"The Winding Cloth"

Episode 311
(aired the week of 1/23/1999)
Case # 34-0872

Log line: The O.S.I.R. team travels to England to verify the authenticity of a 13th century burial shroud that belonged to a tyrant who enslaved his workers and dealt with his enemies by killing them and then eating their hearts. A modern-day Pagan cult steals the shroud to perform a ceremony which will bring back the evil tyrant.

Synopsis: British archaeologist Russell Beacham, a mentor and former lover of Donner, finds a 13th century burial shroud inside an ancient Druid coffin he unearthed near the Welsh coast. Although the coffin in which the "winding cloth" was found contained no human remains, it does have markings indicative of both Pagan and Christian religions. Similar to the Shroud of Turin, the cloth bears a shadowy portrait of a man. At Beacham's request, Donner and the OSIR team join him in London to verify the authenticity of the cloth and try to determine the identity of the man who was buried in it.

Donner, Praeger, Axon and Hendricks meet with Russell who informs them that he has also solicited help from a theological expert, Father Malachy Reilly. Upon closer examination of the shroud, the team notices that the shadowy image bears a Celtic medallion. Russell recognizes it as belonging to Ludac, a 13th century tyrant who enslaved his workers and dealt with his enemies by killing them and then eating their hearts. Known as the Duke of Hearts, he was eventually overthrown by his own serfs.

A scientific test determines the age of the shroud to be at least 700 years old. Hendricks examines blood stains on the cloth and concludes that the man had been impaled after he had been wrapped for burial. Father Reilly enters the lab and introduces himself, but doesn't offer any insight into the origins of the cloth. After the priest leaves, Hendricks is knocked out from behind and the shroud is stolen.

The OSIR team tells Russell that the cloth may have been stolen by a Pagan cult. Donner explains that the coffin containing the shroud was made of black oak, believed by Druids to have magical properties. Since modern-day witchcraft, called Wicca, is based on Druidic principles, she suggests they begin their search for the shroud at local Wiccan shops. Accompanied by Praeger, she visits a Wiccan bookstore, where Praeger notices a pamphlet detailing "The Children of Mathonwy." The brochure is adorned with the same symbol as Ludac's medallion.

While Praeger and Donner are at the bookstore, Russell is attacked in his office. Like Hendricks, he too is struck from behind. He is abducted and, later that night, is taken to a nearby park where the Children of Mathonwy cult are conducting a ceremony before the shroud, which is suspended on a framework before them. Russell is taken to the shroud and his throat is cut, the blood spilling onto the shroud. As he falls to the ground dead, the evil Ludac comes to life. Russell is found by police the next morning. His heart has been cut out.

Distraught over Russell's death, Donner talks with Father Reilly, who advises her to return home. Instead, she vows to stay in England until Russell's killer is found. She tells Axon and Praeger of her suspicions about Kathie Altman, Russell's teaching assistant and lover. Not only is Kathie less than upset over Russell's death, but she has been secretive about her academic background. Holding double doctorates in archaeology and human geology, Kathie may have been using Russell to find Ludac's grave. Donner suspects that Kathie may in fact be a member of the Children of Mathonwy.

Donner is proven correct. The next day, Kathie is found brutally beaten, left for dead by the psychopathic Ludac. Kathie admits being a cult member and tells Donner that the cult is meeting that night in the park??er a full moon that will secure Ludac's presence in modern time. Praeger and Donner venture into the park that evening and find the ceremony in session. As Donner sneaks toward the shroud, which is again suspended before the cult, Praeger is taken prisoner by Father Reilly! Shocked to discover that the priest is actually one of the cult leaders, Praeger is about to be killed when Donner rips the shroud. Ludac falls to the ground and vanishes. The police arrive and arrest the cult members, charging Father Reilly with murder.

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:
Nicholas Campbell - Russell Beacham
Randy Hughson - Father Malachy Reilly
Camilla Scott - Kathie Altman

Written by: Rick Drew
Directed by: Clay Borris