Original subtitles

(Lion roaring)

(Dramatic instrumental music)

Narrator: In the beginning before creation,

there was darkness.

(Electronic pulsing)

Narrator: From the primordial explosion

emerged the fire of chaos.

(Gentle instrumental music)

Narrator: Chaos merged with darkness,

and from this union were born the elements,

night, day,

matter, and air.

(Dramatic instrumental music)

Narrator: Then out of this misty radiance of the cosmos

there came forth a jar, golden and glittering,

pandora's jar.

It was filled with all the essences,

both good and evil

of life itself.

(Electronic pulsing)

(Explosions)

Narrator: From the fragments of the jar,

the planets and the solar system were formed,

(gentle instrumental music)

Narrator: Saturn, or kronos,

the world of mystic rings.

(Electronic pulsing)

Narrator: Other fragments became the flaming energies

that gave shape to Mercury.

(Electronic pulsing)

(Gentle instrumental music)

Narrator: Yet another fragment gave birth to the colossus,

Jupiter, the titan of the skies,

And so the worlds of the universe were created,

along with the moons that accompanied them,

and then earth,

and on earth there was life everywhere.

(Gentle instrumental music)

Narrator: But the first beings that the mists

of creation offered forth

were not men.

They were of the supreme essence and became gods.

They claimed the moon as their home,

there to deliberate and to decide

the ultimate fate of mankind

and of all that lived.

(Dramatic instrumental music)

(Electronic pulsing)

Pandora's jar is broken,

and the forces of evil have been let loose.

The world of mortal men is facing its hour of decision.

It will go down to destruction,

or else it will survive.

This is their moment of trial.

They've got to show themselves worthy

of everything we gods have given them.

But evil is dark and strong,

and it may be that the scales of fate

are not yet in full balance.

What can I do to equalize

both sides of the struggle, Athena?

If you don't want to increase the powers of all men,

then why don't you increase those of one,

so that he may fight for all the others?

Now,

a man who is stronger and more intelligent

than all other men,

a hero,

with a body forged in the furnace of a thousand suns,

a body capable of undergoing every labor and every pain,

practically invincible,

made from the purest of all energies, light.

(Electronic pulsing)

(Upbeat instrumental music)

Descend to the earth now, light,

as a living being,

and incarnate your mighty energies

in the body of a newborn man.

(Electronic pulsing)

(Upbeat instrumental music)

Zeus: Thebes in the bronze age,

4,000 years from this moment,

the royal palace.

(Electronic pulsing)

(Dramatic instrumental music)

Zeus: Hercules, the newborn son ofamphitryon,

king of thebes,

and of his queen alcmene,

he will be Zeus's hero.

(Gentle electronic music)

Even as the hero is born,

the forces of evil are at work in thebes.

(Foreboding instrumental music)

(Metal clattering)

(Foreboding instrumental music)

(Electronic pulsing)

Commander, commander,

the sacred sword has been stolen

from the temple of hera.

The guards have been killed.

Sacrilege.

I'll give the alarm at once,

and I'll order all the doors closed.

Of course, and have you notified anyone else, soldier?

You're the supreme commander, sir.

Good, thebes will repay you like this.

What a shame you didn't see it was all planned.

Princess.

(Dramatic instrumental music)

Now that my man has stolen the sword,

we can go ahead with our plan.

Let the soldiers think it was the king

who violated the temple.

They will follow you,

and you will be ruler of thebes

and of most of Greece,

provided you kill the king and the queen tonight,

and their son, the newborn prince,

the little Hercules.

For you and your father, king minos of thera,

the sword that stops the fire,

and for me, the throne of thebes.

(Dramatic instrumental music)

(Yelling)

(Metal clattering)

Narrator: The evil rebels attacked the loyal guards

and soon thebes became a tragic battlefield.

The loyalists were killed,

and the crown was overthrown.

(Metal clattering)

(Foreboding instrumental music)

There, valcheus, now thebes is yours.

Excehenl

the son?

I've left that sublime pleasure for you.

(Foreboding instrumental music)

Farewell, little king,

you'll never wear a crown.

(Dramatic instrumental music)

Sostratos.

Sostratos: Yes?

The baby,

where is the king's son?

Where's Hercules?

I don't know. I thought...

Valcheus, one of the maids fled with the child.

Someone saw her heading for the secret passageway.

Get her. Capture her!

(Dramatic instrumental music)

(Baby crying)

(Insects chirping)

(Water splashing)

Soldier: Kill him!

(Gasping)

Soldier: Don't bother.

It's no use.

The river will get rid of the child for us.

Back to thebes.

Our job is done.

(Gentle instrumental music)

Narrator: So the newborn baby,

poor little prince Hercules,

sailed on and on along the river,

mile after mile,

adrift and alone.

(Gentle instrumental music)

(Water flowing)

(Foreboding instrumental music)

(Baby crying)

(Rumbling)

(Baby crying)

Put that back in the river.

Alright, alright.

(Water flowing)

But Zeus, you put it past the rapids

where it's safe.

You didn't say where to put it.

You just said in the river.

(Birds chirping)

Zeus is clever.

He intervenes for his divine son,

but it's up to me to right the balance.

(Electronic pulsing)

(Foreboding instrumental music)

(Baby murmuring)

(Upbeat instrumental music)

Poor thing, abandoned on the bank of a river.

Where do you suppose he comes from?

There are no cities nearby.

Perhaps the gods heard my prayers

and sent us the baby we couldn't have.

Dear, he'll be like our own son.

Narrator: In the cosmic chess game between the gods,

this was yet another move

toward the final encounter between good and evil.

And now among men,

time hurries on.

Your hero is growing and his strength is increasing,

the strength that you gave him, Zeus.

(Birds chirping)

(Stone scraping)

(Wind whistling)

Your hands possess the power of Zeus.

I know, father, but I don't know why.

There must be some purpose for it.

Well, when the time comes,

the gods will tell you what it's for.

Let's finish chopping the trees

and carry the wood home.

It must be getting near lunchtime.

I can finish this for us before you get home.

Alright, hurry up then.

(Animal huffing)

(Wood thudding)

Hercules?

(Birds chirping)

Is that you, Hercules?

(Foreboding instrumental music)

Hercules?

(Bear roaring)

(Yelling)

Father: Hercules!

(Bear roaring)

Father.

Father!

(Bear growling)

Father!

(Dramatic instrumental music)

(Bear growling)

(Electronic pulsing)

(Birds chirping)

Father?

Father!

(Screaming)

(Electronic pulsing)

(Bear roaring)

That's how all your heroes end up.

As stars.

I wonder how many constellations will there be

before you can stop Hercules.

Don't let that worry you, my dear.

I've plenty of followers already preparing themselves

to attack the champion of men.

Daedalus, daedalus,

embodiment of knowledge, reason, and curiosity,

great genius of invention,

master of science,

I, king minos of thera,

call on you to step into time and space,

materialize out of chaos.

(Gentle instrumental music)

Daedan

(electronic pulsing)

Daedalus, I need your help.

Minos, when you ask me to help,

it means you want to serve the gods.

What does hera want this time?

We have to eliminate Hercules.

One day, minos, you will have to choose

between the gods and science.

Daedalus, you know me.

I'm dedicated to science.

I do not believe in the gods,

but doing them a little favor can't hurt, can it?

Anyway, the problem is Hercules.

This favorite of the gods must be stopped.

And this is my solution to Hercules.

(Electronic pulsing)

Small solution to such a big problem.

Minos, my dear, size, like time and space,

is relative.

Relative also to atmospheric conditions, right?

And on hitting the earth's atmosphere it will grow.

It will grow big, huge, immense,

terrifying.

He is programmed to destroy Hercules.

And whoever gets in his way.

Naturally.

Go, my little metallic friend.

Fulfill your destiny.

Turn into the colossal exterminator you really are.

Go, kill, my deadly toy.

(Electronic pulsing)

(Horse hoof clops)

Hercules!

(Grunting)

(Horse hoof clops)

(Foreboding instrumental music)

Hercules.

(Horse whinnying)

Hercules. Hercules!

Your mother is in danger.

Come!

What?

(Horse whinnying)

(Dramatic instrumental music)

Mother.

Hercules.

Mother, tell me what happened please.

(Gasping)

(Birds chirping)

(Electronic humming)

(Dramatic instrumental music)

(Electronic whining)

(Fire crackling)

Farewell, mother.

(Fire crackling)

Hercules, what are you doing?

It's your own house.

I don't have a house anymore,

or a family.

I'll have no peace until I find the reason for all this.

Why am I stronger than other men?

Why does my strength bring so many sorrows on my head?

Where will you go?

To tyre to seek my fortune.

The king there is holding games

to find the best warrior for an important mission.

(Fire crackling)

(Metal clattering)

(Upbeat instrumental music)

(Groaning)

That man is different from the others.

He has incredible strength.

Who is he?

I don't know.

He just came and passed through all the tests,

quite a surprise.

(Metal clattering)

(Yelling)

There's still the chariots, your majesty.

That's a very hard test, dorcon,

maybe too hard, isn't it?

But you've got to be absolutely sure, your majesty.

Very well, let them begin.

(Horses whinnying)

(Yelling)

(Dramatic instrumental music)

(Horse whinnying)

(Yelling)

(Dramatic instrumental music)

(Metal clattering)

He seems to be the final winner.

We'll soon see, your majesty.

With your permission,

there are still the wrestlers.

(Foreboding instrumental music)

(Yelling)

(Dramatic instrumental music)

(Yelling)

(Gentle instrumental music)

You have won, Valiant youth.

You are the Victors of these games.

I'll put your might to good use.

How?

You will accompany my daughter, cassiopea,

to Athens.

This is no easy task.

Helos is menaced by evil and mischief as you well know.

They say these demons come from thera,

the black island,

and are the creatures of the evil king minos

and his wicked daughter, Adriana.

I will take your daughter to Athens, sire.

One moment, your majesty.

(Stammering): We must be careful, very careful.

How do you mean?

This man is a true champion, yes,

but how can we be sure he isn't part

of the evil and mischief you mentioned?

We can't.

Permit me, your majesty.

We can.

We can put him to the test

in a sacred place where no evil can enter,

the sacred stables of sippoli

where the goddess's thousand horses are kept.

And the test?

A simple one,

to clean the stables by tomorrow morning.

Father, that's impossible.

Those stables haven't been cleaned in years.

It's an impossible task.

Do you feel equal to this test, Hercules?

Come at dawn, sire,

and you will see.

(Gentle instrumental music)

(Door creaking)

So you've already given up, I see, Hercules.

The moon is almost down, and there you sit.

It looks like dorcon was right.

You think so?

Ah, no, but I knew no one

could possibly pass this test,

not even you.

It is an impossible task. That's why dorcon suggested it.

He's jealous.

Why do you wear a veil, cassiopea?

I'm promised to diomede of Athens,

but the oracle said I would marry

whoever first saw my face

after my eighteenth summer was passed,

so since then I've worn this veil.

It's a shame no one can see you.

I've heard you're beautiful.

Tend to your own affairs,

such as how you're going to explain your failure.

Hercules: Not so fast.

I'm taking things easy

because I know what I'm going to do.

Really?

If you doubt it,

then let's make a pact.

If I should succeed,

you will remove your veil.

Oh no, I can't do that.

You said yourself no one can pass the test.

Do you accept?

(Gentle instrumental music)

Alright then, I'll remove my veil,

but only for you if you succeed,

but if you fail, Hercules,

then I'll have you run out of tyre.

Now I've got a reason to hurry.

Let's go to the river. Come on.

The river?

What for?

I was told to clean the stable, but not how.

Come down to the river. Come on.

(Gentle instrumental music)

Hercules, I don't understand.

There, you see the river?

It will do the job for me.

(Dramatic instrumental music)

(Grunting)

(Water flowing)

(Gentle instrumental music)

I've done what I promised.

Now it's your turn.

(Gentle instrumental music)

(Electronic pulsing)

Your highness, here.

(Dramatic instrumental music)

There, it's just as hera said.

Carry the Princess to my boat.

(Gentle instrumental music)

We'll keep him that way until we're well out to sea.

Then we'll feed him to the sharks.

(Water splashing)

(Gentle instrumental music)

Athena: Poor Hercules,

destined to die just for being in love.

Zeus: He's not dead.

I only stunned him.

Cassiopea was promised to the son of hera.

If I hadn't struck Hercules with my lightning,

she would have done worse.

But is it wrong to be in love?

To have a heart?

If he isn't dead,

he will be soon.

Zeus: Don't underestimate him.

He knows how to take care of himself.

(Gentle instrumental music)

(Metal rattling)

(Water splashing)

(Dramatic instrumental music)

(Thunder crashing)

Narrator: For seven days and seven nights he swam,

this champion of men.

He swam through becalmed waters,

and he swam through Titanic storm.

(Water splashing)

(Groaning)

(Waves crashing)

(Electronic pulsing)

(Gasping)

You are hurting me.

Let me go.

Who are you?

Who are you?

This is my island,

and you are the intruder.

My name is Hercules.

I know.

I know everything.

Why did you ask then?

To test your sincerity.

Come.

(Waves crashing)

Where?

Into my mansion where I'll give you rest and food

just as the very goddess Athena instructed me to.

Come.

(Gentle instrumental music)

(Grunting)

(Metal rattling)

Well, you've really got a strong appetite, young man.

Ah, there's some wine.

(Gentle instrumental music)

I need help, witch.

Will you help me?

I would if I could.

Your enemies are my enemies.

King minos and his evil daughter Adriana

left me here and stole from me

the one thing I could have used to help you.

What?

The charm that Athena gave me.

It is our only hope.

It is the only way we have of leaving this island.

So we're lost? Trapped here?

I can't believe it.

There is another way,

but no, no, it's too risky.

How? Tell me.

Calm down. Calm down.

There is a way,

but,

first of all.

Hey, what are you doing?

I need 10 drops of your powerful blood

in exchange for what I have to tell you

if you want to see your sweetheart again.

(Gentle instrumental music)

(Metal clattering)

(Foreboding instrumental music)

(Groaning)

(Gentle instrumental music)

Who are you?

I am circe, the sorceress.

(Dramatic instrumental music)

Thera is over there with its 90 cities,

and Atlantis, its capital,

and now all is arranged.

When the seventh moon rises,

we shall sacrifice to the goddess hera,

who stands by our side,

and that sacrifice will be you.

(Water flowing)

Hercules: This is a garden of Eden.

Why would a sorceress like you live here?

I told you.

I tried to defy the wickedness and evil

of king minos with my magic,

but his evil power is so overwhelming that he defeated me,

and so I was exiled from thera

and placed here,

and then I came to rescue you

because Athena urged me to do it

to help you work out your destiny

and to advise you what to do.

Then tell me.

We need the charm to carry us

wherever we want to go, even to thera.

But you said they stole it.

Yes, and they threw it where no one can possibly get it,

except someone like you,

but you will have to overcome the most terrible obstacles.

Take those.

(Electronic pulsing)

Circe: That shield and that sword will protect you

from the dangers that lie ahead.

Minos: Circe has tricked Hercules

into helping her retrieve her talisman.

He's just liable to do it.

If he does,

circe will be coming back to thera,

and this time with Hercules,

and you know what a mess she made the last time,

all by herself.

I've got to stop...

We have to stop them, daedalus.

My little creation should do the trick.

My three-headed metal monster

will consume circe and Hercules in its flames.

Another mechanical monster?

Daedalus: And why not minos?

The last one didn't work so well, you know.

It spits cosmic rays of deadly fire.

Do you know what that means?

Cosmic rays,

that means that Hercules and circe

will disintegrate, nothing left.

(Gentle instrumental music)

Could I just see it grow a little bit?

It would mean a great deal to me.

Please?

(Electronic pulsing)

(Foreboding instrumental music)

The hydra, the three headed dragon

that guards the gates of hell.

(Foreboding instrumental music)

(Electronic pulsing)

(Dramatic instrumental music)

(Yelling)

The shield! Reflect the rays back at him.

(Grunting)

Destroy it with its own rays.

Lift the shield.

(Electronic pulsing)

There, the endless stairway

will lead us to the center of the earth.

Follow me if you ever want to reach thera.

Narrator: On the green isle of thera,

in its capital Atlantis,

cassiopea awaits hopelessly the night of her sacrifice.

Meanwhile, Hercules and the sorceress circe

cross the rainbow that will lead them to the gates of hell.

(Lava rumbling)

(Foreboding instrumental music)

Well?

Where do we go from here?

There, inside the skull mountain,

there sits the temple of eternity.

It is the center of hell.

That's where my charm is.

Hercules, you must get it back for me.

How can we get there?

Trust me.

(Creature groaning)

That's charon, the boatman of the river styx.

He 'ii take us across.

(Foreboding instrumental music)

(Electronic pulsing)

There, Hercules, under the hand of destiny,

is the soul of the world.

It is the primal seed of everything that exists.

Inside it is my charm.

(Foreboding instrumental music)

Don't be taken in by appearances.

It looks simple, but only you can get it

if you can pass the test.

What test?

The soul is inaccessible,

protected by a barrier,

a triple barrier of magic,

such as that round thera

and which keeps everything away from the soul.

Stretch your hand out, and you'll see.

(Electronic pulsing)

How?

Try it again, Hercules,

but be prepared for a terrible test.

(Electronic pulsing)

(Screaming)

Hold strong, Hercules.

(Gasping)

Now the cold is coming.

After the heat of the soul,

the supreme freeze, the final barrier.

Resist. Only you can do it.

You can make the barrier disappear.

(Ice shattering)

The talisman, get it now.

Take it quickly.

(Electronic pulsing)

I've got it,

the talisman.

Now I can get to the island of thera.

Ah.

Just a moment.

Give it to me.

I kept my side of the bargain.

Now you must show me you have not lied.

Are you ready to take me to cassiopea now?

I can't take you to thera,

not even with the talisman.

The magic of king minos and Adriana cancels mine out.

A curse on you!

Stop, please!

I beg you.

Give it to me, Hercules.

Otherwise it will be lost forever.

Please.

Can you at least take me near thera?

That I can do.

Pass me that talisman.

(Murmuring)

Creator of the light,

possessor of the keys and of the burning breath

and of the glowing soul,

hear me, god of the empire,

conductor of the planets,

highest of all the gods,

god of the sky and of the earth.

(Speaking in a foreign language)

Take me as close as possible to thera now.

(Electronic pulsing)

Another one of your tricks, witch.

This does not look like the island of thera.

This does not look like the place.

Yes, but here you shall have the most precious gift of all,

prometheus's winged chariot.

But the winged horses are lost in infinity.

With your strength,

you'll find a way of making them fly again,

but first, you must win it from xenodama,

the king of Africa.

I hope I haven't come all this way for nothing, circe.

Some years ago,

you promised me prometheus's chariot

if I could open a channel in this dry strip of land.

You may have it if you Grant my wish,

but how will you do it?

Just wait and see.

(Waves crashing)

My strength alone can't do it.

Is there anything you can do to help me?

Oh goddess who created the chant that all honor,

you, who are the indescribable secret echo

in resplendent bud,

you, who with one look

can make the mist and darkness disappear,

you, oh goddess, who can move the cosmos

with the beating of your wings,

give now to Hercules the size and height he calls for.

(Speaking in a foreign language)

Grow, Hercules, grow.

Grow.

(Electronic pulsing)

(Dramatic instrumental music)

(Footsteps rumbling)

Narrator: Thus with the help of the gods,

Hercules and the sorceress

created the great continents

by separating Europe from Africa.

You've given too much to your champion

and to the sorceress, Zeus.

They've had to work hard

for everything they've won.

But they've used magic,

magic that belongs to us.

Zeus: Enough, hera.

The opposing sides are even.

The Victor will win by his own strength,

and I think a time of trouble has come

for Hercules and circe,

because for the sake of balance,

I'm going to give circe a little gift,

a gift from Aphrodite,

the goddess of love.

Oh, but you know very well

that a sorceress mustn't fall in love.

Let's let them decide for themselves.

(Gentle instrumental music)

(Stone rumbling)

(Crashing)

Circe: There's the chariot,

but we need something to replace the magic horses.

Can you think of anything, Hercules?

(Gentle instrumental music)

(Stone thudding)

(Grunting)

(Rock shattering)

I need a rope tied around this stone, sorceress.

(Electronic pulsing)

Now, tie the other end of the rope to the chariot.

(Electronic pulsing)

Thank you, sorceress.

You've been a great help to me.

Now our roads must part.

I'm coming to thera with you.

How's that?

You can't be concerned about cassiopea's safety.

You're right, I'm not.

But I am concerned for yours, Hercules.

Are you absolutely sure you wanna come?

You'll find me very useful.

Even your great strength won't mean much

against minos and Adriana.

Alright, get on.

(Gentle instrumental music)

(Whooshing)

(Electronic pulsing)

(Dramatic instrumental music)

(Water splashing)

(Groaning)

Why did the rope break?

What happened to your powers?

You made me fall in love,

and when that happens to a sorceress,

she loses all her powers.

It's the law of Aphrodite.

I, the enchantress, have been enchanted.

Never mind, we're here.

Look.

(Dramatic instrumental music)

(Water splashing)

Dress the little Princess.

(Water splashing)

Adriana: Dear cassiopea, purified by the seventh moon,

sweet and submissive thanks to the black lotus,

in this, the night set for your sacrifice.

(Water flowing)

Narrator: Hercules and circe finally reached

their destination,

the green isle of thera.

(Electronic pulsing)

This is as far as I go.

That cave, Hercules, will take you directly

to the center of king minos's palace

through his underground labyrinth.

There you'll find your cassiopea,

but you must hurry.

The seventh moon is high in the sky,

and the sacrifice is about to be made.

Now everything depends

on your incredible strength, Hercules.

Come with me, circe.

This is your destiny.

You must go alone.

Hercules!

(Electronic pulsing)

(Groaning)

(Electronic pulsing)

(Dramatic instrumental music)

(Electronic whining)

(Explosion)

Circe.

(Groaning)

You must think of cassiopea.

She is the woman chosen for you

by the gods.

You must win for her

and to give a future to your world

and for me, too.

(Gasping)

(Gentle instrumental music)

Minos!

Minos!

(Electronic pulsing)

Hercules has entered my labyrinth in thera.

He's in a trap,

but there's no sorceress to help him this time,

and I have plans for him.

Daedalus, we've done it this time.

You've earned a rest.

You can go back to chaos beyond time and space.

I can handle it from here on in,

and daedalus, I promise you the next time I call on you

will be for the final showdown,

not science in service of the gods,

but science to eliminate the gods.

Only then will I return.

Science, for the sake of science.

(Gentle electronic music)

(Electronic pulsing)

(Metal creaking)

(Foreboding instrumental music)

(Dramatic instrumental music)

(Screaming)

Narrator: Hercules has fallen deep

into the dungeons ofatlantis.

Cassiopea is being taken to meet a tragic end.

King minos' treacherous plan is about to be fulfilled.

Will evil triumph over good?

The gods are powerless this night

in the land of thera.

(Foreboding instrumental music)

Adriana: Cassiopea is ready for the sacrifice, father.

The great play is drawing to an end.

Hera has won.

It couldn't have gone differently, anyway.

Poor circe, she never did understand

how witchcraft was messy, caused chaos.

The pure magic of perfect knowledge,

science, is impeccable,

the absolute dictator of the universal forces.

If I told her once, I told her a thousand times.

Creation came out of chaos,

is surrounded by chaos,

and will end in chaos,

but while we 're here,

we must have perfect order.

Here in thera,

we have eliminated all emotion,

all hope, all doubt.

There is no uncertainty.

Where was I?

Hercules,

now that Hercules is in our power,

we must make good use of him.

Use your charms on him. He's yours.

If he resists, use the black lotus. It's quicker.

From your union will be born

a race of supreme champions

that will govern the earth.

Have no fear.

I will convince him.

I've no doubt, my dear.

And now it's your turn, my lovely virgin.

Your groom is eager to inflame your passions.

(Metal clattering)

(Grunting)

(Metal creaking)

Minos means to give you to me,

and he couldn't have chosen better.

The black lotus,

its nectar numbs the mind

and awakens the senses.

Drink.

Drink deep, my hero,

to enhance the thousand pleasures I will give you.

Where is cassiopea?

She's about to be turned to ashes.

(Laughing)

(Yelling)

Stop him!

But don't let him escape!

Go, block him.

(Metal clattering)

(Foreboding instrumental music)

Open.

(Metal clattering)

(Yelling)

(Foreboding instrumental music)

(Metal clattering)

(Dramatic instrumental music)

(Yelling)

(Groaning)

Take me to cassiopea now.

Follow me.

(Lava bubbling)

This is the Phoenix, the firebird,

at last in my power.

You captured the Phoenix,

and it's here in this volcano?

Yes, my dear, this volcano,

with its inexhaustible energy,

is concentrated here,

dedicated to the glory of thera.

It is the source of my strength.

Just as the Phoenix is renewed

in the destruction of its own ashes,

so my strength is renewed every summer

of the seventh equinox

when I offer it a virgin bride.

This night, cassiopea,

you will become bride of the Phoenix.

You will descend into the sea of fire

in this golden shell

and be fused into total energy.

(Dramatic instrumental music)

But that's the sword...

Yes, the sacred sword of thebes,

Adriana stole it for me

from the temple of hera 20 years ago.

It's the sword that holds the key to my power.

It was made by the ancient makers of weapons

from pieces of a star that had fallen from the sky,

a small, lost star that had power

to control fire.

Beyond this point, the Phoenix cannot rise.

I, king minos of thera,

control the firebird.

I forced it to make its nest here in my volcano,

the beginning and end of all energy

into which you will now descend.

Cassiopea, I command you.

Get in.

(Foreboding instrumental music)

Tell them to open that door.

Tell them now.

Guards, kill him!

(Grunting)

(Metal creaking)

(Yelling)

(Foreboding instrumental music)

(Metal rattling)

(Grunting and yelling)

(Bones cracking)

At last, you failed.

Damn you!

(Yelling)

You.

(Yelling)

You're too reliant on your strength, my hero.

(Dramatic instrumental music)

You look muscle bound, but you're pretty agile, aren't you?

Cassiopea: Hercules, down here.

(Screaming)

(Dramatic instrumental music)

I had another fate in store for you, Hercules.

Pity it has to end like this.

Don't touch that sword.

You'll free the Phoenix.

The volcano will erupt!

This sword, consecrated to Zeus, fears nothing!

(Dramatic instrumental music)

(Metal clanging)

(Yelling)

(Electronic pulsing)

Cassiopea: Hercules, please hurry.

Cassiopea.

(Electronic pulsing)

(Metal rattling)

Cassiopea: Oh, Hercules, hurry.

The volcano's erupting.

(Lava bubbling)

Adriana: Stop.

You've won, but she's dead.

(Gasping and groaning)

(Electronic pulsing)

(Lava crashing)

(Dramatic instrumental music)

(Yelling)

That way.

(Screaming)

(Murmuring)

(Dramatic instrumental music)

(Screaming)

(Explosions)

The Phoenix is freed from the evil that held it prisoner.

Its fire is free now to serve the universe.

The world has nothing more to fear.

Neither do I, with you in my arms.

Kiss me, Hercules.

Wait, are you really cassiopea,

or Adriana in a new form,

or circe reborn?

I'm all of them and none of them.

I'm the one who truly loves you.

(Gentle instrumental music)

(Explosion)

(Dramatic instrumental music)

(Lion roaring)