Ghost in the Machine (The X-Files)

Infobox Television episode | Title = Ghost in the Machine


Caption = "Ghost in the Machine"
Series = The X-Files
Season = 1
Episode = 1X06
Airdate = October 29 1993 (Fox)
Production = 07-107
Writer = Alex Gansa
Howard Gordon
Director = Jerrold Freedman
Guests =Jerry Hardin,
Rob LaBelle,
Wayne Duvall,
Blu Mankuma,
Tom Butler
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Prev = Shadows
Next = Ice

"Ghost in the Machine" was the seventh episode of the first season of "The X-Files" science-fiction television series created by Chris Carter. It dealt with the idea of artificial intelligence.

Plot

The episode begins in the Virginia headquarters of the (fictional) software company Eurisko, where an argument between the company's founder, Brad Wilczek, and a company executive, Benjamin Drake, is in progress. Wilczek tells Drake that his recent, unspecified decisions are "killing my company" and angrily leaves. Later on, Drake writes a memo in which he proposes to end the "C.O.S. project," citing a "disastrous performance" and projected quarterly losses. Seeing this, the C.O.S. (Central Operating System), which is a computer that runs the entire building, sets up an elaborate booby trap, luring Drake into a bathroom with an overflowing faucet. While distracting Drake with a 4-1-1 phone call, the door to the bathroom shuts. Seeing that the door can't be opened either by hand or with a key card, Drake resorts to using an electronic key instead. However, when he put the key into the keyhole, a massive electric current sends him flying across the room, killing him. Seeing its work done, the C.O.S. says, "file deleted."

Later, at Fox Mulder's office at the J. Edgar Hoover Building, both he and Dana Scully meet an old academy friend of Mulder's, Agent Jerry Lamana. The latter has come to ask for Mulder's assistance in the investigation into Benjamin Drake's death. Explaining the elaborate scenario of the murder, Lamana points out that Drake was a friend of the United States Attorney General, and that solving the case would earn Agent Lamana a much-needed "feather in my cap." On their way to the Eurisko building, Mulder explains to Scully that the reason for Agent Lamana's apparent need for recognition is because of a case he bungled in Atlanta, Georgia, which resulted in the near-death of a federal judge.

Mulder and Scully enter the Eurisko building, under the studious eyes of the security cameras, operated by the C.O.S. As they ride the elevator up to Drake's office, the elevator stalls, causing Scully to call the front desk for help. As she does so, the elevator starts again. It turns out that the C.O.S. made the machine stall, and then downloaded Scully's contact information when she identified herself.

At his home, Wilczek is seen trying to access the C.O.S. from his personal computer. However, all of his attempts to enter the system are denied. Worried and frustrated, Wilczek gets in his car and begins driving to the Eurisko building. He is followed by Agent Jerry Lamana. Upon making it to the building, Wilczek makes his way to the C.O.S' control room, where his efforts to gain access are still denied. To his surprise, the C.O.S. talks to him, even though Wilczek claims it was never given a voice synthesizer. An armed Agent Lamana also makes it to the Eurisko building, and gets on the elevator. However the machine stalls the evelator. While Wilczek tries to shut down the machine manually, the C.O.S. forces him to watch as it causes the elevator to crash, killing Agent Lamana.

During a second meeting with Deep Throat, Mulder recounts that Wilczek is being detained by the government and that no information is available on where he's being held. When Mulder asks Deep Throat if there is any chance the C.O.S. survived, Deep Throat assures him that Wilczek's virus was thorough and that no trace of the C.O.S' artificial intelligence was left. He also tells Mulder that scientists with the Defense Department have been examining the machine for any signs of "life" for the previous five days with no success. "The machine is dead," Deep Throat tells Mulder.

The episode ends at the Eurisko building, where the C.O.S. has been taken apart to be examined. Peterson is seen talking on his cell phone with a superior official. After the conversation ends, Peterson admits that his team has been given six more hours before the machine is reduced to a scrap heap. Immediately after, unbeknownst to Peterson or his staff, the C.O.S. comes back to life, seemingly regaining control of the Eurisko building. The machine, through one of its security cameras, sees Peterson grumble that "I'll figure this thing out if it kills me."

Production details

Guests

*Jerry Hardin as Deep Throat
*Rob LaBelle as Brad Wilczek
*Wayne Duvall as Agent Jerry Lamana
*Blu Mankuma as Claude Peterson
*Tom Butler as Benjamin Drake
*Gillian Barber as Agent Nancy Spiller
*Marc Baur as Man in Suit
*Bill Finck as Sandwich Man
*Theodore Thomas as Clyde

Trivia

*The episode's title is derived from the title of the book "The Ghost in the Machine" by Arthur Koestler, which also inspired the title and content of the fourth album by the band The Police and the franchise and cyber-punk anime series "Ghost in the Shell".
*The “Central Operating System” and its actions in the episode is an "homage"Fact|date=February 2007 to ""’s malevolent cybernetic intelligence HAL 9000.
*During the ending scene at the Eurisko Building while Paterson is on his cell phone, there are many shadows in the background. One is holding a cigarette in a way typical of Cigarette Smoking Man. He has no credits for this episode, but the shadow here is highly suggestive.

External links

*X-FilesWiki|Ghost in the Machine
*imdb episode|0751131|Ghost in the Machine
*Tv.com episode|497|Ghost in the Machine