Writer:	Joel Bergen, Jared Hedges
Director:	Colleen Clinkenbeard
Star:	Vic Mignogna (Edward Elric),  Aaron Dismuke (Alphonse Elric),  Travis Willingham (Lt. Col. Roy Mustang),  Caitlin Glass (Winry Rockbell)
Recurring Role:	Sonny Strait (Maes Hughes),  Mike McFarland (Jean Havoc),  Caitlin Glass (Winry Rockbell),  Sonny Strait (Huges),  Colleen Clinkenbeard (Lt. Hawkeye),  Ed Blaylock (Fuhrer King Bradley),  Tyler Walker (Additional Voices),  Troy Baker (Additional Voices),  Linda Young (Additional Voices),  Dameon Clarke (Scar),  Kyle Hebert (Vato Falman)
Guest Star:	Jerry Jewell (Barry The Chopper),  Jakie Cabe (Additional Voices)

This episode does not have any notes. Add some now!

Barry the Chopper: She seems to like taking things apart so I thought I'd do the same to her! Watch closely and maybe you'll get to see what makes her tick!
(edit) Hawkeye: It's so cruel. If the devil really does interfere in this world, we've seen his work tonight. (edit) Al: Interesting. It seems that Mr. Tucker was doing a lot of research on the Philosopher's Stone.
Ed: Well, whoop-dee-flippin'-do. (edit) Al: It'll take more than that to kill me, brother. (edit) Ed: 'Cause we're not gods. We're humans. Tiny, insignificant humans... who couldn't even save a little girl. (edit)

Goof:
When Edward is looking at a book, it shows a picture of a man. Edward then turns some pages, but the same picture is still there.
(edit) Name Translation: 'Hagane' (鋼):
In Japanese, Edward's nickname, Fullmetal, is Hagane. Hagane is a type of metal used to make swords. But it can also be used to call someone stubborn. It is for this reason that Roy says that Ed's second name is ironic. (edit) "Darkly Dreaming Dexter", published by Mass Market Paperback and written by Jeff Lindsay, has an ice truck killer (ITK) similar to the one found in this episode. There is a TV series based upon this book, which is Dexter on Showtime. This book has a copyright of 2004. This episode came out in Japan in 2003. (edit) Anime vs. Manga:
Barry the Chopper's origin story is similar in the Manga, but Ed and Al meet Barry under different circumstances. (edit) The Closed Caption scripting in this broadcast contains a plot spoiler. (edit)

Barry the Chopper/Jack the Ripper:
Barry the Chopper seems to have been based off of a famous serial killer from the late 19th century known as "Jack the Ripper".
In the anime, Barry had five female victims. It is generally considered that Jack the Ripper had five victims, all female.
Jack the Ripper's victims all had their throats slashed and most were further mutilated; leading many to believe that he could have had some degree of medical skill, or was a butcher. Barry the Chopper's victims were sliced up, and it is known that he was a butcher. (edit) Episode Title: The Philosopher's Stone:
European alchemists in the middle ages believed in the existence of a mystical stone called the Philosopher's Stone, which would be able to allow the user to transmute lead into gold and create the ultimate panacea. Nicolas Flamel, credited with keeping alchemic traditions alive in the 14th century, is rumored to have found it.
(edit)