"Tempus Fugit"

"No matter what the course of fate, and no matter how we get there, I look forward to experiencing your America. It will be a pleasure to make your acquaintance all over again, Miss Mills."

—Ichabod Crane to Abbie Mills

"Tempus Fugit" is the eighteenth episode of Season Two of Fox's Sleepy Hollow. It was written by Mark Goffman and directed by Paul Edwards. It is the thirty-first episode of the series overall, and debuted on February 23, 2015. This episode is the second season finale.

Synopsis[]

Season Two of the spellbinding series comes to a dramatic close, leaving Sleepy Hollow and its residents forever changed. Familiar faces will perish and a key relationship will implode beyond repair.^[1]

Recap[]

Crane is seen as he loads up his weapons and goes out to fight the British with his men. He fights his way through the battlefield, in a reenactment of the opening scene for Pilot. It is altered, however when Crane checks the corpses for Hessians with a mark on their hand, and a soldier tells him that they have captured a woman who claims she has knowledge about the war... and that Crane is looking for a Hessian with a bow on his hand. he leaves the battlefield, missing his appointment with the Horseman.

Abbie is waiting in her cell in Sleepy Hollow when Crane arrives. He, of course, has no idea who she is, and Abbie explains that they haven't met yet. She warns that he will face the Horseman on the battlefield, and he and Crane will kill each other. Crane demands an explanation, and Abbie says that if he gets her out, then she will explain everything. Crane doesn't believe it, and starts to leave, but Abbie says that the Horseman has an ally who will make sure that Crane dies on the battlefield. Crane then receives a message as bugles sound in the distance, and Abbie knows what the message says. She says that she has faced the Horseman before, and warns that Crane cannot defeat him without her.

Katrina, meanwhile, searches the medical tent for her husband who should be there, sure that he was cut down by the Horseman. A soldier explains that a slave woman called the captain away, and confirms that it was Abbie. The wounded soldier says that Crane was saved by his absence, and the Horseman fought like something from Hell.

Crane and Abbie return to the battlefield, where she uses whiskey as a disinfectant for a wounded man. Several of the American soldiers have been decapitated and the wounds are cauterized, and Abbie says that the Horseman killed them. Crane demands an explanation, and Abbie says that she knows what Washington has told Crane. She finally explains that they will meet in 200 years and Crane would have died if she hadn't pulled him from the battle. Abbie worries about the changes to history, and Crane demands to know who she is.

Crane's superior, Colonel Sutton, arrives and demands to know why Crane abandoned his post, that he never gave orders for Crane to question Abbie, and tells him to accompany the 12th Regiment, and to stay with them unless ordered otherwise. Crane hesitates, and asks what will happen to Abbie, pointing out that she knew about the Hessian attack. He suggests that Abbie is a British agent and offers to take her back to Fort Hudson for interrogation. Sutton refuses and says that Abbie will be sent to a camp for runaways. Crane then asks to be allowed to transport her and question her along the way. Sutton agrees, but warns that Crane's connections won't save him next time he disobeys an order.

As Crane and Abbie take the carriage to the camp, Abbie thanks Crane for going out on a limb for her. He demands answers and asks what she knows of him. Abbie tells him about how he and Katrina met and married, but Crane says that the British could know of his relationship from their spies. She then explains how they take on impossible tasks in the future, and turn to books written by Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin. Crane admits that Franklin recently returned from France, and Abbie says that he can confirm her story. After a moment, Crane tells the driver to take them to Franklin.

The Horseman, meanwhile, rides through the battlefield looking for Crane, but finds no sign of him. Katrina appears and addresses him as Bram, and says that she knows he is there for her husband. She explains that Crane betrayed her and joined forces with another woman, and offers her help to find and kill them. A soldier tries to run off, and Katrina blasts him with her magic. The Horseman considers, and then nods in agreement.

Crane and Abbie arrive in Sleepy Hollow, and people note Abbie's clothing and pass by. As they knock at Franklin's house, Abbie explains that she thought she was heading to bigger things than Sleepy Hollow, but she learned that the big things are in Sleepy Hollow. Franklin answers his door, and is immediately taken with Abbie. She explains where she's from and what the future is like, Franklin accepts everything she say,s and points out to Crane that everything they're striving for is in front of them. He tells Crane that he heard rumors of the power of the Grand Grimoire, and even the forces of evil fear the repercussions of changing history. Abbie carefully says that a witch opposes them, and Franklin notices her reticence and sends Crane from the room to get his Almanac. He then confirms that Katrina is the witch, and warns that the Grimoire cannot heal Katrina's guilt. Franklin tells Abbie that they have to concentrate on undoing the Traveler Spell, undoing everything that has happened since Katrina and Abbie traveled back. He admits that he doesn't know the specifics, but believes that for a short period, any spell can be undone. He then says that they must speak with Grace Dixon, at Fredericks Manor. When Abbie suggest telling Crane the truth, Franklin warns against it.

Crane then returns and reluctantly agrees to the plan. The Horseman bursts in and Crane attacks him with his sword. As they fight, Abbie grabs Franklin's guns and opens fire. Franklin goes for a grenade, but the Horseman throws his axe, and decapitates him. Crane and Abbie flee as the dropped grenade goes off, bringing the house down on the Horseman.

Back at the jail, Crane is furious at the debacle, and locks Abbie up again. She insists that they have to get to Fredericks Manor and reverse the spell, but Crane blames himself for Franklin's death. He accuses Abbie of leading the Horseman to Franklin, but she insists that the Horseman is after them, because they are the only ones who can fix this situation. When she says that they are partners, Crane demands to know what she discussed with Franklin in private. Abbie hesitates then tells him everything, that Katrina is the witch who cast the spell, and has allied with the Horseman. Shocked, Crane turns and walks away, and Abbie tells him that he will soon learn that Katrina is pregnant with his child. She tells him to check her confiscated cell phone, the "rectangular thing," and use his birthday as the password, to see the proof of her statement.

When Crane goes upstairs, he finds Sutton waiting for him. The colonel is furious that Crane disobeyed orders. Crane says that Abbie is insane but not a spy, and Sutton tells him that he has been relieved of duty. The colonel dismisses him and Crane has no choice but to go.

When he returns home, he finds potion ingredients on the table. Katrina enters and asks why he's not with his men, and he explains that he was with a madwoman. As they talk, Katrina secretly enchants a knife and prepares to drive it into her husband's back, even as Crane notes that the ingredients are for a pregnant woman, and asks if she is quickening. Katrina says that it's for a neighbor woman. As she magically raises the knife, Katrina asks where she can find Abbie. Soldiers then knock at the door and tell Crane that Washington has requested his presence. As he departs, Crane notices an open spell book on the table. Outside, he tells the soldiers to ride ahead because there is someone he has to see first.

Back at the jail, Crane finds Abbie's cell phone, and the guard tells him that Sutton was planning on paying Abbie a visit. Crane, with a great deal of effort, manages to turn on the cell phone, startling himself. In her cell, Abbie pulls a 6 inch nail out of the bench when she hears footsteps approaching.

Crane discovers the number pad and enters the cell phone password, his birthday, just as Abbie said. Abbie tries to use the nail to pick the lock on the cell door. Crane finds the photos and manages to get a video to run. Sutton enters before Abbie can get the door open. She has no choice but to sit back down. Crane watches with fascination as the video plays, and realizes that Abbie was telling the truth. Sutton enters the cell and vows to make her pay for Franklin's death. When he comes at her, she disarms him with a few expert moves and chokes him unconscious. At that moment, Crane arrives and says he confirmed her story. They then take the tunnels toward Fredericks Manor.

Crane and Abbie emerge from the tunnels and head for the manor. He explains that he saw the Grimoire on his table, and realized that something was wrong. Abbie warns him that the Katrina that traveled back in time is not the woman he knows. The Katrina that saved their lives is gone, and Crane blames himself for not seeing the seeds of evil within his wife. They arrive at the manor and go inside to meet with Grace.

Sutton goes to the medic tent and Katrina tends to his wounds. She finds some of Abbie's blood on him and uses it to scry, finding that Abbie is going to Fredericks Manor. When Sutton wonders how she knows, Katrina admits that she's a witch and kills him with a spell.

Grace, meanwhile, invites the Witnesses inside and Abbie explains that she is Grace's descendant. The woman realizes that Abbie is a Witness, and Abbie asks her how they can undo the Traveler Spell. Grace has the spell, but warns that it will require a great deal of power. She will have to drain the wards that shield the house. As Grace works, Abbie explains that they found her journal, and Grace admits that she didn't know if her efforts would bear fruit.

The Horseman rides up to the manor with Katrina, and Crane goes out to delay them long enough for Grace to finish the spell. Abbie warns him that he will die, but Crane points out that if Grace succeeds, then it won't matter. Grace insists that Abbie stay with her, and Crane says that it will be his pleasure to meet her again in the America that he helped to forge. She says that he doesn't speak quite so formally to her in the future, and gives him a hug to his astonishment. Grace asks Abbie to look at her journal, and tells her that the empty pages at the end, are the ones that Abbie will write.

Katrina breaches the wards and the Horseman rides in. Crane shoots him off his horse, and ducks a spell from Katrina. The Horseman charges forward. Watching, Abbie realizes that Crane can't win, and tries to go to him. Grace stops her, and tells her to read the spell. Outside, the Horseman gets the best of Crane who goes down. The Headsman's axe swings toward him.

Time freezes as Grace and Abbie recite the spell. Katrina, furious, realizes what has happened. Inside the manor, Abbie sees history flash before her... and finds herself back in the town hall. Katrina is back as well, and blasts Abbie against a wall, then levitates her begins to strangle her. Crane tries to grab a nearby knife, but Katrina pulls it into her grasp. They struggled for the blade and Katrina is mortally wounded. As she lies dying, she sees Henry's spirit gesturing. Crane holds his wife in his arms as she dies, but she pays him no attention. After a moment, Katrina dissolves into ash.

Abbie assures Crane that he had no choice, but Crane bitterly replies that he did, they all did. He picks up the Grimoire just as Jenny and Irving arrive. Irving assures them that he's back to normal now that Henry is dead, and Abbie hugs him. Jenny realizes that Katrina is dead and offers her condolences to Crane. Abbie says that their battle with the Horseman, but the most crucial battles are still ahead of them. She says that they must face them together and they'll be there for each other. They leave but Crane hangs back, and Abbie asks him if he's ready. After a moment, he says that he is.

Cast[]

Starring[]

Tom Mison as Ichabod Crane
Nicole Beharie as Lieutenant Abbie Mills
Orlando Jones as Captain Frank Irving
Katia Winter as Katrina Crane
Lyndie Greenwood as Jenny Mills
John Noble as Jeremy Crane

Guest Starring[]

Co-Starring[]

Jeremy Owens as Headless Horseman
Craig Branham as Headless Horseman (riding)
Karen Boles as Nurse
Alan Heckner as Jailer
Matt Dearman as Soldier
RJ Shearer as Private McMillan
Tom Lancaster as Jailer

Trivia[]

Franklin questions the $2 bill when Abbie mentions that Jefferson is on it, which he sees as cumbersome as currency. Though, he is quite smug about being on $100.
In Japan, this episode is known as 1781, the crucial year in which Katrina (and Abbie) returned to.
- The original US title "Tempus Fugit" is a Latin phrase meaning, "Time flies". In the episode itself, "Tempus Fugit" refers to the incantation for the Albiro spell, which was used by Grace and Abbie to undo the changes done to the past. The incantation goes, "Quod tempus fugit restituare tempore" (Restore the time which hath passed).
The events that take place in this episode are the reversal of what took place in "Pilot", where Crane met Abbie.
In the video the 1781 Crane accessed, the 21st century Crane mentions that he hates the "narcissism of millennials" and the "penchant for waffles."