January 16 2001: Cast List:

Gillian Anderson as Agent Dana Scully
David Duchovny as Agent Fox Mulder
Robert Patrick as Agent Doggett
Mitch Pileggi as Assistant Director Walter Skinner
Annabeth Gish as Special Agent Monica Reyes
Bruce Harwood as Byers
Tom Braidwood as Frohike
Dean Haglund as Langly

January 8 2001: Credits:

Written By:

Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz

Directed By:

Kim Manners

Air Date: February 25, 2001

February 1 2001: From Mariken:

Question:Dead Mulder is it him or an alien?

Answer: It's him.

Question: What role does the new female agent play in all this?

Answer: Unless things change dramatically from this early script version, not that much.

She sees the spaceship which ultimately leads to the discovery of Mulder's body. She also finds the taped evidence that actually leads them to Mulder's body and to Jeremiah Smith (not that anyone knew that that was where the evidence would lead them when they saw it). She gives us some insight into John Doggett and his motivations. She and Scully have a couple of interesting scenes together. It's nice to see two adult, professional women interact on the show. It hasn't happened often. At first, she comes across as a nonbeliever, but later it's clear that she is nstead neither a believer nor an unbeliever, but one who keeps an open mind. Unless things change, she's only in ep 14, not ep 15.

Question: How would you describe Scully's role in these? How does she react to Mulder's "death" and his subsequent (I'm assuming) recovery?

Answer: She is very upset, needless to say, by Mulder's death. She is still in a state of disbelief at his funeral in ep 15. There's a scene in ep 15, after they've recovered his still mouldering body, where she puts her head on his chest and cries. As far as his recovery goes, that scene was only sketched out, not completely written in this very early version, so I can't say, except what do you think her reaction was?

Question: How does Mulder recover? (I'm assuming that MoldyMulder is not a Mulder clone or anything...but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.)

Answer:Your guess is as good as mine. It makes no sense to me. :-) I think this part also will be fleshed out more -- at least, I sincerely hope so. Because at the moment, it really doesn't make any sense to me. Skinner tries to kill Mulder by taking him off life-support -- and Scully says that saves Mulder's life. Yeah. Okay. Whatever. The others who never had life support in the first place turned into good little aliens, but somehow Mulder was immune to that.

Question: Could you tell us about the first scene between Scully and ReallyAliveMulder?

Answer: Wish I could, but that hadn't been written yet, merely outlined. Sounds like Mulder wakes up in a jovial kind of mood though, joking about his absence. It's the final scene of the episode though. Come to think of it, Mulder doesn't have a single line of dialogue in the whole thing until that final scene. Duh.

Question: Who are the others who never had life support - is Billy Miles one of those others?

Answer: Billy Miles was on life support -- and Scully believes he has turned into an alien. She wants to prevent that for Mulder. The others I spoke of have to do with Absalom, who was working with Jeremiah Smith to save abductees like Mulder (when they were so rudely interrupted ). Absalom tells Doggett at one point that if he and Jeremiah Smith didn't get to them in time, the people turned into aliens. Presumably, the people he's talking about weren't in hospitals but had been left for dead and weren't found before the metamorphosis was complete. At least, that's how I interpreted it.

Question: If [Mulder]'s been buried for five months and is *barely* alive, then something must happen to either make his recovery speed up, or something else must occur to bring him back so to speak.

Answer: I'll do my best, but it's complicated. The short answer is that Mulder's condition is caused by an alien virus. (Alex Krycek alerts them to this fact by offering Skinner a vaccine to save Mulder -- for a price.) Scully figures out that the virus maintains the body in a near-death condition, until it can be transformed into an alien that looks and sounds like the original human, but isn't. Thing is -- there's no good explanation for what happens. What happens is that Skinner won't pay Krycek's price, and seemingly tries to kill Mulder instead, only to be interrupted by Doggett. At least, that's how it reads -- Skinner removes Mulder from life support. But Scully later says that doing so may have saved Mulder, only there's no explanation for why. Hopefully they'll think of one before airtime. :-)

Question: And the price you mention would be???

Answer:He asks Skinner to make sure that Scully's baby never comes to term. No explanation of why, of course. *sigh* But he does remark that she's young and can have lots of others, so it's obviously related to something he presumably knows about *this* baby. (Not that CC will probably ever come back to this, of course; he just wanted some dramatic effect for this episode.)

Question: Is Marita or CSM in either of the eps?

Answer: No to both. (Neither is in either episode.)

Question:The promo ends with the line that Scully is in for a big surprise at the end of TINH. I'm figuring its Mulder's dead body --is it?

Answer: I would think so. Though since the discovery of Mulder's body is quickly followed by (a) the discovery of a hovering spacecraft; and (b) the disappearance of Jeremiah Smith, one could say they were all big surprises.

Question:Is there a M&S reunion scene?

Answer: Yes. I'm assuming you mean an M&S scene that Mulder is awake for? Still yes, unless they change something.

Question:So about HOW does Krycek fit in?

Answer: As usual, he's being used as a plot device, but an interesting one. It just frustrates me. As usual, the Krycek contingent (myself included) will feel he had a major role in saving Mulder, whereas the anti-Krycek contingent will see his involvement as purely malevolent. Iow, once again, see only his actions, w/o any understanding of what the underlying motivations might be. There are three Krycek scenes (four if you include the one where he and Doggett exchange dirty, suspicious looks in the hall of the hospital). One scene is with Skinner in the FBI (w/Krycek at one point ensconsed in Mulder's chair holding Mulder's nameplate); next scene is with Skinner in Mulder's hospital room; final scene is with Doggett in the hospital garage, and it includes a short struggle of sorts (which Krycek wins).

Question: Krycek offering the cure in exchange for Scully's baby never being born. He doesn't seem to want Scully's baby, as one might expect. He just doesn't want it to be born because of something he knows.

Answer: That was how I interpreted it.

Question:This is consistent with the theory that the IVF doctor was only pretending to perform IVF on Scully, but actually absconding with her eggs and Mulder's sperm.

Answer: But it's also consistent with any number of other theories. For example, that Krycek knows that the implanted fetus is a clone of the CSM. :-) Or that it's a hybrid. Or some kind of alien weapon against humanity. There are any number of possible explanations.

Question: He also seems to know that Scully is able to have more babies, implying that the restoration of her fertility may have been somebody's plan.

Answer: Not necessarily. It could also mean that she could have any number of IVF babies. Or that Krycek didn't know she had been left barren after her abduction (though that seems less likely). But there are a number of possible interpretations, as always.

Question: My question is this, Skinner still has those nasty nanocritters in him. Does Krycek *threaten* him in anyway with those?

Answer: Yes, but only to get his attention. There's a scene in the FBI, Skinner walking down the corridor, when he suddenly stumbles. Other agents help his to his feet, and he tells them he's all right. But we see the pulsing veins and terror in his eyes that says differently. He looks around, and seeing no sign of Krycek continues to the elevator -- where Krycek is waiting. He tells him to go to hell, walks away -- and collapses again. Getting the message, he picks himself up, walks back to the elevator, and gets in. However, that's the extent of the use of the nanocytes in this episode. Though there's a lovely bit in the ensuing scene where Krycek tells Skinner that he -- Krycek -- has all this power over Skinner, and all he wants to do with it is save a man's (Mulder's) life.

Question:Is Skinner willing to put his life on the line for M&S and their child? (I bet he is!)

Answer: His life isn't on the line. Only Mulder's, and the baby's. But Skinner does tell Krycek off at the beginning -- tells him to speak his piece and get out of there because if Skinner has to suffer his smug presence too long, he's going to force Krycek to kill him. Which causes Krycek to smile, and say I believe you Walter. This is right before Krycek tells Skinner that he's there to save Mulder's life. Lovely scene.

Question: [Agent Reyes] gives us some insight into John Doggett and his motivations. Could you elaborate on that a little bit? Do we find out what kind of relationship they had before?

Answer: No.

Question: Any hints about what kind of insight she'll bring into Doggett's character? I'm curious :)

Answer: She hints at the circumstances of how he lost his son, something that he apparently has never discussed with Scully, but which has apparently been driving him in the Mulder investigation. (The son's disappearance doesn't seem to have had anything to do with aliens, btw.)

The episode's final scene is with Doggett in the hospital garage, and it includes a short struggle of sorts (which Krycek wins). It's not exactly a straight fight. Krycek is in his car. Doggett tries to simultaneously grab Krycek and the steering wheel through the window as Krycek tries to drive away. It doesn't quite work, and after a bit of a struggle (the car still moving through all of this), Doggett gets thrown off. Krycek speeds off, stops, and comes speeding back -- and for a moment, one is meant to wonder if he's going to run Doggett over -- but he stops. Offers the vaccine to Doggett -- and then lets it drop, shattering on the ground, just as Doggett was reaching out for it. After which Doggett goes for Krycek again, and Krycek merely drives off. "

January 24 20001: From FOX:

"In the Feb. 25 episode "This is Not Happening," the search for Mulder intensifies in the first of a three-episode story arc. As Scully and Doggett's difference of opinions heighten over the Mulder case, Doggett enlists Special Agent Monica Reyes for another take on the situation. In the climactic episode ending, Scully has a shocking encounter with Mulder."

January 14 2001: From Autumn:

"The first 24 pages of ['This Is Not Happening' are written. It is definitely a cliffhanger and a kinda mean one at that considering they are taking TX-F off the air for a month [for the Lone Gunmen series].

January 13 2001: From LtlStar:

"'This is Not Happening' marks the return of Teresa Hoese. She is returned to Helena, Montana hanging onto life by a thread. Scully, Skinner, and Doggett go to investigate and are filled in by Dr. Strauss. He seems very upset about her condition and wants the people who did this to her to pay. He's amazed she is even alive. The only time she has spoken was to ask about her baby. Dr. Strauss thinks that is the only thing she is holding onto. Scully asks about Teresa's condition and Strauss speculates that she was experimented on. He suspects she was tortured, mutilated, and then they tried to cover it up. Scully asks if he found any foreign objects in Teresa's body and Strauss shakes his head. Doggett has been very quiet and hung back during most of this. He finally leaves the room unannounced. Scully and Skinner find him letting the drinking fountain wet his face. Scully asks if he's okay and Doggett answers with the classic Scully line 'I'm fine.'"

"Act 1 ends with Dr. Strauss returning to the hospital late and ordering the transfer of Teresa Hoese. The nurse thinks this is odd but carries out the order. The scene ends on Strauss' face, his eyes are cold and blank, not the concerned physician of the previous scene."

"Doggett is questioning a cult leader named Absalom in a police interrogation room at night. Scully watches from a chair against the wall. Absalom tells how ships come in and drop off abductees. He claims they are messed up and he helps them. Doggett screams about how he helped Teresa when Absalom left her for dead. Scully starts to calm Doggett but Absalom interrupts and says he is the only reason Teresa's alive, the only reason any of them are alive. Doggett steps aside as Scully takes over. Scully says Absalom's story doesn't fit the pattern of alien abduction. Absalom tries to explain how he predicted an alien invasion at the Millennium. View changes to the Observation hall where Skinner and Agent Monica Reyes are watching the interrogation. Scully cuts down Absalom's credibility and demands the truth. She asks about all the video cameras in his compound. He explains that abductees live in fear of being taken again but the fact that they're being watched gives them a sense of security. Doggett shoots down that theory. Scully asks about video of Teresa and this stops Absalom cold. Doggett jumps in again, very 'bad cop' ish but Scully shoots him a look that sends him back to the chair she waited impatiently in. Scully pulls out a picture of Mulder and asks if there is any tape of him. He takes too long to answer but finally shakes his head. Apparently Agent Reyes has heard enough and starts to leave. Skinner comments that Absalom is hiding something and Reyes agrees. She then takes several of the confiscated video tapes and leaves."

"Scully finds a man she believes is Jeremiah Smith, he denies it but she continues her questioning. Did he heal these people? No. Did he heal Teresa? Before he answers, Scully starts to rough him up. A knock on the door stops her and a SWAT teamer gestures Jones out of the room. Scully is breathing fire but when she turns back to the man she is surprised to see Jeremiah Smith. This stuns her to silence so Jeremiah starts talking. He doesn't want to be exposed. He is the only one helping abductees. He saves them. Scully asks where Mulder is. Jeremiah claims he was trying to help him when Scully came crashing in. She asks again barely restraining her fury. Just then the door opens again and Skinner walks in, Jones is with him. Skinner asks her to come with him. When the camera angles back to Jeremiah, he is no longer Jeremiah but Nike Man once again. Scully follows Skinner and asks why. Skinner answers 'It's Agent Mulder.'"

"The next scene is in the woods at night. SWAT teamers are gathered in a rough circle around something we can't see. Doggett steps out from among them."

January 9 2001: From FOX:

"In the Feb. 25 episode, 'This Is Not Happening' (written by Carter and Spotnitz), the search for Mulder intensifies as FBI agent Monica Reyes (guest star Annabeth Gish) joins the hunt for the missing Mulder in the first of a three-episode story arc. As Scully and Doggett's difference of opinions about the missing Mulder heighten, Doggett enlists Reyes' help to bring her own viewpoint to the case. In the climatic episode ending, Scully has a shocking encounter with Mulder."

January 8 2001: From Causticmouse:

"The latest draft script excerpts I have from TINH are very interesting. I have a scene that looks to be from either the end of Act 3 or the beginning of Act 4. Doggett and Scully are interrogating someone named 'Absalom' who seems to be running a compound with some cultlike qualities. Absalom tells S&D that the ships drop off abductees 'all messed up' and he goes to help them. Scully tells him that abductees being returned with severe injuries doesn't fit the 'alien abduction model,' and Absalom says that this dropping off of badly injured abductees only began with the millennium (not clear if he's talking about 2000 or 2001). Scully asks him why there are so many video cameras at the compound and he says the video cameras give the abductees a sense of security that they aren't being watched because they're all terrified of being taken again. Scully asks Absalom if there's a tape of Teresa Hoese, and he says no. Finally, she pulls out an ID photo of Mulder, shows it to Absalom and asks 'Is there tape of this man?' The stage directions says that Absalom 'looks at the photo and again takes a moment too long to answer. A moment which is an eternity for Agent Scully, afraid of what the man's answer is going to be. But his answer is simply a shake of his head.'"

"Meanwhile, outside the interrogation room, Skinner and an Agent Monica Reyes are watching all of this. Agent Reyes 'chuckles improbably' when Absalom denies having tape of Mulder. The stage directions make it sound as though Skinner takes the chuckle one way, but it's really meant in another. As in, Agent Reyes knows something about Mulder and isn't saying. When Skinner says Absalom is hiding something, Agent Reyes says 'that's for sure' and takes several videotapes from the stack of tapes recovered from the compound as she leaves."

"The second scene is clearly from near the end of the 4th Act. Scully is interrogating a character named "Nike Man," but she believes that he's actually Jeremiah Smith and that he's healing people. He denies it, and she grabs him by the shirtneck and yells that she knows who he is. Agent Monica Reyes is with her during this exchange, but is then called out of the room, leaving Scully alone with Nike Man, who transforms into Jeremiah Smith. He warns her that she's going to expose him. She's completely stunned by his transformation. He tells her she's putting abductees all over the country in danger by doing this because he helps them and is the only one who can. Scully cuts him off and asks 'Where's Mulder?' Smith says 'you came crashing in here... I was trying to help him too,' and Scully (with 'restrained fury') asks again 'Where is he?'"

"Just then, Skinner enters the room with a worried look and tells Scully she'd better come with him. Scully turns around and Smith is Nike Man again. Scully turns to leave and asks Skinner what's going on. Skinner replies, 'It's Agent Mulder.' The scene then cuts to a scene in the woods where Doggett and SWAT team members surround something we can't see in a circle in the forest. Could it be Mulder?"

December 16 2000: From Pichufox:

"From an early draft copy of the script Scully explains that Theresa Hose was 'the young mother who was abducted, the night before Agent Mulder was'. The Dr. tell's Scully, Skinner and Doggett that Theresa has asked for her baby, but hasn't said anything else. The direction says this 'hits' Scully, and that Scully is 'shaken' by Theresa's condition."

December 14 2000: From Pichufox:

"Well, I have a few excerpts from 8x14, 'This is Not Happening.' In them, Scully, Doggett, and Skinner are in a hospital in Helena, Montana. They have gone there to see Teresa Hoese, who was 'returned' there 'hanging onto life by a thread.' When they go in with a doctor to see her, she is in very bad shape. The doctor tells them he hasn't seen this level of mistreatment in 12 years, and he believes someone was experimenting on her, possibly torturing her and trying to mutilate her. The script mentions that there's damage to her soft palate, her chest has been cut open and resealed, and organ tissue has been scooped away. [I noted that what's described in the script is exactly what we saw happening to Mulder in 'Within' and 'Without.']"

"All this eventually seems to be too upsetting or disturbing for Doggett, who leaves the room without a word. When Scully follows him but into the hallway, he's getting a drink and putting water on his face. She tells him, 'As upsetting as this is, I think there's reason for hope here.'"

"Later, the doctor apparently is revealed to either be a bad guy, or it looks like the ABH may be impersonating him because he's arranging to have Teresa transferred to another facility even though her condition is very bad."

December 13 2000: From FOX:

"Past characters return while new ones debut in the next installment from Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz, entitled 'This is Not Happening.' The episode numbered 8X14 will be directed by Kim Manners and is tentatively set to air on Feb. 25th, 2001."

December 10 2000: From Mariken:

"The X-Files is casting for an 'Agent Karen Miller' for Episode 14. She's described in the breakdowns as 'attractive,' late 20s to early 30s, and the breakdown says she's spiritual, and 'this may make her more open to the paranormal,' but she's still very grounded. Strange description maybe, but that was the gist of it. Don't know if this is the new female agent or not. Reports say the part is listed as 'Guest Star' rather than as a 'Recurring' or 'Lead.'"




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