The X-Files - 5.

Italian title: L' ideogramma

Spanish title: La Cacería del Zorro

translation: The Hunting of the Fox

US Airdate: January 4, 1998

writers: Vince Gilligan and Tim Minear

director: Daniel Sackheim

STARRING:

David Duchovny as Special Agent Fox Mulder

Gillian Anderson as Special Agent Dana Scully

Guest Cast:

Mitch Pileggi as Assistant Director Skinner

Diana Scarwid as Linda Bowman

Robert Wisden as Pusher/Robert Modell

Colleen Winton as Therapist

Scott Oughterson as Old Orderly

Donna Yamamoto as Female Agent

Kurt Evans as Sports Store Employee

Stuart O'Connell as First Cop

Ty Olsson as Young Orderly

Michael Dobson as U.S. Marshall

Michelle Hart as the Trace Agent

MULDER AND SCULLY HUNT FOR ROBERT MODELL, A.K.A. PUSHER, AFTER HE ESCAPES FROM PRISON.

     Inside Lorton Penitentiary, a physical therapist works with Robert Modell, otherwise known as Pusher (see episode 3X17). An older orderly tells his younger protégé that Modell is extremely dangerous and must never be underestimated. Despite the warning, Modell lures the young orderly into his cell... and soon after escapes.

     Skinner, Mulder and Scully brief a group of FBI agents and US marshals about the escapee. The group reacts with skepticism when Mulder reveals that Pusher is able to project his will onto others, forcing them to do themselves harm. After the meeting, Scully and Mulder interview the physical therapist, who tells of a nun who visited Modell, as part of a charity group, on the day before his escape.

     The ailing Modell makes his way to a sporting goods store, where he eats several high-protein candy bars. He telephones Mulder from the location, and speaks long enough for the call to be traced. The agents rush to the sporting goods store. Mulder notices a man outside the building wearing prison pajamas. But when the man is caught, he turns out to be the sporting goods store employee.

     The body of the prosecutor who helped convict Modell is discovered in his upscale home, his entire body covered with cerulean blue paint. Surrounding the body is a Japanese ideogram, repeated hundreds of times. The agents summon a Japanese agent to the scene, who translates the ideogram, kitsunegari, as meaning "fox hunt." Mulder notes a wedding band on the victim's finger. He contacts the real estate agency where Linda Bowman works, and obtains the address where Linda is scheduled to meet a "Fox Mulder." Two police officers are dispatched to the location, but they are fooled by Modell, and one officer "apprehends" his partner. The reason for Modell's interest in Linda remains a mystery. Mulder, Scully and Skinner meet with Linda, who is shaken when notified of her husband's passing. The agents place her in protective custody and

transport her to a safe house. Mulder suspects Modell may still be in the general area where the prosecutor's body was discovered. His hunch proves correct: he discovers Modell inside a nearby engineering firm. Mulder draws his weapon, ordering Modell to remain silent. But Modell forces his will onto Mulder and escapes.

     Mulder tells Scully that Modell's message was "don't play the game." When Mulder voices his doubts as to Modell's motives--and the possibility he didn't kill Nathan Bowman--Scully begins to suspect her partner was influenced by Modell's will. Later, Mulder again interviews Linda Bowman, hoping to discover a reason for Modell's interest in her. He reacts with mild surprise when Linda reveals she had only been married to Nathan for a little over two months. During the conversation,

Mulder cannot help but notice subtle clues in Linda's words, such as "brush with greatness" and "paint him." He concludes that it was Linda who killed her husband, not Modell. Believing Mulder is under Modell's influence, Skinner demands his service weapon and instructs him to go home.

     Mulder suspects that the nun who visited Modell in prison was, in fact, Linda. He returns to the prison, hoping the therapist will verify his theory. But before the therapist can positively identify Linda, she receives a phone call from someone who "wills" her to commit suicide. Mulder phones Scully, and tells her it was Linda, not Modell, who made the call. Modell possesses the mind of a police officer, who transports him to the safe house where Linda is under constant guard. Modell finds Linda and places a gentle hand upon her face. Skinner spots Modell and draws his weapon. Modell tricks Skinner into believing he is holding a revolver, drawing his fire. A badly wounded Modell is transported to a hospital.

     Mulder tells Scully that Modell pretended to have a gun to "take the fall" for Linda. But his theory does not explain the motive for his action. Mulder travels to the hospital, hoping to speak with Modell should he regain consciousness. But Linda uses mind control to slip past Mulder, making him believe she is a nurse. When Modell does regain consciousness, Linda wills his heart to stop beating. Mulder discovers an index card dropped by Linda. On the reverse is an address for a commercial building. Mulder travels to the structure, where he finds Scully waiting within. Scully claims Linda is inside the building, and is using mind control to act against her will. Scully raises her weapon and places it against her own temple--firing a shot. Scully's lifeless body falls to the floor. A few moments later, Linda walks into the room, a gun in her hand. Mulder grabs the revolver from Scully's hand and aims at Linda. But Linda claims she is Scully... and that the real Linda is standing right behind him. "Linda" suddenly aims her gun slightly to the left of Mulder and opens fire. Mulder turns to see Linda's body behind him. Linda is transported to a hospital Later, Scully and Mulder learn that Linda and Modell were fraternal twins.

Quotes

____________________

Mulder: "The subject's name is Robert Patrick Modell. He's a serial killer responsible for at least 17

murders. Specifically, he targets law enforcement. In 1996, he caused the deaths of an

FBI agent and a Loudoun County sheriff's deputy. It was all a game to him. He was

looking for, in his words, 'a worthy adversary'."

Scully: "To win makes him feel important. He likes to think of himself as a ronan - a warrior without

a master, adhering to the budo, the Japanese way of war. In truth, he's a highly intelligent

sociopath who has no fear of dying. In keeping with his game archetype, he likes to leave

clues. This is why we expect to be contacted by him, hopefully sooner rather than later."

Mulder: "We fully expect him to pick up exactly where he left off."

Second Marshall: "What did you mean before when you said he just walked out the building?"

Mulder: "Modell refers to himself as "pusher". Technically speaking, all of his victims' wounds were

self-inflicted. This man has a unique ability to force his will upon others - to push his

victims into hurting or killing themselves."

Second Marshall: "Say what?"

Mulder: "OK, look, this is all you need to know. Do not trust this man, do not talk to him, do not

engage him in conversation, even if he is unarmed. Approach him only with extraordinary

caution, and then only with adequate backup."

First Marshall: "So what's adequate backup?"

Mulder: "Adequate backup? Every cop you can lay your hands on."

____________________________________________________________

Mulder: "Is there anybody on staff here we can talk to?"

Scully: "He has a physical therapist. Mulder ... what if Modell plans to pick up where he left off?

Where does that leave you? You were his prime target. Should you even be heading this

investigation?"

Mulder: "As opposed to what? What's your point?"

Scully: "That it's exactly what he wants. That once again you're playing his game."

____________________________________________________________

Mulder gets a phone call

Skinner: (to Mulder) "He's asking for you. We're running a trace right now. We just need thirty

seconds."

Scully: (softly, as Mulder reaches for the phone) "Mulder?" (Mulder nods, he knows he should be

careful)

Mulder: (on the phone) "Yeah."

Modell: (on the other end) "Two words - it's alive." (he laughs)

Mulder: "I don't feel like playing your game right now, Modell."

Modell: "Touchy. Look, Mulder, there's something I need you to hear."

Mulder: "Tell it to me in person, Modell."

Modell: "No. Seriously, listen to me."

Mulder: "No, you listen to me. Either you come back here on your own or I drag your sorry ass

back on the bumper of my car."

Scully: (to the agent monitoring the trace) "Time?"

Trace Agent: "4 seconds."

Modell: "When did you turn into Clint Eastwood?"

Scully: (to Mulder) "Don't let him rope you in."

Modell: "Now stop talking like a tough guy and pay attention. I know you're tracing this call. I don't

care. I have something ..."

Scully: "Mulder, hang up the phone."

Modell: "... that I need you to hear. Mulder, are you going to ..."

(Mulder hangs up)

Trace Agent: "We got it."

____________________________________________________________

At the crime scene, the walls covered in blue paint, symbols drawn everywhere in the same blue paint

Mulder: (motioning at the symbols) "I'm going to take a wild stab here and guess this is a clue."

(Scully examines the body of a man soaked in the paint. As she pries open his mouth, a large quantity of blue paint comes flowing out)

Scully: "Appears as if he died from ingesting paint. I imagine that he did all of this and then drank

what was left."

(Skinner enters with several other agents, including a female agent of oriental descent)

Skinner: (to female agent) "See what you can make of it. (to Scully) Modell?"

Scully: (looking toward the paint can on the floor) "Cerulean blue."

Skinner: "What the hell's the point in all of this?"

Scully: "Maybe his choice of victim. This is Nathan Bowman with the Loudoun County attorney's

office. He's the prosecutor that tried Modell in 1996."

Skinner: "So you think it's simple revenge?"

Female Agent: "Sir? It's not a manifesto. It's the same single idiogram over and over."

Skinner: "Which is what?"

Female Agent: "Well, the hand it's in is pretty sloppy, but I think it's supposed to be 'kitsunegari' -

'fox hunt'."

Scully: "Fox Mulder."

Mulder: "That's a little on the nose, don't you think?"

____________________________________________________________

Mulder has Modell trapped and at gunpoint, so he thinks, having called for reinforcements he tries to keep him quiet

Modell: "Hold on, hold on, we need to talk."

Mulder: "Shut up, Modell."

Modell: "Mulder, listen."

Mulder: "I said shut up."

Modell: "There's something I need you to ..."

Mulder: "Shut up or I will shoot you, you son of a bitch."

Modell: "Mulder."

Mulder: "I will shoot you, shut up."

Modell: "You're going to listen to me. You're going to listen to me,

Mulder."

Mulder: "I will shoot you."

Modell: "Listen. (whispering) Mulder ..."

(Shortly after, Scully and several others rush up to the building, Mulder is walking away from the front door)

Scully: "Mulder, what happened? Where's Modell?"

Mulder: "He had to go."

____________________________________________________________

Scully: "How are you feeling?"

Mulder: "Well, aside from the utter grinding humiliation that comes from knowing I let our suspect

go, pretty good."

Scully: "It could have happened to anyone, Mulder."

Mulder: "No, actually it couldn't have. I didn't find Modell. He sought me out. He wanted me to hear

his message."

Scully: "Which was what?"

Mulder: " 'Don't play the game.' "

Scully: "Whose game? His?"

Mulder: "I don't think so. I'm not even sure he's playing a game."

Scully: "What are you talking about? Of course he is. You said yourself that he was gonna pick up

where he left off."

Mulder: "Then why didn't he kill the cops? Or the prison guards? Or, hell, while we're at it, why

didn't he kill me? Why didn't he make me eat a bullet out of my own gun? He could have."

Scully: "He killed Nathan Bowman."

Mulder: "Yeah, he was definitely there, but that doesn't prove that he did it."

Scully: "Mulder, this man's affected you. He's influenced your thinking."

Mulder: "It's not like that."

Scully: "A man is made to drink a gallon of cerulean blue paint. Kitsunegari - fox hunt. You're

saying now that's not Modell?"

Mulder: "Modell is involved. He's related to it somehow, but not the way you think."

Scully: "That's your opinion?"

Mulder: "Yeah, that's my opinion."

Scully: "How can you be sure it's your own?"

____________________________________________________________

A chat with the dead lawyer's wife, Linda, where Mulder reads between the lines

Linda Bowman: "I know Nathan was very proud of having prosecuted the case. He said this man,

Modell, was extremely clever and dangerous, and that he was a menace to society,

and Nathan mentioned that an FBI agent had ultimately shot him. Was that you?"

Mulder: "Yes."

Linda: "He said you crippled him and put him in a wheelchair. Nathan said it was too bad that you

just didn't kill him. That would have saved the taxpayers the cost of a trial."

Scully: "Your husband talked with you a lot about it."

Linda: "Well, as I said, he was proud. I guess he felt that, that it was his brush with greatness."

(Mulder looks up and stares at Linda Bowman)

Scully: "Is it possible that he could have mentioned you to Robert Modell?"

Linda: "No, no, I sincerely doubt it. You see, Nathan and I, we were only married two months."

Mulder: "How long did you know him?"

Linda: "Well ... (laughs) ... it was two months and two days. Well, why wait when it's true love?

You never know how long you have."

Mulder: "No, you don't."

Linda: "It's not like Nathan was implusive or flighty. I don't want to paint him as that."

Mulder: "He was true blue. (Linda Bowman nods) Thank you."

(Mulder and Scully leave the room and talk in the hall where Skinner joins them)

Mulder: "She killed Nathan Bowman."

Scully: "What?"

Mulder: "Modell was there but for some other reason. She killed her husband."

Skinner: "Agent Mulder, what ..."

Mulder: "Wait a minute, just hear me out. Her husband's brush with greatness, she doesn't want to

paint him as being impulsive. Who the hell talks like that?"

Scully: "You tell me."

Mulder: "She was waving it under our nose, she was playing with us. Modell told me, he warned

me not to play the game. I think it was her game he was talking about."

Skinner: "Modell told you."

Mulder: "Has she asked how her husband was murdered? Has she shown any interest in the

details? An escaped serial killer is supposedly stalking her. Does she seem particularly

fearful to you?"

Skinner: "The woman's in shock, Agent Mulder. She's not herself. And I might add, neither are

you."

____________________________________________________________

Skinner kicks in a door, finds Modell and Linda Bowman standing together

Skinner: "On the floor, Modell!"

Modell: "Hey, it's Mel Cooley." (bald character from "The Dick Van Dyke Show")

Skinner: "On your face, do it now! (Modell turns to Linda Bowman) I said now!"

Modell: "I have a gun." (he whirls around and points a "gun" at Skinner.

(Skinner fires and Modell falls. Linda Bowman gasps. Skinner approaches Modell and sees that his right hand is pointed like a gun, but there's no gun.)

____________________________________________________________

Mulder: "Modell was unarmed. He purposely drew Skinner's fire."

Scully: "For what possible reason?"

Mulder: "To protect someone."

Scully: "Linda Bowman?"

Mulder: "To take the fall for her."

Scully: "That's one hell of a plan, Mulder. A serial killer makes us believe that he's guilty, in turn

diverting the suspicion away from the real estate lady. Well, he had me going."

Mulder: "Where is she?"

Scully: "They've taken her home. There is no reason to keep her in protective custody, Mulder. It is

over."

Mulder: "No, it's not."

Scully: "Where are you going?"

Mulder: "If Modell makes it through surgery, I want to be the first person that he talks to."

Scully: "Mulder, talking to him has already done you enough harm."

Mulder: (annoyed) "OK, look, you do me a favor, Scully. You give me a call when you think I've

come to my senses, all right?"

____________________________________________________________

After the big final countdown scene where Mulder nearly kills Scully

Skinner: "I just want to say you did a good job."

Mulder: "How's that?"

Skinner: "Nobody could have figured this out but you. You knew it was Linda Bowman and not

Modell. You were way ahead of me."

Mulder: "I almost killed my partner."

Skinner: "Mulder, despite that, you prevailed. You won her game."