King Armand's wish for a new centerpiece for his museum prompts the ever-opportunistic Salmoneus (Robert Trebor) to organize an artisans' fair and dispatch an urgent message to Hercules (Kevin Sorbo). When Hercules arrives, Sal explains that the King will donate a fortune to the war orphans' fund in return for the work of art -- minus, of course, Salmoneus' "small finder's fee" -- and that Hercules is to pose nude for the masterpiece. Hercules balks at first, but finally gives in to Salmoneus' pressure just as the blacksmith Atalanta (Cory Everson) arrives with a young local named Curteus (Ross Brannigan) on her arm. Dressed in a demure outfit which hides her powerful physique, Atalanta sends Curteus off for some punch as she confides in her friends that she has changed her look in order to attract men who are otherwise intimidated by her. At the refreshment stand, Curteus runs into Swillus (Stephen Walker) and Billius (Brett Turner), two local smithies who would love to put Atalanta out of business. When they hurl Curteus headfirst into a horse trough, Atalanta rushes to his rescue. Hercules follows and is soon surrounded by another half-dozen mountain men and women. The spectacularly muscular Atalanta jumps into the ensuing fray to help Hercules fend off the attackers. Shocked by Atalanta's prowess, Curteus beats a hasty retreat and a lonely and frustrated Atalanta storms off towards home.
At the fair, a reluctant Hercules finally takes his place in front of the assembled artists in all his natural glory. Meanwhile, Atalanta blows off steam by pounding away on a pile of scrap metal in her barn, turning it into a towering figure -- a Hercules, Adonis and Michaelangelo's David all rolled into one. Believing that this magnificent silent man of her dreams may be as as close to a boyfriend as she'll ever get, she pours her heart out to her mentor Hephaestus and then goes outside to get some air. When she returns, she is shocked to see that the metal sculpture has been transformed into a real live knight in shining armor who looks exactly like Hercules, and realizes that Hephaestus has obviously granted her wish for the perfect man. But the newborn "Herc" is very different from the real Hercules -- he's childlike, highly impressionable and unaware of his own strength.
When Atalanta is called away leaving "Herc" to wander around the barn by himself, the goddess Discord (Meighan Desmond) suddenly materializes and pushes the innocent creature out into the real world. Back at the art fair, the real Hercules begins judging the artists' embarrassingly bad renderings until suddenly, he is summoned to rescue some men trapped in a mine. While he's away, the new "Herc" shows up at the festival where he is unwittingly urged by Salmoneus to continue the judging. Soon the malevolent Discord arrives. Visible only to "Herc," she baits him into destroying every piece of art and then disappears. On his way back from the mine, the real Hercules runs smack into "Herc" just as Atalanta approaches. Hercules learns about the origin of his "twin" and is convinced that nothing good can come out of the situation. But Atalanta protests, claiming she will teach "Herc" what he needs to know and keep a close watch on him.
Later that evening "Herc," with continual prompting by Discord, attempts to seduce Atalanta. But when he starts to move in too fast and forcefully, she banishes him to the barn where Discord continues her meddling. The goddess convinces him that he must defend his lady's honor and she sends him off to take care of the smithies Swillus, Billius and Filius (Susan Haldane). When "Herc" arrives at their camp, he immediately breaks Swillus' neck and walks off, totally without conscience or pity. Atalanta and Hercules learn about the murder the following day and soon discover that Discord is behind all the trouble -- she is trying to frame Hercules for the destruction caused by "Herc." Hercules and Atalanta rush off and are able to rescue Salmoneus from the clutches of "Herc." Hercules then faces his double in battle. When the enraged village mob arrives to join the fight, "Herc" becomes extremely violent and drags Atalanta off with him to her barn. Hercules follows and in the ensuing confrontation, is finally able to push "Herc" back into the blazing forge from which he was born with the very hammer Atalanta used to create him. Discord then releases a fireball causing the ceiling to collapse on Atalanta, pinning her under a beam. While Hercules is straining to lift it off her, "Herc" bursts out of the flames and in a totally unexpected act of love and heroism, takes over holding the beam from Hercules, freeing him. Hercules drags Atalanta to safety, but "Herc" is not so lucky. He is crushed by the beam and soon dies, his body reverting to scrap and then to dust.
Starring: Kevin Sorbo (Hercules)
Guest Starring: Robert Trebor (Salmoneus), Cory Everson (Atalanta), Meighan Desmond (Discord), Susan Haldane (Filius), Stephen Walker (Swillus), Brett Turner (Billius), Ross Brannigan (Curteus), Natalie Scarr (Leola), Kenneth Prebble (Rodanna), Andrew Glover (Farmer), Anthony Taylor (Village Elder), Derek Ward (Agitator)
Written by Paul Robert Coyle
Directed by Steve Polivka