"Didn't Mean to Step on Your Toes" . . . "Did you ever threaten Miss Charters?" Scully asked in a normal tone of voice. Hal Arden looked at her askance, "What?" he demanded and Scully raised her voice and repeated the question.

     "Threaten?" he scoffed, "it was harmless, for crying out loud. Ever since this sex harassment fad," the old man made the phrase sound like a dirty word, "men can't say what's on their mind."

     "She said you made advances," Scully countered with.

      "Hmm?" Arden questioned.

     "With a note of exasperation, Scully repeated the word "advances" again, louder.

     Arden's expression revealed how ridiculous he found that idea and then put that thought into words, "if I told you that you were a very pretty woman and I would like to show you some affection, would you be offended?"

      Trying to conceal a smile, Scully turned to Mulder who seemed to be experiencing the same problem. Immediately, Arden looked at Mulder and offered, "oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to step on your toes there."

     Without denying or affirming Arden's assumption, Mulder merely continued with the line of questioning.