Story 238: "Telephones" by cucumberspy

[wendelah1]

This is probably one of those stories that got recced everywhere back in the day. It's so good I wish I'd written it. Cucumberspy has a lovely, spare style, plus an ear for dialogue and an eye for detail. Season nine, AU, thank God.

There are warnings on the author's header. Heed them.

Summary: She thinks there's nothing anyone can take from her now.

Read Telephones.

SPOILERS IN THE COMMENT THREADS.

Comments

[firefish.livejournal.com]

For some reason I feel really confused by this (it's late & I'm very tired).
I feel like I don't understand what's happened in this story or perhaps I am right and it's simpler than I think...
Anyone care to gimme a synopsis?

[infinitlight.livejournal.com]

I'll try, although I may not have gotten it right. (Others please correct me if I'm wrong.)

The William in these scenes is a memory, or a ghost. He's actually dead, or given away to the aliens in order to save everyone else ("It was the whole world"). Scully sacrificed him, and now understands more/relates to what Bill Mulder must have felt when he gave up Samantha ("We've all had to give up someone"). Scully plans to kill herself ("I'm coming"/"I have to go") but she has one last thing to do first--to tell Mulder.

[wendelah1]

You're right. This is exactly what happened, except I'm positive he wasn't given to the aliens. He was sacrificed to save the rest of humanity. My guess is they did a procedure to take out whatever it was that was "in him" that would save humanity and William didn't survive the operation. She was the parent who was there to give consent, who was willing to take the risk of his not surviving--"it was the whole world"--and she was there--holding William's hand when he died. Then she had to go back and tell everyone else--in the war room--what had transpired.

The biblical parallels are obvious--and this is a logical extension of the miracle baby plot device.

I didn't pick up on her plan to kill herself except tangentially: what else would someone in her position do? "I'm coming." That line just sent chills down my spine.

There are little clues left all through the story but as a reader, I just didn't want to see them. I didn't want to believe it.

This is a far more tragic ending to the series than even 1013 could have tolerated and definitely more than the fans would have accepted. But it is an ending that makes better thematic use of William's birth than having Scully give him up for adoption "to keep him safe." In a world threatened by alien colonization, no one is safe. I don't know if it was intentional or not, but I think 1013 used the story of Moses for that one, with adoption standing in for leaving William in a basket floating down the river... I do think William was intended to be the savior of mankind.

Telephones. This is my take. Scully keeps trying to make herself call Mulder on his emergency only number. But she can't do it. She probably tried before William died, too, but knew Mulder might not agree to the procedure. Probably worried about revealing his location to whomever. Tried after, several times, in order to hasten her own death, so she wouldn't have to complete her journey. But she couldn't make the call. She had to tell him in person.

[firefish.livejournal.com]

Okay, this further explanation is also excellent. It has helped me process my own thoughts about things. Thank you!

[wendelah1]

You're welcome. Thanks for asking! Your question got the discussion going nicely.

[infinitlight.livejournal.com]

I didn't understand the reference to Doggett's face in the war room, so that makes it clearer. (And now that I think about it, of course. He also lost a child.)

The plans to kill herself were very obvious to me. Especially "It wouldn't be so far down" when she's looking down at the ducks in the icy pond. And for me it infuses the whole story: she has to fulfill this last responsibility, telling Mulder, but the utmost importance in her mind is reserved for the place she has to be.

"I'm coming" is an interesting line--there's several mentions of coming and going. Mulder's note to her says "Please come", at the end she says "I have to go".

[wendelah1]

The suicide plan seem clear now that I look back. "I'm coming" has to be spoken to William. You're right, the entire story is about this one last task she has to do here, tell Mulder that their son is dead, then she can go to him.

[tri-sbr.livejournal.com]

yes...I hadn't thought of the Doggett-Luke connection; good catch.

[firefish.livejournal.com]

Okay thank you. That makes a lotgof sense and I could see that in the story. Thanks for the explanation!