TITLE: Puissance de l'esprit
RATING: PG (for bad words)
DISCLAIMER: The short redhead and the tall brown-haired guy ain't
mine and they never will be. Unless...Nah, that won't
work...Everyone else is derived from real life. (Sorry I killed you
off, Mrs. Piraino!)
SUMMARY: Mysterious deaths are linked to one teenage girl. Written
in script format.
Here we go...
***
Puissance de l'esprit
By Samantha Leigh
BENJAMIN CARDOZO HIGH SCHOOL BAYSIDE, NY
(On stage, two people -a guy and a girl- are practising a play. The
guy is Brian Gladstone and the girl is Ashlyn McRoberts.)
BRIAN. Lori! Honey, where have you been?
ASHLYN. Oh, Brendan! My Uncle Phil is holding me captive! I just
escaped. He wants my inheritance! All 100 million dollars of it!
BRIAN. Lori, you're. . .you're rich!
ASHLYN. I know. That's why Uncle Phil wants to kill me.
BRIAN. Kill you? Why that rat bastard --
DIRECTOR. Brian! I've told you time and time again -- no cursing!
One more time and you're out! You CAN be replaced. Don't think I
won't do it. Got it?
BRIAN. (mumbles) Yeah, sure. Sorry.
DIRECTOR. Alright everyone! That's it for today! Pack up! See you
tomorrow, same time.
(Cut to Brian and Ashlyn walking on a deserted road.)
BRIAN. Y'know, Ashlyn, you're quite a little actress.
ASHLYN. Gee. . .uh, thanks, Brian.
BRIAN. How 'bout we, like, stop at the park for a while?
ASHLYN. Um, I don't think so, Brian. I mean, I've gotta be home
soon.
BRIAN. Why don't you just tell your mom practise ran late?
ASHLYN. (horrified) I can't just. . .lie to my mom like that. She
trusts me.
BRIAN. Maybe it will, Lori.
ASHLYN. No, Brian! I. . .I have to get home. Now.
BRIAN. C'mon. Don't be such a baby. You know you want it and it
won't take that long.
ASHLYN. Brian, no! Leave me alone!
BRIAN. Fine. Be that way. But don't expect me to take you back.
ASHLYN. I won't! I never want to see you again in my life!
(Brian stomps away. Cut to Brian talking with friends the next day,
standing under construction site.)
BRIAN. And then she practically throws herself at me!
FRIENDS. (laugh, ad-lib)
(Suddenly, a big brick from the construction site falls. Everyone
scrambles away, except Brian who gets killed by the brick. Zoom in
on Ashlyn, arms folded, scowl on her face.)
(Fade in on, Scully and Mulder in the car.)
SCULLY. (yawning) Mulder, what is so important that you have to
wake me up at 5:30 in the morning on my day off?
MULDER. I came across an article in a small town newspaper. Five
unexplainable deaths in a month. That's gotta be some kind of
record.
SCULLY. (dryly) So you woke me up because some hick town is trying
to set a record for "most unexplainable deaths in a month"?
MULDER. No, I woke you up because of the link between these deaths.
(Scully just looks at him.)
A girl named Ashlyn McRoberts. Before each death, the victim had an
argument with Ashlyn.
SCULLY. (blinks, sleepily) Mulder, please, tell me you're not
suggesting that suggesting that she killed these people because she
was mad at them.
MULDER. Sorry, I can't.
SCULLY. Mulder, I bearly got any sleep last night. I am in no mood
for your stupid theories. Please tell me we're investigating a nice
explainable case.
MULDER. (lightly) If you're tired, sleep. We won't be there for
another hour or so.
SCULLY. (exasperated) That's not the point!
MULDER. (ignoring her) Hand me the map, will you?
SCULLY. (sighs) Fine, whatever.
(Cut to Ashlyn talking to a teacher, Mrs. Piraino.)
PIRAINO. (sternly) Ashlyn, your grades are deteriorating. You
haven't done your homework for over two months.
ASHLYN. Yeah, I'm sorry. Can I make it up?
PIRAINO. (shakes head) I'm going to have to request that you be
left back.
ASHLYN. Left back?!
PIRAINO. Yes, I'm sorry --
ASHLYN. No! I can't be left back! I have to graduate! You can't do
this to me!
PIRAINO. I'm not doing this to you, Ashlyn, you are.
ASHLYN. No! No! No! I will not be left back!
PIRAINO. There's nothing I can do.
ASHLYN. Take it back! Tell them you made a mistake! Tell them I'm
doing fine!
PIRAINO. I can't, because you're not.
ASHLYN. (low) Do it or I'll kill you.
(Piraino looks shocked, and the phone rings. She picks it up and
clutches it as if it was her life line.)
PIRAINO. Hello?. . .Ashlyn's right here. . .Alright. (hangs up)
Ashlyn, you're wanted in the main office right away.
(Cut to Mulder and Scully waiting in the main office.)
SCULLY. Mulder, I think this is a total waste of time. I was
supposed to go out with Ethan today.
MULDER. You had a date? (snickers) Well, there's something you
don't see every day.
SCULLY. I know. (sighs) I need more excitement in my life.
(Mulder opens his mouth to say something, but is interrupted by the
secretary.)
SECRETARY. Agent Scully? Agent Mulder? Ashlyn McRoberts is here.
SCULLY. Is there a room we could use?
SECRETARY. Yes, the guidance counselors' office. Right down the
hall. This way.
(They follow the secretary down the hall and into the room. Mulder
and Ashlyn sit. Scully stands, leaning against a wall. The
secretary leaves.)
MULDER. Hi.
ASHLYN. (suspiciously) Hi.
MULDER. I'm Agent Mulder and this is (nods at Scully) Agent Scully.
(beat) How're you doing?
ASHLYN. (raises an eyebrow) Fine.
MULDER. Fine?
ASHLYN. Yeah. Fine.
MULDER. So you and Brian Gladstone weren't close?
ASHLYN. (closes her eyes) Nope.
MULDER. You were there though? When he died?
ASHLYN. Yeah, me and, like twenty-five dozen other kids. Why are
you talking to me?
MULDER. We also heard you witnessed the deaths of Cheryl Aquilia,
Kasey Sean, Katie Rose, Jesse DeMann and Erica Gene.
ASHLYN. Yeah? So I've got bad luck. It's not like I killed them or
anything. Wait a minute -- You think I'm a suspect?
(Scully and Mulder don't say anything.)
You do, don't you? I'm not a murderer!
SCULLY. We're not accusing you of anything. We're questioning
everyone that was at the scene. But if you don't cooperate, you
will become a suspect.
ASHLYN. You can't do that! I have rights!
SCULLY. (glances at Mulder) Yes, you do have rights, but that
doesn't mean you don't have to cooperate with us.
ASHLYN. I won't do it! You can't make me!
SCULLY. (ignoring her) Now, you can have an attorney present during
the questioning if you wish --
ASHLYN. An attorney? I don't have one.
SCULLY. I'm sure your parents have a lawyer.
ASHLYN. My mother would kill me!
SCULLY. Are you going to cooperate then?
ASHLYN. Can I have a minute to, uh, clean up?
SCULLY. We'll give you five minutes.
(Ashyln leaves. Scully turns to Mulder.)
Feel free to jump in anytime.
MULDER. Nah, you were doing fine.
(Scully glares at him, but before she can say anything, Ashlyn
returns.)
MULDER. Feel better?
ASHYLN. (glares at Mulder) Can we get on with this? I have play
rehearsal at three.
MULDER. You in the same play as Brian was?
ASHLYN. Yeah, why?
MULDER. He was one of the leads. I doubt you'll do much practising
today.
ASHLYN. Yeah and I'm the other. I doubt we'll do any practising if
I don't show up.
MULDER. So much for a period of grieving, eh?
ASHLYN. Listen. Brian and I were never, ever close. The only reason
I tolerated him was because he was in my play.
SCULLY. Your play?
ASHLYN. The play, okay?! The point is that Brian Gladstone is --
was an obnoxious, self-centered, egotistical maniac and he doesn't
deserve my grievances!
MULDER. Gee, I was always taught not to speak ill of the dead. How
'bout you, Scully?
(Scully doesn't say anything, just stares at Ashlyn unnervingly.)
ASHLYN. Now, I think I've answered all your questions, and if
you'll excuse me --
MULDER. (feigning confusion) Actually you haven't answered any of
our questions.
ASHLYN. Is there any way we can do this some other time? I've got
to be somewhere.
MULDER. Where?
ASHLYN. None of your business!
MULDER. Actually --
ASHLYN. I have to pick up my little sister!
MULDER. That would be Tressa?
ASHLYN. What, are you stalking me?!
MULDER. (deadpan) The FBI knows all.
SCULLY. You can go, Ashlyn, but we'll need to speak with you later.
ASHLYN. Fine by me. (leaves)
MUDLER. (calls after her) Don't go skipping town! (he turns to face
Scully)
SCULLY. I don't like her.
MULDER. (shrugs) I don't know, she's kind of cute.
SCULLY. (rolls her eyes) Murderers can be cute.
MULDER. So you think it was her? The murders, I mean.
SCULLY. I don't know what I think. Can we visit the crime scenes?
(gathers up her things)
MULDER. Sure, I don't think they'll be any help, though.
(Zoom out, backwards, to see Ashlyn standing beside door,
listening.)
(Cut to construction site where Brian was killed, Mulder is
standing next to the brick.)
SCULLY. (looking up at construction site) Could it be a mistake on
some workmans' part?
MULDER. Could be. If work had started for the day.
SCULLY. (sighs) What do you think, Mulder?
MULDER. I don't know, Scully.
SCULLY. Don't lie to me, Mulder. You think that poor girl killed
them with her mind!
MULDER. The thought never even crossed my mind, Scully.
SCULLY. Mulder, is there a little voice in your head that says
"Scully hasn't had had a migraine in a while, let's give her one"?
MULDER. (deadpan) If I told you "yes", would you have me committed?
SCULLY. (ignores him) Was an autopsy done on the latest victim?
MULDER. (gestures to brick) I would think it was obvious how he
died, Scully.
SCULLY. Yes, but we're more interested in why he died.
(Cut to Mulder, in motel room, sitting cross-legged on bed, glasses
on, reading. Scully enters and flops into a chair. Mulder looks up,
half-interested.)
SCULLY. (in response to his silent question) Nothing. Not a thing.
MULDER. I don't know what to tell you, Scully. Look, I've been
doing some reading.
(Scully glances at the book in his hand. It's Carrie by Stephen
King. Mulder pretends to hide book under some papers.)
SCULLY. (rolls eyes) I read Carrie, Mulder. It wasn't that great.
MULDER. (grins disarmingly) I thought you said Stephen King was
mind candy for the emotionally immature.
SCULLY. (glares at Mulder) Mulder, Carrie is a work of fiction. It
is in no way relevant to our case.
MULDER. The book is in every way relevant to our case, Scully.
What's Carrie about? A teenage girl who kills people with her mind.
And who's Ashlyn McRoberts?
SCULLY. (folds arms over chest) A misunderstood teenager who had
the bad luck to witness six deaths?
MULDER. Hey, you're the one who didn't like her.
SCULLY. That doesn't mean a thing! Need I remind you of Ed Jerse?
MULDER. (mildly interested) That tattoo guy?
SCULLY. Yes, the "tattoo guy" --
MULDER. Never thought you had in it you.
SCULLY. (gives him an "I'm-going-to-ignore-that" look) I don't have
the best luck judging people's character's, you know. Just because
I don't like someone doesn't automatically make them a murderer.
MULDER. (grins) Aha! A flaw is finally revealed in the "perfect"
Agent Scully.
SCULLY. Don't start with me, Mulder. You're not the best judge of
character either, Mr Oxford-educated psychologist.
MULDER. (imitates Elaine on "Ally McBeal") Snappish.
(Scully just glares at Mulder)
You know, Scully, all that glaring is bad for your eyes. It can
give you wrinkles.
(Scully rolls her eyes and stands, heads for the door to her room)
Scully? Where are you going?
SCULLY. (opens door) Good night, Mulder.
MULDER. Scully --
SCULLY. Sweet dreams. (closes door behind her)
MULDER. Was it something I said? (shrugs and returns to his book)
(Cut to Ashlyn playing in gym. Mulder and Scully enter, speak to
gym teacher, who points at Ashlyn. Mulder starts towards her,
Scully stays to talk to gym teacher.)
MULDER. Hey Ashlyn. (lifts hand in greeting) What's up?
ASHLYN. (glares at Mulder) What do you want?
MULDER. I just want to talk. (nods at basketball in her hands) Want
to shoot some hoops?
ASHLYN. Hoops?
MULDER. Yeah, you know, hoops. Ball through hoop --
ASHLYN. With you?
MULDER. You see anyone else here?
ASHLYN. (eyes him, skeptically) You any good?
MULDER. Would I be asking if I wasn't? (Ashlyn just stares at him,
he lowers his voice, conspiratorially and leans towards her) I know
what you are.
ASHLYN. What? (stares at a point just beside her his head.
Involuntarily, he turns to look and sees the door that separates
the two halves of the gym racing closed towards Scully and the gym
teacher!)
MULDER. (yells) Ashlyn! Don't do this! (takes off at a run towards
Scully, yelling her name.)
(Scully turns to see what he wants and he comes barreling into her,
knocking her to the floor, landing on top of her and inadvertently
pushing the teacher in the path of the door, which closes on him,
killing him instantly.)
MULDER. (looks down at Scully, who is underneath him) And you said
your life wasn't exciting enough.
(Cut to Ashlyn, Mulder and Scully, in an empty room)
MULDER. So here we are, all together, eh?
ASHLYN. (muttered) Again. (looks up at Mulder and Scully) What can
you two possibly hope to achieve by interrogating me again?
MULDER. We never actually got any answers from you last time,
Ashlyn.
SCULLY. We're just trying to find out what happened. We're not
accusing you of anything.
ASHLYN. (ignores Scully) I mean, you guys already know how Brian
and the rest of them died, what do you need from me?
MULDER. Actually, we're more interested in why they died. Can you
help us with that?
ASHLYN. What if I confessed?
MULDER. What?!
ASHLYN. If I said, right now, that I killed them, what would you
do?
SCULLY. It's not possible that you killed them.
ASHLYN. Excuse me?
SCULLY. It's not possible for you to have killed them.
ASHLYN. (getting defensive) Well, why the hell not?!
SCULLY. You were nowhere near the brick that killed Brian
Gladstone; you were at least five people away from Jesse DeMann
when he was hit by the car; when Cheryl Aquilia blew up her
chemistry lab room, you were in the bathroom; you --
ASHLYN. I don't have to stay here and listen to this! (gets up and
goes to door, opens it, turns back to Scully with an odd look on
her face) Haven't you ever heard of Carrie? (leaves)
(Mulder turns to Scully, gives her a meaningful look.)
(Cut to Ashlyn, walking down the hall. She is stopped by Mrs.
Piraino.)
PIRAINO. Ashlyn, I wanted to speak to you.
ASHLYN. What?
PIRAINO. There's a class that you can take after school, Ashlyn. If
you take it, I won't fail you.
ASHLYN. I have a job! I can't.
PIRAINO. Well, then I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to fail you.
ASHLYN. (low, menacingly) You'll be sorry if you do.
PIRAINO. Ashlyn, there are FBI Agents here --
ASHLYN. Yeah, we're well acquainted. They think I'm a murderer.
(leans close) Do you think I'm a murderer?
PIRAINO. (scared) I'll talk to you later, Ashlyn. Er, think about
what I said, okay?
(Ashlyn just glares at Piraino and she scurries away. Piraino walks
down the hall and down the stairs. At the top of the, she
hesitates, then starts down the stairs and trips, falling to her
death. Zoom in on Ashlyn, standing at the top of the stairs,
watching Piraino impassively.)
(Cut to Mulder standing in a hospital hall. Scully walks up to
him.)
SCULLY. She's gone. We weren't able to save her.
MULDER. She was going to fail Ashlyn, Scully. She was up there
alone with her. Ashlyn's committed yet another murder, Scully.
SCULLY. Mulder, we have no proof of that. There's not enough
probable cause --
MULDER. She was present during each of the murders. What more do
you want?! Bloody gloves?
SCULLY. Circumstantial evidence, Mulder. None of the deaths were
actually murders. Someone fell down a flight of stairs, someone
else got crushed by a brick --
MULDER. Scully, you don't want to be held responsible for more
deaths, do you?
SCULLY. Mulder, (this is tough for her to break to him and we can
see it on her face) Kersh...he's taking us off this case. We're due
back in Washington in the morning. Mulder, I'm sorry. There's
nothing we can do. (awkwardly pats his arm, continues less harshly)
I'm going back to the motel to pack. Do you want a ride?
MULDER. No, I'm going to stick around her for a bit.
SCULLY. Mulder, don't do anything rash.
MULDER. Rash? Me? Never. (gives her a tight smile)
(She eyes him for a moment then turns and walks away. We see her
pass through swinging doors and then someone calls Mulder's name
and our attention is turned away from Scully. A doctor walks up to
Mulder.)
DOCTOR. Agent Mulder?
MULDER. Yes?
DOCTOR. I'm Dr. Jamie Wurth? I was in the ER with Agent Scully.
MULDER. Yes?
DOCTOR. She said you might want to speak with me?
(Mulder nods)
Could you wait in my office? I'll be with you in a second.
(Cut to clock in Dr. Wurth's office, Mulder is sitting in a chair,
looking at his watch impatiently. Dr. Wurth enters.)
DOCTOR. Agent Mulder. I'm sorry to keep you waiting, but I've just
been informed that my daughter is missing.
(Mulder had stood when the Doctor entered and now she bursts into
tears and buries her face in Mulder's chest. He awkwardly consoles
her.)
MULDER. I'm sorry.
DOCTOR. Ashlyn was always such a good girl. I can't believe she --
MULDER. Ashlyn? Ashlyn McRoberts?
(Dr Wurth nods)
You're Ashlyn's mother?!
DOCTOR. (nods) I started using my maiden name again when Ashlyn's
father and I divorced.
MULDER. And Ashlyn's missing?
DOCTOR. Yes. (looks at him oddly) I just got a call from Tressa's
school. She was never picked up.
MULDER. Excuse me. (takes out phone and speed-dials Scully)
(Cut to Scully, in her car, she answers the phone.)
SCULLY. Scully.
MULDER. Ashlyn's missing.
SCULLY. What?!
MULDER. Ashlyn's missing. Dr. Wurth -the doctor you were in the ER
with?- is her mother. She's missing, Scully. (his voice is full of
foreboding.)
SCULLY. I'm on my way.
(Scully hangs up and goes to make a U-turn on the narrow road in
the rain and fog. Someone -Ashlyn- steps in front of her and she
swerves to avoid hitting her, loses control of the car and slams
into a tree, knocking her unconscious. Ashlyn picks her way to the
car and opens the door. Scully, "helped" by Ashlyn, falls out of
the car and we see her -- lying on the ground, extremely bloody,
and looking tres morte.)
(Cut to Mulder in car with Dr. Wurth in passenger seat. Mulder is
frantically dialling Scully's cellular and getting no answer.)
MULDER. Something happened to her! I know it!
DOCTOR. (eyes Mulder) You love her, don't you?
MULDER. What?!
DOCTOR. You love her.
MULDER. She's my partner and my best friend and -- why am I telling
you this?! She could be dead right now!
DOCTOR. She's not. You would be able to feel it. Just like I know
that my baby's not dead. You would know if she wasn't alive.
(We see Mulder's face, as he realizes that the doctor is right.)
(Cut to wreckage of Scully's car, police around it. One is one the
phone.)
COP. Agent Mulder? We found Agent Scully's car.... Yeah. I think
maybe you oughta come down here.
(Cut to Mulder's car racing to wreak site. Car screeches to a halt
and Mulder jumps out and races to the wreckage. The doctor follows
at a more sedate pace.)
MULDER. Where is she?!
YOUNG COP. She, she, (sputters and points to the car)
(Mulder rushes over and sees a forensic guy taking samples of
Scully's blood -lots of it everywhere- from the steering wheel. He
gets an odd look on his face like he's in pain. The cop that was on
the phone comes over.)
COP. Agent Mulder --
MULDER. Where is she?!
COP. (unfazed by the ranting FBI Agent in front of him) We're
conducting a search of the immediate area, but we've had no luck so
far.
(Mulder opens his mouth to say something, but Dr. Wurth calls him
over. He comes and she points to the ground. There are bloody
footprints leading to the highway, where they disappear, presumably
into a car. Mulder looks up, a horrified expression on his face.)
MULDER. Ashlyn has her.
(Cut to Scully, tied up and unconscious in a dark room. Scully
starts waking up, she moans through the bag and blinks blearily
trying to gauge where she is.)
SCULLY. (through gag) Hello? Is anyone there?
(No answer)
Is someone there? Hello? Please!
(Pull back, through door, Ashlyn is standing impassively outside,
listening to Scully yelling for help.)
(Cut to Mulder with Dr. Wurth)
MULDER. Where could she be?!
DOCTOR. I don't know.
MULDER. She's your daughter, godamnit!
DOCTOR. Agent Mulder!
MULDER. Don't you 'Agent Mulder' me! My partner's life is in
jeopardy! All because of your sociopathic daughter!
DOCTOR. Sociopathic? What right do you have to make that analysis?
You're not a psychologist!
MULDER. Yes, I am.
DOCTOR. Oh.
MULDER. But that's not important now! What's important is where
Scully is! Where could Ashlyn have taken her?
DOCTOR. I don't know!
MULDER. Well, think, godamnit!
(Silence while Dr Wurth thinks, then:)
DOCTOR. (snaps fingers) I know where she is!
(Cut to Scully, in the dark room. The door opens and we see Ashlyn
from Scully's POV: fuzzily, then clearer as she blink in the sudden
harsh light.)
SCULLY. (through gag, as Ashlyn reaches for her) Get the hell away
from me!
ASHLYN. (casually pulls out Scully's gun) Oh, look what I've got.
(Scully shuts up.)
Good, you decided to play it smart, I see. Now I'm going to take
your gag off. (thoughtfully) Don't they usually say something like:
'and you won't scream'? (laughs shortly) Well, I'm going to be
different. You can scream all you like. It won't make a difference.
No one can hear you anyway.
(Ashlyn leans foward and un-gags Scully. Scully just sits there.
Ashlyn looks disappointed.)
Aren't you going to scream?
(Scully shakes her head.)
You're supposed to! You're supposed to scream and try to escape and
then there's a big chase scene and I kill you. Just like in the
movies.
SCULLY. (gently) Ashlyn, this isn't the movies. This is real life -
-
ASHLYN. I know -- !
SCULLY. -- and you can get in a lot of trouble for kidnapping a
federal agent.
ASHLYN. You tried to spoil my fun.
SCULLY. Fun? What fun?
ASHLYN. Apparently you don't have to take an IQ test to get into
the FBI. (rolls eyes) Carrie? (no response from Scully) Your
partner's right, you know. (beat) He thinks I'm the muderer? (beat)
Well I am. (beat) Yup. Killed 'em all. Every last one. Kasey,
Cheryl, Erica, Katie, Brian, Jesse, that teacher that tried to fail
me...(beat) And now you.
(Cut to front of school. It's now raining, with thunder and
lightening. Mulder's car pulls up and he jumps out, carrying one of
those car-battery-powered flashlights. Dr Wurth follows)
MULDER. Are you sure she's here?!
DOCTOR. Yeah.
(Dr Wurth and Mulder go to front door and Mulder picks the lock
with his FBI-issue lockpick. Mulder and Dr Wurth enter school.)
DOCTOR. Ashl -- !
MULDER. Shh! Listen. Do you hear something?
(They listen in silence)
I thought I heard footsteps. C'mon.
(Zoom in on a door way as Mulder and Dr Wurth pass. Ashlyn looks
out and smiles, evilly.)
(Cut to Ashlyn and Scully in a hall. Ashlyn is forcing Scully down
the hall with her gun.)
ASHLYN. Move, damnit!
SCULLY. You know, I could move a lot faster if I wasn't tied up.
ASHLYN. That has nothing to do with it! (pokes Scully with gun) Now
keep moving and keep your voice down!
SCULLY. Ashlyn, this isn't really what you want is it? You don't
really want to kill me.
ASHLYN. Yes, I do!
SCULLY. Even if you do want this, there's no way in hell that
Mulder's going to let you get away with this. He will hunt you
down.
ASHLYN. You two love each other.
SCULLY. (stops short) What?!
ASHLYN. Keep moving! (prods Scully with gun) Or there won't be
enought left of you for him to make a positive identification.
MULDER. You're not going to hurt her.
ASHLYN. (whirls around) Where did you come from?
MULDER. Drop the gun, Ashlyn.
ASHLYN. No (grabs Scully and presses gun to her head).
MULDER. (his face is etched with horror, but his voice remains
calm) Don't do this, Ashlyn. This isn't really what you want.
ASHLYN. What makes you think you know what I want?!
MULDER. Don't do this. Let her go. Don't make me shoot you. I will.
(clicks off safety)
ASHLYN. (mimics him) Don't make me shoot her. I will. (laughs) Now
what you're going to do is set your gun down. (Mulder tenses and
Ashlyn tightens her grip on Scully) Don't even think about trying
anything or she gets it. (smiles) I've always wanted to say that.
SCULLY. Ashlyn --
ASHLYN. Shut up!
(Scully reaches up, grabs Ashlyn's arm and twists out from under
it, skillfully. Ashlyn instinctively whips out her arm and hits
Scully in the head with her gun. Scully crumples to the ground
unconscious -again!!- and Mulder goes to rush to her, but a sudden
force picks him up and flings him against a wall, hard, and he
loses consciousness, slumping to the ground.)
(Cut to Mulder's POV of the hallway, blurrily and first then
clearer. There's a door open and blowing in the wind -it leads to
the roof- with rain coming in. Mulder gets up and grabs his gun,
starts running for the door, hears "Ashlyn! No!" and bounds up the
stairs and into the rain.)
MULDER. Scully!!
(Ashlyn and Scully are by the edge of the roof, Dr Wurth is between
them and Mulder.)
DOCTOR. Ashyln, don't do this! Please! Sweetie --
ASHLYN. Shut up!!
(Dr Wurth looks startled, but she shuts up.)
You never cared about me! You cared more about your patients than
me!!
DOCTOR. Ashlyn, that's not true! I always --
ASHLYN. Why are you even here now? Not 'cause you care about me!
'Cause I'm going to kill an FBI Agent! (steps up on ledge, pulls
Scully with her.)
MULDER. Scully!! (anguished cry is torn from his throat.)
(Ashlyn looks surprised, then we see a realization pass across her
face and she throws Scully to the roof, tossing her gun after her.
Mulder rushes to Scully's side, holding her and half-stands. Ashlyn
glances behind her at the height of the building.)
MULDER. Ashlyn --
DOCTOR. Ashlyn, no!
ASHLYN. (looks at Mulder and Scully, speaks to Mulder) I never
could have done it, you know. I never could have taken her away
from you. (Shrugs, sheepishly) I guess I'm just romantic at heart.
(launches herself backwards off the roof)
DOCTOR. NO!!
(Mulder looks at Dr Wurth, then faces Scully. He tenderly brushes
hair out of her face.)
MULDER. Are you okay?
SCULLY. (nods) I'm fine.
(Mulder helps her up and they walk to the edge joining Dr Wurth.
Zoom in on Ashlyn's crumpled body.)
(Fade in on a little girl -Tressa McRoberts- playing in the fading
light of day. A woman -Dr Wurth- comes to the door behind the
girl.)
DOCTOR. Tressa. Time to come in.
TRESSA. No. I want to stay outside.
DOCTOR. Tressa, it's time for bed. Now.
TRESSA. No! I'm going to stay outside!
DOCTOR. Tressa Elizabeth McRoberts! You get inside right this
instant!
(Tressa turns around and glares at Dr Wurth and the doctor stumbles
and almost falls, but catches herself just in time. Dr Wurth walks
out into the yard, picks up Tressa and carries her inside. We fade
out on Tressa's evil scowl; an exact mimic of her sister's.)
(Executive Producer Chris Carter)
***
LA FIN
"I have to go vacum my coffee table now." -Stupid Cheryl Comment
#42
"There's snow out there...and one day, it's going to melt." -Stupid
Kiera Comment #59
RATING: PG (for bad words)
DISCLAIMER: The short redhead and the tall brown-haired guy ain't
mine and they never will be. Unless...Nah, that won't
work...Everyone else is derived from real life. (Sorry I killed you
off, Mrs. Piraino!)
SUMMARY: Mysterious deaths are linked to one teenage girl. Written
in script format.
Here we go...
***
Puissance de l'esprit
By Samantha Leigh
BENJAMIN CARDOZO HIGH SCHOOL BAYSIDE, NY
(On stage, two people -a guy and a girl- are practising a play. The
guy is Brian Gladstone and the girl is Ashlyn McRoberts.)
BRIAN. Lori! Honey, where have you been?
ASHLYN. Oh, Brendan! My Uncle Phil is holding me captive! I just
escaped. He wants my inheritance! All 100 million dollars of it!
BRIAN. Lori, you're. . .you're rich!
ASHLYN. I know. That's why Uncle Phil wants to kill me.
BRIAN. Kill you? Why that rat bastard --
DIRECTOR. Brian! I've told you time and time again -- no cursing!
One more time and you're out! You CAN be replaced. Don't think I
won't do it. Got it?
BRIAN. (mumbles) Yeah, sure. Sorry.
DIRECTOR. Alright everyone! That's it for today! Pack up! See you
tomorrow, same time.
(Cut to Brian and Ashlyn walking on a deserted road.)
BRIAN. Y'know, Ashlyn, you're quite a little actress.
ASHLYN. Gee. . .uh, thanks, Brian.
BRIAN. How 'bout we, like, stop at the park for a while?
ASHLYN. Um, I don't think so, Brian. I mean, I've gotta be home
soon.
BRIAN. Why don't you just tell your mom practise ran late?
ASHLYN. (horrified) I can't just. . .lie to my mom like that. She
trusts me.
BRIAN. Maybe it will, Lori.
ASHLYN. No, Brian! I. . .I have to get home. Now.
BRIAN. C'mon. Don't be such a baby. You know you want it and it
won't take that long.
ASHLYN. Brian, no! Leave me alone!
BRIAN. Fine. Be that way. But don't expect me to take you back.
ASHLYN. I won't! I never want to see you again in my life!
(Brian stomps away. Cut to Brian talking with friends the next day,
standing under construction site.)
BRIAN. And then she practically throws herself at me!
FRIENDS. (laugh, ad-lib)
(Suddenly, a big brick from the construction site falls. Everyone
scrambles away, except Brian who gets killed by the brick. Zoom in
on Ashlyn, arms folded, scowl on her face.)
(Fade in on, Scully and Mulder in the car.)
SCULLY. (yawning) Mulder, what is so important that you have to
wake me up at 5:30 in the morning on my day off?
MULDER. I came across an article in a small town newspaper. Five
unexplainable deaths in a month. That's gotta be some kind of
record.
SCULLY. (dryly) So you woke me up because some hick town is trying
to set a record for "most unexplainable deaths in a month"?
MULDER. No, I woke you up because of the link between these deaths.
(Scully just looks at him.)
A girl named Ashlyn McRoberts. Before each death, the victim had an
argument with Ashlyn.
SCULLY. (blinks, sleepily) Mulder, please, tell me you're not
suggesting that suggesting that she killed these people because she
was mad at them.
MULDER. Sorry, I can't.
SCULLY. Mulder, I bearly got any sleep last night. I am in no mood
for your stupid theories. Please tell me we're investigating a nice
explainable case.
MULDER. (lightly) If you're tired, sleep. We won't be there for
another hour or so.
SCULLY. (exasperated) That's not the point!
MULDER. (ignoring her) Hand me the map, will you?
SCULLY. (sighs) Fine, whatever.
(Cut to Ashlyn talking to a teacher, Mrs. Piraino.)
PIRAINO. (sternly) Ashlyn, your grades are deteriorating. You
haven't done your homework for over two months.
ASHLYN. Yeah, I'm sorry. Can I make it up?
PIRAINO. (shakes head) I'm going to have to request that you be
left back.
ASHLYN. Left back?!
PIRAINO. Yes, I'm sorry --
ASHLYN. No! I can't be left back! I have to graduate! You can't do
this to me!
PIRAINO. I'm not doing this to you, Ashlyn, you are.
ASHLYN. No! No! No! I will not be left back!
PIRAINO. There's nothing I can do.
ASHLYN. Take it back! Tell them you made a mistake! Tell them I'm
doing fine!
PIRAINO. I can't, because you're not.
ASHLYN. (low) Do it or I'll kill you.
(Piraino looks shocked, and the phone rings. She picks it up and
clutches it as if it was her life line.)
PIRAINO. Hello?. . .Ashlyn's right here. . .Alright. (hangs up)
Ashlyn, you're wanted in the main office right away.
(Cut to Mulder and Scully waiting in the main office.)
SCULLY. Mulder, I think this is a total waste of time. I was
supposed to go out with Ethan today.
MULDER. You had a date? (snickers) Well, there's something you
don't see every day.
SCULLY. I know. (sighs) I need more excitement in my life.
(Mulder opens his mouth to say something, but is interrupted by the
secretary.)
SECRETARY. Agent Scully? Agent Mulder? Ashlyn McRoberts is here.
SCULLY. Is there a room we could use?
SECRETARY. Yes, the guidance counselors' office. Right down the
hall. This way.
(They follow the secretary down the hall and into the room. Mulder
and Ashlyn sit. Scully stands, leaning against a wall. The
secretary leaves.)
MULDER. Hi.
ASHLYN. (suspiciously) Hi.
MULDER. I'm Agent Mulder and this is (nods at Scully) Agent Scully.
(beat) How're you doing?
ASHLYN. (raises an eyebrow) Fine.
MULDER. Fine?
ASHLYN. Yeah. Fine.
MULDER. So you and Brian Gladstone weren't close?
ASHLYN. (closes her eyes) Nope.
MULDER. You were there though? When he died?
ASHLYN. Yeah, me and, like twenty-five dozen other kids. Why are
you talking to me?
MULDER. We also heard you witnessed the deaths of Cheryl Aquilia,
Kasey Sean, Katie Rose, Jesse DeMann and Erica Gene.
ASHLYN. Yeah? So I've got bad luck. It's not like I killed them or
anything. Wait a minute -- You think I'm a suspect?
(Scully and Mulder don't say anything.)
You do, don't you? I'm not a murderer!
SCULLY. We're not accusing you of anything. We're questioning
everyone that was at the scene. But if you don't cooperate, you
will become a suspect.
ASHLYN. You can't do that! I have rights!
SCULLY. (glances at Mulder) Yes, you do have rights, but that
doesn't mean you don't have to cooperate with us.
ASHLYN. I won't do it! You can't make me!
SCULLY. (ignoring her) Now, you can have an attorney present during
the questioning if you wish --
ASHLYN. An attorney? I don't have one.
SCULLY. I'm sure your parents have a lawyer.
ASHLYN. My mother would kill me!
SCULLY. Are you going to cooperate then?
ASHLYN. Can I have a minute to, uh, clean up?
SCULLY. We'll give you five minutes.
(Ashyln leaves. Scully turns to Mulder.)
Feel free to jump in anytime.
MULDER. Nah, you were doing fine.
(Scully glares at him, but before she can say anything, Ashlyn
returns.)
MULDER. Feel better?
ASHYLN. (glares at Mulder) Can we get on with this? I have play
rehearsal at three.
MULDER. You in the same play as Brian was?
ASHLYN. Yeah, why?
MULDER. He was one of the leads. I doubt you'll do much practising
today.
ASHLYN. Yeah and I'm the other. I doubt we'll do any practising if
I don't show up.
MULDER. So much for a period of grieving, eh?
ASHLYN. Listen. Brian and I were never, ever close. The only reason
I tolerated him was because he was in my play.
SCULLY. Your play?
ASHLYN. The play, okay?! The point is that Brian Gladstone is --
was an obnoxious, self-centered, egotistical maniac and he doesn't
deserve my grievances!
MULDER. Gee, I was always taught not to speak ill of the dead. How
'bout you, Scully?
(Scully doesn't say anything, just stares at Ashlyn unnervingly.)
ASHLYN. Now, I think I've answered all your questions, and if
you'll excuse me --
MULDER. (feigning confusion) Actually you haven't answered any of
our questions.
ASHLYN. Is there any way we can do this some other time? I've got
to be somewhere.
MULDER. Where?
ASHLYN. None of your business!
MULDER. Actually --
ASHLYN. I have to pick up my little sister!
MULDER. That would be Tressa?
ASHLYN. What, are you stalking me?!
MULDER. (deadpan) The FBI knows all.
SCULLY. You can go, Ashlyn, but we'll need to speak with you later.
ASHLYN. Fine by me. (leaves)
MUDLER. (calls after her) Don't go skipping town! (he turns to face
Scully)
SCULLY. I don't like her.
MULDER. (shrugs) I don't know, she's kind of cute.
SCULLY. (rolls her eyes) Murderers can be cute.
MULDER. So you think it was her? The murders, I mean.
SCULLY. I don't know what I think. Can we visit the crime scenes?
(gathers up her things)
MULDER. Sure, I don't think they'll be any help, though.
(Zoom out, backwards, to see Ashlyn standing beside door,
listening.)
(Cut to construction site where Brian was killed, Mulder is
standing next to the brick.)
SCULLY. (looking up at construction site) Could it be a mistake on
some workmans' part?
MULDER. Could be. If work had started for the day.
SCULLY. (sighs) What do you think, Mulder?
MULDER. I don't know, Scully.
SCULLY. Don't lie to me, Mulder. You think that poor girl killed
them with her mind!
MULDER. The thought never even crossed my mind, Scully.
SCULLY. Mulder, is there a little voice in your head that says
"Scully hasn't had had a migraine in a while, let's give her one"?
MULDER. (deadpan) If I told you "yes", would you have me committed?
SCULLY. (ignores him) Was an autopsy done on the latest victim?
MULDER. (gestures to brick) I would think it was obvious how he
died, Scully.
SCULLY. Yes, but we're more interested in why he died.
(Cut to Mulder, in motel room, sitting cross-legged on bed, glasses
on, reading. Scully enters and flops into a chair. Mulder looks up,
half-interested.)
SCULLY. (in response to his silent question) Nothing. Not a thing.
MULDER. I don't know what to tell you, Scully. Look, I've been
doing some reading.
(Scully glances at the book in his hand. It's Carrie by Stephen
King. Mulder pretends to hide book under some papers.)
SCULLY. (rolls eyes) I read Carrie, Mulder. It wasn't that great.
MULDER. (grins disarmingly) I thought you said Stephen King was
mind candy for the emotionally immature.
SCULLY. (glares at Mulder) Mulder, Carrie is a work of fiction. It
is in no way relevant to our case.
MULDER. The book is in every way relevant to our case, Scully.
What's Carrie about? A teenage girl who kills people with her mind.
And who's Ashlyn McRoberts?
SCULLY. (folds arms over chest) A misunderstood teenager who had
the bad luck to witness six deaths?
MULDER. Hey, you're the one who didn't like her.
SCULLY. That doesn't mean a thing! Need I remind you of Ed Jerse?
MULDER. (mildly interested) That tattoo guy?
SCULLY. Yes, the "tattoo guy" --
MULDER. Never thought you had in it you.
SCULLY. (gives him an "I'm-going-to-ignore-that" look) I don't have
the best luck judging people's character's, you know. Just because
I don't like someone doesn't automatically make them a murderer.
MULDER. (grins) Aha! A flaw is finally revealed in the "perfect"
Agent Scully.
SCULLY. Don't start with me, Mulder. You're not the best judge of
character either, Mr Oxford-educated psychologist.
MULDER. (imitates Elaine on "Ally McBeal") Snappish.
(Scully just glares at Mulder)
You know, Scully, all that glaring is bad for your eyes. It can
give you wrinkles.
(Scully rolls her eyes and stands, heads for the door to her room)
Scully? Where are you going?
SCULLY. (opens door) Good night, Mulder.
MULDER. Scully --
SCULLY. Sweet dreams. (closes door behind her)
MULDER. Was it something I said? (shrugs and returns to his book)
(Cut to Ashlyn playing in gym. Mulder and Scully enter, speak to
gym teacher, who points at Ashlyn. Mulder starts towards her,
Scully stays to talk to gym teacher.)
MULDER. Hey Ashlyn. (lifts hand in greeting) What's up?
ASHLYN. (glares at Mulder) What do you want?
MULDER. I just want to talk. (nods at basketball in her hands) Want
to shoot some hoops?
ASHLYN. Hoops?
MULDER. Yeah, you know, hoops. Ball through hoop --
ASHLYN. With you?
MULDER. You see anyone else here?
ASHLYN. (eyes him, skeptically) You any good?
MULDER. Would I be asking if I wasn't? (Ashlyn just stares at him,
he lowers his voice, conspiratorially and leans towards her) I know
what you are.
ASHLYN. What? (stares at a point just beside her his head.
Involuntarily, he turns to look and sees the door that separates
the two halves of the gym racing closed towards Scully and the gym
teacher!)
MULDER. (yells) Ashlyn! Don't do this! (takes off at a run towards
Scully, yelling her name.)
(Scully turns to see what he wants and he comes barreling into her,
knocking her to the floor, landing on top of her and inadvertently
pushing the teacher in the path of the door, which closes on him,
killing him instantly.)
MULDER. (looks down at Scully, who is underneath him) And you said
your life wasn't exciting enough.
(Cut to Ashlyn, Mulder and Scully, in an empty room)
MULDER. So here we are, all together, eh?
ASHLYN. (muttered) Again. (looks up at Mulder and Scully) What can
you two possibly hope to achieve by interrogating me again?
MULDER. We never actually got any answers from you last time,
Ashlyn.
SCULLY. We're just trying to find out what happened. We're not
accusing you of anything.
ASHLYN. (ignores Scully) I mean, you guys already know how Brian
and the rest of them died, what do you need from me?
MULDER. Actually, we're more interested in why they died. Can you
help us with that?
ASHLYN. What if I confessed?
MULDER. What?!
ASHLYN. If I said, right now, that I killed them, what would you
do?
SCULLY. It's not possible that you killed them.
ASHLYN. Excuse me?
SCULLY. It's not possible for you to have killed them.
ASHLYN. (getting defensive) Well, why the hell not?!
SCULLY. You were nowhere near the brick that killed Brian
Gladstone; you were at least five people away from Jesse DeMann
when he was hit by the car; when Cheryl Aquilia blew up her
chemistry lab room, you were in the bathroom; you --
ASHLYN. I don't have to stay here and listen to this! (gets up and
goes to door, opens it, turns back to Scully with an odd look on
her face) Haven't you ever heard of Carrie? (leaves)
(Mulder turns to Scully, gives her a meaningful look.)
(Cut to Ashlyn, walking down the hall. She is stopped by Mrs.
Piraino.)
PIRAINO. Ashlyn, I wanted to speak to you.
ASHLYN. What?
PIRAINO. There's a class that you can take after school, Ashlyn. If
you take it, I won't fail you.
ASHLYN. I have a job! I can't.
PIRAINO. Well, then I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to fail you.
ASHLYN. (low, menacingly) You'll be sorry if you do.
PIRAINO. Ashlyn, there are FBI Agents here --
ASHLYN. Yeah, we're well acquainted. They think I'm a murderer.
(leans close) Do you think I'm a murderer?
PIRAINO. (scared) I'll talk to you later, Ashlyn. Er, think about
what I said, okay?
(Ashlyn just glares at Piraino and she scurries away. Piraino walks
down the hall and down the stairs. At the top of the, she
hesitates, then starts down the stairs and trips, falling to her
death. Zoom in on Ashlyn, standing at the top of the stairs,
watching Piraino impassively.)
(Cut to Mulder standing in a hospital hall. Scully walks up to
him.)
SCULLY. She's gone. We weren't able to save her.
MULDER. She was going to fail Ashlyn, Scully. She was up there
alone with her. Ashlyn's committed yet another murder, Scully.
SCULLY. Mulder, we have no proof of that. There's not enough
probable cause --
MULDER. She was present during each of the murders. What more do
you want?! Bloody gloves?
SCULLY. Circumstantial evidence, Mulder. None of the deaths were
actually murders. Someone fell down a flight of stairs, someone
else got crushed by a brick --
MULDER. Scully, you don't want to be held responsible for more
deaths, do you?
SCULLY. Mulder, (this is tough for her to break to him and we can
see it on her face) Kersh...he's taking us off this case. We're due
back in Washington in the morning. Mulder, I'm sorry. There's
nothing we can do. (awkwardly pats his arm, continues less harshly)
I'm going back to the motel to pack. Do you want a ride?
MULDER. No, I'm going to stick around her for a bit.
SCULLY. Mulder, don't do anything rash.
MULDER. Rash? Me? Never. (gives her a tight smile)
(She eyes him for a moment then turns and walks away. We see her
pass through swinging doors and then someone calls Mulder's name
and our attention is turned away from Scully. A doctor walks up to
Mulder.)
DOCTOR. Agent Mulder?
MULDER. Yes?
DOCTOR. I'm Dr. Jamie Wurth? I was in the ER with Agent Scully.
MULDER. Yes?
DOCTOR. She said you might want to speak with me?
(Mulder nods)
Could you wait in my office? I'll be with you in a second.
(Cut to clock in Dr. Wurth's office, Mulder is sitting in a chair,
looking at his watch impatiently. Dr. Wurth enters.)
DOCTOR. Agent Mulder. I'm sorry to keep you waiting, but I've just
been informed that my daughter is missing.
(Mulder had stood when the Doctor entered and now she bursts into
tears and buries her face in Mulder's chest. He awkwardly consoles
her.)
MULDER. I'm sorry.
DOCTOR. Ashlyn was always such a good girl. I can't believe she --
MULDER. Ashlyn? Ashlyn McRoberts?
(Dr Wurth nods)
You're Ashlyn's mother?!
DOCTOR. (nods) I started using my maiden name again when Ashlyn's
father and I divorced.
MULDER. And Ashlyn's missing?
DOCTOR. Yes. (looks at him oddly) I just got a call from Tressa's
school. She was never picked up.
MULDER. Excuse me. (takes out phone and speed-dials Scully)
(Cut to Scully, in her car, she answers the phone.)
SCULLY. Scully.
MULDER. Ashlyn's missing.
SCULLY. What?!
MULDER. Ashlyn's missing. Dr. Wurth -the doctor you were in the ER
with?- is her mother. She's missing, Scully. (his voice is full of
foreboding.)
SCULLY. I'm on my way.
(Scully hangs up and goes to make a U-turn on the narrow road in
the rain and fog. Someone -Ashlyn- steps in front of her and she
swerves to avoid hitting her, loses control of the car and slams
into a tree, knocking her unconscious. Ashlyn picks her way to the
car and opens the door. Scully, "helped" by Ashlyn, falls out of
the car and we see her -- lying on the ground, extremely bloody,
and looking tres morte.)
(Cut to Mulder in car with Dr. Wurth in passenger seat. Mulder is
frantically dialling Scully's cellular and getting no answer.)
MULDER. Something happened to her! I know it!
DOCTOR. (eyes Mulder) You love her, don't you?
MULDER. What?!
DOCTOR. You love her.
MULDER. She's my partner and my best friend and -- why am I telling
you this?! She could be dead right now!
DOCTOR. She's not. You would be able to feel it. Just like I know
that my baby's not dead. You would know if she wasn't alive.
(We see Mulder's face, as he realizes that the doctor is right.)
(Cut to wreckage of Scully's car, police around it. One is one the
phone.)
COP. Agent Mulder? We found Agent Scully's car.... Yeah. I think
maybe you oughta come down here.
(Cut to Mulder's car racing to wreak site. Car screeches to a halt
and Mulder jumps out and races to the wreckage. The doctor follows
at a more sedate pace.)
MULDER. Where is she?!
YOUNG COP. She, she, (sputters and points to the car)
(Mulder rushes over and sees a forensic guy taking samples of
Scully's blood -lots of it everywhere- from the steering wheel. He
gets an odd look on his face like he's in pain. The cop that was on
the phone comes over.)
COP. Agent Mulder --
MULDER. Where is she?!
COP. (unfazed by the ranting FBI Agent in front of him) We're
conducting a search of the immediate area, but we've had no luck so
far.
(Mulder opens his mouth to say something, but Dr. Wurth calls him
over. He comes and she points to the ground. There are bloody
footprints leading to the highway, where they disappear, presumably
into a car. Mulder looks up, a horrified expression on his face.)
MULDER. Ashlyn has her.
(Cut to Scully, tied up and unconscious in a dark room. Scully
starts waking up, she moans through the bag and blinks blearily
trying to gauge where she is.)
SCULLY. (through gag) Hello? Is anyone there?
(No answer)
Is someone there? Hello? Please!
(Pull back, through door, Ashlyn is standing impassively outside,
listening to Scully yelling for help.)
(Cut to Mulder with Dr. Wurth)
MULDER. Where could she be?!
DOCTOR. I don't know.
MULDER. She's your daughter, godamnit!
DOCTOR. Agent Mulder!
MULDER. Don't you 'Agent Mulder' me! My partner's life is in
jeopardy! All because of your sociopathic daughter!
DOCTOR. Sociopathic? What right do you have to make that analysis?
You're not a psychologist!
MULDER. Yes, I am.
DOCTOR. Oh.
MULDER. But that's not important now! What's important is where
Scully is! Where could Ashlyn have taken her?
DOCTOR. I don't know!
MULDER. Well, think, godamnit!
(Silence while Dr Wurth thinks, then:)
DOCTOR. (snaps fingers) I know where she is!
(Cut to Scully, in the dark room. The door opens and we see Ashlyn
from Scully's POV: fuzzily, then clearer as she blink in the sudden
harsh light.)
SCULLY. (through gag, as Ashlyn reaches for her) Get the hell away
from me!
ASHLYN. (casually pulls out Scully's gun) Oh, look what I've got.
(Scully shuts up.)
Good, you decided to play it smart, I see. Now I'm going to take
your gag off. (thoughtfully) Don't they usually say something like:
'and you won't scream'? (laughs shortly) Well, I'm going to be
different. You can scream all you like. It won't make a difference.
No one can hear you anyway.
(Ashlyn leans foward and un-gags Scully. Scully just sits there.
Ashlyn looks disappointed.)
Aren't you going to scream?
(Scully shakes her head.)
You're supposed to! You're supposed to scream and try to escape and
then there's a big chase scene and I kill you. Just like in the
movies.
SCULLY. (gently) Ashlyn, this isn't the movies. This is real life -
-
ASHLYN. I know -- !
SCULLY. -- and you can get in a lot of trouble for kidnapping a
federal agent.
ASHLYN. You tried to spoil my fun.
SCULLY. Fun? What fun?
ASHLYN. Apparently you don't have to take an IQ test to get into
the FBI. (rolls eyes) Carrie? (no response from Scully) Your
partner's right, you know. (beat) He thinks I'm the muderer? (beat)
Well I am. (beat) Yup. Killed 'em all. Every last one. Kasey,
Cheryl, Erica, Katie, Brian, Jesse, that teacher that tried to fail
me...(beat) And now you.
(Cut to front of school. It's now raining, with thunder and
lightening. Mulder's car pulls up and he jumps out, carrying one of
those car-battery-powered flashlights. Dr Wurth follows)
MULDER. Are you sure she's here?!
DOCTOR. Yeah.
(Dr Wurth and Mulder go to front door and Mulder picks the lock
with his FBI-issue lockpick. Mulder and Dr Wurth enter school.)
DOCTOR. Ashl -- !
MULDER. Shh! Listen. Do you hear something?
(They listen in silence)
I thought I heard footsteps. C'mon.
(Zoom in on a door way as Mulder and Dr Wurth pass. Ashlyn looks
out and smiles, evilly.)
(Cut to Ashlyn and Scully in a hall. Ashlyn is forcing Scully down
the hall with her gun.)
ASHLYN. Move, damnit!
SCULLY. You know, I could move a lot faster if I wasn't tied up.
ASHLYN. That has nothing to do with it! (pokes Scully with gun) Now
keep moving and keep your voice down!
SCULLY. Ashlyn, this isn't really what you want is it? You don't
really want to kill me.
ASHLYN. Yes, I do!
SCULLY. Even if you do want this, there's no way in hell that
Mulder's going to let you get away with this. He will hunt you
down.
ASHLYN. You two love each other.
SCULLY. (stops short) What?!
ASHLYN. Keep moving! (prods Scully with gun) Or there won't be
enought left of you for him to make a positive identification.
MULDER. You're not going to hurt her.
ASHLYN. (whirls around) Where did you come from?
MULDER. Drop the gun, Ashlyn.
ASHLYN. No (grabs Scully and presses gun to her head).
MULDER. (his face is etched with horror, but his voice remains
calm) Don't do this, Ashlyn. This isn't really what you want.
ASHLYN. What makes you think you know what I want?!
MULDER. Don't do this. Let her go. Don't make me shoot you. I will.
(clicks off safety)
ASHLYN. (mimics him) Don't make me shoot her. I will. (laughs) Now
what you're going to do is set your gun down. (Mulder tenses and
Ashlyn tightens her grip on Scully) Don't even think about trying
anything or she gets it. (smiles) I've always wanted to say that.
SCULLY. Ashlyn --
ASHLYN. Shut up!
(Scully reaches up, grabs Ashlyn's arm and twists out from under
it, skillfully. Ashlyn instinctively whips out her arm and hits
Scully in the head with her gun. Scully crumples to the ground
unconscious -again!!- and Mulder goes to rush to her, but a sudden
force picks him up and flings him against a wall, hard, and he
loses consciousness, slumping to the ground.)
(Cut to Mulder's POV of the hallway, blurrily and first then
clearer. There's a door open and blowing in the wind -it leads to
the roof- with rain coming in. Mulder gets up and grabs his gun,
starts running for the door, hears "Ashlyn! No!" and bounds up the
stairs and into the rain.)
MULDER. Scully!!
(Ashlyn and Scully are by the edge of the roof, Dr Wurth is between
them and Mulder.)
DOCTOR. Ashyln, don't do this! Please! Sweetie --
ASHLYN. Shut up!!
(Dr Wurth looks startled, but she shuts up.)
You never cared about me! You cared more about your patients than
me!!
DOCTOR. Ashlyn, that's not true! I always --
ASHLYN. Why are you even here now? Not 'cause you care about me!
'Cause I'm going to kill an FBI Agent! (steps up on ledge, pulls
Scully with her.)
MULDER. Scully!! (anguished cry is torn from his throat.)
(Ashlyn looks surprised, then we see a realization pass across her
face and she throws Scully to the roof, tossing her gun after her.
Mulder rushes to Scully's side, holding her and half-stands. Ashlyn
glances behind her at the height of the building.)
MULDER. Ashlyn --
DOCTOR. Ashlyn, no!
ASHLYN. (looks at Mulder and Scully, speaks to Mulder) I never
could have done it, you know. I never could have taken her away
from you. (Shrugs, sheepishly) I guess I'm just romantic at heart.
(launches herself backwards off the roof)
DOCTOR. NO!!
(Mulder looks at Dr Wurth, then faces Scully. He tenderly brushes
hair out of her face.)
MULDER. Are you okay?
SCULLY. (nods) I'm fine.
(Mulder helps her up and they walk to the edge joining Dr Wurth.
Zoom in on Ashlyn's crumpled body.)
(Fade in on a little girl -Tressa McRoberts- playing in the fading
light of day. A woman -Dr Wurth- comes to the door behind the
girl.)
DOCTOR. Tressa. Time to come in.
TRESSA. No. I want to stay outside.
DOCTOR. Tressa, it's time for bed. Now.
TRESSA. No! I'm going to stay outside!
DOCTOR. Tressa Elizabeth McRoberts! You get inside right this
instant!
(Tressa turns around and glares at Dr Wurth and the doctor stumbles
and almost falls, but catches herself just in time. Dr Wurth walks
out into the yard, picks up Tressa and carries her inside. We fade
out on Tressa's evil scowl; an exact mimic of her sister's.)
(Executive Producer Chris Carter)
***
LA FIN
"I have to go vacum my coffee table now." -Stupid Cheryl Comment
#42
"There's snow out there...and one day, it's going to melt." -Stupid
Kiera Comment #59