Title: "Tisk, Tisk. Decisions, Decisions"Authors: Cassie & Kristi
Date: February 3, 2001
Summary: Krycek, Skinner, Marita, and Scully get kidnapped by the Smoking-Man... decisions need to be made.
Disclaimer: Mulder, Krycek, Skinner, Marita, Scully, CSM, Alien Bounty Hunter, Doggett belong to Chris Carter, Ten-Thirteen Productions and 20th Century Fox, we borrow them for the best character manipulation around. They will be returned to normal Sunday's on FOX (9, 8 central). Kim, the bartender is our own creation, however we did name him after Kim Manners, the character in no way represents his name sake, that and for Ally, we've made him look like Adrian Paul. And Bob (the cahier man) is ours as well. The lyrics to "Material Girl" by Madonna are © 1984 Minong Publishing Company BMI, they are used without permission and no copyright infringement is intended.
FADE IN:
INT. MULDER/KRYCEK/SCULLY'S APT. - 3AM
The telephone is ringing, no one seems to be home. The answering maching picks up.
(on the machine)
You've reached the Mulder,
Krycek, Scully residence.
No one is here to take your
call, being that we are chasing
after UFOs. Leave a message after
the beep and we'll return your call
if we are lucky not to be abducted.
The machine beeps.
CUT TO:
EXT. MSK APT. - PHONE BOOTH - SCULLY
(on phone)
Come on you guys, I know
you are home! Unlock the door!
CUT TO:
INT. MSK APT. - LIVING ROOM
Krycek runs to the phone laughing, he picks up.
(on phone)
No way Scully!
SCULLY
I knew it! Krycek
come on! Unlock the
apartment building door!
So now we realize that it wasn't their own apartment door that's locked, but the whole building is locked and Scully can't get in!
No! You need to learn a
lesson, read the signs and
use the appropriate bathroom!
SCULLY
But the one you guys
assigned to me is so dirty!
KRYCEK
No! Plus you dusted
the coffee table! (beat)
We like writing 'DUST ME'
in the dust, we don't really
want it dusted!
Hey Scully. I can throw
a big cardboard box outside
if you want to sleep in
that tonight!
SCULLY
Mulder, haul your butt
down those stairs and
unlock this door!
(pissed)
Dammit!
She decides to try to find someplace else to go, as she steps out of the phone booth, a cardboard box falls in front of her, she looks up, Mulder and Krycek are leaning out of their window.
Don't hesitate to use it!
KRYCEK
It may not be comfortable,
but at least it will
keep you dry!
Mulder and Krycek laugh, Scully walks off away from the cardboard box.
You can't say we
were mean to you!
Scully keeps on walking, drenched from the rain. Eventually she reaches Manner's Bar, open 24 hours.
INT. MANNER'S BAR - MOMENTS LATER
Scully walks into the bar, the smokey air and late night regulars are there, she walks over to the bar to have a drink. A shadowy figure in the B.G. catches our eyes as he approaches Scully.
Dana, it's a surprise
seeing you here at this hour.
(not in a good mood)
What do you want?
SMOKING MAN
Have you thought about
what I've offered you?
SCULLY
Not a whole lot, why?
SMOKING MAN
(leaning in, quieter)
Negotiations are being made as we
speak... there's no stopping it, Dana.
This is your last chanse to become a
power in the whole scheme of things.
To sit side by side with me and rule the world.
SCULLY
(fully understanding)
Leave my friends and
go back to the life I
chose to leave.
SMOKING MAN
(lights up)
It's your choice of course,
you join me, you are
guaranteed your freedom.
He walks away elsewhere in the bar, leaving Scully there to think things over. Scully takes a big gulp of her drink. For her own selfish reasons, it would be best to just leave her friends (if that's what they really are), and join the Smoking Man, but then in order to help her friends, she may have to join him anyway. But how was she supposed to join him when she'd rather forget that any of this had ever happened. She liked the way her old life, or was it her chosen life, was going. She had a future with a man that she thought she loved, only to now have feelings for this Smoking son-of-a-bitch (as Krycek would say). The time is getting closer and she needs to make up her mind, but not tonight. Not under the influence of alcohol... now she wondered how many wrong decisions Krycek made under the influence...
TIME CUT: EARLY MORNING
There is a tap on her shoulder, she looks over to find Skinner.
Agent Scully?
Scully looks at him with a blank expression on her face.
Are you ok?
SCULLY
Yeah... I'm fine.
SKINNER
It's 8am (beat) when you hadn't
showed up at work, I called
in Mulder. He said he and Krycek
locked you outside the building
last night and you wandered off...
I was worried so I came to look for you.
SCULLY
(pissy)
Why? I mean it's not
like you care anymore.
SKINNER
(soft, puts hand on hers)
That's not true, Dana.
SCULLY
(moving her hand away)
Then please explain to me why
you had to break off our engagement.
(annoyed)
That's what I thought.
She signals to Kim, the bartender, for the bill.
(hesitant, quiet)
I didn't have a choice. The
Cancer-Man, he appointed me
to you and Mulder... to keep
an eye on things for him.
(chasing after her)
Scully! What's wrong?
Leave me alone Walter!
I don't need this right now!
Skinner stands there in the drizzle and watches her run off.
TIME CUT:
EXT - MSK'S APT BUILDING - FEW MINUTES LATER
Scully storms up the stairs of the apartment building, finally the door is unlocked.
CUT TO:
INT. APT HALLWAY - CON'T
Marita is outside her apartment, getting her newspaper, she sees Scully storming down the hallway, she's not sure if she should say anything, since they haven't spoken to eachother since she and Krycek told her the truth about her life. She starts to close the door... when:
(almost in tears)
Marita...
Marita opens her door.
Dana? What's wrong?
SCULLY
(Marita is leading her in)
I don't know what to do...
The Smoking Man, he's
offered me the opportunity to
basically rule the world
by his side, once the aliens
arrive...then Walter showed up...
MARITA
And...?
SCULLY
I ignored him for the most part.
They sit on the couch. Scully holds back tears. Marita sits there rubbing her back. She doesn't say anything for a few minutes, to allow Scully to calm down.
(softly)
We really need you,Dana. If you
work on the Smoking Man's side,
we may be able to stop this -
SCULLY
- How do we know this
'invasion' is for the worst?
MARITA
We don't, we just assume.
SCULLY
I don't want to do this.
I want to go about my life
the way it was. Though I
remember my life now
I'm not up to the work it
takes to continue now.
Marita takes that in and lets out a sigh.
Ok, if that's your decision,
I'll let the group know so
they can prepare without you.
(beat) I really wish you would
change your mind... I don't think
you really understand your importance
in the whole thing, but if it's what
you want -
SCULLY
- But if I'm so important -
MARITA
- That doesn't matter. Not if
you don't want to be involved,
they can find other ways.
Scully nods her head, understanding. Marita stands up.
I've got a meeting to get
ready for. You can stay here
if you like.
SCULLY
I think I'll just take a nap.
CUT TO:
INT. J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING
Skinner is taking the elevator down, he bursts into Mulder's office.
Where's Krycek?
MULDER
He had to go somewhere.
SKINNER
Did he say where?
MULDER
No but I'm suspecting
it was Cancer Man on the
phone with him before he left.
SKINNER
How do you know that?
Well... I remember him grumbling
and mumbling about 'that stupid
smoker' and then he mumbled something
about Diana, and then-
SKINNER
Yeah yeah... I get it (beat)
But where did he go and how
long ago did he leave?
MULDER
(pointing upwards)
To the parking garage
about a minute ago.
(calling to Skinner)
Watch your step, there's
some construction...
or something...
(to himself)
Guess he didn't hear me.
EXT. FBI PARKING GARAGE - MOMENTS LATER
Krycek is digging in his pocket for his keys... he is at a fast pace...
KRYCEK!
Krycek turns around.
Can't right now, Skin Man.
SKINNER
What did he want?
KRYCEK
Who?
SKINNER
(rolling his eyes)
Cancer Man!
KRYCEK
Oh... he said he needed
me to come down right away...
I'm coming with you.
Do you know something?
SKINNER
Not yet...
CUT TO:
INT. WAREHOUSE
It's empty and has obviously been abandoned for sometime. A door creeks open and Krycek enters, followed by Skinner. It's a little too quiet...
I don't like this...
You hear that?
Skinner listen for a beat.
I don't hear anything.
KRYCEK
Exactly.
(not seen)
Krycek?
HOLY SH-
Skinner gets clubbed on the back of the head and falls forward only to be whacked in the face with a metal chain, and is knocked out.
Krycek gets clubed in the stomach, pushed to the ground, then a hand violently picks up his head by his hair and slams his head into the concrete, he's kicked in the stomach to turn him over... he to is knocked out.
CUT TO:
INT. HAPPY GILLIGAN'S GROCERY STORE - NIGHT
Marita is going down the aisles carrying a basket with fruits, veggies, animal crackers and other various things, she thought she'd pick some things up on her way home from work. She turns down another aisle and spots Krycek...
Hey Alex...
He stands there with a blank experssion on his face.
What's wrong?
Some cans drop behind them, Marita turns to see the action... Bob picking up the cans. When SUDDENLY Marita gets knocked on the head and falls to the ground unconscious.
Krycek looks down at her, looks up, looks back and morphs into... da da da daah!... The Alien Bounty Hunter...
CUT TO:
MARITA'S APT - BATHROOM - NIGHT
Scully is taking a shower.
(singing)
-living in a material world.
Material, oh! (beat) Boys may
come and boys may go and that's
alight you see, experience has made
me rich and now they're after me,
cuz everybody's living in a material
world and I am a Material Girl!
Marita?
Mulder looks up from watching a turned off TV.
What are you doing here, Mulder?
(holding a piece of paper)
I have something to show you.
Is it from Marita?
CUT TO:
INT. MULDER'S OFFICE
Bored... Mulder is trying to move his desk, he stops to take a breath. He looks at how far the desk has moved... a whole 7 inches. Mulder shakes his head, he wants to put his desk back where it belongs. He looks out his door, to Doggett's office across the hallway.
(ta dah! brilliant idea)
Hey! Agent Doggett! I need
some help in here!
CUT TO:
INT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT
A dark room... spot lights come on, shining on Krycek, Skinner, and Marita... sitting on the floor tied together.
Ow!
KRYCEK
Now what?
SKINNER
It's to bright.
MARITA
Oh shut up, my head
hurts... because Krycek
hit me!
KRYCEK
That wasn't me!
MARITA
Oh sure.
KRYCEK
Would I ever hurt my girlfriend?
Why do you keep saying that?
(beat) I'm sorry to tell you
Alex, but I'm NOT your
girlfriend. Never have been,
never will be.
(cries out)
What?!
SKINNER
(tough man)
Ok, you guys, cut it out!
Any minute now those mean
men are going to come back
in here and kill us.
MARITA
(sarcastic)
Oh let's be optimistic.
So does that mean
you don't love me?
MARITA
Shut up, Alex.
I assume you know
why you are here.
KRYCEK
To take a beating.
No... I know what
you are up to.
MARITA
We're not up to anything.
Oh sure... do I look
like a fool to you?
Krycek laughs...
Umm... yeah...
You have toilet paper
stuck on your shoe!
(laughing)
Hello!
They burst out laughing some more.
(serious)
I know you are working against
me, against our initial plans
(takes a drag) I'm here to
propose an agreement.
If Scully agrees to work with
me, and not you... I'll set you free.
MARITA
Oh man... this sucks!
(groggy)
Where am I?
SMOKING MAN
(smiling)
Right in time Dana.
Dana, do you have an
answer to my offer?
Umm... I've thought about it.
SMOKING MAN
And?
SCULLY
No.
KRYCEK/MARITA/SKINNER
Oh man!
Scully looks over.
(confused)
I...I mean... ok...
but... I don't know!
The Smoking Man looks at her... waiting for a clear answer.
(after a beat)
Yes.
SMOKING MAN
(jumping up, pumps fist in air)
Oh yes!
A big sigh of relief comes from 'the peanut gallery' (Krycek, Marita and Skinner). The Smoking Man turns to the Bounty Hunter.
You may release them now.
What happened to your face?
SKINNER
(pathetic, wanting attention)
They hit me with a chain... it hurts.
KRYCEK
I'm over here.. I hurt.
SCULLY
(looking at Krycek)
Oh you're fine.
I think I sprained my ankle...
TIME CUT TO:
INT. MULDER'S OFFICE - MIDNIGHT
The desk is back where is was originally... Mulder is playing with paperdolls.
(girly voice)
Oh Agent Mulder, I love you.
(changes voice, deep manly)
Come and kiss me baby.
Suddenly, the office door flies open. Krycek, Marita, Scully and Skinner enter. Mulder shoves his paperdolls into his lap and looks up at them innocently. Krycek shakes his head... he saw a split second of the paperdolls. Mulder notices that they are beaten up and that Marita has an ice pack on her head. Krycek has gauze around his head... Skinner has a few band-ades on his face, and Scully is rubbing her head in pain.
What the hell happened to you?
FADE OUT: