Elegy

The episode starts when a bowling alley owner, Angie Pintero, discovers dying girl trappes within a pinsetter machine. The girl attempts to speak, but he can't hear any words. Pintero rushes outside to get help. He realizes a crowd has gathered around the dead body of the same girl he saw only moments earlier in the bowling alley. Mulder suspects that Pintero encountered the dead girl's ghost, a spirit that was attempting to communicate with the living for reasons unknown. Three similar encounters, and three similar murders, were reported in the area in as many weeks. The agents discover the words, "She is me", written on the bowling lane where Pintero saw the spirit. They are clueless as to its meaning. The agents trace the source of a 911 call to a payphone at a psychiatric center. Mulder notices one of the patient's, Harold Spuller, odd behavior. After reviewing the reports, Scully comes to the conclusion that Spuller fits the killer's profile, in that he is a compulsive person who has the desire to organize, clean and reorder. While Scully is in the bathroom, she encounters the spirit of another girl. Moments later, Mulder tells her that the body of another victim was found nearby. Mulder tells Scully that every person who saw the spirits were about to die. Back at the psychiatric center, Spuller is continually tormented by Nurse Innes. One of the other patients, Chuck Forsch, tells Scully that Nurse Innes was trying to poison Harold. Scully than realizes that Innes, not Harold, was responsible for the murders. When Scully confronts Innes in a bathroom, Innes attacks her with a scalpel. Scully has no choice but to shoot Innes in the shoulder. Scully tells Mulder that Innes has been taking Harold's medication, causing violent and unpredictable behavior. Then, Harold's body is discovered in a nearby alley, the victim of respiratory arrest. However, Scully suspects Spuller died from what Innes took away from him. Scully admits to Mulder that she saw the ghost of the fourth victim shortly after she was murdered. Later, Scully sees Spuller's spirit sitting in the back seat of her car.

Just a little note: I feel that the last scene where Scully is in her car is a memorable performance by Gillian Anderson. Also, I kind of think that the doctor at the psychiatric center used to be the voice of one of the muppets. Anyone else think so?

Below, are a few quotes from the episode and the ratings submitted by XFEOS members. They are followed with the comments and opinions on "Elegy".

Scully: "I saw something, Mulder."
Mulder: "What?"
Scully: "The fourth victim. I saw her in the bathroom before you came to tell me."
Mulder: "Why didn't you tell me?"
Scully: "Because I didn't want to believe it, because I don't want to believe it."
Mulder: "Is that why you came down here, to prove that it wasn't true?"
Scully: "No, I came down here because you asked me to."
Mulder: "Why can't you be honest with me?"
Scully: "What do you want me to say, that you're right, that I believe it even if I don't. I mean is that what you want?"
Mulder: "Is that what you think I want to hear?"
Scully: "No."
Mulder: "You can believe what you want to believe, Scully, but you can't hide the truth from me because if you do, then you're working against me...and yourself. I know what you're afraid of, I'm afraid of the same thing."
Scully: "The doctors said I was fine."
Mulder: "I hope that's the truth."

Name                Rating

Julie W...................10
Lauren H...................9
Ryan D.....................9
Christina O................8
Dena C.....................8
Gypsy M....................8
Jamie C....................8
Kelli K....................8
Eileen A...................7
Eric R.....................7
Lindsey P..................7
Adam W.....................6
Colleen C..................6
Michael B..................6

Average Rating        7.6

"If I were about to die, I would take comfort in the fact that there are spirits. At least it would confirm the existence of some sort of life after death. However, knowing that your physical existence on Earth will end must be tough. Hey wait a second...what's that over there by my window...since my time is almost up, let me just say that Anderson utilizes her brilliant acting ability to make you really feel for the plight of her character in this episode. The developing plot line of Scully facing her mortality is an interesting and moving one. To all those facing your own mortality, Scully is right there with you, grappeling with the oh so very mortal fear of death."
-Michael B.-

"The plot was nice and scary, and since the season was coming to a close it was smart to go into Scully's cancer more, to make sure everyone knew what was going on. I liked the ending conversation Mulder had with Scully, the normal Why can't you believe, I'm a afraid a bit. Good acting from Harold, he made a convincing victim, I think they could have explained the nurse a little bit better though. The whole point of the story was to talk more about Scully dieing so concidering the nurse and stuff was really a secondary plot, it really worked out."
-Eileen A.-

"Ok, obviously not one of the best X-Files episodes of all time, but you have to admit, for John Shiban, this was pretty good! The worst X-Files writer, in my opinion, actually turned out something decent! Ok, maybe the end was kinda rushed, and maybe 'The Nurse Did It' ending was kinda cheesy, but hey, it was pretty good. Scully crying in the car at the end was sad. Some great dialogue at the beginning "What is that look, Scully?" Overall, the best John Shiban episode ever. It was quite scary when you see it from Scully's point of view. Pretty good!"
-Christina O.-

"This episode was intense, and creepy. I loved it when Scully admitted she saw the ghost. It was such a change for her. It tied in perfectly with Scully's newly found problem. The Haunted Bowling Alley was a great change from the usual haunted houses and haunted basements. The writers did a wonderful job!"
-Kelli K.-

"This was an awesome episode! There was a great spook factor and we finally learn about Scully's true feelings for Mulder, even if she still doesn't understand them. It really explained alot about Scully's cancer, and why she thinks that working is the only way to keep her life in perspective. 'She is me.'"
-Julie W.-

"This episode is a good warning to Scully, in my opinion. The fact that the people seeing the souls of the dead are dying themselves lets Scully know something is wrong, and that is an important part. Also, the very end of the episode, I think, had important meaning that she was not 'fine.'"
-Lindsey P.-

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