In the X-Files season premiere, called "The Sixth Extinction," our hero, Mulder, is dying, and his partner, Scully (with whom he is very close), comes to his bedside to plead with him to "hold on" until she can find a cure for his illness. (She is a forensic scientist.)
Scene 16:
(MULDER's hospital room. MULDER is staring straight ahead, unseeing. Through the babble of voices that we are hearing in his head, one voice comes through clearly, though as if from a distance. MULDER weakly turns his head in the direction of the voice.)
SCULLY (voice): Please. I need to see him. I'm begging you, please. Thank you.
(We see her standing in the doorway to his room talking withDR. HARRIMAN and two SECURITY GUARDS. They let her pass and close the door as she approaches MULDER's bed.)
SCULLY: (gently) Mulder, it's me. I know that you can hear me. If you can just give me some sign.
(No response.)
SCULLY: I want you to know where I've been... what I found. I think that, if you know, that you could find a way to hold on. (whisper) I need you to hold on. I found a key... the key... to every question that has ever been asked. It's a puzzle... (her voice begins to break) ... but the pieces are there for us to put together and I know that they can save you if you can just hold on. (She is almost crying as she pleads with him. She takes his hand tightly in hers, and, stroking the back of his hand with her thumb, she stares into his blank face.) Mulder... please. Hold on.
Now, some of you may have had the same thought upon hearing these words from Scully. It's the first thing that popped into my head: Another Sarah McLachlan song. This is one of my favorite songs of Sarah's. She wrote it from the viewpoint of a friend of hers who's husband was dying of AIDS. I've always thought that it was a Mulder and Scully song, and now, after what Scully said to Mulder in "The Sixth Extinction," it's undeniable. Here are the lyrics with picures (from the beautiful Haven!) and dialogue to illustrate the connection between the episode (and it's sequel, "The Sixth Extinction II: Amor Fati.") and the lyrics.
"Hold On"
From the album Fumbling Towards Ectstacy
Music and lyrics by Sarah McLachlan
"...I know that they can save you if you just hold on."
Hold on, hold on to yourself
for this is gonna hurt like hell
Hold on, hold on to yourself
You know that only time will tell
What is this in me that refuses to believe
This isn't easier than the real thing?
"The end of the world was unrecongnizable and upside down. But one thing remained the same: You- were my friend. You told me the Truth."
My love, you know that you're my best friend
You know I'd do anything for you
"...Even when the world was falling apart, you were my constant. My touchstone."
"And you are mine."
My love, let nothing come between us
My love for you is strong and true
"I don't know what to believe anymore. Mulder, I was so determined to find a cure to save you that I could deny what it was that I saw and now I don't even know... I don't know... I don't know what the truth is ... I don't know who to listen to. I don't know who to trust. "
Am I in heaven here or am I....?
At the crossroads I am standing
"I feel you slipping away from me with every minute I fail here. What are the elusive meanings I cannot see that are hidden here? If I could understand it, know how it affected you, learn how to use its power to save you. "
Now you're sleeping peaceful
I lie awake and pray
That you'll be strong tomorrow
And we'll see another day,
And we will praise it
And love the light that brings a smile
Across your face
Oh God, if you're out there won't you hear me?
I know that we've never talked before
Oh God, the man I love is leaving
Won't you take him when he comes to your door?
Am I in heaven here or am I in hell?
At the crossroads I am standing
"Have you looked for him here? "
"Are you asking me to pray?"
"There are more worlds than the one you can hold in your hand. "
Well, now you're sleeping peaceful,
I lie awake and pray
That you'll be strong tomorrow
And we'll see another day,
And we will praise it
And love the light that brings a smile-
Now you're sleeping peaceful I lie awake and pray
That you'll be strong tomorrow
And we'll see another day,
And we will praise it
And love the light that brings a smile
Across your face
"You must get up and fight... especially you. This isn't your place. Get up, Mulder. Get up and fight the fight."
Hold on, hold on to yourself
For this is gonna hurt like hell
It's really a great song. You can hear part of the live Mirrorball version at Amazon.com or view a video clip at www.SarahMcLachlan.com, but those 30-second dealies hardly rarely do her justice. Anyway, I just thought I'd share that with you. How many of those of you who are Sarah McLachlan fans had the same thought? TTIOT, Bridget (a.k.a. Queequeg)
