"Pentimento"

Episode 218
(aired the week of 4/20/1998)
Case # 72-1219

Log line: A seductive demon feeds on Praeger's negativity.

Synopsis: It appeared a fail-proof plan for success: art agent and gallery owner Victor Masaryk discovers Nathaniel Aznar in a mental hospital and grooms him into a rising star with a much-anticipated gallery opening. But the event ends in mayhem when Roy Clifton, a wealthy art connoisseur, is found there, savagely murdered. The almost unhuman gruesome condition of Clifton's corpse brings out the Office of Scientific Investigation and Research (O.S.I.R.) to investigate. Case Manager Matt Praeger and Chief Data Analyst Lindsay Donner know they have their work cut out for them when they first view the body hanging from the gallery ceiling, clothing oddly shredded and eyes ground into their sockets.

While O.S.I.R. Pathologist Dr. Claire Davison autopsies Clifton, Donner visits Aznar's loft to question him...but, instead, finds Masaryk, who offers no help. Back at the gallery, Praeger questions Masaryk's assistant, Holly, who recalls seeing a mysterious dark shadow there that night; he also meets Ava Mignan, who introduces herself as Aznar's international representative (and who sparks romantic interest in Praeger). After the Case Manager's departure that evening, Holly searches for the source of a menacing growl coming from the gallery's shadows. But the growl finds her first, making her the second victim of a brutal mauling.

In a revealing turn of events during his questioning of Aznar, Dr. Anton Hendricks learns that the artist, as a child, accidentally killed his younger brother. Meanwhile, Chief Science Analyst Peter Axon turns up another paranormal clue: beneath the beautiful landscapes in Aznar's paintings lie demonic figures painted in Aznar's own blood.

When Donner and Axon learn Ava is an imposter - after neither Aznar nor Masaryk has heard of her - they confront Praeger with their discovery. But the usually cool-tempered and logical Case Manager defends the object of his affections and, instead, lashes out at colleagues for implying she might have some link to the murders. Later, checking Aznar's loft, Security Coordinator Ray Donahue finds Masaryk there, wounded but alive, dangling from the ceiling; he also finds the artist in the basement, disoriented and covered in blood. Although claiming no recollection of an attack, Aznar jumps to the top of the O.S.I.R.'s suspect list.

When Praeger tries to confront Ava about the concerns of his investigators, he's instead distracted by her seductive advances. But when he introduces the attractive Ava to his daughter Dana, the young girl only sees a ghastly creature with black holes for eyes and a monster-like mouth. Blind to what his daughter sees, Praeger doesn't comprehend why the girl runs away scared...and Ava's bizarre power stops him from chasing after her.

Continuing to dig into Aznar's art, Donner and Axon discover Ava's name in every one of the paintings. Their suspicions reach a new level when Dana bursts into the mobile lab and retells her frightening encounter with Ava - might the self-described art representative be, instead, a demon spirit? With Praeger its new target? Deciding that Aznar is their only hope, the O.S.I.R. executes a dramatic plan to save their leader. If it works, Ava will be nothing but a bad memory...if not, it's Praeger who will live only in their minds.

Starring:
Matt Frewer - Case Manager Matt Praeger
Barclay Hope - Peter Axon
Nancy Anne Sakovich - Lindsay Donner
Colin Fox - Dr. Anton Hendricks
Dan Aykroyd - Host

Guest Stars:
Soo Garay - Dr. Claire Davison
Peter Blais - Zoologist L.Q. Cooper
Peter MacNeill - Security Coordinator Ray Donahue
Sean Sullivan - Nathaniel Aznar
Peter Millard - Victor Masaryk
Gerry Salsberg - Roy Clifton

Written by: Sarah Dodd
Directed by: Vincenzo Natali