Hercules the Legendary Journeys: The Butcher

ACT I

FADE IN:

INT. SMALL DARK CAVE. DAY

ROLLIN is lying on a large, flat rock which is covered with fur. He is
sick and feverish. YASMINA is kneeling beside him.

ROLLIN:
Medicine. You've got to get me medicine.

YASMINA:
Rollin, there's no money.

Rollin clutches her and tries to sit.

ROLLIN:
I'll die. Do whatever it takes.

YASMINA:
Okay. Shhhhhh. It's okay. I'll get the medicine. Just try to rest
now.

Yasmina pulls the hood of her cloak over her head and walks out of the
cave.

EXT. WOODS OUTSIDE THE CAVE. DAY

INSERT. A "Wanted" sign is nailed to a tree. It bears a sketched
likeness of Rollin and portrays him as "The Butcher". YASMINA walks
past the sign without noticing it.

EXT. WAGON TRAIL AT EDGE OF WOODS. DAY

HERCULES and IOLAUS are walking along the wagon trail.

IOLAUS:
Ahh, I can't wait to soak in a tub of hot water and maybe relax with a
little wine.

HERCULES:
(laughs)
Yes it'll sure be good to take it easy for a while.

IOLAUS:
Yeah, well let's just hope that no-one needs our help for a few days at
least.

HERCULES:
That's what I like about you, Iolaus. So full of enthusiasm.

VILLAGERS are walking in droves along the wagon trail. They have all
their possessions packed up in carts and are leading their FAMILIES,
CHILDREN and ANIMALS.

Hercules and Iolaus see the villagers and their families, loaded up and
travelling past them in the opposite direction. A voice offscreen calls
out to Hercules. An OLD MAN runs over.

OLD MAN:
(offscreen)
Hercules, Hercules.

IOLAUS:
Great.

OLD MAN:
Hercules. Thank the gods. I heard in the village that you were
here.

HERCULES:
Good news travels fast. Where are these people headed?

OLD MAN:
They're running for their lives. The Butcher has been seen in these
parts. Hercules, you've got to help us.

HERCULES:
The Butcher?

The old man hands Hercules a "wanted" sign, bearing Rollin's
likeness.

OLD MAN:
Here.

HERCULES:
Rollin. The farmer that killed his wife and kids last winter.

IOLAUS:
Hey, I've heard of him. They say what he did was so terrible that even
Hades won't touch him.

OLD MAN:
The whole village is in a panic. Families are packin' up and leavin'.
People are scared, Hercules. The man's a monster.

HERCULES:
Don't worry, friend. If Rollin is around here, we'll find him.

IOLAUS:
Yeah, if he knows what's good for him, he'll be the one running for his
life.

HERCULES:
That he will, Iolaus. That he will.

EXT. TREE-LINE OF FOREST BESIDE WAGON TRAIL - YASMINA'S POV. DAY

YASMINA is hiding behind a bush beside a wagon trail. A HERBALIST is
leading his donkey and cart along the trail. Yasmina waits until he has
passed, then runs up behind him, jumping unnoticed into the back of the
cart.

INT. HERBALIST'S CART. DAY

YASMINA searches around inside the moving cart.

YASMINA:
Come on. Oh, which is it? Which is it?

She finds a small wooden flasks and puts it inside her cloak before
jumping out of the cart.

EXT. WAGON TRAIL - HERBALIST'S CART. DAY

YASMINA falls to the ground with a grunt. The HERBALIST turns and sees
her.

HERBALIST:
Hey! Hey, what are you doing?

Yasmina jumps to her feet and runs into the woods.

HERBALIST:
Stop! Stop! Come back here you thief!

EXT. CROP OF TREES IN WOODS. DAY

HERCULES and IOLAUS are walking through the woods when the sounds of a
man SHOUTING are heard offscreen.

IOLAUS:
Did you hear that?

HERCULES:
Shhh.

They listen and the SHOUTING continues.

HERCULES:
Come on.

Hercules and Iolaus run off screen.

EXT. WAGON TRAIL - HERBALIST'S CART. DAY

HERCULES and IOLAUS burst onto the scene. The HERBALIST is
shouting.

HERCULES:
What happened?

HERBALIST:
A man ran off with my potions.

HERCULES:
Which way did he go?

The herbalist points into the woods. Hercules and Iolaus run in that
direction.

EXT. THICK WOODS. DAY

YASMINA runs through the woods, weaving in and out of trees.

HERCULES and IOLAUS are running close behind, but have not seen her
yet.

Iolaus sees a black-clad figure through the trees.

IOLAUS:
(shouts)
Hey!
(points)
Herc, there.

Hercules and Iolaus run after the figure.

Yasmina looks back once and quickly darts to the left. She hides behind
a tree for a moment, panting. She takes out the flask and hides it in
the trunk of the trees, before running off again.

EXT. A CLEARING IN THE WOODS. DAY

HERCULES and IOLAUS stop in the clearing. Iolaus is exhausted.

HERCULES:
Did you see which way he went?

IOLAUS:
I was about to ask you that question.

HERCULES:
Let's split up.

IOLAUS:
Right.

They run off in the same direction. They stop.

HERCULES:
What are you doing?

IOLAUS:
I was going this way.

HERCULES:
(nods in opposite direction)
Fine, I'll go that way.

IOLAUS:
Fine.

HERCULES:
Fine.

They run off in opposite directions.

EXT. THICK WOODS. DAY

IOLAUS sees YASMINA ahead and follows in pursuit. He gets closer and
tackles her to the ground. He rolls her over to face him, pulling off
her hood.

IOLAUS:
Yasmina!

YASMINA:
Iolaus!

Iolaus drags Yasmina to her feet.

IOLAUS:
What are you doing here?

YASMINA:
I can explain.

IOLAUS:
You bet you'll explain. Why aren't you at home?

YASMINA:
Iolaus....

IOLAUS:
I don't know what's going on, but you'd better start talking, and I
mean now.

HERCULES:
(offscreen)
Iolaus.

IOLAUS:
Over here.

HERCULES runs onto the scene.

HERCULES:
You found....her.
(beat)
Yasmina.

IOLAUS:
Herc, you remember Yasmina.
(beat)
My sister.

EXT. WAGON TRAIL - HERBALIST'S CART. DAY

YASMINA is sitting on a rock next to the wagon trail. IOLAUS is
standing with her but he walks over to HERCULES and the HERBALIST, who
are both beside the cart.

IOLAUS:
I can't find the potions. She says she didn't take them.

HERCULES:
Maybe she dropped them.
(to the herbalist)
Here's ten dinars. That should cover whatever potions are
missing.

HERBALIST:
Thank you Hercules. It's the likes of her that'll run a man out of
business.

HERCULES:
Well she won't be causing any more trouble.

IOLAUS:
That's a promise.

The herbalist nods his head and leads his donkey and cart away.

IOLAUS:
I don't understand this, Herc. She's never been a thief.

HERCULES:
I'm as shocked as you are, my friend.

IOLAUS:
If father had any sense, he'll take his strap to her when I get her
home.

HERCULES:
Don't be too hard on her, Iolaus. She may be in trouble.

IOLAUS:
She sure is.

HERCULES:
Come on, we've got work to do. We have to find this Rollin.

EXT. LARGE VILLAGE. DAY

HERCULES, IOLAUS and YASMINA walk into the village. It is almost
deserted but there are a few people scattered about. All the hut
windows are boarded up. a MERCHANT walks by with his cart of wares,
stopping at the end of the street.

HERCULES:
They didn't waste any time clearing out.

IOLAUS:
No kidding.

Hercules walks over to the merchant.

MERCHANT:
Come to buy somethin'? Can I interest you in this modern food
cutter?

He shows Hercules a primitive egg slicer made from bamboo.

HERCULES:
Ah, no....thank you.

MERCHANT:
It's a real time saver.

The merchant places an over-ripe tomato into the slicer, slamming the
blades closed. The tomato squashes up, squirting juice into Hercules'
eye.

HERCULES:
I'll pass.

MERCHANT:
(sighs)
Business has been really slow around 'ere lately. It's the Butcher, ya
know.

HERCULES:
Yes, I've heard. You haven't seen him have you?

MERCHANT:
Lookin' for 'im, eh? Rumour has it, that he's been seen in the woods
east of 'ere.

HERCULES:
Thank you.
(turns to walk away)

MERCHANT:
If you're plannin' on huntin' 'im, you're in fer some
competition.

Hercules turns back towards the merchant.

HERCULES:
Competition?

MERCHANT:
Them mercenaries don't fool around ya know.

HERCULES:
What mercenaries?

MERCHANT:
Folks got their money and jewels together when they 'eard the Butcher
was 'round. They paid them mercenaries to get rid of 'im. If ya know
what I mean.

HERCULES:
I'm afraid I do.

The merchant waves the bamboo egg slicer around.

MERCHANT:
It slices. It dices.

HERCULES:
Really....no.

Hercules walks over to where Iolaus and Yasmina are waiting.

MERCHANT:
(calling out)
It's great for coleslaw.

HERCULES:
The villagers have hired mercenaries to kill Rollin.

YASMINA:
(fearful)
Mercenaries?

IOLAUS:
It's not safe for you here, Yasmina. I wish there was some way I could
get you home.

YASMINA:
I'm not going home.

IOLAUS:
(ignoring her)
Herc, we've got to find somewhere safe for her to stay.

HERCULES:
I have an old friend who lives close by. She'll be safe there.

YASMINA:
I don't need a keeper.

IOLAUS:
That's a matter of opinion.

HERCULES:
Iolaus is right, Yasmina. It's not safe for you to come with us.

YASMINA:
Don't do this. If you leave me with your friend Hercules, I'll have no
choice but to run away.

IOLAUS:
(to Hercules)
She's not coming with us.

HERCULES:
We can't very well lock her up.

IOLAUS:
(hopeful)
It wouldn't be for long.

HERCULES:
No. Absolutely, no.
(beat)
No!

INT. MAESEUS' HUT. NIGHT

HERCULES, IOLAUS, YASMINA AND MAESEUS are inside Maeseus' hut. The hut
is small and sparsely furnished. Yasmina is tied to a chair by the
fire.

YASMINA:
(yells and struggles)
You can't do this to me, Iolaus! Hercules! Let me go, you can't do
this. I'm telling mum, you....

Iolaus places a cloth in her mouth, stifling her curses.

HERCULES:
We really appreciate this, Maeseus.

MAESEUS:
You can always count on me, Hercules.

HERCULES:
I didn't doubt it. Give us two days.

MAESEUS:
Take as long as you need. I'll look after the little lady.

Hercules walks out of the hut. Iolaus follows him but stops at the
door.

IOLAUS:
Oh, and Yasmina....
(beat)
....stay out of mischief.
(laughs)

Yasmina's cries are muffled as Iolaus leaves the hut.

EXT. MAESEUS' HUT. NIGHT

The hut is situated at the edge of the forest. HERCULES and IOLAUS
begin to walk towards the woods.

HERCULES:
Just for the record, I'm not happy about this.

IOLAUS:
What could possibly go wrong?

HERCULES:
I wish you hadn't said that.

FADE OUT