YOUNG HERCULES I EPISODES
1.21 LYRE, LIAR

Hercules and Iolaus visit the farmer's market. Iolaus gives his friend a hard time about him being a drag ever since Eurydice left. Hercules asks not to talk about that subject anymore. Iolaus advises Hercules to forget about her because he will never see her again. Just then Hercules sees Eurydice standing not far from them. He calls her name. Eurydice turns around. Recognising the two friends she is clearly delighted to see them. Especially Hercules. She comes over to them, telling them about a small farm east of town that she and Orpheus are having now. Upon hearing that Orpheus is trying to buy a donkey Iolaus goes to find him, giving Hercules and Eurydice a chance to talk alone. Eurydice says she has missed Hercules. Then she embraces him.

Meanwhile Iolaus unnerves Orpheus, who is wearing a hooded cloak to avoid being recognised, by admiring how much the minstrel has given up for Eurydice. Especially throwing the lyre away, given how that instrument could move audiences like it did and how it turned on the girls. Orpheus is clearly uncomfortable with the subject.

Eurydice lets Hercules know how glad she was to leave that life behind and how Orpheus was not, talking about nothing else than the concerts and the crowds. Hercules carefully enquires if this makes it hard for her to stay with him. Eurydice points out how much she owes Orpheus, for freeing her from Bacchus and giving up his music for her. But it is obvious that she is not happy. Orpheus calls over to them. He and Iolaus start walking towards their friends when someone runs into the minstrel knocking back the hood of his cloak. Hercules takes notice of the incident and starts looking around. He sees several suspicious figures, who are also cloaked, moving about the market. Three young girls standing not far away recognise Orpheus. Orpheus, pleased by their obvious admiration, shrugs off his cloak with a flourish and greets them with a warm smile. They come closer. The first girl reaches out to touch his face when suddenly a fierce hiss is being heard. The girl shrinks back. Orpheus, sensing trouble, hurries to get behind Hercules, Iolaus and Eurydice. Hercules recognises the source of the hiss. The suspicious figures he had notices before throw back their hoods and reveal themselves to be - Bacchae! Orpheus insists that he is not responsible for their presence. The creatures advance and attack. Hercules, Iolaus and Eurydice fight back while Orpheus tries to avoid the Bacchae. He is clutching something that is hidden in rough cloth. But he is the main target of the Bacchae and they chase him into a corner. When they wrestle his burden from it the cloth slips away and reveals Bacchus' lyre. Orpheus tries to get it back but without success. Iolaus and Hercules have seen what has happened. Iolaus realises that the Bacchae found Orpheus through the lyre although he fails to understand how the minstrel could possibly have the instrument. After all he had seen with his own eyes how Orpheus had thrown it over the cliff. Hercules already understands that it was only the empty case that fell into the sea.

Eurydice grabs the lyre. She is fuming with rage. Orpheus tries to calm her but cannot stop her from throwing the instrument away. Hercules goes after the lyre. The Bacchae close in on Eurydice and Orpheus. Eurydice is so enraged that she disregards the danger they pose completely. She yells at them to back off and they do. Suddenly a high screeching sound pierces the air causing everyone to flinch. It is Hercules. He is moving the lyre back and forth on top of a carved stone head. Everyone covers their ears, earthen pots break from the high notes and the Bacchae flee. Eurydice calls Orpheus a lying weasel and pushes him so hard that he falls on top of a pile of sacks. Hercules jumps down to her side, the lyre still in his hand. She yanks the instrument from him, turns and leaves. He watches her go. Then Orpheus demands his attention. The minstrel has been buried under some sacks and moans about not being able to breathe. Hercules helps him without hiding his anger and contempt of the minstrel. Orpheus tries to explain to him how he had to keep the lyre because of the way it made him feel when he played it. Hercules in turn asks him who he thinks Eurydice feels about being lied to and put into such danger. Orpheus tries to reassure Hercules. The minstrel thinks he knows how Bacchus operates and is confident the god will get bored and forget about them soon. Orpheus hopes that he and Eurydice then can get a new band, tour again and be happy. Hercules, annoyed, is informing the minstrel such a life would only make him happy and that Eurydice no longer wants to stand in his shadow. Now Orpheus is upset. At that point Iolaus interrupts, asking them if they know where Eurydice went. Hercules has a suspicion about that.

Meanwhile Bacchus has not forgotten about his lyre at all. He tells his Bacchae someone must find Orpheus and bring back his special instrument or he will get very cranky. As if on cue Eurydice walks into the cave, bringing back the lyre. In exchange for it she wants Bacchus to leave them alone. Bacchus replies he cannot do that. He gave Orpheus the fame he craved and was repaid with treachery. Eurydice points out that this is between him and Orpheus. Bacchus is surprised to hear Eurydice being indifferent to what he does to the minstrel. He quickly realises that Eurydice has fallen in love with Hercules which enrages him greatly. He vows to destroy his rival. Eurydice offers herself to Bacchus in exchange for Hercules' life.

Hercules, Iolaus and Orpheus move through the forest, heading for Bacchus' cave. Iolaus voices his doubts about their direction. He thinks Eurydice might have gone to throw the lyre into the ocean for real this time. Orpheus is certain that she would not do that. Hercules agrees because such an action would only make Bacchus more angry. Hercules is convinced she went to Bacchus to return the instrument and in doing so get Orpheus off the hook. When he adds he doesn't think Orpheus deserves it the minstrel takes offence and the they start to fight, pushing each other around. Iolaus goes between them, telling them to save it for Bacchus. No sooner has he spoken the god's name, they hear Bacchus' voice, agreeing with Iolaus. Then vines start shooting from the earth, winding around their legs and slowly pulling the three guys into the ground.

Inside Bacchus' cavern his followers are preparing a feast. Hercules finds himself alone in an underground cell which is full of vines some of which have tied his wrists. He is surprised when he receives a visit from Eurydice. Hercules tries to convince her it had been Orpheus idea to rescue her but Eurydice knows her former boyfriend too well to believe that. She knows he came back for the lyre not to save her. Eurydice lets Hercules know she likes his truthfulness and how much she regrets how she has treated him before. Hercules tells her to forget about before since she was a Bacchae then. Eurydice promises him all will be over soon as she has worked it all out. She says goodbye and turns away. Then she turns back to him and kisses Hercules tenderly, before leaving for good. Hercules is confused.

A little later Hercules, Iolaus and Orpheus with their hands tied are brought into the great cave and ordered on their knees. Orpheus spots the lyre hanging in its former accustomed place. When he remarks on it he gets rebuked by Iolaus. An unseen organ begins to play and through a huge opening more Bacchae enter the room. Bacchus appears on the dais at the opposite side in a flash. He welcomes his children and - looking at the three intruders kneeling at the side - the uninvited guests. The Bacchae applaud. Bacchus continues to say how it pleases him that they are all there to witness a glorious event. A distorted version of 'Here comes the Bride' is played. Another group of Bacchae enters with Eurydice in their midst. She goes up to Bacchus and puts her hand into Bacchus', when he offers it. Bacchus announces that today he and Eurydice will be joined as one and together shall reign over the Bacchae Kingdom. Hercules refuses to believe what he is hearing. Then Bacchus tells Hercules his end has come. Eurydice protests. Bacchus had promised her to leave Hercules alone in return for her staying with the god.

Hercules is enraged. Despite his bonds he charges at Bacchus so forcefully that he knocks the god to the ground. One of the Bacchae grabs Eurydice from behind but she manages to free herself. Iolaus and the other Bacchae join the fight. A torch gets knocked down and a fire is spreading fast. Two Bacchae advance on Orpheus. He tries to talk them out of it rather than fight. But its no use and they attack him fiercely. During the fighting Hercules bonds break and his hands get free. But even with their hands tied together he and Iolaus were putting up a good fight. Eurydice grabs a sword and calls Orpheus, who has a respite from the attacking Bacchae. Seeing her raising the sword Orpheus is afraid of what she might do. But she only cuts him lose. Then she calls Hercules' name and runs into his embrace. Orpheus looks on, calling her name. His voice is full of confusion and hurt. Iolaus, ever practical, suggests they leave. Eurydice shows them the way. Orpheus grabs Iolaus, saying he must get the lyre. Iolaus sees the instrument surrounded by flames and tells the minstrel to forget it. Then he follows Hercules and the girl and the Bacchae who also run for their lives. Orpheus stays behind intend on saving the lyre. He beats out the flame with a cloth not noticing that Bacchus has recovered.

Hercules and his friends exit the cave. He inquires about Orpheus and is not really surprised when Iolaus tells him the minstrel went back for the lyre. Suddenly Bacchus rises from the ground in front of them. In his arms he carries Orpheus who is hugging the lyre to his chest. When he is fully materialised the god throws the minstrel - who is moaning with pain - hard down before their feet. Bacchus announces that Orpheus has outlived his usefulness. Hercules orders Iolaus to get Orpheus out of there. Reluctantly Iolaus grabs Orpheus under his arms and drags him away to safety. Bacchus challenges Hercules, saying he will now pay for his defiance. On Bacchus silent command again vines shoot from the ground whipping through the air. Hercules avoids them and pushes Eurydice out of harms way. Again and again Hercules moves quick enough to avoid the vines. Then Eurydice sees a big vine rising behind him, getting ready to strike. She calls a warning, rushing to him, pushing him forcefully out of the way. The vine strikes hard. Eurydice is hit and thrown high into the air. She screams. Hercules yells no and runs to where she has fallen. Gently he takes her into his arms. Bacchus looks on disbelieving and also suffering from the realisation that his beloved Eurydice is going to die. When Hercules promises to get help Eurydice begs him not to leave her. She tells him not to give up on himself as that is how Bacchus got to her. Eurydice expresses her sorrow of having met Hercules too late. She tenderly touches his face. Then she dies.

Bacchus roars no, feeling the pain of Eurydice's loss. Hercules rises to face him, tears streaming down his face. The god accuses Hercules of having confused her, turning her against him. Hercules challenges him to strike him down. Bacchus prepares to attack. Then he changes his mind, explaining to Hercules that the pain of this loss is more than anything he could inflict. But the god promises to find Hercules when his sorrow fades and take his revenge then. With that Bacchus disappears into the ground again. Hercules turns back to Eurydice kneeling down beside her dead body, grieving.


The story concludes in episode 1.22 A Lady in Hades in which Orpheus does not appear nor is mentioned what has become of him.

Short synopsis of A Lady in Hades:
Hercules and his friend Jason go into the underworld. There Hercules pleads with his uncle Hades, God of the Underworld, not to send Eurydice down to Tartarus - where all Bacchae are send - but to allow her to the Elysian Fields instead. Hades is not easily convinced and sets them a task. Eurydice must be forgiven and embraced by the dead mother of a girl named Sarah she had enticed into the Bacchae cult. While Jason reunites with his dead father on the Elysian Fields Hercules sees that it is not likely that the mother will forgive Eurydice. So he returns to Hades offering to take Sarah's place in Tartarus so she can be allowed to the Elysian Fields. When Eurydice finds out about this she begs Hades to take her in Hercules' place. Hades, moved by so much unselfishness, allows Sarah and Eurydice to the Elysian Fields and Hercules and Jason return to the world of the living.


Young Hercules © Renaissance Pictures and Studios USA 1998-2001

Young Hercules

YOUNG HERCULES

Episode 1.21 LYRE, LIAR
(Part 3 of 4)

Original Airdate: 11/03/1998
(approx. 30 minutes)
Filmed in New Zealand

Written by Len Uhley
Directed by Chris Graves

Created by
Rob Tapert & Andrew Dettman & Daniel Truly

Cast:
Ryan Gosling (Hercules)
Dean O'Gorman (Iolaus)
Kevin Smith (Bacchus)
Kieren Hutchison (Orpheus)
Morgan Fairhead (Eurydice)
Julia Sproule (Teenage Fan)
Win Windle (Bacchae # 2)

 

 

 

FOOTNOTE
German Site
Kieren Hutchison