“The Rain King” is episode eight of season six of The X-Files.
A woman is writing a Valentine’s card in Kroner, Kansas, to someone called Daryl. She sits down to watch the television with chocolate and candles. Daryl arrives; he’s upset she put their engagement in the paper. They made a deal to keep it secret. Sheila wanted everyone to know why she’s so happy. She tells Daryl it will rain soon. He makes a comment about her eating chocolates, then heads out and drives off in his car. Both listen to the same song on the radio, built with different attitudes. Daryl is drinking as he drives. Sheila cries and rain starts to fall on the car. Followed by hail. Very heavy hail that breaks Daryl’s windscreen. He crashes the car and opens the door. Foolish, as he then gets hit by the hail. Which is heart-shaped.
Six months later and Mulder and Scully land in Kroner in a small plane. They are welcomed by the mayor and a young girl who does a dance. He mistakes Scully for Mulder’s wife – and he’s not the first to do so. He appreciates them flying out to deal with the crisis. Scully asks what the crisis is. The drought; it’s destroying people’s lives. And it’s wrong for one man to prosper at the expense of others. Daryl Mootz is charging people for rain. He shows up at a farm, does his show and then it rains. Scully asks what the crime is. The mayor thinks Daryl is causing the drought so he can charge people for rain. Scully checks to see if this is the same story the mayor told Mulder. Of course it was.
Mulder explains to Scully that for the past 30 years Kroner has been ground zero for extreme weather. If someone is controlling the weather for profit it’s a crime and must be investigated. Daryl now has an office that’s clearly better off than the rest of the town. His secretary, Cindy, says Daryl is out of state on business. Scully wants a list of people Daryl has done business with. Cindy asks if they need a warrant or subpoena. Scully replies they usually just say please. Cindy thinks Daryl’s a hero; he saved her daddy’s farm. The television currently has the weather on. Mulder asks where the station is.
At the station, Sheila, and the weatherman, Holman, initially mistake Mulder and Scully for competition winners. The competition was because people tend to blame the messenger and they haven’t had rain in months. Holman explains just how exciting weather is in this area. No, he doesn’t think Daryl is responsible for the drought; it’s a high-pressure system. Regarding the rain, Holman would be the last person to give Daryl credit for anything, but he appears to be the real deal.
Mulder and Scully arrive at Monroe Farm where Daryl is coming to next. He arrives – he appears to have lost part of one leg – and makes himself comfortable. Scully comments they are a little early. Daryl replies that his truck is faster than a raincloud. His explanation is that he is a spiritual man, 1/64 Cherokee, who summons up his ancestors to bring water. Scully is not impressed and walks away. Mulder follows. Scully asks if Daryl looks like a man can bring the rain. They both get utterly drenched.
Sheila is talking to Holman at the station. She asks about the FBI. Holman tells Sheila that Daryl never cared about her, only her money. There are other men who would love her more. A subtle hint which Sheila completely misses. Sheila wishes the FBI would just leave.
That night, Mulder goes to close his motel room window because of the wind when he sees a cloud sucked up into the air. He hears it pass overhead and dives out of the way as it plunges through the ceiling and flattens his bead.
Later, Mulder is being treated when Scully comes over. Mulder doesn’t think it was a coincidence. Yes, he thinks someone tried to kill him with a flying cow. Holman arrives; he feels terrible. Scully asks Holm to reassure Mulder that this was a natural phenomenon. He does. Then Sheila arrives, claiming it’s her fault.
She didn’t mean it to happen but it’s not something she can control. She murdered that poor cow. Holman knows, but is covering for her. This isn’t the first time. At senior prom, a tornado demolished their high school. On her wedding day, July 4th, there was 6″ of snow. Three years later, her husband had run off with another woman and the day the divorce was finalised every cloud had a smiling face. That was the last time anything happened until last night. Though she and Daryl were engaged, but they had a fight and a freak hailstorm cost him his leg. Ever since, the rain has followed him.
Mulder does believe someone is causing the freak weather events. He doesn’t think it’s Sheila, though, and reassures her. Overall, this is one of the less than serious episodes.