Tempus Fugit

"Mood enhancing music, powerful lighting, and provacative sets and scenery, really create a great atmosphere which draws one into the well written story. This is an example of what television can do at it's best."

-Michael B.-

On Sunday, August 31, 1997, the episode, "Tempus Fugit", aired for the second time. It had originally aired on March 17, 1997. That episode of The X-Files was the seventienth episode of season four. The episode begins with Scully and Mulder at a bar celebrating her birthday. They are then approached by Sharon Graffia, the sister of fequent alien abductee Max Fenig. She tells the agents that Fenig was coming to see them with something that the government would kill to get. Graffia informs the two agents that his plane, Flight 549, has crashed. Scully and Mulder then join in with the NTSB Go-Team which is headed by Mike Millar. Eventually, Fenig's body is found near the crash site disproving Mulder's theory that Fenig was abducted from the aircraft by being sucked out the emergency exit door. Then, Graffia is missing from her hotel room, and Mulder believes that she has been abducted. Meanwhile, Sargent Louis Frish, confesses to the agents that he was commanded to lie about what happened to Flight 549. He explains that he saw something enter the plane's airspace, and then there was an explosion. Frish believes that the military shot down the civilian flight. Like always, Mulder thinks otherwise. He believes that a third, unidentified aircraft, shot down the intercept craft which in turn, caused Flight 549 to crash. Later, Mike Millar encounters a UFO hovering above the crash site and he finds Graffia nearby. Then, Scully takes Frish to a bar to await the arrival of a federal marshall when NTSB investigator Garrett enters. He shoots at Frish, but ended up hitting Agent Pendrell, who is walking by, in the chest. Scully then shoots Garrett. While this is going on, Mulder is scuba diving in Great Sacandaga Lake looking for the second crash site. He finds a crashed UFO that contains a dead alien body. Suddenly, a bright light shines down at him from the surface. This episode is the first portion of a two-parter. Next Sunday, will be "Max" and the conclusion of "Tempus Fugit".

Below, are a several quotes from the episode and the ratings submitted by XFEOS members. They are followed by the intriging comments and opinions on "Tempus Fugit".

Scully: "Mulder, you have never remembered my birthday in the four years I've known you."
Mulder: "That's the way I like to celebrate it. Every four years, like dog years."

Mulder takes out a gift for Scully.
Scully: "You got to be kidding."
Mulder: "It's just something that reminded me of you."
Scully: "What, and alien inplant?"
Mulder: "Two actually. I made them into earings."

Sharon Graffia: "Excuse me, Scully and Mulder?"
Scully to Mulder: "Oh, promise me this isn't leading to something very embarrassing."

Scully sarcastically to Mulder: "You sure know how to make a girl feel special on her birthday."

Scully: "Mulder, why can't you just accept the facts?"
Mulder: "There are no facts. What they're telling you, what they're going to report, they're the opposite of facts."

Sgt. Louis Frish: "What else are you looking for?"
Mulder: "About nine minutes."

Hotel Owner: "I don't think insurance will cover it [damage to Graffia's room]."
Mulder: "Does your policy cover the acts of extraterrestrials?"

Mulder: "You're the expert, why don't you bring your team down here and work it out?"
Millar: "They have their hands full."
Mulder: "Yeah, coming up with all that inconclusive evidence."
Millar: "We found some evidence, good evidence...But I'm not ready to make an announcement."
Mulder: "Why not?"
Millar: "I'm afraid I'd sound as crazy as you. Is there some place I can show you these, someplace with a door."

Boat Driver: "What exactly is your experience [in scuba diving]?"
Mulder: "Once, I got a quarter off of the deep end at the 'Y' pool."

Scully to Sgt. Frish: "You want a drink? You need a drink."

Name Rating Jamie B...................10 Michael B.................10 Ula B.....................10 Eileen A...................9 Lisa K.....................9 Maria D....................9 Charles G..................8 Eric R.....................8 Gypsy M....................8 Jamie C....................8 Adam W.....................7

Average Rating 8.7

"Walking through a field of burned dead, almost having a plane use the hood of the car your riding in for a landing strip, being in the midst of a shooting...and I thought my last birthday was bad. Those nefarious agents of the alien cover-up really know how to treat a girl on her birthday. Mood enhancing music by composer Mark Snow, powerful lighting by director of photography Jon Joffin, and provacative sets and scenery by Graeme Murray, really create a great atmosphere which draws one into the well written story. Anderson and Duchovny shine as brilliantly as the stars, even when a U.F.O.'s lights aren't gleaming down on them. As always, they turn in smooth and smartly restrained performances. This is an example of what television can do at it's best. Alien abductees may avoid taking airplanes after this episode, but I hope it doesn't make them think twice about buying me a beer."
-Michael B.-

"Another great two-parter. The camera work could have been improved just a bit, I saw more glares than usual. The plane and car scene was very well done, and I think the makeup was great. Also, I only have a couple problems with this episode. They killed off Max, I was hoping they would have him in more than just the opening part, but the scene when Mulder was identifying him was sad and touching, Kudos to David. I wish they hadn't killed off Pendrell (I also wish he didn't make his last moments alive so humiliating in front of Scully). But other than that it was a great episode....I wonder who they will kill off next?"
-Eileen A.-

"I loved this episode!!! I thought it was really cute where Mulder sings "Happy Birthday" to Scully and (finally) gives her a birthday gift. It was pretty neat how they connected Max Fenig from back then to this episode and how this was sort of based on the TWA flight 800 crash. The scene where Mulder almost drives into the path of the airplane was awesome, too. And poor Pendrell! Scully was doing an excellent job of being the skeptic that she usually is and Mulder was also doing a cool job being the one coming up the with the weird possibilities. Great plot, acting, and special effects."
-Lisa K.-

"This is an excellent episode! The only down side is it being continued just as Mulder makes a great discovery. I guess that's the name of the ratings game...I love the light humor concerning Scully's birthday at the beginning of the show. We get to see a glimpse of Mulder's sensitivity (remembering her birthday, much to her surprize) for just a moment. The rest of the show is action packed and as always suspenseful!"
-Maria D.-

"'Tempus Fugit' is a great first part in of a great two parter from last season. The plot unfolds rather slow. Which is good for a two parter. I love X-File episodes which involves extraterrestrials. This one seems to be one of those. I am wondering... maybe Mulder should offer that E.T. some oxygen."
-Charles G.-

"I liked this one a lot!! But I hate that stupid 'to be continued'!!!"
-Jamie B.-

"Great cliffhanger!!"
-Jamie C.-

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