The Legend of Hercules Page #3

Oh, no. Just men on solid ground...

wielding bronze

forged into shapes...

even the tyrant King himself

could not have conceived of.

- How is the wagering?

- How's the wagering?

My friend, I doubt you have the

imagination to even dream of it.

For example, in the final

contest, and that means...

the richest contest, mind you...

two men fight against six.

Six that have never been beaten.

Now, if they win, well,

the two go free.

But the odds would be against it.

- You'd find advantage in that, I'm sure.

- But if they win...

Tidy sum of gold in it for you.

Why would I fight you two?

- We've never lost.

- Neither have they.

Cut his head off, he

would not be any dumber.

One must fight with

brawn and brain.

Mind your words, my friend.

I will arrange the

grandest arena in Sicily.

You two battling

Half-Face and Humbaba.

The victors shall go on a boat...

with me to Greece.

And now... for the event

you have been waiting for!

Four unbeaten

champions of Sicily...

battling for a journey to the

greatest tourney in Greece!

I give you the ferocious...

the terrifying...

Half-Face and Humbaba!

And their challengers...

Hercules and Sotiris of Tiryns!

Hercules!

Humbaba!

Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!

Fight! Fight! Fight!

Sotiris!

Hercules! Hercules! Hercules!

Are you mad? He was wounded.

You killed the only man

who could replace him.

- I can still fight, Lucius!

- Right!

Against the six best

fighters in Greece.

You're as good as dead.

The agreement is off.

- You're back in the pits tomorrow.

- We won't fight.Unless in Greece.

Then you'll die.

Go ahead, kill us. Who then

will fight for your silver?

You dare to threaten me?

Would you really lose

your two best fighters?

Would you see your money bag even

a single piece of silver lighter...

you miserable, gutless old miser?

Look at you! You can hardly walk!

You're useless! What

I need to take you for?

- Because you're setting him free.

- No, Hercules.

I will fight them. Alone.

Then you are going

to a certain death.

We have another two days at sea!

He's been at the bow ever

since we left the port.

My name is Sotiris, Captain

of the Fourth Division.

I rode for Heliopolis

with your Prince...

and we're the only two survivors.

The other is a man of much renown.

His name is Hercules.

A man has come to our shores!

A slave with the name of Hercules!

A "Gift of Hera" we are to believe!

We return him not as a man, but as

a pile of bloody guts and bone...

on which the canines

of Olympus may feast!

I give you...

Hercules!

He is fighting for his freedom...

against the six greatest

undefeated champions of Greece!

Commander. Captain.

- See for yourself.

- And you tell us this is Prince Alcides?

And if it is, you're with us?

Yes. And not us alone,

Sotiris. I promise you.

Hercules! Hercules! Hercules!

My Prince.

Chiron, give me news of Hebe!

Please, Chiron, will

you bring her to me?

I will find some way.

Thank you, Sotiris. I know you

have someone to see, as well.

Soon enough.

Tell him the condition of the army.

There's a great mistrust ever

since your company perished.

The King is squeezing anything he can from

the people to hire foreign mercenaries.

I will sound out our

most trusted officers.

They will rally to us.

And my brother, will

he come to our side?

It is his men pillaging

the villages.

And any spoils are their wages.

I fear you'll have to defeat...

both this king and the next.

Chiron, you must not let

on a thing to Hebe.

She could never hide happiness.

Now, "Gift of Hera"...

call upon all your strength,

because I must tell you something.

I have terrible news

about your mother.

She is no longer with us.

She met her death

with her own dagger.

I drew it myself from her chest...

as the King fled the temple.

Your name was on her dying breath.

The King will pay for this.

Will your men stay behind us?

They are your men now.

They will stand behind you.

As will I.

Out of my way, woman!

Move, woman! Move!

We're taking your property

in the name of the King!

No! Please, don't!

Get down on your knees!

Does it really take four men

to steal one man's livelihood?

Draw swords!

Stand down.

Is it true? You are

Hercules, the god?

No, I'm just a man.

It's time to send

the King a message.

Now I understand why your men

prefer desertion, Iphicles.

- I just received the news.

- Of what?

These three bumbling half-wits, or the

rising rebellion at our doorstep?

Majesty, they say Sotiris, Captain

of Fourth Division, is back.

He is leading the desertion.

Father, I'll take

responsibility for this.

Let me find Sotiris. I'll make

him lead us to Hercules.

When our allies from Egypt, Germania,

and the horn of Africa arrive tomorrow...

Sotiris, Hercules, even Zeus

himself will be but a memory.

- What is this place?

- Captain Sotiris arranged it.

This house will serve as

safe haven, it would appear.

The woman inside

says she knows you.

She says she fled Argos

with the King's invasion.

You swear to me this is the

second son of Alcmene...

slain Queen of Tiryns?

Yes. Alcides.

- Though he's known now to the people...

- As Hercules.

Yes, I know. I was

present for the naming.

My friend says you were of Argos until

my father brought his wrath upon it.

Your father brought

wrath upon many...

but Argos, that was

a mortal's doing.

- Where have you brought me?

- To the truth, Hercules.

To the truth of you.

You may claim your bride and ride a

thousand days, it will not matter.

Your destiny lies in

something beyond.

Your journey in life will

take you farther from love...

than you can imagine.

My mother said that very thing...

the last day I set eyes on her.

She was wise. But even she did

not understand the whole of it.

You must accept who you are.

Only then can you unlock the

doors to your own potential.

Embrace your father,

and you will discover...

powers that you never imagined.

Where was this father when 80

good men perished next to me?

Where was he when my

mother was murdered?

Your father has always

been there, Hercules.

You were just not ready for him.

Zeus can't change the

minds of mortals...

but he has given you a gift.

And be warned, abuse it and it

will lead to your destruction.

Respect it, and it will save

you and those you love.

You will accept me... love me.

We will have children...

and you will love

every one equally!

Won't you? Equally!

Iphicles.

Restore me to my home.

Return me to my father.

The gods do not want this marriage.

I do not want this marriage.

Well, it Will be.

Mark me, two moons hence.

Or you may take your life, as well.

Princess!

Princess.

I cannot bear it, Chiron.

I'm sick of living.

The gods save me!

What would have happened had

I not just now returned?

You were gone for days,

with not a word to me.

I'm sorry, Princess.

There was a reason.

You say this to me...

as if I'm blind to

the moon's phase.

I know what's in store.

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