Strong And Silent: The Scully Skinner Romance Page Special Agent Dana Scully: Strong, virtuous, brilliant. Assistant Director Walter Skinner: Silent, committed, principled. Put them together and you have the most mature, adult couple never seen on TV. With her beauty and his quiet grace, they exemplify dignity, tenderness, forgiveness, commitment and love. We trace the key moments in their onscreen relationship.

The Scully Skinner Romance Timeline

• Tooms (aired April 1994): AD Skinner is introduced. His first scene is reprimanding Agent Scully and instructing her to act by the book, the Cigarette Smoking Man standing silently at his side. This does not seem to be their first meeting but it seems likely that it's within the first few, and was intended as a general ground-rules meeting rather than simply relating to the Eugene Tooms case. Scully later sulked to Mulder, "He just wanted to reel me in." Later, when looking over Mulder and Scully's report, Skinner cautiously asks the Smoker if he believes its content. The Smoker speaks for the first time onscreen, saying, "Of course I do." This small scene shows Skinner prepared to at least contemplate the possibility of the truth of the X Files, and the beginning of his understanding that there are greater forces involved.
• Little Green Men (September 1994): The possibility of Skinner's allegiance with the X Files emerges in a telling scene with Mulder and the Smoker. Skinner starts out by reprimanding Mulder for neglecting an assignment to follow his own agenda. However, when the Smoker threatens Mulder and tells him his time is over, Skinner tells him to leave. Also, when Skinner tells the Smoker earlier in the episode that Mulder is missing, the Smoker says dismissively that Scully will find him, making Skinner aware that Scully and Mulder are to some extent pawns, their actions not only monitored but also anticipated.
• September to November 1994: The X Files are shut down on orders from the Executive Branch, presumably at the Smoker's behest. Mulder goes on routine assignments and Scully returns to teaching at the FBI Academy at Quantico.
• Ascension (October 1994): Dana Scully abducted by Duane Barry. Skinner heads the team assigned to locating her. When Mulder tells him Krycek may have been involved, Skinner keeps his cool; but when Krycek vanishes he decides to re-open the X Files, telling Mulder, "That's what they fear the most". Speaking of Scully, he appears to have resigned himself to her death, saying, "Agent Scully was a fine officer. I respected her. More than that, I liked her." When Mulder suggests he might have some responsibility for Scully's fate by concealing the danger from her, Skinner says coldly that in that case Mulder is as responsible as the Smoker.
• One Breath (November 1994): When Scully is located, the Smoker warns Skinner to keep Mulder under control. Meanwhile, Mulder demands to know the Smoker's whereabouts. Skinner refuses but later gives him the information anonymously. When Mulder attempts to resign, Skinner refuses, disclosing his near death experience in Vietnam. Scully recovers and returns to duty.
• Colony/Endgame (February 1995): Skinner assists in the rescue of Scully from the Bounty Hunter, who wants to swap her for "Samantha". He is not shown between when he is told of her abduction and the swap, but we see him at the sniper's side anxiously. Early the next morning, Scully returns to the bridge to see Mulder. The driver who drops her at the bridge is not visible but the silhouette resembles Skinner. When later Mulder ditches Scully to go to the Arctic Circle after the Bounty Hunter, Scully asks Skinner if there is some way he might be able to help her locate him. Skinner refuses, but later follows her to Mulder's apartment. When she is not able to get the information from X, Skinner confronts him and argues violently with him. He shows up at the apartment, bloodied and injuried, and gives her the co-ordinates. Scully eyes him with shocked amazement, asking where he got the information. He says shortly, "Unofficial channels."
• F Emasculata (April 1995): During the F. Emasculata outbreak, Mulder wants to warn the public, but is overridden by the Smoker, while Skinner stands by with mute helplessness. When the final victim is assassinated, Mulder wants to go public, but Scully, in Skinner's presence, reluctantly tells him that it would be impossible; that they would be falsely implicated for something which could be plausibly explained as a mistake. Skinner concurrs, telling Mulder that he never had a chance. He warns, "Watch your back. This is just the beginning."
• Anasazi (May 1995): Scully is hauled before an Office of Professional Conduct panel after Mulder begins to act strangely, where she is warned that she faces the same summary action as Mulder if she has lied. She asks what action that is, not of the speaker, but of Skinner, who has to tell her she faces dismissal without chance of reinstatement. Scully absconds from her next meeting to rescue Mulder and investigate the digital tape in New Mexico. He later meets with trouble with the Smoker and is believed dead.
• Blessing Way/Paper Clip (circa May, aired September 1995): Skinner has to suspend Scully after her failure to appear. When she walks out of the disciplinary meeting, Skinner follows and calls her name as if to tell her something. However, she interrupts him to demand to know how these people can put a stamp of approval on what happened to Mulder. Skinner attempts to reassure her that Mulder's killer and that of his father will be found, she says furiously, "I think you overestimate your position in the chain of command." When later she attempts to give evidence which might clear Mulder of his father's murder, Skinner dismisses her with a retort about his responsibilities, reminiscent of her own earlier insult. Scully also discovers and has removed the implant in her neck. She undergoes hypnoregression about her abduction and seems on the verge of discovering someone she trusted looked after her when she wakes, distressed. On her return home, still shaken, she sees Skinner leaving her apartment building secretively. She rings to ask an explanation, but the Smoker is with him and he tells her she was mistaken. Later, however, he demands to know why he was asked to exercise a search warrant on her home and whether she has the digital tape. She tells him she doesn't, which he reports to the Smoker. She also says she believes that was what Mulder was killed for. At Bill Mulder's funeral, Scully is met by the Well Manicured Man, who warns her she will be killed, probably by someone she trusts. When later that night Skinner asks her to come with him, she takes him to Mulder's apartment to talk, where, believing that he is the killer, she pulls a gun on him. He claims he has the tape and wants to protect her. She doesn't believe, but then Mulder bursts in very much alive. He believes Skinner and allows him to retain the tape. Scully explains she was warned someone would kill her, adding, "Someone I trusted," her eyes averted. Skinner appears to have a fleeting response to this. Scully returns Skinner's gun and walks away without apparent fear. Later, Skinner attempts to secure a deal for Scully and Mulder's safety with the Smoker. Later still, with the duo in immediate danger, they call Skinner for help, who goes to meet them in an isolated desert town. He then tells them he may be able to deal for their safety, adding if the other side don't comply he will turn State's evidence. He then goes to Melissa Scully's bedside to tell Maggie Dana is safe, and is attacked by Krycek and Luis Cardinale, who take the tape. Nonetheless, Skinner is able to make a deal. After Melissa dies and Scully sits at her empty bedside, Mulder says, "Skinner told me you were coming back to work," making clear Scully and Skinner had had some unseen contact at the hospital immediately after Melissa's death.
• Approximately July 1995: Skinner and his wife of between 16 and 17 years, Sharon, separate.
• Nisei (November 1995): Skinner appears again, mostly trying to keep Mulder in check over the death of a Japanese diplomat. He distances himself from the case, for which he appears to solely blame Mulder.
• Grotesque (February 1996): Skinner asks Scully if she is worried about Mulder when she reports on the case status alone. She doesn't answer, but he seems to intuit her response, because he tells her softly, "So am I".
• Piper Maru/Apocrypha (February 1996): After telling her he contemplated calling her at home the previous night, Skinner tells Scully that Melissa's case is to be made inactive. He tells her he will appeal on her behalf and go over the file himself. He attempts to dismiss it as a procedural issue but Scully points with bitter sadness to the wealth of evidence which has gone nowhere. He appears moved by this. Scully concedes that Skinner has an interest in the case equal to hers, saying, "It has everything to do with interest. Just not yours, and not mine." Later that day, Skinner is warned by "members of the intelligence community" to leave the case alone. He storms out furiously as he is warned his future may be in jeopardy. That night, in the same cafe, he is gunned down by Luis Cardinale. Kim Cooke relays the news to Scully by phone (it later becomes clear as she speaks to Fuller that this is very shortly after the shooting occurred). It is not clear why she has been contacted, but when she runs into the hospital and starts ordering agents around, it is clear she has some jurisdiction. She is uncharacteristically rude and dismissive of Fuller, and races to Skinner's side when he is wheeled past. She takes his hand, and he holds onto her tightly, before whispering to her that he has seen his assailant before. There is no sign of Sharon Skinner or any other family member. The next morning, having apparently made a late night or early morning trip to the Bureau to have Pendrel run PCR tests on Skinner's assailant, she tells him that his assailant was the man who killed Melissa. She observes he is not surprised, and he tells her the man was the one who stole the digital tape and that he had been warned not to pursue Melissa's case. She reacts emotionally to this, realising her sister's murder is being covered up. Skinner seems deeply affected by her distress, telling her she is in great danger if she pursues this in her current state. Gently, he tells her, "If you can't handle it, it's okay to step away." She says bitterly, "That's exactly what they want." Skinner watches her leave with frustrated fear and concern apparent in his expression. Later, Mulder is warned Skinner is in danger, and telephones Scully. She races to the hospital to find his bed empty and his guards gone. Panicked, she enquires with a nurse, who says he's being transferred. Scully races after the ambulance on foot and catches up at traffic lights. Once inside, she tells Skinner nothing is wrong, she is simply accompanying him to make sure he's safe. "Just rest," she tells him softly. He seems to accept her presence and her reassurance unquestioningly, despite knowing he remains in danger, apparently trusting her to protect him. Scully intercepts an attempt on his life by Cardinale and apprehends him. Later, Skinner returns to work, using a cane (it is not seen in any subsequent episodes, suggesting he used it for under a month). He encounters Mulder, who thanks him for what he did for Scully. Skinner dismisses this, saying it was his job; but Mulder observes that he put his job and his life on the line for Scully. It is clear Mulder and Skinner have not discussed this before, so this impression necessarily came from Scully. Skinner has another agenda, however; wanting to tell Scully himself that Luis Cardinale was murdered in prison. Scully is out of the office, however, and Skinner allows Mulder to tell her; at whose suggestion is unclear.
• Pusher (February 1996): Skinner appears in this episode, being beaten up by Holly. Already traumatised by having been mugged and beaten, Holly was pushed by Robert Modell. Scully is for once convinced by Mulder's theory and when this is clear to Skinner, he accepts the explanation too, apparently not firing or transferring Holly (who appears in Redux still in a clerical role in the Bureau), and accepting Mulder's belief sufficiently to co-operate with Mulder in Kitsunegari.
• Avatar (aired April 1996; logline March): Skinner's divorce is nearly final, with only one more document to sign. He broods, and tells his lawyer he'll do it tomorrow, going out drinking that evening. He is picked up by a woman and they sleep together. He wakes from a nightmare to find her dead at his side. It transpires that the woman was a prostitute, hired to drug Skinner, who was then killed to frame him. Mulder and Scully investigate, but only Mulder has direct contact with Skinner. Scully seems to disapprove of Skinner's conduct - while Mulder merely comments that he should have been more discreet, Scully (who usually takes a quite understanding view of sexuality, cf Jose Chung and Small Potatoes) asks, "If a man hires a prostitute, who knows what else he'll do?" They meet his wife, Sharon, and Scully seems to ask a lot of personal questions about their marriage. She seems shocked at Sharon's disloyalty in asking whether Skinner could be guilty. Sharon says Skinner had mentioned Mulder to her but does not appear to have known anything about Scully. Later, at Skinner's, Sharon implies that the marriage had been over longe before she had the guts to leave, because he didn't (shipper speculation: she knew he was in love with someone?) Scully does not take a hands-on investigative role but does discover Skinner had been undergoing treatment for a sleep disorder. She seems exasperated with Skinner's handling of the case, saying to Mulder concernedly, "He knows better than this. He's behaving like a guilty man!" Later, she has to appear before an OPC panel to discuss Skinner's fitness for duty. She defends him but will not meet his gaze. Despite her efforts, Skinner is dismissed. Meanwhile, Sharon has also been attacked, and Skinner framed. Mulder clears him, and he goes to visit his comatose wife, who appears to have had some kind of cranial surgery. He speaks emotionally of their problems and tells her he isn't going to sign the divorce papers. He seems to make his peace with her. He sees her, briefly, as the Avatar, and she speaks. Meanwhile, Scully and Mulder have set a trap for the real killer, and Scully is holed up in a hotel room with a call girl, the only living witness. The killed stalks in and knocks Scully down, attempting to kill the girl. Skinner walks in and shoots him and walks out without looking at Scully or speaking to anyone. When Mulder later asks how he knew the killer was there, Skinner, now reinstated, refuses to answer, seeming to look more at Scully, who is silent, than Mulder. After they leave, Skinner looks at then puts on his wedding ring. It is not clear whether Sharon died in this episode, and he put on the ring as a remembrance, or she lived and they reconciled. If the latter, however, they had certainly parted again by Tunguska, where he is shown living alone in a new apartment.
• Wetwired (May 1996): Mulder tells Skinner that Scully may be suffering from paranoid psychosis. Skinner notes that she is armed and dangerous, urging him secretively to find Scully before the search team does.
• Talitha Cumi (May 1996): When the fake Jeremiah Smith turns himself in for questioning, Scully and Skinner interview him. They use a lot of eye contact when questioning and seem to understand one another's train of thought. Later, Mulder bursts in on them, alone together speaking in Skinner's office, demanding to know where the Smoker is. He brandishes photos of his newly-ill mother speaking with the Smoker, leaving them on Skinner's desk. Skinner says the days when he could help with that sort of imformation are over, suggesting that since he could neither be killed (Piper Maru) nor discredited (Avatar) he was now simply being kept in the dark. It's clear later that Scully and Skinner worked closely on this case, comparing notes and finding the multiple identical Jeremiah Smiths and their work on the Social Security hard drives.
• Herrenvolk (circa April, aired October 1996): Scully and Skinner continue to investigate the information collated by the Jeremiah Smiths. When Scully discovers the unique DNA strands in her own and Pendrell's smallpox vaccination scars, Skinner expresses concern at the impact it may have on her credibility, but nonetheless stands by her, allowing her to present her findings to a senior FBI panel. When later they meet Mulder, in shock, in the hospital, they take care of him together, Skinner putting his hand on Mulder's shoulder as Scully fusses over him, then shutting the door to give them privacy. He appears both concerned for Mulder and disconcerted, which can if the viewer is so inclined be interpreted as jealousy. An interesting note about this episode is that Scully and Skinner are clearly working together in a partner-like relationship while Mulder does his own thing. This can be partly attributed to Mulder ditching Scully, but perhaps not entirely. An interesting aside is that X's photo of Teena Mulder and CSM appears to have been taken from Skinner's office, where Mulder left them. The secretary, looking on from next door, is not named and is not one of the semi-regular actresses associated with the "Kimberley" moniker, suggesting that she may have been a Consortium plant.
• Teliko (October 1996): Skinner appears in this episode, but little of interest. On an unusual but still mainstream case, Dr Bruin asks Skinner for someone with a solid medical background to consult, and Skinner brings in Scully despite the presence of other reputable mainstream members of staff (eg Pendrell).
• The Field Where I Died (November 1996): Scully, Mulder, and Skinner are working in conjunction with the BATF on an eighteen month long operation into the Seven Stars cult. Mulder's occult knowledge plus reports of paranormal capabilities by Ephesian are the reasons for their presence. It is clear that the team doesn't think much of Mulder (a remark is made that Spooky - implied, "of all people" - found the bunker); and it seems likely that Skinner put his foot down to keep them there. Mulder bullshits that he believes Melissa Ephesian suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder. Scully doesn't expose his lie, but looks uncomfortable and challenges him after Skinner leaves. Unusually, she also questions his credibility in front of Skinner, pointing out that many psychiatrists don't believe the condition exists. Although Mulder's bullshit theory sounds reasonable, Skinner intuits Scully's disbelief and calls her on it. Scully's loyalties are clearly divided in this ep, in which she seems to develop a growing dismay and disrespect for Mulder's self-serving, reckless behaviour.
• Paper Hearts (December 1996): Skinner discovers Mulder struck Roche. Mulder leaps to the conclusion that Scully gave Skinner the information but Skinner verifies this is not the case. She grudgingly admits Roche may know what happened to Samantha. On that basis Skinner allows Mulder to continue but makes a point of making it clear to both that he is relying on Scully to keep him in line. There is an increasin sense of Skinner and Mulder playing each other against Scully. Later, Scully leaves Mulder, believing the latter is going to sleep, but Mulder ditches her. Skinner hauls her over the coals, saying she let him down. Scully seems affected by this. Skinner stalks off to Martha's Vineyard to deal with the situation himself. However, Scully and Skinner find Mulder together; implying an unseen moment in which the two of them reconciled and went to Massachussets together. Mulder later takes Roche down with Scully and Skinner backing him up. While this was necessitated by Mulder's actions, Scully and Skinner seem to fall into partnering with ease.
• Tunguska/Terma (December 1996/January 1997): Skinner is shown living in Crystal City, alone, verifying that if Sharon did survive Avatar, she and Skinner have now separated again. Skinner is pretty deep in this one, dealing mostly with Mulder until the summons to see Senator Sorensen. Skinner asks Scully how deep, and Scully, apparently dismayed that Mulder has dragged him into this unawares, says she doesn't know. She and Skinner realise they're alone in this one until Mulder can be located. Lots of semi-telepathic eye contact between Scully and Skinner in Sorensen's office. (Interesting aside: Krycek said that it would be clear whose balcony the dead man fell from once his identity was known. Sorensen seems confident it was Skinner's balcony, but at the congressional hearing Scully says the man's identity remains unknown. So how did the two of them come to be in this situation?) The night before the congressional hearing, when Skinner can't locate Scully, he comes to her at home, demanding answers. He tells her Benita Chayrne Sayrre was killed in what is an obviously unfinished conversation, the remainder of which the viewer is not privy to. The next day, on the stand, Scully appears to be tendering her resignation, to which Skinner reacts violently. While Scully read from a prepared statement she had not shared it with him. Skinner visits her in custody when she's found in contempt and seems concerned, as well as dismayed by her trusting of Mulder's judgement. Nonetheless he defers to her. This visit has more the air of a concerned friend than a superior. At some unseen point she has made all information available to him, because he tells her the doctor at NASA Goddard was killed. He assents to her request for leave to investigate when Mulder returns, but seems angry, with which of them in unclear.
• Never Again (February 1997): Scully becomes reflective at the Vietnam veterans' memorial, possibly thinking of Skinner's experiences in Vietnam. Later, she talks to Ed Jerse about the way she is drawn to strong, powerful men. Theoretically she could be discussing Skinner, though Mulder seems more likely in view of the interaction between the two this ep. Or she could mean both. It's unclear whether Scully sleeps with Jerse - the Fox site says no, and it's true that Jerse wakes up on the lounge; but it's still possible. We also see a bit of Scully's sexual wild side with some definitely sensuous overtones during the tattoo scene.
• Memento Mori (February 1997): Mulder and Scully informing Skinner of her cancer is not shown, nor is his immediate reaction. However, his apparent first words are - an expression of regret and concern for her welfare, including an offer of using Bureau contacts to get her "some of the country's top physicians" - an unusual offer when you stop and think about it. He appears very tight in the way he carries himself, working much harder to maintain his usual restraint. Later, Mulder comes to him, wanting to deal with CSM. Skinner tells him forcefully that CSM will own him, suggesting that Skinner himself has already considered this option. Later, Skinner himself meets with CSM and offers to deal. (Aside: CSM mentions that despite being Mulder's patron, Skinner has never given him a decent office; but Scully has a very nice office at Quantico [Duane Barry]). Skinner reveals himself in a really economical scene here, saying bluntly that he will do whatever it takes to get Scully's cure. Later, he is seen conferring with CSM at 5.30am, havng apparently been up all night.
• Unrequited (February 1997): Vietnam veteran's storyline, despite Skinner's presence, sadly lacking in any personal Skinner content or character interaction of interest.
• Tempus Fugit/Max (circa February 23, aired March 1997): When Pendrell is shot and Skinner arrives on the scene, he discusses the case momentarily with Scully before he notices her nose is bleeding. He asks her to see to her own welfare and refuses to discuss the case further. Later, when he asks Scully for an explanation of what happened during the flight, She sighs, "I don't think you want to know." He appears to trust her judgement on this.
• Small Potatoes (March 1997): Nothing very interesting here; however the post-case debrief scene between Scully, Skinner, and Eddie!Mulder shows in a more pronounced way Skinner's habit of ignoring Mulder and seeking data from Scully.
• Zero Sum (March 1997): The deal in action. Scully is in hospital for tests this ep. Mulder says her cancer may be metastasising. This alarms Skinner, who turns the screws on CSM who meanwhile is doing a good job of turning the screws on him. In desperation, he says if Scully dies he will expose CSM. "I don't care what happens to me," he snarls, revealingly. Skinner looks strangely vulnerable when he admits his reasons for his actions to Mulder. Later, Skinner corners CSM at gunpoint, espressing disgust at CSM's lack of action to help Scully. In a fury, he fires three shots into the wall over CSM's head.
• Gethsemane (May 1997): Skinner is present for Scully's testimony and is deeply affected when she reveals that her cancer has metastasised.

---

This page hosted by

Get your own Free Home Page