Agent
Radio check. Perimeter is clear.
Season 7 · Episode 18
Brand X
Character-labelled dialogue prepared from the official DVD subtitle track.
Production code7ABX19Original airdate · April 16, 2000
285 dialogue entries
Scene 01
WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA
Walter Skinner
Copy that. Give me a check every ten. Why don't you folks make yourselves comfortable? Watch some television. Get some rest. Try to put your minds at ease. Just try to stay away from the windows and the doors, if you would.
Mrs. Scobie
Do we have to ask you if we can use the bathroom? I feel like I'm a prisoner in my own home.
Walter Skinner
Ma'am, I apologize for the imposition, but my job is to protect you. As of this evening, the FBI's top priority is keeping you safe.
Mrs. Scobie
For how long? A week, a month? Then what? Jim, don't do this, please. You don't have to testify. It's not worth it. These people have a long reach. They're powerful.
Jim Scobie
I have to do this.
Mrs. Scobie
I'm going to bed.
Jim Scobie
Thank you.
Walter Skinner
The grand jury convenes at 9:00. We'll leave here at 7:30. I'll be right outside the door if you need me.
Mrs. Scobie
Jim? Jim? Are you feeling all right? Jim? [ panting ] mr. Skinner! Mr. Skinner! Jim!
Walter Skinner
Dr. Scobie?
Mrs. Scobie
Jim!
Agent
Ma'am.
[ screaming ]
Scene 02
Scene 02
Walter Skinner
Yes, at the time I was in another part of the house. Yes. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir, I will have answers for you. I--
Fox Mulder
I-- rough night?
Walter Skinner
It's shaping up to be a rougher morning. Follow me. There's fingerprints everywhere, but as they all belong to the deceased... And his wife, they don't help us.
Dana Scully
This is where the body was found?
Walter Skinner
Yeah.
Fox Mulder
What can you tell us about him?
Walter Skinner
Dr. James Scobie, age 44, r&d biochemist with morley tobacco. If he were alive as of 26 minutes ago, he'd be giving testimony against his former employer before a federal grand jury.
Dana Scully
Testimony concerning what?
Walter Skinner
Not even his wife or his lawyer know the specifics. Only that it concerns research that he was involved in. Potentially extremely damaging to morley. Enough so that Scobie received death threats. Given the high profile nature of the case, the director charged me with insuring dr. Scobie's protection.
Dana Scully
And you think that someone made good on these threats?
Walter Skinner
I do. Though we've yet to determine how someone got in here or... What killed him.
[ groans ]
Fox Mulder
You can't blow a whistle with a mouth like that.
Dana Scully
It's almost as if his flesh has been stripped or eaten away. I mean, an assailant could have thrown acid on him.
Fox Mulder
Well, if it was acid in the face, he would have screamed bloody murder.
Walter Skinner
Well, we're looking at all possibilities, agent. We need answers. We don't have a lot of time. And we're going up against one of the biggest corporations in America. The director instructed me that he wants this case closed as swiftly as possible. I trust I can count on your help. All right, I want you to perform the autopsy. The body's in the county morgue.
Dana Scully
I'll get right on it.
Walter Skinner
Thank you.
Fox Mulder
Huh.
Walter Skinner
What?
Fox Mulder
There's no ashtrays. Dr. Scobie and his wife don't smoke?
Walter Skinner
Not that I witnessed.
Fox Mulder
Tobacco employee that doesn't smoke. Isn't that kind of like a g.m. Executive who drives a ford? If this was a hit, it seems unnecessarily high profile. It kind of draws attention to itself, don't you think?
Walter Skinner
That could be the point-- to intimidate potential witnesses. Scobie had a supervisor at morley-- a dr. Peter Voss. I wanna talk to him.
Fox Mulder
You mind if I tag along?
Walter Skinner
No.
Agent
Sir?
Scene 03
MORLEY TOBACCO HEADQUARTERS
Walter Skinner
We're here to see dr. Voss.
Security Man
Do you have an appointment? Do you have an appointment?
Walter Skinner
Maybe you missed this the first time around.
David Brimley
Gentlemen, I can help you. Daniel Brimley, head of corporate Security. A pleasure.
Unidentified speaker
Nice to meet you.
David Brimley
You're here concerning dr. Scobie's death, I take it?
Walter Skinner
We are.
David Brimley
We were all extremely sorry to hear about it. Jim has a lot of friends in this building.
Fox Mulder
Really? No hard feelings that he was about to turn federal witness against your company?
David Brimley
Nobody was happy about Jim's decision, but the timing of his death couldn't have been worse.
Walter Skinner
So you have no problem with us speaking to dr. Voss?
David Brimley
Absolutely not. Whatever we can do to help. Please.
Dr. Peter Voss
Could you, um-- could you give my sincerest condolences to Jim's wife joan? How is she?
Fox Mulder
I'm sure she'll take comfort in finding out why her husband died.
Walter Skinner
Dr. Voss, can you enlighten us as to what dr. Scobie intended to tell the grand jury? We know it had to do with company research.
Lead Counsel
I'm sorry. Dr. Voss would be in violation... Of his employment confidentiality clause in answering that question.
Walter Skinner
Dr. Scobie was your friend?
Dr. Peter Voss
Yeah, for 14 years.
Walter Skinner
And yet you demoted him five weeks ago. You took him off a particular project. Can you tell us why that happened?
Lead Counsel
As before, dr. Voss would be in violation... Of his confidentiality clause in answering questions regarding the nature of his work... Here at morley. I'm sure you understand our cooperation cannot extend itself to revealing corporate secrets.
Walter Skinner
I'm not sensing any cooperation whatsoever. In fact, I'm one more nonanswer away from getting... A federal warrant and searching this entire building.
Lead Counsel
Then this meeting is over. Dr. Voss.
Fox Mulder
Dr. Voss. Can you tell me what that is?
Dr. Peter Voss
It's a tobacco beetle. Why?
Fox Mulder
I found it at Jim Scobie's house.
Dr. Peter Voss
Well, you'll find a lot of these around here. They're everywhere. There's probably a dozen in the grill of your car right now.
Lead Counsel
May I ask where you're going with this, agent?
Fox Mulder
I'm sorry. I can't. Answering that question would violate FBI confidentiality... Due to the sensitive nature of our investigation.
[ footsteps approaching ]
Scene 04
DR. VOSS RESIDENCE
Daryl Weaver
Evenin'.
Dr. Peter Voss
What are you doing here?
Daryl Weaver
I run out of smokes. Me and dr. Scobie had an arrangement, as you know. So I figured, uh, dr. Scobie not bein' around, that my arrangement with him... Slides on over to you.
Dr. Peter Voss
Here ya go.
Daryl Weaver
That won't hold me.
Dr. Peter Voss
I'll bring you more. Just don't come here anymore. All right?
Daryl Weaver
It seems everybody's actin' funny around me all of a sudden, you know. Tellin' me not to talk, to stay away from their houses. Huh. Too bad about dr. Scobie.
Dr. Peter Voss
Yeah.
Daryl Weaver
I bet people are wondering how he died. I've been working my own theory up in the old noggin. I'd be happy to share it with you someday.
Dr. Peter Voss
I think that you should leave now.
Daryl Weaver
Yeah. I don't wanna wear out my welcome. We'll be seein' a lot of each other, I expect.
Scene 05
FORSYTH COUNTY MORGUE
Fox Mulder
Smoke 'em if you got 'em.
Walter Skinner
What have you found?
Dana Scully
Well, the tissue damage on dr. Scobie's mouth extends... All the way down his trachea into his lungs. His alveoli looked like corned beef.
Walter Skinner
What about this being the result of some sort of corrosive agent?
Dana Scully
No, that's not the case. There's no acids present, no caustics. This damage isn't the result of any kind of chemical reaction. His airways have more or less just been reamed out. I can tell you what killed him, strictly speaking.
Fox Mulder
What?
Dana Scully
Hypoxemia: the inability to transfer oxygen... From the lungs to the bloodstream.
Walter Skinner
He choked to death? All right. I mean, this damage, however it was accomplished, someone did do this to him.
Fox Mulder
Well, not necessarily. There weren't any signs of struggle in the room. -maybe no one was ever there. -
Walter Skinner
Where are you going with this?
Fox Mulder
Well, that this isn't a homicide. You examined the body, Scully. Did you find any of these?
Dana Scully
A bug?
Fox Mulder
It's a tobacco beetle.
Dana Scully
I didn't find anything like that, Mulder. Were you expecting me to?
Walter Skinner
Killer bugs? This is what I'm supposed to tell the director?
Fox Mulder
I don't know, but judging from dr. Voss's reaction to this, I think it's the thing we should investigate.
[ sighs ]
[ gunfire on TV ]
Scene 06
DOWNTOWN WINSTON-SALEM
Neighbor
I've been tellin' you all week. How many times I gotta say it? No smoking! You hear me?
Daryl Weaver
America, man! E pluribus, uh--
Neighbor
I'll get you kicked out, you son of a bitch! You think I'm kiddin'? I'll do it! The law's on my side!
[ body thuds ]
[ man screams ]
Scene 07
6:16 AM
Fox Mulder
Guests check in, but they don't check out.
Dana Scully
Well, judging from the condition of the body, I'd say that he died in the same manner as dr. Scobie.
Walter Skinner
Except this man's no corporate whistle blower. Thomas gastall. Out-of-date massachusetts license, food coupons... And a certificate of completion for a court-ordered anger management class.
Dana Scully
What could morley tobacco have against a transient from massachusetts?
Fox Mulder
Probably nothing.
Walter Skinner
What are you suggesting, Mulder?
Fox Mulder
That Jim Scobie wasn't murdered. Neither was this man.
Walter Skinner
Well, then what killed them?
Fox Mulder
These.
Walter Skinner
We didn't find any insects in dr. Scobie's bathroom.
Fox Mulder
But there was an open window through which they could have escaped.
Dana Scully
It's a long shot, Mulder, but it could be some form of contagious agent, like an insect-borne bacterium, which would mean there might be other victims in this building.
Unidentified speaker
FBI
Fox Mulder
Sorry to wake you.
Daryl Weaver
No, you didn't wake me. Come on in.
Fox Mulder
Thank you. We're investigating the death of the man who lived right next to you-- a thomas gastall. Do you know him?
Daryl Weaver
I knew his voice. He yelled a lot.
Fox Mulder
He yelled?
Daryl Weaver
Yeah, he said I smoked too much. What are you gonna do, man? It's a free country. E pluribus, uh-- do you mind?
Fox Mulder
No. You don't seem surprised that he's dead.
Daryl Weaver
I guess his number come up. I'm just glad it wasn't me.
Fox Mulder
Well, what is your name, sir?
Daryl Weaver
Darryl Weaver.
Fox Mulder
Mr. Weaver, did you see or hear anything unusual last night?
Daryl Weaver
Little korean fella down the hall dresses like wonder woman. But that's every night.
Fox Mulder
Other than that?
Daryl Weaver
There wouldn't happen to be, uh, any reward money involved, would there? I mean, I could use an extra buck or two.
Fox Mulder
The FBI would appreciate your voluntary cooperation, sir. That's the way it works.
Daryl Weaver
Ain't that always the way. No, my mind is, uh, just drawin' a complete blank.
Fox Mulder
That's my card. Thank you, mr. Weaver.
[ door opens ]
Fox Mulder
Anything?
Walter Skinner
Two deaths in less than 24 hours and we've yet to come up with an answer.
Dana Scully
And the only thing I have to go on medically at this point is Mulder's bug. You know, I know an entomologist at u.n.c. Willmington-- dr. Libby Nance.
Fox Mulder
Good. Talk to her.
Walter Skinner
Where you going?
Fox Mulder
To see about something else that's been bugging me.
Scene 08
Scene 08
Fox Mulder
Mrs. Voss?
Anne Voss
Yes?
Fox Mulder
Fox Mulder. Is your husband home?
Dr. Peter Voss
It's okay, honey. It'll just be a minute.
Anne Voss
Sure thing.
Dr. Peter Voss
I really shouldn't be talking to you without our lawyers.
Fox Mulder
I understand your reluctance to talk, sir. You have a nice family, a lot to lose.
Dr. Peter Voss
What do you want, agent Mulder?
Fox Mulder
There's been another victim-- thomas gastall. Died exactly the same way Scobie did.
Dr. Peter Voss
I'm sorry to hear that. But what's that got to do with me?
Fox Mulder
Well, we found these all over him. I believe that that's what killed both men.
Dr. Peter Voss
Tobacco beetle. It's an herbivore. It eats tobacco. Hence its name.
Fox Mulder
I understand that, but... Maybe these don't.
Dr. Peter Voss
I'm not really required to talk to you, am I?
Fox Mulder
No. But why are you hiding behind your lawyers, doctor? How many people have to die before you do the right thing?
Dr. Peter Voss
[ phone ringing ] I'll get it! Hello?
David Brimley
What did he want?
Dr. Peter Voss
Are you spying on me?
David Brimley
I'm not spying on you, Peter. I'm looking out for you. What did he want?
Dr. Peter Voss
There's been another death-- downtown.
David Brimley
How did it happen?
Dr. Peter Voss
I don't know. I don't know. This has gone on long enough. We should come forward. I should.
David Brimley
Do you hear what you're saying, Peter? Now, I want you to just take a moment. I want you to think about what really matters to you. Now tell me where I can find darryl Weaver.
Dr. Peter Voss
Why?
David Brimley
This was my mistake. I'll clean it up.
Dr. Peter Voss
I don't know where he is.
Scene 09
Scene 09
Dr. Libby Nance
This doesn't make sense.
Walter Skinner
What doesn't make sense?
Dr. Libby Nance
Well, it's a lasioderma serricorne-- a tobacco beetle. Only I've never seen one exactly like this.
Dana Scully
Hmm. What are the differences?
Dr. Libby Nance
Physical differences. Minor, but definitely notable. Deviations in the mandibles, the antennae, the body segmentation.
Dana Scully
What if such deviations arose from genetic engineering?
Dr. Libby Nance
Engineering the bugs themselves?
Dana Scully
No. I was actually thinking about another possibility-- transgenomics.
Walter Skinner
Which is?
Dana Scully
It's a form of d.n.a. Manipulation-- alterations made on the genetic level.
Dr. Libby Nance
It is pretty widely known that tobacco companies have been pouring money... Into that kind of research. Changing the tobacco plant itself in order to make it heartier, give it less nicotine, more nicotine, make it naturally menthol flavored. You name it.
Walter Skinner
A form of what-- super tobacco?
Dana Scully
Which possibly could have created super bugs. I guess the real question is, could they have become dangerous to humans?
Scene 10
Scene 10
Dr. Peter Voss
Mr. Weaver! Mr. Weaver!
Daryl Weaver
Sorry, doc. No vacancy.
[ chuckling ]
Dr. Peter Voss
What happened there?
Daryl Weaver
Well, you tell me. You're the one with the phd. I'm just a big old guinea pig.
Dr. Peter Voss
Uh, listen. Um, you have to leave town.
Daryl Weaver
And give up all this? Me not doin' my part for science?
Dr. Peter Voss
Here. Take it. It's everything I have in the bank. Four thousand.
Daryl Weaver
It's not much, but, uh, it's a start.
Dr. Peter Voss
W-w-wait a minute. I'm not kidding. You gotta get out of here.
Daryl Weaver
Why? I got a good thing goin' here. I got cash money. I got all the coffin nails I can suck down. Although, lately, I've been thinkin' this particular brand, it doesn't, uh, do anyone else any favors,
Unidentified speaker
Health-wise.
Daryl Weaver
You thinkin' that too, huh? Would it bother you if I lit one up? Toodles.
Dr. Peter Voss
No, you-- you don't understand. Morley is a multibillion dollar global corporation. You think they're gonna let you endanger that, huh? They'll kill you first.
Daryl Weaver
Well, it sounds like a darryl Weaver problem to me.
Dr. Peter Voss
Yeah, uh--
Scene 11
Scene 11
Walter Skinner
What am I looking at?
Dana Scully
Thomas gastall's left lung and bronchus.
Walter Skinner
Well, I guess that explains where the beetles came from.
[ footsteps approaching ]
Dana Scully
Hey, Mulder. Where have you been?
Fox Mulder
Talking to lawyers over at justice tryin' to get a look at morley's files.
Dana Scully
Well, take a look at this. They're the larval stage of the tobacco beetle, Mulder. And somehow they have ended up nesting in thomas gastall's lungs.
Walter Skinner
But what doesn't make any sense is why Scobie's lungs didn't show this same condition.
Dana Scully
The larvae must pupate inside the lungs, and then once they mature into beetles, exit the body en masse.
Walter Skinner
That explains the condition of the face and throat. Only how did they get into the lungs to begin with?
[ coughing continues ]
Dana Scully
Mulder?
[ suction whirring ]
Scene 12
ASHFORD MEDICAL CENTER
Walter Skinner
How is he?
Dana Scully
They're using a deep suction technique that's been designed for asthma and cystic fibrosis. And so far, we're having some luck at clearing his lungs.
Walter Skinner
But?
Dana Scully
For every one of those things that are in his lung tissue, there may be a dozen eggs that have yet to be hatched.
Walter Skinner
Eggs?
Dana Scully
His pulmonary tissue is riddled with them. And they're going to hatch. It's just, uh, we're buying time.
Walter Skinner
How did this happen? These eggs, how'd they get into his lungs?
Dana Scully
I'm thinking he inhaled them. Well, the tobacco beetle lives out its life cycle on or around the tobacco plant. That's where it lays its eggs. If those genetically-altered beetles that we found did that, then maybe the eggs survived the processing into cigarettes.
Walter Skinner
And have been carried into Mulder's lungs as smoke?
Dana Scully
Right. Like spores or pollen. Somehow small enough to be airborne.
Walter Skinner
But Mulder isn't a smoker. And neither was Scobie.
Dana Scully
Maybe they were around someone who was.
Scene 13
MORLEY TOBACCO
Walter Skinner
Don't bother calling Security. Federal search warrant as promised. Do it. You're gonna talk to me, doctor. One of my agents is dying of the same thing that killed dr. Scobie. I believe you have information that can save him.
Lead Counsel
We stand by our contention that any information is proprietary... And is therefore the sole property of morley tobacco.
Walter Skinner
Listen to me, you son of a bitch. This isn't about morley or your precious research. This is about saving lives.
Dr. Peter Voss
That's exactly what we were trying to do.
Lead Counsel
Dr. Voss. I'm advising you not to speak.
Dr. Peter Voss
This has gone on long enough. We thought we were doing a good thing. We knew people were never gonna stop smoking, no matter how unhealthy it was. So why not genetically engineer a safer cigarette?
Walter Skinner
Except you engineered the bugs as well.
Dr. Peter Voss
We recruited test smokers. We conducted focus groups. There were no problems. And, uh, after a few months in, things-- things got bad. We had four test subjects and, uh, three of them died.
Walter Skinner
Is that what dr. Scobie was gonna testify about?
Dr. Peter Voss
Yeah. And the company wanted us to keep it quiet. I thought let's correct the mistakes and face the consequences. Jim didn't. He was monitoring the focus group, and that's-- that's how he got infected.
Walter Skinner
You said only three died. Who was the fourth? Clear! Okay, go ahead.
Scene 14
Scene 14
Dr. Peter Voss
-told me he meant to get Weaver. -
Walter Skinner
Looks like Weaver got to him first. Mr. Brimley, can you hear me?
[ gagging ]
Scene 15
Scene 15
Daryl Weaver
You got mickey's big mouth?
Clerk
There's no smoking in here.
Daryl Weaver
Mickey's big mouth?
Clerk
Anything else? A carton of cigarettes?
Daryl Weaver
You don't have my brand.
[ register beeping ] [ police radio chatter, indistinct ]
Scene 16
Scene 16
Fox Mulder
Must be bad.
Dana Scully
How do you feel?
Fox Mulder
Like a dustbuster attacked me.
[ coughing ]
Dana Scully
We're looking for someone who may be able to help you. A morley test subject by the name of darryl Weaver.
Fox Mulder
Mr. E pluribus.
Dana Scully
Yeah. Well, mr. Weaver seems to have some kind of tolerance or immunity, and we're hoping that once we find him, we'll be able to figure out how to treat you.
[ gasps ]
Dana Scully
Mulder?
[ heart monitor beeping ]
Dana Scully
Doctor!
[ gasping continues ]
Dana Scully
His sat's down to 72. Get some o2 on him and call the code.
Doctor
Susan, code blue!
Nurse Susan
Right, doctor.
Doctor
Over to my side!
Scene 17
Scene 17
Doctor
Dr. Scully? We've got him stabilized on ecmo for the moment, but we're not gonna be able to maintain him on it for long. Of course you see why.
Dana Scully
There's more than there were six hours ago.
Doctor
They're beginning to block the flow of blood. Our best bet is to go back in there. I think this time we have to crack the chest.
Dana Scully
No. No, uh, he's too weak for thoracic surgery. He'd die on the table.
Doctor
I don't know what our other options are.
Dana Scully
I'd say for the time being, we just wait.
Doctor
That'll definitely kill him... Sooner or later.
[ knocking ]
Scene 18
Scene 18
Walter Skinner
Mrs. Voss, I'm assistant director Walter Skinner with the FBI may we come in?
Anne Voss
What is this? What's going on?
Walter Skinner
I have to ask for your cooperation. These men are here to protect you and your family.
Anne Voss
Oh, my god. Why?
Walter Skinner
Your husband hasn't spoken to you about this?
Anne Voss
He's not here.
Walter Skinner
He told me he was headed home. Try dr. Voss at work.
Anne Voss
I've just been trying. There's no answer.
Scene 19
Scene 19
Dr. Peter Voss
Behind you.
Daryl Weaver
I was just leavin'. I got what I came for.
Dr. Peter Voss
He took the test cigarettes. I couldn't stop him.
Walter Skinner
Stop right there!
Daryl Weaver
Why? You gonna shoot me?
Walter Skinner
I'm not gonna let you go and infect more people.
Daryl Weaver
You're gonna let me do whatever I wanna do. Dr. Voss here tells me you need me. You need me to save your boy.
Walter Skinner
Don't do it.
Daryl Weaver
They say these things kill people, you know. Any brand, sooner or later. But you know, it doesn't have to be that way. I think dr. Voss is really... On to something with his research, I do.
Dr. Peter Voss
It's over, Weaver. I'm through.
Daryl Weaver
Oh. Come on, now. I mean, you gotta figure... The first, uh, car... Killed a bunch of people... Before they perfected it, 'cause it's all just part of the scientific process, you know.
Walter Skinner
Mr. Weaver, I will shoot you.
Daryl Weaver
No, you won't. I'm a regular damn scientific marvel. They're gonna study me. They're gonna write scientific papers about me. I could be the cure for cancer. Me, darryl Weaver. You ain't gonna shoot me. Toodles.
Scene 20
Scene 20
Walter Skinner
How's Mulder?
Dana Scully
Not good. Let's get the blood work on this man. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Give me 30 milligrams of methyl-pyrrolidinyl-pyridine.
Doctor
Nicotine?
Dana Scully
Yeah. I think this could save Mulder's life.
Scene 21
FBI HEADQUARTERS
Dana Scully
Hey. Good to be back?
Fox Mulder
Beats the alternative. Yeah.
Dana Scully
Well, you'll be interested to know that morley tobacco has subpoenaed... All of our files on the case. They seem extremely interested in your recovery.
Fox Mulder
What about darryl Weaver?
Dana Scully
He's, uh, well enough to have been moved to the hospital ward at riley correctional.
Fox Mulder
It was the nicotine itself that was keeping him alive?
Dana Scully
His fingertips were stained yellow with it. He was a four-pack a day smoker, far heavier than any of the focus group members who died. You know, nicotine is extremely poisonous. It's actually one of the oldest known insecticides.
Fox Mulder
It's good for killing tobacco beetles.
Dana Scully
Well, once we loaded your system up with enough of it, it acted as a sort of chemotherapy. Except it almost stopped your breathing at the same time.
Fox Mulder
That's not all it did. I bought these on the way to work.
Dana Scully
You're not gonna start smoking.
Fox Mulder
Why not? They say the addiction is stronger than heroin.
Dana Scully
Mulder. Good. Skinner's waiting for us in his office.
Fox Mulder
I'll be right up.
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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.