Buy you a drink?
[ Man ] It's Hera's death squad come to kill us!
[ Clamoring ]
[ Woman ] Where are my children? I have to save them!
Don't let them escape!
[ Yelling, Groans ]
This is just the start now that Hercules is dead.
There will be no more backsliding in worship,
and no one to stand in our way.
Soon the entire province will be ours.
And then all of Greece.
For Hera!
[ Chanting ] Hera! Hera!
Well, I hope you were man enough to go down fighting.
Yeah, I was.
Good. Good. Chip off the old block, huh?
Well, you'll have to straighten out some of these muttonheads...
I've been swapping yarns with.
They don't seem to understand the importance of my pincer movement...
at the battle of Hellespont.
And they were generals too, just like me. Can you believe that?
Well, come on, boy. Check it out for yourself.
Firstly, my name is not boy, it's Iolaus.
Oh, a little peevish, are we?
Yeah, well, getting killed can do that to a man.
And secondly,
don't you wanna know what happened to Mother?
I don't think about her much. Did you ever?
You watch your tongue, boy. I'm still your commanding officer.
No, you're not. You're a coward,
who deserted his wife and family. Grow up, boy!
There were wars to be fought.
And I protected your right to be a crybaby in all of them.
You know what? I think Mother really was the lucky one.
She didn't know it back then when you left her, but she does now.
She married a poet, and she has never been happier.
A poet? [ Scoffs ]
So you go back and you tell all your friends about the slaughters you've seen.
Have a nice afterlife, Dad.
No. I don't think I will.
Not now.
Poet.
[ Hercules ] This is the shortest way home. Keep your eyes open.
How's the leg, Jason? Don't worry about me.
Is it all right if I worry about you? You, you're allowed.
She's close. Yeah, real close.
[ Roaring ]
Keep an eye on Mother and Jason! I don't need a nursemaid.
- Still alive? - Last time I checked.
- You are lucky, son of Zeus. - That's my middle name.
I owed you that one.
Take cover!
[ Alcmene Whimpering ]
[ Winces ]
Jason, where's Mother?
She must have taken cover.
[ Jason ] I'll find her.
[ Alcmene Whimpering ]
Stay.
- Let her go. - [ Alcmene Gasps ]
Ooh, I'm scared now.
You should be.
Hmm.
- [ Gasps ] - Stay!
Run now.
Thank you.
Oh.
[ Fighting Continues ]
- Mother, you all right? - I'm okay! Jason!
[ Groaning ]
[ Growling ]
Aah!
Lost your grip?
[ Laughs ] When you're hot, you're hot.
[ Water Bubbling ]
Ooh, you're steaming now.
Are you all right? You have to help the Enforcer.
She helped me escape.
[ Enforcer ] Aah!
You wait here.
[ Gurgling ]
I'm sorry.
No, I was wrong.
You helped save my mother's life.
And for that, I will always be your friend.
Friend.
It's... somebody who cares about you.
Happy.
What happens to the Enforcer now that she's dead?
I don't know. Hades doesn't make that decision.
[ Sighs ] I better get going.
If I don't end this by sundown, I'll lose Iolaus.
Not by yourself. Give me a couple minutes. I'll be good as new.
Stay here. You'll be safe.
Yeah, but you're going up against something that nobody can defeat alone.
Listen to him, please, Hercules.
There's been enough tragedy for one day.
I've never backed away from Hera before.
I'm not about to start now.
[ Hades ] I can't believe this guy, moping about like...
his pet parakeet just flew away.
Hades, sometimes you are such a jerk.
What? What did I say? Everything, except for what you should have.
He's thinking about his father.
Are you okay? Yeah. Yeah.
I, uh-- Is he so different from me?
I mean, I feel like I've been blaming him for all my mistakes.
Like he could have prevented me from making them. He's human, isn't he?
Got his strengths, his weaknesses.
Boy, does he have weaknesses. I just think--
I lied to you.
I want you to know that.
I thought about your mother and you kids every day after I walked out,
but I-I just couldn't go back.
I was too ashamed, frightened.
I'm sorry you felt that way.
And I-I'm-- I'm sorry I felt the way I did.
It was no more than I deserved.
Well, I'd-- I'd better get back.
They count on me to keep them in line.
Is, uh, that what you really want?
Well, no, to tell you the truth.
Military strategy's about as interesting to me as boiled fish.
But I don't know how else to fill in my time.
Then, uh, maybe you don't belong there anymore.
You think you could get by in the Elysian Fields?
Oh, reporting for duty, sir. You comin' along?
Uh, no. No thanks. I, uh--
I'm just stubborn enough to believe that Hercules will save me.
Stubborn, huh?
Wonder where you picked that up.
Oh, well, have it your way,
- boy. - [ Laughs ]
Well, there it is then.
[ Enforcer II Laughs ]
- It hurts, doesn't it? - Let's get this over with.
Good. I'm going to enjoy tearing you apart.
Oh! She's good.
[ Yelling ]
What's the matter, Herky? Can't take the heat?
[ Laughs ] This is just the start.
- I'm looking forward to it. - [ Inhales ]
[ Hercules Gasping ]
[ Sword Clangs ]
Aah!
[ Laughing ]
[ Both Yell ]
Play with fire, you get burned.
[ Sighs ] Iolaus.
Herc! Herc, you did it! I knew you would!
I-I wish I'd been as sure of it as you were.
Oh, come on. There was never any doubt. Was there?
Uh-- [ Laughs ]
Hey, guess who I met down here. Don't make him guess.
It's time for show-and-tell, boys and girls.
Oh, Hades, you're so sweet.
I'm the king of sweetness, my dear.
Watch.
Hey, hey, what's she doing with my dad?
[ Hercules ] Going to the Elysian Fields.
What? Oh, don't worry. She-- She deserves it.
Oh. Well, I guess he does too.
You know, it's funny. He turned out to be a nicer guy than I thought.
First time I've ever felt good about my family.
You know, Hercules, you're, uh, you're here.
You could-- You could see yours.
I can open a window to their world.
Uh, thanks for the offer, Hades.
But I know a place where I can go and do more than just look at them.
If I could bring you back, too, I would.
But I can't.
All I can promise is that they'll never take this corner of the earth we call our home.
It's where our memories dwell.
And maybe memories are enough.
Because just thinking about you,
makes you come alive for me again.
And that's a reason to keep going, isn't it?
Our love... will live forever.