Something unseen shakes the darkened, deserted streets of Fairfield, Idaho. Two
janitors watch in horror as the force smashes a plate glass window and crumples a car. A
construction worker is killed as the force rumbles down a highway. Suddenly, a
ten-foot tall Indian elephant materializes out of thin air. The pachyderm runs off until, finally,
it grows exhausted and lays on the ground. As saddened residents of the community watch, the elephant dies.
Mulder and Scully investigate the incident. Mulder believes the invisible force and the
mysterious elephant named Ganesha are somehow connected. Ed Meecham, a worker at the
Fairfield zoo, tells the agents that the animal's cage is still locked. At Meecham's
suggestion, the agents question Willa Ambrose, a naturalist hired by the zoo's board of
supervisors. Ambrose explains she was hired to redesign the zoo's restrictive pens to make
them more humane environments. She explains that Meecham is from the "old school" and
resents her involvement. Mulder and Scully interview Kyle Lang, an animal rights activist
and member of the Wild Again Organization, who believes Ganesha was treated in an
inhumane fashion by Meecham. Yet he is just as contemptuous towards Ambrose, whom he
claims is attempting to gain custody of a gorilla so it can be kept in a cage at the zoo.
Believing that members of the W.A.O. are responsible for releasing the elephant, the
agents stake out the zoo. One night, a red-haired boy sneaks into the zoo with a night-vision
camera. The animals become enraged. As the boy watches, horrified, a tiger dematerializes
inside its cage. An invisible force strikes at the boy, ripping him to pieces. Mulder becomes
convinced that some invisible force-not an escaped tiger-is responsible for the boy's death.
He is intrigued by reports that no animals kept at the zoo are able to reproduce. Scully
performs an autopsy on the elephant, and discovers that it was once pregnant. Ambrose
assures her that the animal could not possibly have given birth without her knowledge.
Shortly thereafter, the missing tiger turns up at a construction site. The agents, Ambrose and
Meecham attempt to capture the animal. When the tiger charges Ambrose, Meecham kills
it.
Mulder tells Ambrose about a theory of his involving aliens impregnating zoo animals for
some unknown purpose. Using sign language, Ambrose questions Sophie. The gorilla relays
her fears about a baby flying "into the light." Meanwhile, the zoo's board of directors, in an
effort to cut costs, eliminates Ambrose's job. Sophie is prepped for her return to the
wilderness despite Ambrose's conviction that the gorilla will be killed by poachers.
Kyle returns to the zoo one evening and finds Sophie's empty
cage. Suddenly, a large crate crashes into Kyle, killing him. Scully discovers evidence that
Kyle was murdered with a cattle prod. She arrests Ambrose for his death. Ambrose admits
she and Ed Meecham joined forces and transported Sophie to an abandoned factory.
When Mulder arrives at the factory, he finds Sophie in an uncontrollable rage. He and
Meecham attempt to tranquilize the animal, but suddenly Meecham runs off, leaving Mulder
alone with the gorilla. Sophie lashes out of the darkness and strikes Mulder. As Mulder
loses consciousness, the animal disappears in a blinding flash of light. Later, Sophie's dead
body is discovered on a roadside. Ambrose weeps and embraces the animal.
................... CREDITS .....................
THE X-FILES "FEARFUL SYMMETRY" #2X18
Original Air Date: 02/24/95
CAST:
DAVID DUCHOVNY as Special Agent Fox Mulder
GILLIAN ANDERSON as Special Agent Dana Scully
GUEST CAST:
CHARLES ANDRE as Ray Floyd
JACK RADER as Ed Meecham
JAYNE ATKINSON as Willa Ambrose
LANCE GUEST as Kyle Lang
BRUCE HARWOOD as Byers
TOM BRAIDWOOD as Frohike
DEAN HAGLUND as Langly
GARVIN CROSS as the Red Head Kid
TOM GLASS as the Trucker
WRITTEN BY:
STEVE DE JARNATT
DIRECTED BY:
JAMES WHITMORE JR.
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