Millennium 5C19: “Anamnesis”
The Millennial Abyss | Episodes | Season Two
“Anamnesis” (5C19)
Written by Erin Maher & Kay Reindl
Directed by John Kousakis
Edited by Chris Willingham, A.C.E.
Aired April 17, 1998
Summary
Catherine Black and Lara Means clash as they independently investigate a sensitive high-school girl who claims to be experiencing religious visions.
Synopsis
Catherine, anxious and tense, rushes down an empty hallway of a high school. Inside one of the classrooms, a group of five girls—Clare, Leslie, Shelley, Maureen and Kelly—gathers for prayer circle. A figure opens the classroom door and removes a handgun, pointing it inside. The gun fires—and screams reverberate throughout the school.
The story flashes back to two days earlier. In Rowan, Washington, Catherine meets with Emma Shetterly, the high school Vice Principal. The town has been rocked to its foundation ever since five female students claimed they saw a vision of the Virgin Mary. Emma wonders why such a vision would appear to five girls who, in her mind, are "unworthy." The leader of the group, Clare McKenna, has been in trouble a number of times before. Catherine makes an effort to reach out to the girls. Maureen gives her account of how her friends experienced the vision during Reverend Sam Hanes' sermon. Shortly thereafter, Catherine is approached by Hanes' son, Alex. He gives a different account of events, claiming the girls were, in fact, disruptive during his father's service. When Hanes put the girls on notice, Clare experienced the "vision." Alex claims Clare is far from divine. Later, when Catherine returns to speak with Emma, she realizes Lara is inside her office.
Lara tells Catherine and Emma that, throughout the years, the Millennium Group has investigated similar apparitions. Though there is undeniable friction between Catherine and Lara, the ice slowly breaks as they observe the young students attending a prayer meeting. Lara locks eyes with Ben Fisher, a drama teacher, then looks away, somewhat uncomfortable. As the prayer meeting gets underway, Alex clashes with Clare over her recitation of a passage she claims is from the Bible. As Clare continues, she mentions "the beginning and the end," the same words spoken by the Polaroid Man. Catherine is stunned. When she later approaches the girl about what she said, Clare reveals even more about the Polaroid Man, furthering Catherine's speechlessness. Lara steps up behind Catherine. She experiences a vision, seeing a cloaked woman standing near trees. Later, Lara and Catherine discuss the event. Lara believes Clare is, indeed, a visionary, while Catherine believes the girl is simply being mischievous. But Lara explains that the words Clare recited were from Gnostic texts, which were excluded from the Bible for promoting the idea that Mary Magdalene was the only apostle who truly understood Christ's teachings.
Lara and Catherine meet with Clare's father, Ray. They observe a great many books in Clare's bedroom, books given her by Ben Fisher. Ray believes Ben is the only person genuinely concerned for his daughter's welfare. The women then note a Black Virgin, a statue associated with natural phenomena. According to legend, the object will grow heavy if moved against its will. Catherine discovers she cannot, in fact, lift it. An outraged Clare runs into the room and easily lifts the statue, cradling it like a doll.
Ray telephones Catherine, informing her that Clare and her friends have disappeared. Lara and Catherine set off to the woods. During their journey, Lara reveals that the vision the girls saw was not of the Virgin Mary, but of Mary Magdalene. Catherine is stunned. Later, the women come upon the girls standing in a grotto. A scuffle breaks out. Ben lunges at Lara, but she drops him with an impressive right hook. Ben is taken into custody. Later, Reverend Hanes forcibly baptizes four of the girls, believing it is the only way to end their "Godlessness." But when it is Clare's turn, the wispy form of the cloaked woman appears in the water. Everyone, including Catherine and Lara, are stunned. Later, Lara confronts Ben Fisher. Ben, it is revealed, is a member of the Family, a former part of the Millennium Group. Fisher is acting as Clare's guardian, someone to guide and help her deal with her power. He accuses Lara of being jealous, as she was not so fortunate.
Catherine learns that Ben was released from the police station. She fears that he will do something to Clare, but Lara warns her not to interfere. Realizing Clare is at the prayer circle meeting, Catherine rushes to the high school. She sees the armed figure approaching the classroom (see teaser)—which turns out to be Alex. He opens fire, and moments later, is tackled from behind by Catherine. Alex cries out, wondering why Jesus loves Clare more than himself. When Catherine rises to her feet, she realizes Fisher took the bullets intended for Clare. Shortly thereafter, Fisher dies. Later, Lara explains that there had to be a sacrifice in order to set certain events in motion. She then shows Catherine two DNA reports—one for Clare McKenna, and the other taken from the Shroud of Turin. The images match. Lara explains that some believe Clare is the descendant of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene. She hands the DNA folders to Catherine—letting her decide if the world should know the truth.
Starring
Megan Gallagher as Catherine Black
Terry O'Quinn as Peter Watts
Guest Starring
Kristen Cloke as Lara Means
Genele Templeton as Clare McKenna
John Pyper-Ferguson as Ben Fisher
Brendan Fletcher as Alex Hanes
John B. Lowe as Reverend Sam Hanes
Gwynyth Walsh as Emma Shetterly
Garry Davey as Ray McKenna
A. J. Bond as the Sports Boy
Eryn Collins as Shelly
Christopher Gray as Buddy
Jenny Mitchell as Lydia
Angela Moore as the Teacher
Jessica Murdoch as Leslie
Kimberly Warnat as Maureen
Production Credits
Production #5C19
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
Soundtrack
“Dancing Barefoot” (1979) by Patti Smith
Location
Book Excerpt
“‘Anamnesis’ shows that we represent two different emotional pieces of that chorus—Frank Black being the main person, and then everybody else being part of the chorus that supports that story. We were, in some ways, part of that chorus, but we were different voices for that and I never saw it as someone replacing her character.”
—Kristen Cloke
Back to Frank Black
REVIEWS
“‘Anamnesis’ is a fascinating piece of television. It is a script written by two female writers, driven by two female regulars, investigating a case built around a mostly female guest cast. It is a testament to just how far Millennium has come in its second season that it can do a show like this. The first season had no female writers and had only Catherine Black as a prominent female character. It is great that the show can do something like this, but do it so casually and effortlessly. ‘Anamnesis’ is an underrated and overlooked second season script.”
—Darren Mooney
The Movie Blog
“Anamnesis” print ad.