1/6 Season Two, Episode 5: Charity Begins at Home-Scarecrow and Mrs King

Hello! This episode is a little bit of a departure from my usual preference for walking through the episodes in airing order- why? well it has been widely acknowledged by fans that this episode was filmed and intended to be in season One. I have even heard it was intended to be the season one finale. You can judge for yourself if you think they went with the right decision. But based on production order numbers, and the sudden reappearance of Lee’s side part 5 episodes into season two – it seems pretty obvious this episode was not intended to be in season two!

So.. with that said, I will move on with looking at this episode, and then depending on how my brain power is going.. it might be worth looking back at Season One as a whole – what would you like to look at when looking at Season One as a whole? Episode order springs to my mind.. maybe some highlights.. a tally of injuries etc. Anyone interested in contributing something? I’ll see how I go time wise putting that together but I think there is definitely value in looking at a season as whole before progressing to season two.. Soooooo on with the show!

By the way, I’ve been experimenting with improving the quality of my screen caps, sourcing material and taking snapshots – so they will look a bit different this episode.. hope you like it!

As we see Lee’s Porsche driving down the busy DC street – I love how he suddenly puts his hand up to his forehead covering his face from the camera as he drives closer.. smooth.. don’t tell me that wasn’t really Lee in there? !!

Tie Tie!!! Tie!!!! Just look at that tie!!!!! What was he thinking? The first line in the episode: Lee says: “Great. Just Great! ” uh oh.. Lee is unimpressed.. aha! He must have caught a glimpse of his tie in the window’s reflection!!!! [Although I do love that we get Lee straight away – and not 5 minutes of some boring baddies we don’t care about ]

In the context of watching this episode in season two the side part is a rude shock five episodes in! After many weeks of so much spunkiness that I can barely keep my surroundings free from drool – the dreaded side part was back!!! Oh well it’s not too bad.. I’ll cope I actually prefer it to the mullet of season four.. I live in mortal fear of mullets.. sorry mullet lovers it’s a foible of mine! 😕

Lee, Billy and Francine are discussing an exhibition they can’t get into..the ‘Perrine Invitational Automobile Exhibition’ is () Invitational!! They know something is going to happen there but they just can’t get in.. It’s going to be held at the Perrine-owned equidome.. Ahhh BB is an amazing actor.. how he can deliver lines like this with a straight face I don’t know, Lee: The last time (Perrine got together with other bad guys) was that wheat sale to the eastern bloc. It ended up costing the agricultural department approximately 200 million dollars. [Whahahaa! Lee remembers how much money the agriculture department lost years ago on a deal? too funny! ] Yet again we are told- there is nooooo way into the Equidome tomorrow!!! Got that everyone? did you hear that??(for the third time) They.. Can’t… Get.. In!!! ugh! enough already !!  

With ‘they can’t find a way into the equidome’ still ringing in my ears we hear: Knock knock..(who’s there?) It’s Amanda! (Amanda who?) Amanda who is always coincidentally involved in the current case.
Love how Lee just opens the door for her now and in enters Amanda!

Lee being Mr patience and control [this is pretty funny when we heard Lee describe himself like this in the legend of das geisterschloss- which was the episode aired right before this episode!!], is frustrated at their inability to get in and although pleasant enough towards Amanda, Lee is in work focused mode and he wants her to go so they can get on with their work.

Billy gives Amanda an indulgent smile and Francine is giving a condescending half smirk at Amanda. Love how Amanda says hello to Billy and Lee.. and doesn’t bother to say hello to Francine   Lee interrupts his obsessing long enough to say hello and acknowledge her – whooo progress! I just love how Amanda doesn’t let a bit of negativity get in the way of her own conduct and attitude.. that kind of courage makes her my hero ahh Amanda- I could learn a thing or two from you!!

Love how Amanda hands in her expense vouchers and then just stares out the window smiling..Lee looks at her, then she looks at him,  waiting to be asked what else she wants and giving him a HUGE smile! LOL! Billy finally asks.. and Lee checks Amanda out for a bit while she explains about her being busy this coming weekend! I guess he is wondering why they need to hear that this very attractive suburban mother of two is very busy this weekend – that and checking her fingers for any ‘dodgy’ concubine rings ( get it?) – given the last time she tried that she had a date with a guy who was playing her  

Amanda hands Billy a program to look at of ‘ a very worthy cause’  this weekend?? LOL.. these highly intelligent agents don’t even wonder if Amanda is involved in the invitational? Maybe they haven’t realised it’s a charity event and that’s why they don’t connect the dots- and Billy can see the program??!!! I guess he doesn’t notice it is on at the equidome???!! that weekend???!!! Oh dear.. anyway.. Amanda explains program sponsors get a mention in the program.. ‘ A full page is $400’ – Love the look on Francine’s face here!! rofl!!! I love how Amanda is all set to squeeze some money out of the agency here for a good cause!

Lee: Amanda, what are you talking about?
Amanda: Oh, the unified charity funds drive
Lee: Ahh. ( like.. it still doesn’t make sense ) Billy goes for his wallet and Amanda stops him.
Amanda: Oh no no no. No personal contributions, that’s not until next week. This is for businesses like IFF. See some companies take a full page and then some take a half page and.. well.. you know.. that’s only $200-
Lee: ah, Amanda.  Look, we don’t want advertising. We really don’t need customers you know.
Amanda: Oh no well of course you don’t, but…(she leans in closer here LOL.. ) would it be good for your cover if you took an ad like for a real business? ( does this remind anyone else of the scene in always look a gift horse, where Amanda suggests it wouldn’t compromise her usefulness too much if she stayed alive??!!)
Amanda continues: I mean think about it. A quarter page. In a program like this, at only $100!
I think Amanda had planned the whole plug before she even came into the room and organised her arguments. She had pitched Billy for the more expensive sponsorship, only really to soften him up for the less expensive sponsorship! Don’t you think? ( a price that is ‘right for him’) In fact, she gets a business contribution out of him, and at the same time, she is preparing the way to asking next week for personal contributions!!! hehehee.. what a woman!! And Lee just seems to look baffled by it all.. at least he seems to be a bit interested in what she is saying now!

I think she does well !!! and… I think she is onto something- doesn’t it look suspicious if IFF never advertises?-It will look like they don’t need customers Lee!!! ( all the baddies seem to know where they are anyway but hey, if we are going with the idea- I think Amanda has a point! ) You would think IFF would have a whole department to ensure their cover looks as real as possible.. 

Oh my gosh! did I just hear Francine right? Francine: she’s right you know, that’s not such a bad idea. [Well done Francine.. ]Mark this episode down.. that is a milestone and a half!!!! Billy’s reaction to Francine’s agreement here is funny! “100 dollars??!!!”
Amanda: there is a section in the back listing contributing sponsors, you get no advertising but.. you are listed and.. I think maybe the price would be right for you sir. It’s only $25- and its tax deductible and remember it is for a very good cause. 
Uh oh.. Lee is rubbing his brow.. Mr patience and control has had as much as he can take 😉
Lee: Alright! Is that it?! [whooo cranky pants!]
Amanda isn’t bothered by him though, she’s happy! Mission accomplished and she
leaves, with Lee giving her a bemused smile and head shake.. heeee.. that is the Amanda you will one day come to love and appreciate Lee (actually I think he does already!! 😉 )

Billy explains the agency are covering all the entrances and exits to the equidome..

Billy says: Make sure all our men know these faces – Billy! are there only men on this assignment? grrrr.( Francine say something!!!) Time for lots of exposition.. Names photos.. names photos.. blah blah blah.. Love the close up on Intense Lee at the end of the scene! Jerry Perrine himself.. what could all these bad men ‘ be cooking up’ ?

Anyway, on to Amanda’s and Mrs Coleman is taking advantage of Amanda’s giving and kind nature.. I like that Dotty here sticks up for Amanda a bit.. Dotty: Amanda, would you mind picking up a few things for me. I mean I am so busy with the ambassadors and the senators and Nancy ( LOL- A Nancy Reagan reference???)calling me, simply day and night!
Point made Dotty! but.. Amanda has decided she’ll do it anyway..  you are a bit of a walkover here Amanda!
Amanda: Mother. It’s just the flowers.
Dotty: The flowers? the flowers are her department! You’ve already done all the decorating! Amanda, that woman is taking advantage of you.
Amanda: Mother, it’s alright. This is for charity. ( Ok.. Amanda has made a decision about what she is willing to do.. and if she is indeed ok with it.. I guess we can’t complain! Still I dislike Mrs Coleman already and I haven’t even seen her yet! )
Dotty: Uggghhh! This happens every year, you do all the work and then a woman like that gets all the credit. [Hmm.. I sometimes think Lee gets the benefit of Amanda being around and most of the credit too… Well, at least in the beginning.-At least Princess Valoska gave Amanda a medal ;)]

Dotty continues: now there is an axiom for that.. it’s exactly.. its.. its the errr.. the quality of charity is err..
Amanda interupts to finish: the quality of charity is to be nice to Mrs Coleman.. [Mrs Coleman is indeed needy – but I think she needs to be told NO!! ]
I love how Dotty says with a big smile all upbeat: that is absolutely…. [and she frowns and finishes grumpily]… Not it! Amanda: I don’t care I still have to do it. [Actually Amanda you don’t have to do it.. but.. this is where we see Amanda grow in time don’t you think- with her assertiveness.. ]
Love Dotty’s response to Amanda’s Martyr-like answer!! A great big: ARGH!!

What is the axiom Dotty was looking for? Anyone got any suggestions?????  [If credit can possibly go to someone else it will? is that one of Murphy’s laws? the one who does the least work will get the most credit? LOL.. I don’t know! ]

Looks like Amanda is taking along her own blender to use for the cocktails.. LOL! It’s going to get quite a work out!  

Well I shall leave it there.. Got any comments or feedback?? fave moments? gripes? Let’s hear it! – when you comment on an episode, you will be notified by email of any follow up responses.. which comes in handy! byeee