Tag Archives: Episode Post

Amanda and David  head out for their date, David has picked up Amanda from her home – In a Red Corvette! LOL!! It is so funny to hear Amanda comment that the car is ‘gorgeous’  – when Lee will have one in a few seasons

I thought it was a simple lunch date!! It’s night?!

David is putting on the charm! Ugh.. As he walks around the other side of the car to get in, don’t you think Amanda looks at David, like she sees right through him? She isn’t that thrilled to be going on this date! Whoo and she really isn’t impressed that David hasn’t picked out a place to go to! David even boasts “the truly creative don’t worry about expenses“.. well that is one way of looking at a traitor’s actions..

David and Amanda are at a swish Party.. mingling with high society.. ohhh I miss Lee.. it isn’t the same without Lee in a tux.. Whoo we see Amanda in this dress again in Affair at Bromfield Hall! (seems Amanda took her fancy dress with her to London..)

David tells Amanda her warnings about being a PTA type were too late, he ‘was already zapped’  by her…  right…..
Amanda: Zapped??? I don’t think Amanda is really interested.. She steers him on to talk about himself some more.. and not about what he thinks about her! (She seems a little embarrassed by his forwardness on their first date.. probably because it sounds like a line- Even more so after what Lee said to her..)

Amanda looks lovely though doesn’t she..(No headband! whoo hoo!) of course he is zapped.. what am I thinking??!!

Billy is on a rather loud rant..and wanting people to take him really really seriously.. only.. he can’t finish his own sentences and Humbug has to fill in the blanks!!! Twice!!!! rofl!!! Billy looks like a 5 year old having a tantrum..

After his rant he asks Amanda if she is holding Lee’s report.. she umms and ahhhs and he says good get it to me to by 5 o’clock and he leaves.. Then Lee shows up- Avoiding Billy Lee? Lee escorts Amanda away putting his arm around her. Too funny! He tells her to stop acting so mysterious!!! hehehee.. (Amanda.. mysterious.. exotic.. ).. and then.. he says rather loudly ‘$40’000 dollars!‘ and isn’t exactly acting above suspicion either!! heehee..

Armed with this new info, Lee goes to talk to Ronnie (Go) – yeah.. go talk to Go (Heaven help anyone at the agency who happens to gain a tidy some of money - win lotto? get an insurance payment because your kitchen got burned out?? You are sooo suspicious!!)

Did you notice Lee didn’t ask Amanda how her ‘fact finding’ date with David went???!!! At all!!!!

Next scene.. Ronnie is sitting on a bench waiting and watching a horse rider jump the course.. Viktor approaches him and Ronnie asks what the tip is on the bulgarian thing.. and.. poor Ronnie.. he gets shot and dies.. well, that’s one less person for Lee to suspect..

Back at the Agency that night and everyone is sitting around talking about Ronnie.. David is so upset he hasn’t shaved.. Humbug has the booze out and comfy cardy.. Francine is so distressed she wears a dress that she has actually worn before on the show!! She wore that striped prison get up in the First time!!!

Everyone is accusing the other of being the mole.. David is accusing everyone, Francine is lying about what she was up to ( she really was busy when Billy had those meetings- she got loaded with a bunch of cables from Rio station she says.. –at Nedlinger’s earlier she said it was Cuba) .. and Humbug is a charming grumpy old man….

Lee ends up having a private talk with Humbug. The agency has compulsory retirement eh? that’s a bit rough.. I think we are suppose to be thinking Lee suspects Humbug by this stage, but by the end of this scene, Humbug becomes Humdrum!  

I guess Francine must have told the whole agency why she was not at Billy’s meeting.. because Humbug was not at Nedlinger’s when she said it.. Hmm.. well,  turns out Humbug helped train Lee..(Hey? who didn’t?!) and Lee knows he is too much of a patriot to be the mole.. Lee tells him his code name is Humbug and he has lived up to it.. Well.. Lee, I can only hope for your sake that you don’t repeat this pattern and live up to yours: Scarecrow.. who lamented: If I only had a brain!!! I love how After Lee gets in the elevator and the doors close we see Humbug yell at it ‘ think you’re pretty smart don’t you scarecrow!’ – LOL! i was wanting to yell the same thing.. Lee was too darn smug and he deserved that there! haaa good one Humbug! ( A Humdinger!)  and then he adds with a tinge of ironic pride ‘ I taught him too damn well!’ It would have been nice to catch up with Humbug in later seasons..

So why did Ronnie die? Only answer I can come up with is it shifts the focus off David- as he would be least likely to kill his partner.. other than that? I got nothing!!

Amanda, Dotty and the boys are off to play baseball with the boys team, the bombers.. Love how Dotty is trying to be helpful and give advice and Amanda thinks she is talking about Golf! thank goodness the boys have a coach!

Amanda says she will go help out at the mother’s bake stand. I think Amanda wants to use that very randomly located public phone (LOL!) to call Lee and tell him to come down to the park.

Jamie responds: Hurry up, Phillip bats clean-up.
Dotty: Clean-up. They have you batting according to cleanliness and neatness. It’s nice. 

Clean up!!!  love how Dotty totally doesn’t get the game.. bless her!

Back at the agency, Lee is questioning Billy on his use of a pay phone.. and Francine comes over and thinks they are talking about her.. and she looses it and starts acting all emotional and teary.. I have no sympathy for her at all! nope.. can’t drum it up.. I tried!! Love Billy’s reaction after she has walked off.. “That’s weird. And it’s getting weirder, and weirder. Go take your phone call! “  This emotionally unstable Francine is terrifying!!! come back ice queen Francine!! your freaking me out!!  At least we find out soon why Francine is acting so out of character!

I will leave it there for now.. Hope you are all enjoying revisiting the episodes in airing order- don’t forget you are welcome to comment on any post ( ie episode) whenever you like – there is no time limit at all..

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The more opinions, ideas and insights the better!!  

Before continuing, I just wanted to say I thought Lee’s denial that there was anything ‘personal’ between he and Amanda at Nedlinger’s was very hurtful – when I remembered how Amanda had cared for Lee in the Long Christmas Eve.. but then.. even worse.. I remembered what was said between them in Remembrance of Things Past ( I think you will all know which moment it is ):
Amanda: Oh, how dare you make jokes!  I have been really upset about this. I thought I’d lost a friend, and that hurts. And I was frightened, too, and uh. . . . Look, I know you don’t like tears, I know they frighten you more than bullets, so I’m sorry about this little scene, but you brought it all on yourself because it would have been totally unnecessary if you hadn’t been killed, which you haven’t been, and I cared that you were dead, and I don’t care if you don’t care that I care.
Lee: I do care. Really. Thank you.

No wonder Amanda was hurt and not expecting Lee to say such a thing.. ( of course we know why he said it – he is developing very strong feelings for Amanda he wants to squash!! but I don’t think Amanda sees this). I would love to hear any thoughts anyone would like to share on this!

Well, with that said I continue with this episode.. On to the Museum of Natural History where Lee meets Amanda to tell her about her assignment.. but most important things first!- This was Billy’s idea!!!! err lest she think there was anything personal in her selection.. Oh Lee.. (maybe he was worried Amanda wouldn’t do it if it was his idea?! nahhh he seems oblivious to Amanda’s feelings.. so maybe not)

Anyway, Amanda handles it with her usual grace and passes on thanks to Billy.. without having a go at Lee.. and… Lee just can’t help himself.. he makes a crack about the big dinosaur or whatever it is they’re standing next too.. and.. it was noooooot so funny..Amanda responds drily with: Yeah, or they had a very poor school lunch program in those days.

Lee can’t help himself! he cracks up laughing at this…. she can make him laugh, even when he doesn’t want to! Well done Amanda!! Only, look at Amanda.. Lee is happy – Amanda is not her upbeat self wouldn’t you say? Amanda is much more interested in the dinosaurs and rushes off to another one and Lee has to keep up with her.. come on Lee get to the point – since there’s nothing personal you don’t want to just stand around and enjoy the dinosaurs together.. ahem..

Lee sets up Amanda to misunderstand what he means when he says he is interested in a mole here.. Come on Lee.. just tell her.. and then he gets frustrated when she doesn’t understand.. poor Amanda! don’t say you’re looking for a mole! Say you are looking for a traitor at the agency.. bad Lee! and bad writers of SMK.. her whole act with her explaing the saber tooth tiger and what a mole is and how she had one in her garden??and it ate all her carrots or something.. (These carrots????!!!) ohhhh I CRINGE!!!! Stop dumbing Amanda down!!!!

Lee thinks it’s the crumb job.. to be asked to do this internal .. but good on Amanda.. She tries to find the positive.. and tells Lee it means Blue Leader must have great confidence in him.. Lee however still can’t see any joy in it! Lee so doesn’t deserve a friend like Amanda!! ( man.. can you tell I am not happy with Lee?!)

Lee has an opportunity to encourage Amanda here..
Lee: So, since I’m going to be digging into the lives of everyone in the field unit, I need someone that I can absolutely trust to help me.
Amanda: Do you mean me?
Lee: Mm, I mean you.
Amanda: Oh, it was Billy’s idea.
Lee: Nope.
Amanda: No?
Lee: Mine.
Amanda: Yours?
Lee: Mm-hmm.
Amanda: Oh, well.
Lee: Look. You are the only one outside of the Agency that has a grade-10 security clearance.
Amanda: Oh. These, um, other agents. Aren’t they friends of yours? (Hey ‘Friends’- are you noticing a theme to this episode???!!! I think it carries over into next week too!! – the episode Savior..)

Amanda is really happy about this being Lee’s idea.. until Lee tells her why he made this super clever decision.. –Here is my take on what’s happening here.. (It’s only my ideas – I would love to hear other people’s thoughts!) I think Lee has no idea what it really means to be a friend to someone. Amanda is his friend, only he isn’t quite ready to acknowledge that (not long till he does though ) –I also think Amanda can see that Lee has no idea what to do with this friend stuff.. Look at his ‘friends’ at the agency and what he has been asked to do? What is at stake! While I don’t accept what Lee did to Amanda, it is understandable when you look at what is required of him in his life.. it is another world, and a genuine friend like Amanda is a new experience for Lee.

Here’s a question for you.. it WAS actually Billy’s idea – not just the typing.. but getting help from someone with her clearance who isn’t in the agency! Soooo why does Lee say that hmmm??? My guess is – he knew it would make her happy… and maybe he sensed Amanda’s reserve and that he had handled things badly.. Why though is probably a mystery to him – sooo he says She was his idea – wanting to make her happy – but of course goes and ruins it because it was her clearance that made him choose her – I think Amanda wanted Lee to pick her because he knows he can trust her, rely on her- and she is his friend. But I like to think Lee is trying here.. just a little!

Hey on a more superficial note, isn’t Lee the snappy dresser these days??? – and with that new side part of his he looks positively snobby to me!! (err but ok.. still gorgeous!!)

They’re walking around this big room at the museum talking in a normal voice about their suspicions.. when Lee just said it is to be very hush hush.. well anyone in this room could hear the both of you talking!! hello!!!

How could Amanda know who Humbug is?? ohhh whatever!
As soon as Amanda mentions David Benson is a suspect. Lee’s head snaps around to her with his full attention! Amanda: And David Benson’s a suspect.
Lee: You got it.
Amanda: I have a date with a suspect.
Amanda is new to all this.. what does she do in this situation? She seeks out some advice from Lee.. but he isn’t much help!

Amanda continues: How am I going to get out of it?
Lee: Well, uh . . .
are you …
sure you want to?

[Lee can’t help himself!!! he takes this into ‘personal’ territory – but…. tries to downplay it with his over the top nonchalance!!!]

Amanda: What? [ Did he just go where I think he did???!!]
Lee: I thought you bought that line of his all the way. [Now that is crossing the line!!! ]
Amanda: You thought what?

Lee seems to pause a moment, as if he is thinking should I go there? He can’t help himself.. he does:-imitating David: Was it Paris in the springtime, or was it Athens? You were wearing red. (There goes Lee.. looking at Amanda and licking his lips again before he answers her!! He remembers David’s line perfectly!! I think he had heard the line delivered before.. and to me he seems to be teasing Amanda at how easily she was suckered in by David’s line.. Does this remind anyone else of Service Above and Beyond? Do you have any idea how many women Jim has been sincere with?! )

Amanda: Oh, really.
Lee: ahhh, that’s stuff that women go for.
[ Such respect!!!! not.. that’s it!!! Amanda has had it with you!!]

Amanda: “Go for”?! He asked me to lunch, it was a simple lunch invitation, that’s all it was, and you’re making it sound like it –

Lee: Hey, hey, hey. You want to go out with a guy that’s got more scalps on his belt than Geronimo, you be my guest. [Whoa! such anger!! This wouldn’t be personal would it Lee?!]

Amanda: If you didn’t want me to go, all you had to do was say, “No, don’t go.”

Lee: Oh, sure, oh, sure, and sound like I was j–
 
  (Again Lee looks Amanda up and down here!! Licks his lips again !!!)
Lee: Look, Amanda.
Amanda: Hmm?
Lee: What I am trying to say is, w-we’re not, you know,
emotionally involved. (Love how Lee flaps his hands around trying to latch onto something to say here.. )
Amanda: I know that!
Lee: Or anything like that.

You know, Lee would not have sounded like he was jealous if he had said look out Amanda that guy is a player – he would have sounded like he was her friend.. Now- this way???!!! This way he sounds like he is jealous   

Oh Lee..  How can you possibly say you’re not emotionally involved when you react so emotionally to the fact that David Benson has more scalps on his belt than Geronimo- and what? you think Amanda should do better than that?? This scene is so clever.. (I hated the mole and carrots dumb Amanda- but smk writers you have redeemed yourselves! Not to mention, this scene is played completely differently in the script!! ) Lee totally gives away (to us)  that he is jealous, and that he doesn’t want to be, and that he is refusing to admit it.. and in complete denial..

I just love the silent looks between the two when he realises what he was just about to say -too late for Amanda not to have guessed- 

Amanda: Well, of course not! And I think I should go out with him, I should use it as a fact-finding survey, I mean, I –[she lowers her voice and they both suddenly realise they are in a public place speaking loudly with each other!!] I really think I can probably find out much more about him by — by talking to him than, uh, looking in his bank statements.
Lee: I suppose. (but wouldn’t that be mixing business with personal???)
Amanda: Well, what should I do? [Poor Amanda, she isn’t use to using her friends- she needs your advice Lee!! Not your jealous face saving!! she isn’t playing games here, she genuinely needs some help aaand she genuinely expects Lee to help her..]
Lee: He hey, it’s your own

personal time. (ohhh dear.. he can’t even look at her now- emotions involved there Lee??Amanda seems to be hurt and disappointed at Lee’s attitude here.. she needed you to be her friend here Lee! but that jealousy and emotional stuntedness just got in the way!! ugh.. Lee has some growing to do.. )
Amanda quietly: Is it a yes or a no?
Lee: Yeah…..Well – (He feels bad I think that he is being an idiot.. feel bad Lee!! I think he doesn’t want Amanda to date David because he wants to protect her too- but.. now he really doesn’t feel like he can say no don’t go! Isn’t that err emotional involvement??

Too bad you took too long to answer.. Amanda has had enough of this!)
Amanda: Yeah, well, I think I will. [anyone else suspect she really wants him to say no don’t go??!!]
Lee: All right.
Amanda: I’m going on a date with David Benson.
Lee: Terrific!
Amanda: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Right.
Lee: Terrific.
Amanda: Good, I’m happy.

Lee: Fine.
Amanda: I’ll see you tomorrow.

Lee: Good.
Amanda: Mm-hmm.
Lee: But it was your decision.

Love how Amanda turns around, looks at Lee in response – then smiles and walks away- that’s so Amanda!! She’s mad as anything..but still smiling.. and she isn’t going to give Lee the satisfaction of seeing how much he has hurt her!

I think what is going on with Lee here is easier to determine than what is going with Amanda! Lee shows us he is jealous – but.. what does Amanda make of Lee’s behaviour here? I’ve always figured Amanda thought there was no way Lee could have any real feelings for her at this early stage – she is sooo not his type! So what does she make of his behaviour here??

Maybe she puts it all down to Lee’s resisting having anything personal with Amanda… and she stops there.. Never really contemplating it is anything more than that. She is fast to reassure Lee that they are not emotionally involved.. and she is fast at letting go of Lee’s slip up over sounding like he was j- !! She genuinely wants to know what to do- she is not playing games with him trying to make him jealous.

I bet Lee is use to women playing games like that with him! But not Amanda.. she makes him jealous and has no idea.. she twists him in knots and it is completely unintentional and she can’t understand why he is so steamed sometimes! He is still learning…. Amanda wanted her friend’s advice on whether or not it would be wise to date David.. but.. Lee wasn’t able to do it!!! This hurt her.. and so she put on a brave front and asked no more of him. Fine!  I will date who I want!! Good day Geronimo!!!

Well, this post is a really long one! oops..I just couldn’t bring myself to split this very important scene up!! It is a lot of fun to take screen grabs of this scene.. sooo much going on! I hope you enjoy it!! and if you have any thoughts about what is going on here between these two please share! I come up with theories and ideas.. and I share them – but they are only ideas, not facts – and maybe someone else’s ideas might make more sense! I would especially love to hear what you think Amanda makes of Lee here!

Thanks for reading.. I’ll post again when I am able!  

Still at Nedlingers and Amanda turns up to immediately confuse Lee.. she has been trying to reach him all day.. What???? Lee is completely at a loss as to what she could possibly be on about.. Love his expression!!

Amanda whispers: I’ve got the film!
Lee is drawing a complete blank.. huh???

Lee borrowed Amanda’s car because his is so conspicuous?? well that’s a first.. I don’t remember him keeping that in mind any other time..  come on Lee.. if you are going to borrow Amanda’s car- don’t leave your rubbish in there ok! What if she had assumed it was nothing and it had been important??  Lee at least doesn’t make fun of her or anything.. and she isn’t too embarrassed, and why should she be.. better to assume it is important than not..

Love how when Lee goes to explain what the film is he holds it up and she grabs his hand and pushes it down again! hehehee… and when Amanda realises her mistake.. she just smiles.. good on you Amanda!
Then! An intruder enters their conversation!!!

David: Now, no prompting. It was Paris, spring of ’81, or Athens, ’82, you were wearing your bright red dress. Or I guess it was just last week at the plain, old Agency, you were standing next to plain, old Lee Stetson.
Lee: Ha..Plain, old Lee.
David: Mrs. King, I do believe?

David Benson, your eternal servant.

Amanda and David shake hands kind of over the top of Lee.. with Lee physically between the two of them!! and he isn’t making room for David,  he watches their hands as they touch closely!! suffer Lee..
Amanda: Hello. You have a very good memory.
Lee (under his breath): No, just great taste.
(So is that Lee knowing David’s line huh…?)
David: No, just great taste.
Lee: Uh, Davey, isn’t your ice melting over there?
David: Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know you two had anything personal going on –

Lee: Hold it, hold it, there’s nothing Personal between Amanda and me.
(Poor Amanda, she looks hurt by this..)
Amanda: That’s right, it’s, uh, business, just business.
Lee: That’s right, that’s all it is, it’s just business.
David: All right, then. So,

since I don’t want to rush things, what do you say to a little lunch where we can talk about having dinner tonight?
Lee: Just hold it, will ya? I don’t think any of us should be making any plans, and not just now…
David: You’re talking about the Viktor thing.
Lee: Now just hold it! Amanda is not involved in that!
Amanda: wait a minute what is.. what does that mean?
David: It’s my hunch that there’s going to be an internal, someone (he whispers) near and dear to us is going to draw the short straw, and the duty, the informer. It’s got to be the crumb job of all time right! ( He winks at Lee as he says this.. )
The whole time David gives this little speech Amanda is trying to get a word in saying: I don’t mean to be prying but.. and Lee shushes her!!!! ugh! No no no no no!!

Lee: right a real crumb job.
David: Shall we?

Well well well.. Lee declares a bit too forcefully and too often that there is nothing personal in their relationship.. well that is just nuts!

At the very least you are friends.(A personal relationship doesn’t have to be a romance..). you are so clearly lying it is laughable.. and.. Amanda is not happy with Lee’s denial of a personal relationship here. (See her immediate reaction when Lee says there is nothing personal? she is hurt.. I think she is thinking what an awful thing to say I thought we were friends- do you agree?) I agree with Amanda… Looking back on all the ways Amanda has helped Lee already – it was an awful thing to say.. Last christmas Eve Lee? you were shot? she saved your butt and got you to the hospital to fight another day? and that is just the start- I am happy to see Amanda is not comfortable with this attitude of Lee’s! 

Amanda unenthusiastically agrees that it’s nothing personal.. I love how at the end of this scene David offers his hand to Amanda again over Lee’s shoulder and Lee stares at his hand again (David literally invading Lee’s private space to take Amanda’s hand.. suffer Lee!)…

Amanda smiles at David’s invitation (but not too enthusiastically) and we can only imagine she means to accept it.. but we don’t get to see as it cuts to another scene…

All Lee’s talk of their relationship just being business and then actually shushing Amanda..hmm!! well Lee you are practically begging her to accept David’s invitation, even if she wasn’t interested.. just to teach you a lesson!! I love how at the end of this scene Lee is stewing because David has pointed out how someone will get the crumb job of investigating ( ie. Lee’s new job) – Lee is a bit downcast by this.. and then David’s hand comes over his shoulder to take Amanda’s hand- and he watches it – as if thinking to himself- this just got even worse!!!

It’s ironic that  Lee seems much more emotionally involved in their relationship than Amanda does (but then she doesn’t fight their friendship like he does at the moment).. and Lee is always the one to state it is not that kind of relationship!! Lee practically spits out the word ‘personal’ when initially responding to David..

So here’s a question for everyone.. what do you think- Do you think David is genuinely interested in Amanda?? or is this a game he is playing with Lee? he would have already guessed the crumb job went to Lee- since he is the only one not involved in all three operations.. so did he target Amanda to get Lee off balance? very interesting..

Back to the agency.. (The scene we just saw at Nedlinger’s opened with Francine saying:

Francine: All right, so you say Billy was a little ticked this morning. But I really was not ducking that meeting! I had all those cables from Cuban station to get up to Crypto.
So here we are for another meeting with ticked off Billy???!!!)

Billy is holding a meeting in the conference room.. laying down the law with all the agents involved in the failed Viktor operation.. and trying to sound like he means business..
Benson: What could we say after we said we’re sorry, Billy? We’re as shook up as you are.

“Well you are about to be a little more shook up. I want reports!” whooooo scary Billy! No!!! Not a report!! anything but a report!!!! whahaha! I find this whole scene hilariously pathetic-(and I don’t think it was suppose to be funny!)  Billy has such a lack of authority. As much as I love Billy most of the time.. well… he is so disrespected here when discussing serious stuff!!

Come on Everyone!! You can tell Billy really means business.. ‘VIKTOR’ is written in really really really big words on the blackboard behind Him!!!. I was surprised Billy didn’t end the meeting by saying Ok children, Class dismissed!! Only.. they wouldn’t have heard him over all the laughing.. oh dear.. poor Billy!

Does anyone think Humbug is Blue Leader??!!
Humbug: Mr. Melrose. I don’t think I need remind you that I have nine days, six hours, and, uh, twenty minutes remaining on my service to this agency, not to speak of which I have been asked to leave my desk for the past six months. Do I consider myself exempt from your little essay?
Billy: No exemptions, Humbug.
Reilly: Oh, well, now, fine. Fine, fine. Mine may be a bit long and rambling. Senility does that, you know, but it will nevertheless be a sharp and penetrating look on the whole business. A view from behind the desk, so to speak. And toward the water cooler, the men’s room.

Whoooo check out Francine’s outfit today!! she is wearing different coloured sleeves!!!LOL!!!

Billy confides in Lee he is soooo close to a phone call from Blue Leader..LOL>> actually he is ‘ this close!’
oh poor Billy..awk-ward!(If David could guess at Lee’s being asked to investigate, why couldn’t Billy?)

Bless him.. Billy suggests Amanda’s help for Lee with his typing… Billy redeems himself by involving Amanda again! Love the look on Billy’s face as he describes what he needs.. and has Amanda in mind!!

Why does Lee react like that to Billy’s suggestion of Amanda???!!!!!

What do you all think???

Thanks for reading!! Love to your your thoughts you readers out there!!!  

 Bye, back with more when I can.

The episode opens with two guys in a rather refined looking room, surrounded by fresh flowers and artworks playing chess – too refined! that’s SMK code for: Baddies!!! LOL. A third baddie runs in and with a strong accent tells the others that people are on their way, they must destroy the codes and the cables (His name is Viktor). Someone rushing around with an accent? SMK code for: Baddie!!! Anyway,  while one of them destroys all the evidence, Viktor and the other baddie hot foot it out of there.

We see their car come screaming out of their garage and off.. then..  ta da!!! Around the corner zooms Lee’s Porsche.. to the same property the two baddies just left, followed by two other cars.. LOL..All three cars screeching away- errr this isn’t suppose to be a surprise is it guys?! One car is Francine and the other two agents are Davey, Ronnie, who we’ve never met.

They head inside..  whooo notice the stretch limo that just pulled up outside??!! they don’t seem to…

Lee and ‘Davey’ ( David Benson) exit the elevator ready to shoot, while the baddie who stayed burns evidence in the next room.. looks like he is taking his sweet time too..  David Benson’s codename is Nightlight.. rofl!!! makes me think of a little boy who is scared of the dark.. hmm that would have worked for Lee wouldn’t it!! hehehee..

Lee: do you have any idea how to say Freeze in Bulgarian?  (oh yeah now is a great time to ask!)

Right outside the door, Lee speaks on his walkie talkie.. yeah way to go… no one will hear you. and then when it is time to burst through the doors they mouth the numbers counting down to action.. (baddies only hear numbers?? very weird..)

Ronnie’s code name is ‘Go’?? rofl!!! that’s like calling a pilot Roger ( or Victor! or Oscar!! – seen flying high anyone?!!) teee heee.. Go? were they talking to you or just telling you to Go Go??

Bam.. Scarecrow and Nightlight force their way into the room..(anyone got any orange lip gloss? )..and David Benson yells out hold it kind of thing and basically shoots the guy for no reason.. Ok.. he’s either a baddie.. or an idiot!  (errr and what is the name of this episode? The…. Mole???!!!)
Lee says; that’s the wrong guy Davey that’s not Viktor.. 

Lee is mad as! Seems Viktor has been tipped off 3 times already. Francine agrees something is up.. Ronnie and David are brushing it off- I guess they think Lee is making a mountain out of a molehill!!!!  

Lee gets in his car and drives off.. As he is driving.. he is surprised by the voice of Blue Leader interrupting his news broadcast on the radio.. hey come on Blue Leader!!! Lee was trying to catch that weather forecast!! The nerve of the man.. he heee.. Lee’s been around and seen a few things but he is taken by surprise at the Blue Leader interrupting him in his car.. - he could have crashed! He fiddles with the radio buttons.. looks around.. Blue Leader tells Lee he can respond freely as this is a secure frequency, and asks what happened with Viktor Ignatia – but Lee is silent, still trying to find the voice!

Just how does big bushy brows blue leader  here manage to talk to him through his radio..Lee wonders.. He sees Blue Leader’s black limo is following behind as they drive ( so he was the weird limo that pulled up mysteriously as Lee and the team headed in.) and finally his brain kicks in! He admits the operation was a failure to Blue Leader.. 

Blue Leader: Scarecrow, again for the third time, a man comes in and out of this country illegally. Seemingly at will. The first time we missed him, he was leaving with the Godiva papers, and then last year, he got by us again, it was with the Danzig Formula. The man is a peril to national security. You realise that he gives his best information directly to the Politburo.. Scarecrow what we have here is not a series of accidents. We have a traitor, a mole. Let’s find that person. More specifically you must find that person!

( I looked up Politburo to find out what that is- The chief political and executive committee of a Communist party. )

Oh dear… it looks like Lee has gotten the job no one would want.. and .. a boss he can’t say no to! Although.. he will give it a good try
Lee: Pardon me, sir, but I think short-circuiting Billy Melrose would be -
Blue Leader: Let me make it clear. Everyone in field section is suspected. Scarecrow, you are the only one who was not a party to the two former attempts to stop Viktor. In the Mid-East in ’81, Norway in ’83.
Lee: Blue Leader, excuse me, but I don’t think I am your man. Internal investigation’s just not my thing.
Blue Leader: It is precisely “your thing.” You’re the leader of a failed mission tonight. I can expect you to redeem yourself. Blue Leader out.
Announcer: It’s Crazy Larry, out here in the Washington, D.C. area –

Whoo Blue Leader did not take kindly to Lee pronouncing internal investigation is not his thing.. (hey Lee, this is not Billy you are talking to here.. do what your told!!) Lee is mad!!! This is the worst job ever!!!

I have gotten hold of the script for this episode – thanks to the wonderfully generous and kind drprnces…
Thanks drprnces!! Apparently soon it will be listed on smk-land for members to read there ( thanks Petra!!).. but for now, I will point out a few little interesting tidbits as I find them! One goodie which I discovered was in this conversation with Blue Leader.. When Blue Leader initially interrupts the radio and tells Lee it is a secure frequency – Blue Leader tells Lee that it is only right he verify he is who he says he is to Lee- I’ll transcribe the juicy bit here!
Blue Leader: Shall we begin with Morocco, 1981?
Lee: Morocco?
Blue Leader: Of course, Scarecrow, Morocco… and that wonderfully attractive young woman agent. British MI-6. Her name, I see, was…. Elspeth.
( Lee was to be shown smiling wanly at this, apparently he does remember Elspeth).
Lee: Oh, right… (lamely).. Elspeth.. but I didn’t think…
Blue Leader: You didn’t think you were observed? I assure you you were, Scarecrow, and I can provide any details of that liaison you might wish…the maitre’d’s name in that little cafe… the Europa. Or I can provide you with her husband’s name and occupation, or…
Lee cuts in stunned: Husband!! She was married?! ( Lee quickly recovers) Umn, never mind, sir… uh. Blue Leader, what can I do for you?

- and we rejoin what was actually filmed there.. sooooo what do you all think of that? Can you believe they chose to cut that?! I tend to see it as background information, and don’t discount it just because they didn’t film that dialogue- or they cut it out.. I think it is very interesting!!!!

I am happy to hear Lee was not happy to hear she was married.. ahem.. maybe that is why they took it out? too controversial for back then maybe?? anyway.. so Lee was in Morrocco in 1981-

Hey!!!! Is there any reader who would be interested in taking on the task of noting the dates of things and the time lines? I am utterly hopeless at that.. (that and sorting out the lay out of Amanda’s house -it makes my head hurt… It would be fabulous if someone would like to do this! I know some enjoy working these things out Let me know if you are interested..

Back at Nedlindger’s, ( have we seen Nedlinger’s before this episode? ) and Francine is discussing with Ronnie and David why she skipped a meeting with ticked off Billy, and what just happened with Viktor..  What do you think about Lee telling the three of them ‘ the next guy who mentions this Viktor or what billy said is going to be wearing this bowl of chili got it?!!! Haaaa.. I think he just called Francine a man! ( well.. she does tend to transform into one for the odd action scene )whoooooo… Lee do you have a licence to carry that bowl of chili?!

I’ll leave it there for now.. weird.. we haven’t seen Amanda yet!!! She is about to pop into Nedlinger’s at any moment.. so I will leave things here with Lee brandishing his bowl of chili and a big scowl.. Any thoughts you would like to share? Please do!!  The first time you saw this episode – do you remember if you guessed straight away who the Mole was?! Byee..

Back to the agency and Brobich calls with his instructions as planned.. Ummm..  Is it normal to have a public phone next to a 6 lane highway?? just wondering how Brobich expects to be able to hear anything! Brobich is so matter of fact.(I think he might have done this before!)  ‘Then Miss Desmond will be killed and many lives will be lost.” – I don’t know why but he sounds like a flight attendant going through the safety instructions having done it ohhh 50 times that day already! Hmm.. maybe he took 50 takes to get that scene right..but it still works because he is so nasty it fits!  (what’s this about many lives being lost??)

So on hearing this, Billy and Lee argue about involving Amanda.. well gee Lee you brought Magda to her house… anyway.. so Lee is worried Amanda is going to get hurt.. Billy doesn’t see any alternatives.. and so for once he acts like a boss and tells Lee he isn’t going to argue with him and this is the way it will be.. Amanda takes Magda to the airport.. they meet on the way. Done. End of story.. whooo Billy got a backbone!

So Magda and Amanda are off for a little road trip and some more girl talk..

Love this- Amanda: I’m not risking my life for you, at least I hope I’m not.

Magda says she has to go along with this trade, or the agency would send her mother and sister back to Hungary if she didn’t co-operate.. Amanda assures her that would not happen – you know, I am not so sure they wouldn’t! Amanda is very naive when it comes to the Agency sometimes.. don’ t you think? ( which is ironic because Amanda then launches into a speech on trusting people.. Trust Lee? sure.. trust Amanda? sure.. trust the agency? Hmm.. )

Well, finally Amanda is honest with her and expresses her anger.. I cheered when she finally admitted it!! Drat.. she admits she’s angry and then apologises for it – Amanda!!!

You don’t need to apologise for it!!! ( anyone else think Amanda has major issues with expressing her anger?) Magda copes with it pretty well I think..

At least Magda says sorry.. and admits she has much to learn.. [The light is all weird- you can tell they filmed Amanda and Magda shots at different times of the day]

They stop at a set of traffic lights….

Next thing we see is the Baddies Limo driving along the same road.. As they pull up behind Amanda at the lights we see an interior shot of Francine sitting squashed between two baddies in the back seat- but the outside view if you look closely is of buildings! not trees and countryside! oh well.. and back to the exterior shot they stop at the same traffic lights..  How did Brobich know to check out Amanda’s car? Magda is wearing a head covering.. Oh and when Brobich asks who is that ahead of us- he suddenly no longer has on the coat that he had on not 2 seconds earlier in the other interior shot that had the city view outside.. ( looks like they had another scene in the back of the limo earlier which was cut and used a couple of shots for it) work experience edit guy that week?

They pull up next to Amanda and realise it’s Magda… Uh oh!!! Amanda hits reverse and floors it.. go Amanda!! but wait.. in reverse and from a distance it seems Amanda has grown a foot taller. go stunt Amanda!! maybe the ending won’t be such a snooze fest after all!

Love the dialogue over the stunt driving.. Magda: what are you doing?
Amanda: I haven’t the slightest idea! (gee Magda now don’t you wish you had been nicer to Amanda??? hmmmm????)
Magda: they’re following us! Amanda:Stiiiiiiillllll???
Magda: watch out! you’re losing control! Amanda: Miss Petrak I’m doing the best I can will you please stop telling me how to drive! (Amanda is still polite in the middle of all this!! haaaaa.. oh my gosh!!)

Amanda’s car goes into the swamp!!! Bad stunt driver!!

The ladies run to an empty playground, where there seems to me to be nowhere to hide where baddies wouldn’t see you… how can the baddies not see them?!

Whoo helicopter!! looks like Super Lee had a plan after all!! (Although if they had a helicopter, could they have had time to pick up Magda from Amanda’s and make the airport in time? errr less traffic in the air no? they could have hovered over Amanda’s and dropped a rope – and had time to pick up Dotty some vitamin C )

 ok guys.. go have a look at this! we see a sweeping shot of the helicopter swooping down over where Francine and Brobich are standing next to the limo.. once the helicopter passes.. Francine magically has gained about 20 kilos of muscle..and a really really bad wig!! Just in time to give Brobich the old one two punch and throw him!!!

Ok.. there is sooo much wrong with this whole helicopter thing.. I am not even going to bother discussing how many times Lee (or stunt Lee)doesn’t match his previous shot.. That looks sooooo real! not! Whahahaha..(Lee shooting with his right hand?? why???? weird!! he is left handed!!)

Anyway, after doing a number of passes hanging out the helicopter yelling ‘look at me! look at me! I’m hanging out of a helicopter waving a gun around’ Lee ( his heroically handsome status confirmed) swoops down with the helicopter.. firstly picking up Magda,  then rising again and swooping again to collect Francine.. (gee girls.. how was it seeing yourself face to face??!!) then.. finally Lee swoops down once more and calls out to Amanda.. Super Lee!!!!! 3 minutes of swooping Helicopter is a bit much.. but.. I do enjoy super Lee swooping down to save all the ladies…
(Hey! He’ll send you all flowers first thing in the morning!!!!)
How did Lee manage to hang on to Amanda like that? wow.. Errr hold me closer Lee!!! I’d hang from a helicopter for that.. no question..

Back to Amanda’s and Dotty is on Amanda’s case in her passive aggressive way about the car.. Now lay off Dotty.. because you were bored up in your room Amanda now has a cold too!!  Amanda is looking lovely in that outfit, make up and earrings.. and… no headband!!!!

(Are they the same earrings from the end of service above and

beyond?? I thought they were loaners..but then again the maid wasn’t at the hospital waiting to collect the jewels! )

Amanda: Mother, I don’t want to lie to you.
Dotty: I know you don’t want to lie. I have my own theories.
Amanda: Oh, you do?
Dotty: Yes, you see, I haven’t read Agatha Christie for thirty years for nothing. I don’t have one theory. I have at least six.

Cheeky Dotty: Give my best to Bud Marcher!
Amanda: Mother!!!!!! (Amanda sounds almost angry with Dotty here!)

Ok, Tag time.. and back to the same embassy as we started with…another close up on the goodies on offer.. I forgot to mention the episode opened with a fantastic shot- of champagne and then the tag opens with this shot.. nice touch!

Lee has brought Amanda back again to enjoy an embassy party .. (gee Lee is this one a date????!!!!)

Amanda says he doesn’t owe her anything.. and that in the end she was happy to help Magda.. she is a classy woman huh.. (even if I think she is repressing her anger! )

Ohhhhhh My! I never saw this before.. but with the official dvd’s clear picture it is now clear!! – check out the back of Amanda’s dress! whooo haaa! Go girl!! Bud Marcher would love that dress haaaa

Can you just imagine Lee putting his arm around Amanda to lead her somewhere.. only to find – whoa!!! he is touching her back and not the dress?! man I wish we had seen that!!

Amanda: You know, you really didn’t have to bring me.
Lee: Oh, come on, I owe you one. (Plus, you enjoy her company.. admit it!!!)

Oh dear.. what kinda bow tie is that? Leeeee!!!! take that off right now!!!

Sorry if you like it.. but I guess when it comes to Lee in a tux I am a traditionalist!!

Oh yipeee.. hurray! Magda gets her microwave! heheheee..

Soooo Everyone!!! What do you all make of Lee’s hesitation over saying:
“You know..ahhh…. these things go on… sometimes for hours.”
and then.. he glances at her mouth.. ???
 

Amanda is unfortunately a little out of it!!!! If I didn’t know any better I would think what Lee said and how he said it was a total come on!!! Anyone got any ideas on this??

Amanda: what things?
Lee: these embassy things.

Amanda: Ooohhh
Lee: Mmmmmm (hooo haaaa.. the way he is looking at her!!! he glanced at her mouth again!!!)

Amanda: well.. you didn’t really have to bring me I…
Lee: I hustled you out of here in a hurry the other night, and you said you’d never been to one… and I err I guess… you did have to put up with a lot from.. Magda. (and Lee..)
Amanda: you know I just wanted to ask you a question and it will really have nothing to do with eeerrrmmmumm excuse me.. our professional relationship and all… well ah in the helicopter. First you saved Magda, then you saved Francine and then almost as an after thought you saved me. (why is Amanda smiling when she finishes saying this.. is she testing Lee here?? or teasing him???? thoughts??? I’m going with Teasing!  )
Lee: It was not an after thought
Amanda: oh I just you know..
Lee: It was the first time that you were in the clear.
Amanda: you see, I knew you would explain it perfectly (clink of the glasses.. go Amanda!) Doesn’t Lee give a huge smile here.. oh he is lapping her up isn’t he!
Amanda: how did you find us?
Lee: well I saw somebody (the stunt driver!) try to drive a station wagon into the swamp.. Amanda: and you knew it would be me… Lee: I knew it would be you. (whooo another huge smile.. me like.. me drive car into swamp too..)

Amanda: Lee I know you think you owe me something. but.. I think I’m catching mother’s cold I want to go home..

Lee suddenly starts coughing..

Amanda: you too?
Lee: yeah.. (cough cough).. excuse me. Amanda: It’s alright
Lee: guess what?

Amanda: what?
Lee: if it will make you feel any better,
Magda’s got it too!
Amanda: oh heaven!

Lee and Amanda: cough splutter sniffle..

The episode ends there..  oh my.. the way Lee is looking at her.. I am surprised he is being so obvious actually.. maybe with his impending cold, his defenses were down!! but lucky for him, Amanda is a bit out of it and she doesn’t seem to notice that much. (maybe she is too mesmerised by his beautiful beautiful beautiful  eyes!!)

I love this final scene they are so sweet together! At the same time, I suspect there was some weird editing going on there.. Lee’s huge smile at Amanda asking how did you find me I think doesn’t fit and is from later in the scene.. and a few of the edits from wide shot to closer shot just feel weird.. still it is clear they are enjoying each other’s company.. Lee is being a bit flirty.. and they are both probably a bit tipsy and on cold medication.. LOL.. Have a look at the scene and tell me what you think..

So this is the start of the Lee side part!  I couldn’t help but notice at the end here his hair is so precisely styled

it  reminds me of early Princess Diana(this pic was 1991! so Lee was copying her not the other way around ha-edited to correct typo – the photo was 1981! Thanks for pointing this out Leanne!!  Lee was definitely copying Diana! – thank goodness he drew the line at the topless gown )! whoops!!!now you know I love Lee.. and do not want to sully his heart throb reputation here.. heheheee… but it made me laugh and laugh!!

It was nice to see where Magda Petrak started out  * season 4 spoiler alert* Stop reading if you don’t want to know!!
Interesting to see this episode again now that I have seen Nightcrawler.. – whooo she will make it up to Amanda (and Phillip) one day!  She will sleep with a creepy ex boyfriend baddie to save your life Amanda!! whoa!

Billy turns up at Amanda’s (His first time there isn’t it??!! ). Poor Amanda..she is stressing out with all these agency people invading her home!! Usually this agency gig means Lee hangs out in her back garden bed on the tulips, maybe stays to hide out when the family are away.. but Lee, Magda and Billy?? and Dotty and the boys are home? ( I bet Amanda has had this nightmare!)
Great one liner here:
Lee says: Don’t let anyone in!
Amanda: It’s a little late for that isn’t it!  heehee..

Love all the facial expressions on Billy’s face when he hears Dotty is home..
(Dotty: is that the drug store?!)
This is more complicated than he thought!!

Billy explains to Lee and Magda that Francine has been captured.
Magda guesses: Brobich! How could you let this happen?
Billy: I didn’t let it happen. Everything was working exactly according to plan. Francine got back to the office alright, then she went out to lunch. They must have spotted her on the street!

The agency did let it happen!! Francine looks just like Magda! Angry Hungarians searching Washington for Magda to save their butts and Francine is going about her day like normal? very dumb.. (no wait… Francine cooking?? that’s not normal!! )

Love how Lee gives Magda the you must trust me speech.. and she doesn’t even know him.. It is a good thing Amanda is around to back him up..

When Lee goes to leave she grabs him and tells him she needs to speak to him, (she’s very touchy when in a panic!!) while realising Billy is heading out where he will be observed .

Amanda tries to stop Billy leaving out the front door.. But he doesn’t care if Dotty can see him! ( I guess he is use to lying to his family about what he does??)
Billy: tell her I’m from the phone company
Amanda: sir, I’m not lying to her anymore. Billy: tell her I said I’m from the phone company.

So Billy leaves and will meet Lee around the corner so Dotty doesn’t see them.. Amanda again asks Lee to speak to her and they excuse themselves from Magda.. Haa! suddenly Lee remembers Dotty is home and he needs to be quiet so he tip toes into the kitchen.. he is too funny! .. only to go into the kitchen and start talking loudly again and have Amanda shush him!

Oh my.. Lee explains what is going on.. why Magda needs to stay longer.. and starts trying to fix his tie- Amanda takes over and it seems only natural that Lee let her… don’t you love how she pats his chest when she is done??? swooon!!!!
( I tip my hat to Amanda.. who is able to adjust Lee’s tie and carry on the conversation without skipping a beat! you are one strong woman!!!)  Now we have access to the script I can finally answer a question I have had since seeing this scene: was this little moment scripted? nope! I guess KJ and BB came up with it together!! It is great to see them insert the characters and their growing  relationship into the dialogue so naturally!! Love it!

Awh.. Amanda is worried about her family’s protection.

Lee: Amanda would I leave you if I thought you were in any danger?
Amanda: no of course not, you wouldn’t do that..
Lee: alright (Lee pulls out his gun) if it will make you feel any safer. (Amanda jumps!!)
Amanda: put that thing away! I’d rather have the whole Hungarian army in my house than that I don’t even know how to use it.
Lee: well maybe it’s time you learned (err.. no no it isn’t a good time!)
Amanda: I don’t want to shoot anyone.
Love how Lee gives her a little smile when she says she doesn’t want to shoot anyone. I think he doesn’t want her to have to either.. awh…
Lee: you won’t have to. And that is a promise.

He promises her, and then walks away with his ‘I eat baddies for breakfast ‘ swagger! hooo haaa..
I’m surprised Lee got his gun out like that to give to Amanda.. as if! Why would he give a gun to Amanda who has no idea how to use it?! (she’s in more danger with a gun than without it!) Why did they go with that? Any thoughts??

The only explanation I can come up with is it made Lee look like a determined tough guy putting his gun away.. yeah! he’s packin heat and on a mission!! tee hee.. ( I’m surprised smk didn’t have him cock the gun..LOL they love to have Lee do that! ) oh and yes- this weird moment of Lee’s offering Amanda a gun is in the script!

So Billy, Lee and the nameless agent go check out the Hungarian’s hang out.. but it has been cleaned out.. The nameless agent even has a line of dialogue this episode!
He says: It’s going to be one of those last-minute calls, no time for a counter gambit.
(The script has this as Lee’s line! Hmm maybe BB couldn’t say ‘counter gambit’ or something.. weird!! but In the script.. the nameless agent remains nameless – he even had dialogue in Remembrance of things past (ep this pic is from) and he still doesn’t have a name? He listened in with Lee on Amanda’s date with Delano! He doesn’t have a name? Agent blye has a few lines and he gets a name! Shall we just give him one?! The actor’s name is James Edgcomb- according to imdb he is in 8 episodes!! Poor bloke!)

So back at Amanda’s and  Magda joins Amanda in the kitchen. Amanda’s washing the dishes.. we actually see her do that a lot don’t we.. I thought she said in the first time she had a dishwasher that she kicks and it works just fine? Hmm maybe she kicked it one time too many..

There’s a lot of tension between Amanda and Magda here.. A heavy silence.. only broken by Amanda’s comment
‘ More coffee.’  Yes Magda she is not impressed!!

I guess as some kind of peace offering Magda wants veal to make veal paprika for dinner… but veal is too expensive… well that is a start I guess.. She could offer to help Amanda with the dishes! but nooooo… ( even awful Eva offered to help Amanda with the chores!)
Amanda tells her she won’t be staying for dinner.. ‘Mr Stetson said you know one hour maybe two.’

Ahhh Magda, you can tell she has been living in a man’s world.. this is her idea of girl talk and bonding: “I thought to have blender one day, toaster oven, you have microwave?” Amanda: no.
Magda: I thought to have microwave one day.
Seems Magda is thinking she is going back to Hungary.. she seems resigned..
Magda: Now Brobich knows I have talked and he will be devising a proper way to kill me.

Amanda tells Magda nothing is going to happen to her.. nobody is going to get killed around here..
Magda: you don’t know Brobich.
Amanda: you don’t know Lee Stetson! (whooo go Amanda!)
Magda: you have an admiration for Mr Stetson No? Perhaps MORE than an admiration.
(Don’t you just love Magda? Isn’t she the best guest character ever???!!! ok ok.. maybe not. but I’m thrilled she got Amanda onto this subject!!)
Amanda: well I don’t know how you’d say that.. I mean we have a pers per professional
association, and ah that was really just a fluke and ah it’s only part time, you know it was really just a matter of being in the wrong place at the right time or the right place at the wrong time (Amanda doesn’t make eye contact with her the whole time she is saying this!!!)
Magda: he’s very attractive hmmm? Amanda: hmwa?
Magda: you don’t?
you don’t find him attractive?
Amanda: Oh ah.. what do you mean feature for feature? (Magda nods, Bless her!) ahh..sure well well yes he’s got nice hair, it’s not great hair but it’s nice hair, he’s tall(Amanda licks her lips here!), ah straight nose and ah beautiful beautiful beautiful eyes.. pretty eyes.. really..

Amanda: you know that phone is gonna ring any minute! Any minute that phone’s gonna ring, I can feel it!
(please phone, Ring!!!!!)

Well.. what can we say about this scene huh?
[The script does not seem to have Amanda be this effusive about Lee’s eyes.. in the script she says he has good hair, not great but good, nice eyes, straight nose.- And they stop there! ]
Magda is perceptive thank goodness!! (up till now she has been completely insensitive!).. Finally we have a verbal confirmation of how Amanda finds Lee attractive.. !!! whooo hooo.. Amanda got lost in her thoughts of Lee’s eyes didn’t she!! hehehee…. My view is Amanda finds her attraction to Lee could get in the way of her work and her expanding professional life.. so she wouldn’t ordinarily entertain ideas about his beautiful eyes.. not even just to herself! ( plus I don’t think she would have any idea Lee finds her attractive, she is totally not his type!)
Does anyone have any thoughts about this they would like to share? (or are you all too busy watching your season 3 dvds???!!!!) Haaaa.. oh well there is no time limit on these posts – respond or add your thoughts on this anytime you like! byee for now..

Last post, we left the Hungarian Baddie raving about how they must find Magda Petrak.. This guy is a real misogynist! I bet it is the worst of all that it was Magda (a woman!) who fooled them!
The head baddie’s name is ‘Brobich’? .. ohhhh dear!..Surely that name can’t be an accident?? ( just add a t!) Especially because of what he thinks of women! but…this forum is PG.. so I will leave it at that!
This made me laugh:
Sandor: Her Party record has always been impeccable, Comrade Brobich.
Brobich: Exactly!
Oh yes how suspicious! she was tooo impeccable haaaaa.. (nah.. it was that she was a she!!)

Love how one of the baddies can’t grasp why Magda would do such a thing!!! And not two seconds earlier, they said they were with her constantly! Who wouldn’t want that??!!

Brobich is just awful… makes me almost feel sorry for what Magda must have had to put up with from him!  
Brobich: sometimes it is wiser to keep a few wrinkles in the belly of the people. They hesitate to ask for more. Magda Petrak has enjoyed her stay in this country too much. You haven’t noticed. And now she is asking for even more. There are reasons why a woman has never achieved the inner circle of the Politburo. Do you know what those reasons are? There is an innate softness and corruptibility in women. They’re easily seduced by the decadent luxuries of the west, as Magda Petrak has been seduced.

So the baddies have headed out to scour Washington,  looking for the easily corruptible Magda.. (why aren’t they heading straight to the Mall? LOL…)

Back to Amanda’s and Lee is still interviewing Magda.. Dotty starts making her way downstairs.. Amanda throws out Lee.. love it! hehehe.. she even throws his jacket out the door! Magda stays to be ‘observed’ by Dotty!!! Sick Dotty comes and plonks herself on the sofa.. Oh dear.. you’re sick and in your nighty.. you really want to make a new friend??

Magda looks just like Francine.. Dotty has met Francine! The only explanation for Dotty not making the connection with Amanda’s client who has a chimpanzee  loves strudel and went to Sarah Lawrence (in saved by the bells) is that she is unwell.. and so she doesn’t see that the two women look exactly alike.. She even assumes initially that Magda is a client! A missed opportunity! oh well..
Dotty: Well, aren’t you two having a cozy time. I hope I’m not interrupting anything.  Are you plants or animals? (Magda doesn’t answer) Plants, I’d say. You don’t look like the animal type.  – Whahaaaa!

And another great line here:
Dotty: Amanda thinks I may have dingwee fever, but I know it’s just a cold, I was feeling absolutely wonderful yesterday and then it just hit me last night
Magda: then you are contagious, you should contain yourself for the good of others.

Dingwee fever is sweeping the suburbs!!! heheheheee..

This was a rather rude thing of Magda to say to someone she has never met…. but… I agree with her!!! It may be Dotty’s house, but Magda is their guest… I think she should go back to bed!

The boys come home! Phillip is so proud of his second place ribbon for his science project.. (that Jamie helped him with, and no doubt Amanda did too!)

Love how Phillip doesn’t even know who this random woman in his family room is, but he holds up his ribbon and tells her he got second prize! Ahhhh kids.. who wouldn’t be interested in that.. right boys??!!

 Magda: In my country, first place is winning, everything else is loosing.
Ouch!! Magda you insensitive cow!! This kind of nastiness must be genetic!!

Whooooo Amanda is absolutely livid with her here.. understandably. This is an interesting insight into Amanda’s character.. she is absolutely furious at Magda, but is calm, and.. Is still smiling!!!!! oh Amanda.. come on tell her what you think! I think she is so shocked and she can’t find the words.. (Hmm Funny, she has no trouble expressing that anger with Lee!) Amanda: How could you say that to a little boy?
Magda: One has a responsibility to children. They should be realists. You — you don’t want your son to be a winner?
Amanda: My son is a winner.  Please excuse me. 
Amanda goes outside and tells Lee the boys are home, that her family is now miserable and up in their rooms and she no longer has a happy home.. -hurry up and get her out!! Lee is trying to appease Amanda.. but she knows it..

Lee:Look a few more minutes, we’ll wrap it up and she’ll be out of your way.
Amanda: that’s what you said when you first got here! [Good Call!] Now listen, I’m gonna go upstairs and see what I can do about Phillip, I will give you 10 minutes…and there can be no more complications right? nothing can go wrong?

Lee: oh Amanda, this whole operation has been like a walk in the park, what could possibly go wrong?   [don’t say it Lee!!!]Amanda: get back up against the wall!

Amanda isn’t buying it.. and Lee lets out the breath he has been holding and shakes his head after she leaves.. he knows she has a point..and her patience is being pushed to the limit!

Back at the agency, Billy is looking for Francine but agent Blye tells him she is out to lunch..
Billy: I’m surprised she didn’t eat anything, I mean she must be pretty exhausted from taking all those bows!
Agent: She did good Billy
Billy: yeah she did very well, unfortunately we’ll never hear the end of it.. LOL …. I love a joke at Francine’s expense as much as the next person.. but come on! ‘She did good Billy.’?? eh?? I mean what did Francine really DO that was so fantastic? She looks like Magda..[what skill does that involve?] Francine stuck in some contact lenses, she wore an ugly wig.. Does that deserve bows? ok ok.. she ran to the limo in heels and got in… whooop de doooo..

Wow.. a magic Hungarian car..when they are talking in the car the windscreen wipers are on.. they turn a corner and …bing! the car is dry – whoooo.. and Bing! they see blonde Magda! Looks like Francine’s car is not magic.. hers gets wet…and stays wet…

Yep, miss super clever spy Francine is going about her daily life without restriction.. even though she looks just like Magda Petrak who only defected this morning and who will have baddies hunting about for her! Gee maybe Francine didn’t realise she looks like Magda huh???!!!! (Billy should have shipped her off to Alaska to hide out.. permanently.. hey! Any excuse would do!! nooo I’m only joking, I would miss Francine and all the snark she brings!! the fashion police moments.. the jewellery made out of stationary supplies.. )

Francine is in a heap of trouble.. nabbed by a misogynist…

The baddies call the agency and just happen to end up speaking to Billy…. Anyway. they want to make a trade… Francine for Magda.. Uh oh!! (If I had to pick which one I wanted.. I would struggle!!)

Ok, I’ll finish up here for now.. Thanks for reading!!!! Do you have any thoughts about this you would like to share? any favourite moments? least favourite? what do you think of Magda? Do tell! byeee!

Back to the agency and Billy is stressing about the plan with Magda Petrak coming off… seems she wants to defect and they are going to help her. and Francine is bragging she is going to be sensational.. ok Francine.. ugh.. (whoo seems Francine has been busy joining paperclips to make a pretty necklace to wear..  after all, she does ‘ love playing dress-ups’ . )

Off to the botanical gardens and Magda Petrak shows up, a security man following her.. Whooo the music playing as she makes her entrance is gorgeous!!! (why can’t Amanda get some music like that sometime eh?!) She asks Lee about her family, and he says they are now flying over the atlantic.. and safe. So she goes ahead and asks where the Camptosorus blah blah is.. and heads that way. Billy meets her and ushers her into a building… Check out all those trench coats and fedoras.. no nothing suspicious going on here!

Then we see Francine and her groovy eye trick! hehehee..
Ok, I get that they wanted to show us Francine putting the lens’ in.. and with one eye Magda and one eye Francine.. but.. the security guy is following Magda, they don’t want him to know there has been a switch and she is only now putting on her contact lens? and she hasn’t even got her wig on yet? and Billy is hurrying her the whole time and stressing the time factor too? ’Get the wig on quickly!!! – aaannnnoooying!!.. This just doesn’t make sense to me that she wasn’t standing there ready to go as Magda, having arrived as soon as the gardens opened.. waiting till noon ready to put on her coat and hat.. but .. ok ok.. this way is more visually interesting..

BTW- how cute does Lee look today? huh?!! ahem..

Man, you’d think the agency could cough up for a decent looking wig!! LOL!! So, off Francine as Magda goes walking back to her car, the security guy follows her not noticing she has been switched..

Did I mention how gorgeous Lee is looking as he takes in the subterfuge in super ‘intrigue’ mode?! Whoooo baby!

There is a car from the Hungarian Diplomatic Service waiting for her.. the driver reading the paper or something.. she walks like she is going to get back in… and a black limo screeches to a halt right in front of it.. Francine as Magda runs to the car and gets in.. and the limo takes off.. and so the pursuit begins (yawn..).. 4 limos show up and the Hungarians get all confused as they do the old which cup is it under trick.. Gee good thing there are absolutely no other cars on this road at this time of the day- that would have gotten in the way of the agency’s plans…. how convenient!  

Eventually the Hungarians choose one of the limos and cut it off from the convoy.. only to find a man in there reading a newspaper..? [so who was this guy?!] Yeah.. if my limo had screeched to a halt and turned to the side I would still be reading the newspaper calmly.. not! It looks weird! ( They’re even pointing a gun at him and he is just a bit curious- not afraid at all! haaa)

Ok.. so all the action is over, the defection has taken place.. Can I be a bit cheeky here.. and ask- Why did Francine even need to dress up as Magda in the first place? all she did was walk to the car and then run a few meters to the limo that pulled up in her heels.. what? Magda can’t run in heels? all seems a bit elaborate when it wasn’t even needed.. Ok, Ok, I can see that swapping Magda for Francine works – Francine had to get to the car by walking past the baddie ( but couldn’t she have just gone the back way or something?!) and ok ok.. if the baddies captured the correct limo they got Francine – but the whole dressing up to look like Magda thing just doesn’t work for me! Now.. if Francine as Magda had gone up to one of the men and said something I would get it.. but as it is.. Maybe Lee could have put on the wig, the high heels and.. even the lenses -just a bit of a distraction at the right moment- and done! ( I would pay money to see Lee run in heels..)

Back to Amanda’s house.. why does Amanda call her mother mother every sentence she talks to her????? She only does it 4 sentences in a row.. enough already!

Lee is unbelieveable! Amanda opens the front door and Lee and Magda just come in.. too bad!! Lee doesn’t care that Dotty is home.. (why not just hang out in Amanda’s tulips Lee?!) and that Amanda doesn’t want him there.. no where else to go Lee?  I thought you said Amanda was ‘ just a messenger!!!’

Lee: I need a safe house for Magda, the one we had arranged was burned.
Amanda: somebody find out about it?
Lee: No, I mean burned.. down!…. faulty wiring or something! ROFL!
I love Amanda’s reaction here!!

Ok, the Hungarians are searching the streets of downtown Washington huh.. So then Francine must be in hiding also somewhere no?! Afterall, she is sooo super clever!

Glad Lee finally lets Amanda in on what’s happening with Magda, her family and her new life.. about time!

Dotty calls out.. and Amanda tells Lee she isn’t going to lie to her mother anymore.

Lee: tell her the truth, she won’t believe you..

Dotty: Amanda! Who’s there!
Amanda: nobody special mother just a defecting hungarian refugee. (did she just say Lee is nobody special?!haaaaa )

Dotty’s response is silence! heheheee… love it!

Amanda: “she bought it!”

A while later.. Amanda is bringing down Dotty’s tray from her room.. Dotty’s curiosity is killing her she is busting to know who is downstairs.. Lee tells Amanda to stall her somehow.. and he tells Amanda that they are getting really good stuff out of Magda, more than he had hoped for.. and… he kinda sheepishly asks for more coffee. (at least he had the sense to know he is pushing it!) Lee: aaaand we need some more coffee

Amanda: Ooohhh for a communist she certainly is into room service!
Lee: hey, what’s the matter with you?
(that is the second time in this episode that he has used those exact  words!!)
Lee:Do you want me to make it?
Amanda: no no I’ll make it, the coffee’s too weak, the sandwiches are too dry, the house is too small, you know she’s different from any communist I’ve ever seen on the news. they all wear boots and drive tractors and work in factories and I bet they wouldn’t dare complain about a thing!
Lee: the information I am getting is invaluable ( Lee doesn’t snap at Amanda.. he knows she’s right.. in fact he doesn’t correct her, he just says it is worth the hassle!)
Amanda: Oh, can I just ask you one thing?
Lee: what?
Amanda: Are you sure they want her back?

ROFL!!!!! that is a great question Amanda!!

Over to the Hungarian embassy to answer Amanda’s question.. Magda Petrak must be found!! OHHHH My!!!! Why just check out the Red blinds behind the baddie!! They look awful!! Could the metal blinds be a reference to the ‘iron curtain’???!!! Red being the soviet colour?? It is amazing to think this episode was shown in the US early 1984, and only 5 years later – Hungary became the Republic of Hungary! ( only 5 years more and Magda would have been free to travel..)

If there are any readers from former eastern block countries – I would love to hear your thoughts on this and how smk portrays the communist culture in this episode with Magda!

Well.. must go – thanks for reading!! Back with more soon