"Harlequin"

Episode 309
(aired the week of 11/22/1998)
Case # 82-8456

Log line: While investigating the bizarre death of an animal at a wildlife hospice, the O.S.I.R. team encounters what is thought to be a winged creature that has been reported in South America but whose existence has never been proven.

Synopsis: The OSIR investigates the unusual death of an animal at the Windsor Animal Hospice. The animal, a large South American rodent called a capybara, is found in its cage. Examining the body, OSIR zoologist L.Q. Cooper finds several puncture wounds and determines that the animal had been drained of all of its blood. Much to the chagrin of skeptical case manager Matt Praeger, Cooper theorizes that the killer may be a chupacabra, a winged creature that has been reported in South America but whose existence has never been proven. However, Dr. Bob Dalhousie, the assistant manager of the facility, agrees that the culprit may indeed be a chupacabra that has migrated north and has simply taken advantage of a familiar food source. He also tells Cooper of his desire to become a member of the OSIR.

Senior data analyst Lindsay Donner visits Cara Windsor, the manager of the hospice, to inquire about the credibility of Bob and Stuey Polin, the zoo worker who found the dead capybara. Windsor vouches for both men. Despite Praeger's suspicions of a hoax, the team begins to search for the capybara's killer in the parkland adjacent to the hospice. Bob helps the OSIR search but his over enthusiasm about the case captures the attention of Praeger, who begins to suspect that Bob is behind the whole thing.

While searching the woods, Cooper and Bob find the bloody remains of what could have been a chupacabra. Upon further examination, Cooper finds scaly skin samples under the animal's claws. The scales are shaped like interlocking diamonds, also known as a harlequin pattern. The team also discovers a footprint that indicates a bipedal, ape-like creature. The next day, chief science analyst Peter Axon encounters this creature in the woods but it flees before he can get a good look at it.Still suspicious of Bob, Praeger tells Cooper that he doesn't want Bob's help anymore. Cooper breaks the news to Bob who, given his aspirations of joining the OSIR, is extremely upset at being left out of the investigation. That night, Bob sneaks into the OSIR lab and steals one of the skin samples found on the chupacabra.

The following morning, Bob rushes to Cooper, telling him that he has just seen the "harlequin" creature. The two men race into the forest, where they find the body of Stuey Polin. A skin sample is found under his nails. Returning to the lab, Cooper notices that one of the skin samples is missing. Suspecting Bob, he goes to look for him--and finds him in the woods making fake footprints. Bob admits that he was manufacturing evidence in order to prolong the OSIR investigation and increase the chances of finding the "harlequin" creature. He also confesses to killing Stuey, who had learned what he was up to. He then pushes Cooper down an embankment and leaves him for dead.

That night, the OSIR team looks for Cooper, desperate to find him before the "harlequin" creature does. Bob joins in the search. Cooper, who has regained consciousness after his fall, struggles through the woods on a broken ankle. He encounters the "harlequin" creature which is about to attack when Bob suddenly appears and distracts the creature. The "harlequin" creature attacks Bob instead, then flees just as the rest of the OSIR team shows up. The creature is never seen again.

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:
Maury Chaykin - Dr. Bob Dalhousie
Christine Brubaker - Cara Windsor
Greg Kramer - Stuey Polin

Written by: Larry Raskin
Directed by: Ron Oliver