The Moment of Truth Arrives for Mulder, Scully on ‘X-Files’

When Herman Hupfeld wrote the immortal lyrics, “You must remember this, a kiss is just a kiss,” he obviously couldn’t have had Fox Mulder and Dana Scully in mind.

The two FBI agents, who form the core of Fox’s “The X-Files,” have maintained a certain distance in their professional relationship. Despite a subtle but growing romantic attraction to each other, no kissing resulted. Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) have teased and flirted with each other, and came close to kissing in the 1998 “X-Files” feature film, but again, no kiss. They ultimately put their eerie work before play.

Until now.

On Sunday’s episode, the partners will finally lock lips--for real--in what will surely be regarded by some of the show’s more fanatical fans as a true landmark event. “X-Files” devotees have been clamoring for some kind of romance between Mulder and Scully almost since the series began in 1993.

Admitted executive producer Frank Spotnitz: “Yes, we’ve toyed with the sexual tension between them for a long time. The movie was really the most explicit demonstration of how they felt about each other.”

In the film, the two agents move in for a clinch but nature intervenes--the moment interrupted when Scully is stung by a malevolent bee.

The kiss episode came about in part because of a plea by a fan who said that the producers should stop teasing the audience and let Mulder and Scully kiss.

Spotnitz said that he and series creator Chris Carter have always been protective of the chemistry between the two characters: “We’re mindful of what makes the show work, and Mulder and Scully work. This show gives us the opportunity to take them where they’ve never gone before without damaging that chemistry.”

That chemistry is not scripted, Spotnitz said. “It’s in what David and Gillian bring to it.” He added that the air was charged the day the kiss was filmed. The show takes place in the days leading up to Jan. 1.

However, those who have been clamoring for the kiss should be careful what they have asked for.

“One of the things that the show has done successfully is every time we give something, we also take something away,” he said. “This event is done in such a way that it will raise questions. Die-hard fans will watch this over and over to see what this means, or didn’t mean.”

The episode will also feature the return of criminal investigator Frank Black (Lance Henriksen), the lead character in Carter’s moody “Millennium” drama that was canceled after three seasons.

* “The X-Files” will be shown Sunday at 9 p.m. on Fox. The network has rated it TV-14-V (may be unsuitable for children younger than 14 with special advisories for violence).