The X-files
Soft Light
Episode: 2X23
First aired:05/05/95
Written by: Vince Gilligan
Directed by: James Contner
Such a cool episode!
A
business man is apparently dragged into the floor when he makes contact with a man’s
shadow. A black
circle of
ash is left in place. The shadow man, Dr. Chester Banton, panics and rushes down the hall.
Scully agrees to help
Detective Kelly Ryan, a
former student of hers, on these apparent
abductions.
Mulder notices the strange smudge on the carpet the was also found on the other two crime scenes.
Mulder and Scully notice that the
second victim came in on the same train that this last victim did. They instruct Ryan to sent police to the
train station where the two officers encounter Banton. Banton warns them to stay away. However, they approach him and are
vaporized when they touch his shadow.
Mulder, while watching the train station
tapes, notices Banton and sees a logo for
Polarity Magnetics - where the first victim worked - on his
jacket.
They go to Polarity and meet Dr. Davey, who says Banton has been missing for five weeks after suffering from an
accident experimenting with
dark matter using a
particle accelerator. Davey shows Mulder and Scully that during the experiment, Banton’s shadow was burned onto the wall in a similar fashion to the burns at the
crime scenes.
At the train station, Mulder observes that the
soft light used casts no
shadow. They find Baton and corner him, but under regular light. Before Scully can step on Banton’s shadow, Mulder shoots out the lights.
They put Banton in a
psychiatric hospital where he tells them that his shadow is like a black hole, reducing
matter into
pure energy. He says the
government is after hi so they can perform experiments.
The police want to move Banton to the
county jail. Mulder asks
X for help but he refuses saying that he was exposed to Scully and
Skinner before and doesn’t want to put himself in
jeopardy.
However, that night at the hospital, X shows up with two ‘
paramedics’ saying he’s there to transfer Banton.
Emergency lights flicker on and the two men are vaporized and X allows Banton to flee.
Banton returns to Polarity and asks Davey to help him destroy the thing the government was after.
Ryan finds Banton and tries to stop him and Banton
reluctantly steps forward so she touches the shadow and disappears.
Banton, when locked in the
chamber, realizes that Davey is part of the
conspiracy. Davey begins to call his bosses but a shot rings out and wee see X’s face through the
small window in the chamber.
Mulder and Scully find a
videotape showing Banton in the chamber disappearing but Mulder knows something happened. He accuses X of using him to find Banton and X stresses that he did not kill Banton.
At Ryan’s funeral, Mulder tells Scully that Davey is missing. Elsewhere, X talks to a scientist talking about studying Banton. We see Banton
hooked up to
electrodes being subjected to flashing white light.
Important Quotes:
Mulder -- "Hey Scully, can you spare a
prophylactic?"
Scully -- "
Darkness covers a multitude of
sins."
Mulder -- "Check this out. My newest
tool in the
fight against crime. $49.95 at your
local hardware store."
Scully -- "Neat trick. For your
birthday I'll buy you a
utility belt."
Scully -- "...
Nonsensical repetitive behavior is a common trait of
mental illness."
Mulder -- "You trying to tell me something?"
Mulder -- "...He believes the government is out to get him."
X -- "It's
tax season. So do most
Americans."
Mulder -- "Just because you're
paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you, Scully."
Back to The X-files: Season 2