Original subtitles

Dad!

Dad!

Tommy?

What is it?

I'm afraid. I heard something.

It's just the wind.

No. I think it's under the bed.

Can you check?

Tommy, there is nothing to be scared of, I promise.

No. There's something under the bed.

You have to check.

All clear.

You sure?

I thought I saw something in the mirror.

Tommy, it is just your imagination.

Now, let's try to get some sleep, okay?

Dad, help! It's in here!

Help!

Help me!

Help!

Help! Dad!

It's in here! Help!

Help me!

Dad!

Daddy!

Dad!

Dr. Scully...

Sorry. After lunch.

All questions answered after lunch.

Thank you.

Agent Scully...

Leyla Harrison.

What a surprise.

Oh, good.

I was afraid I should have maybe called first.

How have you been?

Oh, uh... busy.

And yourself?

I'm back in Accounting now.

Happily, mind you.

No regrets.

Although I did relish my big adventure

on the X Files unit last year.

I have about five minutes, uh, before my next class.

Can we talk while I eat?

Not a problem.

It's an X File.

I'm sure of it.

Where'd you get this?

It all started when I tracked down

a mileage discrepancy in the Bureau's vehicle fleet.

It turns out, a really nice secretary

from our Baltimore field office

had used a Ford Taurus without authorization.

And what does that have to do with...?

Well, she was desperate to visit her grandson,

which is why she borrowed the car.

She's the one who told me about this case.

This was her daughter.

And what makes you think this is an X File?

Well, this dead woman's son...

my friend's grandson...

This is Tommy Conlon.

Tommy is eight years old.

And Tommy told her

a monster killed his mother.

And his father knows all about it.

I know, I know.

Why take the word of an eight-year-old?

But...

look at the autopsy report.

Clearly this woman was murdered, and yet...

And yet the coroner concludes

that she stabbed herself to death.

Agent Harrison,

I see no reason to disagree with the coroner.

But...

I mean, how could someone stab themselves 16 times?

Look, it is unusual, but I have seen it before.

Tommy's father took the boy

to some mountaintop in Pennsylvania

in the middle of nowhere.

Took him away from his friends,

his family.

They don't even have a phone.

Tommy's own grandmother

isn't allowed to see him anymore.

I'm sorry, Agent Harrison,

but unless you have other evidence...

Wait, wait.

Tommy said that the same monster that killed his mother

killed Spanky his pet cat.

Uh, unless you bring me Spanky, there's nothing I can do.

Apple and tuna salad?

Hello.

Dana, it's Monica Reyes.

Did I catch you at a bad time?

I was just putting the baby down.

What is it?

I wanted to get your opinion on an autopsy finding.

It's pretty unusual.

A woman who stabbed herself 16 times.

Last name Conlon?

I assume you've been talking to Leyla Harrison?

Yeah. The three of us are headed

to Pennsylvania, in fact.

It sounds like you're familiar with the case.

What do you mean, "there is no case"?

Oh, right. Thanks.

Why didn't you tell us you'd already gone to Agent Scully?

I didn't know that's who you were going to call.

That's not the point, Leyla.

You misled us.

Agent Doggett, we're almost there.

"How'd you spend your Friday night, John?"

Ran around like an idiot.

Agent Doggett...

Both of you

got in this car believing a little boy may be in danger.

What's changed since then?

Even if this isn't an X File...

which it is...

what will it hurt to keep going?

If Agent Mulder were here, he'd keep going.

Jeffrey Conlon?

Yeah. Can I help you?

Hi. I'm Agent Monica Reyes.

This is Agent John Doggett and Agent Harrison.

We're with the FBI.

FBI. Really?

We're here at the request of Dorothy... your mother-in-law.

She's worried about her grandson.

Tommy is fine.

I told Dorothy over and over.

There's really nothing more to say.

Is that blood on your hand, Mr. Conlon?

Yeah, I cut myself.

On what?

A piece of broken glass.

Sir, can we speak with your son?

He's asleep.

It's not even 7:00.

It's kind of early for bedtime, isn't it?

Not for Tommy.

And I'd appreciate it if you'd

keep your voice down.

Look, I'm going to be straight with you.

We drove a long way.

Agent Doggett is very stubborn.

I don't think you'll get him to leave

until we see your son.

Dad?

Tommy, go back inside, please.

I heard something.

I got afraid.

Hi, Tommy.

I'm Monica. This is John, and this is Leyla.

I'm friends with your grandmom.

She wanted us to come see how you were doing.

Tommy, it's too cold out here.

Go back inside the house, please.

Do you remember

what you said to your grandmom?

Something about your mother.

Do you remember?

Monsters.

You said there were monsters, right?

No such thing as monsters.

Tell Dorothy this is exactly why

she's not allowed to visit anymore.

Now, good night.

Come on.

I apologize.

I let my imagination run wild,

and I ruined both your evenings.

Thank you in advance for not yelling at me.

Something's going on here.

Wait... There is?

That little boy only said what his father wanted him to say.

Did you notice the dirt on that guy's hands and knees?

He's been digging.

This time of the year, he sure as hell ain't gardening.

I say we find a judge,

get a warrant...

search the place.

Dad?

The monsters aren't going to let those people leave,

are they?

They're leaving, Tommy.

They're leaving right now.

It's too late.

What the hell?

Oh, God.

A possum, maybe?

That doesn't make any sense.

How'd it get from here into the vents?

Who is it?

It's Gabe Rotter.

I have the thing you've been waiting for.

Who?

Gabe... Rotter.

I'm a friend of Leyla Harrison.

Do you know what time it is?

Hey, I just do as I'm told.

Enjoy.

Whoa.

What the hell is that?

A dead cat.

Come again?

Yeah, his name's Spanky.

Leyla said you're helping her out on a case

and you needed it ASAP, so...

Hey, you're welcome.

I am going to be exceptionally polite.

Leave. Now.

Leave now and take that with you.

Do you have any idea what I went through to get this thing?

I snuck onto the property

where your perp there used to live,

and I dug up the whole thing looking for it.

I don't care.

Leave! Now! Please!

Uh-uh. Leyla said she'd go out with me

only if I got you the cat, and damn it, I got it.

Oh, God...

You calling the cops on me?

If only.

God help me,

but Agent Harrison might be onto something after all.

Any luck?

Our engine's completely shot.

His truck won't start,

even though I can't find one damn thing wrong with it.

Looks like we're here for the night.

I'd better get Tommy back to sleep.

Phones that won't work, cars that won't start.

It reminds me of a case Mulder and Scully investigated.

A teenager who was struck by lightning...

his body affected the electrical workings

of everything around him.

I don't think that's what we're dealing with here, Leyla.

Agent Mulder wasted no time closing that case.

I just try to think like him.

What would Agents Mulder and Scully do

if they were in this situation?

Agents Mulder and Scully aren't in this situation.

Agents Doggett and Reyes are.

I don't know about Agent Reyes,

but Agent Doggett's going to sit his tired ass down.

What kind of a course of action is that?

I think Agent Doggett is saying that,

right now, we're in the best possible place.

Exactly. Bottom line,

we're all concerned for this boy's safety.

As long as we're here, nothing's going to happen to him.

- Right? - Help! It's in here!

Dad!

Help! Help me!

Dad!

- Dad! - Hey!

No, don't do it!

John...

How's he doing?

He's a hell of a lot calmer than I'd be.

I checked the place top to bottom.

Whatever the hell those things were, they're gone.

I have no idea where they went.

That's really good, Tommy.

Is that you?

Who's that?

That's her.

Tommy, tell John what you told me

about what we saw in your room tonight.

Those are the monsters that hurt my mommy.

But my dad says I'm not supposed to talk about it.

This is my house.

Why do I have to sit here?

Tell me what we're dealing with.

I-I...

Don't tell me you don't know,

because you're not going to like what happens next.

These things were in the room with your son and you knew it.

You held the door shut, you son of a bitch.

You want to see something?

Look at that.

Look at that.

That's what they did to me.

They almost killed me one time before.

They?

What are they? Some kind of animal? What?

All I know is that

they won't leave us alone,

and I'm dealing with this the best way I can.

Now it's too late.

How's that?

They mean to kill every one of you,

and there's nothing you can do to stop it.

Oh, come on.

You saw what happens.

You think you've killed one,

and then it becomes two.

I don't think Mr. Conlon is telling us the whole truth.

No kidding.

I mean, I think you can kill them,

because I don't know what else he would have been burying

when we showed up tonight.

You got to be freaking kidding me.

I can't believe you're cutting up a dead cat

on your kitchen table.

Will you keep your voice down, please?

You're going to wake my baby.

This... This just isn't right.

Can you clue me in here as to why the cat's so important?

Because it would seem that poor Spanky here

may have chewed a hole in his own stomach.

Which you'll admit

is unusual behavior.

You mean...

he killed himself.

Just like his owner, Mrs. Conlon

stabbed herself with a knife.

The wounds are in the same place,

and if we figure out why,

well, then, you'll have something really good

to share with your good friend Leyla Harrison, won't you?

True that.

Can you hold the ribs open while I grab that, please?

Just... now.

Thank you.

Agent Scully.

Yeah, ma'am, this is Sheriff Jack Coogan.

I got a message to call this number.

Hi, Sheriff. Thanks for getting back to me. I appreciate it.

I'm an FBI agent,

and I've been trying to reach three of my colleagues

that are up in your area.

Were they on some kind of case?

Well, they're looking into some concerns

expressed by the grandmother of a child.

The family name is Conlon, and I have an address...

No need.

I was back up there a couple of weeks ago.

Got into a kind of a shouting match with the father.

Over what?

The grandmother asked me to look in on the boy.

The father told me to get the hell off his property.

Boy seemed fine, so I did.

Well, as I say, Sheriff, I need to contact my colleagues.

I'm happy to take a drive up there,

but can't promise much tonight.

The roads are icing up as we speak.

Won't be easy getting in.

Look, Sheriff, they may be in danger.

Could you please find a way?

Ouch!

Oh, my God.

It's no monster, Agent Harrison.

Dead or alive.

You want to explain this, Mr. Conlon?

It's just a mirror from my son's room.

Why'd you bury it?

'Cause he was afraid of it.

I want you to get Tommy bundled up in warm clothes.

I want you to pack anything you think he might need.

Why?

'Cause I don't believe one damn thing you've told me,

except that we're in danger.

And we're walking out of here, all five of us.

I know what you're thinking.

Black magic.

Mirrors are powerful symbols in conjuring in the dark arts.

That's what this is.

Right?

Uh-huh.

We passed a sheriff's station maybe six miles

down the mountain.

It'll be a hike, but we can make it.

Dad, the sheriff...

No. Tommy...

Don't worry about the sheriff.

He's going to help us.

What's up, Tommy?

What's the matter?

Stay here.

Man, you're a sight for sore eyes.

John Doggett.

I'm the Sheriff.

Who called you?

Perfect timing.

We were just leaving, Sheriff.

We need a ride.

Sorry, you can't leave.

What do you mean?

You can't go anywhere.

It's too cold.

It's not him.

What?

Gun!

Let him go!

Oh...

So, this is Johnny Fabulous, huh?

Oh... "Mulder's so smart. Mulder's so dreamy."

That's all Leyla ever talks about.

Mulder and Scully, Scully and Mulder, blah, blah, blah.

This sheriff, Jack Coogan...

I'm just getting his answering machine.

Hey, you're really worried.

I thought you didn't find anything.

You told me there wasn't anything inside that cat.

No, well, there wasn't.

But it certainly seems like there should have been.

What does that mean?

Well, the pattern of bite marks.

I mean, it seems to me that the cat was trying

to get at something in its stomach,

to chew something out.

Something. What?

I don't know.

I mean, there wasn't any sign of it,

but it obviously caused a great deal of pain.

And I'm thinking maybe it goes the same

for the woman who tried to stab herself.

I mean, what if that was a frantic attempt to...

to cut something out.

Wait a minute.

Is Leyla in danger up there?

All I know is we're wasting our time talking about this.

Who are you calling now?

My mom.

I'm going to beg her to babysit.

Got anything?

Yeah.

A salad spoons no one's ever going to use again.

And the sheriff here?

Do not ask me to explain it,

but he's got absolutely no internal organs.

He's like, he's like a big bag.

You know what else?

This isn't blood.

Whatever it is, I bet it's the same crap

that's all over the inside of our car.

I've been thinking.

You know, I hate to sound like Agent Harrison,

but Mulder and Scully had a case like this

that I remember where they were trapped

underground with these mushroom spores

that caused hallucinations.

Never mind.

I don't know what to say, either.

Maybe Mulder and Scully would see something

that we don't.

How?

Nothing here makes any sense.

Unless that's the very thing that we need to see.

Agent Harrison, you want to take Tommy up to his room?

Sure.

Come on, Tommy.

What's the matter?

You like Leyla, don't you?

Can you stay with me instead?

Sure.

Come on.

I'm just a cop, Mr. Conlon.

Maybe I don't have the imagination to connect

all the pieces of this insanity together.

You said that wasn't exactly the sheriff in there,

and I want to know what you meant.

In fact, you tried to warn us

that bag of goo wasn't the sheriff.

You were trying to help us.

Yeah, so why not help us now?

Tell us what you know, Mr. Conlon,

for Tommy's sake.

Your son, Tommy...

you move him up here in the middle of nowhere

and you lock him in the room with those things.

Now, if you're just trying to get rid of him,

is that all this is?

I love my son.

I love my son, you bastard.

Well, you locked him in the room with those things.

Because I knew they wouldn't hurt him.

Now why is that?

They hurt you,

they certainly hurt your wife.

Why didn't they hurt Tommy?

I made this.

You drew all of these?

This one's you.

Why would you draw this, Tommy?

Why would you imagine such awful things?

Because I'm afraid.

Sheriff Coogan?

Sheriff?

Are you Agent Scully?

Yeah.

I, uh, I still can't contact my partners.

Were you able to get up there?

I just got back from trying.

The roads at that elevation are way too dangerous right now.

Well, Sheriff, there are three FBI agents

who may be in grave danger.

That's my girlfriend up there, Hoss.

This is the only road up to that mountain.

We've got ice leading all the way up to the peak.

Well, we have to get up there.

I mean, there must be a way.

I'm sorry.

Helicopter, snowplow or pack mule...

unfortunately, I'm fresh out of all three.

What if Tommy were at the center of this somehow?

The monsters,

the sheriff.

Agent Doggett?

Where the hell is the body?

Monica, what happened?!

The boy!

The boy, it's all him.

Oh, my God.

Is your son doing this?!

I told you.

I told you to leave.

This is your son, make him stop.

I can't. You don't think I've tried?

I can't stop him from... from imagining things.

I can't stop him from being afraid.

He's just a little boy!

He doesn't mean to do these things.

The hell he doesn't!

If you won't stop him, I will.

Tommy?

Stay right there.

God, please! Please!

You have to get it out!

Get it out of me!

Agent Reyes, hold on.

Please, hold on.

Mr. Conlon, help us.

Oh, my God!

Please!

Listen to me and listen good.

These things...

these things aren't happening.

What?

How the hell could they be?

It's like I've been saying all along.

It's not possible.

No. No, this is all real.

My wife is dead.

She believed it was real and she stabbed herself.

But because I couldn't believe it,

not really...

it couldn't hurt me.

Now, come on.

You're going to help me.

Dad?

Dad!

Dad, get in here!

Wait.

Wait a minute.

Where are you going?

You wait here.

What are you doing?

What are you doing?

You're a smart boy, Tommy.

What's it look like I'm doing?

No way.

If I don't stop you,

my friends are going to die.

You think I'm going to let that happen?

You won't do it.

You're lying.

You'd get burned, too.

You're just trying to scare me.

Scared yet?

Oh, thank God.

Agent Harrison?

Monica, are you all right?

Where's John?

Ow!

Ow.

Tommy.

He's breathing. Passed out.

I'm a medical doctor.

You're all right.

Water.

You filled it with water.

That's not what Tommy believed.

"I want to believe."

Huh.

So, this is where the magic happened, huh?

It still happens.

I'm happy it's in good hands.

Hey.

Speak of the devil.

That so?

Leyla keeps going on and on about how you saved the day.

I really do have to commend you, Agent Doggett.

You solved this case.

If it weren't for you...

...I don't even like to think what would have happened.

I have to say, it's clear to me now

that you were better-equipped for this challenge

than even Agent Mulder would have been.

I mean,

your lack of imagination saved our lives.

Gee, thanks.

That... didn't come out right.

Did it?

So, any news on the boy?

We just got back from the Psych Center.

Their doctors don't quite know what to make of him.

I think it goes without saying.

However, they have come up

with a stopgap treatment.

What's that?

A way to stifle his imagination.

I made this!