Coincidence (MX01)
This story (c) T'eyla Minh 1996
Teaser: (Our story begins in a small, unknown town, named simply Town! Hurrah, it's our own personal tribute to Season Four's "Home". But not quite as gruesome. Outside a large building, rather like Eurisko, a crowd of people is gathered. They are all wearing "Hi, My Name Is..." badges and attempting to be vaguely interested in their surroundings. With them is an overly enthusiastic guide. His badge reads "Hi, My Name Is Tour Guide Larry!", written in wobbly capital letters. 'Guide' is spelt wrong - use your imagination. So is 'Larry'.)
LARRY: You are now standing outside the largest, tallest building in Town. If you look up (they all do out of politeness rather than interest, perfectly synchronised in a single bored movement. After a couple of uneventful seconds, they look back to Larry.), you will see the top floor - floor 30! We are gonna go up there. I suggest that people of a nervous disposition do not look down! OK, is everyone ready to go?
ALL: Yes!
LARRY: I can't hear you...
ALL: YES! (After many more of these Punch & Judy gags, which would probably go onto about 4 pages if I had the time, they all enter the building. A shifty looking man is hiding something in his coat. [If it helps, imagine a flasher!] Everyone enters a lift - one of those tacky lifts with lights on, that go up the sides of buildings! In fact it looks a lot like Brum's very own Hyatt!
The crowd finally enter the 'visitor centre' room. The room has a ceiling 20ft up, and is sparsely furnished, except for a chair for every guest. Larry begins a slide show, when everybody is seated. By the look of impending doom on their faces, you can tell they're getting sick of Larry. They'll probably all fall asleep during this slide-show!)
LARRY: This building was built on this day in 1984. And how old does that make it, little girl? (in a desperate attempt at audience participation, he points to a little girl with pigtails in a pink dress. She has a lisp!)
GIRL: Thirteen years old, but everyone intelligent knew that! (She pouts at him.)
LARRY: Thank you. Now, to resume my talk about the interesting history of this building. . . (the shifty guy is bored. He pulls a rifle from his coat.)
SHIFTY GUY: Everyone down on the floor or I shoot you all! (Everyone quick enough scarpers, but the guy still manages to randomly shoot two people, one of whom, to our relief, is Larry! Now, the man huddles in a corner, holding the rifle as if his life depended on it! The word that springs to mind is: weirdo!!!)
Theme Music
Scene One: (Two cars drive up outside the building. In the first, is Mulder and Scully, in the second, is the Lone Gunmen, Langly, Frohike and Byers. Frohike still has that infamous crush on Scully. Scully's cell phone rings. She answers it:)
SCULLY: Scully.
FROHIKE: (VO) Hi! (He disguises his voice.)
SCULLY: Who is this?
FROHIKE: (VO) Turn around. ([phone clicks]. Scully does so. Frohike waves idiotically. Scully phones him back:)
SCULLY: How many times? Get off the line! (She turns off her cell phone, and exits the car followed by Mulder. Frohike scrambles into the back seat of the Lone Gunmen's car to get to the car's only working door, acidentally managing to kick Byers [driving] in the face and Langly [in the back seat] somewhere we'd rather not mention. As he leaves, running after Mulder and Scully, we see Langly & Byers fixing some sort of electronic doohickey. Doohickey! Geddit? From "Unusual Suspects"? Oh, never mind!.)
(As Mulder, Scully & Frohike approach the building, they realise it isn't yet open. Mulder bangs on the door; there is no answer. Scully leans against the wall, bored, and Frohike attempts to hug her. She very deftly moves, going to stand by Mulder. Frohike looks quite hurt. Mulder, being the good 'friend' that he is, decides to help him out - he beckons him over, places Frohike's hand on Scully's shoulder and:)
MULDER: Scully?
SCULLY: Yeah? (She looks round. Then she sees Frohike, looking expectant, like a lost puppy! She moves again, turns to face them, and folds her arms in a school-teacher type of way.) OK, so who's idea was it?
BOTH: (pointing) Him!
SCULLY: You two really are pathetic, aren't you! (Then she leans on the door again. It opens, sending her flying. Mulder runs to catch her; so does Frohike, but instead catches a glimpse of himself in a nearby mirror, and stands rearranging what little hair he has left. Frohike gets in Mulder's way, so he doesn't quite get to his partner in time and she quite literally falls at his feet. Aww. As Mulder helps her up, Frohike looks embarrassed. The guard at a desk is getting impatient.)
GUARD: Hurry up, I ain't got all day.
MULDER: I don't see any more people arriving.
SCULLY: We'd like to investigate the crime scene.
GUARD: Did you make an appointment?
MULDER: Why would we make an appointment - we're FBI. (Mulder, Scully & Frohike [?!?] produce their badges)
GUARD: How do I know that's a real badge?
MULDER: It has 'FBI' written on it. . .
SCULLY: Mulder, stop it. Sir, we need to investigate the crime scene!
GUARD: I'm only allowed to let in people who've made appointments.
SCULLY: Oh, for God's sake. Can we make an appointment now?
GUARD: No. You need to book two weeks in advance. And you haven't. So - no. ([Can't you just SO see Crystal in this role?!] Scully is getting impatient. She sighs irritably. Frohike has an idea.)
FROHIKE: Let me try. (to Guard) We. . .erm. . .we. . .er. . .we need to use your bathroom!
GUARD: Good try. Get out. (He herds them out like sheep, shuts the door in a very exaggerated manner, and locks them out of the building.)
MULDER: Great job, Frohike, now we need to find an alternative entrance. (Not really a Mulder phrase, is it! Frohike looks puzzled.)
SCULLY: In words of less than two syllables - let's get in some place else!
FROHIKE: What's a syllable? (Mental note - cast Vickie as Frohike...)
SCULLY: Never mind. Mulder, any bright ideas?
MULDER: Wait here. Frohike, I'll need your technical help on this. (They go off in search of 'alternative entrances'. Scully looks to see if there are any low down open windows. Now, back to Langly & Byers, still in their car.)
Scene Two: (In their car, Langly & Byers are intently working on the aforementioned gadget. Or rather, Byers is. Langly is sitting in the back seat, looking between the backs of the two front seats, watching Byers make the final alterations. When it's finally finished:)
BYERS: We have lift-off!
LANGLY: Great! Turn it on.
BYERS: Wait. We need to see if it's hooked up first. (he reaches for a strange, built-in car-phone - complete with tape recorder! - and dials Mulder's cell-phone number. Mulder answers his phone.)
MULDER: Yes?
BYERS: (VO) Could you call Frohike over, please.
MULDER: Yeah. Frohike! Get over here. (Frohike runs towards him. [Frohike running? What bizarre phenomenon is this?!?] Back in their car, Byers & Langly are watching what Frohike is seeing - they've planted a mini camera on him. Langly begins to laugh.)
BYERS: (VO, sotto.) Langly, shut up.
FROHIKE: Yeah, who is it?
MULDER: Byers.
FROHIKE: Hello?
BYERS: (VO) Hi Frohike. Would you just turn around for me, please?
FROHIKE: Sure. Why? (He turns around in a curious manner and looks around for whatever he thinks he's supposed to be looking for.)
BYERS: (VO) No reason. Bye. ([phone clicks] Back in their car, Langly is doubled over in [almost] uncontrollable laughter.)
BYERS: You ever seen "Waynes World", Langly?
LANGLY: No.
BYERS: Pity. Anyway, Garth, shall we resume?
LANGLY: OK. (they watch. Meanwhile, outside, Mulder, Scully & Frohike have met up again.)
MULDER: Any luck?
SCULLY: No. You?
MULDER: No. Nor did Frohike. (he looks at Frohike) Did you? (Frohike is gazing at Scully in an enamoured way, kind of like the way Scully looks at Mulder when she's feeling rejected! Frohike snaps out of it.)
FROHIKE: Huh! What? No. Nothing. (Mulder looks up, and sees the roof [obviously] He runs back to the car, Frohike goes in the opposite direction, leaving Scully alone again. Mulder returns with a strange parcel wrapped up in brown paper.)
MULDER: Where there's a roof, there's a skylight!
SCULLY: You don't mean. . .not the. . .a skylight? (She is by now totally confused!)
MULDER: Yes. (Frohike is nowhere to be seen. Then he appears, attempting to land a helicopter - conveniently stolen from a conveniently nearby convenient army base!)
MULDER: Perfect! Just what we need.
SCULLY: I am NOT getting in that helicopter with HIM driving.
MULDER: Fine, I'll drive! Come on. (he walks a few paces, in the general direction of the copter, then turns around and walks back to Scully. She won't budge. He tries chivalry:) Your ride is waiting, m'lady! (he fakes a courteous bow, gesturing towards the copter. Scully isn't going to move - she's playing hard-to-get! Mulder tries a final different approach!) Scully, you get in that helicopter right now, or I make Frohike sing outside your apartment for a month! Get my drift! (Scully holds out a hand, indicating the copter.)
SCULLY: (sarcastically) Lead the way! (Mulder grabs her outstretched hand, and drags her, ignoring all her protests of "I was being sarcastic, you idiot!", to the helicopter. They enter it, Frohike still drives!)
Scene Three: (By now, most of the audience at home are thinking: "Why not use a window?". The answer - that would be much too obvious, and this is the X-Files we're talking about!! Back to the plot. Scully leaves the helicopter, now parked rather untidily on the roof of the building, swiftly followed by Mulder, and even more swiftly followed by Frohike! She goes to see if the skylight is actually worth opening, while Mulder instructs Frohike on what to do next.)
MULDER: OK, Frohike. Go land the helicopter, just in case they suspect anything. Then see if you can get in the front entrance.
FROHIKE: What about the guard?
MULDER: Did you forget to take your brain out of its glass of water this morning? Get rid of him!
FROHIKE: How?
MULDER: You'll think of something! Go. (Frohike goes to start the helicopter again, but turns back, having an idea.)
FROHIKE: I just thought - won't Scully be all alone up there. . .
MULDER: I think Scully can look after herself. She has a gun, and if you'd ever seen her fight in the line of duty, you'd. . .
FROHIKE: OK, I get the idea. (pause) Tell me Mulder, as a friend, why does she prefer you to me?
MULDER: As a 'friend', do you want the truth?
FROHIKE: Yes.
MULDER: (Before we continue - please try to restrain from throwing up. Thank you.) OK, here's the list: (he pretends like he's really vain:) one - I'm six foot tall; two - Scully prefers a FULL head of hair; three - . . .
FROHIKE: Yeah, yeah, I get the idea. . .
MULDER: Three - . . . .no, I can't do this even to you, Frohike! But the list just goes on and on. Anyway, why'd you ask me!
FROHIKE: You mean you haven't noticed?
MULDER: Noticed what?
FROHIKE: Seriously? In the entire five years you've been working together, you haven't noticed?
MULDER: No, honestly, noticed what?
FROHIKE: Are you blind, or something? She likes you, can't you see?
MULDER: Whatever gave you that idea?
FROHIKE: (He looks at the camera, sharing a joke with the audience. This is known as dramatic irony, although it's unlikely that Frohike knows what that means. Then he looks back at Mulder.) I know these things.
MULDER: (He looks at Scully. Almost instantly she looks back, smiles, waves impatiently, looks at her watch, then goes back to the skylight.) I see what you mean. Frohike, whenever anybody needs a father-figure to relate to, I'll recommend you. Anyway, Scully isn't going to spend time with you and that aftershave, is she?
FROHIKE: I s'pose not. I'll go and see what I can do with that guard. (he gets back into the copter, and rather clumsily flies it back down. As soon as he lands on the base, he gets out a pair of binoculars, and watches our intrepid duo!)
(On the roof, Mulder and Scully are trying to force open the skylight. They're not having much luck! Scully isn't trying at all, actually, she's merely creating the effect of working.!)
SCULLY: (feebly attempting to open the skylight.) Well it looks as though this isn't going to budge. (she gets to her feet) Where's Frohike with that helicopter? I'm sure I saw an open window on the way up here. If we could just. . .
MULDER: Scully, would you shut up and help me!
SCULLY: (In her shock at being shouted at, she obeys, getting to her hands and knees to help.) Why are you so bossy today?
MULDER: I don't know what you mean! (The skylight finally opens.) Ah! The entrance.
SCULLY: One problem - how do you get down there? (Note she says 'you'!)
MULDER: With this. (He unwraps the brown paper. Inside is a very long rope ladder, which Mulder attaches to the edge of the skylight in some unknown way. It unravels to the bottom with a light 'flump'!)
SCULLY: Mulder, that ladder must be 20ft long!
MULDER: 30ft, but you were close. I need you to hold onto this torch until I get down there.
SCULLY: If you get down! Are you insane!? (Mulder nods as he descends the ladder. As he disappears into the dark abyss below, Scully goes all concerned and says:) Be careful! (She switches on the torch, as Frohike flies the helicopter back up to the roof.)
FROHIKE: Hi, Dana.
SCULLY: Frohike? (she still looks down)
FROHIKE: Got it in one! Where's Mulder?
SCULLY: (Gets up to face Frohike.) Where do you think?
FROHIKE: I don't know.
SCULLY: What do you want?
FROHIKE: (thinking) Would you believe me if I said I'd forgotton! (Scully folds her arms, and raises one eyebrow sceptically.) Oh, wait, I just remembered. . .
SCULLY: Haven't you got the hint yet? Go away! I am not in the least interested!
FROHIKE: I'm not going.
SCULLY: Frohike, I have a gun. It is loaded with an ammo clip. I am a trained FBI agent.
FROHIKE: So?
SCULLY: Once again, I have a gun. Get the hint now?
FROHIKE: Hint taken, understood and stored in memory banks. I'm leaving! (He gets into the helicopter and quickly escapes. This time he does park the helicopter, and goes to sort out the guard. This we will not see, because we can only take so much of Frohike trying to outwit someone, and I think Scully is his limit for the day.
Meanwhile, Scully turns back to the skylight to check on her partner. On the edge of the skylight, she sees only the frayed edges of the ladder.)
SCULLY: Mulder!! You OK?
MULDER: Yeah! These chairs broke my fall! Could you please pass me that torch, Scull.? (the 'truncated familiarity' returns, although when it arrived I can't fathom - it was apparently in "Lazarus" according to one author! Who knows?)
SCULLY: Here. (dropping the torch down) Can you get the ladder back up?
MULDER: (shining the torch on her - Aww!) No, I've tried. It's too high.
SCULLY: Well, how are you going to get out?
MULDER: Front entrance.
SCULLY: OK, but how will I get down off this roof? Wait for the Enterprise to come along and beam me down?
MULDER: Don't knock Star Trek, Scully, the fans outnumber you by millions! (She gives him one of her looks.) Isn't Frohike with you?
SCULLY: No, I scared him off! And don't you even think about trying to drive that helicopter.
MULDER: Why? Are you afraid for my safety?
SCULLY: No, I'm afraid for my safety! You can't... (He disappears from view, and suddenly the lights come on. Then he re-emerges where he was before, looking expectant.) As I was saying, you can't even drive a car let alone a helicopter!! (They both stop and ponder the situation for a while. Frohike will probably avoid Scully for a while, so that's a no-go. Scully finally has the best idea of the century!!!!) I've got a better idea! (She makes sure her gun is firmly holstered, then swings her legs inside the skylight.)
MULDER: You cannot be serious!
SCULLY: I've never been more serious! Anyway, it can't be that far down! (She looks down dubiously as if to prove to herself, if nobody else, that it isn't that far down. By the look on her face you can tell that this little idea didn't actually work, but nevertheless she's going ahead with her plan. There's bound to be another reason for her doing this....)
MULDER: I won't let you do this!
SCULLY: How're you going to stop me?
MULDER: Good point.
SCULLY: Before I risk my life and my career, I have one question: (the tension is mounting - will she, won't she?) did you catch that torch first time?
MULDER: (We see a flashback of her throwing down the torch. What we didn't see before was him missing it completely and it landing on the chairs beside him. So, lieing through his teeth:) Yes.
SCULLY: I sure as Hell hope so! (She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath and jumps. Mulder also closes his eyes, looks away, and waits for the crunch of bones.......[Five second pause.])
Scene Four:
SCULLY: You can look now! (Mulder opens his eyes and look forwards - straight at Scully! Somehow, by a weird freak of the laws of gravity, he's managed to catch her, in a 'carrying-over-the-thresh-hold' sort of way! [He got his wish from "Arcadia"!] Scully certainly isn't complaining! Mulder is speechless for several seconds.)
MULDER: Scully, never do that to me again!
SCULLY: You really think I'd want to? My entire life flashed before my eyes!
MULDER: Was I there?
SCULLY: Of course! (Home audience: "Wahay!", etc... A small man - actor=Dwight McFee - creeps into view. As he sees the 'couple', he freezes in horror. They, as yet, haven't noticed him, as they are totally oblivious to their surroundings. They don't speak; at that moment the lights decide they don't want to be on any more, and die - basically, to save you from my endless and disturbingly uneffective metaphors, a power cut. Mulder and Scully stand in a skylight-shaped patch of sunlight. This 'romantic'[?] setting seems to affect our lead roles. Scully, as determined as ever, stares intently at Mulder. He has no option but to stare right back, and they gaze into each other's eyes. [I'm sorry, but I must just mention "Rain King" at this moment!] Scully, for about the umpteenth time this "Millenium", makes her move. [As long as it doesn't become another "Small Potatoes" scenario. God, I love that episode!!!!] Due to the nature of the catch, she has her arms around Mulder's neck, which helps matters considerably. As they edge closer and closer, a little [expletive] of a dust particle travels its dusty way into the spectator's nose, making him sneeze. [Yes, he has been there the whole time - free entertainment!] Scully reacts immediately, and looks at the man. He starts to escape, backing towards the nearest door as slowly as possible.)
SCULLY: Mulder. (no reaction) Hey, Mulder! (she needs to get his attention. There are two options:
(i) Slap him hard
(ii) Kiss him!
Which one would you choose, as they both seem to be as good as each other. The first is funny, but affects DD fans very harshly. The second is sweet, and funny, but is also very harsh on DD fans, but it would also throw any chance of the rest of the plot out of the window because they'd be at it for hours! Scully chooses neither, and has a better idea:) Spock to Kirk. Can you hear me? (she is close to just forgetting the case and enjoying herself, but that could risk many innocent lives.) Mulder, this is Houston. Do you read me, over? (The last resort is:) Fox!
MULDER: How many times? Don't call me by my first name!
SCULLY: (sotto, sarcastically) Roger that, Houston.
MULDER: Huh?
SCULLY: Never mind. When you've quite finished being the brave knight, I wouldn't mind if you put me down.
MULDER: Now why would I want to do that, fair maid? (This is getting rather 'oo-er'-ish, isn't it!)
SCULLY: Because, perchance, you might want to chase the rather suspicious-looking suspect over there, who just happens to have a gun the size of an average parking meter! (Mulder looks at the man, looks at Scully with a 'maybe-next-time-you-jump-off-a-building' look, places her rather ungraciously in a nearby chair, and gives chase. Scully gets up, dusts herself off, readies her gun, and follows, but not before giving a look that says: "Damn. So close!")
Scene Five: (In another, similar room, with - surprise, surprise! - a much lower ceiling and a skylight, the man is cowering in the corner, while Mulder has his gun aimed at the man's head. Scully joins him and does the same.)
MULDER: FBI, drop your weapon!
SUSPECT/KILLER: No.
MULDER: I mean it, drop your weapon. This gun is loaded.
SCULLY: (sotto) Mulder.
MULDER: What?
SCULLY: (sotto) Not true. You got a little bit tipsy last night at your birthday party, and I was afraid you might hurt yourself, so I unloaded your gun.
MULDER: (sotto, sarcastically) Great - don't we make a good team! (normal, to suspect/killer) I said, drop your weapon.
SUSPECT/KILLER: And I said, no! (he shoots straight upwards, and attempts to get up. However, what goes up, must eventually come down, and the bullet is obviously very learnéd in the Law Of Gravity, since it falls rapidly back to Earth. It falls past Scully, who picks it up and examines it. She describes it's serial number perfectly.)
SCULLY: ...and, these are only made in Tibet!
MULDER: You've done your homework!
SCULLY: Not really - it says so - "Made In Tibet". And it's ticking, although I didn't need to read it to work that out.
MULDER: Well, since it's now got your fingerprints all over it, it's probably not worth much case value! Get rid of it. (Scully does so. She throws the bullet in front of her, and upwards, so it forms a very graceful arc. Before starting to fall, though, it explodes. The following two things happen at the same time:
(i) The Suspect/Killer, who has managed to drag himself and his gun away from the agents, is catapulted down some nearby stairs, falling down about twelve storeys with a horrible crunching sound.
(ii) Mulder and Scully are projected backwards into a convenient pile of wood shavings and 'S'-chips!
After all this, a little pile of dust, all that is left of the exploding bullet, lands in a neat, conical pyramid shape in the middle of the floor. Mulder and Scully sit up, covered in wood shavings.)
MULDER: Whoops! (Meanwhile, Frohike has entered the building somehow, found a lift [naturally - Frohike is the X-Files equivalent of Homer Simpson!], and is about to enter the room. He almost trips over the Suspect, now positively identified as the Killer, as he does so. As soon as he sees Mulder and Scully, his slow working mind thinks 'something's-been-going-on', and he promptly leaves again, in the Frohike equivalent of dejected. [See earlier Scene!]. Mulder and Scully look at each other, shrug, then get to their feet.)
SCULLY: I'm going to get you back for this, Mulder.
MULDER: For what?
SCULLY: It took me ages to do my hair this morning! (Yeah, like we're gonna believe that one!)
MULDER: What's with Frohike?
SCULLY: Who cares? Would you stand still. (She rescues various pieces of debris from his hair. ['Rescues' being the operative word!] Then she turns to the nearby window, and decides to alert Mulder's attention to the 'amazing' view outside.) Mulder, take a look.
MULDER: I am NOT gonna check your back for mosquito bites HERE... Maybe later...? (She frowns at him and drags him to the window.
SCULLY: No, look. I think Frohike's trying to kill himself! (Mulder stares flabberghasted [as opposed to "Gormanghasted"!] out of the window. Outside, Frohike has a gun to his head.) Get down there, before I do. (Mulder realises this could mean Frohike trying to catch Scully and there are numerous problems with this, most of which you can probably work out. He bolts to the stairs and gets outside in about 10 seconds flat!)
Scene Six:
MULDER: Frohike, what the Hell are you doing?
FROHIKE: What does it look like?
MULDER: Why?
FROHIKE: OK, so she likes you. I didn't think you would. . . it's not decent. (Whoops, Frohike becomes a Yorkshireman. First medieval people then "Last Of The Summer Wine"! HelpmeI'mgoingmad!)
MULDER: What are you talking about?
FROHIKE: I saw you two; don't pretend it didn't happen!
MULDER: Pretend what didn't happen?
FROHIKE: You, and Scully. (At which point, right on cue, Scully appears in the doorway, having used the lift! Frohike goes to her.) Dana, how could you let this happen?
SCULLY: Huh?
FROHIKE: How could you let him take advantage of you like that?
SCULLY: Excuse me?
FROHIKE: I may not be intelligent enough, I may be going bald, but I would never commit such a hei...a hee...a er...
MULDER: I believe the word is 'heinous', Frohike!
FROHIKE: I would never commit such a heinous crime. And you so young, it's disgusting.
SCULLY: Frohike, SHUT UP!!! Mulder, what is this 'heinous crime' you're being accused of?
MULDER: Wait a second, Scully, I think I've just worked it out! Frohike, do you think I'd really. . .? The Academy doesn't teach manners, but please, give it some credit!
SCULLY: Would somebody please explain to me what the Hell is going on out here?
MULDER: Just Frohike's perverted mind going into overdrive!
SCULLY: Will you just tell me?! (Mulder goes very close and whispers in her ear. Scully has the sort of expression which says: "Oh my God. And he really thought that...eurgh". Then she turns to Frohike:) Frohike, my taste is not that bad!
MULDER: (See the 'Sucker' bit from "Deep Throat", if it helps with this line!) You should be so lucky!
SCULLY: (See above:) Right back at ya. (She ALWAYS has the last word, doesn't she!!!)
FROHIKE: Quit with the whispering sweet nothings. You have officially ruined my life. From this moment on, I, James Albert Frohike, am no more. I'm gonna shoot. (Mulder, Scully, Langly, and Byers, [the latter two are still watching the mini-TV!], all mouth "James? Albert?" to each other in disbelief! Frohike points the gun at his head again.)
SCULLY Frohike, if you pull that trigger, I am not going to save you. You have been warned.
MULDER:(sotto) Don't worry. He's somehow got hold of MY gun. It must have got thrown into the lift or something.
SCULLY: Oh. (pause) I just had the best idea: (she whispers something in Mulder's ear. He nods in agreement. Oo-er!)
MULDER: Go ahead, Frohike. Shoot.
FROHIKE: Are you two going to watch me go?
MULDER: Sure, I am. You?
SCULLY: Yes, it should be fun. (Frohike starts squeezing the trigger. Then he stops.)
FROHIKE: I can't do it with you watching. You'll see all my blood splattered all over the pavement. It won't be pretty, I can tell you that!
SCULLY: Fine, we won't. (Home audience, are you prepared for the amazing shock which comes next! All those romantics and comedians out there will lurve this bit. Ready? OK, here goes. Mulder and Scully go into 'hug-mode'. There are two ways to describe the next bit:
(i) The subtle, and incredibly witty way.
(ii) The 'explaining-it-to-thickies-who-don't-understand-subtlety' way. I'll use both:
(i) After 'hug-mode' has been engaged, Mulder and Scully start to act like a courting couple.
(ii) They pretend to kiss, completely hidden by Mulder's trenchcoat collar and Scully's hyper-active hair! I'm sure you can visualise.
Nobody can see anything, including Frohike. Meanwhile, Langly and Byers, who had originally been watching Frohike's view, are now staring manically out of the window. Langly produces a very high-tech looking camera and takes a quick snap-shot. He's not going to let them forget this one in a hurry.)
FROHIKE: Oh, God, even in public. And it's against FBI regulations. Right, that's it. I'm really going this time! (He pulls the trigger three times, and nothing happens. He does the classic cartoon gag of staring down the barrel, although we know nothing will happen!) Oh, [expletive], the damn thing's got no bullets. (Mulder and Scully finally look up, and Mulder gets up and takes the gun from Frohike. He points it at Scully, fires, and then shows him the ammo clip - empty! Scully gets up, and cheers Frohike up by putting one arm around his shoulders. [At least they're practically the same height!] Scully is just generally a nice person in this episode!)
SCULLY: Frohike, you are so gullible! Just like a little puppy dog chasing a tennis ball.
FROHIKE: Does that mean you think I'm cute? (he looks so hopeful, you almost expect her to say "Yes", but:)
SCULLY: (she lets go of his shoulders. Almost as if to say "Ew!".) No.
MULDER: Now, Frohike, when you've quite finished trying to commit suicide, would you ask the Gunmen to live up to their names and find me a loaded weapon?! (They do so. The killer appears at the front door, having just limped down several flights of stairs, due to a broken leg! Mulder and Scully train their guns on him.)
SCULLY: Freeze! We're not kidding this time!
KILLER: Don't make me laugh. You two jokers couldn't hit a brick wall if it was right in front of you! And that's an understatement.
MULDER: Quite clever, aren't you. For one who just fell for the oldest trick in the book!
KILLER: What trick would that be then?
MULDER: Look behind you, and you'll find out!
KILLER: I ain't falling for that one!
SCULLY: No, I really think you should look behind you! (She's quite convincing, and the killer does. Duh! Mulder fires, hitting the man in the arm, and making him drop his weapon - yep, he's still got the rifle! Scully retreives the weapon, only to find it is unloaded.) What a waste of a good shot!
SCULLY: Come on, let's get him back to Washington. (they shove the killer into the back seat, then drive off.)
Scene Seven: (In car - Mulder driving.)
SCULLY: Do you know where you're going now?
MULDER: Yes. I didn't realise we'd passed the same stop-sign four times. I thought it was just a stupid coincidence.
SCULLY: Stupid being the operative word. (Mulder looks at her, slightly offended. Oh dear. NOT!!!!) Do you believe how gullible Frohike is!
MULDER: No, but tell me, Scully, was it as good for you!
SCULLY: (returns one of those silly smiles, one that the Spice Girls would be proud of! She then looks sincere.) Don't push it.
Scene Eight: (In Skinner's office. Mulder and Scully are seated at his desk, informing him of the case situation.)
SKINNER: So, can I see the suspect? (Scully gets up and leads in the killer.) Oh my God. It's my long lost brother! It's Frank! Which one of you caught him? (Mulder and Scully, instantly thinking they're in trouble, and instantly guilty, point at the other and say together:
MULDER&SCULLY: He/She did!
SKINNER: Thank you so much. You may leave, agents. (they look at each other in amazement)
TO BE CONTINUED. . .
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