| "Existence" | |
|---|---|
| Series The X-Files Season 8, Episode 21 | |
| |
| Air date | May 20th, 2001 |
| Writers | Chris Carter |
| Director | Kim Manners |
| Producers | David Amann; Harry V. Bring; Chris Carter; Vince Gilligan; Suzanne Welke; Michelle MacLaren; Kim Manners; Paul Rabwin; John Shiban; Frank Spotnitz |
| Starring | David Duchovny; Gillian Anderson; Robert Patrick; Annabeth Gish |
| Episode guide | |
| Previous "Essence" |
Next "Nothing Important Happened Today" |
"Existence" is the twenty-first episode of season eight of the paranormal mystery series The X-Files and the 182nd episode of the series overall. It was directed by Kim Manners with a script written by series creator Chris Carter. It first aired on the FOX Network on Sunday, May 20th, 2001.
Cast[]
Starring[]
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| David Duchovny | Fox Mulder |
| Gillian Anderson | Dana Scully |
| Robert Patrick | John Doggett |
Guest Starring[]
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Nicholas Lea | Alex Krycek |
| Annabeth Gish | Monica Reyes |
| Mitch Pileggi | Walter Skinner |
| James Pickens, Jr. | Alvin Kersh |
| Kirk B.R. Woller | Agent Gene Crane |
Co-Starring[]
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Tom Braidwood | Melvin Frohike |
| Dean Haglund | Richard "Ringo" Langly |
| Bruce Harwood | John Fitzgerald Byers |
| Zachary Ansley | Billy Miles |
| Austin Tichenor | James Langenhahn |
| Tom Martin | Pathology assistant |
| Dale Dickey | Game warden |
| Adam Baldwin | Knowle Rohrer |
Notes & Trivia[]
- The X-Files was created by Chris Carter.
- This is the second chapter in a two-part storyline.
- This is the finale episode of season eight.
- This is the first appearance of William, who is the infant son of Fox Mulder and Dana Scully; born in this episode.
- This is the final appearance of Alex Krycek. He is shot in the head and killed by Walter Skinner.
- This is the fifth and final appearance of Billy Miles.
Allusions[]
- Baby William is named after William Mulder, who is Fox Mulder's late father.
Quotes[]
- Fox Mulder: What are you going to call him?
- Dana Scully: William. After your father.
- Fox Mulder: Well, I don't know. He's... he's got your coloring and your eyes, but he looks suspiciously like Assistant Director Skinner...
- Dana Scully: I don't understand, Mulder. They came to take him from us; why they didn't...
- Fox Mulder: I don't quite understand that either, except that maybe he isn't what they thought he was. That doesn't make him any less of a miracle though, does it?
- Dana Scully: From the moment I became pregnant, I feared the truth... about how... and why. And I know that you feared it, too.
- Fox Mulder: I think what we feared were the possibilities. The truth we both know.
....
- Fox Mulder: You told me that he told you he knew how to stop Billy Miles. Are you telling me now that you think he's a liar?
- John Doggett: He is or he isn't. What the hell difference does it really make?
- Fox Mulder: It doesn't make any difference at all unless you want to protect Scully and that baby.
- John Doggett: And then what? How long can you keep this up? How long until the next Billy Miles rears his head - the next threat, the next phantom - you ever stop to ask yourself? All the sacrifice, the blood-spill... You've given nearly a decade of your life. Where the hell is it all gonna end?
- Fox Mulder: I don't know. Maybe it doesn't.
....
- Alex Krycek: It doesn't seem fair now. It doesn't seem right... coming out of this.
- Fox Mulder: What do you know about fair or right, Krycek? You're a coward.
- Alex Krycek: I could've killed you so many times, Mulder, you gotta know that. I'm the one that kept you alive... praying you'd win somehow.
- Fox Mulder: Then there really is no God.
- Alex Krycek: You think I'm bad; I'm a killer. We wanted the same thing, brother, that's what you don't understand.
- Fox Mulder: I wanted to stop them. All you wanted was to save your own ass.
- Alex Krycek: No. I tried to stop them. I tried to kill Scully's baby to stop them, but it's too late. The tragedy is that you... you wouldn't let it go!... That's why I have to do this. 'Cause you know how deep it goes, right into the FBI.
- Fox Mulder: You want to kill me, Alex, kill me, like you killed my father. Just don't insult me trying to make me understand.