As the wealthy Lexus (Robert Horwood) counts his money and ponders his success, Fortune (Lori Dungey), the goddess of luck, shows up and changes his life. The tax man arrives and Lexus soon finds himself stripped of all his riches. His wife, Okaleia (Francesca Waters) tries to boost his spirits as they leave their home, but when they start to cross a rickety old footbridge, it gives way. The two grab onto the dangling wreckage as they fall and Okaleia lets out a scream, causing the nearby Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) and Iolaus (Michael Hurst) to come running. Hercules is able to rescue Lexus, but Iolaus loses his grip on Okaleia at the last moment and she drops into the yawning abyss.
Iolaus is deeply depressed as he and Hercules head back into the village. Convinced that Hercules doesn't really need him at all, he tells his friend to find another partner. Unable to persuade Iolaus to stay, Hercules goes back to the scene of Okaleia's death to try to find answers when Fortune appears to him. She admits that it's all her fault that Iolaus feels so badly and decides she wants to make it up to him. Hercules urges her to stay out of it.
Iolaus tries unsuccessfully to find work in town. Hercules soon finds him in the village square and urges his friend to rejoin him. Iolaus tells Hercules once again that he's going to start a new life on his own and leaves. As Iolaus walks along the road, he encounters Fortune. She tells him that she can erase his memory of the whole ordeal. As it happens, however, she ends up erasing his entire memory -- Hercules and all. She knows instantly that she's made a big mistake and quickly disappears.
Iolaus arrives on the mean streets of Nemea where he encounters Lydia (Sheryl Stewart), a prostitute, and her gang of thugs. When they try to jump him, Iolaus battles back until they're all lying unconscious in a heap. Meanwhile, Hercules is with King Trancas (Patrick Smith), who confides his plans to send financial aid to the people of Nemea. When he asks Hercules to go along to ensure that his gift arrives safely, Hercules and the King's burly wagon driver Spiro (Ross Duncan) leave for Nemea with the boxes of money.
In the meantime, Iolaus is in the social club where Nemea's troublemakers hang out. From another table, Zeno (Barry Spring) watches Iolaus carefully. He likes what he sees so he gestures to his head lackey, the sinister Thanatos (Stephen Butterworth), to bring Iolaus over. When he offers Iolaus a place in his business, Iolaus expresses interest and accompanies Thanatos on a collections job the next day. When they return to Zeno, Iolaus reveals that Thanatos skimmed some money from what was collected, spurring Thanatos to attack. When Iolaus beats him to a pulp, Zeno makes Iolaus his number one man. On the way to Nemea, Hercules spots someone following the wagon so he and Spiro decide to take a different route, which proves to be too rough for the wagon to handle. Back at the social club, a furious Thanatos plots to kill Zeno and Iolaus, while Zeno and Iolaus plan their take-over of Trancas' wagon full of money. Zeno wants Iolaus to be in charge, but tells him that Hercules is the one guarding the wagon. A cocky Iolaus is not phased.
As Hercules continues to guide the wagon toward Nemea, Iolaus and his group of thugs come rushing out of the forest to attack. Hercules fights off the ambush until Iolaus is the only assailant left. Iolaus still doesn't recognize Hercules and moves in for the kill. Hercules defends himself but ultimately, will not use his superhuman strength to hurt his friend. Hercules is finally able to able to convince Iolaus that he has the heart of a hero, not a killer, and Iolaus backs off. By now, Thanatos has captured Zeno and is about to kill him in the swamp but Hercules and Iolaus arrive in time to rescue him. Iolaus then bids Hercules farewell. Hercules tells him, however, that he won't let him go. Hercules summons Fortune with a coin. She suddenly appears and restores Iolaus' memory. With Hercules' help, Iolaus finally realizes that he really is a hero.
Starring: Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Michael Hurst (Iolaus)
Guest Starring: Lori Dungey (Fortune), Barry Spring (Zeno), Stephen Butterworth (Thanatos), Ross Duncan (Spiro), Sheryl Stewart (Lydia), Denise Snoad (Ara), Patrick Smith (Trancas), Mervyn Smith (Lesion), Harry Lyon (Nick), Robert Horwood (Lexus), Francesca Waters (Okaleia), Sara Howard (Woman), Ross Campbell (Dingus), Jon Gadsby (Phobias)
Written by Jerry Patrick Brown
Directed by Phil Sgriccia