The Loves of Hercules (Gli amori di Ercole)

The Loves of Hercules

Forward!

Do not spare anyone!

Help!

Quickly! We must leave!

- Are you Megara? - Yes, [ am.

Who are you? If you want our money, our flocks...

They can take everything we have! But spare the lives of these people!

- It's your life that interests us. - Mine? Why?

You have the misfortune of being the wife of Hercules.

By killing you, | destroy what he loves most in this world.

No!

No! Assassin! Coward! Let me go! Have mercy!

Hercules... will avenge my death...

That is my hope, as well.

But his vengeance will fall on the person | wish to destroy.

- Well? - Your orders have been carried out.

I've executed all your commands.

Well done, Licos!

[ would like to be here tomorrow to witness the bitter torment of Hercules!

His pain will be so great he will wish that he had been killed, himself.

Perhaps, but his wish will only follow his revenge.

When he finds out the truth, he will destroy us all.

How would he find out?

He knows all who are his enemies.

And now it's you that he hates the most.

We can not turn back now.

Most certainly.

- But there's still a solution. - What?

Hercules will only be appeased...

if he believes the killer of his wife is dead!

Traitor!

Now that it's done, how will we explain to the populous and Deianira?

The people believe that we came here for just reasons...

And will be proud to know their king fell like a hero in battle.

And Deianira thinks of me as a trusted advisor and devotee of her father...

and will continue trusting me while Hercules...

attempts to sate his thirst for revenge on the entire House of King Eurytus!

Oracle, you who see the truth in the shifting sands, in the moving tides of the sea,

in the flight of birds across the skies,

You, to whom the stars reveal their secrets

And the fates disclose the mysteries we mortals see only in our admonishing dreams,

Tell me, have the gods been placated at last?

If after endless trials | shall have peace?

Hercules, | see the ocean in madness,

| see a raft being dragged along in the wake of a mighty vessel.

This vessel is the divine wrath of the gods you brought upon yourself

by killing the sacred serpent of the Goddess Hera!

Your whole life will be as this raft.

Swept by wind and wave, tossed by the tempest.

What new sufferings have | yet to bear?

The mist returns. All is obscured by a fog of blackness!

Speak! | beg you!

Tell me what will be my fate!

- Hercules! Hercules! - lolaus!

What happened?

Something... terrible!

- Who hurt you? - We were attacked.

Our camp was burned to ashes! everyone's dead.

Everyone?

Yes, even Megera.

Who was it? Speak! Who was it?

King Eurytus!

We will never know peace again. Blood will demand blood til the end of the world

And our vengeance will, in turn, breed vengeance.

Megara... | should never have left you alone, without my protection.

Forgive me.

Why? Why are the gods again persecuting me with their wrath?

Killing everything that | love.

- What will you do? - I'm going to Ecalia.

What? Alone?

Eurytas has a strong army!

You'll never even get inside the city gates!

No, | do not want war with Ecalia.

Eurytas is my only enemy!

| will give him the opportunity to defend himself.

But if he is possessed of too much cowardice...

I'll ask the people for the trial of Themis.

- 'l go with you! - No. Stay here.

Take care of lolaus.

Hercules!

- Hercules is coming! - He's coming to attack us!

Inside the walls!

Hercules has arrived!

He came to kill us all! Save yourselves!

- Close the gates! - Quickly!

Open the gates! | want to speak to your king!

Do you hear me? Open the gates!

Fall back, fall back! Quiscly!

Come on!

Hercules has forced the city gates! There's nothing more to do.

If you wish, we are all ready to defend you to the last man!

It would be a useless sacrifice.

Hercules came to Ecalia to kill my father.

| inherited his throne, and also his mistakes.

It my duty to meet Hercules alone.

- And what will you do? - | told you, priest!

I intend to entrust my life to his clemency.

The people will demand you face the ultimate challenge...

the Trial of Themis, the goddess of Justice.

To save my people | will gladly face the supreme challenge.

| am ready.

- Who are you? - Deianira, daughter of Eurytus.

Where's your father? Why has he sent you?

My father is dead.

-Dead? - Yes.

My father paid with his life for the death of your wife.

I've ordered my people not to fight.

If you want revenge, kill me, but spare my people. They are innocent!

Your people have nothing to fear.

And it will not be against an unarmed woman that [ will fulfill my revenge!

Even if you are the daughter of man | hated most in life.

Your generosity condemns me to something perhaps more cruel than death.

- You mean the Trial of Themis? - Yes.

The goddess of justice and retribution must be satisfied.

My people demand it. Just take a look.

My people fear the wrath of the gods more than the anger of men.

Follow me.

| can not be the executioner the queen! This is nonsense!

If you refuse...

a soldier will be chosen by lots to perform the test.

If Deianira is not put to the trial Themis...

the populous would no longer recognize her as their queen.

And she would be responsible for all future calamities...

which befell the people of Ecalia.

My beloved lady, do not do this! It's absurd! You are innocent!

The gods will help me. | must pay so my father's guilt can be expiated.

We are ready.

Are you still willing to face the supreme test?

Yes I'm sure the Goddess Themis will guide the hand of Hercules.

Her life is in your hands.

It is impossible! Nobody has ever survived this test!

Hercules has overcome challenges much more difficult than this.

Stay quiet.

Do you want another man to take your place?

No!

If the gods are just, | must succeed!

Did you see that? Hercules cannot possibly miss!

Watch this! He's going to throw the second!

| cannot look! | cannot!

- It's not over yet. - She fainted!

- It's horrible! - Do not be afraid, we are near the end.

In a moment, your mistress will be saved, you'll see!

Zeus, my father! Help me!

How dare you?

It looks like your plan is a failure.

We must gather immediately in the conference room.

Deianira...

Oh, my lady!

Now that Hercules has saved the queen from an almost certain death...

our whole perspective has changed.

Hercules has now become a greater threat.

No longer as an enemy, but now as a friend.

What do you mean?

The heroes tend to be loyal and generous when they encounter...

sensitive characters such as our queen.

Her gratitude could move her to much deeper sentiments.

Do you understand the risk?

Deianira must remain faithful to her cousin!

She was promised to Acheloo by her father before the gods.

And it is my sacred duty as High Priest to see to it that this vow is fulfilled.

None of us must interfer for the time being.

Acheloo should be sent for immediately!

As her intended husband, he must be given every chance to defend his rights.

My lady, your new gold-braided gown is ready.

| thought that one would please Hercules.

Oh? Do you know the tastes of Hercules?

1? No. Elea told me!

- Elea? - Yes.

Elea has ways of knowing many things about Hercules.

In fact, she said he has lost his heart.

Enough! Do not talk nonsense!

- Where is Elea? - Outside, in the garden.

She's with Tamato, one of the two squires of Hercules.

The younger, course!

Forgive me, my lady. | was collecting flowers and...

Do not lie, | know where you were.

I see! So you just had to tell. You are a snake!

What harm have | done? Is it shameful o be in love?

- After all, he is a squire of Hercules... - Quiet!

You may all go now.

Elea, you stay.

Deianira, | have no idea what they may have told you...

but [ feel | may really be in love with that man.

I know by the look in your eyes that you speak the truth.

| wish you every happiness.

And you, mistress, have you found yours, as well?

No. You're free and you can give your affection to anyone.

- I were queen, |... - If you were queen...

your fate would be as mine. You would also be bound to marry out of duty...

Even if in your heart you loved another.

| have matters to attend to.

It is now obvious that Deianira has fallen in love with Hercules.

And | have every reason to believe she will fail to keep her vow.

When Acheloo arrives here he will eliminate...

any connection between Deianira and Hercules, I'm certain.

How can you be certain?

Acheloo is a hot tempered young man, impulsive and passionate.

He will not hesitate to challenge Hercules.

You're not expecting Acheloo to able to kill the son of Zeus, himself?