Millennium 5C08: “The Hand of St. Sebastian”
The Millennial Abyss | Episodes | Season Two
“The Hand of St. Sebastian” (5C08)
Written by Glen Morgan & James Wong
Directed by Thomas J. Wright
Edited by George R. Potter
Aired November 14, 1997
Summary
Frank Black and a driven Peter Watts travel to Germany in search of a religious artifact relating to the Millennium Group’s secret history, which is steeped in dark intrigue dating to the first millennium.
Synopsis
In the year A.D. 998, a Fugitive who possesses a mummified hand—the Hand of Saint Sebastian—is betrayed by his ally, the Provider. Two archers step from the shadows and release their bows, striking the Fugitive as he attempt to flee. As the Provider searches the Fugitive's clothing, looking for the holy relic, he exposes the man's skin, on which is displayed a tattoo of an ouroboros—the symbol of the Millennium Group.
In the present day, Peter Watts asks Frank to help him with a case unauthorized by the Millennium Group—but fails to provide any details. Frank agrees. The pair travel to a laboratory in Germany, where a Dr. Schlossburg had been murdered three days before. In the center of the lab sits an autopsy table containing the remains of a mummified man. Their efforts are interrupted by two German police detectives, Heim and Betzdorf, who had been staking out the lab. Frank and Watts are transported to a police station for further questioning. A Captain apologizes for the misunderstanding and pledges the department's fullest cooperation. The pair ask permission to examine Schlossburg's remains, but are informed that the coroner inadvertently cremated the body. Detective Heim drops Frank and Watts off at their rental car. As they enter the automobile, Frank notices an electrical wire on the carpet. The pair jump from the car moments before it erupts in a huge fireball.
Frank concludes that someone connected to Schlossburg's murder planted the bomb, and he demands that Watts brief him about the details of the case. Watts explains that the mummified body dates back to the beginning of Christianity—when the Millennium Group first came into being. Their conversation ends when they realize they are being followed by two men. Frank and Watts return to their hotel, where they encounter fellow Group member Cheryl Andrews, who offers her assistance. It is politely declined by Watts.
With some help from Roedecker, Watts guesses Schlossburg's computer password (the doctor being an adult film fan). Meanwhile, it turns out that Schlossburg is still alive. When he regains consciousness in a hospital, he tells Heim his attacker was Peter Watts.
Andrews tells Frank she was sent to "reel in" Watts, who is acting without the Group's authorization. She gives Frank a phone number where she can be contacted. Later, Frank encounters Watts inside Schlossburg's lab. Watts describes how, a thousand years earlier, the Order of the Knights Chroniclers, who warned of the upcoming millennium, possessed the hand of Saint Sebastian. This holy relic extended to its possessor the "knowledge to overcome the evils of the millennium." Watts then tells Frank that Schlossburg had discovered the site of the Knights Chroniclers' burial ground.
Frank and Watts discover that Schlossburg is, in fact, very much alive. Watts gains access to Schlossburg's hospital room. Schlossburg tells him that he was attacked by a man who identified himself as Peter Watts. He then tells Watts that the burial ground is located at a peat bog. Frank and Watts leave the hospital. Shortly thereafter, Schlossburg is murdered. The pair locate a preserved corpse—and the mummified hand—beneath the peat bog. Moments later, Heim and his men arrest Watts for Schlossburg's murder.
Frank instructs Roedecker to find out who used Schlossburg's account to log onto an adult chat line two days before. He then rendezvous with Andrews at a storage building where the mummified corpse is stored. There the pair are pursued by two assassins. During the chase, Frank reveals the unit number where the body is hidden. Suddenly, Andrews turns on Frank, and instructs the assassins to seize him. Frank realizes Andrews set up Watts to destroy the Group's credibility. A group of German policemen suddenly spring from their hiding places, taking Andrews and the assassins into custody. Frank tells Andrews she made a crucial error by using her phone number to log onto the adult chat line. Later, Frank and Watts study the mummy. Frank believes that the answers they seek actually lie within themselves.
Starring
Lance Henriksen as Frank Black
Terry O’Quinn as Peter Watts
Guest Starring
CCH Pounder as Cheryl Andrews
Allan Zinyk as Brian Roedecker
Gottfried John as Josef Heim
Philip Baker Hall as the Group Elder
Graham Andrews as Dr. Schlossburg
Stephen Dimopoulos as Det. Betzdorf
Stefano Giulianetti as the Fugitive
Noah Heney as the Provider
Damon Johnson as Hospital Security
Christine Lippa as the Police Captain
Production Credits
Production #5C08
Music by Mark Snow
Production Designer Mark Freeborn
Director of Photography Robert McLachlan
Associate Producer Jon-Michael Preece
Consulting Producer Chip Johannessen
Consulting Producers Darin Morgan
Co-Producer Robert Moresco
Co-Producer Paul Rabwin
Producer Thomas J. Wright
Co-Executive Producer Ken Horton
Co-Executive Producer John Peter Kousakis
Executive Producer Glen Morgan
Executive Producer James Wong
Executive Producer Chris Carter
Location
Book Excerpt
“With ‘The Hand of St. Sebastian’ we find that within the Millennium Group, like the Cosa Nostra, and despite the appearance of unity in any family or social group, there exist differences of opinion. There are factions. There are alternate agendas. There are traitors. And, as with the Mafia, there are rats. ”
—Gordon Roberts
Back to Frank Black
REVIEWS
“The plotting of The Hand of St. Sebastian might be a little muddled, but the episode demonstrates how confident and surreal Millennium has become in its second season. The show never loses sight of Frank and Peter, even as it embraces the idea of an absurdly heightened world around them. More than that, The Hand of St. Sebastian marks the end of the first act of the second season. Everything is set up. The show can now begin really playing with its big ideas.”
—Darren Mooney
The Movie Blog