Review By: Gothic Spook "Oh God… John..." - Scully A heart breaking episode full of angst! Doggett
is shot, how would this effect Scully? I say not in a good way.
What do you think?
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Title: "Not So Easy"
Written by: Cassie
Date: April 14, 1999; October 13, 2004; October 21-22, 2004
Air Date: February 21, 2005
Rating: PG
Series: FRVS - Episode #144
Spoilers: Past episodes of FRVS may be spoiled.
Feedback: We love it. Please e-mail us at frvs.feedback@gmail.com (please include the episode name in the subject) Thank you.
Archiving: "Fox & Rat" Virtual Series only!
Disclaimer: We do not own anyone. They belong to Chris Carter, Ten-Thirteen Productions, and 20th Century FOX Broadcasting.
Author's Note: The personalities of the characters within the world of "Fox & Rat" are not those you know from "The X-Files" television series. We have warped them and given them a common past, immature behavior and a sense of humor. Any horrid behavior should not be mimicked in your every day life.
Summary: Scully’s relationship with Doggett is shaken after a shootout during a case in Texas.
FADE IN:
EXT. HIGHWAY ROADBLOCK – 4:13 P.M.
DALLAS, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 17, 2005The early evening sun beats down on the hot pavement of the highway. Despite being the middle of February it is warm down here in Texas. FBI agents and local police officers are positioned behind law enforcement vehicles in the middle of the road. They are anticipating the arrival of their suspect.
Mulder, Scully, and Doggett stand behind their issued Bucar looking out to the road in front of them. They are wearing black pants, white t-shirts and blue windbreaker jackets with the letters FBI attached in a bright yellow color.
Mulder digs into his jacket pocket and retrieves a sunflower seed. He eats it, spitting the shell out behind him. Doggett looks at Mulder and then to Scully. She hasn’t said much since they come to the realization that the supposed psychic they were sent out to investigate turned out to be a serial killer. John is worried because this type of situation is something she may not be ready to deal with, no matter how “fine” she claims to be.
DOGGETT
At least this way A.D. Follmer
won’t have to read three case
reports about psychic ability
and this guy’s ability to predict-SCULLY
(on edge, but calm)
- John, please, I need to
stay concentrated.
Scully drops her hand to rest on her weapon in its holster around her waist. Her eyes remain fixed on the highway as a trashy, light blue car screeches its way towards them, going at least twenty miles over the speed limit.
DALLAS SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE
Ok, this is it!
The federal agents and police officers draw their weapons. Scully hesitates. Mulder notices and is immediately concerned for her. MULDER
Scully?SCULLY
I’m good, Mulder.
She draws her gun and aims toward the car as it screeches to a stop in an attempt to quickly turn around to get away. The tires of the car are destroyed – blowing out on this guy from spikes that were laid out on the road. The suspect exits the car, screaming and yelling at the officers to get out of his way or he’ll open fire. Another officer yells back at him to drop his weapon. Doggett watches on knowing how intimidating he can be when he yells – he wants to help this officer.
DOGGETT
(to Scully)
Watch my back.
Doggett quickly makes his way towards this guy, keeping his upper body low.. Scully’s eyes widen.
SCULLY
Agent Doggett?
Mulder leans towards her.
MULDER
He’s sure got balls.
I wouldn’t ever want
to do that.
Doggett passes up other agents and comes within ten feet of the suspect.
DOGGETT
(yelling)
Jack!
The suspect quickly aims his gun at Doggett upon hearing his authoritative voice. DOGGETT
Listen, why don’t we talk
about how we can end this
so no one gets hurt.JACK
I swear to God I’ll
fuckin’ shoot you!
Scully turns her head to look at Mulder. Her eyes question him as to what made Doggett be the one to step forward to try to deal with this guy and get him into custody. Suddenly! Several gunshots are fired and everything is pure chaos. Agents are yelling “get down”, and Dallas PD officers are returning fire. A bullet clips the sleeve of Scully’s jacket and before she realizes it, Mulder pushes her to the ground to protect her. There is no way in Hell that he’s going to lose his friend again.
The next few seconds seem like forever and an eerie silence falls over the scene. Scully lifts her head from the ground and blows a strand of loose hair from her face.
MULDER
You okay, Scully?
He rolls off of her body and she sits up. Mulder glances over her. Ok, she’s not hurt. There are a couple of scratches on her face from when he pushed her to the ground, but that’s all.
SCULLY
Yeah. I’m fine.
Where’s Agent Doggett?
Scully’s legs shake as she brings herself to her feet and looks out over the highway. Jack has been shot fatally and lies in the middle of the pavement. Her eyes scan the agents who are walking about. She doesn’t see Doggett. Her eyes rest on a small group of men kneeling around a man who is lying on the ground. Her heartbeat stops and she freezes in place.
SCULLY
(whisper)
Oh God… John…
Scully runs toward the group of men, knowing in her heart that it is John Doggett they are surrounding.
SCULLY
I’m a medical doctor.
Scully pushes two agents out of her way and she drops to her knees in a small pool of blood next to another agent who is using his hand to apply pressure to John’s abdomen – where he was shot. There’s blood all over the front of him. Scully looks at his face, he’s wincing in pain, his eyes are shut tightly. He’s holding his breath until he feels he must take in oxygen.
SCULLY
(soft)
John. I’m here, ok?
He nods his head and opens his eyes to look at her. His eyes are apologetic. He can feel that if he is not treated as soon as possible this could be a fatal wound. Scully places her fingertip on his neck to check his pulse.
SCULLY
Everything is going to be
fine. Tell me what you’re
feeling. Cold? Blurry vision?
Doggett shakes his head “no”, and moves his arm so that his hand might find hers. Scully isn’t paying attention to his attempt to hold her hand, she uses her hand to wipe blood splatter from his face. She looks away as she hears the arrival of an ambulance. She no longer has control of her emotions. She weakens and a tear falls down her cheek. She quickly wipes it away so no one will notice. She feels a hand rest on her shoulder and she knows that it is Mulder. She takes a deep breath.
>>> Shut it out. Shut everything out, Dana. <<<
PARAMEDIC
Move aside, let’s get this
man out of here. (to Scully)
Ma’am, please step away and
let us do our job.
Scully nods her head and rises. She steps backward, keeping her eye on Doggett. The paramedics quickly transfer him into an ambulance and leave the scene.
MULDER
(quiet/sensitive to her feelings)
Scully…
She wraps her arms around her waist, dirtying her clothing with John’s blood that is on her hands. She is still holding back tears. How fitting would it be for John to die from a gunshot wound so soon after she’s left the facility and anticipating her future with him? Through her blurred vision she watches the ambulance disappear from view. Finally she turns to Mulder, looking him straight in the eye. She swallows hard.
SCULLY
I guess we need to finish
things up here then, find
out where they’re taking him.
She forces a quick half-grin and walks past Mulder to ask the SAC of the Dallas FBI field office what she needs to do next. Mulder watches her walk away from him, knowing how upset she is at what has happened to John. He’s concerned – very concerned. In the past she’s always been able to say what’s on her mind – maybe not to everybody, but she’s been capable of being true to her emotions. He’s not sure where she was while she was missing, but wherever it was it sure has had quite an affect on her.
SCULLY
Mulder? Can you call either
Agent Fowley or A.D. Follmer
back at Headquarters and inform
them of what’s happened?MULDER
Sure. What are you going to do?
Scully walks up to him, her hands on her waist. She speaks to Mulder without looking him in the eyes.
SCULLY
I need to go over details
of our end of the case with
SAC Quinn. He wants to make
sure there was nothing we could
have done to prevent this from happening.
Mulder bends his knees a bit and tries to make eye contact with her. She turns her head slightly so not to look at him directly.
MULDER
Dana… I’ll talk with SAC
Quinn after I call D.C.
(beat) I want you to go to
the hospital to be there for
Agent Doggett.
Scully nods her head and looks Mulder in the eye. The muscles in her face are tense and her jaw is set.
SCULLY
Sure. I’ll go there and
make sure everything’s ok
on that end.
SAC Quinn approaches them. He’s an older man, balding head with traces of grey hair. SAC QUINN
Agent Scully, I’m all yours.SCULLY
Actually sir, my partner, Agent
Mulder is going to go over the
case with you. I need to go to
the hospital where Agent Doggett
was taken to. Our A.D. will be
expecting me to do so because of
my medical background.SAC QUINN
All right. I’ll have Agent Mitchell
drive you down there.
SAC Quinn points to a younger agent standing a couple feet away from them.
SCULLY
Thank you.
Scully walks away from Mulder and Quinn. Mulder watches, hoping that she’ll be ok until he can get out to the hospital to be with her while they wait for news on Doggett.
SAC QUINN
Tell me about this guy.
He pulls out a small pocket-size notebook from his back pants pocket. MULDER
Jack Cabrey. Twenty-seven
years old. Loner. He claimed
he had psychic abilities. His
biggest claim to fame was that
he could tell his clients when
they were going to die.SAC QUINN
Enter in the serial killer.
(beat) Do you know other states,
cities that he’s worked?MULDER
El Paso, Corpus Christie, Beaumont,
Houston, Odessa, Amarillo, and
here in Dallas-Fort Worth.SAC QUINN
Only Texas?MULDER
That was what he wrote
in his note to Agent
Doggett. He liked Texas blood.
It’ll take awhile to compile
the M.O. and signature from the
killings he’s admitted to before
we can compare them to any other
unsolved murders nationally.
Shouldn’t be too hard, I’ll go over
some myself. I started with the BSU.
That is where my talent as a federal
agent shines, sir.
Quinn pats Mulder on the back.
SAC QUINN
Keep in contact. If he likes
Texas blood I’m sure my office
has dealt with his crime scenes
before or at least aided local
PD with the cases.
Quinn walks away. Mulder looks toward the setting sun as he pulls out his cell phone to cal his boss, A.D. Follmer. He lifts the phone to his ear. BRAD FOLLMER
(muffled)
Assistant Director Follmer, XFD.MULDER
Sir, it’s Agent Mulder.
I’ve got some bad news.
Agent Doggett’s been shot
and has been taken to the
hospital. I sent Agent Scully
to be with him.BRAD
Shot?MULDER
The psychic turned out to
be a serial killer here in
the grand ol’ state of Texas.BRAD
Why wasn’t I called
when you discovered this?MULDER
The guy left Agent Doggett a note
saying he was leaving and then
included a list of other murders
he committed. We figured he’d be
heading south on I-35 towards
his hometown, Austin. We didn’t think
we could spare the time to call to
let you know.BRAD
What’s Agent Doggett’s condition?MULDER
Far as I could tell the bullet
was in his gut. No one was
reacting as if it were a
through-and-through. He was
conscious when the paramedics arrived.BRAD
And what of Jack Cabrey?MULDER
Dead. I believe he was
shot down moments after
shooting Agent Doggett.BRAD
You know that OPR should
look into what happened, but
A.D. Rose may be a bit lenient
and let it pass unnoticed. Make
sure you write up a very thorough
case report.MULDER
I will, sir.BRAD
As soon as you’re done there,
I want you to go check on
Agent Scully.
Mulder doesn’t say anything. He wonders if Brad knows what happened to Scully while she was missing. If he didn’t know something, wouldn’t he be more worried about Doggett right now? MULDER
Sir, if I may ask… I’ve noticed
that you and Agent Doggett have
been rather protective of Agent
Scully since she returned to work.
Could you tell me exactly what you know
about where she was and what she’s been through?BRAD
I don’t feel that I even know
all the details of what she was
doing so you’ll have to ask her
yourself. Sorry I can’t help you there.MULDER
That’s quite all right, sir.
I should get going, see what else
I can do around here.BRAD
I look forward to reading
your case report. Make sure
to keep me informed of Agent
Doggett’s condition. If you
need to contact his family,
I can give you their contact information.MULDER
Thank you, sir.
Mulder hangs up his phone and walks toward the other agents. Some CSI agents are processing the area where Doggett was shot and where Jack Cabrey was killed. CUT TO:
INT. DALLAS HOSPITAL – 6:47 P.M.
Scully is standing alone, leaning up against the wall outside of the operation room where doctors are still working on John. She feels numb inside and her facial expression expresses that. She is oblivious to her surroundings. She is still wearing her FBI jacket and has not washed John’s blood from her hands despite several nurses having approached her about it.
The hospital elevator dings and the doors open. Mulder enters the room. He approaches the receptionist’s desk.
MULDER
Excuse me, I’m looking for
John Doggett, he was admitted
about two and a half hours ago.
The receptionist points in Scully’s direction. RECEPTIONIST
He’s in the ER right now, you
can wait in the waiting area
with his partner.MULDER
Thank you.
Mulder heads towards Scully. He doesn’t know what to say to her. She and John haven’t said it outloud to anyone, but Mulder can tell that they are most likely involved in a relationship. Mulder has never seen Scully this emotionless, not since high school when she was being hurt by Scott Williams. Mulder sees that her hands are still dirty with John’s blood.
MULDER
How’s he doing?
Scully looks up at Mulder when she hears his voice. SCULLY
What…?MULDER
I asked how John is doing.
Scully brushes a strand of hair behind her ear and lets out a sigh.
SCULLY
Doctors don’t know anything
yet. They said he was in and
out of consciousness when he arrived.
Scully’s lower lip trembles, she quickly looks away from Mulder. Her eyes fill with tears. Despite the emotionless look she has, she hasn’t been able to keep thoughts of losing John forever out of her mind. Mulder steps towards her and wraps his arms around her. Scully coughs uncomfortably and pushes herself away from Mulder. All this emotion she’s been feeling is not having a good reaction on her. She’s uncomfortable being so close to him. She’d rather be alone.
Mulder doesn’t like that she is trying to distance herself from him.
MULDER
Scully…SCULLY
I’m ok, Mulder. I’m fine.
(beat) Did you get ahold of Brad?MULDER
I did. He wants us to keep
him informed of John’s condition.
(beat) He gave me the number
to call his family if needed.SCULLY
That’s good. It’s important
that his family knows what happened.
Scully leaves Mulder’s side and heads toward the ladies room. She doesn’t want to talk about John right now. She doesn’t want to think about how she could lose him today if he doesn’t pull through in the Emergency Room. She enters the restroom and goes to the sink to wash her hands. She rinses the hand soap from her hands and then splashes the cold water onto her face. She looks at her reflection in the mirror. The cold water drips off her face.
She deserves to lose John Doggett today. She believes she deserves this because of all she has done in the past year while she was at the Facility. Despite all that, she also feels that she and John share a connection that she’s never shared with another man in her life. Her gut feeling tells her that John Doggett is the man she will spend the rest of her life with – or would it be until the end of his life…?
Scully grabs some paper towel and dries her face. She takes a deep breath to compose her emotions before she throws the paper towel away and exits the restroom. She sees that Mulder is on the phone. He hangs up and approaches her.
MULDER
I just got off the phone
with John’s mother. She said
she’ll catch the next flight
out of Harlingen to Dallas
so she can be here.
Scully nods her head and sits down, picking up a magazine to flip through. TIME CUT – 9:57 P.M.
INT. INTENSIVE CARE ROOM
The room is dark and the blinds are closed. John Doggett lies in a hospital bed, sleeping. Scully sits in a chair by his side. She’s hooked up to monitors and has an IV in his arm. Mulder left Scully an hour ago to go pick up John’s mother. Scully hasn’t taken her eyes off him since the nurses let her into the room. She wants him to know that she is here with him, even if he is not yet awake.
Once the doctors got John out of the ER, they decided to keep him under for awhile longer so he can rest without the pain he will feel once he awakes.
Mulder pokes his head inside the room.
MULDER
(whisper)
Scully…?
Scully looks at him.
MULDER
(quiet)
Liza Doggett’s talking with
John’s doctor right now. I thought
maybe you’d want to talk to her as well.
Scully stands up and squeezes John’s hand as if saying goodbye to him. She walks to Mulder.
SCULLY
I don’t think so. He’s her son.
She probably wants to sit with him
alone. I think I’ll head back to
D.C. to report to A.D. Follmer in person.
Scully tries to walk past Mulder, but he puts his arm out to stop her. She gives him a look to express that she doesn’t want to hear what he has to say to her. MULDER
Stop pushing others away
from you, Dana.SCULLY
(stern)
I need to go, Mulder.MULDER
I don’t know what happened
to you, but I am a psychologist
and I can see when something
is bothering you. I see that-SCULLY
(aggravated)
-Call me when you and Agent
Doggett will return to D.C.
I’ll pick you up at the airport.
Scully lifts Mulder’s arm out of the way and quickly walks away from him and to the elevator. Mulder watches as Scully storms right past Liza Doggett – who is now glaring at her disapprovingly. Liza comes to John’s room. LIZA DOGGETT
What’s got her britches
in a bundle?MULDER
I don’t know.LIZA DOGGETT
A woman with that kind of
attitude has no place being
near my Johnny Jay.
Liza enters John’s room. Mulder watches her. She walks up to John and angrily crosses her arms across her chest.
LIZA DOGGETT
(loud)
Johnny Jay! Wake your behind up!
This is no way for any son of
mind to make a living!
Mulder raises his eyebrows – why is John’s mother yelling at him? MULDER
Mrs. Doggett, I think the doctors-LIZA DOGGETT
- I don’t care about the
doctors. When my son is ill,
he needs to be up doing
exercise otherwise he’ll only
feel worse.MULDER
The doctors are keeping him
under so he can rest. I don’t
think he needs yelling at right now.LIZA DOGGETT
Do you have any children, Mr. Mulder?MULDER
No.LIZA DOGGETT
Then you don’t know what you’re
talking about and you have no
right tellin’ me how to raise my boy.
Mulder nods his head in respect and ducks out of the room. He sits down alone in the waiting room. With his luck, Liza Doggett will stay here as long as the doctors require John to stay with them. Mulder doesn’t like his mother, she’s rather bossy and rude to him. Plus she doesn’t seem to approve of Scully. FADE OUT:
FADE IN:
INT. SCULLY’S APARTMENT – 4:47 P.M.
FEBRUARY 23 (WEDNESDAY)Scully is heading to her front door to answer it. She’s pretty sure the knocks she heard are from her mother and her sister, Melissa, coming over to visit her on her birthday. Scully is wearing sweatpants and a white t-shirt. Her hair is up in a ponytail and she’s wearing no makeup.
Scully opens the door and sees her mother and sister. They smile at her.
MELISSA
Happy birthday, Dana.
Melissa gives Scully a hug. She’s holding a small box in her hand that’s wrapped in pretty, shiny, pink wrapping paper with curled ribbons. MAGGIE
Feel any different now
that you’re thirty-five?SCULLY
Not at all.
Scully eyes the wrapped box in Melissa’s hand.
SCULLY
Is that for me?
Melissa nods her head, a mischievous grin on her face.
MAGGIE
We didn’t bring any cake
over for you. There’s no
reason for a woman who
lives alone to eat an entire
cake on her own.
Melissa sits down on the couch in the living room. She looks around the apartment. There really isn’t much furniture and a few cardboard boxes are open with clothing hanging out over the sides of them. MAGGIE
You really haven’t done
much with the place, have you?MELISSA
Dana, mom has something
to tell you.
Maggie looks at her eldest daughter as if they spoke earlier about Melissa not bringing something up. SCULLY
Well if it’s about me not
finding a suitable man to
be my future husband, I will
let you know now that I am with someone.MAGGIE
(disapproving)
So soon after you’ve returned?MELISSA
Mom, don’t try to get
out of telling her.SCULLY
Mom, what is it? (beat)
You’re not… pregnant are you?
Scully seriously wonders this – she hasn’t seen her mother for months before she returned to Virginia, she knows perhaps her mother could have found a boyfriend. MAGGIE
Heavens no! (beat) I’m actually
getting married this weekend.
(beat) So who’s this new man
in your life?SCULLY
You’re getting married?!MAGGIE
Surprise!
Maggie shows Scully her hand. A large, sparkling diamond ring is on her finger. SCULLY
To who?!MELISSA
Joseph Paul Covarrubias.
Scully’s eyes go wide, very wide.
SCULLY
Marita’s father?!
Scully blinks. SCULLY
(shocked)
That means that-MAGGIE
-You and Marita are
going to be step-sisters.
Scully doesn’t say anything. Yes, Marita is behaving much better now than about a year ago, but she never imagined that her friendship with Marita would become a family thing. Very strange indeed. Scully quietly sits down next to Melissa.
SCULLY
Am I invited?MAGGIE
Invitations were sent out
months ago. The caterer’s
planned according to how
many people RSVPed back in November.SCULLY
Oh… well… ok… I don’t
think I’d be able to make
it anyway.
Scully is obviously hurt by this, but tries to shrug it off casually. SCULLY
We’ve been pretty busy in
the X-Files Division since
A.D. Follmer became the head
of the division.MAGGIE
So who’s the guy you are
seeing? Do I know him?SCULLY
John Doggett. You met him
briefly at Marita’s wedding
a couple summers ago. (beat)
Actually… (hesitant) I don’t
really feel like we are official
couple yet. We haven’t had time
to sit down and discuss that
aspect of our relationship-MAGGIE
-I don’t remember him.
What does he do for a living?
Hopefully something that pays
more than what the FBI is paying you.SCULLY
He’s actually a special agent
with the FBI, one of my partners.MAGGIE
I thought FBI agents couldn’t
be romantically involved with
their partners.MELISSA
That didn’t stop her and Walter.MAGGIE
Walter… I like him. Whatever
happened between you and Walter?SCULLY
(sighs, saw this coming a mile away)
He cheated on me, so I left him.MAGGIE
You’ve never really had much
luck with men, have you? Maybe
you and Walter should try to
work things out again. Three
times a charm.
Scully looks at Melissa in disbelief of what she’s hearing come out of her mother’s mouth. MAGGIE
Or maybe you should find
someone who isn’t a federal
employee, like Roger.MELISSA
Here we go…SCULLY
Dare I ask, who’s Roger?MAGGIE
Roger Dalton. He’s a friend
of Joe Covarrubias. He’s the
head surgeon at a hospital
in New York City. I set you
up on a blind date tonight
with him as my birthday present to you.SCULLY
(uncomfortable)
Well, I appreciate the thought,
but I already have plans with
John tonight. I haven’t seen him
in almost a week. He hasn’t been
to work since he got injured
last week in Dallas. The last I
saw him was on Sunday when I picked
him and Mulder up from the airport.MAGGIE
Dana, I’m going to be blunt with
you. I don’t think you’re capable
of making good decisions in regard
to the men you let into your life.MELISSA
(stern)
Mom.MAGGIE
Melissa, right now this doesn’t
concern you. (beat) Dana, you
know as well as I do that your
decision to date that Scott was
not a good decision. Getting involved
with, Walter, a Marine, was a bad
idea. Military men have trouble
settling down. Why else do you think
you were engaged to Walter twice
and nothing ever came of it?SCULLY
I thought you approved of Walter.MAGGIE
I like him, but I just
don’t think my youngest
daughter should be with
a military man, abusive
men or other agents in the
FBI. I think you need a man
whose job isn’t dangerous.
Scully can’t believe that her mother is lecturing her about this. First off this is rather hypocritical of her, since she married a military man herself and had a wonderful marriage. Scully looks away from her mother in disbelief of what has come out of her mouth. Her mother, who blatantly ignored what was happening to her when she dated Scott Williams in high school. Her mother, who chose to pretend that nothing bad had ever happened to her youngest daughter. Her mother, who was never there for her after she was hospitalized by Scott, and who was never there once the relationship ended and she needed love and understanding from those who were supposed to love her unconditionally. Tears wish to sting Scully’s eyes, but she holds her emotion back.
MAGGIE
Cancel your date with John
and go out with Roger. I think
you two would really work out well.SCULLY
Mom, I’m sorry, but I’m
with John. I’m not going
to cancel my birthday date
with him to go out with
a surgeon from New York.MAGGIE
Suit yourself, but don’t
come crying to me when this
fling with John doesn’t work out.
Scully rolls her eyes, what does her mother know. She hasn’t even met John formally before. Scully eyes the present in Melissa’s hand.
SCULLY
Is it all right for me
to open that yet?
Melissa hands her the wrapped present. Scully unwraps it and opens a white cardboard box. She takes out a silver necklace with a crystal pendant on it.
MELISSA
It’s a spiritual healing
crystal. It works to help
your soul heal from its pain.
Scully laughs nervously as she hooks the necklace around her neck, not looking Melissa in the eye. SCULLY
I don’t know what you’re
talking about, Missy.MAGGIE
Well, there’s nothing that
can heal your soul better
than a wealthy man. I’m sure
you’re aware that surgeons
make much more money than
special agents of the FBI.
Scully and Melissa ignore their mother. SCULLY
Thank you, Missy, it’s beautiful.
(beat) So… I uh… haven’t heard
from Bill or Charles yet today, how
are they doing?MELISSA
Charles is on his second tour
in Iraq and Bill is still in
San Diego with Tara and Mathew.
(beat) That reminds me Michael
and Clare want me to wish you
a happy birthday for them too.SCULLY
How are they doing?
Melissa pulls a piece of folded paper out of her purse, it’s paper torn from a coloring book.
MELISSA
Clare wanted you to have
this for your birthday.
Melissa hands Scully the paper. She unfolds it and smiles. It’s a coloring book picture of the “101 Dalmations”.
MAGGIE
Have I told you that Bill
and Tara are going to have
another child? She’s due in
July. I think they’re going to
have another boy. (beat) You two
have me worried that my little
girls aren’t ever going to have
children or families of their own.
Scully and Melissa share a look, and thankfully, the phone rings. Scully picks up the receiver.
SCULLY
Hello. (beat) Unpacking. Sorry
I haven’t had time to come and
see you yet. (beat) Yes, we’re
still on for tonight. (beat) I guess
we could talk about that later.
(beat) Ok, I’ll see you then.
Scully hangs up the phone. A smile is on her face. Just hearing John Doggett’s voice has lifted her mood. MELISSA
Who was that?SCULLY
John.MELISSA
He must be very uplifting.
Melissa winks at Scully. Maggie checks her wristwatch.
MAGGIE
Missy, we had better be going.
Our flight for London leaves
in about four hours. We need
to make sure everything is packed
and ready to go.
Maggie stands up, so does Melissa. Scully walks them to the door – keeping her distance. Melissa startles Scully when she suddenly reaches out and holds her hand.
MELISSA
Listen… if you ever need someone
to talk to, you know I’m here
for you, ok?
Tears sting Scully’s eyes. Leave it to her sister to know that life is very difficult for her right now. Scully nods her head, wanting to let her tears fall freely – to relieve herself of all the stress she’s been through and is putting herself through. However, she prefers to keep it all bottled up – she doesn’t want others to see her weak side. SCULLY
Tell Clare that I’ll
hang her picture on
my refrigerator door.MAGGIE
We’ll video tape the
wedding for you since you
can’t make it.SCULLY
That’d be nice.
Scully wants to tell her mom to call her if it doesn’t work out, but she bites her tongue. Scully opens her apartment door and stands by it so it is blocking anyone from trying to hug her. This entire visit of her mother’s has been rather unnerving and she doesn’t feel comfortable enough right now to accept a hug. Nevermind her mother mentioned Scott to her. Typically in the past her family (with the exception of Melissa) has chosen to pretend that Scott had never abused her physically, emotionally, and sexually. They ignored that he hospitalized her after one of his many sexual assaults on her. Why now must her mother choose to bring him up? She can’t shove thoughts of Scott from her mind.
Maggie moves the door out of the way and gives Scully a big hug. The muscles all over Scully’s body tense with unease and she feels light-headed and dizzy.
MAGGIE
Happy birthday, honey.
Maggie lets go of Scully.
MAGGIE
And please reconsider
what I’ve said.
Yeah, for that she just might sleep with John Doggett tonight and make sure her mother finds out about it during her honeymoon. That would surely ruin her mother’s day. Scully forces a smile.
MELISSA
Happy birthday. Don’t forget
to channel any negative feelings
into that crystal.
Melissa doesn’t hug her as she steps out of the apartment. Scully appreciates this since she isn’t feeling touchy today.
MELISSA
And enjoy your evening
with John. Tell him I can’t
wait to meet him.
Scully waves goodbye and shuts her apartment door – deadbolt and chain. She disappears into her bedroom to get ready for her birthday date with John. Though she and John have been together since her return she still has been trying to get comfortable with the fact that they are pretty much involved. It still doesn’t feel like much has changed in their friendship since she’s been back. It doesn’t help that she’s been avoiding him since he got shot in Dallas last week.
How will he act toward her if he’s figured out she’s purposely avoided him? Will he be angry with her? Will he ditch her? Will he break up with her because he doesn’t understand she’s afraid of their relationship? How she was so terrified of losing him that she couldn’t bring herself to face him once he returned? Will he and could he ever understand her and what she is going through?
She doesn’t know the answers to any of these questions, but surely tonight some of the questions will be answered.
CUT TO:
INT. DOGGETT’S HOUSE – 5:23 P.M.
Brad Follmer is sitting down on Doggett’s couch, watching the television. He’s channel flipping. Doggett slowly makes his way down the stairs, tying his navy blue tie around his neck.
BRAD
So are you moving around
any better than a few days ago?
Doggett gives him a look. DOGGETT
If you mean to ask if the pain
has died down, yes, it has. As
for moving around… I still have
to be careful.BRAD
Is the wound not healing as
fast as they said it would?DOGGETT
It’s healing, I just don’t
want to take my chances on
it ripping apart. (beat) So
what are your plans for tonight?
Doggett sits don in his chair next to the couch. BRAD
Not sure. I haven’t really
felt motivated to do much
lately. (beat) How about you?
You and Dana going to do anything
after you have dinner?DOGGETT
I haven’t really thought about
it. Maybe rent a movie, stay in
and talk. Whatever she feels like
doing. I actually called her to
see what she wanted to do, she
said we’ll talk about that later.BRAD
So you’re not going to
ask her why she’s been
avoiding you since Dallas?
Doggett lets out a heavy sigh.
DOGGETT
You know, I thought that if
she came back that everything
between she and I would be easy,
but it’s been anything but that.
Some days she’s just as she was
before she disappeared and other
days… it’s as if her mind is off in
some other world. I’m not even sure
where she and I actually stand in
terms of our relationship.
Doggett grabs his dress shoes from the floor and puts them on. He angrily ties them, obviously he’s frustrated. BRAD
So she hasn’t explained
exactly what happened while
she was gone?DOGGETT
No. She tries to act as
if nothing is bothering her,
but I know that’s pure bullshit.
Brad sees that John is letting this anger him.
DOGGETT
I haven’t seen her in
almost a week, and sitting
next to her in the car on
the way back from the airport
doesn’t count.
Doggett runs his hand through his hair. He knows that he shouldn’t let this bother him, that perhaps Scully just needs more time, but it bothers him that he hasn’t been able to help her. DOGGETT
Have I done something wrong?
(looks at Brad) Have I angered
her for some reason that I’m
just not aware of?BRAD
John, I don’t think it’s
anything that you’ve done.
I think that whatever is
bothering her is something
that happened to her while
she was away.
Doggett looks at Brad with heartache in his eyes. DOGGETT
Then why won’t she talk
to me, tell me what’s going on?
(beat) Anything she’s ever told
me about when she was gone has
been about what she had to do
to Monica. It’s as if she’s
pretending something didn’t happen
to her, and I can tell she’s
been through something…BRAD
Maybe she’s afraid.
Doggett looks at Brad. DOGGETT
Afraid of what?BRAD
Only she can answer that, John.
Just try to be understanding.
John nods his head, he knows that Brad is right. He knows that Grandmama Reyes has even told him that he needs to be here for Scully. Doggett stands up and goes to his kitchen. He holds his left hand over the gunshot wound on his abdomen. He needs to take some Tylenol to dull the pain that he still feels.
DOGGETT
You and Monica ever have a
hard time communicating when
you first hooked up?
Doggett fills a glass with water and takes a Tylenol. BRAD
Every beginning of a relationship
has its awkward moments, and
every relationship is different.DOGGETT
Were there things Monica
didn’t tell you that she
was afraid to tell?BRAD
Well… she was hesitant to
tell me her oldest brother
is on Death Row and that her
brothers never wanted her to date
until they found her the perfect
Latino to marry.
Doggett returns to the living room. DOGGETT
How is Monica doing anyway?BRAD
She’s showing some improvements.
I went to rehab with her on
Sunday, they’ve started building
her muscles so she can walk on her own soon.DOGGETT
That’s good. (beat) Do you
know when she’ll be coming home?BRAD
We’re hoping sometime
in March. (beat) I think
she’ll show even more improvement
once she’s out of that place.
Doggett nods his head. DOGGETT
I just hope that she and
Dana don’t have any problems.BRAD
I don’t know, she hasn’t
really talked about her.
Doggett looks at his watch: 5:43 P.M.
DOGGETT
I better get going. I told
Dana I’d pick her up at six.
John and Brad stand up. BRAD
Tell Dana ‘happy birthday’
for me.DOGGETT
I will.
Brad heads to the door. Doggett grabs the keys to his home and locks up. They can both hear Buddy barking inside the house. CUT TO:
INT. BELLA FLORA’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT – 6:33 P.M.
Scully and Doggett are seated at their booth, awaiting the arrival of their meals. They have glasses of water in front of them.
DOGGETT
So let me get this straight.
Your mother informs you, on
your birthday, after you’ve
been missing, that she’s going
to England to get married and
it’s too late for you to be invited?SCULLY
It’s not that surprising, my
family isn’t very close anyway.
Well, at least not my mother and I.DOGGETT
At least your family communicates
better than mine. I just found out
this past Christmas that my younger
brother, Jason, is married and has
a seven year old son.SCULLY
You just found this out?DOGGETT
Turns out he didn’t want me
to know so I couldn’t tell our
parents and get him in trouble.SCULLY
Trouble? What kind of trouble?DOGGETT
My Ma doesn’t like red-heads.
Chris, Jason’s wife, she’s a red-head.
Scully laughs.
SCULLY
Well I guess I should stop
dying my hair if I’m ever
going to meet your mother.
Actually, I could have met
her down in Dallas, but I
left before she came to your room.
Doggett doesn’t say anything. He wants to know why she didn’t stay in Dallas with him. He also would like to know why it seems she’s avoided him since Dallas. Up until now, she’s been playing it as if Dallas never happened. Doggett looks at Scully in the eye, she doesn’t look away from him. SCULLY
I’m sorry I didn’t stay with
you in Dallas. I didn’t know
how to handle the situation both
professionally and especially
personally. I couldn’t handle
it. I was afraid so I decided to
come back here.DOGGETT
I understand. I don’t handle those
kinds of situations very well myself.
I mean I did want you there with me,
but another part of me was glad you didn’t
have to meet my mother.SCULLY
I’m not sure you really
understand my reasoning, John.
I’m not sure that I do myself,
but I appreciate you accepting
what I did and not being angry
with me about it.
Their waiter brings their dinner to the table, lifting silver covers to reveal artistically laid-out meals. WAITER
Is there anything else
you would like?DOGGETT
No thank you, this is fine.
The waiter nods his head and leaves. Scully looks at John with a smile on her face.
SCULLY
(whispers)
You almost don’t want
to touch it, they make
it look so nice.
Scully picks up her fork and pokes around her meal, not really eating anything. She watches as John eats. She doesn’t think her stomach can handle this much food. She’s glad that he’s enjoying it. Scully sets her fork down and nervously plays with the crystal necklace around her neck.
SCULLY
Want to know what my
mother got me for my birthday?
Doggett looks up at her and notices the necklace her fingers are wrapped around. DOGGETT
That crystal necklace
you’re touching?SCULLY
No, my sister gave me this.
(beat) My mother set me up
on a blind date tonight with
some surgeon from New York.
Doggett laughs. DOGGETT
So you haven’t told
her about us yet?SCULLY
I told her about us, but she
seems to think I should be
involved with a man in a less
dangerous field of work. She
said she doesn’t want me with
any military men or FBI agents.DOGGETT
Did you tell her I’m a Marine
and a special agent?SCULLY
I thought you retired
from the Marine Corps.DOGGETT
Once a Marine, always a Marine.SCULLY
They can’t call you back
to duty, can they?
Scully is reflecting back on a meeting she attended while at the Facility in which they spoke of calling all military back to duty before alien colonization so that the country could be as best prepared as possible. DOGGETT
I guess they could if the
threat was more dangerous
than anything the United
States has faced in its
entire history, but I doubt
that would ever happen.SCULLY
You’re retired, they can’t do that.DOGGETT
If I got a call from the Corps
I would report for duty wherever
they needed me within the following
twenty-four hours.
Scully has a worried expression on her face. DOGGETT
Dana, you all right?SCULLY
I’m fine. It’s just if you had
to fight in some war, you could
die, and after Dallas, I don’t
think I’d handle something like
that all too well.
Doggett sets down his fork and knife and leans closer to Scully, he’s concerned.
DOGGETT
Dana… I can see that you’re
trying to be your old self from
a year ago, but I can also
see that there has been a lot
bothering you since you’ve returned.
Scully sits up straight. Her head is dizzy from his words. And to think all this time she’s thought she’d been hiding her own inner pain so well.
DOGGETT
You’ve said so much about
the horrible things you’ve
had to do to others, but you
haven’t said a word about
anything that happened to you.
Scully is having difficulty concentrating on John. Her head is pounding with thoughts of what she went through at the Facility – hurting Monica, pretending to be the Smoking-Man’s lover, being raped over and over again. She cannot tell John what the Smoking-Man did to her, that would mean that she is seeking help. She doesn’t deserve to be helped. She hurt many innocent people, children. She deserves to rot in her inner turmoil. Scully feels John take hold of her hand. She quickly and defensively pulls it away from him.
SCULLY
Maybe we should go now.
Scully stands up. Doggett watches her. Ok, he’s a jerk for bringing this up at her birthday dinner.
DOGGETT
Dana, I’m sorry. We don’t
have to talk about that now
if you’re not comfortable about it.
Scully looks at him accusingly, what kind of game is he trying to play here? Cautiously, she sits back down.
SCULLY
All I’ll say right now is that
I’ve been through a lot in the
past year, and I do not want
to talk about it. Not now, not ever.
This breaks John’s heart – he sees the pain in her eyes, and hears the fear in her voice. He wants to help her, but first she must be willing to accept and want help. There’s nothing he can do to speed up that process. Scully picks up her fork and has a bite or two from her meal.
They finish their dinners in silence. After several minutes pass, John summons the waiter and pays the bill.
Without saying a word to each other, they walk to the restaurant exit and retrieve their coats. John helps Scully into her's and they walk outside.
Snow is just beginning to fall around them. There’s already a thin sheet of snow covering the sidewalk. Scully wraps her arm through his as they walk to where John’s truck is parked – a few blocks down the road.
DOGGETT
For some reason I’m remembering
a night where we were both
standing out here. I watched
you standing alone on that curb
there. You’re so beautiful when
you don’t think anyone is watching you.SCULLY
(smiling)
You asked me a question that
I never got a chance to answer.DOGGETT
Yes, I did, but I’m pretty
sure I know what your answer was.SCULLY
(challenging)
How can you be so sure?DOGGETT
I had never seen such a sincere
smile on your face before or
since then. However, if you’d
like to humor me, I have a question
to ask you.
Scully smiles, how “John Doggett” is it that he wants to ask her to be his girlfriend again even though there’s kind of been this mutual agreement between them that they are in fact a couple. Doggett stops walking and faces Scully.
DOGGETT
Dana… you’re the most
incredible woman I’ve ever
had the chance to spend time
with. When I’m with you, I’m
the happiest I can ever remember being.SCULLY
(happy)
This is sounding like a
prologue to a marriage proposal.DOGGETT
Would you like to give us a try?
Scully opens her mouth to say “yes”, but SUDDENLY Mulder’s red convertible slides down the street and crashes right into a street light post. Scully and Doggett turn around to see what all the ruckus is. Diana Fowley angrily gets out of the car, slamming the door shut, Mulder scurries out as well. DIANA
God dammit, Fox! What the
Hell is wrong with you?! First
off, it’s snowing out and you
want to drive with the hood down
and then you squeal something
about ‘ohmygosh-it’sScully!’
and we’re doing a three-sixty
down the icy road!MULDER
Please forgive me. I wanted
to stop quickly to say happy
birthday to Scully.
Mulder points at Scully. Diana turns around, glaring at her. Mulder walks to Scully. Scully leans closer to John.
SCULLY
(to John/quiet)
My answer is yes, by the way.
She looks up at him, smiling. DOGGETT
(quiet)
I know.SCULLY
And let's never eat here again.Doggett smiles, it does seem that this restaurant is gaining a reputation for car crashes...
MULDER
Happy birthday Scully!
Mulder throws his arms around her and gives her a kiss on the cheek. Mulder smiles at her and then returns to Diana and they continue their bickering. Scully and Doggett share a look and then continue on their way back to his truck. Doggett unlocks the passenger-side door and helps Scully inside, then he goes around to get in.
DOGGETT
So is there anything you
want to do to end your
birthday on a high note?SCULLY
I think the high note
was having you asking me
out again, John. (smiles)
Actually, to be honest, I
don’t really feel up to
doing anything.DOGGETT
Aww… c’mon. There’s gotta
be something you want to do.SCULLY
(moody)
John, please understand that
I’m still getting used to
being back. I’m still not
sleeping very well and all I
want to do now is go home,
put on my pj’s and relax.
Doggett can’t argue with that. Who is he to say what she does or does not need to do in order to get back to a normal life? A few awkward seconds pass. SCULLY
I’m sorry. I didn’t mean
to snap at you like that.DOGGETT
I’m sorry too. I didn’t
mean to make it seem like
I was pressuring you
to do something else.
Doggett shifts his truck into drive and pulls out into traffic and heads back towards Scully’s apartment in Falls Church. DOGGETT
So are you going to go buy
a nice vase for the flowers
I got you?SCULLY
I may actually have one
somewhere in one of the boxes
I have yet to unpack.DOGGETT
I thought you said you’ve been
spending the past few days unpacking.
I didn’t think you had that many
boxes to go through.SCULLY
I don’t. Actually, I lied
when I said I’ve been unpacking.
Fact is I’m still living out
of boxes.
Doggett looks at her, why would she lie about something like that? SCULLY
It was a phony excuse for
why I hadn’t come by to see
you since I picked you up
at the airport. (beat) Are
you doing ok, or does it still
bother you?DOGGETT
I still have another couple
weeks of taking antibiotics.
I scheduled an appointment
around that time too.SCULLY
You’ll still want to be careful
you know, don’t move in a way
that may tear the stitches or
prevent the wound from healing properly.DOGGETT
You see, that’s why it’s a good thing
I know you, before I do something
I shouldn’t I think to myself that
if you were there with me, you’d be
telling me not to do it because
I’d hurt myself. So I stop.
They smile at each other.
DOGGETT
When I thought you were dead,
I didn’t handle it very well.
(beat) I uh… I fell back on an
old alcohol habit. It was only
once I remembered that you
were alive that I really got
serious about fighting the
problem because there was the
chance you could come back. I
didn’t want to have to deal with
that on top of working out the
thing we’ve got going here.
Scully looks at him surprised. That confession was out of nowhere.
SCULLY
(worried)
Are you still struggling
with the problem?
Doggett rubs the back of his neck. DOGGETT
I haven’t had a drink since
around the beginning of
September – five months now.
Brad thinks it’s been since
earlier than that, only because
I refused to drink in front of others.SCULLY
If you ever have another craving,
call me up instead of heading
out to buy a drink, ok?DOGGETT
I get cravings every now
and then, especially recently
with this injury. I typically
get the urge when I feel hopeless or useless.
Scully looks down at her hands. The light from a street lamp hits the silver bracelet she wears on her wrist – the bracelet John gave her for Christmas a little over a year ago.
SCULLY
You’re not useless, John.
Don’t ever think that.
Doggett takes his eyes off the road and looks at her.
SCULLY
The bracelet you gave me.
I haven’t taken it off since
the day you placed it on my
wrist. I think of you when
I look at it. (beat) It – you
gave me strength and hope
when I was at that place.
I don’t think I could have
survived without the thought of you…
Scully wipes a small tear from the corner of her eye. Doggett puts his eyes back on the road, he clears his throat. Scully has opened a door of opportunity for him to ask (again) what she’s been through. He wants to know so badly so that he can help her readjust to life outside of where she was held. DOGGETT
(hesitant)
I’ve been worried about you, Dana.SCULLY
What do you mean?DOGGETT
Since you’ve been back there’ve
been days where it’s as if you
were never gone, and there have
been times where you’re so distant
it’s as if you’re not here anymore.SCULLY
I’m fine. I’m just having
some difficulty readjusting
to life outside the facility.
(takes a deep breath) I still
wake up from nightmares about
things that happened to me, and
things that I saw and did.DOGGETT
What happened to you?
Scully is quiet. She should tell him that she was emotionally abused and raped on more than one occasion, but she does not want him to look at her as a victim. She feels she does not need his sympathy and understanding for what she’s been through, no matter how much she denies it. She knows that he wants to help her, but she cannot accept his help after all that she did to Monica – she is the one that needs the sympathy, care, love, and understanding. Monica, not her. SCULLY
I’d rather not talk about
this anymore, ok?DOGGETT
I’m sorry. I didn’t
mean to upset you.
In silence, Doggett continues driving to her new apartment. Scully stares out the window at the snow that is covering the ground. Only a year ago at this time her life was seemingly on its way to “happily ever after”, little did she know how much that would change in less than a year. Doggett comes to a stop outside her apartment building.
DOGGETT
I’ll walk you upstairs.
Scully is about to open the door to get out of the truck, but John stops her, holding her arm.
DOGGETT
Hold on just a second,
birthday girl.
He reaches behind his seat and pulls out an envelop and a wrapped prestent. He hands it to her.
SCULLY
You didn’t have to get me
a present, the flowers were enough.
She unwraps the present and tosses the wrapping paper to the floor.
DOGGETT
Not one for reading
cards first, are you?
Scully’s eyes go wide. SCULLY
Oh, I’m sorry. Is it
important to read the
card first?DOGGETT
Nah.
Scully looks down at the blank journal in her hand. It has a light purple hardback cover and an image of a puppy beagle sleeping among pink and red roses. Scully flips through the empty pages. She looks up at John.
SCULLY
A blank journal?
A smile creeps onto her face. DOGGETT
You don’t like it?SCULLY
No, I love it. I’m just
wondering how you knew
I’d like this.DOGGETT
You know all the boxes
I gave back to you that
Marita dropped off at my
place?SCULLY
Yeah.
Doggett rubs the back of his neck.
DOGGETT
I hope you don’t mind, but
I kind of went through some
of your things when I thought
you were dead. I noticed you
had several personal journals
so I figured you could use
a new one now that you’re back.
He points to the picture of the puppy on the cover.
DOGGETT
Buddy really liked the cover too.
Scully raises an eyebrow. SCULLY
You read through my journals?DOGGETT
I did. I know I shouldn’t have,
and I’m sorry. (beat) I thought
you were dead, and I wanted to
get to know you better than
I already had.
Scully looks away from him, slightly embarrassed. DOGGETT
Don’t worry. I didn’t
read everything.SCULLY
But still, you read it.
What do you remember?DOGGETT
What sticks out in my
mind the most were letters
you wrote to your husband
when you were a child.
Scully bursts out laughing. SCULLY
Yeah, I was a silly child.
(laughs) You remember that the most?DOGGETT
I especially enjoyed the
fact that way back when you
knew your husband wouldn’t
like the ocean.
Scully chuckles. SCULLY
Thank you for the journal, John.DOGGETT
I’m afraid of oceans.
Scully sits up straight. She can’t believe this. SCULLY
You’re kidding me! You
must not have ever seen
a beach or ocean in your
life. You’d love it.DOGGETT
I lived less than two
hours from South Padre
Island when I was a kid.
I’ve seen beaches before.
My aunt and uncle would
always take my brothers and
I out to the island. One year
we were out on a boat, watching
dolphins and I fell off. The
boat kept on going. I had to
swim to shore. “Jaws” had already
been in theatres and though we
were only about seven years old
at the time, Mon’ and I snuck
in to see it. (beat) Swimming
out in the Gulf was enough to
make my mind think I was going
to be eaten by a killer shark.
Ever since then, I’ve stayed
away from oceans.
Scully places her hand on his lap. SCULLY
Well… one of these days
I’ll find a way to get you
in an ocean.DOGGETT
I’d rather go bungee jumping.SCULLY
(playful, raises eyebrow)
That can be arranged.
Scully winks at him and gets out of the truck. Doggett follows her and they enter the apartment building, and start walking up the stairwell.
SCULLY
It doesn’t hurt you
to go up stairs, does it?
Scully is concerned about his injury. He’s holding his hand over his abdomen as they climb the stairs. DOGGETT
Go up and down them
everyday at home.SCULLY
When will you be back
at work? It’s been awkward
with being around Mulder, Diana
and Krycek without you there.DOGGETT
I start up again next Monday,
but I can’t go out in the field
until after I meet with the
doctor in a couple weeks.
Once up on the third floor and in front of Scully’s apartment door, they are quiet, wondering what to do or say next. So, Scully steps forward and wraps her arms around him, holding him close in a hug.
SCULLY
Thank you for helping
me have such a nice birthday.
Scully looks up at him and smiles. Doggett wonders – should he kiss her or should he not? He leans toward her, his mouth inching closer and closer to hers. Scully’s heart is racing. What should she do? Let him kiss her or tell him that she’s not comfortable with that right now? She doesn’t want to tell him “no”, she doesn’t want to hurt his feelings. She doesn’t want to make it look as if she’s not interested in him. Her heart hurts from the conflicting emotions she’s feeling inside. Tears threaten to fall from her eyes. She hates the way she’s reacting to something that should be so welcome and wanted in her life.
John’s lips touch hers and she quickly pulls away from him, and steps away, digging into her purse for her apartment keys. She finds them and unlocks the door, and without looking at him, keeping her head down she says:
SCULLY
(quiet)
Goodnight, John.
And then she shuts the door on him without an explanation of her reaction to his kiss. Inside, she leans her back up against the door and slides down to a sitting position on the floor. Tears stream down her face. God damn that black-lunged son-of-a-bitch. Though Krycek killed him, his presence and what he’s done to her now haunt her in her relationship with John Doggett. What he’s done to her will always be a part of her and can never die away as the bastard himself.
Outside, John can hear her crying. He hesitates to knock on her door to make sure she’s all right, but he does not. He quietly turns and walks away, sorry that he tried to kiss her, and hurting because she doesn’t want to help herself by talking to him or anyone about what continues to hurt her.
Doggett slowly heads down the stairs and back out to his car. He gets in and sits. He does not start the engine and does not leave. He glances up at the window that is Scully’s apartment. The lights have not been turned on, indicating to him that she’s still in tears, and all alone. Doggett lets out a heavy sigh and starts the engine of his truck and pulls out into traffic. He doesn’t know what more he can do to try to get her to open up to him. He knows it’s best to let Scully come to terms with what is bothering her on her own rather than to push her to cope with it sooner like he wishes she would do.
Doggett’s truck fades into the darkness of the night.
FADE OUT:
THE END.
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