Agent Stedman
Damn, jim, you fell asleep? We're on a stakeout, man.
Season 8 · Episode 7
Via Negativa
Character-labelled dialogue prepared from the official DVD subtitle track.
Production code8ABX07Original airdate · December 17, 2000
248 dialogue entries
Scene 01
Opening scene
[ crickets chirping ]
[ gasps ]
Agent Leeds
I guess. I don't know.
Agent Stedman
What happened over there?
Agent Leeds
What are you talking about?
Agent Stedman
The house, man. Front door's wide open. How long you been out? We'd better check it. The light's out. The door's open. I don't like this.
Agent Leeds
Looks like they all left.
Agent Stedman
I'm not so sure.
Agent Leeds
This can't be. Oh, god. Stedman.
Agent Stedman
They're all dead.
[ door closes ]
[ two gunshots ]
[ phone rings ]
[ ringing continues ]
Scene 02
Scene 02
John Doggett
Yeah.
Dana Scully
It's, uh, it's agent Scully. I'm sorry to wake you.
John Doggett
What's up?
Dana Scully
I got a call about 20 minutes ago from assistant director Skinner. He has a situation.
John Doggett
What is it?
Dana Scully
An agent is dead. Um, Skinner had him surveilling a religious cult in pittsburgh. And all the followers are dead, as well.
John Doggett
What happened?
Dana Scully
He's having difficulty determining that.
[ sighs ]
John Doggett
I'll pick you up.
Dana Scully
I'm sorry, agent Doggett. I can't go.
John Doggett
Agent Scully?
Dana Scully
Um, something unexpected has come up.
John Doggett
You all right?
Dana Scully
Yeah, I'm, I'm fine.
John Doggett
Will I see you later?
Dana Scully
Uh, as soon as I can.
Nurse
Miss Scully? The doctor wants to see you right away.
Scene 03
Scene 03
Walter Skinner
Where's agent Scully?
John Doggett
Running late. What do we have?
Walter Skinner
One of our men doing routine surveillance on a cult group-- the ibogan temple. We had a tip they were trafficking narcotics. Nobody suspected anything like this. Agent james leeds. Six-year veteran of the bureau, father of two. Patrol cop found him. Car was locked from the inside.
John Doggett
Nobody saw or heard anything?
Walter Skinner
No.
John Doggett
This couldn't have happened here.
Walter Skinner
Blood splatter on the seat says it did.
John Doggett
It's too narrow. There's no room to swing the weapon. Besides, it doesn't make any sense. The gun's still holstered and the key's in the ignition. Even if he fell asleep--
[ sighs ]
John Doggett
This is damn weird.
Walter Skinner
It gets weirder. These people were all killed the same way as our guy. All 20 cult members dead from a single deep wound to the forehead.
John Doggett
Is this every member?
Walter Skinner
Except one. Their leader, anthony tipet, is missing. Tipet was a convicted murderer who claimed to have found god. We didn't think we were dealing with an apocalyptic cult. We've seen this kind of thing before. Jonestown, heaven's gate.
John Doggett
I don't care how devoted they were. These people wouldn't just lie here and let their leader bash their brains in. I got to figure at least one of them would have had a problem with that.
Walter Skinner
It's something I've considered. I'm running tox tests on all the bodies for drugs.
John Doggett
Does that include our man in the car?
Agent Crane
A.d. Skinner? We're still unable to locate agent stedman.
John Doggett
Angus stedman?
Walter Skinner
Leeds' partner. Do you know him?
John Doggett
Where'd you look?
Agent Crane
He wasn't checked into the same motel as leeds. He's not answering his cell or his pager.
John Doggett
Did you check his condo?
Agent Crane
His condo?
John Doggett
Yeah, stedman's from pittsburgh. He keeps a condo here that belonged to his folks.
Scene 04
Scene 04
John Doggett
Angus stedman, it's john Doggett.
Walter Skinner
Doggett!
Scene 05
Scene 05
Anthony Tipet
The body is but clay... A shell made by god to hold the twin aspects of the holy spirit: light and dark. If we have the courage to see into darkness we see into god... Free of the clay which confines us.
Walter Skinner
Anthony tipet served 12 years for the bludgeoning death of his wife. After his release, he became a minister preaching a hybrid of evangelical and eastern religions. He claimed a higher plane of being could be reached by the via negativa-- the path of darkness-- the plane closer to god. Once reached, it would let the spirit travel unhindered. Tipet believed hallucinogens would lead him to this plane-- specifically compounds of the bark of an african tree... The iboga.
Senior Agent
You're saying all these people were so stoned on this bark they just let their leader kill them?
Walter Skinner
We found no trace of the drug in the blood in any of the victims.
Alvin Kersh
I don't understand. How in the hell did tipet manage to slaughter all these people?
John Doggett
Tipet was paranoid but nothing indicates he was ready to take the lives of his own people or our men.
Alvin Kersh
This is our one and only suspect. Are you telling me he didn't do it?
John Doggett
Whoever did this left not even a trace how: no prints, no forensic evidence whatsoever. Agent leeds' sedan, the cult house, agent stedman's condo were all locked from the inside.
Alvin Kersh
That's impossible.
Walter Skinner
Unless tipet took the drug and succeeded. Unless his consciousness was there but his body was somewhere else.
Alvin Kersh
The X-File explanation. I take it this theory comes from agent Scully?
John Doggett
Agent Scully has yet to reach any conclusions, sir.
Alvin Kersh
That's the problem. I'm not hearing conclusions from either one of you. If this man has reached a higher plane then explain to me why 22 people are dead including two FBI agents. Now I want to hear what you're going to do about it.
John Doggett
If I'm working this case, I'd appreciate a heads up before you tell the deputy director any more science fiction stories.
Walter Skinner
Hey, I don't have another explanation.
John Doggett
Those guys in there are right. This whole story doesn't make a damn bit of sense.
Walter Skinner
I'm supposed to give those guys in there answers, agent Doggett. You're supposed to help me do that.
John Doggett
Tipet's on the run. Find him, and we just might.
Scene 06
HILL DISTRICT
Homeless Man
Spare change?
Anthony Tipet
I don't have anything. Sorry.
Homeless Man
Now, come on, man. I know you got something 'cause I hear jingling in your pocket.
Anthony Tipet
You don't want to know me.
[ rats squeaking ]
[ phone ringing ]
[ phone ringing ]
[ beep ]
Anthony Tipet
[ tipet whispering ] pick up the phone, damn you. Pick up the damn phone! You did this. You... Did this. God help you, andre. I can't.
[ phone hangs up ]
Andre Bormanis
Ah!
[ sigh of pain ]
[ breathing heavily ]
Scene 07
10:22PM
Walter Skinner
Agent Doggett. Coroner's report.
[ sighs ]
John Doggett
Victims all killed by a single blow from an ax blade, six to eight inches long.
Walter Skinner
These photos of wound patterns don't match up to any known make or manufacturer.
John Doggett
This fit the description? It's a ceremonial ax used over a thousand years ago to cleave the skulls of unbelievers. This was required reading for tipet's followers.
Walter Skinner
Is this our weapon?
John Doggett
No, sir. It's on permanent display in a calcutta museum.
Walter Skinner
Another dead end.
John Doggett
Like everything else in this case.
[ sighs ]
John Doggett
I'm a good investigator but you know as well as I do I'm not the agent that should be investigating this case.
Walter Skinner
Agent Scully can't be here.
John Doggett
You spoke to her?
Walter Skinner
Tonight. She told me to tell you she's fine. She's taking some personal time.
John Doggett
I've got 22 people dead, and she's taking personal time?
Walter Skinner
You're not listening to what I'm telling you. Do your best without her.
Homeless Man
Spare change? I'll take whatever you got.
[ frightened gasp ]
[ panicked sighs and groans ]
[ screaming ]
[ screaming ]
[ screaming ]
[ desperate groans ]
Homeless Man
Ah, no! No!!
[ knocking ]
Scene 08
4:07 AM
John Doggett
Sir?
Walter Skinner
I think we caught a break. A homeless man was found dead in pittsburgh two hours ago. I had them e-mail me some digital photos.
John Doggett
Any witnesses?
Walter Skinner
A man fitting tipet's description was ID'd using the pay phone earlier in the night.
John Doggett
So we got something?
Walter Skinner
No. There's no concrete evidence against him. There's no fingerprints, no hair and fiber.
John Doggett
You got the guy at the scene.
Walter Skinner
There's nothing to link him to the murder itself, agent Doggett.
John Doggett
Well, I'm supposed to believe this guy doped his way into another plane of reality? That his spirit is going around killing people?
Walter Skinner
All right, just suppose-- suppose that this drug finally did what tipet said it would. That his spirit could be in one place while his body was in another.
John Doggett
Then tell me why he's doing it. If he's looking for god, why is he killing people? Just 'cause I'm assigned to the X-Files you want me to think like Scully or Mulder would. You got the wrong guy. I need facts, not wild ideas.
Walter Skinner
All right. Then consider this one. I had pittsburgh p.d. Check the log on that pay phone.
John Doggett
10:12 p.m., a call was placed to one andre bormanis.
Walter Skinner
He's a convicted drug dealer that served time with tipet. That number's a D.C. Area code.
[ knocking ]
[ knocking insistently ]
Scene 09
SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON, DC
John Doggett
FBI. Open up.
[ door creaks open ]
John Doggett
Mr. Bormanis? Andre bormanis?
Andre Bormanis
Doctor bormanis.
John Doggett
Agent Doggett. Agent Skinner. Can we have a word with you?
Walter Skinner
You always up at this hour dr. Bormanis?
Andre Bormanis
It's when I dissect my rats. Neighbors can't hear 'em screaming. That's a joke.
Walter Skinner
You spoke to anthony tipet earlier this evening.
Andre Bormanis
My machine picked up. I-I-I missed the call.
Walter Skinner
What did he want? We need to find him, dr. Bormanis. This man may have murdered 23 people.
Andre Bormanis
Twenty-three? You-you said 22.
Walter Skinner
Another man died tonight.
Andre Bormanis
I'm not doing anything illegal here. I-- I just-- I just made him stuff.
Walter Skinner
You mean drugs. You supplied anthony tipet with drugs, isn't that right?
Andre Bormanis
Hallucinogens were tipet's way into the depths of the soul the heights of consciousness planes of being that our feeble brain chemistry cannot begin to imagine.
Walter Skinner
Is that why you cut yourself? Or is that the, uh... Mark of the initiated?
Andre Bormanis
It's protection. At least I hope it is. Nobody took the trips but tipet. See, only his mind was strong enough.
John Doggett
You know, I can't tell, doctor, whether you admire tipet or you're afraid of him. Those people he killed last night did they admire him, too?
Andre Bormanis
What are you doing?
John Doggett
Taking you in for questioning.
Andre Bormanis
On what charges? I just... I just... Explained it to you. Ah! Don't! Look-- I need that! No! Don't-don't leave me! Please!! Don't leave me!
Walter Skinner
Agent Doggett? It's agent Scully.
[ panting ]
John Doggett
Agent Scully.
Dana Scully
Skinner told me about the case. I know that you covered for me. You didn't have to do that.
John Doggett
It's all right.
Dana Scully
I appreciate your discretion.
John Doggett
Yeah, well, it's easy to be discreet when you don't know what's going on. You okay?
Dana Scully
I'm fine. Skinner says that you're around the clock on this thing. You need to get your rest.
John Doggett
Yeah, I just grabbed a few winks.
Dana Scully
I asked him to contact some friends of Mulder's. I think they'll be able to help.
John Doggett
I appreciate all the help I can get.
Dana Scully
Doggett, you're a good agent. Trust your instincts.
Walter Skinner
Lab tests showed that the drug that bormanis was cooking up was some kind of a super amphetamine. Legal or not, no one's ever seen it before. Do you think it was intended for tipet?
John Doggett
He wants it for himself. He doesn't want to go to sleep.
Walter Skinner
Doggett?
John Doggett
I want to talk to him... Now.
[ distant scratching ]
[ animals squeaking ]
[ squeaking continues ]
John Doggett
Can we get this gate open? Get it open now!
[ fearful groaning ]
Andre Bormanis
Ugh!
[ squeaking ]
[ screaming ]
[ desperate screaming ]
[ squeaking ]
[ screaming in agony ]
[ frenzied squeaking ]
Walter Skinner
Agent Doggett, what is it?
John Doggett
Open it up.
Scene 10
FBI HEADQUARTERS
John Fitzgerald Byers
...stories that belong to Mulder and Scully, not us.
Richard Langly
Come on, byers. We have a right to information.
John Fitzgerald Byers
It's not our information.
Melvin Frohike
How many times have we saved Mulder's butt?
Richard Langly
How many times have we saved Scully's?
John Fitzgerald Byers
I'm telling you, these files are theirs. They're private.
Melvin Frohike
And I'm telling you Mulder wouldn't mind. We practically solved half these cases for him.
Richard Langly
Yeah, byers, quit your whining-- nobody likes a crybaby.
John Fitzgerald Byers
Agent Scully asked us to give our assistance not to go through her f-files.
Melvin Frohike
Like she's going to care.
Richard Langly
Yeah, right.
John Doggett
Can I help you gentlemen?
John Fitzgerald Byers
You must be agent Doggett. I'm... John byers. Uh, these are my associates melvin frohike and richard langly.
John Doggett
You're the guys Scully told me about. Mulder's friends?
John Fitzgerald Byers
Yes, that's us.
John Doggett
You publish the lone gunman newspaper?
Melvin Frohike
Our reputation precedes us.
John Doggett
Yeah. Read Mulder's files.
Melvin Frohike
Then you know how badly you're gonna need our help.
John Fitzgerald Byers
We've reviewed your case, as agent Scully asked.
Richard Langly
Mondo bizarro. No offense, man, but you're in way over your head.
John Doggett
What help can you give me?
Melvin Frohike
Hit the lights. Are you familiar with this image?
John Fitzgerald Byers
In the renaissance it represented an all-seeing god.
Richard Langly
That's why our founding fathers put it on the dollar bill.
John Fitzgerald Byers
We believe its meaning here relates to eastern religion, a belief in the third eye or what the hindus call the sahasrara.
John Doggett
A third eye?
Melvin Frohike
We all have a third eye. If we could open it, we'd see a new reality one closer to god. At least that's what kesey told me on the bus back in '64.
Richard Langly
You were not on the bus with kesey in '64.
Melvin Frohike
I got the pictures to prove it, my longhaired friend.
Richard Langly
Before or after you partied with the stones at altamont?
Melvin Frohike
Don't be a boob, altamont was in the '70s.
Richard Langly
Whatever.
John Doggett
I see where you guys are going with this. Tipet believes he opened his third eye.
John Fitzgerald Byers
Yes, exactly.
John Doggett
But the placement of the wounds on his victims could suggest he's trying to destroy theirs.
John Fitzgerald Byers
Yeah. That could be.
John Doggett
But if he's moved closer to god, why kill 'em? And how?
Melvin Frohike
We don't know why. But we might tell you how.
[ lights click ]
Melvin Frohike
You've heard of mk ultra?
John Fitzgerald Byers
The cia mind control project started in the '50s.
Richard Langly
They gave lsd to a bunch of people to see what would happen. Didn't bother telling them first.
Melvin Frohike
They understood the power of hallucinogens to harness the mind.
John Doggett
Tipet was the one on hallucinogens, not his victims.
John Fitzgerald Byers
The cia invested millions trying to create psychic assassins failing where tipet has evidently succeeded.
Melvin Frohike
Reaching a drug-induced higher consciousness using his mind as a weapon against his victims.
Richard Langly
The assassin makes his victims think they're being hit by an ax.
John Fitzgerald Byers
Or any number of nightmares.
Melvin Frohike
They believe it... It happens.
John Doggett
What if tipet could invade his victims'... Consciousness in their sleep? I mean, that's why you'd be afraid to fall asleep, right? If you thought your nightmares might come true?
John Fitzgerald Byers
You believe that?
John Doggett
No... But if tipet does... He'll need more drugs... To keep killing.
[ door opens and shuts ]
Melvin Frohike
That's not bad for a beginner.
Scene 11
SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON, DC
Walter Skinner
Doggett, someone's been here.
[ rats squeaking ]
[ mechanical sounds ]
John Doggett
Anthony tipet. Anthony tipet! Step away from the saw.
Anthony Tipet
You don't understand.
Walter Skinner
Just step away from the saw.
Anthony Tipet
I didn't want this to happen... But I can't stop it. He understands. He saw what can happen-- what will happen... Unless I stop it.
[ yelling ]
Scene 12
WASHINGTON NATIONAL HOSPITAL
ER doctor
I want a stat trauma panel with full tox ekg and metabolic profile. Keep that compress on his head.
Nurse
Agent, this man needs to be admitted. You need to sign him in.
[ phone rings ]
Nurse
Er. This is nurse mccaslin. Yes, dr. Johnson's on the third floor. All right.
[ muffled ]
Scene 13
Scene 13
Alvin Kersh
Come in, agent Doggett. A.d. Skinner was telling me you could shed light on the reason for tipet's suicide attempt.
John Doggett
Yes, sir, um... "via negativa"-- the path of darkness. Tipet believed he reached it. Uh, he believed that the drugs took him inside the subconscious minds of anyone he knew... [ sighing ] making the most horrific, irrational dream imagery of their nightmares come true. That's why he tried to kill himself, to make it stop.
Alvin Kersh
Excellent job, gentlemen. Have your reports on my desk 0900.
[ sighs ]
John Doggett
Case isn't over yet, sir.
Alvin Kersh
A.d. Skinner tells me our suspect's lying hospitalized in a coma. Now you're saying it's not over?
John Doggett
We have no murder weapon... No forensic evidence. Unless we accept tipet's own beliefs which you yourself characterize as preposterous--
Alvin Kersh
It's over, agent Doggett.
John Doggett
We have no way of explaining how he killed any of these people.
Alvin Kersh
I said it's over, agent Doggett. I don't need every "I" dotted or every "t" crossed to know that we've got our man.
Scene 14
Scene 14
Scully’s Answering Machine
This is Dana Scully. Please leave a message.
[ beeps ]
John Doggett
Agent Scully, I think we caught the guy who did it. But it-- still it-- it just doesn't add up.
[ sighs ]
John Doggett
It's the damnedest thing I ever saw. I know this will sound strange, but there's a, there's a... Part of me says what if-- what if this guy was right, you know? What if I should have let him die? I'm not making a whole lot of sense. Maybe I just need some sleep. If you get this message... And feel up to it... You give me a call.
[ hangs phone up ]
[ heavy breathing ]
[ heavy breathing continues ]
[ light switch clicks ]
Scene 15
Scene 15
John Doggett
Is the assistant director in?
Walter Skinner
That'll be great. Thanks.
Agent Crane
John. Excellent work out there, john. Just excellent.
Walter Skinner
Agent Doggett. Is something wrong?
[ breathing heavily ]
John Doggett
I'm not sure... I'm awake.
Walter Skinner
You think this is a dream? I mean, you standing here talking to me? All those people out there?
John Doggett
Last night I dreamt tipet was inside my house holding an ax. I thought I woke up this morning. I thought I was awake, but-but then--
Walter Skinner
Uh... What do you want me to do, pinch you? You're already awake.
John Doggett
Stedman and leeds must have experienced the same thing... All tipet's victims. Everything seemed real but it was a dream......a dream that ended in their deaths.
Walter Skinner
Anthony tipet is in a coma, never to regain consciousness.
John Doggett
He knows me now. He can enter in my dreams.
Walter Skinner
Listen to me. You've had a tough couple days. You're tired. Go home, get some rest.
Anthony Tipet
[ backward-masked record playing in reverse ] she's going to die.
John Doggett
I'm not going to let you do that.
Anthony Tipet
I'm sorry. I'm not going to kill her. You are.
Scully’s Voice
Agent Doggett?
Dana Scully
Agent Doggett. [ whispering ] hi.
John Doggett
How'd you get here?
Dana Scully
Your door was unlocked.
John Doggett
You just saved my life, agent Scully.
Dana Scully
I just woke you up, agent Doggett.
John Doggett
Tipet's in my dreams. If you hadn't woken me up just now--
Dana Scully
Anthony tipet is dead. I got the call from Skinner on my way over here. He never regained consciousness.
John Doggett
Are you okay?
Dana Scully
I seem to be, yes.
John Doggett
Well, if you need some more time off--
Dana Scully
No. I'm, um... I'm back at work now. That must have been some nightmare you just had.
John Doggett
Tipet thought he'd find god by looking in the darkness inside himself.
Dana Scully
You don't think he succeeded?
John Doggett
In my dreams, I-- I saw terrible... Violent images. Scared the living daylights out of me. These things are a part of me. I can't deny that, but... Maybe-- maybe they didn't come from me.
Dana Scully
Then where'd they come from? It was a bad dream, agent Doggett but that's all it was.
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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.