The X-Files
Australian Conne-X-ion
Episode Guide:
"Conduit"


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Episode 1X03

Title: Conduit

First screened in Australia: 3 March, 1994 Repeated: 13 August, 1997
First screened in the USA: 1 October, 1993

Credits: Director: Daniel Sackheim
Writers: Alex Gansa & Howard Gordon Starring: Guest Stars:
  • Carrie Snodgress as Darlene Morris
  • Michael Cavanaugh as the Sheriff
  • Joel Palmer as Kevin Morris
  • Taunya Dee as Ruby Morris
  • Charles Cioffi as Section Chief Scott Blevins
  • Shelly Owens as Tessa Sears
  • Don Thompson as Holtzman
  • Don Gibb as Kip (The Bartender)
  • Akiko Morison as Leza Atsumi
  • Anthony Harrison as 4th Man
  • Glen Roald as M.E. Worker
  • Mauricio Mercado as the Coroner

Plot:
A teenage girl, Ruby Morris, is apparently abducted by aliens. Mulder suspects alien involvement after he learns the missing girl's mother claims to have seen a UFO as a child. But neither he nor Scully can explain the strange clues coming from the missing girl's little brother Kevin, who says his eerie pencil markings are transmissions being sent to him through the television set. They are actually binary codes that include a highly classified defense satelltite transmission and more. Solving the case takes on deeper personal meaning for Mulder, whose own sister was abducted when he was a boy.
My Rating: 10/10
One of my all-time favourite episodes. Despite the "Poltergeist" overtones, Kevin's TV induced pictures are just plain eerie. The scene where Scully looks down and sees a huge picture of Ruby is well done. Like a lot of season one episodes, the limited budget special effects are excellent and well utilised ... the Biker's scorched ear for example and the light shining through the meadow ... A first time viewer naturally thinks they are going to see a UFO.

This is an early example of the "believer" Mulder following a case with Scully "the sceptic". Echoing Mulder's childhood and his sister's abduction, Mulder believes Ruby has been abducted by aliens despite Scully's scientific explanation for all manner of things.

We learn more of Samantha's abduction through the case file Blevins shows Scully and also through Mulder's regression hypnosis tapes that Scully listens to at the end of the episode.

Notable Quotable:
Blevins: "In essence, Mulder is petitioning the bureau to assign a case number to a tabloid headline."
Scully: "He must have more evidence than.."
Blevins: "Not according to his 3-0-2, he doesn't."
Scully: "I admit, that is strange. Even for Mulder."



Scully: "It just doesn't seem, substantial enough to warrant an investigation."
Mulder: "OK, Scully, so we disagree. It's not the first time, and it won't be the last."



Mulder: "That's a nice tattoo. What is that?"
Biker: "What does it look like?"
Mulder: "Flying saucer. You don't really believe in that stuff, do you?"
Biker: "I take it you don't?"
Mulder: "No. I think it's all just a bunch of crazy people howling at the moon."



Scully: "Mulder, they're NSA. They think the boy may be a threat to national security."
Mulder: "Come on. How can an eight year old boy who can barely multiply be a threat to national security? People call me paranoid."



Mulder: "...I want to believe..."
Where Have I Seen That Face Before?
Carrie Snodgress (Darlene Morris) has appeared in "Diary Of A Mad Housewife", "The Fury", "Rabbit Run", "Pale Rider" and "Wild Things".

Joel Palmer (Kevin Morris) also appeared later in season 1 in "The Calusari". He's appeared in "Lonesome Dove" and a dozen TV movies.

Trivia
Samantha Mulder's file lists her home address as 2790 Vine Street - this is the former address of The X-Files production office in Vancouver.

The character Tessa was played by actress Shelly Owens, sister of Chris Owens (who later played Young Cigarette Smoking Man, Mutato and Jeffrey Spender).

The 0 and 1 portrait used in this episode was hand printed by art staffer Vivian Nishi with felt pens, tracing over wall-mounted sheets of paper onto which a too-perfect looking computer print-out was projected. Her hand-drawn numerals gave it the necessary childlike feel.

The Lake Okobogee scenes were filmed at Buntzen Lake near the town of Port Coquitlam, 14 miles from Vancouver.

The forest is owned by Canadian utility BC Hydro.

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