- "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[]
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 heads off to search for his target, and is then approached by a British soldier 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, gasping out a grave in a cave; strangely he seems in excellent health. He stumbles onto a trigger that reveals an exit from the cave and he makes his way to a road where he nearly gets hit by a truck. Fearfully, he flees to Sleepy Hollow.
That same night, two police officers, August Corbin and Abbie Mills, enjoy 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. When the two leave the diner, they are instructed 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, his 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. Abbie runs to help Corbin, but is thrown back by the doors opening, and has to avoid an axe that nearly strikes her. The Horseman rides out, and Abbie is speechless. After his departure, Abbie finds Corbin's decapitated body.
Another police officer, Andy Brooks, gets the backup call from Abbie but runs into Ichabod Crane; who 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 alert. 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 asked to take a polygraph interrogation, and answers all questions truthfully about his past in the 18th century. The interrogator then asks, "Tell me about the Horseman. Would you admit to cutting off his head? Yes or no?" With a look, Ichabod responds, "No. First I shot him. But he rose back up. Beheading him seemed the next logical step."
After it's revealed to him that he's in the 21st century, Ichabod is though insane and is ordered to be taken to a mental institution. Abbie, meanwhile, confronts their new captain Frank Irving, and persuades him into allowing her to be the one to transport Ichabod. After retrieving Ichabod, she is taken to the cave in which he awoke. While Abbie investigates, Ichabod stumbles across a Bible buried with him 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.
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 discovers his wife's tombstone, which states that she was burnt for witchcraft. Abbie demands that they leave and Ichabod questions her skepticism. They argue, Abbie unintentionally reveals a part of her past to him and shut out 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 be suitable for him. She reveals her past to him, telling him of the time she and her sister, Jennifer Mills encountered an evil force in the woods, causing them to black out. They were found, and, just like Ichabod, were labeled crazy. 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.
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 under her tombstone, and that she is trapped in another world. In her grave 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. Abbie then enters and demands his release. She lies, stating that he's being taken back into custody and gives them a court order 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.
In the graveyard of the church, Abbie and Ichabod dig up the skull, but are found by the Horseman. Ichabod hides in the grave and Abbie flees as the Horseman begins to shoot at them. 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 of his car. As he caresses 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.
Back at the police station, Captain Irving is told by officer 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 visited 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. As Abbie goes closer, the figure in the mirror turns and the mirror breaks, leaving both Witnesses stunned.
Cast[]
Starring[]
Guest Starring[]
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Co-Starring[]
Uncredited[]
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Trivia[]
- The tombstone for Katrina Crane states that she died at the age of 32 in 1782; burnt after being convicted of witchcraft[2] Historically, however, no one was ever burned for witchcraft in the present day United States.
- This is the first and only episode in the series that the later established title sequence is not used.
Production Notes[]
- The newspaper article that focuses on Abbie and her sister says:[3]
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 |
said Sleepy Hollow Sheriff |
The disappearance marks |
Body Count[]
- Jimmy Ogleby - Beheaded by the Headless Horseman.
- August Corbin - Beheaded by the Headless Horseman.
- Alfred Knapp - Beheaded by the Headless Horseman.
- Andy Brooks - Neck snapped telekinetically by Moloch.
International Titles[]
International Titles | ||
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Language: | Title: | Translation: |
French | "Le Cavalier sans tête" | "The Headless Rider" |
Multimedia[]
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Promotional Photos[]
Screencaps[]
Soundtrack[]
- "Sympathy for the Devil" - The Rolling Stones