The Legend of Hercules

Archers, hold!

King Galenus of Argos!

Show yourself!

My sword against yours.

Victor takes all!

This city, or mine,

this army, riches...

subjects, all! Not another

soldier will die!

And I could do to

replenish my ranks.

What say you, most brave

and merciful king of Argos?

Will you spare these men?

King Amphitryon,

I accept your challenge.

Prepare to die.

Amphitryon! Amphitryon! Amphitryon!

The campaign ends here, for now.

Chiron told me you took Egypt

because they attacked our ships.

That's right.

But Argos, our neighbor,

they presented no threat.

I see Chiron has been

expanding your Curriculum.

I do not need a tutor to

tell me when there's peace.

I took Argos for you.

For me? You took

Argos for its gold.

Yes. That, too.

But I'm told they're obsessed with

the gods here, just like you.

You know, if they had as many

soldiers as they have priests...

it would be my body

on the pyre tonight.

You summoned me, Majesty?

How is Prince Iphicles tonight?

What will you teach him, Chiron?

- Will you teach him war?

- It cannot be ignored, Majesty.

History is but a chronicle of war.

And war is but a

chronicle of grief...

recounted in the tears

of young men's Mothers.

Sometimes, Majesty...

I question who between us is

the tutor and who is student.

In my own vanity, I thought

I could bring Tenderness...

to a man whose craving for

power is sated by nothing...

and only grows with each victory.

No god's wrath could

bring the anguish...

that my king has beset

upon this land.

And so I prostrate myself

before you, Goddess.

Deliver us from this curse.

Help my people.

Majesty!

Hera accepts your gift.

Goddess Hera?

Queen Alcmene... approach.

Majesty, no!

Closer. Let me look upon you.

You will have your deliverer.

Another son you shall bear.

No. Please not by this man.

Please, Goddess...

Tell me, would you

betray your king...

as my king betrays me

in his lust for you?

Would you have his mortal

son to quell your sorrow...

and bring peace to this land?

Would you bear the son of Zeus?

For the sake of peace, I would.

Then, for the sake of

peace, I shall permit it.

Name him what you wish, but

I shall know him as "Hercules".

Hercules

Where is he?

Who is he?

Who is this man you spurn me

for night after night? Who?

- Please, Majesty!

- Where is he?

My king!

Intruder! Search the camp!

Find him! Find him!

- Speak.

- It's a boy, Sire.

A fine, large boy.

His name will be Alcides...

and he will never be an

equal to his older brother.

Hercules.

Your name shall be Hercules.

Be careful, there are

snakes in the trees!

- I didn't know you fear them!

- Watch out!

So, what else do you fear?

I fear but one thing.

I always have.

Your departure, each

and every time.

Is this another private hideaway?

You just wait.

I think you'll like it.

Alcides!

Stop!

Alcides!

Lose something?

You made me nearly

faint with fright!

Come. Come here.

I like your necklace.

My mother once gave this as a

parting gift to my father.

And though she's

with the gods now...

I want you to have it.

It's only stone...

but I wish it were gold.

I wish there were a substance finer

than that to have

you remember me by.

There is.

My mind's eye.

Where your face has

been etched since

the day I first saw you.

Careful. Your horse could

have lost its footing.

You be careful... brother.

Princess, your father is worried.

A search party was dispatched.

It's lucky you knew

where to find us.

Yes. Though I'd rather it had

been some other man's luck.

Princess, you rode out

without saying a word.

And what word would

have permitted me to?

And what word would

have permitted me to?

There is a feast tonight

and she must not be late.

- Yes, my Prince.

- No, brother.

You ride with me.

We'll see each other tonight.

Saw your hoof marks in the forest.

Tell me, what would you have done if

she'd been thrown and broken her neck?

I thought you knew her better.

More likely I would break my neck.

I saw more than hoof marks today.

- Did you?

- Watch yourself!

I've known her just as long as you

have, and with a more mature eye!

I'm older than you, Alcides,

and heir to the throne!

Let's back away slowly.

Don't turn your horse.

No, let's escape. Your

horse can outrun it.

Yours wouldn't.

What are you doing?

- Now, back your horse behind me.

- Oh, yes, of course.

And what a tale of bravery the next king

of Tiryns will have to tell tonight.

Iphicles! The point of this was

for one of us to get away.

- A Nemean lion.

- A man eater! They can't be killed!

Our spears are useless!

Alcides!

Iphicles. Where have you been?

What is that thing? Take it off.

Why, it appears to be the

skin of the Nemean lion!

The lion, which I killed

but two hours ago.

Look, this is where it struck.

You see, Father?

- But I'm all right. No cut to the eye.

- Where was your brother in this contest?

Alcides?

He ran away at the

first sign of danger.

Have you ever known my

brother flee danger?

Have you, Princess?

No. Never.

Well... I thought you knew

him better than that.

Tell them. Father.

So it has a chance to sink into

some of the thicker heads here.

My friend, King Tallas the

Brave, ruler or Crete...

we have enjoyed free commerce

between our lands...

tonight we make a bargain

for something far greater.

The peace between our houses will

be sealed four moons hence...

Rate this script:2.0 / 6 votes