Carl Gardner¶
Carl Gardner is a hearty, back-slapping FBI agent at the Salt Lake City field office who briefs the task force on the Sherman Ranch reports and hands over the case file.
| Type | NPC |
| Aliases | Gardner; Agent Gardner |
| Affiliation | FBI, Salt Lake City field office |
| Status | Alive (as of Walkers 02) |
| First appearance | Walkers 02 |
| Played by | Andre |
Description¶
Gardner is short and heavy, hearty, with what Andre describes as "big cop energy." He thumps people on the back hard enough to move Andrew Howard, calls them "son," and speaks folksily; he has heard of Kurt's UTAW division as "those boys, explode the cigars and all that." He works alongside Agent Philip Bishop, a tall, thin, silent man with a thin mustache; the two read as a comedy duo (Walkers 02).
History¶
When Big Bill phones ahead, the secretary sends the team to Gardner and Bishop in the second-floor conference room, where a corkboard is covered in strings and Post-its. Gardner's rundown: a Native American former Army Ranger on the ranch says he shot a snooper by the barn (no physical evidence); a young woman reported seeing her dead mother (checked for twins, none); cattle mutilation was blamed on lightning; and reports of lights and lost time were blamed on drinking. He is skeptical of all of it, and refers to the ranch employee in dated, offensive terms (Walkers 02). See Livestock mutilations.
He says the billionaire renting the ranch "skeeves me the hell out": a Texan into UFOs with security, scientists and "a couple of Navy guys." He leaves to find the name, returns with Robert Bigelow's, and notes it was Bigelow's security man who fired the shot. He gives the team a copy of the case file, to be "checked in" when they leave, and recommends Bigelow's hotel chain, Budget Suites of America (Walkers 02). See Robert Bigelow.
Gardner is investigating a "drinking fountain pervert" case; when Rita asks if the building's fountains are safe, he pauses and calls for another test kit (Walkers 02). See Ballard water contamination. He tells the team to say they are "a friend of Bonaparte" at a nearby gas station for 20% off. He recognizes the Biz as "the fella who spied on Clinton... had it coming," prefers Leno to Letterman, and dislikes Clinton. He also recommends Utah food: funeral potatoes, dirty soda, Jell-O salad and Frog Eye Salad (Walkers 02).
Trivia¶
- The Salt Lake City scenes introduce the "drinking fountain pervert" case that recurs through the arc.
- A running gag from this scene: dentists' conferences have bumped the team from hotels on the last three or four cases (Walkers 02).