"Hey, Mister!" "I wanna buy a horseshoe." " Salmoneus!" "How are you?" " Couldn't be better." " Uh, what's the occasion?" " Do ya like it?" "I had it custom-made for twelve dinars." "Did I get a deal, or what?" "Uh, bargain." "Are you colorblind?" "Nah, not in the least." "What about the horseshoe?" " You have a horse?" " No, it's not for a horse!" "It's for good luck." "I'm on my way to Midasius." "King Midas has built the largest gambling palace this side of the Aegean!" "He built a gambling palace?" "King Midas?" "He's the one with the golden touch!" "That's too bad." "He's an old friend, and I would've thought he'd learned his lesson." " What lesson is that?" " Something you wouldn't understand." " Do you mind if I tag along with you?" " You tag along with me?" "That's a switch." "Uh, the good luck charm, huh?" " Yeah, it's still a little warm." " Yeah" " Ahh!" "Ahh!" "Ahh!" "Oh!" "Oh!" "Another year and no crops." " Nothing is planted." "Nothing will grow." " And why wasn't anything planted?" "Because your people are too busy trying to get rich at your gambling palace?" "So you blame me." "No, but your the king 'Midas the Magnificent'." " The people listen to you." " Flaxen, I can't force 'em to plant wheat when they might make a year's salary in a few hours." "Or lose a year's salary." "Father, can't you see what's happening to your people?" "They've lost respect for the land." "All they care about is money." "You seem to forget once the palace was built no one in my kingdom has starved to death even with the last drought." "I used to play in these fields when I was young." "I was hoping that someday my own children might inherit that joy." "I don't see that happening anymore." "Look!" "Somebody's in that tree!" " Someone's comin'!" " Ironheads!" "You, up there!" "Get down!" "What are you doing in this orchard!" "We were hungry!" "We haven't had anything to eat all day!" "It's better to be hungry than dead!" "That's the penalty for stealing!" "Hey, take it easy." "You're scaring them." "They're only boys." "Boys or men it makes no difference." "They're still thieves." "I don't think the owner would begrudge hungry children a couple of apples." "Pilgrim someone should learn you the laws of the land." "I'll hang back in reserve, just in case you need me." "The first law, is, 'Mind your own business.'" "Yeah!" "Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?" " Wow!" "That was something!" " You're gonna be in real trouble, now." "Why is that?" "Nobody gets away with attacking King Midas' ironheads." "Midas?" "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 wicked stepmother, Hera, the all-powerful queen of the gods." "But wherever there was evil, wherever an innocent would suffer, there would be Hercules." "Come on, boys." "We're walkin' you home." "What home?" "We lost that when Mom died." " And then the ironheads killed our dad." " They killed your father?" " Why?" " He was stealing food for us." "How long have these ironheads been working for King Midas?" "Since he opened 'The Golden Touch'." "Thanks for the apples." "Something's not right here, Salmoneus." "This isn't the Midas I knew." " People change." " Nah, not that much." "I mean, Midas may have been greedy and materialistic, but he was never mean or cruel." "I just can't see him hiring thugs." "I guess we'll find out when we get to Midasius, huh?" "Come on!" "Money's waiting." "Let's go." "Here we go, travellers everything from cradle to cane." "Garments, jewelry what's your pleasure?" "Or, uh, are you selling something?" "No, I'm looking for the old Midasius." "This used to be a thriving marketplace." "What happened to the rest of the shopkeepers." "They're all up at the gambling palace either working for it, gambling at it, or oweing it money." "Well, you seem to be doing all right for yourself, huh?" "I found a nice little niche." "I lend people money for their worldly goods." " So they can gamble at the palace." " Exactly." "And then when they can't afford to pay," "I sell them off at a cut-rate price." " That's very creative, actually." " It's called a pawnshop." "I've seen them before, in the poor sections of Athens." "Ideas are cheap." "It's their proper execution that makes you a profit." "By the way, I'll give you two dinars for the blanket." "B-b-b-ah blanket?" "Excuse me, it's a sport toga!" " And I paid twelve for it!" " You were robbed!" "I'll take it off your hands for two dinars." "Later, I'll only give you one." "Aaaah!" "Do you believe that guy?" "Well, he seems like a man after your own heart." "He's got a good head for business, but no taste at all." "Step right in!" "Welcome to 'The Golden Touch Gambling Palace'!" "Where everyone has a chance to make their fortune!" "Ah!" "Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" " Hercules!" " King Midas." " What a pleasant surprise!" " Uh, yes, it is a surprise." "This is, uh, quite an operation." "But, what are you doing out here?" "Don't you have a kingdom to run?" "Oh, I am running a kingdom my new kingdom." "I bet people travel from far and wide to shake the hand of the man with the golden touch!" " Ex... golden touch." " I'm so sorry about your loss." "No, don't be." "If I still had it, you'd be a golden statue!" "And how would you get to the gambling pits, eh?" "Come on, come on!" "Let me show you the way." " By the way, where is Flaxen?" " Oh, she's-she's around." "Let me introduce you to my partners!" " Place your bets!" " Place your bets!" "I'll bet it all!" "On that one!" "Yeah!" "Be still, my heart." "Besides the gambling..." "we have performers... food..." "Ha-ha-ha-ha!" "And wine!" "Whatever he had I prefer something less spicy!" "Ooh." "All manner of competitions and entertainments something for the whole family!" "Ah, my dear." "Fill my goblet." "Hercules!" "Lotus leaf nectar doesn't that make you forget?" "Well, not everybody can win." "This helps deaden the pain of loss." "Lets losers forget they're losing, so they can gamble more." "Uh, that, too." "Ah, Thaddeus." "Would you tell my partners I'd like a moment with them?" " Sire, I have orders not to disturb." " Nonsense." "Tell them that I" " What's going on out here?" " Nothing, Segallus." "Why aren't you at your throne, shakin' hands?" "Segallus, is Voluptuer in?" "Uh, tell her I'd like to introduce her to some of my friends." " Who told you to quit your post?" " But this is Hercules!" "I don't care who it is, old man." "You don't leave unless we say." "Excuse me, but this is your king." "I think a little courtesy is in order." "It's all right, Hercules." "We... we don't stand much on formality around here." "I'll catch up with you later." "Hercules, huh?" "Wait here." "Who's working for whom?" " Friendly, isn't he?" " Extemely." "This mand claims to be Hercules." "So prove it." "Do something strong." "I don't have to prove anything." "You certainly have the self-confidence of a Hercules." "Salmoneus, the Younger." "And may I say in my vast travels," "I have never come across such a fabulous undertaking." "This is a monument to human initiative and ingenuity." "It, and you, are quite simply, marvels to behold." "Hmm, and what does the great Hercules think of our little enterprise?" "I'm not big on places that separate poor people from their money." " No one forces them to come." " The human spirit can't always be strong." "I don't appreciate those who take advantage of it when it's weak." "We clearly don't see this place in the same light." "Clearly." "Stick around, big boy." "You may change your mind after you've been here a while." "I seriously doubt it." "Um, again, my pleasure, my compliments, my best wishes, and that's a terrific dress." "Ha-ha!" "Ooh!" "What I could do with a partner like her!" "Ha-ha." "This Hercules... he could be trouble." "Maybe or maybe he could make us even more profitable." "Well, gentlemen." "It'll take gold." "Oh, I never thought I'd see anything like this in my lifetime." "Yeah, me neither." "I need to talk to Midas." "Think you can keep yourself busy for awhile?" "It'll be a challenge, but I'll try." "Ah, Miss?" "Luck, be a lady tonight." "I like your toga." "Uh, new shooter here!" "Salmoneus needs a new pair of sandals!" "Ah, Salmoneus!" "I-I once knew a Salmoneus!" " Yeah, everyone use" " Waitin' on them bones down here!" "Flax?" "Ladies and gentlemen!" "For your gambling enjoyment!" "A test of courage and skill on the tightrope!" "Red to red, blue to blue first to reach the opposite pole wins the bag of coins held by our very own palace queen Voluptua." "Of course, winning doesn't come easy." "So to make things a little more interesting" "Are you out of your mind?" "Those are children up there!" "Makes your heart beat a little faster, doesn't it?" "Begin!" " Did you get your bet down?" " Listen... even I don't bet on something like this." "It's sadistic." "Boys!" "Don't move!" "I'm coming to get you!" "Now, now, we wouldn't want to upset them." " They might lose their balance." " This is sick." "I prefer to call it entertainment." "And where else can two orphans earn this kind of money?" " Ahhhhhhhh!" " No!" "Very nice, boys, and a little added excitement, today." " You are a cold-hearted" " And you were very good." "I hadn't thought about incorporating heroics into the act." "The crowd loved it." "We could use someone like you." "Nice catch." "In case you didn't know I don't like you." "Save your anger." "Aren't you sore?" "He ruined the whole show." " You didn't hear the crowd?" " They wanted blood." "Sometimes and sometimes they want heroics." "And he is just what I want." "We need to discuss your partners." " But I'm not supposed to lea" " Now." "I can't be gone long." "Just what kind of people have you hooked up with?" "Uh, the tightrope piece." "Well, sometimes they get a little" " reckless and irresponsible, eh" " Irresponsible?" "Those boys could've been killed!" "Yes, well, they didn't tell me about adding the spikes." "I'll have to speak to them about that." "Yeah, I saw how you spoke to them earlier." "I'm sure they'll listen." "Look, it's easy for you to point fingers." "You weren't here during the last drought, when we lost a quarter of our population to starvation, or five years earler, when floods swept away a third!" " Midas, we can't control nature." " My point exactly." "But we can control this." "No more worrying about plagues, or too much water, or not enough." "It may be gambling but at least, we're in control." "Are you?" "You forget, I am still the king here." "A king should be wise enough to know when he needs help." "I'll be the judge of that." "Four hundred and ninety-eight;" "four hundred and ninety-nine;" "Fi" "I tell you he is gonna be trouble." "I'm sure it won't be anything you can't handle." "This isn't just any man;" "this is Hercules." "I'm sure there'll be a few guards out there who would love to see him get his comeuppance." "Hera." "We've been very good at making sacrifices to her." "I bet she'd be very pleased to help us get rid of Hercules permanently." "Flaxen!" "I'd like to talk to you." "About what?" "I didn't know you could..." " dance." " Dance, right." "Voluptua taught me." "She's very good at getting people to do what she wants." " I'm becoming aware of that, yes." " It's not the end of the world." " My father shakes hands, and I shake" " I get the picture." "Do you?" "My father spent the best years of his life trying to keep this kingdom solvent and at peace." "He even sold off all his gold." "And then these plunderers come in, and take everything he did, and turn it upside down." "The sad part is, is most people think he's responsible." "Uh, we can change that;" "we can show them the truth." "They don't want to know the truth." "Haven't you seen the lines at the gambling pits?" "Go back home, Hercules." "Your stirring things up will only put us in more danger." "All you can eat for a dinar and a half?" "How do they do it?" " They import their food." " Uh, no, no, I-I-I-mea-I meant the price." "They figure, anything that can keep you inside the palace will keep you gambling." "Ha-ha." "Ha-ha-ha." "Very clever." "Very clever." "Ha-ha-ha." "There's uh, there's dessert on the next table." "Ah, ah, ah, I'm on a diet." "It-it doesn't stay soft bu-ah-hard, ah, by itself." "I, ah, I gotta be going." " Who said you could come here?" " You forget." "I'm part owner of this place." "I'll do what I want." "Get out." "I was disappointed when you didn't finish your last dance." "Oh, the way you dropped the last veil gave me such pleasent dreams." "You're a pig." "Now, is that any way to talk to your future husband?" "Wake up, Segallus." "You're dreaming." "Ah!" "Ow!" "Wife or slave one way or the other I'll have you." "You don't have to do this." "Leave me alone." " Who did this to you?" " Don't get involved, please." "Who?" "Segallus." " Where's Segallus?" " Right over there." " Segallus!" " Something I can help you with?" "Someone needs to teach you respect for women." "Great!" "I take that to mean you'll be part of our show." "I'm not part of anyone's show." "Segallus!" "Don't you people have better things to do with your money?" "Speaking of money, I'm very impressed." "Here, you've earned it." "I don't fight for profit." "And you tell Segallus this isn't over." "He doesn't hit Flaxen again ever." "So Hercules has a thing for our little dancer, huh?" "Thank you." "Segallus and I haven't had our discussion yet." "I think he got the message." "I've decided I'm not going to dance anymore." "Good for you." "But I'm worried about my father." "They've threatened us before, and I'm not sure he can stand up to Segallus and Voluptua by himself." "He's the king." "And his subjects should stand up with him." "I'm not sure he has that kind of influence anymore." "Besides, the ironheads are very strong and powerful." "I've already offered your father my help, but I'm not sure he wants it." "He wants it." "He just doesn't know how to ask." "He's a proud man." "I'm here if he needs me." "A guy goes to Aesculapius, and says, 'I hear you study medicine!" "Could you take a look at my leg?" "I got run over by a chariot the other day!" "'" "Aesculapius looks and says, 'Ah!" "Take two herbs!" "Come back in the morning!" "Excuse me, sir!" " This pretty lass!" " Salmoneus?" "She's in the bath!" "OK!" " There's a knock at the door!" " Salmoneus." "The voice says, 'It's the man from the village!" "'" "Where's Salmoneus?" "Has anyone seen him here?" "You haven't seen me." "Sorry." "Sorry." "Ah, Coming through." "Coming through." "Ah." "Ah." "I dropped some grapes." "Wait." "Look out." "OK." "Sorry." "Wasn't me." "Hercules was right." "We fooled ourselves." "All we've done is trade misfortunes." "It's not your fault." "Your intentions were good." "I know we argue and fight, but I respect what you tried to do." "Even if I was wrong?" "I said some awful things." "You must hate me." "Never." "One day, when you have children of your own, you'll realize that a parent can never stop loving them." "I'm more concerned about losing your love." "You won't." "I will always love you." "Oh, I would die a happy man if I could really believe that." "Hm-hm-hm." "Flaxen, promise me one thing." "If something should happen to me you'll get Hercules to help you set this kingdom back on the right path." "You aren't going to do anything foolish, are you?" "Foolish?" "No." "Smart?" "Yes." "Something I should have done a long time ago." "Please, Sire." "They're not to be disturbed." " Thaddeus, I am still your king." " Sire... you're putting me in a very awkward position." " You again?" "What is it this time?" " I quit!" "You're gonna have to find yourself another stooge for this enterprise." " You're serious?" " Never more serious in all my life." "I'd say this begs further discussion." "Thaddeus, no more visitors until we have this matter settled." "Thaddeus, the king has new quarters." "Lock him in the animal cages and keep him there." "I'm sorry, Sire." "You know we will do as you wish." "Thank you, great Hera." "Thank you." "Hooh!" " I've been looking for you." " Trouble?" "The king wants to quit glad-handing." "So let him." "A present from Hera." "Don't touch the blades." "They'll cut and sear and no one will be able to stop the bleeding." " Ohhh, it is a thing of beauty." " It'll stop anyone who gets in our way." " Even Hercules?" " It'll destroy him." "And his embalmed corpse'll be more of a draw than Midas ever was." "I wanna show you how much fun this can be." " Fun." " Yeah, fun!" "Now, watch closely." "This is how it's done." "Hit me!" "Well, you did ask for it." "That's not how we play where I come from!" " House rules." " Another card?" "Hercules." " I'm worried about my father." " Why, what's wrong?" "I don't know, it's..." "he was just acting kind of funny." "I wonder what Voluptua knows about this." "I just came from there and no one was around." "Why don't you wait in your dressing room?" "I'm gonna see what I can find out." "Salmoneus." "Yes!" "Yes!" "I'm sorry, Sire." "I'm just following orders." "You used to follow my orders." "Things were different in the kingdom then." " I wish we could go back to those days." " We can." "We don't have to listen to Voluptua or Segallus." "We can take this palace down go back to tilling the fields and raising something something we can be proud of." "I'm not sure." "I mean, the people are ripe for a change, but..." " But, what?" " They'd need your leadership." "Then I'll give it to them!" "Just let me out." "Let me rally my subjects like the old days." "I don't know." "If Segallus or Voluptuer ever found out" "It doesn't matter." "Don't you see?" "We'll overthrow them." "We'll take back the kingdom." "Just let me out." "OK." "Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha." "Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha." "This will do nicely very nicely." "Where's King Midas?" "And who killed Thaddeus?" "Segallus informed me that Thaddeus had an unfortunate accident." "As for the king he's with his daughter." "Where?" "There." "Ooooh!" "I think we finally found a way to convince you to star in your own show." "Their fate is in your hands." "What do you think of this?" "I thought it up myself." " I think you're sicker than she is." " Flatterer." "Here's the story." "It's rigged so that if she tries to get away, he dies." "And if you don't do exactly as we say, they both die." " What do you want me to do?" " Make us very wealthy." "A lotta high rollahs will be betting that the legendary Hercules can't be bested in a boxing match." "So... you get the odds pumped up..." "bet on..." "Segallus..." "I take a dive, and you collect." " You're a quick study." " You're easy to read." " When do you let Flaxen and Midas go?" " As soon as we collect our winnings." " And, of course, I have your word on that." " Have some trust, big boy." "We wouldn't want Midasius to be without a king, now, would we?" "Ladies and gentlemen, a special event, here at 'The Golden Touch'." "Hercules, a legend in his own time, has agreed to fight in our boxing competition." "And presiding over all this is none other than our own..." "Voluptua." "This prestigious event will take wagering to new heights." "Not only is Hercules fighting for his own nonor and glory he's also fighting for your king's life." "If he loses, Segallus will marry Flaxen and Midasius will have a new king and queen." "And now, to make things even more interesting Hercules will have" "to win all of his events before this rope burns through." "Get your money down, folks!" "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!" "Psst!" "How'd you get yourself into this mess?" "It wasn't exactly a voluntary decision." " Find me a throwing knife." " Throwing knife?" "Oh, y-y-you mean a slim knife?" "A short sword?" "An asa" " Salmoneus, just find me a knife." " Right." "Thank you." "Hmm?" "Odds are five-to-one!" "Five-to-one on Hercules!" "Five-to-one odds!" "Not bad, huh?" "Huh-huh?" "I can bet five dinars on Hercules to win one?" "That's twenty per cent return." "I can't pass that up!" "Put it all on Hercules." "Yeah." "Psssst!" "I hate to tell you this." "I don't think these guys plan on fighting fair at all." "Yeah." "Uh, did you get the knife?" " I'm working on it." " Work faster." "Faster." "Here we go!" "Round one is about to start." "That's your king up there!" "He made the mistake of letting the wrong people into this kingdom." "But you'll make a bigger mistake if you let them take over." "I wanna remind you that if anyone makes a move to help Hercules, Midas will die instantly." "Begin." "Can we get on with this?" "Here you go, folks!" "Bet on Hercules!" "Fifteen dinars will win you one!" "Or bet against him one dinar wins you fifteen!" " We're gonna make a killing." " In more ways than one." "I think your odds just went down." "One hundred-to-one!" "One hundred-to-one on Hercules!" "Do you, uh... mind hurrying?" "Float like a butterfly!" "Sting like a bee!" " So much for insects." " Five hundred-to-one, folks!" "Get your bets!" "Hi." "Could I borrow that?" "Salmoneus." "No, but you can buy it." "I don't have any more money." "I bet it all on Hercules." "Well, I'm sure we can work something out." "But... ee... d..." "Mmmm!" "One thousand-to-one odds in favor of Hercules, folks!" "Place your betsand make your fortune!" "Bet it all on Segallus." "Ladies and gentlemen!" "We come to the main event!" "A no-holds-barred, fight to the death!" "Between Segallus champion of the East and Hercules!" "Place your bets!" "Pssst!" "I gotta tell ya that Segallus has one wicked-looking knife." "But this!" "Should help even things up." " You couldn't find anything smaller." " It's the best I could do." "Hang on, Father." "I'll help you." "Guess that takes your advantage away." "Flaxen will still be my queen." "No holds barred, remember?" "Hang on, Father." "I'll help you." "I'll say this one last time." "I won't overthrow them by myself." "It's your kingdom!" "You have to decide if you wanna fight for it." "Hercules is right!" "Stand up for your kingdom!" "For your land!" "Yeah!" "No matter." "As soon as you die the fight will go out of them." "I think you should join your friends." "Not so fast!" "Besides don't you have a debt to pay?" "I thought you said you weren't gonna be taking your clothes off anymore." " Oh, yeah." " Uh-huh." "Not bad for a nail file, huh?" "Ha-ha-ha-ha!" "Yes, it was brilliant." "Salmoneus, it's so nice of you to give King Midas his gold back." " Ah, thank you, Hercules." " He is always thinking of others." " Yeah." " Ah-hah!" "From this day forward let it be known that the citizens of Midasius will return to their farming traditions!" "All gambling indebtedness will be forgiven with, uh, two exceptions!" "We remain indebted to Hercules!" "Also those who betted against Hercules retain their indebtedness to the city of Midasius a debt they will repay with the sweat of their labor." "Would you keep moving?" " To Hercules!" "Our one sure bet!" " To Hercules!" "Hispides?" "You've changed." " Uh, y-y-you like it?" " Uh, yeah, that too." "Sal, so I've been wanting to talk to you about this idea I had." "I-I-I know some traders who'd be interested in recycling building products." "We could make a killing." "You mean, all those beautiful furnishings and decorations?" " Yeah, yeah." " I wanna know more about this." "Cut-rate prices." "Well, it looks like Salmoneus hit the jackpot." "Hercules, I can't begin to thank you." "Well, I can." "Thank you." " King Midas, promise me one thing." " What would that be?" "That you will never gamble with your blessings." " We promise." " Oh, we promise." "Good, then you'll always be rich."