Young lovers Deon and Sirene are walking along the beach near their home, discussing the future. Deon has big dreams: he wants to see the world, to be famous. He thinks being a fisherman like his father is boring. Further down the beach, bandits on some very weird-looking wheeled windsurfers have spotted the young couple and identified them as easy pickings. Then one of the bandits sees Hercules approaching from the other direction. The bandits split up: two of them go after Deon and Sirene, the others attack Hercules. The inevitable fight owes a lot to the "Indiana Jones" movies, as Hercules not only defeats the bandits but trashes their vehicles as well. As he's finishing the job, Hercules hears Sirene screaming for help. When the two bandits attacked them, Deon was able to save Sirene, but he's in trouble now. Hercules reaches the scene in time to witness Deon pleading with the bandits for his life. To everyone's surprise, the bandits do as Deon says, even running away when he tells them to go.
Returning to their village, Deon excitedly tells his story. It seems the bandits have been a problem locally for some time. No one believes Deon's story about making the bandits run from him. Hercules assured them Deon is telling the truth, but still the villagers scoff. One man challenges Deon to make *him* run like a chicken and Deon loses his temper. "Dance. Dance like a chicken," he tells him. The man promptly does exactly that...as does Salmonius, who was standing behind the man at the time. Hercules tries to snap Salmoneus out of it, finally throwing water in his face. Jacobus, Deon's father, asks his son how he did it. Deon admits he doesn't know, but someone there appears to have some idea. Jacobus' brother Karis, who says quietly to his brother, "What you told me years ago -- it's true?" He seems to see some possibilities here.
Hercules and Salmoneus are in the tavern, talking. Salmoneus reveals he was *paid* to come to this village: a pair of wealthy farmers known as the Titus brothers want him to sell their produce. Hercules can't believe it. Jacobus comes in and introduces himself to Hercules. Hearing that Hercules plans to stay in the area for a few days, he invites him to stay at his own home. It seems unusually important to him, and Hercules accepts the invitation. They leave together. When Salmoneus asks the tavern-keeper about the Titus brothers, the tavern suddenly empties. Moments later we discover why: the Titus brothers are farmers all right, but their "produce" is manure. From everyone's reactions, the brothers *never* bathe. And they want Salmoneus to be their salesman. Salmoneus can't think of a polite way to turn them down...and these guys are way too dense to take a hint.
Jacobus tells Hercules about his family -- his brother Karis is a great warrior and local hero: he's travelled the world and fought great battles. Deon looks up to him a great deal. It sounds as if Jacobus feels inadequate, and Hercules tells him there's honour in living a simple life, too. As their conversation turns to Deon, Jacobus' real concerns come out: he admits to Hercules he knows exactly where Deon's power comes from "That's why I need your help." Hercules persuades Jacobus he must tell Deon the truth: all of it. Turns out Deon's mother was Aphrodite: years before she met Jacobus on the beach, spent one night with him then dumped the baby on him nine months later. Not wanting to tell Deon his mother abandoned him, Jacobus has told his son that his mother died in childbirth. Deon can't quite take it in. "Your power -- it's from the gods," Hercules tells the lad. When he's had time to think about all this, Deon wants to know what his mother is like. Hercules tells him Aphrodite has some good qualities...but he seems hard pushed to think of one. But in talking to Deon, Hercules raises some serious issues, too, like with power comes responsibility. "No more turning people into chickens?" Deon asks sheepishly.
The Titus brothers are really pleased with Salmoneus' sales skill. But "Little T" is concerned that Salmoneus doesn't appear to enjoy his work. Salmoneus attempts to point out that there's not much *to* like about manure. Big mistake. "When a child's afraid of the water," Little T muses, "sometimes the only thing to do is throw him in." When the brothers grab him Salmoneus realises he's in for a swimming lesson -- in manure -- and starts to scream for help. He is heard by Hercules and Deon, who hurry to the rescue. When Hercules sees what's going on he wants to help, but the smell of all that manure puts him off. Deon offers to take care of it and Hercules is happy to watch from a safe distance. Deon tells the brothers to put Salmoneus down. "You guys should all be friends," he insists. Deon overdid it a little: Salmoneus embraces both brothers like they were gold, apparently no longer bothered by the stench. Deon admits that helping people feels good.
Deon can't wait to tell Sirene his news. He thinks she'll be pleased, but Sirene seems upset by the revelation that her boyfriend is a demigod. Seeing the lovers' disagreement, Karis "comforts" Deon, tempting him with wealth and women...if Deon will consider working for him. But Deon doesn't know that Karis is the leader of the bandits who've been terrorising the village.
In the tavern, Hercules comes across the bandits who attacked him on the beach. He takes the opportunity to ask them who they work for. After a brief but entertaining fight, the bandit confesses. Karis is still entertaining Deon when Hercules breaks in -- literally -- he throws the bandits through the wall of the house. Hercules confronts Karis in front of Deon, but Deon refuses to believe his uncle is a bandit. Hercules warns Karis to stop the robberies. When Hercules and Deon have gone, Karis pours scorn on Hercules' threats: "It won't be long before we'll have our very own son of a god on our side."
Jacobus believes Hercules' story. Deon is offended by this -- Karis is family -- and father and son have a blazing row. On the surface they're fighting about Karis, but Deon is still upset that Jacobus lied to him about his mother. He says some harsh things. Only to Sirene can Deon confide his true feelings.
Salmoneus tries to explain to the Titus brothers why he can't sell their manure any longer: "It's an image thing. If word gets out that I've sold cow-flop, my reputation won't be worth -- well -- cow-flop!" The brothers are offended. This could get ugly. Salmoneus runs.
Deon comes across a robbery in progress. He uses his power to stop it. Karis is on the scene and Deon realises Hercules was right. Even so, he listens to Karis' justifications: a mixture of sophistry and half-truth. Karis plays on the boy's pride, telling him that he could be more powerful than Hercules -- this appeals to Deon. Later, Jacobus and Hercules find Deon sharing a tankard with Karis in the tavern. Jacobus sends Deon outside so he can speak to Karis. He's furious that Karis is trying to corrupt his son. The brothers fight and Karis wins easily, sparing Jacobus' life only because to kill him would prove to Deon that Hercules is right. Deon rides away with Karis. Hercules tries to prevent this, but Deon using his power orders Salmoneus to make Hercules stay out of their way. Hercules has to "cure" Salmoneus before he can go after Deon.
Meanwhile, Deon stops to pick up Sirene. When she hears he's planning to go with Karis she refuses to join him. Deon is tempted to use his power to make her come with him, but he doesn't do it. When he leaves, Sirene is very upset. She runs in search of Hercules, begging him to help straighten Deon out. Deon and Karis see Hercules comforting Sirene and Karis convinces Deon they're seeing more than a friendly hug. He wants Deon angry enough to try to kill Hercules. Karis' bandits surround Hercules, Sirene and Jacobus. Deon, with Karis behind him, confronts Hercules, attempting to use his power. But Hercules is half-god, too -- Deon's power won't work on him. When Karis tries to kill Hercules Deon once again begins to rethink his position...but by then they're in the middle of a fight. While Hercules fights the other bandits, Karis attempts to murder Jacobus. Deon intervenes (physically, not with his power) and Karis is about to kill Deon when Jacobus throws a knife: killing Karis and saving his son's life.
They bury Karis above the beach. At the gravesite, Deon tells Hercules he doesn't yet know how he will use his power, but promises it will be to help people. Sirene invites Hercules -- as Deon's uncle -- to their wedding. Hercules tells them he wouldn't miss it.
Starring: Kevin Sorbo (Hercules)
Guest Starring: Robert Trebor (Salmoneus), Bruce Phillips (Jacobus), Grant Bridger (Karis), David Drew Gallagher (Deon), Greer Robson (Sirene), Patrick Wilson (Big Titus), Liam Vincent (Little Titus), Greg Johnson (Bandit #1), Christian Hodge (Bandit #2), Lulu Alach (Delia), Mark Sinclair (Fisherman), Greg Morman (Fish Monger), William Lose (Tavern Owner), Elaine Bracey (Villager Woman)
Written by Nelson Costello
Directed by Charlie Haskell