The X-Files s01e17 Episode Script

Southern Crescent to Red Crescent.
We got a downed plane at camp perimeter.
We have nothing in the sky at this time.
We got something down here.
We're gonna check it out.
Medevac One, this is Red Crescent.
Southern Crescent reports a downed aircraft in their area.
It's the Grand Ole Opry on WSM Radio 650.
Brought to you by Goody's Headache Powder.
When the night's been too long and the party's been too hearty Goody's Headache Powder straightens you right out.
You have my word on that.
It was cigar-shaped, red and green lights.
Fast as hell! I seen three of 'em fly over Chester County.
Six troopers were chasing 'em down 22.
I see one now! It's over the water tower! I see it, too! From the trucker's description, the shape he fired at could have been a mountain lion.
Conceivably.
The NationaI Weather Service last night reported atmospheric conditions in this area possibly conducive to lightning.
Possibly.
It is feasible that the truck was struck by lightning creating the electricaI failure.
It's feasible.
And you know, there's a marsh over there.
Those lights the driver saw may have been swamp gas.
- Swamp gas? - It's a naturaI phenomenon.
Phosphine and methane rising from decaying organic matter ignite creating globes of blue flame.
Happens to me when I eat Dodger Dogs.
How can a dozen witnesses, including a squad of police vehicles become hystericaI over swamp gas? I've investigated multiple sightings.
Chesapeake Bay, the Okobogee Lake, Area 51 in Nevada.
None had this much supporting evidence.
AnecdotaI data, exhaust residue, radiation levels five times the norm.
None of that evidence is conclusive.
The question is, why was the truck driver singled out? Isn't it more plausible that an exhausted driver got swept up in the hysteria and fired upon hallucinations? After all, the road can play tricks on you.
Yeah, it can play tricks on you.
But not like this.
I started these stopwatches at the same time.
I don't know why they're holding me.
This "firing a weapon on a county road" charge is a lot o' horse manure.
I'm a vet, and I know how to handle a gun.
Mr Ranheim can you elaborate on the report you filed last night regarding your encounter? It was round.
Like a saucer.
And Green and orange lights.
Last night you said it was cigar-shaped and black.
I didn't ask for this to happen.
AII I want is to deliver my shipment of auto parts and forget Pardon me for asking but how long have you had that cough? Why? I'm just concerned.
You said you were a veteran.
- What's that got to do with this? - The cough, the fever, the rash.
Those are symptoms of Gulf War Syndrome.
- I was never in the Gulf War.
- So, how long have you not been yourself? Since the thing last night.
Mr Ranheim? I'm Police Chief Rivers.
Please, forgive the misunderstanding.
Your truck's been squared away.
You may go.
- I'd like to examine the truck.
- That won't be necessary.
He had an alleged close encounter.
The truck will contain evidence.
- If I may - You've gotten all you're gonna get.
- We won't cooperate in your investigation.
- Why? Just Go away.
Not Not here.
Someone got to the police chief.
Ranheim was hiding something.
- Ranheim was sick.
- He became sick last night.
Excuse me, could I use your pen? You think Gulf War Syndrome is caused by UFOs? UFOs are often witnessed by soldiers during wartime.
Thanks.
Mulder, the only UFOs that soldiers are likely to see are secret military aircraft.
That's what made soldiers in Iraq sick: fueI or exhaust of a classified aircraft or its weapon.
There is a base in Little Rock.
You think that's what the Air Force was flying? They'd deny it.
But it could possibly explain how Ranheim developed the symptoms.
Possibly.
I'll talk to some people when we get back to Washington.
The military won't discuss classified aircraft.
They're a government watchdog group.
They publish The Lone Gunman magazine.
They have information on covert actions, classified weapons.
Some of their ideas are downright spooky.
Check it out, Mulder.
- I met the guy who shot John F Kennedy.
- Is that so? Old dude now, but yeah.
Says he was dressed as a cop on the grassy knoll.
Mulder, listen to this.
Vladimir Zhirinovsky, leader of the Russian SociaI Democrats? He's being put in power by the most eviI force of the century.
Barney? The CIA.
Is this your scepticaI partner? She's hot.
The CIA, threatened by a loss of power since the collapse of the Cold War wouldn't dream of having the old enemy back? You give the government too much credit.
- The government can't controI a deficit - Lone Gunman.
What makes you think they can plan an elaborate conspiracy? - She is hot.
- Settle down, Frohike.
We're not talking about a bunch of idiots up on the hill.
We're talking about a government within a government, controlling our every move.
- How can they do that? - How? I'll show you how.
You got a $20 bill? I'll check.
Hey! That's just one method.
They use this magnetic strip to track you.
You pass through an airport metaI detector and they know exactly what you're carrying.
- It is a federaI crime to deface money.
- The strip is an anti-counterfeiting measure.
Other countries put that strip on the outside.
OK! All right.
What do you know about the Gulf War Syndrome? - Agent Orange of the '90s.
- Artillery shells made with depleted uranium.
Have you heard of classified planes being flown during the Persian Gulf War? Why expose a secret plane to an air force that runs to Iran whenever you take to the air? What about UFO activity during that period? UFOs caused Gulf War Syndrome! That's a good one! Mulder, your ideas are weirder than ours! Those were the most paranoid people I have ever met.
How can you think that what they say is remotely plausible? It's remotely plausible that someone might think you're hot.
Did you see the way they answered the telephone? They probably think every call they get is monitored and they're followed everywhere.
It's a form of self-delusion.
Makes them think that what they do is important What's the matter? Hello? Pitchers and catchers report for spring training this week.
Yeah.
What are we doing here? Missed your calling, did you, Mr Mulder? Maybe this year we can catch a game at Candleton Yards.
Of course, we wouldn't be able to sit together.
That's too bad.
Something tells me you'd have the connections to get great seats.
Yeah Any park in the country.
It's just a tourist.
In our line, nothing is just what it seems.
What am I on to? We go to investigate a truck driver's encounter with a UFO.
Next thing, we discover electronic surveillance equipment.
Who's listening? Why won't you tell me? What am I on to? A dangerous path.
The truck is bogus.
So's the truck driver, Ranheim.
First, I checked his manifest.
It listed a truck carrying 108 cartons of auto parts weighing 3100 pounds.
I checked with three weigh stations along his route.
They have it listed at 5100 pounds.
There's something in that truck, and it's not auto parts.
And, of course, nobody ever reported him.
And Ranheim lied to us about being in the Gulf War.
His reaI name is Frank Druce.
And I worked hard to get this one.
He was SpeciaI Operations Black Beret in MosuI, Northern Iraq.
Also, he didn't get sick from the encounter the other night.
He's been to the VA hospitaI for treatments three times in the past year.
We had it! We had it and we let it go.
Four days ago, an Iraqi Air Force pilot shot down a UFO.
The wreckage, and possibly the occupants, were recovered by the Army.
Ranheim would be a perfect escort for the wreckage, and/or bodies, out of Iraq to a laboratory in the United States.
That would explain why the truck weighed so much more than listed.
The military has, in the past transported dangerous materials and weapons in unmarked trucks across the US.
- I sound like the The Lone Gunman guys.
- Where did you get this information? Let's just say it's a source with a deep background.
I want to know all about him.
AII I know is, he's guided us away from harm.
How do you know that? We work for the FBI and we're being bugged.
What does that tell you? That tells me that not everything is as it appears to be.
Exactly! And for all we know, this deep background is responsible for the bug.
He's never lied to me.
I won't break that confidence.
I trust him.
Mulder, you're the only one I trust.
Then you're gonna have to trust me.
Did you find out where the truck is now? Generally.
It's heading west.
Towards Colorado.
We'll try to intercept it and see what's on board.
I'll pick up a few things.
I'll meet you at your place in an hour.
OK? I cut the main breaker.
- You risk exposure coming here.
- What I have here is too important.
This photograph was taken by an officer at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Seventeen UFOs were spotted in one hour.
Is that where the Iraqi wreckage is being held? Are UFOs monitoring the area? Nice place you have here.
Wait.
Wait I-I Just want to take this opportunity to thank you.
You've helped my work so much, and you've never asked for anything in return.
I know you've put yourself at great risk to do so.
This is the best photographic evidence I have ever seen.
When I saw the Gulf Breeze photos, I knew they were a hoax.
But this is the quality of evidence the government has amassed at the highest classified levels.
The truck was a decoy to keep anyone looking closely away from Fort Benning, where the Iraqi UFO is.
- We've got to leave for Georgia immediately.
- This photo is a fake.
What? Look.
This soldier's shadow is allegedly created by the lights from the UFO.
But it falls in a direction contradictory to the craft's position.
There could be an off-camera light source creating that shadow.
Look closely at the colour of the light reflected in the windshield.
It should be from the red lights of the UFO, but it doesn't match the colour.
There could be a tint in the windshield, or it could be due to atmospheric conditions.
- Mulder, we should have it analysed.
- You're determined not to believe him! You're too determined to believe him! I am determined to follow a lead that may prove the existence of extraterrestriaI biologicaI entities.
- Listen - No! Will you just hear me? I have never met anyone so passionate and dedicated to a belief as you.
It's so intense that sometimes it's blinding.
But there are others who are watching you, who know what I know, and whereas I can respect and admire your passion, they will use it against you.
Mulder, the truth is out there.
But so are lies.
Thank you.
I had the photo analysed by the Bureau's computers.
It appears to be legitimate.
The photo-grain matches the pattern and density The colour leveI, shading Then I noticed this.
It's the moon, half full.
I had the reflection in this window enlarged by 25.
There's the moon again.
A quarter full.
The window couldn't catch the moon's reflection from that angle.
You were right, Scully.
It's a fake.
He tried to deceive us.
Now we're alone on this.
There's no one we can trust.
They went to a lot of trouble to put us on the wrong track.
There's something here that no one's supposed to find.
Why didn't you leave for Fort Benning? The photograph was a fake.
At least you're not insulting me further by feigning appalled surprise.
On the contrary, I think a compliment is in order.
That photo was prepared by the best.
- I thought you were my ally.
- I am.
Imagine if Eisenhower told the Allies that D-day would happen in Belgium.
Mr Mulder, I place my life in greatjeopardy every time we speak! I've been a participant in some of the most insidious lies and witness to deeds that no crazed man could imagine.
I've spent years watching you from my Lofty position to know that you were the one I could trust.
- Then why did you lie to me? - I needed to divert you.
You and Scully are excellent investigators, and your motives are just.
However, there still exist some secrets which should remain secret.
Truths that people are just not ready to know.
Who are you to decide that for me? The world's reaction to such knowledge would be far too dangerous.
Dangerous? You mean, in the sense of outrage? Like the reaction to the Kennedy assassination, or MIAs or radiation experiments on terminaI patients.
Watergate Iran Contra, Roswell, the Tuskegee experiments Where will it end? I guess it won't end, as long as men like you decide what is truth.
That transcript you gave me of the Iraqi file - that was the truth, wasn't it? Why did you even bother to show it to me? Well, I was aware that you were on to the truck.
So I knew that down the road I would have to steer you away that I would have to lie to you.
And a lie, Mr Mulder, is most convincingly hidden between two truths.
Mulder! If the shark stops swimming, it will die.
Don't stop swimming.
I'm not responsible for the electronic surveillance but I do know they can still hear you.
Mulder! Are you home? Scully.
Hey, I'm glad you dropped by.
I've been thinking about this whole situation.
I think you're right.
I think they won this one and we should just move on.
I think this time you're right, Mulder.
All right, stick with him.
Hey! Here you are.
A round trip to Chicago.
Here's your credit card.
And the plane departs at Gate 35.
I'd also like a one-way ticket to Los Angeles, with a stop in Las Vegas.
And for that I'll be paying cash.
I called every weigh station and Bureau office west of Colorado.
I tied up an air phone for three hours.
I don't speak Japanese but I think a man told me to stick some sushi where the sun don't shine! My ear's numb from being on hold for hours.
At least we can be sure they didn't trace our call.
I couldn't find the truck.
Did you have any luck? Yup.
It's heading northwest on I-90.
We have to get a couple of tickets to Seattle.
Think about it.
This truck drove across America.
People have passed it on the road.
Probably thought it was hauling auto parts or furniture, livestock, whatever Nobody would have suspected it was hauling a craft from another world.
Here we go.
Mulder, we've been following this truck for hours.
Maybe he knows we're following him and he's taking an evasive route.
If that were the case - Are you all right? - Yeah.
Ranheim! Scully! Oh, my God! It was an extraterrestriaI biologicaI entity - Alive.
Where did it go? I think we were just witness to a rescue mission.
God, Mulder, I can't stop shaking.
What just happened - Does it fit the profile? You're asking me if it was reaI? Did we just have a close encounter? No.
It was another hoax.
But how could anyone generate such force? Whatever they used, we probably haven't heard of it.
Sound weapons Stealth helicopter with an ultra-high intensity light There's no evidence that this was a UFO.
So they created this elaborate show just to deflect us again.
Wouldn't it have been easier for them just Just to kill us.
Yeah, I've wondered that myself.
But maybe they're using me against myself, like you said before.
That I want so badly to believe that I accept the obvious conclusions and walk away.
Now we have nothing to go on.
No one to turn to.
There's still one player in all this who hasn't lied to us.
But it's not quite someone we can turn to.
Leverlay and Priest Rapids? East bank of the Columbia River.
Did you send out a field investigator? And you can substantiate the sighting? OK, Nick, thanks a lot.
I've contacted severaI organisations that have hotlines for UFO reports.
The Center for UFO Studies in Chicago MUFON, NICAP.
None of them have ever reported a week of such activity.
It began in Tennessee, where Ranheim was encountered.
The sightings follow the path of the truck.
And after last night's hoax Look at this.
Seven sightings in Mattawa, Washington.
- That's 100 miles away.
- Aliens? Looks like they want their colleague back.
We've driven full circle through Mattawa twice.
There's nothing here.
What's over there? That's an intergalactic space greeting.
- It means "Hello, space brothers.
" - Good.
- What's going on here? - A UFO party.
- You've seen UFOs? - Last two nights.
They're drawn to electricity.
They hover over the power plant down there.
This is it.
There's Ranheim.
This place has got to have the highest leveI of security.
It's just the kind of challenge they're looking for.
Who? - Lone Gunman.
- It's Mulder.
Turn the tape recorder off.
- OK.
It's off.
- Turn it off! It's off already! How would you like to have the first substantiated photo of an extraterrestriaI biologicaI entity? No way! An EBE? What do we have to do? Hack me some identification numbers.
Braidwood and Stefoff.
PersonaI ID number? 7-5-9-3.
5-3-1-1.
Open the trunk, please.
Park in lot 4.
Thanks.
Hey, wait! Display these at all times.
Proceed.
Langly said he couldn't gain access to LeveI 6, so that's - We have to go back to get through that door.
- We'II look suspicious.
- We have to find other access, then.
- Mulder, they're not gonna let us! - Could you folks come with me, please? - We're lost - Just proceed down the hallway.
- If you Mulder.
Stop.
We're agents for the FBI.
I'm reaching for my ID.
- We're conducting an investigation.
- Proceed down the hallway, please.
This is LeveI 2 to LeveI 6.
I have a male and a female who've identified Hey! Stop! Hold it! He took the stairs! Go! Go! Move! Move! Hold it! I said, hold it! Whoa! Let him go.
Let him go! You've done well.
You're dismissed.
I know how badly how Very badly you want to look through that window.
But it would be pointless.
It's dead.
After the Roswell incident in 1947 even at the brink of the Cold War there was an ultra-secret conference, attended by the US the Soviet Union, the People's Republic of China, Britain both Germanys, France And it was agreed that should any extraterrestriaI biologicaI entities survive a crash the country that held that being would be responsible for its extermination.
I have the distinction of being one of three men to have exterminated such a creature.
I was with the CIA in Vietnam.
A UFO was sighted for five nights over Hanoi.
The Marines shot it down and brought it to us.
Maybe it didn't know what a gun was.
Or perhaps they don't show emotion.
But that innocent and blank expression as I pulled the trigger has haunted me.
Until I found you.
That's why I come to you, Mr Mulder and will continue to come to you to atone for what I've done.
And maybe sometime through you, the truth will be known.
You're awfully quiet, Mr Mulder.
I'm wondering which lie to believe.
I made this!