Title: Ritikki
Written By: Kristi
Rating: PG
Author's Note: I thought of this story at a stop light.
Summary: Doggett and Scully investigate strange happenings in a little hick town.
Disclaimer: Mulder, Scully and Doggett belong to Chris Carter, Ten-Thirteen Productions, and 20th Century FOX.
FADE IN:EXT. JO'S DRY CLEANERS - NIGHT
POV - FROM A DISTANCE
A man gets out of his car... it's very late. He is picking up his clothes. Inside the dry cleaners we see a woman (30s) go to the back to get the mans clothes... the man gets out his wallet.
The POV moves closer and is now behind the back bumper of the man's car.
The woman inside comes back out, the man pays her and leaves. The man gets in his car.
CUT TO:
INT. MAN'S CAR
POV - FROM THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR
The man turns on the ignition. The man pulls out of the parking lot.
TIME CUT TO: EMPTY STREET
The man is now at a stop light... his head is bobbing to the music he is plahing. The man stops when he hears a noise from the back seat. He turns down his music and glances back from the rearview mirror.
The light goes green. The man goes.
CUT TO:
EXT. CAR
There is a growl from inside the car... the car begins to swerve all over the road. The man screams from inside as the car hits a street light... all goes silent, save for the horn honking.
As it might seem now is a perfect tiem to fade out... a man exits the car.. completely unharmed as he passes a window that has blood splattered ocver it. WIth this we:
FADE OUT.
FADE IN WITH A CAMERA FLASH:
EXT. CRASH SCENE
A legend establishes: BREIER RIDGE COUNTY - NEW MEXICO
Police officers have taped off the area. People are standing by watching and waiting for answers.
A red pick up truck pulls up. Everybody watches eagerly as Agents Scully and Doggett step out.
COUNTY SHERIFF The Sheriff looks at them.
(uneducated southern hick accent)
You all must be agents Mulder
and Scully of the FBI.SCULLY
Uh... agent Mulder wans't able to come.DOGGETT
I'm agent Doggett.
SHERIFF The Sheriff looks over to the car.
Then that's make her agent Scully then.SCULLY
Yes.DOGGETT
(noticing the wreck)
So... what happened that
would involve the FBI?
SHERIFF The Sheriff continues to talk.
Well you see, that here
car hit a street light.SCULLY
And?SHERIFF
(hesitates)
And uh... you see...
DOGGETT The Sheriff's eyes light up with joy.
(whispers to Scully)
We have no reason to be here.SCULLY
(whispering to Doggett)
Maybe this is why Mulder didn't
want to come all the way out here.SHERIFF
...and then...SCULLY
Excuse me-SERIFF
Yes?SCULLY
You called us out here because
you said there was an abduction.
SHERIFF Scully and Doggett exchange an irritated glance.
Oh yes! Now I remember. (beat)
He was driving down this here
road, you see, when-
SCULLY He waves them over to the car.
(dead panned)
Do you know it's illigal
to call out federal agents
under false-SHERIFF
But you see...
SHERIFF Doggett and Scully look inside the car. There is a man half in the front and half in the back... cut in half. Doggett winces.
Nobody here knows this man.
CUT TO:
INT. AUTOPSY ROOM - DAY
The man is on the autopsy table... Scully stands over him (in autopsy wear)...
SCULLY TIME CUT TO:
Eleven twenty-eight a.m., December
tenth. Begin autopsy on white male
... who has been cut in half by
the waste. (beat) I will begin
with an examination of the cut.
INT. AUTOPSY ROOM
Scully has just finished her autopsy... she covers the body and takes off her gloves. Doggett walks in.
DOGGETT Scully lets out a sigh.
Well?
SCULLY She puts on a new pair of gloves... and hands some to Doggett.
Well... aside from being cut
in half... which was not a
result of the crash...it
appears he wasn't even
in a car crash.DOGGETT
But he was found in the car.SCULLY
I know that. (beat) I did,
however, find something
very interesting.
SCULLY She pulls the blanket off the man... but still covering him.
What I found was-
DOGGETT Scully looks up at him... amused that he is disgusted... she let's out a little laugh.
Ugh...
SCULLY She points to the man's chest. Doggett looks... but not as close as Scully does.
Look right here.
SCULLY Doggett ponders this.
It looks like-DOGGETT
Claw marks...SCULLY
Exactly... and I found
some kind of mucus on him.
DOGGETT
What do you think it was?SCULLY
Probably a dog, or some other
kind of animal that might have
gotten to the body before the
cops did... (takes a beat and
thinks) But that can't be...DOGGETT
It can't?SCULLY
No... because I would have
found bite marks... or...
animal hair... or something...
I've already sent the mucus
in to be analyzed.The door to the autopsy room opens... the results are back.
LAB DUDE Scully takes it.
Uh... yeah... here's
the results for that... stuff.
SCULLY
Thank you.The Lab Dude leaves. Scully opens the envelope. She studies it for a second.
SCULLY Doggett looks over her shoulder.
This can't be right.
DOGGETT Scully gets some off the body and show Doggett.
What is it?SCULLY
This says that it is
nothing more than water.
SCULLY She puts it right up to Doggett's face. He makes a disgusted face and backs away.
Does that look or smell
like water to you?
SCULLY A cell phone rings.
The kid messed up.DOGGETT
Well... he is a kid, Agent Scully.
SCULLY Doggett gets out his cell phone.
It's you.
DOGGETT He turns to Scully in disbelief. Scully waits for answers.
John Doggett. (beat) You
did? (beat) Where? (beat/shock)
By a what??
DOGGETT He hangs up and puts his phone away.
(after a beat)
We'll be right there.
DOGGETT
That was the county
sheriff... he said they
just found the owner
of the car.SCULLY
Maybe he'll have some
answers for us.CUT TO:
INT. POLICE STATION - DAY
Scully and Doggett are sitting across from the man from the teaser. The man is looking down... Scully and Doggett seem bored... not getting anywhere.
DOGGETT The man shrugs.
This still doesn't explain
why you left your car.
DOGGETT The man doesn't respond.
Who is the man that was
found in your car?
SCULLY
Mr. Ritikki?The man looks up.
RITIKKI Scully leans over to Doggett.
I don't know... maybe he
was placed there.
SCULLY Doggett looks over at Ritikki.
That would explain why this
'John Doe' didn't seem to
be in a car crash.
DOGGETT Scully's head falls into her hands.
Mr. Ritikki, how is it that you
could walk away from that crash
without a scratch... or even a
sore neck? (beat) Your car was
wrapped around a street light.RITIKKI
Well... I was abducted.
DOGGETT Doggett looks at Scully, but her head is still in her hands.
You were abducted.RITIKKI
Yes. (beat) You see how no
one knows that man that was
found in my car, well the
way I figure it, the aliens
abducted him, and misplaced
him in my car.SCULLY
(still w/head in hands)
But you said you were abducted.RITIKKI
I was.
DOGGETT Scully finally looks up.
Can you please stop beating
around the bush and tell us
what really happened.RITIKKI
I was abducted, which is why
my car hit the street light
and I could walk away without
a single scratch on me.
SCULLY
That's not possible.RITIKKI
Why not?SCULLY
Well for starters, if you were
abducted, there is no way your
car would have hit
that street light.RITIKKI
And why not?SCULLY
Time stops. Power loss.Doggett takes a sip of his coffee.
RITIKKI Ritikki gets up and walks out the door. Scully lets out a sigh.
How can time just stop?
That's not possible.SCULLY
Abductees have always reported
'missing time'... nine minutes.
(beat) If you were abducted your
car wouldn't have hit that tree so
fast... there were skid marks, and
you would certainly not be acting
like this, and you-RITIKKI
Hey, I know what happened to me.
And I don't need no FBI agent to
tell me other wise. For all I know
you're working for the government!
(beat) I'm leaving.
DOGGETT They exchange a glance.
Smooth...SCULLY
Well... at least we
'know' what happened.DOGGETT
But not what really happened.
CUT TO:
INT. JIMMY'S DINER - EVENING
It's just getting dark outside... a few threatening clouds in the sky... but peaceful. The diner isn't too full... mainly the regulars sitting in a corner gossiping. Scully and Doggett enter. All of the talking stops as they walk to the counter. All eyes are on them... waiting for anything to happen.
The cook, Jimmy, comes over to them.
JIMMY He gives them a goofy grin. Doggett and Scully sit down. Jimmy hands them a menu.
(happy)
Well... the F-B-I.
JIMMY Scully is still looking in the menu.
Would ya like to hear our specials?
SCULLY Doggett shakes his head yes and hands the menu to Jimmy. A few moments later he hands them their drinks.
Uh no. (beat) I'll just
have a salad with lemonade.JIMMY
Alright. (beat) And you?DOGGETT
Hmm... steak with french fries...
mashed potatoes and gravey...
uh... and a root beer.JIMMY
That all for ya?
A female regular comes over to them.
REGULAR Doggett and Scully look over to her oddly. Doggett give a littl wave.
Hi.
SCULLY Scully sets her drink down and looks at her.
Hello.REGULAR
(burst out)
Have you ever seen a UFO?
REGULAR Another regular is behind them taking notes. Doggett notices and signals to SCully.
C-cuz I-i think that
they are here often.
Jimmy comes over and give them there food.
DOGGETT He give them a goofy grin.
Could we get this to go?JIMMY
Sure thing. Anything for
you fine FBI agents.
REGULAR Doggett and Scully exchange a look.
Have you ever been abducted?
CUT TO:
INT. DARK ROOM
Three elder looking men are standing in the middle of this dark room. One of them is the County Sheriff. They all talk seriousely... mysterious...
SHADOWY MAN #1 Off their overly serious expressions...
The agents have to leave.SHADOWY MAN #2
They're getting too close.SHERIFF
(still hick accent/serious)
I won't let them find out the
truth of Breier Ridge County.
(beat)Things are gonna stay
the way they are.SHADOWY MAN #1
Isn't that dangerous?SHERIFF
I've gotten it under control.
CUT TO:
INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Scully is looking at the case file, wearing her glasses. The door opens. It's Doggett.
DOGGETT Doggett untucks his shirt and sits on the couch.
Well, I went to the front desk
and they told me (immitates hick accent)
'They ain't got no rooms left'. (beat)
So I'll take teh couch.SCULLY
(into the case)
Ok... (beat) So I was
looking over this case...
DOGGETT She finally looks up from her file.
And?SCULLY
I think I'm beginning to get it.
DOGGETT Scully sets the file down.
Do you?SCULLY
Yeah. (beat) Ritikki was abducted.DOGGETT
(wanting her to elaborate)
Ok......
SCULLY Doggett thinks about it for a moment.
Well... it's the only
explanation for his condition.
DOGGETT The phone rings.
Then this is an x-file.SCULLY
Possibly...
DOGGETT Scully smiles.
Maybe that's Mulder wanting
the case now.
DOGGETT INTERCUTS TO:
(picks up the phone)
John Doggett.
SHERIFF He hangs up the phone.
Agent Doggett... this is the
County Sheriff. We need you
and agent Scully to come on
down here... we think we solved
the mystery about that one man.DOGGETT
You did?SHERIFF
Yes... we believe so.DOGGETT
Alright, we're on our way.
SCULLY
Who was that?DOGGETT
It was the County Sheriff...
he claims they found an
answer to the myserious 'John Doe'.Doggett gets on his jacket.
CUT TO:
INT. POLICE STATION - SAME NIGHT
Scully and Doggett have already arrived. The Sheriff is showing them a file.
SHERIFF He hands them another file.
And ya see here... this is
what solves this case...
he was murdered.SCULLY
That doesn't explain the
claw mark on his chest.SHERIFF
Well this might.
DOGGETT Suddenly, Ritikki burst through the door!
(reading)
They tried to take his heart
out with a bear claw... as
a sacrafice for the Great
Bear God...?SHERIFF
Yep.SCULLY
Nothing more than
a cult's rituals.SHERIFF
Uh-huh.
RITIKKI This gets everyone's attention.
I confess! (beat) I wasn't abducted!
RITIKKI Ritikki seems to be in a panic.
I wasn't abducted!
SCULLY She helps him sit. Ritikki begins to cry.
Just sit down and take it easy.
RITIKKI Scully looks up at Doggett.
I lied... (sobs) I did it
because I was covering up
for my brother.DOGGETT
Your brother?RITIKKI
Yes. (sobs) He crashed my
car... he hit that man (sobs)
RITIKKI Ritikki continues to sob. The Sheriff comes with a kleenex box and conforts him. Scully goes over to Doggett.
That's wy he was in the car.
(sobs) To... to cover up...
to make it look like he died
in the car.DOGGETT
But the Sheriff just told us
that he died as a result of
a cult's rituals.RITIKKI
It's not true. (sobs) He
was helping me save him.SCULLY
Where is your brother now?RITIKKI
(sobbing like a baby)
I don't know....
SCULLY TIME CUT TO:
(whispering)
There's no x-file here, all we
have here is a town that wants
something to happen, and in the
end it's nothing more than a tragedy.DOGGETT
I agree... and where ever the
brother is... he's more than
likely suffering enough.SCULLY
Close the case?DOGGETT
Yeah.
INT. MULDER'S OFFICE - DAY
His office is clean... for once. But he now has a dart board... on the door. Mulder stands in front of his file cabinets... aiming at the dart board. He's aobut to throw... WHEN!... the door swings open.
MULDER Scully puts her things on the desk.
Oh hey Scully... Doggett.
(beat) How was that 'x-file'?
DOGGETT Doggett is about to leave when:
I'll write up the report.SCULLY
Alright.
DOGGETT Mulder laughs a little and Doggett leaves.
Agent Mulder?MULDER
Huh?DOGGETT
Might want to put that
dart board somewhere else.
MULDER
(after a beat)
Scully... the case?SCULLY
Oh... you were right...
there was no x-file.She takes a seat in front of the desk... looks around and notices that the office is clean. She gives Mulder a look... he shruggs.
CUT TO:
EXT. EMPTY ROAD - SUNNY DAY
A man in his 20s is driving a red porsch... speeking of course. His music is loud... 80s music at that. He's a cool dude... wearing dark sun glasses.
OUR POV changes to the POV of the BACK SEAT.
A hairy claw comes from behind and grabs teh man.
POV - OUTSIDE THE CAR
We see the man strugling to be free from the hairy claw... but we do NOT see the body. The car swerves and hits a tree right on... glass shatters everywhere. The music has stopped playing... and the only sound heard is that of the horn.
From out of the car come... Ritikki! One of his hands is that of a hairy claw... he starts walking toward us as his hand morphs into a real human hand. He steps at the edge of the road and looks both ways... he smiles evily sly...
FADE OUT:
THE END