Jane Brody
Cover for me in case dorkface comes back around, will
Season 4 · Episode 21
Zero Sum
Character-labelled dialogue prepared from the official DVD subtitle track.
Production code4X21Original airdate · April 27, 1997
297 dialogue entries
Scene 01
Opening scene
[beeping] [chattering]
Misty Nagata
Where are you going?
Jane Brody
I need a cigarette.
Misty Nagata
You had one 15 minutes ago.
Jane Brody
Forty-five minutes.
Misty Nagata
Why don't you get yourself one of those patches or that gum?
Jane Brody
What do you think I'm chewing?
Misty Nagata
Then maybe you should just quit. Ever think of that?
Jane Brody
Cover for me, okay? Tell her I got a stomach bug or somethin'.
[woman gasps, screams]
Misty Nagata
Thank you. Jane, come on. You're gonna get in trouble. Jane? Hey, Jane. [ screaming ]
[ computer keys clicking ]
[ dial tone ]
Sports Announcer (television)
Number 51 of the bulldogs has just fouled out. They lead with 4:50 left in the second half, citadel on top of eli, 83-76. They're gonna miss-- [ static ] this rebound. I'll tell you that.
[ television announcer continues ]
[ grunts ]
[ keys jangling ]
[ panting ]
[ grunts ]
Scene 04
Scene 04
Officer Robbins
"Brody, Jane l." yeah, we've got the pathologist's work, but the techs haven't gone over the crime scene yet.
Walter Skinner
Let me see what you got.
Officer Robbins
Your name?
Walter Skinner
Special agent Fox Mulder.
Officer Robbins
Workin' the late shift, agent Mulder?
Walter Skinner
Yeah. Somebody's got to.
Officer Robbins
You need to sign that.
Walter Skinner
I'm all set here.
Officer Robbins
Finished?
Walter Skinner
Yeah. Thanks.
Officer Robbins
No problem.
[ chattering ]
Detective Thomas
Agent Mulder! I'm glad I caught ya.
Walter Skinner
Who are you?
Detective Thomas
Detective thomas-- Ray thomas. I'm the one who contacted you, who e-mailed the pictures to your office. I ran into officer Robbins. He said you'd come down here... To take a look at some of the forensic evidence.
Walter Skinner
That's right.
Detective Thomas
So, uh, does that mean you think you've found something here? Something worth lookin' into?
Walter Skinner
I'm afraid not.
Detective Thomas
No?
Walter Skinner
I didn't find anything to recommend... My further involvement in this case.
Detective Thomas
What about the woman? How do you explain what happened to her? She walks into a bathroom. A minute later, she turns up-- look, you saw the pictures.
Walter Skinner
I saw 'em.
Detective Thomas
I was told you were part of something called the X-Files. You'd look into stuff like this. So if there's really nothin' to this, why come all the way down here middle of the night?
Walter Skinner
I'm just doin' my job, detective, same as you.
Fox Mulder
Ah, you are home.
Walter Skinner
Yeah. What are you doin' here?
Fox Mulder
I was tryin' to reach you. Think your phone's off the hook.
Walter Skinner
Well, I needed some sleep.
Fox Mulder
Is that why you're takin' the garbage out at 4:00 in the morning?
Walter Skinner
What do you want, agent Mulder?
Fox Mulder
I want some answers.
Walter Skinner
Concerning?
Fox Mulder
The unexplained death of a postal worker... That somebody has apparently gone to great lengths to keep unexplained. These photos were sent to me by a detective who thought I might have a fresh take on the case. But when I went to retrieve them from my e-mail, somebody had hollowed out the files.
Walter Skinner
Then where'd you get 'em?
Fox Mulder
From his partner.
Walter Skinner
When?
Fox Mulder
After he finished questioning me about the detective's death.
Walter Skinner
What? What are you talking about?
Fox Mulder
He was killed, shot in the head, execution style. His body was found near the precinct two hours ago. Possibly by the same person who forged my name to gain access... To evidence from the forensics lab.
Walter Skinner
What do you want from me?
Fox Mulder
Well, I'd like your help on this, sir.
Walter Skinner
What about agent Scully?
Fox Mulder
Agent Scully's in the hospital.
Walter Skinner
Has something happened that I should know about?
Fox Mulder
She's undergoing some imaging tests. Her oncologist was concerned about some microscopy results, that, uh, her tumor may be metastasizing. Anyway, I-I'd like you to take a look at those photos, please.
Walter Skinner
Yeah, I will, first thing in the morning.
Fox Mulder
You want me to, uh, dump this on my way out?
Walter Skinner
No, I got it.
[ sighs ]
[ tires screeching ]
Walter Skinner
Was it you? Did you pull the trigger, or did you have him do it for you?
Cigarette-Smoking Man
I'm not here to answer your questions.
Walter Skinner
You murdered him! You killed an officer of the law.
Cigarette-Smoking Man
Keep your voice down, unless you want your neighbors to know the hours and the company you keep.
Walter Skinner
I won't be a party to murder.
Cigarette-Smoking Man
I wouldn't get too comfortable on your moral high ground, mr. Skinner. This only happened because you left your job unfinished.
Walter Skinner
I handled him just like I've handled everything else you've asked me to do. I've followed your instructions.
Cigarette-Smoking Man
You failed to neutralize a potentially compromising situation.
Walter Skinner
You didn't have to kill him. He didn't have to die.
Cigarette-Smoking Man
You're in no position to question the terms of our arrangement.
Walter Skinner
Then we have no arrangement.
Cigarette-Smoking Man
You'll find it's not that easy to walk away from, mr. Skinner.
Walter Skinner
No?
Cigarette-Smoking Man
A man digs a hole, he risks falling into it.
[ phone ringing ]
Scene 05
Scene 05
Walter Skinner
Skinner.
Fox Mulder
Her body's gone, sir.
Walter Skinner
What are you talking about?
Fox Mulder
The postal worker and the photos I gave you. Her body was stolen from the morgue last night, along with any other evidence that might explain how or why she died.
Walter Skinner
Slow down, agent Mulder.
Fox Mulder
I'm sorry, but I can't. I'm playing catch up here, and I'm already two steps behind. The man who impersonated me at the forensics lab last night-- apparently he replaced a blood sample.
Walter Skinner
How do you know?
Fox Mulder
I had them run a test. The blood sample in the police forensics lab... Is b-positive, as is the postal worker's. She suffered from a mild form of anemia characterized by folic acid deficiency. The blood sample at the police forensics lab has a normal folate serum level.
Walter Skinner
Are there any suspects?
Fox Mulder
No, but I do have a place to start. The gun that killed detective thomas-- ballistics has identified it as a sig sauer p-228. I'm having ballistics run comps on all weapons... Registered to federal agents and local officers. Sir?
Walter Skinner
Let me know what they find.
Fox Mulder
I will.
[ ringing ]
Cigarette-Smoking Man
Yes.
Walter Skinner
You can't do this.
Cigarette-Smoking Man
You sound agitated, mr. Skinner.
Walter Skinner
Was it my gun?
Cigarette-Smoking Man
Your gun?
Walter Skinner
Used to kill the detective.
Cigarette-Smoking Man
Well, if it was, I'd think you'd want to report it to the police immediately.
Walter Skinner
Oh, don't think I won't.
Cigarette-Smoking Man
Then why are you calling me? Perhaps because you realized that you'd be admitting to the obstruction of justice, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence. The consequences can be very serious for you, even in the unlikely event that you were able to persuade the authorities... That you didn't kill the detective.
Walter Skinner
What did you have me cover up?
Cigarette-Smoking Man
I think the less you know, the better, under the circumstances.
Walter Skinner
I need to know what that man died for.
Cigarette-Smoking Man
He died for you, mr. Skinner. He died so you could have what you wanted. A cure for agent Scully. Isn't that what you want?
Walter Skinner
Agent Scully is in the hospital. If you can do anything for her, I want it done now.
Cigarette-Smoking Man
I'm fully aware of agent Scully's progress.
Walter Skinner
If anything happens to her, I will expose you. I'll turn state's evidence. I don't care what happens to me.
Cigarette-Smoking Man
Agent Scully stands to live a long and healthy life. I would hope the same for you, mr. Skinner.
[ line clicks, dial tone ]
Walter Skinner
Right in here.
Scene 06
9:14 AM
Supervisor
The police said we could put the bathroom back in service. But the truth is, no one wants to use it, not after what happened yesterday. You mind my asking what you're looking for?
Walter Skinner
I need a hammer.
Scene 07
Scene 07
Dr. Valedespino
Is there any reason you're not running this through the FBI lab?
Walter Skinner
This evidence is classified. We've had some controversy over security at the Bureau. I'd appreciate your discretion.
Dr. Valedespino
Certainly.
Walter Skinner
Can you tell what kind of bees made that?
Dr. Valedespino
Oh, it's hard to tell with just the comb, but I might be able to give you an answer.
Walter Skinner
If I told you there was a chance the bees that made that could be lethal, would that be helpful?
Dr. Valedespino
Any kind of bee can be lethal, provided you get stung by enough of them. Even africanized honey bees-- so-called killer bees-- basically have the same venom as the european honey bee. It's just that they tend to attack in swarms. Huh, you may be in luck.
Walter Skinner
What is it?
Dr. Valedespino
Royal jelly-- a highly nutritious secretion... Of the honeybee's pharyngeal gland. It's fed to the very young larvae in a colony. Here, see for yourself.
Walter Skinner
Is that gonna hatch?
Dr. Valedespino
Once they pupate, I should be able to give you... Some definitive answers.
Walter Skinner
The minute you learn something, I'd appreciate a call.
Dr. Valedespino
Is this related to that other case? If you don't mind my asking?
Walter Skinner
What other case?
Dr. Valedespino
I got a call from another agent about six months ago, asking me all about killer bees.
Walter Skinner
Who was it?
Dr. Valedespino
Uh, name was Fox Mulder. I wonder if there's any connection.
Walter Skinner
No.
Dr. Valedespino
Anyway, I'll call you.
Fox Mulder
Sir? You looking for me?
Walter Skinner
I was just writing you a note. Where have you been?
Fox Mulder
First nations bank of Virginia.
Walter Skinner
What am I looking at?
Fox Mulder
The bank is adjacent... To the police headquarters where the detective was killed. Their parking lot surveillance camera caught this image. That man there? That's detective thomas. This man in the baseball hat-- he was identified... By the officer on duty at the forensics lab as "agent Mulder."
Walter Skinner
Can you get a usable image off this?
Fox Mulder
I'm going to hand-deliver it over to special photo right now. What did you want to talk to me about? You were writing me a note.
Walter Skinner
I was, uh, I was just checking on your progress. Ms. Covarrubias? This is walter Skinner-- an assistant director at the FBI.
Marita Covarrubias
Yes?
Walter Skinner
I was hoping you could help me. I understand agent Fox Mulder has been in contact with you about a project.
Marita Covarrubias
A project?
Walter Skinner
A Canadian agricultural project involving bees or bee husbandry.
Marita Covarrubias
Yes, but I wasn't able to give him any information.
Walter Skinner
Why was that?
Marita Covarrubias
The project he cited turned up no viable evidence.
Walter Skinner
Evidence of what?
Marita Covarrubias
Bee hives or bee husbandry.
Walter Skinner
What if I told you I had access to that evidence?
Marita Covarrubias
You have access to these bees?
Walter Skinner
I may. Soon. Very soon.
[ screaming, groaning ]
[ continues screaming ]
Scene 08
Scene 08
Walter Skinner
Agent Mulder?
Fox Mulder
Thanks for gettin' down here so quickly.
Walter Skinner
What is it?
Fox Mulder
A break. Maybe even a lead. I wanted you to get a look at this body before somebody tried to steal it. See these pocks and blisters? They're the same as we saw on the photo of the deceased postal worker.
Walter Skinner
Symptoms of what?
Fox Mulder
Smallpox. The first reported case in over seven years.
Walter Skinner
[ sighs ] smallpox?
Fox Mulder
According to the coroner, an especially virulent strain, caused by a mutated variola virus.
Walter Skinner
Caused how? I mean, how could this man... Have contracted a disease that doesn't even exist anymore?
Fox Mulder
From these.
Walter Skinner
What are they?
Fox Mulder
Bee stingers and venom sacs... Recovered subcutaneously from the victim's face, arm and neck.
Walter Skinner
You're saying this man was stung by bees carrying smallpox?
Fox Mulder
He was a forensic entomologist. I consulted with him several months ago... About a similar fatality.
Walter Skinner
Then you've seen this before?
Fox Mulder
Yeah, but I've never had any hard evidence. Not until now. I think that's what somebody's gone to great lengths to try to prevent.
Walter Skinner
Why?
Fox Mulder
I can only guess. But I think that somebody is trying to engineer a method of delivery... For a disease that has killed more people throughout history... Than any other contagion known to humankind. If you want me to suggest an appropriate response, I will.
Walter Skinner
Can they be stopped?
Fox Mulder
How can we stop them? We don't even know who these people are. And we won't until we know the identity of that shooter.
Walter Skinner
How close are you?
Fox Mulder
Hopefully, very. I've got one of the photo techs pulling an all-nighter on that surveillance video, so he can show me something this morning. I told him that you'd authorize the overtime.
Walter Skinner
Of course.
Fox Mulder
I'm gonna go over there right now.
Walter Skinner
Tell me what you find.
Postal Worker
Oh, sure. See you tomorrow.
Misty Nagata
Just grabbin' a cup of coffee.
Walter Skinner
Misty Nagatta? My name is walter Skinner.
Misty Nagata
I was just getting up. They only give us a ten-minute break, and my supervisor's pretty strict.
Walter Skinner
I need to talk to you, Misty. About your coworker.
Misty Nagata
If this is about what happened to Jane, I already told the police everything I know.
Walter Skinner
Everything?
Misty Nagata
I don't wanna lose my job.
Walter Skinner
You're not gonna lose anything. I'm asking you to cooperate in a criminal investigation.
Misty Nagata
Jane? What do you mean?
Walter Skinner
Jane's death may not have been an accident.
Misty Nagata
What? She was my best friend.
Walter Skinner
I'm sorry.
Misty Nagata
We worked it out so that our vacations overlapped. We were going to palm beach. Both of us were tryin' to lose weight, so we could buy new bathing suits. The men who came here-- they said if I talked to anyone, I'd lose my job.
Walter Skinner
Did these men say who they were?
Misty Nagata
No, and I didn't ask. They just wanted the package.
Walter Skinner
What package?
Misty Nagata
Damaged packages are routed here for inspection, before they get reshipped.
Walter Skinner
The place where these damaged packages are kept-- how close is it to the restroom where you found Jane?
Misty Nagata
It's just the next door down the hall. They've got a storage room.
Walter Skinner
The damaged package that they wanted-- do you remember where it was being sent?
Misty Nagata
No, not off hand.
Walter Skinner
Is there any way of finding out?
Misty Nagata
I can look up the tracking number.
Walter Skinner
That would be a big help to me, Misty. And maybe to Jane.
Scene 09
FBI SPECIAL PHOTOGRAPHY UNIT
Photo Tech
We went through every inch of that tape... To find the best angle for identification purposes. Now, remember, it was videotape shot at a distance under extreme low light.
Fox Mulder
So this is the best you could do?
Photo Tech
It's better than I thought it would be, believe me. I tried every trick that--
Fox Mulder
I'm not trying to be difficult. This is very important to me. I need to be sure. I need you to print out a hard copy of that for me.
Cigarette-Smoking Man
This is the last remaining specimen. The bees from the scientist's house-- they've been contained and destroyed.
First Elder
And the body?
Cigarette-Smoking Man
It also has been sanitized.
First Elder
How did this happen?
Cigarette-Smoking Man
It's been taken care of. The details are unimportant.
First Elder
Details are everything-- much more important than your vague assurances.
Cigarette-Smoking Man
Well, you'll have to trust my assurance that any other breaches have been handled.
First Elder
Handled by whom?
Cigarette-Smoking Man
I have a man in place-- a man with no other choice but to succeed.
First Elder
What assurance can you give us that he can be trusted?
Second Elder
We can't risk even the slightest exposure.
Cigarette-Smoking Man
He has nothing to expose, except his own duplicity.
First Elder
Should we assume that the trial run is proceeding as planned?
Cigarette-Smoking Man
It's already begun.
[ chattering, laughing ]
[ bee buzzing ]
Scene 10
J.F.K. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, PAYSON, SOUTH CAROLINA
David
Hey, it's my turn.
Billy
No, it isn't. Ow! Ow! Ah.
[ buzzing continues ]
David
Mrs. Kemper! Billy got stung by a bee!
Young Girl
Mrs. Kemper! Mrs. Kemper!
[ bees buzzing ] [ children screaming ]
Ms. Kemper
Everyone! Everyone, inside! Inside! Move it, move it! Come on, inside!
[ screaming continues ]
Ms. Kemper
David! [ yells ] oh, my God! David! David, come on! Quick! Come on! Run!
[ screaming ]
[ continues screaming ]
[ woman crying ]
[ machines beeping ]
Parent
Oh, God.
Dr. Linzer
I'm sorry.
Parent
Please help me.
Scene 11
PAYSON COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
Walter Skinner
Dr. Linzer? My name's walter Skinner.
Dr. Linzer
All right, thank you.
Walter Skinner
The administration office informed me you're overseeing the treatment of these children.
Dr. Linzer
Yes.
Walter Skinner
I think you'll want to hear me out.
Dr. Linzer
I'm right in the middle of it.
Walter Skinner
If you've been treating these children for bee stings, you've misdiagnosed them.
Dr. Linzer
Then what should I be treating them for?
Walter Skinner
Smallpox.
Dr. Linzer
Is this a joke?
Walter Skinner
Every child in this town who hasn't already been infected... Needs to be vaccinated immediately.
Dr. Linzer
We don't vaccinate kids against smallpox anymore because there is no smallpox.
Walter Skinner
Run whatever tests you need if you don't believe me.
Dr. Linzer
I don't need to run any tests. Smallpox has an eight-day incubation period, and these kids were stung a few hours ago. How do you reconcile that?
Walter Skinner
I can't.
[ shouting ]
Walter Skinner
[ chattering ] excuse me.
Dr. Linzer
Let me know when you come up with an answer. In the meantime, I've got things to do.
Walter Skinner
Doctor!
Marita Covarrubias
Mr. Skinner?
Walter Skinner
How do you know who I am?
Marita Covarrubias
Because you contacted me. I'm Marita Covarrubias.
Walter Skinner
What are you doing here?
Marita Covarrubias
Your call about those bees prompted me to make inquiries.
Walter Skinner
Into what?
Marita Covarrubias
Seven packages that were sent from Canada... To a p.o. Box in payson, south carolina. I came here to find out what was in those packages.
Walter Skinner
You're a little late to do anything about it.
Marita Covarrubias
So are you, apparently. What brought you here? You came to me for information, mr. Skinner, but you still haven't told me what you know about this. My office has to answer to the secretary general of the united nations. This is a very serious matter. I need to know what's going on.
Walter Skinner
I think it's some kind of experiment.
Marita Covarrubias
An experiment?
Walter Skinner
Using bees as carriers.
Marita Covarrubias
And that's what was in those packages? Have you told agent Mulder this?
Walter Skinner
Not yet.
Marita Covarrubias
Why not?
Walter Skinner
I can't.
Marita Covarrubias
Why? Are you involved in this, mr. Skinner?
Walter Skinner
I didn't-- no, I'm not involved.
Marita Covarrubias
Then what are you doing here? What aren't you telling me, mr. Skinner?
Walter Skinner
Nothing.
Marita Covarrubias
If you know who's behind this, you have to come forward, mr. Skinner. No one else can.
Scene 12
Scene 12
Fox Mulder
Put the gun down and move away from the desk.
Walter Skinner
I was just calling--
Fox Mulder
I said put the gun down!
Walter Skinner
[ sighs ] you don't understand.
Fox Mulder
No. I do now.
Walter Skinner
No, you don't.
Fox Mulder
Is that the gun you used to shoot the detective?
Walter Skinner
No.
Fox Mulder
How does it feel to shoot an innocent man in the head?
Walter Skinner
I didn't kill him!
Fox Mulder
You're a liar! You've been working with the smoking man all along. You knew when he had my father killed, and you knew when they took Scully.
Walter Skinner
Listen to me.
Fox Mulder
I've heard enough of you.
Walter Skinner
He set me up! He stole my gun! Then he put it back. Which means the police are probably on their way right now.
Fox Mulder
I don't believe you.
Walter Skinner
Look at my desk drawer, agent Mulder. Look at it! Why would I force my own lock? If I lied to you-- I have lied to you, and I won't make excuses for those lies. But there's a reason I did what I did-- one that I think you're in a unique position to understand. I advised you against a certain course of action some time ago... Concerning agent Scully. I didn't follow my own advice.
Fox Mulder
Give me the gun. How soon will you be able to determine if that's the weapon that killed detective thomas?
Ballistics Tech
As long as it takes me to put one of these slugs into a scope and run a comp. This is the slug we recovered from the detective's body. You see this stria here and here? They're rifling patterns, imprinted from the barrel of the same gun.
Fox Mulder
So this is definitely the murder weapon?
Ballistics Tech
If I were called to testify, I'd say without a doubt. So where'd you find it?
Fox Mulder
In a sewer grate, around the corner from the crime scene.
Ballistics Tech
Mm.
Fox Mulder
Sometimes you get lucky.
Ballistics Tech
Sometimes you don't, right?
Fox Mulder
What do you mean?
Ballistics Tech
The serial number-- it's been filed clean off. Now, unless forensics pulled a print, this gun's virtually untraceable.
Walter Skinner
Leave it off. I'm starting to get used to the dark.
Cigarette-Smoking Man
Is this part of our deal?
Walter Skinner
We never had a deal.
Cigarette-Smoking Man
No?
Walter Skinner
Agent Scully is dying, and you haven't done a thing. You think that's funny?
Cigarette-Smoking Man
Just enjoying the irony, mr. Skinner. Only yesterday you said you wouldn't be party to murder. And now here you are. Yours isn't the first gun I've had pointed in my face, mr. Skinner. I'm not afraid to die. But if you kill me now, you'll also kill agent Scully.
Walter Skinner
You have no intention of saving her. You never did.
Cigarette-Smoking Man
Are you certain? I saved her life once before when I had her returned to agent Mulder. I may save her life again. But you'll never know if you pull the trigger, will you?
[ phone ringing ]
Cigarette-Smoking Man
Now, unless you intend to kill me, I'd like to answer my phone.
[ ringing continues ]
[ ringing continues ]
[ ringing continues ]
Cigarette-Smoking Man
Yes. He was just here. He threatened to kill me. I'm sure Mulder will be contacting you. He'll want to know if Skinner has seen all there is to see.
Marita Covarrubias
I'll tell him what you want me to tell him.
Cigarette-Smoking Man
Tell him what he wants to hear.
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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.