Improbable 

Reyes, Doggett, and Scully are pulled into a bizarre serial murder case involving the number '3', numerology on a whole, and an eccentric man who likes to play checkers.

Director:

Chris Carter

Writers:

Chris Carter (created by), Chris Carter

Stars:

Gillian Anderson, Robert Patrick, Annabeth Gish

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Gillian Anderson	...	Dana Scully
Robert Patrick	...	John Doggett
Annabeth Gish	...	Monica Reyes
Burt Reynolds	...	Mr. Burt
Ray McKinnon	...	Mad Wayne
John Kapelos	...	Special Agent Fordyce
Ellen Greene	...	Vicki Louise Burdick
Beth Watson	...	Woman
Ernesto Gasco	...	Heavy Italian Man
Benito Prezia	...	Old Italian Man
Amy D'Allesandro Stolz	...	Amy (as Amy D'Allessandro)
Angelo Vacco	...	Guido / Bartender
Nick DeMarinis	...	Pizza Guy (as Nick De Marinis)
Shannon Maureen Brown	...	Pretty Blonde
Larry Udy	...	Middle-Aged Man

Storyline

Reyes, Doggett, and Scully are pulled into a bizarre serial murder case involving the number '3', numerology on a whole, and an eccentric man who likes to play checkers.

---

Plot Keywords:

number 3 | numerology | episode title spoken by character | one word episode title | locked in | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

---

Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 April 2002 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ten Thirteen Productions,20th Century Fox Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

45 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ray McKinnon won an Oscar for the best short when this episode was being filmed.

---

Quotes

Mr. Burt: [held at gunpoint by Scully for the second time] So, you're saying I didn't have anything to do with it?
Dana Scully: [Mr Burt puts down his hands] Hey, keep you hands up!
Mr. Burt: Why?
Dana Scully: I don't know.

---

Crazy Credits

In the main title for the ninth season, a piece of paper flashes across the screen listing "FBI Contacts: Witnesses and Contributors." The names on the list are screen names of the series' on-line fans. For episodes #9.01-#9.11, the names were randomly picked from various X-Files message boards. For episodes #9.12-#9.19, the names came from contest entries.

---

Soundtracks

Inouis
(uncredited)
Performed by Karl Zéro and Daisy D'Errata

User Reviews

Just plain enjoyed the episode

I caught Improbable as a rerun last night. At first I thought it was one of those Halloween episodes full of tongue-in-cheek. Admittedly, it was the great soundtrack that evoked that sense. Burt Reynolds character is a delightfully anomalous figure and open to interpretation. He could be Destiny, God, Loki, Luck or any other personification of chance/predestination. I enjoyed his nonchalance approach to engagement. His relaxed demeanor left decisions to the mind and will of characters throughout the seemingly choreographed samba of cat-and-mouse play. Numerology was the dance instructor. Man! I miss the X-Files!