Season 8 · Episode 20

Essence

Character-labelled dialogue prepared from the official DVD subtitle track.

Production code8ABX20Original airdate · May 13, 2001

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273 dialogue entries

Scene 01

Fox Mulder

We call it the miracle of life. Conception: a union of perfect opposites-- essence transforming into existence-- an act without which mankind would not exist and humanity cease to exist. Or is this just nostalgia now? An act of biology commandeered by modern science and technology? Godlike, we extract, implant, inseminate... And we clone. But has our ingenuity rendered the miracle into a simple trick? In the artifice of replicating life can we become the creator? Then what of the soul? Can it, too, be replicated? Does it live in this matter we call DNA? Or is its placement the opposite of artifice capable only by god. How did this child come to be? What set its heart beating? Is it the product of a union? Or the work of a divine hand? An answered prayer? A true miracle? Or is it a wonder of technology-- the intervention of other hands? What do I tell this child about to be born? What do I tell Scully? And what do I tell myself?

Scene 03

MARGARET

Dana Scully

You know, it would be a whole lot easier for everyone if you would just tell us the sex, Dana. Did you hear me? Yes, I heard you, mom-- for about the thousandth time-- you can wait. Didn't you have to wait with us? Well, I know it's a boy. I can just tell by the way you're carrying. It's a boy. You obviously don't need me to tell you because you already know. Then it's a boy? Oh, it's the least you could tell your mother considering everything else you're keeping secret.

[ knock at door ]

Dana Scully

We told people noon, right? Mm-hmm.

Woman

Hi. Your mom said to cover all the bases. I'm lizzy gill.

Dana Scully

Hi, lizzy. Let me give you a hand with that. I asked lizzy to help out today. Oh. Hi.

Lizzie Gill

These are going to need some water. Congratulations, by the way.

Dana Scully

Mom... What do we need help with? I don't know. It's just, well you shouldn't have to worry. You have to let people do for you. She's a very highly recommended baby nurse, by the way. Oh, mom. This has got to be a conspiracy.

Woman

Aw... Maybe it'll be twins.

Dana Scully

Thank you, but I would settle for one very healthy boy.

Women

Oh?

Dana Scully

Or girl.

Women

Aww!

Margaret Scully

So many secrets, margaret.

Dana Scully

What do you expect? My daughter works for the FBI.

[ laughing ]

Woman

Oh! Oh, dear!

Lizzie Gill

I got it. Here. Moving in... The white tornado.

Dana Scully

Thank you, lizzy.

Lizzie Gill

No problem.

Dana Scully

Just think about it.

[ toilet flushing ]

Scene 04

ZEUS GENETICS

Dr. Lev

Excuse me? Can I help you?

Billy Miles

Dr. Lev, isn't it?

Dr. Lev

I'm sorry. I don't know who you are or how you got in here but we don't allow visitors.

Billy Miles

I won't be visiting long. I've just come to verify it's true.

Dr. Lev

Verify that what's true?

Billy Miles

That your work's been fruitful. I can see that it has by the abomination you're holding in your hands.

Dr. Lev

You'll have to leave now.

Billy Miles

Your work here is done.

Scene 05

Mike (NASCAR announcer)

Dale jarrett right in the pack battling hard against ricky craven for seventh place. Jeff?

Jeff (NASCAR announcer)

Yeah, mike, I was down in the 88 car pit when dale jarrett came in. His car was just a little bit on the tight side still. Steve allen, the gas man, took one round out of the left rear. They said if they can get the car to free up a little bit more...

[ knock on door ]

Jeff (NASCAR announcer)

He'll be a force to contend with before the end of the day. Now, phil davis has...

John Doggett

The last person I'd expect to see knocking on my door on a saturday morning-- agent Mulder.

Fox Mulder

You can drop the "agent," agent Doggett. It's just plain old Fox Mulder now.

John Doggett

Right. You want to come in, Fox? I was just watching a race.

Fox Mulder

That's what I was doing. Slightly different race, though.

Mike (NASCAR announcer)

...from sixth place on back.

Jeff (NASCAR announcer)

Boy, that 32 car is really...

Newscaster

...exclusive footage of a medical research clinic in germantown, Maryland, which burned down last night in what firefighters called an accelerated blaze. Accelerated because of the white-hot intensity of the fire, which officials are now calling a definite case of arson.

Fox Mulder

Zeus genetics. That ring a bell?

John Doggett

Yeah. That's where Scully believed they were doing tests on women-- putting alien babies in them or something like that-- against their will. Wasn't ever completely explained.

Fox Mulder

Looks like somebody's attempt to make sure it never will be.

John Doggett

I'd say that's more than an attempt. Looks like there's going to be nothing left.

Fox Mulder

I think that's the idea-- to cover up the kind of research that was going on there. That's why I came to talk to you.

John Doggett

What do you want from me?

Fox Mulder

How about a ride?

Scene 06

FBI EVIDENCE ANALYSIS CENTER

John Doggett

Hey, gene.

Agent Crane

Not the way I want to be spending my saturday afternoon, john. I had to leave my kid's ball game.

John Doggett

Sorry about that. I didn't say you had to come do it yourself.

Agent Crane

Fire marshall thought I was kidding when I told him I wanted to sift all this. Seeing it, I thought I was kidding, too. He put you on to this, didn't he? What the hell are you doing, john? You don't have to answer to him. He's out of the bureau.

John Doggett

Well, he thinks there's something here.

Agent Crane

I'm certain there is. Just not anything the FBI needs to be looking for.

Fox Mulder

Agent Doggett? Hey, I hope you don't mind me dropping your name with the local pd. They just told me that they contacted everyone at zeus genetics except for one man-- a dr. Lev-- a founder, and head of clinical research.

John Doggett

And what? You think we're going to find his body here in the ashes?

Fox Mulder

That would probably stand to reason.

John Doggett

What is it exactly we're looking for being I'm starting to piss a lot of people off, mr. Mulder?

Fox Mulder

Pissing people off comes with the territory, agent Doggett. It's part of working on the X-Files.

John Doggett

Well, at the risk of pissing you off I think I've wasted about enough of my weekend.

Fox Mulder

Hey, I told you dr. Lev was a founder of the clinic. Would you like to know who his cofounder was? Dr. Parenti. Agent Scully's obstetrician through the first two-thirds of her pregnancy.

John Doggett

And you think he burned down this clinic?

Fox Mulder

I don't know, but if I'm the agent assigned to the X-Files I sure as hell would want to ask him. Worst it could do is piss him off.

Scene 07

PARENTI MEDICAL GROUP

Fox Mulder

Knock, knock.

John Doggett

Right. We get caught in here what are you going to say then?

Fox Mulder

I'll just say I'm with you, agent Doggett. It's saturday anyway, right? We're just having a look around.

John Doggett

Hey, Mulder.

Dr. Parenti

Who are you?

Fox Mulder

Me?

Dr. Parenti

Yes, you, sir. What do you think you're doing in this office?

Fox Mulder

I'm with an FBI agent who would like to ask you the exact same question. Dr. Parenti, isn't it?

Dr. Parenti

I'm in the middle of a very delicate medical procedure. Whatever you want you don't just come barging in here. I don't care who you are.

John Doggett

This medical procedure... It have anything to do with this?

Dr. Parenti

Please...

John Doggett

Why don't you tell us what we're looking at here, dr. Parenti?

Dr. Parenti

You people have no right to be here. I want you to leave.

Fox Mulder

What is this? Some kind of showroom?

Dr. Parenti

Do you know what I've been through in the past 24 hours? Close friend and colleague is missing. Much of my life's work has been destroyed.

John Doggett

How about you explain what you are doing? What these things are.

Dr. Parenti

They are what we are all working so hard to prevent-- children with non-survivable birth defects.

Fox Mulder

Does that work include experimentation with alien embryos? Work that you would destroy to cover up such allegations?

Dr. Parenti

Where do you get these ideas?

Fox Mulder

From a friend of mine-- a former patient of yours-- Dana Scully.

Dr. Parenti

If I'm such a dr. Frankenstein how is it that ms. Scully is carrying a perfectly healthy child? In her own medical opinion.

Fox Mulder

Is she?

John Doggett

I'd say this man's suitably pissed off. Why don't we let him get back to work. Let's go, Mulder.

Dr. Parenti

Thank you.

Scene 08

Lizzie Gill

Dana?

Dana Scully

Mmm, hmm-mm...

Lizzie Gill

Oh, sorry.

Dana Scully

Horse pills.

Lizzie Gill

I'm about to leave. Your dinner's in the oven. And I just wanted to say that I hope this is working out. I know it's important to your mom.

Dana Scully

It is. And, uh... I appreciate your help. I didn't quite realize, uh... How much I needed it.

Lizzie Gill

Well, I'll see you.

Duffy Haskell

How's it going? You look unsure.

Lizzie Gill

No. I think she trusts me.

Duffy Haskell

Good. We're almost at the end.

Scene 09

FBI ANALYSIS CENTER

Fox Mulder

You found something, didn't you?

Agent Crane

You still answering to him?

John Doggett

We found teeth and a porcelain bridge. We're waiting on dr. Lev's dental records to make positive id.

Fox Mulder

Anything else?

John Doggett

Unidentifiable biological material fused with laboratory- grade silica. I know what you're thinking. But there's lots here that's unidentifiable. Doesn't mean it's alien.

Fox Mulder

Let's ask dr. Parenti, if it's okay with agent crane.

[ door opening ]

Scene 10

Dr. Parenti

Hello? Hello?

Billy Miles

Packing, dr. Parenti?

Dr. Parenti

I'm sorry. This office is closed.

Billy Miles

Yes, it is.

Scene 11

PARENTI MEDICAL GROUP

Fox Mulder

The man loves his work.

John Doggett

Dr. Parenti?

Fox Mulder

Agent Doggett. Look at this.

[ door opening ]

John Doggett

Dr. Parenti. Dr. Parenti. What the hell is that? Hey, Mulder.

[ door opens ]

John Doggett

Mulder, better come see this. Mulder? Right there! Don't move! Stop! Stop there! Stop there or I'll shoot.

Scene 12

Dana Scully

Hold still, Mulder. This should just about do it.

Fox Mulder

Ahh! Scully.

Dana Scully

Sorry.

Fox Mulder

I see why you gave up a career in medicine for the FBI, Scully. You've got manos de piedra.

Dana Scully

Sorry.

Fox Mulder

Imagine if he'd really connected.

Dana Scully

Who?

Fox Mulder

Billy Miles.

Dana Scully

Billy Miles? He did this?

Fox Mulder

Ask agent Doggett. He saw him.

John Doggett

If you ask me, the kid was whacked out on something. Whatever it was, he was feeling no pain.

Fox Mulder

Ask me, the kid isn't a kid.

John Doggett

Oh, don't tell me he's an alien.

Fox Mulder

He is a type of alien. A human replacement. One who looks human. Look at his strength. The way he took those slugs.

John Doggett

I've seen plenty of guys whacked out on chemicals, keep on coming.

Fox Mulder

Well, then, you're ignoring who Billy Miles is. You, of all people, agent Doggett who's supposedly running the X-Files.

John Doggett

You're ignoring the fact that he bled red blood. Now, every single X-File I read-- and I read them all, Mulder-- what you call "aliens" bleed green, right?

Fox Mulder

Well, Billy Miles is a whole new deal. He's an alien abductee who was returned after hideous procedures were performed on him. And who miraculously returns to so-called perfect health when his body completely sheds its skin.

John Doggett

Same thing happened to you.

Fox Mulder

Same thing would've happened to me if I'd been left alone. If Scully hadn't treated me.

Dana Scully

What I want to know is what Billy Miles was doing at that medical office.

Fox Mulder

Same as when he torched zeus genetics and destroyed their experiments with alien biology and the doctors performing them.

Dana Scully

And what were you doing there, Mulder?

Fox Mulder

Looking for answers.

Dana Scully

To what?

Fox Mulder

One of those doctors was your doctor.

Dana Scully

Mulder...

Fox Mulder

Listen, Scully, I'm sorry, but I just need to know this baby of yours is going to be all right.

Dana Scully

My baby is fine, Mulder. I've had it checked over and over again with my new doctor that I trust implicitly.

[ door opening ]

Lizzie Gill

Oh, I'm sorry, Dana. I didn't...

Dana Scully

Come on in, lizzy. It's all right. We just need some space to talk.

Lizzie Gill

It's okay. I've got plenty to do. Excuse me.

Dana Scully

It's okay. She's just helping me out here at my mother's insistence.

Fox Mulder

That's... That's all I'm trying to do. Just make sure nothing happens to you; that this baby you're carrying is born without any surprises.

Lizzie Gill

[ whispering ] hi. It's me. We've got trouble.

Duffy Haskell

Where are you?

Lizzie Gill

I'm at her apartment. She's with her two partners. They're asking all the right questions.

Duffy Haskell

Lizzy, listen to me. She trusts you. You've got to play to that. You have to keep a cool head. Who are you?

Scene 13

DOWNTOWN WASHINGTON, DC

John Doggett

Assistant director.

Walter Skinner

Heads have been rolling, agent Doggett all in your direction. Pd got the call. Passerby saw the door of the building wide open. Name of the victim flagged a previous FBI investigation.

John Doggett

Duffy haskell.

Walter Skinner

Yeah. Came to see you and Scully on a case involving pregnant women carrying alien babies. Coroner says that the way his neck is severed defies logic and use of any conventional-type weapon.

John Doggett

What is this place?

Walter Skinner

An illegal medical facility for the purpose of human cloning. It goes on from here. In fact, it occupies the entire warehouse.

John Doggett

You read about these things but you don't imagine they exist.

Walter Skinner

Yeah, just like aliens.

John Doggett

Come on, what are you saying? That that's what was going on here? That they're making alien babies?

Walter Skinner

No, nobody's saying that, agent Doggett. At least not yet. But what I do have to tell you is not going to put your mind any more at ease. We found prenatal records here. A dr. Lev and a dr. Parenti working with this duffy haskell monitoring Scully's pregnancy.

John Doggett

This dr. Parenti, it's true he's one of Scully's doctors but from everything I know, Scully's checked out fine.

Walter Skinner

You seem to be missing the point.

Fox Mulder

And what point would that be? What?

Walter Skinner

Talk to you a minute?

Fox Mulder

You said there'd been a murder.

Walter Skinner

Yeah, we'll get there. Some business we need to clear up. Personal business. About Scully's baby, about who the father is.

Fox Mulder

Ahh... Yeah, I hear there's a pool running down at the FBI, placing bets.

Walter Skinner

I've had my suspicions. That is, until I found out that you had questions. Questions about Scully's pregnancy itself.

Fox Mulder

You want to know who the father is that's Scully's business. But if you're asking me how a woman who was diagnosed as barren and unable to conceive is about to give birth in a couple days that's an answer I can't honestly give.

Walter Skinner

Well, I need answers. In light of what we found in there and in light of Scully's due date I need good, hard answers. Fast.

Fox Mulder

Sir, just... Let me.

[ phone ringing ]

Dana Scully

Lizzy, are you going to get that?

[ phone continues ringing ]

Dana Scully

Lizzy?

[ ringing continues ]

Dana Scully

Hello?

Fox Mulder

Hey, Scully, it's me. Are you all right?

Dana Scully

Yeah. I just ran from the shower.

[ door closing ]

Fox Mulder

I need to see you. I've got Skinner with me. It's not something that can really wait.

Dana Scully

What?

Fox Mulder

It's about your pregnancy. Skinner's got some questions based on some new information.

Dana Scully

What...? Mulder, what are you talking about?

Fox Mulder

Evidence of interference by someone.

Dana Scully

What are you doing? What do you think you're doing with these? Who are you? Who are you?!

Scene 14

WASHINGTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

Dr. Speake

I want you to know you can stop worrying, Dana. Your baby is fine. Everything is absolutely as it should be, 100%. The pills you were worried about were just vitamin supplements. Nothing harmful. Nothing you'd be afraid to give any expectant mother. I know it doesn't make sense but it's a relief, I'm sure.

Dana Scully

I am so sorry, Dana. I brought lizzy into your home. This is all my fault. You know I'd never let anything happen to you. I'd never knowingly let anybody hurt you. I know, mom. I'm so worried about you. You keep everything so bottled up.

Walter Skinner

Mulder! How is she?

Fox Mulder

She's fine, according to her doctor. Apparently, it was a false alarm. Whatever this woman was up to...

Walter Skinner

Well, we won't be able to hold the woman based on those findings. But agent Doggett's been talking to her. I think you ought to hear what she has to say.

Scene 15

Lizzie Gill

I knew people would kill for what I know but not like this.

John Doggett

Not going to let that happen. Just what you told me and agent crane.

Lizzie Gill

For the past ten years I've been working as a research scientist trying to produce human clones-- long before the media circus with sheep and cows. The work was painstaking, largely unsuccessful but there was a lot of interest and a lot of money.

Fox Mulder

Money from who?

Lizzie Gill

Orders came from government men. But they're all dead now.

Fox Mulder

But the work continued.

Lizzie Gill

We were surprisingly successful with a clone from a human egg and alien DNA. DNA that the government had since 1947.

Walter Skinner

What do you mean by success?

Lizzie Gill

Alien babies. Birthed by human mothers desperate to conceive. They didn't live more than a couple of days but tissue and stem cells is what we were after for other experiments.

Fox Mulder

What other experiments?

Lizzie Gill

I don't know anything about that. But I know it was something good.

Fox Mulder

What did you do to Scully?

Lizzie Gill

We were trying to protect her.

Fox Mulder

What did you do to her?!

Lizzie Gill

No, you don't understand.

Fox Mulder

Tell me what's wrong with her! Tell me what's wrong with her baby!

John Doggett

Listen to her. What she's saying.

Lizzie Gill

There's nothing wrong with her. That's what I'm trying to tell you. The child she is carrying is very special. One could only hope to create that in a lab. A perfect human child but with no human frailties.

John Doggett

Mulder!

Agent Crane

Agent Doggett! I got something, john. This guy Billy Miles called in from a dr. Parenti's office. He wants to give himself up.

John Doggett

All right, let's get over there.

[ knock on door ]

Scene 16

Dana Scully

Yes?

Fox Mulder

It's me.

Dana Scully

What's wrong?

Fox Mulder

You here alone?

Dana Scully

Yes. My mom just went to the...

Fox Mulder

Whatever you can't get elsewhere, just throw it together.

Dana Scully

Mulder, to go where? No, just stop! Can you tell me what's wrong? Is it something to do with my baby?

Fox Mulder

No, your baby is fine. It's you who's in danger now, Scully.

Dana Scully

From who? Mulder, from what?

Fox Mulder

I don't know, I'm not sure. I'm not sure about anything. I just know I got to get you out of here.

Dana Scully

Mulder, look, I can't take this! I can't live like this-- as the object of some unending X-File.

Fox Mulder

This isn't about the X-Files, Scully. It is only about you. Now, you are going to have this baby and I'm going to do everything I can to protect it. I just can't do that here.

Scene 17

John Doggett

Billy Miles! Billy... Billy Miles.

Agent Crane

Agent Doggett. Anything?

[ phone ringing ]

[ beeps ]

Scene 18

Fox Mulder

Mulder.

John Doggett

It's john Doggett. I'm at dr. Parenti's office. Billy Miles called us looking to turn himself in only he ain't here.

Fox Mulder

Agent Doggett...

John Doggett

I know. Something's wrong. Something doesn't make any sense.

Fox Mulder

Leave the suitcase.

[ door opens ]

Fox Mulder

Get in, go around.

[ engine starts ]

Dana Scully

Mulder, lock your door.

Fox Mulder

I don't think that matters much, Scully.

Alex Krycek

We haven't got much time. Get in.

Dana Scully

Mulder?

Alex Krycek

Let's go!

[ tires squealing ]

Scene 19

Alex Krycek

You should all know exactly what it is you're up against... What agent Scully's up against.

John Doggett

You realize you're all listening to someone who tried to kill me. He left you for dead.

Fox Mulder

Tell us about Billy Miles.

Alex Krycek

There are others just like him. You can call them what you want they're human replacements, alien replicants. They're virtually unstoppable.

Walter Skinner

What do they want?

Alex Krycek

They want to knock out any and all attempts by us to survive the final days-- when they come back to retake the planet.

John Doggett

So, what, they're wandering around among us looking for trouble? Some kind of alien lawmen?

Alex Krycek

You saw what they did to those doctors. They're fearless. And they answer to no one except their own biological imperative to survive.

Fox Mulder

What about Scully? What do they want with her?

Dana Scully

They want my baby. Why?

Alex Krycek

They didn't even know about it. I don't know exactly how they could have found out just how... How important it is... How special.

Dana Scully

My baby is normal.

Alex Krycek

Your baby was a miracle. Born of a barren mother's barren womb.

Fox Mulder

Are you saying that they're afraid of it?

Alex Krycek

They're afraid of its implications. That it could somehow be greater than them. Something... More human than human.

Dana Scully

I don't believe this.

Walter Skinner

You wanted to destroy her child.

Alex Krycek

I wanted to destroy the truth before they learn the truth.

Fox Mulder

That there's a god... A higher power.

John Doggett

I don't believe this crap; I don't believe you're all sitting around here listening to it when you know this man's a liar. Worse than that.

Alex Krycek

You can believe what you want but I don't think you can take the chance that I'm wrong. There isn't a hospital that's safe enough. She may never even make it out of this building.

John Doggett

Why don't you just shut up?

Fox Mulder

Agent Doggett. Get on the phone. If we're going to get her out of here we're going to need some help.

Scene 20

Monica Reyes

Agent Doggett? Agent Doggett, can you hear me? I'm in the cab on my way from the airport.

John Doggett

I'll meet you down in the parking garage. I have a car there waiting for you.

Monica Reyes

Where are we going?

John Doggett

I'll tell you when you get here.

Alex Krycek

If I'm so full of crap, why all the precautions?

Walter Skinner

Precisely because you are so full of crap, Krycek. Your ass stays here.

Monica Reyes

Agent Doggett, where are you?

John Doggett

Coming around to you.

Monica Reyes

Stop the car.

John Doggett

Go. Get out of here.

Monica Reyes

I'm guessing I don't have time to go to the little girls' room?

John Doggett

Okay, bring her down.

[ tires screeching ]

John Doggett

Mulder, Skinner, he's in the garage! Go back! Go back!

Walter Skinner

Get back in the elevator!

John Doggett

He's on the stairs coming up.

Alex Krycek

Hey, look who's back.

Walter Skinner

He's in the building.

Alex Krycek

What do you want me to do?

Fox Mulder

You're going to protect her.

Alex Krycek

Drive safely.

[ yells ]

[ engine whirring ]

[ cracking sounds ]

Agent Crane

Go! Go!

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.