Episode by David Annam
Summary by MaraKara
Internal dating: There is no date stamp for this episode. There are, however, fall harvest wreaths (lots of browns and oranges) on most of the doors. No one is wearing anything heavier than a trench coat. Note that this suggests that the episode is set before "How the ghosts stole Christmas", or even before the previous few episodes.
In their OB/GYN's office, Wayne and Laura Weinsider look at a sonogram of their unborn child. Laura, a simple looking woman, is obviously in her seventh or eighth month. Dr. Couvilloin, explains there are some problems -- "an abnormal bony formation involving the upper vertebra and something growing here on the plates of the skull". Wayne is visibly shaken and leaves the room.
Laura finds him in the hall, drinking water from a fountain. Laura reassures him that the doctor still thinks it may be nothing, but Wayne is on the verge of tears. "I just want it to be normal", he tells Laura.
In their home in Hollins, Virginia, Wayne brings Laura a glass of milk. She takes a pill with the milk, drinking it all. "I love you Laura, no matter what", he tells her, rubbing her stomach, holding her tight. The two drift off to sleep.
Laura wakes to a blast of heat. She rolls over to find the room on fire and a demon at the foot of the bed. She turns to Wayne, but he is not there. Pulling the covers off Laura, the demon yanks her to him. She tries to fight him, biting him at one point during the struggle. She loses the battle however. The demon steals her child -- a baby devil itself.
Screaming, Laura wakes again. She is covered in sweat, confused and yelling for her baby. Wayne tries to calm her down -- he is in bed where he should be. When he gets her situated back in bed, Wayne notices his hands are covered in blood. He pulls back the blanket, revealing that Laura is no longer pregnant and covered in blood. She screams.
Credits run: The Truth is out There.
Back at the basement of the FBI, Deputy Arky Stevens recalls the story for Agent Spender. Stevens is Laura's sister and believes her story of the demon taking away her baby. Spender tells Stevens "You've come to the right place". He promises to "put this case right into our priority caseload." Stevens is happy with the attention Spender offers. Once the Deputy leaves, however, Spender runs Stevens's report through the shredder.
Back in Hollins, Mulder and Stevens sit outside the Weinsiders's home. Stevens is impressed that Mulder is there so fast, that Agent Spender gave the case such priority. Mulder nods politely, hiding the reconstructed report (complete with ScotchTape across the sheets).
Mulder asks Stevens to keep his involvement "very hush-hush", the FBI likes it that way. Stevens agrees, but wants to thank Agent Spender. Mulder cuts this off -- promising to relay Stevens's gratitude in his "progress report" to Spender.
Wayne and Laura recount her experience. Mulder states "According to your statement, your baby was not a normal baby." Laura tells Mulder that it was "some kind of a monster, with horns and a tail" and runs from the room obviously upset.
Wayne tries to cover for his wife but he is still upset as well. Mulder asks where Wayne was during Laura's ordeal but he says he was by her side throughout. When Mulder points out that Laura said he was missing when the demon took her baby, he reminded Mulder that Laura was having a dream. Mulder excuses himself to call Scully.
At the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agent Scully is interviewing a Mr. Ginsberg who looks like he spent most of the 70's and 80's touring with the Grateful Dead about his past marijuana usage. Her phone rings, it is Mulder.
S: Mulder, where are you? I waited 45 minutes for you this morning.
M: Uh, before I tell you, I'm going to ask you keep an open mind.
S: This isn't an X- File.
M: Call it what you like, down here in Roanoke, they are call it a demon baby snatching.
S: You are in Virginia?
M: Look, I want you to look at this woman's chart. Some strange in utero deformities were detected. I'm going to courier to you, alright?
S: Mulder, we are supposed to be doing background checks, not chasing X Files.
M: Look, Scully, Spender just round filed this case, it is unconscionable
S: And what do you call rooting through his trash?
M: Not like that is any different than the assignment we are stuck with.
S: (Annoyed) We? Mulder, I am stuck with. You're not here.
M: Scully, this is a classic case of demon fetal harvest. What they called in the middle ages --- atum noturrieum -- the impregnation of an unwitting woman by a dark load of the underworld.
S: As a host for his demon seed?
M: Exactly.
S: I saw Rosmary's Baby on calbe the other night Mulder.
M: But this is the real deal. You can check this woman's charts and you'll get hard evidence. Check her prenatal ultra sound.
S: Mulder.
M: Just humor me.
Mulder is calling from a cordless phone in the Weinsiders's nursery. The baby monitor in the nursery transmits the call into the Weinsiders's bedroom, where Wayne is listening.
At 10:56pm that night, Laura is looking, in short order, for her nightgown and her husband. Finding neither, she notices some commotion in the back yard. Wayne is digging near the barbecue. As she goes out to meet him, she sees what looks like a small, cloth covered bundle, burning. Wayne comes up from behind her, startling her. When she asks what he is doing, he tells her he is burning leaves, he wants everything to be perfect for her. He is sweaty and looks like he's been crying. Laura asks him to come back in the house and he promises to when he's done. After she leaves, he blinks with tears in his eyes. His eyes turn demon red.
At 6:57am, Mulder's cellphone wakens him from a nice night's sleep in his car outside the Weinsiders's home. It is Scully. She was up all night at her desk checking out Laura's records. Scully notes that the birth defects that Mulder mentioned were there but they were "discrete bony deformities".
M: You mean like horns.
S: Well, it could be a recessive characteristic expressed as vestiges of primitive morphology.
Mulder meanwhile is drawing horns on Wayne on a photo of Wayne and Laura. Mulder asks if Wayne could be the problem, but Scully disagrees:
S: No, I wouldn't look to the father as any kind of dark force here, Mulder. I think it is the mother. In Virginia law, a third trimester abortions requires you to put her under arrest.
M: What are you talking about?
S: Labor was induced, Mulder. In the mother's blood there was found a significant trace of an herb called mandrake. It is poison that's been known to facilitate self-abortion.
M: Mandrake?
S: It is also been known to be used as a hallucinogenic.
M: You think Mrs. Weinsider self-prescribed.
Scully tells Mulder that she called Laura's doctor and thought she planned the self abortion after she saw Wayne's reaction. Mulder notices that Wayne, meanwhile, hops into his red convertible and drives off. Scully suggests that Mulder proceed carefully because of the emotional aspect of the case. Mulder agrees and thanks Scully. He walks toward the Weinsider home.
Wayne, meanwhile, arrives in another lovely suburban home. An attractive woman, Betsy Monroe, arrives at the door, wondering why Wayne knocked. He tells her he forgot his keys. She was happy to see him home, since "We're getting so close now." Wayne tells her he wouldn't let anything happen to "our little bundle of joy". Betsy is about seven or eight months pregnant.
Back at the Weinsiders's, Deputy Stevens is not happy with Mulder's accusations. Laura says all she took was "some herbal sleep aids". Wayne returns home while Mulder and Stevens are arguing. Laura tells her husband that she is a suspect in their child's death.
W: Who's accusing you?
Stevens: Who do you think? I don't know where you've been Wayne, but I seem to be the only one keeping the dogs from the door.
W: A man's got to make a living.
M: Wayne, Mr. Weinsider, I don't want to arrest Laura. I'm sure you'd hate like the devil for that to happen as well.
Mulder is wearing that Linda Bowman, I know who you are, look while Wayne is startled by Mulder's choice of words.
Wayne agrees to a search of their home to help Laura. Mulder leaves with several jars of medicines including a huge jug of fiber. "Whatever else we find, I know everybody in this house is regular."
As the officers leave to search the grounds, Wayne tells Laura he's been covering for her. He admitted he woke up and found her holding their child, chanting in a trance. Wayne tells her he took the baby, a boy, and wrapped him up so no one could ever know the truth.
Laura is shocked. Wayne admits the other night when he was burning leaves he was really burning the baby. "I was just doing it to protect you. I knew I could never bring back our little boy, our precious little Wayne Jr., but I couldn't bear losing you." Laura is weeping when the cops make a gruesome discovery at the grill.
Laura starts to parrot back some of Wayne's story to her brother. "When they told me something was wrong, the thing that was growing inside of me was evil.". Mulder watches uncomfortably was Laura is questioned in the kitchen and Wayne fidgets on the couch in the living room. Deputy Stevens has no choice but to arrest Laura. Wayne promises to get her out, to get the best attorneys. Mulder tells Wayne "I know what you are" as he leaves the home.
A few hours later, Wayne is zooming down the road with Garbage's "I'm Only Happy when it Rains" pumping on the radio. He calls Betsy, telling her he is going to be right there to go with her for a sonogram. Betsy doesn't seem that concerned, she's been alone for most of this pregnancy, why would this be any different. Wayne promises it will all be different.
As he waits for a light, Mulder pulls up along side. Betsy is still on the phone wondering who Wayne is talking to while Mulder asks the same question to Wayne Wayne, it seems is an insurance medical technician. Mulder offers to race Wayne for a little while. When the light chances, Wayne peels out but Mulder quickly catches up.
Wayne winds up at another nice suburban home. When a woman, Mrs. Britton opens the door, Wayne tells her he is there for her blood test. Although the test is a week early, Mrs. Britton agrees. As he is drawing blood, Mrs. Britton's three beautiful, blonde haired, perfect little boys come running through the room. She warns her little "monsters" to be careful. Wayne, however, is sadly envious. "I love kids. Got a baby on the way myself. Seems like I've been trying forever. Fine looking boys.", Wayne tells her, "You don't know how lucky you are. Two cells, with all that can go wrong, and there they are -- perfect."
As Wayne packs up his equipment, Mrs. Britton notices three bumps that make up a triangle on the base of his neck. She is startled, but Wayne is more spooked when Mulder beeps Wayne's horn and waves at the window. Wayne borrows the woman's phone.
Wayne is fuming when he leaves the Britton's home. "Having fun?", Mulder asks as his cellphone rings. It is Scully. The Britton children are frolicking inside Wayne's car.
S: Mulder, you're busted.
Wayne warns Mulder to stay away from him as he gets in his car.
S: I just got an earful from Assistant Director Kersh. He got a call from Mr. Weinsider. He says that you are harassing him.
Mulder doesn't answer, watching Wayne drive away.
S: Mulder? Mulder? I have to tell him something, what do you want me to say.
M: Tell him I'm down here doing a background check on somebody.
He hangs up, leaving Scully rather frustrated.
In Roanoke County Jail, Wayne visits Laura. He tells her that the lawyers he has hired think she won't be found guilty with the circumstances and her emotional state. Laura finds some holes in Wayne's story and remembers something she had not told anyone. Nervous, Wayne hugs her. She checks his back and finds the bite mark she made when the demon stole her baby.
Asking her why she did that, Wayne pushes Laura to arm's length and starts to suck her life force from her mouth to his.
A few minutes later, EMTs are working on an unconscious Laura. Wayne is playing the concerned husband and Mulder, who arrived with the sheriff's people, is taking note. An EMT is able to shock her back to life, surprising an already jumpy Wayne. Laura is rushed to the ICU at the Roanoke County Medical Center.
Later that night, Wayne rushes to Betsy. He tries to explain his absence, but she's not all that concerned. She had the sonogram and sadly, the same deformities are shown in her unborn child. Once again, Wayne is heartbroken but Betsy is sure everything will work out. Wayne shoos her to bed with the promise of a warm glass of milk.
At Laura's bedside, Mulder meets up with Scully.
S: Mulder, you asked me to come down here and you're nowhere to be found.
M: I was down in the basement of county records, doing a background check.
S: Mulder, it's me. That's your cover story, remember?
M: That's where I was. I was piecing together the history of the man who did this to her.
S: Well, that's why I was looking for you, because in fact, nobody did anything to her. There is absolutely no evidence of bodily injury or overdose or suffocation, of anything that would explain why she is in a coma. I did a complete medical review just as you asked. What I'm saying is that there is not a shred of evidence to implicate the husband or anyone.
M: Not a shred of evidence was exactly the evidence I would hope you'd find.
Mulder explains that Wayne Weinsider is actually a Czech immigrant named Ivan Veles, who also was know as Bud Hasselhoff and Gordy Boitano. Before he immigrated in 1994, he was charged twice and acquitted twice of murdering two wives. Mulder explains that in Slavic societies, Veles meant the devil. It is from the Lithuanian root Valle, a horned demon who sucks the souls of the innocent.
Scully is skeptical:
S: Mulder I will accept a man can be demonic, that he may have demon-like attributes, but why would a demon, if there were such a thing, bother with a nine-to-five "Make Room for Daddy" routine just so he can off his wife and unborn child.
M: I don't know why, I'm not a psychologist (ed note: yes, he said that) but this is the best explanation for how that I've heard.
At Betsy's, Wayne is coming to bed with a warmed glass of milk that has an abnormal glow. Betsy drinks the milk.
The police, meanwhile, are x-raying Laura and Wayne's back yard. Not long after Mulder and Scully arrive, an infant's skeleton is found. Mulder tells Deputy Stevens to put out an APB on Wayne, that he knows the skeleton will have the same deformities as Laura's child.
As Mulder and Scully leave:
M: He's done this to other women, Scully, just like in Czechoslovakia. My guess is that baby belongs to one of his other wives.
S: What are you saying, that he's trying to propagate, to breed?
M: He's exercising his biological imperative, and he'll do anything and say anything he has to to succeed.
S: Mulder if he's trying to breed, then why would he be snatching his own babies and burying them in his backyard?
M: Because they're demons and he wants a normal child.
Betsy begins to have the same nightmare that Laura had when she lost her child. As the demon pulls her to him, Betsy asks "Wayne, what are you doing?". She grabs the creature by his cheek and drags its face to her's so she can really yell at him. Suddenly the demon is Wayne's human face. "Maybe you didn't hear me! I said, what are you doing Wayne?"
Wayne is shocked.
Mulder and Scully are racing to Betsy's home after finding out Wayne listed her home as a second address. Before they can get to Betsy's, a car nearly hits them head on. It is Betsy. Like Laura, she is covered in blood from the waist down and no longer pregnant. She tells a horrified Scully that Wayne took her baby.
Mulder, Scully, Deputy Stevens and his men search Wayne and Betsy's home. Mulder and Scully find Wayne digging in Betsy's back yard. He has two deep cuts, one on each side of his face, and is muttering "Normal life, family, that's all I ever wanted."
Guns drawn, Mulder and Scully try to arrest Wayne. He does not stop digging.
M: Where's the baby Wayne?
W: How could she do this to them?
M: Put the shovel down. Your lies won't work anymore.
W: My lies? How about her lies?
S: Whatever the truth, Mr. Weinsider, you can't hope to bury it now.
W: I'm not burying anything, I'm digging it up.
M: Where's the baby?
W: Don't you understand, she took it! Betsy took it!
M: You can't blame anyone else, like you did with Laura.
W: Don't you see? Betsy isn't like Laura. Betsy is....
Wayne never gets to finish his sentence. Deputy Stevens shoots him three times in the chest. As Scully calls for an ambulance, Wayne mutters that he just wanted what everyone wanted.
Later at the ICU, Wayne is rolled next to Laura's bed, much to Deputy Stevens' horror. Mulder pulls Stevens away, noting he is already in trouble for shooting an unarmed man. The two go to find Betsy. Wayne, who is concious, realizes he's been discovered and looks sadly at Laura. He transfers her life force back to Laura, causing her to regain come to life. Wayne convulses and dies.
The next morning at Betsy and Wayne's, Scully is helping with the excavation of the backyard. She is obviously saddened by this work. A subdued Mulder joins her.
M: How many?
S: Four, total. All here, for some time, maybe years. All normal Mulder, no osteological deformities. And Betsy's baby isn't here. There are no fresh graves.
M: I know.
S: What do you think he did with it?
M: I don't think he did anything with it.
S: But she was recently pregnant. I saw her records, her sonogram is in the house.
M: Showing the same defects. These weren't Wayne's babies Scully.
S: Well, whose babies were they?
M: I think Wayne realized something last night, that's why he was out here digging. He realized that he met somebody more evil than he was, who would sacrifice what he desperately wanted for himself.
S: Betsy?
M: It was no coincidence that she ran into us last night. We were taken in by her just like Wayne was. By a woman who would say anything or do anything to get what she wanted. Who was even more driven than he was.
S: Driven to what?
M: To have what only Wayne could give her.
On a road somewhere else, Betsy is zooming along, listening to Garbage's "I'm Only Happy When it Rains". There is a baby seat beside her. The hand that waves out of the baby seat -- it is not human, instead scaley with short, sharp black nails. Betsy's eyes glow red just like Wayne's did.