You're a brave lad, Theseus.
You have nothing to fear from the city.
Let no one but Hercules see this.
Go now. There isn't much time.
You're in the right place at the right time.
- OK, what is it? - You're never gonna believe it.
- When it involves you, I usually don't. - No!
I've stumbled onto something that's gonna make us more
- dinars than you ever imagined! - Do you ever give up?
- All I need is your endorsement! - For what?
- Air sandals. - Come again?
Air sandals! See?
Each one of these has a squirrel bladder lovingly sewn inside.
Ya blow in it like this tie it off and it's like you're walking on air.
Hmm, how does the squirrel feel about it?
- Have you seen Hercules? - Not lately.
- Do ya need some help? - I'm looking for Hercules.
You're in luck! He's right here.
Ah, I know what Hercules looks like.
I was just kidding? What you got there?
- I don't want it. - Just let me see it.
Get him!
I even have a slogan, 'The son of Zeus!
Is on the lose! With Herculoid air sandals!'
- What do you think, huh? - I hold that thought.
Say, friends. This isn't any of your concern.
Well, you're wrong on both counts. One I'm not your friend.
And two, this is my concern.
Mong, rearrange his body parts.
Mong?
Hi.
Doesn't that hurt?
Uh-uh, not nice to hit somebody from behind.
- I should do it face-to-face? - It's more sporting.
You all right?
Theseus. What are you doing here?
- It's from Ceridian. - Who's Chromium?
- Ceridian, he was my mentor. - Well, what's he say?
He's dying.
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 wicked stepmother, Hera,
the all-powerful queen of the gods.
But wherever there was evil, wherever an innocent would suffer,
there would be Hercules.
- Are you doing OK, Theseus? - Yeah, I'm fine.
I hardly recognize you since I last saw you.
- You've grown so much. - Yeah.
- Ha-ha, not much of a talker, is he? - Well, that's not a bad thing.
What I don't get is Zeus is your father.
- Why did you need a mentor? - Ah, Zeus was never around.
My stepfather died before I even met him.
It was Ceridian who helped my mother raise me.
He taught me everything I know.
He was the one that taught Hercules how to be a great warrior.
It was more than that. He taught me medicine
philosophy reading, writing. He taught me about life.
Shouldn't Theseus lead the way?
I spent a good part of my youth here.
I could find my way blindfolded.
Of course, I was much shorther back then.
Ha-ha, yeah.
You came.
Of course I did.
Ceridian, the note said you were dying.
I am. But, I intend to go out with a little
dignity on my own four feet.
- I'm Ceridian. - Salmoneus, it's an honor to meet you.
Let's eat.
Theseus, sip it. Don't slurp it.
- It's very good. What's in it. - Just enjoy.
I've lived a long, fruitful life, Hercules, seen and done many things.
But my greatest pleasure has always come from
tutoring young men like Theseus and yourself
watching them grow into good, productive beings.
Hercules told me about them. It's an impressive list
- Jason, Asclepius-- - Amongst others.
I merely brought out what was already in them.
You know? Even my less-famous students
none of them ever... ever turned out badly yet.
Theseus, would you excuse us?
He's a good lad. A little rough around the edges,
but so was somebody else I can remember at his age.
- So, he's not your problem. - No.
- His name is Cassius, a Centaur. - I remember Cassius.
I thought he was one of your best students.
He is. He's a brilliant thinker extraordinary warrior.
But he's just beginnning to understand his powers
especially over others.
And I'm afraid he may use them to bad ends.
He's a natural leader, and Theseus looks up to him so much.
Oh, I see.
It would mean a lot to me if you could put him back on track.
Then I'd leave this Earth a happy man.
I'll do what I can about Cassius.
Where do I find him?
Yeah, Cassius comes here sometimes usually at night
says he doesn't like being around humans, anymore.
And the feeling's mutual ever since he threw
the last smith through the wall for calling him a beast.
- Through a wall? You're kidding. - Cassius is just a trouble-maker.
We have no Centaur problem around here.
- Well, that's good to know. - As long as they know their place
in the forge on the battlefields there are
no better workers or warriors.
It's when they're allowed to mingle that troubles arise.
And how does one keep them from mingling?
I make the laws. They must obey them.
- It's really very simple. - Hmm, and who are you?
I'm Gredor, the town Magistrate. And you?
I'm Hercules.
Is my sword ready?
- This will do nicely. - Pleasant guy.
- Yeah, friend of yours? - He keeps the peace.
You wanna find Cassius, go ask Myrra, his ex-girlfriend.
- She's at the school. - Thanks.
OK.
The important thing is to keep the string as taut--
- don't be afraid for me. - I don't want you to die.
I know, but that's the natural course of all living things.
The birds, trees, flowers they all bloom, reproduce
then fade away, to make room for others
- to bloom in their place. - But why?
Good question, who knows? You may be the one to find the answer.
You are a young Hercules, aren't you?
I hope they teach business and marketing concepts
at that school like the value of celebrity endorsement?
And, 'Buy wholesale and sell retail.'?
You are just full of good ideas, aren't you?
Hey! Build a better mousetrap,
the world will beat a path to your hut!
Wait a second. Wait. Is that? It is!
- Gnoxius! - Gnoxius?
He's the guy who sold me the air-sandal franchise.
- I never guaranteed you a profit! - Relax! I barely tested the market!
So, call your muscle off. We can work something out on the price.
He's not my muscle! He's Hercules, my friend.
Uh, you two seem like you have a lot of catching up to do,
and I've got a school to go to, so if you'll excuse me.
Hey, your friend's big enough to call himself what he likes.
- But if the real Hercules finds out-- - He really is Hercules.
He's going to endorse our air-sandals.
- Endorse? Really? - Yeah, now listen.
The air-sandals they feel good, but they sound bad.
It's kind of a pffffft! You know what I mean?
So for your homework tonight I want you to finish you sums
and prepare for the geography quiz in the morning.
Class dismissed.
Pardon me. Are you Myrra?
If you wanna pull your child from my class, talk to my father.
Are you having a problem keeping students enrolled?
Some students seem to object to the company I keep.
Would that company be Cassius the Centaur?
- What if it is? - I'm looking for him.
He doesn't wanna be found at least, not by our kind.
- And what kind would that be? - Humans.
Cassius views all of us as inferior to Centaurs.
Is that why you two went your separate ways?
I'd rather not talk about this right now.
If you insist on pulling your child out of Myrra's class, there's--
No, actually, I don't have any children in your school.
But I am very impressed. Education is a wonderful thing.
It's something my daughter and I believe
should be available for all not just the rich.
- I couldn't agree with you more. - So, if you don't have any children here--
- I'm looking for Cassius. - I don't speak for him,
anymore and I don't speak about him. Maybe Locus will help you.
- What happened between them? - Myrra.
Fathers can be very protective of their daughters.
- Hmm, yes, they certainly can. - Well, follow me.
- I'll take you to the Centaurs. - Ah, good.
- Yeah, I think 'possum's the ticket. - It's tougher.
It has a stronger build to it. So, whatcha been doing?
I mean, when'd you get back from Egypt?
Check out these beauties.
Wow! What are they?
I call them wrist dials.
- It's a kind of portable sundial. - What's a sundial?
- You use 'em to tell the time. - Why don'tcha look up at the sky?
Hey! Anybody can look up in the sky!
Not everyone can own one of these. It's a fashion statement.
Fashion statement, huh? How much do they go for?
- Five dinars apiece. - Wait a second! Wait a sec!
I'm getting a vision, here! Five dinars? Wait a second!
Need a catchy name something to grab the customers' attention!
Something a name for something like, uh, sun-time
sun, time-sun... sun... wrist-sun... wrist... sun... sunex! Sunex!
- Sunex, I like it. - It's short! It's punchy.
- Sunex. - It grabs 'em by the throat
and it takes their money.
If I were you, I wouldn't get involved.
There'll be a lot of blood spilled before this is over.
- Why's that? - Centaurs have turned militant.
They're threatening to take arms and march throught
- the town to the public fountain. - Why the fountain?
Only humans are allowed to drink there. It's the law.
Figures I met the lawmaker.
Perdidis' estate straddles the main road into town.
He swears that should Cassius come armed
his own men will repel them with force, if necessary.
Well, this is far as I go. Good luck.
Good, very good.
But not good enough.
- What do we want? - Equal rights!
- When do we want 'em? - Now!
Very impressive!
Hello, Cassius.
Oh, did I come at a bad time?
This doesn't look like the kind
of hospitality that Ceridian taught you.
Consider it a courtesy to him that I even talk to you.
If I say the word, you're a dead man. Ceridian spoke of you often.
He said you never lacked courage.
And he was right about your leadership abilities.
- That was quite a display. - Centaurs need to stand united
if we're going to take back what's rightfully ours.
No human's going to give us anything, are they?
- I'm not so sure about that. - I am!
This town was built on the backs of Centaurs.
We tilled the fields. We worked the forges
yet we're not allowed in the marketplace
or even to drink from the public fountain!
That's not right. And I sympathize with your--
Sympathy is for the weak!
And I vow that Centaurs will never be weak again.
There are other ways to achieve your goals
without people getting hurt. Ceridian wouldn't--
Ceridian is an old fool!
Centaurs are done talking. It's time for taking.
Cassius, don't you think it would be better if y--
I'm through talking to you. The next time we meet
you had better come armed.
I think we're getting good market acceptance
- and penetration. - I think--
Now, if we keep with this rhythm I think
we can find out if the market is really gonna--
Hey... This thing's not working.
Of course, not. Do you see any sun?
And what good is it if I can't tell time inside?
No, no, you're missing the point!
The point is, it's a fashion statement!
Hey, it's a Sunex. Pretty soon, everyone'll want one.
Maybe it's the name.
Maybe it's not sexy enough. Maybe, uh, 'Wristoflex', huh?
- I like it. Good ring to it. - You...?
Yeah.
- That should help ease the pain. - Never mind the pain.
- Tell me about Cassius. - Uh, yeah. We talked.
Oh, he's a stubborn one, always was.
A lot like you in your younger days.
I had hoped to groom him to take over for me after
- I've gone, but now-- - You're not going to die!
- Go on. - Yeah.
I'm sorry you have to go through this.
It's never easy letting someone you love go.
What do you know about it?
More than I ever wanted to.
Cassius used to be my friend.
But now Ceridian's the only one I have left.
No, I'm your friend, too. I know what you're feeling.
Ceridian was always there when I needed him.
But when he's dead?
He'll still be there. You'll see.
Just be grateful for this time you've had with him
and know that he's going to a better place.
Do the Elysian Fields really exist?
I've been there.
You're a long way from your father's estate.
And you're a long way from the castle training grounds.
I like this place. It helps me think.
About how you'll kill all the humans?
Only those who trample on our rights!
Then, why are you arming yourself to march on my father's estate?
We may need to defend ourselves.
It's not revenge, because he stopped you from seeing me?
- It was my idea to stop seeing you. - You? But why?
This movement I've started it's taken on a life of it's own.
People can't ignore me, or turn away anymore.
Now, for the first time in my life when they look at me I see respect.
Are you sure it's not fear?
After centuries of abuse maybe it's not such a bad thing that
Centaurs are feared rather than fearful.
Cassius, let us do this together. I want to be by your side.
No there are some who want me dead.
That's a risk I'm willing to take.
But I couldn't stand it if any harm were to come to you.
I'm not afraid. I'd rather--
If anything does happen to me just know that I loved you.
Your great-grandfather's castle. A shame how it's fallen into ruin.
Now a Centaur training-ground.
Not for long, Locus not if things go as planned.
You don't think Perdidis or Cassius suspect anything?
- No, nothing. - Good.
I love surprises.
Especially unpleasant ones.
I gotta tell ya they look good and they feel good.
My wrist would be naked without it right now.
- I like the colors. - Absolutely, now, if you had
a mirror in there, you could kind of look at yourself and you c--
Hey, look what we got here.
See ya later.
Why didn't you run with your friend?
- I've got no problem with Centaurs. - You don't?
What's that stupid thing on your wrist?
This? It's a wrist dial.
See, if there's enough sun and you're in the right position
you can kind of tell you can it's a fashion statement!
- Fashion statement? - I sell them to people.
OK? It's a living. I mean here why don't you take one?
I... it's not worth much just some cheap metal. I mean--
Made in forges by cheap labor like us!
Hey! Some of my best friends are cheap labor!
- I mean, Centaurs! - Who you calling 'Cheap'?
- Hey, watch it now. Watch it. - What's the matter?
You don't like being shoved around by your
- cheap-labor Centaur friends? - Hey!
I used to baby-sit for Centaurs! Please!
What's going on here?
We were discussing liberal hypocrisy among the middle class.
Well, Salmoneus is full of liberal hypocrisy.
You should have plenty to talk about.
Enough talk!
Nice shot, but I thought you were a man of peace.
Is this how you sympathize with our cause?
This isn't what it looks like.
An attack on one Centaur is an attack on all of us.
Cassius, I don't have a fight with you.
Well, now you do!
This is for all Centaurs.
- And what is this for? - All the indignities
we've suffered at the hands of humans over the centuries.
Yes!
Yeah!
Kill the human!
Yeah!
Ceridian said you were intelligent that you were a born leader.
Now, why don't you show it?
Yeah!
Get him, Cassius!
- Give up! - Never!
Now, that's twice I could've killed you!
I'll never yield to another human again!
Then you're a fool!
Moral battles may be worth dying for but not street brawls!
Come quick! It's Ceridian! He's having trouble breathing!
If this is the end, you should be there.
Ceridian chose to live with humans. He can die with them.
You have a lot to learn.
Salmoneus, take Theseus. Find me some eucalyptus leaves.
Yeah.
- Quickly! Go! - Cassius.
We met again. It we talked longer this time.
- You talked. - Don't worry about it.
It'll work out.
- What do you want? - I just heard Ceridian is dying.
- Why aren't you with him? - He'd rather leave this world
in the company of humans than his own kind.
You know that's not true.
He wants to be around all people he cares about.
Hercules is with him. That's enough.
So, it's pride that stops you from doing what you should?
- Get out of here! - Not till you wake up
and realize that not all humans are against you!
Cassius, I believe in you and what you stand for
but don't be so consumed by it that you turn away
- the ones who love you! - What do you want from me?
Nothing. What I want for you is to be happy.
And I don't see that in the path you've chosen.
One of these has to work. We'll find the right combination.
There is no herbal remedy to cure this illness, Hercules.
I am not giving up!
I'm, uh, I'll send Salmoneus off to find Asclepius.
He must know if some medicine that we--
I'm dying.
That's all there is to it.
I never got the chance to say goodbye to Deianeira and the kids.
And now that you taught me so much about you know, everything.
I just wanted to thank you.
You may have been my mentor,
but no one ever had a better father.
It was my pleasure.
I will miss you.
And I, you.
Ceridian, Cassius is outside.
Send him in.
I want to speak to him alone.
He wants to see you.
Let him go! He needs some time alone.
- Having second thoughts? - No, not really.
We're doing the right thing, Locus. This isn't just about a fountain.
If the Centaurs start drinking from the same
waters as humans where will it end?
Do we want them playing with our children? With our women?
- You can count on me. - Remember,
it's important that Cassius gets blames for Perdidis' death.
Uh, I've had the smith fashion a knife just like the Centaurs'.
I don't care how you do it just so long as we can put it onto Cassius.
Remember, with Perdidis and the Centaur out of the way,
we can get your ancestor's lands back.
Being a Magistrate has its advantages.
What if Hercules gets in the way?
Why, then, you'll have to kill him, too.
- Centaurs must live-- - You're wrong, old man!
We can live very well without them!
- Ceridian, what happened? - Uh, just a difference of opinion.
He's burning up. Get some water.
You must stop Cassius.
He has gone to arm the Centaurs to march in the fountain.
There'll be blood spilled on both sides.
- I am not going anywhere. - You're the only one who can stop him!
Saving lives is more important than waching one slip away!
I'll stay with him. Go.
All right.
Step aside, Perdidis. Let us pass.
I told you before, Cassius, I don't allow armed men
Centaurs or otherwise, across my property.
Then you bring this fight on yourself! Centaurs!
At arms!
Wait!
Do you even know why you're fighting?
- They're trespassing! - Equal rights for all Centaurs.
I believe in equal rights myself, Cassius.
But it's not worth killing innocent people over.
It's no use, Hercules. You're just postponing the inevitable!
Enough talk! Attack the Centaurs now!
Don't!
Can't you see what's going on here?
You're being goaded into a fight that no side really wants!
It's only those who hate Centaurs that need this war to happen!
Hercules is right. They'll hope
you'll start the killing, so they can start killing you!
Then they'll have their excuse to wipe you all out.
That's what we've come to expect from all humans.
Is it really?
Well then maybe you should start the killing with Myrra!
Or Theseus! I mean, they are human!
They're in your way, aren't they? If you really believe
that there're no humans worth saving, then begin with them!
They're not the ones preventing us
- from getting what's rightfully ours. - Neither is Perdidis.
Put down your weapons and he'll let you and the others pass.
Won't you?
Put them down, Cassius, and I'll march with you.
If we're attacked, we'll be defenseless!
Show them your Centaur bravery and strength
by not taking revenge on your attackers.
Throw your weapons aside and Perdidis will join us in our march.
Or are you a man who just talks his principles,
but doesn't live up to them?
We'll join you.
Cassius' bow, yeah.
Stand strong, Centaurs. Discipline.
The only good Centaur is a dead Centaur!
They can't they can't.
This is right, isn't it?
No, I'm fine.
Are you all right?
No! Hold your ranks!
- But he was-- - I know. I know.
Come on.
Let's see if he's all right.
See what happens, Locus? Violence begets violence.
- Yeah. - Let's go.
You've got some explaining to do.
I think the townspeople should hear the real story.
- You too. - What?
That's far enough. You know the law.
- We're changing it. - Not as long as I'm Magistrate.
Kill the first one who steps forward.
Hold it!
Locus, here, has something to say.
Gredor's been lying to you. He's behind this whole thing
pitting us and the Centaurs against each other,
- so he can grab the land. - That's a lie! This man is insane!
It's true! I wanted my ancestor's castle
and he wants Perdidis' estate for himself.
I'll give you a choice. I'll either turn you
over to the crowd and let them judge if you're lying
or you can resign as Magistrate and leave town now.
Ceridian.
Let's go.
I think he's gonna make it.
His spirits have perked up in the last few minutes.
Have you two resolved everything?
As far as I'm concerned, but you'll have to ask Cassius how he feels.
I was wrong. I'm sorry.
We still have a long way to go to reach equality
- but violence isn't the answer. - I'm pleased.
The Centaurs can be proud of their new leader.
And I can go to the other side in peace.
Be brave, young Theseus and listen to your mentor.
Goodbye, my friends.
Goodbye, my friend.
I hardly knew him. But I know he'll be missed.
Yes, he will.
Good luck to you, Cassius. I know you'll make Ceridian proud.
Thank you, Hercules. But I won't be alone.
Myrra can give Theseus his formal education.
Father is opening the school to all who want an education
- Centaurs included. - Your father is a very wise man.
Theseus, you be safe, all of you.
Captioned by Grantman Brown