Episode
Matlock: The Cult
Overview
When William Austin comes to Atlanta from Chicago and heads to the cult that has ensnared his son Dennis, Dennis tells him to leave him alone, the cult is his home now, and that he is no longer his father. The leader of the cult, Joshua Bradbury, tells Austin that he needs to accept Dennis' decision, and to leave him alone. Austin refuses to leave without his son, and Bradbury has the police escort Austin (who threatens to take off Bradbury's head) out of mansion. Dennis observes someone shooting Joshua, then tells police he sees his father fleeing the scene of the crime. William Austin heads to Ben Matlock for help in defending himself. After learning that Dennis has signed his trust fund and his life's savings over to the cult, Matlock confronts him, and is shocked to hear Dennis deny his father. Matlock goes to a reknowned expert in de-programming cult victims, who tells him that Dennis may believe he saw his father, but he is probably so brain-washed by the cult that he can't real
Details
- Series
- Matlock
- Season
- Season 3
- Episode
- Episode 18
- Air date
- 1989-05-02
Episode context
The Cult is Episode 18 in Season 3 of Matlock. It aired on 1989-05-02.
Previous / Next
Episode 17: The Model
Matlock has finally had the breakthrough in the case he was struggling with, but after being hit by a car, he needs to put the case together from scratch. Unfortunately, his nurse isn't too pleased to see him trying to work, and does her best to make sure he gets the rest he needs.
Episode 19: The Blues Singer
When legendary blues singer Eddie Haynes is charged with murder, Matlock agrees to defend a man he once idolized. Haynes swears that the young rock star he's accused of killing was going to write him a hit song, and Matlock soon realises that there is no shortage of people who wanted the charismatic young musician dead.
More episodes from this season
Episode 16: The Thoroughbred
When the manager of a thoroughbred farm is murdered, her father begs Matlock to represent the mentally handicapped man accused of the crime.
Episode 20: The Priest
After a local mobster is accused of murdering a priest, Alex Winthrop goes to Matlock for help with the case because he knows that he can't do it on his own. It doesn't take long before Matlock realises that the Church is covering something up.
Episode 15: The Thief (2)
Matlock and Tyler realise that part of Linda's deception is routed in the recent kidnapping of her son. While Tyler helps her locate the child, Matlock finds the rare coin he needs to put the finish on the case.
Episode 14: The Thief (1)
When a rare coin dealer is charged with murdering a thieving employee, he hires Matlock to defend him. Tyler is less than thrilled when Matlock temporarily hires a female investigator, and has his own suspicions of her motives.
Episode 13: The Psychic
Matlock agrees to defend a psychic, Jennifer Holtz, who claims to have seen the murder before it ever took place.
Episode 12: The Starlet
An old friend comes to Matlock to beg him to prove that her daughter Lauren didn't murder her rival Morgan Girard after a beauty contest.
Episode 11: The Other Woman
Matlock agrees to defend psychiatrist Lucas Forbes when he's arrested for killing Adam Whitley, the husband of one of his patients whom Lucas was reportedly having an affair with, according to the woman's diary. Matlock soon realises that Erin Whitley has a host of deep-rooted psychiatric problems. After a few chance meetings with a woman named Shannon, Matlock is shocked to realise the extent of the connection between Erin and Shannon.
Episode 10: The Black Widow
Seven years earlier Ken Wilson was sent to prison, convicted of murdering his wife, Ann. After he's released, he runs into his wife in Los Angeles, only now she's going by the name Kelly Manning. When she turns up dead, Ken Wilson is again arrested and charged with her murder. Ben is determined to prove that someone else killed the woman. Back in Atlanta, Les is thrilled about his new relationship with Bernice, a woman he met at Ray Templin's.
Episode 9: The Mayor (2)
Paul O'Neill heads to Texas to get his hands on Eddie Lomax, whom he believes to be the real killer. Matlock realises that a land scam is behind everything, and enlists an unlikely ally...the dead man's wife.
Episode 8: The Mayor (1)
When Chris Reardon, a man determined to bring the sixties back into the late eighties, is charged with murdering mayor Brian Barelli, reporter Paul O'Neill brings Matlock to Chicago to defend him, convinced of his innocence. Matlock reluctantly agrees to follow through with the case after realising O'Neill tricked him, because he knows that dropping the case will seriously hurt Reardon's chances.