Tooms

Sequel!

They let Tooms go because Mulder sounds hopelessly crazy when giving his testimony. Scully misses out on the trial and can't give hers because she is too busy meeting with Skinner (first appearance!), who is telling her that despite the X-Files "conviction or case solution of seventy-five percent" is "well above the current bureau standard" she needs to reign it in and make sure they are all done by the book. Of course, given the nature of the cases, by-the-book investigations will mean closer to a zero percent case solution rate.



Why would he want that? Because CSM owns him! I think this is the first episode where CSM has a line, but he hovers in the background making it clear that he is pulling the strings, trying to keep the truth hidden.


Because as usual Mulder is right, and Law Enforcement is wrong, he insists on stalking/staking out Tooms.By keeping tabs on him Mulder will make sure he never eats the fifth and final liver that he requires before going back into hibernation.




M & S have have words about this stakeout, and Mulder calls Scully out for being kind of a tool:

S: Mulder, that's going to entail unorthodox methods of investigation.
M: Look, Scully, if you're resistant because you don't believe, I'll respect that. But if you're resistant because of some bureaucratic pressure, they've not only reeled you in. They've already skinned you.

Scully immediately knows he's right/ knows how stupid she just sounded, so she decided to be even more helpful than usual in proving Mulder is right.



Scully uses her time to find proof that Tooms can be linked to the 1930s murders. She eventually joins Mulder on his stakeout, and the famous Iced Tea scene ensues:

M: Tooms hasn’t come out of the house all day. I sat through a Phillies game, an Orioles game, and four hours of Ba-Ba-Booey. When it got dark, I took a walk around the block. Do you have that sandwich that I asked you to bring?
S: It’s liverwurst.
M: Ha-ha. (she is so funny :P)


S: Mulder, you know that proper surveillance requires two pairs of agents, one pair relieving the other after twelve hours.
M: Article 30, paragraph 8.7?
S: This isn’t about doing it by the book. This is about you not having slept for three days. Mulder, you’re going to get sloppy and you’re going to get hurt. It’s inevitable at this point.
M: A request for other agents to stake-out Tooms would be denied. Then we have no grounds.
S: Well, then I’ll stay here. You go home.




M: They’re out to put an end to the X-Files, Scully. I don’t know why, but any excuse will do. Now, I don’t really care about my record, but you’d be in trouble just for sitting in this car and I’d hate to see you to carry an official reprimand in your file because of me.
S: Fox...
M: I... (laughs uncomfortably) I even made my parents call me Mulder. So... Mulder.
S: Mulder, I wouldn’t put myself on the line for anybody but you.
M: (pauses, they look at each other) If there’s an ice tea in that bag, could be love.
S: Must be fate, Mulder. Root beer.







M: Here. Take my sandwich, I only had one bite. You’re gonna want it later, believe me. And you’ll call me if anything happens, immediately. I’ll be here.
Oh, and 11:30, station 790, Pete Rose Late Night Sports Talk Radio Show.
S: Wouldn’t miss it for the world. (not)


Woo, that was a lot of dialogue I saddled you with there, sorry about that.
So what do we have after all of that? First, she's bringing him a sandwich, and I kind of get a kick out of that. Scully has picked up that Mulder uses her first name when he wants her to know he seriously cares about what's happening to her, so she reciprocates. This makes Mulder uncomfortable either because he's shy/embarrassed about her caring about him, at least openly, or he's truly embarrassed by the name Fox. Who wouldn't be?



I would say Scully pretty much lays it all out when she says "I wouldn’t put myself on the line for anybody but you.". That was a surprising amount of honesty and emotional openness that you just don't expect from these characters. They make a habit out of subtlety and never revealing their feelings about anything. I think the sweetness and awkwardness of this scene is how that originates; after this, they both mainly keep their feelings under wraps, never speaking plainly about anything.

Normally, the quote is ended after the line about Root Beer, but I happen to really love Mulder's Sports Talk Radio suggestion. He's totally serious, but knows she won't listen anyway. He's kind of a closet sports geek, but that is the hobby of his that gets the least amount of attention :P





I just think that part was kind of adorable.



Finally, Mulder gets some sleep, and Tooms break into his house. First of all, ew, Mulder is that what you eat for dinner? You are such a stereotype bachelor it's not even funny!

Instead of eating his liver or anything that might help him survive, Tooms goes all vengeful on Mulder's ass. Using Mulder's shoe to make an imprint of his face, Tooms proceeds to beat himself up and check himself into a hospital, thereby framing Mulder and making them believe Mulder kicked his ass, when in face, Tooms kicked his own ass.


I think I would have just taken his liver but whatevs.

Mulder is reprimanded by Skinner, but Scully defends him, even lying a bit on his behalf, saying Mulder was with her on the stakeout the whole time. That definitely wasn't by the book; Mulder is surprised at his partner's loyalty.



By the time they track him down, Tooms has already eaten his final liver and is back in his hibernation nest. For some reason, that apartment building has been torn down and construction has already been completed on a brand new mall. Wow that was fast. I wish construction moved that quickly in real life, seriously!

They determine he must be hiding under the escalators. Scully thinks there is only room for one of them, and Mulder insists he go down. He dramatically removes his tie. I think Scully thinks that's hot.



Mulder is also never afraid to get really messy when on the job. Even if it's a nest made of bile. Tooms attacks and there is a close call, I guess, then Scully reaches down to rescue Mulder. I don't know why but I can't find a screen cap of it anywhere, but they do like, a really obvious close up of their hands grasping each other. It's not subtle enough to be accidental, so I can only assume we are supposed to notice it. They turn the escalator on, killing Tooms and solving their pest problem.



The episode ends with Scully catching Mulder staring at a cocoon.
M: It’s amazing how things change, isn’t it?
S: The caterpillar?
M: No, a change for us. It’s coming.



Maybe this gets Scully's hopes up. But wow, they seriously have no idea the magnitude of the changes that really are coming for them. I can't wait for Season Two!