 The show centers on FBI special agents Fox Mulder ( David Duchovny ) and Dana Scully ( Gillian Anderson ) who work on cases linked to the paranormal , called X @-@ Files . In the episode , a case Mulder is asked to investigate is covertly covered up by the agents ' boss Walter Skinner ( Mitch Pileggi ) , who has made a sinister bargain with The Smoking Man ( Davis ) . 
