The Washingtonians
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “The Washingtonians” | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters of Horror episode | |||||||
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 12 |
||||||
| Written by | Richard Chizmar Johnathon Schaech |
||||||
| Directed by | Peter Medak | ||||||
| Guest stars | Johnathon Schaech Venus Terzo Saul Rubinek Chris Kalhoon Richard Stroh Julia Tortolano |
||||||
| Production no. | 212 | ||||||
| Original airdate | January 26, 2007 | ||||||
|
|||||||
"The Washingtonians" is a short story, written by Bentley Little. It details a man discovering a shocking secret about George Washington that could shatter the world's view of America forever, and the murderous brotherhood sworn to keep the secret safe.
[edit] Plot summary
Mike Franks (Johnathon Schaech) discovers a strange article while searching through the home of his dead grandmother — a letter that states, "I Will Skin and Eat Your Children. Upon Finishing, I Shall Fashion Tools Out of Their Bones," with the signature "G. W." He takes the letter to an expert who authenticates it as the handwriting of George Washington, and the text a self-exposé of his behaviour as a murderous cannibal. That night, Franks and his family encounter members of a psychotic patriots group, with ivory teeth and dressed in Revolutionary War attire. They demand the letter, but are forced to leave by the arrival of the police.
The next day, Mike turns to Professor Harkinson (Saul Rubinek), a trusted friend and employee of the local university for information. Harkinson tells him about "the Washingtonians" and how history has been based on a false image designed to hide the truth (referring to Washington's cannibalism and the fact that Benjamin Franklin is a composite character based on the accomplishments of several lesser individuals). Franks and Harkinson are attacked by the Washingtonians and Mike is abducted and taken to Mount Vernon, the home of the killer President.
Mike finds that they also have captured his wife Pam (Venus Terzo) and daughter Amy (Julia Tortolano). The Washingtonians reveal a history of their renowned leader. Apparently, Washington and his troops were stranded without supplies and forced to resort to cannibalism in order to survive. Washington liked the taste of human meat, having one man killed a day to satisfy him even after supplies came through. He intended to lead the country on a mission of turning everyone into cannibals much like him.
Fortunately, before any of the Washingtonians can do harm to Mike and his family, Harkinson and a a team of FBI agents kill all of the Washingtonians. Hartkinson gives the letter to Mike and tells him to expose the truth to the whole world.
[edit] Masters of Horror
It was later adapted into an episode from the second season of Showtime's Masters of Horror series, and was directed by Peter Medak (The Changeling). It was played more for camp than the original short story's black humor, and the ending was changed. Rather than having Harkinson and his fellow rescuers be cannibalistic redcoats, police arrive with him instead and the Washingtonians are simply shot down. An epilogue was added as well, in which 6 months after events the Franks have become Vegetarians and to their deepest horror Washington's face on the United States one-dollar bill is replaced with that of George W. Bush.
