The Truth
- Episode aired May 19, 2002
- TV-14
- 1h 26m
Mulder's return leads to him being tried for murder before a military tribunal where he seeks to prove the very existence of an alien conspiracy and justify the maintenance of the X-Files.Mulder's return leads to him being tried for murder before a military tribunal where he seeks to prove the very existence of an alien conspiracy and justify the maintenance of the X-Files.Mulder's return leads to him being tried for murder before a military tribunal where he seeks to prove the very existence of an alien conspiracy and justify the maintenance of the X-Files.
- Jeffrey Spender
- (as Chris Bradley Owens)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaMulder, Scully and the Cigarette Smoking Man are the only characters to appear in both this episode and the series pilot nine years ago.
- GoofsMulder says that the Anasazi abandoned the Pueblos 2000 years ago. The Anasazi lived in the cliff dwellings around 900-1100 A.D so it was 1000 years ago.
- Quotes
[last lines]
Dana Scully: [Scully is lying on a motel bed, Mulder sits on the floor leaning against the bed, staring at the ceiling] What are you thinking?
[he doesn't answer]
Dana Scully: Mulder?
Fox Mulder: [speaks while continuing to look at the ceiling] I'm thinking... I'm a guilty man. I've failed in every respect. I deserve the harshest punishment for my crimes.
Dana Scully: You don't believe that.
Fox Mulder: [sighs] I believe... that I sat in a motel room like this with you when we first met... and I tried to convince you of the truth. And in that respect, I succeeded, but...
[he turns to face her]
Fox Mulder: in every other way... I've failed.
Dana Scully: You don't believe that, either.
Fox Mulder: Mm. I've been chasing after monsters with a butterfly net. You heard the man - the date's set. I can't change that.
Dana Scully: You wouldn't tell me. Not because you were afraid or broken... but because you didn't want to accept defeat.
Fox Mulder: Well... I was afraid of what knowing would do to you. I was afraid that it would crush... your spirit.
Dana Scully: Why would I accept defeat? Why would I accept it if you won't? Mulder, you say that you've failed, but you only fail if you give up. And I know you - you can't give up. It's what I saw in you when we first met. It's what made me follow you... why I'd do it all over again.
Fox Mulder: And look what it's gotten you.
Dana Scully: And what has it gotten you? Not your sister. Nothing that you've set out for. But you won't give up, even now.
[she reaches out and holds his hand]
Dana Scully: You've always said that you want to believe. But believe in what, Mulder? If this is the truth that you've been looking for, then what is left to believe in?
Fox Mulder: I want to believe that... the dead are not lost to us. That they speak to us... as part of something greater than us... greater than any alien force. And if you and I are powerless now, I want to believe that if we listen, to what's speaking, it can give us the power to save ourselves.
Dana Scully: Then we believe the same thing.
Fox Mulder: [he reaches out and holds her cross necklace pendant between his fingers, she kisses his thumb, he gets into bed and they embrace] Maybe there's hope.
- Crazy creditsThis episode marks the return of David Duchovny to the main cast, and also credits Mitch Pileggi in the opening titles. Five people are credited in the main credits: David Duchovny (Fox Mulder), Gillian Anderson (Dana Scully), Robert Patrick (John Doggett), Annabeth Gish (Monica Reyes), and Mitch Pileggi (Walter Skinner).
- Alternate versionsIn the alternate series ending, "Toothpick Man" (Alan Dale) hands George W. Bush (Unknown actor) a note. Bush reads it and asks "What do you want me to do? I thought this was being handled. The truth is out there now." TM replies "The truth has always been out there Mr. President. The people just don't want to believe." TM leaves and W stares out at the Washington Monument quietly. This ending can be found on the Region 1 DVD in the special features section. And it is also included (only in English) on the Region 2 (German) DVD complete series edition.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The X Files: The Making of 'The Truth' (2004)
- SoundtracksMaybe There is Hope
Written and Performed by Mark Snow
Eventually, I braved- and wised- up, and started watching the reruns. There was some great acting, writing and directing. Finally, I started watching the new episodes during season 7, which has since become my favorite, introducing me fully into the world of the FBI, aliens, conspiracies and lot's of fun creatures. Later, it became a wonderful thing for me to watch past episodes, watching these lovely characters evolve, grow and change; Scully, in particular, who remains my favorite character.
Season 9 had it's moments. There were a few episodes I could watch over and over again, and others that I never watch for one reason or another. And like the season it concluded, "The Truth" had it's share of both good and well, not so good.
When it originally aired, I watched with breathless anticipation. At that time, I still had not seen a lot of the episodes (particularly from the first 3 seasons), so the flashback clips added some insight to the show. Now that I have seen every episode though, re-watching "The Truth" can be somewhat cumbersome, and I find myself thinking, 'jeez, I've already seen all this before!' I've read that many of the fans felt the same way.
The trial itself did seem a bit unlikely to me as well, although I figured if Mulder did come out of hiding, he would probably get into trouble with the government. I just never imagined that it would be with the military. It also seemed unlikely that Mulder would ask Skinner to represent him, or that the court would allow it in the first place, but then, I'm no lawyer, so what do I know of such things, right? The best part of this episode is the reunion of Mulder and Scully. I think a lot of the fans were waiting for this. And Chris Carter, in his own I-don't-like-emotion-so-I'll-skirt-around-the-whole 'love-thing' at least let his characters have a little bit of happiness at Mulder's return.
Now, some have mentioned that they did or didn't care for the whole Doggett and Reyes thing, for various reasons. Here's my take on it. Agents Reyes and Doggett were decent characters, portrayed by decent actors (whoever was picking on Annabeth Gish, maybe you should see her in something else before you judge. She's really all right.) But what they're NOT is Mulder and Scully. Any of you children of divorce? Any of you since grown up and learned to get along with, or even like your step parent(s)? That's what I think the dislike of Doggett and Reyes comes from, particularly Doggett who was partnered with Scully for awhile during all of season 8. He may be a decent guy, but he's NOT Mulder. And many of us didn't care to see him "with" Scully, although not in the romantic sense at all, of course. It is perhaps, a crude explanation, but it's the closest scenario I can come up with at this late hour.
Another thing before I go. I usually try not to "single" anyone out, but somebody made a nasty comment that deserves a little picking on- after all, he picked on myself and many others with his remarks. A person under the screen name of xyzcosmonaut put down probably at least half of our fans by calling us "shippers" sad. Well, I know that Chris Carter tried to shy away from this aspect of the show, probably fearing that resolving the sexual tension that had been building up between the two leads since the beginning of the series would ruin it. I don't know, but, if you notice, Mulder and Scully never really got to "be together" until the end of the 8th season, when Duchovny was leaving. But one of the bright spots of season 9 to me was keeping Mulder's presence felt, mostly through Scully's constant connection with him particularly through their child, William (oh, and don't get me started on that terrible "resolution"! Ugh!)
But finally, we got to see Mulder and Scully back together like they were meant to be. Maybe that sounds silly or corny, but most people would prefer to have someone to love and grow old with than to die alone. Why should these characters be any different? Love makes the world go round and it comes in many different forms. It IS human nature, and what is wrong with Mulder and Scully loving each other? "The Truth" doesn't offer the truth about a lot of things. It doesn't resolve any of the main characters' turmoils. But it DOES answer one, important question that us SAD, little shippers have always known- that Mulder and Scully love each other!
- bugmouthga
- Feb 16, 2006
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