6x01 The Beginning



Man: Hurry up!
Man: Uh, next time, maybe take a leak before we leave work. OK, dipwads?
Man: Can you read sign language, guy?
Man: Is that your IQ, or the number of dipwads your mother had?

PHOENIX, ARIZONA
5:46 PM

Man: Not you, too, Sandy? Sorry, man. You got to hold it till you get home.
Man: See you tomorrow, Sandy.

7:04 AM

Man: Hey, Sandy, chop chop. [only in (cc)]: It's an oven in here.] Hey, Sandman? Hey... hot dog, come on. Carpe diem. Help!

[opening credits]

Mulder: Using a process that restores moisture to the documents, and by a reassembling of fragments, I should be able to recover a large percentage of the case material that was destroyed in my office fire several months ago. And, while this process will be tedious and ongoing, what I've already recovered will allow agent Scully and I to begin work on the X-Files immediately.
Maslin: Agent Mulder... agent Mulder, I'm reading here a very pie-in-the-sky report about global domination plans by vicious, long-clawed spacelings? Is there going to be data to back this vague, omnibus account?
Mulder: Yes.
Bart: I see your renowned arrogance has been left quite intact. You're asking us to accept this report, of a spaceship buried under polar ice, and your death-defying escape from it?
Mulder: The ice had become superheated by the ship as it rose beneath us, causing the ice to collapse.
Bart: This entire story is essentially unintelligible and, therefore, encourages unintelligible analysis.
Mulder: Well, I was hoping that you'd look more closely at the reports of my and agent Scully's medical conditions.
Arnold: These spacelings, agent Mulder... they weren't something I saw in Men in Black?
Mulder: I didn't see Men in Black.
Arnold: Well, it's a damn good movie.
Mulder: Yeah, well, as much as this all may sound like science fiction, we can and will prove the validity of our report.
Maslin: And, so, the plot... I-I'm just trying to get this straight. The plot is for these spacelings to... take over the planet, aided by a group of men here on Earth?
Mulder: ...A shadow conspiracy within our own government.
Man: ...Who are growing corn in the middle of the desert, which features pollen, which was genetically altered to hold a virus, which will be taken away by bees, whose sting transmits the virus, causing the growth of an extraterrestrial biological entity inside the human host?
Mulder: ...Which we will prove now that the X-Files have been reopened.
Bart: Your presumption, agent Mulder, is far greater than the case you make for that eventuality.
Mulder: I'm not sure I understand.
Bart: You're here to justify your reassignment on the X-Files with little more than a rattletrap account of high adventure in the Antarctic.
Arnold: Not to mention some very questionable travel expenses.
Maslin: Let us remind you that the FBI is not a school for science, or for the grinding of personal axes and, hopefully, you will be able to presnt us with some material evidence to support a continued investigation.
Mulder: Agent Scully, who was assigned to the X-Files as a scientist, was stung by one of these bees and was infected with this virus. She is here today with hard and incontrovertible evidence. Scientific proof that the virus she was infected with is, in fact, extraterrestrial.

Mulder: Next time, I'll wear a clown suit and do balloon tricks.
Scully: Mulder, I was hoping it wouldn't come up.
Mulder: The only reason I was in there, was because you assured me there was a scientific basis for what we saw.
Scully: Mulder, let me remind you once again... what I saw was very little.
Mulder: Look, Scully, that excuse is not going to work this time. You were there, and you were infected with that virus.
Scully: Mulder, yes, there is a scientific basis for what happened to me. I was exposed to a virus, but as it turns out, Mulder, that virus is not what you thought. Look, I can't identify it, Mulder. I have run three separate tests, but I can tell you without a doubt that that virus' DNA and proteins are very much of this world.
Mulder: I saw what that virus did. I saw it generate a new being... an alien being inside a human body.
Scully: It attacks and destroys human cells, but that is all it does, Mulder. It creates nothing. Look, I don't like telling you this... and I know that you don't wanna hear it... not that you can't question me, and what I saw but what you can't question is the science.

NEW YORK CITY

CM: There was some sloppiness in Phoenix, where they found the body. The local P.D. got involved. These were taken at the scene by a crime reporter.
Elder #1: These were run in the press?
CM: I trumped up a story about a crazy indian on the loose. Never underestimate the public's willingness to blame the red man for anything they can't explain.
Elder #2: How did this happen?
CM: He was one of ours. He must've accidentally injected himself while he was working on the virus. It took just 12 hours for the creature to gestate.
Elder #1: This thing's alive?
CM: Yes. It's killed a man.
Elder #1: It's out there, somewhere?
CM: As far as I know.
Elder #2: God almighty, we can't have this thing running loose.
CM: I'm managing the situation.
Elder #1: You can manage all you want. Someone's got to find this thing.
CM: Someone has to kill it. The response must be equal to the threat.
Elder #1: Can you dispose of this problem?
CM: Yes.

Skinner: You're wasting your time.
Mulder: You need evidence to justify our reassignment. I've just got to bring it back from the ashes.
Skinner: Nothing you might restore is going to help you, agent Mulder. It's over and done. Your reassignment on the X-Files has been denied.
Mulder: How can it be denied? We're the only reason the X-Files were reopened in the first place. There's no other reason to reopen them.
Skinner: I'm not arguing with you.
Mulder: Well, then, who is?
Skinner: When will you accept that no amount of pressure or reason will bring to heel a conspiracy whose members walk these halls with absolute impunity?
Mulder: Was there a vote?
Skinner: Unanimous, against.
Mulder: Excuse me.
Skinner: I'm no help to you outside the majority, agent Mulder.
Mulder: Inside or out, I don't see that there's a damn thing you can do for me.
Skinner: You can break their backs, agent Mulder, with the proof about this virus. Proof that what you say it does is true.
Mulder: I don't have that proof just yet.
Skinner: Maybe I can give it to you. There's a file folder. It's on the desk, in your old office.

Spender: Is that something for me, agent Mulder?
Mulder: Yeah, if you're doing my filing.
Spender: Your filing?
Mulder: What are you doing in my office, agent Spender?
Spender: I think there's been a miscommunication. I think... someone failed to inform you.
Mulder: If you're about to tell me that you were sent down here to work on the X-Files, I think the failure is simple judgment. I don't care what patronage got you this job. I put my life in here. I'm not going to let some brown-nose just slide in and take it all away from me.
Spender: I don't believe in your work, in the paranormal mumbo jumbo. So, don't presume I'm the one taking your place.
Mulder: No? Who is?
Fowley: Fox.
Mulder: Diana, back on your feet. I guess that's the only way you could stab me in the back.

CM: I need the patient bandaged and dressed. We'll be taking a trip.
Man: You want him what?
CM: I'm sure I don't need to repeat myself. Please get the boy ready.
Man: But doing that now could kill him.
CM: Let me put it to you simply: It's him, or it's us.

[commercial break]

PHOENIX, ARIZONA
4:48 PM

Scully: Mulder, I just wanna remind you that, by not informing local P.D., we are in technical violation of state laws prohibiting contamination of a crime scene... Why do I bother?
Mulder: Scully, come here and take a look at this. Ever seen anything like this?
Scully: What are they?
Mulder: According to the investigator's notes in the file, they're from an attack by a Native American man on a scientist.
Scully: With what kind of weapon?
Mulder: It says in the file he used his bare hands.
Scully: His bare hands? Mulder, this is hardwood.
Mulder: Uh-huh.
Scully: This kind of gouging didn't happen with anybody's bare hands. Not without the use of some kind of an implement. What is that?
Mulder: Somebody broke a nail.
Scully: Is it animal?
Mulder: It ain't RuPaul. The body of the other victim was found here on the sofa, his viscera torn from his torso. But the ME's report says that the times of death were hours apart, which means that this victim was dead hours before the second attack.
Scully: So the attacker never left.
Mulder: There wasn't an attack. I think it was celebrating its birthday. The first victim must have gotten infected with the virus, somehow. Right here on the sofa was where the creature was born.
Scully: Mulder...
Mulder: That would account for the violence done to the man's torso. The virus producing an extraterrestrial biological entity that ripped away his chest as it birthed itself right here. Look.
Scully: Mulder, given the scenario that you just described, the rate of gestation would have been less than a day. It would have been about 12 hours, in fact. OK, forgive the scientific argument, just for a moment--you're saying this was done by something newborn?
Mulder: That's exactly what I'm saying.

[Only in (cc)] Scully: Mulder, there isn't anything in the animal kingdom capable of this ferocity.

Gibson: It was here, but it's gone now.
Driver: I should take a look.
Gibson: It's not here. Why don't you believe me, when you're so afraid of me?
CM: I'm not afraid of you.
Gibson: You think I can destroy you for what I know, because of what I am. You're thinking you could've destroyed me, too, and if I don't find this creature, you will.
CM: [to driver] He'll find it.

Mulder: I don't see there's any argument here. You admit yourself that the crime report is a lie.
Scully: Mulder, that doesn't mean that I can just accept your theory.
Mulder: What does it take? For this thing to come up and bite you on the ass? I saw these creatures. I saw them burst to life. You would've seen them, too, but you were infected with that virus. You were passed out over my shoulder.
Scully: Mulder, I know what you did. I know what happened to me, but without ignoring the science, I can't... listen, Mulder, you told me that my science kept you honest. That it made you question your assumptions. That by it, I'd made you a whole person. If I change now... it wouldn't be right, or honest.
Mulder: I'm talking about extraterrestrial life, alive on this planet, in our lifetime. Forces that dwarf and precede all human history. I'm sorry, Scully, but this time your science is wrong.

ROLLING HILLS
NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
60 MILES EAST OF PHOENIX

Man: Wake up, Homer.
Homer: I was awake. I was just thinking.
Man: Yeah, that would be a first. You're ten minutes late on your systems check.
Homer: If there was a problem, we would have heard about it. Like Arizona's going to go without air conditioning for ten minutes.
Man: Hey, Homer. Got something here in the bleed cooling system. See that?
Homer: Five degrees off. Might be...
Man: Might be in the core reactor.
Homer: No, no, no. It's gotta be a monitoring glitch.
Man: Phone could start ringing any minute. You might want to check it out.
Homer: All right.

ROLLING HILLS
NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
12:17 PM

Spender: Authorized officers and personnel only. This is a closed area.
Mulder: What happened here, Spender?
Spender: You'll have to leave, agent Mulder.
Scully: We received a call that a man was killed here.
Spender: A call from whom? Assistant director Skinner?
Mulder: Let us through.
Spender: You're unauthorized to be here. You've ignored your superiors, and come here without cause or permission. I'm going to get you censured for this, and demand a review of A.D. Skinner's actions.
Mulder: Diana, let us in here.
Fowley: I can't. This facility has been sealed off by the N.R.C.
Mulder: A man was murdered.
Fowley: A workman was killed in an accident, in a reactor where there was a systems failure.
Mulder: Then why are you here?
Fowley: We were called because of a possible connection to two previous deaths, from a case file that was stolen from our office.
Mulder: There is a connection.
Scully: Let's get out of here, Mulder.
Mulder: I hope you know what you're doing, Diana. I hope you know whose errand you're running.
Fowley: I think I do.

Scully: You weren't getting anywhere, Mulder. It was only making it worse.
Mulder: It's here, Scully, and they know it.
Scully: How do they know? Mulder, how do you know?
Mulder: Give me the keys, and get in the car.
Scully: Oh, my god. Gibson. Sorry, sweetie. Gibson? Gibson? Gibson, sweetheart? Oh, god.

[commercial break]

CAMELBACK VIEW MOTEL
7:52 PM

Gibson: Frankenstein? Really?
Scully: No. No, you've been worked on by some good doctors. They did a fine job with your stitches.
Gibson: You think they were butchers.
Mulder: They *were* butchers.
Scully: They should have changed your bandages, Gibson. You've got some swelling and some infection, and you've got a fever. Why did they do this to you?
Gibson: Because I can read people's minds.
Mulder: How did you get in our car?
Gibson: When they weren't looking, I snuck away. It's easy, when you know what they're thinking.
Mulder: Why are you here?
Gibson: They were using me, because I can communicate with it.
Scully: Communicate with what?
Gibson: You already know. You just don't want to believe it.

Mulder: The kid could find this thing.
Scully: Mulder, this kid belongs in a hospital.
Mulder: We could get his fever down.
Scully: Mulder, you can't just take him on some snipe hunt. He's in no condition. He belongs in a bed, under constant medical care. Listen to me. What I'm saying is in your best interest, OK? We have to take every precaution. We have to make every effort to ensure that nothing happens to this boy, because whatever he is, whatever gives him the ability to do what he does, he's your scientific evidence. It's just like we said. He could be the key to everything in the X-Files.
Mulder: But we don't have the X-Files.
Scully: No, but what if he could corroborate everything that you're saying? This boy could be our last, best chance.

Fowley: Agent Mulder. Fox, I'm going to get out of the car. I'm alone, all right?
Mulder: Diana, what are you doing here?
Fowley: I couldn't say anything to you earlier. I was given this assignment, Fox, OK? They offered it to me. I took the chance...
Mulder: I'm listening.
Fowley: ...To make sure someone served your interests. Someone who believes in the work. Hey, you and I found the X-Files together. Don't forget that.
Mulder: Who sent you?
Fowley: I'm here on my own.
Mulder: Why? To convince me of your noble intentions?
Fowley: Listen to me. That thing is somewhere inside the number four reactor building. Now, we can let them find it and destroy it, or go find it ourselves. You need proof, Fox. You're so close. Why can't you see that?
Scully: Mulder, what's going on?
Mulder: You take Gibson.
Scully: Where are you going?
Mulder: To find this thing.

Fowley: Agent Spender and I got a call. We were on a plane within an hour, in constant contact.
Mulder: With who?
Fowley: The nuclear regulatory people. N.R.C. was first on the scene. They found the victim, but by the time we got there, it had been removed. We never saw the body.
Mulder: Who removed it?
Fowley: I don't know. Couldn't get a straight answer. Then, the N.R.C. sealed off the number four reactor, due to a problem with the heat transfer systems. I believe that was legitimate.
Mulder: Maybe that's why it's there. It wants heat. It needs heat. This thing gestated abnormally fast. What if heat activates it?
Fowley: It could spur on the virus, and the rapid development of the entity.
Mulder: But it's still seeking heat. Why?
Fowley: What if it's still developing? You're not under the impression what we're looking for makes sense in any conventional way?
Mulder: No.

PHOENIX SAMARITARIAN
MEDICAL CENTER

Scully: You're gonna be fine, Gibson. You're gonna be OK.
Man: Let's get a bed ready.
Gibson: You're going to run more tests.
Scully: We're going to get you well.
Gibson: You say that, but you're going to run more tests, just like the other doctors.
Scully: We have to run some more tests, Gibson.
Gibson: You wanna make me well, but you're just thinking about yourself and what you can learn from me.
Scully: You're a very special boy, Gibson. You know that yourself.
Gibson: I'm a very special lab rat.

11:42 PM

Fowley: According to what little we could gather, the victim's body was found near here.
Mulder: It's hot in here.
Fowley: We're right above the core reactor. This is part of the heat transfer cooling system. Looks organic.
Mulder: Maybe somebody's got the flu.
Fowley: What? What is it?
Mulder: There's something in there.
[cell phone rings]
Mulder: Yeah.
Scully: Mulder, I found something. I found something you're not going to believe.
Mulder: Ditto.
Scully: We did blood tests on Gibson and, Mulder, there's evidence of the virus in his system.
Mulder: The same virus you were exposed to?
Scully: I'm almost positive.
Mulder: What does that mean, Scully?
Scully: I don't know. I don't know, but I think we're on to something. We're on to something huge, a link.
Mulder: I'll call that bet and raise you.
Scully: What?
Mulder: Never mind. Just take care of Gibson.

[commercial break]

Scully: There was a little boy in that room, and he's gone. Does anybody know what happened to that little boy? His name is Gibson Praise. He was just in that room. Does anybody know what the hell is going on?!
Man: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Let's just calm down.
Scully: That little boy that I brought in is missing.
Man: He can't be missing. He should still be in his bed.
Scully: He's not here!

Gibson: It's here.
Man: Where?
Gibson: Somewhere.
Mulder: Open the door, you son of a bitch! Open the door, dammit! Open it! Open the door, you...
Fowley: Fox! I'm going to go see if there's some other way in.
Mulder: Open it! Open the door!
Gibson: I told you it was here.
Mulder: Gibson! Gibson! Gibson! Gibson!

Maslin: As I said, and as I am forced to reiterate, agent Mulder, the FBI is not here for vendettas, or for the grinding of personal axes. Now, this holds not just for you, but for everyone at the Bureau. You force us to put a point on this. To make some hard changes. You and agent Scully will cease all material association with the X-Files. Refusal to do so will end in immediate dismissal. A probationary period will be set. You will now report to assistant director Kersh.

Spender: You're not supposed to come here. It's what was agreed to. It's the deal you made.
CM: I had to congratulate you. Commend how you handled things. How you handled Mulder.
Spender: I did what I was asked.
CM: You did well, son. He's on very thin ice now, you know?
Spender: Mulder will be back. As long as he lives, he won't give up.
CM: There's solutions, of course. Simple, but extreme solutions. I've used these methods. They have their place. But not here.
Spender: You've killed men?
CM: You can kill a man, but you can't kill what he stands for. Not unless you first break his spirit. That's a beautiful thing to see.

Mulder: It would help if you'd shut the door. It would make it harder for them to see that I'm totally disregarding everything I was told.
Scully: Everything *we* were told, Mulder.
Mulder: They can't take away the X-Files, Scully. They tried.
Scully: You know, agent Fowley's report to O.P.R. painted the facts in an interesting way. I hope you haven't been betrayed.
Mulder: Agent Fowley's report was a means to an end. Trying to protect the work. Protect the X-Files.
Scully: Mulder, agent Fowley's report states that the man you saw attacked was bludgeoned by an unknown subject. She makes no mention of a little boy who, as it happens, is nowhere to be found. It would seem that her report protects everything but you.
Mulder: Agent Fowley took me to that plant at great risk to herself, where I saw something that you refuse to believe in. I saw it again, Scully. And though it may not say it in her report, Diana saw it, too. And no matter what you think, she's certainly not going to go around saying that just because science can't prove it, it isn't true.
Scully: I don't doubt what you saw, Mulder. I don't doubt you. I'm willing to believe, but not in a lie, and not in the opposite of what I can prove. It comes down to a matter of trust. I guess it always has.
Mulder: You're asking me to make a choice?
Scully: I'm asking you to trust my judgment. To trust me.
Mulder: I can't accept that. Not if it refutes what I know to be true.
Scully: Mulder, these are test results. DNA from the claw nail we found, matching exactly the DNA from the virus you believe is extraterrestrial.
Mulder: That's the connection.
Scully: Which matches, exactly, DNA that was found in Gibson Praise.
Mulder: Wait a minute. I don't understand. You're saying that Gibson Praise is infected with the virus?
Scully: No. It's a part of his DNA. In fact, it's a part of all of our DNA. It's called a genetic remnant. It's inactive, junk DNA. Except, in Gibson, it's turned on.
Mulder: So, if that were true, that would mean that Gibson is, in some part, extraterrestrial.
Scully: It would mean that all of us are.




Notes

NRC = Nuclear Regulatory Commission
(cc) = Closed captioning.