Hey, you sure I can't help?
Absolutely not. All set.
Oh, Martha, you make this look so easy.
It's not too much, you think?
Are you kidding? This is just perfect.
It's exactly the way I've always dreamt that Easter should be.
Mommy, Mommy, look!
Oh, good for you, Michelle.
What you've done is really fabulous.
The kids are going to remember this forever.
I hope there are some things they won't remember.
What is she doing here?
Her son is in Michelle's class, Martha. Be nice.
Yeah.
Jenny, hi. It's good to see you.
Hey, Ellen...
Martha.
She's shaken up, Howard.
It took me two hours to put her to bed.
All I'm saying is...
Well, no, I didn't see any bird,
but whatever it was, it scared her,
and she wants to be with her daddy.
That's all I'm saying.
Well, can't you come home one day early?
A-All right, fine.
I love you, too.
Anything?
No. She'll come.
Matter of time.
Yeah. Well, I hope you realize there's no evidence whatsoever
that this mystery woman of yours has even committed a crime.
Though her wardrobe comes close.
Ah.
Six prostitutes were seen with her at Dirty Dames,
never to be seen again.
Not only might she be
a female serial killer-- rare in and of itself--
but twice police raided that club to arrest her.
And twice they came up empty-handed.
She's on tape going in.
The exits are covered.
She's nowhere to be found.
What happens to her?
She disappear? Turn invisible?
Well, I hope we catch her, so she can tell us,
before I have to spend another night here.
You know, Mulder, I don't know about you,
but I find this all very depressing--
this round-the-clock exposure to the seamy underbelly.
That's the job, Scully--
vigilance in the face of privation,
the sheer will that it takes to sit in this crappy room,
spying on the dregs of society until our suspect surfaces.
There's something ennobling in that.
Mulder.
Now?
All right.
I got to go.
Mulder...
You wanted to see me, sir?
Yeah, sit down.
Two weeks ago, a woman named Martha Crittendon disappeared
from her home in Bethany, Vermont.
Local police haven't turned up any sign of her.
I'm hoping you may be able to.
I'm already on a case.
You're on a stakeout.
I'm confident Agent Scully can
continue in your absence.
Why? What did I do?
There may be aspects to this that...
speak to your strengths as an investigator.
Specifically?
Ravens.
What do you know about them--
their mythological or...
paranormal significance?
Well, the, uh...
th-the raven is considered a-a very powerful symbol
in certain Norse, Celtic and Native American cultures--
uh, mostly a negative one.
Indians view it
as a deceiving spirit,
Christianity mostly associates it with evil,
and then, of course, there's Poe's Raven
and, "Nevermore," an-and all that stuff.
Martha Crittendon's seven-year-old daughter claimed
that she was attacked by a raven
earlier the day her mother disappeared.
Later, she heard one inside the house
before she discovered her mother was missing.
No, really, what did I do?
It's the only lead that hasn't been explored.
I want to know if it has any bearing on the case.
I'm also assuming that the fact that Martha Crittendon's father
is a federal judge also has little bearing on this case.
It's been made clear to me
that locating her is my top priority.
I'm making it yours as well.
Agent Mulder?
Yeah.
Phil Adderly. Welcome to Bethany.
Nice to meet you. I appreciate the help.
Sure. Uh, I don't know how much help I'm going to be.
I know you already have a lot of good investigators on the case.
So, um... you want to just take a quick look around?
Great, thanks.
So, tell me about Martha Crittendon.
Well, she and my wife Ellen, they're best friends.
Martha's... much admired here.
She's devoted to her family,
active in the community.
I mean, needless to say,
th-the whole town is very concerned.
So, what's your theory on what happened?
I'm hoping you'll tell me.
There's no ransom note,
no prints or blood evidence.
Her husband was out of town when she disappeared?
In Miami, at a conference.
It checks out.
Howard didn't have anything to do with this.
What do you know about a raven?
Yeah, yeah, Michelle, their, um...
their little girl was saying something about that.
Got me.
Poor kid.
You want to talk to her?
Not necessary.
You're sure, uh,
Martha's last name isn't Stewart?
Tell me about it.
Last year, this place made the cover of New England Home.
How many talons would you say a raven had?
Never mind.
You know what this is?
You know what was hanging here?
It was a mirror.
It was found broken.
You had no other signs of struggle?
Not a one.
Does that mean something to you?
Howard, this is Agent Mulder with the FBI.
Sir.
Hope we can help.
I appreciate your coming.
I'm wondering now if...
this isn't just a waste of your time.
How so?
With all the police coming and going,
this place was a wreck.
I was straightening up and I... found something.
Uh, birth control pills.
I think Martha was having an affair.
After Michelle,
we decided not to have more children.
I had a vasectomy.
They're in Martha's name.
She ordered them off the Internet...
because, I guess... small towns talk.
Of course, then I s-started looking all around,
and I, uh... found this in the pocket
of her favorite coat.
I don't know what this goes to
or what it means, if anything,
but the pills...
Do you have any idea who your wife may have been seeing?
Whoever he is...
Martha may be with him.
It explains why we haven't found her.
She doesn't want to be found.
Cute kid.
Oh, Jenny, you scared me.
You do those up yourself?
Uh, yeah.
I know Martha and you were good friends.
You must be pretty upset.
Of course. I'm sure we all are.
Hey, maybe you would like some of these
to put up on your side of town.
My side of town?
Yeah, sure.
Look, I didn't mean that the way it might have sounded.
No, it just naturally comes out that way
when you think you're better than everyone.
You and Martha are two peas in a pod.
Jenny, I don't think I'm better than anyone.
You and me got more in common than you know.
Yeah. Right.
Right. Thanks.
Whoever Martha was seeing,
two of them covered their tracks pretty good.
Phone records don't show anything.
You think this person took her? Harmed her?
I wouldn't rule it out, but I doubt it.
According to your Audubon book here,
a raven has four talons.
That matches the scratches we found
on Martha Crittendon's mantel.
You're not saying
a raven's the reason Martha's gone missing?
No, no. Not-not a raven itself.
But, in folklore, ravens are companions to evil--
evil spirits, witches, warlocks-- that kind of thing.
Agent Mulder, I appreciate
the different tack you're taking on this investigation,
but this whole bird thing?
And keep in mind,
you're basing this on the word of a seven-year-old girl.
Well, there was also a broken mirror in Martha's house.
Mirrors are considered items of enchantment.
A broken one means something.
I'm not exactly sure what it is, but it means something.
Hey, sweet girl.
Agent Mulder, this is my daughter Katy, my wife Ellen.
Hi. Oh, we're so glad you're here.
Look, our house is your house.
We have a spare guest room all set up.
I'm sure you'll be really comfortable.
No, no, that... that's not necessary.
No, no, no. There's no arguments.
We're so grateful that you're here
to help find Martha.
Really, it's the least we can do.
Okay.
You know, I should really
get the Bureau to reimburse you
for room and board.
No. Don't be silly.
No, this is just a typical meal around here.
Really?
Phil works so much that supper is usually
the only time we see each other,
and I like to make it special.
Uh... excuse me.
Sorry.
Thanks.
Mulder.
Mulder, please tell me I can go home.
Oh, hey, Scully. How's the stakeout?
Well, the furnace broke,
and I can just about see my breath in here.
Ouch. I'm sorry to hear that.
That, and I've witnessed a couple hundred things
I'd like to erase from my brain.
Ugh.
But as of yet, no mystery woman.
Well, she'll come, you know?
It's just a matter of time.
She'll show up-- I'm sure of that.
Yeah, well not before I die of malnutrition.
Hey, Scully, tough it out; whatever doesn't kill you
makes you stronger, right?
No, no, no, no. No capers, thank you.
I'm sorry. What?
I said, "What a... what a crazy caper."
I'll talk to you later, and keep warm. Bye.
Did I hear you say something about "stakeout"?
What's the case?
Sweetie, this is family time.
Don't make our guest talk shop at the dinner table.
Fair enough.
Cheers.
What's the matter, sweetheart?
I thought that was your favorite.
Tastes different when Mommy makes it.
Yeah.
I know.
How about we go get hamburgers?
Would you like that instead?
It's back.
Everything's all right, sweetheart.
I'll be right back.
Okay.
What do you make of these claw marks?
Well, one time I saw the victim of a bear attack
look something like that--
only, bears don't plant their kill in the rose garden.
I was going to say.
Body's been around here for a while--
probably since she went missing.
What about your ravens?
Howard said something about ravens.
Yeah. Feeding on her.
See?
You okay?
I'm not arresting Howard.
I don't care how it looks-- body buried in his own yard--
he didn't do this.
I agree.
Poor guy has suffered enough already.
What are you doing? You shouldn't be here.
What...
Oh, my God. Martha. No.
Ellen, honey,
I am so sorry.
It can't be.
It's okay, it's okay. Shh.
The thing that did that to her...
...I think I saw it today.
I saw its reflection.
Had a face out of a nightmare.
These long claws-- the kind that could...
The window shattered-- I don't know how--
and when I turned around, it was gone.
I don't know what I thought it was.
I didn't think it was real. I mean, how could it be?
But then, when I saw Martha's face...
Honey, you've been through a lot.
You don't believe me.
I do.
You said the car window shattered
after you saw the reflection,
and there's a broken mirror in Martha's house.
I don't think that's a coincidence.
But what could it mean?
Mirrors are considered doorways.
In the Victorian era,
they built mirrored rooms called psychomanteums
where they thought they could
summon forth spirits from the spirit world.
Denizens from the spirit world
were brought into this world.
Denizens of the spirit world.
Well, you asked about the raven, right?
The raven is a carrion bird,
attracted to death and decay.
What if this entity that you saw
is somehow a personification of that?
What if this creature was brought forth
in order to attack Martha?
who summoned it forth?
Ellen, do you know
if Martha had any enemies?
Can you think of anyone at all
who would have wished her harm?
I sure as hell didn't have anything to do with it.
They're just routine questions, Ms. Uphouse.
Answer them and we'll be out of here.
We understand there was no love lost between you
and Martha Crittendon.
And where do you understand that from?
Mrs. Sheriff, right?
It's not exactly a town secret.
Right. Like there aren't enough of those already.
Queen Martha and her perfect little
Easter egg hunts.
She's so above the rest of us.
Except I heard she was stepping out on her husband--
knocking boots with who knows who.
I'm not happy she's dead and all,
but you need to look into that.
Well, let's stay on the subject of you.
On your police record, for instance.
You don't suffer people that don't give you respect.
I'm thinking of that hair salon owner you assaulted.
That was forever ago,
and I paid for that.
And I had nothing to do with Martha.
Where were you
the night she disappeared?
At home, all night.
I got to get back to work.
I don't know about you,
but I believe her; she didn't do it.
I just don't get that vibe.
Fair enough, but why did she lie about her alibi?
I got that vibe pretty clear.
Excuse me. I'll be in the car.
Okay.
Mulder.
Mulder, when you find me dead,
my desiccated corpse propped up,
staring lifelessly through the telescope
at drunken frat boys peeing and vomiting into the gutter,
just know that my last thoughts were of you...
and how I'd like to kill you.
I'm sorry. Who is this?
It's a freak show, Mulder.
It's a nonstop parade of every single
lowlife imaginable.
Well, the view may not be too different here.
It's dressed up a little nicer,
but underneath the surface, it's the same seamy underbelly.
It's not the same, trust me.
You know, Scully, this case has turned out
to be a little more interesting than I thought,
and I could use your help.
Are you talking about a reprieve for me?
Well, there's a murder victim that I'd like you
to autopsy for me. What do you think?
Scully?
You still there? Hello?
That van is back.
What? What'd you say?
Nothing, Mulder.
I'll talk to you later, okay?
Get away from her!
It's okay. Come on.
Be quiet, now.
Shh, shh, shh.
Shh, shh, be quiet, be quiet.
Oh, God.
Ellen?
Ellen, what happened?
Are you feeling a little better, Ellen?
Can you... just talk to me a little bit about what happened?
It came back.
It came back-- the-the creature you saw?
It was here, Phil.
It chased me.
It's all right, honey.
Please don't encourage this.
This is not what she needs.
I believe she saw something.
And I believe she didn't.
Her best friend just died, for God's sake.
These imaginings of hers
are brought on by stress.
I have been through the entire house,
and I didn't see any indication that anyone else was here.
What about the two broken mirrors?
What about them?
You think broken mirrors have some deeper meaning,
but you still can't tell me what it is.
And in this case,
I'm thinking Ellen broke them herself.
What?
That's number six.
It's a match to the one Howard Crittendon found
in his wife's coat pocket.
What would this be doing here?
I don't know.
Ellen, do you recognize this key?
Oh, I was sweeping the floor,
and it got caught up in the sweeper.
I-I... never saw it before today.
You found it before you were attacked?
Right before.
Right before I saw the raven.
Let me see if my department
can run this down, find out what lock it goes to.
Hi.
I can't do this anymore.
You can't, huh?
No.
We got to stop.
Well, that's too bad.
Oh, hey. Good morning.
Morning, Ellen.
Wow.
Uh, have you seen my shirt? I left it...
Oh, I'm sorry. It's over here.
Oh.
Oh, Ellen, you-you didn't have to go to the trouble of...
No, it's no trouble. Actually, it helps me.
Whenever my life's a mess, I just do some housework.
Gives me the illusion I'm in control.
Well, maybe I should try that sometime.
Hey, have a seat.
Thanks.
Yikes.
Wow.
Just Phil's breakfast times two.
Well, Phil is living large.
Where is he this morning?
Uh, probably out on a call. He'll be back.
You... you can just dig in.
Whoa.
Sorry. Do you need milk?
Mm-mm. That's fine.
I get the feeling
you're not used to anyone taking care of you.
Well, that has a... a vaguely pathetic ring to it.
No, I just meant I didn't notice a wedding band.
Oh.
Do you have a... a significant other?
Um, not in the widely understood definition of that term.
Ah.
Well, the right woman will come along
and change all that.
Don't miss out on home and family, Mr. Mulder.
With all the terrible things you must see in your work--
well, it could be a refuge for you.
Hi, honey.
Sorry I'm late-- paperwork.
Morning, Agent Mulder.
Morning.
I'm going to go check on Katy.
You sleep well?
I only woke up once, when you went out.
Well, I'll try to be quieter next time.
Got a deputy out-- we're shorthanded.
I had to take some calls.
All night?
Yeah. We were busy.
Well, I spoke to the coroner this morning,
and the autopsy shows that Martha Crittendon
was four weeks pregnant when she died--
despite her birth control pills.
Probably didn't even know it.
Any idea who the father might be?
I mean, Howard's vasectomy pretty much puts him
out of the running.
Any inkling who it might be?
Just say what's on your mind, Agent.
You have a piece of evidence in your possession
that I'd like back-- the skeleton key.
Number six.
You want to tell me what this unlocks?
Once I find out, we'll talk again.
I'm going to hit the shower.
I know, Bret, sweetie. I'm sorry.
No, I'm going to be home real soon.
Mommy had to work a double shift.
I know. I'm going to come home and make you breakfast.
I know... No, no, no, don't eat a lot of cookies, no.
Only two.
I... Yes, oatmeal cookies have oatmeal in them.
Okay, all right, three.
I love you.
Bye.
Sheriff, you know that talk I said we should have?
I left her sleeping.
So you were having an affair
with both Jenny and Martha Crittendon?
I got to hand it to you, Sheriff.
You put the service back into "protect and serve."
I cared about both of them.
They knew about each other?
But I'm assuming Ellen doesn't.
No.
But even if she did, she'd find a way to rationalize it.
I'm not defending myself, but...
two years ago, I wanted a divorce.
Ellen won't hear it.
She got pregnant with Katy and locked me up good.
Well, I think you got bigger problems facing you right now.
I didn't do this, I swear to you.
Anyway, what about the broken mirrors and the raven?
You said that it was an entity that did this.
Don't you still believe that?
I said it was an entity summoned by somebody else.
Whether or not they even knew about it.
I mean, is that possible?
Can I be the reason for all this...
and not even know about it?
Hi. You've reached the Adderlys--
Phil, Ellen and Katy.
Please leave a message.
Ellen, this is Phil.
I was really hoping you'd be home.
Look, I'm in a bit of a situation here,
and there's things we need to talk about.
But, uh, Agent Mulder's on his way over there
to explain it all to you, so if you get this message,
you just wait there for him, okay? Thanks.
I think this sleepy little girl needs a nap.
I sure do.
Are you eating mama's jacket?
Go to sleep now.
Okay, baby?
Ellen?
Mulder.
Mulder, I am free.
You're free?
Mm-hmm.
I'm going to go home, take a shower for--
I don't know-- eight or nine hours,
burn the clothes that I'm wearing and then...
sleep until late spring.
Oh, you solved the X File.
Yes, except it's not an X File, Mulder.
What are you saying?
You didn't catch our blond mystery serial killer?
Oh, no, we caught her,
but, uh, she isn't a serial killer,
nor is she a blonde.
And she isn't even a she.
What are you talking about?
What I'm talking about is the six missing prostitutes
aren't dead, Mulder.
They are alive and well in a halfway house
that was set up by this mystery blonde,
who happens to go by the name of Mark Scott Egbert.
And Mr. Egbert wishes to acquaint lost souls
with the teachings of Christ.
And that's his hook, I guess.
He dresses up like a fellow prostitute
to make the girls feel at ease.
But this vanishing act is no more paranormal than
a change of wardrobe, Mulder.
He goes into a place like a... like a woman,
and he comes out as a man, right under...
Our noses.
Exactly.
A wolf in sheep's clothing.
Or I guess, in this case, a sheep in wolf's clothing.
Well, good work, Scully.
I'll call you back later.
Ellen?
Ellen, it's Agent Mulder.
Please go away.
Ellen, Jenny Uphouse is dead.
Your husband is in custody, suspected of murdering her--
only, I don't think he did it.
Do you?
Ellen, you went out this morning
after breakfast.
Where'd you go?
It's not me.
It can't be.
I think it is.
Ellen, I think you have a whole other side
that you're afraid to face.
That would explain all the broken mirrors.
You don't want to see yourself for what you really are.
Ellen, you have to come out of there.
Then what?
My marriage, my life...
everything I thought I had...
is nothing.
It's all lies.
I wish you'd never come here.
Ellen, you need to open this door.
You want to see her?
Does she want to see me?
Doctors say she's got some kind of
dissociative disorder, split personality.
That doesn't explain what happened, does it?
I think it's about as close as science can come.
I think the basic idea is right.
There are some multiple personality disorders
where an alternate personality
displays traits that the host doesn't have--
like nearsightedness or high blood pressure
or even diabetes.
I think in Ellen's case,
the changes were just a lot more extreme.
Like Jekyll and Hyde?
She wanted so much from her life with you--
perfect life-- and I think that at some point she found out
you were cheating with Jenny and Martha.
I don't know when, but at some point she did, and...
and, like you said, I think she had to rationalize that.
She just bottled up her anger,
swallowed it, and it had to come out some way.
I think she did what she did to protect her family.