When Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) learns that Kazankis (Barry Duffield) is impersonating him, he and Iolaus (Michael Hurst) go in search of the strapping young farmer and find him in a partially collapsed mine trying to save two children trapped by the cave-in. Their mother, Marcenea (Amber Cunliffe), is distraught as she watches Kazankis struggle desperately under the weight of a huge support beam. Hercules and Iolaus rush in to help and are able to rescue the children and their father, but Kazankis is crushed by the falling beam. Emerging from the mine, Iolaus tells the assembled crowd that his partner is the real Hercules. Just then, the provincial magistrate Turgeus (Mike Bajko) arrives with Spencius (John Sumner), the government prosecutor. Much to everyone's astonishment, the two arrest Hercules for the death of Kazankis and take him away to stand trial.
Spencius visits Hercules in his jail cell and offers him a deal. If Hercules agrees to take responsibility for Kazankis' death and promises never to commit another heroic deed, he'll be released. Spencius makes it clear that he despises Hercules' avowed belief in the power and obligation of the individual to make his own moral choices. Offended by everything Spencius stands for, Hercules refuses his offer. At the preliminary hearing the next day, Hercules is formally accused of manslaughter, undermining the authority of the gods, and sedition. He pleads innocent on all counts. But Spencius argues that by urging others to emulate his heroic actions, Hercules is responsible when those actions have tragic consequences. When Spencius calls Kazankis' widow Galea (Renee Raudman) to the stand, she relates how Hercules' heroic deeds prompted her husband to abandon his farm to help others, leaving her and their two children with no means of support.
The trial begins a week later in Athens. Hercules is brought in front of the judge, jury and spectators in chains. Spencius calls up witnesses one by one who testify that they either waited for Hercules' help and were let down, or that family members died while attempting Herculian deeds. Spencius argues that Hercules' influence is much more widespread and dangerous than even the hero himself knows. As Hercules begins to question himself, Dirce (Lisa Chappell) arrives to take on his case. Her strategy is to call on people Hercules has helped to testify in his behalf. Cassandra (Claudia Black) appears as the first defense witness but the shrewd Spencius quickly discredits her. Hercules himself gets up and makes a very moving statement to the crowd. When he's finished, Dirce tells him there's a good chance his accusers will drop the manslaughter charge because she believes they really want to convict him of sedition in order to banish him from Greece forever.
As Spencius proceeds to turn the testimony of additional defense witnesses upside down, including that of Hercules' life-long friend Jason (Jeffrey Thomas), the prosecutor starts to win the approval of the crowd. Hercules becomes angry and continues to doubt himself, questioning whether he has, in fact, done more harm than good in his life. To make matters worse, Ares (Kevin Smith) pops up and tries to convince Hercules to join forces with him, and Dirce soon learns that Iolaus has been called as a witness for the prosecution. When Iolaus testifies the next day, Spencius turns his words around so that once again, Hercules looks guilty.
Later in the marketplace, a villager rushes up to Iolaus pleading for Hercules' help. It seems that Mong the giant (Mark Nua) is destroying the village. Having made a promise to remain in custody until the verdict, Hercules at first refuses to act. But finally, he breaks out of his prison cell in order to help the townspeople. After speaking to the giant, Hercules socks him in the jaw, explaining to the amazed onlookers that Mong just needed someone's help to knock out a bad tooth. Later in the courtroom as closing arguments are taking place, Spencius makes a strong case, but Hercules' words about society's need for heroes who are not afraid to risk their lives for others are even more compelling. When he is finished, all of his supporters in the courtroom step forward and one by one, tell the judge to sentence them as well since they all want to be just like Hercules. The case is dismissed and Hercules is freed.
Starring: Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Michael Hurst (Iolaus)
Guest Starring: Kevin Smith (Ares), Lisa Chappell (Dirce & Melissa) John Sumner (Spencius), Liddy Holloway (Alcmene), Jeffrey Thomas (Jason), Claudia Black (Cassandra), Derek Payne (Daedalus), Sarah Smuts-Kennedy (Kara), Mike Bajko (Turgeus), Renee Raudman (Galea), Barry Duffield (Kazankis), Mike Howell (Jargos), Amber Cunliffe (Marcenea), David Weatherley (Judge), Mark Nua (Mong), Anita Marshall (Villager), Stephen Ure (Farmer), Robert Boniface (Father), John Mellor (Barkeep), Geoff Barlow (Old Man), Sarah Major (Galea's Daughter), Vicky Rodewyk (Marcenea's Daughter)
Written by Robert Bielak
Directed by John Laing