Hercules and the Princess of Troy (1965) Movie Script
1
Once upon a time
in ancient Troy,
this sacred flame burning bright
meant a maiden was to be sacrificed.
Once each month, a brave
group gathered on Troy's beach,
and while most Trojans hid in safety
behind the city walls,
the chosen maiden would be
sent to the altar rock,
an offering to the sea monster.
Princess Diana,
a maiden soon old enough to
become Troy's queen is there.
Petra, her uncle,
now Troy's king, is there,
watching like the others,
as the High Priest asks the girl
to fulfill her destiny.
- Come child.
- Oh!
The Trojans know too well
that only the sacrifice of a maiden
can appease the Gods.
Only that gift will satisfy
the monster's appetite,
keep it at sea, away from the city.
Keep it from devouring
the terrorized people.
My heart is heavy,
but it is the will of the Gods.
One single human being
must be sacrificed
to save us all from destruction.
The Gods permit us to
fight against the sea monster.
Who will do so for your daughter?
I will go.
Oh.
Ortag, may you break the spell
which darkens our lives.
No.
Though Troy's law forbids it,
families flee from the city
to save their daughters.
But pirates wait offshore,
and most who flee Troy
are soon captured.
The fathers and brothers, tortured...
Or made galley slaves.
Mothers and virgin
daughters, torn from their men,
are prisoners hidden
in the damp black hole below,
and destined now for the
slave markets in far-off lands.
But sailing the same sea
is the ship Olympia,
with its crew of strong, free warriors.
Carrying home to Thebes,
Ulysses, son of its King.
Diogenes, philosopher, scientist, skeptic.
And the master of The Olympia, Hercules.
Born of a mortal woman,
but fathered by Zeus, King of the Gods.
Like his mother, Hercules is mortal,
even though his father has
given him god-like strength.
As befits a godly gift,
Hercules' strength is used
in the cause of justice
to protect the weak,
to avenge the wrong.
A sail, off the bow!
Hercules.
- Hercules!
- Hercules!
Pull away!
The rope. Hurry.
Look, Diogenes, they're fleeing.
They'll never make it.
Cut those men loose!
How long have you been
locked down there?
Two months.
But more like an eternity.
Smash their chains, and get
them all aboard The Olympia.
And put fire to this ship!
If the wind picks up,
we should be in Troy in less than...
WOMAN: No!
Not one of us wants to go back to Troy.
- Why?
- The sea monster.
We'll never let our daughters go back.
The monster has been holding
a shroud of terror
over Troy for two years.
He is the evil power,
which is destroying
the city and its people.
The ocean casts him out each month.
And every month in Troy,
another family mourns in grief.
And so you all fled the city?
We could never go back even if,
even if we wanted to.
We're considered traitors at home.
We violated the law by running away.
What law can prevent a man
from protecting his own?
The monster is a curse of the Gods.
No one must escape him.
But you ascribe too many
things to the gods, my friend.
Hasn't anyone dared to feed
your monster a little steel?
Many have tried.
But none of them has returned.
We will go to Troy just the same.
- What do you mean?
- It's simple.
He is impatient to reach Troy,
so he can twist your sea monster's neck.
Is your friend joking?
Yes, he's joking.
But he's also telling you the truth.
I want to free your city from this terror.
You know, this ship is like a magnet,
the way it attracts trouble.
Always complaining.
Why didn't you just stay
in Thebes, Diogenes?
With that tongue of yours, you
would've made a vicious orator.
To tell the truth, my friend,
I don't mind a voyage to Troy right now,
not in the least.
You see, I have a wife in Thebes
more menacing than all monsters,
including yours.
Over there! A man!
Drop sail, we've arrived. We're in Troy.
With The Olympia
beached in the bay of Sirens,
Hercules enters the city.
Troy knows his fame,
admires his great deeds.
But he brings with him,
those who had fled from
Troy to save themselves,
those who had broken the law
and had left friends
behind to face the terror.
So, instead of cheers,
doubt and suspicion welcome him.
I welcome you to our city, Hercules.
We've heard much of your adventures.
You must be young Ulysses.
Yes.
His father, the King of Thebes,
entrusted him to my care.
In the vain hope that he will
learn something about life someday.
And I recognize the wit of Diogenes.
I welcome Hercules' companions as well.
Thank you.
I'm sorry that your welcome
cannot also be extended
to the Trojans we brought back with us.
They violated a painful law,
but, I must enforce it.
You see, I'm only temporary ruler of Troy.
In two months, I will surrender the throne
to my niece, Diana.
And the only gift I can
make her is an example
of a just government,
especially in times of disaster.
Times will change, Petra.
The sea monster will take
no more victims.
Would you challenge him?
With your permission.
You alone could face the creature.
But are you aware
of the danger of the task?
The seabed beneath the altar rock
is white with human bones.
Hercules will vanquish the monster.
He is the son of the Gods, an immortal.
No princess, my life can also end.
But then, one doesn't
have to be immortal
to challenge the sea monster.
One of your subjects did so
and didn't die. Ortag.
But we saw him snatched
by the black claws.
He wasn't killed.
We pulled him from the sea.
At this moment, he is aboard
our ship, The Olympia in the bay.
Diogenes has no equal
as a setter of bones.
In his care, Ortag will recover.
Ortag may have escaped
the fate of all the others,
but are you certain
you will be as fortunate?
I have the feeling Petra is reluctant
to accept Hercules' help.
If I've given this impression,
then I will correct it at once.
I not only desire it,
but I am ready to offer
every assistance possible.
All the world knows the fame
of the two invulnerable horses
the Goddess Minerva gave this city.
Are you ready to offer him these two?
If they can help you,
they're yours, of course...
But I fail to understand what use
they can be against the monster.
Actually, they're of no use in the sea.
But on dry land,
it becomes a different matter.
Then you shall have them.
Let me show them to you.
Fool! No one is allowed
to ride those horses.
They're divine and not to be made sport of.
Whoa! Hey, steady, steady, steady.
You disregarded my orders.
Take him away!
Thank you, Hercules.
Forgive this unfortunate incident,
but these horses need all the
special care we can give them.
Even the water they drink must be
taken from the grottoes of Minerva.
Yet the temptation to ride them
is often too great for my men.
I must admit to feeling
tempted myself, Petra.
I should consider it an honor
for you to ride them, Hercules.
And to make any use of them you wish,
in your fight with the monster.
Then we shall try them
soon, together, Ulysses.
They're wonderful.
Here.
You can't hurt them.
Maybe they are invulnerable, but,
when I think that this arrow
might penetrate them, I...
Allow me, then.
Diogenes does not believe his own eyes.
Not today, I must confess.
Please forgive Leander for his rudeness.
Not at all.
There's a great difference
between discourtesy and a...
A young man's natural impulse.
A young man in love,
who is rather jealous at seeing
you so taken with our guest.
Until this moment,
I dreaded becoming Queen
over a city filled with grief, but,
now that you will
free Troy of its monster,
I await the day with impatience.
When Petra places my
father's crown upon my head,
you will alone will be
the cause of it, Hercules.
I want you to be with me on that day.
Please remain until then.
That's not a small favor
you're asking, Diana.
It would be an honor, Diana.
I accept with pleasure.
Believing the Trojans
friendly, Hercules work with them,
learning all he can
that will help them and him,
defeat the creature from the deep.
All right, Ortag, tell us
everything you can remember.
Twenty paces long.
Is there any part not covered?
All like iron.
Flesh, stomach.
You mean, its underbelly is exposed.
- Its armor doesn't reach it?
- Hmm.
This proves how vital it is
to lure it out of the water.
Hercules!
Hercules!
He's no longer jealous of you
since you started training some
of his Trojans for the Olympic games.
Leander's a proud man.
I'm sure he wants Troy to have the
best possible team for the Olympics.
We've prepared a special
boxing exhibition for the King.
I want you to come
to the palace today, Ortag.
People...
Scared.
You have faced up to the monster.
You mustn't be afraid of men.
Are you sure, Hercules?
Botus, are you ready?
For you, if you wish them.
They won't be necessary.
Remember what we did
yesterday, Botus.
He's ideally built for attack.
All right, Botus, go.
Remember now,
you dodge by changing
the position of your feet.
All right, now, attack,
but keep good as balanced with your body.
It's the blow that doesn't hurt
but can humiliate a man, who...
What is it, Botus?
How did it happen?
Poison.
Meant for who, Hercules?
Aboard The Olympia,
a plan takes shape.
Here, Diogenes' science
and skill are at work,
searching for a way to force
the monster to the shore.
Careful.
Don't disturb our noble scientist.
That's how he hopes
to get us out of this mess.
I don't hope, my young friend. I'm sure.
Suppose these little powders
don't work against the monster?
They must.
We only have two more days.
The monster's next victim
is chosen tomorrow.
And the day after...
Just what is Diogenes trying to get?
A reaction to water.
Yes.
And if I were you, I'd also be concerned
with your own reaction
to poison, Hercules.
You're still thinking
about Botus, aren't you?
With good reason.
It's obvious he wanted
to boast the rest of his life
of having slain Hercules with one blow.
You mouth Petra's words, Ulysses.
But do you really believe him?
Well, I don't.
Now...
It works.
It burns in contact with water.
And just in time, Diogenes.
I don't know why I let Diogenes
talk me into bringing my bow
and arrows on a peaceful ride.
Who would attack us?
In no time at all, he's
become suspicious of everyone.
I'm not so sure he's wrong.
There they are. The grottoes of Minerva.
Let's water the horses.
Look out!
In there.
Get behind me.
Looks like you ran into some trouble.
We were ambushed
by a gang of thieves.
Or soldiers, disguised as thieves.
What do you mean, "soldiers"?
Follow my reasoning.
Why make an attempt on Hercules' life?
To prevent him
from slaying the monster?
No, he's too despised by everyone.
Solution,
to prevent him from doing
something else he promised to do.
Go on.
Now you said you'd stay in Troy
to see the sea monster killed,
and Diana's coronation.
Well, I think someone
doesn't want the crown
to be worn by such a
young and pretty head
or the people of Troy freed.
You mean Petra.
He's plotting to kill her
just as he killed King Linus,
his beloved brother.
But her father was killed
in a hunting accident.
Don't be afraid, we won't harm you.
Who is he? What's he doing here?
I found him on the mountain trail
where King Linus met the Gods
three years ago.
Now tell Hercules what you know,
and what you saw,
the way you told me.
I was leading my flock.
I heard hunting horns, horses galloping.
I saw the King ride away.
He was way ahead of the others.
I heard a scream.
He'd fallen.
Huge crevice.
Everyone knows about
the hunting accident.
Accident?
Tell him about that crevice.
Deep.
And it wasn't there the day before.
What do you mean?
There was a violent storm
during the night.
That's right. Thunder and lightning.
And Petra blamed a stroke of lightning
for opening that hole.
Now, don't you think it odd,
that the lightning knew exactly which way
King Linus was going to ride?
Just as those thieves knew which
direction you were taking today?
How could you make an attempt on his life
and still let him take
the invulnerable horses?
In order to switch horses,
we must get two exactly alike.
We have not been able
to find them as yet.
I advise you to find them, Argus,
and as quickly as possible.
It's not possible.
Even if you could prove it,
I would not believe it.
If I could do that,
I wouldn't have come to you.
I would've gone directly to Petra,
and not just to discuss it.
I knew this would cause you pain, Diana,
but you must know the truth.
But if he wishes to kill me, why wait?
Why hasn't he done so already?
Because the people love you.
Diana, if you were to die accidentally,
someone might wonder who
would benefit by your death.
Perhaps the same people who
benefited by your father's death.
But,
Petra's been so good to me.
He's so kind and gentle. And cunning.
He wants to strike you down
without the slightest suspicion to himself.
Come Diana, it is time.
The ceremony is about to start.
The princess is to join the procession?
Fate recognizes neither rank nor station.
Destiny guides our every action
and will choose one of us,
whoever she might be.
Tomorrow you must fight for her,
for our city.
I will stay close to you, Diana.
The mournful horn sounds,
and the maidens are summoned.
Each is given a dove by the High Priest.
The flight of doves will
decide the monster's victim.
For all the doves
will soar freely in the sky
except one,
the dove of the unlucky
maiden chosen by the Gods.
This is the last time
I entrust you to the wings of fate,
for soon you will be Queen.
But today, you are still a young maiden
ready to offer her life for Troy.
I've replaced the
invulnerable horses, Petra.
Venus of the white doves,
choose among these young Trojan girls,
the one who is to sacrifice herself,
to make amends for the mysterious guilt,
which still torments our city.
I have something to ask you, High Priest,
and you'd better speak the truth.
Fate did not choose Diana.
Petra did,
with the help of his High Priest.
And then he had
his High Priest murdered.
What is it you wish?
That the ceremony be repeated?
That perhaps another maiden
must take Diana's place?
No Trojan is willing to face
the horror of a fresh choice.
The sea monster is something real,
while you are still nothing but a hope.
That is why you want to
send Diana to the altar rock.
You are certain I can never save her.
But you're wrong.
I will slay the monster.
I will slay him tomorrow.
That's right.
I want to see you smile.
I have faith in you.
I will come for you in the morning
and accompany you to the beach myself.
And I want you to believe this...
Tomorrow's ceremony will be the last.
I will await you.
Hercules.
May I join your men?
I cannot stand idly by when
you meet the monster tomorrow.
All right, Leander.
I'll expect you aboard
The Olympia at dawn.
Now go back to her.
Don't let her lose courage.
I want him alive!
The sacred flame is
already alight in the brazier.
I must wait for Hercules.
The sun is up, we cannot delay it.
Come, I'm sure we'll
find him on the beach.
Why is Hercules so late?
He should've been here by now.
Leander, what are you doing here?
I'm joining you.
- But where is Hercules?
- Well, that's what we'd like to know.
- Wasn't he at the palace?
- No.
They're taking Diana to the reef.
I cannot wait.
We must find Hercules,
I'm sure something's happened to him.
You know we would give
our lives for him.
But is this what he would wish of us now?
To rush into the city to seek him?
Why did we prepare all this?
Why did Hercules bring us here to Troy?
Now, ask yourself, Ulysses,
what would he want us to do?
I will tell you.
Carry on with what he has started.
Save Diana's life and not his own.
Who will take his place?
I will.
I will do everything in my
power to slay the monster.
And we'll help you just as
we would've helped Hercules.
All of us.
Ortag, where are you going?
Ortag!
Accept the fate which the Gods
have reserved for you.
If it is their will, I am prepared.
Grant me permission to remain
beside Diana, to fight for her.
Don't let him, please.
You must. It's my right.
Leander,
may you break the spell
which darkens our lives.
I thank you, Leander.
You must help her,
now that Hercules and his
men have abandoned her.
Thirsty?
Want some water, Hercules?
Very good.
Pour more. Pour.
Thirsty?
Want some water, Hercules?
Wait, that's too easy for him.
Remember, our orders
were to kill him slowly.
Let's seal him in.
Quickly now, over there.
All right, throw!
It's working.
Ortag!
Ortag, throw down some dirt.
All right, throw!
Look, it's coming toward us.
Good, it's working. It's coming this way.
Ortag, grab my arm.
I took them.
Pavilion.
No one to watch them.
Quick, the beach!
Hercules! It's Hercules!
Hercules!
Stop them!
Look out, they're
riding the invulnerable horses!
No, they're not.
They're not the invulnerable ones!
Kill him!
Stop! Stop!
Ortag! No!
No!
Yah! Yah!
I decree special funeral
services for Ortag.
Here, where he fell,
a pillar should be erected,
dedicated to him and to all young Trojans
who died to free our city.
My coronation day will
celebrate your triumph, Hercules,
and that of your companions.
Leander will be by your side.
And our good thoughts
will be with you both.
Each one of my men has someone
waiting for him in Thebes.
Yes, even Diogenes.
I think by now even
he is ready to go home.
- Actually, who took over...
- Who uncovered the plot
against Hercules in the first place?
Not you, my young friend.
You're always suspicious, Diogenes,
- of everyone.
- Which is fortunate...
- Fortunate?
- But I was the first one to...
What now?
You know what they're
always arguing about,
which one of the two served you best.
- That's an old problem.
- It was my idea.
Maybe we'll be able
to solve it the next time.
What do you mean?
Aren't we heading straight for Thebes?
We've a long way to go, my friends,
and only the Gods know
what's in store for us.
On the long return voyage to Thebes,
other feats await him,
other adventures
put in his path by the Gods.
So that Hercules may fulfill his destiny,
as a hero whose legendary
strength serves justice to man.
Once upon a time
in ancient Troy,
this sacred flame burning bright
meant a maiden was to be sacrificed.
Once each month, a brave
group gathered on Troy's beach,
and while most Trojans hid in safety
behind the city walls,
the chosen maiden would be
sent to the altar rock,
an offering to the sea monster.
Princess Diana,
a maiden soon old enough to
become Troy's queen is there.
Petra, her uncle,
now Troy's king, is there,
watching like the others,
as the High Priest asks the girl
to fulfill her destiny.
- Come child.
- Oh!
The Trojans know too well
that only the sacrifice of a maiden
can appease the Gods.
Only that gift will satisfy
the monster's appetite,
keep it at sea, away from the city.
Keep it from devouring
the terrorized people.
My heart is heavy,
but it is the will of the Gods.
One single human being
must be sacrificed
to save us all from destruction.
The Gods permit us to
fight against the sea monster.
Who will do so for your daughter?
I will go.
Oh.
Ortag, may you break the spell
which darkens our lives.
No.
Though Troy's law forbids it,
families flee from the city
to save their daughters.
But pirates wait offshore,
and most who flee Troy
are soon captured.
The fathers and brothers, tortured...
Or made galley slaves.
Mothers and virgin
daughters, torn from their men,
are prisoners hidden
in the damp black hole below,
and destined now for the
slave markets in far-off lands.
But sailing the same sea
is the ship Olympia,
with its crew of strong, free warriors.
Carrying home to Thebes,
Ulysses, son of its King.
Diogenes, philosopher, scientist, skeptic.
And the master of The Olympia, Hercules.
Born of a mortal woman,
but fathered by Zeus, King of the Gods.
Like his mother, Hercules is mortal,
even though his father has
given him god-like strength.
As befits a godly gift,
Hercules' strength is used
in the cause of justice
to protect the weak,
to avenge the wrong.
A sail, off the bow!
Hercules.
- Hercules!
- Hercules!
Pull away!
The rope. Hurry.
Look, Diogenes, they're fleeing.
They'll never make it.
Cut those men loose!
How long have you been
locked down there?
Two months.
But more like an eternity.
Smash their chains, and get
them all aboard The Olympia.
And put fire to this ship!
If the wind picks up,
we should be in Troy in less than...
WOMAN: No!
Not one of us wants to go back to Troy.
- Why?
- The sea monster.
We'll never let our daughters go back.
The monster has been holding
a shroud of terror
over Troy for two years.
He is the evil power,
which is destroying
the city and its people.
The ocean casts him out each month.
And every month in Troy,
another family mourns in grief.
And so you all fled the city?
We could never go back even if,
even if we wanted to.
We're considered traitors at home.
We violated the law by running away.
What law can prevent a man
from protecting his own?
The monster is a curse of the Gods.
No one must escape him.
But you ascribe too many
things to the gods, my friend.
Hasn't anyone dared to feed
your monster a little steel?
Many have tried.
But none of them has returned.
We will go to Troy just the same.
- What do you mean?
- It's simple.
He is impatient to reach Troy,
so he can twist your sea monster's neck.
Is your friend joking?
Yes, he's joking.
But he's also telling you the truth.
I want to free your city from this terror.
You know, this ship is like a magnet,
the way it attracts trouble.
Always complaining.
Why didn't you just stay
in Thebes, Diogenes?
With that tongue of yours, you
would've made a vicious orator.
To tell the truth, my friend,
I don't mind a voyage to Troy right now,
not in the least.
You see, I have a wife in Thebes
more menacing than all monsters,
including yours.
Over there! A man!
Drop sail, we've arrived. We're in Troy.
With The Olympia
beached in the bay of Sirens,
Hercules enters the city.
Troy knows his fame,
admires his great deeds.
But he brings with him,
those who had fled from
Troy to save themselves,
those who had broken the law
and had left friends
behind to face the terror.
So, instead of cheers,
doubt and suspicion welcome him.
I welcome you to our city, Hercules.
We've heard much of your adventures.
You must be young Ulysses.
Yes.
His father, the King of Thebes,
entrusted him to my care.
In the vain hope that he will
learn something about life someday.
And I recognize the wit of Diogenes.
I welcome Hercules' companions as well.
Thank you.
I'm sorry that your welcome
cannot also be extended
to the Trojans we brought back with us.
They violated a painful law,
but, I must enforce it.
You see, I'm only temporary ruler of Troy.
In two months, I will surrender the throne
to my niece, Diana.
And the only gift I can
make her is an example
of a just government,
especially in times of disaster.
Times will change, Petra.
The sea monster will take
no more victims.
Would you challenge him?
With your permission.
You alone could face the creature.
But are you aware
of the danger of the task?
The seabed beneath the altar rock
is white with human bones.
Hercules will vanquish the monster.
He is the son of the Gods, an immortal.
No princess, my life can also end.
But then, one doesn't
have to be immortal
to challenge the sea monster.
One of your subjects did so
and didn't die. Ortag.
But we saw him snatched
by the black claws.
He wasn't killed.
We pulled him from the sea.
At this moment, he is aboard
our ship, The Olympia in the bay.
Diogenes has no equal
as a setter of bones.
In his care, Ortag will recover.
Ortag may have escaped
the fate of all the others,
but are you certain
you will be as fortunate?
I have the feeling Petra is reluctant
to accept Hercules' help.
If I've given this impression,
then I will correct it at once.
I not only desire it,
but I am ready to offer
every assistance possible.
All the world knows the fame
of the two invulnerable horses
the Goddess Minerva gave this city.
Are you ready to offer him these two?
If they can help you,
they're yours, of course...
But I fail to understand what use
they can be against the monster.
Actually, they're of no use in the sea.
But on dry land,
it becomes a different matter.
Then you shall have them.
Let me show them to you.
Fool! No one is allowed
to ride those horses.
They're divine and not to be made sport of.
Whoa! Hey, steady, steady, steady.
You disregarded my orders.
Take him away!
Thank you, Hercules.
Forgive this unfortunate incident,
but these horses need all the
special care we can give them.
Even the water they drink must be
taken from the grottoes of Minerva.
Yet the temptation to ride them
is often too great for my men.
I must admit to feeling
tempted myself, Petra.
I should consider it an honor
for you to ride them, Hercules.
And to make any use of them you wish,
in your fight with the monster.
Then we shall try them
soon, together, Ulysses.
They're wonderful.
Here.
You can't hurt them.
Maybe they are invulnerable, but,
when I think that this arrow
might penetrate them, I...
Allow me, then.
Diogenes does not believe his own eyes.
Not today, I must confess.
Please forgive Leander for his rudeness.
Not at all.
There's a great difference
between discourtesy and a...
A young man's natural impulse.
A young man in love,
who is rather jealous at seeing
you so taken with our guest.
Until this moment,
I dreaded becoming Queen
over a city filled with grief, but,
now that you will
free Troy of its monster,
I await the day with impatience.
When Petra places my
father's crown upon my head,
you will alone will be
the cause of it, Hercules.
I want you to be with me on that day.
Please remain until then.
That's not a small favor
you're asking, Diana.
It would be an honor, Diana.
I accept with pleasure.
Believing the Trojans
friendly, Hercules work with them,
learning all he can
that will help them and him,
defeat the creature from the deep.
All right, Ortag, tell us
everything you can remember.
Twenty paces long.
Is there any part not covered?
All like iron.
Flesh, stomach.
You mean, its underbelly is exposed.
- Its armor doesn't reach it?
- Hmm.
This proves how vital it is
to lure it out of the water.
Hercules!
Hercules!
He's no longer jealous of you
since you started training some
of his Trojans for the Olympic games.
Leander's a proud man.
I'm sure he wants Troy to have the
best possible team for the Olympics.
We've prepared a special
boxing exhibition for the King.
I want you to come
to the palace today, Ortag.
People...
Scared.
You have faced up to the monster.
You mustn't be afraid of men.
Are you sure, Hercules?
Botus, are you ready?
For you, if you wish them.
They won't be necessary.
Remember what we did
yesterday, Botus.
He's ideally built for attack.
All right, Botus, go.
Remember now,
you dodge by changing
the position of your feet.
All right, now, attack,
but keep good as balanced with your body.
It's the blow that doesn't hurt
but can humiliate a man, who...
What is it, Botus?
How did it happen?
Poison.
Meant for who, Hercules?
Aboard The Olympia,
a plan takes shape.
Here, Diogenes' science
and skill are at work,
searching for a way to force
the monster to the shore.
Careful.
Don't disturb our noble scientist.
That's how he hopes
to get us out of this mess.
I don't hope, my young friend. I'm sure.
Suppose these little powders
don't work against the monster?
They must.
We only have two more days.
The monster's next victim
is chosen tomorrow.
And the day after...
Just what is Diogenes trying to get?
A reaction to water.
Yes.
And if I were you, I'd also be concerned
with your own reaction
to poison, Hercules.
You're still thinking
about Botus, aren't you?
With good reason.
It's obvious he wanted
to boast the rest of his life
of having slain Hercules with one blow.
You mouth Petra's words, Ulysses.
But do you really believe him?
Well, I don't.
Now...
It works.
It burns in contact with water.
And just in time, Diogenes.
I don't know why I let Diogenes
talk me into bringing my bow
and arrows on a peaceful ride.
Who would attack us?
In no time at all, he's
become suspicious of everyone.
I'm not so sure he's wrong.
There they are. The grottoes of Minerva.
Let's water the horses.
Look out!
In there.
Get behind me.
Looks like you ran into some trouble.
We were ambushed
by a gang of thieves.
Or soldiers, disguised as thieves.
What do you mean, "soldiers"?
Follow my reasoning.
Why make an attempt on Hercules' life?
To prevent him
from slaying the monster?
No, he's too despised by everyone.
Solution,
to prevent him from doing
something else he promised to do.
Go on.
Now you said you'd stay in Troy
to see the sea monster killed,
and Diana's coronation.
Well, I think someone
doesn't want the crown
to be worn by such a
young and pretty head
or the people of Troy freed.
You mean Petra.
He's plotting to kill her
just as he killed King Linus,
his beloved brother.
But her father was killed
in a hunting accident.
Don't be afraid, we won't harm you.
Who is he? What's he doing here?
I found him on the mountain trail
where King Linus met the Gods
three years ago.
Now tell Hercules what you know,
and what you saw,
the way you told me.
I was leading my flock.
I heard hunting horns, horses galloping.
I saw the King ride away.
He was way ahead of the others.
I heard a scream.
He'd fallen.
Huge crevice.
Everyone knows about
the hunting accident.
Accident?
Tell him about that crevice.
Deep.
And it wasn't there the day before.
What do you mean?
There was a violent storm
during the night.
That's right. Thunder and lightning.
And Petra blamed a stroke of lightning
for opening that hole.
Now, don't you think it odd,
that the lightning knew exactly which way
King Linus was going to ride?
Just as those thieves knew which
direction you were taking today?
How could you make an attempt on his life
and still let him take
the invulnerable horses?
In order to switch horses,
we must get two exactly alike.
We have not been able
to find them as yet.
I advise you to find them, Argus,
and as quickly as possible.
It's not possible.
Even if you could prove it,
I would not believe it.
If I could do that,
I wouldn't have come to you.
I would've gone directly to Petra,
and not just to discuss it.
I knew this would cause you pain, Diana,
but you must know the truth.
But if he wishes to kill me, why wait?
Why hasn't he done so already?
Because the people love you.
Diana, if you were to die accidentally,
someone might wonder who
would benefit by your death.
Perhaps the same people who
benefited by your father's death.
But,
Petra's been so good to me.
He's so kind and gentle. And cunning.
He wants to strike you down
without the slightest suspicion to himself.
Come Diana, it is time.
The ceremony is about to start.
The princess is to join the procession?
Fate recognizes neither rank nor station.
Destiny guides our every action
and will choose one of us,
whoever she might be.
Tomorrow you must fight for her,
for our city.
I will stay close to you, Diana.
The mournful horn sounds,
and the maidens are summoned.
Each is given a dove by the High Priest.
The flight of doves will
decide the monster's victim.
For all the doves
will soar freely in the sky
except one,
the dove of the unlucky
maiden chosen by the Gods.
This is the last time
I entrust you to the wings of fate,
for soon you will be Queen.
But today, you are still a young maiden
ready to offer her life for Troy.
I've replaced the
invulnerable horses, Petra.
Venus of the white doves,
choose among these young Trojan girls,
the one who is to sacrifice herself,
to make amends for the mysterious guilt,
which still torments our city.
I have something to ask you, High Priest,
and you'd better speak the truth.
Fate did not choose Diana.
Petra did,
with the help of his High Priest.
And then he had
his High Priest murdered.
What is it you wish?
That the ceremony be repeated?
That perhaps another maiden
must take Diana's place?
No Trojan is willing to face
the horror of a fresh choice.
The sea monster is something real,
while you are still nothing but a hope.
That is why you want to
send Diana to the altar rock.
You are certain I can never save her.
But you're wrong.
I will slay the monster.
I will slay him tomorrow.
That's right.
I want to see you smile.
I have faith in you.
I will come for you in the morning
and accompany you to the beach myself.
And I want you to believe this...
Tomorrow's ceremony will be the last.
I will await you.
Hercules.
May I join your men?
I cannot stand idly by when
you meet the monster tomorrow.
All right, Leander.
I'll expect you aboard
The Olympia at dawn.
Now go back to her.
Don't let her lose courage.
I want him alive!
The sacred flame is
already alight in the brazier.
I must wait for Hercules.
The sun is up, we cannot delay it.
Come, I'm sure we'll
find him on the beach.
Why is Hercules so late?
He should've been here by now.
Leander, what are you doing here?
I'm joining you.
- But where is Hercules?
- Well, that's what we'd like to know.
- Wasn't he at the palace?
- No.
They're taking Diana to the reef.
I cannot wait.
We must find Hercules,
I'm sure something's happened to him.
You know we would give
our lives for him.
But is this what he would wish of us now?
To rush into the city to seek him?
Why did we prepare all this?
Why did Hercules bring us here to Troy?
Now, ask yourself, Ulysses,
what would he want us to do?
I will tell you.
Carry on with what he has started.
Save Diana's life and not his own.
Who will take his place?
I will.
I will do everything in my
power to slay the monster.
And we'll help you just as
we would've helped Hercules.
All of us.
Ortag, where are you going?
Ortag!
Accept the fate which the Gods
have reserved for you.
If it is their will, I am prepared.
Grant me permission to remain
beside Diana, to fight for her.
Don't let him, please.
You must. It's my right.
Leander,
may you break the spell
which darkens our lives.
I thank you, Leander.
You must help her,
now that Hercules and his
men have abandoned her.
Thirsty?
Want some water, Hercules?
Very good.
Pour more. Pour.
Thirsty?
Want some water, Hercules?
Wait, that's too easy for him.
Remember, our orders
were to kill him slowly.
Let's seal him in.
Quickly now, over there.
All right, throw!
It's working.
Ortag!
Ortag, throw down some dirt.
All right, throw!
Look, it's coming toward us.
Good, it's working. It's coming this way.
Ortag, grab my arm.
I took them.
Pavilion.
No one to watch them.
Quick, the beach!
Hercules! It's Hercules!
Hercules!
Stop them!
Look out, they're
riding the invulnerable horses!
No, they're not.
They're not the invulnerable ones!
Kill him!
Stop! Stop!
Ortag! No!
No!
Yah! Yah!
I decree special funeral
services for Ortag.
Here, where he fell,
a pillar should be erected,
dedicated to him and to all young Trojans
who died to free our city.
My coronation day will
celebrate your triumph, Hercules,
and that of your companions.
Leander will be by your side.
And our good thoughts
will be with you both.
Each one of my men has someone
waiting for him in Thebes.
Yes, even Diogenes.
I think by now even
he is ready to go home.
- Actually, who took over...
- Who uncovered the plot
against Hercules in the first place?
Not you, my young friend.
You're always suspicious, Diogenes,
- of everyone.
- Which is fortunate...
- Fortunate?
- But I was the first one to...
What now?
You know what they're
always arguing about,
which one of the two served you best.
- That's an old problem.
- It was my idea.
Maybe we'll be able
to solve it the next time.
What do you mean?
Aren't we heading straight for Thebes?
We've a long way to go, my friends,
and only the Gods know
what's in store for us.
On the long return voyage to Thebes,
other feats await him,
other adventures
put in his path by the Gods.
So that Hercules may fulfill his destiny,
as a hero whose legendary
strength serves justice to man.