The agents are called to a hotel in Richmond, Virginia by Detective Kelly Ryan, one of
Scully’s ex-pupils at the academy. Ryan, who is working her first case, is stymied by the
disappearance of several people. The latest victim, Patrick Newirth, vanished from his hotel
room. The only clue to his whereabouts is a mysterious scorched pattern burned into the
carpet beneath the door to his room. Mulder notices that a light bulb in the room had been
unscrewed from its socket. He has it dusted for finger prints.
The agents travel to the residence of another victim. There they discover another loose
light bulb and a scorch mark. Among the items found in the victim’s trash is a train ticket.
The agents realize that all three victims traveled through the Richmond train station before
they died. Policemen are dispatched to stake out the station. They attempt to stop a man,
Chester Ray Banton, for questioning, but Banton runs away from them. Cornered in two
bright pools of light, Banton warns the officers to stay back. When the officers step on his
shadows, they vaporize in a fiery burst of light.
Mulder and Scully review video footage recorded by the train station’s security system.
They discover that Banton sat around the station for days staring at the ground. An insignia
on his clothing leads them to a company called Polarity Magnetics, where a Dr. Davey gives
the agents a tour of the facility. Davey explains how Banton, who is a scientist, performed
research on dark matter such as quantum particles, quarks and neutrinos. One day,
according to Davey, Banton became trapped inside a particle accelerator room and was
exposed to a massive amount of energy which literally burned his shadow right into a wall.
Mulder reviews the videotaped security footage and realizes Banton was sitting in an
area where florescent lighting did not cast any shadows. Shortly thereafter, the agents
corner Banton at the station. Again, he warns them to stay back. As his shadow creeps
towards Scully, Mulder raises his gun and shoots an overhead light bulb, plunging the area
into darkness. Banton is relieved.
Banton is transported to a psychiatric hospital and imprisoned in a room with soft light.
During an interview, Banton insists to Mulder that the government is hunting him down in an
effort to learn his secrets. Detective Ryan then informs the agents that their services on the
case are no longer required.
Frustrated, Mulder seeks out X, his shadowy government contact. X insists he cannot
be of any help to him. A short time thereafter, X and some paramedics attempt to kidnap
Banton from the psychiatric facility. The paramedics come in contact with Banton’s shadow
and are vaporized. The scientist emerges from his room and escapes.
Banton returns to Polarity Magnetics intent on destroying himself inside the particle
accelerator. Detective Ryan arrives at the scene and attempts to arrest Banton, but she
comes into contact with his shadow and is instantly vaporized. Banton convinces Davey to
engage the accelerator once he’s inside, but once Banton enters the chamber, he realizes
Davey is really a government operative. X kills Davey, then transports Banton to a
secret research facility for examination and testing.
THE X-FILES “SOFT LIGHT”
#2X23
Original Air Date: 05/05/95
CAST:
DAVID DUCHOVNY as Special Agent Fox Mulder
GILLIAN ANDERSON as Special Agent Dana Scully
GUEST CAST:
TONY SHALHOUB as Doctor Chester Banton
KEVIN MCNULTY as Doctor Davey
KATE TWA as Detective Ryan
NATHANIEL DEVEAUX as Detective Barron
STEVEN WILLIAMS as X
GUYLE FRAZIER as 1st Officer
FORBES ANGUS as the Government Scientist
DONNA YAMAMOTO as the Night Nurse
ROBERT ROZEN as the Doctor
STEVE BACIC as the 2nd Officer
CRAIG BRUNANSKI as the Security Guard
WRITTEN BY:
VINCE GILLIGAN
DIRECTED BY:
JIM CONTNER
