Story Code '#9X01'
by Chris Carter
and Frank Spotnitz
|
'Nothing Important Happened Today' Story Code '#9X01' by Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz |
|
SCENE 1 - BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, 9:27 PM
(We are inside a bar. CARL WORMUS is removing an ice cube from his drink. He is sitting at the bar and tosses the ice onto the ground behind him. SHANNON MCMAHON, a beautiful strong woman in a low-cut dress walks over and sits at the bar)
SHANNON:
(To the bartender) Vodka on the rocks.
(The bartender pours her drink for her on the bar)
(CARL rises up and moves over to SHANNON and sits at the seat next to her)
CARL:
Hi. How are ya?
SHANNON:
Thirsty.
CARL:
(Turning to the bartender for another drink) Um, straight up. And no ice this time.
(Turning back to SHANNON)
CARL:
I tell this guy about the ice and then he pours me a scotch rocks.
SHANNON:
What's wrong with the ice?
CARL:
It's the water, actually, in the ice. I'm kind of an expert on it.
SHANNON:
Well, what's wrong with it?
CARL:
No big secret. It's been in the news. Government additive. Something they call chloramine.
SHANNON:
Yeah, they say that's good for us, it's like fluoride or something.
CARL:
Well, that's what they say. Look, um, I didn't sit down here to scare you. On the contrary.
SHANNON:
(With a smile) Would you like to get some air?
SCENE 2 - INT. CAR
(Night. Outside. CARL and SHANNON are seated in the front of his silver convertible, driving along a road)
CARL:
Long way to go for a drink, huh?
(No response)
CARL:
Do you like living out here?
(SHANNON just smiles, without saying a word. He grins, but seems to be getting impatient)
CARL:
How much farther?
SHANNON:
Just over the bridge.
(Cut to: a bridge over the river. It is a drawbridge over the Potomac River and now it is in the process of rising up. The barricade is being closed and we see the lights of the CARL's car approaching at speed. Cut to: in the car. CARL is slowing the car down because of the rising bridge. SHANNON slowly puts her left hand down on the CARL's right leg. He smiles, as she does it. All of a sudden, she presses her hand down firmly on his leg pressing his foot down on the accelerator. The car begins speeding up)
CARL:
What the hell you doing?
(SHANNON just stares ahead of her)
CARL:
Let go!
(She leans over and grabs the steering wheel. The car is still speeding up as it nears the barricade)
CARL:
You'll gonna kill us!
(The car crashes through the barricade and flies off the bridge, straight into the water. Once in the water, it sinks to the bottom of the river quickly. SHANNON appears to be unconscious, just sitting in her seat motionless. CARL struggles to release his seatbelt to swim to the surface. With a little effort he manages to release himself and begins rising up. Suddenly, SHANNON opens her eyes, outstretches an arm and grabs him by his ankle. CARL desperately tries to escape her grip and get to the surface, but SHANNON pulls him back down towards the car. We see CARL's outstretched arm slowly drift down out of the shot)
OPENING TITLES
SCENE 3 - WASHINGTON, D.C., 48 HOURS LATER
(Inside SCULLY's apartment. There's a person taking a shower in her bathroom. Although we do not see the figure's face we know that it is MULDER. Then we hear baby's cries, as the camera moves out of the bathroom into the bedroom where SCULLY's little boy, WILLIAM, is crying louder and louder. SCULLY closes the bathroom door so that MULDER does not hear the cries and picks up her little son.
SCULLY:
(To William) It's going to be okay...
(She pats him on his back and walks with him into the living room, gently holding him in her arms. On the living room floor we see several packed suitcases)
SCENE 4 - DOGGETT'S HOUSE
(DOGGETT is sleeping. His alarm goes up and he wakes, rolling off his stomach. He grimaces as he looks down at bruises on his chest, presumably from last season)
SCENE 5 - REYES' HOTEL ROOM
(REYES is asleep but the phone rings and she wakes. REYES slides over the bed to answer the ringing phone. She's also chest-naked and we see her from behind her)
REYES:
(On phone) Hello?
FOLLMER:
O.O.V.:
(Voice) Monica, it's me. Did I wake you?
REYES:
(Still waking up, recognising the voice of the man on the phone) Brad. Um-hmm, no, I'm awake.
(Cut to: the office of ASSISTANT DIRECTOR BRAD FOLLMER)
FOLLMER:
(On phone) You're in town?
REYES O.O.V.:
(On phone, voice) Yeah, I, I came in on short notice.
FOLLMER:
(Sitting down into his chair, on phone) Listen, if you're coming into the Hoover Building can you stop by my office on your way in?
REYES:
(On phone) Yeah. Sure. I can do that.
FOLLMER O.O.V.:
(On phone, voice) Good. Looking forward to it.
SCENE 6 - DOGGETT'S HOUSE
(The kettle on the stove whistles. He pours some boiling water into a cup. As he's making his breakfast, he listens to a news report on TV)
TV ANNOUNCER:
... last night. The thirty-eight year old body of Carl Wormus, a deputy administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency was pulled from the Potomac by divers this morning...
(On TV, we see images of CARL's car being pulled out of the water)
SCENE 7 - FOLLMER’S OFFICE
(FOLLMER is watching the same news report as DOGGETT)
TV ANNOUNCER:
...it appears Wormus drove his car through a barricade on the drawbridge into the river. A police spokesperson said it appears he was alone in the car...
(When he hears some noise from the outer office, he shuts the TV off, and walks over to the door leading out of his office. He opens it, surprising REYES who's been leaning over his assistant's desk)
FOLLMER:
Monica?
(REYES turns around, surprised)
REYES:
Hi.
FOLLMER:
What you doing?
REYES:
(Shyly) I was leaving you a note. Your assistant was out and... I didn't want to knock. I was gonna call you, uh. Um, hi, Brad.
FOLLMER:
(Inviting her into his office) Come on in.
(REYES walks into the office, FOLLMER entering after her and closing the door behind them. REYES turns to face FOLLMER just at the moment as he leans toward her and kisses her on her lips. She pulls back a little)
FOLLMER:
(Surprised) What?
REYES:
We're at work.
FOLLMER:
(With a grin) You used to ask me to close the door at work back in New York.
REYES:
Is that all you called me here for, Assistant Director?
FOLLMER:
I probably shouldn't tell you how hot you look either, because you do. How long's it been? Two years?
REYES:
(Nodding) Yeah. We should catch up, Brad. Really. I've got to get downstairs.
(REYES is on her way out of the office, but FOLLMER's words stop her)
FOLLMER:
I've got something for you.
(REYES turns around to FOLLMER as he sinks into his chair, pulling two videotapes out of his desk drawer)
FOLLMER:
Forgive me, but... uh... it didn't take a whole lot of digging to figure out why you're here in D.C., Monica.
REYES:
What are those?
FOLLMER:
Something you're gonna see... but I wanted to show you first. They were taken from security cameras in the FBI parking garage. One of them shows you arriving in a cab meeting with John Doggett.
REYES:
Yeah, I'm working with him. He called me up here on a case.
FOLLMER:
I heard. Believe me, this whole thing about a chase and a crash and a fire. And now Doggett's internal investigation of Deputy Director Kersh... it's... big news.
REYES:
What's so important to show me?
(FOLLMER does not respond. He sits at his desk looking back at Monica)
REYES:
What's on the other tape?
SCENE 8 - F.B.I
(The elevator opens, we see DOGGETT standing inside the elevator. DEPUTY DIRECTOR KERSH was waiting for the elevator and now enters, glaring at DOGGETT, who's glaring back at him. The doors close and as the elevator begins moving as KERSH stands beside DOGGETT)
KERSH:
(Smugly) How's your investigation going, John? Have you turned up any incriminating evidence on me yet?
DOGGETT:
It's only Monday morning, sir. It's nothing personal, Deputy Director. I hope you know that.
KERSH:
I know, John. I think we've pretty much always seen eye to eye. I'm sure if you can't find anything on me, John, nobody can.
(The elevator doors open and as KERSH walks out of the elevator, DOGGETT stares hardly after him)
SCENE 9 - X-FILES OFFICE
( REYES is watching the video footage. She looks up as DOGGETT walks in)
REYES:
Hi. How you doing?
(DOGGETT says nothing but angrily takes off his coat
REYES:
That good?
DOGGETT:
(Frustrated, rolling up his sleeves) I didn't ask to be put down on the X- Files. Deputy Director Kersh put me down here. I'm just doing my job. What did they think? That I'd be thankful? That I'd do anything less?
REYES:
It's not gonna be easy, John.
DOGGETT:
Hell no it isn't. I'm going after the Deputy Director, the one man removed from the head of the FBI.
REYES:
No, I mean it may be impossible.
(His interest piqued, DOGGETT walks over to REYES. He looks at the TV screen and sees a video-recording of an empty parking garage)
DOGGETT:
What's this?
REYES:
A security tape two nights ago from the FBI garage. You're not on it.
DOGGETT:
What are you talking about?
(He grabs a remote controller and begins scanning the tape. It shows that the garage is empty)
DOGGETT:
No. This is the wrong damn tape.
REYES:
I've been backwards and forwards on it. There's nothing there.
DOGGETT:
(Insisting) We were chased. A.D. Skinner and I were attacked and chased. This man Knowle Rohrer drove his car into the garage wall and it blew up in a ball of flames.
REYES:
Not on this tape.
(DOGGETT ejects the tape out of the recorder and looks at it)
DOGGETT:
Where'd you get this?
REYES:
From someone who wanted to give me a heads-up.
DOGGETT:
They can't just make this all go away. There's evidence down in that parking garage, there were victims.
REYES:
I went down to that garage, John. Whatever happened, they've had 48 hours now to clean it up.
DOGGETT:
There were witnesses.
REYES:
Witnesses who are gonna stand up to this tape?
(DOGGETT stares at her for a moment, then puts his coat back on and walks out of the office. REYES, frustrated, watches him go)
SCENE 10 - MULDER'S APARTMENT
(DOGGETT opens the door
DOGGETT:
Mulder?
(Hearing no one, he walks into the apartment. It is empty - completely empty. No furniture, no fish tank, nothing)
DOGGETT:
Mulder, you here?
(DOGGETT looks around and seeing the whole apartment empty, he turns and walks out)
SCENE 11 - GREATER MARYLAND WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY
(A worker named ROLAND MCFARLAND walks around a large tank of water. He does not notice several bubbles floating to the surface of the water. As he goes to the side of the tank, SHANNON's head emerges from the water. She watches as ROLAND walks away and picks up the phone. She swims to the other end of the tank)
OPERATOR’S VOICE ON PHONE:
Naval telecommunications command.
(He's holding a newspaper in his hand, containing the obituary of CARL)
ROLAND:
Yeah, I need to make a shore to ship call, to the U.S. Valor Victor.
(ROLAND turns and sees SHANNON, naked, walking away from the thank. He drops the phone and runs after the woman, pulling out his gun as he goes)
OPERATOR’S VOICE ON PHONE:
Sir…?
SCENE 12 - SCULLY'S APARTMENT
(There is a knock at the door. SCULLY answers it. DOGGETT is standing there, looking panicked)
SCULLY:
What? What's the matter?
DOGGETT:
What's the matter? I've been trying to call you.
SCULLY:
Yeah, the phone's off the hook because of the baby.
DOGGETT:
I got panicked that you're not going to be here, that you left, too.
SCULLY:
(After an uncomfortable pause) Come in.
(SCULLY closes the door behind him)
DOGGETT:
I've been looking for Mulder. I went to his apartment.
SCULLY:
I know.
DOGGETT:
Where'd he go?
(SCULLY is about to cry)
DOGGETT:
(Emphatically) Dana... where'd he go?
(SCULLY looks down a moment, then back at DOGGETT)
SCULLY:
He's gone. He's just... gone.
SCENE 13 -WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY
(ROLAND is looking for SHANNON. He can't see her anywhere. He hears a noise and turns. SHANNON is standing there. She pulls ROLAND down into the deep water. He soon stops struggling)
SCENE 14- SKINNER'S OFFICE
(REYES and SKINNER are sitting)
SKINNER:
I don't know where Mulder is. I don't know that I'd tell you if I did.
(DOGGETT enters)
REYES:
(To DOGGETT) I checked with movers, airlines, car rental agencies... no Mulder.
DOGGETT:
Somebody get to him, that it? That doesn't seem possible, does it? (He turns to SKINNER) Okay, so where does that leave us? Just me and you, our word against Kersh and the FBI.
REYES:
You'd better sit down, John. It's more complicated than that.
DOGGETT:
What's more complicated?
REYES:
This investigation.
DOGGETT:
What about it?
(SKINNER takes off his glasses and looks down)
SKINNER:
I wanna ask you to drop it.
DOGGETT:
No, not from you. Not from you. Not, not after what we've been through. I mean, we barely escaped with our lives.
SKINNER:
That's something worth thinking about.
DOGGETT:
I'm sorry, you're not that reasonable. What, did they get to you too?
SKINNER:
No one got to me, John, they didn't have to, that's the point.
DOGGETT:
You're afraid of them.
SKINNER:
I'm not afraid of them.
DOGGETT:
Well, you're afraid of something. What? The real tape showing up, them calling you a killer for you having to shoot Alex Krycek?
SKINNER:
No, I'll stand by my actions, Agent Doggett, but I won't stand by yours if you're gonna continue to push and push until you get somebody killed. You wanna know what I fear? I fear for Mulder and Scully. I fear for the life of that child if you don't stop pushing it, John.
DOGGETT:
You don't think I fear for those things, same as you?
SKINNER:
If you did, you'd let it go.
DOGGETT:
So what I'm hearing is... if I don't drop it, I'm alone on this.
(DOGGETT looks at both SKINNER and REYES and then turns to leave)
REYES:
John.
(DOGGETT turns around in the doorway)
REYES:
You're not.
(REYES stands up and looks at SKINNER. SKINNER looks down and REYES walks out. DOGGETT follows her quickly)
SCENE 15 - THE BAR
(It is the bar from the pre-title sequence. FOLLMER is sitting over his martini. He notices REYES approaching him. She sits at a seat next to him)
FOLLMER:
Hi. I hope it wasn't too presumptuous of me. I've ordered you a Martini.
REYES:
No, the presumption's all mine. Anyway, I called and asked you out, didn't I?
FOLLMER:
You, uh, actually a little confused me this morning in my office. I had this crazy notion that you're avoiding me.
REYES:
Maybe I was trying to avoid myself.
(She smiles)
REYES:
And those tapes you pulled out of your desk drawer weren't exactly Pamela and Tommy Lee now, were they?
(She laughs)
FOLLMER:
I'd heard that you and John Doggett are tight.
REYES:
You make it sound like I go home from work with Post-Its on my ass. It's nothing like that.
FOLLMER:
Then I don't get it. Why risk your name and your career getting caught up in this... rabid investigation of his?
REYES:
There isn't going to be an investigation. Not anymore.
FOLLMER:
I wouldn't have thought Agent Doggett would be thrown off so easy. Not what I've heard about him.
REYES:
Whatever you may think about him, Brad, he's not a fool, you know.
FOLLMER:
Now you're pissed off at me.
REYES:
No, I'm pissed off because this means I'll be shipping back to the New Orleans field office.
FOLLMER:
What are you talking about? The way I heard it you're with the X-Files?
REYES:
If this investigation drops, they're gonna drop the X-Files right along with it. You know me, where my interests lie, this was my dream assignment. Not to mention how excited I was to be appointed here in D.C.
FOLLMER:
But you just got here.
REYES:
Yeah, I know.
(They look at each other)
SCENE 16 - SCULLY'S APARTMENT
(After looking through the peephole, SCULLY opens the door, revealing DOGGETT standing in the hallway. She is holding her baby in her arms)
DOGGETT:
I'm really sorry. I... Dana, I need your help.
SCULLY:
I don't know how to find him.
(She lets him into her apartment, and walks into her bedroom to put William to sleep. Doggett closes the door behind him)
DOGGETT:
It just doesn't make any sense. Mulder leaving you here all alone, just walking out on you, not telling you where and why.
SCULLY O.O.V.:
(Voice from her bedroom) It makes sense in its own way. That's all I can tell you.
DOGGETT:
Then tell me why you can't trust me. Everything I did to try and protect you when you thought your baby was in danger. What changed? Why is it suddenly I'm now the enemy?
(SCULLY walks out of the bedroom and looks at DOGGETT closely)
SCULLY:
Let it go, John. Drop it. Please.
DOGGETT:
These people tried to kill me. They tried to kill A.D. Skinner. They wanted to kill Mulder, too. They're still out there, Dana.
SCULLY:
Exactly right, and they are unstoppable, and they are inside the FBI.
DOGGETT:
You know something you're not telling me. Mulder knows something. How long can you hide it from me? Knowle Rohrer, this old military buddy of mine. He told me your pregnancy was a result of a Government cloning experiment to try to create what he called a Super Soldier.
SCULLY:
I don't want to hear this. Look, there is nothing to any of this.
DOGGETT:
Knowle Rohrer, my buddy, was one of the men that tried to kill us in the FBI garage.
SCULLY:
My baby... my son... is fine.
DOGGETT:
I hope to God that's true. I just don't want to pretend.
SCULLY:
I'm going to ask you to leave. I'm going to ask you to leave and not come back here.
(DOGGETT leaves without looking back. SCULLY watches him go fearfully)
SCENE 17 - DOGGETT'S HOUSE
(The TV is on. He takes a picture of his old Marine buddies off the wall and looks at it. He sits down and picks up the phone to make a call)
OPERATOR’S VOICE:
Directory assistance, may I help you?
DOGGETT:
(On phone) Let's try Maryland, Virginia.
OPERATOR’S VOICE:
(On phone) What district?
DOGGETT:
(On phone) Number for a Ryan Bracker. B-R-A-C-K-E-R.
(We hear a phone ringing through Doggett's receiver)
DOGGETT:
Yeah hi, I was given this number for a Roger Erickson, formerly with the US Marine Corps.
DOGGETT:
(On phone) Roger, hey, it's John Doggett, Bravo Company.
VOICE ON PHONE:
How you doing?
DOGGETT:
Eh, I'm good. It's good to hear you. Listen, you remember Knowle Rohrer? What's the story with him? Didn't he get involved with something when he got back Stateside.
DOGGETT:
Yeah, let's get you a beer sometime.
(He puts down the phone. We cut back to Doggett making another call)
SHANNON O.O.V.:
(On phone) This is Shannon. Leave a message and I'll return your call...
(The answerphone picks up ..)
DOGGETT:
(On phone) Yeah, hi, this is John Doggett. I'm trying to reach Shannon McMahon who was with Bravo Company U.S.M.C. If this is she can you please contact me to the FBI in Washington, D.C. as soon as possible?
SCENE 18 - FBI HEADQUARTERS
(The elevator bell rings. REYES is standing in the hallway waiting for the elevator. The doors open as it arrives and SHANNON. She walks down the hallway. REYES gets into the elevator and watches her go down the corridor)
SCENE 19 - SCULLY'S APARTMENT
(SCULLY's apartment. She's putting WILLIAM to sleep. She gently lowers him into his cot. He's almost asleep)
SCULLY:
Sleepy time, sweet William. See you in a couple of hours.
(She lies down in her bed to rest, pulling a blanket over her. As she closes her eyes, William's mobile above his bed begins to stir by itself..)
SCENE 20 - X-FILES OFFICE
(REYES is working at MULDER's desk. She breaks the tip of her pencil and opens the drawer. There are no pencils there and she looks around for a pencil. Suddenly she slowly looks up and sees several old pencils stuck on the ceiling, thanks to MULDER. She takes off her shoes and climbs on the desk and reaches for one. She hears someone in the hallway)
REYES:
Hello?
(No-one answers, so REYES climbs off the desk and walks out. The elevator doors are closing and she rushes over but is too late to see who it is. She looks around and sees an envelope on the floor. She picks it up and looks inside. It contains CARL WORMUS's obituary)
SCENE 21 - SCULLY'S APARTMENT
(WILLIAM has woken and is crying. SCULLY looks up and sees the mobile spinning. This is disturbing and she stands up and walks over to WILLIAM's cot. She reaches over and stops the mobile from moving. WILLIAM cries and the mobile starts again. SCULLY is aghast)
SCENE 22 - X-FILES OFFICE
(REYES answers the phone)
REYES:
Monica Reyes.
(SCULLY is standing in her bedroom)
SCULLY:
It's, er, Scully.
(REYES senses fear in SCULLY's voice)
REYES:
Dana, are you all right?
SCULLY:
Is Agent Doggett there?
(DOGGETT takes the cell phone from REYES)
DOGGETT:
Dana. Something wrong?
SCULLY:
Yeah. Yeah, something. Um, I think I might have been wrong, telling you to drop your investigation.
DOGGETT:
Well, I didn't drop it. As a matter of fact, we found something that sure as hell fits with what we are working on.
SCULLY:
What is it?
DOGGETT:
A body.
SCENE 23 - F.B.I TRAINING ACADEMY, QUANTICO, VIRGINIA - 6:28PM
(SCULLY enters the autopsy room. DOGGETT and REYES are already there, standing over the dead body on the table, covered by a sheet)
DOGGETT:
Thanks for coming.
DOGGETT:
The deceased's name is Carl Wormus. Deputy Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency.
REYES:
Drove though a barricade and off a bridge two nights ago.
SCULLY:
(Looking through some medical papers) And?
DOGGETT:
And somebody at the FBI thought it was important enough to stick his obituary right under our noses.
SCULLY:
Who?
REYES:
We don't know.
SCULLY:
Well, his blood alcohol level was up 0.15. He was drunk, he crashed and drowned.
DOGGETT:
There's got to be something more.
(DOGGETT's cell phone starts ringing and he walks a bit away to answer it)
DOGGETT:
(On phone) John Doggett.
SKINNER:
(On phone) What the hell are you doing?
DOGGETT:
(On phone) Excuse me?
SKINNER:
(On phone) Do you know how many people are just waiting to see you screw up? To see you make a mistake like this?
DOGGETT:
(On phone) I didn't know I made a mistake.
SKINNER:
(On phone) This EPA guy you checked out of the morgue in Maryland without any jurisdiction.
DOGGETT:
(On phone) Oh, come on.
SKINNER:
(On phone) All your friends, John. All your former buddies at the FBI.
DOGGETT:
(On phone) What are you talking about?
SKINNER:
(On phone) They're not your pals any more. Not since this investigation here, since you launched an attack on one of your own. Just watch your back, John.
(DOGGETT hangs up and walks over to SCULLY)
DOGGETT:
Definitive answer how this guy died, what'll that take?
SCULLY:
Careful autopsy.
DOGGETT:
How fast can you do it?
SCULLY:
That's not what I'm saying.
DOGGETT:
I understand if you don't want to do this, Dana, but you're the only person we can trust.
SCENE 24 - DOGGETT'S HOUSE
(The doorbell rings and DOGGETT looks out the peephole. FROHIKE returns his glance)
FROHIKE:
Collecting for the needy and unemployed. Open the door.
(DOGGETT opens the door for FROHIKE. LANGLY and BYERS are also there)
DOGGETT:
Thanks for doing this, guys.
BYERS:
Yeah, like we got anything better to be doing these days.
(BYERS and FROHIKE enter but LANGLY stands outside with his back to the door)
FROHIKE:
Just to let you know, we may need to get you up for some coin.
DOGGETT:
(Looking toward LANGLY) What happened to him, you guys?
(LANGLY turns, his face is completely blue - a reference to the final episode - ‘All About Yves’ - of ‘The Lone Gunmen’ spin-off series)
LANGLY:
Don't ask.
(Later, they are all inside with THE GUNMEN working on the laptop. We see a Carl Wormus file on the screen)
BYERS:
We were able to hack into the Department of Interior's mainframe and get the EPA files you wanted. On this man Carl Wormus..
DOGGETT:
And?
FROHIKE:
Hey, what are we mind readers? That's all that you asked us to do.
BYERS:
What exactly was it you are looking for, if we may ask?
DOGGETT:
I don't know. I was hoping you'd find something.
LANGLY:
Well, if he had any secrets he took 'em to his grave. Nothing hinky in these files except for some rabid obsession with water.
DOGGETT:
With water?
SCENE 25 - AUTOPSY ROOM
(SCULLY takes off her protective glasses. REYES is there with her)
SCULLY:
Water. Asphyxiation produced by the inhalation of water. There are contusions on the forehead and on the chest but that isn't in fact what killed him. This man drowned. You're looking at me like you hope that there's something more, but there isn't.
REYES:
I'm sorry, that's not it. I'm just impressed that you can do this.
SCULLY:
This is what I do, Agent Reyes.
REYES:
But you're here doing it now. Something did happen, didn't it?
(SCULLY looks down)
REYES:
I know what you're afraid of. That there's something wrong with your baby.
SCULLY:
We can let our fears get the better of us. We can, uh, imagine things, make connections with things that aren't there. Like with this man.
REYES:
If you ever feel the need to talk to someone, Dana, I'm here. I'd never betray a confidence.
SCULLY:
(Looking down at the table) There is something.
REYES:
What?
SCULLY:
(REYES looks closely at the lower right leg of Wormus' body)
REYES:
Are those... fingerprints?
SCULLY:
Yeah, that's what they look like.
REYES:
Was someone holding him down?
(SCULLY takes a magnifying glass)
SCULLY:
I don't know how, or who.
(SCULLY starts inspecting the ankle)
SCENE 24 - KERSH'S OFFICE
(FOLLMER is sitting opposite KERSH)
FOLLMER:
I don't know if you're aware where Agent Scully is. She's at Quantico. Called in by John Doggett to autopsy a body he's got no authority to touch.
(FOLLMER hands KERSH a report. KERSH examines it closely)
FOLLMER:
If I may be blunt, Sir, Doggett's put his tit in the wringer.
KERSH:
Maybe. So what?
FOLLMER:
All of us think he's lost all judgment. That not one man's actions should affect the entire FBI. We're feeling he should be called out for this.
KERSH:
Punished?
FOLLMER:
Yes, Sir.
KERSH:
Thank you, Assistant Director. It's a difficult situation to be in, I appreciate you doing this.
FOLLMER:
It was a right thing to do.
KERSH:
(Handing the report back to FOLLMER) Let me know how it goes.
FOLLMER:
Me? No, no, I can't, Sir. There... there is a conflict. I, I can't do this myself.
KERSH:
I can't very well do it. How would it look? I'm under investigation by Agent Doggett. You have no personal axe to grind.
SCENE 27 - SCULLY'S APARTMENT
(MARGARET SCULLY puts WILLIAM into his cot when the doorbell rings. She goes to the door and looks through the peephole. SHANNON MCMAHON is outside)
MARGARET SCULLY:
Hello? Can I help you?
SHANNON:
Hi, I'm looking for Dana Scully.
MARGARET SCULLY:
Uh, I'm sorry, she's not here right now. Can I tell her who's calling?
SHANNON:
We work together. Do you know where I can find her?
MARGARET SCULLY:
No, um, would you like to leave a message?
(MARGARET sees the doorknob shaking)
SHANNON:
I'll leave a note if you wouldn't mind opening the door.
MARGARET SCULLY:
Why don't you just leave your name and I'll have Dana call you.
(No-one answers. MARGARET opens the door and looks out. No-one is there. She doesn't know what to make of this)
SCENE 28 - AUTOPSY ROOM
(SCULLY takes a photo of CARL's dead body with an evidence camera and hands it to REYES)
SCULLY:
I need to get this body into refrigeration if you want to preserve it as evidence. Whatever he's evidence of...
REYES:
Whatever it is I can't reach John to even tell him about it.
SCULLY:
Monica, I don't know what to say, but good luck. I gotta go. I gotta get home.
(They exit the room and REYES sees SHANNON in the hallway)
SCULLY:
Third floor they have a cooler for the teaching cadavers. We could temporarily put him up there.
REYES:
Behind us. Just keep walking.
(They both walk to the elevator, SCULLY looks back to see SHANNON)
SCULLY:
Who is she?
REYES:
I've never seen her before this morning. Now I've seen her twice.
(When they reach the elevator doors they both turn around, but SHANNON is gone. The elevator opens and FOLLMER exits with four agents. As they exit the elevator, FOLLMER grabs REYES by the wrist and yanks her away)
FOLLMER:
Where's Agent Doggett?
REYES:
What are you doing, Brad?
FOLLMER:
What am I doing? I'm doing my best to cover your ass.
REYES:
What are you talking about?
(FOLLMER takes the Polaroids from MONICA and holds them up to her)
FOLLMER:
(Going through the Polaroids) This... and this... I'm talking about these.
(FOLLMER leads her into the autopsy room
REYES:
Let go of me.
(SCULLY comes over to them)
SCULLY:
What's going on here?
(They enter the autopsy room but there is no body. SCULLY and REYES have no idea what to make of it. FOLLMER walks closer to the table)
FOLLMER:
Okay, where'd he go?
REYES:
Who? Where'd who go?
FOLLMER:
Where did Doggett take the body?
REYES:
You're not making any sense, Brad. Agent Doggett didn't take any body anywhere.
(FOLLMER doesn't believe her)
REYES:
What? You're looking at me like you don't believe me. Ask Agent Scully.
(They both turn to SCULLY. She isn't comfortable with this)
SCULLY:
I'm gonna go now. I've got a child at home.
(SCULLY leaves and FOLLMER walks over to REYES, desperate to prove he is right)
FOLLMER:
Body or no body, you were here, doing an autopsy. Doggett was here, without authorisation.
REYES:
Without authorisation?
FOLLMER:
He's out of control you know, Monica. Forget the X-Files, he'll take you down with him.
REYES:
This was you, wasn't it? You floated that obituary to me... to set Agent Doggett up, using me.
(FOLLMER looks surprised - whether it's real or feigned, we don't know)
FOLLMER:
What obituary? I don't know what you are talking about. You came to me for help, remember? I'm only trying to help you help yourself.
REYES:
I know exactly what you're doing, Brad. Don't forget to piss on all the corners before you leave.
(REYES turns away)
FOLLMER:
(Strongly) I didn't float any obituary!
(REYES leaves)
FOLLMER:
What is she talking about?
(FOLLMER watches her go)
SCENE 29 - DOGGETT'S HOUSE
(The doorbell rings and FROHIKE goes to the door. However, he can't see out the peephole)
FROHIKE:
Son of a...
(He opens the door)
FROHIKE:
Yeah?
(REYES is in the doorway)
FROHIKE:
Oh, hello.
REYES:
Considering the recent violence against Agent Doggett, you might want to want to know who's at the door before you actually open it.
(She walks inside past him)
FROHIKE:
Next time I'll get a chair.
(REYES enters DOGGETT's living room. She sees BYERS and LANGLY there)
BYERS:
Agent Doggett's gone.
REYES:
What do you mean gone?
LANGLY:
He and Assistant Director Skinner split for Maryland together.
FROHIKE:
Show her what we found. Before she makes any nasty remarks.
(They all walk to the laptop on the table. It's displaying some data on the screen)
BYERS:
It took some real hacking but uh, Carl Wormus, the man from Environmental Protection Agency who drowned in his car, he'd been receiving encrypted email data from a water reclamation plant in Maryland. From a worker there named Roland McFarland.
REYES:
Encrypted data on what?
LANGLY:
Don't know. Whatever it is may have gotten both these men killed.
(A copy of the Baltimore Chronicle appears on screen, along with a photo of Wormus. The headline reads ‘Worker's Death Ruled Accidental Drowning’)
SCENE 30 - WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY
(DOGGETT and SKINNER run through the plant and into an office)
SKINNER:
(Looking around) There's no nameplates.
DOGGETT:
Yeah, I see that.
SKINNER:
This is madness. Even if you're right and this guy can actually help your investigation we don't know if we're in the right area.
DOGGETT:
This has got to be McFarland's area.
(SKINNER starts checking the desks for information, one has a piece of paper headed ‘cwormus@epa.gov’)
SKINNER:
This might be his desk.
(DOGGETT runs over and looks at the computer under the desk. SKINNER just wants to leave)
SKINNER:
Let's just grab the computer hard drive and get out of here.
DOGGETT:
We're not sure if it's his.
SKINNER:
Someone could walk in one of these doors any minute and it's not gonna matter.
(SKINNER crosses to the door)
DOGGETT:
Just keep an eye out.
(SKINNER guards the door. DOGGETT is searching a filing cabinet and sees several files marked Chloramine)
DOGGETT:
What's chloramine?
SKINNER:
What? Why are you asking me about chloramine?
DOGGETT:
If this is McFarland's desk he's got tons of files on chloramine in it.
(SKINNER sees FOLLMER and his AGENTS approaching from outside of the office)
SKINNER:
Agent Doggett - grab the files and go.
(DOGGETT takes the files. They run out and down some stairs, FOLLMER opens the door out of the office and tells his agents to be quiet. He can hear DOGGETT and SKINNER running down the stairs and they give chase. SKINNER's shirt gets caught on a pipe and he is caught - he exclaims)
DOGGETT:
Assistant Director?
(FOLLMER catches up to SKINNER. DOGGETT is gone)
FOLLMER:
Looks like you and I are chasing the same man.
(Smiling, FOLLMER walks past him, approaching the big tank which ROLAND MCFARLAND was dragged into. SKINNER looks anxious)
FOLLMER:
Agent Doggett?!
(FOLLMER walks to the tank and sees the water rippling. DOGGETT is in the tank holding his breath and grasping a pipe. Suddenly he is pulled down. He gasps and bubbles float upwards. DOGGETT looks down and sees a naked SHANNON grabbing him on the ankle from below. The files drift away towards the surface and DOGGETT tries to hold on to the pipe. But it is futile. He drifts down into the tank and slowly both her and SHANNON can no longer be seen...
[TO BE CONTINUED...]
Gillian Anderson (Special Agent Dana Scully), Robert Patrick (Special Agent John Doggett), Mitch Pileggi (A.D Skinner), Annabeth Gish (Special Agent Monica Reyes),
Adam Baldwin (Knowle Rohrer, Tom Braidwood (Frohike, Cary Elwes (AD Follmer, Dean Haglund (Langly, Bruce Harwood (Byers, James Pickens Jr (D.D Kersh, Sheila Larken (Margaret Scully, John Casino (Roland McFarland, Lucy Lawless (Shannon McMahon,James & Travis Riker (William Scully, Nicholas Walker (Carl Wormus
Directed by Kim Manners
TX:
US TX - 11th November 2001
Notes:
*Featuring Special Special Agent Dana Scully, Special Agent John Doggett, Special Agent Monica Reyes, A.D. Walter Skinner and the Lone Gunmen
*During the credits sequence there is a flash-frame of a document containing the names of many online X-Philes and some anagrams of ‘X-Files’ characters (e.g. ‘Deform Lux’ is Fox Mulder) under the heading ‘FBI Contacts, Witnesses and Contributors’:
*References to the cancelled ‘Lone Gunmen’ series: Frohike and Byers comment on being ‘unemployed’; Langly arrives with a very blue face
*Assistant Director Brad Follmer - named after Chris Carter's executive assistant
*A worker at the Greater Maryland Water Reclamation Facility is named after Roland McFarland, the Vice President of Fox Network's Broadcast Standards
*Doggett's list of soldier friends includes that of writer Steve Maeda