• Original Air Date: 04/22/96
• Written by: Brian Herskowitz
• Directed by: Oley Sassone
• Guest Cast:
  • Michael Hurst (Iolaus)
  • Ashley Laurence (Daniella)
  • Paul Gittins (Thanis)
  • Stephen Papps (Trilos)
  • John O'Leary (Magistrate)
  • James O'Farrell (Bornus)
  • Jane Cresswell (Proteus)

Hercules and Iolaus have to help an old friend, Thanus, a sculptor, because he's accused of being a robber. What's worse, Iolaus thought he saw him do it. Hercules and Iolaus save Thanus from being stoned by a mob only to have him be thrown in a cell by the town magistrate. In the interest of fairness, the magistrate gives Hercules and Iolaus 24 hours to discover what really happened. If they don't succeed, Thanus' hands will be chopped off as his punishment.

Iolaus then thinks he sees Hercules kissing Danielle, Thanus' daughter, who he likes. Hercules tells Iolaus that it wasn't him. A confused Hercules then knows that something bizarre is going on, especially when "Iolaus" tries to kill him while the real Iolaus walks up. Then, Hercules knows what's going on... Proteus, a god who can assume the shape of any leaving form.

Hercules and Iolaus soon discover that Proteus is making Thanus pay because Danielle rejected him, after seeing Proteus' true self in a reflection of water. It's up to Hercules to prove that it was Proteus posing as Thanus. Hercules will have to fight the many forms of Proteus, even the one that looks like Hercules himself.

In the end, Hercules convinces Proteus that he can make amends for his deeds by saving Thanus. Proteus materializes as himself to the people of the village and the magistrate and admits to taking the form of Thanus to commit the robbery. Just in time, too, Thanus' hands are already on the block. Proteus apologizes to Danielle, Thanus, and the people of the village for his deeds, then changes into a white dove and flies away. Thanus is so thankful to Hercules and Iolaus that he decides to create a statue of the two of them, for helping him.