Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) and Iolaus (Michael Hurst) volunteer to help their friend Thanis (Paul Gittins), a gifted sculptor, dig an irrigation ditch on his farm. When Thanis announces he's going into town to pick up some supplies, Iolaus goes along and is stunned to see his friend rob Trilos (Stephen Papps), a local merchant there. Hercules arrives just in time to help Iolaus fend off a mob of angry villagers, determined to stone Thanis on the spot. After escorting their friend to the local magistrate (John O'Leary) and learning that his punishment will be the loss of both hands, Hercules and Iolaus are determined to help. Their task is made more difficult by the fact that Iolaus witnessed the crime, though Thanis continues to deny his guilt. When the magistrate agrees to give the two men 24 hours to prove their friend's innocence, they set out to investigate and quickly discover that the village is in a terrible state of turmoil. Speculating that the gods may be causing trouble, Hercules sends Iolaus back to Thanis' farm to tell his daughter Daniella (Ashley Laurence) about her father's arrest. Distraught at the news, Daniella insists she must talk to Hercules immediately. Returning to town, Iolaus is urgently beckoned by Hercules from across the square and as he races after his friend, Daniella rushes to her father's cell. She bursts into tears when an angry villager named Bornus (James O'Farrell) arrives to announce that he will be the one to carry out Thanis' punishment.
Unable to catch up with Hercules despite his best efforts, Iolaus begins to retrace his steps. Meanwhile, Daniella, pacing anxiously in the village square, is startled by Hercules' sudden appearance and confesses that he and Iolaus may be in danger because of her. When Hercules interrupts and reassures her that he can solve whatever problems arise, she innocently kisses him just as Iolaus rounds the corner. Shocked by what he sees, Iolaus marches off. Later, when Hercules finds Iolaus in a local tavern and tells him he's been searching for him, Iolaus is incredulous. When he questions Hercules about kissing Daniella, Hercules denies ever having done it, and Iolaus storms off once again. When Hercules pursues him to find out what's wrong, Iolaus stuns him by leaping from the shadows with his sword drawn. Forced into doing battle, Hercules is surprised again when the real Iolaus approaches from another direction. It is then that Hercules realizes that Proteus (Jane Cresswell), the ugly and deformed god who can change his shape at will, must be the cause of the trouble and confusion.
Daniella soon confirms that Proteus is exacting revenge on the village because she fled from him after seeing his real reflection in the water when he surprised her while bathing one day.
As Hercules scours the town looking for Proteus, Daniella comes to him and confesses her love. But as she leans forward to kiss him, a dagger flashes in her hand and she tries to stab him in the back. Hercules wrests the dagger away and seizes hold of the young woman who is, in fact, Proteus, and drags him toward the town square where Thanis is about to be maimed at the chopping block. En route, however, Hercules is completely thrown off balance when Proteus transforms himself again, this time into Hercules, and the son of Zeus must suddenly defend himself against -- himself! Their battle is devastating but when Hercules holds up a shiny shield so that Proteus can see his real reflection in the metal, the god loses his will to fight. Ashamed, he confesses that all he ever wanted was to capture Daniella's heart. Hercules convinces him to be himself and face the townspeople. He does and Thanis is spared at the last moment. In gratitude, the sculptor declares that his next works of art will immortalize Hercules and Iolaus.
Starring: Kevin Sorbo (Hercules)
Guest Starring: Michael Hurst (Iolaus), Ashley Laurence (Daniella), Paul Gittins (Thanis), James O'Farrell (Bornus), Stephen Papps (Trilos), John O'Leary (Magistrate), Jane Cresswell (Proteas), Alam Farquhar (Villager #1), Tamar Howe (Villager #2), Lilian Enting (Old Woman), Meredith Chalmers (Girl)
Written by Brian Herskowitz
Directed by Oley Sassone