Review By: Emma Keturah "You shouldn’t have blamed me for the plane crash, Brad. You should’ve blamed Mulder." - Krycek Say what!? Mulder caused the plane to crash!
Is this true or is Krycek just BS-ing everyone to get out of trouble?
Find out in this second installment of FRost (Fox & Rat Lost)
LOL... :P |
 |
Title: "Stranded II"
Written by: Kristi
Date: March 13,15,19, 2006
Air Date: March 20, 2006
Rating: PG
Series: FRVS - Episode #166
Spoilers: Past episodes of FRVS may be spoiled.
Feedback: We love it. There is a form at the bottom of this story that you can use to send us feedback. 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: The search for Monica continues, as worry hits Washington, D.C.
BLACKNESS:
Voices are muffled. Sense is distorted. Vision is blurred.
FADE IN:
INT. TEST ROOM – THE FACILITY
We are at the POV of someone under operating lights. We see a man we recognize as John Montgomery. He has a syringe in his hand and leans down closer to view and injects his test subject with a substance that feels like acid burning through the body.
JOHN MONTGOMERY
(muffled)
If this works, we’ll be saved.He looks down, into the eyes of his test subject. A serious expression on his face as he hopes his tests will work, even though he has doubts.
QUICK FLASH CUT TO:
INT. COLD CELL – THE FACILITY
The POV of the prisoner looks down to the ground, where an arm is laying, cut and bleeding. Small traces of blood trickle out of the person’s arm and onto the ground.
The cell door unlocks with a loud clank. This doesn’t even startle the person.
Dana Scully enters the room and quickly runs over to the person.
SCULLY
No.She looks into the person’s eyes with tears, wishing there was something she could do to erase everything that has happened.
QUICK FLASH CUT TO:
INT. AIRPORT
We are at the POV of someone being wheeled down to the terminal of an international airport. We stop and Knowle Rohrer bends down into frame, pulling the person into a hug. He says something we can’t hear and then pulls away. The faint words of “Till we meet again” can be heard from the woman in the wheel chair.
KNOWLE
Semper Fi – remember that.QUICK FLASH CUT TO:
INT. WARM, DAMP CAVERN
The sound of water trickling down the cave walls is heard. Three dark, tall figures stand in the background and turn to face the POV of the person. One of the dark figures comes over and leans down. The figure does not resemble human at all. It is an alien. It stares down into the person’s eyes.
ALIEN VOICE (V.O.)
(imitating human speech)
Semper Fi.It’s eyes pierce into the person’s and we hear her scream from whatever it is this alien is doing. We reverse out of the point of view of the person to see Monica scream in pain. The alien looks down at her. She is not strapped down, yet she cannot move at all.
QUICK CUT TO BLACK:
FADE IN:
EXT. BEACH – DAY
SUNDAY, JANUARY 15
Scully and Knowle are standing on the beach. Scully has finally gotten herself out of the first lesson of self-defense Knowle suddenly started her on in the previous episode.
KNOWLE
So what you do if someone
comes up behind you -He’s cut off by Mulder’s booming voice yelling out Monica’s name. Scully turns to face the other end of the beach.
SCULLY
What’s going on down there?KNOWLE
Don’t know. Let’s check it out.Knowle and Scully make their way down the beach to where Mulder, Krycek, Brad and Doggett are looking for Monica, who was taken away in the previous episode.
SCULLY
What’s going on?KRYCEK
Monica’s gone missing.BRAD
I’m guessing she decided to
take some sort of spiritualizing
journey into the jungle and
neglected to tell anyone about it.Scully notices Brad’s frustration. Knowle looks out into the ocean. The last he remembers, she was meditating on the sand.
SCULLY
I’m sure she’s all right.Knowle looks back at them.
KNOWLE
We’re sure she didn’t go
into the ocean?BRAD
She can’t swim.KNOWLE
I know, which is why
that worries me.SCULLY
I think you’re all
thinking worst case
scenario a little too
much here. (beat) I’m
sure she just went for
a walk or something.KNOWLE
And if she didn’t? And
she’s in some trouble,
then what?SCULLY
Then where would she go?KRYCEK
Somewhere quiet and peaceful?SCULLY
That’s a million places
on this island, you guys.Mulder and Doggett have joined them.
SCULLY
Let’s think about this before
we start thinking she’s drowned
to death. (beat) Does she have
a favorite flower that grows
on this island?BRAD
No. She loves daisies.SCULLY
What about fruit?KNOWLE
She has a knack for finding
fruit. Maybe she went to get some.DOGGETT
But we’ve all agreed not to
go anywhere without someone else.MULDER
I say we comb the jungle.
We all go in and look for her.KRYCEK
What if she’s down the beach?DOGGETT
No foot prints going
down that way.KNOWLE
And she didn’t pass Dana and
I down the other way.MULDER
Which leaves us with the jungle.BRAD
Or the ocean, as Knowle pointed out.Doggett turns and looks out into the ocean. He doesn’t see anything in the waves that resembles a human.
DOGGETT
I don’t think she’d go out
there. (beat) She can’t swim.KRYCEK
How come she can’t swim?BRAD
Because sometimes people can’t. (beat)
Is it really relevant right now?KRYCEK
(under his breath)
It could be.BRAD
But it’s not. (beat) What,
do you think, she swam off
the island to find a pack
of dolphins to help us?KRYCEK
No. I’m not saying that. I’m
saying that it is very possible
that she went into the water,
maybe just to stand and then
maybe she got knocked over by
a wave a drowned. (beat) Not
find a pack of dolphins. Geez!SCULLY
Enough you guys. Arguing
never helps any situation.They all stand in thought. Where the hell could she have gone?
MULDER
I still say we comb the jungle.KNOWLE
I agree. We spread out, but
keep in eye contact of each other.DOGGETT
Like when we look for evidence.MULDER
Exactly. (beat) So let’s stop
wasting time and go look for her.Mulder turns to lead the way into the jungle. The others follow.
TIME CUT TO:
INT. MULDER & KRYCEK’S APARTMENT BUILDING – HALLWAY
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA
SUNDAY, JANUARY 15
8:37 PMMarita Covarrubias knocks on the door of apartment 42. She’s wearing a tight black dress, with a low cut v-neck. Her hair is done up nicely and her make up is on. She stands for a beat, waiting for someone to answer the door. She knocks again when no one answers.
MARITA
(after a beat)
Alex? (beat) It’s Marita.NEIGHBOR (O.S.)
They’re gone.Marita turns to see a young man leaving the apartment down the hall from them.
MARITA
Do you know where they are?NEIGHBOR
Not sure.He locks up his apartment.
NEIGHBOR
They asked me to feed their
fish while they’re gone, they
said it would be for just the
weekend and they’d be back this
morning. (beat) They’re not here.Marita lets out a sigh. This is just unbelievable. She and Alex had a dinner date tonight and now he’s nowhere to be seen.
NEIGHBOR
Wish I could be more help.MARITA
It’s all right. Thank you.She walks off. What are they up to? Their cell phones are out of reach, and she hasn’t gotten a hold of anyone else who was on that trip. It just doesn’t make sense how they could just disappear. There has to be something she can do to get to the bottom of this. Maybe something the FBI could help with. After all, they are – for the most part – their own agents.
CUT TO:
EXT. APARTMENT HALLWAY – NIGHT
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Marita walks down the nice apartment hallway and stops in front of apartment number 475. She knocks on the door, and a few moments later Skinner answers, behind him are unpacked moving boxes. He smiles when he sees her, he wasn’t expecting her at all and especially not dressed this nice.
SKINNER
This is a pleasant surprise.MARITA
Alex and Mulder are missing.SKINNER
What?MARITA
I had a dinner date with Alex
tonight and their neighbor
told me that they aren’t back
yet. They were supposed to be
back this morning. (beat) I’m worried.Skinner moves to the side and allows Marita into his apartment so they can discuss the situation.
CUT TO:
INT. BACK HALF OF THE PLANE – THE BEACH – THAT NIGHT
Mulder, Krycek, Doggett, Scully, Brad and Knowle have huddled into the shelter of the plane wreckage as another rain storm pounds down on them. Doggett holds Scully in his arms to keep warm.
BRAD
With this rain, it’s sure
to erase any trace of her.MULDER
We searched all day, except for
meal breaks. (beat) We found nothing.KRYCEK
(frustrated)
How can she just disappear
without a trace? It just
doesn’t add up. Something’s
not right on this island.Mulder looks at him. Does he know something?
BRAD
If you say anything about alien
abductions I’m going to kill you.KRYCEK
You mentioned it. Not me. (beat)
What if there are aliens on this island?Krycek speaks seriously, despite being surrounded by skeptics.
KRYCEK
(re: the skeptic looks)
I’m serious. I know things
because I work for a secret
shadowy government group thing.BRAD
(doubtful)
“Group thing”? (beat) Please,
Krycek, give it a rest.MULDER
(interested)
Let him tell his theory.SCULLY
(to Brad)
By “group thing” he means
a group called The Syndicate.KRYCEK
That’s right. Now hear me out.
(beat) Aliens are among us.
They’ve been here for decades,
studying us. They want to
re-colonize our planet-BRAD
(this is B.S.)
-“Re-colonize”?KRYCEK
Yes. (beat) They’re everywhere.
In our space, in our oceans,
under our ice blocks of Antarctica.
(beat) It’s very likely that we
have crashed onto one of their
islands in the ocean. (beat) I
don’t know for sure, but it could
be a headquarters of sorts.BRAD
(doubtful)
Yet you don’t know for sure.KRYCEK
I’m serious.BRAD
There is no shadowy government.
There are no aliens. There is
not going to be an alien invasion-KRYCEK
-Monica was taken to that Facility
where she was tested on because of
alien colonization plans. She’s immune to
their virus or something. (beat) Stop
being so anal because I know you were told
this by the scientist who worked on her.Mulder listens on with intense interest. He knew there had to be something with this island.
KRYCEK
We are not alone...He looks at Scully for back up.
SCULLY
(after a long beat)
He could be right. But even-BRAD
-You believe that crap?SCULLY
It’s true what he’s saying. (beat)
Though I’ve never heard of anything
like alien headquarters on islands.KRYCEK
Warm climates. They grow faster
in warm climates. We could be
on one of their islands. I’m serious.BRAD
(sarcastic)
Oh and I guess these aliens have
found a way to make our winter
warmer than usual, right?KRYCEK
Exactly.Scully feels Doggett take a deep sigh. He’s not too sure about any of this either. It will take the sky falling for him to believe in aliens.
DOGGETT
Look, we’re all exhausted. We’ve
been working for hours on this.
I think we need to let our minds
rest so we can think clearly tomorrow.Krycek nods in agreement, he’s exhausted.
MULDER
(worried)
But what about Monica?DOGGETT
We rest on it for now.Knowle looks up. He’s not one who’s going to give up.
MULDER
But I’m worried for her.
She’s out alone in the dark.DOGGETT
It’s not safe out there in
the dark, and in this rain.
We sleep it off tonight and
then try again in the morning.KRYCEK
And what if we never find her?DOGGETT
I don’t know. But we need our rest.They all agree, though some are reluctant inside. Everyone lies down, covered in airplane blankets to keep warm the best they can.
Doggett’s arm wraps around Scully to keep her warm. He kisses the back of her neck and shuts his eyes. Scully on the other hand can’t sleep. Her mind is filled with worry for Monica. She has a feeling their search tomorrow will be another dead end. They’ve searched all possible places... well, all close proximity places. No one has ventured beyond the “comfort zone”. With no sign of Monica, she fears that they will give up looking for her. Give up on Monica, in a similar way to how her family gave up on her when she was lost. Not physically lost, but lost in herself and the demons her life has put her through. Demons like Scott Williams, her sexually abusive boyfriend in high school. She doesn’t want to give up on Monica, but without any traces of her there’s nothing they can do.
She stares out the back of the plane for a long time, watching the rain pour down, lighten up and eventually stop. She’s about to shut her eyes when she sees Knowle get up and leave the plane. She quietly sits up, making sure not to disturb John’s sleep. She follows him and sees that he’s making his way towards the jungle.
He has to be searching for Monica and feeling the same way she is about this situation. She quietly goes back into the plane and grabs the bag she carried with her during the day that is filled with water and other search and rescue necessities. She quietly leaves the plane area and follows Knowle into the jungle.
TIME CUT TO:
EXT. JUNGLE – THREE HOURS LATER
Scully follows Knowle through the dark. He is unaware that she is in there with him, following him. He stops, as does she, not sure to how he will react to knowing that she followed him. She senses that he’s protective of her, whether or not he’ll admit it. Her following and not letting him know is dangerous, especially if something were to happen to her. She watches him look around in the dark, their eyes have adjusted to the low light of the moon. He sets his stuff down and begins to build a fire. She quietly creeps up to where he is and watches him. He gets the fire built and pulls out a guitar. She watches him with wonder. A guitar?
He starts to play the opening notes of Johnny Cash’s “Sam Hall”.
KNOWLE
(singing)
Well, my name it is Sam Hall, Sam Hall.
Yes, my name it is Sam Hall; it is Sam Hall.
My name it is Sam Hall an' I hate you, one and all.
An' I hate you, one and all:
Damn your eyes.Scully can’t help but smile as he belts out the words to the song.
KNOWLE
I killed a man, they said; so they said.
I killed a man, they said; so they said.
I killed a man, they said an' I smashed in his head.
An' I left him layin' dead,
Damn his eyes.Scully makes her way over to his small campsite.
KNOWLE
(singing)
But a-swingin', I must go; I must go.
A-swingin', I must go; I must go.
A-swingin', I must go while you critters down below,
Yell up: "Sam, I told you so."
Well, damn your eyes!She makes her way into the light of the campfire, she can’t help but smile at Knowle and his singing.
KNOWLE
(singing)
I saw Molly in the crowd; in the crowd.SCULLY
What are you doing?Knowle looks up at her, shocked to see her standing before him.
KNOWLE
I’m singin’. What the hell
are you doing here?He certainly wasn’t expecting her to follow him.
SCULLY
I followed you.KNOWLE
I thought everyone was asleep.SCULLY
They were. But I wasn’t.
(beat) What are you doing?KNOWLE
I’m not giving up on Monica. (beat)
I don’t leave anyone behind.Scully sits next to him and looks into the fire.
SCULLY
I’m not giving up on her either.She looks over at him.
SCULLY
(after a beat)
I think it’s a little crazy
to go out in the middle of
the night to look for her.KNOWLE
She could be in trouble. I
couldn’t sleep knowing that
so I thought I’d take my
restlessness and turn it
into some progress.SCULLY
We’re pretty deep into the jungle.
(beat) Do you have any idea where
you are going?KNOWLE
Not really. I’m going with my gut.Scully nods her head. She can understand that. Mulder usually solved x-files with a hunch, which is the same thing as using one’s gut instinct.
SCULLY
(after a beat)
You love her, don’t you?She looks over at him, hoping to catch him off guard.
KNOWLE
Of course I do. (beat) She’s
one of my greatest friends.Scully nods her head.
SCULLY
I understand. (beat) You remind
me a lot of how John was when
I first met him.Knowle starts to set his guitar down, anticipating “story time with Dana Scully”. She stops him.
SCULLY
Oh please, don’t stop on my
account. (beat) I’m sure you
know some instrumental pieces
that could calm this eerie silence.She smiles at him and he gives her a look. After a short beat, he puts his guitar back into position and starts to play a quiet, soothing Spanish guitar piece.
SCULLY
You play beautifully.Knowle doesn’t comment.
SCULLY
(after a beat)
Anyway... I was saying that you
remind me a lot of how John was
when I first met him. (beat) I
could tell he liked me and wanted
to ask me out. Unfortunately for
the both of us, I was engaged to
Walter Skinner at the time.She looks into the fire.
SCULLY
John respected that, despite
his feelings for me. (beat)
After Walter and I broke things
off - Walter cheated on me -
John respected the time it would
take to heal from a bad break up.She looks over at him.
SCULLY
(after a beat)
Much like how you are respecting
Monica’s relationship with Brad.Knowle stops playing for a short beat, but doesn’t look at her. Scully lets a small smile form as she knows she’s right.
SCULLY
You don’t know how rare it
is to find a man in this
world who will have that much
respect for a woman despite
his own feelings.Knowle continues playing, his way of avoiding the conversation. Scully watches him.
They sit without talking for a couple minutes. Knowle plays quietly on his guitar and Scully listens.
SCULLY
(after a beat)
Why on the count of two?Knowle looks up at her.
KNOWLE
What?SCULLY
When you pulled me from
my death on the ledge,
you said “on the count of
two”. (beat) Usually it’s three.KNOWLE
People hesitate on three.Scully listens and he sets his guitar down and places it in it’s case.
KNOWLE
That small breath between
two and three could kill you.
(beat) There’s enough time
for the mind to think and the
body to hesitate. (beat) When
prepping for the count of three,
the adrenaline starts to rush on two.Knowle shrugs his shoulders and looks over at her.
KNOWLE
It’s just something I do.SCULLY
You pull people off ledges often?Scully smiles at him in a joking way.
KNOWLE
(serious)
In a time of war, every second counts.He looks at her seriously for a beat, then looks away.
KNOWLE
We should rest.He goes across the way from her and lies down. Scully watches him for a beat, then pulls a blanket out of her bag. She places her bag where her head will go and lies down, covering herself with the blanket to keep warm.
SCULLY
Wake me up before you leave, please.Knowle looks over at her and nods his head.
TIME CUT TO:
INT. J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING – KERSH’S OFFICE – DAY
FBI HEADQUARTERS
WASHINGTON, D.C.
MONDAY, JANUARY 16Alvin Kersh looks through a thick document as he sits at his desk. His mind gets distracted for a moment and his eyes look over at a framed photo of his family. His wife, Linda, looks so happy with their three children, Steven, Michael and Laura. The photo reminds him of better times. He lingers on them for a moment and then his eyes fall, resting on his bare finger where a wedding ring used to be.
A knock on his office door interrupts him. He clears his throat.
KERSH
Come in.Skinner opens the door and walks into Kersh’s office.
SKINNER
Do you have a moment, sir?KERSH
Of course, Assistant Director,
what can I do for you?SKINNER
I’m not sure if you are aware
or not, but agents Follmer,
Doggett, Mulder, and Scully
are not in the office today.
(beat) I know they were going
on a small weekend vacation and
should have been back yesterday.Kersh nods his head.
KERSH
Yes, Brad just got his pilot’s
license and wanted to take them
on a small trip to Florida.SKINNER
They never came back.KERSH
Oh?SKINNER
You see, sir, I’m worried
because Brad has not been
a pilot for years and doesn’t
have experience. (beat) I’m
just worried that maybe
something happened to them.KERSH
There have been no reports of
a private plane crashing anywhere.Skinner looks at Kersh, he doesn’t even seem worried that they aren’t there. Skinner nods his head. He won’t get anywhere with Alvin.
SKINNER
(after a beat)
Sorry to bother you, sir.Kersh nods his head and returns his attention back to the document he was reading.
INT. FBI HALLWAY – CONTINUOUS
Skinner leaves Kersh’s office and walks down the hallway. He’s frustrated with this situation. How is it that no one but him is worried for the others. Of course, they have to be missing for a certain amount of time before it can be deemed a missing person’s case. But for god’s sake, they are FBI agents. Some of their own.
He walks right by Kim Cook, and doesn’t even notice her. She watches him head down the hallway a few steps.
KIM
(hesitant)
Assistant Director?Skinner stops walking and turns to face her, surprised she’s even talking to him.
SKINNER
Yes?KIM
You talked to him about
the missing agents, right?Skinner looks at her suspiciously. How does she know?
SKINNER
Yes, I did.KIM
I think I may know of
something that could
help you.Skinner approaches her. What could she possibly know?
SKINNER
What is it?KIM
Mulder was telling me of a
theory he has about aliens
hiding in our oceans. (beat)
He even opened an x-file for
it, but didn’t tell any of
his agents because he’s scared
of that Agent Harrison.SKINNER
What did he say?KIM
He didn’t give details,
but I’m sure the x-file
is in his office. (beat)
I just don’t have the keys.Skinner looks at her for a beat, then down the hall to make sure no one is listening in.
SKINNER
(quiet)
That used to be my office.KIM
(quiet)
You don’t happen to still
have the keys, do you?Skinner pulls out a key ring and isolates a key to show her.
CUT TO:
INT. A.D. MULDER’S OFFICE – CONTINUED
Skinner and Kim enter Mulder’s office. The office is neatly organized, much to their surprise.
SKINNER
Where would he keep this file?KIM
Probably in his desk.SKINNER
Let me guess, the locked drawer?Skinner goes over to Mulder’s desk and checks all the drawers. He doesn’t find the file. He looks at the locked drawer and sighs. It has to be in there.
Kim looks at Mulder’s desk and sees a little glass with a key in it. She winces. He wouldn’t leave the desk key out in the open, would he? She picks up the key and hands it to Skinner.
KIM
Try this.Skinner looks up and takes the key. Sure enough, it opens the desk drawer.
SKINNER
I should tell him about office
security and how leaving the
key to the locked drawer on the
desk is not a very bright idea.KIM
Especially for this division.Skinner nods his head and digs through the desk drawer.
SKINNER
(after a beat)
It’s not in here.He looks up at her and sits back in Mulder’s chair.
SKINNER
Would he take it with him?KIM
I don’t know.SKINNER
If he were going in the area
described in the x-file, then
he probably would pack it.Skinner thinks for a moment.
KIM
Maybe the location is on his calendar?Skinner raises an eyebrow. He might have marked where he’s going. He leans forward and looks at Mulder’s calendar. It’s still marked with red ink for the sixth and seventh of January and the “Super Buddies Reunion Adventure”. Nothing else is marked on January.
Skinner shows her his calendar.
SKINNER
Guess he has his priorities.Kim lets out a sigh.
KIM
Where ever they were going,
Mulder didn’t want anyone
to know what he knew.Skinner nods in agreement and looks up at her.
SKINNER
(after a beat)
So... are you doing anything tonight?
(beat) We could go our for dinner.Kim looks at him, not amused that he’s asking her out at a time like this.
CUT TO:
EXT. BEACH – DAY
Mulder and Krycek stand as if they are soldiers standing at attention for their General. In this case, Mulder and Krycek’s General is pissed.
DOGGETT
(mad, yelling)
Where the hell is she?!Mulder and Krycek stand with guilty looks on their faces, which is stupid because they have nothing to feel guilty about. Brad stands off to the side, watching this.
DOGGETT
DON’T JUST STAND THERE
WITH CONSTIPATED LOOKS
ON YOUR LITTLE FACES!
(beat) WHERE IS SHE?!KRYCEK
(amused)
She and Knowle are
having a love affair.Doggett gives him one hell of a mean glare and goes up in his face as if he were Krycek’s evil drill sergeant.
DOGGETT
YOU FIND THIS AMUSING?!KRYCEK
Sir, I do, sir! (beat) I have
a sex radar and I sense it.Krycek puts his hand on top of his head and starts to turn with a humming noise as if imitating his “sex radar”.
DOGGETT
(pissed)
WE HAVE NOW LOST THREE
PEOPLE ON THIS ISLAND
AND YOU FIND THIS FUNNY?!Brad steps forward.
BRAD
John, they don’t know anything.
They were only looking guilty
to piss us off.Doggett turns to face Brad, he’s still mad, but tries to calm himself.
DOGGETT
Then where is she? Where is he?
How could they just disappear
during the middle of the night?KRYCEK
I’m tellin’ you, it’s a love affair.MULDER
(trying to help Doggett)
Or aliens. I’m sure she’s not
having an affair with Knowle.KRYCEK
Yeah, that’s right. Because
Knowle loves Monica.Krycek smirks at Brad.
DOGGETT
It’s not aliens. There is
no love affair-MULDER
-Maybe they went off during
the night to continue searching
for Monica. (beat) You know, they
were too worried and couldn’t sleep.Mulder shrugs his shoulders. He’s just guessing.
Doggett lets out a long sigh and sits down on the beach. He places his head in his hands in defeat.
DOGGETT
(quiet, worried)
Where could she be?Mulder sees how hard this is on him. He knows John doesn’t want to lose Scully again. He sits down next to him and puts his arm around him to comfort him.
MULDER
There, there. It’s all right.
It’s ok. We’ll find her. (beat)
Don’t give up. She’s strong and
if she and Knowle went off to
look for Monica in the dead of
the night, then I’m sure they’ll
find her. (beat) And I’m sure Knowle
will keep Scully safe. I just know it.Doggett looks up at him.
MULDER
They wouldn’t have left if it were dangerous.
(beat) You have to believe. Believe
in Scully, in Knowle, and in Monica.
(beat) But most importantly, believe
that they will all come back.Mulder smiles at him.
MULDER
(cheerful, after a beat)
I believe.He hugs Doggett. Krycek rolls his eyes.
MULDER
Remember: Love and
friendship conquers all.Krycek shakes his head. Why doesn’t he just bring back Super Buddies?
DOGGETT
What do we do?MULDER
We go on with our day. (beat)
If they wanted us to worry
about them, they would’ve let
us know they were going. (beat)
They want us to carry on.KRYCEK
How do you know?MULDER
(overly confident)
I just do.Mulder smiles at them and gets up from the sand. He dusts himself off, not realizing that he’s dusted sand into Doggett’s face.
MULDER
Now, if you will all excuse me,
I’m going to go sink in the sand
and think about some things for a bit.Mulder walks off and goes to stand where the waves from the ocean can hit his feet. Brad, Krycek and Doggett watch him for a moment and shrug their shoulders.
KRYCEK
I wonder what he could possibly
think about... while... sinking?Off Krycek’s confused look of Mulder “sinking”...
CUT TO:
EXT. JUNGLE – DAY
Scully and Knowle are making their way in an uphill direction. Ahead of them, the jungle thins out and a clearing can be seen. They continue on, leaving the jungle and walking into the clearing. Nothing is ahead of them, except the top of the island, which looks out over the island and is very high up.
SCULLY
We’re going there, aren’t we?KNOWLE
Could be a good place to hide.SCULLY
You think she’s hiding?KNOWLE
Not sure. I do know it’s
likely that she ran away from
something. (beat) She’s been
known to do that in the past.SCULLY
(knowing)
New Orleans.KNOWLE
Right. (beat) I’m not sure what
or who she’d be running away from,
or even if she is. (beat) Another
theory could be she was taken. If
what Krycek said is right and this
could be an alien inhabited island,
Monica’s special. Maybe they took her.SCULLY
She is naturally immune to their virus.
(beat) It’s an idea. That’s if Krycek’s
right. If he’s not, maybe she’s running
from Brad. (beat) You think?Knowle gives her a questioning look.
SCULLY
You can’t tell me you haven’t
noticed the tension between them.Knowle doesn’t comment. It could be that she’s running from Brad. Especially after Brad got into a fight with Krycek. Monica was bothered by that. Maybe she knew Brad told him to stay out of her life and she feels he’s too controlling of her.
SCULLY
(re: his silence)
You’ve noticed too, huh?KNOWLE
(after a beat)
Yeah.Scully nods her head, glad it’s not just her seeing it.
KNOWLE
(after a beat)
There seem to be some caves
up in there. We should check
them out. You think?SCULLY
Do we have anything to defend
ourselves? I mean, if we are
dealing with aliens, they are
much stronger than you and I combined.They start to walk towards the caves that are high up on the island.
KNOWLE
A couple months ago, I did
some snooping at The Pentagon
and found some files about this
alien colonization that Krycek
brought up.Scully listens.
KNOWLE (CON’T)
I read that a way to kill them
is to puncture the base of their
neck with something called a stiletto.SCULLY
You have one on you?KNOWLE
No, I don’t. But maybe a
knife could do the same-He stops talking when he sees Scully shaking her head.
KNOWLE
What?SCULLY
I don’t know why, but it has
to be done with a stiletto.
A knife or a bullet won’t do it.KNOWLE
Then we’re screwed and who
knows what they could do to Monica.SCULLY
But we’re not thinking right.
(beat) We’re automatically thinking
aliens. (beat) There could be other
people stranded on this island,
like that one TV show. They could
be deranged and could have taken Monica.KNOWLE
That’s assuming that we’re not
alone on this island.SCULLY
All we can do is assume. We
have no proven facts.Knowle nods his head in agreement as they continue on their way towards the top of the island.
CUT TO:
EXT. BEACH – ONE HOUR LATER
Doggett, Brad and Krycek are sitting in the sand cleaning fish for a meal. Mulder quickly walks by them and heads into the jungle.
BRAD
What’s he doing?KRYCEK
I hope he’s not going to
get himself kidnapped by
aliens too.DOGGETT
I’ll go see what he’s up to.KRYCEK
Good. He seemed a little
too determined about something.Doggett gets up and heads towards the jungle where Mulder was making his way. He looks around the jungle, not finding him right away.
DOGGETT
Mulder?He doesn’t get an answer, just a grunting noise. Doggett looks around in the direction that the grunt came from and sees a bamboo tree moving back and forth.
DOGGETT
(unsure)
Mulder?There is a crack noise and suddenly, the bamboo tree starts to fall.
MULDER
TIMBER!!The tree smacks the ground and Mulder comes into view.
DOGGETT
What are you doing?MULDER
I’m getting bamboo, what does
it look like I’m doing?DOGGETT
Why?MULDER
You’ll see. It’s a surprise.Doggett eyes him suspiciously.
MULDER
Move along. I don’t want you
to have the surprise spoiled.
(beat) Trust me. I have Mulder Luck.Doggett watches him for another beat then leaves the jungle.
Doggett sits back down with Brad and Krycek. Krycek is digging through a backpack with an alien head stitched onto it.
BRAD
Well?DOGGETT
He cut down a bamboo tree and
then said it was for a surprise.KRYCEK
(looking up from bag)
He’s probably going to make
huts like on “Gilligan’s Island”.
(beat) He’s obsessed with that show.Doggett picks up the fish he was cleaning before he went to find Mulder. Krycek continues to dig through the bag, pulling out an x-file folder. He cocks his eyebrow and opens it.
KRYCEK
(sudden realization)
Guys... I think blame was put
on the wrong person for this.Doggett and Brad look up at him.
KRYCEK
You shouldn’t have blamed me
for the plane crash, Brad.
(dramatic beat) You should’ve
blamed Mulder.Krycek holds up the x-file case file he found in Mulder’s bag.
BRAD
What is that?KRYCEK
A case file. X-file of course.DOGGETT
What’s it about?KRYCEK
I think it’s about this island.
(beat) There are coordinates and
according to a map he has, it
could be this island.Brad and Doggett come over to him and he points to the map he has.
KRYCEK
(dramatic)
Mulder knew this would happen.All three of them look up and see Mulder hauling bamboo off to a spot away from them on the beach.
Doggett shakes his head. He can’t believe this.
DOGGETT
No way. There’s no way Mulder
would risk all of us for-KRYCEK
-For proof of alien life? (beat)
I think he would. (beat) Think
about it. Why else was he so
persistent about coming on this
trip? It certainly wouldn’t be for
women in bikinis, like why I came.Krycek looks at them with all seriousness.
KRYCEK
It would be for aliens.They look at him, wanting to hear more.
KRYCEK
(after a beat)
This file... It describes an
island where aliens have been
hiding out, waiting for the time
to attack us, when the time comes
to re-colonize our Earth.BRAD
So what you were saying about
alien hideouts on islands...KRYCEK
This proves my theory to be sound.DOGGETT
Actually, it doesn’t prove anything.
The whole purpose of any case file is to
prove or disprove what’s in the file. We
haven’t done that at all. (beat)
We’re just stranded on this island.KRYCEK
Yeah, but stranded because of what?Off of Krycek’s dramatic look, we...
CUT TO:
INT. WARM, DAMP CAVERN - DAY
Monica is still lying down in this damp, dark cavern, unable to move. Her eyes look over towards the other end of the cavern, where one alien stands with it’s back to her. Monica shuts her eyes, trying to beat this mind warfare and break out. She focuses all her energy onto her breathing, making sure not to have a thought enter her mind or else it could be the end of her plan to escape.
She feels her finger move and she opens her eyes, looking over at the alien, it’s back still to her. She focuses on moving and a few moments later she has broken through their mind hold on her. She carefully and quietly gets up, still not allowing thought to enter her mind. If she wants to escape, she’ll have to go with all action and no thought.
Her eyes dart over to the opening of the cavern. She can barely see sunlight. She looks over at the alien, who has not noticed her yet. She carefully moves towards the opening of the cavern, just as the alien turns to see her.
With a loud screeching sound, the alien forcefully attacks her. It’s claws grow into attack position and claw her on her side, causing her to fall in pain. She lets out a scream, trying to get up and escape.
For whatever reason they want her, they won’t let her escape easily. She’ll have to put up a good fight for what she wants.
FLASHBACK CUT TO:
INT. APARTMENT – WASHINGTON, D.C. – MORNING
AUGUST 15, 1998
SATURDAYMonica Reyes walks down the lit hallway, a bag hanging over her shoulder. She stands in front of a door and holds up her hand to knock, but stops with slight hesitation. She looks up and down the hallway, just as an old woman leaves her apartment and smiles at her. The smile eases Monica and she knocks on the apartment door. Footsteps are heard from inside and a moment later, Knowle Rohrer opens the door, holding a mug of coffee in his hand.
He looks surprised to see her.
KNOWLE
Monica?He can tell something is wrong just by the look on her face.
MONICA
(trying to hide what’s bothering her)
Can I come in?KNOWLE
Of course.He moves to the side and she enters his apartment.
INT. KNOWLE’S APARTMENT – CONTINUOUS
The apartment has boxes laying around, no curtains, allowing the morning sunlight to shine in. He has obviously just moved into this apartment.
Monica sets her bag down on the ground. Knowle watches her.
KNOWLE
Everything all right?MONICA
No.She turns to face him.
MONICA
(explaining)
I just left Brad. I couldn’t
go on like that anymore. (beat)
I got a transfer to New Orleans,
and didn’t want to stay in New
York anymore. (beat) I hope it-KNOWLE
(knowing)
It’s no problem. Of course
you can stay here.Monica takes in a deep breath, keeping in her emotions. She smiles.
MONICA
(relieved)
Thanks.Knowle nods his head.
KNOWLE
Need to talk about it?They go into his unpacked kitchen. Monica takes a seat on a barstool, sitting at the counter. Knowle goes over and pours Monica some coffee. She takes it and holds the warm mug between her hands.
MONICA
I couldn’t take it anymore.KNOWLE
Hiding the relationship?MONICA
Not just that. It seemed that
any time we’d get together it
would have to be at work because
he was too busy to do anything
outside of the office. (beat)
He put work before our relationship.
It’s like I wasn’t a priority at
all, you know? (beat) Besides, I
don’t want to be known as the FBI slut.KNOWLE
You’re not a slut, Mon’.MONICA
I was sleeping with my superior.KNOWLE
Do you feel bad about that?MONICA
Yes.KNOWLE
Then you’re not a slut. (beat)
A slut is someone who wouldn’t
feel remorse for sleeping with
a superior and is probably banging
other people on the side.He looks at her as he drinks his coffee.
KNOWLE
How did he take you breaking
up with him?MONICA
I guess all right. He wasn’t
happy with it though.KNOWLE
He understood why, right?MONICA
Not sure.Knowle nods his head.
KNOWLE
When do you go to New Orleans?MONICA
I have to be there by Wednesday.KNOWLE
That’s pretty quick for a transfer.MONICA
I put in for it a month ago.
(beat) Going through D.C. of course.
I didn’t want Brad to know. I
didn’t know how to tell him I
didn’t want to be in a relationship
like that anymore.KNOWLE
You know what I think?MONICA
What?KNOWLE
You need to stop dating
people you work with.MONICA
I’ve only dated Brad.KNOWLE
Yeah, I know. But he’s also
the first boss you ever had.MONICA
You’re saying I’ve already
started out on the wrong foot?Knowle shrugs.
MONICA
Why else do you think I’m
going to New Orleans? (beat)
It’ll be great to start fresh.Knowle nods his head.
KNOWLE
What about teaching? In college
you always wanted to teach.Monica looks down at her coffee.
KNOWLE
Running away doesn’t solve problems.
You need to follow your heart, Mon’.
(beat) I know why you went into law
enforcement. (beat) You followed
John, myself, and Brad. (beat) Why not
go down your own path of life? Why
not do what you want to do?Monica looks up at him. He doesn’t need to say what he’s meaning. “And look where it’s gotten you now”.
KNOWLE
Don’t do what makes others happy
in life. (beat) Make yourself happy.He looks at her for a beat and sets his mug down.
KNOWLE
My place is a bit of a mess.
I’ll clean it a bit so you
have a nice place to stay before
you head off to New Orleans.Monica nods her head. Knowle walks by her, stopping behind her and placing his hands on her shoulders, giving them a good squeeze to help relieve tension. He gives her a kiss on the top of her head and walks off. Monica turns to watch him for a beat as he fixes up his apartment a bit. She turns back to her coffee mug.
She’s never really given her own life thought. She’s always done what others wanted to do with their lives, but never thought about what would make her happy. It’s sad that he had to tell her this when she should’ve known it herself. In college, Knowle tried to tell her to do what she wanted. She did, for a year, then decided to follow Brad to become a FBI agent.
She lets out a sigh. If only she listened to Knowle sooner...
TIME CUT TO:
INT. KNOWLE’S APARTMENT – THAT NIGHT
Monica lies in Knowle’s bed, staring up at the ceiling. She’s been awake for a while, despite telling Knowle she was tired and was going to sleep. She’s been pondering what really makes her happy. Perhaps he is right and she shouldn’t continue with the FBI. Has she ever really been happy there? No. She’s started off on the wrong foot to begin with, but it’s all she knows.
She looks out the open door and sees Knowle lie down on his couch to sleep for the night.
She gets up and goes out into the living room, where Knowle is sleeping. She goes over to the couch and sits on it. He looks up at her.
KNOWLE
Need something?Monica doesn’t say anything and leans down and kisses him. She pulls away and looks at him for a beat, sensing that the kiss wasn’t unwanted. She crawls on top of him and kisses him again, her hands going under his shirt. He kisses her too, growing with passion. His hands touch her back, slowly and gently making his way to her chest and unbuttoning her shirt. He kisses her bare skin. She lifts his shirt, and he lifts his arms and takes off his shirt. She kisses him once again, while moving down to remove his pants. With each kiss they grow in passion. He maneuvers their bodies so he is on top of her. Their minds telling them this is right, this is what they want.
SMASH CUT TO:
EXT. THE ISLAND – NIGHT
Knowle’s eyes pop open as he feels Scully shake him awake.
SCULLY
(freaked out)
Knowle. I heard something.He sits up and looks around the dark, open wilderness.
KNOWLE
What is it?SCULLY
Footsteps.Knowle gets up and grabs his knife.
SCULLY
They were coming from over there.Scully points in the direction they were heading towards: the caves.
KNOWLE
How many?SCULLY
I don’t know. (beat) You got
something I can use for defense?KNOWLE
In my bag. A knife.Scully nods her head and goes over to his bag. Knowle starts to make his way in the direction Scully heard the footsteps. He is cautious, looking in all directions with his eyes.
Suddenly, he is attacked from behind. The knife falling out of his hands. He flips the attacker over onto their back and sees that it is Monica. She throws a punch at him, missing him. He grabs her arms and holds her down so she doesn’t hurt herself or anyone else.
Scully runs over to them.
KNOWLE
Monica! It’s Knowle!She doesn’t seem to hear him and tries to get away from his hold.
KNOWLE
Monica, look at me.She shuts her eyes, tears fall down her face. Scully kneels down next to them.
SCULLY
Monica?Scully looks her over.
SCULLY
Knowle, she’s bleeding.Scully looks at Monica’s torso and sees that her clothing has been ripped. Monica’s eyes open again.
MONICA
It’s not theirs to take.
None of this is!She tries to break free once again.
Scully looks at Monica.
SCULLY
Monica, it’s Dana. Dana Scully.
(beat) Look at me. You’re safe.Monica looks over at her, becoming aware of where she is. She looks up at Knowle.
KNOWLE
Talk to me, Monica. Do
you know who I am?MONICA
I couldn’t let them take it.
(beat) It’s not theirs.KNOWLE
Do you know who we are?She starts to cry. Knowle lets go of her, sensing that she’s no longer a threat. She wraps her arms around him.
MONICA
I know you.Scully watches on with worry.
SCULLY
We should look her over.Knowle nods his head and picks her up, carrying her over to their campsite so Scully can check her over in the light from the fire.
SCULLY
Put her down here.Knowle sets Monica down and Scully gets her bag, pulling out a first aid kit. She lifts Monica’s ripped shirt and sees four deep claw marks on her side.
SCULLY
Oh my god, what happened?MONICA
Tried to stop me, but
I wouldn’t let them.Scully starts to clean the wound. Knowle looks her over, seeing her arms have deep cuts near the veins.
KNOWLE
Dana...Scully looks up and he signals down to her arms. She starts to think the worst. Remembering back to a dark time in both their lives...
SCULLY
Clean and bandage that.Scully, like a doctor, goes back to cleaning the torso wound. Knowle nods his head.
MONICA
(to Scully)
It’s not me. It wasn’t me.Scully looks at her for a beat.
MONICA
Don’t think that, please.
(beat) I didn’t do this.SCULLY
Be still, Monica.Monica looks away from Scully, tears welling in her eyes again.
MONICA
(upset)
I don’t want this!She sits up quickly, wanting to get away, almost hurting herself more.
SCULLY
Monica-MONICA
-NO! You can’t hold me! I
don’t want this any more!
You don’t control me!She tries to stand up, but Knowle stops her.
KNOWLE
(concerned)
Monica...She leans into him, trying to stay away from Scully as much as she can.
MONICA
(quiet)
I don’t want it. I don’t want
the tests. I don’t need to be
cut in my brain and asked
me what I feel! I don’t want
someone controlling me!She wraps her arms around him.
KNOWLE
You’re hurt Monica-MONICA
-No! I don’t want her to.
Don’t let her hurt me again.Knowle looks up at Scully, who stands by watching with concern.
MONICA
I don’t want to.KNOWLE
(comforting)
I can do it. I’m sorry, but
either way you need medical-MONICA
-Only you.Knowle nods his head.
KNOWLE
All right. I’m going to need
you to lie down again, ok?MONICA
Don’t restrain me.KNOWLE
I’m not going to.MONICA
I don’t want the cold cell.
I don’t want it and I
shouldn’t be punished to it.KNOWLE
No one’s going to punish you.She pulls away from him and lies down. She doesn’t look at Scully.
MONICA
This life is punishment.KNOWLE
This isn’t punishment.MONICA
When you live life with a curse,
then you can say that. I never
wanted to hear them, and I shouldn’t
have to keep it with me.Knowle looks up at Scully, about to tell her he’ll take it from here.
SCULLY
(knowing)
It’s for the best.Knowle nods her head.
SCULLY
I think she’s remembering back
to what happened at the facility.KNOWLE
I know.He reaches over and takes the first aid kit. Scully walks away from them and sits across the campfire watching with concern. Whatever happened to her must have brought back the feelings and memories of when she was held at the Facility.
Knowle works on cleaning Monica’s wounds.
Scully starts to rub the back of her neck, feeling a strange sensation. Her finger gently touches the spot at the base of her neck where the chip was placed long ago. She shuts her eyes, starting to feel strange.
Knowle starts to stitch up Monica’s wounds.
KNOWLE
What did this?MONICA
Those who lie in wait.
Waiting for the day when
they can hurt us more. More
than anyone can imagine.Knowle looks at her.
MONICA
(after a beat)
I didn’t run away. I was taken.KNOWLE
Is Krycek right?He looks at her, wondering if she knows what he’s talking about.
MONICA
About them being here?Knowle nods his head.
MONICA
Yes.KNOWLE
What happened to you?MONICA
I don’t remember.Knowle looks at her for a moment.
MONICA
All I remember is feeling trapped.
Like I couldn’t get out. I wasn’t
held down, but I couldn’t move.
(beat) Mind warfare. (beat) They
won’t let me remember.KNOWLE
Not even how you got these wounds?MONICA
I escape. They tried to
stop me, but they couldn’t.KNOWLE
I hear they can’t be killed.MONICA
They can.KNOWLE
Are they looking for you?MONICA
I don’t sense them with me anymore.KNOWLE
You sense them?MONICA
Yes. (beat) But not anymore.Scully isn’t listening to their conversation. The strange sensation on her neck is distracting her. She shuts her eyes, trying to figure it out. Her hand touches the base of her neck, once again caressing the chip that was placed there. She looks up towards the caves with a worried expression on her face. Could this feeling be them? Are they targeting in on her now?
Off her look, we...
FADE OUT:
TO BE CONCLUDED...
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