Director: Rob Bowman
With Mulder out of contact on a train heading to Canada, Scully investigates the metal implant she had removed from her neck after X claims it holds the key to everything she needs to know. Tests on the chip reveals that it is a microprocessor for collecting information, it replicates a person's mental processes. The chip is Japanese in origin, further investigation reveals a shipment of the chips was sent to a Japanese Doctor Zama working secretly at a Hansens disease research facility in West Virginia.
Scully travels there and discovers that Dr Zama had been carrying out experiments on the patients, until armed men came and begun killing off all of the patients. Scully recognises Dr Zama from a photo, as being present during her abduction. Scully is approached by an unknown man who explains that Dr Zama is really Dr Ishimaru, secretly brought over to the US after World War Two to continue his experiments. But he is unwilling to share his knowledge with the US government and is trying to get the information out of the country.
Meanwhile Mulder finds Dr Zama murdered on the train but manages to recover his notes about his experiments. As Mulder goes in search of the killer he finds the boxcar unlocked and is attacked as he enters. He fights off his attacker but during the scuffle the door to the boxcar closes arming a bomb. Mulder is overcome by the killer but is saved by X. Unfortunately however Dr Zama's notes fall in to the Cigarette Smoking Man's hands.
Notes:
The name of the doctor, Takeo Ishimaru, and his alias, Shiro Zama, is an amalgamation of the name of the real head of Unit 731, Dr. Shiro Ishi.
The title refers to Unit 731 which was a special unit of Japanese scientists who experimented on prisoners of war during WWII. Like their Nazi counterparts, these scientist may have been given refuge in the USA to continue their experiments.
Two cameras were destroyed while filming this episode.
This episode's tagline is changed to 'Apology is Policy', spoken by Scully shortly before the end: "... and what they can't cover, they apologize for. Apology has become policy."
Quotes:
Scully: Don't you see Mulder, you're doing their work for them. You're chasing aliens that aren't there, helping them to create the story that covers the shameful truth. And what they can't cover, they apologize for. Apology has become policy.
Mulder: Maybe. Maybe you're right Scully. But I don't need an apology for the lies. I don't care about the fictions they create to cover their crimes. I want them held accountable for what did happen. I want them to apologize for the truth.
Hitman: I work for the National Security Agency.
Mulder: The NSA? Since when did they start issuing you guys piano wire instead of guns?
Hitman: You have no idea what you're dealing with here.
Mulder: Yeah, well maybe you should have filled me in before you tried to kill me!
Scully: Well done, Agent Pendrell. Keep up the good work.
Agent Pendrell: Hey, thanks. Keep it up yourself!
(Scully looks at him strangely before leaving)
Agent Pendrell: Keep it up yourself... what a doof...
1st Elder: The ruler of the world is no longer the country with the bravest soldiers, but the greatest scientists.
Episode Number: 59
Season Number: 3
First Aired: Friday December 1, 1995
Production Code: 3X10
They are all multiple abductees and have the same implants that Scully had removed from her neck. Meanwhile in Virginia Mulder finds evidence that the Talapus brought back salvaged UFO debris. Mulder is contacted by Senator Matheson who warns him to return the satellite photographs. Even X is concerned, he contacts Scully to warn Mulder that his life is in danger. But it is to late as Mulder, following up on a lead, boards a train that he believes is carrying a live alien.
Quotes:
