As I work through the step outline in the way Syd Field teaches in his book Screenplay – writing one sentence per scene – I noticed how Chris Carter follows the same structure in each scene in order to provide new information which moves the story forward.

Take a look at these three scenes:

Scene 29 – a cop approaches

Scene 30 – Theresa shows up

It’s very simple, but worth noting: at the end of each of these scenes an outsider appears (someone who is not Mulder or Scully) and provides new information which moves the story forward.