THE ROAD TO CALYDON
Written by: Andrew Dettmann and Daniel Truly
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 Road to Calydon". It also contains
camera angles and descriptions of action where I thought it necessary.
* * *
Teaser:
We see a deserted city - Parthas - its streets littered with leaves and
rubbish. Cut to inside one of the houses; a pile of dinars lies out on a
table, covered in cobwebs. At another table, plates and full cups are
still arranged as if their owners had just stepped away. A bare frame of
some kind is seen next. Cut to a shrine to Hera, the golden peacock at
the center of the altar. Before it, a table is arranged with cups and a
fancy golden chalice that looks almost as if it's made of stained glass.
Cut to a stone porch, where a black-and-white dog is laying asleep. The
dog jumps awake at the sound of human voices.
Man #1: Ah, refuge.
Cut to the small square. It is full of leaves, and a weed-ball rolls
through, stirred by wind that also blows the leaves around. From a side
street, several people approach the square.
Man #1: Good. We're here.
The pilgrims are burdened with packs and wear travel cloaks. As they
enter the square, they look around suspiciously. One boy of about twelve
years breaks ahead of the others and circles around the leader, Broteas,
investigating. He runs off down one side of the square.
Ixion: Hey, where is everybody?
The pilgrims make sounds of relief. Ixion scrambles up some steps into a
central pagoda, across the square from the porch where the dog is laying.–
The porch leads to Hera's temple, as we can see from the stylized peacock
on its doors. Ixion produces a short dagger and holds it out menacingly.
Ixion: Come on out where we can see you!
The dog whines and jumps off the porch, trotting off to a side street.
Ixion heads in the same direction.
Odeon: No one anywhere. What is this place?
Broteas: It's a gift from the gods, that's what it is.
He moves a few steps ahead of the others and turns to face them.
Broteas: Listen up, everybody!
A young, pretty woman pushes through to listen to him.
Broteas: This is our reward for traveling so far and suffering so much.
This is our new home.
After a moment, the pilgrims cheer.
Cut to the inside of a dwelling, later that night. Various people are
working to make it habitable for the night.
Broteas: (to one of the travelers) Now, wait here.
The camera follows one woman as she walks past the activity, picking up
on a cloaked figure darting along in the shadows. Cut to inside the doors
of Hera's temple. Through the cut-out design, we see the hood of the
cloaked figure approach. The figure opens the door, which creaks
slightly, and enters, closing the door behind.
Cut to the shrine. The camera moves slowly around it, panning past a
wooden pillar as it zooms in. The figure's hands reach for the chalice,
then suddenly stop as the figure gasps. The door creaks open again, and
the figure turns; but it is the black-and-white dog, pushing the door
open. With a sigh of apparent relief, the figure reaches for the chalice
again and takes it off the table.
Cut to an outside view of the sky, with a tower and bridge of the city
bordering the storm clouds that begin to roll in. Lightning cracks across
the sky, and Hera's eyes - human in shape, but with the "eyes of peacock
feathers replacing the pupils - flash over the city. Just as quickly, the
vision of the eyes disappears.
Cut to a side street. A woman races through the street against the
sudden, strong winds, past Ixion, who still has his dagger out. The young
woman who was listening to Broteas earlier, Jana, peeks out from an
archway. Cut back to Ixion, staggering in the powerful winds. He starts to
cry.
Ixion: HELP!
Jana: Ixion!
Pilgrims: Inside, everyone, inside! Take cover!
Jana rushes out and puts her arms around his shoulders. As she does so, he
drops his dagger in the dirt. Covering him with her cloak, she takes him
to cover. The winds are flapping fabric and thatch wildly, and other
pilgrims run for cover as well.
Man #2: Was it something we've done?
Cut back to the dagger laying in the dirt.
Cut to a treed slope; moonlight faintly illuminates a dirt path that
angles down the hill. A man can be seen walking along the path, but his
identity is impossible to tell; the moonlight only halos the back of his
hair. The trees' limbs shake in the strong wind. Suddenly, lightning
flashes across the sky. In that instant, we see that the traveler is
Hercules, walking with a pack on his back. The lightning flashes again,
stronger; Hercules winces and covers his eyes. He ducks off the side of
the path, down a small slope, and into an opening in a stone wall to
escape the storm. As he slows to a stop, he sees that he's in a covered
building. There are no lights, except for moonlight coming through the
windows. Sudden laughter startles him, and he whirls to see a man sitting
behind him. In the darkness, not much of the man can be seen aside from
his white hair and beard, and that he holds a staff.
Tiresias: (laughing) Got you, didn't it?
The man continues laughing as if this is the funniest thing he's ever
heard.
Hercules: Don't sound so happy.
Tiresias: Ah, can't help it. Nights like this stir my very soul.
Hercules moves closer to the man. Shadows hide most of his face, but the
man's eyes appear to be tightly shut.
Tiresias: (laughing) This is no ordinary storm. This is evil, my friend.
The coming of doom. The rage of almighty Hera herself! (laughs)
Hercules: You sound pretty sure about that.
Tiresias: Of course I'm sure. I see everything.
He laughs wildly. Lightning flashes, illuminating the man's face. His
eyes are stitched shut. Hercules' eyes widen as he sees this.
Tiresias: And judging from what I see tonight, there's plenty of
suffering on the horizon. (laughs)
More lightning flashes and Tiresias' laughter continues.
Cut to the inside of a dwelling. Broteas pushes open the curtain on the
window to look at the weather.
Woman #1: What did we do?
Broteas turns away from the window.
Broteas: Stay calm! It'll blow over!
Leaning against a wall, Jana and Ixion give each other worried looks.
Broteas walks away from the window, past several of the other pilgrims,
all gathered together with blankets around their shoulders. Ixion
suddenly starts looking for something. He gets up and runs to the
curtained door and outside.
Jana: Ixion, where are you going?!
One of the men gets up to help, but the woman sitting next to him grabs
his arm, keeping him there. Jana goes to the door.
Jana: Don't go out there, Ixion!
Jana hurries outside after Ixion. The man reluctantly sits back down. Cut
to the sky. Lightning flashes. Cut to the square. Jana runs out into it.
Jana: IXION! IXION!
Lightning strikes at the base of the central structure, causing the
blocks atop its corners to fall over, and the whole thing shakes. Jana
puts her arm up to shield herself from it. Lightning crashes again. The
whole structure goes over, toppling like a pile of sticks. Jana looks
down and sees Ixion's dagger lying in the dirt. She picks it up, looking
it over, and then looks up again.
Jana: IXION! IXION!
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:
A rocky field, bordered by trees. Tiresias can be heard speaking.
Tiresias: (off-camera) You got a name, young fella?
Tiresias and Hercules come into view, walking down a faint path.
Tiresias' left arm is extended near Hercules' right, as a kind of guide.
Hercules: I didn't think I'd have to tell you.
Tiresias: (chuckles) Ha ha, testing me, eh? All right, have it your own
way, Hercules.
Hercules looks sharply at Tiresias.
Hercules: How did you know?
Tiresias: I told you, I see everything. Now perhaps you'll believe me
when I tell you we shouldn't be taking this road. Nothing but trouble
down there.
Hercules: Then why did you insist on tagging along?
Tiresias: Well, personally, I have a taste for trouble. Besides, I
thought I might come in useful to you because of my gift. Oh, watch your
step.
No sooner has he said this than Hercules trips on something. He recovers
his balance and keeps walking.
Hercules: I suppose your gift let you see that coming.
Tiresias: No, traveled this way before. Tripped over that thing many
times myself.
Hercules is watching Tiresias as they walk, and doesn't notice an
overhanging tree branch. He hits his head on it and stops.
Tiresias: You're taller than I thought. Come on, I promise I'll look out
for you.
Hercules pauses for a few moments before following, tossing the branch a
look as he goes.
Cut to Parthas. The sky is partially clouded. Hercules and Tiresias come
down the same street through which the pilgrims entered, passing some of
the people at work. Cut to the square. The last pillar from the central
structure totters and falls.
Man #3: Look out!
One of the men, Teles, ducks in time to avoid being smashed. The camera
pans across the fallen rocks and pillars. People are working on cleaning
it up. Some rocks fall behind Hercules, startling him for a moment.
Tiresias: Something bad's gonna happen here!
Hercules: You're amazing, you know that?
Tiresias: Thank you.
The camera picks up on a man walking past them. He steps over the stones
and continues through the square.
Jana: Ixion, Ixion...
The man passes Jana, who is still looking for the boy. She carries his
dagger.
Jana: Where are you? Please come out. Ixion? Ixion?
Teles, working in the rubble, stands and turns to her.
Teles: (kindly) Don't worry, Jana. I'll help you.
Leda: (off-screen) Teles!
A woman rushes up to Teles and pushes him back.
Leda: You stay away from her.
She moves him away from Jana, who, with a hurt look, continues her search.
Jana: Ixion... Ixion?
She passes Hercules and Tiresias, and the camera pauses on them again.
Tiresias: What in the world's an Ixion?
Hercules shrugs. Then he sees an large upturned basket rocking back and
forth on its handles. He goes over to it and lifts it up, revealing
Ixion. The boy immediately grabs him around the waist.
Ixion: Ahh! Get away from me!
Hercules grabs the boy up.
Hercules: Take it easy, kid, I'm not trying to hurt you.
Ixion calms down, and Hercules sets him down. Ixion looks up at Hercules
in surprise.
Ixion: You're not?
Hercules: No, of course not. I was just trying to help that lady over
there.
He points at Jana. Jana, having overheard this, turns around with a smile.
Jana: Ixion!
She comes over to him, looking him over worriedly.
Jana: Are you all right?
Ixion: I can take care of myself, Jana.
He starts to turn and go, but she grabs his arm to stop him.
Jana: What were you doing in there?
Ixion: Hiding. From the storm demons.
He turns away again before Jana can stop him. However, he almost runs
straight into Tiresias, and the sight of the blind seer's face gives him
a start.
Ixion: AHH!
He jumps backwards and runs right into Hercules, who catches him
adroitly. Tiresias gasps as well.
Hercules: It's all right, it's all right. He's not a demon. (teasingly)
I don't think.
Jana: (to Hercules) Thank you for finding him.
Jana puts the dagger into Ixion's hand, and, taking him by the shoulders,
turns him around. The boy heads off reluctantly.
Hercules: Wait, wait. Tell me, tell me what happened.
Jana: You'd better hear it from somebody else.
Cut to nearby, where Odeon and Broteas are working on a cart. They
overhear the conversation.
Odeon: Strangers.
Broteas turns and watches the exchange. Cut back to Hercules and Jana.
Hercules: (to Jana) I just want to know if there's something I can do
for the people here, that's all.
Cut back to Broteas and Odeon.
Broteas: I better go see what's on their minds.
He walks away from the cart he was holding. Cut back to Jana.
Jana: Look, I'm not the one in charge.
Broteas: Maybe I can help you.
Broteas approaches Jana and Hercules and steps in between the pair,
offering his hand to Hercules.
Broteas: The name is Broteas.
Tiresias perks up upon hearing the name. Cut to a fountain of water
pouring from a cleft in some rocks. Some of the pilgrims are filling pans
from it. Hercules and Broteas walk by.
Broteas: The storm isn't going to beat us, if that's what you're
thinking.
Hercules: I admire your courage.
Broteas: We've been through worse.
Their conversation is interrupted by the sound of a woman's scream.
Hercules and Broteas turn to see that the running water has now turned
red and appears, in fact, to be blood.
Hercules: I think you're still going through it.
Broteas: We're stubborn.
Tiresias comes up next to Hercules.
Tiresias: Ha!
Broteas: And what would you know about it, old man?
Tiresias: This town is cursed, is what I know.
Broteas: Nonsense.
Hercules looks a little annoyed at Tiresias' interruption.
Tiresias: I might agree with you if it wasn't for this brilliance I have
for knowing the truth. Ha ha, and the truth is, there's a pox on this
place. (laughs) A scurrilous malediction! (laughs)
Some of the pilgrims are gathering to listen to this.
Hercules: You'll have to excuse him. He gets carried away sometimes.
Tiresias: (still chuckling) Fat lot you know! (walks away)
Broteas: Are you his keeper?
Hercules: Me? (chuckles) No, no. He can take care of himself.
Broteas: Then who are you?
Hercules: I'm Hercules.
Pilgrims: (astonished, to each other) Hercules! Hercules?
Broteas: Oh.
Cut to one of the homes, later that evening. Several of the pilgrims are
gathered around; Hercules is part of the circle.
Ephadon: When the fighting came to Telyte, there was no time for our
homes or crops. It was leave or die.
Hercules: So you've been wandering ever since.
Hesame: Not wandering, looking for a home.
Woman #2: What are we supposed to do, Hercules?
Hercules: I'll think of something. But in the meantime, you should eat.
I don't have much, but it should hold you over until tomorrow.
He begins passing out fruit and pieces of bread to the group. They take
the food with eager, almost pathetic, gratitude.
Pilgrims: Thank you. Thank you...
He gets up and finishes distributing the food as he leaves the house.
Once he's disappeared, Broteas walks up to the group, a disapproving look
on his face.
Broteas: Food?
The villagers pause and look up at him.
Broteas: There's someone who needs it more than you.
They look down, as if ashamed, and set the food aside.
Cut to Hera's temple. Tiresias approaches the temple, feeling his way
across the square with his walking staff. Cut to inside the temple.
Tiresias walks up to the shrine. He touches one of the candles as if he
is feeling for something. His hand goes to where the chalice was, but
encounters only air. He sniffs the air.
Tiresias: Doom, gloom - heh heh - and despair. I like it.
Cut to an inside view of the open temple door. The dog appears, trots up
the steps and enters the temple.
Tiresias: I guess you like it too. (laughs)
The sound of thunder can be heard. Tiresias places his palm flat on the
table and raises his head. Cut to a shot of a beautiful woman sitting on
a bench, running a hand through her hair. Misty veils obscure her from
complete view. Cut back to Tiresias, still in the throes of the vision.
Cut back to the woman, back to Tiresias, and then to the woman once more.
She is moving on the bench restlessly, but stills as a pair of hands
appear, setting the chalice down on a table before her.
Zeus: A gift for you, from Zeus.
The woman smiles, pleased.
Cut to a stormy sky; Hera's eyes appear. Cut to Tiresias, his head cocked
as he attends to the vision. Cut to the view of the sky above the city,
storm clouds roiling overhead. Lightning flashes in the sky. Cut to a man
within the city, hard at work sawing something. He raises his hand
against the lightning. Cut to a view of the city square from above: it is
clean and populated, though the people therein are shielding their eyes
against a bright light and gasping in fear. Cut to a group of people in
an alcove as the light flashes on them. Cut to a woman eating; she grabs
her throat as she chokes. Cut to a man falling on bare ground. He is
consumed by fire so that only ashes remain where he fell. Cut to
Tiresias, still paying attention to his vision. He laughs as if he finds
it amusing somehow.
Cut back to the stormy city sky. Cut to the alcove; all but one woman
flee the bright light. Cut to the choking woman; she screams and runs
off, leaving the food on the table. She falls to her face on the ground
and is similarly consumed in ash. Cut to Tiresias, who continues to
laugh. Cut to another woman falling to the ground; a man slumps beside
her, and both burn to ash in seconds. Cut to Hera's eyes, flashing in the
sky as lightning strikes again. Cut to Tiresias, laughing maniacally.
Cut to Hercules. He lies asleep on a cot. The dog is licking his face and
hand; groggily, Hercules acknowledges the dog's presence and pushes
himself up. He hears a voice from outside that startles him awake.
Broteas: Oh, great goddess Hera, we, your humble servants, have gathered
here to make you this sacrifice in your name.
On hearing the words, Hercules gets up and hustles outside. Cut to
outside. The camera pans down from a peacock icon carved in the stone of
a building to a basket full of the food given out last night. It is held
in Broteas' upstretched arms.
Broteas: Hear us! Accept this meager offering! Please reward those among
us that have suffered so long with your mercy.
He is standing before a lit brazier, and the pilgrims are gathered around
him. Hercules appears from behind them and makes his way through the crowd.
Broteas: We, your servants, don't have much to offer you, but we...
He breaks off as Hercules strides up to him.
Hercules: I gave your people that food to eat, not waste.
Broteas gives Hercules a disdainful glance. The crowd murmurs disquietly.
Broteas: An offering to Hera will bring us much more good fate than will
full stomachs.
Hercules: Hera doesn't care about anybody except herself.
Broteas: You're a fool if you believe that. Now let me carry out their
wishes!
Hercules turns to face the crowd.
Hercules: Is this what you want? To see good food burned while you
starve?
The pilgrims don't answer, but their expressions say more than words.
Many of them duck their heads in shame.
Hercules: That's what I thought.
He takes the basket from Broteas and pitches the food at the people, who
give delighted gasps and dive at the food. Through this runs Ixion, who
grabs at a loaf of bread.
Hercules: Now go ahead and eat it this time. Feed your stomach, not
Hera's fire.
In emphasis of his last word, he pushes the basket at Broteas, who
clutches it automatically. Hercules walks away from the slightly raised
dais where Broteas remains standing, glancing around defeatedly.
Cut to the inside of a dwelling. Jana is carefully folding a small shirt.
Ixion appears in the door.
Ixion: Jana! Food!
Jana: Looks more like trouble to me.
Ixion: No, no, it's okay! Hercules stopped the sacrifice!
Jana: (astonished) He did? Well, what about Broteas?
Ixion: (scornful) Broteas? He couldn't do anything.
Jana: Don't say that. He brought us here.
Broteas: It's nice to know you're still on my side.
Ixion jumps as Broteas appears in the doorway, arms folded as he leans on
the frame.
Jana: You'll have to excuse Ixion. His mouth runs away with him sometimes.
Broteas: He's young and excitable, I used to be the same way.
Broteas comes into the room, radiating amiable friendliness.
Ixion: You were never like me!
He flinches as Broteas pats him on the shoulder.
Broteas: Woah ho! That's the fighting spirit that'll get us through many
troubles to come.
Jana smiles, but looks a little uncertain.
Broteas: Do you believe me?
Jana: Yeah, always.
Broteas: Good.
He reaches a hand out and caresses a lock of hair close to her face.
Broteas: That's all I needed to be sure of.
Ixion looks less than thrilled. Still smiling, Broteas turns to go.
Jana: Do you want your bread back?
Broteas: Oh, no. It's, uh, it's better that you have it.
He leaves. Jana offers the bread to Ixion, who eagerly bites into it.
Cut to another home. Hercules is fixing up a piece of wood that is lashed
to the ceiling. Behind him, Tiresias paces.
Tiresias: You're wasting your time.
Hercules sighs and keeps working.
Hercules: Yeah, how could I forget? The town's cursed.
Tiresias: Ah, but it used to be full of life! Full of people...
including a beautiful maiden who caught your father's eye.
Hercules: Zeus fell for a maiden? Well, there's a big surprise.
Tiresias: Yeah, heh heh! He gave her a chalice. Ah, forged by Hephaestus
himself! Solid gold! Beautiful gift. Problem was, Hera found out.
(chuckles)
Hercules pauses, turning to look at Tiresias.
Hercules: Did she kill the girl?
Tiresias: (laughs) Better! She turned her into a dog! (chuckles)
Cut to a view of Hera's temple through curtains that partially block one
window. The dog is resting on the steps outside the temple.
Tiresias: (voice-over) And then she condemned the whole town. (cut back
to Tiresias) Every centimeter of it. And no good has ever come to anyone
who has ever lived here. (laughs) That stepmother of yours, you gotta
love her style! (laughs)
Cut to outside. Broteas is giving a disbelieving look. Behind him are
some pilgrims involved in rebuilding the square.
Broteas: A curse? You expect me to believe that?
He turns away to aid the workers. Cut to Hercules, who is facing him,
with Tiresias to his left.
Hercules: Think back to the storm. Think back to the condition this town
was in when you got here.
Broteas: You're starting to sound like that crazy old man.
Hercules: Well, that 'crazy old man' is right. Hera has damned this
place, and you've only had a taste of the evil she can do. Now get
everyone packed and get them out of here.
Broteas has turned to face Hercules again, his stance challenging.
Broteas: You're the one who oughtta get out of here.
Hercules: I am trying to help you.
Broteas: (loudly) We don't need your help! We found a home and it's
here!
Tiresias: Maybe Hera'll turn you all into dogs! Serve you right, you
idiots!
Broteas: (to Tiresias) You're out of your mind.
Hercules: No. Listen to him. He's predicting your future!
The pilgrims have left off their tasks by now, and others have gathered
around as well to listen.
Broteas: (spreading his arms) Look around. We're on our last legs. Where
do you expect us to go?
Hercules glances at Tiresias thoughtfully, then looks back at Broteas.
Hercules: Calydon.
Broteas: Calydon? (echoing murmurs from the villagers) I've never even
heard of it!
Hercules: It's a charmed city. It's protected by Apollo. There are no
curses there.
Broteas: (disparagingly) Yeah. Probably not a city, either. Wh-where's
this place supposed to be?
Hercules: Just beyond the Stymphalian swamp.
The pilgrims murmur to themselves worriedly at this news.
Broteas: Haven't you heard of a winged monster that lives there? It
makes sure no one gets through that swamp alive.
Tiresias: (laughing) My kind of place!
Hercules: I'll lead you through the swamp.
Broteas; (shakes his head) No. You and the old man go by yourselves.
It's too dangerous for my people, they are *not* interested. (turns back
to his work)
Hercules: Isn't that their decision?
Broteas pauses, turning back to Hercules with a smirk.
Broteas: Fine. All those who want to go to Calydon, take your place next
to Hercules. Those who want to stay and make their home here, stand
beside me.
The pilgrims stand, frozen, for a moment. Then one couple walks over to
stand by Hercules. Others follow, murmuring to each other.
Woman #3: I say we cast our lot with Hercules.
Man #4: We'll join together. Come, go with us.
Broteas' smirk begins to fade as more and more of the pilgrims walk over
to Hercules' side.
Man #5: All of us.
Woman #4: We'll try Hercules. Come, everyone, behind Hercules.
Woman #5: He can lead us.
Soon all the pilgrims in the square stand by Hercules. Broteas is left
alone to face them. He looks down as if shamed.
Hercules: So, Broteas, coming with us or not?
Broteas looks at Hercules, seeming disturbed.
* * *
Part Two:
An outside gate of the city. The pilgrims begin to make their way out,
burdened with their belongings. Cut to the central square. The dog still
stands on the steps of the temple as Hercules ushers the pilgrims along
as they move in a line towards the gate. He pauses by Tiresias.
Tiresias: Uh-oh.
Hercules: What now?
Tiresias: Just a little trouble is all.
Hercules: We're leaving trouble behind. You can't be seeing more
already.
Tiresias: (chuckles) It's a gift.
Hercules: Why is it always trouble? Don't you ever see anything that's
good?
Tiresias: I'm just telling you what's going to happen - something bad.
Heh. Downright rotten! (chuckles)
Tiresias turns and joins the line as Broteas taps Hercules on the
shoulder to get his attention.
Broteas: Hercules.
Hercules: Decided to come along after all, huh?
Broteas: Don't lead these people wrong, Hercules. I'll be watching you.
With a sanctimonious air, he moves past Hercules to bring up the rear of
the line.
Hercules: I bet you will, Broteas.
Hercules joins the line as it proceeds out of the square. Cut to a
distant view of a high ridge. The pilgrims make their way along it, with
Hercules close to the head of the line. Cut to Hera's temple in Parthas.
The dog still lies on the steps, her head down. Suddenly, she jumps up and
trots away, whining. Cut to inside the temple. The table before the altar
begins to shake and rock until first one of the candlesticks falls, then
the other. The floor suddenly cracks open, and a creature of some kind
emerges. Human in shape, the creature is dressed in bone-like armor, with
tufts of black fur sticking out between the 'bones'. It goes to the
table, touches the space where the chalice had been, then sniffs its
fingers. With a grunt, it heads outside.
Cut to the square, facing the temple. The creature opens the door and
slowly emerges. It looks at its hand, where it holds several small objects
that look like tiny, pointed skulls: dragons' teeth. The creature gives a
roar as it flings them at the ground. Nothing happens for a few moments;
then the earth begins to rumble, and suddenly, where each tooth-skull
landed, another creature like the first begins to spring up from the
ground until six total stand before the first. The dragons'-tooth
soldiers turn as one. The first one moves ahead of the others, discovering
footprints in the soft dirt. It sniffs at the dirt, then waves to its
companions. Standing, it dives into the dirt as if the ground were water.
One by one, the others follow, and the creatures begin to tunnel through
the dirt in the same direction as was taken by the pilgrims.
Cut to the ridge the pilgrims were walking along earlier. The dog runs
down the path after them, barking a warning. Cut to further ahead.
Hercules watches the pilgrims as they pass, waiting for Tiresias to catch
up. He falls in line with the seer.
Hercules: (concerned) What's wrong?
Tiresias: Nothing's wrong. That's the problem.
Hercules: (smiles) What about all the gloom and doom you were predicting
earlier?
Tiresias: Hmm, wishful thinking. I see a clear path and sunny skies from
now on.
Hercules: (chuckling) That just kills you, doesn't it?
Tiresias: Ah...
A crash of thunder interrupts them. Hercules, serious now, looks up at
the sky.
Hercules: Losing your touch.
He moves on to the head of the group while Tiresias shakes his head
dispiritedly. Rain follows on the heels of the thunder, and the pilgrims
pause in the sudden storm.
Teles: Get the waterskins!
Excited, the pilgrims come up with bowls and skins to catch the
rainwater. But then stones start landing in their bowls.
Ephadon: Hercules, they're rocks!
The pilgrims duck and shield themselves against the hail of stones with
their arms. Hercules spots an escape route.
Hercules: In the cave!
He starts guiding them toward a large cleft in the rocks, urging them in
as fast as they can go.
Cut to within the cave. Water trickles from the ceiling in one area, but
other than that the cave is dry and appears undisturbed, and seems to be
large enough for everyone with room to spare. Hercules pauses to help the
last of the pilgrims in. Jana catches up to him.
Jana: The curse can't follow us, can it, Hercules?
Hercules: Only as far as the gates of Calydon. You'll be safe once we're
inside.
He urges her on. Odeon is behind her.
Odeon: You'd better be right about that.
Hercules makes sure everyone is inside before joining the main group.
Behind him, some of the women begin to line up to fill bowls and
waterskins from the trickling water. When Jana tries to take her turn,
one of the women pushes her back.
Leda: End of the line!
Hesame: Trash!
Jana: It's not for me, it's for Ixion.
Leda: Well, he's as bad as you are.
Jana: Choke on your water.
Disgusted, she walks away as the women look affronted. Hercules walks up
to them, watching them for a moment. He looks up, surveying the structure
of the cave, and then goes over to Jana and Ixion. The two are standing
apart from the rest of the group.
Hercules: Not thirsty?
Jana: We can drink later.
Ixion: Those hags won't let us drink from that spring.
Hercules glances back at the woman, who holds a waterskin out to the
trickle of water. He then bends down and picks up a good-sized rock.
Hercules: Then drink from this one.
Jana and Ixion look up as he hurls it upward, cracking the rock above
them. Immediately, water begins to flow from the crack. The other trickle
stops as the water is diverted to this new spring. The woman who was
filling her waterskin looks at it, confused.
Hercules: (to everyone) The line starts behind Jana and Ixion.
He gently pushes Ixion to the new spring. Jana smiles gratefully at
Hercules as he walks away. Broteas comes up next to her, and her smile
fades.
Broteas: He just wants what they all want.
Jana: I don't think so, Broteas.
With grudging looks, the others get in line behind Jana.
Cut to an open field near a steep hill, in daylight. A peddler tries to
pull a cart covered with pots, pans, and all sorts of trinkets, but it
seems to be stuck. He sighs and sets down the lead poles, looking ahead
at the long path. Suddenly, his cart begins to rattle and shake. He turns
to see it, eyes narrowed in confusion. The camera pans past the cart to
show the dark path behind him, clear of any obstacle or living thing, and
then to the other side of the cart to show the empty green meadow. The
cart ceases shaking. The peddler faces ahead again. Standing in front of
him is one of the dragons'-tooth soldiers.
Peddler: What the--?
When he turns again, he sees that his cart is surrounded by the other
soldiers.
Peddler: What w...?
Soldier: Pilgrims!
Peddler: I, I, I saw them. I, yes, I saw them.
Soldier: How long?!
Peddler: An hour, m-maybe two. N-near the Minoan caves. I-I-it's not
far. I-it's not far.
He turns back to look at the group surrounding his cart. They have
disappeared. When he turns back to look at the first one, there is
nothing there. The peddler looks around fearfully.
Cut to a sparse wooded area. The pilgrims make their way through the thin
trees, Broteas at the head. Cut to farther back in the group. Hercules
walks near Tiresias, keeping an eye out for threats. Suddenly, Tiresias
stops.
Tiresias: (laughing) More gloom and doom!
Hercules: Enough already. You know, half the day you've predicted two
earthquakes, a lion attack, an outbreak of Allurian fever, and you've got
three people convinced they're pregnant.
Tiresias: Well, four. That red-headed woman over there...
Hercules: Two of them are men! The only thing you didn't see was that
rock storm.
Tiresias: (chuckles) Nobody's perfect!
Hercules: I don't want to see this crowd beat you to a pulp, that's all.
He starts to walk on. Tiresias holds out a hand.
Tiresias: Y-you're really worried about me?
Hercules: No. If anyone's going to beat you to a pulp, I want it to be
me.
The pilgrims suddenly pause as a low rumbling sound fills the air. The
feathers and beads on Tiresias' staff jangle and dance as the ground
shakes. Tiresias has his head raised as if trying to sense the source of
the rumbling. One of the women looks down and screams, jumping back from
a mound of dirt traveling along the ground. The mound is followed by
others. Hercules takes a step forward. The pilgrims continue to look
about in confusion. Suddenly, the ground bursts open and the
dragon's-tooth soldiers leap forth. The soldiers quickly surround the
pilgrims. Hercules runs over to help.
Tiresias: Told you so! Told you so!
The rest of the soldiers emerge from the ground and attack the pilgrims,
who scatter, screaming.
Tiresias: You should have listened to me, but you didn't! You should
have known better!
The soldiers seem to be searching for something; they are grabbing bags
and emptying them out. Hercules grabs one and separates him from the
woman he is mauling, stepping between them. He sees the soldier's 'face'
for the first time.
Hercules: Hm. Ugly, dress funny, smell bad. You must work for Hera.
He punches the soldier in the face and swings around to backhand another
soldier behind him, ducking as he does so to avoid a swinging punch from
the first. He turns back to the first and kicks him in the gut. The
soldier falls forward, but the second one gets its arms around Hercules
and holds him fast. The first soldier punches Hercules solidly in the
jaw. Hercules breaks the second soldier's hold just in time to get
punched again, this time in the chest, by the first soldier. He spins to
face the second soldier. The second soldier punches at him, but Hercules
catches his arm, meanwhile back-kicking the first soldier and sending
that one back a few feet. He brings his leg forward and kicks the second
soldier in the stomach. The first soldier comes at him again. Using the
second soldier's arm, he sends the second soldier flying into the first
one. They both fall down.
Hearing more cries of distress, Hercules yanks another soldier away from
a pilgrim. He gives him punches to the face and stomach. Meanwhile, the
first two soldiers jump to their feet. They pull out swords and race at
Hercules, who manages to duck the swords swung at him. He flings an
uppercut at one of the soldiers, knocking it down, then grabs another by
the back and sends it at the third, whose sword manages to pierce its
fellow. Hercules gives the soldier a kick in the rear to help it along.
The pierced soldier, run completely through by the sword, stumbles away a
few steps, then turns, the hilt of the sword protruding from its belly,
as if nothing is wrong. More of the soldiers gather behind it. The
pierced soldier pulls out its own sword. Hercules glances around, seeing
Jana, Ixion, and Broteas harassed by more of the soldiers. He turns back
to his current opponents, who snarl and rush at him.
Hercules ducks a sword-swing, punches another soldier in the back as it
rushes by him, then jumps to avoid a low swordcut. He dodges another
soldier that rushes him and jumps again over low-swung swords. Another
soldier rushes him, and he trips it, then ducks so that the soldier rolls
over his back. Coming up again, he faces another soldier rushing at him.
He knocks the spear out of the soldier's hands and clotheslines it.
Nearby, another soldier is fighting Broteas, who seems to be giving as
good as he's getting. Hercules takes another soldier down, coming up with
a long, curved sword. He watches one of the soldiers circle back around
him, then stabs another before coming back to cut off the arm of the one
behind him. The arm falls to the ground, and the soldier stumbles back
with a howl. Hercules beheads another of the soldiers, then stops as he
hears Jana's voice.
Jana: Here, take it, don't hurt him!
The soldier harassing Jana yanks a woven bag from her hands as Jana wraps
her arms protectively around Ixion. It begins to search the bag. Hercules
starts towards them when he sees the beheaded soldier begin to get to its
feet. The armless one follows suit. Hercules glances at his sword and
drops it as he slowly backs away. He then picks up a mace that was
dropped on the ground. Coming forward again, he begins to swing it. He
knocks one of the soldiers back several feet; when it lands, it does so
in several pieces. Another soldier draws a sword; Hercules slams it with
the mace, and it, too, falls apart. He throws the mace at another
soldier; this one doesn't even fall, but remains standing while its
various body parts drop from its body.
Cut to Jana and Ixion, who cling to each other. They glance over to see
Hercules making short work of the beheaded soldier by kicking it apart.
The soldier that had been searching their bag drops it and stalks away.
Hercules grabs another soldier, lifts it over his head, and flings it to
the ground, where it falls apart. Jana and Ixion look on, wide-eyed.
Hercules whirls as another of the soldiers leaves off harassing one of
the pilgrims and swings at him. He grabs the soldier's outflung arm,
swings it around, then picks the soldier up. He brings the soldier down
hard on his knee, breaking it into pieces.
Cut to Broteas, who is still fighting one of the soldiers. The soldier
delivers a solid punch to the jaw, dizzying Broteas, who is helpless to
defend himself against the following hits doled out to him by the
soldier. He finally goes over. The soldier turns to see Hercules and
snarls at him. Hercules tosses aside the body parts of the other soldier,
standing up to face the last one. But instead of fighting, this soldier
dives into the ground. The mound of dirt above it quickly burrows away.
Hercules watches it go. He runs after it, tucking into a roll to come up
beside the fleeing mound of dirt, and stabs a sword into the ground to
stop it. As Jana and Ixion continue to look on, he yanks the soldier out
of the ground, holding it up for a moment, and then flings it at a tree.
On impact, the soldier collapses in pieces. Unlike the others, though,
this one's head remains attached to its body, and it slumps at the base
of the tree, smoking faintly where its limbs used to be.
Soldier: Gah! This isn't over! Ah! Hera won't stop until she has what's
hers! (laughs)
Hercules: What's hers?
The soldier's head falls lifelessly.
Hercules: What is it? What?!
But the torso only continues to give off smoke. Jana clutches Ixion
fearfully.
* * *
Part Three:
The clearing in the forest. The pilgrims stand about as Hercules looks
around, confused.
Teles: They vanished! Where'd they go?
Broteas: (mockingly) Probably to Calydon.
Hercules gives Broteas a sour look.
Hercules: Nobody's keeping you here, Broteas.
He walks up to Tiresias, who is chuckling to himself, and grabs a handful
of cloth at the seer's neck.
Hercules: All right. I want to know everything.
Tiresias: Wh-what's the matter? Don't you like surprises? (laughs)
Hercules twists the handful of cloth.
Tiresias: Okay, okay, ah, ah-- (choking)
Hercules releases him.
Tiresias: Remember the chalice? It was stolen from the temple the night
of the storm.
Hercules: Why didn't you tell me that?!
Broteas steps over to the pair. Hercules turns to Broteas with an annoyed
look.
Broteas: Because he's a fool! And so are you for trusting him.
(chuckles) The mighty Hercules, hm? You could have gotten us all killed
by those bandits.
Hercules: They were more than bandits. Hera sent them.
Tiresias: Ah! For the stolen chalice! (laughs)
Broteas: There are no thieves here.
Tiresias: Oh, yes, there are! Yes, there are! Okay, which one of you was
it? You can tell me, huh? Who got greedy and brought Hera's curse with
him?!
The villagers look at each other, muttering amongst themselves disturbedly.
Leda: Well, don't look at me, I didn't take it!
Broteas: Prove it!
Teles: (accusingly) Odeon was a prisoner in the Azanian salt mines.
Odeon: (grabbing Teles) It wasn't for stealing, it was for killing!
Leda: Hey!
Broteas: That's enough! Stop it! You're letting these outsiders tear us
apart! (turns back to Hercules) Look, what are you trying to do? These
are good people.
Hercules: That's why I'm trying to keep them alive.
Tiresias: Heh! Good luck.
Hercules: Your chances of living don't get any better by standing here.
Broteas: Enh, it's about time you made sense. Come on, let's get out of
here! Let's get as far away as we can before dark!
He begins to lead the pilgrims off. Jana throws a sad look at Hercules as
she follows.
Hercules: (to Tiresias) You and I are gonna talk later.
He heads after the group, leaving a confused Tiresias behind.
Cut to a shot of the full moon against a black sky, clouds partially
obscuring it. A wolf howls. Cut to Tiresias, who is seated and snacking
on some ribs. Hercules paces behind him.
Tiresias: (with his mouth full) Did you root out the thief yet?
Hercules: You should know that, you're the seer.
Tiresias: Ah, that bad, huh?
Hercules: Yeah. I've got this feeling it's Broteas.
Tiresias: I thought *I* was the one who operated on feelings.
Hercules comes up next to Tiresias, claps him on the shoulder, and sits
down.
Hercules: Then operate.
Tiresias: You mean it? You ready to concede to my predictatory powers?
Hercules: That's what I'm here for.
Tiresias: Ah, mm, ah. Ah, aah, mm... (pauses) Yeah, it's definitely
Broteas. Or, it could be Odeon. Then... there's always Ephadon...
Hercules stands up resignedly and begins to pace again.
Tiresias: (exhales) That fellow Teles is decidedly shifty.
He tears off a rib and offers it where Hercules was sitting.
Tiresias: Rib for you?
Cut to Broteas, who is leaning forward and speaks conspiratorially.
Broteas: I say it's time to get rid of our problem.
He is addressing three other men: Ephadon, Teles, and Odeon. The three are
gathered around a small fire.
Ephadon: But we need Hercules to lead us through the swamp, we can't
make it on our own.
Broteas: Oh, he'll lead us in, but will he lead us out?
Teles: Well, how else do we get to Calydon and lose this curse?
Broteas: Maybe the curse isn't ours. Maybe it's his. Look, the storm hit
just before Hercules arrived. Then the food went bad - rocks falling from
the sky - and then the attack today.
Odeon: Yeah, and everyone knows how much Hera hates him.
Teles: What do we do?
Broteas: Whose side are you on: his... or mine?
Odeon: Yours.
Teles: Yours.
Ephadon: Yours.
Broteas: Then I'll let you know when the time comes. Now go, before he
gets suspicious.
One by one, the men stand up and leave.
Cut to a pan of water set on a flat rock. A woman dips a cloth in the
water and then squeezes it out; as she raises it to her face, we see that
the woman is Jana. She rubs the cloth over her bare shoulder, then pulls
her heavy hair back to wash the back of her neck. There is a rustling in
the bushes behind her; she turns to see Hercules entering the small
clearing. He pauses when he sees her, obviously embarrassed.
Hercules: Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt.
Jana: (flustered) I was just leaving.
Hercules: Oh, you don't have to rush off on my account.
She moves over to another rock to start picking up her things, but turns
to look at him at this. Hercules sits down on a lower rock.
Jana: Are you sure? If the others see us, it might ruin your reputation.
Hercules: (smiling) I don't put much stock in reputations, yours or mine.
Jana: (teasing) You mean you don't kill ten monsters every day?
Hercules: No. Only one or two. Small ones.
She giggles at that, but then sobers as she takes a seat.
Jana: Well, I'm afraid my reputation's true. That's what happens when an
orphan grows up in a brothel. It's the only life I ever knew.
She looks down, then back up at him almost defensively.
Hercules: Didn't stop you from raising your son right.
Jana: Oh, Ixion's not my son! He's just... like me - no family, no one
to love him, so I look after him. But sometimes I feel like he's looking
after me.
Hercules: A little of both, I'd say.
She smiles and looks down again. When she looks back up, he glances down
as if unwilling to keep the eye contact.
Jana: What do you think our chances are? I'm not worried about me, but
Ixion deserves to get to Calydon.
Hercules: Oh, he'll make it. You will, too.
Jana: Even if you don't find the chalice?
Hercules: (standing) The chalice is my worry. You get some sleep. By
tomorrow, you and Ixion will be in your new home.
He lightly touches her shoulder and heads out of the clearing. She turns
a little to watch him go, a wistful look on her face. Then she stands and
walks in the opposite direction. She passes a sleeping Broteas. Moving
quietly, she reaches for the pack laying nearby, but then sets it back
when she sees something in Broteas' hand - the thick leather strap of his
satchel. Jana reaches for the strap, freezing when Broteas stirs slightly.
Once he stills, she picks up the satchel and tip-toes over to the other
side of the fire. Setting the satchel down on the ground, she fumbles
with the bindings, glancing back quickly to see if Broteas is still
asleep. He is, and she continues to try to open the satchel. Before she
can get it open, a hand grasps her roughly by the arm and yanks her to her
feet. It is Broteas. Jana gasps loudly.
Cut to Hercules, sleeping nearby. He awakens at the sound of Jana's
screams. Tossing off his blanket, he gets to his feet and dashes to help.
In the clearing, Broteas roughly pulls Jana around to face him.
Jana: Let go of me!
Broteas: WHAT WERE YOU DOING?
Jana: Nothing, I wasn't doing anything?
Broteas: YOU'RE A LIAR!
Ixion rushes up to them and yanks at Broteas' arm.
Ixion: Get your hands off her!
Broteas lets go of one of Jana's arms and grabs Ixion by the shoulder,
shaking him. Just then Hercules lifts Ixion up and puts him down, away
from the fray. Broteas continues to hold on to a struggling Jana.
Hercules: Ixion, don't!
Ixion: But he's hurting Jana!
Hercules: No. You let me take care of it.
By now, most of the camp has awakened and gathered around. Hercules turns
back to Jana and Broteas.
Hercules: Turn her loose.
Broteas stares defiantly at Hercules, who looks back at him implacably,
unmoving. After a moment, he grudgingly shoves Jana away. She stumbles a
few steps; Teles catches her, holding her upper arms.
Broteas: Let's hear her explain what she was doing going through my things.
Jana: (glaring at Broteas) I was looking for the chalice.
Hercules: Did you take it?
Broteas: I'm no thief.
Tiresias comes up next to Hercules.
Jana: Check his bag!
Hercules: (mildly) How about it, Broteas?
Broteas: I don't have to show you anything, but if it'll prove my
point...
He picks up the bag, opens the flap and upends it. Several small items -
a waterskin, some things wrapped in cloth - fall out and land on the
ground at his feet. Jana stares in dismay at the things, then lifts
scared eyes to Hercules.
Broteas: Satisfied?
Tiresias: I sense trouble.
Broteas: When we reach the next shrine to Hera, we're going to purify
this lying, thieving little tramp by fire.
Hercules strides up and pulls Jana from Teles' grasp.
Hercules: You're not sacrificing anybody.
Hercules leads Jana over by Ixion. Broteas comes up behind him and puts a
hand on his shoulder, gripping a handful of his shirt, as if to stop him.
Broteas: You don't decide that.
Hercules turns slowly.
Hercules: As a matter of fact, I do.
The look in Broteas' eyes is somewhat cowed as he releases Hercules'
shirt and backs away. He keeps up something of a tough look, as if for
appearances' sake.
Hercules: (louder) Any arguments?
Odeon, who had been standing behind Broteas, takes a couple of steps
back. The crowd is silent.
Hercules: Good. Now try to get some sleep. You'll need it when we cross
the swamp tomorrow.
With that, he turns and walks away. Tiresias follows him. Broteas remains
where he is, looking thoughtful.
Cut to Broteas walking back to his sleeping area. He sits down, setting
the bag down next to him. Then he leans back, pulling a blanket away from
the side of a rock, and picks up the chalice. He admires it for several
moments before putting it in his bag and securing the latches.
Cut to the sun, high and distant through the treetops, the next day. The
camera pans down slowly over ferns and fronded plants, accompanied by the
sound of squelching boots. Cut to a leafy bush, behind which we can see
movement. Hercules appears, walking forward. He pauses. The camera pans
down the line; next to Hercules are Broteas, Odeon, and some of the other
pilgrims.
Hercules: Be careful, everyone. Watch where you walk.
Cut to a view of a misty wooded area, with dead vines interlaced in the
foreground.
Hercules: The Stymphalian swamps are full of danger. There's sand pits
everywhere.
Cut back to the pilgrims, who look nervously at each other and then step
forward. As they walk along, the dog from the city appears in the
underbrush and watches them. Cut to Hercules and another pilgrim, who are
walking along when they hear a scream. They turn around to see a woman
caught in a sand pit, already sunk to her waist.
Hesame: SAVE ME! AHH! I'm sinking!
Hercules races back to the pit and grabs the woman's hands. He quickly
pulls her out of the sand pit; she stumbles against him for a moment.
Hercules: You okay?
Hesame: Yes, thank you.
She rushes into the arms of Ephadon. Hercules glances around at the rest
of the group, who have momentarily stopped.
Hercules: No harm done. Just... watch your step, everybody.
As he falls back into line, Broteas comes in behind him, with Jana after
him. They glance at the pit before continuing.
The pilgrims emerge from the trees into a bright clearing. An odd
screeching noise can be heard, as if from a bird. Hercules, at the head
of the group, pauses, causing the rest to stop as well.
Ephadon: What's that noise? What is it?
Tiresias: You don't wanna know!
Cut to a view of the sky. A leather-winged avian creature appears from
above the treetops, suddenly angling its flight path towards the
pilgrims.
Hercules: Everybody to the trees! RUN!
He takes off for the opposite side of the clearing, the rest of the
pilgrims behind him, but Jana stays on the other side, clutching a tree
trunk. Hercules turns, staying where he is to help the other pilgrims
along.
Hercules: Get in! Hurry up!
Ixion, caught in the rush, is knocked off of his feet and rolls to the
ground. Cut back to Hercules. Broteas runs into him headfirst, and when
Hercules moves to help him straighten up, the demigod's hands rest
momentarily on Broteas' satchel.
Broteas: Get your hands off!
He pushes the flap of the satchel down hard. Hercules doesn't miss this.
His gaze rests on Broteas' suddenly uneasy expression. Cut to Ixion,
still on the ground and paralyzed with fear of the huge bird. Cut to
Jana, who sees him down.
Jana: IXION!
She abandons her tree and runs out to him. The Stymphalian Bird hovers
over the pair ominously before going into a dive toward its prey.
* * *
Part Four:
Jana and Ixion are staring at the Stymphalian Bird, which continues to
hover menacingly over them. Hercules, seeing this, breaks off his
staredown with Broteas and runs out into the clearing. Broteas looks
distinctly worried as he steps back.
Hercules runs out to Jana and Ixion, grabbing them out of the way just as
the bird dives on them. Cut to two of the pilgrims, watching wide-eyed.
Cut to the clearing. Hercules sets Jana and Ixion by the tree she was
standing next to earlier.
Hercules: You all right?
Jana nods, her eyes still on the bird and one arm around Ixion.
Hercules: You stay here.
He runs back out again.
Cut to the pilgrims. Broteas approaches one of his followers.
Broteas: Hercules is gonna get us all killed!
Teles: Then take us to Calydon yourself!
Broteas: Forget Calydon! This bird's a sign from the gods, telling us to
stay away! Let's get out of here!
As he speaks, the dog from the city noses through the underbrush to watch
them.
Ephadon: It's coming back!
Broteas: G-get out of my way! Move!
Broteas pushes through the crowd and takes off at a run. The dog lopes
after him, nipping at a heel. Broteas goes over in a tumble, and the
chalice falls out of his satchel. The pilgrims gather around, astonished
at this. The dog barks at Broteas.
Man #6: Look! Look, Broteas has the chalice!
Broteas picks up the chalice, holding it close.
Broteas: You don't understand! I did it for all of us! I thought the
chalice would bring us happiness.
The dog growls. The pilgrims glare. They're not buying it.
Cut to the clearing. Hercules is trying to distract the Stymphalian Bird,
which has folded its wings and landed, from Jana and Ixion.
Hercules: HERE! Over here! Come and get me!
He waves his arms at it. The bird cants an eye at Jana and Ixion, then at
Hercules. Jana gives a small gasp and runs.
Hercules: No! I'm the one you want, over here!
But the bird has been distracted by Jana and Ixion's flight. It starts
walking after them. Hercules runs after it. Finding himself in a tangle
of trees, he pauses to look around, but sees nothing, only hearing the
bird's scream. Then he hears a human scream.
Jana: Hercules, help!
He runs toward the sound of her voice. Jana and Ixion have fallen into a
sand pit.
Jana: We're in a sinkhole!
Cut to a closer shot of Jana and Ixion. Ixion is behind her, and they are
both a little above waist deep, but don't appear to be sinking rapidly.
Hercules: Hang on. I'll get you out.
Hercules starts towards them. Suddenly the bird appears, stepping between
Hercules and the sand pit. It shrieks at Hercules before turning towards
Jana and Ixion.
Ixion: Jana, I'm scared.
Jana: Hold tight, don't let go of me.
He puts his arms around her shoulders. The bird approaches them, still
roaring and screeching. They try to move, but seem to be firmly stuck in
the sand. Hercules runs toward the pit. The bird suddenly begins to slide
backward. Jana and Ixion watch in amazement as Hercules drags the bird
back by its long, reptilian tail; suddenly, he loses his grip and falls
back against a tree. As the bird comes at him, he picks up a good-sized
stick and swings it at the bird's face. One good crack makes it squeal in
pain; then it bites at the stick, snapping it in two. Cut to Jana and
Ixion, who are slowly sinking.
Jana: Hercules!
Hercules darts underneath the bird's neck and grabs a rock, which he
flings at the bird's eyes. The bird retreats. Hercules runs back to the
sand pit. Jana and Ixion continue to sink.
Jana: Hurry!
Hercules looks around, finds a convenient vine hanging from a nearby
tree, and yanks it free of its roots.
Hercules: Here, grab hold.
He tosses one end out to them. Jana grabs it, hanging on tightly. Hercules
starts to tug them out of the sand pit. Suddenly, he is grabbed by one
foot and tugged backwards: the Stymphalian Bird is dragging him with its
beak. He inadvertently lets go of the vine as he is pulled along the
muddy ground. Jana keeps pulling on the rope. Hercules gives the bird a
hearty kick to the underside of its jaw, and it lets go of him with a
squeal. He then runs back to the pit, managing to grab hold of the end of
the vine before Jana pulls it into the sand. Looking around for a moment,
Hercules runs over to a nearby tree and starts to tie the vine around it.
He fends off another attack from the bird with a kick to the jaw, then a
solid backhand. Done tying the vine, he runs back to the bird and grabs
its head. The vine, meanwhile, starts to break. Hercules holds the bird
in a headlock. Jana holds on to the vine.
Hercules: Hurry! I don't know how long I can hold on to this thing!
The vine stretches further. The bird breaks free of the headlock, flinging
Hercules away. He stumbles around, seeing a tree with an oddly shaped
branch, looped around in a semi-circle. Looking back just in time to
dodge a hit from the bird's beak, he then runs toward the tree and dives
through the curved branch. The bird follows him, its head going through
the branch as well. It start tugging on the branch frantically to try and
free itself.
Hercules looks back at the sand pit. Jana is still trying to pull herself
and Ixion free. Suddenly the vine breaks. She and Ixion are now neck-deep
in the sand. Hercules runs up to the pit. Taking what's left of the vine,
he ties it around his waist as the sand begins to close over the heads of
Jana and Ixion. Just then, the Stymphalian Bird breaks free of its
temporary prison. Hercules turns to see this, then looks back at the spot
where Jana and Ixion have almost completely disappeared from view; her ha
nd is sticking up from the sand. The bird turns to Hercules, roaring. He
looks around, climbs up on a rock and bends down a tree branch as the
bird comes toward him again. When it's in close enough range, he lets the
branch go. It whacks the bird away, knocking it into another nearby sand
pit. The bird flails helplessly, but cannot free itself.
Jana and Ixion have all but disappeared beneath the sand. Hercules turns
back to them and dives in after them. Meanwhile, the Stymphalian Bird
sinks beneath the sand in its own pit, its wings flapping desperately.
After a few moments, Hercules reappears, pulling himself up on the vine,
Jana and Ixion on his back. Jana is coughing, and they all have sand all
over them. He glances over at the other pit, where the bird has
disappeared.
Cut to Hercules walking back to the clearing, his arm around Ixion, with
Jana on Ixion's other side. They are dirty, but unharmed. As they see the
pilgrims, Hercules overhears the sounds of an argument.
Man #7: Broteas has the chalice.
Cut to the group, where Broteas is still on the ground.
Woman #6: He's got the chalice!
Teles: You brought the curse down on us.
Man #8: It was him all along!
Teles: People died!
Broteas: I didn't know the chalice was cursed!
Man #9: He brought the curse on us!
Broteas: I wanted to sell it!
The pilgrims start to close in around him.
Broteas: (desperately) Make enough money for us to build our own city!
Ephadon: You're lying! We'd still be in that ghost town if you had your
own way. And you'd be off living like a king.
Odeon: You believe in sacrifice, don't you, Broteas?
Odeon draws his knife.
Odeon: We'll sacrifice you!
Pilgrims: Yeah, kill him! Kill him!
The dog barks her approval. The group closes in on Broteas, grabbing him.
Hercules wades into the fray and pushes them away from Broteas.
Hercules: NO! No sacrifices.
Odeon: But he's a greedy pig! He deserves to die!
One last man lets go of Broteas, giving him a shove. Tiresias is
listening to the proceedings with interest.
Hercules: Let him live like an idiot. It's worse than to have him die
like a dog.
Hercules takes the chalice out of Broteas' hands.
Hercules: May I?
Broteas: What are you gonna do?!
Hercules: You want your chalice, Broteas? Then chase it.
He hauls back and heaves the chalice into the air.
Broteas: NO!
The chalice goes flying into the stratosphere, disappearing in the
distance. Broteas dashes after it, wailing.
Tiresias: I see... wet feet on an endless journey. (shrugs) He deserves
it, heh heh. (shouting after Broteas) Greed'll getcha! Greed'll getcha!
(laughs)
Hercules: (to the pilgrims) Come on. Let's go to Calydon.
Tiresias, still laughing, starts to walk in the wrong direction. He bumps
into Ephadon, who gently turns him around.
* * *
Tag:
The pilgrims, standing on a grassy rise, see the towers and spires of
Calydon in the distance. Hercules smiles to see it. Tiresias makes his
way through the group to stand beside Hercules.
Tiresias: How's it look?
Hercules: Exactly the way it should. How's the future look?
Tiresias: Exactly the way it should. No more curses.
Hercules: I'll bet that breaks your heart.
Tiresias: Ah, haha! People still gonna suffer.
Around them, the pilgrims begin to move on.
Tiresias: I see a sandstorm approaching Thrace! No, no, it's not sand,
it's locusts!
Jana and Ixion come up to Hercules. Hercules puts his hands on Ixion's
shoulders as the boy gazes at the city.
Hercules: This is where life starts all over for you. New people, fresh
chances.
Jana: I'm ready for it.
Ixion glances at her, then grabs Hercules' hand.
Ixion: Come on, we'll be the first ones there!
He starts tugging Hercules forward. Hercules laughs and stays where he
is.
Hercules: You can, Ixion. You and Jana. This is the end of your journey.
But it's not the end of mine.
Jana: Well, I wish it was.
Hercules: Ah, I'm afraid I have too many places to go, still.
Tiresias: Some ________ are good.
Hercules: Well, I'll try to make them better. (to Ixion) You take care
of her. I'm counting on you.
Ixion straightens up, aware of this new responsibility.
Ixion: I won't let you down.
Jana: Well, if you decide to return...
She leans up and kisses him on the cheek, and with that, she and Ixion
head off. He puts his hands on his hips and watches them go. Two of the
women are in the rear of the line, and suddenly they pause.
Leda: Wait.
They look back, smiling and waving to Jana and Ixion, welcoming the two
into their company.
Leda: Come, Jana. Let's go to our new home.
Hercules looks satisfied as he watches them go.
Cut to Hercules and Tiresias, walking down a gently sloped hill.
Hercules: Could have given Calydon a chance.
Tiresias: Oh, more fun with you. More danger.
Hercules: Thanks for the compliment, I think.
Tiresias: You're welcome. Wait!
They pause at this.
Tiresias: I sense something. Something hairy, w-with a tail, and-and
breath so bad, it can wilt flowers!
Hercules: Not another monster.
He glances ahead of them, speaking in a chagrined tone.
Hercules: Oh, no.
Tiresias: Wh-what is it? N-not another one of those fire-breathing
things. Ten times worse than the swamp bird!
Hercules: (smiling) You better have another vision.
From beneath an old, fallen tree appears the dog that had followed the
pilgrims.
Hercules: It's the dog from Parthas.
Tiresias: (laughing) Not the one who was a woman? (laughs) Here girl,
here, here, here! Here, come, come, come!
He squats, waving the dog over. The dog comes running up to him with a
bark, allowing herself to be petted.
Tiresias: You're off the hook, Hercules.
Hercules: I know. You just got a new traveling companion.
Tiresias: How'd you figure that out?
Hercules: Easy. She's cursed. And I'm not.
He rests a hand on Tiresias' shoulder and then begins to walk away.
Tiresias: (laughing) Nobody's perfect.
He continues to scratch the dog's head and laugh.