“The Great Work” is episode four of season five of Sliders.
The Sliders arrive on a beach with a sick Maggie. She needs somewhere dry and warm and bells ringing shows them a building. People are watching from inside; one voice comments that one of the four looks sick. Another says they can’t take the chance of letting them in. The Sliders arrive at the door but there’s no answer. Three men in monk’s robes are watching from inside. One says he’s a doctor and it’s his duty to help. The eldest says as Master it’s his duty to preserve and protect the place.
The Sliders are going to look for another way in when the youngest of the watchers welcomes them and tells them to come inside. He introduces them to the other two. Keeper James, the doctor, and Keeper Abraham, master of the Sanctuary and the youngest, Seth’s, father. Abraham asks how they got there. Rembrandt is claiming a boat lost in a storm but James says that can wait; Maggie needs help. He asks Seth to help him take her to the infirmary and Rembrandt goes with. Abraham tells them they may spend the night. In the infirmary, James takes a look at Maggie and asks what happened. He tells Rembrandt to go get dinner and Seth leads him away.
At dinner, Abraham tells them they are on Saint Cataline Island and the place is the Sanctuary. They leave simple lives. Rembrandt asks about off the island; Abraham thinks he must know more. Seth has never been off the island. A girl, Sara, is talking to Diana. Abraham asks how they escaped the troubles. Rembrandt says by moving around a lot; one day in one place, the next somewhere completely different. Accurate, but misleading. Bells sound and Abraham says they will be show to quarters. They can see Maggie tomorrow. And they’re locked in. Mallory thinks the Keepers seem nice. Rembrandt remembers how the religious people of “Prophets and Loss” seemed nice. Mallory falls asleep whilst he’s talking.
James has brought food for Maggie. He questions about the boat and the storm until Maggie claims she’s tired. Someone checks on Rembrandt and Mallory and tells Abraham one is still awake. Abraham says they need to keep a close watch until they can be sure the Sliders aren’t Volsang spies. The penalty for which is death,
At breakfast, Diana talks to Sara and asks about Maggie. Sara says no-one leaves the island; she was born there as was Seth. Rembrandt and Mallory arrive and Diana goes to see them. Rembrandt wants to see Abraham, who says everyone is locked in for their own protection. James says Maggie is still ill. And as for going somewhere, there’s nowhere else to go on the island and no-one leaves. Meanwhile, there’s a long day of work.
James checks on Maggie and says she needs a few more days of bedrest. She wants to go, but isn’t fit. She asks James if he can get Rembrandt to come.
Rembrandt and Mallory are on the beach with Seth. Seth says no-one leaves the island. It’s not safe. Rembrandt asks if his world was overrun. Yes, after the collapse of the Hemispheric Alliance, the Volsangs are pretty much in charge. And what did Rembrandt mean. ‘your world’?
Diana, Sara and others are cleaning the floor. She wants to know if Sara will answer a question. Sara says anything. Diana asks why the stone is warm to the touch. Sara won’t answer that. Diana can hear a noise as well, and decides to look.
Rembrandt and Mallory have told Seth the truth. They’re leaving soon and need his help to be together when they do. Seth wants a favour in return.
Diana has followed the Matron into a room. But the woman has vanished. Sara finds her. Diana can hear a noise, but Sara says they need to get out before something happens.
James has taken a shine to Maggie. The Keepers are obviously hiding something. And the Volsangs are bound to turn up.