Spanish title: Villancico de Navidad
translation: Carol of Christmas
US Airdate: December 7, 1997
writers: Frank Spotnitz, Vince Gilligan and John
Shiban
director: Peter Markle
STARRING:
David Duchovny as Special Agent Fox Mulder
Gillian Anderson as Special Agent Dana Scully
Guest Cast:
Karri Turner as Tara Scully
Sheila Larken as Mrs. Scully
Pat Skipper as Bill Scully Jr.
Melinda McGraw as Melissa Scully
Zoe Anderson as 16 year old Dana Scully
John Pyper-Ferguson as Det. Kresge
Rob Freeman as Marshall Sim
Lauren Diewold as Emily Sim
Patricia Dahlquist as Susan Chambliss
A MYSTERIOUS PHONE CALL AND AN APPARENT SUICIDE LEAD SCULLY TO A
YOUNG
GIRL WHO SHE SUSPECTS IS HER SISTER MELISSA'S DAUGHTER.
Scully and her mother travel to Bill Jr.'s house--located at a U.S.
naval station in San Diego--several days before the Christmas holiday. There they are
greeted by Bill Jr. and his pregnant wife, Tara, who is expected their first child. Not
long after her arrival, Scully answers the telephone. On the other end of the line is a
woman who sounds exactly like Scully's deceased sister, Melissa. The voice tells Scully,
"she needs your help." Unnerved, Scully has the FBI trace the call which, it
turns out, was made from the Sim residence. Scully discovers the home is the scene of a
criminal investigation. Detective Kresge allows her access to the bathroom, where a dead
blonde woman, Mrs. Robert Sim, reclines in a tub full of bloody water, the apparent victim
of a suicide. Later, Scully observes the victim's husband, Marshall, and three-year-old
Emily Sim. Scully stares at the girl, intrigued by her face. Detective Kresge tells Scully
that phone records do indeed indicate that an incoming call was made from the Sim
residence to Bill Jr.'s house. But at the same time, there is no record of an outgoing
call. Records also indicate the phone had been off the hook for three hours.
Scully tells her mother she's very happy for Bill and Tara... then
admits that, as a result of her abduction, she cannot conceive a child of her own. Later
that night, Scully experiences a dream in which a young Bill Jr. kills her pet rabbit.
During the same dream, she encounters little Emily Sim. Scully is awoken by another call
from the mysterious woman. The voice tells Scully to "go to her." The call is
again traced to the Sim residence, where Marshall assures Scully that no one used the
telephone. From Scully's viewpoint at the front door, she observes two dark-suited men
sitting at the kitchen table. The next day, Scully requests--and is given access to--all
evidence in the Roberta Sim case. She also phones the FBI and requests the case file on
her sister, Melissa. Noting several discrepancies in the file, Scully performs an autopsy
on Roberta's body. She discovers a complete absence of medicine tablets inside her
stomach. She does, however, notice a puncture wound on the heal of her foot. A search of
the Sim house turns up a hypodermic needle in the trash. Marshall claims Emily suffers
from anemia and requires daily injections.
Scully tells her mother that a PCR test, which has a sixty-percent
accuracy rate, suggests that Emily and Melissa's DNA match (a more comprehensive test will
be available in several days). This, and the undeniable physical resemblance between the
pair, leads Scully to conclude that Emily is Melissa's daughter. She reminds her mother
about a period in 1994 when Melissa's whereabout were unknown... and speculates that she
could have given Emily up for adoption. Later, Scully experiences another dream, during
which Mrs. Scully gives her the crucifix she wears around her neck. When Scully awakens,
Detective Kresge informs her about large bank deposits made by Marshall over the previous
eighteen months. The money came from a pharmaceutical company called Prangen Industries.
Scully and Kresge interview Dr. Ernest Calderon, who works for the company. He explains
that Emily was participating in a clinical trial. When Roberta tried to pull her daughter
from the program, the company agreed to send her money as a gesture of good will. Calderon
also reveals he prescribed Marshall sumatriptan injections after he complained of
migraines. Later, Marshall is arrested for his wife's murder. As a result, Emily is placed
in the care of Social Services. Before Emily is driven away, Scully places her gold cross
around the girl's neck.
Marshall Sim confesses to the murder. But Scully finds it odd that
witnesses had provided him an alibi. She and Kresge drive to the jail, where they find his
body hanging from a makeshift noose. Later, Scully tells her brother that the death was
made to look like a suicide. Susan Chambliss, a social worker, tells Scully that her
application to adopt Emily was rejected. Scully states that the time has come for her to
place her personal life ahead of her career. Cambliss promises a review of Scully's final
application. On Christmas morning, Scully receives a delivery from an FBI courier. The
final DNA test results reveal that Scully is Emily's mother.
To Be Continued...
Notes
Zoe Anderson is Gillian Anderson's younger sister, a first for the
show.
Returning actors in this one: John Pyper-Ferguson was in F.
Emasculata as Paul, the escaped convict with a girlfriend and child. Rob Freeman was in
Gethsemane as Det. Rempulski, the Alexandria cop who pulled back the sheet on
"Mulder's" dead body.
This page in not complete, but will be soon, thanks for your
patience.
Quotes
Woman's Voice On Phone (sounds like Melissa): "Dana... she
needs your help. She needs you, Dana. Go to her."
Bill and Scully arrive at the Sims' house, she flashes her badge and
enters, a photographer is taking pictures of the phone off the hook, Scully walks past him
and goes upstairs to the bathroom where more cops have gathered
Det. Kresge: "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Who are you?"
Scully: "Scully, FBI. Can you tell me what's going on
here?"
Det. Kresge: "Well, no offence, Scully, FBI, but what's it to
you?"
Scully: "I received a phone call from this address. It was a
woman's voice. She said that somebody here needed help."
Det. Kresge: "When was this?"
Scully: "About 20 minutes ago."
Det. Kresge: "I've been here 30 minutes. Guarantee you no one's
called out to you or anyone else.
Phone's off the hook." (Scully tries to see into the bathroom)
Scully: "Please, can you tell me what happened here?"
Det. Kresge brings her into the bathroom, where a photographer is
taking pictures of the crime scene. Kresge lets Scully pass to the body of a woman in the
bathtub, her wrists slashed and blood pooling on the floor and in the tub
Det. Kresge: "This is Mrs. Roberta Sim. Age 40. Suicide. She's
been dead at least three hours. If you got a call from her, she must have dialed 1-800-the
great beyond."
Tara Scully: "You know what? I can't believe I'm going to say
this. As big and fat as I am right now, I can't wait to have more. This is our baby, our
son. It kind of gives everything new meaning. I can't help but think that life before now
was somehow... less. Just a prelude." (Scully looks devastated)
Scully: "Several months ago, I learned that as a result of my
abduction, of what they did to me, that I can not conceive a child." (Margaret Scully
hugs her daughter)
Mrs. Scully: "I'm so sorry."
Scully: "It's okay. I just never realized how much I wanted it
until I couldn't have it."
The first of Dana's dreams, her Christmas ghosts, if you like
Young Bill: "Dana, where is it? Where is that rabbit?"
Young Dana: "I'm not telling."
Young Bill: "I'm going to find that rabbit and cook it. I'm
going to turn it into stew."
Young Dana: "No you're not!"
Young Bill: "Rabbit stew, here I go."
Young Dana: "You're not going to find him!"
Bill leaves the room and Dana goes down to the basement, where she
finds a metal lunchbox that she's obviously hidden. She opens it and finds the rabbit
dead, maggots crawling all over it. Her eyes widen in fright and she slams the lid down,
backing away. She sees Emily sitting on the stairs as the phone rings, awakening her
(Scully is waiting for Det. Kresge as he comes in)
Det. Kresge: "Scully, FBI. What can I do for you at this
ungodly hour?"
Scully: "I'd like everything you have on the Roberta Sim
case."
Det. Kresge: "The Roberta Sim case? (she nods) There is no
Roberta Sim case. It was a simple suicide. We sort of went through this before, you and I,
didn't we?"
Scully: "Whatever you call it, I'd appreciate seeing everything
that you have. (pause) In the spirit of the season?"
Scully: "Mom ... sit down. The woman who committed suicide has
an adopted daughter, a three year old named Emily. I got a sample of Emily's blood and I
had the lab run a test on her DNA. It's called a PCR test. This... (she hands her one of
the screens) is Emily's. (she hands her the other one) And this, is Melissa's which we ran
during her murder investigation. They match."
Mrs. Scully: "What does it mean, they match?"
Scully: "It means, that this little girl Emily... is Melissa's
daughter."
Mrs. Scully: "Dana, listen to me. I know what you're going
through."
Scully: "Mom, this has nothing to do with what I'm going
through."
Mrs. Scully: "It has happened to me. When your father died, it
was a long time before he left me. I saw him in my dreams. The phone would ring, and just
for a moment I was sure it was his voice. You're doing the same thing with Melissa. You're
seeing her in this child, but that doesn't make this child my granddaughter. We're still
connected to them Dana. Even after they're gone."
Bill: "Look at the date on the back. (Scully turns it over, it
reads Oct. 7 - 94) Does Melissa look pregnant to you in that picture? It's about four
weeks before the girl was born."
Scully: "Bill, that doesn't prove anything. Melissa didn't have
to be pregnant to have a baby.
There's... there's in vitro fertilization, there's surrogate
motherhood."
Bill: "Dana, listen to yourself. You're creating this whole
scenario to fulfill a dream."
Scully: "What dream?"
Bill: "To have a child. Look... I understand. I know the need.
God knows Tara and I tried for years. But making this girl into Melissa's daughter is not
the way. You're going to end up hurting
Scully's talking to Susan Chambliss, the social worker, about
adopting Emily
Scully: "I don't understand. I mean, I think I have a right to
know why you're rejecting my application."
Susan Chambliss: "It's not mine to accept or reject, Dana. We
only make recommendations to the judge. But at this point I'd advise against you becoming
an adoptive parent. You're a single woman who's never been married or had a long-term
relationship. You're in a high stress, time intensive, and dangerous occupation. One I
sense you are deeply committed to and one which would overnight become a secondary
priority to the care and well-being of this child. I'm not sure this is a sacrifice you're
prepared to make."
Scully: "Well, it's one I've given a great deal of thought to.
I mean, to be honest, I've started to question my priorities since I was first diagnosed
with cancer. (she starts to cry) I feel like I was given a second chance. Ever since I was
a child, I've never allowed to let myself get too close to people. I've avoided emotional
attachment. Perhaps I've been so afraid of death and dying that any connection just seemed
like a bad thing... something that wouldn't last. But I don't feel that anymore."
Susan Chambliss: "I know you are a trained physician and are
aware of Emily's medical condition. I want to stress to you, Dana. Emily is a
special-needs child. According to her doctors, her condition is incurable. She requires
constant care, both medical and emotional. The good news is, you have first hand
experience of grave illness. The bad news is, you'd have to relive it through the eyes of
a child."
Scully: "I realize that. And I feel like I'm ready."
Susan Chambliss: "We'll review your final application and make
our recommendations. I wish you luck. Merry Christmas."
Scully's dreaming about the past, possibly a real scene from her
life, maybe just a dream. She's sitting on the couch as Melissa walks in the room
Scully: "I couldn't sleep." (Melissa sits on the end of
the couch with Dana)
Melissa: "Why not? You worried about Quantico, or who gets the
most presents this year?"
Scully: "I guess I'm afraid of making a big mistake. I could
tell Dad sure thinks I am."
Melissa: "Yeah, well, it's not his life, Dana."
Scully: "I know that. You know, when I first started med
school, it felt so right. It seemed like that was where I was supposed to be. And then by
the time I graduated, I just knew it was wrong. But now the FBI feels right. And... what
if that's wrong too?"
Melissa: "There is no right or wrong. Life is just a path. You
follow your heart and it will take you where you're supposed to go."
Scully: "God! You sound like a greeting card. I don't believe
in fate. I think we have to choose our own path."
Melissa: "Well, just don't mistake the path for what is really
important in life."
Scully: "Which is what?"
Melissa: "The people you're going to meet along the way. You
don't know who you're going to meet when you join the FBI. You don't know how your life is
going to change or how you're going to change the life of others."
Christmas morning at Bill's house, a courier arrives with a package
for Scully
Courier: "I need you to sign for this. (Scully does) Merry
Christmas."
Scully: "Merry Christmas." (she opens the package, goes to
the living room as the others there all look at her)
Mrs. Scully: "What is it?"
Scully: "It's the DNA test on Emily Sim's blood."
Bill: "What does it say?"
Scully: "It says, definitely, that Melissa is not Emily's
mother, but that they found striking genetic similarities between Emily and Melissa, so
many that they ran a test against another sample that they already had."
Mrs. Scully: "What sample?"
Bill: "What are you trying to say?"
Scully: "According to this... I am Emily's mother."
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