4-D (The X-Files)
Encyclopedia
"4-D" was the fourth episode of the ninth season of The X-Files
science-fiction
television series
created by Chris Carter
.
is monitoring Erwin Lukesh, who is suspected of being a psychotic killer who cuts out his victims' tongues. In pursuing him, she goes into an apartment building and is attacked by Lukesh with a razor. John Doggett
, Reyes' FBI partner who has been observing her electronically, hears a scream, and rushes to help Reyes. He finds that her throat has been cut and she is dying. Doggett chases Lukesh into an alleyway where he tells Lukesh to stop. However, Doggett loses sight of Lukesh momentarily and then finds he has vanished. Lukesh then appears behind Doggett and fires at him with Reyes' gun.
The setting of the episode then changes; Doggett arrives at Reyes' new apartment having brought her a housewarming gift. Neither seems to be aware of the previous events. Reyes than receives a phone call from Walter Skinner
, her superior, who informs her that Doggett has been shot and is being taken to the hospital. Reyes tells Skinner that Doggett is in her apartment, but when she looks for Doggett, he is gone. When she arrives at the hospital, Reyes again tries to explain that Doggett was with her but it's then discovered that the bullet that Doggett was shot with matches Reyes' gun. She is questioned by the FBI, again telling the story that Doggett was with her at the time of the shooting. Then we see that that Lukesh is observing the questioning from outside the room and identifies Reyes as the shooter.
Doggett regains consciousness, but is breathing with the help of a respirator. Meanwhile, Lukesh goes to his apartment where he lives with his disabled mother. As he prepares to fix her lunch, he goes to his freezer and pulls out a bag containing a human tongue.
Reyes performs a background check on Lukesh, and becomes convinced he is in fact responsible for the shooting. Reyes goes to Doggett, and through a computer setup that enables him to tap out words, Doggett tells her that Lukesh shot him but that Doggett also saw her with her throat cut.
Lukesh then returns to the alleyway where Doggett was shot and then vanishes. Based on the contradictory evidence, Reyes concludes that Lukesh can travel between parallel universes in order to kill. She also concludes that the unharmed Doggett disappeared because two versions of the same person cannot exist in one universe. Skinner questions Lukesh, who becomes agitated when his mother is mentioned. Seeing this, Skinner decides to hint that his mother will be questioned, which leads Lukesh to become more uncomfortable. Lukesh returns home to find his mother has found the gun with which he shot Doggett. After she threatens to talk to the FBI, Lukesh kills her.
Doggett tells Reyes that to resolve the situation, she must turn off his respirator and allow him to die but she refuses. Suspecting that Lukesh plans to kill Reyes next, Skinner then convinces Reyes to go back to her apartment while he, Scully and Brad Follmer monitor her. She returns to her apartment and is attacked by Lukesh. The team rush to her aid, however, with Follmer shooting Lukesh in the head, killing him.
Reyes then returns to the hospital, closing her eyes as she shuts off Doggett's respirator. As she opens her eyes, the scene changes back to her apartment at the moment Doggett had disappeared. He is there again, alive and well. Reyes, stunned and fighting back tears, embraces Doggett as he, evidently unaware of any of the previous events, asks her what's wrong.
, the writer, had previously written The X-Files
episode called "Vienen
". That particular episode had proved successful, and he was asked to pen a stand alone episode. His efforts were hampered by the fact that the departure of David Duchovny
had made the general circumstances of The X-Files more difficult. The plot which Maeda created was inspired by the situation of a real-life French journalist, Jean-Dominique Bauby
. Bauby had been paralysed and could only communicate by blinking his left eyelid. Maeda wanted to employ that type of aliment in his script, and originally thought of drawing up a guest character for this purpose. However, he felt eventually that this would be more successful with a regular character, and decided upon Doggett. Deciding how to achieve this, and how he could resolve this for the end of the episode, he concluded that the concept of parallel universes could be used.
Visual effects expert Mat Beck was instructed to devise how to transport the characters of Doggett and Lukesh between different universes in the plotline. Beck considered for a period of several days how to illustrate the effect; by blackhole, or vanishing in a water-like rippling effect. Beck decided to record the actors behind the two characters performing certain actions, and then used software to morph the two together to make it appear as if they had vanished. Later, artistic touches were added in post-production editing to give a more futuristic effect. Maeda, meanwhile, wished to create a villain that would be as memorable as other notable enemies in The X-Files, such as Eugene Victor Tooms and The Flukeman
. The character of Lukesh was in part inspired by Alfred Hitchcock
's Psycho
.
The X-Files
The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
science-fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
created by Chris Carter
Chris Carter (screenwriter)
Christopher Carl Carter is an American screenwriter, film director and producer. He is the creator of The X-Files and Millennium.- Ten Thirteen Productions :...
.
Plot
At the beginning of the episode, FBI Agent Monica ReyesMonica Reyes
Special Agent Monica Reyes is a fictional character in the American FOX television series The X-Files, a science fiction show about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of Alien existence...
is monitoring Erwin Lukesh, who is suspected of being a psychotic killer who cuts out his victims' tongues. In pursuing him, she goes into an apartment building and is attacked by Lukesh with a razor. John Doggett
John Doggett
FBI Special agent John Jay Doggett is a fictional character in the American Fox television series The X-Files, a science fiction show about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of alien existence...
, Reyes' FBI partner who has been observing her electronically, hears a scream, and rushes to help Reyes. He finds that her throat has been cut and she is dying. Doggett chases Lukesh into an alleyway where he tells Lukesh to stop. However, Doggett loses sight of Lukesh momentarily and then finds he has vanished. Lukesh then appears behind Doggett and fires at him with Reyes' gun.
The setting of the episode then changes; Doggett arrives at Reyes' new apartment having brought her a housewarming gift. Neither seems to be aware of the previous events. Reyes than receives a phone call from Walter Skinner
Walter Skinner
FBI Assistant Director Walter Sergei Skinner is a fictional character in the American FOX television shows The X-Files and The Lone Gunmen, two science fiction shows about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of Alien existence...
, her superior, who informs her that Doggett has been shot and is being taken to the hospital. Reyes tells Skinner that Doggett is in her apartment, but when she looks for Doggett, he is gone. When she arrives at the hospital, Reyes again tries to explain that Doggett was with her but it's then discovered that the bullet that Doggett was shot with matches Reyes' gun. She is questioned by the FBI, again telling the story that Doggett was with her at the time of the shooting. Then we see that that Lukesh is observing the questioning from outside the room and identifies Reyes as the shooter.
Doggett regains consciousness, but is breathing with the help of a respirator. Meanwhile, Lukesh goes to his apartment where he lives with his disabled mother. As he prepares to fix her lunch, he goes to his freezer and pulls out a bag containing a human tongue.
Reyes performs a background check on Lukesh, and becomes convinced he is in fact responsible for the shooting. Reyes goes to Doggett, and through a computer setup that enables him to tap out words, Doggett tells her that Lukesh shot him but that Doggett also saw her with her throat cut.
Lukesh then returns to the alleyway where Doggett was shot and then vanishes. Based on the contradictory evidence, Reyes concludes that Lukesh can travel between parallel universes in order to kill. She also concludes that the unharmed Doggett disappeared because two versions of the same person cannot exist in one universe. Skinner questions Lukesh, who becomes agitated when his mother is mentioned. Seeing this, Skinner decides to hint that his mother will be questioned, which leads Lukesh to become more uncomfortable. Lukesh returns home to find his mother has found the gun with which he shot Doggett. After she threatens to talk to the FBI, Lukesh kills her.
Doggett tells Reyes that to resolve the situation, she must turn off his respirator and allow him to die but she refuses. Suspecting that Lukesh plans to kill Reyes next, Skinner then convinces Reyes to go back to her apartment while he, Scully and Brad Follmer monitor her. She returns to her apartment and is attacked by Lukesh. The team rush to her aid, however, with Follmer shooting Lukesh in the head, killing him.
Reyes then returns to the hospital, closing her eyes as she shuts off Doggett's respirator. As she opens her eyes, the scene changes back to her apartment at the moment Doggett had disappeared. He is there again, alive and well. Reyes, stunned and fighting back tears, embraces Doggett as he, evidently unaware of any of the previous events, asks her what's wrong.
Production
Steven MaedaSteven Maeda
Steven Maeda is an American television writer and producer. He has written episodes of television series such as Harsh Realm, The X-Files, CSI: Miami, Lost, and Day Break. He has also served as a supervising producer on Lost and CSI: Miami...
, the writer, had previously written The X-Files
The X-Files
The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
episode called "Vienen
Vienen
"Vienen" is the 179th episode and the eighteenth episode of the eighth season of the science fiction television series The X-Files. The episode first aired in the United States and Canada on April 29, 2001 on the Fox Network, and subsequently aired in the United Kingdom...
". That particular episode had proved successful, and he was asked to pen a stand alone episode. His efforts were hampered by the fact that the departure of David Duchovny
David Duchovny
David William Duchovny is an American actor, writer and director. He has won Golden Globe awards for his work as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder on The X-Files and as Hank Moody on Californication.-Early life:...
had made the general circumstances of The X-Files more difficult. The plot which Maeda created was inspired by the situation of a real-life French journalist, Jean-Dominique Bauby
Jean-Dominique Bauby
Jean-Dominique Bauby was a well-known French journalist, author and editor of the French fashion magazine ELLE.On 8 December 1995 at the age of 43, Bauby suffered a massive stroke. When he woke up twenty days later, he found he was entirely speechless; he could only blink his left eyelid...
. Bauby had been paralysed and could only communicate by blinking his left eyelid. Maeda wanted to employ that type of aliment in his script, and originally thought of drawing up a guest character for this purpose. However, he felt eventually that this would be more successful with a regular character, and decided upon Doggett. Deciding how to achieve this, and how he could resolve this for the end of the episode, he concluded that the concept of parallel universes could be used.
Visual effects expert Mat Beck was instructed to devise how to transport the characters of Doggett and Lukesh between different universes in the plotline. Beck considered for a period of several days how to illustrate the effect; by blackhole, or vanishing in a water-like rippling effect. Beck decided to record the actors behind the two characters performing certain actions, and then used software to morph the two together to make it appear as if they had vanished. Later, artistic touches were added in post-production editing to give a more futuristic effect. Maeda, meanwhile, wished to create a villain that would be as memorable as other notable enemies in The X-Files, such as Eugene Victor Tooms and The Flukeman
The Host (The X-Files)
"The Host" is the second episode of the second season of the science fiction television series The X-Files. It premiered on the Fox network on September 23, 1994. It was written by Chris Carter, directed by Daniel Sackheim, and featured guest appearances by Darin Morgan. The episode is a...
. The character of Lukesh was in part inspired by Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
's Psycho
Psycho (1960 film)
Psycho is a 1960 American suspense/psychological horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins. The film is based on the screenplay by Joseph Stefano, who adapted it from the 1959 novel of the same name by Robert Bloch...
.