A journey with Iolaus 2 (Michael Hurst) leads Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) to painfully reflect on how much he misses the original Iolaus (Michael Hurst). Hercules relates a typical day with his old sidekick that begins with Hercules trying to wake up an unwilling Iolaus. This particular morning, Hercules uses Iolaus as a barbell until he begins to stir. Their breakfast is then interrupted when a desperate villager named Astrovo (Russell Dixon) asks Hercules to save his village. That day the sacred ruby has been stolen from the forehead of the stone Ipathean panther. If the stone is not returned by dusk, the panther will spring to life, rip apart whoever stole the stone, then destroy the village.
Hercules immediately suspects Autolycus (Bruce Campbell) and heads to the village to find the King of Thieves before he is eaten by the panther. Upon entering the village, Hercules is attacked by groupies and a lovesick Lucretiana (Jodie Dorday), who is ready to break off her engagement in order to marry Hercules. Iolaus, meanwhile, finds Autolycus, who has swallowed the ruby. While they wait for nature to take its course, Hercules and Iolaus save people from a burning hospital.
As dusk approaches and Autolycus has failed to produce the ruby, it's time for plan B - Hercules and Iolaus put up a big net to catch the now animated and angry panther. Lucretiana stumbles into the trap instead and the fight is on against the angry panther. Iolaus grabs Autolycus around the rib cage to pull him out of the way of the fierce cat, inadvertently inventing the Heimlich Maneuver, which dislodges the ruby. The ruby is returned to the panther and the village is saved. Standing at Iolaus' grave, Iolaus 2 says he hopes Hercules doesn't expect him to be as brave and noble as Iolaus. Hercules tells him that nobody possibly could be.
Starring: Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Michael Hurst (Iolaus & Iolaus 2)
Guest Starring: Bruce Campbell (Autolycus), Paul Norell (Falafel), Jodie Dorday (Lucretiana), Russell Dixon (Astrovo), Nicholas Baker (Dardo), Tim Biggs (Leandrus), Sarah Faris (Groupie #1), Sarah-Jane George (Groupie #2), Simon Gomez (Temple Guard), Lance Chesire (Old Man), David Coddington (Villager)
Written by Gene O'Neill & Noreen Tobin
Directed by Charles Siebert
Trivia: In this episode, we find out that Falafel has reopened his food stand. We also learn that Iolaus 2 is an inventor and cook. The inventions he introduces to the ancient world in this episode are eyeglasses and the lighter.