Related Xena Episodes: Callisto, Intimate Stranger.
The evil goddess Hera promises Callisto (Hudson Leick), now languishing in Tartarus, one more day of life and a chance at immortality if she agrees to kill Hercules (Kevin Sorbo). Callisto eagerly accepts her offer. Meanwhile, in Corinth, Hercules is enjoying a morning stroll with Iolaus (Michael Hurst) when he inadvertently learns that his mother Alcmene (Liddy Holloway) is organizing a surprise birthday party for him at Iphicles' (Kevin Smith) castle later that day. Iolaus leaves his friend and sets out for the castle, where Alcmene, Jason (Jeffrey Thomas), Iphicles and Falafel (Paul Norell) are in the midst of final party preparations. As they wait for Hercules to arrive, Callisto shows up at the door. Apologizing for the intrusion, she tells them she has come to drop off a gift for Hercules as thanks for protecting her and her children from attackers on the road to Macedonia. Moved by her story, Alcmene invites her to join them. As the family becomes distracted in conversation, Callisto pulls out a vial of liquid, pours it into the punch bowl, and begins offering drinks all around. By the time Hercules arrives at the party, all of his friends and family lie unconscious on the floor.
As Hercules rushes to his mother's side, Callisto reveals that she spiked the punch with Xynthalian venom, a poison which attacks the mind, rendering its victims susceptible to their wildest imaginings. She predicts that by sunset, all will be either mad or dead if Hercules fails to get her safe passage through the Labyrinth of the Gods to the Tree of Life. The fruit of the Tree will cure their madness and, in turn, make her immortal. When Callisto formally introduces herself, Hercules recognizes her name, having heard she was killed by Xena. Callisto explains that Hera has given her a one-day reprieve from the Underworld and that they must now help each other -- she lacks the strength to defeat the Labyrinth's traps and he won't be able to find his way to the Tree of Life without her. Having no other choice, Hercules agrees and the two set out on their journey.
Hercules' friends and family soon regain consciousness. Realizing they've been drugged, they split up to search the castle for the mysterious woman visitor. Remaining behind in the kitchen, Falafel begins to perspire and hallucinate. Soon, each of them is suffering the initial symptoms of the poison. When Alcmene expresses her sorrow about Hercules' ruined birthday, Iphicles becomes uncharacteristically jealous and defensive. As he stomps off in anger, Alcmene starts to hallucinate. She sees an apparition of Hercules, who tells her that he's crossed over to the Other Side and beckons her to follow. Meanwhile, the evil Callisto tries to bait Hercules into revealing his darker side by bringing up the most painful events in his past. When the two finally arrive at the Labyrinth of the Gods, they are able to proceed only after Hercules solves a riddle posed by the fire-breathing Sphinx guarding the entrance. As they begin their journey through the maze, Hercules ignites a torch and pulls down a leather pouch of oil from the wall
By now, everyone at the castle is suffering the devastating effects of the poison. Jason becomes increasingly paranoid, Falafel feverishly prepares imaginary food, a demented Iphicles nearly kills Falafel and Iolaus is forced to confront a horrifying vision of himself as a toothless and crippled old man. Back in the Labyrinth, Callisto vents her feelings of hatred towards Xena and argues with Hercules as he talks about the difference between vengeance and justice. When Callisto takes a wrong turn, the snake-like vines of Dionysis coil around her legs, dragging her off into the darkness. Hercules manages to rescue her just before she is suffocated by the eel-like tentacles. When the two reach the final turn of the Labyrinth, they are faced with three passageways. Callisto tricks Hercules into stepping through one of them and quickly jumps back as the large metal Gates of Hephaestus begin to close behind him. He barely manages to jam his torch, then his shoulders, between the metal doors before they shut completely. Sending up a cry to Hera, Callisto informs the goddess that she's delivered Hercules as promised. She then enters the Tree of Life cavern where, after taking a bite of the fruit, her battered body is restored and begins to radiate a glow. In a desperate last-ditch effort, Hercules escapes from between the metal gates and charges into the cavern. The now-immortal Callisto viciously attacks him and a fierce battle ensues during which Callisto sets the Tree on fire. Grabbing its last piece of fruit, Hercules grabs a torch and lights the trail of oil he's been spilling on the floor of the Labyrinth throughout their journey, which illuminates a path back to the entrance. When Callisto dives for Hercules, he jumps out of the way and sends her crashing into the burning Tree, blinding her. Hercules escapes from the Labyrinth and hurries back to Iphicles' castle, where he rescues his mother, stepfather and friends from madness and death by feeding them slices of fruit from the Tree of Life.
Starring: Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Michael Hurst (Iolaus)
Guest Starring: Hudson Leick (Callisto), Liddy Holloway (Alcmene), Jeffrey Thomas (Jason), Kevin Smith (Iphicles), Paul Norell (Falafel)
Written by Alex Kurtzman
Directed by Oley Sassone