“Arcadia” is episode fifteen of season six of The X-Files.
A man arrives at a gated community in San Diego County, The Falls at Arcadia. He drives to his house and checks him mailbox. Which has neighbour has just painted to keep up to code. Inside, the man complains to his wife about the mailbox being repainted because it’s a slightly different colour to the code. There’s a package in the mail, a whirligig. The wife says the neighbours will hate it. So, he puts it up.
That night, the whirligig stops making a noise and there’s a sound from inside the house. The man heads downstairs and finds what look like bloody footprints. Then something large and vaguely humanoid attacks him, before heading upstairs.
Seven months later and a woman with a welcome basket is standing outside the house as the new people arrive. The Petries, Rob and Laura. A.k.a. Mulder and Scully, posing as people moving in. It’s pronounced like the dish. The woman introduces herself as Pat Verlander. It’s already 10 after 5; she doesn’t think they’ll make it. All moves are required to be completed by six. It’s the rules.
Inside, Mulder and Scully comment on the house being immaculate. Scully says she’d like to send a thankyou note to the previous owners. Pat says that’s sweet, then bolts. Outside, all the neighbours are helping unload the moving van. One, Win, says they’ll get the ‘Petries’ moved in by six. One, Mike, drops a box marked china.
Win’s wife, Cami, introduces herself. Mulder is told that his baseball hoop isn’t permitted for the front yard. He might be able to get a special dispensation from the president of the homeowner association, Gene Gogolak. Until then, it can go in the garage.
They are moved in just before six and Scully asks Mulder if he’s ready. Yes. They both put on gloves and Scully opens up the box of china, which is forensics equipment. Some now broken. She takes out a video camera and starts recording. This is the former home of David and Nancy Kline who disappeared without a trace, the third such couple to disappear since the neighbourhood was built. In each case, it took a family member or employee to realise they’d disappeared, along with cars and some personal items.
The neighbours know nothing and the local police were at a dead end and turned to the FBI. Skinner assigned Mulder and Scully to go in undercover. Next time they go undercover, Scully wants to choose the names. She doesn’t think Mulder is taking it seriously. It’s their first case since being back on the X-Files and he doesn’t think it’s one. Scully says it is unexplained. Mulder thinks she wants to play house.
Mike arrives at the door with some replacement china. He and Scully talk; he’s a vet and can help them get one. But you aren’t allowed more than 16lbs of pets. Scully brings up the Klines and Mike bolts. Inside, Mulder has found what looks like blood on the ceiling fan.
At the Gogolak home, Win, Mike and Gordy discuss the Petries with Gogolak, after the ladies have been shooed away. Mike suggests telling the Petries why they should follow the rules. There are so many and, if they knew why they should be followed, they might keep up with them better. Gogolak seems to agree but, once Mike has left the room, tells Win that Mike is a weak links and chains can’t survive with a weak link.
That night, the bulb in the lamp outside Mike’s house blows. He panics and runs to replace it, cutting himself in the process. Something rises out of the grand and attacks, sending blood everywhere it looks like. The next day, Win is washing the blood away when Mulder and Scully arrive. They thought this was Mike’s house. It is; he had to leave the town on business. They thought he was a vet. Veterinary business. Win takes the crockery they are returning – it’s tidier than leaving it on the porch – and invites them to dinner. Mulder asks who he should speak to about the basketball hoop.
Mulder speaks to Gogolak. The hoop is not allowed. Rules are rules. Mulder comments on the decor. It’s from Nepal and Tibet; Gogolak goes there twice a year on business. He runs an import company. Later, at dinner, Mulder and Scully say they don’t think Mike is out of town on business. They called his office – they’re thinking of getting a dog – and the office has no idea where he is.
It seems that failing to follow any of the rules on how your home should look, down to a blown bulb or an unsuitable ornament, is a crime punishable by death. Which seems a little harsh.