***************************** ******** GO WEST ******** by Monica M. Castiglioni ****************************** *** Hello people! This is a work I started three months ago, it's the translation of an Italian fanfic I wrote in February '99. The original wasn't in script form. I hope you like it! I'd like to read you comments: xmcarter@libero.it. And, by the way, I hadn't seen "Triangle" yet, when I wrote this one, I had watched up to "The Red and the Black". I wrote the quote from "Drive" two weeks ago... Rating: G (I think) Spoilers: from "Pilot" to "Drive" (just references) Disclaimer: All the fools in here are not mine. ("Peccato...") Chris Carter & Co. own them, I just play with them and I'll bring them back home at 10:13 p.m.. Summary: Where can Mulder & Scully's friendship arrive? "Beyond time and space". Note: I know the summary is a bit obscure... I won't tell you too much, just that "Al di là del Tempo e dello Spazio" ("Beyond time and space") is the Italian title for the "Pilot". Don't laugh! They used more terrible titles... If you want to read the Italian titles translated in English so you can laugh (or cry...) go to http://digilander.iol.it/xbellatrix/xepie.htm This is dedicated to Chris Carter and his "1x00 the X-Files Pilot". Thanks: to Miamma, Joy, Steffy, Lucy, Sabina, AleX, Lollo, SleepyFX, Steve, and to Michelle who proofread this work. ********* NIGHT - EASTERN OREGON The sky is clear with a lot of stars and the moon. The camera moves, now showing mountains and fields, finally settling on a small building with two lit windows, a barn. A man walks toward the fence. He leans on it, tired. He looks around. There's no one in sight. He steps over the fence and walks into the stall. Some cows and horses are sleeping. The man finds a milk can, he takes off the lid. The vat is full of warm milk. The man puts both his hands in the milk and drinks from them. Suddenly a woman appears at the door, with a rifle. WOMAN: Hey! Stop there! MAN (putting his hands up): Don't shoot! I'm not armed. A second woman arrives. SECOND WOMAN: What's happening? FIRST WOMAN: There's a fucking chicken thief! MAN: I'm not a chicken thief! FIRST WOMAN: Do not move! MAN: OK, OK... FIRST WOMAN: Who are you? MAN: My name's... Mulder. FIRST WOMAN: Well, *Mulder*, what are you doing in here? MULDER: Well... I... I was... I was drinking some milk, but I can pay for it... I've got... Mulder moves too fast and the woman shoots. Mulder falls back without screaming. SECOND WOMAN: Oh my God! Did you shoot him? FIRST WOMAN: I had to. The first woman advances with the rifle, Mulder is unconscious, so she puts it down. FIRST WOMAN: The wound only grazed his shoulder. SECOND WOMAN: We've got to bring him in. FIRST WOMAN: OK... ********* Mulder opens his eyes. It's morning. He finds himself in a room lying in a bed. There's smell of laundry, lace curtains, and a very nice woman sitting at the table, reading. FIRST WOMAN: Hey! The first woman closes the book and gets up. She is wearing a long, simple, black dress. MULDER: Oh... Am I in Heaven? FIRST WOMAN: No, you're in hell! So, *Mulder* what were you doing in our barn, last night? MULDER: You shot me. FIRST WOMAN: Yes, I did. You didn't leave me much choice. MULDER: I just wanted to pay you... Mulder looks for the little case he brought in his pocket, but there's no case, no pocket, no shirt. FIRST WOMAN: Are you looking for this? She swings Mulder's case over him. He tries to catch it but she takes it back. FIRST WOMAN: No, not now. MULDER: Wait, that's mine! I've earned it! FIRST WOMAN: You were on my land. I want to know what were you doing there. MULDER: I was looking for food. I've been traveling for days. FIRST WOMAN: Oh yes, I noticed that from the dirt you had on yourself. Mulder's eyes widen. His hands go to his hips: he's totally naked, under the covers. FIRST WOMAN: Listen, Mulder. You're a lucky man. My mother wanted to bring you here. You have to thank her for you being alive. MULDER: Yes, sure... I'd love to thank her, so... can I have my clothes? FIRST WOMAN: No. She sits down near him. FIRST WOMAN: I want to know who you are, where you come from, and what the hell you're looking for. MULDER: I already told you I was going to pay for the milk. The woman laughs. FIRST WOMAN: You put your dirty hands in there. It's unusable. MULDER: I think one of those nuggets can pay that whole milk can. The woman picks up the case. FIRST WOMAN: Gold nuggets? MULDER: Didn't you look inside it? FIRST WOMAN: It wasn't a weapon, why would I do such a thing? She feels the case. FIRST WOMAN: May I? Mulder, fearing a bad reaction, nods. FIRST WOMAN: Wow... Did you really earn all these? MULDER: Sure. Do you believe me? FIRST WOMAN: Why not? You look sincere. Where you come from? MULDER: From the East. New York. FIRST WOMAN: Really?! Mulder nods. FIRST WOMAN: What did you do? MULDER: A lot of different works. Gold prospector. FIRST WOMAN: Yes, that explains all these nuggets... Did you find a good vein? MULDER: No. I found a few at time. He hesitates. MULDER: I'm looking for work. The woman sighs. FIRST WOMAN: Maybe my mother will save your ass again. Mulder is amazed at the woman's behavior. The woman gets up, fighting with the shirt. FIRST WOMAN: Well Mulder... Mulder and? MULDER: Just Mulder. FIRST WOMAN: That's OK, Just Mulder. I'll tell my mom you're good, even if it's pleonastic. The woman extends an hand, Mulder starts. FIRST WOMAN: My name's Dana. Dana Scully. ********* Monica Monti Castiglioni "GO WEST" File X-2MC05050299 *** This is Dedicated to Chris Carter and his "1x00 The X-Files Pilot" ********* ********* Felix, Oregon March 7, 1868, morning Scully comes into the room. She holds his clothes (now clean). SCULLY: So... Mulder reaches for the clothes, Scully takes them away. MULDER: You like torturing me, don't you? Scully smiles. SCULLY: Listen to me. We've got a spare room. We need someone to work in the field, in the barn... Mulder smiles. SCULLY: If you try to do something illegal or to swindle us, you'll get shot in the back. Mulder nods. SCULLY: And I have a good eye. I shot you in the shoulder on purpose. MULDER: It was very kind of you. Scully shoots him a look. SCULLY: There are some rules in this house: cleanness, order, hygiene, punctuality. Understand? Mulder nods. SCULLY: Any questions? Mulder shakes his head. MULDER: Hem... just one thing... SCULLY: Food and lodging. If it isn't sufficient for you, the door is that way, the other door is a closet. MULDER: No... I just wanted to... thank you. Scully throws his clothes to him, then leaves. MULDER (mumbling): I thought living with two women would be simple... I just hope the mother isn't like the daughter. His wound is cleaned and well bandaged. He puts the clothes on, then notices the big book Scully was reading. He opens the cover: it's a medical book. Scully comes in. She stares at him, then pulls away the book from him. MULDER (embarrassed): You have... you're the one who took care of my shoulder. You're a doctor. SCULLY: None of your business, Mulder. Scully leaves. MULDER: Sure, Miss Congeniality. Mulder goes down the stairs and enters the first open door he finds. It's the kitchen. Margaret Scully is at the stove. She smiles sweetly at him. MAGGIE: Good morning, Mulder. How are you? MULDER: Well, thank you Ma'am. MAGGIE: Bet you're hungry. Sit down. There' s warm milk and fresh bread. MULDER: Uh... Thank you. Maggie gives him the milk and bread. MULDER: What... what have I to do, here? MAGGIE: Didn't Dana tell you? MULDER: No... Mhmmm... This bread is wonderful, Ma'am. MAGGIE: Call me Maggie. MULDER (with his mouth full): Mhmm mmmmh... Maggie sits down in front of him. MAGGIE: We have some cows that need to be brought to pasture, horses and stalls to clean. There's a small field, beside the house, to cultivate. We also need wood for the winter, and Alex and Melissa will need help with their home, when they come back. Mulder nods without speaking. MAGGIE: Then, there's washing dishes, doing laundry, keeping the home in order. I don't think these will be too difficult to learn to do. MULDER: Sure. I did them myself, when I was at home. MAGGIE (surprised): You did laundry? Mulder nods. MAGGIE: Let me just say that's unusual. MULDER: Even a woman medical doctor is unusual. MAGGIE (more surprised): Dana told you that? Mulder looks at his hands. MULDER: No... No, I... ehm... I opened the book she left on the desk. MAGGIE: And you can read. Mulder nods. MAGGIE: You're amazing, Mulder. Well, it's time to work. Mulder smiles and gets up. MULDER: Maggie... thank you for your trust. MAGGIE: Try to earn Dana's too. ********* OUTSIDE THE HOME Mulder walks to the side of the house. Scully's working there, wearing trousers, boots and a shirt. She's angrily hoeing the soil. MULDER: Dana... could you please tell where I should start? Scully thrusts the hoe very close to Mulder's feet. Mulder jumps back. SCULLY (angrily): One more rule, Mulder. You _can't_ look through my belongings. You have _no_ right to do that. MULDER: I wasn't spying, just reading the title... some sentences. SCULLY: Nobody needs to know that. MULDER: OK... SCULLY: If you'll do anything like that again, I'll shoot your arm off. Mulder nods. Scully thrusts the hoe into his hands and leaves. ********* INSIDE THE STALL Maggie enters the stall. Scully's bridling a horse. SCULLY: Mom, why do we have to keep him? MAGGIE: Joy, he's a poor fellow who needs work, and we need help. SCULLY: We don't need anything. How do you know he isn't a madman? MAGGIE: Dana, you can recognize mad men better than I. And you know he's not loony. Scully brings the horse outside. MAGGIE: I know what you're thinking. SCULLY: Sure. I'll bring the cows to north pasture. Be careful with him, mom. I'll be back for dinner. Scully spurs the horse and joins the group of cows. MAGGIE: Be back before it gets dark! Maggie walks in the field. Mulder is laboriously hoeing the dry soil. She brings him a mug of water. MULDER: Thank you very much. Mulder drinks. MULDER: Maggie, have you ever thought about cultivating something there... Mulder points at the bare field. MULDER: ...something like tobacco? The field is big enough. MAGGIE: No. I don't like tobacco. And the land isn't ours. MULDER: Fruit trees? Tomatoes? Cotton? MAGGIE: Cotton in Oregon, Mulder? Maggie smiles. MAGGIE: Where are you from? MULDER: New York. MAGGIE: I bet it's beautiful. Mulder smiles and nods. MULDER: Who does own the land? MAGGIE: A family that lives not far from here. They bought it more to do us a favor than to use it. We needed money. Mulder nods. He goes back to work and Maggie goes away. ********* EVENING, INSIDE THE STALL Scully's putting the horse in its pen. Mulder is cleaning a horse near her. She doesn't notice him. MULDER: Today went well? Scully starts. SCULLY: Idiot. MULDER: Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. SCULLY: You scaring me?! Scully laughs. SCULLY: You're pathetic. Quit spying on me. MULDER: I'm not spying on you. SCULLY: Then go on cleaning that horse. MULDER: I already finished. Mulder follows Scully outside. MULDER: Hey, you know, you're the first woman I've seen ride a horse so well? SCULLY: So? Scully takes off her cowboy boots. MULDER: Hey, great boots... and the trousers. Scully rolls her eyes and enters the house, going up stairs. ********* Felix, Oregon April 15th, 1868, 8:07 pm Mulder is drying the plates. Maggie's watching Mulder while knitting. Scully is sitting in front of the fire. Mulder ends his work and drops tiredly himself on the chair. Mulder is gazing at Scully, but she doesn't notice it. MAGGIE: Mulder, you're room is so little. You should switch it with the other one. Mulder opens his mouth, but Scully gets up. SCULLY (screaming): No! MAGGIE: Joy, that room is unused. SCULLY: I don't want that (she points at Mulder) to use the room. MAGGIE: Please, Dana, think about it... SCULLY: No! I don't even want him to go in that room. Scully runs out of the kitchen. Mulder, mouth-opened, looks at Maggie. MAGGIE: It was Bill Jr.'s and Charlie's room. They were Dana's brothers. They died in 1864, during the War, with my husband, Dana's father. MULDER: I'm sorry... MAGGIE: Dana never recovered. She was in the field as nurse. She heard about the deaths before Melissa and me, here in Felix. Since then, Dana's never been the same. Melissa married Alexander, but Dana started studying and working really hard. Some minutes pass in silence. MULDER: Do you think I can talk to her? MAGGIE: You can try. Run, if she tries to shoot you, ok? Mulder smiles and gets up. He knocks at her door, but there's no one in it. He looks in the other room, Bill's and Charles', but it's also empty. He goes on the balcony. Scully's there, sitting on a bench and gazing at the sky. MULDER: Can I sit down? Scully nods. MULDER: Look... I just wanted to say... I don't want to change rooms. The one I have is great... Really. And I've personalized it. SCULLY: It's a pigsty. Mulder smiles. MULDER: Do you hate me? SCULLY: You got it. MULDER: If you hate me, why did you let me to sit next to you? Scully briefly closes her eyes. SCULLY: Why are you always asking me a lot of stupid questions? MULDER: Ehm... Sorry. (He looks in the sky, approximately where she's looking) That's Cassiopeia, isn't it? SCULLY (sarcastic): Oh! You're not so ignorant after all. MULDER: Thank you. SCULLY: Not at all. MULDER: Your mother told me what happened to your father and brothers... SCULLY: I told Mom not to tell you. MULDER: Why? SCULLY: Because it's very personal. MULDER: Yes, I know... But... Can I talk candidly? SCULLY: You always do. MULDER: I'm becoming attached to the two of you. You're becoming just like a... a family to me. SCULLY: I'm having the same problem... MULDER: To me, it's not a problem. I like it. Mulder looks at Scully with realization. MULDER: Sorry, what did you say? SCULLY: Nothing. MULDER: Oh, come on. What do I have do to make you talk to me? Pay you? Torture you? Scully whacks him on the shoulder, smiling. MULDER: Wo-ah! A smile! (He grins.) This is the first time I've ever seen you smile. Scully returns to being serious. SCULLY: Yeah, so?! MULDER: Ehr... nothing... Just... You have a beautiful smile. I think you should smile more often. SCULLY: There's nothing to smile for, so what's the use of smiling? Mulder nods. MULDER: I lost my family. My father was killed during the War. My mother... She lost her mind when I was twelve. SCULLY: Is that the reason you learned how to do the laundry, cook...? Mulder nods. SCULLY (sarcastic): Sure. For the men it's always a strange occurrence, but a woman has to learn those things to serve the men, and it's considered to be normal. MULDER: That's unfair. SCULLY (amazed): What? Did you just say "that's unfair"? MULDER: Sure, I did. Don't you think the same? SCULLY: Obviously. MULDER: And I think you'd be a great doctor. Scully smiles and blushes a little. MULDER: So you're not the ice queen you want to act like. Scully slapps him hard on the cheek. She stands up and goes away. Mulder gets up and enters in the house, finding Maggie, looking at him with disapproval. Mulder sighs. MULDER: Sorry. MAGGIE: What happened? MULDER: Well, I... uhm... She smiled, I told her I was glad to know she's not as cold as she seems. MAGGIE: You hit a sensitive spot. (She looks at his five-finger marked cheek and smiles.) But you didn't pass it. Mulder, embarrassed, nods. MAGGIE: What did you mean? MULDER: Well, she... MAGGIE: Mulder... MULDER: I meant that... but I meant no offense. Maybe it would be better if I just left her alone for now. MAGGIE: No, wait. Maggie enters in Scully's room. Scully's curled up on the bench under the window, clasping her medical book. MAGGIE: I just talked with Mulder. SCULLY: He's a bastard. MAGGIE: Dana, don't talk like that. That's not nice. SCULLY: But it's true. MAGGIE: No. He didn't mean to offend you. Give him a break: you've treated him so badly since he arrived. SCULLY: I did let him have a break, and he offended me. MAGGIE: Give him a second chance, OK? SCULLY (whispering): OK. MAGGIE: Have a good night, sweetie. Maggie exits and nods to Mulder. MAGGIE: Go in, tell her you didn't mean that. But keep your distance. They laugh a bit. Mulder enters the room. MULDER: Sorry. SCULLY: Is that all you can say? You can read, but you're still semi-unlettered. Mulder sits on the floor. MULDER (with little irony): You treat me like you want revenge. Did I wrong you in another life? SCULLY: Why do you think I'm an ice queen? MULDER: No... I don't... I think you just pretend to be like that. Scully doesn't talk. MULDER: Listen, I'm sorry, Dana. I just wanted to say I like it when you smile. Is that all right with you? SCULLY (flat): That's all right. MULDER: I wanted to talk to you about one thing... Your mother told me you had to sell the land behind the house. SCULLY: The Skinners bought it. MULDER: It's untilled. Do you think they'll agree to sell it back to you? Scully gazes at him, thinking. MULDER: I... I think I could buy it. SCULLY: You? Mulder nods and smiles. Scully gets up and Mulder does the same to keep distance from her. SCULLY: Go to bed. I'm tired. MULDER: Think about it. ********* Felix, Oregon April, 16th 1868, 2:12 am Mulder wakes up, being shaken in his bed. SCULLY: Mulder! Wake up, Mulder! MULDER: Mhmph... No, please... One more minute... SCULLY: Wake up!!!! Mulder, wake up!!! Mulder opens his eyes. MULDER: What's happening? What time is it? SCULLY: It's still night. Did you really want to buy the field from the Skinners? MULDER (yawning): Yeah, Dana, sure... SCULLY: No, Mulder... really... Mulder sits up. MULDER: Yes. Really. I'm serious. Mulder stands up, opens a drawer that's full of a lot of things, then picks up the case. He throws it to Scully. She starts and catches it. MULDER: Do you think that will be enough? SCULLY: Yes, I think so... But... why? MULDER: I don't want that land to be left so unused, without being cultivated. SCULLY (whispering): My father bought it when we arrived here. MULDER: I want to give it back to you. SCULLY: Why do you do it? MULDER: I love the land. And I love the Earth. [Please, be patient, here there's a double sense in Italian that couldn't be write in English... land = terra and Earth = Terra]. SCULLY: Will you sow tobacco? MULDER: No. Your mother doesn't want that. SCULLY: Neither do I. Then what will you sow? MULDER: Fruit trees. SCULLY: Fruit trees? Maybe some Apricot trees? Mulder nods. SCULLY: And cheeries? And peaches? MULDER: And fig-trees, apple-trees, and every kind of tree that you want. Scully laughs and hands him back the case. SCULLY: That's great... Now I'll let you sleep... Good night! Mulder smiles. Scully exits on tiptoes. Maggie, not noticed, smiles. MAGGIE (whispering): You're our angel from heaven, Mulder... ********* Felix, Oregon April, 18th 1868, 8:09 am Outside the house. MAN: Dana! Scully's putting her hair under a straw hat. She smiles at the man riding a horse. MULDER: Who is he? SCULLY: Walter Skinner. He's the son of the man who bought the field. Skinner gets off the horse and removes the hat. He's bald. Then he hugs Dana, who hugs him back. SKINNER: So, this is the famous Mulder. MULDER (smiling nervously): Yes, I am. Skinner keeps his arm around Scully's waist and they both enters the house. Mulder looks at Skinner, jealously, then follows them. MAGGIE: Welcome back, Walter. Mulder is relieved when Skinner leaves Dana to sit at the table. SKINNER: So, you want to buy the field. MAGGIE: It was Mulder's idea. Mulder smirks. SKINNER: Hu-uh. MULDER: I know you'll want more than you paid... Skinner interrupts him. SKINNER: To whom will you deed the field? MULDER: To Dana. Scully looks at him, amazed. They sign the contract, and Mulder picks it up. The price isn't very much higher. Then he looks out at the field from the window, listening absent-mindedly as the others talk. SKINNER: Alex and Missy? MAGGIE: They'll be back from Europe next week. SKINNER: Europe. Great. It would be nice to go there on a trip. Don't you think so, Dana? MULDER (mouthing the word sarcastically): Don't you think so, Dana? SCULLY (in discomfort): Yes... it could be nice... SKINNER: Well, see you, Mulder! Mulder smirks again. SKINNER: Dana, could you come outside with me? Scully nods. They exit. Mulder goes to the window, looking at them. Skinner is talking to her, she smiles but looks at the ground. She seems very embarrassed and uncomfortable. Skinner's standing very close to her, and then he caresses her cheek. MAGGIE: Jealous? MULDER: No... I'm not... why would I be... No... I don't... Maggie laughs. MAGGIE: Walter asks Dana to marry him every time he sees her. MULDER: Irritating. MAGGIE: He helped us. And Dana can defend herself. Skinner leaves. MULDER: I know that. ********* Felix, Oregon April 24th, 1868, 7:07 pm Outside the house. SCULLY (hugging her sister): Missy! How long has it been? How was Europe? MELISSA: It was a dream. And Rome... oh Dana, it was great. Melissa and her husband Alex enter the house with Dana and Maggie. Melissa sees Mulder cooking. MELISSA (smiling): Uh, Dana, who is he? SCULLY: No, Missy, he isn't that. He's Mulder. Mulder turns and smiles at Missy (who think he's Scully's fiancé). MULDER: So, you're Melissa. MELISSA: Yes, I am. It's nice to meet you, Mulder. ALEX: Hey. MULDER: Hey. Alex and Mulder exchange shake hand. Mulder notices that Alex has only one arm. They sit down and have dinner. Mulder is a little uncomfortable with Alex. They talk for a while. ALEX (suddenly): We've decided to have a baby. MELISSA: We've already chosen the names. MAGGIE: That's great. Which names did you think about? MELISSA: If it's a girl, I like Emily. ALEX (laughing): It's terrible. MELISSA: *You* chose a terrible name, "Chris". ALEX: What's wrong in "Chris"? MELISSA: It's the whole thing: "Chris Krycek". It's simply horrible. Scully smiles then looks at Mulder. His gaze is on his plate. He looks up to meet her eyes. She looks away quickly. ********* Felix, Oregon April 25th, 1868, 12:30 am Mulder goes upstairs, meeting Scully on the balcony. MULDER: How are you? SCULLY: Fine, thanks. You? MULDER: Great. Did your brother-in-law loose his arm during the war? Scully nods. They sit in silence for a bit. Then a meteor appears. SCULLY: Did you see that? It was beautiful. MULDER (getting a little nearer her): Yes. Do you know that sometimes they aren't really meteors? Scully looks at him, raising an eyebrow. MULDER: Do you believe in the existence of extraterrestrials? Scully laughs. SCULLY: Do you mean Selenites, Martians... those kinds of things? Mulder nods. SCULLY: Of course not. MULDER: I believe in it. SCULLY: You don't really believe that? MULDER: Oh yes. I believe that they are the ones who give us the pushes to progress. They built the Egyptian Pyramids and that thing... um... the one there in England. SCULLY: Stonehenge. You're paranoid. Mulder laughs. Scully sighs. SCULLY: Mulder... can I ask you a question? Mulder nods. SCULLY: Your family...where are they? MULDER: My father was killed in a war. Scully puts a hand on his shoulder. SCULLY: I'm sorry. MULDER: He was killed by a betrayal. My sister vanished when she was eight years old. I was twelve. SCULLY: Vanished? MULDER: Yes. We don't know anything more about her. Maybe she was kidnapped... maybe abducted by... SCULLY: The extraterrestrials? MULDER: It doesn't matter anymore. Dulcis in fundo... He looks at Scully, but she doesn't seem to care about the Latin. MULDER: My mother lost it. She lost all contact with the reality, after my sister's disappearance. That was why I learned to do housework. SCULLY: I'm sorry... really... Mulder shrugs. MULDER: My mother went to live with a sister of hers after my father was killed. And me... I went west. ********* Felix, Oregon May 5th 1868, 8:09 pm Maggie, Mulder and Scully are having dinner. MAGGIE: A penny for your thoughts, Mulder. MULDER: Uh? Oh... I was just thinking. SCULLY: About what? MULDER: Do you know Bellefluer? Scully starts to cough. MAGGIE: What's wrong, darling? SCULLY: Uh... nothing, mom. Mulder smiles at Scully. MULDER: Is Bellefluer a long way from here? MAGGIE: One or two days. Why? MULDER: I want to go there. Scully and Maggie exchange a look. MULDER: Just a trip. I'll go there... SCULLY: ...and look at a meteorite... MULDER: ...and come back. I'm sure you can make it for a week without me. They sit in silence. MULDER: Would you please tell me where it is? SCULLY: No. I'll take you there. MAGGIE: Dana?! SCULLY: I want to go there with Mulder. Alex and Missy are at home, they could help you with the farm. MAGGIE (sighing): I knew nothing would change your mind. ********* Oregon May 7th, 1868, 7:01 pm Scully and Mulder have been riding since morning. SCULLY: We have to make a detour. MULDER: Why? SCULLY: It's getting dark. There is a cabin there. MULDER: OK. What kind of refuge is it? SCULLY: It was used by hunters and herders, but now it's empty. They ride for a while in silence. SCULLY: You came west for the meteorite, didn't you? Mulder smiles. Scully laughs. MULDER: Hey. You know, I found a better reason to stay. SCULLY: And that would be? MULDER: Try looking in a mirror, you'll see it for yourself. Scully blushes. MULDER: I know a song about the west. SCULLY: Sing it. MULDER: Will you laugh? SCULLY: No, please, sing it. MULDER: Together, we will go our way Together, we will leave someday Together, your hand in my hands Together, we will make our plans SCULLY: Hey, that's wonderful. Go on! MULDER: Together, we will fly so high Together, tell all our friends goodbye Together, we will start life new Together, this is what we'll do! SCULLY: That was great! Who taught it to you? MULDER: I don't know. Maybe I heard it somewhere. It's my anthem. SCULLY: It isn't finished, is it? Mulder shakes his head. MULDER: Go West, life is peaceful there Go West, in the open air Go West, where the skies are blue Go West, this is what we're gonna do Together, we will love the beach Together, we will learn and teach Together, change our pace of life Together, we will work and strive I love you, I know you love me I want you, how could I disagree? So that's why, I make no protest When you say, you will do the rest MULDER: The chorus is repeated. Mulder glances at her. SCULLY: Oh... no... no, please, no. You don't want me to sing. I can't carry a tune. MULDER: It doesn't matter. Just sing. Go west... MULDER & SCULLY: Life is peaceful there Go West, in the open air Go West, where the skies are blue Go West, this is what we're gonna do Scully bursts out laughing. MULDER: Go West, sun in wintertime Go West, we will do just fine Go West, where the skies are blue Go West, this is what we're gonna do Mulder smiles at Scully. MULDER: This is my favorite part. MULDER: There where the air is free We'll be what we want to be Now if we make a stand, We'll find our promised land. SCULLY: Your promised land? Did you find it? MULDER: Sure. It wasn't a great welcome, a lady shot me... But then it was all good. SCULLY: How long will you keep on throwing that in my face? MULDER (smiling): Forever. MULDER: I know that, there are many ways to live there, in the sun or shade. Together, we will find a place to settle, where there's so much space, without rush, and the pace back east the hustling, rustling just to feed, I know I'm ready to leave too, so that's what we are gonna do. What we're gonna do is. Mulder looks at her. MULDER & SCULLY: Life is peaceful there Go West, in the open air Go West, where the skies are blue Go West, this is what we're gonna do They come upon the cabin, put the horses in the little stall, then go in. Mulder starts a fire, Scully puts down the covers to sleep. They eat in silence. MULDER (suddenly): Fox. Scully looks around. SCULLY: Sorry, I don't understand. MULDER: Fox. It's my name. Scully's eyes widened, then she bursts out laughing. SCULLY: Oh my God. That's not true. MULDER: I was serious. It's my name. I know it's terrible, so I make everyone call me Mulder. SCULLY: At least it's original. Mulder nods. SCULLY: Why did you tell me it? MULDER: I... I want you to know everything about me. SCULLY (earnest): Oh... I... I'm sorry. I... I shouldn't laugh. MULDER: It doesn't matter. (He smiles and turns off the lamp.) Good night, Dana Scully. SCULLY: Good night, Fox Mulder. ********* Bellefleur, Oregon May 8th 1868, 3:21 pm They arrive to Bellefleur. SCULLY: Well, Mulder, what now? MULDER: Well... you know, we ask here and there. SCULLY _You_ ask. I don't want to lose face. MULDER: OK, OK! Mulder gets off the horse. Mulder starts to ask to the passerby where he can find the meteorite or the crater. Nobody answers, all the people run from them. MULDER: There's something strange going on, Scully. SCULLY: Like what? MULDER: Something. I can feel it. Mulder gets on the horse and they ride toward the forest, entering it. The air is very cold. A sudden shot frightens the horses. Mulder pulls the reins and the horses calm down, but Scully's one is too frightened and she is thrown off. Mulder gets down fast and, taking Scully by the waist, brings her under a trees. Scully wriggles out from his embrace. SCULLY: What was that? MULDER: A rifle, I think. Scully starts to stand up, but Mulder keeps her down. MULDER: It's not a good idea to be a target for the hunters. SCULLY: Hunters, here? It's not the zone. MULDER: Then, that shot was meant for us. Dana dusts the leaves and sand from her pants, observing the return of calm horses. They go to their horses. SCULLY (to the horse): Idiot. MULDER: That's what happens when you mount semi-tamed horses. SCULLY: Oh good God, you have spoken with my mother. MULDER: It's a bit difficult to be in the same room with your mother and not to speak. Scully smiles. SCULLY: That's true, but this... MULDER: Wait! SCULLY: What's wrong? MULDER: I heard voices. (Mulder and Scully unholster their revolvers. They climb up the hill slowly. They found themselves in front of an abyss in the land. The shadows vanish into a black dark center.) SCULLY: Oh my God... what is that? MULDER (smiling): The crater. MALE VOICE (over field): Oh, look who is here. Mulder and Scully jolt, with their weapons in hand. There are two uniformed men walking toward them, with rifles on their shoulders. Scully seems to recognize them. SCULLY: Tom, Jerry... good morning. LAMANA: Put down the guns. We're the deputies. Scully puts away her gun, then looks at Mulder, who does the same. SCULLY: Ah... Mulder, I introduce you Tom Colton and Jerry Lamana. W-we were neighbors some years ago. COLTON: So, Dana, you converted to your vocation of queen bee? You're no longer the Iron Maiden? SCULLY (screaming at him): How you dare, Tom?! COLTON: So you did not change. You're the same Ice Queen I've always known. Scully tries to attack him, but Tom is faster and holds her strongly by the wrists securely behind her back. Scully doesn't make a sound. MULDER (screaming): Let her go! You're hurting her! Lamana pulls him back. LAMANA: That's none of your concern. MULDER: Leave her alone! CSM (appearing): Do as he says. Colton pushes Scully on the ground. Mulder goes to help her, but she pushes him away. CSM: You can't stay here. MULDER: We've come to see the... the crater. CSM: This is the border of an epidemic zone. You have to go. Now. Mulder looks closely at the crater. It's partially covered with ground. MULDER: What are you hiding? CSM: Mister Mulder, you have to go away. MULDER: We have the right to know! You can't bury the truth! CSM: Take them away. COLTON (staring at Scully): With the good or the bad methods? SCULLY: Colton, I'll break your neck... Mulder goes between Dana and Tom. MULDER: That's all right, we'll go by ourselves. (To Scully) Let's go, Dana. Scully looks at the three men. SCULLY: You'll pay for this. Mulder and Scully mount the horses and go away. CSM (to the men): Keep on covering it. Make the crater invisible. (CSM takes a cigarette and lights it.) (Later, Scully is walking a few meters ahead of Mulder. He tries to stand beside her, but she walks off. They don't speak to each other.) ********* Oregon May 10th 1868, 1:12 pm Mulder and Scully are in the cabin. They seem to be asleep. There's a fire in the fireplace. Mulder opens his eyes, he's full awake. He listens to the silence. There's the light sound of weeping. Mulder sits up and goes to Scully. He puts a hand on her shoulder. She starts and pulls away from him, sitting up. MULDER: Dana, it's me. It's Mulder. SCULLY (dryly): I noticed that. What do you want? MULDER: What's wrong? SCULLY: You woke me up. Go back to sleep. MULDER: You weren't asleep. You were crying. What's wrong? Scully's face is wet with tears. SCULLY: I was _not_ crying, Mulder. You woke me up. I didn't shoot you, because I'm sleepy, and I didn't want to get up to find my gun. Mulder nods. Scully is still, sitting, staring at him. Mulder passes the palm of his hand over her wet cheek. MULDER: Those nicknames hurt, don't they? Dana bites her lip, trying to not cry in front of him. Then she nods. MULDER: I know. People call to me "Spooky". Dana lowers her head. MULDER: They're just idiots. SCULLY: I know that. MULDER: But it hurts the same, doesn't it? SCULLY: Yeah... I'm... I'm sorry you couldn't see your meteorite. MULDER: It's not important. (He hugs her.) Nothing really matters, I just want to have you with me. Scully smiles. SCULLY: I do not know what was under there, Mulder. But I'm sure they were hiding it. Mulder nodded. He lies down with her on his chest. She breathes in his familiar smell. SCULLY (whispering): It's such an unfair world. Even you think I'm cold, don't you? MULDER: You're not cold. You're strong. And that annoys men. Scully nods. SCULLY: It's true. It's an awful life. You know, Mulder... (She looks at him) You know... I... I didn't want to be a doctor. I wanted to be with the a Sheriff Deputy. MULDER (smiling): I was one of them. SCULLY: Really?! MULDER: Yes... For two years... Then I quit. They were all corrupt. Dana sighed. SCULLY: It isn't fair. Everyone thinks it's men's work. I... I don't think... it's true... like being a doctor... MULDER: Scully, the fact is that the world is sexist... SCULLY: The world is awful. Mulder caresses her hair sweetly. MULDER: That's why we have to make it better. SCULLY: We? Mulder nods. MULDER: You and me. SCULLY (skeptically): And what can we do? MULDER: Fight. Fight for the justice. For equal rights, those ones declared in Philadelphia but never seriously respected. SCULLY: For giving the women the right to become a doctor? MULDER: For giving you the vote, the right to any profession, to wear pants, to drink what you want, and to become a Sheriff Deputy... SCULLY: You really think so? MULDER: Yes. SCULLY: There will never be a world like that. MULDER: Maybe not now, but someday it will be... SCULLY: And we'll already be dead. MULDER: Maybe. But we'll have done something to make that better world. Dana closes her eyes. SCULLY: Thank you, Mulder. MULDER: You're welcome. SCULLY: By the way, it's true. MULDER: What? SCULLY: That I'm an Ice Queen. MULDER: No, Dana, don't say that. SCULLY: No, it's true. 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. Mulder delicately kisses her on the forehead. Scully smiles. SCULLY: Have you found your promised land, Fox Mulder? MULDER: Yes, I have. SCULLY: Have you found your house? MULDER: Wherever our home may be, will be wherever we happen to be. Scully takes his hand. SCULLY: My place is here with you now. ********* Oregon May 10th 1998, 7:07 am Scully is lying on the bed, hugging a pillow. Two knocks come from the door. SCULLY (asleep, mumbling): Not now... please, I want to stay in his arms for a bit more... MULDER (behind the door): Scully, can I come in? Scully's eyes pop open. She looks down and sees that it's just a pillow. She puts it under her head. The door opens a bit. Mulder glances inside. MULDER: Scully? Scully, are you OK? SCULLY: Yes, Mulder... yes... Mulder opens the door to see her. MULDER: What are you still doing in bed? SCULLY: What? What am I doing? I'm composing a sonnet. She sighs and opens her eyes. SCULLY: It's Saturday... MULDER (happily): I know that. Let's get dress. We've got a case. Scully puts her head under the pillow and mumbles something, then she sits up. SCULLY: Mulder, it's cold... why Oregon? MULDER: Mhmmm... What if you told you that there is a UFO buried under 20 meters of earth? THE END (...well, not exactly...) ********* Yepa! There is always the sun, behind the clouds... In fact after a period of total dark this story has been born and ended in... one week? Nun ce posso crede'! (I can't believe it, said by Aldo). The beautiful song sung by Mulder is " Go West " by Pet Shop Boys. For anyone who didn't see them, the quotes come from: Anasazi Pilot Beyond the Sea Tempus Fugit Gethsemane Terma Christmas Carol Pilot Talitha Cumi Quagmire Detour Squeeze Ghost in the Machine 731 Christmas Carol Memento Mori [Juice Cliché] Drive If there are other quotes I didn't write, please, tell me because I lost them... :) BTW: the remark "Tom & Jerry" was coincidental. ********* Thank you for reading. If you have any comments: xmcarter@libero.it Visit my web-page "The City of Stars" at http://digilander.iol.it/xbellatrix/ And the Italian Virtual Season http://digilander.iol.it/xbellatrix/ivs/ *********