The X Files Pearl, 8.30pm Long-time fans of The X Files are in for a treat tonight as the popular paranormal mystery series returns to its alien-abduction roots in the final episode of the seventh season. Chris Carter, the former surfing magazine editor who created the series and wrote most of the early episodes, penned this cliff-hanger, which has renewed the faith of many fans and left them eagerly anticipating the upcoming season. Tonight, Agents Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson, above with Duchovny) travel to Bellefleur, Oregon, site of their first case together, when abductions are reported to be continuing in the area. The episode is valuable in that it answers a lot of unanswered questions from the earlier seasons surrounding mythology, conspiracy theories and Alex Krycek (Nicholas Lea), the back-stabbing ex-FBI agent who guest stars tonight at his evil best. With Duchovny contracted to appear in only 11 episodes next year (for up to US$400,000 [HK$3.1 million] per episode, according to Variety magazine), Robert Patrick will come on board as Agent John Doggett. At a recent press gathering, Carter insisted that he predicted fans of the series would take to the actor, best known for his role as the evil metal-morphing cop in Terminator 2, because of his 'intensity'. He described Doggett's character as an ex-marine, ex-cop, who was very much a disbeliever in the paranormal. '[He is] very much an insider at the FBI. Mulder had always been an outsider - the consummate outsider. We wanted somebody who was blue-collar, a former cop - a man's man.' Rounding off with a Hong Kong connection, fans of Krycek will get to see Lea in a more upbeat role: the Vancouver-born actor will soon be seen in the romantic comedy Lunch With Charles. The film, scheduled for release in December, features Hong Kong actors Lau Ching-wan and Francoise Yip and TVB Olympic reporter Theresa Lee. Sydney 2000 Jade and Pearl Day 11 at the Olympic Games sees the start of the kayaking sprint and cycling road events and TVB will check in on these sports throughout the day. Starting from 7.30am, presenter Nat Chan and Priscilla Ku have coverage of the men's beach volleyball final, the men's and women's tennis singles finals, the men's three-metre springboard diving final and men's semi-final soccer action. On TVB Pearl, starting from noon, the coverage includes the women's volleyball quarter-finals, the men's and women's tennis singles semi-finals and the men's diving final. Bette Davis Tribute TCM, 9pm TCM continues its salute to Bette Davis (above) in a four-film marathon and a tribute programme, honouring one of the greatest actors of the 20th Century. Starting at 9pm, June Bride (1948) has Davis as a women's magazine editor in a film notable for the debut of Debbie Reynolds. Other films on the night include The Private Lives Of Elizabeth And Essex (1939), co-starring Errol Flynn, at 10.50pm; Front Page Woman (1935), again with Davis as a reporter at 1.50am; and The Rich Are Always With Us (1932), an early role with the actress as a smitten young woman, at 3.30am. In All About Bette at 12.50am, two-time Academy Award-winning actress Jodie Foster hosts a documentary about Davis, who herself was nominated for Oscars 10 times, winning twice for Best Actress. The film features highlights both of Davis' most famous and lesser-known roles and behind-the-scenes footage.
