The Unnatural

From X-Files Wiki

Series:	The X-Files
Original Airdate:	04-25-99
Production Number:	6ABX20
Date(s):	1999, 1947
Written by:	David Duchovny
Directed by:	David Duchovny

Arthur Dales, the brother of a retired FBI agent with the same name, tells Mulder about an alien who played baseball for the Roswell Grays in 1947.

Contents 1 Summary 2 Background Information 3 Quotes 4 Links and References 4.1 Guest Stars 4.2 References 4.2.1 Timeline 4.2.2 People 4.2.3 Locations 4.2.4 Other baseball references 4.2.5 Other miscellaneous references

[edit] Summary

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[edit] Background Information

• The title of this episode references the title of a novel and film called The Natural, also about baseball. The book was written by American writer Bernard Malamud.

• This episode was originally written to feature Arthur Dales, from "Travelers" and "Agua Mala", instead of the Arthur Dales who does appear. Two scenes were filmed with actor Darren McGavin, but had to step down from the project due to illness. The script was rewritten and M. Emmet Walsh was called in to play the brother of McGavin's Dales.

• This episode marks David Duchovny's directorial debut and was also the first episode to be writen by him.

• Although budget problems initially prevented Vin Scully from being hired as the baseball announcer, the famed sportscaster - who Dana Scully was named after - agreed to meet an X-Files sound crew in his Dodger Stadium broadcast booth and record the part for free.

• This episode uses footage of the alien bounty hunter that was filmed for the Season 2 episode "Colony", the first appearance of the character.

• The song that can be heard near the end of this episode is Come and Go With Me to That Land, orginally by Bernice Johnson Reagon.

[edit] Quotes

• SCULLY: Mulder, it is such a gorgeous day outside. Have you ever entertained the idea of trying to find life on this planet?

• MULDER: (still looking at the record book) I have seen the life on this planet, Scully and that is exactly why I am looking elsewhere.

(SCULLY opens a paper bag she is carrying and removes a paper-wrapped frozen dessert. This gets MULDER's attention.)

• MULDER: Did you bring enough ice cream to share with the rest of the class?

• SCULLY: (smugly, beginning to eat) It's not ice cream. It's a nonfat tofutti rice dreamsicle.

• MULDER: (returning to his book) Ugh. Bet the air in my mouth tastes better than that. You sure know how to live it up, Scully.

• SCULLY: (stepping down and continuing to eat) Oh, you're Mr. Live-it-up. Mulder, you're really Mr. Squeeze-every-last-drop-out-of-this-sweet-life aren't you? On this precious Saturday you've got us grabbing life by the testes stealing reference books from the FBI library in order to go through New Mexico newspaper obituaries for the years 1940 to 1949 and for what joyful purpose?

• MULDER: Looking for anomalies, Scully. Do you know how many so-called "flying disc" reports there were in New Mexico in the 1940s?

• SCULLY: I don't care. Mulder, this is a needle in a haystack. These poor souls have been dead for 50 years. Let them rest in peace. Let sleeping dogs lie.

• MULDER: No, I won't sit idly by as you hurl cliches at me. Preparation is the father of inspiration.

• SCULLY: Necessity is the mother of invention.

• MULDER: The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom.

• SCULLY: (taking another bite) Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we may die.

• MULDER: I scream, you scream, we all scream for nonfat tofutti rice dreamsicles.

(MULDER sets the book down and lunges for SCULLY. He grabs her arm and takes a bite of the dreamsicle. The cone breaks and pieces of the dessert splatter down on the book.)

• SCULLY: No-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho! (delightful laugh) Mulder!

[edit] Links and References

[edit] Guest Stars

• Lou Beatty, Jr. as Black Coach
• Gabriel Clifton as Black Boy
• Daniel Duchovny as Piney
• Julie Griffith as Beautiful Woman
• Jesse James as Poorboy
• Al Kaplon as Umpire
• Chris Kohn as Catcher
• Frederic Lane as Officer Arthur Dales
• Lennie Loftin as Officer Coranado
• Kerric MacDonald as Moose
• Jesse L. Martin as Josh Exley
• Ken Medlock as White Coach
• Walter T. Phelan, Jr. as Alien
• Robb Reesman as Macon Officer
• Burnell Roques as Buck Johnson
• Brian Thompson as Bounty Hunter
• M. Emmett Walsh as Arthur Dales
• Paul Willson as Ted
• Vin Scully (uncredited, archival voice footage)

[edit] References

[edit] Timeline

1936; 1940s; 1940; 1942; 1947; 1948; 1949; 1998

[edit] People

Dales family; Dales, Arthur (Agent); Dales, Arthur (sister); DiMaggio, Joe; Gibson, Bob; Gibson, Josh; Gibson, Kirk; Koufax, Sandy; Major League Baseball; Mantle, Mickey; Mays, Willie; Mulder, Teena; Robinson, Jackie; Rockefeller, John D.; Ruth, Babe

[edit] Locations

Amarillo; Anchorage; Bangor; Bellflower; Bronx; Canada; Cozy Cactus, The; FBI Headquarters; FBI Library; Florida; Georgia; Los Angeles; Macon; Mars; Mexico; New Mexico; Roswell; Roswell Municipal Ballpark; Washington, DC; X-Files Office

[edit] Other baseball references

American League; base; baseball; baseball (object); batter; box score; Cactus League; catcher; coach; Communicable Disease Center; foul ball; home plate; home run; Homestead Grays; inning; Minor Leagues; Negro Leagues; New York Yankees; outfield; pitcher; Roswell Grays; scout; umpire

[edit] Other miscellaneous references

bee; biological clock; Communism; Dales, Arthur (goldfish); dog; E.T. the Extra-terrestrial; "flying disc"; goldfish; government conspiracy; Gray Bus Lines; grey; ice cream; Ku Klux Klan; MacGyver; Macon Police Department; metaphor; My Best Friend's Martians; myopia; nonfat tofutti rice dreamsicle; passion; Project; Pythagorean theorem; rose; Rosebud, Pete; Rosetta Stone; Roswell Police Department; shape-shifting; shotgun; vegetarianism

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