Season 7: Closure (7X11)

Written by: Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz
Directed by: Kim Manners

Mulder and Scully aid the Sacramento Police in their investigate of Scruloff, the owner of the Santa Village, as more children's bodies are uncovered. He admits to having killed 24 children, but refuses to take the blame for Amber's death. Mulder is approached by psychic, Harold Piller, he explains that he has helped police forces around the world and has found evidence that children's bodies have been taken from accident scenes by ''Walk-ins''.

He believes that they save the children from terrible fates. Scully worried about Harold's influence over Mulder in his vulnerable state returns to Washington to investigate further. Back in California, Harold has a vision of Mulder's mother that leads them to the April Air Force Base.

Meanwhile Scully discovers documents in Tena Mulder's house that link back to the Cigarette Smoking Man, when she returns to her apartment she finds him waiting there. He explains that he called off the search for Samantha ecause he knew she was dead.

Mulder however uncovers evidence that Samantha was living with the Cigarette Smoking Man and his son, Jeffrey Spender at April Air Force Base. When Scully finds a police report in 1979 of a runaway fitting Samantha's description taken to a hospital emergency room. They trace the nurse who treated her, who describes the girl disappearing in similar circumstances to Amber. Mulder has a vision of Samantha and realises she is in a better place, a realisation that at last enables him to feel free.

Notes:
This episode's tagline changes to 'Believe to Understand', signifying Mulder's realisation of his sister's demise.

Deleted Scene: Scully and 2 cops question Harold Piller.

Quotes:
Mulder: (voiceover) They said the birds refused to sing and the thermometer fell suddenly... as if God Himself had His breath stolen away. No one there dared speak aloud, as much in shame as in sorrow. They uncovered the bodies one by one. The eyes of the dead were closed as if waiting for permission to open them. Were they still dreaming of ice cream and monkey bars? Of birthday cake and no future but the afternoon? Or had their innocence been taken along with their lives, buried in the cold earth so long ago? These fates seemed too cruel, even for God to allow. Or are the tragic young born again when the world's not looking? I want to believe so badly; in a truth beyond our own, hidden and obscured from all but the most sensitive eyes... In the endless procession of souls, in what cannot and will not be destroyed. I want to believe we are unaware of God's eternal recompense and sadness. That we cannot see His truth. That that which is born still lives and cannot be buried in the cold earth. But only waits to be born again at God's behest... where in ancient starlight we lay, in repose.

Mulder: How long have you been doing this?

Harold Piller: A few years. I have a son who disappeared... under strange circumstances. He's never been found. And then one day I just, uh... started to see them.
Mulder: These walk-ins — you say they come and take the children. Why?
Harold Piller: In almost every case the parents had a precognitive image of their child dead. Horrible visions. I believe what this is, is the work of good spirits. Foretelling their fates. The fate the child was about to meet. A particularly violent fate that wasn't meant to be... which is why the spirits intervene transforming matter into pure energy. Starlight. But it's not what happened here.
Mulder: How do you know that?
Harold Piller: Because these children... all died suffering. Pleading innocently for their lives. These beautiful children, so... trusting and pure. I see them. My God, why? Why must some suffer and not others?
Mulder: You see them. Do you see Amber Lynn LaPierre?
Harold Piller: She wasn't here. She never was. But I'm... I'm sensing a connection with her... to this place. It... No, it's a connection to... It's a connection to you.
Mulder: How's that?
Harold Piller: You lost someone close to you. A young girl. It happened a... a long time ago. A sister. There's a connection between these girls, isn't there? Between her and Amber Lynn.
Mulder: What is the connection?
Harold Piller: I don't know. But we're going to find them. I'm sure of it.

Smoking Man: I should've grabbed it for you. I like to make myself useful.

Scully: You can start by putting out that cigarette.
Smoking Man: Got it all figured out, don't you, Agent Scully?
Scully: All but why you can't just come to the door and knock.
Smoking Man: I did that. No one answered.
Scully: You're sick.
Smoking Man: I had an operation.
Scully: What do you want?
Smoking Man: I want you to stop looking.
Scully: You've wanted that since 1973... when you ordered an end to the search for Agent Mulder's sister. Your initials are on that document.
Smoking Man: Yes, I signed that order because I knew then what I know now: No one's going to find her.
Scully: Why not?
Smoking Man: Because I believe she's dead. No reason to believe otherwise.
Scully: You're a liar. If you knew that she was dead why didn't you say something earlier? Why now?
Smoking Man: There was so much to protect before. It's all gone now.
Scully: So you just let Mulder believe that she was alive for all these years.
Smoking Man: Out of kindness, Agent Scully. Allow him his ignorance. It's what gives him hope.

Scully: When did you come up with this story, Mulder? Because yesterday, when I spoke to you, you said that the Smoking Man wasn't involved.

Mulder: Well, it turns out you were right, Scully. He had every reason to call off the hunt for my sister. After her abduction, she was returned to him and he raised her at the military base along with his son, Jeffrey Spender.
Scully: Mulder...
Mulder: Scully, I saw her name in the cement. Her handprints, right next to his.
Scully: Mulder, I spoke to him. The Smoking Man, CGB Spender, whatever his name is...
Mulder: You went to him?
Scully: He told me that she was dead.
Mulder: Oh, well... he's a liar.
Scully: Mulder, why would he lie now? I mean, think about it. It hurts me to tell you this.
Mulder: The handprints prove he's a liar! I saw her handprints in the cement. Her name, Samantha, right underneath them. How more obvious can it be? Harold Piller led me there. He led me right to them.
Scully: Oh, he led you, Mulder. He led you from the moment that he met you.

Mulder: You know, I never stop to think... that the light is billions of years old by the time we see it. From the beginning of time right past us into the future. Nothing is ancient in the universe. But, maybe they are souls, Scully. Travelling through time as starlight, looking for homes. I wonder what my mother saw. And I wonder what she was trying to tell me.

Scully: Go get some sleep.
Mulder: All right.

Highlights from ''Sein und Zeit'' and ''Closure''

Episode Number: 150
Season Number: 7
First Aired: Sunday, February 13, 2000
Production Code: 7X11

Season 7: Sein und Zeit (7X10)

Written by: Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz
Directed by: Michael Watkins

When a young girl, Amber Lynn LaPierre disappears from her home and the only clue is an abduction note written in her mother's hand writing, Mulder requested Assistant Director Skinner assigns him to the case. Scully is worried that Mulder is personalizing the case, linking it to his sister Samantha's abduction.

Mulder connects the phrase, 'no one shoots at Santa Claus', from the abduction note to a previous case. They visit Kathy Lee Tencate in the Idaho state prison, in 1987 she was convicted of murder on the evidence of a similar note found written in her handwriting after her son disappeared. Kathy is at first reluctant to help them, but eventually tells them that she knows her son is safe.

On their return to Washington they discover that Mulder's mother, Tena Mulder, has taken her own life. Mulder refuses to believe that she committed suicide until Scully's autopsy reveals his mother was suffering from a terminal illness and knew about it. Mulder returns to see Kathy, who opens up to him, revealing that she has seen visions of her son.

He has been taken by 'Walk-ins', enlightened souls looking for new bodies. She believe Mulder's sister met a similar fate. Mulder finds an answer phone message from his mother, explaining that she left many things unsaid and hopes he will come to understand, Mulder takes this to mean about his sister. Mrs LaPierre contacts Mulder saying that she has seen a vision of Amber, it leads them to a Santa village and a number of shallow graves.

Notes:
'Sein Und Zeit' means "Being and Time" and is the title of a rather famous 1927 philosophy book by world renowned philosopher Martin Heidegger. It deals with our existence - being.

In the episode's teaser, Bud LaPierre is watching ''Harsh Realm'' (Chris Carter's short-lived and grossly un-promoted drama series) on television. Mr. LaPierre commented to Mulder that he didn't know what it was called (probably since it wasn't well promoted by Fox), but that it was good. On a related note, the actor playing Mr. LaPierre (Mark Rolston) was in the 2nd episode of ''Harsh Realm'' as a bounty hunter.

Quotes:
Mulder: Mr And Mrs LaPierre, my name is Fox Mulder. I'm a Special Agent with the FBI and I have a lot of experience with crimes like the one that took place here. Now I know you've made a statement to the police but I'd like to ask you some questions about that and I'd like you to answer in as much detail as both you and your lawyer are comfortable with. I want to ask you about the note you found. Where did you find it?
Bud LaPierre: In my daughter's bedroom.
Mulder: When?
Bud LaPierre: When I went to check on her.
Mulder: Um, do you know what time that was?
Bud LaPierre: 9:30, I think. Right about then. I was watching TV in here.
Mulder: What were you watching?
Bud LaPierre: I never heard of it before. It was good.
Mulder: What about you, Mrs LaPierre?
Billie LaPierre: I was in bed already.
Mulder: Were you asleep?
Billie LaPierre: Half.
Mulder: Is that Amber Lynn's bedroom that I saw down the hallway there?
Billie LaPierre: Yes.
Mulder: Do you always lock your doors at night even if you're home?
Billie LaPierre: Yes.
Mulder: You know most of your neighbours, I bet, up and down the street. You're on good terms with them?
Bud LaPierre: Most of them, yes.
Mulder: Can you think of anyone that might have wanted to hurt Amber Lynn?
Billie LaPierre: No.

Scully: That was utterly irresponsible, Mulder. It was out of line and it was without any basis in reality.

Mulder: Do you think that woman could have killed her son?
Scully: She was convicted in a court of law.
Mulder: So how do you explain those two notes written ten years apart could contain the same obscure phrase?
Scully: I can't explain it, Mulder, but you're doing exactly what I said. You're personalising this case.
Mulder: No, I'm going to solve this case. I am going to solve it.
Scully: How?
Mulder: I'm going to find those kids.
Scully: What if they're dead, Mulder? Don't go looking for something you don't want to find.

Scully: Mulder...

Mulder: I didn't... Why would she do this? It just doesn't make any sense.
Scully: We never truly know why.
Mulder: No, she wouldn't kill herself. Why are these pictures gone? There were photos here. There were photos of my sister and I. This is all that she had left of us and they're missing. Why...? She saw me on the news. She wanted to talk about the missing girl, Amber Lynn. She wanted to tell me something about her, or maybe she couldn't tell me over the phone because she was afraid that they would do something like this to her.
Scully: Who?
Mulder: Whoever took my sister. Look at this place. I mean, it's like... it's all staged — the pills, the oven, the tape. It's like a bad movie script. They would... they would have come here and they would have threatened her. She would be upset; they would have to sedate her. I would look for a, uh... a needle puncture mark or something else in her system besides these pills.
Scully: No, Mulder. Please don't ask me to do this.
Mulder: Scully, who else can I ask?
Scully: An autopsy, Mulder? I mean, it's one thing on a stranger but you're my friend, and she's your mother...
Mulder: I know, but if you don't do it, I might never know the truth.

Mulder: Scully, these parents who have lost... who've lost their children... They've had visions of their sons and daughters in scenarios that never happened but which they describe in notes that came through them as automatic writing and words that came through them psychically from old souls protecting the children. My mother must have written a note like that herself. Describing the scenario of my sister's disappearance of her, of her abduction by aliens. Don't you see, Scully? It never happened. All these visions that I've had have just been... they've been to help me cope, to help me deal with the loss but... I've been looking for my sister in the wrong place. That's... what my mother was trying to tell me. That's what she was trying to warn me about. That's why they killed her.

Scully: Your mother killed herself, Mulder. I conducted the autopsy. She was dying of an incurable disease. An untreatable and horribly disfiguring disease called Paget's Carcinoma. She knew it. There were doctor's records. She didn't want to live. Mulder...
Mulder: She was trying to tell me something. She was... trying to tell me something.
Scully: Mulder, she was trying to tell you to stop. To stop looking for your sister. She was just trying to take away your pain.

Clip from ''Sein und Zeit''

Episode Number: 149
Season Number: 7
First Aired: Sunday, February 6, 2000
Production Code: 7X10