Lost Episodes (II)

Scolexicon

June 15, 1996

Well, this technically isn't a lost episode since this compilation of story ideas and scenes never actually made it to a final screenplay version. The idea was to bring our good friend Flukie back to the small screen star status that he deserved but since no one seemed to be able to compress these ideas into a cohesive story the whole thing was scrapped. It includes several hammered out ideas and some scenes that were actually shot but never made into a finished product. In the end, we were left with a less satisfying brief look at Flukie on the cover of a tabloid rag in Pusher. Only a slight salve to the hermaphroditically challenged who await his return. But with the mish-mash of material that was being worked through it was probably better to just catch this glimpse and wait patiently for another star turn in season 4. Patiently, hopefully crossing our fingers and flukes....

A rundown of the screenplay ideas should start this review. There were plenty of half-baked ideas being batted around here and I guess we should be happy they never launched themselves completely off the drawing board. Most of them are ripped off scenes from movies that range from the classic to the absurd. For instance, there is one teaser that begins with a tour of the sewer system that is hauntingly familiar to anyone who saw the final scene of The Host. But instead of the final camera destination being the slimy, white face of Flukeman we zoom in on a clown in white face just as he is pulled under the water in the drain pipe. The episode that ensued was sure to be a rip-off of Stephen King's story "It" with Flukeman pushing the clown out of the center ring. Possibly justice for the clown but a less than riveting show for us to suffer through. Another one took us once again into the denizens of the sewer system but this time our tour guides were none other than the plethora of rats inhabiting such stellar celluloid wonders as "Willard" and "Ben". I think we have all had our share of rats following Teso Dos Bichos and I know I've beat up on TDB enough so I'm glad we didn't have to go down this road. Besides, seeing Flukeman down a fistful of rats (did Flukie even have hands?) couldn't top watching the Enigma digest the evil twin in Humbug. So far, two ideas better left on the drawing board.

One of my personal favorites was a riff on Phantom of the Opera. A recuperating Flukie is hiding out in the sewer system beneath the Met listening to the plaintive music wafting down from the Russian Ballet production up in the hall. It is a poignant scene with him wistfully thinking back to his life and times on the Russian freighter but his regenerative rest is interrupted by the arrival of a nubile, young street urchin who is seeking a home in the sewer system. Will he make her his host or his paramour? Luckily we'll never know since this storyline was left unpursued. Still another storyboard layed out a plot that had Flukeman on a roadtrip to Ft. Lauderdale stashed in the back of a microbus driven by the potheads from WOTC and Quagmire. In his eagerness to arrive at some open water, Flukie ends up stuck at Lake Heuvellman where a wrestling match over territory ensues with a local gator. This conjured images of Jim wrestling with the giant anaconda as Marlon Perkins called the shots on Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. A blast from the past that was better left behind. In a final flash of brainstorming, the writers pondered the following which for all our sakes was blessedly discarded. The teaser opens with a large crated, cage being transported to an unknown compound. The crate is removed from the truck and carefully escorted to a waiting enclosure. The encaged cargo is rattling and shaking the bars in anger or anticipation as the guards look uneasy. From the shadows emerges Michael Jackson who wants to be present as his latest rare find is released in his private zoo/land of oddities and enchantment (tm). As the crate is opened and the locks removed, one of the workers is suddenly pulled inside as pandemonium ensues and his fellow workers unsuccessfully attempt to pull him to safety. As the struggle suddenly ends and an eery quiet envelopes the scene, the body is pulled from the cage and we see the unmistakable bite mark of our friendly fluke on the dead man's back. One would think that this rehash of a Jurassic Park scene would be the weirdest thing about this scenario but the thing that makes it the least palatable is the idea of MJ on the show. This one never stood a chance.

These story ideas are so absurd that I wonder why the writers didn't jump over the edge of bizarre to out and out insanity...I would have welcomed them with open arms. I'm nothing if not a good hostess...but not a good "host" mind you. They might have written a scene where we see Flukie recuperating, not in the sewers, but rather on Monster Island. He could hang out with new buddies Mothra and Godzilla comparing radiation levels while swapping stories of daring deeds. Better yet we could have Flukeman pull himself into some damp, dank corner of the sewer to recuperate only to stumble upon the tattered remains of Tooms who similarly beat the odds and survived his encounter with Mulder and Scully. Together, the regenerating genetic anomalies could plan their revenge as a mutant tag-team out to get our daring duo. Or how about a tear-jerker based on An Affair To Remember? Flukie was trying to escape the New Jersey sewer system in order to make a rendezvous with his girlfriend who was also born from the primordial soup on the freighter. Tragically, he is cut in half by Mulder's clumsy attempt to halt his escape so he pulls himself out of the drain pipe, seeking refuge in the sewers but missing the meeting with his true love. She somehow tracks him down and as she gazes upon his slimy, white half-submerged body she is unaware that he has been injured and he's too proud to tell her. He feels he can no longer make her happy being only half the fluke he used to be...and in his pride she almost leaves until she sees through the stagnant water the truth behind Flukeman's disappearance and they are re-united as the credits roll. The main flaw with this storyline wasn't the rip-off nature of the story or the sappiness of it....it was the fact that Flukeman and his love-interest don't really need each other since they are hermaphroditic. Such a shame...

Two ideas did manage to springboard themselves into the beginnings of an actual episode since several scenes from each were filmed. It wasn't possible for them to be combined into a coherent finished product since there were too many gaps. But since they survived past a simple teaser they seem to be the best of a bad lot. In the first sequence, Mulder and Scully are standing at the mouth of a drain pipe in what appears to be a forested area. Dressed in camouflage and wearing backpacks they appear ready to give chase. It seems the Flukeman has recently emerged from this section of pipe and our agents are going to attempt his capture before he can make his way to a populated area. I sort of liked the idea of this scenario...our daring duo out of their usual monkey suits and in the wilds, braving the elements in a Predator-like contest between them and their prey. But will they end up being the hunters or the hunted? The scenes they filmed were captivating...there was not much dialogue but the way in which Mulder and Scully had to work together to accomplish their objective made their wordless communication during the pursuit riveting. One of my favorite scenes was when they entered a part of the forest where their camouflage was useless and they were forced to submerge themselves in the resident pond mud in order to avoid detection. Talk about not your average scene...we've seen our pair looking bedraggled on occasion but this was on the next level. The scenes worked well with the tension and the acting was right on despite the limited dialogue. We knew they were in pursuit of the Flukeman but there were never any scenes where M&S were in the same shot or had to confront Flukie so it was obvious that the scenes were spliced and incomplete. If they ever do a Flukeman sequel they might be able to use some of this footage. The remaining shots involved some hotel scenes that must have lead up to the forest footage. There is a shot that has Mulder and Scully in a diner discussing the case and how it ended up on Mulder's desk. Apparently, it showed up mysteriously but Mulder is sure that Skinner had a hand in it. Scully is convinced that it wasn't Skinner and that CSM is responsible and perhaps is even setting them up. The two agree to disagree until further evidence is uncovered and so they turn in for the night. We are then witness to a Scully shower scene...it can't beat the shower scene with the guy throwing up the fluke, but a Scully shower scene a la Psycho has its merits. It sort of had a feel of Tooms/The Host/Psycho all rolled into one...and of course fans and perverts combined would all enjoy a scene with Scully in a towel. Although she's in the bathroom Scully doesn't look particularly worried as she turns the water taps on. As the water heats up we get a camera shot looking down the drain which seemed to telegraph the upcoming events. Scully enters the bathroom wrapped in a towel and as she pulls back the shower curtain we all heave a sigh of relief since there isn't a giant fluke awaiting her. But the tension is turned up a notch since we know she's not going to get out of the bathroom without an incident. As she starts to slowly shampoo her hair (isn't she the least bit uneasy?) we see the draincover shift and I thought this had to be it but I was forgetting that Flukie is no Tooms so could never fit through this opening. Scully rinses and prepares to exit the shower. With a bit of soap in her eyes she reaches blindly for the towel only to have her arm snatched by...you guessed it, the Flukeman who was waiting for her in the bathroom. Did he come out of the toilet or use the door like the rest of us? Who the heck cares since this is startling even when you're expecting the worst. Luckily, Mulder doesn't have the Playboy channel turned up to full volume and hears the commotion and busts through the adjoining doors to their suite just in time to scare the Flukeman out the french doors of the bathroom. As Scully clutches the hotel robe to her shivering form they both look out into the night as the Flukeman escapes into the surrounding woods. Following this experience there is a short scene where M&S sit up in the hotel and discuss how many times each of them has saved the other's butt and come to the conclusion that they are fairly even although Scully believes she still has a few freebies coming her way. The main lesson they learn is one we all have been screaming at them from our collective living rooms for ages....stay out of the bathroom!!!

So end the attempts to bring the Flukeman out of retirement. We all know he is alive and kicking assuming he's regrown his lower extremities. We knew this at the end of The Host and it was reaffirmed in Pusher. The question remains... was his washing up on the vineyard just a coincidence or was he tracking down the scent of Mulder perhaps? Just looking for a nice expensive piece of real estate? Or is there a sinister plot in the making? Since this is the X-Files, I find it hard to believe that his reappearance is simply a coincidence...too contrived, right?

Lost Episode Index / Back to Main

Oblivion

June 22, 1996

Written by Fernando Incantare, Directed by Paul Somnus

Now here was an episode that would have broken the mold. This was probably from mid-second season and would have stood apart from all other X-Files episodes in the storytelling format if it had found its way to our screens. Unfortunately, this never happened but this season we were served up JCFOS which went a long way toward mold-breaking. Oblivion was probably re-shelved because of its non-formula status but that, most likely, was only one of the reasons. TPTB might have decided that it was too character-driven or that no paranormal case was present. There may be more than a grain of truth in that analysis but in terms of a summer replacement episode it stands out for its lack of formulaic writing as well as its successful attempts at character development.

Oblivion begins with Mulder and Scully preparing to enter a warehouse to capture a suspect in their current investigation. We are not given any additional information on the case since we join them just as they begin their countdown. Backup has not arrived but they feel some urgency due to the hostage situation involved. As they rush into the building, Scully sees the victim and as she checks for a pulse is unaware of the suspect as he targets her from the catwalk above. Mulder realizes just in time, shoots the suspect who falls from the catwalk to the warehouse floor overturning boxes and crates in the process. As the teaser draws to a close we see Mulder as he is buried beneath a cascade of large wooden crates.

This episode does not fit the usual mold since the case is over by the teaser being simply a set-up for the real story. By this point in the series, we know enough about our favorite agents to want to know even more. How do they interact, what drives them to continue their quest, how would their lives have differed if their paths hadn't crossed? This episode gave us an opportunity to explore a few of these questions without steering too far off course. This was accomplished by having Mulder's accident lead to amnesia. Scully visits Mulder at the hospital thinking it's just another chance for Mulder to sample jello and soft foods. But when she enters the room, it's obvious that Mulder doesn't recognize her. With some cuts and bruises, Mulder has faired pretty well following his escapade with the exception of his memory loss. Scully talks with him but this doesn't help trigger anything although Mulder seems to trust her...this alone shows the change in him. Scully goes to consult with the physician and meets up with Skinner. He informs her that when Mulder is released he feels the pair should take some time off...Mulder to recuperate and Scully to attempt to help him re-assimilate and get his memory back. The majority of the episode deals with the aftermath of the accident...the way it impacts our dynamic duo and what we learn about them along the way. This was definitely the best part of the episode...not the ending which felt tacked on in order to try to salvage the X-Filish feel of the show. I appreciate that most episodes should have that focus but since this one was working so well outside those confines it seemed a shame to force an ending simply to tie it back to the conspiracy. But before I get to that...

There were many things that made this episode seem like familiar territory...and I mean that in the best way possible. The first was a voice-over by Scully as she sits at her computer typing her case report then surfing the net in search of info that will aid her in helping Mulder. In the meantime, Mulder's home from the hospital and is looking a bit lost in his apartment. As he's trying to familiarize himself and spark his memory I nearly choked when he looked askance at his video collection. Scully decides to brave the lair of the Lone Gunmen and goes on a midnight mission to seek their advice. They promise to look for all available sources but suggest that she bring Mulder by in the morning to talk with them to possibly jog his memory. One of the funniest things was in the morning when Scully tries to call Mulder and gets his answering machine. He has changed the message and it sounds frighteningly similar to the cheery message that Melissa had on her machine, "....and have a really nice day!!!" Mulder seems eager to spend the day with Scully to learn more about who he is and to try to break through to his lost memories. As they drive out to see the LGM, their conversation is a bit stilted. Scully continues to address him as Mulder and he interrupts her asking her to call him Fox, "...since that *is* my name." Scully seems to find this a bit uncomfortable but complies with his wishes. She is really stunned when he turns down the bag of sunflower seeds that she has brought along for him. Mulder without sunflower seeds? When Mulder meets the LGM he doesn't appear to remember them. They don't have much information for Scully other than a few contacts who might be able to help with memory recall. She goes to check these out leaving Mulder with the LGM since he wants to stay with them and go online to netpick. Weirdness.

Throughout this episode I felt that we were witness to a Mulder that could have been had his life at age 12 taken a different turn. Although he is obviously subject to a certain amount of confusion due to his memory loss, he seems to be a much happier and peaceful person in this incarnation. This is the saddest thing to realize as the episode progresses. As much as we want Scully to find a way to bring our Mulder back, it is tragic to think that in so doing the current Mulder with his cheerful exuberance and positive outlook will be lost in the process. One memorable scene is when Mulder goes to surprise Scully at work. He's carrying his ID so gets past the guards and finds his way down to the basement. Scully's not there yet so Mulder wanders through the office orienting himself. When Scully arrives, she finds Mulder sitting behind his desk wearing the NICAP hat that usually hangs in the office. The play of emotions across Scully's face as she confronts this is so complex. On the one hand, she's surprised to see Mulder at his desk but sad knowing that it's not a recovered Mulder. But the most painful emotions that cross her face are those that mourn the loss of her partner and the memory of another believer who passed out of their reach, Max Fenig, whose hat Mulder is unwittingly wearing.

Scully reaches down into herself for strength and brings Mulder up to speed on her research. They decide to take Mulder to a hypnotherapist to see if there is a way to speed up his memory recall. After a discussion with the therapist, Mulder decides he wants to regressed and Scully grudgingly agrees. What occurs is a bit of a surprise. It turns out Mulder's memories are intact including the incident of Samantha's abduction. What is startling is when the hypnotherapist is bringing him back from his regression to the present and another traumatic event is breached. As the therapist attempts to access the event we realize that while Mulder was in the hospital recovering from the accident, he was visited by some Men in Black. He remembers being wakened by the feel of a needle stick and as he struggled to call for help his last vision was of the men locking the door and surrounding his bed. The next memory he has is of waking up to the physician and then Scully's visit to his room the following day. As the hypnotist brings Mulder back, Scully is forced to explain to Mulder the conclusions she has reached. It is obvious to her that Mulder did not suffer his amnesia during the warehouse accident but that instead, someone got to him in the hospital and attempted to erase his memories. How better to shut down the X-Files than to take away Mulder's memories and motivation. Scully asks him if he can remember anything more but Mulder is still in the dark, remembering nothing of the accident or his childhood. The mind rinse that was done on him was very effective and the hypnotherapist suggests sessions every other day until the block can be dissolved. The scene with Scully theorizing to Mulder is such a reversal...she sounded downright paranoid and it's no consolation that she was right. This is territory that we are used to Mulder navigating, not Scully.

From the realization of the conspiracy angle, the episode begins to wind down. We assume that Mulder goes for hypnotherapy while Scully continues on with the X-Files and tries to discover who exactly was involved in the late-night visit to Mulder's hospital room. As usual, no conclusive evidence is turned up by the pair but Scully does seem to be getting accustomed to the new Mulder. His enthusiasm for the work is returning but without the sometimes frightening intensity. I got the feeling that Scully was growing used to the more positive, less guilt-ridden Mulder and so it was sort of sad to reach the final scene. She is sitting at Mulder's desk in the basement going over a file when the door opens and the man that enters is easily recognizable as the old Mulder. All the memories that plague him on a daily basis, the guilt, the weight of his beliefs and the pressure they bring is apparent in his countenance. "I remember everything. Samantha...", Mulder trails off and Scully just shakes her head. No more words are necessary. She knows he remembers and understands the implications. The burden of his memories is beyond the realm of words for Mulder to easily express. Just as the tension of their unspoken communication reaches a breaking point, Scully reaches into the desk drawer and pulls out a bag of sunflower seeds. Tossing them to Mulder she says, "I've been saving these for you. Welcome back, partner."

A final scene of CSM gazing out the window as the partners leave the building wasn't needed for us to realize that he had a hand in this...so I'm glad they didn't add such a scene. The whole conspiracy angle felt tacked on since I don't think the story would have been less powerful if it had been a simple case of amnesia. It would "only" have been a chance to get some insight into the characters which is probably why TPTB decided to bring in another angle. I guess I would have to disagree. Although I would not want to see all the episodes patterned like this, I felt that it did quite well in its unique attempt to break the mold. The acting in Oblivion stood up to the challenge and it was interesting to see DD portray this variation of Mulder. It was almost like having a whole new character to develop and yet the portrayal felt familiar and seemed in some ways so much like the Mulder we know. GA's portrayal of Scully in this crisis was great and it was quite a challenge since she had to cover just about every emotional permutation through the course of this episode. So another great, lost episode...not a paranormal X-File and only barely a conspiracy episode, but a very satisfying offering all around.

Lost Episode Index / Back to Main

Chupacabra

June 29, 1996

Written by Zorro Espectro, Directed by Dana Espadilla

Now here is a "not ready for prime-time" episode that was probably well kept in the canister. I'm not sure why TPTB decided to nix this one but it might have been simply that it felt too current and topical in the world of forteana. As far as forteana fauna go, the Chupacabras is gaining fame in a hurry and its rising star status might have made the brass a bit reluctant to march this one out on the heels of TDB and even in the same season as Quagmire. Another reason might have been the Chupacabras' choice of victim which appears to span the animal kingdom with the obvious exception of human victims and you know how we love to hear those body bags zipping shut. So with a less than threatening monster for the MOTW they probably settled on TDB...I'll get on with this review before I start hammering that episode yet again.

The teaser begins with a small goat grazing in a pasture, tied to a fence by a lead...but it might as well have had a sign hanging on it that said "bait". I was having flashes of Jurassic Park and Shapes, but the main problem with this teaser was the perspective. The way the camera shot the scene, we were supposed to be seeing the oncoming attack from the juxtaposed views of first the predator and then the prey. I guess it was just hard for me to get into the head of a goat and feel its fear and unease as it is being stalked. I can witness the attack but to empathize fully is difficult since it's hard to place myself in the victim's shoes or hooves...I don't get tied to fences *that* often. But even overlooking that point it just wasn't inspired.

The meat of this episode was in the investigation. I'm pretty sure this was a third season cast off and even felt the lingering "rift" hanging in the air. The case is given to our daring duo by Skinner but we only catch the end of this meeting as Mulder is scanning the file. He looks from his partner to Skinner and says, "Chupacabras?" He seems surprised that Skinner would see fit to personally assign this case to them. Scully just raises an eyebrow giving a quizzical look. Skinner holds Scully back as she leaves the office to share some information. He grips her arm, whispering that this may have something to do with her sister's murder and the conspiracy. He is sure he heard the shooter, Cardinal, mention this mysterious creature but he is confused by an unexplained feeling that the creature is friendly. Scully seems a bit embarrassed as she allays his worry and confusion by pointing out to him that in the case report on his shooting it is recorded that Cardinal said, "Chupa dura, amigo," not Chupacabras. Skinner flushes to an interesting shade of red which is a departure from the blues the show usually employs in lighting and mood, but he also realizes that it is too late to get the Chupacabras case out of Mulder's clutches so he thanks Scully and sends her on her way.

So our agents are on their way to South Texas where the latest attacks and disappearances have been reported. Mulder has read the file so explains to Scully the origin of the name "goat-sucker" and the local legend surrounding the strange attacks. Mulder is excited to have the case since the sightings originated in Puerto Rico and he figured the bureau wouldn't allow him to investigate especially since none of the victims had been human. Being the skeptic, Scully begins shooting holes in the idea of the "goat-sucker" saying that it is probably a pack of dogs but Mulder is convinced otherwise. Her mention that there have been no attacks against humans is likewise dismissed since Mulder is convinced that there is a population explosion in the Chupacabras community which will lead to more competition for food and a spread to humans as potential prey. Mulder feels that the two peculiar puncture wounds on the neck, the exsanguination, and the missing organs are a sign that these killings are not the work of dogs. Upon landing and coordinating with the local law they begin pounding the pavement. The majority of the people they talk to found the animals already dead but a few have questionable sightings of the attacker. The problem is that with widespread reports in a small community, the panic and paranoia leads to preconceived ideas when making a sighting. Scully tries to get just the facts while keeping Mulder from leading the witnesses. In the community of Santa Rosa, Mulder and Scully talk with families whose dogs and cats have been killed by an unseen culprit. In all cases, the dessicated corpse was found first thing in the morning on the front lawn. The people simply buried their pets without any autopsy or further investigation. One man mentions further sightings in the town of Combes where they are directed to a veterinarian who has been keeping tabs on the deaths. The vet has seen several of these corpses and noted the strange puncture marks and exsanguination. He claims to have autopsied one dog and found some organs removed even though there were no wounds on the body to effect this removal. Although the doctor has been cataloging the occurences, he has not had the foresight to keep any of this "evidence". The list of victims includes dogs, cats, goats, sheep, chickens, and one farm that was hit pretty hard with the loss of several pets as well as farm animals. They decide to check out this home since a "sighting" of the Chupacabras was claimed.

So far this case has been footwork, investigation and endless interviews. Granted this is how their work actually transpires but I guess I would rather have the Reader's Digest condensed version rather than have the frustration of doing all the work with them. The farm owner they interview has a small piece of land with his home, a barn and a collection of a few head of cattle, some goats and a diminishing number of pets. His trouble began when he came out one morning to find one of his dogs dead in the yard, drained of blood. He had heard the stories around town so staked-out his yard the next night to try to catch the culprit. He fell asleep on his watch only to be awoken by the sound of pandemonium in his yard. By the time the dust settled he had lost two of his goats but claimed to have seen the predator that killed them. He told Mulder and Scully that it looked like a half-beast, half-man creature and that it hopped like a kangaroo as it tried to flee the scene. The farmer was convinced that the thing killing his animals was some sort of vampire creature. Since the sighting, the creature had terrorized his farm for almost a week killing two cows, two more goats, a cat and a whole cage of parakeets.

Armed with the day's interviews, Mulder and Scully head back to their hotel to correlate the information and work on a theory. They talk mostly about Chupacabras and the case at hand but midway through their discussion the talk steers toward pets. Scully says she always wanted a cat but couldn't have one since she was allergic to them. Her family considered getting a dog but moving around so much made it impractical so she's glad she has a dog now in the form of her adopted mop dog. Mulder makes a face but before Scully can respond he says that he and Sam always wanted a dog too but that after she was gone he never had the heart to get one since he felt it would be selfish. So now he settles for a tank of fish, which begs the question: Who is feeding the fish when Mulder *and* Scully are gone? If she feeds them when Mulder dashes off in search of a beating, who takes over the duty when both partners are gone? Maybe he puts a masking tape fish in the window and X comes over to shake the flakes. Realizing they are off on a tangent, they get back to business. What they have is theory, local legend and some hazy sightings that seem less than trustworthy. Mulder reads Scully theories from the case file on the Puerto Rico killings. Interestingly enough, although there has been no capture or pictures taken of the creature, there is a wealth of "knowledge" about the Chupacabras and its behavior. According to Mulder's file, it has some sort of wing structure on its back giving it the power of flight and helping it to evade capture by humans. It seems to exhibit intelligent behavior and the skill of becoming undectable. Scully scoffs but Mulder shows her that he is simply reading directly from the case file. One theory has Mulder intrigued. It's been suggested that the creature is a "pet" of some alien intelligence that visited Earth long ago and was left behind. Mulder says it could be like the alien's pet alligator released into the sewers. I guess the aliens had bad manners or were just forgetful and now their "pet" is going through our animal population and may soon decide that human blood would make a good alternative food source. Scully is not buying any of this especially the alien "pet" theory. It seems obvious to her that some animal is killing these farm animals and her best guess is a pack of dogs. Mulder disagrees since he is intrigued by the puncture wounds and the possibility of missing organs which he knows dogs could not manage. And exsanguination...as Mulder reads from a case report in Puerto Rico...the goat was "sucked dead". Mulder finds this fascinating and as he reaches for the remote muttering something about getting the Playboy channel, Scully decides it's time to call it a night.

The episode is winding down fast. The next morning they receive a call from the local sheriff who informs them that a local man heard a commotion in his yard the previous night and went out with a shotgun killing something that was attacking his goats. The predators turned out to be a small pack of feral dogs. Mulder and Scully arrive on the scene and examine the corpses of the attacked goats and the dog that the man was able to shoot and the evidence just doesn't match up. The goats that were attacked were practically torn to pieces and did not have the mysterious puncture wounds on the neck. Even Scully who theorized the pack of dogs doesn't seem convinced that this case explains all the other attacks. But the sheriff seems satisfied and eager to see the case wrapped up and the agents out of his town. Mulder seems discouraged but Scully, knowing that they were sent by Skinner under false pretenses, feels they should cooperate with the local law and leave the case as solved. The final scene is in the basement office with Mulder sharing the reports of further attacks by the mysterious Chupacabras with Scully. The sightings have spread from the border of the state all the way up to Harris County, a much more highly populated area. Mulder is convinced that the choice of victim will soon escalate to humans but once again the case has been taken from his hands. Scully just seems resigned to the fact.

So altogether a less than thrilling episode, but better than watching more recent reruns. I guess the scope of the story was just too small. Not that I have anything against farm animals but it's difficult to get too involved when the threat doesn't seem to approach the viewers themselves. The acting and pace of the show was marginal at best with too many scenes of interviews that didn't necessarily lead to any revelations regarding the case. Heck, I was surprised we didn't see them stop to fill up the gas tank and grab some snacks at the Stop 'n Rob. I always enjoy the progress of the investigation and the scenes of them hammering out the details of their case and challenging each other to think, but overall these aspects could not make up for a less than thrilling offering. Besides, I would have rather had a glimpse at the Chupacabras...especially in flight.

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