Kitsunegari
Encyclopedia
"Kitsunegari" is a 1998 episode of The X-Files
television series
. It was the eighth episode broadcast in the show's fifth season. When an influential former killer who was arrested by Mulder and Scully escapes, the agents search for him but discover that he is not their only concern.
, Robert Patrick Modell is receiving therapy in a prison hospital. The next morning, Modell escapes while the guard on duty dazedly says, "He had to go."
Assistant Director Walter Skinner, Dana Scully
(Gillian Anderson
), and Fox Mulder
(David Duchovny
) arrive at the prison and learn that Modell had suddenly woken up from his coma, induced by Mulder shooting him in the head, six months ago. Scully worriedly asks Mulder if he's deliberately playing Modell's game again by heading the investigation. The agents learn from the therapist at the prison that the Little Sisters of Charity, who try to visit all the hospitalised inmates, have been seeing Modell. Modell calls the prison and talks to Mulder, who refuses to listen. The call is traced to a sports shop where a Carbo-Bar wrapper is left on the counter. Later, Modell is holding a picture of a young woman in a house where a man is covered in Cerulean
Blue paint.
The agents identify the dead man as Nathan Bowman, who was the prosecutor in Modell's trial. "Kitsunegari", Japanese for "fox hunt", is written on the walls in blue paint. A paint smudge leads the agents to Nathan's wife, Linda, a realtor who has an appointment with a "Mr. Fox Mulder" at a commercial property. Modell affects the first two officers to arrive, but he isn't found. The agents interview Linda when she arrives and, though shaken due to her husband's death, she tells them her husband had talked about Modell. Mulder is confused because Modell's actions don't fit his previous modus operandi
. Mulder investigates a nearby building and spots a Carbo-Bar wrapper on the ground. Modell tries to get Mulder to listen to him, and eventually breaks Mulder's resolve.
Scully is suspicious when Mulder posits that Modell isn't behind the recent events as evinced by his telling Mulder, "Don't play the game." While Mulder agrees that Modell was involved in Nathan Bowman's muder, he doesn't believe Modell is on another killing spree. They decide to find out why Modell was after Linda Bowman. After another interview, in which Linda makes odd remarks, Mulder believes Linda's behavior isn't fitting with a woman whose husband has been killed and believes she is the killer. He believes she has the same powers as Modell. Skinner suspends Mulder and takes his gun, thinking Mulder is under Modell's influence. Mulder walks away, vowing to prove his theory right. He talks with Modell's physical therapist again, who mentions that a nun from the Little Sisters of Charity had called him a "conquered warrior". On a hunch, Mulder tries to show her a picture of Linda Bowman. The phone rings and, after stating she is with Mulder, she sticks her hand into a fuse box and is electrocuted. At the FBI safe house
, a police car arrives with Modell. Modell enters the room that Linda Bowman is in and locks the door behind him. Scully is at a mall investigating a suicide when Mulder gives her the news about the therapist's forced suicide. He urges Scully to keep Linda away from a phone and Scully heads back to the FBI safe house since Mulder claims nobody is answering the phone there. At the safe house, Skinner finds Linda's room door locked. He kicks the door down to find Modell and Linda, with Modell calmly saying that he has a gun. Without hesitation, Skinner shoots Modell when he sees a gun in Modell's hand, but once he's on the ground Skinner sees that his hand is curled into the shape of the gun.
As Modell is taken away on a stretcher, Skinner believes Modell had a gun and leaves. Mulder thinks that Modell forced Skinner to shoot him on purpose in order to protect Linda Bowman. Scully says that Linda has been taken home at which an annoyed Mulder leaves to see Modell in the hospital. A nurse enters the hospital room and tells Mulder that she has to change the patient's bandages. When Mulder leaves it's revealed that the nurse is actually Linda Bowman wearing a paper with "NURSE" written on it; Modell had used a similar trick in order to gain entry into the FBI Headquarters in "Pusher." Linda wakes Modell who tells her not to make a mistake, but she says that she'll finish what he started. She then talks Modell's heart into stopping. A nurse runs past Mulder and he follows her into Modell's room where Modell is pronounced dead. Mulder notices the "NURSE" paper has "214 Channel Avenue" on the back. That night, Mulder visits the address and finds Scully, pointing a gun at him and claiming to be controlled by Linda. Scully raises the gun to her temple and pulls the trigger. Mulder hears footsteps behind him and turns around to see Linda Bowman pointing a gun at him. She claims to be Scully, but Mulder sees Scully dead on the floor behind him. "Linda" states personal info about Mulder, revealing herself to indeed be Scully despite what Mulder sees, and she fires a shot at a figure moving behind Mulder. Mulder then sees Scully in front of him, and a wounded Linda behind him. In Skinner's office, Linda Bowman's brain scan shows an advanced temporal lobe
tumor
, just like her fraternal twin, Robert Modell. They were separated when they were two weeks old, and Linda learned of Modell's existence just six months ago. The agents guess she was after revenge on her brother's behalf. While Skinner congratulates Mulder for suspecting Linda, Mulder has misgivings about nearly killing Scully and feels that he ultimately lost Linda's game.
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...
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...
. It was the eighth episode broadcast in the show's fifth season. When an influential former killer who was arrested by Mulder and Scully escapes, the agents search for him but discover that he is not their only concern.
Plot
In Lorton, VirginiaLorton, Virginia
Lorton is a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The population is 27,709 as of the 2008 census estimate.-History:...
, Robert Patrick Modell is receiving therapy in a prison hospital. The next morning, Modell escapes while the guard on duty dazedly says, "He had to go."
Assistant Director Walter Skinner, Dana Scully
Dana Scully
FBI Special Agent Dana Katherine Scully, M.D. is a fictional character and protagonist on the Fox television series The X-Files , played by Gillian Anderson. She also appeared in two theatrical films based on the series...
(Gillian Anderson
Gillian Anderson
Gillian Leigh Anderson is an American actress.After beginning her career in theatre, Anderson achieved international recognition for her role as Special Agent Dana Scully on the American television series The X-Files. During the show's nine seasons, Anderson won Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen...
), and Fox Mulder
Fox Mulder
FBI Special Agent Fox William Mulder is a fictional character and protagonist 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. Mulder's peers consider his theories on...
(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:...
) arrive at the prison and learn that Modell had suddenly woken up from his coma, induced by Mulder shooting him in the head, six months ago. Scully worriedly asks Mulder if he's deliberately playing Modell's game again by heading the investigation. The agents learn from the therapist at the prison that the Little Sisters of Charity, who try to visit all the hospitalised inmates, have been seeing Modell. Modell calls the prison and talks to Mulder, who refuses to listen. The call is traced to a sports shop where a Carbo-Bar wrapper is left on the counter. Later, Modell is holding a picture of a young woman in a house where a man is covered in Cerulean
Cerulean
Cerulean, also spelled caerulean, may be applied to a range of colors from deep blue, sky-blue, bright blue or azure color through greenish blue colors.The first recorded use of cerulean as a color name in English was in 1590...
Blue paint.
The agents identify the dead man as Nathan Bowman, who was the prosecutor in Modell's trial. "Kitsunegari", Japanese for "fox hunt", is written on the walls in blue paint. A paint smudge leads the agents to Nathan's wife, Linda, a realtor who has an appointment with a "Mr. Fox Mulder" at a commercial property. Modell affects the first two officers to arrive, but he isn't found. The agents interview Linda when she arrives and, though shaken due to her husband's death, she tells them her husband had talked about Modell. Mulder is confused because Modell's actions don't fit his previous modus operandi
Modus operandi
Modus operandi is a Latin phrase, approximately translated as "mode of operation". The term is used to describe someone's habits or manner of working, their method of operating or functioning...
. Mulder investigates a nearby building and spots a Carbo-Bar wrapper on the ground. Modell tries to get Mulder to listen to him, and eventually breaks Mulder's resolve.
Scully is suspicious when Mulder posits that Modell isn't behind the recent events as evinced by his telling Mulder, "Don't play the game." While Mulder agrees that Modell was involved in Nathan Bowman's muder, he doesn't believe Modell is on another killing spree. They decide to find out why Modell was after Linda Bowman. After another interview, in which Linda makes odd remarks, Mulder believes Linda's behavior isn't fitting with a woman whose husband has been killed and believes she is the killer. He believes she has the same powers as Modell. Skinner suspends Mulder and takes his gun, thinking Mulder is under Modell's influence. Mulder walks away, vowing to prove his theory right. He talks with Modell's physical therapist again, who mentions that a nun from the Little Sisters of Charity had called him a "conquered warrior". On a hunch, Mulder tries to show her a picture of Linda Bowman. The phone rings and, after stating she is with Mulder, she sticks her hand into a fuse box and is electrocuted. At the FBI safe house
Safe house
In the jargon of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, a safe house is a secure location, suitable for hiding witnesses, agents or other persons perceived as being in danger...
, a police car arrives with Modell. Modell enters the room that Linda Bowman is in and locks the door behind him. Scully is at a mall investigating a suicide when Mulder gives her the news about the therapist's forced suicide. He urges Scully to keep Linda away from a phone and Scully heads back to the FBI safe house since Mulder claims nobody is answering the phone there. At the safe house, Skinner finds Linda's room door locked. He kicks the door down to find Modell and Linda, with Modell calmly saying that he has a gun. Without hesitation, Skinner shoots Modell when he sees a gun in Modell's hand, but once he's on the ground Skinner sees that his hand is curled into the shape of the gun.
As Modell is taken away on a stretcher, Skinner believes Modell had a gun and leaves. Mulder thinks that Modell forced Skinner to shoot him on purpose in order to protect Linda Bowman. Scully says that Linda has been taken home at which an annoyed Mulder leaves to see Modell in the hospital. A nurse enters the hospital room and tells Mulder that she has to change the patient's bandages. When Mulder leaves it's revealed that the nurse is actually Linda Bowman wearing a paper with "NURSE" written on it; Modell had used a similar trick in order to gain entry into the FBI Headquarters in "Pusher." Linda wakes Modell who tells her not to make a mistake, but she says that she'll finish what he started. She then talks Modell's heart into stopping. A nurse runs past Mulder and he follows her into Modell's room where Modell is pronounced dead. Mulder notices the "NURSE" paper has "214 Channel Avenue" on the back. That night, Mulder visits the address and finds Scully, pointing a gun at him and claiming to be controlled by Linda. Scully raises the gun to her temple and pulls the trigger. Mulder hears footsteps behind him and turns around to see Linda Bowman pointing a gun at him. She claims to be Scully, but Mulder sees Scully dead on the floor behind him. "Linda" states personal info about Mulder, revealing herself to indeed be Scully despite what Mulder sees, and she fires a shot at a figure moving behind Mulder. Mulder then sees Scully in front of him, and a wounded Linda behind him. In Skinner's office, Linda Bowman's brain scan shows an advanced temporal lobe
Temporal lobe
The temporal lobe is a region of the cerebral cortex that is located beneath the Sylvian fissure on both cerebral hemispheres of the mammalian brain....
tumor
Tumor
A tumor or tumour is commonly used as a synonym for a neoplasm that appears enlarged in size. Tumor is not synonymous with cancer...
, just like her fraternal twin, Robert Modell. They were separated when they were two weeks old, and Linda learned of Modell's existence just six months ago. The agents guess she was after revenge on her brother's behalf. While Skinner congratulates Mulder for suspecting Linda, Mulder has misgivings about nearly killing Scully and feels that he ultimately lost Linda's game.