Original subtitles

(iolaus singing indiscernibly)

whoo! the echoing woods!

(both laughing)

you're not excited about this festival, are you?

what's not to get excited about?

beautiful women, games, wine-tasting,

beautiful women, great food, beautiful women...

yeah. will electra be there? maybe.

maybe that's why you're singing.

off key, i might add.

wait a second, i was not singing...

bandit: hand over your money! we have no money. we're travelers.

(man grunting)

everywhere we go. it's amazing, isn't it?

(bandits chuckling)

is there a problem here?

no, we’re just having a little discussion.

oh, see, we love discussions.

(men grunting)

so what next?

thermopylae. oh, no.

one...

two...

three!

let's get out of here. come on! run!

they're like a two-man army!

still works. yeah, if you're 18.

(chuckling)

don't worry. they won’t bother you anymore.

lahti and i can't thank you enough.

lahti: we're on our way to kastus.

if we’d known the road was full of bandits,

we would have paid for escorts.

well, how about if i escort you there?

yeah, we'll do it for free.

we? i thought you were in a hurry to get to the festival?

well, yeah, but...

no, iolaus, i can walk them both there.

okay.

hey! i'll catch up with you later.

you... sure. yeah, okay!

he loves festivals. shall we go?

great hera, as your special day approaches,

i appeal to you.

the people of kastus and i have served you well.

but since my son's death,

we have lost our former honor and glory.

help restore us to our previous power

that we may serve you better.

please show us a sign that we may know what you have in store for us.

(wind howling)

(laughing)

queen parnassa...

lonius, our prayers are answered.

hera is sending someone to restore our kingdom to its former glories.

who, my lady?

a warrior without equal.

one who will make our kingdom invincible.

please, my lady. his name.

hercules.

it's awfully nice of you to accompany styros and me to kastus.

my pleasure.

we've worked too long and hard

to give up our life's savings to bandits.

you know, we've thanked you,

but we haven't even learned your name.

whoa!

(humming)

(tree crackling) look out!

(grunting)

it's stone!

that's quite a knock you took there. are you all right?

well, i'll be fine once my head stops pounding.

(grunting) thanks for your help.

that's twice you've saved our lives.

and we still don't know your name.

neither do i.

narrator: this is the story of a time long ago,

a time of myth and legend,

when the ancient gods were petty and cruel

and they plagued mankind with suffering.

only one man dared to challenge their power.

hercules.

hercules possessed a strength the world had never seen,

a strength surpassed only by the power of his heart.

he journeyed the earth, battling the minions of his wicked stepmother, hera,

the all-powerful queen of the gods.

but wherever there was evil,

wherever an innocent would suffer,

there would be hercules.

(screeching)

(growling)

(roaring)

(all cheering)

(wincing)

lahti: this may not help you remember your name,

but it should keep the swelling down.

styros: we'd better get going, lahti.

we must make kastus by sundown.

kastus? ring a bell?

(sighing) no.

(people chattering)

my lady, i can't see how this can possibly work.

doesn't hera want hercules dead?

this is better than dead.

to lose his memory, his identity,

and the rest of his days serving his stepmother.

but even if she does rob hercules of his memory,

the people of kastus still have theirs.

they won't believe he's their long-lost prince.

why not?

prince milius has been gone from us for five years.

we've kept his death from them for half that time.

they want to believe he's alive.

don't you see?

these people don't care who leads them.

they just want to be led.

perhaps, but there's always a few...

well, it will be your job to keep the streets free of doubters.

all we need is three days.

if we can convince hercules that he is prince milius,

and get him to pledge his loyalty to hera on equinox day,

he’ll be hers, and ours, forever.

now, that's insane. we'll never get away with it.

the soldiers know what milius looks like.

soldiers follow orders.

and the townspeople?

live in fear of the soldiers.

how often did they ever get to see their prince, anyway?

yeah, but this hercules, i can't see how...

well, you'd better see!

unless you want to incur the wrath of your queen,

or hera, it would be smart to cooperate.

sir! travelers approaching!

just as parnassa said.

garas, get ready to meet your new prince.

you don't remember any of your past?

no. all i can see are blank faces.

styros, what about that cute little man he was traveling with?

i was traveling with a cute little man?

blond, blue-eyed. said he was going to a festival.

don't you remember his name?

milius! prince milius!

by the gods, you're alive.

our prince has come back to us!

excuse me?

my lord.

(laughing) my friend.

i can't believe that you've survived all these years.

welcome back, sire.

you know this man?

fool, this is prince milius, returned to us from the war

by the mercy of the gods.

no, no... please, please.

i'm sorry, but i don't know what you're talking about.

oh, garas, he doesn't remember us.

it must be shock.

a war wound.

oh, come, my prince.

you're in safe hands now.

where are we going?

(chuckles) your castle. your kingdom, huh?

so i'm a prince?

(chuckles) (sighs)

this way, sire. come along now.

i knew he was royalty.

i could tell by the way he handled himself.

oh. hmm.

sire...

(laughing) milius!

my son!

thank hera!

you're my mother?

he's lost his memory, my queen.

undoubtedly from the war.

well, that doesn't matter. the important thing is you're safe.

you're memory will return in time.

and your wife can help in that area.

wife?

milius!

oh! i thought you'd never return.

(stuttering) i'm sorry, i...

is something wrong?

he can't remember anything, kirin.

something to do with the war.

he'll need your help.

yes. we have a lot of catching up to do, then.

your sons can't wait to see you.

sons?

boys...

go give your father a hug.

they seem a little uncomfortable.

they don't remember you.

macareus was only two when you left, and i was carrying protos.

why don't you two guys show me your toys.

okay. okay.

(laughs)

that broke the ice.

(people chattering excitedly)

here you go. i've got it, thanks.

iolaus! good to see you! where is hercules?

oh, you know, off being heroic,

creating the stuff that legends are made of.

he'll be along soon.

i hope so. the festival wouldn't be the same without him.

(sighing) yeah. looking for electra?

no. is she here?

yeah. and she's looking for you. really?

she wants you to meet her cousin.

whoa, whoa! two against one!

okay, i give up. (children giggling)

i give up. hey, hey... watch it! hey, you little...

kirin: boys! it's time for bed.

oh! (boys groaning)

now, kiss your father good night and go wash up.

good night, father. good night.

good night, father. good night, boys. sweet dreams.

protos: goodnight, mom. i'll be in in a minute.

along with everything else,

i'd forgotten how much i missed my family.

you're very good with them.

they're good kids.

well, they should be. they're your sons.

yeah.

is anything coming back?

(stuttering)

i won't lie to you. i have...

i have this sense. you know, all this feels...

good, and warm and natural, but every time i think back...

all i can see are blank faces.

(sighing)

there's no rush. it'll all come back.

oh!

we have plenty of time.

yeah.

your move.

thank you, my queen.

it's working, lonius. i can feel it.

when the sun strikes the hera stone on equinox day,

and hercules pledges his loyalty, he’ll do whatever we want.

with a leader like hercules,

gorgos would be ours for the taking.

forget gorgos! we'd rule the peninsula within a year.

my lady...

may i have a word? in private?

what is it? you iook troubled.

i can't go through with this.

why? does hercules suspect something?

no, nothing.

it's just that he's...

nice. decent.

it's not fair.

and was it fair that milius was taken from us,

of the eve of kastus' greatest victory?

no, but i sense in hercules a...

a longing for his own family.

to make him live this lie.

i'd worry about your own children.

what are you saying? you wouldn't...

it's a big castle, kirin. accident's can happen.

(chickens clucking)

hercules: lonius, i appreciate your arranging this tour for me,

but do we really need all these bodyguards?

one can never be too cautious, my lord.

you have many enemies in the neighboring kingdom of gorgos.

why is that?

uh, it's very complicated.

betrayal, revenge.

it goes back generations.

i'm still not comfortable with these clothes,

or people bowing down to me.

(chuckling) i'm sure it will grow on you, my lord,

as your memory comes back.

hey! i know that man!

come, my lord.

and he's not our prince! i saw him in corinth once. that's...

(grunting)

why did he say that?

five years is a long time, my lord.

you know, you look different now. so do we all, huh?

you! you remember prince milius, don't you?

uh, i'm not sure.

you're not?

i mean, of course i do. it's just that... without his beard.

my lord.

no, no. please, please. stand.

this way, my lord.

i think we can get through here.

ah, damn. these alleys all look the same.

(men grunting)

just like old times, huh?

after them! don't let them get away!

yes, sir.

what was that all about?

come on. i recognized one of them.

they were sent from gorgos to assassinate you.

let's get back to the palace.

why so glum, iolaus? you should be enjoying yourself.

hercules should have been here by now.

(chuckles) you're worried about hercules?

if he can't take care of himself, who can?

i guess. yeah.

come on, you’re judging the grape-picking race.

oh, i don't think so... electra is in it.

okay, uh... when i start banging the drum,

you all start picking the grapes. women: all right.

first one to the end wins. everybody ready?

woman 1: i'm ready! woman 2: yes!

you ready? (giggles)

go!

(people cheering)

come on, electra! show them how it's done!

come on, woman. my money is on you!

a kiss to the winner!

you're going to win.

(laughing) and the winner is...

so how did our little ruse work?

it almost didn't.

this hercules is better than they say he is.

we're lucky we didn't lose anyone.

but now he considers gorgos his enemy.

oh, yes. good.

with a prince who can lead his soldiers by example,

all the other provinces will fall like dominoes.

okay, everybody ready for the grape-crushing competition?

all: ready!

on your marks, get set...

crush!

(all cheering)

(giggling)

man: hey, iolaus! how are you?

woman: come here, sweety! (grunting)

(gasping)

(laughing)

tell me something.

how did we meet?

it might help me to remember.

well, um...

one day i was in a field picking flowers,

and, uh...

i looked up and there you were, staring down at me.

you said that there was, uh...

that you had never seen anything more beautiful than those flowers.

(laughs)

i was shocked that a prince could talk to a commoner like that.

there's nothing common about you.

oh...

you sent me flowers every day during our courtship.

dozens of them.

you even scattered flower petals on our bed on our wedding night.

is any of this coming back to you?

uh...

i get these glimpses, but...

i still can't see any faces.

(sighs)

maybe this will help.

uh...

kirin, you're very attractive...

and i feel you're a good person, but...

uh, see, i'd rather wait until i get my memory back.

can you understand that?

of course.

(both sigh)

(panting)

and the winner of the grape-crushing competition...

iolaus, you’ll never believe what this crazy old coot told me.

he said he saw hercules dressed as a prince.

i'm telling you, it was him, plain as day.

i met him in corinth years ago,

and i know hercules when i see him.

you saw hercules? yeah.

where? in kastus, in royal robes, no less.

and not enjoying it very much if you ask my opinion.

they tried to shut me up, but they don't scare me.

(children chuckling)

hercules: aeson, come here. ilea:.

oh, no, let's talk to you rmother first.

deianeira: i love you.

(gasping)

are you okay? shh.

i... i had a strange dream.

dream about what?

i... nothing, nothing.

i think i'll take a walk. maybe it will clear my head.

(people chattering)

sire... no, don't.

excuse me. no, don't.

do you... do you recognize me?

no, my lord, but i really didn't see much of you

before you went off to the war.

man: it's not our place to mix with the likes of royalty.

(chuckling)

but you do you remember seeing me before the war?

do i look the same?

no, but you had a beard then.

prince milius!

(sighing)

(chuckling) we were looking all over for you, my lord.

you had the queen and your wife worried.

well, i thought i might take a little unguided tour.

not a wise choice without a bodyguard.

you never know when your enemies may strike again.

let's have a drink. there's a tavern up ahead.

you really must be more careful.

hey, excuse me. have you seen a big guy...

this is the place, my lord. ah.

hey, hey, hey, hey!

you told me you saw hercules dressed like a prince.

now, i've been searching for him everywhere,

and i still can't find him!

have you tried the palace?

(mimicking) "have you tried the palace?"

the palace! come on, iolaus, get a brain!

ooh!

off limits. royalty inside.

that's no royalty. that's hercules.

i met him in corinth once.

oh!

hey! what's going on here?

stay out of this. yeah...

(men grunting)

oh, about time you showed up.

(stuttering) what's with the clothes?

i think the little guy knows him.

i was afraid of this, my lord.

i think we have another assassin.

why is he purple?

insanity? a birth defect. who knows?

but i think you should get rid of him once and for all.

kill him, my lord. he's your enemy.

this doesn't feel right.

escort this man to the border, unharmed.

it's a gesture of peace.

but my lord!

he was sent from gorgos to assassinate you.

you heard my wishes.

do as your prince commands. guard: yes, sir.

have them take him down an alley,

and when he's out of sight, have them kill him.

hmm.

guard: the streets are empty here. this is as good a place as any.

(men grunting)

what is it now, lonius?

i'm not so sure your prince will lead us into battle after all.

if you're still worried about the people of kastus

accepting him as their prince, then don't.

after the ceremony it won't make any difference.

oh, we have bigger problems than that.

what, he regained his memory?

huh! worse.

instead of invading gorgos, your prince hercules wants to make peace.

we just need one more day.

once hercules vows his allegiance to hera,

it won't matter what he thinks.

he'll be under her spell and do whatever she commands.

lonius: the thin firing slots and the armor make it almost impossible

for spears and arrows to penetrate.

who thinks up these things?

ingenious, isn't it?

a combination of levers and pulleys can fire a spear through a house.

fire!

(chuckling) impressive, huh?

i still don't understand why you want to do this.

(horses whinnying)

something is wrong with the horses!

what are you idiots doing?

get back here!

psst!

what are you doing here?

trying to figure out what's going on.

why did you hit me before?

you were trying to hurt my friend.

i'm your friend.

why are you purple?

what does it matter?

you really can't remember who you are?

(sighing) no. nothing.

but, that's crazy! you're hercules,

son of zeus, the slayer of the minotaur, the hydra!

sorry, but that doesn't ring a bell.

okay, okay, okay! don't panic.

uh, we've got to jog your memory. uh...

you remember the cyclops?

no. the stymphalian bird?

stymph... sorry.

(sighing) okay. typhon? echidna? salmoneus?

yeah? no.

lonius: come on, come on, get out of there.

help get this fixed.

hurry up. be careful.

(sighing) i thought he was dead.

get him!

(guards yelling)

you were swallowed by a sea monster, then spat out!

then you rescued a girl from a kitten

that sounded like a monster.

(men grunting)

what about the time i got struck by lightning?

you know, you've done a lot.

and then you fought yourself when proteus was disguised as you,

only it wasn't you.

it was ugly, an ugly thing...

but your mother taught you to be polite no matter what, and so, what happened?

xanus had to come in...

oh, not again.

he's quite a storyteller.

storytellers don't look like grapes.

this guy is crazier than a harpy.

we should probably lock him up for his own good.

(man yelling)

(grunting)

man: get him out of there!

go, on. get back.

get him out of there!

you... you always were uncommonly strong, my lord.

i was?

just one more night, my dear. that's all.

what about the purple man who says he knows him?

he won't live to see the morning.

my dear kirin.

after the sun strikes the hera stone tomorrow,

you’ll be joined to one of the world's living legends.

and one day, after i'm gone,

you’ll rule as king and queen,

a throne that eventually will go to one of your sons.

if you can't do this for me or yourself,

do it for them.

the same sons you threatened to kill?

these have been stressful times,

sometimes i say things i come to regret,

but you must know i would never, ever harm my grandchildren.

(sighs)

now go. do what you must.

you've done wonders for the children.

they've really missed having a father.

i feel like there's been a lot missing out of my life, too.

these are for you.

oh, that's very sweet.

you say it as if i'd never done anything like this before.

no, it's just that he...

i mean, you were never so...

so kind and gentle before...

the war...

the war must have changed you.

how could i have ever treated you differently?

i think i'm falling in love with you...

all over again.

i still can't recall our past,

but the way i feel about you...

i don't think i can wait until i do.

then don't.

don't wait.

i could get in a lot of trouble for this, my lady.

don't be insolent.

(kirin gasps)

who are you? i'm princess kirin, milius' wife.

why are you purple?

i like it. what do you want?

i want to know about your friend.

hercules? why?

because i'm in love with him, and i think he's in love with me.

oh, great.

kirin: (screaming) guard! please, come!

put down your sword and open the door.

okay, back, back, back, back, back.

don't make a sound or i'll kill her.

what is going on here?

you behave, or your princess dies.

who cares?

you pig!

(men grunting) swine!

come on!

he's gone.

they must already be preparing him for the vows of allegiance.

will hera's priests be attending the ceremony?

of course.

okay, here's what we're going to do.

i'm proud of you, my son.

you've memorized your pledge?

yes, mother.

my queen, purple man has escaped.

let's not take any chances.

close off the ceremony to all outsiders.

let the ceremony begin.

we gather once more to pledge our loyalty to hera,

our patron goddess.

and to thank her for delivering our prince milius back to us.

today, my son will show his gratitude

by vowing his allegiance to hera,

asking for her guidance as he leads us in battle,

that we may vanquish our enemies.

my prince...

on this,

the first day of the autumnal equinox,

i vow my allegiance to...

i vow my allegiance to...

hercules, don't. remember deianeira! deianeira?

your real wife! and aeson, klonus and llea.

your children.

my children?

parnassa: you see, it's too late!

hera!

kill him! kill them all!

(men grunting)

thermopylae! what?

one...

two...

three!

still works!

(grunting)

this is for the tavern. and this is for the field.

this is just on principle, friend.

you betrayed me!

(yelling)

man: the queen!

come on, with me!

the queen is dead. put down your weapons!

as your prince, i command you!

(weapons clanging)

hercules, are you really back?

yes, i am, iolaus.

and you know what?

you look good in purple.

hercules! wait! wait for us!

(chuckling)

now, you two listen to your mother.

she's the new queen, and good princes obey their queen, don't they?

come on, give me a hug.

macareus: goodbye, hercules. protos: i don't want you to go.

i'll miss you.

both: bye. bye.

and we'll miss you.

i'm sorry this can't end differently.

it could, if you wanted it to.

no.

you know what i do.

what my life is about.

no, i know...

and i could never keep you from your destiny.

the world needs you too much.

will you come back this way again?

i'll come back this way again.

i'll think of you always.

and i, you.

goodbye.

are you okay? hercules: yeah.