THE WRONG PATH

Written by:  John Schulian
Directed by:  Doug Lefler
Transcribed by:  Pamela Thalner

Disclaimer: No copyright infringement is intended. Purely for non-profit
purposes only. All characters and dialogue are the property of
Universal Studios, Renaissance Pictures, Action Pack, and MCA Television.
This transcript is not a novelization or a script, but is instead a dry
read-through of the episode "The Wrong Path". It also contains camera
angles and descriptions of action where I thought it necessary.

				*	*	*

Teaser:

The camera fades in on a view of a tavern in a city at night.

Ugly #1:  You! Get over here!

A scream and the sound of glass shattering can be heard. Cut to inside
the tavern, where an ugly man in black, wearing an mask that covers the
left side of his face, pushes a woman up against the wall.

Ugly #1:  Out of the way, or I'll give you a second smile. Hurry up with
that money, all of it.

Several other men, equally dirty and in ragged clothing, are looting the
tavern. One scrapes a pile of coins off the bar and into a sack, while
another downs ale from a carved horn. Other women are huddled in the
corner.

Ugly #2:  What about him?

The camera pans up to the innkeeper, who is in the middle of the tavern.
He stands on three stools which are pyramided on each other - one on top
of two others - with a noose around his neck; his hands are tied behind
his back. He looks fearfully at the robbers.

Ugly #3:  Let *me* kill him.

Man #3 goes to the stools and places his boot on the top one, preparing
to shove. The man closes his eyes. Just then, the doors of the tavern
swing inward, and two men walk in confidently: Hercules and Iolaus.

Woman's voice:  It's Hercules.

Hercules:  We heard you were in the neighborhood...

Iolaus:  ...we just had to say hello.

Hercules:  Hello.

Ugly #3:  Get him!

Other Men:  I'll get him! Yeah! Get him!

The man with the sack throws it on the bar as he and several other robbers
rush at Hercules and Iolaus. One of them kicks at one of the bottom stools
in passing, but it doesn't budge, fortunately for the innkeeper. A robber
punches Hercules, who comes back with a fist to the face. Iolaus does a
kick to groin and face to take another one out, but is then seized by the
scruff of his neck by another of the robbers. A third comes up and grabs
him as well, and the pair throw him forward. 

Man #4:  Yah!

Iolaus:  Ohhhhh!

Iolaus slides across the dirt floor into the pyramid of stools, knocking
one of the bottom two almost all the way out from under the one atop it.
The noosed man wobbles precariously. Ugly #1, with the face-mask, holds a
knife to the neck of the woman he was shoving around earlier; she catches
her breath. 

Ugly #1:  Grrrrrr!

Two bandits jump at Hercules from behind, but Hercules turns in time to
knock them out with a punch apiece. He then swings back around to block a
punch from yet another robber, then gut-punches him. Two others come
towards them from either side. Hercules uses a series of punches and a
kick or two to fend them off. 

Robed Bandit:  Hiyah!

Iolaus, back on his feet, dodges a whirling kick from a robed bandit and
knocks him back with a punch. He leaps forward, hands up, looking for
another target, and gets one as another bandit comes toward his right
side. He kicks him to knock him down. Hercules is still dealing with his
combatant; he takes him by the shoulders and uses the man's head to
head-butt another bandit coming up behind the first. He then tosses the
man behind him into yet another robber. A solid punch to another sends
that one flying into a firepit, knocking over another bandit in the
process. 

Iolaus ducks an attack by a man with a sword; up against the bar, he
whirls, kicks at the swordsman's groin area, and then jumps to grab an
overhead beam. Hanging from this, he continues to duck the sword's
slashes, props his feet on the bar, then swings them around to kick the
swordsman in the chest. The swordsman goes flying; inadvertently, as he
falls, he knocks out one of the bottom stools in the pyramid completely.
Now the innkeeper has even less support from below, but the other stool
still keeps him up. Hercules elbows one bandit in the chest, dodges a
punch from another and knocks him out with one blow, then whirls to punch
out another; he is surrounded by constantly moving bodies. Iolaus jumps
down from the beam and sees the man on the stool, now teetering violently.

Iolaus:  I got ya!

He rushes over and grabs the top stool's legs, the ones dangling in 
midair. The innkeeper looks down and sees Iolaus. So does the robed 
bandit, who takes advantage of Iolaus' position by running over to deliver
several kicks to him. Hercules takes care of two men with a roundhouse 
kick and grabs another's arm to prevent being hit; he looks over and sees
Iolaus. The robed bandit is hitting Iolaus on his back and sides, while
the innkeeper watches, making nervous noises. Hercules places his boot on
the other bottom stool and shoves, and the stool slides neatly into place
below the other one. Iolaus frees his hands from the top stool's legs
while Hercules, still dealing with his opponent, knees the bandit in the
stomach and then flips him over. Iolaus elbows the robed bandit in the
stomach, then the face, and whirls to deliver a kick to the bandit's
face, knocking him back.

Iolaus:  Hiyah!

The innkeeper breathes a sigh of relief.

Iolaus:  Ha ha ha!

The swordsman attacks Iolaus again; when Iolaus ducks one slash, the
sword bites deep into a leg on the top stool of the pyramid. While Iolaus
is still laughing at him, the swordsman punches him hard in the face.

Iolaus:  Ooh!

Iolaus looks stunned, but only for a moment. He knocks aside the
swordsman's free hand, then punches him several times in the abdomen.
Meanwhile, the stool leg that was struck is now cracking, and the man in
the noose begins to lean again. Hercules elbows another bandit, dodges a
punch from yet another and then punches that one out. Iolaus turns to
back-kick the swordsman while the robed bandit gets up behind him and
punches him in the back, sending him flying forward. He lands on a table,
his head wobbling woozily, but he has no chance to recover because the
robed bandit grabs him from behind and flings him at the bar, which he
hits belly-first. He spins, obviously dazed, to face both the robed
bandit and the swordsman. The two begin to take turns punching him, while
the stool's leg splinters further. 

Hercules deals with an opponent who has hold of his arms by grabbing the
man's shoulders and spinning his own body over the man's back, then
punching him out. Another bandit rushes at him from behind, while another
stumbles forward to attack him from his left. The swordsman grabs Iolaus
by his vest and flings him towards the rear wall of the tavern. Man #1
watches as the girls duck out of the way, screaming, to avoid being hit
by Iolaus, who instead slams into the wall face-first. As he turns,
wobbling even more, the swordsman delivers a kick to his face, and the
robed bandit follows up with the same. Hercules, though in the midst of
fending off the two bandits that have hold of him, manages to see what's
going on, as Iolaus' tormentors begin punching and kneeing him in the
stomach. Hercules looks up, seeing the rope around the neck of the
innkeeper; the stool leg breaks further, though it is not yet completely
broken through. He also notices a knife on the bar. Struggling with the
bandits who are still holding on to him, he pushes forward, kicks at the
knife, which goes spinning into the air, and then shakes the bandits off.
He catches the knife as it arcs downward, and wheels; just as the stool
leg breaks completely and the innkeeper begins to fall, Hercules flings
the knife so that it thunks into the beam to which the rope is tied,
severing the rope. The innkeeper falls to the ground in the midst of the
stools, still tied up but alive. 

In the back, the swordsman and the robed bandit are still beating Iolaus
up, holding his shoulders to keep him upright. Hercules goes after an pot
full of stew; he brings it down upside down on the robed bandit's head,
then punches the bandit in the stomach, taking him down. Iolaus has
already taken advantage of the situation and is dealing final punches to
the swordsman, who, at last, goes down. Iolaus stumblingly turns around,
clapping Hercules on the shoulder for balance. On the floor, the
innkeeper lets his head fall back to the ground.

Ugly #1:  Huh? Uh-oh!

Having realized that all his men are down, Ugly #1 leaves his hostage and
makes a break for it, running past Hercules and Iolaus.

Hercules:  And don't come back!

The woman who had been held hostage goes over to the innkeeper, stepping
gingerly over bodies, as he struggles to sit upright.

Woman:  Did they hurt you?

She holds his head and kisses him. Hercules gives Iolaus a grin; Iolaus'
look in return is somewhat frazzled, and there is a bit of blood on his
lip. Hercules chuckles and walks off. Iolaus, with that same dazed look
on his face, shakes himself and follows. 

Iolaus:  Whoo!

Cut to outside the tavern. Three women are walking towards it as Hercules
and Iolaus emerge from within, laughing.

Iolaus:  Oh, there's nothing like a bit of exercise to get the old blood
flowing!

Hercules:  (laughing) Speak for yourself.

Iolaus:  Oh, come on. Don't tell me you didn't enjoy it, Hercules. I saw
that look on your face.

Hercules:  Well, then you better remember it, because I'm not going to
wear it again.

Iolaus:  (unbelieving) Oh, yeah.

Hercules:  Hey, look. All I want to do now is curl up beside the fire with
Deianeira and the kids.

They pause in their walk away from the tavern. Iolaus gives Hercules a
look.

Iolaus:  Hey! You're not going to be by the fire tomorrow, are you?

Hercules:  Oh, don't worry, Iolaus. I know you need help with your
blacksmithing.

Hercules pats Iolaus on the shoulder reassuringly. The two begin walking
again, Iolaus massaging the back of his neck with his right hand and
Hercules with his left hand over his own right shoulder.

Iolaus:  Good, 'cause, uh, you know, I'm feeling kind of stiff, here.

Hercules:  Are you? You know, me too, but if Deianeira's still up, maybe
I'll have her work out some of the kinks.

Iolaus stops, watching Hercules as he heads away; at first he looks
slightly annoyed, but then he chuckles as he goes off in a different
direction.

Cut to a shot of Hercules' home. He walks up the dark dirt path towards
the entrance. Cut to inside the front door. Hercules pulls the door open
and enters quietly, latching the door behind him. He turns, smiling
gently. As he moves further into the house, he picks up a carved doll and
regards it. Cut to outside. Storm clouds roil and billow over the house,
with an ominous sound of rumbling. Cut to inside. Hercules glances into a
room whose door is partially curtained.

Hercules: (mildly exasperated) Heh. Kids.

He sets the doll down just inside the doorway and proceeds along the hall
to another doorway. The curtains are draped almost closed over this one,
but they're pulled back just enough to reveal the bed within. Hercules
parts the curtains, seeing the sleeping figure of a woman curled in the
sheets. He smiles as he sees her stir. Thunder rumbles.

Hercules:  Deianeira...

Deianeira begins to sit up in bed, but before she has completely turned
towards Hercules, a bright light flashes in the room. Hercules closes his
eyes, bringing his hands up to shield against the glare. A fireball
appears from above and hits the bed; as suddenly as it appeared, it
disappears, leaving flames burning on the bed where Deianeira was laying.
Hercules stumbles forward, staring at the bed in shock.

Hercules:  No! No! NO!

The silken sheets are burned black. Hercules' eyes grow full of horror as
he realizes where the fireball is headed next.

Hercules:  Ilea. Aeson. Klonus!

He dashes to the children's room, but flames on the door-curtain prevent
him from entering. 

Hercules:  No!

The fire from within casts a bright glow on his face, and the wooden doll
comes tumbling out, alight with flame, to fall at his feet. Hercules
looks upward; a woman's voice sounds, chuckling evilly. He dashes
outside, just in time to see the fireball swooping upwards and
disappearing in the sky.

Hercules:  Damn you, Hera! You'll pay for this 'til the day I die!

Hera's eyes appear in the clouds, pale irises overlaid by the eyes of
peacock feathers. Fade to black. Title music plays.

				*	*	*

Voice-Over:  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!

				*	*	*

Part One:
Several shots of beautiful forests, lakes, mountains, and rivers. The
last shot is of Hercules, sitting outside his house with a reflective
look on his face. He is thinking about the past, as shown in a sequence
of images:

	-Hercules walking up to the house from the garden; his sons,
Aeson and Klonus, waiting for him on the fence. They jump off as he
approaches.

Aeson: Dad!

Klonus: Dad!

Ilea stands up from where she was petting the dog.

Ilea: Mommy! Mommy! Daddy's home!

Deianeira appears in the doorway. Her eyes light up when she sees
Hercules, who runs up the path to catch the boys up in his arms.
Deianeira and Ilea come down to meet them.

	-Hercules approaching Hera's temple, on the night fire went out
all over the world. A woman turns, imperious and beautiful; it is
Deianeira, the first time he ever saw her.

	-Hercules and Deianeira in their bedroom, kissing. He has no
shirt on, and he puts his arms around her waist and pulls her back onto
the bed on top of him.

	-Hercules in the cornfield, holding his little girl, Ilea, high
in the air; her young face shines with joy. Deianeira, laughing, comes
around one of the rows of corn to see them, and she kisses her husband
warmly as their children look on.

	-Hercules and Deianeira kissing, at the end of their first
adventure together.

 	-Hercules kissing Deianeira farewell as he departs on a journey.

	-Hercules and Deianeira kissing; their heads are together on a
pillow, and moonlight shines over them.

Hercules continues to stare blindly into space as Iolaus appears from
around the side of the house and approaches.

Iolaus:  Hercules, come on! There's no time for dozing. We got work to do!

Hercules doesn't seem to notice Iolaus at all, but then he speaks.

Hercules:  They're gone, Iolaus. There's no bringing them back.

Iolaus:  What? What are you talking about?

Hercules:  (sighs) Deianeira, the kids. Hera killed them.

Iolaus is struck by horror and grief all at once.

Iolaus:  Oh, no. What happened?

Hercules:  (sighs) Fireball. Hera sent a fireball. There's nothing left of
my family except the scorched earth they were sleeping on. Nothing.

Iolaus:  But - Zeus--

Hercules:  (getting up, with a contemptuous snort) Zeus. Zeus betrayed me.

Iolaus:  He's your father, he should have done something.

Hercules:  Well, he didn't. Now he won't even show his face to explain
why!

The last few words are screamed at the heavens. Iolaus' voice is thick
with tears.

Iolaus:  Revenge is all that's left, Hercules. We'll wage a war against
Hera - you and me. We'll turn everything she ever touched into rubble.

Hercules:  That's for me to do, no one else.

Iolaus:  I've always helped you before. Why not now?

Hercules:  It's not your fight, Iolaus. Go home.

Iolaus:  I can't just walk away from you.

Hercules:  You can if I ask you to, and that's what I'm doing.

Tears track down Hercules' face.

Hercules:  Please, just go.

Iolaus:  You're my friend.

Hercules:  And you're mine. The best one I've ever had. That's why I'm
asking you to understand.

Iolaus finally nods, a thin smile with no humor in it on his face.

Iolaus:  All right. But if you ever need me...

Hercules nods.

Hercules:  Stay well, Iolaus.

Hercules turns and walks away.

Cut to inside the house. Hercules is breaking up chairs and wooden
furniture, tossing them into a pile in the middle of the main area. The
camera pans around him to reveal a man standing in the doorway. He bears
a walking stick and the dust of travel. Hercules looks up and sees the
man, who begins to look nervous.

Hercules:  Go away.

Lycus:  But I've traveled all the way from Ister seeking help. People are
dying there.

Hercules:  Well, people are dying here, too.

Lycus:  I know nothing about that.

Hercules:  It's not your business.

He turns away, seeking more things to destroy. Lycus steps closer.

Lycus:  Maybe I'm in the wrong place. I'm looking for Hercules.

He turns and starts towards the door as Hercules swings back to face him.

Hercules:  (angrily) I'm Hercules. 

This stops Lycus in his tracks.

Hercules:  But I still can't help everybody whose path I cross.

Lycus:  Then you're not the Hercules I've heard so many stories about.

Hercules pauses, a large wooden chair in his hands.

Hercules:  Not anymore.

He turns and throws the chair onto the pile. Lycus looks startled and
goes.

Cut to the tavern from the night before. Lycus is at the bar with a mug
of ale, talking to a woman.

Lycus:  How can you call this Hercules a hero? He's too busy ravaging his
own home to help anybody. Must be crazy. You people think it doesn't
matter 'cause the blood of Zeus runs in his veins.

The camera pans around the bar to reveal Iolaus, who is sitting at a
table, seething at the comments. Having had enough, he slams his own mug
down and turns.

Iolaus:  Hey! Why don't you pipe down 'til you know what you're talking
about?

Lycus:  I know what I saw with my own eyes, that's all I'm saying.

Lycus starts to turn away, defensively. Iolaus gets up and comes over to
the bar to confront him.

Iolaus:  You didn't look into his heart. If you did, you'd have seen it
was broken.

Lycus:  You don't make any more sense than Hercules did.

Angered, Iolaus grabs the front of the man's traveling cloak to emphasize
his next words.

Iolaus:  He lost his family. You understand that? They were swept away in
a fireball sent down by his stepmother.

Lycus:  The goddess, Hera?

Iolaus:  And his father's no better. Zeus turned his back on his own
blood.

Lycus:  Where's your respect for the gods?

Iolaus:  In a pig trough, where it belongs. Hercules deserves our respect
now. And our sympathy.

Iolaus leans back on the bar, glaring a little at Lycus, who manages to
look apologetic.

Lycus:  Well, I shouldn't have brought him my problems.

Iolaus:  Yes, you should have. If things were normal he'd have helped you.

Lycus:  I don't know who to turn to now.

Iolaus:  (concerned) Are things really that bad?

Lycus:  Worse than anybody in my village ever thought possible.

Iolaus considers this for a moment.

Iolaus:  Then I'll help you.

Lycus:  You?

Iolaus:  Right. They call me - Iolaus. And you are?

Lycus:  Lycus. Of Ister.

Iolaus:  Good to know you, Lycus of Ister.

They shake hands with the exchange of names.

Iolaus:  So, tell me what the trouble is.

Lycus:  A she-demon. She turns the men of my village into stone, then
steals their souls and gives them to Hecate in the Underworld.

The small crowd that has gathered around them gasps at his description.

Iolaus:  Hera's sister. But why does she want their souls?

Lycus:  To satisfy Hera, who hates us for refusing to sacrifice our
first-born sons.

Iolaus walks a little ways off, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. Lycus
watches him as Iolaus turns to face him.

Iolaus:  I'll take care of your she-demon for you.

Lycus smiles gratefully, but seems a little less than confident in
Iolaus.

Cut to Hercules' home. He has finished piling all the wood furniture and
items in a great heap. Taking a broken chair leg, he lights it from the
fireplace and regards it for a moment before tossing the makeshift torch
into the pile. The flammable things quickly ignite. Hercules walks out of
the house and away from his past without looking back as the house goes up
in flames.

Cut to the tavern in the city. Lycus is waiting outside for Iolaus, who
emerges and comes down the stairs, bearing a pack and a sword on his
belt. He is full of energy.

Iolaus:  Ready to go?

Lycus:  Thought you'd changed your mind.

Iolaus:  Not my style. What gave you that idea, anyway?

They start to walk down the lane.

Lycus:  Well, you weren't here when you said you'd be. Thought you might
have been scared off.

Iolaus:  Scared. Me. It's just, ah... well, I didn't want to seem
predictable.

Lycus doesn't appear to believe this.

Iolaus:  It's the way I operate. Come on.

Cut to a view of the mountains. Cut to a shot of Iolaus and Lycus walking
along a ridge. They  walk down a path and approach the sea.

Cut to a house, where a woman is standing outside with a servant,
watering plants. The woman is Alcmene. Hercules approaches, and she sees
him immediately.

Alcmene:  Hercules? (inhales)

Hercules:  Mother.

Hercules walks up and into her arms. She is crying.

Hercules:  How did you know?

Alcmene:  Zeus told me.

Hercules:  (exhales sharply) He doesn't have the courage to talk to me,
huh? My own father.

He pulls away from her.

Alcmene:  No, Hercules, not now. There's plenty of time for anger, but
your grief has to come first. 

She takes his shoulder and leads him into the house.

Cut to a view of the house later at night. Firelight flickers in the
windows. Cut to inside. Hercules and Alcmene are sitting by the fire,
facing each other.

Hercules:  That doesn't make sense. 

Alcmene:  In Hera's mind, it does. And she will do the same to your
friends that she did to your family - anything to destroy your happiness
on Earth. Anything to curse you with a lifetime of loneliness.

Hercules:  (realizing) Are you safe?

Alcmene:  Don't worry about me. 

Hercules:  But - you're my family too. Hera hates the fact that Zeus loved
you.

Alcmene:  It was a love that lasted only a little while.

Hercules:  Yeah. He lets everyone down sooner or later.

He gets up and begins to pace.

Alcmene:  But no one as badly as you.

Hercules:  I want to know why.

Alcmene:  It was a woman.

Hercules:  You mean his lust counted for more than my wife and children?

Alcmene:  He's so ashamed, Hercules. For the first time in his life, he
wishes he was mortal, so he could crawl off somewhere and die.

Hercules:  As far as I'm concerned, he *is* dead. From now on, I'm on my
own.

Alcmene:  (gets up) No, you're not. You have my love too.

Hercules:  I know I do. And you have mine.

He comes to her and takes her hands in his, and kisses her cheek. Then he
turns to go.

Alcmene:  Where are you going?

Hercules:  To pay Hera back the best way I can: by destroying her seven
temples.

Alcmene:  That won't bring your family back. You'll only put yourself in
danger.

Hercules:  (caustically) Nothing will happen to me, mother. I'm the son of
a god, remember?

He opens the door and walks out. She runs to the door after him.

Alcmene:  Hercules! Hercules, come back!

But he is walking off and does not hear her, or does not acknowledge her
if he does.

Alcmene:  (whispering) Hercules.

He just keeps walking.

				*	*	*

Part Two:
A stone shrine in a field. Atop the altar is a stone carving of a peacock.
People are placing items of tribute, foodstuffs and the like, on it.

Worshiper #1:  Please accept our offering, Hera.

The two men step back and bow their heads respectfully. Behind them,
Hercules strides out of the nearby woods and through the crowd of
worshipers towards the altar. 

Worshiper #2:  Who is that?

The worshipers scatter. Hercules steps up to the temple, and without
breaking stride, slams his fists through the piled rocks, knocking them
down. The crowd gasps in horror. He keeps on going, oblivious of the men
starting after him.

Worshiper #1:  Hey, you can't-

Worshiper #2:  Don't!

Worshiper #1:  But he can't just trample through our shrine like that!

Worshiper #2:  That was Hercules!

The second worshiper seems very impressed to see Hercules.

Worshiper #1:  Are you sure?

Worshiper #2:  Absolutely. I saw him drop a giant like a bad habit, you
know.

They watch him stomping off in the distance.

Worshiper #1:  In the same fierce mood as today, I'm betting.

Worshiper #2:  No. No, he was much happier then.

The two men share a look.

Cut to Iolaus and Lycus, who are walking through lush green countryside.

Iolaus:  Don't doubt me, Lycus. I've fried bigger fish than your
she-demon. You know, when Hercules and I were battling the Titans, we
were up against bearded behemoths, eight feet tall - no, ten, even twelve!
We still managed to beat back two waves of those ugly brutes. (chuckles)
I tell you, my head was echoing with the clang of swords for weeks after
that.

Lycus looks less than impressed, as if he's been hearing similar stories
for some time now.

Lycus:  Oh yeah. I thought Hercules always fought his battles by himself.

Iolaus:  Yeah, well, not when I'm around, he doesn't. We're a team,
Hercules and me.

Lycus:  (muttering) That's not what the stories say.

Iolaus has overheard this, and is understandably puzzled. Lycus seems
pleased to have one up on him. They stop walking.

Iolaus:  Stories? What stories?

Lycus:  The one the scribes tell.

Iolaus:  Now why would you go paying any attention to them, when all
they're doing is passing along hearsay? No, you go to the source, Lycus. 

He puts his hand on Lycus' shoulder to make his point.

Iolaus:  You go ask that hydra if it was just Hercules out there, cutting
off its heads, huh? I got my licks in, too, you better believe I did.

He turns to look at the path ahead of them, and sees a fallen tree
blocking the path.

Iolaus:  Uh-oh. Trouble.

Lycus:  Can't you just push it out of the way?

Iolaus looks a little uncertain but doesn't want to lose face. He hitches
his belt up.

Iolaus:  Yeah. No problem.

Iolaus approaches the tree, Lycus following. While Lycus looks on, Iolaus
sets himself and begins pushing at the tree, first from below, then with
his back. 

Iolaus:  Yah! (grunts and pants with effort)

He is getting sweaty and red-faced. The tree ignores his efforts. Lycus
is beginning to look amused.

Lycus:  Hercules wouldn't break a sweat with something like this.

Iolaus appears to consider this for a moment.

Iolaus:  Yeah. Yeah, you're right. He'd, ah, save all his energy for the
she-demon.

Catching his breath, he stands and then crouches to walk under the tree,
as it is propped a few feet off the ground with space beneath. Pausing
halfway, he looks back at Lycus.

Iolaus:  You coming or not?

Lycus:  Oh, yeah. Right away.

Amused, he follows.

Cut to Hercules, walking along a path alongside of a stony cliff wall. He
pauses, looking up. The camera pans to the right to reveal, on the
uppermost peak of an adjoining mountain, a building of some kind. A
boulder obstructs the path, and carved into the mountain on which the
building sits can be seen a tiny spiraling stairway, indicating the
distance at which it lies. Hercules sums up the obstacle with a grim
look. Cut to a closer view of the building. It appears to be a temple.

Hercules:  You can't stop me, Hera.

He approaches the cliff, instead of trying to move the boulder, and
begins to climb, finding handholds in the rivulet-engraved stone. Cut to
the top of the mountain. Hercules pulls himself up over it and stands up.
Cut to a shot of the temple, panning down from its high, thin tower to
the central door. It is made of old stone and its walls are partially
covered in vines.

Cut to Iolaus and Lycus. They walk along the high bank of a wide river.

Iolaus:  You know, this is really beautiful country.

They pause while Iolaus looks around appreciatively.

Iolaus:  You can go back to enjoying it just as soon as--

He breaks off, chuckling to himself, and pats Lycus on the elbow to get
his attention. They are standing on a tree-lined ridge overlooking a
valley.

Iolaus:  Young love.

In the valley below, a woman is sitting down while a young man approaches
her. She appears to be seated on a tall rock, and her unusually long white
skirt is spread out around her.

Lycus:  Orestes!

Iolaus:  What, you got something against romance?

Lycus:  It's the she-demon!

Lycus hustles down the side of the ridge and Iolaus is obliged to follow.

Cut to the valley below. Orestes, a handsome young man, approaches the
woman. He is holding a bouquet of white flowers.

Woman:  Are those for me? How beautiful.

The camera pans up from her skirt, revealing that she is wearing a
midriff-baring halter that appears to be iridescent. She has long brown
hair, swept back; her lips are curved in a seductive smile.

Woman:  Don't be shy.

Orestes comes closer to her, stepping on her skirt. She smiles and looks
down. Between his feet, where he stands on the skirt, something is
beginning to slither out from beneath the fabric.

Cut to Lycus and Iolaus, fighting through the underbrush to get down to
the valley.

Cut to the woman, still smiling. The thing that has emerged from the
skirt looks like a serpent's tail, and its tip suddenly begins to glow,
with an accompanying rattlesnake-like noise.

Cut to Lycus and Iolaus looking for a way to get into the valley.

Cut to Orestes. Something makes a snapping sound, and suddenly the young
man's features are freezing into hardened stone. The flowers are clutched
in a lifeless hand; his mouth remains open, silently screaming. The
woman's wicked laughter can be heard.

Cut to Lycus and Iolaus. Hearing the scream and the laughter, they rush
into the valley. But it is too late. Only the statue that was Orestes
remains, before a tall wooden bench where the woman had been seated.
Iolaus has drawn his sword.

Lycus:  She's gone.

But her laughter continues to echo. Iolaus relaxes his battle stance and
approaches the statue, as does Lycus.

Lycus:  Orestes.

Cut to the temple of Hera. Hercules approaches its front doors. Cut to a
closer shot of the doors. Two guards stand before them. He starts up the
steps.

Guard #1:  Halt!

Hercules:  That's no way to say hello.

Guard #1:  No offerings today, pilgrim. They're showing a thief the truth
and the light.

Hercules:  The truth and the light. But Hera's the daughter of darkness.

Guard #1:  Blasphemer! What is your name?

Hercules steps close to the guard.

Hercules:  Hercules.

Guard #1 promptly lifts his sword to take a swing at him, but Hercules
knocks him out with a punch to the face before he can do anything. Guard
#2 doesn't even get his sword in the air before Herc has elbowed him in
the neck. He then grabs Guard #1 by the back of his uniform and shoves him
down the steps, just as the guy is getting back up; then he turns and
gut-punches Guard #2, grabbing the back of /his/ uniform when the guard
leans forward in pain. Holding on to the upper back of the leather vest,
Hercules swings Guard #2 around and uses his head for a battering ram to
open the massive doors.

Cut to inside the temple. Several priests surround a girl tied to a table
placed on a dais at the far end of the temple; their heads all swivel to
see the intruder.

Hercules:  Forget about Hera! This place is comin' down.

The girl makes a muffled shriek, though her mouth is gagged.

Priest #1:  Kill him!

Two more guards appear from each side of the main corridor. Hercules 
shoves Guard #2 at them; one of them leaps over the falling body and
approaches Hercules. The guard swings his axe low. Hercules jumps to
avoid the slash, punches the guard in the stomach, then grabs the back of
the guard's uniform and tosses him at a pillar, which cracks into pieces
under impact. A corner of the roof sags dangerously with the loss of
support. 

Aegina:  Hey!

Though still gagged, she can definitely make some noise. The other guard
now swings at Hercules, but the axe goes high and Hercules ducks it,
punching him in the gut and knocking him back. Another guard has appeared
now, but Hercules just grabs him by the axe he's holding and flips him
over to dispatch him. His next opponent comes rushing at him and is easily
clotheslined.

Aegina:  (frightened) Hurry!

Having had enough of this, the priest motions to the executioner, a tall,
masked and heavily-muscled man, who moves forward, waving his
half-circle-shaped axe impressively around. Hercules watches for a
moment, then kicks him in the kidneys.

Aegina:  Ooh!

Hercules then grabs the executioner by the shoulders, head-butts him, and
then uses the chest harness worn by the executioner to toss him aside.
The priest glares daggers at Hercules, who turns back to face him.

Hercules:  Funny, he didn't look that easy.

The priest glares a moment longer, then runs, as do two others standing
by the table. Hercules mounts the dais and pauses by Aegina.

Hercules:  Don't go anywhere.

Aegina struggles against her bonds frantically.

Aegina:  Heeeeeyyyyy!

Hercules steps behind the table and, with a hearty shove, pushes over the
golden peacock statue that had been on the altar. 

Hercules:  I'm feeling better already.

He then comes around the table and removes Aegina's gag.

Hercules:  Sorry.

Aegina:  Ahhh.

Hercules:  Couldn't help myself.

He begins to untie her as the temple begins to crumble, rocks falling from
the sagging ceiling.

Aegina:  Hurry!

Without any time to waste, Hercules leaves her bonds in place and picks
her up, looping her tied wrists around his neck. But he has only taken a
few steps forward when five or six guards appear from the wings of the
temple. Aegina looks at Hercules in shock.

Aegina:  Do you know what you're doing?

Hercules:  Not at the moment.

				*	*	*

Part Three:

Hera's temple. Seven guards now block the exit that Hercules and Aegina
need to reach.

Aegina:  Now what?

Hercules:  Relax and enjoy the ride.

He starts down the steps. A guard approaches, and Hercules kicks him back.
A second approaches from behind, while another attacks Hercules' left
side; both are felled by more kicking. Another has approached from the
rear. Hercules swings Aegina around, letting her bound feet do the
kicking, and grabs the back of her knees as she comes around. Now he is
holding her on his back, sideways. He stamps on the foot of another and
then head-butts him to put him down; dodging the swing of an axe, he
kicks the bearer behind the knee to dispatch him. He then swings Aegina
back around, but the next guard ducks her swinging feet, so Hercules
swings her the other way, though he doesn't let go of her legs this time.

Aegina:  DUCK!

He hasn't seen the next one coming, and follows Aegina's order just in
time to dodge another axe-swing. Coming up, he brings her feet up sharply
to the fellow's face.

Hercules:  Thanks.

Aegina:  (thrilled) Hah!

The continue towards the entrance, but a pair of guards appears from
behind. Hercules turns, tosses Aegina into their arms, and does a
sweeping punch to knock both out. She is launched back into the air as
they fall, and he catches her again.

Aegina:  Hey!

Turning toward the entrance again, they find it blocked by one more
guard. Hercules assesses him quickly, then tosses Aegina into the air.
She flies toward the ceiling, screaming. Hercules punches out the man in
front of him, backhands two others that are approaching from either side,
and catches her neatly. But just as they are about to make a break for
it, the guards begin to reassemble before them. Hercules makes to toss
Aegina in the air again.

Aegina:  No, I'm getting sick!

Hercules:  Wonderful.

He looks up and sees the ceiling coming apart. The guards are unmoving,
except for one in front who is whipping his axe around menacingly.
Hercules decides on a different plan, and slings Aegina over his back,
her wrists still looped around his neck. He kicks a metal pole up into
his hands and readies it, grinning. Aegina realizes what he's about to do.

Aegina:  Are you crazy?!

Hercules:  Yeah.

Her scream becomes higher-pitched as he runs towards the guards, plants
one end of the pole on the floor just before he reaches them, and
pole-vaults over them. The guards are so astonished that they just part
to let him by. Unfortunately, they are trapped in the ceiling's
subsequent collapse. Hercules, carrying Aegina in his arms again, makes
it out of the temple doors. He sets her down and stumbles down the steps;
she hops after him, gasping.

Hercules:  So, you still in one piece?

Aegina:  Yeah. Thanks.

She takes a seat on a rock and attempts to begin freeing her wrists with
her teeth. 

Hercules:  Here.

Hercules moves over to her and begins untying the cording.

Aegina:  Hey, so what was that all about in there? Cause saving me
definitely wasn't the first thing on your mind.

Hercules:  It's personal.

Aegina:  Those bug-eyed loons you just beat up caught me for stealing
food. 

He gives her a confused look.

Aegina:  Well, an escaped slave's gotta eat, doesn't she?

Hercules:  You're free now. I don't believe in slavery.

She looks amazed as he gets done untying her feet.

Aegina:  What, just like that, I'm free?

Hercules:  Just like that.

He stands up, turning to go. Aegina stands as well.

Aegina:  Well, hey, who are you, anyway?

Hercules:  I'm Hercules.

Aegina:  (looking him up and down) *You're* Hercules?

Hercules:  You know, I'm sick and tired of people asking me that?

Aegina:  No, I-I believe you, you're Hercules. I'm Aegina.

Hercules:  Well, maybe we'll meet again, Aegina.

He starts to walk away. She hurries after him.

Aegina:  Hey, what's your rush?

Hercules stops and turns to her.

Hercules:  Hera has six more temples. And I'm going to destroy all of
them. 

Aegina:  What, and leave me out here all by myself? You know, choosing
mayhem over chivalry won't do much for your reputation.

She smiles winningly at him. 

Hercules:  Well, my reputation is the last thing I'm worrying about right
now.

He starts walking again; she tags along.

Aegina:  Okay, look, I'm not asking you to take me around the world. I
just want you to get me back to Ister.

Hercules has stopped, folding his arms as he listens to her. 

Aegina:  It's where I'm from, and it's really great - you know, even if I
was a slave.

Hercules:  (thoughtfully) Ister. Hera has a temple east of there.

Aegina:  Well, then, I'm on your way. And I can even show you a shortcut.

Hercules turns to fully face her, a slightly skeptical look on his face. 

Aegina:  W--I'm not a spy for Hera, if that's what you're thinking.

Hercules:  Well, in that case, you'll probably make it back to Ister.

He turns and once more begins walking. She is excited now.

Aegina:  With you?

Hercules:  With me.

Aegina:  Great!

Cut to a shot of a beautiful lake. The camera pans slightly and shows
mist rising from the water. Cut to a shot of Aegina and Hercules walking
towards a beach. She is several paces ahead of him.

Aegina:  Come on.

She waves an arm, and he moves a little to catch up with her.

Cut to Lycus and Iolaus, moving cautiously through some low branches and
shrubbery. They can hear the sound of soft voices. Ahead of them is a
field full of stone statues, just like the one Orestes became. The face
of each is stretched in a rictus of agony. Various villagers are moving
through them, seeking out their loved ones.

Iolaus:  (angrily) This is what they got for not sacrificing their
firstborn sons? Someone should turn Hera to stone.

Lycus:  Those are their loved ones, poor souls.

Iolaus:  I want to know where this damn creature lives.

Lycus:  Over there.

He points at the entrance of a cave. It is shaped like a grinning mouth,
with slanted eyes carved over the 'fangs'.

Lycus:  She-demon's cave.

Woman's voice:  It can't be.

Iolaus crouches slightly, assessing the situation.

Lycus:  So, what's your plan?

Iolaus:  (after a moment) I haven't got one yet. But I'm working on it.

Lycus:  (worried) You're not going to run, are you?

Iolaus:  That is the second time you've mentioned that. It never crossed
my mind.

Cut to Aegina and Hercules, who are still walking.

Aegina:  Hey, you're going about this all wrong. I just hope you know
that.

Hercules:  Just because I had a weak moment and told you about my wife and
kids doesn't mean you get to judge me.

Aegina:  I'm not judging you. I just think you should do something to
honor their memory - that's all.

Hercules:  They'd want me to do exactly what I'm doing. Now be careful.

Aegina:  I know what I'm...

What she's doing is not watching where she's going. She trips over a
half-buried log and falls.

Aegina:  Aagh!

Cut to later that evening. They have built a fire, and Hercules is
applying a cool poultice to Aegina's injured foot while she lays back.

Aegina:  Aah!

Hercules:  This should take the swelling down.

Aegina:  Ah, it feels good.

He glances momentarily at her and then back at her foot, which he is
wrapping in cloth. Sensing his sudden uncomfortableness, she pushes up
into a sitting position.

Aegina:  But you don't have to fuss over me.

Hercules:  (chuckling) I'm not fussing over you. I, I just want you to be
ready to cover some ground tomorrow.

Aegina:  Aw, you're going to be eating my dust again.

Hercules:  That's fine, as long as I don't have to carry you.

She looks at him, smiling.

Aegina:  I really was right, you know.

He finishes wrapping her foot and looks at her.

Hercules:  About what?

Aegina:  About how you should forget that witch you have for a stepmother.
About how no amount of revenge will ever bring your family back.

Hercules:  Nothing is. That's the trouble.

Aegina:  (sincerely) I'm sorry. I mean, I don't think I've said that a-a--
You really do have my sympathy. But you can't let it turn you into
something you're not.

Her words hit home more than Hercules would like, and suddenly he has a
memory of something Deianeira once said. Cut to a flashback; he and
Deianeira in their bedroom, she cleaning a wound on his face after one of
his adventures.

Deianeira:  That's who you are, people call for help and-

Hercules:  And I always go, I know.

Deianeira:  Yes.

Hercules:  I can't stand to see the gods play with peoples' lives, you
know, anybody's lives.

Deianeira:  I know that. And I love that about you.

Cut to another scene of Deianeira and Hercules; this time, they are lying
in bed together and talking.

Deianeira:  You're Hercules. Don't try to change that, not for me, not for
the kids. You'd only be lying to yourself.

Cut to another scene of Deianeira and Hercules, at the end of their first
adventure together; they are standing outside of Chiron's home, looking
at each other.

Deianeira:  Who's the mighty Hercules going to help next?

There is a flash of white. Cut to another scene: Hercules looking with
concern at an elderly man.

Elderly Man:  You've got to help us. There's a monster.

Cut to a shot of a man running across a field.

Runner:  Hercules!

Cut to Hercules and Deianeira, she sitting on his lap; they look at each
other almost resignedly as they hear the runner's cry. There is another
flash of white. Cut to a shot of a boy running across the same field.

Boy:  We need you!

The flow of memories ebbs. Cut to Hercules, smiling as he looks into the
fire. He looks over at Aegina, who looks right back at him.

Hercules:  I think you already know.

She raises an eyebrow.

Hercules:  I'm going to do what my wife and kids would want me to do: help
people.

Aegina smiles, reassured.

Aegina:  Well, you're already helping me, if you're looking for a place to
start.

Hercules:  Yeah, but you're not the only person from Ister who reached out
to me. There was a farmer, and I, I turned him down. Can't remember ever
doing something like that. But... now that I'm going to Ister, I wonder
if...

Aegina:  ...he'd still want you to help him?

Hercules:  I hope so.

Aegina:  He'd be a fool not to. After all, you're Hercules.

This brings a wider smile to his face.

Cut to an outside view of the She-Demon's cave. It is night. Torches are
lit in the eyes of the carving, making them seem to glow demonically.
Mist roils around the statues.

Lycus:  Are you sure this is the right time?

Iolaus:  Maybe she won't see me...

Cut to a shot of the pair crouched in the bushes surrounding the field.

Iolaus:  ...'til it's too late.

Lycus:  Are you crazy?

Iolaus:  I've resisted many women in my time. It's a special power I have.

Lycus:  What are you gonna do?

Iolaus draws his sword with a metallic ring.

Iolaus:  Cut her tail off.

Lycus:  But you've got to get close to her to do that.

Iolaus thrusts the scabbard at Lycus.

Iolaus:  Watch me.

And he marches forward through the underbrush and into the field. He
moves quickly from the protected side of one statue to another, advancing
into the blackness of the cave.

Cut to a view from within the cave. It is faintly illuminated by an
unseen light source. Iolaus moves forward from one niche to the next.
Moving further in, he comes to an obstruction: rocks strewn across the
path. Tucking the sword down, he does a forward flip over the rocks,
disappearing on the other side. The sound of stumbling is heard.

Iolaus:  Ow!

Apparently he didn't land quite as neatly he would have liked. He comes
up with his sword raised for action. He turns quickly to face the
opposite direction. Then he overhears a slithering noise. Turning, he
sees a shadow retreating deeper into the tunnel. With a sneer curled on
his lip, he moves forward, spinning the sword in his hand. He leaps to
the opening, but no one is there - yet he can still hear the slithering
of the she-demon's movement. At his feet there is a hole leading downwards.

Iolaus:  Where'd she go?

He pauses there for a moment, confused. Behind him, the she-demon rises
slowly from a hidden cave. He can hear her, and, steeling his nerves, he
turns to face her. The she-demon continues to rise up, supported on a
thick serpentine tail that begins at her waist - above which she appears
as human as anyone - but the tail snakes to an incredible length. Iolaus
just looks at her for a moment, wide-eyed. She has that same wicked smile
on her face.

She-Demon:  Looking for me?

Iolaus:  I hope you're ready to die.

She just shakes her head and makes an inhuman scream. With lightning 
speed, her tail whips around him and binds his arms; then its glowing tip
approaches him. He barely has time to look at it in terror before it
strikes him in the chest. Instantly, he turns to stone. She laughs
wickedly and releases the statue of what was Iolaus. Her laughter echoes
without the cave. Cut to outside. Lycus hears the laughing and takes off
running.

Cut to the next morning. The sun has just risen over the horizon.
Hercules and Aegina are on the move again. 

Aegina:  Not far now.

They come over a small rise and approach a crossroads with a tree in the
fork of the path. A robed figure, face obscured by a hood, stands near the
tree. Hercules stops, putting a protective arm in front of Aegina.

Hercules:  What's that?

Aegina:  I don't know.

She shades her eyes with one hand in an attempt to get a better view of
the figure.

Hercules:  How's your ankle?

She puts her weight on it, testing it.

Aegina:  I can run if I have to.

Hercules:  All right. Let's go see who it is.

Together, they walk up to the figure.

Thoas:  Turn back, heedless travelers. Ister is no place for the living
anymore.

Aegina:  Thoas, is that you?

She moves towards the man excitedly and peers under his hood.

Thoas:  I recognize your voice. Aegina! You're a slave.

Aegina:  Not anymore.

Thoas:  Then use your freedom to go elsewhere. The she-demon is turning
the men of Ister into stone.

Hercules:  That's why I'm here.

Thoas:  You'll only join them.

Aegina:  No, Thoas, this is Hercules.

Thoas:  Oh, you have my sympathy, sir.

Hercules:  Well, thank you. I didn't know the news about my wife and
children had traveled this far.

Thoas:  Your wife and children? I was talking about your friend, the one
they call Iolaus. He's dead.

				*	*	*

Part Four:

Hercules and Aegina continue down the path to Ister. He is still upset at
the news of Iolaus' death. They are moving faster now, and Aegina is hard
pressed to keep up with him.

Hercules:  It's my fault Iolaus is here.

Aegina:  You don't know that.

Hercules:  I know what that man on the road said. Iolaus came to help the
farmer, and that's what I should have been doing.

They pause for a moment. Aegina catches her breath and takes the weight
off her foot.

Hercules:  Now I'm dragging you into this. (starting to walk again) Go
back, Aegina. You don't know what could happen.

Aegina:  I'm not leaving you now, Hercules.

Hercules:  Pay attention for a moment, would you? 

They stop again, and this time he turns to face her.

Hercules:  The people in my life get killed. That's the price they pay for
my friendship and my love.

Aegina:  (angrily) What if I told you I don't want your friendship? What
if I told you I was using you to get myself back here? Would that make
you feel better?

Hercules:  No, because I know Hera. She's not gonna bother looking into
your reasons. In her eyes, if you're with me, you deserve to die.

Aegina:  You can't scare me off, all right?

Hercules:  Would you get it through your thick head--

Aegina:  Look, I'm not Hera's slave, and I'm not yours, either! I do what
I wanna do, and right now, I'm doing it.

They glare at each other for a moment longer, and then he turns away,
resigned.

Hercules:  You're out of your mind.

He turns to look at the path ahead of them.

Aegina:  But I'm still a lot of fun to be with.

Her joke falls flat. He gives her a look.

Hercules:  Okay. As long as you understand the risks. 

She makes a placating gesture of agreement.

Hercules:  And who the boss is.

He has turned away again and taken a couple of steps forward, but stops
now and looks back at her authoritatively.

Aegina:  Oh yeah, who's that?

Hercules:  Me.

Aegina:  Really - hey, wait!

Cut to the field of statues. Cut to Hercules and Aegina, approaching from
the path. They stand behind a screen of tall grass and leaves, seeing the
villagers walking through the statues.

Aegina:  (exhales) Poor guys.

Sensing movement behind them, Hercules turns, grabbing Aegina to put her
out of harm's way. But it is Lycus running up to them.

Lycus:  Easy, Hercules, it's just me.

Hercules releases Aegina, and they both face Lycus.

Lycus:  I'm sorry about your friend Iolaus. He was a brave man.

Hercules:  He shouldn't have been here. Not by himself, anyway.

Lycus:  He volunteered, you wouldn't even hear me out.

While this brings instant regret to Hercules, it only angers Aegina.

Aegina:  Hey, Hercules had to watch his whole family die in front of his
face, ya muttonchop. Was he supposed to forget all that just to help you?

Hercules:  Take it easy, Aegina.

Lycus:  Why is a slave girl talking to me like that?

Hercules:  Because she's not a slave anymore. She's free. And that's
something you won't be until you're rid of the she-demon.

Lycus:  You're wrong. I am free - free because I've still got enough life
in me to walk away from this cursed place. Anybody with any sense would
be right beside me.

Hercules:  Iolaus didn't die so you could turn tail and run.

Lycus:  The she-demon's killed enough people.

Hercules:  Then let me end it for her right here, now.

Lycus:  How do you know you can?

Hercules gives a small, almost ironic shrug.

Hercules:  I'm undefeated.

He begins making his way through the field, keeping to the edges of it,
until he reaches the entrance to the cave. Set prominently just outside
the mouth of the cave is the statue of Iolaus. Hercules, holding a heavy
piece of wood he must have picked up on the approach, pauses as he sees
the statue of his friend. The look on Hercules' face is of regret.

Hercules:  This one's for you.

He heads into the cave.

Cut to inside the tunnel. As before, there is just enough light to see
by. Hercules makes his way slowly down the tunnel, the sounds of small
animals loud and echoing around him. Something flies out of the darkness
at him; he crouches, ducking it, as it screeches overhead towards the
entrance. Tree roots dangle, obscuring the path at different points. He
steps over a shallow hole within which rats scrounge for food.

Cut to outside the cave. Aegina, followed by Lycus, is moving nearer to
the entrance, taking cover behind dangling branches and bushes.

Lycus:  Perhaps we should stay where he told us to.

Aegina:  Go ahead. I'm gonna stay here in case Hercules needs my help.

Lycus:  If Hercules needs help, we're all doomed.

Cut to inside the cave. Hercules presses deeper and deeper into the
tunnel system. 

She-Demon:  Don't hang back in the shadows, Hercules. Step out, where I
can see every wonderful inch of you.

He is approaching a larger chamber within the rock. Through the fallen
pillars of stone and low-hanging roots, a figure can partially be seen. It
is the she-demon, seated, white skirt spread out around her to obscure
her from the waist down. He continues to step forward.

She-Demon:  I know you can see me. Don't you wanna touch me, too?

He can now see her without obstruction. She runs her hands over her body
invitingly.

Hercules:  I had something else in mind.

He taps the piece of wood into his free hand.

She-Demon:  You're scaring me, Hercules. I don't like being scared.

He walks forward, planting his feet firmly on her skirt. She glances down
and smiles.

She-Demon:  I like being loved.

The tip of her tail begins to slither out from under the skirt, between
his feet.

She-Demon:  Don't you like being loved too?

The tail begins to raise up behind him.

Hercules:  Not by somebody with scales on her rear end.

She gives a high-pitched, inhuman screech. He looks behind him, sees the
tail, and ducks out of the way before it can hit him; instead, it smashes
some pottery on the floor, while he rolls away. As he comes up, grabbing
at the club again, her skirt goes flying and she disappears in a hole in
the wall of the chamber.

Hercules:  Don't go. The fun's just starting.

Cut to outside. The screech has echoed into the field, startling both
Aegina and Lycus.

Aegina:  Was that--?

Lycus:  Yes.

Aegina:  Oh, I hope that doesn't mean that she just took a bite outta
Hercules.

Cut to inside. Hercules runs across the chamber after the she-demon.

Hercules:  Get back here!

She is long gone, and cannot be seen in any of the many holes in the
wall. The slithering sound of her movement is loud in the cave, though.
Hercules tracks the sound to one of the side holes and raises his club,
waiting for her to come out. Instead, her tail drops from a hole in the
ceiling, snatches the club and yanks it up. Some dust sifts down, and
then, with a cracking noise, pieces of wood fall out of the hole. Without
a weapon, Hercules continues to look for her, focusing his gaze at the
ceiling now and backing up as he does so. Suddenly, the she-demon rises
from a previously unseen hole in the ground, grabs his ankles, and throws
him forward. Her wicked laughter echoes in the cave as he goes falling
forward, head over heels, down a shallow, naturally formed set of
'stairs' and breaking some vats in the process. He fetches up against a
column of rock, and clutches his head as he uses it to get to his feet.
Now the she-demon appears, in all her terrible glory, and he can see her
for what she truly is: from the waist up, she appears human, but at her
waist her form becomes snakelike, tapering into a long stretch of tail
that ends with that deadly tip. She cracks her tail like a whip, emitting
another inhuman scream, and binds a coil of tail around Hercules' arms
and neck. 

Cut to outside; Lycus and Aegina can hear the scream, and Aegina clings
to Lycus in terror.

Cut to inside. Hercules tries to shove off the coils, but has to free a
hand to deal with the glowing tail-tip that's aiming at him.

She-Demon:  You're going to be my favorite statue.

She continues to laugh nastily. Hercules manages to push the tail-tip
away, so that it strikes a thick tree root wrapped around a column of
stone, petrifying the root instead of him. She gives a disgusted growl.
With the primary threat temporarily out of the way, Hercules manages to
free himself from her coils. The tail-tip is still coming for him, though;
it's wound around one pillar as it follows him. He dives over another loop
of her tail, and then, rolling, leaps back through the first loop. The
tail-tip follows; suddenly, she's tied herself in a knot. Though she
tries, he is just out of reach of the tip of the tail. She screams, but
it is futile; she's tied herself up but good. Hercules walks around the
pillar. Fuming, the she-demon continues to yank and scream as he comes
toward her - and suddenly she's freed herself. Her sudden laughter warns
Hercules, who ducks out of the way just in time to avoid the tail-tip
coming straight for him - and instead of hitting him, it continues on and
strikes her. She gives a final, eerie screech as her body turns into
stone.

Cut to outside. With the death of the she-demon, all the statues return
to normal. The men of Ister rejoice as they see themselves and their
friends alive again.

Villager:  Fortio!

Lycus and Aegina come through the underbrush to see the men restored.

Lycus:  He did it! He killed the she-demon!

Behind them, a man and woman joyfully embrace. Cut to the statue of
Iolaus. It, too, melts and becomes the man it was. Iolaus, looking a bit
dazed, takes a breath of relief. Cut to Lycus and Aegina. Lycus runs over
to greet his friends.

Lycus:  Orestes! Tellus! Iolaus! Are you all right?

Iolaus:  Yeah, I think. It was strange on the other side.

Lycus:  Well, you'd still be there if your friend Hercules hadn't shown
up.

Iolaus:  Hercules? Where?

Lycus nods his head at something behind Iolaus. Iolaus turns around to
see Hercules emerging from the cave. Aegina has already spotted him and
is there, hugging him.

Aegina:  Hercules! Hey, hey!

The assembled villagers, both the restored men and their loved ones, give
a cheer for Hercules. He lets go of Aegina. Iolaus comes up to him and
they shake hands.

Iolaus:  What are you doing here?

Hercules:  I heard you were in trouble.

Iolaus:  Yeah, I guess I was. I was trying to help you.

Lycus approaches them in time to overhear the conversation.

Hercules:  You did, Iolaus. You taught me what a friend really is.

				*	*	*

Part Five:

Iolaus and Hercules are walking back up the path from Ister toward the
fork in the road. Iolaus looks thoughtful, with a hand on his chin.

Iolaus:  I saw them, Hercules. Deianeira and the kids. When I was...

He gestures instead of completing his sentence. Hercules, thunderstruck,
comes around to face him.

Hercules:  Are they okay?

Iolaus:  Yeah, they're fine. Now that they're free of the evils on Earth,
their only problem is missing you.

This news seems to ease Hercules somewhat.

Hercules:  Yeah. I miss them, too. But I don't know a cure for that.

Iolaus:  Death is the only cure, but they don't want you to die. They know
how much good you have left to do. Hold them in your heart 'til it's time.

Hercules:  I will, Iolaus. Right there with you.

Iolaus:  Well, you sound like you're not coming home.

Hercules:  I'm not. If I'm going to accomplish anything in this life, it's
in another direction. Goodbye, my friend.

They clasp hands briefly. Hercules starts walking down the other path,
the one that leads neither towards Ister nor the way they came.

Iolaus:  You don't know what's down that road.

Hercules turns, holding his hands up as he walks.

Hercules:  That's what I'm gonna find out.

He turns and continues on. Iolaus smiles a little as he watches his
friend walking away.