Title: "Transmissions"
Story by: Cassie
Written by: Kristi & Cassie
Date: December 7, 15-16, 2007
Air Date: December 17, 2007
Rating: PG-13
Series: FRVS - Episode #191
Spoilers: FRVS 2x18 "Flight 194".
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: What if the future can help the present?
FADE IN:
INT. KNOWLE’S HUMMER
HEADING TOWARDS THE SOUTH SHORE
LONG ISLAND BEACHMAY 12, 2007
5:06 A.M.The rain pours down on Knowle’s Hummer as he drives carefully down an empty road. The headlights are off so if enemies are about they are less likely to be noticed.
Knowle and Shannon site up front. Knowle is at the wheel, Shannon is shotgun. John, Dana, Skinner, and Montgomery sleep in the back the best they can. “Take It To The Limit” by The Eagles plays softly in the Hummer, low enough not to disturb sleep.
After Dana’s flashback and temporary disappearance back at the motal and her inability to feel comfortable there, Knowle decided – as per John’s request – to get back out on the road and find Mulder.
There are so many things in Knowle’s mind as he drives, like what will they do with Dana when her cancer completely consumes her mind? She still hasn’t told anyone what she would like when she gets worse and Knowle believes it’s about time she makes a decision. It seems to him that every day her memory lapses get worse and worse.
He also thinks about his Special Ops friends, Ray Douglas. Ideally Knowle wants to find a good location to set up and rebuild, a place where survivors can come to restart their lives and live more protected than being out on their own. He’s not so sure taking his group into the New York metro system would be the best idea, as Ray said it’s dangerous in the city and if their cooling system were to stop working, they’d be stuck in the metro as the aliens could make their way in and kill them all. If he found a safe place to set up civilization he would do his best to help Ray and his people out of New York.
And the heat... the weather hasn’t cooled off for nearly a year and a half now. The aliens are controlling their climate somewhere. If he could only find their headquarters, break in and figure out how to let the Earth gain control of its own weather, this next winter could certainly rid the planet of most of the aliens, not all, but most as the aliens cannot survive in freezing cold temperatures. He read this information back last May at the Marine barracks in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
SHANNON
You can’t let John continue
to call all the shots when it comes to Dana.
Knowle takes his eyes off the road and glances over at Shannon.
SHANNON
You and I both know that he thinks
with his heart, not with his mind
when it comes to her. If he had been
using his brain back there, he would
have easily let the doctor look her over.KNOWLE
He loves her, Shan’, and just recently
found out that she’s dying. If she were
Monica and I were in his position, I wouldn’t
be thinking clearly either.SHANNON
You would because you’re able to
know when to sacrifice-KNOWLE
- Sacrifice? Dana is a human-being,
Shannon, we’re not going to sacrifice
anything unless...
Knowle trails off, not completing his thought.
SHANNON
Unless what?
Knowle locks his eyes on the dark road ahead of him. The lyrics to the song “Take It To The Limit” and the swooshing of the windshield wipers adds to the awkward silence between them.
And when you’re looking for your freedom
(nobody seems to care)
And you can’t find the door
(can’t find it anywhere)
When there’s nothing to believe in
Still you’re coming back, you’re running back
You’re coming back for more
So put me on a highway
And show me a sign
And take it to the limit one more timeKnowle wishes that making these types of decisions were easy. He wishes there was a sign to guide him in the right direction. He knows that the decision he would make under extreme circumstances – when it comes to Dana being a liability – would not be a decision that John would stand by, in fact he’s quite sure that John would – in his current state of mind concerning Dana – would argue with him and defy his orders.
SHANNON
Knowle? (beat) Unless she becomes
a liability, right?KNOWLE
John will never let us-SHANNON
- Then you need to take control of
the situation, Knowle, you and I both
know if we try to control what happens
to Dana, that John will lose control of
himself and we’ll have a problem within the group.KNOWLE
She still hasn’t said what she wants when
she gets worse, awhile back she said she
didn’t want to talk about it-SHANNON
- She’s going to have to talk about it,
or we make the decision for her.
Knowle takes a deep breath.
KNOWLE
I have given it some thought and
have made a decision regarding one thing.SHANNON
What thing is that?KNOWLE
I’m going to refuse her any pain
killers or medication when she
gets worse because we have a limited
medical supply so we can only use these
things on those who stand a chance,
not on someone who is a lost cause.
In the back of the Hummer they hear someone move. Shannon looks back and sees John shifting around and curling his body up closer to Dana’s, his arm wrapping around her waist. Knowle looks in the rear view mirror.
SHANNON
He’s still asleep.KNOWLE
I already discussed this with
Montgomery once and he agreed to it.
I don’t know how I’m going to tell
John. It’ll break his heart.SHANNON
So take him out of the equation, don’t
let him have any authority in decisions
regarding her health. If aliens had never
invaded and Dana were put in a hospital,
John wouldn’t have any say since he’s not her husband-KNOWLE
- They’re engaged, Shan’.SHANNON
Doesn’t matter, they’re not
husband and wife, he has no say-KNOWLE
- Neither do we-SHANNON
- Doctor Montgomery has the authority,
he’s her doctor... if Charles, her
brother, comes back he could have say-KNOWLE
- Shan’, I’ve already made decisions and
I’ll talk to John to get him to talk to
her about if we should put her to rest when
the pain becomes too much.SHANNON
Even if she says she wants us to
end her life, who’s to say that John
will let us? This very easily could be
Luke all over again, and you know how that goes.KNOWLE
He’ll blame himself for something he
could have prevented.SHANNON
He’ll do anything to protect her.
Even if that means viewing us as the enemy.
Knowle doesn’t say anything. He ponders the possibility of John turning against him out of desperation to keep Dana alive and in his protection. As much as Knowle trusts John, he also knows that given this situation he very well could push everyone away. Things between them could get very, very bad.
KNOWLE
Then that’s something we need to
remember so we can deal with it
when it comes.SHANNON
You’ve been with her all this time,
what do you think she’d want?KNOWLE
As a medical doctor herself, I think
she’d want us to end her life. There’s
no way she’d want to live in pain and
without the memory of her life or of John.SHANNON
I just hope John understands that.KNOWLE
In terms of family, loved ones,
she’s all he has left...
Knowle looks back out to the road. Life itself is now a dark road, one cannot see more than a few feet ahead of themselves. It’s uneasy traveling into the dark unknown. In the back of the Hummer, John Doggett, lies awake, his arms wrapped tightly around Dana. He heard everything. His eyes were only shut to rest them. After what happened with Dana back at the motel he doesn’t... he can’t sleep. His mind is constantly thinking about Dana, her illness, and a single certainty among their world of uncertainty... her impending death.
He nuzzles his face into the back of her neck. He doesn’t want to lose her and he’ll do whatever it takes to protect her, even if that means protecting her against Knowle, Shannon and everyone else when they will inevitably turn against them to try to end her life before her time.
A tear runs down his cheek, falling softly into Dana’s hair. He lost Luke because he took for granted the world around him was safe, that Luke slept in a warm bed with people who loved him there to protect him, and he’ll be damned if he’ll lose Dana now that he’s back in her life.
The Hummer comes to a stop and John hears Knowle open the door quietly and get out.
SHANNON
What is it, Knowle?KNOWLE
Tree fell in the road!
We have to move it!
Knowle shouts over the sound of the pouring rain. John hears Shannon open the door and get out of the Hummer as well and is drenched, the rain is falling harder.
KNOWLE
Wake up John, Walter and Montgomery
and get them to help me move this.SHANNON
Can’t we drive around it?KNOWLE
No! The ditch is filled with mud!
It’s too slippery, we’d never get out!
Shannon sticks her head back inside the Hummer.
SHANNON
John! Wake up!
John rolls over and faces her, a cold expression in his eyes. Walter sits up quickly as does Montgomery.
SKINNER
I’ll get the bazooka.SHANNON
It’s not that. There’s a tree
in the road we have to move it.MONTGOMERY
Can’t we just drive around it?
Shannon gives him a look.
SHANNON
We would if we could, now
come on soldiers!
Shannon looks at John, he hasn’t made a move to get up and help. Scully now moves and her eyes open.
SHANNON
Come on John.SCULLY
What’s going on?SHANNON
Tree’s blocking our way.
We have to move it.
Scully tries to sit up, but John presses his hand on her shoulder and she lies back down, trusting that he knows what is going on and that they are safe.
DOGGETT
I’m staying with her. If something
were to surprise attack us, Dana would
be on her own in here to protect herself.SCULLY
John, I’m fine. I can help if-DOGGETT
- You need to rest, sweetheart, save
your energy... they can do this without us.
Scully manages to sit up and she looks down at John.
SCULLY
I may be dying John, but I’m
not incompetent yet.
Scully crawls away from John and exits the Hummer. John, in turn, gets up too. If she’s outside he needs to be with her. The rain pours down on him, the water ought to feel cool against his skin, but the outside heat is so intense that the raindrops are warm. He watches as Scully goes up to Knowle – the man who wants to deny her medication and comfort – and she touches him on the shoulder. It angers John to see Dana trusting Knowle after everything he overheard.
John walks to them, determined to be the one who calls the shots when it comes to Dana.
KNOWLE
... should really get your rest, Dana.SCULLY
I’m fine. I’ll help as much as I can
for as long as I can, Knowle, it’s the
least I can do. Let me be useful, please.
John stands next to Dana and looks at Knowle, John’s jaw is tight. Knowle looks at John.
KNOWLE
Ok, you and John work together to
help us push this thing out of the
way. Team effort, right?
Scully nods her head and looks up at John. She smiles. Her smile fades when she sees the expression on his face. This worries her. Knowle observes them for a second longer and then walks away to get everyone else organized.
SCULLY
Johnny? What’s wrong?
She touches his arm to get him to look at her and not Knowle. John looks at her, softening his expression.
DOGGETT
Nothing. We’ll talk later.
Knowle, Shannon, Skinner, and Montgomery get into position near John and Dana, to push the tree out of the way.
DOGGETT
(shouting)
On the count of three!
John and Dana get into position to push as well.
DOGGETT
One! Two! Three!
Everyone pushes with all their might and the tree starts to budge, not by much, but enough to give them hope that they will eventually get it out of their way. CUT TO:
INT. HOLDING CELL
Brad sits in the corner of the room he and Krycek were put into. A pen is in his hand which is considered contraband by Coleman and his thugs. He’s writing on a piece of paper that he found in his pants pocket.
Brad hears Krycek clear his throat from across the room, so Brad sets his letter down and looks over to him.
KRYCEK
What’re you writing?BRAD
A letter to Monica.KRYCEK
Why?
Krycek stands up and moves over to where Brad is sitting. He sits down next to him.
BRAD
Because I love her and there are
things I want to say to her, but
cannot because she’s not here.KRYCEK
Like what?BRAD
Tell her how sorry I am that
things between us weren’t working.
(beat) We were supposed to have been married.KRYCEK
What happened?BRAD
A misunderstanding.KRYCEK
What about?BRAD
Trust me, you don’t want me to
explain it, some of it deals with
things you did that I know you would
not be proud of.KRYCEK
Hey, if you know things about me
that I can’t remember, good or bad,
I want to know. I need to know who I am.
Brad looks Krycek in the eyes with seriousness.
BRAD
What if I told you that you tried
to kill your friends and that you
aided in their capture and mental and
physical anguish they went through
while being held against their will at
a research facility?
Krycek’s heart drops into his stomach, this is not something good about him, he can tell by the anger and pain in Brad’s voice.
KRYCEK
Go on.
Brad looks away from him and down to the letter he’s writing to Monica.
BRAD
Almost three years ago you hit
your friend, John Doggett, with a
car, tried to kill Monica by cutting
her throat, and you helped enslave one
of your best friends, Dana, to this
facility against her will and Lord knows
what she went through.KRYCEK
Why’d I do that?
Brad shrugs his shoulders.
BRAD
I don’t know.
Krycek ponders this for awhile. He can’t remember it at all. He’s not sure he wants to know more about himself if this is what he was like. If he was a bad person then he wants to leave that behind and start anew.
BRAD
I’m going to tell you this now
because you’ve gained my respect,
Alex, but you were a complete ass
before the aliens attacked.
Krycek bites his lower lip, it seems like the truth is going to hurt.
BRAD
You may have raped Monica in England when
you used her vulnerable state of mind to get
her drunk so she’d have sex with you. You got
Dana drunk in Las Vegas once to save your
reputation as a strip club owner when you had
her strip just to save your own ass. Your immature
behaviour is the reason why your relationship with
Marita is hard to define, I don’t think she really
wanted to be involved with a self-centered ego-maniac.
Krycek continues to look Brad in the eye as he tells him all the horrible things he’s done, and Krycek is sure this is just the tip of the iceberg and there’s so much more that Brad isn’t saying or doesn’t even know about. In his heart, Krycek feels horrible, he hates hearing the things he has done. He can’t understand why he would be this way, he can’t imagine himself in this manner.
BRAD
You treat everyone with disrespect because
of your own insecurities. You were always trying
to be someone you’re not and that has made it
impossible for anyone to get close to you or even
know the real you. And that’s a shame because when
you’re being yourself you’re a really nice guy. I
imagine things would have been so much different
now if you had been yourself these past few years.
Brad can’t help but think about where he and Monica would be now had Krycek not helped get her and Scully to that facility. He and Monica would have been married and had a two year old daughter.
KRYCEK
I’m sorry.
Brad looks at Krycek, knowing he’s sincere in his apology.
BRAD
You can’t even remember what
you’re apologizing for.KRYCEK
But I can see the pain it has caused
you, and I wish I could go back and... be myself.BRAD
Promise me that when we get out
of here and find the others, that
you’ll be yourself.KRYCEK
Who I am now is all I know how to be.
And from the sound of it I don’t want
to be who I was. He sounds like a real jerk.
Krycek leans his back up against the wall behind him and closes his eyes. Brad watches him for a moment and then picks up his letter and pen and continues writing to Monica. CUT TO:
OVER BLACK:
COLD winds HOWL, swirling around us.
FADE UP:
EXT. ANTARCTICA
PRESENT DAY
Wind blows snow and ice in every direction as Charles Scully staggers over the harsh terrain, looking like a tiny black dot in the middle of the vast open ice block. He’s wearing a thick winter coat and glasses that protect his face from the freezing weather, but in this temperature it doesn’t do much to keep him warm. His body temperature has dropped, he’s nearly out of his supply of food, water and even ammunition. He’s got scars on his face from his long journey that began back in January.
This long journey began so many years ago and now, he can barely feel his entire body as he staggers closer to the truth. Is his father alive? Or is this journey just a harsh means to his end? He’s practically on a suicide mission, but Shannon’s words keep his hope alive. General Roger Thompson worked with his father... well, a man she believes could be his father.
He stops walking and stares ahead, trying to see through the snow and ice. He can almost make out what could be building formations ahead of him. Even if everyone is dead, at least he could find some shelter.
He slings his bag off of his shoulders and drops it to the ground, falls to his knees and retrieves his canteen of water. He takes a swig, stops, shakes it and finds that nothing is in it. He’ll surely be dead soon enough.
He puts his hand over a breast pocket on his jacket where he keeps the picture of his wife Lin and their daughter Lilly. He takes in a deep breath the best he can in this subzero temperature. He’s determined to find out what he needs from this place and then get back to where he last saw his family. He’s sick of this war, and of this way of life.
He makes his way to his feet, picks up his bag, swings it over his shoulder, then freezes. A noise behind him catches him. He hasn’t heard the sound of feet crunching in the snow and ice since he got here.
He turns around to see what’s coming and is quickly hit over the head, knocked unconscious. He falls to the ground and two pairs of feet walk around him, picking him up.
CUT TO:
EXT. LONG ISLAND BEACH – SOUTH SHORE
Mulder and Samantha tug and pull at the boat Mulder found. Thought it is a little rowboat, their feet sink into the sand below from the weight of the boat and the sand that blocks it.
SAMANTHA
Fox... can’t this wait until sunrise.Mulder looks out over the Atlantic Ocean. The sun is starting to rise on the horizon. He points behind Samantha, and she turns to see the sun rising. She lets out a sigh.
MULDER
Let’s keep pulling.Samantha lets out a sigh and helps her brother pull the little rowboat.
SAMANTHA
I don’t know if you recall, but
the plane crashed pretty far out.MULDER
Point being?SAMANTHA
You want to take a tiny
rowboat out into the middle
of the Atlantic. You’re going to sink.MULDER
No I won’t. (beat)
Remember, Mulder Luck.SAMANTHA
Be real Fox. Luck runs out.MULDER
That’s a way of looking at
the glass as half empty.Samantha drops her end of the boat and stands with her hands on her hips. Mulder looks at her.
MULDER
What? Why’d you drop your
side of the boat? Come on,
we need to get this back to camp.SAMANTHA
No Fox, you need to. I think this
is crazy and I don’t want to see you
die because of some stupid investigation
that could get you killed or something.MULDER
Samantha I’m not going to die.SAMANTHA
How do you know? And don’t you
dare give me that Mulder Luck crap.
(beat) I lost you once and I don’t
want to lose you again.Mulder sets down his side of the boat.
MULDER
I-I... I’m sorry, it’s just that
I believe in this so firmly that
I sometimes have clouded judgment.
(beat) I believe in my theory that this
plane came from the past. I just need
to prove it... somehow I have to, and
I just know that there has to be evidence
somewhere out there.SAMANTHA
I understand that Fox, I do. (beat)
But is it really worth dying for?Mulder looks at his sister. It’s always been one obsession or another. For most of his life he was obsessed with finding his sister, finding out the truth of what happened to her and why. Now that he’s found her, he’s moved on to something new.
MULDER
No. It’s not.A relived look washes over Samantha’s face.
SAMANTHA
Thank you.MULDER
But maybe this boat could be useful
to us in the long run. It couldn’t
hurt to bring it back to camp.Samantha nods in agreement. She’s more likely to comply with this plan now that she knows her brother won’t be in danger. They both pick up their sides of the boat and start to drag it once more.
He’s been selfish, only thinking of himself, but now he’s left to wonder about Samantha. He never has asked her what she went through when she was abducted by aliens. She said they didn’t hurt her, but if she’s anything like him, she’ll hide her pain. Was she hurt? Was she scared? She made a mention how she didn’t want to lose him again. What was her life like before the aliens came to colonize this planet? He doesn’t know. He really doesn’t know the first thing about her. She is so scared and was scared just now that she was going to lose him.
His thoughts are interrupted by the sound of an automobile coming down the road. Both Mulder and Samantha turn towards the road and see a dark vehicle coming, looks like a Hummer.
They both stop dragging the boat and watch as the Hummer comes closer.
MULDER
Think it’s Doggett and his friend?SAMANTHA
I don’t know.Her voice shakes. What if it’s aliens in human form?
Mulder starts to walk towards the road as the Hummer starts to slow down.
SAMANTHA
Fox... no.Mulder doesn’t listen.
MULDER
(under his breath)
My buddies...The Hummer rolls to a stop and Knowle and Shannon get out of the front seats and the back doors open, allowing Skinner, Montgomery, Doggett and Scully to exit the vehicle. Mulder’s eyes light up with excitement. It’s almost like the whole gang is here. He hops in place and starts to run towards them.
SAMANTHA
Fox no! You don’t know if they’re alien!But Mulder pays no attention to her. He’s on his one-track mind again.
MULDER
SUPER BUDDIES!Skinner pulls a gun out on him, not sure if he can trust him or not. However, Mulder being Mulder pays no attention to the gun and runs up and hugs Skinner, who’s gun fires on accident.
SKINNER
Mulder knock it off!Mulder leaves Skinner, goes up to Doggett and Scully and pulls them into a group hug.
MULDER
(giddy like a school girl)
Hugs in stereo!He moves to Montgomery, gives him a suspicious look.
MULDER
Hey, you were that guy with the red
and white suit and top hat that said
I won a shopping spree to the Super Target.Mulder smiles and moves on to Knowle and gives him a hug too.
MULDER
I’m so glad to-He’s interrupted when he hears Samantha scream from the beach. Everyone looks in her direction, follows her gaze to see a large number of aliens heading in their direction.
Doggett immediately wraps his arm around Scully’s waist protectively. He’s not going to let anything happen to her.
KNOWLE
Everyone arm yourselves!Knowle watches for a moment as the aliens make their way quickly towards them. They haven’t seen any enemy aliens in a long time, especially not in this kind of massive form. Why the hell would they be here?
Skinner digs around in the back of the Hummer and gets out his weapon of choice: the bazooka. Shannon hands out weapons to everyone, including Mulder.
Knowle turns to Mulder.
KNOWLE
That woman on the beach, who is she?MULDER
My sister.KNOWLE
Get her back up here.He turns to Doggett.
KNOWLE
John, get Dana back inside and
arm yourself. Now.He starts to walk away to get his own weapon. Mulder yells for Samantha to come up to the road where everyone is. He can’t risk losing her again either.
DOGGETT
I’m staying with her.His tone tells Knowle he doesn’t care what he’s ordered him to do. Knowle turns around and looks at him. Scully watches on, not sure what this tension is that John has against Knowle.
KNOWLE
John, we need you out here, not
in there. She can defend from
inside there. We need to defend
ourselves against enemy attack out here.DOGGETT
I’m staying with her.Knowle comes up to him. Scully quietly moves away from them, letting them battle this one out. She goes over to Shannon, who hands her a gun.
KNOWLE
You’ll protect her by being
out with the rest of us.DOGGETT
You heard me. I’m not going to
sacrifice her for anyone.KNOWLE
She’ll be arm-Doggett starts to walk off towards Dana.
Knowle knows he heard what he and Shannon were talking about.
KNOWLE
Don’t walk away from me John.Doggett ignores him.
KNOWLE
(commanding)
HEY! I’m talkin’ to you!Doggett turns to face him relentlessly. He doesn’t look pleased.
KNOWLE
(calmer)
No one’s being sacrificed.DOGGETT
Unless they become a liability, right?He glares at Knowle, hating him for a moment for even talking about ending her life, not letting her be comfortable and letting her die so others will live.
KNOWLE
John-Doggett walks away from him.
SHANNON
Let’s get our heads out of
the sand and kill these fuckers!She cocks her gun and takes aim on the approaching enemy attack. Doggett grabs a gun. Scully looks at him as she gets into the Hummer.
SCULLY
I’m all right John. He wants me
in here incase we need to get
away quickly.She tries to reassure him. This is how things work with them, how it’s been since the first time they tried to go into New York City and he gave her the keys to his Hummer incase he didn’t return from trying to save a little girl that was out there all alone.
Doggett nods his head, but he’s still not pleased.
SCULLY
Semper fi John, right?She hopes to remind him of everything he and Knowle have been through together and that he should trust Knowle’s judgment. She gets behind the wheel of the Hummer and checks her weapon to make sure it’s in good order. Samantha gets into the back seat. Shannon hands her a gun.
SAMANTHA
I don’t know how this works.SHANNON
Aim for the alien and squeeze
the trigger. Hopefully you won’t
need to use this. (beat) You’ll be
properly trained later.Shannon slams the door. Scully glances back at Samantha from the rear view mirror.
SCULLY
It’ll be ok.Samantha nods her head, wanting to believe her.
Meanwhile...
Alien forces have arrived and are attacking ruthlessly. Bullets don’t do a damn bit of good. But surprisingly, no one is being severely attacked... except for Knowle, who is currently being slammed hard by several aliens at once. He fights as best he can, but there are too many of them.
MULDER
LEAVE MY BUDDY ALONE!!He fires his weapon at an alien, who now turns it’s attention on Mulder. His eyes bug in fear and he screams as the alien makes it’s way towards him. Then, BAM! A bazooka is fired right passed Mulder’s ears, dropping the alien in its tracks. Mulder turns to face Skinner, who goes right back to defending.
SHANNON
MULDER! IN THE HUMMER!He’s not prepared for this kind of attack, and on a dime he runs to the Hummer and out of immediate danger.
Doggett keeps his eyes on the Hummer, making sure aliens aren’t trying to seize them. Going against what Knowle told him to do, he makes his way to them. It’s better if they have someone there who knows how to fight like a Marine.
Montgomery carefully takes aim at each alien that is attacking Knowle. He knows how important this man can be to the future of their survival. With each bullet, he throws an alien off, allowing Knowle that much window of opportunity to get away the best he can.
KNOWLE
FALL BACK!He yells this, trying to get away from the claws of his alien attackers. Skinner and Shannon do as he commands and take off towards the Hummer. Shannon opens the door, allowing Skinner in. She won’t leave Knowle behind so she waits, aiming her weapon to be prepared. Knowle and Montgomery run back as fast as they can, aliens close behind.
KNOWLE
GET IN, SHAN’!Shannon gets in, leaving the door open for them.
SHANNON
Start it.She commands Scully, who does as she’s told. Shannon keeps a close eye on Knowle and Montgomery, judging when Scully should floor it out of there.
KNOWLE
GO!!Montgomery jumps into the vehicle as Knowle almost reaches the door. Scully starts to haul ass out of there, keeping an eye on Knowle through the side mirror. She slows just enough for him to make it in.
Skinner and Shannon help to pull Knowle inside.
SHANNON
PUNCH IT!Scully floors it, speeding away from the aliens as fast as she can.
KNOWLE
Where the fuck did they come from?MULDER
An airplane crashed a couple
hours ago in the Atlantic.Montgomery looks over at him suspiciously.
KNOWLE
An airplane?He sits up, still catching his breath.
KNOWLE
Who the hell would be flying
an airplane now?MULDER
I’ve got a theory.KNOWLE
That aliens crashed it from the past?Mulder’s eyes bug.
MULDER
How did you know?KNOWLE
Read once that aliens could
send their abductees to the
future or something like that.MULDER
(in awe)
We really needed you in the
X-Files unit...KNOWLE
That’s your theory too?MULDER
Yeah? Only question is why. Sam and
I found a boat that we were – I was
thinking of taking out there to see
if I could find any answers.KNOWLE
Yeah, but why crash the plane, right?
I mean, what do you know about disappearing
aircrafts from the past?MULDER
Just the Bermuda Triangle. But
nothing about the north Atlantic...
except Flight 194.Scully looks back at him from the rear view mirror.
MULDER
It mysteriously crashed into the
Atlantic after losing power and
reportedly hovering in mid-air.Montgomery listens on intensely.
KNOWLE
Hovered?MULDER
Then was sucked down below.KNOWLE
I remember Flight 194. Was a
mission of mine actually.This piques Mulder’s interest... along with everyone else.
KNOWLE
I was ordered to rescue only one
passenger from that flight. Just
one out of the 342 souls on board.SCULLY
Who?KNOWLE
A little girl. It was an odd assignment
because they had me wear a radiation suit
for protection.Knowle gets a distant look in his eyes, remember back to that mission.
MULDER
Where did your orders come from?KNOWLE
The usual. However, this wasn’t
an assignment they usually put me on.SCULLY
By chance was there a man
smoking a cigarette when
you were given your orders?KNOWLE
Actually, yes.Knowle’s surprised to hear that she knew that.
MULDER
So lets go back to this. (beat) You
were assigned to save only this little
girl and no one else?KNOWLE
Yeah.MULDER
Did you get her?KNOWLE
Yeah, I did.MULDER
And she was seated in 27F?KNOWLE
If I recall correctly, yes.MULDER
And she was found dead?KNOWLE
No. I saved her, brought her
back then had to give her to
the “proper authorities”.Mulder and Scully exchange a look.
MULDER
We were told she was dead.Knowle doesn’t know what to think of that. He remembers clear as day saving her.
KNOWLE
How can that be?MONTGOMERY
You gave her to the men I used to work for.All eyes fall on him.
MONTGOMERY
She had a chip in her neck. The
same chip that I reprogrammed and
put in the base of Dana’s neck.His tone is serious. Deadly serious. He looks up at Knowle.
MONTGOMERY
If indeed your’s and Mulder’s theory
that Flight 194 crashed again here in
our present time, then it’s plausible that
the aliens have retrieved it. (beat) The
chip can automatically update and if they
knew this, then they know everything that
is on that chip.Scully’s heart sinks. Was it even worth getting rid of that chip? Dying of cancer, is that even worth it now?
SCULLY
You’re sure the chip can do that?MONTGOMERY
I programmed it.He assures her, not realizing the kind of disheartening news he has just given to her.
KNOWLE
We have to find out for sure. When
its safe to return, we’ll go out there.Knowle looks behind them, making sure they are not being followed.
Scully remains quiet up front, keeping her focus on the road. However, her mind races, taking in all that Montgomery has said. Back when she told Knowle to remove the chip, she believed she was doing the right thing to save the lives of many. But now, was that even worth it?
TIME CUT TO:
EXT. ALIEN HEADQUARTERS - DAY
THE PENTAGON
WASHINGTON, D.C.The air is thick with humidity as rain pours in sheets over Washington, D.C.
A military truck pulls up in front of the Pentagon, the new alien headquarters. Two Alien Guards get out and pull Monica out from the back. Her hands are bound and blood comes down the side of her head from where she was hit when they took her. She looks around as they lead her up the stairs to one of the entrances of the building. She is shocked to see the devastation that happened to Washington, D.C. The Pentagon even seems to have lost its grand appeal and is slowly being transformed from a building that man made, to an establishment fit for an alien headquarters.
The doors open and the interior of the building doesn’t even resemble how her memory remembers. The guards lead her inside.
INT. ALIEN HEADQUARTERS – CON’T
The doors shut, leaving the interior even darker. The lobby windows have been covered and she is unable to recognize what this place used to be. The Alien Guards lead her down the long corridors of the building.
Monica’s head fills sounds of the alien’s dialect. She tries to control her fear, knowing it’s useless and they can sense her anyway. She can only hope they don’t use it against her.
The guards lead her into an elevator. Her heart races with fear of the unknown. Where are they taking her? What do they want with her?
Moments later, the elevator doors open and they get off on the fourth floor of the building. Monica’s eyes explore the hallway. This place seems vaguely familiar to her, yet she can’t quite place it for a moment until they pass one of the office doors and she spots a nameplate: “Knowle J. Rohrer”.
Amongst all the foreign sounds of the alien’s language, Monica starts to make out words in English.
WOMAN’S VOICE (V.O.)
She’s already here...MAN’S VOICE (V.O.)
Does she know?WOMAN’S VOICE (V.O.)
Not yet.MAN’S VOICE (V.O.)
But they already know, don’t they?WOMAN’S VOICE (V.O.)
No, they don’t. We can’t ever
let them know. It could be
the end of mankind forever. (beat)
Wait... I sense her. (beat)
I know you can hear me Monica.This startles her. Is someone in this building talking to her?
WOMAN’S VOICE (V.O.)
Don’t be afraid. They can’t
hear us now.Monica continues to walk, not sure how to respond, or if she should at all? How does she know this isn’t some kind of trick?
The Alien Guards stop her in front of a door and open it. They lead her into the room where a group of people are being kept. Amongst them is Satori, the beautiful blonde psychic who helped guide Mulder in the right direction to make decisions in FRVS season 7.
She looks directly at Monica.
SATORI (V.O.)
It’ll all be over soon, Monica.Monica can hear her inside her head, but Satori doesn’t speak out loud.
The Alien Guards unbind Monica’s hands and then leave. Monica stands by the door, unsure of what is going on. She’s scared and unable to tap into anything that is going on.
Satori goes up to her.
SATORI
They want to harm us so we’re
no longer a threat to them. (beat)
You do know that we are a threat
to them, right?MONICA
No.Satori smiles.
SATORI
It’s all right. You’ve had
a rough time.She eyes the dry blood on Monica’s head.
SATORI
You should sit down. You’ll
need your strength.MONICA
You talk as if you know what
will happen.SATORI
I do... to an extent. (beat) We’re
all psychics in this room. Our Gifts,
however, vary in strength.Satori once again smiles at Monica, as if she knows something about her she’s not telling.
She leads Monica away from the door and over to a place where she is sitting with a friend of hers, Warren Day, another Gifted individual.
TIME CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM
Charles Scully, covered in blankets, wakes up in a warm bed. He slowly moves his body, realizing he’s awake and not in the cold like he was before he was knocked over the head.
He opens his eyes, seeing that he’s in a room. Warm in it’s color, in an almost burgundy shade on the wall with a wooden trim. He looks over away from the wall and immediately sits up upon seeing his father, Captain William Scully, Sr. Charles’s eyes widen in disbelief. All these years he’s been searching for his father, but deep down he never thought he’d actually find him.
CHARLES
Dad?Captain Scully smiles at him.
CAPTAIN SCULLY
You need your rest, Charles.Charles doesn’t lay down, his adrenaline is rushing.
CHARLES
You’re supposed to be dead.His father nods his head.
CAPTAIN SCULLY
That’s what I wanted everyone to believe.CHARLES
Why?There’s a hint of anger in his voice.
CAPTAIN SCULLY
I’ll explain this later. You need
your rest now, son.CHARLES
I came all this way to find you
and get answers. I’ve been traveling
for months. From hot desert climates
to subzero temperatures. Alien attacks.
Brutal human attacks and you want me to rest?!CAPTAIN SCULLY
Calm yourself.CHARLES
And then I’m knocked over the head!
How do I even know you’re really you?CAPTAIN SCULLY
You’re being paranoid, Charles.
(beat) And you have every right
to be. (beat) I apologize for the
way my men brought you in. I’m sure
it’ll come as no surprise to you that
we don’t get many people walking around
out there.CHARLES
How could you just leave us?Though this question has nothing to do with why he was searching out his father, it’s been something that is on his mind ever since he figured out his father faked his death.
CAPTAIN SCULLY
It was out of necessity, Charles.
Now I really think you need your rest.
You’ve been through hell I’m sure.CHARLES
You act like you know what’s
been going on. How could you
when you’re down here?CAPTAIN SCULLY
This facility is fully equipped with
what I’d need to know what is going
on in the world and with my family.CHARLES
So now you’re going to tell me that
you know everything that has happened
in my life?CAPTAIN SCULLY
I do. (beat) I know you were third
in your class at West Point. I know
about Lin and Lilly, and how you go
missing from time to time from your
post with the USMC. And I know despite
that, you are one of the finest Marines
and have a rank of E-9. And I know that
in 1999 you were handed a top secret file
about me with most of the text blacked
out. I know the man who gave you that was
Roger Thompson because I asked him to
give it to you. (beat) I was the one
who blacked out the text because I knew
you would do what you had to do to find
out what secrets I could possibly have.Charles stares at his father.
CHARLES
So you know all of that about me,
so what about you?His father smiles at him.
CAPTAIN SCULLY
How about you get dressed and
we go for a walk. I’ll show
you what it is that we’ve been
doing down here.He stands up, puts his hat on and leaves the room.
SMALL TIME CUT TO:
EXT. HALLWAY
Captain Scully patiently sits in a chair outside of the room Charles is in. A moment later Charles comes out, fully dressed in jeans and a gray t-shirt. He looks fresh out of the shower, and with a clean shave. For the first time in a long time he looks refreshed and somewhat relaxed.
CAPTAIN SCULLY
You look better.CHARLES
(right to the point)
Tell me everything.Captain Scully nods his head and they walk down the hallway.
CAPTAIN SCULLY
I owe you that much. (beat) There’s a
lot about the family that was kept secret.
You’re biological mother, Dana’s involvement
in a secret government project, and even my
involvement in such things.CHARLES
Let’s start with my mother. Who is she?
Why did she die? And why did Margaret
weasel her way into our family?His father looks at him. He can only imagine that for years these things have been on his mind.
CAPTAIN SCULLY
Your mother’s name was Katherine. She
had a troubled childhood, ran away from
home when she was in her early teens. We
married young when she became pregnant with
your older brother. She never held back what
was on her mind. In many ways, she reminds
me of your sister, Dana. Though her belief
that crystals can heal definitely is something
Melissa got from her.Charles listens.
CAPTAIN SCULLY (CON’T)
I guess you got her trait of running
away since you would go AWOL from the military.Charles looks at his father, sensing that he is, in a way, displeased with his disrespect of the military.
CAPTAIN SCULLY
She died when you were born. I was told
it was from complications with your birth.
Later, however, I discovered it was because
Margaret poisoned her. (beat) She was working
as a nurse in the hospital, sent there from a
secret government called the Syndicate. Her
mission was to get close to me.CHARLES
Why?CAPTAIN SCULLY
Because the Syndicate was divided into
many different loyalties. I happened to
be on “the wrong side” according to some
of the more powerful members. These men
found out my loyalties and wanted to have
me taken care of – terminated, killed, even
entered into a testing project that would
certainly kill me. (beat) For years I played
two sides. Dana even got involved. She was
the one that tipped me off to their plans
to eliminate me. Like me, she played both
sides, never letting the wrong people know
her true loyalties.CHARLES
You’re saying she knows you’re alive?CAPTAIN SCULLY
No, she doesn’t.Charles gives him a confused look. He’s not following this.
CAPTAIN SCULLY
For her protection I had her memory
wiped of any involvement she or I
had with the Syndicate. If anyone were
to ask if she tipped me off, she’d be
able to pass a lie detector test. She
has no recollection of any of this.CHARLES
So why, after you “died” did
Margaret stick around?CAPTAIN SCULLY
Because of Dana I’m sure. Your sister
was heavily involved in this Syndicate,
especially with a project to develop
a vaccine against the alien virus that
was used to wipe off all life on this planet.CHARLES
Our family has horrible communication skills.Captain Scully laughs a bit.
CHARLES
So you faked your death to avoid being
eliminated by this group. (beat) What
have you been doing? What kind of work
goes on down here and how do you know
everything about us?CAPTAIN SCULLY
It’s a project called White Fall. (beat)
We’re working with a race of aliens who
have a secret weapon that can defeat the
aliens that came to colonize this planet.CHARLES
And that is?CAPTAIN SCULLY
Climate control. (beat) You must’ve noticed
the subzero temperatures outside.Charles gives him a smirk.
CHARLES
How could I not? I can only assume I’ve
been out for hours since I can feel my toes.CAPTAIN SCULLY
We’ve also had interesting developments.He leads him into the facilities control room where a man sits at a desk reading a magazine. He looks up, sees that it’s Captain Scully and is immediately on his feet and saluting him.
CAPTAIN SCULLY
At ease. (beat) Could you give
us a few moments please?MAN
Yes, sir.The man heads for the door.
CAPTAIN SCULLY
Thank you Eric.The door shuts, leaving Charles alone with his father.
CHARLES
What could be so interesting here?CAPTAIN SCULLY
This.He hands a piece of paper to him with a transmission on it. He reads it out loud.
CHARLES
Captain. Aliens have chip. It has auto
updated. Info about Rohrer is exposed.
He will be killed. You must warn him
before it is too late.He looks up at his father.
CHARLES (CON’T)
What is this?CAPTAIN SCULLY
It’s a transmission we received.CHARLES
How does this person know these things?CAPTAIN SCULLY
Because he is in the future.Charles looks at him dumbfounded.
CHARLES
How can that be?CAPTAIN SCULLY
The only logical explanation is that
he was abducted by aliens who have the
ability to travel through time.CHARLES
Time travel is impossible. It’s
a universal invariant.He looks down at the message.
CHARLES
What does all this mean? What
chip? What information about Rohrer?
Knowle Rohrer?CAPTAIN SCULLY
Dana had a chip implanted into her
neck that held vital information.
The aliens have gotten a hold of this.
(beat) To be honest I don’t know what
it all means, just that we have to stop
whatever it is from happening because
our future is in trouble.The transmitter starts to beep, indicating a new message is coming in. Captain Scully goes over to it and looks at it as it starts to print out letter by letter. Charles joins him, still lost on how this is possible.
“CAPTAIN. MONICA REYES NOW MISSING IN MY TIME. ALIENS TERMINATED HER. WE ARE NOW SLAVE RACE. YOU MUST SAVE HER.”
CHARLES
What the hell is this about?He’s completely lost.
CAPTAIN SCULLY
Monica Reyes is a psychic with
a powerful gift. According to this
transmission she dies and as a result
the human race has become slaves to
the alien colonist.CHARLES
So how the hell do we find her?CAPTAIN SCULLY
I’ll show you.CUT TO:
INT. SATELLITE ROOM – CON’T
Captain Scully enters the room, followed by Charles. General Roger Thompson sits at a desk writing notes while looking at feeds from their satellites. He looks up and nods at Captain Scully and Charles.
Charles can’t believe his eyes. Here he thought General Thompson was dead. Shannon thinks that, yet here he is, alive and well.
CAPTAIN SCULLY
Over here, Charles.Charles looks over at his father and walks over to him.
CAPTAIN SCULLY
This is the most advanced satellite
you’ll ever see.CHARLES
Looks pretty average to me.CAPTAIN SCULLY
Its developed by our alien friends.Captain Scully smiles and punches in some information.
CAPTAIN SCULLY
This is smart technology. All I have
to do is punch in information about
a subject and the satellite can find it.CHARLES
So we need to find Monica Reyes, right?CAPTAIN SCULLY
And Knowle Rohrer.He punches in some more information and the satellite pulls up a split screen of Knowle’s location and of Monica’s.
CHARLES
So this is how you knew my every
move. (beat) So if they’re in danger,
then why are we sitting around here?
Why not go to these places and give
them a helping hand?CAPTAIN SCULLY
Well, you got knocked over the
head and needed some help getting
your health back. (beat) You could’ve
died if you were out there much longer.He turns to Roger Thompson.
CAPTAIN SCULLY
General, pack up your things
and get everything ready to
abandon post. (beat) We’ll be
heading out in a couple of hours.ROGER THOMPSON
Yes, sir.Thompson salutes him and exits the room.
CUT TO:
EXT. MULDER CAMP – LONG ISLAND – EVENING
Knowle’s Hummer rolls into camp. All day they staked out the place to make sure there was no more sign of alien life. Knowle even pulled out his heat sensors to look for any sign of life. Knowle and Shannon sit in the front seat and Mulder’s head pokes in the middle of them.
MULDER
You’re sure it’s safe?KNOWLE
Can never be 100%, but I’m
certain enough to bring everyone
back here. (beat) But we’ve got
other things to think about-MULDER
(eager)
-Like going to find if our theory
is right and that Flight 194 crashed
into the water?KNOWLE
Exactly.SHANNON
You’re both nuts.Knowle and Mulder give her a similar look that pretty much says they don’t care how crazy they sound.
SHANNON
Whatever. Boys will be boys.MONTGOMERY
(speaking up from the back)
I’ll be going with them.Shannon looks back at him.
SHANNON
Not you too.SAMANTHA
Please just find a boat that’s
safer than the rowboat Fox
and I found.KNOWLE
With three of us going out
there, I don’t think you’ll
have to worry about that.SAMANTHA
(under breath)
That’s not all I’m worried about.Knowle, with his keen sense of hearing, looks back at her through the rearview mirror.
SCULLY
While you guys are out there,
all of us will get tents set
up for everyone to sleep in.
(beat) You know, try to make
it as comfortable as we can.SAMANTHA
Sounds like a swell idea, Dana.Everyone files out of the Hummer and stretch their legs. They’ve been in their all day.
MULDER
It’ll be refreshing to go
for a swim.SAMANTHA
Fox, this is not to be taken lightly.Knowle listens in, hearing her concern for Mulder.
MULDER
I know. (beat) I wish I had
flippers and a snorkel.Mulder walks off happily. Samantha looks over at Knowle as he gets scuba gear out of a compartment in his Hummer. They make eye contact and she walks over to him.
SAMANTHA
I need to speak with you.KNOWLE
About your brother?SAMANTHA
Yes. I’m worried that-KNOWLE
-Don’t worry. I won’t let him
get too far.SAMANTHA
Thanks. I just don’t want to
lose him again, you know?She looks over at him. He’s doing stretches to warm up, as if he’s going for a marathon swim.
SAMANTHA
He can be a bit oblivious sometimes.
Not that I’m not like that, but I
worry, you know?KNOWLE
If it’s any comfort to you, I
know the man pretty well. (beat)
I’ll make sure he returns in one piece.He gives her a reassuring smile.
SAMANTHA
Well, thank you good sir.She hugs him and skips off towards Mulder.
TIME CUT TO:
EXT. BOAT – ATLANTIC OCEAN
The sun is setting, darkening the water below. Knowle and Montgomery managed to find a speedboat docked not too far from where Mulder and Samantha set up their little establishment.
Knowle is at the wheel, steering out towards the crash site. He’s wearing a wet suit. Up at the front of the boat, Mulder and Montgomery sit, patiently waiting for Knowle to find the location of the crash with sonar that is equipped on the boat.
MULDER
(to Montgomery)
We should get fishing poles.Montgomery looks up at him.
MULDER
You know. To catch food and stuff.
Just like pirates.Mulder smiles. Montgomery just nods his head.
Knowle brings the boat to a stop.
KNOWLE
I’m getting some kind of
reading on this thing. Not
sure what it is, but something’s
definitely down there. (beat) I’m
going to turn on the underwater lights
so we can see better.He flips a switch and the water lights up below them. Mulder puts on flippers and stands, patiently waiting to go on a deep diving adventure. Knowle comes up to him with a rope. He holds it up for Mulder to see.
KNOWLE
(deadly serious)
This rope is very important.Mulder looks at the rope and nods his head.
KNOWLE
It’ll be attached to the boat and
attached to you so you don’t get lost.MULDER
And it’ll let me go down
as deep as I want?KNOWLE
(lying)
Yes.MULDER
(mischievous)
Ssooper.Knowle looks at him, seeing a lot of mischief in his eyes. Knowle ties the rope firmly to Mulder.
KNOWLE
Do not lose that rope, ok?MULDER
Okie-dokie. Arg cap’n.Mulder salutes Knowle, then puts his snorkel in his mouth.
Montgomery shakes his head and looks down, rubbing his forehead with his hands. He can’t believe Mulder is on this deep dive.
Mulder sits on the side of the boat, gives a wave, then falls backwards into the ocean.
MONTGOMERY
How long is the rope?KNOWLE
Fifteen feet.Montgomery nods his head, relieved.
Knowle goes over to his scuba gear.
MONTGOMERY
Need help?KNOWLE
Yeah.Montgomery goes over to him and helps him get the air tank on his back.
MONTGOMERY
So what all are you bringing down there?KNOWLE
Camera, bag to retrieve any
evidence that may be floating around,
and a couple other gadgets to help me
with navigation in dark waters.Knowle smiles.
MONTGOMERY
And you’re an experienced diver?KNOWLE
Indeed I am.MONTGOMERY
You’re an interesting man of many talents.Knowle nods.
KNOWLE
Guess you could say I have a never
ending thirst for knowledge.He spits into his mask.
MONTGOMERY
How much air’s in the tank?KNOWLE
Enough.Montgomery gives him a look, not trusting Knowle and getting the sense that he’s one to push it more than he should.
MONTGOMERY
Be safe, Knowle. Don’t go pushing
the limits. The last thing we need
is to lose your capabilities to DCI.KNOWLE
I know my limits and I know to be safe.
(beat) I’ve done this many times.He sits on the side of the boat.
MONTGOMERY
How long do we let Mulder swim?KNOWLE
Keep an eye on him. He looked a
little too mischievous, you know?
If he starts tugging on the rope,
get him up.And with that he splashes into the water.
Montgomery shakes his head and goes to the other side of the boat to keep an eye on Mulder, who’s just swimming in place fifteen feet away.
MONTGOMERY
I feel like a babysitter.But he’ll keep his eye on both of them.
Meanwhile, down below the water’s surface...
Knowle looks in Mulder’s direction and sees that he’s doing just fine swimming in place. At least it’s good exercise for him and he needs that after being cooped up in the Hummer all day.
Knowle looks down at the deep water below and gets out his digital underwater camera. If he can’t bring anything back up he can at least capture some pictures to evaluate. He starts to swim down deeper, light becoming more and more limited. Some debris passes him and he snaps a picture, then heads in the direction of it. As he gets closer, he realizes it’s a badge of some sort. Perhaps an ID badge. Maybe the name will ring a bell with Mulder since he probably studied the passenger list. Well, so did Knowle, not understanding why he was only assigned to save the life of one person. He grabs the ID badge and puts it in the bag he has attached to him.
Then, down below, something catches his eye. Something glowing, moving faster and faster towards him. Not large, and not too small... but more like a rock moving at a fast pace, cutting through the ocean water like a torpedo. Knowle tries to move out of its way as fast as he can, hoping the object doesn’t hit the air tank on his back.
SWOOSH! The object sores by him, almost hitting him.
He watches it speed up to the surface and out of the water. He makes his way up, wondering what the hell just happened.
His head leaves the water and he immediately removes his mouthpiece.
KNOWLE
Everyone ok?!Montgomery and Mulder come to the side of the boat Knowle is on. Mulder is out of the water already.
MONTGOMERY
We’re fine.Knowle swims over to them.
KNOWLE
What the hell was that thing?MONTGOMERY
An artifact.KNOWLE
That glows and cuts through the
water like a speeding torpedo?He detaches the bag and tosses it up on the boat. Removes his flippers and tosses them as well, then climbs the latter and sits on one of the seats of the boat.
Montgomery holds the artifact out for him.
KNOWLE
(what the shit?)
That thing never glowed before.MONTGOMERY
I know.MULDER
Is it radiation?MONTGOMERY
I don’t think so.KNOWLE
Then what the hell does it mean?MONTGOMERY
I don’t know.They all stare at the artifacts that have combined together.
KNOWLE
(after a beat)
I found this.He retrieves the ID badge from the bag. Montgomery takes it and examines it.
MONTGOMERY
Dwight Spencer.KNOWLE
You knew him?MONTGOMERY
Yes, I did. He died in a
plane crash seven years ago.He looks directly at Knowle and they all know the theory has been proven. He was on Flight 194.
MONTGOMERY
They have that chip now because
you weren’t here to save that
little girl, not in this time.Montgomery tosses the badge down on the ground. This is very upsetting news to him, to an extent that even Knowle and Mulder don’t understand. They share a look.
KNOWLE
How bad can it be? I mean, this
is the same chip I destroyed, right?MONTGOMERY
Yes.KNOWLE
If it were so important, Dana
never would’ve let me-MONTGOMERY
-She had no idea what was on that chip.His tone is getting angry. There’s nothing he can do to stop this. The aliens have the information they need and they’ll forever be able to use it against them.
KNOWLE
You’re going to have to start talking.Montgomery sits down and looks at him.
MONTGOMERY
That chip had detailed information of
how, who, when, and where human forces
were going to be able to defeat these things.
Now they have it. They have our plans-He stops when he sees Knowle shaking his head in disagreement.
KNOWLE
That’s impossible. There’s no way that
years ago anyone could’ve known how we
are going to defeat them. It’s not even
certain that we will defeat them. (beat)
The future isn’t written, John. (beat) Who
cares if they know who and how. It doesn’t
change a damn thing. There is no future except
for the future we make for ourselves.Montgomery listens to him, as does Mulder.
KNOWLE
We have to move on from this. We can’t
live in the past. We can’t rely on some
chip to secure our survival. We have only
ourselves to rely on. All of us together.His words are comforting, even inspiring to Montgomery not to give up and accept defeat.
KNOWLE
Now we came out here to find out
if this was Flight 194 that re-crashed
in the present. And we’ve done that.
We were successful in our mission.
Let’s not lose it over some chip. (beat)
We’ve got a lot of people back there who
are scared and don’t know what’s going on.
They want answers. So let’s head back and
let them know what we found.Montgomery nods his head and Knowle gets up from his seat and heads back to the wheel.
CUT TO:
INT. HOLDING ROOM – ALIEN HEADQUARTERS – CON’T
Monica’s eyes open, but she remains laying down. Satori looks over at her.
SATORI
Monica? What is it?MONICA
I don’t know.She sits up.
MONICA
I feel something... something I haven’t-She stops talking, allowing the sensation to grow inside of her. She shuts her eyes, starting to hear the voice of Brad Follmer.
BRAD (V.O.)
Monica... I write this letter with no
intention of you reading it...Satori approaches her.
SATORI
Monica?MONICA
I hear him...SATORI
Who?BRAD (V.O.)
I need an outlet... someway to feel
I’m communicating with you...MONICA
Brad...SATORI
What’s he saying?BRAD (V.O.)
... so much that I feel guilty about...MONICA
I don’t know. He feels guilty.Monica shuts her eyes, tapping into him.
BRAD (V.O.)
I never meant to hurt you. I always
wanted what was best for you and that
tore us apart. For that, I am sorry.Tears well in Monica’s eyes.
SATORI
This is just so powerful.Satori is in awe of her ability.
SATORI
You really are the one.Monica opens her eyes, not sure what Satori means by that.
MONICA
I’m what?SATORI
Do you have any idea who you are?Monica doesn’t answer. She’s always, only ever been, just Monica. The weird, quirky girl that had a crazy grandmother.
MONICA
What do you-She’s cut off by flashes, visions that she can’t explain. Ice and cold. She starts to shiver. Death and suffering. Krycek dying – again this vision haunts her as she sees him fall to the ground, blood coming out of his mouth. FLASH: Brad, dying.
BRAD (V.O.)
I still hold hope that one day we
can work things out. And even if we
don’t, I want you to know that I only
want you to be happy...DISSOLVE TO:
INT. HOLDING CELL – COLORADO – CON’T
Brad holds his letter in his hand, rereading it to himself. The door to the holding cell opens and Robert Comer comes in. He’s been beaten badly and is frantic to get Brad and Krycek’s cell door open. They both get to their feet immediately, not knowing what destruction is happening outside.
Comer unlocks their cell door.
COMER
Quick. All Hell’s broken loose.BRAD
What’s going on?COMER
Coleman and his men. They’re killing
everyone. I don’t know how this happened.
It’s like a slaughter house out there.Brad looks him over, seeing blood all over him.
INTER CUT TO:
INT. HOLDING CELL – ALIEN HEADQUARTERS – CON’T
Monica continues to hear Brad’s voice.
BRAD (V.O.)
I wish I could say these words to you...INTER CUT TO:
INT. HOLDING CELL – COLORADO – CON’T
Comer hands Brad a bag and he slips his note inside of it. He hands Krycek a gun.
COMER
Careful. They’re everywhere.All three of them move towards the door...
INTER CUT TO:
INT. HOLDING CELL – ALIEN HEADQUARTERS – CON’T
Satori is holding Monica’s hand as she continues to hear Brad’s voice reading the letter from a long distance.
INTER CUT TO:
EXT. HOLDING CELL – COLORADO – CON’T
Comer, Krycek and Brad make their way out into the night. The chaos making way towards them. Guns fire. A bullet hits Krycek in the arm, almost knocking him off his feet. Brad grabs him, keeping him steady. They can’t stop. Not for anything.
The attack surrounds them, closing them in. Is there a way out? Is this their end?
BRAD (V.O.)
I wish you could hear my voice, feel
my touch. What I wouldn’t give to
hold you in my arms again.All three are attacked viciously by Coleman and his men. Knifes slash at them, guns fire at them. No one will walk away from this unharmed in some way.
Brad sees Coleman, coming after Krycek, who’s back is to him as he fights off another person. Brad’s quick to run, getting in the way of Coleman and blocking the kill shot with his own body.
Coleman repeats his action on Brad, stabbing him multiple times, dropping him to the ground.
Krycek turns around, wide-eyed, seeing blood come from Brad’s mouth, his eyes lifeless as Coleman continues to stab him repeatedly.
Krycek pulls the gun and shoots Coleman, killing him instantly. He stands in shock, looking at Brad’s lifeless body. The world seems to fall silent...
BRAD (V.O.)
I love you Monica... always.Comer grabs Krycek’s arm and pulls him away from the scene. He breaks free momentarily to grab the bag Brad was carrying as the attackers move in.
They run, as we start to fade to black...
And just when the end is in sight to be continued, we...
FADE UP FROM THE BLACKNESS:
INT. ROOM – NIGHT
The room is musty, run down and in horrible condition. A dim light is lit. The walls are made of cement. O.S. a door creeks open and quietly shuts. Footsteps approach a small desk with a transmitter and keyboard.
CU – TRANSMITTER
“CAPTAIN. RECEIVED YOUR LATEST MESSAGE. I WISH YOU A SAFE JOURNEY. I HOPE TO REMAIN IN CONTACT AS MUCH AS I CAN. AS YOU KNOW THIS DEPENDS ON YOUR ACTIONS. PLEASE GO FORWARD WITH CAUTION.”
We pull back, revealing Captain Scully’s informant as Marita Covarrubias. Alive and well, living in an ever changing future.
Off her, we...
FADE OUT:
TO BE CONTINUED...
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