[ Iolaus ] Come on, Hercules! Hurry up!
We're gonna miss the boat! Don't worry. The boat will wait for us.
Are you kidding? This is the ferry to Corinth.
It leaves on time, every time. It does not wait for anybody.
We're not takin' the ferry.
We're sailing with Nebula.
Okay. Okay. That's-- That's okay.
Hmm. I'm sure she'll be glad to see you too, Iolaus.
You two can, uh, pick up where ya left off.
Excuse me. The ferry stops at every town.
With Nebula, it'll be a straight trip.
Unless, of course, she and her crew wanna stop and plunder something.
I mean, dealing with pirates. Not a problem. We're the crew.
Ah. Good.
It'll be good to see Ajax again.
Yeah. You know, when I think of all the battles we fought side by side...
and friendships we made.
Funny how war can do that. [ Man ] Oh!
Hey.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
What happened? Robbers. Four of 'em.
Worked me over pretty good.
I can't stand. All right. Just let me see.
There was a temple to Asclepius back there.
That's right. We'll get help for him there.
Oh! Here, come on. Up you go. Slow, slow, slow, slow.
Here, lean on me.
Ajax is expecting us. You go on to Corinth.
- Well-- - It's okay.
I'll meet you there. Okay.
Ah. It's good to be back.
Thanks for the lift, Nebula. Glad to have you.
A barnacle who knows fore from aft is always welcome.
You soldiered with this bunch, huh?
Well, not all of them, but a lot of 'em.
Pretty scurvy-looking crew.
War can do that to you.
What's the occasion?
They're dedicating a statue to those who didn't come back.
It was Ajax's idea. [ Chuckles ]
Looks like every ex-soldier in Greece is turning up.
Well, maybe I'll sign up a new crew.
Anyone who survived a 10-year war in Troy should make a good sailor.
You mean pirate. Whatever.
By the look of them, it'd be a step up.
I haven't seen this many heroes in one place since the Argonauts' reunion.
[ Chuckles ] Come on. I'll introduce you to Ajax.
[ Straining ]
[ Man ] All right, put some muscle into it! Hey! Hey!
Mind the restraining ropes.
Almost got it.
Pull! Pull!
Phidias! Every man who ever took up arms for our country owes you a debt of gratitude.
No, sir. The debt's mine.
Not a day passes I don't think of the guys who died out there.
Hey! Watch it!
You guys roll into town like you own the place...
and everybody in it!
All right. Break it up! There's no permit for the statue.
There's no permit for a demonstration.
Now move on! And don't make me say it twice.
Move or you'll be moved. This is your last warning.
Hold on, Sergeant. You can't do this.
I speak for the king. He can. Now move on.
The king? [ Scoffs ]
Hasn't he the guts to come and speak for himself?
Arrest that man. Take him away!
Come on, old-timer!
He didn't do anything!
What part of "move on" don't you understand?
Clear the area. Clear the area!
Okay, guys! Let's take it over here.
Love a good convention, but this one's getting out of hand.
Ajax, call 'em off!
Iolaus? Welcome to the party.
These guys don't stand a chance against your men.
Hey. Hey. Hey.
They've been riding us, treating us like scum.
We've got rights, same as them.
In fact, we fought for their rights.
Many good men lost their lives. You know that.
I know. But, look, you've made your point.
Call a halt before somebody gets killed. Whoa!
- Like me. - Okay.
Back off. That's an order.
You'll pay for this.
No. You'll pay for this...
when King Iphicles hears about it.
He would never condone you harassing these men.
He was following my orders.
Iphicles?
You know the king?
Nothing like friends in high places.
He's... more than a friend.
He's Hercules' brother.
[ 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!
Iphicles, how can you condone this?
These men fought for Corinth. They fought for all of Greece.
It's none of your business, Iolaus. Don't get involved.
I fought alongside these men. So did Hercules. I am involved.
But you're not. You've got no idea what's going on here.
You've been away with my brother for far too long.
- Iphicles-- - I am not gonna argue the matter with you.
Kazon, see to your men. Report back to me.
Hyah.
[ Man ] That's it, just leave.
Some friend.
Iphicles refuses to hear us. Now he sends in his goons.
You know Phidias? Yeah.
They hauled him off. For no reason.
Nobody cares. We come home after all these years and to what?
You guys been fighting for so long, you're nothing but thugs.
You all deserve what Phidias got.
You can haul every last one of us out there, but that sorry rock won't hold us forever.
Are you talkin' about Golgoth?
You bet I am. The worst prison in Greece.
Once you're there, you might as well be dead. Out of sight, of mind, of luck.
I'm gonna talk to Iphicles when he's cooled off.
Find out what's behind all this.
Well, maybe he'll talk to you. He certainly won't listen to me.
[ Iolaus ] Iphicles, Hercules and I were--
We were sorry to hear about Rena.
We were in Sestos. We only heard the news a few days ago.
I appreciate it, Iolaus.
It was over quickly. She didn't suffer. I'm thankful for that much.
But she died alone. I-I should have been here.
I was away, dealing with a situation, uh--
Just like the one today. It turned into a riot.
Returning soldiers who just could not leave the fighting behind.
I hope you don't hold Ajax and the others responsible.
But I do.
If it hadn't been for them, I would have been here with Rena at the end, where I belong.
I understand.
But... I also understand these veterans.
Maybe they went about it the wrong way, but these men are not civilians.
They don't think like civilians.
We need to find a way to help them.
They fought hard for Greece.
I know that.
The trouble is-- the killing, the fighting, it's all they know.
My people are terrified.
But sending them out to Golgoth is not the answer.
These men, they're-- They're heroes, they're not criminals.
We're supposed to be helping them fit in. You're just putting a chain on them.
When a situation like today comes up, I will deal with it.
Just because these men fought in a war does not entitle them to special privileges.
They are not above the law!
Iphicles-- Stop!
Iolaus, you are my friend.
But I've got a country to run.
Then as a friend, will you do one thing for me?
You know I will.
Talk to Ajax. Listen to what he has to say.
Very well.
Bring him to me.
You know, she was really proud of you.
So Iphicles is prepared to listen, which is a step.
It's talk. He will come around.
I know the man. You just have to be patient.
How much longer are we supposed to wait?
Remember, it took us 10 years to win at Troy.
Perhaps we should listen to Iolaus.
And too many good men lost their lives because of it.
Yes, they did. But more than fighting won that war.
There was a strategy, a plan.
Hercules is coming back soon, and Iphicles will listen to him.
You know he will.
[ Sighs ]
Men are rotting out there on Golgoth.
I don't know how much longer I can keep the lid on this.
Time and trust, Ajax.
You know that's the answer.
Wipe those looks off your faces.
Griping and groaning never helped anybody.
Coming home hasn't been what any of us expected. We've been insulted, ridiculed.
Men who didn't have the guts to fight beside us now have the nerve to spit on us.
Well, that's not right, none of it.
Just remember one thing--
you watch each other's backs.
Stick together.
United, nobody can beat us, not even the king of Corinth.
[ Cheering ]
King Iphicles, you have a problem.
Ajax, your vets have a problem.
You have to realize it's the same problem.
I disagree. What I have is a solution, and it's out there in the bay.
Highness, you can't believe that sending men out to the rock...
for imaginary offenses is a solution to anything.
Imaginary offenses?
Is that what it was for you to encourage rebellion against this crown?
"Not even the King of Corinth can beat us." Isn't that what you said?
It wasn't meant that way.
It was meant to rally hope because that's all these men have left-- hope and each other.
Maybe it was quoted out of context.
Context is unimportant.
If I spoke inappropriately, punish me, not my men.
You may leave Corinth if you go now. All of you.
Anyone who stays... goes to Golgoth.
Ifwe leave, what happens to the men already out there?
They stay where they are.
Very well.
Now, men!
Ajax, don't do this.
You heard what I heard. I can't not do this.
It's a mistake. Let me try and talk to him.
No. It was a mistake to think that this would work.
You were right. We needed a plan. Well, I have one.
Sorry about this, Iolaus.
All of Greece won't be big enough to hide you.
As long as I've got you, I don't need all of Greece.
Nebula. Nebula?
Nebula, I need you. Love the direct approach.
Oh, sorry, I--
Uh--
Ajax has taken the king prisoner and it's my fault.
Easy. Before you take all the credit, how do you figure that?
You see, I persuaded them that--
That they could solve their problem if they got together and talked it over.
But it blew up. I know Ajax. I should've seen it coming.
- Do you need me to help you get away? - No, I-I don't wanna get away--
[ Chuckles ] Uh--
I wanna go and rescue Iphicles before Ajax does something really foolish.
Foolish. Like--
Well, first thing he'll do is go to the prison and rescue his men.
And then it could go any number of ways. None of them good.
Rescue the king--
You think Iphicles can spell "reward"?
[ Chuckles ] I bet he can.
- Towel? - Huh? Oh.
Here.
Thank you.
What do you say we get this bucket under way, hmm?
[ Man ] Welcome to Golgoth.
This place is mine. [ Low Growling ]
All of you belong to me.
The gods of Olympus don't exist here.
My name is Gagnon.
If you pray, pray only to me.
You'll follow the rules and keep your mouths shut,
or damnation in Tartarus will be like Elysium...
compared to the time you do here.
You smell like regular army to me.
I was.
I hate regular army.
[ Chuckles ] Do I look as though I care?
Aaah!
[ Cracking ] [ Groans ]
Oh, you'll learn to care.
No!
Move! [ Chattering ]
Show some respect.
He may be a disgrace, but he's still a king.
Is this your idea of respect, Ajax?
You get used to this rock. You are not leaving it.
-[ Man ] Who goes there? - Identify yourselves.
Put down your weapons.
We have your king.
Let's go.
Move.
[ Iolaus ] So what do you know about this place Golgoth?
[ Nebula ] It's no paradise but I've seen worse.
You've been there?
The rock it's built on is riddled with natural tunnels.
Perfect hiding place if you can only get past the creatures that live in the sand.
- What kind of creatures? - Sand sharks.
Oh! The island's infested with them.
Did you think being a pirate was easy?
Listen, if this thing works out,
we're gonna have to evacuate a lot of men off that island.
Would you-- Sure.
Sure. But you'll owe me.
What are you gonna do? Place me into servitude?
Hold me in bondage for-- How long?
We'll negotiate.
But don't sweat it. Bondage gets a bad rap.
[ Laughs ]
Looks like a man who's learned his lesson.
[ Groans ]
[ Gagging ]
Behind you!
Sound the alarm!
Go get him!
Go on! Get up the wall.
Aaah!
They're comin' in!
[ Low Growling ]
[ Rumbling ]
Aaah!
Get those chains off them.
We're free!
[ Ajax ] Look at them, Iphicles.
These men did nothing to deserve this treatment.
I don't know what kind of trouble they caused...
once they got here, and neither do you.
Let's go!
[ Labored Breathing ]
Phidias.
Come on.
Lie still.
They'll-- They'll pay for this!
The tunnels are that way.
No time. You're right.
Once the king serves his purpose in freeing the prisoners, he's a dead man.
Ajax is not a cold-blooded killer. He's a patriot.
Holding the king hostage-- that sound patriotic to you?
Who did this to you?
[ Exhales ] He did.
Gagnon.
Look who I found.
[ Exhales ]
Kill him.
Kill him!
Ajax, you can't. He's your prisoner.
This is war. I'm not taking any prisoners.
I was doing your work. Do something.
I never told you to treat them like animals.
This is a prison. What do you think went on here?
Ajax, blame him! Not me.
Stop!
[ Low Growling ]
A-A-Aaah!
Stop him!
[ Grunts ] My leg!
Come on.
[ Rumbling ]
Keep still. Don't move.
Keep still. Keep still!
Hey.
Aaah!
[ Man ] Help! Someone help!
Grab it!
Hold on, Iolaus!
Iolaus, get him to the ropes.
Come on.
Wouldn't you feel more comfortable in water?
[ Roars ]
[ Groaning ]
Grab him.
Lock him up.
Come on.
Anybody tries anything, kill him.
Great.
Yeah, chew on that for a while, pal.
I hate these guys.
What do you think you're doing? What are friends for?
Okay, okay.
Remember that decoy we used in Troy?
Number two. [ Together ] Two!
Hey!
Over here. Come on.
- On two. - [ Together ] Two!
Ew. Ugh!
- Thanks. -[ Man ] Well done, Hercules.
I think it'd be a good idea if we get to the ropes. Come on.
Just like old times, hey?
No, this is different, and you know it.
What did you think, Ajax?
I'd let you take my brother and not follow you?
My fight's with him, not with you.
Any fight with my brother is a fight with me.
I want Iphicles.
You see Phidias? That's your brother's work.
He caused this.
You are not without blame here.
When there's trouble, politicians need guys like us.
And after it's over, they expect us to go crawl in a hole.
Well, this has gone too far. And Iphicles must pay.
I want Iphicles now.
I can't stop you. We both know that.
But he'll be dead before you can get to him.
[ Exhales ] I give you my word.
You let me see him, be sure he's okay, and he can stay where he is for now.
But only until this thing is resolved.
I'll take your word. You can see him.
Then we'll talk about what comes next.
Hold it. [ Ajax ] Let him come.
You talk to Hercules? He's gone to see his brother.
Is he in one piece? Yes, for now.
But I will do what I have to. So will I. And so will Hercules.
What's happened, Iolaus?
I used to be a champion of the people. Now they treat me like an enemy.
You just made a mistake, that's all. And so did Iphicles.
And you two can get through this. [ Sizzling ]
You want a hand with that? No. Thanks.
A soldier learns to ignore pain.
You're not a soldier anymore!
They won't let us be anything else.
I'm sure there's a place for you somewhere,
but violence won't get it.
Let it go.
You were one of us, Iolaus. You and Hercules both.
You should be with us, not against us. We are with you.
We're just... against the way you're going about things.
This should do for now.
Just, uh, stay off of it, and no more...
teasing the sand sharks, okay?
[ Chuckles ] It's good to see you, Hercules.
Can't wait to get outta here.
Well, you're gonna stay for awhile.
It was the price for us getting to talk.
So what happened? None of this is like you.
There were so many returning home at once--
it became a question of public safety.
I had to do something.
Sending them here was not the answer.
These men fought for your kingdom. They deserve better.
It's up to you to make a place for them. They've earned it.
I know that.
It's just--
It got-- got to be personal.
- Rena. - Yeah.
You wanted someone to blame,
but I think your anger was a little misdirected.
They weren't responsible for you losing her.
[ Inhales ]
All right. I'll get you out of here.
Guard.
It's not too late to make this right.
Satisfied? We didn't hurt him.
That's good for both of you.
Go back to Corinth. Empty the treasury and bring it to me.
It won't erase what's already happened, but it will buy some of these men a fresh start.
Do that and I'll spare Iphicles.
You can't mean that. That corrupts everything you've ever stood for.
I'm not sure that what I stood for is worth a pinch of salt.
Take her boat. Go.
I'll do it, but Iolaus stays here with my brother.
Tell Iphicles I'll be back. For both of you.
Commander, about the ransom--
The men are afraid it sends the wrong message--
that we're nothing but common criminals.
Whether or not Hercules brings the money, no matter. You're right.
But we do need to send a message, and we do need to avenge Phidias.
And to do that,
Iphicles must die.
A king's ransom, huh?
Gotta hand it to Ajax. He's got vision.
This isn't about ransom.
He doesn't intend to free Iphicles.
I'm going back in there, but some other way.
He thinks you're gone; he drops his guard.
It's a good idea. Let's go.
I can't wait to see the look on Iolaus's face when, uh, he sees me rescue him.
Mm-hmm. This isn't your fight. You're staying here.
Oh, is that right? Yep.
So you wanna fight those sand sharks all by yourself?
I know the other way in.
Besides,
having the son of Zeus owe me a favor might come in handy someday.
Come on.
Come on, Herc.
[ Sighs ] Come on.
You must despise me, the way I treated those men.
Well, I must admit, I lost faith back there. [ Door Opens ]
Hercules never did.
Good men gave their lives for you.
And those that survived, you betrayed.
No, worse. You sent them here.
On their behalf, I sentence you to die.
You can't mean that. Ajax! Do it!
I was wrong. I made mistakes, b--
But do this, and you're no better than you accuse me of being.
At least... give him a fighting chance.
What kind of a soldier are you?
All right. I'll give you the same chance to get off this rock...
that you gave the men you sent here.
There's freedom, Iphicles. Fight your way out, and you've earned it.
He doesn't stand a chance with that leg.
Let me go in his place.
No. My fight's not with you, Iolaus.
He must pay.
You're not the man I knew and respected anymore, Ajax.
And I think a lot of your men feel the same.
I'm sorry you feel that way.
Aaah!
[ Grunts ]
Try to keep still. Don't move.
How much further? Should be just ahead.
If we can get to the ropes, we'll make it.
Go! Come on. Come on.
Go on! Go! Leave me.
No! Come on. Move your royal butt.
[ Nebula ] I don't understand. This wasn't here before.
Something like this?
No. Bigger.
They always want bigger.
Uh-oh. Looks like feeding time.
Hold on, Iolaus. I'll be right there.
[ Punching ]
Ajax, what are you doing? Just get out of my way.
I can't let you do this.
Wait here. What?
Hey! Over here. Hey!
- Play fair. - Whoa!
Iolaus, to your left!
Boy, that's guts.
Don't be greedy.
[ Laughs ]
Guys, come on!
[ Yelling ]
[ Yelling ] All right. Here we go.
Come on, Herc. Hurry up!
Finish me off so I die with honor on a battlefield.
This isn't a battlefield, and I'm not your enemy.
It's over.
[ Groaning ]
Nebula, get to the ropes!
Iolaus, get ready!
Time to make a noise. What?
[ Yelling ]
[ Yelling Continues ]
Iolaus!
- Iolaus, wait there. - Wait?
Hold it.
Now!
Ew! Nice.
[ Wood Creaking ]
Whoa! Whoa! Aaah!
Hmm.
[ Sighs ]
[ Groaning ]
Hercules is right. It's over.
I went too far.
A good soldier never surrenders,
but he always recognizes the enemy when he sees him.
Sometimes that enemy is within.
[ Growling ]
- No! - Aja--
As Zeus is my witness, this ends now.
I swear, I'll make a place in my kingdom for these men.
At least he didn't die for nothing.
And, finally--
Hercules had an idea. A good one, I think.
There's land on our northern borders.
It's rugged land. But it's fertile, and it's yours.
You can make a good life there.
And you'll provide a line of defense against any encroachment by the Parthians.
I hope you will accept this from the grateful people of Corinth,
and from a very grateful king.
Hercules, what can I say? Thank you.
What's family for?
Well, it's a start.
For them and for Iphicles.
Too bad you couldn't turn a profit on this little... excursion.
Oh, maybe not. But I think I found the makings of a first-rate crew.
I, uh, believe I owe you thanks for watching my back.
Oh. It's what I do best.
Good-bye, my friend.
Your war is over.
You fought hard for your country,
and you fought brave.
You will always be remembered a hero.