SEASON 1

SEASON 2

SEASON 3

SEASON 4

SEASON 5

FIGHT THE FUTURE

SEASON 6

SEASON 7

SEASON 8

SEASON 9

< PREVIOUS

Fred concedes that this sounds plausible, except that there's no goo on Mulder's bones. Scully quickly verifies this by rubbing a cloth on one of the bones – nothing comes off. Confusedly, she mutters, "It was on the Schiffs," and turns to Fred for reassurance.

Gently, Fred tells her that he thinks they should be looking for "the simplest explanation. The most logical." Scully asks what that would be, and he replies, "I'd say we're looking at a murder-- one with ritualistic overtones. I think his body was stripped and then skeletonized. Possibly by boiling or use of an acid solution." Remember that from earlier? Remember?

Scully also seems to remember, perhaps. Then Fred promises that they will send the remains on to DC, at which Scully looks even less happy, if that's possible. Poor Scully. How many times has she thought Mulder was dead at this point in the series? How many more times are left?

We cut to Skinner reading the report of Mulder's death, which contains such phrases as "cannot be fully explained" and "lack of any real physical evidence." Skinner closes the report and tells Scully that he appreciates the thoroughness of her report, especially given the circumstances, and that she should take some time off.

Scully is incredulous that Skinner would be satisfied with the conclusions in the case, because she wasn't able to reach any real ones. Skinner looks confused at her confusion. "You concluded that he was a victim of a ritual killing," he states.

Scully gets even more bewildered, and her composure begins to slip. They argue (but not heatedly) about the fact that Scully thinks the ritual killing theory is the least plausible, while Skinner thinks it makes perfect sense and is a perfect fulfillment of Scully's usual rational perspectives on X-Files. Scully asks Skinner if her scientific, rational approach has really helped to explain many X-Files, at which Skinner tries to comfort her that her reports always help make sense of Mulder's views. In this case, though, Scully firmly states that her report wasn't of use. Skinner asks if she really thinks this was something other than a murder. Almost crying, Scully answers, "That's what Agent Mulder would have thought."

Skinner tells her that while it's tempting to attribute Mulder's death to something paranormal, given his life work, that's not the case. She wipes away some tears as Skinner promises her that "we'll get the bastard who did this."

Outside Mulder's apartment. Scully gets out of the elevator, wearing black, and walks down the hallway. She takes a deep breath and knocks on number 42. Frohike opens the door and she goes inside, staring around at all the people in suits and somber colors. Other than the Lone Gunmen, there is no one recognizable. Hey, come on, Scully would be the first person there! As Scully meets the eyes of a few random, sympathetic people, we head into the next room. Oh good, there's Skinner. That makes sense at least.

Skinner comes up to her and quietly tells her he's sorry. Scully doesn't respond, but looks through a door at the room with the coffin in it. None of the people next to it are any Mulder relatives known to us (not that there are that many left at this point). Byers comes up behind Scully and asks her how she's holding up. She tells him that she still can't believe it, and Langley agrees – he still almost expects Mulder to show up any minute. He's wearing a tuxedo T-shirt, by the way, which is totally in-character. Hee.

Frohike offers Scully some wine to "dull the pain," which she refuses. As Frohike downs the wine, Byers pulls her aside and tells her that TLG have launched their own investigation. Scully is relieved – she thought she was the only one who still had suspicions. Then Frohike dashes her hopes by saying they'll find the SOB who killed Mulder and make him pay. As Scully begins to freak out quietly, Byers tells her that they managed to get ahold of her report and that they were "impressed by the thoroughness of it." "Especially given the circumstances," Langley adds.

Scully's bewilderment grows as Byers starts to spout the same "ritualistic murder, stripped and skeletonized" stuff. Langley agrees that that's the obvious answer. This is the last straw for Scully, who almost yells, "What the hell is wrong with everybody?" She wonders angrily why she's the only one who sees the unanswered questions here, and TLG look at each other nervously. Frohike goes to get another drink. She continues accusingly that the Gunmen of all people should not be "buying the party line." As her voice gets louder, Skinner looks at her in concern from across the room. Then Scully puts her hand to her temple, in sudden pain.