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.

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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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

During the opening credits it doesn't read the usual, 'The Truth is Out There'. Instead it reads, 'Dio Ti Ama', which translated, means 'God Loves You' in Italian.

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Quotes

Mr. Burt: What's this about numbers?
Dana Scully: Will you just...!
Mr. Burt: I'm very good with numbers.
Monica Reyes: The killer is driven by an impulse we believe is numerological.
Mr. Burt: Of course, he's a serial killer.

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Crazy Credits

The episodes ends with an Italian song and takes place in an Italian part of town. While most episodes end with a fade to the text "Executive Producer Chris Carter" this ends with a fade to the text "Produttore Esecutivo Chris Carter".

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Soundtracks

Ca Va Ca Va
(uncredited)
Performed by Karl Zéro

User Reviews

How Improbable?

Of all nine seasons of The X-Files, I gotta say this was my favorite episode.

No Mulder, aliens, super soldiers, Lone Gunmen, clones, conspiracies or any of the usual unusual.

This episode is truly a stand-alone.

A delightful Burt Reynolds dominates the cast in a story sort of about luck and a serial killer and an Italian street fair.

Agents Reyes finds a numerical correlation between some unsolved murders using numerology.

No one believes her at first, but then the numbers start adding up for Scully and Doggett and the FBI is on the case.

Songs (in Italian) and a Fellini-like score round out this darkly comic episode.

Written and directed by Chris Carter, it is just plain fun.

If there was ever a single episode of The X-Files deserving of an Emmy or two, this was it.

Not to be missed!