"Dreamland II"

Angst at last!

As Scully tries to reconcile what is happening in her head and figure out what to do about Mulder/Fletcher, Mulder has struggles of his own as he is detained in a military prison.  Scully knows something is wrong and yet she can't quite figure it out.  Fletcher is perfectly happy being Mulder (it was definitely a good trade for him) as he continues to play golf ("I am Tiger Woods!") on his computer while Scully takes the blame for her little outtrip to Area 51.  

Kersh tells Scully that she has two weeks suspension without pay and she, in turn, tells Fletcher.  Ever the gossip, he responds: "What a jerk!  ...then what?".  Whether she was already plotting to set him up, or trying to figure out what was going on, Scully accepts Fletcher's invitation to dinner that night.

Meanwhile, Mulder is held in a facility with the commander/native woman who, it turns out, loves to talk.  "Hey Grandma Top Gun, will you shut your yap?" he tells her at one point to which he/she responds, "You're my bitch now."  <g>  Before anything serious can break out, Mulder has a stroke of good luck when it turns out the flight data recorder he gave to the FBI was a fake.  He b-s's his way through a story about finding a leak and gets his colleagues in trouble while earning himself his freedom and some time.

Fletcher has a romantic evening planned with Scully, buying himself candles and other assorted paraphernalia.  Thinking, at last, that he should consider tidying up "his" bedroom, he discovers to his (and only his) surprise that Mulder's bedroom is full of files.  "This guy hasn't been laid in ten years!" he mutters, and proceeds to put in a waterbed, complete with mirrored canopy and other very Ikea-like furniture.

Fletcher's family, however, is quite unimpressed with Mulder when he arrives home from work to try to make amends.  Mulder decides to come clean and try to tell Fletcher's wife the truth, but she thinks he's crazy.  He tells her that Scully is his partner at the FBI, "Special Agent Dana Scully," to which Mrs. Fletcher replies, "Special Tramp!"  All he can do is keep telling the truth and hope that Scully can come through for him.

Luckily she does, at least in one way, when she comes for dinner at Mulder's apartment and finds herself quickly introduced to Mulder's bedroom.  I thought that she was starting to wonder whether Mulder was actually changing, but instead we found that she had it all figured out.  Scully knew that Mulder would never be such a sleaze-ball, never make her uncomfortable by touching her too much, never bring out the champagne before dinner and try to woo her that way, and never ever suggest anything as unromantic and sleazy as handcuffs.  The real Mulder would have been at least surprised (or at least let her go first <g>).  As soon as Fletcher was handcuffed to the wardrobe or whatever it was, Scully pulls her gun on him and tells him he isn't Mulder.  Yesss!!!  "Baby..." he says, pleading.  "Baby me and you'll be peeing through a catheter," she responds.  That calls for a 'Go Scully!'  Mulder's informant calls and Scully makes Fletcher pick it up.  They agree on a place to meet.

Mulder takes his wife to the Alie-Inn bar to try to reconcile things with her, just when Scully and Fletcher arrive to collect the real flight data recorder, ("And if I try to slip out the back, da-da-da, dee-dee-dee," - Scully shows him her gun.)  When Mulder finds Scully waiting in the car, she looks so incredibly relieved, saying, "Mulder, is it really you in there?"

Side note: I loved the part when the general goes to the bathroom to wash his hands and looks over to see Mulder and Fletcher peering over the stall door at him.

Taking the stolen flight data recorder to the Lone Gunmen, Scully is forced to keep the peace between an increasingly obnoxious Fletcher and the indignant Lone Gunmen.  Fletcher snickers, "Do you know how many of these stories I dream up while sitting on the pot?", referring to their newspaper.  It turns out (according to him) that Saddam Husein is just some guy they picked up a few years ago, that they use for distractions and that he's not even sure if aliens exist.  He calls Frohike 'Sneezy' and Scully has to separate them, asking the LG to find what they can from the instrument.

In my favourite (and the most angst-filled) scene in the episode, Scully meets Mulder to tell him the results from the flight data recorder.  She greets him painfully and the following conversation ensues:

Mulder: You don't look too happy.  Don't tell me I'm going to have to put two kids through school.

Scully: (leans towards him, looks into his eyes) It is you in there, Mulder, isn't it?

Scully tells him sadly that Frohike couldn't find any way to get him back and that it is just random moments in time.  If they were off at all, Mulder could cease to exist.  When Mulder finds out that Scully has lost her job due to these events he protests, telling her that she has the evidence to fight to get it back.  Scully replies softly:

Quote of the Week:

Scully: I would kiss you if you weren't so damn ugly.

They gaze into each other's eyes for a long moment, as each of them realizes the heartbreaking possibility that this might be what it will be like forever.  Suddenly Fletcher honks from the car, yelling, "Take a picture -- it'll last longer!"

Mulder: If I...shoot him, is that murder or suicide?

Scully: Neither, if I do it first.

Scully closes her eyes and squeezes Mulder's arm, slowly turning to go.  Mulder hands her sunflower seeds, a reminder that he is who he says he is and that nothing will change how he feels about her.  He stands for a long moment, looking like he might cry while Scully pulls away with Fletcher.

Meanwhile, one of the Area 51 guys is flagged down by the stoner whose friends had become tangled together, literally.  Scully comes across the store while driving with Fletcher that had been blown up not days beforehand.  Scully finds Mulder at Fletcher's home but before they can discuss what has happened, they are detained by Fletcher's disgruntled colleagues.  They are stopped on their way back to the military prison where the wave that caused all this in the first place is snapping back.  Realizing they won't remember the past three days, Fletcher replies, "It's been real, Dana," slapping her on the butt for the second time.  Then, in a flash, they are back to where it all began, Mulder holding Scully's arm protectively, no one the wiser.

Unaware of the events that had occurred, Scully phones Mulder as he enters his apartment.

Mulder: Mulder.

Scully: Mulder, it's me.  I just wanted to let you know that we slipped under Kersh's radar.  Our little field trip to Nevada went unnoticed.

Mulder: Oh yeah?

Scully: Mulder, I'm sorry that your confidential source didn't pan out.

Mulder: Well, I guess you were right, Scully.  Just another crackpot who watches too much Star Trek.

Scully: (smiles) Good night.

Mulder: Hey, Scully.  I, uh, know it's not your normal life, but thanks for coming out there with me.

Scully: You're welcome.

In that simple phone call, Mulder and Scully expressed the respect, love, and gratitude they have for one another.  Scully, especially, has been showing a kind of radiant warmth towards her partner that we didn't see until the movie and that I am posatively adoring.  She seems more cautious than Mulder in some ways, especially in expressing affection for her partner.  This was understandable when she wasn't sure if her feelings were mutual or right.  But ever since Mulder made his feelings for her crystal clear...well, all I can say is, let me introduce you to the new, improved, kick-ass, and big-time affectionate Scully!  I am enjoying every minute of it.

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