Millennium 5C17: “Siren”
The Millennial Abyss | Episodes | Season Two
“Siren” (5C17)
Written by Glen Morgan & James Wong
Directed by Allen Coulter
Edited by George R. Potter
Aired March 20, 1998
Summary
The seizure of a ship smuggling Chinese immigrants draws Frank Black into the deadly mystery surrounding another passenger: an enigmatic seductress.
Synopsis
A squad of local police and I.N.S. vehicles converge on a docked freighter, its passenger hold overflowing with illegal Asian immigrants. Captain Law instructs two crew members, Yee Chun and Lo Fat, to "kill the monster" contained within a cargo hold area. A reluctant Chun and Fat move towards the cargo doorway, weapons in hand. But their mission is cut short when I.N.S. agents take them into custody. The men warn the agents not to enter the hold, as it contains something dangerous. The agents ignore the warning and open the door. Inside is a beautiful Asian woman, bound with steel chains.
While walking the corridors of the hospital where her mother works, Jordan notices the Asian woman inside an examination room. Jordan tells Catherine she must help the woman, as she will save Frank's life. Catherine pays Frank an unexpected visit, interrupting a meeting with Lara Means. She recounts Jordan's story about the mysterious woman saving his life. She then presents Frank with the woman's file. Acting on his own behalf, Frank visits the camp where the Asian immigrants are interned. Yee Chun reacts when Frank shows him a photo of the mysterious Asian woman. Frank's interest in immediately piqued.
Catherine and an interpreter attempt to communicate with the Asian woman, but their efforts are in vain. Later, Frank, Lara and Gieblehouse inspect the freighter — where they discover four bodies stuffed inside wooden crates. A coroner concludes the men all died of exposure to the elements. The threesome then question Captain Law, Yee Chun and Chin. All three men give differing accounts of how the woman ended up aboard ship. Law claims he rescued her from the sea; Yee Chun describes how he found the woman and another crew member, Fung Lum, in a passionate embrace; and Chin claims she just appeared out of nowhere. The men explain that Fung Lum was discovered on the bow, frozen, and following day, another body was discovered. Concerned for the safety of the crew, the Captain chained the woman in the cargo hold. Chin breaks into tears when Geibelhouse shows him a photograph of his brother, who was one of the victims.
Frank uses the Millennium Group's database to analyze the woman's photograph and fingerprints. It is determined that the mysterious woman, Tamara Shui Fa Lee, is a Chinese national from Hong Kong who was reported lost at sea in 1988. Frank believes she has been dead for ten years. Frank pays Tamara a visit in her hospital room. Using an audio recorder, he tapes their conversation (Tamara suddenly begins conversing in English). During the discussion, Tamara mentions events from Frank's life, such as killing the Polaroid man, and leaving his family — things she should not know. Frank rebuffs Tamara's advances and heads home. Along the way, he experiences a vision of Tamara standing in the roadway. Frank slams on the brakes and ends up on the side of the road. Not seeing any physical evidence of Tamara, Frank heads home.
At the yellow house, Frank, Catherine and Jordan share Chinese food and enjoy their time together. When Frank retires for the evening, he is shocked to find Catherine sharing his bed. Slowly, Frank realizes he is living within an alternate universe, one in which he is the owner of a private investigative firm, and not a member of the Millennium Group. In the basement of the yellow house, he finds the Gehenna Devil standing over Jordan's dead body.
Back in the "real" world, paramedics fight to save Frank, who, it turns out, lost consciousness after losing control of his automobile (when he experienced a vision of Tamara standing in the road) and was exposed to the elements. When Frank regains consciousness, he describes his visions to Lara Means. He believes Tamara has given him a peek at another path his life might have taken. But Frank is unsure if his association with the Group is bringing horror to his family — or keeping it at bay. He seeks out Tamara Lee, who has been relocated to an internment center (where Captain Law and his crew members are also being held).
Captain Law, Yee Chin and Lo Fat conspire to kill Tamara and end her reign of terror. After inadvertently killing an innocent woman, the men close in on Tamara, who uses her powers to turn one against the other. Frank rescues Tamara from the assassins, but when he attempts to pose his question regarding the Group to her, she again speaks in an unknown Chinese dialect. Frank realizes she does not possess the answer to his question.
Starring
Lance Henriksen as Frank Black
Megan Gallagher as Catherine Black
Brittany Tiplady as Jordan Black
Guest Starring
Kristen Cloke as Lara Means
Vivian Wu as Tamara Shui Fa Lee
Tzi Ma as Captain Youfook Law
Fulvio Cecere as Agent Brown
Cory Dagg as Stan
Colin Foo as Lo Fat
Derek Lowe as Ming
Bobby Magee as the Customs Officer
Heather McCarthy as Terri
Mikela Mikael as Diane
Alannah Ong as Jennifer
Eileen Pedde as the Doctor
Michael Puttonen as the Coroner
Darryl Quon as Fung Lum
Melanie Skehar as Ellen
Ricky Cheng as Yee Chun
Simon Wong as Chin
Production Credits
Production #5C17
Music by Mark Snow
Production Designer Mark Freeborn
Director of Photography Robert McLachlan
Associate Producer Jon-Michael Preece
Consulting Producer Chip Johannessen
Consulting Producers Darin Morgan
Co-Producer Robert Moresco
Co-Producer Paul Rabwin
Producer Thomas J. Wright
Co-Executive Producer Ken Horton
Co-Executive Producer John Peter Kousakis
Executive Producer Glen Morgan
Executive Producer James Wong
Executive Producer Chris Carter
Soundtrack
“The Forest on Fire” (1995) by the Peking Opera Company
Location
Book Excerpt
“Butler is not, however, the sole supernatural personification of evil that the series offers... Season Two’s ‘Siren’ presents the mysterious Tamara Lee (Vivian Wu), a character related to the titular myth but whose charms Frank ultimately overcomes.”
—Adam Chamberlain
Back to Frank Black
REVIEWS
“‘Siren’ is very much an episode of Millennium. It is more solemn and mournful than an episode of The X-Files might be, more sombre and reflective... The stock comparison for the type of “what if” alternate world story portrayed in ‘Siren’ might be It’s A Wonderful Life or even Turn Back the Clock, but it seems like Morgan and Wong are aiming towards The Last Temptation of Christ... The fantasy world is intriguing, for all that it is underdeveloped... For all that the ambiguity feels rushed and abbreviated, it is nice that ‘Siren’ avoids the obvious and clear answers to its core questions.”
—Darren Mooney
The Movie Blog