" Hello, Karos." " Good morning, Lyla." " Beautiful day, isn't it?" " So far." "That'll be two dinars." " Two dinars." " Ten dinars." " You just sold it to her for two." " Well, so, she got a deal." " You're a greedy little bigot." " And you're a centaur-loving slut." "Let's not mar a beautiful day like today with violence." "Get your filthy hands off me!" "Leave me alone!" "Ow!" "Is there a problem, Lyla?" "No, no problem." "Your little wench, here was" "She's not a wench." "She's my wife and her name is Lyla." " Deric, don't." " Say it!" " Lyla." " Thank you." "Filthy centaurs." "We'll have to teach him a lesson." "Quiet." "Here it is." "Keifer." "Wake up." "I want you to run to a safe spot in the woods." " I'll come for you later." " But, Mommy" "Do as I say." "Humans or centaurs, nothing instills fear like fire." "It's worse for centaurs it's the horse in them." " What if someone gets hurt?" " We're just scaring them." "Come on!" "Get out!" "Get out!" "No, don't!" "You'll kill her!" "Here!" "Come on!" "Quick!" "Run!" "Hurry up!" "Come on!" "Come on!" "Come on!" "Let's go!" "We've got company!" "Wait." "I, I think there's someone still inside." "Forget it!" "Let's get out of here!" "We can't just leave her." "Come on!" "Cletus." "Lyla!" "Keifer!" "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." "Hercules!" "My powerful, positive friend!" " Mmmmmmmmmmmm." " Salmoneus, are you OK?" "Couldn't be better." "Just finished a self-actualization seminar with Robertus Tonicles." "Man's a genius makes money hand over fist." "I'll bet." "Tell me, what, exactly, is a self-actualization seminar?" "It helps you fertilize the nurturing flower within." "Mmmmmmmmmmmmm." " What's with the humming?" " That's the internal harmonic, that leads you to the flower." "It helps you be." "And what is it you want to be?" "I wanna be the best possible Salmoneus I can be." "And I wanna teach seminars." "I wanna help others be the best possible thing they can be for a modest price." " I'm sure you'll do well." " Desire, focus, grab, hum." " Mmmmmmmmmmm." " Sounds like fun." "You have no idea." "Hey, seems like we're going the same way mind if I tag along?" " Mmmmmmmm." " As long as you don't hum." "I can do that." "So, where're you off to?" "Athens." "Some friends of mine are having problems." "Remember Lyla?" "Oh, that girl who went off with the centaur?" "Yeah, they're finding the locals even less friendly than they were in Nespa." "Oh-ho, dear." "Lyla..." "Lyla... do-does she remind you of anyone we both know?" "Come to think of it, she looks a little like Xena." "Yeah-hah!" "Different dispostion, though, huh?" "This is all that's left of their house." "The fire was so hot, you could see the flames all the way into town." "Even the bodies were reduced to ashes." " What an awful way to die." " What is this?" " I don't know." " I know that's the symbol of the Cretans." " They're the guardians of the" " Darius!" "He's just a foolish lad, full of wild stories." " I'd like to hear more." " We don't know anything." "Come, Darius, we must get home." "Deric and Lyla didn't deserve to die like this." "They were good people." "I take it you don't think the fire was an accident." "No, I don't." "Let's go find out more about these Cretans." "That's an interesting tattoo." " Does it signify anything?" " Yeah, purity and strength." "Is that so?" "Hmm, I saw a mark just like it" " at the house that burned down." " You mean the centaur's house." "Shame about that." "Stranger, let me give you some advice." "We don't care for their kind around here." " What kind is that?" " Huh, that should be obvious." "Just look at them." "They're not like us." "That's a relief." "Huh, you know the difference between a centaur and a three-legged dog?" "People died in that fire!" "I don't wanna hear any centaur jokes!" "Stop!" "Hasn't there been enough violence and suffering already?" " Who are you?" " My name is Lariphany." "I'm Lyla's sister." " So, you're Hercules." " Let's keep that between us for now." "I guess that's how bad things got, that Lyla you for help." " I came as soon as I could." " It's hard enough losing them that way, but her son was barely three years old." " They had a child." " Oh, yes, he was born while they still lived in Nespa one of the reasons why they left was so they could bring him up in a more accepting environment." "Burning down homes with people inside isn't exactly what I call accepting." "No one thought it would come to that." "And actually, for a while, things were fine." "Deric got work as a farm hand," "Lyla took care of the house and Keifer." " They were happy." " What changed things?" "The Cretans, they started poisoning the minds of the locals." "You know, why don't you tell me about these Cretans?" "They're a mean-spirited bunch, claiming to protect the Athenian purity from contamination by foreigners minorities anyone who's different." " And Deric stood up to them." " He was brave and fearless" " they hated him for that." " And none of his neighbors came to help." "The people around here are decent and hard-working but easily influenced, especially when times turn bad." "When the floods ruined the crops, it was easy to blame" "Deric and Lyla for their troubles." "That poor child." "Jakar, Sepsis?" "They're nosing around." "They're gonna be trouble." "Well, they're really not bothering anyone." "Look, we don't like centaurs in this town, and we don't like centaur-lovers." "It's that simple." "I say we give them a farewell party." "You!" "I really think you should join me in the self-actualization field." "We've been through this before, I don't want to be part of your schemes." "It's not a scheme!" "It's a way to help people." "Um, you're a hero to so many, you could help people reach their full potential be all they could be." " Hmm, like you." " Exactly." "Huh, uh-oh." "I think we've got company." " Good company or bad company?" " I've got a feeling it's bad." "We hope you liked your little visit to our village." " Ah-uh, we... we just got here, huh." " You're not missing much, immigrant." "Ah-huh, uh, I really prefer you didn't call me that." "What would you like to be called?" "That's, uh, 'Mister Immigrant' to you." "Well, Mister Immigrant, I'm about to brain you." "Wait!" "Mmmmmmmmmmm." " Why're you humming?" " I'm finding your internal flower." "Mmmmmmmmmmm." "Huh!" "It's a weed!" "Centaur..." "Let's get him!" "Behind you!" "Behind you!" "Yes!" "Aaah." "Is there some reason you're trying to slap my hand?" "I saw it in an athletic contest, once!" "It's a way for winners to congratulate each other." "So, why don't they just say, 'Nice job,' or 'Congratulations'?" "You need more fun in your life." " You haven't seen the last of us." " We can always hope." "Another round!" "A mug of mead for my friend and we'll need two rooms for the night." " Outsiders." " What do they want?" " He knows the centaur." " I'm sorry." "I can't help you." "Look, we just had this discussion with your tattooed friends." "The mead and the rooms." "This is not the way to attract a convention crowd." "This is the first but it won't be the last!" "Deric!" "Be quiet, listen!" "The centaur has gone berserk." "We have to stop him before he kills again." "He's turned into a monster." "He's burned his own house, and he's killed his own family." " Now, hold on, you don't know that!" " You don't know centaurs like we do." "Maybe I know them better." "I was raised and tutored by one." "The only way to protect ourselves is to track him down and kill him." " He deserves a fair trial!" " Well, here's the magistrate." "You trust him?" "Let him decide." "Wise Terseus." "We have a grave problem." " The centaur, Deric, is not dead." " He's gone mad." "He killed Cletus and then dumped the body at the roadhouse." "Then he must be brought in." "I'll need volunteers." "If the magistrate pleases we'd like to go along." "We don't need outsiders helping us." "I only wanna make sure the fugitive is brought back alive." "So be it." "The outsider and his companion will accompany you." " Aah." " As you wish, wise Terseus." "Get your weapons!" "This is easy, boys." "We're on his tracks!" " Yeah, it's too easy." " Easy is good." "You think, you think it's a trap?" "Should I be worried?" "This way!" "There he is!" "Let's get him!" " Looking for me?" " Let me talk to him!" "He knows me." "Deric!" "It's me, Hercules!" "I promise, no harm will come to you if you give yourself up!" "I'm not stopping until I avenge my wife's murder!" "Don't make things worse!" "You've already killed a man!" "It was an accident, but he deserved to die." "Then let a court decide that!" "Give up, and come back with us!" "And what chance does a centaur have in a court of humans?" "You have my word." "No, wait!" "You murdering beast!" "Soon you'll be joing your centaur-loving wife." "This is your fate too, Jakar!" "I'll be back for you!" " And the others!" " Kill him." "Kill the monster!" "Come." "This way." "Watch your back." "What are you waiting for?" "Keep going!" "Uh, Hercules, you don't wanna go in the swamp at night, do you?" "I mean, there are bugs, and snakes, and little things that" " No, we'll make camp here." " Good choice." "Excellent choice." "Not that I wanna change your mind, but, uh, why don't you wanna go into the swamp?" "'Cause we're on the wrong trail." "Centaurs don't like swamps." "Uh-huh?" "Uh, shouldn't we be on the right trail?" "We have time." "I don't think he's trying to run away." "We'll pick up his track at first light." "You're back early." "Giving up so soon?" "Jakar called the search off till morning." "Two men from the village drowned." "Can't see anything out there." "So, Deric's still running around free." " Thirsty?" " Thanks." "You weren't with those who attacked us yesterday." "Why not?" "I have no quarrel with you." "Neither did your friends, that didn't stop them." "Sometimes, they get over-zealous." "Is that what happened at Deric's house?" "I have no idea what happened at the centaur's house." "Don't you?" "They're your friends." "You're not really fond of Deric, are you?" "No, not really." "Look, my mother's sick." "And I can't even get hired at the farm where the centaur works, 'cause he does the job of three men." "Is that Deric's fault?" "He had a family to provide for, too." "Does he get the pay of three men?" "Democles, stay away from the outsiders." "Stick to your own kind." "What's gotten into him?" "Do you think he knows more about Lyla's death than he's letting on?" "No question about it." "Deric's tracks?" "He made a false trail leading into the swamp." "Here's the way he really went." "Uh, shouldn't we get the others?" "I'm not sure they care about bringing Deric back alive." "He probably spent the night there." "What?" "What is it?" " Interesting tracks." " What interesting?" "Like bear tracks interesting?" "Li..." "like lion tracks interesting?" "Li..." "like crazed-centaur-ready -to-attack-us interesting?" "What do you mean, interesting... huh?" " Come on." " Come on?" " Mmmmmmmmm." " You have nothing to worry about." "I mean, the guy's obviously deranged." "He's already killed two people." "What's to prevent him from sneaking up on us" " and attacking us from behind?" " Shh." " I don't" " Shh." " I..." " I think if you were to keep quiet there'd be a lot less chance of him hearing us approach." "I could do that." "Thank you." " Stay behind me." " Good idea." "Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm." "Uh, Hercules." "No, but really" " Quiet." " You gotta take a look at this." "Don't be afraid." "We won't hurt you." "Don't move!" "Do you come as friend or foe?" "What do you think, Deric?" "You once spared my life." "I can never be your enemy." "It seems like we've been here before." "The last time you were blind and helpless." "And I'm still indebted to you for not killing me then." " I gave you my reasons." " Can I move now?" "Yeah." "Your battle with Nemis has grown into legend." " You heard how he died?" " Only that it was at your hands." "There's more to it." "His cave started collapsing on us." "He held it up until I good get Penelope and Sharos out." "I'm glad he died a good death." "He wasn't always bad." "It's never too late to put hatred and vengeance behind you." "And you want me to do that now?" "I don't think Lyla would've wanted you brought back on a stake." "Come, I'll take you to her if your friend will look after my son." "No problem." "Hi." "My name's Salmoneus." "Do you know how to hum?" "Mmmmmmmmmmm." "Over here, these tracks." "They go up that way." "The centaur tricked us." "He won't get away this time." " This was her favorite place." " I'm truly sorry." "No more than I." "Ceridian, my mentor told me how much centaurs fear fire." "That had to be the hardest thing you ever did," " going into that burning house." " It was never a choice." "She was dead by the time I got to her." "There was nothing I could do." "Rest in peace, my darling." "I know what you're going through." "Revenge isn't the answer." "Oh, but it is." "I've tasted it." "And it's sweet." " At what cost?" " I'm not afraid to die." "And who teaches your son when you're gone?" "Lariphany?" "What does she know of life as a centaur?" "Maybe I shouldn't have stood up to 'em." "We should've just moved on." "You can't blame yourself for standing up for your rights." "Can't I?" "Lyla would still be alive!" "You did the right thing." "Sometimes, the price for that is very high." "The world is a less-than-perfect place but giving up on it won't help." "Is that what Lyla would have wanted?" "Is that why she loved you?" " What do you want me to do?" " Go back turn yourself in." "And let her murder go unpunished?" "How could I do that?" "I know who was there." "Cletus told me before he died." "Then tell the magistrate what you know, and let justice prevail." "Deric, your son doesn't deserve the life of a fugitive." "Oh, boy, am I glad to see you guys." "You have no idea how much energy a three year-old has." "I was afraid you were never coming back." " I have to speak to Keifer for a moment." " He's very cute, by the way." "You'll have to watch him a bit longer." "Deric and I have business in town." " The kid doesn't even take a nap!" " Oh, Salmoneus, you'll be fine." "Remember: desire, focus, grab, hum." "Hmm." "I promise you it'll be just for a short while." " Are you going away like Mommy?" " No." "I'll be back." "I swear to you no matter what happens to me I'll be back for you." "Give me a hug." "I'll never leave you." "I love you." " I want my son to be safe." " Don't worry." " Salmoneus will keep him safe." " He'll be safe." "I'll be a wreck." "Let's go." "Whoa!" "Wait a minute." "Wh-what does a three year-old centaur eat?" " There's food in the corner." " What if he gets a splinter?" "You can handle it, Salmoneus." "Self-actualize." "Get in touch with your feminine side." "Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm." "Not potty-trained, huh?" "Ha-ha-ha-ha-haaa." "Mmmmmmmm, huh, if he can handle the Augean stables" "It doesn't look like everyone hates you." "Nobody's born with prejudice." "They'll get older." "They'll learn." "Or maybe someone will teach them the right things." "I have someone here to see you." "You came back?" "Of your own volition?" "Yes, but I didn't kill those men in cold blood." "Men?" "I thought it was just Cletus." "Deric killed Merkis in the woods in self-defense I witnessed it." "And that earlier fight with Cletus?" "You have witnesses to that?" "No, but I know he had a part in Lyla's death." " You have proof of that." " He confessed to me." " And now he's dead." " It was an accident." "He, he tried to run away from me, and he fell down a ravine." "I'll have to hold you in custody until it can be proven one way or the other." "Custody, you mean in jail." "I don't make the laws the Athenians do that." "I merely uphold them." "Stay it'll be all right." "I'll be back." "Keifer?" "Keifer?" "Where could Keifer be hiding?" "Where could Keifer be hid-- Not there." "OK." "Keifer?" "Keifer?" "Where could Keifer be hiding?" "Where could Keifer be hiding?" "Where could Keifer be hiding?" "Oh." "Keifer?" "Keifer?" "Where could Keifer be hiding?" "I like hide-and-seek, too, but I didn't stay hidden forever." "You know, you shouldn't play tricks on that nice man." "Mommy, you're back!" "I will always be here for you always." "Keifer, please your Uncle Salmoneus isn't as young as he used to be." " He'd really like to" " Mommy..." "Shh." "Keifer, were you talking to somebody?" "Yes, that was my Mommy." " Keifer, your Mommy is away." " No, she's not." "She's right here." "Oh." "My mistake." "I'm sorry." "Silly man." " What did you find out?" " Deric gave himself up." " They're holding him in jail." " That's a problem." "He can implicate us all." "It is a problem, but I think I have the solution." "This is wrong." "I, I don't want any part of this." "You're already a part of it." "You're in this as deep as the rest of us." "I didn't kill anybody." "I didn't even carry a torch." "That's your version." "Mine could differ, unless you do as I say." "Come on." " But... uh..." " Shut up!" "The kid's inside." "Deric, what's going on?" "I just came from the Magistrate." "He said you confessed that you admitted killing Cletus in cold blood." " I did." " What?" "We both know it's not true!" "I had no choice." "They'll hang you now, you know that." " I had no choice." " What is that?" "It's my son's toy." "They've kidnapped him." "They said if I didn't confess they'd kill him." "The scum!" "They wouldn't've gotten away with it if they came at me like men instead of sneaking up while" " I was playing hide-and-seek." " Did you recognize any of them?" "Yes." "They were the same ones who attacked us outside of town and that kid who came to our campfire." "Democles?" " Any idea where they took Keifer?" " No." "They didn't seem concerned about hiding him, though." "They just wanted to make sure that Deric got his kid's toy!" "Swine!" "Lucky for them they outnumbered me." "I would've wiped the woods with them, huh?" "Yeah, I'm sure you would have." " Someone wants to talk to you." " Who?" "He's afraid to be seen, come to my house." "You have something to tell me?" " I was there the night Lyla died." " What happened?" "There was five of us." "We were just gonna scare them, you know?" " Centaurs and fire?" " Go on." "Things got out of hand." "Lyla knocked the torch out of someone's hand and the straw caught." "Cletus confessed before he died." "He said Merkis killed Lyla." " I didn't know that." " Liar." "No!" "I knew she was inside when we ran to the woods" " but I didn't know she was dead." " Then, why didn't you go back?" " The place was on fire." " Someone was coming." "I thought that they could rescue I was afraid." "Of your pals, or the fire?" "Both." "It's the worst thing I've ever done." "At least you found the courage to come forward." "Where'd they take Keifer?" " I can show you." " No, just tell me." "You need to talk to Deric." " To Deric, why?" " I think you know." "If I tell him what I just told you, he'll kill me." " He's in no position to kill anyone." " I don't think I can face him." "How can you face yourself if you don't?" "What do you want?" "Excuse me, but aren't you supposed to be guarding the little centaur?" " Yeah?" " Then, what's he doing outside?" "Not so fast, foreigner." "You're not gonna fall for a trick like that, are you?" "Here let me help." "Three guards for one little kid?" "Now, don't go anywhere." "Keifer?" "I can't do this." "To clear your conscience, you're gonna have to do this!" "There'll be no justice!" "Unless we take it in our own hands!" "We have to be the law!" "Oh, I don't like the look of that crowd." "Uh, we better get some help." "All right, you get the Magistrate, I'll get Hercules." " There may not be enough time." " Huh?" "Out of the way." "What do you people think you're doing?" "Get out of our way, immigrant." "I'm getting really tired of hearing that word." "Then step aside." "We've come for the centaur to give him a taste of his own justice." "Let's just calm down, and talk." "Come quietly, or your son dies." "Take him!" "Wait!" "He didn't murder anyone!" " He killed only in self-defense!" " Don't listen to him!" " Death by stone!" " I was there!" "The centaur's wife did not die by accident." "Who cares how she died?" "We don't want their kind here!" "The only good centaur is a dead centaur!" "Hold it!" "Hold it!" "Hold it!" "Get him out here where we can see him!" "Stone him!" "Hercules?" " My son!" " He's safe with Lariphany." "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt the fun." "The centaur's crime is that he's different from you and me." "Well, then let him die." "Only, let the man who throws the first rock be someone who's not different." "Someone who's the same as everyone else." "You, no, wait, you have blue eyes." "See, most here have brown." "You!" "No, you're taller than most." "No, this may be harder than I thought." "Which of you is normal, and which is different?" "Don't listen to him!" "He's trying to trick you!" "Maybe we should start with those who have tattoos," " and we'll stone you." " You're an outsider." "Yes, I am but how many of you can say you've been here for two, or three, or even four generations?" " I can." " You seem to be in the minority." " Maybe we should start with you." " Don't listen to him!" "What are you waiting for?" "Get him!" "Kill him!" "Stone him!" " Remember me?" " Yeah, you're that little immigrant." "Immigrant?" "You bigoted piece of there's a quail on your head." " Huh?" " Purrh, purrh, neee!" "Ah!" "Ooh!" "How do people do that without getting headaches?" "You're all right!" "Well, they say you are what you eat." "You'll die for what you did to Lyla!" "Deric!" "Is revenge the only legacy you can pass on to Keifer?" "Is there no room in his life for compassion and forgiveness?" "Filthy beast!" "You did the right thing." "I didn't kill your wife but I was a part of those responsible." "I was wrong and I'm sorry." " Sorry won't bring Lyla back." " Neither will holding onto your hate." "He's not on their side anymore." "He fought against them." "Apology accepted, friend." "Mmmmmmmmmmm." " Say, friend, you're up early." " Hmm?" "Did you wake up saying, 'I'm not all I can be.'?" "Ever hear of self-actualization?" "I can teach you the secrets of Robertus Tonicles." "I can teach you how to hum." "You may think you know how to hum let me help you with that." "Mind if I travel with you for a second?" "But true humming, fertilizing your flower, is a boon to mankind." "You can learn how to improve your memory and your digestion." " I'm on my way to the market." " Only seventeen dinars." "Hold on, friend!" " So, you've decided to stay." " Yeah." "You were right." "Keifer is too young to be a fugitive." "We can't run forever." "I think it's a wise choice." "There are a lot of good people here, if you give them the chance to prove it." "Lyla loved this land." "I think it's what she would've wanted." "Right, Keifer?" " You miss her, don't you?" " She's right here." "Uh..." "Keifer, uh, your mother's... she... she's..." "I'm here." " But... but..." " I'm real." " But how?" " Your father, Zeus." "Oh." "He can undo the evil of man the malice of the gods he has trouble with." "He told me about your family." "I'm sorry he couldn't bring them back." "So am I. But know that they're always with me in my heart." "The only thing that could be better than that is what you have here." "Cherish it, my friends." "Thank you." " Farewell." " Farewell."