Ep 13. Never Again

In The X-Files season 4 episode 13, titled "Never Again," Dana Scully takes a break from her paranormal investigations to pursue a personal matter. She meets a handsome man named Ed Jerse in a bar and they hit it off. When she observes a tattoo of a snake on his arm, he tells her an intriguing story about how he got it in prison for beating up a drug dealer. Scully and Jerse end up having a romantic evening together, but she initially resists him when he invites her back to his apartment.

The next day, Scully discovers that her partner, Fox Mulder, is investigating a murder case involving a man who died from a strange tattoo on his arm that seemed to come to life. The tattoo was a serpent just like the one on Jerse's arm, but he claims that he had been drinking and didn't remember anything about the night of the murder. Scully starts to wonder if there is a connection between Jerse and the murder case, but she tries to suppress her suspicions because she is starting to fall for him.

As Scully spends more time with Jerse, she begins to notice some red flags in his behavior. He seems to have a dark side and a violent streak, which she realizes are linked to his tattoo. Soon, Scully starts having recurring dreams about the sinister serpent tattoo, which seems to be trying to communicate with her. She fears that Jerse is somehow involved in the tattoo murders, but she keeps her worries to herself because she doesn't want to ruin their relationship.

Eventually, Scully's fears are confirmed when Jerse gets drunk and reveals that he had killed the drug dealer he had mentioned earlier. Scully realizes that he is the killer in the tattoo murders and she flees his apartment, but he chases after her with a knife. In a tense confrontation, Scully manages to subdue Jerse and arrests him for the murders. She also comes to terms with the fact that she had been attracted to his dangerous side and had let her guard down.

"Never Again" is a unique episode in The X-Files because it focuses more on Scully's personal life and character development than on the supernatural mysteries that the show is famous for. The episode explores her vulnerability and the consequences of her choices, as well as her willingness to put herself in harm's way for the sake of justice. It also features a memorable guest performance by actress Jodie Foster as the voice of the sinister tattoo, which adds an extra layer of creepiness to the story. Overall, "Never Again" is a compelling and thought-provoking episode that showcases the depth and complexity of Scully's character.