#MLM-202 Beware of the Dog
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Episode Summary:
Frank travels to Bucksnort, a small town where residents fear for their lives outdoors after the sun goes down, when packs of blood-thirsty dogs roam the streets. Here he discovers that the Millennium Group and its members may be far stranger than is common knowledge and that there may be truth to legends of demons who took on the form of canines.
Main Crew:
Written by Glen Morgan & James Wong
Directed by Allen Coulter
Edited by George R. Potter
Main Cast:
Lance Henriksen as Frank Black
Megan Gallagher as Catherine Black
Guest Stars:
Randy Stone as Michael Beebe
R.G. Armstrong as The Old Man
Supporting Cast:
Brent Butt as Short Order Cook
Ralph J. Alderman as Nate
Anita Wittenberg as Cora (I)
Arnie Walters as Paul Lombardo
Margaret Martin as Mary Anne Lombardo
Sally Stevens as Radio Singer
Uncredited Cast:
Bonnie Judd as Lady in Window
David Major as Mr. Thompson
Jim Poyner as Dr. Potter
Kate Robbins as Mrs. Coblenz
Michael Roberds as Al
Carolyn Tweedle as Mrs. Willingham
More...
Quotation/Proverb:
None
Promotional Episode Tagline:
The end is drawing closer, and for Frank Black... a new beginning is being born.
Seasonal Episode Tagline:
wait... worry... the time is near
Synopsis:
Please note that this is the original Fox synopsis and occasionally this may differ from the events that were actually filmed. Please also visit the episode transcript which has been checked for accuracy against the actual episode.
A retired couple driving along a country highway pull their R.V. over to the side of a road outside of a town so small it's not on their map. As they begin to turn in for the night a pack of dogs invades their motor home and kills them.
Peter Watts attempts to contact Frank regarding the attack as Frank is taking Jordan home to Catherine. Ignoring his pages, Frank and Catherine discuss their living arrangements. Catherine has decided to take Jordan and live with a friend and since Frank is already living in an apartment by himself, they discuss selling the house and the implication of that action.
Watts finally reaches Frank after he's returned to his home, and urges him to take the case. Frank dismisses the deaths as the result of a wild animal attack. Cryptically, Watts insists Frank investigate further, "It's time you go there, Frank."
Frank arrives in "Bucksnort" and, looking for a hotel, enters the adjacent diner. There he encounters some local townspeople who mistake him for their new sheriff and warn him to return before dark. Sticking out from the rest of the locals is Michael Beebe who later explains his recent relocation to the area as an attempt to escape the crime-ridden streets of Los Angeles. Thinking that he is the new sheriff, Michael asks Frank to investigate his elderly neighbor, whom he believes is connected to the attack.
Instead, Frank inspects the crime scene at the R.V. Just as the sun dips below the horizon, he notices a pack of five dogs descending from a nearby hill. Frank returns to the hotel, and discovers he has been locked out and those inside ignore his pleas for assistance. As he searches for shelter the dogs ferociously attack. Frank fights his way to his car and heads for a small hospital, hitting and killing one of the dogs in the process. Despite Frank's frantic pleas that he has been injured, he is again ignored by those inside the hospital. An elderly man stops his truck and retrieves the dead dog. The other dogs trot away, following the vehicle.
After he passes out, the townspeople finally help Frank into the hospital. Believing he is unconscious they discuss the town "situation" and its recent disturbances. Frank however is conscious and begins to think that there are greater forces than wild dogs at work in Bucksnort.
Early the next day Frank makes his way through a forest and comes upon several obelisks near an embankment. As Frank pauses, Michael Beebe emerges from nearby bushes. Almost simultaneously, dogs appear on the embankment ridge. The same old man appears and Frank asks him to call off his animals. The old man laughs "They're not my dogs." But the animals leave the area nonetheless. As Frank looks down to the obelisk he picked up as a defense he notices that it is etched with the ouroboros-the symbol of the Millennium Group.
Confused by the apparent graveyard, Frank searches out the Old Man in his shack. They speak of the Millennium Group, the history and meaning of the ouroboros and most importantly the Millennial event. The men walk to a nearby clearing where the Old Man encourages Frank to approach the growling dogs who have gathered. As he complies, Frank is struck by several internal images: his wife, Jordan, his home, etc. Frank eyes the dogs, the incarnation of evil, and stands his ground. The animals back away. Frank has passed the test.
The Old Man explains that the equilibrium between good and evil has grown increasingly out of balance with the approach of the Millennium. Frank realizes the dogs started attacking after Beebe constructed his home on previously protected property, upsetting the delicate balance. The Old Man states that the "crime" Beebe ran away from in the city is not evil-but the fear that kept him trapped inside his home, inside his tiny world, is the evil.
Afraid that the dogs will kill Michael Beebe, Frank tells him that he must move out of his house. Beebe balks at the idea. As he asks Frank to leave they discover the dogs have surrounded the house. The Old Man enters and insisting it's the only way, sets fire to the dwelling, burning it to the ground.
Back at his yellow house, Frank removes a "For Sale" sign from the lawn, telling Catherine that they can't give up on the idea of the house and that they'll move back "when it's a home again."
Mortality Count:
0 Deaths
(Comprised of 0 murders + 0 kills in self defence + 0 justifiable homicides + 0 suicides.)
NB. Where applicable, large groups of victims (such as multiple victims in a plane crash) are represented by a count of group count of 1 due to impracticalities with listing so many unidentified persons. For enhanced details, see the Violence Markers below.
1013 References:
Guest star Randy Stone, who portrays the irritating Michael Bebe, was the casting director at 20th Century Fox Television responsible for casting both The X-Files and Millennium. As an actor, Morgan and Wong prompted him to appear in Space: Above and Beyond and The Others in addition to Millennium.
Credit: Brian Dixon, The Millennial Abyss
Randy Stone, better known to Millennium fans from the Season Two episode Beware of the Dog as character Michael Beebe, sadly passed away aged just 48. The online obituary (pointed out by TIWWA Staff Member Libby) was removed from the LA Times website, so it is preserved here for posterity and out of respect. Randy was the casting director at 20th Century Fox Television responsible for casting both The X-Files and Millennium. As an actor, Morgan and Wong prompted him to appear in Space: Above and Beyond and The Others in addition to Millennium.
STONE , Randy (48)
Died of heart failure at his home in Beverly Hills on Monday, February 12, 2007. Although he started his career as a child actor, Randy made his name as a television casting director, cutting his teeth at The Landsberg Company. He won an Emmy for casting the movie of the week "The Incident".
As Head of Casting at 20th Century Fox Television he was responsible for shaping the "The X Files" and "Millennium". He developed and executive produced the feature film "Little Man Tate" with Jodie Foster and Dianne Wiest. He won an Oscar in 1994 for producing the short film "Trevor," a tender and humorous tale of a young gay boy's attempted suicide. Most recently, Randy produced the Lifetime film "A Little Thing Called Murder," starring Judy Davis, for which he won the International Press Academy's Satellite Award. The movie was based on the bizarre true crime story of Sante and Kenny Kimes.
Randy also co-founded The Trevor Project, which operates a national 24-hour hotline for gay and questioning teenagers and distributes educational materials to schools around the country to help troubled teens.
Randy is survived by his two sisters Marie and Malia, his brother Jeff, his mother Beverly, his father Richard and his two Chow Chows, Cooper and Lola. Here was a man that was so full of life, brimming with a kooky charm that lit up the room. His passionate spirit and tireless friendship will be missed by all.
Services were held on Friday at Forest Lawn's Old North Church, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to The Trevor Project, 9056 Santa Monica Blvd., Ste 100, West Hollywood CA 90069.
Published in the Los Angeles Times on 2/15/2007
Episode Trivia:
Original Fox Episode Stills:
View the original 1996 Fox Millennium Episode Guide images for this episode of Millennium where available here.
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