Bearded Man
Get going.
Season 9 · Episode 12
Underneath
Character-labelled dialogue prepared from the official DVD subtitle track.
Production code9ABX09Original airdate · March 31, 2002
253 dialogue entries
Scene 01
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
Bob Fassl
Please.
Bearded Man
Do your damn job.
Scene 02
Scene 02
Jana
You can't think milli vanilli is cool. I will disown you.
[ laughs ]
Jana
You are unbelievable.
[ chuckles ]
Jana
Okay, I may puke, but I have to ask. Which one do you intend to marry, rob or fab?
[ doorbell rings ]
Mother
Janet, get that.
[ mouthing words ]
Jana
Hang on. I'm like the servant around here. Yeah?
Bob Fassl
Triboro cable.
Jana
What do you want?
Bob Fassl
Your cable's out.
Jana
Is it? I don't think so.
Bob Fassl
Okay, I'm sorry.
Jana
Wait a sec. Maybe my dad called you. You better... Come in. TV's in here. Dad! Cable guy's here!
Dad
Can I help you?
Bob Fassl
There's a problem with your cable?
Dad
I was just watching the game upstairs. I think you got the wrong house, buddy.
Unidentified speaker
Oh.
Dad
Is... That your work order? Who called it in?
[ phone beeping off-hook ]
[ beeping grows louder ]
Duke
Police! Don't move! Oh, god almighty. Face the wall. Face the wall! Johnny, check the other rooms.
John Doggett
They're all dead. Got you. Got you, you bastard.
Scene 03
Scene 03
John Doggett
D-o-g-g-e-t-t. Two gs and two ts. I was the arresting officer. You're making a huge mistake. I don't care what it shows! I appreciate that, but I don't care what it shows. It's wrong. I was there. We got the right guy.
Monica Reyes
An X-File?
John Doggett
I'm telling you, you let this guy go more people are going to die.
Monica Reyes
Was that the da on the case?
John Doggett
Assistant da. Some jag-off who was probably in ninth grade when this happened.
Monica Reyes
What is it exactly you want him to do?
John Doggett
Keep the bastard locked up where he belongs. Did you read that? My partner and I busted this guy fassl when I was a beat cop 13 years ago. He killed seven people. Now they want to let him go so he can kill again.
Monica Reyes
It says here the DNA evidence proves he's innocent.
John Doggett
It's wrong. It's some lab mistake, simple as that. My partner duke and I, we catch this 9-1-1. Neighbor's hearing screaming coming from this house on flatbush avenue. We get there. Teenage girl, mother, father-- all dead. There's blood-- I can still remember the sound of the blood squishing under my shoes. This guy fassl's just standing there.
Monica Reyes
So you didn't actually catch him in the act.
John Doggett
Ten seconds earlier through the door, and we would have.
[ footsteps approaching ]
John Doggett
Tell me you got good news.
Dana Scully
I have combed through every detail of this m.e.'s report. I have read and reread it. And I am sorry, agent Doggett but the DNA fingerprinting does indeed exonerate this man.
John Doggett
You're telling me there's no way? There's not even a million-to-one chance that these DNA tests are wrong?
Dana Scully
Actually, a hundred million.
John Doggett
I need the reports run again. I need you to do it yourself.
Dana Scully
Agent Doggett, you-- it'll take at least 48 hours.
John Doggett
That's too long.
Monica Reyes
Where you going?
John Doggett
New york. I can't just sit here and wait for this guy to kill again.
Monica Reyes
John--
John Doggett
Look, I get it. Enough people tell you you're drunk it's time to lie down. But I know what I know. I could really use your help.
[ door sliding open ]
[ footsteps approaching ]
Scene 04
SING SING CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
Guard
It's time to go. Congratulations, bob. Best of luck to you.
Scene 05
KINGS COUNTY COURTHOUSE
Reporter #1
How does it feel to be a free man?
Reporter #2
Are you going to sue the police?
Reporter #1
What do you think you'll do next?
Jana
It goes without saying that my client is happy once more to be a free man. I myself am overjoyed. I think today is a day to celebrate. But tomorrow, we will be looking very closely at the reasons why bob was falsely accused and incarcerated. Thirteen years of his life were stolen from him. We'll be looking at the brooklyn da's office and the new york city police department.
[ voice fades ]
Jana
Bob-- bob, let's get you out of here. Thank you. Thank you.
Reporters
How do you feel?
Unidentified speaker
That's enough.
Jana
[ all shouting questions ] thank you. Enough.
Scene 06
Scene 06
John Doggett
Wait a minute. On top of springing loose a murderer you're telling me the city of new york is going to pay him off?
Kaylor
Hell, yes, and count ourselves lucky. We didn't spring a murderer. We sprang an innocent man. Or maybe you didn't glean that from our previous conversation.
Dana Scully
Mr. Kaylor, on the off-chance that that's not true what would be the harm in letting us look through your documents pertaining to this case? I mean, who knows, maybe we can save the city some settlement money.
Kaylor
Or maybe it gets me in an even bigger jackpot when jana fain starts crying police vendetta. Yelling at the papers about the disgruntled former cop who's out to get her client.
John Doggett
Somebody committed these murders, right? And now that you've sprung mr. Bob fassl the victims' families are going to start asking who. How you going to answer them?
Scene 07
Scene 07
Dana Scully
There's a lot of material here. Where should we start?
John Doggett
Right there. The original arrest report.
Dana Scully
"arresting officer: John Doggett." it must've been a career-maker.
John Doggett
Well, it didn't hurt when I put in for detective. The murders had been front-page news for weeks. The sense of relief everybody felt when we caught fassl, it was--
Dana Scully
You know, John... Whatever we find here, sometimes-- sometimes even good cops make mistakes.
John Doggett
Yeah. And I've made more than I can count but this wasn't one of them. Whatever you think... I'm not here trying to cover my ass.
Dana Scully
That's not what I think. It's not. I just-- I just worry that maybe this is about you feeling guilty.
John Doggett
I feel guilty. Like what, subconsciously? Like I was told I sent an innocent man to prison only I refuse to accept it? A cop I know, a man I respect deeply he told me one time you don't clock out at the end of your shift unless you know you did everything you could. That's what this is about-- me not clocking out.
Scene 08
FAIN RESIDENCE
Jana
Bob, I just want you to make yourself at home while you're here. Just relax.
Mrs. Dowdy
Oh!
Jana
Mrs. Dowdy, this is bob fassl. He'll be staying with us for a while.
Mrs. Dowdy
Oh, I have your room all made up. I hope you'll be quite comfortable.
Jana
Thank you very much mrs. Dowdy.
Bob Fassl
You're rich.
Jana
Well, my parents were. I inherited this when they died. I've been very fortunate. That's why I try and use my family's resources to help where I can.
Bob Fassl
You do good things. You're a good person.
Jana
Well, I guess it takes one to know one. I know some businesspeople who are sympathetic to your situation and when you're ready we'll set up some job interviews.
[ bed creaks slightly ]
Jana
I can only imagine what you must be feeling right now. I'm so sorry for everything you've been through. And I'm so happy for you now.
[ muttering prayer ]
[ eerie, raspy whirring ]
[ horn honking ]
[ siren wailing in distance ]
Scene 09
KINGS COUNTY COURTHOUSE
John Doggett
Hey, buddy did you steal that car?
[ chuckles ]
Duke
If it ain't the FBI!
[ laughing ]
John Doggett
Duke tomasick. Looking good.
Duke
Well, hell, yeah. I was always the pretty one.
[ laughing ]
John Doggett
Not that I'd steal you away from even one minute of retirement but I got to get another viewpoint on this case from someone who was there that night. And, duke, I'm racking my brain on this thing and I'm coming at it from every possible angle. Was there something we missed?
Duke
Well, yeah, we arrested the wrong man. I'm sorry, John. I've been torn up about this since I read it in the paper but unless there's something that you know that I don't I mean, it looks like, uh, we just got to face facts.
John Doggett
Duke, you were there that night! Fassl was the only one in the house! He killed those people!
Duke
John, wise up. Will you drop this thing?
John Doggett
What did you always tell me about being a good cop? You said never to clock out.
Duke
Well, I got another lesson for you, huh? Keep after this thing it's going to bite you in your ass.
Scene 10
10:12 PM
Jana
I'm sorry. I just wanted to see how you were settling in and I should have knocked. I'd read in your file that you had once attended the seminary? That you studied to be a priest? I think it's wonderful that all you've been through hasn't diminished your faith.
Bob Fassl
I pray all the time. I pray even when it looks like I'm not praying.
Jana
I know someone's listening, bob.
Unidentified speaker
Good night.
[ raspy whirring ]
Bob Fassl
No. Don't. Please don't hurt her. Plea--
Scene 11
Scene 11
Dana Scully
Were you here all night?
John Doggett
There's got to be something here the prosecution overlooked-- I overlooked-- something I can hang this guy with DNA or no.
Dana Scully
Well, speaking of DNA--
John Doggett
Ah, come on.
Dana Scully
The retests of the typing confirm the original results-- that the hair samples do indeed belong to someone other than robert fassl.
John Doggett
So, what do we do? We just go home? This is wrong. This is--
Dana Scully
Well, John, there is something else. It's something that explains why 13 years ago the science of the day identified the hair as fassl's. I spoke to the forensic examiner who ran the tests and he found a match in 12 of the 13 key genes.
John Doggett
What does that mean?
Dana Scully
It means that the mitochondrial DNA in the hair sample is genetically similar to fassl's. In fact, it is remarkably similar. It is so similar that it must be from a blood relative.
John Doggett
Wait a minute. Fassl's an only child. His parents died when he was 13. He's got nobody.
Dana Scully
I know.
John Doggett
You know? Then you know that what you're saying's impossible.
Dana Scully
And yet somehow it's true.
Scene 12
Scene 12
Jana
Would you get dressed and come on downstairs, please? Bob, this morning I noticed something that I have to talk to you about. The dresser drawers in my bedroom have been opened and somebody had been through my things.
Bob Fassl
You weren't home last night?
Jana
I think you know that I wasn't. As it happens, I was called down to county lockup on behalf of another client. If you're going to stay here then you have to respect me, my privacy, my possessions. You're a free man now and with freedom comes responsibility.
[ sighs ]
Jana
I am late for a deposition.
Hutchinson
Uh...
Jana
Help yourself to breakfast. Mrs. Dowdy seems to be running late this morning.
[ squishy chopping, crunching ]
Scene 13
SING SING CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
Hutchinson
Agent Reyes. I'm brian hutchinson the superintendent of the prison.
Monica Reyes
I appreciate you seeing me on such short notice.
Hutchinson
Anything I can do to help.
Monica Reyes
Great. I'm reviewing evidence pertinent to the fassl case.
Hutchinson
Whatever I can do to ensure he gets locked back up again, by all means. Tell me what you need.
Monica Reyes
Well... Thank you. That's an extremely helpful attitude. What's your reason for it?
Hutchinson
I just don't think the system should have let him go.
Monica Reyes
Why, exactly? The court says he's innocent.
Hutchinson
Maybe, but there's another murder they don't know about. Bob fassl's cellmate was a biker named spud jennings, a real bad-ass or at least he thought he was.
Monica Reyes
Jennings was murdered?
Hutchinson
Oh, yeah. We found him in a hallway that bob fassl had been mopping. He was lying ten feet from bob fassl's mop bucket. Fassl nowhere to be found.
Monica Reyes
Well, fassl killed him?
Hutchinson
The murderer was caught on a security camera once he turned the corner. This is a videograph, a pretty clear one. You can see the blood on his hand.
Monica Reyes
One problem: this isn't fassl.
Hutchinson
This isn't anybody. This man doesn't fit the description of any inmate currently incarcerated here. We haven't been able to find him since. Don't ask me to explain it. We couldn't charge fassl with it, either but I sure as hell know he had something to do with it.
Scene 14
Scene 14
Kaylor
Agent Doggett? A word, please. Don't you have something to tell me, agent Doggett?
John Doggett
What do you mean?
Kaylor
The DNA retests. I understand you received the results this morning. Mr. Fassl has been exonerated. Again.
John Doggett
The results aren't that simple. The DNA is similar to fassl's to a degree we haven't quite made sense of yet.
Kaylor
Look... I just spoke to the da. He's authorized a settlement offer which I intend to deliver to mr. Fassl's counsel
Unidentified speaker
Posthaste.
Kaylor
I'll send the bailiffs down to retrieve the case files. Have a nice flight back to D.C.
John Doggett
We need more time to get to the truth!
Kaylor
This isn't about the truth. This is about getting a conviction, agent Doggett. And if we can't get a conviction then the truth doesn't matter.
Monica Reyes
John... I may have a break in this case. A suspect.
John Doggett
A suspect? Not fassl?
Monica Reyes
You really need to see this.
John Doggett
So, who is he?
Monica Reyes
I'm wondering more along the line of what is he? I ran him through the known offender database facial recognition-- came up with nothing. It's like he has no identity. Yet somehow this person materialized inside a maximum security prison killed an inmate and then vanished into thin air.
John Doggett
Materialized how, like casper, the friendly ghost? When duke and I entered that house back in '89 we didn't find zz top here. We found bob fassl. End of story.
Monica Reyes
Yeah, but what if the two were somehow connected?
John Doggett
Monica, for god's sake, this is not an X-File. Don't try to turn it into one.
Monica Reyes
In prison, this being, this person whatever you want to call him... He acted as if he were protecting bob fassl.
John Doggett
Protecting him? How, by getting him locked up in prison in the first place?
Monica Reyes
So, either he's doing fassl's bidding or fassl's doing his. However you slice it, I'm thinking this bearded man was the one who committed the other seven murders. I think we can prove it. DNA evidence in the sing sing murder was gathered and filed by the prison authorities. All we have to do is compare it to the DNA from the 1989 murders.
Dana Scully
No. Unfortunately, that's not going to work. The 1989 evidence has to be thrown out.
John Doggett
What are you talking about?
Dana Scully
The hair samples logged to your crime scene, agent Doggett... Were not there on the day the crimes were committed.
John Doggett
Are you accusing me? Are you accusing me of planting evidence?
Dana Scully
I am simply stating the facts okay? The DNA evidence that was used to convict bob fassl... Was planted.
[ knocking ]
Kaylor
Mr. Fassl.
Scene 15
Scene 15
Kaylor
I'm damon kaylor. I need to speak with your attorney. Is she here?
Bob Fassl
You were at my hearing.
Kaylor
I'm the assistant district attorney. Is jana home?
Bob Fassl
She's not here.
Kaylor
Mr. Fassl, I came to make a settlement offer on your case. It's-- there's no reason to be upset. This is good news for you. Tell her to call me. We'll work it out.
Bob Fassl
I want to go back.
Kaylor
I'm sorry?
Bob Fassl
Please, send me back to prison.
Kaylor
Uh, listen, mr. Fassl, I, uh-- I shouldn't even be discussing this with you without your attorney present.
Bob Fassl
But it's my fault.
Kaylor
I-I... I can't be hearing this.
Bob Fassl
It's the truth.
Kaylor
That's not my concern.
[ low gurgling sounds ]
[ gurgling ]
Scene 16
Scene 16
Duke
I'm sorry, John.
John Doggett
You framed fassl.
Duke
You saw how it was going down. We arrested him at the scene but he-he left no prints, no hair, no fiber. Nothing to actually tie him to the murders.
John Doggett
How did you do it?
Duke
I took a... Part of a hair sample that was found at a-a previous murder and put it in with the evidence from our crime scene.
[ sighs ]
Duke
Johnny... It was the one and only time I ever did anything like that. I-I was scared fassl would walk. I-I couldn't let that happen. Not when I knew that... That he was guilty. Guilty. God almighty.
John Doggett
You know this is going to come out. I mean, no one's going to hear it from me but... But I can't put agent Scully on the spot. I can't ask her to lie.
Duke
I don't want you to.
John Doggett
Duke, you son of a bitch, this is a felony! I don't know how I can forgive you for this. You break my heart.
[ door opening ]
Dana Scully
Excuse me. Agent Doggett? Ada kaylor-- I assume you haven't seen him.
John Doggett
No. Why?
Dana Scully
Apparently, nobody has.
[ water rushing ]
[ plastic rustling ]
[ water rushing ]
Scene 18
Scene 18
Monica Reyes
Mr. Fassl, when was the last time you saw damon kaylor?
Jana
Two days ago, at his release hearing. My client had nothing to do with mr. Kaylor's disappearance.
Monica Reyes
No direct involvement.
Jana
None.
Monica Reyes
I think we can accept that. We're also prepared to accept that mr. Fassl had no direct involvement in the seven murders he was previously convicted of.
Jana
How magnanimous of you. It's too bad you're 13 years too late. Is that it?
Monica Reyes
No. Actually, we believe this person committed the murders. What do you think? Do you recognize this man?
Unidentified speaker
You know
Jana
We're here as a courtesy which is something the police and the prosecution never showed bob once.
Dana Scully
Are you a catholic, bob? So am I. I remember times in my life when my rosary was a great comfort to me. Comfort in times of tribulation. And watching you now, I get the feeling that this is a tribulation for you. This man. Is it that he won't leave you alone, bob? Is it that you just want him to go away? Tell us about him. Tell us so we can help make him go away.
Jana
No more mind games. We're done.
[ door opens and closes ]
John Doggett
What the hell was that?
Monica Reyes
I don't know about you but that was me changing my theory.
John Doggett
What, no more ghosts?
Monica Reyes
Uh, nope. Just fassl. What if a man of profound faith-- a devout catholic-- was incapable of contrition?
Dana Scully
As in he couldn't admit his own sins?
Monica Reyes
Or even that he had a sinful side to him as we all do. What if he were so frightened by it that he couldn't even admit it to himself? Might not someone like that manifest a second personality?
John Doggett
But it wouldn't explain the DNA evidence.
Monica Reyes
It would if he physically became that other personality.
John Doggett
So, what, we've moved on from casper, the friendly ghost to dr. Jekyll and mr. Hyde?
Monica Reyes
There is a precedent-- in the catholic canon itself. Transubstantiation: the manipulation of matter and energy.
Dana Scully
You mean, water into wine.
Monica Reyes
Or the communion wafer into the body of christ.
John Doggett
Monica, I've slept through my share of sunday schools but I never heard the story about the guy becoming another guy.
Monica Reyes
It's the one explanation that makes sense. It explains what happened 13 years ago and it explains what's happening now.
Dana Scully
So what you're saying is... Because this man won't face himself, won't face his own sins then he is forced to become someone else. A killer.
John Doggett
So, how does someone go about catching a killer who hides inside an innocent man?
Scene 19
Scene 19
Bearded Man
Do it.
Bob Fassl
I don't want to hurt her!
[ knocking on door ]
Jana
Bob? Are you okay?
Bearded Man
Kill her.
Jana
Oh, my god. What happened?
Bob Fassl
I, uh... I-I fell.
[ gasps ]
Jana
I'll fix you up. You'll be okay.
[ gasps ]
Scene 20
Scene 20
Monica Reyes
I'll take the next couple of hours. You should get some shuteye. John, give yourself a break. You haven't slept in 48 hours.
John Doggett
I'll sleep once we make sure this guy fassl never kills again. Fassl and his... Charlie manson sidekick.
Monica Reyes
They're one and the same person.
John Doggett
Monica, I don't want to hear--
Monica Reyes
Okay, but I just need to hear another theory that makes sense.
John Doggett
That theory doesn't make any sense. How the hell to you does that make sense? Meat-and-potatoes police work is what busted this guy 13 years ago. And it's what's going to bust him again. And that's enough. And the day that's not enough... Then I don't know what to tell you.
[ sighs ]
John Doggett
'cause I got nothing else. I'm going to go check it out-- the front door. Jana fain-- check on her.
Jana
Oh, my god. He was here. He was here-- the man in your photo.
Monica Reyes
The bearded man? Where's bob fassl?
Jana
Oh, he-he was right there... And then he wasn't... I don't... I don't know where.
John Doggett
Agent Reyes?
Monica Reyes
Call the police.
John Doggett
Agent Reyes! "cable access." fassl worked for triboro cable.
[ grunts ]
John Doggett
Trail ends here.
Monica Reyes
Blood. He could have gone either way.
Unidentified speaker
John!
[ gunshots ]
John Doggett
You okay?
Unidentified speaker
Yeah.
John Doggett
Come on.
Monica Reyes
I'll take this way.
[ water dripping ]
[ water rushing ]
[ metal clanking ]
[ screaming ]
Monica Reyes
John! John! Monica!
[ screams ]
[ pistol plopping ]
Monica Reyes
Let him go. You hear me?! Let him go!
John Doggett
Don't waste your breath. Just shoot the bastard.
Monica Reyes
Bob fassl, I'm talking to you. I know you're in there bob. There's some small part of you in there that couldn't kill jana fain when you had the chance.
Bearded Man
I'll kill him!
Monica Reyes
I believe you, bob, because you're a murderer.
Bearded Man
Shut up! I'm not him.
Monica Reyes
You're not just a murderer. You're a sinner.
Bearded Man
Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!
Unidentified speaker
Monica!
[ gunshot ]
[ grunts ]
Scene 21
Scene 21
Jana
[ sniffles ] my housekeeper mrs. Dowdy-- can I see her?
Dana Scully
It's better that you don't.
Jana
And the district attorney?
Dana Scully
There are a lot of bodies in there.
Unidentified speaker
Oh.
Dana Scully
There are many more victims than anyone ever knew.
[ sighs ]
Jana
I saw a bearded man. I know what I saw.
[ sighs ]
Dana Scully
Ms. Fain, I think we better get you home.
Monica Reyes
John...?
John Doggett
I've been 48 hours without sleep. I found out my ex-partner's a liar and a felon. Don't ask me to explain how this could be.
Monica Reyes
So what happened tonight? All that was just you seeing things?
John Doggett
I can't accept this. If you can, god love you but it's not the way my mind works.
Monica Reyes
You closed this case. This time around, that was enough.
John Doggett
What happens next time?
No matching dialogue
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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.