The Lazarus Man

The Tartarus Wheel
Season 1, Episode 21

Possible Air Date
November 16th, 1996
​
Directed by
Steven Shaw

Written by
Vera Appleyard

Starring
Robert Ulrich

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The Lazarus Man (Robert Ulrich) awakes in the back of a wagon, not knowing how he arrived there. He can barely stay awake. When he awakes, he is riding a horse to an unknown destination. Exhausted, he feels as though he has not slept for weeks.

Sleep comes to him, but not rest. He sees faces and images he does not recognize, as well as events he does not remember. He forces himself to copy down his fragmented memories. He remembers riding to a town called Asylum, where he was told he would find a doctor named Dunlevy, a physician with powers. He instead found a traveling museum that he believed was a hoax until he saw the Tartarus Wheel, a device said to have healing properties. Looking into the moving, colorful wheel, he fades into a vision where he sees himself meeting John Wilkes Booth (Lenny Von Dohlen).

The doctor behind the Tartarus Wheel allows the Lazarus Man to begin sessions with the wheel, with the hope of regaining his lost memory. Looking back, the Lazarus Man says he was so desperate for a cure that he would have sold anything, even his soul, and he's afraid he did.

As the Lazarus Man is entranced, the woman and the doctor speak, remarking that the machine could convince him of anything. As time passes, three versions of events play out, seeing the Lazarus Man as Booth's ally and enemy, leading him on a journey of contradictions that terrifies him to his core. 

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Streaming Availability

The Lazarus Man is not currently streaming on any platforms other than my upload to YouTube. The first season has been uploaded to The Internet Archive and is available on DVD. 

The Episode

Episode Stills

Promotional and Behind the Scenes Images

I believe the image above was originally shared by The Unofficial Lenny Von Dohlen Fan Page, a site that no longer exists. Mr. Von Dohlen more than likely gave them this photo. 

The two images below are shared with permission from The Fans of Lenny Von Dohlen Facebook page.