Hercules Act 2 Prologue Essay

Narrator: Hercules had been assigned 10 close to impossible tasks that he has completed, yet two were counted as “not done correctly” so he has been assigned yet another, more difficult task.

*Hercules walks over to King Eurystheus on his throne*

Hercules: Why have you brought me here? I have done all other 10 tasks you have asked of me?

King Eurystheus: I do not count the Hydra or Augean Stables as properly done so I demand that you do the next task I ask of you. The task you will be doing immediately is to steal the golden apples, given as a wedding gift, from Zeus and Hera’s garden.

Narrator: What!?! He thought. How am I supposed to do that! I will surely fail!?

Hercules: Sir, why do you not count the Hydra or Augean Stables as correctly

done?
King Eurystheus: (Angry) Don’t question me you peasant! I will give you 6 hours to get ready, before you are sent on your journey.
Hercules: But…
King Eurystheus: Enough said. Guard, get this man out now.
Guard: Yes sir!
*Hercules is pulled out of the room by the guard, yet he fights it.*
*Hercules is now outside of the temple, in the marketplace.*
Hercules: No, No! What should I do, I should be off the hook but no! Why does that jerk King Eurystheus have to send me on another journey, does he want to see me fail?!
*storms out of the marketplace.*
End of Scene 1:
Scene 2 - Start of a long journey/ Kyknos:
*Hercules returns home*
Guard: Your six hours are up now get out of this town or you shall be executed.
*Hercules begins panicking*
Hercules: I don’t even know where to go! Where is that garden?
*Hercules walks out his door, into the marketplace*
Hercules: This way?
*Points in direction*
Hercules: Or that way.
*Points cross over each other*
Hercules: Oh whatever, I will just go this way.
*Hercules starts to run, Rocky song begins to play*
Hercules: Wait what, where did that come from? Turn that off!?!?
*Hercules continues to run*
Narrator: Hercules runs nonstop for days hoping he can find this mysterious garden that belonged to the gods. Was it even real? Or was this just a fake to get me out of the empire, Hercules thought.
* Wipes forehead and uses hands to covers eyes from sun*
*Realizes that there is a town on the horizon*
Hercules: Finally, is that really it!?!?!
*A tall man confronts him*
Kyknos: I am Kyknos, son of Ares, God of war. I demand that you fight me!
*A battle breaks out and both sides are looking strong*
*The fight continues until it is broken up by a lightning bolt*
*Boom*
Hercules: You were no match for me Kyknos, I must go on way now.
*Hercules continues on his journey to find the secret garden*
End of scene 2:
Scene 3 - Nereus:
*A few months later*
*He finally reaches Illyria when a person steps into his way*
Hercules: What do you want. I have to get going.
Nereus: I am Nereus, the sea-god, and I know of your journey you are taking. I even know where the secret garden you are looking for is. The only way you can find out is if you get past me.
Hercules: Challenge accepted
Narrator: The fight went on and on until Hercules finally got hold of Nereus and pinned him to the floor.
Hercules: Now that I have beaten you, you must tell me where the secret garden.
Nereus: Never!!
Hercules: Then I will kill you!!
Nereus: Ok, ok, the garden is located at the end of the world
Hercules: Ok
*Hercules released Nereus*
Hercules: You’ll thank me for sparing your life, now leave.

*Hercules begins his journey once more*

End of Scene 3:

Start of Scene 4 - Poseidon's Sons:

Narrator: Hercules’s journey is stopped once again, this time by Antaeus, Poseidon's son.

Hercules (frustrated): Now what do you want, I’m trying to go somewhere.”

Antaeus: I am Antaeus, one of Poseidon's sons, and I am here to stop you!

*Hercules draws his sword, preparing for a fight*

Narrator: No one had yet gotten the upper hand but Hercules kept making strong attacks. Hercules finally got hold of the battle, throwing Antaeus to the ground, but when he hit the ground his brother Busiris showed up, appearing even more powerful than Antaeus. Busiris grabbed ahold of Hercules and threw him to the ground. This left Hercules unconscious, and was captured by Buirius.

*A few hours later Hercules woke up being dragged to an alter*

Crowd of people: καλούπι, καλούπι, καλούπι, καλούπι (Cal-E-Oh-P) (“die” in Greek)

Hercules (whispers to himself): Oh no, I gotta get out of this place!

*Hercules makes a move to leave*

Burisius: Hey, where do you think you are going, I need guards on Hercules now!

*Hercules turns around, grabs Burisius’ sword and kills him*

Burisius: Help

please…
*The guards tended to Burisius and Hercules ran out the door and into the fields, where he escaped and continued his journey to find the secret garden.
End of Scene 4:
Start of Scene 5 - How to Get the Apples:
Narrator: Hercules ran for days, until he found himself on top of Mount Caucasus, where Prometheus, a trickster, was currently suffering from his fate.
Prometheus: Oh thank goodness you're here Hercules. See, I have been trapped here on this rock for 30 years. Everyday I’m eaten by and eagle, my guts ripped out. When the eagle flies away, everything grows back. The next day comes and the eagle comes again. I ask that you please help me. In return I will tell you how to get the Golden apples that you desire.
*Prometheus flashes back to all the times the eagle has came*
*Shakes his head out of it*
Hercules: Fine. I will kill the eagle. However, if you don’t tell me where the apples are I shall kill you too.
Prometheus: Deal.
Hercules: I have a plan. I will be here at nightfall when the eagle comes for you. I will jump out from behind this rock and stab it with my sword. Then I will cut you loose and you will tell me where the Golden Apples are.
Prometheus: Perfect.
*Night falls and Hercules is ready behind the rock*
*The eagle plunges for Prometheus*
*In an instant, Hercules dashes out from behind the rock and the eagle’s chest goes directly into the sword killing it instantly*
Prometheus: Oh thank you Hercules. Now untie me and I will help you continue your journey.
*Hercules uses his sword to cut the chains*
Hercules: Where do I need to go.
Prometheus: You must find Atlas. Then, hold up the world for him while he goes to get them from the garden. From there you can return home and show the king that you are done doing his ridiculous task.
Hercules: Thank you
*Hercules goes down the mountain and heads on*
End of Scene 5
Scene 6 - Atlas:
*Hercules keeps running and running until he runs into Atlas who is also at the end of the world*
Hercules: Oh wow, you must be Atlas, Prometheus sent me here.
Atlas: Yes, I heard about you, you are the one who had to complete 10 impossible tasks, but I thought you completed them already.
Hercules (Sassy): Yeah, I did, but I have to do two more, but let's stop talking about my tasks and let's get to the golden apples.
Atlas: Ok, ok, the plan is that because you aren’t allowed close to the garden, is that I will go to retrieve the golden apples for you, and you will stay here and hold up the skies while you wait for me. Remember, I am only doing this because I hate holding up the skies and Earth.
Hercules: Sounds good to me.
*Atlas hands the skies to Hercules*
*Atlas continues to the edge of the world and vanishes*
End of Scene 6
Scene 7 - The Secret Garden/Returning to Hercules.
*Atlas approaches the secret garden, acting as if he was taking a stroll through the park.
Atlas (whispering to himself): Where can I find these apples.
*Atlas turned the corner to see the golden apples sitting there.*
Atlas: Oh, here they are!
Narrator: When Atlas came close to the garden, he made sure not to make a noise otherwise he might wake up Hesperides. He continued on to the golden apple tree and grabbed them right from the garden. He then returned back to Hercules.
*Atlas made it back to Hercules, who was struggling to hold up the world.*
Hercules: Finally, your here, I wont be able to hold up the skies much longer, I’m not titan like you are. Can I bring the apples back to King Eurystheus.
Atlas (with a shrug): I guess, but makes sure to mention me.
*Atlas grabbed the the skies from Hercules and Hercules fell to the ground*
*Hercules gives Atlas a salute and returns back to the king*
End of Scene 7
Scene 8 - Returning Home:
*Hercules returned back to his town and the king.*
Hercules (proudly): Hello Sir. I have brought you the golden apples from Zeus and Hera’s garden.
King Eurystheus: (Completely Awestruck) H-h-how did you do that! You must return them NOW!
*Athena enters the room*
End of Scene 8
Epilogue:
Narrator: There was one more problem, these golden apples belonged to the gods Zeus and Hera so they could not remain with the king. After all of the trouble that Hercules went through to receive these apples, he was forced to give them back to Athena, who would take them to the Northern Edge of the world. They would be put right back where they came from.