
Oh, angst! Oh I love it. Not only the first really, really angsty episode of the show, but I would say between this and One Breath, we won't see angst like this again until season five.
I think they amped up the UST in the first four episodes of the season so that we can really understand why Mulder goes absolutely ballistic in this episode, and why he rampages through One Breath. I love how emotional these ones are.

Mulder returns to his apartment late at night. Scully has left a message that is interesting enough to begin with, but then life goes sideways when Scully starts screaming for his help. From here in, the emotion runs high.

He numbly walks the crime scene that Scully's apartment has suddenly become, recreating the terrifying events. What a harsh scene.


When Mrs Scully arrives, she's frantic. Mulder holds out his hand to calm her, but it's covered in Scully's blood and they both share an 'oh my God' look. Mrs Scully reveals that she had a dream this would happen, but never told Scully because 'she doesn't believe in that kind of thing, you know'.

I never took Mrs Scully to be the intuitive type, but I really like this. and I guess you can see where Melissa Scully gets it.

Mulder and Mrs Scully band together from here, helping each other cope. Strength in numbers and all that. I love the full acceptance of each other, it feels like instant family.
It goes without saying, Mulder is a wreck. He doesn't sleep. He doesn't shave. He doesn't know if Sculyl is alive or dead, and he can't seem to handle it. At the briefing, Skinner advises Mulder not to get involved with the investigation, telling him;
SKINNER: You're too close to this case. If we can use you, we will.
M: Sir...
SKINNER: That's an order, Agent Mulder.

Well, it's ridiculous to think Mulder won't get involved in investigating Scully's disappearance. He does. What else is he going to do? Sit at home and worry?
Lucky for him, a patrol cop with a video camera in his car pulls Duane Barry over (for speeding I suppose). And lucky for Scully, the camera gets a shot of her in DB's truck, bound and gagged.
And lucky for me, DB is playing some of my favourite music; I effing love Nick Cave. It's funny though- this episode is what made me aware that Nick Cave existed, but at the same time, it seems to catch me off guard each time I watch.

What a scary image; Scully in the trunk. God, this is really no way to be treating a pregnant woman. Gillian Anderson is obviously made of better stuff than I am.

Mulder is haunted by the image, but also elated that Scully is still alive. Staring at her picture like he's willing her to be found, he listens to his recorded conversation with Duane Barry, trying to glean any information as to where he might be taking her. There has to be a clue somewhere. As he tells Krycek, Scully's disappearance is keeping him up at night.

It hits Mulder kind of suddenly; the patroller was killed on a route that leads to Skyland Mountain. That must be the mountain DB was talking about. Krycek seems shocked that Mulder has figured out where Scully is being taken; not because that was some nifty detective work, but because CSM was counting on Mulder not being around to stop the abduction.

Now that he has a plan of action, Mulder is more hopeful, but he's feeling the effects of his recent insomnia. He falls asleep on the road!

Once they reach the mountain, they learn DB has indeed been there. He's way ahead of them, and the only way to try and beat him to the top is by taking the gondola, which of course, is not in service during the summer (or something) and has just had the cable replaced; very dangerous, yadda yadda yadda. Mulder threatens the tram operator with his gun, telling him 'no, you don't have a choice'.
I actually think I could do without this scene; I see that they were going for some serious dangerous drama, but it falls flat for me, and I never feel like Mulder's in danger.

However, I do get a good sense that Krycek thinks the mission is in danger, and he has to stop Mulder from reaching the top before DB does. And I like when he knocks out the tram operator and then slickly fixes his hair and reports back to CSM.
Ultimately, Mulder fails to reach Scully in time. He finds the empty car, and checks the trunk, finding nothing but Scully's necklace. Oh, heartbreak!

Duane Barry is shouting at the sky, happy to be free. Mulder begins his descent into madness.

M: (venomously)Where is she? Where'd you leave her?
DUANE BARRY: They took her.
M: Who?
DUANE BARRY: Them! I told you they would take somebody else. They did!
Once DB is secure, Mulder begins his bad-cop/insane-cop routine. He is just seething. I actually get chills when he whispers 'did you kill her?'

M: How'd you get this?
DUANE BARRY: From the ship.
M: What ship?
DUANE BARRY: You saw it.
M: I saw a helicopter.
Why is Mulder being difficult on this one? Is it just because he is furious? Is he so determined to get the truth out of DB, that whatever he's being told must be a lie? Does he just not want to believe that Scully has been abducted by aliens? Remember, there is no indication that once Scully is abducted he'll ever see her again. He never saw Samantha again, after all. Losing Scully is just as hard for him.
When Mulder sees Scully's hair and blood on DB's hospital bracelet, he snaps. It's Over.

M: (whispers angrily)Did you hurt her?
DUANE BARRY: No.
M: (screaming) Did you hurt her!?
DUANE BARRY: No!
M: (still screaming) What is this?
Mulder chokes him. He has totally lost control. Eventually he comes to his senses, and furiously paces the room.

DUANE BARRY: I'm sorry. They had to take her. I hope they're not hurting her... too much with the tests. I'm sorry.
I don't know how I can still be sorry for DB, but I am. Mulder can't contain himself and he rages out the door, barking at Krycek not to let anyone inside the room with DB. I'm sorry for him too. I love rampaging, get-Scully-back-or-die Mulder.
He looks out the window and thinks of her.

Oh God, that is scary. I do love how they have used scenes like these, where Mulder looks all troubled and then we see a frightening image of Scully. I like how they are a little ambiguous; is this what Mulder is picturing, or did it really happen this way?
Mulder returns to find Krycek in the room and loses it on him. While they are arguing, DB keels over and dies. Enter Skinner. Great timing. This is bad.

Krycek meets with CSM. And asks some legitimate questions. CSM is his regular vague self.
K: If Mulder is such a threat, why not eliminate him?
CSM: That's not policy.
KRYCEK: It's not? After what you had me do?
CSM: Kill Mulder and you risk turning one man's religion into a crusade.
K: What about Scully?
CSM: We've taken care of that.
K: How?
CSM: We tell you only what you need to know.
K: I think I have a right to know.
CSM: You have no rights, only orders to be carried out. If you have a problem with that, we'll make other arrangements.
Even his real boss doesn't take him seriously. Poor Krycek. Too bad he deserves it. He is kind of scum. It makes me wonder if Krycek disappears because he was told to, or because he's had enough of CSM's shit.

Mulder is blamed for DB's death for obvious reasons, but Krycek actually poisoned him. The military (in on it) was responsible for the autopsy and fudged the findings. Mulder notices a barely smoked cigarette in Krycek's car. Next thing we know, he's brought a report to Skinner outlining Krycek's role as a double agent, report to CSM, and also his role in the death of the tram operator, and his involvement in Scully's disappearance.
Skinner... probably knowing ahead of time that this is true... is surprisingly receptive to the idea- as long as Mulder has some actual proof. They may be beginning to understand each other. But when they find out Krycek never showed up for work, Skinner just lets it go.
M: That's it? He's gone, he just disappears into the woodwork?
SKINNER: So it would appear.
(Mulder stands and marches towards the door angrily before turning back.)
M: Who are these people who can just murder with impunity and we can't do anything about it?
SKINNER: Let it go, Agent Mulder.
M: (turns away) Like hell.
SKINNER: There's nothing you can do.
M: (points a finger accusingly) What can you do about it?
SKINNER: There's only one thing I can do, Agent Mulder. As of right now, I'm reopening the X-Files. That's what they fear the most.

Mulder's look says 'that is great, but it doesn't really help me right now'.
Next is an touching scene with Mrs Scully. The real emotional drama is over, and now all they have left is a missing Scully. Mulder pulls out Scully's necklace and hands it to her.
M: I found this. It's something I... I never considered about her. If she was... if she was such a skeptic, why did she wear that?
MrsSCULLY: I gave it to her on her fifteenth birthday. (she gives it back to him)
M: Don't you want to keep it?
MrsSCULLY: When you find her, you give it to her.

It's a strangely hopeful scene; you really feel like Mrs Scully believes in Mulder; even if she may not necessarily believe he will find her daughter.
Finally, Mulder returns to Skyland Mountain. He looks into the night sky, looking utterly defeated and wonders if he'll ever see Scully again.

Sad ending.