8ABX05 -- Pages 10 - 13 Written by Vince Gilligan; directed by Rod Howdy Date: 9/8/00 CONTINUED: Nothing. Scully unfolds her map of Utah, studies it. But now, as we HINGE AROUND her, we see... ... a MAN wander out from behind the filling station. He approaches Scully from behind. Just as we might start to think he`s sneaking up on her... GAS STATION MAN: How you doin`? Scully turns and notices him. He`s 30s, unremarkable. He`s not in a uniforms, but he doesn`t look out of place at a gas station. SCULLY: Hi. I was wondering... a bus just came through. You happen to know where it was headed? GAS STATION MAN: A bus just came through here? SCULLY: Yeah. Ten, fifteen minutes ago. You didn`t see it? GAS STATION MAN: (shrug) I was around back. Scully nods. She points in the direction it was headed. SCULLY: What`s up the road? GAS STATION MAN: (said with a smile) More road. Not much else. Eventually, it`ll get you to Salt Lake. Is that where you`re headed? SCULLY: No, the County Sheriff`s office. There was a murder four days ago. Eight, ten miles back on the state road. Hear about it? GAS STATION MAN: Yes, I did. Scary. You`re not going to the Sheriff to confess, are you? SCULLY: Uh. No. GAS STATION MAN: Good. Didn`t think so -- although I figure it`s either that or you`re a deputy, and you don`t look like that, either. SCULLY: (faint smile) I`m a doctor, mainly. This gives the man pause. He finds it very interesting. GAS STATION MAN: Medical doctor. Scully nods. Having jawed long enough, she points to the pump. SCULLY: Could you sell me some gas? GAS STATION MAN: I`d be happy to, except we`re out. Tanker was supposed to be here yesterday. I`m hoping it`ll come this afternoon. Scully considers, climbs into her car. SCULLY: Okay. Thanks. She cranks the engine. The man ambles closer, looking concerned. GAS STATION MAN: How low are you? SCULLY: Quarter of a tank. I`ll make it. GAS STATION MAN: Yeah, probably. I`d feel bad if you didn`t, though. (thinks about it) Hang on one minute. He holds up a finger for her to wait, heads off around the back of the filling station. Scully stares after him, climbs out of her car. She takes the time to check her map again. CLOSE - SCULLY Pores over the Sevier Desert in the western part of the state. She traces a road with her finger, frowns to herself. THE GAS STATION MAN Rounds back into view struggling with a big, old-fashioned round tin gas can. He lugs it to the back of the rental car. GAS STATION MAN: You wanna pop your little door there? SCULLY: Oh, thank you. Scully quickly complies, unlatching her fuel door. The man twists off the cap and pours the can into her gas tank. SCULLY: I appreciate it. GAS STATION MAN: No problem. Just don`t tell anyone I`m giving away gas back here. Scully smiles faintly. She indicates her map to the man. SCULLY: Where is "here," exactly? I can`t find this town on the map. GAS STATION MAN: We`re not really a town. We`re not incorporated or anything. Just a few like-minded people keeping the modern world at bay, I guess. He finishes pouring, screws the gas cap back on. GAS STATION MAN: You`re good to go. SCULLY: Thanks again. She climbs into her rental, starts it up. She returns his wave and takes a U-turn, drives back the way she came. The man stares after her, his friendly smile fading a little. Once her car is out of sight, he turns and heads up the street. We STEADICAM alongside the Gas Station Man as he breaks into a jog. He brings us a few doors up to the largest building in "town," a run-down, two-story affair we`ll call the BOARDING HOUSE. We establish it as he bangs up the creaky steps, ducks inside. INT. BOARDING HOUSE - BACK ROOM - CONTINUOUS CLOSE ON a wash cloth which gets run out over an old enameled bowl full of water. We ADJUST to reveal it`s the female BUS DRIVER from the Teaser who is doing this. She dabs the wash cloth to the forehead of a man lying on a cot. We`re looking past the top of his head, and as such, we can`t see who he is. In b.g., Gas Station Man enters this bare, darkened room. He approaches gingerly, eyeing the patient on the cot. He quietly addresses the Bus Driver. GAS STATION MAN: Help is coming. The Bus Driver stares up at him hopefully. She looks again to her patient. We TILT DOWN to see... ... It`s HANK. He`s alive an unmaimed -- but conscious. He`s pale and sweaty, restless as if in a fever dream. Off him: CUT TO: INT. SCULLY`S RENTAL CAR - DAY Scully is headed back the way she came, bumping along this dirt trail and leaving a cloud of dust behind her. But now... ... The engine begins to SPUTTER. It sounds like it`s running out of gas. Scully peers down at: HER POV - THE GAS GAUGE It holds steady above a half a tank. Plenty. Scully scans her other gauges just as... the engine LUGS and DIES. The car rolls to a quick stop. Scully shifts into park, tries to restart it. The ignition WHIRRS, but nothing happens.