October 10 2000: Cast List:

Gillian Anderson as Agent Dana Scully
David Duchovny as Agent Fox Mulder
Mitch Pillegi as A.D. Skinner
Robert Patrick as Agent Doggett
James Pickens Jr. as Deputy Director Kersh
Arlene Malinowski by Teacher
Marty Zagon as Coeben
Tom Braidwood as Frohike
Bruce Harwood as Byers
Dean Haglund as Langly
Jonathan Palmer
Jeff Gulka

October 10th 2000: Credits:

Written By:

Chris Carter

Directed By:

Kim Manners

Air Date: November 5 2000

October 31st 2000 : From TV Guide:

"The eighth season begins with the FBI forming a task force to find Mulder (who does appear in this two-parter). But neither Scully (now pregnant) nor Skinner, who witnessed Mulder's disappearance, is heading the job. Instead, they're made to feel more like suspects as they meet Special Agent John Doggett, who's been put in charge by newly promoted Deputy Director Kersh. Any hope of trust quickly dissipates, though, when Kersh warns Scully and Skinner that he wants to hear no mention of 'alien...nonsense' that might embarrass the Bureau."

October 31st 2000 : From Fox:

"In the eighth season premiere episode, 'Within,' (written by The X-Files creator and executive producer Chris Carter) Agent Dana Scully searches for the truth about her missing partner, while simultaneously forced to contend with a resistant FBI bureaucracy and a skeptical new associate, Agent John Doggett (Robert Patrick), who reluctantly joins Scully in the search for Mulder. The search for Mulder takes the investigation to the Arizona desert to seek out a former X-Files subject who may hold the key to Mulder's whereabouts."

October 26 2000 : From US Weekly:

"Aliens abducted David Duchovny's Mulder last season, leaving partner Scully (Gillian Anderson) to lead the Fox hunt. Because Duchovny is appearing in only 11 of this season's 22 episodes, the producers have given Scully a new foil, the skeptical Agent John Doggett, played by Robert Patrick (Terminator 2). Although true X-philes may abandon spaceship, a preview of the first two episodes gives me reason to believe: Patrick brings menace and machismo to the show, which is as suggestively creepy as ever. And it's fun to imagine Duchovny's glee in making his network pay: If, as reported, he will receive a package worth $30 million for agreeing to his lightened workload this season, then he will earn $2.7 million for his two minutes of screen time in the first episode."

October 26 2000 : From Entertainment Weekly:

"A more assertive Scully and her hard-bitten new partner give The X-Files a stellar boost in Season 8."

"Last season DD & GA looked bored; this year the tension among all the characters has given the show 'a new force field of energy."

"Scully may be ill-ish (morning sickness) but Anderson enacts her queasiness - as well as the first two episodes' numerous rootin'-tootin' action sequences - with much of the sleek gravitas that movie critics are noticing in her performance in the upcoming Edith Wharton X-file The House of Mirth."

"Now I understand what Carter saw in Robert Patrick; where T2 exploited his stoicism and The Sopranos his middle-aged craziness, The X-Files brings forth Patrick's hard-boiled alertness."

"Doggett is called a 'contentious but conscientious partner, and the show uses him as a new dramatic foil for the increasingly forceful Scully.'"

October 25 2000 : From TV Guide:

"In the two-part, eighth-season opener, Robert Patrick joins the cast as Special Agent John Doggett, heading the task force to find Mulder, who appears to be leaving some clues.

October 16 2000 : From QUBTU2:

"Script spoilers that I've seen have been on the money. Tapes reflect that. Opening credits have changed. What we know and love at the beginning and then they change when the badges come up. New photos for M & S, plus a Doggett badge. We then see a fetus, Mulder falling into the eye from the end of the credits, only the eye is now Scully's. 'The Truth is Out There.' There is a Mrs. Scully moment on an answering machine. That was nice. Skinner is strong, supportive and working with the Gunmen. Kersh is still a royal pain in the ... Mulder torture. A lot of it. Some seems literal, most of it (I hope) is in Scully dreams. Image of M screaming for Scully will stay with me through our Mulderless episodes. It is very very painful.

Gibson is older. His voice has changed. Water in the face scene rocks. D implies Mulder has been confiding in other women at the bureau (no mention of 'secretarial pool'). Scully doesn't buy it. Boom, water. Scully with Mulder's shirt is very poignant. Sniff. Have I said the episodes were painful to watch?"

"Scully is provided info by Doggett that Mulder is dying. He allegedly has been seeing a doctor for more than a year (prompted by his brain surgery) and the implication is that he's dying. Also, I'm willing to reserve judgment on Doggett for a while. He's got potential to help Scully. I'm not ready to dive into the deep end of the pool, but his concern for her at the end of part two seems genuine."

October 25 2000 : From Amy of The Haven:

"For those who didn't know, we were lucky enough to spend a little time on the Fox lot the Monday we were in LA. It was an incredible experience. I'd like to say first, while we didn't get any spoilers or 'scoop' [and that was not our reason or intent for being there] it was clear from talking to some of the writers (notably, Frank Spotnitz and Jeff Bell) that they were very cognizant of how important Mulder is to the show and had not forgotten about or moved past him-at least that's what Gayle and I got out of the time we were there. I came back reinvested and excited and wish I had words to transfer that feeling onward. Second, while we were there Frank Spotnitz re-confirmed that what we thought back in May was Scully's cross on Mulder at the end of Requiem, was a zipper. There *were* two zippers, one pulled low, and one on the collar. I'm sorry guys."

October 6 2000 : From T Lynn:

"I've heard that the first part of the premiere does indeed have a morning-sickness moment (although I guess it is evening-sickness) -- I had seen some people mention that there were no morning sickness moments. In what I've seen it happens just after she looks up Doggett's profile on her laptop in her apartment, and just before she calls her mother (leaving her an answering machine message).

"Scully does go kinda postal on Doggett via cellphone -- giving him hell, because she thinks he's tapping her phone. Kinda nice to see, even though I don't think he's the guilty party. Doggett does go to Kersh later to find out if anyone else is investigating the case and/or Scully.

"Skinner bold-faced lies to Kersh to protect Mulder (or his search for Mulder) -- which is rather positive. There is a Skinner-flashback where we see Mulder's abduction from his perspective -- might be interesting. The scene wasn't totally written in my script -- although there was a written bit from Mulder's point-of-view -- that he can see Skinner outside the 'cloaking membrane' but Skinner can't see him.

"A Scully quote from when she's 'feeding Mulder's fish' after Doggett asks her if she's ever seen an alien: Scully: You want me to go on record? Let me go on record to say I have seen things I cannot explain. I've observed phenomena I can't deny. And that as a scientist and a serious person it's a badge of honor not to dismiss these things outright because others think they're bullshit. Direction notes: It's a moving speech. Heartfelt. But Doggett remains unmoved."

October 4 2000:

If you just can't stand the wait until November 5, Jenny's X-Files has a few snippets of dialogue from the script of the eighth season premiere episode.

September 6 2000: From SkippyRat:

"There is a key piece of information which is directly relevant to this scene, which has not been discussed, I don't believe.

"Scully and Skinner are both ordered to appear before the task force to give their statements. They are treated by the other agents present like strangers and suspects. The script describes the atmosphere there as 'Gestapo-like.'

[This is, of course, shortly after Kersh has warned them that if they dare to mention aliens or alien abductions or anything else of that like in their statements, they will lose their jobs.]

Skinner is immediately called into one of the cubicles in the back of the room to give his statement. Scully is ordered to wait along the far wall, where there is a line of chairs, only one of which is occupied. The agent there (Doggett) is reading something, looks up when Scully sits down near him, then goes back to reading. After some moments, though, he gets up and returns with two glasses of water, one of which he offers to Scully. He then proceeds to engage her in conversation, as already indicated elsewhere.

The water-throwing appears to be counterpoint to Doggett offering her the water in the first place."

September 4 2000: From SkippyRat:

"The following is a rundown of the first meeting between Scully and Doggett, as it appears in the script:

"Doggett pretends to be just another agent, like her, who has been called in for questioning because he knew Mulder. They are both in a kind of anteroom, ostensibly waiting to be called into a cubicle to be debriefed by an agent of the taskforce that is looking into Mulder's disappearance. Skinner is already giving his own statement in one of the cubicles.

Doggett engages Scully in casual chat about Mulder. He suggests that maybe she didn't really know Mulder, and she retorts that she knew him as well as anyone. He then shrugs it off and suggests that the 'rumors' were wrong. When Scully asks what rumors, he speaks of rumors that Mulder never really trusted Scully, that he thought she was too *ambitious*. He indicates that the rumors came from women in the secretarial pool that Mulder confided in. He then states that Mulder had 'made the rounds' of the secretarial pool -- then hurriedly adds that that's just talk when Scully tries to pin him down for more info. Then, having tried to get her unsettled, agitated and angry, he casually asks her for her theory about what happened to Mulder. This is when Scully begins to smell a rat, and retorts that she doesn't think he ever knew Mulder at all. At which point she reaches over and flips his upside-down ID badge, identifying him as Doggett (who she already knows from Kersh to be the head of the task force investigating Mulder's disappearance). She tells Doggett he might have just introduced himself, and Doggett says he *was getting around to it*. At which point, she throws the glass of water in his face, and says it's nice to meet him."

September 3 2000: From T Lynn:

"When Scully is talking to Doggett, he says they're developing a working profile on Mulder, character background. He says he doubts FBI agents ever truly know each other, even their partners. Scully says she knows Mulder as well as anybody. Doggett mentions 'the rumors' that from the beginning Mulder never felt a real trust with Scully. Scully wants to know where this rumor comes from. He says there were a few women that Mulder would confide in... and then mentions Mulder making the rounds of the secretarial pool. Scully becomes suspicious of Doggett at this point. He asks what her theory is and she replies her theory is that he never knew Mulder at all. Then she flips his badge over, sees his name and tells him he might have just introduced himself. He says he was getting around to it. Then she throws the cup of water in his face and says, 'Nice to meet you, Agent Doggett.'"

August 31 2000: From T Lynn:

"Vicki and Amy posted on the new message boards tonight that Scully throws a cup of water in Agent Doggett's face after hearing him suggest that Mulder was making his way through the secretarial pool. She then says, 'Nice to meet you Agent Doggett,' and walks off. "

August 30 2000: From T Lynn:

Here is an edited transcript of a question and answer session about the season premiere episodes. The original source was Vicki on the X-Files message boards:

Q: Some spoilers have indicated that both Scully and Skinner end up in the hospital because of their encounter with the ABH. What condition are they in? Beaten up? Ill from exposure to alien blood? Are Scully and her baby at risk?

A: Both Scully & Skinner are in the hospital at the end of the 2nd parter due to ABH - Skinner's because of the green goo stuff & Scully because she was roughed up, she is having test run, "some things they want to check out, make sure of"...otherwise she appears to be fine.

Q: A lot of us here are worried that Mulder is going to be missing for a while after these episodes. I'm personally worried that Scully is going to be investigating MOTW's and that Mulder's presence isn't gong to be felt enough in these episodes. I'm sure I can work through that, but does this episode, IYHO, yet up Mulder's being missing as an acceptable thing? (Not that it's ever really acceptable).

A: IMO, what we are left with in part 1 & part 2, *I* feel it is acceptable, being they are acceptable, Scully does believe & states that Mulder was in fact abducted, Doggett DOES NOT want to believe that. I was satisfied with what I read, for now anyway.

Q: Do the LGM know about Scully's pregnancy? Any reaction, especially Frohike? Do they help determine paternity?? And are Skinner or LGM overprotective of Scully now?

A: No indication that the LGM know about the pregnancy.....Yes, I would say that The Skinman is protective of Scully, definitely, he does mention the pregnancy to Scully.

Q: My question concerns Scully trying to cope with Mulder's absence. What type of emotions does she demonstrate? And could you give us any specific examples?

A: Yes, from what I read she does show emotions regarding Mulder, some that are used are the following: alone in life, lost in troubling thoughts, PO'd, sarcastic, tearful, emotional.

Q: Vicki,Are all of the Mulder scenes with the Alien Bounty Hunter as Mulder? Do we get any Mulder in dream, daydream, or "real time?"

A: The REAL Mulder appears at the very start of Seaon Premiere, at the end of part 2 & at one other point, about 3/4 way through part 2, from what I read very briefly, otherwise what we see of M is as ABH.

Q: Does Scully think that Mulder is dead at the end of the premiere?

A: Scully does NOT think Mulder is dead.

Q: After reading the script, do you think Mulder is the father?

A: The script does not say who the father is, but *I* feel just by the way Scully acts that it is Mulder's, but this is JMO.

Q: What is the time frame for the premiere and the following episodes... meaning, how far along is Scully early on in the season. There was one source who said that time jumped from June to November in just a few episodes... can you clear this up for us?

A: The script does not give a time stamp, but it still has Scully in hospital in the teaser.

Q: Do we viewers get to see Scully's nightmare about Mulder at the beginning of the ep, or do we just see her waking up from it? If the nightmare is in the script what are YOUR opinions of its feel? Is it just a mish mash feeling or does she dream specifics?

A: YES to both questions! She dreams specifics, she "sits up out of breath from her nightmare, but that's all it was. She's alone in her room, Alone in life."

Q: Is there any reference to Theresa's baby and the fact that he seemed unaffected by his exposure to the alien blood of the ABH? If so, does Scully recognize this and does she make a connection to her own baby? Some have speculated that Gibson might provide a medium through which Scully and Mulder will communicate. Did you see any evidence of that? Or is Mulder appearing only in Scully's dreams and as the ABH? Are there any mentions -- out loud -- of Scully's pregnancy?

A: No mention of Theresa's baby. Gibson provided as a medium for M&S, sort of, while in the desert Gibson tells Scully Mulder is SO close. YES, Skinner does mention out loud, to Scully, about her pregnancy.

Q: Are there any other scenes that made you, the reader, go 'awww' from either a Scully missing Mulder or Mulder missing Scully perspective other than the bed scene?

A: To answer that question, A YEAH BIG TIME!!!!

Q: Do we get any mention of the cross in either ep?

A: No mention of Scully's cross at all in either.

Q: Any morning sickness?

A: Yep, as it says "Scully has a date with the porcelain..."

Q: How does Gibson Praise play into the script-and when it's all said and done does his appearance help give us an idea of where Mulder is and what he is doing?

A: Someone, don't know who, slips Gibson's file under the door to Doggett, thinking he has something to do with the "manhunt" for Mulder, to answer the 2nd part of your question IMO yes it gives you some idea, Gibson can definitely sense Mulder!!!

Q: More of a technical script question, I guess. I'm very curious about how detailed the script is in relation to the Scully emotional/ angsty scenes. Is it very detailed, or is there room for GA to turn up the heat like we know she can.

A: IMO, yeah there is a lot GA has to play with here & knowing how she can nail any great emotional scene I can only imagine how some of these scenes will be on camera.

Q: Is Mulder conscious and aware when we see him?

A: In 1 out of the 3 scenes (If I remember correctly) that we get the real Mulder, it appears to be that he is conscious.

Q: How does Scully react when she first meets Doggett?

A: ....ummm lets just say we get feisty Scully.

Q:I'm curious if Scully indicates in any way that Maggie Scully knows about this pregnancy?

A: Nope Ma Scully does not appear to know yet.

August 15 2000: From T Lynn:

"Spoiler clarification from a great anonymous source-one who has seen a more revised draft of the ep and was nice enough to share a little of what changed:

Ep opens with recap of 'Requiem.' Then Scully wakes up, still in the hospital, after having a nightmare about what's happening to Mulder.

Cut to credits.

Regarding Dr. Beth Siegel: "This was cut. The character of Dr. Beth Siegel was cut from this version of the script. I understand that ep1 was extensively revised over a ten day period."

Scully returns to the FBI to discover Mulder's office essentially being torn apart by an FBI team. Skinner informs her that he just found out himself -- it wasn't his decision. He's not calling the shots on this: their new deputy director, Alvin Kersh, is!

No Mom scene. Presumably they wanted to save the money? I know that FOX was all over them for what it cost to house the crew in Borrego Hills for two weeks. But Scully does try to reach her Mom by phone.

You get the impression from that conversation (with Mom's voicemail) that Mom doesn't know about little Scully yet.

Her introduction to Doggett is very different now -- and, imo, MUCH more dramatically interesting. In fact, assuming the info I've seen in these early spoilers was mostly correct at some point, I think the changes in the rewrite have greatly improved the episode.

The Gibson stuff is all very differently handled now. And there is a LOT of other stuff going on.

Near the end of this episode, Gibson and Scully have not even spoken yet. But everyone -- the official FBI team led by Doggett; Scully, Skinner, and some others are all chasing after Gibson.

There is a scene between Skinner and the LG in the ep; they're working together.

There is a scene where Scully goes back to Mulder's apartment and falls asleep in his bed.

Only one vomiting scene in this one. The FBI as a whole does not know that Scully is preggers -- only Skinner knows."

August 14 2000: From Daniel Wood:

"Duchovny says... not much really. Except that one fan in Borrego Springs (where X-F is filming right now) tells us that 'Gillian Anderson celebrated her birthday in the desert as filming continued. Duchovny is also on location dispelling any rumors that he will not be providing fresh footage to the beginning of the year, unless that which is being filmed of him as Agent Mulder will be used later in the season. Robert Patrick has also been on location for the entire shoot providing the much-anticipated new role of FBI Agent John Doggett.'"

August 4 2000: From Jessmulder:

"Seems Scully finds Gibson in act one of the second part of the two parter, not the first part. Scully finds him in a desolate desert, though it seems he has been @ a school for the hearing impaired.

"My read on what little I've seen is that while Scully's emotions may be close to the surface, by the time she's at the Office on her first day back w/o Mulder she's professional and doesn't let them see she's affected (to a large extent)-that's my read on it, nothing more than that. It does say (not quoting) that while she's pulled together she's still troubled. Could play very differently. Could be re-written. The opening scene reads really well in terms of direction-so hopefully it will play that way, if not re-written. :-)

"There are agents going through Mulder's office, to try and piece together what happened. Scully isn't too happy about this manhunt they're having for Mulder. Again interesting direction-especially about S's entrance to M's office.

"Again please note, these are one person's take on what they've read/heard/seen and like most things information is open to interpretation and as is always the case w/ TXF scenes may be cut/re-written/added."

August 2 2000: From Anita:

"In the beginning of the season opener we learn that it is a few days after Mulder was abducted. Scully is very emotional! She tells Skinner that she will not stop until Mulder is found. Scully finds Mulder's doctor and asks him a few questions about Mulder's brain activity. Though he is not very helpful. Scully then goes back to the forest and searches for any signs of where Mulder is. She again can't find any leads. Skinner tells her to take a few days since she has been through a lot. Through she refuses she has dinner with her Mother. There is supposely a hint that Mulder is the Father during the Mother scene. She returns home that night to find a message on her answering machine from Skinner saying that he has found something. The next day she goes to the office and Skinner introduces her to Doggett. He says that he has found Gibson. There are a few scenes after that I did not receive info on. At the end of this episode Gibson tells Scully that he has a connection to Mulder. Half believing, Scully asks Gibson if Mulder is alright. Gibson says she already knows because she also has a connection with Mulder.

"Episode 2: I didn't receive much on this one, though either at the end of epsiode 1 or the beginning of this one there is an 'all things' flashback that does indeed show Mulder and Scully in a passionate embrace. Though that is all it shows. We also supposely get more info on the Doggett character in this episode. Kycek is also in it and will supposely be leading some sort of bad guy group."

July 30 2000: From DrScully:

"I was on set yesterday [Friday, July 28] long enough to watch them filming Skinner entering a room full of FBI agents and slamming the door behind him. He is supposed to be entering a "Task Force." I ...believe ... their purpose is to find Mulder.

"They are filming EP1 and EP2 simultaneously which is making for some very long days. They were in the desert Thursday night quite late filming so their call Friday wasn't until 3pm. Robert Patrick was reportedly on set but I didn't see him.

"If you have ever wondered what they eat, yesterday was Mexican food. It was pretty surreal to be standing in the FBI building with the smell of rolled tacos and guacamole wafting through."

July 23 2000:

Chris Carter, during his appearance at the Comic-Con in San Diego this weekend, told fans that two key characters from the show's past will finally reappear this season. Chess prodigy Gibson Praise, last seen holed up with an alien in an Arizona power plant ("The Beginning"), and Dana Scully's mother, invisible since season five's "Emily," both will be back in season eight.




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