The Catching Away

Scully and Mulder are walking down a quiet suburban street. It is just after sunset. The wind is blowing in an ever increasing swirl as lightning blasts light up the sky.

"Why Scully? Tell me again, why do we have to go?" Mulder questions shaking his head.

"Because tonight is Rosh Hashanah.

"So, I'm not Jewish. You're not Jewish, are you?

"Mulder, please. Tonight is the day when the gates of heaven are opened.

"Great!" Mulder replies looking up at the lightning show. "What are you talking about? Who told you all this?

"Calm down, Mulder. Here is the synagogue."

Before them is Beth El Synagogue with a mass of people entering quickly to get out of the swirling wind. A loud burst of thunder rattles the people. Scully and Mulder run up to the door. A man greets them asking for tickets.

"Tickets!? Do you need tickets to worship?" Mulder groans.

"Here you go," Scully replies handing the man two tickets.

"Where did you get those tickets, Scully?

"A friend..."

Here Mulder, put this on your head," Scully continues, handing Mulder a yarmulke from the nearby bin,
As they sit down, Mulder keeps questioning her as to why they are there. She explains that she has a hunch that she wants to check out.
"A hunch? You dragged me out in a storm to a synagogue to confirm a hunch? A hunch about what?
"La Shana Tova Tikatevu," remarks an elderly lady next to Mulder. "What did she say? Scully?
"She said, may you be inscribed for a good year in the Book of Life. "Wonderful, what does that mean?

"Shhh!"

They sit quietly as the service progresses. Mulder fidgets but Scully looks on intently as if knowing what might happen. Mulder looks at his watch and tries to straighten his skullcap.

"Have you ever been to a synagogue before?" the elderly woman asks Mulder.

"You look out of place. Did you come to ask God for forgiveness? Are you Jewish? You don't look Jewish. Is your wife there Jewish?"

Mulder just smiles but inside is very uncomfortable. A loud clap of thunder draws everyone's attention upward. Suddenly, the shofar is blown. First, there is one long blast, then three short blasts, then finally, nine staccato blasts. Mulder is captivated by the haunting sounds. He turns to Scully. She is not there. Scully's clothes are there as are her jewelry and glasses and purse, but she is gone. Rummaging through her clothes he finds a small gold cross. People all around them begin to scream. They saw her vanish before their eyes. Mulder looks around to see of anyone else has vanished. The synagogue is in turmoil and chaos as people are screaming and running out the entrance.

"Has anyone else disappeared?" he shouts.

"Here, here," a woman yells.

Mulder runs over to her. Next to the woman is a pile of men's clothing.

"It was my son, Oh God! What happened? He was here a minute ago and then poof he was gone", she stammers. "He had gotten involved with those Jews for Jesus nuts. I just wanted him to remember his Judaism."

Mulder looks up to survey the scene but his efforts are interrupted by screams from outside. Mulder runs outside and sees everyone pointing to the skies. The storm is gone and an eerie quiet envelopes the air. All over the skies are hovering UFOs.

"I'll bet that they abducted those two people," a man from the synagogue yells.

Mulder looks to the synagogue and then back to the UFOs. He remembers what Scully had said about a hunch. About the gates of heaven being opened. Was it just a coincidence that she had brought him there tonight? Why did she have that gold cross with her? Why were she and that Jews for Jesus kid abducted? Why not anyone else?

Mulder goes back into the synagogue and collects Scully's things. The woman is still there crying over her son's belongings. Suddenly, the sounds of police and ambulance sirens break the now still; nighttime silence. Mulder goes back out and discovers hat there have been many auto accidents as some drivers had disappeared. He stares at the UFOs hovering all over he skies. People are running through the neighborhoods looking for loved ones. They point up at the UFOs and cringe in fear.

FBI Headquarters 10:30PM

"What is going on Skinner?" Mulder demands. The city is in chaos. Thousands of people have disappeared causing not only major accidents but a sense of panic in the survivors. And then we have the UFOs all over the skies. They must have abducted the people. Do you believe me now, Skinner?

"Where is Scully?" Skinner asks.

"She was abducted from right next to me.

"Really, I never would have guessed.

"What do you mean?

"Forget it. Look there is a briefing at the State Department. I've got to go.

"Let me come." Mulder says emphatically.

"No way Mulder.

"Why not? You guys can't cover this up anymore," Mulder yells grabbing Skinner 's arm.

'Look Skinner they are right there in the night sky!"

Skinner calls two security guards who escort Mulder away. Mulder decides to go to Scully's apartment. She had a hunch that something was going to happen. How? Why? Driving in his car, he turns on the radio.

"My fellow Americans. As you already know, thousands of Americans have been abducted by alien spacecraft. There is no need to panic, however. We are in contact with them and hope to resolve this situation as quickly as possible. Please stay indoors. Everything that can be done is being done. We need your full cooperation. God Bless.

"Abducted by aliens!' Mulder mumbles, "I've been trying to tell them that for years."

War Room, the Pentagon 1:30 A.M.

"Mr. President," begins a scholarly looking professor from Harvard Divinity School. "Millions of people worldwide have been abducted by these alien spacecraft," he states pointing to the monitor. "The only ones to be abducted, however, are born again Christians. It is what they call the Rapture.

"Wait a minute, Prof. Bernstein, I thought that the Rapture was to be with the Lord in the air? I'm a Christian. Why wasn't I taken? The Bible says nothing of UFOs, does it?

"These aliens are here to help usher in a millennial period of peace, love and world unity. They realize that we cannot do it ourselves. In order to bring about a new age of peace, they needed to remove the troublemakers from the Earth.

"Troublemakers? I thought that the good people were to be Raptured. It was to be the church that was to be caught up with the Lord. I'm totally confused. How do you know all this?

"That is Satan's deception, Mr. President. The so called Christians are really Satan's troublemakers and needed to be removed to be reprogrammed. I have studied Scripture for all of my adult life. I knew that this day would come. Glory to God!"

Scully's Apartment, 2:00 A.M.

Mulder opens her door with her keys and goes inside. He finds a Bible and a video tape marked. 'Mulder, if I vanish, please play'. He turns on the T.V. set and sees.

"This is Bob Bauer of CNN reporting. Millions of people worldwide have been apparently abducted by the UFOs hovering in the skies. People simply vanished from right before friends and loved ones. Their clothes, jewelry, glasses, hearing aids, pacemakers and even dentures remained behind. All of those missing appear to be Christians. Very few of those missing are from Buddhist. Islamic or Hindu countries. The Israelis are still here as is the Vatican. The President says that he is in contact with them and there is no need to panic but we have no independent confirmation of that. The world is gripped with fear. Many automobiles, buses, trains and planes were suddenly without anybody in control and there were many accidents. People are petrified for their own lives and for the lives of abducted friends and family members. And there is the ever present sight of the hovering UFOs."

Mulder pushes in Scully's videotape.

Suddenly the door flies open to Scully's apartment. Two large men barge in and grab Mulder.

"Who are you, "he yells shutting off the VCR.

They do not answer.

"Hey, I'm FBI!"

There is still no answer but they confiscate the tape and the Bible. They handcuff Mulder and take him out and shove him into their car. Mulder keeps asking questions until one man puts tape over his mouth. The car moves quickly through a maze of abandoned cars, trucks and busses.

FBI Headquarters

"How much of Scully's videotape did you see? Skinner asks emphatically.

"I don't know," Mulder answers, "a couple of minutes I guess. What's going on here?

"What did Scully say?

"Something about being a born again Christian.

"Is that all?

"Look at the tape. You can see for yourself," Mulder quips. "Take off these handcuffs.

"The tape is blank. She must have programmed it to self destruct when removed from the VCR," Skinner replies shaking his head. "We need to know what was on that tape.

"Why? What is so special about that tape? Scully was just talking about her new religious conversion.

"What exactly did she say?

"I don't remember. I told you she was talking about God.

"At a synagogue.

"At a synagogue? Why? I thought that she just converted to Christianity?

"She did. I don't know the reason. It made no sense to me.

"Why did you go?

"We had tickets.

"What?

"I know it sounds crazy. Ask Horowitz. He'll explain.

"Did anyone else get abducted from the synagogue?

"Uh, yes. A young man.

"A Jew?

"He was one of those Jews for Jesus types.

"Oh!

"Mulder, we have been advised that only Christians have been abducted. It is for the cleansing of the planet. They are the troublemakers to a New World Order.

"What are you talking about, Skinner? Who told you that?

"We have reliable information from a Prof. Bernstein. He has informed the President that the aliens are here to help us usher in a world of peace, love, harmony and unity. They removed the Christians to reprogram them."

"Who is this Bernstein?

"A Professor at Harvard Divinity School.

"You believe all of this nonsense, Skinner?" Mulder yells. "Are you crazy?

"Was this the Rapture?" Mulder suddenly interjects.

"What do you know of it?" Skinner replies inquisitively.

"Nothing much. I heard it on CNN.

"It wasn't on CNN.

'So sue me. I don't know. I heard talk of it somewhere.

"Mulder, your work in the X-Files was right on target. We have had to cover up this for years to protect the public welfare.

"The public welfare. You knew that they were abducting people for decades and you did nothing?

"We couldn't Mulder. They told us it was for the greater good of the planet.

They told us that they would help us usher in a world of peace and harmony.

"And you believed them? You are more naive than I thought. Let me go already."

Mulder is freed but is told to stay out of the way. He heads for a motel.

Holiday Motel, Lexington, VA

Mulder scrounges around for a Bible and finally finds one in the drawer. He wants to find the word Rapture but doesn't have a clue of where to look. Finally, he finds the Concordance. Under Rapture he finds 1 Thessalonians 4. Suddenly, a white light beam comes through the window and ignites the Bible. Mulder drops it as it is consumed with flames. He runs to the window and spots the ever present discs hovering above. He sits down and contemplates his next move. There is a knock at the door. He cautiously moves to open it with his revolver drawn. It is the mysterious black man, Deep Throat.

"Mulder, you need to come with me.

"Why should I? Where are you taking me, back to the FBI?

"No, Mulder. Listen. My mama and grandma just vanished tonight at the dinner table. They were good Christian ladies. They went to be with the Lord, I guess. They had been telling me about his day for years but I ignored them.

"The Rapture?

"Yes, Mulder, the Rapture. We have been left behind for our disbelief.

"I was just looking through this Bible and they vaporized it.

"I know Mulder. They have duped the government too. I need to get you out of here.

"Why?

"Because this battle is not for the planet but for the soul of mankind.

"Scully told me that too.

"Where are you taking me?

"A prominent UFO researcher wants to see you.

"Who?

"Jacques Gallee."

Mammoth Caves, Kentucky

"Welcome, Mr. Mulder. I have asked you here because I have been told that you have been active in this for quite a while.

"It is a pleasure meeting you, Dr. Gallee. Yes, I have headed up the FBI X-Files for a number of years. My partner Scully is one of those missing. "Mr. Mulder, there is a deception going on that amazes even me. For years, I have written about UFOs and have recognized that they were probably inter-dimensional rather than interplanetary, but I had no idea that they were actually demonic. My wife had become a born again Christian several years ago. She vanished like the others right before my eyes. For years she had told me that this would happen. This was the 'catching away' of the righteous to meet the Lord in the air. What is commonly called the Rapture. These craft are merely an attempt to deceive us from the truth. Satan has carefully set the trap over the decades using 20th Century high tech machinery to prepare us. People would rather believe that their friends and family were abducted by aliens rather than they had been taken away to be with the Lord. Nobody wants to admit that they were left behind for their sin and disbelief!

"You do.

"Well.I just needed a sign and I got it. Here Mulder, read this."

He hands Mulder a Bible with an underlined passage.

"For we are not struggling against human beings but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places.

"Are you saying that these saucers are piloted by Satan and his demons? Satan doesn't fly a spaceship.

"Don't be so sure. These craft travel through the heavenly dimensions. That is why they can maneuver so erratically and come and go so instantaneously. Our modern minds can relate to high tech spacecraft. In the olden times, it was angels of light. We have been deceived to believe that these beings are friendly ETs rather than hostile evil demons. The Feds are totally deceived. They have bought the lie that Christians have been abducted to prepare for a New World Order, rather than the truth that the Christians have been removed to protect them from the Tribulation.

"What is the Tribulation?

"Don't worry about that now, Mulder. Listen, the President is at this very moment with a man who claims to be able to resolve this crisis. He has rallied support from Nations across the globe. He apparently is in communication with the UFOs. He has assured the world leaders that everyone will return after seven years.

"Seven years. Why so long?

"He claims that by then the earth will be restored and peace and unity will reign.

"Is that in the Bible too?" Mulder quips.

"Yes it is actually. Look Mulder, this event has been in the making since the beginning of time. This is the culmination of history happening right before our eyes. The powers of darkness in their never ending battle with good have pulled off the greatest deception since the serpent told Eve that she would never die and would become like a god if she ate the forbidden fruit. Look, I resisted this for 20 years, in spite of my wife's pleadings. I thought that she was crazy. Yeah, crazy like a fox. The Bible predicted all of this.

Believers were caught away to be with the Lord while the Earth will be ravaged and judged for its sin for seven years. Get it Mulder, seven years. Did you hear that there was an earthquake last night in Jerusalem? It destroyed the Dome of the Rock. The Israelis are already talking of rebuilding the Temple. They say they have the Ark of The Covenant.

"Wait, slow down," Mulder interjects. "What are you talking about?"

Damascus, Syria

Iran and Syria plan a first strike nuclear attack against Israel to restore the Dome of the Rock Holy Site. The World Leader sets up a seven year peace treaty between Israel and the Arab nations, provided that Israel opens up its nuclear program to full inspection and signs a nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Both sides agree when he calls down a laser beam from a UFO that annihilates Baghdad.

Mammoth Cave

"Don't you see what is happening, Mulder? This World Leader is one of them," Gallee yells pointing at the TV monitor. "In fact, he is their leader. He has lulled the world into a false sense of security, a false peace that ultimately will blow up in our faces. He is already being hailed in Israel as the Messiah."

Mulder's head is spinning. Things are happening so fast that he cannot keep up. He looks over to Gallee and he is down on his knees praying. Mulder does not know what to do. Finally, he gets down also but just rocks back and forth with his eyes closed.

"Mulder?' a voice calls out to him.

"Mulder, I'm here."

Mulder awakens. Cancer man is standing over him.

"Mulder, it is time to get up.

"What are you doing here? Where am I? What do you have to do with all this?

"You needed to be awakened."

Mulder runs to the window. He looks but he UFOs are gone.

"Who, what are you talking about? You must have been dreaming."

Mulder picks up the phone and calls Scully. When she answers, he throws cancer man out of the room and locks the door.

"Scully, do you believe in the Rapture?

"Why do you ask? she replies.

"I just had the strangest dream. You had disappeared and it was explained as the work of UFOs. We were in a synagogue and the trumpet blew, and..." Mulder rattles off in one breath.

"Slow down, Mulder. In a synagogue, hmmm. A loud trumpet blew and I disappeared? Wow!

"Yes and the President said that you and the others were taken away to be reprogrammed. You were hampering the ushering in of the New World Order. And this new World Leader destroyed Baghdad with a laser beam and the Israelis were rebuilding the Temple.

"Relax, Mulder, it was just a dream.

"But it was so real. Why did cancer man wake me up? How did he know?"

Scully smiles and reaches down to pick up her Bible. She clutches it to her chest as she tries to reassure Mulder.

"We will have to talk about it, Mulder.

"Scully, Skinner was there as was Deep Throat as was Dr.Gallee.

"So Scully, are you a born again Christian? I found your gold cross.

"Get some sleep, Mulder. We will talk later.' She hangs up.

Mulder goes through his room and finds a Gideon's Bible in the drawer. As he looks through it, it becomes hot and he drops it. He runs to the window and spots a silvery disc hovering in the distance. Cancer man is there also. He stares at Mulder and then turns and walks away.

The End

I submitted this story line to Chris Carter, the Executive Producer of The X-Files TV show on May 30, 1995. I received a reply from his assistant Kitty Brophy on Sept.7, 1995 who thanked me for my submission, The Catching Away. She said that they had reviewed it and regretted to say "they were unable to use it." She said that they had "appreciated the opportunity to get acquainted with my writing and wished me the best of luck in my future efforts." That was not surprising given the religious nature of the spec treatment but she did not return it. Ten months later on July 9, 1996, I received a letter from Anatole Klebanow, the Senior Counsel for Twentieth Century Fox, who stated that they did not consider unsolicited manuscripts and returned The Catching Away "unread". This is the stuff that conspiracy theories are made from. Brophy said they read it and "appreciated the opportunity to get acquainted with my work" while Klebanow returned it "unread".

I figured that I might be on to something so I rewrote the submission which eventually became my novels The Great Harpazo Deception and Invasion: Israel and scores of articles see a9.com/stephen%20yulish. The Catching Away was only the beginning.