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sinkwriterI recently wrote episode recaps for two episodes of The X-Files, for the LJ community ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
trustno1_redux. It was challenging, time-consuming, and really fun. It also gave me enormous appreciation for all the recappers out there, especially the entertaining ones at Television Without Pity. I salute you all!
Therefore, because I have X-Files fans on my f-list and because I worked super hard on this project... I'm going to post the two recaps to my personal LJ, for your enjoyment. One hopes. Heh.
(Technically, this will be four posts, because I divided each episode into a two-part recap.)
Without further ado...
Reader Warning: This recap is lengthy and therefore will be posted in two parts. I like to paint a picture, so that (as best as possible) the reader can visualize what's happening on screen, even if they haven't actually seen the episode.
The X-Files: "Tunguska"
Recap, Part One
The Teaser: "Why, Miss Scully, are you quitting the FBI?"
Pan down the enormous red-white-and-blue, stars-and-stripes of our classic symbol of Freedom, Justice and Grand Patriotic Heroism: the American Flag. Ooh, look, irony. Because this show is all about Kindly, No-Secrets-Whatsoever, Big Government protecting and serving its people, with Truth and Integrity and other capital-letter moral code words... that Cigarette-Smoking Man (CSM) nonchalantly stubs out like the butts of his ubiquitous Morleys.
Read on...
The magic typewriter across the bottom of the screen informs us that this courtroom scene involves a hearing of the Senate Select Subcommittee on Intelligence and Terrorism, in Washington, D.C. (Intelligence and Terrorism. Two words that do not go together. *ahem* Right. Sorry. Moving on.)
Dana Katherine Scully stands before the committee and swears an oath to tell the truth. (It's out there, you know.) She sits down, and we can see Assistant Director Walter Skinner sitting at a table a few feet behind Scully, to the right of her, as if he is there on her behalf.
She then requests to read a prepared statement. I'll transcribe it, because it's intriguing and says a lot about Scully, demonstrating her beliefs and her bravery. Mulder's always been the idealist while Scully's the skeptic and the scientist, but she has her own idealistic views, especially in the way she sees the government and the role it plays in the lives of its American citizens, or rather, the role she expects it to play. As a woman who grew up in a military family with a Navy Captain father, that flag stands for something important. The Government is supposed to be made up of 'the good guys.' Throughout her years with Mulder, working the X-Files, she is slowly learning the painful, bitter lesson that not everything is as she hoped or thought it would be.
"I left behind a career in medicine to become an F.B.I. agent four years ago... because I believed in this country, because I wanted to uphold its laws, to punish the guilty, and to protect the innocent. I still believe in this country. But I believe there are powerful men in the government who do not."
As the camera pointedly cuts to CSM sitting in the back of the room, Scully continues. "Men who have no respect for the law and who flout it with impunity."
At this point, Committee Chairman Mr. Romine tries to cut her off, but our gal Scully keeps right on going.
"I have come to the conclusion that it is no longer possible--"
Romine interrupts her again and insists this hearing isn't meant to be a soapbox. Scully wants to finish her statement. Damn straight. But he won't hear of it; he insists her statement is not why they're having the hearing. Cutting straight to the point, Scully asks, "Then, why are we here, sir?"
Another man -- Mr. Sorenson -- both sidesteps and answers her question at the same time, by asking if she knows the whereabouts of Agent Fox Mulder. To the committee's annoyance, Scully declines to respond because she believes answering that question could endanger Agent Mulder's life.
Romine insists that she has no choice but to answer the question, because she is an F.B.I. agent and must uphold the integrity of that role. Scully tries instead to continue her statement: "...that it is no longer possible for me to carry out my duties as an F.B.I. agent."
Sorenson pounces on that. "Are you tendering your resignation, Agent Scully? Is that what you're trying to say?"
Sigh. Feel free to jump in and help a girl out, anytime now, Skinner.
Scully shows great restraint in taking their crap and responding respectfully. "What I am saying is that there is a culture of lawlessness that has prevented me from doing my job. That the real target of this committee's investigation should be the men who are beyond prosecution and punishment. The men whose secret policies are behind the crimes you are investigating." Culture of lawlessness -- fantastic phrase!
Sorenson seems mildly amused by this. He orders her to tell them what she knows or be found in contempt of Congress. We fade to the surreal opening credits as the camera holds on our heroine, Dana Scully, contemplating her options, with Assistant Director Skinner visible from over her right shoulder.
***
ACT 1
SCENE 1
Strip Searches: An Excellent Way To Break The Ice
HONOLULU AIRPORT
U.S. CUSTOMS
TEN DAYS EARLIER
Thank you again, Magic-Typewriter-on-the-screen. Carry on.
A man in a business suit stands in the U.S. Customs line and glances at his watch. He steps up to the counter and informs them that he's coming from Japan, but also stopped off in the Republic of Georgia, all on government business. Even though he insists he's traveling on a United States diplomatic visa, the woman instructs him to step through the doors for a random check with a customs official. He complies begrudgingly, but when Customs Guy instructs him to open his briefcase, Business Suit Guy refuses. Customs Guy actually looks at him as if to say, Seriously? He then demands the opening of the case. Business Suit Guy tries to tell him he doesn't have the combination. Oh, Business Suit Guy. You just bought yourself a one-way ticket to a full body cavity exam. That's what you get for running with shadowy government types, dude. You end up waylaid by customs, enjoying a complimentary strip search, poke and prod. Bet you wish you'd taken that job with your local bank, don't ya?
Cut to Business Suit Guy putting on his coat again, his tie still undone. Customs Guy now has the metal briefcase open, and has pulled from it two white canisters. He wants to know what kind of work Business Suit Guy does, and what material he's transporting. Business Suit Guy tries to warn him that those containers are filled with biohazardous materials, but Customs Guy is an idiot and continues to open the canisters, pulling out glass cylinders filled with mysterious black substance, completely disregarding Business Suit Guy's increasingly agitated pleas for him to stop. Dumbass Customs Guy accidentally drops one of the cylinders, glass smashing and black sludge spilling on the floor at his feet. Business Suit Guy tries desperately to exit the room but it's locked from the outside unless you've got the special punch code, which of course he doesn't. As Business Suit Guy pounds on the door and begs for someone to let him out, the sludge on the floor begins to travel like little black worms, wriggling through Dumbass Custom Guy's shoes, through his clothing, through his skin. At first, he tries to shake off the black leeches, but soon it seems he is paralyzed. Then he's convulsing as the worms move underneath his skin, traveling up the side of his throat, across his face, until they reach his eyes, turning the whites to inky black. Business Suit Guy screams in terror.
***
ACT 1
SCENE 2
So... what you're saying is, the truth isn't out there?
FLUSHING, QUEENS
NEW YORK CITY
3:07 AM
It's typical X-Files weather: dark, damp and foggy. Pan across what appears to be a large warehouse, possibly abandoned. (Yeah, right.) Crossing the front of the building, amidst the steam coming up from the street, we pan up and over in the darkness, until we close in on an electric wire...
...which the F.B.I. has tapped into in order to spy on whomever's in the building. Agents are suited up in bulletproof vests and helmets. Scully locks and loads her big damn weapon. Mulder listens intently to what's going on outside via a headset, then insists everyone be patient, not to go in too soon. Scully wants to know why Mulder's so sure something's going down tonight. He admits he received a series of receipts for detonation cord and various fuels, all purchased in cash in three different states under three different signatures. Scully's her usual skeptical self, but Mulder says last night he received two new receipts, one renting this particular storage warehouse and one renting a two-ton truck, both purchased with the same signature. He thinks it could be the next big bombing, like Oklahoma City. Scully: "Who do you think is leaking [the receipts], and why would they leak them to you?" Excellent questions, Scully.
Before Mulder can answer, an agent interrupts, mentioning movement on the grounds. A vehicle that is presumably the aforementioned two-ton truck appears on the scene, making its way until it comes to a stop right in front of the warehouse. There appear to be two occupants, but neither one exits the truck, and the engine is left running. Inexplicably, after absolutely nothing happens, the truck starts to move again, but Mulder tells the team to hold. F.B.I. agents lock and load their weapons from their hidden position, as the truck backs up into a new space and the warehouse door begins to slide open. A handful of men exit the warehouse, holding rifles of their own. They stand, looking about cautiously, waiting. The driver of the truck opens his door and starts to get out.
A second later, a door busts open and the F.B.I. agents spread out en masse, identifying themselves and shouting orders for the criminals to drop their weapons and get down on the ground. The criminals retreat back into the warehouse. As the F.B.I. attempt to smoke them out with gas grenades, the bad guys begin to shoot at them through the closing warehouse door. Agents hit the ground (where's their cover?) and return fire. I guess you could say the criminals are effectively trapped inside the warehouse with no way out, so... good job, F.B.I.?
But the excitement's not over. The driver of the white truck jumps back in and is now attempting to flee the scene, tires screeching as the vehicle narrowly misses running over an agent who somersaults out of the way. Scully gets Mulder's attention and they get up from the ground to go after the truck. Before they can even attempt to shoot out the tires (and we all know that's not Mulder’s strong suit, heh), a gunshot is heard and the truck suddenly veers off and smashes into a parked car. Weapons held high, Mulder and Scully carefully approach the vehicle. Mulder yells for the driver to exit the vehicle, but Scully sees blood splattered all over the driver's side window, a face pressed against the glass, and announces the driver is dead. Mulder points out that he counted two people inside the truck, so they make their way around to the other side.
Mulder: "Get out of the truck!"
There is no immediate response.
Mulder tries again, more forcefully: "Get out of the truck!"
A handgun is tossed out through a small section of rolled-down window, hitting the dirt by Mulder's feet. Mulder demands to see the occupant's hands. The man slowly exits the vehicle with his hands up. We cannot see his face, but he has closely-cropped hair and wears a baseball cap. Mulder gets a good look at the man and mutters, "You son of a bitch." As he slams the butt of his weapon into the man's gut and knocks him down to the ground, we finally see. It's Alex Freaking Krycek. (Yes, I believe he may have changed his middle name to that.)
As a winded Krycek glares up at Mulder, and Mulder glares down at Krycek, his weapon pointed directly at him, Scully tries to diffuse the situation with a sharp "Mulder!" (I do notice she takes her time before she speaks up -- perhaps she's not inclined to care one way or another what happens to Alex Krycek. Given the role he played in her abduction, as well as his presence during the shooting of Scully's sister, I can't say I blame her for pausing a moment or two.)
Krycek: "I handed you this bust, Mulder!"
Mulder: "Oh, come on, Krycek!"
Krycek: "Who do you think sent you those receipts?"
That gets Mulder's attention. Scully waits, eyes on her partner; Mulder is torn, deciding, eyes studying Krycek. After a very long pause, Mulder finally gives in, lowers his weapon and appears to walk away. (Um... Fox? Come back, you still have to handcuff the guy! A bunch of receipts doesn't end your feud. Remember? He killed your father?) Still on the ground, panting, Krycek watches him intently.
Cut to agents wrapping up the scene, loading the handcuffed militia group members into squad cars as police dogs sniff around barrels and other suspicious materials. One surly-looking man with a blonde crew cut looks particularly angry as he's arrested.
Next, we see a handcuffed Alex Krycek leading Mulder and Scully around the front of the warehouse, pointing out some of the illegal materials the militia group had been stockpiling. As Krycek lightly points out how security around the warehouse was a big joke, Mulder and Scully regard him with annoyance for a split second before Mulder shoves him backwards to sit down on a barrel. The two men stare each other down for a moment. Mulder's expression barely changes but something about his demeanor projects that shoving Krycek felt gratifying and that he dares Krycek to give him a reason, anything, just so he can punch the guy. Krycek, on the other hand, looks angry for a moment, but he reins it in and calmly keeps talking about the militia group's purchases.
I simply cannot do adequate justice to this conversation and how terrific both David Duchovny (Mulder) and Nicholas Lea (Krycek) are in it. They play the undercurrent of personal animosity between their characters fantastically well, never letting up, their energy palpable and rife with intensity. I'd say it's probably one of Nick Lea's best XF performances. He's electric. And the dialogue arguably includes a few highly memorable lines. Let me try to capture a bit of it for you...
As Mulder and Scully begin to interrogate Krycek, Scully looks focused and Mulder looks weary. Throughout the questioning, he quietly and carefully studies Alex, eyes barely leaving his face, clearly searching for answers in Krycek's physical behaviors rather than from his potentially (likely) misleading words.
Our first question should be "How the hell did you get out of that silo??" but Scully chooses to word it differently: "How'd you get involved with these men?" Krycek's behavior is fascinating here. He looks to Scully, then looks up at Mulder, holding his gaze for a moment, then he glances down, his chin almost to his chest, and he keeps his head down as he answers: "They found me in North Dakota. They liberated me on a salvage hunt." Is he lying about how he got out? Is he simply remembering his difficult experience with the silo and the hideous Black Oil? His body language clearly shows he's uncomfortable, but the rest is open to interpretation.
As Krycek offers this potential information, avoiding Mulder and Scully's gaze and looking out over the warehouse yard, the same surly crew cut guy from before pointedly glares in Krycek's direction, before he's pushed into a squad car and taken away. Hmm.
Krycek finally looks up at Mulder: "Hey, you go underground, you gotta learn to live with the rats." (Is this our first allusion to Krycek's fandom nickname, Ratboy?) Mulder's not amused. As Krycek drops his gaze again, Mulder knocks the baseball cap right off of Krycek's head. When Krycek tries to look away yet again, Mulder shoves his forehead so he's forced to look Mulder in the eye: "I'm sure you had no trouble adapting." Ooh, burn! Nice one, Mulder.
The great lines continue --
Krycek gives Mulder a dark look. "These men are pathetic revolutionaries who'll kill innocent Americans in the name of bonehead ideologies."
Mulder's unmoved: "You're full of crap, Krycek. You're an invertebrate scum-sucker whose moral dipstick's about two drops short of bone dry."
(Hey, does that mean Krycek's redeemable? Mulder says he's still got two drops of morality left.)
Interestingly, this remark seems to touch a nerve because Krycek stands up and gets in Mulder's face, declaring he loves this country. Mulder shoves him out of his space. He's done interrogating and psychoanalyzing; he turns away from Krycek as Scully steps up. "What do you want, Krycek?"
Krycek says he wants what they want -- to take down CSM, the man that tried to kill him, the man who's really responsible for the death of Mulder's father and Scully's sister. He looks to Mulder as he says this, and I'm stunned Mulder doesn't punch him for even daring to mention his father. He looks to Scully when he mentions her sister, and she also shows great restraint. Then again, they do want to see CSM taken down, so I imagine Krycek's words give them both pause.
However, the idealism deep within Scully comes forth as, surprised, she asks Krycek if he actually wants CSM brought to justice. Krycek tries really hard not to laugh incredulously in her face: "You -- you can't bring these men to justice. They're protected. The laws of this country protect these men under the name of national security."
Mulder seems pissed off at this news and puts forth his own challenge to the double (triple?) agent: "Then why don't you put a bullet in his head like you did [the driver of the truck] out there?" Another excellent question. Krycek doesn't seem to have the ethical qualms about it that have plagued Mulder from pulling the trigger. I kind of wish we could see Krycek do that. After all the crappy, sadistic ways CSM has tried to kill him, I think it would be just desserts for CSM to die at the hands of his ex-subordinate.
Krycek's looking Mulder directly in the eyes now, unwavering. Could this possibly mean he's telling the truth now, but he may not have been earlier in the conversation, back when he couldn't meet the eyes of Scully or Mulder? He does seem to make good points here, things Mulder and Scully need to consider, that CSM and the Consortium aren't people you can take down necessarily through normal channels, that they may have to be stopped in other, more difficult but potentially more pragmatic ways. "These men, they fear one thing: exposure. You expose him, expose his crimes... you destroy the destroyer's ability to destroy."
Alex looks to Scully; she's listening, but the look on her face is slightly inscrutable. Perhaps a bit suspicious and irritated. Nevertheless, it seems Mulder can't let go of his quest: "The only thing that will destroy this man is the truth." Krycek rolls his eyes and shakes his head like he's heard Mulder sing this song one too many times. He looks emphatically at Mulder as he laughs sarcastically (and hilariously), "The truth, the truth. There's no truth!"
In a way, however, they're both kind of arguing the same thing. To reveal the truth about these men, to expose them as Krycek suggests, may also inadvertently reveal some of the truths Mulder's been searching and fighting for all these years. Some of the same information may come to light, if they expose these men's crimes as Krycek recommends. Either way, the snake gets cut off at the head, taking away his ability to bite, removing the worst of the venom. (Or... does a new head simply grow back in its place?)
Unfortunately, Mulder can't see this yet, isn't ready to think on the same terms as his enemy, and anyway, how can he possibly trust Krycek after everything he's done? It's impossible. At this point, anyway.
Krycek plays an angle, trying to get Mulder to bite: "These men, they just -- they make it up as they go along. They're the engineers of the future. They -- they're the real revolutionaries. I can get them for you, too."
It's Mulder's turn to be amused. He smiles, shaking his head, then says, "We can't help you, Krycek." Scully looks like she wants to keep talking about how to stop CSM, but as Mulder turns to leave Krycek to be arrested by the feds, she joins her partner immediately.
But Krycek's not done yet. He's got one more card in his hand. They turn as he calls to them, Scully appearing wary, Mulder still amused. "This is just one bomb I'm sitting on here. You didn't ask me how many more I know about." Oh, well played! Despise and mistrust him as they do, they cannot ignore potential intel that could affect national security. Now they have to listen to him.
***
ACT 1
SCENE 3
"All I got for Halloween was a bunch of rocks."
DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
HERNDON, VIRGINIA
Alex Krycek must have had something interesting to say, because Mulder and Scully have escorted him to the airport. His hands are still cuffed in front of his body, but the jacket draped over his wrists obscures the restraints. The trio looks to the boards for an international charter that originated in Russia. The flight landed fifteen minutes previous so Mulder wants them to hustle to the appropriate gate, but Scully points out that the guy probably had to go through customs. Krycek says the man's diplomatic pouch would have protected him from having to deal with customs. Hmm. At first, I thought they were talking about Doomed Business Suit Guy, since he had a diplomatic pouch and still got waylaid by customs, but the timing doesn't fit. His flight was shown before the F.B.I. warehouse raid, well before Mulder and Scully headed to the airport with Krycek. That, and Business Suit Guy's flight originated in Japan, not Russia. Therefore, they must be looking for another guy. I wonder what he has and how Krycek knows about it.
Krycek leads the way, Mulder and Scully following closely behind. When they reach the appropriate terminal, Krycek gestures to a European-looking gentleman with balding, grey hair and a stern face, wearing a handsome suit. He's carrying a bright orange pouch. Scully immediately takes charge, stepping forward, identifying herself as a federal agent and requesting to speak with him. The guy takes off running. Of course. Scully pursues, shouting at him to stop, but he manages to escape through a pair of sliding doors. The doors close (and lock?) before Scully can get to them. She calls to Mulder to join her in the pursuit, so he quickly handcuffs Krycek to a railing (the guy immediately covers his own wrist with the coat again, heh), and takes off running to her aid. The doors open again (I assume because people on the other side triggered them to open), and Mulder and Scully run through. At this point, Russian Pouch Guy is far ahead, running down a long hallway, knocking down several people, shoving them roughly out of his way. By the time Mulder and Scully reach the edge of the ramp, they see he's already escaped outside and is far ahead of them. Scully notices that the man has inexplicably ditched the pouch he was carrying, leaving it behind on a luggage rack from one of the flights.
Cut to Mulder and Scully re-entering the terminal, Scully holding the orange pouch, both agents looking irritated. Krycek's leaning against the railing, all nonchalant, but when he sees them, he stands, seemingly expectant. Scully snaps at him: "Is this some kind of joke?" Krycek seems confused -- is he? -- so Mulder insists that Scully expose it for him. She unzips the pouch. It contains a large black rock. Mulder snarks to Krycek, "What did you get for Halloween, Charlie Brown?" He walks away in disgust as Krycek stares at Scully, his mouth open, his face stunned. Scully is not amused. Was Krycek expecting something else to be in that pouch? Or is he playing them?
***
ACT 2
SCENE 1
Walter Skinner: One badass muthaf***er.
CRYSTAL CITY, VIRGINIA
11:02 PM
Vantage point: a tall apartment building looms above us. Most of the windows are dark.
Now we're inside one of the apartments. A knocking on the door is heard as the camera focuses on a staircase. There's a very cool lighting shot with the shadow of an X visible against the wall, as if the angles from the staircase (or from something above it) are creating the "x." It's a striking bit of cinematography.
Speaking of striking, we next see a shirtless Assistant Director Skinner making his way down those stairs as he zips and buckles his pants shut. Clearly he was undressed, possibly in bed, when his visitor began knocking on his door.
It's probably not a pertinent thing to note, but... shirtless Skinner. Yowza. Seriously, have you seen him? The dude is like a mountain, rock solid. *ahem* Sorry. Moving on...
Before opening his door, Skinner demands to know who it is. Mulder. Skinner sighs with a hint of exasperation. Heh. He opens the door, and Mulder says he needs Skinner to provide a safe house. The assistant director says, "A safe house for whom?" and Mulder reaches for someone to his right, hilariously pulling Alex Krycek by the scruff of his neck, presenting him to Skinner. Krycek avoids Skinner's eyes as Mulder continues dryly: "This man has information about extreme right militia that could save the lives of innocent Americans." Krycek half-smiles as innocently as possible at his former boss. Skinner is stunned to see his former agent. Last he saw of Alex Krycek was when he beat the crap out of Skinner in a hospital stairwell. One might say they have a bit of unfinished business between them.
Skinner's jaw tightens. He grits out: "He'll be safe here." (I love you, Skinman, but I don't know that I believe you.) Mulder shoves the handcuffed Krycek through the doorway. As Mulder enters the dark apartment and closes the door behind him, Krycek glances around. Skinner strides up to Krycek and immediately punches him in the gut. (Mm-hmm. Sorry, Krycek, but you kind of had that coming to you.) Krycek falls forward, but Skinner yanks him right back up. "Relatively safe." Heh. Skinner's funny sometimes. As Krycek gasps, Skinner pulls him close and snarls, "We're not even yet, boy. That's a start." Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm shuddering.
Skinner demands the keys to Mulder's handcuffs, which Mulder immediately relinquishes. Skinner pulls Krycek with him out onto the balcony of his apartment, throwing him across the small space. From the vantage point where they stand, we can see it is very high up from the street below. Krycek's still winded, trying to recover from the punch, when Skinner wrestles him over and cuffs him to the railing of his balcony.
Krycek actually begs: "You can't leave me out here! I'm gonna freeze to death!"
Skinner shoves Krycek down so that he's squatting on the ground, his right hand cuffed above him in an uncomfortable position. Skinner pauses like he's thinking about changing his mind, but then he says, "Just think warm thoughts," gets up and goes back inside, leaving Krycek out on the balcony in the night air. Krycek wrenches twice against the handcuffs, but he's solidly restrained. He angrily tears the baseball cap off his head and throws it down. (Um, Krycek, you might want to keep that on. It may help you stay warm, genius.) Up to this point, Krycek has seemed relatively in control, no matter what has been done or said to him, but now he seems deadly furious.
***
ACT 2
SCENE 2
Fossilized alien bacteria can't be as dangerous as swine flu, can it?
NASA GODDARD FLIGHT CENTER
GREENBELT, MARYLAND
Brief close-up on a glass door marked with the words, "DEPARTMENT OF EXOBIOLOGY." Through its transparency, we can see Mulder and Scully standing together at a lab table. A white-coated scientist brings out a protective case containing the black rock. He asks again if they have any idea where the rock came from. They have no clue. The scientist says the rock contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Huh. Ooookay. He explains that fits the approximate description of those in fragments of meteorite found recently in the ice fields of Antarctica.
Mulder starts to look a little excited. Scully is stunned. The scientist confirms it would appear the rock originates from Mars. Over four billion years old. Mulder considers this with a slight smile on his face, exchanging a look with Scully. Then he asks, "Is it valuable?" Heee. Scientist Guy says, "Beyond adding evidence to the debate over fossilized remains of alien bacteria, it's relatively worthless." Alien bacteria... that can't be good. Scully, our brilliant scientist, wants to know if this rock contains those fossilized remains. She also informs me that Scientist Guy's name is Doctor Sacks. Oops, sorry, sir. Dr. Sacks won't know until he takes a core sample. He really wants to be the one to do that.
Oh, Dr. Sacks... you really don't want to drill into the scary, mysterious black rock. You seem a decent fellow; I'd hate to see you die. Then again, nondescript character actors such as these often come back to play completely different XF roles, so... don't mind me. Carry on!
Mulder ignores me and manages to remain composed as he understates, "I think we'd all like to know what's in that rock." Inside his head, I bet he's jumping up and down, saying, "Oh boy, meteorites from Mars! That brings me one step closer to real aliens! Whee!" Scully, on the other hand, looks a little bit overwhelmed.
***
ACT 2
SCENE 3
Sadly, "I'll get back to you" doesn't have the same fiery power as "This is where you pucker up and kiss my ass."
Now that it's daylight, we can see that Skinner's apartment building address is 828 Viva Tower. He's all trench-coated up, heading out to start his day. As Skinner begins to walk the pavement, we can see CSM strolling at a short distance behind him. Skinner doesn't turn all the way around, but he knows someone's there. He turns his head slightly and comes to a complete stop, waiting for CSM to catch up.
CSM pulls out his Morley Cigarette Pack of Power and Intimidation, and drawls that he didn't know Skinner lived in the neighborhood. Riiiiight.
Skinner's not in the mood for chitchat and demands to know what CSM wants from him. As CSM lights his cigarette and takes his usual long time answering, he ever-so-casually mentions the diplomatic pouch which Mulder and Scully intercepted. He says it's creating a problem in foreign policy circles. A big problem. Skinner denies knowing anything about any diplomatic pouch. He starts to leave, but CSM elects to walk with him and press the subject. Skinner again says no, but CSM says he finds that hard to believe, Skinner being their supervisory agent and all. Skinner holds his tongue. CSM continues, ever-so-kindly: "As a friend, I should advise you, Mr. Skinner, that withholding information on matters of national security is punishable under this country's laws of treason and sedition." Skinner's not intimidated: "Thank you. I'll consider myself advised, as a friend."
CSM sees his usual intimidation tactics aren't working and changes course to a more direct route: "I need that pouch, Mr. Skinner. And I need to know who gave them the order to intercept it." Oooh, does he suspect it's Krycek? Does he even know at this point that Krycek is alive? If he doesn't, I wonder whom he thinks is involved instead.
Skinner says, "I'll get back to you," and walks away. CSM calls after him, "Wars have broken out over far less, Mr. Skinner. Far, far less." Okay, then.
***
ACT 2
SCENE 4
The fall's what kills ya.
Meanwhile, back up on the balcony... Krycek's shivering from his night out on the veranda. His eyes are closed but they snap open when he hears a noise. The diplomatic pouch guy has entered Skinner's apartment! Krycek tries to control his breathing and his fear, as he watches the man search the room.
It's Diplomatic Pouch Guy's turn to hear a noise, this time a metallic clinking, and he advances toward the balcony. He steps out and looks around. It appears to be empty. Where did Alex Krycek go?
Diplomatic Pouch Guy checks around the pillar but sees nothing suspicious, so he turns to go back inside. Suddenly, a hand reaches up and grasps him by the sport coat and yanks him forward. From Diplomatic Pouch Guy's vantage point, we see Alex Krycek hanging from the balcony railing, struggling with the man, pulling him forward, trying to force him over the railing. Don't ask me how, maybe it's impossible, maybe it's not, maybe it's all about finding the right leverage, I don't have a clue, but somehow Krycek manages to pull the man over the railing and cause him to fall to his death on the street below. Whoa... we see it's a long way down.
***
ACT 2
SCENE 5
Is it possible that Fox Mulder and Alex Krycek actually have a common goal?
FBI HEADQUARTERS
11:17 AM
Mulder's in his basement office, just getting off the phone, as Scully enters. He tells Scully he got nothing but a big dead end from the State Department. "The U.S. Customs officials detained another courier on a similar visa in Honolulu two nights ago." A-ha! That's our Business Suit Guy who came from Japan! "He was coming from Russian Georgia, carrying some kind of toxic soil sample." Yeah, sure. Scully's alarmed at the word 'toxic,' but Mulder keeps talking: "...which leads me to believe that what's in this rock we intercepted are answers beyond the existence of extraterrestrial life, even beyond the conspiracy to cover up that existence." He's very intense, and more right than he knows.
Scully points out that the rock contains fossils of what is believed to be alien bacteria, but that it's under intense debate until they take a sample. Mulder is laser-focused: "Why all this effort to get it onto U.S. soil? I think that what Alex Krycek has given us is a pivotal piece to an even larger plot." Mulder's excited to have some concrete proof in his hands -- never mind how quickly these things seem to disappear on him -- so he gives Krycek a surprising amount of credit. More than Scully's willing to, anyway. Sensible woman that she is, she reminds him that all they know right now is that Alex Krycek has given them a big ol' rock: "Alex Krycek is a liar and a murderer."
But for some reason, Mulder believes him this time: "[He] wants to expose the same men that we do and will go to any lengths to succeed." Hmm. Does he mirror Mulder in that way? Is that why Mulder seems to be -- for the time being -- trusting him?
Scully seems to think so. "What I'm worried about is you, Mulder. How far you'll go. And how far I can follow you." What a terrific bit of dialogue, this. Really shows the depth of their relationship, and the level of honesty and trust they share. And how strong Scully is... no matter how driven Mulder can be, no matter how much she believes in him, she can only travel that road with him so far before she has to turn back. She's not afraid to tell him that, nor is she afraid to let him know when she thinks he's going too far. I love that about their partnership.
Mulder gives Scully a meaningful look, but says nothing, instead exiting his office. Scully follows.
***
ACT 2
SCENE 6
EWW. (Enough said.)
Back at the lab, Dr. Sacks is all suited up in protective gear, preparing to drill into the rock.
As he slices with a power saw, black fluid from the rock spatters the glass shield of his helmet. As he tries to wipe it away, he suddenly halts all movement, staring at the rock on the counter. Black liquid begins to worm its way across the surface, creeping out the good doctor and me. Then he realizes the black stuff that splashed across his helmet is now doing the same, traveling up the clear shield, absorbing its way inside. He whimpers at first, but terror gets the best of him and he begins to scream.
***
ACT 2
SCENE 7
Hey, it's tough finding a decent hair stylist when you're living underground.
Skinner's in a phone booth, looking annoyed. He's on a call with Mulder and coolly inquires, "Where are you?" Mulder's in a car -- hey, Scully's driving! -- and they're headed back to NASA Goddard to see Dr. Sacks. Nope. Skinner wants him to turn around and come home because he doesn’t know how he's going to explain himself to the police. Mulder's stunned. Skinner says there's a dead body outside his building and the police want to talk to everyone who lives there. He then hangs up on Mulder. Heh.
Mulder instructs Scully to pull over and let him out. He's going to take a cab to Skinner's while Scully continues on to see Dr. Sacks and find out what's in the rock.
Cut to the sidewalk outside Skinner's apartment. The coroner is transporting a bulky body bag on a gurney. Meanwhile, a detective asks Skinner some questions. He says he wasn't home, and admits to living on the seventeenth floor. He plays cool, telling the guy that he's assistant director with the F.B.I. The detective immediately apologizes, saying he must've gotten bad info from his lieutenant, that there's a man hanging from Skinner's balcony. Oops. Skinner looks crabby. I somehow imagine him muttering "Krycek" with the same ire that Jerry Seinfeld used to mutter "Newman!"
While Skinner continues to occupy the detective's attention, Mulder slips by and enters the building, heading up to Skinner's apartment to retrieve the troublesome 'hanging man.'
Cut to Mulder shoving Krycek back into the apartment. He grabs Krycek by the wrist to remove the handcuff; Krycek hollers. Seems Skinner may have put those cuffs on a little tight. As Mulder unlocks the cuffs, he snaps at him, "We're going to walk out of here like nothing happened. If anybody speaks to us, you say nothing." (I gotta say, Mulder, you're hot when you get like this.) Krycek cradles his raw wrist as he glares at Mulder, challenging him: "I got no problem. You put me up here, man. I'm looking forward to seein' how you get me out." Mulder barely blinks before he smacks Krycek in the head -- "Stupid-ass haircut!" -- and grabs him by the lapels of his leather jacket. Krycek reminds him that as soon as the body is identified, there will be no doubts whose apartment he fell from. This makes Mulder pause and ask soberly, "Who is he?" Your friendly neighborhood Diplomatic Pouch Guy. The wheels seem to be turning in Mulder's intrigued head as he considers this information, but he merely gives Krycek a look and yanks him forward to get the hell out of Skinner's apartment. Krycek says pointedly: "I say follow the pouch." Hmm. Is this what Krycek wanted him to do all along? What's his game here?
Before Mulder can say anything, before the two men can exit the premises, Mulder's cell phone rings. It's Scully: "Mulder, it's me." (I don't know why, but I love it when she says that.) We see her outside of the containment space where Dr. Sacks was drilling into the rock. She informs Mulder that whatever's in the rock appears to be lethal. She looks to Dr. Sacks, who's simply standing there, frozen in place.
Scully says she can't even tell if he's dead or alive. Mulder asks her to find out for sure, and also to go through the Bureau to get him an address in New York. Scully continues to listen intently, but we don't hear the address.
***
ACT 2
SCENE 8
I'll take Geography for $500, Alex.
UPPER WEST SIDE
NEW YORK CITY
12:36 AM
Mulder stands in a hallway, trying to knock quietly on the door of apartment number 212. When no one answers, he knocks with a bit more urgency.
A woman's voice asks, "Who is it?"
When Mulder identifies himself, the woman cracks the door open a sliver, the protective chain visible across the top of the space. It's Marita Covarrubias.
Her grim countenance gives away nothing, but she quietly asks what he's doing there and how he found out where she lives. He apologizes for using the F.B.I. database but informs her it's a matter of extreme urgency: "A diplomatic pouch left Russia and arrived here in the U.S. Two men are dead. I need to know why." She considers this for a moment, then closes the door, removes the chain and lets Mulder in.
He enters her apartment. The scene dissolves with an unidentified passage of time. Mulder is sitting on an armchair in her living room, his hands folded in his lap, his eyes closed. In the background we can hear Marita asking someone if they have "its destination and its routing entries." She hangs up the phone and makes her way (very cat-like) across the room to Mulder's side. She's still in her bathrobe (it's pale-colored and silky smooth, just like her character). She kneels down to Mulder's eye level and pauses before waking him up. He looks a little apologetic for napping.
Marita has information for him: "The diplomatic pouch traveled an apex route to the Russian province of Krasnoyarsk... Port of entry was the city of Noril'sk." Mulder notes that that's just north of Tunguska, impressing me greatly with his mad geography skillz. (And we have our episode title at last.) Mulder wants to book himself a flight to Krasnoyarsk, and Marita says she can help him with that, provide him cover credentials, a diplomatic passport and visa. Nice!
Mulder asks why she's helping him, and she replies cryptically, "Because I can. Because there are those of us who believe in you. Believe in your search for the truth." Them's the magic words for Mulder; he asks how long it'll take her to put all that stuff together for him. She asks him how long he has, and we get a quick glimpse of his watch:
MON '96
11-25
3:12 14
Wow, he's been waiting in her apartment for almost 3 hours in the middle of the night? No wonder he fell asleep!
Mulder says nothing in response, simply looks at her, and she leaves the room. He stands there, exhausted, and closes his eyes. Poor Mulder. So close, yet always so far from his goals. And he has no idea what he's getting himself into this time.
See Part Two for the rest of this episode's recap! Thanks very much for reading!
trustno1_redux. It was challenging, time-consuming, and really fun. It also gave me enormous appreciation for all the recappers out there, especially the entertaining ones at Television Without Pity. I salute you all!Therefore, because I have X-Files fans on my f-list and because I worked super hard on this project... I'm going to post the two recaps to my personal LJ, for your enjoyment. One hopes. Heh.
(Technically, this will be four posts, because I divided each episode into a two-part recap.)
Without further ado...
Reader Warning: This recap is lengthy and therefore will be posted in two parts. I like to paint a picture, so that (as best as possible) the reader can visualize what's happening on screen, even if they haven't actually seen the episode.
The X-Files: "Tunguska"
Recap, Part One
The Teaser: "Why, Miss Scully, are you quitting the FBI?"
Pan down the enormous red-white-and-blue, stars-and-stripes of our classic symbol of Freedom, Justice and Grand Patriotic Heroism: the American Flag. Ooh, look, irony. Because this show is all about Kindly, No-Secrets-Whatsoever, Big Government protecting and serving its people, with Truth and Integrity and other capital-letter moral code words... that Cigarette-Smoking Man (CSM) nonchalantly stubs out like the butts of his ubiquitous Morleys.
Read on...
The magic typewriter across the bottom of the screen informs us that this courtroom scene involves a hearing of the Senate Select Subcommittee on Intelligence and Terrorism, in Washington, D.C. (Intelligence and Terrorism. Two words that do not go together. *ahem* Right. Sorry. Moving on.)
Dana Katherine Scully stands before the committee and swears an oath to tell the truth. (It's out there, you know.) She sits down, and we can see Assistant Director Walter Skinner sitting at a table a few feet behind Scully, to the right of her, as if he is there on her behalf.
She then requests to read a prepared statement. I'll transcribe it, because it's intriguing and says a lot about Scully, demonstrating her beliefs and her bravery. Mulder's always been the idealist while Scully's the skeptic and the scientist, but she has her own idealistic views, especially in the way she sees the government and the role it plays in the lives of its American citizens, or rather, the role she expects it to play. As a woman who grew up in a military family with a Navy Captain father, that flag stands for something important. The Government is supposed to be made up of 'the good guys.' Throughout her years with Mulder, working the X-Files, she is slowly learning the painful, bitter lesson that not everything is as she hoped or thought it would be.
"I left behind a career in medicine to become an F.B.I. agent four years ago... because I believed in this country, because I wanted to uphold its laws, to punish the guilty, and to protect the innocent. I still believe in this country. But I believe there are powerful men in the government who do not."
As the camera pointedly cuts to CSM sitting in the back of the room, Scully continues. "Men who have no respect for the law and who flout it with impunity."
At this point, Committee Chairman Mr. Romine tries to cut her off, but our gal Scully keeps right on going.
"I have come to the conclusion that it is no longer possible--"
Romine interrupts her again and insists this hearing isn't meant to be a soapbox. Scully wants to finish her statement. Damn straight. But he won't hear of it; he insists her statement is not why they're having the hearing. Cutting straight to the point, Scully asks, "Then, why are we here, sir?"
Another man -- Mr. Sorenson -- both sidesteps and answers her question at the same time, by asking if she knows the whereabouts of Agent Fox Mulder. To the committee's annoyance, Scully declines to respond because she believes answering that question could endanger Agent Mulder's life.
Romine insists that she has no choice but to answer the question, because she is an F.B.I. agent and must uphold the integrity of that role. Scully tries instead to continue her statement: "...that it is no longer possible for me to carry out my duties as an F.B.I. agent."
Sorenson pounces on that. "Are you tendering your resignation, Agent Scully? Is that what you're trying to say?"
Sigh. Feel free to jump in and help a girl out, anytime now, Skinner.
Scully shows great restraint in taking their crap and responding respectfully. "What I am saying is that there is a culture of lawlessness that has prevented me from doing my job. That the real target of this committee's investigation should be the men who are beyond prosecution and punishment. The men whose secret policies are behind the crimes you are investigating." Culture of lawlessness -- fantastic phrase!
Sorenson seems mildly amused by this. He orders her to tell them what she knows or be found in contempt of Congress. We fade to the surreal opening credits as the camera holds on our heroine, Dana Scully, contemplating her options, with Assistant Director Skinner visible from over her right shoulder.
***
ACT 1
SCENE 1
Strip Searches: An Excellent Way To Break The Ice
HONOLULU AIRPORT
U.S. CUSTOMS
TEN DAYS EARLIER
Thank you again, Magic-Typewriter-on-the-screen. Carry on.
A man in a business suit stands in the U.S. Customs line and glances at his watch. He steps up to the counter and informs them that he's coming from Japan, but also stopped off in the Republic of Georgia, all on government business. Even though he insists he's traveling on a United States diplomatic visa, the woman instructs him to step through the doors for a random check with a customs official. He complies begrudgingly, but when Customs Guy instructs him to open his briefcase, Business Suit Guy refuses. Customs Guy actually looks at him as if to say, Seriously? He then demands the opening of the case. Business Suit Guy tries to tell him he doesn't have the combination. Oh, Business Suit Guy. You just bought yourself a one-way ticket to a full body cavity exam. That's what you get for running with shadowy government types, dude. You end up waylaid by customs, enjoying a complimentary strip search, poke and prod. Bet you wish you'd taken that job with your local bank, don't ya?
Cut to Business Suit Guy putting on his coat again, his tie still undone. Customs Guy now has the metal briefcase open, and has pulled from it two white canisters. He wants to know what kind of work Business Suit Guy does, and what material he's transporting. Business Suit Guy tries to warn him that those containers are filled with biohazardous materials, but Customs Guy is an idiot and continues to open the canisters, pulling out glass cylinders filled with mysterious black substance, completely disregarding Business Suit Guy's increasingly agitated pleas for him to stop. Dumbass Customs Guy accidentally drops one of the cylinders, glass smashing and black sludge spilling on the floor at his feet. Business Suit Guy tries desperately to exit the room but it's locked from the outside unless you've got the special punch code, which of course he doesn't. As Business Suit Guy pounds on the door and begs for someone to let him out, the sludge on the floor begins to travel like little black worms, wriggling through Dumbass Custom Guy's shoes, through his clothing, through his skin. At first, he tries to shake off the black leeches, but soon it seems he is paralyzed. Then he's convulsing as the worms move underneath his skin, traveling up the side of his throat, across his face, until they reach his eyes, turning the whites to inky black. Business Suit Guy screams in terror.
***
ACT 1
SCENE 2
So... what you're saying is, the truth isn't out there?
FLUSHING, QUEENS
NEW YORK CITY
3:07 AM
It's typical X-Files weather: dark, damp and foggy. Pan across what appears to be a large warehouse, possibly abandoned. (Yeah, right.) Crossing the front of the building, amidst the steam coming up from the street, we pan up and over in the darkness, until we close in on an electric wire...
...which the F.B.I. has tapped into in order to spy on whomever's in the building. Agents are suited up in bulletproof vests and helmets. Scully locks and loads her big damn weapon. Mulder listens intently to what's going on outside via a headset, then insists everyone be patient, not to go in too soon. Scully wants to know why Mulder's so sure something's going down tonight. He admits he received a series of receipts for detonation cord and various fuels, all purchased in cash in three different states under three different signatures. Scully's her usual skeptical self, but Mulder says last night he received two new receipts, one renting this particular storage warehouse and one renting a two-ton truck, both purchased with the same signature. He thinks it could be the next big bombing, like Oklahoma City. Scully: "Who do you think is leaking [the receipts], and why would they leak them to you?" Excellent questions, Scully.
Before Mulder can answer, an agent interrupts, mentioning movement on the grounds. A vehicle that is presumably the aforementioned two-ton truck appears on the scene, making its way until it comes to a stop right in front of the warehouse. There appear to be two occupants, but neither one exits the truck, and the engine is left running. Inexplicably, after absolutely nothing happens, the truck starts to move again, but Mulder tells the team to hold. F.B.I. agents lock and load their weapons from their hidden position, as the truck backs up into a new space and the warehouse door begins to slide open. A handful of men exit the warehouse, holding rifles of their own. They stand, looking about cautiously, waiting. The driver of the truck opens his door and starts to get out.
A second later, a door busts open and the F.B.I. agents spread out en masse, identifying themselves and shouting orders for the criminals to drop their weapons and get down on the ground. The criminals retreat back into the warehouse. As the F.B.I. attempt to smoke them out with gas grenades, the bad guys begin to shoot at them through the closing warehouse door. Agents hit the ground (where's their cover?) and return fire. I guess you could say the criminals are effectively trapped inside the warehouse with no way out, so... good job, F.B.I.?
But the excitement's not over. The driver of the white truck jumps back in and is now attempting to flee the scene, tires screeching as the vehicle narrowly misses running over an agent who somersaults out of the way. Scully gets Mulder's attention and they get up from the ground to go after the truck. Before they can even attempt to shoot out the tires (and we all know that's not Mulder’s strong suit, heh), a gunshot is heard and the truck suddenly veers off and smashes into a parked car. Weapons held high, Mulder and Scully carefully approach the vehicle. Mulder yells for the driver to exit the vehicle, but Scully sees blood splattered all over the driver's side window, a face pressed against the glass, and announces the driver is dead. Mulder points out that he counted two people inside the truck, so they make their way around to the other side.
Mulder: "Get out of the truck!"
There is no immediate response.
Mulder tries again, more forcefully: "Get out of the truck!"
A handgun is tossed out through a small section of rolled-down window, hitting the dirt by Mulder's feet. Mulder demands to see the occupant's hands. The man slowly exits the vehicle with his hands up. We cannot see his face, but he has closely-cropped hair and wears a baseball cap. Mulder gets a good look at the man and mutters, "You son of a bitch." As he slams the butt of his weapon into the man's gut and knocks him down to the ground, we finally see. It's Alex Freaking Krycek. (Yes, I believe he may have changed his middle name to that.)
As a winded Krycek glares up at Mulder, and Mulder glares down at Krycek, his weapon pointed directly at him, Scully tries to diffuse the situation with a sharp "Mulder!" (I do notice she takes her time before she speaks up -- perhaps she's not inclined to care one way or another what happens to Alex Krycek. Given the role he played in her abduction, as well as his presence during the shooting of Scully's sister, I can't say I blame her for pausing a moment or two.)
Krycek: "I handed you this bust, Mulder!"
Mulder: "Oh, come on, Krycek!"
Krycek: "Who do you think sent you those receipts?"
That gets Mulder's attention. Scully waits, eyes on her partner; Mulder is torn, deciding, eyes studying Krycek. After a very long pause, Mulder finally gives in, lowers his weapon and appears to walk away. (Um... Fox? Come back, you still have to handcuff the guy! A bunch of receipts doesn't end your feud. Remember? He killed your father?) Still on the ground, panting, Krycek watches him intently.
Cut to agents wrapping up the scene, loading the handcuffed militia group members into squad cars as police dogs sniff around barrels and other suspicious materials. One surly-looking man with a blonde crew cut looks particularly angry as he's arrested.
Next, we see a handcuffed Alex Krycek leading Mulder and Scully around the front of the warehouse, pointing out some of the illegal materials the militia group had been stockpiling. As Krycek lightly points out how security around the warehouse was a big joke, Mulder and Scully regard him with annoyance for a split second before Mulder shoves him backwards to sit down on a barrel. The two men stare each other down for a moment. Mulder's expression barely changes but something about his demeanor projects that shoving Krycek felt gratifying and that he dares Krycek to give him a reason, anything, just so he can punch the guy. Krycek, on the other hand, looks angry for a moment, but he reins it in and calmly keeps talking about the militia group's purchases.
I simply cannot do adequate justice to this conversation and how terrific both David Duchovny (Mulder) and Nicholas Lea (Krycek) are in it. They play the undercurrent of personal animosity between their characters fantastically well, never letting up, their energy palpable and rife with intensity. I'd say it's probably one of Nick Lea's best XF performances. He's electric. And the dialogue arguably includes a few highly memorable lines. Let me try to capture a bit of it for you...
As Mulder and Scully begin to interrogate Krycek, Scully looks focused and Mulder looks weary. Throughout the questioning, he quietly and carefully studies Alex, eyes barely leaving his face, clearly searching for answers in Krycek's physical behaviors rather than from his potentially (likely) misleading words.
Our first question should be "How the hell did you get out of that silo??" but Scully chooses to word it differently: "How'd you get involved with these men?" Krycek's behavior is fascinating here. He looks to Scully, then looks up at Mulder, holding his gaze for a moment, then he glances down, his chin almost to his chest, and he keeps his head down as he answers: "They found me in North Dakota. They liberated me on a salvage hunt." Is he lying about how he got out? Is he simply remembering his difficult experience with the silo and the hideous Black Oil? His body language clearly shows he's uncomfortable, but the rest is open to interpretation.
As Krycek offers this potential information, avoiding Mulder and Scully's gaze and looking out over the warehouse yard, the same surly crew cut guy from before pointedly glares in Krycek's direction, before he's pushed into a squad car and taken away. Hmm.
Krycek finally looks up at Mulder: "Hey, you go underground, you gotta learn to live with the rats." (Is this our first allusion to Krycek's fandom nickname, Ratboy?) Mulder's not amused. As Krycek drops his gaze again, Mulder knocks the baseball cap right off of Krycek's head. When Krycek tries to look away yet again, Mulder shoves his forehead so he's forced to look Mulder in the eye: "I'm sure you had no trouble adapting." Ooh, burn! Nice one, Mulder.
The great lines continue --
Krycek gives Mulder a dark look. "These men are pathetic revolutionaries who'll kill innocent Americans in the name of bonehead ideologies."
Mulder's unmoved: "You're full of crap, Krycek. You're an invertebrate scum-sucker whose moral dipstick's about two drops short of bone dry."
(Hey, does that mean Krycek's redeemable? Mulder says he's still got two drops of morality left.)
Interestingly, this remark seems to touch a nerve because Krycek stands up and gets in Mulder's face, declaring he loves this country. Mulder shoves him out of his space. He's done interrogating and psychoanalyzing; he turns away from Krycek as Scully steps up. "What do you want, Krycek?"
Krycek says he wants what they want -- to take down CSM, the man that tried to kill him, the man who's really responsible for the death of Mulder's father and Scully's sister. He looks to Mulder as he says this, and I'm stunned Mulder doesn't punch him for even daring to mention his father. He looks to Scully when he mentions her sister, and she also shows great restraint. Then again, they do want to see CSM taken down, so I imagine Krycek's words give them both pause.
However, the idealism deep within Scully comes forth as, surprised, she asks Krycek if he actually wants CSM brought to justice. Krycek tries really hard not to laugh incredulously in her face: "You -- you can't bring these men to justice. They're protected. The laws of this country protect these men under the name of national security."
Mulder seems pissed off at this news and puts forth his own challenge to the double (triple?) agent: "Then why don't you put a bullet in his head like you did [the driver of the truck] out there?" Another excellent question. Krycek doesn't seem to have the ethical qualms about it that have plagued Mulder from pulling the trigger. I kind of wish we could see Krycek do that. After all the crappy, sadistic ways CSM has tried to kill him, I think it would be just desserts for CSM to die at the hands of his ex-subordinate.
Krycek's looking Mulder directly in the eyes now, unwavering. Could this possibly mean he's telling the truth now, but he may not have been earlier in the conversation, back when he couldn't meet the eyes of Scully or Mulder? He does seem to make good points here, things Mulder and Scully need to consider, that CSM and the Consortium aren't people you can take down necessarily through normal channels, that they may have to be stopped in other, more difficult but potentially more pragmatic ways. "These men, they fear one thing: exposure. You expose him, expose his crimes... you destroy the destroyer's ability to destroy."
Alex looks to Scully; she's listening, but the look on her face is slightly inscrutable. Perhaps a bit suspicious and irritated. Nevertheless, it seems Mulder can't let go of his quest: "The only thing that will destroy this man is the truth." Krycek rolls his eyes and shakes his head like he's heard Mulder sing this song one too many times. He looks emphatically at Mulder as he laughs sarcastically (and hilariously), "The truth, the truth. There's no truth!"
In a way, however, they're both kind of arguing the same thing. To reveal the truth about these men, to expose them as Krycek suggests, may also inadvertently reveal some of the truths Mulder's been searching and fighting for all these years. Some of the same information may come to light, if they expose these men's crimes as Krycek recommends. Either way, the snake gets cut off at the head, taking away his ability to bite, removing the worst of the venom. (Or... does a new head simply grow back in its place?)
Unfortunately, Mulder can't see this yet, isn't ready to think on the same terms as his enemy, and anyway, how can he possibly trust Krycek after everything he's done? It's impossible. At this point, anyway.
Krycek plays an angle, trying to get Mulder to bite: "These men, they just -- they make it up as they go along. They're the engineers of the future. They -- they're the real revolutionaries. I can get them for you, too."
It's Mulder's turn to be amused. He smiles, shaking his head, then says, "We can't help you, Krycek." Scully looks like she wants to keep talking about how to stop CSM, but as Mulder turns to leave Krycek to be arrested by the feds, she joins her partner immediately.
But Krycek's not done yet. He's got one more card in his hand. They turn as he calls to them, Scully appearing wary, Mulder still amused. "This is just one bomb I'm sitting on here. You didn't ask me how many more I know about." Oh, well played! Despise and mistrust him as they do, they cannot ignore potential intel that could affect national security. Now they have to listen to him.
***
ACT 1
SCENE 3
"All I got for Halloween was a bunch of rocks."
DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
HERNDON, VIRGINIA
Alex Krycek must have had something interesting to say, because Mulder and Scully have escorted him to the airport. His hands are still cuffed in front of his body, but the jacket draped over his wrists obscures the restraints. The trio looks to the boards for an international charter that originated in Russia. The flight landed fifteen minutes previous so Mulder wants them to hustle to the appropriate gate, but Scully points out that the guy probably had to go through customs. Krycek says the man's diplomatic pouch would have protected him from having to deal with customs. Hmm. At first, I thought they were talking about Doomed Business Suit Guy, since he had a diplomatic pouch and still got waylaid by customs, but the timing doesn't fit. His flight was shown before the F.B.I. warehouse raid, well before Mulder and Scully headed to the airport with Krycek. That, and Business Suit Guy's flight originated in Japan, not Russia. Therefore, they must be looking for another guy. I wonder what he has and how Krycek knows about it.
Krycek leads the way, Mulder and Scully following closely behind. When they reach the appropriate terminal, Krycek gestures to a European-looking gentleman with balding, grey hair and a stern face, wearing a handsome suit. He's carrying a bright orange pouch. Scully immediately takes charge, stepping forward, identifying herself as a federal agent and requesting to speak with him. The guy takes off running. Of course. Scully pursues, shouting at him to stop, but he manages to escape through a pair of sliding doors. The doors close (and lock?) before Scully can get to them. She calls to Mulder to join her in the pursuit, so he quickly handcuffs Krycek to a railing (the guy immediately covers his own wrist with the coat again, heh), and takes off running to her aid. The doors open again (I assume because people on the other side triggered them to open), and Mulder and Scully run through. At this point, Russian Pouch Guy is far ahead, running down a long hallway, knocking down several people, shoving them roughly out of his way. By the time Mulder and Scully reach the edge of the ramp, they see he's already escaped outside and is far ahead of them. Scully notices that the man has inexplicably ditched the pouch he was carrying, leaving it behind on a luggage rack from one of the flights.
Cut to Mulder and Scully re-entering the terminal, Scully holding the orange pouch, both agents looking irritated. Krycek's leaning against the railing, all nonchalant, but when he sees them, he stands, seemingly expectant. Scully snaps at him: "Is this some kind of joke?" Krycek seems confused -- is he? -- so Mulder insists that Scully expose it for him. She unzips the pouch. It contains a large black rock. Mulder snarks to Krycek, "What did you get for Halloween, Charlie Brown?" He walks away in disgust as Krycek stares at Scully, his mouth open, his face stunned. Scully is not amused. Was Krycek expecting something else to be in that pouch? Or is he playing them?
***
ACT 2
SCENE 1
Walter Skinner: One badass muthaf***er.
CRYSTAL CITY, VIRGINIA
11:02 PM
Vantage point: a tall apartment building looms above us. Most of the windows are dark.
Now we're inside one of the apartments. A knocking on the door is heard as the camera focuses on a staircase. There's a very cool lighting shot with the shadow of an X visible against the wall, as if the angles from the staircase (or from something above it) are creating the "x." It's a striking bit of cinematography.
Speaking of striking, we next see a shirtless Assistant Director Skinner making his way down those stairs as he zips and buckles his pants shut. Clearly he was undressed, possibly in bed, when his visitor began knocking on his door.
It's probably not a pertinent thing to note, but... shirtless Skinner. Yowza. Seriously, have you seen him? The dude is like a mountain, rock solid. *ahem* Sorry. Moving on...
Before opening his door, Skinner demands to know who it is. Mulder. Skinner sighs with a hint of exasperation. Heh. He opens the door, and Mulder says he needs Skinner to provide a safe house. The assistant director says, "A safe house for whom?" and Mulder reaches for someone to his right, hilariously pulling Alex Krycek by the scruff of his neck, presenting him to Skinner. Krycek avoids Skinner's eyes as Mulder continues dryly: "This man has information about extreme right militia that could save the lives of innocent Americans." Krycek half-smiles as innocently as possible at his former boss. Skinner is stunned to see his former agent. Last he saw of Alex Krycek was when he beat the crap out of Skinner in a hospital stairwell. One might say they have a bit of unfinished business between them.
Skinner's jaw tightens. He grits out: "He'll be safe here." (I love you, Skinman, but I don't know that I believe you.) Mulder shoves the handcuffed Krycek through the doorway. As Mulder enters the dark apartment and closes the door behind him, Krycek glances around. Skinner strides up to Krycek and immediately punches him in the gut. (Mm-hmm. Sorry, Krycek, but you kind of had that coming to you.) Krycek falls forward, but Skinner yanks him right back up. "Relatively safe." Heh. Skinner's funny sometimes. As Krycek gasps, Skinner pulls him close and snarls, "We're not even yet, boy. That's a start." Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm shuddering.
Skinner demands the keys to Mulder's handcuffs, which Mulder immediately relinquishes. Skinner pulls Krycek with him out onto the balcony of his apartment, throwing him across the small space. From the vantage point where they stand, we can see it is very high up from the street below. Krycek's still winded, trying to recover from the punch, when Skinner wrestles him over and cuffs him to the railing of his balcony.
Krycek actually begs: "You can't leave me out here! I'm gonna freeze to death!"
Skinner shoves Krycek down so that he's squatting on the ground, his right hand cuffed above him in an uncomfortable position. Skinner pauses like he's thinking about changing his mind, but then he says, "Just think warm thoughts," gets up and goes back inside, leaving Krycek out on the balcony in the night air. Krycek wrenches twice against the handcuffs, but he's solidly restrained. He angrily tears the baseball cap off his head and throws it down. (Um, Krycek, you might want to keep that on. It may help you stay warm, genius.) Up to this point, Krycek has seemed relatively in control, no matter what has been done or said to him, but now he seems deadly furious.
***
ACT 2
SCENE 2
Fossilized alien bacteria can't be as dangerous as swine flu, can it?
NASA GODDARD FLIGHT CENTER
GREENBELT, MARYLAND
Brief close-up on a glass door marked with the words, "DEPARTMENT OF EXOBIOLOGY." Through its transparency, we can see Mulder and Scully standing together at a lab table. A white-coated scientist brings out a protective case containing the black rock. He asks again if they have any idea where the rock came from. They have no clue. The scientist says the rock contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Huh. Ooookay. He explains that fits the approximate description of those in fragments of meteorite found recently in the ice fields of Antarctica.
Mulder starts to look a little excited. Scully is stunned. The scientist confirms it would appear the rock originates from Mars. Over four billion years old. Mulder considers this with a slight smile on his face, exchanging a look with Scully. Then he asks, "Is it valuable?" Heee. Scientist Guy says, "Beyond adding evidence to the debate over fossilized remains of alien bacteria, it's relatively worthless." Alien bacteria... that can't be good. Scully, our brilliant scientist, wants to know if this rock contains those fossilized remains. She also informs me that Scientist Guy's name is Doctor Sacks. Oops, sorry, sir. Dr. Sacks won't know until he takes a core sample. He really wants to be the one to do that.
Oh, Dr. Sacks... you really don't want to drill into the scary, mysterious black rock. You seem a decent fellow; I'd hate to see you die. Then again, nondescript character actors such as these often come back to play completely different XF roles, so... don't mind me. Carry on!
Mulder ignores me and manages to remain composed as he understates, "I think we'd all like to know what's in that rock." Inside his head, I bet he's jumping up and down, saying, "Oh boy, meteorites from Mars! That brings me one step closer to real aliens! Whee!" Scully, on the other hand, looks a little bit overwhelmed.
***
ACT 2
SCENE 3
Sadly, "I'll get back to you" doesn't have the same fiery power as "This is where you pucker up and kiss my ass."
Now that it's daylight, we can see that Skinner's apartment building address is 828 Viva Tower. He's all trench-coated up, heading out to start his day. As Skinner begins to walk the pavement, we can see CSM strolling at a short distance behind him. Skinner doesn't turn all the way around, but he knows someone's there. He turns his head slightly and comes to a complete stop, waiting for CSM to catch up.
CSM pulls out his Morley Cigarette Pack of Power and Intimidation, and drawls that he didn't know Skinner lived in the neighborhood. Riiiiight.
Skinner's not in the mood for chitchat and demands to know what CSM wants from him. As CSM lights his cigarette and takes his usual long time answering, he ever-so-casually mentions the diplomatic pouch which Mulder and Scully intercepted. He says it's creating a problem in foreign policy circles. A big problem. Skinner denies knowing anything about any diplomatic pouch. He starts to leave, but CSM elects to walk with him and press the subject. Skinner again says no, but CSM says he finds that hard to believe, Skinner being their supervisory agent and all. Skinner holds his tongue. CSM continues, ever-so-kindly: "As a friend, I should advise you, Mr. Skinner, that withholding information on matters of national security is punishable under this country's laws of treason and sedition." Skinner's not intimidated: "Thank you. I'll consider myself advised, as a friend."
CSM sees his usual intimidation tactics aren't working and changes course to a more direct route: "I need that pouch, Mr. Skinner. And I need to know who gave them the order to intercept it." Oooh, does he suspect it's Krycek? Does he even know at this point that Krycek is alive? If he doesn't, I wonder whom he thinks is involved instead.
Skinner says, "I'll get back to you," and walks away. CSM calls after him, "Wars have broken out over far less, Mr. Skinner. Far, far less." Okay, then.
***
ACT 2
SCENE 4
The fall's what kills ya.
Meanwhile, back up on the balcony... Krycek's shivering from his night out on the veranda. His eyes are closed but they snap open when he hears a noise. The diplomatic pouch guy has entered Skinner's apartment! Krycek tries to control his breathing and his fear, as he watches the man search the room.
It's Diplomatic Pouch Guy's turn to hear a noise, this time a metallic clinking, and he advances toward the balcony. He steps out and looks around. It appears to be empty. Where did Alex Krycek go?
Diplomatic Pouch Guy checks around the pillar but sees nothing suspicious, so he turns to go back inside. Suddenly, a hand reaches up and grasps him by the sport coat and yanks him forward. From Diplomatic Pouch Guy's vantage point, we see Alex Krycek hanging from the balcony railing, struggling with the man, pulling him forward, trying to force him over the railing. Don't ask me how, maybe it's impossible, maybe it's not, maybe it's all about finding the right leverage, I don't have a clue, but somehow Krycek manages to pull the man over the railing and cause him to fall to his death on the street below. Whoa... we see it's a long way down.
***
ACT 2
SCENE 5
Is it possible that Fox Mulder and Alex Krycek actually have a common goal?
FBI HEADQUARTERS
11:17 AM
Mulder's in his basement office, just getting off the phone, as Scully enters. He tells Scully he got nothing but a big dead end from the State Department. "The U.S. Customs officials detained another courier on a similar visa in Honolulu two nights ago." A-ha! That's our Business Suit Guy who came from Japan! "He was coming from Russian Georgia, carrying some kind of toxic soil sample." Yeah, sure. Scully's alarmed at the word 'toxic,' but Mulder keeps talking: "...which leads me to believe that what's in this rock we intercepted are answers beyond the existence of extraterrestrial life, even beyond the conspiracy to cover up that existence." He's very intense, and more right than he knows.
Scully points out that the rock contains fossils of what is believed to be alien bacteria, but that it's under intense debate until they take a sample. Mulder is laser-focused: "Why all this effort to get it onto U.S. soil? I think that what Alex Krycek has given us is a pivotal piece to an even larger plot." Mulder's excited to have some concrete proof in his hands -- never mind how quickly these things seem to disappear on him -- so he gives Krycek a surprising amount of credit. More than Scully's willing to, anyway. Sensible woman that she is, she reminds him that all they know right now is that Alex Krycek has given them a big ol' rock: "Alex Krycek is a liar and a murderer."
But for some reason, Mulder believes him this time: "[He] wants to expose the same men that we do and will go to any lengths to succeed." Hmm. Does he mirror Mulder in that way? Is that why Mulder seems to be -- for the time being -- trusting him?
Scully seems to think so. "What I'm worried about is you, Mulder. How far you'll go. And how far I can follow you." What a terrific bit of dialogue, this. Really shows the depth of their relationship, and the level of honesty and trust they share. And how strong Scully is... no matter how driven Mulder can be, no matter how much she believes in him, she can only travel that road with him so far before she has to turn back. She's not afraid to tell him that, nor is she afraid to let him know when she thinks he's going too far. I love that about their partnership.
Mulder gives Scully a meaningful look, but says nothing, instead exiting his office. Scully follows.
***
ACT 2
SCENE 6
EWW. (Enough said.)
Back at the lab, Dr. Sacks is all suited up in protective gear, preparing to drill into the rock.
As he slices with a power saw, black fluid from the rock spatters the glass shield of his helmet. As he tries to wipe it away, he suddenly halts all movement, staring at the rock on the counter. Black liquid begins to worm its way across the surface, creeping out the good doctor and me. Then he realizes the black stuff that splashed across his helmet is now doing the same, traveling up the clear shield, absorbing its way inside. He whimpers at first, but terror gets the best of him and he begins to scream.
***
ACT 2
SCENE 7
Hey, it's tough finding a decent hair stylist when you're living underground.
Skinner's in a phone booth, looking annoyed. He's on a call with Mulder and coolly inquires, "Where are you?" Mulder's in a car -- hey, Scully's driving! -- and they're headed back to NASA Goddard to see Dr. Sacks. Nope. Skinner wants him to turn around and come home because he doesn’t know how he's going to explain himself to the police. Mulder's stunned. Skinner says there's a dead body outside his building and the police want to talk to everyone who lives there. He then hangs up on Mulder. Heh.
Mulder instructs Scully to pull over and let him out. He's going to take a cab to Skinner's while Scully continues on to see Dr. Sacks and find out what's in the rock.
Cut to the sidewalk outside Skinner's apartment. The coroner is transporting a bulky body bag on a gurney. Meanwhile, a detective asks Skinner some questions. He says he wasn't home, and admits to living on the seventeenth floor. He plays cool, telling the guy that he's assistant director with the F.B.I. The detective immediately apologizes, saying he must've gotten bad info from his lieutenant, that there's a man hanging from Skinner's balcony. Oops. Skinner looks crabby. I somehow imagine him muttering "Krycek" with the same ire that Jerry Seinfeld used to mutter "Newman!"
While Skinner continues to occupy the detective's attention, Mulder slips by and enters the building, heading up to Skinner's apartment to retrieve the troublesome 'hanging man.'
Cut to Mulder shoving Krycek back into the apartment. He grabs Krycek by the wrist to remove the handcuff; Krycek hollers. Seems Skinner may have put those cuffs on a little tight. As Mulder unlocks the cuffs, he snaps at him, "We're going to walk out of here like nothing happened. If anybody speaks to us, you say nothing." (I gotta say, Mulder, you're hot when you get like this.) Krycek cradles his raw wrist as he glares at Mulder, challenging him: "I got no problem. You put me up here, man. I'm looking forward to seein' how you get me out." Mulder barely blinks before he smacks Krycek in the head -- "Stupid-ass haircut!" -- and grabs him by the lapels of his leather jacket. Krycek reminds him that as soon as the body is identified, there will be no doubts whose apartment he fell from. This makes Mulder pause and ask soberly, "Who is he?" Your friendly neighborhood Diplomatic Pouch Guy. The wheels seem to be turning in Mulder's intrigued head as he considers this information, but he merely gives Krycek a look and yanks him forward to get the hell out of Skinner's apartment. Krycek says pointedly: "I say follow the pouch." Hmm. Is this what Krycek wanted him to do all along? What's his game here?
Before Mulder can say anything, before the two men can exit the premises, Mulder's cell phone rings. It's Scully: "Mulder, it's me." (I don't know why, but I love it when she says that.) We see her outside of the containment space where Dr. Sacks was drilling into the rock. She informs Mulder that whatever's in the rock appears to be lethal. She looks to Dr. Sacks, who's simply standing there, frozen in place.
Scully says she can't even tell if he's dead or alive. Mulder asks her to find out for sure, and also to go through the Bureau to get him an address in New York. Scully continues to listen intently, but we don't hear the address.
***
ACT 2
SCENE 8
I'll take Geography for $500, Alex.
UPPER WEST SIDE
NEW YORK CITY
12:36 AM
Mulder stands in a hallway, trying to knock quietly on the door of apartment number 212. When no one answers, he knocks with a bit more urgency.
A woman's voice asks, "Who is it?"
When Mulder identifies himself, the woman cracks the door open a sliver, the protective chain visible across the top of the space. It's Marita Covarrubias.
Her grim countenance gives away nothing, but she quietly asks what he's doing there and how he found out where she lives. He apologizes for using the F.B.I. database but informs her it's a matter of extreme urgency: "A diplomatic pouch left Russia and arrived here in the U.S. Two men are dead. I need to know why." She considers this for a moment, then closes the door, removes the chain and lets Mulder in.
He enters her apartment. The scene dissolves with an unidentified passage of time. Mulder is sitting on an armchair in her living room, his hands folded in his lap, his eyes closed. In the background we can hear Marita asking someone if they have "its destination and its routing entries." She hangs up the phone and makes her way (very cat-like) across the room to Mulder's side. She's still in her bathrobe (it's pale-colored and silky smooth, just like her character). She kneels down to Mulder's eye level and pauses before waking him up. He looks a little apologetic for napping.
Marita has information for him: "The diplomatic pouch traveled an apex route to the Russian province of Krasnoyarsk... Port of entry was the city of Noril'sk." Mulder notes that that's just north of Tunguska, impressing me greatly with his mad geography skillz. (And we have our episode title at last.) Mulder wants to book himself a flight to Krasnoyarsk, and Marita says she can help him with that, provide him cover credentials, a diplomatic passport and visa. Nice!
Mulder asks why she's helping him, and she replies cryptically, "Because I can. Because there are those of us who believe in you. Believe in your search for the truth." Them's the magic words for Mulder; he asks how long it'll take her to put all that stuff together for him. She asks him how long he has, and we get a quick glimpse of his watch:
MON '96
11-25
3:12 14
Wow, he's been waiting in her apartment for almost 3 hours in the middle of the night? No wonder he fell asleep!
Mulder says nothing in response, simply looks at her, and she leaves the room. He stands there, exhausted, and closes his eyes. Poor Mulder. So close, yet always so far from his goals. And he has no idea what he's getting himself into this time.
See Part Two for the rest of this episode's recap! Thanks very much for reading!
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no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 07:59 pm (UTC)I haven't read all of this (but I will!) but I was wondering what made you recap these specific episodes?
I remember liking Terma a lot - but it's been a while since I've seen them (which is a good reason to see them again soon, isn't it?).
You'll here from me again on this post once I find the time to give them the attention they deserve!
no subject
Date: 2009-07-23 08:00 pm (UTC)I've been lurking over at
Anyway, they're up to Season 4 now, and the next episodes were Tunguska and Terma, and no one had volunteered to write the recap for either. I didn't want to do one and not the other, because they go together as a two-part episode story arc, so I volunteered to write both. I'm glad, anyway, because they are really good episodes, so exciting.
I remember liking Terma a lot - but it's been a while since I've seen them (which is a good reason to see them again soon, isn't it?).
Yes, absolutely! You should rewatch! I highly recommend. *GRIN*
You'll here from me again on this post once I find the time to give them the attention they deserve!
I would be supremely delighted to hear your thoughts. I know it's a lot to wade through, so thank you so much for reading. :)