"Oh, no." "You know, Herc, when we're in public, like, with people, you're gonna have to keep that theory to yourself... 'cause they're gonna think you're crazy." "Yeah, well, geniuses are never appreciated in their own time." "Hercules, your head." "What?" "Well, it's-- it's so huge!" "You want a hand carrying it around?" "I'm telling you, Iolaus, the Earth is orbiting around the sun." "That is why we have seasons." "When we're far from the sun, it's winter." "When we're close, it's summer." "Oh, come on." "Look, how come-- I mean, the sun travels across the sky." "How come it looks like it moves around us, huh?" "Because that's just what it looks like." "You know, you may be able to sell that kind of Hydra dung to Evander... 'cause, I mean, you know, he's a kid, he's impressionable." "How old is he now?" "He's almost five." "Ooh." "Tantrum age." "I bet Nemesis has her hands full." "It'll be nice to see her again." "Help!" "Or hear from her." "Ares wants the boy, Nemesis." "I don't have him." "I'm telling you." "He's not here." "Why don't I believe you?" "Maybe you've got trust issues." "What do you think, Iolaus?" "Yeah, I'm inclined to agree, Hercules, combined with an underdeveloped superego." "Hmm." "Not to mention projection, repression, regression and denial." "Wiener envy?" "Look at him." "Huh?" "Kill them!" "Maybe he's just a complete idiot." "That's a little harsh, Hercules." "Let me know how the weather is up there." "Whoo-hoo!" " Swine." " Pigs." "Whew." " Nemesis!" " Hercules." "Oh!" "As usual, just in the nick of time." "It's uncanny, isn't it?" "You remember Iolaus." "How could I forget?" "Oh, it's nice to see Ares isn't above sending his goons to do his dirty work." "I take it he's still unhappy with that custody arrangement you guys worked out." "He's never happy." "But speaking of happiness, where is that favorite nephew of mine?" "You weren't lying back there, were you?" "Evander's really not here." "He took him from me, Hercules." " Who?" " Zeus." "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." "Hail!" "I thought I could teach him to control the power he inherited from Ares." "But the older he gets, the more it seems to slip away from him." "That's not your fault." "As his mother, that's not easy to accept." "Yeah, but it's true." "What Evander imagines, he can make real." "He's even more powerful than his father." "That explains Ares' interest." "Zeus believes the only way for him to manage his power... is to be brought up by the gods in Olympus." "Don't let anyone make you doubt yourself." "Zeus has no right to raise your child if that's not what you want, Nemesis." "But who am I to say no to the king of the gods?" "You're Evander's mother." "This is his home." "And I'm gonna make sure that this is where he grows up." "Come here." "Are we off to Zeus's temple?" "Hmm." "How long has it been?" "Not long enough." "It's horrible!" "See?" "They-- Run for your lives!" "Run!" "It's hideous!" "Should we have a bad feeling about this?" "Sure." "Are those... polka dots?" "You ever get the feeling the gods are running out of ideas?" "That was new." "Yeah." " Evander." " Evander?" "Evander!" "Evander, that's enough." " Bye-bye." " Bye!" "Hi, Uncle Herc." "Yeah, hi, Evander." " Hello, son." " Huh." "Why don't we just skip the family reunion crap?" "I'm here to take Evander back." "Uh, perhaps there's somewhere we can talk in private." "What I'm gonna do is teach you how to throw a stone." "Since when did you move up to kidnapping?" "Enough!" "Now, in case you've forgotten," "Evander is Ares' son, which makes me his grandfather." "That doesn't give you the right to take him away from his mother." "You think it was easy for me?" "Yes, I do." "Things are always easy for you." "You just don't care about the consequences." "Say good-bye to your grandson." "He'll kill Nemesis, you know." "That's why I took him, to protect her." "Didn't she tell you about his powers?" "She mentioned it." "Did she mention that he almost killed her one night?" "Oh, he didn't mean to, but he had a nightmare, and it became as real as that monster you saw in the square." "If I hadn't stepped in, Evander would be an orphan right now." "Of course, he'd still have Ares." "When did you decide to take an interest in your offspring?" "Since I realized that my grandson was all that I had left in the mortal world." "You gave up on me a very long time ago, not that I blame you." "But I've seen the sun rise and set on more seasons... than I care to remember." "And I don't want to lose this last chance... to make up for the life I never could give you." "I appreciate what you're saying." "But you're going about this all wrong." "Nemesis is his mother." "I don't intend to keep him forever, just long enough to teach him how to control his power." "If you really mean that, then you won't mind if I take over for you." "Well, perhaps that might be best." "Hard as I try to play the disciplinarian," "I can't hide my amusement at his pranks." "That seems to encourage him." "Well, that's what grandfathers are for." "Okay, Evander, we're gonna play a game." "It's called..." "someone else's shoes." "How do you play?" "Well, all you have to do is use your imagination." "And from what we've seen, you've got a pretty good one." " That's how you made the monster appear, isn't it?" " That was fun." "Uh, yeah, but it wasn't fun for everyone, now, was it?" "You see that boy over there?" "To put yourself in his shoes, you have to imagine that you're him." "You're gonna imagine that the monster destroyed your house, so tonight you won't have anywhere to sleep." "I don't like this game." "We haven't gotten to the fun part yet." "Imagine how good you would feel if you had your room back." "Maybe I can give it back to him." "W-What a great idea." "Remember how you made the monster appear?" "You just imagined it, right?" "Well, now imagine the house... just coming back together again, okay?" "I did it!" " Yes, you did!" "I see he's in good hands." "I shall leave you to it then." "All right." "What do we do next?" "Mmm, that one." "Okay." "Yeah, over there." "I got it." "Easy!" "So, uh, what do you wanna fix next?" "Let's do that well." "Okay." "I like this game, Hercules." "That's a good thing." "Hut, hut!" "Look!" "Come on!" "Come on!" "Come on!" "He saw the shadows on the wall of the cave, and the voice in his head said to him," ""What we see are the shadows of reality." "What is real is what casts the shadows."" "And he said, "Don't be so foolish," said the other one." "And they" "Ah, right." "Evander?" "Iolaus!" "Wake up!" "Ladies, ladies, please." "One at a time." "Wake up!" "Evander's gone!" "Huh?" "The two stooges." "Lose something?" "This is a new look." "You tryin' to lose weight?" " Where is he, Ares?" "I don't know where he is, and it's not for lack of trying." "If you must know, Dad's got him." "Zeus won't let me anywhere near him." "I'm sure you're devastated by this." "The truth is," "I couldn't care less what happens to the little demon." "What does concern me is what could happen because of him." "What do you mean?" "Why you keep giving Zeus second chances, I'll never know." "Well, maybe this time you're gonna learn your lesson." "He's gonna use Evander to free Hera from the Abyss of Tartarus." "Wait a minute." "Zeus and Hera hate each other." "Why would he do that?" "He wouldn't." "The Titans are imprisoned with her." "If he opens the Abyss, they could escape." "Yeah, fine." "What do I know?" "But since you taught Evander to focus his powers, you're gonna find out soon enough." "What do I know?" "He's crazy." "Yeah, but sometimes he's right." "What are we doing here, Grandpa?" "We're here to find your grandmother, Evander." "And I can't do it without your help." "Now, you remember the game that you and Hercules played together?" "Someone else's shoes?" "I like that game." "Good." "Well, imagine that you're Grandma, and you're down there all alone in that scary place, and there's no one there to keep you company... but a race of giants called the Titans." "I know how to make her feel better." "We'll get her up here." "Oh!" "What a wonderful idea!" "Yes!" "Cool!" "There goes the neighborhood." "Evander, why don't you get behind me?" "Who are you?" "It's all right." "It's all right." "We're family." "My family?" "Why don't I remember you?" "The Abyss must have affected her memory." "Lucky break." "Father, may I have a word with you, being family and all?" "And how are we related?" "Uh, well, uh" "I can't believe you did this!" "I had no other choice, Hercules." "When Kronos created the Abyss, he made sure that the key to opening it was a paradox-- the power of a god coupled with the innocence of a child." "Is that supposed to be an excuse?" "You give me one good reason why I shouldn't throw you in there myself!" "Who do you think you are to speak to me like this?" "You son of a" "Do it." "Do it!" "I swear I will make your life miserable... for using Evander to bring back that witch." "Just once, Hercules, it would be so nice... if you gave me the benefit of the doubt." "Just once it would be nice if you earned it." "You may find this hard to believe, but I love her." "And she loved me once till I betrayed her." "And the only reason I could never apologize for my infidelities... was because it produced a son like you." " So what, it's my fault?" " No." "I've already told you." "I'm trying to make up for the mistakes that I've made in the past, and that's exactly what I shall do." "Hera is my wife." "It's time I started being her husband again." "Some day your selfishness is gonna destroy the world." "Huh?" "What's happening?" "Good question." "Evander, are you doing this?" "Grandpa told me the Titans were all alone in a scary place." "Maybe they can play with us too." "Everybody... out!" "Who are you?" "Who are you?" "Why are we so much bigger than everything else?" "Perhaps I can be of some assistance!" " Shall we best find them?" " I think you've done enough." "Iolaus and I will go after the Titans." "You're taking Evander back to Nemesis." "You think you can do that, Dad?" "Do not patronize me." "Are you mad at me, Hercules?" "No, kiddo." "You were trying to do something nice, and that's never wrong." "You're gonna go back and see your mother again, okay?" "I'll come by for a visit as soon as I can." "So you're telling us that the gods trapped us in the Abyss?" "Well, in their defense, you were tryin' to kill 'em." "Wait." "Ares!" "I remember you." "He's one of them!" "You're toast, buddy." "Oh!" "Hey, hey, hey!" "Easy." "Okay, let's just keep our temper, shall we?" "I thought we might come to some... mutually beneficial arrangement." "Uh, what's "beneficial" mean?" "Big men, small brains." "A deal, my friends, a deal." "That's a good thing." "I help you destroy Olympus." "You get to pay back those nasty gods for imprisoning you." "Then, when they've got nowhere else to hide, you can hunt them down at your leisure... and crush them horribly with your big feet." "In return, we declare a truce." "So... you'd be the only god left." "Gee, I-I guess I would!" "So how are we gonna destroy Olympus?" "Well, as strong as you are-- and can I say you're both looking magnificent-- you're not quite strong enough." "But you've got a brother who is, and I know just where to find him." "We have a brother?" "What's his name?" "Atlas." "Yep, that is definitely a footprint." "It's a good thing about these Titans-- they're easy to track." "The hard part is knowing what to do with them once you find them." "Hey, you know, now that Hera's not throwing fireballs and stuff at us, she's-- she's quite a nice person." "It won't last." "You got that look again, Herc." "What look?" "The "How can I have been so stupid?" look." "I consider myself to be pretty perceptive, Iolaus." "At least I like to think I am." "Usually I can tell when I'm being lied to." "It's like I've got this blind spot when it comes to Zeus." "Of course you do." "Every son wants to believe his father." "I stopped seeing him as my father a long time ago." "Yeah, well, maybe that's your problem." "Look, Hercules, it was years before I could stop thinking of my father as this great general... and realize he's just like us." "He's an imperfect person trying to make his way in an imperfect world." "Are you defending Zeus?" "Because I can't just look at him as some lonely old man... who's trying to make amends with his wife, Iolaus." "But that's what he is, Hercules." "He is lonely." "Thank you for releasing me." "Don't thank me." "Thank your grandson." "Well, I suppose it's safe to say that... you're my hero, little man." "Want to play hide and go seek?" "All right." "But if I find you, I get a hug." "I haven't seen you talk like that to a child since-- well, since Aphrodite was born." "I wish I could remember." "I'm hoping this will help." "You and I created this when the world was new." "Quite an accomplishment, to bring life to this world." "All I have are... feelings, really." "Tell me." "Tell me." "I remember... feeling complete." "There was a time you and I could not have been happier together." "We'd better find Evander." "Titans, I give you Atlas!" "So this guy's our brother." "Oh, yes!" "Imprisoned in the ice by Zeus himself!" "Back when the war between the gods and the Titans shook the earth!" "Now, I think I've fulfilled my end of the bargain." "So what do you say, gentlemen?" "Do we have a deal?" " Sure." " But how do we get him out of there?" "Try living up to your name,Helios." "Which one of us is Helios?" " That would be you." " Oh." "Now... melt the ice!" "Okay." "Yeah!" "Much obliged, my simple brothers." "I guess he recognizes us." "Now, where was I?" "Ah, yes." "Death to the Olympians!" "Our timing is way off today." "Wow!" "That's really great." "I didn't know you could do that." "Oh, thanks." "Hey, you know, Atlas?" "You were a lot cooler when you were frozen." "Friends of yours, my brothers?" "Never seen them before." "I" " You wouldn't know me, but, uh, I think you know my father..." "Zeus." "Me, I'm just a friend of the family!" "What a coincidence." "We were just on our way to destroy Olympus." "Now, why'd you have to go and say a thing like that?" "Now we don't have any choice but to throw the three of you off this mountain." "Ooh!" "I won't waste time destroying you... while the gods fortify themselves against us." "Squash these annoying fleas, my brothers." "I'll go on ahead." "I got to start thinking about retiring." "Don't worry." "After this one, I'm done." "Maybe it's time we get these two kids together." "Yeah!" "Whatever!" "Run, insects!" "What are you doing?" "It's good for the pores." "He's very good at this." "Please wake up." " Evander, what's the matter?" " I can't make him wake up." "Evander, you may have trouble understanding this, but all things come to an end." "Why?" "Everything has a beginning, doesn't it?" "Well, it wouldn't be fair if it didn't have an end too." "But can't they just start over again?" "Maybe, if we combined our strength" "You did it!" "Tryin' to find the door?" "Ares, come to watch your dynasty crumble?" "Didn't your brothers tell ya?" "I had a deal with them!" "I'm the one who told 'em where to find you!" " Now, maybe we can strike a bargain of our own." " I'm listening." "You wanna find the door;" "I wanna be the last god standing." "You'd sell out your own family?" "In a heartbeat, big guy." "I always did like you." "Yeah?" "Well, you'll like this even better." ""Open," says me." "What's the holdup?" "The son of Zeus must have succeeded in besting my brothers." "I may know a way to slow him down, but first, I'm gonna have to pay a visit to the Fates." "Question!" "Can't this wait?" "No, it can't!" "What?" "Well, if you're so fed up with the gods, why don't we let them just destroy Olympus?" "Remember my theory about the seasons?" "Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah." "The sun revolves around the Earth." "What's that got to do with Olympus?" "Well, Olympus is supported by a pillar... that runs right into the center of the Earth." "If Atlas manages to break the pillar," "Olympus will come crashing down." "So?" "So if Olympus falls, it'll hit the ground with the force of a comet." "A what?" "A comet." "I'll explain later." "Olympus will knock the Earth right out of its orbit." "Wait." "So if the Earth gets knocked too close to the sun" "We'll fry." "And if it goes too far-- We'll freeze." "Why are you wasting time explaining this to me?" "Come on!" "Folks, my partner." "That's my house!" "We're almost there!" "What's the matter?" "I've grown quite attached to him." "It takes the simplicity of a child to teach us the most obvious lessons." "Evander was right." "Sometimes we can just..." "start over." "I've made so many mistakes, Hera, and sooner or later, you're going to remember all of them." "But if you're willing, I'll spend eternity trying to make them up to you." "Please, please, be my wife again." "Zeus always was a charmer, wasn't he, dear Mother?" "Perhaps you've forgotten how many women he's charmed." "Well, it's a good thing the Fates never throw away... the history they weave." "I suppose I should consider myself lucky." "Why?" "I get to fall in love with you for the first time all over again." "Nah." "Boo-ya!" "Hera." "Hera, is everything all right?" "Oh, it's perfectly all right." "I just thought of a way for you to make amends for all your mistakes!" "That's the danger of love, dear husband." "It makes you vulnerable." "I remember everything now, especially the pain of your betrayal." "Our precious Evander is the only one that's never disappointed me." "I think I'll keep him, while you spend eternity thinking about what you've done." "Oh, I love you, Mom." "But don't worry." "You won't be alone for long... because I remember that it was Hercules... who trapped me in the Abyss of Tartarus." "So... he shall suffer the same fate as you." "Like father, like son." "Okay, okay, okay." "So the footprints end here, but no Atlas." "What do you think we're missing?" "I'd say the wall." "Gods of Olympus, the fortress that has protected you from my race... is about to come crashing down." "Let me say, Atlas, I really admire your determination." "You're gonna need it when you're learning to walk again." "Should we be upsetting him?" "Why not?" "Because!" "Now, son of Zeus, you die." "See?" "I told you." "You upset him." "Boy, it's an anticlimax." "You were saying?" "Me and my big mouth." "I suppose my aim's a little rusty, but I won't miss next time." "Looks like she got her memory back." " No, you think?" "Please stop." "I'm scared." " No." "Let him go." "You can have me." "Oh, no, no, no!" "No, you have me all wrong." "I wouldn't hurt Evander." "He saved my life." "I don't want to fight you." "You don't?" "No." "I can't say as I blame you, Hercules." "The last time we did battle, you had the power of a god." "This time, things won't go so well for you." "Just... stop." "We've been at war since I was a boy." "Now we have the chance to end it." "You give me one good reason why." "It's never given either of us a moment of peace!" "Why are you in such a conciliatory mood?" "Because Zeus loves you, and like it or not, he is my father." "I vowed to reclaim my dignity, Hercules, the day you were born." "And unlike some people," "I keep my promises." "All right, you Goddess of Grump, give me your best shot!" "Uh, you got a plan?" "Yeah." "He's dead." "Is this what you wanted?" "Was your vengeance worth it?" "If there is any good in you at all, you save him." "I can't do it alone." " What have you done?" " It was a mistake." "I didn't mean to hurt him." "You're both to blame here!" "You for betraying your wife-- you for taking your anger out on the world." "Your war ends today." "Do you understand me?" "It has cost us all too much!" "Try being selfless for a change!" "Help Evander grow into the kind of a man... who can bring back to the world everything that you've taken away." "Come on, Evander." " Mommy!" " Evander!" "Oh, thank you, thank you." "So, that's it?" "Atlas holds up the world for all eternity?" "You want the job?" "Oh, I'm more of a nine-to-five kind of guy." "I hope you're happy!" "Because of you, Hera and Zeus are gonna get back together again!" "And this upsets you." "Unbelievable." "Because everything I ever learned... about hate and greed and envy and spite..." "I learned from Hera!" "Are there no more heroes?" "Hey, you've got us." "You mark my words" ""You'll pay for this, Hercules."" ""We'll meet again, little brother."" ""You're on my list, Hercules!"" "Did we forget anything?" "Yeah, probably, but" "I think we hurt his feelings." "Huh." "Does it matter?" "Good point." "Hey, you know, before, did you mean it when you were talking about retiring?" "Did I say that?" "Yeah, yeah." "I was there." "You said it." "You said, "Don't worry." "After this one, I'm done."" "Oh." "Right." "Well, then I guess we're retired." "Great." "?" "Here we go." "Okay, ready to come out of retirement?" "You bet." "But seriously, Herc, let me ask you something." "Do you think you'll ever give all this up?" "You know, settle down, hang up your gauntlets?" "You know, Iolaus," "I've spent so much time walking down that road... and wondering if eventually it would take me somewhere I'd wanna stop." "But you know what?" "This is my life." "It's what I do best." "You know, maybe someday I'll be ready to slow down, but... for now I'd rather just..." "keep on walking." "Care to join me?" "Frankly, Hercules, I wouldn't have it any other way." "So, Hercules, you think Hera and Zeus will be able to work things out?" "After everything we've been through together, Iolaus, there's only one thing I can say for sure:" "Anything's possible." "Yeah."