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| Series: | The X-Files |
| Original Airdate: | 05-12-99 |
| Production Number: | 7ABX06 |
| Date(s): | |
| Written by: | David Amann |
| Directed by: | Robert Lieberman |
Summary
Three teenagers meet in the woods late at night in Pittsfield, Virginia but are interrupted by a sheriff's deputy. Moments later the deputy lies dead, killed with his own flashlight.
Mulder and Scully later examine the deputy's body: the blow that killed him was so ferocious that his glasses were pushed through the back of his skull. They question the suspect, teenager Tony Reed, whose fingerprints were found on the flash light, but he denies any part in the murder. Mulder and Scully agree that Tony is innocent, although Mulder's theory of spirit involvement is not shared by Scully, who prefers a more down-to-earth course of investigation, suggesting they question Tony's friends. Mulder and Scully visit Tony's school and speak with the two teenagers who were with Tony in the woods, the sheriff's son Max Harden and his girlfriend Chastity Raines. Chastity seems concerned about Tony when Mulder and Scully tell her he may go to jail. However, Tony is later released when the murder weapon was discovered.
Mulder and Scully review video footage of the evidence room that shows the flashlight simply disappear. A blur on the video footage attracts Mulder's attention and later analysis by an expert reveals the blurred object is solid and matches the local high school colors. When one of the teachers at the high school is later attacked by an unseen force in front of many witnesses, Mulder suspects Max posses some kind of paranormal ability and is using it to kill.
Mulder believes Harden's changing teenage hormones are giving him paranormal abilities that allow him to attack people without touching them. Tony follows Chastity into a cave in the woods and is affected with the same paranormal abilities. Meanwhile, Max collapses and is sent to the hospital where it is found he is suffering from exhaustion, withdrawal, a concussion, and ligament damage. In short, he is dying of his abilities. Mulder figures out through the green globs on Max's shoes that he has superhuman speed. Chastity sneaks Max out of the hospital where he returns to the cave while Tony is coming out. The sheriff finds the flashlight in Max's room and confronts his son about the murders.
Max confesses and then attempts to kill his father, but Tony intervenes, taking the sheriff's gun. Tony and Max confront each other at the cave. Chastity shoots Max and herself, using her abilities. The city then fills the cave with concrete, sealing it forever.
Background Information
- Among the posters on Max's bedroom walls are ones for The Doors, Staind and Busta Rhymes.
- Max tells Scully she must have been a "Betty" back in the day, which is slang for an attractive young woman.
- The dates on the academic discipline and progress forms for Max are not in accord with the order of the episode, coming after the episode "Millenium". Supposedly, the changes in his behavior and grades started a few months before, but the reports are from a few years previous.
- If he is moving faster than the eye can see, then so should whatever he is holding, therefore the table, chair, and other objects he interacts with should not be visible. Probably, he just threw the chair and table.
- Late in the episode as Mulder and Scully walk down a hallway, their marks are clearly seen on the floor.
- Chastity drives a 1970 camaro.
- It is unclear what causes the teenagers to become super fast. Although the visual effect when they receive their powers is similar to encounters with alien force fields (TXF: Requiem), it is never established that it is alien technology that caused this. They could not find anything special about the cave.
Goofs
When the bullet is seen passing through Max and about to hit Chastity, it is perfectly formed just like it would be when still attached to the casing. In reality, bullets deform significantly when they enter an object such as a human body - typically looking more like a mushroom than a bullet.
Scott Cooper, who plays Max Harden, was 29 years-old when this episode was filmed and it showed. I guess that Max's looking older than his actual age could be explained by saying that the substance in the cave also accelerated his ageing process slightly.
Allusions
You think I'm like Carrie or something? I used some kind of mental powers? This is an allusion to Carrie by Stephen King. A book and movie about a high school girl with telekinetic powers who rained vengeance upon those who tormented her.
Yeah, too much teen spirit. Mulder: You think? Smells like murder to me. The above quote is a reference to the popular song "Smells Like Teen Spirit," by Nirvana.
Links and References
Guest stars
- Nicki Aycox as Chastity Raines
- Tom Bower as Sheriff Harden
- Scott Cooper as Max Harden
- Bill Dow as Dr. Charles Burks
- Ann Dowd as Mrs. Reed
- Las Lannom as Deputy Ronald Foster
- Rodney Scott as Anthony Reed
- David Wells as Mr. Babbitt
- Rachel Winfree as Nurse
- Christopher Wynne as Deputy
Links and References
References
SEMICOLON-SEPARATED LIST OF ITEMS/LOCATIONS REFERENCED IN EPISODE (BUT NOT LINKED TO IF ALREADY LINKED IN SUMMARY OR GUEST STARS SECTIONS)
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