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"Excellent. This day continues to bear gifts. Will we be sharing a cell, Lieutenant?"
Ichabod Crane to Abbie Mills

"Pilot" is the first episode of Season One of Fox's Sleepy Hollow. It was written by Phillip Iscove, Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci and directed by Len Wiseman. It is the first episode of the series overall, and debuted on September 16, 2013.

Synopsis

After being resurrected and pulled two and a half centuries through time, Ichabod Crane finds himself in modern-day Sleepy Hollow, where he quickly realizes that evil has awoken with him. When Sheriff August Corbin is killed by the infamous Headless Horseman, Ichabod forms an unlikely bond with Detective Abbie Mills, a young cop who has her own childhood supernatural experiences. Together, the two embark on a mission to stop evil and uncover mysteries dating back to the founding of our country. Captain Frank Irving hesitates to believe Ichabod's tales of supernatural evil. But when Ichabod's former wife, Katrina Crane, provides clues about impending evil, they all begin to realize that this town is anything but sleepy.[1]

Recap

Ichabod awakes

Ichabod remembers waking up in a cave immediately after battle.

It is 1781, during the Revolutionary War. The Americans are battling the British and Ichabod Crane, a soldier on the battlefield, is cornered behind a tree. He wanders off to search the backs of fallen British soldiers' hands and Ichabod is then approached by a British soldier who is riding on horseback. Ichabod shoots the soldier off his horse, but it has no effect. The soldier quickly recovers and fights Ichabod, revealing a branded mark on the back of his hand. He cuts through Ichabod's chest, and moments before Ichabod dies, he decapitates the British soldier with his sword. Fading voices of a man and woman are heard and Ichabod wakes up, protruding out a burial ground in a cave; strangely enough, his wound is closed. He stumbles onto a trigger that reveals an exit from the cave and eventually makes his way to a road where he nearly gets hit by automobiles. Fearfully, he flees to Sleepy Hollow.

Corbin's death

Corbin is killed by the Headless Horseman.

Later that night, two police officers, August Corbin and Abbie Mills, enjoy themselves a meal at a diner. It's revealed that Abbie plans to transfer to the FBI academy, and is asked by Corbin if she's running away from something. Avoiding confrontation, Abbie intends to leave. When the two leave the diner, they're notified to investigate Fox Creek Stables where something is scaring the horses. When they reach the location, they split up to investigate. After getting no answer from the owner, Jimmy Ogleby, Abbie stumbles across his truck, a rifle on the ground, and Ogleby's decapitated corpse. She notifies Corbin, who isn't alone in the stables. The figure reveals itself to be the Headless Horseman, and Corbin begins to shoot it. Abbie runs to help Corbin, but is thrown back by an axe that nearly strikes her. The Horseman rides out on his horse, and Abbie is speechless from what she sees. After he takes off, Abbie witnesses Corbin's corpse, decapitated. Immediately, she calls for backup.

Ichabod takes Abbie to the cave

Ichabod shows Abbie the cave where he awoke.

Another police officer, Andy Brooks, gets the call and runs into Ichabod Crane; where he is arrested. Andy asks Abbie if Ichabod is possibly the murderer, and Abbie says no. When Abbie describes the murderer as a man with a "red coat" and "some kind of branding" on his hand, Ichabod is immediately surprised. When Ichabod adds other similar descriptions and confesses to cutting off the Horseman's head, it leaves Abbie eager to find out what Ichabod knows. Eventually, Ichabod is restrained to a polygraph machine for interrogation and answers all questions truthfully about his past in the 18th century; such as defecting from the British Army and being married to a woman named Katrina Crane. After it's revealed to him that he's in the 21st century, Ichabod is labeled insane and is ordered to be taken to a mental institution. Abbie, on the other hand, confronts their new captain Frank Irving, and persuades him into allowing her to be the one to transport Ichabod. After retrieving Ichabod, she is pointed to the cave in which he awoke in. While Abbie investigates, Ichabod stumbles across a Bible with The Book of Revelations marked. The passage revealed the Horseman to be the Horseman of Death foretold in the Bible. He told Abbie his story of when he was tasked by George Washington to target and kill the Headless Horseman during the Revolutionary War.

The horseman confronts Alfred

As the reverend refuses to help the Horseman, he prepares to strike.

Later that night, Alfred Knapp, the town's reverend, encounters the Horseman. He fights for his life, but the Horseman ultimately beheads him. Along with Ichabod, Abbie is called to the murder scene and exits the car. Meanwhile, Ichabod notices a hawk on the hood of the car, he manages to leave the vehicle. Captain Frank Irving notices him and is angered by Abbie's disobedience and threatens to suspend her. Abbie follows Ichabod to the graveyard, where Ichabod is led by the hawk. He notices his wife's tombstone, which states that she was burnt for witchcraft. Abbie demands that they leave and Ichabod questions her skepticism. Meanwhile they argue, Abbie unintentionally reveals a part of her past to him and shuns Ichabod when he questions it.

Ichabod is eventually taken to a mental institution, and Abbie begins to show sympathy with Ichabod once he admits that a mental institution might not be suitable for him. She reveals her past to him, telling him of the time her and her sister, Jennifer Mills has encountered an evil force in the woods, causing them to black out. They were found, and, just like Ichabod, were labeled crazy. Unlike Abbie, Jenny is constantly in and out of mental institutions. When the institution is scheduled for lights out, Abbie and Ichabod give a farewell and Ichabod gives Abbie his condolences for Corbin's death. At the police department, Abbie goes into Corbin's office and finds a key hidden behind a picture of her. She uses the key and stumbles across an archive of files along with a voice recorder, telling of the files and mysterious murders and cases that are all connected. Just like what Ichabod spoke of, Corbin spoke of the connection to The Book of Revelations.

Ichabod is visted by Katrina

Ichabod is visited by Katrina, revealed to be a witch.

At the mental institution, Ichabod is visited by Katrina in his dreams. She tells him of his destiny as the first Witness and tells him that her body isn't buried by her tombstone, and that she is trapped in another world. Underneath her tombstone is the Horseman's skull, and if he finds it, he will regain full power. When Ichabod is separated from his wife, he wakes up, being prepped for sedation. Just as he is almost sedated, Abbie comes in and demands his release from the institution. She lies, stating that he's being taken back into custody and gives them a court order hearing which, in reality, is her practice sheet for an academy exam. Later that night, Abbie tells Ichabod what she found in Corbin's office and Ichabod tells her of the Horseman's skull. She calls Andy for backup, telling him their plan and to be prepared with other units. Meanwhile, Andy is on his way home, he runs into the Horseman, telling him of Abbie and Ichabod's plan, revealing that they're allies.

Impressed Abbie and Ichabod

Abbie and Crane win a successful battle against the Horseman and keep the head.

In the graveyard of the church, Abbie and Ichabod dig up the skull, but are found by the Horseman. Ichabod hides in the cemetery hole and Abbie flees as he begins to shoot at them with guns. Just as he stands over Ichabod, preparing to kill him, Abbie shoots him, which causes the Horseman to falter. Andy pulls up and just as Abbie is about to contact the department, Andy knocks her unconscious and puts her in the back seat of his car. As he rubs her face, she ferociously bites his thumb and reaches for his gun. Andy is forced to handcuff himself to the car and Abbie runs to Ichabod's aid, who is no match for the Horseman. Backup finally arrives, but they are still no match for the Horseman. When the sun begins to rise, the Horseman rides away on his horse.

Back at the police department, Captain Irving is told by backup of what they witnessed and has no choice but to believe Abbie and Ichabod. After Abbie told Irving that she was no longer going to Quantico, Ichabod explained to her that she was destined to be the second Witness. In Andy's cell, he is encountered by a demon and is killed. Seconds after seeing him drop dead, Abbie and Ichabod see a mirror on the wall, showing a blurry figure in the woods. Just as Abbie goes closer, the figure in the mirror roars and the mirror breaks, leaving both Witnesses bewildered.

Cast

Starring

Guest Starring

Co-Starring

  • Patrick Gorman as Reverend Alfred Knapp
  • Chris Walters as Sleepy Hollow Officer #1
  • Dwayne Boyd as Sleepy Hollow Officer #2
  • Elaine Nalee as Doctor
  • Aerli Austen as Waitress
  • Michael Tourek as Prison Guard
  • Jahnee Wallace as Young Abbie
  • Huntington Daly as Aide
  • Nat Padget as Militiaman

Uncredited

Multimedia

Soundtrack

Sympathy for the Devil The opening scene for the present days in Sleepy Hollow.

Videos

Trivia

Production Notes

  • The newspaper article that focuses on Abbie and her sister says:[2]
    Mills Sisters Found At Edge of Town
    By Shelby Treichler
    Streichler@shregister.net

Two young girls who went
missing late Thursday after-
noon were found physically
unharmed late last night on
the border of the woods on
the north side of town just
past the hollow estates.
The two sisters, Abbie and
Jenny Mills (10, 11) were
walking home from Sleepy
Hollow late Thursday after-
noon and has not been seen
since. A search had been
under way since their mother
reported them missing at 9pm
Thursday night. The two girls
were taken to the Sleepy
Hollow Medical Center
where they were treated for
dehydration and malnutrition.
The two teenage girls are
being held today and over
night for observation and are
expected to be released in the
morning. "Thankful, besides
being a little thirsty and
hungry the girls appear to be
in relatively good condition."
Said Dr. Alec Hammond.

The Sleepy Hollow Police
department has not released
a statement and will not be
giving any details surround-
ing the girls dissapear-
ance until they have
conducted a complete and
thorough investigation.
"Right now we're just glad to
see them safe."

said Sleepy Hollow Sheriff
August Corbin. The girls'
mother Elizabeth M. Archer
expressed similar sentiments
saying.
"I'm just so grateful to the
Police and to everyone in the
town. I'm so happy to have
them safe alive, and home.

The disappearance marks
the third cast this year and
what is normally a quiet and
well, sleepy Sleepy Hollow.
At this time there is no
indication that any one of these
events are connected but it is
raising serious concerns
amongst residents of the
town. With no chear answers
coming from local law
officials many questions are
being asked but few answers[end of page]

  • The tombstone of Ichabod's wife Katrina states that she died at the age of 32 in 1782; burnt after being convicted of witchcraft[3]
  • If the timeline were to be taken seriously, then the year Ichabod awakens in is 2031 instead of the present day in which the series starts, as 1781 plus 250 years equals 2031.

Body Count

International Titles

References


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