George
We don't have to be out here. It's not like you're still in high school. We can go to the motel.
Season 2 · Episode 24
Our Town
Character-labelled dialogue prepared from the official DVD subtitle track.
Production code2X24Original airdate · May 12, 1995
282 dialogue entries
Scene 01
COUNTY ROAD A7
Paula
Uh-uh. I wouldn't want anyone to see us.
George
No one would see us.
Paula
It's a small town.
[ grunting, groaning ]
Paula
George! Come on, george.
George
What made you change your mind?
Paula
I don't know. You're persistent.
George
The squeaky wheel gets the oil, right?
Paula
I guess.
George
What's wrong with here? I can set the blanket down--
Paula
Not yet.
George
Why not?
Paula
Because, you have to catch me first.
George
Aw, come on, now! You don't want me to chase after you, do you? Paula!
[ grunts ]
George
Paula? Paula? Where are you? [ groans ] son of a bitch!
[ twig snaps ]
[ screaming ]
Scene 02
FBI HEADQUARTERS
Fox Mulder
I don't know, Scully. The man's vanished. He hasn't been seen or heard from in ten weeks.
Dana Scully
Don't you see what they're doing here? They're wasting our time. They're sending us on a wild-goose chase.
Fox Mulder
Chicken chase.
Dana Scully
What?
Fox Mulder
George Kearns was a federal poultry inspector... Assigned to Dudley, arkansas, home of Chaco chicken.
Dana Scully
I'm not questioning the legitimacy of the case, just their motives in assigning it to us. Doesn't it bother you that they're trying to undermine your work?
Fox Mulder
They may think they are, but on the night george Kearns disappeared, a woman on the I-10 saw a strange fire in an adjacent field.
Dana Scully
Yes, I read that report. She claims she saw some kind of Fox fire spirit. I'm surprised she didn't call oprah as soon as she got off the phone with the police.
Fox Mulder
Folk tales dating back to the 19th century from the ozarks... Describe people being taken away by fireballs. It's supposed to be the spirits of massacred indians.
Dana Scully
Those are only legends.
Fox Mulder
Most legends don't leave behind 12 foot burn marks. That photo was taken by police where the woman claims to have seen Fox fire.
Dana Scully
This could've been made by anything. A bonfire.
Fox Mulder
I thought so too, until I remembered this. A documentary I saw in college about an insane asylum. It gave me nightmares.
Dana Scully
I didn't think anything gave you nightmares.
Fox Mulder
I was young.
Jones
They, uh, they took-- they, uh, took me away. Th-they took me away. The fire demons. The fire demons wanted their pound of flesh. But, uh, I'm too fast for 'em.
[ nervous laughter ]
Jones
You can't let 'em kill you. You can't let 'em kill you. Oh, no. Don't let them kill you. That's no way to get to heaven. No, sir. No, sir, that is-- that is no way to get to heaven.
Fox Mulder
His name was crayton jones. He pulled off the road on may 17, 1961 to take a nap. They found him three days later so deranged by what he'd encountered... That he had to be committed. The police found his car on the I-10, in the middle of Dudley, arkansas, home of Chaco chicken.
Scene 03
DUDLEY, ARKANSAS
Dana Scully
What's this, Mulder?
Fox Mulder
That's a witch's peg. Staking it into the ground is supposed to ward off evil spirits.
Sheriff Arens
Can I help you folks? I'm sheriff Arens. I saw you back at the turnoff.
Fox Mulder
We're with the FBI I'm special agent Mulder, this is agent Scully. We're investigating the disappearance of george Kearns.
Sheriff Arens
I'm happy to help you, but I'm not sure how much there is to investigate.
Dana Scully
A man is missing.
Sheriff Arens
We didn't find evidence of criminal activity. Since no body turned up, we went ahead and filed a missing persons' report.
Fox Mulder
Why didn't you mention this witch's peg in your report?
Sheriff Arens
Because these hills are filled with witch's pegs. The old hill people cling tight to their superstitions.
Fox Mulder
What about this scorched area?
Sheriff Arens
Illegal trash burn. I keep handing out the citations, they keep doing it anyway. It's cheaper to pay the fine than haul it to the dump.
Fox Mulder
So you don't believe it's Fox fire?
Sheriff Arens
Fox fire's nothing more than a ghost story about swamp gas. I don't know what y'all thinking, but george Kearns was passing through town ever since he got here six months ago.
Dana Scully
How do you mean?
Sheriff Arens
Never did fit in. Not at the plant, not even in his own home. No big secret that Kearns stepped out on his wife every chance he got.
Dana Scully
Did he have many chances?
Sheriff Arens
Let's just say george is the type of man you'd expect... To go chasing some sweet young thing out of town.
Dana Scully
Is that what his wife thinks?
Sheriff Arens
Push comes to shove, I'm sure she does. But you're welcome to ask her yourself.
Scene 04
Scene 04
Doris
My husband had a character that leaves something out. I always knew that about him, but I didn't have the sense to do anything about it. I guess he saved me the trouble.
Dana Scully
You're fairly certain that he left you for somebody else?
Doris
George left me a long time ago. Right around the time I turned 40. Leaving town was just a formality.
Dana Scully
Do you have any idea who he might be with now?
Doris
No. And I don't want to know, either.
Fox Mulder
This inspection report. Your husband was about to file it... With the department of agriculture the day before he disappeared.
Doris
I don't know about that.
Fox Mulder
He never discussed his work with you?
Doris
He never told me, and I never asked.
Fox Mulder
He cited several major health violations. He was going to recommend that the plant be shut down.
Doris
I told you, I don't know a thing about what went on in the plant.
Dana Scully
Did your husband receive any threatening phone calls or anything unusual in the mail?
Doris
Sure, there were hang-ups. But I always thought it was one of his girlfriends.
Fox Mulder
I'm gonna give you my phone number. If your husband tries to contact you, get in touch with me. Or if you can think of anything else.
Scene 05
Scene 05
Worker
Come on, paula, let's go.
[ man shouting directions ]
Sheriff Arens
This is Jess howe. He's the floor manager here. These people are with the FBI.
Jess Harold
You're here about george Kearns, right?
Dana Scully
There's a possibility that his disappearance may have something to do with a report... He was about to file with the department of agriculture.
Jess Harold
Ever since he got here, george has been trying to shut us down.
Dana Scully
He cited multiple violations.
Jess Harold
I know he did, believe me. I had to answer to every one of them.
Dana Scully
Was there any merit to his claims?
Jess Harold
Let me show you something.
[ panting, gasping ]
Coworker
Paula, you okay?
[ panting ]
Jess Harold
This is where george worked. Not a chicken leaves this plant without first passing through the inspector's station. We've been operating here 50 years without any trouble until george came along.
Dana Scully
He really did threaten to shut the plant down.
Jess Harold
He tried. But three other inspectors consistently give us top marks. Here. See for yourself. The only problem this plant ever had was george.
Dana Scully
Problem enough to do something about?
Jess Harold
If you're suggesting any kind of unsavoriness, anything's possible, but you've got to understand about george. He had a bone to pick with everyone, even the federal government.
Dana Scully
What are you talking about?
Jess Harold
He filed a big worker's compensation suit. Claimed he was getting terrible headaches from his job. Line hypnosis, his lawyers called it.
Dana Scully
I read about that. It's caused by high-speed, repetitive activity.
Jess Harold
I will not deny that a lot of chickens go through here every day, but we've always operated within federal guidelines.
Dana Scully
What happened to his lawsuit?
Jess Harold
It was dismissed just a few weeks before he disappeared.
Fox Mulder
What's that?
Jess Harold
Oh, that! Feed grinder. Chops up bone and tissue. Any part of the bird we can't package, we process, use as feed.
Fox Mulder
Chickens feed on chickens?
Jess Harold
I know it doesn't sound too appetizing. But it is nutritious, and it cuts down on costs. The meat is cooked, mixed with grain. No reason to let all that protein go to waste. Excuse me. I've got a shift change.
Worker
[ man ] hi, sheriff!
Sheriff Arens
Logan.
Dana Scully
You ready to admit they've sent us on a fool's errand?
Fox Mulder
The fool that persists in his folly will become wise.
Dana Scully
Whether Kearns skipped town or somebody killed him, this case could've been handled by any agent out of the kansas city office.
Fox Mulder
I'm not so sure about that. [ woman screams ] let him go. We're federal agents. Everyone stay calm. Don't hurt him. Just tell us what you want. Don't get excited. Calm down. Stay calm. We don't want anyone to get hurt. We can talk this thing out. Why don't you give me the knife?
[ gunshot ]
Dana Scully
You okay?
Scene 06
Scene 06
Dana Scully
Do you have any idea what might have prompted her attack?
Jess Harold
None at all.
Dana Scully
No recent complaints or strange behavior?
Jess Harold
Paula has always been one of our best employees. Stable, well-liked. I can't imagine what brought this on.
Fox Mulder
How about you, dr. Randolph? Do you have any ideas?
Jess Harold
If you're done with me, I've got work to do.
Dr. Randolph
Come by tomorrow, let me take a look, make sure it's not infected.
Jess Harold
Sure.
Dr. Randolph
Uh, paula came by last week complaining of persistent headaches. She had suddenly started getting irritable, unable to sleep.
Dana Scully
Were you able to determine the cause?
Dr. Randolph
I'm just a staff physician here. I don't treat anything more difficult than a hand injury, so I'm out of my depth when it comes to psychiatric matters.
Dana Scully
You didn't find anything physically wrong with her?
Dr. Randolph
I sent her to county for a brain scan and then an e.e.g. Both came back normal, so I assumed that her condition was stress related.
Dana Scully
Could it be line hypnosis?
Dr. Randolph
I'm not qualified to make that diagnosis.
Fox Mulder
But you can tell us whether george Kearns came to you with any similar complaints.
Dr. Randolph
They presented similar symptoms, yes.
Dana Scully
How did you treat them?
Dr. Randolph
I treated them both with pain medication. Codeine.
Dana Scully
I think an autopsy on paula gray would clarify things.
Dr. Randolph
I'm afraid I can't authorize that. You'd have to speak with mr. Chaco.
Dana Scully
Why? You're a physician.
Dr. Randolph
Yeah. But mr. Chaco was paula gray's grandfather and her legal guardian.
[ doorbell rings ]
Scene 07
CHACO RESIDENCE
Fox Mulder
Mr. Chaco?
Chaco
Feeding these chickens... Helps me clear my mind. They're perfect creatures, you know. We eat their meat, their eggs, sleep on pillows stuffed with their feathers. Not many people I know are as useful as these chickens.
Dana Scully
We're sorry to disturb you. We realize this is a difficult time for you.
Chaco
You want to conduct an autopsy on my granddaughter. Why? You think paula had some kind of disease that made her act that way?
Dana Scully
That's what we're hoping a postmortem will determine.
Chaco
Thought your business here was george Kearns's disappearance.
Fox Mulder
It is, but we suspect that might have something to do with what happened to your granddaughter.
Chaco
How?
Fox Mulder
We're not sure yet. It's possible they may have both suffered from the same neurological disorder.
Chaco
When I came here after the war, Dudley was just a patch of dirt. I built that plant, and put my whole family to work there. We made this town one of the biggest chicken processors in the nation. We couldn't have done that with troublemakers and layabouts.
Dana Scully
I assume you're talking about george Kearns.
Chaco
Men like george Kearns don't build things. They tend to tear 'em down.
Dana Scully
Then you're aware of his recommendation to close down your plant.
Chaco
You know, [ sighs ] living a long life is a mixed blessin'. You spend your youth trying to build something for yourself, and your family, and your community, only to watch it all taken away from you at your old age. Still, I'm not ready to die just yet. You go do your autopsy on paula. I want to know what happened to my granddaughter.
Scene 08
SETH COUNT MORGUE
Dana Scully
I think we've got something here, Mulder. Take a look at this.
Fox Mulder
What am I looking at?
Dana Scully
It's a specimen from paula gray's brain. She suffered from a rare degenerative disorder called Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. It's characterized by sponge-like holes in the brain tissue.
Fox Mulder
Why didn't they show up on any of her charts?
Dana Scully
Short of an autopsy, it's a very difficult disease to diagnose. Outside of a textbook, I've only seen infected tissue once. Back in medical school.
Fox Mulder
Could this be the reason she attacked Jess howe?
Dana Scully
Absolutely. Victims of Creutzfeldt-Jakob suffer from... Progressive dementia, severe seizures.
Fox Mulder
Is it fatal?
Dana Scully
This girl would've been dead in a matter of months.
Fox Mulder
Except that paula gray was no girl. This is her personnel file. Check it out. It says here paula gray was born in 1948. Which means that this woman, Chaco's granddaughter, was 47 years old.
Dana Scully
There's gotta be some kind of mistake.
Fox Mulder
Let's find out. Her birth certificate should be on file at the seth county courthouse. Who knows? This could turn out to be even more interesting than Fox fire.
Scene 09
Scene 09
Dana Scully
The odds that paula gray and george Kearns... Had the same disease are practically nonexistent. Creutzfeldt-Jakob can be hereditary, but it's not communicable. That two unrelated people in the same small town would contract the same rare disease--
Fox Mulder
A lot more likely than paula gray being three years shy of her 50th birthday.
[ tires squealing ]
Dana Scully
Look out!
[ chickens clucking ]
Fox Mulder
Call an ambulance! I'll try to get the driver out.
[ clucking continues ]
Dana Scully
This is federal agent Scully. I'd like to report an accident on county--
[ motor whirring ]
Scene 10
Scene 10
Dana Scully
I just got off the phone with dr. Randolph. He said this driver had the same symptoms as paula gray and george Kearns.
Fox Mulder
You're saying this is a third victim of Creutzfeldt-Jakob? You just got through telling me that two cases would be statistically impossible.
Dana Scully
They would be. I just came up with a sick theory, Mulder.
Fox Mulder
Ooh, I'm listening.
Dana Scully
You saw the feed grinders at the plant. What if somebody put george Kearns's body in there? Creutzfeldt-Jakob is a prion disease, which means it could've been passed on to the chickens, and anyone who consumed them.
Fox Mulder
So anyone eating chickens out of Dudley would be at risk?
Dana Scully
It's possible. Sometimes in England they'll incinerate cattle... To keep them from passing mad cow disease onto people.
Fox Mulder
But chickens from Dudley are shipped all over the country. If what you're saying were true, we'd be seeing an epidemic, not just a few local cases. Sheriff? What's wrong with this water?
Sheriff Arens
Runoff from the plant. Chicken litter, mostly. Some blood and parts from the birds.
Fox Mulder
Was this river searched after george Kearns disappeared?
Sheriff Arens
Are you kidding? Talk about a needle in a haystack!
Fox Mulder
I'd like it dragged as soon as possible.
Sheriff Arens
Why would you want to do that?
Fox Mulder
See what's in there.
Sheriff Arens
That's a filthy job, and I don't want to do it unless I know what you're looking for.
Fox Mulder
Hopefully nothing. If you don't want to do it, I can get my men down here to do it.
Sheriff Arens
I'll do it.
Dana Scully
Mulder--
Fox Mulder
It's just a hunch. If george Kearns didn't just run off, if he was murdered for that inspection report, then his body's got to be somewhere.
[ men chattering ]
Scene 11
Scene 11
[ police radio indistinct ]
Sheriff Arens
We closed the spillway, and the water level dropped. They came up with it almost immediately.
Fox Mulder
Did you find Kearns?
Sheriff Arens
Maybe you better see for yourself.
Scene 12
Scene 12
Fox Mulder
Sheriff Arens is outside. They're still pulling bones from the river.
Dana Scully
So far I've been able to isolate nine distinct skeletons. This one belonged to the late george Kearns.
Fox Mulder
How do you know?
Dana Scully
The pin in his femur. According to his medical file, Kearns broke his right leg four years ago.
Fox Mulder
What about the others?
Dana Scully
I'll need more sophisticated equipment to be certain, but I estimate some of these bones are as much as 20 or 30 years old. All of them share one strange detail.
Fox Mulder
They seem to have lost their heads.
Dana Scully
Well, besides that. The older bones show signs of decay and surface abrasion like you'd expect. But for some reason, all of them, even Kearns's, are smooth and buffed at the ends.
Fox Mulder
It's almost like they've been polished.
Dana Scully
It could be from the erosion from the water, but--
Fox Mulder
That water had hardly any current. This level of erosion wouldn't be confined to just the ends of the bones.
Dana Scully
Any theories?
Fox Mulder
Maybe.
Scene 13
Scene 13
Doris
Sheriff?
Sheriff Arens
Doris.
Doris
Is it true? Just tell me.
Sheriff Arens
I want you to listen to me.
Doris
They found him, didn't they?
Sheriff Arens
We brought up quite a few remains at the river, and george's were among them. I'm really sorry. It's gonna be all right. Don't worry. We'll take care of you.
[ door closes ]
Sheriff Arens
Doris?
Scene 14
Scene 14
Jess Harold
Dee, is that the new schedule? Yep.
Sheriff Arens
All right.
[ clucking ]
Jess Harold
Why do I get the feeling you're not here to check up on my neck?
Dr. Randolph
They found bones in the river.
Jess Harold
I know, I heard.
Dr. Randolph
Did you also hear that clayton walsh came down with the symptoms? That's four. It's getting worse with every day that goes by.
Jess Harold
Someone has to tell mr. Chaco.
Dr. Randolph
He knows what's happening. He's just not doing anything about it.
Jess Harold
Maybe I should talk to him.
Dr. Randolph
You can try.
Jess Harold
I will talk to him. He'll listen to me.
Dr. Randolph
And if he doesn't?
Scene 15
Scene 15
Fox Mulder
I had danny run a check on all missing persons... Last seen withing a 200 mile radius of Dudley. In the last 50 years, 87 people have disappeared near here. Judging from forensic evidence, I'd say the same person or persons was responsible.
Dana Scully
It may have been the work of some kind of cult.
Fox Mulder
I think the good people of Dudley have been eating more than just chicken.
Dana Scully
You think these people were eaten?
Fox Mulder
Look at these bones. They've been polished at both ends, suggesting they were boiled in a pot. Anthropologists used similar evidence to prove cannibalism among the Anasazi of New Mexico.
Dana Scully
Then paula gray may have contracted Creutzfeldt-Jakob by eating george Kearns.
Fox Mulder
That could begin to explain her youthful appearance.
Dana Scully
What are you talking about?
Fox Mulder
Some cannibalistic rituals are enacted with the belief that they can prolong life.
Dana Scully
Cannibalism is one thing, but increasing longevity by eating human flesh--
Fox Mulder
Think about it. From vampirism to catholicism, whether literally or symbolically, the reward for eating flesh is eternal life. I don't know how it works, but we both saw paula gray.
Dana Scully
We never confirmed the date of birth.
Fox Mulder
And if anybody else in Dudley is lying about their age. You coming?
Scene 16
Scene 16
Jess Harold
You gotta do something about what's happening, mr. Chaco. People are getting scared, don't know what to make of things.
Chaco
They're losing their faith, is what it sounds like.
Jess Harold
It's gettin' hard to hold on to, the way things are going. Three more have gotten sick.
Chaco
I lost my granddaughter in this, Jess, so don't tell me what we're up against! I said I'll handle it.
Jess Harold
I know you-- [ doorbell rings ]
Doris
Yes? I need to see mr. Chaco.
Chaco
Hello, Doris.
Doris
I can't do this anymore, mr. Chaco. I can't keep lying.
Chaco
It's all right. Jess told me what happened. You have nothing to worry about.
Doris
They're gonna think I did it.
Chaco
No, they won't think any such thing.
Doris
But I did. No. I helped.
Chaco
He was no good, Doris. He had no values. He didn't fit in here.
Doris
But he was my husband.
Chaco
That was a price you had to pay. You knew that from the beginning.
Doris
What if those FBI agents--
Chaco
Ah-ah. This town wasn't built in a day. It's not about to fall apart in a day. You're a part of us now. And we're gonna take good care of you. I want you to go home, get some rest. You've got a funeral to go to. This whole thing will blow over soon enough, and you'll wonder what all the fuss is about.
Doris
I'm sorry.
Chaco
That's all right. We all understand, Doris. Good night. Yeah, she'll be fine.
Jess Harold
She's not stable.
Chaco
She's one of us now, part of our town.
Jess Harold
Unless we do something about it, there won't be any town left to speak of.
Chaco
No! Once we start turning on ourselves, we're no better than the animals. It's the FBI we should be worrying about. They're the real problem.
Scene 17
SETH COUNTY COURTHOUSE
[ lock clicking ]
Fox Mulder
Someone's been playing with matches.
Dana Scully
It smells like a recent fire.
Fox Mulder
I bet it's no coincidence it only hit the birth records.
Dana Scully
You think someone was expecting us?
[ cell phone ringing ]
Fox Mulder
Mulder.
Doris
It's Doris Kearns. I'm in my house. I need to speak with you right away.
Fox Mulder
Are you all right?
Doris
I'm afraid for my life.
[ crying ]
Doris
I'm afraid he'll kill me.
Fox Mulder
Who?
Doris
Mr. Chaco.
Fox Mulder
All right, mrs. Kearns. Stay in the house and lock the door, and don't answer until agent Scully gets there.
Dana Scully
Where are you going?
Fox Mulder
To take Chaco into custody.
[ gasping ]
Scene 18
Scene 18
[ frightened mumbling ]
Dana Scully
No.
[ screaming ]
[ dog barking ]
[ doorbell ringing ]
Dana Scully
Mrs. Kearns? Mrs. Kearns? Mrs. Kearns!
[ howling wind, door slams shut ]
[ doorbell ringing ]
Fox Mulder
Is mr. Chaco in?
Housekeeper
I'll see if he's still awake. I'm sorry. But mr. Chaco is unable to see you now.
Fox Mulder
Do you know what's in here?
Housekeeper
I wouldn't know.
Fox Mulder
Can you open it?
Housekeeper
I don't have the key. What do you think you're doing?
[ cell phone ringing ]
Dana Scully
Scully.
Fox Mulder
Scully, Chaco's not here.
Dana Scully
Yeah. Mrs. Kearns is missing too. Someone's been here. The power's been cut, and the back door was open. But her car is still out back.
Fox Mulder
Chaco must've taken her. Scully? Scully! Scully! What happened? Scully, you there? You all right? Scully! Answer me! Scully!
Scene 19
Scene 19
Chaco
What have you done here? I warned ya! I said not to touch her. Doris Kearns was one of us! Who's behind this? Why didn't you listen to me? It's the outsiders we have to deal with. Not one of our own!
Jess Harold
We'll deal with them all.
Chaco
Look at yourselves! Look at what you've become! This isn't faith anymore, it's just fear. You've turned us into an abomination!
Jess Harold
You brought in the outsider who made us all sick.
Chaco
How long before it's any one of us? Any one of you?
Jess Harold
That's not your problem anymore, mr. Chaco.
Chaco
No! No! Kill me... And you kill us all.
[ man grunts ]
Jess Harold
Latch it.
Worker
Got it.
[ sound of ax slicing ]
Jess Harold
Bring her over.
[ latch snaps shut ]
[ muffled groaning ]
[ tires squealing ]
[ groaning continues ]
[ gunshots ]
[ excited chattering ]
Officer
Get down!
[ Jess groaning ]
Fox Mulder
Are you hurt? You all right?
[ police radio indistinct ]
Plant Announcer
People, stand away from your workstations!
Scene 20
Scene 20
Dana Scully
Pending further review, the Chaco processing plant has been closed by the u.s.d.a. So far, no evidence of contaminated chicken has been discovered. Though it remains unknown how many citizens participated in the ritual activity, 27 have become fatally ill with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. What is known is that a transport plane carrying walter Chaco... Was shot down in 1944 over new guinea. Chaco was the only survivor of that crash. According to naval records, he spent six months with the jale, a tribe whose cannibalistic practices have long been suspected, but never proven. Naval records also show that walter Chaco was born in 1902, making him 93 years old at the time of his death. As of this date, his remains have yet to be found.
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About this transcript
The dialogue comes from the official DVD subtitle track supplied by Boggsfiles. Speaker and scene attribution was cross-checked against character-labelled reference material. Subtitle wording is preserved while capitalization and spacing are standardized for easier reading.