Dr. Wieder
A jell-o salad with little pear chunks. It's the wednesday special at the hospital cafeteria. I can't escape it.
Season 7 · Episode 14
Theef
Character-labelled dialogue prepared from the official DVD subtitle track.
Production code7ABX14Original airdate · March 12, 2000
222 dialogue entries
Scene 01
MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Mrs. Wieder
Listen to you. That didn't stop you from eating my dessert.
Dr. Wieder
Well, all right. The profiteroles weren't bad. [ beeping ] you didn't want me to starve, did you?
Lucy
He ate mine too. Daddy, why don't you take this before my arm falls off.
Dr. Wieder
Thanks, honey.
Irving
Everybody? One last shot.
Mrs. Wieder
Oh, dad. Do you think we can draw the line at 600 photographs?
Unidentified speaker
Six hundred and one.
Irving
Quit griping. And hold up that eyesore, robert. God knows when you're gonna win another one.
Dr. Wieder
Irv, you wanna think about staying the night? It's awful late to head back to the city. Yeah.
Irving
What? I get to stay at the home of the bay area doctor of the year? It's a deal. Proud of you, robert. Up. Hold it up. Say "cheese."
Mrs. Wieder
"presented to dr. Robert Wieder m.d... "for the great wisdom, skill and compassion... He exhibits in the practice of medicine." it's gonna look awfully nice in your office. What are you thinking?
Dr. Wieder
How this is just the cherry on top. How lucky I am.
[ beeping ]
Mrs. Wieder
What is it?
Dr. Wieder
Downstairs motion sensor.
Mrs. Wieder
You think dad tripped the alarm?
Dr. Wieder
The alarm hasn't been tripped. You got me. I'll go check it out. Irv? Irving, is everything all right?
Scene 02
Scene 02
Fox Mulder
What do you think, Scully? Is this a name, possibly, or a code or an anagram?
Dana Scully
T-h-e-e-f. I assume it's supposed to be t-h-I-e-f. Thief.
Fox Mulder
Insert your own dan quayle joke here. Lousy spelling aside, what do you think it refers to? Who's the thief?
Dana Scully
Well, that's certainly one question. I've got many.
Fox Mulder
"Mulder, why are we here?"
Dana Scully
Mmm, to be fair, I might have used the words, "Mulder, how is this an X-File?"
Fox Mulder
You see that, Scully? You always keep me guessing. This is dr. Irving thalbro, age 66, found hanged with his throat cut, his family tucked away and in bed not 40 feet from here. Didn't see or hear anything.
Dana Scully
Which would certainly shine the light of suspicion on them.
Fox Mulder
Except they're the ones that called it in, and there's no evidence whatsoever to link them to the crime.
Dana Scully
Which is why the police are rightly wondering... If dr. Thalbro killed himself.
Fox Mulder
Except who, then, did this? Blood pattern doesn't indicate that the good doctor did it, who I am assuming could read and write above a fourth grade level.
Dana Scully
I'll admit, Mulder, this is not an open-and-shut case. But, uh, it doesn't make it an X-File.
Fox Mulder
Well, there is one detail that does. This.
Dana Scully
Dirt?
Fox Mulder
Dirt. It's a very powerful component of hexcraft, as well as the pattern in which it was originally arranged. Check this out. Looks like a human form. [ sighs ]
Dana Scully
Hexcraft, as in putting a curse on someone? Murdering them magically?
Fox Mulder
That's what it looks like to me. Now, I know what you're gonna say, Scully.
Dana Scully
No, hexcraft. I mean, I'll buy that as the intent here. It certainly jives with the evidence. I say we talk to the family. I'll always keep you guessing.
Dr. Wieder
It was probably the greatest night of my life.
Unidentified speaker
Till--
Dana Scully
Sir, can you think of any enemies your father-in-law might have made? Maybe inadvertently through his medical practice... Or a business dealing, perhaps?
Dr. Wieder
Everybody loved Irving. Everyone who knew him. He was-- no, I can't conceive of it.
Fox Mulder
Dr. Wieder, do you have any enemies? I'm sorry I have to ask. There was a message left behind. If it doesn't refer to your father-in-law, it may refer to you.
Girl
Thief?
Lucy
Are you asking if my dad's a thief? He saves people's lives. He's a good man.
Dr. Wieder
Honey. If I have any enemies, I don't know them.
Scene 03
FOSTER CITY, CALIFORNIA
Female Reporter On Tv
At the home of his son-in-law, dr. Robert Wieder, dr. Irving thalbro was found hanged at 1:48 this morning. The details are sketchy. It's my understanding... That police are treating the case as a murder. This is due in part to core evidence left at the scene.
[ TV continues, indistinct ]
[ sniffing ]
Landlady
Hello? Mr. Peattie? Mr. Peattie, I know you're in there. Are you cooking? You aren't supposed to be cooking. You aren't supposed to be cooking.
Peattie
That smell like somethin' you wanna eat?
Landlady
Well, what is it, then?
Peattie
Medicine.
Landlady
Oh, all right. Uh, just so long as you're not cooking.
Peattie
Seems like you could use yourself a poultice for your back. Old Peattie fix ya right up. Be ready later.
[ chanting, indistinct ]
Scene 04
Scene 04
Fox Mulder
Scully. This dirt we found? Gas pneumatograph shows... Mm-hmm. Pronounced spikes of methane and sulfur compounds. The signature of decay. It's graveyard dirt, also known as conjure dust. It's one of the most powerful hexing elements, whether for good or evil. Not the kind of stuff you want to be on the wrong end of.
Dana Scully
Uh-huh.
Fox Mulder
Well, go ahead, Scully. Keep me guessing.
Dana Scully
Kuru.
Fox Mulder
The-the, uh-- the disease that new guinea tribesmen get?
Dana Scully
From eating the brains of their relatives.
Fox Mulder
I thought my grandpa slurping his soup was bad.
Dana Scully
Practically speaking, Mulder, kuru doesn't even exist anymore, not in new guinea and certainly not in the u.s. But this man's cerebellum and his triadim... Clearly show signs of it, Mulder. I mean, these plaques-- his brain is riddled with them.
Fox Mulder
Kuru makes you crazy, right?
Dana Scully
Yeah, stark-raving, among other things. But in this case, stark-raving mad enough to slit his own throat and hang himself. Mulder, that's what his autopsy shows... From the wound pattern to-to the blood spray. This man did it to himself. There's no question.
Fox Mulder
Unless... It was inflicted upon him. The graveyard dirt, the hex. He was given this disease so that he would kill himself.
Scene 05
9:17 PM
Dr. Wieder
Nan? Honey?
Mrs. Wieder
Robert? Look at this. Who would've taken that?
Dr. Wieder
The police, probably. It could be they needed it as evidence.
[ chattering continues ]
Mrs. Wieder
I'm telling you, I'm scared. I can't stay here, robert. I can't live in this house anymore. Lucy can't, not after what's happened here. And now this picture of us is missing.
Dr. Wieder
It'll turn up.
Mrs. Wieder
No. It doesn't make any sense. Nothing that's happened here makes any sense.
Dr. Wieder
It does. Nan, listen to me. Your dad was ill. He had a kind of progressive dementia. That's what the FBI autopsy showed. I reviewed their findings, and I have to agree. Honey, we will get through this. Oh, my god! Nan, honey! [ groaning ] oh, my god! Nan!
Lucy
Dad?
Dr. Wieder
Lucy, call 911. Call 911! Nan!
[ chanting, indistinct ]
[ beeping ]
Scene 06
USF MEDICAL CENTER
Fox Mulder
Dr. Wieder?
Dana Scully
We understand you've made a diagnosis.
Dr. Wieder
Diffuse cutaneous flesh moniliasis. Old world type.
Fox Mulder
I take it that's rare.
Dana Scully
In san francisco? It's unheard of. Maybe in central africa.
Fox Mulder
Well, the rarer, the better.
Dr. Wieder
What do you mean by that?
Fox Mulder
Someone directed this to happen to your wife... Just as someone directed what happened to your father-in-law.
Dr. Wieder
My enemy you were talking about-- the one who thinks I'm a thief? Agent, you're a doctor. Explain to your partner... That no one can direct a person to get sick.
Fox Mulder
The dirt you found in your bed drawn in the shape of a body, that's indicative of folk magic. That's what I believe is being used against you.
Dr. Wieder
Folk magic? You mean, like, babayaga? Gypsies?
Fox Mulder
I was actually thinking less eastern and more celtic. Maybe scots-irish or appalachian, even.
Dr. Wieder
I'm supposed to take this seriously?
Dana Scully
Sir, regardless of the particulars, I think it's clear that there was an intruder in your home. And I think it would be prudent for you... To accept our protection... And help us to identify this person.
Dr. Wieder
Prudent for me would be to continue treating my wife.
Fox Mulder
If we don't stop who's causing this, your treatments won't matter.
Dr. Wieder
So modern medicine and all it encompasses-- artificial hearts, laser surgery, gene therapy, to name a few-- all of that arrayed against a pile of magic dirt? And you tell me I'll lose. I have m.r.I.s to look at.
Dana Scully
Oh, yeah, Mulder, win him over.
Fox Mulder
He will lose unless we can find a way to stop it.
Dana Scully
What do you suggest?
Fox Mulder
A second opinion.
[ chuckling ]
Peattie
The truth always hurts, don't it, doc?
Dr. Wieder
Who are you? Is this you? You did this? What do you want from me?
Peattie
Don't you be frettin' none about that. I'm gettin' my nickel's worth. You're doin' a fine job so far.
Dr. Wieder
What the hell are you talking about? What is this all about?
Peattie
Lynette Peattie. And don't you be sayin' you don't recollect her. Uh-uh. No, no, no.
Dr. Wieder
Look, if I've done anything to upset you, I-- it's no use trying to intimidate me if I don't know how I've offended you! Tell me! What makes me a thief?
Peattie
You be a smart man. I figure... You ponder it a while, it gonna come to ya.
Dr. Wieder
Wait!
[ keyboard clacking ]
Scene 07
Scene 07
Tech
[ sighs ] no. No matter how I spell it, there's no lynette Peattie.
Dr. Wieder
She's not in my patient file.
Tech
She's not in any doctor's patient file. No one by that name has ever been admitted to the hospital. You think you treated her?
Dr. Wieder
What about jane does?
Tech
You treated three in the last two years.
Dr. Wieder
Pull the files, please.
Scene 08
Scene 08
Peattie
You remember old boon. I know you do. This mangy, old, ugly dog. Smart. People-smart, and then some. Oh, he sure did love you. He crawled up under that house... The very day you left. Wouldn't come out for nothin'. Not no ham bone, nothin'. He just knew that his life was over. You stole his heart too. You shouldn't oughta left.
[ footsteps ]
Landlady
[ gasps ] you're there. I... Wanted to thank you. That poultice worked a miracle on my back. I was about to knock and-- and ask if I could get a little more. Whatever that is, it sure is stinky.
Peattie
Stinky's good.
[ chimes ringing ]
Scene 09
VALAENCIA AND 10TH
Proprietor
Good afternoon. Can I help you?
Fox Mulder
Yeah, we're looking for some alternative medical advice.
Proprietor
Well, you've come to the right place. I get a lot of folks fed up with their h.m.o.s.
Dana Scully
Well, actually, we're not here for us. Yeah.
Proprietor
Oh! Chief, back in your pocket.
Dana Scully
It's dirt.
Proprietor
It's goofer dust is what it is. I don't know what your intentions are with that.
Dana Scully
Goofer dust?
Fox Mulder
Conjure dust, goofer dust. How would you go about making somebody sick using that? We're investigating a murder. That's why I'm asking.
Proprietor
Oh. Speaking strictly in the academic sense, you'd spread it on or near your victim to direct misfortune.
Fox Mulder
So you could give them any illness you wanted-- one that you chose specifically for them?
Proprietor
Oh... That's a lot trickier. It requires something special.
Dana Scully
A voodoo doll.
Proprietor
No. They're called "puppets." inside, you place three thorns of a blood red rose, a strand of hair, and a photo of your victim. Maybe other items as well. Depends on the operator. Sew it up, say your spell.
Fox Mulder
How would you counteract one of these?
Proprietor
Depends on who you're dealing with. But if the person you're looking for... Is powerful enough to bring about a murder, he's probably charmed.
Dana Scully
Which would mean what?
Proprietor
It means just that. He's drawing on the energy of a charm. A source of magic power. It could be any item, provided that it's very important to him. Something that holds great meaning for him. And unless you can separate him from his charm, you're out of luck.
Scene 10
USF MEDICAL CENTER
Peattie
Poppin' corn.
Tech
You gotta put the money in first.
Peattie
Don't look like no poppin' corn to me.
Tech
Put it in the microwave. Then you get your popcorn.
Peattie
Oh. Microwave. I heard tell of such a thing. It's a true wonder.
[ beeping ]
Peattie
Radiation. Come from the heart of the atom. I think it be god's own glow.
Dr. Wieder
You're gonna be very happy, I promise. The drug therapy I'm giving her is working wonders. Come on. Come see.
Lucy
Mom.
Mrs. Wieder
Hi, sweetie.
Lucy
You look good.
Mrs. Wieder
Yeah, right. But I am definitely feeling better. So how come I have to go through this thing again?
Dr. Wieder
Come on. This thing gives off about as much radiation as a dental x Ray. Nothing to worry about.
Mrs. Wieder
I know. It just scares me. Wish me luck?
[ beeping ]
Radiology Tech
Doctor!
Dr. Wieder
Switch it off! Switch it off!
[ gasps ]
[ beeping ]
Peattie
All done.
Scene 11
Scene 11
Dr. Wieder
How could somebody orchestrate all of this?
Dana Scully
You believe that your wife was murdered?
Dr. Wieder
It was no accident. There was no malfunction of the machine. Yes, I believe she was murdered.
Fox Mulder
And you still have no idea why? The pathologist found this branded into your wife's chest.
Dana Scully
Sir, we can't help you if you withhold information from us.
Dr. Wieder
A man came to see me yesterday. My age, older, maybe. Tall. He mentioned someone named lynette Peattie. I didn't know who she was at first. Turns out she was a jane doe I treated last october. She was in a bus rollover. Came in amid a wave of victims. She was the worst off. I could barely put fluids in fast enough to keep up with the blood loss. We were rushing around triaging people. Everybody knew she was dying. It was only a matter of time. She was in agony. This was my course of treatment.
Dana Scully
You gave her morphine. Lots of it.
Dr. Wieder
I pushed it myself. She kept screaming, and her heart rate kept climbing. So... I kept pushing. I took maybe the last 20 minutes of her life. It was a fair trade to make for the pain.
Fox Mulder
Her father doesn't agree.
Dana Scully
What makes you think it's her father?
Fox Mulder
He thinks you robbed him of his family. And that's why he's systematically robbing you of yours.
Dr. Wieder
What am I supposed to do? My daughter Lucy--
Fox Mulder
You don't do anything. Let us find a way to protect you.
Dr. Wieder
How?
Fox Mulder
I have an idea where to start.
Scene 12
MUNICIPAL CEMETERY
Dana Scully
If lynette Peattie was carlos the jackal, I would've had an easier time tracking her down. There's no birth certificate, no social Security number, nothing.
Fox Mulder
Better known to the world as jane doe, 6149.
Dana Scully
Well, her name shows up once in the records... Of a vista inoculation program in 1981. The allegheny mountains of west virginia.
Fox Mulder
Deepest appalachia.
Dana Scully
That's when her father, one oral Peattie, refused to allow her to be inoculated against polio. But there's no address for him. There's no record of him whatsoever. Mulder, why are we exhuming this girl?
Fox Mulder
Well, I'm thinking of her dear old backwoods dad... And where he gets all his graveyard dirt.
Dana Scully
Here? His daughter's grave?
Fox Mulder
The occultist we spoke to said that the person... Casting these magic spells was charmed. That he had a source of power that was very meaningful to him... And he kept it close by.
Dana Scully
Lynette Peattie's body?
Fox Mulder
That's my guess. So as long as her body remains here resting in peace in the bay area, he remains powerful. But if we were to ship it off to quantico-- hold onto that.
Scene 13
Scene 13
Landlady
Mr. Peattie? Mr. Peattie, my pain's back. I was wondering if I could get a little more of that poultice. Mr. Peattie? Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were home.
[ screaming ]
Scene 14
Scene 14
Fox Mulder
All right, thank you. They'll be there before dark. You all set?
Dr. Wieder
We still don't know where it is we're going.
Fox Mulder
We rented a cabin for you. It's important that you get out of town.
Dr. Wieder
And you believe by our leaving it will somehow weaken him?
Dana Scully
Well, what's important is that he believes that. At any rate, if he can't find you, he can't hurt you.
Dr. Wieder
How do you know he'll come forward?
Fox Mulder
Because he hasn't gotten everything he wants.
Scene 15
11:23 PM
Tv Anchor
Our own John gillness is on the scene.
John Gilnitz (TV reporter)
San mateo county health officials admit they're at a loss... To explain the sudden onset of the 56-year-old woman's bizarre illness, but insist there is no cause for alarm.
Security Guard
Pretty weird, huh?
John Gilnitz (TV reporter)
There's been no official diagnosis. Sources say they believe the woman contracted... The rare but deadly group "a" streptococcus-- better known as the flesh-eating disease.
Security Guard
Freakin' scary.
Unidentified speaker
We will keep a close watch on this story and any new developments.
Man
Bathroom's clear!
Man #2
Clear here!
[ cell phone ringing ]
Scene 17
SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST
Dana Scully
Scully.
Fox Mulder
Peattie may be on to us.
Dana Scully
What happened?
Fox Mulder
I found out where he lives, only he's cleared out and he's taken his magic charm with him. At least as much of it as he can carry. My guess is he's looking for you.
Dana Scully
I didn't see anybody following us.
Fox Mulder
Well, just keep an eye out, Scully. I'm on my way.
Dana Scully
Okay.
Peattie
Soon. Very soon.
Scene 18
Scene 18
Dr. Wieder
What was that?
Dana Scully
Stay where you are.
[ chanting, indistinct ]
Dana Scully
Oh! Oh, god!
Dr. Wieder
Oh! What is it?
Dana Scully
I don't know. I can't-- I can't see!
Dr. Wieder
Agent Scully!
Dana Scully
Just stay where you are. Stay down.
[ gasps ]
Peattie
Oh, doctor!
Dana Scully
Leave him alone!
Lucy
Daddy!
Dr. Wieder
Get back! Get back! Don't make me hurt you!
Peattie
Can hurt the man that ain't got nothin' left. You know who I be now? Maybe you can recollect my daughter.
Dr. Wieder
I remember! I never forgot! I'm-I'm sorry for your loss, but I did everything humanly possible to save her!
Peattie
The arrogant little man.
Dr. Wieder
I did everything I could! And when I couldn't do anymore, I eased her suffering!
Peattie
By killin' her. If I be there, I save her!
Dr. Wieder
You weren't there!
Peattie
Scary death in some field. No name on her, far away from her people. It wouldn't be right. So now, little man, I gonna show you what be possible. I'm gonna show you... An eye for an eye.
Dr. Wieder
You're not gonna hurt my daughter!
Lucy
Daddy!
Unidentified speaker
Baby.
[ groaning ]
Lucy
Daddy! Daddy!
Dana Scully
Doctor? What's happening?
Lucy
Daddy! [ gasping ]
Dana Scully
Dr. Wieder!
[ screaming ]
Lucy
You're killing him! Daddy! Stop! Daddy! Daddy! [ gunshot ] daddy.
[ monitor beeping ]
Scene 19
USF MEDICAL CENTER
Fox Mulder
Lynette Peattie's body is on its way back home to o'neal, west virginia.
Dana Scully
She's going back to her people after all. You know, Mulder, I would have made the same call. As a doctor, if I was certain that I couldn't save her life... And she was in that much pain, I would've done what Wieder did.
Fox Mulder
Mm-hmm. It seems pretty clear cut.
Dana Scully
Except maybe it's not.
Fox Mulder
You're wondering if maybe Peattie could've saved her life? You do keep me guessing.
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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.