Written by: David Amann
Directed by: Kim Manners
Directed by: Kim Manners
Inside an abandoned apartment building in a deserted part of town, Doggett sees a figure bolt out of one of the rooms into the night. Shortly thereafter, he hears a scratching sound and steps up to a wet plaster wall. He claws away at the plaster until ribbons of red blood begin streaming downward.
With help from morgue assistant Diener, Scully performs an autopsy on the body Doggett found behind the wet plaster. She reviews her findings with FBI cadets, one of whom, Rudolph Hayes, accurately guesses that the victim hooked up with the wrong man at a bar. Using Hayes' uncanny insights, Scully realizes that this murder is connected to another killing two weeks earlier. Doggett wonders why someone tipped him off about the murder to begin with, as it is clearly not an X-Files case.
Later, Doggett and Reyes approach Hayes, who tells them the killer they're looking for is a felon linked to organised crime, contradicting the agents' profile. Reyes and Doggett then visit a bar and talk to Nicholas Regali, a tough mobster who claims he's in town looking for work. Hayes' intuition about Regali proves correct.
Meanwhile, Hayes returns to his apartment, the walls of which are covered with crime scene photos of murder victims, including one of Doggett's son. Doggett is so impressed by Hayes' gift for solving crimes that he asks him to look into his son's murder. Hayes takes Doggett to his apartment and tells him that if he sits very quietly, the photographs tell him things. He also admits that he has been following the case of Doggett's son's death for a very long time, and shows Doggett a mug shot of Robert Harvey, a suspect in the murder. Hayes believes Harvey abducted Doggett's son... but that Regali killed him.
Doggett approaches Brad Follmer, who worked in the New York organized crime division, and asks him to look into any connection between Regali and Robert Harvey. Doggett convinces his ex-wife Barbara to come to an identity parade, but she does not recognize Regali.
Meanwhile, Scully finds similarities between the wounds inflicted on Doggett's son nine years earlier and those on the bodies of the two women recently murdered. Checking through files on Regali, Doggett finds it odd that he has served so little jail time since the late Eighties, despite his connection to illegal activities. He begins to suspect that someone in the FBI is on the take.
Later, Follmer informs Reyes and Doggett that Rudolph Hayes died in an automobile accident in 1978... and that Cadet Hayes' is really Stuart Mimms, a mental patient. Follmer also uncovers evidence that Mimms was living in New York City at the time Doggett's son was murdered. A SWAT team storms Mimm's apartment and takes him into custody. Mimms is placed in a police lineup...and Barbara identifies him.
At a secret meeting between Follmer and Regali, it becomes clear that Follmer took money from Regali to make an indictment go away. Mimms tells Scully that he was drawn to the Doggett case only after he noticed an article about the boy's murder in a newspaper. He claims he lied to the FBI to become a cadet so he could have access to the Bureau's inner workings and help solve the case. He tells Doggett that Regali murdered his son.
Approached by Doggett, Regali tells him a "hypothetical" story, in which a paedophile takes a young boy to a mobster's home. The mobster walks in on the paedophile, and the young boy sees the mobster's face. Fearing the boy might associate him with the crime, the mobster has him killed. Regali then rises and walks towards the exit.
Filled with rage, Doggett unsnaps his holster. A gunshot rings out, but it's from Follmer's gun, and kills Regali. The mystery of their son's death now solved, Doggett and his wife make their way to a beach and scatter their son's ashes into the water.
Notes:This episode marks the final appearance of Cary Elwes as A.D. Brad Follmer. Presumably, after he killed Regali at the climax, the video tape depicting his accepting a bribe landed at the Washington Post, resulting in Follmer's dismissal from the FBI, and possibly even being sent to prison on charges of taking bribes and murder. Still, it showed that Follmer wasn't a complete creep, as previous episodes led several viewers to think.
The actor who portrays Cadet Hayes (Jared Poe) was actually a writing intern on the show.
The woman playing Agent Doggett's wife in this episode (as well as in ''John Doe'') is Robert Patrick's real life wife, Barbara Patrick.
Quotes:
Scully: Jane Doe. Found last night entombed in a tenement wall by an agent who was following an anonymous tip. Time of death, approximately 2100 hours, from three stab wounds to the abdomen. Dirt and clay were found under the nails of her right hand.
First Cadet: What are those lacerations on her arms and feet?
Scully: Predation — from rats. The agent was led to her body by the sound of their feeding. Anyone?
First Cadet: She was killed some place else. She clawed at the dirt before succumbing to her injuries.
Scully: That's possible. Now what else would help us ID this victim — find the killer?
Cadet Hayes: It's obvious, isn't it?
Scully: What is?
Cadet Hayes: The chipped nail polish. The drugstore hair rinse. This is a single woman, unemployed. That's why no one's IDed her. You found blood alcohol?
Scully: Point zero four.
Cadet Hayes: She hooked up with the wrong man in a bar. He killed her. This man has killed before.
Scully: And you know that because...?
Cadet Hayes: That bruise beneath her ribs? It's from the hilt of a knife. The killer intended a single blow... the blade thrusting upward at a 45° angle into the heart, causing death instantly. But she struggled, so he missed. Then he got mad. Like I said... obvious.
Doggett: Cadet Hayes? Rudolph Hayes? I'm Agent Doggett. This is Agent Reyes. (Cadet Hayes smells the arm) Is that part of the training here, Cadet — smelling body parts? Cadet Hayes: This man's flesh smells of creosote... but his skin is soft. Untanned. He worked indoors. A hardware store, probably. The tear marks at his elbow go from left to right. He was broadsided in a car accident. His hands gripped the wheel so hard... his thumb bone snapped on impact.
Doggett: You determined all that, just by looking at that arm?
Cadet Hayes: I see things.
Reyes: We came to thank you. Because of your analysis, we were able to work up a profile, to catch the man who murdered those women.
Cadet Hayes: What's the profile?
Doggett: White male, 25 to 35, ex-military. Employed near the bars where he met... why are you shaking your head?
Cadet Hayes: The profile's wrong. Your killer is in his 40s. A felon recently arrived from out of state. His parole officer thinks he's looking for a job. He already has one — working for organized crime. He's killed many people. He's going to keep on killing. (He walks away)
Reyes: Kind of annoying, isn't he?
Doggett: You determined all that, just by looking at that arm?
Cadet Hayes: I see things.
Reyes: We came to thank you. Because of your analysis, we were able to work up a profile, to catch the man who murdered those women.
Cadet Hayes: What's the profile?
Doggett: White male, 25 to 35, ex-military. Employed near the bars where he met... why are you shaking your head?
Cadet Hayes: The profile's wrong. Your killer is in his 40s. A felon recently arrived from out of state. His parole officer thinks he's looking for a job. He already has one — working for organized crime. He's killed many people. He's going to keep on killing. (He walks away)
Reyes: Kind of annoying, isn't he?
Doggett: How long you been standing there? Cadet Hayes: Not long.
Doggett: I'm glad you dropped by. Wanted to tell you we hit pay dirt with your profile. No arrests yet, but we're building our case.
Cadet Hayes: There's something else.
Doggett: There's another case I'd like you to take a look at. Seven-year-old boy... rides his bike around the block. His mom's on the porch, counting his laps. He waves to her every time he goes by, and after six laps, he doesn't come back around. She goes looking for him. She finds this bike lying on the sidewalk. There's... no witnesses no ransom demands, no clue as to who took him or why. The cops search door-to-door, block-to-block for two days. Nothing. No news at all. And after three days, they find him in a field. It's all in here. Particulars... about my son. I've been over this, I don't know how many times, but after nine years, there's not a lot to go on. You were such a big help yesterday. If there's anything you see here...
Cadet Hayes: Agent Doggett, that case I helped you with yesterday? That is your son's.
Doggett: I'm glad you dropped by. Wanted to tell you we hit pay dirt with your profile. No arrests yet, but we're building our case.
Cadet Hayes: There's something else.
Doggett: There's another case I'd like you to take a look at. Seven-year-old boy... rides his bike around the block. His mom's on the porch, counting his laps. He waves to her every time he goes by, and after six laps, he doesn't come back around. She goes looking for him. She finds this bike lying on the sidewalk. There's... no witnesses no ransom demands, no clue as to who took him or why. The cops search door-to-door, block-to-block for two days. Nothing. No news at all. And after three days, they find him in a field. It's all in here. Particulars... about my son. I've been over this, I don't know how many times, but after nine years, there's not a lot to go on. You were such a big help yesterday. If there's anything you see here...
Cadet Hayes: Agent Doggett, that case I helped you with yesterday? That is your son's.
Doggett: Assistant Director? Can I have a minute? Assistant Director Follmer: It's not a good time. I'm off to a meeting with the Director.
Doggett: This can't wait.
Assistant Director Follmer: And the Director can? Okay, you've got one minute.
Doggett: When you were in New York, you worked the organised crime task force, right?
Assistant Director Follmer: Mm-hmm.
Doggett: Did you ever hear of a guy named Nicholas Regali?
Assistant Director Follmer: Yeah, he was a... collector, a low-level thug. Why are you asking, Agent Doggett?
Doggett: When the New York office was investigating my son's death, his name never came up.
Assistant Director Follmer: Well, why would it? You have reason to believe he was involved?
Doggett: I've got no evidence, but somebody's telling me he's mixed-up with the suspect in my son's kidnapping, this Bob Harvey.
Assistant Director Follmer: Well, I never heard that. And I'm sure I'd remember. You want me to ask around and pull some files? I'll see what I can find.
Doggett: I'd appreciate it.
Doggett: This can't wait.
Assistant Director Follmer: And the Director can? Okay, you've got one minute.
Doggett: When you were in New York, you worked the organised crime task force, right?
Assistant Director Follmer: Mm-hmm.
Doggett: Did you ever hear of a guy named Nicholas Regali?
Assistant Director Follmer: Yeah, he was a... collector, a low-level thug. Why are you asking, Agent Doggett?
Doggett: When the New York office was investigating my son's death, his name never came up.
Assistant Director Follmer: Well, why would it? You have reason to believe he was involved?
Doggett: I've got no evidence, but somebody's telling me he's mixed-up with the suspect in my son's kidnapping, this Bob Harvey.
Assistant Director Follmer: Well, I never heard that. And I'm sure I'd remember. You want me to ask around and pull some files? I'll see what I can find.
Doggett: I'd appreciate it.
Barbara Doggett: Agent Scully? I'm Barbara. John's ex-wife. Scully: Hi. I'm Dana. Nice to meet you.
Barbara Doggett: He said you'd be coming by.
Scully: You weren't able to make an identification?
Barbara Doggett: I didn't expect to. You know he doesn't think clearly about this. He can't.
Scully: He blames himself.
Barbara Doggett: He thinks he failed Luke. In his mind, he can never do enough, never suffer enough, for what happened. I think if you can help him find the man who did this, maybe... he could move on. He and Monica could really have something together. He just won't let her in. They're letting him go?
Doggett: For now.
Barbara Doggett: I'll be at my mom's 'til tomorrow. (She leaves)
Doggett: Tell me you got something.
Scully: As you asked, I compared the wounds inflicted on your son, with the wounds on these two women.
Doggett: And?
Scully: There are similarities between the trajectory of the wounds and the force with which they were delivered.
Doggett: Meaning Regali's the guy.
Scully: Meaning that it was a brilliant forensic deduction on Cadet Hayes's part. But that's all it is. The killer used different weapons, he demonstrated no consistent MO and no clear victimology.
Reyes: None of it will hold up in court.
Doggett: Well, something out there will.
Barbara Doggett: He said you'd be coming by.
Scully: You weren't able to make an identification?
Barbara Doggett: I didn't expect to. You know he doesn't think clearly about this. He can't.
Scully: He blames himself.
Barbara Doggett: He thinks he failed Luke. In his mind, he can never do enough, never suffer enough, for what happened. I think if you can help him find the man who did this, maybe... he could move on. He and Monica could really have something together. He just won't let her in. They're letting him go?
Doggett: For now.
Barbara Doggett: I'll be at my mom's 'til tomorrow. (She leaves)
Doggett: Tell me you got something.
Scully: As you asked, I compared the wounds inflicted on your son, with the wounds on these two women.
Doggett: And?
Scully: There are similarities between the trajectory of the wounds and the force with which they were delivered.
Doggett: Meaning Regali's the guy.
Scully: Meaning that it was a brilliant forensic deduction on Cadet Hayes's part. But that's all it is. The killer used different weapons, he demonstrated no consistent MO and no clear victimology.
Reyes: None of it will hold up in court.
Doggett: Well, something out there will.
Nicholas Regali: Nice car. I remember when they had you banging around in a ten-year-old Impala. Now look at you. Mr Assistant Director. Assistant Director Follmer: You got lucky. He has another suspect.
Nicholas Regali: You came down here to tell me that?
Assistant Director Follmer: There's something I need to know. Were you in any way involved in the death of John Doggett's son?
Nicholas Regali: Since when do you ask me questions?
Assistant Director Follmer: Were you involved!
Nicholas Regali: Course not. What kind of guy do you think I am?
Assistant Director Follmer: That's it, I'm done, Regali.
Nicholas Regali: Done?
Assistant Director Follmer: With you, with this, with this whole thing.
Nicholas Regali: And if I say no, what are you going to do? You know, if I'm you, right now I'm thinking 'I could pop this guy right here and who's going to know it's not self defence'. Well, let me remind you, anything happens to me a videotape lands at the Washington Post showing a young Brad Follmer taking cash from yours truly to make an indictment go away. You're done when I say you're done.
Nicholas Regali: You came down here to tell me that?
Assistant Director Follmer: There's something I need to know. Were you in any way involved in the death of John Doggett's son?
Nicholas Regali: Since when do you ask me questions?
Assistant Director Follmer: Were you involved!
Nicholas Regali: Course not. What kind of guy do you think I am?
Assistant Director Follmer: That's it, I'm done, Regali.
Nicholas Regali: Done?
Assistant Director Follmer: With you, with this, with this whole thing.
Nicholas Regali: And if I say no, what are you going to do? You know, if I'm you, right now I'm thinking 'I could pop this guy right here and who's going to know it's not self defence'. Well, let me remind you, anything happens to me a videotape lands at the Washington Post showing a young Brad Follmer taking cash from yours truly to make an indictment go away. You're done when I say you're done.
Scully: It's all in there. How you defrauded the FBI with a false identity in order to gain admittance to the Academy. We know who you really are. We know about your history with schizophrenia. We know that you orchestrated this entire thing in order to get close to Agent Doggett. Cadet Hayes: I've been recognised, by Agent Doggett's ex-wife, who failed to identify Nicholas Regali in that same room yesterday.
Scully: Because Nicholas Regali did not kill Agent Doggett's son. You did.
Cadet Hayes: That's one explanation.
Doggett: It's the explanation.
Cadet Hayes: No.
Doggett: Then what is? WHAT IS?
Cadet Hayes: I told you before, Agent Doggett. I studied the photos of your son's death. They called to me. I don't know why, but it was a message, and I listened.
Scully: And then you killed Agent Doggett's son.
Cadet Hayes: I studied his case obsessively. I'm a schizophrenic. That's what schizophrenics do. Obsess. I watched Agent Doggett. I watched his ex-wife, too. She can't tell you how she recognises me, just that she does.
Doggett: You're a liar. You lied to the FBI. You're lying now.
Cadet Hayes: Would you have listened to me otherwise? A mental patient with insight into your son's death? I wanted to get close to you, Agent Doggett. To help you.
Doggett: You gave me that tip. To find the woman's body in the wall.
Cadet Hayes: Regali associated with the man who abducted your son. I called you so that you could catch him. I've received another message. I'd like to go back home now, to the institution.
Scully: Because Nicholas Regali did not kill Agent Doggett's son. You did.
Cadet Hayes: That's one explanation.
Doggett: It's the explanation.
Cadet Hayes: No.
Doggett: Then what is? WHAT IS?
Cadet Hayes: I told you before, Agent Doggett. I studied the photos of your son's death. They called to me. I don't know why, but it was a message, and I listened.
Scully: And then you killed Agent Doggett's son.
Cadet Hayes: I studied his case obsessively. I'm a schizophrenic. That's what schizophrenics do. Obsess. I watched Agent Doggett. I watched his ex-wife, too. She can't tell you how she recognises me, just that she does.
Doggett: You're a liar. You lied to the FBI. You're lying now.
Cadet Hayes: Would you have listened to me otherwise? A mental patient with insight into your son's death? I wanted to get close to you, Agent Doggett. To help you.
Doggett: You gave me that tip. To find the woman's body in the wall.
Cadet Hayes: Regali associated with the man who abducted your son. I called you so that you could catch him. I've received another message. I'd like to go back home now, to the institution.
Nicholas Regali: Well, well. It's the FBI agent. Doggett: I'm not here as an FBI agent. I'm here as a father.
Nicholas Regali: Whoa. What could that mean?
Doggett: I want to know what happened to my son.
Nicholas Regali: I don't know who killed your son. But I like you, FBI. I really do. I'll tell you how it could have happened, hypothetically. Say there was this guy — a businessman. And say this businessman, in the course of doing business, has to associate with any number of thugs, sickos, perverts. Like Bob Harvey, for example. Say this Bob Harvey likes little boys. Yeah. Disgusting. Say one day, Bob Harvey sees a little boy riding a bike, and he can't stand it. He grabs the boy. So Harvey takes the boy back to his place only he doesn't tell the businessman what he's doing. So the businessman walks in on him. You see what I'm saying, FBI? The boy sees the businessman's face. The businessman who never did nothing to this little boy. That's a problem. Well... every problem has got a solution, right? (He walks out of the bar. Doggett follows him, but has only just stood up when a shot is heard outside. Nicholas Regali is dead, shot through the eye)
Woman: Oh my god! He shot him! He just took out his gun and shot him!
Nicholas Regali: Whoa. What could that mean?
Doggett: I want to know what happened to my son.
Nicholas Regali: I don't know who killed your son. But I like you, FBI. I really do. I'll tell you how it could have happened, hypothetically. Say there was this guy — a businessman. And say this businessman, in the course of doing business, has to associate with any number of thugs, sickos, perverts. Like Bob Harvey, for example. Say this Bob Harvey likes little boys. Yeah. Disgusting. Say one day, Bob Harvey sees a little boy riding a bike, and he can't stand it. He grabs the boy. So Harvey takes the boy back to his place only he doesn't tell the businessman what he's doing. So the businessman walks in on him. You see what I'm saying, FBI? The boy sees the businessman's face. The businessman who never did nothing to this little boy. That's a problem. Well... every problem has got a solution, right? (He walks out of the bar. Doggett follows him, but has only just stood up when a shot is heard outside. Nicholas Regali is dead, shot through the eye)
Woman: Oh my god! He shot him! He just took out his gun and shot him!
Episode Number: 199 Season Number: 9
First Aired: Sunday, May 5, 2002
Production Code: 9X16
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