Ahab

NORTHEAST GEORGETOWN MEDICAL CENTER; WASHINGTON, D.C.

In Scully’s mind, she is laying on a table in a white dress. All the walls are white except for one, which is a black void. Through The Void walks Her Father, dressed in his Admiral’s Uniform. 

He walks over to her :

Hello, Starbuck. It’s Ahab. 

People would say to me, "Life is short." 

"Kids, they grow up fast," and 

"Before you know it, it’s over." 

I never listened. For me, life went at a proper pace. 

There were many rewards... until the moment that I knew, 

I... understood that... 

That I would never see you again... My Little Girl. 

Then my life felt as if it had been the length of One Breath, One Heartbeat. 

I never knew how much I loved my daughter until I could never tell her. 

At that moment, I would have traded every medal, 

every commendation, every promotion for... 

one more second with you. 

We’ll be Together Again, Starbuck. But not now. Soon.

He slowly turns and walks back into the void. In "Reality", Nurse Owens is standing over her again. 

She leans in and whispers to her :

NURSE OWENS: 

Dana? I know Death is at arm’s reach tonight, but Dana? 

Your Time is not over.

At the cafeteria, Mulder is eating lunch with Melissa.

MELISSA SCULLY: 

You know, Fox… 

Sorry, Mulder --

You could spend The Rest of Your Life 

finding every person who’s responsible 

and it’s still not going to bring her back. 

Whoever Did This to Her 

has an equal horror coming to them.

MULDER: 

Including myself?

Melissa looks at him strangely. 

SCULLY'S HOUSE; WASHINGTON, D.C.

William Scully walks over to a small Christmas tree with an angel ornament on top.

WILLIAM SCULLY: 

Are you going to leave this up all year?

SCULLY: 

Yup. All year. 

Since you always made us take the Christmas tree down the day after Christmas, I'm making up for lost time.

(She starts piling plates on the kitchen table.)

WILLIAM SCULLY: 

If your idea of a good time is picking up dried pine needles, treat yourself.

MARGARET SCULLY: 

As if he's an authority on having a good time.

She walks over, carrying plates from the dinner table. 

William crosses over to beside Scully.

SCULLY: 

That's okay, Mom, I got that.

MARGARET SCULLY: 

Oh, okay.

WILLIAM SCULLY: 

Okay, Maggie, let's shove off.

MARGARET SCULLY: 

Oh, okay.

(She puts the plate down and goes over to Scully. She hugs her.)

Well, thank you for having us. 

Dinner was delicious as usual.

SCULLY: 

Thanks, Mom.

(Scully walks over to her father and salutes.)

Good sailing, Ahab.

(He hugs her.)

WILLIAM SCULLY: 

Goodnight, Starbuck.

Margaret gives William an urging look as if to ask his daughter a question.

How's Work? Good?

SCULLY: 

(withholding)

Yup. It's Good.

WILLIAM SCULLY: 

Well...

(William and Margaret cross over to the coatrack by the door and put on their coats. Scully throws down the napkin in her hand onto the table and walks over.)

SCULLY: 

Well, drive carefully.

MARGARET SCULLY: 

Uh-huh.

Scully unlocks the door and kisses her mother goodbye.

SCULLY: 

Goodnight, Daddy.

The parents walk out. She watches them go, then closes the door. 

Later. It is now 1:47. 

On TV, a man is talking on an informercial under his picture, it says:

"Ron Popeil

Inventor"

RON POPEIL ON TV: 

Here on Incredible Inventions though, you're not going to spend 110 dollars for it. 

You all know that. 

You're not even going to spend a hundred dollars.

The caption changes to:

" Approximate One Month Supply

Time May Vary Depending On Frequency

of Use or Size of Area to be Covered"

There's an approximate one-month supply here...

They show two videos, one in the upper right, the other in the lower left, of "hair" being sprayed onto bald people's heads. In the upper left it reads "Only $39.92."

And all you'll spend for this entire package is just 39 dollars and 92 cents.

There is applause and cheering. 

Scully is sleeping on the couch, a blanket draped over her.

Her eyes open.

WOMAN ON TV: 

Mr. Johnson?

RON POPEIL ON TV: 

Yes?

Scully sees her father sitting in a chair in front of her, blue light shining down on him. 

His mouth is moving but no words are coming out.

WOMAN ON TV: 

I was kind of interested that Allen used a blond and I hadn't seen anyone use a blond.

SCULLY: 

Dad? I thought you guys left.

She sits up.

Where's Mom?

There is no answer. 

He is silently mouthing The Lord’s Prayer.

The phone rings, startling her. 

She looks back at the phone, then to her father. 

The chair is empty. 

Scully is very confused as the phone rings again. She gets up, blanket still covering her, and starts walking to the phone. It rings twice more before she picks it up.

Hello.

(There is no answer except for some muffled crying.)

Hello?

MARGARET SCULLY: 

Dana?

SCULLY: 

Mom? What's the matter?

MARGARET SCULLY: 

We, um... we lost your dad. 

He had a... a massive coronary... about an hour ago. 

He... he's gone.

(Scully looks back to where she saw her father sitting. The chair is still empty.)