The X-Files Page #10

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CIGARETTE SMOKING MAN

Brought on by what?

DR. BRONSCHWEIG

Heat, I think. The coincident invasion

of a host, the fireman, and an

environment that raised his basic body

temperature above ninety eight point

six.

They step over to a section of the cave which has been

draped with more plastic, the lights from inside this

are giving off a cool blue light (passing by TWO

PORTABLE DRILLING RIGS which have been erected, their

pumps moving up and down like rocking horses.)

Bronschweig pushes away the plastic, revealing A MAN

lying on a gurney draped in plastic. he is hooked up to

various and sundry machines which are monitoring his

life signs.

His skin has turned almost translucent, the veins and

capillaries now clearly visible, as is his pulse. His

heartbeat sending life-sustaining blood and energy

through his body.

CIGARETTE SMOKING MAN

This man's still alive.

DR. BRONSCHWEIG

Technically and biologically, though

he'll never recover.

The CSM is shaking his head in nervous, uneasy wonder.

CIGARETTE SMOKING MAN

How can this be?

DR. BRONSCHWEIG

The developing organism is using his

life energy, digesting bone and

tissue. We've just slowed the

process.

Bronschweig redirects a light so that it shines hard

into the man's face and; then we see it. Movement.

CLOSE ON MAN'S FACE

Though the man's eyes still blink occasionally, we can

actually see through his tissue and the bones in his

skull to see something IS LIVING INSIDE HIM.

ANGLE UP ON CSM AND BRONSCHWEIG

The Cigarette Smoking Man's mind is working intently on

all the possibilities, and consequences.

DR. BRONSCHWEIG

Do you want me to destroy this one,

too? Before it gestates?

CIGARETTE SMOKING MAN

No. No...we need to try our vaccine on

it.

DR. BRONSCHWEIG

And if it's unsuccessful?

CIGARETTE SMOKING MAN

Incinerate it. Like the others.

DR. BRONSCHWEIG

This man's family will want to see the

body laid to rest.

CIGARETTE SMOKING MAN

Tell them he was trying to save the

young boy's life, and that he died

heroically like the other firemen.

DR. BRONSCHWEIG

Of what?

CIGARETTE SMOKING MAN

They seemed to buy our story about the

Hanta virus. You'll make sure the

families are taken care of

financially, along with a sizeable

donation to the community.

(beat)

Maybe a small roadside memorial.

He watches the CSM exit, then back to the prostrate

fireman.

CLOSE ON PROSTRATE FIREMAN

There is more movement within his body. Within his chest

and neck, as if the creature gestating inside is

continuing to stretch and grow. So that now we can see

one of its BLACK EYES staring from through the clear

flesh of the fireman. An eye which BLINKS at us. As we:

CUT TO:

INT. BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL - NIGHT

Mulder and Scully appear at the end of a long hall.

Moving TOWARD CAMERA where a YOUNG NAVAL GUARD sits in

f.g. As a LEGEND appears, to establish.

Mulder and Scully moving the long distance to the

Guard's station. Where the Guard looks up at them with

military scrutiny.

YOUNG NAVAL GUARD

ID and floor you're visiting.

They both show their FBI IDs.

MULDER:

We're going to the morgue.

YOUNG NAVAL GUARD

That area is currently off limits to

anyone other than authorized medical

personnel.

MULDER:

On whose orders?

YOUNG NAVAL GUARD

General McAddie's.

Mulder doesn't miss a beat.

MULDER:

General McAddie is who requested our

coming here. We were awakened at three

AM and told to get down here

immediately.

YOUNG NAVAL GUARD

I don't know anything about that.

MULDER:

Well, call General McAddie.

YOUNG NAVAL GUARD

I don't have his number.

MULDER:

They can patch you in through the

switchboard.

The Guard is nervous about this, checking his watch. He

picks up the phone, going through a large directory.

MULDER:

Hey! We don't have time to dick around

here watching you demonstrate your

ignorance in the chain of command. The

order came direct from General

McAddie. Call him. We'll conduct our

business while you confirm

authorization.

Mulder is already directing Scully past the Naval Guard

who tentatively picks up the phone again.

YOUNG NAVAL GUARD

(to their backs)

Why don't you go on ahead head and

I'll confirm authorization.

MULDER:

Thank you.

LEADING Mulder and Scully, moving they've pulled off a

con.

MULDER:

Why is a morgue suddenly off limits on

orders of a general?

CUT TO:

INT. BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL - MORGUE FREEZER - NIGHT

TRACKING TABLE HEIGHT across gurneys where white

sheet-wrapped bodies lie. CAMERA LANDING ON Scully.

Standing next to Mulder who is undoing the peculiar

ropey stitching on the sheet used to secure the bodies.

SCULLY:

This is one of the firemen who died in

Dallas?

MULDER:

According to this tag.

SCULLY:

And you're looking for?

SCULLY:

I can tell you that without even

looking at him.

(off Mulder's look)

Conclusive organ failure due to

proximal exposure to source and flying

debris.

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