Walk 1-6/8 Season One, Episode 20: Weekend-Scarecrow and Mrs King

Lee and Amanda have finished their dinner.. and their little ‘performance’ as newlyweds for the likes of the Craddocks and others.. They make their way down the hallway to their room. Turning a corner, they see a pair of fellow guests approaching- So basically Lee grabs Amanda and pulls her to him as they walk. What a huge day Amanda has had.. and.. it ain’t over yet!

When Lee pulls Amanda close she looks up at him, and then quickly looks away… Yes more lovely dovey stuff Amanda.. Charming and attentive Lee is a force to be reckoned with!

I love how Amanda and Lee are all smiles as they pass the other couple-and Amanda says ‘hello’  and the very second they are past them Amanda’s smile disappears instantaneously! Amanda is not impressed at all with this whole situation!!

They turn a corner with Lee still holding his arm around Amanda – no one is around, so Amanda shakes off his arm rather abruptly.. She really doesn’t want Lee touching her anymore! (Why? I’ll share my ideas at the end of the scene! Please- share what you think too! )

Lee is still smiling, and really does seem oblivious to what Amanda is experiencing. Until Amanda seems to throw his arm off her- then, stunned Lee just looks confused at her for a second! It starts to dawn on him that things aren’t so rosey in camp undercover! Uncomfortable, Amanda’s reflex is to smile.. Lee is confused- what’s with Amanda? but she’s smiling? So she is ok? orrrrr no?? Poor Lee! My feeling is that he has no idea what has been going on in Amanda’s head- ever since he sprung this ‘Mrs Stetson’ cover on her ( and we heard the saxophone riff! ) – I think what is really going on and what is going on in Amanda’s head are two completely different things! LOL.. And what’s going on in Amanda’s head would seem like an episode of Pepe Le pew! Just to be clear though, I really think Lee was focused on this work-[ I’ll expand on that later]– Though I do at the same time think Lee is using some well known persuasion techniques on Amanda to get her to do what he needs her to do! (I’ll elaborate at the end of this scene on this also!)

Lee shrugs off Amanda’s reaction with a grunt and opens their door. He steps back to allow Amanda to enter before he, she hesitates, not wanting to go in.. but she does go in, though only just! Lee enters the room after her and closes the door behind him. Amanda is glued to the one spot.. not entering the room any further.. Wondering what are the accommodations.. she raised her concerns earlier, Lee said ‘later’, well, it’s later! Surely Lee is not going to pretend that conversation never happened? (Yup!) Lee knows she was concerned about it.. so what does he say when they enter the room? He compliments Amanda on how ‘convincing’ she was – uh oh!!! Given what’s going on in Amanda’s mind.. that was a bad idea!!
Lee: Well, I thought we carried that off pretty well.
Amanda: Oh, yes. Very well.
[Amanda tries to keep things light and downplay her distress here.. IMO.. hoping Lee will address the immediate issue-accommodations!]
Lee: And I also think you were very convincing.
[Unfortunately for Lee, he happens to say this as he starts to take his jacket off-not reassuring Amanda at all- combine it with what Amanda has been imaging and it only confirms Amanda’s fears. Plus, he is acting like there is no problem here!! When he should know Amanda isn’t happy with this accommodations set up!! Baaad tactic Lee.. ]
Amanda: Oh, we were very convincing. We convinced Mrs Craddock and she’s been married thirty years.
[Lee chuckles at this- I’d like to point out: Mrs Craddock is blind as a bat without her glasses so it’s not really high praise ]
Lee: hahaa Yeah. [We see Lee take his jacket off and lay it on the side of the bed.]
Amanda: Well, I guess you plan to, um. . . .
[Amanda points to the bed.. Can she give any more hints here that she wants an answer to her concerns??? ]
Lee: Ah Yeah, [Lee brushes one of the pillows- looks like he is expecting to sleep on THAT bed!] do you mind? It’s been a long day.

[Lee starts taking off his tie!! whgogaaahg..] Amanda: Oh, no, no, I don’t mind. I know you must be tired. [Amanda smile seems to get even bigger as her anxieties increase! Oh she’s happy for you to get your sleep! Only.. where?? and how exactly???!!!]
Lee: Oh, tired.
Amanda (quietly): Yeah..
Amanda: But you probably do want to keep an eye on Mr Bosca’s room or if you’d like, I could keep an eye on it.
[Lee must want Amanda to keep an eye out while he has a bit of a sleep riiiight? maybe? because.. surely he doesn’t expect Amanda to just share that bed with him?riiiight??  He knows she is not ok with that! riiiiight??????!!!!! ]
Lee: No, no. No. I’ll keep an eye on him. [Uh oh.. unconsciously, Lee pulls up his belt here- a signal guys sometimes display when they are attracted to someone!! You know like how a woman plays with her hair??!! Lee is sounding casual, but his body language is giving off different signals.. Maybe Amanda notices this..] They’re not going to make a move on him. There’s still so much activity around here. I just want to grab a couple hours of sleep. [Lee doesn’t see that there is any kind of a problem here..oh boy.. ]
Amanda: Yeah, well, you have to get your rest to do your job well.

Amanda is still glued to the same spot.. not moving.. Lee finally realises something’s up.. Ohhhh yeaaaahhhh that little conversation we had before dinner! Hmm..

He gives Amanda a look..

Hmm how could I describe this look.. He has given this look to Amanda once before – In there goes the neighbourhood!!

It’s in that moment where in response to finding out that she and Lee were staying at the house for the night together Amanda says: I would feel guilty.. you know?… and.. Lee gives her this exact same look!  I think this look he gives is a ‘bless her little heart she’s so prim it’s kinda adorable and endearing in a naive kinda way’ look! [Hey plus it is an excuse to include a pic of open shirt Lee ]This moment is very reminiscent of that scene in TGTN- but I will finish getting through the scene before I explore that idea further! Sooo much to say isn’t there? I hope you will join me in discussing this! I suspect my views may not be shared by all- and I would love to hear other’s ideas!

Getting back to this scene.. The penny finally drops with Lee..Amanda’s uncomfortable and thinks its a come on (!)
Lee: Amanda. [Don’t you just love how he says her name here? swoon!!] Immediately he moves over to her to reassure her- and Amanda gives him a nervous smile.. this is all so awkward!!

Lee: Amanda. [Lee reaches out to hold Amanda’s hand] You know, you’re not being compromised —

[Poor Lee! he is trying to be gentle with her here..but  I think it all gets lost in translation!! Given how much this whole situation has escalated in Amanda’s mind- it is now beyond this point , and touching her is a really bad idea! ]

Amanda slaps his hand with her purse and he lets go. He is stunned!!!!
Amanda: I know that. ha haa..[Amanda tries to downplay the intensity of her reaction to him and her not wanting him to touch her! Lee raises his hand like- I can’t believe she just did that! And Amanda raises her hand as if she is wanting to reach out to him to comfort him- but she stops herself.. awh!! ] Amanda continues: It’s a matter of national security.
Lee: Yeah hhhhh.
Lee sounds completely bewildered here!  He shakes his head and walks back to the bed. Good idea.. some distance would be good! Finally Lee says what he should have said in the first place to Amanda: Look, I . . . you see, there — there weren’t any suites available. This was the only room that I could get, okay?
Lee continues: I mean, if Francine had come along like we’d agreed, then. . . . [Double Whoa!! what if Francine had come along???!!!!! Well the least we can surmise is Francine would have had no problem sharing the bed! Would more have been involved? who knows.. and don’t want to think about Lee and anyone else! I actually think Lee is trying to say here that he didn’t set up this situation to lure Amanda or trap her or something.. as it wasn’t even suppose to be Amanda on this mission.. but poor Lee flobs it.. ]
Amanda: Yes? [yes I’m interested in the answer too Amanda ]
Lee (silent for a moment, then choosing his words carefully): It’s surveillance. It’s not an assignation.
Amanda: I know that. [I am not so sure she did.. but.. I guess she knows that now!]
Lee: Good.
Amanda: It’s no problem. [that doesn’t mean Amanda is happy to share a bed! ]
Lee: Good! [Oh dear, there goes Lee hiking up his pants belt again ]Fine. No problem.
Problem still not dealt with Lee! You’ve explained this isn’t a come on.. but what’s going to happen with the accommodations?!! Lee still expects Amanda to share the bed! Aie!! Lee!! He is so out of his depth here huh! Lee fluffs up his pillow which is laying on the bed and Amanda continues: You know, I could call the housekeeper and have them send up a rollaway bed. [Ahh Amanda.. she thinks she has a solution that will make everyone happy!]
Lee: A what?
Amanda (less confident now!): I could call the housekeeper and have them send- I do it all the time with Phillip and Jamie when we travel together and you know, it’s a little extra expense, but it’s not that much.[you sense that Lee is thinking: why does this have to be sooo complicated! I just want a few hours sleep! ]
Lee: Amanda.
Amanda: Hm?
Lee: A rollaway bed on our honeymoon?
[Honeymoon? who said anything about it being their honeymoon? I thought they were newlyweds sure, but that doesn’t mean they are on their honeymoon- at least not to me.. have I got that wrong?]
Amanda: It wouldn’t look right, would it?
Lee: No. No, it would not look right. [Lee lets out a big sigh..] Look, I will take the couch. [Finally! Lee gets it!! Awh! there’s a gentlemen in there somewhere after all!]
Amanda: You won’t fit on the couch.
Lee: I said I will take the couch.
Lee has a go on the couch.. it’s not going to work!
Amanda offers the bed to Lee and she can sit in the chair and… read! LOL!
Lee: Oh! (He stands up and goes over to get his jacket.) Forget it, just forget it, huh? If you need me, I will be in the closet across from Mr Bosca’s room.  Lee puts his jacket on and heads for the door.
Amanda: Good night!
Lee: Yeah.

 

Love the last little look of Amanda’s at the biiiiig empty double bed! tee hee.. Almost like she is thinking- well now what? I’m not going to be able to sleep… will he come in later? who knows.. and she knows Lee is in for a very uncomfortable night in a closet! Ouch!!

This is such a brilliant scene. I love it because for both characters- multiple and contradictory things are going on!! Oh dear.. this post is so long already, but I don’t want to split this up.. and I want to be able to follow through on my thoughts here without losing the thread- so I will try and share as briefly as I can.. All I can say is thank goodness I have gotten to this fabulous episode when I am on break from university and actually have the time to give this episode the time and attention it deserves!  

Ok.. so here are some of my ideas for what is going on here..

This scene is very similar to the ‘who gets the bed’ scene in TGTN ( as I already mentioned) but in what ways? well in TGTN Amanda stands up for what she is or is not comfortable with.. and Lee assumes it is ok to share the bed.. Aie! Deja Vu!

Given this is not the first time this has come up- I don’t cut Lee much slack here- Ok, maybe Amanda is being a bit ridiculous or oversensitive- you may think that- or you may not.. but I think regardless of that, Lee already knew how Amanda felt about these things- so he should have known better. He shouldn’t have tried to get Amanda to agree to something she had already said she was not willing to do – as she says in Ship of Spies:
‘that’s asking too much!!’ 

So what’s going on with Lee? Lee is focused on the job- and what he and Amanda need to do to get the job done. Lee has no problem being all lovely dovey with someone if the job calls for it. He is comfortable with this and experienced in this – no doubt. Lee sees no problem with playing the cover- and sees it as pretty simple.  At the same time though, I think Lee is attracted to Amanda (I still think after the sudden death kiss he doesn’t want to kiss her again!) and so he sends out unconscious signals to her that he is genuinely interested.. ( contradictory I know!).. I suspect Lee went a little over the top with the lovely dovey stuff because deep down he was enjoying himself, and enjoying Amanda’s company! He seems to notice when Amanda is not having a good time- like he wants her to enjoy his company, not just do the job.. ( I sense a little chink in that Lee armour there!!)

Aside from all this, Lee brought Amanda along because he had no other option- and sprung on her at the last moment their cover ‘ Mrs Lee Stetson’ – whoa! (That’s a persuasive technique right there! He is counting on her! She is the only one who can help! it is for National Security!) Lee doesn’t tell Amanda until she has packed and arrived at their destination – how can Amanda pull out now? He didn’t give her the option. (Interesting that he chose to do it this way huh..because- he knew she wouldn’t like it!!)

In this regard, while I don’t think Lee was trapping Amanda into an assignation, I do believe he was using every trick in the book to get her to go along with whatever he needed for the job- without thought for her wishes. Single-minded Lee.. ( you know, sometimes people get a little lost at the agency.. ) Lee is focused on winning the battle..and to do that, he uses every persuasive trick in the book. (some of them probably unknowingly but some knowing full well. ) He drove Amanda to the cumberland for the weekend.. she had no way of leaving there without him. He reminds her of all the great stuff she is getting out of this- a cordon bleu chef for eg. In psychology this persuasive technique is called ‘ Reciprocity’ – Amanda gets to have a fun time at the cumberland, while Lee does his job.. all Amanda has to do in return is just this teeny tiny thing. Lee doesn’t see it as a big deal. The problem is- Amanda does see it as a big deal!

Amanda tries to address it first thing, but Lee fobs her off with ‘Later’ and annoyance.. He doesn’t listen to her, and downplays her concerns. He should have listened to her, addressed her concerns and reassured her. But he doesn’t. He chooses to run away- and focus on the job.. An unfortunate decision! Because this only amplifies Amanda’s own anxieties!

So, what’s happening with Amanda? ( ohhh I promise I will try to keep this brief!) Her situation and response is also multi-layered. Because Lee springs this cover on her so suddenly- she is completely unprepared for it! She thought she was having a quiet weekend getting her typing done, and then next thing she knows she is off to the cumberland( and that’s about all she knows!). Amanda is (IMO) very good at going with the flow and doing what is needed for the job, with very little preparation – but being Mrs Lee Stetson is a big ask… Amanda knows she is physically attracted to him. She is not unfeeling, and she is no longer seeing Dean like she was in TGTN- she can’t just hide behind that anymore! I think Amanda is afraid of two things: 1) that she may loose control and reveal her attraction to Lee and 2) that Lee may be working things in the hopes that she does. The little saxophone riff we hear as she finds out she is Mrs Lee Stetson says it all!

From then on.. Lee completely unintentionally seems to confirm all of Amanda’s worst fears for what he was expecting from her.

You may have noticed that the intimacy and what is required of Amanda escalates (I wouldn’t say it is Lee that escalates it, but it escalates none the less). The job begins as going away for the weekend.. and turns into going away for the weekend Undercover as a married couple! The cover begins with Amanda being called  ‘Mrs Stetson’ or Darling.. Amanda finds out they only have one room, but it is left up in the air how that will be dealt with. In the foyer waiting for the six o’clock check ins, Amanda reaches for Lee’s hand to hold it. But… she got more than she bargained for when he started stroking it- and then- he kisses her hand and Bing! Amanda is totally hypnotised by it!!

I think Amanda was unprepared for the strength of her response, her inability to hide it.. ( but Lee has no idea what he is doing to her anyway! If he sees her smiling adoring Lee I think he thinks she is just playing the cover!! ).. then, Amanda ‘helps’ Lee with his pills and they eat a candlelit dinner- with Lee once again grabbing her hand and kissing away- only this time- Amanda looks away when she knows what’s coming – because the last time she looked and she was a goner! She asks Lee if this is absolutely necessary – Lee reminds her this is their cover. Argh.. and she turns to look- and again! she is taken in, hypnotised!! Uh oh!! The tension keeps rising.. the demands on her increasing..

Again Amanda looses control and Lee doesn’t notice and by now she is getting more and more anxious about her response and these escalating requirements (and in her mind maybe his escalating requirements)  of the cover.. and what’s going to happen with the sleeping arrangements? By the time they are walking down the hallway and Lee pulls her to him again she has had enough and just wants her own space and for him to stop touching her and leave her alone! She wants to get away from him- but where to? they’re sharing a room! there’s no escape! Argh!! Plus, the whole time Amanda is fighting her response and she wrongly suspects Lee’s building towards suggesting even more!

There’s another form of persuasion psychologists call the ‘ foot in the door’ technique- where if you can get someone to agree to a small request, then they will be more likely to agree to bigger and bigger requests… Whether realising this or not, this is what Lee asked of Amanda.

The final straw though is the scene I have looked at in this post-Lee ignores their earlier conversation, he is expecting Amanda to share the bed! 

Then Lee is even actually really sweet and gentle with her trying to reassure her-  and touching her again- but it is all too much!  Too intense.. Amanda basically smashes Lee’s hand away!! Like – don’t touch me! Enough! The situation was pushing her and pushing her and she wasn’t going to be pushed anymore! So bam! it came out like that.

Regardless of whether we as viewers agree with Amanda or not, Lee should have respected her wishes. I don’t think he wanted to hurt Amanda, but I think he didn’t consider how important it was to Amanda, and what was being asked of her. Lee assumed sharing a bed was ok. When Amanda was trying to tell him it wasn’t.

So with both Lee and Amanda being contradictory with themselves – it was no wonder things wound up so confusing and awkward!! I am glad at the end of the scene, Lee finally got it- he finally heard her ( hurray!) and left Amanda alone! 

I hope I have conveyed my thoughts clearly.. sorry for the long winded post- I find this episode and what is happening in them and between them to be fascinating to unravel!  

As always I would love to hear your thoughts!!

Thanks for reading