[[WMG:[[center:[-'''RECAP:'''\\
[[Recap/TheXFiles Index]] | [[Recap/TheXFilesS09E01NothingImportantHappenedToday 1]] | [[Recap/TheXFilesS09E02NothingImportantHappenedTodayII 2]] | [[Recap/TheXFilesS09E03Daemonicus 3]] | [[Recap/TheXFilesS09E044D 4]] | [[Recap/TheXFilesS09E05LordOfTheFlies 5]] | [[Recap/TheXFilesS09E06TrustNo1 6]] | [[Recap/TheXFilesS09E07JohnDoe 7]] | [[Recap/TheXFilesS09E08Hellbound 8]] | [[Recap/TheXFilesS09E09Provenance 9]] | [[Recap/TheXFilesS09E10Providence 10]] | [[Recap/TheXFilesS09E11AudreyPauley 11]] | [[Recap/TheXFilesS09E12Underneath 12]] | [[Recap/TheXFilesS09E13Improbable 13]] | [[Recap/TheXFilesS09E14ScaryMonsters 14]] | [[Recap/TheXFilesS09E15JumpTheShark 15]] | [[Recap/TheXFilesS09E16William 16]] | '''17''' | [[Recap/TheXFilesS09E18SunshineDays 18]] | [[Recap/TheXFilesS09E19TheTruth 19]] | [[Recap/TheXFilesS09E20TheTruthII 20]]]]-]]]
'''Season 9, Episode 17:'''
!Release
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/thexfilesrelease.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"If I sit with them for a long time, very quietly, they tell me things."'']]
->Written by John Shiban (Story) & David Amann (Story & teleplay)\\
Directed by Kim Manners

->''"Are you saying the same man that killed those women killed my son? This guy Regali?"''
-->-- '''John Doggett'''

Doggett investigates a case that may be linked to his son's abduction and murder, with the assistance of a keen FBI cadet who may not be what he appears.
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!!Tropes:
* BittersweetEnding: Doggett discovers the terrible truth about his son's murder, and Regali doesn't face justice for his crimes, though receives a KarmicDeath from Follmer before Doggett can arrest him or do it himself. Doggett makes peace with his ex wife, spreads his son's ashes at sea and is finally able to achieve closure, hugging Reyes tightly.
* CorruptCop: Follmer is revealed to be on the take from Mobster Regali. He eventually atones for his sins by murdering him and most likely giving himself up.
* ADayInTheLimelight: Focuses on Doggett and his attempt to solve his kid's murder.
* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Barbara Doggett, John's ex wife, comments to Scully that she can tell that Reyes and Doggett have feelings for each other and could be together, but that John is so consumed with the loss of his son that he's keeping Reyes at arms length. Scully clearly sees it too.
* HeroicBSOD: Doggett freezes up for a long moment after the horrifying comprehension of Regali's confession reaches him.
* ManlyTears: Doggett sheds them freely, at last coming to terms with his son's murder.
* MoeGreeneSpecial: Regali is killed with a single shot through his right eye.
* PapaWolf: It is very much implied Doggett would have gunned down Regali if Follmer hadn't beaten him to it.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Follmer proves to be this despite his corruption, eventually doing the right thing and redeeming himself.
* SherlockScan: Cadet Hayes / Stuart Mimms can deduce a crime or even the profile of the criminal based on a cursory glance of the scene.
* SmugSnake: Regali the mobster big time, believing he is untouchable. He ends up being proven [[BoomHeadshot very]] [[MoeGreeneSpecial wrong]].
* TooDumbToLive: [[SmugSnake Regali]] abruptly and arrogantly confessing to [[PapaWolf Doggett]] that his son was molested by Bob Harvey and then that Regali murdered Luke, before casually getting up and leaving the bar. As though nothing was going to happen to him. Had it not been for Follmer Doggett would have almost certainly [[UnstoppableRage marched out after him]] and [[NoKillLikeOverkill emptied his gun into his back]].
* WouldHurtAChild:
** Bob Harvey was a child molester who abducted Luke.
** Mobster Nicholas Regali caught Harvey and killed Luke when Luke saw his face.
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->''[[TemptingFate "Every problem has got a solution, right?"]]''