Editing The Wicker Man (section)

==Plot==
On Sunday, April 29, 1973, Sergeant Neil Howie of the West Highlands Constabulary, journeys by [[seaplane]] to the remote, verdant [[Hebrides|Hebridean]] island of Summerisle off the coast of Scotland, to investigate the disappearance of a young girl, Rowan Morrison, about whom he has received an anonymous letter. Howie, a devout [[Christianity|Christian]], is disturbed to find the islanders paying homage to the [[Paganism|pagan]] [[Celts|Celtic]] gods of their ancestors, with churches having fallen into disuse. They copulate openly in the fields, include children as part of the [[May Day#United Kingdom|May Day celebrations]], teach children of the phallic association of the [[maypole]], and place toads in their mouths to cure sore throats. The islanders appear to be trying to thwart his investigation by claiming that Rowan never existed.

While Howie is staying at the [[Green Man]] Inn, the landlord's daughter attempts to seduce him, but he resists, explaining that he is engaged and wants to reserve sex only for marriage. He notices a series of photographs celebrating the annual harvest, each featuring a young girl as the [[May Queen]]. The photograph of the most recent celebration from summer 1972 is missing; the landlord tells him it was broken. At the local school, Howie asks the students about Rowan, but all deny her existence. He checks the school register and finds Rowan's name. He questions the schoolteacher, who directs him to Rowan's grave.

The next day, 30 April, Howie meets the island's leader, Lord Summerisle, grandson of a [[Victorian era|Victorian]] [[Agronomy|agronomist]], to get permission for an exhumation of Rowan’s grave. Summerisle explains that in 1868, his grandfather developed strains of fruit trees that would prosper in [[Climate of Scotland|Scotland's climate]] and encouraged the belief that returning to the old gods would bring prosperity to the island among the previously Christian population. Due to the bountiful harvests, the island's other inhabitants gradually embraced [[paganism]], and the Christian ministers fled to the mainland.

Exhuming Rowan’s grave, Howie finds that the coffin contains only the body of a hare. He also finds the missing harvest photograph, showing Rowan standing amidst empty boxes; the harvest had failed for the first time since the orchards were established. His research reveals that a human sacrifice is offered to the gods in the event of crop failure. He concludes that Rowan is alive and will soon be sacrificed to ensure a successful harvest this season.

The following morning, on May Day, Howie seeks assistance from the mainland and returns to his seaplane, only to discover it no longer functions and its radio is damaged; he cannot leave or call for help. Later that day, during the May Day celebration, Howie subdues the innkeeper and steals his costume and mask (that of [[Punch and Judy|Punch]], the fool) to infiltrate the parade. Rowan is eventually revealed. Howie sets her free and flees with her into a cave. Exiting it, they are intercepted by the islanders, to whom Rowan happily returns.

Summerisle tells Howie that Rowan was never the intended sacrifice; Howie is. He fits their gods' four requirements: he came of his own free will, he has "the power of a king" by representing the law, he is a celibate virgin, and he is a "fool" by falling for their deception. Howie warns Summerisle and the islanders that the crops are failing due to the unsuitability of the climate, and that the villagers will turn on Summerisle and sacrifice him next summer when the harvest fails again, but his pleas are ignored.

The villagers force Howie inside a giant [[wicker man]] statue along with various animals, set it ablaze, and surround it, singing the [[Middle English]] folk song "[[Sumer Is Icumen In]]". Inside the wicker man, Howie recites [[Psalm 23]] and prays to God. Howie and the animals burn to death as the head of the wicker man collapses in flames, revealing the setting sun.