Regrets... I've Had a Few

"Regrets... I've Had a Few"
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys episode
Episode no.	Season 4 Episode 403
Directed by	Gus Trikonis
Written by	Paul Robert Coyle
Original air date	October 13, 1997
Guest appearance(s)
Colin Moy (Jaris) Belinda Waymouth (Celesta) Mark Wright (Claxon) Nathaniel Lees (Cheiron)
Episode chronology

"Regrets... I've Had a Few" is the third episode of the fourth season in the television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.

Overview

Celesta, the goddess of death, comes for Jaris, an old childhood friend of Hercules. Hercules remembers the first time he met Celesta, and attempts to stop her from taking Jaris to the Elysian Fields.

Plot synopsis

Claxon, the local villain has been let off for his crimes once again. He brags that nobody will dare testify against him. He begins to goad Jaris into a fight, explaining that no-one will see a thing. As he pulls a punch on Jaris, his hand is grabbed by another man, Hercules. Hercules fight Claxon and his men. At the end of the fight Hercules greets his friend, who takes Hercules over to Rena, his sister-in-law who is holding his new-born son, Bartoc. As Jaris prepares to take the baby home, Hercules sees Celesta, the goddess who guides the deceased to the other side. Celesta approaches Jaris and the baby, Hercules asks if she is there for the baby, to which she replies that she is there for Jaris.

Hercules asks how he will die, Celesta tells him he can not stop it as The Fates have already severed his lifeline. She tells Hercules, "There are things even you are powerless to change". He begs Celesta for more time so that Jaris can say a proper goodbye to his family. Celesta tells him that, "Death is never easy. It's the survivors who have it the hardest", reminding Hercules about Jaris's brother Bartoc.

Hercules begins remembering scene from his childhood. Hercules and Iolaus are training in Cheiron's Academy. Cheiron berated Hercules for becoming too cocky. On the way home Hercules and Iolaus are attacked by a gang including Bartoc, who has been assigned to stab Hercules as a sort of initiation. Hercules is surrounded and swarmed, restraining him for Bartoc, while a few of the attackers try and fail to subdue Iolaus but manage to hold him at bay. Hercules breaks free and lashes out at full strength, throwing Bartoc against a post and causing him to go limp. As the gang flees, Hercules sees a woman with a candle, who then disappears. Iolaus checks on Bartoc and informs Hercules that he is dead. Hercules and Iolaus set off to take the boy's body back to his family. While Hercules is travelling to the Bartoc's home, he encounters the woman he saw earlier on. She introduces herself as Celesta. Hercules arrives at Bartoc's home and meets his father, Nehemiah. Nehemiah sees the body on the horse and realises that the body is Bartoc. Hercules offers his sympathy and Nehemiah thanks him for bringing Bartoc back home.

Back in the present day, Hercules tells Jaris that he saw Celesta and that she had come for Jaris. Jaris wishes he could have done more for the people of his village before he died, Hercules tells him he already has achieved things by standing up for them against Claxon, he says that he has not done enough. Jaris says he has some things to do and leaves, Left alone in the house, Hercules remembers when Nehemiah prepares Bartoc's body for his funeral. Jaris blames Nehemiah for Bartoc's death, and runs off. Hercules goes after him and finds him in his tree house. Hercules and Jaris talk about Barotc and Hercules tells Jaris about his own father. Jaris asks Hercules what Bartoc had been doing since he ran away from home. Hercules lies and tells Jaris that Bartoc had joined Cheiron's Academy.

Meanwhile, Iolaus has been captured by Bartoc's old gang. After causing a fight between the gang members, Iolaus manages to escape. He cathes up with Hercules at Bartoc's home, as the family gather around his grave. They all pay their respects to Bartoc, and Iolaus discovers that Hercules did not tell the family how Bartoc really died. In the present Jaris goes after Claxon, telling him he has no time to waste. Jaris throws Claxon up against a wall and stabs him just as Hercules arrives. Hercules asks him why and he says, "If I've gotta go, I'm gonna take as many like him with me as I can".

Celesta appears and tells Hercules that he must stop Jaris or the evil he does will outweigh all the good he has already done, and he will not be permitted to enter the Elysian Fields. Back in the past, Iolaus and Hercules help out Nehemiah, but Iolaus tells Hercules he can not take the place of Bartoc. Meanwhile, the gang have followed Iolaus to Bartoc's house. Dageth, the leader, issues an ultimatum to Hercules. Hercules tells Nehemiah how Bartoc really died, enduring the man's anger without objection but reminding him that it won't bring Bartoc back. Nehemiah then listens as Hercules tells him of Dageth's impending attack. In the present, Jaris goes after more villains, and Hercules tries to stop him. He tells Hercules he would have to kill him to stop him, saying it would be funny if that was how it was always meant to happen.

As Jaris goes to stab one of the gang members, Hercules throws a dagger at his weapon and stops him from doing so. The man flees but Hercules stops him, saying he will deal with him later. Subdued, Jaris sadly says Hercules should have thrown the knife through his heart. Hercules says he should listen to his heart, that killing is not the answer. Hercules tells Jaris to spend the time he has left with his son and the people who love him. Jaris asks Hercules to tell his son about him and that he loved him. Hercules agrees. In the past, the gang leads an attack on Nehemiah's home and Hercules and Iolaus engage them. Hercules and Dageth fight, leading to Dageth's defeat. The following day, Nehemiah thanks Hercules for saving Jaris from the gang. In the present, Hercules, Rena and baby Bartoc are standing around Jaris' grave, now buried next to his brother. As Rena takes the baby back inside the house, Hercules has a conversation with his younger self. Young Hercules tells the older that, "They're never really gone, right? Cos they're part of us. Always".

Main cast

• Kevin Sorbo as Hercules
• Michael Hurst as Iolaus

External links

• "Regrets... I've Had a Few" at TV.com