You know... I just don't like this episode. I dislike rape stories; they bother me on TV. I really hate those pervy old men. And it sucks watching a bunch of unhappy old people being mistreated by a bunch of people who hate their jobs. The M/S interaction in this was OK.
Scully beats Mulder to work for once, and he's clearly surprised to see her there. Scully gives Mulder a hard time.
M: Whatever tape you found in that VCR, it isn’t mine.
S: Good. Because I put it back in that drawer with all those other videos that aren’t yours.
It is interesting to see Scully so invested in this case; probably she identifies or sympathizes with this woman, either because a) women tend to feel for rape victims, or b) Scully's abduction experiences were actually kind of similar.
The prime suspect- a man in his 70s- is questioned on his way our of a bath.
Hal: I’m 74 years old. I’ve got plumbing older than this building. (holds open towel for inspection) Hmmm? And it don’t work much better, either.
Scully is embarrassed and looks away. Mulder is amused.
M: Thank you for sharing.
Hal further embarrasses them by explaining his advances to the nurse were all harmless;
Hal: If I told you you were a very pretty woman and I would like to show you some affection, would you be offended?
Scully attempts to suppress a possibly flattered smile and sort of half looks at Mulder. Mulder looks... uncomfortable with the idea, not that he disagrees with it.
HAL: Oh, I didn’t mean to step on your toes there.
*snicker*
M & S talk to the woman who operates the old folks home. Mulder continues to look at Scully quite a lot.
The woman, frankly, seems threatened by her employee's rape. Like she thinks it happened because she's cute, so she's jealous. That is so like an insecure woman; totally blaming the victim. Wondering why it didn't happen to her instead.
M & S are shown checking out of their hotel, but they linger in the lobby. Scully thinks it's worth staying to investigate the crime even though neither of them really believe it is paranormal in nature. When they talk about it Mulder is very encouraging.
M: You think that Michelle Charters was raped by an 74-year-old schizophrenic?
S: It’s possible.
M: An invisible 74-year-old schizophrenic?
S: Well, maybe it’s not in the medication. Maybe it’s the place itself.
Mulder laughs; not making fun of her, he's delighted. He's having a great time watching Scully get passionate about a case for once.
M: Are you saying that the building’s haunted? If you are, you’ve been working with me for too long, Scully.
S: I’m talking about an environmental reason behind what’s happening there. Even the disinfectant couldn’t mask that smell. Who knows what’s breeding behind the walls or in the sub-structure. Some fungal contaminants have been known to cause delusions, dementia, violent behaviour…
In the mean time, we find out these patients are undergoing treatment for Alzheimer's. The doctor thinks they are getting better because of him, but they are actually getting better because of the powdered mushroom pills they are getting from their Malaysian orderly. He's running a little grow-op in the basement, and all of the seniors are addicted.
Also, somehow these pills allow ghosts to materialize when patients ingest them. But the vanish just as easily.
The ghosts are actually well done. Too bad they are pervy old men too!!
Some excitement happens when Mulder attempts to save the nurse who was the original victim, and they get locked in the bathroom as all of the faucets explode and the rooms starts flooding.
Scully begins running all over the place, first looking for the water main, then some kind of tool to loosen it. Then getting distracted by an old patient who is choking. Really, she is just expected to save the day all over the place.
There is no success in turning the water off or getting the door open, so Mulder is quite lucky when the room fills so much that the door has to give under the pressure.
Also at that moment, the doctor injects the choking patient with the cure for ghosts. But sadly everyone gets their Alzheimer's back.
No comments:
Post a Comment